#elisesthoughts – Page 20 – Avonna Loves Genres

Friday Feature Author Interview with Elise Cooper: Vanishing Hour by Laura Griffin

Book Description

When a cold case in Texas leads to a sinister string of disappearances, a newcomer to the small town helps a detective piece together the clues in this new romantic thriller from New York Times bestselling author Laura Griffin.

Corporate lawyer Ava Burch has had enough of the big city and the daily grind. She grew up with her father, who raised search-and-rescue dogs, in rural Texas and has moved to the small town of Cuervo to spend time in the dry, rugged wilderness near Big Bend National Park. When she and her dog, Huck, discover an abandoned campsite on a volunteer search-and-rescue mission, she’s perplexed, but she carefully photographs it all the same.

All Grant Wycoff can see when he looks at Ava is a city slicker—with her designer jeans and shiny car—who has no business on a serious team made of seasoned outdoorsmen and retired cops. But when she tells him of her findings on the trail, he sees there’s more to her than meets the eye.

Ava’s discovery reminds Grant of the unsolved case of a young woman who went missing two years ago. As they look into the campsite further, another woman disappears under odd circumstances. With time running out, Ava and Grant must work against the brutal heat from both the Texas sun and their own electric chemistry to solve the case.

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Elise’s Thoughts

Vanishing Hour by Laura Griffin shows why she is the master of suspenseful romance. This plot has cold cases, search and rescue missions, and a loveable black lab.

Corporate lawyer Ava Burch has had enough of the big city and the daily grind. She grew up with her father, who raised search-and-rescue dogs, in rural Texas and has moved to the small town of Cuervo to spend time in the dry, rugged wilderness near Big Bend National Park. She is also a volunteer working search and rescue with her dog Huck. On a SAR mission, Ava becomes aware that women are missing annually from the hostile desert environment around the town and decides to pursue her own investigation, finding out that there are three missing women, all unsolved cold cases.

Grant Wycoff deputy sheriff and lead investigator reluctantly is paired with Ava since she and Huck can lead him to where there is evidence of the missing women. He does not want her working his case because she is a civilian and might endanger herself. The two of them don’t see eye to eye about the case. They butt heads digging their boot heels in to see who’s stronger willed. Grant sees her as a city slicker, wearing designer jeans and a driving a shiny new car. He thinks she has no business on a serious team made of seasoned outdoorsmen and retired cops. She is too stubborn to listen to him and eventually shows him her worth. In addition, they both realize there is chemistry between them.

This plot has it all: a gripping mystery, a sizzling romance, and plenty of action. It will keep readers on the edge of their seats with plenty of red herrings placed strategically throughout the story along with real clues.

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Author Interview

Elise Cooper: Will this be a series and why a rescue dog?

Laura Griffin: I don’t have plans to make it a series, although the secondary characters have been teed up for more. I might come back to them, even years later. I became a dog owner about ten years ago. My dog is a Weimaraner. We adopted this sweet dog. I did some research for a previous book I wrote, Alpha Crew Dogs, about bomb sniffing dogs. From there I learned about search and rescue dogs. I really wanted to write a story about this type of dog.

EC: What about Huck, the dog?

LG: I started the story with writing about Huck. I wanted to make him an intricate part of the story. Huck is a black lab because I read a book about a park ranger who does search and rescue work. Labs are smart, sweet, good with people, can be playful, and trainable. Yet, I did not write Huck as having the personality as a human. But Huck is so intelligent with very powerful smelling abilities and great instinct. Huck was seen as a danger to the bad guys who tried to eliminate him. Just as with military dogs, the enemy knows they are in trouble because the dog can find ammunition, guns, and bodies. Huck became a threat.

EC: How would you describe Ava?

LG: Determined, smart, and underestimated. She is a woman who grew up in a man’s world of law enforcement. Her dad was a game warden, so she had experience with law enforcement although she is a civilian. She can be overly sensitive

EC: What about the relationship?

LG: Since her dad was in law enforcement she reflects on if she wants a relationship with someone in that profession. The job can be wearing on people, her dad was always working, many times preoccupied by the grim facts of his work, and her mom had to raise the children by herself. This caused a conflict between herself and Grant because he is a workaholic. Ava can read people and is guarded.

EC: How would you describe Grant?

LG: His home and family are important to him. He is protective, wants his town to be a better place, very dedicated and committed. He is sweet with a big heart, at times condescending, has a big ego, and stubborn.

EC: What role did the setting play?

LG: It takes place in West Texas, which is very remote. The town is in transition, going from a little town to a tourist town with more people. There is a lot of outdoor activities in the plot including, climbing, hiking, rock climbing, a dude ranch, and shooting a crossbow. During Covid a lot of people shifted to the National Parks. Many times, they did not understand all the dangers of these types of settings. For example, people don’t take water or the correct supplies. They are a little bit careless with their safety considering the natural dangers, which is why Ava and Huck helped to rescue people who got themselves in trouble. I learned about rock climbing when I did the research for Stone Cold Heart.

EC: Next book?

LG: It is the next book in the “Texas Murder Files Series” and titled Deep Tide. Leyla is the heroine, who runs the coffee shop. It will be out in the spring. Leyla finds one of her employees murdered in the alley behind her coffee shop. The hero is Sean Moran, who is on an undercover mission. Together he and Leyla are trying to solve who murdered her employee and why.

THANK YOU!!

Friday Feature Author Interview with Elise Cooper: The Love and Honor Series by Hallee Bridgeman

The “Love and Honor Series” by Hallee Bridgeman explores how those in Special Forces keep Americans safe. This first novel was released in September. The second will be published on October 4, and the third will be released November 1. All three books show how a hero and heroine must navigate their feelings to never compromise the mission.

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Book Descriptions and Elise’s Thoughts

Honor Bound has a hero and heroine who are at odds with one another. Captain Rick Norton and Dr. Cynthia Myers argue and discuss how her pacifism is misguided and that sometimes violence must be met with violence, including killing the evil enemy. Readers gain an insightful look at what is necessary for Special Forces to protect their fellow citizens. Rick and Cynthia meet in Africa where she has a clinic deep in the jungle to help those women who are pregnant. After a warlord comes into the area it becomes necessary for Rick’s unit to take them down to save Cynthia’s life. The “A-Team” has a mission to take down the warlord and to bring Cynthia home since she is the Vice-President’s daughter. But danger seems to meet them everywhere and it is up to Rick and his men to keep her safe.

###

Word of Honor has FBI Special Agent Lynda Culter investigating an ecoterrorist organization in the Alaskan wilderness when her partner is taken captive and murdered before her very eyes. The only person who can identify the key players, Lynda, gets assigned to take part in a joint operation in Istanbul to take the organization down. She must go undercover as a Muslim wife and pretend to be married to US Army weapons specialist Bill Sanders. The problem is they had a history back in college where he crushed her heart. To find the ecoterrorists and who is behind their bombings of oil pipelines that killed innocent civilians they must go deep undercover.

###

Honor’s Refuge delves into abuse of women. When she was just five years old, Melissa Braxton watched her father take her mother’s life. Separated from her sister, Lola, at that time, Melissa grew up with a strong desire to help those stuck in abusive relationships. It’s why she became a family therapist and opened a domestic abuse shelter. After she meets Phil “Ozzy” Osbourne they form a bond. He is intent to use his Special Forces contacts to track down her missing sister. Unfortunately, it is harder than expected since she is the wife and had a child with a drug lord cartel member. Ozzy and Melissa work together to rescue her sister, save innocents, and bring down the cartel.

Each of these books has a great mixture of suspense, drama, and romance. Readers will understand the job those in the military must do and the challenges they must face.

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Author Interview

Elise Cooper: How did you get the idea for the series?

Hallee Bridgeman: The series will be published once a month, one in September, one in October, and one in November. I wanted to write a Special Forces series. The first book does not take place in the desert, but in the jungle. The second book take place in Turkey and Kuwait, and the third book in the US.

EC: Did you have any experience with the military?

HB: Not me explicitly, but my family does. My father was a US Army Airborne Ranger. He retired when I was an adult. My husband deployed to Afghanistan with the 20^th Special Forces Airborne Group. Within our military community we have several friends who are still in Special Forces units. I was able to ask questions, gain knowledge, and confirm facts with several sources who have served or are serving. I wanted to be realistic and write a true book about real people.

EC: How is the theme of honor in each book present?

HB: All three of these men are a force and step in front of the enemy. One of the definitions of honor is “adherence to what is right.” It is engrained in them. My husband re-enlisted in 2001, after September 11th. He did it because he was a combat veteran with a sense of honor and duty. Each of the women characters wanted to help people. Cynthia is a doctor, Lynda was an FBI agent, and Melissa had a non-profit women’s abuse shelter.

EC: Why Africa as the setting in Honor Bound?

HB: It has a large jungle. I needed the characters to be there for several days. I created a fictional country there with a big river and a giant city. I had so many options with this Continent.

EC: Do you think the main character Cynthia, was a bit naïve?

HB: She was trained to be in a specific environment. She is completely naïve about our warriors. A lot of people have a misconception of what peace can entail and what it takes to achieve peace. They have the idea of turning the other cheek, but the reality is sometimes force is necessary. People that do not have this experience cannot really grasp it. Peace does not always come because someone wants it. Sometimes people must be protected. Sometimes it takes someone with strength to allow the Pacifists to be who they are. They say things from their armchair.

EC: What about Cynthia’s reaction?

HB: Her perspective changed when it was no longer about her, but when it was about her father. She reacted to the fact men were killed to save her life. A lot of her reaction was knee-jerk to that emotional traumatic moment. They were evil bad men who needed to be stopped.

EC: You have a quote about weapons being tools said by the hero, Rick?

HB: You are referring to this one, “the real weapon isn’t the rifle or the pistol or the knife. It’s me.” My husband as he was deploying to Afghanistan in 2002, at the airline gate, getting on a plane, had his nail clippers taken. He is holding a loaded automatic weapon. His reaction was “seriously.” It is the person wielding whatever it is. It doesn’t matter what you have, but if you know what to do with it.

EC: How would you describe Rick?

HB: Loyal, responsible, intense, and courageous. Duty needs to come first, and he is oozing with integrity.

EC: Moving on to Word of Honor-how did you get the idea for this story?

HB: I did not want to write another story where there was a civilian who needed to be saved. I wanted to come up with a joint-task force. In real life within an intense operation there is no romance. Because of that I had the hero and heroine have a back history of an intense relationship. I wanted to have a different enemy; eco-terrorist tied in with the Russian Mafia.

EC: How would you describe Lynda?

HB: Intense, driven, and analytical.

EC: Is Bill a lot different than Rick?

HB: Yes, he enlisted not for duty but for security. His motivations were different. He is more sarcastic, with a larger sense of humor. He is a tortured hero with a lot of backstory baggage.

EC: How about the relationship now?

HB: Lynda Carter, the FBI Agent counters Bill Sanders easy going charm. She is his personality opposite.

EC: What about your last book, Honor’s Refuge?

HB: I thought it would originally be a novella. But when I wrote the character Ozzy from the first book, I had enough material to write a book.

EC: How would you describe Ozzy?

HB: He joined the army to escape his addiction.

EC: Your next book?

HB: The fourth book will be the wedding between Melissa and Ozzy on a cruise ship. All his teammates will be there with their significant others. Pirates will try to take over the ship. It will be out in February. There will be also a romance between the Communications Sgt, Fisher, and the cruise singer.

THANK YOU!!

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BIO: Elise Cooper has written book reviews and interviewed best-selling authors since 2009. Her reviews have covered several different genres, including thrillers, mysteries, women’s fiction, romance and cozy mysteries. An avid reader, she engages authors to discuss their works, and to focus on the descriptions of their characters and the plot. While not writing reviews, Elise loves to watch baseball and visit the ocean in Southern California, with her dog and husband.

Friday Feature Author Interview #2 with Elise Cooper: Wyoming Rodeo Rescue by Carol Ross

Book Description

Will a Wyoming cowboy…

Rescue her heart?

Famous equestrian Summer Davies travels to Wyoming to escape a scandal…and rescue Levi Blackwell’s rodeo. When she arrives early, the only place to stay is with the ornery—and gorgeous—cowboy. Their commitment to making the rodeo a success, and Summer’s affection for his young daughter, draws them together. When he learns about her past, will he still want her help? Or will he end up chasing her away?

***

Elise’s Thoughts

Wyoming Rodeo Rescue by Carol Ross is the third book in this third series about the Blackwell family. The plot is centered around family and misconceptions. Halloween plays a role in the story and readers definitely get a treat not a trick.

The hero and heroine both are struggling to find themselves. Summer Davies decides to lay low to avoid a major scandal. She is a famous equestrian who learns her boyfriend has cheated on her on the same night that he proposed marriage. Unfortunately, her reaction had been filmed and everyone can see her tossing the ring into a lake and storming out. To avoid the potential scandal that can derail her career, her trainer convinces her to fill in as headliner and MC for a rodeo in Wyoming.

There she meets Levi Blackwell, who used to be a rodeo rider, but quit due to an injury. Now, back at home, he decides to start up his own rodeo. He is going to use the money to help pay off his grandmother’s debts and be able to keep the Flying Spur Ranch. When they first meet, both butt heads. She appears to be a diva, and he appears to be hardheaded. But due to housing problems, she, her horse, and her trainer, stay at Levi’s ranch. What they realize is that they came to a wrong conclusion about each other and that they have an attraction to one another. They also both realize that Levi’s ten-year-old daughter is drawing them together since they want to protect her.

If someone wants to put a smile on their face this is the book to read. The story will at times make readers laugh with the banter. The plot is very touching.

***

Author Interview

Elise Cooper: How are you doing after the loss of your husband?

Carol Ross: It’s been rough as you can imagine. Maybe, in the future I will write about my journey because I have a lot to say about it. I might write a non-fiction about my experience, since these books are more light-hearted. It has been hard. I have been devouring books and articles on grief. If I do write something, maybe someone who has gone through something similar can be helped.

EC: Halloween was brought into the story?

CR: They had a Zombie hayride, with each dressed in costume. Plenty of pumpkins and games. My chosen month was October. It flavored the whole book. I love this holiday if it’s not too scary. Just the cute stuff, no horror.

EC: How did you get the idea for the story?

CR: We have a collaborative process, throwing ideas out there and not overlapping. I liked the idea of opposites attract. My heroine started out different than she really was. The hero and heroine thought they were opposites but ended up finding out how similar they really were. They had a horse connection. They both had expectations that were not accurate.

EC: How did you get all the information about horses?

CR: I have a friend who has been showing horses for a while. She knows about the horse world. I would not say that the heroine is based on her, but there is a lot of her in that character. Just as with Summer, my friend, is also someone who should not be underestimated or that people should not assume things about her.

EC: How would you describe Summer?

CR: Impatient at times, career motivated, intense, hard worker, devoted, and anxious. I know readers thought at times she can be a diva. I think that scene did not come across as I wanted it. I wanted her to be a diva by circumstance, not an actual diva. The town took her by surprise, yet she was able to acclimate quickly. Reluctant diva is a good term. She never faced her problems unless it dealt with her horse. She needed to realize what she really wanted.

EC: Braden the ex-fiancé versus Levi?

CR: I did not want any heart break but wanted a complication. Levi was a rodeo horse guy and Braden was a stereotypic equestrian, a snobby rich horse guy. Braden thinks a lot of himself, wants eye candy for a partner, charming, reckless, publicity hound, and confidant. Readers should not be enamored with him.

EC: How would you describe Levi?

CR: He is kind, caring, can jump to wrong conclusions, might have tunnel vision about people, and his daughter means everything to him. He was wounded deeply by his ex and is stressed by the new family situation. He has a little bit of a temper.

EC: What about the relationship?

CR: Levi was shocked that he had strong feelings for Summer. Initially he thought she was not his type, looking on her as condescending and spoiled. They goad each other and are sarcastic. They misjudged each other. Neither was looking for love but realized there was a major attraction. An opposite attraction.

EC: What about Isla, Levi’s ten-year-old daughter?

CR: Cute, polite, smart, curious, determined, funny, and brought Summer and Levi together. Summer saw a lot of herself in Isla. She helped Summer because Summer was brave for the little girl when she could not be brave for herself.

EC: What role did divorce play?

CR: Passive-aggressive relationship between Levi and his ex. They liked to snipe and argue, even in front of Isla, almost putting her in the middle. Isla was hurt by their arguments. Levi could not see what he was doing wrong because he was too focused on what his ex-wife was doing wrong. In the end, they both saw the light.

EC: Next book?

CR: I have been on a hiatus because of my husband’s illness and death. Thankfully, my publisher and editor are amazing. I am under contract for a five book western series. It might be a little while until I write the story.

THANK YOU!!

***

Friday Feature Author Interview #1 with Elise Cooper: The Book Of Joe by Joe Maddon and Tom Verducci

Book Description

Lessons in baseball enlightenment from three-time MLB Manager of the Year Joe Maddon.

No one sees baseball like Joe Maddon. He sees it through his trademark glasses and irrepressible wit. Raised in the “shot and beer” town of Hazleton, PA, and forged by 15 years in the minors, Maddon over 19 seasons in Tampa Bay, Chicago, and Anaheim has become one of the most successful, most colorful, and most quoted managers in Major League Baseball. He is a workplace culture expert, having engineered two of the most stunning turnarounds in the past quarter century: taking the Rays from the worst record in baseball one year to the World Series the next and leading the Cubs to their first World Series title in 108 years.

Like his teams, Maddon defies convention. He is part strategist, part philosopher, part sports psychologist, and part motivational coach. In THE BOOK OF JOE, Maddon gives readers unique insights into the game, including the tension between art and data, the changing role of managers as front offices gain power, why the honeymoon with the Cubs did not last, and what it’s like to manage the modern player, including stars such as Shohei Ohtani, Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, Yu Darvish, and Kris Bryant.

But you expect even more from a manager who meditates daily, admires Twain, and has only one rule when it comes to a team dress code: “If you think you look hot, wear it!” And Maddon delivers. Built on-old school values and new-school methods, his wisdom applies beyond the dugout. His mantras about leadership, mentorship, team building, and communication are meditations on life, not just baseball. Among those mantras are:

            “Do simple better.”
            “Try not to suck.”
“Don’t ever permit the pressure to exceed the
pleasure.”
            “See it with first-time eyes.”
            “Tell me what you think, not what you’ve heard.”

THE BOOK OF JOE is Maddon at his uniquely holistic best. It is a memoir of a fascinating baseball journey, an insider’s look at a changing game, and a guidebook on leadership and life.

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Elise’s Thoughts

The Book of Joe by Joe Maddon with Tom Verducci is a great read. He talks about his rise to become the baseball manager of the Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago Cubs, turning both teams around including a World Series victory for the Cubs, the first in 108 years. Maddon explains his style of being part strategist, part philosopher, part sports psychologist, and part motivational coach. Any fan of baseball will also enjoy his comments on how the game has changed, some for the better and some for the worse.

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Author Interview

Elise Cooper: Why did you gravitate to baseball managing?

Joe Maddon: I have managed twenty-three years including the Minors and the Majors. I tried to be a player but was told I was not good enough. Because I always wanted to get into the Big Leagues, I had to be a coach first. In 1981 I got into the scouting, coaching, and managing. I learned my craft.

EC: In the book you cover analytics. Do you agree with the quote in the book by former San Francisco Manager Bruce Bochy, who won three World Series?

“I came up with the more traditional way of managing. I made the calls. I made the lineups. The information is great, and I wanted it. It made the players better. It made the coaching better. But you still love to manage a game and have a feel for it. You need a balance. That’s what has gotten lost in the game.”

JM: I like the information. What I do not like is how the clubhouse has been infiltrated by analytical people who I believe hold more baseball power than actual coaches and managers. They are not held as accountable as a coach or manager even though they are supplying information that everyone wants us to utilize. I want it but it should be subservient to the game and not the other way around. It gets way too much credit for a victory instead of the good players.

EC: So how should it be used?

JM: When a team acquires players the information about them is important in deciding between this guy or that guy. It is wise to break down analytically what is valued in a player. It does help a lot on defense to determine where to put the players. There can be advantages with pitching in game planning. I do not think hitters benefit at all.

EC: Does the front office interfere during a game?

JM: This had not happened to me. When it comes down to analytical suggestions they do it as late as when a manager walks down to the dugout. There should be a league wide rule that analytical folks are not allowed in the clubhouse after 3 pm for a 7 pm game. Analysts should not be involved in meetings. They should give their information to the coach and then have the coaches give it to the players, not the analysts. The team should rely on a manager’s wisdom, feel, and experience. This is becoming archaic across the board in every profession.

EC: Let’s look at an example such as leftie on leftie or righty on righty?

JM: There is a lot of analytics involved with it. The third time through the batting order is a big part of it. It can be very devastating or detrimental to a guy if they take him out. What if that guy gets better in the latter part of the game. The analysts will back it up with numbers and data or argue back to front. I cannot disagree more. I believe that the analytics gets in the way of making a player great because the pitcher should be allowed to show they can pitch deep into a game. I know, just based on experience during a game, when a guy can go further, or he is at his Waterloo.

EC: What about the hitting coaches?

JM: The hitting coach has the toughest job in the game and are blamed way too much. Hitters have the greatest disadvantage regarding any part of the game. The pitchers are pro-active, while the hitters are re-active. The scouting reports can tell a pitcher exactly what the hitter is good at or not. This allows them to match up their strength against the hitter’s weakness or strength versus strength. Hitters get nothing out of this analytical world. To get better hitters then acquire, draft, and sign better hitters, with a track record of success.

EC: What is your managing style?

JM: My approach is different than anybody. I focus on different things. I like to have building blocks, relationships with the players, establish trust, and exchange ideas. I believe the greatest danger is not that our aim is too high, but it is not high enough. Simple is better. An overarching philosophy the more freedom given the better respect. I do not have rules except position players should run hard to first base and pitchers should always work on their defense. I think I am a “player’s manager.” I feel I am there to protect and defend my group. Praise publicly and criticize privately.

EC: Do you think there should be a robot umpire considering how many times they get the calling of balls and strikes wrong, including the first game of the Division series with Yu Darvish pitching?

JM: I was really impressed that Yu did not really react. I texted him to let him know how much I loved and appreciated his composure. It did not go his way, but he was able to handle the adversity. Umpires are going to make mistakes. I prefer not perfect baseball. The problem is that the umpires are analyzed more, especially with the strike zone boxes. Before umpires could do whatever they wanted. If they did not like a hitter the strike zone is going to get wide, and for a pitcher they did not like the strike zone was going to get small. This shows the human element involved. I think the scrutiny and criticism is good for the game. When I was growing up in Pennsylvania and went to a bar there were always arguments. Social media is now the latter-day bar room. I was talking to a player who had a great idea: the umpire has an earpiece, calls the balls, and strikes on his own, but is reminded that he got it wrong in real time. He gets corrected during the game just as a hitting and pitching coaches do. I prefer this to a robotic umpire.

EC: Should the ball be less lively?

JM: Yes. I am hoping it will bring the game back without the ball leaving the ballpark. The problem is with analytics everyone stills wants the home run. I prefer that guys learn to strike out less, bunting for a hit when appropriate, and have the hit and run come back. Basically, movement, action, and strategy.

EC: What about the shift?

JM: I was one of the first guys to do it. People need to identify if it will be problematic for a guy to hit the other way or bunt, before they get to the Big Leagues. It is very difficult to do on a Major League level, to make those kinds of adjustments. Left-handed pull hitters will have better numbers when the shift is removed.

EC: What about the pitch clock?

JM: I like it. It will quicken the game since pitchers will pitch quicker and hitters will be in the box quicker. The game has a better pace.

EC: What about the new rule that pitchers will be allowed to throw over to first base only twice?

JM: It does give the advantage to the runner. Remember, I had John Lester in Chicago, and he did not throw over to first base. Yet, we still controlled the running game through pitching. There are other things that can be done.

EC: What was it like managing two big Superstars, Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani?

JM: They are both great guys. Shohei and I would meet and decide what he can do and wanted to do. Did he need a day off or to pitch and hit on the same day? He is a joy. Mike Trout could have easily grown up in my hometown. He is a real solid guy with great parents. He has small town values. At the end of the year, he fixed a couple of things and looked good hitting.

EC: What do the Angels need to do to get Mike Trout to the playoffs?

JM: They started to do it this year. They have a lot of young guys I really like, nice starting pitching.

EC: Do you think that the injuries of the Angel players hurt you when managing them?

JM: We lost twelve in a row. Guys were struggling. We also had the best start at the beginning. We had a bad run with Mike and Shohei in a slump and our pitchers struggling. It was the imperfect storm. Guys just had a hard time all at once.

EC: What was it like to win the championship in 2002 with the Angels as a coach?

JM: It was the best moment of my life. It was a tough year for me personally with my dad passing away and I was going through a divorce. I was grateful to have that victory. I always wanted to be on the first Angel team that won the World Series. I have stayed in touch with a lot of guys.

EC: What is next on the horizon for Joe Maddon?

JM: I am an “in the present” kind of guy so promoting this book. I could manage again, more involved in the media, or open a restaurant, especially since I learned how to cook a pizza on a Weber grille that is outstanding. I believe in eyes open, ears open, and mouth shut to see what happens.

THANK YOU!!

***

Friday Feature Author Interview with Elise Cooper: Oath of Loyalty by Kyle Mills

Book Description

Mitch Rapp confronts a very different kind of killer in the explosive new thriller in Vince Flynn’s number one New York Times best-selling series, written by Kyle Mills.

With President Anthony Cook convinced that Mitch Rapp poses a mortal threat to him, CIA Director Irene Kennedy is forced to construct a truce between the two men. The terms are simple: Rapp agrees to leave the country and stay in plain sight for as long as Cook controls the White House. In exchange, the administration agrees not to make any moves against him.

This fragile détente holds until Cook’s power-hungry security adviser convinces him that Rapp has no intention of honoring their agreement. In an effort to put him on the defensive, they leak the true identity of his partner, Claudia Gould. As Rapp races to neutralize the enemies organizing against her, he discovers that a new generation of assassins is on her trail. A killer known to intelligence agencies only as Legion.

The shadowy group has created a business model based on double-blind secrecy. Neither the killer nor the client knows the other’s identity. Because of this, Legion can’t be called off nor can they afford to fail. No matter how long it takes – weeks, months, years – they won’t stand down until their target is dead. Faced with the seemingly impossible task of finding and stopping Legion, Rapp and his people must close ranks against a world that has turned on them.

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Elise’s Thoughts

Vince Flynn’s Oath of Loyalty by Kyle Mills explores the political world of today. Unlike books in the past with Mitch Rapp and Irene Kennedy, this book highlights a President that is at odds with Rapp and Kennedy and strives to eliminate them.

This plot has the whole team working together to save American democracy as well as each other. President Cook has forced Irene to resign, and the new CIA Director has convinced him that Mitch Rapp is a lethal threat. To get to Mitch they are seeking someone who will assassinate Claudia Gould, the person with whom Mitch has settled down. He along with Irene and Scott Coleman must neutralize this enemy. But Irene also must navigate a fine line, trying to convince Mitch not to go after an elected President and work somewhat within the system.

Between the riveting plotline and the team working together, fans of the series will be exuberant. They will not want to put the book down because this is a page-turner.

***

Author Interview

Elise Cooper: Is the arc finished with this book?

Kyle Mills: I wrapped up this plot line and will move to something else. The timing of it did not work out. It is based on the fall of American democracy, which can come from either side. I wish the American people would take their job seriously. If there are bad politicians, we voted for them so are they a reflection of who we are? These politicians make rules that they never intend to follow. The point of the book is that the American people need to pay more attention to what is happening instead of being increasingly apathetic. Probably because they are so comfortable.

EC: It was great to have the team in the plot?

KM: It is always fun to have the whole team involved and working together. It is tough going up against the President of the US. Certainly, Mitch could not go it alone with a frontal assault. Everyone used their skill set to resolve the issue.

EC: Is President Cook based on anyone such as Trump, Biden, or Gavin Newsom?

KM: Not Newsom because I do not follow California politics at all. I never gave him a second thought. I honestly had to look something up about him because a lot of people asked me. I did not know what his politics are. After all, I live in Wyoming. I never want to write a character that resembles a real person and am not interested in partisan politics. I try not to mention Republican versus Democrat. The character I wrote might have Trump supporters thinking I am beating up on Biden, and Biden supporters think I am beating up on Trump. He is not intended to be either person.

EC: How would you describe President Cook?

KM: Arrogant, paranoid, charismatic, autocratic, ruthless, exploits weakness, and thrives on division. This is a guy who seeks power. He will do anything for power. I put this book quote in by Irene, “They (the Cooks) are not concerned with outside powers, because they aren’t a threat to them. They’re much more concerned with internal enemies-political opponents, critics, and eventually the American people.”

EC: Irene was against this President?

KM: She told him to his face with this book quote, “You’ve never done anything to earn my admiration or loyalty, while Mitch has done nothing but. I violently oppose where you and your constituents want to take this country.” The Cooks after she resigned, did underestimate her. She is in a very difficult position. It was interesting to write because she was torn in what to do. She knew that there is always a push and pull because he was elected as the President. Irene and Mitch are patriots who believe in the American ideal.

EC: How would you describe the First Lady?

KM: Analytical, calculating, sometimes dispassionate, married for convenience, and enjoyed power. She is not Hillary Clinton. She keeps the President grounded. She is Irene’s equal. Irene recognizes her as being extremely formidable. I liked writing the interplay between those two. They understand each other because both have goals where they take logical paths to achieve them.

EC: How would you describe the new CIA Director Darren Hargrave?

KM: Arrogant, manipulative, and enjoys destroying people. He is sucked into the cult of Cook and that is all he cares about.

EC: Does Claudia represent the unsavory part of the intelligence work?

KM: She, Mitch, and Irene have two personalities. The normal person and the killer. Mitch and Irene have had to make horrible decisions throughout the series to protect Americans. But there are also friendships and family. Some actual friends of my family, operators, were warm and wonderful people. But their profession was to kill people. When undercover they must fit in. I try to keep the story realistic.

EC: The next book?

KM: I want to go back in the new book to where the characters do not fundamentally change. There will not be a big heavy arc. It will be more action oriented. Ward, the trillionaire, is not a big player in the next book. Mitch is the problem solver with the gun. Regarding Irene and Mitch, readers will have to wait and see where they go from here. In the first half, the book will be more about Mitch and then the last half he will be joined by the team.

THANK YOU!!

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Friday Feature Author Interview with Elise Cooper: A Wyoming Secret Proposal by Amy Vastine

Book Description

Can a secret Vegas wedding…
Survive in Wyoming?

Social media influencer Harper Hayes never wanted to marry. So how did drop-dead gorgeous cowboy Wyatt Blackwell end up as her husband in Vegas? Now Harper’s in Wyoming, trying to convince her gun-shy groom to stay married for at least a month so she can save face. But marrying a Wyoming Blackwell comes with a whole lot of complications. Especially when Harper falls for her handsome new husband…for real.

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Elise’s Thoughts

A Wyoming Secret Proposal by Amy Vastine is the second book in the The Blackwells of Eagle Springs compilation series. This is a sweet, enjoyable love story with a little bit of drama.

The story centers around Wyatt Blackwell, the youngest of five children. He was restless so he decides to find work in different parts of the US, to be a cowboy-for-hire working at different ranches throughout the western United States. After finishing his latest job before returning home, Wyatt and his buddies decide to stop in Las Vegas. There he meets Harper Hayes, a social media influencer. They meet, they get drunk, and get married. Unfortunately, neither one realizes they are married after sobering up.

To save face on her social media platforms, they’ve agreed to remain married for a month, but without telling each other’s family. She puts her trust in her stepfather and tells him about the marriage. From there everything blows up and readers wonder if Wyatt and Harper can maintain their relationship. There is also the continued story arc of how the Blackwells can save the ranch. Making appearances from the first book are Corliss, Wyatt’s older sister, their grandmother, Denny, and her brother, Big E.

This is a fun story with likeable and relatable characters. The plot is engaging and the banter between the characters will put a smile on reader’s faces.

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Author Interview

Elise Cooper: Idea for the story?

Amy Vastine: Since there are five of us writing the Blackwell books we work as a team. There is an over-arching story that goes across all five. We each pick a character and then figure out a way to put it into the overall story. I had the baby of the family as the one who never was tied down to the ranch. I wanted to write an accidental marriage for the romance. I also have adult children who helped guide me in how to write the twenty-something characters. This is where the whole social media influencer came from.

EC: How do you keep character continuity since other authors characters are in this story?

AV: It is super hard. We write the other characters ourselves because we all write the stories at the same time. We do email and text each other questions to make sure we get it right. I feel a lot of pressure to get the characters written correctly when they are not my babies. Once we finish our manuscript, we send it to each other. We encourage each other to search through it to find the names and make sure the scene and banter fits. Our editorial team is awesome because they will tell us, “I don’t think this is how the character would respond.” They will help guide us. We get good feedback because they are part of the whole big story. I enjoy how the other authors will help with scenes and banter at times.

EC: Why Vegas?

AV: It made it easy to have the accidental marriage because they give marriage licenses very quickly. I had them meet at a Blackjack table. It is the easiest card game for me to understand. My dad taught me the tricks to this card game.

EC: How would you describe Harper?

AV: Flamboyant, relentless, feisty, independent, and strong. But she tries to hide her insecurity because she never had anything permanent in her life. She comes off that she has everything together, but she still seeks approval.

EC: How would you describe Wyatt?

AV: Gentleman, responsible, kind, funny, a hard worker, and a wanderer. Basically, a cool guy with a quiet charm. He felt pigeon-holed in the small town, having lived there his entire life. He wanted to experience something new. He felt he was not his own person because he is known through his family.

EC: What about the relationship?

AV: They decide to stay in the marriage temporarily and pretend to help her out with her social media posts. This fits her old way of doing things. They are from opposite worlds. She is a fish out of water in the small town, much different than the fast-paced city she is used to. They discovered what they needed through each other. She helped him appreciate what he had in the small town, something he took for granted. He cared about her even after the first impression.

EC: What was the role of Brock and Serena?

AV: They are part of the larger plot, Harper’s stepfather, and mother. Brock is the first, most obvious bad guy in the story who wants to take the ranch away from the grandmother. He is our red herring. Serena is that mom who does not always do things correct but wants to be a good mother. She redeems herself and encourages Brock to redeem himself.

EC: Your next book?

AV: My first Christmas heartwarming comes out in late November. It is titled Christmas Wedding Crashers. There are two rival families. The senior most members of the family decide to get married. The younger generation, the hero and the heroine join forces to stop this marriage. In that process, they begin to fall for each other.

THANK YOU!!

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