BOOK CLUB FRIDAY--TO LOVE A SPY BOXED SET

Marie Higgins is a bestselling, multi-published author of Christian and sweet romance novels who writes about refined bad-boy heroes who make your heart melt and the feisty heroines who somehow manage to love them regardless of their faults.  Learn more about her and her books at her website.

Got to love a spy!!

What does it take to be a spy? How about a historical spy? Those of us who love a good spy story, always think of the spy being a man, especially in history. During my research while writing my latest release, Secrets and Lies, I learned quite a bit about women spies. My story is a Victorian romance, and takes place in New York City after the Civil War in 1870. Did you know there were many women spies during the Civil War? They needed to help their soldiers in some way in hopes of ending the war. Women could get away with being a spy, mainly because the men would never suspect a woman of being in espionage.

Secrets and Lies is about Nicole Bastian who works as a Secret Agent for President Ulysses S Grant.

On secret assignment from President Grant, Nicole Bastian is tasked with investigating a string of train robberies in which government money was stolen. The stakes are high and she is utterly devastated when she uncovers information that indicates the man of her dreams, Ashton Lee, one of the wealthy owners of Conrail, is the number one suspect. Desperate to remain cool and impartial, Nicole strives to keep her suspicions quiet until she learns what Ashton is keeping from her. At the same time, she’s determined to keep her own secrets from Ashton, hoping he never finds out.

Ashton Lee is immediately attracted to the woman he’d met at the masked ball. Unfortunately, there’s something not right about her, and he can’t put his finger on why he thinks this way. She’s mysterious, beautiful, but very secretive. Dare he allow her to soften his heart? And more importantly, will she understand why he keeps secrets from her?

Check out the book trailer.

Secrets and Lies boxed set BuyLink

Secrets and Lies is also in a boxed set with five other bestselling authors, titled To Love a Spy. All the authors have written historical romance stories dealing with spies.

To Love a Spy

A collection of wickedly suspenseful and wildly charming historical romances with bold heroes and dauntless heroines who must use unconventional methods to deliver justice—and hopefully find a love that proves a perfect fit for their hearts. The collection includes:

The Lieutenant’s Promise by Aileen Fish, USA Today and National bestselling author.

Caught in the path of an impending battle between approaching Federal and rebel troops, headstrong Em Gilmore clashes with handsome Lt. Lucas over keeping her family safe. 

Secrets and Lies by Marie Higgins, National bestselling author.

Love for the man of her dreams wasn't the only thing she was trying to hide. 

Blood for Ink by LL Muir, National bestselling author.

Northwick is determined to uncover the identity of The Scarlet Plumiere, a gossip writer who has exposed his friend to the ridicule of the ton. But if he unmasks her, she's as good as dead... 

Anna and the Conductor by Bess McBride, National bestselling author. Amid the ravages of the American Civil War, abolitionist Anna Douglas and a mysterious Underground Railroad conductor risk their freedom and lives to carry others to safety. Can their newfound love survive the chaos and destruction of war? 

Love, Lies, Traitors, and Spies by Melissa Lynn Blue, National bestselling author.

The last year has harbored little more than horror and loss for Juliet Jackson, but when her fiancé, Cole Turner, shows up one night claiming to have information that will end the war she is faced with a rare opportunity to take control of her own destiny. The only problem is that Cole is serving as a Union army spy, and Juliet is a staunch Virginian... 

The Mapmaker's Wife by Kathy L Wheeler, National bestselling author.

A flippant proposal and an attack on her person finds one young woman married to the mapmaker who only needs someone to take control of his ungovernable child. Feelings quickly shift into something less platonic and when the enemy gains vital secrets, her suspicions land her in jail.

To Love a Spy boxed set BuyLink (ONLY 99 CENTS!)

TRAVEL IN THE AMAZON WITH GUEST AUTHOR MARIE HIGGINS

Marie Higgins is a best-selling, multi-published author of sweet romance; from refined bad-boy heroes who make your heart melt to the feisty heroines who somehow manage to love them regardless of their faults. Learn more about Marie and her books at her website/blog. 

Amazon’s Magical Rainforest

Many years ago, I read a romance novel set in the Amazon jungle, from one of those book-of-the-month clubs. At first, I didn’t think I would like the story, but it didn’t take long before I was pulled into the Amazon rainforest’s magical world. I remember reading about the exotic creatures in the jungle, the heat, and the dangers one can face, and this combination kept me enthralled until the very end of the story.

I was thinking of my next story, and I wanted something unique. I enjoy writing romances with suspense and a little adventure, but this time I wanted something completely different from what I’ve ever done before. Then I remembered that book I had read so long ago. What a perfect choice for my next story, a romance adventure in the Amazon Rainforest.

However, writing a story in that kind of setting would take a lot of research. But I enjoy research—I enjoy discovering new things about history or the world, so this story became a challenge for me. The first thing I wanted to know was how hot the rainforest got. After all, my characters are from the late 1800’s, so it’s not like they can put on a pair of shorts and halter-top and wear a pair of sandals. In my research, I found that the rainforest’s average temperature is 77 degrees Fahrenheit. In the winter it’s 40 degrees. It rains on average from 130 to 250 days per year. Because humidity stays at a constant 80 percent, this is what keeps the rainforest living in like a ‘greenhouse’ effect.

Next in my research, I wanted to know what kinds of animals or any other form of creatures were dangerous, because naturally, I want something to happen to my characters that introduces vulnerability into the story. Crocodiles are always dangerous, so of course I had to add a few in this particular romance. The jaguar is the largest cat in the jungle and extremely dangerous…but aren’t they beautiful? The jungle has all kinds of snakes, so I used the Emerald Boa and the Coral. The jungle also has monkeys. I needed aggressive monkeys in my story, so I used the Howler monkey.

Another fascinating tidbit I found in my research was about the colorful frogs. The rainforest has some spectacular amphibians, but what I learned was the more colorful the frogs were—the more dangerous they can be. Not only is their bite venomous, but their skin is as well.  

I needed herbal plants…both good and bad, and I especially wanted to know what kind of reaction a person might have when they eat these herbs. Naturally, in the rainforest in the late 1800’s, there isn’t going to be a doctor’s office around every street corner. This means that herbal plants needed to be close at hand. I wanted to know what kind of food my characters could find in the jungle. Thankfully, there was a variety I could choose from; Maracuja (passion fruit), Bacaba (this one needs to be cooked before eaten), Kiwi, Papaya, Mango, and thankfully, nuts and seeds.

Out of everything I discovered about the Amazon Rainforest, my favorite had to be the waterfalls—not just one but several! This would be the only reason I would venture into the rainforest, because I adore waterfalls. Naturally, because I write sweet romance, you know there’s going to be a waterfall scene—or two.

I’ve learned so much about the rainforest, it really is magical!

All of these things I’ve mentioned (and more that I haven’t mentioned) help make my sweet romance, Amazon Sunset, a spell-binding, on-the-edge-of-your-seat book. I invite you to watch the book trailer, which gives you an idea of what my story is about. http://youtu.be/b4CtWmHz1Ic

I had so much fun writing Amazon Sunset, I decided I’m going to write two other books and put them in a series. So book #1 is Amazon Sunset, book #2 is Amazon by Moonlight, and book #3 is Amazon at Twilight. I can’t wait to write those other two stories. I know I’ll find more things to research and have just as much fun as I did with book #1.

Amazon Sunset

Katrina Landon’s life is about to change. The wealthy father she has never known wants to meet her. All she has to do is travel from the slums of Boston to Brazil. Her trek begins at the edge of the Amazon rainforest, and she'll journey from there to his rubber tree plantation. If that's not bad enough, she meets her guide—the handsome, too self-assured for his own good—Mr. Knightly, and immediately, he stirs her temper.

Felix Knightly isn’t looking forward to escorting who he assumes is a spoiled rich girl through the jungle, no matter how much her father pays.  He is shocked to find Katrina's distracting innocence, and charming demeanor makes it nearly impossible to concentrate on his job. He’d rather fight off the fire ants, howler monkeys and crocodiles than risk losing his heart to her.

As they delve deeper into the rainforest, they discover nothing is as it seems.  It's more than the unseen dangers of the jungle.  Someone wants them dead. Will Katrina and Felix solve the mystery before it's too late?

Buy Link