Welcome to my blog today, Laura Haley-McNeil.
Laura Haley-McNeil is an award-winning author of romantic suspense and women’s fiction in novel length and in short stories. Her work has been featured in several women’s magazines. She has studied piano and ballet and has been a board member for two community orchestras. She and her husband reside in Colorado. When she isn’t writing, she jogs, bicycles and crochets.
Today, I’m featuring book 5 in her Crystal Creek Series. Be sure and check out all of Laura’s books and follow her on social media.
A novel of suspense, revenge and a love so deep that it can only be released through forgiveness.
Hollywood producer Trent Parker has one goal – to own the film option for the breakout novel Sunset in Maui. His problem? Actress turned producer Charisse Whitloch. She’ll do anything to produce the film. Trent can stop her, but not without getting close to her, a bond he can’t risk.
Charisse has found the film project that will prove she’s her own woman – not her father’s daughter. One person stands in her way – Trent Parker. She’s faced opposition before, but she isn’t prepared for Trent. Her charisma has softened Hollywood’s hardest hearts, but is she a match for Trent’s heart of stone?
Trent’s defenses against Charisse crumble – loving her will heal the darkness in his soul and open the door to a secret he buried long ago. When Charisse is threatened, she and Trent face her adversaries. They piece together a plot more sinister than any Hollywood movie, but the key to their survival lies in Trent’s past – the key that will lead to Trent’s destruction.
Guarding Her Heart is the 1st book in the Crystal Creek Series~Crystal Creek Christmas Book #2~A Ring Around Her Heart #3~Steeling Her Heart #4~Risking Her Heart #5~Crystal Creek Boxed Set Books 1 – 3
Want more romantic suspense? Download a free short story: http://www.laurahaleymcneil.com
Let’s get to know Laura better through the questions she chose for Five on Friday.
How did you get started writing?
I have always written. I love expressing myself through the written word. I love words! I love word images and word feelings. Language is an amazing gift and words can create amazing feelings and visuals. In high school, I took a creative writing class and knew I had found my niche. My parents, however, directed me toward a more secure career, but I never forgot my love of writing. I have tried off and on over the years to have books published which was so difficult I gave up all hope, but then I discovered self-publishing and that really clicked for me. I was so glad I could actually publish a book the way I wanted.
Ann: Since I am a big supporter of self/indie publishing, I think you made the right choice. Having control over our books is important since we put in all the work!
What genre(s) do you write in and why?
I write romantic suspense because I love romance and I love mysteries. I love strong heroes who know what they want and know how to get it, and I love strong females who can stand against anyone. I especially love it when they stand up to the hero and the dilemma is between saving the day or saving the relationship. Saving the day may be the only choice but then what becomes of the hero and heroine? You have to turn the page to find out.
Ann: I agree. There is nothing better than a good romance with strong characters.
Tell us about your current series.
During the summers, when I was young, my father would take us to the mountain ranch where he grew up. We loved it there. We loved riding horses and fishing and hiking. Those summers were special to us and when I was trying to decide on a series, I thought a ranch would be the perfect setting. I tweaked it a little bit and added the Arabian horse training, and then, of course, each book has romance and mystery.
Ann: Sounds like you had great childhood adventures and those always make for good stories!
What is your next project and when will it be released?
I’m working on two projects right now, which is a little nerve racking. I sent the manuscript for the sixth book in the Crystal Creek series to my editor and received her comments back the other day, so now I’m going through the manuscript trying to decide what I want to change and what I want to keep. I hope to release this book by the end of the summer. I’m also participating in a boxed set with twenty other authors. This boxed set will be released in November. My contribution will be a novella but it will introduce my next series. Also set in Colorado, this series focuses on college graduates as they make their way into the world. I’m very excited about that and can’t wait to release it.
Ann: Boxed sets are so popular right now with two benefits. Readers get a lot of books for little money, and authors get the best opportunity to make the USA Best Seller List…so good luck in that endeavor!
Tell us about your hero. Give us one of his strengths and one of his weaknesses.
Trent Parker came from nothing but was never one to settle. He climbed his way up the Hollywood ladder starting with walk-on parts while he waited tables and shoveled asphalt until he had enough money to form his own production company. At last, he has everything he wants: He owns Hollywood. Every A-list star wants to work for him. But he doesn’t have one thing – the option for the breakout novel, Sunset in Maui. Charisse Whitloch owns that. He’ll do anything to get that option, but the only way to accomplish that is by getting close to Charisse. If he does, it will destroy him.
Ann: Sounds interesting! I’ll be on the lookout for it. Thank you, Laura, for sharing your series with my readers!
Risking Her Heart Book Links
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071KYD2C3
Kobo
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/risking-her-heart-5
Barnes and Noble
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/risking-her-heart-laura-haley-mcneil/1126310900;jsessionid=D043281AE1D9BA63F12686D6D596B12D.prodny_store01-atgap01?ean=2940154206836
iBooks
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1231808198
