Launch Day For Author Marie Force

It’s my pleasure to welcome author Marie Force back to Thoughts in Progress today as the guest blogger, especially on this very special day for her.

Today - Monday, Jan. 3 - is LAUNCH DAY for Marie’s latest release in the new Fatal Series. FATAL JUSTICE, book 2 in the series, is released today. Marie joins us to talk about her book launch and she has a special surprise in store for those commenting on her post.

Thank you so much for having me today—launch day for FATAL JUSTICE, book 2 in my new Fatal Series. Supreme Court nominee Julian Sinclair, a close friend of our hero, U.S. Senator Nick Cappuano, has come to town expecting to be confirmed to the high court. Instead, he’s found murdered, plunging Washington, D.C. homicide detective Sam Holland into another high-profile that case that once again involves Nick, her significant other.

Sam and Nick, newly in love and trying to navigate the fishbowl of Washington, have a lot to grapple with in this second book of what I hope will be a long-running series profiling their many adventures in the nation’s capitol.

In this book, Sam also hunts down some new leads into her father’s unsolved shooting. Two years earlier, Deputy Chief Skip Holland was shot during a routine traffic stop and left a quadriplegic. His case haunts his daughter and puts her in grave danger in Fatal Justice.

Here’s an excerpt that features a scene with Sam and her dad:

She closed the phone and found her father watching her.
“What does Reese have to do with my case?”
Her stomach clenched with pain. “Let’s go out in the hallway.”
Skip followed her out of the room.
Sam willed herself to stay calm, to take deep breaths, and to keep her stomach out of the equation.
Skip looked up at her expectantly. “Tell me.”
“We found stuff in his house. Newspaper articles, pictures—”
“About the shooting?”
She nodded.
“And when were you planning to tell me this?”
“When I knew more. I didn’t want to get your hopes up until I was sure.”
“It’s a good thing I can’t throttle you right now.”
“For what? Wanting to protect you from more disappointment?”
“I want him caught, Sam. I really do. But once he’s behind bars, I’ll still be in this chair. Nothing’s going to change for me.”
“How can you stand knowing he’s out there living his life when you’re trapped in hell? How can you stand it?”
“What choice do I have? I’ve got the best detective in this city looking for the guy. I know she’s going to get him one of these days. Beyond that, I don’t give it much thought to be honest with you.”
She stared at him. What was with the men in her life tonight? “You don’t give it much thought?” Tossing up her hands, she said, “It’s all I think about.”
“That’s because you have the ability to actually do something about it. I don’t.”Fixating on the wall behind him, she recalled all the near misses and dead ends she’d pursued over the last two years. “Every time I think we’re getting close, it turns into nothing. I constantly feel like I’m letting you down. I hate that.”
“Sam, you’ve never let me down. Not once in your whole life. I know you’ll get him. And when you do, we’ll have the biggest party to celebrate. The biggest party ever.”
Back in the day, Skip Holland’s parties had been the stuff of legend.
Sam bent to rest her head on his shoulder. “I’ll look forward to that. Might be sooner than we think if we can just find that bastard Reese. He’s got two cops to account for now, not to mention his family.”
“You’ll keep me posted?”
“Yeah.” She raised her head to meet his eyes. “I’m sorry I kept it from you.”
“And you won’t do it again?”
“No.”
“No matter what happens?”
She squeezed the finger that retained sensation. “I promise.”
I’m really excited to get FATAL JUSTICE out to readers today! You can find it at http://ebooks.carinapress.com under the Romantic Suspense tab. This is the start of a big year for Sam and Nick. Coming up in February, we’ll be asking readers to help us plan their wedding. Watch my website (www.mariesullivanforce.com) and blog (http://mariesullivanforce.blogspot.com) for more information about how you can participate in the wedding planning and qualify to win some great prizes.

Then in July, watch for book 3, FATAL CONSEQUENCES. In September, we’ll release the Fatal wedding novella, FATAL DESTINY, and then comes FATAL FLAW in February 2012.

I’m happy to take any questions readers might have about the Fatal Series or any of my other books, including my Feb. 1 print release, EVERYONE LOVES A HERO. Sam and Nick are also happy to take questions!

If you want to talk writing, parenting teenagers, puppies and senior citizens, I’m your girl. If you want to talk about the new season of the Bachelor and whether Brad will actually choose someone this time around, bring it on!

I’ll give away a copy of FATAL JUSTICE to one commenter. Thanks again for having me!

Marie, it’s always a pleasure to have you stop by Thoughts in Progress and learn about your latest writing. Sounds like this is going to be an intriguing series with some fun along the way.

For a bit of background on Marie and her writing. She is the author of FATAL AFFAIR (June 2010) and FATAL JUSTICE (Jan. 2011), Books 1 and 2 in her new Fatal Series from Harlequin’s Carina Press. Book 3, FATAL CONSEQUENCES, is coming in July 2011, FATAL DESTINY in September 2011 and FATAL FLAW in February 2012.

“This novel is ‘The O.C. does D.C.,’ and you just can’t get enough.” (RT Book Reviews, 4.5 stars for FATAL AFFAIR). In its July 2010 issue, RT Book Reviews named Marie a “Future Star of Romantic Suspense.”

Marie is the author EVERYONE LOVES A HERO (Feb. 2011), LINE OF SCRIMMAGE (Sept. 2008) and LOVE AT FIRST FLIGHT (July 2009).

Of LINE OF SCRIMMAGE, Booklist said, “With its humor and endearing characters, Force’s charming novel will appeal to a broad spectrum of readers, reaching far beyond sports fans.” Wild on Books said, “LOVE AT FIRST FLIGHT by Marie Force is most definitely a keeper. It is an astounding book. I loved every single word!”

Marie is also the author of TRUE NORTH and THE FALL, available as ebooks via Amazon.com and Smashwords.

Since 1996, Marie has been the communications director for a national organization similar to RWA. She is a member of RWA’s New England, From the Heart and Published Author Special Interest Chapters.

While her husband was in the Navy, Marie lived in Spain, Maryland and Florida, and she is now settled in her home state of Rhode Island. She is the mother of Emily, 15, Jake, 12, and a feisty dog named Brandy.

Find her at www.mariesullivanforce.com, on her blog at http://mariesullivanforce.blogspot.com, where she runs the popular weekly Romance & Oreos Book Club, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Marie-Force/248130827909, and on Twitter at twitter.com/MarieForce. Marie loves to hear from readers. Contact her at marie@marieforce.com.

Remember to leave your e-mail address with your comments if it’s not included in your profile just in case you are the winner of FATAL JUSTICE.