Calloway Brothers/Copper Lake

This didn’t start as a series. I wanted to do a fun little suspense set on the gulf coast before/during a hurricane. But as so often happens, other characters popped up in the background – in this case, the hero’s half-brother. We didn’t even see him in the book, but I kept thinking about him – he was undercover tending bar in a strip club - and sure enough, as soon as the first book was done, I started on the brother’s story. Turned out they had two more brothers. And lots of friends.

FYI: while brainstorming titles for the hurricane book, BF Susan Shay came up with my favorite, BLOW ME. Unfortunately, it didn’t fly with New York.

The books:

ONE STORMY NIGHT, 2007

Mitch and Jessica. He’s an undercover special agent with the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, and she’s masquerading as her twin sister, searching for evidence Jen had secreted against her corrupt sheriff/husband.

FORBIDDEN STRANGER, 2008

Rick and Amanda. Rick’s still working at that strip joint, where Amanda dances. He’s investigating the disappearance of several dancers from the club, while she’s just trying to make it until her new career – college instructor! – begins.

INTIMATE ENEMY, 2008

Russ and Jamie. Jamie’s got a secret admirer, whose actions are going quickly from flattering to creepy. After an attack on her dog, Sasha, she moves in with Russ for protection. They used to be lovers, but have hardly spoken since she represented his ex-wife in their nasty divorce. But, of course, the sparks are still there.

SCANDAL IN COPPER LAKE, 2009

Robbie and Anamaria. He’s a lawyer; she’s a psychic with a fondness for lawyer jokes. He believes only what he can see or touch; she knows there are infinite possibilities in the universe. He’s the spoiled youngest son of an old slave-holding Southern family; she’s white, black, Asian, Latina. Oh, and they’re one more thing: meant for each other.

PASSION TO DIE FOR, 2009

Tommy and Ellie. The detective and the deli owner have been on-again, off-again practically since the day they met. Right now they’re off . . . until a stranger appears in town and turns things upside down. Ellie becomes a suspect in a murder – and the target of the real murderer.

Criminal Decpetion 2010

Joe’s introduced in PTDF; he owns A Cuppa Joe, the gourmet coffee shop on the square. Liz is new to town, but not Joe; he knows her as his brother’s girlfriend. He doesn’t know, though, that she’s a deputy US marshal, or that the girlfriend thing was all a sham.

In the works:

· A.J. and Masiela (A.J.’s intro’ed in PTDF)

· Nev/Charlotte and Ty (Charlotte’s intro’ed in SICL).