Today's Special - - V.K. Sykes

It's my pleasure to welcome two of my favorite people back to The Romance Dish today. Historical romance author Vanessa Kelly and her husband Randy comprise the contemporary and romantic suspense writing team of V.K. Sykes.  Vanessa and Randy join us today to celebrate the release of the fifth book in their USA Today Bestselling The Philadelphia Patriots contemporary romance series. You can find more information about V.K. Sykes books at their website and connect with them online at Facebook and Twitter.  You can also find information about Vanessa's historical romances at her website and connect with her online at Facebook and Twitter.    

Hi Vanessa and Randy!  Welcome back!  It's always a pleasure to host you here at TRD.

Summer has arrived which means baseball season is in full swing, the perfect time to launch the newest title in your Philadelphia Patriots contemporary romance series.  Please tell our readers what they can expect from Payoff Pitch. 

Hi PJ and Andrea – thanks so much for hosting us at one of our favorite spots on the web!  Payoff Pitch is book 5 in our USA Today Bestselling series of sports romances about a pro baseball team, the Philadelphia Patriots.  What readers can expect from this book is a very alpha, sexy hero with a heart of gold, and a strong-minded but slightly insecure heroine who is working hard to support herself and save up for law school.  Noah and Teddy come from very different worlds, and it’s a challenge for both of them to reconcile how they live and what they believe in.  So, it’s probably a little more angsty than some of the earlier books—it has a bit of a New Adult vibe—but it’s also a very sexy story, too.  These two are really hot for each other!

Would you like to share an excerpt from Payoff Pitch?

Sure!  In this scene, the hero (Noah Cade) is going to pick up two dogs he’s just adopted.  Teddy Quinn, a dog walker and our heroine, is along for the ride to help him.

Noah could hardly believe how fantastic—mouth-watering, really—Teddy Quinn looked with the wind streaming though her coppery hair as they rocketed down I-95 with the Cadillac Escalade’s windows cranked down. He’d borrowed the loaded SUV from his buddy, teammate Nick Rome, since there was no way he could fit two huge dog crates into his BMW.

Though the wind noise was practically deafening, Teddy had asked him to shut off the AC and open the windows so she could breathe the clean air of an unusually fresh June evening. Ever since he picked her up at her place in Manayunk, he’d been fighting to keep his attention on the road. Her white shorts showed off her slim, athletic legs, and the tight red tank top left little to the imagination when it came to the upper half of her body. Earlier, she’d covered her shoulders with a light sweater, but now it lay folded in her lap, exposing a lot of smooth, pale skin and a cute dusting of freckles for his gaze to lock onto.

Noah had hoped in vain that Cristina might suck it up and accompany him to the airport to meet the dogs’ flight because he figured he could use some help to get them loaded up and safely home. But the housekeeper had balked. For the first time since she’d come to work for him, they’d had a heated argument and, for once, Noah had matched Cristina’s voluble temper. Still, she’d been adamant, and when Noah persisted she’d practically shouted that he should take along “that girl” if he couldn’t handle a couple of dogs by himself. Noah had winced at what might be a slur on his manhood, but what really got to him was Cristina’s tone of voice when she said “that girl”. It gave Noah serious worries about future relationships in his house.

Cristina hadn’t even met Teddy yet, but apparently she’d already conceived an irrational dislike of her. He’d humor her for now and see how the situation evolved. But as much as he appreciated Cristina’s work, he wouldn’t tolerate discord in his home from an employee that he paid damn well and treated almost like family. He needed Teddy, as was obvious from tonight’s little outing.

“This should be fun.” Teddy smiled as she turned her head toward him. Her hair whipped across her face in a stream of red shot through with gold, and she took a moment to push it back. “Thanks for including me in the welcoming party.”

Noah shook his head as he took the exit ramp for the airport parking garage. “No, I’m the one who should be thanking you. I wasn’t thrilled about having to wrangle two dogs and their crates by myself, and I wouldn’t even broach the subject with Cristina.” He’d decided to use that small lie since Teddy didn’t need to know about the confrontation he’d had with his housekeeper. “I’m just glad you were free tonight. Free in both senses, apparently, though I would have been more than happy to pay you for your time, like I said.”

Teddy dismissed that with a wave and a dazzling smile. “Think of tonight as an introductory special for a new client. Besides, it makes a lot of sense that the dogs see us together as soon as they get out of their crates. They’re going to have to get used to seeing a lot of both of us, right?”

“Oh, yeah,” he agreed, “an awful lot.”

And maybe in some interesting positions, too, with a little luck.

Okay, he’d like to think that particular thought had come out of nowhere, but he’d be lying. He wondered if she’d had any of the same lustful thoughts he’d been having since the day they chased down Buster. He thought maybe she had, since she always seemed a little flustered around him.

As Noah pulled into Garage C, Teddy’s pink mouth turned down at the corners. “I can’t stop thinking about your aunt. It must have been so wrenching for her to say goodbye to Toby and Sadie today. I can’t even imagine having to go through that.”

He grimaced. “Aunt Roz called me early this morning to tell me her friend and the dogs had hit the road for Dallas to catch the direct flight. She was pretty broken up.” Noah had been forced to brush away a tear himself after the short conversation. “I promised her again that I’d do everything I could to keep her darlings well and happy. And I made a point of letting her know that I’d hired a truly loving and responsible person to take care of them when I’m gone.” He gave her the warmest smile he could. “She was some happy about that, believe me.”

Teddy momentarily dropped her gaze as a blush of color spread over her face. “I appreciate that, Noah, but you don’t really know me. I’m not sure why you’d have that kind of confidence in me yet, especially after the Buster affair.”

He squeezed the Escalade into an empty slot on the first level and turned to her. She watched him with an earnest, almost wary expression in her eyes. “I know you enough, Teddy. For one thing, I saw firsthand how much you cared for Buster. And I saw how the dog reacted to you. That told me all I need to know when it comes to trusting you with my aunt’s dogs. It was a crazy day, and you handled everything really well. That was enough of a job interview for me.”

Her smile lit up her cute face as she glanced down at her elbow, no longer swathed in bandages but still obviously far from healed. “Then I guess this was a small price to pay for a great opportunity, huh?”

“I’m glad you think so,” Noah said as he got out of the car.

Opportunity? Teddy wasn’t his usual type—plus she was his new employee—but for some reason it felt like most of the opportunities in the current situation were his. And that was way more appealing than it should be.

***

You threw a mighty big – and very volatile - obstacle in the path of our hero and heroine’s happy ending in this book.  What is it about Noah and Teddy that convinced you they could overcome their differences and achieve that happy ever after?  

They’re both kind and responsible people who share a tendency to put the needs of others first.  That helped them get past their ideological differences and discover an emotional resolution to their problems.

Payoff Pitch is the fifth book in your Philadelphia Patriots series.  What is it about the athlete hero that appeals to you as a writer?  

Randy is a baseball fanatic and is incredibly knowledgeable about the sport, so it’s a world he’s really comfortable writing about. For me, I like the idea of these super-fit, sometimes slightly spoiled alpha males who live in this rarified environment. It’s always fun to see what happens when you give them smart, take-no-crap heroines who push them out of their comfort zones.

Noah wasn’t the only male who stole my heart in this book.  There were a few four-legged characters, and one in particular, that I’d be happy to have follow me home.  Is Toby based on a real-life dog or is he a product of your imagination?  Are there any four-legged creatures that share your life? 

Toby is based on a real life dog—my last standard poodle, also named Toby.  Honestly, he’s a ringer for my old guy, who died some years back.  Randy also used to be a dog breeder so there’s very little he doesn’t know about dogs. Sadly, Toby was my last dog since we now live in a condo.  But there’s a family dog—a lovely Norwegian Elkhound—and we do get to babysit him on occasion.

Will there be more Philadelphia Patriots books?

Yes, we have the first draft of the next book—the hero is a catcher.

Let’s talk about the two of you for a bit.

Summer is a great time for picnics and get-togethers.  If the Patriots players and their families invited you to a potluck picnic what dish would you bring?  Which of you would do the cooking or, like your writing, would it be a team effort?  

Randy, who is super-competent at almost everything, is kind of a disaster in the kitchen.  He does have one dish he’s good at—chili—but that’s probably too hot for the summer.  I think I’d make my mother’s macaroni salad recipe.  I LOVED it growing up—it’s so simple and still so good.

I love loading up my Kindle and relaxing on the beach while I catch up with oodles of great summer books.  Where’s your favorite summer place to read and relax?  What books are on your summer reading list?

We have a nice balcony on our condo, which is lovely in the late afternoon when the sun is off it.  I’m on a bit of a historical binge right now—I’m currently reading Vixen in Velvet by Loretta Chase, and next up is the last MacKenzie book by Jennifer Ashley and one of the Amelia Peabody mysteries.

Earlier this year, you released Lethal Confessions, a gritty romantic suspense novel, also with a baseball connection.  Do you have more romantic suspense novels planned?  Will you be taking readers back to south Florida anytime soon?  

We actually have a completed draft of the sequel to Lethal Confessions.  We’re hoping to get that out sometime within the next six months, or so.  Lots of books to work on!!

Thank you so much for visiting with us today.  Would you like to ask our readers a question?

I’d like to know if they watch summer sports, and who’s their favorite athlete!  Two people who comment will win digital copies of our Philadelphia Patriots anthology, which contains the first 3 books in the series.

He’s a billionaire ballplayer…

Noah Cade, pitcher for the Philadelphia Patriots, has big problems. He’s recovering from a serious injury and he’s just been saddled with his sick aunt’s crazy dogs. Then there’s his dad, a wealthy oilman who wants Noah to retire from baseball and step into his shoes as CEO of the family corporation. All Noah wants is to pitch again and help his team win the World Series, but his family keeps dragging him in the opposite direction.

She’s a small town girl…

Teddy Quinn moved to the city to start a dog walking business for rich people, hoping the income will pay for law school and help her fight the oil corporations drilling the county where she grew up. When Noah Cade hires her as a full-time dog sitter for his high-energy pets, it seems like the answer to Teddy’s financial woes. But the boundaries get blurred when she starts falling for her boss, who uses all his formidable charm to lure her into his bed.

When Teddy discovers Noah’s father owns Baron Energy, she’s devastated. How can she work for—or love—a man whose family stands for everything she hates?

Payoff Pitch is currently available in e-book format for only 99 cents!  Buy links follow:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1jD2UCv

Nook:  http://bit.ly/1qagZgr

iTunes: http://bit.ly/V2UwGL

Kobo: http://bit.ly/TwEX8T

Smashwords:  http://bit.ly/1z2pcY3

Today's Special - - V.K. Sykes

It's my pleasure to welcome two of my favorite people to The Romance Dish today!  Please say hello to historical romance author Vanessa Kelly and her husband, Randy Sykes.  Together, they form the writing team known as V.K. Sykes, creators of romantic suspense and single title contemporary romance novels.  Their newest book, Lethal Confessions is a gritty, emotionally charged, romantic suspense story set in the South Florida world of minor league baseball and one I highly recommend.  

You can discover more information about V.K. Sykes and their books at their website and connect with them online at Facebook and Twitter.  


Welcome, Vanessa and Randy!  Congratulations on the release of Lethal Confessions!  Please tell our readers what they can expect from this book.  

Lots of chills and thrills and a great love story - we hope!  Luke and Amy, our hero and heroine, are strong, capable people who are very good at what they do.  They also both carry deep emotional wounds-especially Amy-that they must overcome in order to establish a trusting relationship.  And they have to do it while on the trail of a really dangerous killer who's after Amy's family.

While the tone of this book is different from your contemporary romance novels, the story still has a strong baseball connection.  Who is the baseball fan in this writing partnership?  What is it about professional baseball that makes it a good backdrop for your books?

Randy is the baseball fan.  He follows the major and minor leagues; he's always been interested in the difficult path most players must travel through the minors as they struggle to make it all the way to the majors. That's one of the reasons why we picked a minor league baseball setting for Lethal Confessions.

Pro baseball also makes an interesting backdrop for several reasons. For one, the players are visually accessible and fans often sit very close to the field, especially in smaller stadiums.  Unlike sports like football and hockey, where players are helmeted and padded, baseball stars can be easily recognized, and that seems to create an additional bond with fans.  Also, the stakes are enormous for players, who are expected to perform at a consistently high level or face public and management criticism that can really trash a career. For many pros, baseball has been their whole life, and they can't conceive of what they'll do without it, even though they know the journey will end--and in most cases far too soon.  Finally, as with most pro athletes, outsized egos are often involved, and clashes with heroines are therefore inevitable!

The villain of this book is a truly scary character. What's it like as a writer to create a serial killer?  Do you find yourself being frightened by your own creation?  (Because, as a reader, I can assure you this character sure scared me!)

This is a very interesting question, PJ.  We wanted to create a serial killer who was convinced he was murdering for all the right reasons-out of necessity really.  In his delusional mind, he's a vigilante exacting justice.  He's also a man who-like most serial killers-passes for completely normal to those around him, and yet carries in him the ability to kill in cold blood and inflict unimaginable pain while doing so.  So, yes, even though we created him and obviously scripted every move he makes, re-reading those draft scenes often brought chills because we believed this guy could be real.  (P.S. Vanessa, here.  The killer in this book scared the hell out of me!)

Right there with you, Vanessa. What I found so scary about him was that he did appear completely normal when he wasn't in killer mode.  I confess, it had me giving my new neighbors second looks!
   
Amy and Luke are characters with whom I connected immediately.  What would you like readers to understand about these two?

We wanted to create strong, self-aware characters who are also very much a product of their backgrounds and personal histories. Amy, in particular, sees herself as something of an outsider. She was born and raised in Francophone Quebec, reluctantly moving with her parents to Florida when she was a teenager.  She's adapted well to life in the South , but part of her will never be completely at home in Florida.  Amy must also struggle with a lot of guilt regarding the death of her twin sister, and she needs to make peace with herself before she can move ahead in her relationship with Luke.  Fortunately, Luke is a very patient, compassionate guy!

In May, you released Curveball, the fourth book in your sexy, USA Today Bestselling Philadelphia Patriots series.  Will you continue to write straight contemporary romance as well as your new romantic suspense books?  Will there be more Philadelphia Patriots books?  

It's certainly our intention to keep writing straight contemporary romance, as well as romantic suspense. We're working right now on a three-book contemporary series set on a small island off the coast of Maine. Grand Central will be publishing this series in print starting in early 2015. And, yes, the Philadelphia Patriots have a lot more games left to play, both on and off the field! The next book in the series should be out around the beginning of 2014, but we have plans for several more.  We hope Nate Carter can keep pitching for a very long time.

I hope so too!  And that trilogy set off the coast of Maine sounds very intriguing.  

What is it like to co-author books with your spouse?  Do you have a certain writing process that you follow?  What happens if you have different visions of the direction your story should take?

Though co-authorship is a bit unusual, especially in the romance genre, it works well for us, probably because we've gradually established roles that are by now quite well-defined.  Our writing process starts with brainstorming the broad aspects of a plot and the key characters. Randy then writes an outline which we discuss and finalize as a guide but not a straight-jacket. After that, Randy writes the first draft beginning to end, but leaving out the steamy scenes.  Then it's over to Vanessa to add, subtract, and polish the manuscript, ensuring that there are no crazy "a woman would never do that!" moments.  Let's just say that Randy's drafts, while sometimes poignant, are not generally the most emotional scenes in the history of the English language! Shocking, really, for a guy, isn't it?  As to different visions, we generally sort that out before we start writing, and Vanessa always wins.

Which is why you're still happily married, I'm guessing?  *grin*




Vanessa, you also write historical romance as Vanessa Kelly. What's next from your historical persona?  

My next historical series from Kensington is only a few months away! The Renegade Royals kicks off with Lost in a Royal Kiss, a digital novella,, on Nov. 26th.  The heroes of the series are the illegitimate sons of the royal princes of England, and they're going to have lots of adventures with their heroines before they find their HEAs.  Book One, Secrets for Seducing a Royal Bodyguard, will release in January, 2014, in both print and digital.

What a beautiful cover!  I'm looking forward to this one.  

Readers, for more information about Vanessa's historical romances, visit her website.  You can also connect with her online at Facebook. Pinterest, Twitter Goodreads and Rock*It Reads.


Autumn is just around the corner.  This is the time of year when I immerse myself in college football and my favorite fall fruits and veggies.  What's your favorite cool weather activity? Favorite fall comfort foods?  

Randy like to watch the baseball playoffs and World Series, and Vanessa enjoys walks in the cooler weather.  We also make a point of going for drives and walks in a nearby national park when the leaves start changing color.  As for favorite foods, beef stew, roast chicken, and pumpkin pie are perfect to usher in the change of seasons!

I love photography, especially taking pictures of places I'm visiting for the first time.  Please give us a "snapshot" of where you live; the sights, sounds and what makes it special or unique?

We're very fortunate to live in two quite different locations.  We spend about seven months in Ottawa, Canada and the other five (winter) months near Amelia Island, Florida.  As Canada's capital, Ottawa has all the usual capital-type attractions such as great national museums and historic buildings, including the Parliament of Canada and the Supreme Court.  It's also in a physically beautiful location, at the intersection of the Ottawa and Rideau Rivers, and has the historic Rideau Canal running north-south through the city. The Canal is frozen in winter to create the world's longest skating rink, and quite a few folks don their blades and skate along the canal to work-it's really a cool sight.  We also have the province of Quebec just on the other side of the Ottawa River (less than half a mile from our home), and that adds an additional Francophone flavor to the area culture.

Our Florida home is quite different-small (10,000 people) and totally laid back.  It's actually half a "resort" type area and half a working town, with two big factories and a thriving little container port.  It's probably best known for its place in the history of shrimp fishing, and the spring Shrimp Festival is one of the highlights of the year.  The Amelia Island beaches are spectacular, as is the inland waterway, just a stone's throw from where we live.  The King's Bay naval submarine base is just across the St. Mary's River in Georgia, and we've been lucky enough to twice see nuclear submarines being escorted out to sea by their protective Navy and Coast Guard vessels and helicopters.  Add in whales, dolphins, turtles, herons, egrets and even alligators, and you've got a fantastic setting for walks or just hanging out and enjoying nature.

I'm familiar with your lovely winter locale, having lived in Jacksonville for many years.  Ottawa is a city I've never visited but I'd love to.  I think I'd have to come in winter though to see the skating commuters! :)

What's on the horizon for V.K. Sykes?  

We're working on our small-town contemporary series for Grand Central, and Randy has just finished up the first draft of the next Philadelphia Patriots book.  We've also got two more romantic suspense books we'd like to publish, one of them the sequel to Lethal Confessions.  Stay tuned for more murder and mayhem!

This makes me one very happy reader!

Vanessa and Randy, thank you so much for visiting with us today.  We wish you much success with all of your books!  Is there anything else you'd like to add?  A question you'd like to ask our readers?

What's your preferred balance in romantic suspense-more romance, more suspense or 50/50?

Randy and Vanessa have two giveaways today!  One randomly chosen person will receive either a print copy (North America only) or digital copy (international) of Lethal Confessions by V.K. Sykes.  The second randomly chosen person will receive a print copy (North America only) of His Mistletoe Bride by Vanessa Kelly.