Spotlight & Giveaway: Nancy Northcott's The Arachnid Files

Some of you might know her only as Nancy, the Romance Dish reviewer. For those of you who may be unaware, Nancy Northcott is also a multi-published author writing in a variety of genres. Today, I'm shining a light on one of those genres - romantic suspense - and on one of Nancy's series: The Arachnid Files. Nancy's Arachnid is a private, multi-nation espionage organization. Think CIA but with services available to multiple countries. And yes, they're the good guys. 

Three standalone Arachnid Files novellas, originally published in multi-author anthologies, have been updated and are now available for purchase individually in e-book. Filled with pulse-pounding suspense and emotional romance, they are all quick reads that kept me eagerly flipping pages right up until the satisfying conclusion. Let's take a look.

DANGER'S EDGE: An Arachnid Files Novella

by Nancy Northcott

*Previously published in an earlier version as part of the Capitol Danger anthology. The anthology is no longer available.

 

When terrorists disrupt the inaugural ball, new Arachnid Agency operative Kelsey Mitchell tables her planned undercover operation and works to bring help into the hotel. Her only ally is Greg Reed, an FBI agent on medical leave after being shot during a robbery. Kelsey dreads making a novice mistake, and Greg is afraid he’s lost his edge.

Attraction flares between them though Kelsey knows the Feds disapprove of people who work for her freewheeling agency. Together, she and Greg must fight their demons and the terrorists to gather intel for the FBI and create a safe landing zone for a rescue force. Can they succeed against overwhelming odds, or will the battle cost one or both their lives—or their hearts?

THE LAST FAVOR: An Arachnid Files Novella

by Nancy Northcott

*Previously published as part of the Christmas at Caynham Castle anthology.

Grayson (Gray) Kane comes to Caynham Castle at Christmas to pick up an award for his late father. Dealing with his loss amid the families celebrating the holiday makes him question his solitary life as an covert agent. His partner, Laurel Whitney, joins him to protect Gray from an assassin. As the long-suppressed attraction between them flares anew and a killer closes in, she must decide whether she has the courage to seize what she has always wanted.

WORTH THE WAIT: An Arachnid Files Novella

by Nancy Northcott

*Originally published as part of the Who's Your Daddy: A DNA Anthology. The anthology is no longer available.

A burned-out spy goes home for a holiday and re-encounters the woman he never dated but never forgot. As he and she grow closer, she realizes her niece, his ex-girlfriend’s child, bears an uncanny resemblance to him. When the truth comes out, it will alter three lives.

Each of the three novellas is a standalone story, set within the Arachnid Files series but with a separate cast of characters and a clear start and finish. They can be enjoyed in any order. 

Nancy is a self-described history geek and Anglophile, with a passion for British history, who has enjoyed traveling extensively in England. She also loves comic books, fantasy, and science fiction and is a regular attendee/contributor at Dragon Con. All of those passions contribute to her creative imagination in the suspense, paranormal, fantasy, and science fiction books she writes. Check out her website for more information about her published novels and links to connect with her online. 

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Have you read Nancy's books yet?

Nancy would probably choose to travel to England over just about any other country. What country is highest on your travel wish list?

Have you had your DNA tested? Was your ancestry as expected or did the results reveal surprises?

One randomly selected person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, August 1 will receive a Kindle copy of one of the three novellas spotlighted above (winner's choice).  

*Amazon US only

*Must be 18

*Void where prohibited

 

Blond-Haired Devil!

Good Morning, readers!  PJ here.  It's my pleasure to welcome one of my favorite people today.  A visit from Anna Campbell is always a special treat and this month we're blessed with her presence not once, but twice!  Today, Anna joins us to talk about two of my favorite topics:  heroes (we do love them, don't we?) and a new Anna Campbell story (always cause for celebration in my house!)  Anna's new historical novella, "Days of Rakes and Roses"  will be released tomorrow.

You can find more information about Anna and her books at her website and read an excerpt from "Days of Rakes and Roses" here.   Anna can also be found regularly blogging at Romance Bandits and, of course, is here at the Romance Dish the 24th of every month with her Second Helping reviews.  



BLOND-HAIRED DEVIL
By Anna Campbell 

(I use that title with apologies to Lisa Kleypas - but I read her BLUE-EYED DEVIL this week and wow, what a great book!)

Hi Dishes! Thank you for having me as your guest today. It's great to be here with my non-reviewer hat on. As many of you know, I'm a regular on this blog on the 24th of every month with a column called Second Helping, all about books I've enjoyed, often older publications, that you may have missed. Last month, I did Jennifer Crusie's wonderful MAYBE THIS TIME. 

But today I want to talk about a subject dear to my heart - heroes!

When I started out writing historical romance, I was tall, dark and handsome all the way. I liked them saturnine and devilish and black-haired! The Duke of Kylemore, the Marquess of Sheene, the Earl of Erith, Sir Gideon Trevithick, the Earl of Ashcroft, dusky to a man!

And then with my sixth book, MIDNIGHT'S WILD PASSION, something changed.

I went over to the...light side!

The wicked Marquess of Ranelaw in that book had golden hair. Then I went back true to form with Jonas SEVEN NIGHTS IN A ROGUE'S BED. He was dark both inside and out, at least at the start!
Merrick from

Since then, I've done two blond heroes! Shock! Sir Richard Harmsworth, the hero of A RAKE'S MIDNIGHT KISS (out from Grand Central Forever on 27th August) is blond. So is Simon Metcalf, the rakish hero of my e-novella DAYS OF RAKES AND ROSES which is out tomorrow. That makes three of my last four heroes blondies! What is the world coming to?

I don't think it's coincidental (although this theory doesn't hold water for Ranelaw) that both Simon and Richard are slightly lighter heroes in all senses than my usual beastly fare. One of the things I really enjoyed about writing this novella is it gave me a chance to tell a story that, while it hopefully had plenty of emotional depth, explored characters and conflicts that I'd have had to stretch past tolerance for a full-length novel.

Both Simon and his heroine, the Duke of Sedgemoor's sister, have baggage to deal with and problems to solve, not to mention that Simon returns from the Continent to find his childhood sweetheart Lydia about to marry someone else! But I don't think either Simon or Lydia counts as tortured - at least tortured in terms of the Anna Campbell universe!





It was also fun giving readers another glimpse of some of the other characters in the Sons of Sin world. Because this story is set before the events in SEVEN NIGHTS IN A ROGUE'S BED, Jonas gets a mere mention and Sidonie doesn't make an appearance - after all, she's not part of the glamorous world of Regency London when she meets her true love. But I had a lovely time with Sir Richard being nonchalant and witty and the Duke of Sedgemoor being Mr. Perfect. I hope readers will be champing at the bit to see both those guys get their comeuppance when they fall in love with completely unsuitable women!

Oh, and let me mention one other way this story is light - it's light on the pocket too! 99 cents strikes me as a bargain! I'd pay 99 cents just to see that beautiful pink cover!







So let's talk that really profound subject - hero hair color! Do you like your romance guys to be tall, dark and handsome like Cary Grant? Or blond and beautiful like Brad Pitt or Robert Redford? Do you have a favorite blond heart throb in a book or a movie or a TV show? Do you think hair color matters?

When you comment, please identify where you're from - for a very good reason, PRIZES! 

I've got a download of DAYS OF RAKES AND ROSES for someone from North America who comments today. For various complicated reasons, this new e-novella isn't available in other regions, but I've got a download of my e-novella THE WINTER WIFE for one international commenter. Good luck!

"Days of Rakes and Roses"
Grand Central Forever Yours
July 2, 2013

Lady Lydia Rothermere has spent the past decade trying to make up for a single, youthful moment of passion. Now the image of propriety, Lydia knows her future rests on never straying outside society's rigid rules; but hiding away the desire that runs through her is harder than she could have ever dreamed. Now as Lydia prepares for a marriage that will suit her family, but not her heart, Lydia must decide what's more important: propriety or passion?

Simon Metcalf is a rake and adventurer. But for all his experience, nothing can compare to the kiss he stole from the captivating Lydia Rothermere ten years ago. Simon can scarcely believe he's about to lose the one woman he's never forgotten. The attraction between them is irresistible, yet Lydia refuses to forsake her engagement. With his heart on the line, will Simon prove that love is a risk worth taking?

Download "Days of Rakes and Roses" from Amazon here and from Barnes & Noble here.  

A Rake's Midnight Kiss
Grand Central
August 27, 2013

It Takes a Lady

Brilliant scholar Genevieve Barrett knows how to keep a secret. Her identity as the author of her father's academic articles has always been her greatest deception-until a charming housebreaker tries to steal the mysterious Harmsworth Jewel from her. She doesn't reveal that she recognizes her father's devastatingly handsome new student as the thief himself. For Genevieve, this will be the most seductive secret of all...

To Catch a Thief

Sir Richard Harmsworth has been living a lie, maintaining a rakish facade to show society that he doesn't care about his status as a bastard. Yet long haunted by his unknown father's identity, Richard believes the Harmsworth Jewel will confirm his claim as the rightful heir. But when Richard sets out to seduce the bookworm who possesses the stone, he instead falls for its beautiful owner. But even as she steals Richard's heart, Genevieve will be in greater danger than her coveted treasure...

Pre-order A Rake's Midnight Kiss from Amazon here and from Barnes & Noble here.