Becky Flade, Author

I’ve been running a book versus movie theme lately, ha, didn’t even realize it. But I’ve got another one. Love Joss Whedon [except for Buff-me – I wasn’t a fan] and my favorite work of his is Firefly/Serenity. The slash is because I equally love the movie and the short-lived television show. When I’m on a good run with my writing, I like to pop in the tv show; I have the box set. The rhythm, the pacing, the score, I find it soothing, even with the gunshots. [I don’t do silence well. For some reason, when working on something, anything, that I want to devote my attention to, I need noise to concentrate. Too much noise, I get a little nuts. But if it’s silent, I can’t focus my brain. It’s like there is so much going on in my head that it needs a distraction.] I had Serenity on yesterday and I was watching it, as opposed to writing thru it. And it occurred to me that I love the dialogue. In my opinion, dialogue has its own cadence that is particular to the individual writ...

If you follow my blog, you know there are a few authors whose books I always read and always review because I love them so much, i.e. Katie Kenyhercz, Nancy C. Winters, Nora Roberts, and on.  Which means you’ve already heard me gush about Winter  Austin and her books. Tough, you have to sit through another one. Winter loves suspense, horses and cowboys. Jeez, who wouldn’t right? And her upcoming release, Liar, Liar , is no exception. She saved the best for last in the final installment in the McIntire County series [can’t tell you how sad it makes me this is the final book ]. In brief, Shane, the sheriff who appears in each book of this series, at fifty years old gets his long overdue chance to be the hero in this book about finding love with the least likely of people amidst some seriously screwed up happenings. I mean this tiny town in Iowa has been riddled with horror for at least four years and hopefully they’ll have some peace now. Federal agent Liza Bartholomew, Boy...

Welcome back Winter! We’ve done this a few different times, a few different ways, including letting me interview characters from your books. I feel as though we’ve probably exhausted most of the more serious questions and are both due for a little silly. Before we get started, I’d just like to say that, in my opinion, your work gets better with each book and to date, Sins of the Father [which I’ve already had the privilege of reading ☺] is far and away your best outing yet. I totally love Xavier.   And look forward to seeing him as a returning, supporting character in later books. Cause you’re not done this series yet. Right? Read on past Winter’s interview for a blurb and my snapshot review of Sins of the Father , a McIntire County romantic suspense. With that out of the way, let’s get to it! If you were a flower, what kind would you be and why? Well, I asked my husband what he thought, and he said the corpse flower. Needless to say he got whacked f...

March is finally upon us. March is always an exciting month for me. I look forward to warmer weather, Lent, beer, ham and cabbage, and Irish potatoes. This year I can add a couple very exciting book releases to my personal March madness, not the least of which was written by my hostage in the Writer’s Den today: Romantic suspense author Winter Austin! Winter perpetually answers the question: "were you born in the winter?" with a flat "nope." Having recently changed her address back near her hometown, she has stepped into the chaotic world of a full-time wife, mom, author, coach, and employee. With her ability to verbally spin a vivid and detailed story, Winter has translated that into writing deadly romantic thrillers. Combining her love of all things rural, agricultural, and military, she's turned her small town life upside down. And we thank her for it. I love her books. And she knows it - which is why I got an advanced copy of Born to Die after onl...

I’m a fan of Winter’s, not a secret and I ah-dored her Degrees of Darkness series. I waited for this book on baited breath, hoping it was Heath’s story. It’s not. But my disappointment was short-lived. This story and these characters are powerful. ABOUT THE BOOK Atone for your sins . . . A rash of unexplained suicides in the sleepy town of Eider, Iowa, draws McIntire County deputy Nicolette Rivers into a devious killer's twisted plot. A former marine sniper suffering from PTSD, Nic hides her own deadly secrets, and The Priest will do anything to expose it and her. For redemption is at hand . . . Eider police detective Con O'Hanlon is assigned to help Nic uncover the truth behind the suicides. She rebuffs his help at every turn, but the stubborn Irishman holds on. When tragedy strikes, Con helps cover up the fallout, but is he too late to prevent Nic's dark, downward spiral? Or is Con the one man stronger than her demons? Sensuality Level: Behin...

Today, from the Degrees of Darkness (“DoD”) series penned by Winter Austin , we have Remy LeBeau’s partner, the sexy, smart and sometimes suave Detective Heath Anderson.     RELENTLESS Book #1 ( read my review )     RETRIBUTION Book #2 ( read my review )                                              ♥   ♥   ♥   ♥ But enough about Cody and Remy already, Heath I want to talk about you …. {-- Winter’s inspiration for Heath [yum-o!] Blogger & fan segue: Winter has a wonderful set of Pinterest folders for her DoD series if you’d like to see the faces the author puts to her characters, I suggest you check out this link:   http://pinterest.com/winteraustin/degrees-of-darkness-series/   and this link: ...

I was extremely privileged to receive an advanced copy of Retribution , the second book in the Degrees of Darkness series written by Winter Austin http://www.winteraustin.com/ and published by Crimson Romance. ABOUT THE BOOK (taken from the author’s website) A ghost returns. An Assassin with an unholy connection to Remy’spast. And this time there’s more at stake. Called to the homicide of a Dallas criminal lawyer, Detective Remy LeBeau stares at a scene that drags him back into his past. To another murdered lawyer in New Orleans. And a case that put Remy on a collision course with death. Cody Lewis struggles with the horrific memories of her kidnapping and the need to numb the pain. The battle she puts up causes her to avoid Remy and their undetermined relationship. But the flashbacks and nightmares are proving more potent than Cody thought and she’s having a harder time resisting the cravings for alcohol. As the case takes a turn in revealing a professional assassin is...

This week I got to read Relentless written by Winter Austin http://www.winteraustin.com/ and published by Crimson Romance. ABOUT THE BOOK (taken from the publisher’s website) Dallas homicide detective Remy LeBeau trusts no one. He hides from a past that could kill him and anyone involved with him. What he’s not prepared for is the return of an elusive serial killer . . . and an unwanted desire to protect a witness at all costs. Professional barrel racer Cody Lewis’s dream of being top in the nation is within reach until she discovers a murdered woman in her horse trailer. The event pulls her into the sickening world of the Rodeo Sweethearts serial killer—a madman who terrorized Dallas’s rodeo circuit five years prior and is now back for more. But what’s worse is that Cody fits the profile of the Rodeo Sweetheart victims. . . . As Remy dives into the investigation, he uncovers secrets of a botched investigation and a tight-lipped boss, while attracting unwanted attention fro...