Take the Key and Lock Her Up
A
Deadly Games Thriller
By: Lena Diaz
Releasing August 5th, 2014
Avon Romance
Blurb
Lena Diaz returns with another sexy,
thrilling Deadly Games novel and the darkest question of all: What do you do
when your freedom could cost you your life?
Detective Emily O'Malley just stumbled upon a killer's lair—and the remains of a woman he kept locked away for years. But this killer isn't done yet. More women are missing, and all clues point to Devlin Buchanan—the man who seems to know just a little too much. Emily's instincts are rarely wrong, and now they're telling her this sexy, mysterious man is hiding something big …
As a trained assassin for EXIT Inc—a top-secret mercenary group posing as an international tour company—Devlin "Devil" Buchanan isn't afraid to take justice into his own hands. But when the hot new detective on his trail gets too close to the organization and a contract is placed on her life, Devlin does the only thing he can: he turns rogue agent and kidnaps her to save her life.
With EXIT Inc closing in and passions running hot between them, Emily and Devlin must work together to find the missing women and clear both their names before time runs out … and the key to freedom is thrown away.
Detective Emily O'Malley just stumbled upon a killer's lair—and the remains of a woman he kept locked away for years. But this killer isn't done yet. More women are missing, and all clues point to Devlin Buchanan—the man who seems to know just a little too much. Emily's instincts are rarely wrong, and now they're telling her this sexy, mysterious man is hiding something big …
As a trained assassin for EXIT Inc—a top-secret mercenary group posing as an international tour company—Devlin "Devil" Buchanan isn't afraid to take justice into his own hands. But when the hot new detective on his trail gets too close to the organization and a contract is placed on her life, Devlin does the only thing he can: he turns rogue agent and kidnaps her to save her life.
With EXIT Inc closing in and passions running hot between them, Emily and Devlin must work together to find the missing women and clear both their names before time runs out … and the key to freedom is thrown away.
Link to Follow Tour: http://tastybooktours.blogspot.com/2014/06/now-booking-tasty-virtual-tour-for-take.html
Goodreads
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22608022-take-the-key-and-lock-her-up?from_search=true
Buy Links
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/take-the-key-and-lock-her-up-lena-diaz/1119645601?ean=9780062280916
Author Info
Originally
from Kentucky, romantic suspense author Lena Diaz also lived in California and
Louisiana before settling in Northeast Florida with her husband, two children,
and a Shetland Sheepdog named Sparky. A Romance Writers of America Golden
Heart® finalist, she's won the prestigious Daphne du Maurier Award for
Excellence in Mystery/Suspense and has been a finalist for the National
Excellence in Romance Fiction Award. She loves to watch action movies, garden,
and hike in the beautiful Tennessee Smoky Mountains.
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Interview:
Where are you from?
Thanks so much for having me on today! Let’s see. Originally, I’m from Mayfield, Kentucky. I’ve lived in California and Louisiana too. But I’ve lived most of my life in Northeast Florida and currently reside in Saint Augustine.
Tell us your latest news?
Take the Key and Lock Her Up is the newest book in the Deadly Games Thrillers series and features Buchanan brother Devlin, also known as Devil. This book also introduces a company of assassins known as EXIT Incorporated, which will be featured in my new, spin-off series that begins next summer with EXIT Strategy. Fans of my current series will be happy to know that the Buchanans will play cameo roles throughout the series.
When and why did you begin writing?
I don’t think the cause of this particular ailment is known. Genetics perhaps? All I know is that I was infected with the writing bug from birth. I always loved storytelling. But I only began pursuing writing romance novels as a career in 2006. I guess being a life-long romance reader just naturally made me want to write those kinds of stories.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Honestly, I’m not sure that I do even now. My ninth book is about to be published and I’m still riddled with self-doubt and ask, “Can I really do this?” Lack of confidence is one of the symptoms of being a writer, so maybe I really am one.
What inspired you to write your first book?
My love for psychological thrillers and passion for shows like Criminal Minds made writing a serial killer plot a natural for me. The idea of a stranger randomly selecting victims is one of the most terrifying ideas out there, so I wanted my first story to tackle that type of villain. From there it was just a matter of brainstorming to come up with a unique twist. In my first book, HE KILLS ME, HE KILLS ME NOT, the villain plays a deadly game with his victims, plucking the thorns from a rose one by one to let fate decide if they live or die.
Do you have a specific writing style?
Style, or voice, is hard to understand or explain. I’m still discovering my voice, even this many books later. But overall I’d say I write mostly dark, tension-filled romantic suspense with the occasional snarky bit of humor thrown in. I do love to focus on families and the bonds between brothers or male best-friends. My stories are typically set in the south and feature alpha males, often in law enforcement occupations. However, my newest release, Take the Key and Lock Her Up, features a hero who is an assassin.
How did you come up with the title?
All of the books in this series have titles of childhood games or rhymes, with a creepy twist. I spent hours searching through various children’s books and nursery rhyme books to find either a title or a phrase that could sound creepy on its own or with a minor modification. When I read the words to “London Bridge is Falling Down”, one of the lesser-known stanzas really jumped out at me, so “Take the Key and Lock her Up” became the title.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
I honestly don’t write with a particular message in mind, but by the end of each story a theme seems to emerge. For this one, it’s all about letting go of the past and looking to the future. Devlin, the hero, suffered a terrible loss many years ago that shaped who he has become. But once he falls in love with Emily, her love helps him finally move on and have hope once again. There are also a lot of moral issues about right and wrong in this novel, with Devlin and Emily having completely opposite views. But they both want justice, so that common ground helps them find a middle ground they can both live with.
How much of the book is realistic?
I strive for realism in every way that I can. While this certainly isn’t a police procedural--it’s very much an action adventure novel--the parts of the story that deal with law enforcement have been researched extensively. If there are mistakes in those areas, I’ll just have to pretend they were on purpose.
Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
As far as I know, I’ve never personally met an assassin, so I’ll have to say no. And thank goodness!
What books have influenced your life most?
Can I cheat and say all of them? If I have to choose I’ll say mostly the historical romances I grew up with, like A Rose in Winter and Ashes in the Wind, both by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss. The way that they influenced me was to give me friends--book friends--when I was painfully shy and going through that awful period of life called adolescence. Since my father was in the Navy, we moved nearly every year, sometimes twice a year. So, making friends was difficult and often felt like an exercise in futility. The one constant in my life was reading. With my book friends, I never felt alone.
What would you like my readers to know?
If they like books full of action and tension with smart, swoon-worthy alpha heroes who would do anything against any odds to save the women they love, then I hope they will give Take the Key and Lock Her Up a try. Each book in the Deadly Games Thrillers series is completely stand alone, but reading them in order is definitely more fun because the characters pop up throughout the various books in cameo roles.
Author Links
Where are you from?
Thanks so much for having me on today! Let’s see. Originally, I’m from Mayfield, Kentucky. I’ve lived in California and Louisiana too. But I’ve lived most of my life in Northeast Florida and currently reside in Saint Augustine.
Tell us your latest news?
Take the Key and Lock Her Up is the newest book in the Deadly Games Thrillers series and features Buchanan brother Devlin, also known as Devil. This book also introduces a company of assassins known as EXIT Incorporated, which will be featured in my new, spin-off series that begins next summer with EXIT Strategy. Fans of my current series will be happy to know that the Buchanans will play cameo roles throughout the series.
When and why did you begin writing?
I don’t think the cause of this particular ailment is known. Genetics perhaps? All I know is that I was infected with the writing bug from birth. I always loved storytelling. But I only began pursuing writing romance novels as a career in 2006. I guess being a life-long romance reader just naturally made me want to write those kinds of stories.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Honestly, I’m not sure that I do even now. My ninth book is about to be published and I’m still riddled with self-doubt and ask, “Can I really do this?” Lack of confidence is one of the symptoms of being a writer, so maybe I really am one.
What inspired you to write your first book?
My love for psychological thrillers and passion for shows like Criminal Minds made writing a serial killer plot a natural for me. The idea of a stranger randomly selecting victims is one of the most terrifying ideas out there, so I wanted my first story to tackle that type of villain. From there it was just a matter of brainstorming to come up with a unique twist. In my first book, HE KILLS ME, HE KILLS ME NOT, the villain plays a deadly game with his victims, plucking the thorns from a rose one by one to let fate decide if they live or die.
Do you have a specific writing style?
Style, or voice, is hard to understand or explain. I’m still discovering my voice, even this many books later. But overall I’d say I write mostly dark, tension-filled romantic suspense with the occasional snarky bit of humor thrown in. I do love to focus on families and the bonds between brothers or male best-friends. My stories are typically set in the south and feature alpha males, often in law enforcement occupations. However, my newest release, Take the Key and Lock Her Up, features a hero who is an assassin.
How did you come up with the title?
All of the books in this series have titles of childhood games or rhymes, with a creepy twist. I spent hours searching through various children’s books and nursery rhyme books to find either a title or a phrase that could sound creepy on its own or with a minor modification. When I read the words to “London Bridge is Falling Down”, one of the lesser-known stanzas really jumped out at me, so “Take the Key and Lock her Up” became the title.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
I honestly don’t write with a particular message in mind, but by the end of each story a theme seems to emerge. For this one, it’s all about letting go of the past and looking to the future. Devlin, the hero, suffered a terrible loss many years ago that shaped who he has become. But once he falls in love with Emily, her love helps him finally move on and have hope once again. There are also a lot of moral issues about right and wrong in this novel, with Devlin and Emily having completely opposite views. But they both want justice, so that common ground helps them find a middle ground they can both live with.
How much of the book is realistic?
I strive for realism in every way that I can. While this certainly isn’t a police procedural--it’s very much an action adventure novel--the parts of the story that deal with law enforcement have been researched extensively. If there are mistakes in those areas, I’ll just have to pretend they were on purpose.
Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
As far as I know, I’ve never personally met an assassin, so I’ll have to say no. And thank goodness!
What books have influenced your life most?
Can I cheat and say all of them? If I have to choose I’ll say mostly the historical romances I grew up with, like A Rose in Winter and Ashes in the Wind, both by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss. The way that they influenced me was to give me friends--book friends--when I was painfully shy and going through that awful period of life called adolescence. Since my father was in the Navy, we moved nearly every year, sometimes twice a year. So, making friends was difficult and often felt like an exercise in futility. The one constant in my life was reading. With my book friends, I never felt alone.
What would you like my readers to know?
If they like books full of action and tension with smart, swoon-worthy alpha heroes who would do anything against any odds to save the women they love, then I hope they will give Take the Key and Lock Her Up a try. Each book in the Deadly Games Thrillers series is completely stand alone, but reading them in order is definitely more fun because the characters pop up throughout the various books in cameo roles.
Giveaway
(Two Digital Copies of TAKE THE KEY AND LOCK HER UP)
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