Carrigan Fox's Blog
July 13, 2015
New Release FREE - Paranormal Romance
My new release, Evaporate, is FREE through Wednesday, June 15! Enjoy!
EXCERPT:
Inside the elevator, he couldn’t escape the scent of her. He wondered briefly if it was her soap, shampoo, or perfume. Whatever it was, it reminded him of summertime, warm, copper-colored skin and juicy bites of watermelon. He shifted his weight to his other foot, allowing him to inch closer with subtlety.
He wondered if he was being too obvious. Should he step away and pretend to not be so interested? He assured himself that he wasn’t being too bold. He wasn’t burying his nose in her hair, after all. She probably didn’t even know he was standing so close.
She glanced up at the digital display over the doors, watching them descend to the ground level.
“It’s probably the coconut lime body wash. I have an extra bottle under my sink if you’d like one for yourself.”
Busted.
He hesitated for a moment, considering the ramifications for denying his ridiculous behaviors. Finally, he chose to go with, “Nah. It probably wouldn’t smell so good on me.”
He was rewarded with the twitch of the corner of her mouth. Nice.
“Judging by your expert response, I have to assume that I’m not the first to appreciate how spectacular you smell.” He nodded in the direction of his car when they stepped from the building into the parking lot.
“Not the first, no. But I usually have a metal protective device between me and the creeper in the back seat who’s attempting to inhale my very being.”
He reached to open the passenger door for her and then froze. “Would you prefer to drive?”
“It’s your car,” she reminded him.
“Yes. And I can be equally creepy in any of its five very comfortable seats. But I thought you might feel more comfortable behind the wheel.”
She met his eyes for a moment. “I’m not a control freak,” she argued.
He refused to look away, not even to gift himself with a glance at her mouth. The mouth he now longed to devour.
When she found herself tempted to take the keys that he held out to her, she shrugged and opened the passenger door herself. It was all but an admission.
As he steered out of the parking lot, he reminded himself to focus on the road rather than to admire her slender frame and stunning features. “So tell me about the ballet,” he prodded.
In his periphery, he saw her head swivel in his direction. “What do you want to know?”
“It seems a bit of a leap to move from the ballet to law enforcement.”
“A leap? Really?”
He grinned out the windshield, not daring to take his eyes off the road to study her. “Too much?”
“Too cute,” she corrected. “And it’s not as big of a leap as you might think.”
He raised his eyebrows in disbelief. “I fail to see how dancing compares to risking life and limb to protect and serve the people of Westchester.”
She actually snorted. “Tell that to my feet.”
“Your feet?”
“I assure you that risking life and limb is no more difficult than the extremes I forced upon my body as a professional dancer. My feet bear permanent scars.”
“Is that why you gave it up?”
She shrugged in a transparent effort to minimize her response. “I gave it up to come home after my parents were killed.” When he didn’t immediately respond, she continued. “They were shot during a robbery.”
“And their deaths lead you to a career in law enforcement,” he guessed.
“More or less.”
“It isn’t just your face that is exotic, Detective. You are extraordinary.”
“You have no idea,” she muttered.
He eyed her curiously for a moment before returning his attention to the road. “I noticed it when I saw T.J. respond to you.”
Did she visibly cringe? She appeared to cringe.
“Sure, he made his best effort to treat you with outward disrespect, but beneath that garbage, he seemed to appreciate where you were coming from.”
“Seriously?” she laughed.
“He’s not a bad kid.”
“I know who and what he is.”
“He’s just defensive and reactive,” Nate argued. “You can’t blame him given his home life and the choices of his mother.”
“I hold him responsible for his own choices only. He can’t keep crying about his mother when he’s choosing to be a thug. He had a crappy childhood. He can’t expect a fairy friggin’ godmother to show up and wave a wand. Life isn’t butterflies and happy endings.”
Nate shrugged in concession. “I’ll give you that T.J. can be a bonehead sometimes. But he’s not the one who made the swatting call.”
“On that we can agree.”
“Is the investigation still open?”
“Not much to investigate. One of over one-hundred kids and five staff members in that pod alone could have made that call, to say nothing of the other seven hundred kids or fifty-five staff members who could have wandered into the pod from elsewhere in the building. With the cameras only being located in the main hall, we’ve got almost nothing.”
Nate sensed that the chemistry between them had fizzled a bit, but he wasn’t prepared to entirely give up. He hadn’t been on an actual date in nearly a year, and single attractive women who weren’t mothers of his students didn’t cross his path often in Westchester.
He turned right onto the side-street that housed the police station. He was running out of time. She was already unstrapping her seatbelt.
“Thanks for the ride. And for waiting for me.”
He came to a stop and watched her reach for the door handle. “You don’t have a lunch,” he observed.
She paused and then met his eyes with amusement. “I thought I’d stop and grab something, Mom.”
He reached into the backseat and then thrust a brown sack lunch into her lap. “Here, take mine.”
“I’m not going to take your lunch.”
“I insist. It’s the least I can do.”
“The least you can do? You waited for me and then drove out of your way to drop me off. I think that I owe you.”
“No. I pissed you off. Take my lunch.”
She made a move to climb out of the car. “I’m not pissed off, Nate.”
“Then take my lunch.”
“You’re being ridiculous,” she informed him frankly. But she clutched the edges of the paper bag in her hand as she climbed out of the car.
“You can make me dinner Friday night. Then we’ll be even.”
She leaned down into the open doorway to stare him down. “You picked an argument over a sack lunch so that you could coerce me into making you dinner?”
He grinned with an expression that he hoped resembled boyish charm. “I thought you might appreciate a bold move.”
“Bold would have been asking me out while I changed that tire and then driving off to leave me stranded.”
He clucked his tongue. “Not very romantic.”
“I’m not looking for romance, MathMan.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Listen—”
“I’ll bring the wine. I’ll be at your place at 7.”
“I haven’t said ‘yes.’”
“You haven’t said, ‘no.’” He shifted his car into gear and watched her expectantly. When she said nothing, he grinned again. “Do you prefer red or white?”
She rolled her eyes as she shut the car door and leaned down by the open window. “I don’t date,” she finally replied, and the lie sounded unconvincing even to her own ears.
“Good, so you’re available. See you Friday.” He pulled an illegal u-turn and gave his horn a cheeky toot as she pulled open the door to the station. When she was no longer in sight, he wondered if she was chuckling in amusement over his tactics or shooting him the finger.
EXCERPT:
Inside the elevator, he couldn’t escape the scent of her. He wondered briefly if it was her soap, shampoo, or perfume. Whatever it was, it reminded him of summertime, warm, copper-colored skin and juicy bites of watermelon. He shifted his weight to his other foot, allowing him to inch closer with subtlety.
He wondered if he was being too obvious. Should he step away and pretend to not be so interested? He assured himself that he wasn’t being too bold. He wasn’t burying his nose in her hair, after all. She probably didn’t even know he was standing so close.
She glanced up at the digital display over the doors, watching them descend to the ground level.
“It’s probably the coconut lime body wash. I have an extra bottle under my sink if you’d like one for yourself.”
Busted.
He hesitated for a moment, considering the ramifications for denying his ridiculous behaviors. Finally, he chose to go with, “Nah. It probably wouldn’t smell so good on me.”
He was rewarded with the twitch of the corner of her mouth. Nice.
“Judging by your expert response, I have to assume that I’m not the first to appreciate how spectacular you smell.” He nodded in the direction of his car when they stepped from the building into the parking lot.
“Not the first, no. But I usually have a metal protective device between me and the creeper in the back seat who’s attempting to inhale my very being.”
He reached to open the passenger door for her and then froze. “Would you prefer to drive?”
“It’s your car,” she reminded him.
“Yes. And I can be equally creepy in any of its five very comfortable seats. But I thought you might feel more comfortable behind the wheel.”
She met his eyes for a moment. “I’m not a control freak,” she argued.
He refused to look away, not even to gift himself with a glance at her mouth. The mouth he now longed to devour.
When she found herself tempted to take the keys that he held out to her, she shrugged and opened the passenger door herself. It was all but an admission.
As he steered out of the parking lot, he reminded himself to focus on the road rather than to admire her slender frame and stunning features. “So tell me about the ballet,” he prodded.
In his periphery, he saw her head swivel in his direction. “What do you want to know?”
“It seems a bit of a leap to move from the ballet to law enforcement.”
“A leap? Really?”
He grinned out the windshield, not daring to take his eyes off the road to study her. “Too much?”
“Too cute,” she corrected. “And it’s not as big of a leap as you might think.”
He raised his eyebrows in disbelief. “I fail to see how dancing compares to risking life and limb to protect and serve the people of Westchester.”
She actually snorted. “Tell that to my feet.”
“Your feet?”
“I assure you that risking life and limb is no more difficult than the extremes I forced upon my body as a professional dancer. My feet bear permanent scars.”
“Is that why you gave it up?”
She shrugged in a transparent effort to minimize her response. “I gave it up to come home after my parents were killed.” When he didn’t immediately respond, she continued. “They were shot during a robbery.”
“And their deaths lead you to a career in law enforcement,” he guessed.
“More or less.”
“It isn’t just your face that is exotic, Detective. You are extraordinary.”
“You have no idea,” she muttered.
He eyed her curiously for a moment before returning his attention to the road. “I noticed it when I saw T.J. respond to you.”
Did she visibly cringe? She appeared to cringe.
“Sure, he made his best effort to treat you with outward disrespect, but beneath that garbage, he seemed to appreciate where you were coming from.”
“Seriously?” she laughed.
“He’s not a bad kid.”
“I know who and what he is.”
“He’s just defensive and reactive,” Nate argued. “You can’t blame him given his home life and the choices of his mother.”
“I hold him responsible for his own choices only. He can’t keep crying about his mother when he’s choosing to be a thug. He had a crappy childhood. He can’t expect a fairy friggin’ godmother to show up and wave a wand. Life isn’t butterflies and happy endings.”
Nate shrugged in concession. “I’ll give you that T.J. can be a bonehead sometimes. But he’s not the one who made the swatting call.”
“On that we can agree.”
“Is the investigation still open?”
“Not much to investigate. One of over one-hundred kids and five staff members in that pod alone could have made that call, to say nothing of the other seven hundred kids or fifty-five staff members who could have wandered into the pod from elsewhere in the building. With the cameras only being located in the main hall, we’ve got almost nothing.”
Nate sensed that the chemistry between them had fizzled a bit, but he wasn’t prepared to entirely give up. He hadn’t been on an actual date in nearly a year, and single attractive women who weren’t mothers of his students didn’t cross his path often in Westchester.
He turned right onto the side-street that housed the police station. He was running out of time. She was already unstrapping her seatbelt.
“Thanks for the ride. And for waiting for me.”
He came to a stop and watched her reach for the door handle. “You don’t have a lunch,” he observed.
She paused and then met his eyes with amusement. “I thought I’d stop and grab something, Mom.”
He reached into the backseat and then thrust a brown sack lunch into her lap. “Here, take mine.”
“I’m not going to take your lunch.”
“I insist. It’s the least I can do.”
“The least you can do? You waited for me and then drove out of your way to drop me off. I think that I owe you.”
“No. I pissed you off. Take my lunch.”
She made a move to climb out of the car. “I’m not pissed off, Nate.”
“Then take my lunch.”
“You’re being ridiculous,” she informed him frankly. But she clutched the edges of the paper bag in her hand as she climbed out of the car.
“You can make me dinner Friday night. Then we’ll be even.”
She leaned down into the open doorway to stare him down. “You picked an argument over a sack lunch so that you could coerce me into making you dinner?”
He grinned with an expression that he hoped resembled boyish charm. “I thought you might appreciate a bold move.”
“Bold would have been asking me out while I changed that tire and then driving off to leave me stranded.”
He clucked his tongue. “Not very romantic.”
“I’m not looking for romance, MathMan.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Listen—”
“I’ll bring the wine. I’ll be at your place at 7.”
“I haven’t said ‘yes.’”
“You haven’t said, ‘no.’” He shifted his car into gear and watched her expectantly. When she said nothing, he grinned again. “Do you prefer red or white?”
She rolled her eyes as she shut the car door and leaned down by the open window. “I don’t date,” she finally replied, and the lie sounded unconvincing even to her own ears.
“Good, so you’re available. See you Friday.” He pulled an illegal u-turn and gave his horn a cheeky toot as she pulled open the door to the station. When she was no longer in sight, he wondered if she was chuckling in amusement over his tactics or shooting him the finger.
July 10, 2015
The Story of My Favorite Protagonist Is FREE!
It's been nearly a year since I published the story of Justine Dixon, shunned socialite turned empowered escort in Desire in the Demimonde. She is, thus far, my favorite protagonist (of my own creation). She's feisty and comfortable speaking her own mind. She has a dry sense of humor and a strong sense of self. And her story is FREE on Amazon TODAY!
http://www.amazon.com/Desire-Demimond...
Check out this second book in the Demimonde Trilogy. And please don't forget to write an honest review on Amazon and/or Goodreads.
Enjoy!
http://www.amazon.com/Desire-Demimond...
Check out this second book in the Demimonde Trilogy. And please don't forget to write an honest review on Amazon and/or Goodreads.
Enjoy!
June 25, 2015
New Release - Paranormal Romantic Suspense
EVAPORATE is now available on Amazon!
It's been two years since Eva Sokolov came home to join the local police force in hopes of putting to rest the unsolved mystery of her parents' brutal murder. But after all these years, the case is beyond cold. Things heat up when she responds to a swatting call at the high school and encounters the charmingly goofy math teacher, Nate Gardner. While the chemistry is undeniable, Eva is--by reputation--a cold and hardened woman with a talent for failed relationships. Secretly, she dons silk lingerie and loses herself in romance books. But her secrecy isn't limited to the undergarments she hides beneath her masculine uniform and bulletproof vest. She also is able to teleport, a skill she considers more of a risk than an asset. And given that her parents' killer has returned and is intent on trying to expose her and finish her off once and for all, she may be right.
http://www.amazon.com/Evaporate-Carri...
It's been two years since Eva Sokolov came home to join the local police force in hopes of putting to rest the unsolved mystery of her parents' brutal murder. But after all these years, the case is beyond cold. Things heat up when she responds to a swatting call at the high school and encounters the charmingly goofy math teacher, Nate Gardner. While the chemistry is undeniable, Eva is--by reputation--a cold and hardened woman with a talent for failed relationships. Secretly, she dons silk lingerie and loses herself in romance books. But her secrecy isn't limited to the undergarments she hides beneath her masculine uniform and bulletproof vest. She also is able to teleport, a skill she considers more of a risk than an asset. And given that her parents' killer has returned and is intent on trying to expose her and finish her off once and for all, she may be right.
http://www.amazon.com/Evaporate-Carri...
April 14, 2014
Free Historical Romance
Daughter of the Demimonde will be free from 4/15 - 4/18 on Amazon.
DAUGHTER OF THE DEMIMONDE features Cathleen Ainsley, the daughter of the (fictionally) infamous Nora Ainsley, parlor house madam extraordinaire. Cat is perfectly aware of the sacrifices her widowed mother made to raise her, and she would do anything for her...even if it means going against the Bureau of Investigations. Agent Kane Malone has come to town to investigate allegations of human trafficking, and he won't leave without the guilty madam. To prove her mother's innocence, Cat agrees to help the agent identify the woman responsible for entrapping young girls and forcing them into a life of prostitution. But she may end up sacrificing her own innocence to prove her mother's.
http://www.amazon.com/Daughter-Demimo...
DAUGHTER OF THE DEMIMONDE features Cathleen Ainsley, the daughter of the (fictionally) infamous Nora Ainsley, parlor house madam extraordinaire. Cat is perfectly aware of the sacrifices her widowed mother made to raise her, and she would do anything for her...even if it means going against the Bureau of Investigations. Agent Kane Malone has come to town to investigate allegations of human trafficking, and he won't leave without the guilty madam. To prove her mother's innocence, Cat agrees to help the agent identify the woman responsible for entrapping young girls and forcing them into a life of prostitution. But she may end up sacrificing her own innocence to prove her mother's.
http://www.amazon.com/Daughter-Demimo...
March 14, 2014
NEW RELEASE - historical romance
DAUGHTER OF THE DEMIMONDE features Cathleen Ainsley, the daughter of the (fictionally) infamous Nora Ainsley, parlor house madam extraordinaire. Cat is perfectly aware of the sacrifices her widowed mother made to raise her, and she would do anything for her...even if it means going against the Bureau of Investigations. Agent Kane Malone has come to town to investigate allegations of human trafficking, and he won't leave without the guilty madam. To prove her mother's innocence, Cat agrees to help the agent identify the woman responsible for entrapping young girls and forcing them into a life of prostitution. But she may end up sacrificing her own innocence to prove her mother's.
http://www.amazon.com/Daughter-Demimo...
http://www.amazon.com/Daughter-Demimo...
March 3, 2014
FIRSTBORN is free today!
Jac MaCall is the eldest daughter of a wealthy and brilliant security consultant. She, however, has chosen a different life for herself, running a new age store that specializes in selling crystals, candles, and aromatherapy that enable people to tap into their subconscious awareness. But when Dr. Will Archer’s office is vandalized by a dangerous organization threatening his life, fate sends Jac in as a consultant for her father’s business to update his security and provide additional protection.
The old adage about opposites attracting proves true the moment he opens his door and finds the exotic beauty standing in her yoga pants while lecturing him on his security system and asking questions better left to the police. In time, Will and Jac learn that a prophecy involving the firstborn child of Will Archer has an extremist militant group fearful enough that they will not stop until Will and his unborn child are destroyed. And when Jac gets a vision of her own future with the uptight and irresistible Dr. Archer, it becomes evident to everyone involved that she will play a bigger role in this prophecy than anyone had imagined.
Get this paranormal romantic suspense for free today on Amazon!
http://www.amazon.com/Firstborn-The-M...
The old adage about opposites attracting proves true the moment he opens his door and finds the exotic beauty standing in her yoga pants while lecturing him on his security system and asking questions better left to the police. In time, Will and Jac learn that a prophecy involving the firstborn child of Will Archer has an extremist militant group fearful enough that they will not stop until Will and his unborn child are destroyed. And when Jac gets a vision of her own future with the uptight and irresistible Dr. Archer, it becomes evident to everyone involved that she will play a bigger role in this prophecy than anyone had imagined.
Get this paranormal romantic suspense for free today on Amazon!
http://www.amazon.com/Firstborn-The-M...
November 23, 2013
TRIPLE THREAT now available!
To survive a savage world, she’ll need the love of a brutally honest man and the strength of her own powers.
Theodora Archer was never told of the prophecy that predicted she would one day change the face of the nation. Nor was she warned that a group of powerful men would stop at nothing to destroy her. But Teddie is no longer a child and can no longer be sheltered from the savage world in which she lives, particularly after she flees the safety of her own city and finds herself immersed in a vicious world where the only code is to kill or be killed. Fortunately, she also has the assistance of her best friend, a man she has secretly loved for four years. A sometimes-tactless man known for being a womanizer, Dominic Battaglia will see his own world rocked dangerously when he realizes the depths of his feelings for the most powerful woman he’s ever known. Because in addition to the good fortune of inheriting her family's gift of sight, Teddie also must figure out how to use her apparent power of mind control as she fights to secure love and fulfill her own destiny.
TRIPLE THREAT is the final book of The MaCall Prophecy Trilogy and it is finally available on Amazon. Check it out.
http://www.amazon.com/Triple-Threat-M...
Theodora Archer was never told of the prophecy that predicted she would one day change the face of the nation. Nor was she warned that a group of powerful men would stop at nothing to destroy her. But Teddie is no longer a child and can no longer be sheltered from the savage world in which she lives, particularly after she flees the safety of her own city and finds herself immersed in a vicious world where the only code is to kill or be killed. Fortunately, she also has the assistance of her best friend, a man she has secretly loved for four years. A sometimes-tactless man known for being a womanizer, Dominic Battaglia will see his own world rocked dangerously when he realizes the depths of his feelings for the most powerful woman he’s ever known. Because in addition to the good fortune of inheriting her family's gift of sight, Teddie also must figure out how to use her apparent power of mind control as she fights to secure love and fulfill her own destiny.
TRIPLE THREAT is the final book of The MaCall Prophecy Trilogy and it is finally available on Amazon. Check it out.
http://www.amazon.com/Triple-Threat-M...
September 22, 2013
INNER MOONLIGHT is FREE - Sept. 23-27
After playing the role of the perfect wife for sixteen years, Elena Mazur is devastated by the death of her husband. She struggles with the relief she finds in her new freedom and the guilt she feels over his accident. She finds comfort in the arms of J.P., her husband's cousin and a man who has craved her since they were teenagers. And if she can stop blaming herself for her husband’s death, she might just fall in love with the man she’s always wanted.
http://www.amazon.com/kindle-store/dp...
http://www.amazon.com/kindle-store/dp...
August 8, 2013
Reviews for INNER MOONLIGHT, a contemporary romance
I am happy to offer free copies of INNER MOONLIGHT in exchange for honest reviews.
___________________
After playing the role of the perfect wife for sixteen years, Elena Mazur is devastated by the death of her husband. She struggles with the relief she finds in her new freedom and the guilt she feels over his accident. She finds comfort in the arms of J.P., her husband's cousin and a man who has craved her since they were teenagers. And if she can stop blaming herself for her husband’s death, she might just fall in love with the man she’s always wanted.
http://www.amazon.com/kindle-store/dp...
Please email me if you are interested. Thanks so much! foxcarrigan at gmail dot com
___________________
After playing the role of the perfect wife for sixteen years, Elena Mazur is devastated by the death of her husband. She struggles with the relief she finds in her new freedom and the guilt she feels over his accident. She finds comfort in the arms of J.P., her husband's cousin and a man who has craved her since they were teenagers. And if she can stop blaming herself for her husband’s death, she might just fall in love with the man she’s always wanted.
http://www.amazon.com/kindle-store/dp...
Please email me if you are interested. Thanks so much! foxcarrigan at gmail dot com
July 27, 2013
FIRSTBORN is FREE today!
FIRSTBORN is the first book of The MaCall Prophecy Trilogy and it is available for free today on Amazon. Enjoy!
http://www.amazon.com/Firstborn-MaCal...
http://www.amazon.com/Firstborn-MaCal...
