My Story, My Way ~ An Indie Adventure

I would like to thank L. A. for inviting me back her blog. I last visited An Indie Adventure in June of 2019 and talked about the third novel in the Risky Research Series, A Foundation of Fear. The fourth installment in the series, A Measure of Madness, released today so I thought this would be a good time to provide a little background on the inspiration behind the series and on the new release.

Ideas for my books comes from many different places including dreams, travel, childhood experiences (grossly exaggerated), and current issues. Most of my novels have been stand-alone adventure and romantic suspense novels, but the idea for my most recent project, the Risky Research Series, began to emerge as I started getting to an age when keeping fit and healthy started taking a little more effort and a lot more research.

Nearly every woman I know, myself included, educates herself about nutrition, exercise, fitness, diets, etc. in order to live a healthier life, manage a medical issue, or to lose weight. I’ve found there is so much information out there that it is difficult to sort out fact from fiction. The diet and nutrition industries are worth billions, which makes it even more challenging to ascertain who or what to trust. With so much on the line for something that impacts nearly everyone, there is no doubt plenty of corruption and crime infiltrating the industry, making it perfect fodder for a crime suspense series.

So, about six years ago I started the series with A Dose of Danger, which deals with a potential miracle diet pill. Book 2, A Taste of Tragedy, revolves around a deadly sweetener, and book 3, A Foundation of Fear, explores the role of lobbyists and politics in the industry. The latest novel in the series, A Measure of Madness, was just released. There are also two short-story prequels available for free download, A Formidable Foe and Midnight in Montana. For now, here’s a bit more on A Measure of Madness.

Excerpt:

Rapidly approaching headlights blinded the view. “I can’t see anything,” Batista shouted.”

“Punch it!” Devyn yelled. “Try to get through the gate and out of the way of the oncoming vehicles.”

Batista gunned the sedan’s big V-8 and surged through the gate. Nick and Devyn threw open the back doors and dove out of the vehicle. Batista veered right as a Humvee grazed the car’s backend, sending it spinning.

Devyn scrambled to her feet and took cover behind the guard house. Nick gained his footing and dove over the short hedge. The Humvee swerved, but the heavy vehicle corrected its course and sped by while a man in the passenger side sprayed bullets toward Devyn. She fired back, hoping to keep the shots coming in her direction. She was much better protected behind the guard shack than Nick behind the hedges.

The Humvee barreled past their position. Nick opened fire on the second vehicle, a dark-colored Suburban with tinted windows. Devyn emptied a clip before she realized the SUV’s windshield was bullet-proof. She popped in another clip and focused her shots on the tires and doors. The moving target was difficult to hit, especially while its occupants fired rounds from both sides.

By the time a club-cab monster truck reached them, the four hidden agents, along with Agent Batista, had fully engaged. Shots sprayed from every direction.

The last vehicle clearly wasn’t as fortified as the first two. A bullet pierced the windshield and connected with the driver. The injured man lost control of the high-clearance truck, sending the vehicle spinning out of control and slamming into the rock wall.

When the gunfire finally silenced, the local agents quickly converged on the disabled truck and pulled out its two occupants and cuffed them, despite the screams of agony from the injured driver.

Devyn left her cover and darted across the road. She leapt the hedge and skidded to a halt in front of an inert figure crumpled on the ground. Her heart nearly stopped as the fog in her brain cleared. The form belonged to Nick. She dropped to her knees and placed her fingers on the side of his neck, searching for a pulse.

His hand snaked up and held hers firmly in place. By the amount of blood oozing between her fingers, he’d clearly been shot in the neck, but at least he was alive.

Pulling a handkerchief from her pocket, she placed the cloth on the wound and applied as much pressure as she could without choking him.

“Nick’s been hit. Get some help,” she screamed.

“I’m sorry, you were right. Mr. Rivera definitely has something to hide. Road blocks are being set up as we speak. We’ll find him and your partner will live.”

Devyn hoped Batista was correct. She couldn’t lose Nick. He wasn’t just her partner, he was her friend, and the closest thing she had to family.

Find Measure of Madness:

Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ Kobo

Blurb:

FBI agent Devyn Nash's pursuit of a deadly organization heats up in this fourth installment of the Risky Research series.

The FBI locates the mastermind behind Coterie, but attempts to bring him in result in a shootout that sends Coterie’s members scrambling for cover. When Devyn’s partner is left fighting for his life in a Puerto Rican hospital, she becomes more determined than ever to bring them to justice.

Devyn’s decision to ignore her orders and pursue the head of Coterie to Brazil puts her job and her relationship with Sheriff Gage Harris in jeopardy, but she is unwilling to allow those responsible for so much death to live out their lives in paradise.