Meet fast paced romantic suspense author Belle Ami. I read her
novel Escape Here’s my review:
Escape is fast paced highly sexy romantic suspense set in
Iran and Israel.Cyrus Hassani is known in his world as one of the top men protecting Iran’s nuclear development program.
Israel knows him as their best deep cover mole. When Layla Rose Wallace, daughter of one of America’s top physicists is kidnapped in Dubai and sent to Iran, all hell breaks loose.
Israel is afraid Layla could be used to force her father to work for Iran. Cyrus is ordered to rescue her and get her out of Iran at all costs.
Cyrus is angry, torn between the destruction of the cover he gave so many years to build, and the growing impossible attraction he feels for Layla.
Layla is unwillingly drawn to a man who tells her he has no soul. Together they race to escape the deadly net set to keep them from leaving Iran. I was fascinated by two environments and cultures I knew little about. The pace kept me racing through the story to see what happened next. If you like sexy romance, foreign climes and a good thriller, this is your read.
Belle,
can we have an excerpt?
I’ve included
an excerpt with cooking, since food always finds its way into my manuscripts.
Excerpt:
* * * *
Layla bolted upright, gasping for air. The nightmare of being drugged
and abducted had vividly replayed in her dream. Her face and ribs ached. She
looked around the unfamiliar room. How
did I get here?
Her last memory was of driving in the Range Rover with Superman. Panic filled
her. Zamir? Where is Zamir? I
wonder if his father has started negotiating for our release. Have they
notified my father? Does Zamir even know I’ve left the prison? I need to get a message to him; maybe the man
with the green eyes will help me? Her mind spun with a million questions.
Determined, she rose from the bed. She would ask Superman for help. She
crept out of the bedroom suite and tiptoed down the stairs. The fragrance of
cooking meat and spices awakened pangs of hunger. She was starving. She
followed the aroma to the kitchen. Superman, in an apron, stood over a stove
stirring a pot. He dipped a wooden spoon into the pot and tasted the stew. “Hmm…” Seemingly satisfied, he placed the lid on the pot.
“It smells delicious. What is it?”
He whirled around in surprise, his hand instinctively reaching for his
holstered gun. “You scared the hell out of me.” He relaxed, smiling at her.
“It’s called Fesenjan. It’s a traditional Persian stew
made with pomegranate, chicken, walnuts, onions, saffron, cinnamon and a pinch
of sugar. Are you hungry?”
“Starved. Who taught you to cook?”
“My mother. This should be ready soon. Why don’t you sit down?”
“My mother’s dead.”
“So is mine.”
They stared at each other, taken aback by each other’s candid answer.
Layla swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat. “I have a
million questions. I hardly know where to start.”
Cyrus pulled out a chair for her at the kitchen table. “Start at the
beginning.”
She sat, folding her hands in front of her. “What’s your name? I can’t
very well call you Superman.”
“Superman?” He shook his head, perplexed.
“In my mind, I’ve been calling you Superman—the way you rescued me from
that guard. You swooped in like a superhero.”
The dimple in his chin hollowed out with his smile. She dropped her
eyes in embarrassment, thinking, He’s
way too good looking. Every time he smiles, my heart does somersaults.
“I like that.” The dimple in his chin grew even deeper with his broadening
grin, and his green eyes gleamed with amusement.
“What?” Be
still my heart. A smile like his could bring a woman to her knees. Not good,
Layla. Don’t fall for the bait. He’s the enemy. “Oh, for God’s sake, please tell
me your name.”
“Cyrus Hassani at your service. I am thirty-two.” He bowed his head.
“What would you like to know about me? Unlike you Americans, I don’t have a
Social Security card.”
She found his amusement annoying. She didn’t like being toyed with.
“Mr. Hassani, I seem to be beholden to you. You might consider telling me a
little about yourself so that I might have an idea of who I’m dealing with.”
Cyrus rubbed the shadow of beard on his face. “I hold a degree in nuclear
physics from the University of Paris and a law degree from the Imam Mohammad
Bagher University here in Tehran. I was conscripted by the Ministry of
Intelligence and Security when I graduated university, and since then I have
risen to the rank of attaché to an
important man. My assignment is to keep you safe from all harm until your
release. How am I doing?”
“Good,
you’re doing well. That wasn’t so hard, was it? Although, I must say it sounded
like the kind of recitation you’d give if you were captured by the enemy.”
His
laughter filled the room. “I suppose the presentation might have seemed a bit
canned. Now tell me, have I passed the first hurdle with you? May I call you
Layla? Have I gained your trust enough for us to be on a first name basis?”
“Let’s
not get ahead of ourselves, Cyrus. I appreciate your candor, and I’m grateful
for your rescue. I guess you are a superman of sorts. I still have a lot more
questions. I think first names will make this easier for both of us. Please, call
me Layla.”
“Shoot,
Layla.”
“My
boyfriend, Zamir, and I were abducted from Dubai. His father, Omar Kamel, is a
wealthy Saudi businessman. I’m sure he’s begun negotiating for our release. I
want to know how Zamir is, and can you tell me how much longer we’ll have to be
here?”
Cyrus
looked at his watch. “Zamir is fine. In fact, he should be getting on a private
jet right about now on his way to Saudi Arabia and his family.”
Layla
felt the blood drain from her face. Tears welled in her eyes, tracing a path
down her cheek. “I don’t understand. I’m supposed to be on that jet with him.
He would never leave without me…”
Cyrus’s
voice remained even, if not a little compassionate. “I’m sorry, Layla, but he
did. Don’t think too poorly of him. He had no choice. His father made no effort
to include you in the negotiation. You could not possibly believe an Arab
family would open their arms to you, an American Jew. He’s a boy. None of this
is in his control.” As an afterthought, he added, “If it’s any comfort, I’m
sure he’s as devastated as you.”
Layla
stared at Cyrus, trying to process what he said. Taking a breath, she wiped her
tears away. I should have
known better. I’ve been a fool, a child. She
stared at her folded hands, trying to catch up with her thoughts. The
realization she’d been left to fend for herself dawned on her. You come from a long line of fighters, she told herself. Your
grandparents are Holocaust survivors. It’s time to become who you really are. Facing the truth strengthened her resolve. Looks like you’re going to have to find your own way out of this.
She tried to fathom her situation, thoughts racing.
Cyrus stared at her, his sexy eyes filled with compassion. She returned his
stare as if seeing him for the first time. Is
he a friend or a foe? It occurred to her
that the flipping gorgeous hunk of a man who sat across from her might be her
only chance out of Iran. It was not in her DNA to use people, but under the
circumstances, this man might be her only way out. She looked down at her hands
as she tried to devise a plan.
When she looked up, she found Cyrus studying her.
She blushed. “I guess that’s all the questions I have for now. I really am
hungry, though.”
“Good. Then let’s eat.”
She found herself unable to resist. “I hope
Superman can cook as well as he comes to the rescue of damsels in distress.”
“Be
sure to let me know what career I’m better suited to, cooking or taking down
bad guys.”
“Right
now, I’m hoping it’s cooking you excel at.”
“Actually,
my greatest skill set is in the bedroom.” His piercing green eyes dared her to
look away.
Layla’s
cheeks burned, and he doubled over in laughter.
“I…
I beg your pardon?”
“Sorry,
I couldn’t resist, Layla. You’re quite pretty when you blush.”
Now I am hungry - in more ways than one. But let's go with food. Got a recipe you want to share?
You bet! My improved version of a recipe that is an
easy one pot meal & is crowd pleasing
chicken & potatoes on the wall
Yield
Makes 4 servings (I
usually add extra breasts or dark meat because the leftovers are killer)
INGREDIENTS
·
6 tablespoons olive oil
·
4 large garlic cloves,
minced
·
3 teaspoons dried oregano
(I always use fresh)
·
2 1/4 pounds yukon
potatoes, peeled, each cut into 6 long wedges
·
1 4-pound chicken, cut
into 8 pieces or just buy the parts dark or white your preference
·
3 tablespoons fresh lemon
juice
PREPARATION
1.
Preheat oven to 400°F.
Brush inside of large roasting pan with 2 tablespoons oil. Combine remaining 4
tablespoons oil, garlic, and 1 1/2 teaspoons oregano in bowl. Add potatoes and
toss to coat. Sprinkle potatoes with salt and pepper. Line the outside edges of
a large roasting pan with the potatoes so that they Sprinkle chicken with
remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons oregano, salt, and pepper. Arrange chicken in single
layer in center of prepared pan. Arrange potatoes around chicken. Then put
chicken in the bowl and soak up the remaining garlic, oil & oregano (if you
need to add another tablespoon of oil do so). Then squeeze the lemon juice and
any remaining oil mixture from bowl of potatoes.
2.
Roast chicken and
potatoes until chicken is cooked through and potatoes are tender, about 1 hour.
The recipe originally called for 1 hours & 10 minutes, however, I don’t
like my chicken dried out so an hour is plenty. I also cut my breasts in half.
This recipe is so good, it fills the house with mouth-watering
aroma.
I can’t wait to try it.
Belle, is not only a fellow member of my chapter of RWA, LARA, she is one of my critique partners. I and my fellow critique partners have been critiquing her next book and it's very exciting. Belle, tell us about your next book, Vengeance
Vengeance (Tip of the Spear
Book 2)
Vengeance is a continuation of Escape. An exciting thriller featuring my hero, Cyrus Hassani, and
heroine, Layla Rose Wallace, in a new adventure.
On
a lovely September evening in one of Manhattan’s poshest restaurant a bomb
explodes. The Israeli Consul General and Layla Hassani are dining in the
restaurant. More than a hundred people are killed including the consul general,
and Layla unbeknownst to the authorities is kidnapped.
When
a YouTube video surfaces starring, a kidnapped Layla threatening another
attack, a much bigger one, Mossad and the FBI team up to stop the terrorist
from killing millions of Americans. Mossad (Cyrus Hassani) and the FBI (Cass
Saladino and David Weiss) are in a desperate countdown to avoid a disaster. For
Cyrus, this is not only his assigned mission but it’s personal. He’ll do
anything to save the love of his life, Layla.
Where can we find
you?
Amazon buy link:
https://www.amazon.com/Escape-Tip-Spear-Book-1-ebook/dp/B01N1X508R
Amazon buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Holiday-Ever-After-Nora-Flite-ebook/dp/B01M8KZIRK
Twitter: @BelleAmi5
Thank you for being
here, Belle. I look forward to your next book.
