Spotlight & Giveaway: Bodyguard SEAL by Paige Tyler

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Paige Tyler to HJ!

Hi Paige and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, Bodyguard SEAL!

 
Hey Everyone! So excited to be featured at HJ!
 

To start off, can you please tell us a little bit about this book?:

Bodyguard SEAL originally started as a story called My SEAL Bodyguard in Cat Johnson’s Hot SEALs Kindle Worlds series. I’ve known Kat for years and when Kindle set up the ability to write stories in other people’s universe, I jumped on it in a second. Unfortunately, as fun as Kindle Worlds was to write in, the platform didn’t last long. So, I took the story back, stripped it down to the studs (get it—studs), and rewrote it into my SEALs of Coronado Series.

Navy SEAL Noah Bradley got a little busted up on his last mission. His boss puts him on medical leave, telling him to sit his butt on the couch in his apartment and play video games all day for the next month or so. But Noah is used to nonstop adrenaline action and gets bored pretty fast. He decides he needs something to keep him occupied. When his sister suggests that he play bodyguard for an author who’s worried about someone stealing her the manuscript of the book she’s currently writing, he figures that will be perfect. He’ll get out of the house for a while, watch over this Angela Lansbury wannabe, with no risk to his recovery. She’s a writer. How difficult could it be to keep her safe?

Peyton Matthews is on deadline for the next book in her wildly successful new adult series and has no time for people trying to steal it—or the bodyguard her agent insists she allow into her home and her life. She can’t deal with distractions right now!

But things get very complicated when she meets Noah and realizes he’d much more of a distraction than she ever would have expected. And if she’s not careful, it won’t just be her book getting stolen.
 

Please share your favorite lines or quote(s) from this book:

When Laurissa told him her friend was an author, he’d pictured an older woman who wore glasses and had gray hair. Like Angela Lansbury in those reruns of Murder She Wrote that his mother loved to watch. Not that he was downing on the main character, Jessica Fletcher, but clearly, his imagination had failed him in this case. Tall and slender with sexy curves and long, blond hair, the bluest eyes he’d ever seen, and possibly the most kissable lips in the world, Peyton Matthews was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.

What inspired this book?

This book was inspired by men with six-pack abs, sunny beaches, sea breezes, yoga poses, tough guys trying to hide their injuries, romance book authors and their fans, nasty people who pirate book manuscripts, car trunks, and crowded airports.

How did you ‘get to know’ your main characters? Did they ever surprise you?

Noah Bradley casually sauntered into my mind one day and carefully placed his obviously injured leg on the footstool in front of the couch (FYI, there is a lot of comfy furniture in my head). Anyway, he looked my way and told me that he was too injured to go on any SEAL missions for a while (yeah, he’d tried to hide it and hurt himself even worse).

“You got anything low key I can do for a while,” he asked. “Just to keep me from going insane from boredom?”

I suggested taking an online meditation course, but he nixed that idea. Apparently, he isn’t into meditation—or online courses for that matter.

Really needing to get him out of my head, I pointed him toward a friend of his sister, who didn’t know she was in danger until that very second. I feel sort of bad about putting Peyton in danger purely to get this guy out of my head, but I’m a writer. It’s what I do.

I really had no idea they’d fall for each other. Truthfully, I didn’t even think they were looking for a serious relationship until I saw them mooning over each other. Whatever happened after I threw them together is not my fault. It’s possible that yoga pants are to blame for everything. Again, not my fault.

What was your favorite scene to write?

I had a lot of fun writing the scene where Noah has to pull bodyguard duty while Peyton attends a book signing even. As an author, I could sit and talk with fans all day, so it was fun showing a brief glimpse of this, while also showing the stress it puts Noah, who is there as her bodyguard, under…

Noah stuck close when the signing started, and readers began jumping in to take group selfies with five or more people at a time. Peyton laughed, wishing he could let himself relax. But no. Instead, he looked poised to attack the entire four hours. She wasn’t sure how he did it. Seriously, it seemed exhausting to her.

As the last few readers hurried over for one more hug—and a few more easter eggs from the next book—Noah moved even closer. He looked ready to shove them out the door, but Peyton waved him off. She absolutely loved this part of her job and could do it all night.

“See?” she said as the remaining teenage girl paused on her way out of the ballroom to give Peyton a big wave. “I told you everything would be fine tonight.”

What was the most difficult scene to write?

The climactic conclusions are always rough for me. I hate putting my characters in danger, and it tends to make me very jumpy. I’m usually freaking out just like I know my fans will be (even if I supposedly know how this ends). I’ve included a very little snippet below, but not enough to give anything away…

“I hate to do this, but I need to get out of here—as in five minutes ago,” Noah said, turning back to his Teammate. “Can you distract those cops?”

Lane looked over Noah’s shoulder, then gave him a grin. “No problem.”

Without another word, Lane jogged toward the cluster of cops, waving for them to follow him toward the connecting terminal. “I saw some more terrorists this way!”

While everyone else dived for cover, the cops and TSA agents took off running after Lane. Crap, he was going to be in so much trouble once everyone found out there were no more terrorists.
But once again, Noah wasn’t going to waste the sacrifice.

Noah ran through the terminal and into the main concourse, then out the doors toward long-term parking. He’d never used the Find My Phone app before and he ended up running past the right location by a dozen feet or so before realizing he needed to turn around. Stopping, he scanned the area, taking in the dozen or so vehicles around him. He immediately discounted the pickup truck and minivan and instead focused on the obvious rental cars.

He pounded frantically on the trunk of each of them with his fist, calling Peyton’s name, then pressing his ear to the lid to see if he heard anything in reply. He muttered a curse after the fourth car. It had to be close to a hundred degrees out here. With the sun beating down like it was, the trunk would feel like a frigging oven.

Would you say this book showcases your writing style or is it a departure for you?

This is the eight book in the SEALs of Coronado series, and I would say that Bodyguard SEAL fits the style and mood of the other seven books in the series. I do try and approach the romantic connection in each story from a slightly different direction, since everyone out there in the world has their own ideas of what romance is supposed to be, and we all end up with the person we’re supposed to be with in a different way. So, while this book will feel familiar in how I write the characters, I think my readers will enjoy the unique way the hero and heroine come together in this one. They belong together if they could simply get out of their own way. And by the way, the books in the series are all stand alone, so readers can dive right in anywhere!

What do you want people to take away from reading this book?

My SEALs of Coronado is all about having a little fun, a few thrills and excitement, some steam, and a whole lot of romance. After reading this book, I want my readers to be smiling, feeling hopeful about the future, knowing that there are good people out there in the world, and that true love comes through in the end.

What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have planned?

Well, we just finished writing the next book in the STAT: Special Threat Assessment Team Series, the book where Caleb, everyone’s favorite werewolf in that series, finally gets his book! Right now, we’re writing the next book in the SWAT: Special Wolf Alpha Team Series, and then, it’s on to the next book in the SEALs of Coronado Series!

As for upcoming releases, look for Undercover Wolf (STAT: Special Threat Assessment Team) in May, Rogue Wolf (SWAT: Special Wolf Alpha Team) in August, and the next book in the SEALs of Coronado Series in the Fall. And in between, I have a brand new series releasing this summer called The “IT” Girls that I’m super excited about! It’s about three besties, who are also beauty and style influencers fresh out of college, balancing life, work, and fame while falling in love when they meet the men of their dreams. Book One in the Series, Kali & Grayson, releases June 22 and you can pre-order it now. Book Two releases in July, then Book Three in August!

Thanks for blogging at HJ!

Giveaway: I’m giving away the first three books in the SEALs of Coronado Series (SEAL for Her Protection, Strong Silent SEAL, and Texas SEAL) in Amazon Kindle format. The giveaway is open to US readers only and you must have a Kindle ereader.

To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Post a comment to this Q: Where is the most “unique” place you’ve ever made a “connection” with another person? Even if it didn’t lead to true love or a soul mate, tell me about the time something sparked with another person. Maybe you simply put yourself out there and said “Hello” when you normally wouldn’t have. Or maybe it was eye contact across a crowded room. Share the moment.

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 
 

Excerpt from Bodyguard SEAL:

Here’s another scene from the book signing that Peyton goes to, while Noah is concerned about her safety. Again, as a writer, I love the sense of excitement at these events, and wanted to convey that to the reader…

“So, what are one of these release parties like?” he asked as he turned onto the street outside her home and headed for the bay.

“Fun, crazy, and exhausting all at the same time.”

“That doesn’t tell me much,” he said drily. “I was more interested in the tactical details. Things that are critical to your safety.”

She laughed. “I wouldn’t know a tactical detail if I fell over it. What exactly do you want to know?”

“For starters, how many people will probably be there?”

She thought a moment, starting to count on her fingers. “Well, counting my publisher, editor, assistant editors, publicity people, Laurissa, and Tabitha…maybe five or six hundred.”

He did a double take so fast the SUV swerved a little. “Are you serious?”

“Uh-huh.” Peyton flashed him a smile. “Don’t look so alarmed. Since most of my readers tend to be under twenty-one, there won’t be any alcohol served, so things won’t get too wild. Unless we run out of books.”

Noah had visions of readers trampling each other to get the last few books, like a crazy Black Friday sale, punches being thrown when they realized there weren’t enough to go around.
“You’re kidding, right?”

“Of course, I’m kidding. We won’t run out of books. Even if we did, no one is going to get into a fight over it,” she said. “My readers aren’t like that. They’re there to hang out and have a good time. Some of them even come dressed up as the characters from my books.”

He gave her a sidelong glance. “Now you really are pulling my leg.”

“I’m not,” she insisted. “You can’t spell fanatic without fan, you know?”

“That’s crazy.”

Peyton shrugged. “I think it’s fun.”

Noah turned onto the road leading to the hotel. “How close do fans usually get to you?”

“Close enough to take selfies, along with copious amounts of hugs, jumping up and down, and squealing.”

He frowned. After seeing how Tabitha reacted to Peyton, he should have figured that. In his mind, that was a little too close for comfort.

Peyton put her hand on his arm. It felt nice. Especially after their earlier conversation and the way things had been left. “Stop worrying so much. I’ve done lots of these parties and nothing ever happened.”

“Someone wasn’t trying to steal your book then,” he pointed out. “And where is your book? Still in your purse?”

She nodded, but her happy mood dimmed a bit at his reminder, and he cursed himself for being so damn practical all the time.

Noah saw the crowds before he even pulled into the hotel driveway, and that familiar tension he felt before going into combat began to fill his stomach.

“There’s been no other attempt to steal the book since that first break-in, so you probably think that means you’re no longer in danger.” He weaved through the other cars toward the valet stand. “But the opposite is true. It means they know the book isn’t in your house and that you keep it on you. This release party would be the easiest place to get to you. The fact that there are hundreds of people around to use as cover will only make it easier for whoever this person is.”
He came to a stop in front of the valet stand, then put the SUV in park and turned to look at her. “If someone or something at the party looks suspicious, they probably are, so don’t do anything foolish tonight. And don’t put yourself in a situation where we get separated, okay?”

She gazed at him for a moment, then nodded. “Okay.”

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
 
 

Book Info:

Romance can be dangerous business…
Author Peyton Matthews never expected the price of fame would come to this. But someone has broken into her house in an attempt to steal the highly anticipated book in her YA romance series. A crazed super-fan? Or something more sinister? Either way, she’s on deadline and her publisher is taking no chances. Now she’s got a bodyguard, a hotter-than-hell Navy SEAL who’ll stay with her 24/7. Where she goes, he goes. All day, all night. And suddenly Peyton finds herself living out a romance plot.

But more than your heart can be broken.
Noah Bradley is on medical leave from active duty. With orders to do nothing, he’s about to lose his mind. A man can only play video games for so long. So, when his sister asks if he’d watch over a writer friend for a couple of weeks, Noah jumps at the chance to have something to do. No way did he expect the ‘writer’ to be a famous, walking-talking goddess who makes him more nervous than a room full of terrorists. But he soon realizes the quiet, sweet Peyton is everything he didn’t know he wanted. And for once he wants to have a real relationship. If he can keep Peyton alive.

When she’s kidnapped by the would-be book thieves, Noah is racing against the clock to find her. And he’s running out of time.

Book Links: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo | Google |
 
 

Meet the Author:

Paige Tyler is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of sexy, romantic suspense and paranormal romance. She and her very own military hero (also known as her husband) live on the beautiful Florida coast with their adorable fur baby (also known as their dog). Paige graduated with a degree in education but decided to pursue her passion and write books about hunky alpha males and the kick-butt heroines who fall in love with them.

She is represented by Courtney Miller-Callihan of Handspun Literary
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