Spotlight & Giveaway: When the Smoke Clears by C. Chilove

Posted April 19th, 2021 by in Blog, Spotlight / 60 comments

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author C. Chilove to HJ!
Spotlight&Giveaway

Hi C. Chilove and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, When the Smoke Clears!

 
Hello everyone! Thanks so much for allowing me a chance to drop in! I’m excited to talk about my debut into Romantic Suspense and books period….did I mention I love to read.
 

Please summarize the book a la Twitter style for the readers here:

Though their chemistry burns hotter than ever, when danger comes knocking on Paige’s door, Brenden will have to walk a fine line between duty, honor, and love.
 

Please share the opening lines of this book:

The veil of night was lifting, retreating to the salmon rays marking a new dawn. Relief spread across Lieutenant Colonel Brenden Jasper’s limbs as he took a deep inhale of the warm, salty air thrusting through the passenger cabin of the chopper. Nothing was sweeter than the smell of Tampa Bay, except freedom. He was home. He pulled his absent gaze from the shadows lingering over the deep blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

 

Please share a few Fun facts about this book…

  • The book is based in the Sunshine state — Tampa Bay area.
  • Part of my research included interviews wit active and inactive military professionals.
  • The university in the book was inspired by the University of Tampa—Go Spartans!
  • The clear spring in the book is an ode to the natural beauty of Florida springs that has been preserved in 15 state parks. As a child I visited many of them, and still take my children. But, beware– they are ice cold.
  • Brenden loves jazz music, and his love of this genre is rooted from my own personal tastes. I love Gato!

 

What first attracts your Hero to the Heroine and vice versa?

Aside from their physical attraction, Brenden is attracted to the compassion and purity Paige brings to his world. Paige is drawn to Brenden’s strength and his dark side.
 

Using just 5 words, how would you describe Hero and Heroine’s love affair?

Sexy, Passionate, Emotional, Intense, Complicated.
 

The First Kiss…

Whispered to her deepest, darkest desires while he relished her sweetness.
 

Without revealing too much, what is your favorite scene in the book?

There are many… but I think it would be where you see the super bad ass commander showcase his chivalry::

Brenden threw the car into park in the middle of the empty street. He blasted the radio volume and then exited his door, making his way to the passenger side. As he opened the door, he offered her his hand. The minute she latched onto him, he hauled her into his arms.
They spun around, her body fused to his as their fingers interlaced. He led with a gentle rock and she followed, burying her head in his chest. His hands traveled her body, relishing every curve he had committed to memory…

 

If your book was optioned for a movie, what scene would be absolutely crucial to include?

Same as above because we see the vulnerability in Brenden
 

Readers should read this book …

To see a super bad-ass commander overcome his fears of loss to conquer love
 

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

Currently working on the first book in my small town-high drama romance, The Shores of Dora series with Forever.
 

Thanks for blogging at HJ!

 

Giveaway: A $20 Amazon gift card.

 

To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Post a comment to this Q: Has a lover ever kept secrets from you?

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 
 

Excerpt from When the Smoke Clears:

“Are you done hiding from me?” The smooth tenor jumpstarted her heart.
Paige whipped around to see Brenden leaning in the door frame. A smile curved his lips as she struggled through heavy breaths. “Hi… Hiding from you?” She gulped down a mixture of fear and excitement as butterflies began dancing in her stomach. She wasn’t sure if she wanted them to stop because at least the fluttery feeling confirmed she wasn’t dreaming.
He slid his hands into his pockets while his eyes intently scanned her face as if he were committing every inch to memory. “You didn’t give me a chance to tell you Happy New Year.”
A flush crept along her neck before stinging her cheeks. She peeked up, afraid of how the energy in her body was responding to Brenden. “Ditto,” she muttered. “Happy New Year! I guess chivalry does exist.”
He shrugged and began moving towards her. Face to face, he looked upon her, again studying her like a work of art. “Not sure if the thoughts I’m having of you would be deemed chivalrous, Paige.”
She felt her mouth form a little “o” while her heartbeat triple timed. The sincerity etched across Brenden’s face and the want laced within his husky voice began casting a spell, unraveling inhibitions she’d clung to for fear of failure or rejection.
“Why are you here by yourself?” He shifted his gaze beyond her to the ocean before taking a few steps to claim the space at the balcony rail.
“I could ask you the same,” she replied before returning to her place along the rail that was now a few feet from the sexiest man alive.
“True, but I suppose neither of us wants to share what we’d rather forget.”
Paige nodded. How did he know? She’d been trying to forget for the last twenty years. And now, seeing the sliver of tension twitch at Brenden’s jaw, it made her curious to learn what he wanted to forget.
“Forget?” she asked out loud, and not on purpose.
He faced her. Sweet Jesus, the man’s eyes could read a girl’s soul and betray her most private thoughts. “Don’t you want to?”
Something in him whispered to her deepest, darkest desires. Her body slowly began overriding her mind. “How?” she asked, desperate for her next breath. She then swallowed an inhale and reached up, pushing strands of his tousled hair from his face.
Brenden stepped in, closing the distance between them. He looked down into her eyes, lowered his head, and brushed his lips across hers. His fingers threaded the strands of her hair before he tilted her neck and pressed his lips to her bouncing pulse.
Her breaths became more unpredictable, fueling the sharpening ache between her legs that halted rational contemplation. Mind versus body. Never before had she been uncertain of which would win.
Another stuttering breath escaped her lips, and her eyes closed as Brenden’s teeth sank into her skin. “Mmmm…feels good.”
“Tastes good.” His body pressed harder against hers. “And now you know my most indecent thoughts.”

Excerpts. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
 
 

Book Info:

Lieutenant Colonel Brenden Jasper lives a life of secrets, danger, and clandestine missions. As commander of the most elite Black Ops unit in the world, nothing is more important to him than protecting the country he loves. But there’s a reason only the toughest, battle-tested, alpha men can call themselves members of the Black 2131 brotherhood. None but those in the highest realms of government even know of its existence, and it’s Brenden’s job to avoid emotional entanglements so he can keep it that way.

Dr. Paige Nichols has spent her life ruled by logic and reason, teaching and analyzing art history, so nothing could have prepared her for the completely overwhelming attraction-at-first-sight when she sets eyes on Brenden. Their chance encounter at a party opens her up to a tantalizing dark side she never knew she had—and leaves her wanting so much more. But a man with a dark side often comes with way too many secrets…ones that could put her life in danger.

Though their chemistry burns hotter than ever, when danger comes knocking on Paige’s door, Brenden will have to walk a fine line between duty, honor, and love.
Book Links: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Goodreads |
 
 

Meet the Author:

C. Chilove is a southern girl writing sexy, thought-provoking romance that explores the human condition while proving love transcends societal clichés. Her characters are strong, witty, and prove that diversity is beautiful. When she’s not writing, she’s living out her personal happily-ever-after by rockin’ the stands for her Volleyball star, cheering on her future MLB slugger, or celebrating date night with her hubby.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | | Instagram |

 
 
 

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60 Responses to “Spotlight & Giveaway: When the Smoke Clears by C. Chilove”

  3. Jeanna Massman

    Yes, I’m sure my husband has kept things from me but it might be better if I don’t find out!

  24. Glenda M

    Yep. I ditched him when I found out. There are secrets (gifts, surprise get together, etc) and there are SECRETS (cheating, serious lawbreaking, getting fired and lying about it, etc)

  25. joab4424

    Yes, my husband has. He always said that either it was to be a surprise or he didn’t want to upset me by telling me.

  44. Kay Garrett

    Yes but love has to be based on trust so it didn’t last.
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

  45. erinf1

    yup and when he finally told me, it was a deal breaker… so maybe reinforced why he didn’t tell me in the first place. But I wouldn’t have been so mad about it if he had told me at the beginning instead of 2 years in. thanks for sharing!

  50. laurieg72

    No. I’ve only had one lover, my husband of almost 44 years. He’s honest and trustworthy. I don’t believe he’s ever kept a secret from me.

  51. Texas Book Lover

    My husband and I have been together for 28 years I am sure there have been something over that time frame whether he meant it to be a secret or just forgot to tell me is another story. He often thinks he tells me when in reality he hadn’t yet. But I wouldn’t say he intentionally has kept secrets from me.

  58. Athena Graeme

    YES! I dated my husband for several years before I found out he was still married to his second wife! I was furious!!! He literally said “I thought I’d told you that”!!! No, no he didn’t. They’d separated before we started dating, but it would have been a deal breaker for me anyway.