Hi everyone its Amber Malloy and I’m crazy busy baking for the holiday season. I haven’t been able to do a whole lot of PR for Spies R Us, my new action adventure novel. It’s about a married mother of two who has to leave her family for three years. Fortunately for us, my main character—sexy spy Eden Morgan—has offered to come over for an interview while I bake, isn’t she the best? (I had to trade her a Snickers cheesecake to do it, but who’s complaining?) While I mix the ingredients for four dozen red velvet cupcakes, Eden will answer my questions.
Me
Thanks for coming.
Eden
Thanks for having me. If you don’t mind, I would like to see the cake first.
Me
What, you don’t trust me?
Eden
Call it an occupational hazard.
Me
Jeez! Okay, first shelf in the fridge, see?
I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from complaining when she actually left the stool to check if I was telling the truth or not. Spies are so distrusting. Smiling at me sweetly, Eden returns to her seat across from me. My return smile is sarcastic.
Eden
The cake looks great. First question—shoot.
Me
So what makes a high school homecoming queen become an international spy?
Eden reaches over to swipe some batter from the bowl that I’m mixing. I’m tempted to swat her hand with my spoon, but this chick is super toned. I promise myself to pop her if she does it again.
Eden
After high school I didn’t really know what I wanted to do so I majored in Poli Sci.
Me
Love at first sight.
I try to hide my snort behind my hand, but fail, and Eden arches her well-manicured eyebrow before she continues.
Hard crowd. (I muttered because, yeah, I’m scared of her.)
Eden
No, a class assignment had me looking into the CIA. I couldn’t shake the feeling I needed more, so I took the test.
Me
But you don’t work for the CIA. You work for J8, which is a privately funded agency.
Eden
They poached me from the CIA with a better offer.
Me
Was that better offer your hottie husband, green entrepreneur Vann Morgan?
I wink at her to loosen the vibe, but when she doesn’t join me in the frivolity I begin to mix my cupcakes faster.
Eden
No, they gave me four weeks’ vacation, a loose leash to hang myself with, and then the hot husband who came later.
Me
How did you explain your spy status to him?
A mighty frown takes over the beauty’s face. I know she would rather me not ask her this question since it’s still a sore point in the Morgan household, but hey, I’m on a deadline. Instead of letting her off the hook, I nod at the fridge toward her cheesecake.
Eden
(Sighs)
I kind of didn’t.
Me
Is that why you had to go undercover for three years while Vann raised the kids on his own?
Eden
Not exactly. It’s a little more complicated than that.
Me
That precisely why people need to read this book! Spies R Us explains why a hot spy marries a hot guy just to leave him and their two kids. Ultimately, you do come back to save the family you abandoned, but at what cost?
Reaching for the hand towel to wipe off the sweat on my brow, I sincerely hope she doesn’t put her hands on me. The woman across from me was trained in several different forms of marital arts and I have tender skin that bruises easily. My baking clients would frown upon a baker with a black eye handling their pies.
Eden clears her throat before she finally responds.
Eden
I didn’t exactly abandon them.
I point my red batter-covered spoon in her direction, seriously feeling my Katie Curic mojo now.
Me
But had you been honest from the get-go, then you and Vann could have figured out a way to— Hey, where are going?
Eden leaves the table and heads for the fridge as the adrenaline high I’m feeling quickly dissipates.
Eden
The boys are getting out of school early and the carpool lane is a beast if you’re late …
She grabs her cake and shoots me a loose wave over her shoulder.
Me
Oh well, okay. Will I see you at the release party?
Eden
Nope!
The back door slams shut behind her.
Me
Okay then … Good talk.
So there you have it, folks. A super busy spy meets with a deliriously busy baker and we compare our similar lives (which are not similar at all.) So this is good-bye before I burn the place down. And please join me January 5th for the early release of Spies R Us.
*****
Book Description:
The top African American spy, Eden Morgan, was living the good life…
Days away from permanently leaving the spy game, Eden Morgan plan of being a stay at home mom goes up in smoke. Number one on the Russian hit list, Eden must leave her beautiful family and figure out who’s trying to kill her.
Unfortunately, her agency burns her status, so what should have been only weeks on the run turned into years. Instead of accepting her fate, Eden claws her way from the dead to save the next people on the Russian’s hit list… her kids. However, after three years missing, her homecoming isn’t well received. She finds that her awesome husband has moved on with a perky school teacher; not to mention her twins barely remember her. With a good idea who’s behind the plot to kill them, Eden must navigate car pool lanes, bitchy moms, and one angry, sexy husband.
By definition, Vann Morgan was charmed. One gorgeous wife and twins, and the most difficult thing in his life was reconstruction of his Chicago brownstone. Unfortunately everything changes when his lovely wife disappears and no one but him seems to care. After some years, Vann makes a new normal as a single dad, but his routine is blown apart when his long lost wife comes back. Unable to trust Eden with his heart, he soon uncovers that everything surrounding her disappearance was all his fault.
*****
About the Author
Amber Malloy dreamed of being a double agent but couldn’t pass the psyche evaluation. Crushed by despair that she couldn’t legally shoot things, Amber pursued her second career choice as pastry chef. When she’s not writing or whipping up a mean Snickers Cheesecake, she occasionally spies on her sommelier. Amber is convinced he’s faking his French accent.
Website www.ambermalloy.com
Twitter @authambermalloy