Miami Steam – Romance Lives Forever

Miami Steam

The character interview allows a hero or heroine to tell readers
about himself or herself. Today’s interview is with Rick Gonzalez from Miami Steam.

Interview with Rick Gonzalez

Tell us about yourself,
please.

I’m a homicide detective with the Miami-Dade police department.
I’m Cuban, raised in Little Havana, Miami, by my mom. I owe everything to her. She
and my dad left Cuba in a balsa, a homemade raft. My father got washed overboard
in a storm; by some miracle my pregnant mom made it to a beach in Key West. A police
officer found her. She named me for him – Richard. I guess that’s why I later became
a cop.

Authors call what you
want but cannot have “the conflict” — what is yours?

Well, I hate reporters. I was working undercover narcotics, and
I loved that job The looks on the perps’ faces when I slapped the ankle bracelets
on them – no one ever suspected I was a cop – was worth all the risk. Then, some
frigging reporter put my picture in the newspaper, identifying me as a cop. That
was the end of my undercover career. Then I meet Rebecca, a reporter for the Miami
Star, and the chief orders me, of all people, to work with her on a story about
this serial killer in Miami. The minute I saw her, it was instant attraction, but
she’s a reporter – my sworn enemy!

What inner doubt causes
you the most difficulty?

How can I trust Rebecca Challenger? She’s out to make a name
for herself as a journalist and using me to do that. Okay, I can deal with that,
but when we take things between us to the next level, I just don’t know. Are her
feelings as real for me as her ambition? Or is she just screwing me to get more
information for her story?

In the story world your
author created, explain what it is you fear most and why.

That this psychopath murderer is going to kill the woman I truly
love! I finally find her only to possibly lose her? I can’t let that happen, no
way!

Tell us about your significant
other, that person who makes living worthwhile.

Rebecca’s my soulmate, no other word for it. Besides being gorgeous,
she’s super smart, interesting, and caring. She genuinely wants to make the world
a better place – that’s why she became a journalist and why I became a cop. I guess
that’s what we have in common – we see the world beyond our own little niche, which
is a very comfortable cocoon to be in!

If someone from your past
showed up, who would you NOT want it to be, and why?

That’s an easy one – the ex! She couldn’t take being married
to a cop – the crazy hours, the long shifts, the worry that every time your husband
goes to work, you don’t know if he’ll come back. I admit it’s not easy, maybe that’s
why so many cops are divorced. But I think she really took out her own failures
on me. After her store on Calle Ocho selling Cuban souvenirs went under, so did
our marriage.

Why are you happy (or
not happy) with the way your story ended?

I found the woman of my dreams and arrested the Night Knifer,
which is the kind of career-making case every homicide detective dreams about. It
made national headlines and a producer is interested in making a movie about it.
What more could I want?

About the Author

Chantal Verlaine has been writing stories since she was six years
old and firmly believes that every good story deserves a romance. A global nomad,
she most recently is a Miami transplant to Los Angeles, which has many more good
hair days than South Florida but she still misses Miami’s tropical nights, bathtub-warm
ocean and Cuban rocket-fuel coffee.

What genre(s) would you
like to write that you haven’t tried yet?

I’m currently working on a mystery with a woman detective as
the lead character, and plenty of romantic sparks!

What would your readers
be surprised to learn about you?

I’m a true global nomad! I was born in New Zealand and lived
in seven countries by the time I was thirteen. I lived in three more countries as
an adult.

Why should readers who
haven’t picked up one of your books before give this one a try?

Miami Steam is a quick, smexy read for those who like fast-paced,
action-oriented fiction. It’s got mystery, thrills and suspense, which all pivots
on romance, of course! Perfect for reading on the beach, on a flight, or to curl
up with on an afternoon.

Is there anything you’d
like to say to your readers?

I know I’m probably preaching to the choir here, but read, read
and read more! I’ve been a voracious reader since I was a child and the worlds contained
in books continue to amaze and fascinate me. I can’t figure out why people don’t
read more!

About the Book

Title Miami Steam

Genre Erotic, contemporary, suspense

Author Chantal Verlaine

Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R

Miami Star reporter Rebecca Challenger desperately needs a big
story on the serial killer terrorizing the city in order to get a promotion to features
writer. Her main source, lead homicide detective Rick Gonzalez, despises reporters.
As the pair spar over the story, they’re both jolted by a white-hot current of mutual
attraction. They overcome their mistrust to start a promising love affair, but overheard
gossip causes Rebecca to shy away. Baffled and hurt by Rebecca’s sudden rejection,
Rick vows to forget her. That is, until the serial killer, enraged by Rebecca’s
story about him, kidnaps her, and Rick must rescue the woman of his dreams. Can
true love endure in the face of misunderstandings and a psychopath’s wiles?