Part of the Crew...Lara Lacombe

DEADLY CONTACT
Harlequin Romantic Suspense

It's a race against time—and a fatal outbreak—in this thriller of a debut! 

In one passionate night Special Agent James Reynolds and scientist Kelly Jarvis went from friends to lovers. Then Kelly walked away with only an apology. Now James is charged with solving a bioterrorist attack—and Dr. Jarvis works at the suspected lab. 

Is Kelly an accomplice or a victim? Just what are her secrets that drove her from James's bed? Soon one thing becomes clear: The ghosts of her past have nothing on the terrorists targeting her and Washington, D.C. Another threat bathes the city in red alert, and now there are lives at stake, in addition to hearts….

Check out the excerpt! 

HERE'S LARA LACOMBE

I’m a life-long nerd, and I’ve always been interested in science.  I discovered romance novels in graduate school, and quickly figured out that writing happily-ever-afters was a lot more fun than late nights in the lab.  Now, I combine my two loves by writing romantic suspense with a science twist—it’s the best of both worlds!

ALL ABOUT LARA 

ANGI: How often to you get lost in a story?

LARA: As often as possible!  I love to read, and am always in the middle of a book or two.  I read every night before I go to bed, no matter how late it is or how tired I am.

 

ANGI: What’s the first book you remember reading? 

LARA: Keep in mind that I’m a nerd, okay?  My first book was called The Value of Believing In Yourself, and it was about the scientist Louis Pasteur.  It told the story of how Pasteur developed a vaccine for rabies, a fatal disease.  I read it over and over again, and I think it may have had something to do with my choice of career… J

ANGI: What’s your favorite “love” word?

LARA: That’s a tough one!  Aside from ‘love’ I like ‘adore’, or ‘my heart’.  I do wish that English had more words to express love, like the Eskimos do for snow.

ANGI: What sound or noise do you love?

LARA: I love the sound of running water, and the sound of my cats purring.

ANGI: Can you tell us about a real-life hero you’ve met?

LARA: I have several good friends in the military, and I’ve always considered them to be heroes (and heroines)!  What really stands out to me is that if you told them they are heroes, they would deny it—they think they’re just doing their job.  It’s not false modesty on their part, but a real sense of honor they have that leads them to downplay their actions and contributions.  It’s quite inspiring.

ANGI: What’s your favorite fairy tale?

LARA: Does The Princess Bride count?  It’s such a great story, and it has a happy ending!

ANGI: What’s your favorite cartoon character?

LARA: Probably Pinky and the Brain, but I was also a big fan of Daria when growing up—anyone remember that show?  And of course, the long-suffering Lisa Simpson.  I guess I can’t pick just one! 

ANGI: What do you like about the hero of your book?

LARA: James has a very strong code of ethics and honor that drives him.  He puts aside his own personal feelings for the greater good, and he’s determined to do the right thing, even at the expense of his own safety.

ANGI: Is there a playlist you’d recommend for reading your latest release?

LARA: This is a tough question, because I don’t listen to music while I write.

 

ANGI: What’s your favorite movie of all time?

LARA: Hmm… Should I be serious, and confess my love for a classic like Gone With the Wind?  Or should I admit my love for ridiculous comedies, like The Hangover or Young Frankenstein?  And let’s not forget Lonesome Dove, or The Godfather.  I can quote a scary number of movies…

ANGI: Where do you read and how often?

LARA: I read every day, usually in bed.  I’ll also use my phone to read if there’s a lull in my day (like if I’m at the DMV, or giving an exam in my class).

ANGI: Fairy Tale or Action Adventure?

LARA: How about a bit of both?

ANGI: What was the first story you remember writing?

LARA: I remember writing a story about catching fireflies when I was in elementary school.  It wasn’t very long—I guess it would be considered Flash Fiction by today’s standards! J

 

ANGI: Who’s your favorite villain?

LARA: Captain Hook!  Peter Pan is one of my favorite books.

ANGI: What is your biggest vice?

LARA: I love Coca Cola—on a hot day, is there anything better than an ice cold Coke?  I think not.  I’m also a huge fan of Taco Casa, a regional fast food restaurant.  Not the healthiest of vices, but if they were good for me, they wouldn’t be vices!

ANGI: Is there a “Blooper” in your story (it may have been changed before printing)?

LARA: Fortunately, I can’t think of anything!

ANGI: How is it working with hot guys and sexy women all day?

LARA: Pretty awesome J

ANGI’S GOTTA ASK: I love having my chaptermates here at GLIAS. I know so many "gotta ask" things (evil grin), but keeping it about the book…  What's your favorite thing about your scientific background that you included in your first release?

LARA'S GOTTA ANSWER: I tried not to make things too technical, because I didn’t want readers to get bored.  I had to include some details though, and there are a few scenes where the science stands out—when Kelly is interrogated by the FBI, and when she and James have dinner together after her interview.  As a microbiologist, I can tell you everything she says is true!  

FIND LARA

blog   Facebook page   Twitter  @LaraLacombe   Goodreads  

UP NEXT:

I’m excited to report that I just sold two additional books to Harlequin Romantic Suspense!  Book 2 will be released in August 2014, and Book 3 will have a late 2014 release date.  I’ll post the details on my blog as things take shape.

Lara's Debut Received

4 STARS from Romantic Times Magazine

"The romance, science and suspense make this story quite engaging." 

LARA IS GIVING AWAY a copy of DEADLY CONTACT to a blog commenter from today & tomorrow. It's an international giveaway…be sure to leave your email.

LARA WANTS TO KNOW: The holidays are approaching!  What’s your favorite holiday tradition??