By
Tim Smith (Guest Blogger)
He’s
as cool as a Pina Colada on a Key West beach, he’s the kind of guy
your mother wouldn’t let you play with, and he’s every bad guy’s
worst nightmare. Nick Seven is back in The Neon Jungle (Nick
Seven Book 6), a gritty tale of crime and revenge on the mean streets
of Miami.
In
the laidback Florida Keys, former spies Nick Seven and Felicia Hagens
found a paradise far removed from the covert world of the CIA.
Nick,
content to run a bar on the Gulf and maintain a low profile, breaks
his self-imposed exile when a friend asks for help in getting a local
mob boss off his back. Popular singer Jimmie Rae wants to get free
from the notorious Turk Morgan, a crooked music mogul who controls
the Miami entertainment scene. Jimmie reveals that his girlfriend has
gotten caught in Turk’s web, and he wants to get her out before
it’s too late.
As
Nick and Felicia explore the neon jungle of South Beach, they
encounter the dark underside of the music business. Drugs,
prostitution, street thugs, and political payoffs are Turk’s stock
in trade, and he isn’t one to relinquish control over his empire.
Nick
goes undercover as an international criminal to challenge him, but
will he succeed in breaking Turk’s hold over Jimmie and his girl?
Can Nick use the sting operation to solve a cold case murder he
discovers by accident? What other secrets will he uncover?”
This
story is a bit different from the other entries in the Nick and
Felicia spy thriller series. If you’re familiar with TV shows like
“Burn Notice” or “Leverage,” you’ve seen the trope of
people pulling a scam on someone to bring them down. In this case,
the target is a vicious Miami crook masquerading as a music mogul.
He’s sort of a black Godfather, using a network of street thugs and
paid-for cops to maintain his illegal empire.
It
was fun to write because I got to send Nick undercover using an old
alias from his days as a CIA spook, a Greek arms smuggler named Nick
Stavros. Along with Felicia and his former partner, the somewhat
trustworthy Bones McCoy, Nick concocts a plan to make Turk Morgan
think his empire is crumbling around him. There are colorful
locations, quirky characters, snappy dialogue, action, romance and
hot sex. I made full use of South Beach as a backdrop, with its art
deco buildings, bright neon lights, and endless parade of street
hustlers to add atmosphere. These elements added to the ongoing
sexual attraction between Nick and Felicia.
Here’s
an exclusive excerpt:
Nick
swam through the incoming current to catch up with Felicia, who had
bested him after they dived into the ocean. When he reached her, he
treaded water, shook his head, and spat out the mouthful of the
Atlantic he had sucked in. Felicia bobbed neck high, treading water
while giving him a teasing smile. Nick sidled up next to her and
brushed his wet hair back from his face.
“Looks
like I win, tough guy,” she proclaimed. “Five bucks. Pay up.”
“I
left my wallet in my other pants.”
They
floated with the gentle tides and looked around. Several sailboats
coasted in the distance, along with some jet skis out for a day of
exploring. The white sandy beach was dotted with bikinied sun
worshipers and a group playing volleyball. The smell of saltwater and
sunscreen permeated the air, punctuated by excited cheers and chatter
from the volleyball crowd.
“Sure
is pretty out here,” she said.
“That’s
the second time you’ve said that. Are you sure you’re not trying
to tell me something?”
She
splashed water in his face. “No, I’m not tryin’ to tell you
anythin’. Can’t a person make an observation without you readin’
somethin’ into it?”
“Old
habit.”
She
pulled him in for a kiss. “Get over it.”
Her
long, wet hair dangled carelessly around her face. He peered into her
eyes while caressing her cheek. “Felicia, I’d be happy anywhere
we lived as long as you were there. I just can’t envision life
without you being a part of it.”
She
gave him a dreamy smile. “Now who’s bein’ selfish?”
“Come
on. I’ll race you back to shore.”
“Double
or nothin’?”
“You’re
on.”
They
swam toward the beach, coasting part way on the waves and reached the
sandbar at the same time. They walked onto the beach and caught their
breath.
“Tie,”
Nick declared.
“You
still owe me five bucks.”
They
walked to where they had laid out their towels, and Nick took two
bottles of water from the beach bag. He handed one to Felicia, then
took a long drink.
Nick
let his eyes wander over Felicia’s toned body, her bronze skin
offset by a white mesh bikini that clung to her body. Rivulets of
water dripped from her hair when she fluffed it with her fingers. In
spite of the heat, her nipples pressed against her bikini top.
“I
guess that water was cooler than it looks,” he said.
“What
do you mean?”
He
indicated her breasts. “You’re standing at attention.”
She
moved a step closer to run her fingers along his arm. “If we were
back home on Barbados, I wouldn’t be wearin’ this.”
“We
should plan a trip there.”
About
Tim Smith
Tim
Smith is an award-winning, bestselling author of romantic
mystery/thrillers and contemporary erotic romance. He is also a
photographer, freelance writer, editor, and blogger. His novels
featuring former CIA agent Nick Seven have garnered several awards
and international critical praise. When he isn’t writing, he can
often be found in The Florida Keys, doing research between
parasailing and seeking out the perfect Mojito.
You’ll
find more information about Tim and his books at
www.timsmithauthor.com, AllAuthor.com, ManicReaders.com, and
Goodreads.
Available
on Amazon in Kindle and paperback
