Countermeasure by Chris Almeida & Cecilia Aubrey-Character Interview/Giveaway

Harlie is sooo excited to have Chris and Cecilia on the blog today.  I will have my review up for the book next week, so watch for it.  Moving is no fun and I fell behind.  :( 

Also, don't forget to comment for a chance to win a $10 gift card AND fill out the Google doc on the bottom for a chance at the GRAND PRIZE: Signed copies (by both authors) of Countermeasure and To Russia with Love plus author swag!


Blurb

In the first novel of the COUNTERMEASURE SERIES, Trevor Bauer is haunted by the mystery surrounding his parents' disappearance. His dreams for his own life have been put on hold. While searching for clues about them, he crosses paths with Cassandra James, a tough ex-CIA agent who derails every one of his best laid plans to avoid a relationship until he can find the closure he desperately seeks.

Suspicious and determined never to fall into the love trap, security specialist Cassandra James takes on a chase to recover files stolen right out from under her nose. In an effort to prove to her father--also her boss--that she is a capable woman, she follows the digital trail--a trail that leads her directly into the arms of Trevor Bauer, an NSA analyst who appears to have more secrets than she has scars...

When he accepts her request for help in recovering the files she's hunting, they embark on an adventure that takes them across the ocean and into a world of intrigue and violence. As things between them begin to heat up, Trevor realizes that, if he is ever to win Cassandra's heart and the future he craves, he has no choice but to reveal all his secrets.

Interview with Trevor Bauer from Countermeasure

Why did you stop looking for your parents?

Trevor takes a deep breath and a frown creases his brow. “At the time, I just couldn’t handle dealing with the idea they were gone. I had to withdraw from everything that reminded me of them and the fact that I couldn’t see or talk to them ever again.” Trevor leans forward on his chair and locks eyes with the interviewer.

What changed to have you dive into their case again?

His eyes take a serious, sharper quality. “With time, I realized that the explanations and theories around their disappearance were flawed. I need more answers before I can close their case forever in my mind and know I’ve done everything I could.” He lowers his eyes to his clasped hands. “Everything.”

What is life like at the NSA?

His mouth curves in a smile and Trevor chuckles. “Crazy busy. We’ve been handling the most incredible cases. Since 9/11 things have escalated and we find ourselves monitoring more and more conversations. But it’s also a lonely and covert life. Aside from George who works with me and my parents”—he pauses to take a deep breath—”nobody else knows for what agency of the government I work.

Typically, it takes a little time to decide whether you like someone much less that you are in love, what was it about Cassandra that drew you to her so quickly?

A wider smile forms on his lips and he has a humorous glint in his eyes. “She is a determined, spitfire of a woman. Any man with fire in his veins and a good head can see she is amazing. I guess with us, physical attraction played a big part initially but, just like a good wine, it evolved into something more robust, a deeper knowledge that we were made for each other and that we could grow into something bigger together.”

What are your thoughts on Nathan Nelson? How do you feel about his relationship with Cassandra?

The frown returns to his brow. Trevor crosses his arms and leans back against the chair. “They didn’t have a relationship. Sex, yes. Relationship, no. We all make poor choices we regret later in life. Nathan is Cassie’s. I can’t judge her. She was free to do so back then. Does he rile me up? Yes. Do I wish he didn’t exist? Yes. But I can’t erase the past and removing him from her life would probably change how she felt about me when we met. She would not have had any comparisons to go by. She wouldn’t have seen clearly the difference between being loved for who she is and being loved by what he thought she could become.” He smiles again. “She’s mine now and that’s what matters to me the most. Of course I have a blast rubbing that on Nelson’s nose just for the fun of it. He turns green really easy. Quite a sight, I tell you. Almost as green as lime Jell-o.” He chuckles at his own words.

Do you think you will find your parents? If so, do you think you will find them alive?

A glimmer of hope flares deep in his eyes. “That is a tough question to answer. Finding them alive is a dream. Being the logical type of guy I am, I can see that the statistics are all against us. Almost 6 years have passed. The chances of them being alive are minute. Still, I hope to find at least a clue to what happened to them and why.”

I need to purchase a new computer. Do you recommend a laptop or desk top? What applications will I need? Speed?

Trevor straightens in his seat, excitement colors his voice and his mouth quirks at the corners. “I’m currently replacing Jack, too. Gotta say, he is tougher than I imagined. Being smashed on someone’s face and crashing onto the ground did a good number on him, though. I’m currently in search of Jack Junior so we can take him on our next adventure. Tell you what, I’ll send you the specs I have in mind for him and maybe you can get yourself something similar. It’s off the hook.”

Excerpts:

Excerpt #1 is here:  http://www.simplyali.com/2012/07/guest-post-countermeasure-by-chris.html
Excerpt #2 is here:  http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index.php/?p=5832
Excerpt #3 is here:  http://www.cocktailsandbooks.com/2012/07/blog-tour-guest-post-giveaway.html
Excerpt #4 is here:  http://trustme2forget.blogspot.com/2012/07/countermeasure-blog-tour-prize-give.html

Here is the final excerpt:

PART 5 of the COUNTERMEASURE Excerpt 

Anger rippled under her skin again, knowing that he was spreading the news and belittling her to others—but that was so typical of how he rolled. Maybe the next time she saw him she would make that little fantasy of hers a reality and punch him. Shaking her head, she stood and put some distance between her and Bauer while she composed herself and he continued to explain.

“George and I reviewed the conversation in detail to rule out a link to terrorist activity so that we could remove the flag.”

Cassandra had counted on Bauer being the key to Allison’s trail, confident that she would be leaving the NSA complex with the information she needed to catch up with her. Instead, her current path resembled a slippery slope on which she slid further and further away from what she wanted most—to fix the mess. Cassandra was compelled to make it right even though she was no longer in charge of the project—her father had not raised a quitter.

She tried to wrap her mind around his explanation. It still didn’t make sense. His direct eye contact and facial expressions as he answered her questions told her he was giving it to her straight. He admitted he had infiltrated the system, but still, she sensed there was more to the story than what he was letting on, and it irked her. No one would go to such lengths to erase himself from the server unless he was up to no good.

Cassandra looked him straight in the eye and pressed, “Mr. Bauer, you have to give me a better reason for covertly accessing the system and covering your tracks the way you did. You know what I think? I think you got wind of the formula on your taps and wanted it for yourself.”

Trevor could almost feel his eyes roll to the back of his head. Frustration was setting in rapidly. Although easy on the eyes, this woman was sharp as a needle. She was wasting his time and keeping him from his job, not to mention getting too close to what he didn’t want to disclose. “Damn, Ms. James, you’re like a dog with a bone. What part of what I said don’t you understand? I don’t know how many times I have to tell you, I was there as an NSA Analyst.”

“I wouldn’t be here if I thought that was the only reason you were snooping around. I still want to know what you used to get in the server. I was positive we had sealed all doors.”

Her comment gave Trevor the excuse he needed to change the direction of their discussion and get her out of his hair. “I have to hand it to you. You’re as tenacious as a rabid dog. As much as I hate to admit it, you’re pretty damn good. It took me a while to find a way in. Very impressive. With your skills, you would have been an excellent asset to NSA—or CIA, for that matter. Ever thought about working for either of them? No? Well, either way, your parents must be very proud of you and your work.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, her face paled and pain slid across her eyes before her expression hardened again. Trevor knew right away that he had said something wrong. Puzzled, he recalled his words but could not find anything that would have been offensive. Holy crap, the woman is nuts. A few simple compliments and he was back to walking on eggshells around her. By the look on her face, his well-meant words appeared to have been taken out of context: she looked like she was about to finish the job Hulk had started earlier. Eyeing her, he knew they needed to finish up that conversation. She was a touchy one. Holding a conversation with her was like hopping on a wild amusement park ride. The kind you came off of never knowing which way was up.

“If you don’t mind, I have work to do and this little talk has taken a big chunk of my day. If you don’t have any new questions for me, I’m out of here.”

Now that the conversation was coming to a close, a strange sense of loss filled him at the thought that he would never see Cassandra James again. If they had met under different conditions, he might have taken the opportunity to ask her out. He was fairly sure their conversations over a nice dinner would have been an intriguing learning experience and he would have enjoyed exploring her view of the world, certain her interpretation of it was as unique as the woman herself. As it was, they would be like two ships passing in the night.

Cassandra had bet all her chips on Trevor Bauer and lost miserably. More than anything, she was pissed at herself. Bauer’s words and flippant dismissal made the bitter pill that much harder to swallow. There was no way in hell she was letting him have the last word, “You’ll still need to send me your report detailing how you got in so I can seal that rabbit hole, Mr. Bauer. Don’t want you falling in there again. I expect to have the report waiting for me by the time I get home tomorrow evening.

As she turned to leave he commented, “I just might, if I knew where to send it.”

Her smartass answer matched his own smart mouth: “Hey, you were able to find your way into the server, surely a simple business email can’t be that hard to find.”

Turning on her heel, she left him standing there as she exited the room. He could’ve sworn he heard “A amadáin!” echoing in her wake.
Thank you for following the Countermeasure Blog Tour! Hope you enjoyed the posts and excerpts.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

CHRIS ALMEIDA and CECILIA AUBREY

Chris Almeida began writing children’s stories at a very young age. While Cecilia Aubrey has dabbled in writing on and off over the years. It was in 2010, when Chris and Cecilia met and began role-playing online as a hobby, that writing placed itself front and center—this time, writing storylines for the role-playing group.

The ideas and plots created for the game awoke their inner writers, and, a few months later, together they began writing romantic erotica. Together, they write suspense-driven erotic romance with sexy, technologically inclined men and woman, filled with intrigue and enough twists and turns to make a rollercoaster seem tame.

Chris and Cecilia have several published short stories to their credit and their first novel, COUNTERMEASURE, was published in January 2012. They are currently working on the second and third books in the COUNTERMEASURE series. Through all the chaos and laughter, they still hold true to their roots, bringing their favorite role-play characters and stories to life.

You can find out more about them on their author and series websites:

http://caduobooks.com

http://countermeasureseries.com/

https://www.facebook.com/CountermeasureSeries

https://www.facebook.com/CAlmeida.CAubrey.Authors

Buy Links

Amazon Link

You Tube Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=wEXYou8sZSI

Information about Countermeasure
http://countermeasureseries.com/about/books/countermeasure