Decorah Security Series

I’ve always thought that one of the best ways to connect with my readers is through related stories. I’ve done that with my long-running 43 Light Street series for Harlequin Intrigue and my Moon books for Berkley. And I wanted to use a similar format with the Decorah Security series, which I launched with three titles.

The usual thriller or detective series has one main protagonist who comes back book after book. Romantic thrillers are a little different because it’s not just about the peril. The focus is on the developing relationship between the hero and heroine as well as on the action plot. It’s also the story of a man and a woman falling in love against a background of suspense and danger, and it isn’t until after they’ve dispatched the bad guys that the reader is sure they’re going to work out their complex relationship.

That’s a challenge for the writer. But also fun. You’re always weaving the two plots together so that if you pulled out either one, the story would fall apart. And with the Decorah Security series, there’s another element as well. All of the agents have paranormal powers–or they’re dealing with a paranormal case.

As you may have guessed, I named the series after the Decorah eagles:

http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles

There’s a live Webcam trained on an eagle’s nest in Decorah, Iowa, and last year I was thrilled to watch Mom and Dad Eagle raise three babies until they fledged. This year I’m just as fascinated, watching them with their new family. Notice that the emblem for the Decorah Security series is a gold eagle coin.

AT RISK  (Light Street Press, June 2013) A Decorah Security novel.

After a series of muggings outside her New Orleans restaurant, Eugenia Beaumont hires Decorah Security to find out who’s trying to sabotage her business. Frank Decorah sends Rafe Gascon, a man with psychic powers. He and Eugenia were almost lovers as teenagers, and each thinks the other broke off the relationship. The moment they connect again, old feelings leap to life. Then a murder at a voodoo ceremony in her restaurant makes them both suspects. Can they avoid a voodoo curse, find the real killer and admit the feelings they still have for each other?

ON EDGE coverON EDGE (Light Street Press, January 2013)  A lot of readers have asked me about Frank Decorah who heads up Decorah Security. I’ve written about him in a novella called ON EDGE, a prequel to the series. In the story, the wounded navy SEAL is back from the first Gulf War in rehab at the Naval Medical Center. One night he hears another man on the unit calling out for help and steps into a paranormal battle between two beautiful women. One is evil. The other good–or is she? That memorable night and the ones that follow set the course for the rest of Frank’s life.

HOT AND DANGEROUS CoverHOT AND DANGEROUS  (Light Street Press, November 2012) What’s more dangerous—terrorists or a hot and sexy werewolf?

In this short story, Jenna Brockhurst is taking a vacation from her high-pressure medical researcher job on an island off the coast of San Marcos. She and a mysterious, handsome stranger have been eyeing each other—but they don’t get together until terrorists attack the resort. She and Zack Marshall escape into the jungle, where they get to know each other a whole lot better. But when the terrorists track them down, the only way Zack can save Jenna’s life is to reveal his animal persona. What’s she going to do when she finds out the man who made love to her is a werewolf?

DARK POWERS  (Light Street Press, E-book, October 2012) Suffering from PTSD after a traumatic undercover assignment, Decorah Security agent Ben Walker must cope with a new mission—and a woman determined to find her kidnapped sister at all costs.  He’d prefer to work alone, but Sage Arnold insists on coming with him to Doncaster, Maryland, where secrets fester below the surface of small-town life. Sage and Ben grow close, but can she help him heal his psychic wounds? And will his ability to read the last thoughts of murder victims get them both killed?

Dark Moon, by Rebecca York, a Decorah Security novel, Light Street PressDARK MOON (Light Street Press, E-book: December 2011; Trade Paperback: April 2012) is the next book in the Moon Series and also the first novel in a new e-book series, Decorah Security, which will be published by Light Street Press.  Cole Marshall is near the age of werewolf bonding and fighting his attraction for Emma Richards.  When Decorah Security sends them on a mission to rescue kidnap victim, Karen Hopewell, they’re forced to play the role of lovers with nothing on their minds but enjoying the pleasures of the Windward, an ocean liner converted to a floating resort for the rich and kinky.  It’s owned by millionaire Bruno Del Conte who runs the ship like his private kingdom.  Cole and Emma are threatened by a mutiny in progress and also by Del Conte’s security chief who digs into their backgrounds to find out who they really are and why they’re on board.  As Cole and Emma try to rescue Karen, they struggle with the intensity of the personal relationship neither of them thought they wanted.

CHAINED, by Rebecca York, a Decorah Security series novellaCHAINED (Light Street Press, December 2011).  In this e-novella, political refugee Isabella Flores is forced to run for her life when political operatives from her native San Marcos try to capture and kill her. When she hides out at her father’s old ranch, she’s threatened by a ghost guarding the property. It’s Decorah Security agent Matthew Houseman.  Isabella and Matthew fell in love when he was guarding her family. Now they’re together again, only the relationship they longed for can never be because Matthew Houseman was killed in the line of duty, and his ghost is haunting the ranch.  Still, the passion Isabella and Matthew could never acknowledge draws them closer together, and as they explore their relationship, Matthew becomes more real to himself and to Isabella.  After the ranch is attacked and Matthew helps save Isabella’s life, she learns that there may be hope of bringing her ghost lover back–if she dares to take the risk.

Ambushed, Decorah Security short story, by Rebecca York

AMBUSHED (Light Street Press, December 2011) In this short story, Decorah operative Jordan Stone is on bodyguard duty, taking Elizabeth Bannerman to a meeting with the Federal Prosecutor.  She’s the only witness against an alleged terrorist, and her life is on the line.  Jordan and Elizabeth are ambushed when they arrive at the parking garage and must flee into the building.  As the terrorists close in on them, they both acknowledge the sexual attraction that’s been simmering between them.  But will they live long enough to explore their relationship?

DECORAH SECURITY COLLECTION (Light Street Press, December 2012) This Decorah Security anthology contains three complete Decorah Security stories:

DARK POWERS (a novel) — Can his dark powers locate a kidnap victim?

CHAINED (a novella) — When death is stalking, only a phantom can save her—and love her.

HOT AND DANGEROUS (a short story) — What’s more dangerous—terrorists or a hot and sexy werewolf?