Wendy Takes Crime Detour

I seem to be in an excessively cranky mood about...well...everything at the moment. And instead of subjecting my cranky, irrational mood on the Interwebs (see people, it's call restraint....) I thought I would embrace my crankiness by highlighting an upcoming crime novel filled to the brim with pulpy goodness that I'm tempted to sell one of my ovaries to get my hands on.

Choke Hold by Christa Faust, the second book to feature former porn star turned vigilante, Angel Dare, is due out March 2011. And the only thing keeping me from turning into a brainless, slobbering, fangirl-y mess is the fact that her publisher, Hard Case Crime (part of Dorchester) tends to send me books in advance here at work. Dear God, I hope this will be one of them.

Description:

INSIDE THE WORLD OF MIXED MARTIAL ARTS—AND MURDER...

Angel Dare went into Witness Protection to escape her past—not as a porn star, but as a killer who took down the sex slavery ring that destroyed her life. But sometimes the past just won’t stay buried. When a former co-star is murdered, it’s up to Angel to get his son, a hotheaded MMA fighter, safely through the unforgiving Arizona desert, shady Mexican bordertowns, and the seductive neon mirage of Las Vegas...

I loved the first book in the series, and am beyond ecstatic that Faust has decided to return with another book featuring Angel. Of course like an idiot, I made the mistake of reading the sample chapter on the Hard Case Crime web site, and now I'm wondering if storming the Dorchester editorial offices and taking Faust's editor hostage until I get my hands on the full manuscript might be a tad excessive. Too much you think? Maybe? But seriously, what self-respecting crime lover could blame me after reading snippets like this:

"Look," Vic continued. "I know you got no reason to give me the time of day, not after the way I fucked everything up between us. But I just want a few minutes of your time, to make amends."

"Amends?" I looked over at the old guy at the counter, waiting for his pie. He was starting to look annoyed. "It’s ancient history, Vic."

"Indulge me, Angel," Vic said. "It’s part of my recovery."

The old charm was pretty threadbare but it still made me smile despite myself.

"Is a blow job for old time's sake part of your recovery too?" I asked.

He cracked a grin that took years off his weathered face.

"Come on." He put his hand to his heart, mock offended. "What kind of guy do you think I am?"

"I know exactly what kind of guy you are," I told him. "That’s the problem."

"Just a few minutes, Angel," Vic said. "Please? The blow job is optional."

I laughed and rolled my eyes.

"Go talk to your kid," I told him. "I’m off at midnight, okay?"

Seriously. Can. Not. Wait. To. Read. This. Now to distract myself for the next 9 months....