We are delighted to welcome author Melissa Bourbon Ramirez as our guest today.
Melissa is the author of the "Lola Cruz" mystery series, the third book of which is Bare-Naked Lola (Entangled Select, May 2012 trade paperback and ebook editions).
The author tells us that sometimes characters have something to say … especially about other characters. Melissa's friend and fellow mystery author Kym Roberts recently had a chance to catch up with Jack Callaghan, Lola's high school crush whom she shamelessly tailed years ago.
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Jack Callaghan sits at table in the back of Abuelita's, the Cruz family restaurant. It's quaint and cozy, with colorful Mexican art decorating the walls. Jack's at a table, and across the room, the patriarchs of the family hold court in a booth, the red Naugahyde chairs lending a classic punch to the décor.
"I appreciate your time, Mr. Callaghan," I say, sliding into the chair opposite him, a little taken aback by how much he resembles the actor Timothy Olyphant. Easy on the eyes, with a little rugged edge that's pretty appealing.
He closes his laptop and folds his arms on the table in front of him. "I heard you talked to Camacho."
Oh, crap. I hope he's more open to this interview than Manny had been to his. (OMN note: You can read Kym's interview with Manny Camacho on Cozy Crimes.)
"It was a rare interview," I say. I'd spent thirty smoldering minutes with Manny Camacho a few days ago, and I was still reeling from the experience. Manny was dark and mysterious, where Jack oozed sex appeal and charisma. I always thought I preferred Manny, but now, sitting across from Jack, I wasn't so sure.
His smoky gray blue eyes are mesmerizing, and I can't look away. Could hardly blink.
"Equal time," Jack says. "Seems like the least I can do since you're so interested in Lola Cruz's world."
That I was. Manny and I had similar background in police work, but he couldn't let go of the whole cops and robbers gig and opened Camacho and Associates. And Dolores "Lola" Cruz had chosen his world of private eyes. That was interesting, but now, after having spoken with Manny, and meeting Jack, I was just as curious about who she'd end up with.
"Why don't you start by telling me, in your own words, about Lola?" I ask.
The corner of his mouth quirks up in a mischievous little grin, a dimple carving into his cheek. Sexy.
"I've known her since we were kids, but she was always Antonio's little sister. Off limits, if you know what I mean. She had a crush on me, but I kept my distance. Not easy, let me tell you. There's something special about her. She's all woman, but she's a spitfire and gives a man a run for his money."
"I'm not sure what that means." I start to fear the worst for Lola. Would Jack ask her to give up her career in the name of love?
"She's a black belt in kung fu, knows what she wants and isn't afraid to go after it, but she's the sexiest woman I've ever known."
A frown slips across my face. I like that he seems to love Lola's strength and commitment, but feel a little disloyal because I'm committed to Manny. I tried to get to the truth. Or what I think is the truth. "Isn't it true that you don't like Lola's job? That you'd rather her be a teacher or waitress, or something?"
He scoffs. "Lola? A waitress?"
"She works here on the side, doesn't she?"
"Only because it's a family restaurant. Serving food isn't fulfilling for her. She likes to be in the thick of the action, using her brains and her brawn." He chuckles. "And working with kids all day, every day?" He shakes his head. "Can't see it."
My esteem for him goes up a notch. He isn't one of those kinda guys who can't handle a woman in a man's world. Maybe. "What about the danger?" I ask.
He grows silent for a minute, then levels his smoldering eyes at me. "Do I want the future mother of my children risking her life for her job? Hell, no. But would I ever stop her from doing what she loves?" He shakes his head. "Never."
Damn. If I had to choose between Manny and Jack, I wasn't sure I could. "I hear she likes to salsa dance."
A seductive look slips onto his face, like he's lost in a memory. "Oh yeah, she can dance."
I can almost picture them together, his arms wrapped around her, possessively, their bodies fitted together, their hips swaying in rhythm to the Latin beat of the music in my head.
But suddenly it's not Lola in his arms, but me. I gulp down my guilt. Sorry, Manny, but Jack is … Jack.
"What about her new case? Undercover as a professional basketball dancer, and then a nudist resort? That must be tough for you to take."
His Adam's apple slides up and down in his throat as he swallows, but he says, "She had a killer to catch."
"She's a spitfire, or so I hear." I hadn't met Lola yet, but it's what I'd heard about her. It was still to be determined if it was really true.
"She does what it takes," he says, and that little grin graces his face again, and I know he has it bad.
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Photo provided courtesy of
Melissa Bourbon Ramirez
Melissa Bourbon, who sometimes answers to her Latina-by-marriage name Misa Ramirez, gave up teaching middle and high school kids in Northern California to write full-time amidst horses and Longhorns in North Texas. She fantasizes about spending summers writing in quaint, cozy locales, has a love/hate relationship with yoga and chocolate, is devoted to her family, and can't believe she's lucky enough to be living the life of her dreams.
She is the Marketing Director with Entangled Publishing, is the founder of Books on the House, the co-founder of The Naked Hero, and is the author of the Lola Cruz mystery series with Minotaur Books and Entangled Publishing, and A Magical Dressmaking mystery series with NAL.
You can connect with Melissa by visiting her website, on Facebook, via Twitter, or on GoodReads.
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About Bare-Naked Lola:
Going undercover is second nature for Private Investigator Lola Cruz, but she's out of her league when the case of a murdered Royals Courtside Dancer leads her to a local nudist resort. Parading around the sidelines of Sacramento's professional basketball scene in a barely-there cheerleading outfit is one thing — but parading around in nothing but a smile?
If she has any chance of hiding this from her traditional family and on-again/off-again boyfriend Jack, she's going to have a lot more than her duct tape bra and killer dance moves to keep under wraps …
Watch a trailer for the Lola Cruz mysteries below …
