Strong is Sexy Heroine of the Week: Amanda Price

Book: Outmaneuvered

Author: J.L. Hammer

Heroine: Amanda Price

I’d like to thank Book Babe for the invite to the “Strong is Sexy Heroine of the Week.” Life’s a wild ride. What separates the women from the girls is having that inner strength: when life knocks you down, you get right back up, determined more than ever to persevere. I come from a long line of strong and opinionated women (which equals trouble). When I create my heroines, it is natural for me to gravitate toward women with a backbone. I’m sure like most writers, I live vicariously through my characters. I create situations and then manipulate the outcome. Can life get any better than that?

I'd like to introduce the readers to Amanda Price, the heroine from OUTMANEUVERED. She’s feisty and never backs down from a challenge. For years she dealt with the critical remarks from her family. After her father’s betrayal, Amanda walks away and vows never to return. Years pass and she has etched out a life for herself, almost three thousand miles away in Washington D.C.

As soon as FBI Special Agent Cruz Romero knocks on her door and accuses her of kidnapping her father, her life is never the same. He fires question after question at her, and she knows that he’s already found her guilty. He wants to know what caused her eight-year estrangement from her father—well, too bad. The attraction between Amanda and Cruz crackles and sizzles. Although she isn’t interested in answering Romero’s questions, she is interested in him and decides to take what she wants:

Romero smelled so good—so male. Before she realized what she was doing, Amanda laced her fingers through his jet-black hair and pulled his lips to hers. There was no delay, no shock. His response to her was instant and hungry. Her tongue glided across his. He tasted like wine and something peppery. The warmth of his hands cupping and tightening on her waist sent sparks of desire shooting across her skin. Amanda arched toward him, pressing herself against his solid body. He trailed his mouth along her jawline.

“How I want you,” Romero whispered.

Once again he returned to her lips. Every inch of her felt on fire. She deepened the kiss. She pulled him closer, wishing she could climb inside of him. Amanda slid her hands across his chest, down his flat stomach. His muscles flexed under her fingers. Slowly, she brushed her fingers lower…

Like a splash of ice water, he shoved her away. Cold swirled around her. Amanda lay half sprawled on the sofa, half on the floor. She realized he was no longer there, but standing, facing the window.

“What? —”

He drew in a labored breath. “This can’t happen. You are under FBI protection. This needs to stop.”

“But we’re two consenting adults.”

“It doesn’t matter. I’m here to protect you—not to mate.” His voice was strained.

Amanda bolted to her feet. Her spine snapped ramrod straight. “Excuse me—mate?”

“You know what I mean.”

“Screw you,” she hollered. All hot and bothered, she stalked out of the room, slamming the bedroom door in her rage.

Blurb:

A missing influential CEO—a handsome, ambitious FBI agent—and a smart-mouthed blonde bombshell—in the end, who will be outmaneuvered?

To FBI Special Agent Cruz Romero the assignment seems cut and dry: shadow Amanda Price, the estranged daughter of a missing high-powered CEO, and find evidence linking her to his disappearance. The last thing Romero expects while on surveillance is for her to strut right up to him, insisting they've met before. Once he gets a good look at this familiar sassy blonde, he knows he’s in trouble. He must throw her off track before the entire investigation is jeopardized. As the evidence stacks against Amanda, Romero brings her in for a round of heated questioning and his suspicion of her guilt deepens with every evasive answer. When a sniper makes an attempt on her life, he is forced to protect her. Plunged into a maze of deceit, Romero fears that his blinding attraction for Amanda might be his fatal downfall.

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