Today is the release date for the digital version of THE GIRL NEXT DOOR (my latest Harlequin Intrigue).

Have I mentioned how much I love that cover? I think it is my favorite Intrigue cover so far!

THE GIRL NEXT DOOR…

He pledged to protect his neighbor, in New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Eden’s Shadow Agents: Guts and Glory miniseries

When Gabrielle Harper’s gutsy investigative reporting attracted a serial killer, her new neighbor began keeping an eye on her. But Cooper Marshall was more than his chiseled frame suggested. He was an Elite Operations Division specialist who thrived on adrenaline, who always took risks, whose every instinct was geared to protect. Even if it meant breaking cover. Gabrielle wasn’t the sort to hole up in her Washington, D.C., walk-up, waiting to be the next victim. So when the time came, he’d throw her on the back of his motorcycle and ride with a vengeance to save her life. Until then, he’d watch and wait, and try not to get carried away with attraction to the girl next door….

***

And here’s an excerpt from the story:

He turned toward her and cocked his head. Then his eyes, a shade of a blue that electrified her, narrowed. “You’re scared.” He stalked toward her.

Gabrielle stiffened at the accusation. “I’m a little shaken. I found a dead body. I get to be shaken.”

He stopped less than a foot from her. “I’m sorry you had to see that.”

“Yes, well, I’m sorry that Mr. Lockwood is dead. Maybe if we’d met earlier, if I’d just gone by his place sooner instead of waiting for our meeting time—”

“Then you might be dead, too,” he said, cutting through her words.

Gabrielle pushed back her hair. “He asked me to meet him. He called and said that he had a tip for me.” So much blood. “I guess someone wanted to make sure he never got the chance to deliver that tip.”

He took her hand.

Her breath rushed out. In four months, he hadn’t touched her. Until tonight. He’d touched her at the crime scene, and now he was touching her here.

She hadn’t expected his touch to unsettle her so much. But it did. Awareness pulsed through her as she stared into his eyes.

“Come with me,” he invited softly. “You shouldn’t be alone after what happened.”

“I’m always alone.”

He frowned.

Wait, those words had come out wrong. That was her problem. She was good at writing. When she was talking, Gabrielle had a tendency to say the wrong thing. She cleared her throat and tried again, “What I meant was that I don’t mind being alone. It’s late, and I should be getting upstairs.”

He used his grip on her hand to tug her toward him. “It’s late all right, but I’m betting you’ve got so much adrenaline pumping through your body that sleep is the last thing on your mind.” His eyes glittered down at her. The guy easily topped six foot two, maybe six foot three, and he had the wide, broad shoulders that a football player would envy.

When she looked up at him then, she didn’t see the danger that she normally perceived.

She saw strength. Safety.

“I know a thing or two about adrenaline rushes. I can help you ride it out.”

 ***

Have a wonderful Saturday!!

THE GIRL NEXT DOOR, the latest installment in my Shadow Agent series for Harelquin Intrigue, is available now! The print version of the book released today, and the digital version of THE GIRL NEXT DOOR will release on 3/1/14.

I absolutely LOVE the cover for this book–the model is a perfect match for the hero of the story.  😉

***

He pledged to protect his neighbor, in New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Eden’s Shadow Agents: Guts and Glory miniseries

When Gabrielle Harper’s gutsy investigative reporting attracted a serial killer, her new neighbor began keeping an eye on her. But Cooper Marshall was more than his chiseled frame suggested. He was an Elite Operations Division specialist who thrived on adrenaline, who always took risks, whose every instinct was geared to protect. Even if it meant breaking cover. Gabrielle wasn’t the sort to hole up in her Washington, D.C., walk-up, waiting to be the next victim. So when the time came, he’d throw her on the back of his motorcycle and ride with a vengeance to save her life. Until then, he’d watch and wait, and try not to get carried away with attraction to the girl next door….

***

And here’s an excerpt to get you in the mood for THE GIRL NEXT DOOR:

He turned toward her and cocked his head. Then his eyes, a shade of a blue that electrified her, narrowed. “You’re scared.” He stalked toward her.

Gabrielle stiffened at the accusation. “I’m a little shaken. I found a dead body. I get to be shaken.”

He stopped less than a foot from her. “I’m sorry you had to see that.”

“Yes, well, I’m sorry that Mr. Lockwood is dead. Maybe if we’d met earlier, if I’d just gone by his place sooner instead of waiting for our meeting time—”

“Then you might be dead, too,” he said, cutting through her words.

Gabrielle pushed back her hair. “He asked me to meet him. He called and said that he had a tip for me.” So much blood. “I guess someone wanted to make sure he never got the chance to deliver that tip.”

He took her hand.

Her breath rushed out. In four months, he hadn’t touched her. Until tonight. He’d touched her at the crime scene, and now he was touching her here.

She hadn’t expected his touch to unsettle her so much. But it did. Awareness pulsed through her as she stared into his eyes.

“Come with me,” he invited softly. “You shouldn’t be alone after what happened.”

“I’m always alone.”

He frowned.

Wait, those words had come out wrong. That was her problem. She was good at writing. When she was talking, Gabrielle had a tendency to say the wrong thing. She cleared her throat and tried again, “What I meant was that I don’t mind being alone. It’s late, and I should be getting upstairs.”

He used his grip on her hand to tug her toward him. “It’s late all right, but I’m betting you’ve got so much adrenaline pumping through your body that sleep is the last thing on your mind.” His eyes glittered down at her. The guy easily topped six foot two, maybe six foot three, and he had the wide, broad shoulders that a football player would envy.

When she looked up at him then, she didn’t see the danger that she normally perceived.

She saw strength. Safety.

“I know a thing or two about adrenaline rushes. I can help you ride it out.”

If you’re free tonight, come join me and fellow LOVE’S FIRST BITE authors at our Twitter party!

There are TONS of great prizes up for grabs. Check out this link for full details!

Valentine’s Day…and vampires.  A combination that was meant to be. 😉  I’m thrilled to be participating in this fun boxed set of vampire tales–a set that is on sale for .99!  Vivi Anna asked me to include one of my vampire stories in LOVE’S FIRST BITE, and I decided to include my favorite vamp tale…THE WOLF WITHIN (ah, don’t let that name fool you—my heroine is a wicked strong vamp!).

Here’s a look at all of the stories in this special vampire collection:

***

Six bestselling authors who know how to bring the heat and the darkness present six vampire romances with BITE.

900 pages of sexy vampire goodness.

The Wolf Within by New York Times Bestselling author Cynthia Eden – FBI Special Agent Duncan McGuire spends his days–and his nights–tracking real-life monsters. After a brutal werewolf attack, Duncan begins to change…and soon he becomes one of the very beasts that he has hunted. Dr. Holly Young is supposed to help Duncan during his transition. It’s her job to keep him sane. But the growing desire between them could be a very dangerous thing…because when a vampire and a werewolf mate…their dark need may become an obsession that could destroy them both.

The Vampire Affair by New York Times Bestselling author Vivi Anna – Mak, an unconventional journalist, risks everything including her job to get the goods on billionaire businessman Jonathan Devane, a man who enthralled her for a single passionate kiss months prior, a man who makes her blood race, a man with dark secrets…

The Dark’s Mistress by Michele Hauf – Beguiled by the devil Himself, her only hope was the vampire who could not love her dark and tainted heart.

Blu and Creed’s daughter, Kambriel has come to Paris to ‘find herself’ and finds more than she bargained for when the man who seduces her with extravagant gifts and fine things reveals his true nature. Now she is desperate for freedom.

Johnny Santiago falls for the beautiful vampiress singing at Club l’Enfer, yet he doesn’t expect his rival to be the devil Himself. Can he rescue Kam from the dark prince before she loses her soul and forgets everything and everyone she has ever cared for?

A Taste for Passion by Patrice Michelle – Rana Sterling finally meets the man of her dreams and boy does he know how to push all the right buttons. Only, Mr. Tall, Dark, and Too-Good-to-Be-True turns out to be just that–he’s beyond her world.

After searching seventy years for his reincarnated fiancé, Lucian Trevane finally finds his mate in Rana, but with time working against him and a vengeful vampire determined to destroy the one ray of happiness he’s found, Lucian will have to call upon all his vampire skills and beyond in order to protect Rana and draw her fully into his world.

Captured by Erica Stevens – Captured, taken from her beloved family and woods, Aria’s biggest fear is not the imminent death facing her, but that she will be chosen as a blood slave for a member of the ruling vampire race. Aria’s world is turned upside down when the vampire prince Braith steps forward to claim her. Torn between her loyalties to the rebellion, and her growing love for her greatest enemy, Aria struggles to decide between everything she has ever known, and a love she never dreamed of finding.

Paris After Dark by Jordan Summers – NY homicide detective, Rachel Chang is on a forced leave in Paris grieving over the loss of her partner, when she comes upon a violent attack outside the walls of Cimetiere du Montparnasse. A simple domestic dispute quickly turns into something far more sinister, when Rachel ends up on the wrong side of some very sharp fangs.

***

Did I mention that you get ALL of these stories for just .99?  THE WOLF WITHIN is currently priced at 2.99 on its own–deal alert!!! 😉  You can purchase LOVE’S FIRST BITE at Amazon, at Barnes & Noble, and at iTunes (and soon at Kobo).

So this Valentine’s Day, I hope you get to indulge your love of…vampires.  Because vampires and Valentine’s are meant to be together!

The winner of the Godiva giveaway is…Shelly Itkin!!! Congratulations, Shelly!! I sent an email to you, but, just in case you did not receive it, you can contact me at info@cynthiaeden.com.

Thanks so much to everyone who entered my newsletter giveaway!! And more newsletter giveaways will be coming in the next few months! 😉

Have a great day!