Today, I’m delighted to welcome Krys Rayne to my blog with her latest release The Assassin Next Door.
“There’s a creepy but hot guy who lives next to me…”
So, Krys, tell me what inspired your latest romantic suspense novel.
My friend Chrissy told me about her neighbor. Chrissy lives in St. Louis, Missouri, where The Assassin Next Door takes place. During our chat, she mentioned a new neighbor who is rather odd and has a habit of peeking out his window and staring at anyone who walks by. She was also drawn to him. However, that doesn’t happen until much later.
So we were having a discussion, and I exclaimed, “Maybe he’s an undercover cop.” Or possibly FBI? Oooooohhh…. Could he be hiding from the law or a serial killer? That last one was definitely my overactive imagination LOL. So my friend then tells me, “You should write a book about him!”
Unfortunately, he turned out to be merely a numbers guy for an insurance company.
But anyway, this is how Chrissy and Teagan’s story started. Initially, it was planned as a standalone novella. A fun story, short and enjoyable to write. There weren’t supposed to be interesting supporting characters. The premise was a couple, with one being a mafia hitman. End of story.
But then Luna Vedova (a character from my first full-length novel Forget Me Not) appeared in my mind and everything became chaotic, resulting in her taking over the spotlight.
Figuratively.
So The Assassin Next Door is a novella that gets readers ready to learn about my new mafia series called The Vedova Famiglia Mafia Series. There are a couple of returning characters from Forget Me Not, my romantic thriller that is loosely tied to The Assassin Next Door and the upcoming series. Nico Scala is mentioned briefly, you get to meet Luna Vedova and her son, Mario. Luna’s granddaughter, Maria, makes a brief appearance.
I hope you enjoy reading The Assassin Next Door as much as I did reading it. I have some triggers in this book, so make sure you check them out before taking a deep dive into Chrissy and Teagan’s story.
Description:
Teagan Marino, a member of the Vedova mafia syndicate, is tasked with eliminating high-profile targets. His life is one of cold efficiency and relentless focus. But everything changes when he encounters Chrissy Perla, his stunning and enigmatic next-door neighbor.
Chrissy’s curiosity about Teagan’s motives ignites after a night of unbridled passion, leading her to question everything she knows. As their connection deepens, Teagan finds himself torn between his lethal duties and his growing feelings for Chrissy. Their undeniable chemistry and the high-stakes world they inhabit create a volatile mix of danger and desire, making every moment a pulse-pounding thrill ride.
When Chrissy is kidnapped by her uncle and Cossimo Villano, Teagan faces his most perilous mission yet. With Chrissy’s life hanging in the balance, he must confront his deepest emotions and the deadly world he’s part of.
Will Teagan rescue Chrissy and reveal his true feelings before it’s too late, or will the darkness that surrounds them consume their burgeoning love?
The Assassin Next Door is a heart-stopping journey into a world where passion and peril collide. Perfect for fans of dark romance, this standalone novel in The Vedova Famiglia Mafia series offers an intoxicating blend of suspense, emotion, and forbidden love that will leave you breathless. Dive into a story where love and danger are two sides of the same coin, and nothing is ever as it seems.
Author’s Note: This book was previously released in the mafia anthology, Violence and Virtues. Due to graphic violence and sexual content, it is not appropriate for those under the age of 18. Please read the TW/CW page/ authors website as there are certain issues that some may not be comfortable reading.
Available in Amazon KU.
About the Author:
Ever since she was fourteen when she read her first romance novel, Krys Rayne wanted to become a romance author. Through blood, sweat, and tears, Krys made her dreams come true. Living in Connecticut, Krys not only writes romance, but also works two part-time jobs. She has a degree in Anthropology and Paralegal Studies. She has two cats, Peanut and Chassity. She is currently working on The Black Widow, the prequel to her mafia romance series, The Vedova Assassins Mafia Series.
I also have a reader group! If you’d like updates on what I’m doing, get book recs from authors or just a place to hang out and have fun and meet my characters, come and check out my FB reader group, Krys’s Dangerous Reading Corner.
