Kiss of Death

We’ve got another new book for you, and we can’t wait to tell you all about it! Here’s a little of what our writers have to say about our latest upcoming VIP release, Kiss of Death.

This seems like an action-packed book! What kind of thrills and chills can we expect?

Kathleen: As the daughter of New Athens's most powerful crime family, loyalty is everything... but when you find yourself falling for the heir apparent of your family's greatest rivals, your world is shaken to its foundations. As tensions between your families careen toward outright war, you're forced to fight for your love... and your life.

Can you tell us a little about our main character and the people they’re close to?

Kathleen: Diamond (our MC) is a delightful collection of contrasts. She's kind, but she can be ruthless. She's a little sheltered, but a total badass. She's tough, but a hopeless stars-in-her-eyes romantic (at least for the right person...) Her best friend, Faith, is her number-one hype person, but she won't hesitate to call Diamond out for her nonsense. Faith also happens to have ADHD, and it's been exciting to write a character who shares my particular flavor of neurospiciness.

Emi: Our main character and Vic have a complicated history. While young love blossomed between them once, they're now constantly butting heads and trying to one-up each other. It's part of what makes their dynamic so fun! 

Lil: I also want to give a shoutout to Faith, our MC's best friend, and Roy, your bodyguard. They're the ones who can see the person beneath the mob princess every time.

I think it’s safe to say that most of our fans are not part of a mob (hopefully). What do they need to know in order to make the best choices possible?

Kathleen: People are complicated. Some folks are in organized crime for the money, some because of family ties, and some because default society has utterly failed them. Everyone's got their own motivations. It's up to you to suss out what those are, and how you can use that info to your advantage.

Emi: If you want to rule the city, you've got to dress the part. We've got some stunning outfits (my favorite of which is a super cute disguise) that will keep everyone's eyes on you, including that special someone.

Lil: Organized crime is always about who and what you know, so buy off and blackmail er... recruit every ally you can and keep your eye out for family secrets that can help you (and your love) triumph.

Which mobster shows and movies inspired the team to create a book about a mega-powerful crime family?

Kathleen: Fonda Lee's book, Jade City, might be my favorite recent take on the genre. It skews a little more urban fantasy but is also jam-packed full of clan intrigue and angst and love and betrayal.

Emi: I don't think you can talk about mob movies without mentioning The Godfather. The conflict between wanting to pursue your own dreams versus wanting to make your family proud by doing what they want... You can't find juicier drama!

Lil: There's an awesome movie that came out this year called The Outfit that's all about the pressures of being a mob kid and the difference between lowercase family (the people who care about you) and uppercase Family (the 'family business.') And of course, we have to mention Martin Scorsese. From The Departed to Goodfellas, the man is a genre unto his own.

Tom: For visual direction, we drew a lot of inspiration from mobster movies like The Godfather and Baz Luhrmann's Romeo and Juliet. The latter in particular is such a cool mix of a classic story in a contemporary setting, which really worked perfectly for this book.

Last but certainly not least: If you were in MC’s shoes… Would you choose love or family?

Emi: Love conquers all... so maybe there's no real need to choose.

Lil: Love every time. The best family is the family we get to choose.

Tom: I love my chosen family… can that count as both?

Kathleen: I choose my best friend, Faith Skelly

We can’t wait to dive into this thriller! Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions, and thank YOU, reader, for being part of the Choices Community. We hope you’re excited about Kiss of Death! See you on launch day!

<3 The PB Community Team