Unconventional Courtship: the process, part II

[merryghoul]

Another round of "I can't work this summary," shall we?


Okay, so I tried The Girl Next Door.

When Fiona Glenanne evades the clutches of Thomas O'Neill, a terrorist with a grudge against her, her teammate began keeping an eye on her. But Sam Axe was more than his out-of-shape frame suggested. He was a former Navy SEAL specialist who was loyal to his friends. Even if one of his friends took verbal shots at him from time to time. Fiona wasn't the sort to hole up in her Miami, walk-up, waiting to be a victim. So when the time came, he'd hurry her in his car 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 temporary roommate….

But serial killers are hard for me now. I moved on to Her Bodyguard (Mallory Kane):

Always stubborn and independent, Fiona Glenanne thought she could take care of herself all the time. Sam Axe knew better. Someone was stalking his best friend's girlfriend, and Sam wasn't going to leave her side until he knew she was safe. Even though that meant he'd spend torturous hours resisting the curve of her lips.

Fiona didn't want a bodyguard. Especially one she hurled a beer bottle at a lifetime ago. But she was in over her head. And she knew she could trust Sam to protect her. She just didn't know if she trusted him not to break her heart again....

And I still can't serial killer/stalker for Burn Notice. Next I altered Bridal Op. (Despite the name of the book, the book is part of a series with a bridal planning service in Miami that's also a covert ops agency. And this book is about a South American rescue effort. I'm not making this up.)

THEY WERE A KIDNAPPED HEIRESS'S LAST CHANCE…

As a superspy, Fiona Glenanne's assignment included tracking down and rescuing a kidnapped heiress in South America—not encouraging the attention of her infuriatingly gorgeous and highly skilled partner, Sam Axe. Between the stray bullets surrounding them and the local cops arresting them, remaining focused was key to their survival. But time was running out and their high-stakes mission was putting Fiona's undercover training to the ultimate test. Now, she would do all she could not to fall prey to an elusive enemy…or to Sam's playboy charms.

It sounds so much like a Burn Notice episode, and yet I can't bring myself to do it.

For the time being, I've modified Sharpshooter again, because I'm not getting anywhere with my original modification, below:

A few months ago Sam Axe saved Fiona Glenanne's life. And although the two try to hide their feelings through facades, they've been watching each other's back. Now a hostage-rescue mission is about to blow the teammates' lives apart once again.

Working side by side in the neighborhood of Brickell, the heat between Fiona and Sam is hotter than ever—and so are the threats to their lives. With the danger escalating, Fiona knows Sam is her only hope at successfully completing their assignment. But the ex-SEAL who arouses passion she'd only dreamed about also poses the greatest risk to the secret she carries in her heart.

I think I can move forward with the second modification, which is closer to the back cover blurb than above. I think. And I may take ideas from Bridal Ops to move it forward, but not everything (including the back cover blurb).