The Enforcers
Get a behind-the-scenes all-access pass to Roux Cantrell's The Enforcers Series!
***Synopis***
Take 13 immortal women throw in demons, gargoyles, witches, shifters and find out what happens on the streets of Port City.
The vengeance Reign seeks for the
slaughter of an innocent friend has led her through hell and back. A rash
decision to help two guardians, lands Reign in a precarious spot.
Will her temporary lapse in judgment be something she will come to regret?
Follow our fearless leader as she
fights for the innocent on the city streets of Port City along with her fellow
warriors.
Fall in love between battles in
this action-packed adventure!
What is the sub-genre and trope? Did your characters lead you to this genre or was that decided before the story began?
The series subgenre is action/adventure. It’s a paranormal romance. My Characters led me to the story’s origin.
Are you more character or plot driven?
In this series I’m both, because they go hand in hand. This is a multi POV series. There is always one or two main characters, but there is a multitude of secondary characters that keep the story moving along. Layers upon layers of detail and story lines make up the series.
With many main and secondary characters, how do you keep them separated in your mind? Do you have a story/vision board above your workspace?
I have large story boards in my office that consist of street gride maps of the fictional city.
I have schedules of whos out hunting with who and when.
What each character looks like, what they drive, how they dress etc.
I know from previous interviews that characters take on a life of their own. Were any of the characters in this series determined to take their own direction instead of where you initially wanted them to go?
All the time. Sometimes I just throw my hands up and walk away wanting them to let me have my way.
FYI they never let me win.
Are any of the male POVs based on anyone you know?
Not in this series.
Are any of the female POVs based on anyone you know?
Not in this series
I will say I always use little personality traits from people I know. But none of the characters in this series are based on anyone.
Was there any one character/scene that was harder to write about than the other?
In book one, there’s a scene that shows the main character being raped. I wanted to make sure it was written in a delicate way and that I didn’t make light of the subject matter.
What is your favorite book in the series?
Honestly I love all three books because each book is about a different couple within the group.
I know that we aren’t supposed to have “favorites” as far as our children, but seriously, who’s your favorite character and why?
Reign because she has a take no prisoner attitude.
Series question - Who is your favorite couple and why did you decide on their dynamics?
Reign and Knox, I didn’t decide on it they showed it to me LOL. But their the classic stubborn couple where neither wants to fall for the other. Neither trust the other. And both would rather butt heads than get tangled up in the sheets (where they end up)
How do you get inside these characters’ heads to find their perfect HEA?
Not all of them show me their HEA. Sometimes when I’m writing their story things are going one way then bam they talk me down a whole different road.
What scene in this book/series sticks out the most for you? Why?
There’s a scene where Reign is trying to tell Knox about her past and shes struggling. The way he remains strong for her even though he wants to burn down the world to change what happened to her tugs at me.
Series - Were any of the books harder to write than others?
Hunted - the latest book.
This question is if you write in MULTIPLE POVs not just the hero and heroine - I love the multiple POVs in a book. It’s not just the hero and heroine, but we get inside the heads of multiple characters throughout this series. I feel that it gives the story further depth. Do you think you will write another book or series following this multiple POV outline? (if applicable)
All my series are written like this.
How long did it take you to write this book/series?
I wrote the first two books within six months of each other. The third book took me years due to other projects getting in my way.
Book four will come out beginning of 2024.
How did you come up with the title for your book and series?
The title went with the content of the book. Maybe I should say it goes with the underlining tempo of the story.
If you met these characters in real life would you get along?
Hell yes
Series question – Did you know in advance that you were going to write this as a series or did one of the characters in book one demand their own story?
Once I wrote the first book and it ended on a cliffhanger, I had no choice. Maybe that was the characters way of making me write more than one book.
If your book/series were made into a movie, which actors do you see as playing your characters?
This may come as a surprise or even odd, but I’ve never thought about this series becoming a movie. So I don’t know who I would want to play them.
Can you give us a hint as to what we can expect next? Whether a new book and series or a sequel to an existing series? Can you share a small tease?
This is an excerpt from HUNTED Book 3 in The Enforcers series
Story by: Roux Cantrell - Copyright © 2022 Roux Cantrell
They divided into four teams of four, spreading out to search a wider area. The sun was hours away from making its appearance when Reign heard the low whistle. Halting her team, she waited for another one. Her team took off, sticking to the shadows as they moved swiftly through the abandoned streets of Port City’s riverfront. Everyone flooded in as they came to a two-story building with its windows shattered and crumbling brick façade. Zoe was struggling to get inside, but Mercy held her back, blocking the way. She could hear the pain in her sister’s voice as she begged to be let go.
The looks on the other team member’s faces were a series of grim masks. Reign took hold of Zoe’s face and forced the female to look at her. “Can you handle what may be in there? Look at me, Zoe, and tell me the truth.” Her voice cracked as she answered her with a yes. “You stay behind me, understand? Do not—and I mean do not—push past me.” She watched Zoe nod her head that she understood. “Jodi, Mercy, with me and Zoe. Everyone else lock down this block, and I mean tight, top to bottom. Understand me? Top. To. Bottom.”
Easing through the badly damaged door, she saw True sitting on the floor, his back to the wall and his head hanging down. Blood pooled around him. If it weren’t for the slight movement of his hand lightly rubbing over the male lying across his lap, she would have thought he was dead.
His dark hair cascaded over the face of the male laying across his lap. She wasn’t sure if he was dead or alive. Zoe’s soft sob gave her the answer as True’s head slowly came up just enough for his eyes to catch the light. The unconscious male was dead, and the wounds to his body told a violent story. “Leave.”
She hated seeing such a formattable male sitting on the floor amongst discarded dirty needles and broken liquor bottles. The area must have become home to junkies and bums. “I can’t do that, and you know it.”
“Take her and leave.” True couldn’t bring himself to look at his mate. She was everything he had dreamt about. The only beautiful thing in his dirty life.
“I owe you a life.” Reign took a step closer, feeling Zoe move with her she stopped.
“I forfeit the debt. Please leave us.”
Reign felt Zoe try to push past her, but she shoved her back hard, pushing her up against the cracked wall. “I told you once, Zoe. I’m not gonna tell you again.” She heard rustling behind her and knew True was attempting to move. “If you make another move, you’re on the street.” Dropping Zoe to her feet, she turned back to True, who was struggling with the weight of the male and his own injuries. “I want to help.” Reign spoke to True.
“I don’t want your help.” True stared up at Reign. He wanted them gone. He wanted Zoe gone. He was dying. Lorain had stripped him of his magic and his ability to heal himself. It was just a matter of time.
“Mercy, take Zoe outside please.” She heard the struggle between the two females but chose to keep her focus on True. Zoe’s pleas threatened to crush her. The thought of losing Knox almost put Reign on her knees, now knowing Zoe would die avenging True’s death was shattering her heart.
Jodi put his hand on her shoulder. “Let me speak with True. Please,” he asked Reign. Stepping back, she gave the vampire room to get by. All the while she watched True. A dying male could be a lethal one. She watched Jodi crouch down on his haunches, brushing aside the blood-soaked hair from the dead male’s face. “What is his name?”
“Paige.”
“I’m very sorry for his passing.” Jodi could see the male had fought hard for his life.
“It wasn’t supposed to be him. He shouldn’t be out here like this,” True mumbled to himself.
Jodi knew the words would fall on deaf ears, so he pushed harder against True’s mind, making him feel what he was saying. “You didn’t do this to him.”
True glanced up from looking at Paige. He didn’t need to be soothed—he wanted to be left alone. “Vampire.”
Jodi smiled at the comment. If True thought he was insulting him, he had better try again. “Let us help you.”
“No,” True bit out. He wanted them to leave.
Reign had enough. If they were going to get the two out of there and in time to save True, they needed to do it now. “Jodi, time’s up. Let’s move out.”
“Have a nice afterlife, Fey.” Jodi laced his comment with sarcasm as he stepped away. “I’ll be outside,” he told Reign brushing past her.
Reign heard Zoe screaming as Jodi exited the building. It was heart wrenching to listen to her begging Jodi and Mercy to let her go in. Reign knew they wouldn’t let her come in until she said to. “You hear that? That’s your mate being crushed by the weight of possibly losing you.” She watched True shake his head slowly. “You dishonor her by giving up. You dishonor him by letting him lay here in this filthy ass building.”
“This is where they cornered and killed us.” True continued to brush debris from Paige’s clothes.
“You aren’t dead yet!” she yelled at him. “Before I walk out of here and tell your mate—my sister—that you are, just know you dishonored her the moment you laid down to die.”
He shouldn’t care at all what Reign said to him, but she pissed him off. “Fuck you.”
“No thanks, I don’t do Fey.” She smirked at True from across the dirty room.
“You can’t lie to me, Reign. I know you’ve spread your legs for Rory.” If he pissed her off enough, she might take his head and end things quicker for him.
Reaching deep for calm, Reign reminded herself not to give him what he wanted. He wanted to piss her off, hoping she would take his life. “Well you have too, haven’t you? You’re nothing but a whore to his bitch sister.” If he wanted to trade insults, she could do it all day. After all, he might have a few hours left to live.
She had one card to play, and it would be a hell of a longshot. If she could piss him off just enough, True might decide he wanted to live. “Zoe will move on to someone new once your mating fades. She’ll probably hook up with the sexy vampire that just walked out of here.” She saw True’s head snap up. “Don’t like that idea? Well, sorry Charlie, you’ll be dead.” She waited briefly for a reply, but she finally had had enough.
They had minutes. “Here’s the fucking deal, asshole. You have a mate that loves you more than I ever thought she could love someone. You aren’t to blame for that male’s death. If you want to sit there and feel sorry for yourself, fine. If you want to sit there and die, I don’t fucking care. But I do care about Zoe, so tell her goodbye at least. Lie to her and tell her you didn’t love the male in your arms. Because she thinks you’re choosing him over her. Tell her you didn’t betray her. At least that way she can move on one day. You do that, and I’ll let you sit here and quietly bleed to death while feeling sorry for your fucking self.”
“I love her. I’ve never betrayed her.” Tears filled his eyes. Never had True thought this would be the fucking end of their life together.
She saw the heartache in his eyes. The tears ran down his chiseled face, and she wished for a better outcome. “Then tell her that and let her go.” It killed Reign to suggest he tell Zoe goodbye. She wanted to throw up for saying the words. She just didn’t know how to change his mind. In her heart she knew the moment True died, so would Zoe. She would seek revenge and go down fighting as the warrior she was.
“Please, don’t take her from me,” Reign whispered the last, saddened by what she knew would happen. Tears filled her eyes, knowing she would have to watch her friend, her sister, be crushed by a broken heart. “I am sorry, True. Sorry I was too late to save both of you.” Turning, she headed for the door. “I’ll send Zoe in.”
Reign was right. He owed both Zoe and Paige more than his death. He owed Paige a debt and would kill the ones responsible. He owed Zoe more than seeing him give up in the filthy hole he had dragged Paige into while he died. True just didn’t know if he had enough strength left to do those things. His very life was seeping out of the multiple wounds dissecting his body. “Wait.”
Check out all my interviews/reviews for Roux Cantrell!
https://readingbydeb.blogspot.com/2023/01/author-at-glance-roux-cantrell.html
BIO:
Roux Cantrell is a native of New Orleans, she loves all things Nola—the food, the people, and the spirits (both drinkable and haunting). She loves riding her Harley, she takes at least one long motorcycle trip every year with friends.
She’s a big lover of Halloween. So much so that she throws an over-the-top costume party every year where the guests must adorn a costume, or she gets to dress them up. She doesn’t drink wine but loves a good martini.
She has a love for all things book-related, her cat (Monster), black vinyl, and chocolate. Roux had never said in what order those are listed…
Roux loves Poe as much as Dr. Seuss. She prefers the mountains over the beach and Coke over Pepsi. She absolutely believes dessert should be eaten before anything else.
Connect with Roux:
COMING SOON!
Hunted
The Enforcers Series - Book Three
Release Date: January 26, 2023
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