The Chicks are excited to welcome back award-winning author Julie Moffett. The eleventh book in her popular Lexi Carmichael Mystery Series, NO STONE UNTURNED, was just released by Carina Press–and you can win an e-copy! (***UPDATE: Giveaway is now closed. Please see comments section for Winner Announcement!*** )
James Bond Turned Upside Down
Hi, I’m mystery author Julie Moffett. I write the long-running, geeky mystery series featuring geek girl Lexi Carmichael. A lot of people ask me how I came up with the character of Lexi. It all started because I’m a James Bond geek. As a teen I read all Ian Fleming’s books and then saw the movies. I adored the danger, the thrill of a complicated plot, the international action, and the over-the-top chase scenes. Once in college, I even decided to join the CIA, majoring in Political Science and Russian Language and going all the way through four years of the interview process—including taking a tour of the site, meeting my prospective boss in the psychological profiling unit—and taking a lengthy lie detector test. (By the way, did you know that the CIA cafeteria at Langley has two sides to it: one side for the ordinary agents and one side for the covert agents?) At the last moment, however, I changed my mind, opting instead for a less restrictive career in international journalism. But my love for all things spy and international remained.
So when I began to dream up a new series, I decided to do it by turning the James Bond image on its head. I wanted to create an action/adventure character that would be an antithesis to 007. She would be a loner, lacking in social skills and grace, and anti-fashion. Instead of using her debonair charm and good looks to save the day, she’d use her brain. A super-charged geek brain. To help her out I’d pair her with a set of super genius geek twins to help her through any crisis (think Q2). Her best friend would be more of a Bond girl who could help her navigate the tricky waters of dating, socializing, and finding a decent dress. Throw in a sexy secret agent and a hot Irish lawyer and things really heated up for our geeky heroine. To add more laughs, I gave my character an obsession with all things Bond, which leads to many humorous moments in the books. Voila! Lexi Carmichael was born.
In her latest adventure, NO STONE UNTURNED, Lexi thinks getting engaged means calmer days ahead. But when her fiancé’s past brings up more questions than answers, she’s not going to let anything—or anyone—drive them apart.
Geek extraordinaire, Lexi Carmichael, is faced with her hardest mystery yet—her fiancé!
Getting engaged is supposed to be a fun, exciting time in a girl’s life. But things are never that easy for Slash and me. Instead, someone is threatening to expose Slash’s past–a past so secret, even I know very little about it.
Before I can get used the weight of Nonna’s antique ring on my finger, he’s on his way to Rome…and we’re farther apart than we’ve ever been. Still, I have no intention of sitting at home and letting him take on the Vatican by himself.
With a little expert-level hacking, I learn Slash is keeping secrets from me. Big ones. Dangerous ones. In fact, the more I dig into Slash’s past, the more I discover things about him I never knew–things that eventually pit us against each other.
From Rome to the Amalfi coast to the highest levels of the Vatican, we both race to discover the truth. No matter what I find, we’re officially a team now, so I won’t let him face this alone. Even if I don’t know if our relationship can survive it.
Follow Julie:
Website: www.juliemoffett.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JulieMoffettAuthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julie_moffett/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JMoffettAuthor
**GIVEAWAY!** I’m giving away an e-copy of either the first book in the Lexi Carmichael series, NO ONE LIVES TWICE, or the first book in the young adult mystery spin-off of the series, WHITE KNIGHTS. How to enter? Just let me know in the comments below: Who is your favorite Bond? (***WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT: The randomly-chosen winner of Julie’s giveaway is Mark Baker***!)
Chicks on the Case 
Sean Connery, hands down!
I would have loved to work for the CIA! How exciting!
LikeLiked by 6 people
Sean Connery was tops and then Pierce Brosnan. Roger Moore was great to. All of these men were very distinguished in that role.
LikeLiked by 6 people
Sean Connery here.
LikeLiked by 6 people
Welcome, Julie! Thanks so much for visiting Chicks today and offering a giveaway, too! Believe it or not, in high school I wanted to join the FBI (even though I’m a total chicken). I was devastated to learn that female applicants had to meet the same requirements as males–and I was not 5′ 6″. Probably a good thing…
LikeLiked by 5 people
OK, so none of the Chicks could meet the FBI or CIA height requirements. Except maybe Becky and Kathy. Has anybody measured the new Chicks yet?
LikeLiked by 3 people
I’m 5’9″-ish, but I think I’m shrinking!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am an Amazonian 5’7″.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Me too, Becky! It does not feel like I am towering over anything though…
LikeLiked by 2 people
Kathy! You get to play center on the Chick’s basketball team, okay?! And Cynthia, are you sure you’re not standing on your tiptoes?!
LikeLiked by 1 person
As long as it just involves me standing in the way, I’m IN!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I was also an Ian Fleming fan (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, chahooo-ga!) and read every 007 book cover-to-cover off my dad’s bookshelves (what did they have to do with the movies, tho?). My favorite James Bond was…Roger Moore. When I was a kid I thought he was sooo handsome for an old person–and didn’t get why everyone loved Sean Connery, that even older guy with the beard (as I knew him later). Of course, all the double-entendres went over my head–and I thought Roger was super funny, for real. Though I wouldn’t kick Pierce Brosnan out of my underwater compound…
LikeLiked by 4 people
Julie, this sounds like such a fun series. Thanks for stopping by and introducing yourself to me.
CIA? Heck yeah! I would have so loved to join, but I have no physical prowess at all, so back in my day, they would have laughed me out of the building.
And Lisa? They have all kinds of requirements for gov’t jobs. The job I originally wanted when I went government I was too old, by six months. Like older chicks can’t handle a gun? I call bullshrimp!
My favorite Bond? In order?
Have to go with Sean Connery first, because, he’s Sean Connery! He had the action/masculinity part down pat, and good looking, but I didn’t think suave.
Sir Roger Moore is next. He was the suavest, but I didn’t think he did well in action scenes, and it was hard to see him as a rough and tumble masculine guy.
Pierce Brosnan is third on my list. He carried off the action, the masculinity, the suave, & the looks. But I think he was a bit tired when he started, cause he’d done Remington Steeles.
Daniel Craig is a tie for third. He’s the whole package, but I feel they changed Bond’s preconceived notions, so he’s a different Bond than what I grew up with.
David Niven and George Lazenby only did one movie each, so it is really hard to give an opinion.
Sadly, Timothy Dalton IMHO is the worst of the bunch. I just didn’t like him as Bond.
LikeLiked by 6 people
Love that Pierce Brosnan may have been tired after playing Remington Steele. Ha!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Sean Connery the Pierce Brosnan
LikeLiked by 5 people
This series sounds like fun. I really need to give it a try.
And can I confess I’ve only seen 2 Bond movies? So I don’t have a favorite. However, give me Mrs. Pollifax and I’m perfectly happy.
LikeLiked by 6 people
Congrats, Mark!! You are Julie’s lucky winner, woohoo!!!!
LikeLike
How cool! Thanks!
LikeLike
I’d totally forgotten about David Niven and Casino Royale–ha! Your books sound terrific, Julie–definitely gonna have to read them! (Love the geek spy angle, like Marshall in Alias. But even better that it’s a woman.) Thanks so much for visiting the Chicks today!
LikeLiked by 5 people
Julie! Congratulations on your latest and your successful long-running series. (Eleven books–ZOWIE!!)
Love the backstory about you wanting to join the CIA. How cool that you get to enjoy some of that adventure and intrigue through your books. (At a safe distance!!)
PS Did you get to go to Italy to research No Stone Unturned? If so, I’m available to carry your laptop on your next research trip!
LikeLiked by 4 people
Julie, congrats on the new book — and thanks for visiting Chicks today! I love Bond, James Bond! My fave for the movies is Sean Connery, but Daniel Craig would be my pick for a date night. 🙂
LikeLiked by 4 people
For CIA date night I’d pick John K. (from the new Jack Ryan TV series (Amazon). If Matt Damon as Jason Bourne was temporarily unavailable, I mean.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Julie, the book sounds great! And I, like you, am obsessed with James Bond. My cell phone number even ends with 007. When I tell people the number, you can bet I end with saying “double oh seven” in a British accent.
And I had no idea about the CIA cafeteria. Fascinating! I so want to eat there now. On the covert side, of course. #nosy
LikeLiked by 5 people
I’m going to cop-out and say I love all the James Bonds, but I’m sure my daughter and SIL have opinions. They used to do Friday night Bond parties with their friends.
I love that little detail about the cafeteria. Writers understand the importance of those telling details! Thanks for visiting us here!
LikeLiked by 5 people
Hi, Julie! Wow, I had no idea you were thisclose to working for the CIA. That must make for great cocktail party chat. Congrats on your new release!
LikeLiked by 5 people
Thanks so much for having me today! It’s been so fun to read all of your comments on your favorite James Bond choices. I think we should all get together and have a Bond party! Lol! Come dressed as your favorite character. Can I come as Q? oxoxox Julie
LikeLiked by 5 people
Hi Julie! Thanks so much for visiting us today! Congrats on your series and on your latest book.
Sean Connery, Roger Moore, and Pierce Brosnan were my favorite 007s. But I love the opposite-of-Bond approach too. 🙂
LikeLiked by 4 people
Roger Moore
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yay! I am not alone.
LikeLike
Oh Sean Connery for sure. Thanks for the chance. This is a new series to me. Sounds like a series I would like.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Daniel Craig would be my choice–especially the clip he made with Queen E for her Jubilee. Smoking her out of Buckingham on to a helicopter to parachute into a new venue. Such fun! And I like the geek girl bent to your writing–being a geek girl myself. Not a hacker–an audio engineer.
LikeLike
My favorite James Bond would be Sean Connery. i ave been following ou for awhile now but haven’t started your Lexi series but pan on ding so next month. have to catch up on buying your books. So many great books to read and so little time.
LikeLiked by 1 person