WINDSWEPT WAY - Irene Hannon - One Free Book

Bio: Irene Hannon is the bestselling and award-winning author of more than 60 contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels. In addition to her many other honors, she is a three-time winner of the prestigious RITA Award from Romance Writers of America. She is also a member of RWA's elite Hall of Fame and has received a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews for her entire body of work

In 2015, bestselling and award-winning author Irene Hannon penned her first Hope Harbor novel entitled Hope Harbor. This novel paved the way for more novels set along the rocky shores of the Oregon coast. Now Hannon lures readers back to the seaside town with her ninth novel in the Hope Harbor collection. Windswept Way will introduce fans to a new cast of characters while still bringing back a few favorites in this charming town where hearts heal and love blooms.  

About the Story: Buying a haunted house was never in Ashley Scott’s plans, but when an intriguing opportunity drops into her lap after a major setback, she finds herself trekking cross-country to Hope Harbor to launch a new life.

Wounded warrior Jonathan Gray isn’t sure what to make of the attractive woman on his reclusive older neighbor’s isolated property, but her presence is none of his business—until she enlists his help with an ambitious project. When Jonathan finds his interest in the new arrival becoming more personal than professional, however, his defenses go up. There’s no room in his life—or his heart—for romance.

Yet, as these three hurting people join forces to restore life, laughter, and love to a historic estate that has known too much sadness, they may also find healing, hope, and happiness for themselves.

Welcome to my blog, Irene. Please provide readers with a brief description of your new novel, Windswept Way? Here’s the story in a nutshell: A woman who’s taken a leap of faith and a reclusive man resigned to being alone help an older woman give new life to her family’s historic estate…and in the process find their own happy ending.

Windswept Way is the ninth book in the Hope Harbor collection. What was the inspiration behind these novels? I’d always wanted to write a heartwarming, long-running series set in a small seaside town filled with characters readers would come to love. When I wrote the first book—called Hope Harbor—I had high hopes it could lead to that series. Happily, those hopes were fulfilled.  My little town has become beloved not only in the U.S., but around the world.

Why did you choose the Oregon coast as the setting for the Hope Harbor novels? I’d seen photos of the Oregon coast for many years, and it looked like the kind of place that could be home to my fictional community. So I took a research trip there, traveled the coast from top to bottom taking copious notes, and found the perfect setting for my stories.

Hope Harbor is a place where “hearts heal and love blooms.” Can you please provide some insight on how this takes place for your two protagonists, Ashley Scott and Jonathan Gray? Both Ashley and Jon are hurting and alone when this story starts. So is the owner of Edgecliff, the historic home that is the centerpiece of this story. But as the three of them begin to work together on their ambitious project to open the estate to the world, their hearts begin to open as well. Because love truly can transform lives.

Can you provide more information on Jonathan Gray’s backstory? Jon was badly injured by an IED in the Middle East, which cost him the future he had planned. He carries deep physical and psychological scars. He’s not in any way the stereotypical model-perfect hero of a romance novel. He’s created a successful landscaping business, but he relies on Daisy, his border collie for company.

Until Ashley comes along.

Each Hope Harbor novel focuses on new characters. Will characters from previous books in the series make appearances in Windswept Way? Every Hope Harbor book is a brand-new story, with a whole new cast of main characters. Each story begins and ends in each book, with no hanging plot threads from book to book. The unifying element is the town. There are several secondary characters who appear in every book, but a reader can pick up any book in the series and feel right at home. Readers who’ve been following the series all along will definitely recognize the leading characters from past books who make cameo appearances in this story.

Do you have a favorite character in this novel? I love Ashley and Jon, but Rose, the reclusive older woman who owns Edgecliff, touched my heart in a special way. Watching her emerge from her self-imposed exile was so inspiring and uplifting.

What lessons do you hope readers gain from reading Windswept Way?  Never judge a book—or a person—by its cover.

What do you love most about writing contemporary romance? I love telling stories about people with honor and character and integrity and faith who are living full, rich, interesting lives and finding happy endings without sacrificing their principles. I think everyone can benefit from encouragement to stay the course in a world that often isn’t supportive of traditional values or faith-based living.

What are you working on next? I’ll have a new suspense series starting in October, which features three foster siblings whose careers put them on the front line of danger. And the Hope Harbor series will continue in April 2024 with Book #10.

How can readers connect with you? For general information and a complete book list, my website is the best place: www.irenehannon.com. But my favorite place to interact with readers is Facebook. I’m on Instagram, but I chat with readers every day on Facebook. Please join the conversation!

Thank you, Irene, for sharing Windswept Way with us.

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=windswept+way+a+hope+harbor+novel&i=stripbooks&ref=nb_sb_noss

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 2 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link: Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com 

BODY OF EVIDENCE - Irene Hannon - One Free Book

In Fall 2020, three-time RITA Award winning author Irene Hannon introduced fans to the Reilly sisters in her new Triple Threat suspense series. Packed with peril and romance, Point of Danger (October 2020) and Labyrinth of Lies (October 2021) were eagerly embraced by romantic suspense fans. Now Hannon wraps up this riveting series with a tale of secrets revealed and romance sparked in Body of Evidence. 

About the story: Forensic pathologist Grace Reilly has seen her share of unusual deaths in rural Missouri. But when she begins to notice a curious pattern in autopsies of older residents whose demise appears to be natural, she takes her concerns to Sheriff Nate Cox.

Nate is skeptical about the link Grace is seeing between the deaths—and her suspicions of foul play. But her persistence is compelling. Once she finally convinces him her theory is credible and they join forces to investigate, danger follows. Because exposing the truth could destroy several lives—including Grace’s.

Join Hannon once again for a deep plunge into a psychological suspense tale packed with captivating characters and just the right touch of romance. 

Welcome to my blog, Irene. Please provide a brief summary of Body of Evidence. Here’s the one-sentence elevator pitch: When a forensic pathologist enlists the help of a rural sheriff to investigate unusual deaths among older residents, the next death may be her own.

Your female protagonist, Grace Reilly, is a forensic pathologist. What type of research was required to portray her role? Since I have no background in this field, I had to find an expert who could answer my many questions. Usually I can get a referral from someone on my vast list of sources, but that didn’t happen with this one. So I researched forensic pathologists, and while doing that I came across one in particular who sounded as if he’d make a great source. I contacted him cold, which isn’t necessarily the best way to find sources, but he was very receptive and ended up being an amazing resource who supplied me with huge amounts of information, read my manuscript for accuracy, and sent me maybe a tad too many photos from autopsies. But thanks to him (and the rural sheriff I also cold called for assistance) I’m very, very happy with the technical pedigree of this book. 

Can you please provide some background information on Nate Cox and explain how Grace and Nate became connected? Nate grew up in the Midwest, joined the military, then came back to his hometown to deal with a family emergency, and ended up going into a career in law enforcement. Nate’s the sheriff in one of the counties that has hired Grace as a pathologist. Their paths cross when she notices a troubling pattern in some deaths that have been ruled natural—and the story is off and running!

Body of Evidence is the final volume in your Triple Threat series. What do readers have to look forward to in this thrilling conclusion? A cast of very interesting characters, many intersecting plots, and a villain that I think will take readers by surprise. This book should keep everyone guessing until the end!

Are there any threads that run through the whole series that will be wrapped up in Body of Evidence? All of my series books can be read as standalones, so I purposely don’t carry plot threads from book to book. But for those who’ve read the first two books, you’ll see more of the other two sisters. The scenes with the three sisters were some of my favorite to write. I love the strong bond they share and their good-natured teasing.

What was the inspiration for the Triple Threat series? I usually theme my suspense series around relationships, so when I started this one I chose a set of relationships I hadn’t yet explored—three sisters. As for the stories themselves, I wanted to feature women who were involved in unique and interesting professions. Once I decided what those would be, the nature of the professions led me to the storylines.

You have been called the “queen of inspirational romantic suspense.” What do you love most about writing books in this genre? I love writing about strong women with unshakable values who are plunged into dangerous situations that allow them to demonstrate their courage, intelligence, integrity, grit, and determination. 

What is your secret for combining suspense with just the right amount of romance? The trick is to interweave the two so each aspect of the story supports and advances the other. Pacing is also critical. I’m not one of those writers who has to have a life-and-death scenario on every page. I think suspense is enhanced when readers have a little breathing space between those episodes. So exploring the romance gives me a chance to let the adrenaline subside a bit before ratcheting it up again. Kind of like the slow build on a roller coaster as you head up the track. The calm before the plunge. Anticipation is every bit as important to a suspense novel as the moment of actual danger itself.

What lessons do you hope readers gain from reading Body of Evidence? My main goal when I write a novel isn’t to teach or preach. It’s to entertain readers with a wholesome story about people of honor and integrity and faith who lead fulfilling lives and find love even in today’s sometimes crazy world. That said, my stories do have certain themes. In this book, I hope readers will see the danger of falling prey to temptation and the importance of perseverance, integrity,  and standing firm in your values.

How can readers connect with you? I’m on Twitter and Instagram, but my favorite place to hang out is Facebook, where I chat with readers every day. 

Thank you, Irene, for sharing this book with my blog readers and me.

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

https://www.amazon.com/Evidence-Triple-Threat-Irene-Hannon/dp/0800736192/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1672953579&sr=8-1

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 2 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link: Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com 

SEA GLASS COTTAGE - Irene Hannon - One Free Book

Bio: Irene Hannon is the bestselling author of more than sixty novels, including the long-running Hope Harbor series, as well as Labyrinth of Lies, Point of Danger and the Code of Honor, Private Justice, and Men of Valor suspense series, among others. Her books have been honored with three coveted RITA Awards from Romance Writers of America, and she is a member of that organization’s elite Hall of Fame. Her many other awards include National Readers’ Choice, Daphne du Maurier, Retailers’ Choice, Booksellers’ Best, Carol, and Reviewers’ Choice from RT Book Reviews magazine, which also honored her with a Career Achievement Award for her entire body of work. In addition, she is a two-time Christy Award finalist. Learn more at www.irenehannon.com.

Welcome, Irene. Can you please provide a brief description of your new novel, Sea Glass Cottage? At its core, this is a reunion story about forgiveness and second chances.

Christi Reece is desperate. The one-time golden girl’s life has tarnished, and a cascade of setbacks has left her reeling. She needs help, and she’s certain Jack Colby is in a position to provide it. 

When she shows up in Hope Harbor, however, Jack wants nothing to do with the woman who betrayed him. He’s built a new life on the Oregon coast—and there’s no room in it for Christi, even after she takes refuge in a charming but mysterious cottage nearby. Yet it soon becomes apparent his opinion of her may need revising . . . especially when he ends up needing her help. 

Can these two hurting souls make peace with their past and open their hearts to a new beginning?

Sea Glass Cottage is your eighth book set in the fictional seaside town of Hope Harbor, Oregon. Why did you choose this location? I’ve always considered seaside locations to be romantic, so I knew when I developed the concept for this series that it would be a small-town setting on the ocean. I’d seen photos of the Oregon coast, with its dramatic scenery, and I thought it would provide the perfect backdrop for my stories. So I made a visit, traveling the coast from top to bottom, and knew I’d found the home for Hope Harbor.

What was the inspiration for your new novel? I wanted to explore the question of whether people can truly change at a deep, fundamental level. This story gave me an opportunity to delve into that in both the primary and secondary plots.

How do your come up with fresh new plots for each of your Hope Harbor novels? Excellent question . . . and one which allows me to point out that each plot in the Hope Harbor series is unique and that every book can be read as standalone novel. There are no hanging plot threads from book to book. The link is the town. As for fresh plots—someone once asked me how I could write so many romance novels without repeating myself, and my reply was that every love story is unique. There are always different challenges to overcome and different personalities at play in relationships. It’s just a matter of finding a plot that allows me to explore my characters. The different personalities involved are what keep the books fresh.

The town of Hope Harbor has some fun characters that continue to make their appearances throughout all of your Hope Harbor novels. Do you have a favorite character? I love all my characters, including the secondary ones, in Hope Harbor. But I can tell you that Charley Lopez, the taco-making artist and town sage, is the one who’s captured readers’ fancy the world over. I’ve received more comments and emails about him than all of the other characters in my 60+ novels combined. He has truly become a beloved icon.

What do you hope readers will experience when reading Sea Glass Cottage?  I hope they’ll be swept away to my special town for hours of enjoyment—and that they finish the book filled with hope . . . and with a greater appreciation for the tremendous power of love (and not just romantic love) to transform lives.

What are you working on next? Next up will be Book 3 in my Triple Threat suspense series, coming in October 2022. Beyond that—more Hope Harbor books and a new suspense series debuting in 2023!

How can readers connect with you? The best place to chat with me is on Facebook, though I’m active on Twitter and Instagram too. But I’m on Facebook most often—and I read every comment and respond to many personally. I don’t have an assistant, so if I respond, it’s really me!

Thank you for sharing this book with my blog readers and me.

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

 http://ow.ly/g3lB50KKwi0

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 2 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link: Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

DANGEROUS ILLUSIONS - Irene Hannon - One Free Book

Three-Time RITA Award Winner Begins Explosive

New Code of Honor Series

“Hannon is a master at her craft, and her unique way of handling suspense makes her a cut above the other writers in the genre.”

—RT Book Reviews on Thin Ice

Bio: Irene Hannon is the bestselling and award-winning author of more than fifty novels, including Buried Secrets, Thin Ice, and Tangled Webs, as well as the Heroes of Quantico, Guardians of Justice, and Private Justice series. In addition to many other honors, she is a seven-time finalist for and three-time winner of the prestigious RITA Award from Romance Writers of America. She is also a member of RWA’s elite Hall of Fame and has received a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews. Learn more at www.irenehannon.com.

Welcome, Irene. Can you please tell us about your new series?

The Code of Honor series features three childhood friends whose bond has been strengthened by time—and danger. As children, they vowed to help make the world a better place when they grew up, and each chose a career that does just that. Colin, the hero of Dangerous Illusions, is a police detective. Kristin, the heroine of book 2, runs a fair-trade shop. And the hero of book 3, Rick, joined the military but now runs a camp for foster kids. This is a group of honorable high-achievers, and I love the dynamic among the three friends.

How did you come up with the plot for Dangerous Illusions?

I wanted to start this series off with a story that had a very unusual plot twist, and I think the idea I came up with will truly give readers a “wow” moment when they realize what’s going on. I can’t say more than that without giving the surprise away!

Which character is your favorite and why?

That’s like asking a mother to pick her favorite child! Every character in this book—bad and good—has a unique story, and all of them fascinate me.

How did you choose the setting for your novel?

Since this is a book with a strong psychological suspense element versus an action/adventure novel in which the setting plays a critical role, it could have taken place almost anywhere. The book did, however, require huge amounts of research—so I chose a setting I know well, which shaved some research hours off the writing process.

What was the most interesting thing you learned while doing research for your book?

I learn a tremendous amount with every book I write. But if I shared the most interesting things I learned while working on this one, I’d give away some significant plot surprises!

What lesson(s) do you hope readers will take away from reading Dangerous Illusions?

That even in the toughest times, God is at work in our lives. I want readers to finish the book uplifted, filled with hope, and more cognizant of the tremendous power of love to transform lives.

What can you tell us about the story?

Trish Bailey is on overload trying to deal with a demanding job, an ailing mother, and a healing heart. When a series of unsettling memory lapses leads to a tragic death—and puts Trish under police scrutiny—her world is once again thrown into turmoil.

Detective Colin Flynn isn’t certain what to think of the facts he uncovers during his investigation. Did Trish simply make a terrible mistake, or is there more to the case than meets the eye? As he searches for answers, disturbing information begins to emerge—and if the forces at work are as evil as he suspects, the situation isn’t just dangerous . . . it’s deadly.

What are you working on next?

I recently turned in the next book in my Oregon coast Hope Harbor series, Pelican Point, which will be out in April 2018. That’s a contemporary romance/women’s fiction novel. I’m now fine-tuning book 2 in my Code of Honor series, which is due at the end of the summer and will release in October 2018.

How can readers connect with you?

They can visit my website at www.irenehannon.com or follow me on Facebook and Twitter. I’m very active on Facebook and love to interact with readers there.

Thank you, Irene, for sharing this new book with us. I’m eager to read it.

Readers, here are links to the book.

Dangerous Illusions - Christianbook.com
Dangerous Illusions (Code of Honor) - Amazon paperback
Dangerous Illusions (Code of Honor Book 1) - Kindle
Dangerous Illusions: Code of Honor, Book 1 - Audio

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com