REVENGE - Tamara G Cooper - One Free Book

Welcome back to my blog, Tamara. How did you come up with the idea for this story? I’m a seat-of-the-pants writer, so I had a vague idea of what might happen in this book. I knew about Aaron, but I didn’t know much about him. An SOTP writer sits down and starts writing. As I do, the story unfolds, the characterizations come to life. That’s the best way I know how to explain it. I don’t have many ideas about the story before I start each day of writing. The story just tells itself. It’s like I jump into the book and watch what happens and write it down. Weird, huh? But…at the end of the book, I have my first draft or my “outline.” Then the editing starts! 

If you were planning a party with Christian authors of contemporary fiction, what six people would you invite and why? All of these authors would be invited because of what they’ve written. Probably my favorite Christian author today is Eric Metaxas because of his phenomenal book, Amazing Grace. I didn’t want that book to end! It profoundly touched me. Alex Kendrick and Dallas Jenkins are both writers whose works have become favorite movies/films. C.S. Lewis makes both lists; his work is mesmerizing. He is no longer with us, but his Narnia series is still very much “contemporary” and loved by my kids. Frank Peretti, because of his thrillers. And Jan Karon. Well, just the name Jan Karon brings Mitford and its characters to mind. Love that series!  

Now let’s do that for a party for Christian authors of historical fiction, what six people would you invite and why? I don’t read historical fiction very much, but I have read some. I’ve read the complete series of Gilbert Morris’s “The House of Winslow” about the founding of our country. Brilliant series, very engaging. Janette Oke, too many books to name. C.S. Lewis makes this list as well, even though he is not with us any longer. He was close friends with Tolkien (Lord of the Rings) and created The Screwtape Letters as well as the Narnia series. Mary Connealy’s feisty lead characters are fun. Angela Ewell Hunt’s Biblical stories are well written. Too many to mention, really, but here are some favorites. 

Many times, people (and other authors) think you have it made with so many books published. What is your most difficult problem with writing at this time in your career? My most difficult problem with writing is not so much finding the time to write, but staying with the writing with all the other distractions that pop up with the writing. Newsletters, communication, events, etc. A writer’s life is full, but I love it! 

Tell us about the featured book. Revenge is a romantic suspense, heavy on the suspense. Here is the synopsis of the book on my author’s page on Amazon: 

The authorities were wrong about Claire's death. She was hunted down and murdered in such a creative way - brilliant, actually - that it only looked like an accident. 

Aaron's life shatters after Claire's sudden and bizarre death. Why didn't he act on his suspicions that she was being stalked, even though she dismissed the idea? The media monitors every step Aaron takes, obsessed with digging up or making up the inside scoop on Claire's last moments. Blaming Aaron for her death is their most frequent story angle. Driven to the brink of despair, he needs a place to hide, a shelter to withdraw from eyes constantly scrutinizing his life. 

Deliverance arrives in an unexpected inheritance: the sprawling wilderness of his great aunt's East Texas estate. No one would expect him - a billionaire New Yorker - to live in East Texas. He is pleasantly surprised to discover that his long-lost first love recently moved back to the area. She intrigued him at fourteen; she completely captivates him at twenty-six. Settling into his new home seems easy enough until the sense that someone is watching him overshadows the pleasure of his long, solitary walks. When he finds the body of a young woman, a stranger, near his walking path on the anniversary of Claire's death, it shakes him to the core. First Claire. Now, this woman. Is someone targeting him? Is he next? Is someone he loves next? 

Suddenly, his secluded sanctuary is no longer a refuge. He fortifies his estate, transforming it into a fortress against the coming attack. Despite his efforts, the killer's tightening noose threatens to ensnare him. Outsmarting this relentless predator has become a deadly game of chess, where every move could be his last. 

Please give us the first page of the book. 

Aaron stood at the tall windows of the Travel Room overlooking the magnificent grounds of Winslow Manor.  

Trees as far as he could see in every direction.  

Green grass thriving under an achingly blue sky.  

A stillness across the land that spoke of contentment and harmony. 

“It is beautiful, Aunt,” he muttered to himself, “but Texas, of all places. More specifically, East Texas. You actually thought I could live here?” 

His great-aunt Dottie Winslow was a native New Yorker, as was he. Some forty-five years ago, she’d given up her East Coast creds to live outside Wild Stallion, Texas, on six thousand acres of trees, pastureland, and one very large lake. None of the New York Winslows could understand why she’d made such an outrageous move to a culture she knew little about. 

“I’m surrounded by good ol’ boys, rednecks, and cowboys,” she’d told Aaron on one of his family’s rare visits.  

“How can you bear it, Aunt?” 

She’d sent him a quick but sharp look of disappointment. “Oh, Aaron, honey. I also live among ladies in lace, beauty queens, and great cooks. I love them all, every last one of them. Texans are special people. They’re worth getting to know.” 

Getting to know? 

Was she kidding? 

He remembered laughing at such an absurd notion, and he was right. 

Their worlds were complete opposites. He came from wealth, as did she, from an impatience to build something on the land, not live off it. Maybe he was cynical, as all New Yorkers were somewhat, but living among people who worked outside in the dirt with animals wasn’t for him. He'd stay in his own universe and leave her to Texas. 

And yet, here he was, in Texas again.  

The last time he’d seen Aunt Dottie was a short overnight trip with Claire almost six months ago, on their way to Colorado.  

Beautiful, sweet Claire. 

The pain came swiftly.  

It always did when he thought of her.  

It never completely left him, lurking, unforgiving, ready to strike. 

How can readers find you on the Internet? 

My books are on Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B0C4M9CHSG/ 

On Goodreads.com: https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=Tamara+G.+Cooper&qid= 

Thank you for having me on your blog again, Lena. I enjoyed it so much! 

It’s my pleasure to feature you. Thank you for sharing Revenge with my blog readers and me.

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

https://amzn.to/45spqLF

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 

REVENGE - Paula Rose - One Free Book

Dear Readers, we have another author who is new to this blog. Her book sounds intriguing. Be sure to welcome her.

Welcome, Paula. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

There is little of myself inside my characters, but I believe the sum of all of my experiences resides inside them.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I don’t know if this is the quirkiest, but I remember eating the same thing for breakfast every day for one month.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

As a child, I loved reading, but it didn’t take very long before my own stories began to float around my mind.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

I’m a wide-ranging reader from Amish fiction to romance books plus nonfiction and devotionals too.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

I spend time with our Lord.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I research names and interesting tidbits will capture a name and cement it into my story. For instance, in Revenge, I loved that Olivia had a connection to Shakespeare. However, what I didn’t realize was that my Olivia wasn’t going to stick to my character sketch. As a strong woman with a fiery personality, she changes the plot to tackle feats this writer never even imagined.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

It’s a difficult question to answer, and there are many that come to mind. Certainly, my wedding day and buying our first home are at the top of my list.

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

A bird because flying would be fun.

What is your favorite food?

Pasta.

I love pasta, too. I recently found an imported-from-Italy, tomato-basil bowtie pasta that really added a special nuance in the soup I made this week. Yum! What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

My chapter endings were too abrupt. After rewrites and edits of Revenge, I learned how to make chapter endings more intense.

A good way to keep those readers turning pages. Tell us about the featured book.

As a job coach, it’s up to Olivia Foster to ensure her clients work in a safe environment, understand their positions, and serve their employer’s mission. The death of her brother drives her career choice, and she loves her job. It remains her only focus until one of her autistic clients goes missing. Then Olivia’s employer ends her position and adds her to the suspect list, but she makes plans to bring the missing young man home. Detective Lt. Phillip Landon is deep into second-guessing his career choice, but his well-honed instincts see major flaws inside this missing person’s case. Surprising contacts, mysterious happenings, and threats can turn deadly. Can he keep Olivia safe, protect his heart, remove the job coach from someone’s target list, and adopt a faith he never knew all while adjusting to the new lives of his old family?

Please give us the first page of the book.

On Olivia's return trip, the rain split building lights into fractures of miniature kaleidoscopes. She squinted through the deluge. A new pair of wiper blades moved high atop her shopping list while her fingers tightened around the steering wheel and worry pressed its full weight on her lungs. Monday morning traffic was a snarled mess, and Olivia wondered why the car behind her drove too close; however, he seemed no different than others in the lanes next to her, proving most people had foregone the safe driving distance rule.

Olivia Foster approached the last turn off before the DAYS—Development for Active/Asperger’s/Autistic Year-round Settlements—parking lot.

She rounded the lot, and she realized those flashing lights were from two cruisers that hovered just outside her employer's front door. Pulling in right next to them, Olivia sprinted into the office. Her puzzlement turned to stark fear.

Madeline's tear-streaked face came into view just inside the front door.

“What's happened?” Her question garnered no answers. “Madeline. What's going on?”

A suited man moved away from her boss and came toward her. The badge, which decorated his outside jacket pocket, reproduced horrid days from years ago. “I'm Lt. Phillip Landon, and I need to speak with you about Bobby Havers.”

“Bobby?” she whimpered. Her heart rate kicked up. “Is he—?”

He motioned her into the conference room. “It seems as though he's disappeared. And we're talking to everyone who interacts regularly for clues to pinpoint where he would go.”

How could a special needs client go missing from a fully staffed group home? “Bobby wouldn't run away. He wouldn't.”

“Have a seat.” She nodded. But the last thing Olivia wanted was to sit. She needed to help the search for Bobby. Grief from the past assaulted her, but with a deep breath, she shoved those feelings aside. God, please lead us to Bobby. This detective needed to be on Bobby’s trail instead of inside wasting time on her, and she’d do whatever she needed to make that happen.

“The executive director explained that Bobby recently had some employer problems. As his job coach, you can give us more of a complete picture and some insight.”

“Bobby has a cell phone. Did you try to call him?”

“We've done that. Please tell me what led up to this.”

Olivia was so taken aback by Madeline’s erroneous assessment that her thoughts jumbled.

How can readers find you on the Internet?
Blog: http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/booksnreviews/

Website: http://paularosebooks.com

ACFW Fiction Finder: http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/?author=Paula+Rose

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PaulaRoseauthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paularoseauthor/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Paula-Rose-Books-1514088292150972/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/paularoseauthor

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8392724.Paula_Rose

About: http://about.me/paularoseauthor

Thank you, Paula, for sharing this book with us. My readers and I love a good suspense novel.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Revenge - Paperback
Revenge - Kindle

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. (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