First of all, I apologize for not having a review posted. It seems that suddently, every book is due on the same day, and I have already read and reviewed a good eight or so books this week, and I have a load more to do it seems. So bear with me. I should have a review posted by early next week. But I wanted to be sure to post since I am at the tail end of the tour!
Romantic Suspense/ Thriller
Title: Dangerous Embrace
Author: Dana Mason
Date to be Published: 10/04/12
Publisher: Sapphire Star Publishing
Synopsis:
Sarah Jennings wants nothing more than a quiet life—alone.
Raised by an eccentric mother, their life on the road only taught her how to run away from hard times. But when she finds herself in an abusive relationship, this lesson serves her well.
Now, back in her hometown, she's found a place she loves. She’s a first grade teacher, and with few friends and less family around, she has what she wants, a quiet life under the radar where she can be free of her past and live quietly. Finally comfortable in her own skin, she’s settled, and less fearful than she’s ever been in her life.
But it only takes one night and one act of violence for everything to change. Injured and afraid, Sarah wants to run again, but Mark Summors refuses to let her go.
Just when Sarah thinks she can have Mark and the life he promises, her past comes back to haunt her.
Mark Summors was born and raised in Santa Rosa. He married his high school sweetheart and never questioned his life, until he found his wife with another man.
Now divorced, he wants something more. He’s passionate about his job, he wants to protect people, and he devotes his life to it.
This time he’s protecting more than just another client, he’s protecting his future; at least, Sarah Jennings will be his future, once he convinces her she loves him.'
Excerpt
Dangerous Embrace (excerpt
450 words)
Sarah pried open her heavy eyelids and turned, trying to
focus on the clock. “Ow, dammit!” She clenched her teeth and looked down at the
sling tied to her arm. The smothering realization pressed on her chest. When
the nausea hit, she flung the covers off and rushed to the bathroom, fighting
to get to the toilet before her stomach heaved.
When the painful dry heaving stopped, she lay back on the
cold tile floor, exhausted, and waited for the room to stop spinning. Her
ragged breaths roared in her ears and seemed to echo in the quiet room. When
her breathing slowed, the silence ebbed around her in waves, but when footsteps
approached the bathroom door, she tensed again.
A bead of sweat dripped down her scalp and at the same
time someone tapped at the door. Her pulse spiked and she fought like hell to
remember who brought her home from the hospital.
She closed her eyes. “Who’s there?” The waver in her voice
pissed her off. Gawd—please don’t let me be pathetic in front of whoever
this is.
A hesitant and completely unfamiliar man’s voice said,
“Are you all right? Do you need something?”
Sarah sucked in a hard breath. “Um…” She exhaled slowly.
“Who are you?”
“Mark Summors.”
She stiffened and tried to sit up. “Do I know you?” she
asked her voice pitching.
“I can explain if you open the door.”
She steadied herself against the bathtub. The sling had
slipped up her arm, exposing the trail of bruises. She swallowed another wave
of nausea and tried to put the pieces together. Mark Summors? She
glanced around for something to use as a weapon just in case, then she wanted
to laugh—and cry. Who the hell was she kidding? She rolled her eyes. Good
plan, Sarah, take on a strange guy with a toilet brush.
“Can I come in?”
His voice was muffled as if he was resting his face against the door.
“Go ahead.” She clamped her mouth closed to suppress a
shiver, then said, “It’s unlocked.”
The door eased open and a cup of water shot out at her.
“Oh, thank you,” she cried out, relieved to wash the
disgusting film out of her mouth. She snatched the cup out of his hand and
gulped it, letting her eyes lift above the rim to see his face.
“Ah.” Sarah choked
and inhaled the water. She set the cup down, almost upending it as she dropped
it. “Oh my God!” She would never forget those intense blue eyes, just like she
would never forget the smell of her attacker’s breath. They were all thrown
together in the same horrifying memory.
Guest Post (by the author)
Writing this story, with two
completely opposite characters, was an interesting challenge. Most writers will agree when I say, once you
craft a character, they take on a life of their own. That was certainly
true with these two.
To my surprise, the character with the
personality most like mine was the hardest to write. Sarah’s head was a
difficult space to get into. It sounds crazy, but she was so well guarded even in the
stage of creation that I couldn’t get her right without an intense
amount of work. The same held true in the editing
stage, and it was at that time that I realized I had to let my own guard down
to really see her and what she needed.
While many of Sarah’s personality
quirks (ahem, read flaws) came from me, that’s where the similarities end. In
my wildest dreams, I couldn’t imagine enduring what she’s overcome, which just created another challenge for me. I needed to
make her strong, yet vulnerable enough to need Mark’s help and love. She was worth the challenge and I hope you all like her.
Mark on the other hand, the family
man and all around nice guy, was easier to understand. I’m sure that has to do
with my own imagination and the way I’d want my hero to be. All of us can draw
a picture of the perfect hero. We all know what we want when we’re being
scooped-up and taken care of, even when we’ve convinced ourselves the LAST thing we need
is to be cared for.
Unlike Sarah, Mark has lived in the
same town his entire life. His parents are still married. He’s had a very
‘normal’ upbringing, and he has a pretty positive outlook on life. Something
Sarah has trouble relating too. When Mark discovers Sarah, in need of help, yet
so unwilling to accept it, he’s not sure how to handle her. But he’s sure he
wants too, and he knows he needs to.
Dangerous Embrace is the first in a
series of books based in Northern California .
All three books address second chances and learning to not take life for
granted. In the next two stories, Precious Embrace and Anew Embrace, you’ll get
glimpses of Mark and Sarah as secondary characters.
Dana Mason
Author Bio
Dana Mason started writing to prove to her computer geek husband and her math & science geek kids that she actually has a brain; it’s just a right functioning brain instead of a left. She’s lived all over the country and uses that experience in her writing and character studies. Her debut novel, Dangerous Embrace, is the first in a contemporary romance series about a group of friends from Northern California who learn just how short life can be when you don’t hold on to what’s important. Second chances don’t come easy…but sometimes love is worth the risk.
When not writing, Dana specializes in professional development and training. She’s also a board member on the local Art's Council and does what she can to support the art community.
As an avid reader and movie watcher, she always requires a happily ever after ending.
When not writing, Dana specializes in professional development and training. She’s also a board member on the local Art's Council and does what she can to support the art community.
As an avid reader and movie watcher, she always requires a happily ever after ending.
Twitter - @danamason06
Links to Buy
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