Congratulations to "Jane", the winner of Dana's giveaway. Thank you to all who participated!
Writing Dangerous Embrace, 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.
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:
When she exited the
freeway in Santa Rosa, she drove through town toward her house instead of his.
“I have to pick something up at my house.” She felt calmer now. The few moments
of silence gave her a chance to plan. “This won’t take long. You can wait here
if you want.” She jumped out of the car and ran into the house.
Sarah rushed to her
closet, but then turned and paced, her agitation growing with every turn of the
room. She had to leave. Kevin would kill her when he found her; it was there in
his eyes. She wasn’t in any doubt about this fact. She stopped pacing and
stared down at her engagement ring, and at the same time, tears dropped from
her eyes.
One way or another, she
was going to lose everything.
“What are you doing?”
Sarah jumped at the tone
in Mark’s voice. Without turning to look at him, she went back to her closet to
grab a shoulder bag. “He’s going to kill us both if I don’t leave.”
“Sarah, what are you
doing? You promised you wouldn’t do this to me again.” He grabbed her left hand
and spun her as he held it up. “You agreed to marry me.”
She stared at the floor,
unable to respond. What else could she do? It wasn’t just her life to lose this
time. Mark, Jamie, they were both in danger now too. He’d kill them just like
he killed Charlie. If she left, Kevin would come after her and Mark would be
safe. She could hide again. She’d managed to hide from him until now, and she
could do it again.
Giveaway:
Dana is giving away a paperback signed copy of Dangerous Embrace
to one lucky commenter. You can find the e-book version of Dangerous Embrace on
Amazon now with the special publisher’s price of $0.99 until January 1st.
Regular price is $3.99.
Dana Mason 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.
Dana Mason links:
Giveaway ends 11:59pm EST Dec. 28th. Please supply your email in the post. You may use spaces or full text for security. (ex. jsmith at gmail dot com) If you do not wish to supply your email, or have trouble posting, please email maureen@justromanticsuspense.com with a subject title of JRS GIVEAWAY to be entered in the current giveaway.
Way, way back in high school--back in the day when I'd hitch my horse to the school post while my mom was home beating our clothes on a riverside rock--okay, you get the idea. High school was a long time ago! Anyway, I had crafted an 8-page short story entitled, WIDOW'S TALE. For anyone who has read WIDOW'S TALE, you'd be sad to hear that Brett Murphy died on page 8. Obviously that was my teenage drama influence. I got an A+ on the short story, and I actually still have those 8 pages, yellowed paper and all.
The story stuck with me. The fictional, gothic-like town of Victory Cove on the rugged shores of Maine was one I wanted to revisit. Over many years, WIDOW'S TALE evolved into a 300-page book (in which Brett Murphy does live!). I finished the book and didn't quite know what to do with it. I ended up submitting it to the Golden Heart contest, and low and behold, I was a finalist in the Romantic Suspense category! I didn't win, but it got me an in with Silhouette's Intimate Moments' editor. The problem, however, was that the story was too long for their line. I hacked away at the content to the point that WIDOW'S TALE looked like a steak on a hibachi grill. In the end, I went back to the original version and self-published it. It was on the Amazon Romantic Suspense bestsellers list for several months.
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