What a pleasure it has been to once again be working my way through my to-be-read pile! Last week, I read fellow LIS author, Lynette Eason’s newest release, Danger on the Mountain.
I can always count on a fast-paced suspense with a satisfying romance when I pick up one of Lynette’s books, and Danger on the Mountain didn’t disappoint. It started with a shoot-em-up-bank-holdup-near-kidnapping and tensions remained high straight through to the explosive finale.
The hero Reese is a new deputy in the small town of Rose Mountain–a man still trying to heal from the loss of his wife and child.
I asked Lynette what inspired her to write his story. Here’s her answer:
Well, he needed one. 🙂 Reese was a character in a previous story, Holiday Hideout. I just loved his character in that book and decided he needed his own story. And sure enough, as soon as I started writing it, and brought a woman into his life, he just came alive. I really like Reese’s story and hope readers will too!
Lynette and I first got to know each other when we roomed together at the 2010 Writer’s Police Academy. We’re the ones on either end, and in true cop form, we’ve smudged out the faces in between to protect their identities. ~grin~
For those readers not familiar with Lynette, she’s the award winning, best-selling author of several romantic suspense novels, including Too Close to Home, Don’t Look Back, and A Killer Among Us. She writes for Revell as well as Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. Lynette graduated from the University of South Carolina and went on to earn her master’s degree in education from Converse College. She lives in South Carolina with her husband and two children.
And…did I mention she’s very generous?
Lynette is giving away THREE copies of Danger on the Mountain. Just join the conversation below to be entered, then come back next Monday when the three winners will be announced.
Your Turn: Reese is determined to get the person who’s after Maggie and her baby. He couldn’t help his wife and daughter, but this is something he can do. He can catch the bad guy for Maggie. What does this tell you about Reese’s personality? Yes, I’m making you think to be entered in the giveaway. 🙂
RSS - Posts
I’m intrigued. I haven’t read the first one yet, but I want to get to know Reese. From the way he was described, I don’t think he would be out for revenge. I think instead he would have regret for not being able to help his own wife, and now he wants to make things right. That’s my conclusion.
Thank you for this opportunity.
clSwalwell@gmail.com
In Him,
Cheri 🙂
Thanks Sandra for having me on your blog! And Cheri, thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoy Reese’s story. 🙂 I will be traveling today, but will do my best to stop in and comment and say hey to everyone who shows up. Have a blessed day!
Lynette
I haven’t had a chance to read Lynette’s books but I’ve heard lots about them. 🙂 Love the smudged pic! lol
I have read a few books of Lynette’s and really enjoyed them. I think I agree with Cheri that Reese would be driven by guilt not revenge. Also the fact that he is deputy shows that he is a caring person who has a strong sense of needing to protect others.
Great thoughts so far. Any other ideas about Reese’s personality from our new visitors? 🙂
I haven’t read the previous novel, but Reese sounds like an all around good guy!
I haven’t read any books of Lynette but I will be adding to me TBR list.
Reese seems like a determined guy. It seems like he want to make up for what he didn’t or couldn’t do for his wife.
That’s great. I love introducing readers to new-to-them authors 🙂
My father, the clinical counselor, said that depression is frustration turned inward, the result of having a responsibility and no way to do it. So we get the moody, introverted character who was not able to protect his wife and child. Am I guessing correctly so far? And now Reese has a chance to act in behalf of another woman and child. Already I’m loving’ the story!
Oh, that is so interesting. I’m sure your father would have lots of fodder to deepen our characters!
I love Lynnette’s books. I hope I win. 🙂
Diana
dlbrandmeyer @gmail.com
hmm, didn’t realize you wanted an answer to the question.
I think Reese is driven by guilt. He thinks he could have saved his wife and child IF….
Thanks for answering, Diana 🙂
I don’t want to give away the story, but I suspect the history of how Reese’s wife and child died came out in an earlier book in the series, which I didn’t read. As I understand it, Reese’s wife died in childbirth along with the baby–correct me if I’m wrong, Lynette.
So he couldn’t really save them, although as we all know that wouldn’t stop him from feeling guilty that he hadn’t been able to do something differently to prevent this. Any other thoughts on what else might be driving him?
As a writer, I’m intrigued by all these answers, because understanding our character’s motivations is the foundation of a solid story. 🙂
I’ve read Danger on the Mountain but thought I’d stop by and say ‘hey’ anyway. Hey 🙂
It always amazes me how you LI suspense authors manage to flesh out your characters so well while not letting up on the action. It makes for a dizzying read time and time again.
In answer to your question — and maybe it’s cheating a bit because I’ve read the book — but I think Rees’ drive to protect Maggie is grounded in his sense of duty and honour but it’s complicated by his past. Edgier.
Just the fact that he is in law enforcement speaks about his sense of justice. He just can’t turn his back on her need — not when he feels he has the resources to fix it. That lovely he-man gene in action. Gotta make everything right.
Hope this makes sense — I’m writing it on the fly at lunch.
Hmm, yes, you can make me fall for him all over again. 🙂
I love how Lynette starts things off with a bang! Everytime I read one of hers I realize the need to fix the beginning of my WIP. But on to your question. It tells me Reese is a standup guy with a load of guilt. He feels he failed his family and he’ll never let anyone else down again even if it means losing his own life. Perfect hero!
This tells me that Reece is a devoted man who loves with all his heart and that he wants to find a way to bring justice for someone when he wasn’t able to do it for his wife.
I was fortunate to take several of Lynette’s classes at the Catch the Wave conference in Atlanta this year. But I haven’t been able to read any of her books yet. Hope to soon. 🙂
igottawrite at bellsouth dot net
Reese seems to a very determined man. He has a strong drive to protect and do the right thing. He is also driven by the guilt of his pass failures. His story of probably very similar to Deputy sheriff Callum McIvers, in the book Holiday Hideout, who also tries to save Abigail from whoever is chasing her, no only because he feels the need to do so but also out of his guilt of not being able to help someone in his past. I would so love to win this book so that I can see what happens with Reese.
Sounds like Reece is a very protective guy who’s probably gone through a situation where he may have lost his wife and child? He could possibly blame himself for that and still be seeking restitution for himself (even if he wouldn’t admit that). But that’s all just a guess 🙂
Seeing lots of great answers. I’m leaving the comments open until about 8 pm EST on Sunday, at which time I’ll do the random.org number selection thing to find out who receives copies of Lynette’s book. Please check back on Monday’s blog to see if you won, and if so, email me your snail mail address. Thanks!
It tells me that perhaps Reese doesn’t like feeling helpless. In Maggie’s case it sounds like he can help and does his best to do so which tells me he is committed to doing his job well and is caring of others! Thanks for the giveaway!
Jes
jswaks at gmail dot com
Ah, yes, I definitely see that in him.
Okay, I’m drawing the winners now and will schedule the post for 3 am Monday. Thank you to all who participated!!