"Laney Kent returns to Barrier Shoals hoping to reunite with her first love, Bridger. She anticipates his reception might be chilly, but what she doesn't expect is to become the victim of a deadly obsession … or that this night with Bridger could be her last."
Pages: 35 pages
Publisher: Noble Romance
Published: October, 2011
Form: E-book (from a tour for an honest review)
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Series: Book #1
Amazon: Buy / $5.75 (Kindle)
Barnes & Noble: Buy / $3.00 (Nook)
Noble Romance: Buy / $3.00 (E-book)
Excerpt: Chapter 1
Laney returns to Barrier Shoals to see if there is any chance between her and Bridger, sure she left him and refused to return after hearing he'd been playing around. But now she's back and she want to see if there is anything to salvage between them.
Bridger doesn't want Laney back, except that he's never stopped loving her, but she hurt him by not returning and that still stings. But after someone keys her car, it's clear she has a stalker and Bridger takes it upon himself to protect her.
I enjoy Romantic Suspense novels, this was my first novella in the genre! I suppose novellas have less time to build the suspense, and this makes it harder to sink into the story. I really enjoyed it though! I like the obsession angle and the second chance the couple is taking. Yet again if this had been tad longer the suspense and the romance would have gotten more oomph.
I read this in a jiffy and it was very entertaining, I liked the supporting character and was glad to hear he's getting his novella next, yay!
Laney and Bridger dance around their past, checking out if the other person recognizes that they did wrong and measuring that against giving the romance another go, interesting setting that made for a good read! I love it when the guy is more eager to get the girl back, gives more power to the girl. ;)
You'll like it if... you like romantic suspense, obsessive murderer on the couple tracks and like to give second chances to love one gone wrong!
Rating :
Niina : Welcome to “For The Love of Reading!” Sarah, glad you agreed to stop by!
Sarah Ballance : Thanks so much for having me today. I see my reputation hasn't preceded me … you let me in the door! LOL.
Niina : So tell us five fun facts about yourself, so we can get to know you a little!
Sarah : Let's see . . . (1) My husband and I have six kids and we homeschool them. (Okay, not so much fun as terrifying?)
(2) The sixth came along AFTER I had my tubes tied. Surprise! LOL. (Now we're onto horror stories. Giggle.)
(3) A lot of my stories take place at the beach because my husband and I spent most of our "dating" days there. We were broke, and the beach is free, LOL. And I was 18 . . . six kids ago, I rocked a bikini! :c)
(4) I've never had a "real job" (ahem . . . see #1) and I never, ever wanted to be an author. (It was an oops.)
Niina : Can you tell us little about Familiar Light, there is a sequel coming too, right?
Sarah : FAMILIAR LIGHT is a romantic thriller complete with second chance love and an obsession that turns deadly. My main characters have spent seven years apart—Bridger hurt, Laney full of regret—and their reunion doesn't go too well. He asks her to leave, but the second he realizes she's been the target of a viscous attack he can no longer let bitterness cloud his love for her. He vows not to let her out of his sight until they catch the guy who's after her, but neither of them are prepared for the killer's next move.
While Bridger and Laney's story comes to a close in FAMILIAR LIGHT, the mystery continues in the sequel, TIDE OF LIES. TIDE OF LIES is actually a standalone title (so you won't need to read FAMILIAR LIGHT first if you don't want to) which picks up with a new attack and follows along with the investigation. Holden, who is the lead detective in both cases, learns a shocking secret from his past. While he's still reeling from the news, the killer moves in. His target? The one woman Holden can't bear to lose.
Niina : What chapter did you most enjoyed writing and why?
Sarah : The first one, but at the same time I struggled with it the most (and this is true of most of my books, LOL). I love introducing the characters—I really like to see how little I can say about their past. *grin* It's also the chapter which sets the mood for the entire story, so it's an important chapter for a number of reasons. I love finishing it almost as much as I love starting it, LOL.
Niina : Why are you drawn to writing romantic suspense?
Sarah : As much as I love romance, there's just something about adding the element of danger that makes the tension explode. Suspense deepens the conflict—it's not just between the characters, but also between them and the circumstances—and danger heightens emotions. All of those external forces working against them are just plain fun to write. (Also, I am borderline diabolical and I just like torturing them, LOL.)
Niina : What characteristics do all your heroes/heroines have in common in your novels?
Sarah : They normally have a sense of humor that leads to a lot of banter—sometimes biting, sometimes fun—and more often than not, they share a past.
Niina : Any big projects for 2012?
Sarah : In addition to TIDE OF LIES, I'm working on LAST CALL, which will be out in March or so. Also, there's a full-length sequel in the works for my charity novella, HAWTHORNE, which has spent a lot of time in Amazon's top 100 ghost stories. All are romantic suspense titles, and there's a lot more to come, including a story to benefit Writing Out Child Abuse.
Niina : Now to more personal questions! Your current Top 5 dangerous bad boys in literature?
Sarah : Oh, my gosh. I don't think I know any dangerous bad boys! Just thinking back over what I've read lately, my favorite fictional men have been Nicholas from RIPPLES THROUGH TIME and Ryker from KNOW THINE ENEMY, both from Rosalie Stanton. I also *loved*Noah from Jenna Ryan's A VOICE IN THE DARK, and Elaina Lee's WRITTEN IN BLOOD get's a mention because Alek gets points for the HOTTEST bad boy sex I've ever read. I think I'll round out my five with Jack from Kathleen Long's CHRISTMAS CONFESSION just because the chemistry came off that guy in sparks!
Niina : What do you think makes a good story?
Sarah : Tension! I don't think you can create tension with a solid plot or characters readers care about, so for me that single element really brings it all in and makes me cling to the next page. That tension is what makes hearts pound, and that makes for a darn good story!
Niina : If your book were made into a movie who would you cast as the leads?
Sarah : You're killing me! I don't get much TV time and I can't tell you the last time I went to the movies, but I can guarantee whatever I saw was animated, LOL. Let's see . . . Jake Owen gets the part of Bridger (he auditioned in his Barefoot Blue Jean Night video, LOL), and I think Hillary Scott (of Lady Antebellum) would rock Laney if we caught her when her hair wasn't really dark. (Clearly I listen to music a lot more than I watch TV, LOL.)
Niina : What's the best part about being an author? And what’s the worst?
Sarah : I love the escape. Within my plots, I can go anywhere I want, anytime. Even at the speed of writing (which, in my case, is considerably slower than that of reading), I get absorbed and lost in my stories, and with six young kids at home, that's an invaluable way to take a break from my real world. On the flipside, it can be really hard to find the time to dedicate to writing, and the longer it takes me to write something, the more frustrated I get with it.
Niina : Now before we finish here are some Quick fire Question:
Cats or dogs? Cats
Beach or forest? Beach
Night or day? Day
UF (Urban Fantasy) or PNR (Paranormal Romance)? PNR
Bad boys or good cops? Bad boys!
Brunettes or Blonds? Brunettes
Vampires or werewolves? Vampires
Romance or erotica? Romance
Mystery or Thriller? Thriller
Men: Alpha-male or submissive? Alpha
Women: Talkative or wallflowers? Wallflowers
Male POV or female POV (Point Of View)? Male
Pick-up or Mini-van? Pick-up (I have both, LOL).
Beer or Wine? Liquor!
Coffee or tea? Hot coffee, iced tea.
Pizza or Restaurant? Pizza
Dark chocolate or milk chocolate? Milk chocolate
Cake or Donuts? Cake
TV or DVD? TV
Golden Girls or Family Ties? Golden Girls
Movies: Romantic comedies or Action/Adventure? Action/Adventure
Winter or Summer? Summer
Rocks or flowers? Flowers
Times New Roman or Courier? TNR
Crayons or markers? Crayons
Pens or pencils? Pens
Books or e-books? e-books
Kids or pets? Kids (sigh. LOL.)
Niina : Thanks for visiting the “For The Love of Reading!” Sarah, come by any time!
Sarah : Thanks for having me! If I may, I'd like to let readers know about a weekly giveaway at my blog. Everyone who subscribes by email is automatically entered into a random drawing for a $10 gift card to Noble Romance or $5 to Amazon, winner's choice. There's a new winner every weekend, so please come by and join me at sarahballance.wordpress.com if you'd like to play. And bonus? You'll be the first to find out about a LOT of other giveaways at my place. Hope to see you there! And thanks again for extending such a warm welcome to me here. :c)
Sarah Ballance : Thanks so much for having me today. I see my reputation hasn't preceded me … you let me in the door! LOL.
Niina : So tell us five fun facts about yourself, so we can get to know you a little!
Sarah : Let's see . . . (1) My husband and I have six kids and we homeschool them. (Okay, not so much fun as terrifying?)
(2) The sixth came along AFTER I had my tubes tied. Surprise! LOL. (Now we're onto horror stories. Giggle.)
(3) A lot of my stories take place at the beach because my husband and I spent most of our "dating" days there. We were broke, and the beach is free, LOL. And I was 18 . . . six kids ago, I rocked a bikini! :c)
(4) I've never had a "real job" (ahem . . . see #1) and I never, ever wanted to be an author. (It was an oops.)
Niina : Can you tell us little about Familiar Light, there is a sequel coming too, right?
Sarah : FAMILIAR LIGHT is a romantic thriller complete with second chance love and an obsession that turns deadly. My main characters have spent seven years apart—Bridger hurt, Laney full of regret—and their reunion doesn't go too well. He asks her to leave, but the second he realizes she's been the target of a viscous attack he can no longer let bitterness cloud his love for her. He vows not to let her out of his sight until they catch the guy who's after her, but neither of them are prepared for the killer's next move.
While Bridger and Laney's story comes to a close in FAMILIAR LIGHT, the mystery continues in the sequel, TIDE OF LIES. TIDE OF LIES is actually a standalone title (so you won't need to read FAMILIAR LIGHT first if you don't want to) which picks up with a new attack and follows along with the investigation. Holden, who is the lead detective in both cases, learns a shocking secret from his past. While he's still reeling from the news, the killer moves in. His target? The one woman Holden can't bear to lose.
Niina : What chapter did you most enjoyed writing and why?
Sarah : The first one, but at the same time I struggled with it the most (and this is true of most of my books, LOL). I love introducing the characters—I really like to see how little I can say about their past. *grin* It's also the chapter which sets the mood for the entire story, so it's an important chapter for a number of reasons. I love finishing it almost as much as I love starting it, LOL.
Niina : Why are you drawn to writing romantic suspense?
Sarah : As much as I love romance, there's just something about adding the element of danger that makes the tension explode. Suspense deepens the conflict—it's not just between the characters, but also between them and the circumstances—and danger heightens emotions. All of those external forces working against them are just plain fun to write. (Also, I am borderline diabolical and I just like torturing them, LOL.)
Niina : What characteristics do all your heroes/heroines have in common in your novels?
Sarah : They normally have a sense of humor that leads to a lot of banter—sometimes biting, sometimes fun—and more often than not, they share a past.
Niina : Any big projects for 2012?
Sarah : In addition to TIDE OF LIES, I'm working on LAST CALL, which will be out in March or so. Also, there's a full-length sequel in the works for my charity novella, HAWTHORNE, which has spent a lot of time in Amazon's top 100 ghost stories. All are romantic suspense titles, and there's a lot more to come, including a story to benefit Writing Out Child Abuse.
Niina : Now to more personal questions! Your current Top 5 dangerous bad boys in literature?
Sarah : Oh, my gosh. I don't think I know any dangerous bad boys! Just thinking back over what I've read lately, my favorite fictional men have been Nicholas from RIPPLES THROUGH TIME and Ryker from KNOW THINE ENEMY, both from Rosalie Stanton. I also *loved*Noah from Jenna Ryan's A VOICE IN THE DARK, and Elaina Lee's WRITTEN IN BLOOD get's a mention because Alek gets points for the HOTTEST bad boy sex I've ever read. I think I'll round out my five with Jack from Kathleen Long's CHRISTMAS CONFESSION just because the chemistry came off that guy in sparks!
Niina : What do you think makes a good story?
Sarah : Tension! I don't think you can create tension with a solid plot or characters readers care about, so for me that single element really brings it all in and makes me cling to the next page. That tension is what makes hearts pound, and that makes for a darn good story!
Niina : If your book were made into a movie who would you cast as the leads?
Sarah : You're killing me! I don't get much TV time and I can't tell you the last time I went to the movies, but I can guarantee whatever I saw was animated, LOL. Let's see . . . Jake Owen gets the part of Bridger (he auditioned in his Barefoot Blue Jean Night video, LOL), and I think Hillary Scott (of Lady Antebellum) would rock Laney if we caught her when her hair wasn't really dark. (Clearly I listen to music a lot more than I watch TV, LOL.)
Niina : What's the best part about being an author? And what’s the worst?
Sarah : I love the escape. Within my plots, I can go anywhere I want, anytime. Even at the speed of writing (which, in my case, is considerably slower than that of reading), I get absorbed and lost in my stories, and with six young kids at home, that's an invaluable way to take a break from my real world. On the flipside, it can be really hard to find the time to dedicate to writing, and the longer it takes me to write something, the more frustrated I get with it.
Niina : Now before we finish here are some Quick fire Question:
Cats or dogs? Cats
Beach or forest? Beach
Night or day? Day
UF (Urban Fantasy) or PNR (Paranormal Romance)? PNR
Bad boys or good cops? Bad boys!
Brunettes or Blonds? Brunettes
Vampires or werewolves? Vampires
Romance or erotica? Romance
Mystery or Thriller? Thriller
Men: Alpha-male or submissive? Alpha
Women: Talkative or wallflowers? Wallflowers
Male POV or female POV (Point Of View)? Male
Pick-up or Mini-van? Pick-up (I have both, LOL).
Beer or Wine? Liquor!
Coffee or tea? Hot coffee, iced tea.
Pizza or Restaurant? Pizza
Dark chocolate or milk chocolate? Milk chocolate
Cake or Donuts? Cake
TV or DVD? TV
Golden Girls or Family Ties? Golden Girls
Movies: Romantic comedies or Action/Adventure? Action/Adventure
Winter or Summer? Summer
Rocks or flowers? Flowers
Times New Roman or Courier? TNR
Crayons or markers? Crayons
Pens or pencils? Pens
Books or e-books? e-books
Kids or pets? Kids (sigh. LOL.)
Niina : Thanks for visiting the “For The Love of Reading!” Sarah, come by any time!
Sarah : Thanks for having me! If I may, I'd like to let readers know about a weekly giveaway at my blog. Everyone who subscribes by email is automatically entered into a random drawing for a $10 gift card to Noble Romance or $5 to Amazon, winner's choice. There's a new winner every weekend, so please come by and join me at sarahballance.wordpress.com if you'd like to play. And bonus? You'll be the first to find out about a LOT of other giveaways at my place. Hope to see you there! And thanks again for extending such a warm welcome to me here. :c)
