As many of my readers know, I first realized I wanted to write a novel when I was just out of college. My first attempt was rough – I’d formed a critique group with some of my old classmates and though I was the only one brave enough (or crazy enough!) to attempt a full-length novel, I had little to no idea what I was doing. More importantly, I wasn’t feeling the story, which we writers all know is an instant recipe for disaster. My second attempt went a lot differently. I still didn’t understand all of the components to writing a romance novel, but I loved my premise, enough so that I could spend years developing it while I learned the mechanics of writing. Throw in a bit of real life drama (yes, some of this stuff actually happened – they say write what you know, after all!) and the idea for Dangerous Proposal was born!
Romantic triangles have always been a thing of mine. A life long fan of soap operas (they’re a big part of what inspired me to write in the first place!) I enjoy the conflict that spurs when two people are in love with the same person. If the object of those characters’ affection has feelings for both of them, all the better. (Or not!) Romance novels tend to be a lot less complicated than soap operas in this respect because the definition of hero and villain are clear. Color me strange, but in my early days of getting acquainted with the world of romance novels, I occasionally found myself falling not for the hero, but for his diabolical foe, the villain. Of course, in romance novels, the hero always wins, meaning he initiates the first kiss, gets hot and heavy with the heroine later on and ultimately wins her heart. Well…bummer! I wanted to read about the guy who gave me goose bumps getting to do those things!
When I initially developed the concept for Dangerous Proposal, I never intended to make it a series. Set in the secluded woods of northern New Hampshire where I spent my childhood vacations, with a hero crafted in the image of the man I hoped to meet one day, throw in a current relationship gone south, a bit of time spent working at a day care center and a few strange paranormal happenings (also inspired by real life, believe it or not) and I had more than enough ideas on my plate. But lo and behold, working my way through the trenches, I found myself falling for my villain, Lucas. Thus, the framework for a 5 book series and the makings of a career-long author brand were born.
As you might imagine, my bad-boy crush was rather distracting, so much so that I actually jumped ahead in what would soon be called The Pinnacles of Power Series and wrote Dangerous Ally, book 4 in the series. This caused quite a bit of confusion for my future publisher who, believing the title to be book 1, listed Dangerous Ally first when I later released the story as a box set. Also, I still had Dangerous Proposal to complete. Fortunately, I had no shortage of love for this project. In fact, I have this story to thank for providing me with an unforgettable set of characters I used to make up the 5 couples in The Pinnacles of Power Series.
Though I’ve since taken up writing about places I’ve never visited (the farther from home, the more research involved, the harder it can be to picture yourself there) I enjoyed working with a familiar setting with Dangerous Proposal. As a child growing up, I’d always seen North Conway as a place of escape and my home away from home, so it was a no-brainer to make the same true of my heroine, Lena Benson. Of course, I took quite a bit of poetic licence when creating the Westwood brothers, Alec and Colin, whose affluent father owns half the town. But perhaps the best part was getting to decide where the beautiful places I loved–Rocky Gorge, Sabbaday Falls, the Glenn Ellis River–would fit in. Including pieces of my own life made the story real for me, and it provided with a connection to my fantasy world that helped me breathe life into fiction.
Releasing the second edition of Dangerous Proposal, I feel as though I am enjoying this story with a fresh pair of eyes. It’s a part of me, and a big part of what made me the author I am today.
Happy Re-Release Day, DANGEROUS PROPOSAL!
For ten agonizing years, Alec Westwood has been keeping a secret from the world. At nineteen, he nearly committed the most horrific of crimes—murder in cold blood—and narrowly escaped the assignment with his life. When a stunning young woman crosses his path wearing the insignia for the organization that recruited him, he vows not to let fate get a second chance. But when the enchantress gives him a kiss that leaves him spellbound, Alec realizes the power she holds is greater than all his strength and fortitude combined.
On the run from her psychotic fiancé, Lena Benson is determined to forge a new life, even if it means befriending a witch, and practicing the craft of the devil. But when her new friend Jack tells her to stay away from Alec Westwood, the man she believes her fiancé hired to track her down, and the handsome stranger she kissed in a tavern, Lena decides to take matters into her own hands. Alec may be charming, but she’s calling the shots this time, even if it means resisting the man responsible for giving her the most intimate kiss of her life, a man whose eyes and touch rob her, literally, of sense.
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085YG3PR4
Here’s a taste of what’s store for Lena and Alec during a chance run-in, in
DANGEROUS PROPOSAL…
She ought to go. She certainly wanted to. But the idea of walking alone in the woods with the man she’d been warned to stay away from seemed most unimaginable.
Lena looked at Alec. He was smiling softly, no longer criticizing. His eyes were full of intent. They suggested one thing. Come with me. And your desires will be satisfied.
Anticipation consumed her. She reached for his hand. Excitement melted into warmth. Warmth became security. They began to walk together along the moonlit path.
She felt…safe. As if for the first time since she’d left Westchester, everything was going to be all right. No one could hurt her. Not when she was with Alec. Her skin tingled as he brushed his thumb across the surface of her hand.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“I thought we were taking risks tonight. You want to be surprised, don’t you?”
Her cheeks were flushing. She was grateful for the darkness that masked her demeanor.
Alec smiled. “Don’t worry. I think you’re going to like this.”
She imagined she would, considering how much she had enjoyed everything he’d done so far. A part of her was still afraid, but a larger part wanted very much to know where he was taking her. Alec stroked her knuckles as they walked. The feeling was intoxicating, like sweet, dark chocolate. The longer he did it, the more it seemed this simple touch was no longer enough.
She was drawn from her thoughts as Alec stopped beside a bench. He took a picnic blanket and slung it over his shoulder.
“Is that yours?”
He shrugged. “I just thought you might want something to sit on. Some of us tend to”—he cleared his throat—“dress up a little more than others.”
Lena laughed. With his hand around hers, she was almost appreciating his wit. “I guess some of us do.”
He leaned in, his warm breath tickling her ear. “I didn’t say I didn’t like it.” He squeezed her hand. “It’s just past those trees. No peeking. I want you to be surprised.”
“I promise I won’t peek.” Lena smiled and shut her eyes. A shiver shot up her spine when she realized he was kissing her cheek.
Lena took an uneasy breath as she walked forward, unable to see what was in front of her. Keeping her arms at her sides, Alec moved her in slow steps. She was taking quite a risk, allowing him to lead her along like this. He could do anything he wanted to her with her eyes closed like this. Oddly enough, the idea was more exciting than it was frightening.
Guiding her by the shoulders, Alec walked forward a few more paces. Then he stopped. “All right,” he said. “Open your eyes.”
Lena did as she was told, looking out at the biggest, most beautiful lake she’d ever seen. It was vast in size, extending out as far as the trees that surrounded it. Moonlight shined against an uneven surface. Dark ripples glittered beneath a starlit sky.
She turned, looking up into two eyes as blue as the water. “It’s beautiful, Dr. Westwood.”
“Say my name, Lena,” he commanded softly. “I love the way it sounds when you say it.”
Lena bit her lip. Once she did this, there was no going back. It would break the unspoken barrier between them. But how could she deny him anything when he was looking at her the way he was?
She suddenly became aware of Alec’s arousal pressing against her back. Her pulse quickened. He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, tightening his hold on her.
She took a deep breath. “The lake is beautiful, Alec.”