Interview with Jennifer Lowery, Author of The Maze #bookspotlight #giveaway

I'm so excited to share Jennifer's latest with you today! Don't you love the cover with Scott on it?? She's a wonderful author who writes some hot stories and is an even more amazing friend! I put her on the hot seat with some questions but she was still nice enough to offer a giveaway!! Leave a comment with your email to enter!

The Maze/Romantic Suspense

Blurb:

TAG: …A game of survival tests their will and their love.

A mission she can’t forget…

The first female operative for the counterterrorism unit known as ATCOM, Atalanta Devayne is haunted by a former mission gone wrong. That mission led to her imprisonment, torture, and ultimate retirement, along with her loss of faith in the man she’d trusted with her life.

Brings his vengeance…

Former Navy SEAL, Noah Kincaid, bears the responsibility of Attie’s imprisonment and blames himself for not protecting her from drug lord Carlos Santiago. This time he won’t fail her.

In a deadly game of survival.

Santiago has resurfaced and set up an elaborate plan to exact his revenge on Attie by taking her brother hostage. The only way to save him is by revisiting the darkness of her past and relying on a man she can’t trust. In a battle of life or death, Noah and Attie are put to the test. They must face challenges to overcome the past and accept their feelings for each other before the danger that tore them apart separates them forever.

Content Warning: Sexual content

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Hi Melissa Keir and all you fabulous readers out there *waves* Thank you so much for having me today! My romantic suspense, The Maze, released this month so I’m very excited to be here! Thank you so much for sharing it with me!! 

In honor of my release I am giving away an e-book copy of any one of my books (go to my WEBSITE to choose) to one lucky commenter so please leave me a comment with your EMAIL so I can contact you if you win!!

What’s your favorite thing to do to relax?

Curl up in my favorite chair with my blanket, a good book and a cup of tea.

For what are you grateful?

My family.  My career. My friends. My life. I truly am blessed to be living my dream.

What is the number one lie you tell yourself? How is that working out?

That my to-do list will get shorter with each thing I cross off, lol. Not so good! It just keeps getting longer!

What authors had an impact on you growing up and as an adult?

Janet Dailey, Stephen King, Harlequin Romance authors, Judy Blume, the Nancy Drew series and Trixie Beldon series (can’t remember the author names) and so many more growing up! Now, it’s Cherry Adair, Cristin Harber, Sharon Hamilton, D’Ann Lindun, Cindy Gerard, Kaylea Cross, and many, many more!

I recognize many of those authors as among my favorites too! What is your favorite aspect or writing? Your least favorite?

The journey my characters take me on. As a pantser it is an awesome adventure and I love it! My least favorite-first drafts. Ugh. I love the revision process. Hate first drafts.

What aspect of writing would you most like to improve on?

Writing faster. I wish I could write thousands of words per day like most writers. I’m working on it :)


That's one of mine too! Do you have any “must haves” with you while you’re writing?

Oh, yes. Debra Dixon’s Goal, Motivation, Conflict and Dwight Swain’s Techniques of the Selling Writer. Have ‘em right beside my computer. Oh, and chocolate J

What have you learned the most from being in the writing business?

Perseverance is key-a tip I learned from Cherry Adair :)


How did you choose your characters names and location for your story?

There’s a story behind my heroine’s name in The Maze, but you have to read the book to find out the mystery behind her name J As for location, that was a given and it’s tied into the title of the book. But, again, I can’t say anything more without giving anything away so you’ll have to read the book to find out how the mountains and the title tie in together.

***BONUS***

For everyone who signs up for my NEWSLETTER you will receive an e-book copy of my short story, Taking Chances ($.99 value) for FREE!

Thank you for having me today, Melissa!! I just want to send out a big THANK YOU to all my readers out there! Without you I wouldn’t be here. My wish is to one day meet each and every one of you so I can personally thank you for your generosity and support! 
All my best, 
Jennifer

Excerpt:

Copyright ©2014, Jennifer Lowery

He lunged, and she sidestepped, but he anticipated her move and caught her with a blow to her midsection that knocked the breath out of her. She doubled over, gasping for air. Carlos took advantage and moved in. He knocked her to her knees and brought a hand down on her shoulder.

She cried out when pain erupted behind her stitches. She felt them pull free as Carlos dug his fingers into her flesh through the bandage. Nausea rolled over her in waves as her vision blurred. Carlos didn’t play fair and he hated to lose. He saw her weakness and went after it. She was helpless to stop him. Pain paralyzed her

“Do you surrender, mi amor?” Carlos asked, his fingers digging deeper until she cried out.

“No,” she managed to choke out. “Never, and I will sleep with Noah again if I decide to, you bas—”

She was cut off by the shouts of men outside the ring and lifted her eyes to see a former Navy SEAL taking on six armed men with deadly intentions. Bodies flew in all directions as Noah moved steadily through them to get to her. He had a look she had seen many times in the past. He was a machine and would kill anyone that got in his way.

Attie used the distraction and took advantage. She chopped Carlos in the shin with the flat of her hand. It was enough to catch him unaware and when the pressure eased on her shoulder she dropped and rolled away. She saw Noah reach for the ropes as he prepared to swing into the ring at the same time one of the thugs he’d felled raised his weapon.

She knew what was going to happen and she couldn’t allow it. She would never make it through this without Noah at her side. He was her rock. Despite the past, she needed and wanted him here with her. They could sort through the rest later. For now, she wanted him by her side.

“No, I surrender,” she shouted to Carlos, hating how the words tasted like poison on her tongue, but for Noah, she would do it.

A slow, feral smile spread across his face as Carlos held up a hand for a cease-fire. Noah was inside the ring before the shot rang out. He grabbed Attie by the elbow and pulled her to her feet before shoving her behind his back, serving as a barrier between her and Carlos. This time Attie didn’t argue.

“Atalanta surrendered to me to save your life, Noah. Quite an honor. She doesn’t like to lose.”

“She didn’t lose.”

“By default she did and now she’ll pay the consequences.”

“I’m not finished with you. What do you say I give you someone more your size to play with?”

“You don’t approve of my sparring with Atalanta?” Carlos sounded genuinely surprised.

“Give me one minute.”

“You think you can take me in one minute?”

Attie knew Carlos wouldn’t back down from a challenge. It was a rare treat for him to find a sparring partner with equally matched skill.

“Try me.”

Warm blood seeped down her back and she hurt all over, but she wasn’t going to let Noah do this. If he killed Santiago now, then they may never find Brendan or get out of here. She stepped around him and positioned herself between the two men, struggling to stay focused.

“Do what you’re going to do to me, Carlos. Leave him out of it.”

The blow came hard and fast to her cheek. The force of it twisted her head to the side as pain exploded behind her eyes. She staggered, her face bumping into Noah’s chest. She would have fallen if he hadn’t caught her. He carried her to the corner and set gently down so that her back was against the ropes.

She looked up when Noah cupped her cheek. In his eyes was tender concern mixed with a look of censure that lacked anger. He was upset with her for going along with this in the first place.

“Will you stay here for one damn minute?”

“You don’t need to do this.” Not for me.

“Yes, I do,” he said and with one last, intense look, rose to his feet and turned to face Carlos.

What she saw then chilled her to the bone and she knew she would never see anything like it again.

The man she was afraid to love fought for her.

Author Bio:

NY Times & USA Today bestselling author, Jennifer Lowery grew up reading romance novels in the back of her math book and on the bus to school, and never wanted to be anything but a writer.  Her summers were spent sitting at the kitchen table with her sisters spinning tales of romance and intrigue and always with a tall glass of ice tea at their side. 

Today, Jennifer is living that dream and she couldn’t be happier to share her passion with her readers.  She loves everything there is about romance.  Her stories feature alpha heroes who meet their match with strong, independent heroines.  She believes that happily ever after is only the beginning of her stories. And the road to that happy ending is paved with action, adventure, and romance. As her characters find out when they face danger, overcome fears, and are forced to look deep within themselves to discover love.  

Jennifer lives in Michigan with her husband and two children. When she isn’t writing she enjoys reading and spending time with her family.  


Find Jennifer:

Author Website   Facebook   Twitter   Romance Recipes

Buy The Maze:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

iTunes

 

Other Books by Jennifer Lowery:

A SEAL’s Song (Book #1, SEAL Team Alpha)

Hard To Handle (Book #1, Sawyer Sisters Trilogy)

Hard Core (Book #1, Onyx Group)

Murphy’s Law

Taking Chances (short story)

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