Tales of Passion With The Spice of Peril Mixed In

Alana Lorens

My guest today is romantic suspense author Alana Lorens. Like me, she grew up reading the classic mistresses of romantic suspense– Victoria Holt, Mary Stewart, Jane Aiken Hodge, Dorothy Eden. She has continued to read right up through modern authors like Brenda Novak, CJ Lyons, and many more. She’s proud to now bring you her own tales of passion with the spice of peril mixed in.

Vonnie, thanks for having me stop in on my whirlwind blog tour. I’m excited to share the first of my two upcoming releases with your readers.
 

DUAL BOOK/BLOG TOUR!!
CONVICTION OF THE HEART (release date June 8, 2012)
And SECOND CHANCES (release date July 2012)
The First and Second books of the Pittsburgh Lady Lawyer Series!

Come by the blogs or live booksignings listed on my website and leave a comment to be entered in a drawing—held at the end of the tour. I will give away one ebook copy of each book and one paperback copy of each book—Four lucky winners! Check out all the websites at http://alanalorens.com

I used to be a news reporter, back in the day, and one of the local attorneys befriended me. He always encouraged me to go to law school—he said my writing gifts could be much more useful there. At the time, I was newly divorced with a two year old and a four year old. Law school seemed like an attempt to climb Mt. McKinley barefoot!

But I eventually applied, and found I got scholarships and assistance, and we got through. It was a challenging experience, and one I’ve shared with the heroine of Conviction of the Heart.

Suzanne Taylor is a single mother of two preschoolers when she beings her practice in the busy city of Pittsburgh. It is a challenge to run a business as a single mother, and still be perceived as professional. My girls went to day care long before I would have liked them to, and I missed them.

Just like my girls bloomed and grew up as wonderful young women, Suzanne’s girls have done the same. Hope and Riviera are engaging and community-minded. They are so kind that the villain of this piece, well-connected city councilman Gregory Morgan, finds a way to take advantage of them and put them into danger.

One of the tenets of my own practice has always been to pay special attention to the needs of single moms, who often need a little extra help to get themselves on the right path, after which they can see a glorious future. They are no less determined or no less deserving than any one else, but the system often makes them feel it's so.

But being a determined single mother means, sometimes never wanting to have to depend on someone else, especially when you’ve found people to be unreliable. So when Suzanne meets Nick Sansone, as well meaning as he is, it’s hard for her to let him inside the self-protective walls she’s constructed.

But just as I eventually found the right one, Suzanne may very well have found her perfect match too!

BLURB:

Family law attorney Suzanne Taylor understands her clients’ problems—her own husband left her with two babies to raise alone. Now that they’re teenagers, her life is full. The last thing she wants is the romantic attentions of a police lieutenant, no matter how good-looking.

Lt. Nick Sansone is juggling the demands of a new promotion, and doesn’t need complications either. But when he sends a councilman’s battered wife to Suzanne for help, he realizes he wants to connect with the lovely, prickly lawyer on more than a professional level.

They are soon confronted with a different battle, when the abused woman's husband threatens retribution. The powerful, well-connected councilman can damage both their careers—not to mention hurt those they love. Can they bend enough to admit they need each other in a time of crisis? Or will a husband’s revenge take them down before they ever get a chance?

EXCERPT:

“Their father’s long gone. We haven’t seen him since before Riviera was born.” Her lips pressed together.

“No wonder you’re bitter.” He dug in the cardboard box for one of the remaining cannolis.

What should she say? Hell, yes, she was bitter. But would a confession frighten him off? Such revelations had scared others away. She studied Nick’s face, but saw nothing there of hostility or worry. She guessed he was made of stronger cloth.

She should protest that she wasn’t. More polite, wasn’t it?

Besides, it wasn’t any of his business.

But she really did like him. Maybe enough.

If she was really to have some sort of future with this impertinent, handsome man, he’d know better. She bet he knew better right now. “What would be the point?” she said at last. “I’ve got more positive directions to use that energy.”

A slow smile came to his lips, and she felt she’d been…approved. She looked away, trying not to blush, not needing his approbation in any way.

All the same, she was pleased to have it.

“What else is on the agenda, counselor?” Nick made a point of looking at his watch. A glance at the microwave showed her it was nearly three o’clock. A stubborn small voice in her head insisted she could have done all this work by herself. But she would still have been cutting limbs by dark, with blistered hands. Yes, this was a much better outcome.

“Can I buy you dinner?” she asked. “The least I could do after—”

The front door opened, then slammed. The sudden sound startled her into silence. Her fingers gripped the back of the chair nearest her. Who was in her house? Did Greg Morgan’s reach come this far? Nick got to his feet, watching her face, her reaction warning him something might be amiss.

Footsteps bounded down the hallway to the kitchen, and Riviera poked her head around the corner. “Mom, whose truck is—” She stopped as if she’d come across an angry rattlesnake, staring at the man in the kitchen. “Whoa.”

Her sister, more reserved, followed, peering over Riviera’s shoulder. “Well, now.” She eyed her mother with an arch grin. “So this is what you do while we’re not here. Invite men over to play.”

Embarrassed, Suzanne shoved her hands in her pockets. “I thought you were staying at Nana’s for dinner.”

“Too much homework,” Hope said. “They brought us home early. Gee, I hope we didn’t interrupt anything.” Her mischievous expression said she absolutely hoped she had.

BUY LINK: http://bit.ly/Lsgxmk

DON'T FORGET TO LEAVE A COMMENT TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE DRAWING AS EXPLAINED ON MY WEBSITE:
 http://alanalorens.com/

AND since today is my birthday, all you commenters will also be eligible for my drawing for an ARC of my Those Violet Eyes, part of the Honky Tonk Hearts series at TWRP. My little give-away is seperate from Alana's. Her winner will not be mine...and my winner won't be hers. So, leave a comment with your email address so she can reach you for her drawing and I can reach you for mine. Good Luck!!!!