by Angela Smith | May 31, 2018 | Guests
Today’s Guest Post is from Susanne Matthews!
Welcome, Susanne!
Good morning and thanks for inviting me to visit your blog again. Today, I would like to talk about a unique opportunity I had, one that at first didn’t seem like an opportunity at all. When Simon and Schuster closed the Crimson Romance imprint, many Crimson authors, including myself, found themselves in a terrifying position. What would happen to our books?
While we commiserated with one another, many of us had to make decisions, the first one being whether or not to request our rights to the books published originally with Crimson. I had eight books with Simon and Schuster, all of them as part of the Crimson Romance Imprint, and several of those books were in bundles with similar stories. Not sure what to do, I waited and watched sales, biding my time. In the end, I decided to ask for the rights to my first three romance suspense titles—On His Watch, Fire Angel, and In Plain Sight.
While the rights reversion letter would allow me to publish them as they were, I chose to review the books and revise them. As much as my Crimson editor was an exceptional one, there were things I had to leave out of that version that I felt impacted the story, so this time, I’m releasing what someone described as the “author’s cut” the story told the way I had planned.
While I write in many genre’s my strength appears to be suspense thrillers with a soupçon of romance—think Castle. There’s a romantic element there, but it isn’t the dominant aspect of the book. For Crimson Romance, it had to be. Now, while it’s still there, romance takes a back seat to the crime.
These three novels have a common trope: revenge. That gave me the idea to publish them as a series, but more than that, it gave me the opportunity for a “do over.”
I doubt I’m the only writer who looks at my critical reviews and thinks, I could fix that. That’s what I did. I looked at the comments and set to work. While the bulk of On His Watch hasn’t changed, I’ve added new scenes and more than six thousand words to the story. I’ve amped up the suspense, added a bit more to the romance and have made it the first book for my series, Vengeance Is Mine.
As a compulsive editor, the chance to review and revise my books is an opportunity I never expected. Tightening the plot, making sure no details got ignored or forgotten was a thrill. Now, it’s up to the readers.
Blurb for On His Watch
You can’t outrun the past.
On leave from the FBI, Special Agent Jason Spark is enjoying some welcome peace and quiet when he’s called on to help the local sheriff’s department check out a 911 call. Expecting a prank or misdial, he unwittingly steps into a horrifying bloodbath straight out of a Hollywood slasher movie, complete with clues scrawled on the wall.
Nikki Hart’s husband and son are killed, but she survives, badly beaten and barely clinging to life in a coma. When she awakens, she doesn’t know her name, recognize her face, or remember anything about herself and her past. Terrified, and unsure of whom to trust, she clings to the memory of the angel who comforted her in her darkest moments.
The investigation turns up a prime suspect: The Butcher, an elusive hired assassin for the Sicilian mob. As the news of Nikki’s recovery spreads, putting her in this ruthless killer’s sights again, Jason will do whatever it takes to protect the woman he’s learning to love.
Nikki’s beginning to believe Jason might be the angel who protected her in her dreams. But when she learns about the secret role he played in the worst day of her life, can she ever forgive him?
On his Watch, Book One of the Vengeance is Mine Series is available exclusively through Amazon and is part of the Kindle Unlimited program. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D3RKDLK
Thanks again for this opportunity to visit your blog.
Thanks for coming, Susanne! And great news! Susanne has offered a free copy to a random winner. The only caveat? You must make a comment to be in the drawing! Winner will be chosen on Sunday evening. Thanks for visiting, and thanks for stopping by again, Susanne!
by Angela Smith | Apr 25, 2018 | Guests, Relationships
Today, we welcome Susanne Matthews, who is here to share some very good relationship advice from her characters of Wedding Bell Blues. And wow, congratulations to her and her husband of 47 years!
Relationships aren’t easy. They don’t just happen. There’s a lot of work that has to go into them before they become the happily ever afters most of us long for, and once they do, the work is only just beginning. One of the components of a lasting relationship is romance. Person A meets Person B and they both live happily ever after is a simplistic explanation for one of life’s most difficult challenges.
Regardless of who is involved, whether it’s the characters in my stories, or my friends and family, romance is the initial stage in a relationship between individuals. I’ve been fortunate enough to find my happily ever after. Come September, my husband and I will have been married 47 years. To some, that sounds like a life sentence. It isn’t. It’s a wonderful adventure on occasionally stormy seas that makes life worth living.
But for some people, romance doesn’t necessarily lead to a long-term relationship as both MJ and Paul discover before they come together in my novel, Wedding Bell Blues.
As MJ puts it, “I thought Mark was the one. I knew he’d been a bit of a jerk when we were younger, but I really believed he’d changed. Until he cheated on me. Maybe the forever kind of love she and my father had really doesn’t exist anymore.”
Paul’s take on love is a bit different, born in his early years when all he saw was the dark said of love gone wrong. “I don’t believe in love, so when my fiancée dumped me, I wasn’t all that surprised. My mother loved my father, and all she got out of it was a broken nose and a broken heart. Love is for fools.”
How can these people learn to trust in love again? It all goes back to romance.
When Paul and MJ meet for the first time in fifteen years, each one takes something different away from the meeting, but neither can deny the attraction. He sees it as his duty to look out for his best friend’s kid sister, the girl who was the closest thing to a sister he would ever have. She saw her first love as a jerk who not only hadn’t recognized her but had called her fat and an old maid. He would be the last person she would ever turn to for help. But, no matter how hard they try, they can’t deny the attraction between them.
When MJ finds herself stuck on a honeymoon island resort, Paul, the last man she wants to rely on, turns out to be her only hope, and since he would do anything for her, Paul sees it as his duty to help her out going so far as proposing to marry her to save her reputation. But MJ wants what her parents had. Can she accept the idea of a loveless marriage?
The early stage of any relationship is the romance period, what my friend refers to as the chocolate and flowers season, a time when two people get to know one another, warts and all, and while my characters go through this at breakneck speed, they do get to know one another. MJ realizes that Paul is a man broken by time and circumstances and determines to show him that love exists and that he is worthy of it, while Paul realizes MJ is far more than his best friend’s kid sister—she’s an essential component of his ability to be the man he wants to be. But their road to love and a happily ever after isn’t easy, not with mermaids and pirate treasure to find, and Quimbois magic to muddy the waters. Come join them on their journey of discovery. You won’t regret it!
Book Blurb:
Romance, mermaids, cursed treasure, and more.
MJ’s having a bad year. She’s canceled her wedding but refuses to give up the honeymoon. When she arrives on Paradise Island, she discovers her ex has changed the reservation. Stranded, she has to rely on her first love, a man who sees her as his kid sister, for help. When Paul discovers the man behind her plight is the bully who made his own teen years hell, he gets MJ to agree to pretend to be his fiancée. Reluctantly, she agrees. Add in mermaids, treasure hunters, and Quimbois magic, and anything can happen—even falling in love.
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078J5GVJ7
Updated author bio:
Amazon bestselling author Susanne Matthews was born and raised in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada. She’s always been an avid reader of all types of books, but with a penchant for happily ever after romances. A retired educator, Susanne spends her time writing and creating adventures for her readers. She loves the ins and outs of romance, and the complex journey it takes to get from the first word to the last period of a novel. As she writes, her characters take on a life of their own, and she shares their fears and agonies on the road to self-discovery and love.
Not content with one subgenre, Susanne writes romance that ranges from contemporary to sci-fi and everything in between. When she isn’t writing, she’s reading, or traveling to interesting places she can use as settings in her future books. She always spending time with her husband and family whether that involves cuddling by the fire or traveling to various sports activities to cheer the grandkids on.
Follow Susanne on her: Website Blog Facebook page Twitter @jandsmatt
Amazon author page and Goodreads author page
by Angela Smith | Jun 10, 2017 | Books
Because I love to share books and especially help out my author friends, I’ve got Susanne Matthews with her newest book, Sworn to Protect. And now for a blurb and excerpt!
Book Blurb:
Four years ago, a car accident robbed Nancy Frost of her child and her mother, taking what was left of her marriage with it in the process. A forensic accountant, she agrees to look at a company’s books in a divorce case, trying to find hidden assets, but her meeting with the lawyer goes terribly wrong when the restaurant is attacked.
The moment US Marshal Neil Copeland discovers his wife has been shot in a Baltimore restaurant, he rushes to her side, determined not to let her down again. As the police investigate, evidence suggests the attack was a ploy to hide a specific hit. When a professional assassin tries to kill Nancy a second time, it’s clear that she was the target and whatever’s going on is a lot more complicated than they think.
When Nancy awakes after a month in an induced coma, not only does she not remember the attack on the restaurant, she doesn’t remember marrying Neil.
Faced with the challenge of protecting his wife from a powerful, faceless enemy, Neil must bring her up to date, dredging up all the sorrow that tore them apart in the first place, hoping something will jar her memory.
As he races against time, can he save her from an unknown assassin and convince her to give the love they once had a second chance?
Purchase link:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072MHFQJF
Excerpt:
Unable to squelch her curiosity, Nancy put down the tear-soaked quilt, stood, and walked over to the extension on the bedside table. The number wasn’t a familiar one. She took a deep breath before picking up the receiver.
“Hello?” she answered, her voice husky.
“Nancy Frost?”
“Yes.” She didn’t recognized the man’s voice and hoped she hadn’t picked up on a telemarketer. It wasn’t a 1-800 number, but … Normally, she hated being rude to anyone, even annoying strangers at the end of a phone line; however, in her current mood, this guy might be in for a tongue lashing.
“This is Larry Jackson. I was speaking with Meredith Stone earlier, and she said you’d agreed to look at some financial records for me.”
The man’s voice was pleasant, but he sounded tired, and his words carried an undercurrent of frustration and anxiety.
“I’ll do what I can, Mr. Jackson,” she answered, trying to sound like the confident professional she needed to be.
Meredith might think she was the best in her field, but every time Nancy looked at a new set of books, doubt assailed her. What if she missed something critical?
“If there’s anything there, I’ll do my best to find it, but, as I’m sure Meredith told you, sometimes everything’s on the level. Unless there’s a second set of records hiding somewhere—”
“I wouldn’t put it past this sleaze ball,” Larry interrupted. “I just got off the phone with his lawyer. B. J. Pratt informed me they’re moving the meeting date up to Tuesday. I’d hoped to be able to give you more time, but he’s backing us into a corner. I’m sorry about this. I’ve emailed you the records we were given. Let me know if there’s anything missing.”
“Not a problem. I’ve come up against B. J. Pratt before. He won’t be happy you’re bringing me in on this.”
“That’s the best news I’ve heard all day.” Larry paused. “When can you have a look at them?”
“Later today. I’ll call you tomorrow if there’s anything suspicious.”
He chuckled, but she could sense his concern. “That’s all I’ll need, and don’t worry about the time and cost. The husband’s footing the bill.”
Nancy started. “Her husband’s paying to have me go through his company books and personal finances, and Pratt agreed to this?”
“They agreed to an independent audit and recommended a few local forensic auditors,” Larry answered, “but if they suggested them, I didn’t want to use them. Meredith tells me you’re the best there is, and that’s all I need to know. Pratt doesn’t know it’s you yet. I’ll let him know in the morning—maybe it’ll throw off his golf game.”
“It probably will,” she answered and chuckled, imagining the sour look on Pratt’s face. “I’ll get back to you tomorrow. Goodbye.”
Nancy hung up the phone, went into the bathroom, and washed her face. Staring at the haunted woman in the mirror forced her to admit the truth. She had to stop grieving before it killed her.
“This pity party is over.”
She wasn’t Cinderella, and there wasn’t a fairy godmother waiting to make all the terrible things in her life go away. Prince Charming had left the ball, taking his glass loafers with him. It was time for her to pick up her rags and get on with it. She reached for her purse and car keys. The first step was always the most difficult. Go big or go home.
About the author:
Amazon bestselling author Susanne Matthews was born and raised in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada. She is of French-Canadian descent. She’s always been an avid reader of all types of books, but with a penchant for happily ever after romances. A retired educator, Susanne spends her time writing and creating adventures for her readers. She loves the ins and outs of romance, and the complex journey it takes to get from the first word to the last period of a novel. As she writes, her characters take on a life of their own, and she shares their fears and agonies on the road to self-discovery and love.
Her first novel, Fire Angel, set the tone for an exciting new career. While most of her books are romantic suspense, Susanne writes stories that range from contemporary to sci-fi and everything in between. She is a PAN member of the Romance Writers of America.
When she isn’t writing, she’s reading, or traveling to interesting places she can use as settings in her future books or as interesting entries for her blog, Living the Dream. During the summer she enjoys camping with her grandchildren and attending various outdoor concerts and fairs. In winter, she likes to cuddle by the fire and watch television.
Follow Susanne on her: Website Facebook page Twitter @jandsmatt
Amazon author page and Goodreads author page
by Angela Smith | Oct 12, 2015 | Guests
The Harvester is out there … watching, waiting, biding his time.
FBI cult specialist Lilith Munroe lives in dread that one day the man who tortured her when a case went bad will find her again. So leaving her sanctuary in Quantico to join the Harvester Task Force in Boston is her version of hell. But the Harvester is kidnapping babies, and Lilith’s profiling skills may mean the difference between life and death for the most innocent in society.
Australian millionaire and former member of the New Horizon commune Jacob Andrews returns to the United States searching for his sister. Instead of the happy reunion he expects, he discovers she is dead and his twin brother may be responsible. He agrees to lend his law enforcement skills to help find his former cult leader before the man can implement his plan to kill millions.
Now uneasy partners, Jacob and Lilith must learn to trust each other even as they fight their growing attraction. But when Lilith’s greatest fears materialize, will Jacob be able to set aside his anger and save the woman he loves?
Sensuality Level: Sensual
Buy Links
Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/White-Lily-Susanne-Matthews-ebook/dp/B015P79XZ0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1443387932&sr=8-1&keywords=The+White+Lily+Susanne+Matthews
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-white-lily-susanne-matthews/1122682664?ean=9781440591228
KOBO: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/ebook/the-white-lily
Excerpt:
“That must have been awful for her, for all of you.” Lilith said.
“It doesn’t matter now. Dying was probably the only way out Mom had. From that day on, Eloise’s life was hell. The other kids in the commune, including my cousins, made fun of her and said the burn was Satan’s mark on her—something they’d heard my uncle say—but when I was around they left her alone. When I confronted my uncle about that and other things, I ended up in the desert.”
He closed his eyes, seeing a tearful Eloise held back by her aunt as he was led out to be disciplined.
“Leaving my brothers and sisters wasn’t easy, but I figured Jimmy would step into the breach and protect Eloise. They’d always been close. The conversation with that boy got me thinking that maybe she’d somehow escaped from the commune, and I decided to look for her.”
“My God, knowing what her life was like, how could you do it? How could you walk away from that poor child and leave her there for eighteen years? And when you decided to look for her, you waited again. Why?”
The implication that if he’d come sooner he might’ve saved Eloise was clear.
“Because I was an angry, seventeen-year-old bastard who’d almost died, and I was too damn scared to go back,” he said through gritted teeth. “Don’t judge me, Agent Munroe. Until you’ve been brutalized as I was, you don’t have the right to.”
Her face paled, no doubt stunned by the viciousness of his attack, but he didn’t care. No one could possibly hate him as much at the moment as he hated himself.
“As for coming after her a few months ago, fate conspired against us. Andrew had a heart attack, and I made the choice to stay with him, a decision I refuse to regret. I hired a private investigator in Boston to find the girl with the tattoo. He found her right away, in mid-June. When I saw the picture, I knew it was my sister. She looks—I mean looked—like my mother. The PI arranged for me to contact her. She told me James had taken her to get that tattoo on her sixteenth birthday.”
“How did Eloise feel about seeing you again?” Her voice had lost its warmth, and her eyes were cold.
“She was surprised, but excited when I told her I wanted to bring her to Australia to live with me. She was worried about what might happen if my uncle discovered I’d survived and that she was planning to leave the States. I gathered from what she’d said that New Horizon had changed and not for the better. Through the man who’d found her, I made arrangements for her to get a passport and a ticket to Sydney.”
Susanne Matthews was born and raised in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada. She’s always been an avid reader of all types of books, but with a penchant for happily ever after romances. In her imagination, she travelled to foreign lands, past and present, and soared into the future. A retired educator, Susanne spends her time writing and creating adventures for her readers. She loves the ins and outs of romance, and the complex journey it takes to get from the first word to the last period of a novel. As she writes, her characters take on a life of their own, and she shares their fears and agonies on the road to self-discovery and love.
Follow Susanne on her: Website Blog Facebook page Twitter @jandsmatt
Amazon author page and Goodreads author page
