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Check out the character Bucket list of Jake Patrin from Encounter by Alana Lorens #RLFblog #thriller #suspense
Let’s meet Jake Patrin from Encounter, a thriller/suspense by Alana Lorens. Welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Please tell us about Encounter.Encounter by Alana Lorens
Genre Thriller
Book heat level (based on movie ratings): PG (violence, not sex)
Teo Haroun and the other lawyers in his firm look forward in varying degrees to the retreat at the Sherman Ranch in northern New Mexico. The boss has laid down some rules–no phones, no computers, no communication with the outside world–that makes them uneasy. But the corporate team-building exercises are necessary for this firm to survive its inner sniping and turmoil–and to protect the secrets they hold.
Inez Suela and thirty other Mexicans have paid a coyote hundreds of pesos to take them across the border into the United States, where they hope to make a better life. The crowded truck heads north into New Mexico to meet their local driver, the occupants unaware that a freak March snowstorm is waiting in its path.
Jake Patrin, the caretaker of the Ranch, fights demons of his own as he struggles daily with addiction. Working far from the city on the lonely Ranch, hosting those who rent the facility, is his protection and solace. But he’s about to lose the only peace he’s been able to grasp.
Davi Pilar needs to make some fast money to appease a couple of St. Louis loan sharks, so he agrees to pick up a truckload of illegals and take them to St. Louis. He drives to New Mexico, not knowing that Inez, the woman who rejected him years before, is one of those on that truck.
The intersection of these people, the collision of their cultures, the revelation of their secrets–all these things lead to violence, death, and even redemption in their New Mexico Encounter.
When someone dies, we say they “kicked the bucket.” Therefore, a list of things that a person wants to accomplish, places to go, situations to experience, and so on have become known as a “Bucket List.”
Age: 57
Gender: male
Birthplace: King City, California
Profession: manager of the Sherman Ranch
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Please provide a physical description of yourself.
What can I say? I’m a broken down old fart. Didn’t take care of myself very well, so I’ve got some pretty painful arthritis, hair’s mostly gray, though parts are still kind of ginger. Got a paunch from eating my feelings since I can’t drink or smoke. But I’m still breathing, and I thank God for that much.
Please tell us a little about yourself.
I was a trucker for many years, until I had a bad accident. During my recovery from that, I got hooked on drugs, and then slid over into alcohol. I pretty much ruined everything in my life, including my career, my marriage and my family. Fortunately the owners of the Sherman Ranch understood my need for solitude in the alcohol recovery process, and I’ve been able to be sober staying out at the Ranch, minding the guests who rent the place for retreats and gatherings.
Who is the significant other in your life?
For a long time, it was the bottle. Now I stay to myself.
If you haven’t made a bucket list before, perhaps now would be a good time. Who knows? It might inspire another book. While you’re at it, how about telling us about some of your other favorite things? Here are the questions.
What is your birth order?
First…I had a younger brother, but we’ve lost touch over the years.
Tell us about your favorite toy as a child.
I had a couple of metal toy trucks that were my absolute favorites. Played with them until I wore the paint off.
Describe your favorite food and how it’s prepared.
Hey, this is New Mexico–you bet I like chiles, the hotter the better! Put ’em on whatever, tacos, enchiladas, especially smoky chipotle ones.
Tell us about your best friend.
Back when I was trucking, I knew a guy named Frank Roberts–everyone called him Hooter. We ran together a lot, worked for the same companies when we could swing it. We had some great times out on the road together, always trying to find the next weird thing to make us laugh, like, you know, the largest thermometer in the West out in Baker, California or the World’s Largest Cowboy Boots in San Antonio. We even spent a weekend at the Mustang Ranch with a bunch of the prettiest ladies you ever did see….and neither of us ever told our wives.
What are two places you would like to visit before you die, and why?
You know, I spent a lot of time driving across the Great Plains and in the west but never did get into the northeast. I’d loved to have seen Niagara Falls. Never wanted to travel overseas much–I’m kind of a quiet guy, and America is plenty of country for me. Can’t really see myself on a beach, either. Maybe Mount Rushmore again–that avenue with all the state flags waving in the breeze and the presidents on the mountain? The program they do at night really pulls the heartstrings.
Where is a place you would never like to return, and why?
Rehab. It was awful. I didn’t get along with some of the men on the floor, and they made my stay a living hell–short-sheeted my bed, stole from me, raided my food trays. But I stuck it out because I had to get the monkey off my back.
Who is someone you would like to meet, and why?
I’d love to meet my daughter. After my wife left me because of the alcoholism, she took my kid with her. I’ve tried to contact her a few times since then, but all the letters just come back marked refused.
Who is someone you would like to avoid, and why?
Anyone who’s acting irrationally, especially if they’re violent. These kind of people stress me out, and when I get stressed, my addictions dial up.
If you could time travel to any date, what would it be, and what would you do there?
Oh, hell. It I could go back to that night I had my accident, I’d try like hell to avoid it. My life would certainly have turned out very differently. I can’t hardly imagine having a normal family life and family any more, but I sure would like a chance to try.
About Alana Lorens
What was your biggest challenge in writing this book?
I had to do significant research on the process of transporting Mexican illegals into the United States. The lawyer banter I already had down.
Why did you choose this character for the interview today?
Jake is the heart of this book–even though there are several other narrators–Mexican immigrant Inez Suela, lawyer Teo Haroun, coyote and bad guy Davi Pilar–Jake’s struggles and heroism really drive the forces onward until the end. My family has had its share of alcoholics, so I’m familiar with Jake’s path, trying to recover from addictions started when he took opioids after a bad accident. He’s finally evolved to the point of being just a really good man.
Are any sequels planned for this book?
No, this one is a standalone.
Why should readers who haven’t picked up one of your books before give this one a try?
I worked hard on the characterizations in this book–my others are mostly romance or sci-fi/fantasy and like most genre novels, they have a certain flow and expectation to them. This was something totally new, with a lot of different characters that must interact, and I’m very happy with how it’s turned out.
Is there anything you’d like to say to your readers?
I appreciate each and every one of them! If you decide to read this book, please leave me a review at Goodreads or the sales venues so others can see what you thought!
Where to buy Encounter
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Encounter-Alana-Lorens-ebook/dp/B00I5SXEHU/
Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/encounter-alana-lorens/1118462888Alana Lorens Social Media
Alana Lorens always dreamed of being able to handle the drama and intrigue in everyday life. She lives as a post-modern hippie in Asheville, North Carolina, a single mother of her last child of seven, a daughter on the autism spectrum, finding that every day feels a lot like first contact with a new species.
Website https://wordpress.com/page/alana-lorens.com/21
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AlanaLorens/
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4829967.Alana_Lorens
Bookbub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/alana-lorens
Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Alana-Lorens/e/B005GE0WBC/You May Also Like
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Stressing Caryn Orlane from Tender Misdemeanors by Alana Lorens #RLFblog #RomanticSuspense #CopRomance
Let’s meet Caryn Orlane from Tender Misdemeanors, a cop romance and romantic suspense story, by Alana Lorens. Welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Please tell us about your latest book.Tender Misdemeanors by Alana Lorens
When Caryn Orlane joined the Bureau of Land Management, she never dreamed she’d fall for a man on the wrong side of the law–or that it would cost her so much. Tender Misdemeanors
Genre romantic suspense, cop romance
Book heat level (based on movie ratings): PG
Saving the forests may be the death of them
Caryn Orlane has law enforcement in her blood; her father was a cop, and his father, too. She’s a federal agent in northwest Montana, protecting the old forests and keeping the peace.
Levi Bradshaw also believes in protecting the forests, but has a very different MO. He’s the leader of a group of eco-warriors, determined to save the trees of the Bitterroot by legal–and illegal–means.When they meet in the woods at gunpoint, their encounter ignites a spark of interest, despite operating on opposite sides of the law. When their worlds turn on them, they only grow closer. If they don’t work together, can either survive?
Stressing Caryn Orlane
Every heroine has a story. She has a background, a history, and a past. This interview allows us to meet a heroine and get to know her better by focusing on how she handles being relaxed, as well as how she handles stress.
Please tell me about your heroine.
Age: 30
Gender: female
Birthplace: California
Profession: Law enforcement officer for the federal Bureau of Land Management in Kalispell, MT
Ethnicity: Caucasian
What does your heroine look like?
Approximately 5’7″, shoulder-length blonde hair, green eyes, physically fit, prefers dressing casually
Who is the significant other in her life?
When we begin, it’s a green iguana named Niabi. But when she meets Levi Bradshaw at gunpoint, he becomes the one man for her.
The Heroine’s Relaxed Side
This heroine is at a party. Considering her story, describe the party.
She’s not much of a party girl, but she agrees to help Levi host a fund-raising party to save the forests. She makes sure there’s enough food, liquor and baskets to collect donations from the cast of wealthy contributors. Levi’s home is beautiful and a great setting to remind people how much the wild is necessary even to our modern lives.
How does the heroine feel about being this particular party, and what body language is she displaying that gives it away?
Of course, at the moment, she’s in disgrace with her own Bureau department because she’s even seeing him, so she’s mostly trying to stay out of sight and not see anyone from her office. Or really anyone she knows. She’s not ashamed to be with Levi, but she’s painfully aware of the conflicting loyalties she holds.
Is she more likely to mingle or remain aloof?
Definitely aloof. SO aloof. She spends part of the night in the pantry alone with Niabi.
If she drinks, what is her drink of choice at this party?
A glass of good wine.
How much drink is her usual?
Just enough to feel a bit warm. She values her mind and control too much to get totally wasted.
The heroine figures out where the hiding places are and then goes there. Is it to hide, to avoid someone, or to go drag a friend back to the party?
Definitely to avoid people she knows.
Is she likely to latch onto a friend and stay with him/her and ignore others, or is she the friend that others latch onto?
She’d likely hover around a few close friends–she’s no social butterfly.
If someone picked a fight at this party, how is the heroine going to handle it?
It depends. If it’s something to do with her, she’d handle it herself. If it had nothing to do with her, she’d probably stay on the fringes and watch until it got out of control. Then she’s perfectly trained to step in and take charge.
Is the heroine the one most likely to get tossed out of the party, or the one who does the tossing?
She’d do the tossing.
Will she know when to leave, or stay late and make a nuisance of herself?
Well, she’s currently living there, so I guess she’d have to stay late….
The Heroine’s Stressed Out Side
How does the heroine handle it if the cops or some other authority figure pulls her aside when she was blameless in a situation?
She gets hot, fast, and argues her point until she’s out of breath, even though she’s a cop herself.
How does the heroine react to hearing a scream?
Her adrenaline would spike, and she’d be ready for action.
If she sees someone being assaulted, what is the FIRST thing that crosses her mind?
Stopping the assault.
If she sees someone being assaulted, what is the FIRST thing she does?
Pull out her gun and stop it.
This heroine attempts to rescue someone and realizes that she is in over her head. The odds are against her and there is no way out. She is going to get her butt handed to her. What does she do?
She jumps in anyway, because she’s committed herself to making the save.
The heroine runs into the one person from her past she wanted to avoid. She can’t get out of the situation and must interact in some way. What does she do?
She’d withdraw a bit, but probably be sarcastic if she must interact with this person.
Someone younger than the heroine is in charge of the situation, and they are handling it badly, perhaps bungling things. How does the heroine deal with it?
As someone who’s had a rowdy younger sister all her life, she’d likely take over somewhat diplomatically, but practically, to achieve the correct outcome.
The heroine is in physical pain but must bear up under it and keep going. What does she tell herself in order to get through the situation?
“This can’t stop you. You’ve got to take care of yourself, and then we’re going to take care of whoever did this to you.”
What mentor’s words come to mind in a bad situation?
Her father’s. He was a cop before her, and she always wanted to please him. Unfortunately, his advice almost always comes to her in terms of how he’d be disappointed by whatever she’s done.
What lesson from her past gets her through a stressful situation?
The fact that she tried out to be FBI, but flubbed the final exams. She still went on to be an enforcement officer, and she’d survived just fine.
What one thing would you like readers to know about your heroine?
That even though she’s not warm and fuzzy, that she still has the capacity for love and longing, and she would lay her life on the life for anyone who deserves it.
Where to buy Tender Misdemeanors
Publisher https://www.thewildrosepress.com/
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084FTTWP2
Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tender-misdemeanors-alana-lorens/1136277238Alana Lorens Social Media
Alana Lorens has been a published writer for more than forty years. Currently a resident of Asheville, North Carolina, she loves her time in the smoky blue mountains. One of her novellas, That Girl’s The One I Love, is set in the city of Asheville during the old Bele Chere festival. She lives with her daughter, who is the youngest of her seven children, three crotchety cats, and four kittens of various ages.
Website https://wordpress.com/page/alana-lorens.com/21
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AlanaLorens/
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4829967.Alana_Lorens
Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Alana-Lorens/e/B005GE0WBC/
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Fiction Furbaby Meet Niabi, Rosenkrantz and Guildenstern, Pete and Ophelia from Tender Misdemeanors by Alana Lorens @RobsRescues #RLFblog #Pets
Alana Lorens, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! We support all furbabies, real life or fictional. We want to know all about your Fiction Furbaby, but first, please tell us about your book.Tender Misdemeanors by Alana Lorens
Genre Romantic suspense
Book heat level (based on movie ratings) PG
Caryn Orlane has law enforcement in her blood; her father was a cop, and his father, too. She’s a federal agent in northwest Montana, protecting the old forests and keeping the peace.
Levi Bradshaw also believes in protecting the forests, but has a very different MO. He’s the leader of a group of eco-warriors, determined to save the trees of the Bitterroot by legal—and illegal—means.
When they meet in the woods at gunpoint, their encounter ignites a spark of interest, despite operating on opposite sides of the law. When their worlds turn on them, they only grow closer. If they don’t work together, can either survive?
Meet Niabi, Rosenkrantz and Guildenstern, Pete and Ophelia from Tender Misdemeanors
Full name Rosenkrantz and Guildenstern are brothers
Gender male
Species dogs, Rhodesian Ridgebacks
Physical description The hallmark of this breed is the ridge on the back.
This is formed by the hair growing in the opposite direction to the rest of the coat. It starts just behind the shoulders and continues down to just before the hips. At the beginning of this ridge are two identical crowns (whorls) directly opposite each other.
The Rhodesian ridgeback is a strong, muscular, balanced and athletic dog. He is capable of great endurance with a fair amount of speed. Males range in height from 25 to 27″ (85 pounds, 38 kilograms) and females from 24 to 26 inches (70 pounds, 32 kilograms). Known for an even, dignified temperament, the ridgeback is devoted and affectionate to his master and reserved with strangers.
Relationship to main character The hero’s long-time pets and protectors
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Full name NiabiGender female
Species Green iguana
Physical description A herbivore, it has adapted significantly with regard to locomotion and osmoregulation as a result of its diet. It grows to 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) in length from head to tail, although a few specimens have grown more than 2 metres (6.6 ft) with bodyweights upward of 20 pounds (9.1 kg). Commonly found in captivity as a pet due to its calm disposition and bright colors, it can be very demanding to care for properly.
Relationship to main character The heroine’s companion, shares space in the motorhome where Caryn lives
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Full name Ophelia
Gender female
Species dog, springer spaniel
Physical description English Springer Spaniels are tough, muscular hunters standing 19 to 20 inches at the shoulder and weighing between 40 and 50 pounds. She is brown and white, her ears are long and lush, and the kindly, trusting expression of the eyes is a cherished hallmark of the breed. Springers move with a smooth, ground-covering stride. Bred to work closely with humans, Springers are highly trainable people-pleasers. They crave company and are miserable when neglected.
Relationship to main character The hero’s adopted pet, lamed from being hit by a car
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Full name Pete
Gender male
Species dog, black lab
Physical description Pete is about two feet tall, weighing 60 pounds. The dense, hard coat is black, his head wide, the eyes glimmer with kindliness, and the thick, tapering “otter tail” seems to be forever signaling his innate eagerness. Labs are famously friendly. They are companionable housemates who bond with the whole family, and they socialize well with neighbor dogs and humans alike.
Relationship to main character The hero took him in when he was abandoned by the hero’s long-time friend
What inspired you to create this character?
As a pet owner myself, I know what a good relationship with an animal can do for people. Levi has a big heart and loves to be in the outdoors, so having a group of dogs is perfect for him. The rugged Ridgebacks are well-trained and help him protect his Montana land from intruders.
Caryn isn’t traditional, and neither is owning an iguana—they suit each other.
What does the main character think about this furbaby?
Levi counts on his dogs to be his family—friends, brothers and other extended support.
What does this furbaby eat?
Levi feeds his dogs a special mix They each get one scoop kibble, half a can of wet food, and a hard-boiled egg.
Niabi, on the other hand, gets a mix of fruits and vegetables similar to what they would get in the jungle.
What is this furbaby’s natural habitat?
Niabi would live in a tropical forest—in the Amazon, perhaps, or south Florida, because of their need for temperature regulation, it needs to be a warm environment in the wild.
The Rhodesian Ridgebacks were bred in Africa to fight off lions. They’re tough, strong dogs.
What about this furbaby will readers like, and why?
I think you learn a lot about people the way they treat their animals, or even strange animals on the street. When Levi and Caryn (and a few others) deal with the animals, we can understand a lot about their hearts and souls.
Describe a humorous incident involving the animal character.
Niabi , when being transported back to the Candy Cane house, is nervous and pees on Levi while he’s driving. Caryn jokes that he’s been “baptized” into the family—he’s not so sure he’s happy about it.
Which, if any of the pets in your writing are modeled after your own pets? In what way?
Actually, none. I’m a natural cat person, but I’ve made a study of friends and their dogs in order to make these babies come alive.
What do your pets do when you are writing?
I have a basket on my desk, and there’s usually a cat in it while I’m working—sometimes two! My oldest kitty also takes a position on top of the computer where the heat comes out to keep herself warm. Several others will be nearby on my bed or their cat tree, always wanting to be near.
What’s the most unusual pet you ever had?
A frog that I rescued from our science class dissection program.
Where did you find your pet?
All my kitties are rescues—Ziggy, Reba and Clarice are kittens I fostered into grownups.
What do you feed your pet?
Regular cat food. But their favorite is chicken stolen from my plate!
Describe a toy or favorite item your pet loves.
They love those little plastic springs! They’re light to push around and can be carried out of the other cats’ reach.
Where to buy Tender Misdemeanors
Publisher The Wild Rose Press
Amazon TBA
Alana Lorens Social Media
Alana Lorens has been a published writer for more than forty years. Currently a resident of Asheville, North Carolina, she loves her time in the smoky blue mountains. One of her novellas, That Girl’s The One I Love, is set in the city of Asheville during the old Bele Chere festival. She lives with her daughter, who is the youngest of her seven children, three crotchety cats, and four kittens of various ages.
Website” https://wordpress.com/page/alana-lorens.com/21
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AlanaLorens/
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4829967.Alana_Lorens
Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Alana-Lorens/e/B005GE0WBC/
Shout out to Rob’s Rescues – founded by a 9-year-old animal activist
Rob’s Rescues is a non-profit organization in Georgia helping people in need care for and feed their pets. It was founded in 2014 by a then nine-year-old boy. Rob’s Rescues is dedicated to collecting pet food for people in need to reduce shelter surrenders, and to advocating for the adoption of shelter pets. Rob writes monthly articles advocating for shelter animals in the Around About Local Media magazine publications. His column was first published in 2014. He also has pet food collection sites for people in need in the community and interviews amazing people. His interviews appear online once they are published in his column.
Rob volunteers for Pet Buddies Food Pantry, the Cherokee County Animal Shelter and Cobb County Animal Control and collects pet food for these organizations and the communities they serve. He also wants to bring attention to smaller, rural shelters. Mostly he wants to get kids to be Rob’s Rangers to teach kids that they can help shelter animals. Rob has also talked to kids in a classroom setting.
Rob’s Rescues is a Non-Profit Corporation and all donations are tax deductible.
Website http://www.robsrescues.com/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/robsrescues/
Twitter https://twitter.com/RobsRescues
Shout out to FUREVER FRIENDS
I foster for FurEver Friends Animal Rescue Network, a non- profit, NO-KILL, volunteer rescue committed to improving the welfare of community stray, abandoned and unwanted cats and kittens. They have been in operation since 2002 serving the Buncombe County, NC area and surrounding counties, providing a NO-KILL alternative to government shelters.
“Our goals include an active TNVR program currently working to feed, trap, spay/neuter, vaccinate and return at 13 colonies in West Asheville (NC); to provide an alternative destination for cats that can no longer be kept by their owners, while at the same time educating the owners in regards to proper care and problem solving. We do our best to help all those that come to us or try to recommend alternatives if we cannot help them immediately. We assist families with loved ones who are ill and can no longer care for their pet. We also assist families that have generously taken in a forgotten stray and are looking for a permanent home. We provide sanctuary for pets whose owners are in abusive personal situations and need temporary placement until they can be reclaimed, and for cats who have themselves been abused.”
For more information, see http://members.petfinder.com/~NC271/index.html
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Bucket list of Lily Pearl Evans from Secrets in the Sand #RLFblog #romanticsuspense
Let’s meet Lily Pearl Evans from Secrets in the Sand, a romantic suspense by Alana Lorens. Welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Please tell us about your book.Secrets in the Sand by Alana Lorens
Genre Romantic suspense
Book heat level (based on movie ratings): PG
After a run of bad relationships, Lily Pearl Evans has finally become an independent woman. In the New Mexico desert town of Chaparral, she works for herself, sets her own rules, and is determined no man will hold her back again.
Gene Nicholas worked for more than a decade to achieve his dream to be a doctor. Wanting to share his gifts with those less fortunate, he leaves south Florida to volunteer for Doctors Without Borders in Mexico.
When Gene provokes a showdown with the local Mexican drug cartel, he becomes a man with a price on his head. On the run, he ends up on Lily’s doorstep–a mystery man forced to conceal his past to protect them both. With the cartel’s dangerous web drawing tight around them, can Lily and Gene survive a drug lord’s revenge?When someone dies, we say they “kicked the bucket.” Therefore, a list of things that a person wants to accomplish, places to go, situations to experience, and so on have become known as a “Bucket List.”
Age: 30-something (a lady doesn’t tell)
Gender: female
Birthplace: Indiana
Profession: whorehouse madam
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Please provide a physical description of yourself.
Let’s say I’m a well-preserved redhead, eyes so dark blue they’re nearly violet. I like to dress in soft, comfortable clothes, but they have to be a little sexy. After all, I run a bordello in New Mexico, just north of the border.
Please tell us a little about yourself.
I didn’t start out to be a madam. My aunt Candy let me visit when I was a teenager, and I always loved her big old house outside of Chaparral. When she died fifteen years ago, she passed it on to me, and I gathered up a group of women I knew were having trouble in their own lives to move in here. Now we each contribute a share to making the place successful. Some work with clients—not me. I provide the place and the management. I’m independent, and don’t need anyone. That’s the way I want to live.
Who is the significant other in your life?
I had a long, sad relationship with Lonnie Berman. Fortunately, he was a long distance trucker, so we didn’t spend that much time together. He taught me not to trust men much. That’s why dealing with them as a business transaction is just fine with me. Until this stranger showed up on my doorstep in the middle of the night, Nick Richards. There’s a lot more to him than appeared on the surface, as I came to find out. He could be a danger—but my heart doesn’t say so.
Bucket List
If you haven’t made a bucket list before, perhaps now would be a good time. Who knows? It might inspire another book. While you’re at it, how about telling us about some of your other favorite things? Here are the questions.
What is your birth order?
Actually, I don’t really know. My real mother went off on some personal kick when I was two and left me with the Evans family next door. She was gone for months. When she came back, they wanted to keep me, and she just signed the papers. Nearly broke my heart when my adopted family told me the truth.
Tell us about your favorite toy as a child.
Books. Definitely books. I was always wanting to live some other life. Never expected to end up in this one, for sure.
Describe your favorite food and how it’s prepared.
I love a great salsa. We have a grill out back where we roast our own peppers, poblano, chipotle and more. Just the right amount of chopped garlic, onion, lime, cilantro and the freshest tomatoes we can find. Oh, heaven—it’s to die for.
Tell us about your best friend.
Esther works with me at the house, managing the kitchen and the backstairs. She’s like a sister, always nagging me about my decisions. She means well. But she knows I’d never let anything happen to her, or any of the other young women who’ve thrown their fates in with mine.
What are two places you would like to visit before you die, and why?
So many places, and I doubt I’ll ever see any of them! When you run a business, it’s hard to take time off. But if I had to choose…I’d say Paris, and the back country of Australia. Ha! Romantic dreams, right? But living in the desert has given me an appreciation of the wild lands, and I’d just love to see a kangaroo!
Where is a place you would never like to return, and why?
The hospital. I hate hospitals. I’ve had really bad migraines since I was about 14, and sometimes it’s necessary to hit the ER. But I hold off until I can’t avoid it. Too many needles and bright lights and people who don’t really care about you.
Who is someone you would like to avoid, and why?
My ex, Lonnie. He drops in every so often, trying to spark me up. I wish he’d just take no for an answer and take off for good.
If you could time travel to any date, what would it be, and what would you do there?
Huh. I don’t know. I think maybe I’d like to go back and ask my birth mother why she left me. Maybe I’d feel less insecure about everything in my life.
About Alana Lorens
Alana Lorens always dreamed of being able to handle the drama and intrigue in everyday life. She lives as a post-modern hippie in Asheville, North Carolina, a single mother of her last child of seven, a young adult daughter on the autism spectrum, finding that every day feels a lot like first contact with a new species.
What was your biggest challenge in writing this book?
These two characters actually came from a science fiction role playing game that my former husband and I used to play on the Internet. We both loved them very much, and I wanted to preserve them in a way that others could share them. At the time, I wasn’t writing sci-fi, so I had to find a way that I could recreate their story in the modern world, in America. Lily Pearl is still a madam, and Gene is still a doctor, but the dangers that face them both are quite different from ray guns and hostile aliens. I’m quite pleased with the transformation!
What genre(s) would you like to write that you haven’t tried yet?
I have jumped into most of them, I think. I write romance and suspense as Alana Lorens, and fantasy and science fiction for adult and young adult as Lyndi Alexander. I don’t focus on one genre—I write the stories that come to me, then figure out where they fit in the literary world.
What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?
When I was a newspaper reporter in south Florida back in the 80s, I got to fly the F-16 flight simulator at Homestead Air Force Base. Totally destroyed a $7 million dollar plane in about five minutes!
Why should readers who haven’t picked up one of your books before give this one a try?
I prefer to write story over sex. While my characters have normal relationships (well, in this book there are some kinks off camera, because of the nature of the beast), I try to write the best suspense/plot I can. When I’m reading a story, if the plot doesn’t hold together, it doesn’t matter how much sexytimes there are, I just can’t keep reading. That being said, I believe readers will be satisfied with what intimate scenes they receive.
Is there anything you’d like to say to your readers?
I appreciate everyone who reads my stories—that’s why I create them! I hope you enjoy these characters as much as I do.
Where to buy Secrets in the Sand
Publisher https://www.thewildrosepress.com/books/secrets-in-the-sand
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Sand-Alana-Lorens-ebook/dp/B004XJ5YIC/
Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/secrets-in-the-sand-alana-lorens/1030929480
Alana Lorens Social Media
Alana Lorens always dreamed of being able to handle the drama and intrigue in everyday life. She lives as a post-modern hippie in Asheville, North Carolina, a single mother of her last child of seven, a daughter on the autism spectrum, finding that every day feels a lot like first contact with a new species.
Website https://wordpress.com/page/alana-lorens.com/21
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AlanaLorens/
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4829967.Alana_Lorens
Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Alana-Lorens/e/B005GE0WBC/ -
Read the new Conviction of the Heart by Alana Lorens #RLFblog #romanticsuspense
Alana Lorens, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Please tell us about your book.Conviction of the Heart by Alana Lorens
Genre: romantic suspense
Book heat level (based on movie ratings): PG
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?Where to buy Conviction of the Heart
Publisher https://www.thewildrosepress.com/books/conviction-of-the-heart-pittsburgh-lady-lawyer-series-book-1
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Conviction-Heart-Pittsburgh-Lady-Lawyer-ebook/dp/B0089PTPAOBarnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/conviction-of-the-heart-alana-lorens/1111476692
Alana Lorens Social Media
Alana Lorens has been a published writer for more than forty years. Currently a resident of Asheville, North Carolina, she loves her time in the smoky blue mountains. One of her novellas, That Girl’s The One I Love, is set in the city of Asheville during the old Bele Chere festival. She lives with her daughter, who is the youngest of her seven children, and five crotchety cats.
Website https://wordpress.com/page/alana-lorens.com/21
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AlanaLorens/
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4829967.Alana_Lorens
Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Alana-Lorens/e/B005GE0WBC/ -
Know the Heroine from Second Chances by Alana Lorens #RLFblog #romantic suspense
Alana Lorens, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! We’re excited to find out more about your heroine, but first, tell us about the book.Second Chances by Alana Lorens
Genre romantic suspense
Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R
When Inessa Regan gets a pink slip, laid off from her law firm at the age of 42 without prospects, she’s sure her life is over. She hides from the world, until her neighbor brings her a client, a young Iraq war veteran dying of cancer.
Kurt Lowdon only wants to make sure his affairs are in order should the worst happen, but meeting Inessa gives him encouragement on the road to recovery. His quest to help her realize her self-worth leads them into dangers they never expected, as horrors from the war and long-hidden family secrets come back to haunt them.Know the Heroine from Second Chances
Here are some fun questions to help us know your heroine.
It’s late, she’s bored. What does she do?
Inessa gets lonely at night. She’d dig out some Ben and Jerry’s Chunky Monkey and chill with Netflix
What kind of food would she impulse buy if hungry?
Definitely sweets. She’s an ice cream addict, but any chocolate or cookies would do in a pinch.
Describe the kind of clothes she prefers to wear.
She’s been a little overweight for years, so she prefers loose, light, comfortable clothing rather than the suits her law form required her to wear to court.
Does she know how to fix things?
Legally? She’s a family law attorney, so she knows how to fix a lot of people’s problems! Other people, that is. She’s not really great at dealing with her own problems—or anything tech-y.
She tried to do something and it went badly. Tell us about it.
Inessa noticed that the young woman living in the apartment over her rented office has many bruises and a subdued attitude. She knows that this woman is being battered, and she knows how she can help through legal remedies. But Inessa can’t keep her mouth shut over the indignity and smack-talks the abuser, trying to get him to back off. Unfortunately, it just escalates the situation.
How does she act around children she doesn’t know?
She’s awkward. She’s never had children, and being a child for her was a nightmare, living with a single father who always skipped out on his bills. So she would likely have lollipops in the office to bribe them to behave.
What is she like first thing in the morning?
She hates waking up, but once she’s awake, she can’t lay in bed. She has to get up, get dressed and start doing things.
Can she use chopsticks?
Sure. One at a time. To stab sweet and sour chicken. And dumplings.
Does she drink coffee? If so, how does she take it? If not, what does she drink instead?
There’s nothing better in life than a good cup of coffee with just the right amount of cream and sugar and flavoring.
What apps would she have on her phone?
Rewards programs, and probably an electronic wrist-type tracker which she’d keep resetting because she’d always forget to use it.
Android or iPhone?
Android. She’s not tech-savvy, and just buys something without many bells and whistles.
Earrings or unpierced ears?
Pierced ears, and usually wearing something tasteful. As she begins opening up a little, she uses brighter, danglier earrings to make herself feel pretty
Tattoos or unadorned skin?
No needles!!! No thank you!
Personal vehicle or public transport?
She has a car, several long years old. She doesn’t feel financially secure enough to buy a new one yet.
Recycle or toss?
All good girls recycle, don’t they?
Thanks for helping us get to know your heroine!Where to buy Second Chances
Publisher http://www.zumayapublications.com/ebook-store/second-chances/
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Second-Chances-Alana-Lorens-ebook/dp/B008CVY09Q
Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/second-chances-alana-lorens/1111662223
Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/second-chances-2Alana Lorens Social Media
Alana Lorens always dreamed of being able to handle the drama and intrigue in everyday life. She lives as a post-modern hippie in Asheville, North Carolina, a single mother of seven with a daughter on the autism spectrum, finding that every day feels a lot like first contact with a new species.
Website https://wordpress.com/page/alana-lorens.com/21
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AlanaLorens/
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4829967.Alana_Lorens
Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Alana-Lorens/e/B005GE0WBC/You May Also Like
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