Retribution
by Diane Demetre
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GENRE: Romantic suspense
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BLURB:
She’s a ballerina with a dark secret. He’s a retired sniper with a tortured past. Will they find love or fall prey to a stalker’s deadly game?
Professional ballerina Jessie Hilton wraps her battle scars in satin pointe shoes, but there’s a deeper hurt that haunts her sleep. When a handsome man steps in to save her from a mugging, something about her hero makes her heavy heart leap. Though her career can’t afford distractions, he may be her sole source of safety when she gains the unwanted attention of a relentless stalker.
Ex-sniper Brad Jordan survived his tour of duty, but a tragic accident cost him the lives of those closest to him. With his faithful border collie Whiskey by his side, Brad gets a second chance when he protects the beautiful Jessie from danger. When the ballerina's stalker grows more brazen, Brad's tactical training may be their only weapon against tragedy.
Will Jessie and Brad survive a deadly game, or will the assailant destroy their chance at love?
Retribution is a standalone romantic suspense novel. If you like tough-as-toe-shoes heroines, second-chance romance, and page-turning plots, then you’ll love Diane Demetre’s heart-stopping saga.
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EXCERPTS
There she was, bolting up the hallway towards him like she did every time he returned. All amber eyes and happy face, she danced and pranced, speaking an exuberant welcome as best she could through her doggy larynx.
“How’re you doing, Whiskey? You miss me?” Reaching down, he rubbed his black and white Border collie’s lopsided ears. “You are the most beautiful girl I know. Come on, let’s chow down.” As he strode down the narrow hall of his weatherboard cottage, he weaved from side to side so as not to step on her paws. “So, what did you get up to this evening? Been protecting the castle?” He opened the fridge door and Whiskey shoved her nose in where she knew her dinner waited. BJ grabbed a bag of beef brisket bones and tossed it on the kitchen bench. He’d left the lights on out of habit, rather than for Whiskey. If there was light around him, the darkness within was somehow easier to bear.
He scanned the back yard, checking the perimeters that he’d planted with impenetrable, skyward-reaching bamboo. He never knew what he expected to find. Maybe he hoped it was all a bad dream and that everything would return to the way it was. But nothing would be the same again. Regret tore at his heart as he tore open the plastic bag of bones. “Here you go, girl. Take it outside. I’ll grab a beer and join you.”
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I asked Diane where are five places you might visit for inspiration for your books? Read her answer below.
As someone who is a highly organized and intuitive writer, I love bringing authenticity to my settings. My first three erotic romances in the Dance of Loveseries, have vivid international locations. The first book, Dancing Queenis based on the Gold Coast in Australia where I live. Set at the beginning of 2000, the story is wild ride set in Australia’s party capital. Sun, surf, beaches, night clubs and hot heroes…. What more does a newly-divorced woman want 😊
he second book, Tiny Danceris set in Paris where my heroine Samantha is a dancer at the Moulin Rouge. Having been a professional dancer, and having been to Paris, I weave the highlights of the city of love and its fabulous dance world into this story. Although I haven’t been to Spain as research for Dance to a Gypsy Beat, the third book in the Dance of Love series, I did extensive research to ensure I nailed the locations — the sights, sounds, smells and feel.
In Retribution, I wanted to set my heroine, Jessie Hilton’s past in the context of a real location. Since she is a soloist in the Australian Ballet Company, I needed a small rural town within a six-to-seven-hour driving distance from Melbourne, where the company is based. This town needed to be quintessentially Australian, with an historical bed & breakfast on its outskirts and a believable lair nearby for the villain. My husband, who has travelled by road throughout most of Australia suggested a little town called Yass. A place I’d never heard of. Bingo! Not only did Yass look like the town I imagined when I began plotting Retribution, it had a nearby homestead, perfect for Jessie’s childhood—Coodravale Homestead. I weave its history and scenery into the plot, giving the story more emotional depth.
My just-released epic love story, Island of Secretsis set on a privately-owned island off the coast of Maui. I’d visited the Magic Isle in 2015 and fell in love with its energy and history. I engrossed myself in the Hawaiian culture and it became the backdrop for this magical love story. Bringing to life the brilliant colors, rugged volcanic geography and timelessness of this amazing part of the world enriched me as a writer.
I’m now writing the Diana Daniels murder mystery series and have visited the locations of the first two books. The first is set on an expedition ship in the Galapagos Islands while the second is set in one of the most ancient places in the word, the Kimberley region of northern Australia.
I adore using exotic locations for my stories as it gives me the opportunity to develop my craft and introduce new places to my readers. And of course, the excuse to travel and see more of this fabulous planet we call home 😊
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Being a passionate woman who’s always done things a little differently, Diane’s diverse career began as a school teacher before she moved into a full-time career as a professional choreographer, director and dancer, strutting her stuff on many stages throughout Australia. She was responsible for the original multi-million dollar extravaganzas at Conrad Jupiter’s Casino, Gold Coast—Starz & Galaxies.
Following her onstage career, Diane’s thirst for knowledge led her into the field of self-development. Using her highly developed communication skills and love of people, she spent many years as a stress & life skills therapist and life coach, teaching individuals, couples and groups the methodologies of personal success and fulfilment.
With her business acumen, Diane launched into the corporate arena, working in a variety of positions as a consultant in marketing, special events, tourism, business strategies, quality management and human resource management. Combining her entertainment and business backgrounds, she returned to the stage as a keynote speaker and corporate facilitator, educating business leaders in the ‘new mindset’ for business and relationship building in the 21st century.
Assuming the pseudonym of the Goddess of Love, she appeared as a guest presenter on Gold FM radio, Gold Coast, a national radio program broadcast to 1.4million listeners. Her weekly program proved popular with Diane providing empowering advice on life, love, sex and relationships, sprinkled with a good dose of humour. Her passion for life and compulsive sharing nature made her a great inspiration to her listeners. As the Goddess of Love she also appeared as a regular guest on the national television program Beauty & the Beast, where her practical insights were televised to viewers across Australia.
When she launched into a writing career, Diane’s debut erotic romance series, the Dance of Love was voted Luminosity Publishing Readers’ Choice Best Books and Best Covers for 2015 and 2016.
Her romantic suspense, Retribution won the Romance Writers of Australia Emerald Pro Award 2017 for Best Unpublished Manuscript. Diane loves to write genre-busting stories with a twist. Her works are packed with emotional punch and feature empowered heroines who live life to the fullest, much like the author herself.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS
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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION
Diane Demetre will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Are any of the characters in your book based on real people that you know? I hope your book is a success. Bernie Wallace BWallace1980(at)hotmail(d0t)com
ReplyDeleteWhich author had the biggest influence on your career as a writer? Best wishes on your books release. Bernie Wallace BWallace1980(at)hotmail(d0t)com
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