You're in for a treat today. My friend and Mid-Michigan RWA chaptermate Elizabeth Meyette has a new release. Betty is such a delightful person. Because of her giving nature, this year she was awarded MMRWA's Angel Award. I'm happy to help Betty celebrate the release of Exposed.
What
a delight to visit with you and your readers today, Diane. I hope everyone is
safe and well. Thanks for inviting me on to talk about my newest book, Exposed.
When
I set out to write Exposed, I fashioned my heroine, Layla, after Meryl
Streep in The Devil Wears Prada or Sandra Bullock in The Proposal.
She would be wounded, and therefore, she would protect herself with a
hard-shell exterior. I could see a character arc as high as Noah’s rainbow as
she transformed from cold and aloof to a woman who finally yields to the
transcendent effect of love. I loved this idea.
Nobody
else did.
I
had the pleasure of a one-on-one critique with author Cindy Dees who thought Layla
was schizophrenic. There was a lot of red ink on my opening scene. At her
suggestion, I switched the order of Layla’s interactions in the opening scene
to make her more sympathetic. A “Save the Cat” moment. When my beta readers had
a go at my manuscript, I got a hearty, “Meh.” They were not relating to Layla
at all, though they loved my hero, Jack. (So do I, *swoon*)
Layla
and I struggled through many rewrites so she could emerge as wounded but with a
kind heart. Still, that didn’t subtract from the toughness she needed to endure
repeated threats from a mysterious stalker. Based on feedback, readers are
connecting with her. They see her wound and her redemption, and they relate to
her.
Exposed blurb
Fiercely
independent lawyer Layla Forrester has been hurt, and she never wants to be
hurt again. Because she protects her heart as vigilantly as she protects her
ailing father, she has more enemies than friends. Now one of them has
threatened her life.
EMT
Jack Trenton seeks redemption over his father’s death. When he responds to a
hazmat emergency, Layla wants no part of his help. She thinks the letter
containing powder is a prank gone wrong, but he suspects it’s deadly. Only the
second, more sinister threat convinces her to take it seriously.
When
her father’s life is endangered, Layla desperately turns to Jack. Is she willing to risk her heart to ask for
his help? In helping Layla, Jack puts to rest his demons from years ago. But
time is running out for Layla as the mysterious stalker attempts a final
assault.
Exposed excerpt
Her SUV
leaned toward the middle of the street settling on two flat tires. A note
fluttered, impaled on one tire with the ice pick that had been used to pierce
both of them.
Her face
and neck cooled as the blood drained from them. An ocean swished in her ears,
drowning out the familiar sounds that had surrounded her minutes ago: traffic,
conversations, music thrumming from low-riders, the natural rhythm of city
life.
Jack tore
a piece off his paper grocery bag and wrapped it around the pick, pulling it
out of the flat tire. The note floated to the pavement, face up. He scanned the
note and moved so she could read it.
I can see
you right now.
Her head
snapped up, and she scanned the street. She didn’t recognize anyone. Storefront
windows loomed, but the angle of the sun glared off the glass, concealing
anyone in the coffee shop, bakery, nail salon, or any other store along the
street. She turned to study the windows behind her, so close. No one leered out
at her from the grocery store, the physical therapy clinic, or the boutique. Did
that curtain fall at the second story window?
“Layla.”
She jumped
at the sound of her name.
“Layla,
let me take you to the police station. You need to report this.”
She looked
up at him, trying to comprehend his words, but the ocean swished louder. She
scanned the street and store windows again. People are going about their
business as if nothing unusual had occurred. As if no one were threatening me.
Jack
placed his hands on her shoulders. She met his gaze. No longer did his eyes
dance with humor or crinkle at the corners. Now the blue was dark with concern.
“Are you
okay?”
He pulled
her into his arms. She struggled against this refuge; someone was watching. She
couldn’t look afraid. This embrace had to mean something besides fear. Think,
Layla, think.
You think
this will rattle me, you punk? Watch this.
Steeling
herself, she placed her hands along Jack’s jawline, leaned in, and kissed him,
long and full.
She risked
a quick peek. Jack’s eyes were open in shock. Close your eyes. Close your
eyes. She leaned against him. As if hearing her, he slowly closed his eyes
and wrapped her in his arms. His lips were warm and welcoming, his arms tight,
holding her secure. She didn’t want to pull away; she wanted more. And based on
how Jack’s lips were moving over hers, so did he.
She pulled
back, but she remained in his embrace. “Check the windows. Is anyone watching
us?”
He stifled
a chuckle. “Lots of people are watching us. Was that your intent?”
She rested
her arms on his chest. “I’m showing him that he can’t get to me.”
“And I
thought it was my animal magnetism and irresistible charm at work.”
She
flicked her gaze to his face. “Wipe that damn smirk off your face, Jack.”
“There’s
your favorite word again.”
He
silenced her ready retort, covering her mouth with his. This time her eyes
bulged. But slowly, languidly, they closed. Did I just moan? Oh God, no. I
just moaned. She pulled away and fumbled with the knot of hair at the nape
of her neck. She cleared her throat. Maybe he didn’t notice that I moaned.
“Well,
that ought to do it. I don’t think I looked frightened at all.” She patted her
hair again and tucked a strand behind her ear.
Jack’s
enigmatic expression shook her. “I sure hope he really is still around to see
how not shook up you are. I mean, all that kissing for nothing. What a waste.”
Jack stroked his jawline as if pondering a deep mystery. “You’d better call a
tow truck, and then I’ll take you to the police station. Do you have any
tweezers in your bag?”
“Tweezers? No.” He certainly was
unpredictable.
“We need
something to pick up this note.”
She opened
the back door, leaned over the seat, and fished through the hatchback. “I have
a hemostat on my fishing vest. That should work.” She handed him the
scissor-like instrument that curved into a blunt end.
He looked
at the hemostat, then at her, and grinned. “You’re quite resourceful.” He
gingerly picked up the note by one corner. “Open your purse.”
She held
her purse open, and he dropped the note in it.
“Let’s get
those packages loaded into my truck.”
“What?” He
had to be kidding.
“You can’t
drive this—two flat tires.”
“I can
call an Uber.”
He stared
at her. “Yes, I guess you can, but won’t that look strange to your stalker who
is watching us right now? I mean, that kiss you laid on me wasn’t an ‘I’ll take
an Uber’ kiss.”
Exposed is available on Amazon.
Author
bio
Believer
in dreams-come-true and self-confessed chocoholic, Elizabeth Meyette writes a
little history … a little mystery … a little romance.
Elizabeth
is a member of Grand Rapids Region Writers Group (GRRWG), is an Amazon
Best-selling author in her genre, a PAN (Published Authors Network) member of
Romance Writers of America, a member of Sisters in Crime, and the Society of
Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators
Her
Finger Lakes Mysteries series includes
The Cavanaugh House, Buried Secrets,
and The Last Crossing. Love’s Courage is a romantic historical
adventure set during the American Revolution. Exposed is a contemporary
romantic suspense.
Elizabeth
and her husband Richard live in west Michigan where they enjoy the beauty of
the Great Lakes. They have an agreement that she cannot cook on writing days
after he endured burnt broccoli and overcooked chicken. Fortunately, Richard is an excellent cook.
Visit
Elizabeth at:
Website
www.elizabethmeyette.com
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/elizabethfmeyette/
Twitter
https://twitter.com/efmeyette
Linked
In https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-meyette-1502a642/
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/efmeyette/
Elizabeth’s
books are available at:
Amazon
(print & Kindle)
Barnes
& Noble (print only)
