Blog Tour Stop - Hitting Black Ice by Heloise West ~ BFD Book Blog

Book Name: Hitting Black Ice

Author Name: Heloise West

Author Bio:

Heloise West, when not hunched over the keyboard plotting love and mayhem, dreams about moving to a villa in Tuscany. She loves history, mysteries, and romance of all flavors. She travels and gardens with her partner of 10 years, and their home overflows with books, cats, art, and red wine.

Author Contact:

[email protected]

https://www.facebook.com/heloise.west.1

http://heloisewest.tumblr.com/

https://twitter.com/velvetpanic

Publisher: Loose ID

Cover Artist: Syneca Featherstone

Author Interview:

Q: Where and when do you prefer to write?

A: First thing in the morning, I grab coffee and the laptop. Our kitchen table is huge and looks out into the fields and the road, a really nice view. I work second shift from home on purpose, because I know morning is my creative best.

Q: Your website lists historical romance and contemporary suspense…very different – which is your favorite and why? Which is harder to write and why?

A: I have to say historical is my favorite. I love history. Historical is harder to write due to the amount of research and getting the voice right. Also making the history accessible to people who don’t necessarily have the context of the story. I love the challenge in that.

Q: Best line you ever wrote?

A: I’ll go with the one that always got a smiley face in writer’s group: Shawn glanced at the card, stuck it in his back pocket. Lucky little card.

Q: What made you want to write this particular book?

A: It started with an image, and the more the story and characters unfolded, the more I wanted to know the answers to the mystery. I wrote myself into a corner once, but stories are like little devils with pitchforks sometimes, and they don’t let up until they’re satisfied.

Q: Who is your favorite author and why?

A: My favorite author is Edith Pargeter; most of the world knows her as Ellis Peters. She wrote a trilogy of novels called “The Heaven Tree Trilogy” set in the 12th century. It’s a powerful and tragic story; I just can’t describe it, but if medieval is your thing, give it a try if you haven’t. I’d say she’s also one of the authors who inspired me to write. It’s really, really hard to pick one. Dorothy Dunnett is another historical author I love, but I’m still working on reading her two series.

Thanks for having me here today!

Blurb(s):

ER physician’s assistant Hunter guards his heart carefully, but that doesn’t stop him from falling for Shawn, the front desk clerk. He keeps his distance from relationships for a reason, but just can’t help himself when it comes to Shawn.

Shawn is on the run from the law and love to protect himself and anyone else involved. One man is dead because of him, and his life now is simple and easily thrown into a bag at any hint of danger. Until he meets Hunter, and he no longer wants to run.

Forced into a hostage situation, buried passion explodes in the aftermath, and sex in the supply closet brings their hearts back to life. Tentatively, step by step, they begin to explore a relationship together until the past catches up with Shawn.

FBI agent Nick Truman has finally found his man, but when Shawn escapes, he focuses his attention on Hunter. Shawn returns, even though it means sacrificing himself to save Hunter from the man who framed him for murder.

Categories: Contemporary, Crime Fiction, M/M Romance, Mystery, Romance

Excerpt:

It was nine o’clock. They’d long lost the reservation. Hunter turned away from the warm lights of the restaurant, heart heavy. Shawn was too good to be true. For all he knew, he had a problem like Jerry’s, who’d often left him waiting, wondering, and ultimately fearing as dinner sat cold on the table. He gave in and took a step toward home.

“Hunter!”

He whipped around.

Shawn rushed toward him. He slipped on the snowy sidewalk, nearly going down, but Hunter ran at him, and they crashed together so hard his teeth clicked. Shawn’s arms went around him and his around Shawn, and they managed to hold each other up.

“I’m sorry,” were the first words out of Shawn’s mouth.

“All you deserve is pizza crusts,” Hunter mock-growled and kissed him, unconsciously trying to taste booze on his breath. Like Jerry and too many broken promises. Relieved it was only peppermint mouthwash, he didn’t stop kissing him.

When Hunter let him speak, Shawn said, “I’m starving, I’ll take it.” He pushed Hunter a little away from him. “Jesus. You’re freezing.”

“And starving. There’s a Greek pizza place down this way, come on—”

“I’ll make it up to you,” he said, taking Hunter’s hand.

Christina’s Review:

Hitting Black Ice by Heloise West

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5 stars so rounding up to 4 stars.

i’m a bit torn on this book. i love romantic suspense books, especially in the m/m genre (hello! 2 alpha males? yes, please). the writing was a bit hard to follow at times which slowed down the story for me. i’m guessing this is the start to a series as well because the ending was a bit abrupt and left a few questions floating around.

i loved the suspense…it was pretty well written and surprised me several times. there were many twists and turns that i was not able to anticipate which is typically not the case.

alex and hunter were both strong characters even though they both need a bit a healing after both going through tough issues. the scene that threw them together was intense and pretty awesome. their love story has great potential and if there is a follow up i’d like to see more of that develop.

the secondary characters were all very strong and really helped make the story. i loved joan even though we just got a small glimpse of her. truman is still a bit confusing and left me with some questions.

overall, i liked the story even though at times i wasn’t sure i did. i’d definitely read a follow up if it were written.

View all my reviews