Her captor or her rescuer? - Mean Streak by Sandra Brown

"I’m not going to lie; this one had my head spinning a bit. The suspense, the plot twists and the romantic undercurrent kept every one of my sleuthing skills in check. :) But the bonus in this one is that there was a bit of a mystery within the mystery. The hero was a bit dark (in a sexy way) and cryptic too. This provoked even more intrigue and made that piece of the story more alluring."- Goodreads

Description:

Publication date: August 19th, 2014

Dr. Emory Charbonneau, a pediatrician and marathon runner, disappears on a mountain road in North Carolina. By the time her husband Jeff, miffed over a recent argument, reports her missing, the trail has grown cold. Literally. Fog and ice encapsulate the mountainous wilderness and paralyze the search for her.

While police suspect Jeff of “instant divorce,” Emory, suffering from an unexplained head injury, regains consciousness and finds herself the captive of a man whose violent past is so dark that he won’t even tell her his name. She’s determined to escape him, and willing to take any risks necessary to survive.

Unexpectedly, however, the two have a dangerous encounter with people who adhere to a code of justice all their own. At the center of the dispute is a desperate young woman whom Emory can’t turn her back on, even if it means breaking the law.

As her husband’s deception is revealed, and the FBI closes in on her captor, Emory begins to wonder if the man with no name is, in fact, her rescuer.

MB's INTERVIEW

Thank you, Mrs. Sandra Brown

1. You cover almost three decades of romance literature. What are the most significant changes, good and bad, that occurred in this genre?

One of the fundamental changes – all for good -- has been the empowerment of women. In the early days of Ecstasy, Desire, Loveswept and so on, I and dozens of my colleagues began writing heroes that enhanced the heroine’s life; he didn’t “make” her life. She already had one, thank you.

2. You have published over seventy novels (over sixty bestsellers) and along with our congratulations come the questions: how and what do you do to keep your stories fresh and captivating? 

I try something new with each and every book. In DEADLINE, instead of long paragraphs of back story, which was essential for the reader to know, I used diary entries, which made the information much more interesting. In MEAN STREAK the hero’s name isn’t revealed until ¾ of the way through the book. It was a challenge to write a lead character without using a name, but it kept me on my toes! In my current manuscript, a widowed father is fighting for custody of his little girl. His “daddy” persona is in stark contrast to his tough Texas Ranger “cop” mode. Potraying the two aspects of his personality has been fun.

3. Your reputation precedes you. What are the advantages and disadvantages for you as an author?

I consider my longevity in the industry one of my biggest accomplishments. Having a track record is a distinct advantage. But, following the success of one book, the expectations are even greater for the next one. No one – not readers, critics, or publishers – EVER lowers the bar. The pressure is always on to write as well or better.

4. What are the mandatory features that a romance/a romantic suspense should have?

Years ago, I made a list of four essentials. 1) Mutual desire. 2) Shared space. 3) Co-dependence. 4) Forbiddenness. Number one is a given. Numbers two through four are built into the plot. The hero and heroine must be kept together. In order to achieve their joint or individual goals, each is necessary to the other. (Neither is happy about his.) Being sexually forbidden to each other creates tension. An example of what I mean: If my heroine is an arsonist, the hero is a fireman. 

5. What do you think about happy endings and about the trend that “kill” the protagonists?

I like happy endings. But I also appreciate “satisfying” endings. Many of the more memorable novels I’ve read left me in tears. For days. And what a compliment to those authors who evoked that much emotion! However, my goal is to entertain. My readers shouldn’t expect me to start knocking off the hero and heroine in the last few pages!

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About the author:

Sandra Brown is the author of more than sixty New York Times bestsellers, including DEADLINE(2013), LOW PRESSURE (2012), LETHAL (2011), TOUGH CUSTOMER (2010), SMASH CUT (2009), SMOKE SCREEN (2008), PLAY DIRTY (2007), RICOCHET (2006), CHILL FACTOR (2005), WHITE HOT (2004), & HELLO, DARKNESS (2003).

Brown began her writing career in 1981 and since then has published over seventy novels, bringing the number of copies of her books in print worldwide to upwards of eighty million. Her work has been translated into over thirty languages.

A lifelong Texan, Sandra Brown was born in Waco, grew up in Fort Worth and attended Texas Christian University, majoring in English. Before embarking on her writing career, she worked as a model at the Dallas Apparel Mart, and in television, including weathercasting for WFAA-TV in Dallas, and feature reporting on the nationally syndicated program “PM Magazine.”

In 2009 Brown detoured from her thrillers to write, Rainwater, a much acclaimed, powerfully moving story about honor and sacrifice during the Great Depression.

Brown recently was given an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Texas Christian University. She was named Thriller Master for 2008, the top award given by the International Thriller Writer’s Association. Other awards and commendations include the 2007 Texas Medal of Arts Award for Literature and the Romance Writers of America’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

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