Book Spotlight & Giveaway

Welcome! Today I have with me author Alana Lorens, who's giving away a free copy of her book, Conviction of the Heart.

BLURB:
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?

EXCERPT:
“Will you tell me what’s going on, Suzanne? I’m not trying to get into your business. I just want to help.”

She pulled the robe closer around her. “Someone sent Riv a threatening email the other night. The day we worked on the garden, actually.”

Nick’s lips twitched into a frown. “No one she knew?”

Suzanne shook her head. “I would have written it off as just kids screwing around, except for the comment that this person would come after Riviera for something her mother had done.”

“So you didn’t think it was kids.”

Suzanne shrugged. “I don’t know who it was. It could have been some high school kids trying to prank her.” She looked away. “It could have been more.”

“Did you report this?”

“I didn’t want to overreact.”

His blood pressure hit the escalator. “You—overreact? When your child is threatened? Are you kidding me? There’s no such thing as overreaction.”

She pulled back from him physically, and a veil of distance came into her eyes.

Nick realized too late he’d stepped across an invisible line. “I know, I don’t have children. So my opinion may not be relevant. I’m just—”

“And you don’t have my life,” she said tartly. “Believe it or not, I’ve managed to take care of myself and my children all these years before I met you.” She stood up.

“Suzanne! Please.” He stood up, too, feeling helpless, knowing he could make her stay and listen to him if he so chose. But he wanted her to want to stay. “I have resources.”

“In the city. I’m in State Police territory. Believe me, I’ve advised clients over the last fifteen years to report incidents like this. You know what they get? They get ‘oh gee, I’m sorry I can’t help you unless you can prove who sent that.’ Not very useful.” She eyed him for a long moment, then relented. “Look, Nick, I saved the email. I’ll save these photos. If it’s really…him…I can go after him when we’re done. I’ll take action when it’s safe. For everyone.”

“You mean for Madeleine Morgan.”

She nodded. “I mean for Madeleine Morgan.”

He tried to understand. He did. At least they agreed on that. Maddie Morgan needed to be protected. But did it have to be at the expense of Suzanne and her daughter?