Shannon here: Carol J. Post shares how she met her husband, how her characters meet in her Romantic Suspense, Detecting Deadly Threats, and a chance to win a signed copy. Comment or answer the question in any post dated Nov 4th – 15th to enter the drawing for Carol’s book along with three other titles in my Nov Book Bundle #1. Deadline: Nov 22nd, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Carol:
Unique First Meets
I enjoy hearing and writing about first meetings. Since most of my stories are romantic suspense, there’s always danger involved in that first meeting. In my book releasing next month, Detecting Deadly Threats, the hero and his search and rescue dog, Ranger, find the heroine buried in rubble after an earthquake. In Witness Safeguard Mission, coming in late April, the heroine and her little sister are running through the woods trying to escape their father’s killer when the hero and his dog find them.
My own “first meet” story isn’t nearly as exciting, although a bit unusual. I met my hubby, Chris, when a friend of mine invited me to her church singles group New Year’s Eve party. I was 19 and Chris was 20. Sitting on a haybale in front of a bonfire, we began to get acquainted. It didn’t take long for the topic to turn to music, something we are both passionate about. When he said he played French horn, I told him I played and taught piano.
He said, “I’ve seen you play somewhere.” When I mentioned the Young Artist’s Concert with the Lakeland Symphony Orchestra a year and a half earlier, he said, “That’s it! You played Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto in G Minor.” For a minute, I thought I had a stalker! Turns out, he was in the orchestra accompanying me on that piece. Less than six months after that conversation, we were married, and for the next forty-plus years, we worked together in music ministry at the churches we attended.
When it comes to finding a life mate, I always stress the importance of praying about the decision, which I did. Other pieces of advice I give, but failed to follow myself, are not getting married too young. Chris had just turned 21, I was still 19. And dating for a reasonable amount of time before jumping into marriage. We’d dated less than three months before he proposed and another two and a half months before we married. But we both just knew.
In Detecting Deadly Threats, Lauren and Zack first met when he rented the apartment over her jewelry store a week earlier. But here’s the actual “meet” from the first chapter.
Excerpt from Detecting Deadly Threats by Carol J. Post:
Rutherford drew in a sharp breath. “He found something, right? Isn’t that what that means?”
Ranger barked and sat.
“That’s exactly what that means.”
Zack called his dog to him. After giving him lots of encouragement, he straightened to watch David and his men return to work. For the next hour, the action was a rerun of what they’d seen earlier. Shingles, roof decking and lumber came away, forming an ever-growing pile to the side. Some time ago, William had walked across the yard to sit with his back against a tree trunk.
David bent over, calling into the debris again. Judging from his demeanor, he didn’t get a response. Zack looked behind him. The clouds that had dumped so much rain earlier were piled up on the western horizon. The sun was behind them. In two or three hours, it would be dark. If they couldn’t get to her before then, would the men keep working?
He cast a glance at the deputy. Yes, they would keep working. Rutherford wouldn’t let them quit until they found her.
David called again, then straightened suddenly. “I got a response. It’s weak, but I definitely heard ‘help.’”
The deputy released a shout of celebration. Thirty minutes later, the paramedics were once again atop the collapsed building with their stretcher, pulling another victim from the wreckage. This one was alive. Silky blond hair flowed over the side of the stretcher. Rutherford released an audible sigh of relief.
The men’s trek down wasn’t smooth, and Lauren winced every time they jostled her. As they approached
where he stood, her green eyes met his and she tried to smile. Small bits of debris were trapped in her hair, and several smudges marked her face, but she was still beautiful. “Sorry about your apartment.”
He fell in beside them. “Sorry about your store.”
“When I find my checkbook, I’ll refund your rent and security deposit.”
“Don’t worry about that now.”
She looked down at Ranger. “Did he help them find me?”
“He worked hard, but not as hard as those guys from Rutherford Contracting.”
“I’m sure Danny was instrumental in getting them here.”
Danny. Yeah, she and Rutherford knew each other.
…
After a nod to his brother, indicating they were finished there, Rutherford put a hand on Lauren’s shoulder. “I’ll be up to see you when I finish my shift. Or I’ll make it tomorrow if it’s too late tonight. I have some more questions, but you need medical care.”
“Can you have units drive by and make sure no one tries to take off with my merchandise?”
“How about if I get a hold of a security company and have a guard posted. Meanwhile, I’ll stay here as long as I can.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m also getting a hold of hospital security, in case the first guy decides to try again.” He looked at the paramedics. “Where are you taking her?”
“Pemiscot.”
“Brian, guard her with your life.”
The paramedic gave him a sharp nod. “Yes, sir.”
Zack watched the men load her into the back of the ambulance. One climbed in with her while the other got behind the wheel. She’d likely receive any necessary emergency treatment on the way to the hospital.
Zack looked over at Rutherford, who was watching the ambulance leave. “Girlfriend?”
“Nah, man, more like a sister.”
Zack nodded, an odd sense of relief sweeping through him. What was that about? It wasn’t like any kind of romantic relationship would ever develop between him and his pretty new landlord. Women avoided men with baggage. He had it in spades. His came in the form of a pint-sized kid with a boulder-sized attitude.
Reader Question: Do you have any fun or interesting stories to share about how you met your significant other? Or if you don’t have your own story, how about friends or family?
Nov Book Bundle #1
Gone to Texas by Caryl McAdoo, Historical Romance, e-book
The Cowboy’s Missing Memory by Shannon Taylor Vannatter, Contemporary Romance, print
Detecting Deadly Threats by Carol Post, Romantic Suspense, signed print copy
One Last Summer by Becky Sue Harwood, Women’s Fiction, print
About Carol: Carol J. Post writes fun and fast-paced Christian romance and Christian romantic suspense stories. She is a Publishers Weekly bestselling author whose books have won several awards and been nominated for two RITA® awards and an RT Reviewers’ Choice Best Book Award. She is also a popular speaker, presenting workshops on a variety of craft topics. When she’s not writing, she enjoys hiking, camping, kayaking—almost anything outdoors. Her two grown daughters and grandkids live too far away for her liking, so she now pours all that nurturing into taking care of two sassy black cats, Ziggy and Zorro, who are known to occasionally take over her blog with their “It’s Zaturday!” posts. Learn more & connect:
Carol’s Facebook Carol’s Instagram Carol’s X Carol’s Goodreads
About the book – Detection Deadly Threats:
With ruthless criminals closing in,
this K-9 is on a mission to defend.
Amateur photographer Lauren Hollander narrowly escapes a kidnapping attempt—moments before a disastrous earthquake rocks her small town, destroying her store. She’s saved from the rubble by Zachery Kimball and his search and rescue K-9, Ranger. Someone is determined to get to Lauren—but who, and why? Is it tied to her brother’s criminal past? Or are the culprits after the pictures on her camera? Under Zach and Ranger’s protection, Lauren races to discover the truth behind all the attacks. But as the danger escalates, can they survive long enough to untangle the mystery that’s putting their lives on the line?
Can’t wait for the drawing? Worried you won’t win? Interested in Carol’s other titles?
Get your copy/copies now!
Detecting Deadly Threats – Amazon Detecting Deadly Threats BarnesandNoble
Detecting Deadly Threats – Harlequin Carol’s Books
Come back Nov 13th for Becky Sue Harwood!
My story isn’t all that interesting, but my in-laws met as missionaries.
What a wonderful story Carol – thank you for sharing!
We were married young two and have no regrets. I came to US on my hubby’s birthday so I’m his birthday present lol
We met a day later when my cousin took a birthday gift to him and I tagged along 🙂