Shannon here: Sarah Hamaker shares insight into her latest Romantic Suspense, The Dark Guest, along with a romantic excerpt and a chance for two winners to win an e-copy of the book. Comment or answer the question in this post to enter the drawing. Deadline: March 16th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Sarah:
I love creating ordinary characters with ordinary problems. In The Dark Guest, Dr. Henry Silverton thinks love has passed him by because of a disability, while Violet Lundy is afraid to find love because of something in her past. The pair find themselves thrown together to uncover a secret that reaches back into the Cold War in East Berlin. While facing increasingly dangerous situations, Violet and Henry learn to lean on each other and God during the trials that come their way, and of course, find that love can blossom anytime.
Here’s a short excerpt from the first time they meet from chapter one of The Dark Guest, the 2023 Selah Fiction Book of the Year winner.
Excerpt:
Violet Lundy’s strange conversation with Mr. Kopecek made her reluctant to go directly home after work. Stepping into A Cuppa Coffee, she breathed in the strong aroma of roasted coffee beans and pastries. A cup of tea and a pain au chocolat would soothe her troubled thoughts. She moved to the pastry counter and eyed the last remaining chocolate croissant. Her mouth watered in anticipation of biting into the flaky pastry. As she smiled at the barista standing ready to take her order, another employee reached into the pastry case and plucked up her croissant with tongs to place on the plate held in her other hand.
“What can I get you tonight?” The barista’s words drew Violet’s attention back to her order.
“A large to-go cup of Earl Grey tea.” She nibbled on her lip. “Any chance you have another pain au chocolat?”
The barista glanced at the pastry case now devoid of the chocolate-filled croissant. “I don’t see one. Did you want something else?”
“No, thank you.”
The barista rang up the order and accepted payment, then another employee handed Violet the hot drink.
At the condiment counter, she added a splash of cream and a packet of raw sugar. Turning to leave, Violet spotted the croissant residing uneaten on a plate at the table of a handsome man around her age. His brown hair brushed the collar of his button-down Oxford shirt. The man pushed his glasses back up on the bridge of his nose and took a sip of his steaming beverage before returning his attention to the pile of papers in front of him. Mr. Kopecek’s words about not being alone echoed in her ears. Her rather solitary existence didn’t put her in the path of many men, eligible or not. A surreptitious glance at his left hand, which rested on the table as he bent over the papers, revealed no wedding ring. Maybe a man who liked chocolate croissants would be worth getting to know.
Before she could talk herself out of it, she wove her way through the tables to stop at his booth. At first, the man didn’t notice her, and Violet’s courage fled like a flock of birds startled by a predator. But just before she could take a step back, the man raised his head, and her eyes locked with his warm brown ones. She’d never noticed before just how attractive a pair of eyes could be.
“May I help you?”
Violet froze, heat rising in her cheeks. All thoughts of fleeing or anything else vanished in an instant as a spark ignited the air between them. She caught her breath in a half gasp. “Well, er, you see, you have my pastry.”
# # #
Dr. Henry Silverton gaped at the young woman standing in front of him before shifting his gaze to the croissant on the plate by his left hand. “This is yours?”
“No.” The woman shifted, and her long, auburn hair slid over one shoulder in a cascade that reminded Henry of a waterfall. “I meant I wanted to have a pain au chocolat, but it looks like you bought the last one.”
“I see.” Henry most certainly did not see, but he definitely wanted to continue talking to the pretty young lady. If only he were good at small talk, he would find a way to make her smile. He suspected she had a lovely one. “I haven’t eaten it. Do you want it?”
The woman flushed a deeper red and clutched her beverage cup so tight, Henry feared it might split from the pressure.
“That’s very nice of you, but I couldn’t take your pastry. I mean, I shouldn’t have bothered you. I’m sorry for having disturbed you while you’re working. Have a good evening.” After the flurry of words, she fled the coffeehouse before Henry could protest.
If he were an able-bodied man, he would have jumped up and run after her to get her name and perhaps her phone number. But such a feat was beyond his capabilities. At least she hadn’t appeared to see his crutches propped up in the corner of the booth. For once, he had been able to enjoy an encounter with a member of the opposite sex that didn’t involve pity. Even if he had known her name or had a way to contact her, once she discovered he wasn’t a whole man, their relationship would end like all the others. Best to stick to studying the Cold War. At least the historical facts he dealt with didn’t cause disappointment.
Question for Readers: Coffee or tea? What’s your favorite flavor?
About Sarah: Sarah Hamaker loves writing books “where the hero and heroine fall in love while running for their lives.” She’s written romantic suspense novels and nonfiction books, as well as stories in Chicken Soup for the Soul volumes. As a writers coach, her heart is encouraging writers. Her podcast, “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” can be found wherever you listen to podcasts. Learn more and connect:
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About the book – The Dark Guest:
When Violet Lundy isn’t cleaning rooms at Happy Hills Assisted Living Facility, she loves spending her free time with resident Rainer Kopecek. Hearing his stories of the dangerous life he led behind the Iron Curtain in East Berlin makes her own life seem more tolerable. But when Rainer is found dead and his room in disarray, Violet suspects foul play.
Dr. Henry Silverton lives among his books, teaching and writing about the Cold War. A letter about an East German traitor known only as “The Wolf” propels Henry out of academia and into Violet’s life. Together, they embark on a perilous quest to uncover the truth about Rainer’s death and the traitor’s identity.
Can Violet and Henry uncover the secrets of the past before one of them ends up as The Wolf’s next victim?
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Come back March 8th for Sherri Stewart!
Thanks for having me, Shannon!
Glad to have you here, Sarah. I’m a coffee and tea kind of gal. For coffee, I drink it hot with cream and sugar at home. On the road, I love a mocha Frappuccino with caramel and toffee flavoring. For tea, I like it iced, orange pekoe. I haven’t found any of the flavored teas I really like and I’m totally not into hot tea.
Although I do enjoy coffee with a lot of cream … I’ve been attempting to shift toward hot teas! I love Bigelow Perfect Peach and Toasted Coconut!
I’ve really enjoyed The Dark Guest!
I love Vanilla Latte in the morning and Earl Grey Tea in the afternoon.
Thanks, Natalya. Earl Grey Supreme is one of my favorites:)
coffee
I have a winner! Cherie J won the drawing. I appreciate Sarah for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.