16
Marsden Place with Omnific Publishing is her first romantic comedy since 2010.
She
has just signed a further three-book contract with Harlequin Superromance.
Rachel
is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and Romance Writers of
America. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find Rachel with her head in a book or
walking the beautiful English countryside with her family and beloved black
Lab, Max. Her dream place to live is Bourton-on-the-Water in South West
England…although she hopes a dream visit to Canada might just change her mind!
AN INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR
What
is the location of your story? How did you select that particular location, and
what research was involved?
A
Man Like Him
is the second book in an ongoing series with Harlequin Superromance set in the
fictional UK seaside town of Templeton Cove. The town itself is loosely based
on a small town in southern England where I used to holiday as a child. For the
most part though, the geography is a product of my imagination and a mix of
several places I know well.
I
wanted to write stories set near the coast because I think water, cliffs, heat
and snow near the ocean provides a lot of possible danger to add to my stories.
You
allude to Angela's mysterious past. Can you tell us anything about that without
giving away the ending?
The
whole premise of this book is about escaping the past – not just from Angela’s
point of view but Chris’ too. Angela is running from hers, both physically and
mentally. The suspense is whether she will ever manage to outrun the demons
that chase her. Her past is very symbolic throughout the novel, and one that I
hope many readers will relate to.
How
did you develop Angela's and Chris' characters? How do you decide on names,
physical, personality and emotional characteristics?
Names
for my characters is always a really difficult task and I often change them
several times as I’m writing until the right one comes through loud and clear.
I start each new book by browsing the internet for images of my hero, heroine
and villain (if I have one), I then complete a character sketch for each which,
more often than not, brings about their goals, motivations and conflicts…and
their all-important backstories.
What
are you working on next?
I am
currently writing the first draft of the fourth book in the Harlequin series –
this will be a Christmas 2014 release, which I am very excited about. This is
my first Christmas set story and after a horrible spell of writer’s block is
now going smoothly. I hope I haven’t just tempted fate, lol! This is a
mainstream romance rather than suspense and features two brand new characters
as well as a surrounding cast of existing characters.
I love Templeton Cove!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Changing her life...again
After two years in hiding, Angela Taylor knows her independence is
worth it. As long as she can escape her past, she has everything under control.
Until a flash flood hits the park where she works, and hot Chris Forrester
shows up the exact moment she needs a hero.
Chris proves he can save lives-and weaken a girl's knees. But how
can she make him understand that she's off-limits, that getting close to her
will endanger his life? Her happiness or his safety: it shouldn't even be a
choice.
Because when you love someone, you protect them, no matter the
cost. At least, that's what Angela keeps telling herself....
AN EXCERPT
Chris
unlocked the door and his breath caught as he gripped the doorframe. “Jesus.”
The
rain came down in sheets. A moving gray mass against a pitch-black sky. The
continuous blare of the park’s emergency siren and people’s screams filled the
air, sending his pulse into overdrive. He stared in disbelief, his body
immobile. Families with young children, of no more than seven or eight, waded
through water that reached the adults’ knees. Toddlers cried on their father’s
shoulders. Dogs lay silent in their owner’s arms, ears flat.
Chris
looked toward his feet. Illuminated by the light spilling from the kitchen, the
water had already reached the steps below the door, swirling fast and unwelcome
in a red-brown torrent. His lifetime love of water diminished. This wasn’t a
swimming pool but most likely the result of the river adjacent to the park
breaking its banks. The park was situated at the very bottom of the surrounding
mountains. They were trapped in a damn sinkhole, miles from the beach and with
nowhere for the water to escape.
He
slammed the door and squeezed his eyes shut as he tried to focus. The rain
thrashed down in all its cold and heavy destruction. It would rise quickly and
dangerously contained within a five or six mile circumference. There were
houses, shops, parks…a school. He needed to do something, anything, to help. He
was a strong swimmer, an instructor, a trained lifeguard.
Snapping
his eyes open, he shoved away the heavy sense of foreboding stealing through
him. Water was unpredictable. It gathered strength and power quickly, making it
one of nature’s most dangerous destructors. People were going to die. Mothers,
children…
Tightening
his jaw, Chris sprinted into the bedroom. Fully awake and alert, he pulled on shorts,
sneakers and a T-shirt. His mind whirled and his pulse thumped an erratic beat
at his temple. The telltale warning of an impending disaster swam icy-cold in
his blood as the rush of the water and the screams of people outside echoed
inside his head.
He
hurried into the kitchen and grabbed his backpack from a storage cupboard. He
filled it with water and fruit, scissors, tape and a basic first aid kit from a
shelf above. Tossing the strap over his shoulder, Chris took a deep breath and
re-opened the door. The steps had vanished.
LEAVE A COMMENT - AND WIN A GIFT!
Rachel will be
awarding a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the
tour.
Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better
your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:
Links:
Website: http://rachelbrimble.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RachelBrimble
Buy
Links:
Barnes
& Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-man-like-him-rachel-brimble/1114668447?ean=9780373607938
Harlequin: http://www.harlequin.com/author.html;jsessionid=0581216E9F356317B504382885C86C69?authorid=2370
