Review & Author Interview: Gray's Promise by Anni Fife

Title: Gray's Promise
Author: Anni Fife
Genre/Age: Romantic Suspense/Adult
Series: King Security (Book Two)
Publisher: Wild Rose Press
Format: ebook via Author
Rating: ✺✺✺✺
Links: Goodreads
Synopsis: Zoey Morgan seems to have it all as a successful surgeon in Boston. However, perfection lies only on the surface. Plagued by nightmares and amnesia from a tragedy that ripped her family from her fourteen years ago, she finds the courage to reach out to the only man who can make her feel safe. She’s buried the memory of their love, but her heart—and her body—responds to the ex-marine in ways that are all too familiar.

Grayson “Gray” Walker’s heart shattered when Zoey chose another man over him. Since then, he’s built an impenetrable wall around his emotions. But from the moment she implodes back into his life, her vulnerability breaches his defenses. His skills as an elite member of the King Security team cannot shield him from the devastation of learning he might have left Zoey high and dry when she needed him most. Now, Gray must navigate the tripwire of helping her heal while protecting himself from being hurt again.

As the embers of their potent love reignite, an old threat awakens, leading to greater danger than ever before.

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Author Interview with Anni Fife

• Brief introduction? In 3 sentences or less, tell me about yourself.

I had a successful career in television for over thirty years. Then, two years ago, I had an epiphany—I needed to follow my passion rather than a healthy monthly pay cheque. In the space of a month, I shut down my business, packed up my city apartment, and moved to a small seaside village. And I’ve never regretted the move once! Last year, my debut novel Luke’s Redemption was published and was a RONE Award Finalist for Steamy Contemporary. And I’ve just published my second book, Gray’s Promise which I’m delighted to share, is already garnering five star reviews. I’m riding a passion wave and loving every minute of it.

• What genre do you write and why?

After a year of trying to find the perfect genre description for my books, I’ve arrived at Steamy Romantic Suspense. I like to write for my own tastes. So if you like contemporary romance with a lot of angst and some suspense; hot alpha heroes with damage; smart sassy heroines, also with some damage; and burning chemistry that drives lots of conflict, and even more heat—then my books should be right up your ally.

On a more serious note, I read mainstream fiction and thrillers, but my favorite leisure genre is Romance. So why not join the two? We’re surrounded by so many NOT ‘Happily Ever After’ stories that I find it relaxing to lose myself in a story of steamy romance, unpredictable suspense, and a guaranteed HEA. This gets even better when it’s my job to choose the hot alpha male, the sassy intelligent gal, the break-ups, the make-ups.... you get the picture.

• Any hobbies?

I enjoy reading, scuba diving, and good food. But my favorite pastime, although it’s probably not classed a hobby, is taking long walks on the beach searching for treasures the waves have brought in, especially my favorite muse, the pansy shell. Otherwise, you’ll find me hanging with my friends, drinking red wine around a barbecue, and gabbing about everything and nothing.

• Do you have a favorite book or author?

I have two. They are in different genres but both have the ability to move me to tears. The first is Wally Lamb. The man takes years to finish each novel, and no wonder. His characters are filled with an astonishing depth of humanity. I can only hope to reach a fraction of his brilliance in my own writing. The other is the awesome Kristen Ashley. When she releases a new book, I turn it into a day of celebration. Out come the red wine, chocolates and a snuggle pillow. Then I curl up and spend the whole day alternatively laughing and weeping—and, of course, crossing my legs to contain the delicious tingles of desire. Her alpha heroes invade my dreams. Her heroines are funny and beautifully accessible. And her stories are both heartbreaking and uplifting.

• What’s on your music playlist?

Beautiful War by Kings of Leon.
Everything by Adele, Ed Sheeran, Daughtry and Red Hot Chili Pepper’s new album, The Getaway. And Diana Krall. Music to chill with or make love to!

• Do you use an outline or just jump right in?

I’m a serious plotter and planner. I write detailed outlines and crazily fill them with reams of dialogue. Each scene is planned before I start the real writing. But a weird thing happens as I progress: my characters often refuse to behave like they are supposed to. Sometimes they just stop talking before the scene is finished. Or they don’t talk at all. Instead of freaking out, I get a kick out of it and just Cut & Paste and plop the misbehaving piece of dialogue or section of scene wherever it wants to move to. The spooky thing is, the change is invariably for the better!

• What is your next project, after this?

I’m completely enmeshed in Eva’s Promise (King Security Book 3) and delighted that my publisher, The Wild Rose Press contracted this book on a brief synopsis. It’s due for release in Fall 2018. I prefer not to offer a summary about a WIP until I’ve finished the first draft. It gives me a breathless feeling, like I’m trapping my characters in a pre-determined story. Instead, I’ll share with you the opening paragraph to the synopsis I sent my publisher.

“Eva’s Peace begins amidst a crime that most police admit they dread more than any other—a missing child. Grace Young, eighteen months old, has been snatched from her nanny’s car. We get our first glimpse of Grace’s mother, Scarlett Eva Young, through the eyes of the lead detective assigned to the case, Detective Tom Payne of the Los Angeles Police Department. He stands alone in the observation room, watching from behind one-way glass as her and her ex-husband are interviewed. Tom finds Eva difficult to read. She is undeniably beautiful but her face is a blank mask. A frozen blank mask. In his experience, this meant she either didn’t give a damn. Or she gave too much of a damn. He wanted to believe it was the latter. For the child’s sake, he prayed it was the latter.”


Quick Fire Questions… And GO!

• Favorite color? Purple
• Favorite food? Pizza—with ham and mushroom and extra avocado
• Favorite dessert? Anything with chocolate
• Favorite vacation spot? An island that screams barefoot luxury
• Favorite movie? Shawshank Redemption
• Favorite song? Beautiful War by Kings of Leon.
• Favorite season? Summer
• Do you have a quirk? Midnight snacks
• Do you have a pet peeve? Toast crumbs on the kitchen island
• What would your superpower be? Healing
• What is your biggest fear? Moving back to the city
• The beach or the mountains? Beach
• What is your most prized possession? My laptop

Anni Fife is an exciting contemporary romance author who has already made her mark in the popular genre of Steamy Romantic Suspense. Her debut novel, Luke’s Redemption, has been acclaimed by critics and readers and was a Finalist in the 2017 RONE Awards. Anni says she credits Kristen Ashley as her guiding inspiration, and strives to make her characters equally as heart-wrenching and unforgettable. She is currently working on Eva’s Peace (King Security Book 3).

Last year, Anni closed the door on a successful career in television production to fulfill her lifelong passion, writing. In the space of a month, she shut her business, packed up her city life, and moved to a small seaside village. When she’s not writing, she can be found on the beach searching for pansy shells, or drinking red wine and gabbing with her gal posse.

If you want to know when Anni’s next book is releasing and be first to get regular updates and BONUS TREATS, visit her website and sign up to join her POSSE.

Anni is published by The Wild Rose Press, and is a member of Romance Writers of America (RWA).

ANNI’S SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS
You can read all about Anni on her website, and join Anni’s Posse to get regular updates and Bonus Treats—www.annifife.com
Or LIKE Anni on Facebook—https://www.facebook.com/AnniFifeAuthor/
Or follow Anni on Twitter—https://twitter.com/AnniFifeAuthor
Amazon— https://www.amazon.com/author/annifife
Goodreads— https://www.goodreads.com/AnniFife
BookBub— https://www.bookbub.com/authors/anni-fife

**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book.**

When the girl you love wakes up engaged to someone else...

This was a second chance story if there ever was one. Two people with a strong history who have spent years suffering without each other are brought back together again. But they have demons between them (and some of their own) that they have to face before they can find a happy ending. It was intense at times, pulling at my heartstrings over and over again.

Zoey has lived through a nightmare. After her family was slain right in front of her, she woke to find that she was engaged to the wrong brother. A man she didn't love and she can't understand why she would have agreed to his proposal. The problem is that she can't remember anything that happened that night, other than the dreaded chocolate cake which started the whole thing.

Gray has finally found a place in his life where he is truly content. The colleagues at his security firm have become his family and Gray has all but forgotten his cruel mother and jealous brother who stole Zoey away from him. And he may be a cranky son of a gun, but at least he has found a purpose. And okay, he might not have moved on since losing his heart all those years ago.

Zoey's therapist suggests the only way to remember what happened is to go back to the scene and it will only work if she feels safe. Gray is the only person to ever make Zoey feel that way, so she has no choice but to ask for his help. But when the pair reunite, old wounds open and they will have to uncover the truth before either of them can move on.

The book opens with a rather powerful chapter that left my mouth hanging open. Everything that happened with Zoey and her family was pretty brutal. It wasn't really described in gory detail or anything, but it was still a lot to swallow. I felt horrible for both of our characters as they were ripped apart with so many questions left unanswered.

The plot is actually a lot slower after that, which gave me time to breathe. And there isn't much action until the last quarter of the book. The pages in between are mostly where our couple learn to trust each other again and come to terms with their situation. I was never bored, even when the story slowed to a crawl right before Mina's party. It always picked back up again.

For the romance, our couple definitely had some sizzling chemistry. They were pretty great together. Gray had a dominant streak and it came out in the bedroom scenes. It's not quite into BDSM territory or anything, but his alpha personality was noticeable. Zoey was no weak character, though. I rather liked the both of them, separate and together. 

The end of the book sort of went how I thought it would. The moment I found out how the horse was killed, I figured out who the murderer was. I wasn't quite sure about the rapist, but it all eventually did come out.

In closing... 

I'm curious about King's relationship with his roommate and I wonder who will be next! Four suns!