Her Secret Protector (SOS Agency)
by Bonnie Vanak
I am delighted to welcome Bonnie Vanak to Escape With Dollycas today!
Hi Brenda,
Please tell us a little bit about yourself.
I’m the author of romantic suspense and paranormal books. I’ve been published since 2002. I enjoy writing books with twists at the end, probably because I adore the writings of O. Henry, who specialized in twist endings.
What are three things most people don’t know about you?
- I used to travel to Haiti for my day job and in 2004, got into an accident when our vehicle nearly tipped over in flood waters.
- My husband and I collect model trains.
- The title of my last suspense book, Reunion at Greystone Manor
, was inspired by a psychiatric hospital down the street from my childhood home, Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital. It was a huge hospital where Woodie Guthrie stayed from 1956 to 1961.
What books/authors have most inspired you?
Too many to count! But I grew up reading gothic romance and suspense novels and it was the books of Dorothy Eden
What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
I don’t do much research before beginning a book. Because I write based on a proposal that my editor has to approve, I’ll do enough research on the topic and then when I’m set to write the book, research as I go along.
Do you ever suffer from Writer’s Block?
Yes. When I get stuck, I usually jump ahead to another scene.
What advice do you have for someone who would like to become a published writer?
Stay with it, keep writing because writing is like any craft – the more you practice the better you get. Don’t be afraid to break the rules, either. Writing is subjective. And don’t follow the pack. In 2001 I wrote a book that had a sheikh and an American archaeologist. I was told it would never get published. I entered it into a contest and the editor for Dorchester bought it. The book became my first traditionally published novel – the Falcon and the Dove.
When you are not writing what do you like to do?
Sleep, lol. I also work a demanding day job, so life gets hectic. But my husband and I enjoy bike riding on weekends and exploring parks around our home.
If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go and why?
Ireland. My family came from there!
What is next on the horizon for you?
Escape from Devil’s Den will be an August 2024 release from Harlequin romantic suspense. This book is about an FBI agent going undercover with an outlaw motorcycle gang, and the heroine they steal from, who happens to be his ex-girlfriend.
Thank you, Bonnie, for visiting today!
Keep reading for my thoughts about Her Secret Protector
About Her Secret Protector
Her Secret Protector (SOS Agency)
Romantic Suspense
4th in Series
Setting – Florida
Harlequin Romantic Suspense (October 24, 2023)
Mass Market Paperback : 288 pages
ISBN-10 : 1335593802
ISBN-13 : 978-1335593801
Digital ASIN : B0BQ3R6V3L
To find her attacker
…he must stay in the shadows.
Assigned to protect sea turtle biologist Peyton Bradley from a dangerous stalker, former SEAL Gray Wallace is determined to save his headstrong charge—even if she doesn’t want to be saved. Their attraction is powerful. But damning rumors around the handsome bodyguard’s past get him fired. Only when Peyton is kidnapped and loses her memory does Gray reveal his startling—possibly deadly—secret.
From Harlequin Romantic Suspense: Danger. Passion. Drama.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Peyton Bradley’s passions are sea turtles and saving the planet. But there is something keeping her away from her passions. A stalker. While her parents are not happy with her career choice they will do everything to keep her safe.
Gray Wallace, a former Navy Seal, now working as a Security Agent is brought in to protect Peyton. She is not thrilled with him tagging along everywhere she goes. Soon though whenever they are together you can cut the romantic tension with a knife.
Then Peyton’s father hears some rumors about Gray’s past and terminates their contract. The new bodyguard takes over and it isn’t long before Peyton is kidnapped. Gray immediately sets off to find her but she has lost her memory and doesn’t recognize anyone including him or her parents. The only way to protect her now is to take her away with hopes she can regain her memory and reveal her stalker.
For being a stand-alone story the characters have a lot of depth. Peyton is a strong-willed determined woman who has a vulnerable side as well. She wants to live her life her way and believes she can handle anything thrown at her on her own. Gray is a strong, well-trained man but something happened in his past that has him ultra-tuned into everything Peyton does and everywhere she goes. He has feelings he knows he shouldn’t be having about his client and fights them the best he can. When he sees Peyton has feelings for him too, keeping everything professional becomes a monumental task, especially with his worries that history will repeat itself. The relationship grows quickly over the course of the story due to the circumstances and outside influences.
The stalker is scary clever. He knows things he shouldn’t unless it is someone close to Peyton and her family. The author threw in some nice twists and turns to keep everyone guessing including this reader. I really enjoyed the way the author plotted out this mystery. High on the drama and suspense, it was hard to put down.
I loved the environmental theme led by Peyton and who doesn’t love sea turtles? I had some knowledge about the turtles but learned much more by reading this story. How they are endangered and protected, ways to save them if injured, their nests, what they eat, and how littering affects their lives. There is one scene where Peyton points out a father littering on a beach. She really took him to task and in front of his kids too. It takes courage to do things like that but it just made it even more clear of her dedication to the cause. A cause everyone should be invested in. Courage we all need to develop.
Her Secret Protector
Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent
MoreAbout Bonnie Vanak
Bonnie Vanak is a multi-published author of paranormal and historical romance novels. After a career in journalism, she became a writer for an international charity, traveling to poor countries like Haiti to write about issues affecting the poor. When the strain of her job demanded a diversion, she turned to her childhood dream of writing books. Bonnie lives in Florida with her husband and rescue dogs.
Author Links
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Feel the excitement in these uplifting romances,
part of the SOS Agency series:
Purchase Links:
Barnes and Noble Amazon Kindle Amazon Print Apple Harper Collins UK Kobo Google
The Rest of the Series
Find more books by Bonnie Vanak here.
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”