VBT – RETRIBUTION

Retribution
by Diane Demetre

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GENRE: Romantic suspense

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BLURB:

A gripping romantic suspense of betrayal, hope and love.

Jessie Hilton is tough. Since the age of fifteen, she has dreamed of being a principal dancer with the Australia Ballet Company. Now at twenty-four, she stands on the brink of fulfilling her dream unaware of a secret buried deep within her.

Ex-military officer, Brad Jordan is rebuilding his life with the help of his boisterous Border collie, Whiskey. After helping Jessie out of a tight spot, he discovers a kindred spirit in the ambitious ballerina.

But with the sudden attention of an unwanted admirer, Jessie’s life begins to spin out of control. Called back to her family home in country New South Wales due to her father’s unforeseen illness, she is torn between career and family. As her dream of being principal dancer fades, her stalker edges ever closer. But there is more to overcome than a lurking psychopath. Can Jessie and Brad confront their own past demons and finally be free?

Award winning author, Diane Demetre writes genre-busting stories which delve deep into the human psyche, and Retribution is no exception. Winner of Romance Writers of Australia Emerald Pro Award for Best Unpublished Manuscript, Retribution is her first romantic suspense. If you love a cast of complex characters, a slow simmering romance and an intriguing plot, don’t miss this page-turning romantic suspense with a twist.

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EXCERPT

There she was, bolting up the hallway towards him like she did every time he returned. All amber eyes and happy face, she danced and pranced, speaking an exuberant welcome as best she could through her doggy larynx.

“How’re you doing, Whiskey? You miss me?” Reaching down, he rubbed his black and white Border collie’s lopsided ears. “You are the most beautiful girl I know. Come on, let’s chow down.” As he strode down the narrow hall of his weatherboard cottage, he weaved from side to side so as not to step on her paws. “So, what did you get up to this evening? Been protecting the castle?” He opened the fridge door and Whiskey shoved her nose in where she knew her dinner waited. BJ grabbed a bag of beef brisket bones and tossed it on the kitchen bench. He’d left the lights on out of habit, rather than for Whiskey. If there was light around him, the darkness within was somehow easier to bear.

He scanned the back yard, checking the perimeters that he’d planted with impenetrable, skyward-reaching bamboo. He never knew what he expected to find. Maybe he hoped it was all a bad dream and that everything would return to the way it was. But nothing would be the same again. Regret tore at his heart as he tore open the plastic bag of bones. “Here you go, girl. Take it outside. I’ll grab a beer and join you.”

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AUTHOR Bio and Links

Being a passionate woman who’s always done things a little differently, Diane’s diverse career began as a school teacher before she moved into a full-time career as a professional choreographer, director and dancer, strutting her stuff on many stages throughout Australia. She was responsible for the original multi-million dollar extravaganzas at Conrad Jupiter’s Casino, Gold Coast—Starz & Galaxies.

Following her onstage career, Diane’s thirst for knowledge led her into the field of self-development. Using her highly developed communication skills and love of people, she spent many years as a stress & life skills therapist and life coach, teaching individuals, couples and groups the methodologies of personal success and fulfilment.

With her business acumen, Diane launched into the corporate arena, working in a variety of positions as a consultant in marketing, special events, tourism, business strategies, quality management and human resource management. Combining her entertainment and business backgrounds, she returned to the stage as a keynote speaker and corporate facilitator, educating business leaders in the ‘new mindset’ for business and relationship building in the 21st century.

Assuming the pseudonym of the Goddess of Love, she appeared as a guest presenter on Gold FM radio, Gold Coast, a national radio program broadcast to 1.4million listeners. Her weekly program proved popular with Diane providing empowering advice on life, love, sex and relationships, sprinkled with a good dose of humour. Her passion for life and compulsive sharing nature made her a great inspiration to her listeners. As the Goddess of Love she also appeared as a regular guest on the national television program Beauty & the Beast, where her practical insights were televised to viewers across Australia.

When she launched into a writing career, Diane’s debut erotic romance series, the Dance of Love was voted Luminosity Publishing Readers’ Choice Best Books and Best Covers for 2015 and 2016.

Her romantic suspense, Retribution won the Romance Writers of Australia Emerald Pro Award 2017 for Best Unpublished Manuscript. Diane loves to write genre-busting stories with a twist. Her works are packed with emotional punch and feature empowered heroines who live life to the fullest, much like the author herself.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

WEBSITE http://www.dianedemetre.com
BLOG https://dianedemetre.com/blogposts
FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/dianedemetreauthor
TWITTER https://twitter.com/DianeDemetre

AMAZON https://www.amazon.com/Diane-demetre/e/B015P878H4/

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RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY

Diane Demetre will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Enter to win a $25 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Q&A With … 

Diane, thank for being here. Tell us about you.

I was born under the western zodiac of Gemini and the Eastern zodiac of the Fire Rooster. I am a 31/4 and I like security, stability and process. I believe in the joy of life, the passion of love and knowing that ‘the truth will set us free’. I love dancing, entertaining, educating and anything that bubbles or sparkles. French champagne is a favorite 🙂

If you could hang out with one famous person for one day, who would it be and why?

Since he’s the protagonist of the greatest story ever told, I’d hang out with Jesus Christ to get his side of the story.

What’s the story behind your latest book?

Retribution is my way of paying tribute to the people who have endured more than most. Those who have lived hellish childhoods, those who have fought for our freedom, those who have experienced unimaginable trauma and those who may never recover from their suffering. With the overarching theme of forgiveness and redemption, Retribution pays homage to the human condition in all its glory and misery.

What is your writing process?

I play different playlists which relate to the story I’m writing. Since Retribution is set in Australia, I listened to a lot of great Australian bands, and particularly the song, Great Southern Land, when I was writing the hero’s POV

Tell us about your main character.

Jessie Hilton is a ballerina. She’s tough, disciplined and ambitious, and driven to achieve her dreams, even against the worst odds. As a lover of the Australian Ballet and having access to past students and dancers, I created Jessie, an Australian Ballet soloist. Soloist is the final step before becoming a principal dancer, which is the highest position in any ballet company. For those who have the talent, dedication and grit to make it, the transition from soloist to principal is a career highlight. The incomparable Amber Scott from the Aussie Ballet is who I used for inspiration. https://australianballet.com.au/artist/amber-scott

If your book was to be turned into a movie, who would play the lead role and why.

I modelled Brad Jordan, my hero in Retribution, on Chris Hemsworth. He would be perfect casting if a movie were ever to be made of the book. In so far as Jessie Hilton, my prima ballerina heroine, it would probably be Natalie Portman since she did such a brilliant job in the movie Black Swan.

What are you working on next?

My next book, Island of Secrets will be published on 14 October. It’s an epic love story that will make you laugh, cry and believe in the power of love. It spans forty years and is set on a privately-owned island off the coast of Maui. Currently, I’m writing the Diana Daniels Murder Mystery series. The first is nearly finished with another two story ideas ready to go. So, the end of 2018 and 2019 looks big on all fronts.

What advice do you have for other writers who want to get the word out about their book?

Become self-educated and learn from others who have achieved what you want.

What is your favorite book on your shelf right now?

Too many to choose.

Do you have any special/extraordinary talents?

I love the being on the stage dancing, performing and speaking.

You are given the choice of one super power. What super power would you have and why?

The power of universal insight

List 5 things on your bucket list:

1. Live a good life
2. Laugh every day
3. Be healthy, wealthy and wise
4. Be free of negativity
5. Be at peace…always

Any final thoughts?

There is more going on than we can ever imagine 😊