It’s All About Everything!

As a reader, there is nothing better than diving into a book and loving everything about it. The characters, the storyline, the setting. All of these things turn a good book into a story you don’t want to put down.

The characters have to pull you in and make you feel what they feel. Their hopes, their dreams, their fears. The heroine and hero’s struggle to be together must keep you guessing until the end.  

The storyline has to be compelling enough to make you want to turn the page. Finish the book. Maybe even read it again.  

And the setting…well, the setting can pull all the pieces together to make the story great.   

As a romantic suspense author, I believe the setting of a story can play an important role in adding suspense.

In my upcoming July Love Inspired Suspense release, Standoff at Midnight Mountain, I set the book in the mountains of Wyoming.

The heroine’s CIA brother has gone missing while meeting an asset somewhere on top of Midnight Mountain.  

As a former CIA agent herself, Rachel Simmons believes someone from the CIA is responsible for her brother’s disappearance. With time running out on his life, Rachel turns to the only person within the CIA she trusts. Alex Booth was once the man Rachel wanted to spend the rest of her life with. She and her brother, along with Alex grew up near Midnight Mountain. Then after they joined the CIA, Alex broke her heart by ending their relationship. Now, Rachel must team up with Alex once more to bring her brother home alive.

We have the hero and heroine at odds. A romantic past standing between them, and time quickly ticking away on the life of someone they both love. The mountain and its weather plays a huge part in preventing them from finding Rachel’s brother, as does the men chasing them who are determined none of them will walk off Midnight Mountain alive.    

When all the ingredients of a book click, they come together to create a story that you don’t want to ever end. Without one ingredient, the story falls short. So it really is all about everything!

As a reader, what are some of your favorite settings for a book?

In honor of my July release of Standoff at Midnight Mountain, I am hosting a Facebook party Monday, July 2^nd from 4:30-8:00 PM Central Time. I’ve been blessed enough to have some great co-hosts. Patricia Bradley, Rachel Dylan, Laura V. Hilton, Nancy Mehl, Dana Mentink, and DiAnn Mills will be joining me to talk about their books as well. There will be lots of fun and giveaways, so it should be a great time and I hope to see you all there.

All  the best...

Mary Alford

www.maryalford.net