Book Spotlight & Giveaway: A Perfect Secret by Donna Hatch

I'm spotlighting a clean Adult Historical Romance today, A Perfect Secret, by Donna Hatch.
Donna let me interview her and is also giving away two copies below. Here's the info on the book...

A Perfect Secret  (Rogue Hearts, #3)A Perfect Secret
(Rogue Hearts #3)
by Donna Hatch
Adult Historical Romance
Paperback348 Pages
December 14 2013                

Summary

Desperate to protect her father from trial and death, Genevieve breaks off her engagement with Christian Amesbury and marries a blackmailer. After a year of marriage, she flees her husband's violent domination only to have fate bring her back to Christian. Just when she thinks she's started a new life of safety and solitude, her husband tracks her down, stalks her, and threatens everyone she loves.

Still brokenhearted over Genevieve's betrayal a year ago, Christian can't believe she's come back into his life--and worse, that she's done it on the anniversary of his brother's death, a death that haunts him. Though tempted to throw her back into the river where he found her, he can't leave her at the mercy of the terrifying man she married.

When her husband torments Genevieve and puts his family in danger, Christian will do anything to protect those he loves...anything except give Genevieve another chance to break his heart.

   


Author Interview

Tressa: Welcome, Donna, to my blog today! It’s great to have you here! Let’s talk about the third book in your Rogue Hearts series, A Perfect Secret.

The story for A Perfect Secret is about a married woman who flees her husband. What inspired you to write this story?


Donna: The seed of the idea formed many years ago, but I didn't really give it much thought. It grew gradually, with many variations, and solidified when I saw the Julia Roberts movie, Sleeping with the Enemy. There are some obvious differences, but the concept really took root then. I wasn't sure I wanted to write it because I don't consider myself a suspense writer, but it kept haunting me until I finally wrote it. 

Tressa: I actually really enjoy suspense, but I haven't read a lot of that in an historical setting before. I'm curious to see how it influences the story. What do you like most about Genevieve and Christian?

Donna: They both have a great deal of integrity and really try to do the right thing in the midst of difficult circumstances. I admire their ability to forgive, let go of past hurts, and have the confidence in themselves and in each other to move forward and make tough decisions. They both had to really dig down inside themselves to find courage, Genevieve especially. Christian also had to let go of some pride.

Tressa: I can just guess at how difficult their situation is. What do you want readers to take away with them after reading A Perfect Secret?

Donna: In general, I hope every reader will walk away from all my books feeling that love and goodness really can triumph over all. Specifically with this book, the story has a real theme of forgiveness of self and of others and of pointing out that we don't always know what we think we know about others and not to make judgments. I hope readers pick up on that, too.

Tressa: Isn't that too true - we really don't know most individuals or situations well enough to judge. This being the third book in the series, do you feel like your writing style has changed at all from the first book, The Stranger She Married, to this book?

The Stranger She Married (Rogue Hearts, #1) The Stranger She Married (Rogue Hearts, #1)
(I noticed the cover change from the first book to the second.)

Donna: I hope my style is stronger but it's hard to self assess. This book was much more difficult to write than any of my other novels or short stories. It might have been because the subject matter was trickier and I feared I'd turn off some people who would think the characters are dancing around the issue of adultery. The characters don't have sex, but they do kiss twice in the story while she's still married to her total creep of a husband, so I feared some readers would view it as too close. It's a sensitive subject. I hope I handled it tastefully and realistically.

In the original draft, Christian and Genevieve didn't know each other before the story began; they met when he pulled her from the river. But she was so closed up and broken and afraid to trust that their relationship just wasn't coming together. And the whole her being married to another man while she was falling in love with Christian was even more touchy even though she'd fled her husband before the romance with Christian started. So I changed their backstory so they were already in love before she was forced to marry the creep. Early in the series, I knew Christian had loved and lost someone, and that it had somehow been the source of the scar near his eye, but I didn't know until I started considering a revision that Genevieve was that person. Everything started falling into place once I made that change. This is the first time that I had to do a rewrite that massive, so it made it for a long and difficult story to write.

Tressa: It sounds like it ended up all fitting together. Do you have a favorite character or couple from the entire series so far?

The Guise of a Gentleman

Donna: Not a favorite, really. Cole and Alicia of The Stranger She Married were my first couple and so they will always have a special place in my heart. Christian and Genevieve have such a tender relationship partly because of who they are, and partly because they had to go through so much, both separately and together, to finally be together. But the easiest book to write in the series was The Guise of a Gentleman, which is book two. Jared was just such a fun character who could get away with any kind of outrageous behavior and Elise had to learn to roll with the punches and embrace her inner adventurer so it was really easy to write. It sorta felt like I had to run after them and write down everything they did and said as quickly as possible. I even dreamed about Jared when I had to set aside the first draft of his story and do final edits on the first novel. He was not amused that I'd abandoned him to work on his brother's story :-)

Tressa: Lol! I love how characters can almost become real people. :) Do you have any interesting rituals while you write, such as snacks to have on hand, music to be playing, setting, etc.?


Donna: Not really. I've learned to write on the fly whenever I think I can spare half an hour and I have to jump in whenever I can, whether it's in the doctor's office or at a soccer field. But if I'm putting off writing, or having trouble with a revision or edits, chocolate really helps get me through it. I line up bit-sized chocolates like Dove on my desk in front of the computer screen and toss one in my mouth every time I get stuck and start struggling with what to do next. It's amazing I haven't gained a hundred pounds!

Tressa: I actually have a little pile of Dove chocolates by my computer right now. I'm saving them for the weekend. What book are you looking forward to reading this year?

Edenbrooke Blackmoore Friends and Foes (The Jonquil Brothers #1) As You Are (The Jonquil Brothers #3)

Donna: I want to read Edenbrooke and/or Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson. I also hear Sarah M. Eden has a book coming out later this year that I can't wait to read. I love her Joquil family series.

Tressa: Thanks so much for stopping by, Donna! I’m looking forward to reading A Perfect Secret!

Donna: Thank you!

Donna 2013 (1)

About the Author

My passion for writing began at the tender age of 8 and I’ve been hooked ever since. Of course, I also wanted to be an actress and a ballerina, but one out of three isn’t bad, right?

In between caring for six children, (7 counting my husband), my day job, my free lance editing and copy writing, and my many volunteer positions, I manage to carve out time to indulge in my writing obsession. After all, it IS an obsession. My family is more patient and supportive than I deserve.


Donna is giving away one ebook and one paperback copy of A Perfect Secret to two lucky winners!! Find all the details below.

Giveaway

- 1 paperback of A Perfect Secret (US Only)
- 1 ebook of A Perfect Secret (INT)
- Ends May 23rd

Must be able to enter and receive winnings by law.You must be at least 13 years old to enter. Please ensure that you correctly enter your email (and check your junk mail folder if I'm not on your contact list) so that I have a way to contact you. You can read my giveaway policy on my policies page. Void where prohibited by law. Enter via the Rafflecopter below.

11 comments

  1. Good interview! I haven't heard of this author before now. I want to check out her first book now.

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  2. I love Donna Hatch! Thanks so much for the interview and giveaway!!!!

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  3. I love love love this....Donna Hatch will hold a special place in my heart forever..She probably doesn't even know who I am, but she inspired Natalie so much. She was Natalie's first mentor. She loves her and she sings her praises all the time. I will forever be grateful for all she has done to inspire my daughter. What a great interview!!!

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  4. Seriously. Donna is amazing! I can't even express how grateful I am for her open, welcoming arms when I first joined American Night Writers Association (ANWA). She has helped me so much with my own manuscript. I absolutely LOVE The Rogue Heart series. Donna's talent for writing is incredible!!

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  5. Her books are kind of like Harlequin romances, but clean and better. :)

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  6. You're welcome! We'll actually be touring this one soon with Prism Book Tours, so you may want to look for that sign-up if you're interested.

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  7. Isn't that great to find someone like that?! My mom knows her through ANWA and that's how I ended up having her guest post here. We'll also be doing a tour for her for this book.

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  8. I'm so glad that you have that connection with her! We'll be doing a tour for her, so look for that sign-up.

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  9. You asked some great questions! I think this book sounds interesting too. I will keep my eye out for her books. I had not heard of her!

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  10. I hope you like her if you get to read her books! :)

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