Romantic Suspense & Giveaway: A house is a home when... with Juanita Kees

GIVEAWAY NOW ENDED
The winner is: Melissa Woods!
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We’re back with four fabulous authors over four days and a book giveaway a day!
What does a house or a home mean to a character in a book?
 
All my guest authors this week are ARRA (Australian Romance Readers Association) 2014 Award finalists for Romantic Suspense fiction - and for good reason.
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In today's post there's an international giveaway of an Amazon kindle copy of the featured book: 
​UNDER COVER OF DARK 
plus a choice of one of any of my books (Amazon kindle) for either you or a friend.
 
Enjoy!

Today's guest is Juanita Kees, author of Romantic Suspense and also Rural Romance

Juanita Kees: Writer, Editor and Cleaning Fairy – A Woman on a Mission!

I escape the real world by reading and writing romantic fiction. When I’m not writing, editing or proofreading, I’m the cleaning fairy and mother to three boys (hubby included, his toys are just a little more expensive). My not-so-miniature Daschund, Sam keeps me company while writing.

Juanita is the author of  “fun, action-packed sexy stories filled with feisty, caring characters ready to risk everything for love”.

She’s also an ARRA 2014 and a R*BY (Romantic Book of the Year, Romance Writers of Australia) 2104 award finalist.

The book

ARRA 2014 Award finalist for Romantic Suspense

The character

Detective Mark Johnson, hero. He's investigating the murder of Tag Raiders gang leader, Gino Benetti, and finds himself falling for the victim’s widow.

Character bio: Detective Mark Johnson has an easy-going personality, a great sense of humour, talks to dogs and enjoys the peacefulness of the Perth hills. He is too busy solving crimes to fall in love—until he meets Lily Bennetti, the widow in his current murder case. Mark being the hero and gentleman he is, will give Lily as much space as she needs to heal, but that won’t stop him loving her or putting himself in danger to protect her and her son Luke.

The house

The newly-established Tiny Watts Teenage Rehabilitation Centre (from my novel, Under the Hood) has become a second home for Mark. He hangs out there as a mentor to the former members of the Tag Raiders gang. The property is set on a 10 acre block of land in the Perth Hills and is as close to rural/small town living as he can get without leaving the city.

The idea for centre came from Australian businessman and politician JJ Simons’ Young Australia League holiday camp established in 1929 deep in the shaded Roleystone valley. Together, League members and volunteers built cottages using local timber and stone. They created pathways, roads, steps and terraces and filled the garden with native and imported plants. The Grove of the Unforgotten still remains today, built in memory of Young Australia League members killed in World War I. Now known as Araluen Botanical Park, many of the cottages have been restored, except for one that burnt down, leaving only the chimney stack standing—and that becomes a pivotal point in my story.
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I chose a similar setting because of the history and original purpose. How wonderful would it be if young people could return to this peaceful place while they search for themselves through the trials of growing up?

What makes a house a home for Mark?

​A place filled with love and laughter where victims of domestic violence and crime are given the opportunity to turn their lives around, and of course, having Lily there at his side.

Under Cover of Dark book blurb

​New Australian romantic suspense follows Under the Hood, about a Western Australian drug gang, the teenagers they recruit, and
the cop who wants to bring them down.
 
When Mark Johnson delves deeper into his investigation into the murder of Tiny Watts and the involvement of a teenage gang with sleazy lawyer, Gino Bennetti, and his drug world ties, the last thing he expects is to be interviewing Gino’s widow, a woman in a world of trouble.

When her husband is shot and killed, it is both a relief and a disaster. Lily has her son to protect and secrets that run deeper than the scars she bears. Mark Johnson is the last person she wants uncovering those secrets, especially the truth about her son, Luke’s involvement in Tiny Watts’ murder.
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As the investigation continues and Lily’s wounds begin to heal, she finds the detective easy to trust and the friendship between them blossoms into more. But the secret Lily holds places everyone in very real danger. When it is finally revealed, Lily will lose everything: her son, the man she’s grown to love, her freedom, and her life.

Excerpt from Under Cover of Dark by Juanita Kees

Mark ran a hand over his face and rubbed at the day’s growth of beard. ‘It could get ugly for both of them.’
‘I guess we need to make sure it doesn’t.’
‘We’re going to try our damndest,’ Mark agreed.
‘Oi,’ called TJ from the veranda. Both men turned to see her with a pile of linen in her arms. She tossed it neatly into Scott’s. ‘Why don’t you boys go and make up the beds in Cabin One while we get the salads ready.’
‘And here I thought we could sit, watch footy and drink beer while the kids did the barbeque,’ grumbled Scott.
‘Not if you want to sleep in a bed tonight.’ TJ turned and went inside.
With a shrug, they set off towards the row of four cabins further up the slope behind the house. Razed during a fire six months earlier, the community had pulled together to help Scott and TJ rebuild the refuge accommodation. Now they stood guard over the garden they’d dedicated to Tiny Watts, the ruins of the chimney where he’d hidden his letter to TJ stood proudly in the middle.
Scott whistled for his Rottweiler, Sarge, who followed happily behind them. ‘On guard,’ he told the dog. Sarge turned towards the view of the driveway and flopped down with his head resting on his gigantic paws. ‘I’ll leave him outside the door of the cabin tonight. He’ll keep an eye on her so she’s not alone.’
‘Can he use a gun?’ Mark laughed.
‘No, but he’s been sharpening his teeth on Marty’s cricket stumps. Chewed the damn things in half.’
Lily watched the two men from the kitchen window and thought about Luke’s diary. She’d burn it herself if it didn’t also hold evidence that would take the drug ring down. Now Mark knew about the diary, dare they use it to cut a deal for Luke? 

Buy Under Cover of Dark
Amazon Australia
Amazon.com
iBooks
Kobo

Other books by Juanita Kees

All Juanita Kees' books can be read as stand-alone novels.
​Juanita also writes short, hot sexy romance under the pen name Juanita Chavez.

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Coming soon! A rural romance from Juanita, Home to Bindarra Creek. 

When fate brings together two lost souls, it’s time to leave the shadows behind and come home to Bindarra Creek

Park Ranger, Alice Pritchard lives with the ghosts of her past. As long as she has her rescued wildlife to rehabilitate and Bindarra Creek parks to care for, she’ll never need a man again. Now, with rejuvenation of the town in the pipeline, she has no choice but to let go of the past.

Dan Molyneaux roars into her life in his high-powered V8 and reopens the Riverside Pub forcing her to face her ghosts, his possum problem, Curly the cockatoo who swears like a sailor, Old Man Jake who’s appointed himself caretaker of the property, and Grandad Charlie who’s determined to find her the man he thinks she deserves. Alice would love to ignore them all and keep living in the cocoon she’s created for herself in sleepy Bindarra Creek, but fate has other plans for her.

Dan isn’t looking for love or the friendship of the two crazy old men who appear to have ‘adopted’ him. All he wanted was the peace and quiet of the country, away from the city highways. Soon he’s swept along by renovations, fundraisers, hell-raisers and the problems of a small town coming back to life. But it’s the park ranger he’s curious about. Why would a girl as beautiful as Alice bury herself in a backwater town so far off the main highway, it was merely a blip on the satellite map?

What he uncovers raises his own ghosts from the dead.

Home to Bindarra Creek (from the Bindarra Creek rural romance series) is releasing 22 Dec 2015 and up for pre-order very soon… Check in with Juanita on JuanitaKees.com for up to date information on when you can pre-order.

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Find out more about Juanita Kees and her books on her website JuanitaKees.com
Say hi to Juanita on her Facebook page JuanitaKeesAuthor
 
Huge thanks to Juanita for participating in my A house is a home when... series.
I love to share great books with my readers.
 
LEAVE A COMMENT for Juanita and you’re in the draw to WIN an Amazon kindle copy of 
​Under Cover of Dark plus your choice of one of any of my books (Amazon kindle) for either you or a friend.
​Giveaways drawn Sun 22 Nov, midnight AEST.
GIVEAWAY NOW ENDED
Winner is: Melissa Woods!
 
Jennie, in the company of Juanita xx

Leave a comment for a chance to win an eBook (kindle) of Under Cover of Dark.

Plus your choice of any one of my books (eBook, for kindle).

Check out previous giveaways in this series of Romance! Adventure! Suspense! (still ongoing):
Lee Christine & In Safe Arms
Sandy Curtis & Grievous Harm
Cathryn Hein & The French Prize and her new rural romance, Summer and the Groomsman