Breathless - Kathryn Bain

Hello Kathryn! Thanks for stopping by to visit my little corner of the web. I enjoyed your story, Breathless, so much, I just have to share it! But first, we'd like to get to know you and your writing a little better.

Is this your first book published? And if so, are there any others in progress? (I'm really hoping there's more to come...soon. LOL) This is my first published book. I have a novella due to come out in March. It's humorous women's fiction. Also, I just signed the contract for Catch Your Breath, the sequel to Breathless. Ooh, wonderful!

Is it difficult to write mystery/suspense? (It's certainly beyond me.) I find it pretty easy because I have a sinister mind. (Mwaahaahaa She laughs a deep menacing laugh.)

Do you do a lot of plotting and laying out the story or does it all fall into place as you write? I usually come up with a bunch of ideas and put them in paragraph form. It gives me a guide. If I'm writing suspense/mystery, I don't know who the killer is until I'm about six chapter into the book. That's amazing!

Is this story based on anything in particular? or just an idea from His hand to you? Toby Keith's song "God Love Her" was the inspiration for my book Breathless. I loved the idea of a Bible on a motorcycle.

Well, let me give a little blurb to my readers so they'll know what it's all about.

Lydia Frederickson is afraid to answer her telephone. Widowed and alone, she only wants to get through another anniversary of her husband’s death without falling to pieces, but a stalker isn’t making that goal easy. The disturbing calls are becoming increasingly personal and threatening, and everyone who knows her is suspect. The only person she knows isn’t making the calls is her new ponytailed, tattooed—and breathtakingly handsome— minister, Matthew Winters. Former-narcotics-agent-turned-minister Matthew Winters knows he’s not what the town expected in their new pastor, but he’s up for the challenge. What he doesn’t expect is the sudden attraction he feels for parishioner Lydia Frederickson. When he discovers she’s the victim of a stalker, he feels God’s intervention has led him—both a cop and a preacher—to her. Matthew knows he’s falling for the beautiful widow, but a secret from his past may undermine their future.

Doesn't that just make you want to dig in and start reading??? Well, if that's not enough, here's an excerpt to tempt you even more...

The police finally left and neighbors returned to their own lives. Only Lydia Frederickson remained. Discomfort crawled into her. Why did she call over such a trivial thing as a prank phone call? But when the voice described what she was wearing, she allowed her fear to rule. She pulled her knees to her chest as she sat in the plush chair next to the window. Lydia couldn’t get his unsettling words from his mind.

“I want you. I need you,” he’d taunted, his breathing loud and quick. “I can feel you near me in that pretty pink gown. Soft, silky, so nice to touch. I bet you’re nice to touch, too.”

The last two evenings, it had only been dead air. Tonight he said disturbing things.

She glanced at the notepad. “Phone with caller ID, also feature that blocks calls without identifying numbers,” it read. Deputy Green had made the suggestions, telling her it might end the calls. She prayed he was right.

Her queen-sized bed welcomed her as she coiled into the safety of the blankets. The house had an eerie silence she hadn’t noticed before. She longed for Justin’s reassurance as she scooted closer to the center. Her hand jutted out to reach for him, but the pillow on the other side lay bare. As empty and lonely as when her husband died almost two years ago. Sadness overwhelmed her as she fought to hold the tears in. She missed the comfort and safety of him next to her.

Review:

Ms. Bain sure knows how to keep a reader in suspense...and knows how to tug at the heart, too! From the start of the story, the author keeps you on the edge of your seat, as scared and worried about Lydia as the heroine is for herself. This story is also full of unexpected lessons in human nature and all its weaknesses. Not judging is so hard when we believe that what we see is all there is. This is a great story full of heart and wisdom. I loved it!

Kathryn can be found at www.kathrynjbain.com