meet Susan Page Davis

Patterings




Susan Page Davis is a Maine native who writes historical novels and romantic suspense. She’s homeschooled her six children (the bittersweet end of that era is in sight). She lives in the woods with her own hero, Jim, the children still at home, and a black Lab-pointer-terrier cross (read “mutt”). She loves travel, blackberries, squeezing her grandchildren, and anything old.

You can visit with Susan on her website: www.susanpagedavis.com




Hearts in the Crosshairs
She came for her inaugural address—and found herself dodging bullets, instead. Newly elected Maine governor Jillian Goff doesn't know why someone wants to kill her. But she knows they came close. Too close. Enter Dave Hutchins. A member of the state's Executive Protection Unit, Dave's mission is to protect the governor and find the would-be assassin. Without getting emotionally involved. Yet the more time Dave spends with Jillian, the less he can imagine ever leaving her side. Not with her life—and his heart—caught in the crosshairs.

Here's an excerpt of Hearts in the Crosshairs:

Governor Jillian Goff pulled on dark knit gloves as she walked across the lobby of the statehouse flanked by the president of the Maine Senate and two Executive Protection Unit officers. Another security officer opened the door, and she stepped out into the bright, cold January day. The sky overhead, between the Capitol and the state office building, shone a vivid blue. Several hundred people had crowded into the limited space. Jillian waved as she walked across the paving stones to the microphones, touched that so many had come out to see her just minutes after she took the oath of office.

She smiled and looked into the television camera with the red light. "I want to thank all of you, the people of Maine, for choosing me as your new governor. The past few months have been hectic, but they've been good preparation for what's ahead. Together we can bring Maine into a productive new era. I look forward to—"

A muffled crack made her freeze. Something zinged past her ear, and a small, sharp object struck her cheek.

Someone seized her shoulders from behind and shoved her down behind the bank of microphones.

"Steady, ma'am. Keep still until we secure the area."

She'd only been governor for fifteen minutes, and an officer from the EPU was holding her against the cold stone pavement before the door of the Capitol. Her right cheek stung. People shouted and scrambled about. A puff of white vapor formed in the air each time she let out a shallow breath. Her pulse thudded in her temples, and her knee hurt, folded beneath her on the freezing stone.

She turned her head, but that wasn't much better. Her cheekbone contacted with the icy pavement and she shivered. "W-what happened?"

"Shooter. Are you all right?"

"Yes."

Jillian swallowed hard. This morning, the chief officer of the Maine State Police, Colonel Gideon Smith, had urged her to wear a bulletproof vest beneath her coat during the press conference, and she had laughed at him. "When was the last time a Maine governor was attacked?"

"I take your safety seriously, ma'am," Smith had replied.

I should have listened to him.

Another man came and kneeled beside her.

"Are you all right, ma'am?"

"I think so." The cheek that was pressed against the stone still stung.

"We're going to help you up and get you inside. We'll take you right up to your office. Do you understand?"

She nodded. She could hear the surge of the crowd and shouts in the distance.

"All right, then." The weight on her back lifted as the man who had hovered over her straightened, and she struggled to her knees.

"Quickly, now." The officers pulled her up and urged her toward the main door. A few photographers ran alongside and snapped pictures. Inside, a dozen people huddled against the walls, staring at her. Policemen surrounded her on all sides—plainclothesmen of the EPU, uniformed state troopers and Capitol security officers—but still she felt exposed. Anyone could have walked into the building before the press conference. She looked ahead, searching for things out of place, for people who didn't belong.

Six officers squeezed into the elevator with her. The rest headed for the stairs. So far, the emergency plan was functioning just as they'd laid it out to her a few weeks earlier.

"You're bleeding, ma'am," said one of the female detectives.

Jillian pulled off her gloves and touched her right cheek gingerly, then drew her hand away and looked at it. Her fingertips were stained with blood.

"I don't think it's serious."

"We'll have your doctor come look at it immediately," the tall detective on her other side said.

When they emerged on the floor above, Colonel Smith waited by the elevator, panting.

"Governor Goff! I'm so sorry." He took her elbow and guided her swiftly through the outer office and into the inner sanctum. Her private office. She'd only been in it a few times, during the last governor's term. Half a dozen EPU members and four uniformed troopers followed and took up positions at every door and window. Several more were ordered to stand guard in the outer office. The main door closed, and Smith locked it.

"Have a seat, ma'am. We'll get you out of here as quickly as possible, but not until we've secured the area."

"I understand." Jillian's chest tightened as she walked toward the huge walnut desk. At least her calf-length skirt and wool coat covered her trembling knees. She sank into the padded leather chair behind the desk and lowered her head into her hands. She winced as she touched her cheek again.

Smith held out a clean white handkerchief. "I'm sorry, Governor. We've called for your physician. She'll be here momentarily."

Jillian raised her chin. "I'm fine, Colonel. Just find out who did this."



You can purchase Hearts in the Crosshairs from CBD, and Amazon:


Susan is giving away a copy of Hearts in the Crosshairs. To be entered in the book giveaway, leave a comment and check back on Sunday, October 11th to see if you've won. If you want to guarantee that you're notified if you win, then leave your email address in the comment, otherwise, you can just check back and email me through the button in my sidebar.
**Annoying little disclaimer: This giveaway is void where prohibited; open only to U.S. addresses, odds of winning depend on number of entrants. No purchase necessary.
**Cover Art for Hearts in the Crosshairs used by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises, Limited. All rights reserved.

8 comments:

  1. Folks, this is a great book. I have my own copy so don't add me to the contest.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks, Darlene! Glad you enjoyed it. I had a lot of fun writing this book.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous1:29 PM

    This book sounds good! And I've got to support a Mainer!
    Sunny

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous2:10 PM

    Ooh... I am drooling over this one! please enter me in the drawing. thanks, Esther
    faith4u7(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Would love Susan's book. Please enter me.

    desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous4:26 PM

    Sounds like a wonderful read....please count me in...thanks.

    karen k
    kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  7. JoAnn7:36 PM

    Your book sounds good. Please enter me in the drawing.

    Thanks,
    joann4us (at) yahoo (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous1:10 PM

    It sounds really good, please enter me in the drawing. ~Abby

    abster(dot)rose(at)yahoo(dot(com

    ReplyDelete

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