BooksChatter: ℚ Heart of a SEAL: Hearts of Valor [1]

Today we have the pleasure of meeting up with author Dixie Lee Brown to talk about Heart of a SEAL (10 April 2018, Lyrical Liaison, 295 pages), a Romantic Suspense, book one in the Hearts of Valor series.

Praise for Heart of a SEAL:
“The debut Hearts of Valor series is enticing with sizzling adventures, and promises of love…” ~ RT Book Reviews

Praise for author: “Dixie Lee Brown delivers all the goods in high style: romance, adventure and suspense - with a generous helping of sexy that will leave readers clamoring for more. The talented Ms. Brown writes the kind of story romance readers crave: sexy, fun and filled with adventure and suspense.” ~ Linda Castillo, New York Times bestselling author of The Dead Will Tell

|| Synopsis || Teaser: KCR Preview || The Series || Author Q&A || About the Author || Giveaway & Tour Stops ||

A very warm welcome to Dixie Lee Brown; thank you for joining us on BooksChatter!

What was the inspiration for Heart of a SEAL ?

"First of all, thanks so much for having me here today, Flora. It’s exciting to be promoting Heart of a SEAL, and I appreciate the time on your blog.

I have an immense amount of respect for veterans and the military personnel who keep us all safe, and my writing in this series is my way of honouring them. The military, and especially Navy SEALs, receive an incredible amount of training and share a brotherhood that’s amazing. That makes it fairly easy to get them in and out of perilous situations, which makes their stories fun to write. Throw in some romance and a sexy, determined woman and, hopefully, end up with a book that’s equally fun to read!"

How much of yourself is reflected in this book, and how?

"If there’s anything of myself in this book, I would have to say it’s an emphasis on the importance of honesty. Honesty and integrity are traits I hold in high esteem and try to create in the characters of my books. Integrity is alive and well!"

Why should we read Heart of a SEAL and what sets it apart from the rest? What makes your book unique?

"I think what makes my book, Heart of a SEAL, unique as a romantic suspense novel is the level of suspense, non-stop action and an ending that you won’t see coming. If you love the genre as much as I do, you should give this book/series a try. I might be a little biased on the subject, however! 😊"

Can you tell us something quirky about Heart of a SEAL , its story and characters?

"I was nearly finished with Sally’s first scene in the book, her date from hell, before I “became aware” that Luke had been held hostage by jihadi fighters in Iraq. Thankfully, it was still the first chapter. It took a lot of re-writing, not to mention re-thinking, to fit that particular bit of information into the story. Characters can be so uncooperative sometimes!"

Who would you recommend Heart of a SEAL to and what should readers be aware of (any warnings or disclaimers)?

"Heart of a SEAL begins with a serious scene depicting the brutality of war. My male characters throughout the book are somewhat rough around the edges, and their language reflects that at times. I feel this story paints an accurate, yet optimistic picture of the life of a SEAL in wartime—and after while trying to re-invent themselves to fit back into civilian life. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romantic suspense with laughter and heartache built in, as well as high-octane anticipation that keeps you reading late into the night."

If you could / wished to turn Heart of a SEAL and the Hearts of Valor series into a movie, who would be your dream team?

"The setting of this book is in the wild mountain country of Idaho, and there’s no more beautiful place in the world, so I’d want it filmed there as well. As far as actors, I just have one thing to say—Jason Momoa—baby!!!!"

What do you like to write and read about? Do you stick to a particular genre or do you like to explore different ones?

"I love to read romantic suspense, so when I started writing seriously, there was never any question what my genre would be. The action and suspense really get me, whether it’s romantic anticipation or page-turning suspense."

What is your writing process?

"I’m a total pantser, so I start with the bare bones of an idea. Usually all I know is who my hero is, and I just start writing. As soon as I do, little pieces of the story start coming to mind, but I never know the ending until I get there."

What is in store next?

"Heart of a SEAL is the first book in the Hearts of Valor series. Book two, Honor Among SEALs will be released October 9th. Here’s a brief description:

Navy SEALS are trained to take on all enemies in extreme situations—but there’s nothing more dangerous than matters of the heart . . .

This is Matt Iverson’s story.
Working for a security company with his brothers-in-arms has given former SEAL Matt “MacGyver” Iverson a reason to get up every morning. But keeping a runaway bride from harm isn’t in his job description . . .

Former Marine Kellie Greyson is in over her head. A cold-hearted ultimatum leaves her no choice but to wed mob boss Tony Palazzi. But when she overhears his deadly plans for her after she says ‘I do,’ Kellie flees his casino, only to wind up in a seedy Vegas bar. The next thing she knows, she’s waking up beside a protective powerhouse of a man . . .

Though Kellie’s body kickstarts his into high gear, MacGyver is all business trying to convince her that they need each other. Both are looking for missing people—and all roads lead to Palazzi. MacGyver will have to lay all his cards on the table to get Kellie to trust him in a game they might not survive . . . "

And as a final quirky thing, to get to know you a little bit better... do you have a pet or something that is special to you that you could share with us?

"My dogs are undeniably my most important possessions—or it might be that they own me! I have two twelve-pound fur-babies. Kaycee is thirteen years old and a Maltese. Reba is ten and a Maltese/shih tzu cross.

This first picture shows Reba on the left and Kaycee on the right.

I couldn’t find a picture with both of them and me, so the second picture is me and Kaycee. (We were both a few years younger back then!)"

Hello Kaycee and Reba, you are both very beautiful! Lots of cuddles to both of you from all of us at BooksChatter! :-)

Dixie, thank you so much for sharing your fur-babies with us.

"Thanks again for hosting me and the tour today!"

After his rescue from a terrorist stronghold, a former Navy SEAL seeks peace in rural Idaho and forgiveness from the woman he wronged. A fiery explosion exposes dangerous secrets, while a killer with a personal vendetta sets a deadly ambush.