Even
though my latest release, Without Mercy,
is a fairly graphic, violent suspense thriller, at the heart of the novel is a
story about a mother’s love. Motherhood
is a powerful motivator, and if you are a mother, it’s the most important job
you’ll ever have. My three children are grown, but I still feel an overwhelming
protectiveness toward them, I worry for them when they are ill or when I think
they’ve possibly been injured (you know, when you can’t reach them for long
periods of time, when you’re certain you should be able to, or when they are an
hour late to your house and they WON’T ANSWER THEIR PHONE..) Anyway…I can’t say
I would do anything in the world for them, because sometimes a parent can do
too much. (And I have been guilty of that very thing) But, I can say I would
sacrifice anything for them and I would give my life for them.
I
had a very good friend for many years, a single mother with a young son. She
adored him. He was her world. My friend moved to Texas, and she and I lost
touch for several years. A few months back, I decided to look her up on
Facebook. I was shocked and saddened to discover she died February of this
year. I learned that she lost her life in a house fire, saving her son, who
survived. Although devastating and heartbreaking, it was also tragically
fitting. A mother who loved her child as fiercely as she did would not think
twice about giving her life for him.
In
Without Mercy, I know I didn’t quite
do justice in conveying how a mother would feel in the situation China Beckett
finds herself in, but I did my best. The only way to truly do justice would be
to have been in her place, to know what it felt like for your child to be
threatened in this way. But, I will gladly forego the ability to truly empathize
with the character, in exchange for not ever having had to go through something
like this with my children. Fortunately, this is fiction, so we can read it and
hopefully be on the edge of our seats, but deep down, be grateful it’s China
and not us.
Blurb
How
far will a mother go to protect her child?
When
an apparently random bank robbery turns out to be a sinister plan, single
mother China Beckett is thrust into a nightmare.
A
group of mercenaries take over her life, threatening her young daughter and
everyone they love. Each time China makes a mistake, someone dies. She’ll fight
to the last breath to protect her child, but with no idea what move will be the
wrong one, that might not be enough.
As
the lives of China’s loved ones are jeopardized, she must take action, although
she has no idea where to turn—and time is running out. But then, a startling
truth is revealed and China discovers that the only person who can save
them might be a ghost from the past.
Excerpt
This
time, China didn’t flinch, tried not to show her fear. Layla’s cloying perfume
washed over her and still, she managed to hold her ground.
Layla
finally moved away, and China let out a long breath. “I’m tired,” she said.
“I’m going to bed.”
“I
believe I’ll go upstairs also.” Layla bent and slid something from her boot. A
small, black-handled dagger appeared in her hand. She smiled, running a finger
slowly along the side of the blade.
Panic
bubbled to China’s throat. “What are you doing?”
“Emma
didn't seem to get the message earlier about eating slaughtered animals. I
thought I might pay her a visit. Kids like show and tell, right? I can show her
what I mean.”
China’s
heartbeat stalled, and the blood in her veins froze. “You can't...you won't...”
“Oh,
don't worry. It won’t be anything fatal. I'll just give her a little sample of
what the animals feel. Royce said we couldn't kill either of you unless he
orders us to. Didn't say we couldn't play.” She shot China a vicious glare and
strolled toward the stairs.
“Stop!”
China screamed. “Don't touch her.”
A
chuckle issued from Layla’s blood red lips, but she didn’t pause.
Looking
around frantically for a weapon, China closed her hand around the cross. With a
strangled cry, she lunged toward Layla’s retreating back.
Bio
Alicia
Dean lives in Edmond, Oklahoma. She has three grown children and a huge network
of supportive friends and family. She writes mostly contemporary suspense and
paranormal, but has also written in other genres, including a few vintage
historicals.
Other
than reading and writing, her passions are Elvis Presley, MLB, NFL (she usually
works in a mention of one or all three into her stories) and watching her
favorite televisions shows like Vampire Diaries, Justified, Sons of Anarchy, Haven,
The Mindy Project, and Dexter (even though it has sadly ended, she will forever
be a fan). Some of her favorite authors are Michael Connelly, Dennis Lehane,
Lee Child, Lisa Gardner, Sharon Sala, Jordan Dane, Ridley Pearson, Joseph
Finder, and Jonathan Kellerman…to name a few.
