My latest book, Hidden Names, is a Christian Romantic Suspense. One of the things I’ve enjoying doing with each of my books is to put a little of myself into the novel. In this story, Amber is an artistic jeweler, who works with gems and stones to create her products. I am definitely not a jeweler, but I loved collecting rocks as a child. It was something my dad and I did together so writing the story made some sweet memories of the past.
Amber’s dad didn’t do much with her, except leave her a barrel of trouble from his criminal past. When he asked her to create jewelry, with a space to hide something in each piece, she had no idea it would send her on a race across the country to retrieve the hidden items. After an attacker attempts to get the information from her in her studio, she and Federal Agent Graham will try to figure out what clues her father put in the jewelry. They will need the items to solve a crime her father was involved in. Graham has an idea about where Amber’s father sent the jewelry. Amber knows how to open the jewelry. Neither of them have a clue about what her father put in the pieces. The criminals chasing them aren’t sure either, but Amber’s father had threatened to betray them to the authorities. They will pursue and attack anytime they can.
For their trek through Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama, I used places I had visited, lived, or worked as a basis for their travels. One place was Lee County, Virginia where I taught for a few years. It is a beautiful area filled with mountains located at the western tip of the state. Another was Berry College where my dad worked his way through school during the Depression Era. The campus provided a setting with magnificent rock buildings, a campus mill wheel, chapel, and reflecting pool. I’ve included a visit to the birthplace of a certain Coronel’s fried chicken restaurant, without naming names so I don’t have to worry about copyright problems. While writing the story, I actually learned more about the history of that gas station turned restaurant by watching a history show on TV. Having those places in my mind cut down on the number of hours I would have spent researching locations for the travels in Hidden Names.
My dad was an amateur electrician, radio, early computer user, and history buff. He grew up in Alabama and always had interesting gadgets to share with his children. Using that knowledge and his birthplace for the final resolution and setting in the story was a tribute to the heritage he left me. I still visit with cousins and stay at the old home place. I’ve even shopped at a small hardware store that existed until recently. Visiting that place of business helped me make the setting feel authentic.
Graham and Amber will need to overcome hurts from the past before they begin to see a relationship in their future. Her relationship with her father created distrust in men when he deserted their family during an affair. The journey across the states will reveal more of her father’s character. Graham has a failed past relationship that hurt his whole family. He isn’t ready to think about dating.
My husband and I are big NCIS fans. If you read carefully you might spot a few references or names peeking out here and there for a little fun. Amber and Graham have enjoyable moments, but also have to keep on their toes because the criminals want to know what they are finding. Amber tends to lean into humor when under stress. Graham isn’t amused, especially when a kidnapping becomes part of the plot.
If you like clean suspense with a hint of humor, please check out Hidden Names. I hope you will enjoy getting to know Amber and Graham. I had fun creating them and their adventure. I’m working on a sequel that should be ready in about a year. The working title is, Hidden Witness.
Amber’s father, Max, betrayed her and her mom when she was sixteen. Determined to make it on her own she refused all contact with the man and paid her way through college by making jewelry. Now, she finds it hard to let any man get close to her heart.
Months ago, he asked her to make some jewelry. She reluctantly agreed, needing the money he offered to set up her new venture, a studio for artists. Then he died, leaving a jeweled trail of trouble connected to a ring of cybercriminals.
Against her will, Amber must team up with Federal Agent Graham to gather up clues and stay one step ahead of people who don’t care who they hurt to protect their secrets.
The wounds of Graham’s past complicate their cross-country race as he becomes attracted to Amber. As they uncover the secrets her father left behind, they must learn to trust each other, before time runs out to defeat their nameless enemies, and find long-delayed healing.
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Bettie Boswell always loved to read and create stories for family and friends. In 2016 she began writing and illustrating stories to share with the world. She is now an author/illustrator of both children and Christian adult fiction and non-fiction books. Her efforts include contributions to educational works, leveled readers, magazine articles, and devotional and short story anthologies. Bettie has two grown sons, one daughter-in-law, three grandchildren, and a busy minister husband. Visit her site.