Special Feature ~ Shadow of Doubt - An SBG Novel by P. A. Depaul

Special Feature

Shadow of Doubt - An SBG Novel 

by

P. A. DePaul

 Synopsis (from Amazon):

Michelle Alger flees when her secretly recorded tryst winds up on the internet. She has no option but to hide. Her one-night stand—the son of a powerful US senator—was murdered. Learning she’s the prime suspect is traumatizing. Already a member of witness protection thanks to a Colombian drug lord kidnapping her in college, she now has to run from the senator and law enforcement. To make matters worse, the drug lord finally knows her location and is hot on her trail. There’s only one man she trusts. He saved her once, can he do it again six years later?

 

Captain Jeremy Malone no longer wears a Green Beret. He’s traded in his fatigues for a new life leading Delta Squad, a covert unit within SweetBriar Group. His latest orders from the senator: find the unknown woman and bring her to me. But Jeremy knows her identity. He once rescued her from a Colombian cartel, and has never forgotten her. He assigns his squad a new mission: find Michelle first and learn the real story.

 

Michelle and Jeremy can’t deny their explosive chemistry. But, with every new piece of evidence, Jeremy’s faith in Michelle’s innocence is questioned. Is her plea for help a ruse…or a trap set by a beautiful woman determined to expose Jeremy’s own secrets…

 

This is the second book in the SweetBriar Group (SBG) series and can be read as a standalone.

Excerpt:

Cappy was going to hell.

The sight of Michelle’s perfect ass disappearing out the window was now permanently burned into his brain. He was such a bastard for avidly watching it wiggle as she forced her body through the tight opening.

Every nerve ending north of his toes still vibrated from touching her. Though he had sounded like a bumbling idiot earlier, he’d meant it when he’d blurted how amazing she looked, so healthy and whole. The antithesis of the bloody, broken woman damaged by the Osvaldo Cartel in that shithole room six years ago. This beautiful, vibrant, sexy woman surged his blood and overloaded his fantasies. God built her body for a man like him. Built her for deep, hard sex, be it up against a wall or bent over a chair . . . Goddammit.

Straight. To. Hell.

Remember the mission. He couldn’t think of her in any terms other than professional. For Christ's sake, he had to find out if she killed the senator’s son. Not have her starring in his latest mental porno.

He pulled a disposable phone from his leg pocket and dropped it inside her overlarge bag. Once he zipped the thing closed, he called, “Heads up. Purse coming through.”

He gave it a little nudge over the sill, hearing it thud into her hands before he yanked the battery out of the back of her cell phone. Now no one could trace her from the GPS in the device—which had been his plan if she hadn’t called him.

He dropped the pieces into his leg pocket for later disposal. Putting on his sunglasses, he ensured his gun holster wouldn’t knock into the frame's edges, and slid soundlessly through the small opening, then closed the window. Turning, he half expected to find her gone, but she stood just to the left, chewing on her lip with fear lacing through her irises.

“This way,” he whispered, grabbing her hand and motioning toward a grungy building next door.

The electricity from the contact instantly had him hard. He grunted and urged her forward. He pulled her around the back corner of a convenience store and stopped, shifting his hips to relieve the pressure.

“Cutting it too close, Cappy,” Talon admonished softly. Michelle jumped, squealed, then slapped a hand over her mouth.

Yeah. Talon had that effect on people. He was so damn good at blending into the background, he caught most by surprise.

Cappy seized Michelle’s hand to stop her from inching backward. “Relax.”

Her eyes were as large as her face, and she didn’t seem able to look away from his teammate. A sudden shot of jealousy spiked through his veins. Stow that shit. He had no time for the destructive emotion, and it was wrong on so many levels.

“Where’s the car?” he barked, jolting them all. Christ.

Engines raced into the parking lot next door and instantly shut off. Car doors opened, then slammed shut.

Cappy didn’t need to see his teammate’s eyes to know they were both thinking about how they had just barely made it. Michelle trembled underneath his palm.

“Car’s on the other side of the dry cleaners, as commanded.” Talon pointed to a building that had seen better days adjacent to the convenience store.

* * *

Dear God, who is this guy? Michelle couldn’t stop staring at the wicked knife with the onyx blade still protruding from SCK’s [Stone Cold Killer’s] fist.

She shivered.

A male voice yelled from the hotel’s parking lot, “You two cover the back. White, start peering in windows. I’ll talk to the desk clerk.”

“Our signal to move,” Jeremy whispered, jerking her arm as he pulled her forward.

She ran as fast as possible but knew she wasn’t close to the speed both men wanted. Tough darts. She didn’t live in a gym like them.

Had she done the right thing, calling Jeremy? She trailed behind the two men, still rattled by his apparent connection to the FBI’s investigation. He saved you before. Yeah, he did. Was he doing that now? Every TV show, movie, and book she’d ever read clearly pointed out how only those closely connected to a case were privy to details like a raid on a hotel room. Did that mean Jeremy saw the YouTube video?

Talon glanced over his shoulder. His dark shades had slid down and the cold light in his eyes sent fear racing down her spine. No. No! She pulled against Jeremy’s grip, her mind plunging back into Colombia without warning. Cold steel bit into her skin while the man with a pair of emotionless yet fanatical eyes stared at her. “You going to talk now, puta?”

“Michelle,” Jeremey snapped. “Stay with me.”

She blinked away the vision, disoriented at being ripped back into the present so fast. Jeremy tightened his grip and dragged her against his side. For a brief moment, she allowed her head to fall against his meaty shoulder. She inhaled his addictive scent and instantly felt better.

“Eyes front, Talon.” Jeremy flattened her body against the side of the dry cleaners. “We clear to make a break for the car on the other side?”

From beyond the hotel and as far as Michelle could glimpse in the other direction, the backs of the buildings were relatively flush with each other. Some had blacktop as if for additional parking while others had large dumpsters filling the space.

“O Romeo, Romeo. Wherefore art thou Romeo?” Talon crooned softly.

What the heck?

Jeremy flashed SCK a grin and placed his lips next to her earlobe. She shivered at the faint breath and almost missed his command. “Keep low but run as fast as you can. Don’t stop or slow down. Once you clear the corner, wait for us.” Her mind turned to mush at his whispered words. “We’ll use our bodies to block the view if someone should glance this way.”

It took everything she had not to giggle and lift her shoulder. Get it together, Michelle. This is serious.

He placed a large hand at the small of her back. “Go.” He gave her a little push.

Guest Post:

A Key Element of Romantic Suspense That Keeps the Pages Turning

I absolutely love it when a book has me sitting on the edge of my seat with my heart pounding and pages turning so fast, I risk a papercut or dead battery. As a reader, I get to enjoy the ride, as an author it’s my job to transport someone else into that adrenaline space. Oh, excuse me, I should introduce myself. My name is P.A. DePaul and I write Romantic Suspense. I’ve had books traditionally published with Penguin and Harlequin, and I’ve indie published a romantic suspense series.

Writing Romantic Suspense is a lot of fun, but like any genre it has rules. Since no one wants me to go on forever, I’ll talk about one of my favorite components with examples from my latest release, Shadow of Doubt.  

Golden Rule: Increase suspense through the use of High Action. This is the fun stuff. The heart-pounding, pulse-racing, page-turning situations the hero and heroine have to accomplish/escape/evade/stop/hurdle before something really bad happens. But, as the story progresses the stakes must rise or the story falls flat.  

In Shadow of Doubt, the heroine finds out someone filmed her drunken escapade with a senator’s son and posted it on YouTube. Normally that’d be embarrassing but nothing noteworthy. But when you pair that film with the next day’s headlines that the son was found dead in his hotel room, now you’ve got an attention getting opening. Now, I need to raise the stakes. So, add in her being wanted by the FBI, getting kicked out of Witness Protection which puts her back into a drug cartel’s sights, and I’ve raised the stakes. But we can’t stop there. We need the hero involved and he can’t just be a boy scout. Let’s make him wonder if she truly did murder the senator’s son and what he has to do about it in his investigation. Hopefully the readers’ heartbeats are thumping as they are turning the pages.

In each High Action sequence, (think washed out smuggled plane rides, daring escapes, and cat-and-mouse with a villain just to name a few) I consistently increase the suspense. The risk-level of the outcomes affect the group if the hero/heroine fails. Putting more and more at stake in each action sequence keeps readers hooked until the very end. 

Are you hooked? I’m hoping you’re at least curious. You can pick up a digital or paperback copy of Shadow of Doubt, at your favorite retailer.

 

Author Bio:

 

P. A. DePaul is a Publishers Weekly Bestselling and award-winning author.Her books are full of action, suspense, and romance.

 

As a hybrid author, she has books traditionally and independently published. Her traditional publishers include Berkley, a Penguin Random House imprint, and Harlequin Books.

 

Website: https://padepaul.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/padepaul/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/padepaul/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@padepaulauthor

 

Author Marketing Experts:

Twitter: @Bookgal

Instagram: @therealbookgal

 

Amazon: https://amzn.to/46xJJZ9

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/195639188-shadow-of-doubt

 

Author Interview:

On writing:

How did you do research for your book?

For this book and series, I used a combination of hands-on, internet, and interviews. A few years ago, I attended The Writer’s Police Academy. It’s a hands-on, comprehensive conference given by police officers, first responders, and federal law enforcement. It was amazing and taught me so much. Especially when they let me shoot lasers from a real (but modified) gun. I also interviewed anybody and everybody that would talk to me about so many topics.

 

Which was the hardest character to write? The easiest?

Wraith was the hardest character to write. She’s complex. She's a badass sniper who made a horrible mistake during a mission. I had to show her losing the ability to compartmentalize emotions to feeling everything. And make it so the readers still rooted for her.

 

Talon seems to be the easiest character to write because he hogs every scene and wants to be the center of attention. I'm constantly reining him in.

 

Where do you get inspiration for your stories?

Inspirations for stories sometimes come from real-life situations in the world. I think in high concept when I see a news story or read an article (war, bioweapon, terrorist) and play the “what if” game. Example: What if a small terrorist cell gets their hands on a bioweapon, how would my black ops team stop them?

 

Other story ideas just hit me from nowhere. Characters start to introduce themselves and I try to “talk” to them to understand who they are.

 

There are many books out there with black ops teams in romantic suspense. Why should you read mine?

The SBG series not only deals with life-and-death situations, but also with emotional complexities and dynamics within a team of people who’re closer than family. You’ll read both heavy-action and intricate emotional entanglements. These operators are badass, trained to save the day/world at all costs, but they’re also human with human emotions and responses.

 

What advice would you give budding writers?

I have two pieces of advice. One is for those who’ve never attempted to write an entire book: Don’t angst and worry about story structure and trying to make it perfect. No matter if it becomes published or not, you will always have a story you want to read.

 

The second advice is for those who reached the end of their draft and are saying “now what?” Celebrate the victory. It’s tremendously hard to achieve this milestone. Revel in your success.

Your book is set in a couple of US locations. Have you ever been there?

Most of my books have international settings. I like to hop around the world to keep the suspense engaging. That said, Shadow of Doubt has two main locations in the US: A fictional town in the North Carolina mountains, and Indianapolis. I’ll admit I chose these locations because I’ve been to both and could picture the places as I set the scenes.

 

If you could put yourself as a character in your book, who would you be?

Oh man, this is a tough one. I think I’d want to be part of the team but not a main character. I want to support the hero and heroine, and witness, firsthand, them getting the job done while falling in love. If I somehow ended up as the heroine that had to save the world.... Well, I hope everyone had a great life and no regrets...

 

Do you have another profession besides writing?

I used to have a “day job” but luckily in the past few years, I’ve been able to devote all my time to writing. That’s not to say that I actually spend every minute writing...it’s just that I could if I wanted. (But let’s face it, social media isn’t going to scroll itself...*laughing*)

 

How long have you been writing?

I started late in life. I’ve been an avid reader from the moment I sounded out “See Jane Run,” but it never occurred to me to write a book myself. That happened in 2009. Oy. Some days I wonder if the elevator got stuck on the bottom floor of my brain when I decided to “give it a shot.”

 

Do you ever get writer’s block? What helps you overcome it?

I get writer’s block. All. The. Time. Overcoming it isn’t always easy and trying to do the same thing to break it each time doesn’t usually work. Sometimes it’s because I’ve written myself into a corner and have no idea how to get back out. Other times, I’ve veered left when I should’ve turned right in the plot. Doing something else is key for me. Whether it’s a walk, a puzzle, baking, or whatever, I need time to chew on the problem. I also talk things out with my husband or someone else. Just describing the problem can sometimes trigger the answer (Not always, but sometimes it’s that easy).

 

What is your next project?

I’m in the process of brainstorming an anti-hero. I’ve always written alpha characters and strong villains. Now, I want to see if I can write a villain worth rooting for.

 

What genre do you write and why?

I love suspense. Or I guess you could say, I love conflict. Writing Romantic Suspense and Paranormal Romance gives me the ability to torture my characters. As long as the story has as many conflicts, action, and thrills as I can stuff into the plot, I’m happy.

 

What is the last great book you’ve read?

Oh boy. My anxiety redlined with this question. There. Are. So. Many. I’ve been binging paranormal lately. October was all about fantasy, ghosts, witches, shifters, fae, and anything else I could get my hands on. Most of the books were part of a series, which I binged like a junkie looking for her next fix. But, if you put a gun to my head and forced me to list a few, I’d say The Shepherd King series by Rachel Gillig, The Witch Collector series by Charissa Weaks, and Crossroads Queen series by Annabel Chase. Oh, and of course, I’m counting down to the next book in the Fourth Wing series by Rebecca Yarros.

 

What is a favorite compliment you have received on your writing?

My favorite compliments from readers are ones that show I made them feel. “I couldn’t put it down,” “Pulled my heartstrings,” “I was on the edge of my seat,” etc. Anything that says how much a reader felt what I wrote really touches my heart.

 

How are you similar to or different from your lead character?

*cola snorts out of nose* Sorry for the grossness! I’m choking on laughter. I am about as opposite from my characters as you can get and I’m okay with that. My characters are usually mega alpha, extremely intelligent, and dedicated to saving lives at all costs. I’m happy when I finish a 2000-piece puzzle, read a book in record time, or binge shows on TV.

 

If your book were made into a movie, who would star in the leading roles?

You would think I’d have the answer to this one, but I don’t. I’d definitely want a seat in the casting room, though.

 

If your book were made into a movie, what songs would be on the soundtrack?

Now this question I can answer. I love music. It really makes or breaks scenes in movies and TV. I keep a spreadsheet for each book and as I hear a song, I add to it. Here's Shadow of Doubt's list:

“This Means War” - Nickelback

“For You” - Keith Urban

“The Promise” - Tracy Chapman

“Yours” - Ella Henderson

“Bring It” - Trapt

“Craving You” - Thomas Rhett/Maren Morris

“Eyes on You” - Swim

“Be Your Love” - Bishop Briggs

“Legendary” - Welshly Arms

 

What were the biggest rewards and challenges with writing your book?

Shadow of Doubt fought me the entire time I wrote it. I don’t know why. It was a battle to complete this book. So, the biggest reward was finishing it. The challenge was handling the heroine’s PTSD in a way that was true to her without triggering a potential reader.

 

In one sentence, what was the road to publishing like?

In the beginning I was a kid given a bag full of candy with no supervision, then I ate too much, knocked myself into a sugar coma, and learned to moderate my eating so I can enjoy the sweetness without being sick.

 

What is one piece of advice you would give to an aspiring author?

DO IT. Just sit down and write. Don’t worry about the story being perfect. The first draft is always a mess because you’re learning what the story is as you’re writing it. Editing fixes everything but a blank page.

 

Which authors inspired you to write?

You’d ban me for life if I tried to list all the amazing authors. Let’s just say there are A LOT.

 

On rituals:

 

Do you snack while writing? Favorite snack?

I absolutely snack while writing. If the words aren't coming, I reach for a potato chip or piece of candy to console myself. If the words are coming too fast, I shove that junk food in my mouth with the same intensity as my scenes.

 

Where do you write?

Most times I’m writing in my dedicated office. That’s a fancy way of saying the bedroom I’ve claimed. Sometimes, I'm in the Florida room for a change of scenery, but my office has five monitors (yes, you read that right). I’m a visual person. I need to surround myself with details to keep me on track.

 

Do you write every day?

If I have a deadline, I absolutely write every day. Well. Um. I’m supposed to write daily. I have a daily word count, but I’m usually ahead of that goal. That allows me to take time off when I’m stuck or if life happens.

 

What is your writing schedule?

I don’t have a set writing schedule. At the beginning of every book, I set up a spreadsheet with formulas that calculate how many words I need to write daily/weekly to keep me on track. As long as I stick to the weekly goal, I always make my deadlines.

 

Is there a specific ritualistic thing you do during your writing time?

I wouldn’t say it’s ritualistic, but I set all my monitors up with the visual items I need (examples: thesaurus, word count spreadsheet, browser for research, word document, OneNote for keeping all the details straight, etc.), silence my phone and computer, have snacks and drink ready, then dive in.

 

In today’s tech savvy world, most writers use a computer or laptop. Have you ever written parts of your book on paper?

I’ve gotten away from writing the actual story on paper. I will write notes, questions, or ideas on paper until I can get to my computer.

Fun stuff:

 

If you could go back in time, where would you go?

I don’t think I’d go back in time. It’s too volatile and I’m pretty sure I’d get into a lot of trouble. I’d jump forward to see the future.

 

Favorite travel spot?

Europe. I’ve been twice and still haven’t seen all the countries or explored the ones I have visited enough.

 

Favorite dessert?

Um, ones with sugar? This is too hard to narrow down! I can give you a dessert I don’t like, tiramisu. I hear the gasps. I don’t like coffee. Geez. That was a huge number of gasps. Sorry! I never developed the taste for it. I’m a soda girl for my caffeine fix.

 

If you were stuck on a deserted island, which 3 books would you want with you?

O.M.G. My brain just exploded. I have no idea. When you say 3 do you really mean 3? I mean, can it be 3 bookcases? I am stuck on an island for an unknown amount of time...

 

What’s the funniest thing that ever happened to you? The scariest? The strangest?

My mind instantly went to a childhood memory when I think of the scariest thing that happened to me. While I’m sure I’ve had scarier things since, this one sticks out. My twin brother and I were playing on the beach in Outer Banks, NC (I’m thinking we were six, maybe seven but don’t quote me on that). My family rented a cottage on the other side of the dunes. It was time for us to get back to the cottage, but we didn’t realize how far down on the beach we’d played. So, imagine two children in bathing suits walking down the road, crying because they can’t figure out where the cottage is and what direction to walk. All I knew was that at the end of the road, there was a bakery. I just had hoped I picked the right direction to reach it so we could call for help. My dad found us when he drove, looking for us.

  

Any hobbies?

I am an avid reader. I know. Duh. I guess I’d say my next fun thing is puzzles. The larger the piece count, the better. Geez. Typing this, I realize I am so dull. Oh well. I’m me.

 

If there is one thing you want readers to remember about you, what would it be?

That I care about their experience when reading my books. I want them to walk away feeling something (hopefully positive). I hope I’ve helped their day get a little better if it was bad, or enhanced their day if it was already good.

 

What is something you've learned about yourself during the pandemic?

That my introvert self was amazingly prepared to stay indoors. *self-high-five*

 

What TV series are you currently binge watching?

Two shows I watch almost immediately after recording are The Irrational and Special Forces: World's Toughest Test. I love these two TV shows. As far as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, I’m always glued to something in one of them. K-dramas, anyone?

 

What is your theme song?

Oh wow. I never thought about this before. Hmmmm. Maybe, Panic! at the Disco’s “High Hopes.” It encapsulates my dream of making it in the publishing world.

 

What is your favorite thing to do in the fall?

We’re heading into Thanksgiving, so I’m going to say my favorite thing to do is eating. Oh. Um. Was that not the right answer? I can’t help it. It’s true.

 

What is a favorite Thanksgiving tradition (or memory)?

My mom always hosted Thanksgiving at our house growing up. Two of my chores were polishing the silver and setting the (extended) table. The smells coming from the kitchen always filled me with joy and still does to this day.

 

What song is currently playing on a loop in your head?

Thanks to the previous question, Panic! at the Disco’s “High Hopes.”

 

What is something that made you laugh recently?

My husband. He’s always making me laugh.

On our first date, he had me laughing so hard, I knew I was going to spend a long time with him. And so far, that prediction has been right. 21 years and still going strong.

 

What is your go-to breakfast item?

I don’t eat breakfast much. But if I had to pick something, can I say McDonald’s Egg McMuffin? They are too darn good.

 

What is the oldest item of clothing you own?

My high school jackets (two from marching band) with my varsity letters sewn on. I was a band geek, a chorus nerd, a statistician for the wrestling team (so I have a sports letter too), and yearbook editor. I made the most of those four years.

Praise:

"If you love a fast-paced romantic suspense series, then man, does P.A. DePaul have one for you.DePaul has certainly built a story with a robust set of characters"

– Heroes and Heartbreakers

 

"The action was fast-paced and never let up. Between the danger hitting them from all angles and the sexual tension, I couldn't put it down. A fun read that leaves you yearning for the next one."

– Reading in Pajamas