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Albert Camus

Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.

Friday, February 13, 2015

A safe place to call home - After the Silence (From Kenya, With Love #2) by Rula Sinara

Marine Ben Corallis is an expert at facing death, but nothing comes close to the terror that grounds him when his wife is killed in a car accident the day he returns from duty. He's left to raise an infant, a toddler and a ten-year-old girl who hasn't uttered a word since her mother's death.


Description:

Does following her passion mean losing her way?

Marine Ben Corallis is an expert at facing death, but nothing comes close to the terror that grounds him when his wife is killed in a car accident the day he returns from duty. He's left to raise an infant, a toddler and a ten-year-old girl who hasn't uttered a word since her mother's death.

It's hard not to care for the widowed marine with three young children. Yet he's still grieving, too burdened with guilt to fall in love again. And Hope Alwanga's future as a doctor awaits her on the other side of the world, in Nairobi. If two such opposites can't agree on a common country, how can they ever create a safe place to call home?

He wants to take her child out of Africa...

The Busara elephant research and rescue camp on Kenya's Serengeti is Anna Bekker's life's work. And it's the last place she thought she'd run into Dr. Jackson Harper. As soon as he sets eyes on her four-year-old, Pippa, Anna knows he'll never leave...without his daughter.

Furious doesn't begin to describe how Jack feels. How could Anna keep this from him? He has to get his child back to the States. Yet as angry as he is with Anna, they still have a bond. But can it endure, despite the ocean--and the little girl--between them?

GUEST POST
Heroes and Heroines: How Visual Are You? 
by Rula Sinara 
I’m very visual when it comes to both reading and writing. As I write, scenes and characters roll through my head as if I’m watching a movie. Actually, it’s more like I’m experiencing a movie because, as strange as it may sound, I like to step through the screen so-to-speak and truly experience the setting and the emotions that fill the characters. 

When I embark on a new story, one of the first things that pops into my head is an image of the hero and heroine. After all, it would be kind of creepy stepping into their world and encountering faceless people. Don’t you think? 

The inspiration for the hero and heroine in After the Silence, the second book in my Harlequin Heartwarming series set in both the U.S. and Africa, was almost instantaneous. I love Matt Damon, not only in his military/adventure films, but also in dramas like We Bought a Zoo. Anyone who has read the first book in the series, The Promise of Rain, can guess what a wildlife lover I am…and I’ve actually worked in a zoo before…so that’s one of my favorite films. And Ben Corallis, the hero in After the Silence is a Marine who is forced to take on the everyday role of stay-at-home dad. So there you have it. My inspiration for Ben was Matt. 

The inspiration image of my heroine, Hope Alwanga, was pretty instantaneous too. She’s a brilliant young medical intern in Kenya who has always done what her family expects and never had the courage to embrace what she really wants out of life. In fact, she’s not quite sure herself…yet. But what I love about her is that she’s humble and has no idea just how beautiful, talented and special she is. My inspiration for Hope was gorgeous and talented Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o.

Yes, the cover of the book shows her with chin length hair and that’s not a mistake. It’s part of her story J.

So what about you? Are you visual when you write or read? Are you drawn to book covers and movies because of it?
About the author:

Rula Sinara lives in Virginia’s countryside with her husband, three boys and zany but endearing pets. When she's not writing or doing mom stuff, she loves organic gardening, attracting wildlife to her yard (cool bugs included) or watching romantic movies. She also enjoys interviewing fellow authors and is a Special Contributor for USA Today's Happy Ever After blog. Her door is always open at her website and blog.

7 comments:

Rula Sinara said...

Thank you so much for hosting me today! :)

Unknown said...

Great giveaway!

Rula Sinara said...

Thank you, Anca!

Juana said...

I can't wait to read this story. Story sounds like a keeper.

Juana Esparza

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a very inspiring book and I love the heroine inspiration you chose!

Rula Sinara said...

Thank you so much, David and Juana!

Julie Waldron said...

It looks like a good book, thanks for the giveaway :)