Dangerous Refuge

Murder and mystery spark unexpected romance in this captivating new t ale from the beloved New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth LowellOn the surface Shaye Townsend has little in common with Tanner. He's a hard-edged big city cop come home to the historic Davis family ranch to settle his uncle's estate. She's working for an environmental conservancy that acquires and protects old ranches—and she wants to preserve the Davis homestead.When the suspicious death of Tanner's uncle at his ranch throws the two opposites together, tempers flare and sparks fly. While they have trouble seeing eye to eye, Shaye and Tanner agree on one thing: They need to uncover the truth.Combining their unique skills—Shaye's low-key approach and local connections and Tanner's experience as a homicide detective—the unlikely pair share long nights in the pursuit of justice. Before they know it, the friction they generate turns to heat, igniting a love neither ever expected to find.They believe passion this intense cannot last. But when Shaye becomes a killer's target, Tanner realizes he'd give up anything to protect her—including his life.Amazon.com ReviewAuthor One-on-One: Jayne Ann Krentz and Elizabeth LowellJayne Ann Krentz is the author of over 50 New York Times bestselling romantic-suspense novels, often with a psychic and paranormal twist, in three different worlds: contemporary (as Jayne Ann Krentz), historical (as Amanda Quick) and futuristic (as Jayne Castle).Jayne Ann Krentz: You’ve written many books in various genres. You and I have been friends for a long time and I always knew you were born to write romantic suspense. When and how did you figure it out?Elizabeth Lowell: Like you, I wanted to write romantic suspense for years, but no one wanted to buy it. Then a publisher bought Tell Me No Lies. I was thrilled. The book did well, but the publisher didn’t. Eventually I had another opportunity to write romantic suspense. Amber Beach was a New York Times bestseller. After that, it was much easier to sell romantic suspense!JAK: Your female characters have a real edge. They are strong, competent, sexy, and smart, yet always feminine. Shaye, the lead character in Dangerous Refuge, is a perfect example. As a writer, how do you define feminine and masculine strength? EL: I believe that male and female are complementary. A strong man can protect a woman. A strong woman allows a man to be gentle. Each brings possibilities to the other; each fulfills needs in the other. Each could live independently but chooses to share life with another. Love is itself an expression of strength.JAK: You have a rare gift for creating powerful settings. The landscape is always a character in your books. You recently moved to a cattle ranching valley in Nevada and used it as a backdrop for Dangerous Refuge. Why did this location call to you so profoundly, in life and in your writing?EL: The mountains are tall, the land beyond the fences is wild, and I have always felt at home. I enjoy visiting cities, but I can’t live well in them. Something in me needs long views and mountain winds.JAK: The intrigue in your novels always has an authentic “ripped from the headlines” feel. I know you do a great deal of research before you sit down to write. What is the “real story” behind Dangerous Refuge?EL: Dangerous Refuge isn’t based on any “real” event. The story came from an understanding of how the Intermountain West is caught between the past, when there were few people in a huge land, and the present, when too many people depend on too few resources. Simply put, much of the West lacks water. From that truth comes much friction, intrigue, competition, wealth . . . and death. While the backdrop is very real, the story is pure fiction.JAK: You used MMA (mixed martial arts) in the plot of Dangerous Refuge. How did you decide that it fit into the premise of this book?EL: There is a unique grittiness to the sport. Gambling as a plot device is commonplace in Nevada settings. I wanted something different.JAK: You and I tend to enjoy the same books so I’m curious: what are you reading now?EL: J. D. Robb’s latest, Calculated in Death. When I’m done, I’ll begin nagging you for a preview of your next book.JAK: I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: When it comes to romantic suspense, no one does it better than Elizabeth Lowell. I love that you always break a few rules along the way. Dangerous Refuge is a terrific read. Since I’ll be first in line to pick up a copy of your next book, I’ve got to ask, what are you working on now?EL: Night Diver is my next book. It is set in a very different locale—a tropical island paradise in the Caribbean, where centuries-old sunken treasure causes some very modern problems.About the AuthorElizabeth Lowell's acclaimed suspense novels include the New York Times bestsellers Death Echo, Blue Smoke and Murder, Innocent as Sin, The Wrong Hostage, Always Time to Die, The Color of Death, Die in Plain Sight, Running Scared, and Moving Target, as well as four books featuring the Donovan family: Amber Beach, Jade Island, Pearl Cove, and Midnight in Ruby Bayou. Lowell has more than thirty million books in print. She lives in Nevada with her husband, with whom she writes mystery novels under a pseudonym.Las aclamadas novelas de suspenso de la autora Elizabeth Lowell incluyen varios bestsellers en la New York Times. Lowell ha vendido más de treinta millones de ejemplares. Vive con su esposo en Seattle, Washington y Sedona, Arizona, con quien escribe novelas de misterio bajo un seudónimo.