PURPLE KNOT - by Raquel Byrnes available now with White Rose Publishing


A killer strikes. A love rekindled. A life-altering choice.
When her best friend, is murdered, Reyna Cruz doesn't believe the police have the whole story. An investigator by trade, she has the talent to track Summer’s killer, but when clues lead to a family connection and a vicious gang, she suddenly becomes the hunted. At the end of her rope, Reyna must decide to trust the God she believes abandoned her. 

Wanting justice for his sister’s murder, lawyer Jimmy Corbeau agrees to help Reyna—even though she’s his ex-fiancé, and their break-up devastated him. Romance is reawakened, but so are memories of their tragic undoing. Jimmy must decide if he will fight for a future with Reyna or allow their past to derail the investigation and his second chance at love.

When the investigation goes awry and Summer’s infant daughter is kidnapped, Reyna must put her life on the line. Will Jimmy and Reyna survive the desperate measures it takes to recover his niece, catch a killer, and secure a happily-ever-after for them all?

Read an excerpt...

“Rain, you have to decide what kind of person you’re going to be. I have to know.”
“What are you saying, Jimmy?” Confused I looked at him.
“I’m saying that you’re racing towards a crossroads, and I want to know what path you’re planning to take.”
“Now is not the time for this conversation, Jimmy. We’re chasing a suspect!”
“Now is exactly the time, Rain. I need to know, right now because anything you do out of anger or grief will directly affect me, too!” Jimmy said loudly.
Dread bubbled up into my chest. I tried to answer calmly but I felt control slipping. My throat ached with the words I wanted to shout at him. “Don’t make me do this, Jimmy. Not now.”
“Yes, now, Rain.”
“What do you want me to say?” I shouted. “What do you want to hear?”
“I want to hear that you won’t put your anger ahead of our future. I want to hear that you can walk away from the possibility of revenge.”
“Why…why would I do that?” I looked at Jimmy with wonder.
“Because you’ll destroy us in the process, Rain.” Jimmy reached out and caught the hem of my sweater in his fingers. He looked worried.
“Are you asking me to choose between nailing Parker and loving you?” Anger and confusion whipped through me like a cold wind.
“No. I’m asking you to choose between the hatred boiling in your veins and the grace hanging over your head.”
Raquel Byrnes lives in Southern, California with her husband of sixteen years and their six children. She considers inspirational fiction a wonderful way to minister to others. She writes romantic suspense with an edge-your-seat pace. Her first book the Shades of Hope Series, Purple Knot, released on June 3rd from White Rose Publishing. You can visit her at her website: www.raquelbyrnes.com and her writing blog,Edge of Your Seat Romance.

A Day in the Life of…Raquel Byrnes
As a homeschool mom of six, my day starts off pretty mellow. The kids wake up at their own times, eat and start on their work.  It’s not until the mid-morning hour when all of them are bustling around that the fun really begins.  I sit at my laptop in the classroom and try to do research for my book while simultaneously mixing icing ‘glue’ for our Great Wall of China replica made out of sugar cubes.
Once I have that going, I get the crock pot going with tonight’s meal. Usually some hearty chicken stew…it’s easy and yummy.  Meanwhile the babies have started to feed the water turtle their playdoh, so I fish that out with the pen I was using to jot down some personality quirk ideas for a character in my new work in progress.
I get the babies busy on some coloring, give my high schooler a lecture on Skyping while doing math, and settle down to check my email and Twitter...for two minutes. Because my Jr. Higher needs me to help him look up the average rainfall for Papua New Guinea for his report.  I print out his information, pop on over to my blog, read and answer comments, and start on a new post, but…
I answer a call from my mother who wonders why I never bring her grandkids over anymore (we were there last week) and I flip through the calendar and find a time between my critique group meeting and date night with hubby. I write myself a note on the paper with my character quirks and put it on the fridge as a reminder.
School time over, I put the babies to their nap and sit down to read the last chapter I wrote so I can get ‘in the groove’ of writing. Until my third grader reminds me that we are supposed to be planting the potato he’s been growing with toothpicks and a glass…my GOOD glass? Oh well we get it into the ground and I wash off, pop the bread in the oven and sit down to type…something. Where was I again?
Hubby comes home, dinner and homework are tackled, we put the kids down and I have some coffee on the couch with my sweetheart.  He goes off to grade papers and I settle down at my laptop. Nine-thirty and ready to write.  Now if I could only find my notes on character quirks…
All craziness aside, the Lord has blessed me with the passion to write inspirational romance. Purple Knot is my debut novel, and I am so thankful, Dora, for the opportunity to chat about my family and passion for writing.

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Fiction Faith & Foodies: PURPLE KNOT - by Raquel Byrnes available now with White Rose Publishing

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

PURPLE KNOT - by Raquel Byrnes available now with White Rose Publishing


A killer strikes. A love rekindled. A life-altering choice.
When her best friend, is murdered, Reyna Cruz doesn't believe the police have the whole story. An investigator by trade, she has the talent to track Summer’s killer, but when clues lead to a family connection and a vicious gang, she suddenly becomes the hunted. At the end of her rope, Reyna must decide to trust the God she believes abandoned her. 

Wanting justice for his sister’s murder, lawyer Jimmy Corbeau agrees to help Reyna—even though she’s his ex-fiancé, and their break-up devastated him. Romance is reawakened, but so are memories of their tragic undoing. Jimmy must decide if he will fight for a future with Reyna or allow their past to derail the investigation and his second chance at love.

When the investigation goes awry and Summer’s infant daughter is kidnapped, Reyna must put her life on the line. Will Jimmy and Reyna survive the desperate measures it takes to recover his niece, catch a killer, and secure a happily-ever-after for them all?

Read an excerpt...

“Rain, you have to decide what kind of person you’re going to be. I have to know.”
“What are you saying, Jimmy?” Confused I looked at him.
“I’m saying that you’re racing towards a crossroads, and I want to know what path you’re planning to take.”
“Now is not the time for this conversation, Jimmy. We’re chasing a suspect!”
“Now is exactly the time, Rain. I need to know, right now because anything you do out of anger or grief will directly affect me, too!” Jimmy said loudly.
Dread bubbled up into my chest. I tried to answer calmly but I felt control slipping. My throat ached with the words I wanted to shout at him. “Don’t make me do this, Jimmy. Not now.”
“Yes, now, Rain.”
“What do you want me to say?” I shouted. “What do you want to hear?”
“I want to hear that you won’t put your anger ahead of our future. I want to hear that you can walk away from the possibility of revenge.”
“Why…why would I do that?” I looked at Jimmy with wonder.
“Because you’ll destroy us in the process, Rain.” Jimmy reached out and caught the hem of my sweater in his fingers. He looked worried.
“Are you asking me to choose between nailing Parker and loving you?” Anger and confusion whipped through me like a cold wind.
“No. I’m asking you to choose between the hatred boiling in your veins and the grace hanging over your head.”
Raquel Byrnes lives in Southern, California with her husband of sixteen years and their six children. She considers inspirational fiction a wonderful way to minister to others. She writes romantic suspense with an edge-your-seat pace. Her first book the Shades of Hope Series, Purple Knot, released on June 3rd from White Rose Publishing. You can visit her at her website: www.raquelbyrnes.com and her writing blog,Edge of Your Seat Romance.

A Day in the Life of…Raquel Byrnes
As a homeschool mom of six, my day starts off pretty mellow. The kids wake up at their own times, eat and start on their work.  It’s not until the mid-morning hour when all of them are bustling around that the fun really begins.  I sit at my laptop in the classroom and try to do research for my book while simultaneously mixing icing ‘glue’ for our Great Wall of China replica made out of sugar cubes.
Once I have that going, I get the crock pot going with tonight’s meal. Usually some hearty chicken stew…it’s easy and yummy.  Meanwhile the babies have started to feed the water turtle their playdoh, so I fish that out with the pen I was using to jot down some personality quirk ideas for a character in my new work in progress.
I get the babies busy on some coloring, give my high schooler a lecture on Skyping while doing math, and settle down to check my email and Twitter...for two minutes. Because my Jr. Higher needs me to help him look up the average rainfall for Papua New Guinea for his report.  I print out his information, pop on over to my blog, read and answer comments, and start on a new post, but…
I answer a call from my mother who wonders why I never bring her grandkids over anymore (we were there last week) and I flip through the calendar and find a time between my critique group meeting and date night with hubby. I write myself a note on the paper with my character quirks and put it on the fridge as a reminder.
School time over, I put the babies to their nap and sit down to read the last chapter I wrote so I can get ‘in the groove’ of writing. Until my third grader reminds me that we are supposed to be planting the potato he’s been growing with toothpicks and a glass…my GOOD glass? Oh well we get it into the ground and I wash off, pop the bread in the oven and sit down to type…something. Where was I again?
Hubby comes home, dinner and homework are tackled, we put the kids down and I have some coffee on the couch with my sweetheart.  He goes off to grade papers and I settle down at my laptop. Nine-thirty and ready to write.  Now if I could only find my notes on character quirks…
All craziness aside, the Lord has blessed me with the passion to write inspirational romance. Purple Knot is my debut novel, and I am so thankful, Dora, for the opportunity to chat about my family and passion for writing.

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18 Comments:

At June 7, 2011 at 8:32 AM , Blogger Dora Hiers said...

Wow! I stand in awe, Raquel. Actually, more like sit in my peaceful, quiet office and sigh. The only sounds I hear are my golden's soft snore and the birds chattering outside the back window.

Welcome, Raquel, and congrats on PURPLE KNOT's release. I'm so excited for you. I can't wait to read it!

 
At June 7, 2011 at 9:50 AM , Blogger Francine Howarth said...

Hi,

I take my hat off to you, Raquel. I'm so glad I have grandchildren (boys whom I only see in the holidays if I'm lucky), mine girls all grown up. Gee, two kids was enough for me, and the girls were very easy to keep entertained with ponies. ;)

best
F

 
At June 7, 2011 at 9:59 AM , Blogger Mary Manners said...

Wow, Raquel...simply amazing. I am in awe of you! Huge congratulations to you, and I wish you all the best.

 
At June 7, 2011 at 11:23 AM , Blogger Raquel Byrnes said...

LOL! Thanks you guys and thank you, Dora, for the lovely post.

 
At June 7, 2011 at 11:39 AM , Blogger Dora Hiers said...

G'morning, ladies!

I'm with Francine. Two boys about did me in. Now we enjoy the grandkids, but they go home to mom and dad...

Francine and Mary, thanks for stopping by.

 
At June 7, 2011 at 12:19 PM , Blogger Tom Blubaugh, Night of the Cossack said...

Great interview and exciting story.

Tom Blubaugh

 
At June 7, 2011 at 12:23 PM , Blogger Raquel Byrnes said...

Thank you Tom...glad you stopped by. :)

 
At June 7, 2011 at 12:58 PM , Blogger Marianne Evans said...

Hi, Raquel! I'm enjoying getting to know you even better! Blessings, and best of everything with Purple Knot!

 
At June 7, 2011 at 1:48 PM , Blogger Christina Rich said...

Raquel, as a homeschooling mom I know how hectic life can be. We usually school through the summer, but I decided not to this year. I need to finish my boook.

Congratulations on your new release.

 
At June 7, 2011 at 2:34 PM , Blogger Raquel Byrnes said...

That is so sweet, Marianne! Thank you. :)

Through the summer?! Wow...we follow my husband's school schedule - he teaches 4th grade in a public school - and then we're done.

Good luck finishing your book!

 
At June 7, 2011 at 4:24 PM , Blogger Ginger Solomon said...

Raquel,

Your day sounds so very much like mine, except I no longer have babies and my oldest has graduated. I am still homeschooling six, though.

I've only been writing about 18 months, before that a desire was there to write something, I just hadn't figured out that I could possibly write a BOOK.

I would love to commiserate/celebrate with you, a fellow writer and Mother of Many, if you have time. LOL

Congratulations on your debut. I look forward to reading it in the near future.

Ginger - ginger[dot]solomon[at]gmail[dot]com

 
At June 7, 2011 at 4:41 PM , Blogger Dora Hiers said...

Hey, Tom and Marianne. Thanks for stopping by!

Christina, glad to hear you're taking the summer off. Best wishes for your book. Thanks for stopping by.

Ginger, so glad to see you here! Thanks for stopping by. So that means you home-schooled 7?? Yowzie!

 
At June 7, 2011 at 7:00 PM , Blogger Cheryl Linn Martin said...

Great to learn more about you, Raquel! What a "super woman" you are--I'm so impressed.

So happy for your success. Blessings to you!

 
At June 8, 2011 at 1:47 AM , Blogger Elizabeth Mueller said...

Wow, Raquel, you're so inspiring to me! Thanks for sharing how you squeeze your love for God, your family and writing into your life! *hugs*

Dora, thanks for this awesome post on your fabulous blog!


♥.•*¨Elizabeth¨*•.♥
Can Alex save Winter from the darkness that hunts her?
YA Paranormal Romance, Darkspell coming fall of 2011!

 
At June 8, 2011 at 9:05 AM , Blogger Dora Hiers said...

Hi Cheryl Linn. Nice to meet you. Enjoyed seeing your pic in Hawaii. Thanks for stopping by.

Hey, Elizabeth. Congrats on your contract for Darkspell. LOVE your signature line! Thanks for the kind words.

 
At June 8, 2011 at 6:38 PM , Blogger Julie Musil said...

Whew! I'm tired just reading about Raquel's day. And I'm shocked that she found the bits of time needed to write a novel. Amazing. Congratulations, Raquel!

 
At June 8, 2011 at 7:26 PM , Blogger Dora Hiers said...

Hey Julie. I'm with you! Thanks for stopping by!

 
At June 12, 2011 at 2:34 PM , Blogger Raquel Byrnes said...

Cheryl - LOL! Superwoman...I do love coffee though. Coincidence?

Elizabeth - Thank you so much for stopping by.

Julie - I am a night owl, so that helps.

Thank you all for stopping by and chatting. :)

And again...thank you Dora for a wonderful time here at your lovely blog. <3

 

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