Betrayed by Rebecca York – Interview, Review & Giveaway

BETRAYED
Rockfort Security series –  Book #2
by Rebecca York
Release Date: July 1, 2014

Amazon / Barnes & Noble /  The Book Depository

Description:
There is a spy in S&D systems who is leaking top-secret information that could lead to extreme disaster. It’s up to Shane Gallagher to uncover the mole and set things right.

Systems analyst Elena Reyes had no intention of stealing company secrets until her brother’s life was threatened by the cruelest of mobsters. When Elena finally confesses her deeds to Shane, he’s ready to do everything he can to keep her out of danger. But will Shane’s help be enough to protect them, or will his good intentions leave them all for dead?

Review:
Betrayed by Rebecca York is the 2^nd book in her Rockfort Security series. I enjoyed the first book of this series, and was looking forward to reading this. Happily, Rebecca York continues with another suspenseful and captivating action packed story.   Shane Gallagher, whom we met in the last book is our hero and from the get go, he is the kind of hero we all want to save us, not to mention, totally swoon worthy.

Elena Reyes is our heroine, and she was a sweet and charming one; not the usual kick assed heroines. The story starts with a bang, as while in HR, Elena overhears someone threatening the director, and before she could walk out, they are all hostages. Flying through the window comes our hero, Shane. During the scuffle, Elena manages to help him stop the intruder.

What follows is a very exciting story, where Shane and Rockfort Security have been contracted to find the mole in S&D, who is leaking confidential information about a new product. What Elena doesn’t know is that she is one of the suspects, since she works in the IT area, where the leak is suspected. Having been literally thrown together, Shane and Elena find themselves attracted to each other. In a short time, as the danger escalates, someone is after Elena to get them the information they want, and they are threatening to hurt her brother. Shane realizes that Elena is not the real culprit, and works with her to find out who is.

In a roller coaster of a ride, at every turn, they are attacked, and barely escape with their lives. Rather than give any spoilers, I will only say that this was an enthralling adventure, with pulse pounding action. Shane, Elena and the other members of Rockfort Security must be a step ahead to find the true perpetrator. There are also some twists along the way.

The romance between Shane and Elena started off sweetly, as she was a virgin. But then it became very steamy, as they both could no longer hold back their lust. They made a great couple. Rebecca York does it again with another exciting romance suspense that will keep you turning the pages until you reach the end. I finished this book in one day. I totally recommend you to read this series.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher



Exclusive Interview with Rebecca York

What first inspired Betrayed?

My husband is a techie, and I wanted to write a story that involved computer security. But computers are not real sexy. At least I don’t think so, which led to my writing a security-guy hero who suspects my techie heroine of industrial espionage. And, of course, they get into big trouble together when the bad guys close in on them—including a harrowing escape from a speeding boat.

How did you get to know your two main characters Elena and Shane?

I usually feel closer to my heroes than my heroines. I love getting involved in their hair-raising adventures. To understand them better, I try to have some of the same experiences they do—like shooting guns, flying in small planes, and scaling heights that scare me. I like getting into the male point of view and imagining how I’d react if I were a guy.

But in this story, I especially liked writing Elena. I’ve visited Central America a number of times, and I love the culture. I love the people, the food, the fabrics, the music. The scene early in the book where Elena is recalling a frightening experience in the market back home comes straight from my experiences prowling open-air markets in Guatemala. Well not the scary part, but the setting. I usually tell people that my heroines are a lot like me, only nicer.

Shane seems pretty comfortable during the shoot-’em-up scenes in the book. What is his background?

Shane was an investigator in the army military police, so he’s got the tough-guy training as well as the investigative skills he needs.

Elena is a quiet heroine, but very, very determined to clear her name and help her brother. Where does she get her inner strength?

I believe Elena always was strong, because she came from a culture where the weak get trampled, but her parents made her stronger by not valuing her. Without her inner strength, their attitude would have crushed her.

The bad guy in the story is front and center. How do you get into the head of the villain?

I get into the head of the villain the way I would any other character. I think about what he wants and why he wants it. In this case, the guy grew up poor, and now he craves everything that proves he’s a success—a lot of good food, a luxurious place to live, underlings who fear him. His comfort is of prime important to him, but you’ll notice that he has no compunctions about torturing and killing other people.

During your career, you have written in just about every romance subgenre, from contemporary to paranormal. What made you come back to romantic suspense for Betrayed and the first Rockfort Security novel Bad Nights?

I never knew “romances” existed until a friend asked me if I wanted to try and write one. I asked her to bring me some, and she brought me shopping bags full of them. When I read the stories, I loved them because the plot was focused on two people getting to know each other, working out their relationship, and ending up with a HEA. Previously, this had only been the subplot in the fiction I read, which was mainly mystery, suspense, adventure and science fiction. I wrote several romances, but I wanted to incorporate the mystery, suspense and adventure elements into my books. Basically, I’ve never stopped writing romantic suspense, although I do often incorporate paranormal elements into my characters and plots.

Will there be a third book in this series readers can look forward to?

Yes, I’m finishing up Private Affair now. It’s the story of a woman who hated her high school years, but she comes back for her tenth reunion to try and find out who murdered her former best friend and several other classmates. And to investigate the killings, she needs a Rockfort Security agent, Max Lyon. He was the high school bad boy, and their relationship starts out rocky but quickly heats up.

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Rebecca York’s writing has been compared to that of Dick Francis, Sherrilyn Kenyon, and Maggie Shayne. Her award-winning books have been translated into twenty-two languages and optioned for film. A recipient of the RWA Centennial Award, she lives in Maryland near Washington, DC, which is often the setting of her romantic suspense novels.

You can find Rebecca at the following links:

Website: / Goodreads: / Facebook: / Twitter:

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