Patricia Bradley writes romances and romantic suspense. And, I’m proud to say, she’s one of my critique partners. That means I’m lucky to get a sneak preview at her novels. This story is one of my favorites in her Logan Point Series. Definitely a page-turner!
Join us as Patricia talks about the inspiration behind Gone Without a Trace.
The idea for Gone Without a Trace happened as I was writing my first book, Shadows of the Past. As I created the secondary characters around Taylor Martin, I ‘saw’ three friends growing up—Taylor Martin, Livy Reynolds, the Memphis police detective, and Robyn Adams. They had dubbed themselves the Three Musketeers.
As I fleshed out their parts in the story, I learned Robyn was missing, presumed to have abandoned her family. Something Livy didn’t believe. Well, I had to know what happened to Robyn, and so did Livy. In this book I explore her disappearance and Livy’s search for her cousin.
It’s funny how you never know what will spark a story idea. Many years ago, I overheard a news report about a woman who’d had amnesia for ten years and she was just now reporting it to the police.
That started me thinking. Why would someone wake up, not know who they were and not go to the police? I began to run various reasons of how that could happen through my mind. Maybe the person woke up, didn’t know who they were, and there was a dead body in the room. That could make someone not go to the police. Or what if they were in a room with a dead body and the person with amnesia was holding a sackful of money…and a knife. Yep, I began to see all sorts of reasons someone might not contact the police. I wrote a book based on that story spark. Unfortunately, it was before I knew a lot about writing, and it was terrible. But I think one day I might pull that manuscript out of the drawer and see what I can do with it.
Gone Without a Trace
The past is repeating itself—and time is running out
It’s been more than two years since homicide detective Livy Reynolds’s cousin disappeared from Logan Point. Unlike most people in her hometown, Livy has never believed that Robyn left voluntarily. When Dallas private investigator Alex Jennings contacts her concerning a senator’s missing granddaughter who was last seen in Logan Point, Livy notices eerie similarities between the two disappearances. With self-doubt plaguing her after killing a teenager in the line of duty and an almost instant dislike of the self-assured PI, she’s finding this investigation an uphill battle. But with the prospect of finding her cousin on the horizon, she’ll have to find a way to work with Alex—before it’s too late.
Meet Patricia
Patricia Bradley lives in North Mississippi and is a former abstinence educator and co-author of RISE To Your Dreams, an abstinence curriculum. But her heart is tuned to suspense. Patricia’s romantic suspense books include the Logan Point series—Shadows of the Past, A Promise to Protect, and Gone Without a Trace. She has written two sweet romances for Harlequin Heartwarming, Matthew’s Choice, which is available on Amazon, and The Christmas Campaign, available in November.
Her workshops on writing include two online courses with American Christian Fiction Writers and workshops at the Mid-South Christian Writer’s Conference in Collierville, TN.
When she has time, she likes to throw mud on a wheel and see what happens.
Connect with her at:
Patricia Bradley (website) Facebook Twitter Pinterest
Links to books:
Shadows of the Past: CBD; Amazon; B&N; Books A Million
A Promise to Protect: B&N; CBD; Amazon; Books A Million
Gone Without a Trace: Amazon; CBD; B&N; Books A Million
Matthew’s Choice: to buy a paperback—Harlequin; for an e-book: B&N; Kobo; Amazon
Shadows of the Past, A Promise to Protect, and Matthew’s Choice can be found at Patricia’s Author Page on Amazon.
Book Giveaway
In Gone Without A Trace, Alex has a law degree, but he hasn’t taken the bar exam. Why do you think someone would go to that much trouble and not complete it?
To enter the drawing for a copy of Patricia’s book, please leave a comment before Sunday, July 5, 2015 at 11:59 p.m. (Central time). After a random drawing, the winner’s name will be announced on Monday, July 6th.
Thank you for reading the Story Spark behind Patricia’s novel and participating in the giveaway.
This sounds like a really good book. I would love to have a chance to read it. Thank you for allowing me to enter this contest, thank you very much. Good luck everyone!
Thanks, Kelly. And I’m so glad you stopped by!
Kelly, it IS a really good book! So glad you’re here.
A law degree may have been the basis for another career choice, like law enforcement. Or it may have been something he was ‘expected’ to do by parents.
This book looks like a read that would definitely keep me turning the pages.
Hi, Donna. Parental expectation is certainly a big motivator for a lot of people. Thanks so much for stopping by. (And, yep, it’s a page-turner!)
Expectations are hard to overcome, Donna. Thanks for stopping by.
This is a great story! I had the privilege of getting to read it early. 🙂
Love the new author pic, Pat!
Pat does look lovely, doesn’t she??
Thanks for stopping by, Sandra!
Thanks for stopping by, Sandra! And thanks–I have a friend who is a great photographer.
This looks like a great story. I’ve wanted to read the first one…
Life happens sometimes beyond our control so I believe his life was interrupted. God intervened with a change of life plan. Or maybe Alex has been a cop and took law classes over the years to enhance his job, but wants to remain a cop.
Great thoughts, LaRee. Each of Pat’s books are so good. Thanks for stopping by.
Thank you, LoRee. By the way, the first book, Shadows of the Past is on sale for $1.99 in e-format. 🙂
It sounds like an interesting book
Thanks for stopping by, Therse!
Hey, Terri! Glad to see you here. (And yes, it’s a really interesting book.)
Perhaps he was afraid of failing the test or had discovered he really had no interest in making his career in law. Sometimes the expectations of family cloud what we really want to do. I can’t imagine being so close and not completing his goal but all people don’t think alike.
I’m with you, Connie. After doing all that work, the bar exam seems the natural next step. But Alex has a reason!
Looking forward to reading this new book.
Thanks Johnnie
It’s a page-turner. (It’s hard to be good critique partner when all you want to do is find out what happens next!)
I hate I missed the deadline! I am ready to read this book!! Love you Pat & Johnnie!