Arresting Benjamin Character Interview

  


Arresting Benjamin

Series: Arresting Onyx (book 3)

Publisher: Daulton Publishing

Release Date: October 11th, 2022

ASIN: B0B5VMNPBC

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Length: 85k

Heat Rating: 5 Flames

With enemies at every turn, how will they survive with their lives and love intact?

Blurb

A one-night stand, a surprise baby, and a mysterious stalker.

Mechanic Benjamin Starwell cant stop thinking about Belle Hamlin, the ballsy musician he slept with and skipped out on months earlier. He never meant to get her pregnant, but he’ll do whatever it takes to win back her trust and be a part of his child’s life. His desire for Belle drives him to be a better man, but he’s worn thin with a garage to run and his estranged sister dumping her troubles on him.

Belle’s juggling impending motherhood, her indie rock career, and a stalker who’s determined to see her fail. Even though she’s desperate to get her priorities straight, she pushes aside her past hurt and welcomes Benji back into her bed. She never expects him to slip into her heart.

When the danger escalates, they face the greatest challenge of all—protecting their unborn child.

Excerpt

As he drew to a stop beside Lando’s station wagon in the driveway, Belle parked along the curb. The motion detector light flashed on from the old shed, nearly blinding him. He climbed from the truck. Moonlight cast a stark, silvery glow over the yard as Belle hurried toward him.

“Cool. A duplex.” She tightened her scarf around her neck. “When was it built?”

“The 1940s. I live in the right-side unit, and my landlord lives in the other one.” He rubbed his hands together as a breeze rustled through the trees. “Lando’s children moved out east, so he converted the family home into a duplex about two decades ago. The old-timer is spry but pushing eighty. I take care of the house and grounds. In return, he deducts my rent.”

Lando the landlord?”

“Hilarious, right?” Benji chuckled. “I’ve lived here for about fifteen years. God, I can’t believe it’s been so long.” Crickets chirped from the bushes lining the covered wooden porch as he guided her up the platform. The middle step creaked under his weight. Decorative fixtures lit each doorway, and he hesitated at the entrance of his home.

“Everything all right?”

“I should’ve told you this before now, but my sister has been staying with me. She’s barely crossed my mind, though. All I’ve cared about is making things right with you.”

Belle drew back. “I didn’t think you had any contact with her.”

“She called me from out of the blue. It’s a long story. I’ll tell you about it at dinner.”

“Is Meghan why you have those marks?”

“Unfortunately.” He rubbed his cheek, the bruise barely stinging.

After he ushered Belle inside, he flipped on a light and locked the door behind him. A staircase lined the dividing wall that separated Benji’s home from Lando’s. The hall stretched to the right of the stairs, leading deeper into the house.

“Feel free to look around. The door beneath the stairs opens into the basement and laundry room. The steps are steep, so be careful.”


Character Interview 

Today, the hero from Amber Daulton’s new romantic suspense novel, Arresting Benjamin, is visiting for a chat. For the record, what’s your name?

I’m Benjamin Starwell, but since my dad is also a Benjamin, rather a Ben, everyone calls me Benji. Some people snicker about the shortened form of my name because of that movie with the scruffy dog, but I don’t care what people think about me.

Good for you. Give us a visual. What do you look like?

I have blue eyes, a perpetual five o’clock shadow, and shaggy, auburn hair that curls around my ears. I’m pretty broad in the shoulders and chest, and I top out at about six-feet-two.

Ooh. Blue eyes and red hair is a striking combination. What time period and location does your story take place?

Present day in Denver, Colorado.

What’s your goal in this story?

To make amends with Belle. A few months back, we had a one-night stand, and I skipped out on her the next morning. I regret that more than anything else I’ve done in my life.

I wish you luck! What conflicts are you facing?

Whew! Where do I start?

Belle has a stalker who’s leaving her threatening messages and trying to derail her music career. The threats keep escalating, and the police aren’t worth their badges.

Then there’s Meghan, my estranged sister. She’s back in town with a ton of baggage, but she’s acting like her sh*t don’t stink. Though I’m relieved she’s left her drug lord boyfriend, she’s dumped all her problems on my lap and expects me to fix everything.

I’m up to my knees in wading through all the bull.

Yikes. Sounds like you’re having a hard time. How would you describe yourself, personality-wise?

I’m hardworking, dedicated, stubborn, and loyal to those I love. When I set my mind to something, I do it. There’s no ifsands, or buts.

What is your occupation? Are you any good at it? Do you like it?

I’m the owner and operator of Ben’s Auto Repair. My dad opened the garage years ago, and I learned everything I know from him. I love my job. Though I’d rather get my hands dirty and work on an engine, I’m usually stuck in the office filing paperwork, calling suppliers, or taking inventory of my stock more often than not these days. That’s the curse of being the boss.

So true. What skill do you have that you’re proud of?

Other than being an awesome mechanic (no arrogance there, I really am good), I’m fairly skilled at playing the keyboard. I’ve always enjoyed music, rather I’m playing or listening to it, but I had to choose which of my two great loves to pursue when I was a teenager—the garage or music. I picked the former. I just didn’t have time for both.

It’s too bad you had to choose. If you had a free day with no responsibilities and could have fun, what would you do?

I’d play my keyboard while Belle played her guitar. We’d sing and rock out to some of our favorite songs and just relax at my place.

I’d love to listen in. What did you think the first time you saw Belle?

Hot. Mouth-watering, screw-me-sideways hot. It was like all the blood in my body pooled between my legs and left me a drooling mess at her feet. Not that I showed her how much she affected me. I’m more suave than that. But yeah, I was a goner at first sight. That’s why I ran away from her right after our night together. Believe me, it was explosive.

Sounds like it! What is your family like?

I don’t have a big family. Mom died when I was a kid, and Dad passed on four years ago. Meghan and I don’t get along, but her ex-husband, Alan, is like the brother I never had. She had a son with Alan—his name’s Danny—and I love that little boy to pieces.

At least you have someone. What other character from your book do you think your author should write a book about? Care to tell us why?

You’ll meet three characters in my book that will have a story of their own.

Belle’s friends, Shea and Trevor, will have a second chance romance in Trevor’s Redemption, which is coming soon in the multi-author Dangerous Entanglements box set in December 2022. It’ll be re-released as a solo book in the fall of next year.

Arresting Alan, starring you-know-who, will hopefully be released sometime in late 2023 as well. Alan’s no longer hung up on my sister, and I want him to find happiness and love with someone else. He’s been through a lot and deserves only the best.

That’s good to know. Thank you so much, Benji, for chatting with me today.


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About the Author

Amber Daulton is the author of the romantic-suspense series Arresting Onyx and several standalone novellas. Her books are published through Daulton Publishing, The Wild Rose Press, and Books to Go Now, and are available in ebook, print on demand, audio, and foreign language formats.

She lives in North Carolina with her husband and demanding cats.

Social Media Link

Universal link – https://linktr.ee/AmberDaulton

Exclusive Newsletter (free ebook to new subscribers) – https://bit.ly/amberdaultonnewsletter

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3 comments:

  1. Interesting synopsis and interview. Thank you.
    For some reason blogger has decided to issue a sensitive comment warning about the blog. I wonder why?

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  2. Thank you for sharing the post, Cara. It's so weird Blogger got upset over it, especially since there's nothing naughty in it. I'm so sorry for all the trouble!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No need for you to apologize. It's Google who should apologize for the inconvenience. However, that's about as likely to happen as the sun rising in the south and setting in a hole in the ground.

      Delete

I try to get comments published as quickly as possible. I have ADHD and anxiety and sometimes I need to work myself up to be able to respond to comments. I don't always reply to comments on my blog, but I do try to visit as many people as possible when I participate in blog hops. I share your work on the monthly Roost Recommendations posts at ornerybookemporium.blogspot.com so others can discover your work. I do read and appreciate your comments.
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