““I know it’d be better for you if
I left.”
“You
let me be the judge of that,” she advised.
“The
moment you’re burdened by me,” he said, slowly, “I’m out of here.”
She
didn’t agree. No. Instead, she raised herself onto her toes.
Gavin’s
eyes closed and his breath hitched as her kiss washed breathily over his lips
and blew him away. Answers cropped up inside him, bright like candles. His hand
moved to the back of her head, no more able to snuff them out than he was to
convince her to walk away.”
--From NAVY
SEAL’S MATCH by Amber Leigh Williams
Amber Leigh
Williams is a romance writer who lives on the US Gulf Coast. She lives for
beach days, the smell of real books and spending time with her husband and
their two young children. When she’s not keeping up with rambunctious little
ones (and two large dogs), she can usually be found reading a good book or
indulging her inner foodie. Amber is represented by the D4EO Literary Agency.
Amber’s latest
book is the contemporary romance, Navy SEAL’S Match.
Book Description:
He believes he can’t be saved—she’ll prove him
wrong!
Former SEAL Gavin Savitt always knew who he was—until his last deployment ended tragically. Now he’s home, his mind hijacked by trauma and the shadow of his once-perfect sight. Yet in this new hazy, unclear world, one person stands out—Mavis Bracken.
There are a million reasons why Gavin shouldn’t be with Mavis, including that she’s his best friend’s little sister. Yet he longs for her touch, her freckles and her special way with wild, skittish beasts like him. He just needs the courage to take his life back. And Mavis won’t let him give up without a fight.
Former SEAL Gavin Savitt always knew who he was—until his last deployment ended tragically. Now he’s home, his mind hijacked by trauma and the shadow of his once-perfect sight. Yet in this new hazy, unclear world, one person stands out—Mavis Bracken.
There are a million reasons why Gavin shouldn’t be with Mavis, including that she’s his best friend’s little sister. Yet he longs for her touch, her freckles and her special way with wild, skittish beasts like him. He just needs the courage to take his life back. And Mavis won’t let him give up without a fight.
Interview:
Can we begin by having you tell us how you got started writing
contemporary romance?
Amber: I began writing contemporary romances because I loved reading
them so much. I remember reading Nora Roberts’ Irish Thoroughbred and
thinking, “This is what I should be writing.” Who I am as a writer came to be
through the process of writing contemporary romances so it’s very much my
niche, creatively.
Do you find writing your books comes natural to you or is it a struggle
sometimes?
Amber: It’s funny because you would think with every book you write that
the process would become easier, but it really doesn’t. I’ve learned to be
patient with that, though, because the rough draft of every story has something
to teach. That challenge and the learning aspect of the process is what I love
most, though I’m not going to lie—it can be grit-your-teeth frustrating.
Can you tell us a little about Gavin Savitt?
Amber: Gavin is a former Navy SEAL. He recently lost his dream job and
the better part of his sight and he’s struggling with issues related to PTSD.
Going back to civilian life is hard enough without the added difficulties so to
say he’s struggling to make a new normal for himself in his post-military life
is an understatement. SEALs can be seen as somewhat superhuman, but the most
wonderful thing about Gavin I found was how very human he is—and that’s
something he struggles with. It’s the heroine, Mavis Bracken, who makes him
realize that the part of him that is his humanity and the part of him that
feels so deeply and often leads him into trouble is the part of him that is
most worth saving. Together, they both set out of do so and learn many things
about each other along the way!
Can you tell us a little about the other main characters in your book?
Amber: Mavis is Gavin’s heroine. She was a fascinating person to write.
I’ve never written anyone quite like her. Her job is paranormal investigation
or “ghost-hunting.” Writing a non-paranormal story around a character who
believes in supernatural presences was a fun dynamic. She’s a vegetarian and a
bit of a yoga guru. She’s known in town as someone who’s very offbeat, but her
family and friends know that she has an extraordinary ability to read people
instead of what they project. As Gavin often says, there’s something a little
bit “spooky” about Mavis and that’s one of the reasons he keeps coming back to
her.
They say all books of fiction have at least one pivotal point when the
reader just can’t put the book down. What’s one of the pivotal points in your
book?
Amber: From the get-go, we open into Gavin’s new world and civilian life
and the anxiety he faces. There’s a moment between him and Mavis in the first
chapter in which they really connect, where he sees understanding in her that
he hasn’t been able to find anywhere else. He didn’t even know he was looking
for it. It’s a real zing moment and it’s the beginning of the bond between
them. They bond in a way I’ve struggled to write in the past so to see it come
alive on the page the way it did from that initial encounter under the
bougainvillea was very exciting. I hope readers feel the same way about it!
What would you like to say to your readers and fans?
Amber: I was inspired to write Navy SEAL’s Match by servicemen
and -women who had the courage to speak and write about their struggles with
PTSD. I tried my best to make Gavin’s transition from SEAL to civilian as
authentic as possible. If I succeeded, it’s because of those who live with
these struggles in real life every day, sometimes long after their service is
over. I think of those who were moved to tell me about their experience daily,
including the families who supported a great many of them through their
journey. This book is very much for them.