Author Interview: Chain of Mercy by Brenda Anderson

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Chain of Mercy by Brenda S. Anderson, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Chain of Mercy
Series: Coming Home
Author: Brenda Anderson
Publisher: Independently published through The Mosaic Collection (2nd ed.)
Release Date: April 22, 2014 (1st ed.)
Genre: Contemporary Romance (Christian)

A devastating argument
One reckless decision
An unforgivable sin 

Successful Manhattan businessman Richard Brooks is living the dream, drunk with success and all its trappings, until one reckless decision turns his dream life into a living nightmare. 

Richard flees to Minneapolis where he repairs ancient boilers instead of solving corporate problems, and he's determined to live the solitary life he now deserves. 

Executive Sheila Peterson has other plans for the handsome custodian. Richard appears to be the perfect match for the no-strings-attached romance she's after, but she soon discovers that he's hiding more than the designer clothes in his closet. 

Richard can't deny the allure of a relationship with Sheila. The closer they get, though, the greater the risk that she will discover not only who he used to be but also the unforgivable sin he committed that reckless night. 

 PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

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Excerpt

“You’re scapegoating me? Over the past four years, I’ve been your top performer.” Richard pointed to the man seated kitty-corner from him. “What about Edwards? Wasn’t he responsible for a three million—?”

“Quiet!” Entenza raised his voice and sat up straight. “This isn’t about Edwards, or Constapoulas, or anyone else. It’s about the image you present of ACM Technologies.”

Richard laughed. “So, this has nothing to do with my performance.”

“Our shareholders don’t take kindly to having a member of our board with a police record.”

“Ahh, I see.” Just as he thought. How could he win a battle against the truth? “Let me save you and the shareholders a little trouble.” He pushed away from the table, grabbed his briefcase, and stood. Neither a demotion nor an outright firing was acceptable. “I’ll have my office cleared in an hour. Other companies have been begging for my expertise. I guess it’s time I answer them.”

“So be it.” Entenza pushed a button on the conference phone. “Patrice, will you send in Cowell?”

“Cowell?” Could this possibly get any worse? “A security escort?”

“Protocol, son. I’m sure you understand.”

Richard pinched the bridge of his nose. “Perfectly, sir.” He gave Entenza a mock salute and strode from the room, slamming the door behind him.

Happy unbelievable birthday.

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About the Author

Brenda S. Anderson writes authentic and gritty life-affirming fiction that shows God at work in people’s messy lives. She enjoys live sports and theater, walking along the shores of Lake Superior, and sharing hot cocoa with friends and family. She lives near Minneapolis with her newly retired husband and their mischievous twin kitties.

Connect with Brenda at brendaandersonbooks.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

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Author Interview

Q: What inspired you to write Chain of Mercy?

Brenda: A couple of “what if” inspired this story. When I began writing it, the show Sex and the City was very popular. I’d never seen an episode but still wondered “what if” a couple in that show got saved? I also pondered at that time, “what if” an abortion doctor became pro-life? While that aspect didn’t appear in Chain of Mercy, it did help set the stage for the story.


Q: How long did it take you to write this book?

Brenda: This was my first novel written and ended up being my debut novel as well, so writing it, including innumerable drafts, edits, critiques, and classes, it took about ten years. The first draft, though, was completed in about six months.


Q: What surprised you while researching/writing this novel?

Brenda: While researching the book, what really took me by surprise was the impact abortion has on men. You didn’t hear about it then, and it’s rarely talked about even today.

Q: Do you have a favorite quote from Chain of Mercy?

Brenda: “…if there’s no God to answer to, then there’s no moral standard to live up to either. As long as I pretended God didn’t exist, I could live life how I wanted. I could throw off the guilt from my behavior. It was all about me.”


Q: When did you first know you wanted to be an author?

Brenda: I’ve written stories since grade school. I even wrote plays back then that my class put on for other grades.


Q: Would you share something about yourself that most readers wouldn’t know?

Brenda: I do not care for coffee or tea, which seems to be highly unusual for authors.


Q: What are you currently reading?

Brenda: I’m reading Flicker of Trust by Eleanor Bertin. It’s excellent!

Q: What is your favorite genre to read?

Brenda: I will read most any genre, but the books I gravitate toward are family drama or women’s fiction.

Q: What is your favorite hobby?

Brenda: I love singing, especially in ensembles.

 

Q: What is your favorite season and why?

Brenda: I love fall! I love the colors and the cooler air and fewer bugs. Basically, I love most everything about fall.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will win a book box which includes a paperback copy of Chain of Mercy and locally crafted, book-related items like a Booktrovert glass tumbler, bath balls, a bookish tote, bookmarks, and much more!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight May 28, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on June 4, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only for book box. Winner outside the US will receive a $30 Amazon gift card and ebook. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!