Rebecca Walker loves searching for lost treasure but puts her plans on hold to fulfill her sister’s dying wish of performing on Broadway. She returns home when her father has a severe stroke. While there, she’s determined to achieve her father's lifelong quest for hidden Confederate gold, rumored to be buried nearby.

Former army ranger Roy Maddox blames the accident that took his fiancée’s life on her sister, Rebecca. Now Rebecca is back, pretending to care about the father she left behind to pursue her dreams. Despite their differences, they’re drawn to each other.

Will they locate and retrieve the gold, or will they be blind-sided by an outside force who is intent on taking the treasure, destroying them both?

Today, Wild Women Authors features author Linda Trout as she celebrates Crushed Promises, a contemporary romantic suspense, recently released by the Wild Rose Press. At Linda’s side is Rebecca Walker, an up and coming Broadway star who will go first.

Good morning, Rebecca. Thanks for joining us today. Let’s begin with where you are from. I grew up in the small town of Rock Ledge, Arkansas. I love this town and all the people in it. I currently reside in Manhattan due to my work, but I look forward to the day when I can come back home.

Tell us a bit about Crushed Promises. I had to walk away from the life I loved to fulfill my sister’s dying wish. I learned to live in the concrete jungle, but my heart yearns to come home to stay. But in the meantime, I have to deal with my dad’s illness and a man who blames me for all of his problems. I’m still trying to forgive myself for one fateful night that changed everyone’s lives.

What did you think the first time you saw Roy Maddox? As he was my sister’s fiancé, I initially looked at him as nothing more than a future brother-in-law. That was before the accident, though. After that, things changed drastically.

What was your second thought? My second thought was I didn’t blame him for his hatred. He blamed me for my sister’s death, and he’d be right.

So it wasn’t love at first sight? Definitely not. We had to warm up to each other, learn to respect each other. It was a major process, one I’d gladly do again, no matter how painful.

What do you like most about hin? Roy is extremely loyal to my father, and everyone in town loves and respects him. The fact he keeps coming to my rescue at the farm has changed my mind about him. He isn’t as hard-hearted as I thought after the accident.

How would you describe him? He’s definitely a heartthrob in looks, but his opinion of me was nothing short of contempt. I think he hated the world for awhile and that’s why he joined the army and became a ranger. I was surprised to find he’d moved back to Rock Ledge.

How would Roy describe you? Selfish. He thinks I walked away from the one place I loved willingly. He eventually realized he was wrong. I have to admit, it took a long time to get there, though.

What made you choose acting for a career? I didn’t choose it. In fact, it was the farthest thing from my mind, but when my twin sister pleaded with me before she died to make her dream of a Walker starring on Broadway come true, I couldn’t refuse her.

What is your biggest fear? Letting my family down. I want to be here for Dad, but I promised my sister I’d go to Manhattan in her place. Which is more important? How do I choose? It’s a battle that’s ripping my heart out.

How do you relax? That’s easy. Crawling around in caves is what centers me, what makes me happy. Since I was a kid, I think I’ve crawled under half of Arkansas, and I’d love to crawl under more. There’s nothing more relaxing, or exciting, than discovering a new cave.

Who is your favorite fictional character? Bat Girl. Probably because bats live in caves and I love caves. Plus, she has super powers. Who wouldn’t want to be able to crush the bad guy?

What is the best piece of advice you ever received? I’m not sure if it was Mom or Dad who told me this, but they said that no matter what life throws at you, you push through it and keep going. That’s what kept me going while I was all alone in New York City.

This has been great, Rebecca. Thank you for giving us insight into your hopes and dreams—and the love of exploring caves. Now we’d like to chat with Linda.

What movies or books have had an impact on your career as a writer? Every book I read by Linda Broday, Jodi Thomas, Marilyn Pappano, Justine Davis and Ashlynn Pearce inspires me. Each author has her own unique style and I find I can’t put their books down. I strive to capture the essence of their stories and emulate it to a small degree.

Is there an event in your private life that you were able to bring to this story and how do you feel it impacted the novel? The idea for this story came to me while I sat in a hospital room after my father had a massive stroke. I even based the dad in the story after mine. I wanted to bring his strong-as-an-ox character alive and show his strength. Having this character in the book showed the love the heroine has for him and enriched the family dynamic.

Tell us a bit about your publisher: how did you hear about them and what influenced your decision to submit to them? I publish through The Wild Rose Press and couldn’t be happier. After meeting the owner plus my editor at a conference, I saw how professional, yet personable both women were. It impressed me enough to trust my work with them.

What book[s] currently rest on your TBR pile? I’m currently reading Dead Man’s Hand by B.J. Daniels and Jordan Valley Rescue by Susan Spess. In my TBR pile is: Last Rites by Sharon Sala, Colton’s Montana Hideaway by Justine Davis, Talulah’s Back in Town by Breanda Novak, and Faking a Fairy Tale by Teri Wilson. Like most authors, there’s a ton more than that, though.

Last, what's up next and when can we expect to see it on the shelves? I’m working on the fourth book in the Rock Ledge series, Abandoned Promises, which deals with human trafficking. I’m also working on a straight romance – my first foray into something that doesn’t have suspense in it. We’ll see which one I finish first.

Linda brought along an excerpt for us:

“I asked what you’re doing on my father’s farm after dark?”

“Not that I owe you any explanation, but feeding the calves.”

“Don’t give me that! I haven’t been gone that long. You turn them out with their mothers.”

He gave her a dead-pan face that indicated she was an idiot. “They’re orphans.”

“What?” She drew back, then paused as his words sunk in. Good grief, she was an idiot. “Oh.”

“Yeah, oh. They have to be bottle fed.”

He started to turn away from her when the last fifteen minutes caught up with her and she began to shake violently. Shoot. Why couldn’t she get a grip on herself? The last thing she wanted to do was fall apart in front of Roy Maddox. But he saw.

“Hey. Sorry I scared you. I can announce my presence from now on if you want.” He didn’t sound sorry at all, but at least he apologized.

She crossed her arms over her chest to steady her racing heartbeat and shook her head. “No, it—it isn’t that. Someone tried to run me off the road a few minutes ago. Someone driving a truck a lot like yours hit me from behind a couple times before driving off.”

“Run you off the road?” He looked confused. “What are you talking about?”

“What I said. They almost succeeded, too.” Horrified to show weakness of any kind, she found her knees giving way, and she crumpled to the ground.

To learn more about Linda Trout and the stories she creates, go to:

Website: http://LindaTrout.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/LindaTroutAuthor

Instagram: http://instagram.com/LindaTroutAuthor

Twitter (X): http://twitter.com/LindaTrout2

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/Linda_Trout

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/linda-trout

To purchase Crushed Promises, go to:

Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/2s3kc4a6

Barnes&Noble: https://tinyurl.com/ycyrjsbw