by Camy Tang
“We don’t know what Andrea said to Sarah’s mother when Sarah disappeared. Publicly, at least, Sarah’s mother seemed to be pleased and supportive when her daughter unexpectedly left. She died a few years later from a heart attack, so we’ll never know.”
“Well,” Aunt Becca said as she lifted her head. “I pray Andrea eventually finds peace in Christ.”
Devon’s father turned red and looked like he was about to say something, but Mrs. Knightley put a firm hand on his arm. Aunt Becca smiled sweetly at him.
“Family gatherings are going to be very interesting,” Devon whispered to Naomi.
“Family gatherings?” Naomi looked at him, her heart beating a rapid tap-tap-tap. “Your family and my family? That’s assuming our families have a reason to get together.” Like a marriage.
His hand, holding her left one, loosened enough for him to rub a thumb over her bare third finger. “Don’t play coy, Miss Grant. You know very well we’ll have a reason.”
Devon’s eyes thrilled her. She’d kiss him if her father weren’t standing a few feet away, trying not to glare at their twined hands.
He brought her fingers to his lips, pressed a soft kiss on her knuckles. “I never want to leave you, Naomi. I want the right to protect you and love you.”
Her hand tingled. “What if I want to protect you?” From pain like what Jessica inflicted on him. From fear of being alone.
“God will protect us both.”
And then, despite his father and her father, despite the other avid eyes around them, he reached over to cup her jaw and leaned in to kiss her.
Dear Reader,
I have loved taking on a romantic, suspenseful journey through the beautiful agricultural county of Sonoma, California. The first time I visited Sonoma, I knew I needed to set a book there, and where better to plan mayhem and murder than in a tourist hotspot that still has that small-town feel? Sonoma is also very rich in history as well as in breathtaking views of the countryside.
Naomi’s story was fun to write because I see so much of myself in her strong personality. (I also give a pretty good massage!) Her struggles with her faith—based on feelings—are especially dear to me because they’re what I struggled with when I was right out of college. I had been a Christian for a few years, but I realized I needed a deeper, truer relationship with God.
Naomi’s theme is a special one for me, because it reminds me that God really is in control no matter how crazy things become. Like Naomi, I don’t always trust or feel that God is with me, but He always manages to come through for me despite that. I am hoping many of you will relate to her struggles just as I do.
I love to hear from readers! You can e-mail me at [email protected] or write to me at P.O. Box 23l43, San José, CA 95123-3143. I am very prolific on my blog, http://camys-loft.blogspot.com/and I invite you all to join me there, if only to see my mental state of the day.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Naomi is trying to be a good manager of the spa, which sometimes means saying no to clients with politeness and courtesy. In the opening scene, she doesn’t do a very good job and her aunt Becca has to step in. Have you ever been in a situation where you had to tell someone no politely? How well did you do? How did it make you feel?
Devon is still recovering emotionally from a bitter divorce. Can you relate to his anger and struggle to forgive? Have you had a hard time forgiving someone who hurt or betrayed you?
Aunt Becca is a strong Christian who is also very out-spoken about her faith. Can you relate to her or do you know someone like her? What is your own way of sharing your faith?
Naomi’s staff are friends who hang out with each other outside of work. Do you have a close relationship with your coworkers? Is there someone you might want to get to know better at work?
When Naomi realizes someone is trying to set her up for the murders, she feels helpless and stressed. Have you been in a situation where things were completely out of your control and it seemed to be going from bad to worse? How did you feel? What did you do?
Naomi is struggling with the reality that someone she knew has died, even though Jessica wasn’t a close friend or a family member. Have you had a coworker, classmate or friend pass away? How did it make you feel? How did you cope with the loss?
Devon has a poor relationship with his parents, and Naomi’s warm family circle draws him in. Why is it important to have people—either family or like family—around you? Do you have a “family” circle of your own?
As things get worse, Naomi knows she needs to trust God and believe that He’s got everything under His control, but she has a hard time doing this. Instead, she takes charge to try to do something about the murders and the person framing her. Have you ever felt this way? How did you respond? What would you have done differently from Naomi?
After the phone call from the racetrack bookie, Naomi feels God has forsaken her. Have you ever felt that way? How did you respond? Did you have people to pray with you or talk with you?
Devon is falling in love with Naomi and wants to rescue her from the insidious net closing in around her, but there’s nothing he can do. Have you ever wanted to rescue someone but were too helpless to do anything?
Naomi’s father mentions that faith is not about feelings. For Naomi, it means she’s only been going through the motions of faith for most of her life because her family is Christian. Can you relate to that? Or can you relate to trusting more in your feelings than your faith?
Naomi’s theme verse is Zephaniah 3:17: “The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save.” What does that verse mean for you?
ISBN: 978-1-4268-3634-3
DEADLY INTENT
Copyright © 2009 by Camy Tang
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the editorial office, Steeple Hill Books, 233 Broadway, New York, NY 10279 U.S.A.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
This edition published by arrangement with Steeple Hill Books.
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