Jessie Hilton is tough. Since the age of fifteen, she has dreamed of being a principal dancer with the Australia Ballet Company. Now at twenty-four, she stands on the brink of fulfilling her dream unaware of a secret buried deep within her.
Ex-military officer, Brad Jordan is rebuilding his life with the help of his boisterous Border collie, Whiskey. After helping Jessie out of a tight spot, he discovers a kindred spirit in the ambitious ballerina.
But with the sudden attention of an unwanted admirer, Jessie’s life begins to spin out of control. Called back to her family home in country New South Wales due to her father’s unforeseen illness, she is torn between career and family. As her dream of being principal dancer fades, her stalker edges ever closer. But there is more to overcome than a lurking psychopath. Can Jessie and Brad confront their own past demons and finally be free?
Award winning author, Diane Demetre writes genre-busting stories which delve deep into the human psyche, and Retribution is no exception. Winner of Romance Writers of Australia Emerald Pro Award for Best Unpublished Manuscript, Retribution is her first romantic suspense. If you love a cast of complex characters, a slow simmering romance and an intriguing plot, don’t miss this page-turning romantic suspense with a twist.
Retribution is my first foray into writing romantic suspense, a genre where the suspense element and the romantic relationship are equally important to the plot. I wanted to give a rich emotional depth to the story by constructing complex character arcs in a story that merges the deeper elements of life, love and hope. Retribution does not follow the usual formula for this genre… It is romantic suspense with a twist.
This story is my way of paying tribute to the people who have endured more than most. Those who have lived hellish childhoods, those who have fought for our freedom, those who have experienced unimaginable trauma and those who may never recover from their suffering. With the overarching theme of forgiveness and redemption, Retribution pays homage to the human condition in all its glory and misery.
Having trained in ballet and worked as a professional dancer, choreographer and director, I knew my protagonist had to be a ballerina, as they possess the qualities I needed for my story. Tough, disciplined and ambitious, she had to be driven to achieve her dreams, even against the worst odds. As a lover of the Australian Ballet and having access to past students and dancers, I created a protagonist who fit the role of an Aussie Ballet soloist. Soloist is the final step before becoming a principal dancer, which is the highest position in any ballet company. For those who have the talent, dedication and grit to make it, the transition from soloist to principal is a career highlight. The incomparable Amber Scott from the Aussie Ballet is who I used for inspiration. https://australianballet.com.au/artist/amber-scott
My hero had to be her match; a man with equal power, passion and fortitude. Since I’ve always had great respect and gratitude for the men, women and animals of our country’s armed forces, I knew my hero would be one of them. They’re a rare breed who place themselves in harm’s way to fight for our freedoms and way of life. A uniquely Australian character, my hero needed to be a professional soldier with a damaged past and worthy of finding love again. Inspired by Chris Hemsworth in the lead role of Thor and then clean-shaven in a dinner suit from his modelling days, he represented the two incarnations of my hero.
Thus, Jessie Hilton and Brad Jordan were born.
Then there is BJ’s dog, Whiskey, who is also a main character. She is integral to the story and a true hero. I am a BIG animal lover and have a furry family of three dogs. I fashioned Whiskey on my own Border collie, Gypsy Rose, who I named in honour of a famous American burlesque dancer. Although not as well trained as Whiskey, Gypsy possesses the same enthusiasm and gentle nature as Whiskey. You can see pictures of my puppies on my blog. https://dianedemetre.com/blogposts/
Although categorised as a romantic suspense, Retribution delves deeper into the human psyche and explores how people deal with their emotional past. As such, I wanted to set Jessie’s past in the context of a real location. I needed a small rural town within a six to seven hour driving distance from Melbourne, where the Australian Ballet Company is based. I also needed this town to be quintessentially Australian, with an historical bed & breakfast on its outskirts and a believable lair nearby for the antagonist. My husband, who has travelled by road throughout most of Australia suggested a little town called Yass. A place I’d never heard of. Bingo! Not only did Yass look like the town I imagined when I began plotting Retribution, it had a nearby homestead, perfect for Jessie’s childhood—Coodravale Homestead. I weave its history and scenery into the story.
Then there is the antagonist. I can’t reveal too much, except the character is a violent malignant narcissist. I switched POV for these scenes for added impact.
In preparing for publication I needed a provocative headline for the book’s cover. It is a question few of us consider. Who would you kill to escape your past? What decision would you make if you were pushed to the edge? Would you choose good or evil? This is the ultimate choice my characters had to face when confronting their pasts—to either choose for redemption or retribution.
This story is my way of paying tribute to the people who have endured more than most. Those who have lived hellish childhoods, those who have fought for our freedom, those who have experienced unimaginable trauma and those who may never recover from their suffering. With the overarching theme of forgiveness and redemption, Retribution pays homage to the human condition in all its glory and misery.
Having trained in ballet and worked as a professional dancer, choreographer and director, I knew my protagonist had to be a ballerina, as they possess the qualities I needed for my story. Tough, disciplined and ambitious, she had to be driven to achieve her dreams, even against the worst odds. As a lover of the Australian Ballet and having access to past students and dancers, I created a protagonist who fit the role of an Aussie Ballet soloist. Soloist is the final step before becoming a principal dancer, which is the highest position in any ballet company. For those who have the talent, dedication and grit to make it, the transition from soloist to principal is a career highlight. The incomparable Amber Scott from the Aussie Ballet is who I used for inspiration. https://australianballet.com.au/artist/amber-scott
My hero had to be her match; a man with equal power, passion and fortitude. Since I’ve always had great respect and gratitude for the men, women and animals of our country’s armed forces, I knew my hero would be one of them. They’re a rare breed who place themselves in harm’s way to fight for our freedoms and way of life. A uniquely Australian character, my hero needed to be a professional soldier with a damaged past and worthy of finding love again. Inspired by Chris Hemsworth in the lead role of Thor and then clean-shaven in a dinner suit from his modelling days, he represented the two incarnations of my hero.
Thus, Jessie Hilton and Brad Jordan were born.
Then there is BJ’s dog, Whiskey, who is also a main character. She is integral to the story and a true hero. I am a BIG animal lover and have a furry family of three dogs. I fashioned Whiskey on my own Border collie, Gypsy Rose, who I named in honour of a famous American burlesque dancer. Although not as well trained as Whiskey, Gypsy possesses the same enthusiasm and gentle nature as Whiskey. You can see pictures of my puppies on my blog. https://dianedemetre.com/blogposts/
Although categorised as a romantic suspense, Retribution delves deeper into the human psyche and explores how people deal with their emotional past. As such, I wanted to set Jessie’s past in the context of a real location. I needed a small rural town within a six to seven hour driving distance from Melbourne, where the Australian Ballet Company is based. I also needed this town to be quintessentially Australian, with an historical bed & breakfast on its outskirts and a believable lair nearby for the antagonist. My husband, who has travelled by road throughout most of Australia suggested a little town called Yass. A place I’d never heard of. Bingo! Not only did Yass look like the town I imagined when I began plotting Retribution, it had a nearby homestead, perfect for Jessie’s childhood—Coodravale Homestead. I weave its history and scenery into the story.
Then there is the antagonist. I can’t reveal too much, except the character is a violent malignant narcissist. I switched POV for these scenes for added impact.
In preparing for publication I needed a provocative headline for the book’s cover. It is a question few of us consider. Who would you kill to escape your past? What decision would you make if you were pushed to the edge? Would you choose good or evil? This is the ultimate choice my characters had to face when confronting their pasts—to either choose for redemption or retribution.
“But I did find this.” He held up a sealed pink envelope that he’d skewered on the tip of one of Jessie’s kitchen forks. The wary expression on his face kindled a spark of fear in her.
She eyed it with suspicion. “What is it?”
“I’m not sure, but it was propped up on the pillows on your bed and it’s addressed to you. I haven’t touched it.” His flinty gaze riveted her to the spot. An icy shiver skidded down her spine, leaving a path of cold, clammy apprehension.
“You open it.” She rubbed her arms a little too fiercely.
“Do you have any gloves? If this has got fingerprints on it, I don’t want to contaminate evidence.”
“Yes. Under the sink in my bathroom. There’re disposable gloves in a box.” She cocked her head in the direction, indicating he should go and find them. Her legs felt like jelly, and she feared that if she tried to go and get the gloves herself, she’d fall flat on her face.
Within a minute or two, he returned with a pair of gloves that he offered to her. “You’ll have to put them on. They’re too small for me.”
Jessie rubbed her hands, stalling for time. She reached for the gloves and braced herself as if expecting them to send an electric shock up her arms. Doing her best to remain calm, she pushed her hands into the gloves, finishing each with a snap.
He stared at her with an expression of grim determination. “You have to open it, Jessie. If you don’t want to read it, leave it on the table and walk away. I’ll read it if you like.”
Her hands trembled as she plucked the envelope from the fork. The back of it peeled up effortlessly, and she imagined the person who had left it licking it with their vile tongue and sealing it with just enough of their wetness, but not so much as to stick it tight. She swallowed down her revulsion before she gagged on it. Reluctantly, she opened the envelope and eased out an innocent piece of squarely folded pink paper. Flattening it out, she wrenched her gaze away, before she accidentally read its contents.
She eyed it with suspicion. “What is it?”
“I’m not sure, but it was propped up on the pillows on your bed and it’s addressed to you. I haven’t touched it.” His flinty gaze riveted her to the spot. An icy shiver skidded down her spine, leaving a path of cold, clammy apprehension.
“You open it.” She rubbed her arms a little too fiercely.
“Do you have any gloves? If this has got fingerprints on it, I don’t want to contaminate evidence.”
“Yes. Under the sink in my bathroom. There’re disposable gloves in a box.” She cocked her head in the direction, indicating he should go and find them. Her legs felt like jelly, and she feared that if she tried to go and get the gloves herself, she’d fall flat on her face.
Within a minute or two, he returned with a pair of gloves that he offered to her. “You’ll have to put them on. They’re too small for me.”
Jessie rubbed her hands, stalling for time. She reached for the gloves and braced herself as if expecting them to send an electric shock up her arms. Doing her best to remain calm, she pushed her hands into the gloves, finishing each with a snap.
He stared at her with an expression of grim determination. “You have to open it, Jessie. If you don’t want to read it, leave it on the table and walk away. I’ll read it if you like.”
Her hands trembled as she plucked the envelope from the fork. The back of it peeled up effortlessly, and she imagined the person who had left it licking it with their vile tongue and sealing it with just enough of their wetness, but not so much as to stick it tight. She swallowed down her revulsion before she gagged on it. Reluctantly, she opened the envelope and eased out an innocent piece of squarely folded pink paper. Flattening it out, she wrenched her gaze away, before she accidentally read its contents.
Following her onstage career, Diane’s thirst for knowledge led her into the field of self-development. Using her highly developed communication skills and love of people, she spent many years as a stress & life skills therapist and life coach, teaching individuals, couples and groups the methodologies of personal success and fulfilment.
With her business acumen, Diane launched into the corporate arena, working in a variety of positions as a consultant in marketing, special events, tourism, business strategies, quality management and human resource management. Combining her entertainment and business backgrounds, she returned to the stage as a keynote speaker and corporate facilitator, educating business leaders in the ‘new mindset’ for business and relationship building in the 21st century.
Assuming the pseudonym of the Goddess of Love, she appeared as a guest presenter on Gold FM radio, Gold Coast, a national radio program broadcast to 1.4million listeners. Her weekly program proved popular with Diane providing empowering advice on life, love, sex and relationships, sprinkled with a good dose of humour. Her passion for life and compulsive sharing nature made her a great inspiration to her listeners. As the Goddess of Love she also appeared as a regular guest on the national television program Beauty & the Beast, where her practical insights were televised to viewers across Australia.
When she launched into a writing career, Diane’s debut erotic romance series, the Dance of Love was voted Luminosity Publishing Readers’ Choice Best Books and Best Covers for 2015 and 2016.
Her romantic suspense, Retribution won the Romance Writers of Australia Emerald Pro Award 2017 for Best Unpublished Manuscript. Diane loves to write genre-busting stories with a twist. Her works are packed with emotional punch and feature empowered heroines who live life to the fullest, much like the author herself.
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Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good book.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the great post!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good read.
ReplyDeleteWhen did you first get the idea for your book? I hope your book is a success. Bernie Wallace BWallace1980(at)hotmail(d0t)com
ReplyDeleteHi Joseph, All the ideas for my books beam in when I least expect them. But this one came from a deep desire to show how some people overcome their challenges while others act them out. If you want a Behind the Scenes Sneak Peek and find out more about how this book came together, you can go to my website https://dianedemetre.com/sneakpeek/retribution/ and click for you own free Sneak Peek. Happy Reading X
DeleteWho would you kill to escape the past? What a loaded question and no easy answer that is for sure.
ReplyDeleteComplete confidence that this will be an absolute stunner of a book!
ReplyDeleteAfter all, all of your previous ones have been fantastic - laughter, love, desire, ambition and now suspense too, yeah!
Brilliant choice to host Lauren!
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Thanks Lauren for hosting my romantic suspense, Retribution on your fabulous blog. It is much appreciated...
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the tour and thank you for the opportunity to read about another great book. With so many readers in my family, always great to hear about more choices I think they'd enjoy reading.
ReplyDeleteThat excerpt has me hooked!
ReplyDeleteSounds so good.
ReplyDeleteLooks good. Enjoyed excerpt.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed getting to know your book and thanks for the chance to win :)
ReplyDeleteGreat creepy cover.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great book! Best wishes on your tour.
ReplyDeleteWhat are you currently working on?
ReplyDelete