I recently released A Saint’s Salvation on February 10, 2014. It is a military romance near and dear to my heart as I’m a Navy Veteran, my husband is a Navy Veteran and my son is a Marine. He is currently active duty in the Middle East.
My son had gotten a tattoo, St. Nicholas, before he went to Afghanistan.. Well, that tattoo just seemed to resonate with me, NOT that I wanted him to get one. But the stark black of the ink against his skin started my brain churning.
This book all started as a catharsis. I just started playing around and before I knew it, I had started A Saint’s Salvation. I missed him; we were buddies gaming together and generally being a pain in the butt to each other because we could. My hero ‘Saint’ took on characteristics of my son. ACK! I ended up putting it on the back burner because face it, it’s a romance and just ACK! No way could I write this kind of romance starring my son! LOL. So, when he came home safe and sound, I was able to separate my son from my character.
The beginning was pure emotion of his time there and the hurt he felt when his long time girl sent him a ‘Dear John’, over Skype. I could hardly contain my rage over his hurt. I’m pretty easy going but this was the first time he had been dumped. To make it worse, he was deployed with no contact and no recourse. Poor baby. I think I spent some time of everyday talking him through it. Combining it with things he saw he still refuses to talk about and a young man can get pretty messed up. But he came through it like the champ he is.
My son is a charming rogue, much like my character. At one point I know he was dating three girls. Periodically a young lady has come up to me and said ‘Your son’s an Asshole.’ Sadly I know this, and he makes no bones about it. Yet, they keep coming back like bees to honey. My son is a born Marine. I don’t think he was meant to be anything else.
I tried to portray this in A Saint’s Salvation. I mixed up his emotions, what I observed of his behavior and came up with the charming rogue ‘Saint’ Nicholas Santiago. According to one Marine that has read it, ‘Saint’ sounds like every Marine she has ever known.
The time with his family healing had me pulling characteristics from my family. My mother in law really does bless us every time we leave to come home. She is a wonderful woman who is the matriarch of a wonderful family.
But the rest of the story is pure fiction. I have a vivid imagination, a pen that tends to write with steam and once I’ve figured out where I want it to go, I keep chugging along until I’m done. 5 beta reads, 3 editor back and forth sessions and a proof reading session and A Saint’s Salvation was ready for the spotlight.
So, here it is. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
A SAINT’S SALVATION
by Beverly Ovalle
Published by Secret Cravings Publishing
Released February 10, 2014Angel’s life changed the minute Saint saved her from a grenade. Now Saint has a second chance to prove he’s the man for her.
Corporal Nicholas ‘Saint’ Santiago needs to go home to reclaim the man he used to be. To be the man he was before Operation Enduring Freedom slowly hardened his heart. He needs to reconnect to the values and the reasons he is doing what he does. Saint also needs to try to forget the courageous woman he knows was meant to be his.
Petty Officer Angelina Jones’ life changed the moment Saint saved her life. She survived the blast but now has to deal with the fact that she will never be whole. Knowing Saint received a ‘Dear John’ letter, Angelina has no intention of being his rebound romance. She needs to be loved for herself. She needs to forget about the one man she knows was meant to be hers.
They each try to find someone to help them forget.
But what does fate have planned for them?
Excerpt:
A shout from Hamilton brought him back to the here and now. “Hey, Saint, do you see any trouble coming?” On guard at the west wall, Nick shook his head. Not that it was much of a wall, a couple of sandbags holding up a makeshift bullet riddled wooden fence, an illusion of safety and security.
“No, it all looks clear.” Well, as clear as normal, Nick thought. The Seabees and the Army Corp of Engineers had done their best to give them a clear line of site, but the rubble of buildings and piles of rock where there used to be a town never seemed to go away. Rebels constantly hid there, randomly firing at their FOB, a forward operating base in Helmand Provence, making it almost impossible to build a more secure perimeter.
Nick could see kids playing in the dirt. In the distance the locals were harvesting the poppy fields. Some of the largest poppy fields in the world were right outside the walls of the FOB. Beautiful when in bloom, they were more pervasive and did more damage than the terrorists.
“Anymore threats?”
“When aren’t there threats?” Every damn day there were threats. “Why, is there a problem?”
“The brass is making noise. When they do something stupid, we end up paying for it.” Hamilton sounded disgusted. As Hamilton spoke, shots were fired over and through the fence, adding more holes to the dilapidated barrier. Nick and Hamilton hit the ground, rolling toward the sandbags to return fire through the cracks. “See what I mean?”
“Yeah it’s been a while since they shot at us, at least a couple of days.” Nick’s sarcasm caused Hamilton to laugh.
“Probably someone is coming to pick up something from the poppy fields and they want to keep us from seeing who.” Hamilton glanced at him. “You doing okay?”
“Gettin’ there. It was just a shock, ya know?”
“Yeah, damn women. The least they could do is be faithful while we’re out here fighting.”
“Yeah, it sucks. I just can’t help thinking it’s my fault.”
“Fuck. How the hell could it be? You weren’t even there. The bitch knew you were gone, were going to be gone.” They fired shots, aiming at the muzzle flash in the distance. More Marines headed their way, sprinting from cover to cover. Perez came running, bringing out ammo and providing more fire power.
Another crack and Perez went down with a cry.
“Fuck! Medic! Man down!” The cry went out, passed through until the call went to the corpsman, while Nick tried to stem the blood flow. Hands pushed his away. Nick looked up. Petty Officer Jones, better known as Doc, had bandages ready.
“Help me roll this on until we can get him out of here.” Her voice sent a ripple through him. Nick had always ignored the attraction he had felt for her. He’d had his girl back home, and fraternization out here could get him thrown in the brig. Not to mention the brig out here was a hell hole.
Nick was leery about approaching Doc now. The Dear John letter had been a shock. He had known Leila for years. Hell, they had been friends since they were little. Her betrayal was unexpected. Nick didn’t even really know Doc. He could trust her with his life, but he wasn’t ready for another go around with his heart, no matter the attraction he felt.
Nick looked toward the fence line, rifle at the ready. Shots were firing sporadically around him. That’s when he saw it, the trail from a grenade launcher, unmistakable. Shit!
Buy Links:
https://www.amazon.com/A-Saints-Salvation-Beverly-Ovalle-ebook/dp/B00II8OTU8/
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-saints-salvation-beverly-ovalle/1118637570?ean=2940148157076
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-asaint039ssalvation-1425306-149.html
https://www.bookstrand.com/a-saints-salvation
https://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=4&products_id=824&zenid=0273b80c166317bb654c8145d5a109c2
Book Trailer:
https://youtu.be/yy8xo3zzFCU
Author Bio:
Beverly Ovalle lives in Wisconsin with her husband Edmond of 24 years and two Chinese Water Dragons. Having her own Dragons is expected as she is dragon crazy and anyone that walks in her house can tell. Her son Nicholas visits when he is on leave from the Marines. Her daughter Susannah visits to grocery shop in the pantry and to see what might be cooking for dinner.
Beverly has traveled around the world thanks to five years in the US Navy and has worked for the government in one capacity or another for the past 30 years. Beverly and her brothers have travelled most of the continental United States as children due to the station wagon from Hell. Still active with veterans, she is adjutant for her local AMVETS.
Beverly has been reading romances since her Aunt introduced her to the gothic romance in the fourth grade and is still reading every chance she gets.
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