Meet a fitness fanatic & a former cop in
Dani Pettrey’s
romantic suspense
Silenced
Bethany House
~~~~~~
The Story
Jake Knew Something Was Wrong.
But He Never Guessed How Wrong.
A relaxing day of rock climbing takes a disturbing turn when Kayden McKenna’s route brings her face-to-face with a dead climber. Is it a terrible accident or something darker? When the case is handed to overburdened sheriff Landon Grainger, he turns to Jake Westin for help. With Jake’s past now revealed, he’s ready to use his talent for investigation again–but he could never prepare for where the mystery will take him.
Kayden’s climbing expertise soon leads her and Jake to the realization that the death was no accident. And worse, it seems the killer is onto them. When strange things begin happening in Yancey, Jake is terrified that once again his world may put someone he loves in danger. But the truth is far worse than he could ever imagine.
Introducing Kayden & Jake
Brief physical description
Kayden McKenna ~ Kayden has long, beautiful dark brown hair and almond-shaped hazel eyes. She’s tall, slender, and athletic in build. 
Jake Westin Cavanaugh ~ Jake is tall with a rugged, muscular physique. He has short brown hair and brown, soulful eyes.
Resembles…
Kayden: Kate Beckinsale
Jake: Jeremy Renner
Strengths and weaknesses
Kayden is best described as a strong woman—physically, mentally and emotionally. She works hard to remain strong and, at times, that is her greatest weakness.
Jake is excellent at tracking and deduction. It’s part of what makes him such an amazing detective—whether formally employed as such or not. His weakness is not wanting to rely on others. Feeling he 
needs to carry the load all by himself.
Quirk
Kayden is a uber healthy eater
Jake is more comfortable sleeping in a boat than on land
Your inspiration for the character
My oldest daughter is very bright and athletic so that portion of Kayden was based off of her. The rest was simply who Kayden turned out to be once I started writing.
I knew I wanted a strong yet wounded hero—one that reminded me on the most basic level of Aragorn from Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. Granted Aragorn could never be replicated, but I think he was the inspiration for Jake whether I realized it or not.
Background to the story
Silenced is the story of deputy Jake Westin Cavanaugh and Kayden McKenna. The inspiration primarily came from the characters themselves as they grew and developed through the earlier books in the Alaskan Courage series. It’s been so much fun watching Kayden’s apprehension of Jake fade and be replaced by deep and abiding love. Unfortunately, a killer stands in the way of their happiness.
Thanks Dani
Relz Reviewz ExtrasCharacter interview with Bailey CraigCharacter spotlight on Bailey CraigDani’s Pop QuizInterview with DaniAuthor Alert @ Relz ReviewzBuy Silenced at Amazon or Koorong
May 10, 2014 at 1:12 pm
Woohoo! I adore this character spotlight – and three cheers for the actor inspiration. Love both.
May 10, 2014 at 8:55 pm
Oh my gah, I need this story in my life! Sounds delectable, Dani! Can’t wait.
May 10, 2014 at 9:28 pm
Of course, doesn’t everybody ??
May 10, 2014 at 11:58 pm
Thanks so much for another amazing job, Rel! Hugs, dear one.
May 11, 2014 at 12:09 am
Yes I visualize the characters as I read a book. Can’t wait to read this one. Love the series so far!
May 11, 2014 at 12:16 am
Yes, I often “see” the characters and pick the perfect actor to portray them in a movie. Can’t wait to read this! Thanks for this giveaway!!
May 11, 2014 at 12:23 am
I am just being introduced to Dani Pettrey’s work and I’m looking forward to reading this series. Thanks for sharing this character spotlight!
May 11, 2014 at 12:28 am
Yes, I thought everyone did. Have I been under a false assumption all my life?
Silenced sounds great!
May 11, 2014 at 12:48 am
I visualize them to a degree but not nearly like many others it appears! LOL I enjoy seeing who the author thinks they’d look like, though… and it IS helpful. HIGHLY looking forward to Silenced! Have LOVED the series! Thanks for the giveaway!
May 11, 2014 at 1:10 am
I agree that it’s great to hear the author’s comments on what her characters look like. Looking forward to reading this book.
May 11, 2014 at 1:11 am
Yes I visualize characters as I read… That why sometimes I don’t like watching a book turned into a movie because I am so disappointed when the actors look nothis like I imagined! 🙂 LOVE Dani’s books!!!
May 11, 2014 at 1:51 am
I really like your character spotlights. Thanks for the giveaway.
May 11, 2014 at 1:54 am
Sometimes I picture what a character looks like when I’m reading.
May 18, 2014 at 9:22 am
I won a copy of Silenced in another giveaway. Please remove my entry from this one.
May 11, 2014 at 1:59 am
Definitely!
May 11, 2014 at 3:47 am
Love it! Kayden and Jake have been my favorite couple since book one. So to say that I’ve been looking forward to their story is putting it mildly. So fun to learn more about them! Thanks, Rel. 🙂
May 11, 2014 at 3:55 am
I can not wait to read Kayden and Jake story. I am rereading the others in preparation of this one. I will miss this family.
Sonnetta
May 11, 2014 at 5:02 am
I so want to read this book! I loved the first one I read!
May 11, 2014 at 5:59 am
These character spotlights bring such life to the story…Love them!!!
May 11, 2014 at 8:28 am
I have so enjoyed reading this series. Kayden and Jake are probably my favorite characters in this family. We’ll see. Dani Pettrey certainly has a gift for writing.
May 11, 2014 at 8:36 am
I always visualize characters when I’m reading. It frustrates me when there are no detailed character descriptions in looks. I always love it when an author shows us a picture of a real life person who resembles their character. It can be a person in an ad or a next door neighbor (if they’ve received permission). Doesn’t have to be an actor or model; just somebody.
May 11, 2014 at 9:40 am
I always visualize book characters as I read and I also visualize being right there with them.
May 11, 2014 at 10:38 am
Yes. Sometimes I wish I was like them. Most books I read it’s like a movie in my mind.
May 11, 2014 at 10:42 am
I am enjoying the Alaskan Series of the McKenna family each finding their partners for life. Just one more to go with Reef’s story… But Gage n Darcy plus Jake n Kayden most probably will be around in that story since two weddings took place in Silenced. I liked the pinterest posts of the weddings. I especially love Dani’s background on her blog beautiful scenery.
May 11, 2014 at 10:49 am
I guess I missed the question in the last post. I picture the characters in my mind also…. Alaska being over the other side of the world to me in south west Australia. Don’t have mountains, snow, but have beautiful beaches. Kayden’s strong motive to not have children because of her mother’s illness was most profound to me. Most probable outcome for a lot of woman who have genetic issues… but the other party needs to have a say as well as Jake did.
May 11, 2014 at 11:29 am
Yes, I do picture the characters in my mind.
May 12, 2014 at 8:35 am
Oooo I love who you chose. Jeremy Renner is so sexy.
May 12, 2014 at 12:32 pm
I do visualize each character in my head, it makes me connect with the story and makes it more enjoyable.
May 12, 2014 at 1:28 pm
I definitely visualize the characters as I read. I do enjoy seeing who the authors think each character resembles. Love this series! Can’t wait to read this one!
May 12, 2014 at 9:24 pm
I usually try to visualize characters. Thanks for the giveaway!
May 13, 2014 at 12:34 am
Unless the description in the book and the character on the cover don’t match up, I usually don’t visualize anything different!
May 13, 2014 at 1:06 am
Absolutely! I always enjoy seeing who the author’s perception of her characters are and sometimes I’m in full agreement, but other times I picture them differently.
May 13, 2014 at 1:44 am
That’s really cool that Jake was inspired by Aragorn. 🙂 That helps me visualize him in the best way possible… from the inside out. I do picture characters as I read, and sometimes I immediately associate them with someone I know, or a Tv show character.
May 13, 2014 at 1:49 am
Sounds interesting and the cover is gorgeous!
May 13, 2014 at 1:51 am
And I meant to add, I do visualize the characters as I read. If the cover doesn’t match the author’s description of the characters, it is harder to visualize sometimes.
May 13, 2014 at 5:32 am
So glad you all are enjoying seeing what I imagine Kayden and Jake looking like. It’s so fun visualizing the characters in your head. I do it all the time!
May 13, 2014 at 6:24 am
Always. I love books that have pics of their characters on the covers but often times my image of them will differ greatly.
May 13, 2014 at 7:16 am
I love this series. When I get a book in this series I can’t put it down until I finish it.
May 13, 2014 at 9:31 am
I have to visualize characters as I read. If the cover has characters on it though I have a hard time getting away from that image.
May 13, 2014 at 12:57 pm
Yes, I always visualize characters as I read a novel. Looking forward to Silenced!
May 15, 2014 at 12:29 am
I always try to visualize the characters but have such a hard time actually picturing them in my mind so I’m glad when the book cover has pictures of the characters…unless the cover picture doesn’t match at all…then that totally frustrates me 🙂
May 15, 2014 at 12:05 pm
I am so looking forward to this one.
May 16, 2014 at 2:01 pm
Yes! It helps me follow and get into the story to picture the characters, their expressions, and what they do. I often look at the cover if it has character pictures or in the case of Dani Pettrey check out her website for the characters dossier for a picture and more details of certain characters (love this!).
May 16, 2014 at 11:18 pm
Always !! I don’t know how you can read a book and not see them.
May 16, 2014 at 11:54 pm
Absolutely! I love when writers write good descriptions of their characters. And a good cover helps, too. 🙂
May 16, 2014 at 11:55 pm
I would love to read this book
October 7, 2014 at 3:06 am
I would like to read this book 😉