Author Spotlight: C.D. Bennett

C.D. Bennett is an award-winning author and avid reader. She is a nature lover who enjoys adventurous outdoor activities. Horseback riding, hiking, kayaking or paddleboarding, and swimming are her favorite pastimes. She has even “taken the plunge” with skydiving and scuba diving. She lives in rural Pennsylvania with her family and a menagerie of animal companions. She is currently working on her next book.

 

I have been writing as a hobby for my own enjoyment from the time I was young. However, I never seriously considered it as a career option until fairly recently. I graduated from college with a double science major. Then, like many others, the COVID era left me with too much time on my hands with nothing to do. It was the perfect time to take writing more seriously and finish the novel I had been playing with and revamping for a long time. The wonderful reception that the first book got from the people I shared it with left me thinking, ‘Why not try to publish?’ Now, I am an award-winning author working on book three.

My love of reading is what most inspired me to become a writer. I have been an avid reader from the day I learned how. Later, I wanted to combine some of my favorite genres like romance, suspense/thriller, and adventure stories into one exciting novel. Being able to create a world that makes someone forget about their surroundings, their worries, or the grind of daily life- even for a little while- and escape into a story that they don’t want to end is an amazing feeling. That is why I write romantic suspense; it has a little of everything. Action, adventure, intrigue, and romance.

I currently have two books published. Drastic Means was my first novel. It is an FBI-based protector romance with a thrilling storyline. No Good Deed is my second book, and it has won multiple awards. No Good Deed is an action-packed, small-town, found family romantic suspense that takes place on a family ranch in the Colorado mountains. Both books are widely available on sites like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, iTunes, Walmart, and many more. I am currently working on book number three (and four).

Kiya James’ relocation to idyllic Riverton Colorado is disrupted when she discovers a critically wounded man lying in a field near her home. Little did she know that her selfless act to save the man’s life would thrust her into a world of corruption, greed, and danger. As the only witness to the initial attack, and shaken by an attempt on her own life, Kiya is offered refuge with the victim’s family. Together, they struggle to uncover the circumstances that would trigger an unknown assailant to unleash a string of deadly attacks in an otherwise quiet rural ranching community.

Jake McCleary’s world could have been destroyed with a single bullet if it hadn’t been for the quick actions of a stranger. Now, in a desperate attempt to protect her, and his entire family, Jake must fight to defend his home, livelihood, and the woman who was rapidly capturing his heart, against the vicious actions of a criminal that will stop at absolutely nothing to get what he wants. But will they find the answers they need in time, or will they lose everything to the conceit of a madman? And will the bond between his wounded brother and the woman that saved him prove to be too big of an obstacle for Jake to overcome in the pursuit for Kiya’s love?

     The wind picked up again, causing Kiya’s hair to flutter across her cheeks. Without thinking, Jake reached over and smoothed the silky strands away from her face, but the mental image of his brother’s interaction with her earlier in the evening had him pulling his hand back and shoving it into his pocket. He had been unprepared for his reaction to their almost instant and very obvious bond. He was struggling with the fact that he didn’t like it.