Keep Me Safe by Maya Banks with Author Interview!

If you're looking for a weekend read that is not only super sexy and romantic but is full of suspense and thrills with a dash of the supernatural then look no further than "Keep Me Safe," by Maya Banks.

When Caleb Devereaux’s younger sister is kidnapped, this scion of a powerful and wealthy family turns to an unlikely source for help: a beautiful and sensitive woman with a gift for finding answers others cannot. While Ramie can connect to victims and locate them by feeling their pain, her ability comes with a price. Every time she uses it, it costs her a piece of herself. Helping the infuriatingly attractive and impatient Caleb successfully find his sister nearly destroys her. Even though his sexual intensity draws her like a magnet, she needs to get as far away from him as she can.  Deeply remorseful for the pain he’s caused, Caleb is determined to make things right. But just when he thinks Ramie’s vanished forever, she reappears. She’s in trouble and she needs his help. Now, Caleb will do risk everything to protect her— including his heart. . . mayabanks.com

"Keep Me Safe," was a great read.  It was a lot darker, in a good way, than I expected.  Ramie and Caleb's sister Tori both reacted to their traumas in different and realistic ways.  The dark themes were contrasted with the sweet and spicy relationship between Caleb and Ramie which progressed at a slow and tentative pace before kicking into high gear.  The ending will also really throw you for a loop, you definitely won't be able to predict how it ends, unless you too have a psychic gift ;) 

Maya Banks was kind enough to participate in an email interview with me.  Read on for more about her and the "Slow Burn" trilogy.

JN: Keep Me Safe deals with characters who have unique psychic abilities. Have you had any firsthand experience with psychic phenomena?

 

MB:  Nope, none whatsoever! It’s fun to imagine though. Or to say “what if” and that’s really the premise of the entire series. What IF someone possessed a unique ability in today’s world? What kind of obstacles would they face?

 

I loved the depth of the characters in Keep Me Safe. For example, Ramie is a unique combination of a strong woman but also a wounded and vulnerable woman.  Where do you draw the inspiration for your characters?

 

I just try to imagine how a person would react under certain circumstances. How ANY human would react. We aren’t always going to be kickass and strong. We all have our vulnerable moments and our weaknesses just as we all have our strong points. I like my characters to have a mixture of these elements. To me it makes them more realistic.

 

What, if anything, can you share about the next installment in the Slow Burn series?

 

Ari, the heroine in IN HIS KEEPING has a very interesting past, as we learn at the beginning of the story. Abandoned on the doorstep of a wealthy, childless couple, she grew up extremely sheltered. For a reason. When she was a mere infant she displayed remarkable abilities. Telekinesis. And we learn as the story progresses that her powers are so much more but were never explored because her adopted parents wanted to protect her and encouraged her to hide her abilities from the rest of the world.

 

I really want to know more about Tori, will we learn more about her in subsequent installments in the Slow Burn series?

 

Absolutely! She’ll even get her own story later in the series :)

 

Did you always want to be a writer?

 

Well yes and no. I’ve always loved to WRITE but I never thought it possible to write for a living. I just assumed it was a pipe dream so I never even pursued it until I was in my thirties.

 

About how long does it take for you to take your story idea(s) and transform them into a finished novel?

 

Sometimes, as was the case with the Slow Burn series, it takes YEARS from the time I first have the idea to when I can actually publish the stories. Very frustrating! But once I have the green light it usually takes about two months for everything to pull together.

 

Have you ever experienced writer's block, and if so, how did you work through it? 

 

I don’t believe in writer’s block. At least not in the way it’s mostly described. If I’m not writing, it’s for one of two reasons. Either I’m being lazy and am unmotivated. OR there’s something wrong with the story. Once I go back and figure out where I veered off the path or where I went wrong then I can fix it and move forward once more.

 

Besides yourself, who are your favorite authors?

 

I have many. But just to name a FEW I love Nalini Singh, Kresley Cole, Christine Feehan, Sharon Sala, Elizabeth Lowell and Linda Howard.

 

I saw in your biography that you love to travel.  What is your favorite place that you have visited? 

 

Oh I have so many favorites. My favorite “family” trip was to Ireland. The kids LOVED it there and so did my husband and I.

 

What place would you like to travel to that you haven't had the opportunity to visit yet?

I want SO badly to see the Northern Lights. It’s definitely on my bucket list!

 

Want to win a copy of "Keep Me Safe," by Maya Banks? Of course you do!! Simply put your information in the Rafflecopter for your chance to win.  If you are not a lucky winner, please pick up "Keep Me Safe," at your local bookstore.

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Special Thanks to Ms. Banks for taking the time for an email interview and to Ms. Banks' publicist for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.