Worth The Risk by Shannon Davis

Meet author Shannon Davis! I'm excited to share her debut novel with you.

Tell us about your new book.

Worth the Risk ~ A Southern Fairy Tale is a friends-to-lovers, second chance romance. It takes the reader on an emotional journey through the lives of two best friends, Rebecca and Jackson, who met at the tender age of eight. As their friendship grows stronger, childhood infatuation culminates into a mutual desire for romance. But a horrific accident shatters their dreams and leaves both heartbroken and alone. Desperate to put the hurt behind them, they close the door to their past and move forward with their lives. Then a ten-year class reunion brings the two back together and they learn that falling in love is beyond their control. But secrets threaten to destroy their dreams again. In order to give their love another chance, they must risk another heartbreak—and ultimately, their own lives. Here’s one of my favorite quotes from the book… “When you’re talking about love, there’s always a risk. But that’s part of what makes it so amazing.”
 
 What inspired you to write it?

Worth the Risk was a story on my heart for many years. But life has a way of keeping us busy, doesn’t it? With my husband no longer deploying and our three children no longer little babies (although they’ll always be my babies), I found I had more time to expand on the story in my head. It’s funny how different stages in your life, exposure to certain events, spark inspiration. Quirky as it may sound, I was reading a book—two books, actually—and felt as though it was a sign for me to start writing my story…because in both books, the heroine decided to put it all on the line and chase her dreams of becoming an author. So, that’s what I decided to do too. I started putting down words in my spare time, and before I knew it, I had a few chapters written. And that inspired me to keep writing. The story itself drove me to finish. My characters became real to me, and they needed me to finish the story so they could have their happily ever after.
 
 Who are some of your favorite authors?

So, so many… I’ll name a few.
The Queen Bee, Dorothea Benton Frank, is at the top of my list. I have every book she ever wrote, and they are all personally signed. Yes, I’m a fangirl. I had the great opportunity to meet her last April at her 2019 Fan Fest at her home in South Carolina. She was every bit of the sweet, sassy, southern soul that comes out in her books. Her tart humor and amazing talent of story-telling was what drew me to her as a reader, so when I heard about her Fan Fest, I simply had to attend. Unfortunately, she passed away less than five months later. My heart will forever be broken, but I am eternally grateful I had the opportunity to meet one of the authors who inspired me and gave me the nudge I needed to write.

Richard Paul Evans, Nora Roberts, Susan Mallery, Nicholas Sparks, and Sandra Brown are also a few of my favorites. I have so many!
 
What are some of your favorite books?

Some? Oh boy… This is a tough one too. I’ll give you a short list…
Sullivan’s Island and Isle of Palms (Dorothea Benton Frank)
The Witness and Whiskey Beach (Nora Roberts)
The Choice, The Wedding, The Notebook, See Me (Nicholas Sparks)
The Mistletoe Inn, The Noel Stranger (Richard Paul Evans)
 
 
Here’s a question I love to ask writers: what book (that’s already published) do wish you could have written?

Oh my goodness, these questions! How in the world can I come up with only one answer! I suppose it would be The Choice by Nicholas Sparks.
 
 Share with us a little about yourself!
I grew up in Northwest Florida and attended a small rural K-12 school. After college, I followed my love of mathematics and became a high school math teacher. Nearly three decades later, I finally decided to step away from the classroom for a season and pursue my lifelong dream of writing.
 
When I’m not reading and writing, I enjoy baking and making crafts. I’m a huge Hallmark fan, so every holiday I’m eager to watch all the new romance movies. I’m a sucker for love stories with happy endings.
 
My family is my greatest gift. I am a military wife and mother of three college-aged children. With everyone going in different directions these days, our family time is even more precious. We enjoy the outdoors and love going on vacations together.
 
 I write about fame, celebrities, singers, and models as well as writing about values. Who are some of the celebrities who you admire? Any celebrity crushes from your childhood/teen years?

I admire the celebrities who remain grounded, who truly love people, and who step up and give back when they can. To me, it’s simple acts of kindness, compassion, and selflessness that make celebrities super stars.
 
As for my childhood crushes, who didn’t have eyes for Rob Lowe? I had posters taped all over my bedroom wall of him and Bruce Springsteen.
  
I write a lot about funny (and cringe worthy) middle school and high school moments. What’s a moment from either middle school or high school that you wish you could go back in time and do over?

I think I’d like to go back to my senior year and relive some of those moments. That year seemed to pass so quickly for me. I’d love to go on my senior trip again and take more pictures!
  
What are you working on next?

I am working on another novel, the second in the Southern Fairy Tale series. The name of it is Worth the Wait, and I can’t “wait” to get it finished!
 
Worth The Risk by Shannon Davis

Book Description:

Not all fairy tales are as simple as meeting your handsome prince and living happily ever after. Nobody knows this better than Rebecca Sharp. She thought she met her prince at the tender age of eight. As their friendship grew stronger, childhood infatuation culminated into a desire for romance. But untimely circumstances shattered Rebecca’s dreams of true love and left her broken and alone. A fresh start was the only way she could close the door to her painful past. Now, harboring a dark secret, Rebecca has returned home to attend her ten-year class reunion, mostly to prove she isn’t afraid to see Jackson again. Jackson Strickland had his own secrets, but his love for Rebecca wasn’t one of them. Tormented by the memories of the only girl he ever loved, his life spiraled out of control. When Rebecca unexpectedly returns, his life is shaken even more. No longer the young girl he remembered, she was a strong and beautiful woman. Despite his bitterness, he can’t resist her or the fire in his heart that’s been smoldering for the past ten years. But secrets from his past still haunt him and danger looms as a killer lurks.

 Will they be able to overcome their past and risk everything for love?

Author Bio: Shannon Davis grew up in Northwest Florida where she developed a love of writing as a young girl, keeping countless diaries and notebooks filled with short stories. After college, she followed her love of mathematics and became a high school math teacher. She retired from the classroom after nearly three decades to pursue her lifelong dream of writing. A military wife and mother of three college-aged children, she and her husband reside in Georgia with their three dogs and four cats. When she is not writing, Shannon enjoys traveling, baking, and outdoor activities. An avid reader of women’s fiction and love stories, she is a sucker for happy endings. Her love of the south coupled with romance is evident in her debut novel, Worth the Risk.
 
 Purchase on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2MvjTO7
 
 Author website: http://www.shannondavisauthor.com/