Fair Warning » (Reprint)

"You're a doctor?" Cheryl leaned toward Mel and raised her voice to be heard over the din of restaurant diners. "You could help me paralyze someone, then, couldn't you?"

Mel stared at her with some trepidation. This was the "nice young lady" his pastor, Brother Ron, wanted him to meet?

"I only want to paralyze him temporarily, of course," Cheryl continued.

Mel glanced toward the nearest exit.

"I'd better explain myself," she said with a smile. "I write novels. I'm doing research for a book."

Ah, interesting. He relaxed slightly and gave her all the information she needed in good, graphic detail. He couldn't understand why she only ate half a slice of pizza the whole evening.

This was Mel's introduction into Cheryl's world of fiction. It was Cheryl's introduction into the life of an emergency room physician. They were both fascinated. A year and a half later, they were married.

The fascination grew as Mel downloaded at the end of his workday—never betraying patient confidentiality. Cheryl's imagination took over, and together they generated ideas for a completely new story, with a completely new novel. With Mel's medical input, encouragement and help with plotting, and Cheryl's writing skills gleaned over 13 years, they developed their first ER-style novel.

The Hoddes (pronounced Hoddee) have loved working together ever since that first meeting. Cheryl has been a professional writer for 19 years now. Mel is a board-certified ER physician with a degree in osteopathy. They work together under the pen name of Hannah Alexander. Their specialty ismedicalromantic suspense.

Mel and Cheryl live in the Missouri Ozarks, where they like to set the majority of their books.

Cop's wife, mother-to-be, respected ICU nurse—Willow Traynor had a rich life. Then her husband was shot, and she was hit by a speeding car. Doubting it was an accident, she quit her job and fled.

In the Ozarks, Willow hoped to find peace. But arson destroyed everything she had and almost killed her brother. Now she was certain: someone was targeting her. The support of new friends, especially Dr. Graham Vaughn and his sister, rekindled her hope for a fresh start. But meanwhile her stalker was getting closer, bolder and more determined.…