Heidi Reads...: Spotlight & Giveaway: Safe House by Shannon Symonds

Thursday, February 15, 2018

Spotlight & Giveaway: Safe House by Shannon Symonds

About the book

Synopsis

As a victim’s advocate, Grace James is used to rushing into trouble to save her victims from abuse or assault. And with a handsome officer like Joe Hart at her side, Grace is sure there’s nothing she can’t do. But an ominous storm brewing on the Oregon horizon is about to change everything—and bring with it dangers and revelations Grace and Joe never expected.

About the Author

Shannon Symonds worked for 15 years as an Advocate. Shannon lives in a small seaside town where she works, writes, runs and paints. She believes the word can be changed one heart at a time and then even small acts can make a difference.

Top Ten Vacation Locations (If money and time were no object)

Disneyland, by way of Utah. Every year I save every penny to go where my kids and grandkids are. Right now my oldest daughter lives in Farmington Utah and my son lives in Bakersfield California. Historically, I have gone as far as Heidelberg, Germany to get to a kid. There isn’t any distance too far for this mom. I would road trip to Salt Lake City for kids, General Conference, and Deseret Book’s visiting Authors. Then I would drive my car to California and meet my son’s family at Disneyland.

A Vespa Scooter Road Trip around the British Isles. I would ride on the wrong side of the road all over England, Ireland, and Scotland. I would stop at every single castle, museum, quaint restaurant, island, and church. I would likely starve to death as I am gluten free and I am certain nothing on their menu is on mine. But I would love every minute of it.

Yellowstone by way of Jackson Hole Wyoming. I love to do anything that totally wears me out. I like to kayak, hike, ride my old bike, walk, and slowly run. I would go back to Jackson Hole and white water raft. I would hike the area and then head to the Grand Teton Lodge. I would Kayak, swim, and probably be eaten by a bear. At the end of it all, I would be totally happy and the bear would have serious indigestion.

Hawaii because I have never been and it is WARM. I just want warm water. The ocean in Oregon is an average temperature of just over 50 degrees. I learned to swim in 50 degree water. Please, someone get me to warm waves! I would get in the water and you would have to drag me out.

Sweden, by way of Georgetown. Family is my favorite! My aunt Joann and Cousin Kristi are world travelers. Kristi speaks French fluently. You can’t spend ten minutes with my Kristi and Joann without laughing. Their happiness is contagious. I would meet them for lunch in Georgetown and then we would jet off to Sweden and France.

Deep sea fishing and treasure hunting any place warm. Deep sea fishing is one of my all-time favorite local things to do. In Oregon, even in July you bring a coat or 3 onboard when you fish. I would love to go out on the ocean, watch whales, dive for treasure, and fish in the sun, in a t-shirt, and once again anyplace warm.

The Holy Lands with Gerald Lund and my entire family. Gerald Lund is not only one of my favorite authors, his wife was one of my favorite young women leaders when I lived in Utah. I would love to listen to him share the history of the entire middle east. I can only imagine how amazing it would be to be surrounded by family, history, and in the place the Savior walked.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in Orlando with my entire family. That’s right my ENTIRE family. If dreams were real and money was no object I would take them all. I would take my kids, their spouses and kids, my parents, the 8 aunts and uncles and the 19 nieces and nephews and their spouses and kids, the 13 cousins and their spouses and kids and all the people we have managed to love into our family along the way. Why Harry Potter? Duh.

Operation Underground Railroad (OUR) Volunteer team member. I don’t care when or where. I want to train with the team at OUR and then work a sex trafficking sting with Tim Ballard. This is something I seriously want to make happen. Of everything on the list, after kids and cousins, I secretly haven’t given up hope for this little dream. I am donating a small portion of the proceeds of Safe House to OUR and volunteer any way I can.

Take Doctor Who’s Tardis to Lassie Hame Summer of 1972. I love Dr. Who. I love him so much, the door to my mother’s apartment in my house looks like the Tardis. If there were no limits, I would call the Doctor and invite him to time travel to Lassie Hame. I would spend one more precious day in our family beach house with my Grandmother and Great Aunts. Judy Collins would be on the record player, chocolate chip cookies would be baking in the oven, All the doors and windows would be open, and my 12 cousins, would be building a fort in the sand dunes or learning to swim with my dad and Uncle Joel. Sandy kids would be laughing and running everywhere. When the sun begins to set, a bonfire would be lit and we kids would stay on the beach with Uncle Joel, knowing the women of Lassie Hame were watching from their rockers at the house. I would feel safe. All would be well in my world again, for just a moment in time.