Character Analysis
(Avoiding Spoilers)
Grew up... without knowing her dad. Instead, Amber lives with her mother in a trailer home where the fridge is full of Coors and the ground strewn with cigarette butts. But though her mother may drink and smoke too much, Amber deeply loves and appreciates her. As Amber tells her, “I know you sacrificed everything— relationships, dreams, your tummy, ass and thighs— all to bring me into this world.”
Living... in the tiny town of Mount Rose, Minnesota. The town doesn’t have much going for it— its welcoming billboard boasts that it’s “Home of the World’s Oldest Living Lutheran.” Amber is desperate to find a way out of Mount Rose, lest she end up like her mother, who also grew up there.
Profession... high school student, but Amber also works two jobs to earn some money. She's a dishwasher at the school and a beautician at the funeral home, both of which are admittedly not the most glamorous jobs.
Interests... tap dancing. Amber's mother has had her in tap shoes since she could first walk, and she's a natural at it. With her talent and passion for tap dancing, Amber could finally fulfill of dream of escaping the tiny, boring town she was born in.
Challenge... winning the American Teen Princess Pageant, her only ticket out of Mount Rose. The pageant provides personal growth, scholarship, travel, and the chance to meet a few celebrities. If she wins the pageant in her hometown, Amber hopes to make it all the way to Lincoln, Alabama to compete for the national title. Unfortunately, the competition is fierce— even deadly.
Personality... sweet, talented, and the “most smartest” of all the girls in town, according to her mom. Ambitious and eager to see the world, Amber’s willing to work really hard to come out on top in this pageant.
Get to Know her in...
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In a small Minnesota town, the annual beauty pageant is being covered by a TV crew. Former winner Gladys Leeman wants to make sure her daughter follows in her footsteps; explosions, falling lights, and trailer fires prove that. As the Leemans are the richest family in town, the police are pretty relaxed about it all. Despite everything, main rival (but sweet) Amber Atkins won't give up without a fight.
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“Linda Howard is a superbly original storyteller.”
–Iris Johansen
Blair Mallory has already survived one murder attempt. Now, while planning her wedding and dealing with holiday-season madness, Blair once again dodges a bullet. Or more precisely, a Buick. And though the driver’s identity remains a mystery, his or her murderous intentions are all too clear.
Or are they? After all, Blair’s homicidal ex-husband and his partner in crime/wife are safely behind bars. And even Wyatt Bloodsworth, her police detective groom-to-be, isn’t inclined to believe she’s being targeted again. All of which makes Blair wonder if her close call was simply a mishap. But the wondering stops when she narrowly cheats death again in another seemingly innocent accident. Two strikes is all it takes to convince Blair that she’s back in someone’s crosshairs. And the only thing more frightening is that Wyatt still doubts her. That means this time, no one will be watching Blair’s back when she sets out to get the drop on her would-be killer–before whoever it is finally drops her.
