Dangerous Reunion Interview

Today we're welcoming Brock Gentry, the hero of Dangerous Reunion, by Sandra Robbins, releasing in July 2011.

Wow, you've just had quite an adventure.

1. Tell us a little about yourself and how you came to be in the midst of such suspense.

I thought I never would come back to Ocracoke Island when I left there six years ago because I had just broken my engagement with Kate Michaels who lived on the island, but now I find myself back. A few months ago I was working as a police detective in Nashville, Tennessee, when I received a phone call from a man who claimed to have evidence that would clear a man scheduled to be executed in a few weeks. I wasn’t familiar with the case because it had occurred before I came on the force, but I promised to meet with him the next day to listen to what he said. Before we could meet, I received a call that my father in California had been in an accident and wasn’t expected to live. I left a note for my partner and rushed to Los Angeles where I stayed for six weeks until my father was recovered. When I returned to Nashville, I found out there had been a series of mishaps, and the evidence never reached the proper authorities until after the man was executed. Later he was proven innocent. Harboring feelings of guilt over the man’s death, I came to Ocracoke to see if could find forgiveness from God for my failures and from Kate for hurting her six years ago. I never would have dreamed what events I would encounter there.

2. So, during the book you met Kate Michaels. Tell us a bit about her. What was your first impression? When did you know it was love?

Kate and I met in college where we both majored in criminal justice and were on the track team. I loved her from the very beginning, but we had different ideas on where we wanted to go in life. I wanted to live in a city and work on a large police force. She wanted to live on Ocracoke Island, but I couldn’t see myself living on a speck of land twenty-five miles off the coast of North Carolina. Now six years later I’m back, and we met at a crime scene. She’s still just as beautiful as she was when we were in college.

3. What strengths/skills do you have? What is your greatest weakness?

I’m a good criminal investigator because I can think logically. I’m also loyal to my friends. I am working on overcoming my greatest weakness which is being more understanding of the feelings of others. That wasn’t always the case. When I was younger, I was cocky and thought I knew it all. I’ve come to see how wrong I was.

4. What scares you?

I want Kate back in my life, and it scares me to think she will never forgive me for what I did to her six years ago. I’m trying to show her I’ve changed, but I’m not sure she believes me yet. Even if she never does, I have vowed to keep her safe from a crazed killer who is stalking her.

5. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I would work harder at relationships. I didn’t realize how important my father was to me until I almost lost him. It was the same with Kate. I’m beginning to see that the love you show other people helps define the type of person you are.

6. Where are you in your faith at the start of your story?

One of the things that Kate and I always disagreed on was faith. She is a strong woman of faith, but I never had much time for God. When my life fell apart, I wanted to come back to talk to Kate and see if she could help me find God on the island where she sees God’s handiwork everywhere.

7. Where are you in your faith at the end of the story?

Kate was right when she said I could find God on Ocracoke. God showed me He’d always been with me and was just waiting for me to accept Him. I’ll always be grateful to Kate for helping me to become a man of faith.

8. You've got a scripture at the beginning of the story. Tell us why this scripture is significant.

The scripture is Mark 11:25—And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

That scripture sums up the journey I take in Dangerous Reunion. Through faith in God, I learned to forgive myself for all the bad choices I’d made in my life and discovered that God didn’t hold any of my mistakes against me. Now I am able to incorporate that principle in my dealings with other people.

9. If you could be a dessert what would you be and why?

Just like apple pie is a traditional American dessert, I think I’m a typical American guy. I like sports and enjoy jogging every day. I love God and am content to spend time with my new family and friends. After all what’s more American than God, family, and apple pie.