About the Book

Book: The New Neighbors

Author: Tamara G. Cooper

Genre: Cozy Suspense

Release date: September 6, 2023

Something isn’t right

Just when Sophie thinks life is returning to normal again, new neighbors move in next door. Right from the start, she senses that something’s off, something isn’t right…

Strange things begin to happen. Murders. Drones stalking her. Her home ransacked. Someone chasing her, hunting her. What is going on?

Burke Maguire, an old boyfriend who recently returned to their hometown as a police officer, isn’t as available to her as he was with their first case. He knows she’s in trouble, so why isn’t he helping her? Something isn’t right…

As she freefalls deeper and deeper into danger, she must outsmart the people after her, but will she figure out the who and why in time to stop their nefarious plans? And, for heaven’s sake, where is Burke when she needs him?

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I received a complimentary copy of this book, and all opinions given are my own and not an endorsement of all author’s opinions.

Author Interview

1. Why did you want to become an author?

My mother read some of my work and said, “You need to be published,” so I did. She always read my books first and was so encouraging!

2. What step of writing this book was the most challenging and why?

The very-convoluted romance was the most challenging to write. The timeline, loving after being hurt, trusting after being hurt. So many details about it that were difficult.

3. What/Who inspired you to write on the main themes found in the book?

I love the theme of re-discovering love after a long period of time has gone by, especially if hurt and trust issues are involved. Sophie’s love story has elements that are very difficult to overcome, and writing her story drew out of me some of my hurts of the past and my journey to learning to trust again.

4. Which character in your book do you relate to the most?

People have told me that Sophie and I are so much alike. Someone that I have known for many years said, after reading this book, “It was like hearing you talk and watching you go through these things!”

5. If you could meet your characters in real life, what would you talk about?

Sophie and I would laugh and have adventures with Terri. That would be so much fun!

6. What did your research process look like for this book?

I did a lot of research on the military and talked to police officers in my town and learned about Confederate land ownerswho buried their treasures underground.

7. What made you choose the setting/time period for this book?

I’m from East Texas (all Texans are proud of our state!), so the setting was easy. The time period is present day. I like reading historicals every once in a while but I haven’t had a storyline come up yet that would induce me to write historical romantic suspense.

8. Did you have to step out of your comfort zone to write this book? If so, how?

I always step out of my comfort zone in my books. I think writing is therapeutic for most authors. In The New Neighbors, I dwelt on forgiveness in one storyline because I had had to deal with it with someone in my past. Yes, it was therapeutic for me, too!

9. How did you celebrate when you completed your book?

I made some calls and sent texts to let people know I’d completed my next book. The first person I told was my editor. And then I treated myself to dinner out with my husband!

10. Do you have a favorite drink or snack for when you’re writing?

Not really, but I do have a special pair of slippers that make my feet feel wonderful!

11. What message do you hope readers take away from your book?

As Christians, faith is who we are, but it’s a faith that is woven into our lives. In my books, I don’t stop and preach a sermon or lead a Bible study. I just tell the story and intrinsically weave in the faith element. My message is: live your lives inside your faith, and others will see Him and want to know Him better.

Thank you, Katie, for having me on your blog! I enjoyed it!

About the Author

Tamara G. Cooper lives in Texas with her husband, one son, and four dogs. She enjoys the simple things of life: picnics, hiking, swimming, church, friends. She loves writing suspense with a touch of romance.

More from Tamara

Who can you trust? Looking into your best friend’s eyes, have you ever wondered if you really know her? Is who she’s presenting to the world—to you—really her?

How would you know if it is or isn’t?

Sophie O’Brion is a bestselling author in The New Neighbors. She’s a little quirky, funny, curious to a fault, daring, and loves writing murder mysteries that answer these very questions.

But what if these questions pop up in her life? An old boyfriend that she hasn’t seen in years comes back to Forman Falls and wants to be friends with her again. Should she trust him? Then, new neighbors move in next door, and she suspects something isn’t right. Strange things begin to happen. Murders. Drones stalking her. Her home ransacked. Someone chasing her, hunting her.

What is going on?

Who can she trust? Anyone?

I hope you read The New Neighbors, Book 2 of the Sophie O’Brion Mysteries series. I would suggest you first read The Vacant House, Book 1. Enjoy!