Not a Barbie Kind of Girl

Not a Barbie Kind of Girl

Hey Everyone!

I'd like to introduce you to Sandy Vaile, who is on tour with her lastest book, Combating Fear.


I'm Sandy and my motto in life is...

I’ll try anything once


To that end, I take every opportunity that presents and have a wealth of life experiences to draw on when writing.

These include riding a motorbike, skydiving, hot air ballooning, getting tattoos, swimming with sharks and turtles, and having the privilege to carry the Olympic flame.

The common denominator in my stories is courageous, gritty heroines who don't especially need the strong heroes who sweep them off their feet, but when they do find Mr. Right, they're not afraid to hold on tight.

Connect with Sandy via


Guest Post

Not a Barbie Kind of Girl


Hi, I’m Sandy Vaile, a motorbike-riding daredevil who isn’t content with a story unless there’s a courageous heroine and a dead body. When I’m not devising horrible things to do to fictional characters, I write procedures for high-risk industrial activities, mentor new writers through the Novelist’s Circle critiquing group, judge romance writing competitions, present literary craft workshops, and write the odd articles and blog.

As you may have gathered, I’ve never been a Barbie type of girl. As a child I was labelled a Tom Boy, which suited me fine, because I got to drive Action Man around in an army jeep. Then as a teenager I was horse mad. I rode them, wrote stories about them, and had a crush on Mark Holden from the “Blue Fire Lady” movie.
I like to think I’ve matured since then, but I can’t say I’ve settled down. Sure, I have a dedicated husband and two sons who tower over me, even a dog that won’t let me out of his sight, but given half a chance, I’ve been known to jump out of a perfectly good plane, float in a hot air balloon, and even swim with a shark (on purpose).
It was my twenty-ninth birthday when the motorcycle bug bit me, and it was all hubby’s fault. Honest! He sent me on a joy ride with a friend who owned a gorgeous, bright yellow, Triumph Daytona 900cc. (If that sounds like a foreign language, then just imagine a warm chocolate brownie with a side of vanilla bean ice-cream and you’ll understand the drool factor.)
Every two weeks I hassled said friend for another pillion ride, until two months later I announced that I was going to get my license. Poor hubby; there wasn’t much he could do other than join me. I’ve been riding for close to two decades and still get a buzz every time I ride through the Adelaide hills and down the Fleurieu Peninsula. Adelaidians are truly blessed to have such marvellous scenery on our doorsteps.
So is it any wonder that I write kick-arse heroines who live on the Fleurieu Peninsula?
Neve is the heroine in my new book, “Combatting Fear”. She’s a kindergarten teacher by day, and has a special affinity for one of her students, Rowan, because he looks just like her late brother. So much so that sometimes it’s painful.
She is generous and compassionate, and yet has committed to spinsterhood, because that’s what is best for her war-traumatized father. His special brand of paranoia and combat training is certainly one way to keep potential suitors at bay. What Neve never considered, was what would happen if she found someone she actually wanted to let in. 
That someone is self-made multi-billionaire, Micah. Neve is drawn into his desperate for his son, despite him standing for everything she despises. But it’s what she discovers under the public image that is really attractive. A passion for renewable energy, family values, and the courage to fight for those he loves.
I’d love to hear about your adventurous side, and what qualities you admire in heroines. Leave a comment on this blog and get 1 entry to win the “Combatting Fear” eBook. Subscribe to my newsletter and get 3 more entries.


Combatting Fear by Sandy Vaile

How far would you go to save a child that wasn’t yours?
Mild-mannered kindergarten teacher, Neve Botticelli, leads a double life. At home with her paranoid father, she is a combat trained survivalist who lives off-the-grid.
When self-made billionaire, Micah Kincaid, storms into town in search of his four-year-old son, Rowan, he’s pushy, entitled, and stands for everything Neve despises.
But something far more sinister than a cheating estranged wife, is lurking in rural Turners Gully, and it has its sights set on little Rowan’s inheritance. It turns out there is one thing Micah and Neve can agree on, and that’s keeping Rowan safe.
As they work together to free Rowan, they glimpse beneath one another’s guises, and realise that falling in love could be even more dangerous than hunting deadly criminals.

Hey! Here's my review.
This book sucked me in from page one with a cute kid then took me for a thumping ride full of sexual tension and suspense. Just how a romantic suspense should be. I loved seeing the alpha male hero meet his match with the sweet kindergarten teacher and get put in his place. There was a whole lot more than meets the eye with Neve.
★★★★★

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