Article and Interview by Elise Cooper
It Had to Be You by Eliza Jane Brazier is part fantasy, part thriller, and part romance. Readers might think about the similarity to the movie “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.
The book opens with contract killers Eva and Jonathan meeting on a train going from Florence to Paris. They both act on their physical attraction yet go their separate ways until six months later they meet at Versailles Hall of Mirrors. Unfortunately, both have been hired to kill each other. Because they end up refusing to execute the orders, they are chased by hit men. Readers wonder if they will be able to stay together and live their lives peacefully.
People do not get one deranged character, but two. Alternating between the viewpoints of Jonathan and Eva, readers get to know the characters and even though they are assassins will actually root for them. The twists and turns in the story make for a fast read.
Elise Cooper: Do you think this book is different from the previous book?
Eliza Jane Brazier: I try to explore different stories. My horse book was more character driven. This is more plots driven. As of right now it will not be a series. I wanted to make a happy ending out of a mess with the character’s lives. This is part fantasy where they live in the real. It is like an emotional truth for the characters.
EC: Why the “Hired Gun” poem at the beginning of the book?
EJB: It was a song my late husband, who was a musician, wrote. The original draft of the book was written in 2010 when we were living in England.
EC: How would you describe Eva and Jonathan who seemed to have the same traits?
EJB: They are both impulsive, driven by their backstory trauma. They react without thinking, but do not realize the consequences of their actions because they act quickly. They are both instinctive, invisible, and they are manipulative when they need to be. I think they are both deranged. Both are traumatized by what happened in their past. Eva can read people. She is funnier, more efficient. Jonathan is a control-freak and intimidating. He is more nervous and anxious.
EC: What about the relationship?
EJB: They meet each other by chance. The title comes into play because it could not be anyone else. They were perfect for each other. They are both vulnerable and lonely. Eva is annoyed with him, thinking he ghosted her. Once they reconnect, they are never apart. They are both at a crossroads in their life. They recognize that they have a lot of personality traits in common which turns into something very special. It was obvious from the beginning they like each other but their emotions and life got in the way. They used their competitiveness as a shield. At times they thought they were being honest with each other. They are both lying to themselves, and it comes across in the relationship. Once they reconnect, they are never apart.
EC: What was the role of the villains and their handlers?
EJB: Eva’s handler is her friend. She is mixing up business and friendship. Jonathan uses his handler to exercise his demons. The villain is evil.
EC: Next book?
EJB: I am taking a break because I am developing TV shows. I am writing this book as a film and the previous book as a TV show. I wanted to get better at screenwriting.
EC: THANK YOU!!
