Saturday Sample: Blue 52

Welcome to Saturday Sample. For the past few weeks I've been sharing samples from Blue 52. So far we've learned that President Richard Lovinggood was murdered by his wife who then committed suicide. Their son Hank was raised by his grandfather Senator Henry Lovinggood. A new high speed train is coming through the cemetery where President Lovinggood is buried, and Hank has made plans to open the coffins once they are disinterred so he can see his parents. He was only 3 when they died, and he doesn't really remember them. His grandmother is totally against his plan and has just told him so in no uncertain terms. Shaken, his grandfather told him that his father took after his grandmother, and his volatile personality caused the Senator a lot of problems. Last week, the senator reminded Hank that his father rescued his mother when she was kidnapped and shot. Both he and Hank's father were at the hospital where this excerpt took place. This week, the senator tells Hank some startling news.

The senator reclaimed Hank’s attention by clearing his throat. The light had died from his eyes. “There’s one thing you can be sure of, Hank. Your mother did not shoot your father. I know what the investigation revealed, but every word of it is a damned lie.”

Hank froze. His grandparents never talked about his father’s death. “Then who did it?”

Senator Lovinggood shrugged. “No way to tell now, but if I hadn’t been so broken up over losing Richard, I would have focused the investigation on Vice President Stanton.”

“Stanton!” Hank’s heart pounded so hard it almost hurt.

“Oh, yes. Several days before the murders, Richard and Stanton had one hell of an argument.”

Hank intently leaned forward in his chair and grimaced as he sipped his bourbon. Foul stuff. How can Grandpa stand it? “Do you know what they quarreled about?”

Senator Lovinggood shook his head. “All I know is that Richard left a message for me saying they’d had the mother of all arguments, and he needed to talk to me as soon as possible.”

“Why didn’t he tell you about it when you returned his call?”

The senator’s face drooped with regret and sorrow. “I never returned his call. I had gone to Paris with your grandmother. By the time I got his message, he was already dead.”

A cold chill seized Hank when he thought of how it must have been to hear his father’s voice on that phone after his death 

Blue 52 is available at Amazon.com or at http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com

Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors: Return Engagement

Welcome to Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors, your chance to sample the work of a talented group of authors. When you finish here you can find more snippets at:

http://www.wewriwa.com
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SnippetSunday/

So far in my excerpts from Return Engagement my hero and heroine met on a beach ten years after his father broke them up. They find that all of their old feelings are still there even though she's engaged to another man. They've gone to a carnival together, and now they're walking back down the beach to their cars. He just gave her his jacket to wear and said he liked the idea of her wearing his clothes, like in high school.  They sat down on the sand to watch the moon, and both of them spoke at once. Elizabeth told him to speak first, and he told her she didn't really love her fiancé or she wouldn't have been flirting with and kissing him. Elizabeth just told him she can't stand it if he walks away again, and he tells her that it's taken 10 years, but they're back where they belong: together. Last week he asked to go home with her, and she said no. Today, I'd like to focus a little on Elizabeth and her background. We may come back to the place where we left off last week.

She didn’t come from money the way Richard did. Mentally, she pictured the small, two bedroom home where she had grown up. The house had originally been white, but Elizabeth had lived there for nineteen years, and they hadn’t painted it even once. By the time she and her mother came to Hollywood, most of the peeling paint had finally flaked off, leaving the weathered, gray boards exposed to the elements.

The inside matched the exterior: old, faded, and dirty looking no matter how much she and her mother tried to clean it. It had mice too. They never had any food to waste, so they constantly fought the little pests. She vividly remembered the day she found a mouse in the sack of dried beans her mother planned to cook for dinner. Sadly, her mother had thrown the bag away. For the next two nights they’d had nothing but sliced loaf bread smeared with margarine for dinner. 

Saturday Sample: Blue 52

Welcome to Saturday Sample. For the past few weeks I've been sharing samples from Blue 52. So far we've learned that President Richard Lovinggood was murdered by his wife who then committed suicide. Their son Hank was raised by his grandfather Senator Henry Lovinggood. A new high speed train is coming through the cemetery where President Lovinggood is buried, and Hank has made plans to open the coffins once they are disinterred so he can see his parents. He was only 3 when they died, and he doesn't really remember them.

My heroine Kathryn Sinclair learned about this plan from her uncle who is the director of the funeral home where the president's body will go. Her employer tells her to set up a meeting with Hank after he sees his parents. Last week she said she hoped it went well so she could be in the history books and have the satisfaction of righting a terrible wrong. In last week's scene, Hank's grandmother has found out that he wishes to view his parents' remains. She's angry about it and tells Hank his grandfather has raised him to be a mourning dove.

Hank flinched as if she’d struck him with her fists instead of her words. So his grandfather wasn’t the only one who compared him unfavorably to his father. A mourning dove!

He tried to conceal the hurt she’d dealt him, but she must have seen anyway because she stopped shouting at him and seized his arm in a steely grip. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it in a bad way. It’s just that Henry can’t let go of the past. He’s raised you to look backward, not forward. You should have been married by now and raising a family of your own. Instead you’re living here with two old relics.”

Her proud shoulders slumped. “You deserved better, that’s all.” She fastened her eyes on Henry, but the fire had died. She looked like what she was, an old woman in poor health. “What would Richard say if he knew what you’ve done to his son?”

She turned around and left the room without a word. They heard her footsteps tapping the marble as she slowly climbed the stairs.


Blue 52 is available at http://amzn.to/1V1zKV5  and at http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com

Saturday Sample: Blue 52

Welcome to Saturday Sample. For the past few weeks I've been sharing samples from Blue 52. So far we've learned that President Richard Lovinggood was murdered by his wife who then committed suicide. Their son Hank was raised by his grandfather Senator Henry Lovinggood. A new high speed train is coming through the cemetery where President Lovinggood is buried, and Hank has made plans to open the coffins once they are disinterred so he can see his parents. He was only 3 when they died, and he doesn't really remember them.

My heroine Kathryn Sinclair learned about this plan from her uncle who is the director of the funeral home where the president's body will go. Her employer tells her to set up a meeting with Hank after he sees his parents. Last week she said she hoped it went well so she could be in the history books and have the satisfaction of righting a terrible wrong. In today's scene, Hank's grandmother has found out that he wishes to view his parents' remains. I'm picking up where I left off last Saturday.

His grandmother whirled around so fast she almost lost her balance and coldly attacked. “The Sinclair Mortuary called today. They left a message for you.”

“Oh?”

Her face turned cherry red. “You can drop the innocent act with me, young man! Have you totally lost your wits? Your mother and father died thirty years ago! Do you think you can pop the coffin lids and see them as they were in life?”

“Grandma...”

“Don’t interrupt me. This is crazy. You don’t need to see...” She broke off for a moment as a spasm of grief contorted her face. “This is all your doing, Henry. You raised Richard to be a hawk, but you’ve raised Hank to be a damned mourning dove!”

Hank flinched as if she’d struck him with her fists instead of her words. So his grandfather wasn’t the only one who compared him unfavorably to his father. A mourning dove! 

Blue 52 is available at www.whiskeycreekpress.com and at Amazon.com

Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors

Welcome to Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors, your chance to sample the work of a talented group of authors. When you finish here you can find more snippets at:

http://www.wewriwa.co,
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SnippetSunday/

So far in my excerpts from Return Engagement my hero and heroine met on a beach ten years after his father broke them up. They find that all of their old feelings are still there even though she's engaged to another man. They've gone to a carnival together, and now they're walking back down the beach to their cars. He just gave her his jacket to wear and said he liked the idea of her wearing his clothes, like in high school.  They sat down on the sand to watch the moon, and both of them spoke at once. Elizabeth told him to speak first, and he told her she didn't really love her fiancé or she wouldn't have been flirting with and kissing him. Elizabeth is speaking.

"I’m so confused I don’t know if I’m coming or going,” she cried. “I do love Alex. I do! That’s why I agreed to marry him, but with you I feel like a different person.

“I know I shouldn’t have flirted with you and kissed you, but I couldn’t help myself.” Her eyes misted with tears. “I didn’t want to help myself. It’s like it was ten years ago only better because now nobody can accuse me of corrupting a minor. You asked me what I’m going to do, but to tell you the truth, I don’t know. The only thing I’m sure of is that I don’t think I can stand it if you walk away again.” 

Return Engagement is available at http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com and at Amazon.com.

Saturday Sample: Blue 52

Welcome to Saturday Sample. For the past few weeks I've been sharing samples from Blue 52. So far we've learned that President Richard Lovinggood was murdered by his wife who then committed suicide. Their son Hank was raised by his grandfather Senator Henry Lovinggood. A new high speed train is coming through the cemetery where President Lovinggood is buried, and Hank has made plans to open the coffins once they are disinterred so he can see his parents. He was only 3 when they died, and he doesn't really remember them.

My heroine Kathryn Sinclair learned about this plan from her uncle who is the director of the funeral home where the president's body will go. Her employer tells her to set up a meeting with Hank after he sees his parents. Last week she said she hoped it went well so she could be in the history books and have the satisfaction of righting a terrible wrong. In today's scene, Hank's grandmother has found out that he wishes to view his parents' remains.

God, I’ve had an awful day. 

Hank slung his briefcase into the backseat and ripped off his tie. From the moment he’d gotten out of bed this morning, things had gone wrong. At times like this he wondered why he had ever wanted to be a lawyer anyway, especially a prosecutor. He had felt confident of a conviction, but at the last minute the defense blindsided him, and the slime ball had walked. Some lawyer I turned out to be.

He entered the flow of late afternoon traffic and turned his car toward home. I hope I’ll have time for a good, long soak in the tub before dinner. I need it to get the kinks out of my shoulders and back.

Hank knew he’d have to wait for his bath the minute he opened the front door. His grandmother and grandfather shouted so loudly at each other that the pictures almost danced on the walls. He heard his own name mentioned more than once. His shoulders knotted again. He had a good idea why.

“I heard the two of you yelling several blocks from here,” he reproached as he entered the living room. 

Blue 52 is available at http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com and amazon.com

Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors: Return Engagement

Welcome to Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors, your chance to sample the work of a talented group of authors. When you finish here you can find more snippets at:

http://www.wewriwa.co,
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SnippetSunday/

So far in my excerpts from Return Engagement my hero and heroine met on a beach ten years after his father broke them up. They find that all of their old feelings are still there even though she's engaged to another man. They've gone to a carnival together, and now they're walking back down the beach to their cars. He just gave her his jacket to wear and said he liked the idea of her wearing his clothes, like in high school.  They sat down on the sand to watch the moon, and both of them spoke at once. Elizabeth told him to speak first, and he does.To end at the place I need to, I'd done a little creative punctuation.

Richard turned slightly, an almost angry look on his face. “What the hell do you think you’re doing getting yourself engaged to Alex Crawford? It’s obvious to a blind man that you don’t love him. You’ve been teasing me and flirting with me all evening; you’ve even kissed me. ” 

He stirred up the butterflies in her stomach when he gently caressed her shoulder. “Right now your body language makes me think if I wanted to take this snuggling any further you’d be willing.”

“Wha...” Elizabeth sputtered.

“You don’t strike me as the type of woman who’d pick a man for a night of sex and then go back to her fiancé like nothing had happened. If that’s true I don’t think you love Alex as much as you think you do. The question is: what are you going to do about it?” 

Return Engagement is available at Amazon and at http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com

Saturday Sample: Blue 52

Welcome to Saturday Sample. For the past few weeks I've been sharing samples from Blue 52. So far we've learned that President Richard Lovinggood was murdered by his wife who then committed suicide. Their son Hank was raised by his grandfather Senator Henry Lovinggood. A new high speed train is coming through the cemetery where President Lovinggood is buried, and Hank has made plans to open the coffins once they are disinterred so he can see his parents. My heroine Kathryn Sinclair learned about this plan from her uncle who is the director of the funeral home where the president's body will go. Her employer tells her to set up a meeting with Hank after he sees his parents. Last week she said she hoped it went well so she could be in the history books and have the satisfaction of righting a terrible wrong. We're picking up where I left off last week.

*** *
God, I’ve had an awful day. Hank slung his briefcase into the backseat and ripped off his tie. From the moment he’d gotten out of bed this morning, things had gone wrong. At times like this he wondered why he had ever wanted to be a lawyer anyway, especially a prosecutor. He had felt confident of a conviction, but at the last minute the defense blindsided him, and the slime ball had walked. Some lawyer I turned out to be.

He entered the flow of late afternoon traffic and turned his car toward home. I hope I’ll have time for a good, long soak in the tub before dinner. I need it to get the kinks out of my shoulders and back.
Hank knew he’d have to wait for his bath the minute he opened the front door. His grandmother and grandfather shouted so loudly at each other that the pictures almost danced on the walls. He heard his own name mentioned more than once. His shoulders knotted again. He had a good idea why.

“I heard the two of you yelling several blocks from here,” he reproached as he entered the living room.

His grandmother whirled around so fast she almost lost her balance and coldly attacked. “The Sinclair Mortuary called today. They left a message for you.”

“Oh?”

Her face turned cherry red. “You can drop the innocent act with me, young man! Have you totally lost your wits? Your mother and father died thirty years ago! Do you think you can pop the coffin lids and see them as they were in life?”

“Grandma...”

“Don’t interrupt me. This is crazy. You don’t need to see...” She broke off for a moment as a spasm of grief contorted her face. “This is all your doing, Henry. You raised Richard to be a hawk, but you’ve raised Hank to be a damned mourning dove!” 

Blue 52 is available at Amazon and at http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com

Saturday Sample Blue 52

Welcome to Saturday Sample. I'm continuing today where I left off last week in Blue 52. If you'd like to read last week's post to refresh your memory, you can find it here. Basically, we've learned that Senator Lovinggood's son Richard was the President of the US. He and his wife are dead, and their bodies will have to be relocated because a high tech train line needs to go through the cemetery. We also learned that the senator has arthritis and that the president's son Hank has found another cemetery where he wants his parents buried. 

Hank shut his bedroom door behind him and threw himself down on the sofa that rested near the window. He had expected this news for some time. The Flash Train could transport both people and goods economically and quickly. Of course the state would move a cemetery to make room for the train.

The small picture of his mother and father that stood on the end table beside the sofa captured his attention and made him think of his grandfather’s study. Until a few months ago, pictures of his father filled every available inch of the study. It had reminded Hank of a shrine, a shrine his grandfather had created for his lost son.

The senator had removed most of the pictures after his grandmother threw a tremendous tantrum that sent her to the emergency room, but he still looked at them when she wasn’t around. I didn’t like looking at the pictures. Why be constantly reminded of all I’ve lost?

He had been three years old when his parents died, so he didn’t remember much about them, but he still felt their loss with every breath he took. Why wouldn’t he? That dreadful tragedy cast a long shadow. His jaw clenched. It hurt like hell to know that in his grandfather’s eyes, he couldn’t measure up to his father.

The senator had never even hinted that he believed such a thing, but he’d have to be brain dead not to pick up on it. On impulse, Hank wandered to the room next door and peered inside.

This room, which was decorated in an old-fashioned, traditional style, had belonged to his father. Naturally, his parents had had their own home, but the Lovinggoods had been a close family; his parents had often spent the night with his grandparents. They had always stayed in the room that his dad used before his marriage.

In spite of clichés and mental health issues, his grandfather refused to let anyone change the room. A hair brush filled with short, blond hair still lay on the bathroom vanity, and his father’s jacket still hung on the bedpost.

His grandmother had raised hell about it, but his grandfather had had his way. I agree with Grandma. When the house comes to me, I’ll clear everything from the room.

Maybe.

Hank turned around to go back to his own room, but instead he removed the jacket from the bedpost. Funny, but he’d lived in this house all of his life and never thought to try it on.

The jacket, a charcoal gray sports coat that smelled musty and felt too soft, fit perfectly. Hank flinched when he saw himself in the mirror; it almost looked as if his father had returned to change his clothes for dinner. Everyone said he resembled his dad, but until he saw himself in the mirror he usually didn’t think much about it. Jerking the jacket off, he hung it on the bedpost. He hated this room, this tribute to the past!

Slamming the door behind him, Hank returned to his own room where he belonged and hunted for a clean shirt. Not that I exactly need a clean shirt, but going to the cemetery made me feel dirty.
Now why would he feel dirty? His parents should rest easy in the peaceful, quiet cemetery. 

Blue 52 is available at http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com or at Amazon.

Saturday Sample: Blue 52

Welcome to Saturday Sample. I'm continuing today where I left off last week in Blue 52. If you'd like to read last week's post to refresh your memory, you can find it here. Basically, we've learned that the senator's son Richard was the President of the US. He and his wife are dead, and their bodies will have to be relocated because a high tech train line needs to go through the cemetery. We also learned that the senator has arthritis and that the president's son Hank has found another cemetery where he wants his parents buried. Elaine is the senator's wife.

Elaine slowly made her way up the stairs and went into her room, where she sat down in front of her dressing table. She loved Henry to distraction. So much so that at times she actually wished he had died with Richard. He’d have been happy then. As it was... 

At first she had assumed he’d eventually get over his hurt and be okay, but he never did. He grieved as much today as he had right after the murder took place and would go to his own grave mourning his dead son.

Sometimes she cursed the Renexin in the American water supply. Who wanted to live to one hundred fifteen? The sooner death came, the better. She’d had enough losses and pain in her life. Enough was enough. 

Blue 52 is available at http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com or at Amazon.com. 

Saturday Sample: Blue 52

Welcome to Saturday Sample. I'm continuing today where I left off last week in Blue 52. If you'd like to read last week's post to refresh your memory, you can find it here. Basically, we've learned that the senator's son Richard was the President of the US. He and his wife are dead, and their bodies will have to be relocated because a high tech train line needs to go through the cemetery. We also learned that the senator has arthritis. Here we go with that excerpt. We are in the senator's point of view.

Richard Henry Lovinggood III, Hank to his family and friends, entered the study and gave his grandmother a kiss. “Hey, Grandma. What’s wrong with you?”

The senator’s heart gave a little leap. He looked so much like Richard! Tall and well-built with blond hair and beautiful blue eyes, he turned feminine heads everywhere he went. The expression in his eyes was different, though. Richard had burned within, but Hank had a peaceful, calm center. Elaine always said it was probably a legacy from his cursed mother because he sure didn’t get it from Richard’s side of the family. She was undoubtedly right about that.

Senator Lovinggood joined them in front of the fire. His old bones liked the warmth. “She’s upset because Morton Williams called today.”

“And?”

“Your parents will be disinterred on the twenty-third. We have to make arrangements.”

“I see.”

Senator Lovinggood blew his nose, the honking sound reverberating around the room. “Do you have any ideas about where you want to put them, Hank?”

“I do. I knew you couldn’t block the train forever, so I’ve been looking around. I visited a very nice cemetery this afternoon. Have you ever heard of Crystal Rivers?”

Elaine shook her head. “No. Where is it?”

“It’s about thirty minutes from here. It’s not a new cemetery, but it’s beautiful as far as cemeteries go.”

Elaine shrugged. “One place is as good as another.”

“If it isn’t a new cemetery, is there enough room for us to be buried there as well?” Senator Lovinggood worried.

“Yes, sir, there is. They’re willing to set aside an entire block of spaces for us.”

Senator Lovinggood’s face smoothed out. “Good. If you like it, Hank, that’s what we’ll do. Do you want to call Williams, or do you want me to? I know you don’t know him, so I’ll be glad to take care of it for you.”

“I’ll call him, Grandpa.”

Elaine cocked her head and stared at Hank. “Why have you decided to call Williams? You always tell Henry to take care of things like this.”

“Oh, no reason.” His eyes rested on the photo on the desk. “It’s just something I can do for Mother and Dad.”

Senator Lovinggood blew his nose again and wiped his eyes with his sleeve. “I know exactly how you feel. I’d give my right arm for the chance to help Richard one more time.”

Hank kissed his grandmother’s cheek. “Don’t worry, Grandma. It’ll be over and done with before you know it. Just think how proud Dad would be. His administration laid the groundwork for the Flash Train.”

“Yes, that’s true.”

The senator’s chest swelled with pride. “I’m proud of it too. The Flash Train can travel over three hundred fifty miles per hour.”

Hank rose to his feet. “I want to change clothes before dinner. I’ll see you guys in a minute.”

He dropped a kiss on his grandmother’s cheek and dashed upstairs.
“Just like Richard used to do,” Senator Lovinggood observed.

“Richard didn’t always change before dinner,” Elaine disagreed.

“No. Run up the stairs. Richard used to do that too.”

Elaine rolled her eyes. “I think I’ll change for dinner too.”

“You look fine to me.”

“No, I feel like changing.”

The senator shrugged. “I’m fine as I am.”

Elaine shot him a look he couldn’t define. “If you say
so.”

Really! Now what did she mean by that? 

Blue 52 is the sequel to Return Engagement. I'm sharing excerpts from that on Sundays if you'd care to take a look. Blue 52 is for sale at Amazon and http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com

Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors

Welcome to Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors, your chance to sample the work of a talented group of authors. When you finish here, find more snippets at:

http://www.wewriwa.com
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SnippetSunday/

I've been sharing excerpts from Return Engagement. To recap, my hero and heroine met on a beach ten years after his father broke them up. They ate hot dogs at a beachfront cafe, and now they've gone to a carnival where she asks him to win a prize for her at a shooting gallery. Don't forget that he's an FBI agent from a powerful senator's family, and she's an A-list Hollywood actress who's engaged to another man.

Richard groaned. “Those guns are probably all sighted wrong so you can’t win. Couldn’t I just buy you one instead?” 

“No, that won’t do at all. Never mind. It’s okay if you don’t think you can do it,” she replied with no hint of a smile whatsoever. Would he try to win a prize for her or not? 

“Okay, I know a challenge when I hear it.” Richard stepped up to the counter and inspected the row of guns provided by the arcade. “I’ll win you an animal if I have to stay here all night.”

Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors

Welcome to Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors, your chance to sample the work of a talented group of authors. I've been sharing excerpts from Return Engagement. To recap, Richard and Elizabeth meet by accident on the beach ten years after Richard's father broke them up. Richard invites her to have hot dogs with him, and she does. Last week she told him he was too possessive, but he said you're supposed to take care of the one you love. He's been pushing her pretty hard about Alex the guy she's engaged to. I've skipped a few lines, and we're picking up here:

“I told you it was just tentative plans, Richard. Let it go at that.” Elizabeth knew she had made firm plans to meet Alex and her mother. She’d have some major explaining to do tomorrow, and oh, how she dreaded it. Without lying she couldn’t think of any way to make this evening with Richard sound like anything other than what it was. And she didn’t make a habit of lying.

Richard surprised her by obediently dropping the subject of Alex and her dinner plans. “Be it far from me to argue about Alex Crawford. Are you finished? If you are let’s go to that amusement park down the beach and have some fun.” 


What do you think? Will she go with him or go back home to her fiancé?

Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors: Return Engagement

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors and Snippet Sunday, your chance to sample the work of a talented group of authors. I've been sharing excerpts from Return Engagement. To recap, my hero and heroine have met on a beach ten years after his father broke them up. They've found that many of the old feelings are still there. He asked her to walk down the beach with him and eat a hot dog. The talk turned to her fiance Alex Crawford. I've skipped some lines. I'm not saying why she wasn't wearing her engagement ring. I've done a little creative punctuation to get the lines I wanted. Richard speaks first.

“What will old Alex say about you going out with another man; did you call him from the dressing room to tell him where you were going? Doesn’t he care where you are tonight?”

Elizabeth’s heart plummeted. “Actually, I...I made tentative plans to have dinner with Mother and Alex; it wasn’t a firm date, but I really should go back to my car and get home. ”

Richard polished off the last of his hot dog. “If you didn’t call me I’d be worried; won’t Alex come looking for you when he doesn’t hear from you?”

Elizabeth frowned. “We don’t check in with each other every minute of the day, Richard. I don’t like a man who’s too jealous and possessive.”

Buy link: http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=819

Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors

Welcome to Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors, your chance to sample the work of a talented group of authors. I've been sharing excerpts from Return Engagement. My hero and heroine have met on a beach ten years after his father broke them up. The attraction between them still seems to be there, but Elizabeth's engaged. She agrees to have a hot dog with him, and he takes the chance to quiz her about her fiance. He speaks first.

“Tell me about Alex Crawford.”

“What...what do you know about Alex?” she asked, feeling as though she were floundering.

“Anybody who watches Inside Edition would know about you and Alex Crawford. It seems to me the two of you are the lead story four nights out of five. Everyone in America knows where you went on vacation, what he gave you for Christmas, the size of your engagement ring, and even what kind of perfume he likes for you to wear.”

“I don’t have any privacy left!” Elizabeth exclaimed as she scowled at him. “All of that was on television?” 

“Yes, and more besides, but if you’re engaged to the man, why aren’t you wearing his ring? 

Buy link:http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=819

Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors

Welcome to Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors, your chance to sample the work of a talented group of authors. When you finish here you can find more excerpts at:

http://www.wewriwa.com
http://www.facebook.com/https://www.facebook.com/groups/SnippetSunday/

I've been sharing excerpts from Return Engagement. To recap, my hero and heroine have met on a beach ten years after his father broke them up. Both are greatly affected by the meeting, and in spite of the fact that she knows she shouldn't since she's engaged, my heroine agrees to go to dinner with him. In this excerpt they're walking down the beach looking for a place to eat.

Pull yourself together! Elizabeth mentally gave herself a shake. Right, easier said than done. Her fingers curled into fists as she and Richard walked down the beach. She had dated Alex for two years, but he had never made her feel so...so...flustered. Yes, that was it. She felt flustered. Spending time with Alex always gave her the warm fuzzies, but Richard’s blatant masculinity had thrown her into a tailspin. 

Return Engagement is available at Amazon or at www.whiskeycreekpress.com

Saturday Sample: Return Engagement

Welcome to Saturday Sample. My sample today comes from Return Engagement. Return Engagement is book one of my Lovinggood series. In this excerpt, my hero and heroine have just met each other on the beach ten years after his father broke them up.

“Look at the moon, Richard. Have you ever seen anything so big and beautiful? Isn’t it lovely the way it’s reflecting off the water?”

“Yes, but not as lovely as you are.” Richard made a sound of disgust. “ That is so trite. You’d think I could do better , but all evening I’ve had trouble saying what I mean.”

Elizabeth laughed. “Maybe it’s because you’re trying too hard, but for the record, I think you’re doing just fine.” She shivered and hunched her shoulders as she hugged herself. “That wind is cold.”

Richard immediately removed his jacket and handed it to her. “Here, put this on.”

“Won’t you be cold?”

“I’m fine. I’ve got on long sleeves and that’s enough.” His eyes twinkled in the moonlight. “In fact, I kind of like the idea of you wearing my clothes. Sounds like high school, huh?”

The chilly wind that blew across the moon-drenched water snatched Elizabeth’s laughter away. “Who cares? Sometimes it’s nice to be as irresponsible as a teenager.”

Richard tugged on her hand. “Let’s sit down and watch the moon awhile.”

Elizabeth willingly sank into the damp sand and cuddled close beside him. My gosh, the man had muscles she hadn’t known even existed! 

Available at Amazon.com or at www.whiskeycreekpress.com

Weekend Writing Warriors and Snippet Sunday: Return Engagement

Welcome to Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors, your chance to sample the work of a talented group of authors. After you finish here, go to the sites below for more authors.

http://www.wewriwa.com
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I've been sharing excerpts from Return Engagement. To recap, my hero and heroine have met accidentally on a beach ten years after his father broke them up. In today's excerpt, my hero displays great self-confidence.

“Have dinner with me tonight,” he urged. “We have ten years of catching up to do.”

Elizabeth felt a flicker of unease; she shouldn’t accept his invitation. Her heart belonged to a wonderful man, a man she didn’t want to hurt by going out with Richard. Richard belonged to her past, and that’s where he needed to stay; in the past. No good could come of a dinner date now. For a split second she  hesitated. “I’d love to have dinner with you."  

Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors

Welcome to Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors, your chance to sample the work of a talented group of authors. My except today is from Return Engagement. I've been sharing from this book for a few weeks now. In short, my hero and heroine have accidentally met on a beach ten years after his father broke them up. We've seen both of their reactions when they first saw each other, and today they speak for the first time in ten years.

Where is he? Surely he wouldn’t just leave!

The voice came from behind her, deeper and fuller than she remembered. “Hello, Elizabeth, it’s been a long time.”

Elizabeth’s heart leaped into her throat as she whirled around. At times during the past ten years she’d felt sure she had forgotten him, but just when she least expected it, she’d find him dancing on the fringes of her mind.

She had always hoped they’d meet again, but truly she hadn’t expected it to happen. To her chagrin the sheer animal magnetism of the man stayed her tongue and made her feel like a star struck groupie. She said the only thing she could think of. “Hey.” 

Buy Link:http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=819

Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors.

Welcome to Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors, your chance to sample the work of a talented group of authors. My excerpt today is from Return Engagement. My hero and heroine met each other by accident on a California beach ten years after his father broke them up. Last week we saw Richard's reaction when he learned that Elizabeth was  acting in the movie being filmed on the beach.  This is what happened when Elizabeth first sees him.

A tall, blond man standing near the back of the crowd caught her eye. She faltered and stumbled, catching hold of Cathy’s arm to stay upright in the sand. No, it couldn’t be! Richard! They hadn’t seen each other in ten years, but yes, it was Richard. She’d know him anywhere. His blue eyes still mesmerized her as he watched her progress across the beach. Irrelevantly, she remembered that when he was aroused his eyes always darkened.