The story is
set in Hobart, the capital of Tasmania, the most southern state in Australia. A
most beautiful place. I went there a few years back and imagined how it would
be to live in this city, how to adapt as a “non-local”, and bit by bit I wrote the
story of two sisters moving there.
Obviously, I added
a little romance into the story as well – so I added Mark and Zach.
This is the
second edition of NEW BEGINNINGS.
The story is
now a bit sexier and has also received another edit.
♥♦♥
SYNOPSIS ♥♦♥
The
chance to start life all over with the help of a stranger.
Twenty-two-year-old
Sophie Levesque has been guardian to her eight-year-old sister Mia since their
mother’s death a few years ago, and it hasn’t been easy. Luck comes their way
when they inherit a small house in Hobart. Problem is, though, they don’t know
and have never heard of Clara Bellinger, the testator. Settling into their new
life, Sophie is still afraid it’s all a mistake.
Mark O’Connor, attorney in
Hobart and the bearer of the good news for Sophie and Mia, curses himself for
the lack of information about the testator. However, researching the questions
gives him an opportunity to see Sophie again, and the more time he spends with
the two, the more he realises that his life is missing something. And it’s not
his casual lover Linda.
But then there’s Zach,
Sophie’s sexy neighbour from across the road… and a very good friend of
Clara’s.
Will unravelling the
mystery unravel Sophie and Mark’s promise of a future?
♥♦♥
EXCERPT ♥♦♥
Sophie Levesque stared at the attorney in
front of her, waiting for some answers. She and her little sister, Mia, had
been quietly sitting in Mr. O’Connor’s office for more than half an hour,
learning about the details of their inheritance.
Once he was finished, silence hung in the
air before she asked with raised eyebrows. “Who?”
“Clara
Catherine Bellinger.”
Mia leaned
closer to her elder sister and gave a soft tug on Sophie’s shirt. “Who is she?”
Sophie
shrugged. “I wouldn’t have a clue.” Then turned her attention back on Mr.
O’Connor and asked the same thing. “Who is she?”
The handsome
attorney on the other side of the massive desk leaned forward and rested his
elbows on it before he started to repeat his earlier speech. Although hearing
his words, Sophie still found it all very hard to comprehend. Here she was in
this old office, furnished with heavy antique oak furniture, the curtains in a
pretty shade of aubergine, and the carpet beneath her shoes thick and warm in a
matching shade, hearing about an inheritance from someone she’d never even
heard of.
Startled by the
subtle sound of the clock chiming across the road, Sophie’s gaze turned to the
window, where she saw the post office building across the road. It looked
impressive and old. It’d been only a few hours since they’d arrived in Hobart,
the most southern capital in Australia, but she already liked it. A lot more
than Sydney, the place she’d lived all her life.
Hauled back
from her thoughts, she heard Mr. O’Connor say, “I believe she was a distant
relative of yours. I’m afraid I don’t have any further details.”
Sophie arched
an eyebrow in disbelief, doubting the accuracy of it all. Not only did she try
not to question his competence as a lawyer, but she also hoped it wasn’t a
dreadful misunderstanding.
With a slight
shrug of her shoulder, she asked, “Why not?”
He met her gaze
steadily. “Pardon me?”
Sitting up
straight, she repeated, “Why not? Why aren’t there any further details?”
He rubbed his
chin with his fingers, his unease now obvious, and although she almost felt
sorry for him, she tried not to care. She needed to know more. And not just the
what, but why and who as well.
Only a week
earlier, Sophie had received the call from Mr. O’Connor telling her about an
inheritance. Initially, she’d thought it had been a horrible joke when he’d
given her details on where to pick up airplane tickets to Hobart. It was
important for her to come, he’d explained. Some legality she hadn’t understood.
Something about her having to sign documents for the transfer of ownership of
some assets. It’d sounded too farfetched at the start, but after some research
on the firm with the help of a friend, it sounded valid, and she’d hoped her
life was finally turning around for the better.
AMAZON US: http://amzn.to/2a1BSJ7
Literary
Chanteuse's review: “This author has a way of endearing her
characters and it is easy to fall in love with them. An intriguing story with
emotion, love and hope.”
Sharon's
review: “This was a very enjoyable read and it left
me wanting just a little bit more. I highly recommend it.”
♥♦♥
MEET THE AUTHOR ♥♦♥
IRIS BLOBEL
Iris
Blobel was born and raised in Germany and only immigrated to Australia in the
late 1990s. Having had the travel bug most of her life, Iris spent quite some
time living in Scotland, London as well as Canada where she met her husband.
Her love for putting her stories onto paper has only emerged recently, but now
her laptop is a constant companion.
Iris
resides west of Melbourne with her husband and her two beautiful daughters.
Next
to her job at a private school, she also presents a German Program at the local
Community Radio.
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