Weekend Writing Warriors: The Welcome Inn

Since so many people are busy today, I'm not sharing an excerpt from Fortuna because I'm doing them in sequence and don't want people to get behind. Instead, let's take a look at The Welcome Inn.

Blurb:
Julianna can’t stand Buck Abercrombie! He’s rude, chauvinistic, and exasperating, and he’s her new boss. Why wouldn’t the bank loan her the money to buy The Welcome Inn? As manager she has proved her worth. 

Worse yet, Buck’s criminal brother Travis works for him, and her friend Melanie likes him!

EXCERPT:

His voice lowered and became huskier. “No wonder poor Tim wanted to kiss you. I’ve wanted to taste those lips from the first time I saw you. So kiss me, Julianna. I’m sick of fighting it. It’s torture to be in the same room with you and not kiss you.”

“Uh, no, Buck, I...”

Her voice trailed off as Buck stood up, and she made no protest when brawny, sunburned arms enclosed her and held her tight. He nuzzled his face against her neck, and Julianna quivered in his arms.

“You smell sexy,” Buck growled.  

Buy link:http://amzn.to/2citC8v 

Beyond the Book: Betrayal Hurts

Has a person you love ever betrayed you?  If so, you aren’t alone. History seethes with stories of betrayal, many of which are committed by close friends or family members. Take the story of King Arthur, Sir Lancelot, and Guinevere, for example.  King Arthur was married to Guinevere who appeared to love him. However, when she met Sir Lancelot, she felt a powerful attraction to him.  For a time she denied the attraction and avoided Lancelot, but ultimately she betrayed Arthur and contributed to the fall of Arthur’s kingdom Camelot.

Are you familiar with the story of Samson and Delilah? Samson was a strong warrior whose enemies tried and failed to destroy him.  His girlfriend Delilah betrayed him to his enemies by telling them how he could be defeated.  He was taken prisoner and blinded.  Ultimately, he got his revenge, but it was at the cost of his life.

Modern literature is also rife with betrayals. For instance, think of Scarlett O’Hara in Gone With the Wind. She betrayed her own sister Suellen when she lied to Frank Kennedy and persuaded him to marry her instead of Suellen. 

Betrayals aren’t only used as a device in novels. A great many Hollywood movies deal with some type of betrayal. Have you seen Payback with Mel Gibson? In this movie Mel is shot by his wife and best friend and left for dead, but he survives and sets out to get his revenge. 

Of course, romantic betrayals aren’t the only kind.  Think of how Benedict Arnold betrayed his country.  His name is synonymous with treason.  Another good example of a betrayal is when Brutus betrayed his good friend Julius Caesar.  Brutus was one of the Roman senators who stabbed Caesar to death.  

Don’t forget Disney either. In The Lion King, Mufasa’s brother Scar betrays him and manipulates Simba into running away, ultimately leaving the way clear for Scar to take power.

On a personal level I've written several books filled with betrayals. How do you like this one from one of my earlier books The Welcome Inn? In this excerpt, my hero and heroine are hiding out from bad guys, and Buck tells her about his ex-wife.


Julianna heated the beef stew and poured it into two bowls. They sat down at the small corner table to eat. “I like this place, Buck. It’s cozy and warm.”

“You don’t mind being in the woods with no shopping center or restaurant nearby?”

“No, I don’t mind. I like to shop, but I like to get away from the crowds occasionally.”

“My wife didn’t.”

It was hard to say who was more surprised by his comment.

“What was she like?” Julianna asked.

Buck fidgeted and felt uncomfortable, but he did answer. He saw no harm in telling her about Becky. “Becky was a tiny woman. Maybe five feet two and a hundred pounds with blond hair and blue eyes. She was interested in shopping, art galleries, antiques, and stuff like that. Her idea of a vacation was a cruise or a trip to New York. She hated Alaska. I tried to tell her we wouldn’t be up there forever, but it didn’t make any difference. She never would make an effort to adjust.”

“Didn’t she love you?”

Buck grimaced. “I doubt it. She knew that I owned Abercrombie Construction, and she thought I had a lot of money. She never let me forget how crude and rough I was, and she hated that I was so big.”

“How strange,” Julianna mused. “I like a big, muscular man.”

Buck allowed himself a brief, inward grin before he completed his story. “Becky ran off with another man.”

“Was he a wormy little thing?”

Buck roared with laughter. This was certainly a new construction to a painful, familiar story. “Yeah, he was.”

“You should have beaten him up,” Julianna averred.

“I wanted to, but it wouldn’t have done any good. She didn’t want me. Forcing her to stay would only have prolonged the misery.”

“I didn’t say force her to stay. I said beat him up.”

Buck had never expected to talk about his marriage with any degree of amusement, but somehow Julianna’s opinion had removed much of the sting that he still felt. It surprised him to find how much better, how much more of a man it made him feel.

“Where is she now?”

“I have no idea.”

Julianna sniffed. “Good riddance, I say.”

If you like what you've read, you can buy the book at Wings ePress or at http://www.amazon.com/Welcome-Inn-Elaine-Cantrell-ebook/dp/B003AKZBQ0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1441077565&sr=8-1&keywords=the+welcome+inn+by+elaine+cantrell

Beyond the Book: The Welcome Inn

Welcome to Beyond the Book. I'd like to remind everyone that Rest Thy Head is on sale at both Amazon and Barnes and Noble for only .99. This is a sale price not a permanent price, so if you've thought about reading it, this would be a good time to pick up a copy.

But I'm not talking about Rest Thy Head today. I'd like to tell you about one of my older books The Welcome Inn. I don't talk about it much, but I looked at it the other day, and I remembered why I always liked it.

I first decided to write a story about a motel manager after my father retired.  He had worked in the insurance business all of his life, but after he retired, he worked a few days a week at a local motel.  The stories he came home and told were just delicious!

I chose Julianna Martin as my heroine because I wanted to write about a strong woman.  She’s outspoken, determined, ambitious and very beautiful, but at the same time she isn’t perfect.  She still has hang ups and problems just like the rest of us.  I wanted to watch her grow and develop as she worked to fulfill her potential.

And of course a strong heroine needs a strong hero to balance her.  Buck Abercrombie is definitely that.  He’s been in charge of Abercrombie Construction since his parents died.  He’s also been a father to his little brother Travis.  Unhappily, Travis hasn’t turned out too well.  Buck carries a lot of guilt because of what he sees as his failure.  He’s also scared of intimacy because of his failed marriage.  And he’s every bit as determined, outspoken, and ambitious as Julianna. 

EXCERPT:

Julianna slid gingerly under the covers and Buck reached for the lamp. He plunged the room into darkness, and both he and Julianna lay tensely in the bed. Both were careful not to touch the other.
Eventually, Julianna turned on her side and spread out, assuming her favorite sleeping position. Buck’s legs were in the way so she gave an impatient kick to scoot him over.

“Stop kicking me,” Buck protested. “You’ve got most of the space anyway.”

“I do not.”

“Yeah, you do. I’m barely hanging on over here.” 

Julianna sat up and reached across Buck to measure the space. “You have all kinds of room left.”

“I don’t,” Buck argued. “If I turned over I’d fall off the bed.”

“Honestly!”

A short silence fell on the room. 

“I can’t sleep on this side of the bed,” Buck complained. “You’ll have to change with me.”

“I like this side. I’m not going to move.”

Buck turned over heavily, causing the bed to rock and shake.

“Be still,” Julianna smartly commanded. “How can I sleep if you keep bouncing me around?”

A minute or so passed, and Buck turned over again, bumping Julianna with his knees. Nerves on edge, Julianna kicked him again. This time he kicked her back.

War broke out with a flurry of shoving, kicking, and struggling that ended with Buck on the side of the bed that he favored with Julianna molded to his side. She shoved against the bed with her feet in an effort to root him off the edge, but Buck held fast. 

Beyond the Book: The Welcome Inn

The Welcome Inn isn't one of my newer books, but I love the story line. The book is available at

http://www.amazon.com/Welcome-Inn-Elaine-Cantrell-ebook/dp/B003AKZBQ0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422328825&sr=8-1&keywords=the+welcome+inn+by+elaine+cantrell

Saturday Sample: The Welcome Inn

My excerpt today is from The Welcome Inn. This is the start of the book.

The hot, heavy darkness, as cloying as dusty velvet, pressed relentlessly upon the two struggling figures.

“Let me go you pig, you... you... pervert!”

Two well-placed kicks and a jab of the elbow later, Julianna Martin broke free.

“You swine,” she raged. “How dare you come to MY motel and attack me!” She shoved the man’s chest with all her strength, and he stumbled backwards and fell against the stairs leading into the pool.

Julianna waited for him to get up, but instead he gave a loud snort, mumbled something, and curled up into a ball on the side of the pool, presumably to sleep it off, since he reeked of alcohol.

She approached him cautiously, but when he still didn’t move, her temper flared, and she aimed a swift kick at the prostrate, drunken figure by the pool.

“Really, Miss Martin, that’s not very nice,” a voice protested from the shadows near the office door. “Do you make a habit of kicking a man when he’s down?”

Julianna whirled around to confront this new and unexpected danger. The man threw his hands into the air, palms out, and backed up a step. “Hey, I promise you’re safe with me. I was in my room reading when I heard the commotion, and I came out to see if you needed my help.”

“Do you know this... this... thing?”

“Oh, you mean Tim. He isn’t a thing, Miss Martin; he’s a man. He’s one of my best workers. Unfortunately, he had a little too much to drink tonight and tried to steal a kiss from a beautiful woman, but he’s harmless. He wouldn’t have hurt you.”

“That’s what you say. Are you his boss?”

“Yes, I’m...”

“I don’t care who you are. I’m calling Sheriff Mitchell to hold him until he sobers up.”

“Please, don’t do that. I’ll see to it that he doesn’t cause any more trouble, and he’ll apologize to you tomorrow.”

Julianna hesitated, but it was late and she was tired. “Oh, all right,” she crossly conceded. “Get him back to his room, and I’ll let it go this time.”

“Thank you. I appreciate it.”

“Until Mr. Abercrombie shows up and says differently, I’m the manager of the Welcome Inn, and I don’t allow drinking around the pool. It doesn’t matter if your construction crew works for Abercrombie or not, I still don’t allow drinking at the pool, and you’d better see to it that all of your men know it.”

“Yes, ma’am, I’ll be sure to tell them, but...”

“Good night,” Julianna interrupted, and she silently vanished into the manager’s apartment.

A smile played across the lips of her would-be rescuer, who shook his head before dragging his fallen comrade back to his room.


Anyone want to guess who she was talking to? Yep, her new boss Buck Abercrombie.


Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/Welcome-Inn-Elaine-Cantrell-ebook/dp/B003AKZBQ0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422069251&sr=8-1&keywords=the+welcome+inn+by+elaine+cantrell

Saturday Sample: The Welcome Inn

Today's sample is from The Welcome Inn, one of my first published works. In this sample, my heroine is in trouble.

She wasn’t alone in the bedroom. She saw a shadowy figure silhouetted against the drapes, and Julianna supposed he must have made a noise that wakened her.

She broke into a cold sweat. Should she scream or pretend to be asleep? She quickly made her decision as the figure approached the bed. "Buck, help me," she screamed.

She had hoped that the noise would frighten the attacker away, but instead he crossed the room in two big strides and grabbed her. Julianna struggled mightily, but the bedcovers hampered her, and the intruder was a strong man.

His hand clamped over her mouth and when she refused to stop struggling, he drew back his fist and hit her solidly on the cheek. Momentarily stunned, Julianna relaxed into the bed. The attacker ripped the covers off and dragged her from her bed. Seconds later her limp body hit the floor with a thud as the intruder turned to face an enraged Buck Abercrombie. Buck’s fist smashed into the man’s face twice, and he lay still.


Blurb:

Julianna can’t stand Buck Abercrombie!  He’s rude, chauvinistic, and exasperating, and he’s her new boss.  Why couldn’t the bank see that she’s done a good job cleaning up The Welcome Inn?  Why wouldn’t they loan her the money to buy the Inn?  Now Buck comes along and reaps the benefits of all her hard work.  Oh, and don’t forget his nasty, criminal brother Travis.  He works for Buck, and her friend Melanie has a crush on him!

Buy link:

http://www.amazon.com/Welcome-Inn-Elaine-Cantrell-ebook/dp/B003AKZBQ0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407554000&sr=8-1&keywords=the+welcome+inn+by+elaine+cantrell

 

Sweet Saturday Sample: Grrrr

Today's sample comes from The Welcome Inn.  I hope you like it!

The hot, heavy darkness, as cloying as dusty velvet, pressed relentlessly upon the two struggling figures.

"Let me go you pig, you... you... pervert!"

Two well-placed kicks and a jab of the elbow later, Julianna Martin broke free.

"You swine," she raged. "How dare you come to MY motel and attack me!" She shoved the man’s chest with all her strength, and he stumbled backwards and fell against the stairs leading into the pool.

Julianna waited for him to get up, but instead he gave a loud snort, mumbled something, and curled up into a ball on the side of the pool, presumably to sleep it off since he reeked of alcohol.

She approached him cautiously, but when he still didn’t move, her temper flared, and she aimed a swift kick at the prostrate, drunken figure by the pool.

"Really, Miss Martin, that’s not very nice," a voice protested from the shadows near the office door. "Do you make a habit of kicking a man when he’s down?"

Julianna whirled around to confront this new and unexpected danger. The man threw his hands into the air,  palms out, and backed up a step. "Hey, I promise you’re safe with me. I was in my room reading when I heard the commotion, and I came out to see if you needed my help."

"Do you know this... this... thing?"

"Oh, you mean Tim. He isn’t a thing, Miss Martin; he’s a man. He’s one of my best workers. Unfortunately, he had a little too much to drink tonight and tried to steal a kiss from a beautiful woman, but he’s harmless. He wouldn’t have hurt you."

"That’s what you say. Are you his boss?"

"Yes, I’m..."

"I don’t care who you are. I’m calling Sheriff Mitchell to hold him until he sobers up."

"Please, don’t do that. I’ll see to it that he doesn’t cause any more trouble, and he’ll apologize to you tomorrow."

Julianna hesitated, but it was late and she was tired. "Oh, all right," she crossly conceded. "Get him back to his room, and I’ll let it go this time."

"Thank you. I appreciate it."

"Until Mr. Abercrombie shows up and says differently, I’m the manager of the Welcome Inn, and I don’t allow drinking around the pool. It doesn’t matter if your construction crew works for Abercrombie or not, I still don’t allow drinking at the pool, and you’d better see to it that all of your men know it."

"Yes, ma’am, I’ll be sure to tell them, but..."

"Good night," Julianna interrupted, and she silently vanished into the manager’s apartment.

A smile played across the lips of her would-be rescuer who shook his head before dragging his fallen comrade back to his room.


Want to guess who she just smarted off to?  Yep, Mr. Abercrombie himself, her new boss.

Six Sentence Sunday

Welcome to my blog.  Today's sentences come from The Welcome Inn which is available at http://www.wings-press.com/Bookstore/The%20Welcome%20Inn.htm

Blurb:
can’t stand Buck Abercrombie! He’s rude, chauvinistic, and exasperating, and he’s her new boss. Why wouldn’t the bank loan her the money to buy The Welcome Inn? As manager she has proved her worth.

Worse yet, Buck’s criminal brother Travis works for him, and her friend Melanie likes him!

In this excerpt, Buck and Julianna have gone skinny dipping.

Julianna knew a challenge when she heard it. With a toss of her head, she waded out of the water, her body shining in the moonlight. She seated herself in the swing and began to pump her legs. She swung higher and higher.  With a cry of triumph she swung over the water and let go of the swing.  She hit the lake with a splash, and when she surfaced, she came up in Buck's arms.

Six Sentence Sunday

Welcome to my blog.  Today's sentences are from The Welcome Inn which is romantic suspense.  First a blurb, then the excerpt. 

Blurb:

Julianna can’t stand Buck Abercrombie!  He’s rude, chauvinistic, and exasperating, and he’s her new boss.  Why couldn’t the bank see that she’s done a good job cleaning up The Welcome Inn?  Why wouldn’t they loan her the money to buy the Inn?  Now Buck comes along and reaps the benefits of all her hard work.  Oh, and don’t forget his nasty, criminal brother Travis.  He works for Buck, and her friend Melanie has a crush on him!

Sentences:

She wasn’t alone in the bedroom. She saw a shadowy figure silhouetted against the drapes, and Julianna supposed he must have made a noise that wakened her.

She broke into a cold sweat. Should she scream or pretend to be asleep? She quickly made her decision as the dark figure approached the bed. "Buck, help me," she screamed.

Buy Link:

http://www.wings-press.com/Bookstore/The%20Welcome%20Inn.htm

Six Sentence Sunday

Today's excerpt comes from The Welcome Inn.  Here's a blurb about the book.

Julianna can’t stand Buck Abercrombie!  He’s rude, chauvinistic, and exasperating, and he’s her new boss.  Why couldn’t the bank see that she’s done a good job cleaning up The Welcome Inn?  Why wouldn’t they loan her the money to buy the Inn?  Now Buck comes along and reaps the benefits of all her hard work.  Oh, and don’t forget his nasty, criminal brother Travis.  He works for Buck, and her friend Melanie has a crush on him!

And now for the sentences.

His voice lowered and became huskier. "No wonder poor Tim wanted to kiss you. I’ve wanted to taste those lips from the first time I saw you. So kiss me, Julianna. I’m sick of fighting it. It’s torture to be in the same room with you and not kiss you."

Available at http://www.wings-press.com/Bookstore/The%20Welcome%20Inn.htm or at

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=the+welcome+inn+by+elaine+cantrell&x=23&y=32

Six Sentence Sunday

Today's character sketch is from The Welcome Inn.  In this excerpt, Travis Abercrombie is telling his girlfriend why he blackmailed the mayor of Martin's Crossing.  The book is available at  http://www.wingsepress.com/Bookstore/The%20Welcome%20Inn.htm

Travis, who had trained his eyes on the floor during his recital, now lifted his face to Melanie. "I am sorry. I lost the respect and goodwill of every person who mattered to me: I dishonored my family name, and I ruined my life.

 Why did I do it? To show everyone that I wasn’t just Buck’s little brother, I guess."

"What’s wrong with being Buck’s little brother?"

Six Sentence Sunday

I'd like to take just a moment to remember those who died on September 11.  I'd also like to thank those rescuers who sometimes gave their life and health to save others.  God bless America.

I'd like to do another character sketch today.   Last Sunday we looked at Elaine Lovinggood from Return Engagement who was rather high strung to say the least.  Today's character is Julianna Martin from The Welcome Inn.  This excerpt is the opening part of the book.  Julianna was crossing the courtyard of the motel which she manages, and a man grabbed her.  I guess he got more than he bargained for.  The Welcome Inn is available at Wing's Press.

The hot, heavy darkness, as cloying as dusty velvet, pressed relentlessly upon the two struggling figures.

"Let me go you pig, you... you... pervert!"

Two well-placed kicks and a jab of the elbow later, Julianna Martin broke free.

"You swine," she raged.  "How dare you come to MY motel and attack me!"

She shoved the man’s chest with all her strength, and he stumbled backwards and fell against the stairs leading into the pool.

Why I Love Wednesday

My favorite misunderstood character is my own Travis Abercrombie.  Travis tried to blackmail the mayor while he was running Abercrombie Construction because he was tired of standing in Buck's shadow and wanted Buck to see him as a worthwhile partner both in the construction company and as a brother. 

Travis's scheme backfires, and he soon repents of what he's done, but nobody believes him.  It takes him eighteen months to climb back out of the hole he dug for himself, and even then things aren't great for him.  It takes the love of a good woman to put Travis on the straight and narrow for good. 

You can read excerpts from the book at my website at http://www.elainecantrell.com