Snippet Sunday: The Table in the Window

I've been humming Christmas carols and thinking about decorating for a week now, so I'm giving in to my impulse to post Christmas excerpts. This one is from The Table in the Window. My heroine's fiancé broke up with her right before Christmas, and now another man is showing deep interest in her. In this excerpt, they are in the restaurant where he works having lunch together, and he criticizes her former engagement ring. She naturally wants to know what he'd have given her.  I posted the breakup scene yesterday if you're curious about it.

He thought for a minute. “For you, something in blue to

match your eyes. You do have great eyes.” His own eyes filled with

laughter. “The rest of you isn’t bad either. It’s a cliché, but your

skin really does look as smooth and rich as that cream, and your

figure…” He kissed his fingers to her in a typical French gesture.

Marley blushed. “Blue would be nice,” she allowed.

She couldn’t explain it but, when he smiled at her, she felt

warm all over. The chill that entered her on the day Michael broke

up with her had gone away the first time he smiled at her.


Blurb:
Being dumped by your gorgeous fiancé is bad enough no matter when it happens, but he did it at Christmas time! Marley thinks she’ll never get over it, but Rob Travers disagrees. He sets out to win Marley’s heart, well aware that when she finds out about his past, she may turn her back on him forever.

Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/The-Table-Window-Elaine-Cantrell-ebook/dp/B006GYAQ26/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385262741&sr=8-1&keywords=the+table+in+the+window+by+elaine+cantrell

Ho, Ho, Ho: Holliday Spice: Choose Your Flavor Naught or Nice

Welcome, readers.  My name is Violet Emerson.  Elaine told my and my husband's story in her book A New Dream.  We've taken over her blog for the month of December to give her a rest.  It's thrilling to host this tour!  Please check back with us often.  We have a lot of fun things planned for you.  Okay, let's go!  Here are the rules and then the good stuff.
1) HAVE FUN!!!

2) INVITE ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS!!! SPREAD THE WORD!!!

3) THIS TOUR STARTS: Monday, November 14, at Midnight (Arizona Time)
THIS TOUR ENDS: Monday, November 21, at Midnight (Arizona Time)
Winners will be drawn and posted November 22nd! ***

4) MEET AND MINGLE WITH ALL THE AUTHORS & BOOK PAGES! EXPERIENCE A NEW DESTINATION AT EVERY STOP! PARTICIPATE IN EVERY BLOG CONTEST AND BE ENTERED FOR CHANCES TO WIN MULTIPLE PRIZES! EVERY BLOG VISITED IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO WIN!!

5) PARTICIPATION AT ALL BLOGS IS RECOMMENDED, BUT NOT REQUIRED. REMEMBER, THE MORE BLOGS YOU HOP, THE BETTER YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING PRIZES. EVERY AUTHOR & BOOK PAGE IS WAITING TO MEET AND INTERACT WITH YOU, SO PLEASE BE SURE TO SHOW THEM SOME LOVE!

6) DID I MENTION TO HAVE FUN? WHOO! HOO!! HERE WE GOOOOOOOOOOOO!***Authors & Book Pages have full discretion to choose an alternate winner in the event any winner fails to claim their prize(s) within 72 hours of their name being posted or after notification of win, whichever comes first. Anyone who participates in this blog hop tour is subject to these rules***

Enjoy this excerpt from my Christmas story The Table in the Window.

Blurb:

Being dumped by your gorgeous fiancé is bad enough no matter when it happens, but he did it at Christmas time! Marley thinks she’ll never get over it, but Rob Travers disagrees. He sets out to win Marley’s heart, well aware that when she finds out about his past, she may turn her back on him forever.

In this excerpt, Marley my heroine goes to a tree decorating party which is also attented by my hero, Rob.

Marley felt hot blood rush to her face. To distract him she held out her arm and indicated her sweater. “I bought this blue sweater just for you.” The sweater fit her like a glove and looked chic. The fact that it was blue had clinched the deal, even though she knew she should save her money for Christmas presents.

Rob took her hand and pulled her forward. “You look beautiful.” Before she knew what he intended, he placed a gentle kiss on her lips.

Warmth flooded Marley. She leaned into him, and he obliged her with another kiss. He finally pulled away and muttered, “Nice. Very nice.”

Oh, it certainly was. Kissing Michael had always been heavenly, but it hadn’t been like this. This kiss made her knees go weak and her heart pound in her chest.  What could be wrong with her tonight? How could she forget Michael so easily? Confused, she stammered, o“We…we’d…better go help with the tree.”

Oh no. Rob’s eyes were doing that twinkling thing again.

“Don’t worry, Marley. Sylvia won’t let anyone bother us.”

Marley bolted out of the kitchen.  She figured he was right about Sylvia.

The Table in the Window is available at http://www.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:category=662245&mode=product&product=7885677  or at http://www.amazon.com/Table-Window-ebook/dp/B006GYAQ26/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323782681&sr=8-1

For your chance to win a free copy of The Table in the Window, follow this blog and leave a comment saying you did so.  If you already follow say that too.  Don't forget to leave your email so I can send you your story if you win.  To check out other participants return to http://www.enchantedmusepress.blogspot.comhttp://www.enchantedmusepress.blogspot.com.

AP Holiday Story Release Party Blog Hop Nov 25-27, 2011

Welcome to the Astraea Press Holiday Story Release Party Blog Hop!  Astraea has a great lineup of holiday stories to thrill your heart.  My own story is called The Table in the Window.  Don't you just love my cover?  Many thanks to our wonderful cover artist Elaina Lee.  Here's a blurb to tell you what the story is all about.

Being dumped by your gorgeous fiancé is bad enough no matter when it happens, but he did it at Christmas time! Marley thinks she’ll never get over it, but Rob Travers disagrees. He sets out to win Marley’s heart, well aware that when she finds out about his past she may turn her back on him forever.

Here's a short excerpt from the story.

Robert offered them a menu, but Michael waved it away.  “I’m not having lunch.

Marley’s eyebrows shot up.  As the waiter left the table, she said, “I thought you wanted to have lunch.”

“No, I said I wanted to talk to you.”

“Okay, talk.”  Marley reached for his hand, but he drew it away and put it in his lap.

“Uh, Marley, I have something to tell you.”  He cleared his throat, and this time he stared at some point right behind her left shoulder.

Marley’s heart thumped.  “What is it, Michael?  What’s wrong?”  Was he ill?  Had he lost his job? 

He stared at a burned spot on the rustic table as if it had come to life and was about to bite him.  “I..I’ve met someone.”

Marley cocked her head.  “Who did you meet?”

His voice was so low she had a hard time hearing him.  “Her name is Heather.”

Everything clicked.  He wouldn’t hold hands with her.  He wouldn’t look at her.  Cold more intense than that outside settled into her veins and almost took her breath away, but she clung to the hope that she was wrong.  “I..I don’t understand.”

His eyes briefly met hers before they slid away.  “Yes, you do.  I’m sorry, Marley, but I can’t marry you after all.”

Readers, leave a comment and your email for a chance to win a copy of my first Christmas release The Best Selling Toy of the Season. And while you're here, check out my Fashionista Friday post just below this one.  Have a great holiday season!

Your next stop is http://kimbowmanauthor.blogspot.com/

Six Sentence Sunday

Hello!  Thanks for dropping by.  I appreciate your feedback very much.  Today's excerpt comes from my Christmas story The Table in the Window.  Astraea Press is publishing it, and they say it'll be out on Black Friday if all goes well.  The cover is only a proof.  In this excerpt, my hero who works at a restaurant finally gets the chance to talk to the girl he's admired for a year.

“Uh, is there anything else?” she asked.

He smiled at her.  “My shift’s over.  If I’m not bothering you, I wondered if you’d like some company for lunch.”  His eyes twinkled.  “In case you’re wondering, you’re the first customer I’ve made that offer to.”

Sweet Saturday Sample

I'm so glad to see you!  Thanks to everyone who drops by to check out my sample.  Today's excerpt is from my Christmas release The Table in the Window.  The story is published by Astraea Press and will be released on Black Friday.  I'm sharing the cover even though it's only a proof.  Hope you like it!

Robert offered them a menu, but Michael waved it away.  “I’m not having lunch.”

Marley’s eyebrows shot up.  As the waiter left the table, she said, “I thought you wanted to have lunch.”

“No, I said I wanted to talk to you.”

“Okay, talk.”  Marley reached for his hand, but he drew it away and put it in his lap.

“Uh, Marley, I have something to tell you.”  He cleared his throat, and this time he stared at some point right behind her left shoulder.

Marley’s heart thumped.  “What is it, Michael?  What’s wrong?”  Was he ill?  Had he lost his job? 

He stared at a burned spot on the rustic table as if it had come to life and was about to bite him.  “I..I’ve met someone.”

Marley cocked her head.  “Who did you meet?”

His voice was so low she had a hard time hearing him.  “Her name is Heather.”

Everything clicked.  He wouldn’t hold hands with her.  He wouldn’t look at her.  Cold more intense than anything outside settled into her veins and almost took her breath away, but she clung to the hope that she was wrong.  “I..I don’t understand.”

His eyes briefly met hers before they slid away.  “Yes, you do.  I’m sorry, Marley, but I can’t marry you after all.”