Saturday Sample: Purple Heart

Welcome to Saturday Sample. Today we'll continue with excerpts from Purple Heart my Wild Rose Press release. Hope you enjoy it.

Buy link:  http://amzn.to/2cuW4rw

Blurb:

Jenna West has no idea what she might have done to her new tenant Mike Hightower. He's surly and hateful every single time they meet, and he looks at her as though he despises her.

He does despise her. She's from the Middle East, and people like her killed his friend Ramirez when the army sent them to Iraq.

Will the power of love work its magic to soften Mike's bitter hatred, or will he ignore his growing attraction for his pretty landlady?

Last Week:

This week: Mike gets Jenna West's phone number. Stan speaks first.

Saturday Sample: Purple Heart

Welcome to Saturday Sample. Today we'll continue with excerpts from Purple Heart my Wild Rose Press release. Hope you enjoy it.

Buy link:  http://amzn.to/2cuW4rw

Blurb:

Jenna West has no idea what she might have done to her new tenant Mike Hightower. He's surly and hateful every single time they meet, and he looks at her as though he despises her.

He does despise her. She's from the Middle East, and people like her killed his friend Ramirez when the army sent them to Iraq.

Will the power of love work its magic to soften Mike's bitter hatred, or will he ignore his growing attraction for his pretty landlady?

Last Week:

Mike Hightower parked his new red Mustang in Taylor-Lord’s parking lot. The factory had come to Eden’s Crossing right after he volunteered for the military, so he didn’t know too much about it, but the grounds looked very well kept. He didn’t see so much as a stray leaf lying in the grass. 

He got out of the car and walked toward an impressive entrance constructed of dark, bronze glass. He opened the door and entered a large reception area. Several sofas and chairs upholstered in a bronze and green contemporary design provided a jolt of energy for the room, and the floor covering looked like marble. Several small trees in decorative tubs soared toward a high ceiling studded with skylights. 

He made his way toward a glass window in one corner of the room, nodding at a man in a suit who sat on one of the sofas studying his Palm Pilot. A woman sat behind the window. He cleared his throat to get her attention. 

This week: Mike meets Carol.

Saturday Sample: Flood

Welcome to Saturday Sample. We'll continue with out excerpts from Flood. I hope you're enjoying them because I really enjoyed writing the book. Flood was reviewed by RomCon Reviews. They gave it 5 stars, and in part they said,  It's the kind of story that stays with you because of the intensity of the circumstances and you remember the characters. You can read the rest of the review here .

Blurb:

Drawn together by their love of animals, Aria De Luca and Caleb Hawkins burn for each other. They never suspected that malignant forces around them were successfully plotting Caleb’s ruin from the moment he entered her life. When the flood of a century strikes Aria’s hometown, an alienated Caleb is all that stands between her and catastrophic loss.

Last Week:

Anger spread across the woman’s face. “Some monster poured gas on her back and lit her up. By the time a good Samaritan brought her in, she was at death’s door. She lived but only by a miracle. Dr. Ballard, our staff doctor, knows his stuff, but it was all he could do to save her.”

Aria shivered. “Monster is the right word. Did they ever find out who did it?”

The receptionist shook her head. “No.” 

This week:

“Anyone who’d do a thing like that doesn’t deserve to live,” Aria cried. “Don’t such people have a conscience? How could anyone take pleasure in causing pain for another living creature?”

Nobody responded because no one knew the answer and because Ed and Peaches arrived. Well, the paper hadn’t exaggerated when it said Peaches wasn’t pretty. She was a medium-sized animal, maybe fifty pounds with over-long legs, a dull, yellowish coat, a head that was a bit

too big for her body, and a scarred back. Her ears were down; her eyes looked scared.
Aria slowly approached the pair. “Hello, Peaches.” 

Buy link: http://amzn.to/2qRgYD7

Saturday Sample: Flood Got a Five Star Review

Welcome to Saturday Sample. We'll continue with out excerpts from Flood. I hope you're enjoying them because I really enjoyed writing the book. Flood was reviewed by RomCon Reviews. They gave it 5 stars, and in part they said,  It's the kind of story that stays with you because of the intensity of the circumstances and you remember the characters. You can read the rest of the review here .

Blurb:

Drawn together by their love of animals, Aria De Luca and Caleb Hawkins burn for each other. They never suspected that malignant forces around them were successfully plotting Caleb’s ruin from the moment he entered her life. When the flood of a century strikes Aria’s hometown, an alienated Caleb is all that stands between her and catastrophic loss.

Last Week:

When Aria and Lila sat down, she brought them a soft drink and took the chair beside Aria. “How did you hear about Peaches? We’ve all wondered about that ever since you called us.”

“I saw it in our local newspaper,” Aria replied as she popped the top from the soft drink can. “It just sounded like something that shouldn’t happen.” 

The woman nodded and sent dark curls bouncing. “You’re right. Caleb and Peaches needed each other. Once they connected, both of them just bloomed. It would have been a shame to put her to sleep.” 

This week:

Lila pursed her lips. “What did Caleb do to get himself a prison sentence?”

“Stole a car.”
“That’s grand theft auto,” Lila said.

Aria giggled. “Stop borrowing terms from your favorite crime show. Seriously, though, how long will Caleb be in prison?”

The receptionist sighed. “Another eighteen months. Caleb’s a nice guy. He made a mistake, but we all think he’s paid his debt to society. 

Buy link: http://amzn.to/2qRgYD7

Saturday Sample: Flood

Welcome to Saturday Sample. Today, I'd like to share an excerpt from my new release Flood. First let's have a blurb and then our excerpt. 

Since I was on vacation and missed last week, I'm starting from the beginning of the book so you've probably read the first part of the excerpt.

Blurb:

Drawn together by their love of animals, Aria De Luca and Caleb Hawkins burn for each other. They never suspected that malignant forces around them were successfully plotting Caleb’s ruin from the moment he entered her life. When the flood of a century strikes Aria’s hometown, an alienated Caleb is all that stands between her and catastrophic loss.

Last Week

Dr. Aria De Luca threw a newspaper onto her cluttered desk and reached for a tissue to dry her eyes. How could anyone let such a terrible thing happen? 

Her lead vet tech Lila Monroe breezed into her office and held out a clipboard. “Sign this. They just delivered our order of dog food.” 

Aria scribbled her name for Lila who vanished as abruptly as she had arrived. The cute assistant came back a couple of minutes later without a hint of her usual perky smile. “Why are you crying, Aria? Did the collie’s surgery not go well?” 

“No, she’s fine. I’m almost sure the tumor was benign.” Blowing her nose, Aria reached for the morning paper. “Look at this.” 

Lila perched on the edge of Aria’s desk and made herself comfortable. “I’m not wearing my contacts. Forgot them. Just tell me what it says.” 

“Okay, have you heard of the Second Chance program?” 

“No, can’t say that I have.” 

Aria’s chair squeaked as she leaned back. She made a mental note to get some oil for it the next time she went to the store. “Well, the Second Chance program is a newinitiative for convicts. It’s sponsored by the Department of Corrections.” 

Lila laughed in the way that made all of her friends want to laugh too. “Convicts, huh? I didn’t know you knew any convicts, especially not convicts that would make you cry. You’ve been holding out on me.” 

“This is serious,” Aria insisted even though she did smile at Lila’s teasing. She tossed her tissue into the trashcan. “The Department of Corrections partners with community organizations to place model convicts in out- of-prison job settings. It’s supposed to let the convicts learn a skill they can use when they’re released.” 

“That’s no reason to cry.” Lila blinked. “Uh, we aren’t getting one, are we? Not that I dislike convicts, but still... Come to think of it, I don’t know anyone who’s been inprison. 

New Excerpt: Lila speaks first.

I bet your dad wouldn’t like it at all if you started staffing the clinic with criminals.”

Aria snickered. “No, we aren’t getting a convict, but one of the big animal shelters in Pine City has several. Listen to this. They took in an abuse case, an adult dog that nobody but one of their convicts could reach.” She sniffed. “Since the dog isn’t especially friendly or pretty, nobody wants to adopt it. It’s scheduled to be put down on Friday unless someone steps up for it, and guess who’d have to walk the dog to the killing room?”

“The convict?”

“Yep.” 

Buy Link: http://amzn.to/2qRgYD7

Saturday Sample

Welcome to Saturday Sample. Last week we saw that Rocky called Aimee and told her he'd bought them a house to live in. Aimee headed to West Virginia, but her car quit five miles from Fortuna, the estate that Rocky bought. To her surprise Cade McCoy comes riding down on a horse.

Blurb:
Aimee Sherwood never dreamed that following her fiancé into the witness protection pro-gram would land her in a haunted house in a town that’s downright creepy. She’d have laughed if she had been told the guy who lives down the road might be her soul mate, not the man whose ring she’s wearing. Life in West Virginia is nothing like life in Los Angeles, but between bean ball battles with Marilyn Monroe, remodeling a crumbling farmhouse, and starting a new online business, life in the country is anything but boring.

Excerpt:

Aimee’s jaw dropped. “Cade McCoy! Where did you come from?”

Cade laughed as he dismounted. “Remember that horse farm I was going to buy? It’s only a few miles down the road.”

Aimee stepped back as the horse’s nostrils flared. Oww. They were pink inside. “He won’t bite, will he?”

Cade’s lips quirked. “No way, but this horse is a mare, a female horse, not a male.”

Aimee gingerly patted the animal’s nose. “Horses are real big, aren’t they? She’s pretty though.”

“She sure is,” Cade agreed as the horse hid her face against his chest. “You didn’t say what brings you to my new neck of the woods.”

“Rocky bought some property five miles down Taylor Road, which my GPS thinks is this road.”

Buy Link: http://amzn.to/23yoW2d

Saturday Sample: The Captain and the Cheerleader

Susan English can’t stand Robin Lanford! She’s so full of herself she irritates everyone on the faculty of Fairfield High. When Robin bets Susan fifty dollars that she can’t get a date with Kurt Deveraux, the head football coach, Susan jumps at the chance to put the little heifer in her place. She had no idea that teaching Robin a lesson would irrevocably change her life, strain treasured friendships, and throw two families into chaos.

We know the Susan won her bet with Robin when Kurt asked her to go to a party with him. Unfortunately, they drank too much and ended up sleeping together which didn't please Susan at all. She begged Kurt to take her home, and in today's excerpt they've just reached Susan's house.

Excerpt:

Once they were inside, she threw her keys in a bowl on the kitchen counter and tossed her jacket toward the sofa. It fell to the floor, but she didn’t care. “Go ahead and say what you want. Then I’d

like for you to leave because I’m too ashamed to face you. I just want to shower and go to bed.”

She chanced a glance Kurt’s way. He looked as woozy and bad as she probably did. “I don’t blame you for not wanting to talk to me,” he said. He ran his hand across the back of his neck. “You don’t know me very well, but I promise you I don’t make a habit of sleeping with women in no condition to say no. It was just that damned tequila. I already wanted you, and the tequila pushed me over the edge.” 

Buy link: http://amzn.to/1NDgnrg

Saturday Sample

Welcome to Saturday Sample. Before I share today's excerpt, I'd like to let you read a new 5 star review I got on Amazon this week. Here goes.

We start in 2048 and meet the Lovinggood family, a strong political family that has suffered a tragedy that affected the entire country in 2018. We are into a futuristic time and advancements in the sciences and technology. Can a horrendous event be changed? Can time travel really work. Is Dr. Kathryn Sinclair really the best quantum physicist? This story weaved a wonderful tale from the future to change a course of history. It is also a love story on several different levels. The story holds your attention and is a page turner. I loved the characters and solving the mystery and charting a course to change the events of 30 years prior. by RedRobbin

Buy link: http://www.amazon.com/Blue-52-Elaine-Cantrell-ebook/product-reviews/B00H1MHC24/ref=cm_cr_dp_see_all_btm?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending

Excerpt:
“You might as well give up, Henry,” Elaine said as she and the senator got ready for bed that night.

“Give up what?”

“Your plan to find a wife for Hank. Richard wouldn’t let you marry him off to Sheila Ridges, and Hank won’t take Lisa Black either. In fact, if you ask me, the only woman he’s interested in is Kathryn Sinclair.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of.”

“Well? Did you investigate her?” Elaine laid down her hairbrush and climbed into bed.

“Yes.”

“So?”

“She comes from a nice, middle class family. She’s brilliant, well-educated, and has a good job. Her morals are okay too.”

Elaine pulled the covers over her legs. “If only she wasn’t such a kook.”

The senator grabbed Elaine’s hand. “What if she was right about time travel? Would you try to change the past?”

Elaine thought of the thirty lost years since Richard and Elizabeth had died. “Yes, I would. I would give a great deal to change the past, but I wouldn’t risk Hank to try it.”


“And that’s exactly what’s wrong with Dr. Sinclair.Work with me, Elaine. We don’t want him anywhere near Kathryn Sinclair.”

Elaine laughed at him. “Haven’t you learned anything about love? You’re ninety-eight years old, and you still thought you could get Hank interested in Lisa Black. What a joke! If Hank wants Dr. Sinclair and she wants him back, you probably can’t do a thing about it. Remember how Richard acted about Sheila Ridges.”

“Of course I remember, but Kathryn admitted her project could be dangerous; I refuse to risk Hank’s life. I’ve lost almost my entire family, and I can’t survive another loss. If I lose Hank, they might as well dig my grave too.”

Blurb:

"First Lady Kills President Lovinggood"

December 29, 2018

Thirty years later Hank Lovinggood embarks on a quest to prove his mother's innocence and punish the killers who took his family from him.  Together Hank and lovely physicist Kathryn Sinclair confront an implacable, twisted, merciless enemy who'll do whatever it takes to hide the truth forever. 

Saturday Sample

 

Welcome to Saturday Sample. Feel free to leave me a comment. I love to get them. This sample is from Flood, my unpublished WIP. In this excerpt, my hero and heroine are tubing down a river and stop to eat some blackberries.

His big hand cupped her face. “You are without doubt the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.” He pushed a few remaining strands of wet hair from her cheek. She stepped closer, and he swept her into his arms and laid her head against his shoulder.

The doctor in Aria wondered if her blood pressure was dangerously high. It must be. Her heart was going like a jack hammer, and her knees felt spongy. She held on tight to Caleb. He’d take care of her.

Her tee shirt was wet, but where he was touching her back his hand felt red hot against her. She groaned, and he lifted her head from his shoulder. His eyes, filled with heat, locked with hers before fluttering shut. Firm, masculine lips met hers in a sweet, tender kiss that soon morphed into something else entirely.

Picture: By Moni Sertel from Deutschland (Love) [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Sweet Saturday Sample: Falling for Bad Boys

Today's excerpt comes from my only inspirational novel The Sentence.  This scene takes place right after a Christmas pageant.  You can find more samples at http://www.sweetsatsample.wordpress.com

 

Blurb:

How could he do it! How could her father bring the guy who burned the church into their home for six months? Yeah, it was an accident and her dad’s a minister, but if he wanted to save this man’s soul why didn’t he go to the prison to do it?  And no matter what anyone says, she doesn't watch him all the time!

 

Excerpt:

Clint took a step closer to her. Goodness, why hadn’t she

noticed how warm the room was behind that curtain? She didn’t

like being so close to him either, but for some reason she didn’t

move away. “Look above your head,” he said.

 

Rachel looked up and saw a sprig of mistletoe tied to a

ceiling fan with a long piece of red yarn.

 

“That’s mistletoe, Rachel.”

 

“So? I imagine the high school kids tied it there so they

could steal kisses.”

 

When Clint took another step toward her, Rachel’s heart

started to pound. “You’re really pretty, Rachel.”

 

Rachel felt herself blushing. “I don’t want empty

compliments from you.”

 

This time when he stepped forward he took her hand. “Oh,

it isn’t an empty compliment. You’re one of the prettiest women

I’ve ever seen.”

 

Rachel’s heart now took off in a mad gallop. She knew she

should leave the empty auditorium immediately, but her feet

wouldn’t move.

 

Clint slid his arms around her and muttered. “Don’t argue

with tradition.” So saying, he gently kissed her on the lips.

Buy link: http://www.amazon.com/The-Sentence-Elaine-Cantrell/dp/1479207306/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377306677&sr=8-1&keywords=the+sentence+by+elaine+cantrell

Sweet Saturday Sample: Total Desperation

Welcome to Sweet Saturday Sample.  My excerpt today comes from The Enchanted, my latest release.  In this excerpt Morgane is overcome with desperation and comes up with a radical solution to her problem.  Find more excerpts at http://www.sweetsatsample.wordpress.com

Blurb:

Forced by his father into a marriage he didn’t want, Prince Alan soon finds that his bride isn’t the sweet, submissive creature he expected.  Morgane has the heart of a dragon and beauty beyond compare, but she isn’t thrilled about the marriage either.  When black treachery threatens the kingdom, Morgane and Alan embark on a perilous journey that has an excellent chance of ending in failure and death for them and all of their people.  

Excerpt:

The minute Alan left her alone, Morgane hobbled across the

room. The sword that stood in the corner was heavy, but

desperation lent strength and she hefted it. No longer would she be

at the mercy of others. She had tried to run away, but in that she

failed. This time she would not fail. Placing the sword against her

heart, she saw that her arms were not long enough to grasp the hilt.

Blood gushed as her hands slipped along the blade.

 

 

"My lady! What are you doing?" Edana ran across the room

and snatched the sword from Morgane. "What are you thinking?

The prince has treated you kindly thus far. Your life may be

changing for the better. How could you do this thing?"

 

 

Morgane lunged for the sword, but Edana deftly evaded her.

"Evidently, I cannot do it. Help me, Edana! My arms are too short

to do the job. If you love me, send me on my way to the next

world."

 

 

"No!" Edana cried. "I will tell Prince Alan if you ever try such

a thing again."

 

 

Tears welled up in Morgane's eyes, but as usual she bit her

lip to quell them. Crying did no good. She knew. Her head

dropped. "Do not tell him."

 

 

"You are tired," Edana comforted. "Let me clean your hands

and help you to bed. The prince will not stay away for long."

 

 

Shoulders drooping, Morgane allowed Edana to help her

into her gown. "This fabric is lovely, my lady. It is very soft and

finely spun. You always look well in white." She gently fingered the

lace on the sleeve. "It took many hours to make this fine lace."

 

 

Morgane shrugged and stared dispassionately at the lace.

"Perhaps I once looked well in white, but since my father chose to

mutilate me I have looked repulsive in everything."

 

 

"That is not true, and you know it. You are still beautiful.

You are lucky, too. Have you not rid yourself of your father? Is

Prince Alan not handsome and kind?"

 

 

"Yes, of course."

 

Edana hung her dress in the wardrobe and put her shoes

under the bed. "Try to please him, my lady. Your mother is not

here, and in her absence I feel it is my duty to advise you.ʺ

 

 

"Thank you, Edana. I appreciate all that you do for me."

Sweet Saturday Sample: Wild Desperation

Welcome to Sweet Saturday Sample.  Today's excerpt comes from The Enchanted.  It picks up after Prince Alan's wise woman cares for Morgane's feet.  When you're done here, you can read more samples at http://www.sweetsatsample.wordpress.com

Blurb:

Forced by his father into a marriage he didn’t want, Prince Alan soon finds that his bride isn’t the sweet, submissive creature he expected.  Morgane has the heart of a dragon and beauty beyond compare, but she isn’t thrilled about the marriage either.  When black treachery threatens the kingdom, Morgane and Alan embark on a perilous journey that has an excellent chance of ending in failure and death for them and all of their people.  

Excerpt:

As Alan moved toward her, her eyes grew wide and filled

with wild desperation. "You fear me, but I am not like your father,

Morgane."

 

"You are exactly like my father,"ʺshe spat, her eyes now dark

with loathing.

 

Alan thought for a moment. "I do not see how. I am not in

the habit of cutting people's faces or burning their feet."

 

"Not yet."

 

"I promise that I will never hurt you."

 

Morgane's expressive, sea-colored eyes flashed again. "I am

nothing more than a brood mare to you, so you have already hurt

me."


Alan scowled. "I have shown you nothing but kindness!"

 

Sweet Saturday Sample: A Prince's Kindness

Welcome to Sweet Saturday Sample.  Today's excerpt comes from my latest release The Enchanted.  This excerpt takes place right after their wedding reception ends and picks up where we left off last Saturday.  After you finish here, go to http://www.sweetsatsample.wordpress.com to read other authors' work.  First a blurb, then an excerpt.

Blurb:

Forced by his father into a marriage he didn’t want, Prince Alan soon finds that his bride isn’t the sweet, submissive creature he expected.  Morgane has the heart of a dragon and beauty beyond compare, but she isn’t thrilled about the marriage either.  When black treachery threatens the kingdom, Morgane and Alan embark on a perilous journey that has an excellent chance of ending in failure and death for them and all of their people.  

Excerpt:

Someone tapped on the door and entered at Alan's

command. A small, wizened woman made her way across the

room, followed by a young man who carried a black leather case. ʺI

am Nola," she said to Morgane. "Prince Alan has asked me to look

at your feet."

"Thank you, but my maid can do it.ʺ

"No, I want Nola to look at them," Alan insisted. "She has a

rare talent for healing."

A flash of anger tore across Morgane's face, but she nodded

her head in agreement.

Sweet Saturday Sample: The Wedding Reception Ends

Welcome to Sweet Saturday Sample.  My excerpt today picks up where it left off last week with Prince Alan and Princess Morgane's wedding reception ending.  After you leave my page, you can go to http://www.sweetsatsample.wordpress.com for more lovely excerpts. First a blurb, then the excerpt.

 

Forced by his father into a marriage he didn’t want, Prince Alan soon finds that his bride isn’t the sweet, submissive creature he expected.  Morgane has the heart of a dragon and beauty beyond compare, but she isn’t thrilled about the marriage either.  When black treachery threatens the kingdom, Morgane and Alan embark on a perilous journey that has an excellent chance of ending in failure and death for them and all of their people.  

 

Alan held out his hand to Morgane. "My lady, we will now

retire." Morgane's face flushed, but she stood up anyway, the scar

on her face shining like a red beacon.

 

Turi hastened to Alan'ʹs side. "Sir, will you need me?"

 

"No, but find Nola and tell her that I want her to tend the

princess's burned feet."

 

ʺYes, sir."

 

As Turi left to do his bidding, Alan took Morgane's elbow

and escorted her from the great hall. "I hope you will like your new

accommodations. Turi will be very disappointed if you do not. He

has worked very hard to make the place welcoming for you."

 

ʺI am sure I will be pleased."

 

Alan gave up. She refused to have a conversation with him,

and he was tired of trying. They walked up the long flight of stairs

to his room. He pushed open the door. "This is it."

 

Morgane limped into the room and seated herself in one of

the soft chairs near the fireplace. From the way her face scrunched,

Alan thought she wanted to cry, but she bit her lip and made no

sound. So his new bride did have courage.