Elaine
Cantrell will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via
rafflecopter during the tour.
Wow, that’s a big question, but I’ll give it a shot. First,
just because something is new, it doesn’t mean it’s better. Conversely, just
because it’s something we’ve done for a long time, it doesn’t mean it’s better.
Second, we don’t demand the right things from ourselves.
After working for 35 years and raising two children, it always seemed there
wasn’t enough time to do much else, but I firmly believe that we are put on
this earth to help each other. Visit an older adult, send a cake to a grieving
family, cook a meal when someone is sick, anything really as long as you reach
out and try to make your little corner of the world better.
The third thing I’ve learned is that you can be too
politically correct. I think we need to use a little common sense here.
And last of all, it’s way too hard to hold grudges and
hatred in your heart. Just let things go and enjoy the beauty of the world
around you, both in manmade objects or nature.
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:
Cade held out his arm to Aimee. “Ma’am, I would be delighted
to show you the gazebo. Do take my arm. The ground is rather uneven.”
“Why, thank you, sir.”
As they strolled toward the gazebo, Aimee allowed the
setting to mesmerize her and capture her imagination. What would it have been
like to attend this party in the year 1860? Would the threat of war have lent a
spice of excitement to the festivities that made ordinary activities like
visiting the gazebo seem new and romantic?
Cade indicated a built-in bench, which circled the inside of
the gazebo. “Would you like to sit down?”
Aimee sat and gathered her skirts around her, admiring the
rustle of her long, crinoline petticoat. She patted the space beside her. “Sit
beside me.”
Cade bowed. “You honor me, Miss Sherwood.”
“You may call me Miss Aimee, sir.”
“Miss Aimee, then.” He raised her hand to his lips and
kissed it.
Aimee’s heart took off in a mad gallop. She felt heat rising
from her chest and knew it colored her face an inconvenient shade of red. Oh!
My! Goodness! All he’d done was kiss her hand, and she was melting. If only she
hadn’t left her fan at Miss Gladys’ table.
Cade kept hold of her hand even though she’d expected him to
let go of it. His calloused fingers felt so male, so strong, so warm that
another wave of heat washed over her and almost took her breath away.
“You look beautiful tonight, Miss Aimee. There’s not a woman
at the party who can touch you.”
Was it her imagination or had he moved a bit closer to her?
“Your eyes sparkle like blue diamonds, and I love those
curls of yours. You’ve captured the sunshine.” He reached for her ponytail and
bounced her curls in the palm of his hand.
Breathe. She mustn’t forget to breathe.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Elaine
Cantrell was born and raised in South Carolina where she obtained a master’s
degree in personnel services from Clemson University. She is a member of Alpha Delta Kappa, an
international honorary society for women educators and Romance Writers of
America. Her first novel, A New Leaf,
was the 2003 winner of the Timeless Love Contest. When she’s not writing or teaching, she
enjoys movies, quilting, reading, and collecting vintage Christmas
ornaments.
Find Elaine
at the following locations:
Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteStopping by to say hello and also thanking you for the giveaway
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming by James Robert. Do you have a list of what's important to you so far?
ReplyDeleteGreat excerpt - thanks for sharing! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this giveaway.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading the excerpt. This book sounds like an interesting and intriguing read. Looking forward to checking out this book.
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