Excerpt from GOODNIGHT, MY LOVE

Taking a moment tonight to post this excerpt from my latest book, GOODNIGHT, MY LOVE, which is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, iTunes, Kobo & more. Enjoy!

Excerpt:

“Hey, Gina. You got your head in the clouds?”

She had been staring glumly at the phone. That was a possibility, wasn’t it? Tony could always call the phone at the bakery. He could hang up if Donnie or anybody but she picked up.

“Hi, Kelly. Whaddya need?”

Kelly Whelan arched an eyebrow at her. “How ’bout, ‘Hello, Kelly? Haven’t seen you in while.’ Not just ‘Whaddya need?’”

Gina glared sullenly at him and folded her arms across her chest. If he was teasing, she wasn’t in the mood for that; if he was seriously scolding her, then she wasn’t in the mood for that, either.

“Hello, Kelly. Haven’t seen you in a while. Catch any fish out there?”

He rested one arm on the counter, leaning over the glass. “Yeah, we did. Lots of ’em. Made some money.”

“Well...good.” Easing up on the attitude, she grabbed a slice of parchment paper to take a cookie from the tray beneath the glass counter. “That’s cause for celebration. Congratulations.”

It wasn’t Kelly’s fault she was upset over Tony seemingly having disappeared. To make up for it, she offered him a cookie, one of the ones she knew the fisherman liked, with the raspberry jam in the center.

His expression softened. “For me?”

“Yes! Enjoy it. Congratulations.” She wasn’t apologizing. Maybe she’d been rude—a little—but he’d been rude, too, and he wasn’t apologizing to her, either. “Anyway, I’m glad you’re home safe.”

Finally, he broke into a grin. He also looked better than usual. Not as straggly, like the other rough-and-tough fishermen. He was wearing a nice shirt and pants, and he’d gotten his hair trimmed. She had to say, Kelly looked decent, even sort of cute, when he was clean-shaven and dressed well.

“See any mermaids out there?” Now she was the one teasing.

“Yeah. One that looked like a crazy, little Italian bakery girl I know.”

Gina didn’t know quite what to say to that. She tried to mask the fact that she was mildly flustered with a laugh.

“Really, did you ever see anything out there? Anything...like a mermaid?”

Donnie stepped out of the kitchen with a fresh tray of pastries. He and Kelly exchanged nods in greeting.

“Kelly, how’s it goin’?” Her brother smiled.

“Good. Taking a little break.”

“Yeah? Must be nice to be rich, man.”

They both laughed. Donnie didn’t seem at all troubled that Kelly was sharing a conversation with her. He liked the fisherman. Kelly was his neighbor and he’d known him for years. They’d hung around together, though Donnie was a couple years older. There was mutual respect between them.

Why couldn’t Donnie have liked Tony as much as he liked Kelly?

Because he’s not even trying. Maybe he’s jealous because a lot of guys are jealous of Tony. He’s handsome and he’s had a lot of girlfriends, so naturally the other guys are all jealous of him.

“I haven’t been lucky enough to see one myself. But I’ve heard stories from fishermen who swear they’ve seen them out there.”

It was slow that morning. Gina welcomed the downtime, since many days she was busy and barely had time to catch her breath.

To Kelly’s credit, too, he wasn’t treating her like a silly kid. He even came across as if he were enjoying their little talk.

Gina felt comfortable to be herself at that point. “I believe them. I believe they’ve seen them.”

“Hey, so do I. Just because I haven’t seen one myself, doesn’t mean something’s not out there.” He grinned. “I’ll keep in mind you like mermaids. If it’s possible, if I ever see one, I’ll get my picture taken with one for you.”

That made her giggle. “Get her autograph on the picture, too, if you can. Not—not getting anything today?”

“Cup of coffee. That’s it for me today.”

“Okay. The usual? Two sugars and light with cream?”

“You got it.”

Was he impressed that she knew that? Gina remembered how all the regular customers took their coffee. It was nothing special, yet she did pride herself in that.

“Uh...I heard my sister saw you this weekend. Getting ice cream at the beach?”

Gina had just finished pouring his coffee and placing the carafe back onto its burner when she heard those words. Instinctively, she glanced at the door, almost expecting Donnie to emerge at that very moment.

“Yes, it was nice to see her,” she said, quickly changing the subject. “How is your mom? I don’t see her much. Or your other sister and brother. I always seem to be here, you know?”

Please, God, don’t let him say anything.

NOW RELEASED -- GOODNIGHT, MY LOVE

In spite of this busy month, my new book, GOODNIGHT, MY LOVE, is now available on Amazon! Coming soon, also, to all your favorite stores. Below is more info (really, its blurb) about this romantic, old-fashioned love story, which you'll find more info on here.

It's exciting for me to be publishing this book, which as I said earlier had been bought years ago by a now-defunct small press which never put it out. NEVER. It was listed as BABY, IT'S YOU, but it was never available.

But that's okay. That's all yesterday's news, because without the original, this book has been rewritten entirely (and woot!! for the first time, baby, it's got a COVER!). And now, I'm excited to say, it is now published and available for readers FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER.

You can get this book for the low price of 99 cents, a full-length 20th Century historical, because I really would love to get it in your hands, and who doesn't look for a great deal at this time of year?

As promised, here is the blurb...and soon to follow, an excerpt (or two!):

While still in high school, Gina Bertoletti finds her free time taken up with working in her family’s bakery. Life suddenly takes an exciting turn the first time she lays eyes on handsome and charming Tony La Rosa. Gina is convinced that Tony, a local young man with dreams of leaving that seaside town for Hollywood, is destined to become her own personal leading man.

Enter Kelly Whelan, a rugged fisherman with responsibilities beyond his years, who is almost the polar opposite of Tony. Both men will have an impact on Gina, whose heart will learn the difference between that thrilling first love and the much more rare and lasting true love.

Pick up your copy today!

November Catch-up

It's been a while since I last posted, so I definitely owe some updates! This is typical of me because I go through times when I don't blog; instead, I concentrate on the writing part of this business. Which, after all, is what writers do--but I still miss blogging and filling in readers.

So, as you can tell by my little WIP meter on my sidebar to the right, GOODNIGHT, MY LOVE is actually turning out to be a bit longer than anticipated. The first draft will be done this week, without delay, and I'm shooting for a release date of November 28 or 29 (right after Thanksgiving). Really happy to be bringing this book to readers, considering its journey as the never-before-available BABY, IT'S YOU.

Also: This book, a rewrite with no original on hand, is totally new and bears very little resemblance to the original. LOL! The characters are there, but it's gone from a category romance to more of a mainstream romance (shorter in length, however).

Hoping you enjoy it, that it brings you much reading pleasure, and that you can relax with an apple cider or mocha frappuccino with it in between your Christmas shopping, decorating and party-going.

More updates to follow!

Mid-October Post

 

Checking in because it's been a while since my last post (and I was doing so well there for a while, too!). I've been writing but have put the new romance, GOODNIGHT, MY LOVE on hold for a few weeks. About to kick it back into gear to finish it and polish it so that I can get that published sometime around Thanksgiving (hopefully!). In the meantime, since fall is such a beautiful season, the hubby and I headed out to the mountains for the day to hike and take some pictures, capturing the amazing colors of the season. Enjoy!

New Book on its Way: GOODNIGHT, MY LOVE

GOODNIGHT, MY LOVE
(formerly BABY, IT'S YOU)

My upcoming book, GOODNIGHT, MY LOVE, which has been moving really well (it's in the writing stage as we speak) and is slated for publication in probably late October or early November, is a special book for me.

This romance--well, perhaps it's more in the love story genre-began life as a romantic novella of about 10,000 words that was published sometime in 1996 or '97. Then I decided to rework it, fitting it more comfortably into the romance genre, and it sold as BABY, IT'S YOU to a small press.

This book was contracted...but then it was never released. It was listed on many outlets, including Amazon,but it was never available to my readers.

The publisher has long since gone out of business. I moved on to other projects, many recent Christian/inspirational works. This year, I decided that I would finally rewrite BABY, IT'S YOU (from scratch, because I no longer have the manuscript) and put it where it has always belonged: in the hands of my readers!

But, naturally, when an author rewrites, it's usually not the exact same book. I'm excited because the new version is closer to the original, the short story, and yet it's an entirely new work. This is a 20th Century historical (which I seem to do a lot of, LOL!). 

Now that it's got a new lease on life, it's got a new title, GOODNIGHT, MY LOVE. For the first time ever, it's even got a cover, as you'll see above!

And this time, you WILL be able to get a copy. It's my hope that this book, which is dear to my heart, will bring you much reading pleasure.

GOODNIGHT, MY LOVE...Coming soon!

Movie Review: WAR ROOM

Rating: 5 Doves!

(Full disclosure here: This movie, a Christian film that is a recent hit in movie theaters, bares the distinction of having a personal friend of mine in its cast! I'm proud to say that the talented Kimberly Hester Huffstetler, an actress who has appeared in over 30 films, has a brief cameo in this movie.)

Now onto WAR ROOM, brought to us by the same people who gave us FIREPROOF, COURAGEOUS, and FACING THE GIANTS.

Tony and Elizabeth Jordan are an attractive and upwardly mobile couple who, on the exterior, seem to have everything: successful careers, a luxurious home, and a beautiful daughter, Danielle (played by a terrific young actress, Alena Pitts. Behind closed doors, it's sadly not as perfect a picture. Elizabeth (Priscilla C. Shirer) and Tony (T.C. Stallings) are so busy chasing the American Dream that they have left behind Danielle, each other, and God Himself.

Enter the charming and feisty Miss Clara (played by the absolutely delightful Karen Abercrombie). Miss Clara enlists Elizabeth in selling her house, a quaint home built in the early 1900s with one very unique feature: Miss Clara's "prayer closet," spoken of by Jesus in Matthew 6:6: "But when you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." (New International Version)

This is the war room--the room, as Miss Clara instructs Elizabeth, where the battle is fought for our loved ones, for our families, for our friends, against the Enemy. At first, Elizabeth feels Miss Clara is prying, and yet she knows her marriage is in trouble and throws her whole heart into fighting for her family. Miss Clara takes Elizabeth under her wing and leads her on a journey that not only involves fighting for her family but which naturally also leads to a deeper, closer walk with He who fights for us. (Deuteronomy 3:22)

Make no mistake: This is completely and unapologetically a Christian film. I don't want to give away too much, but I will say that the cast put in some impressive performances. Christian movies have come a long way, as demonstrated by this moving film, which as one friend put it, "really makes you want to clean out your closet and make room for a war room of your own." And as another friend of mine said, "It is a call to prayer to every Christian in America."

As a believer, you will be challenged to take a good look at your prayer life, and you will see it in a new light. This is a film with a lot of heart, that will stay with you after you leave the theater; it is my hope that it sends you into your own WAR ROOM, as it did to me. Go see this one!

"If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." - 2 Chronicles 7:14 King James Version

Release Day for ONCE UPON A PAINTED HORSE

Finally--it feels like forever before this day arrived!

ONCE UPON A PAINTED HORSE is now available, in all its formatted glory. Get it from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, Itunes, Kobo--whoever may be your favorite online store.

Enjoy!

And return here for my upcoming review of the soon-to-be-a-classic Christian film, WAR ROOM.