MUSE MONDAY
Ah, romance. Especially when baby making is involved. Liz has a great post and excerpt for you today.
I was so lucky. I got pregnant, I swear, just by giving it serious
thought. My husband probably thinks there was more to it, but, really, it was
just so easy. I carried all three of my kids with a minimum of drama, much
morning sickness, and weight gain I’m still fighting (and blaming the kids for)
40-some years later.
But I know that’s not everyone’s story.
When I was writing The Healing Summer, Carol’s best friend
couldn’t have a baby. The pendulums of biological clocks were swinging wildly
and even though adoption was very much under consideration, so was everything
else. Carol was single, she’d lost one child and miscarried another. She had no
intention of ever being pregnant again.
Imagine her surprise when the words “gestational carrier” came out of
her mouth. Imagine her further surprise when she offered to be one.
There is more than one plot in this book, more than one story—if a
writer can be both linear and all over the place, I’m it—but the story of Carol
and her best friend’s baby just might be my favorite.
BLURB:
It’s a summer
romance--what happens come September?
When Steven Elliott
accidentally rides his bike into Carol Whitney’s car at the cemetery, the
summer takes on new and exciting possibilities. Long friendship wends its way
into something deeper when their hearts get involved. Feelings neither of them
had expected to experience again enrich their days and nights. But what happens when the long summer ends?
When Carol wants a family and commitment and a future, Steven isn't so sure.
He’s had his heart broken before—can he risk it again?
Excerpt:
“Were you hunting
me?” She should have waited to get her breath back—she sounded like a vamp from
one of 1940s movies that were on really late at night when you couldn’t sleep.
“When we met on the road, I mean.”
“Huh?” He sounded
nonplused, and she felt like cheering. She wasn’t the only one who’d been
kissed stupid—he wasn’t doing so well, either. “Oh, yeah.”
“Yeah?” She turned
away, starting to put away the abandoned groceries. If she couldn’t see him,
she would neither hyperventilate nor jump his bones. Maybe.
“Want to?”
Want to what? That? Did she want to? Hell, yes, she wanted to. But they were just barely aware
of each other, and he was going back to his big city life and big city friends
in a matter of weeks. Although he’d probably spend some weekends at Miss
Abigail’s and possibly even open an office in Peacock the way he’d mentioned,
he wasn’t good relationship material.
Even more, in Carol’s
mind and she thought probably in his, he was still Promise’s. The thought
sobered her and stilled her hands. Oh,
Promise.
“What did you…why did
you want me?” she asked, trying to insert some sense into the conversation,
some mental cold water on her still-shrieking girl parts.
“Dinner.” He pulled
his hair back into a band he took from his pocket—he never seemed to run out of
ponytail holders. “Would you like to go to dinner? And shop for cars? I know
you’re not going to the beach this summer, but I’ll buy you a girly drink with
an umbrella in it and you can pretend.” He ran a finger lightly down the strap
of her dress. “You can wear one of these dresses, although probably not this
one, since I seem to have decorated it with sawdust and sweat. Oh, wait.” He
held up both hands to stave off an answer. “Grace told me it was rude to
suggest someone wear something in particular, so I take that back. Wear
whatever you like.”
“When and why did
Grace tell you that?” She refilled their tea glasses and handed him his. She
took a long drink, hoping the cold brew would serve to cool down her insides.
Well, that wasn’t
working—she was pretty sure she felt them sizzle.
“Thursday. She was
going to afternoon tea over at the Old Farts Home, something they’ve apparently
decided to have every Thursday. You stay for it, too, don’t you, after you get
their hair and nails all prettied up? Anyway, she had on her overalls, complete
with grass-stained knees, and I said, very politely, ‘Holy shit, Grace, are you
wearing those?’ She didn’t respond well.”
“I’m amazed.” She
shook her head.
“I was, too,” he said
righteously. “I was only trying to help.”
Even if she could
have resisted the hormonal storm that had overtaken her kitchen, Carol had no
defense against his laughing dark eyes. “Okay, thanks. I’d like to go to
dinner. And you’re sure it’s all right if I wear whatever I please?”
His gusting sigh
should have made the kitchen curtains stir. “Yes. Fine. Can I use your phone to
call Dillon and ask him to bring my truck up the hill?”
“Sure, or we can walk
down if you’d rather.” Carol was surprised at how much she was enjoying the
walking these days, especially when it was downhill.
“You wouldn’t mind?”
“No.” She grinned at
him. “But you have to take a shower. I do have some standards on dates.” She
gasped as soon as the words left her mouth. “I’m sorry. I know this isn’t a
date. We’re friends who kissed…accidentally. This is dinner, not a date.
Right?”
He smiled, a slow and
lazy expression that turned her stomach over. And over again. “Wrong.” He came
over and kissed her once more. Thoroughly. “It’s a date.”
Bio:
Retired from the post
office and married to Duane for…a really long time, USA Today
bestselling author Liz Flaherty has had a heart-shaped adult life, populated
with kids and grands and wonderful friends. She admits she can be boring, but
hopes her curiosity about everyone and everything around her keeps her from it.
She likes traveling and quilting and reading. And she loves writing.
Find
her at: lizkflaherty@gmail.com
and on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlizflaherty/
and Twitter: https://twitter.com/LizFlaherty1
Buy links:
Thanks for having me, Brenda!
ReplyDeleteYou're a welcomed guest any time!
DeleteNice excerpt! Best of luck with your new book.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteGreat excerpt! Sounds like a great read. Best of luck with sales.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!
DeleteLove,love this book! Carol and Steven are wonderful, deep characters!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nan. I had a rough time letting them go!
DeleteBest of luck with your book 🦉
ReplyDeleteThanks so much!
DeleteSuch a great hook and interesting premise for a book! Sounds like a real winner. Congrats!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Laura!
DeleteLiz, this sounds so great!
ReplyDeleteThank you. It's one of those that still has a firm hold on my heart.
DeleteGreat hook. Congrats on your release.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much!
DeleteCB. Nan, DV, Laura, Dee, DK thank you all for stopping by. I'm sure Liz will be by when she can. Looks like we all agree on her book!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Brenda!
DeleteLove this excerpt, Liz! Can't wait to read this one.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jana. It's a true book of my heart.
Delete