WICKED WEDNESDAY
Hey readers! Join me in welcoming Lori Matsourani to Wicked Wednesday on Discover... Murder and Ghosts with a dash of Romance makes for a great Wicked Wednesday. And read to the bottom for a Goodreads giveaway!
Do we ever know who’s really capable of murder? Is it the
thug with the tattooed face who despises rival gang members? The distraught
father, furious with the sadistic husband who abuses beloved daughter? Or the
ex-lover, angry at the new man who replaces him in the bedroom?
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Not for eighteenth-century plantation owner Samuel Watts, the husband
of beautiful Ariella. His jealousy cost him the love of his life. His rage
demanded an even higher price: his own life. And despair over his loss condemned
his forlorn spirit to roam his plantation home on Maryland’s Eastern Shore for
centuries. Until he encounters Bethany Hendren, a love-wary guest in his
house (now a B&B known as Horatio House).
Samuel reaches out to Bethany for help in unraveling the
outcome of his fight with Frederick Howard, the man with wicked intentions regarding
Samuel’s wife. The details are hazy, and Samuel wonders if murder was involved.
His ghostly intrusion leads Bethany to reluctantly join forces with Nick Dorsey—the
first boy she ever loved and the first one to break her heart—and help Samuel
with his quest. As Bethany and Nick follow Samuel’s clues, sparks from their
long-ago romance start to flare, but Bethany shuns the idea of reigniting the
flame. Nick ghosted her years ago, and she can’t bring herself to trust him
with her heart. But it’s Samuel’s revelations about relationships and trust that
encourage her to open up to the possibility of love and happiness with Nick.
And what about Samuel? Can he use his wisdom in matters of
the heart to find his own peace? Or is he doomed to continue roaming the halls
of Horatio House as a bereaved spirit for eternity, which would be a wicked
shame.
Blurb:
When her fiancé’s infidelity prompts Bethany Hendren to map out a
new path forward, her plans are disrupted by an unexpected encounter with Nick
Dorsey, who convinces her to help search for the remains of a troubled
eighteenth-century ghost. Nick is the handsome summer boyfriend who ghosted her
years ago, and now he wants to rekindle their relationship.
Despite her reluctance to trust him, Bethany discovers he’s still
the funny, caring person who captured her heart as a teen, but giving him a
second chance is risky—it could lead to love and happiness or result in another
devastating heartache.
Although Bethany wants a happily ever after with Nick, does she
have the courage to trust him with her future?
Excerpt:
He opened the door and motioned her inside the large room. A
vintage wrought-iron bed, as well as a nightstand with a tray of wine, cheeses,
and stemware, occupied the wall on her left. An enormous stone fireplace, with
an antique painting of a woman mounted over the mantel, dominated the opposite
side of the room.
Nick studied the portrait as he set down the suitcase, then peered
at Bethany. “Oh, wow. You look just like her.”
The woman, dressed in eighteenth-century garments, appeared to be
about Bethany’s age. They had the same oval face, narrow nose, chestnut-brown
hair, and caramel eyes.
“I see the likeness,” Bethany said. “Who is she?”
“One of the Worthingtons. I’m sure Aunt Margaret knows her name.”
She stepped closer to study the centuries-old canvas and
encountered a cold spot in the room. A shiver coursed through her. “Is this
room always so chilly?”
He frowned. “Not usually. I’ll check the thermostat.”
Bethany hoisted her suitcase onto the bed, impatient to end this
unwelcome encounter with Nick. Then, without thinking, she pivoted away from
the mattress and almost collided with him. He threw out his hands to steady
her, his face inches away as his fingers clutched her upper arms. His dark eyes
locked on hers.
“I turned up the heat.” He maintained his grasp and her breath
caught as she stared back, captivated by the richness of his almost-black
irises.
“Thank you.”
“And there’s something else.”
“What’s that?” Her heart pounded, sending a rush of blood to her
ears. She couldn’t look away. Was he going to apologize? Explain why he’d
ghosted her after that summer?
“Even though the family completely redid the inside and outside of
the house, the ghost still haunts this place.”
That’s what he wants to tell me?
With a sigh, she shook off his grip and stepped out of his reach,
disappointed in him for dodging the chance to explain what happened back then
and frustrated with herself for letting him get to her. She’d conquered her
feelings for him a decade ago and was determined to squelch any residual heart
flutters.
“If you’re trying to spook me, it’s not going to work.”
Buy Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F9XCPLYD/thewildrosepr-20
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/p/books/ghosted-lori-matsourani/22722837?ean=9781509262540&next=t&affiliate=114419
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ghosted-lori-matsourani/1147463084?ean=2940184606941
Books A Million: https://www.booksamillion.com/p/9781509262540
Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/ghosted/id6746414091
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Lori Matsourani
is a romance addict. Give her stories with a touch of heartbreak and a spark of
joy, and she’s happy. Throw in characters with a huge helping of heart and
soul, and she’s up reading all night in romance heaven! While currently a Texas
resident, Lori grew up near Baltimore and often draws on the historical flavor
of Annapolis and Maryland’s Eastern Shore to inspire her story settings. She
authored her first fiction story at twelve and has been hooked on writing ever
since. Early on, her writing career focused on articles for magazines and
newspapers before shifting to her first writing love—fiction. For Lori,
connecting words to tell a story is like assembling a jigsaw puzzle, and she
loves the challenge of creating every piece.
Social media links:
Website: https://lorimatsourani.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lori.matsourani.author/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lori.matsourani/
Goodreads Giveaway: Runs from August 1 to August 30
Thank you for hosting my thoughts today! Happy Wednesday!
ReplyDeleteGreat to have you, Lori!
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