Friday, February 04, 2011

NEWS AND OLD NEWS


Belated Happy Chinese New Year!
 Belated Happy Chinese New Year and welcome to the year of the Rabbit! Althought February 2 is the official Chinese celebration, the date varies in other Asian countires.


The Movie
 Also belated Ground Hog Day! Did you rewatch “Groundhog Day” starring Bill Murray to celebrate the occasion? Love that movie? Don't we all wish we could redo some things until we get them right? I certainly do. Maybe that's the appeal of the movie. 

Now we have those out of the way. Whew, those items are old news and illustrate I’m way behind.



Available March 10
from The Wild Rose Press
 But here’s something for which I’m early. I’m happy to announce that my historical novella, SAVE YOUR HEART FOR ME, will be released on March 10 by The Wild Rose Press. Don’t you think the cover is whimsical but beautiful? Don't the warm colours cheer you in this weather? The heroine helps her mother operate a boarding house. Once again, the setting is Texas, no surprise there.

Here’s the blurb:


After fleeing an abusive husband six years ago, Beth Jeffers wants nothing more than to protect her son Davey and to help her mother operate a boarding house. The women in her family have had no luck with men, and she has no intention of letting any man influence her son. Not even Matt Petrov, no matter how much her lonely heart urges otherwise.

Federal Marshall Matt Petrov, also known as Lone Wolf Peters, fell in love with Beth the first time he saw her. Then she was another man’s wife, so he kept his longing a secret he’s saved his love for her for six horrific years. Now, the lovely widow and he have crossed paths again. This time, he intends to risk all for a chance at happiness. First he must rescue his distant kinsman from an assassin’s clutches. Will Matt succeed before his kin is killed? And will his secrets shatter the love he and Beth share?

Here’s an excerpt:

The tall younger woman kept her head lowered and all he saw was her shapely backside while she tugged at the corner of her navy skirt caught under one leg of the safe.


“Let me.” He tilted the safe to free the fabric, then pushed the unwieldy block of metal into place.


“Oh, finally.” She shook out her skirt and bent to brush at the stain marring the hem. “Thank you—“ When she straightened and looked up at him, she fell silent and paled as if she’d seen a ghost.


Hell, he figured she had. A phantom from her past.


“Beth? Beth Jeffers?” Matt tried to mask the sensations raised by seeing her again—surprise, longing, heartache—but doubted he succeeded.


She, on the other hand, quickly recovered her composure and turned up her nose as if she’d smelled a skunk. “What are you doing here?”


“Honestly, Beth, I’m surprised at you.” Her mother looked from one to the other. “You two know each other?”


Beth pushed a stray golden curl from her face and raised her chin. “We met long ago.”


She wore her blonde hair in a bun, but wisps escaped to frame her face. Time had been good to her. The years had rounded her a bit in the right places and softened her—except for her ice-cold blue eyes.


She gave Matt a measuring glare and balled her fists at her hips as if challenging him. “Whatever you want, you won’t find it here.”


Matt wanted to say something sharp to make her think he cared nothing for what she thought, but his mind went blank. Danged if she wasn’t prettier than when he’d known her six years ago, especially without bruises marring her ivory skin from her sonofabitch late husband’s fist.

Here in North Central Texas we are experiencing record winter temperatures and days of school closings. Nothing to compare to folks in the North and East, true, but we don't have snow plows, snow shovels, honkin' big furnaces, or tire chains. In addition, most school districts have contracts with power companies that when the temperature dips below a certain number, school is called off to free up that fuel for homes. Here are a couple of photos Hero took in our snow and ice.

No, our house isn't on a hill. LOL Just as Hero snapped the photo, our dog Webster tugged on the leash.


Our black Shih Tzu Webster loves taking Hero for a walk. Unlike Hero, Webster loves playing in the snow and sniffing every animal trail. Of course, Webster comes equipped with a fur coat.

Thanks for stopping by. Please come back now, ya hear?

4 comments:

Sandra Crowley said...

Hi Caroline. Waves from one cold snowbound to another.

I'm so glad Beth and Matt's story has a home and a beautiful cover. These two characters deserve both!

I know what I'll be doing March 10. Of course, the line will be miles long, but I'm patient.

Wishing you throngs of buyers!

Anna Jeffrey said...

Hi, Caroline...Love this book cover and title. A winning combination.

Brittany said...

Great blog Caroline! (Celia sent me)

rbooth43 said...

Caroline, what a beautiful cover! The excerpt tells me that you have a winner! Lilly Gayle sent me to this blog!
Congratulations!