Weekenders Romance
Watch
It's my pleasure to present BlurbsinBloom's first Guest
Post. Join me in welcoming author Joan Reeves.
Author: Joan Reeves
Genre: Mainstream Romance
Earlier this year, I was invited to be one of the authors
for a Contemporary Romance Box Set called Summer
Fire. I was a lot little concerned about the company I would be
keeping in this box set because the names I saw first--NYTimes and USAToday
bestselling authors--were noted for their scorching-hot romance novels.
Gulp. That’s not me. Sure, I write some sexy stuff, but
nothing like those ladies. I signed on anyway because all of the 20 other
authors are really nice women, and they’re consummate professionals who know
how to tell riveting stories. I’m glad I did this because I think everyone
needs to step outside the old comfort zone occasionally. After all, growth
can’t occur inside the narrow dimensions of a comfort zone.
Happy Ending
To my delight, the end result is a contemporary romance
collection ranging from sweet romance to the aforesaid steamy stories. Summer Fire has sweet, suspenseful,
sexy, funny, steamy, and everything in between! There truly is something for
every reader at the amazingly low price of only 99cents. You may just find a
new author you’ll love--or maybe even a new genre.
My entry in the Summer
Fire Romance Collection?
Heat Lightning, Romantic
Suspense
Her husband found her, claimed her, rescued her. Desire
flashes like heat lightning on a summer night between David and Tessa. She
knows his touch, but when she looks at him, he is a stranger to her. Not a
flicker of memory is left of him or their life together. Everything and
everyone she knew is lost to her since she awakened from a coma. All she has
left are questions. Who is she? Why does David seem to hate her even as he
pulls her into his arms? What is he hiding? How can she trust him when her gut
says, “Trust no one”?
Drenching rain pummeled the roof of her old Porsche. She
stared with tear-swollen eyes through the windshield and wondered where the
hell she was. Not that it mattered. Nothing mattered any more. Not the wrong
turn she’d taken many miles back. Not the summer storm that had ambushed her.
Nothing.
She hadn’t seen another vehicle on this narrow blacktop road
that cut through a densely forested area. Wind whipped the pines and oaks that
lined both sides of the two-lane road. She was alone in the stormy night. All
alone. Just like she’d be for the rest of her life now that she’d driven him
away. Bitterness and hatred filled the crack in her heart. She gulped back a
sob.
Bright light suddenly filled the interior of the small car.
The light was so bright it seared her burning eyes. She jabbed at the rearview
mirror to tilt it up and pressed down on the accelerator to put a little
distance between her car and the driver behind who seemed intent on blinding
her. Her little car lurched, fishtailed on the wet pavement then straightened
out. The headlights behind receded.
The trees thinned. A quarter of a mile later, she drove out
of the woods. Fading daylight showed an old high-arching bridge ahead. Below
the bridge, she could just make out the flood-swollen river boiling around
wooden pilings.
Light behind again filled the car’s interior. She
accelerated, but the lights drew closer rather than fell behind. Fear whispered
up her spine, raising the tiny hairs on the back of her neck. She glanced into
the rearview mirror, eyes narrowed against brilliant white light that drew near
as she watched.
Fear didn’t just whisper now. It shouted. She knew who was
behind her. She grabbed her cell phone from where she’d tossed it on the
passenger seat after turning it off. With shaking fingers she tried to power it
on.
Crash! Her head whiplashed back then forward, striking the
top of the steering wheel. Pain slammed through her. The cell phone flew out of
her hand, landing somewhere inside the car. The other vehicle struck the rear
of her car again. She fought the steering wheel. The lights came at her again.
Fear sliced through the pain in her head. She tried to brace
herself. Another bone-shaking crash, and she lost control of the car. Her car
struck something metal. Her head hit the side window. She nearly blacked out.
Rain and wind blew into the car through the broken glass,
spattering her face. The car was motionless. Silent. She touched her throbbing
head and came away with blood. Her thoughts were confused. All was silent
except for the rain and the groaning of wind-whipped tree branches.
The sound of a racing engine cut through her confusion.
Panicked, she peered through the broken windows. Through the falling rain, she
could see a big black truck.
Stark terror gripped her. The lights on the truck flashed
on. She didn’t even have time to scream. The truck hit her car broadsided.
Metal crushed. Glass shattered, cascading over her. Tossed from the driver’s
seat as if she were a rag doll, she finally screamed when the stick shift
rammed into her right side.
Tortured metal screamed against metal. She smelled burning
rubber and heard the whine of tires spinning on pavement. Her car moved. Inch
by inch, the pickup shoved the crumpled car toward the side of the road. Metal
bent and popped.
Oh, God! She’d been a fool. She’d come prepared for the
confrontation, for her vengeance, but she’d run like a scared little girl. She
tried to open the glove box to get the pistol, but the catch wouldn’t yield.
Tears of frustration and anger, pain and loss flowed down her face. If only she
could have wiped away the past and truly created the new life she’d wanted so
desperately.
Another vicious shove, and the car slammed against the
barricade of upright wooden posts.
Her last thought was of him. She loved him. But she’d ruined
his life. Now she’d never have a chance to explain.
Would he mourn her?
Wood was no match for metal. The powerful truck gave one
last violent push. The timbers snapped as if they were twigs, and her car went
over the edge of the road.
Then she and her car were falling.
Falling.
Falling.
Into the cold black water below.
Links for Summer Fire
which includes Heat Lightning
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1Dv2jy3
Apple: http://bit.ly/1CVOgih
KOBO: http://bit.ly/19QsJAD
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1wsmBsL
Giveaway
Does this excerpt pique your curiosity about Heat Lightning,
part of the Summer Fire Contemporary Romance Collection? Please leave a comment
with your email address and be entered in a random drawing for a free copy of Summer Fire: Love When It's Hot
Contemporary Romance Collection. Giveaway is open until May 25 noon. Winner
will be chosen on May 25 by Random Name Picker and notified by email as well as
in the Comments section of this post on Blurbs in Bloom.
***************
Bio Note:
Joan Reeves, whose book in Summer
Fire is Heat Lightning, is a
bestselling author of Contemporary Romance. Available as ebooks and audiobooks,
her romance novels all have the same underlying theme: “It’s never too late to
live happily ever after.” Joan lives her happily ever after with her husband in
the Lone Star State. Sign up for WordPlay,
Joan's free email list for readers: http://eepurl.com/Yk61n.
Thank you, Mickie, for allowing me to guest blog on Blurbs In Bloom, one of my favorite book blogs.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Joan. Much success with Heat Lightning.
DeleteMickie