Brenda S. Anderson – Real Life Romance & Romantic Excerpt – Part 1 of 1

Shannon here: Awesome author and spectacular critique buddy, Brenda S. Anderson shares how she met her husband, how her characters met, and a chance to win an e-book copy of her latest Contemporary Romance title, Risking Love. Comment or answer the question at the end of the post to enter. Deadline: Oct 8th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Brenda:

I was slowly paying my way through college and was in between jobs so I signed up at a temp agency. They assigned me to the City of Plymouth, Minnesota, where I had the *fun* of performing repetitive data entry. They gave me my own cube to work in, but that meant kicking out that cube’s occupant. I remember looking up at Marvin for the first time: Tall. Dark hair. Bottle-cap glasses 🙂 We didn’t go out until my assignment was completed and my landlord forced me to call him and ask him out. He said “Yes” and the rest, as they say, is history.
Now the hero and heroine in my upcoming release, RISKING LOVE, had a far more exciting meeting. Lissa Morgan had just left work and was daydreaming about an upcoming date with her dream man when she was nearly run over by a car. She was saved by Caleb Johnson, a woodsy-scented, leather-clad, dark-haired hunk of a man who drove a bright yellow, made-for-speed motorcycle. Definitely not someone the play-it-safe Lissa would ever be interested in. Or would she?

Here’s a snippet of the first chapter where Lissa and Caleb meet, beginning with her dream man asking her out:
Excerpt from RISKING LOVE, a Where the Heart Is romance, book #1:
“One more little incentive to throw in, for you to ponder over the weekend.” Resting back in his chair, he [Haven] rubbed his hands over his thighs.
“Is something wrong?” Never had she [Lissa] seen him anything but confident.
He chuckled and looked toward her, but his gaze didn’t meet hers. “I was wondering if, when I left …” He rubbed his hand over his chin. “Would you mind if I asked you out?”
Would she mind? Lissa tried to hold in her smile but failed. “I look forward to it.” Good thing he couldn’t see her heart dancing a samba.
“Whew.” He puffed out a breath and grinned. “I listen to people tell me no all day and it doesn’t bother me, but if I’d heard it from you …”
He pushed away from his desk and shut off all his equipment. “I’ll walk you out.”
“I’d like that.”
Side by side, they walked from the building across the parking lot, sharing small talk. Someday soon, maybe they’d hold hands. Maybe she’d get a chance to kiss those virgin lips.
Girl, you are getting way ahead of yourself. She pointed her remote at her Volvo. A clothing store stood out beyond her car. Shoot, she needed panty hose for the night. She nodded toward the store. “I remembered some shopping I have to do.” Considering the mush Haven made of her mind, it was a good thing she remembered them now and not once she arrived home.
“Okay, I’ll see you on Monday.”
Maybe by then her heart would be dancing to its normal beat. With her purse slung over her shoulder, she watched Haven’s car head down the road then she floated across the parking lot, imagining Haven’s hand protecting hers.
“Watch out!”
Tires screeched. Lissa’s body hurled through the air, strong arms tucked around her. With a scream, she landed.
Softly. On top of a woodsy-scented, leather-clad man. A dark-haired, gorgeous one at that.
His arms sprang away, and she pushed herself off the ground, making certain her skirt stayed at her knees. Murmuring shoppers gathered around the two of them
A trail of blood coursed from his temple down his cheek shadowed with whiskers. She retrieved her purse that had flown a car’s length away, and dug out a tissue. “Are you all right?” She squatted and dabbed at the cut. “It looks superficial, but you should have it checked out.”
He brought a hand to his temple, winced, and looked at his bloody fingers. “I’ve had worse.” He turned in the direction of the sedan that had nearly plowed her down. The car was long gone. “Crazy driver.”
And one daydreaming lady. That didn’t make for a safe combination. She stood and wiped off her skirt. She was lucky her handsome rescuer happened to be passing by or she wouldn’t just be cleaning road dust off her outfit.
The crowd dispersed as he helped himself up. “Are you okay?”
“Thanks to you.”
He shrugged. “I happened to be in the right place.”
Right, but how many other passersby would have watched the car ram into her? “In my book, you’re a hero.” She opened her purse and pulled out a couple of twenties.
He frowned and crossed his arms over his chest. “That wouldn’t make me much of a hero now, would it?”
“I feel I owe you.”
“Just watch where you’re going next time.” He winked a toffee-brown eye and grinned. “That’ll be payment enough.”
Be still my two-stepping heart. “I promise.” Or was it her two-timing heart? She fanned a hand by her face as her savior sauntered across the parking lot to a bright yellow motorcycle, the streamlined kind that was made for speed.
And danger.
He donned a helmet and zoomed from the parking lot.
She hadn’t even gotten his name.
Not that it mattered. He may have saved her, but the man oozed danger. He’d be perfect for Rita.
Besides, now she had Haven’s attention—he was made for her.
So why did the thought of gazing into the stranger’s deep-set eyes bring a grin to her face and make her heart dance a traitorous tango?
About Brenda: Brenda S. Anderson writes gritty and authentic, life-affirming fiction. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, and is currently President of the ACFW Minnesota chapter, MN-NICE. When not reading or writing, she enjoys music, theater, roller coasters, and baseball, and she loves watching movies with her family. She resides in the Minneapolis, Minnesota area with her husband of 29 years, their three children, and one sassy cat. Learn more and connect:

Brenda’s website               Brenda’s Facebook              Brenda’s Twitter             

Brenda’s Pinterest                 Brenda’s Goodreads

About the book – Risking Love:
She holds the key to his heart, and his home. Can she risk falling in love with a man whose house she may have to take away?
Bank employee Lissa Morgan likes all the columns of her life to add up. From her job to romance, every major decision is planned out. But before she can go out on a date with Mr. Perfect, she attends a charity auction with her meddling mom who wins Lissa a date with thrill-seeker Caleb Johnson.
Caleb lived for adventure until heart disease stole his wife’s life. Then debt closed his business and now threatens to take his home. With a toddler to raise, he vows that his risk-taking days are over. But then he meets the cautious yet curious Lissa Morgan and decides it’s time to take one more risk—this time on love.
When Lissa learns the extent of Caleb’s debt, she wonders if she can collect on his heart if she forecloses on his home. And why is she falling for the wrong man—one who challenges her to leap from her orderly life and into his waiting arms?
Can’t wait for the drawing? Preorder Risking Love – coming October 4, 2016: Risking Love – Amazon
Question for Readers: Have you ever dated anyone you worked with? How did it turn out?

Come back Oct 3rd for Laura V. Hilton!