Lorna Seilstad – Romantic Excerpt – Part 3 of 3

Shannon here: Historical romance author, Lorna Seilstad shares a romantic excerpt from A Great Catch. Comment on any post dated July 25 – 29 for a chance to win a copy. Deadline: July 30th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Lorna:

 
 
Romantic Excerpt Set-up – When Emily and Carter get caught in a downpour, they run for cover. Emily, who struggles with gracefulness, trips on a root and lands face first in the mud.  
Emily wiped her hands on the rag. “Carter, this isn’t funny. Look at me. I make a mess of everything I do.”
He chuckled.
She threw the rag at him. “I said it wasn’t funny.”
His laughter echoed in the empty building. Apparently, he found her circumstances quite entertaining, even though they irritated her to no end. The humiliation was bad enough, but knowing any minute Carter would wake up and realize she was—and would always be—the same clumsy person, was far worse. She marched to the window, her wet skirt clinging to her legs.
Before her, the lake churned like the anger burning inside her. It wasn’t fair. If she hadn’t run . . . if God hadn’t let it rain at the wrong moment . . . if Carter hadn’t insisted she learn to play baseball . . .
She whirled toward him. “Why are you doing this?”
“Doing what?”
“Making me play this game.” Tears, traitorous and frustrating, fought their way down her cheeks. “Why can’t your Owls simply play the Bloomer Girls without me on the team? Even if we worked day and night, I won’t be an asset. This”—she pointed to the mud clinging to her—“should prove that.”
Carter shrugged. “It doesn’t prove anything. Emily, you tripped. It happens to everyone at one time or another.”
“No one trips like I do.”
Another chuckle rippled through the room. “You may have a point.” He crossed the space between them and leaned casually on the window casing beside her. He stared out at the lake and then slowly turned toward her. “No one does anything quite like you do. That’s what I love.”
A new warmth spread inside her under the intensity of his gaze, replacing the heat of anger she’d felt only moments before. Had he used the word love? She couldn’t move, could scarcely breathe.
He stepped closer and cupped her grimy face with his hands.
“Carter, I look awful.”
“You look beautiful to me.” The pad of his thumb traced her cheek, then moved over her lower lip.
Her heart whirled like the weather vane on top of the Kursaal in the midst of the storm. Did he mean it? She studied his eyes, the truth laid bare in their caramel depths. How she wanted to believe him! Despite her tear-streaked cheeks and mud-caked clothing, for once in her life she let her heart take flight.
The thunder outside paled in comparison to the resonance beating in her chest.
Carter bent his head and brushed her lips with a kiss. He drew back, looked into her eyes, and kissed her again, long, slow, sweet—chasing away her last remnants of doubt.
About the book:  She wants to change the world. He wants to change her mind.
It’s the beginning of a new century at Lake Manawa resort in Iowa, but some things never change. When Emily Graham’s meddlesome aunts and grandmother take it upon themselves to find her a husband among the resort guests, the spunky suffragist is determined to politely decline each and every suitor. She has neither the time nor the need for a man in her busy life.
Carter Stockton, a recent college graduate and a pitcher for the Manawa Owls baseball team, intends to enjoy every minute of the summer before he is forced into the straitlaced business world of his father.
When their worlds collide, neither Emily nor Carter could have guessed what would come next. Will Carter strike out? Or will Emily cast her vote for a love that might cost her dreams?
The perfect summer novel, A Great Catch will enchant you with its breezy setting and endearing characters.
Endorsements
“A Great Catch weaves humor, history, romance, and spiritual truths into a delicious story that will delight readers’ hearts. What a fun, relaxing read! I’d like to remain at Lake Manawa forever.”–Laura Frantz, author of The Frontiersman’s Daughter and Courting Morrow Little
“A Great Catch is a grand slam! In a story as refreshing and invigorating as lemonade, Seilstad raises deep questions about a woman’s relationship with God, her dreams, and the people in her life–while making me laugh so loudly my kids came running to get in on the joke.”–Sarah Sundin, author of the Wings of Glory series
 About Lorna: Iowa native and resident Lorna Seilstad received her B.S. in education from Lubbock Christian University. After her first child was born, she quit teaching and became a professional wiper. “I wiped noses, tears, skinned knees, baby’s bottoms, and countertops every day. But at naptime, I wrote.” Today, she writes inspirational historical romance with a generous dash of humor, and lives with her husband and three children. Read more at www.LornaSeilstad.com.
August Line up:
August 1 – 5: Historical Romance author, Bonnie Leon
August 8 – 10: Romantic Suspense author, Nike Chillemi
August 12: Inspirational Romance author, JoAnne Troppello
August 15: Me singing the praises of my favorite writers’ organization: ACFW
August 17 – 19: Debut author, Lynne Gentry
August 22 – 24: Young Adult author, K Dawn Byrd
August 26: Historical Romance author, Mary Connealy
August 29 – September 2: Amish Romance author, Laura V. Hilton