Shannon here: Lynette Sowell shares a romantic excerpt from her latest Contemporary Romance Novella, Time and Tide. Comment or answer the question at the end of the post to enter the drawing for an e-book copy. Deadline: July 28th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Lynette:
Hi, Inkslinger readers! I’m stopping by to say hello and to share with you an excerpt from one of my summertime novellas, Time and Tide.
I grew up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and one of my favorite things was going to see the ponies of Chincoteague Island, Virginia. The island has a unique atmosphere all its own, and I thought it perfect for the second-chance love story of Karyn, an out-of-work writer and Brodie, an islander and volunteer fire fighter. Here’s how they reconnect again after many years.
Excerpt from Time and Tide by Lynette Sowell:
Brodie stepped aside and let Trista carry the plates to the table. Wow, she really was growing up. They usually had dinner at Mom and Dad’s most evenings, and Mom usually had everything orchestrated. He ought to let Trista help set the table sometimes, too.
The screen door slammed. “Hello? I hope you don’t mind if I let myself in. The door was open and—”
A figure stood in the doorway. The woman looked familiar, her nut-brown hair crowned with large-framed sunglasses and pulled back into a ponytail. She looked cool and polished, with flip-flops that looked a bit dressy for the beach. Her blue tank top matched the bracelets that clinked on one wrist.
Trista dropped the plates and screamed.
#
Karyn flinched, as did everyone else in the kitchen. Shards of white dinner plate flew across the floor, a few of them nipping at her bare ankles.
“Now look what you made me do!” A little girl in denim shorts, white t-shirt, and braided blonde hair faced her, hands on hips. “You scared me.”
“Trista, you were the one who dropped the plates,” Brodie Reed said. “We all knew someone was coming down the hall.”
Or at least Karyn assumed this was Brodie Reed. Brodie in the flesh, six inches taller than she remembered and a good thirty pounds heavier, and most of that muscle. Same sandy colored hair and blue eyes surrounded by a tan line from hours of wearing sunglasses out in the sun.
His gaze flicked to hers, and she tore her attention from him back to the pieces of plate all over the floor. Really, the little girl’s reaction was a little out of proportion to Karyn’s arrival. She’d called out from the front of the house and gave everyone full warning she’d arrived.
Full warning. Which was scarcely more than she’d had in learning that Brodie would be the Thomases’ dinner guest.
“I know, I know,” Trista grumbled.
“Here, honey,” Fay came with a dustpan and broom. “You’ll cut your fingers on the pieces of plate, and your fingers will sting when you crack open your steamed crabs.”
Karyn looked down at her ankles. A few minor cuts dotted the tops of her ankles. “Do you have a napkin, Aunt Fay?”
“Right here, Karyn.” Virgil grabbed one from the napkin holder on the table.
“Karyn,” Brodie said as he took the napkin from Virgil and handed it to her. “I’m sorry about that.”
“It was an accident. I probably would have done the same thing when I was her age.” She tried to smile as she accepted the napkin from Brodie.
“Wow. Karyn Lewis.” He took a step back and regarded her. “It’s. . .it’s been a long time.”
Karyn looked at Fay, showing Trista how to sweep the shards of plate into a dustpan. “Yes, that it has. I’m, um, here for the summer, giving the Thomases a hand.”
“Oh, pish-posh, don’t call us that,” said Uncle Virgil, going to the cabinet and pulling out more plates. “We sound like a couple of old people who should be propped up in motorized scooters.”
This made her grin. “All right, then. I’m here giving Aunt Fay and Uncle Virge a hand. Pine Breezes is a special place.”
“I agree with you on that.” Brodie glanced a Trista, who appeared to be enjoying thoroughly sweeping each particle of broke plate from the floor.
She looked up at him, her braids swinging. “I’m doing good, Daddy, aren’t I?”
Daddy?
If Karyn had been holding plates just now, she’d have dropped them too and screamed. Daddy?
The little girl couldn’t be any older than eight. Which meant–
Trista flashed Megan’s smile at Brodie.
Thanks for reading!
About Lynette: Lynette Sowell has authored more than 23 fiction titles and is the managing editor of her local newspaper. Born in Massachusetts, raised on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, she lives on the doorstep of the Texas hill country with her husband. She loves cooking, watching movies, Texas road trips and spoiling her granddaughters.
About the novella – Time and Tide: Karyn Lewis only plans on helping out for the summer season at Pine Breezes Campground just outside Chincoteague, Virginia. After losing her staff writer job at a Manhattan fashion magazine, she’s out of money to stay in the big city. She plans to avoid her past in Chincoteague as much as possible, but ends up facing the tragedy that drove her from the coast years ago. Brodie Reed’s life is deeply ingrained in the island as a volunteer fireman and local contractor. Everything he does is to make a good life for his young daughter, Trista. Raising her without a mother has been hard, even with the help of his family. When Karyn returns to town, their paths cross again. This time, their hearts are involved. How will they make the decision to love without fear, and let time heal the wounds of the past?
Can’t wait for the drawing? Get your copy now! Time and Tide – Amazon
Question for Readers: Are you jumpy or easily frightened? Share a time when something or someone scared you out of your wits.
Come back July 20th for Laura V. Hilton!
Shelia Hall says
My friend, Michelle, knows how I hate Haunted houses but tricked me into going with her and then when the guy with a chainsaw revved it up , I ran screaming out with her laughing behind me.
Linda R Orr says
When we first married, my husband thought it would be funny to open the shower door while my back was turned. He said the look on my face was just pure terror which made him feel so bad for doing it.
kim says
Since I deal with PTSD everything makes me jump.
Beth Clark says
My grandchildren sometimes try to play tricks on me an scare me. I’ll admit they do a good job at it!
@_eHope says
Getting locked in the ladies room at days end of the Winter Fair was definitely a scare for me!
karen says
i remember once my sister jumped out of the hamper and scared me a lot when i was young.
Shannon Vannatter says
I have a winner! @e-Hope won the drawing. I appreciate Lynette for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.