THE DOUBTING HEART - Excerpt 2 & Giveaway

Hi all,

I thought I'd share one more excerpt from my new romantic suspense, The Doubting Heart.

Anxious to escape the ghosts of the place, she rounded to Copper, set her right foot into the stirrup and pushed off to mount her. The stirrup seemed to slip as she raised her left leg over the horse.

Suddenly, Copper shied back and reared up. Shelby lost her balance and slid down the side of the horse. The reins slid from her hands. She clawed at the saddle. “Copper! Easy girl. Easy up,” she cried, but her voice was too panicked to have any effect.

Then Copper began to run.

Shelby managed to grab onto the horn, but without the stirrup for support she felt herself slipping. She clawed for purchase yet each movement pulled the saddle further down the horse’s side. She grasped at the mane with her left hand and wrapped her fingers tightly through the coarse hair. The rocky ground seemed only inches below her and she struggled to hold her body rigid. Her loose leg dangled precariously close to the horse’s scythe-like hooves.

She called to Copper, tried to calm her. The horse sped up and edged closer to the water. Shelby panicked. Not the river. Not again!

As she fought to raise herself higher, she caught a glimpse over Copper’s back of a dark form approaching from up the canyon wall.

Another horse and rider!

Relief flooded her. Thank God.

She held tighter to the saddle and mane, willing every fiber in her being to hang on until her rescue. She counted the seconds. Waiting.

It was taking too long. She was afraid to turn her head to look for them. Where are they?

Then she saw them, a shadow on the ground, easily matching Copper stride-for-stride. That wasn’t right. They should be passing. Grabbing Copper’s bit. Slowing the pace. Stopping her.

The dark shadow was edging closer to Copper.

Closer to her.

Suddenly, Shelby realized what they were doing. Her mind exploded into a blinding fury of panic and shock. She heard herself scream.

The other rider was deliberately driving her towards the deadly torrent.

You can find more information and the buy-links for The Doubting Heart at http://www.brendagayle.com/books/doubtingheart.php.

Thanks very much for stopping by to help me celebrate the release of The Doubting Heart. Don't forget, a randomly chosen commenter on one of my posts will receive a digital download of The Hungry Heart, book 1 in my Heart's Desire series. Check back next weekend when I'll announce the winner.

In the meantime, you can follow my blog tour for the chance to win even more prizes (including a $50 Amazon GC) and connect with me through my website, Facebook, Twitter & Goodreads.

THE DOUBTING HEART - The Story Behind the Story (with Giveaway)

Hi again. By far the question most common asked is how do I come up with the ideas for my stories. It would be great if an idea popped into my  head fully formed and I just began to write it start to finish. But that's not the way it happens at all. Writing a book can be pretty darn messy. Scenes are added, deleted, picked up and used elsewhere (sometimes in other books). Here's a bit of the background to how The Doubting Heart came about.

The Doubting Heart was originally called Wildhorse Pass, and the title came to me when I misread a sign while driving along a highway on the Bruce Peninsula, in Ontario. I thought “hey, that’s a neat name for a place,” and started to wonder about what type of place it would be and what would go on there. I don’t know what sort of mood I was in but I kept thinking about doubting your senses and mistaken identity, and slowly a plot formed.

After I had written the entire book, I felt  as if something was missing. I didn't have a sense of closure. My thoughts kept returning to the “other” stuff that influenced the characters but wasn’t fleshed out in the book—specifically the dynamics of the larger Graham family that had alienated both the hero, Chad, and his cousin, Michael, thus leading to the incidents around which the book was based.

I could see a larger story arc forming as I began to consider the stories of Chad’s two cousins—Hunter and Anna—who were still navigating their family’s minefield of expectation and responsibility. And the more I worked through an overarching plot, the more I realized book made most sense as the second installment in a series I named Heart’s Desire. I then wrote what became the first book in the series, The Hungry Heart, then significantly revised Wildhorse Pass and renamed it, The Doubting Heart.

Don't forget, in addition to Goddess Fish's $10 gift card to be awarded one commenter, I'll be giving away a digital download of The Hungry Heart, the first book in the series, to someone who comments on one of my posts.

I'm also doing a blog tour. You can check out the stops for a chance to win a download of my new short story, Father of the Bride? or a $50 Amazon GC.

I love to talk about books, writing, and life. You can connect with me via my website, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

THE DOUBTING HEART - Excerpt & Giveaway

Hi again, I'm back to share an excerpt from my new romantic suspense, The Doubting Heart. 

My husband likes to say that he and I
are the models for the cover. It's true, we
do somewhat resemble Chad & Shelby--
at least we did many years ago!

Shelby didn’t slow down to appreciate the sights and smells of southern New Mexico’s late spring splendor. But the broad, naked back bent over the water trough? Surely she could spare a moment to stop and appreciate that.
She lowered her gaze, allowing it to linger on his hips, admiring the way the faded denim gently hugged the firm, rounded buttocks before falling over what she imagined were strong, powerful thighs. Then he raised his head and she was treated to a glorious view of glistening droplets of water coursing down his back, past where his waist narrowed, to disappear beneath the waistband of his jeans.

Wow! The word reverberated through her mind and her skin glowed warm at the sight. She smiled, bemused by her reaction to the unknown man.

Well, it has been a while and there’s nothing wrong with looking.

He shook his head and turned towards her. The shimmering spray momentarily impeded her view of his face, then the mist fell away and everything began to move in slow motion. Her gut twisted painfully and she gasped for air.

“Hello,” he said, moving towards her, not seeming the least bit self-conscious about finding himself the object of her stare.

It can’t be! Her mind tried to make sense of what she was seeing.

He was taller, heavier—in all the right places—younger. His hair was a darker brown and longer. He was unshaven, an affectation she generally abhorred, but on him the dark stubble added an unexpected measure of sensual intrigue. The line of his chin was stronger, too, and his mouth lacked the self-deprecating smile. But his eyes.… Dark swaths of eyebrow added to their intensity and she couldn’t look away from their penetrating gray stare.

Oh God, he has Michael’s eyes!

I'd love to know what you think. Don't forget, I'll be giving away a digital download of The Hungry Heart, the first book in the Heart's Desire series, to someone who comments on one of my posts.

You can pick up a copy of The Doubting Heart at many e-retailers and distributers.

You can also connect with me via my website, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

THE DOUBTING HEART - Welcome & Giveaway

Hi all, I'm Brenda Gayle and I'm so glad you could stop by and help me celebrate the release of my romantaic suspense, The Doubting Heart.



Don't you just love the cover
done by the wonderful Debbie Taylor
at The Wild Rose Press?

The Doubting Heart is the second book in my Heart's Desire series. The series follows the trials and tribulations of three cousins as they try to navigate the minefield of their family's expectations to find their own path to love and happiness.
 

In book one, The Hungry Heart, a fourth cousin disappears during a research project on a ranch in southern New Mexico. This becomes the catalyst for The Doubting Heart.

 

Shelby Holt, knows she can’t trust her heart, but when she meets the new ranch hand she doubts she can trust her head either. He looks uncannily like her mentor and best-friend, a man she respected and adored—a man she believes was murdered.

Chad Graham, burned by love and war, is not quite what meets the eye. Posing as Chad Greene, he’s come to Wildhorse Pass, New Mexico, to investigate the woman making wild claims about the death of his cousin. Can the official reports be wrong? Or is Shelby trying to ingratiate herself with his wealthy family? He knows she’s hiding something. But then, so is he.

In close proximity, despite the danger, sensual attraction simmers and deception deepens. Because the closer Shelby and Chad get to one another, the closer they get to the answer...and the closer they get to danger—until Shelby herself becomes the target of a killer.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Doubting-Heart-ebook/dp/B009KELTAC

The Wild Rose Press: http://bit.ly/YrBwNX

I'll pop back later with an excerpt and some fun stuff about the book. In the meantime, I'd love to know your thoughts about series romance? Do you like them? Do you have a favorite you can recommend? In addition to Goddess Fish's $10 gift card to be awarded one commenter today, I'll be giving away a digital download of The Hungry Heart, the first book in the series, to someone who comments on one of my posts.

I love to talk books. You can connect with me via website, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

A FEW MINUTES WITH BRENDA GAYLE

Tell us a little about your upcoming release.
My release is a short story, entitled Father of the Bride? It's a contemporary romance set revolving around a wedding in the Caribbean. The heroine or hero are neither the bride nor the groom.

Can you give us a one-sentence synopsis of your book?
She never expected to see her ex again, but at their son's wedding he's father of the bride.

Where did the idea for the book come from?
I read an article about high school sweathearts who reunited later in life. The first line of Father of the Bride? is almost a direct quote from the woman in the article: You are not supposed to meet the love of your life when you're twelve. For some reason that quote stuck with me.

I had just handed in the manuscript for the second book of my contemporary romantic suspense and was looking for a small project as a break before I started working on the third book. My editor, the incomparable Maggie Johnson, told me about a call for submissions The Wild Rose Press had issued for a new digital anthology it was putting together focusing on weddings and older heroines (not necessarily the bride). The story just fell into place.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
I generally write full-length novels (about 90,000 words). This short story clocks in at about 16,000 words and it took me two weeks to complete the first draft. I then spent a month layering and revising it before submitting it to my editor.

If this were a movie, who would you choose to play your hero and heroine?

The tall blond-haired, blue-eyed,
all American Tim Robbins
would be fantastic as David Parker.

Dana Delany would make
a wonderful Penny Malloy.

Can you tell us something else about your book that might pique readers' interest?
I have difficulty writing a straight-up romance. I'm always looking to add some element of suspense or a twist to surprise the reader. Father of the Bride? is no exception.

Father of the Bride? is currently available for Kindle at http://www.amazon.com/Father-Bride-Dearly-Beloved-ebook/dp/B009M6XO4C and will be released to the rest of the world January 23.

The Wild Rose Press: http://bit.ly/VFKPYL

You can connect with Brenda via her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

AN EXCERPT FROM FATHER OF THE BRIDE?

Hi everyone, I'm back to give you an excerpt for my new contemporary romance short, Father of the Bride?

You are not supposed to meet the love of your life when you’re twelve. Penny Malloy’s world contracted as she caught a glimpse of David Parker across the hotel lobby. She was as in love with him now as she had been when he’d kissed her on the playground of the Sackville Elementary School, forty-one years ago. The fact she hadn’t laid eyes on him in almost a quarter century didn’t seem to matter to her heart. “Damn!”

“Did you say something?” Adam looked down, his brow furrowed with concern.

She shook her head and tried to smile reassuringly. Dear Adam. Her son had no idea she was slowly dying inside. Well, the truth was she’d been slowly dying for twenty-four years, but this weekend was sure to finish her off.

“There they are.” Adam squeezed her hand before releasing it to wave at two people across the lobby. “Chloe. David. We’re over here.”

Penny held her breath as the pair came towards them. Would he say anything to give them away? Of course not. If he hadn’t said anything before, he wasn’t likely to now. Still, it was going to feel awkward to be introduced as strangers. What should she say? Nice to meet you?

Adam hugged Chloe. As he shook David’s hand, Chloe turned to embrace her.

“Mom,” Adam, said, “this is David Parker, Chloe’s dad.”

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Father-Bride-Dearly-Beloved-ebook/dp/B009M6XO4C
The Wild Rose Press: http://bit.ly/VFKPYL

Brenda Gayle
Real women. Real men. Real romance.
http://www.brendagayle.com

GOOD MORNING & WELCOME

Hi all, I'm Brenda Gayle and I'm so glad you could stop by and help me celebrate the upcoming release of my short story, Father of the Bride? I'm really stoked because this is the first release in the new digital anthology, Dearly Beloved, from The Wild Rose Press.

She never expected to see her ex again, but at their son's wedding he's father of the bride.

For the mother of the groom, a destination wedding at a Caribbean resort should be a joyful occasion, but Penny Malloy doubts her heart will survive the weekend. Her ex-husband is the stepfather of the bride.

As soon as she sees David Parker again, she realizes she loves him as much as she ever did. What started as a fairy tale romance—when twelve-year-old David kissed Penny on the playground—has turned into a demented soap opera: a son who doesn't know his father's identity, and divorced parents pretending to be strangers.

But it's another kiss that reminds them of all they had...and the promise of what could be. Can David and Penny face the past together and declare their feelings? Or are they twenty-four years too late?

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Father-Bride-Dearly-Beloved-ebook/dp/B009M6XO4C
The Wild Rose Press: http://bit.ly/VFKPYL

I'll pop back later with an excerpt and some fun stuff about the book. In the meantime, I'd love to know your thoughts on love and second chances. Don't we all have "that special someone" in our past that we still wonder about?

You can also connect with Brenda via her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.