Jean C. Joachim's Blog: Stories of Love and Passion, page 50

Meet Tara Mason from LOVE, LOST & FOUND - Part 2

This is a continuation of our first post about Tara Mason, heroine of Love, Lost & Found. 
 While attending a journalism conference, she discovered her fiance, Paul, was cheating on her and now she's on her way from Philadelphia to New York to confront him. On the two hour train ride back to New York City, anger boiled up in Tara’s chest. Sadness crept into the back of her mind as she kept hoping there was a logical explanation. Breaking up didn’t feel like an option, yet she couldn’t see a way around it. If Paul was cheating, then she’d leave him …and be alone.



She felt a squeeze on her heart, like a strong hand, killing her slowly. Paul and her job were her life for the past two years. Her job…she smacked her forehead. She’d quit to write a book review column for Paul’s company. Oh, God, Al, will you take me back? She erased those thoughts from her mind and tried to sleep on the train, but sleep wouldn’t come.
Before long she was in a taxi headed to the Gotham Arms hotel. At the front desk she marched up to the clerk and asked for Paul. The desk clerk asked her who he should say was calling and the only name coming to mind was Wanda Ferguson, Paul's assistant.
“Room 512, fifth floor, turn right, the end of the hall,” he said, after talking to Paul.Tara couldn’t breathe for a moment.  She turned and walked to the elevator as thoughts of all the ways she could kill Wanda raced through her mind. When the elevator doors closed, Tara smiled an evil smile, imagining Paul’s face when he opened the door, expecting Wanda. She hurried down the hall to arrive before he had a chance to open the door, see her first and hide. Her hand shook as she made a fist and knocked on the door.“Hey, Baby…” Paul said as he opened the door, dressed in only boxers.“Hey yourself…” Tara responded, frowning.Paul stood, speechless, staring.“Tara…what are you doing here?”“Nice greeting for the woman you sent a text to. You told me to meet you here, Paul.”            “I did?”            “Un huh. That picture I texted…the…uh…sexy one? That was from me, not Wanda, Paul.”            “Oh my God,” he said, staggering back and sinking down onto the bed.            With trembling fingers, Tara yanked the engagement ring off her finger. She walked up to him and slapped him across the face as hard as she could and placed the ring on the dresser before leaving.            “Tara, baby…”            She kept walking, holding back tears with all her strength.            “Honey, I’m sorry…it’s a mistake…please,”            “Yeah, a big mistake…and I almost made it.”  to be continued...
            Love, Lost & Found to be released, September 25, 2012 
            Click here to go to my website

FIRST CHAPTER FRIDAY - THE RENOVATED HEART

Can a broken heart be renovated like an old house? Kit’s life came to a halt when her husband slapped her with a divorce. Finding herself without a job or a place to live, she’s forced to take Tunney Nichols up on his offer of cheap rent for his parent’s house.The catch: she must allow him to renovate while she’s living there. Out of fear, Kit tells a lie she soon regrets as she is drawn to the sexy man plastering and painting his way into her heart.   Can Sarah forget the abuse from her late husband? Can she fix her heart and the hearts of her children?  With her two children in tow, Sarah relocates to be near her sister, she meets Jim, a neighbor and English professor. A mutual interest in writing, paves the way for a friendship that blossoms into romance. But is Jim the right man for Sarah or does another man from her past still light her fire?

       CLICK HERE TO READ THE FIRST CHAPTER FREE! 

        CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE.
  Pick up The Renovated Heart here:AMAZON  SECRET CRAVINGS PUBLISHING BARNES & NOBLE ALL ROMANCE eBOOKS BOOKSTRAND
 

Tuesday Tales, Picture Prompt - 300 Words

This is a scene from a new book, coming in 2013, a sweet romance titled, Under the Midnight Moon -- third in the Moonlight Series. “Cheers, Mindy.” Albert raised his wine glass, clinking it with the glass of the young brunette sitting opposite him at his dining room table. “Cheers, Al.” He took a sip.
“I have a secret…”She grinned at him. “Give.”“Can’t tell yet. But one day…probably soon, your dreams are going to come true.”“Right, Al. Someone’s going to die, leaving me their theater on Broadway so I can write and produce plays to sold-out audiences.” She cocked an eyebrow at him.“Not so very far off. When I go…well, there’s something special for you.”“Don’t talk like that!”“I’m not going to live forever, Mindy.”“You’re the closest thing to a father I’ve got, Al. So just…shut up, will ya?”Mindy put her wine glass down and toyed with her fork.“A special place…somewhere you can express yourself, put on your plays, sweetie.”He patted her hand. “You’re scaring me, Al.”“The news at the doctor’s wasn’t good. You’ve known that. I want to make you happy…give you what you’ve been working so hard for.”“You’re the best friend I’ve ever had, Al. That’s good enough.”“It’s the only way I know of keeping you from being sad when I’m gone.”Mindy stood up.“If you’re going to talk like this, I’m leaving.”“You can’t. It’s my birthday.”She felt the prick of tears behind her eyes. “Then stop it.”“Sit down, sit down. This isn’t going to happen tomorrow.”Mindy sank back into her chair.“Good. Because I’m not ready.”“You’ll never be ready, child. I get it. Still…we all have to face our mortality someday. I need to know you’ll be cared for after I’m gone, since your Prince Charming hasn’t arrived yet.”Mindy glanced at her watch.“Dammit, he is late, isn’t he?” She cracked a smile.



CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO TUESDAY TALES. CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE. 

UNCRAMBLE CONTEST - WIN THE MARRIAGE LIST!

Unscramble any of the following names from The Marriage List and be eligible to win a copy of The Marriage List OR The Love List!! 5 winners will be selected on Monday. Great chance to win, enter now! DON'T FORGET TO LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDY.

UNCRAMBLE ANY ONE OF THESE NAMES FROM THE MARRIAGE LIST in a comment:

Racrie 
Regy
Lieda
Enjan

Can happily ever after start with a list? Grey Andrews thinks so. After ten years of working, saving and investing, Grey finally achieved a level of wealth that allows him to do what he wants with his life. He needs a woman to share it with, but not any woman, the perfect woman. A woman who has the three essential qualities on his marriage list. But after three years of searching he isn’t any closer to finding her than he was when he started out.


 Carrie Tucker, an aspiring mystery writer and divorcée struggling to make it in the world of advertising, turned her focus from men to her career after dating too many creeps and losers. She’s finally earned her big break, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become the first female creative director in a hot New York ad agency. So what if it means working nights and weekends? It’s not like she has a social life anyway.
Is the marriage list a failure or will a chance meeting at a fiction-writing conference prove the list to be the key to Grey’s happiness after all? 
  OR WIN THE LOVE LIST - YOUR CHOICE OF BOOK.

Can the swinging bachelor change his ways and become a devoted, selfless and faithful man overnight? Grey's marriage list brought them together. But when Carrie starts her own list, can Grey incorporate her ideas about love into his life? Family issues, jealousy and an icy lake threaten to destroy the happiness Carrie and Grey have found together. An argument, a holiday trip to visit family and confronting an old fear test the lovers who have pledged their love and now must learn to make it stronger every day.


CHECK OUT MY BOOKS ON MY WEBSITE, CLICK HERE. FOR MY FREE READ, CLICK HERE. FOR THE NOVELLA, NOW AND FOREVER, CALLIE'S STORY, FREE, CLICK HERE.

2012 author of the year, NYC chapter of Romance Writers of America. 

Tuesday Tales - Word Prompt "Mountain" - Sneak Peek at The Dating List

 Welcome and thanks for stopping by. The story today is from my WIP, a snippet from The Dating List, third book in The List series, due out in October. 
Colin placed their order while Leah looked around. There weren’t many people in the place and certainly no thirty-four-year-old women with twenty-nine-year-old men. She cast her gaze down as one interested man sitting by himself gave her a curious stare. Glancing up, she saw Colin’s cheerful face smiling at her. A mischievous gleam, youthful and full of fun lit up his eyes. She weakened. When was the last time I just had fun with a man?“Penny for your thoughts,” he said as the waitress set down two mugs of steaming coffee.“Thinking how ridiculous a woman my age looks sitting here, like on a date, with a man your age,” she blurted out, instantly regretting her honesty.“Really?  I think we look cute together. You’re so small, petite…who cares what other people think? A few years, what difference does that make?”“You don’t care?”“I’m sitting here with the most gorgeous, elegant, talented woman in the place…no…in all of New York City. I’m the luckiest guy alive.”Leah felt the heat of pleasure at his compliment rise to her cheeks.“You even blush beautifully. You’re stunning, Leah. What man of any age wouldn’t give a fortune to change places with me right now?”She looked down at her hands, fiddling with her cloth napkin as his fingers crept over and folded over hers. Her eyes looked up into his, noticing dancing green flecks mixed with gold. Her resolve to treat Colin like a little brother melted along with the sugar she put in her coffee. The heat of his stare, his frank admiration broke through her first line of defense. He seems to be for real. When he raised her hand to his lips, she smiled. The waitress carrying their ice cream sundae, piled high with a mountain of whipped cream arrived, breaking into their privacy. He scooped some onto the spoon and fed it to her. She did the same to him, giggling like a schoolgirl. Shut up conscience. I’m having fun.  Go away.“How long are you staying?” she asked.“Just through New Year’s. But I plan to come back in February.”“For Valentine’s Day?”  “Of course. Love that holiday.”  His eyes glowed with mischief.So did I when Hank was alive. Feeling a momentary tightening in her chest, Leah dropped her gaze to her spoon. Colin frowned.“Did I say something?”“No, no. It’s not you. Me…nothing to do with…do you come to New York often?”Colin’s eyes searched hers but Leah had regained control, changing the subject, hiding a quick flash of pain behind a soft sigh.  CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO TUESDAY TALES CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE.

TAKE MY PIX, PLEASE! - 2

Welcome!!This is the second blog where I am making my pix and my son, Steve's, pix FREE for anyone who wants to use them. DH would like Steve to get mention. If you can that would be great but if you can't, no worries.Take them and enjoy.
Jean's - Costa Rica.














Jean's From Costa Rica














Jean's Costa Rica









 Jean's from Costa Rica









Jean's Costa Rica













Jean's Costa Rica













Steve's - Colorado Plateau.








 Steve's - Colorado Plateau








Steve's - Colorado Plateau








Steve' - Colorado Plateau








Steve's - Colorado Plateau
(this might be a repeat)






Steve - Colorado Plateau









Steve - Colorado Plateau








Jean - Fall, Sullivan County















Jean, the Delaware River









Jean - Sullivan County





Jean - Sullivan County















Jean - Central Park
Jean - Central Park













 Jean - Central Park/NYC Skyline









Curious about my books? Click here for my website

 

Tuesday Tales - Word Prompt, "White"

Thanks for stopping by. Here's an excerpt of The Dating List, my contemporary romance work-in-progress, written to the word 
 prompt "white". (cover has not be finalized)
The man tightened his grip while he slapped his other hand over Leah's mouth. Fighting for breath she tried to move his hand which seemed glued over her mouth and nose.             “Gimme you coat!” He demanded, his hoarse voice louder than before.             She shook her head, pushing against his hand to no avail. She felt her pulse beat wildly in her neck. Fear wrapped an icy hand around her spine. He’s going to kill me. Give him the coat!She began to nod vigorously but the man wouldn’t let go. He lifted her up so that her feet dangled off the ground. She tried to kick him, flailiing her legs back and forth but not connecting.              Hope was running out. She began to feel lightheaded from lack of air when she heard running feet. Oh, shit, he has an accomplice. Just as suddenly as he grabbed her, he let go. His hands tugged on the lapels of her ermine coat from behind as she gulped air into her lungs. Leah kicked back at him but he dodged her foot. He spun her around, pulling at her coat. When she threatened him with her small fist, he slapped her hard across the face, knocking her to the ground with a cry. Searing pain rocketed through her brain, paralyzing her for a moment. Her hand flew to her mouth where a warm liquid oozed onto her chin. She tasted blood from her lip.               Tears clouded her eyes but Leah brushed them away. She raised her hand in a defensive move as he lifted his in the air, to strike her again, when a man’s hand locked onto his wrist. The man behind him twisted her assailant’s arm until he cried out. Then the newcomer yanked the man’s arm back and shoved it up his back, causing him to scream in pain. His other arm closed around the man’s neck, subduing him with a choke hold.            “Leah, call 911,” Colin said as he held the assailant still.             Her hands shook as she took out her cell phone. Between the cold and her fear, Leah couldn’t command her fingers to dial. She started to cry in frustration.            “Leah! Pull yourself together…just for a moment, sweetheart.” Colin’s voice was calm and steady. The man who attacked her gasped then whimpered.            She took a big breath, feeling a shudder shake through her body before a moment of calm set in. She dialed the number, reported the assault giving the exact location. They waited five minutes in silence before they heard the sound of distant sirens drawing closer. Her body trembled out of control, whether from fear or the cold she couldn’t tell. Maybe both. A sense of relief washed through her as the black-and-whites pulled up, lights flashing. They drew their guns on Colin. Click here to return to Tuesday Tales Click here to go to my website.

REJECTION LETTERS WE'D LIKE TO SEE...

If great authors of classic literature were submitting their manuscripts today...would they be likely to receive rejection notices like these? Great Expectations by Charles Dickens Dear Mr. Dickens,So who has great expectations? Is this Miss Havisham chick expecting a roll in the hay with Pip or what? Cougar stories are hot right now but this kid is underage…don’t want to bring the feds down on us. So make him older and add a few hot scenes and resubmit. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
Dear Mr. Dickens,“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”? Really? Make up your mind, Mr. Dickens. Which was it, the best or the worst of times? Geez. When you decide which it was, revise and resubmit. Stuart Little by E.B. White Dear Mr. White,A woman gives birth to a mouse? She’s cheating on her human husband with a giant mouse? Honestly…that may be original but is totally inappropriate for a kid’s book, Mr. White. Besides, it has creeped out the entire editorial staff. Don’t bother rewriting and resubmitting this one, I’m afraid. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Dear Mr. Cervantes,A novel about a crazy old guy who fights a windmill and his chubby sidekick who goes along because he has no life? Honestly, this story has been done to death, Mr. Cervantes. While we loved the chivalry, the plot was ho hum and the characters too far fetched. Please send us your next manuscript, we have not filled out quota of rejections yet this month. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley Dear Ms. Shelley,Your hero is made out of dead body parts sewn together? Yuck! Three of our editors threw up reading about that. Then you jump start him like a dead car battery with lightning from the sky. Yeah, like that’s ever gonna happen. What nice girl writes about something so grisly? Thanks but no thanks. Do send us your next attempt, we’re always looking for a good laugh. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll Dear Mr. Carroll,A girl disappears and this is funny? Down a rabbit hole? She eats pills that make her bigger and smaller then meets a floating grin that’s a cat? We suggest, Mr. Carroll, that the next time you take psycho-tropic recreational drugs, you remove pencil and paper from the room. Please, we know an acid trip when we see one. Good luck with your drug habit but don’t send us your next “trip”. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott Dear Ms. Alcott,We were disappointed to see from the title of your book that it wasn’t about a bordello. These girls are innocent to the point of totally boring. Four editors fell asleep skimming your book for sex scenes. Besides, there was too much telling and not enough showing in this book. We couldn’t feel the emotions of your characters. What a bunch of spoiled brats! Please, spice up this book, like one of them gets it on with the rich kid next door, rewrite and resubmit. Oh and make the girls all over sixteen. We like ‘em legal. 
Comments are appreciated. Curious about my books? Click here to check them out on my website.

Pick Your Favorite Victorian To Win a Free Book!

TAKE A LOOK AT THE RENOVATED HEART , READ AN EXCERPT. PICK YOUR FAVORITE VICTORIAN HOME FROM THE ONES HERE THAT HAVE BEEN RENOVATED WITH LOVING CARE. LEAVE YOUR CHOICE IN A COMMENT WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS AND BE ENTERED TO WIN A COPY OF THE RENOVATED HEART! Winner will be selected on Thursday morning. Results for house contest will be shared then, too. (All these pictures have been paid for.)
Can a broken heart be renovated like an old house? Kit’s life came to a halt when her husband slapped her with a divorce. Finding herself without a job or a place to live, she’s forced to take Tunney Nichols up on his offer of cheap rent for his parent’s house.The catch: she must allow him to renovate while she’s living there. Out of fear, Kit tells a lie she soon regrets as she is drawn to the sexy man plastering and painting his way into her heart. Can Sarah forget the abuse from her late husband? Can she fix her heart and the hearts of her children?  With her two children in tow, Sarah relocates to be near her sister, she meets Jim, a neighbor and English professor. A mutual interest in writing, paves the way for a friendship that blossoms into romance. But is Jim the right man for Sarah or does her old college sweetheart still light her fire? 
Let's look at some other Victorian Homes that have been beautifully renovated, too, while you take a peek at a SHORT EXCERPT: #1. Tan roof house
Kit Alexander ordered a Cosmopolitan, sat back, her heart racing in anticipation oftomorrow’s departure. After twelve years of marriage, a career in banking and raising an eleven year-old daughter, Kit was finally going to live her dream of becoming a published author.
 With their daughter safely enrolled in boarding school, she could accompany her husbandon a world tour as the newest band member of Blue Waters band. Tagging along as a band wife,  Kit planned to write a book about her experiences.
 A tinny version of Johnny’s favorite song came up. The familiar sound meant a text message arrived on her phone, causing her to put down her drink. 
#2 - Black & White house #3 Light Blue House
Are you all packed? Is Johnny there yet? Wishing you an amazing trip, Hugs, Sarah.Kit typed in,Yes, no. Our first three cities are Amsterdam, London and Prague. Thanks,lady. Hugs, Kit.
#4 White house with pumpkins
Sipping her Cosmo, Kit looked around La Nuit Française—a posh, intimate French
restaurant decorated in turquoise, red and gold, tucked into the west side of Manhattan. Beautiful people dressed in expensive clothing pretending to be someone important filled the restaurant. In addition to paying through the nose for the good food, they were also paying to be seen. Save me from such pretension.

#5 Tan house with purple sky
Wearing a sexy dress in midnight blue silk, her dark cerulean blue eyes shining, her spun gold hair draping well below her shoulders in loose curls, she was the loveliest woman in the room.
A man approach her table, she smiled at her husband, Johnny, as he plopped down in the empty chair across from her. #6  Light red and white house

He ordered a beer plus another Cosmopolitan for Kit.
 “You look great, Kit,” Johnny said, taking a swig of- his beer. His gaze lowered to herneckline then returned to her face.“A fresh look for a new start…tomorrow I launch a new life. We both do.” She picked upthe second Cosmo and took a sip.“We need to talk about tomorrow,” Johnny said, looking down at the silverware.
#7 - BW house on the water
BUY LINK (all formats available, including pdf at Secret Cravings)  Secret Cravings Publishing
AMAZON BARNES & NOLBE ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS BOOKSTRAND     Find more about my books on my website, click HERE  

First Chapter Friday!

This week I'm posting the first chapter of "Sunny Days, Moonlit Nights". This sweet romance was my first and still has a special place in my heart. I hope you enjoy it.
 Here's a bit about the book before you read the first chapter:
Can a woman run away, back to her past? Do you have someone in you’d like to reconnect with?  Caroline Davis White wasn't looking for Mickey, now Mike Foster, her childhood crush, she was fleeing her philandering husband, seeking peace and quiet, time to reflect on changing her life. But there was Mike, saving her from a mishap...again, bigger than life and even more handsome. 

A well-known artist, Sunny thought she could escape, disappear back to the cabin where she spent her summers as a child. But she was wrong. Her husband refused to let her go. There hadn't been a divorce in Brad White's family...ever! And he wasn't about to break that tradition now.  Could Caroline shake him loose and what about Mike? Where did he fit into her life?
CLICK HERE FOR THE FIRST CHAPTER

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BUY LINKS:
AMAZON BARNES & NOBLE SMASHWORDS PAPERBACK (Large print)