Jeannie Hudson's Blog: Bookmarks - Posts Tagged "pain"

I recently gave my historical suspense novel BEHOLD A LONE HORSEMAN to Dawn Newland the gifted artist who is creating
the cover for MARIPOSA. I was delighted by her response after reading BALH. I must share - "I just finished BEHOLD A LONE HORSEMAN. I must tell you I couldn't put it down. What a creative and captivating writer you are. I am honored to be doing your next cover...."

I would love it if my fellow Goodread
members would read BALH or my romantic
suspense TEN HOURS 'TIL SPRING and write a review. Thanks so, so much!!!

Now here's another excerpt from my brand
new historical romance MARIPOSA BOOK ONE -THE QUEST that will be published in May.

'He stopped at the edge of the wood,
his breath catching at the sight of her absorbed in her drawing, her slender body
inclined over her sketchbook. She'd discarded her bonnet onto the grass and the dappled sunlight through the branches
bathed her delicate features in soft light. Her low-cut summer gown offered an
enticing view, the elegant column of her
throat, creamy ivory shoulders and cleavage. He full mouth was pursed in thought. Heat flooded Damien's groin when
he recalled that her sensuality was no longer completely forbidden.
He hadn't expected such fervor in one so young and innocent, though he had
sometimes been sorely tempted by her amorous teasing. He had thought weeks of
gentle lovemaking would be required to unlock the passion he was determined would nourish their marriage. As it was,
he found in her an eager desire that roused his own carnal appetite and fueled a burning impatience. Now that he
knew her promise, he was half mad with his love for her and knew he'd never want
another woman in his bed. If she would agree, he'd elope with her tonight, the consequences of such brash action be damned.
When he stepped nearer, she looked up from her work, her eyes lighting. Tossing aside the sketchbook, she reached for his hand to stand, then dove headlong into his arms, searching his face for answers. "Please, what did she
say?"
"Kiss me first." He lowered his mouth to hers, glorying in her unabashed
answer, the warm melding of her body to his.
"Damien, I love you so," she said
some minutes later, her eyes shiny, her
limbs trembling. "When can we be married?"
He tenderly traced the curve of her cheekbone. "Tonight if you like, darling."
Her lips parted in confusion mixing with her joy. "But how...."
He pressed a slender finger to her
mouth. "Come sit with me and I'll tell you what Aunt Pris told me." One hand spanned the small of her back as he shepherded her to a low chestnut limb where they sat. "Aunt Pris doesn't want us to marry right away, Harper."
Her hand convulsed on his arm; worry
chased away the last of her gaiety. "She
loves you like a son. She's known since I
was small that I'd marry either you or
Brendon. She's known for years and years
that you're the one I chose...." She held
to the haven of his steady gaze as tears
threatened her composure.
"My love, she disapproves neither of
me, nor our marriage. She's merely determined that you see something of life beyond the refuge of Laughlin and
Willow Rook. In spite of her prim demeanor, Aunt Pris is a freethinking
woman, Harper. She hates the idea that
you might have a typical marriage where
you're only a subservient accouterment
of my life...."
"Our marriage won't be like that!
You said you wouldn't have it!'
"Certainly not, darling, I'll cherish and care for you, protect you with my life. Yet I want us to nurture
each other, sharing equally as we love and make love. You will be mistress of
Willow Rook and share equally in our life there...."

Upon winning a recent giveaway, I discovered an exciting new author in
Christian Strayhorn Spence. I really
enjoyed her story in THE PAIN COLLECTOR.
Early in the plot, I felt great sympathy
for Eva Kingley whose quiet, rather solitary life is abruptly assaulted by the
death of her father by suicide. She's
suddenly aware that a dark family secret
resides within her history. She inherits
a house and a library full of recorded pain
and hints from her father about a sinister
past. Intent on learning what she doesn't
know about her relatives because she never
had the opportunity to become acquainted
with them, not even her father, Eva sets
out on a journey to uncover the truth. In
the course of her quest, she learns of
appalling acts by her family amidst the
corruption of WWII. I loved the strong
characterizations and the weaving of a
beguiling and satisfying storyline. If
this novel is any indication of what Ms.
Spence may be capable of in the future, I look forward to more work by this promising new voice. I give THE PAIN
COLLECTOR 5 Stars.