Forgiving yourself is the first step, but helping others forgive may be just too hard. Rachel Cullen grew up in Scotland with a fiddle in her hand from the age of four. She couldn't imagine life as anything but a musician. When her husband brought her to America she was immediately embraced by the Celtic and Bluegrass communities. But after her divorce, Rachel's life is a mess.
A year of trying to prove to herself that she's woman enough for any man, and then a vicious rape while on tour with the band, leaves Rachel reeling. When she meets Noel Kershaw, an English teacher who is poetry in motion, she is definitely attracted. But he has a young child and he's suffering from his own divorce. The last thing Rachel needs in life is more baggage.
First, Rachel must reconcile who she is, what she wants, and how to get there. Maybe then she'll know how to be a part of the family she's always wanted.
Maggie will award one autographed cover flat to a randomly drawn commenter at each blog stop. In addition, she will award a $25 gift card to either Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner's choice) as a grand prize to one randomly selected commenter on this tour, and a $25 gift certificate to either Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner's choice) to a randomly drawn host. You must leave an email address to be entered into any of the drawings.
Excerpt:
After three circles, the girl stopped at the back end of the car, cocked her head and waved two fingers at her. “Hi.”
“Um, hi.” Rachel raised her hand and waved back. “Did you forget somebody? Your mommy maybe?”
“Claire, I told you to stay close.”
At the sound of the tenor voice beside her, Rachel started. A man three to four inches taller than her had stepped out. In one hand he held several colorful ribbons attached to a bright pink, heart-shaped helium balloon that read Happy Birthday. He looked toward the car where the child was still giggling.
The little girl raced back. Skidding to a stop in front of Rachel, they bumped and Rachel teetered slightly toward the wall.
“Careful there.” A weathered hand reached toward her and wrapped around her elbow. His touch was softer than she expected, but her knees still locked, ready to spring if she needed to move fast. He held her up with one hand. Deep brown eyes, emphasized by his full head of short, wavy blonde hair, looked at her then turned toward the girl.”
“Apologize, Claire. You almost knocked her over.”
“I’m sorry.” A small hand lifted to touch her other arm.
“That’s okay. Really. I should have been paying more attention.” Rachel smiled and pointed to the balloon. “Latha breith.”
“Excuse me?”
“Oh, I…” She had lapsed into Gaelic. Something she hadn’t done in public since Kavan left her almost three years ago. “I said ‘Happy Birthday.’”
About the Author:
Maggie Jaimeson writes romantic women’s fiction and romantic suspense with a near future twist. She describes herself as a wife, a step-mother, a sister, a daughter, a teacher and an IT administrator. By day she is “geek girl” – helping colleges to keep up with 21st century technology and provide distance learning options for students in rural areas. By night Maggie turns her thoughts to worlds she can control – worlds where bad guys get their comeuppance, women triumph over tragedy, and love can conquer all.
HEALING NOTES is the second book in the Sweetwater Canyon Series of four books. The final two books will be available in 2013.
Website: http://maggiejaimeson.com
Blog: http://maggiemeandering.blogspot.com
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Maggie-Jaimeson/118916694787820
Twitter: @maggiejaimeson
Lindsay, Thank you for hosting this stop on the Book Blast tour. I'm really looking forward to hearing from your readers. I see in your 2012 TBR pile that you have a lot of YA and Fantasy/Paranormals. I'd love to know what it is about the YA genre that keeps you reading, and how does it compliment the adult novels you read? The same question goes to the readers of your blog. I have a YA Fantasy making the rounds of publishers now, so I completely understand the desire to read and write in both genres.
ReplyDeleteThat is an interesting question Maggie, I do love the YA genre and I originally got into it because I am a teacher and I just wanted to find books that my kids would love, I would want to share with them, and didn't turn them into adults before their time!
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite things is finding YA novels that compliment adult novels I am reading. I am getting ready to start the first novel in the Wold Chronicles trilogy, Promise of the Wolves as part of our teacher book club. I stumbled across a young adult trilogy, very similar and purchased it. Many times I can tell my students what I am reading and what they can read as a kind of companion to it and they love it!
Interestingly enough, I am not so much into the paranormal stuff - I do read it, and I do put in in my TBR stack, simply because it is so popular right now. I have stumbled across a few paranormal titles that I did enjoy and again, if I can find those titles that are appropriate for my students, all the better!
It has been a pleasure having you here today, I hope Sandy didn't block out too many people from seeing my post today...
Lindsay, I love that you started reading YA because of your students. I started reading YA because it seemed to push the boundaries of genre more easily. Interesting that you can find a complimentary adult trilogy to a YA. I haven't really tried that yet. Thanks for answering. I'll check back tomorrow night to see if more have commented. With more than 2 million people without power on the eastern seaboard I think it is only appropriate to wait a little before giving up.
ReplyDeleteI have put this up on my page and told my followers that while you and I love talking with one another, we can't win and they had better get over here and comment :) Have a great day Maggie!
ReplyDeleteThe Grand Prize winner of the $25 gift card is Tore923. Congratulations Tore!
ReplyDeleteBecause I've had such a great time meeting everyone on this tour, I have decided to award autographed cover flats (one per person) to anyone who has commented during the Book Blast tour. If you wish to have one, please send an email to maggie at maggiejaimeson dot com with the name you would like with the autograph, and your mailing address. They must be sent through the post. If you do not want your name endorsed, in addition to the autograph, then please say so.
I promise, I will not sell your address to anyone or pepper your mailbox with flyers.