My family originally hailed from Ireland in the 1880’s. They landed on the east coast of Canada and
eventually migrated as far west as they could go. I guess the ocean was in their blood, as it
is in mine. Dad is turning ninety this
year, and years ago started a tradition of buying me a card each year to
celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. As you can
see, I have amassed quite a collection, which I proudly display each year. I get a little emotional when I think, one
year, there will no longer be a card in the mail from him.
Dad was always a big fan of my writing and Callie’s
Honor is his favorite of my stories. He
doesn’t really know what Bookbub is, but he was excited to hear they will be
featuring his favorite book on sale for .99 the day before St. Patrick’s
Day. Sounds like a good omen, wouldn’t
you say? Here’s an excerpt.
Rafe angled Callie's chair around till they faced
each other
and he had one knee on either side of her. "You don't
trust me, Callie. Now just why exactly is that?"
and he had one knee on either side of her. "You don't
trust me, Callie. Now just why exactly is that?"
Callie averted her gaze.
His free hand snaked between them.
Thumb and
fore- finger pinched her chin, turning her face back around to
his. "I expect an honest answer now."
his. "I expect an honest answer now."
Eyes steely, chin thrust forward, Callie met his gaze.
Her skin burned every place Rafe held her; "I don't
trust
any man."
any man."
She expected him to release her like a hot rock.
Instead, he took his time about it. Slowly his fingers
uncurled from around her wrist. Slower yet the fingers
imprisoning her face gentled, till their touch bordered on
a caress. "Why's that?"
uncurled from around her wrist. Slower yet the fingers
imprisoning her face gentled, till their touch bordered on
a caress. "Why's that?"
Feeling her
hands tremble slightly, she knotted them
in her lap, away from his gaze. "Never met a man yet who
gave me any reason to trust him. Including my pa and my
older brother."
in her lap, away from his gaze. "Never met a man yet who
gave me any reason to trust him. Including my pa and my
older brother."
"I
see." Rafe sat back in his chair and crossed his arms
over his chest. "In that case, apology accepted." He
extended his right hand toward her, leaving Callie little
choice but to slide her hand inside his. She was conscious
of the warmth of his skin, the callused, leathery feel of his
palm and fingertips. The sensations chased clear up her
arm in the most unsettling of ways.
over his chest. "In that case, apology accepted." He
extended his right hand toward her, leaving Callie little
choice but to slide her hand inside his. She was conscious
of the warmth of his skin, the callused, leathery feel of his
palm and fingertips. The sensations chased clear up her
arm in the most unsettling of ways.
He didn't let her go right away. Instead, he
raised her
hand to his lips and pressed a kiss on the spot where he'd
removed the sliver. Then he did something that caught
Callie totally off guard. He guided her wounded thumb
slowly to outline the contour of his lips, bottom and top.
hand to his lips and pressed a kiss on the spot where he'd
removed the sliver. Then he did something that caught
Callie totally off guard. He guided her wounded thumb
slowly to outline the contour of his lips, bottom and top.
Callie
felt as if melted wax spilled through her limbs in
a heated rush. Opening his lips, he pulled
a heated rush. Opening his lips, he pulled
her thumb just inside the hot moist cavity of his mouth
and
gave a slow gentle suck that she felt clear down to her
toes.
"Since you don't trust me, anyway,"
Rafe said, his
breath touching her forehead like steam rising from hot
water. "I guess it won't make much difference if I kiss
you."
breath touching her forehead like steam rising from hot
water. "I guess it won't make much difference if I kiss
you."
"Don't." The word barely escaped
from the tightened
muscles of her throat.
muscles of her throat.
With one finger beneath her chin he tilted
her face up
toward his. "Any woman smells this good, she needs kissing
if only as a thank you from the lucky man close
enough to notice. "
toward his. "Any woman smells this good, she needs kissing
if only as a thank you from the lucky man close
enough to notice. "
Callie trembled clear down inside her boots
as he lowered
his head to hers.
his head to hers.
In the meantime, I am working hard on a new American
Historical Romance series, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Hot off the press is the prequel, Before The Brides, free when you sign up
for my reader list to receive alerts about fan pricing, new releases, and free
promos. http://eepurl.com/bV0sb1
If you’re already on my list, don’t worry, you will
receive an alert telling you how to download your very own copy.
In the meantime, don’t forget to enter our Luck O the Irish draw for your chance at
some really great prizes. Have a Happy
St. Patrick’s Day, and may your beer be as green as the money in your
pocket.
Loved the story about your dad and the cards. Loved the excerpt. Phew! Great writing. Pulled me totally in. Good luck with Bookbub. May the luck of the Irish bring you many readers.
ReplyDeleteI love that Nora. Irish luck is good.
DeleteI love your dad's St. Patty's Day tradition. My mom used to send me postcards from all the places she was traveling. I have a box full of them and cherish them.
ReplyDeleteThat excerpt is HOT! Congratulations on your BookBub. :)
Aren't those little things precious, Satin?
DeleteThat collection of cards from your dad is too precious. Have you also scanned them as a means to preserve them? I also love how supportive your dad is of your work. He must be so proud. :D
ReplyDeleteLavender, that is an awesome idea. I would not have thought of it, so thank you.
DeleteOops, I forgot harperyn [at] outlook [dot] com
DeleteI scanned all my old birthday cards because some of them were looking worse for wear. The fun bit is, you can also view them on your phone, tablet, pc, etc.
The cards are amazing. Happy St Patrick's Day
ReplyDeletedebby236 at hotmail dot com
Thanks for stopping by, Debby. March should be lucky for all of us.
DeleteI hope you continue to receive the cards for a very long time to come.
ReplyDeletemarypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
I hope so too, Mary.
ReplyDeleteYour dad is so, so sweet. It's hard for men to remember doing these little cute things. I hope you continue to receive the cards for many, many decades.
ReplyDeleteadissidente [at] gmail [dot] com
Thanks Iris. I admit it is cute to see him getting softer and more sentimental over the years. He's been widowed twice, so looks to my sister and I for the female companionship in his life.
DeleteEnjoyed your post, Kathleen. I'm part Irish too from my maternal grandfather. I live in a part of Houston where we still have a big St. Patrick's Day parade. Hopefully the weather tomorrow will be parade-worthy.
ReplyDeleteA parade. What fun, Joan. Here's to good weather and a great time!
ReplyDeleteMy maternal great grandma, an Irish woman, married an Englishman and set sail for Canada too! Happy to have both heritages in my bloodlines and on St. Patrick’s Day we are all Irish anyway! Congratulations again on Bookbub, couldn’t be happier for you and Callie’s Honor is a great read!
ReplyDeleteHappy St. Paddy's weekend, Shelley. Keep entering and keep winning our contests here at Romance Gems.
DeleteWhen I had my DNA tested for genealogy I discovered I was more Irish than I originally thought!
ReplyDeleteHow fun, Kari. I got dad a DNA kit for Christmas. No surprises but a few previously unknown relatives have come out of the woodwork and emailed him. I'm thinking of doing mine one of these days.
DeleteHow heart to have a tradition like that with your dad! I lost mine a few years ago when he was only 67. But did he love St. Patrick's Day!
ReplyDeleteMsredk at AOL dot com