Kicking Sideways
by Dina Keratsis
GENRE: Contemporary Romance
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
Lucretia
“Cree” Cabot spends her time saving everybody else to avoid facing her own
haunted life. Between raising her younger brother and trying to open a women’s
shelter, Cree has built an impenetrable wall around her heart. But when a
tenant for Cliff Cottage appears at her door, he cracks her vigilantly
controlled world, forcing her to look within to confront the emptiness inside.
Mike Sullivan, famous
superhero artist, is searching for a peaceful summer break and a new
perspective on life. A farm in sunny Santa Cruz seems like just the place.
Looking to escape from his usual routine, he doesn’t count on falling for a
woman who is as stubborn as the mule that lives in her barn. Yet beneath Cree’s
prickly exterior, he finds a woman in pain—a woman with an immense capacity for
love. Mike knows she is the only one for him, but will Cree find the courage to
truly live and love before the best thing to walk into her life leaves her
behind?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT:
Cree looked at him blankly, her eyes a dull blade. “I just
want it to be perfect for them. I want their bedrooms to be fresh and bright,
not musty farmhouse wallpaper and someone else’s memories,” she despaired. “I
want them to feel like they have a place to belong and start over.”
His heart tugged for her and fell just a little bit more in
love with this practical woman who had enough poetry to want to save the world.
He reached across the table and took her hand, tightened as she resisted, and
was surprised when she succumbed.
“It’ll get done,” he whispered, giving her hand a little
squeeze. “I promise.” Her hand melted in his and the burden dissolved from her
face. She smiled tiredly before pulling her hand away to pick up a dish.
“Go hang out with your girlfriends for a couple of days.”
She looked down at the plate and walked to the sink.
“You do have some of those, don’t you?” he asked,
suspicious.
“Not really,” she replied. “All my college friends moved
away a few years ago and I haven’t met too many people around town.” Shrugging,
she added, “I don’t mind when it comes down to it.”
“Cree likes to be alone,” Seth said. “She’s weird.”
“I’m one for haunting graveyards by myself as well. Nothing
wrong with liking your own company, kid,” he said as an arm shot out and his
hand caught Cree’s arm as she passed with another plate for the sink. “Nope,”
he commanded. “Go sex wax your board or whatever you surfers do to prepare for
a day with the sharks.” He took the plate from her as he released her wrist.
“You’re taking tomorrow off.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A note from author
A note from author
Dina Keratsis
***
***
I’ve just packed away the last Christmas dish, swept the
pine needles from the floor, and coiled the lights to box for another year.
This time of year saddens me, packing away all the hope and light that the Yule
season symbolizes. It’s too easy to slip into the fears of the dark without the
easy reminder of glowing lights.
One of my favorite books and inspiration for Kicking Sideways is E. M. Forster’s A Room With a View. His heroine, Lucy,
refuses to understand herself because that “might lead to self-knowledge and to
that king of terrors—Light.”
Lucy doesn’t realize that the “king of terrors” is exactly
what she needs to reveal true happiness. She risks joining “the vast army of
the benighted who follow neither heart nor the brain.” Her life will be
unfulfilled and empty if she does not find the courage to know herself and act
accordingly.
We all want that Light – to be our best selves, to thrive,
to be joyful. Too often we let fear kill
that inner light. And so we settle.
Kicking Sideways
is dedicated to all of us who have stifled that light within.
My wish for you this year is to explore those ghosts that
haunt your heart, shed bright light in those dark corners and as E.M. Forster
would say, “face the sunshine.”
Happy New Year!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Dina Keratsis
is an award-winning author of romance fiction in which all roads lead to
illumination and magic is found in the mundane. A New England girl, she has a
penchant for punk rock, Scottish tea rooms and a mad crush on Sirius Black. She
lives in Massachusetts with her husband and two children.
Website:
www.dinakeratsis.com
Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/dinakeratsis
Pinterest:
www.pinterest.com/dinakeratsis/
Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Dina-Keratsis/e/B002BLU538/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1442157959&sr=8-1
~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY:
Dina will be awarding $15 Amazon or B/N
GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Thank you for hosting
ReplyDeleteWho is the most intelligent person you know?
ReplyDeleteToo many to name just one, but everyone has wisdom to offer if we listen.
DeleteThank you for hosting me today. I hope you all enjoy reading about the book that inspired Kicking Sideways! I am at the day job today but will be back this evening.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this outstanding post, especially Dina's concerning the inspiration for her book! Thank you so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you, Betty. Lots of light to you this year.
DeleteI liked the excerpt.
ReplyDeleteHappy New year, Rita!
DeleteI enjoyed the excerpt and I touched by the author's note. Thanks so much, Kicking Sideways sounds a like a wonderful read, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteEva, you made my day. Have a great night!
DeleteThe cover of this book is great! I'm looking forward to reading it, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI thhoroughly enjoyed the excerpt! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting excerpt thank you.
ReplyDeleteI love the cover. Thank you.
ReplyDelete