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Saturday, May 7, 2011

WHAT DO REVIEWERS SAY ABOUT "SUNNY DAYS, MOONLIT NIGHTS"?

Hi, I'm Linda Davis, Caroline Davis White's mother. I'm here to brag about my daughter and because it's almost Mother's Day, I can do just that. Read what other people, reviewers, are saying about my darling daughter and her story. BTW "Sunny Days, Moonlit Nights", makes a great mother's day present!


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What Are Friends For? "Sunny Days, Moonlit Nights" by Jean C. Joachim





Caroline
Davis White is a well-known artist and married to a wealthy, controlling man. She has everything money could buy except one thing: love. Brad refuses to give her a divorce she so desperately wants. With no money, family, or friends, she flees to the Catskill Mountains where she spent her summers as a young adult.

Mike Foster has achieved success and made more money than he could have thought possible, but it destroyed his marriage and cost him his son. he is wary of every woman he meets, knowing his money may be more attractive than his good looks. Caroline reconnects with the life she had and friends from long ago. Mike stepped out of her teenage dreams into her life again, looking more handsome and tempting than ever. Caroline knew Mike back then, but is he still the man she fell in love with?

This is a very provocative love story about two hurting, disillusioned people who reconnect after many years but who now bring a sizeable load of baggage with them. Once they were young and carefree, spending their summers with friends, enjoying the mountains and swimming in the local lake, looking forwarrd to life's many possibilities. Now both have been hurt in significant ways and even though the old feelings seem to be alive in each of them, they both have secrets and along with those secrets come fears that revealing their true selves and the present dimensions of their lives, they could lose far more than they ever have before.

Caroline has been married for a number of years to a man who seemed to care for her in the early days of their marriage. Now, for the past two or three years, he has reverted back to his old ways and has been openly unfaithful to her, even to the point of discussing his affairs openly with her. He refuses her requests for divorce because in his mind, Caroline is a possession--a beautiful asset to his position as a wealthy man and a figure in New York society. Her fame as an artist has also become his "property" and no matter what she says to him, Brad takes delight in controlling every aspect of her life. Somehow she has amassed some funds and she is now walking out on him when he is out of town, hiding her location from him, and beginning divorce proceedings. With the help of a very good attorney who happens to be a good friend, Caroline tries to get her life back.

Her destination is the old summer cabin her family used for years in the Catskills. There she runs into the handyman who looks familiar--turns out he is her long-time friend and buddy Mike Foster. He is still doing odd jobs in the area and on several nights a week he appears at a local establishment with his rock band. Caroline is delighted to find her old friend who happens to be the man who made her heart sing so many years ago. He is now more handsome than ever, and while she is fully aware that she is still married, she knows that down deep she is still in love with him. Their old friendship is re-established and the old feelings re-emerge for them both. But Caroline and Mike are deeply fearful of being blunt honest--he is a multi-millionaire who has returned to his boyhood home, and she is a married lady in the midst of a messy divorce. This does not bode well for either of them or for their future together unless they can get past all these secrets.

This novel really digs into the heart of what it means to build trust between two people whose emotions become entangled. Obviously, withholding such basic facts about their individual situation is not a good foundation for building any semblance of relationship. While they are having fun reconnecting, their are others who are seeking to bring them both down publically. The media is seeking the "missing wife" of the wealthy New Yorker which places her ability to get her life away from Brad in danger, and any dirt they can dig up or manufacture on Mike is going to put his visitation rights with his son in difficulty. Lots of serious consequences for these two if all does not go well. Caroline has her art and Mike has his life and his music. Can they find a way past the fear and distrust and disappointment and find their way back to each other?

Both Caroline & Mike are like so many today who have become caught up in their lives, in their circumstances, and who have been injured deeply by persons in their lives they once loved and trusted. Those are the most painful kinds of wounds. There does come a time when the new and very vulnerable relationship between Mike and Caroline takes a beating--is really in danger of being destroyed, and how they get past that challenge with all its questions and sadness is a large part of the latter half of the novel. Their story reflects the kinds of challenges so many face when somehow they must find a way to rebuild what was once a good and emotionally satisfying love. Sometimes it works out, but for others the relationship cannot every be rebuilt.

I found this novel compelling and as is true in so much fiction, it combines true literary entertainment with some insight on living that can be helpful to many. Certainly it is instructive to think carefully about the values of honesty and open communication no matter what. In Caroline's case, would it have really hurt her chances with Mike if she had been upfront with him from the beginning? I don't think so. Perhaps his experience of going through a painful divorce could have been a helpful resource for her. Is there really any value in "going it alone" if there exists a friend whose judgment is trustworthy? Again, I don't think so. These were two critical errors Caroline made that came back to bite her in the backside. Reading this story was a very good experience and the book is one that I am sure I will be re-reading in the near future. I don't think this is a simplistic story--too many interesting characters and too much at stake for it to be simply a "girl meets boy" kind of romance. The situations in this story are messy because human life and relationships are messy. That is one of the things that makes for good fiction.

So I recommend this to romance fans and believe it will be a book well worth reading. I give it a rating of 4.5 out of 5.



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100 ROMANCE REVIEW WEBSITE
Joey’s Review:

Caroline is married to a jerk. That's the short, but not-so-sweet truth. Finally fed up with his antics, she packs her bags and leaves. She heads somewhere with good memories, her family's summer lakeside rental at The Birches, and as part of her new start, adopts the name Sunny, what everyone called her before she married into a life of luxury.


In time, she meets The Birches maintenance man, Mike, who turns out to be her childhood crush. Sunny is understandably surprised, especially when it becomes evident that Mike is becoming interested in her. Naturally, her unfinished business with her jerk of a husband keeps her from being open to a relationship with Mike, and that leads to some misunderstandings.


This was a pleasant read. Oftentimes, when I'm reading romance novels, I'm picturing young twenty-somethings, with an annoying perfectly pretty streak. I appreciated reading a story that seemed to fit my age-group: that don't-you-dare-imply-I'm-pushing-forty demographic. The characters felt like people I could know. Average, intelligent people just looking for a little happiness.


I especially liked Mike. I like Mike. Sorry, can't ignore a fun rhyme, there. I'm always a sucker for a guy who is beautiful to the woman who loves him. I don't need a hero who looks like he just stepped off the cover of GQ. I imagined him as attractive, but not necessarily perfect. When an author gives me that imaginative freedom, the hook is set.


Angst-whore that I am, it often surprises me when I'm given what qualifies as a mellow read, and find myself enjoying it. And I definitely enjoyed this one. The romance in this story isn't about getting to the smutty smut, it's about what's going on in our couple's hearts and minds. And that's something I was definitely on board for in this book. Mike and Sunny made sense. And I'd definitely recommend this story.


Joey's Rating:


FOUR STARS!



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From Bennet Pommerantz, Amazon reviewer, April 28,2011:

5.0 out of 5 stars Suuny Days is romantic and warm, April 28, 2011

This review is from: Sunny Days, Moonlit Nights by Jean C. Joachim (Kindle Edition)
If have have been slightly amiss lately in reviewing books. I have been bogged down in reading this book and Love Tattoo. Both are excellence novels. I must thank Both authors for give me PDF files of their books. I have truly been entertained

What does amaze me about this romantic novel is ..This is a simple romance (the kind I used to read in 1980s) with enough twists and turns to keep any reader interested.


There is old billboard with a picture of chinese man with slogan, "You dont have to be Jewish to Enjoy Jewish rye bread" I would say, you do not have to enjoy romance to enjoy this book.


Ms Joachim uses her writing talents to paint vivid characters that are real to anyone. Nothing about this romance seem false in the story's delivery or characters. It has a bit of spicy, but just enough to keep the reader interested.


The ending is tied up so nice and well. I find this book so charming and good. I cant rave enough about this novel


Now, Would I read this again? Yes, you better believe it..If my mother or aunt would read PDF files (or a kindle), I would have them read this book. In saying that, they both are not computer savy. PLUS they are not young anymore. (sorry Mom!--but its the truth!)


I would wish some of these audio romance publishers like Brillance or Harper Collins) would record this piece to CD or download. It is made for spoken word. It sings off the pages as you read it!


Bennet Pomerantz

AUDIOWORLD 

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From THE PEN & MUSE:

Review: Sunny Days, Moonlit Nights by Jean Joachim

Joachim provides us with a sweet romance with a tale of powerful love that is once again found. Sunny Days, Moonlit Night follows the story of Caroline who leaves her controlling husband. Caroline finds herself with a Mike, a childhood crush. Together they have a wonderful tension. Together they rekindle something that they had a long time ago. Will that be enough to get rid of Caroline’s controlling husband, Brad who won’t let go? A man who is used to getting what he wants. Unfortunately he thinks he can step out on Caroline and have her sit and take it. Caroline leaves for this very reason although Brad’s trouble seems to find her again. Joachim enchants us with these lovable characters and bonds us to them. We will root for both Caroline and Mike. As an author she has a wonderful talent to put you right in the characters mind and their world. Be enchanted and enjoy the ride that Caroline takes on where love actually conquers all.
  



Friday, April 15, 2011
Book Review of 'Sunny Days, Moonlit Nights' by Jean C. Joachim
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Sunny Days, Moonlit Nights, was written by Jean C. Joachim and published by Astraea Press in February, 2011. You may purchase this book at http:/​/​www.amazon.com/​


Carolina Davis White is a talented artist in a loveless marriage. For two years, she has put up with this life and she can no longer stand it. Running away from her husband Brad, who cheats on her and uses his riches to get what he wants, seems to be her only option. So she flees to her family's cabin in the Catskill Mountains, a place she loves and in which she found peace in earlier times. There, she begins divorce proceedings.

Enter Mike Foster, a successful man who has lost his wife and child due to his driven work attitude. As Caroline connects once again with old friends, Mike reappears and reminds Caroline how it used to be when they were younger and in love.


This is book is an awesome love story. I started reading and couldn't stop...my favorite kind of romance. It has all the makings of a good love story; a friendship/​crush/​love that is re-kindled after several years and then goes thru some drama to finally end in a 'forever' scenario. There are some twist and turns that will keep you turning pages and the characters seem real and not 'too' perfect.


I'm giving this book a 5 spider rating and recommending it to anyone who is interested in a good love story. Don't miss this wonderful read!!


T Lane 


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This review is from: Sunny Days, Moonlit Nights by Jean C. Joachim (Kindle Edition)
Reviewed at: [...]
Reviewed by: Dawne

Artist Carolina Davis White is stuck in a loveless marriage. After years of feeling trapped and stuck, she runs away from her cheating husband and his money, which he uses to benefit himself. She finds herself at the family cabin in the solitude of the Catskills and reconnects with old friends including Mike Foster. Finding peace, obtaining her divorce and falling for Mike are in Carolina's future. But alas, watch out for that selfish husband, Brad. If ever a man needed to be knocked down a notch, he is a prime suspect.

Mike is dealing with his own loss, his son years ago and all the money he's made over the years mean nothing to him without true love. Add in that he's wary of all women, who may be after his money.

If you're looking for a sweet, sensual side to romance, this is the book for you. Take the beautiful and charming Catskills, add in love, friendship and romance and this book will grab you in. I was drawn into the storyline immediately and Joachim's dynamic writing style, dialogue between Carolina and Mike is so remarkable. The love grows with each scene creating the love all women cherish and desire in life.

This is one of those "What-if" novels that many women will relate to. I highly recommend this novel and challenge anyone who reads not to find a little of his or herself in the characters experiencing love lost returning from the past.


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Buy Links
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Astraea Press   (all formats)

Friday, May 6, 2011

'THE WAY OF THE CRESCENT MOON", ALEX SINCLAIR'S LATEST RELEASE

Today we welcome talented author, Alex Sinclair, and an excerpt of his latest release, "The Way of the Crescent Moon."
    
THE WAY OF THE CRESCENT MOON
 About the book
Marcus has to juggle the declining health of his mother on one hand and a tedious dead end job on the other. Life has not been kind to Marcus. His father has spent the better part of the last two years in Iraq, which plants seeds of fear within his mind every time the news mentions the death of another soldier. Losing another loved one is his biggest fear. Unknown to his family Marcus still struggles to come to terms with the death of his older brother that he idolized.
        What he does not know is that the person in most danger is Marcus himself. A serial killer is hunting down and brutally murdering Olympic champions, martial art masters and street fighters. Marcus is introduced into a secret underground world of martial arts when the serial killer turns his blood sport fixation on mixed martial artist Marcus


Title: The Way of the Crescent Moon
Author: Alex Sinclair
Publisher: Melange Books
Genre: Action & Adventure, Suspense, Slice of Life
Price: $5.59
Melange Books 
Let his evocative prose take you to another time and place.
EXCERPT

Brian swayed unsteadily, as he raised his fists into the guard position.
     Was there someone else out there?
     My heart instantly stopped as a second figure came into view.
     A menacing black cloud of death surrounding its body was shocking - like a void of pure negative energy. It was as if someone had cut a hole in the fabric of space and the contents of hell were spilling out all around this evil presence.
     In an oddly casual manner, the towering figure approached Brian. The muscular stockroom manager uncharacteristically backed away, as the man continued to approach. They were but three feet away from one another and the difference in size was phenomenal. By no means was Brian a small man. Standing six foot one, he was the city martial arts champion, which meant he trained hard day in and day out. He took care of his body and looked more like a professional weight lifter than a martial artist due to his large muscular frame, but this figure of darkness made him look small. The man’s bicep alone had to be as big as Brian’s waist and he stood a good two heads taller than the stockroom manager; black combat jeans, black boots and a black short sleeved t-shirt hugged the attacker’s  muscular mass tightly, displaying the man’s intimidating powerfully built body. Even his muscles had muscles. He looked strong enough to lift a car.
     “Stay back!” screamed Brian.
     The man smiled demonically, his face scarred beyond belief and looked as if a tiger had scrapped its claws across his face in a diagonal motion over and over again. The scars continued across the top of his head and down the back of his neck, making hair growth impossible. His nose was crushed beyond recognition and squashed against his face.
     A bone crunching snap echoed throughout the stockroom.
     Brian gasped violently for air, as he doubled over in pain. The man’s long muscular tree trunk sized leg was indented against the stockroom manager’s chest. The extended leg remained locked in the front straight kick position for several seconds before the man of darkness effortlessly lifted his leg up into the air, which lifted Brian’s motionless body with it.
     I watched in awe as the man lifted his leg up until the sole of his left foot was pointing vertically up towards the sky. It was like he was doing the standing splits against an imaginary wall. One foot was firmly rooted to the floor, whilst the other pointed straight up to the heavens above, but more impressive was Brian’s entire bulky body was being held up by this man’s extended leg.
     A heavy thud echoed through the stockroom, as the man brought his foot down and slammed Brian’s limp body against the hard stone floor knocking Brian completely unconscious. The man stepped over him and regarded the knocked out martial artists for a moment. Silently he raised his foot above Brian’s head, as he prepared to deliver the final blow.
     Instinct took over.
     My legs carried me down the hallway at a full sprint before I even realised what I was doing. I leapt into the air like some sort of Olympic long jumper and propelled myself towards the towering giant. My right first curled tightly into a ball and I primed the perfect haymaker.
     The man in black was so busy torturing Brian he hadn’t even noticed me. His entire left hand side was completely exposed and all I had to do was strike his temple, a known weak point in the human body, no matter how big you were if you got struck hard enough in a weak point you were going down.
     I launched my fist forward.
     I winched, as a vice like grip tightened around my right wrist. My world spun violently like I was sitting on some sort of amusement ride and I crashed back into one of the metal shelves of the stockroom spilling items all across the stone floor.
     Pain splintered along my back, as I landed heavily on all fours.
     What had just happened?
     I looked up just as the man attempted to punt my head like a football.
     My left palm came down to parry the rising kick, as I used my powerful leg muscles to leap like a frog off to one side. The powerful head crushing kick snapped one of the metal shelves completely in half.
     Just how powerful is this man?
     My body collided with the shelf on the other side of the aisle, as I attempted to avoid the kick. I didn’t have time to respond to the pain in my shoulder. Instead, I forced myself to step forward and threw a powerful right punch at the man’s solar plexus, a weak point located in the centre of the chest. The man slapped my fist away with the ease you would swat away a fly. My momentum carried me forward taking me off balance. I was met by a rising uppercut that exploded my nose into a fountain of red. I stumbled backwards down the aisle and tried to regain my balance, but my legs refused to respond and the tears in my eyes blurred my vision.
     The man followed up instantly and caught me across the side of the face with a powerful strike I didn’t see coming, but surely felt. I stumbled back further into the aisle and somehow managed to keep my legs moving, by now they felt like lead weights. Blood gathered within my mouth.
     I reached out to try and steady myself. The tips of my fingers touched something wooden and heavy. I turned my blurry gaze towards the shelf and caught sight of the old-fashioned top-heavy broom.
     I glanced at the man.
     He was walking slowly towards me with a twisted smile across his scarred face.
     “He underestimates you,” whispered the voice of my unconscious self. “Don’t let your mind become stuck in one place,” it instructed. “Hit first and hit hard, but hit so hard that it shocks your opponent and he is unable to recover. Don’t disrupt the flow…”
     I let out a howling war cry, as I threw myself towards the tower of evil.
     The broom was pulled from the shelf and in one quick movement I brought it up and down in long powerful one-handed arc. The man blocked the downward head strike with his log-sized forearm. The broom snapped into two pieces leaving me with only the handle within the palm of my hand.
     “Keep moving forward,” commanded my unconscious self.
     Without thinking I lunged forward with the tip of the broken broom. The broken point of the damaged broom stabbed straight into the man’s exposed throat.
Thank you for sharing this, Alex. I wish you much success.
     

Thursday, May 5, 2011

FIVE DAYS NOTICE -- NEW RELEASE BY ALEX SINCLAIR

 Today we are fortunate to have an excerpt from one of gifted writer, Alex Sinclair's, beautifully written, cleverly plotted new releases, "Five Days Notice": 

About the book
The global economy has collapsed and third world war has left the planet a dark and deadly place. Having a job is like winning the lottery. It is a rare and cherished thing. Society is split into two classes, the poor and the damned. Only one superstore remains in the city. The seven staff members work long hours for hardly any pay, but they are considered the lucky ones.


River is in love. He is in love with the woman of his dreams. Only she doesn’t know it. Ariel lights up his dark and lonely world. She is the reason he wakes up every single morning. Her friendship and company give meaning to his existence, but when job cuts are announced his world is turned upside down. The staff are given five days notice. By the end of the week three members of staff will be fired, but how far is River willing to go to ensure that the love of his life keeps her job?
With uncertainty and doubt fuelling the fires of fear each member of staff sets out on a dangerous path of deception.

The flesh of the weak is food for the strong. It is a dog eat dog world. Friends become enemies. Lovers become deceivers. You can trust no one. You can rely on no one. You must do what needs to be done to make sure you survive. You must steal, you must betray and you must kill. Betrayal, deception and corruption have never looked so sexy.

Title: Five Days Notice
Author: Alex Sinclair
Publisher: Sinclair Books
Genre: Romance, Suspense, Sensual
Price: $2.99
Buy Link:
Here is a taste of Alex's teasing, sexy prose from his brilliant new book:
The sound of laughter echoed off the walls of Ariel’s apartment. It was the sound of two people not afraid to open themselves up to one another. There was no attempt to contain their feelings or emotions. They simply sat on the couch laughing their asses off, as they enjoyed the start of a third bottle of wine. ‘Okay, okay, okay.’ River tried to fan down the laughter with his hands. ‘If your life was on the line and you had to date one of them, which one would you go out with?’
‘I am not saying,’ Ariel blushed and looked away.
River knew what that reaction meant, but he replied with. ‘Alan?’
‘Shut your mouth,’ she slapped him on the arm, as River burst into another fit of laughter from the overly dramatic shocked expression upon her face. ‘That is not even funny,’ she said even though she too started to giggle like some sort of school girl. His positive energy just seemed to make her want to smile. ‘Okay. If you had to date any one of them who would it be?’
‘Honestly?’ River slurred. The wine had gone straight to his head.
‘I want you to give one hundred percent honesty,’ countered Ariel.
River nodded his head in a slow drunk gesture. ‘I would date you.’
‘You big fibber,’ Ariel wouldn’t believe a word and shook her head in disagreement. ‘I am a woman and even I know Kerry is hot. And Hope is pretty in that sort of shy emotional type of way. They are beautiful. I am not.’
‘Yes you are,’ River cut his hand through the air like a knife. ‘You wanted an honest answer and I gave you the answer I truly believe. If I could take anyone out it would be you.’
‘Why?’ Ariel sipped at her wine.
‘Do you really need to ask? I would ask you out because I fancy you.’ River laughed. Ariel did not. ‘You are my best friend. I have never had a friend until I met you and now you are the greatest thing in my life.’ Ariel could feel her heart starting to beat faster within her chest with each word that left his mouth. ‘You make me laugh, you make me smile, you make me feel good about myself and you make me feel so happy. I love talking to you and I love that we have all the same interests and I think you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.’
‘River stop,’ Ariel held up her hand. In her heart she wanted him to go on, but she had to save him from himself. ‘You are drunk and you don’t mean these things. Please stop before you say something you will end up regretting in the morning.’
‘No,’ he placed his wine down on the coffee table and shuffled closer towards her. He was now facing her. They were no longer talking from either end of the couch. River had entered her personal space and he wanted her to know the truth. ‘I may be drunk, but that does not change the fact that you are beautiful. No, not just beautiful. You are special and unique. Everything about you is perfect.’ Ariel swallowed down the lump in her throat.
Where had he gained this confidence from?
‘You have the most perfect hair, and eyes and your smile always makes my heart melt. When I am near you I cannot stop myself from looking at your legs, your lips and your breasts.’ River slowly started to lean in towards her. Ariel knew that she should turn away and tell him to stop, but she wanted this so badly. ‘You are the most amazing and the most beautiful woman in the world,’ he spoke no louder than a whisper, as his face moved closer towards hers.
‘River we shouldn’t…’ Ariel didn’t sound like she wanted to stop.
‘Why shouldn’t we?’ he looked down at her lips. The lips he wanted to kiss.
‘I…’ Ariel didn’t get to finish.
River pressed his lips against hers.
Butterflies began to kick up a storm within her stomach.
A wave of tingles danced along her spine.
It was a sweet gentle kiss. It was a kiss that held all their true emotions for one another and on some unconscious level they both knew that their relationship had moved beyond friendship a long time ago.
River pulled back from the embrace and smiled. ‘I have wanted to kiss you for so long, but I never knew that it would feel so amazing.’ Ariel looked deep into the windows of his soul. He had such an innocent look about him. These were not words spoken simply to get her into bed. This is how he actually felt. Ariel wanted to laugh and cry all at the same time. She had always thought she had been kidding herself about her feelings for River, but he felt the same way about her.
Ariel leaned forward and pressed her lips against his.
River replied by adding greater pressure to the kiss.
Ariel opened her mouth and welcomed his tongue inside. A warm sensation was starting to build within the depths of her body. The feel of his tongue rolling within her mouth was causing her panties to become slightly damp. Her hands stroked along the side of his smooth clean shaven face and she stroked her fingers through his shaggy blonde hair. The kiss was starting to turn into something darker and deadlier, as they tilted their heads from side to side and allowed their tongues to continue their private dance. She could feel his hand upon her ribcage. The young man had placed it on the part of her body that wouldn’t cause her to feel uncomfortable or nervous.
Was he testing how far she wanted to go?
Slowly she could feel his hand inching its way up towards her breasts, as they continued to make out. A wave of disappointment washed over River, as Ariel pulled back from the kiss.
‘We have to be up really early tomorrow,’ said the voice of reason. Ariel got up off the couch. ‘I should really go to bed.’ She headed towards the bedroom door and then paused. ‘Are you coming?’ she smiled a devious smile and headed into the bedroom. River didn’t need asking twice.
Thank you for sharing this excerpt, Alex. I wish you success. Tomorrow we have Alex's newest release, just a few days old! Come back for a sneak peek at "The Way of the Crescent Moon"

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

THANK YOU, JUDGE JUDY!

Judge Judy to the Rescue

            I used to watch Judge Judy regularly, not for the crazy people exposing their stupidity, greed and lack of morality to the world, but for what I could learn from the wise judge herself.
Her phrase, “If it doesn’t make sense, it isn’t true,” became my mantra as I studied how she spotted liars and exposed them. I found it fascinating.

            I had no idea her wisdom would change our lives.

My husband’s church was looking for a new pastor. Yes, he is Baptist and I am Jewish. He was on the search committee and from time to time I would ask him how it was going and did they have any good candidates. When my husband came to me with some conflicting information, I put on my Judge Judy robes and advised him.
           
One day he told me about a candidate, I will call him John Smith, who wrote the worst letter he had ever seen. The letter was full of misspellings, bad grammar and run-on sentences. Since my husband, a lawyer, is a stickler for perfect writing this bothered him greatly, like a poke in the eye when he was reading.

            After coming back from a weekend away, he informed me John Smith was the guest speaker at his church that weekend and he was sorry to miss him. The following Sunday, several of the congregants told him how wonderful Mr. Smith’s sermon was and he passed their accolades along to me. I did a double take, hearing Judge Judy in my head, “if it doesn’t make sense, it isn’t true.”
           
            “How can that be? How can someone who can't write a letter write a brilliant sermon?” I asked him.

            He shrugged. At the time, I was teaching direct marketing at a fashion college in New York City. One of the professors there taught me how to check for plagiarism by taking the questionable sentence, putting it in quotes and Googling it. This works beautifully, exposing plagiarizers with minimal fuss. I suggested to my husband he might want to do that and we moved on.
            The next morning at six a.m., I rolled over to find my husband propped up on one elbow, wide awake…unusual for him at that hour…staring at me.
            “You’re up, right? You’re up?” He asked, all excited (no…not THAT kind of excited!)
            I nodded and he almost dragged me out of bed and to the computer in the living room. He handed me a couple of printed pages, pulled up a chair for me and clicked on a DVD of John Smith’s sermon, recorded at his church.
            You guessed it. The sermon was word-for-word purchased for $4.95 from a “Sermons R US” type of website on the Internet. As I followed along, my mouth hung open. Even the anecdotes were the same. When the sermon said, “My childhood best friend, Sam…” John Smith didn’t even change the name of the friend!
            I burst out laughing and the two of us rolled on the floor at the audacity and stupidity of this man. My husband took this information to the committee and John Smith was dropped from consideration immediately.
            While my husband credits me with saving them from this lying faker, I credit Judge Judy. If it hadn’t been for you, Judge, we would never have been able to expose this guy. Thank you, Judge Judy!




Do you have someone in your past you would 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 start breaking the tradition now.  Could Caroline shake him loose and what about Mike? Where did he fit into her life?
Read reviews at: website
Buy links  - $3.99 ebook,  $9.99 paperback (amazon)
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Astraea Press






When two teenage sisters move to the country for the summer, they don’t expect to be saving animals or solving mysteries.  As soon as Amanda & Emily Carson arrive at The Birches, their summer community during a driving rain storm, they are pulled into a rescue for a pug swept away by a raging stream.

Sixteen-year-old Amanda reconnects with her old friends while her younger sister, Emily makes a new friend, Ashley. Their friendship heads south when Ashley accuses Amanda of theft!

Tension runs high, splitting the sisters. But when Gus, Ashley’s dog, disappears, Amanda and Emily join forces to find him, risking their own safety. A desperate escape finds the girls locked in a closet in a haunted house. A frantic search by the community turns up nothing until David, the girls’ friend, takes their alert dog, Muffin, out to find them.

All ends happily as the mysteries are solved, Gus is returned and even Ashley’s missing bracelet is recovered. Take this fun adventurous journey through friendship, mystery and sisterly devotion. Best for young readers ages seven and up.


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THANK YOU, JUDGE JUDY!

Judge Judy to the Rescue

            I used to watch Judge Judy regularly, not for the crazy people exposing their stupidity, greed and lack of morality to the world, but for what I could learn from the wise judge herself.
Her phrase, “If it doesn’t make sense, it isn’t true,” became my mantra as I studied how she spotted liars and exposed them. I found it fascinating.

            I had no idea her wisdom would change our lives.

My husband’s church was looking for a new pastor. Yes, he is Baptist and I am Jewish. He was on the search committee and from time to time I would ask him how it was going and did they have any good candidates. When my husband came to me with some conflicting information, I put on my Judge Judy robes and advised him.
           
One day he told me about a candidate, I will call him John Smith, who wrote the worst letter he had ever seen. The letter was full of misspellings, bad grammar and run-on sentences. Since my husband, a lawyer, is a stickler for perfect writing this bothered him greatly, like a poke in the eye when he was reading.

            After coming back from a weekend away, he informed me John Smith was the guest speaker at his church that weekend and he was sorry to miss him. The following Sunday, several of the congregants told him how wonderful Mr. Smith’s sermon was and he passed their accolades along to me. I did a double take, hearing Judge Judy in my head, “if it doesn’t make sense, it isn’t true.”
           
            “How can that be? How can someone who can't write a letter write a brilliant sermon?” I asked him.

            He shrugged. At the time, I was teaching direct marketing at a fashion college in New York City. One of the professors there taught me how to check for plagiarism by taking the questionable sentence, putting it in quotes and Googling it. This works beautifully, exposing plagiarizers with minimal fuss. I suggested to my husband he might want to do that and we moved on.
            The next morning at six a.m., I rolled over to find my husband propped up on one elbow, wide awake…unusual for him at that hour…staring at me.
            “You’re up, right? You’re up?” He asked, all excited (no…not THAT kind of excited!)
            I nodded and he almost dragged me out of bed and to the computer in the living room. He handed me a couple of printed pages, pulled up a chair for me and clicked on a DVD of John Smith’s sermon, recorded at his church.
            You guessed it. The sermon was word-for-word purchased for $4.95 from a “Sermons R US” type of website on the Internet. As I followed along, my mouth hung open. Even the anecdotes were the same. When the sermon said, “My childhood best friend, Sam…” John Smith didn’t even change the name of the friend!
            I burst out laughing and the two of us rolled on the floor at the audacity and stupidity of this man. My husband took this information to the committee and John Smith was dropped from consideration immediately.
            While my husband credits me with saving them from this lying faker, I credit Judge Judy. If it hadn’t been for you, Judge, we would never have been able to expose this guy. Thank you, Judge Judy!




Do you have someone in your past you would 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 start breaking the tradition now.  Could Caroline shake him loose and what about Mike? Where did he fit into her life?
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When two teenage sisters move to the country for the summer, they don’t expect to be saving animals or solving mysteries.  As soon as Amanda & Emily Carson arrive at The Birches, their summer community during a driving rain storm, they are pulled into a rescue for a pug swept away by a raging stream.

Sixteen-year-old Amanda reconnects with her old friends while her younger sister, Emily makes a new friend, Ashley. Their friendship heads south when Ashley accuses Amanda of theft!

Tension runs high, splitting the sisters. But when Gus, Ashley’s dog, disappears, Amanda and Emily join forces to find him, risking their own safety. A desperate escape finds the girls locked in a closet in a haunted house. A frantic search by the community turns up nothing until David, the girls’ friend, takes their alert dog, Muffin, out to find them.

All ends happily as the mysteries are solved, Gus is returned and even Ashley’s missing bracelet is recovered. Take this fun adventurous journey through friendship, mystery and sisterly devotion. Best for young readers ages seven and up.


Buy Link Only $.99
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Tuesday, May 3, 2011

READ THE SECOND CHAPTER OF "SUNNY DAYS, MOONLIT NIGHTS" HERE, FREE


Chapter Two
 

Caroline was on the highway before long, heading toward
upstate New York, driving to The Birches, a co-op community of
summer cabins located on twenty-five acres of land in Pine Grove.
It was a tiny town about thirty miles south of Willow Falls. Her
mother and father owned a cabin there and Caroline spent her
summers in the community when she was growing up.
 

Linda Davis and other teachers escaped to The Birches for its
cooler weather in the summer, leaving behind the hot, stifling, and
claustrophobic city. Caroline inherited the cabin from her mother
when Linda died and along with it, just enough money to continue
paying the maintenance on the property that was run as a
cooperative for several more years. Brad knew nothing about this
place and although Caroline had not been there in ten years, she
had fond memories of her summers, playing with friends,
swimming in Cedar Lake, drawing and painting.
 

Mid-May was early in the season; Caroline didn’t expect
anyone else to be there. She wouldn’t mind being alone. When she
pulled into the parking lot, she was right, hers was the only car
there. She got out and unfastened Trixie, who immediately jumped
out of the car and raced around in the thick grass, snorting and
panting.
 

“Come on, girl,” Caroline called as she walked down to the
old cabin. 


The paint on the outside was peeling signaling the cabin
probably was in disrepair. The once carefully tended shrubs were
overgrown and unruly, like her hair in the morning when her
mother had tried to comb it. Her favorite pine tree for climbing had
been trimmed severely so the low-hanging branch she used to start
her climb had been cut off.
 

Caroline had a moment of panic when she realized she had
not considered the cabin might be uninhabitable. If so, she had no
place to live because she would not go back to Brad, no matter what.
 

Trixie followed her down the hill to cabin number fifteen,
her lucky number. She stopped to reach under the front step for the
key always left hanging there. It was still there! She stepped up on
the deck, carefully walking around two holes where rotting boards
had broken through. She opened the screen door, then worked the
old key into the lock on the wooden door and twisted. The door
swung open and while she hesitated a moment, Trixie pushed ahead,
trotting into the cabin, sniffing.
 

“Okay, I know you’re braver than I am, Trixie,” she said,
following the dog inside.
 

Stale, damp, musty air greeted Caroline, the same smell that
was always there after the cabin had been closed up for the winter.
She walked in, leaving the inner door open to air the place out and
looked around. The bungalow had not changed at all since she had
last been there. The faded red sofa and the mismatched plaid chairs
were still in the living room. The fine wood coffee table had a thick
layer of dust on it. She walked into the kitchen that also served as a
dining room. The big oak table was still there but there were only
four chairs instead of six. She turned on the sink and found the
water was still working. Next she tried the lights, which also worked.
 

Her old bedroom was off the kitchen and her parent’s room
was off the living room. She went into her room and immediately
felt transported back to when she was thirteen. On the wall were her sketches and watercolors. One caught her eye right away. It was her favorite, a sketch of Mickey Foster, the eighteen-year-old boy she had a crush on when she was thirteen. Mickey was her protector when he was there. But she never saw him again after he went off to college. She touched the pencil sketch tracing his profile, remembering how handsome and brave he was.
 

Caroline thought about the last time he “saved” her: when a
stranger trespassing on the community’s property approached her,
Mickey came to her rescue. The man told her he had a puppy that
needed help and would she come to his car to see it. Caroline had
been both afraid and curious, she backed away from him, but he
kept on creeping closer to her. Mickey showed up before the man
could touch her and told him he was her brother. The man left and
Mickey called the police. Who knows what would have happened if
Mickey had not been there. But he was always there bailing her out
of trouble, and she was grateful.
 

She went into her parents’ bedroom. Her father’s artwork
was all over the walls. He did many sketches of their friends in the
community and wild animals and birds in watercolors and oils plus
local landscapes. He was a talented artist who had never gotten the
recognition he deserved. He became an art teacher and a salesman
trying to support his family in style, but he never made much
money and died in a bus accident on the way to the cabin when she
was ten.
 

Caroline missed him, his sense of fun, his guidance and
watching him paint. She learned much from her dad about
technique like light and shadow, how to pick a good landscape to
paint and mixing colors. He had been her hero.
She felt guilty she had so much more fame than her father
had, even though she considered him the better artist. But she knew
he would have been proud of her and admired her success. Trixie
barked at the screen door to go out and brought Caroline back to
reality. She and the pug went to the car. She lugged each heavy
suitcase down to the cabin. Then it was time to clean.
 

She put music in the old CD player in the living room,
singing along while she dusted, swept, cleaned the kitchen and
changed the linens. The little cabin brightened up under her labor;
singing the old familiar tunes she used to sing with her mother
brought happiness to the old place once again. She had not sung
much in years and was happy she could still sing on key.
 

As she was taking out garbage, she spied a man on the
grounds. He was driving a small tractor down near the lake. It was a
relief to find she wasn’t totally alone; there was a maintenance man
about.
 

Before grocery shopping, it was time to scrub the grime of
the old cabin off her body. She got in the shower and when she
twisted the hot water spigot to adjust it, it came off in her hand.
Scalding hot water shot across the shower, trapping Caroline
against the wall. She opened the bathroom window, saw the figure
of a man walking toward the Baron’s cabin across the way and
screamed for help. She saw him stop and turn. She called out again,
and he came toward her cabin. A minute later, he entered the
bathroom where she was naked and confined by the hot water.
 

“Towel!” she hollered, covering herself as best she could with
her hands and arms. After studying her body briefly, he looked
away then threw her a towel, went over to the water controls and
turned off the hot and cold water. Caroline covered herself with the
skimpy towel and stared at the man. He was in his thirties,
handsome with dark brown hair, light brown eyes, a slightly square
jaw, one day’s growth of beard and over six feet tall with a slim,
strong build.
 

“You need a new spigot. There might be one in the shed good
enough to hold for today, but tomorrow you should stop by the
hardware store and pick up a new one,” he told her.
 

There was something about his voice, something she
recognized. Caroline stared at his face, peering into his eyes…those
eyes seemed familiar. She gasped.
“Mickey, is that you?”


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HAVE KIDS? TRY MY NEW KID'S MYSTERY, ONLY 99 CENTS ON KINDLE:




When two teenage sisters move to the country for the summer, they don’t expect to be saving animals or solving mysteries.  As soon as Amanda & Emily Carson arrive at The Birches, their summer community during a driving rain storm, they are pulled into a rescue for a pug swept away by a raging stream.

Sixteen-year-old Amanda reconnects with her old friends while her younger sister, Emily makes a new friend, Ashley. Their friendship heads south when Ashley accuses Amanda of theft!

Tension runs high, splitting the sisters. But when Gus, Ashley’s dog, disappears, Amanda and Emily join forces to find him, risking their own safety. A desperate escape finds the girls locked in a closet in a haunted house. A frantic search by the community turns up nothing until David, the girls’ friend, takes their alert dog, Muffin, out to find them.

All ends happily as the mysteries are solved, Gus is returned and even Ashley’s missing bracelet is recovered. Take this fun adventurous journey through friendship, mystery and sisterly devotion. Best for young readers ages seven and up.

Buy Link

Monday, May 2, 2011

READ THE FIRST CHAPTER OF "SUNNY DAYS, MOONLIT NIGHTS" HERE, FREE


Chapter One
“You’re running away, Miss?” Harry, the butler, asked her.
“Yes, I am. I’ve had enough. Thank you for all your kindness
over the past five years. You helped to make unbearable times
better,” she said, warmly, shaking his hand.
Harry, a non-descript, plump, fifty-year-old man blushed,
putting color in his sallow cheeks.
“Don’t know what’s wrong with Mr. White. When he has you
here, why would he…? Well, it’s not for me to understand, I guess.
But I wouldn’t be doin’ that if I were him.”
She was grateful for his sweetness, but it was time to get
started. She had a long trip ahead. Caroline Davis White dashed
into the sunroom to grab her sketchpad and her fawn pug when the
doorbell rang.
“It’s Stanton Cauley, Mrs. White,” Harry said, returning to
the sunroom.
Caroline went to greet her visitor, a tall, slim, attractive man
with gray hair, dressed in casual pants and a button down shirt.
“Stan, nice to see you, but I was just going out. Is there a
problem with the collection?” she asked, smoothing down her long
blonde hair.
“No, no, Caroline. My people have packed up your paintings
now that the show is over, and I wanted to deliver them to you
personally.”
“That’s nice of you, but unnecessary,” she said, looking at her
watch.
“You’re looking ravishing as ever,” he said, his eyes roving
over her body, focusing too long on her cleavage, unconsciously
licking his lips before raising his eyes to hers.
“I’d love to invite you for coffee, Stan, but as I said, I’m on
my way out…” Caroline said, uneasy under his stare. She backed
away from him, crossing her arms over her chest defensively.
“Always working, Caroline, you’re such a gifted artist, but
even a driven one takes time off to…ah…play once in a while,” he
said.
“Yes, well, today is not the day for that, I’m afraid,” she said,
moving toward the front door, hoping he would follow her.
“Come on, Caroline. Let’s stop beating around the bush. You
know why I’m here.”
“Honestly, Stan, I don’t have a clue. But whatever it is will
have to wait.”
“But love can’t wait.”
“What?”
“That’s right.”
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t pretend, Caroline. You know I want to have an affair
with you. I’ve wanted it for a long time. Brad has his…other life…so
why shouldn’t you have yours?”
Caroline’s face flushed with anger and embarrassment.
“What happens between Brad and me is none of your
business. I’m married, Stan, and even if I wasn’t, I wouldn’t be
interested in sleeping with you. Never have been, never will be. I
suggest you leave.”
“Come, come, don’t be like that. I can show you a good time,
believe me. We can sail away for the weekend together on my yacht.
I’ll treat you well, just say the word.”
“No way. If Brad knew you were coming here with this…this
proposition, he’d-”
“But he does know. He thought if you had some diversion of
your own, you wouldn’t mind so much if he had his,” Stan said,
stepping closer and reaching for her hand.
Caroline moved back away from him.
“Come. Don’t be childish. You know you want this,” he said,
advancing toward her.
Anger from the past two years of pain and humiliation
pooled in her chest. Stan Cauley’s proposition was the last straw.
“Get out, Stan. Get out. You’re disgusting. Leave. Now! Get
out!” she screamed, her voice escalating in intensity.
She picked up an umbrella from the stand and threatened
him with it.
His face turned purple with outrage and when Harry opened
the front door, Stan stormed out.
Caroline put down the umbrella and took several deep
breaths to calm herself. She blinked back tears.
“That’s the way, Miss,” Harry said, shutting the door quickly.
“Harry, did you get the paintings unloaded before you
escorted him out?”
“Of course,” he said, smiling.
Caroline sank down in a soft chair in the foyer. Trixie came
and sprawled out at her feet. Harry brought her a cup of coffee. The
foyer of the Riordan twenty-room house in Greenwich, Connecticut,
one of the richest towns in the country, was grand. Great art hung
on the walls, the floor was pink marble and the room was painted a
tasteful beige.
The foyer was elegant like all the rooms in this house.
Bradley Riordan White lived in the section of town zoned for fouracre
estates, a cut above the area zoned for a paltry two acres.
Caroline paused. She thought about how great life could have
been in this amazing home with an art studio and a greenhouse.
Life could have been wonderful with the right man. Instead, this
house had become world’s classiest prison with Caroline as the only
inmate.
She had been planning to leave Brad for the past three
months. Her suitcases were packed, but the time never seemed
right. After Stan’s visit, if she had any thoughts about staying, they
were gone. Her relationship with Brad had deteriorated beyond
repair and she had to leave…immediately before she had to face
another degrading situation like the one with Stan. She finished her
coffee and called for Harry.
“Would you please help me load up my car?”
“Right away, Miss,” he said.
Caroline led him into her bedroom to get two suitcases and
several small oil paintings.
“Harry…don’t put the luggage and things in the Bentley,” she
instructed.
“You’re not taking the Bentley?” he asked, raising his
eyebrows in surprise.
“No. Put everything in the Mazda, in the trunk. I don’t want
anything showing in the back seat,” she said, ready to be rid of the
trappings of wealth.
“Yes, Miss,” he said, picking up the two heavy suitcases.
He carried the luggage and artwork out to her car and loaded
it expertly into the trunk, fitting all the luggage, paintings and
sketches together snugly so nothing would get damaged.
“A long trip, Miss?” he asked her.
“Yes, Harry. A long, private trip. You’re not to tell anyone,”
she said.
“What should I say if Mr. White asks me where you’ve gone?”
“Tell him you don’t know. Because you won’t know.”
Harry packed up Trixie’s things and put on the dog’s harness
and fastened her safely in the car while Caroline paused again to
take one last look at the magnificent house, her home for the past
five years, a two-story structure of wood painted white with dark
blue shutters. The long, graceful circular driveway was paved with
gravel and the three acres of rich, green lawn behind the house
seemed to stretch to the next town. The grass was clipped to
perfection, thanks to a team of gardeners. The azaleas in the front of
the house, under the large windows of the living room were
blooming in pink and white. May was the most beautiful time of the
year here.
She thought for a moment about the fabulous parties they
threw there, especially the ones introducing her art shows. Brad
urged her to expand her art subjects, and he became her biggest
promoter. He threw elaborate parties to introduce his rich friends
to Caroline’s art. His money and influence got her work shown in
the toniest galleries in New York City and Connecticut. She became
a celebrity in the art world.
Brad saw her as his creation and took credit for her success.
Caroline, a shy twenty-eight-year-old woman when they married,
was uneasy in the spotlight but she kept painting and doing what
Brad directed in an effort to make him happy. She was born to
please but try as she might, she didn’t seem able to please Brad into
being faithful to her.
She felt sad to leave. This would be the first failed marriage
in the White family for one hundred years. Remaining married was
an important tradition for The Whites. They had all lived,
reproduced and prospered in this house, even the staff had been
there before Caroline arrived. Her day-to-day existence with plenty
of household help had been one of great comfort as well as her own
private dungeon.
Caroline knew where she was going would not be nearly as
lavish, but still she had to leave. After a few years of a decent
marriage, Brad had cheated on her. In the last two years, the
cheating had become so blatant Caroline could barely endure it. Yet
when confronted, Brad told her he had been faithful to her for four
years, counting the year of their engagement, the longest he had
ever been faithful to anyone; she should be flattered and take this in
her stride.
Gradually, the hurt and humiliation from his cheating
eroded her affection for him, which had never been overwhelming
to begin with. Her mother, Linda, wanted her to marry rich so she
would be well taken care of and not have to struggle, like the Davis’
did, so when Brad proposed, she did what her mother wanted and
married him.
Unbeknown to Caroline, Linda had been terminally ill when
Brad proposed. She worried about who would take care of her
daughter after she was gone. It never dawned on her Caroline could
take care of herself. They were married the next year and the year
after that, Linda died, content in the knowledge that her daughter
would be well provided for.
Now at thirty-three, Caroline was ready to shed the skin she
wore for her mother and strike out on her own.
“Will I see you again, Miss?” Harry asked as he closed the
door on the Mazda for her.
“I don’t know,” she said.
“Then I wish you well. Been a pleasure drivin’ you and all,”
he said, bowing, his limp brown hair falling in his eyes.
“Thank you,” she said, starting the engine and putting the car
in gear.

TO BE CONTINUED...TOMORROW, CHAPTER TWO!!

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Sunday, May 1, 2011

Six Sentences, a taste of "Sunny Days, Moonlit Nights"

Mike put his large hand with long slender fingers over
Sunny’s on the table and rubbed his thumb over the white mark
where her wedding ring used to be.
“Are you married?” he asked, glancing at her finger then
looking in her eyes.
“Not anymore,” she lied, looking away from him.
“Looks pretty recent,” he probed, fingering the whiteness of
the mark.
She nodded.
“I suppose that’s another reason why you are here,” he stated.
“You could say that,” she admitted feeling her heartbeat
quicken at the thought of the truth coming out.



If you missed earlier snippets from "Six Sentence Sunday" scroll down to the archive section on the right where you will find earlier snippets that will catch you up on Sunny and Mike's past.

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SCAVENGER HUNT INTERVIEW


INTERVIEW WITH THE HEROINE FROM “SUNNY DAYS, MOONLIT NIGHTS”

Today we’re talking with famous artist, Caroline Davis White.
“Good morning, Ms. White…”
“Please, call me Sunny, all my friends do.”
“Okay, Sunny, tell me how you came to meet and marry Brad White.”
“I met Brad at a charity function.”
“Did you date long before getting married?”
“We dated for over a year.”
“Were you undecided about marrying such a rich man?”
“I guess I was a little reluctant…he wasn’t my prince charming, but my mom wanted me to marry him, so I could be taken care of.”
“So you married him for her? Do women still do that these days?”
“I did. Not a wise decision, but I’ve always wanted to please my mom and not been too successful at it.”
“So what happened with Brad?”
“The first few years were pretty good. Brad gave me an art studio and I spent a lot of time painting and drawing…maybe too much time…”
“What do you mean?”
“Brad was into art. He worked hard to make me  famous, but once he did, the excitement wore off for him. Brad always needed a new challenge. After a while, he found that challenge in other…uh…activities.”                                                                                
“Oh, I see. Do you consider his extra activities your fault then because you spent so much time painting?”
“Not really. A man can find hobbies other than cheating on his wife to fill spare time.”
“Of course he can! *pats Sunny’s arm* So Brad was cheating on you?”
*she looks down at the floor, color creeps into her cheeks*
She nods.
“Seems to me with a beautiful wife like you at home, he’d have a hard time finding someone better.”
“It wasn’t that. The thrill of the chase, always the thrill of the chase, even with me. Brad likes to win and a business deal that doesn’t work out or a woman he can’t have become obsessions with him.”
“How did you find out?”
“Brad hid it well, always had a cover story and a friend who would lie for him, so it took me a long time to find out…years in fact. But when I did, I saw it was happening more and more and he was getting careless, earrings in the car, an embarrassed chauffeur trying to lie for him…”
“Did he break your heart?”
She nodded.
“Why didn’t you leave him sooner?”
“I had nowhere to go. I have no family and no money of my own.”
“Did you confront him?”
“Several times, but he denied everything.”
“Did you have evidence?”
“Nothing I could use. But he knew I knew, so he stopped for a little while then started up again but became even more cautious.”
“It must have been lonely for  you…”
“It was. We lived in a big…beautiful…house. The house felt like a prison after a while. Then when he sent his friend over to proposition me…”
“He sent a friend to seduce you?”
She nodded.
“Stan, Stan Cauley.”
“What did you do?”
“I threw him out of the house. Then I knew I had to get out.”
“You left right after that?”
“I did. Immediately. I ran away.”
“But you have found happiness now, haven’t you?”
“I’m happier than I have ever been…with the right man and time to paint…and of course, my pug, Trixie!” *pug jumps in lap, licks face*
“What a cute dog! Great name, Trixie.”
“Thank you.”
“We’re out of time. I want to thank artist, Sunny Davis, for this interview. I wish you all the happiness in the world.”
“Thank you.”


Six Sentence Sunday snippet:

Mike put his large hand with long slender fingers over
Sunny’s on the table and rubbed his thumb over the white mark
where her wedding ring used to be.
“Are you married?” he asked, glancing at her finger then
looking in her eyes.
“Not anymore,” she lied, looking away from him.
“Looks pretty recent,” he probed, fingering the whiteness of
the mark.
She nodded.
“I suppose that’s another reason why you are here,” he stated.
“You could say that,” she admitted feeling her heartbeat
quicken at the thought of the truth coming out.



If you missed earlier snippets from "Six Sentence Sunday" scroll down to the archive section on the right where you will find earlier snippets that will catch you up on Sunny and Mike's past.

Buy links
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Astraea Press