Sweet Saturday Sample of "April's Kiss in the Moonlight"

Today's sweet sample is from my newest release, "April's Kiss in the Moonlight". It is the sequel to "Sunny Days, Moolit Nights".  It's only $2.99 on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords. Please leave a comment and tell me what you think. Love feedback. Hope you enjoy the sample and thank you for stopping by. 

         By the middle of the second week, April felt stronger and the bruises started to fade. Saturday morning she got under a hot shower, which made her aching body feel better. She could hear the sounds of construction coming from the room across from hers. Mike and Sunny were turning it into a nursery because they were planning to have a child.

April dried her long, lustrous, dark brown hair, which fell to her shoulders in loose curls framing her bruised oval face. Her eyes, so dark they were almost black, reflected her troubles. Her black eye was turning yellow and the bruise on her delicate chin matched it.

She wrapped a towel around her body and tucked the corner in between her breasts, picked up her hair dryer and opened the bathroom door. She walked into the living room and ran smack dab into the best looking man she’d ever seen coming around the corner. She bumped into him and grabbed her towel to secure it. He steadied her with his big hands on her elbows as his gaze met hers. They stopped and stared. April felt a sizzle, like an electric current rise up her arms and shoulders from the touch of his hands.

Standing about six feet tall with a slender but strong build, the intriguing stranger had the bluest eyes and darkest hair imaginable. His eyebrows were thick, sideburns perfectly clipped and two days growth of beard appeared on his long, narrow face. She couldn’t take her eyes off him.

Gavin’s gaze took in her glossy brown hair, lovely face, black-and-blue marks and all, then traveled down her towel-clad body slowly, stopping to rest on the swell of her breasts above the towel before sliding down to examine her lovely legs. Heat traveled through his hands and up his arms. He was obviously entranced and rendered speechless by her five feet four inches normally attractive, now painfully colorful.  His eyebrows lifted as he eyed her bruised shoulders.

“What happened to you?” he muttered, dropping his hands from her arms.

“Got in the way of an explosion,” she explained.

He nodded, then eyed the engagement ring on her hand.

“Gavin Dailey,” he said, extending his hand.

“April McKenna.”

Her hands were too full to shake his and as she looked down at them, she remembered she was wearing only a towel. Her hand flew to secure the towel’s precarious tuck at her chest while her face flamed. She sputtered something unintelligible and ran from the room, hearing the sound of his low chuckle behind her.


A little bit about the book: 

Fresh from graduate school, April McKenna, beautiful and brilliant vows to strike out on a new path rather than return to San Francisco to take a job with her father’s firm. She meets Rusty and sets off for an escapade that ends in tragedy. Injured and alone she is taken in by Sunny Davis, a friend of her mother’s who lives in a small town in the Catskill Mountains in New York.

During her recovery, April resolves to carve out an exotic life of travel and adventure. But she didn’t count on a sexy fireman upsetting her plans. Gavin Dailey has dated practically every woman in the county, but when he meets April, he knows he’s finally found the one he wants.  Only a stubborn man like Gavin wouldn’t let April’s resistance to his charm and his small town change his plans. Determined to win her, he pulls out all the stops until he encounters one stumbling block he didn’t count on. Only a near-tragedy resurrected from the past gives April the tenacity she needs to make the right decision for her life in April’s Kiss in the Moonlight.

Buy links: 
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April's Kiss in the Moonlight - CONTEST!

I honor of my new release, the sequel to Sunny Days, Moonlit Nights, I'm giving away a copy of my new release,  April's' Kiss in the Moonlight.

Read the excerpt, leave a comment with your email address and I will select a winner tonight. The winner will receive a free copy of April's Kiss in the Moonlight. Thank you for stopping by and participating.                                                                        

                                 Chapter One
As April McKenna drove her small car around the bend and approached a tiny town, a good looking, big man with short, reddish brown hair stepped into the street and stuck out his thumb.
‚Yeah, right, Mr. Serial Killer, like I’m going to give you a ride,‛ she said aloud to herself, speeding up to pass him quickly but unable to direct her gaze away from his.
She averted her eyes hastily, trying instead to concentrate on sorting out her life. Driving the back roads from Willow Falls, NY to San Francisco gave April time to think. She had finished her MBA and was heading back for an internship in her father’s company, prelude to a staid, boring, corporate life. The thought of such a future left her restless . . . and restlessness was fast turning to unhappiness. April didn’t want to go back . . . didn’t want to live her father’s life. She wanted to break out, but didn’t know how, she she’d always been the good girl, doing the right thing, what was expected of her.
With her mind occupied, she was driving on automatic pilot and saw the glass scattered in the road too late to avoid it. Her tire lasted another half mile before it blew. She pulled onto a muddy shoulder and got out of the car. She rummaged around in the car trunk having no idea where the spare tire or the jack were or even how to use them if she found them. She pulled out her cell phone only to remember she’d forgotten to recharge it before leaving school. Then she laughed when she realized there was no one to call anyway. You’re supposed to hang something white on the door handle when you need help. April returned to the car, took off her white lace panties, the only white object she had and hung them on the door handle, closed the door and waited.
 
Only a few houses dotted the lonely country road, but acre after acre of green fields was bursting with ripe crops. Standing on tiptoe, she could barely make out a farmhouse in the distance. The tall corn stalks of late July blocked her car from view by anyone at the house.
Half an hour passed and no car came by. Was she about to spend the night there in her car? Then she saw him in the rear view mirror. It was Mr. Serial Killer, coming around the bend, and heading straight for her car. She felt panic rise in her chest as she locked all the doors and hunkered down.
 
He walked up to the car and knocked on the window, startling April, who jumped. When she turned to look at him, he was smiling at her.
"Flat?" He asked.
She nodded.
"Pop the trunk," he said.
Can’t you get inside the car through the trunk? He could attack me .
"Take it easy. I’m not a mass murderer. Want to help you change your tire," he called to her.
April popped the trunk. If she didn’t want to spend the night alone in the dark, accepting his help was her only choice.
"Are these yours?" he asked, plucking her panties off the door handle and holding them up to the car window. The white lace bikinis looked ridiculously small in his large hand.
 
April felt heat seep into her face and knew she had turned several shades of red. Avoiding the stranger’s gaze, she opened the car window and snatched the panties from him. He laughed, shook his head and headed for the trunk, as she struggled to put the panties back on while sitting in the front seat.
"Easier to jack up the car if you’re not in it," he called to her.
Reluctantly, she got out of the car, keeping an eye on him and perched on a large rock at a safe distance to watch him, hugging her knees to her chest.
"Rusty," he said, extending his hand after taking off his backpack.
"April," she responded, wrinkling her nose with distaste at the sight of dirt coating his hand.
"Oh, yeah, sorry. Greasy." He wiped his hand on his jeans.
 

Don't forget to include your email address so you can win!

Buy Links - only $2.99
Amazon
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FAMOUS REJECTION LETTERS WE'D LIKE TO SEE!

I was wondering what would happen if some of the writers of classic masterpieces were submitting their brilliant manuscripts to agents and publishers today? Perhaps the would receive rejection letters like these.


TO: Herman Melville
RE: Your manuscript titled "Moby Dick"
Dear Mr. Melville:
   While we'd like to publish every manuscript we receive, I'm afraid we have to reject yours. I'd like to offer a few tips which might help on your next submission.
   First, what kind of name is Ishmael? Readers want a name they can either identify with or dream about. Robert, Nathanial or even John, but Ishmael? Not for us.
   What about the name of the whale? Dick? Really? That's a porn word, Mr. Melville. I don't think our readers would accept that at all. In fact you might find your book in the "banned book" pile before anyone even opened it. Junk the title and come up with something more appropriate.
    When you've fixed those two things, and cut it down to 220 pages, please feel free to resubmit. By then we should have time to actually read your manuscript.


TO: John Steinbeck
RE: Your manuscript titled: The Pearl
Dear Mr. Steinbeck:
      We are very sorry to reject your manuscript, but the theme is hackneyed. So the kid finds a big valuable pearl. Big deal. Hey, people win the lottery every day. Can't you come up with something more original? If you do, please submit it to us. We'd love to read your next work.


TO: John Steinbeck
RE: Your manuscript titled: Of Mice and Men
Dear Mr. Steinbeck:
      Thanks for submitting your next manuscript and we are sorry but we have to reject it. A guy who kills bunny rabbits with his bare hands? Yuck! Please. Readers will be repulsed. Then he murders a beautiful woman but doesn't get nabbed by the police? Where's the hunky detective here, Mr. Steinbeck? Where is the shoot out, the blood and gore? Your simple justice left us cold. You had a great opportunity for a book/movie deal with this one but without the fireworks, we're afraid your manuscript simply fizzled for us. Try again.

PS Were George and Lenny gay, by any chance?

TO: Margaret Mitchell
RE: Your manuscript titled: Gone With the Wind
Dear Ms. Mitchell:
Interesting romance but have to reject your manuscript for the reasons listed here. Where is the erotic scene with Ashley? After Melanie bites the dust, we expected Scarlett to get it on with Ashley. What happened? And all that war stuff...come on, who cares? All those injured soldiers and none of them having sex with anyone? The war really interfered with the plot. We wanted a more explicit scene with Rhett Butler, too. In fact, several explicit scenes would have been an improvement over that old, worn-out, schlepping her up to the bedroom deal. And it's long. If you cut out the war stuff, you might be able to get a deal at another romance publisher. Good luck with that.

TO: Vladimir Nabokov
RE:  Your manuscript titled: Lolita
Dear Mr. Nabokov:
Is this supposed to be a romance or just porn? Because it doesn't make it as either. While we love the effort you put into this, the dirty old man is passe. Now if the old guy was a woman instead and Lolita was Lou, a young hunk, you'd have something. Can't buck the trend, Mr. Nabokov, cougar stories are hot. Older men lusting after young women is out. But older women lusting after young men is in. Please rework your manuscript and resubmit.


TO: J.D. Salinger
RE: Your manuscript titled: Catcher in the Rye
Dear Mr. Salinger:
Hey, what happened? We thought you were submitting a salacious baseball tell-all bio not some gunky teen book. You know what's missing? Drugs, sex in the backseat of a car, at least a blow job in the bathroom? Nothing like that here. Sorry we have to reject this, Mr. Salinger. Add some heat and resubmit and we'll see if we can wade through your book again.


TO: Jane Austen
RE: Your manuscript titled: Pride and Prejudice
Dear Ms. Austen:
While we found your manuscript beautifully written, we were disappointed to find that prejudice didn't involve any racial, religious or sexual orientation hatred. Hey, simple uptown vs. downtown romance difficulties bored us to tears. Haven't you ever seen West Side Story? They did it better than you. All that subtle stuff will blow right by our readers. Now if you'd like to make Mr. Darcy black or Jane Bennett Jewish, we're all ears. Please rework your manuscript to have real prejudice and resubmit.

A little about the book:
Now and Forever 1, a Love Story is about Callie's Richards, a young woman who's known tragedy, and her journey back to a fulfilling life. After losing the love of her life, she meets Mac Caldwell, a handsome dean at Kensington State University. Can they build a life together after facing hardship and loss? You'll cheer with her triumphs and empathize with her setbacks when you read this emotional story.
 Review from The Pen & Muse:
"Joachim brings in the romance we all know and love. A romance where love conquers all and can withstand just about anything. I loved Mac and Callie’s story about their hardship and their courage to continue. I loved the interaction between Callie and Mac’s son. From start to finish you are rooting for these characters and don’t want to put the book down. Joachim always writes great stories of love and passion. Stories like these teach us that love is stronger than anything else. Those who love contemporary romance will love this book!"
To see review click Pen & Muse 
Click here to go back to Six Sentence Sunday 
Buy Links - $3.99 everywhere:
Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Secret Cravings Publishing

All Romance eBooks

TUESDAY TALES - THE MARRIAGE LIST

 This is an excerpt from my new Thanksgiving novella, The Marriage List, scheduled to appear by November 1. Hope you enjoy it. Here is a sneak peek at the cover:

     

Envy burned in Grey Andrews’ chest as he walked through the door at Blondie’s the sports bar on West 79^th Street on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. His three best buddies had it all, great jobs and great wives while at 30 years old, Grey was still working night and day, saving every penny and sleeping alone…most nights. Tonight he faced the challenge of listening to them brag without letting the smile slip off his face.

The bar was beginning to get noisy with baseball games on three TVs and rowdy laughter escalating. . Grey wondered when it would be his turn for happiness. He got a table and downed a drink before his friends arrived.

He perused the room for eligible women. There were a couple at the bar, talking to each other, looking pretty hot. Later, he’d try to drum up some action. One looked over at him and smiled. Her blonde hair and ample chest made it hard for him to turn his gaze back to the door, where Will was entering, followed by Spence.

Grey raised his hand in greeting to his buddies as they made their way to his table. They met at the bar quarterly for a couple of beers and dinner. Though they were eight years out of college, when they were together it was like old times hanging at the fraternity. Practically inseparable in college, they called themselves the “Four Horsemen”. When Bobby arrived, they motioned to the waitress for another pitcher of beer.

Grey, the only unmarried one, wanted to hear how married life was treating his friends. Although he wasn’t in love or even dating one woman exclusively, he was thinking about taking the plunge himself…time to start looking for Ms. Right. Grey was a planner.

He spent eight years working sixty hour weeks to achieve success; his job at an investment firm kept him busy watching his clients’ money and his own. He survived on practically nothing, rooming with four guys squeezed into a two bedroom apartment and invested every penny he earned. He and his roommate worked out a sex schedule, planned ahead a month, that was fair to both. They agreed: no girls sleep over. Sexual encounters took place at the girls’ digs on nights when Grey didn’t have his room to himself.

He mastered the art of the cheap date: picnics in Central Park, free concerts, trips to the Bronx Zoo on free entry days, long walks. Grey wooed his women on as few dollars as possible, saving every cent. He planned to become rich and he enjoyed watching his money grow, multiplying at a rapid rate.

But four times a year, he splurged on a night out with the guys at Blondie’s, and so it wasn’t a total loss, he’d often pick up a woman at the bar afterwards. Tonight would be different. Grey was on a mission, gathering data, information, formulating his next plan, one for wedded bliss.  After two pitchers of beer, tongues started to loosen up.

Grey didn’t hear what he expected. Before coming, he steeled himself to listen to enough bragging to make a strong stomach retch, but it never materialized. Instead his friends complained about their wives, the shortcoming of their seemingly perfect wives lacked and exactly what they were missing. His frustrated pals killed his taste for the women at the bar and the discovery of their dissatisfaction caused Grey to wonder if married life was a good idea for him after all.

Click HERE to go back to Tuesday Tales.

If you like great stories about love and passion, try Now and Forever 1, a Love Story.  
A little about the book:
Now and Forever 1, a Love Story is about Callie's Richards, a young woman who's known tragedy, and her journey back to a fulfilling life. After losing the love of her life, she meets Mac Caldwell, a handsome dean at Kensington State University. Can they build a life together after facing hardship and loss? You'll cheer with her triumphs and empathize with her setbacks when you read this emotional story.
 Review from The Pen & Muse:
"Joachim brings in the romance we all know and love. A romance where love conquers all and can withstand just about anything. I loved Mac and Callie’s story about their hardship and their courage to continue. I loved the interaction between Callie and Mac’s son. From start to finish you are rooting for these characters and don’t want to put the book down. Joachim always writes great stories of love and passion. Stories like these teach us that love is stronger than anything else. Those who love contemporary romance will love this book!"
To see review click Pen & Muse 
Click here to go back to Six Sentence Sunday 
Buy Links - $3.99 everywhere:
Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Secret Cravings Publishing

All Romance eBooks