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Friday, November 2, 2012

OCEAN GROVE BEFORE THE STORM

Welcome to one of the cities with the most Victorian homes in the United States. Here are some pictures from happier times, before the hurricane. And some snippets from my book, The Renovated Heart.


The house and the furnishings were old but well kept. A massive mahogany table stood grandly in the dining room. A sofa plus loveseat in faded chintz were the main pieces in the living room. Kit found her favorite furnishings at first glance—a china cabinet from the early 1900’s, a fabulous antique roll-top desk, black Hitchcock chairs and a rattan rocker captured her heart “Your mother had great taste,” she said, running her hand lovingly over the roll-top desk.










The next morning, Tunney showed up right on time. Kit answered the door wearing nothing but his shirt. He eyed her body then looked away. “What are you wearing?”
“The smock, remember? Your shirt.” “But…but…what else?”



Kit sat down at the table across from him. Noticing he’d missed a spot with his comb, she longed to reach over and comb his thick, glossy dark hair with her fingers. Instead, she placed both hands around her coffee mug to keep them occupied.
“After my dad died, Mom insisted the place stay exactly as it was. I couldn’t even have a wall re-plastered or painted. So the house has deteriorated some. I apologize.”
“Please don’t. I love this house the way it is.” Their eyes met.



A bit about the book


Can a broken heart be renovated like an old house? Kit’s life came to a halt when her husband slapped her with a divorce. Finding herself without a job or a place to live, she’s forced to take Tunney Nichols up on his offer of cheap rent for his parent’s house. The catch: she must allow him to renovate while she’s living there. Out of fear, Kit tells a lie she soon regrets as she is drawn to the sexy man plastering and painting his way into her heart.
Can Sarah forget the abuse from her late husband? Can she fix her heart and the hearts of her children?  With her two children in tow, Sarah relocates to be near her sister, she meets Jim, a neighbor and English professor. A mutual interest in writing, paves the way for a friendship that blossoms into romance. But is Jim the right man for Sarah or does another man from her past still light her fire? 

“Neutrals sell a house better…makes it look bigger. If people see a dark color or a color they don’t like, they walk away. I’m selling the house, not making the house ready for a centerfold in
Better Homes & Gardens.”
“Centerfold? Aren’t you a little confused? Isn’t a centerfold for naked women?” Her voice dripped sarcasm.
Tunney flushed.


 His gaze roamed over her body from head to toe, kicking up her pulse. “I’ll move my things into the master bedroom, so I won’t be in your way.” Kit said, opening a drawer to grab an armful of lingerie. A few garments slipped out of  her grasp, landing at his feet. He bent down to pick up a pair of pink lace panties and a black lace bra. She snatched them out of his hand, feeling heat rise to her cheeks.





















She tried to stay away because he worked shirtless in the warm closet. She didn’t trust
herself. But she did bring him water and a sandwich. Trying to avert her gaze from his broad shoulders, his strong, bare chest sprinkled with dark hair, a lump grew in her throat, her breath
came more quickly. With a little spackle smeared on his arm and shoulder, some plaster dust in his hair and a light sheen of sweat on his chest; he looked so sexy she could hardly keep her hands off him.

Two shots of sunrise in Ocean Grove.



1 comment:

Jillian said...

Beautiful buildings. I'm afraid to know how they look now.

Renovated Heart sounds like one I'd love to read. I'll be checking it out.