Faded Sunset <— HAPPY FRIDAY!!! Check out this new release and it’s sounds all sorts of angsty and right up my marital strife alley! Eeeeeep! And the author is celebrating her release by sponsoring todays newsletter, and she’s sent over fun facts about herself in relation to the book, an excerpt PLUS she’s giving away a signed copy! 😀
So what’s it about?
To the outside world, my universe is bright and shiny. No one would imagine how dim and dark my life really is. With a fractured heart and a broken body, I dream about breaking free.
When I meet Mick Grantham by chance one day, it feels serendipitous. At first, he thinks I’m just another vibrant lady who lunches, but my situation brings out his compassion.
It’s dangerous to get to know him—one of us is likely to get hurt—but something undeniable draws me to him. Our path seems fated . . . until the day we’re forced to a halt and hard decisions must be made.
Not all happy endings are born easily, but those won through adversity are often the most satisfying.
And now the author has some fun stuff for us!! 😀
This book takes me way back to my writing roots. It’s angsty, super tense, and messy! Of course, it ends happily (which is what is important to remember when it comes to a messy romance).
This is the type of story I love to read so when I write one, I get super involved in all the emotions. I find myself crying and pinching myself throughout writing.
I think a big part of the draw is how I grew up. My stepdad raised me and when my mom married him, I said, “THIS is a DREAM COME TRUE.” It took my mom a while to get her happy ending, but she did! This is why I’m drawn to stories where two people find love the hard way. It can be messy and imperfect, but it makes me FEEL something really awesome in the end.
FIVE facts about me as an author…related to this book.
- I drink my coffee with milk like Margo. As a side note, I brew a fresh pot of coffee every time I want a cup. I don’t like K-cups, so I grind my beans, brew my extra hot coffee, and enjoy!
- I also ride my Peloton for stress relief like Mick does (although I’m not an alpha millionaire).
- There is a dog in the book (I think most of my books have dogs because I’m a huge dog lover and allergic to cats). This dog is a lab, and at one point I had the best lab. He’s no longer with us but I miss him every day.
- I’ve been to Boston many times and have met my “sorority little sister” for lunch at Stephanie’s on Newbury, which is a real place featured in the book.
- Fun fact about all my stories, I write the epilogue towards the beginning of my writing process. I have to know where my characters are going to end up, and then I get them there!
* and you can also include an excerpt (but these need to be more “PG” in nature since I may have younger readers on the blog on occasion).
Excerpt:
Leaving my phone on the bar right side up, I met a pair of dark brown, almost onyx eyes, framed by a head of tousled coal-black hair. Just my luck, masculinity radiated off the verbal offender, catching me in a weak moment, forcing me to pardon his bad taste in pickup lines and offer the seat to him.
I tried to think of a reason to say no. I was married and a mother, and the chair wasn’t mine to offer. But he asked me, and so I obliged.
“It’s all yours—free of charge,” I said with a touch of humor. I was already nervous enough with this unfamiliar midday tension, and now lust radiated from this guy, drawing all the oxygen from the air around me.
“Thanks.” He pulled out the high-back stool next to me and slid onto it.
His shirt was untucked and hung over his European-cut suit pants. I couldn’t help it; I had to take a second look. I imagined his tie was wherever he’d left his jacket, thrown over a chair somewhere. No doubt, a bedroom—maybe not even his—or an office nearby.
My heart hoped for the latter. My married but miserable heart.
Back to sipping my cabernet, I scrolled through the emails on my phone, shoving the mystery man to the back of my mind, despite his scent invading all my senses. Masculine, with a hint of cologne and shampoo from earlier in the day, heavy on the tea tree oil.
My preference would have been to push him all the way out of my head, but beggars can’t be choosers. I forced myself back to the present and the competitive knot twisted in my belly over my earlier meeting. Finally, I had the chance to write about something I wanted. I needed to do my best, and then I could generate more work and be rid of Tommy—if he’d allow it. I knew he’d fight it, which was another good reason why I wasn’t sitting at the bar trying to meet men.
Opening my calendar app, I made a note to message a few of the designers tomorrow and introduce myself.
“Can I get you another?”This time the man’s voice was raspier, pure gravel traveling through his vocal cords as even more cliché nonsense came from his mouth. He was now comfortably settled next to me, drinking a bourbon, impervious to the wedding band on my hand.
“If I want one, I can get my own,” I told him matter-of-factly. The independence felt as comforting as my robe on a rainy Sunday morning. I never got my own anything anymore.
I actually wrote most of this book to CLASSICAL music! Seriously. My son who is a musician was in online school during the pandemic and practicing a number of pieces at home. I started listening to various versions of what he was playing on my laptop and that’s how my writing took off.
Now for the giveaway!
The author is giving away a signed print copy of Faded Sunset.
How to enter for a chance to win it?
Just leave a comment below (and better yet, let me know your favorite book that has marital strife and/or starting over) and by 10pm EST, September 26th, 2021, I will randomly select one lucky commenter as the winner.
The winner will be contacted and will have 48hrs to respond confirming their mailing address, so if you are picked, do not delay or you will lose your chance. The signed book will be sent to the winner by the author.
OPEN TO US only however everyone is welcome to comment. 🙂
➔➔➔ Love this author? Check out more of my Rachel Blaufeld features on my blog!
Yeah! I added it to my TBR. Verite and Redemption Road are my two favorites from this author.
Heartbreak warfare by Kate Stewart is my favorite martial strife book.
My favorite marital strife book is Slip of the Tongue by Jessica Hawkins.
This one sounds amazing! My favorite book with marital strife is What He Doesn’t Know by Kandi Steiner!
The Life Duet by Jewel E Ann, but so many others too! I love angsty married couple books!