A Few Lines from The Bookstore Lady by Diane Bator

THE BOOKSTORE LADY
by Diane Bator
from Books We Love
in kindle:
http://amzn.com/B00DWKNGPQ 
 
When the hunched over, balding pharmacist next door called out, “Good morning, Katie,” her hand flinched and her heart raced. It took her nearly a full minute to remember she’d been Katie Mullins for two months and she’d better answer before he got offended.
“Hi.” She nodded.
The drugstore opened at eight every morning and it was now quarter to ten. Must have been a slow morning if he had time to stand in the doorway with a large cup of coffee rather than hanging out behind the back counter. “You’d best convince Ray to get some air-conditioning for that store before your new books curl up and warp. It’s beyond me how he’s never lost half his books every summer.”
“Dust absorbs the humidity.” She smiled wryly. “I don’t think we can afford air-conditioning this year.”
“I know a guy who’ll give you a quote. He’s not bad looking once you get past the bug eyes and scars. I can call him, if you’d like.”
“Maybe some other time.” Like when hell froze over.
He waved and went back into the drugstore.
Katie drew in a deep breath. The air was fresh from last night’s rain and the hint of a breeze mussed her hair. In two months, the only thing to find her was the sunshine and a case of withdrawals that made renovations hell. Nate, bless his heart, had had more compassion while she fought “the flu” than any man she’d ever met.
She blew a strand of stray copper hair out of her mouth and jiggled the door lock. Another thing that needed to be fixed before winter. She should have done it during renovations, but it hadn’t seemed as important as books and workmen. Luckily, Nate worked cheap and she hadn’t had to dig into the money from Dunnsforth. The money was tucked up in a box in the backroom, fastened with half a roll of duct tape. She’d ask him to fix the lock when he delivered her order later.
The door opened with a groan. “It’s about time.”
Available at: http://amzn.com/B00DWKNGPQ 

Tricia McGill follows with A Few Lines next week.

A Few Lines From. . . Connie Vines

BREDE

by Connie Vines

http://amzn.com/B00DRPHILY

Brede swallowed, trying to ignore the thick, tight feeling wedged in his throat.  He didn't welcome the onslaught of emotion that filled his chest and caused him to stroke her jaw with an unsteady finger tip.  He reminded himself that he didn't need to be involved in her problems; he had enough of his own.  As soon as the roads were passable, he'd get her to a doctor and the police could take care of the rest.

Still, no matter how hard he tried to remove himself from the situation, he kept remembering how fragile she'd seemed in his arms.  he felt as if he'd carried a sparrow, all feathers and tiny bones, out of the gully.

Connie Vines

Expect the UnExpected!

novelsbyconnievines.com 

https://twitter.com/connie_vines

Stop back next week for a few lines from Joan Hall Hovey.

A Few Lines from "Finding Freedom" by Betty Jo Schuler

Finding Freedom

By Betty Jo Schuler

http://amzn.com/B005HEEZP0

CELESTE HARTE GLARED at the twenty-nine candles on her birthday cake. She'd squandered her last fourteen birthday wishes asking for a fairy tale romance, and her life still read like an instruction manual. The frog she'd hoped would turn into a prince, God rest his soul, had been a cheating toad. Leaning her hands on her glass-topped kitchen table, she puffed out her cheeks and blew. I wish I'd meet a man who would turn my life into a sizzling romance novel.

"Easy." Marianne Joest raised an auburn brow as she swiped cream frosting from her blouse with a manicured nail. Closing her eyes, she sucked her fingertip. "Mm. Next best thing to an orgasm."

"My life is half over, I haven't made love in I-can't-remember-when, and you talk about orgasm?"

"Half over?" Marianne snorted. "And I thought Susan was the drama queen." She cut two slices of cake and handed Celeste one.

Celeste shook her head. "It's loaded with fat."

"Dammit, Cee. This is carrot cake, a vegetable with frosting. You're thin enough no matter what Harry said, and twenty-nine isn't the beginning of menopause."

http://bettyjowrites.com

http://bookswelove.net/bettyjoschuler.php

 

Come back next week for a few lines from Janet Lane Walters.

A few lines from CHINA BLUE by Kat Attala

At eight pm, he drove to the camp. The dark skies overhead made it seem later than dusk. Just to make sure he covered his bases, he ran his Jeep off the road in a ravine deep enough to need a tow-truck to get out. By the time he reached her Craftsman house, he was soaked to the skin. Damn! He never thought a summer rain could be so freaking cold. A woman who fed the squirrels and birds would not turn her back on a stranded motorist. Would she? 

He knocked on the door and waited. The air rumbled with a distant thunder. In the past decade, he had thought about her many times: The sad young girl with the magnificent eyes. So he wasn't prepared for the woman who opened the door. Her eyes were that same bright blue, but the rest of her bore little resemblance to the skinny teenager in that hospital bed. Her hair had grown back and fell below her shoulders in thick black waves. Denim jeans molded long legs and a fitted tee shirt revealed a hint of cleavage at the scoop neck. But her most striking feature was the rifle cradled in her arms.

http://bookswelove.net/attalla.php

 

Please stop by next week for a few lines from Hazel Statham.

Please stop back next week for a few lines from Hazel Statham.

A Few Lines From....Magic of the Chimes by Pat Dale

 

A Few Lines From....Magic of the Chimes by Pat Dale

http://amzn.com/B00BANEHDM

What is it with this guy and my chest?

His focus remained at that point when she set the food before him, random thoughts flitting through her mind

 

“Here’s your breakfast, Mr. Williams. Howie. I hope everything is done to your satisfaction.” She knew instantly her choice of words was wrong again when he leered up at her.

“Oh, yes. Very much so.” Returning his focus to her chest, he added, “Full and firm, and very nicely formed.” He grinned and winked.

That did it. She’d begun to pour more coffee into his cup when her arm slipped. The hot brown liquid scored a bulls-eye in his lap.

 

http://bookswelove.net/dale.php

Please stop back next week for a few lines from Shirley Martin.

A few lines from... Sheila Claydon

Kissing Maggie Silver by Sheila Claydon

In kindle at: http://amzn.to/10hfmBq

"I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't mean for that to happen."

Her face was flushed, her lips still slightly parted as she looked up at him. "I know you didn't," she said, her voice and her gaze steady. "I know you are going away again Ruairi, and I know there won't be a place for me in your life when you do but... but can't we pretend it's not like that, just for today."

At a complete loss for words, he stared down at her. She was keeping whatever was going on inside her head to herself. All he could see reflected in her wide grey eyes were his own feelings of desire and frustration. It brought him to his senses and, his heart heavy, he shook his head.

"You know it doesn't work like that, Maggie. If we take today, then we'll want tomorrow too, and the day after that."

"And would that really be so terrible?" she whispered, her face pale now, her body rigid in the circle of his arms.

"Yes, because then I'd break your heart."


Come back next week for a few lines from Pat Dale

A Few Lines From Deadly Consequences by Jude Pittman

DEADLY CONSEQUENCES

http://amzn.com/B008ZQTPK2

A shot rang out from the direction of the stables. Kelly leapt out of his chair, grabbed the gun out of his jacket pocket and slapped the screen door open.

“What the damn hell?” He yelled as he raced towards the brood barn, where Jake, alerted by the gunshot, stood in front of the closed doors barking like a beast gone rabid.

“Easy boy,” Kelly said, approaching the door with his weapon drawn. “Gilly, you okay in there?” Kelly reached the door and pulled the handle. It held fast. Someone had apparently locked it from inside.

“Gillian?” Kelly called in a voice laced with fear and Jake once again started his frantic barking.

“Okay. Stand down.” Kelly spoke to the dog, then placed his ear against the door and listened.

From inside came the sounds of sobbing.

“Gillian.” Kelly yelled again. “For God’s sake, open the
door.”

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Stop back next week for a few lines from Jamie Hill.