Painted Soul Excerpt 1

A contemporary romance with a twist, Painted Soul is a story that takes the reader on a wonderful ride in an artist’s life, through the streets of London, and into the shadows of the underground.

Elizabeth McAlister was only eighteen when she met the art student, Puzzola in a London nightclub and gave him her heart. Ten years later, they meet again when a summer of intense passion and dark secrets begins.

As Elizabeth falls deeper in love with Puzzola, she tries to rescue him from tortured memories he refuses to discuss. Eventually, his double life and erotic past are exposed in a local newspaper just as he is involved in a life-threatening accident.

EXCERPT 1

She looked from her empty glass across the dancing ocean to where he was standing just a moment before. Her body still tingled in a way she didn’t understand. Perhaps she felt something because he looked like a musician or an artist; she had always been interested in expressive people. Somehow, there was something more drawing her deeper to this phantom punk. Elizabeth continued to scan the crowd desperately hope to see him again, until Erick interrupted her thoughts.

“Arm yourselves my dears,” Erick danced up bringing them two new drinks. He flashed a smile and yelled, “Happy hunting!” as he slid down the rail again.
He had come and gone as fast as lightening. They watched Erick disappear into the massive wave of writhing bodies.

Lynn quickly downed her drink and yelled, “I’ve got to try that!” She climbed onto the rail and held onto her skirt with one hand, “Watch out below! Ya-hoo!”

Caught in the arms of a smiling stranger, Lynn was carried off into the deep mass of dancers. Elizabeth was alone and laughing when she felt a burning gaze upon her. She looked down to the dancing wave below. There he was, standing still amongst the dancers, an outstretched hand with a wide gold band on the thumb, his long fingers slowly beckoning her to join him in the dance. Yet his eyes and smile seemed to beckon for something else. Elizabeth felt a silent desire escape from the caverns of her soul.

“Breath, Elizabeth, breath,” she willed herself.



Format: paperback perfect
ISBN: 978-0-9814739-3-2
Retail Price: 15.95
page count: 360

To purchase Painted Soul visit Vanilla Heart Publishing online bookstore http://shop.vanillaheartbooksandauthors.com/product.sc?categoryId=1&productId=9

Lost Mind - Please Return to Owner

So I couldn't remember where on my desk top I placed the link to my Blogspot. So it took me days to find it. So I couldn't remember my password. So it took me another day to clean my desk to find the piece of paper I wrote it upon. So here I am. Where's my chocolate?

I think dark chocolate is the most wonderful food in the universe. However, I have noticed how my beloved sweet is getting the recognition it's deserved after all these years. Sure, now it's good for you! Have a little square daily with a glass of red wine and it'll cure what ails ya! Works for me.

But have you noticed how the chocolate now comes in different "flavors" and a variety of names? Some dark chocolate is carob, some is more bitter than others. Hey, just give it to me... I'll do all the taste-testing needed. It's good for me, right?

I look down and see a litter of small purple wrappers that seemed to have missed the garbage basket. Oops, my secret is out. I look into a lovely little box located on the top shelf of my desk. Many of those horded kisses are missing. So, I travel down to my eldest son's room and there sitting on his desk in a neat arrangement is five purple foiled dark chocolate kisses. It's official, the kids have found my stash.

Now to find a new hiding place, but within reach of my keyboard for those intense writing moments when a burst of chocolate is needed. Hmm..... I'll have to swear the guinea pig living in my office to silence. He'll do anything for celery these days.

I think I'll nibble on a delicious dark square while I sit and think about this situation. Yummy... this is good for me.

Well.... here I am.

I started this grey, gloomy, cold day by writing two Presbyterian 101 columns. These are little articles published in a monthly newsletter my church sends out. It is a humorous (and occasionally serious) column that also gives a Christian lesson regarding the Presbyterian faith. (I am also authoring new Christain Education lessons for an after school program for my church.)

Fast forward....
after three cups of coffee....
I signed up for this blog. "Finally!" according to some of my writer friends. LOL.

Now, if you put 2+2 together you might see that I write Christian lessons as well as contemporary romance. That is very right. Let's just hope I send the propper downloads to the correct publisher! I also edited a cookbook... shhhh... I really like to cook too, especially when it involves chocolate.

I have completed three contemporary romance with a twist novels and I'm currently working on two more in the series of five. I must say at times it is difficult to find time to write being a mom to three boys - ages 11, 7, and 3. But my family also helps me stay grounded.

Speaking of being grounded, it's time to rally the boys, get them dressed and onto their chores, feed a toad to the turtle, pat the guinea pigs, hug my dog, kiss my husband, grab another cup of coffee and work on book #4, "Fortunate Soul". Life is always an adventure in my house.

And remember:
adventure is all about personal discovery; possibilities are infinite.