BLURB:
Jenny
Cohen defines successful independence: she put herself through college,
couldn’t ask for better friends, owns a consulting firm, wears designer
clothes, and just moved into her dream home . . . But she’s alone, except for
her ailing mother whom she supports in a nursing home. As the marketing
consultant for Chester, Dorsey & Tanner, she’s surrounded by male
attention. Too bad it’s the overly-protective big-brother type.
Architect,
Craig Stone, hasn’t looked at another woman since his wife passed away four
years ago. His time is taken—building a career while trying to be both mother
and father to his eight-year-old son. But when his appointment with the largest
development firm in Nashville is double-booked with a black-haired beauty, he
finds himself reaching for new possibilities.
The
attraction sets off more fireworks than the Fourth of July. Yet, their
relationship is riddled with issues neither one of them expected. Somewhere in
the middle they must find a way to compromise or let go of a chance for love
they may never find again.
CREATING CHARACTERS:
One of the things I love about reading a series is the attachment I find with the characters. I
often feel like books end too soon after the black moment reconciliation but a
series gives me the opportunity to continue following characters I’ve fallen in
love with. The hard part about writing
a series is you have to develop most of your characters well in advance of
writing their individual books.
Summer’s Family Affair
is book #3 in my Music City Hearts series, but I created most of Jenny’s
profile while writing Winter’s Magic
and Spring’s Surprise. Her work at
the children’s hospital, her mother’s disability, and the three best friend’s
habit of reading their horoscopes each month came out in the storyline well before
Jenny’s book was even written.
I was asked in a recent interview if I put any of my own
truths into my characters. I think every author does. Jenny has a combination
of traits, good and bad, I see in myself as well as traits that fit my ultimate
vision of her character. She’s a really good person at heart, but she has
insecurities and flaws just like everyone else. Picking the right combination
and creating the perfect hero in contrast is the tricky part.
Craig was harder for me. My husband reminds me regularly
that women don’t think like men, LOL. But it’s true. Creating the right balance
of alpha-male and loving-sensitivity is tough. It was also difficult to put
myself in the right mentality to show emotions related to Craig losing his
wife. Or to imagine Ben’s feelings of losing a mother. I’ve been so blessed,
experiencing very little death in my own family. I hope I gave their feelings
proper justice.
EXCERPT:
“Ms. Cohen,” he said, “we still have a few more
questions, if you don’t mind sitting back down.”
“I do mind, Detective. My car is totaled.” She
pointed to her red BMW Z4 convertible, now an ugly pile of metal being loaded
onto the back of a tow truck. “I’m tired and sore and I want to go home. If you
have any more questions, I would be happy to meet you at your office on Monday
morning.”
“Ms. Cohen, you don’t understand,” he said.
“No, you don’t understand. I’ve given my statement
three times and I don’t know anything else. Now, is somebody going to give me a
ride home or do I need to call a cab?”
“Ms. Cohen—”
“She’s finished, Detective.”
Jenny turned and saw Craig standing less than three
feet behind her. He was wearing a black suit, royal-blue shirt, and matching
necktie. What a sight for sore eyes . . .
“I can give you a ride home. Let me take your bag.”
He held out his hand and she let him take it. “Come on. I think you’ve had
enough.”
As bad as she felt and knew she looked, she
couldn’t turn away his offer. She fumbled through her purse, found a business
card, and handed it to the detective. “Call me on Monday if you need more
information.”
She turned back to Craig, who now stood so close
she caught a hint of his cologne and couldn’t help the shiver that ran up her
spine. He pulled a card from his wallet and handed it to the officer. “If you
call her before Monday, call Mr. Warner first. He would be happy to make
arrangements for any meeting you can justify to his satisfaction.”
Suddenly, he lifted her into his arms.
“Craig! Please, put me down,” she shrieked, then
tried to compose herself. “I can walk just fine. I know I look like a train
wreck, but I’m really okay.” Okay if she only referred to injuries. Being
cradled against him, she could feel the taut muscles of his chest and her heart
almost stopped.
“Jenny, you have no shoes and the street is covered
in broken glass and plastic. I’m not letting you walk across it with just socks
on your feet.”
Resigned, she relaxed and laid her head on his
shoulder. “Thank you,” she whispered into his neck and breathed in a lungful of
deep musk.
“That’s better. My car isn’t far. I’ll have you
home in just a few minutes.”
AUTHOR Bio and
Links:
My
husband and I live in the suburbs of Nashville, Tennessee with our three dogs.
When I'm not working or writing, I can be found with family and friends. I love
to bake in the winter, grill in the summer, and on occasion, I sneak away from
everyone and curl up with a good book.
Website: http://cynthiagail.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CynthiaGailBook
Amazon
Author Central: http://www.amazon.com/Cynthia-Gail/e/B009WQTTQE/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1426743860&sr=8-1
Amazon
buy link: http://www.amazon.com/Cynthia-Gail/e/B009WQTTQE/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1426743860&sr=8-1
Other
Books in the series:
Winter’s
Magic http://amzn.to/1Gsi6OM
Spring’s
Surprise http://amzn.to/1Np002k
GIVEAWAY:
Cynthia
Gail will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via
rafflecopter during the tour, and a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn host.
The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.a Rafflecopter giveaway
