SLEIGHT OF HAND—Character Interview

Today I'm welcoming Aurora Brentano and Huntington Wolfe III to my blog, the main characters from SLEIGHT OF HAND, a mystery/romantic suspense scheduled for release on Monday, March 3, 2025, from The Wild Rose Press.

Welcome Aurora and Hunt. Thank you for taking time from your busy schedule to be here with us today. Is it okay if I call you Hunt?

Hunt:  Please do. Thanks for the invitation to participate in your blog.

Aurora:  It's our pleasure to be here. What would you like to talk about?

Why don't we start with how the two of you met?

Hunt:  (laughs) Well…that's a bit convoluted. I had been hired by the CEO of a large international insurance company to recover high value jewelry. The property they insured had been stolen in a series of jewel thefts that had taken place over the last five years, all of them occurring following a charity fund raiser held at the home of one of the wealthy members of the socially elite of the greater Seattle area.

It's my understanding that you belong to that group of the wealthy socially elite. Born into money, attended the best schools, leading a high-profile international playboy existence—

Hunt:  (a slight frown wrinkles across his brow) You make it sound as if it's a crime to be lucky enough to not need to worry about how I'm going to pay my bills.

I apologize. I certainly didn't mean to sound accusatory. I merely meant that your background,  status, and lifestyle put you in a perfect position to have access to information the insurance company's staff investigators wouldn't have. How about you, Aurora? What put you in the path of Hunt's investigation?

Aurora:  I was born and raised in the greater Seattle area. My father and I had always been very close, especially after my mother's death when I was eleven. In addition to his job as a jewelry appraiser, he was an amateur magician who performed locally at charity events. I became his assistant from age twelve until I graduated from college and accepted a job offer from a company in San Francisco. I was happy with my life until the day I got the phone call from a Seattle police detective telling me my father was the chief suspect in a series of jewel thefts and had been killed in a high-speed police chase. I was livid. There was no way my father could have been involved in criminal activity. So, I decided to investigate on my own. After carefully going over all the information I could get my hands on, I ended up with a suspect list and the name at the top of that list was Huntington Wolfe III. After all, who better to know the ins and outs of the super wealthy, to know their secrets, than someone who is one of them? Since the police had apparently already decided my father was guilty, I was determined to prove him innocent. I took a leave of absence from my job and returned to Seattle.

Hunt:  I may have been at the top of her suspect list, but she wasn't on my radar yet when we first came in contact.

What put her on your radar?

Hunt:  As soon as I was handed this case, I went over all the available information. I was particularly interested in Quentin Brentano, the man the police were chasing whose car went off a cliff and crashed on the rocks below. Something about that entire event felt off to me. Two months after that crash, the thefts started again. The police theory was that Quentin had an accomplice—his daughter, who was carrying on the family tradition. I attended a charity event, just the type of function that had ended with a jewelry heist.

Aurora:  I was using a false name and working as a server at the catering company, the same company that had catered all the events held in private homes where jewelry had been stolen. I wanted an in-person look at some of the victims and the high profile guests. I was surprised and pleased when my prime suspect showed up at the event.

Hunt:  I didn't know who she was other than apparently an employee of the catering company, but I saw her do something that really caught me by surprise.

What was that?

Hunt:  (shoots a quick grin at Aurora who laughs) You'll have to read the book to find the answer to your question. I can tell you that it put me on a new investigative trail.

What about you, Aurora? How did things move from Hunt being your prime suspect to the two of you working together?

Aurora:  How better to observe someone than to have a legitimate reason for daily contact. It seemed like the best way to achieve my goal of finding the truth about my father's death and prove his innocence.

How did you get Hunt to agree to the two of you working together? Or was it his idea?

Aurora:  As Hunt said, you'll have to read the book. I can tell you that what started as jewel thefts escalated into attempted murder then murder, a surprise that shocked both of us with some very tense and challenging moments along the way.

Attempted murder? Then an actual murder? That's quite a leap from cat burglar jewel thefts with no one in physical danger. Can you tell me anything about what you just mentioned?

Aurora:  For the answer to that—

Hunt:  —you'll have to read the book.

Then that's what I'll do right away. Thank you Hunt and Aurora for being here today.

Hunt:  It was our pleasure.

SLEIGHT OF HAND release date is Monday, March 3, 2025. Available in ebook an print.

Buy Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Sleight-Hand-Shawna-Delacorte-ebook/dp/B0DQQFLBMR/ 

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sleight-of-hand-shawna-delacorte/1146673688?ean=2940184576602 

And other online vendors

Blurb:

Six years ago, Huntington Wolfe III, heir to a fortune and with a reputation as an international playboy, was a jewel thief. Now, he uses his skills and knowledge as a freelance insurance investigator to recover stolen jewelry, and he has a new case. But when he encounters a beautiful pickpocket at the scene of the next heist, he sets out to discover her identity and what other secrets she might be hiding.

Devastated by her father’s death during a high-speed police chase, Aurora Brentano goes undercover to prove his innocence. At the top of her suspect list is Huntington Wolfe III...until he catches her red-handed in her quest for clues and suggests they work together. She's not sure she can trust him, but they say to keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

As their unexpected alliance leads to an undeniable attraction, can they bring the true thief to justice, or will they be caught in a web of danger and deceit? 

Excerpts and other information available on website

www.shawnadelacorte.com          https://shawnadelacorte.blogspot.com 

SLEIGHT OF HAND mystery/romantic suspense New Release

Monday, March 3, 2025, is the release date for my latest novel, a mystery/romantic suspense titled SLEIGHT OF HAND by USA Today Bestselling Author Shawna Delacorte. Published by The Wild Rose Press.  Excerpts and other information available on my website.  www.shawnadelacorte.com

This is the story of Huntington Wolfe III, international playboy born into a wealthy socially prominent family, a man with a secret past and a job to do. And Aurora Brentano, a woman on a mission to discover the truth behind her father's death and prove him innocent of the crime he was accused of doing.

He is suspicious of her activities, can he trust her? She has him at the top of her suspect list, can she trust him? When they team up, it's murder.

Excerpt #2:

“If Quentin is dead, it certainly came at an extremely convenient time. Add to that the woman working for Prestige Caterers at last night’s soirée, wearing a name tag that said Gwen but drove away in a car registered to Aurora Brentano, and…”

“You think this guy is still alive? It seems to me if he faked his own death to get the cops off his back, it would be stupid for him to continue ripping off jewelry—at least in the same part of the country where he had been plying his trade. If it was me and I’d just faked my death, I’d be out of town so fast you wouldn’t even see my dust. I sure wouldn’t stick around so I could pull more jobs in the same place following the same pattern.”

“Yeah…me, too. Just one of several inconsistencies that don’t make any sense.”

“So, any preference about where you want me to start, or can I handle it at my discretion?”

“First on the list is Aurora Brentano. The car registration shows a San Francisco address. Find out when she left San Francisco, whether she was anywhere else between leaving there and ending up here, or if she came straight to Seattle. I need to know where she’s staying. Scope out her father’s house in Bellevue. That’s the most logical place for her to be.”

“Unless she’s in hiding and staying off the grid.”

“If that’s the case, then it seems to me she wouldn’t be driving her own car with the California license plates. I’m guessing she’s being cautious but doesn’t think anyone’s actually looking for her.”

Johnny nodded. “If her father’s house doesn’t pan out, I’ll check the utilities to see if there’s anything in her name in the greater Seattle area and surrounding towns. If that doesn’t turn something, I’ll hit the motels that rent suites on a monthly basis.”

“Check both names…Aurora Brentano and Gwen York. All I have for Gwen is a pager number that Charlie Gorman gave me, no phone number. Apparently, not even a disposable cell phone. At least not one that Charlie knows about. Locate an existing phone number, and see if you can track a location for her through the GPS chip and cell towers from her phone calls. If that doesn’t work, maybe you can find a local address through Gwen’s pager.” Hunt texted the pager number to Johnny.

After Johnny left, Hunt refilled his coffee mug and stepped out on the terrace again. He stared at the water. Closing his eyes, he sucked in a deep breath, held it for a few seconds, then slowly exhaled. No matter where in the world he traveled, to what exotic location, it always soothed his soul to return home. He took another deep breath, then once again turned his thoughts to the business at hand.

There’s a lot more going on with this case than just the theft of some high-dollar jewelry. But what? Could the police theory be right? Quentin Brentano did it and now his partner is continuing with the thefts? A partner who just happens to also be his daughter?

The image of delectable Aurora played across the screen of his mind. His breathing quickened. He might have been doing a number on Charlie Gorman in order to get the information he wanted, but he couldn’t deny the way she made his pulse race or the serious impact this woman had on his libido.

No question about it, she represented a definite obstacle to his investigation.

Excerpt #3:

On-going tension churned inside Aurora, and a new wave of anger surged through her body reinforcing her determination. During her San Francisco calls with the obnoxious Lt. Montrose, he had made it clear he held her father responsible for the stolen jewelry and refused to give it further discussion. Her primary objective was to clear her father’s name, but she couldn’t deny being compelled to also bring down Montrose’s smug arrogance and make him publicly eat his words about her father.

She returned her thoughts to her current plan of action. Step one is to figure out how to make personal contact with Huntington Wolfe III without making him suspicious. Establishing some sort of personal connection with him will make my investigation easier.

She had even scaled the wall surrounding his estate hoping to get some kind of information she could use. A cold shudder assaulted her senses as she recalled the moment she saw a man emerge from the house and stand on a second floor balcony. She had bolted toward the wall surrounding the grounds with only one thought in mind—make it over the wall and to her car before someone saw her and called the police. Or worse yet, before someone took a shot at her. Ending up in jail or the hospital, neither had been on her agenda.

Reality had surprised her when her primary suspect suddenly showed up at the Swanson’s party. Doubt pushed at her followed by a rush of uncertainty. It’s too late now, but I should probably have been more receptive to his obvious flirting rather than being all business.

She once again tightened her jaw. No one would ever convince her of her father’s guilt. Lt. Montrose had literally hounded her father to his grave. A wave of despair washed over her, but she quickly wiped away the tears welling in her eyes.

Correction—hounded him to his death. They never recovered his body. He doesn’t have a grave. No place where I can go and be close to him.

She would find the person responsible for the thefts and make Montrose look like the despicable fool she knew him to be, no matter how long it took.

Buy Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Sleight-Hand-Shawna-Delacorte-ebook/dp/B0DQQFLBMR/ 

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sleight-of-hand-shawna-delacorte/1146673688?ean=2940184576602 

And other online vendors.  Available in both ebook and print.

Blurb:

Six years ago, Huntington Wolfe III, heir to a fortune and with a reputation as an international playboy, was a jewel thief. Now, he uses his skills and knowledge as a freelance insurance investigator to recover stolen jewelry, and he has a new case. But when he encounters a beautiful pickpocket at the scene of the next heist, he sets out to discover her identity and what other secrets she might be hiding.

Devastated by her father’s death during a high-speed police chase, Aurora Brentano goes undercover to prove his innocence. At the top of her suspect list is Huntington Wolfe III...until he catches her red-handed in her quest for clues and suggests they work together. She's not sure she can trust him, but they say to keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

As their unexpected alliance leads to an undeniable attraction, can they bring the true thief to justice, or will they be caught in a web of danger and deceit?

Check back on my blog next week (Saturday, March 1) for a character interview with Hunt and Aurora.

Shawna Delacorte website:  www.shawnadelacorte.com

Shawna Delacorte blog:  https://shawnadelacorte.blogspot.com 

CHANGING THE PAST new release 2024-05-22

My new book release, Wednesday, May 22, 2024—CHANGING THE PAST, a contemporary romance by USA Today Bestselling author Shawna Delacorte, published by The Wild Rose Press in ebook and print.  Excerpts and other information available on my website   www.shawnadelacorte.com 

This is the story of Meg Wainwright and Blaine Reeves, a love story Meg believed would last a lifetime. Then Blaine shattered her heart into a million pieces when he betrayed her love and trust by suddenly walking out on her without any warning or explanation. Now he is desperate to win back the only woman he ever loved.

Blurb:

Successful freelance photojournalist Meg Wainwright is offered the assignment of her dreams—photographing and writing a new line of travel books for a publisher in the UK. But when she arrives, she learns she’ll be working for the man who walked out on her ten years ago without an explanation and left her heartbroken.

Blaine Reeves regrets leaving the only woman he ever loved. Luring her to London without revealing his involvement might not be his best plan. He can only hope it’s not too late to change the past.

Excerpt #2:

A sudden thought brightened Blaine's dismal mood. He sat up straight. The answer to his immediate problem with Meg? His sister. He would buy Crista a plane ticket and have her come for a visit. He checked his watch to determine the time in New York, then reached for the phone and dialed her  number.

“Crista, it’s Blaine. What would you say to dropping everything and coming to London for a month? I can use your help with something.”

“What’s the matter?”

“It’s Meg.”

“Meg?” Crista’s genuine shock raced along the phone connection.

“Yes. She’s here. I hired her to photograph and write a new travel book, and, uh, well…” The proper words to explain his plight refused to materialize, words he hoped wouldn’t make it sound as manipulative as the reality of the situation.

“Let me guess. You thought you’d get her to London—she probably didn’t even know it was your company—and the moment she saw you she would magically fall into your arms and forgive you for everything that happened. Things would be just the way they were ten years ago before you screwed it up big time. Am I close?”

A combination of irritation and embarrassment forced the words out of his mouth. “Dammit, Crista. It’s bad enough that you can usually read me like a book. At least let me tell it my own way.” A sigh of resignation escaped his throat. “You are, of course, right.”

“So, what’s your problem?”

“Well, first of all she hasn’t been in a forgiving mood. Second, there’s Dennis Mallory.”

“What’s Dennis have to do with this?”

“You know Dennis. He tries to get every woman who crosses his path into his bed. He has taken Meg out to dinner a couple of times, and they’re going out again tonight. He has his sights set on her.”

“And just what do you think I can do about that?”

“I want you to keep an eye on Meg. See that Dennis doesn’t take advantage of her. Right now, she’s in a very vulnerable state, and I, uh, might even have to accept a little bit of responsibility for that.” He cleared his throat. “Just a little while ago I asked her to cancel her date with Dennis for tonight.”

“And?”

“Let’s just say she didn’t take kindly to my suggestion.” Blaine took a steadying breath in an attempt to calm his rising panic. “That’s why I need you here, Crista. Help me make sure Dennis doesn’t seduce her, that she’ll be safe. Will you come? Right away? Like tonight?”

“This whole thing, tricking Meg into being there…” Crista’s tone conveyed her thoughts as clearly as her words. “This is, without a doubt, the dumbest thing you have ever done with the single exception of when you walked out on her originally.”

“Okay, it’s dumb. But will you do it? I’ll have a pre-paid ticket for you at the airline counter for whatever flight you want.”

Her voice teased. “That ticket will be first class, won’t it?”

 

Buy Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Changing-Past-Shawna-Delacorte-ebook/dp/B0CTHSZFST

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/changing-the-past-shawna-delacorte/1145014722?ean=9781509254798

also available at other online vendors

Check my blog next week. I'll have an interview with Meg Wainwright and Blaine Reeves.

THE ROCKY ROAD TO ROMANCE Release date July 27, 2020

THE ROCKY ROAD TO ROMANCE, scheduled to release in ebook on Monday, July 27, 2020. A contemporary romance novella by Shawna Delacorte from The Wild Rose Press, part of the One Scoop Or Two series.

One Scoop Or Two is a summer series, quick reads of no more than 35,000 words to enjoy while relaxing in the back yard or on your patio. And One Scoop Or Two certainly implies ice cream. How many scoops do you want on that cone, one or two? The series encompasses both contemporary stories involving an ice cream shop or stand and historical stories with the ice cream parlor of the time. Fun fact: each novella title includes a specific flavor of ice cream.

My contribution to the series is a contemporary novella set on the boardwalk at a lake marina.

BLURB:

History teacher Sarena Fallon has leased the ice cream shop at the Colton Marina for the last three summers. And every year, she looked forward to spending time with her friend, Drew. Only this summer, she wants their relationship status to move beyond the friend zone he seems to prefer.

Drew Braden was taken with Sarena the first time he saw her. But a disastrous marriage to a scheming woman has left him seriously commitment phobic. Then there's also the matter of his true identity. If she discovers who he really is, he could lose her forever.

G-Excerpt #1: (story opening)

Sarena Fallon entered the ice cream shop and set her purse on one of the chairs. A quick glance around told her everything appeared to be in order. She ran her hand across the counter, then rubbed her fingers together. She wrinkled her brow into a scowl. It definitely did not feel very clean. I have the uneasy feeling a more detailed inspection is going to discover—

“Hi. I hoped I’d find you here.”

She turned at the sound of the smooth, masculine voice. She couldn’t stop the smile that came to her lips as her gaze fell on Drew Braden, all six feet one inch of him. Her breath came a little quicker, and her heart beat a little faster. His blue eyes sparkled as he blatantly looked her up and down. He wore his medium brown hair longer than last summer, but it was a length that looked good on him. It gave him a sexy appearance—even more sexy than she remembered from last year. She liked it longer. She definitely liked it.

“Hi, yourself.” Her smile widened, conveying her pleasure at seeing him. “I just unlocked the door. If you had arrived five minute ago, you would have beaten me here.”

He looked even more desirable than he did at the end of last summer, right before she returned to her teaching job at the beginning of the school term, when he had suddenly pulled her into his arms and captured her mouth with the hottest kiss she had ever experienced. A kiss that curled her toes and confirmed how much she wanted more of him. But more apparently wasn’t to be, much to her disappointment.

Fall, winter, spring—not a word from him, as if he had totally forgotten she even existed. But now, here he stood, as if he had been waiting for her to show up. The situation left her slightly perplexed. She briefly touched her fingers to her lips. All these months later, his parting kiss still burned hot against her lips. “You’re looking well. I like your hair longer like that.”

“Thanks…I think it might be the result of a bit of mid-life crisis. Trying to recapture a little youth.” His teasing grin said far more than his words.

“Mid-life crisis? You can’t be old enough for that.”

“I’ll be that dreaded forty in a couple of months.”

“There’s nothing old about forty.” Especially considering that I’m thirty-five.

He winked. “How would a sweet young thing like you know anything about old?”

“You’re incorrigible.” Her laugh surrounded her words. “It looks like you managed to survive the winter without any mishaps. Your brittle old bones didn’t snap?”

His spontaneous laughter filled the air. “No broken bones from slipping on the ice or falling into any snow drifts if that’s what you meant. And no broken bones from being thrown off a bucking horse, either.” His smile slowly faded as he pulled her into his arms. “I’ve missed you. I’m so glad to see you back this summer.”

“I have a phone, you have the number, and I only live fifteen miles from here in Coltonville. It’s not like you need to drive for several hours to get there.” She teased, but her comment contained a lot of truth.

A hint of something darted across his features but disappeared before she could read it. He slowly released her without kissing her, almost reluctantly so. After the goodbye kiss from last summer, she had anticipated more than just a hug.

“I haven’t checked the shop to make sure it’s been properly cleaned.” She touched the counter again. “And from what I’ve found so far, I suspect it hasn’t been.” A scowl darted across her face. “At least not adequately. Do you want to help me with my inspection?”

“Sure, I can handle that.” Drew nodded, pleased with the opportunity to check out the management office’s efficiency without it appearing to be his objective.

Drew Braden—Andrew Braden Colton V, to be exact—was fifth generation of the wealthy and powerful Colton family and at thirty-nine years of age, the corporate head of all the family holdings. He went by his nickname and middle name to separate himself and his personal activities from the family name and business empire. He found he accomplished more if people didn’t know he was one of the Coltons, specifically president of Colton Enterprises, Chairman of the Board, primary share holder, and in control of all the family businesses and investments of the privately held corporation.

THE ROCKY ROAD TO ROMANCE, a contemporary romance novella by Shawna Delacorte from The Wild Rose Press.   www.thewildrosepress.com 

Scheduled for release Monday, July 27, 2020. Available in ebook at:

www.amazon.com/Rocky-Road-Romance-One-Scoop-ebook/dp/B089P3TBFV  

And other online vendors.

Excerpts and other information available on my website:  www.shawnadelacorte.com  

THE ROCKY ROAD TO ROMANCE—A Character Chat with Sarena Fallon and Drew Braden

She wants more than friendship…he's afraid of repeating the worst mistake of his life.

THE ROCKY ROAD TO ROMANCE by Shawna Delacorte is a contemporary romance novella that's part of the One Scoop Or Two summer series from The Wild Rose Press. This book is scheduled for release July 27, 2020.

Let me introduce you to Sarena Fallon and Drew Braden. Their story is one of good friends moving toward a romance, but their journey is marred by a deception that nearly destroys a blossoming romance and true love.

Good morning Sarena and Drew. Thank you for taking time from your busy schedules to share your story with my readers.

Sarena:  Thank you for inviting us.

Drew:  I'm ready. Hit me with your first question.

Okay, Drew. You sound eager so let's start with you. How did the two of you meet?

Drew:  That's an easy one. Three years ago when the summer businesses at the lake marina were preparing to open for the boating season, I saw this beautiful woman inside the ice cream shop. She was unpacking boxes and putting things away. I tried to meet all the summer business operators each year, but usually on an informal basis after they open their doors for customers. This time, I immediately went to the marina property management office and obtained a full list of all the marina summer tenants and there she was—Sarena Fallon, history teacher at Coltonville High School. Unfortunately, due to business needs, I was out of state for the next month. I didn't have an opportunity to actually meet her until I returned to the ranch.

You said 'the ranch.' That's another of the Colton properties?

Drew:  The place where we are now, the original start of the Colton Dynasty five generations ago, is the cattle ranch.

Colton dynasty? That sounds a little over the top.

Drew:  [slight frown followed by laughter] It's totally over the top and definitely pretentious, but that was my father. He's the one who declared the family history a dynasty. The acquisition of additional land two generations after the start of the cattle ranch allowed for the expansion of the operation to include a dude ranch as a separate operation. From there, came the purchase of the large lake already being enjoyed by boating enthusiasts and water skiers. And finally the addition of a boardwalk and businesses as part of the boat marina. And along the way came expansion into many different types of businesses around the state, in other states, and finally internationally. We eventually constructed a corporate headquarters building on the property as a separate facility from the cattle ranch and the dude ranch. My house is also on the property. It's been in the family for three generations. I recently remodeled and updated the house.

Sarena:  I'm a high school history teacher with my summers free. I thought leasing the ice cream shop at the marina would be a good way to spend my summers and earn some extra money. I distinctly remember the day he came into the ice cream shop. He was dressed in jeans and a work shirt, certainly not the type of summer casual clothes being worn by the people who used the marina for their boats. And most definitely not how I assumed a high-powered business executive would be dressed. I assumed he worked at the ranch. He introduced himself as Drew Braden. It was an instant friendship, very comfortable and fun. He seemed to just appear almost every day. Sometimes just for a few minutes. Other times he'd buy an ice cream cone—rocky road was his favorite—and stay for a couple of hours. [embarrassed chuckle] And every time he stopped by, I secretly wished he'd ask me out on a date. The second summer that I leased the ice cream shop, he showed up opening day to welcome me back. Then on the third year, he showed up a week before opening, the day I was checking everything out and making a list of what I needed to do before opening.

It sounds as if he was always around yet you two never had a relationship beyond just friends in spite of what you secretly hoped for?

Drew:  Totally my fault. I had…uh…well, I guess you could say I had a bad case of commitment phobia—emotional baggage that basically scared me when it came to pursuing any type of personal relationship that had the specter of an emotional attachment connected to it. My biggest fear was repeating the worst mistake of my life.

Sarena:  Drew wasn't alone in the emotional baggage department. My ex-husband lied to me about everything. It turned out that I didn't even know who he really was. I swore I would never become involved with someone who didn't tell me the truth.

Well, Drew—even though you didn't know that about Sarena, I guess the most logical question is why did you present yourself to her as someone you're not, even to concealing your real name?

Drew:  Actually, Drew Braden is my real name—just not all of it. Andrew Braden Colton V to be exact. I use Drew Braden with everyone who isn't a business associate or employee. I'd been doing it for fifteen years, the result of the emotional baggage I mentioned. As to my job, I never said exactly what I did. It was that third summer when she finally asked me directly.

Sarena:  I had assumed he worked at the ranch, but not as a cowboy. It was obvious that he was highly educated. I had him pegged for some sort of mid management position like ranch foreman. Who he really was remained his secret. Even when he finally asked me out on a real date, he did not correct my erroneous assumptions. But reality crashed around me when a horrible situation happened right after I opened the ice cream shop for the summer season.

Drew: I had already been wrestling with the reality of knowing that I had to tell her who I was, wanting to tell her, needing to tell her. I knew I couldn't pursue the serious relationship I wanted without telling her the truth. What I didn't know was how to tell her…what to say that wouldn't alienate her. Then that disastrous Saturday morning hit.

That sounds ominous. What happened? Sarena…what was this horrible situation?

Sarena:  [glances at Drew as a hint of a grin tugs at the corners of her mouth] I think you need to read the book to find out.

Drew? Can you tell me what occurred that disastrous Saturday morning? What kind of incident threatened to destroy your relationship?

Drew:  [makes overly obvious show of checking his watch] Will you look at the time! I didn't realize it was so late. I'm sure I must have some sort of really important meeting that I need to attend.

In other words, you're not going to tell me what happened?

Drew:  [allows a mischievous chuckle] That sounds about right.

Well, I guess that leaves me with nothing to say other than to thank the two of for being my guests today. The book is THE ROCKY ROAD TO ROMANCE published by The Wild Rose Press and scheduled for release on July 27, 2020.

www.amazon.com/Rocky-Road-Romance-One-Scoop-ebook/dp/B089P3TBFV  

BLURB:

History teacher Sarena Fallon has leased the ice cream shop at the Colton Marina for the last three summers. And every year, she looked forward to spending time with her friend, Drew. Only this summer, she wants their relationship status to move beyond the friend zone he seems to prefer.

Drew Braden was taken with Sarena the first time he saw her. But a disastrous marriage to a scheming woman has left him seriously commitment phobic. Then there's also the matter of his true identity. If she discovers who he really is, he could lose her forever.

G-Excerpt #1: (opening)

Sarena Fallon entered the ice cream shop and set her purse on one of the chairs. A quick glance around told her everything appeared to be in order. She ran her hand across the counter, then rubbed her fingers together. She wrinkled her brow into a scowl. It definitely did not feel very clean. I have the uneasy feeling a more detailed inspection is going to discover—

“Hi. I hoped I’d find you here.”

She turned at the sound of the smooth, masculine voice. She couldn’t stop the smile that came to her lips as her gaze fell on Drew Braden, all six feet one inch of him. Her breath came a little quicker, and her heart beat a little faster. His blue eyes sparkled as he blatantly looked her up and down. He wore his medium brown hair longer than last summer, but it was a length that looked good on him. It gave him a sexy appearance—even more sexy than she remembered from last year. She liked it longer. She definitely liked it.

“Hi, yourself.” Her smile widened, conveying her pleasure at seeing him. “I just unlocked the door. If you had arrived five minute ago, you would have beaten me here.”

He looked even more desirable than he did at the end of last summer, right before she returned to her teaching job at the beginning of the school term, when he had suddenly pulled her into his arms and captured her mouth with the hottest kiss she had ever experienced. A kiss that curled her toes and confirmed how much she wanted more of him. But more apparently wasn’t to be, much to her disappointment.

Fall, winter, spring—not a word from him, as if he had totally forgotten she even existed. But now, here he stood, as if he had been waiting for her to show up. The situation left her slightly perplexed. She briefly touched her fingers to her lips. All these months later, his parting kiss still burned hot against her lips. “You’re looking well. I like your hair longer like that.”

“Thanks…I think it might be the result of a bit of mid-life crisis. Trying to recapture a little youth.” His teasing grin said far more than his words.

“Mid-life crisis? You can’t be old enough for that.”

“I’ll be that dreaded forty in a couple of months.”

“There’s nothing old about forty.” Especially considering that I’m thirty-five.

He winked. “How would a sweet young thing like you know anything about old?”

“You’re incorrigible.” Her laugh surrounded her words. “It looks like you managed to survive the winter without any mishaps. Your brittle old bones didn’t snap?”

His spontaneous laughter filled the air. “No broken bones from slipping on the ice or falling into any snow drifts if that’s what you meant. And no broken bones from being thrown off a bucking horse, either.” His smile slowly faded as he pulled her into his arms. “I’ve missed you. I’m so glad to see you back this summer.”

“I have a phone, you have the number, and I only live fifteen miles from here in Coltonville. It’s not like you need to drive for several hours to get there.” She teased, but her comment contained a lot of truth.

A hint of something darted across his features but disappeared before she could read it. He slowly released her without kissing her, almost reluctantly so. After the goodbye kiss from last summer, she had anticipated more than just a hug.

“I haven’t checked the shop to make sure it’s been properly cleaned.” She touched the counter again. “And from what I’ve found so far, I suspect it hasn’t been.” A scowl darted across her face. “At least not adequately. Do you want to help me with my inspection?”

“Sure, I can handle that.” Drew nodded, pleased with the opportunity to check out the management office’s efficiency without it appearing to be his objective.

Drew Braden—Andrew Braden Colton V, to be exact—was fifth generation of the wealthy and powerful Colton family and at thirty-nine years of age, the corporate head of all the family holdings. He went by his nickname and middle name to separate himself and his personal activities from the family name and business empire. He found he accomplished more if people didn’t know he was one of the Coltons, specifically president of Colton Enterprises, Chairman of the Board, primary share holder, and in control of all the family businesses and investments of the privately held corporation.

Available in ebook at:

www.amazon.com/Rocky-Road-Romance-One-Scoop-ebook/dp/B089P3TBFV  

And other online vendors.

Excerpts and other information available on my website:  www.shawnadelacorte.com