Life’s trials and hectic pace can make remembering
just how blessed we are hard, and all that has gone wrong and awry takes over
our thoughts and hearts. I like
Thanksgiving Day for how it offers a time to stop for a moment and focus on the
blessings in our life, however outstanding or modest.
Thanksgiving can also be every day. I’m thankful for
the little things that can lift the spirits:
Happy memories of
Thanksgiving family gatherings past to keep me company on this quiet present
day.
The beauty in a spray of
yellow leaves on a crisp, blue-sky day.
My husband’s silly conversation
with our cat each night after supper.
My mom’s fierce hugs.
The quiet pleasures in
summer days I learned from my grandparents on their front porch.
The belly laughter of my
students at a funny story or corny joke.
A snowy morning, quiet as
a held breath.
What are you thankful for?
Wishing you all a blessed Thanksgiving,
Babette
Blurb:
Sometimes
love is just around the corner.
Seeking peace while he decides between
prestigious job offers, burned-out lawyer Matt Powell rents his boyhood
vacation home at the Jersey shore on a nostalgic whim. However, discovering the
lovely widow next door is his childhood best friend, Katie Vanburen,
complicates everything. His old love for her hits hard, but this time around
his feelings are anything but innocent. It’s decision time: the high-profile
career he’s earned–or a life he never dreamed possible loving his girl next
door.
Twenty years ago, Matt broke Katie’s
teenaged heart when he vanished from her life after his parents’ divorce. She
grew up, buried her childish dreams, and moved on. New dreams shattered with
her unfaithful husband’s death, but now she’s a successful website designer and
owns her beloved shore house. She’s delighted to renew their friendship, but
unready to trust her heart again–even if Matt’s kisses tempt her beyond reason.
But can her cracking defenses hold when Matt argues his case for love so
eloquently, in bed and out?
Excerpt :
They walked on, passing other people out
enjoying a late night walk, chatting and laughing together over childhood
memories long buried by time and daily life. Lamps and flickering televisions
allowed glimpses inside the houses they passed.
After strolling several blocks, they
paused at one of the covered wood pavilions and walked to the edge of the
stairs leading down between the dunes to the beach. A full moon and starry sky
added a dreamy shimmer to the night. Below on the deserted beach, a couple
wandered along the water line, sidestepping the endless tide washing the sand.
Out on the dark ocean, pinpricks of light steadily cruised northward, maybe a
cruise ship or a cargo ship.
Katie leaned against the railing and
tipped her face to him with that dimpled smile, so familiar and so new. The
soft light of the full moon highlighted her dark eyes, soft lips, the alluring
curve of her cleavage, and smooth cling of her dress to her hips.
Twenty years ago, he’d liked Katie with
his whole heart, but that had been a safe, clueless, and innocent liking. Nana
might have called it puppy love. Now? The old like was still there, strong as
always, plus something different, deeper, and far from innocent.
He was no longer eight or thirteen. They
weren’t best friends anymore. What they were now? Hell, he was clueless.
Familiar strangers? What he did have a clue about was how the tempting curve of
her soft lips and that familiar dimple called to be kissed.
Maybe the feeling was just the vodka
talking.
Or maybe not.
Why couldn’t he want Katie? They were both
adults, single, and unattached. Why not give in to what he wanted for once in
his life? What could one kiss do?
Worse case, acting on the crazy idea had
to clean thinking of her as anything but an old friend out of his system. He
was likely overthinking everything, a habitual problem of his. However, he
preferred prudent consideration of decisions, and decisive action once
deliberation was concluded.
A kiss would cure him, maybe, or at least
give him a hint one way or another as to whether she could feel the same. At
the moment, he had little hope this consuming attraction was leaving his system
anytime soon.
But,
what if you botch this? What if you screw up the friendship? Best friends
forever?
Too late. He’d screwed up their friendship
years ago when he abandoned staying in touch with Katie. Teenage moods, to be
sure, and his childish anger and hurt were no fault of Katie’s, but he’d turned
his back on her and the happiness he’d treasured in their friendship all the
same. He’d just have to be careful and do a better job this time around.
Please, let me get this right. He lowered
his head and touched his mouth to hers, cupping her face in his hands, and
yielded wholly into the reality of desiring Katie.
Come fall in love at the shore
Buy
at:
Barnes & Noble Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/kissing-katie-babette-james/1120866411?ean=2940150223004
About
the Author:
Babette James writes sweetly
scorching romance and loves reading nail-biting tales with a satisfying happily
ever after. When not dreaming up stories, she enjoys playing with new bread
recipes and dabbling with paints. As a teacher, she loves encouraging new
readers and writers as they discover their growing abilities. Her class cheers
when it’s time for their spelling test! Babette lives in New Jersey with her
wonderfully patient husband and extremely spoiled cats.
You can find Babette at:
Happy Thanksgiving Babette, it's great to have you today. Beautiful post.
ReplyDeleteHi, Angela. Thanks for letting me visit with you here today.
ReplyDelete