My friend and former CFRR roomie, Suzie Waltner, has released her first book. I'm so incredibly excited and proud of her!! Today, I am featuring an excerpt from this book.
Title: Midnight Blue
Author: Suzie Waltner
Series: Love in Color
Publisher: Anaiah Press
Genre: Inspirational Contemporary Romance
A series of heartbreaking setbacks behind her, Scarlett Sykes is now focused on creating the best life possible for her daughter. One where innocence and joy is not colored by rejection or loss. While finances are tight and Scarlett’s job isn’t ideal for a single mother, her child will always know she’s loved. Especially since Harmony’s father wanted nothing to do with them.
As lead singer and the face of a successful country band, Jake Turnquist’s closest friends depend on him, but life in the spotlight is quickly losing its appeal. At a party celebrating another accomplishment, he’s stunned to discover Scarlett assisting the caterer. Almost ten years have passed, but he’s never forgotten his first love.
In the hours after a surprise revelation, Jake scrambles to orchestrate a way to spend time with Scarlett and Harmony—the family he’s always wanted but never knew he had. He once gave her up to pursue his music. What will he have to surrender to win her back?
Go to Anaiah Press, HERE for all your purchasing links .
EXCERPT
When Scarlett reined the horse to a stop beside the rocky creek and
danced him around, Jake couldn’t take his eyes off her. Her cheeks
flushed and her eyes sparkled. Her hair flowed wild around her, and
happiness, true happiness, lit her face.
“You cheated.” Levi caught up with her.
“I would’ve beaten you anyway.” Their conversation carried on the
breeze.
The guy leaned over and whispered something in her ear. She laughed
and slapped his hand off her arm. Jake growled at their easy interaction.
“She’s comfortable around him.”
“What?” Jake’s saddle creaked as he turned the other way to where
Andi and Seth kept pace with him.
“You’re jealous.” Andi didn’t miss a beat. “But Scarlett has always let
her guard down around Levi because she’s comfortable with him. They
don’t have a relationship history—one that didn’t end well—to navigate
around.” Empathy filled her eyes, probably due to her recalling her own
relational heartbreak years ago. “Give her time, Jake. She’ll see you’re still
the same guy from Fiddler Creek we all know and love.”
But was he? He’d chased after fame and fortune, leaving everything and
everyone behind. And with his success came a whole new set of challenges
he hadn’t anticipated.
About Suzie Waltner
Unlike many of the stories you hear from authors, my plan growing up wasn’t to spend my life at a computer cranking out best-sellers. Nope. I wanted to be a veterinarian. From the time I was about six up until my second year in college caring for animals was my goal.
But life has a funny way of steering you off a planned path. After two and a half years of college classes preparing me for vet school, I realized I was not cut out for life as a veterinarian. A few college major changes later and I ended up with a degree in English.
I’m sure you’ve heard the joke about liberal arts degrees. The one about learning to ask, “Do you want fries with that?” Well, thankfully, my path didn’t lead me to the fast food industry but it did lead me to Tennessee (from Idaho).
After two years working as an editorial coordinator for a flailing magazine publisher, I saw the writing on the wall and decided to get out while the getting was good. A visit to a temp agency, a couple random jobs, and a call to come to a company and “just clear off the fax machines and sort the paper” led to a fifteen-plus year desk job.
While I wrote when I was young and a little in college, once I moved to Tennessee, I set it aside while I became established. It wasn’t until a co-worker mentioned NaNoWriMo in 2014 that I was encouraged to start writing again. I did the NaNo challenge and finished my book but at the end of November, I had an idea for the next book (and thus began my first book series). I wrote that in December. Once again, before the end of the month, the creative juices were flowing for the third book.
Despite my demanding job, I still sneak time in to read write and edit even though the going can be slow at times (hence my decision to start via the self-publishing route). And thankfully, the story ideas are still coming. And in 2022, I have a book releasing with a publisher.
Visit Suzie on these social media platforms Facebook || Instagram || Twitter || Website
Title: Glory Road
