I'm so jazzed about this wonderful review! The Romance Studio gave Picture This four hearts! The review said, in part, "The author grabs you from the first chapter and takes you on a great ride. This story was easy to get into and hard to put down. The characters are easy to relate to and you quickly become involved in their story." Thanks so much, TRS!
Here's another excerpt from Picture This, an Eternal Press bestseller!
The night air had an edge of chill. She rubbed her arms, wished she’d brought her jacket from the car. He sat close and warmth tingled through her.
She tucked her leg under her and leaned back. Frogs trilled from the pond across the road. The stars blazed in the crisp September sky.
“This is such a wonderful place. I see now why you chose to live way out here.”
“It’s my grandparents’ place, actually. My granddad died last year. That’s when I decided to move from Philly.”
“I’m so sorry.” She resisted the urge to touch his leg.
He rested his arm on the back of the swing, his hand behind her head. “He wasn’t. Since my Grandmom died two years before, he was ready to follow her. He hated being here without her.”
She wrapped her hands around her knee, relaxed into the rhythm of the swing, of the night. “That’s sad. But I always envied couples who couldn’t bear to live apart. It’s so romantic. Is that their picture in the hallway?”
“Yeah. They were great. This place was always special to me. I couldn’t let strangers buy it, turn it into condos or a mass production farm.” He swigged at his beer bottle. “So, I heard Sadie say she was going to see Soul Custody at a club later.”
“Yeah, I was tempted to tag along. I’ve heard they’re interesting – kind of Dylan meets Foo Fighters.”
He laughed. “Or Eric Clapton meets melodic Pearl Jam meets Dandy Warhols.”
“A mellow Stones with a tincture of Springsteen.”
Sydney lost track of the time. Their conversation kept finding new threads, interesting ones she wanted to follow.
He leaned toward her when he spoke. He smelled like fresh air or an open field. She liked the way his hair curled close to his collar. The way he listened to her entire sentence before responding. The conversational threads weaved them closer.
He looked at her. “How’s your head? No headache today?”
“No, I’ve been so relaxed here. Maybe it’s the country air.”
His voice was soft. “Anytime you need your chi unblocked, let me know.” He searched her face.
“You’ll be first to know.” She smiled, then sipped at her wine. Her glass was empty. “Well.” She leaned forward and placed her feet on the porch.
“Sydney.” He turned to face her, his eyes bright.
They sat for a moment, gripped by silence. Whatever he had to say, he couldn’t seem to, even while they were alone. Though it had driven her crazy not to know, she didn’t want to push him. He’d tell her when he was ready.
She stood and walked to the door. “Why don’t I help you clean up before I go?”
Pensive, he stared into the yard, and then stood without looking at her.
She walked through the house and to the back door. The large yard was dark, and the light over the back step afforded small illumination to the large, now dark yard. Her foot twisted as she stepped down, and she cried out.
“What happened? Are you okay?” He took her arm and helped her to the picnic table.
She sat down and took off a shoe. “Damn heels. I never should have worn them.” She rubbed her ankle.
“Let me see.” He knelt in front of her and lifted her foot to his leg, his fingers massaging her ankle.
She leaned her elbows on the table behind her. He definitely had a magic touch. “So you’re the guy that Heart sang about.”
He chuckled. “I’m the man with the magic hands.” He looked up at her. “Are they working their magic on you?”
She’d been imagining his fingers working on her all day. “It feels much better. But I don’t want to keep you any longer. It’s getting late.”
He held her foot. “Sydney. I need to tell you something.”
She knew she should take her foot from his lap, but it felt so good to have his hand on her, so warm. “What?”
He bit his lip. “I need to explain. About that night.”
