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Today I'm sharing an excerpt:
CHAPTER ONE
“Seamus, don’t
jump!” Clara Donovan heard her own cries, the shouts resounding through the
misty night air. She raced across the sidewalk toward Farthing Bridge, her gaze
riveted on a horror she didn’t want to believe. Her older brother Seamus sat on
the edge of a tall bridge with his head slumped in his hands, a bottle of
whiskey beside him. The arched stone bridge spanned the River Farthing,
connecting the town to a once-popular marketplace.
No. It couldn’t be. Her breath burned in
her chest as she took in gulps of dampness and drizzle. Don’t stop. Run faster.
When she reached
the bridge, she elbowed through a group of late-night revelers. Several pointed
up at Seamus. “He’s off the rails!” someone shouted.
Her brother seemed
unaware of the gathering crowd. He swung his legs back and forth like an
underwound metronome and stared into the ice-cold river below.
She shook off the
image of him on her living room floor several days earlier. He’d been passed
out drunk. Should she have phoned a treatment center? No. She could fix her
brother’s problems. He simply needed encouragement, surrounded by his loving,
supportive family.
Seamus. Gentle
Seamus. Kind and fiery-haired, quick
to temper, quicker to make amends. Her heart squeezed at the scruffy, dejected
man he’d become since his wife had died.
Clara put her
hands on her knees and took in calm, even breaths. Quickly, she assessed the
corroded pedestrian catwalk leading to the top of the bridge, the skull and
crossbones sign that warned Danger.
She stared upward
at her sweet brother. “Dear saints in heaven, Seamus,” she whispered. “You
promised me that you’d never drink again.”
She stuffed her
wool gloves into her jacket pockets and bent to lace her weatherproof boots
tighter. There was no time to dash around the river to the street that crossed
the bridge, and she certainly wouldn’t ask anyone in the crowd to lend a hand.
She yanked off the
“Danger” sign and threw it to the ground. That pressing feeling in her chest,
like she was running out of air, slowed her movements. Dragging in another
breath, she grasped the slippery wet handrails and stepped onto the bottom rung
of the catwalk.
“Missus, are you
trained for this?” a man from the crowd inquired.
She glanced
around. The man stood a hairsbreadth away. He was tall with piercing blue eyes
and carried a guitar case. His dark brown hair had a reddish tinge and his navy
wool jacket strained against his athletic form.
I hope this novel will transport you to the beautiful country of Ireland.
Below is a pic I took this past summer, when my husband and I visited our daughter in Ireland. She is currently studying at university in Northern Ireland.
Happy Reading!
Josie Riviera is a USA TODAY Bestselling Author of contemporary,
inspirational, and historical sweet romances that read like Hallmark
movies. She lives in the Charlotte, NC, area with her wonderfully
supportive husband. They share their home with an adorable Shih Tzu who
constantly needs grooming and live in an old house forever needing
renovations.
Subscribe to her newsletter and receive a FREE sweet/spicy romance ebook as a thank you.
Josie, it sounds like a great read. Thanks so much for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mary!
ReplyDeleteWe visited Ireland briefly in 2004 because my husband was running a marathon in Dublin. I'd love to go back again. Your novel makes me "homesick".
ReplyDeleteDublin is a gorgeous city, Arietta. We always fly into Dublin or Shannon when visiting Ireland.
DeleteI loved this book. Can't wait to read your next one.
ReplyDeletejudytucker1947@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Judy!
DeleteI love Irish stories.
ReplyDeleteMy hope is that this novel captures the tone and flavor of Ireland, Merrillee.
DeleteSounds like a lovely story. I would LOVE an audio copy.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Gina. The audio copy of Oh Danny Boy is currently in production. The Narrator is award-winning with a gorgeous Irish brogue who lives in Dublin. Not available yet, though, so that's why I'm offering another audiobook instead.
DeleteLove it!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ashley!
DeleteThat was so suspenseful! Thanks for sharing the excerpt. Danny Boy is on my "must read" list.
ReplyDeleteI meant "Oh Danny Boy". I tried to edit but couldn't. :)
DeleteThanks for your post, Cindy! :)
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIreland sounds beautiful, and I look forward to reading stories set there. Thanks for writing!
ReplyDeleteThanks, AuntM. The country is beautiful--although my daughter--who currently lives there--is reporting cool, windy, and rainy conditions today. :)
DeleteThanks so much for all your lovely comments.
ReplyDeleteGina Johnson--you're the winner of a FREE audiobook--Candleglow and Mistletoe. Please contact me at josieriviera@aol.com