Title: DETERMINED
Author: Marsha R. West
Genre: Later in Life Romance/Second Chance Romantic Suspense
Book Blurb:
Divorced, fifty-seven-year-old real estate developer Hollister Grant (Holly) and her sisters Lee, an interior designer, and Kay, an artist, are determined to use the trust fund their parents set up for them to build a tiny home project for people who’ve recently been homeless, honoring an aunt who found herself in that situation.
Barrett Armstrong, president of a nearby homeowner association doesn’t want “those people” living across from his fifty + neighborhood, and he will do anything to prevent the land’s development. Anything. Even murder.
Dan Morgan, Holly’s long-time friend and lawyer, wants to continue to work with Holly on this project which he believes in as he serves on the board of the Homeless Coalition, but he realizes his feelings for the woman are moving past friendship. Dan fears because of her past experiences as an abused spouse she isn’t ready for a change in their relationship. And she might not ever be. Should he remain silent to maintain their friendship or risk everything for the chance at real love? When danger strikes, will he be able to keep her safe?
Excerpt:
Holly took care with her outfit for the meeting with the neighborhood association. Studying her reflection in the mirror, she decided the black skirted suit sent the right hint of seriousness while the turquoise silk top added a touch of fun. Adding short black boots kept the outfit from being too dressy. Her phone beeped, and she read Dan’s text. He’d stopped on the outside of the gate. She clicked the device to open the gate, picked up her purse, set the alarm, and stepped out onto the small porch.
Dan’s large SUV pulled up in front of her house. He hopped out and came around to open the door for her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t have time to get my sedan. I know you have trouble climbing in. Let me help you.” His hands slid around her waist and hoisted her easily into the seat.
“Oh, my. Thank you.” Holly fanned her face as he stepped around the front of the vehicle. She and Dan had been friends for years, but his hands on her waist now and how easily he lifted her into the SUV…well, she found herself a bit breathless. What was that about?
Dan slammed his door and pointed the car in the direction of the gate. “Before I forget, you look fantastic. Love the turquoise or aqua or whatever color you call it.”
“Thank you. You’ve used several terms that work. This blouse I’d call turquoise, but you’ve seen me in teal, and something I call blue-green.”
“Okay.” Dan chuckled. “I didn’t expect a color lesson from you. From Kay, yes, but you’re a more feet-on-the-ground, practical kind of person.”
“Thank you, I think?” Holly laughed.
“In my experience we shouldn’t have to stay for their whole meeting. Why don’t we grab supper afterwards? How about Aventino’s?”
Holly shot a glance at Dan who’d focused his attention on making sure they got safely out onto the road, busy with going-home traffic. “Uh, sure. That would be lovely. Aventino’s is one of our favorites. It’s fun knowing the owners.” Aventino’s was a special kind of place to eat a quiet dinner with a special someone. She and Dan didn’t have that kind of relationship. She didn’t have that kind of relationship with anyone. Not since Joe Bryant.
She and Joe met in high school, dated, and fell in love. They went to the same college and after two years decided to get married. Her family wasn’t too thrilled. They wanted her to finish school first. But she’d been hell bent to have that fancy full-blown wedding with six bridesmaids and the country club reception. Many of her sorority sisters got married young. That’s what young people did back then. People didn’t live together as much as now. The relationship began to fall apart almost from the very beginning. They argued over money, his friends, her friends. Joe thought any guy who spoke to her wanted to get in her pants. His insane jealousy had no basis in fact. She’d never been able to convince him otherwise.
“Holly.”
“What?”
“Where’d you go? I called your name three times. We don’t have to go to Aventino’s after if you’d rather not.”
“Oh. Sorry. Guess I drifted off for a moment. Aventino’s will be lovely.” Dear heavens, had she looked like she’d lost her mind? She feared that in certain matters she had. Despite two years of counseling, and the passage of almost thirty years, those memories flooded back with too much detail, and the emotions took possession of her. “Let’s get this meeting with the homeowners over. Then maybe we can have a celebration.”
After a twenty-minute drive, Dan turned into the High Trails development, parked in front of their club room, and climbed out of the SUV. He held the door open for Holly, and she stepped into the large room with chairs set up theatre style facing the front. She rubbed her hands along her thighs. Nerves made her palms sweat. Unusual for her. Calm and cool were how people often described her. But this was personal, and she badly wanted to report back to her sisters that these people would be supportive of their project. Grant Gardens meant everything to all three of them.
A tall, gray-haired gentleman who Holly guessed to be in his mid-sixties made his way from the front of the room toward them where a microphone, speaker’s stand and U.S. flag stood.
“I’m Barrett Anderson, president of our neighborhood association. You must be the person who bought the land across the road.”
Holly extended her hand. “Yes, I’m Holly Grant, and this is Dan Morgan, my attorney.”
Anderson clasped her hand and squeezed harder than seemed necessary. “Not sure why you needed your attorney, Ms. Grant.” He turned to Dan and extended his hand. “Nothing personal, you know.”
“No offense taken, Mr. Anderson. Besides being a lawyer, I’m Ms. Grant’s friend, and I’m here more in that capacity today.”
“Okay, well, follow me up to the front. We’re about to begin. You can sit here.” He gestured to the chairs in the front row.
Holly cut Dan a quick glance. How would this meeting go?
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
This book is on sale for $2.50 (50% off) from December 16-17
Universal Link: https://books2read.com/u/bxAVzD
What makes your featured book a must-read?
If you’d seen a person standing on a street corner who has no place to live, you’ve probably wondered what you could do about it. It’s possible, you know of someone (maybe even a family member), who’s found themselves without a place to live. As a former principal, I had students who stayed with friends because they had no other options. A group at my church works with folks who are formerly homeless, and that inspired this book. As I got to know these people, I realized they were just like you and me. I wrote the book to honor all those who try to make a difference in the lives of folks who’ve come on hard times. You’ll find lots of family issues in this book. Bad stuff has happened to the heroine and her sisters. And you’ll have to read to see if Holly and Dan get their second chance at love.
Giveaway –
Enter to win a $25 Amazon gift card:
Open Internationally.
Runs December 16 – December 31, 2024.
Winner will be drawn on January 2, 2025.
Author Biography:
I’m a retired elementary school principal, a former school board member, and theatre arts teacher, and write Romance, Suspense, and Second Chances. Experience Required. I live in Texas with my supportive lawyer husband and Charley, a deaf, Chihuahua/Jack Russell Terrier. Our two daughters presented us with three delightful grandchildren all who live nearby.
The theme of my eleven books is always second chances. I even named my four-part series The Second Chances Series. I believe in Happily Ever Afters. My husband picked up a plaque for me on one of our several trips to Maine that states my philosophy exactly. Everything will be all right in the end. If it’s not all right, it’s not the end. The Heroines and Heroes in my books range in age from 40 to late 50s and their parents and children often playing supporting roles.
I am a member of North Texas Romance Writers, Texas Authors Institute, and I send out a monthly newsletter and give away an e-book to some lucky commenter. I enjoy making presentations to groups, and several times, I’ve taught a Silver Frogs class on Indie Publishing for Texas Christian University. My books can be found on Books2Read, AMAZON, B & N, KOBO, and iTunes. Print books are at Books2Read and Amazon.
I’ve contributed to ROMANCE & MYSTERY AUTHORS ON WRITING, edited by JQ. Rose. Also, in 2018, I had a short story, “The Colonel & Her Major” published in my writing chapter’s anthology, LONE STAR LOVE. In 2024, my short story, “Survival” was published in the in the 9th anthology “Short Stories by Texas Authors.”
Social Media Links:
Blurbs for each of my books with links can be found on my website www.marsharwest.com where you can also sign up for my NEWSLETTER https://bit.ly/47tZzoX
Contact me at marsha@marsharwest.com , and follow me on… https://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn
Amazon Author page https://amzn.to/456bBUy
Trailer Link for DETERMINED https://youtu.be/UB40vwfuAHc