Title: ECHOES OF LOVE
Author: N. Christine Samuelson
Genre: Contemporary Romance with mystical elements
Book Blurb:
What if the mysteries of your life began before you were born, and reach into your future?
Carson and Cody are haunted by their pasts with memories and repeats of tragedy and loss, but also great love, echoing through lifetimes into their present lives. Their futures are fated unless they can face and conquer past mistakes, and have the courage to love the way that’s deeply buried inside. But how do they move forward after losses so devastating they believe love isn’t possible? Given that, what makes their lives worth living? Carson, an artist from Santa Fe moves to Montana to begin a new life. But an unexpected encounter brings her into conflict with Cody, an architect and ranch manager from Wyoming. The immediate power and beauty of their connection is as spectacular as the landscapes they walk through, but just as fated, unpredictable and complex. Their seemingly unresolvable conflicts span geography and time, from the tangible beauty of the American West through an elusive journey echoing over hundreds of years and two continents. Even with best intentions, nothing is guaranteed except one thing, and only they can discover it.
Excerpt:
The scent of mesquite wood burning on a chilly night, a roaring fire with its face glowing orange and yellow spitting embers into the black sky, drew Carson in against her will. The closer she walked toward the gathering, the surer her attraction was to it. People gathered in groups, talking and laughing, beer bottles and wine glasses raised in toast, hats tipped back off foreheads, and fiddlers filled the air with happy music.
As she crossed the road into the lawn, the little voice that knew things before she did told her this night might hold more than a casual get-together. Carson ignored it, her attention drawn to the cowboy who’d eyed her earlier as he tracked her path. She pretended not to notice while she looked up, down, the other way but he locked onto her. Ignoring the guy talking to him, he homed in on Carson. Feeling like a target, a deer in the crosshairs, she veered off to the left because he stood on the right.
Molly spotted her too and let out a holler, waving her to come in her direction. “Hey, Carson, you’re goin’ the wrong way, honey; party’s over here.” Everyone standing around chuckled assuming the stranger lost her way just crossing the road. All except for the cowboy. He didn’t laugh as he continued watching her walk.
Molly noticed him as well and walked toward Carson, rounding her up like a stray calf. As Molly walked by the cowboy, she swat his shoulder. “What’s wrong with you, Cody? Been a while since you been around a pretty woman? We must be workin’ you too hard. Better have Hugh give you a weekend off more often to get into town for some fun so you don’t embarrass our female guests.” Molly took Carson under her wing, guiding her to the table loaded with food.
Molly’s taunting and whack had knocked Cody to his senses. Looking to the ground, he shook his head back and forth in disbelief and with a sheepish smile, he ambled over to the table. Carson calmed seeing his embarrassment—not the look of a stalker, but of a teen caught rolling in the hay with his girlfriend.
Removing his hat in a gentlemanly gesture, he said, “Hi, I’m Cody, and I’m sorry for watching you back there. I don’t know what came over me.” He grappled for words, nervously smoothing the brim of his hat. “The reason I was staring is because you look like someone I used to know.” Kicking at the gravel, he then looked up at Carson with a small grin. “I’m still trying to figure out where and when I met you. I’m sorry if I upset you. It wasn’t intentional.” He put out his hand to shake, his eyes begging for forgiveness while he waited for her to reach for him.
Carson, unsure of what to do, let him hang for a few seconds then put him out of his misery by offering her hand and a warm smile. “No problem. I’m Carson. Nice to meet you.”
While taking her hand, he continued scanning her face trying to place her in his memory. Carson’s eyes were hazel in this firelight, but he knew they’d be vivid green in the brightness of day. The heart-shaped face, her high cheekbones, and brows like wings of an eagle framing those eyes made her a stunning, natural beauty in his assessment. “Seeing you up close now, I swear we’ve met somewhere.”
Carson knew he wasn’t using a line on her. She knew the type of guy who used them—the smooth-talker who put on a façade, lured her in with charming bait and eventually a switch; she could tell Cody wasn’t that man. He was authentic—a real cowboy as evidenced by his work, the ranch, his looks and words. He was down-to-earth, admitting he was wrong staring at her, then apologized without contriving a lie or excuse or convoluted story. So far, he proved to be a straight-forward guy who wouldn’t use a line and didn’t have to by the look of him—a wide, brilliant smile, a square jaw and handsome in a rugged way. When he’d looked away from her, she glanced him up and down and at just under six feet, his body was trim but solid and muscular. His image reminded her of someone she’d known, too, but she dismissed it. “No, I don’t think I’ve met you before,” she said, keeping hold of his hand while looking more closely at him. “Your face is vaguely familiar, but I’d have remembered your name if we’d met.”
Carson’s voice sounded as a song whose words opened his heart. Under normal circumstances, this sensation would’ve scared him off, but her tone was gentle, happy, and lifted his spirits. The soft, warm skin of her hand and her firm grasp felt magnetic, drawing him into herself.
She felt the energy as well and didn’t pull away. In the past, a meeting like this would’ve unnerved her, but everything about him felt good and natural, like she’d reacquainted with an old friend. This is not possible—she reigned in her feelings— things like this don’t happen.
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
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Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B07KPJ68K6
Barnes/Noble (Nook): www.barnesandnoble.com/w/1129748289
Books-A-Million (Print only): https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Echoes-Love/N-Christine-Samuelson/9781543950649?id=7489532086395
What’s the first binge-worthy book you read and why was it a must-read?
The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley. It’s a must-read for anyone who loves Scottish highland settings and people, stories of love and mystery spanning hundreds of years that blends historical events with contemporary characters and plot. Beautifully written with sumptuous Scotland settings with ocean, cliffs and rugged countryside.
What makes your featured book a binge-worthy read?
The plot spans a hundred years’ time and bonds of love and loss so strong they still echo into the lives of the two main characters in present day.
A man and woman are fatefully, highly attracted to each other for reasons they can’t explain. They move through a complex love/hate/fear relationship loaded with mysterious events, emotions, secrets from the past affecting their inability to love and move forward in life.
Their journey reaches through time and life, where their present-day obstacles and fears have light shed on them by events from the past—hundreds of years in the past. This book will keep you turning the pages wondering what’s really going on with them, and will they make it or succumb to the seemingly unsurmountable challenges they face. Exquisite settings through the seasons in the mountainous northwest add to the drama and power of the story.
Praise for Echoes of Love:
“Another Amazing Book. Once again, this author has written a stunningly vivid and captivating book, stories intertwined with past, present and future. I love her use of dialogue and descriptors.” – Amazon reviewer
“A book that touches on … unfinished business, incomplete love and unfulfilled vows. Beautifully written and delivered; the imagery is very vivid. – Amazon international reviewer
“Absolutely AMAZING! I don’t think I have ever got so worked up about a book before.” - Booksprout reviewer
“…an amazing book! The chemistry between the characters is off the hook! The storyline is amazing! I love it, I just love it!” – Amazon reviewer
Giveaway –
One lucky reader will win a $75 Amazon (US) gift card.
Open internationally. You must have a valid Amazon US account to win.
Runs August 1 – 31
Drawing will be held on September 1.
Author Biography:
Christine writes about life and love’s challenges, losses and victories involving the eternal bonds that transform lives and transcend time, death, and place. Creativity and writing have long been part of her award-winning careers in graphic design, advertising and newspapers. Now, in writing fiction, she explores the joys and triumphs, the tragic and magic of life and love that readers can relate to.
Her characters and storylines are grounded but include lots of mystery and some mysticism. Her stories are influenced and based, in part, by her life experience and a unique voice which inspire the diverse settings, characters, and authentic storylines of her novels.
Living in coastal South Carolina, Christine finds the land and sea are constant sources of inspiration. She hopes readers of her stories will be inspired to look at life and love through a different lens and realize that no matter their circumstances, we all share similar stories in our lives and hearts.
Social Media Links:
Website: www.NChristineSamuelson.com
Facebook Author Page: www.facebook.com/nchristinesamuelsonauthor/
Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/N.-Christine-Samuelson/e/B07B8VT9BB
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ncsamuelson
Instagram: www.instagram.com/nchristine7711/