Title: ETERNAL SEAS
Author: N. Christine Samuelson
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Suspense elements
Book Blurb:
Ella Rowe’s lifelong fear of the sea, with its tragedies surrounding loved ones, cause her soul-deep fear of love and relationships—until the sea brings a man perfect for her—Navy fighter pilot Daniel Ellsworth.
A powerful attraction draws them together in Key West, but undermining it is Ella’s feeling cursed and haunted by deaths, family secrets, lies, spirits, and vivid memories of living in other times with similar fates—all caused by the sea. She believes loving Daniel will make him the next victim, while Daniel questions pursuing her, knowing death could be a consequence.
They begin an odyssey spanning generations of time filled with mystery, otherworldly events, and peril leading back to Ella’s ancestral home in Maine. Will their destiny be fulfilled, or will tragedy be repeated as they endure heartbreak to find love, and face death to find life?
Excerpt:
Ella did not want to turn around to see the man behind her because she imagined a hippie or a bearded Hemingway look-alike in a faded T-shirt and flip-flops. But sitting here in a place like the Sailors Rest bar, more likely he was a laid-back local, a writer or musician looking for a good time. She prepared to brush him off nicely when his arm reached alongside hers from behind. He was so close, she felt the heat rise from his body, giving off the scent of very nice, not-cheap cologne.
This was definitely a move, and she was annoyed until she noticed his well-muscled arm as he laid his hat on the table—a formal, white and black with gold trim, military-looking hat. Ella turned in her chair and found a not-an-ounce-of- fat midsection, decked out in a starched white shirt and trousers. Looking up, she noticed colorful ribbons above the shirt pocket and black shoulder boards with gold insignias. Carrying the impressive uniform was a tall, broad-shouldered body and a nicely tanned face set off by a perfect white smile. Even with the short, tousled-on-top military haircut, he was oh-so-handsome—dark hair, piercing green eyes, male-model handsome.
. . . “I’m not who you thought I’d be, right?”
“You could say that.” Ella looked him up and down, thinking he was too good to be true. “Are you really in the service, or are you a model or an actor here on a movie set?”
“Oh, man, I don’t know whether to be flattered or insulted. You’re not even close on the second guess.”
“Hmm...so you’re in the service, huh? What branch? Marines? Air Force?”
He put a hand to his stomach and groaned as if punched. “Ugh, you’re killin’ me. Marines? Air Force? You sure know how to hurt a guy.” His grin told her he wasn’t really upset as he pointed to a small anchor tattoo on his left arm and the anchor insignia on his hat.
“Sorry. I guess that means Navy?”
“Very observant. Right. Navy. Fighter pilot.”
. . . Does that mean you’re one of those egomaniacal, cocky pilots?”
He grabbed the chair next to hers. “Some are, not me though. Not in my nature. In fact, I’ll be a gentleman and ask if I may join you.”
“Help yourself. So, what are you doing here, sailor?”
“Well it is the Sailors Rest. How could I not come in?”
“Oh, right. Except you look like the only sailor in here.”
“My buddies are in the back of the bar playing pool.”
“Why in the back?”
“Well, this is a locals’ bar. We look a little out of place in these uniforms.”
“So why bother? Why not go somewhere else?”
“Because this is a great place with great food and a nice spot here on the beach. And of course, because it is...” They spoke the next words exactly in unison, “...the Sailors Rest,” laughing easily together. He added, “We just came from another buddy’s wedding and the night is young.”
“Earlier, I saw a bunch of men in formal Navy uniforms just like yours in a wedding downtown,” Ella recalled. “That couldn’t have been you and your friends, could it?”
“Probably was. Unless there was another wedding at the same time. Was it near Duval Street?”
“I don’t know the streets that well. This is my first time here.”
“Do you happen to drive an older model white BMW with Florida plates?”
Ella looked at him suspiciously. “Maybe. Maybe not. How would you guess such a thing?”
“Because when we came out of the church, my attention was drawn across the street to a white BMW parked there. Briefly, before she drove off, I saw a gorgeous blonde, who happens to look a lot like you. There was someone else in the car, but I couldn’t see them. It was you driving, wasn’t it?”
“It might have been.”
“This is amazing, isn’t it? Fortune, fate or destiny has brought us together.”
Nervous, she said, “It’s not all that mystical. I was there. You were there.”
“And here we are. I had a feeling when I saw you at the church, I’d run into you somewhere. If this isn’t fate, what is it?”
Not wanting to venture down that road, Ella sloughed off his comment. “It’s just a coincidence. Nothing more.”
“Okay. If that’s what you believe. I happen to believe it’s more. Our meeting was meant to be.”
“I think we were both looking for a casual place on the beach to have a drink and came upon the Sailors Rest. No more unusual than anyone else in here.”
He wasn’t about to argue with a woman he’d just met and wanted to know better. He knew positively they were meant to meet. But he went along with the conversation, thinking he could always revisit the “destiny” discussion later. He continued with his original train of thought. “True. We did come in here wanting to prolong the festivities of the wedding into the night, hopefully into early morning.”
“Why are you sitting here with me then? Hoping I’ll be part of the festivities?”
“You just never know. Thought I’d give it a try.”
“Listen, I know it’s cliché, but your uniform is the only thing that got you a seat here.”
“Well, I’m obviously not a weirdo or old hippie. What is silly, though, is we haven’t properly met.” He extended his hand. “I’m Daniel. Daniel Ellsworth.”
. . . His laugh warmed her, mingling comfortably with her own. She’d never before let a perfect stranger in a bar sit down with her. But he seemed perfect in some odd way; the feel of his hand as she shook it was comforting, pleasurable, and he did seem vaguely familiar. It was why she’d been drawn to look at him as she watched the wedding party. And now, reluctantly, she had to admit it felt like she really had met him before.
Praise for Eternal Seas:
“Beautiful story of love, passion and mystery. …N. Christine Samuelson has a wonderful talent of connecting you to the characters, their emotions and the settings so you feel you are part of the story. I couldn't wait to open this book each night to get carried away to a different world. …did not want it to end.” – Amazon review
“…Wow, what a beautiful story …emotional women’s fiction with lyrical narration set in Key West. The characters drive this story. …The spiritual element kept me turning the pages. …Mystery and romance added depth of the plot. The ending: WOW! I didn’t see that coming…” – N.N. Light’s Book Heaven
“…Dreams, the distant past of a hundred years ago, and fate interweave in this compelling novel. … premonitions and flashbacks for Ella … Fate, History, and the Eternal Seas.” – Booksprout Review
“I loved this book. I am a spiritual person and the ending gave me chills. Loved the dialogue, so well written. …This was amazing. Would recommend to anyone.” – Amazon review
BUY LINKS:
$2.99 Half-Price Sale
Apple Books (itunes): https://books.apple.com/us/book/eternal-seas/id1352849048
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Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/N_Christine_Samuelson_Eternal_Seas?id=hERPDwAAQBAJ
If money were no object, where would you go for a Spring Break vacation and why?
I would go to places I’ve always wanted to go: a tour of Scotland and Ireland to see castles, cliffs, rugged coastlines, remote islands, pubs, villages, and experience local people, customs and culture. I’d end it with a trip to Finland where my maternal ancestors came from to get a feel of my long-ago roots, maybe stay in an igloo hotel, take saunas and jump in the snow to cool off, and of course, see the Northern Lights. Ah, to dream . . .
Why is your featured book a must-read this spring?
Along with love, mystery, passion, spirits & the sea, Eternal Seas is about hope and renewal of life. Plenty of plot twists and surprises, complex characters and secrets make for a journey through time and place, through loves, lives, and deaths. And through it all the characters have faith that good, and love, will prevail; that the end is never final—it can be a wonderful new beginning.
The story is played out through the main characters’ lives: Daniel Ellsworth, a Navy fighter pilot who loves the sea and flying, who is adventurous, bold and daring; and Ella Rowe who fears the sea, love relationships and whose life is haunted by mystery, deaths and secrets.
Readers will find an unusual love story revolving around the sea and its secrets while being swept away to exotic settings through this world and the past.
The challenges in the characters’ tumultuous world explore the ways people’s lives are broken; how fear can limit life and relationships, and the many real & magical ways love can heal bringing hope to anyone’s heart.
Giveaway –
One lucky reader will win a $75 Amazon US or Canada gift card
Open internationally. You must have a valid Amazon US or Amazon CA account to win.
Runs April 1 – 30, 2023.
Drawing will be held on May 1, 2023
Author Biography:
Christine writes contemporary novels of love, life and relationships 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 relate to.
Her characters are realistic, fresh and relevant with stories that include mystery and some mysticism. They are written in a unique voice and partially influenced by life experience which inspires 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 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: https://www.NChristineSamuelson.com
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