Title: Song of My Heart
Author: Judy Kentrus
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy
Book Blurb:
Peter Llewelyn’s fans saw him as a world-famous concert pianist, director and composer. No one saw the emptiness in his heart at the loss of his wife and little boy, Martin. Retreating from the public eye, he pours everything into his award winning musicals.
He agrees to be a guest conductor at a concert that will benefit children. The favor includes judging songs written by novice songwriters. To his displeasure, the composer could claim the song was arranged by the great Peter Llewelyn.
The high-end condo units at the Vanderbilt Beach Resort are perfect for a mini-vacation and getting some work done. When a food delivery service mixes up his order with his attractive neighbor’s, he wonders if she purposely arranged to have their orders switched so she could meet a famous celebrity or was she really innocent?
Eudora Hendricks never thought she’d become the owner of a very successful real estate brokerage and have a home in the Port Royal section of Naples, Florida. Life hasn’t always been sunshine and roses.Losing her infant son after two weeks of life has left a deep hole in her heart.
She loves music and singing. Through the encouragement of her friends, she submits a song she’s written in memory of her Martin.
A major plumbing problem forces her to move temporarily into the Vanderbilt Beach Resort. When the food service delivers the wrong order, she confronts her neighbor and gets the shock of her life.
When he introduces himself as Morgan, she goes along with him wanting to keep his anonymity, but wonders how long she’ll be able to keep his secret.
A man from her past and misunderstandings will test their growing love for each other, but it will be music that heals their broken hearts.
Excerpt:
“I don’t need a keeper,” Peter muttered and walked into the kitchen. The accommodations at the Vanderbilt were five-star, but he had no intention of cooking. He pulled open the cabinet door next to the sink and took out a bottle of Jack Daniel’s. He poured a generous helping, held up the golden liquid and repeated what his grandmother had always said about alcohol. “The spawn of the devil.” She’d claimed it had eaten away his grandfather’s liver, eventually killing him and delivering him to hell. Peter drank half of it down and shuddered. “Grandma, I’m already there.”
He walked into the bathroom off the master bedroom, turned on the light and was taken aback by the slovenly looking face staring back at him in the mirror over the sink. A hazy film covered bloodshot eyes that were normally light brown. A scruffy, five-day-old beard covered much of his face, and his mangy black hair brushed the collar of his black T-shirt. “Shit, man, derelicts don’t look this bad.”
When had he sunk this low, not seeing what was happening to him physically? Mentally, he was a mess, and his heart was empty. He chose to live alone and keep people out. The past five years, he’d sought his saving grace, music.
He walked into the living room and set the glass on the table in front of the couch before turning on the keyboard that had been delivered this morning. Losing himself in his world of music was the only thing that was saving him.
“What a day.” Eudora hurried into the condo, needing some time to relax before she was to head out again this evening to meet a potential client. She was just about to head into the shower when there was a knock at the door. It had to be the food order she’d placed this morning. She hurried to the door and brought the four bags into the kitchen, wanting to get her perishables into the refrigerator and freezer. The moment she opened the insulated bag, she knew something wasn’t right. She hadn’t ordered a frozen pizza, egg rolls, frozen fried chicken and frozen Swedish meatballs. The bag also held containers of commercially prepared mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese. The half-and-half was the only thing from her order that was correct.
The bags of snack food confirmed this wasn’t her order. When she’d opened her door, she’d noticed her eccentric neighbor had also received a food order. She checked the room number on the bag—404. The delivery person had obviously messed up. Whether her neighbor was eccentric or not, she wanted her own food. She was just about to leave when her cell phone rang. Her client had to cancel for this evening and would like to reschedule for tomorrow night. She agreed.
All was quiet at his end of the building. She knocked and waited. When the door opened, she took a step back. If the devil was human, she was looking at him in the flesh. Black brows crested bloodshot eyes. The dark-of-night color continued with his beard and straight black hair that brushed the collar of his black T-shirt. In case he planned to shut the door in her face for disturbing him, she hurried to explain why she was there.
“Ah, excuse me. I believe you got my food order by mistake.”
“I just found that out. I’ve got bags of fresh vegetables, meat, cottage cheese, yogurt and three kinds of hummus. Don’t know how you can eat something that looks like brown mush.”
“I can say the same for your taste in food. At least mine is a lot healthier than premade with all those preservatives.”
He shrugged a shoulder. “As they say, to each his own. Let’s get this done. I need to take a shower.”
“You’ve definitely been using your deodorant sparingly.” The words came out before she could stop them, and she put a hand over her mouth. “Sorry, that was rude of me.”
“You’re right. I get involved and forget about everything, including taking a shower and eating. According to my mother, I need a keeper. Do you need help with my bags?”
At least he isn’t too obnoxious. “No, thanks, I can manage.”
He’d left the door open for her, and she carried the bags into the condo that mirrored her own. She noticed the almost empty bottle of Jack Daniels Hence the bloodshot eyes. Walking into the apartment, she’d also picked up on the Box O’ Joe and donuts on his coffee table. He was a danger to himself.
He was about to put the container of store-bought macaroni and cheese in the refrigerator, and she cringed. “Are you really going to eat that?”
Black brows furrowed over hazy red eyes. “What’s wrong with macaroni and cheese? I just have to heat it up.”
“It’s full of preservatives and imitation cheese.” Her next words tumbled out before she could stop herself. “If you don’t plan to work this evening, would you like to join me for dinner? I can guarantee my macaroni and cheese will taste a heck of a lot better than that.”
His back stiffened. “How do you know what I’m doing?”
He was suspicious as well as being an eccentric musician. “That came out wrong. I’m not in my condo much, because I work full-time. In the evening, I enjoy your playing. You’re very talented. Sorry if I imposed, but you should definitely think about getting a keeper. You have a good evening.”
Peter, you’re being a rude ass. Get the hell out of this place for a little while, recharge. Your very attractive neighbor doesn’t know who you are. She’s offered to feed you a decent meal. Indigestion is killing you. Go for it.
“Wait!”
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2vHw7L2
What’s your favorite activity to shake off the winter doldrums?
Since I live in NE PA, old man winter gifts us with his signature, snow and ice from November through March and sometimes April. I like to relax in front of a fire in the fireplace, drink flavored teas, nibble on a cookie and read books that are set in warm, tropical locations.
Why is your featured book a cure for the winter blues?
Song of my Heart takes place in Naples, Florida, at the Vanderbilt Beach Resort, a warm and beautiful location.
Giveaway:
Enter to win a $50 Amazon (US) Gift Card
Enter to win a $50 Amazon (US) Gift Card
Enter to win a $25 Amazon (US) Gift Card
Enter to win a $15 Amazon (US) Gift Card
Enter to win a $10 Amazon (US) Gift Card
Open internationally
Runs March 1 – 31, 2021.
Drawing will be held on April 1, 2021.
Author Biography:
Judy Kentrus, Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense, Seasoned Romance,
Historical Romance
I’ve always been a romantic at heart and married my high school sweetheart. I make my home in the Poconos of Pennsylvania. After raising our two children, I followed my dream to publish my books. I love to travel and include some of the places I’ve visited in my books. When I’m not at my computer giving couples their happily-ever-after, you can find me in the kitchen, baking, especially cookies. I’ve been dubbed the cookie queen by my family and friends. My stories are fun, sexy, romances that will make you laugh, cry and fall in love.
Social Media Links:
Website: http://www.judykentrus.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JudyKentrus
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/judykentrus/?hl=en
Amazon Author Central: https://author.amazon.com/claim/join?query=Judy+Kentrus