Title: Tempered Journey
Author: Pamela S Thibodeaux
Genre: Inspirational Romance
Book Blurb:
She’s second-guessing her life choices. He’s been widowed for over a decade. Will a case of mistaken identity bring two lonely souls together?
As a Registered Nurse and Energy Medicine Practitioner, Pat Greene has spent her entire life in service to others. But when her BFF finds true love for the second time, she finds herself surprisingly envious. Has her call to service—which she will never regret—somehow caused her to miss out on something special? The loneliness she’s kept at bay gnaws at her heart. While in Bandera, Texas she has a chance encounter with the one man she’s ever truly loved and is shocked to then discover he’s not the man she thought he was.
The ache of loss still haunts Craig Harris a decade after his wife’s death. Has his loyalty to her memory closed off his heart? Is he bound to an existence without the soul-deep joy he knows a woman’s love can bring? Then he meets Pat Greene. Unprepared, he is bowled over by an instant, powerful spark of attraction—the kind he hasn’t allowed himself to feel for years.
There’s no mistaking the allure the handsome cowboy holds for Pat, but the idea of giving up a lifetime of missionary work sets off a firestorm of doubt and indecision. Besides, Craig has children, grandchildren, and extended family members to think about.
The fact she mistakes him for his brother, with whom she had a brief relationship decades ago, tempers the initial magnetism that draws Craig toward Pat, but the more they get to know one another, the more he wants her in his life.
Will love be enough to tame the wanderlust in her soul and open his heart to the possibilities a future together might hold?
Excerpt:
Craig ate his supper, then enjoyed a piece of coconut pie and a cup of coffee. The cowbell above the door clanged. Standing in line to check out, he glanced over as a slender woman with spiky blond hair stepped through the entrance.
Her gaze met his–not the rich sapphire of his wife, daughter, and granddaughters, nor the lighter shade of Stanley’s, but the hot blue of a flame. Almost purple.
A sharp, sweet sensation Craig hadn’t felt in years, hadn’t thought he’d ever feel again, zinged through his system all the way to his toes.
She hesitated, took a step toward him, and paled a degree or two. Those beautiful eyes widened in shock and disbelief. “Dr. Hensley?” She edged closer. “Scott?”
The jagged blow of grief nearly brought him to his knees. Craig shook his head. “No, ma’am. Scott’s dead. I’m his brother, Craig.”
***
Pat’s world tilted on its axis. Every ounce of blood drained from her limbs. Her knees threatened to buckle. He grabbed her arm, eased her into a seat, and sat in the chair across from her. “D-d…” She cleared her throat. “Dead? When? How?”
“He died three, almost four years ago now. Emergency room incident.”
“Oh, my. I am so sorry.” Could have found that information on the internet and avoided this fiasco. Except she always felt a web search on someone was an invasion of privacy. “I didn’t know he had a brother.”
The smile she received from that remark sent her emotions into a tailspin.
“Neither did he. Until 2001, that is. Before then, we’d been best friends our entire life.”
“Craig? Are you the friend whose wife had a miscarriage or two? The one Scott’s wife envied and hated.”
Craig’s frown held more than a hint of confusion.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I thought you knew how she felt.”
Craig’s eyes narrowed into tiny slits of steel. “How who felt? I’m not following you. You sure you don’t have us mixed up with someone else? Scott’s wife and I are fine.”
Pat’s turn to frown. “So, he did remarry. I meant his first wife. The one who was killed along with his parents.”
The relief on Craig’s face was almost comical. He grinned, and her heart nosedived into her stomach.
“You must have known him a really long time ago, sweetheart.”
Heat scorched her cheeks. “Lifetime ago. Please tell me he found peace and happiness after all he went through back then.”
Craig nodded. “He did. Let me buy your dinner, and you can tell me how you know my brother.”
Pat glanced out the window at the darkened sky. She’d intended to get her meal to go and eat it in her hotel room. She glanced at her watch. Melena would be calling her in less than an hour. “It’s getting late. I don’t want to hold you up. But thank you.”
His cellphone rang, stopping further conversation. Pat placed her order while he talked with whoever was on the other end of the call. Before she could take care of it herself, he grabbed her bill, and walked to the counter. Tucking the phone between his ear and shoulder, he signed the ticket, ended his conversation, snapped the phone shut, and walked out with her.
“Where are you staying?”
She eyed him, a curious lift to her brow.
“I’ll follow to make sure you get there safely. Wouldn’t want anything to happen to an old friend of Scott’s.”
Pat pointed in the direction she was heading. “At the hotel right around the corner.”
Once again, his smile did funny things to her insides. He gestured for her to lead the way, held his hand out for her keys, and opened the car door for her.
“You gonna be in town a while, or do you live here now?”
“Planned on being here a few days.”
“Hope to see you again.”
“I’d like that.” She’d buckled her seatbelt before she realized she didn’t even know his last name. Acting on impulse, Pat rolled her window down and waved him back over. “Hey. How can I reach you?”
The streetlight in the diner’s parking lot shone on his mouth, turned up at the corners, and eyes dancing like dew drops off sheet metal. “Check your receipt.”
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
What makes your featured book a must-read?
Tempered Journey is a later-in-life romance that shows the power of love to heal the loneliest of hearts. This novel brings together characters from the Tempered series and My Heart Weeps. We catch up with Melena and Garrett as well as Mike, Trina, and the rest of the Harris/Hensley clan as we journey into love with Craig Harris and Pat Greene.
Giveaway –
Enter to win a $15 Amazon gift card:
Open Internationally.
Runs June 7 – June 19, 2024.
Winner will be drawn on June 20, 2024.
Author Biography:
Pamela S Thibodeaux is an award-winning author, life coach and spiritual mentor. Her tagline, “Inspirational with an Edge!” ™ defines her life, writing, and coaching style. http://pamelathibodeaux.com
Social Media Links:
FB Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/pamelasthibodeauxauthorandlifecoach
Twitter: http://twitter.com/psthib @psthib