PREDESTINED
HEARTS: AVAILABLE NOW
Love has existed
since the beginning of time. For Ashlin Thomas, love was an illusion
that she desperately wanted to make a reality.
Returning home to
Savannah, after her aunt’s death, Ashlin must deal with the harsh
realities life has dealt her.
As Ashlin begins
sorting through her aunt’s personal effects, she stumbles upon a
journal. Not just any journal, but the words of her great great great
grandmother, Sophia.
Two love stories
intertwine with each other as Ashlin reads the beautiful words,
written over a hundred years ago.
The intense
connection Ashlin feels with Sophia begins to allow her to find
herself. Never thinking love was possible for her, Ashlin now sees it
is within her grasp.
But, life is
never perfect. Life is never fair.
When faced with
the decision that could change Ashlin’s future … will she
sacrifice one love for another, or will her predestined heart lead
her home?
ABOUT
Kelly Elliott:
Kelly Elliott is
married to a wonderful Texas cowboy who has a knack for making her
laugh almost daily and supports her crazy ideas and dreams for some
unknown reason...he claims it's because he loves her!
She’s also a
mom to an amazing daughter who is constantly asking for something to
eat while her fingers move like mad on her cell phone sending out
what is sure to be another very important text message.
In her spare time
she loves to sit in her small corner overlooking the Texas hill
country and write.
One of her
favorite things to do is go for hikes around her property with
Gus....her chocolate lab and the other man in her life, and Rose, her
golden retriever. When Kelly is not outside helping the hubby haul
brush, move rocks or whatever fun chore he has in store for her that
day, you’ll find her inside reading, writing or watching HGTV.
LINKS:
Twitter:
@author_kelly
ABOUT
Kristin Mayer:
Kristin
Mayer is a wife, a proud mother, and a full-time Analyst and Import
Manager. Since an early age, she has always enjoyed reading and
writing. While visiting her father one weekend, he suggested that she
should take up writing again. With family and a career, she didn’t
give it a lot of thought, until a story entered her mind and wouldn’t
leave. It just kept forming and developing over a couple of months.
At
the beginning of 2013, she decided to sit down and write it all down,
but she kept it to herself. One sentence developed into two, and
before she knew it, she had the makings of a novel.
Kristin
tries to live life to the fullest during every moment. She loves to
travel and meet new people. She holds a degree in International
Business and uses it daily in her job. Kristin now adds “author”
on her list of jobs, and feels very blessed and thankful.
Stay
connected with Kristin Mayer:
Twitter:
@author_kristin
Email: kristinmayerwrites@gmail.com
Historical:
Gazing around the
room, I searched for Daniel. My father and mother were busy talking
to Mr. and Mrs. Stowe along with two other couples, whom I didn’t
have the pleasure of knowing. A young gentleman had been talking my
ear off and I was in desperate need of fresh air.
Turning
to him, I asked, “Will you please excuse me? I am in need of some
fresh air.”
“Shall
I join you?” he asked.
I
quickly shook my head. “No. No, that will not be necessary. I have
a slight headache and need some time alone.”
Nodding
his head, he smiled and took a step back, giving me a quick bow.
Returning the polite gesture, I began toward the kitchen. One look
over my shoulder showed my mother watching me intently. I’m sure
she was distressed at the idea of me wandering off and being late to
sit down for dinner.
Somehow
managing to find my way to the back gardens, I smiled and inhaled a
deep breath. All I smelled were azaleas. I walked along the
cobblestone pathway that intertwined among Magnolia trees and some of
the most amazing flowers I’d ever seen. My mother would be green
with envy were she to lay her eyes upon this colorful garden.
“It
goes on forever,” I whispered.
“One
can easily get lost back here.”
I
stopped the moment I heard his voice. Closing my eyes, I placed my
gloved hands on my stomach to calm the butterflies. Inhaling a deep
breath through my nose, I slowly blew it out as I turned to face him.
Daniel.
His eyes widened and he licked his lips. I raised the corner of my
mouth and bowed slightly. Daniel walked up to me and smiled, causing
my knees to shake. For a moment, it felt as if the earth was moving
and I fought to stand upright.
He
took a step closer to me as his eyes moved about my face. When they
landed on my lips, I instinctively licked them. His eyes were ablaze
with fire. I took a step back as he took another step forward. My
breathing increased as I felt something I’d never felt before.
Desire.
Want.
Need.
Contemporary:
A light rap on
the counter brought my attention to the man in front of me. He had
dark-brown hair that was tousled about in disarray. His warm brown
eyes melted through me. The five o’clock shadow from the stubble on
his face showcased his strong jaw line. He was sinfully gorgeous and
I could feel my insides turn all gooey from the sight of him in front
of me.
My mouth was dry
as he looked at me expectantly. In that moment, it was as if
something within me altered and changed. I couldn’t explain it.
Get it
together, Ashlin.
“I’m sorry.
It’s been a long day. Can you repeat what you said?” My voice
came out fairly normal, which I was proud of, versus the crazy energy
I felt pulsating within me.
He gave a gentle
look; it wasn’t cocky or knowing, but only sweet. “Is there
anything I can get you?”
Smiling back, I
responded, “I’ll have the beef stew and a water.”
“Good choice.
Coming right up.” He rapped his knuckles on the counter as he
walked off to the left.
I wasn’t paying
attention to how his white shirt was rolled up to his elbows. Nope.
And I wasn’t paying attention to how his khaki pants hugged him in
all the right places. Nope. And I for sure wasn’t staring at him as
if he would be sex on a stick. Nope.
Seriously get
it together, Ashlin. My life has turned inside out and the last thing
I need to be thinking about is sex.
The man turned
back toward me and I looked up at the television screen that was
above, hoping I wasn’t caught ogling the bartender. I need a
life, seriously. Time passed and before I knew it, a steaming
bowl of beef stew with a little plate of bread was set in front of
me.
It smelled
delicious. “Thank you.”
The bartender
smiled. I glanced back to my stew as I ate.
He responded,
“You’re welcome.”
Taking a bite, it
was one of the most delicious stews I had ever tasted. I moaned in
appreciation.
“It’s that
good, eh?”
I licked my lips
and felt heat creep up on my face. Not realizing I had closed my
eyes, I tentatively opened them and glanced at the bartender, who was
looking at me more intensely than before. “Oh, I did not mean to do
that out loud.” Picking up my napkin, I dabbed the corner of my
mouth. “Give my complements to the chef. It’s incredible. I’d
love to get the recipe.”
He leaned on the
counter. “I’ll let the chef know. I know him pretty well, and I’d
say if he could get that type of reaction out of every beautiful
woman who ate the stew, he’d serve it all the time versus only on
special occasions.”
The bartender
moved a little closer to me and I smiled at his playful face while
wanting to reach out and trace that devastatingly handsome jaw line.
Conspiringly, he whispered, “I’ve heard that the recipe is a
family secret. You’d have to marry the chef in order to get it.”
I giggled as he
winked at me. “Okay, if I get that desperate to have it, I’ll
know to bring a ring and my bended knee.”
He chuckled and
stood. “So, what brings you to Savannah?”
“Is this where
I lay all my troubles on the line for the bartender to listen and
give advice?” I teased with him as I cocked my head.
He shrugged as he
mixed a drink. The bar was otherwise vacated except one person at the
end who nursed a beer. “I happen to listen and give advice for free
on Wednesday’s.”
My smile was
wide. There was something magnetic about this man and I didn’t want
our conversation to end. “Well, it’s a good thing it’s
Wednesday.”
“Yes, it is.”
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