Good Samaritan Tyler Hammond offers to take her home; however, with the heavy snow falling and his patience dwindling, Laney’s gold medal day isn’t over yet.
Storms intensify both outside and in as Laney finds herself inexplicably attracted to this tall, dark and very handsome but infuriating stranger.
Can Laney fight her unwanted yet increasing desire for this man long enough to get through the relentless storm? And will Tyler let her walk out of his life as easily as she came into it?
1. It’s my debut novel, and it’s such a thrill to actually see it in book form and hold it in my hand! There were days I wondered if it would ever become the book I envisioned.
2. I wrote the story about Laney and Tyler’s chance meeting in a brutal snowstorm in 1994 before I met my husband, Larry. Sadly, he passed away in 2017, and I decided it was a good time to dig it out of the cyberspace cobwebs, update it and publish it.
3. Oddly enough, it took me two months to write and ten months to update and edit it. Being a new author, I had no idea the amount of time it takes to get a book ready for market, that’s why it took so long to edit, plus it’s my first novel and I want it to be perfect.
4. I enjoyed writing it so much, I decided to make it into a series. The Calderone family is a wealthy, powerful Toronto family. Laney is the main character in Stranded in Love, and she’s not happy when she meets Tyler in less than ideal circumstances…
“I often come out here late at night during raging blizzards to study the complexities of my car engine! Would you like to join me? Perhaps later we could pop into the coffee shop down the street for a latté and scone, just to finish the evening off right.”
5. Laney has four handsome single brothers – Stephen, Charles, Jamie and Noel. Each subsequent novel in the series will tell the story of them finding their true love. Book #2, Write to Love, is about Noel, the youngest brother, and what happens when he meets a short and sassy mystery writer. It’s scheduled to be published early next year.
6. Book #6 is the final book in the Calderone Family Romance Series. It’s told in partial flashbacks about the parents, Genevieve and Boyd, and their boulder-strewn road to love.
7. I enjoy injecting humour into each book, especially when characters toss a zinger in the heat of an argument or throw out a one-liner to ease the pressure of the moment. Like when Laney is searching through a telephone book to find a cab to take her home…
Quickly she flipped through it, aware of him watching her every move. It unnerved her that he was staring at her. Hadn’t he ever seen a person look up a phone number before? Didn’t he have anything better to do? Sliding into the path of an oncoming bus came to mind.
8. I love writing romance stories, and always end with the happily ever after – never a cliffhanger for my characters. But that doesn’t mean I can’t have fun and take the characters on a roller coaster ride, tormenting and exasperating them before they get there!
2. I wrote the story about Laney and Tyler’s chance meeting in a brutal snowstorm in 1994 before I met my husband, Larry. Sadly, he passed away in 2017, and I decided it was a good time to dig it out of the cyberspace cobwebs, update it and publish it.
3. Oddly enough, it took me two months to write and ten months to update and edit it. Being a new author, I had no idea the amount of time it takes to get a book ready for market, that’s why it took so long to edit, plus it’s my first novel and I want it to be perfect.
4. I enjoyed writing it so much, I decided to make it into a series. The Calderone family is a wealthy, powerful Toronto family. Laney is the main character in Stranded in Love, and she’s not happy when she meets Tyler in less than ideal circumstances…
“I often come out here late at night during raging blizzards to study the complexities of my car engine! Would you like to join me? Perhaps later we could pop into the coffee shop down the street for a latté and scone, just to finish the evening off right.”
5. Laney has four handsome single brothers – Stephen, Charles, Jamie and Noel. Each subsequent novel in the series will tell the story of them finding their true love. Book #2, Write to Love, is about Noel, the youngest brother, and what happens when he meets a short and sassy mystery writer. It’s scheduled to be published early next year.
6. Book #6 is the final book in the Calderone Family Romance Series. It’s told in partial flashbacks about the parents, Genevieve and Boyd, and their boulder-strewn road to love.
7. I enjoy injecting humour into each book, especially when characters toss a zinger in the heat of an argument or throw out a one-liner to ease the pressure of the moment. Like when Laney is searching through a telephone book to find a cab to take her home…
Quickly she flipped through it, aware of him watching her every move. It unnerved her that he was staring at her. Hadn’t he ever seen a person look up a phone number before? Didn’t he have anything better to do? Sliding into the path of an oncoming bus came to mind.
8. I love writing romance stories, and always end with the happily ever after – never a cliffhanger for my characters. But that doesn’t mean I can’t have fun and take the characters on a roller coaster ride, tormenting and exasperating them before they get there!
TTyler took Laney into his arms and pulled her close. The music changed to that unforgettable jazz melody she knew so well, and out of the corner of her eye she noticed Stephen on the balcony with the band leader, a devilish grin on his face. Up to his old tricks again.
“You look ravishing tonight, Ginger.” Tyler whispered in her ear. “Did I ever tell you red is my favourite colour?”
Laney tried to move to the rhythm except her feet would not obey. She felt clumsy and self-conscious dancing with Tyler with so many people watching, especially her family.
“You feel a little tense, my love. Relax and enjoy.”
She closed her eyes wishing she could walk away, but that wasn’t going to happen. Tyler held her tight and guided her effortlessly around the floor. The mesmerizing scent of his cologne reverberated through her senses and she surprised herself when she realized she was smiling. The Tyler Trap, she thought. You’ve gotten stuck in it again, you idiot!
With a deep sigh, she let herself surrender and leaned into him. He smiled and pulled her even closer. It didn’t matter to her anymore who saw them, who noticed they were so close; she didn’t care.
As she floated around the hall Laney became immersed in her surroundings. The Christmas tree lights twinkling, the distant chatter and laughter of the guests, the captivating tune, and the wonderful feel of this amazing man in her arms.
Laney wanted to freeze time again. This man, this music, this moment. She rested her chin on his shoulder and let him take complete control. They moved as one, oblivious to every eye on them as they soared in the clouds, leaving all the other guests back on Earth.
“You look ravishing tonight, Ginger.” Tyler whispered in her ear. “Did I ever tell you red is my favourite colour?”
Laney tried to move to the rhythm except her feet would not obey. She felt clumsy and self-conscious dancing with Tyler with so many people watching, especially her family.
“You feel a little tense, my love. Relax and enjoy.”
She closed her eyes wishing she could walk away, but that wasn’t going to happen. Tyler held her tight and guided her effortlessly around the floor. The mesmerizing scent of his cologne reverberated through her senses and she surprised herself when she realized she was smiling. The Tyler Trap, she thought. You’ve gotten stuck in it again, you idiot!
With a deep sigh, she let herself surrender and leaned into him. He smiled and pulled her even closer. It didn’t matter to her anymore who saw them, who noticed they were so close; she didn’t care.
As she floated around the hall Laney became immersed in her surroundings. The Christmas tree lights twinkling, the distant chatter and laughter of the guests, the captivating tune, and the wonderful feel of this amazing man in her arms.
Laney wanted to freeze time again. This man, this music, this moment. She rested her chin on his shoulder and let him take complete control. They moved as one, oblivious to every eye on them as they soared in the clouds, leaving all the other guests back on Earth.
My love of words and a creative imagination prompted English teachers to urge me to write for a living, especially after I got a letter from the Prime Minister who thanked me for writing to him! So cool for a twelve-year-old!
Through the years, I wrote while I earned a living as an Administrative Assistant in various companies; then I owned a Wedding Coordination business for six years (talk about romance!), all the while being happily married to the love of my life.
These interesting jobs plus wedded bliss gave me oodles of ideas for romantic plot lines, tall, dark and handsome heroes and feisty, beautiful heroines, and, of course, the happily ever afters.
I currently live in Mississauga and spend time with family and friends, and struggle daily with the wine and chocolate that somehow magically appear in my house...
And, amidst the endless cups of strong tea, while the dead parrot sketch and Cole Porter songs whirl around in my brain, I write. I will always write romances because I love creating fascinating characters whose lives I can make completely miserable before I give them their happily ever after.
Victoria
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ReplyDeleteCongrats on your first book! Look forward to reading it!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tamara! I'd love to hear your review once you've read it.
DeleteI would like to give thanks for all your really great writings, including Stranded in Love. I wish the best in keeping up the good work in the future.
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