Heart Untouched, the third story in the Hearts Entwined series releases October 9 and I'm really excited about this story. We get to see some of my favorite characters, James and Trevor, Brent and Scott, as well as other favorites including Lee and Dean. (Yes, I promise that Dean is going to get his story. His will be next.) Each of these stories deal with loss in some way... and how we cope with it. I'm not ashamed to say that the writing process has helped me cope with some of my own more recent loss and that's been very healing for me.
A Hearts Entwined Novel
An accident crushed Duncan’s Olympic dreams and landed him
in a chair, but he knows it’s time to get his life back on track—and he has a
plan in mind. Working with his friend Todd, an Olympic skeleton racer, on a
promotional campaign will not only help Duncan regain some direction, but it’ll
give Todd the financial boost he desperately needs. The sport Todd loves is
draining his resources—so much so that he’s thinking of giving up racing just
to make ends meet.
As the two men work together, their friendship blossoms into
much more, and suddenly the future is looking brighter than it has in a long
time. But just when love, happiness, and success seem within their grasp, the
USOC steps in with plans to stop their campaign. That’ll mean an end not just
to Duncan’s business, but to Todd’s dreams… and Duncan isn’t about to let that
happen to the man who means everything to him.
Book
Links
Excerpt
Duncan sighed. “Great. You’re taking me to church.” He
closed the laptop and set it aside. “Wonderful. Maybe Henrietta Blodgett will
be there, and she can tell everyone again what a shame it is that I got hurt
and how you got stuck caring for me.” The old lady had been running her mouth
in the community center kitchen when Duncan had gone out there to use the
restroom because it was bigger and easier for him to get into.
His mother whirled around, her hands coming to her hips.
“First thing, that woman is a menace and an old battle-ax. She can go to church
all she wants, but her gossiping is going to send her straight to hell. And no
matter what happens, you can’t let people like her get to you. There will
always be folks who talk and give you the ‘poor little thing’ face. You think I
haven’t seen it a million times since your father died?” She plated the eggs,
set them in front of him, sat down, and patted his hand. “No matter what, you
have to go on.”
Duncan took a bite and set his fork down. “If we aren’t
going to church, then what are we doing?” It was Wednesday, and his mom usually
had her ladies circle prayer group at lunch. She’d gone for years.
“Just finish your breakfast and clean up. Shave too. You’re
all scruffy, and that isn’t a good look for you.”
She went about straightening up the kitchen as Duncan ate
slowly. His appetite had been hit-or-miss for weeks, and it looked like today
was one of those days where nothing seemed to taste very good. Not that he said
anything to his mom. The eggs she made were good usually, but just not right
now, not to him. Still, he finished them and put his plate on his lap to carry
it over to the sink.
“Thanks, Mom.” He rolled out of the room and back to the
bathroom. In the mirror, he saw he did look awful, his spotty red beard only
adding to the disappointment in his eyes and demonstrating the fact that he
didn’t really care about anything.
Ten minutes later, after washing up and brushing his teeth,
he wheeled himself to his room and went about the daunting task of getting
dressed. He was determined to do it on his own, dammit, and he did it. Granted,
it was only sweatpants and a T-shirt, but they were on correctly. Duncan even
managed shoes and socks, though that took a little more doing. Finally ready to
go, he glided back into the living room, where his mother was dusting. “Let’s
get this over with.”
His mom ignored the comment and picked up her purse.
Duncan left the house, rolling down the ramp and out to the
car. He would have liked to be able to get a van that was equipped with a lift
so he could get in the car and drive it himself, but that was way outside their
budget. His mom had put in for one, but it was taking a lot of time to get
approved. There were grants and things that would help with the cost, but they
hadn’t come through yet.
He got into the passenger seat with help from his mom, and
she put the chair in the back. Then she climbed in and pulled away from their
small ranch-style house in the Milwaukee suburb of Brown Deer, heading out
toward the main road.
“Mom, what’s the big secret?” he asked, turning toward her.
“No secret. I thought you could use some time to visit some
friends.” She slowed as they approached a light and then turned into the drive
of an auto repair garage.
Todd stepped out of one of the bays, smiling brightly.
As soon as she came to a stop, he hurried to his side of the
car and pulled open the door. Todd leaned right in, hugging Duncan tightly even
with the odd angles. “I came to see you after you were hurt, but they wouldn’t
let me in. And then I had to go out on tour and to competitions and….”
Duncan returned the embrace, inhaling deeply as Todd’s rich
scent, tinged with work and a touch of grease, filled his nose. Heat washed
through him, and Duncan’s breath hitched for a second. He almost didn’t know
what to make of his reaction. They stayed that way for longer than was
necessary before Todd pulled back.
“I know. But you called, and that meant a lot.”
His mom, who had already opened her door and gotten out,
came around the car and pulled Duncan’s chair out.
“What’s the deal?” Duncan asked.
“You remember when you and I used to work together on those
old cars I brought home in high school? Well, I still work on them, you know
that, and I was hoping you’d help me.”
