Author: Mickie Sherwood
A Favorite Autumn Treat: Seafood Gumbo
Featured Book: Templet’s Tasty Tails
Blurb:
Loss…life…love. What a difference a year makes!
Web Designer Erika Washington’s contract with her childhood best friend covers all possibilities about her pregnancy. But one unpredictable event redirects her future. As a donor-surrogate, what does one do when fate changes the plan and claims the lives of the intended parents? If you’re the selfless, strong-willed Erika Washington, you mount a defense to keep your baby.
Entrepreneur Booker Templet, owner of Templet’s Tasty Tails, secretly agrees to help his first cousin by being a donor for his baby. However, unfortunate circumstances change the course of Booker’s life. After he learns the identity of the other donor, Booker plans to be a part of his child’s life. No matter what.
Will Erika and Booker battle over custody of the baby? Will their horrible loss help them find consolation in each other’s arms? Or will fate intervene yet again?
Excerpt:
Scene: After Booker becomes her client, Erika accepts his invitation to have a firsthand look at his business operations.
“I don’t know why”–his long steps had him beside her–“but you strike me as someone who’s intuitive, artistic, creative, clever, and all with a sense of humor.”
Erika stopped suddenly. “You’ve got to be kidding.” She looked at the black rims with the silver, riveted studs.
“No. I mean every word.”
“No,” she contested. “Not that.” Erika looked up at Booker, then at his truck. “That.”
Laughing, Booker placed a hand on her shoulder. “See what I mean? A sense of humor on display.”
“I can’t climb up there.” Although she adjusted the leg of her jeans, her protruding tummy hindered her knee lift.
“You don’t have to.” He uttered those words as he reached and cradled her in his arms.
“Put me down, Booker Templet.”
“Erika.” He looked her dead in her unbelieving eyes. “It’s the only way to get you into the truck. Will you open the door for me, please?”
She did. “Now, put me down.” Her tush met the leather seat.
…The serene countryside captured Erika’s attention. She snapped shot after shot. When he reduced his speed, she realized they neared his business.
…”Here’s where most of my work is done.” He drove off the road.
What Erika saw was green grass seeming to float in water. “Is that rice?”
“And she’s smart, too.” Booker laid a wrist over the steering wheel. “What’s left of it. The crawfish pond is, also, where rice is grown. Flood. Drain. Harvest. Re-flood.”
“Sounds like a vicious”–Erika watched him look over his field–“but profitable cycle.”
While he sat in deep contemplation, she aimed her camera. The faint whir tempted him. Booker glanced her way, and Erika snapped again.
“Plus playful.”
“You’re such an easy target…I mean, an inviting subject.”
“Ahh, Erika Washington. There’s certainly more to you than meets the eye.”
Erika pondered what Booker said, smiled at him, and then started taking shots of the area.
“Let me show you something.” He left his seat. She saw him shed his cowboy boots for camouflage-green rubber boots from the truck bed. He came to her side. “May I?”
“At least you asked this time.” Opening her door, she permitted him to pick her up.
Booker slushed through the bog to a patch of tall grass with her in his arms. “Get your camera ready.”
Excited, Erika fumbled and almost dropped it. His quick recovery had her poised for the photo shoot. “A boat?”
“Yep. Specially designed for harvesting crawfish traps.” Booker’s diligence seated her carefully under the boat’s canvas tarp. “Would you like to go check a trap?” Hesitancy shone in his eyes. That was the first time he’d appeared unsure about anything.
“I don’t run from new experiences. Let’s do it.”
They floated over to one of the markers that bobbed on the water. Booker elongated his body to grab the top. When he lifted his arm, up came a wire basket. Erika gripped it, too.
“I can now add crawfish harvester to my list of accomplishments.” His eyes glinted. “What’s that look?”
“Pure admiration, Erika.”
Purchase Links:
Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/Templets-Tasty-Tails-Mickie-Sherwood-ebook/dp/B010TZCS5K/
B&N – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/templets-tasty-tails-mickie-sherwood/1122241483http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/templets-tasty-tails-mickie-sherwood/1122241483
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/templets-tasty-tails-mickie-sherwood/1122241483
Kobo – https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/templet-s-tasty-tails
Author Bio
I’m a cruise-loving, people-watching, picture-snapping baby boomer with time on my hands. So, I create sweet, and spicy relationship-based, mainstream contemporary, romantic love stories.
Links:
Blog: http://www.mickiesherwood.com/blog
First Chapters Blog: http://www.bayouloveromances.blogspot.com
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/MickieSherwood
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/MickieSherwood
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/Louisiana_Lady
Social
A mew author for me. Can’t wait to read more.
Kate,
I appreciate this opportunity to share with your visitors.
Visitors, when was the last time you enjoyed Erika’s favorite dish, boiled crawfish? Getting to that succulent meat can be tricky. Here’s another excerpt from Templet’s Tasty Tails that includes a crawfish-peeling demonstration http://mickiesherwood.com/blog/2015/02/13/templets-tasty-tails/.
Are you game to give it a try?
Mickie Sherwood
~~Sweet, and spicy romance – a heartbeat away!
http://www.mickiesherwood.com/blog
http://www.twitter.com/MickieSherwood