Jaxon Granger is part-owner of his family’s thoroughbred racehorse boarding and layover facility. His world revolves around his business, family, and a penchant toward hedonism. Horses are his life and womanizing bachelorhood is his religion. He boasts that there isn’t a woman alive who can make him a one-woman man.
That is, until he falls for a woman who isn’t alive—in the strictest sense of the word.
EXCERPT
Lissa materialized from the darkness with the ethereal grace of a phantom shadow floating on a night breeze.
“Where the hell were you hiding?” He’d have sworn there was nothing there a second ago.
“I wasn’t hiding. I was right here beside the house in plain sight if you’d have only taken the time to see, which isn’t the same as looking.”
Her face reflected an eerie, bloodless-corpse‐aura under the mercury lighting, and the sight sent a shiver scuttling down his spine.
'Give Me Tomorrow' is a short novel with a paranormal-lite storyline. I drew from my life experiences for many of the scenes. Well...none of the vampire aspects of the story, but others. *wink* The scene with the pony and the little boy really happened. The protagonist, Jax, owns a horse boarding and layover facility. I was involved in thoroughbred racing many years ago, and I fashioned Jax's business after one that I worked at during the off season from thoroughbred racing at Thistledown Racetrack in Cleveland, Ohio. The protagonist also runs a horse transport service. I didn't drive transport, but I did haul horses from one racetrack to another several times. The setting of this story is in northeastern Colorado, which is where I was born and raised. The real town I grew up in is Fort Morgan. My fictional name for this town is Platte River City. This town shows up in some of my other books and stories.
ReplyDelete'Give Me Tomorrow' is a vampire story, yes, but the vampire aspect is not the primary thread in the story. It's a story about learning to live with what life hands you while coming to terms with the 'demons' of your past so you can move forward in life with someone you love.
You did a great job with getting that across, Kaye. I loved this story, and of course, how it all plays out. I always enjoy having the "backstory" of what was the reasoning behind what an author wrote in their book. And your experience with horses really shows through. I always wanted a horse and never got one, so I'm woefully ignorant about horses--NOW I know who to ask when I have a horse question!
DeleteMy parents had me on a horse when I was old enough to sit up by myself. My dad put me on the front of the saddle and away we went. Until I moved to town years ago, horses were an important part of my life. My first horse was a Welsh pony named Corky. I was 9. I did a little rodeo barrel racing, but most of my riding was in the show ring with 4-H and a quarter horse association, or on our ranch. Later, I raced thoroughbred and quarter horses in Colorado, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
DeleteI am so happy this story is out. Can't wait to sit down and read it. I toally can see this is Northern Colorado. Had friends whose family live there and she talks about the area sometimes. Doris
ReplyDeleteThe setting is fictionally called Platte River City. It's actually my home town of Ft. Morgan. The original name of Fort Morgan was Platte River Crossing.
DeleteGreat cover and intriguing story, Kaye....I wanted to read more! And like Cheryl, I never had a horse but have loved them since I read The Black Stallion series. I don't know much about horses so you will be my go-to expert since horses always feature in my westerns.
ReplyDeleteSomeday I'll drag out my horse showing pictures from my youth and write a blog about my experiences. While I'm not involved with horses any more, I do love them.
DeleteYour characters are so well thought out and deep. I can't help but wonder if something in Melissa's personality and spirit is part of you or your past. I can certainly identify with her--and that's such a compliment to a writer. We all strive toward building characters that readers can relate to and empathize with.
ReplyDeleteAnd Jaxson, well he is the quintessential anti-romance kind of hero, but the kind that makes readers are intrigued by because, if he can turn around his hedonistic ways for the love of a woman, well, a big aha moment is bound to roll over the readers. Great blurb!
The excerpt was chilling which is probably exactly what you wanted to create. And, oh my word, what a beautiful cover!
I wish you every success, Kaye.
Sarah,
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy your insights into human nature--characters and authors. the grief that Melissa carries and the anger Jax harbors have to be faced, dealt with, and put on the shelf called 'time to let go'. They both have trouble doing that.
I too, love the cover. And does this ever sound more than intriguing, full of emotions that go up and down, and all around while dealing with deep human issues that will undoubtedly capture your readers' hearts. I too might pick your brain re: horses if I get stuck. I love them, and think they're magnificient, but I'm still learning all about them as I write. Wishing you much success with this one and I'm sure it will be.
ReplyDeleteGreat concept. The excerpt is very alluring.
ReplyDelete