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Wednesday, November 28, 2012

TEMPTATION'S TOUCH BY CHERYL PIERSON


Today, I’m celebrating my latest novel release, TEMPTATION’S TOUCH. It’s a contemporary romantic suspense novel—not what I usually write. Though this is my second novel in that particular genre, and I have written numerous short stories in that classification, I seemed to struggle with this one. That’s part of what I wanted to talk about today—the struggle.

I began this novel four years ago. To be so short, you wouldn’t think it would have taken a person so long to get it written and get it “out there”—but things don’t always turn out like we expect them to.

I had this great idea—a young divorcee, living in the country near Dallas, awakens in the night to the sound of a truck motor running. She’s had trouble with the local high school wild bunch, throwing parties on her land down by the creek. Well, she has had enough of that! She takes off in the darkness to tell the teens their partying days on her land are over. But when she gets to the creek, the scene is nothing like what she had expected. No party. No kids.

A murder is about to take place, and even though she has her gun, she is so terrified,

she can’t do anything to stop it. The two murderers drive away, and Kendi hurries to the man who has been shot. But he’s not dead—only beaten within an inch of his life.

Now, Kendi faces the biggest decision of her life—does she leave him exposed to the elements until an ambulance can get there? Or does she take him back home with her? No matter what she does, he’s demanded that she not call 911, telling her if she does, both of their lives could be in danger.

I wrote like crazy, but was interrupted by REAL LIFE over and over again. Finally, I put the book aside, even though I was nearly finished with it—with all the harrowing twists and turns and the wonderful roller coaster of emotions…I put it on the shelf until things calmed down.

Close to two and a half years later, I pulled it out and began to work on it, to get it finished, and then to edit the finished product. I submitted it to The Wild Rose Press, and my wonderful editor there, Lori Graham, was as excited about it as I was. Though we finished the edits on it and had it ready to go by early spring, the release date was not set until October 24, 2012.

Finally the day arrived…and none of my “buy” links were live at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or any of the other sites. I wanted to cry. But within another 48 hours most of the links had gone live, and it only meant putting off my announcement of my release date for a short time.

Now, TEMPTATION’S TOUCH is out there and though it’s not a western historical, it’s still a wonderful love story of two broken hearts that find each other under the oddest of circumstances, proving that love will find a way, even when it seems impossible.

Blurb: When Kendi Morgan stumbles upon the victim of a would-be murder, she has no choice but to help him back to the safety of her home. Wounded DEA agent Jackson Taylor is a man with nothing to lose and nothing to fear. Can their newfound love survive as they are targeted by a powerful drug lord seeking revenge?

EXCERPT:
Kendi glanced up the remaining five stairs. So close.

She looked at Jackson again and saw the steel in his expression.

“Just give me…a minute, Kendi.”

“Don’t fall—”

“I won’t. Not gonna break my neck…since you’ve gone to all this trouble.”

He was teasing her. She heard it, but she was still worried. He looked unsteady, still—all six feettwo inches of him. Her eyes ranged over him, finally meeting his dark gaze. “I told you—don’t be so scared.”

“Aren’t you?” she breathed.

“Uh-uh.” He gave her a quick semblance of a grin through swollen lips. “I’m still here—still standin’.”

Not for long, Kendi wanted to retort.

“You’re thinkin’ it’s a close thing,” he muttered, “me…standin’ yet.”

“Well, I’m right, aren’t I?”

“Maybe. But I’m not afraid.”

“Why not, Jack? After what you’ve been through—”

“Where I’m headed looks better than where I’ve been.”

They took the last step, gaining the wide landing.

“‘Where you’ve been…where was that?” She was moments away from tucking a stranger into her bed.She moistened her lips, suddenly nervous. “I mean— you could be anybody.”

“I’m a DEA agent.”

She let Jack’s weight shift to the side of the mattress, then bent to unbuckle his belt. She looked into his face, her fingers faltering at the button placket of the faded jeans he wore.

His swollen eyes held hers. “You’re safe with me.”
****

What would you do if you were in Kendi’s place? Leave the “victim” out in the freezing rain, or bring him to the house? Now remember, even though he’s been severely beaten, there’s a spark of chemistry between them she can’t ignore…

My first venture into contemporary romantic suspense, SWEET DANGER, is also available at Amazon and B&N.

https://www.amazon.com/author/cherylpierson

Thanks so much for coming by!

22 comments:

  1. I agree that a compassionate woman would get him into the house. You said she has a gun, so she is not defenseless.

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  2. That's true, Caroline, and she knows how to use it. LOL Women are always such caregivers, aren't they? Thanks for commenting.
    Cheryl

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  3. Cheryl, Temptation's Touch sounds like a fun read. I'm glad you went ahead and finished it after things calmed down for you. I've had to set writing projects aside many times when life got in the way. It's painful!

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  4. Lyn, thank you so much for your kind words! I was sure glad to get it done, and see the finished product,especially since that cover is so gorgeous. LOL I have a couple of projects (longer ones) that I've put aside right now to try and keep up with promotion for several releases that came about all at once. Thanks so much for your kind words!
    Cheryl

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  5. Sounds like an interesting concept, Cheryl. I wish you lots of luck with sales. I'm glad you had fun writing it...understand how life can get in the way at times.

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  6. Great blurb. I love romantic suspense!

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  7. Congratulations on your new release.I hope I'd never be faced with that question!

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  8. Paisley, I enjoyed it at the beginning, but by the time I finished it I was wondering if it was ever going to be done! LOL Yes, sometimes RL just doesn't allow us to do anything else but conform to what we have to do to survive. Thanks for coming by and commenting.
    Cheryl

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  9. Hi Lisa!
    Thanks so much--glad you enjoyed the excerpt. I love romantic suspense too.
    Cheryl

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  10. Mona,
    I hope you are feeling much better--thank you for always being so supportive.

    I hope I would never have to be faced with it, too. Of course, my heroines always go out on a limb, but I'm pretty much the opposite and play it safe. LOL
    Hugs,
    Cheryl

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  11. Cheryl--is this one doing well? I would think it should--it's an exciting, nail-biting story. Kendi is a lot braver than I would be--I'd just hide under the bed--remember my scaredy cat syndrome.
    Much luck, my friend! May your sales soar!

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  12. Sounds like a good read. Thank you for telling us about your struggles and the story.

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  13. Gosh, of course she had no choice but to rescue him. He's hurt. It was her good forturne that he was handsome, avaialble, and a truly good guy. I've read Temptation's Touch and I was blown away by Cheryl's easy style and the way she kept tugging on my heartstrings.

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  14. In a book of course I'd take him inside. In real life...not sure. But then, romantic fiction is how we'd "like" things to be. Awesome excerpt, Cheryl. And yes this is TBR. Whenever I get some time. I'm so backed up with cool things to read, but am researching the Donner party for a YA at present while all three bathrooms are getting remodeled. Sheesh...but you get a better "deal" if you contract all at the same time and they promise to be done by Christmas. Sigh.

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  15. This sounds like a wonderful book, Cheryl. You know, we all would like to think that we could shoot someone under her circumstances, but I imagine being faced with it is a whole different situation.

    Great post and I'll be getting a copy asap.

    Linda

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  16. Looks intriguing! Best of luck.
    been there with the REAL LIFE thing, so I can empatize :-)
    Diane
    dianeokey.com
    CHERISH THE KNIGHT

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  17. Hi Celia, it's doing very well, and I think a lot of that is due to the length of it. Yeah, it's a nail-biter all right. LOL Thank you for commenting--I'm hoping the sales take off and go crazy, too.
    Hugs,
    Cheryl

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  18. Hi Paty,
    Thank you. Gosh, I imagine everyone has had one story or another that has given them fits like this one, but I wanted to share just in case someone felt like they were "the only one."
    Cheryl

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  19. AW, MAGGIE! Thank you so much. I'm glad you were emotionally attached to them--they deserved a good future, being so damaged from their pasts. Yes, it was truly her good fortune that he had all the "wonderful-ness" going on for him that he had! LOL Thanks so much for taking time to come comment. I know you are busy.
    Hugs,
    Cheryl

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  20. Tanya, that must be really hard having all the bathrooms re-done at once, but how wonderful will that be when they are finished!!!! We had Bath Fitters come in and re-do our shower and our bathtub and WOW. They did a fantastic job and it was done in ONE DAY. But of course, we didn't have anything else done. Good luck and I hope they are finished in time for Christmas.

    And YOU have a brand new release as of yesterday, too! CHRISTMAS FOR RANSOM looks like such a great read. I'm like you with the TBR stack--amongst promotion, research, writing and real life it's very hard to sit down and read. Congratulations, my dear friend!
    Hugs,
    Cheryl

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  21. Linda, I had to laugh when I read your comment--I feel the same way--I tell myself I could do it, but I'm not sure if that's really true or not. Thank you so much for your kind words!
    Cheryl

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  22. Hi Diane!
    Thanks so much for the compliment. Oh, I know how RL can be a pesky interference when we want to do nothing but sit down and WRITE. Aggravating to have to get up and fix a meal, even. LOL Thanks for coming by!
    Cheryl

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