Smitten at First Sight by Marie Astor

My guest today is Marie Astor, author of contemporary romance novels Lucky Charm, Smitten at First Sight, This Tangled Thing Called Love, romantic suspense novel, To Catch a Bad Guy, and a short story collection, A Dress in a Window.

 

Marie will be awarding to five randomly drawn commenters at the end of the tour, one of the following five custom-designed jewelry prizes:

Prize 1: Blue quartz three strand necklace with sterling silver clasp

Prize 2: Jade and prehnite necklace

Prize 3:Green aventurine sterling silver earrings

Prize 4: Smoky quartz sterling silver earrings

Prize 5; Rose quartz sterling silver earrings

Encourage your readers to follow the tour and comment; the more they comment, the better their chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/10/virtual-excerpt-tour-on-rim-of-love-by.html

 

BLURB:

 

Maggie Robin has been dating the irresistibly good-looking, successful Jeffrey Preston for two years. But when Jeffrey proposes marriage a week after Maggie’s college graduation, she is no longer sure if she wants to marry a workaholic TV producer.

 

Maggie’s doubts culminate when during a ski trip to British Columbia, she meets Taylor Denton, a handsome, free-spirited big mountain skier who is the complete opposite of Jeffrey. It does not take Maggie long to realize that she has fallen in love with Taylor and she decides to break off her engagement with Jeffrey. But just when she thinks she has found the love of her life, an ill-fated misunderstanding tears Maggie and Taylor apart.

 

A week later, Maggie is told that Taylor has died in a tragic ski accident; yet, her heart refuses to believe in Taylor’s death. When Maggie returns to Taylor’s native town, she learns that Taylor is indeed alive, but has been seriously injured. Resolved to bring her lover back to life Maggie stands by Taylor’s side, convincing him to embrace life again.

 

 

EXCERPT:

 

They were having dinner at Alain Ducasse when at the end of the meal, right before dessert, Jeffrey reached for Maggie’s hand.

“Maggie, we have been seeing each other for a while, and now that you’re done with school, I think it’s time that we took our relationship to the next level.” Jeffrey placed a robin-blue jewelry box on the table.

Maggie stared back at him, suddenly at a loss for words.

“Go on, open it.”

Slowly, Maggie pulled on the white ribbon. Inside, was a smaller box of black velvet. Feeling Jeffrey’s expectant gaze upon her, Maggie flipped open the lid. A giant diamond glinted against the black material.

“Timing is everything, and I think that right now is the perfect timing for us, don’t you?” Jeffrey pressed on without waiting for her answer. “There are a lot of opportunities for me at the network, Maggie, and our engagement will show my father that I am a ‘reliable fellow,’ to use his words exactly. You see, my father is rather old-fashioned, and he has made it pretty clear that he expects me to settle down before he is going to entrust me with a more serious role in the company.”

Maggie blinked, wondering what getting engaged had to do with timing and reliability.

“Of course, that is not the main reason why I want to marry you.” Jeffrey reached for her hand. “I love you, Maggie. We are perfect for each other. But when it comes to climbing the corporate ladder a man’s character is often judged by his personal life, and I do plan to climb to the very top.” Jeffrey winked.

“Yes.” Maggie nodded.

“I’m so glad.” Jeffrey put the ring on her finger where it dangled loosely.

Maggie’s first impulse was to explain that her ‘yes’ was directed at Jeffrey’s statement regarding the corporate ladder, but instead, she remained silent, thunderstruck by the enormous diamond on her finger: it was blindingly ostentatious - a single emerald-cut solitaire - just what a future studio producer’s wife would wear.

“Oh, it’s too big… Didn’t you say you wear a size six and a half?”

“It’s five and a half, actually,” Maggie murmured, “but it doesn’t matter – it’s beautiful.”

“No worries. We’ll get it resized.” Jeffrey pressed her hand to his lips. “What do you say to our setting the wedding date to a year from now? That way you’ll have plenty of time to plan things, and I can be certain that all the people that should be there will be able to attend.”

Maggie’s throat felt constricted. It was not that she did not want to marry Jeffrey, it was just that she had not given the matter much thought, and now, he was expecting her to give an answer about the rest of her life right on the spot.

“Good. Then it’s all settled.” Jeffrey signaled for a check. “Oh, I almost forgot. Close your eyes.”

“Why?”

“Just do it.” Jeffrey grinned. “No peeking! Okay, you can look now.” Jeffrey placed a travel itinerary before her.

“A ski trip to British Columbia?” Maggie’s eyes lit up as the memories of her childhood winter vacations in Lake Placid flashed in her mind – she had even made it to the junior racing team. There was nothing better than flying down the mountain.

“Our engagement trip.” Jeffrey beamed. “Of course the terrain there can be pretty rough, but I promise to never let you out of my sight.”

 

If you would like to find out more about Marie’s books, please visit Marie at her website: www.marieastor.com.

Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Marie-Astor/e/B004EBDX9Q/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Website: www.marieastor.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/marieastorcollection

Good Reads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4665230.Marie_Astor

 

 

Books by Marie Astor:

 

To Catch a Bad Guy: http://www.amazon.com/To-Catch-Bad-Guy-ebook/dp/B008W1L5IA/ref=la_B004EBDX9Q_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1344820115&sr=1-5

 

This Tangled Thing Called Love: http://www.amazon.com/This-Tangled-Thing-Called-ebook/dp/B0078IPNCW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344820073&sr=8-1&keywords=marie+astor

 

Lucky Charm: http://www.amazon.com/Lucky-Charm-Contemporary-Romance-ebook/dp/B005BZL3L4/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1

Smitten at First Sight: http://www.amazon.com/Smitten-First-Sight-Contemporary-ebook/dp/B005TOWI7K/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1357427954&sr=8-4&keywords=marie+astor

A Dress in a Window – a collection of short stories about love, coincidences, and fate.

http://www.amazon.com/A-Dress-Window-ebook/dp/B004E112TO/ref=pd_sim_kstore_3?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2

Over the Mountain and Back – young adult fantasy adventure novel about a boy who takes his snowboard for a ride and finds himself in a magical, hidden world he never knew existed.

http://www.amazon.com/Over-Mountain-Back-Adventure-ebook/dp/B008WF1Y78/ref=la_B004EBDX9Q_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1350684616&sr=1-6