Modern Heroines—Doing It All with Style
A modern heroine doesn’t much resemble her predecessor of a few
decades ago—back in the day when bodice-rippers were all the rage… Today’s heroine
isn’t a young girl wringing her hands, moaning over her hard luck and waiting
for a strong man to save her. Not that she doesn’t appreciate a strong man when
one crosses her path! She’s a woman taking control of the situation and finding
solutions. She’s a woman with a career
and interests beyond the man with whom she falls in love.
Today, creating heroines with jobs, kids, and problems to solve
while they fall for men as imperfect as they are, is what we do best. The heroine
of Every Move She Makes is Rachel
Carpenter, ex-soap star, bookstore owner and divorced mother of three with a
psychotic stalker on her trail. Maybe most of us don’t have an unbalanced fan
following us around (at least not yet!), but I bet you can relate to the
frustrations of a mom whose fourteen-year-old daughter dyes her hair pink and
gets a tattoo, a woman so busy prioritizing her children and her business she
doesn’t have time to date. The mark of a true modern heroine is how she handles
herself and her problems. I think Rachel qualifies. In the following excerpt,
Rachel is doing her best to cope with her resentful teenage daughter. What do
you think? Personally, I’d rather deal with a stalker…
Lark was bent over wrapping a
towel around her wet hair when Rachel reached the shower stalls.
“Does it feel good to be
clean again?”
Lark ignored her question. “I
saw you talking to Kane.”
“He just got back. His dad’s
a lot better.”
“I bet you’re happy to see
him.”
Her daughter’s tone set
Rachel’s teeth on edge. She put down her clothes and shampoo before turning to
face her. “As a matter of fact, I am. What have you got against Kane? He’s
really a very nice man.”
“Nothing, I guess.”
“Then what’s with the
attitude? I’ve dated men before, and you didn’t seem to mind.”
She shrugged. “I could tell
you didn’t like those guys very much. But you smile at Kane the way you used to
smile at Dad when I was a little kid. It bugs me.”
“Don’t you want me to be
happy?”
Lark sighed. “Sure.
Whatever.” When she raised her gaze to meet Rachel’s, her blue eyes clouded.
“What I don’t want is some guy thinking he can replace my dad. Jade and Ivy
might be dumb enough to fall for it, but I’m not.”
“No one can replace your
father, honey, and I wouldn’t want anyone to try. Besides, I think this
conversation is a bit premature. I barely know Kane. I don’t think you have to
worry about picking out bridesmaid dresses just yet.”
“Funny, but you don’t fool
me. You really like him.”
“Yes, I do, and I’m going
canoeing with him tonight. I’d appreciate it if you’d be civil.”
Her daughter’s expression
reflected pure disgust. “That’s so gross. How am I supposed to sleep knowing
you’re making out with Kane in a boat?”
“Try hard. If you’re done
here, I’d like you to keep an eye on your sisters. I’ll be up in a few
minutes.”
Lark whipped the towel off
her head and trudged up the path as the last rays of dying sunlight highlighted
the magenta streaks in her hair.
Blurb:
No matter where she goes, he knows her
every move…
Long
ago, Rachel Carpenter was a glamorous soap star. She gave it all up to move to
Napa Valley with her daughters to open a bookstore near her family vineyard.
Her life is safe and dependable, until she encounters Kane Lafferty at a
wilderness camp in the rugged High Sierra. A burned-out police detective struggling
with his own demons, Kane is instantly attracted to Rachel. And like Rachel, he
isn’t sure if he’s ready to open his heart. But everything is about to change…
Someone
is watching from the darkness. A fanatic obsessed with Rachel for years has
decided to claim what he believes is his. It will be up to Kane to not only
protect his new love and her family, but to uncover the identity of the stalker
before it’s too late for all of them…
Buy
Links:
About
the Author:
Write what you know. Jannine Gallant has taken this advice to heart,
creating characters from small towns and plots that unfold in the great
outdoors. She grew up in a tiny Northern California town and currently lives in
beautiful Lake Tahoe with her husband and two daughters. When she isn’t busy
writing or being a full time mom, Jannine hikes or snowshoes in the woods
around her home. Whether she’s writing contemporary, historical or romantic
suspense, Jannine brings the beauty of nature to her stories. To find out more
about this author and her books, visit her website at janninegallant.com.
Author
Links:
7 comments:
Love the excerpt, Jannine.
Yep! For those uninitiated (and I mean that with the utmost respect) this is one fantastic book. And just the beginning of a series of stalkers. Waves to Vonnie. Best of luck, Jannine.
Thanks, ladies. I aim to entertain!
Loved the excerpt. We have a Lark among our flock of Chiclets.
Oh, oh, Sandra, I feel for you!
Great post, Jannine! Best wishes with your new release!!
Thanks, Angela!
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