Saturday, June 8, 2013

Excerpt from Meant To Be by Terri Osburn


Blurb for Meant To Be by Terri Osburn

Sometimes the next best thing is what you’ve been looking for all along…

Beth Chandler has spent her whole life pleasing others. She went to law school to make her grandparents happy. She agreed to marry her workaholic boyfriend, Lucas, to make him happy. And, despite her fear of boats, she took a ferry to see Lucas’s parents just to make them happy.

While suffering through a panic attack on the ferry, Beth meets a tall, sexy stranger who talks her down from her fear—and makes her heart flutter in the process. Soon, she has a new reason to panic: her gorgeous, blue-eyed rescuer is Lucas’s brother, Joe.

But could she ever leave her fiancĂ© for his own brother…even if Lucas is more focused on making partner than on making their relationship work…and even if Joe turns out to be everything she never knew she wanted?


Excerpt:

Breathing in through her nose, she blew the air out through her mouth. Just then, hot breath fluttered over her left arm and an unpleasant smell filled her nostrils.
That could not be her breath.
Heavy panting invaded the silence of the car and Beth opened one eye to find the source. Big brown eyes sur­rounded by rust-colored fur stared back. One ear flopped forward while a black tongue lolled to the side. The animal tilted his head and lifted a large paw, propping it on her thigh.
She might have flinched had she not been frozen in fear.
“What’d you find, Dozer?” asked a voice from some­where behind the intruder.
Looking past the mutt, she saw a man draw up behind him. Bright blue eyes and a stubble-covered chin were all she registered before shifting her focus back to her hands. Defending herself against a madman on a barge was prob­ably going to be difficult without the use of her hands.
“Hi there,” he said, giving the dog a pat on the head. Then he mumbled, “Good boy.” Presumably to the dog.
The stranger’s voice, low and sensual, vibrated down her spine. Her hands relaxed enough to allow blood flow back into her knuckles. The book hadn’t suggested finding a sexy guy to talk her down. She should have looked harder until she found one written by a woman.
“Hi,” she said, her brain now as uncooperative as her hands. She ventured another glance in the dog owner’s direction and her entire body sighed.
The man was, as her granny would say, built for sin. Full lips, strong jaw, and one deep dimple finished off a face gifted with the bluest eyes she’d ever seen. Wide shoulders filled out a navy-blue T-shirt that tapered down to a narrow waist and low-slung jeans. She couldn’t see his feet behind the dog, but would bet her best business suit he sported work boots.
Talk about answered prayers. This was a flotation device she wouldn’t mind going down with.
A sound that could only be called a meep escaped her lips. Engaged women were not supposed to have lustful thoughts about men who were not their fiancé. Being engaged for a mere two weeks was no excuse.
“Are you okay?” he asked, clearly recognizing insanity when he saw it.
“I’m fine,” she yelled, panic raising her voice several decibels. Though she wasn’t sure if the panic was still over imminent death or her heightened hormone levels. “No problem here. Move along, please.”
The dog set his other paw on her leg and nearly climbed onto her lap, his head popping up between her arms. “What’s he doing?” she asked.
The man chuckled and Beth shivered. “Saying hello.”
A dark tongue dangled dangerously close to her nose. “Do you feed him black licorice or something?” The dog’s entire tongue was black. “That’s the chow in him. Also what gives him that big head. You should hear him bark.”
Right on cue, the dog did just that, making her ears ring. If she hadn’t been staring into the face of a dog, Beth would swear a grizzly had climbed into her car. “You need a breath mint. Bad.”
“You’ve scared her enough, Doze. Get off the pretty lady.” As the dog backed out of the car, Beth tried to ignore the compliment, but felt a blush heat her cheeks. “This crossing takes a while,” he said. “You could come out and walk around. Most people do.”
“People are walking around?” Fear momentarily trumped by amazement, Beth turned toward the stranger as far as the seat belt and her grip on the wheel would allow. “How can people be taking a leisurely stroll as if we aren’t all about to perish in the sea?”
“Just trusting, I guess.” The man smiled as he took a step back. Her libido tried to take a step forward. Seat belts really were lifesaving devices.
 
 
Buy links for Meant To Be:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bio:
Born in the Ohio Valley, Terri relocated below the Mason Dixon line in the early 1990s after experiencing three blizzards in eighteen months. Seeking warmer climes and a career in the music business, she landed in Nashville and learned fast that getting a job on Music Row is not as easy as it sounds. Ironically, it wasn't until she left Nashville and moved to Arkansas that she found her way into radio. Never one to stay put for long, Terri eventually moved to the East Coast, settled near the ocean, earned her bachelor’s degree while raising a daughter, and joined cubicle land once again. But a love of romance novels soon found her writing her own. Five years and many pages later, in 2012, she was named a finalist in the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart contest. An agent and contract soon followed. Terri now resides in Virginia with a teenager, a Yorkipoo, and two fat and happy tabbies.
 
Find Terri at:
 
  • Website > http://www.terriosburn.com
  • Facebook Page > https://www.facebook.com/TerriOsburnAuthor?fref=ts
  • Twitter > @TerriOsburn
  • Pinterest > http://pinterest.com/terriosburn/
  • Goodreads > http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6873792.Terri_Osburn


  • 3 comments:

    1. Well done, Terri! You've got me hooked. Through this scene, you really get a sense of your characters without any intrusive detail.

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    2. The blurb of the story hooked me. I love stories about the good boys and girls who sacrifice so everyone else can be happy...until they snap and want a piece of happiness for themselves, LOL!

      I can't wait to read Meant To Be. Good job!

      ReplyDelete
    3. Thank you, ladies! I've been away from the computer all day so I'm just checking in. WAY late!

      I'm glad you both liked it and I hope you enjoy the rest of the story. I had a blast writing this book, and have been overwhelmed with the positive response so far.

      And thanks to LA for featuring me and my work!

      ReplyDelete