A New Dream by Elaine Cantrell

The following is an excerpt from author Elaine Cantrell's latest release from Astraea Press, entitled A NEW DREAM.

* * *
Prologue
The red convertible cut a path through the moonlight, its headlights dancing along the arched limbs of the trees above the road.
“Oh, Matt, it’s such a beautiful night,” Stacey declared with a sigh. “I’m going to miss you when you leave tomorrow.”
 Matt reached for her hand and brought it to his lips. “I’ll miss you too, but if I don’t report on time, I’m in trouble with the coach.”
“That’s what I get for falling in love with a pro football player,” Stacey teased, her blonde hair turned to frosted silver by the light of the full moon above them.
Matt squeezed her hand that wore his engagement ring. “It’s too late to back out now,” he teased. “You’re mine.”
“Mmm, do I like the sound of that!”
The car rounded a curve, and without warning a deer bounded across the road.
“Look out!” Stacey screamed.
Matt braked sharply to avoid the animal.  The tires slid on a patch of loose gravel in the road, and he lost control of the convertible. It fishtailed and started to spin in the road.
Matt hauled the steering wheel to correct the slide, but it was useless. The car turned around once more and skidded backwards for a short distance before it charged off the road. It jumped a steep ditch and went airborne. All Matt could see was a blur of trees and darkness as the car careened into the woods. It made a lazy turn in the air and came to rest bottom side up.
The last thing he remembered was the sound of Stacey’s screams.
* * *
Want to know more about Elaine? Read my interview with her HERE. And don't forget to leave a comment. Elaine would love to hear from you. Plus, your name will be entered in the draw to win a e-book copy of A NEW DREAM!
* * *

Survivor's Guilt


The following excerpt is from DEFENDING GLORY, first book of the Piedmont Island Trilogy series.

Suffering from survivor's guilt, Mac, the hero, misses his mentor and FBI partner.


A true hero and all around good guy, Ben should have been the one to survive the ambush. He had every reason to live. A loving wife. Two adorable children.

Mac’s fist tightened around the spent ammo. If only he could remember what went wrong that day. He had snippets of blurred images, fragments of shouted warnings, but nothing concrete.


To read more of DEFENDING GLORY, click HERE. For more excerpts from other mystery and romantic suspense authors visit the Suspenseful Seven Sentence Sunday blog. Happy Sunday reading!

* * *

Emotional Reads that Touch Your Heart

Drop by Diane Craver's blog today to take part in her
EARLY SPRING GIVEAWAY.

Five, count 'em, FIVE great books are up for grabs!

-Light of the Heart by Regina Andrews
-Letting Go by Michelle Sutton
-Where Love Once Lived by Sidney W. Frost
-Summer Love by Linda Swift
-Defending Glory by Anne K. Albert (that would be me! ;-)

Click HERE and enter today!
* * *

E-book Giveaway

I'm visiting author Connie Mann's site today where I'm giving away an e-book copy of DEFENDING GLORY.

All that’s required is for you to leave a comment regarding:

(1)   If you have an e-reader, what one feature do you like best about it?

(2)   If you do not have an e-reader, are you considering purchasing one? Why?

Easy-peasy, right? So, what are you waiting for? GO. THERE. NOW!

* * *

Read an Ebook Week

You've probably heard that March 6-12, 2011 is "Read an E-book" Week.

But did you know the first e-book was created by Michael S. Hart forty years ago? That's right. E-books are 40. They're older than me. ;-) Well, okay, e-books are older than my daughter!

In celebration of "Read an E-Book Week" my publisher, Vanilla Heart, is offering 25% off featured books, including DEFENDING GLORY. Download your FREE catalogue HERE.

If you'd like to read more about the history of e-books, click HERE. Have a super day, and happy e-book reading!

SheWrites.com Blogger Ball Redux

Welcome to the

SheWrites

Blogger Ball Redux.

Make yourself comfy. Coffee's on, as well as bottomless. I've made your absolute all-time favorite muffins. They're warm, just out of the oven. I've also saved the coziest armchair just for you. So sit back, relax, and stay for as long as you like.

While you munch on a muffin and sip more coffee, I'd like to thank Meg Waite Clayton for organizing this fantastic event. It's a great way to discover new blogs, talented bloggers, and most importantly, meet exciting people who could very well become your friends. :)

That said, I'm SO glad you dropped by, and hope you'll return real soon. There's always something exciting going on at Piedmont Island...that small community where troubles outnumber residents!

For a complete listing of participating SheWriters Blogger Ball Redux bloggers, click HERE.

Small, Medium and Large...Dogs!

A tiny Chihuahau named Peanut steals the heart of the heroine in DEFENDING GLORY. Comments from readers suggest thd tiny dog won their hearts as well.

Today on Roxanne Rustand's blog I share stories of real and fictional dogs have stolen my heart. I hope you'll drop by!

THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS!

If you've a frequent visitor to Piedmont Island (and please know I really appreciate you dropping by), you've likely noticed that something new has been added.

That lovely little widget to your left is counting down the
days, hours, minutes and seconds until the release of

PROTECTING HOPE

2nd book of the Piedmont Island Trilogy series.

Available in e-book format August 15, 2011, the print version will be available just one month later on September 15, 2011.

I can hardly wait. Now, if you'll excuse me, I should get back to work. I've got a deadline to meet!  :-)

A GREAT DEAL AT STAKE


Welcome to another Suspenseful Seven Sentence Sunday. The following excerpt is from
1st of the Piedmont Island Trilogy series.

The set up for today's excerpt: Glory is determined to help her brother, Logan, and she's equally determined to build a new life for herself on Piedmont Island.

Her parents reaction? Not what you'd think. They've hired a lawyer....


“If you want to help Logan,” Mordante said at last, “help yourself first. Return home. Forget about Minnesota and the retreat.”

“I can’t do that," Glory said.

“You have six weeks to decide what is important. There’s a great deal at stake.”

“There is, but not just for me.”


If you'd like to read more of Defending Glory, click here.

Please check out the SUSPENSEFUL SEVEN SENTENCE SUNDAY site for a complete list of participating mystery and romantic suspense authors. Happy Sunday reading!