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Cynthia Gail will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

 

Character Interview – Jenny Cohen

What is your motto ? At the risk of sounding cliché, I’d have to say ‘Live, Laugh, Love’. With my father dying so young, and my mother being disabled, I learned early in life that you have to take every single day as a gift and live life to its fullest.

Is it hard to share your feelings? In my job, I’m an extrovert. But in my personal life I’m closer to an introvert. Outside of my two best friends, Beth and Sara, I’ve always had a hard time getting close enough to people to share my inner feelings. Then I met Craig. There was just something about him that made me open up and feel comfortable sharing anything. I never felt as if he would judge me.

What is your best memory? My dad died when I was young and my mother had a hard time making ends meet. We rarely splurged on anything. But the first Saturday morning of each month, my mother would take me to buy donuts for breakfast and we would each get two magazines. We would read the horoscope pages first, then we’d go through the fashion articles.

Do you still read your horoscope? Definitely. Even now that she’s in a nursing home, every time I visit I bring her favorites. We sit on the floor around her coffee table and look at the pretty dresses in Vogue and Glamour and talk about Oprah’s favorite things for the month. When we’re laughing at the predictions and reading the gossip column, I feel like that little girl again – before everything changed. Maybe I’m just fooling myself, but I think there’s a real connection and our ritual makes her happy for the time it lasts. We have fun and that’s all that matters. People really should laugh more.

What is your greatest extravagance? I have two:  I love art. My house is full of art pieces I’ve collected over the years. Many of them aren’t even recognized names, but I picked each one for a special reason.

The second is my shoe collection. I have over three-hundred pairs of shoes. Heels, flats, flip-flops, tennis shoes. You name it.

Which talent would you most like to have? This is probably one of my greatest secrets. I don’t think I’ve ever told anyone how much I want to play the piano. I would love to make space in my living room for a baby-grand. One day, I’ll have time to take lessons and I’ll drive Craig and Ben crazy practicing scales.

You’re getting ready for a night out. Where are you going? What do you wear? Who will you be with? I love to dress up and go out with Craig and my two best friends, Sara and Beth, and their husbands. Our favorite place is Carlino’s. The food is magnificent. And they have a piano bar and a dance floor. What I wear usually depends on how I feel that evening – but you can bet that I’ll be wearing a pair of my favorite stilettos.

 

Summer’s Family Affair

by Cynthia Gail

Blurb:

Jenny Cohen defines successful independence: she put herself through college, couldn’t ask for better friends, owns a consulting firm, wears designer clothes, and just moved into her dream home . . . But she’s alone, except for her ailing mother whom she supports in a nursing home. As the marketing consultant for Chester, Dorsey & Tanner, she’s surrounded by male attention. Too bad it’s the overly-protective big-brother type.

Architect, Craig Stone, hasn’t looked at another woman since his wife passed away four years ago. His time is taken—building a career while trying to be both mother and father to his eight-year-old son. But when his appointment with the largest development firm in Nashville is double-booked with a black-haired beauty, he finds himself reaching for new possibilities.

The attraction sets off more fireworks than the Fourth of July. Yet, their relationship is riddled with issues neither one of them expected. Somewhere in the middle they must find a way to compromise or let go of a chance for love they may never find again.

 

Excerpt:

All thought froze, as a beautiful voice cut through the near-silence of the room. Craig stared at the portfolio for just a second more before turning his attention to the front desk. He couldn’t see far enough around the corner to get a good view. What he did see . . . a pair of black strappy stilettos.

“Better you than me. He’s in an awful mood. Jeffry was out for just three days and his temp messed up the entire week’s schedule.”

Craig quietly moved down the row of chairs. Though his line of sight was much improved, he still couldn’t see the face behind the voice.

“You know it’s only going to get worse. It’s just Monday. How bad is it, really?”

She must be leaning over the desk, because her voice was now a faint whisper and the scene that greeted him was a firm derriere and a pair of runner’s legs that made his heart skip a beat.

“I’m not sure. I do know that you’re double-booked with the gentleman sitting across the room. Don’t look now.” Someone cleared their throat. “He’s a new architect Nick’s consulting with on the expansion designs. Too expensive to reschedule. Sorry.”

“Oh.”

“Brandon’s supposed to be part of their meeting and the temp had it on his calendar for noon tomorrow, instead of nine today.”

“I guess I can take second place. Only because it puts Brandon at my mercy. Tell Jeffry to come to the lobby and we’ll work it out. I’m always flexible, especially when it gives me an edge.”

The women laughed, a beautiful melody that rang through his entire being. Craig watched as she straightened and he could now see long, wavy black hair, falling against a ruby-red silk blouse. She reminded him of a Victoria Secrets model—long and lean, with a hint of curve.

“That’s why I like you so much. It’ll be a few minutes, if you’d like to have a seat.”

Craig shifted his attention back to the contract in his hand and purposefully read the title five more times. Slowly. He listened as her shoes clicked across the hardwood floor, waiting until the sound stopped before turning in her direction. She’d taken the chair he’d previously occupied and was sliding her phone into a black designer clutch.

Then she greeted him with a smile that still held a spark of amusement. He took a deep breath and swallowed. She had a hint of summer tan that made her skin glow, a touch of sheer gloss on her lips, and chocolate-brown eyes that instantly warmed him to the core.

His throat went suddenly dry and his mind raced for something to say. He stared silently, feeling like a teenage boy who’d never spoken to a girl before. Somehow, he found his footing and stood, then walked over to the chair next to hers. “Craig Stone.”

 

Author Bio and Links:

My husband and I live in the suburbs of Nashville, Tennessee with our three dogs. When I’m not working or writing, I can be found with family and friends. I love to bake in the winter, grill in the summer, and on occasion, I sneak away from everyone and curl up with a good book.

 

Website:  http://cynthiagail.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/CynthiaGailRomance

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/CynthiaGailBook

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6564818.Cynthia_Gail

Amazon Author Central:  http://www.amazon.com/Cynthia-Gail/e/B009WQTTQE/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1426743860&sr=8-1

Amazon buy link:  http://www.amazon.com/Cynthia-Gail/e/B009WQTTQE/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1426743860&sr=8-1

Other Books in the series:

Winter’s Magic   http://amzn.to/1Gsi6OM

Spring’s Surprise   http://amzn.to/1Np002k

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