Fun with Special Guest Mariah Holloway

Today I'm excited to introduce a friend of mine that I met last year in New Mexico. She and I hit it off and have been bouncing story ideas back and forth ever since.  Today, she's joining us for a Fun Friday and sharing an excerpt from her Work in Progress. We're going to see her characters having a bit of fun themselves. ;) But first, let me tell you a little about my friend.

Mariah Holloway has been writing stories since about the age of seven. She has always enjoyed making up her own stories. When she heard something that fascinated her, she was quick to write a story inspired by that. When she was young, she would draw pictures on each page of her stories to convey what she was saying. Mariah’s love for writing increased as she took English classes in elementary school through college. Along with her passion for writing, Mariah enjoys reading, photography, and art. You can follow Mariah on Facebook and check out her website www.mariahholloway.wordpress.com.

And now for the excerpt from On The Wings of Freedom:

She stared at the sun as its rays peeked through the branches of the trees above them. The sun seemed to be winking at her. Ella laughed and winked back.

She sighed in contentment. It was the perfect day to be out with her family. It felt good to get away from the loud bustling town for a change though she did enjoy hearing the laughter of the Jewish children running through the streets after one another, the mothers holding their babies while laughing and carrying on about the latest gossip, and the fathers bidding on items to buy. Ella was blessed with a lovely town, but moments like the moment now was what she lived for.

Ella turned her head slightly and saw a red cardinal sitting on one of the branches, singing a beautiful melody. Another bird joined him, and they flew off together towards the sun. Ella smiled as she watched the exchange. The birds were free. Their wings of freedom always flew them to new heights and places. They did not have a care in the world. They never had to watch their backs because they could always fly to new heights. They always had a happy song in their hearts because they knew they would always have their wings of freedom. No one could take that from them. They never—

“Hey!” yelled Ella as she abruptly sat up.

Cold water fell down her face and neck as loose tendrils of her hair plastered to her face. She spat water out of her mouth and began wiping her face with her hands.

Just then she saw her husband drop a bucket and run off laughing. Realization dawned on Ella, and she threw her head back in laughter.

“You little sneak!” she laughed after her husband.

She hopped to her feet and ran after him. He slowed down still laughing as she caught up with him. He picked her up before Ella could respond and began spinning her around. Ella raised her hands in the air and laughed. She was flying just like the birds. She was free.

A bird whistling on a nearby tree shook Ella out of her reverie. She turned to the sound and saw a bird perched on a nearby branch. It was not a bright-colored, beautiful red cardinal. Instead it was a black raven. It was not singing a beautiful medley. It was only whistling. Ella looked up and saw a group of ravens fly by. Ella brows furrowed together as she looked back at the single raven. Why would he not fly with the others? Did he not see he had the ability to soar in freedom? Instead he just sat there.

The raven matched Ella’s inner turmoil. His blackness matched what was going on inside of Ella. Ella no longer had a beautiful melody to sing just like the raven, and she could not fly on the wings of freedom any longer. She was no longer that red cardinal. 

****

Mariah's first story, The Castle is available on Amazon, and she will soon be releasing The Prince. It is an allegorical medieval tale taking you to the heart of knowing who you are.

 Aaron always knew he was meant for something greater, but he did not know what it was. He did not realize what laid within him until a mysterious beggar appears.

Sneak Peek at The Texan's Engagement Agreement #Giveaway

Howdy y'all! Have we got a special treat for you today. Noelle Marchand is here today, granting us a sneak peek into her new release The Texan's Engagement Agreement. (Hang around till the end for the rest of the surprise. ;) ) Here's what Romantic Times says about it, "Marchand’s latest offers three-dimensional characters and layers of story with depth. There’s a sweet playfulness between the main characters as well."

The book blurb:

It's been five years since Adelaide Harper broke Chris Johansen's heart—and their long-distance engagement. But when she steps off a train in Peppin, Texas, and strolls back into Chris's life, he can't help but panic. Because to avoid his parents' plan to arrange a marriage for him, he's let his family believe he and Adelaide are still engaged.

Adelaide is facing her own troubles with a matchmaking mama and a parade of aggravating suitors. So pretending to let Chris court her could help them both. And after five years, there's no need to worry that the time together will reignite their long-buried love…is there?

Without further ado...the sneak peek...

Chris’s gaze continued to search his father’s for any indication that he was in pain or short of breath. Olan hated the worry his heart condition added to the family. This wouldn’t be the first time he’d tried to downplay one of his heart episodes with a distraction. Olan was flushed, but it only seemed to be with excitement, so Chris reluctantly allowed his attention to be drawn elsewhere.

It landed on the woman standing just in front of his father. A hat dipped low over her right eye. Yet it did little to hide the perfection of her slightly turned-up nose, the rosy blush racing across her high cheekbones or the sweet curves of her bow-shaped lips. She was beautiful. She was familiar. She was achingly familiar.

He caught her chin, tilted her face upward and got lost in her light green eyes. “Adelaide.”

A fleeting smile touched her lips. “Hello, Chris.”

Silence filled the air. He released her. His words came out as more of a growl than a greeting. “What are you doing here?”

Olan slapped Chris’s back just hard enough to knock some sense into him. “Son, is that any way to greet your fiancée?”

Time slowed. Chris saw Adelaide turn toward his father. He knew exactly what was going to happen. The truth was going to come out. He could almost see the disbelief, the shock, the disappointment on his father’s face. His imagination went even further until he saw Olan’s face whiten, his hand covering his heart as he sank to his knees in pain. Chris couldn’t let that happen. Instinctively, Chris reached for Adelaide. He caught her by the arms, tugged her toward his chest then stifled whatever she’d been planning to say with a quick, ardent kiss.

Noelle Marchand is an award-winning author of six published novels who graduated summa cum laude from Houston Baptist University with a BA in Mass Communication and Speech Communication. Her love of literature began as a child when she would spend hours reading beneath the covers long after she was supposed to be asleep. At fifteen, she completed her first novel. Since then, she has continued to pursue a writing career and was honored to receive the 2013 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence for A Texas-made Match. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, learning about history, watching classic cinema and dancing. She is a member of ACFW.

You can find Noelle online at:

• Website: www.noellemarchand.com 
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/noellemarchandauthor 
• Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/5022982.Noelle_Marchand 
• Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/noellemarchand/

Noelle is also offering one paperback copy as a giveaway to one of this post's commenters. The winner will be announced in Monday's Weekly Windup post. 

Have you read any of Noelle's books before? Does this sneak peek make you want to read more? 

Nun and the Narc Book Giveaway and Excerpt

 

This week’s giveaway is a print copy of The Nun and the Narc by Catherine Castle.

The Nun and the Narc is an inspirational suspense romance that readers have called a fast-paced, fun ride that you won’t want to put down. Below is an excerpt that highlights a bit of that fast-paced ride readers have commented about. Enjoy, and good luck to one of this week’s lucky commenters! 

 

Where novice Sister Margaret Mary goes, trouble follows. When she barges into a drug deal the local Mexican drug lord captures her. To escape she must depend on undercover DEA agent Jed Bond. Jed’s attitude toward her is exasperating, but when she finds herself inexplicable attracted to him he becomes more dangerous than the men who have captured them, because he is making her doubt her decision to take her final vows. Escape back to the nunnery is imperative, but life at the convent, if she can still take her final vows, will never be the same.

Nuns shouldn’t look, talk, act, or kiss like Sister Margaret Mary O’Connor—at least that’s what Jed Bond thinks. She hampers his escape plans with her compulsiveness and compassion and in the process makes Jed question his own beliefs. After years of walling up his emotions in an attempt to become the best agent possible, Sister Margaret is crumbling Jed’s defenses and opening his heart. To lure her away from the church would be unforgivable—to lose her unbearable.

 

 

Excerpt from The Nun and the Narc

Margaret inched forward, hoping to hear what they were saying. A mariachi band nearby blared out a tune, the polka-like melody destroying any hope of eavesdropping. The shriek of off-key brass sent chills up her spine. She covered her ears and moved closer to Rafael and the stranger.

After a couple of minutes of conversation, the man removed an envelope from his jacket and pulled out a handful of bills. He folded them in half and then slipped them into Rafael’s extended hand. With a furtive glance around, Rafael moved closer to the man, blocking Margaret’s direct view, and handed something to the stranger.

A wave of apprehension swept over Margaret. The chapulines she’d snacked on earlier that morning threatened to see the light of day.

A drug deal! Of all the things Rafael could do, this was the worst.

Esperanza had fought so hard to keep her son away from bad influences. Now he appeared to be involved in the very thing she’d hated most. Margaret imagined Esperanza banging on the gates of purgatory, trying to get out and rescue her son.

She hesitated for a moment, hearing Mother Superior’s admonishment. Stay out of trouble while you are in Mexico, Sister.

Silencing the nagging voice in her head, Margaret charged forward, protective instincts in full swing.

Stopping Rafael and talking to him about the dangers of drugs surely wouldn’t qualify as trouble. Bluntness, maybe, but not trouble. It was more like saving. Yes, that’s it. I’m saving him.

Margaret grabbed Rafael by the shirt. “I’ve been searching for you, young man.” She faced the stranger, giving him her best withering stare. “You should be ashamed of yourself.”

The man stuffed the plastic bag into his jacket pocket. “Who is this?”

“Some crazy gringa.” Rafael shrugged, hard, trying to escape her grasp.

The plastic bag contained something white. Heroin? Cocaine? Margaret tightened her hold and drew Rafael closer. She would save him whether he wanted to be saved or not.

“Get out of here,” Rafael snarled.

“What would your mother say if she saw this?”

Rafael’s expression darkened. “Leave my mother out of this!” He wrenched out of Margaret’s grip and spun around to face her. His expression morphed from anger to fear. “¡Madre de Dios!”

The man’s head jerked around. “Get down!” he shouted.

Rafael took off running down the street as the top row of pottery in the stand exploded like popcorn.

Margaret jumped at the loud noise and whirled around searching for the source. The man removed a gun from his jacket, swung around, and scanned the area.

Margaret’s knees buckled at the sight of the handgun. Her body tensed, her gaze frozen on his weapon. He fired off a couple of shots. Heart thumping like a jackhammer, she ran for cover behind the open car door. The window glass shattered as bullets whizzed over her head. She scrambled into the car and crouched on the floorboard. Another row of pottery shattered, sending fragments into the car like tiny projectile rockets. Sending up a quick prayer, she covered her head.

Slamming the door shut as he passed, the man leapt over the trunk. He jerked open the driver’s door then jumped behind the wheel. Jamming the car into gear, he roared out into the market street. Shoppers and vendors screamed, leaping out of the car’s path.

Margaret scrambled into the passenger seat. “Stop this car immediately!”

“Keep down,” he ordered, “unless you want to get shot.”

The rear window glass erupted into the car’s interior, punctuating his words. The man fired at the attackers through the shattered back window.

“Shot?” Her voice rose an octave. “Oh, dear Lord in Heaven, what have I gotten into?”

“Trouble, Lady.” He fired off another round. “Big trouble.”

Margaret slid deeper into the front passenger seat, grabbing the door handle as the car careened around a corner.

I’m going to die. In a car crash. With a strange man. Heart pumping madly, she let go of the door handle just long enough to cross herself then grabbed it again as the car swerved. A guardian angel would be good here, Lord. And make it Dale Earnhardt! They swerved around another corner and she held on for dear life.

Oh, Mother Superior, maybe you’re right. Maybe I’m not good nun material after all. Who else in the convent could get themselves into a mess like this?

“Are you a drug dealer?” she asked as they whizzed by a stand of woven tapestries.

The car swerved to the right, barely missing a burro. “That’s a need to know answer.”

Margaret braced herself against the seat when they careened past the animal. “Under the circumstances, I need to know.”

The man didn’t reply.

Margaret felt her temper rising. “Who are those guys and why are they after you?”

“After us,” he corrected.

Us? Panic scrabbled at her insides. Will people think I’m part of his illegal plan? Mother Superior will kick me out of the convent for sure.

“I haven’t done anything,” she protested.

The man ducked as a bullet shattered the left rear window. Margaret let go of the door handle and covered her head.

“Lady, you’re guilty by association.”

Want to win a copy? Leave a comment. To make sure you're entered into the drawing, be sure to leave your email address with your comment. :) One winner will be  selected at random Saturday (after 7pm EST) and will be announced on the weekend. Good luck!