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A Year with Geno
Blurb:
Single-mom Caroline Taylor wants nothing more than
to make a home for her two young sons in Eagle River, Alaska. The only problem:
an eviction notice.
When the perfect rental falls through again, she and
her boys move in with Air Force sergeant Geno D’Antoni and his two teenage
sons. It’s only for a year, so she can polish her credit rating and save a down
payment to buy a home. It’s a perfect plan.
Or not. When Geno stands up to Caroline’s bully of
an ex-husband, he retaliates by suing for full custody. Then Geno’s ex-wife,
spurned by her fiancé, moves back in. She wants Caroline out. Now.
The tiny spark of passion between Caroline and Geno
sputters and dies. Or does it? Maybe they had no chance with the chaos from
their pasts eclipsing their future. So why does Caroline rush home to share all
the details of her day with him? Why does she haunt Geno’s dreams? And when
exactly does your best friend become your future?
Excerpt
After her shift
ended, she picked Charlie and Bobby up from school, and they drove to the
address. The sun was setting, but there was just enough light for Caroline to
make out the house. The driveway hadn’t been plowed, so she parked her car on
the street.
She tried to hide her disappointment from
her boys. Discarded hubcaps, tires and a broken chair were heaped on the front
porch. The front door looked as though only the frost held it in place. A car
on blocks occupied most of the driveway.
Leaving the motor running, she told the
boys to stay inside where it was warm, and she climbed out to go peek in the
windows. She stepped lightly on the hard-packed snow. Climbing the three steps
to the front porch, she saw no lights on in the house, but she knocked on the
front door anyway. When she did, a hound bayed at the house next door.
When she peered through the dirty windows,
any sliver of optimism died. Caroline saw overflowing black trash bags, a pile
of clothes and more broken furniture in the living room. One of the ceiling
panels hung at a precarious angle.
“Wow. What a dump,” she said aloud.
“Can I help you?” a tall, dark-haired man
asked.
Caroline screamed. “Oh, my God! You scared
me!”
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to
startle you.”
“Well, you did!” she yelled at him. Her
rapid breathing made plumes of vapor in the cold air. “Didn’t your mother ever
teach you not to sneak up on people?”
“I’m sorry. I’m leery when people stop at
this house, with all the trouble we’ve had from these neighbors. I’m sorry.”
He extended his hand, and Caroline looked
into his brown eyes. She saw his apology was sincere. She thought she was tall
at two inches shy of 6 feet, but he towered above her.
“I’m Geno D’Antoni. I live in the house
next door. I heard my dog barking, and I was afraid these folks came back.”
“Caroline Taylor,” she said, shaking his
hand. “I was considering leasing this house, but it looks so run down.”
“It is
run down. So, they’re trying to rent it now, huh? I think the city might have a
problem with that, considering how clogged-up the septic tank is.”
Geno stepped off the porch to the bottom of
the short stairwell. Caroline turned her back on the house and slowly stepped
off the cluttered porch, her hands extended as though to balance herself on the
slippery wood. She reached for the wrought iron banister but it was shakier
than she was.
“Can I help you?” he asked, offering his
hand.
“No, I made it up here, I can make it
down.”
She stepped onto the top step, and her
right foot shot out from under her. She fell down the steps and landed on top
of Geno, knocking them both into the snow.
“Oof!” he cried.
Caroline stood up as quickly as she could.
“I’m so sorry. Let me help you up.”
She reached for him, and he gave her his
hand. She helped to pull him up.
“Oh my God, you’re heavy,” she said,
starting to laugh.
“You’re not exactly a petite flower
yourself, missy.”
“I’m so sorry,” she mumbled before she
doubled up with laughter. Finally, she stood and said, “I’m sorry. I’m just
having the worst week.”
“It’s okay. Is there anything I can do?” he
asked.
“No. No, but thanks for the warning about
the house.”
She turned and faced the sagging front
porch. “I’m an optimist by nature, but not even I could find much to be hopeful
about with this place, especially if the septic tank isn’t up to code.”
“That’s just one of many problems. The last
tenants tore this house up pretty good. You can do better. Are you sure you’re
okay?”
“I’m fine. Thank you.”
He walked to her car and opened her door.
“Is it nice inside, Mom?” Charlie asked.
“Does it have a fireplace?” Bobby asked.
“I’ll tell you guys all about it,” she
said, climbing into the car. “Thanks, again,” she said to Geno, looking up into
his brown eyes. He shut her door. Driving away, Caroline glanced in her
rearview mirror. She saw Geno wave as she drove away.
Buy link Amazon
Author bio
Annette Drake is a multi-genre author whose work is
character-driven and celebrates the law of unintended consequences.A Year with Geno, her contemporary romance set in Eagle River, Alaska, wasreleased on summer solstice, June 21st. Annette’s second novel, Bone Girl, premiered in March from Baskethound Books and is available in ebook, print and audiobook. Her debut novel, Celebration House, was published last August by Tirgearr Publishing. Now, Annette turns her attention to regaining her sanity and writing the two sequels to Celebration House. Both books are slated for publication in 2015. She left high school after two years to obtain her GED and attend Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri, where she earned a degree in journalism. Annette worked as a reporter and editor for newspapers in Missouri and Kansas from 1987 to 1993. After earning a bachelor of science in nursing in 1994, she worked in hospitals in Missouri, Alaska and Washington before returning her focus to writing. Annette makes her home in Spokane, Washington. A member of the Inland Northwest Writers Guild and Spokane Authors & Self Publishers, she loves libraries, basset hounds and bakeries. She does not camp. Much.
How to connect with Annette:
Website: http://annettedrake.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/annettedrake13
She loves to hear from writers.
Please email her at: Write2me@AnnetteDrake.com.
Thank you, Carmen, for sharing A Year with Geno with your followers. Much appreciated!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome! I am sure it is a book worth adding to the TBR pile. Best of luck with your writing!
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