Thursday, December 12, 2013

Unlikely Angel - Genie Gabriel

Genie will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

UNLIKELY ANGEL
by Genie Gabriel


BLURB:

A child psychiatrist running from violence and a former bodyguard grieving the wife he couldn't save form an unlikely alliance to rescue her kidnapped children. In a crumbling mine tunnel on Christmas Eve, their lives depend on a mutt rescued from the streets, a determined mother and an Unlikely Angel.

EXCERPT:

While Mitch set the tree in the stand, Julia gathered supplies for ornaments and explained to the twins what they were going to do. The twins were delighted, as they hadn’t been allowed to touch the fussy tinsel and glass ornaments on the tree in the West Hills house. Just one more reminder of how suppressed her children’s joy had been. Julia much preferred this homemade Christmas tree.

The tiny apartment soon became littered with scraps of paper, as loops of red and green chains took shape. The popping of corn rattled a cheerful accompaniment to the giggles of the twins as Julia brought another bowl of popcorn for Mitch to add to the string the dog snitched pieces from.

“Why don’t you just give him some popcorn?” Julia asked.

“He won’t eat it except off the string.” Mitch threw a disgusted look toward the dog. “It must be a new game.”

Julia turned away to hide her smile. The tree was shaping up beautifully, even if Angelina insisted on hanging all her handmade ornaments on the same three branches. “Anyone want refills on hot chocolate?”

When Julia returned from the kitchen, the room had grown quiet.

“Your helpers are asleep,” Mitch said.

The twins lay curled like cherubs next to the dog beneath the spreading limbs of the now decorated tree.

“Do you want to move them to bed?” Mitch asked.

Julia nodded. Soon the twins were settled in their beds for the night.

“Sometimes I just want to watch my children.” Julia’s heart swelled with joy as she gazed at Abraham and Angelina. “If I could have one thing for Christmas, I’d ask for my children to be safe.”

Julia and Mitch lapsed into silence for a moment, absorbing the innocence of the twins as they slept. “What would you ask for, Mitch?”

Mitch stared at Julia for a moment longer. His gaze caressed every inch of her face and finally settled on her mouth. “A kiss from you.”


AUTHOR Bio and Links:

I'm an optimist whose rose-colored glasses have bent frames and cracked lenses. When life kicks me in the teeth, I find miracles and lessons I refused to learn an easier way. In fact, I live with a small herd of miracles in the furry forms of dogs, who are constantly trying to teach me to forgive, to play more, and to love without limits. I write about people who find courage and integrity in the darkest times of their lives, who rescue stray dogs and kittens, who find a person they would willingly give their lives for, and who make their little corners of the world a better place. People have remarked my stories "aren't what they expected." With rose-colored glasses firmly in place, I take that as a compliment. I invite you to share a piece of my world in the pages of a book, and hope you find some surprises, some tears, some laughter, and always a happy ending.






Follow Genie's blog tour and comment. The more you comment the better your chance of winning. The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/11/book-blast-unlikely-angel-by-genie.html

21 comments:

Genene Valleau, writing as Genie Gabriel said...

I am so pleased to be at my friend, Paty's, blog today! Thank you, Paty, for hosting me! With all you accomplish, I feel like a slacker for only visiting 22 blogs on this Book Blast Tour!

I've been asking holiday related questions at each blog stop, so how about this one: Where would you like to spend Christmas?

My answer: there's a castle in Idaho near a ski resort that I've been fascinated with since I saw a night-time photo of it covered with snow and all the lights blazing. I think it was for sale when I saw this photo and thought at the time it would be fun to pull out all the stops to decorate this castle and have holiday parties all during December.

I'll be back throughout the day to see where you would like to spend the holidays!

Goddess Fish Promotions said...

Thanks for hosting!

Carole Avila said...

Thank you, Paty, for hosting Genie.
info at carole avila dot com

Paty Jager said...

Genene, Wow! I need to find that place in Idaho. I have a daughter who would love it. The only place I want to be for Christmas is with family. Where ever they are I want to be there too.

Rita Wray said...

In a cabin in the mountains.

Kit3247(at)aol(dot)com

Genene Valleau, writing as Genie Gabriel said...

Carole, so glad you stopped by!

Genene Valleau, writing as Genie Gabriel said...

Hi, Paty! I believe this castle was near Schweitzer Mountain Resort, but can't find it on the Internet any more. There's a castle listed there, but it doesn't look like the same one. So great you want to be with family--maybe you could all go to the castle. :)

Genene Valleau, writing as Genie Gabriel said...

Hi, Rita! A cabin in the mountains sounds wonderful--as long as there's a nice fireplace with plenty of firewood and comfy quilts. Can you tell I don't like being cold? LOL!

Christine Young said...

Good luck with the tour, Gene. I love your books and I'm a big fan.

Sarah Raplee said...

What a beautiful excerpt, Genene!This sounds like a holiday-set book I could love.

I want to spend Christmas with family in Bend, Oregon.

Maggie Lynch said...

Great excerpt, Genene! Definitely makes me want to check it out. I will be spending Christmas with my parents in Salem.

My favorite memories though are childhood ones, where all the aunts, uncles, cousins lived nearby and we would gather at Grandma's house on Christmas Eve, and sometime after dinner Santa Claus would actually arrive. I didn't figure out until I was about 10 years old that Santa was grandpa. With so many people at the house it was easy for him to slip out, get in the costume and load his bag with gifts. Truly magical.

Melissa Keir said...

I'd love to spend the holidays at home, snuggled in with my hubby and the puppies? Thank goodness, I get to do this each weekend.

Melissa
daringzoey at yahoo.com

Genene Valleau, writing as Genie Gabriel said...

Waving hi, Chris! So much appreciate your support!

Genene Valleau, writing as Genie Gabriel said...

Hi, Sarah! Thank you for your kind words. Hope you have a great Christmas with family!

Genene Valleau, writing as Genie Gabriel said...

Hi, Maggie! You'll be in my city for Christmas. :) What nice memories you have of gathering with family as a child! Your grandpa sounds like a good Santa!

Genene Valleau, writing as Genie Gabriel said...

Hi, Melissa! Snuggled with the ones you love--furry or not--sounds like a wonderful way to spend any day!

Diana McCollum said...

The excerpt was wonderful, thanks for sharing! We are spending Christmas with my mom, sister and her husband. It will be a quiet Christmas, but being with family means everything to me. Good luck on sales.

bn100 said...

Nice excerpt

bn100candg at hotmail dot com

Genene Valleau, writing as Genie Gabriel said...

Hi, Diana! So glad you'll be having Christmas with family--that will be nice!

Genene Valleau, writing as Genie Gabriel said...

Thanks, bn! It's good to see you on this Book Blast!

Genene Valleau, writing as Genie Gabriel said...

Well, the clock has struck midnight in my corner of the world and my doggies are snuggled in their beds. I will ask one of them to draw a name for the $25 gift card tomorrow and contact the winner privately, then post the name on my web site and on my Rock'n'Romance blog .

Many thanks to Paty and Writing Into the Sunset for hosting me today, and to everyone who stopped by and commented. Happy holidays to all!