1. Although my daughter is a certified scuba diver, I'm petrified of water and don't swim.
2. In order to travel within our budget my husband and I are members of homelink--www.swapnow.com, and house exchange all over the world. Piggy-backing on this, I subscribe to the Points Guy, an informative website regarding air travel using credit card points. (It's easier than you think!)
3. I am a well-known coupon queen, and regularly save so much money at the grocery store that the clerks follow my weekly shopping lists.
4. I am an international adoption advocate, and my husband and I adopted our beautiful daughter from South Korea 20 years ago.
5. We flip houses! If you need designer and decorator ideas, don't hesitate to contact me.
Multi-award-winning author Josie Riviera is a mother of three
grown children. She spends her days teaching piano, lending an
ear to her teenage daughter’s ongoing drama, and, of course,
writing. Josie and her family are transplanted upstate New
Yorkers, now living in the sunny state of SC. She writes
character-driven novels filled with inspiration and emotion.
Learn more about Josie at
josieriviera.wordpress.com.
Do people prove their self-worth by
strength, or by character?
A Romany leader confronts the English
heritage he has denied when he lands, beaten and powerless, in
the path of a high-spirited young widow. Will the prim countess
agree to hide the charismatic rogue in her home and jeopardize
her safety while her stepson accuses her of murdering her
elderly husband?
Patience Blakwell is not beautiful. As
a dutiful young countess in Regency England, she endures her
husband’s cruelty. She struggles with her faith, trying to
understand why God is not following the plan she had for her
life—to be loved and cherished by her husband. After her
husband’s unexpected death, her grown stepson charges her with
her late husband’s murder.
Luca Boldor, more Gypsy than English,
is determined to prove that he is strong and capable and doesn’t
need anyone. But once he is forced to depend on Lady Patience
Blakwell, a woman who represents all he loathes, he must decide
whether he should turn away when she needs him, or risk his most
vulnerable, forgiving self to keep her safe. By denying his
English heritage, has he denied a part of himself?
SEEKING PATIENCE
EXCERPT
Copyright
2013 © Josie Riviera
England, 1813
Luca Boldor had made a mistake—a big mistake.
“May God strike you all,” he whispered under his breath at the
murderous band of rival Roma tribesmen gaining on him, ready to
attack. He’d merely been looking for food for his tribe.
He pulled his ragged overcoat around his shoulders and made his
getaway through the snow. Snowflakes fell thick and heavy, twice
as fast as earlier that evening. Wind carried the drifts in
wayward, wispy circles and thankfully concealed his tracks.
He could escape unseen. He’d become good at that.
Slipping on a patch of ice, he stumbled and hit the ground face
first.
His voice broke in agony. A scream he stifled, because a man
never screamed. Certainly not a Roma man.
Relying on sheer muscle to raise the lower half of his body, he
dug his elbows into the gritty, wet snow and crawled forward.
Aye, a man did not crawl, either.
But sometimes a man made exceptions to his own rules.
Advancing shadows split the stretches of dull white snow.
Desperately, he searched his surroundings, knowing he was too
easy to find. His body shimmered with the pain of a cruel
beating. His breath, so cold a moment ago, burned in his chest.
Give up.
But the thought was inconceivable and Luca pushed it from his
mind.
Instead, he envisioned the elders of his tribe foraging for
food. They would starve without his hunting skills and perish in
a sennight. Long ago, he’d taught himself not to think of
anything except their desperation, to protect the tribe no
matter the danger. If he could only get them through another
winter, he could improve their lot by moving them to the coast.
Food was more plentiful by the sea, and they wouldn’t need to
steal to survive.
Heavy footsteps crunched through the snow and Luca risked a
swift glance over his shoulder. Marko, the leader of the rival
tribe, and his men drew closer. Blind panic rushed through
Luca’s limbs.
Past a swell of blackthorn trees, he spotted a ravine. He
dropped to his knees and burrowed into the snow. Faster. Deeper.
His nerves pinched in short, silent spasms.
Curse the frost for numbing his fingers. Curse his senses for
deserting him.
Snapping off brittle tree limbs, he lowered himself into the
hole and threw the branches on top. Then he peered through the
branches and waited.
The bleary figures of Marko and his tribesmen approached. A
glimmer of moonlight lit the darkness and threatened to expose
Luca’s meager covering.
A persistent voice whispered in his mind. Run. There is
time. They will not see you.
Run. He grimaced. His restless body shifted. His battered leg
stiffened, a reminder of his helplessness.
“Luca shall not escape me.” Marko’s rough tone severed the cold
night air. “He claims he disappears like a spirit, but he is
just a man.”
A few men spoke uneasily and Luca recognized their voices.
Killing was a sport for them.
Despite the numbness consuming him, tiny hairs on his nape stood
on end. He was obviously their intended sport this harsh January
night.
Marko’s booted toes stopped within a few feet of Luca’s
makeshift hole. The stench of his unwashed body filled Luca’s
nostrils. He held his breath until he thought his lungs would
burst. His eyes watered from the cold, but he kept his gaze on
Marko.
Josie, thanks for sharing. I love watching HGTV. It takes a lot of talent to flip a house. You are a talented writer too. Enjoyed Seeking Patience.
ReplyDeleteI love to watch the house flipping shows on HGTV. I had no idea that you flipped homes. You are very creative- writing, designing.
ReplyDeleteFlipping houses?? Maybe you can get a gig on the Home & Garden network and become a national celeb.
ReplyDeleteGay,
ReplyDeleteThanks so much and glad you enjoyed Seeking Patience.
Kimberly,
ReplyDeleteYes, we love the flip shows on HGTV, also. Our favorite is Flip or Flop.
Carlene,
ReplyDeleteLOL! It's unlikely I'll become a national celeb any time soon, but thanks for the idea. :)
One more thank you to the lovely Jacqui. Thanks so much for hosting me on your blog. It was fun!
ReplyDeleteAnytime, Josie. Same goes for all Prism Book Group authors. I have the most fun posting these feature promo spots :)
Delete