Guest Blog: Dianne Miley and Sunflowers for Sarita *Free Copy of the Book to Commenter
Dear Readers,
Good morning. I hope all of you are well.
Please allow me to introduce one of my closest friends, Dianne Miley. She's a lovely person and writer. Enjoy!
Introduce yourself—name, where you’re from, and something people notice when they meet you.
Hi! I’m Dianne Miley. I live near Charlotte, North Carolina after living over a decade in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina on the coast near Charleston. I was born in northeast Ohio where my husband and I raised our children before moving to the sunny south. People often notice my smile, and I’ve been nicknamed Smiley Miley by several folks who don’t even know each other.
Tell us about your book—title and back cover blurb.
Sunflowers for Sarita is the final book in the Crystal Falls Series.
When Sarita Santos testified to put her homicidal ex in prison, he vowed revenge. A former stripper, Sarita found faith and rebuilt her life as a single mom and interior designer.
Desperate to protect her young daughter after the felon is released from prison, Sarita leaves Crystal Falls to accept refuge with wealthy client Max Carter.
But the madman finds her at the beach house in sunny South Carolina. He kidnaps her child from their beach hideaway, and Max risks his life in a relentless search for the three-year-old girl.
With her daughter missing, Sarita’s trust in God falters and tests the devotion of her newfound hero. Can love endure this tragedy? And will Sarita’s faith survive if her daughter doesn’t?
Share an excerpt?
Sunflowers for Sarita Excerpt:
Sarita couldn’t stop shaking. Even in smalltown Crystal Falls, her precious daughter could be in danger.
Her stomach roiled. She needed food but the last thing she wanted to do was eat. Sipping her chocolate espresso to settle her stomach, she resolved to keep busy. No customers wandered about for the moment.
As turmoil churned her mind, she struggled with an arrangement of sunflowers in the front window of the store. The warm sun, once welcome, now felt garish as she massaged her forehead to fend off a migraine. Taking deep breaths, she scanned the quaint main street of Willow Pond, checking pillared corners and brick alleys for any sign of Ramone.
A well-dressed man passed the window and caught her eye. After initial surprise, he grinned. Men often gawked at her looks without a care for the person inside. Much less what she was going through this minute.
As he opened the door, Sarita groaned inwardly. Drained and terrified, she just wanted to be left alone. She needed to focus on a way to hide from Ramone without leaving her job and everything she’d worked for.
The handsome man smiled as he approached her. “You look as sunny as those flowers.”
“Thank you.” She felt like a wreck after that phone call. She climbed from the display window, careful not to hike up her slim yellow dress. Ah - he must have meant her yellow dress and dark hair matched the sunflowers.
Wobbly on spiked heels, she righted herself on the slick tile floor.
He stuck out a hand, and she braced herself for the onslaught of emotion his touch could bring. Handsome men still held power over her.
Like a gentleman, his firm handshake steadied her without letting on as she regained her balance. Too upset for his touch to cause the anticipated effect, she felt an odd comfort instead. She pulled back with cool grace and mentally shored up the talented interior designer she’d trained to be.
“Welcome to Willow Pond Interiors. I’m Sarita.”
“Nice to meet you, Sarita. I’m Max Carter. I believe we’ve met before. I’m a friend of Chad and Vanessa James. Weren’t you in their wedding?”
His sandy hair and trim frame looked familiar. She met his gaze. With a jolt of surprise, she remembered him. He’d caught her eye at the wedding two summers ago, and Vanessa hinted hard that he was interested. But after all Sarita had been through, she’d sworn off men.
She had her hands full raising a three-year-old and building a career. Now she had Ramone to worry about.
Besides, Max Carter, millionaire tycoon, lived a few notches above anyone who’d be interested in an ex-stripper with a toddler in tow.
*****
Ask the blog reader a quirky question or two?
Have you ever been terrified of the unknown for yourself or a family member?
I had a scary experience as a child. When I was seven, a tornado hit our town. My dad worked the 3-to-11pm shift, and he didn’t come home that night. During the violent storm, I woke up to find my mom crying and praying as tree limbs flew past the dark windows. We watched all night for Dad to come home. Of course, I dozed off, but I don’t think Mom ever did. We were terrified that my dad had been run off the road, killed or injured.
Shortly after daylight, my dad’s car pulled into the driveway. Hurray! He was safe. All the roads had been blocked by downed trees. He’d tried several routes and finally slept in the car until road crews cleared the way.
Our yard was covered in limbs and branches, but our home survived. Friends at church had their roof blown off. We didn’t have power for three weeks. For a kid, no electricity created an adventure filled with cookouts, days of picking up tree branches, and big bonfires!
So, it all turned out okay. And Sarita’s story does too. J
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DIANNE'S SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
It sounds like a really interesting book.
It is scary moving from my childhood home to one in town but so worth it
It was scary moving from the only house I ever knew, but it was also the best thing I did.
Vanessa is my daughter-in -loves name. I'd like to read that book!
I would enjoy reading your book. I can’t think of a terrifying experience growing up.Have a great Fall season.