Congratulations to my fellow Decadent author DL Jackson on her new release!
Letter to my readers:
First there was Cinderella Wore Combat Boots, about a female Marine soon to retire. She’s not ready to take the step, but has no option. Uncle Sam is about to give her a shove into the civilian world and she’s scared to face the unknown alone.
Followed by My Boogie Woogie Bugle Guy, a story about loss and discovering, with the right person by your side, you can get through anything.
Then, in Being Prince Charming, I bring you a story about empty nesters and embracing the things that are important to us before they are gone.
Beauty and the Brigadier brings you a tale of two mature adults, who discover love doesn’t end at fifty, and neither does attraction.
Finally, I bring you a story of two women hiding from who they are. One a combat helicopter pilot who finds out “don’t ask, don’t tell” is no protection from old school beliefs. And another who feels she can’t have both her career and identity. I hope you enjoy the latest installment in my military 1Night Stand series, Waking Beauty.
Blurb:
Once upon a time, a beautiful combat helicopter pilot crashed to the earth. For weeks she lies sleeping, waiting for her princess to wake her from her slumber.
Chris Carlson, her heroine and a shy school teacher, comes to her rescue, by contacting Madame Eve to make all her dreams come true. Little does she know, the one magical kiss that wakes beauty will also start a snowball reaction, one which will change her life forever.
Sometimes, life’s greatest challenges also bring the biggest blessings, and when you walk through fire, it makes you appreciate what you fought for so much more.
Chris is about to step into an inferno.
Excerpt:
Chris pulled up in front of the hospital and reached into the center console of her Jeep to pull out the invitation.
Congratulations,
Your date has been arranged. You can meet her at 325 Parkside Drive, Colorado Springs, CO, room 202A. I understand this is rather unconventional, and most dates don’t meet until the 1Night Stand, but this preliminary meeting is necessary. When you are ready to proceed, I will forward more details.
Sincerely,
Madame Eve
No name. No picture. Nothing else to tell her what Madame Eve had planned. Did her date have the details of where they were going and what they were doing? And what did she mean by when you are ready to proceed?
This had to be some kind of mistake. The building didn’t look like any kind of residence she’d seen. Well, not in the traditional sense.
Maybe her date worked here? She read the cream-colored card again and flicked her thumb back and forth across the edge. With a sigh, she tossed it onto the passenger seat. Okay…right address. So, what are you waiting for? This is what you’ve wanted your entire life.
She opened the door and slid out. A nurse, pushing a wheelchair with a double amputee who wore dog tags, approached, stopping her cold. Attractive. Ice seemed to grip Chris, gluing her soles to the parking lot. She wanted to jump back in the Jeep and run, but, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t move, let alone breathe.
“Good morning,” the nurse said and continued on by.
“Morning.” The tension leaked from her shoulders, flowing away. Chris blinked and then twisted to watch them go. The woman in bright-pink scrubs wheeled her patient toward a mini-park off to the side, without looking back. No. The nurse didn’t look like what she’d described as her ideal woman. Too…girly. Silly to assume her date would come out to meet her with a witness. Oh hell. She hadn’t even made it to the front door, and she’d already freaked. This didn’t bode well at all.
She ran her sweaty palms down the front of her denim shorts and took a deep breath, replenishing her courage. Time to stop pretending—hiding. “I can do this.” Chris fisted her hands at her sides. A public location.She surveyed the area, taking it all in. Everywhere around her—people.Seriously? She’d wanted to take baby steps into the same-sex dating world, come out of the closet slowly. Had to. Her career depended on it, and she’d told Madame Eve she needed to be discreet.
So why here? There couldn’t be a more public place. Her stomach churning, she swallowed the lump forming in her throat. Why am I doing this?
No matter what people said, the support gays and lesbians received from the stars and media didn’t mean anything in small town America. In her world, kindergarten teachers weren’t lesbians. She’d struggled with this tug-of-war between her professional and personal life for four years, until her sister came right out and told her she knew.
Lea Bronsen 