Marilyn Holdsworth Shares an #Excerpt from MAKING WISHES @M_Holdsworth #AmReading #WomensFic

AGGIE HAS AN ASSIGNATION...

from the novel MAKING WISHES by Marilyn Holdsworth

Her guests continued their speculations on Elloree and Tom’s marriage, and Aggie glanced across the room to where Brian Coleman was just sitting down with two other men. He looked over at her, a slow sensuous smile spreading across his handsome suntanned features, and she felt an immediate stab of excitement. Yes, this luncheon was going to be very pleasant. After the salad and seafood crepes had been served and enjoyed, Aggie and her friends lingered over coffee.

Brian Coleman exchanged more glances across the room with Aggie, and when at last he’d finished with his tiresome clients, he ushered them outside to their cars. He waved and smiled as they drove off. It had been a very profitable afternoon. He was satisfied that both had bought his pitch for a substantial raise of their insurance coverage. He glanced at his watch impatiently. She should be coming out at any moment and if he knew women, those looks only meant one thing. Damn, he wished she’d hurry. He had an early evening appointment, but there might be just enough time.

Minutes later, Aggie stepped through the door, and she looked even better to him than she had from across the room. She had been teasing him for the past month with chance encounters and seductive looks. Maybe this afternoon he’d get lucky. At last she had bidden her friends good-bye, and he walked over to her.

Aggie watched him approach, her eyes eagerly devouring his trim, athletic good looks. She greeted him, “Brian, what a surprise! Did you enjoy your lunch?” she asked coquettishly.

“Very much. Especially the view.” He smiled, allowing his eyes to travel down her sleekly clad, curvaceous body.

Aggie felt a warm tingle. The glow of the wine, the afternoon sun, and his deep,husky voice made her feel pleasantly aroused.

“I’ve been admiring you all through lunch,” he said easily. “Do you have plans for the rest of the afternoon?” He leaned closer to her, and she caught his musky, masculine scent.

​“Nothing that can’t wait,” she answered, smiling.

For more, please see Making Wishes by Marilyn Holdsworth at http://marilynholdsworth.com/making-wishes/

Elloree Prince is an attractive, creative young woman who marries a wealthy businessman, Tom Randall. After courting his bride with unrelenting determination, Tom moves her into old-moneyed Oak View, where generations of Randalls have lived for years. Outwardly, Elloree appears to settle into raising their two sons within Oak View’s stifling social structure, but inwardly, she yearns for her artistic work. An unexpected phone call from Mark Williams, her former employer, offers her the career opportunity of a lifetime, and she must make a choice. She is torn between her devotion to her sons and her love for her work. Her decision to return to Wishes, Inc. brings dramatic life changes to her and the people she loves.

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre - Women’s fiction

Rating – PG-13

“Abby Long is thrilled when she offers the winning bid for an antique desk at an auction. With its intricately inlaid woods and elegant style, the desk is perfect for Abby; it is the gift she promised herself to finally celebrate her thriving antique business. She has no idea that the antique desk holds a secret that will lead her on a fascinating, life-changing journey back in time.When Abby discovers a hidden diary stuffed inside a secret compartment in the desk, she can hardly wait to read the spidery, faded script. As she carefully turns the tattered pages, she reads the captivating story of two remarkable women from opposite backgrounds who somehow manage to form an unforgettable bond against the backdrop of a fledgling America struggling to find its place in the world. Elizabeth Kortright Monroe, the wife of James Monroe, and Jasmine, a young slave girl, develop an extraordinary relationship as they are united by pivotal historic events, political intrigues, and personal tragedies.

From a bucolic Virginia plantation to the bloodied, starving streets of post-revolutionary Paris, this powerful tale follows the lives of two courageous women from the past as they quietly influence—and inspire—a woman of today’s world.”

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre - Historical fiction

Rating – G

Widowed at thirty, Hannah Bradley is a successful journalist focusing on animal abuse issues. An accidental meeting introduces her to lawyer, Winston Caughfield III. Drawn to Hannah’s gentle beauty and fierce commitment to her work, Win joins her in a fight to save wild mustangs from slaughter. Together they rescue a badly injured horse with a mysterious background. Hannah’s search to discover the animal’s true identity leads them into a web of black marketeering and international intrigue. Action packed with crisp colorful dialogue the story propels the reader to a race against time conclusion. Marilyn Holdsworth delivers a gripping tale of mystery, adventure and romance guaranteed to hold the interest and capture the heart. She brings true-life characters together with real-life issues to create a fast-paced irresistible story.

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre – Contemporary fiction

Rating – PG

More details about the author

 Connect with Marilyn Holdsworth on Facebook & Twitter

Website  http://marilynholdsworth.com/

Blog http://marilynholdsworth.com/blog/

#Excerpt from THE BEAUTIFUL AMERICAN by Marilyn Holdsworth @M_Holdsworth #HistFic #Women

ELIZABETH VISITS MADAME LA FAYETTE IN PRISON…
THE BEAUTIFUL AMERICAN, by Marilyn Holdsworth

“Oh, no,” she wailed the moment the door opened revealing the two guards. “The guillotine,” she cried. “It is to be today. Dear God, dear God, have pity on my soul.”

“Oh my dear, my dear,” Elizabeth Monroe soothed, pushing past the two guards and rushing to Madame LaFayette’s side. She stooped down, took the trembling woman’s hands in hers, and knelt down beside her. “No, no; it is nothing like that. I am Elizabeth Monroe. My husband, James, is the United States minister to France and a longtime friend of your husband. They fought together in our revolution,” she explained. “I have come to visit you, assure you how very concerned for you my husband is. We are going to do all we can to help you.” She placed her arms around the sobbing, frightened woman’s shoulders, continuing her reassuring words in soft, flowing French.

I stood watching from the doorway as Mistress Monroe calmed and comforted Adrienne LaFayette. Disregarding the filthy surroundings, Mistress Monroe continued to crouch down before the distraught woman, holding her hands as she spoke. When at last she rose, she drew Madame LaFayette to her feet and embraced her.

“Merci beaucoup, thank you for coming,” Adrienne LaFayette whispered, wiping her eyes. “I was sure they had come to take me to the guillotine. I was so very frightened. My family is all gone. I thought for sure they had come for me too,” she said, fighting back the tears.

“Of course you did, my dear, but have courage. Be assured that James will do all he can for you,” Mistress Elizabeth promised, patting her gently on the shoulder before joining me at the door. “We must go now, Jasmine, get back to the Folie as soon as possible. We must tell James of this poor woman’s deplorable state.”

She glided gracefully back down the long dingy, hall, past the guards to the prison door, where Michael was waiting to escort us safely back to the carriage.

You can read more about The Beautiful American, by Marilyn Holdsworth at: http://marilynholdsworth.com/the-beautiful-american/

As a novelist, I draw on many real life experiences to provide background for my books. After completing studies in Literature and History at Occidental College, I became a staff writer on a travel magazine, and throughout my career I have traveled extensively all over the world. Because I love horses, I owned and trained them. I support horse rescue and wild mustang preservation. Based on my experience with horses and my research on abuse issues, I wrote Pegasus.

As a descendant of James Monroe, I did extensive research at the James Monroe Museum in Virginia about him and his wife Elizabeth Kortright Monroe. I also visited their home, Ashlawn/Highland in Albemarle County. This resulted in my novel, The Beautiful American. Making Wishes, was based partly on my experiences as creator, owner and operator of a greeting card company.

Elloree Prince is an attractive, creative young woman who marries a wealthy businessman, Tom Randall. After courting his bride with unrelenting determination, Tom moves her into old-moneyed Oak View, where generations of Randalls have lived for years. Outwardly, Elloree appears to settle into raising their two sons within Oak View's stifling social structure, but inwardly, she yearns for her artistic work. 

An unexpected phone call from Mark Williams, her former employer, offers her the career opportunity of a lifetime, and she must make a choice. She is torn between her devotion to her sons and her love for her work. Her decision to return to Wishes, Inc. brings dramatic life changes to her and the people she loves.

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre - Women's fiction

Rating – PG-13

"Abby Long is thrilled when she offers the winning bid for an antique desk at an auction. With its intricately inlaid woods and elegant style, the desk is perfect for Abby; it is the gift she promised herself to finally celebrate her thriving antique business. She has no idea that the antique desk holds a secret that will lead her on a fascinating, life-changing journey back in time.

When Abby discovers a hidden diary stuffed inside a secret compartment in the desk, she can hardly wait to read the spidery, faded script. As she carefully turns the tattered pages, she reads the captivating story of two remarkable women from opposite backgrounds who somehow manage to form an unforgettable bond against the backdrop of a fledgling America struggling to find its place in the world. Elizabeth Kortright Monroe, the wife of James Monroe, and Jasmine, a young slave girl, develop an extraordinary relationship as they are united by pivotal historic events, political intrigues, and personal tragedies.

 From a bucolic Virginia plantation to the bloodied, starving streets of post-revolutionary Paris, this powerful tale follows the lives of two courageous women from the past as they quietly influence—and inspire—a woman of today’s world."

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre - Historical fiction

Rating – G

Widowed at thirty, Hannah Bradley is a successful journalist focusing on animal abuse issues. An accidental meeting introduces her to lawyer, Winston Caughfield III. Drawn to Hannah’s gentle beauty and fierce commitment to her work, Win joins her in a fight to save wild mustangs from slaughter. Together they rescue a badly injured horse with a mysterious background. Hannah’s search to discover the animal’s true identity leads them into a web of black marketeering and international intrigue. 

Action packed with crisp colorful dialogue the story propels the reader to a race against time conclusion. Marilyn Holdsworth delivers a gripping tale of mystery, adventure and romance guaranteed to hold the interest and capture the heart. She brings true-life characters together with real-life issues to create a fast-paced irresistible story.

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre - Contemporary fiction

Rating – PG

More details about the author

 Connect with Marilyn Holdsworth on Facebook & Twitter

Website  http://marilynholdsworth.com/

Blog http://marilynholdsworth.com/blog/

The Beautiful American by Marilyn Holdsworth @m_holdsworth

Chapter 3

When Mildred and Max pulled into the driveway, Muttie bounded out the back door to greet them, and both smiled and waved to Abby as she came down the steps after the bouncing, barking dog. Max stooped down and rubbed behind Muttie’s ears before walking over to Abby’s van. He peered inside at the desk and then opened the door and climbed inside.

“I’ve made room for it in the living room, Max. Do you want a Dolley to move it? I have one in the garage.”

“Nah. Not for this.” His wide, flat fingers clamped securely around the ends of the desk, and easily, he lifted it from the van and then started for the house. Minutes later, the three of them were in Abby’s living room admiring her auction find.

“It’s just the right size,” Abby enthused, laying her hand on the smooth, inlaid wood.

“French?” Mildred asked.

“Yes. I’ll do a little research to be sure, but I’d say more neoclassical than rococo in style. The inlay and rosettes at the top of the legs suggest late 1700s or early 1800s. Also, it has straighter lines than the heavier Louis XV cabinetry. And this delicate pattern was popular in that French neoclassical period,” she said, pointing to one of the tiny basket of flowers with a ribbon trailing from it that decorated each drawer front.

Carefully she removed one of the side drawers and showed Max and Mildred the desk’s tongue-and-groove craftsmanship. She turned the drawer over and examined the bottom, her fingers tracing the wood grains. “Sometimes, these old pieces have a date or initials of the maker somewhere on them. I’ll have to examine it thoroughly for any clues to its origin. But right now, let’s see about that cup of tea I promised you both.” She slid the drawer back in place and walked toward the kitchen.

Seated in the cozy breakfast nook, the trio breathed in the aromas from a steaming pot of tea and a plate of homemade scones on the table before them.

“My favorites,” Mildred said helping herself to one of the small blueberry muffins before passing them to Max.

“Your recipe. I can’t take the credit,” Abby said, laughing. “Just another of the many good things you’ve brought to me.” She beamed at the older woman affectionately. “English breakfast tea and scones—both have become an important part of my life.”

Max settled back, easing his large frame away from the small table. “Nice, nice, I’d say, whoever’s recipe it is. You plannin’ on comin’ into the shop later this afternoon?”

“Yes. I want to adjust the pricing on a few items. I got some ideas from that auction, and I think my Haviland china pieces are marked wrong. Also, I’d like to make some changes in our window display if you two can spare the time to help me.”

Their conversation flowed easily as they discussed ideas for marketing and some of Abby’s new orders from customers. Almost an hour later, the three of them finally left for the shop.

Located across town, Abby’s Antiques and Collectibles was in the middle of the main block in newly restored Old Town Westfield. Wide, paned windows across the front and Tudor-style wood siding gave it the feel of a country English china shop. The printing on the sign over the door was in old-world script, and Abby had added window boxes filled with colorful flowers by the entrance. A bell tinkled over the doorway when it was opened, and the soft sounds of classical music always floated out to greet customers. The shop’s interior was elegant but warmly inviting, and on many days, Abby offered English tea and freshly baked scones to visitors.

This afternoon, Abby was studying the shop’s front window display with a critical eye. “I want to capture more of a European look. That lovely French tapestry we got in yesterday with its subtle shades of rose and soft greens would be a perfect backdrop for these antique books and porcelains. Don’t you think so, Mildred?”

Mildred cocked her head to one side, appraised the space, and then nodded. “Some rich, brocaded fabric draped over that small gilt-framed chair in the corner might add another tad of color,” she suggested.

The two women worked together arranging the smaller pieces in the window while Max hung the tapestry and carried the larger items for display from the back of the shop. “That ornate, bronze candelabra—put it just there next to the Waterford crystal bowl, Mildred. And let’s hang some gold tassels from the corners of that tapestry. That’s it. Perfect.” Abby smiled as she stepped back to survey their work.

“It looks good to me,” a deep, resonant voice from behind her said.

She whirled around and found herself staring up at Nathan Edwards for the second time that day. He was standing on the edge of the sidewalk, rocking back on his heels as he studied the window. “Didn’t know if I’d find anyone around,” he told her. “But I thought I’d at least locate your shop, even if I had to make another trip.” He smiled broadly at her.

“Are you always such an impulsive shopper?” Abby laughed.

“Impulsive, yes. Shopper, no. But I do need a desk, and you said you have one for sale. One shop, one desk—my kind of deal.”

“Ah yes, that’s what you came to see. I did mention the two I have here in the shop.” She opened the door and the bell tinkled as she ushered him inside, calling over her shoulder to Mildred and Max, “Just be a minute.”

Nathan commented on some of the furniture and collections displayed throughout as he followed her to the back of the shop. “You have some exceptional things. I’m not an expert, but even an amateur collector like me can see that.”

“You’re a collector? Paintings, furniture?”

“Mostly furniture. I restore old pieces in my spare time. Made a few reproductions for friends. It kinda fits with my job.”

“Which is?” Abby asked switching on the overhead lights.

“Architect.”

“Architect. Always makes me think of steel, concrete, and glass. Jetting modern skyscrapers with sleek, cold lines.”

“Not necessarily,” he smiled. “Not for me anyway. I specialize in restoring historical properties.”

“Oh, that should be interesting, especially around here. There’s a lot of history in this area.” She stopped in front of a large, polished, mahogany desk. “Here, this is one of the pieces I wanted to show you.”

He ran his hand over the smooth leather inset in the desk’s top and then opened each of the drawers. “Good. It has a file drawer and plenty of leg room.” He stood back, admiring the piece. “I’ll take it.”

“But we haven’t discussed price,” she protested.

“Like I said, I’m not much of a shopper.”

“Right. I remember. Impulsive, yes. Shopper, no.” They both laughed. “I’d have to agree with your self-analysis, but I still better tell you the price before you really decide.”

He nodded, and when she quoted a figure to him, he produced a checkbook, wrote out a draft, and handed it to her.

“Impulsive, yes. Shopper, no,” she said again, laughing as she looked at the check he had handed to her. “No bargaining?”

“No point in wasting time. I know what I want when I see it.” He flashed a boyish grin.

“Well, you certainly seem to. Do you have a way to transport it?”

“Truck’s out front. If you have somebody here to help me load, I can handle it myself on the other end.”

“Max is helping me with the new window display. He’ll be glad to lend a hand. Just pull your truck around into the alley back here.” Abby opened the shop’s wide double doors that faced onto a small, concrete platform with a ramp leading down to a narrow, gravel drive.

Nathan backed his dark blue pickup into the alley. When he hopped out, Max was already standing by the desk with pieces of cord in his hands. “I’ll run this here cord through the drawer pulls and tie ’em down tight so they won’t be bangin’ while you’re drivin’.”

“Thanks,” Nathan said, producing a couple of tarps from the cab. When the two men had the desk loaded, Nathan covered it carefully. “There. That oughta do it. Don’t want any scratches on that beautiful finish.” He turned to Abby. “Did you get your desk home?”

She nodded. “Thanks to Max. He helped me get it into the house. It fits in perfectly. I really love it.”

“Nice piece, and I think you got a good buy.”

“I know I did. I may want to do a little restoration on it. I really haven’t had a chance to look it over carefully yet.”

“Well. If you need any help, let me know. It’s my hobby, and I’d be glad to offer my assistance with that or any other pieces,” he said, glancing toward the interior of the shop. “Now I better get this desk of mine home. Thanks again. I know I’m going to like it.”

Abby watched him climb into the truck and pull out of the alley. Before turning into the main street, he slowed, looked back, and waved. She was still standing on the ramp watching as the truck disappeared around the corner.

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre - Biographies & Memoirs

Rating – PG-13

More details about the author 

Connect with Marilyn Holdsworth on Facebook & Twitter

Blog http://MarilynHoldsworth.wordpress.com/