Breaking up is hard to do . . . more so if the other party is self-isolating on a nearly deserted Northern Michigan island after misunderstandings and manipulation have them both doubting their high-rise future together in Chicago that had seemed so perfect. Time for the couple in question to have that face-to-face . . . even if the surroundings are far from hospitable.
Lifetime Investment
$0.99 at Time of Posting
Published: 30, 2014
Contemporary Romance
Length: 178 Pages
Handsome hotel heir Wyatt Marston knew all too well what people would do to succeed. His status-hungry father and stepmother were prime examples. He married Bethany believing his sweet, honest bride loved him for who he was, not what he had. When evidence paints her as a gold digger, he retreats, heartbroken, to his childhood home to prepare for a future without the woman he still desires. Where he soon finds that to make his hopes a reality, he must rely on his wife to keep what's left of his dreams alive.
When working class Bethany married into the money that came with Wyatt Marston she was willing to do whatever it took to fit into his upscale world. But instead of being proud of her rise through the ranks of his family's corporation, Wyatt pulled away, becoming a distant, then absent husband, more interested in her stock shares than their relationship. Determined to fight for the man she believes in, Bethany follows her heart to the middle of nowhere where a leaky tent, a surly dog and dangerous situation prove how far she'd go to keep him.
Wyatt strode down the path in long angry steps. It took all his willpower, but he didn’t slow, and he didn’t look behind him. He knew what he’d see: A businesswoman in a rain-splotched suit and torn stockings, hobbling in her ridiculous footgear.
What possessed her to come to such a place dressed as if he was her four o’clock appointment? Had she expected all the civility of State Street or Michigan Avenue? Did she even know other worlds existed? That there were places untouched by concrete and inaccessible by cab? Probably not. Or she probably wouldn’t have come.
Why had she?
. . . and a bit more . . .
She could have sent the papers, but she’d insisted upon bringing them herself. So they could talk. As if that would change things. As if they’d ever been able to talk. But she’d said she’d bring them, and he’d been so hungry to see her, he’d foolishly agreed. He’d thought he’d be ready, that he could handle things unemotionally. More the fool. He’d come over to the island to get his thoughts straight, to plan out exactly what he had to say, how he was going to approach her. It hadn’t helped that the sudden bad weather delayed his trip back to the lodge so that he wasn’t there to meet her. He’d carefully choreographed their meeting in his mind, but then she’d gone and thrown everything off with her typical impatience, by rushing in, by crowding him into a back-against-the-wall position. All the calm, rational things he’d rehearsed immediately fled from his mind when he saw her standing on the trail, so lost, so engagingly distressed. Everything inside him had dissolved in an instant. Had there ever been another human being who could reduce him to such vulnerability with just a single look? No, he knew there wasn’t. And it made him angry all over again. Because during the few minutes with her, he wanted her so badly he was willing to forgive and forget everything.
Part of the fun of writing fiction is weaving what you know and where you’ve been into the fabric of your story. I vacationed in Northern Michigan every summer growing up (but unfortunately never got over the Bridge until I was an adult). It was like a flashback to those days while weaving the setting in almost as if a character of its own. Though I’d been to the rugged UP (Upper Peninsula) before, I’d never made it as far as Isle Royale which is the stepping stone for the wilderness getaway our hero flees to. If setting can become its own character, this would be the place . . . an inescapable marriage counselor in the case of our two misguided characters as they’re forced by dramatic circumstance to face their situation . . . and the cause of their problems.
LIFETIME INVESTMENT is on S*A*L*E for only $0.99 until February 28 (a kind of belated Valentine’s Day gift from me and BelleBooks!). Grab up a copy for a breathtaking getaway with all the feels and none of the mosquitoes!
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I love stories of misunderstanding. If only they would talk to each other . . . I'm looking forward to reading this story.
ReplyDeleteSo many things could be solved over a good cup of coffee . . . but then all you'd have was Chapt 1!
DeleteFunny - as adults we all know we need to communicate - but do we - nope - which makes great stories. Tweeted.
ReplyDeleteKnowing and DOing are two very different things esp when emotions and regrets get in the way.
DeleteThere's nothing like an island's isolation and a need for survival to bond two people who want to be bound anyway. Makes them see things more clearly. This sounds like a great adventure romance, Nancy! Tweeted.
ReplyDeleteI thought I'd get ubber claustrophobic with the plot confined to such a small space but it was really fun to write and explore the layers of their relationship.
DeleteThe book sounds good and the excerpt was enticing and intense! Off I go to one click!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy!!
DeleteCompletely get it. You have the confrontation written in your head, but when faced with it everything rushes out of your mind because of the moment.
ReplyDeleteI always start out with detailed plans . . . but then reality gets in the way.
DeleteWhat a tangle they have. She wants to fit into his world, and doesn't want him to be ashamed or embarrassed about his wife, and he has misinterpreted all of it. I'm glad circumstances are going to force them to actually communicate. Sometimes we wait too long to say what we really feel and then a crisis forces our hand. Human beings are really dramatic, aren't we?
ReplyDeleteBut don't we LOVE that drama (our own, no so much!).
DeleteThere's love there... love in agony and heartache, but love. I have hopes for an HEA
ReplyDeleteIf they didn't care they wouldn't feel such strong emotions.
Deleteoh i like this one too, lots of emotions, conflict adn relationship dramas. Looking forward to reading more :-)
ReplyDeleteAll my favorite things!! Thanks, Iris!
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