Mother's Day Giveaway

Who likes paperbacks? Well, if you do I've got a chance for you to win a signed copy of my very first one! I'll be choosing the winner on Mother's Day, so go ahead and enter! Good luck! 

ENTER HERE

My Book Babies

With Mother's Day fast approaching, it got me thinking about different ways we are "moms". Whether it's to our children, our fur kids, nieces or nephews...there are so many different ways we can be a parent. I'm a mom to humans, dogs and books. Yes...books.  Putting your ideas, your words and yourself out there is scary, so much like sending your kid off to school for the very first time. Will they be okay? Will the other kids like them? Will they be able to cope without you? All those same questions and fears every single mom who has watched her baby drive off on the bus for the first time has are the same fears an author has after they've hit "publish". Your babies are special, you become fiercely protective if someone dares to criticize them, and you just want everyone to like them, even though you know that's not always possible. Just like with my kids, I never play favorites with my books or the characters in them. Instead, I embrace that each one is different and is special in their own unique ways. But no matter how many children you may have, there's only one who gave you the title of mom for the very first time (in my case it was two...twins!). Just like no matter how many books you may have published, there's only one that gave you the title of Author for the very first time...meet my first published:

Meet my book kid here:
Amazon US
Amazon UK

The Exception To The Rule Is Free For A Limited Time

Happy Spring, everyone! Hope everyone had a great weekend! To kick off the spring/summer season, I've decided to introduce new readers to my very first book couple, Kat and Julian. The Exception To The Rule is a romance, but so much more. It's a lesson in love, loss and forgiveness. Download your copy for free today on Amazon and get to know these characters who will always be so special to me.

https://bookgoodies.com/a/B00AQPJM0S

The Exception To The Rule .99 Cents Sale & Giveaway

 Title: The Exception to the Rule

By: Beth Rinyu

Publication Date: December 12, 2012

Re-Released: August 1, 2017

Genre: Contemporary Romance

#exceptionsaleblitz

When Katrina “Kat” Vallia, an idealistic if somewhat naive 20-something American pediatrician travels halfway across the globe to volunteer in a poor African village, she looks at it as a means of closure. Following a bitter breakup with her unfaithful boyfriend, she decides to throw herself into her work without any distractions from a man. That’s until she encounters Dr. Julian Kiron, a handsome, career driven pediatric oncologist. Even though she tries to fight it, Kat finds herself falling deeply for him; until she painfully realizes that they both want totally different things from life. Not willing to compromise for the other, they sadly say goodbye, cutting all ties. Five years later, Kat’s happy world is turned upside down when she is given devastating news. She must now confront her past and the secret she’s harbored for years. But will saving the one she loves most also rekindle the love she let slip away?

ON SALE FOR ONLY $0.99 AUG 1 - 5

AMAZON US - http://amzn.to/2w05gZw

AMAZON UK - https://goo.gl/2j2Ts5

AMAZON CA - https://goo.gl/332nca

Ever since I can remember, I have always enjoyed Creative Writing. There was always something about being able to travel to a different place or become a different person with just the stroke of a pen - or in today's world a touch of the keyboard. I am the author of The Exception To The Rule, An Unplanned Lesson, An Unplanned Life, Drowning In Love, A Cry for Hope, A Will To Change, Blind Side of Love, When The Chips Are Down and Easy Silence.

My life is not as interesting as my books or the characters in them, but then again whose life is? I'm a mom of twin teenage boys, a crazy Border Collie and a cat with an identity crisis! I guess you can say writing is my form of relaxation.

Social Media Links Facebook - https://goo.gl/v3vylL Twitter - @bethrinyuwriter Goodreads - https://goo.gl/CX6ExJ Website - http://goo.gl/fTSxTy Amazon - https://goo.gl/CX6ExJ

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Exception To The Rule "New & Improved"

My very first book got a little face lift both inside and out courtesy of LKO Designs & Judy's Proofreading. After reading Kat & Julian's story again a few months ago, it clearly showed that it was my very first book I'd ever written. Since I love this story line so much, I reworked it, tightened it up and cut out a few thousand unnecessary words without changing the story one bit. Since I felt as if the picture on the original cover depicted the book so well, I didn't want to change it. So, she updated it, gave it a much nicer font...and I'm totally in love with this cover now! If you haven't read Kat & Julian's story or even if you have already....try the new and improved version. It's the perfect summer read.

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2tyV3pb
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2sb9WcQ

Happy Halloween! Head on over to my Amazon page and find some treats I have in store for you. For today only, you'll find many of my books on sale for .99 cents. Check them out, and remember after today...the treat is over!



https://www.amazon.com/Beth-Rinyu/e/B00AS4G9Q2

A Little Christmas Gift From Me.......

Merry Christmas!! I have a little gift for you!! The Exception To The Rule is free for a very limited time! So, if Santa left you a new kindle fill it up with Kat & Julian's beautiful love story,I promise you won't be disappointed.

“Are you tired?” I asked.

“A little,” he finally admitted.

“But I thought you didn’t get tired,” I teased as I got up to grab the blanket from the other couch, turning off the overhead light. I looked out the window to see a light snow falling. I sat back down on the couch covering us both with the blanket as we watched TV with just the glow of the fireplace and Christmas tree lights. He had his arms wrapped tightly around me as I rested my head on his chest.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

“For what?” he asked.

“For being here.”

 I smiled when he pulled me closer and gently kissed my head. It didn’t take long before I heard his breathing begin to change and as I looked up I saw he was sound asleep. I put my head back down on his chest, kissing it softly. Just knowing he was here beside me, listening to his heartbeat and feeling him breathe, put my mind at such ease that it wasn’t long before I was fast asleep too.

Download for free here

The Tear Drop Scale.....Updated

This post is an oldie but goodie I did several years ago. I've updated it to include some of my newer books. If you need a good cry or laugh....check it out!



Studies show that a good cry is good for you...so do something healthy for yourself! Think of my books as an emotional workout! I used the teardrop scale to rate the intensity of the work out that you will receive! So, whatever kind of cry you are in the mood for, big or small....I got ya covered:

Easy Silence:

5 HUMONGOUS tear drops (Super intense: river of teardrops. May cause a massive headache, severe swollen eyes, and some therapy after reading)

Easy Silence

A Cry For Hope: 

 5 tear drops ( Intense: Do not apply any eye make up prior to reading this story, unless you want to be mistaken for a raccoon. Read this when you are completely alone with a box of tissues or better yet, a roll of Bounty paper towels)

A Cry For Hope

The Exception To The Rule:

4 Tear Drops (Moderate: You may ruin your eye makeup while reading, so apply at your own risk.  Box of tissues nearby but there are breaks in the sadness that will allow your eyes to clear up and look somewhat human between cries)
The Exception To The Rule

 The rest are all 3 Tear Drops (Mild: Eye makeup should survive. A few tissues from the box will be needed nearby to dab you eyes every now and then. You will easily be able to disguise your crying by saying that you have something in your eye if someone else walks in the room while you are reading)

Drowning In Love

Blind Side of Love

A Right to Remain

Thursday Afternoon

When Autumn Ends

If you'd rather laugh instead (but I can't promise that there won't be a few tears mixed in among the laughter) 

Consider these books the cool down portion of your workout:

An Unplanned Lesson/Life

An Unplanned Lesson
An Unplanned Life

Or:

A Will To Change

A Will To Change

When The Chips Are Down

When The Chips Are Down

Keepin' The Faith

Keepin' The Faith

*These workouts are all available through Kindle Unlimited.

The Dating Game....Beth Rinyu Style

I don't think anywhere in the U.S. is being spared from the bitter cold right now. Days like this have me dreaming of summer and the warm weather.

So, let's play my version of the dating game. Which one of my book boyfriends would you want to keep you warm on a cold Winter night?

Bachelor #1

JULIAN KIRON.....Meet Him Here

Handsome doctor, dark hair, crystal blue eyes, sweet and caring. If his good looks don't win you over his big heart will.

Bachelor #2

DAILAN O'MALEY.....Meet Him Here

Sexy, arrogant, womanizing lawyer. Oh and did I mention? He has an Irish accent. Once you get past his crass exterior he really does have a huge heart.  

Bachelor #3

TRAVIS MONTGOMERY.....Meet Him Here

Handsome Olympic swimmer. Killer body, protective. He may be a womanizer and fool you at first but for the right girl he's a one woman man.

So, ladies which one would you choose? Well, why choose just one? There's plenty of them to go  around for everyone!

Stay warm and hopefully one of these fine gentlemen will be helping you do just that tonight! 

MY FAVORITE BOOK MOMENTS OF 2013

I can't believe another year has come and gone. Is it me, or does if feel like the older we get the faster time goes by? I hope that everyone has a very safe and happy new year and that 2014 is your best year yet! I cannot wait to introduce everyone to all of the new characters that will be born this year and I'm hoping that you will fall in love with them the same way that you have with all of my others. So in honor of all the characters that you were introduced to in 2013 here are some my favorite moments from all of my books:

THE EXCEPTION TO THE RULE

AN UNPLANNED LESSON

DROWNING IN LOVE

AN UNPLANNED LIFE

                                      AND HERE'S A SNEAK PEEK AT 2014

A CRY FOR HOPE

Merry Christmas From Kat, Julian & Matty

Only two days until Christmas and here's a little Christmas scene from the Exception To The Rule

Matty was in his pajamas, anxiously awaiting Santa and Julian. We were watching TV and sipping hot chocolate when Julian arrived, with a bagful of presents.

“Wow!” Matty responded as he greeted him at the door seeing all of the presents.

“Santa came to Chicago already and told me to make sure that these got to you,” Julian said, smiling.

“Mommy, look!” Matty exclaimed.

“You must have been a really good boy this year.” I smiled at Matty’s enthusiasm.

“Is it raining out?” I asked Julian, noticing his hair and coat were wet.

“It’s snowing,” he replied.

 I walked over to the window and looked up at the full moon. There was a blanket of snow already on the ground as the snow continued to fall. I imagined what a picture perfect Christmas Eve this would have been, if only Matty weren’t sick.

“Snow!” Matty exclaimed as he looked out the window.

“Tomorrow can we build a snowman, please?” he asked Julian.

 Julian looked at him sadly. “You know what, that isn’t very good snow for a snowman, why don’t you open up your presents?”

He slowly began to open the presents. He normally would rip through each one in no time. This year he just seemed to be missing the whole spark that he had at Christmas, making me very sad. He had finally gotten through the last one, trying to figure out which toy to play with first.

“Hey Matty, I think that Santa dropped off a present for your mom too,” Julian said as he pointed to a smaller wrapped box under the tree.

Matty quickly got up to retrieve the box, handing it to me. I was totally shocked, not at all expecting a gift from Julian. I opened it up revealing a beautiful gold bracelet. I immediately put in on my wrist, and it was a perfect fit.

“Thank you,” I said.

“Mommy, why are you thanking him? Santa brought it, silly.”

“Oh, that’s right, thank you to Santa.” I looked at Julian as he smiled.

Matty was so excited, he whispered in my ear asking if he could give Julian his present. I told him where it was as he went off to get it.

I waited until he was out of earshot. “Thank you. It’s really beautiful, you didn’t have to...” I was cut off by Matty, who quickly returned with Julian’s gift.

“This is from me,” he said proudly. “I picked it out all by myself, but Mommy had to pay for it because I don’t have money.”

Julian and I both laughed.

He opened it up slowly. “Wow, this is cool.”

Matty smiled from ear to ear. “Mommy says its waterprood.”

“Waterproof,” I corrected him.

He continued on, not missing a beat, “so next time we go fishing you can wear it and get it wet.”

“This is the best present ever, Matty.” Julian picked him up and put him on his lap. He gave him a hug and kiss. I grabbed my camera and took a picture of the two of them. I stared at the picture on my camera screen. It didn’t even look like my Matty. The only thing that I recognized were his beautiful blue eyes. That was the one thing that these treatments couldn’t take away from him. He looked truly happy in the picture and I took comfort in that.

The Exception To The Rule

Chapter 25 - The Exception To The Rule - Julian's POV

Chapter 25 - Julian's POV

I was headed into the hospital for just a few hours. I had a great time with my sister and niece but it put me so far behind with work. I tried to sneak into my office being unseen but was stopped by Dr. Moore as soon as I stepped into the elevator. “Hey Dr. Kiron you got a minute?” she said stepping into the elevator with me.

“What’s up?” I asked.

“Would you mind looking at a report for me? I’d really like to know if you concur with my opinion on this case.”

“Yeah, no problem.” Right after I get done with the million other things that I need to do.

“I really appreciate you taking the time to do this,” she said as the elevator finally reached the fourth floor and we stepped out.

“Not a prob –” I stopped myself mid-sentence when I heard a voice that I would remember for the rest of my life calling my name. My eye’s widened when I lifted my head and was staring into the eyes of the girl that I hadn’t been able to get out of my head for the past five years, Kat Vallia. For the very first time in my life I was speechless.

“Dr. Kiron, are you okay?” Dr. Moore asked.

"I'm fine, I'll have the report for you later."

 I finally got over my shock and approached her. She was even more beautiful than I remembered. "How are you, Kat?" I gently placed my hand on her arm, and I could feel her trembling.

"I'm well, thank you." Her voice quivered as she focused intently on my eyes.

What are you doing here—are you here on business?"

"No, not really.” She had me totally confused, if she wasn’t here on business then why did she show up out of the blue after all of these years? "Julian I need to talk to you, somewhere private." 

 "Okay, I should be done here in an hour. There's a coffee shop right at the end of the street, do you want to meet me there at noon?" I asked as I looked down at my watch.

"Okay," she said very meekly.

“I’ll see you then.” I said as I gave her one last smile before I walked away.

I went into my office, closing the door behind me. I sat down at my desk, trying my best to concentrate on the reports that needed to be read over and the charts that needed to be updated, without much success. I finally put the report down after reading it about a dozen times and not comprehending a thing. Kat Vallia, the girl that crushed my heart, the reason that I had countless one nighter’s with women, trying to escape the memory of her. The girl that I was willing to rethink everything for had just showed up out of nowhere. I just didn’t get it. I took a deep breath, trying my best to get something accomplished. I finally focused on the work that I needed to complete and was so deep in thought that I didn’t realize that it was almost noon. I looked over the report one last time, signed off on it and grabbed my car keys.

I got out of my car and spotted Kat immediately. She threw her phone in her purse and stood up.  "I really appreciate you taking the time to meet me."

 "No problem, Kat; actually it was a really nice surprise seeing you. You want to go in?"  I opened the door and entered behind her.

 “Sorry for making you wait,” I said as we sat down. “I just had some catching up to do. I had just taken a few days off to spend with my sister and niece who were here visiting.” Her dark brown eyes widened and she looked like she was deep in thought. “So what have you been up to?” I asked.

 “Nothing special,” she responded very timidly.

I finally asked the question that I was dying to know after all of these years. “Did you ever get married? She shook my head no, giving me a slight smile.

“What about you?” she asked,.

 Was she kidding me? Did she not remember our whole reason for parting ways? “I barely have time to sleep, let alone maintain a relationship.” I leaned back in my chair and couldn’t stop myself from staring at her. She was still that same adorable girl that liked to eat chocolate cake for dinner.” “You look great, Kat.”

“Thanks,” she whispered.

 I could see that she was nervous as she fidgeted around with the napkin and bounced her leg up and down.

“So how’s work?”

“Fine.”

I nodded and couldn’t help but think how cute she looked twirling her hair around her finger. “How’s James doing?” I asked in an effort to break up the tension.

“He’s doing well. He and Tricia are engaged now.”

“Yes, I knew that. I haven’t talked to him in a while. I owe him a phone call.”

“So you’re Chief of Oncology now?”

I nodded.

“Well congratulations, I always knew you were destined for great things.”

 “So what did you need to talk to me about?”

"Bone marrow transplants.” Her response was quick and sharp.

 “What?” I laughed at her abruptness.

“What do you know about bone marrow transplants?” None of this was making sense. Kat was a doctor she knew enough about bone marrow transplants that didn’t warrant a trip to Chicago to ask me.  I played along and explained to her the basics of bone marrow transplants. She listened, acting like she was clueless. “This is pretty common knowledge that you learn in medical school.”

 "Yes, I know, I just wanted to get your advice, since you are one of the top doctors in your field."

 "So you came almost one thousand miles just to ask me that? I’m sure you have doctors just as versed as me and a lot closer. That must be some special patient."

All of the color drained from her face. "It is," she said, biting her bottom lip. She took a deep breath and paused for a moment. "It's my son.” My heart immediately went out to her. "It’s our son.”

I was totally taken off guard; obviously I didn’t hear her correctly. "What?" I stared at her, waiting for her to explain what I thought I had just heard. She looked at me with tear filled eyes and it was finally sinking in. The shock that I was feeling just moments ago was quickly being replaced with anger. "Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because you made it clear to me what you wanted out of life and that didn’t include a child.”

The waitress came over to take our order. "Not now!" I shouted.

I was dumbfounded. I had a son. A five year old son that I never knew existed. How the hell could she have done this to me?  

She placed a picture down in front of me. “His name is Matty, he’s five-years-old, he’s a great kid, and he has leukemia.” Her voice cracked with emotion.  I lifted the picture and examined it closely. It was all so surreal to me. But reality was slowly seeping in as I stared at that picture. It was if I was looking at myself thirty some years ago. “Almost like looking in the mirror, isn’t it?” she asked as if she was reading my mind. I couldn’t believe this was happening. I couldn’t take my eyes off the picture. A million questions raced through my mind. What had she told him about me? Did he know that I never knew about him or did he think that I just didn’t care? But I was too pissed off to ask her any of them.

"I know that I was wrong to have kept this from you, but what would you have done if I told you back then?"

“I would have taken responsibility for my son.”

“I’m sorry, but I did the wrong thing for the right reasons.”  .

“What were those reasons?

I couldn’t believe the words that were coming out of her mouth. Nothing justified keeping this from me and at the particular moment I hated her so much for it. “Can you please tell me what your reasons were for keeping my son from me for the past five years?”

“You left and we never spoke again because you didn’t want kids, do you remember that?

Now, she was seriously pissing me off.  There was no way in hell that she was going to place this on me. “Really? So you felt that gave you the right to do this?” he asked. “What, were you trying to punish me for not wanting what you wanted?”

“No, that’s not at all what I was trying to do!”

I shook my head in disbelief. I couldn’t even look at her and I wasn’t sure if it was out disgust or because it hurt so badly to know that she would have kept something so crucial from me without even giving me a choice. “I can’t believe that you just assumed I wouldn’t want to be in his life.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t want you to feel trapped into something you didn’t want.”

“I missed out on five years of my son’s life because you actually thought that’s what I wanted. Why didn’t it ever occur to you to ask me what I wanted?  Would I have ever known if he hadn’t gotten sick?”

She looked away and was silent. My stomach clenched, knowing the answer to that question already.

“Right before I found out I was pregnant I was planning on calling you to tell you that I would go to Germany. I was willing to uproot my whole life, forgo everything that I wanted just to be with you. Once I found out that I was pregnant that changed everything. There were days that I had wished that you would have called to tell me that you would be willing to rethink your plan for me, but you didn’t.”

“You told me not to.”

“Exactly. I thought I knew what you wanted and you thought you knew what I wanted,” she said very gently.

I had to get out of here. I had to just walk away from her and register all of this. I wasn’t sure what I was more upset about, the fact that I had a son that I didn’t know about or the fact that Kat, the girl that I held on a pedestal for all these years totally destroyed my image of her by doing this. “You had no right to just assume what I wanted.”

“I know that I was wrong and you can hate me if you want to.” The tears rolled down her face. “But Matty needs you now. Please, Julian, I’m begging you.”

I looked at her and all I could feel was resentment and anger. “I came here to ask you if you would be willing to be tested to see if you’re a match and to oversee his medical treatment.” She paused for a minute, grabbed a napkin and wiped her eyes. “I want you to be part of his life; to be his father. I want you to fall in love with him the same way I have.”  I couldn’t respond. I knew I wanted to be there for my son but I was so repulsed by her actions that I couldn’t even look at her.

She reached into her wallet and held out a business card. I snatched it from her hand and stared at the girl sitting across from me. She wasn’t the same girl that I knew all those years ago. There were so many things I wanted to say to her and none of which were fitting to say to a woman.  I needed to get as far away from her as possible. I quickly stood up and walked out the door, still grasping tightly to the photograph.

I sat in my car and stared at the picture of this little boy who was a part of me and a complete stranger. I ran my hand though my hair and shook my head I was so pissed at Kat and even more pissed at myself.  So many times I had contemplated calling her. I was even thinking of paying her a surprise visit when I got home from Germany. Why didn’t I try harder with her? Why did I listen to her when she told me not to call? For once in my life why didn’t I break the damn rules and listen to my heart? I was entering uncharted territory and I was terrified. Strangely it wasn’t over the fact that he had cancer. It was because I was actually someone’s father, a thought that scared me half to death.

Giveaway

I am offering a signed copy (winners choice) of any one of my books plus a cute little matching accessory (it's a surprise!). Here's all you have to do:

Leave a review for ANY of my books on amazon. Email me at bethrinyu@gmail.com or send me a Private message on FB https://www.facebook.com/BethRinyu with your email address an let me know that you have posted and for which book(s) you will automatically be entered. If you review more than one book you will be entered more than once (I will assign everyone numbers). If you have left a review previously you will be entered as well, but you have to let me know! I'm so very sorry but I can only offer this giveaway to readers in the US. I can however offer an e-book of your choice if you are not in the US. I will be choosing the winner on December 1st. 

* I can ship to other countries if the winner is willing to pay the shipping less the $5.00 shipping fees that it costs to mail within the US.

Paying It Foward

Good Morning everyone and Happy August, I can't believe how fast that time is going by! Drowning in Love will have been out for a month already this Sunday....wow! Well, the month of August is going to be very exciting.....I will be doing my cover reveal for An Unplanned Life (the sequel to An Unplanned Lesson) on August 7th and there will be a great giveaway that goes along with that. 

Also for the month of August I've decided to donate all proceeds from my very first novel (which is very near and dear to my heart) The Exception to the Rule to St. Jude Research Hospital for Children. I had this story in my head forever and when I finally sat down and typed it out, I let my friends and family read it, of course they told me that they loved it. So, I took a chance and published it for the rest of the world to see. I was so afraid that they might not be as nice as my friends and family. Well, I never expected to receive all the kind words and reviews that I have over the past few months from people who have read it. I didn't set out to  make a million dollars when I wrote it. I wrote it from my heart and felt like it was a beautiful story that needed to be shared and enjoyed by others. Based on the feedback that I've been receiving I feel as if I have achieved my goal. So now I would like to use the book to help a great hospital that does so much. I am fortunate enough to say I have two very healthy children. Others are not, so I feel that whatever I can give however large or small will help make even a tiny teeny difference in someone else's world who needs it. So please spread the word so we can make this a great donation for a great cause! 

Have a great day everyone :)

The Exception To The Rule On Amazon

The Exception To The Rule on Barnes & Noble

Trying To Kick My Teaser Addiction

I can't believe it's less than a month away until the release of Drowning in Love. It's hard to believe that I will bringing another book couple to life on the pages of a book or in today's age the screen of an e-reader. Every time I get done writing a book, I feel like I won't be able to ever get into another book couple. When I wrote my first novel  The Exception To The Rule, I thought that would be my one and only. There was no way that I would ever be able to love another book couple as much as I loved Kat & Julian. But the writing urge hit me once again and I sat behind my laptop and began to type out Dailan & Nicole's story. I have to admit, it took me a while to get into them but once I did, I found that I love them just as much as Kat & Julian.  So, about four months ago, I decided to get to know a new book couple, Travis & Mia and guess what.....I love them just as much as the others!  I'm finding that my characters are much like my children, they are all unique in their own way  and I love them all just the same. I could never say that I have a favorite, because I love them all equally. I hope that you guys will love Travis & Mia the same way that you have grown to love my other characters.

I'm so excited for you guys to meet Travis & Mia. Their story is a beautiful one, that I'm thinking you may shed a few tears over. I have a confession to make, I have a bit of teaser addiction that I'm trying to kick. But have no fear, I have one more teaser that I will be posting very soon (possibly a bonus teaser as well....a girl like me can't quit cold turkey!) but I may have you guys work a little for that one. I've been posting so many teasers for this one, I'm going to end up in teaser jail! You can  add to your TBR list here.   You can also read the prologue here :

In case you have missed the many teasers that have posted over the past few months here they are once again (in order of the story line) Don't judge....it's a sickness...lol. :)

* The following is copyrighted material and subject to change (unedited)


Teaser  #1

We stood in the hallway and waited for the elevator. “I have to give you credit, that was pretty slick,” I said.

“What?”

“Asking me for coffee in front of your grandmother, so I couldn’t say no.”

“You could have said no. No one was holding a gun to your head.”

We got into the elevator and continued with the conversation. “Look Travis, I think it’s better if you and I just don’t have any type of relationship. It’s obvious that we can’t be just friends.”

“No Mia, you’re wrong. We can be friends. Look, I’m sorry for what happened last night, this whole friendship thing with women is new to me. But I really do like you and I have a lot of fun when I’m with you. And I’m not going to lie; I think you’re absolutely beautiful.”
We stepped off the elevator and out of the apartment building into the warm muggy air.
“Travis, why would you want to be friends with me?”

“Why wouldn’t I?

“Because I’m just ordinary. I’m not those supermodels that you’re used to being around.

“No Mia, you’re not. You are so much more. Not only are you beautiful, but you also have a great personality, you’re smart and you’re funny. So sometimes ordinary is better.”



Teaser #2

We took a break and sat on a bench looking out onto the ocean. The warm breeze, the salt air and the familar sound of the seagulls flying overhead soothed my senses. There was no place else on earth that I would have rather have been at that particular moment. “How could you not like the ocean?” Travis asked as he stared off.

“It’s not that I don’t like it, I just don’t like swimming in it.”

“That’s because you haven’t been to the right ocean.”

I giggled. “An ocean is an ocean.”

“Have you ever been to an island?”

I shook my head.

“Well, if you had, then you would probably change your mind. Saint Lucia has some of the most beautiful beaches around.”

“I have no doubt that it’s beautiful Travis, but it still doesn’t change the fact that there a million little creatures swimming around with you out there. Not to mention, waves!”

He shook his head. “Not in Saint Lucia, the water is so calm it’s like being in a pool.”

“A pool with sharks, piranhas, barracuda’s and God knows what else.”

He laughed. “I’m going to make a swimmer out you yet, Mia”

“Try as you might, but it will never happen,” I smiled.

His smile back took my breath away, making me think, that maybe I could trust him enough to help me overcome my fears in more ways than one.