Excerpt Tour: I Have a Story

I’m happy to welcome author Colleen L. Donnelly. Today, Colleen shares her new release I Have a Story.

Blurb

Jim Turner writes crime but doesn’t live it. He respects his grandfather’s tales of heroes but doesn’t believe them. When his failing grandfather sends him to a remote peninsula to write the end of his own heroic love story, Jim includes a war criminal interview to maintain his edge.

Chastity is an anomaly, a misfit in pre-WWII culture as well as in Jim’s life. Her spritely charm and endearing features turn Jim’s world upside down, especially when she reveals his grandfather’s peninsula as the site of her upcoming wedding.

Do good journalists flee when their interviewee is murdered? Do heroes write fiancés out of another’s story and themselves in? “The End” become the hardest words for Jim to write.

Excerpt

Author’s Note: Boy meets Girl. A commitment that lasts forever.

“I want you there with me.” She gazed down.

“I would love to stand up there with you,” I said with far too much honesty in my voice. “If I can’t be the groom, I can at least be a brides-man instead of a bridesmaid.”

Warmth shone in her eyes when she looked up. “You will always be my brides-man, Jim. Always and forever.” She squeezed my hands.

We both stared at our clasped hands, her naked ring finger amidst her other heavily ringed ones almost shouting, “I am waiting for Dwayne, for his promise—I am keeping myself for him only.”

I touched the empty place where a diamond should be. If Chastity was my girl, she would be sporting a rock so big guys like me would stay away from her.

“No wedding or engagement rings,” Chastity said. “I assume that is what you are wondering. Dwane suggested we get tattoos. I will have a D on my ring finger, and he is having a C tattooed onto his.”

“You’re what?” I practically bellowed, fascinated and horrified at the same time. “You can’t do that. I mean, are you sure?” What would her parents think?

Her cheeks tinged pink as she stared at her stark finger.

Surely, I could come up with a word less discourteous than “outrageous.” Some writer I was. “It’s just that a tattoo is pretty bold.” Unless you were a sailor. “If something happens to Dwayne, you will have to wear gloves the rest of your life.” My dark and slimy side didn’t have to suggest that I buy her a pair as a wedding gift. White gloves with a tiny pearl button at the wrist. It was purely my idea, and even if I carried the wrapped gloves with me the rest of my life, I would buy them.

Buy Links

Amazon | Goodreads | BookBub

Author Bio and Links

Colleen L Donnelly put her science education to use for years and then put it behind her to pursue other passions. Her first love is writing and her second is hunting—hunting for that next good story, hunting for relics and antiques, hunting for the next good author to read. An avid believer in work hard/play hard, Colleen splits her time between indoors and out, always busy at something.

Giveaway

Colleen L Donnelly will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Find out more here.

Follow Colleen on the rest of her Goddess Fish tour here.