Live to Love on the Edge Blog

One of the harder things to write about in my romance novel The Family She Never Met is how the past shapes so much of your life. Memories are powerful things and they can affect you in so many ways, especially the painful memories. That’s especially true for Jessica’s mother and grandmother in this story. But even though there are too many bad memories, there are also happy moments like when Lara, Jessica’s mother, recalls the cute little Easter hats with their multi-colored eggs. This teaser is from a discussion that Jessica and Luis, the man Jessica is coming to love, share about the past and how it influences your life.

Excerpt

She looked away, back toward the house, and he heard a sniffle. “Too much pain,” she said, her voice pinched tight with emotion. Her gaze shimmered with tears as she looked back at him. “For my mother too, Luis. How I wish…” She sucked in a breath and blurted out, “I wish I could make it stop. Make it better. For both of them.”

There was no doubting Jessica’s sincerity. No doubting the guilt and pain that had now settled on her shoulders, torn as she was between the grandmother she’d only recently come to know and the mother she loved and had been with her all her life.

“You’ve started the healing, mi amor. Coming here, as tough as it was… It was the right thing to do for both of them,” he said.

She offered up a smile, but it didn’t quite reach up into her eyes, still wet with unshed tears. “Thank you, but it doesn’t feel so right at the moment. But maybe in time.”

“Maybe,” he said and hated repeating the word that had almost become a mantra lately. He wasn’t a man used to maybes. He was a man used to making things happen, much like he had in convincing Jessica to come to Miami, making him as responsible for the current situation as Jessica.

“Give Carmen a little bit of time, but don’t be afraid to ask the hard questions. To understand what really happened back then.”

“Because knowing the past is what you need to understand the present and build the future,” Jessica said, and he couldn’t disagree.

“It is. The past shaped us. Made us who we are, for good or bad,” Luis said, hating that his past and present seemed to be shaping a bleak future for himself. One filled with mostly work and not much else.

Jessica seemed to sense his upset. She laid her hand over his and urged him to twine his fingers with hers. “I don’t see any bad there, Luis.”

He chuckled, a harsh sound that seemed to surprise her. “I’m not a lying lawyer anymore?”

She tightened her lips. “I’m sorry I said that. I was angry because there was so much going on with my parents. With my grandmother.”

She recoiled a little, seemingly surprised with the last bit of her statement.

“She is your grandmother,” Luis challenged and squeezed her hand. “I’m glad you’re willing to admit that.”

Jessica firmed her lips even more but nodded. “She is, and she’s a fascinating woman. A strong woman who had to overcome so much. I know that now and yet…”

There was no doubting her sincerity or her upset. He finished for her. “And yet your mother left her and never looked back.”

Today’s Teaser Tuesday is a sexy excerpt from The Family She Never Met which is a blend of romance and a family saga.

I’m so grateful for all the kind words you’ve had for this book of my heart. Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca for believing in this story.

In this teaser, Jessica and Luis have been spending a lot of time together and after a boat ride to Luis’s stunning Indian Creek home, they are relaxing in his pool when the attraction that has been growing between them finally flares into more.

Excerpt

The sun beat down, warming her against the chill of the breeze as they moved along the calmer waters of the bay until Luis pulled eastward once again and toward a southward facing point on an island off Miami Beach. He powered down substantially and navigated beside a dock where he cut the engines and hopped onto it to secure the boat.

She unbuckled and got to her feet, slightly shaky from the thrill of the ride and the roll and rock of the deck, thanks to the wake from a passing boat. Luis leaned down, offered a helping hand, and boosted her up onto the dock.

“No sea legs,” she said, still feeling the movement beneath her feet, but then she caught sight of the home in front of her.

A wide stone walkway surrounded by lush, manicured lawns led up to a patio with a pool and an outdoor sitting area off to the side. Beyond that, a large, two-story, contemporary home boasted windows along every wall and balconies to enjoy the million-dollar views of Biscayne Bay and the carefully tended gardens all around.

“Wow, this is beautiful,” she said, appreciating the thoughtful lines and layout of the structure and landscaping.

“Gracias. I’m quite happy with it,” he said, but she sensed some hesitation there and wondered at the reason for it.

“We can take a dip to wash off the salt before lunch,” he said and grabbed the picnic basket from the powerboat.

He took hold of her hand and drew her toward a covered patio, and at her questioning look, he tapped the end of her nose. “You’re getting burned.”

She covered her face with her hands and heat greeted her despite the suntan lotion she’d put on earlier. “I do feel baked,” she admitted.

“Dip. Dry off. Lunch before we head back,” he said and laid the picnic basket on a table on the covered patio.

“So demanding,” she teased but was eager to get the salt off her skin. She quickly pulled off her T-shirt and board shorts and rushed to the edge of the pool. She dipped in a toe, testing the waters, which turned out to be a waste as he cannonballed into the pool and sent a shock of chill water up to drench her.

“Thanks,” she said with a roll of her eyes, brushing back wet strands of hair from her face.

He grinned devilishly and slicked back his hair, the movement displaying his toned arms and chest.

To avoid the too-irresistible sight of him, she dove into the water.

Cool slipped all across her body before she rose up to the surface. Luis was just a few feet away, drops of water glistening on his tanned skin. He was still grinning happily, drawing her like a moth to a flame.

She laid a hand on his shoulder, using his greater height and strength to keep her afloat.

He placed a hand at her waist to steady her, but in those seconds, the moment changed. Became charged with the tension that had sprung up between them and she couldn’t resist.

When he applied gentle pressure to draw her close, she went, bringing her body full against him. Skin against skin as he shifted them until he was sitting on the bottom steps of the pool and she was lying along him.

“Luis,” she began, but stopped abruptly, not sure of what to say. Only sure of what she wanted to do.

She shifted upward to kiss the hollow just beneath his ear and the edge of his jaw. She followed the straight line of it to the dimple by his lips, deep now thanks to the smile on his face. Moved to that smile, so happy and relaxed. Welcoming, she thought as she covered his smile with hers.

“This is crazy,” she said, but didn’t stop kissing him.

“Sí, es loco,” he said, but didn’t pull away. Didn’t stop touching her, running his hands to her sides. Shifting one to the small of her back while he moved the other up to caress her.

“Dios, mi amor. This is so hard,” he said, his voice rough. His body tense beneath her. “I’m not sure I can hold back.”

“Do you want me?” she asked, although she had no doubt about it.

“I do, but not just for now, mi amor. I want so much more.”

Order

Amazon Kindle: https://amzn.to/3tPQ7Xx
Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/3bonSZN
Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-family-she-never-met/id1568775092
BN Nook: http://bit.ly/BarnesandNobleFamily
BN Paperback: http://bit.ly/BarnesandNovelPaperback
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-family-she-never-met
Additional Retailers: https://books2read.com/FamilySheNeverMet