Photo credit: Drachenfels castle in Koenigswinter, Germany, Depositphotos.com Image #74467597 c2016 by :jurajkovac, Meme c2016 by Linda McLaughlin. |
Today on The Maze I welcome back longtime contributor Pamela Thibodeaux with her thoughts about fall romantic travel and her novel Circles of Fate.
In Pamela's words:
Most folks find traveling exciting and romantic, but sometimes great fall romantic travel can be found right at home.
Home for me is in Southwest Louisiana, just 43 miles from the Texas state line.
I don’t know about you but few things are as romantic as sunrise or sunset on the lake, or a seafood feast.
If you don’t find anything in SW LA that’s romantic in your opinion, you can always travel East…Lafayette, Baton Rouge, New Orleans where you’ll find horse drawn carriage rides, riverboat tours, night life and fine, Cajun/French cuisine.
But, no matter what you decide, or where you go, romance is in the heart.
Set at the tail end of the Vietnam War era, Circles of Fate takes the reader from Fort Benning, Georgia to Thibodaux, Louisiana. A romantic saga, this gripping novel covers nearly twenty years in the lives of Shaunna Chatman and Todd Jameson. Constantly thrown together and torn apart by fate, the two are repeatedly forced to choose between love and duty, right and wrong, standing on faith or succumbing to the world’s viewpoint on life, love, marriage and fidelity. With intriguing twists and turns, fate brings together a cast of characters whose lives will forever be entwined. Through it all is the hand of God as He works all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.
Excerpt:
“What?” Todd Jameson’s hand trembled so hard the phone he held threatened to slip through his numb fingers. He wiped a sweaty palm down his thigh and grabbed the receiver then switched ears. The anguish in Mike Ferel’s voice made the pleasantries they shared the first few minutes of the call seem like a distant conversation.
“I’m sorry, Todd, to be the one to tell you this, especially after what you’ve been through this last year.”
He’d spent nine months at war, nine months facing and dealing with death, but not even those things prepared him for the death of his hopes and dreams in nine short minutes. “When?”
A heavy exhale preceded Mike’s answer. “Margaret died six months ago. Shaunna married three months after.”
She said she loved me. He hadn’t meant to utter the thought aloud, but somehow the words slipped past the knot in his throat.
“She cried a long time after you left, didn’t understand why you never wrote or called.”
Though his voice held no accusation, Todd heard the chastisement in Mike’s tone. “I...”
He blinked hard and cleared his throat. “What was I supposed to do, blurt out my feelings over the phone or in a letter and ask her to wait? I thought she was too young to go through that, especially with the war and all. Not knowing if, when, I’d get sent over there was hard enough on me; she didn’t need that on her heart. What if I didn’t come back? I couldn’t fathom putting her through such an ordeal. Not with all the responsibilities she shouldered from her mother’s illness.”
“I’m sorry.”
Todd raked a hand over his face. “Is she happy? Is he a good man?”
“Seems to be.”
Circles of Fate Buy Links:
Kindle | Amazon Print | CreateSpace | Nook | B&N Print | Smashwords |
Author Bio:
Award-winning author, Pamela S. Thibodeaux is the Co-Founder and a lifetime member of Bayou Writers Group in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Multi-published in romantic fiction as well as creative non-fiction, her writing has been tagged as, “Inspirational with an Edge!” ™ and reviewed as “steamier and grittier than the typical Christian novel without decreasing the message.”
You can find Pamela via:
Website | Blog | Twitter @psthib | Pinterest | Facebook | Amazon Author Page |
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Thanks for exchanging Fall Romantic Travel ideas with me Kim! Look forward to your post in Nov.
ReplyDeleteGood luck and God's blessings
PamT
Vietnam era. Interesting time period, full of conflict.
ReplyDeleteYes lots...Thanks Peggy!
DeleteI visited southern LA once and loved it. Such a different culture/environment than SoCal. Hope to visit again. Great excerpt.
ReplyDeleteVery unique Marissa, glad you enjoyed your visit.
DeleteThanks for dropping by!
Fall travel is the best! I'm particular to the panhandle in Florida! The water is still warm and the people are nil! :)
ReplyDeleteSo true Darcy, Florida stays pretty warm most of the year although I remember being there once and it was real chilly!
DeleteThanks for stopping by
I've always had school commitments, so I've never traveled in the fall. Maybe someday... anyway, I love your excerpt! Best wishes for its success.
ReplyDeleteIt's always fun to travel whenever you can Patricia!
DeleteThanks for stopping by.
Awww, lots of emotion in that excerpt. Well done! I love SW Louisiana, and as for me, lakes and sunsets and seafood sound amazing! :)
ReplyDeleteWell you need to come visit me then LOL!
DeleteThanks Alicia, for stopping by.
PamT
This sounds like a wrenching (and probably so true of that ear) story. I live on a lake, BTW and can honestly say nothing beats a big body of smooth water for sun rise and sun set. Best wishes.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right Susan...except maybe sunrise or sunset over the hill country or mountains or beach...heck they are pretty anytime!
DeleteThanks for stopping by.
PamT
I'm an east coast-er and have only traveled west several times ... not by choice, just life happens, you know? I'd love to visit that part of the country sometime. The ocean is my "water body" of choice, but lake scenery can be just gorgeous. And Circle of Fate is a compelling love story of two people of faith who struggle with what life has thrown them through the years. Really enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you enjoyed COF, Leah! If you ever get a chance to visit, let me know and we'll meet up!
DeleteThanks for stopping by.
Hi Pam,
ReplyDeleteI liked your excerpt. What emotion!
I find there are plenty of trips I've never taken in my home state. I've got to start making a list of places to visit.
Always a good idea, Barbara! Many people don't realize how rich of an experience they miss by not checking out the fun things to do in their own state.
DeleteThanks for stopping by!
ROFL, I step away from my blog for =one= day...! That'll teach me for trying to get some offline #amediting work done. :)
ReplyDeleteGlad y'all like the post; it's always a pleasure to host Pamela and her work. :)