CAUGHT BETWEEN TWO WORLDS - A J Hawke - Free Book

Bio: Born in Spur, Texas, into a multi-generational Texas family, A J Hawke has traveled throughout the American West as well as other parts of the world and enjoys reading, writing, friends, family, and being a Christian. Author of CABIN ON PINTO CREEK, An Inspirational Historical Western Fiction and CAUGHT BETWEEN TWO WORLDS, An Inspiration Contemporary Romance.

Welcome, A J. Why do you write the kind of books you do?

I write the kind of stories I like to read, which have a western setting, characters that have flaws but live life courageously anyway. I prefer inspirational western Historical romance but also Inspiration contemporary romance with a setting in the west.

I read other genre but if given a choice, I will reach for the Western Historical Romance first.

Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?

Hard to say just one but when I have been a walk-along-side guide for someone else to become what God wants them to be has to be some of the highlights of my life. To have a part in the spiritual birth of another is awe-inspiring.

How has being published changed your life?

Okay, here’s the thing about being published. Before it was just a fantasy, a dream, a want-a-be, but now it’s real. That box of books arriving at my home with the beautiful covers, lovely black type on white paper revealing my creation, and my name as the author was a time of dance around with a book as my partner. Then to have people say they liked my novel was as if they were saying, “I think your baby is beautiful.” No, really, it’s like that.

What are you reading right now?

Just completed in the last few months: The Merchant’s Daughter by Melanie Dickerson, Rose’s Pledge (01/01/12) by Dianna Crawford and Sally Laity, Out of Control by Mary Connealy, Falls Like Lightning by Shawn Grady, Highland Blessings by Jennifer Hudson Taylor, and Yeshua’s Bridge by Sandi Rog. I discovered Charles Martin’s books and read The Dead Don’t Dance, Maggie, Chasing Fireflies, When Crickets Cry. I can recommend all of them.

Next on my list to read: Love Blooms in Winter (01/01/12) Lori Copeland, Saving Hope (03/01/12) by Margaret Daley. I have stacked on my dresser two by Jan Watson that have been out for a while. Troublesome Creek and Torrent Falls. I also have several more of Charles Martin’s books I want to read.  

My next four reads will be: Lone Star Trail by Darlene Franklin, Blue skies Tomorrow by Sarah Sundin, A River To Cross by Yvonnie Harris and Pattern of Wounds by J. Mark Bertrand.

What is your current work in progress?

I am completing the editing on Mountain Journey Home due to be published Dec. 2011.

Backcover: DAVE KIMBROUGH, torn apart by the death of his wife, is unable to deal with his grief. He leaves their child, Jonathan, with his wife’s family and rides away. Seven years later, he returns to his in-laws ranch in hopes of rebuilding a relationship with his nine-year-old son. However, Rachel Harrod, his dead wife’s younger sister now nineteen-years-old, fears his return and that he will take away the child she has helped raise. Can she forgive Dave for his abandonment of his son and deal with the confusing feelings toward this man she finds so appealing? Can Dave make peace with Rachel and have a second chance with his son?

Being edited for publication in 2012:  Joe Storm

Backcover: If a cowhand can’t ride, what can he do? An injured cowhand finds a solution that brings him more than he ever expected.

Joe Storm can no longer ride a horse—and that hurts a lot more than his injury. Swallowing his pride, he takes a job as cook’s helper on a trail drive. He didn’t expect to fall in love with the daughter of the trail herd owner. However, Joe and Sara do fall in love in spite of her father’s opposition. The trail herd is sold to a rancher in Colorado, where Joe builds a new life for himself on the ranch. Here he learns that his abusive mother has died, but childhood memories still haunt him. Can Joe forgive his father for not stepping in to protect him years ago? Can Joe be there for the woman he loves when she needs him most?

Also being edited for publication in 2012: Jeremiah Rebourn

In 1876, sixteen-year-old outlaw Jeremiah Rebourn is on his way to Yuma Prison. After Indians attack the prison wagon and force it over a bluff, he awakes to find himself the captive of a mysterious old man. For two long years, he digs gold out of the tunnel as a prisoner. Even after he regains his freedom, the experience leaves him traumatized and he wanders until he finds a place at the mountain ranch of Elisha and Susana Evans (Cabin On Pinto Creek). It takes him years to recover from his ordeal. Finally, he has his own ranch; and he meets Emily and marries her. But when a terrible secret is revealed that ties his beloved Emily to the trauma of his past, it threatens to destroy all that he has managed to make of his life. Can he forgive enough to move forward? Will he and Emily be able to turn to God to rebuild their marriage?

What would be your dream vacation?

A month in the Lauterbrunnen Valley, Switzerland, with nothing to do but gaze at the mountains and write. Of course to be honest, I’d be eating some Swiss chocolate too. Come to think about it, let’s make it for the whole summer with a chalet overlooking the valley. Hey, a girl can dream!

How do you choose your settings for each book?

I love the western states, whether it is my home state of Texas or those to the west. I research an area to get a feel for the countryside, historical setting, and get photos of the area.

If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?

That is a hard question to answer. If it were a writer perhaps someone like Lori Copeland. I would have questions as to how one can write almost a hundred novels. Politically I would like to sit down with George W. Bush and Laura. They have always intrigued me as to how they have managed to keep such a good marriage with all of the stress they have lived with.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I enjoy growing roses, traveling, needle tatting, and good conversations with friends and family.

My mother-in-law taught me to shuttle tat. What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?

Finding the time to write in the midst of a busy world. Making appointments with myself and keeping them has been one of the best ways to just keep writing.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Read fifty how-to books on writing, then throw away most of the advice, and just write. Tell your story and forget about the voices in your head that says you can’t do it that way. Strive to make each chapter you write better than the last. Never be satisfied with your writing but be willing to let it be adequate.

Tell us about the featured book.

Caught Between Two Worlds

Two people from completely different worlds find a connection in the most unexpected place. Stephanie Wellbourne trudges off on a walk in the Colorado woods to relieve some stress from an executive retreat gone awry. A New Yorker, she wanders the forest trail unprepared for the dangers and ends up with a broken ankle unable to walk. Fear starts to set in and then, out of nowhere, Flint Tucker appears hiking down the trail.

Stephanie is used to being in charge, but gives in to the handsome hiker’s offer to carry her back to the retreat center and medical care. She tries to thank him with a reward and is surprised when he declines. Even in her sophisticated world of wealth and position in New York City, she has never met a man she is so immediately drawn to. What is it about this rugged mountain man that drives her to find out more about him? 

Flint has a business expertise that Stephanie is in desperate need of if she wants to maintain control of her company, The Wellbourne Group. She hires Flint’s firm making an offer that includes Flint’s coming to New York to work with her.

Flint’s daughter, Allie, whom he is raising alone since the death of his wife, may not make it to her fourth birthday if she doesn’t get a heart transplant. With his desperate need for money for his daughter’s medical care, he cannot refuse Stephanie’s offer. Acting on his faith and love for his daughter, Flint agrees to take on the challenge of working with Stephanie. 

As a close friendship develops, Stephanie senses their mutual attraction but cannot understand what holds him back. Flint knows that Stephanie is not a Christian, so he will not allow it to deepen into anything more serious. As events in both their lives unfold, amazing opportunities begin to connect Flint and Stephanie together. How can two people from such different worlds find a way toward love?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Caught Between Two Worlds

A J Hawke

Chapter One

August 2008

Colorado Rockies

     

Stephanie Wellbourne felt her ankle twist and tried to catch herself before she hit the gravel and dirt of the mountain trail, but landed hard. Pain slammed her right ankle and up her leg. She moaned as she brushed the dark hair out of her eyes. No way to tell how many bruises the impact had created. The stabbing pain intensified and gritting her teeth, Stephanie wrapped both hands around her ankle and glanced in both directions, hoping to see someone who could help. Nothing but thick forest swallowed the trail in both directions. How long had she been walking on the path by the Retreat Center before she twisted her ankle? Why hadn’t she turned back at the end of the paved walk instead of continuing through the forest?

Whipping her head around at an unexpected sound, she stared into the forest of trees that bordered the path. Was that a bird? Now she was hearing all sorts of noises.

With the help of a small pine tree next to the trail, Stephanie pulled herself upright and put weight on her right foot. Ouch! No way there’d be any walking on this ankle. Was it broken?

Queasiness rolled over her in waves and she bit her lower lip. How could she make it back to the Retreat Center? Her corporate staff had the afternoon off, and she was stuck out here. Stephanie shoved her hand into her pocket searching for her cell phone. It wasn’t there. Stupid! She should have accepted Sam Edwards’ offer to walk with her. However, she had no desire to talk to the head of her corporate law division, and she’d been so angry with him. Angry at all of them! The entire management team refusing her solutions—how dare they? After all, it was her company.

Stephanie hopped and made it about fifteen feet before stumbling to her knees. Pain surged through her lower right leg. She sat in the middle of the gravel trail, hugged her right knee close to her chest, and tried not to cry. This could not be happening. She fingered the tear in the knee of her black microfiber slacks. The red sleeveless sweater had been warm enough during the hike, but now she shivered in the stretching shadows of late afternoon. Looking around she felt the forest closing in on her. Where was her staff when she needed them?

The sun sank closer to the tree line. She struggled against the rising panic. The slight breeze brought a smell of pine and earth, and the effects of the wind had a different sound on the tops of the pine and fir trees. It didn’t resemble her estate in the Hamptons in any way.

A sound that had been at the edge of her mind for several moments became a loud thump, thump of boots hitting the gravel. She turned toward the trail leading up the mountain. A tall man strode her way. Loaded down with a large black backpack, he pounded downhill with the water bottle strapped to his belt keeping rhythm with his steps.

His sudden stop sent a spray of small gravel fanning out in front of his heavy hiking boots. “Are you all right?” He seemed bewildered to find her sitting on the trail.

His short light brown hair looked like it might be curly if allowed to grow. Why was she noticing his curly locks at a time like this? She shook off the thought. “No, I’m not. I may have twisted my ankle and I don’t have my cell phone. You wouldn’t have one, would you?”

“Sorry, my battery’s down.” His voice was deep and mellow.

Nice voice. It wouldn’t be hard to listen to, and he wasn’t bad to look at either with his dark green T-shirt taut across the width of his chest and shoulders, snug-fitting khaki hiking shorts, and sporting sunglasses in the dimming light of day, although he seemed a little distant. Would he be like most men she met who gave her too much attention, especially when they discovered who she was? She would find out.

“Can you help me back to the Cedar Ridge Retreat Center? It’s just down the trail.”

Working his arms out of the straps of his backpack, he dropped it on the side of the trail. “Let’s take a look at your ankle.”

His square-jaw framed the lower part of his strong handsome face. If only he’d take his sunglasses off so she could see the color of his eyes. She shook herself to focus on what he’d said as she lifted her ankle for his inspection. “I don’t know what looking at it will do. I can tell it’s sprained. I just need help getting back to my hotel room.”

The man held out his hand. “Would it help if I introduced myself? I’m Flint Tucker.” His large hand swallowed hers in its warmth.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

http://www.AJHawke.com

http://www.AJHawke.blogspot.com

Thanks Lena for the invite.

And thank you, A J, for the interesting interview.


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Caught Between Two Worlds


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