Shattered Dreams by Diana Stout @ScreenWryter13 is a Snuggle Up Readat
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  • N. N. Light
    • Nov 30, 2019
    • 4 min read

Shattered Dreams by Diana Stout @ScreenWryter13 is a Snuggle Up Readathon Pick #romance #romanceread


Title: Shattered Dreams

Author: Diana Stout

Genre: Romance

Book Blurb:

Mason Baylock returns to his hometown as a newly appointed judge. He wants to reconnect with his high school sweetheart, Shelley Willis, but she's not interested. To keep him foremost in her mind, he frequents the diner, located across from the courthouse and where Shelley works. Once a week for the past three months, he's been asking her out, and she's been turning him down, every time.

Then one evening by accident, they become locked up in the kitchen's cooler. Because there's no escaping, the real conversation begins and the heat gets turned on. She can't deny she isn't attracted to him, but she won't date someone who shattered her dreams years ago, either.

And then, she discovers there is more to the earth-shattering consequences than even she imagined, which threatens to fracture and splinter life as they know it. Will both of their dreams be shattered forever, or does enough of a spark remain that they can rekindle the love they once shared?

Excerpt:

(They're locked in the diner's freezer, the diner where Shelley works.)

Shelley heard him moving around. “Where are you?”

“Smile so I can see you.”

Shelley chuckled, unable to help herself. So like Mason to joke when there was a problem.

She heard him moving. “What are you doing?”

“Let’s pretend we’re blind, and we’ll talk with our hands.”

“We are blind. It’s dark, remember? Besides, I can’t see your hands.”

“That’s the point. We can use the braille method.”

Silence filled the room. No way was she responding to that innuendo.

Shelley frowned. He sounded closer. “Where are you?”

“Here.”

She jumped hearing his voice next to her. She hadn't even heard him move. Just like the old days.

She took a step back. Shelves dug into her back. She felt him move too. Toward her.

“Why are you running from me, Shelley?”

“I'm not.”

“If the lights were on, we'd both see that your nose is getting longer. You've been running from me ever since I came back to Laurel Ridge. And, I want to know why.”

“You're imagining things.”

“I'm not. The only reason we're having a discussion here at all is because the door shut.”

“We have discussions all the time.”

“Yeah, like what I want to eat.”

She wished he'd stopped talking. The more he talked, the more she wanted to melt into a puddle, despite the frigid air. That voice....

His voice always had been her undoing. Especially in the dark. It was as if the years had melted away and they were out in the middle of nowhere again, far removed from anyone or anything. At their secret place in the country with no lights around them except the stars. Necking in the car. She could have sworn she was seeing stars now. She shivered.

She felt his breath on her neck. “Cold?” he asked. “I bet you didn't know that the best way to create heat is to rub two people together. Remember?”

She was trying hard to forget. “You mean sticks.”

“You do it your way, I'll do it mine. Let me show you.”

Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):

November is a time to be thankful. What are you most thankful for this year?

I'm am always thankful for the beautiful fall colors, the harvest of pumpkins in my favorite of all seasons. This year, I'm especially thankful for my good health, my continued love of writing, and the support I have from great friends and certain family members.

Why is your featured book worth snuggling up to?

Because it's a sweet romance, and there's nothing better than snuggling up with a quick-read sweet romance and a favorite beverage, where you can watch the weather begin its worst as we move toward the holiday seasons.

Giveaway:

Enter to win a $50 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card

Enter to win a $50 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card

Enter to win a $25 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card

Enter to win a $15 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card

Enter to win a $10 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card

Open internationally.

Runs November 1 – 30.

Drawing will be held on December 1.

Author Biography:

Diana Stout, MFA, PhD began her writing career with humorous essays about life in general to a local newspaper. "It was cheaper than seeing a psychiatrist." From there she moved to magazines with short stories and articles that included her photographs, then publishing three books, and screenplays, optioning one, collecting awards all along the way.

Returning to college later in life, she began writing plays and poetry, collecting even more awards. She has served as a reviewer; contest judge; as a writing coach; and has made numerous national, regional, and local presentations about writing. Her students have said, "She smiles when she talks about writing."

Today she's an indie publisher through Sharpened Pencils Productions and is most proud of its first publication, Grendel's Mother. Today, she celebrates her return to her creative-writing roots where she is working on novels, novellas, and screenplays. Favorite non-writing activities include movies, reading, a little gardening, birding, family and friends, and jigsaw puzzles.

Social Media Links:

Please like & follow Diana at https://www.facebook.com/writerDianaStout

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