Lucky Charm by Marie Astor
Twenty-eight-year old Annabel Green is about to tie the knot with her college love, an aspiring author Jeremy Blake, but her plans for an ideal wedding are rudely interrupted when she catches Jeremy kissing his gorgeous book agent.
Shell-shocked by Jeremy’s betrayal, Annabel retreats into the quiet routine of TV dinners and solitary evenings. It is then that Annabel’s best friend, fashion designer Lilly Clayton, sets herself on a mission to draw Annabel out of her shell. In an attempt to persuade Annabel to keep an open mind on dating, Lilly takes Annabel for a stunning makeover, but after Annabel passes on a date with a dashing entrepreneur, Lilly decides that more drastic measures are needed. Lilly invites Annabel to see a palm reader who gives Annabel a lucky charm that is supposed to help her find true love.
Will Annabel find love again, or is her broken heart beyond mending so that even magic won’t help her?
Here is a brief excerpt from Lucky Charm to wet your appetite:
The wheat-blond back of the man’s head looked unmistakably like Jeremy’s, and the bleached blond updo of his female companion belonged to none other than Jeremy’s book agent, Athena Christy – a statuesque blond whose credentials were as powerful as her looks. The two sat together at a small table – the kind that everyNew Yorkcafé with sidewalk space puts out at the slightest sign of warm weather.
Annabel told herself that there was nothing for her to be worried about – there was nothing wrong with an author having a meal with his book agent. She was about to walk over and say hello, but the sight of Athena putting her arm on Jeremy’s shoulder, stopped her dead.
Her heart pounding like a sledgehammer, Annabel j-walked across the street and slipped into the grocery shop next to the café, quickly ducking beneath the row of flowers that stood in the shop’s window. From her makeshift hiding spot, she peered at the table on the sidewalk, hoping that she had been mistaken, but the way Jeremy and Athena leaned into each other, coupled with the sight of Jeremy’s hand resting on Athena’s thigh left no room for excuses.
A waiter approached their table with a bottle of Veuve Clicquot. He uncorked the bottle and poured the golden, sparkling liquid into Athena’s and Jeremy’s glasses. The champagne fizzed, and Athena threw her head back in delight, clapping her hands.
They are celebrating, Annabel thought bitterly, perhaps Athena had finally cinched the deal on Jeremy’s book – a book that I had waited for him to write all these years.
Jeremy finished his champagne and moved his chair closer to Athena’s. He whispered something into her ear, and she smiled, turning her face toward his; then, their lips met in a kiss that seemed to last an eternity.
Watching Jeremy and Athena together, Annabel felt as though her heart was being pierced with a million of glass shards, and yet, she remained transfixed in her makeshift hideaway. She longed for Jeremy to cower in shame for his betrayal, but instead she was the one cowering behind her ridiculous hideaway.
“Can I help you?” An alarmed voice sounded behind her.
She turned around and saw the store clerk eyeing her suspiciously.
“No. I didn’t find what I was looking for.” Annabel stormed onto the sidewalk, quickly turning in the opposite direction of the café where Jeremy obliviously swooned over Athena.
Author Website: http://www.marieastor.com/
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Marie-Astor/120438048048495
Marie Astor is a die-hard romantic who wholeheartedly believes in true love, which is why she writes in the contemporary romance genre. Marie is the author of a contemporary romance novel, Lucky Charm, and a short story collection, A Chance Encounter and Other Stories. In addition to being a writer, Marie is an avid hiker, an excellent swimmer, a good skier, and a capable badminton player. Currently, Marie is working on her next novel – stay tuned for details! Marie can be reached at marieastory@gmail.com.
The next blog stop: Sept 12 – The Wormhole http://wormyhole.blogspot.com/
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