Capture Cate by @gcmeadows1 Ghost #Bookhugs

Capture CateBlurb: Capture Cate

Cate Collins suffers the tragic loss of her parents at the tender age of eleven. She is forced to move to Connecticut with her billionaire grandparents, who she has never even met. Her grandfather, Edward Hollingsworth, disowned her mother. He was furious when Julia married her father without breaking off her engagement to his best friend’s son. On Cate’s first day at the mansion, she finds out her grandfather does not want her in his home.  She is determined to become a spy and works hard to achieve her goal, so she can die heroically and once again be reunited with her parents.

Excerpt

Cate took each step down the long hallway in trepidation before approaching her mother’s side. “You wanted to see me.”

“Your grandma’s going to look after you. I love you, sweetheart.”

As the words were released, she witnessed her mother let go. “I don’t know her. I want you. Mom . . .”

The monitor that previously showed a faint heartbeat had gone flat. Medical staff began rushing into the room and ordered her out. They tried to restart her mother’s heart, but the attempts were in vain. She ran to the comforting arms of June in the waiting area. The doctor soon followed to report there was nothing he could do.

Cate demanded from her grandmother. “Where’s my dad? I want to see him.”

“Oh, sweetie. Your father died in the accident.”

Cate’s grief was more than her tender heart could bear. “No!” She screamed and fell to her knees in despair. Her world had been so perfect the previous evening. If only her parents had allowed her to go along, she would not be faced with a life without them.

 

Circumstances only became worse. Cate stood in front of her mother and father’s caskets, wearing an ugly black dress, while complete strangers uttered condolences about how sorry they were for her loss. She wanted to run away screaming, but stayed rooted in place to repeat the words “thank you” over and over. Her parents’ comforting presence hovered near and insisted she remain strong. She could almost visualize them next to her.

After the funeral, Cate’s grandmother informed her that she would be moving to Prominence to live. The woman was met with a stubborn refusal. “I don’t even know you. I want to stay with June and Robert. They’re my family.”

“Cate, dear, I gave your mother my word that I’d take care of you.”

“I don’t understand why my mom would ask you for anything. I used to sit at the top of the stairs and listen to my parents talk about you and my grandfather. He sounds like a hateful old man. You can’t make me live in the same house as him.” If her grandmother believed she would give in without a fight, she had sorely misjudged her. She did not intend on leaving Pleasant Valley.

“I’m afraid you don’t have a choice. I’m your legal guardian now.”

“Why do you want me?”

“I love you.”

“If you love me so much, why didn’t you ever visit me or send me presents on my birthday and Christmas?”

Her grandmother placed her hand on her head and did not speak for several minutes. “I’m going to bed, dear. It’s been a long day for both of us. We can talk again in the morning.” She started up the stairs.

Cate yelled, “I won’t be changing my mind! My dad was the best man in the whole world, and I want to marry someone just like him! Grandfather will hate me too!”

Readers may purchase Capture Cate at: Amazon US

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Message from G.C. Meadows

Money did not buy my character, Cate Collins, happiness or free her from her problems. Realize material possessions do not matter in the long run and should never take priority over personal relationships. People need to be more important in your life. Treat them with kindness and love.

Author GC MeadowsAuthor Bio for G.C. Meadows

My love for writing started with poetry and short stories in elementary school. The past seven years have been spent harnessing my vivid imagination into three series of contemporary and historical romance novels. My books are meant to entertain and promote love, the greatest emotion known to human kind. Even through trials and tragedies, including a murder or more, the heroines in my tales always have a happy ending (or happy for now until the sequel) with a man they profoundly love.

For more information about G.C. Meadows and her books, please click on the following links:

Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Blog | Website

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Note from Linda/Lyndi: This is the last of the Ghost #Bookhugs posts. I hope you’ve enjoyed the exchange.

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Summer’s Growth by Tina Gayle Ghost #Bookhugs

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Please welcome Tina Gayle, author of Summer’s Growth and founder of our Ghost #Bookhugs exchange.

Tina’s inspiration – Write like only you will read it; if you cry, laugh or enjoy it, it’ll be your secret passion until you introduce it to the world. (Just love what you do no matter what it is.)

Summers Growth

Blurb for Summer’s Growth:

In the spirit-haunted Winston estate in Ohio, rooted in time and occupied by the lingering ghosts of a great family, the torch is about to pass…

Mattie Winston, sober, sensible, and steady, has served as Keeper to the family for decades. Amber Harrison, hovering on the edge of flunking out of college, unsure what she wants out of life, has barely even heard of the Winston estate. The family, however, has decided that it’s time for the changing of the guard. These two exceptional women soon find themselves dealing with violence, murder attempts, and old family mysteries while each finding the love of her life. Two romances and a growing friendship, all twined around a brooding family tragedy, make for an outstanding paranormal mystery offering depth and charm beyond the commonplace. The growing love of Amber and Carter and of Mattie and Quincy offer readers a tender and engaging first novel in a winning new paranormal series.

Excerpt:

Stifling humidity greeted her when she opened the door to the main section of the basement. She eyed the man seated behind a long oak table. The air conditioner hummed. The soothing whine didn’t calm her fears or cool the subterranean room.

Dressed in an eighteenth century colonial suit and stuck at the perpetual age of thirty, Jonathan resembled George Washington ready to command his troops. His eagle-eye glare nailed her.

A drop of sweat trickled down her back. Apprehension raised goose bumps. She shivered.

“I press earnestly for you to take a seat, Mattie, so we can start.” In a regal colonial voice, Jonathan’s words thundered off the walls.

Mattie walked to the end of the table and sat across from him. Dread threatened like a storm on the horizon. She surveyed both sides of the table. None of the other council members were in attendance.

Mattie wiped her sweaty palms along the length of her thighs. What did he want? Jonathan didn’t usually hold a one-on-one meeting in this setting. Normally, they met in her office upstairs.

The muscles in her stomach jerked.

“In a concise statement of the facts as I see them,” Jonathan spoke without preamble. “We have found your replacement, and we need to address the issue of your future.”

Her fears were relieved as to the topic of today’s meeting. She decided to address a number of other issues that should be discussed before her future. “Shouldn’t we wait until Amber Harrison accepts the job?”

“No.”

Startled, Mattie blinked. “Why?”

“Because no matter the outcome, you will still be replaced,” Jonathan declared.

“Yes, but what if Amber doesn’t work out?” For days, she’d speculated on how to approach this subject. “My nephew, Josh Clarkston is a lawyer. He’d make an excellent keeper.”

“No,” Jonathan’s rough voice commanded. “The wisest council will not be misled into offering such an important post to such an unworthy candidate. His character lacks the necessary virtues to accomplish the tasks we require of our keeper.

“As for your sister, Cynthia Clarkston, she never speaks of us without evidence of malice. We find no cause to reward her for her gum and insolence.” The rigid set of Jonathan’s jaw indicated he refused to budge on the matter. “Like a Redcoat, she only wants what she can get from us. Her son has grown into a bad egg.”

“But…” Her stomach grumbled, mirroring her distress.

“Mattie.” His tone lower, he shook his head. “Many hours have been spent debating the matter. You’ve been a loyal subject since the age of fifteen, and you’ve paid your dues to your family. We hornswoggled you out of your youth. It’s time for you to relinquish control.” An indulging note bled through his words. “No one will ever be good enough to replace you.”

Read the 1st Chapter of Summer’s Growth at www.tinagayle.net/sgchapter.html.

Buy Links – Amazon Smashwords B&N Apple Itunes Kobo 

Tina GayleBio:

Tina Gayle grew up a dreamer and loved to escape into the world of books. After a number of different jobs, she decided to try her hand at writing. Her romantic novels touch the heart and explore the heartaches of falling in love and being a woman.

Married thirty years, she and her husband love to travel and play golf. If you’d like to read the 1st chapter of her books visit her website.

Find Tina Gayle everywhere

Home – www.tinagayle.net
Blog – www.tinagayle.blogspot.com
Twitter – https://twitter.com/#!/AuthorTinaGayle
Goodread – http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1641826.Tina_Gayle
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/tina.gayle
Google + – https://plus.google.com
Linkedin – http://www.linkedin.com/pub/tina-gayle/11/689/759

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