EXCERPT TOUR: SMITTEN AT FIRST SIGHT by Marie Astor

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.Marie will be awarding to five randomly drawn commenters at the end of the tour, one of the following five custom-designed jewelry prizes:

Prize 1: Blue quartz three strand necklace with sterling silver clasp
Prize 2: Jade and prehnite necklace
Prize 3:Green aventurine sterling silver earrings
Prize 4: Smoky quartz sterling silver earrings
Prize 5: Rose quartz sterling silver earrings

Maggie Robin has been dating the irresistibly good-looking, successful Jeffrey Preston for two years. But when Jeffrey proposes marriage a week after Maggie’s college graduation, she is no longer sure if she wants to marry a workaholic TV producer.

Maggie’s doubts culminate when during a ski trip to British Columbia, she meets Taylor Denton, a handsome, free-spirited big mountain skier who is the complete opposite of Jeffrey. It does not take Maggie long to realize that she has fallen in love with Taylor and she decides to break off her engagement with Jeffrey. But just when she thinks she has found the love of her life, an ill-fated misunderstanding tears Maggie and Taylor apart.

A week later, Maggie is told that Taylor has died in a tragic ski accident; yet, her heart refuses to believe in Taylor’s death. When Maggie returns to Taylor’s native town, she learns that Taylor is indeed alive, but has been seriously injured. Resolved to bring her lover back to life Maggie stands by Taylor’s side, convincing him to embrace life again.

At the Fisherman’s Wharf the tables were lined with rough brown paper, which gave the place a casual, homey feel. The air was filled with the mouthwatering aroma of steamed crab and lobster. Endless chatter and laughter filled the room with buzzing energy; everywhere there were cheerful faces, flushed with color from being outdoors all day. Busy waiters carried trays full of beer and wine as they hurried to serve the restaurant’s numerous patrons.

Maggie and Taylor were seated in the back of the restaurant in a corner booth that was sheltered from the noise and commotion of the restaurant.

“This place has great character.” Maggie instantly fell in love with the restaurant’s friendly, relaxing atmosphere.

“Just wait till you try the food.”

“What’s good here?”

“Alaskan crab is the best dish in the house, hands down,” answered Taylor without a moment’s hesitation.

“Okay, then, that’s what I’ll have.” Maggie pushed away the menu.

As they waited for their food, Maggie spotted a stack of crayons in a tiny silver bucket that stood in the middle of the table. She grabbed a crayon and twirled it in her hand, remembering how as a kid, she used to love drawing with the exact same crayons. The floor of her room would be full of discarded sketches, with only a few selected masterpieces stacked on the table to be presented to her parents. Already, she was trying to tell stories with her pictures, and when her dad got her a camera for her seventh birthday she immediately knew that she really wanted to tell stories with photographs: something she had been longing to do ever since.

“What are you thinking about?” Taylor asked, leaning across the table.

“It’s kind of silly.” Maggie blushed.

“Tell me.”

“Well, I was thinking how I had the exact same crayons when I was a kid. Isn’t it weird how sometimes you see something that reminds you of the past, and then it just takes you back to that moment. Sometimes, I wish it were possible to go back in time and get a do-over.”

“I don’t know about that,” said Taylor at length. “If we could go back and change things on a whim, then why care about the choices we make? No, I like knowing that every moment has to be lived to its fullest. That’s what gives meaning to life: knowing what you want and going after it with all your heart because you might never get another chance to do it again.”

“Thank you,” Maggie said.

“For what?”

“For showing me how true that is and for helping me to believe in it.”

“You’re welcome.” Taylor smiled. “But I really think that you are giving me too much credit.”

Maggie shook her head. “How do you do it? Where do you get this certainty of knowing what you want and going after it?” “Well, I don’t always know right off the bat, but I usually figure it out in due time.” Taylor grinned, but then his face grew serious. “I think it has a lot to do with the mountains: when you are up there, everything counts - every choice you make has consequences and that makes everything else in life fall into perspective. At least that’s how it works for me. It’s the reason why I left New York - I did not want to be swallowed up by all that hustle and bustle. I only wish my dad would understand that.”

“Have you tried talking to him?” Maggie ventured.

Taylor nodded. “I tried, but every time we talk we end up butting heads. I guess he is too set in his ways to consider anyone else’s point of view but his own. Now, we mostly call each other on holidays.”

“When was the last time you saw him?”

“Oh, I don’t know…” Taylor rubbed his forehead. “I guess right before I moved out here permanently – four years ago...” “I don’t mean to stick my nose into things, but maybe you could try to talk to him in person?”

“Maybe. I’ll think about it.” Taylor looked away, his voice trailing off, and Maggie could tell that he wanted to close the subject for now.

About the Author:

Marie Astor is the author of contemporary romance novels: This Tangled Thing Called Love, Lucky Charm, On the Rim of Love; romantic suspense: To Catch a Bad Guy; and a short story collection: A Dress in a Window. Marie is also the author of a young adult fantasy adventure novel Over the Mountain and Back.

If you would like to learn more about Marie’s writing, please stop by her website: www.MarieAstor.com or visit her on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/marieastorcollection