Where Dreams Are Born

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Announcing my new book Where Dreams Are Born. For those who like a love story along with their drama and suspense, this story might be for you.

It was supposed to be a win-win situation—a safe environment in which to raise a son for single mom Vicky, housekeeping and childcare for widowed Jack. Believing they’ve had their shot at happiness, neither is looking to complicate their lives with a romantic entanglement. At first Jack sees Vicky as skinny and plain, guarded with him, but openly warm with his children, an important quality for a man who grew up in the foster care system. However, his growing attraction to the woman who scrubs his toilets and washes his underwear complicates their working relationship. Vicky, too, is reluctant to get involved, having been down that road before with disastrous results.

When Jack learns his best friend fathered Vicky’s son and now wants partial custody, he feels threatened. He’s come to care deeply for both, and doesn’t want to lose the family they’ve become. In desperation he offers a radical solution—marriage. Vicky knows she can do worse than marry Jack, but wonders how successful their marriage would be when its only reason for being was to keep from losing her son. Add to this a troubled child with a secret about her dead mother and a vindictive ex bent on revenge and problems abound.

Thank you for reading. I've put in a link to the book, but I'm having trouble inserting the picture.

Joyce

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Snippet from Where Dreams are Born.

Vicky took little notice as her employer went upstairs to change, still stunned by the trust he placed in her. Especially since their informal interview that morning yielded only trivial information on both sides. He didn’t poke into her life to any great extent, and she, returning the favor, accorded him the same courtesy.

An angry howl from the family room alerted Vicky to trouble brewing. Screaming at the top of her lungs, Suzy struggled to disengage her baby sister’s fingers from her hair. When Jodie refused to let go, Suzy bopped her one. Now two children howled. Linda, oblivious to the battle raging beside her, continued playing with her Barbie doll. Vicky separated the children, dried four teary eyes, and then returned to the kitchen just as the oven timer buzzed.

A movement from outside caught her eye, and she glanced up to see Jack hoist himself from the pool, adjust the fabric of his suit around his tight buttocks, and then stride out of sight.

Remembering her pie, Vicky removed it to a rack to cool. And though she didn’t want to, she found herself searching out her employer again. When he came into view, she couldn’t take her eyes off him, captivated by the sunlight glinting off the slick muscles of his well-toned body. Perched on the edge of the pool, he looked like an Olympic hopeful preparing to win a gold medal. He pushed off, and the force of his dive propelled him halfway across the pool. His movements, smooth and graceful, indicated he was athletic as well as intelligent. It was a combination that had been her undoing once before.

But Jack Hazlett, despite his expensive sheep’s clothing or present lack of same, was her employer. And though she intended to be the best, damn housekeeper and nanny the man ever had, if he expected more than child tending . . . well, he’d have to get his rocks off with someone else. She was through with his kind.

Finished with his swim, Jack came inside. “Damn, it’s cold in here,” he said, shivering. “Do you have the air on?”

“No,” she said, giving him a wide berth.

Wrapping his towel tighter, he inched closer to the oven for warmth. “Mmm, that pie sure smells good.”

“Thanks,” she said, trying not to notice that his hair was as black and shiny as a newborn pup’s, and his ears, pink and nicely shaped, resembled the rare, perfect shells she and Tommy sometimes found at the beach.

Her skittering eyes landed on the water pooling at his feet. Noticing the direction of her gaze, he stared at the puddle like a little boy who’d just had an embarrassing accident. “Sorry,” he said, dropping his towel to the floor and mopping it with his foot.

Unsettled by the sight of a half-naked man less than five feet away, Vicky tore off her apron and reached for her purse. “If there’s nothing else then, I’ll be going now. See you in the morning.” Before he had a chance to engage her in further conversation, she rushed out.

Thanks for reading.
Joyce

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I just want to share a very good review I got from The Book Binge. Here it is if anyone cares to read it.

http://thebookbinge.com/2011/02/guest-review-where-dreams-are-born-by.html

I'm very pleased with it, especially since it's my first review for this new book. I hope it's the forerunner to many.

Joyce

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Did an interview here. Check it out if you have time. Here.

Joyce

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Where Dreams are Born just received a great review from Night Owl Reviews. Here is a portion of it.

S. Wurman of Night Owl Reviews says, “there is a rather intriguing story involving a cast of characters that have very real problems. Life isn’t neat and predictable and neither is this story. DeBacco does a really good job of getting the reader invested in the outcome of this unusual pairing. Enjoy.”

Joyce Link to review.

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Where Dreams are Born has now received three good reviews from reputable review sites.

Check out the latest--five hearts from The Romance Studio. http://theromancestudio.com/reviews/reviews/dreamsborndebacco.htm

Have a good day, everyone. I sure am.

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I just noticed that Amazon has reduced the price on Where Dreams are Born from $4.99, which was already a good price for a traditionally published book, to $3.89. So check it out and take advantage of it while you can.

Joyce

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How about a small snippet? This scene is after Jack realizes his feelings for his nanny/housekeeper have changed, and it bothers him.

Later that night, while Vicky put the girls to bed, Jack looked on from the hallway. He found himself doing that a lot lately, watching her as she worked, and listening in on her chats with the children. And each time he wondered what had changed since their first meeting. Despite his resolve to limit the amount of time spent together, he felt drawn to her. She intrigued him. But why? Because she gave of herself to his children so completely? Because he’d always dreamed of a beautiful woman adopting him, the mother he never had? Or was it something baser, brought on by months of living like a monk?

Their alliance was meant to be a simple arrangement, beneficial to both of them. Housekeeping and childcare for him; a safe environment in which to raise a child for her. A win-win situation.

So why did he suddenly find himself acting like a schoolboy around her, fantasizing when all he really needed was someone to share the responsibilities of a house and children, someone to relieve his loneliness while respecting his privacy? Why did he have to complicate matters with an imagined attraction? She was his housekeeper, for chrissake. And he’d hired her because of her warmth, gentleness, and uncomplaining demeanor. Damn, he thought, shaking his head. Was he describing a woman or a cocker spaniel?

Joyce

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Where Dreams are Born, an e-book or print book from a small publisher.

In the foster care system, most of the kids learned early on to rein in their emotions, wary of showing anger when ragged lest they become the butt of every prank. And God help the poor tyke who couldn’t control a quivery lip and brimming eyes. Even joy was suspect, a kid sooner scorning that which brought pleasure than risk having it snatched away by mean-spirited playmates.
After surviving a childhood as bereft as one could imagine, Jack felt it his duty to prevent a similar experience for Tommy. What boy wouldn’t benefit from having a man in his corner, someone with whom he could toss a ball, watch scary movies on a rainy Sunday, or just plain hang out and grouse about the peculiarities of the opposite sex?
Jack paused in the hallway outside his room, transfixed by the figure pirouetting in front of his mirror. On her third twirl, she saw him and stopped so suddenly she nearly tipped over.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t hear you come home,” she said in a breathy voice. Eyes large and luminous, she tugged at the pale wisps of hair at the nape of her neck. “I hope you don’t mind, but I spent more than I planned. I have all the receipts here.”
His jaw dropped. “Uh, no. No, I don’t mind.”
“I stopped off at the beauty parlor too.” She smiled, and her smile assaulted him. Everything in the room dimmed but her and that killer smile. “What do you think?” she said, showing no mercy.
Jack stared back. What did he think? Her hair, once drab and lifeless, now seemed almost iridescent, the shade a dazzling blend of Christmas tinsel shot through with gold dust. Had it always been that sparkly? And her eyes, once as mesmerizing as muddy water swirling down a storm drain, now reminded him of melted honey.
“Do I look presentable?” she asked, firing another volley of smiles.
Jack surrendered without a fight. “Uh, yeah,” he mumbled. “You look―terrific.”
Once the words fell out of his mouth, both blushed, aware his positive response took their relationship out of one realm and into another.
***

First two chapters on joycedebacco.com. Thanks.

Joyce

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I don't know how many people buy their e-books from All Romance e-books and OmniLit, but they're having a 50% rebate sale going on now through the end of Memorial day. Might be worth taking a look. And while you're over there, I'd appreciate if you take a look at my books too.

Joyce

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Where Dreams are Born just received its first UK review and it's a good one. 5 stars. Yay!

Joyce

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If you like tender love stories, please check out a sample of my book on author Dana Taylor's blog. here.

Thanks for reading.

Joyce

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If you have a Nook, you can now get Where Dreams are Born for a dollar off my publisher's price. Check it out. Thanks.

Joyce

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Where Dreams are Born, an e-book from a small publisher is now available in all book outlets. New review follows.

After enduring traumatic childhoods, a single mom and a widower struggle to create a stable family life for their children despite those who would do them harm.

Stephanie Laymon of Five Alarm Reviews says, “I enjoyed reading a book that is hard to classify. The genre really could be romance, suspense, or chic lit. I would recommend this book to those who like women’s fiction, romance and suspense, and who want to keep it light.”

Joyce

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There's a brief snippet of WDAB on Indie Snippets today. Here is the link if anyone would like to read. http://www.indiesnippets.blogspot.com/

Joyce