Thursday, February 27, 2020

Have you had a fortunate life? #Romance #Giveaway #Australia @CynthiaTerelst

Cat's out of the bag cover

By Cynthia Terelst (Guest Blogger)

Hi everyone,

I’m Cynthia Terelst. I write contemporary romance with some heat. Thank you to Lisabet for inviting me to share a story with you today.

When I think about the question above, my first instinct is to say no. I don’t have riches or drive a fancy car or wear designer clothes. But living a fortunate life does not need to be about money. I’ve survived a suicide attempt, heartbreak, domestic violence, and mountains of debt. That to me is fortunate. Surviving, living, is fortunate.

And on top of that I have done many amazing things. My daughter and I travelled around Australia for three years with our cat and dog. There were many reasons we did this, but the most significant was the number of hours I worked and how I was missing watching her grow up. The trip had the desired effect; we are close, almost like sisters.

Some of the places and experiences mentioned in my first novel, The Cat’s out of the Bag, are from our travels. We did climb a fire tree like Evie and Jesse, but only made it to the first platform. My daughter’s ten-year-old legs were too short to make in the rest of the way. But when you think about it, climbing 30 metres (over 90 feet) up a tree using only steel pegs driven into the side of the tree, with no safety harness or netting is pretty impressive for anyone, let alone a ten-year-old. (Sorry, I can’t share a photo, but if you google Fire Tree Pemberton you will see what I’m talking about.)

Ultimately, The Cat’s out of the Bag is a love story, with some Australian scenery. We watch Evie and Jesse’s relationship grow. It’s not always an easy path, just like any relationship. The book touches on tough subjects like domestic violence and trust. Rest assured, this is not a totally serious book, there are many places where you will laugh.

Giveaway - I would like to give an eBook of The Cat’s out of the Bag away to one lucky reader. Please tell us why you feel you have a fortunate life. The winner is selected randomly and is not based on the best story. We are all fortunate in some way and this is a good opportunity to appreciate that.

The Cat’s Out of the Bag

One van. Two hearts. Thousands of kilometres.

Jesse’s a self-made billionaire who yearns to get away from his empty life and the money-hungry parasites who inhabit it. The plan? Go to Australia, tell no one about his money and find himself. Instead of finding just himself, he finds Evie, who is everything anyone should aspire to be. Now, what he aspires to be, is hers. But to be hers, he needs to tell her everything.

Evie has left her past behind. She has rebuilt herself, and her life, into one of happiness. After she meets Jesse, while volunteering at a cat shelter, memories of her past filter back in. She is stronger now and wants to trust him. But after all she has been through, is trust even possible?

The quest to find a cat a forever home leads them to travel across the country together. Can the close quarters drive them to open up to each other? Or will it drive them apart?

Excerpt

Jesse

The wave petered out, and I paddled back to the line-up. Sitting, watching, waiting. The constant breeze in my ears and the sound of waves breaking relaxed me. Lulled by the gentle rise and fall of the swells, I thought about Evie.

She was one of the most complicated people I’d ever met. Whatever she had been through had made her strong and independent. But underneath, she was all doubt. I could see her trying to be brave, but that could change in an instant as her insecurities took over. I felt like it was a fight between Nick and me, and I didn’t even know the guy. I didn’t know how to beat a ghost. But I would. I would figure it out, and I would gain Evie’s trust, bit by bit.

Her. Me. That’s what I would strive for.

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About the Author

Cynthia Terelst is a project officer by day and a writer by night. She is a contemporary romance writer who likes to share a little bit of history, some Australian scenery and a whole lotta love.
Cynthia does not shy away from difficult topics, as she feels that they should not be ignored.

She lives in Queensland, Australia, where the sun shines at least 283 days a year.

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4 comments:

Debby said...

I have a fortunate life because I wake up every morning. I have three daughters who are happy and healthy and one amazing grandson. We all have our own issues but after having spent some time at the Shriner's Hospital, we know we are fortunate.
debby236 at gmail dot com

Lisabet Sarai said...

Hello, Cynthia,

Welcome to Beyond Romance, and congratulations on the release.

I have most definitely had a fortunate life. I had an eating disorder in my late teens that might easily have killed me, but I was lucky enough to get therapy and fully recover (which is pretty rare). I had a fabulous education and have almost always had fascinating and challenging work. And I've been married for nearly 40 years to an amazing guy who makes every day fun.

bn100 said...

with family
bn100candg at hotmail dot com

marle said...

Fortunate to have a roof over my head, food on my table , loved by hubby and sons and their families. What more could one want for. Blessed.
mhustvet at hotmail dot com

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