Thank you for joining us on the Virtual Book Tour for Dancing in the Sand, a contemporary romance by Maria Imbalzano (26 August 2015, The Wild Rose Press, Inc, 286 pages). PREVIEW: Check out the book's synopsis and excerpt below, as well as our Q&A with author Maria Imbalzano. Read the first chapter with Amazon Look Inside.
Maria Imbalzano will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour. Please do take part: comment on our post and follow the tour where you will be able to read other excerpts (☀), interviews (ℚ), reviews (✍) and guest blog posts (✉).
Synopsis | Teaser | Author Q&A | About the Author | Giveaway & Tour Stops
Synopsis
An accomplished dance major in New York City, Ava Woodward is pursuing her dream of becoming a professional in a national dance company. But a celebratory weekend in Newport, where she meets the man of her fantasies, has devastating consequences that change her life forever.Brian Stanhope, a Harvard graduate, poised to join his father’s company, suffers a brain injury in a horseback riding accident, which affects his memory. He has no recollection of his graduation party weekend or the beautiful dancer who turned his head and stole his heart.
When they reunite eight years later, the magic of their powerful attraction binds them together, but the past holds a secret that even love may not be able to overcome.
Teaser: Excerpt
“Are you married?”
Not the question she was expecting. “No.”
“Entangled?”
He smiled. A very sexy, very familiar smile. Was he flirting?
Ava shook her head. “No. What about you?” The words fell out of her mouth before she had time to catch them, and she inwardly winced. “Never mind. That’s none of my business.”
“It can be. Especially since I’m not married or entangled either.”
There could be no mistaking it now. His easy banter. The way he drew a person in with a direct and open question. The mating game, according to Brian. It all came back. The way he had enticed her before. So simple for him—the master. But she knew better than to fall for him a second time.
“We should stick to our working relationship.” Ava hoped her regret in that decision didn’t shine through. She picked up the signed fee agreement. “I’ll have my secretary make a copy for you.” She rose and moved around the desk. “How would you like to pay the retainer? Check? Credit card?”
Brian raised an eyebrow. “All business, I see.” Yet, the hint of a smile tugged at his lips. “Check. Do I make it out to you?”
So playful. Like he’d been that weekend. If she didn’t keep her wits about her, she’d fall right down the same rabbit hole.
“No. The firm. I’ll be right back.”
Out in the hall, she stopped to fan herself. The heat he generated should be captured for raw energy. No need to frack. She wiped away the smile inching over her lips. Do not cave in. You’ll only get hurt. Again.
Reentering her tiny, airless office with his copy of the agreement in hand, she snapped into business mode. “Thank you so much for giving our firm the chance to represent you. You won’t be sorry.” She held out her hand to shake his.
He stood, following her lead. “I’m sure I won’t.”
She would have preferred to end their contact there, but she couldn’t let him meander through the halls trying to find the exit. “I’ll show you out.”
Avoiding further conversation, Ava led Brian to the reception area, just as Peter emerged from his office.
“Brian, I’ll get back to you shortly, after I have a chance to review your documents.” Peter clapped Brian on the back.
“Great,” said Brian. “By the way, I have tickets to the Knicks game Saturday night. Floor seats. Would you and Ava like to join me?”
Ava’s brain screamed no, as Peter accepted for both of them. Of course, he was a rabid Knicks fan and why would it cross his mind that a lowly associate would have better things to do on a weekend night than generate good will with a new client?
She gave a tight smile in assent, as she knew she had to, turned and strode straight to her office where she closed the door and bit her finger to keep her shriek from reaching the lobby.
Not the question she was expecting. “No.”
“Entangled?”
He smiled. A very sexy, very familiar smile. Was he flirting?
Ava shook her head. “No. What about you?” The words fell out of her mouth before she had time to catch them, and she inwardly winced. “Never mind. That’s none of my business.”
“It can be. Especially since I’m not married or entangled either.”
There could be no mistaking it now. His easy banter. The way he drew a person in with a direct and open question. The mating game, according to Brian. It all came back. The way he had enticed her before. So simple for him—the master. But she knew better than to fall for him a second time.
“We should stick to our working relationship.” Ava hoped her regret in that decision didn’t shine through. She picked up the signed fee agreement. “I’ll have my secretary make a copy for you.” She rose and moved around the desk. “How would you like to pay the retainer? Check? Credit card?”
Brian raised an eyebrow. “All business, I see.” Yet, the hint of a smile tugged at his lips. “Check. Do I make it out to you?”
So playful. Like he’d been that weekend. If she didn’t keep her wits about her, she’d fall right down the same rabbit hole.
“No. The firm. I’ll be right back.”
Out in the hall, she stopped to fan herself. The heat he generated should be captured for raw energy. No need to frack. She wiped away the smile inching over her lips. Do not cave in. You’ll only get hurt. Again.
Reentering her tiny, airless office with his copy of the agreement in hand, she snapped into business mode. “Thank you so much for giving our firm the chance to represent you. You won’t be sorry.” She held out her hand to shake his.
He stood, following her lead. “I’m sure I won’t.”
She would have preferred to end their contact there, but she couldn’t let him meander through the halls trying to find the exit. “I’ll show you out.”
Avoiding further conversation, Ava led Brian to the reception area, just as Peter emerged from his office.
“Brian, I’ll get back to you shortly, after I have a chance to review your documents.” Peter clapped Brian on the back.
“Great,” said Brian. “By the way, I have tickets to the Knicks game Saturday night. Floor seats. Would you and Ava like to join me?”
Ava’s brain screamed no, as Peter accepted for both of them. Of course, he was a rabid Knicks fan and why would it cross his mind that a lowly associate would have better things to do on a weekend night than generate good will with a new client?
She gave a tight smile in assent, as she knew she had to, turned and strode straight to her office where she closed the door and bit her finger to keep her shriek from reaching the lobby.
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About the Author
Maria Imbalzano is a matrimonial lawyer in central New Jersey where she not only uses her law degree to navigate her clients through the court system, but her psychology degree to guide them through their personal struggles. While writing motions, legal memoranda, and briefs is fascinating, it pales in comparison to creating memorable characters and taking them on their emotional journeys.
In addition to practicing law and writing fiction, Maria enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters either at home or at the Jersey Shore.
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Giveaway and Tour Stops
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Follow Dancing in the Sand's tour at:
Sep 3: Independent AuthorsSep 17: The Blog of C.R. Moss
Sep 24: The Reading Addict
Sep 24: Christine Young
Oct 1: BooksChatter
Oct 8: Archaeolibrarian - I dig good books! - review
Oct 15: LibriAmoriMiei - review
Oct 22: Writer Wonderland
Oct 29: Romance Novel Giveaways
Nov 5: Booklover Sue
Nov 12: Erin Cawood
Nov 12: It's Raining Books
Nov 19: Long and Short Reviews
Thank you for hosting
ReplyDeleteGood luck with Dancing in the Sand. It sounds very romantic.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sandra. I did love writing that book
DeleteDancing in the Sand sounds delicious. Best of luck with sales :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Joanne. Luck I can use 😄
DeleteMarie, this sounds like a great romance. Something I can get into! You're an attorney? I can sort of relate. I'm a paralegal. You know, the ones who do all your work. Just kidding, of course. Good luck, Marie!
ReplyDeleteI loved adding my playlist to this blog. I even listened to it this morning while getting ready for work. Starr I was a paralegal in New York City before going to law school. I loved that job.
ReplyDeleteHi Maria, thank you for joining us - we also had fun with the playlist and were listening to it this morning :-)
DeleteLoved the excerpt, Maria. Good luck with Dancing in the Sand!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jana. I appreciate you stppping by
DeleteRead the synopsis, ordered and read the book....LOVED it !! Are all of the main characters in your books involved in the legal profession? Good luck with this and all future endeavors!
ReplyDeleteThanks Paula. The characters in my two published novels have lawyer characters. My work in progress has a heroine who is in marketing for a music production company. I think I may need to find someone in that business to interview.
DeleteEnjoyed the synopsis of Dancing in the Sand. Looking forward to reading it. Good luck with the book!
ReplyDeleteThanks Teena. I appreciate you stopping by
DeleteHow wonderful and you must be on cloud nine!
ReplyDeleteI love everything about writing and of course getting published. It's all good. Thanks Vicki.
DeleteThank you for the excerpt.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by Rita. I appreciate your time.
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting me. I loved posting my playlist and your questions were fun to answer.
ReplyDeleteThank you Maria, likewise :-)
DeleteIt was our pleasure!
Flora
Really great teaser, I'm looking forward to checking out the book! Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteI am looking forward to reading more. Thank you for the post and the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI am looking forward to reading more. Thank you for the post and the giveaway!
ReplyDelete