BooksChatter: ☀☄ Conquered

Thank you for joining us on the Virtual Book Tour for Conquered, a Erotic World War II Historical Romance by Paula Quinene (18 June 2016, Paula Ann Lujan Quinene, 326 pages).

PREVIEW: Check out the book's synopsis and excerpt below. Read the first three chapters with Amazon Look Inside.

Conquered is FREE on Kindle Unlimited and Kindle Owner's Lending Library.

Author Paula Quinene will be awarding a $10 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 (☀).

Synopsis | Trailer | Teaser | About the Author | Giveaway & Tour Stops

Synopsis

Conquered is a passionate love story, as much about its main characters, Guam native Jesi Taimanglo and American GI Johan Landers, as it is about author Paula Quinene’s passion for Guam itself. As her characters try to find a place for themselves amid the war, Jesi’s relatives, and the Chamorro traditions, Quinene charts a path through a seldom told story: Guam’s place in WWII.

An original idea written with an original voice that invites readers in to the exotic world of the Pacific, complete with coconut trees, banana doughnuts, dolphins swimming in the ocean, and moonlight on Pago Bay, Conquered also recounts the brutal horrors of the Japanese occupation on Guam, a US territory largely forgotten back in the States.

In addition to learning about a singular and little-known culture that has played a part in the world wars of the Pacific, readers will undoubtedly crave the recipe for banana doughnuts.

—Stacey Donovan, Writer, Editor, and Author of Dive

Teaser: Excerpt

1

      “FIFTY-SIX, FIFTY-SEVEN.” JESI’S ARMS trembled, her body weak. “Fifty-eiiight. I can’t do this, I can’t.”
      “Don’t give up. Never give up,” Mames whispered.
      “Fifty-niiine. One more push-up,” Jesi said, talking herself to the finish. “Help me, Ma-miss.”
      “You can do it,” Mames whispered again.
      “Siiixty.” Jesi face planted on the ground. I did it, I did it! She took two deep breaths then turned sideways to rest her right cheek against the cool guȧfak, a mat of woven pandanus leaves. Both arms stretched above her head. Mames is always there when I need her.
      Chirping geckos ran across the dirt and made her smile. The little buggers kept her company in the cave. A small bulb attached to the D battery furnished enough light at night, to exercise, and to read the notes she took for grandma’s medicine. Thank you, Peter.
      Jesi rolled to her back. Peter, one of her older brothers, had worked odd jobs for the cable company and the Pan Am Hotel. He collected discarded equipment, including broken lamps and flashlights. Some bulbs worked, even three years later.
      She remembered the push-up challenges against Peter and her oldest brother, Tommy. They always beat her. Then when they were done, Tommy would tickle her to no end. Tommy enlisted as a mess attendant in the US Navy so he could see the world. That was before the war. He was only permitted to work the lowest job. “You’re not an American citizen,” he was told. Tommy didn’t care; he said he’d be the “best food server the navy had.” Jesi blinked away a tear. I hope you’re safe. Tommy’s last letter came home in October 1941, two months before the Japanese soldiers invaded the island.
      Jesi was almost nineteen now, and had a good chance at beating her brothers in push-ups. Exercise was invigorating. There wasn’t much else to do hiding out. Jesi hopped up, rolled the guȧfak, and put it back in its place then walked deeper into the cave. She wet a washcloth and wiped her hands then picked up her toothbrush. Jesi moved a few feet to her right toward the table where she stored her food. She trod along the wall of the cave to the opening, a cave hidden within the cliffs on the eastern coast of Guam.
      Jesi stopped once she reached the door of vines and trees. She listened for unusual noises from outside. The sounds of bombs and airplane engines continued their unforgiving raid. The entrance to the cave was close to the edge of the rock face, looming over the Pacific Ocean.
      No one other than her dad and Peter had been here since that awful day. Jesi never strayed from the vicinity of her hiding place. She never saw a Japanese soldier, but figured they looked like the Japanese lady who owned Dejima store. And the man that helped her was Japanese.
      Jesi used to tag along with her mom and Peter when it was time to stock up on household items and foodstuffs. They bought imported goods from Mrs. Dejima such as coffee, corned beef, and razor blades.
      She pushed the vines aside, stepped between trees, and sat with her legs crossed. The coolness of the ground against her thighs comforted her. Ten feet of grass covered the ledge until the land gave way to a wall of limestone. If the Japanese ever found her, she couldn’t even escape by jumping. The sharp rocks at the base of the cliff would cut her to pieces.
      A sliver of moon reflected off Pago Bay. The stars sparkled in the night. She ate her nuts and dried meat, and took a gulp of water from her canteen. Jesi pulled off the elastic band then wriggled her fingers through her hair. With her head tilted back and her eyes closed, she inhaled, filling her lungs. The ocean breeze brushed against her face and skin, giving her goose bumps. It was cooler in the evenings, and it was windy. The aroma of salty water and the fragrance of the jungle filled her nostrils. The waves crashed against the rocks. She yearned to swim. Lucky if she got a rinse in the freshwater stream. It was nothing compared to swimming across Pago Bay.
      Grandma. She cocked her head upright then pressed four fingers against her nose and lips, imitating the way her Grandma had kissed her hand a thousand times. Jesi’s heart grew heavy. Grandma was an esteemed Chamorro medicine woman on the island, and Jesi was being trained to follow in her footsteps.
      She straightened her legs and leaned backwards, bracing herself with her hands. I’m so alive in the ocean. Free. I can never tell them I’d rather teach kids how to swim.
      “They’ll understand,” Mames whispered.
      Jesi stood up and walked to the side of the cave to brush her teeth then walked back in to put everything in place. She retied her hair and undressed. Her nipples hardened from the damp washcloth as she wiped her tummy, arms, and legs. When did I get muscles? Jesi slipped into a clean panty and pajamas, removed her slippers then crouched with her butt on the makeshift kȧtre. The “bed” was constructed on the ground using a much larger guȧfak, extra clothing, and pillows, which were all covered with a blanket. It was late now, perhaps past midnight.
      Jesi hadn’t seen Peter or Chief, her dad, for a week. Peter stayed in the cave with her except the few times he left to rendezvous with Chief. Their last meeting was six days ago. Peter had yet to return.
      “In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Lord, please keep my brother and dad safe, and protect my mom and grandma from harm.” She recited the Our Father and Hail Mary before closing her prayer.
      The Taimanglos had left their home in Mangilao as soon as they learned the Japanese bombed Guam. Chief dropped Peter and Jesi off a mile from the trail to the Pago Bay cave then took Jesi’s mom and grandma to the Ylig cave which was south of Pago Bay. The women had not seen one another since.
      The horrible thoughts of what could have happened to Peter and Chief popped into her head again. The tears came. Her chest tightened. If I could just fall asleep. The ground still vibrated from the bombings.
      “You are strong,” Mames whispered.
      Jesi lay down and hugged her pillow. Years of worry, fear, and little to eat took their toll. When will this end? Mom, when will I get to see . . .
      “No, no, no!” Jesi screamed against the Japanese man in military clothes. He let her go and she ran to her friend. “Carmen, Carmen,” she cried as she dropped to the ground to hug the ravaged and nearly beheaded body below her. Then she heard his footsteps, and his laugh. She looked up. He was coming for her.

Conquered
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About the Author

Paula Quinene was born and raised on Guam. She graduated from the University of Oregon in 1997 with a bachelor’s of science in Exercise & Movement Science, hoping to return to the island as an anatomy teacher.

A resident of North Carolina since 2000, Paula’s homesickness – or “mahalangness” – has motivated Paula to write A Taste of Guam, Remember Guam, both cookbooks, and her first novel, Conquered.

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