Confession time: I went
about this all wrong. When I first started writing this post, I thought I would
concentrate on what kind of hero I like to write about. A man who isn’t afraid
to say what’s on his mind, who can take criticism like...well, like a man. An
alpha male who embraces his sensitive side, enjoys being around kids and loves
his mother. And hey, if he looks like Karl Urban or Chris Pine, it never hurts
(Oops - did I just out myself as a Trekkie?)
So I fixed a pot of
coffee, flexed my fingers and prepared to write the best blog post ever. Then I
looked at the calendar.
I’m writing this on
September 11. That’s when I knew I couldn't write about the typical brand of hero.
Because the hero I most admire and respect is the person who doesn’t believe he
or she is a hero. It’s the individual who sees an opportunity to help and
doesn’t hesitate to rush in with assistance and then will deny all recognition
of their everyday heroism.
September 11 was a defining moment in my life (and I know I’m not alone in this). It was truly the first time that I’d ever considered anyone other than my husband or my father as heroes. Oh, sure. I love reading about a great hero in books, but I never truly made the leap from the page to real life when it comes to the risk-taking, romantic adventurers I love to read about. Imagine my shock when this new truth revealed itself to me. I’m a woman of many words, but on September 11, in the face of terror, destruction and devastation, and the subsequent tales of heroism, I lost the ability to communicate.
I was away on a business
trip, along with two of my co-workers. While we sat in the breakfast room of
the hotel, reviewing the details for our presentation, the drama began to
unfold. There was a television in the corner of the room, our link to New York
and Washington, D.C., a small field in Pennsylvania and the reactions on the larger global
stage. The other travelers in the room with us sat watching the events in
stunned silence.
Then the reports came in:
firefighters and police officers rushing into the buildings with no thoughts of
their own peril. Reporters stopping office workers as they emerged, capturing
tales of people helping others down the steps of the first tower. Shopkeepers
opened their doors to the tower refugees. Total strangers stopped their
mad-long dash to escape to assist fellow evacuees who had fallen in the street.
The citizens who dropped everything they were doing to step forward to provide
help at aid stations. The passengers of the jet who refused to allow their
plane become a weapon.
These were stories of
true heroism. I doubt a single person who provided assistance did so
thinking here’s my chance to be a hero. These people just did what they
knew to be the right thing.
I finally understood that
a true hero harbors a desire to help where they can. They’ll never seek
recognition for their acts. It isn’t necessary. He, or she, is the person who
will rush into a doomed building in the hopes of saving one life. Or stop by
the side of the road to help a stranded motorist fix a flat tire. It’s the
person who stops their busy, chaotic life to help a mother juggling kids and a
grocery cart in the parking lot.
To all the every day
heroes who have preceded us, and to those still walking among us, you all have
my undying respect.
Gemma is giving away an ebook copy of Hearts in Harmony to one lucky commenter to be chosen by random.org. Please leave a comment and your email addy!
Gemma is giving away an ebook copy of Hearts in Harmony to one lucky commenter to be chosen by random.org. Please leave a comment and your email addy!
Genre: Contemporary romance
Publisher: Kensington Books/Lyrical
Press, Inc
Date of Publication: May 5,
2014
ISBN-13: 9781616507497
ASIN: B00J7XE8H2
Number of pages: 300
Word Count: appox. 80,000
Cover Artist: Renee Rocco
Sometimes life’s most simple
melodies become songs of love.
Pippa Sanders’ life is filled with
songs of leaving, longing and loneliness. Since the death of her husband, her
children have been her world. She’ll do anything to protect them, including
encasing her heart in ice until they’re college age. She’s made a practice of
shying away from any relationship that could break her heart when it ends. And
it’s worked so far.
Clay Mathers has made a temporary
move to Granite Pointe, Massachusetts to help with his mother’s Christmas tree
farm while she recovers from a stroke. Although his long-range plans don’t
include staying in the small town, a little female companionship during his
short residency would be welcome. While on duty as sentry against protestors at
a military funeral, he finds Pippa visiting her husband’s grave, and begins a
campaign to make her into a friend–with benefits.
What starts as a simple affair
evolves to something more, something that changes the soundtracks of both their
lives…the beating of two hearts in harmony.
CONTENT WARNING: Contains strong
language, hot sex and a spicy hero.
A Lyrical Press Contemporary Romance
Excerpt:
Pippa opened her mouth to retort,
when the irony of his words hit her. Yes, he did have a right to speak his
mind. It was a privilege her husband had fought and died for. She just wished
he wasn’t so crude about it.
Clay eyed her and crossed muscular
arms over his chest, daring her to respond, waiting for a chance to chastise
her again for her stupidity.
She swallowed the words she’d
intended to use to put him in his place. “You’re right. Thank you for helping
me.”
Shock and confusion rippled across
his strong face, and laughter tickled the back of her throat. She’d managed to
shut him up. The same way she might have with one of her kids when they needed
to listen to reason. It was a little fun to take the wind out of his sails this
way. She’d done it all her life with her brothers and had seen the same look of
consternation floating on their faces.
But she’d never wanted her brothers
to keep arguing with her. If this green-eyed hunk wanted to go another round
with her, she’d relish it—welcome it. There was something about him…
Buy Links:
About the Author:
Gemma's favorite desk accessories
for many years were a circular wooden token, better known as a 'round tuit,' and
a slip of paper from a fortune cookie proclaiming her a lover of words; some
day she'd write a book. All it took was a transfer to the United Kingdom, the
lovely English springtime, and a huge dose of homesickness to write her first
novel. Once it was completed and sent off with a kiss, even the rejections
addressed to 'Dear Author' were gratifying.
After returning to America, she
spent a number of years as a copywriter, dedicating her skills to making
insurance and the agents who sell them sound sexy. Eventually, her full-time
job as a writer interfered with her desire to be a writer full-time and she
left the world of financial products behind to pursue an avocation as a romance
author.
Her gamble paid off when she was a
2012 Finalist in the prestigious Golden Pen contest for Romantic Suspense and
she received contracts for her first and second book.
Social Media Links:
Gemma, Thank you so much for sharing the wonderful post! It's a great reminder in kindness. :-)
ReplyDeleteGood morning, Melissa. Thanks so much for having me over today. I've really enjoyed this series.
ReplyDeletewhat a wonderful post. I totally agree w/ Gemma!!! I remember going into a college class that morning and coming out and the commons area was cleared. That was eery enough and then to go into a room and see hundreds of people clustered around the TV... Congrats on the new release and it looks and sounds awesome!
ReplyDeleteefender1(at)gmail
Thanks so much, Erin. That's one of the things I remember vividly - the silence. No one had words that day.
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