Don’t worry – LAST CALL will be back next week (and if you missed the news, it’s now available for just 99 cents – click here for blurb/excerpt/links). I wanted to take the opportunity to feature my ghost story HAWTHORNE because it’s free TODAY 2/24 ONLY. I will update here as soon as I have the code, but until then click here to visit the publisher’s blog.
This excerpt comes near the end of the book, but if you think you know where this is headed, better think again! (Muahahaha!) We’re in the POV of my hero Noah as he’s hit with the realization he’s going to lose Emma Grace all over again.
Every dream, every yearning for her existed in that moment. If he had any sense he’d have dropped the portrait and swept her into his arms. He’d have cradled her face in his hands, stroked her cheek, and buried his fingers in her hair—anything to convince his heart she was real, she was there. But he did none of those things. Instead, he froze, clutching the painting of the woman who ripped his world apart, his mind refusing to believe what sent his body reeling: Emma Grace had always been his.
Far too soon, she pulled away. She smiled, a sad one full of understanding, and in those precious seconds, he knew.
She was saying goodbye.
Want it for FREE? Today 2/24 only you can enter the code GS67E at Smashwords and it’s yours!
Praise for Hawthorne
“There was such a huge twist at the end of this book that it left me stunned and speechless, literally staring at my Kindle with my hands clutching my head. Mark my words. RUN, don’t walk to pick this book up. YOU HAVE JUST GOT TO READ IT!” — Sandy Wolters
“The story seamlessly flows to a shocking ending that is utterly brilliant.” – Laurie for Coffee Time Romance & More
“Sarah Ballance’s Hawthorne is haunting, lyrical, original, and incredibly well-written. I don’t know of many other authors who have a talent for weaving language the way she does, and evoking such a deep, emotional response. This story is an absolute must.” — Rosalie Stanton
Hawthorne
After a terrifying encounter with the unexplained, it took ten years and the news of her grandmother’s passing for Emma Grace Hawthorne to return to her childhood home. She sought peace in saying a proper goodbye, but what she found was an old love, a sordid family history, and a wrong only she could right.
Living in the shadow of Hawthorne Manor, Noah Garrett never forgot about Emma Grace. In a house full of secrets, his search for missing documents revealed a truth that could cost him everything. What he found gave Emma the freedom to walk away from the mansion, her heart free and clear, but at what price to Noah?
- Title: HAWTHORNE
- Author: Sarah Ballance
- Genre: Paranormal Romance (ghost)
- Publisher: Astraea Press, 2011
- ISBN 13: 978-1-93685-244-4
- Audio ISBN: N/A
HAWTHORNE is available from: Astraea Press, Amazon, Paperback, Barnes & Noble, Apple iTunes, Kobo, Books on Board, and more! Click here to add to Goodreads or here for reviews.
For more fantastic Sunday Snippets, click the image below.
I love the naked emotion in this snippet, but than again I loved the whole book. You created a lovely work of art when you wrote it. Good luck with your giveaway.
Wow. Thanks so much, Jess!
Well, I have no idea where this is going, but I intend to find out! I have it on my Kindle and it’s now in my TBRNow pile. 🙂 Excellent, emotional snippet.
I’m so excited for you to read it, Jenna! Thank you!
Oh, the pain and the sorrow, beautifully shown, Sarah.
Thank you so much!
Love the blurb!!! Thank you for this!!!
Thanks for visiting, Denice!
Lovely! Congratulations on all of your successes.
Thank you, Anastasia!
Wow, intense and intriguing! Must go buy the story today – excellent excerpt!
Yay! Thank you, Veronica!
Wow. This was ripe full of emotions. I really feel for him in here. Terrific excerpt.
Thank you, Joanne!
Loved the excerpt, and I just grabbed my copy! Thanks, girl 🙂
Awesome! Thanks, Zee!
Oh Sarah, heartbreak, love and all the ingredients for a wonderful book. Thanks for this powerful snippet
Aw, thank you, Charmaine!
This excerpt still has the power to make me tear up. Hawthorne is the best ghost story/love story I’ve ever read and I love re-reading it. It’s wonderful that it’s free so more people can experience your writing!
What a huge compliment, Karen. And you make me feel better, because I still get a little emotional over the story and it’s not like I don’t know what happens, LOL. I was thrilled to be a part of the publisher’s birthday party so it could be free for a day!
Love the emotion! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Jennifer!
Haha I did a ghost story for my snippet this week too. Great minds and all that. Love this. *clicks over to Smashwords*
LOL! Yes, indeed! Thanks for clicking. Tonya!
Very emotional scene, my heart went out to him. Wonderful writing, loved it. 🙂
Thanks so much, Brenda!
Ooohhh…. a ghost love story. How fun! I’ll have to check this one out.
Thanks, Carrie! I hope you enjoy it.
Nicely evocative and intense, beautifully written!
Thanks, Ryan!
Ghost story? Who’s the ghost?
The house is haunted.
I love ghost stories (when they’re not too scary!). Nice snippet, Sarah. Makes me curious about the rest of the story.
I hope you grabbed a copy, Karla! It’s not scary at all. ;c)
Oh, dear—so he’s been wrong all this time, but thinks there’s no way for him to fix it now?
I’m hooked!
I’m just going to smile and nod so as not to give anything away, LOL. Thanks, Sarah!
That’s so sad! I’m not normally a fan of killing off the hero, but if it means they can be together… Wait, which one is the ghost?
It’s more of a haunted house thing. No worries … the hero lives!
I’m getting my copy now. I loved this excerpt.
Wonderful, Elaine! Thank you!
thank you for this opportunity to read your work
Thank you, Miki, for visiting!
Oh my gosh…such a heartfelt snippet. Way to pull on my heartstrings! Lovely work — oh and thanks for the free code xx
Thanks so very much, JoAnne!
Lovely emotion on display here, Sarah. Very nicely done.
Thank you, Kate!
Wow, Sarah, that’s poignant and heartrending. Great snippet. 🙂
Thank you, Siobhan!
That’s super, and just so you know, I’ve got a copy and am going to pop my contemporary het romance cherry with it. 😀
ERMAGAWD. I am both honored and terrified. But definitely honored. Thank you, Elin!
So emotional, so touching. Loved it!
Thank you, Virginia!
Powerful words, Sarah! I feel so bad for him! Great snippet! 🙂
Thanks so much, Jane!
That’s pretty gut-wrenching. I love ending twists though!
Thanks, Claire! Readers seem to think Hawthorne has a whopper of one, lol!
Hawthorne is one of your best. If people don’t read this book, they are really missing out on something fantastic.
Aw, thank you, Melissa! I need to get the darn sequel written, too. WHERE IS THE TIME? Lol.
Emotional snippet. Pretty cover 🙂
Thank you, Sandra!
Excellent snippet. Just bought it from Amazon–I like to read on my Kindle 🙂 Good luck with this–wish you much success. 🙂
Thanks so much for that, Teresa!
Awesome snippet. I just bought it from Amazon as well. Can’t wait to read it!
Yay! Thanks so very much, Dani-Lyn!
That was both sad and romantic and the same time. Good snippet!
Thank you, Cindy!
So sad – you’ve shown his feelings perfectly.
Thank you, Paula!
I really feel for the guy. Great excerpt!
Thank you, ED!
Very poignant scene. I can really feel the love they shared.