#Bold&BlatantSelfPromo – #Excerpt – #FindingHunter – #RiverbendSeriesBook 2

/ Marcia

Guess what today is, Boys & Girls? Yep. It’s another #Bold&BlantantSelf-Promo day, this time featuring Finding Hunter, Riverbend Book 2. Hunter Painter is a very special character, dear to my heart, and I  hope you’ll find the excerpt I’ve chosen to be both fun and intriguing. If you do and decide to give the book a try, I’ll be very interested in your take on his story.  Enjoy!

Keep An Eye on The Traveling Man

BLURB

In Book 2 of the Riverbend Series, Marcia Meara, author of Wake-Robin Ridge, A Boy Named Rabbit, and Harbinger, takes a look at the devastating effects of a family torn apart by a horrific tragedy, pitting brother against brother, and focusing on battling PTSD with the redemptive power of unwavering love and support.

Before, I never thought about taking a life. Not once.
Now, the thought fills my mind day and night, and
I wonder how I’ll hide that terrible need,
As an old car swings to the shoulder,
And stops.

~ Traveling Man ~

Hunter Painter’s darkest fears have shaped his offbeat personality since he was a child, crippling him in ways invisible to those unable to see past his quiet exterior. In a sleepy Florida town known for its eccentric inhabitants, he’s always been a mystery to most.

Only one person sees beyond Hunter’s quirky facade. Willow Greene, the new age herbalist who owns the local candle and potpourri shop, has secretly loved him since they were in high school. When, sixteen years later, she discovers Hunter has loved her just as long, Willow hopes her dreams are finally coming true.

Willow soon learns that Hunter fears happiness at her side isn’t in the cards for him. With her natural optimism and courage, she almost convinces him he’s wrong—that they can really have that life together they both long for—but even Willow can’t stop what Hunter knows is coming.

One by one, his worst nightmares become reality, culminating in an unthinkable tragedy, which devastates everyone it touches. Willow’s battle begins in earnest as Hunter is plunged into a bleak, guilt-ridden despair, threatening to destroy not only their love, but Hunter, himself.

Finding Hunter is the story of a lost man’s desperate struggle to make his way home again, and one woman’s unshakeable faith in him and the power of their love.

EXCERPT

Chapter 4
I’ve Gone to China
Saturday, December 29, 2012
~~~

HUNTER GROANED, PULLING his feather pillow over his head not only to block out the world, but just in case he started shouting in frustration.

What the hell happened? What the bloody hell just happened? Everything was fine. It was going better than I ever thought it would, and then suddenly it all went crazy. She kissed me! Why the hell did she kiss me? How the hell was I supposed to resist that?

The memory of that kiss rocketed into him so hot and fast, it scorched a path through his soul. Never in his life had a kiss transported him that way. He could still feel her mouth under his, sweet and yielding, and burning like fire. The raspberry scent of her hair lingered on his hands, and he would never, ever forget the taste of her skin. Every nerve ending in his body felt burned raw from the experience—so sensitive, the slightest breeze sliding over it would cause unbearable pain.

But somewhere in his torment, he also remembered how she had responded to him, moaning into that kiss, and whispering his name over and over as they clung to each other. She wanted him, too, a concept that had never once seemed a possibility in all the years he had loved her.

Doesn’t make it any better, does it, you stupid fool? Still never gonna happen. You don’t belong with Willow Greene, and nothing’s going to change that. All you’re doing here is torturing yourself.

He swore into his pillow. “’Take a chance,’ Gunn said. ‘Call her up,’ Gunn said. I’m gonna find that bastard and pound him to death with one of his own cameras!”

That image distracted him from his woes for about thirty seconds, and then he slid even deeper into the hole of misery he’d dug for himself.

Never gonna leave this room again. Can’t be trusted to go out into the real world and behave like a person with a single, functioning brain cell. Just gonna have my meals delivered right here, and Dad can walk Biscuit. I’ll tell him I’m sick—and keep telling him that for the rest of my life.

A sudden rap on the bedroom door interrupted his maudlin thoughts. “Hunter? Are you awake?”

“Yeah, Dad. You can come in.”

His father stuck his head in the door. “Sorry to bother you, son, but … well … there’s a young lady down here says she wants to talk to you.”

Horrified, Hunter bolted upright. “What? What’re you talking about?”

“I’m talking about this pretty little thing at the front door, says she has to talk to you. Real long hair, sweet smile, named … um …”

Hunter smacked his head. “Willow.”

His dad nodded. “That’s it. You wanna come down?”

“No! Did you already tell her I’m here?”

“Well, sure. Should I be lying to young ladies who are looking for you?”

“Yes! I mean, no, not generally. Just this one.”

“You do something to her, Hunter?”

“No, of course not. Well, not like you mean. It’s just … aw, it’s complicated, Dad. Can you just tell her I wasn’t up here, or I’m asleep, or I’m sick, or I’ve gone to China? Something? I’m not coming down there!”

His dad gave him a disapproving look. “Okay. Have it your way, but no, I’m not gonna lie to this little gal. I’m just gonna go tell her you don’t want to see her.”

Flinging himself back down on the bed, Hunter growled in frustration. “Fine. If that’s what you want to do, do it. I’m still not coming down.” He clamped the pillow back over his face, and refused to say anything else.

His dad sighed, closed the door a little too hard, and stomped down the stairs.

Two minutes later, Hunter heard a tap, and the sound of the door opening again.

This time, he didn’t bother to lift the pillow. “Did she go away?”

“No, I didn’t go away, Hunter. And I’m not going to.”

Once again, Hunter bolted to a sitting position. He dropped his pillow and stared at Willow, mouth agape. “Willow! You can’t just walk into my room. It’s … you … this isn’t …”

“Oh stop, Hunter. I’m here. And you and I are going to talk.”

************************

Download on Kindle for Just $3.99
Available in Print for  $13.99

 Author Marcia Meara

Marcia Meara lives in central Florida, just north of Orlando, with her husband of over thirty years and four big cats.

When not writing or blogging, she spends her time gardening, and enjoying the surprising amount of wildlife that manages to make a home in her suburban yard. She enjoys nature. Really, really enjoys it. All of it! Well, almost all of it, anyway. From birds, to furry critters, to her very favorites, snakes. The exception would be spiders, which she truly loathes, convinced that anything with eight hairy legs is surely up to no good. She does not, however, kill spiders anymore, since she knows they have their place in the world. Besides, her husband now handles her Arachnid Catch and Release Program, and she’s good with that.

Spiders aside, the one thing Marcia would like to tell each of her readers is that it’s never too late to make your dreams come true. If, at the age of 69, she could write and publish a book (and thus fulfill 64 years of longing to do that very thing), you can make your own dreams a reality, too. Go for it! What have you got to lose?

Buy Marcia’s Books Here

Novels
Wake-Robin Ridge: Book 1
A Boy Named Rabbit: Wake-Robin Ridge Book 2
Harbinger: Wake-Robin Ridge Book 3
The Light: Wake-Robin Ridge Book 4

Swamp Ghosts: Riverbend Book 1
Finding Hunter: Riverbend Book 2
That Darkest Place: Riverbend Book 3

Riverbend Spinoff Novellas
The Emissary 1
The Emissary 2 – To Love Somebody
The Emissary 3 – Love Hurts

Poetry
Summer Magic: Poems of Life and Love

Reach Marcia on Social Media Here:

Blog: The Write Stuff
Facebook
Email: marciameara16@gmail.com

37 thoughts on “#Bold&BlatantSelfPromo – #Excerpt – #FindingHunter – #RiverbendSeriesBook 2”

    • Thank you so much, Denise. I’m truly glad you enjoyed the book, though I’m biased, I’m afraid. Hunter is a very close second to Rabbit in my heart, and a character I really enjoyed writing. (Even though I did put him through the wringer before letting him find his way in this world.) And thanks for stopping by today to say hello! 😀 ❤ Hope you have a great week! ❤

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  2. Hunter and Rabbit are two of my favourite characters. Finding Hunter is an amazing book that made me chuckle, rage, wince and (twice) had me crying. It’s a beautiful book about a beautiful person and I recommend it to everyone. ❤ ❤ ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • What a wonderful comment, Trish. (Can I quote you on that? 😁) I confess a certain bias for Hunter, myself, and I’m so glad you think this he’s a beautiful person in a beautiful book. You’ve made my morning very, very happy! 😀 ❤

      Thanks so much for stopping by and for understanding this man who's always marched to a different drummer, and for a while there, completely lost his way. Have a great week, my friend! 😀 ❤

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    • Thanks for adding Finding Hunter to your TBR, Sue. I hope you enjoy meeting him when you get a chance to check out the book. He’s very dear to my heart, for sure! And thanks for stopping by today, and taking the time to say hello, too. Have a great week! 😀 ❤

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    • Ooooh, masterpieces? I like the sound of THAT, Gwen! 😁I’m running through them all, one at a time, every other Monday. I have one more in the Riverbend series, and then my Emissary novellas, and that should be it for the year. Hoping some new folks will check them out.

      And I’m so glad you enjoyed Finding Hunter. As I’ve mentioned above, Hunter Painter is right up there next to Rabbit as far as my own favorite characters are concerned. (I’m a sucker for a troubled soul.)

      Thanks so much for stopping by today, and I hope you have a fantastic week!
      🤗❤️🤗 (back atcha!)

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      Reply

    • Thank you so much for such a beautiful comment, Diana! When I read, characters are everything to me. If I’m not invested in them, I’m unlikely to finish a book, no matter how clever the plot might be. I try to write characters that might make others feel that way, too. I know I’m new at it, but I plan to continue aiming in that direction for as long as I’m able to keep on writing. And I hugely appreciate that someone whose work I admire as much as yours would pay me such a lovely compliment. My smile is getting bigger and bigger!

      I also appreciate your stopping by today and taking the time to share your thoughts with me. Here’s to a wonderful week ahead, my friend! 🤗❤️🤗

      Liked by 1 person

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    • Thank you so much, Debby. I dithered around quite some time before deciding what type of excerpt I wanted to share. All sorts of things happen in this book, from comic moments to deeply tragic ones. I ended up on this one because it always makes me laugh. (Especially the line about pounding Gunnar Wolfe to death with one of his own cameras, since there’s no one less likely to do such a thing than Hunter Painter.)

      I’m glad you enjoyed the excerpt, and I hope you get a chance to see what you think about the rest of Hunter’s tale soon. I’ll be very interested in your take on his story.

      Thanks so much for stopping by today and sharing your thoughts so far. Here’s to a great week ahead! 😀 ❤

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    • Oh, yay! Thanks for that, Teri! I’ve adored Hunter since the moment I started to tell his story. I couldn’t help myself, but I suppose most of us really love the characters we write, even if they aren’t all as kind and gentle as Hunter Painter. I hope you enjoy meeting Hunter, Forrest, and Jackson Painter when you get a chance to check out the series. They are secondary characters in the first book, but just like with the WRR series, they stepped right up and took over in the next two tales.

      I’d be very interested in your thoughts on these downhome Florida “boys” and on Riverbend, in general, if and when they come up on your Kindle. (Which I’m sure is as jammed full as mine! 🙄)

      Thanks so much for stopping by today, and here’s to a wonderful week ahead! 😀 ❤

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    • I do hope you enjoy it, Yvette, and will be looking forward to your thoughts on the story, overall.

      Thanks so much for stopping by today to check out my Bold & Blatant post, and taking a moment to say hello! 😀 ❤

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    • Thank you so much, Mae, and I’m happy that Hunter stood out for you. I’m hoping to launch a few real “marketing” campaigns this year, but until I get those going, I figured I’d give each book a Bold & Blatant post, and yes, traffic has picked up a bit.

      Thanks for stopping by and taking a moment to let me know your thoughts. Any friend of Hunter’s is a friend of mine. Oh, wait. You already were! 😂 Well, have a great week, anyway, my Penderpal! 😀 ❤

      Liked by 1 person

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    • So glad you enjoyed the good folks of Riverbend, Joan, and thank you so much for the recommendation. Also thanks for stopping by today and taking a moment to say hello. Have a super week, yourself! 😀 ❤

      Liked by 1 person

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    • Hahaha. Yes, I tend to write long novels, but hopefully, once you’re caught up in it, the pages will fly by! 😀 It was my first one, and I did try to shorten the others a bit, but my rule is, it takes what it takes to tell the whole story. (One of the reasons I’m now working on a novella. 😀 ) Thanks so much for stopping by, and I do hope you’ll check out Hunter’s story when you have a chance. It’s book 2 in the series, Book 4 overall, so I had learned a wee bit more about writing by then.

      Thanks for stopping by today and here’s to a super week! 😀 ❤

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    • Glad you enjoyed it, Priscilla. And yeah … poor Hunter has always been a man out of step with the rest of the world, marching to that different drummer we’ve all heard tell of. But Willow is one determined woman. My money’s on her. Probably. 😁

      Thanks for stopping by and taking time to say hello. Hope you have a great day! 😀 ❤

      Liked by 1 person

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