Today’s the day!! After more than a year of writing, editing, and revising, Painted Dreams is available for your reading pleasure. 🙂
This sweet contemporary romance kicks off a series (Art from the Heart) that features artists and characters who work in art-related fields–talented painters, flashy jewelry designers, serious art dealers, hunky craftsmen, and more!
Bright City Lights or Rugged Rocky Mountains…
Is a long-distance romance destined to fizzle in the busy-ness of day-to-day life? For Kat, Facetime is a poor substitute for Nick’s warm embrace, the spontaneous squeeze of his hand, and shared moments. Will someone have to “give” to make this work?
–Excerpt:
“I’m going to miss you,” Nick whispered against her hair.
“I’ll miss you, too. Call me when you get home, okay?”
“Will do.” His lips met hers, and she closed her eyes, basking in the warmth.
Moments later, he stepped onto the airport shuttle. As suddenly as he’d popped into her life, he was gone again. With a chilly wind stinging her cheeks, she waved. The cold seeped into her veins. Already, winter felt more bleak and gray without Nick’s warm hands and electric smile. She watched the van drive away and wondered, given their long-distance situation, had they just ended something or started something?
Book Boyfriend ready to wrap you in all the feels…
Nick Summers = sweet dreams
–Excerpt:
Kat stopped short. Her mother sat at the long mahogany table nearly shoulder-to-shoulder with a handsome man in a black dress shirt and tie. His shirtsleeves were pushed up, revealing muscular arms. Kat was momentarily flustered as those gorgeous eyes locked onto hers.
Her mother began gathering papers, prompting Nick Summers to do the same. “Why don’t I take these with me and draw up some ideas for you to look at?”
Kat stared at him. She’d never heard such a distinctive voice—velvety rich and commanding. The kind of voice you’d recognize immediately. Interesting…
…Time to do a little research and see what the internet could reveal about the intriguing Nick Summers.
Only took a few seconds to discover he had a social media presence but didn’t post much. Still, what was there presented a nice glimpse. In one photo, he was hoisting lumber on his shoulder and wearing a Habitat for Humanity shirt. As she scrolled down, another photo stopped her. Looked like Nick and his family—mom, dad and maybe a sister on a hike. Another of them picnicking beside a creek. Normal family activities. Nick’s wide smile indicated enjoyment if not joy.
Moving on to other search results, Kat discovered Nick’s name in numerous news articles. She had no idea what the different letters behind his name meant. But it was obvious the man worked hard and participated in the arts community. By all accounts, Nick Summers appeared to be a local hero.
Painted Dreams
— Katlyn Andrews is a talented artist on her way to fulfilling a dream—her own show at a New York City gallery. Focused on her career, she’s ditched her hometown of Denver for the bright lights of the Big Apple. When she’s drawn back to check on her beloved grandmother, she finds a surprise—Nick Summers, a woodworker bidding on a job at her parents’ upscale home. Nick’s gorgeous smile and easy-going manner charm Kat. Too bad he lives in Colorado.
Nick adores the mountains of Colorado, but NYC is on his radar. He’s auditioning to be a guest host on a home-builders network there. Since that’s a long shot, he’s still pounding the pavement closer to home to secure jobs like the high-end Andrews project. Meeting his client’s intriguing daughter has his thoughts going in other directions. Too bad she lives in New York.
But distance can’t dim their undeniable attraction. Unfortunately, it turns out dreams can be shattered. While Nick’s career is on an upward trajectory, Kat’s unexpectedly takes a big hit. Devastated, she struggles to find a path forward. Nick fears her family’s status and wealth keep her from seeing reality—is she reaching for the stars before paying her dues?
In her heart, Kat knows he’s wrong about her…but could her heart be wrong about him?—
Get your copy at all the usual online retailers today! Happy Reading to all!
Darlene
Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/painted-dreams/id6749023069
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/painted-dreams-darlene-deluca/1147882921?ean=2940181700840
Woo-hoo! We’re only a week away from Release Day! Sunset Ledge is a sequel to my sweet romance The Story Between Us, but can be read as a stand-alone. It’s what we call a silver fox, or seasoned, romance because the primary characters are age 50-plus. They are characters who’ve seen a little of life. They’ve been around the block a time or two, and they might be a little set in their ways. They’ve accepted where they are in life, so when an unexpected attraction and opportunity for a romantic relationship arises, they’re hesitant, cautious and maybe a little nervous . . .
![Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000026_00033]](https://darlenedeluca.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/moc_cover-front.jpg)
(Okay, yes, there’s also the hand-wringing, tweaking, staring into space, critiquing, and head-banging.) For at least a year, I spend a lot of time with these characters, getting into their heads and personalities, trying to figure out how they would respond in any given situation. What would they do or say? So much so, that they really do seem to become real!
According to Kirkus Reviews, it’s “an absorbing story of redemption that’s hard to put down.” And InD’Tale Magazine says, “With surprising plot twists and unique character conflict, Something Good more than lives up to its name!” 
darlene deluca 