Deshi Han, a martial arts actor and
director, thinks a serious relationship would hamper his career. On a charity
trip to the Philippines he agrees to take a young American woman back to Hong
Kong to rest and regain her memory.
Once
back in Hong Kong, Deshi reluctantly allows the young woman, whom he names
Annie, to accompany him on the movie sets and on his trips across China.
Despite his attempts to remain aloof with Annie, a romance develops between
them.
Meanwhile,
Annie is troubled by nightmares which allude to a danger lurking from her past
and someone on Deshi’s crew is trying to sabotage their budding romance. As
Deshi is forced repeatedly to disrupt his work schedule to protect Annie, it
serves to confirm his belief that careers and relationships don’t mix.
But
when it looks like Deshi will lose Annie, and he risks everything to save her,
will it be too late?
Book Excerpt:
Leyte Province in the
Philippines. Her running steps echoed from the walls. Would he catch her? It
meant white slavery if he did. Slamming open the kitchen door, she burst out of
the hotel despite the typhoon ravaging the eastern coast. The destructive winds
and rains were buffered in the alleyway behind the hotel, but she still had to
fight for each step away from the man she knew was just behind her.
Without warning,
massive walls of water rushed into the alley from both ends. The sixteen-foot
wave scooped her up and battered her against the buildings. When the storm
surge receded, she lay bruised and unconscious beneath a mass of water-logged
debris.
*
“I’m told there are eleven buildings,
besides this church, serving as shelters,” Father Donovan said. “I haven’t left
here since the typhoon hit four days ago. Is the damage extensive?”
“Yes.
Very. Many people with no homes, no food,” Deshi Han replied.
Father
Donovan put his hand on Deshi’s shoulder. “You brought much-needed food and
supplies. Your movies are loved but your charity work is well-known here in the
Philippines. I thank you. You are truly doing God’s work, my son.”
Deshi
watched as a volunteer passed out the blankets he had brought, which would help
to cushion the pews they were using for beds. He shook his head. “I wish I do
more.”
“Perhaps
there is something …” Father Donovan began.
“What,
Father?” He followed the priest to a courtyard. A young woman sat beside a
storm-crushed rose bed. Deshi guessed her to be American, in her early
twenties. “Who she, Father?”
“No
one knows, not even her.” Father Donovan tilted his head to the side and
sighed. “She has no memory of anything before the typhoon. One of the doctors
informed me that she just needs rest to regain her memory.”
Deshi
watched the girl slowly gather the broken branches from around the few unharmed
plants. A child about five years old ran up and tapped her on the shoulder. The
young woman’s solemn face broke into a smile as the child led her away toward
another section of the church.
Father
Donovan turned to Deshi. “But she won’t get that rest here. She has nightmares
and cries for the orphaned and injured children. I’ve prayed for someone to
claim her and take her away from here.”
“We
delivered the supplies to the kitchen.” Jun Chew, Deshi’s assistant, spoke in
Cantonese as she approached them.
Deshi
turned away from the doorway, nodded at Jun then called to his business
manager, “Where the next shelter, Paul?”
Paul
Wu shook his head then responded in English. “We have distributed all the
supplies we brought, Deshi. That is all we can do today.”
“Besides,”
Jun continued in Cantonese, “we have to get back or you will be late for the
senior citizen center opening.”
The
supplies had gone so fast. They had only been to six of the eleven shelters and
there were so many people still in need. “Maybe one more thing I can do today,”
Deshi said with a sigh. “Father?”
The
priest’s right hand clutched the large cross at his neck and he smiled. “Yes,
my son?”
“I
will take her.”
Buy Links:
Amzn.to/1ACgwor or if that doesn’t work - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00U733CBY
D. Dominik Wickles is the pseudonym for Romance author,
Diane T. Wickles. Diane has always been overly curious and loves to try new
things. Some of her interests have included studying martial arts, getting her
degree in Criminal Justice, ice skating, traveling and of course, writing
stories. Her career path has taken her from bank teller to probation officer to
computer instructor to library clerk to author.
She has explored many genres including horror, humor and
mystery publishing several short pieces on various online magazines. Diane’s
books always have a happy ending but the road to that point is rife with
mystery and danger. She is a member of Pennwriters and is active in two local
writing groups.
At her home in northwestern Pennsylvania, she talks to
her cat, reads 2-3 books at a time, constantly searches for new vegan recipes
and creates her characters. In her spare time, she loves camping and building
dollhouses.
Contact her at: ddominikwicklesATgmailDotcom
Social Media Links:
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ddominikwickles
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ddominikwickles
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/dianetwickles
Good morning Diane. Thanks so much for being my guest today! What a great excerpt! I wish you tons of sales and luck on your book!
ReplyDeleteThank you Penny for allowing me this opportunity to share my book with your readers. Love your blog!
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