Sneak Peek Sunday-Sandi Layne

A peek into…

An Unexpected Woman, a Contemporary Inspirational Romance by Sandi Layne

Release Date:July 11, 2013, Via TWCS

SUMMARY:

“Put a bow around the woman you want for me, so I’ll know.”

A paradise for some,Florida is a lonely place for Associate Pastor Dr. Mark Countryman. Hurt byrelationships in the past, Mark wonders if there is someone out there forhim. He asks God to make his will clear.

When he stumbles overlocal girl Shelley Roberts while out to lunch one afternoon, he feels both anattraction to her and the need to guard his heart. Her chipper and sunnydemeanor add brightness to each day he spends with her, but his track recordwith relationships keeps him from fully opening his heart. Their burgeoningrelationship is put to the test when a brewing storm off the Florida Peninsulathreatens their city. Shelley prays for God’s help as she prepares for allcontingencies, while Mark stands firm in his faith in God’s protection.

Excerpt from the book:

“Mark!” Anne said,her voice echoing off the white walls as she lifted the white plastic bag withhis lunch. “Ready!”

He paid for it, lefther a tip, and was backing up to the door, telling Anne to have a good day,when the door opened and he collided with an incoming customer. “Whoa!” heexclaimed, arms flailing enough that he was relieved that all the food wassecure inside well-packed containers.

“Hey!” the incomingcustomer said in response, her laughter warm as she caught him with one hand oneither side of his ribs. “Steady, there,” she advised, holding him until bothhis feet were firm on the faded tile floor. “Y’all right?”

“Yeah,” he said,feeling more than a little embarrassed to have been caught so off-center, andto have been held up by a woman. Meetingher eyes, he had to catch his breath. “Thankyou.”

Her dancing browneyes were bold below marked brown brows as she appeared to study him to assureherself he was, indeed, able to stand on his own. He had the definite feeling,though, that she was checking him out, which wasdisconcerting . . . and a little flattering. As brief as thecontact had been, he felt the emptiness where her hands had braced him. Blowingout a puff of air, he tried to shrug the expectant feeling away.

Hands dropping to hersides, she nodded. “You’re welcome. But hey, if you ever feel the need to stepinto a gravity well again,” she said with a laugh, “I’ll be more than happy tohelp!” Her wink was playful and he knew that she could indeed be flirtatious,given the opportunity.

It was not in hisnature, though, to provide one. He could only look at her in surprise andregret that he couldn’t seem to respond in kind. He wanted to, but felt out ofhis depth with her. And gravity well?Was that a new slang term or something?

“Shelley! You’reearly,” Anne said from behind the counter. “Busy day today?”

A strange upsurge ofhope sent his eyebrows up. Shelley. Her name was Shelley…