TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL by Sharon DonovanOn the eve of his wife’s death anniversary, Charles is as restless as the coming storm. Surrounded by the stillness of the Mojave Desert, he contemplates suicide. But just as he is about to jump, he hears the sweet voice of his wife, telling him it’s not his time. But when Charles meets Emma, whose resemblance to his wife is hauntingly striking, he is drawn to her. And when they discover their spouses have died on the same day and are buried side by side in the same cemetery, a spiritual bonding occurs that neither can deny. Is this fate—or is Cupid shooting arrows from the sweet hereafter?
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Excerpt from TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL
As the sun disappeared behind the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the sky blended into a menagerie of pale peach, rich magenta, and deep indigo. Charles thought of all the sunsets he’d seen with Jill. All those good times, better times. She should be here to watch the sunset with him. Why wasn’t she? Why did she have to die? He felt so betrayed. Life wasn’t fair.
White hot fury bubbled up inside him until it erupted like a quaking volcano. Pulling off to the side of the road, he hopped out of his vehicle. He stared up at the heavens and shook his fist at God. He wanted answers. He needed answers. Angry and frustrated, he bellowed at the top of his lungs.
“Why did you take my Jill from me?” his voice echoed across the canyon. “How could you take the love of my life away? How could you? How could a loving God do something so cruel? I love her! I want her here with me! I want her back!”
The air carried with it the scent of a coming storm. Thunder exploded in the distance. A desert storm was closing in on the Mojave. The wind rippled through the surrounding Joshua trees. The mournful cry of a desert thrasher sliced through the night. Charles was as restless as the approaching storm. He looked down. The hillside gave way to steep ravines, tumbling down over rugged cliffs to the valley below. The only thing separating him from a drop of several thousand feet was a mound of crumbled rock. He took a step closer.
Just as he was about to jump, a flash of lightning illuminated the sky. He thought he saw Jill. Pellets of hard rain pounded on his back, soaking him to the bone. He blinked several times, but whatever he’d seen was gone. Thunder exploded in the sky, the sound ricocheting through the heavens. Over the rumbling, he heard Jill’s sweet melodic voice. “No, Charles. Don’t jump. It’s not your time.”
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Please answer the following question for a chance to win a free copy of TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL. Or, pop in and chat with Sharon!!
What other scenic sites should Charles visit to see his Jill?
Sharon Donovan lives with her family in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She has a certificate from Bradford Business School and a certificate in medical transcription from the Community College of Allegheny County. She was a legal secretary in the Family Division of the Court of Common Pleas where she prepared cases for judges in Domestic Relations. Due to diabetic retinopathy, she lost her vision several years ago.Painting was her passion. Devastated when she could no longer paint, she took several classes in creative writing and memoir workshops. And through the darkness, a new dream resurrected for a brighter tomorrow. Motivated by new insight, instead of painting pictures on canvas, Sharon paints her pictures with words.
46 comments:
Good Morning one and all. Time to get a little closer to love. And caffeine.
Let's give Sharon a big welcome to the Roast!
Good morning! Thanks for the introduction Sarah. I'll take a cup of that coffee. I like it strong. Keep it coming! Glad to be here.
Hi Sharon,
Have you been to the Mojave?
No I haven't. Have you? I've always like the rugged countryside though--and used to ride horses quite a bit before the loss of my vision. It's a great way to tour the countryside, but those steep hills and ravines aren't the best for riding! Not unless you want to end up like poor Jill. LOL But then you could always come back and haunt someone or keep an eye out!
Morning Sharon. This sounds like another emotional read. I think he'll have to go on to the Grand Canyon in his quest for Jill.
Haven't been to Mojave, but I have been to the Grand Canyon. Awesome sight.
Hey Cindy! Hmm. The Grand Canyon huh? Aw, but what if he falls in? Or could be he wants to--just to be reunited with his Jill. Thanks for droppin by!
Hey Sarah. No doubt the Grand Canyon was an awesome sight. And it's supposed to be something when touring the sloping hills on horseback.
He should watch a sunrise at the ocean and remember their promises of forever.
welcome sharon; super excerpt, sarah :)
mmmmmmmm love me some more java, only had two 24-oz mugfulls so far! ;) lol
since i'm originally from the area, i'd suggest charles take a cruise on 'the maid of the mist' in the niagara river, just below the splendid niagara falls... legend has it many people, places and things are seen in the mist that arises from the thundering waters... just beware the whirlpool!
Hi Donna. I like that. It brings a tear to me eye! Very sentimental and a lovely thought. We should all be so lucky to find a soulmate who would remember us in such a memorable way.
Thanks for the welcome Laughingwolf. Hmm. I simply adore legends and lore and myths of all kinds. And Charles would most definitely enjoy boarding the Maid of the Mist on his quest for Jill. Hey, if she appeared to him in the sky in the middle of a storm, why not rising from the mist? So where were you when I was writing this book? LOL
Hi Sharon!
Lovely excerpt, I can definitely feel his pain, anger, and frustration.
Another scenic spot? I live in the Appalachian mountains and I think Charles should come to the Great Smokies. They're a great source of comfort and inspiration to me. :)
Sounds like a very heartwarming story.
lol... thx sharon :)
i was likely where i am now, on the north atlantic coast, in halifax nova scotia, where i came some 12 years ago to parent my kids, after the ex took a massive stroke that left her paralyzed on right side and unable to speak....
Hello Miss Mae! Thanks for popping in! How lucky you are to live surrounded by such rugged landscape. I'm sure it inspires you to write so many of your books. I think Charles would love to reflect on his life with Jill in the Smokies. And who knows? Maybe she'll appear to him again. One never knows in the wonderful world of fiction, right?
Thanks for commenting Charles. Touched by an Angel is all about letting go of the past, hard as it is. Through Jill, he realizes unless he moves on, he won't have a future.
I met my soulmate in a vegetarian chinese restaurant. Not great for scenery, but the food's awesome.
Do we get to see and hear from Jill much in the novel?
Hi Sharon!
Yup, the Grand Canyon, it has to be!
The best of luck with your book and I like tea instead of coffee.
Got a lovely chai tea in this pot here.
I'm sure Nova Scotia is very lovely, Laughingwolf. Sometimes tragic things bring family together. Now you are with your kids. I've been to the Atlantic Breakers, the cliffs of Moher when visiting Ireland. Quite awesome. Perhaps Jill will appear there next in Charles' quest to find her.
Hey Mary! Thanks for stopping by with the TWRP party going on in full swing. I'm running in and out. So the Grand Canyon seems to be where Charles should go next. Hmmm. BTW I like tea and coffee but gotta have my java in the am. Hey Sarah, pour me a cup of that Chai! And to answer your question, Jill appears but once in the book, but between you and Laughingwolf, I might be scheming up a sequel in the works!
Ahhh, folks. Charles knows that he will see Jill again someday. But for now he needs to move on with his life.
Maybe a Jill of another name. Oops! Did I give away too much? But then I have read the book and it is both heart-wrenching and heartwarming. Loved the description, plot and the tenderness and depth of the characters.
A must read! Ain't sayin' no more.
LOL Laurie! No, you didn't give too much away. Caus you know I'd just have to kill you, girlfriend. LOL All kidding aside, thanks for your kind words on the book. And yes, you're right. Charles will see his sweet Jill again some day in the sweet hereafter--if not sooner in the sequel! I've been inspired at today's book roast to do a sequel with a tad bit more of the paranormal. What do you think?
Whooooohooooo! Hi Sharon! I loved ... no ..... LOVED Touched by an Angel! Such a sweet sweet story! I've already read Touched by An Angel but I would like to answer the scenic question. I think Yellowstone National Park, it is beautiful and so serene. Perfect place! Congratulations on being roasted! Makes me think of peanuts! lol You really are an author that will be making it big and I am glad to be with you on your journey to the top.
Sharon, you know how I love this story, and I'm so pleased you're thinking of writing a sequel - and of course I love anything with a bit of paranormal in it.
For readers, I can truly recommend 'Touched By An Angel' if you want a lovely, inspirational read which leaves yo with a warm glow. As for a place for Charles to search for his Jill, of course I'm not personally familiar with any of those beautiful places in America For myself, I'd love to see the Grand Canyon, but I love Laughing Wolf's suggestion of a Trip on the 'Maid Of The Mist' for Charles.
Hey Val! Aw..aren't you sweet! I'm so glad you dropped by. And I like your scenic suggestion. Hmmm. Maybe Charles could visit Yellowstone and see Jill in the mist of Old Faithful. Kind of appropriate, don't ya think?
Hi Lyn! Thanks for dropping by. And how lovely of you to give Touched by an Angel such praise. I am really giving this sequel some serious thought and adding more paranormal might be quite interesting. I got so many great suggestions, and who knows? Maybe Charles might even spot his sweet Jill in your beloved home of Wales!
Hi Sharon - Hope I'm not too late for the roast! Some other commenters have mentioned some great spots! I can see him thinking about her at a quiet spot near the ocean or at the Grand Canyon. Especially in the quiet early dawn or just at twilight! I'm thinking a very earlly morning in the Everglades too 'cause it is very misty and gives me an other world eerie feeling!
Hi Martha. No you are not too late. Thanks for dropping by! Now you've given me something else to think about in my sequel. The Everglades are a bit eerie and I'm getting a vision of Jill coming out of the water as a mermaid!
Well you've all given me lots to think about should I decide on a sequel for Touched by an Angel. But then again, sometimes the sequel in both the book and the movie are a disappointment? Any thoughts?
thx sharon, parts of nova scotia are awesome...
never been to ireland, but how you describe it makes me want to check it out, thank you! :D
oh yes, definitely a sequel with more paranormal sounds grand!
go for it, sharon :D
Just a half hour left before we're all burnt to a crisp. So get those last minute comments in.
LOL Laughingwolf! I am most definitely giving it some serious thought. And I think the paranormal would make it more surreal with a touch of mystic. And with all these great suggestions, hey, why not go for a series? I hear it happened once upon a time on a television show. LOL
Sharon, for me, nothing beats the Rocky Mountains for scenery. I haven't been many places, but of where I've been, they're my favorite! Sounds like a very heartfelt book.
Hi Stacey! Thanks for stopping by. I think Charles would like to go the the Rockies to reflect upon his life with Jill. And she might even come to pay him a little visit.
The grill's out of gas and it's time for Sharon to pick a winner as soon as she's ready. Hope you enjoyed today's landscape feast!
Thanks Sarah! It was a lot of fun and not so bad for my first roast. Thanks to all of you who left comments. I'm not kidding. I am seriously considering doing a sequel based on all of your great suggestions. Now for the winner. I just drew one name from a basket and the winner is...drum roll....Mary Ricksen. Congratulations Mary! Email me at
sharonad@comcast.net Good night all!
Hi Sharon,
Intresting story and a gorgeous cover.
Regards
Margaret
Books and the Rocky Mountains? Add chocolate to that, and I'm in heaven!
Great excerpt!!! Sorry I'm so late, but we are traveling at the moment.
Hello Margaret. Thanks for popping in and thank you for the compliments on Touched by an Angel.
No problems Sharon,it was a pleasure.
Regards
Margaret
You got it Chris! Hope you're having a good time. Thanks for the roast. Here's to the Roast Masters!!
grats mary... and thank you sharon :)
Thanks for helping make it a fun day Laughingwolf!!
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