This week, in celebration of my new release, I'm running a contest to give away a copy of my sweet contemporary/historical romance
Giovanna's Dilemma. Also, I want to try out the rafflecopter giveaway ap. ;-)
BLURB
When JP takes Karen out to celebrate their four-month
dating anniversary, he wines and dines her at Jean Q's, London's best
restaurant. After a wonderful meal, he has another surprise for her: his
prepared lecture at the National Gallery, where he presents Karen with a unique
and entertaining interpretation of the love story between feisty Giovanna
Cenami and Pieter Baes, Jan van Eyck's young assistant at the time van Eyck
painted the famous Arnolfini Betrothal
Portrait.
EXCERPT
"Ooh. I get to see my man at work! I
love it. Come on, big guy, let's hear this amazing lecture. Educate me." I
wrapped my hands around his neck and whispered seductively.
JP stared at me, his face turning shades of
red. He was so much fun! I could do this forever. I kissed his cheek and
released him.
"I hope you like it. It's a special
lecture. I wrote it with you in mind. In fact, wrote it for you."
"Aw . . . that's so sweet! But keep the
technical details down to a minimum, would you? Unlike you, I haven't been studying Art History for
the last sixteen years."
"Great!" JP turned me around, and
we walked to an empty bench set against the back wall.
He sat down beside me. At a distance of some
twenty-odd feet, van Eyck's work looked completely different than when I stood up
close.
"I thought we could start from back
here and then move up, you know, to change our perspective."
"Of course, because perspective is
everything in life, isn't it, sweetie?" I patted his hand encouragingly.
Slipping into lecture mode, JP took my hand,
much in the same way the fur-coated man held the preggo's hand in the painting;
I was touched to see how nervous he was. This sweet, passionate man, who
researched and lectured on art for a living!
He cleared his throat. "This is one of
van Eyck's most famous masterpieces. It tells a very romantic story."
"Really? That stodgy guy doesn't look
like much of a romantic," I said.
JP chuckled. "Oh, no. This painting
doesn't merely depict a romance between Giovanna Cenami and Giovanni
Arnolfini."
I thought about this while I studied the
painting. "Well, the only other thing is that little terrier standing
guard between the couple. And this is a portrait painting. I know that much
from having dated you these past months."
"Ah . . . the lady doth listen."
I teased him. "Of course the lady
listens! Just because she doesn't care doesn't mean she doesn't listen.
So, tell me then, oh learned one, where is the romance in this painting, if it
isn't between the old man and the young woman whose hand he's holding?"
"Allow me to
show you." With a wry smile, he launched into the love story of Pieter
Baes and Giovanna Cenami.
I hope many will enter my contest! I'm a sucker for giveaways, so if it proves to be popular, I just might give a copy away each week for the next four weeks! Don't let me down, sweet readers. Enter, enter,enter! I really want you to read this love story. :-)
