22 July, 2012

Special Feature :: Come Back to Me by Melissa Foster


*** SPECIAL FEATURE - July'12 ***
"I highly recommend not only this book but this author. This book is a must read, but, it is a box of tissue read. An Awesome Read!!!!" -- Cheryl "Mash" on Goodreads

Tess Johnson has it all: her handsome photographer husband Beau, a thriving business, and a newly discovered pregnancy. When Beau accepts an overseas photography assignment, Tess decides to wait to reveal her secret—only she’s never given the chance. Beau’s helicopter crashes in the desert.
Tess struggles with the news of Beau’s death and tries to put her life back together. Alone and dealing with a pregnancy that only reminds her of what she has lost, Tess is adrift in a world of failed plans and fallen expectations. When a new client appears offering more than just a new project, Tess must confront the circumstances of her life head on.
Meanwhile, two Iraqi women who are fleeing honor killings find Beau barely alive in the middle of the desert, his body ravaged by the crash. Suha, a doctor, and Samira, a widow and mother of three young children, nurse him back to health in a makeshift tent. Beau bonds with the women and children, and together, with the help of an underground organization, they continue their dangerous escape.
What happens next is a test of loyalties, strength, and love.

Raves & Reviews
"...a hauntingly beautiful love story against the backdrop of betrayal in a broken world." 
    - Sue Harrison, bestselling author of Mother Earth Father Sky
"Come Back to Me is passionate, romantic, and moving. A vivid story of loss and hope--a fine read for a wide audience."  - Midwest Book Review
"A story of dark realities and faith in the future--validation of love and friendship--a love story with twists and turns that will keep you reading until the end." - Kaira Rouda, author of Here, Home, Hope
"Enthralling" - Kindle Book Review
"Foster's writing captures the complexity of life, and keeps you flipping the pages until the end--surprising you all the way through." - Kathleen Shoop, bestselling author of The Last Letter
"complex and beautifully written... a unique story of danger, loyalty, and undying love." - Bestselling novelist, Darcie Chan
"Foster's latest novel is in the same league as books written by such authors as Nicholas Sparks, Jennifer Weiner, and Kristin Hannah." - Carrie Green, author of Roses are Red
"Foster's polished style develops emotional impact that will stay with the reader long after the story is done." - Leslie P. Garcia, Author
"Watch out Nicoholas Sparks, here comes Melissa Foster."
  -- P. Martin
"The courage of women--and men--to find love in changing, often dark places, makes Foster's work unusually poignant and memorable." -- L. Garcia

Awards & Achievements

Lesser known Facts 
The original ending was very different. I don’t want to expose the current ending, so I’ll just say the original ending was what the readers were hoping for
Women really do fall prey to honor killings
I have no idea where the idea for coasters came from

Book Trailer

Excerpt

Chapter 1



Iraq

Suha huddled over the hand-drawn map, wishing the shadows from the candle would stop dancing across the page and thankful that the sandstorm had finally ceased. The cadence of helicopter blades grew closer. She blew out the candle and stared into the darkness of the makeshift tent, fingers clenched, eyes wide, certain that her end had come. Samira and her three children lay sleeping on blankets they’d strewn across the sand, oblivious to the sounds of their hunters. The chopper’s rhythmic thumping passed overhead, then faded slowly into the distance.

Suha allowed herself to breathe once again. She unfurled her fingers from the edge of the thin blankets beneath her, her only cushion from the dense sand. One hand covered her racing heart, the other held her balance. Suddenly an explosion broke through the silence. Suha scrambled on her hands and knees toward Samira.  

 “Have they found us?” Samira pulled her daughter against her side and took quick inventory of her two young sons, both also fast asleep.

“Shh,” Suha commanded. She ran out of the tent and into the black of the desert night, pulling her frayed sweater tight across her plump body. Plumes of smoke rose in the distance. She whispered a fast prayer. Her heart pounded against her ribs as she spun around, looking for insurgents. The distant smell of sulfur assaulted her senses, a smell she’d become far too accustomed to since the beginning of the war. She hurried back into the tent and grabbed a flashlight.

“Suha! No!” Samira said in a harsh whisper.

“Shush. It’s far away.”

“Please!” Samira begged.

“Stay with the children.” In the two months that they’d been on the run, Suha had worn the hat of both mother and father to Samira, and jadda to Samira’s children. She’d never imagined herself as a grandmother, and bore the weight of the responsibility proudly. She would die before letting any harm come to them.

Outside the tent, Suha shivered from cold and fear as adrenaline carried her in the direction of the smoke. A mile away, she estimated. The tension in her shoulders eased. She listened to the darkness—her own panting breath the only break in the silence. A deep, low moan came from her left. Suha froze. She raised the flashlight, illuminating a path on the sand before her and then whipped the light to the sides, behind her. The shelter was nowhere in sight, tucked perfectly behind an enormous dune. She was alone.

Praying that she’d made up the noise in her own mind, she inched toward the west, using her hands to pull herself up a small hill. At the peak, she crouched, catching her breath, straining to hear any sounds; she was met with silence.  She waited until the sound of her heart beating behind her ears calmed. Satisfied that they remained undiscovered, she turned back in the direction of the shelter. The light swept over a dark lump in the sand. Suha gasped, jumping backward and expecting a siege of insurgents to appear. She flattened herself to the dune and thought of the children. Better her than them. She pulled her body up, hoping her shaking legs would sustain her as she moved forward. She’d make her father proud, rest his soul. Gathering courage like a cloak, she lifted the light once again. A man lay in the sand, blood pooled around him, his arm cocked at a painful angle. The physician in her took over, propelling her to his side. Male, early thirties. Pulse. Broken arm and leg. Contusions. Alive. Arabic flew from her mouth, “Hello. Can you hear me? Hello.” There was no response.

Suha rushed back to the shelter, her sixty-five-year-old body aching and heavy. As she flew into the tent, Samira’s eyes shot open, “What is it?”

Suha bent over the blankets, rifling through them, casting away the smaller ones and collecting the longest, strongest ones. Her fingers worked furiously, tying them to two walking sticks as she spat orders, “An injured man. You must help me. Do not wake the children.”

“Man?” Samira moved protectively closer to the children.

“Aagh,” Suha swatted at the air. “Don’t be foolish. I’m alive, aren’t I? He’s American, not Iraqi.” She stood, dragging the crude stretcher behind her. “Come! Now!” she ordered.

Contact the Author

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Giveaway
Now for the most amazing news! The Giveaway!
Ms.Foster is offering you 'Buy 2 get 1 free'. Which basically means that if you buy 2 of her books, you can get the third one for free. Just send in your receipts showing the purchase of the two books to: thinkhappygirl (at) yahoo (dot) com
Also, each week during the Special Feature, she will be giving away Signed Copy (US Only) of  Megan's Way and an Ebook (Open Internationally)!! 


Rules:
1. There's only one compulsory entry to qualify for this Giveaway. Please sign up for Melissa's Newsletter, confirm your subscription & leave us your e-mail id (in the rafflecopter entry). We will be checking.
2. If the compulsory entry is not completed properly, additional entries of that person will not count.
3.Following my blog is not an entry option here, but I would appreciate it if you do follow anyway! 
4.The signed copy is US only. So it is open to US Citizens or who can provide us with an US mailing address.
5. Ebook is open to everybody.
6. I will be selecting the winner through Random.org every Saturday and will be sending an e-mail. They have to reply with their mailing address/e-mail id within 48 hours, or I will select another winner.
7.Please do not leave your e-mail id in the comment section.



4 comments:

  1. This sounds like a wonderful, powerful book. I'm adding it to my to-read list!

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  2. This sounds like a great book. I've heard great things and read great reviews. Thanks Debdatta and best of luck Melissa:)

    Paul R. Hewlett

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OOPS, didn't read the instructions. I have not read any of her other books, but I plan to after this one.

      Paul

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