HOLLYLAND
by Patricia Leavy
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GENRE: Romance
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BLURB:
What happens when a seemingly ordinary woman with a passion for the arts falls in love with a Hollywood star known for his bachelor status and quick temper with the paparazzi? Something extraordinary.
Dee Schwartz is a writer and arts researcher. Ryder Field is a famous actor descended from Hollywood royalty. On the night they meet outside a bar, their connection is palpable. Ryder’s mother—legendary actress Rebecca Field, half of Hollywood’s golden couple when she died—was kidnapped and murdered by a crazed fan in a shocking event that forever tarnished Tinseltown. Dee’s mother, too, died when she was young. Bonded by this loss, the two embark on a love story that explores their search for magic—or “gold dust”—in their lives. Everything changes, however, when Dee mysteriously disappears after an awards ceremony. Is history repeating itself? Can there truly be a happily ever after in Hollywood?
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He waited at the bottom of the staircase, and when she returned, he led her to Seymour’s home screening room. He held both of her hands in his and said, “You told me that you lost your mother’s voice. I spoke to your father, and it turns out that Seymour, being the film enthusiast he is, made home movies of your parents on a camcorder when you were a little girl. Your father said you used to run away from the camera because you were so shy, so that’s probably why you don’t remember. Seymour went digging through his warehouse.” He stopped and kissed her hands. “Sweetheart, he found the videos. We had them transferred onto a disc. I gave your father a copy too.”
Her eyes became misty, her lips quivering. He squeezed her hands and said, “Just sit here.”
She sat down, a bit stunned, and he darted to the back of the room. He turned the lights off, hit play, and then took the seat beside her, handing her a preemptive tissue. Suddenly, Lisette Schwartz was on the screen, talking and laughing, as radiant as a movie star.
“Oh my God,” Dee gasped as her eyes flooded with hot tears. A moment later, Lisette twirled little Dee around. She couldn’t have been more than five years old. Dee tried to run behind her mother, shy in front of the camera. Lisette laughed and said, “My sweet little Deanna.” She scooped her up in her arms. “I love you, sweet girl.”
When the video ended, Dee looked at Rye through a film of hot tears. He gently brushed away the salty water and pressed his forehead to hers. When she was able to speak again, she softly said, “You gave me my mother’s voice.”
“Seymour helped,” he replied.
“You gave me my mother’s voice. I love you more than I could ever say.”
He kissed her softly. “I love you with all my heart. Forever.”
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Patricia Leavy, PhD, is an award-winning, best-selling author. She was formerly Associate Professor of Sociology, Chairperson of Sociology & Criminology, and Founding Director of Gender Studies at Stonehill College. She has published more than forty books; her work has been translated into many languages, and she has received more than forty book honors. Hollyland was featured on She Reads in “The Most Anticipated Romances of Spring 2023” and was the 2023 Firebird Book Awards 1st Place Winner in Pop Culture Fiction and 1st Place Winner in Summer/Beach Read. Patricia has also received career awards from the New England Sociological Association, the American Creativity Association, the American Educational Research Association, the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry, and the National Art Education Association. In 2018, she was honored by the National Women’s Hall of Fame and SUNY-New Paltz established the “Patricia Leavy Award for Art and Social Justice.” Patricia lives in Maine. In addition to writing, she enjoys art, reading, and travel.
Website: www.patricialeavy.com
She
Writes Press: https://shewritespress.com/product/hollyland/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WomenWhoWrite/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patricialeavy
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PatriciaLeavy
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Thank you for hosting!
ReplyDeleteThe cover looks very nice
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