Becoming Magic
by Michelle Garren Flye
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GENRE: contemporary romance
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BLURB:
Carole Barnes once believed she would make her own way in Hollywood,
but those days are long gone, leaving behind only a dark, slimy secret that Carole has never shared
with anyone. Now she hides in the bright sunshine of the Crystal Coast of North Carolina.
As far away as she can get from Hollywood. But what to do when Hollywood comes knocking in the
form of a sexy movie star?
Connor Wallace has everything going for him—looks, talent, a successful career—
but what he really wants is to perform magic on stage. His love of magic leads him back to his mentor
Walt Bryson. At first, he’s pleased when Walt suggests his assistant Carole produce a documentary
of his transformation from movie star to magician. He’s worked with Carole before—
but the ambitious girl who had a crush on him is gone now, leaving a beautiful, withdrawn woman.
It’s the perfect arrangement. Carole knows she can make a success of the movie and Connor wants
to work with her. But as they grow closer, Connor determines to find out her secret.
Can love overcome the boundaries of fear? Or will Carole’s past return to plague them both?
but those days are long gone, leaving behind only a dark, slimy secret that Carole has never shared
with anyone. Now she hides in the bright sunshine of the Crystal Coast of North Carolina.
As far away as she can get from Hollywood. But what to do when Hollywood comes knocking in the
form of a sexy movie star?
Connor Wallace has everything going for him—looks, talent, a successful career—
but what he really wants is to perform magic on stage. His love of magic leads him back to his mentor
Walt Bryson. At first, he’s pleased when Walt suggests his assistant Carole produce a documentary
of his transformation from movie star to magician. He’s worked with Carole before—
but the ambitious girl who had a crush on him is gone now, leaving a beautiful, withdrawn woman.
It’s the perfect arrangement. Carole knows she can make a success of the movie and Connor wants
to work with her. But as they grow closer, Connor determines to find out her secret.
Can love overcome the boundaries of fear? Or will Carole’s past return to plague them both?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT
She looked around, spotting Connor almost immediately. She took a half step toward him and froze,
stumbling a little, her eyes on the dark-haired man at the next table. He was the large, powerful type
you got used to seeing in Hollywood. The kind who worked out at a gym first thing in the morning
and then again at night. He was good-looking in a slick, well-kept way. Nothing about this man was
an accident.
stumbling a little, her eyes on the dark-haired man at the next table. He was the large, powerful type
you got used to seeing in Hollywood. The kind who worked out at a gym first thing in the morning
and then again at night. He was good-looking in a slick, well-kept way. Nothing about this man was
an accident.
And nothing about his appearance should make her want to find the nearest potted plant and puke in it,
but that was exactly how she felt, nonetheless. She felt hot and cold in quick fluctuations.
She swallowed hard against the bile that rose in her throat and wheeled around, knocking into
a waiter with a tray full of glasses as she did, sending them flying with a crystalline clatter.
but that was exactly how she felt, nonetheless. She felt hot and cold in quick fluctuations.
She swallowed hard against the bile that rose in her throat and wheeled around, knocking into
a waiter with a tray full of glasses as she did, sending them flying with a crystalline clatter.
The icy water erased the need to throw up, but not the need to flee.
She wanted to look over her shoulder, to see if Connor had seen, but nothing mattered except getting
away now. The world whirled and refocused on a narrow aisle leading her away and she followed.
She wanted to look over her shoulder, to see if Connor had seen, but nothing mattered except getting
away now. The world whirled and refocused on a narrow aisle leading her away and she followed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Guest Post
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Guest Post
If you were a Hollywood star, what would a day in your life look like if you weren't currently filming anything?
A Free Day in Hollywood
By Michelle Garren Flye
If I were a movie star living in Hollywood and had a free
day, what would I do? I have to say, I would definitely spend a good portion of
it at The Magic Castle. I’ve done some research into The Magic Castle for the
purpose of setting part of Becoming Magic
there, but there’s a surprising lack of information about The Academy of
Magical Arts’ clubhouse. (I mean, it’s the age of cell phone cameras and social
media. How do they keep everything so under wraps?) So I’d definitely like to
find out if I got even a little bit of what I wrote correct.
Of course, I’d have lunch and dinner reservations, and I’d
be an associate member. So, I’d sleep in because as a movie star, I’d probably
be trying to play parts that are at least ten years younger than I am and
that’s going to require some serious beauty sleep. Then I’d take a jog because
I’d want to stay in shape even if I didn’t currently have a role to work on.
After a shower, I’d be off to The Magic Castle for a late lunch.
Hopefully this would be Friday because there’s a special
members’ only lunchtime magic show on Fridays. After a lengthy lunch with
fellow members of the Academy (maybe including Neil Patrick Harris or Steve
Martin), I would head home to change for dinner because the evening dress code
at The Magic Castle is pretty specific and very classy. After dressing appropriately,
I would head back, stopping by the bar to meet friends, not so much for the
drinks as for the bartender’s magic tricks. Everyone knows they’re the best
magicians in the whole Castle.
Dinner would have to be early because I wouldn’t want to be
late for the magic shows. The only way to get a ticket to the largest show in
the Palace of Mystery is by dining there. My friends and I would enjoy dinner
together, then head straight there for the headline attraction. After that
amazing experience, we’d hit the smaller venues before, finally, leaving.
Of course, all this would be pretty expensive. So after a
good night’s sleep, I’d probably put in an anxious call to my agent to see if
there were any leads on a new role that would be just perfect for me.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Michelle Garren Flye is an award-winning romance author of eleven novels and counting.
Her short stories have been published by the romance anthology Foreign Affairs, Opium.com,
SmokelongQuarterly.com and Flashquake.com, among others. She has served on the editorial staffs
of Horror Library, Butcher Shop Quartet and Tattered Souls. Michelle has a Bachelor’s degree in
Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and
a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from the University of North Carolina at
Greensboro. She is the mother of three and lives in North Carolina.
Her short stories have been published by the romance anthology Foreign Affairs, Opium.com,
SmokelongQuarterly.com and Flashquake.com, among others. She has served on the editorial staffs
of Horror Library, Butcher Shop Quartet and Tattered Souls. Michelle has a Bachelor’s degree in
Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and
a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from the University of North Carolina at
Greensboro. She is the mother of three and lives in North Carolina.
Links:
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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION
Michelle Garren Flye will be awarding a $50 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly
drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome!
DeleteI am enjoying these tours and finding all the terrific books my family is enjoying reading. Thanks for bringing them to us and keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteThank you, James.
DeleteThanks for letting me post on your blog today. :)
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome! :)
DeleteThanks for sharing, I enjoyed reading your post ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading, Victoria. I'm curious—how would you spend a free day in Hollywood if you were a movie star?
DeleteSounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteThank you for checking it out again, Rita! Do you have any thoughts about how you'd spend a day in Hollywood?
DeleteThank you for the chance!
ReplyDeleteHi Chelsey! Thank you so much for stopping by. Any other suggestions for how to spend a day off in Hollywood?
DeleteI enjoyed reading your guest post today.
ReplyDelete