Carmen DeSousa

For those of you who have read She Belongs to Me , you may have heard there’s a spin-off to the romantic-suspense bestseller. Though there aren’t really any spoilers, you can bypass this excerpt and read more about the first book here .  Also, if you’ve read my novels, you know that I deal with a lot of real-life scenarios, some of which we don’t like, but they still exist. I do not, however, go into any graphic detail…I simply attempt for the reader to feel the character’s thoughts—good and bad. That said, welcome to the second eight sentences of Split Decisions . If you missed last week’s excerpt, click here first . There’s a link that will bring you right back. Excerpt: The world stopped shaking for a moment, but then she felt herself soaring through the air, landing with a thud, and then the room went black. When she opened her eyes, her father ’ s arms surrounded her, warm and strong. "No one will hurt you, C.J., never again, I promise." She wante...

When two strangers have nothing left but their dreams, they must forge a relationship in Nantahala, North Carolina, a small town known as  Land of the Noonday Sun . My female protagonist has willingly moved to Nantahala, NC to receive an inheritance from an estranged relative, but she isn't prepared for the entire situation if it involves him. “Then let’s continue.” Mr. Brady fanned out the appropriate paperwork. After signing all the documents, he handed a key to Cassandra—the key to her new home. “Walter already has his and has agreed to show you the way.” “What?” she petitioned, bursting from her chair. “He…he lives there…too?” she stammered. “Of course, but if you would rather live somewhere else, that would be permissible. The instructions of the will stated you have to work at the store; it didn’t necessitate living in the family home,” the attorney said. Cassandra looked over at him and noticed he was smiling. It wasn’t the same friendly smile as ...

When a new attorney accepts a case of a woman accused of attempted homicide, he finds himself entwined in age-old secrets and a family who will stop at nothing to conceal them—even murder. If you’ve been following me, you’ll know it is tradition to share a first kiss from my novels. For reasons I won't disclose, our heroine is a little tipsy, but she still knows what she wants. If you haven’t and would prefer to read the full prologue first, along with the previous samples, click here . Excerpt : As he escorted Shelby onto the deck, he surveyed the night sky again. Only this time for its beauty, not to hide his sorrow. He loved being away from the city, even one as small as Ashville. The country was so dark that you could see every star. He returned his attention to the lovely woman in front of him, though. A wash of guilt spread over him for not protecting her. He should have seen that the woman had meant her harm. Shelby set her drink on the railing, wat...

When I decided to write a second book in Nantahala, NC, I decided the first person I should tell is the star of the first book. If you haven’t read the first book, no worries, I’m not even going to call him by name. So, without further ado, let me introduce you to my favorite male protagonist, the kayak guide hottie—from Land of the Noonday Sun . Kayaker : Leaning back and narrowing those bright blue eyes below his dark brows, he asks, “So, why did you want to interview me, Carmen? You have male characters from all walks of life. Why me? Though, I think I have a sneaking suspicion why.” Carmen : “Well, I watched you grow up. I put you through one tragedy after another, gave you obstacles and weaknesses to overcome, and I thought you turned out wonderfully, with a few exceptions.” Kayaker : “Humph! That’s a nice way of putting it, but thank you for the friends and strength you provided along the way.” He leans forward and tilts his head. “Wha...

When a new attorney accepts a case of a woman accused of attempted homicide, he finds himself entwined in age-old secrets and a family who will stop at nothing to conceal them—even murder. Over the last few weeks, I shared peeks into my male and female protagonists’ psyche, giving you a glimpse at who they are. One of the other things I love is to share the outdoors. Here is just a snippet of nature and a sprinkling of the romance to come. If you haven’t and would prefer to read the full prologue first, click here . Excerpt : Tom walked out onto the deck adjacent the room and leaned against the railing. He stared out over Lake Nantahala. It was so peaceful this time of night, even the cicadas hadn’t emerged too early this year, filling the evening with their vociferous symphony. Instead, a few crickets and frogs provided a soft soundtrack almost lulling him asleep.  The sun had already made its descent behind the trees, but the sky still had remnants of p...

When a new attorney accepts a case of a woman accused of attempted homicide, he finds himself entwined in age-old secrets and a family who will stop at nothing to conceal them—even murder. As always, I like to start a new series of excerpts by introducing my protagonists. Today we are in our female protagonist’s POV, as she meets her attorney, Tom Turner. If you haven’t and would prefer to read the full prologue first, click here . Excerpt : Shelby examined Tom as he sat across from her. Man, he was good looking. She probably shouldn’t be thinking about things like that, but she couldn’t help it. He had the prettiest hazel eyes that stood out under long sun-bleached eyelashes. His hair was light brown, but it too had a natural hint of gold in it. He dug inside his briefcase. “So,” he began, as he removed a manila folder with her name written neatly across the tab. “They dropped the charges?” It was a question, not a statement. He folded his hands on the tabl...