I have a new release (Wednesday, May 22, 2024) I'd like to
share with you—CHANGING THE PAST by USA Today Bestselling author Shawna Delacorte,
a contemporary romance published by The Wild Rose Press available in both ebook
and print.
CHANGING THE PAST is a journey through shattered emotions, trying to rebuild anew from the past. It's about Meg Wainright's deep pain from the betrayal of her love, her broken heart, and her shattered trust over a relationship she thought would last a lifetime. It's about Blaine Reeves and his major regret over a horrible decision he made ten years ago, a decision made out of fear, one that has lived inside him every day since then. The story of whether two people can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles to change the past and find a second chance at happiness for the future.
It's also the story of Crista Franklin, Blaine's older
sister, and Dennis Mallory, managing editor at Blaine's publishing company—two
people who have been platonic friends for several years. Crista's recent
divorce after 25 years of marriage suddenly opens the door to a new level of
their friendship, one that draws them closer but also leaves each of them frightened
about where it seems to be going and the emotional impact.
The story is about overcoming the past to discover a future
that will last a lifetime—undoing the old in order to embrace the new, where
true love can overcome devastating obstacles.
Synopsis:
Prologue (in Los Angeles, California): Meg Wainwright was head over heels in love
with Blaine Reeves and thought he felt the same. She was devastated when he suddenly
walked out of her life without any warning.
Story (in London, England): Ten years later, successful photographer-writer
Meg arrives in London to photograph and write the first in a series of travel
book for a British publishing company. She meets with Dennis Mallory, the
Managing Editor. He's handsome and charming, and makes no effort to hide his
lusty desires towards Meg.
The next day she
discovers the publishing company is owned by Blaine who manipulated
circumstances to get her to London. He tells her he has missed her and wants
her back in his life. He offers his explanation of what happened ten years ago,
why he really walked out on her.
Hearing the truth is
as shocking and hurtful as the original breakup. All the old wounds are ripped
open. Meg angrily tells Blaine she wants nothing to do with him but knows she
is legally bound to the contract she signed to do the travel book. She
reluctantly admits to herself that she never stopped loving him but knows she'll
never be able to trust him again.
His plans to win Meg
back are complicated by Dennis who has no knowledge of the history between Meg
and Blaine and is seriously pursuing her. Blaine tries to warn Meg about
Dennis, but this only adds to Meg's anger as she attributes Blaine's warning to
jealousy and possessiveness. She informs him that he has no right to tell her
who she can and cannot see. He forfeited that privilege ten years ago when he
walked out on her.
Blaine needs someone
he can trust to help protect Meg from Dennis' very successful track record with
women. He calls Crista, his sister who is eight years older, and asks her to
come to London right away, telling her a change of scenery will help her adjust
following her recent divorce from her husband of twenty-five years. Blaine
explains to Crista about Dennis wanting to add Meg to his collection of women.
Crista is surprised to hear of the way Blaine has manipulated the circumstances
that brought Meg to London.
Crista and Dennis
have been good friends for eight years [a subplot], ever since Dennis came to
work for Blaine. A close platonic friendship with a woman is a situation
totally out of character for Dennis. At the age of forty-four, Dennis has been
doing a little bit of soul searching about his lifestyle. The little twinges of
dissatisfaction are brought to the forefront by his meeting Meg. She has class,
intelligence and style, quite unlike the long string of shallow women who
usually occupy his time and bed.
Meg has a couple of
dinner dates with Dennis and finds him charming and witty, a pleasant diversion
from the tension filled days spent with Blaine. One night Dennis finds Meg in a
vulnerable moment from her most recent confrontation with Blaine and becomes
too aggressive. She slaps his face and tells him to leave. Dennis is shocked at
the realization of his own actions and distraught by how he has unintentionally
treated Meg. He has two rules—he doesn't sleep with married women and both
parties are totally willing or it doesn't happen.
Crista arrives in
London. She tells Blaine he hurt Meg very deeply and totally betrayed her
trust. He might have to accept making love to her knowing she will never allow
any more than that. He will never be able to win back the trust he destroyed.
He also tells Crista
about his belief that Dennis has seduced Meg. If it had been anyone other than
Dennis he would have punched him out and fired him on the spot. Dennis is the
best Managing Editor in the business. He came to work for Blaine's company in
the early days of start-up at a greatly reduced salary, never takes advantage
of his expense account and is a very important factor in Blaine's company
becoming so successful so quickly. He knows he owes Dennis a great deal, a
situation that leaves Blaine with difficult conflicting emotions.
Crista and Dennis
have dinner, as they always do when Crista is in town, only this time it is not
the same. With Crista's divorce removing the obstacle of her being a married
woman, she and Dennis find there is much more between them than the platonic friendship
they have always enjoyed. Crista is exactly the type of woman Dennis has always
wanted. Crista finds Dennis to be the perfect person to help restore her sense
of self-worth and help her feel like a desirable woman—things that marital
discord and a philandering husband have stolen from her.
Dennis and Crista go
away together for the weekend, a situation that leaves Blaine very unhappy.
Dennis is not the smooth, devil-may-care type of person everyone thinks he is. Crista
has always suspected this and is the first to see through his façade.
Their weekend
together is a time in which even Dennis is experiencing nervous apprehension
over the change in his relationship with Crista. He tells her he does not want
to make any mistakes with her, does not want to destroy the eight years of
friendship they have enjoyed. He opens up to her, voicing his own insecurities
and fears of the future. For her part, Crista is nervous about making love with
Dennis. She fears that someone of his experience and reputation will find her
woefully inadequate. Each find their fears and concerns quickly disappear as
they get to know each on a new, intimate level that for Dennis is an emergence
into the world of caring and closeness rather than sex for its own sake. Crista
feels alive and desirable for the first time in many years.
Crista pointedly
asks Dennis about whether he and Meg have made love. Dennis is reluctant to
talk about what happened, still ashamed of his own actions. He finally tells
her the truth and she persuades him to Blaine. Dennis and Blaine talk about
Dennis' new relationship with Crista and he puts Blaine's mind at ease about
Meg.
Blaine wants to make
a commitment to Meg but doesn't know what she wants. She is afraid of where
this renewed situation will lead. He hasn't offered her a commitment for the
future and she is still afraid to again trust him with her emotions.
Crista is the
catalyst that prompts Meg to finally put her fears aside, accept Blaine's sincere
words of love and tell him how she feels. Blaine is ecstatic and asks Meg to
marry him.
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Changing-Past-Shawna-Delacorte-ebook/dp/B0CTHSZFST
Barnes and
Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/changing-the-past-shawna-delacorte/1145014722?ean=9781509254798
Blurb:
Successful
freelance photojournalist Meg Wainwright is offered the assignment of her
dreams—photographing and writing a new line of travel books for a publisher in
the UK. But when she arrives, she learns she’ll be working for the man who
walked out on her ten years ago without an explanation and left her
heartbroken.
Blaine Reeves
regrets leaving the only woman he ever loved. Luring her to London without
revealing his involvement might not be his best plan. He can only hope it’s not
too late to change the past.
Shawna Delacorte Biography:
USA TODAY Best Selling Author Shawna Delacorte lived most of her life in Los Angeles and worked in television production. She combined her avocation of photography and interest in writing to do magazine articles featuring her photographs. Her friends said she should utilize her television contacts and write scripts. She enrolled in a screen writing class at UCLA. By the close of class, she knew screen writing was not for her but she did want to try writing a novel. Her first sale was to Harlequin followed by 20 more Harlequin novels for their Desire and Intrigue lines.
www.shawnadelacorte.com https://shawnadelacorte.blogspot.com
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