Sneak Peek Sunday… What’s a girl to do?

Welcome to Sara Walter Ellwood’s Sneak Peek Sunday!

This is the second week I’m posting a six-paragraph excerpt from my new 1920s romantic mystery, It Had to Be You, which is officially one week old today!

And a lovely day “today” is. Spring has finally sprung in these parts and are we ever glad to see it. This is the first weekend we’ve had in the 70s since… well, since… Yeah. We’re loving it.

It was also an awesome release week, and I have plenty of people to thank for their support, good wishes—including a gift of the lovely geraniums pictured here—Tweets, RTs, Facebook shares and blog visits. (Oh, and “mercy buys.” Thanks, Mom! 🙂  )

‘Net Sightings …

Because a new book release only comes along for me every other–oh, I don’t know—decade or so, I’m taking special notice when mentions of  It Had to Be You pop up on the ‘net.  If you’re so inclined, please give these sites some traffic by clicking on their links.

→    I was thrilled to see It Had to Be You was reviewed at Dear Author HERE.

→     Heroes and Heartbreakers picked It Had to Be You as one of its “Not Your Usual Historicals” for April 2014 HERE.

→     And there’s still time to wander on over to my April 8th post on the Carina Press blog HERE and tell me about the classic book, song, or movie that most inspires you!

And now, on to this week’s Sneak Peek… It Had to Be You

Here’s the Mini Blurb.

New York City, 1924 … An ambitious young tabloid reporter stumbles on the story of her career when she joins up with a jaded homicide detective to solve the Central Park murder of a notorious bootlegger.

***

Last week, we met Detective Sean Costigan as he was coming off an all-night murder investigation with no sleep. He had one more witness to track down, a hungry tabloid reporter who once earned her byline at the expense of his Brooklyn brothers in blue.

Sean wasn’t quite sure what to make of the lovely Trixie Frank.  She’s the daughter of a multi-millionaire. Why would an uptown dame like that be working for the sleaziest jazz sheet in town? This had to be the passing fancy of a bored debutante. Right?

Maybe not.

Later that day, Sean enters a crowded, standing-room-only gathering of the press and learns that Miss Frank will do whatever it takes to get her story…

***

Sean glanced at a wall clock. He was late for Keegan’s meeting with the press. When he stepped in from a side door near the front, the chief was already reading from a prepared statement.

“…made a commitment to the citizens of New York to protect our homes and businesses from the growing threat of organized crime and its murderous consequences.”

A flash from a camera came from the back of the room. The source caught Sean’s attention when the magnesium powder cleared. What the…? He stared, not sure he believed his own eyes. Was that Miss Frank? Perched on some guy’s shoulders?

If she’d wanted to gain a bird’s eye view, she’d accomplished it. With her skirt bunched up and her legs exposed to above the knees, she’d also managed to snag the attention of every red-blooded officer standing in front.

“And that concludes our—” The chief cut off as he looked up from his podium and got an eyeful. He cleared his throat. “Er, uh, that is to say, this concludes our statement. I can…take questions.”

Trixie handed the unwieldy camera back down to her companion, exchanged it for a notepad and pencil, and shot up her hand. Impossible to ignore.

***

Well, that’s one way to level the playing field when you’re the only five foot-four female in an all-male crowd of cops, cameramen and crime reporters. 🙂

Ladies, have you ever felt similarly challenged when you were the only woman in the room?

For more fun sneak peeks, be sure to hop on over to SNEAK PEEK SUNDAY HERE!

IT HAD TO BE YOU
BUY LINKS  priced from $2.51 to $2.99

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Carina Press

Text Copyright © 2014 by Delynn Royer.

Permission to reproduce this text was granted by Harlequin Enterprises Limited

It Had to Be You – Copyright © 2014 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited

Cover Art used by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises Limited ® and ™ are trademarks owned by Harlequin Enterprises Limited or its affiliated companies, used under license.