The Query and the Teaser

I am currently seeking representation for my contemporary romance, Seeking Solace.

            Sarah Collier’s life has always been scripted for her, according to the expectations of her domineering, socially-connected Connecticut parents.  Everything always went as planned…until the unthinkable happened moments before walking down the aisle.  Needing to escape the hovering of her parents and older sister, Sarah just wants to flee the gossip and pitying glances from New London’s prestigious citizens.  On a whim, she does the first thing that comes to mind.  She takes off on her honeymoon--alone.   Sarah does not typically act on spontaneity, so the impromptu trip may not be what Sarah thinks it will. 

           The quaint and rustic harbor village of North Berwick on Scotland’s East Lothian coast is typically devoid of tourists in the winter.  All of the townsfolk form a close-knit, insular community, which is why Bretton Keith is intrigued by the auburn-haired stranger who wanders into his pub on a cold, Sunday evening. Self-assured and flirtatious pub owner that he is, Bretton sees the opportunity for another brief and fun fling to break up the monotony of a village winter.

           However, adventure never turns out the way one imagines it will.  As Bretton comes to know the sad and beautiful Sarah, he finds it increasingly difficult to uphold his credo of never becoming attached to another woman.  All the while, Sarah is experiencing a new-found freedom to dare think of her life in a different way, to truly consider what it is that she wants and what it is that will make her happy.  Could it be Bretton?  Will Sarah be brave enough to risk it on a man who was so hurt by another that he swore off ever falling in love again, or will the demands of her family prove too big an obstacle to overcome?   

The manuscript is complete at just over 51,000 words and available for review upon request.  Your consideration of Seeking Solace is sincerely appreciated.

The following are the first 250 words of Seeking Solace.

           Bretton Keith sang the last notes of the popular ballad the pub crowd seemed to love. Looking out from the small stage, he recognized everyone there as usual.  The Ship’s Inn Tavern was a local haunt and almost all of the patrons were villagers.  Being less than an hour from Edinburgh, the town of North Berwick attracted enough tourism to boost the economy, yet it was small enough to remain fairly insular, especially on the harbor point.  Most of the tourists tended to frequent the two or three higher-end establishments in town, and Bret liked that just fine.  He prepped the boys for their last number of the set before break, a quick-paced Mumford & Sons cover.  As they started the number, Bret saw the pub door open at the back.  Expecting to see a neighbor, Bret’s eyebrows drew together for a moment as a lone stranger came in, a woman.  Then, one eyebrow lifted in appreciation at the attractive woman as she made her way to the bar and perched on a stool.  Turning his attention back to the energetic pub crowd, he finished the song with a sly smirk on his face.  Tonight, apparently, the monotony of village life just got a bit more interesting. 

             

  

Twenty-four hours earlier…

            Sarah Collier was in the bride’s room waiting for the stylist to finish putting her long, dark auburn hair into the elaborate up-do.  Her four closest friends were chatting away behind her as they put the last touches on their makeup.  

...to be continued in a future post...