How’s this for a plot for a contemporary romance novel: an
average American woman is invited to Denmark to participate in a “This is Your
Life” type of reality show about her famous half-Danish cousin, whom she’s
never met. Let’s say the producer who invited her is mysterious and attractive
and may or may not be involved in the cousin’s sudden disappearance…
One of those sentences is actually true, and you can probably
guess which one. Last month, my brother and I flew to Copenhagen to meet two of
our three cousins for the very first time—one of them on a television program.
She had no idea we were coming or that she was even going to be on This is Your
Life (she’s a multiple-award winning actress, truly one of the finest in Denmark).
My brother and I were the final guests of the show and when the door opened to
reveal us standing there, her look of surprise and happiness was priceless. But
it wasn’t as profound as the joy we all shared in making this family connection
for the first time.
I’m so grateful to have had this opportunity and not because
I got to visit Denmark for the first time or because I got to be on television
(though hair and makeup rocked!). It was all about seeing family and forging a
bond that will undoubtedly last our lifetimes and hopefully beyond as our
children continue these relationships. We all found a deep sense of belonging,
of finding something that we perhaps didn’t realize was missing. Much like a
romantic love connection in a romance novel! (Um, without the romance.)
The first three books in my Secrets & Scandals series
bring together three heroes and three heroines who didn’t realize what their
lives were missing. In Her Wicked Ways, a wealthy debutante with London at her
feet discovers love and purpose in a backwater village orphanage. In His Wicked
Heart, her brother’s life is turned upside down—for the better—by an actress
who teaches him the meaning of family. And in To Seduce a Scoundrel, a
blackguard finds redemption with the love of a determined young woman who will
stop at nothing to find her happily ever after.
Her Wicked Ways is currently on sale FREE at Amazon,
iTunes,
Barnes
& Noble, Kobo,
Smashwords, and All
Romance eBooks. His Wicked Heart and To Seduce a Scoundrel are just $3.99
at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Smashwords, All Romance eBooks, and
iTunes.
What crazy exciting thing has happened to you that sounds as
if it’s straight out of a book or a movie? Or, what crazy exciting thing do you
wish would happen to you? One random commenter will receive a $10 gift card to
the online ebook retailer of their choice. Bonus: If you also sign up for my
newsletter while this giveaway is open, I’ll throw in an ebook copy of the
fabulous Heiress
Without a Cause by my good friend Sara
Ramsey.
A
native Oregonian, Darcy lives on the edge of wine country with her devoted
husband, their two great kids, and three cats. In her “spare” time Darcy is a
serial volunteer enrolled in a 12-step program where one learns to say “no,” but
she keeps having to start over. She’s also a fair-weather runner, and her happy
places are Disneyland and Labor Day weekend at the Gorge. Visit Darcy online at
http://www.darcy-burke.com, follow her on
Twitter at http://twitter.com/darcyburke, or like her
Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/darcyburkefans.
***Darcy's winner is Chey! Please email totebag@authorsoundrelations.com with your full name and mailing address! Thanks. :) ***
25 comments:
That's so very interesting about a cousin... I know all of mine [we're a tiny family]... Did you get a copy of the show?
Hi girlygirl! They aren't done editing it yet, but I will get a copy, hopefully with subtitles since the entire thing (except our segment) is in Danish. :) Love my cousins so much, just wish they weren't so far away!!
Neighbour/good friend of family died in 1979. Dad died in 1990. Mom died in 1995. In 1998, when I was 39 years of age, I found out that the neighbour/good friend was my bio father (as well as my brother's bio father, and my brother is 5 years my senior). Two elder sisters (10 years my senior and 15 years my senior) apparently were my dad's kids. Yeah. Imagine being 39 and finding out that your life has not only been a lie all those years, but that dozens of people in the community, as well as all of the bio dad's extended family members, all knew about it.
Quite a coincidence in finding out. Bio dad apparently took pics of me and my bro to HIS bro when we were small, and his bro's daughter overheard her uncle explaining how we were both his children, how he lived across the street from us so that he could be a part of our lives, etc. My sister met up with that little girl all grown up in 1998, in a mall food court. The husbands were waiting for their wives and struck up a converation. When my BIL said his wife's family was from a small town, the other man said the only person's name they knew from that small town was so-and-so, my mom's name. When the two women returned to the food court, the bio dad's niece explained the story to my sister. Of course, all the parties involved were long dead, but it explained a lot. Bio dad taught me to drive the year before he died, he paid me to cut his grass, he made me go up on his front roof when I was afraid of heights, he took me and my brother to work with him on our summer vacations (and my "dad" had the same job but never took us), his mother taught me how to quilt, and the list goes on and on.
Today, my 27-year-old son has the same thin body and stance of my bio dad. My brother has been a pallbearer in all of the bio dad's brothers' funerals when it was just nephews who were chosen to do so, and the family has embraced him/us as one of their own.
Sounds like a soap opera, eh?
In 1998. I won a sweepstakes contest and
the prize was a five star trip to Venice,
Italy. Honey and I only had a weekend
wedding trip so we used this as a "second
honeymoon." Only way to top this would be
to win a big lottery!
Pat C.
Other than travel problems, nothing crazy has happened to me that sounds as if it’s out of a book or movie.
Nothing crazy exciting has happened to me, but I wouldn't mind a long lost relative leaving me as the sole heir of their vast fortune:)
yadkny@hotmail.com
I haven't really had anything too crazy exciting happen to me, the only thing I can think of that I thought was pretty exciting was getting to ride a new roller coaster before it opened to the public (Ghostrider at Knott's Berry Farm, in California). That was a pretty big deal for me and my son, but might not be all that impressive to anyone else but a coaster enthusiast.
Of course the crazy exciting thing I wish would happen to me is winning the lottery, but I guess you have to play to win, so I don't think I'll be winning any time soon. :D
Barbed1951 at aol dot com
I live a very dull life it seems because nothing of any import has ever happened to me. I suppose I shouldn't say that too lough for fear of tempting fate! Well, I did win $300 in a slot machine in Natchez, MS several years ago while I was visiting for their Spring Pilgrimage. That was exciting! And another time years back, I bought 2 scratch off lottery tickets. My son, who was about 12 at the time wanted one, so I gave him his choice. I agreed he could keep whatever prize he might win. His ticket was a $100 winner...mine? zilch!
Thanks for the free book. You are a new-to-me author so this gives me a chance to sample your work.
kareninnc at gmail dot com
We moved to another country where I now live permanently. This was a wonderful change of scene which I enjoy and appreciate greatly.
This year was extremely eventful. Good and bad. I had two grandchildren born seven weeks apart, but at the same time that occurred I learned that I had B.C. So I am now receiving treatment.
My first job was abroad and I had a super secret office romance while working in England. While we dated, we visited castles, museums and stayed at cute bed and breakfasts in Great Britain and nearby countries. We married. He was my first boyfriend. All of my friends in college had told me that reading romance books was setting me up for disappointment.
little lamb lst at yahoo dot com
What a great story, to meet and get to know some family members. I would wish to win the lottery and travel around the world.
mce1011 AT aol DOT com
i wish i got free reading book (all books i want) for 1 year :)
Uh, yeah it sounds like a soap opera! That's great that your bio dad was a part of your lives, even if he wasn't honest about the actual relationship. Here's a weird relationship thing in my family: my mom is married to (not my bio dad, who died in 1986) her brother's wife's cousin. So, my aunt (by marriage - I'm not blood-related to her) is my step-dad's cousin. I should draw a chart, no? LOL.
Thanks for sharing your incredible story!
Congratulations Pat! (Fourteen years later, but still!) What a wonderful prize. Thanks for stopping by!
Hi Chey! Travel problems can be quite crazy!! Thanks for visiting. :)
I wouldn't mind that either! Fingers crossed that happens for you!
Barbara, I don't play the lottery either, but my husband buys tickets once in awhile and we're still waiting to win. :) I think it's a lost cause because my step-dad actually won a pretty nice amount back in the late 80s (before he married my mom, of course!). I figure the likelihood of someone else in the family winning the lottery is slim to none. That's so fun about the roller coaster!!
Sounds like you've got a little luck on your side to me, Karen! My cousin won a hefty sum from a slot machine several years ago. He and his wife live in Hawaii now, LOL (though I don't think that's really because of the money they won). Hmmm, these comments are making me realize my family's done pretty well gambling, LOL.
Good for you, petite, and how exciting! My husband and I dream of moving to England (or even Denmark--after going I really think I could live there), but he doesn't have a very portable job (lawyer). Thanks for visiting!
Life is never dull, is it traveler? Congratulations on the birth of your grandchildren and big hugs for you as you battle B.C. Take care.
Lil, your story made me sigh. What a fabulous tale! And good for you for believing in and living a happily ever after!
Hi Maureen! It was really fantastic to spend time together and just share the connection of family. I will cross my fingers that you win the lottery and travel to your heart's content. :)
Eli, what a great wish! My good friend (and fellow romance writer) Lacey Kaye got free romance novels for a year from Avon when she was a winner in their FanLit contest six years ago. That was pretty cool. :)
wow... that's really wonderful :)
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