London on 3 September 1939 is in upheaval. War is inevitable. Into this turmoil steps Kate Sheridan, newly arrived from Ireland to live with her aunt and uncle, and look for work. When she meets Flight Lieutenant Charlie Butler sparks fly, but he is a notorious womaniser. Should she ignore all the warnings and get involved with a ladies man whose life will be in daily danger?
Charlie Butler has no intention of getting involved with a woman. But when he meets Kate his resolve is shattered. Should he allow his heart to rule his head and fall for a nineteen-year-old Irish girl while there is a war to fight?
Private conflicts and personal doubts are soon overshadowed. Will the horrors of war bring Kate and Charlie together or tear them apart?
Amazon UK – http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00UAY719Y
Amazon US – http://amzn.com/B00UAY719Y
iBooks UK – https://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/id974054282?mt=11
iBooks US – https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/into-the-unknown/id974054282
Smashwords – https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/525040
Kobo – https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/into-the-unknown-10
Nook UK – http://www.nook.com/gb/ebooks/into-the-unknown-by-lorna-peel/2940046616323
Barnes and Noble – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1121346684
Excerpt:
The band was playing a slow set and she put her arms around his neck, tangling her fingers into his hair, finding it lusciously soft and silky. His hands went around her waist, but they soon slid up her back and held her close against him. This is lovely. She smiled, breathing in his unique scent. Make the most of it. She closed her eyes and they swayed together until she felt his hands move up and cup her face. He gently raised her head.
“I thought you’d gone to sleep,” he said softly.
“No, I was just…What’s the time?”
He released her and looked at his watch. “Ten to twelve.”
“How far is Trafalgar Square from here?”
“Only a couple of minutes’ walk.”
“Can we bring in the New Year there?”
“All right.” He took her hand. “We’d better hurry.”
Out on the street it was very cold but it had stopped snowing. Kate pulled the collar of her coat up as they hurried along the pavement, hand-in-hand. In the square, they ran around Nelson’s Column to get out of the wind, and out of the way of other New Year revellers. She shivered, then smiled as Charlie began to rub her shoulders before putting his arms around her and holding her tight against him again.
“Not long now,” she murmured.
“No. Oh, listen.” She felt him tense as Big Ben struck midnight. “1940. Happy New Year, Kate.”
“And you, Charlie.”
Her eyes became used to the darkness of the blackout and she saw his hands reach for her face and clasp her cheeks. Expecting him to kiss her, she felt a sharp pang of disappointment when his lips just brushed her cheek, before he broke away and launched into a very loud and tuneless rendition of Auld Lang Syne.
“Charlie?” she called after him, wondering why he hadn’t kissed her properly. “Charlie, stop. People will think you’re drunk. You’ll get yourself arrested.”
“No, I won’t,” he replied, then slid on some ice and fell over. “Ow.” He groaned. “Bloody gas mask.”
“Charlie?” She edged forward and fell over his feet. “Oh, my gas mask.”
“Kate. Kate?” His voice grew anxious as she heard him crawling towards her. “Are you all right? Bloody hell, it’s cold.”
Stretching out her arms, she found his face as he neared her. He hugged her and his lips found their way to her cheek again.
“I think we’d better stand up, my behind is numb.”
“Good idea.” He chuckled. “Are you all right? I’m going to lift you under the arms.”
His hands found her shoulders and slid underneath. Getting to their feet, they laughed.
“Back to the car?” she suggested.
“Definitely.” He clasped her hand and they made their way back across the square. Once in the car and rubbing her hands together, she heard him searching for something. “I’ve a hip flask somewhere. Oh, here it is.” He unscrewed it and it was placed in her hands. “Here.”
She took a sip, feeling the whiskey slide all the way down. That felt good, she was beginning to feel her feet again. She handed the flask back and heard him drink.
“Thanks for an interesting evening.” She laughed. “When do you have to be back?”
“Eight o’clock.”
“I’ll write, I promise.”
“Thank you,” he whispered.
Reaching for her hand, he kissed the palm. She curled her fingers up to cup his cheek and turn his face towards hers, but he leaned forward to start the car. Her fingers slid across his lips and she was forced to take her hand back. Feeling frustrated and puzzled at his overly-gallant behaviour, she sat quietly beside him as he drove them home.
Author’s Bio:
Lorna Peel is an author of contemporary and historical romantic fiction. She has had work published in three Irish magazines – historical articles on The Stone of Scone in ‘Ireland’s Own’, on The Irish Potato Famine in the ‘Leitrim Guardian’ – and Lucy’s Lesson, a contemporary short story in ‘Woman’s Way’.
Her first novel, Only You, a contemporary romance, was published in 2014. Into The Unknown, an historical novel set during WWII, will be published in May 2015.
Lorna was born in England and lived in North Wales until her family moved to Ireland to become farmers, which is a book in itself! She lives in rural Ireland, where she write, researches her family history, and grows fruit and vegetables. She also keeps chickens (and a Guinea Hen who now thinks she’s a chicken!).
Interview:
1. How did your life as a writer begin?
I hadn’t been encouraged to do any creative writing at school so when I was nineteen I wanted to see if I could put my imagination to good use and actually write a full length novel from start to finish. I’m glad to say that I could and I did. I then did a writing course specialising in short story writing. I enjoyed it and I was lucky enough to have one published in an Irish women’s magazine, but it made me realise that I prefer to write novels and novellas.
2. Tell us about your writing process. Do you outline, or are you more of a seat of your pants type of a writer?
I’m a bit of a pantser and usually I haven’t a clue where the plot is going, but as Into The Unknown was structured around World War Two I had to make an outline for my characters and plot and stick to it.
3. What is the highest goal that you desire to meet as an author?
It’s my ambition that one day I will make a living from my writing.
4. What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
I have quite a few books on my combined electronic and print To Read Pile. Some at the top are: Heartstone by C.J. Sansom, Jeremy Poldark by Winston Graham, Faithful Place by Tana French and The Secrets of Pain by Phil Rickman.
5. Can you share with us something off your bucket list?
I would love to see the Aurora Borealis. They were visible over parts of the UK and Ireland back in March but I couldn’t see anything to the north of where I live because of light pollution. I might have to go to Scandinavia to see it in all its glory.
6. What do you have in store next for your readers?
I’m giving a contemporary romantic mystery another read-through and edit. Here is the blurb:
Rachel Harris was abandoned as a baby on the steps of a church-run children’s home in England and later adopted. Who was her birth mother and what were the circumstances which led her to give up her baby? Searching for someone who doesn’t want to be found seems a hopeless task until Rachel meets Matthew, a Church of England clergyman. Then the anonymous and increasingly frightening attempts to end their relationship begin. Are these actions connected to the mysterious events surrounding Rachel’s birth?
Thank you for interviewing me, Elizabeth.
Connect with Lorna:
http://lornapeel.com
http://twitter.com/PeelLorna
http://www.facebook.com/LornaPeelAuthor
http://pinterest.com/lornapeel
http://www.goodreads.com/LornaPeel
http://www.tsu.co/lornapeelauthor
https://plus.google.com/+LornaPeel
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