Jody Vitek--Back with "Rescue Me"

 RESCUE ME

Publisher: MELANGE BOOKS

I’m so happy to bring Jody Vitek back to GLIAS so she can share her second novel, Rescue Me. I’m excited about this story because it’s filled with animals and rescues and dedication and true love and animals! Jody wove a lot of interesting tidbits from her own life into this story, and I think it’ll weave its way around your heart.

Help me welcome back Jody Vitek.

ALL ABOUT RESCUE ME

Can Catherine accept the consequences of a great-aunt's dying wish without losing her heart or independence?

Taking in stray, injured or needy animals, veterinarian doctor Catherine Mornelli opens the Four Hooves and Paws Rescue program. But the land where the animals are kept is being sold. She approaches her Great-Aunt Elaine about possibly using her barn. However, visiting her aunt and checking out the barn also means seeing her ex-boyfriend.

Josef Garrison farms land that once belonged to his family for generations but went to his neighbor Elaine after his great-grandfather lost it in a poker game to Catherine’s great-grandfather. When Catherine returns, he sees a way to win back her heart and the land at the same time.

A SPECIAL STORY EXCERPT!

        The swing stopped, and she got off with a heavy sigh. Entering the kitchen, her stomach growled. The radio filled the quiet house with a little noise while she fixed a sandwich. A loud mechanical moaning came from the basement followed by a wet splashing. She jumped at the noise and cautiously walked to the basement stairwell door

She didn’t want to venture to a place she didn’t like, not even to check out a strange noise. Opening the door, she flipped the light switch and peered down the stairs. Splashing. Water ran somewhere in the basement.

“Damn it,” she exclaimed, slamming the door shut.

Her back rested against the closed four-paneled wood door. A battle raged in her mind.

You need to go and see what’s going on.

No, I don’t. Josef owns this now. It’s his responsibility.

Just try to go down the stairs and get a better look.

“Fine, I’ll go take a look.” She turned, grabbed the clear glass doorknob, and slowly opened the door as though a monster were going to jump out and attack. Her stomach knotted. Alone in the house, chances were she wouldn’t find anyone dead down there, but it always came back to haunt her.

Through the open door, she placed a foot onto the first wooden plank. She swallowed the lump in her throat as her breath quickened. The other foot, another step. Her body trembled. Another step and a sickening wave of terror rocked through her body.

Catherine turned, racing back through the basement door and out the back screen door. Walking around the big oak, she breathed in and out until she could breathe through her nose. After the third lap, feeling calmer and more in control, she entered the house and grabbed her phone. She dialed and waited for Josef to answer.

“This is Josef. Leave me a message, and I’ll get back to you.”

“Josef, it’s Catherine. I need your help. I’m sure the water heater went out because there’s water in the basement. Come over ASAP.” She sat at the kitchen table and finished her sandwich.

What was she going to do? No air conditioning was one thing, but no hot water was a different story. It appeared cold showers were in her future.

Gravel crunched from an approaching vehicle twenty minutes later. His truck pulled into the roundabout and parked behind her pickup.

Catherine met him on the steps. “I didn’t expect you here so soon.”

“Well, if there’s water in the basement, ya don’t have time to waste.” Josef walked to the back of the truck and opened the tailgate. “I brought my pump to get the water out. Then we’ll assess the damage.”

Josef wiggled his way into water waders, put a bulky roll of tubing over his shoulder and grabbed the large pumping mechanism. “I’m assuming ya haven’t gone down there yet?” He peered back at her.

“I tried, but I couldn’t do it.”

“What is it with you and that basement?” He set the pump on the ground. “Ever since you were little, you’ve never liked going down there. You afraid of the boogeyman getting you?” He chuckled, but she didn’t find it funny.

“No. Maybe it’s the steep narrow stairs, stone walls, dirt floor and lack of windows down there. I don’t know. I get creeped out.”

“Well, let’s get to work.” Josef walked in and straight for the basement.

“What do you want me to do?” She followed as far as the top of the stairwell.

He turned on the second step and looked at her. “Come stay at my place.” He stated it plain and simple, continuing down the wooden staircase and stepping into water. He turned with a stern face. “Shit, Catherine! Why didn’t you shut the water off?” and disappeared from site.

She winced. It couldn’t be helped. She tried going into the basement but couldn’t. There was mumbling from the basement, but nothing clear could be made out because of the splashing. He probably cursed her with each step.

He came around the corner dropping an end of the black tubing in the water and unwound it up the stairs. In the narrow passageway, his chest brushed against hers, and their eyes held. A connection bore into her soul. Warmth swept over her body, while her nipples perked, exposed through the thin layers of her shirt. Something was there between them. He jogged down the back steps, she trailed behind, and he fired up the pump.

“I tried to go down, Josef. I just couldn’t do it. I’m sorry,” she yelled over the loud humming.

Water from the hose splashed onto the dry soil.

“It’ll be fine.” He stated, irritated as he bent over the machine. Standing, he glanced at her and walked to his truck. “Pack your things and stay at my place.” It was a statement rather than a suggestion.

“Why?”

“You’ll need a place to stay.” His tone softened as he slid the water waders off, an action she found oddly sexy.

A BIT ABOUT JODY AND SOME FUN QUESTIONS:

Born and raised in Minnesota, Jody remains close to home, living with her husband of more than twenty years as well as three children and a cat named Holly. Growing up, she enjoyed reading V.C. Andrews' Dollanganger series, S.E. Hinton and Stephen King to name a few.

She’s traveled throughout the United States, to the Bahamas and Cancun, Mexico. Between watching soccer games, scrapbooking and being the COO of the Vitek household, she writes contemporary romances.

LIZ: How often do you get lost in a story?

JODY: Every time I read. That’s the reason I read, to escape. I don’t read as much as I’d like and my TBR pile is enormous.

LIZ: What’s your favorite cartoon character?

JODY: To pick one is very difficult. I love cartoons. Growing up I loved the Flintstones, The Jetsons, Scooby-Doo, along with the Warner Bros. characters. Today’s cartoons are great on Disney and Nickelodeon. I love Johnny Test, Phineas and Ferb, and Spongebob Squarepants. I’m a kid at heart and if I have to pick one, then I guess Scooby-Doo. He’s a big dorky loveable dog who is there to solve the mystery.

LIZ: Oh, my gosh, I LOVE Phineas and Ferb—I want them as my best friends.

LIZ: Can you write us a haiku about your book or one of your characters?

JODY: This is pretty bad if you ask me. But I tried and this is what I came up with.

Cat helps animals.

Josef and Cat need each other.

Josef rescues Cat.

LIZ: Name three things that are, at this moment, in your heroine’s purse, satchel, reticule, weapons belt or amulet bag (or whatever she carries)?

JODY: Black hair binders, small bandages and Four Hooves and Paws business cards.

LIZ: What sound or noise do you love?

JODY: Nature. The peace and quiet of the great outdoors. You hear the birds, crickets, frogs, fish flopping and turtles plopping. The wind rustling the leaves of the trees. Maybe a waterfall in the distance. The crackle of a fire.

LIZ: If you were given a chance to travel to the past where would you go and specifically why?

JODY: The 1920’s. The era of The Great Gatsby. I remember reading that book and being taken away. I’m a girly girl and would love to have worn the dresses and jewelry. Not to mention the hats.

LIZ: What’s your favorite movie of all time?

JODY: “The Sound of Music.” The love story is fantastic as is the music. It pains my family when I watch the movie, which I own on DVD, or listen to the music. The good thing about listening to the soundtrack, it’s now on my iPhone and I listen whenever I want.

LIZ: Who’s your favorite villain?

JODY: One of the only villain’s that comes to mind is Sean Connery in the movie “The Rock.” I find Sean extremely sexy and he doesn’t let me down in “The Rock.” He’s a villain who’s not a villain. If I have to pick a true villain, then Hannibal Lecter it is from the movies “The Silence of the Lambs” and “Hannibal.” He’s so disturbing yet his love for Clarice is intriguing.

LIZ: What is your biggest vice?

JODY: Coffee. I have to have my coffee in the morning. I can’t function without it. I usually drink a pot throughout the day. I could live without my laptop or iPhone, but I can’t live without my coffee. It kills me when I have to fast for surgeries or lab tests.

LIZ HAS GOTTA ASK: What’s the most personal thing you’ve ever put in one of your books?

JODY HAS TO ANSWER: Actually, Rescue Me has the most revealing bits about me. I hate some basements, but not for the same main reason as Cat. I hate unfinished basements and I struggled sometimes to go down to my childhood basement.

DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION YOU’D LIKE TO ASK YOUR FANS?

Cat, like me, loves old time candy. Boston Baked Beans and Necco Wafers are just a couple. What is your childhood favorite candy? Do you still eat it now and then?

Jody is offering a $10 Amazon Gift Card to one lucky commenter today, so join in the fun!

GET IN TOUCH WITH JODY:

Contact e-mail: info@jodyvitek.com

Website: www.jodyvitek.com

Facebook: Jody Vitek Author

Twitter: @JodyVitek

Goodreads: Jody Vitek

WHAT IS UP NEXT FOR YOU? Currently I’m working on a follow up to my debut release Florida Heat. The working title is Texas Two Step, and it’s Chloe and Chad’s story.

PREVIOUS RELEASES: 

          

               Florida Heat

    Love in the Land of Lakes 

Get Lost in some Florida Heat

Born and raised in Minnesota, Jody has remained close to home living with her husband of twenty plus years, three children and a cat named Holly. Growing up, she enjoyed reading V.C. Andrews' the Dollanganger series, starting with Flowers in the Attic, S.E. Hinton, and Stephen King to name a few.

She has traveled throughout the United States, to the Bahamas and Cancun, Mexico. Between watching soccer games, scrapbooking and being the COO of the Vitek household, she writes contemporary romances.

Website:  www.jodyvitek.com

Facebook:  Jody Vitek Author

Blurb:

Maggie Carlisle thought she left her ex-husband’s drug life behind in Texas. Left with a physical scar, she struggles to shed the emotional pain and falls in love with Trent Randall. But, Kevin Shaw, a man from her past, looks for revenge through Maggie. Emotional blackmail forces her to choose between true love with Trent or a life based on lies and deception with Kevin.

Trent Randall, a boarding and breeding ranch owner and offshore powerboat driver, loses focus of his racing when Maggie enters his life. Trent contemplates whether Maggie’s worth the danger after he is involved in a racing accident. Trent can’t help but let his heart lead the way when he finds out Maggie’s in trouble.

Excerpt:

Trent strolled around the counter and closed in on her. Her stomach flipped. His slate eyes had a hint of blue shining through.

Maggie stepped back from his looming figure. He was too close. Her voice quavered. “I’m alone because I want to be...and I’m okay with it.”

“Are you afraid of me, Maggie?” He teased as he moved closer to her body.

“No,” she squeaked and ran out of counter space.

“Why do you avoid me?” He backed her up against the wall, his hands around her waist, trapping her.

“I don’t avoid you.” Not about to show her unease with his close proximity, she mustered a firmer voice. “I’m putting a little space between us.” Quickly she added, “At least I was trying to.” Her face felt warm, and a hot wave swept through her belly.

“Why do you need to put space between us? I’m male, you’re female, and we’re attracted to one another.” He smiled suggestively.

“Speak for yourself.” She strained to say it firmly, only to fail.

Her knees weakened when her eyes made contact with his dark smoldering eyes. She bit her lip and averted her eyes from his. “I think...” Her gaze went back to him. “It’s late, and I need to get to work.”

“I hope you’ll think again about coming to my party,” he whispered as he leaned close into her ear.

Her eyes closed, betraying her, at his slow and delicate delivery of his soft warm lips on hers.

FLORIDA HEAT is available from Melange Books and Amazon.

I’m excited to have Jody with us this weekend.  She my Midwest Fiction Writers’ chaptermate and a terrific writer.  FLORIDA HEAT is her debut novel and if I wasn’t a huge fan of Jody’s already, I would buy the book for the cover alone.

CAT:  How often to you get lost in a story? 

JODY:  Every time I read, I get lost. When I’m reading, I lose all focus of what is going on around me. I travel to the stories location and become the character. For some time I quit reading because I couldn’t immerse myself into the story. I would be reading and instead of reading for pleasure, I was studying the author’s writing style and critiquing. Reading was no longer enjoyable for me. I’m happy to say, I’ve started reading again and getting lost in the story.

CAT:  What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in?

JODY:  I love being lost in contemporary romances, but read other genres. Lord knows I didn’t grow up reading romances.

CAT:  What’s the first book you remember reading? 

JODY:  This is a tough one. I loved reading when I was growing up and there were so many. Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume is the one I remember reading in fifth or sixth grade. You know when you’re waiting to become a woman and have all these fears, anxieties and excitement mixed together, this book was fantastic to read during that time. I remembered and loved the book so much that I bought it for my daughter.

CAT:  What’s your favorite fairy tale? 

JODY:  Cinderella. And this is kinda funny and corny, but while we were on vacation two years ago, we celebrated the families July birthday’s. I’m a July baby along with my husband and nephew. My mother-in-law picked up a Cinderella decorated cake that had figurines of Cinderella and her fairy godmother with a thin plastic horses and coach scene. I kept them and have them looking over me in my office. It was a year later that my fairy godmother‑bibbity‑granted me‑bobbity‑my wish‑boo‑of becoming a published author. Believe in what you want, but I do believe that dreams do come true.

CAT:  Is there a playlist you’d recommend for reading your latest release? 

JODY:  I listened to Toni Braxton while writing some scenes, but usually I need it to be quiet, so anything by Toni. I recently purchased Def Leppard-Rock of Ages, The Definitive Collection and there’s a song on there that I think fits a particular scene very well–“Two Steps Behind.”

CAT:  Where do you read and how often? 

JODY:  I usually read when I’m in bed. Daytime is my time for writing, writing related work and doing many other daytime chores.

CAT:  What was the first story you remember writing? 

JODY:  Well, if you really want to go back, it would be from when I was in grade school. It was a story about a bionic frog. Yes, I said frog. The bionic part came about because of the great TV shows of the 70’s. But in all seriousness, my first story is called Love At Sea. My dream wasn’t to be a writer so I didn’t start writing until I quit working to be home with my two children at the time. Love At Sea was my sanity saving grace. It’s what started my writing career. I showed a close friend who thought it was great. Little did we know it wasn’t ‘all that’ and needs a lot of TLC if it ever wants to see the light of day.

CAT:  Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing? 

JODY:  Of course I’m going to read reviews of my book. Isn’t curiosity in our human nature? If the reviewer has a valid point, it may very well influence my writing but as a writer, you can’t satisfy everyone’s taste. You need to write what’s within you. I’ve had critique partners come up with some great descriptive lines, but I didn’t use them because it didn’t stay true to my voice.

CAT:  What dreams have been realized as a result of your writing? 

JODY:  If you stay true to your dream, it will come true. Never give up. Take a break, but never give up. Once my writing became a career, my only dream was to see my book in print. Now it’s a reality and I need to move on. Time to write and sell the next book.

CAT:  Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it? 

JODY:  Coffee! A pot a day and sometimes more. I must have coffee. Black. No cream or sugar. If it’s from a coffee shop, then I usually add cream because it’s too strong for my taste.

GOT A QUESTION YOU’D LIKE TO ASK YOUR FANS?

My youngest, eight years old, has asked me multiple times where I’d like to go if I could go anywhere in the world. I haven’t been able to give to him an answer because I’d like to visit everywhere. I do prefer a warm locale with water though. I think it has something to do with being a crab‑my astrological sign. I would love to go back to Florida. So, if you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

JODY is offering a small gift from Bath & Body Works tied to the book to one commenter.