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About Moxie by Michelle Cornish
Title: Moxie
Author: Michelle Cornish
Genre: Historical Romance
A WWII love at first sight romance with dual timelines, codebreaking war heroines, and prisoners of war.
People always asked Faye why Will called her Moxie.
It started with a dare at a dance in 1942 that ended in a kiss. Will loved that story.
But there’s more to the story than that. Much more . . .
Gretchen knows this story well. Her grandfather told it over and over while he was alive. But when Gretchen goes home to Jersey to be by her grandmother’s side one last time, Grandma Faye tells a different version of the story.
She knew the moment she saw him, they were meant to be together. Her girlfriends may have dared her to kiss him, but she would have anyway. Then the war got in the way. Faye thought she’d never see Will again. Until that night he took her breath away.
Will may have given Faye the name, but he’s the one with all the moxie.
Excerpt from Moxie
© 2021
Michelle Cornish
Will had to get a hold of himself, but he couldn’t move. If he couldn’t stop staring, he was going to scare her away, and that was the exact opposite of what he wanted to do. He reluctantly let go of her hand. He was determined to slow dance with this woman and inhale her fresh scent all night. The scent of flowers at the beach on a late summer night.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—”
“Don’t worry about Rita. George’s sister always has a bee in her bonnet. Even more so now that she’s joined the WAVES.” He turned to a very tall man standing to his left. “This is George.” George shook each of their hands and Will couldn’t help noticing that the tall redhead might have fancied George a little from the way she blushed when it was her turn to shake hands. The feeling seemed mutual.
“And this is Teddy, Robert, and Charles.” He pointed to each of his chums in turn, and they all shook hands with the ladies.
Soldiers and women around them seemed to stop what they were doing and look in their direction. Ella Fitzgerald had stepped up to the group, but he’d been so enamored with Faye he almost hadn’t noticed.
“Glad you gentlemen could make it.” Ella’s voice was smooth and buttery.
More handshaking ensued as Will and his friends greeted Ella then introduced her to the ladies who gushed about what fans they were.
Will couldn’t help standing a few inches taller. Ella was positively radiant in her sparkling blue dress. She looked much more rested than when Will had seen her on the train.
“Miss Fitzgerald.” Teddy held up his Kodak 35. “Could we take a picture with you, please?”
“Of course.” Ella stepped into a gap between Will and George. If he died tonight, Will Burke would die a happy man. First a beautiful stranger kisses him and sets his hair on fire, then Ella Fitzgerald stands next to him in a photograph. He was thankful Teddy suggested the idea. Nobody would believe him otherwise.
Teddy asked a woman standing nearby to take the photo for them. He urged Faye, Darla, and Liz to get in the picture too. They straightened their dresses then found a place in the group.
After the flash of the camera, Will turned to Ella. “Can we buy you a drink?” he offered, looking around for her band but not seeing them.
“Maybe after my set. Y’all have fun now,” she said with a wink. And just like that, she was gone again.
The band on stage struck up a fast number. Sounded like it could have been one of those Glenn Miller tunes, but he was pretty sure he hadn’t seen the Glenn Miller band listed on the poster at the door. He didn’t know. All he cared about was the song made him want to dance. Or maybe it was Faye that made him want to dance. He could jitterbug with the best of them.
He downed his drink then placed the glass on a nearby table. Holding his hand out to Faye, he said, “Shall we?”
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About Michelle Cornish
Michelle Cornish is a recovering CPA with a passion for stories. Writing mostly romance and women’s fiction with strong female heroines, Michelle’s books often include nods to her former life as a CPA. When Michelle’s not writing, she’s hanging out with her two boys and husband in the beautiful Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada.
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