:
Twinkle follows Tess Lee and Jack Miller after two years of marriage. Tess is a wildly successful and world-famous novelist. Her inspirational books explore our innermost struggles and the human need to believe that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Jack is a federal agent. After spending decades immersed in a violent world, a residue remains. As they both heal from past trauma, their epic love, fostered by their ability to truly see one another, has brought them true happiness.
However, when an anonymous threat is made against Tess’s life, everything changes. Will they learn to lean on each other, or will they fall apart into the darkness? Their friends are along for the ride: Omar, Tess’s sarcastic best friend, who calls her Butterfly; the female president of the United States, who Tess visits regularly to discuss politics and bake cookies; Joe, Jack’s friend from the Bureau, who understands the sacrifices he’s made; and Bobby, Jack’s younger friend, who never fails to lend a calming presence.
Twinkle is a novel about the nature of doubt, the struggle to feel worthy of love, the relationship of the small part to the greater whole, and the ways in which love – from lovers, friends, or the art we experience – can help us move from trauma to healing and redemption. Written as unfolding action, Twinkle is a poignant novel that moves fluidly between melancholy, humor, and joy.
:
:
Extract
“Thank you, I’ve got it from here,” Jack said to the driver, taking the luggage and seeing
him out. He turned to Tess, “Welcome home, Mrs. Miller.”
She smiled, removed the lei from around her neck, and placed it on the counter.
“You looked so beautiful running around in the sun. I’m going to miss the leis and the
flowers in your hair,” Jack said.
“Me too. That was the most incredible vacation I’ve ever had. Pure paradise. Thank you
for making it so special,” she replied.
“I still can’t believe we never took a honeymoon. What were we thinking? I’m glad we
could make up for it for our second anniversary.”
“Maui is so beautiful. That house was magical. If we were there right now, we’d probably
be relaxing on our private beach or splashing around in the ocean,” she said.
“Or making love on the beach. Or on a chaise lounge. Or in the pool. Or in the outdoor
shower. Or in every room of the house,” Jack said, slipping his hands around her waist. “The
way you smelled, the salt water, the coconut oil, the flowers – I’ll never forget it. And the
taste of pineapple dripping from your lips…” He leaned in and kissed
her.
“I never thought it was possible to make love so many times in a day. Somehow, even
after two years, you still make each time feel like the first,” Tess said.
“That’s because I fall in love with you all over again every day, every time I look into
your big, brown eyes. I really do.”
She smiled.
“I still can’t believe the staff caught us by the pool,” Jack said, laughing.
Tess giggled. “Well, it was very chivalrous of you to try to cover me up with that towel.”
“We should have stayed longer. Ten days wasn’t enough. Getting a break from work only
highlighted how stressful it is to think about terrorism day in and day out. After years of seeing
the worst in humanity, I started to forget that some people live differently.”
“I know. You needed a Technicolor break; you’ve been on the dark side for too long. But
I thought it would be nice to spend our actual anniversary in our own home, the same place we
got married. Plus, I didn’t think you should use up all your vacation time,” she said.
“Baby, I’d quit my job and move to Maui if you wanted. I’m serious. We could buy that
house.”
She smiled. “You’d miss your work.”
“I’d get over it,” he shrugged.
“And our friends,” she said.
“They’d visit.”
She looked down. “I don’t think I could survive without Omar. It’s been him and me
since our first day of college.”
He put his hand on her face, she looked into his sea blue eyes, and he pulled her close in a
comforting embrace. “I know what his friendship means to you. I’m just saying that you can
write from anywhere, so if you ever decide that you want to pack up and be a beach bum with
me, I’d be all in. And I’m pretty sure that Omar and Clay would make good use of the guest
house.”
“Maybe if you let me drive the motorcycle or pilot the helicopter next time, I’ll consider
it,” she said.
He laughed. “The idea is to live. I think you need a few lessons first, sweetheart. Plus, I
loved feeling your arms wrapped around me when we took those sharp bends around the cliffs.”
“That was so much fun. I’d never been on a Harley before. You made me feel safe and so
free.”
“That’s exactly how I want you to feel, always, just like I promised you on the day we
got married, standing right over there.”
“Jack, I love you so much. Happy anniversary.”
“I love you with my whole heart. Happy anniversary, sweetheart. Let’s go to bed. I’m not
done with you yet.”
Thank you, Patricia Leavy and Love Books Group
:
About the author
Patricia Leavy, Ph.D. is a bestselling author. She has published over thirty books, earning commercial and critical success in both fiction and nonfiction, and her work has been translated into many languages. She is also series creator and editor for ten book series with Oxford University Press, Guilford Press, and Brill/Sense, including the ground-breaking Social Fictions series. She has received numerous accolades for her books. Recently, her novel Film won the 2020 American Fiction Award for Inspirational Fiction, her novel Spark won the 2019 American Fiction Award for Inspirational Fiction and the 2019 Living Now Book Award for Adventure Fiction, and her Handbook of Arts-Based Research won the 2018 USA Best Book Award for best academic book. She has also received career awards from the New England Sociological Association, the American Creativity Association, the American Educational Research Association, the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry, and the National Art Education Association. In 2016 Mogul, a global women’s empowerment network named her an “Influencer.” In 2018, she was honored by the National Women’s Hall of Fame and SUNY-New Paltz established the “Patricia Leavy Award for Art and Social Justice.” In addition to writing, Patricia loves art, movies, and travel. She resides in Maine with her husband, daughter, and their dog.
:
Author Link
:
:
Book Link
B for Bookreview 