HEAT WAVE BLOG TOUR STOP AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT ON: Peeking Through Wooden Blinds by Jane Reinhart

Paige Henderson and Joey Novak are planning their wedding. But a devastating and
mysterious phone call leads Paige onto a path of self-destruction and into the arms of
the wrong man. Her ensuing marriage to Nick Bruska becomes a nightmare and she
struggles to regain self-worth. Joey has never forgotten Paige. Will he ever see her
again? Only then could they discover the terrible mistake that changed the course of
their lives.

The invitation list included Bob and Maura, a couple who also grew up with Nick.
While Paige was mingling with guests in the living room, Nick and Maura were in the
basement playroom watching television. Bob walked downstairs to inform his wife it was
time to go. All of a sudden, the irate husband came storming upstairs to confront Paige.
 "Do you know what your husband is doing?" Bob screamed.
 Paige was dazed and uncertain.
 "He is lying on the couch with my wife, and he has his arms wrapped around her!"
 While Paige was trying to create a suitable excuse for Nick's behavior, Maura ran
upstairs to explain her innocence. After a brief scolding from her husband, she directed
her comments to Paige.
 "Don't listen to Bob," Maura said. "He has a bad temper. You know Nick and I have
been close for a long time, and he wasn't doing anything wrong."
 Bob and Maura left while the other guests were still trying to close their mouths.
 Paige knew Maura spoke the truth. Nick took all aspects of his personality to the
limit, especially his affectionate nature, but she gave him an impending warning.
 "NIck," she started, "one day your over-friendless is going to get you into a lot of
trouble."
 Nick agreed, but didn't absorb her warning.
 Insisting that it was "nice to be nice," the sociable husband assured his wife that
he knew where to draw the line. For instance, Nick confessed that, once, when a young
woman offered him her phone number after an evening of pinball challenge, he declined
and told the girl he was married. With a gallant air, he shared the story now to prove his
fidelity. Paige reminded him that if he spent hours cavorting with female competitors,
he was already straddling the fence. Furthermore, she argued that women on the
prowl always checked a man's hand to see if he was sporting a wedding ring. That was
something Nick refused to do; explaining that, since he was a tradesman, wearing one
presented the dangerous risk of getting the ring caught in machinery. He added that
when he retired, he would wear the band of gold with pride.
Trust regained its stronghold, and another obvious wave of the red flag was
ignored.

Jane Reinhart, author and poet, resides in Westchester County, New York, with her
husband and three dogs. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling and cooking.