Welcome Matthew Moi, psychiatrist and professor
of Human Sexuality here in Chicago. You can read about him in Seeking Hope (Emerging From Darkness
Book 3) by J. M. Maurer.
RW: What's
your story/back story? Why would someone come up with a story about YOU?
MM: I’m a
psychiatrist and partner at Morgan, Moi, Wozniacki & Allen, Associates in
Sexual Psychology, SC. I also teach Human Sexuality to college students here in
Chicago, and I’ve secretly been in love with one woman for quite some time.
Telling our love story was a must.
RW: Can
you tell us about Jessica Winters?
MM: About
Jess? She’s the love of my life. She thinks I saved her from the darkness, but
she did her own bit of “shining the light” on me. She has this beautiful, warm
smile. But because of her tragic past, she’d forgotten how to live, how to
trust in anyone from the opposite sex, and how to lift the corners of her
perfect, pink lips. She’s come a long way, though, and I’m more than proud of
her progress. But, something is tugging at her soul, something I can’t quite
put my finger on. And now, someone is after her. I’d do anything to put a smile
on her face, as well as keep her safe.
RW: What
problems do you have to face and overcome in your life?
MM: Everyone
has a past. Mine. My mother tried warning me. I didn’t listen. I used all those
women anyway. Then there was Jess. The timing to begin a meaningful
relationship was terrible. I knew it. She didn’t even know I existed. I waited
for her. And waited. Then when I couldn’t stand it anymore, I made sure our
paths would cross. Our relationship certainly hasn’t been without interference.
Without a doubt, my number one priority is her.
RW: Do you
expect Jess to help or is she the problem?
MM: Absolutely not. She must not know someone is after her. I meant it when I
said I’d do anything to protect her. Now is not the time to add emotional chaos
to her plate. She’s already internalized a ton of stress. Protecting her
physically and emotionally is my job.
RW: How are you coping with
the conflict in your life?
A: Not well, I’m afraid. I think my sister,
Megan, is about to kill me, or at minimum do bodily harm if I don’t lighten up.
How can I? This is the other half of my soul we are talking about.
RW: Bubble baths or steamy
showers? Ocean or mountains? Puppies or kittens? Chocolate or caramel?
MM: Steamy showers by the ocean with drizzled chocolate AND caramel. Having
said that, who has time for puppies or kittens?
RW: Picture yourself as a
store. Considering your personality and lifestyle, what type of products would
be sold there?
MM: Sex toys. What did you think?
RW: Satin sheets or
Egyptian cotton?
MM: Jess has these crazy purple sheets. They’re neither satin nor cotton. As
long as she’s in them with me, and only me, I’m happy.
RW: I suspect they could be jersey. It’s softer than cotton, and not so cold
you get a shock when you roll over, but not too thick in summer like flannel. I
happen to love them. They’re perfect for Chicago’s crazy climate.
RW: Party life or quiet
dinner for two?
MM: A quiet dinner for two, preferably up on my private rooftop where I know
I can keep her safe.
RW: I love pizza with (fill
in the blank).
MM: Sausage. But since we always order two pizzas, I’ve learned to enjoy ham
and pineapple too.
RW: When I'm alone, (fill
in the blank).
MM: I’m obsessed with finding the prick who is after my Jess.
Now let’s meet the
lady behind Matthew and Jess:
J. M
MAURER
J.M. Maurer started working as a
registered nurse in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit where she cared for
critically ill children, transported them from outlying hospitals, and even
picked up overtime hours treating patients of all ages while inside a
hyperbaric chamber.
When not
writing, you can find her spending time with family and friends, exploring the
outdoors, or attempting most any sport. She resides in Chicago with her husband
and son.
Seeking Hope (Emerging
From Darkness Book 3)
The Plot:
I’d been given promises in the
past, all of which were broken. Inevitably, they broke me.
I wouldn’t let those broken
promises stop me from believing in new ones, though. I couldn’t.
Matthew Moi was different. His
dimpled smile and witty sexual banter has held me spellbound since day one.
Falling in love with him came
easy. Marrying him—a dream come true.
Now, he wants something I’m not
sure I’ll ever be ready for. As I struggle, he faithfully remains at my side.
Through it all, his protective
nature shields me from an evil I didn’t see coming.
Together, we have it all—love,
passion, trust.
Apart,
the possibilities are endless, even death.
Excerpt:
Finally at ease with his mother, Matthew
laughed, realizing that she, too, must have had a hand in teaching Jess how to
cook.
“I was happy to help. She’s going to be an
excellent cook and mother, for that matter, one day.”
Her words squeezed at Matthew’s heart. He ran a
hand through his curly hair, struggling with how to reply. “I’m not sure we’ll
have kids. Jess, she’s off. Something’s up.”
“Wedding planning can be stressful,” Marise
offered.
“No. It’s not that. At first, I didn’t know
what trigger was setting her off. But I finally realized when I mention anything
about children or babies, she checks out completely.”
“Any idea why?”
Matthew wasn’t one to speculate. Jess, not
being ready to talk about it, wasn’t helping him understand. But he knew
history could be painful to overcome. He motioned toward a bench, acting on a
strong desire to sit down and reflect. Following his mother, he sat and looked
down at the sand, a pensive expression on his face.
How could he tell Marise that Jess had been
pregnant when she found out Jake had cheated on her, and that the day of the
divorce hearing, she went into preterm labor? Or that a discrepancy in Jess’s
mind had her, in retrospect, believing she should have done everything possible
to save her baby, but didn’t, opting instead to give the baby comfort care in her own arms,
rather than put her through fruitless medical procedures?
Matthew knew the truth of the matter. He’d seen
the dates on the ultrasound, finding it one day as it slipped out from between
the pages of a book, and spliced together a corrected timeframe. Jess had been
barely twenty weeks along. And as she would have known from nursing school that
because the chances of survival were thought to be impossible at twenty weeks,
parents were advised to do exactly what she had done.
Whether at twenty-two weeks or twenty, she’d
died inside that day. And to this day, Matthew was fairly certain she still
harbored a belief that she had made a grave mistake and was endlessly blaming
herself for the outcome. It was no wonder she’d fallen into a deep depression.
Matthew wanted nothing more than to help her.
After a long moment in thought, he shrugged,
still uncertain what, if anything, to say to his mom.
Marise caressed his back, then shifted on the
bench to look at him. “Being psychiatrists makes it challenging for us not to
want to help, especially when we think we can. It’s what we are trained to do.
But sometimes, we are too close or simply aren’t the best option for those we
love. Even though they know we love them, they’re not always ready to let us
in.”
“You’re right. Jess said she would open up when
she’s ready.” Though it made Matthew feel she wasn’t comfortable enough with
him to tell him what was truly bothering her. And that hurt him. “I want to
talk with her about starting a family, but I don’t think it’s something she
wants.”
“Darling, there’s no hurry. Enjoy making
memories of the two of you first. In fact, you can start with a trip home. This
Christmas.”
Matthew stared out to sea, mulling over his
desires, Jess’s fears, and an impromptu trip to France. Marise draped her arm
over his shoulders, the sound of the waves the only noise breaking their
silence.
“I know it’s been a long time since you’ve had
Christmas at home with us, but we’d love to have you. You could make a full
holiday of it and take Jess to Paris. You certainly don’t have to stay confined
to the guest house.”
“The guest house?” Matthew grimaced, uncertain
as to why she hadn’t offered their house to them.
“You’re welcome to stay anywhere you’d like.
But if you’re in need of some privacy, I suggest the guest house.”
Privacy. His eyes darting from the ocean to Marise,
Matthew pulled his mother to his chest. “You may have just helped me.”
Marise laughed and returned the embrace. “I’m
more than happy to help, with anything. You need only to ask.”
Matthew leaned back, this time frowning.
“There’s something else going on with Jess you should know about.”
“Yes, dear.”
“Someone wants her
dead.”
Contacts:
Author Website: http://jmmaurer.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JMMaurerAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JMMaurer1
Goodreads: bit.ly/GoodreadsJMMaurer
Amazon Author Page: bit.ly/AmznJMMaurer
Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsWjZv9ZGQ8
Buy Links:
Amazon Paperback:
Seeking
Love
(Emerging From Darkness Book 1)
Three years after a bitter
divorce, Jessica Winters isn’t sure she’s ready—or capable—to move on. Things
quickly change when she meets the playfully witty and handsome sex therapist
Matthew Moi.
Eager to work his way into her
broken heart, Matthew seizes an opportunity to have their paths cross.
Will he be able to prove to her
that true love is worth the risk? Start the trilogy today! This book is
currently FREE!!
Buy
Links:
Seeking
Redemption
(Emerging From Darkness Book 2)
After surviving a bitter divorce
and emerging from a darkness that became all too familiar, Jessica finds
herself on top of the world. As Matthew's own secrets become known, threatening
to destroy their relationship, Jessica pledges to fight for a future with the
man who drew her out of the darkness, steering her onto a healing path—Seeking Redemption.
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