Reader Chat

Authors are known to also blog. We do it because we like to talk and it also gives us a platform to host each other on, to self and cross promote. I have to be honest.
I. Am. Not. Good. At. This.
But I’m working on it.
                Authors often do blog hops, or host other authors with interviews, or character interviews or little teaser excerpts but I’ve never see an author host readers on her blog. Let’s face it, readers are such an integral and important piece to this big jigsaw puzzle that I can’t imagine why this doesn’t happen more often.

So I took the liberty to do just that. Today I’m talking with readers on my blog.  I had four volunteer fans from my Facebook Author Page www.Facebook.com/KbEvans  to come have a conversation with me here today.

Why don’t you introduce yourselves a little bit first? Aleesha, let’s start with you.  

Hi! My name is Aleesha and I like to read and play video games! I work at Walmart and am getting married August 3^rd! Other than that there is really nothing to tell.

I am Julie Kirsch. I am a housewife and mother to 4 children… my oldest is in college and our baby in Kindergarten.  I have not worked for money in 18 years.  I run the household and the children…I am married to a great man and I am 42 years old.  I recently became a Reader in last fall after my friends begged me to start reading so I could discuss the books!
                My name is Kelly. I am a student, a mother, a dental assistant, and a wife. I am studying writing at a community college to earn the college’s writing certificate. I am currently working on two short story projects for class and may compile some of these into a published collection. I may go on to get my bachelors at a different university, but not sure about that path just yet. I am an aspiring writer and I love to read.
                My name is Rhiannon and I’m awesome J

 

What kind of books do you usually enjoy reading? Who are some of your favorite authors?

 
 

A: I like to read all kinds of books, romance, mystery, not too keen on real scary books though. My favorite authors are Kelly Armstrong, Kelli Evans, and Jill Shalvis.
                J: I like to read romance stories.  I am not a big fan of detailed sex erotic romances. Too much fluff for me!  I love to read Toni Blake, Vivian Arend, and Robyn Carr, Lynda Chance, and Kelli Evans, Sylvia Day.  I prefer Series books!!  I never want the story to end and can appreciate adding new characters and places in a series of books.

                K: I tend to read stories with a supernatural/paranormal/horror theme. I also like reading crime stories (serial killers, etc). Some of my favorite authors are Stephen King, Ted Dekker, Justin Cronin, Tami Hoag, Jeffery Deaver, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Veronica Roth, Suzanne Collins and many more. I do not usually go for straight up romance novels; I prefer something with touch of horror to it.
                R: I normally enjoy romance but a good thriller is always fun too. I like Jodi Picoult and Jill Shalvis.
                I have to admit that Jill Shalvis is a favorite of mine too. Wow, you are all such interesting (and sweet) women, and I’m glad to have you here today.  Most of you have read my Whisper Hollow Series, or at least read the first two books and are working on book three right now, correct? ;)  Which book in the series was your favorite, why?

J: Uhh, that’s a very hard question to answer. I liked the 2 books I read… They each brought different relationships and details… Probably book one about Reagan and Reed… I liked their romance and the fact that his daughter was brought into the story… I have 2 teenagers so it was very easy to relate to that type of behavior… Also liked that they met by chance and were very different people. He was so patient with her… it was just a great detailed story that I could not put down!  If it draws you in, and leaves you with a realm of emotions, you know you are getting something out of it… I could relate to this story… The entire divorce between Reed and wife one… I was a child of divorce twice… So, I get all of those emotions.  It was great!!!

K: My favorite book in the Whisper Hollow Series was book one, Lucky Enough. I have read the first two in the series and am getting to book three, but Lucky Enough is definitely my favorite thus far. I love the variety of characters that we are introduced to in this book. I absolutely love the way Reagan and Reed meet for the first time. Each character has their own special personality that makes you fall in love with them, even slimy ole’ Leland. I especially love Reagan’s quirky, humorous personality. It’s a cutsie kind of story, definitely something much different than what I am used to reading, but I loved it!

                A: Hmmm….my favorite book, I would say it would have to be the third book. I love Tad and Candace. But also, I think it’s the easiest to relate to. Many people have a crush on their best friend and many are too afraid to say anything. This book makes you want to go for it and I love that.

                R: Book three was my favorite by far because I loved Tad! He was everything I look for in a hero and it doesn’t get much better. Plus the last book wraps everything up for the whole series and I like to see that all come together, the wedding, the baby, etc.

               

                All the men in this series are seriously delicious right? But you have to Mary one, Date one, and Dump one? How do they measure up for you?

                K: Yummy? Yes! If I had to marry one it would be Reed. He’s just a big ball of manly sex appeal. He is a mechanic and there’s just something delish about a greased up, hard working, sweaty man. On top of that he is a good father to his daughter, and that is a plus. He is definitely marriage material.  I honestly couldn’t just date and dump any of them; even Joe has some great assets. Joe chooses to do the right thing and even though it seems obligatory, he is dead set on making you fall in love with him.              

 

                J: I can’t make a definitive answer!  I would marry Reed or Joe!  They both just seemed like wonderful men!  Tad didn’t really do it for me, but I have not started book three.  I loved Joe’s constant desire to want Ronnie. He waited it out and won the girl…

                R: I would marry Joe because he seems the most dependable. I would date Tad because umm he’s sexy! Lol and I would dump Reed well because it’s the only one left.

                A: I would marry Tad, and date Joe, and dump Reed. I love Tad’s sense of humor over all of the other men. He is cute, messy, and funny.

                Whew! I’m glad I’m not answering these questions. That is a tough one. These men are all so great in their own ways. They’re all especially great paired up with their women.                 
                Now what about the women? Who do you most relate with? Which would you choose to be your Maid of Honor? Who do you trust to babysit your kids? & who would you want for a boss?

                R: I relate with Reagan the most because she’s so funny and klutzy and down to earth and I love it. I would pick Ronnie to be my maid of honor because she has a knack for details lol Reagan to babysit my kids because she’s like a giant kid herself and my boss? Hmm any of ‘em!

                J:  I liked Reagan the most. She seemed to have a good head on, even if a bit disorganized. She was caring and compassionate.  She would be my babysitter and maid of honor… I would even want her for a boss.  She was kind.

K: I find that I related most to Reagan. She is funny, quirky and sexed up. She is a klutz and honestly, so am I. She also doesn’t care too much about keeping things perfectly tidy and will scarf down some ice cream without feeling guilty about it. For me, donuts are my comfort food. Out of obligation, I feel I’d have to choose my twinie as my maid of honor, but I think Candace would be a better match because she seems to be not as tightly wound as Ronnie. Ronnie may decide she wants to be in complete control of everything for the wedding. She may end up being Maid-of-Honor-zilla. I can’t choose between the two on babysitting, however. They would both make a good match for that. As for the boss choice, it would have to be Ronnie because she is really pulled together. She has to succeed and she would make sure those under her want to as well.

                A: I’m not really sure which I most relate with, I am clumsy like Reagan, I like organization like Ronnie, and I have Candace’s sense of humor. I think I would pick Ronnie for a maid of honor because she is super organized and I know everything would go smooth. I would pick Reagan for a babysitter because she is so good with Chloe. I would pick Candace for a boss because she is so laid back.

               

All such good answers, girls! Again, I don’t know how I’d choose.
If you could spend a day with one Whisper Hollow character which would it be? What would you do?

                K: If I could spend a day with one of the characters it would have to be Reagan. We would have a spa day, gossip about our men, eat sweets, and end the day with a few drinks and a lot of laughter. I like a good laugh and a chance to tell a few jokes and I think Reagan is the girl to do that. It would be a girl’s night out. As women, we don’t get to do that often enough. Don’t get me wrong, spending some time with Reed would be amazing, but there’s nothing like hanging with some friends!

 

                J: I would spend it with Reed and we would tour his shop!

               

                R: I would spend it with Tad and I would rather not say what we would be doing! lol

               

                A: Wow, I would definitely pick Tad and I’m pretty sure everyone knows what we would be doing ;) lol

 

                Haha!  Well, that all sounds pretty darn good to me.

                Let’s talk Leland, while we only really see him in Lucky Enough (book one) I’m sure you all still remember him and have some strong feelings about him? Tell us what those feelings are.

                J: If I remember correctly Leland was Reagan’s guy that she didn’t marry… No feelings about him, other than disgust.

                Close, Julie! Leland was Reagan’s landlord. You’re thinking of Lance The Lawyer. I think you might have been right on about the disgust part though ;)

                R: I thought he was hilarious!! One of my favorite side characters for sure, you really nailed the gross disgusting pervert lol

                A: I think he is gross. He reminds me of a lot of people I work with. He’s not shy about telling her she’s hot and to wear skimpy outfits. He hits on her despite her efforts to tell him it’s never going to happen. There is one part towards the end of book one where I kind of like him but I don’t remember why.

                K: Leland is a great character for some comic relief. He is disgusting and makes you cringe at the thought of him. He reminds me of Stephanie Plum’s cousin Vinnie(Janet Evanovich). I wouldn’t have been terribly disappointed to see him in some of the other stories, just because he was funny.
                I must admit I have a strange love-to-hate-him soft spot for Leland. He might show up again … if there ever comes a Whisper Hollow 4 … until then tell me, what is your favorite Whisper Hollow Moment?
               

                K: My Favorite moment was definitely the way Reed and Reagan first met. It was an amazing moment when she just randomly chooses some hot guy at the court house to make out with in attempt to make her ex jealous. From that moment on you just really want the two of them to have a rough and tumble in bed.

                A: One of my favorite moments is when Reagan kisses Reed for the first time. I love how spontaneous it is and it just makes me laugh.

                R: When Candace throws her drink on Tad, it was hilarious.
                J: When Reagan and Reed realize they love each other and want to be together.  When he especially realizes that he does not want Reagan to get away, even though his feelings for marriage are NONE… Once he realized that he loves her even more.
               

                I must be slacking. Every single one of your favorite moments all occur in Lucky Enough, Book One in the series. I better step up my game ;)
                Did you laugh, cry, or swoon at all while reading these books? Can you remember what it was that caused that emotion?

                R: I did all three of those things!!

                K: Swooning would include the answer to the last question. Best swoon moment in the series. One that also included a bit of humor and made me laugh as well.

                J: All of the above… these books caused all the emotions and I loved them all…A great books takes you into the story and out of your own personal life story.                

                A: I did a little of everything. I cried near the end of book two, I was going to describe it but I don’t really want to give anything away. I laughed a lot, and if I wasn’t laughing I usually had a huge grin plastered on my face, a lot of times my fiancé would ask what is so funny. I laughed at Reagan quite a bit because she is so clumsy and I kind of felt bad for her too for all the trouble she was getting herself into.

                Are you hoping for a Whisper Hollow #4?  If so, who would you like to see as the main character?

                J: Of course!  I would love to continue reading the series books!  I don’t have a main character, but would like to see how their families grow and the struggles and joys they face in the future.                

                R: That would be pretty cool and maybe it could be Chloe and Shea when they’re a little older?

                K: I wouldn’t mind seeing a teen oriented version for the Whisper Hollow series involving Reed’s daughter and her Boyfriend. It would be a cute read for any young girls out there who are looking for a bit of romance that is acceptable for them to read.
                A: Most definitely! I would eventually like to see what happens between Chloe and Shea. But even more than that I would like to see what happens with Joe’s brother, Dr. Gorgeous lol

                I get asked a lot if I’ll write about Chloe and Shea so I may just have to but Aleesha, you’re barking right up my alley with Dr. Gorgeous. If I ever write a Whisper Hollow 4 I’ll just have to give Dr. Gorgeous his HEA (Happily Ever After) I mean he’s been so patient…
               

                Okay Ladies, what has been your overall impression and opinion of this series?

                A: I LOVE IT!!! It was a great mix of funny, passion, and real life situations.

                J: It was great, fabulous, a wonderful read.

                K: Overall, the series is great! The characters are all developed very well. Each book leaves you wanting to learn more about the girls’ relationships with their men, even beyond the stories we have read already.

                R: Fantastic! I loved it and couldn’t put it down.

You’re all so good for my ego. But seriously, would you recommend this series to other readers?  

A: DEFINITELY!!

J: Of course I would … I truly enjoyed reading them.                 K: Yes! I have in the past and will continue to do so.                 R: Heck yes I would!

                How would you compare these books to others? Are there other books, or another series that struck you with a similar feel?

A: I don’t really know, I don’t think I could compare this to any other books I’ve read. I don’t think there are any other series that made me feel how I felt with this series. I mean sure I laughed at other books, but each book feels different to me.

K: The only similarity I found was with Lucky Enough and the Stephanie Plum series. The similarities there are minimal, of course, but I feel like Reagan and Stephanie are probably distant cousins. They are both funny, Klutzy and love their comfort food. Reagan’s landlord, Leland, was just as disgusting as Stephanie’s cousin, Vinnie. As far as similarities go, that is it. But this is also why I liked this story so well.                

R: This series actually felt very in sync with the Lucky Harbor series from Jill Shalvis, which I loved so it’s a win-win J

J: Yes, the Toni Blake series… these reminded me a bit of them… just books that you grieve over when you are on the last page!

 

And if you’re anything like me at all you’re always looking for another great read. So why don’t we just talk about the best books we’ve read thus far in 2013?   
               
                A: I would say the whisper hollow series are the best books I’ve read so far. I haven’t done much independent reading outside of book club lately besides book 3 in the whisper hollow series. But none of the books I’ve read in book club measure up the whisper hollow series.

J: For 2013, I started on Virgin River Series by Robyn Carr.  I have read them all up to: Redwood Bend… I am in the beginnings of this book now… I have 2 more to read after this and will have read all 20 books!  Fabulous stories…

Oh my gosh you ladies are wonderful. I’m honored to have you as readers!  Do any of you have questions of your own that you’d like me to answer? I’d be more than happy to.

J: Where do you get the inspiration for these characters?  Are these people or personalities you have known in your lifetime, or completely fiction?

To be honest Julie, a little of both. I throw some of myself into each and every one of them – unintentionally of course but it happens nonetheless. Some characters end up surprisingly similar to me and others the resemblance is barely miniscule. There’s a little bit of my family in them, and a little bit of my friends, or kids I’d gone to school with but it’s all mostly fleeting.
                There’s a moment in the beginning of Just Her Luck when I’m describing Joe’s kitchen – while he’s standing in it cooking eggs in the buff. Yum I know!  But I mention a tall skinny cupboard that’s supposed to be used for spices but he used as a medicine cabinet, I styled that after my parent’s house – and my aunt thought I was making a reference to her… I just try to write about real people in situations that are at times a little extreme but in some sense entirely possible.

J: Well, you are very detailed and have so much to offer a reader!

Thank you! I have the best readers! I’m so glad you all could stop by and spend some time with me, ladies. I’ve really enjoyed hanging out with you and talking shop.

                Everyone else feel free to chime in, in the comments. I love hearing from readers.
                Thanks again!!  

Talked about on SBTB

Smart Bitches Trashy Books is talking about One Lucky Deal

I sent Sarah Wendell, from Smart Bitches Trashy Books, an e-mail awhile ago asking for an honest review. While she hasn't actually reviewed it she is talking about it with Jane Little from DearAuthor. The part of One Lucky Deal that Sarah spoke in great detail about was the friends to lovers transistion these two go through.
I'm glad that this is what she picked up on the most. I'm proud she was impressed with that aspect. This was the piece of the story that I was most concerned with being truly authentic. Friends to lovers is my favorite story-line to read and to write. I love writing guys-guys and writing heroines who can hang with the boys and that is definitely Tad and Candace.
I truly hope that the experience would have been better for her if she'd read the first two, and I'd be interested in hearing what she had to say about them as well. While maybe not everything she said was overtly positive about this book, I'm more than pleased with the honesty of her analysis. I agree almost wholeheartedly with everything she's said. I really appreciate her taking the time to not only pick up one of my books but to include it in the DBSA Romance Fiction Podcast for this week.
And if you haven't had the chance to read the Whisper Hollow Books - I hope you find a moment to do so - I promise they are not a waste of time.  

Don't forget to check out the podcast by clinking on the subheading of this blog post :)

One Lucky Deal

Available: February 4th, 2013
www.LsBooks.com

 

 

Blurb: Candace Hilt works with stray and injured animals, takes care of five of her own loveable mutts, deals with meddling sisters, and can hold her own at a poker table full of rowdy men. Her heart is as big as all of Whisper Hollow but not quite big enough to fit a serious relationship into the mix. That was reaffirmed when she came face-to-face with the walking, talking reminder of that long-ago summer when one stupid guy ruined it for all the rest.

When Tad Dundee met Candace he’d been six feet of baseball-capped, country boy, down-home idiot and probably still is. He is the guy who broke Candace’s heart all those years ago because his feelings for her scared him then, and even now, as a grown man, doesn’t find her or relationships any less intimidating.

With the past tucked neatly behind them and neither of them looking for anything serious, they’d fallen into a very easy, comfortable friendship until their friends challenge them to a summer of commitment. Tad and Candace’s pride won’t let them turn it down. They are thrust into a fake relationship with each other that has them both battling against a sizzling hot attraction and that even hotter old flame. Will winning the bet mean losing everything all over again, or are they about to be dealt one lucky deal?

Excerpt:
Bimonthly poker night was a time-honored tradition. These guys had been playing for years, and just recently added Shea, Reed’s daughter’s boyfriend, and Candace to the group. Candace was added mostly because she was Tad’s roommate, and she brought the poker table to the equation. It was used as Tad and Candace’s dining room table every other night of the week.
“Where’s my shirt?” Tad walked out of the bathroom with nothing on but that towel slung low and wrapped around his hips.
“Why did you wait so long to shower?” Candace pushed the sleeves up on her lightweight brown shirt. “The guys are going to be here soon and you’re going to be walking around naked looking for your clothes.”
“It was that or sit around all night smelling like a gym bag.” Tad lifted a cushion on the couch and peered under it.
“You’re going to do that anyway.” Tad looked up at her and made a face. She smiled sweetly back at him. Taking pity on him when he went to the freezer and peered inside it, Candace rolled her eyes and sighed. “You are the worst searcher on the planet. What would your shirt be doing in the freezer?”
Candace came up beside him and leaned against the counter. The freezer was billowing out visibly cold air, and when Candace’s gaze slipped to Tad’s hardening tan nipples she reached out and closed the door. “What shirt are we looking for?” She blinked.
“You know the one.” He motioned to his naked chest. “The one—you know, it’s—” Then something must have caught his attention out of the corner of his eye. “That damn dog.”
Candace didn’t know what had happened, but she winced and slowly turned around just in time to catch Tad pulling out his black Ramones T-shirt from beneath Sara. Sara reached out with her teeth and grabbed ahold of it. She was obviously not ready to give it back. Tad tugged on the shirt and Sara tugged back, thinking it was a game.
Zeke, apparently not wanting to be left out on any of the fun, pulled on Tad’s towel. Since Tad hadn’t secured it very well, off it came in one easy tug.
“Shit,” Tad cursed, dropping the shirt and reaching around to try to grab back the towel, but it was too late.
“Hey,” Joe, Reed, and Shea called from the doorway as they entered the house. “Joe brought the beer. I picked up a pizza, and Shea’s packing Red Vines.”
“Holy hell.” Joe laughed.
“What’s going on in here?” Reed chuckled “Did we interrupt something?”
“Um…” Candace was trying not to stare but she hadn’t seen him naked in close to ten years, and damn, the years had done him some good. He was nothing but rock-solid, hard, sinewy muscle and … impressive.
“Dude!” Shea held a hand in front of his face, obviously trying to block Tad’s privates from his line of vision.
Candace quickly reached forward and grabbed her fuzzy purple pillow from the couch and tossed it at Tad. He caught it and used it to hide his man business as he backed up toward his room. “I’ll be out in a minute. And anything on four legs better be in hiding.”
Once he was gone, Candace took it upon herself to tell the guys in vivid detail about the double tug-of-war that left Tad bare-ass naked in front of everyone. They all were laughing until tears were spilling out of their eyes. When Tad emerged he was straight-faced. Obviously he didn’t find the incident nearly as funny as the rest of them did.
“All right, if we’re done laughing, can we play some poker? Please?” Tad took his seat next to Candace.
“Hey, don’t get hard, Peter, we’re just playing with you.” Joe smirked.
Tad shook his head, rolled his eyes, and just focused on dealing out the cards. “Hey, cut him some slack. It is a little drafty in here,” Reed joked. Candace knew it must have been a joke because there had been nothing small about it. She shook the thought from her head and tossed in her ante.
When the games were over they usually sat around and drank another beer and bullshitted for awhile, but Tad was still acting ornery. “All right, boys, see you tomorrow.”
“Kicking us out?” Joe laughed, getting up and pushing in his chair, nearly stepping on a snoozing Charlie in the process.
Rudy was scratching at the back door, wanting to go out to sniff and pee around. Candace got up and whistled, sending all five of them out for the last time that night.
“No, they just want to get back to doing what they were doing when we walked in.” Shea laughed and shoved the end of a licorice in his mouth.
“Shut up,” Tad said, but good-naturedly.
“What? You don’t think she’s hot?” Shea asked, and Candace’s ears perked up. She might not have necessarily found Tad all that attractive, nor did she particularly want him to find her attractive, but … she did want to be found attractive … even if it was by Tad.
“She’s all right,” Tad answered, and Candace decided she’d take that as a compliment, even though it could easily have just been Tad’s nice way of saying “hell, no.”
“Well, since she got a glimpse at you all naked, if the sight of her doesn’t make you want to puke up beer and pizza, I’d say turnabout is fair game,” Shea said just before he, Reed, and Joe all walked out the door. Candace had begun collecting empties and rinsing them out in the sink.
“Did you hear that?” Tad asked as he put the pizza box in their recycle container hidden underneath the sink.
“Yeah.” Candace laughed, expecting Tad to laugh too. She turned to find him looking at her pretty seriously.
“I think he’s on to something.” Tad leaned back against the kitchen counter.
“What?” She turned the water off in the sink.
“It’s only fair. You’ve seen mine; let me see yours.” He nodded at her and she searched his face, looking for a hint as to if he was kidding. She couldn’t tell, but she had that spine-tingling feeling convincing her that he wasn’t.
Also availble at Amazon.
Will be available soon at B&N.

Book Club's Best of 2012 Picks

At our last Book Club meeting members compiled lists of their favorite books read in 2012 and from their lists I've tallied it all up and have created one comprehensive list. So here are our picks!

Book Club's

Best of 2012 Picks

Best Book Club Pick This Year:



Lucky Enough by Kelli Evans

(I think they think they have to say this... ;) )

 

Honorable Mentions In This Category: The Ideal Man by Julie Garwood & Wreck This Journal by Keri Smith

The Best Book We Read On Our Own:

The Lucky Harbor Series by Jill Shalvis

Honorable Mentions In This Category: Living With The Dead by Kelly Armstrong, One Lucky Deal by Kelli Evans, The Quantico Series by Irene Hannon

The Books That Gave Us New Perspective:
Brightside by Mark Tullius, The Help by Kathryn Stockett, If I Stay by Gayle Forman, Kingdome of Childhood by Rebecca Coleman & One Breath Away by Heather Gudenkauf

The Book With The Most Adventure:
Wreck This Journal by Keri Smith

Honorable Mentions In This Category: The Hunting Tree by Ike Hammill, Instant Temptation by Jill Shalvis & One Breath Away by Heather Gudenkauf

The Scariest Book We Read This Year: Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James (I think they were being funny...)

Honorable Mentions In This Category: Daddy's Home by A.K. Alexander, In Cold Blood by Truman Capote & One Breath Away by Heather Gudenkauf

The Hottest Book We've Read This Year:
Bared To You by Sylvia Day & Lucky Enough by Kelli Evans

Honorable Mentions In This Category: Fifty Shades Of Grey by E.L. James, The Ideal Man by Julie Garwood & One Reckless Summer by Toni Blake

The Books That Made Us Laugh-out-Loud:
Get A Clue by Jill Shalvis, The Know-It-All by AJ Jacobs & Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis

The Book That Made Us Cry: Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathon Safran Foer

Honorable Mention In This Category: Sisters of The Quilt by Cindy Woodsmall

The Book We Couldn't Put Down:
Lucky Enough By Kelli Evans

Honorable Mentions In This Category: 77 Days in September by Ray Gorham, The Half Stitched by Wanda E. Brunstetter, Just Her Luck by Kelli Evans & One Reckless Summer by Toni Blake

A Book/Genre We Liked But Didn't Think We Would:
the genre Romance

Honorable Mentions In This Category: the book Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James, the genre Thriller/Mystery

Our Favorite Author:
Kelli Evans

Honorable Mentions In This Category: Jill Shalvis, Kelly Armstrong, Mary Higgins Clark, Robin Cook, Julie Garwood, Irene Hannon, Beverly Lewis & Jodi Picoult

Our Guilty Pleasure Author:

Connie Mason

Honorable Mentions In This Category: Kelly Armstrong, Mary Higgins Clark, Robin Cook, Irene Hannon, Beverly Lewis, Jodi Picoult, Jill Shalivs & Nicholas Sparks

The Books We're Most Excited About Reading In The Upcoming Year:

Just Her Luck & One Lucky Deal by Kelli Evans

Honorable Mentions In This Category: Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, Entwined With You by Sylvia Day & More of The Lucky Harbor Series

Our Honorable Mentions Of The Year:
The Ideal Man by Julie Garwood, Fifty  Shades of Grey by E.L. James, One Breath Away by Heather Gudenkauf & One Reckless Summer by Toni Blake

Auld Lang Syne



Watching this video of the this past year in review has me thinking of all that I've gone through and accomplished in a year.
365 days, 52 weeks, 12 months
1/81st slice (on average) of my lifetime.
Such a small amount of time has moved me such an incredible distance across the board.
I'm a healthier person thanks to 2012



December 10, 2011





December 10, 2012

 

I'm a braver, kinder, stronger person in the last year. I took risks, I grabbed at chances, and jumped at opportunities.
I know that I have the potential to be whatever I want to be.
I know that I have the power to make things happen - me, just one person - just me.
I have gained confidence, experience, knowledge, energy and friendships and the understanding of how important the old ones are.

But 2012 wasn't all about gaining. I lost a lot too. 2012 was a no-holds-barred kind of year and with the highs going higher than I only ever dreamed possible the lows were much lower too. I lost a lot - and some losses were good (weight for one - and a lot of it) but mostly they were bad. We lost family this year, friends, and loved ones. The year was a full out tug of war between sheer joy and tragedy. Births, pregnancies, and proposals were abundant but only amongst the loss, despair, break-ups, and the deaths we all mourned.

It's amazing how much can change in so little time - how much one person can change - how big one life, one ripple in the pond can reach. I was blessed to be here, in this community, even in the midst of all the losses we felt personally -- to be here, where we reached out and separately united and shared in an epidemic of miracles. 

I've been blessed beyond measure.
I've been transformed.
I've been published.
I've been let down.
I've been lifted up.
I've been touched.
I've been scared.
I've been cared for.
I've been shattered and heartbroken.
I've been healed and humbled.
I've crossed so many bridges, and rubbed so many elbows.
We've been shaken this year, that is certain, but we've also been recovered, helped -- saved by the selfless acts of kindness toward each other.

I'd like to make a New Years resolution for an even better year ahead. I just want to keep moving forward and trying to be the best me I can be. A better daughter, friend, wife, lover, writer, reader, human... I want to be gentler, bolder, tougher, softer, and kinder in the New Year. I want to write better, jump higher, run farther, smile brighter and open my eyes wider to see even more.
I have been so blessed to have the year I've had with 2012. So blessed. I cannot even count all the ways but I want to be more, bigger, brighter, better. I know that 2013 has the capacity to be that, more -- so much more.

Leave a comment and tell me what your resolutions are for this next year and I'll leave you with this one last thought ... (and one of the most romantic movie clips of all time by an incredibly funny writer that, sadly, we lost this year ...) 

Anyway it's about old friends...

Just Her Luck (Whisper Hollow Book 2)

Just Her Luck
Available in eBook
Deceber 31, 2012

 

 

*Excerpt*

Ronnie Noel Hilt was seated on a barstool swirling a straw around in her Blue Bahama Breeze. The sugared rim crumbled along the counter of Lucky’s Bar.  It was a hole in the wall but it was her twin sister Reagan’s favorite place. That’s who she was supposed to be meeting along with her younger sister Candace.  

                Ronnie had just received two back to back cancelation text messages, from first Candace and then from Reagan.  They were bailing on her… again.

She was lonely and disappointed. She’d skipped lunch and dinner so that she could afford to drink tonight. So she immediately signaled for the bartender to bring her another drink even though the one in front of her wasn’t even close to being finished.

  The amount of alcohol she had plans of consuming would require her to work out for the vast majority of tomorrow but – so be it. Tomorrow was supposed to be reserved for brunch and mani-pedis with the girls but she figured they were going to bail on her again anyway. It had certainly been the pattern as of late.

            Ronnie had a perfectly fulfilling life. She was a very good, much sought after Financial Analyst.  She had a beautiful shabby chic home.  And besides this sudden inability to get together with her sisters, she was alright on the friend front.  

She had a very regimented and happy life. She was successful and talented - beautiful in that petite athletic way. With her long wavy blonde hair, hazel eyes, her fit, trim body, and a cool as ice veneer she didn’t hurt too badly for male companionship.  She was single because she wanted to be – not because she couldn’t hook a man.  She could hook a man alright.  She just hadn’t found any worth keeping.

But something was off. Something had been off ever since Reagan had gone and fallen in love. It had left Ronnie feeling a little aimless. She did not like things to change. She was not a fan of the unknown. She liked to be in charge. 
            Ronnie was floating and felt herself clinging to everything with white knuckles to stay grounded and centered. With the dynamic of her sisterhood and her twinhood being tested she felt more out of control than she’d felt in a very long time.

With all that weighing on her she was determined to have a good time tonight. She was going to enjoy the feel of this small town bar, and this unnaturally blue colored drink and forget that she’d been stood up by the two people she cared about the most … again.

 Just as she had set out to do just that she felt someone come up behind her.

            “What’s a girl like you doing in a place like this … alone?” 

            Ronnie turned around on her stool and wasn’t surprised to find Joe Aarons but was surprised by the sudden goose bumps that ran down her arm at his whisper. 

            Alright, she lied. Maybe she was hurting a little in the romance department. Obviously, her body was in the first rung of desperation if it was reacting to the Joe Aarons of the world.

            “Probably the same thing a guy like you is doing in a place like this … alone.” 

            He laughed at that as he eased himself on to the stool beside her. 

            It wasn’t that Joe wasn’t good looking because at six foot something with those wide as a house shoulders, long legs that seemed to move at their own easy pace, a body as hard and defined and as ridged as steel, strawberry kissed blonde hair and warm chocolate brown eyes he wasn’t difficult to look at. He was just not Ronnie’s type. 

            Ronnie didn’t waste time on guys who didn’t match up well with her Perfect Man List. Joe was basically the opposite of what she was looking for. For starters Joe’s job was just too dangerous and too uncertain. She liked stable men, the kind of men who were solid and dependable.  

             And Joe was basically her walking, talking anti-Mr. Perfect.

            “Taking the edge off?” Joe’s raised brow was aimed at her two melting brilliantly Blue Bahama Breezes.

            “Something like that.” Ronnie leaned in and licked some sugar off of her rim. When his gaze darkened and fell to her tongue, tracing the edge of the glass, a spike of awareness rippled through her. She swallowed hard and looked away pressing the cold drink to the rushing pulse at the inside of her wrist.  She was honestly not trying to seduce him but things like this happened every time they were together.

            “Better make it a tall one Bud,” Joe signaled to the bartender. 

            Ronnie took in the tightness of Joe’s shoulders, the dampened hair at his temples, and the bead of sweat trailing down the back of his neck past the collar of his shirt.  Judging by the way his police uniform was clinging to his skin, and the exhaustion in his brow she knew that he’d just gotten off his shift.

            “A hard day of writing parking tickets Officer?” Ronnie flipped her long golden hair over her shoulder and shot him a tongue-in-cheek smile.

            He sent her his signature Joe grin. “Yeah, I think I’m coming down with a case of carpal tunnel.”  He nodded his thanks at the bartender who sat his tall frosted mug of beer down in front of him.

            She stopped sipping long enough to say to him from around her straw, “That’s not from the ticket writing.”  

            Joe looked surprised enough that he was nearly ready to spit out his beer but he swallowed and then surprised her by leaning in real close and trailing a finger down the exposed skin of her arm. “Oh honey.” His deep low timbre of a voice slipped over her like warm velvet, tripping something deep in her gut. “I rarely have to do that myself.”

            She shot him an unimpressed glance.  He sat back in his seat, took a swing of beer and smirked. She rolled her eyes at him. “I doubt that’s true.”

            “Oh it is,” he assured her with a cocky wink that had her fighting her own smile. “There’s an opening in the schedule tonight though … I could pencil you in.”

            A laugh escaped Ronnie’s throat. “Joe, there is absolutely no way, not even if hell froze over and we were the last two people on earth, not even if there was a gun held to my head.” Her gaze fell to the holster at his hip. A cool tremor ran through her. “Would I ever agree to sleep with you.”

            Joe then leaned forward invading her space again. “Maybe I didn’t make myself clear enough.” He waited until Ronnie had brought her gaze back to his. “There wouldn’t be any sleeping involved.”

Lucky Enough

Available November 5th 2012

www.Lsbooks.com

 

Blurb

 

Reagan Hilt is down on her luck after a recent breakup that leaves her with an expensive wedding to pay for that never even happened. Not to mention she already has two sisters meddling in her business and a sleazy landlord knocking on her door. The last thing Reagan needs is a hot guy sniffing around who may or may not be the father of the teen girl she’s been court appointed to mentor. He should have been off-limits, and would have been if he didn’t blow her world away with every one of his kisses.

Reed Morely’s daughter was just dropped in his lap after his piece-of-work ex-wife kept her from him for years. She’s no longer daddy’s little girl but a nose-pierced, smart-mouthed teenager. Being a father is suddenly a full-time job and trying to make up for lost time has Reed attempting to keep his hands off his daughter’s pretty mentor.

Reagan and Reed have their hands full already, but when they’re confronted with their pasts, and with the odds stacked against them, they’re left wondering if they could ever be lucky enough to have it all.

 

*Special Sneak Peek Excerpt*

 

 

“The last time I saw her she’d been an angel,” Reed said about his now fifteen-year-old daughter Chloe. He was talking to his best friend, business partner and pseudo-younger brother Tad Dundee. “Now, she’s a … hellion.”

Tad laughed at his friend. “God, do you remember what I was like at fifteen? What Chloe’s mom had been like at fifteen? Jesus.” Tad swore under his breath. “I don’t envy you at all.”

“Callahan’s set to go,” Shea the seventeen-year-old part-timer announced about their most lucrative customer’s car. Donald Callahan was the richest man in Whisper Hollow and brought all his cars to R&T Automotive when he could well afford to take them to the fancier shops in Glenn Hill, the town over, or straight to the dealer.

“Okay, park it out back,” Tad hollered.

“Reed?”

Reed stood up from underneath the hood of the car he was working on. His arm was elbow-deep into the engine and getting greasier and more cut up with every turn of the wrench. “Yeah?” He pulled out of the engine, wiping his hands on a rag.

“I need to go to the store. Can I take the car?” Chloe twirled a strand of her dark red hair. She’d put highlights in it and had somehow made the underside black. She had flawless tanned skin that—God help him—she liked to show off. Thank goodness it was December. She was tiny and petite but guys were noticing her, and she was Reed’s constant worry.

“Absolutely not.” Reed laughed, which only gained him crossed arms and raised eyebrows.

“Why not? I have my permit?” she debated, and it was really a silly debate.

“Exactly. You have a permit. Not a license,” Reed pointed out.

“I’ll be careful. It’s only a couple of blocks.”

“I’ll take you to the store later. Or you could walk.”

“It’s like eighteen below out there!”

“It’s not eighteen below.” Reed laughed. “You just need to get acclimatized again. Taking a couple of blocks walk should help you start.” Reed was holding firm. The law was the law, and he drew the line at breaking it.

Chloe threw her hands up and groaned in exasperation. “You’re impossible to reason with.” She went back into the office with a loud slam of the door and a rattle of the windows.

Tad shook his head. “Reed? She calls you Reed?”

Reed didn’t find anything funny about that at all. He’d picked her up from the airport Friday night. The whole weekend had been awkward. Reed hadn’t seen Chloe in three years and not for lack of trying. He just hadn’t had the funds to fly out to Hawaii often to visit her, and Amanda, her mother, hadn’t been very accommodating either.

Now that Amanda was getting married she wanted some time to spend alone with the guy. So she’d shipped Chloe to Michigan to her father. The plan was that Chloe would go back home after summer vacation, after Amanda and Jason were “settled.”

He’d been so excited to see her. She used to be his shadow. He’d had the perfect, adoring, mild-mannered daughter. Reed’s sweet little princess had pierced her nose and had begun calling him by his first name.

“Yeah.” Reed rolled his eyes. “Her first night home, I take her out to that place down on Rochester in Glenn Hill, with the peanut shells you toss onto the floor.”

“Randall’s Roadhouse?” one of the other mechanics working on another vehicle supplied.

“Yeah, Randall’s, and while she’s in the bathroom, I do something nice for her. I remember what her favorite used to be and I order it for her. I get her the steak and sweet potato for the side instead of fries, and I get it loaded with marshmallows and bacon like she likes.” Reed stops and still in bewilderment shakes his head. “She comes back to the table. They bring us the food and she throws a fit. Apparently she’s a vegetarian and she doesn’t just refuse to eat the steak and order something else, she doesn’t want to eat at all anymore. ‘Lost her appetite’ apparently and she demands I take her home or she’s going to make a scene.”

“Well, what’d you do?” Tad asked.

“I took her home.”

“How’d you think you’re doing there, Pops?” Tad grinned ear to ear, obviously enjoying Reed’s agony.

Before Reed could answer him there was a loud boom. Reed threw the hood down, shot Tad a look, and he and the rest of the mechanics hurried out the back to get a look at what was happening in the parking lot.

Shea the part-timer was pacing back and forth in front of Reed’s smashed truck, giving Chloe the tongue-lashing of the century. Seeing his rear end muddled with Callahan’s front end he couldn’t decide if he wanted to cut Shea off and take over himself or start ripping into Shea for talking to his daughter like that.

Chloe had her hands on her hips, and Reed fought back a grin. She sure was no shrinking violet. She was digging him an early grave, and he could feel the gray hairs sprouting up out of his head, but he doubted he’d ever have to worry about his daughter being a doormat.

“How do I think I’m doing?” Reed looked over at an ashen-faced, slack-jawed Tad and said with only a quarter of the sarcasm he felt, “Just fine.”

 

 

 

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