I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Now that we've eaten our turkey, I can start talking about Christmas and I won’t feel like I’m rushing the season.
The release of A SAVANNAH CHRISTMAS WISH is four days away. (I hear angels singing!) To celebrate, I’m giving away both books in
the Fitzgerald House series. SOUTHERN
COMFORTS and A SAVANNAH CHRISTMAS WISH. Look
for the Giveaway at the bottom of the blog.
I think I am more worried about this book than my debut,
SOUTHERN COMFORTS. With SOUTHERN
COMFORTS the book went through eight major revisions. People who had their fingers on it included, my
critique group, contest judges, my agent and then finally my editor.
A SAVANNAH CHRISTMAS WISH hasn’t had that kind of visibility—so
I’m hoping the lessons I’ve been learning about writing a compelling book have
taken root! Who has seen it? My critique group read the beginning, one
daughter has read the entire book— (she couldn’t put it down---I wiped my brow
in relief after she let me know) and of course my editors.
So on December 1, 2015 my second book is heading out into
the world. (Take flight book!) Okay, it’s apparently been out in the world
via Harlequin’s book club, but beginning December 1st, the rest of
the world can pick it up.
Here's a little bit about the series.
Fitzgerald House is a Savannah B and B, run
by three sisters. They all provide a
different expertise: Abby is a trained
chef, Bess is a landscape architect, and Dolley is the
technical/website/bookkeeper. When their
father died he let them in so much debt, that their mother began turning their
family mansion into a B and B to survive.
Now that the sisters are running the B and B, they’re trying to finish
the restoration work and open more rooms.
Here’s a little teaser from Book 2 – A SAVANNAH CHRISTMAS
WISH
“Don’t shut me
out. I’m here for you.” Bess took a deep breath. “I’m sorry I forgot our
dinner.”
“That doesn’t
matter anymore.” Daniel pulled her down an empty corridor and stopped by a
small alcove.
Since they were
alone, she hugged him. His arms hung at his sides and his muscles were rock.
Her stomach twisted and turned like kudzu strangling a tree. What was going on?
“I need to be with
my family.” Daniel put his hands on her shoulders and set her away from him.
“We need to take a step back.”
“What?” Her hands
shook. Couldn’t he tell how much she cared?
“We’re done.” His
brown eyes were...dead.
This couldn’t be
happening. Daniel needed her. She needed him. “I can help.”
“We got involved
and look what happened.” His hands slashed, as if he was severing the ties
between them. “I lost focus. I didn’t catch Nathan’s mistake. Now Pop’s in the
hospital.”
“Daniel.” Her
voice squeaked. “Please don’t do this to us.”
“I can’t keep all
the balls in the air.” He shook his head. “I need to get down to basics, pare
away the luxuries.”
“I’m a luxury?”
She dashed away the tears backing up in her eyes. She refused to cry in front
of him. “I can help.”
“Like you helped
me the other night?” His voice was harsh. “I was waiting for you when I should
have been making sure the plasterboard Nathan ordered was secured.”
“What?” She
clasped her hands on her head. Everything was falling apart.
“Because of you, I
failed to check the supply orders and deliveries.” His words were barbs jabbing
into her body.
“But the
plasterboard was Nathan’s responsibility.”
“But I didn’t
check his work. Now Pop’s in the hospital.”
“Daniel.” She held
out her hand. “Don’t.”
“We’re through.”
He walked away and never turned back.
Her knees let go.
She slumped against the wall. He blamed her for his father’s collapse? She
loved him. Weren’t they better together than apart?
She held it
together until she got to the elevator and punched the button. And stood. Her
tears waited, held back by a floodgate. Not
here. She searched for
stairs, anything to get her off this damn floor.
There. An exit.
She ran down the hall. Wetness streaked her cheeks and she swiped her sleeve
over her face. She banged the door open and ran. One floor. Two. Three. Heading
into the main section of the hospital, she sprinted to the exit.
Outside she
stumbled, trying to find her car. Clicking open the locks, she slumped into the
seat.
She pushed on the
ache in her chest. She’d fallen in love and been slapped back—again. Fumbling
her phone open, she started to dial Abby’s number and stopped.
Her breath shook.
No one knew about them. Daniel had been her secret.
She had to bear
this pain alone.
Here are the Buy
Links for the eBook
Here is the Buy
Link for the Paperback and eBook at Harlequin. If you purchase before November 30th - A SAVANNAH CHRISTMAS WISH is 30% off, all month long! Enter code XMAS1115 at checkout.
Don’t forget to
click the Rafflecopter question to get credit for commenting on the Blog.
Here's the question-----Tell me about a Christmas wish that came
true for you.
I usually wish for all of the family to be together for Christmas. That mostly comes true each year. So much fun.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by today, Mary! I hope your wish comes trues this year!
ReplyDeleteSounds like another awesome read.
ReplyDeleteThanks Angi!!
DeleteMy wish came true in August 18th, 2009, when my first Grandson was born & again in August 26th, 2013, when my second Grandson was born. They are the two loves of my life. Linda May
ReplyDeleteOh Linda May-- that is so wonderful! I have Fluffy Top - my first granddaughter who is 1 1/2 and a second granddaughter on the way in May. Grandkids are the best!!
DeleteThe best Christmas wishes that came true were when my grandparents came to visit when I was younger. They were the best presents ever! Always brought a smile to my face...
ReplyDeleteColleen - what a fabulous memory! My grandparents from England came when I was in 6th grade and stayed for a year and half. Such wonderful memories.
DeleteMy wish was to go to Australia to spend Christmas with family over there and my wish came true.
ReplyDeleteRita -- what fun!! My aunt lives there and I feel guilty that I have never gotten there. THanks for stopping!
Deletecan't think of any
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping!
DeleteI already have both of these books. But,, my Christmas wish came true when my daughter was born on December 16th. After issues with infertility, she is my miracle child.
ReplyDeleteOh Tammy, how wonderful to have gotten your miracle child!
DeleteMy mom died 3 months before Christmas and my wish was for a sign that she was watching over us and that she was in a better place. Christmas Eve I had a dream and she was talking to me. I never ever remember my dreams, but this one stayed with me and I like to think she was actually talking to me in the dream.
ReplyDeleteJennifer,
DeleteI so glad you had that dream. I know after my dad died, I work up in the middle of the night and swore he'd been sitting at the foot of the bed. I hope you woke up smiling.
My wish is that one day my family can be together that is my kids and grandkids but not sure it will happen for a few reasons but pray about it daily!
ReplyDeleteI hope your wish comes true! Thank you for stopping by!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fabulous book, Nan! Can't wait to read it. When I was a kid, I desperately wished for the entire Anne of Green Gables made-for-TV series on videotape. I'd seen it at my friend's house, but I wanted my own copy so I can't watch it over and over again. It came true -- but not until several months later!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by Pintip! The movies introduced me to books. And that gave me an excuse to buy them for the kids and read them for myself! Wonderful! I wished they'd made the whole series.
DeleteSo glad you got your wish!
Yay on another Fitzgerald House book coming soon!
ReplyDeleteI've always said in my next life I wanted to be a fighter plane pilot. One Christmas, my husband surprised me with a trip to LA to Air Combat. I went up in a WWII fighter plane and played at dogfighting with another plane - we shot laser dot guns at each other. Best Christmas present ever!
Thanks for stopping in Sandra! THat is so cool that you got your wish! Fighter Pilot -- I can see that! (Hope you survived the laser battle!)
DeleteIt actually turned out to be a funny story. I'll tell you the next time we're together.
DeleteOooh - we might have to share some Prosecco while we do!!
DeleteI don't recall making Christmas wishes, aside from the Betsy Wetsy, age ?? five.
ReplyDeleteReading that excerpt, you don't have a thing to worry about, Nan. I loved Southern Comforts, and that excerpt makes it clear you've written another magical book that will tie my emotions in knots. So fun! Can't wait for the journey!
Ahh, thanks for swinging by Sheri. And for the very kind words. Betsy Wetsy - wow - I remember her. (I wished for a guitar and finally got one.)
DeleteHmm, I can only think of childhood things like Cabbage Patch Dolls! Now, I just wish to spend time with family and friends! I enjoyed Southern Comforts. Love the cover of this one--can't wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping in Christy!
DeleteCabbage Patch Dolls oh wow. (I always thought they were a little strange looking) So glad you liked Southern Comforts! I love the cover on Bess's book too!
Nan!
ReplyDeleteSo excited for the next book in your series. Love these sisters and the world you created.
AE
Thank you for stopping in my friend! So glad you love the world I've created, since I love your worlds!
DeleteHi Nan! I can't wait to read this! I've been missing the Fitzgerald House sisters and Savannah for such a long time now. I loved Southern Comforts and am looking forward to reading your new one on my holiday break! :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by Asa! And thank you for the very kind words!
DeleteNan, congrats on the release of A Savannah Christmas Wish! I loved your debut book and I'm so looking forward to this one. When I was seven or eight, I wished for a particular slot car set, but I didn't think I'd actually get it because cost a lot of money at the time. I treasured that set for years! If I could make another wish, it would be to return to Savannah.
ReplyDeleteHappy holidays to all!
Vaness - I have no clue what a slot car set is but it sounds like fun! Thank you for swinging over. Yes - I want to get back to Savannah. Especially now that we have snow on the ground here!
DeleteCongratulations Nan! So proud of you! Love your smile, your laugh and your wonderful stories. My wish for Christmas? Peace on earth. Sounds cliche, I know, but it's what we need, and if we're making wishes, they might as well be big ones.
ReplyDeleteAah E. E., I'm blushing now. I think your wish is wonderful and wish it could happen too.
DeleteYay! Can't wait! Loved the first book:)
ReplyDeleteI'm not in a habit of making Xmas wishes, but maybe this year, I'll go with what EE said...Peace on Earth.
Oh Thank you Laura! And thank you so much for stopping by.
DeleteI think you and EE are right. We need Peace on Earth. (Maybe if women ran the world??)
Such a cute post, Nan. I'm extremely excited to read A SAVANNAH CHRISTMAS WISH. Nineteen years ago, I wished that my oldest son would be born in December because there were no December birthdays in our family. Wouldn't you know it...he was born on December 1st - Nineteen years ago the day of your release.
ReplyDeleteOh Shelly - what a great wish. I'm so glad it came true for you. (Oh to be 19 again! Or even 19 years younger!) I was so envious that you were skiing this last weekend.
DeleteThank you for stopping by.
I'm so looking forward to reading A SAVANNAH CHRISTMAS WISH, Nan! Since my husband works for an airline and doesn't have a whole lot of seniority yet, we haven't been able to celebrate Christmas on December 25th like most folks do. But this year, somehow, he managed to get the 24th, 25th and 26th off! I consider that a Christmas miracle!
ReplyDeleteWhoo hoo! That should be a fabulous Christmas. I hope you both have a lot of fun. Will the cabana boys be there or on vacation?? Thanks for stopping by Bonnie!
DeleteFor the purpose of this post, I will be calling you NAN-A-CLAUS (after all, you come bearing the gift of words). :) And I can't think of a better way to kick off the month of December than cozying up with A SAVANNAH CHRISTMAS WISH! It sounds so delightful and I'm just pleased as spiked punch to celebrate another one of your fantastic books in the world!!!!! <3
ReplyDeleteAhh the gift of words - what a lovely thought. Spiked punch sounds wonderful too. We are having our first snow storm of the season here. I think I'll have to build a fire and grab some punch. Thank you for swinging over, Miss Darcy!
Delete