Sizzling Summer Reads from the Get Lost in a Story Crew

It's time to start putting your summer reading list together, and the crew from Get Lost in a Story is ready with a few sizzling read recommendations:

E. E. Burke

Romance and rodeos, Old West adventure, even a few ghostly tales.

Deadwood's wild past and exciting present come alive in Wild Deadwood Tales, a limited edition collection of 17 original short stories written by USA Today and Amazon bestselling authors: E.E. Burke, A.C. Wilson, Amanda McIntyre, Angi Morgan, Ginger Ring, Jacqui Nelson, Lizbeth Selvig,

Maggie Ryan, Megan Kelly, Nancy Naigle, Paty Jager, Peggy McKenzie, Sylvia McDaniel, Teresa Keefer, Terri Osburn, Tina Susedik, Zoe Blake.

Proceeds from Wild Deadwood Tales go to benefit the Western Sports Foundation, an organization providing critical assistance to athletes competing in Western lifestyle sports. Whether they need help recuperating from an injury or planning for the future, WSF is there for them.

Keep our rodeo heroes riding strong. Purchase your copy of Wild Deadwood Tales today.

Excerpt from Unexpected Calamity 

   Jane slapped her hand on the smooth surface to get the booze clerk’s attention. “Pour me two fingers of oh-be-joyful,” she bellowed.

   The bartender wiped out a glass with his apron and set it in front of her. For some reason, he held the bottle upright instead of pouring. “That’ll be two bits.”

   “I’ll pay when I’m finished.” She reached for the bottle.

   He held it away and narrowed his eyes. “Here, you pay before you drink.” 

   If she had anything to pay with, she’d have pulled out the coins. As it was, she was broke. She could always pay later. “How do I know it ain’t bluestone swill?”

   “Pay or go elsewhere,” he insisted.

   “Don’t you recognize me?” She took off her hat. “Calamity Jane. I’ve been featured in dime books with Deadwood Dick. That’s worth a free drink.”

   “Not in here it isn’t.”

   “I’ll buy her a drink.” From behind, a man reached out and laid two bits on the bar. She glimpsed his strong, long-fingered hand and neatly trimmed nails, which were almost familiar...

   When she spun to look at him, she couldn’t see his face on account of it being so dark inside and him having a wide hat brim pulled low over his eyes. But she could make out the light brown mustache framing his mouth.

   A shiver rippled over her skin like an unexpected cold snap.

   As he sauntered away, she stared in disbelief at the fine frock coat stretched across his shoulders, the long golden hair hanging from beneath the hat. With his back to her, he dragged out a chair. It looked like he was rejoining a poker game with four others.

    A gambler. Of course, he just reminded her of Wild Bill.

   “Hey, mister,” she called out.

   He didn’t turn around. Some of the other men glanced up at her but went right back to playing cards.

   “Here’s your drink,” the bartender said.

   Jane gave her attention to the whiskey long enough to toss it back in one burning gulp, set the glass on the bar and turned to give the stranger her thanks.

   He was gone. In fact, there wasn’t even a chair where he’d been sitting. 

Jillian Stone

FAE WORLDS

One veil…Five worlds.

One veil keeps the human world separate from the Fae born. Some believe it’s safer this way. That magic and mundane simply shouldn’t mix. But what happens when worlds collide, and the veil is crossed? Or worse, broken?

Fae Worlds is a limited edition fantasy romance anthology featuring five never before published novellas ranging from sweet and playful, to downright dark and dangerous. Travel into diverse new worlds of magic and possibility, danger and desire, brought to you by five unique and imaginative authors:
Marie Andreas, C.C. Dowling, Lisa Kessler, Jillian Stone, Linda Thomas-Sundstrom.

Pre-order at Amazon before June 5 and get the ebook for $2.99

Excerpt from Night Bloomers by Jillian Stone

Everyone’s heard the strange stories about Paradox Lake… 

   Owen climbed into the driver’s side and immediately wanted to haul her into his arms, taste those soft pliable lips, run his hand under that little sweater with all those cute buttons…

  “Nice truck.”

   He nodded. “Bought it a few months ago—last years model.” A glimmer of moonlight lit the interior. “So where am I taking you, Elsbeth?”

   She stared at him. “Where would you like to take me?”

   His eyes narrowed. He knew what he would have done with most women. “I understand you live near an ancient woodland on the north shore. Strange lights reported around the lake these past few days. Maybe you could give me a tour? Show me were the faeries hang out.” He grinned. “I seem to have captured a Moonflower. I figure I’d better take advantage.”

   She stared at him wide-eyed. “Who have you been talking to?”

  “Nate Goodson, Francis MacLeod, both of them mentioned you. Also, there’s an old trapper named  Beckworth Adams who lives on the south side of the gulch—know him?”

   “Am I being questioned about the Henry Hazlitt thing?”

   “No rush—doesn’t have to be tonight.”

   “I can only imagine the kind of crazy faerie stories you’ve been told, especially by Francis.” She stared at him for the longest time. And she chewed her lip which was so damn distracting he had to look away. “Nate Goodson probably complained about me being against the waterpark—the petition and all.”

   Owen nodded.

  “So am I a suspect?”

   He chuckled softly. “A fatal car accident as strange as this one is always considered suspicious. Prominent citizen loses control of his 450 SL but still manages to drive it through a hundred and twenty-five feet of dense forest—doesn’t even clip a tree—before he runs it off a cliff.” He shook his head. “Doesn’t add up. Hell, it might never add up.”

  “And you’re thinking…what?”

  “Something happened out there, Elsbeth.”

   Moonlight edged the shallow rapids of the La Chute River. They both stared out the windshield at the fast-moving water.

  “I suppose you could drive me home. Along the way, I could show you a few faerie hot spots.” She turned away from the river. “No guarantee you’ll see anything. The fae are leery of coppers.”

  “What about you, Elsbeth Moonflower, are you leery of coppers?”

  “Depends on the copper—I try to keep an open mind.”

  “So there’s a chance for me.”

  “Maybe.” She wagged her head a bit. “Maybe there’s more than a chance.”

   He turned the key and the engine rumbled to life. “Seatbelt.” She pulled the strap around and he helped her buckle up. He looked up into large liquid-blue eyes.

  “When did you get so cute and sweet, Owen?”

  “Cute and sweet? Not—too hot to handle?”

   She stared at him. “Better than arrogant asshole.”

Nan Dixon

Fitzgerald House Bed & Breakfast - A World of Open Arms and Open Hearts

Excerpt from TO CATCH A THIEF

  Sage boosted his butt onto the stool, moaning like he was Gramps after being in the saddle for a day.

  Two women worked behind the counter drawing beers. He closed his eyes and took a couple of deep breaths.

 “Sage?”

  His eyes blinked open. “Carolina?”

  The napkin slipped out of her fingers and floated to the floor.

 “You got the job.” Did that make him feel better or worse since she hadn’t called?

 “First day.” Her deep blue eyes had that stunned look, like a white-tailed deer caught in a four-wheeler’s lights at dusk.

 “How’s your mother?” He schooled his voice, hoping she couldn’t catch his disappointment.

  Her shoulders moved up and down with her sigh. His eyes dropped to her chest. Even in the modest polo, he didn’t need much imagination to remember how she’d pressed against him as they’d kissed.

So why in blazes hadn’t she called?

  “They can’t get her seizures under control.” Her fingers crushed the second napkin she pulled for him. “She’s still in the hospital.”

   He caught her hand. “I’m sorry.”

 “Thanks.” She stared into his eyes.

   The noise of the room slipped away. He wanted to make the pain in her deep blue eyes disappear, too.

   She shook her head. “Um, what can I get you?”

 “What’s on tap?”

 “First day.” She winced. “Lots of Southbound.”

 “I’ll have their seasonal.” He could have one beer and make it last through dinner.

 “I’ll get that.” But she stayed right in front of him.

  He smiled. Maybe she hadn’t been blowing him off. Warmth flooded through him.

 “Sage?” she asked.

 “Yeah?”

 “I need my hand back.”

  Cripes. He let go and the warmth faded like a leaking balloon. He was an idiot. “Sorry.”

  Over her shoulder, she quipped, “I didn’t mind.”

 “Like I said, I’m available for dinner or just a shoulder to cry on.” Preferably in bed, but even he wasn’t crass enough to suggest that to her. He wanted to help any way he could. It was the Cornell way.

Pre-Order

Angi Morgan
RANGER GUARDIAN
Texas Brothers of Company B, #3

They took his daughter... Getting her back is all that matters.

  “Fishing or the barber shop? Which do you want to do after pizza?”

  He’d let Skylar Dawn decide. This was her day to play hooky and his to wonder about their future.

  “Pizza, then Mr. Craig at the candy shop.”

  The old-fashioned barber pole looked like a candy cane. He didn’t bother to correct her. It didn’t matter. 

  Where had the time gone? Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Skylar Dawn rocking in the saddle. This was probably the longest she’d been in it. No matter, he’d let her ride with him on the way back. That would help.

  “My, my, my,” she said, sitting back in her saddle like him. “Have you and Mother had another fight?”

  “What? Since when do you call Mommy ‘Mother’?” He knew the answer. His mother-in-law always said “my, my, my,” so this had to be her insistence on proper English. Never mind that. He needed to answer the real question. “Why do you think we had a fight?”

  “You’re acting funny, Daddy.”

He guided Jupitar to face both Skylar Dawn and her little pony. What could he say to make her feel better? No lies. He refused to do it. But he also refused to make his daughter’s life miserable.

  “Hey, baby. Sometimes things go wrong. So, yeah, Mommy and I argued. But that doesn’t mean we don’t love you or each other. Remember that time you had a fight with Stacy? What was that about?”

  “Bumble. She said he had a stupid name. We aren’t supposed to say stupid in school.”

  “That’s right. But you still went to play at her house that Saturday.”

  She nodded her sweet little head. “You and Mommy are still friends, too?”

  “Always. No matter what.”

  “Okay.” She shrugged, pulling the reins to go around him.

  Dammit. No matter what happened…

  “What’s that?” She pointed behind him.

  He turned in his saddle and saw a dust cloud.

  Dust? After all the rain they’d had last night? Not dust. Exhaust!

  “I don’t know, sweetheart.”

  The sound of all-terrain vehicles echoed off the stock pond’s built-up back containment wall. There were several of them. The Thompsons had only one. This was not good. Something was off.

  “Hey, baby girl, I think you need to ride with Daddy for a while.” He guided Jupitar next to Stardust, then reached down to lift Skylar Dawn. Setting her in front of him, he looped his left arm around her.

  “You’re squeezing too tight, Daddy.”

  “We’re going to go fast, baby. You like fast, right?”

  “Yes!”

  He kicked Jupitar into motion. The mud might slow down the men headed their way, but not his mare. She was as fast as the lightning that had cut across the sky in the early morning hours.

  “Hang on, baby!”

  A gunshot pierced the sound of the galloping hooves. He couldn’t slow down enough to tell if they were really aiming at them or not. Mud shot up from Jupitar’s legs. The wind whipped their faces as the sun beat down, warming them. His mare darted to the right, causing him to rise in his saddle.

Skylar Dawn screamed. “Daddy, slow down!”

  “I can’t, baby. I can’t.”

  Public Exposure! The information they’d obtained must have scared them into going after all of Kendall’s family. It was the only explanation. He hadn’t been on any major Ranger cases. No one was after him. It had to be Brantley Lourdes.

  “Haw!” he shouted to Jupitar.

  No use trying to get his cell out of his back pocket. Both hands were occupied controlling Jupitar and holding on to Skylar Dawn.

  If he could just make it back to the house… 


Nancy Thompson

Once Upon a Time…

…a struggling single mother found out she was really a princess. Except Sophie Baldwin outgrew that fantasy a long time ago. She wasn't sure she even believe in "happily ever after" anymore.

Until the handsome stranger showed up on her doorstep and whisked her away to an exotic kingdom…

Luc Lejardin had been dispatched to bring Sophie to St. Michel to take her proper place among the French royalty. As next in line to the throne, she needed his protection 24/7. But watching over the reluctant royal was proving Luc's most challenging mission. How could he keep his mind on business when all he wanted was pleasure…in the princess's arms?

Buy link:  Amazon 

Get Lost with Nan Dixon's Release Celebration and Giveaway

It's a new year and a new release in my FITZGERALD HOUSE Series. THE OTHER TWIN released on New Year's Day.

Since all the Fitzgerald House sisters; Abby, Bess and Dolley, have found their happily-ever-afters, this story is about Cheryl and Nathan. Both characters have been in the series. Cheryl and her son Josh were introduced in SOUTHERN COMFORTS. Nathan joined his twin brother in A SAVANNAH CHRISTMAS WISH.

Nathan has always felt inferior to his perfect twin brother, Daniel. He believes he's flawed by his dyslexia. Even kids can read and follow directions better than he can. So he does everything he can to avoid kids. They know they're smarter than he is. 

Everything changes when an ex-girlfriend drops off his four-year-old daughter, a daughter he never knew existing.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Who can resist a neighbor in need? 

Nathan Forester doesn't know the first thing about kids. So when the daughter he never knew existed arrives on his doorstep, he needs help, fast! His unlikely ally is next-door neighbor and single mother Cheryl Henshaw. Nathan and Cheryl don't exactly see eye to eye, but neither can say no to a helping hand. 

Renovating Fitzgerald House is Nathan's chance to finally prove he's no longer the unreliable twin—and it seems possible with Cheryl by his side. Suddenly their practical arrangement has become something much more. Trust isn't easy, but they're stronger when they work together.

I had so much fun writing the kids. Josh is kind of a brat. But Issy is tough. She's been traumatized by event with her mother and doesn't speaks for weeks. It takes Nathan, Cheryl and Josh to break through to the little girl.

Read a little--

CHAPTER ONE

“WE LIVE IN an apartment,” Cheryl said. “We can’t have a puppy.”

“Mom, I’d take care of it.” Josh’s pleading brown eyes were hard to deny. “I promise.”

She shook her head. “No.”

“We can move.” He tugged on her shorts. “All my friends live in houses. They all have dogs.”

“Not all your friends have dogs.”

Dogs were expensive. Where would she find the money to feed one?

Josh’s chin jutted out, reminding her of his father. When Brad had died in Afghanistan their lives had imploded. Now she and Josh lived in Savannah barely making it.

She wanted a better life for her son. That meant finding a better job, which meant training. Culinary school cost money.

Waiting to cross Bay Street, Cheryl switched the box she carried to her other hand and caught Josh’s arm. Mid-May and the temperature, along with tourist traffic, had soared. At Fitzgerald House, where she worked, all the rooms were full. She’d been lucky the day she’d found their ad for maid service. Now she cooked more than cleaned at the B and B.

Once she and Josh crossed Bay Street, he pulled away and ran to the River Street steps.

“Slow down! Hang on to the railing.” She sped up, not wanting to lose sight of his blond hair. “Josh!”

As she descended, the brackish scent of the river mingled with the aroma of onions and hot oil from nearby restaurants. Tourists clogged River Street checking out the shops and pubs.

Josh disappeared.

Her heart pounded. Six months ago he’d rarely left her side. Her life had been easier when he’d still been afraid.

Up ahead, she spotted a flash of blond hair as Josh stumbled on River Street’s flagstones. When they got to the apartment, they would have a long talk about safety.

She broke into a run, jostling a man as he exited a bar. The scent of bourbon washed over her. “Excuse me.”

“Hey, pretty lady,” he called. “Slow down. I’ll buy you a drink.”

She shuddered. Not in this lifetime.

She caught Josh as he stared into the candy shop.

“Don’t run off.” She grabbed his hand, panting from her rush. “I couldn’t see you.”

“I’m not a baby.”

“You’re six.” And next week Josh would finish kindergarten. How had he grown so fast? “You know better than to run in this crowd.”

He pointed. “Can I get candy?”

“Not today.” Not after this behavior.

Scowling, Josh held her hand until they got to their warehouse apartment building.

She dug in her purse for her keys, longing to get inside. Her feet ached from standing and decorating two hundred cupcakes for this weekend’s wedding.

“How was school?” she asked.

“Okay. Tommy threw up.”

She winced. Don’t let Josh get sick.

Juggling a bag, her purse and the box, she unlocked the door. “Can you take the bag?”

They headed down the hallway to their apartment.

“What’s in the box?” he asked.

“Cupcakes.”

“Can I have one now?”

She shook out the apartment key. “Once you finish your chores.”

“Let me help with that.” The bourbon man from the street snatched the bakery box away.

How did he get into the building? She grabbed for the box. “We’re fine.”

He held it above his head. “I’m just being neighborly.”

Josh glared. “You don’t live here.”

The guy laughed, his alcoholic stench washing over her.

She jammed her key into the lock, pushed open the door and held out her hand for the box. “Thank you.”

He leaned close. Too close. He was big. Almost as big as her brother-in-law, Levi.

She shuddered. When Brad had died two years ago, Levi had invited her and Josh to live with him. Moving in with Levi had been a big mistake.

“How ’bout I come in?” His words were slurred.

The odor of cigarettes and booze threw her back to her childhood. The lead weight of memories pinned her in place. She was afraid to move. Afraid to push past him for fear he’d hit her like Mama used to.

“Mom!” Josh yanked on her hand.

“Kid, go inside,” the guy said. “I wanna talk to your mom.”

She inched back, bumping into the wall. No escape. She wanted to duck and curl into a ball. Then when the blows came, they wouldn’t hurt as much as a punch in the belly.

“What’s your name?” He caged her to the wall with his arms.

“Leave.” Her voice was a whisper.

Josh kicked the man’s shin. “Get away from my mom.”

“Cut it out.” The guy pushed Josh into the door.

“Don’t touch my son.” She tried to shout, but the words were as weak as her knees.

“What’ssss your name?” His slur grew.

“Move.” She couldn’t get past him to the apartment.

He sniffed her neck. “You smell like cookies.”

Her skin crawled. Why couldn’t she move? Shout? Save her son?

A door at the end of the hallway opened with a metallic clang.

“Go away,” she said a little more loudly.

“I jus’ want your name.” The man thrust out a finger. “Ya don’t hafta be a bitch about it.”

Josh came at him with a flurry of tiny fists. “Don’t call my mom names.”

“What’s going on?” a deep voice called.

“Help.” She shoved at the drunk’s chest but he was too big for her to move. “Help.”

He shoved her shoulder. Hard.

She smacked into the wall, crumpling to her knees.

Josh kicked and punched. “Leave her alone!”

“Hey!” Boots thumped on the tile floor.

The drunk stumbled away.

Josh’s arms wrapped around her neck and she clung to him. “Mommy.”

“Are you okay?” her rescuer asked.

She stared at work boots and then up a pair of long legs.

Nathan Forester gazed down at her. He was the twin brother of Bess Fitzgerald’s fiancé and Bess was one of her bosses. Nathan had worked in this building off and on since last fall. Cheryl tried to avoid him as much as possible. He was so...large. But since they were connected through the Fitzgeralds, avoidance was impossible.

“We’re...fine.” A lie. Both she and Josh shook like they were standing in a walk-in freezer.

“Who was he?” Nathan peered down the hall.

“Some drunk.” Her voice squeaked.

Nathan held out his hand. His usual cocky grin was missing. A dirty white T-shirt tightened against the muscles in his chest and arms. Sheetrock dust covered his jeans. His ball cap was on backward, but thick blond hair curled on his neck. He was a modern-day James Dean without the cigarette. “Does that guy live here?”

“I don’t think so.” She put her hand in his and let him pull her to her feet. “He followed me.”

Nathan’s eyebrows arched. “You shouldn’t let strangers into the building.”

Had she? “Oh, God. I forgot to pull the door closed.”

A door clanged again and Gray Smythe, the building owner, came down the hall. “Something wrong?”

“Some creep hassled Cheryl. I yelled and he hatted.”

Gray studied Cheryl. “You okay?”

She nodded, afraid any words she spoke would come out a muddled mess.

“Mr. Gray.” Josh threw himself at Gray. “I kicked the guy and he ran away.”

Cheryl backed into the apartment. She’d almost mastered not cowering around Gray. She shouldn’t be afraid of him. He was very kind and married to her boss, Abby Fitzgerald.

“I don’t like this.” Gray carried Josh into the apartment and set him down. Nathan followed and shut the door. With two men filling the entryway, she couldn’t breathe.

“He was mean. He pushed me.” Josh hung his backpack on the hook. “Can I have a cupcake?”

She looked around. “I dropped the box in the hall.”

“I’ll get it.” Gray headed for the door.

“What if the man’s still in the building?” Cheryl wrapped her arms around her waist as she headed to her small kitchen.

“He left,” Nathan said. “But I suppose another idiot could let him back in.”

“Idiot?” she gasped.

“Sorry.” But he didn’t look sorry. “With all the bars and pubs on River Street, you need to pay attention.”

“I do,” she protested.

Nathan raised an eyebrow as Gray handed her the smashed box.

With shaking hands, she pulled a plate from the cupboard. Only this time her hands shook because of Nathan. Idiot? She would do anything to protect Josh.

But, just like in her childhood, she’d frozen. Why couldn’t she be brave?

BUY LINKS

In Nathan's life, finding out he has a four-year-old daughter is the biggest surprise he has ever had.  What's the biggest surprise that ever happened in your life?

I'm giving away a $25 Gift Card to A commenter. Don't forget to go through the Rafflecopter below!

Good luck!

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Nan Dixon's Birthday Bash and Release Party!

I’m so excited that THROUGH A MAGNOLIA FILTER is releasing on Monday! This is the third book in the Fitzgerald House series. (Don’t worry – you can read them separately.) 

It’s also my birthday today – so I’m celebrating both events by hosting a month long drawing for a $50 Amazon gift card!

Since I was a child, I celebrated my birthday at the lake. The cabin was built by my father and has now been passed down to my sisters and me. And I've started new traditions that include having prosecco on the dock.

 But I don't mind not being at the lake this week, because instead, I’m watching granddaughter #2, Princess Crazy Top.  (You can track my two granddaughters on my Facebook page.) 

My daughter went back to work this week. So I'm following the tradition that my mother started. She always helped me through the first week I went back to work and I am carrying on the tradition.

About The Book

Dolley Fitzgerald is the youngest Fitzgerald sisters. She and her two sisters have turned their crumbling historic district Savannah mansion into a successful B and B and they’ve even purchased and rehabbed the mansion next door.

But building websites and running a B and B have never been Dolley’s dream. Even though she yearns to kick the Spanish moss off her heels, she feels shackled to her family and their business. She ignores her dreams of traveling the world and having a photography career.

Irishman Liam Delaney is a documentary film maker and world renowned photographer. His godfather’s death leads him to research Savannah and he’s fascinated by the history of the Irish in Savannah. He sets up a long term stay in Fitzgerald House while he and his crew are filming the documentary. And he takes on Dolley Fitzgerald as both a local guide and photography apprentice.

Not only are the creatively compatible, but they also have an emotional connection. Liam thinks he’s found what he longs for; family and roots. Dolley thinks she found a career which will take her around the world.

Can they ever find common ground?

PREORDER/ ORDER STARTING AUGUST 1st 

You can preorder the book at the following locations.
AMAZON                                     GOOGLE PLAY
BARNES & NOBLE                    iBOOKS
BOOKS A MILLION                  KOBO

SALE

For the entire month of August, eHarlequin is offering 30% off all three Fitzgerald House series books.  Enter the coupon code FITZND30 when you check out.

eHARLEQUIN

MORE ABOUT THE BOOK

Dolley and Liam are two of my favorite characters. (Don’t tell the other couples.) Liam reminds me of my mother, who came to America after only knowing my father for months while he was stationed in England during WWII. They wrote to each other for three years before she immigrated, but she picked up and left everything she knew and moved for someone she hadn’t seen in three years.

Liam is willing to leave Ireland for Dolley because he’s fallen in love with her family and Savannah. (Ahhhh – can you see that there might be a prioritization problem here?)

FIND NAN DIXON

Website          Twitter        FACEBOOK        Pinterest     AMAZON

SO HERE'S THE QUESTION FOR THE DRAWING

If you could live anywhere in the world—where would it be? Would you move for love? 

To be entered in the drawing - make sure you click in the Rafflecopter box on the LEAVE A BLOG POST COMMENT.

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Nan Dixon -- A SAVANNAH CHRISTMAS WISH is almost here!

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 1^st, 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.

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