tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41772668723285799932024-03-05T03:15:11.087-07:00Shannon Guymon ~ Romance Novelist Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger152125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177266872328579993.post-3014359616447519662019-10-24T12:58:00.006-07:002019-10-24T12:58:54.761-07:00Cover reveal for Love & Second Chances!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Okay, so you probably know that Love & Second Chances, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Book 2 in my Belfast Series is up for pre-order. And if you don't know yet ... well, you do now ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you missed it - you can pre-order <b><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Love-Second-Chances-Book-Belfast-ebook/dp/B07ZG4HWJ8/ref=sr_1_9?keywords=Shannon+Guymon&qid=1571946973&sr=8-9" target="_blank">here</a>. </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My friends, meet Charlie Walsh - the cutest little B&B owner in Maine. What do you think of my newest cover?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgz_0bKuL222m0KwOVrpjhF9oRdlqoS7Xy2JfTwjkqN7pwZu34ouHqlN336Iruvq1KZiYMZX3nCmlLI3x60O2mC0Y0zVL_ONHwBwnIUyYo1qPWYzXf7Fwoksoa0uuwYWqeheuzRBQFPnw/s1600/LoveSecondChances_CVR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgz_0bKuL222m0KwOVrpjhF9oRdlqoS7Xy2JfTwjkqN7pwZu34ouHqlN336Iruvq1KZiYMZX3nCmlLI3x60O2mC0Y0zVL_ONHwBwnIUyYo1qPWYzXf7Fwoksoa0uuwYWqeheuzRBQFPnw/s320/LoveSecondChances_CVR.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177266872328579993.post-48842384634537097532019-10-22T13:04:00.000-07:002019-10-22T13:26:19.571-07:00Sneak Peek at Book 2 in the Belfast Series! Love & Second Chances<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1e3PWLgf1OUysShU1v7_7hOJBQHEhnMpKZh50GizeBDXzqtQ7seCZ_B4q_IZ4eB2IbeM3c5K2AdCDRwDSmvceN-jO4VCXYwFZJizut0nn26Pz9qhsuJj4XWFQakt-ORk0QxGuQ6O66Q0/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-10-22+at+2.02.57+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="686" data-original-width="1164" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1e3PWLgf1OUysShU1v7_7hOJBQHEhnMpKZh50GizeBDXzqtQ7seCZ_B4q_IZ4eB2IbeM3c5K2AdCDRwDSmvceN-jO4VCXYwFZJizut0nn26Pz9qhsuJj4XWFQakt-ORk0QxGuQ6O66Q0/s400/Screen+Shot+2019-10-22+at+2.02.57+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> So, my friends, I promised you book #2 in the Belfast Series in the Fall - and Fall is definitely here. Seriously here - like it's snowed already and I'm not cool with that kind of Fall. So here is the first chapter of my latest - would love to know what you think! Cover reveal to come soon (I promise) Oh - almost forgot . . . Book will be released November 11, 2019! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Love & Second Chances</span></div>
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<h1 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 20pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 20pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Chapter 1 - The Client</span></h1>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Riley walked over to their new job and shoved her wool beanie on over her wet </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">and icy hair. </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">Why no one had bothered to warn her that Maine winters were literally </span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">the worst, she didn’t </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">know, but she was holding everyone in Belfast Maine responsible</span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;"> for her frozen fingers and toes. </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">She sighed and ran up the steps and opened the large </span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">wooden door into the old Victorian </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">monstrosity that she and Jack had been hired to </span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">overhaul. She smiled, or at least, she would </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">have smiled if her face could move. Her step</span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">dad had a few space heaters going in the large </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">open work space, and that meant she </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">might</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> be able to take off one of her three coats. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“Jack!” she yelled, making the tall man</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">with a tile saw turn around. </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">She waved her phone at him and he cut the power and stood</span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">up, walking toward her. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“He’s coming in tomorrow,” she said, with a shake of her head. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Jack groaned and put his hands on his hips. “We need at least another two or three weeks, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Riley.” </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">Riley nodded her head and handed Jack the hot chocolate she’d brought him. “If not</span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">four. </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">Dang Charlie Walsh and his schedule. Doesn’t he know we’re in the middle of a </span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">Maine winter </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">here? Greer left yesterday at noon because he said he was too cold to work.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Jack took a sip and smiled in gratitude at the warmth as he walked over to the window seat </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">and sat down. She walked over to join him and showed him the text she’d just gotten that </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">had </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">sent her out into 2 degree weather. She was really starting to hate the fluffy white stuff</span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">people </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">called snow. </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">Jack read the text and sighed, running a hand over his silvering, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">wavy hair. “He’s really planning </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">on living here while we finish up everything? Is the man </span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">insane? I mean, yeah, it’s possible, but </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">there’s going to be so much sawdust in the air,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">and workers hanging around, he’s going to be </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">miserable.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Riley groaned and sat down next to Jack. “I guess the master is halfway livable. The </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">shower is</span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;"> done but the tile around the tub hasn’t even been grouted. The kitchen though . . .”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Jack nodded and groaned along with her. “You know, I’m grateful we have the work and </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">that </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">Charlie is willing to pay us well, but his deadlines are about to give me an ulcer, and </span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">now he’s </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">going to be under our feet while we finish everything up. He’s gotta give us a few</span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;"> more weeks.” </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">Riley leaned her head back against the window and frowned darkly. “Well, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">by the time we finish </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">up this job, we can rest up until spring when we start the Davies job.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">Charlie is paying us well, </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">and even though he’s pushy, he has been very polite. Firm, but</span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;"> polite.” </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">Jack shrugged and glared at his boots. “I slipped all over the road trying to get here</span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">this morning. </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">I about died, Riley. That’s not worth any job.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Riley’s eyes went wide. “We’re not in Arizona anymore, are we?” she asked, feeling a little</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">sad </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">about it.</span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">Jack nodded his head. “Ice storms, Riley. Enough said.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Riley laughed and groaned at the same time. “I feel like we’re fish out of water in this white</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">death </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">they call winter.” </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">Jack laughed. “Because you are. I tell you what, if we survive this</span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">winter, we should get a medal </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">or something.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Riley grinned. “As mayor of Belfast, I feel like it would be lame to pack up and move back </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">out </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">west, but man oh man, why didn’t even one person take the time to let me know what</span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">I was </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">signing up for?”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Jack laughed and put his knit hat back on. “That’s an easy one, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">because one</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">, we wouldn’t </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">have </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">believed them, a</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">nd two</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">, if we had believed them, we would have said adios and been</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">on our way.” </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">Riley took the hot chocolate Jack offered her and took a sip. “How long does</span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">winter even last </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">here? Honestly, it’s only mid January and I feel like it’s been a year.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Jack snorted. “I was down at the store yesterday with your mom, and everyone was talking</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">about </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">what a mild winter it’s been. Cammie’s mouth dropped open so wide, you could fit a </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">whole lobste</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">r </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">roll in there.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Riley’s eyes bugged out at that insane statement. Having everything and everybody she </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">knew </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">and loved, covered in layers and layers of ice, was not her idea of a mild winter.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“And they said we wouldn’t see spring until maybe mid May. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Maybe.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> And it would most </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">likely be a </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">little chilly still.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Riley’s groaned in horror. “I’m a fan of sweater weather and cute boots, and I can handle</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">as much </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">pumpkin spice as you want to throw at me, but I will not stand for a chilly May.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">I need shorts and </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">flip flops like I need air, and I haven’t kayaked in months.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Jack laughed and stood up. “We will survive. I promise. I’ve already had to promise </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Cammie a trip </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">to Hawaii.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Riley grinned immediately. “Oh, I’m coming with you.”</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Jack shook his head and held up his hands. “Oh, no, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">you are not</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">. Plan your own trip to</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> Hawaii. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Heck, you’re supposed to be getting married soon. Go on your honeymoon somewhere</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">warm. </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">This is a romantic trip for us. No daughters allowed.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Riley rolled her eyes and looked away. She and Mac hadn’t been getting along very well</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">lately. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">They’d talked about marriage off and on, </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">but then the subject of Heidi would always </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">come up</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> . . . </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">and she’d put the breaks on. </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">“Why in the world would I go on a honeymoon</span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;"> if I’m not even </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">engaged? You know Mac and I </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">decided to wait until we can . . . figure things</span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;"> out.” </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">Jack frowned at his step daughter and crossed his arms over his chest. “Honey, you’re</span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;"> either </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">going to have to forgive Mac and move on, or not forgive him and let him go. You</span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;"> can’t keep </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">punishing the man for kissing Heidi. Keeping him in this weird limbo you got </span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">going isn’t healthy. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">For you </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">or </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">him.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Riley glared over Jack’s shoulder and felt the muscles in her neck tighten at the mention </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">of Heidi. </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">“There are consequences, Jack. Mac needs to know that.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Jack shook his head and sighed. “Honey, you gotta let this go. You know Mac loves you.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> You </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">know he only romanced Heidi to get your house back. Can’t you forgive him?”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Riley shrugged and felt sad and tired all of a sudden. “I </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">want </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">to . . . but every time I think</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> of them </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">together, all while my heart was breaking, I just want to scream and throw something</span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;"> at Mac.” </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Jack narrowed his eyes at Riley. “All while living in the gorgeous house that </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">you</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> love with all of </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">your soul. The house Mac made sure was yours in the end. And that’s not fair, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">sweetie.” </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">Riley shrugged. “That might be a good point, but my heart is still hurt, and until it</span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;"> stops hurting, no </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">engagement.” </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">Jack took one more sip of his hot chocolate and threw it in</span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;"> the garbage can to her left. “You take </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">too much after your momma. All spit and vinegar,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;"> with a small side of sweet. Have mercy on us </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">all.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Riley laughed and gave Jack a big hug, because it was true. “Let’s finish this tile and get </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">out of </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">here. We’ll have dinner at Darby’s tonight. I hear Donovan is making something extra</span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;"> special.” </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">Jack’s face lit up and he nodded. “Grab me some more tile from the back and</span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;"> we can finish in an </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">hour if we’re fast.” </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">Riley nodded and hurried to the kitchen to grab a box</span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;"> of tile. She and Jack worked in perfect</span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;"> harmony for the next hour and a half, and when they</span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;"> stood up, they gave each other a high five </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">and looked at the back splash. It was a gorgeous,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;"> pale cream subway tile, and as soon as the </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">cabinets were delivered next week, the kitchen</span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;"> was going to look amazing. A far cry from the </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">harvest green fridge, gray linoleum and dirty</span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;"> brown wallpaper that had covered the poor kitchen. </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">“Charlie Walsh might not be walking</span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;"> into a finished house tomorrow, but he will be ecstatic with </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">all of our progress,” Riley said,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;"> hopefully. </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">Jack winced. “Charlie doesn’t seem like a man used to taking no for an answer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;"> I just hope he </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">doesn’t fire us and hire someone else to finish the job.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Riley grit her teeth at the very thought. “We have a contract.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Jack grabbed his coat and keys off the stairs and put on his gloves so he could walk </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">outside and </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">not get frostbite. “Yeah, one we broke because we said we’d be finished by the </span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">end of December.” </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">Riley frowned and wrapped her scarf around her throat. “Yeah, but Maine,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;"> Jack. Belfast, Maine.” </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">Jack laughed and locked up after they walked out. “Belfast, Maine.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;"> You got that right. No one </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">could have foreseen all the ice and delays and disasters we’ve</span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;"> had to deal with. Charlie should be </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">grateful we’ve made this much progress.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Riley stared glumly at her truck and just prayed it would start as an icy blast of wind</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> threatened </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">to push her over. “If Charlie Walsh isn't the most grateful client in the world</span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;"> tomorrow, I’m going </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">to throw a snowball in his face.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Jack sighed and walked over to his own truck, and like Riley, prayed it would start. </span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“You and me both.”</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">© Copyrighted Material Shannon Guymon 2019</span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177266872328579993.post-73900106326257969092019-02-11T14:45:00.002-07:002019-02-11T14:45:18.514-07:00We're LIVE on Kindle!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1g7TXZ3CfgbSm83nklW-4inqRMdT6TFUnqgkqTSj-JB85XiGUJX1HL45R6qvkLWmy6WKwmyfOMeKhnM-Nlz_ES6Jaj6NzmaIuq8WD7Zt_WcYzeFF8hKoyFd6W8eJafFOF9cLxQTBdYQo/s1600/LoveKarma_CVR_SML.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1g7TXZ3CfgbSm83nklW-4inqRMdT6TFUnqgkqTSj-JB85XiGUJX1HL45R6qvkLWmy6WKwmyfOMeKhnM-Nlz_ES6Jaj6NzmaIuq8WD7Zt_WcYzeFF8hKoyFd6W8eJafFOF9cLxQTBdYQo/s320/LoveKarma_CVR_SML.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Kindle Version is ready for download! Here's the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Love-Karma-Book-1-Belfast-ebook/dp/B07NHMRZH8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1549921206&sr=8-1&keywords=Love+and+Karma+Shannon+guymon" target="_blank">link</a>. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">ALSO - there's an </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Amazon giveaway</span><span style="font-size: large;"> going on - so if you'd like a free copy, go for it - here's that <a href="https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/affe9c5a62ae74b6" target="_blank">link</a>. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">If you're still not sure ... hey, I've been there, check out <i>Bookworm Nation</i> <a href="https://bookwormnation.blogspot.com/2019/02/love-and-karma-by-shannon-guymon.html?fbclid=IwAR3FJWAqUFt0El2Wl7IA1yz71LmdAOtSSvFnTXv8-8V4E_168FrsumAwOUI" target="_blank">here</a> OR <i>KJ's Book nook</i> <a href="https://kjsbooknook.blogspot.com/2019/02/love-and-karma-by-shannon-guymon.html?spref=fb&fbclid=IwAR0GMJbNYKX1IssruEuTKD55BDHr2ebyju--ryPXUXLaxHpNbqqYQV_3qno" target="_blank">here</a> for a review. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Can't wait to hear what you guys think!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And for those who are curious - yes, the Paperback will be out soon. Promise :D</span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177266872328579993.post-16312428578078766652019-01-21T09:08:00.000-07:002019-01-21T10:23:54.031-07:00Better Late Than Never . . . Sneak Peek!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27TMwctvEPZ6vS6cxe8PTwwYWT3ilgQyYoJuJnJ3sA05PD7OjnlWygAk5LbtvI0badIDWjXU22wOrg15koIcCI19qjfHcifGSA1wa8PayojeZa1XF8OoJyfz_boefZkeD1v1GbXTwjI4/s1600/IMG_5038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27TMwctvEPZ6vS6cxe8PTwwYWT3ilgQyYoJuJnJ3sA05PD7OjnlWygAk5LbtvI0badIDWjXU22wOrg15koIcCI19qjfHcifGSA1wa8PayojeZa1XF8OoJyfz_boefZkeD1v1GbXTwjI4/s320/IMG_5038.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">So my friends, as you know, I've been writing my newest book, based in Belfast, Maine. I finished up my Fircrest series with <i>Accidentally in Love</i>, Kam's Story, and so needed to find a new town to turn upside down with love, drama and a little craziness. You're asking - <i>why </i>Belfast, Maine of all places? Been there! Hubby drove me up the coast of Maine a while ago for a romantic getaway, and I fell in love with everything about it - so of course, I knew you would too! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Oh, and yeah . . . you were expecting the book before Christmas. ( Please picture me holding my head in shame). About that - I got sick. For 2 months, I was super, super sick. I have Hashimotos and my immunity is a little subpar to put it nicely. On top of bad health, my son got married! So I was stretched thin and ill and my book was late. So please know that I'm very sorry about that and that I hope the book itself makes up for it. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> About the book? I finished it!! It's being edited as we speak. I'm working on the cover too, so things are wrapping up. <u>So I need 2 things from you guys. </u>I need help picking a title. <i>Again.</i> Yes, I know, I always seem to need help with that and you guys are always the best at helping me! Whoever helps me - of course will get a free copy of the book, kindle or paperback. Your choice.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The second thing? I need you to check out this sneak peek, and let me know what you think. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Thanks again for being patient!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">- Shannon</span><br />
<br />
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<h1>
Chapter 1 – Karma<o:p></o:p></h1>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Why did life have to suck so much?</i> Riley
thought, as she stared hopelessly at the coffee running down her cream colored,
silk shirt. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Sorry
about that,” Frank Wallace shouted back at her, as he rushed down the hallway,
his wispy, brown hair, floating in the breeze. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Riley
grumbled a few brutally honest words under her breath and then took a calming
moment before pushing through the heavy, glass door of Chance Bronson’s office,
the one guy who held her future in his hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Also, her boss. She’d heard that Phillip Carter had decided to retire,
which meant that there was a promotion in store for whomever Chance thought was
most deserving, and since she’d been working her tail off, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and</i> spending most of her weekends doing his pet projects, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">it better be her</i>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Hi,
Chance,” she said with a confident smile, before setting the coffee cup down on
his desk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Your secretary thought you
might be in the mood for some coffee, so I saved her the trip,” she added,
before sitting down in the luxurious black leather seat.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Chance
Bronson was a man in his late fifties, who was holding on to his youth by the
tips of his fingers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was so tan, he
was slightly orange, and he’d obviously been to his stylist this morning
because she could see the tell-tale marks of his dark brown dye job on his neck
still.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Chance
smiled and took a sip of his coffee. “Amber must have ESP. I was dying for a
cup.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, the reason I wanted to see you . . .” he
said, while glancing down at his phone with a frown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hold on. This is important.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Riley
nodded serenely, sensing the promotion was close.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">She
could taste it.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She could
practically feel her credit card debt disappearing with her new promotion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’d be able to take that trip to Europe
next summer if she played her cards right. Never mind those shoes she’d just
seen on Instagram that morning. Strappy and sexy and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">so</i> her. She sighed happily and closed her eyes for a second, as she
imagined walking through the fields of Ireland, and spending days perusing castles
and art galleries.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yes,
it’s being done as we speak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes,
Sir.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I understand.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Riley
blinked quickly, and sat up straight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Chance Bronson never used that subservient tone with anyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He sounded stressed out and nervous. He
didn’t sound like he was in the mood to give anyone a promotion . . . <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She felt her stomach tip and dive and cleared
her throat nervously as he set his phone on the desk and then looked at her
with bleak, washed-out, blue eyes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Riley,
you know I’ve always valued your employment here at Bronson, Smith and Cohen .
. . however, because of a situation with one of our partners, we’re going to
have to let you go. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Immediately</i>.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Riley’s
mouth fell open as she stared at her boss and mentor of the last four
years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You’re kidding me,” she
whispered, as the taste of the promotion disappeared completely and the taste
of desperation and failure took its place.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Chance
shook his head, pursing his lips and looking away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Mistakes were made on the Paulsen account,
uh, . . .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>wait, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">what deal were you working</i>?” he asked, turning red in the face.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Riley
narrowed her eyes and sat forward. “I didn’t even work the Paulsen account.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was Frank and Jeff,” she said, her
throat feeling tight and stiff.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Chance
rifled through some papers on his desk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“My mistake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I meant the, uh, the
um . . . oh yes, the Perfume deal you were working on,” he said, sighing in
relief.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Riley
shook her head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Danielle and Austen
love my ideas for their new ad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not
buying it. You know I’ve been working myself to death for you and for this
company.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If someone messed up on the
Paulsen job, fire <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">them</i>. Not me.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Chance
cleared his throat and sighed as if his soul were already gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Look, Riley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Don’t make this harder than it has to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sorry, but nothing you can say right now,
will save your job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mistakes were made
and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">someone</i> has to pay the
piper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that person, is you,” he said
grimly, not blinking. “HR will of course have some paperwork for you to fill
out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could have had them take care of
this mess, but I wanted to do it personally since you’ve always been such a
hard worker.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Riley
stood up with a sneer and walked towards the door. “And this is the thanks I
get. Chance, if this is how you want to run things, based on, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">what</i>? Who goes golfing with you and out
to drinks after work? Then fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
don’t deserve me. But if you keep firing the best employees you have to keep
the party going, you might want to start looking for a new job yourself,” she
added, her voice thick with acid.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>She
looked back one more time and noted her words had hit her mark. A look of shame
was on his face. Well, shame and relief.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Instead
of walking to her office and grabbing her things, she took a detour into the
women’s lounge and walked over to the sink, leaning her hands on the counter
and staring at the woman in the mirror.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She looked as she always did, perfect, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">except for the coffee stain on her shirt and the crazed look in her
eyes.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her hair was an acceptable
length at just below her shoulder blades, not too much longer or she’d be seen
as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">too</i> feminine for the work
place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her shirt and blazer were right
from J. Crew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing too sexy or showy
in case she accidentally distracted the men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Her heels were plain and low. At five feet seven, she didn’t want to
tower over the men and make them feel inferior. <o:p></o:p></div>
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She knew she was
perfectly boring, but that’s what she had to do, that’s what she had<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>to<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">
be</i>, to get ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get rid of any and
all personality and don’t make a stir.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Work harder than the boys did just to get three quarters of the
pay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She knew the rules. Heck, she had
them memorized. And she’d never once complained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She played by the rules, she took the knocks
and she kept going, no matter what.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And
still, she’d lost.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Riley
felt her heart twisting in her chest and knew she was going to either have a
panic attack or begin throwing things. The complete and total unfairness of the
situation was drowning her. She felt her hands begin to shake and stood up
straight, glaring at the woman in the mirror.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Grow up, chick. Hold your head up
and know how unworthy they are of your talents.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It
was time to go</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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She threw the
bathroom door open and glided smoothly down the hallway with the iciest sneer
she could muster. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Riley strode into her
office to see that security was already there, boxing her things up and rolled
her eyes as acid slipped up her throat and into her mouth.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Donald,
the security guard looked at her sorrowfully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Sorry about this, Riley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I heard
the boys talking earlier about what was going down. Not right, if you ask me.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Riley
felt tears threaten to leak at the unexpected kindness and nodded her head,
unable to talk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She grabbed her purse
and her laptop, slipping it into her laptop bag and took one last look at her
office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had been her first office and
even though it didn’t have a view, she’d loved every inch of status it gave her.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Paulsen
deal?” she finally whispered.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Donald
nodded, looking disgusted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That Jeff
and Frank are a disgrace. They’re usually drunk by the time they get back from
lunch. You’re better than this place.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Riley
tried to smile and nodded. “Thank you for that. Let’s go, Donald,” she said
calmly, with only a slight quiver in her voice.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As
they reached the elevator, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">of course,</i>
she’d have to come face to face with Frank and Jeff. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life refused to make any of this easier. They
were coming back from lunch and already looked bloated and red in the cheeks. They
had the grace to look away, reeking of guilt as much as they did of the onions
and whiskey they’d had for lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
sneered at them as she walked around them, not even bothering to speak to them.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Karma</i>,” Donald whispered, as they turned
and watched the elevator doors shut. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Riley
shut her eyes and felt a small sob slip up and out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Donald’s comforting hand on her shoulder was not
helping the tears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he was right
about Karma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Because she’d just gotten her own dose of
it.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177266872328579993.post-5592774877572200712017-05-02T20:38:00.002-07:002017-05-02T20:38:55.765-07:00Kam's Book is LIVE!! (And the 1st Chapter) <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-size: x-large;"><i><b>Accidentally in Love</b></i> is LIVE on Kindle </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-size: x-large;">- Right this second! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-size: x-large;">Here's the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071HFKJFT/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=shanguym-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B071HFKJFT&linkId=2704a43edd81965c31b5d65ea6c9e6c4" target="_blank">Link</a>.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And if you're still not sure whether you want to take that leap or not . . . . here's the 1st chapter to wet your appetite for fun, sweet (slightly hot) Romance.</span><br />
<br />
<h1 style="line-height: 150%;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Toc480388350">Chapter 1 - New Beginnings</a><o:p></o:p></h1>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Grace Jackson put her last box down
on the floor and grinned at her new apartment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sweet gig when your new boss lets you rent the apartment above his
restaurant for next to nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’d be
able to pay off the last of her credit card debt within six months at this rate.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Then she’d do what she’d been dreaming
of for the last few years, save up for two weeks in Bora Bora.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She closed her eyes and sighed at the image
of herself lying on a beach, next to her own private grass hut with a sweet,
fruity drink in her hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She scrunched
her eyes and wondered if there was anyone lying next to her in her daydream.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She sighed and opened her eyes, laughing at
herself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Knowing her luck with men, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not likely.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Her friends back in Seattle insisted
she was just romantically delayed and that someday she would blossom into a temptress.
Grace caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror on the hallway wall and paused
for a moment. Yeah, that was never going to happen. She had shoulder length
honey brown hair with generous blond highlights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had large, blue eyes and a sprinkling of
pale freckles across her nose and cheeks. She had an athletic, slim figure due
to her long hours in the kitchen and her long walks with her dog. She was your
basic girl next door with a touch of spice. She smiled a little, liking
herself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If no one else did, then that
was their loss.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Grace opened
the windows of her little apartment to let the cool, spring breeze push out the
stale air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She could tell the apartment
had been empty for sometime now, which was a shame.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was an awesome apartment. Two bedrooms,
one large bathroom with a shower <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and</i>
a bath and a surprisingly nice kitchen with granite countertops and new white
cabinets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The family room wasn’t huge
but her comfy couch looked nice in front of the big screen TV where she loved
to watch <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Top Chef</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Chopped</i> and all of her other cooking
shows she devoured whenever she had the time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>She reached
down and patted the head of her dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Hey, baby,” she said with a grin, kneeling down to rub behind her Siber-poo’s
ears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’d gotten the Siberian Husky,
Poodle mix as a birthday present for herself last year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The name on her dog tag read, Rosemary, but
she just called her Baby. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Baby licked
her face and glanced around the apartment, as if to shrug and say, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">it would do for now</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Wow, you’re
kind of a snob, huh?” she asked with a laugh and stood up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Give me one more hour and then we’ll go for
a walk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My new boss wants to meet
downstairs for dinner at seven, but until then we can explore. Sound good?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Baby barked
happily and wandered off to sniff every corner of her new territory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grace dove into making her apartment a
home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An hour later, she studied her new
space and sighed in relief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It felt good.</i> She had made the right
decision to relocate to Fircrest. Seattle was fantastic, but she had needed a
change and being in a new place was no big deal to her. She was good at making
herself at home no matter where she was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She’d had a lot of practice as a kid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Being raised by the wild and crazy Jocelyn Jackson meant she’d had no
choice. It was sink or swim with her mom. And thank heavens she’d learned how
to swim fast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Come on,
Baby,” she said as she reached for the leash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Time to let Fircrest know who’s boss,” she said with a smile and bent
down to clip on the leash. Baby woofed softly in a very patronizing way and
Grace laughed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was good to have
someone around to keep her humble.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">© Copyrighted Material *</span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177266872328579993.post-15573615686263323582017-04-20T08:03:00.002-07:002017-04-20T08:03:17.350-07:00Cover Reveal for Accidentally in Love!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: white;">So I just got my cover this morning</span><span style="background-color: white;">! </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What do you think?</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhttTlaJNoZMjnnzN9SuSQNkzAlJlh2xNWsliyip3cZvKGi5ochxl61ZQkhQy5sp4QVSXAPHYqJ29qd_E_m0eqic4cNj35XrQRI0uwKECWMD0rrBSc00QZcmagKvOJNc2dN9tViLYx9CLQ/s1600/Accidentally+in+Love+03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhttTlaJNoZMjnnzN9SuSQNkzAlJlh2xNWsliyip3cZvKGi5ochxl61ZQkhQy5sp4QVSXAPHYqJ29qd_E_m0eqic4cNj35XrQRI0uwKECWMD0rrBSc00QZcmagKvOJNc2dN9tViLYx9CLQ/s320/Accidentally+in+Love+03.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177266872328579993.post-48672095157103592972017-04-13T12:39:00.000-07:002017-04-13T15:34:52.125-07:00A Sneak Peek at Kam's Book<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Okay, my Friends, here is my sneak peek. </span></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">I've got most of the edits done and I'm working on the cover right now, but I can't make you guys wait any longer for a little taste of Kam's story. Plus I'm super excited :) I'd love to hear what you guys think. By the way, I'm thinking the title should be <i>Accidentally in Love</i>. Thoughts?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">- Shannon</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaSmZ5MhIGULqYMb4ucyeXH6vY_NNcjTFmZxLr5UTdw1NaZwTDitGGu_y-e9eOKkjbJKnWBgATEY9_-mI8JNufqLACh4DfDtMFCrFMzCHlVfXXQ_XEK15TS9tACOhQ_9FyVaSqVhVpH1k/s1600/KamMatafeo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaSmZ5MhIGULqYMb4ucyeXH6vY_NNcjTFmZxLr5UTdw1NaZwTDitGGu_y-e9eOKkjbJKnWBgATEY9_-mI8JNufqLACh4DfDtMFCrFMzCHlVfXXQ_XEK15TS9tACOhQ_9FyVaSqVhVpH1k/s320/KamMatafeo.jpg" width="239" /></a><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">She had promised the Belinda Bakery
girls to come for lunch again, and after the amazing food they’d so kindly
given her yesterday, she was happy to oblige. That and she could use some
friends outside of The Iron Skillet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">She took Baby with her and they made
the two mile walk in no time at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
was only eleven thirty, but she knew Friday night was going to stretch her, so
an early lunch would be no big deal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
hooked Baby’s leash to the railing outside and walked in, stopping and smelling
again as the delightful scents of the bakery surrounded her in welcome.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Are you going to do that every time
you come in?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">She opened her eyes and laughed, as
she noted the cute blond she’d met yesterday was grinning at her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“You bet I will. How can anyone not?”
she demanded and walked over to see all of the delightful creations in the
cases.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I guess we’re so used to it we don’t
appreciate it anymore.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Grace frowned at her. “Just head over
to the local dump for an hour and then come back here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trust me, you’ll notice a difference.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“No thanks. But I’m glad you came
back today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jane won’t be in until two
today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’ll be so ticked she missed
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But you’ll get to meet Kit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s going to cover for me while we have
lunch and get to know each other.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Grace smiled at the complete welcome
and open friendship of this woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
was rare and very appreciated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of
her good friends had been slowly cultivated over years and years but here was
this woman just feely offering her friendship as if friendship wasn’t the most
precious thing a person could give someone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Amazing</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I’d love that,” she said simply, not
knowing how to express her gratitude yet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">A beautiful red-head with a toddler
on her hip walked out with a pan of what looked like fruit tarts in her
hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The blond took the pan and
expertly transferred them to an empty case while Kit kissed the little blond
boy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“You okay to take over?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Kit nodded and then looked around,
catching sight of her. “Of course, but first introduce me to the new Sous chef
of The Iron Skillet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been dying of
curiosity.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Grace snorted, amused that anyone
could possible die of curiosity over her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I’m Grace and your little boy is
gorgeous by the way.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Kit’s eyes warmed and she smiled
brightly at her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“He is, isn’t he? I
should be less prideful about my son, but I can’t help it. He’s the best little
boy in the world.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Grace laughed as the blond rolled her
eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Ignore her. She’s one of those
obnoxious mommies who likes to brag about their kids constantly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you give her an opening she’s going to
start showing you Danny’s little crayon drawings.”<br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Kit glared at her sister and
Grace’s eyes widened, wondering what would happen next.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’d never had a sister, but it looked kind
of fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“And to think I was going to babysit
for you tonight so you and Michael could go on a date.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Forget it now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The blond sister laughed and took off
her apron.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I take it all back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Danny is an artistic genius.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Kit made a huffing sound and turned
around, ignoring her sister now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“So what will you have for lunch
today?” she asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Grace shook her head, looking at the
menu. “It all looks so good, but I’ll try the pesto and turkey panini, the
tomato basil soup and for dessert … hmm, surprise me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“You got it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She walked around getting the food and Grace
walked over and picked a table at the back of the bakery with a view of the
street.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being the Pacific Northwest, the
gray clouds were beginning to move in and she knew she’d be lucky to make it
back home without getting wet at this rate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sometimes she dreamed of moving somewhere sunny like California or
Arizona, but this was her home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
could never leave.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Here we are,”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Grace looked up and smiled at the
array of delicious food in front of her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“And what do we have here?” she asked, staring at the cookie, feeling a
little disappointed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Hey, no frowning allowed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you don’t like it, you can pick something
else you like, but honestly, a simple oatmeal cookie after lunch is still the
best thing in the world. Don’t you know sometimes the showiest things are just
all fluff and no substance? It’s true to life and cooking. Didn’t your grandma
ever make you oatmeal cookies after school?” she asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Grace grinned, enjoying the
conversation already.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life truths with
food and friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Could it get any
better?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I’ll trust you,” she assured her and
took a bite of her panini.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh, man,
that is good,” she said simply and shut her eyes in enjoyment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I have a feeling that you spend most
of your life with your eyes closed, trying to pick out all the flavors of
everything you eat or smell.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Grace blinked open her eyes and
laughed loudly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You happen to be right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What’s your name, by the way? I have a super
hard time remembering names and yesterday was so crazy and I met so many people
that it all just leaked out last night.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The pretty blond flipped her long
hair over her shoulder. “Layla. Layla Bender.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Co-owner of Belinda’s Bakery with my two sisters, Jane Matafeo and Kit
Hunter.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Grace nodded, intrigued.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Three sisters running a bakery
together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s gotta be a dream come
true.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Layla paused and then smiled sweetly.
“Yeah, it really is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My family was what
you would call dysfunctional and so when our grandmother left us her bakery in
her will, it brought what was left of our family together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now we’re a family that is functioning and
loving and we have a lot of fun together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All of our kids are growing up together and we have a network of friends
and family now that works. What about you? Do you have family here in Fircrest?
Or did you just come for an adventure?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Grace paused and chewed her bite
before answering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Layla was being open
with her, so she should do the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Well, I don’t actually have a family. My mom is living somewhere with
someone doing something, but not sure on the particulars. And that’s it. No dad
to speak of either. He and my mom were never married and he was never part of
the picture.” she said, putting her hand over her heart as the pain flashed
bright and then receded again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“So it’s
just me. I wouldn’t say I was on an adventure so much as on a journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes my heart tells me things and I’ve
made it a rule to listen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My heart said
it was time to move on and that Fircrest was the place to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have no idea why, but I can’t wait to find
out,” she said, smiling out the window as she watched an older couple walk hand
in hand down the sidewalk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Layla made a humming sound in her
throat as she took a sip of water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Fascinating.
I can’t wait to find out either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So what
do you think of The Iron Skillet so far?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Grace shrugged as she stirred her
soup and frowned a little.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It’s kind of
a collage of different things right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I could give you a fake answer but I’d rather not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s good and bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m in a kitchen where someone keeps turning
off my music so I can’t dance or sing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
have the restaurant manager glaring at me every chance she gets for no reason I
can think of and my boss is stern, unhappy and not much fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But other than that? It’s okay,” she said
honestly and took another bite of her panini.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Layla frowned and put her sandwich
down, as she leaned her chin on her hands.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I’m not surprised by anything you
just said, but knowing your heart brought you here, I hope you give it a good
chance before you give up on Fircrest.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Grace smiled and nodded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m tougher than I look, but I don’t stick
around in toxic environments either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We’ll see if I can bring a little light to The Iron Skillet. If not,
then there are other healthier, happier places to find.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Layla frowned and nodded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“True and smart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I agree, but I hope you do bring some of that
light that you have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Out of all the
places in Fircrest, The Iron Skillet’s kitchen needs light more than any other
place I know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kam’s had a lot of
heartache and pain in the past few years. It would be so good for him to let
some light in.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Grace’s eyebrows rose as she looked
back at Layla.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“His eyes look so sad. I
wondered if there was something wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Is it something you can tell me? If not, that’s okay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t want to gossip, but if knowing what’s
going on can help me understand him, then I’d like to know.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Layla bit her lip and looked down at
her hands for a moment before she looked up and nodded her head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Okay then, I trust you with this information
because I care about Kam.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His wife,
Bailey, died about three and half years ago in childbirth. It broke Kam’s heart
and this town’s heart too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve been
hurting for Kam every since.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s a
single dad who’s basically living for his son, Nate. But if you only knew him
before Bailey died, you would have met the kindest, happiest, most incredible
man in the world. Now he’s just a shell of himself and that’s the biggest
tragedy of all.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Grace closed her eyes, feeling sad
for her new boss and what he’d been through. “He needs a friend then? Is that
what you’re saying?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Layla blinked a few times and shook
her head slowly. “Oh, he has plenty of friends. The whole town loves Kam. And
he has a huge family that surrounds him with support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">No</i>,
I wouldn’t say he needs a friend although I hope you and Kam can become
friends. I would say, he needs someone to help him come back to life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know if that’s something you can do,
but it would be interesting to see if you can.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Grace looked away and frowned. “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bring a man back to life? </i>That’s a lot
to ask of someone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The best I can hope
for is to bring music back to that kitchen.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Layla nodded her head in excitement.
“But that’s exactly what I’m talking about! Bring music back to The Iron
Skillet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dance in between orders. Bring
some laughter and happiness back to that dark dungeon of a kitchen.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Grace shrugged, still a little taken
aback.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“All I can do is be me,
Layla.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, my heart goes out to the
man, but to be healed of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that</i> kind of
pain, you have to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">want</i> to be healed,
you know?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have to actively seek out
healing and light and he gave me the impression that he’s very comfortable in
the dark with the pain and that’s where he wants to stay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If that’s the case, then there’s nothing I
can do.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Layla sighed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You’re very perceptive and you’re
right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it doesn’t take that much
light to break up darkness. One little match in a dark cave can do wonders.
He’s been cold and alone in the dark for too long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe being around your light and goodness
will make him remember what life used to be and what it could be again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s worth a try, isn’t it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Grace nodded her head, knowing that
she’d been through some dark times too and she was so grateful she wasn’t there
anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remembering her nightmare from
the previous night, she nodded her head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If she could help someone, of course she would.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She just felt weird having the responsibility
squarely on her shoulders. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I’ll do whatever I can but in the
end, it’s his choice to be happy or not. No one can take on the responsibility
for bringing a man back to life, no offense. But… I guess I can try.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Layla smiled brightly at her and
motioned towards the cookie. “Of course you will. Now, try my cookie.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Grace sighed and picked up the unappealing
cookie as she glanced at the cases of beautiful desserts she could be
eating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She closed her eyes
automatically and smelled the cookie before taking a generous bite. The smell
of nutmeg and cinnamon made her smile. She chewed and paused and then chewed
again before swallowing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She opened her
eyes and grinned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I get it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Appearances are deceiving. This is
incredible,” she said, taking another bite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“The nutmeg is so warm and the chewy texture is incredible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But that doesn’t mean I won’t rest until I’ve tried everything you’ve
made.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Layla laughed and sat back, looking very
pleased with herself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Excellent. Now,
let’s talk Taryn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re helping the
whole town out by helping Kam, so I’ll help you with your mean Restaurant
manager.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Grace frowned and picked up a
crumb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m not sure that’s possible.
Picture an angry tiger with an appetite for Sous chefs and you’ve got Taryn.
She took one look at me and automatically hated me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I hate to brag, but I’m actually a really
likable person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So this has come as a
complete shock.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Layla laughed and crossed her
legs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Between you and me, she’s having
some marriage problems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She doesn’t feel
she can trust her husband anymore and she’s not happy about having to move
cross country. She’s taking it out on everyone around her. Trust me, I’ve heard
from all of the waiters and waitresses who have passed through here on their
way out of town.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Grace shook her head. “Sad, but how
can you help me if I’m her new target?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Layla pursed her mouth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I can tell you her secret.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her one weakness is my flourless chocolate
cake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You bring her one of my mini cakes
in a cute box and I promise some of that fire will disappear.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Grace frowned as she finished her
cookie. “And if you’re wrong?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Layla raised an eyebrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Are you putting my skills down?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Grace grinned before laughing a
little.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I wouldn’t dare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that reminds me, I promised all my new
friends that I’d bring them a treat today from you guys. Candice wants cannoli
but I have no idea about James, Manuel or Kam. Maybe Rob too just to be safe.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Layla popped up and walked over to
the counter. “Kit, help me out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
kitchen staff at The Iron Skillet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can
you remember what they like?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The pretty redhead walked over, the
toddler nowhere in sight now as she looked at her curiously. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Trying to bribe everyone?” Kit asked
with a teasing look.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Grace laughed and shook her
head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Just trying to bring a little fun
back to that kitchen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I get the feeling
they’ve been making the same thing for so long that they don’t even care
anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was thinking that if I jump
started everyone’s taste buds with some of these delightful pastries, they
might be more excited about food.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Kit nodded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Gotcha.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But they’re still going to love you for this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>James and Manuel . . . it’s been a while
since they’ve been in but I’m thinking our mini-pineapple upside down cakes for
Manuel and for James maybe one of our smore’s cupcakes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rob is a food snob, so I’d pick the roasted
pear with the espresso mascarpone cream.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Layla nodded her head. “Kit knows her
stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good job.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Grace held up a finger. “What about Kam?
He said he doesn’t eat sweets anymore, but maybe something you guys have here
might bring his appetite back.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Kit and Layla exchanged a sad smile
before Layla spoke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“He used to love our
Matafeo cupcakes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jane created them for
her hubby, Tate but all the Matafeo’s are in love with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I honestly don’t know what could tempt him
now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kit?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Kit walked back and forth, looking at
all of the contents of their display case and shook her head in deep
thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grace kept staring at the poppy
seed cake with the passion fruit curd. That’s what she’d get if she was Kam.
Heck, that’s what she’d get for herself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Add in a slice of that cake for me
while you’re thinking about it,” she said, blushing as Layla glanced at
her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hey, I know I just had a cookie,
but you can’t blame me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This place could
tempt a saint.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Kit nodded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It can tempt anyone except Kam Matafeo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if I was a betting woman, I’d bet on our
banana pudding parfait. It’s simple. It’s comfort food at it’s best and it’s
non-confrontational, you know?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Grace laughed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Non-confrontational food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know what you mean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was looking at that roasted pear I’m
getting for Rob and I was thinking, it would take a brave soul to think they’re
cool enough to eat that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The sisters laughed and nodded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That’s the thing with Rob.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He doesn’t think he’s cool enough to eat the
best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knows it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Grace grinned as the women boxed up
all of her orders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She took out her card
to pay and then noticed a shelf of very innocent looking glazed donuts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Give me one of those too,” she said
thoughtfully.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Kit frowned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“A glazed donut? Who in the world is that
for?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Grace shrugged. “I don’t know yet,
but I’m thinking someone needs one today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ll let you know who it ends up with.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Layla sighed happily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I actually really want to know now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Come in again soon, Grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That light of yours is a lot of fun to be
around.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Grace rolled her eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That’s what they all say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have a good day, you gorgeous bakers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And come by The Iron Skillet one of these
nights so I can cook for you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Layla put her apron back on and
nodded. “Why do you think Kit’s babysitting for me tonight?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Michael and I have reservations at
seven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ll have to come out to the
table and meet my husband.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Grace smiled. “I’ll make sure whoever
waits on you lets me know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll make
your dinner extra special,” she promised. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Kit pouted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Okay, I’m feeling very left out here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t get to have lunch with you and now
you’re making her special food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next
week, it’s my turn.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177266872328579993.post-68682036974693212872016-03-17T12:40:00.003-07:002016-03-17T13:27:25.515-07:00What in the world happend to Shannon Guymon?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So my friends, it's been too long since I've blogged. I apologize. And I want to take this chance to tell you what's been going on and what I've been up to. I feel like most of my readers are my friends so it's only right that you guys know what's up. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So as most of you know, I was a single mom of six kids in 2011. Before that, I'd write a book every now and then, but it was more like once a year. Some people might have called my writing a hobby. <i>Pssht</i> But after my divorce, I had a choice, do I get a job ... working in an office away from my kids.... <i>being miserable</i> - OR I could get serious about my writing and see where that takes me. I prayed about it. A lot. And went with writing. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I knew I'd have to write and write a lot. I wrote under my pen name Katie Lee O'Guinn, and dove into the world of werewolves and witches. <i>That was a lot of fun</i>. I also began writing contemporary women's romance. <i>Clean</i> romance and had a lot of fun doing that. But in order to support my kids and pay the bills and put food in all the many tummies I needed to feed, I had to put out a book a month. Sometimes two. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So many people would write me and ask me, <i>how?</i> How in the world are you writing a book a month. I'll tell you the simple reason. <b> I had to</b>. It's amazing what you find out you can do when you have no other choice. My kids depended on me and I had no where else to turn. Yes, I could have gone on welfare or gone to my church and there's no shame in that. But I knew I had it in me to stand up on my own two feet and see where that could take me. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">My brother Zach would go to the LTUE writer's conferences and come back with all the great advice and pass it on to me. He'd write down copious notes in the hopes of giving me the help and inspiration to make it. My brother Zach Hill - amazing guy and a great uncle. Also an amazing writer. I'll always be grateful to him for being my best friend and moral support during those crazy four years.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I still remember my first check from Amazon that came through. I was sitting at the table and just staring in awe. I was literally shaking in my chair and had tears running down my face as I stared at the computer screen. I called over my kids and sat them down and I said, <i>I want to tell you about a miracle. This miracle is just as big as the parting of the Red Sea. God is good and God is looking out for us. His hand is over us and you should know that.</i></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">During those four years when I put out a book a month, the words flowed. I would sit down on the couch with my laptop and put my fingers to the keys and the words flowed like manna from Heaven, because that's what it was. It's hard for me to even take credit for my books because it was such a blatant gift from God. I'd look down at the words I'd written sometimes and I'd say to myself,<i> I'm not this good. This can't be from me. </i> And I was right. But it was <i>through</i> me that these books were written. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Last year though, 2015, I'd have to say the words didn't flow quite so fast and free. I could feel myself drying up. Yes, I was dating a lot more which I think was good. I'd spent so many years writing about what I thought romance was it was high time I experienced it first hand. It had to help my writing to actually go on a date. It might even help me describe kissing if I could maybe actually kiss a real man. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But then I did it, I went and fell in love. It happened so fast and so wonderfully, that it felt like another gift from God. One of the best gifts God could ever give to be honest. And by the way, all those critics who like to tell me romance never happens that fast in real life? <i>Ha!</i> Sometimes it's faster, thank you very much. </span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO2nYbx8CJzy7GF40dMbqnwZIiyDe8ziSjukm6Vm6BdtyvMJL0DKPCycKK1cVcQRW7krpvW_gG2h2_UjOHaXTFlUVPMZeCPS6KluhMi0-LNTzSFNAYWnqHWhTiVm22oKV0DtvgHlKmnzs/s1600/12034173_146342115713777_6313214013366419384_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO2nYbx8CJzy7GF40dMbqnwZIiyDe8ziSjukm6Vm6BdtyvMJL0DKPCycKK1cVcQRW7krpvW_gG2h2_UjOHaXTFlUVPMZeCPS6KluhMi0-LNTzSFNAYWnqHWhTiVm22oKV0DtvgHlKmnzs/s320/12034173_146342115713777_6313214013366419384_o.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Well, then I did something really crazy, I jumped off the cliff and got married. Yay! Best decision of my life. Marrying my sweetheart has been amazing and wonderful and even better than I imagined it would be when I'd write about it in my Fircrest books. Love is grand, my friends. Love is amazing.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I've been married 6 months now and I have to say, these have been the happiest six months of my life. So much has changed and happened and I'm still in awe and so grateful for Heavenly Father for looking out for me. Life has been hard. <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Incredibly</span> hard at times, but for every sorrow, I know that God will make it up to us. If not in this life, then in the next to come for sure. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">What hasn't happened in the last six months though, is any writing. I've had so many of you write in and ask when Kam's book will be out. And I haven't known what to say. In a couple months, in a few months, but then a few months pass by and I have no book.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have to tell you though, these last six months, along with being so amazing because I'm a newly wed, have been hard too. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">My beloved brother, Zach Hill, died unexpectedly from a pulmonary embolism that took his life instantly and with no warning, leaving his new bride a widow and the rest of his friends and family reeling in shock. Mourning a brother who has died is hard. Mourning a brother who was your best friend and confidant and your biggest supporter is something I'm still trying to figure out how to do. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So bear with me. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We also had a wedding last month. I threw my first wedding shower and I think I did okay! And now I have another wedding coming up in June. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So I'm being stretched in new and crazy and wonderful and hard and sad ways that I wasn't expecting. So I hope that all of my friends and readers will continue to bear with me and just know that I'm aware that you guys are waiting for Kam's story. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Things are different for me now. My well was drying up last year. I was beginning to burn out and it was beginning to make me nervous. The tidal wave of words that would flow out of me, doesn't quite flow the same way. Probably because my hubby is always dragging me away to romantic dates and kissing me and taking me on motorcycle rides and spoiling me rotten. </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkN74xcP1zodvbnPOqij8Hpr2XL7fYE1dlNbN3DifDJaRi8VQhbAEuN_Uhez0mJ1vp6H5SXGKPv8ZhL1y5JVRS_kJuyMm63nzX3TIAuQCUf5-AWfbYUbY-rBgmEdJiA2iNH-kwxZ-FrGQ/s1600/IMG_0923.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkN74xcP1zodvbnPOqij8Hpr2XL7fYE1dlNbN3DifDJaRi8VQhbAEuN_Uhez0mJ1vp6H5SXGKPv8ZhL1y5JVRS_kJuyMm63nzX3TIAuQCUf5-AWfbYUbY-rBgmEdJiA2iNH-kwxZ-FrGQ/s320/IMG_0923.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But I want you to know that I will start working on it. It won't come fast. It's not going to be done in a month or even two or three. But I will begin and see where that takes me. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Also - of note and of great importance to me - I won another Swoony Award this year! <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Free Fallin' won Heidi's Choice award<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">-</span> So honored to be singled out. Thank you Swoony Awards!</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And n</span>ot to be forgotten, - <u>California Dreamin</u>'!</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The CA Dreamin' collection received a 4.5 star review from<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">InD'Tale Magazine<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">which also means that it earned a Crown Heart award.</span> My story Stay With Me, was so much fun to write. If you haven't read my <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">short story, now's the time to enjoy a little beach time.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></span> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">O<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ne<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> last announcement:</span></span> </span>I've decided to take half of the proceeds from my Fircrest Series, and donate that money to the organization O.U.R. http://ourrescue.org/ - this organization is INCREDIBLE. If I could give all of my money to them, I would because they help rescue little kids from being sex slaves. Please go to their page and check out what they do. They even have a movie called the Abolitionists that I've seen at Megaplex. It shows exactly what they do and how they take down the sex traffickers who abuse these children for money. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I will continue to support this cause in any way I can. (I would actually love to go on a mission myself) hint hint O.U.R. But I hope you will also support this organization. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">My new webpage www.fircrestromance.com gives a link at the bottom of the page and pledges my support as well. Last month I was able to send them a check for $1,363.00. I hope to send them even more. If my books can bring joy to others and at the same time help free little boys and girls from a hell I can't even comprehend, then that fills me with joy. The only true joy I've found, is when we serve our fellow brothers and sisters. It's all about bringing light to this sometimes dark world we live in. I hope we can all do our part. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So please know that I'm thinking about you and also thinking about Kam and where his story will take him. His story will be the very last in the Fircrest series and then I will begin all over again in a new town with new friends and people that will hopefully lift you guys up and bring a little fun and laughter and romance to this world. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Take care and do some good today,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">your friend,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Shannon </span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177266872328579993.post-53787174058304471872015-06-08T07:18:00.001-07:002015-06-08T07:18:11.244-07:00Official Announcement<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Just wanted to let everyone know that At Last is now<b><i><u> Live</u></i></b> on Kindle!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"> (Paperback will be available shortly) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Enjoy!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Here's the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/At-Last-Book-Weddings-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00Z287SD2/ref=as_sl_pc_tf_ssw?&linkCode=wss&tag=shanguym-20">link.</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgueffqWsBEvtgIOkXvSDumaR91N6D431dnL03A2ZVrD_L1cfcAq59iJ5-fck-iVa7ffC3U-tRqQt-Igd0Mq4jJHeAnkZg8PFj9Rc3vH3xZeNskftn4Ycw1Vy8H_8um2xtpXTLYk981xI8/s1600/At+last.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgueffqWsBEvtgIOkXvSDumaR91N6D431dnL03A2ZVrD_L1cfcAq59iJ5-fck-iVa7ffC3U-tRqQt-Igd0Mq4jJHeAnkZg8PFj9Rc3vH3xZeNskftn4Ycw1Vy8H_8um2xtpXTLYk981xI8/s320/At+last.jpeg" width="226" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: start;">Maya Tenney just wants to feel safe again. She never would have pictured herself as a woman who runs from danger, but being put in the hospital by a violent man has made her realize that staying alive is more important than her pride. She'll even move in with the grouchiest man she knows if that will scare off her ex.Tristan Jensen knows what it's like to deal with heartbreak, but he's not okay with anyone who hurts women. He's intrigued with Maya but he's done with women who manipulate and use others. Will these two be able to get past their misconceptions of each other or will they let pride destroy what could be a great love story?</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177266872328579993.post-16753695172259058202015-06-03T08:25:00.002-07:002015-06-03T08:25:15.358-07:00Cover Reveal Time!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijq35L_4_elI42C2-uOF4XAYk32tMlXE2LSxR95tqo3SDSRYLZnA2pXCWuJSFxKCCMpMJNNyzrOT_VrthlKC4nx-1cGyFunUSQDbKzHzJti45Y2xy8jVEKHSd99-jekhuBc1C1FlUWBFk/s1600/At+last.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijq35L_4_elI42C2-uOF4XAYk32tMlXE2LSxR95tqo3SDSRYLZnA2pXCWuJSFxKCCMpMJNNyzrOT_VrthlKC4nx-1cGyFunUSQDbKzHzJti45Y2xy8jVEKHSd99-jekhuBc1C1FlUWBFk/s320/At+last.jpeg" width="226" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Just waiting on the last edits now. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Should be live next week!</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177266872328579993.post-73933200959824989742015-06-02T08:40:00.003-07:002015-06-02T08:40:47.638-07:00Let's Celebrate Summer!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">To celebrate Summer,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> I've decided to put a few of my books on sale. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Who doesn't need a Kindle full of romance to go with that suntan lotion and the smell of chlorine?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">All of these books will be on sale for $.99 all Summer long-</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Enjoy!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjZi6cv-Og4kmX95inXVDykMHyMZFZbiybUqxqPJYehkv3va1mTK6PmZQn7UvuxEjgCYI-zF4YXWF3gx3V4rOdxIwFQx7_Rjd4nt48O2tNWpP4WtJYxmyUI01yDH513-vM8dPdsdNM_pM/s1600/Come+to+Me+jessica+387+KB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjZi6cv-Og4kmX95inXVDykMHyMZFZbiybUqxqPJYehkv3va1mTK6PmZQn7UvuxEjgCYI-zF4YXWF3gx3V4rOdxIwFQx7_Rjd4nt48O2tNWpP4WtJYxmyUI01yDH513-vM8dPdsdNM_pM/s320/Come+to+Me+jessica+387+KB.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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Here's the Amazon <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Come-To-Me-Trust-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00HZUOXWE/ref=as_sl_pc_tf_ssw?&linkCode=wss&tag=shanguym-20">link.</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJWPbBCT1ksMX-QO3LQavHKwWq1fe2N2OGFTf11y5NVcaZKoGpiA8gvYSj0m6uIEarnr2P-6_6_9uVsGgTtanXN1KWnaJ8HIDj4iX0YApG1VV8YX4adJocMCEwBR9sVu1rcLHIX1RT54/s1600/FON_667x1000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJWPbBCT1ksMX-QO3LQavHKwWq1fe2N2OGFTf11y5NVcaZKoGpiA8gvYSj0m6uIEarnr2P-6_6_9uVsGgTtanXN1KWnaJ8HIDj4iX0YApG1VV8YX4adJocMCEwBR9sVu1rcLHIX1RT54/s320/FON_667x1000.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Grab this one <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Freak-Nature-Book-Witch-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B009XTVCDS/ref=as_sl_pc_tf_ssw?&linkCode=wss&tag=shanguym-20">here.</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhNCcJcPGoSigiMyJfH56Z9VxQXB2EVrhoGUz37QYg6Dg1JoRqey02b1aims4_qUCUFroPz78jOg_vrGi72pxtcOsu6Y7Gt1DeFSCr-0bkaMTnM09BbT1R5XC26FNn8hu8k-inFYyiLdk/s1600/Falling+for+Rayne+EBOOK+UPLOAD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhNCcJcPGoSigiMyJfH56Z9VxQXB2EVrhoGUz37QYg6Dg1JoRqey02b1aims4_qUCUFroPz78jOg_vrGi72pxtcOsu6Y7Gt1DeFSCr-0bkaMTnM09BbT1R5XC26FNn8hu8k-inFYyiLdk/s320/Falling+for+Rayne+EBOOK+UPLOAD.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Falling-Rayne-Book-Flowers-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00KVR19HK/ref=as_sl_pc_tf_ssw?&linkCode=wss&tag=shanguym-20">To buy.</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtb5u4s6qCjrTModKWxv7eI33KI4c6UMZ5SSoJcO9iqf5wDiRVrR9CQLhosHdFlyQaQ45e3LBcZ8BNbIvnLgkraSAOO_bVaet-CIS3w8jsWTu8k07t1hZAuYY3fq56IRXUwfHtDiymoKw/s1600/WD_200x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtb5u4s6qCjrTModKWxv7eI33KI4c6UMZ5SSoJcO9iqf5wDiRVrR9CQLhosHdFlyQaQ45e3LBcZ8BNbIvnLgkraSAOO_bVaet-CIS3w8jsWTu8k07t1hZAuYY3fq56IRXUwfHtDiymoKw/s1600/WD_200x300.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Purchase <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Werewolf-Dreams-Book-Taming-Series-ebook/dp/B00CJII238/ref=as_sl_pc_tf_ssw?&linkCode=wss&tag=shanguym-20">here.</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Werewolf-Dreams-Book-Taming-Series-ebook/dp/B00CJII238/ref=as_sl_pc_tf_ssw?&linkCode=wss&tag=shanguym-20"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9flB8Z7mYAotjxXJBt8eNzcqWGI8HOmfiHJqOmabF2X8rQPdfs888d8xF9EBj2eI7DJqPGtip7L9gLXj8t39lEVKccq_05j_1ea5vDKhDmQU5bOrBXapaLrHchHRpqtZbuDPwLobG6Ow/s320/IBWY_667x1000.jpg" width="213" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
To <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Belong-With-You-Dessert-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00DXHBIJY/ref=as_sl_pc_tf_ssw?&linkCode=wss&tag=shanguym-20">buy.</a></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177266872328579993.post-39972576421668954252015-05-28T12:08:00.001-07:002015-05-28T12:08:48.170-07:00First Chapter from my newest, Book 3 in the Love and Weddings Trilogy, At Last <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h1 style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Toc420519540">I asked for help on Facebook with the title for my newest book and a few people said that they thought <i>At Last</i> (Think Etta James) would be awesome. I agree! So to celebrate picking a title, here's the first chapter. Enjoy, my friends!</a></h1>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie2Umzs3sMja9UMSMsyyaw-c3VlimP3zRBMy6qvM-VRI4kQDAVhqHkAi-ARgZJa-_2C3EEOEBPmEZi3amsDyCBLisYpMcoDdNuKFH5Zgmuc4KFqzwdRnB1tHpMd1L1AVkW5w-8kJ0Wwds/s1600/romanticbeach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie2Umzs3sMja9UMSMsyyaw-c3VlimP3zRBMy6qvM-VRI4kQDAVhqHkAi-ARgZJa-_2C3EEOEBPmEZi3amsDyCBLisYpMcoDdNuKFH5Zgmuc4KFqzwdRnB1tHpMd1L1AVkW5w-8kJ0Wwds/s320/romanticbeach.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<h1>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Toc420519540"><br /></a></h1>
<h1>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Toc420519540">Chapter 1</a>- Roommates<o:p></o:p></h1>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maya
looked over her shoulder one last time before putting her groceries in the back
of her car as a cold feeling crept over her. She wasn’t sure if the constant
feeling of paranoia was her instincts trying to keep her safe, or if she was in
fact, finally going crazy. She sighed tiredly and slammed the trunk down before
returning the cart. She scanned the parking lot of the grocery store again as
she reached for her keys and spotted a dark shadow moving away from the light
by the corner of the building and paused with a frown. She swallowed nervously
and hurried back to her car. It was probably nobody she knew. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>But then again …<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Paranoid
or not, it was better to be safe than sorry. She locked her car doors as soon
as she got in and drove quickly out of the parking lot and out onto the road
with a squeal of tires. It had been a month since she’d kissed Pule Matafeo
because she’d been certain Carter had found her. The very next day Pule’s
police car had been trashed. Unfortunately, Posey Tyler had been arrested for
destruction of a Police Vehicle. Maya snorted at the thought of Posey taking
spray paint to Pule’s car and sticking a switch blade in his tire. The girl was
head over heels in love with the Pule. Everyone had assumed Posey had lost it
out of jealousy because she’d seen her kiss Pule, but there was no way a little
quiet thing like Posey would turn to violence. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Not,
that had been all Carter.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She
shivered silently as she automatically touched her lips. Violence came so easily
to some people. And violence came especially easy to Carter Ellison. They’d
only been together four months when he hit her the first time. She’d broken up
with him immediately and threatened to call the cops on him if he came near her
again, but he’d wheedled his way back into her life and she still couldn’t
figure out how he’d done it. Two months later, he lost his temper again and
gave her a black eye. At that point, she smartened up and told her family and
her friends and the police what was going on. She had put a restraining order
on him, but that had just enraged him and he’d come after her while she was
walking home after a night out with her friends. She’d ended up with three
broken ribs, assorted cuts and abrasions and a concussion because he’d kicked
her repeatedly in the head. If a neighbor hadn’t heard her screams and called
the police, she’d be dead. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maya
drove through the streets of Fircrest and smiled cynically at the quaint little
town and all of the happy people who walked through life feeling safe and free.
Would she ever feel safe again? She’d started to. After moving to Fircrest six
months ago, she’d thought she’d gotten away from Carter. She’d left Dallas
behind and hadn’t looked back. She purposefully picked a small little town far
away so Carter would never find her. All she wanted to do was live in peace.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But in her bones, she knew he’d tracked her
down. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maya
pulled in front of her Condo she rented month to month and tried to get a grip
on herself. Living in fear constantly was draining emotionally and physically
and she was so tired of being scared. She glanced behind her, to see if she’d
been followed and then hurried out of her car, grabbing her groceries and
running up the stairs to her door. She heard the sound of a car driving slowly
down the street and refused to turn around. She felt the hairs on the back of
her neck stick up as she fumbled with her keys in her haste to get inside. She
could feel the powerful engine of the car directly behind her and pushed the
door open, slamming it shut and locking it as she began to gasp with fear. She hurried
to the window and pushed the curtain aside. The car she’d felt and heard behind
her was idling right in front of her condo. She couldn’t see through the tinted
windows but she could feel that someone was looking at her. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maya
covered her mouth with her hand and backed away from the window. She hadn’t
been able to convince Pule that Carter had been the one to vandalize his car.
She couldn’t prove that Carter was the man in front of her condo now. But her
gut was telling her she was in danger and she refused to ignore her instincts
anymore. The last time she had, she’d ended up in the hospital. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She
picked up her bag of groceries and walked unsteadily into her kitchen. If she
was right, and it was Carter, he knew where she lived and what’s more, he <i>wanted </i>her to know that he knew. Scaring
her to death and driving her insane was probably part of his plan. If that was
the case, she didn’t have much time before he made his move. It would be so
easy for him to break into her house and all she had to protect herself was a
little piece of paper that hadn’t stopped him last time and some mace. She put
the milk away and then sat down, suddenly too tired to put the rest of her
groceries away. She rested her head in her hands and felt a wave of
hopelessness surround her. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What
she wouldn’t give to feel safe again. She closed her eyes and gave in to the
despair that threatened to drown her. She reached for her phone to call her mom
and then pulled her hand back. <i>No</i>.
She refused to worry her mother any more than she already had. She could call one
of her friends back home. They would understand. They’d seen her in the
hospital and knew what Carter was capable of. But in the back of her mind, she
knew that someone had to have told Carter where she’d moved to and she wasn’t
sure who she could trust anymore.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She
could call Pule and tell him about being followed home except she wasn’t sure
he suspected her of making Carter up just to get close to him. Her face burned
with embarrassment at the way she’d thrown herself at Pule all with the end
result in mind of being protected by him. She hadn’t wanted a boyfriend. She’d
wanted a body guard. And he’d seen through her from the very beginning and had
run as fast as he could into Posey’s arms.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She
sighed and ran her hands through her long, brown hair and stared at the
ceiling. First things first, she couldn’t stay here anymore. She glanced around
the apartment she’d grown to love and felt like crying. As a teenager girl,
she’d been so strong and fearless and now, here she was running for her life
and living in fear. She swallowed the bitter shame and pulled her laptop over. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She
pulled up the local classified and looked over the available apartments. She
wanted to stay in Fircrest so she could be close to work. There were only five
apartments available in Fircrest and three of them were out of her price range.
She groaned as she read the next one. <i>Must
love cats since I have seven. </i>Nope. She closed her eyes before looking at
the last apartment ad. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Need a roommate. Can’t be weird. Can’t be a
drug addict and can’t have cats. I like things quiet and by quiet, I mean
someone who likes to play X-box and watch all the movies I like. I don’t mind
sharing my food if you clean the bathroom. Interested? Call Tristan. You can
move in immediately.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maya
grinned at the ad and reached for her phone. Immediately worked for her. She
dialed the number and waited impatiently while it rang four times. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“<i>Hello</i>.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maya
frowned at the masculine voice. She could have sworn Tristan was a girl’s name.
“Uh, I saw the ad online for the apartment. <i>Is
this Tristan</i>?” she asked, as she began to chew on her thumbnail.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The man
sighed on the other line before answering. “Yeah, this is Tristan and no,
Tristan is not a girl’s name. Look it up. Tristan and Isolde. Great
literature.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maya
groaned and leaned her head in her hands. “Dang it. I really needed this
apartment,” she said, feeling the tightening in her throat as she fought back
sudden tears.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I
don’t care if you’re a girl. You can come look at the apartment right now since
I’m here. I’ve got practice in an hour though so it’s now or never. I’ve got
someone else coming to check out the apartment tomorrow morning. First one with
the deposit wins,” he said, yawning loudly into the phone.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maya
blinked back the moisture and sat up straight. “Wait, seriously? You’d be okay
with a girl for a roommate?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tristan
blew out a breath as if he was bored with the conversation. “It doesn’t bother
me. If it bothers you, then I’m sure there are plenty other apartments out
there.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maya
tapped her fingers on the table. <i>Should
she?</i> It might be nice having a guy as a roommate. She could kill two birds
with one stone. Carter would think she was living with a boyfriend and might
back off. She made up her mind. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Give
me your address. I’ll come over right now,” she said in a strong voice as she
smiled.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tristan
gave her the address and hung up without even saying goodbye. Maya stared at
her phone and shrugged. Her future roommate was a little grumpy. All the
better. She grabbed her keys and her purse and hurried outside, looking up and
down the street for the car that had followed her. She followed the directions
but gave up ten minutes later and used her maps app on her phone to find the
place. She drove down towards the Puget Sound and felt a little excitement slip
in. An apartment by the water would be incredible. She turned down a gravel
road and stopped in front of an older house that looked like it had been built
in the seventies. The flat roof and the glass made her smile as she got out and
lifted her face to the salty air. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She
rang the doorbell and glanced around, noting the flowers and trees and bushes. The
man might be grumpy but he obviously loved beautiful things and took care of
them. The door opened suddenly and she blinked in surprise. He looked familiar.
<i>Very familiar</i>. She frowned as she
looked him up and down, noting that he had to be at least six feet two inches. His
bright blond hair was cut super short and he’d grown a short beard, but there
was no mistaking those silver eyes. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“You’re
Meredith’s brother, aren’t you? I’ve seen you at a couple rugby games and at
the diner. We’ve met before,” she said, frowning in disappointment. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tristan
looked back at her coolly as he crossed his arms over his chest. “Yeah, I’m
Meredith’s brother and you’re the yoga instructor who’s after Pule, right?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maya
blushed and flipped her hair over her shoulder as she lifted her chin. “Good
luck finding a roommate. I’ve decided I’m not interested,” she said with as
much dignity as she could and then turned and walked away, taking out her car
keys and cursing the day she’d come to Fircrest.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Not so
fast.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maya
paused and looked over her shoulder. “<i>What?”</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tristan
leaned in his doorway and narrowed his eyes at her. “You came all this way, you
might as well look at the place.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maya
raised an eyebrow and smiled. “You have a rule against cats and I have a rule
against jerks. No thanks,” she said and sighed as she realized she’d have to
start looking for a new place in Tacoma. She hated driving through Tacoma’s
busy traffic with a passion but it would be worth it if she could feel safe.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Look,
I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that about Pule. I get how women can get hung
up over a guy and not think straight. I won’t bring up your love life. Really,
you can come look at the place and I won’t say a word.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maya
frowned and turned around slowly as she stared at the man. He had some goofy
smile on his face as if he wasn’t used to smiling and wasn’t sure how to do it
anymore. He looked all stiff and weird. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“What’s
really going on? Who’s coming to look at the place tomorrow?” she asked. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tristan
sighed and ran a hand through his bright hair. “An old college roommate who
drives me nuts. He drinks, he smells and he was always having people over. I
like things quiet.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maya
rolled her eyes and considered it. The man was grumpy and rude but that might
work to her advantage if Carter ever tried to come to the door. And he was
huge. Carter was only five feet ten and Tristan would intimidate anyone. Maybe
she should check it out.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“<i>Fine</i>,” she said half-heartedly and
walked back to the house. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tristan’s
face relaxed, not into a smile, but something that could be a close relative. “Welcome
to my home,” he said as he moved back so she could walk through the door.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maya
blinked to adjust her eyes as she walked down the hallway and into a large open
area that made up the family room, eating area and kitchen.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I
knocked down a few walls to open the space up,” Tristan said, as he flipped on
a few lights. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maya
noted the hardwood floors and the warm yellow walls and smiled. “You have good
taste. It’s very inviting.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tristan’s
mouth quivered on the side and Maya watched in curiosity wondering if the man
was incapable of smiling. She walked over to the French doors that led out to
the back yard. She opened the door and stepped out onto a large patio and
gasped. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Your
view,” she whispered as she held a hand over her heart. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tristan
moved to stand next to her and they stood in silence as they watched the boats
skim across the water of the Puget Sound. “I spend a lot of time out here,” he
said pointing to the comfortable lounge chairs. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maya
walked over to the railing and lifted her face to the wind as she closed her
eyes and felt something she hadn’t felt in a while. <i>Good</i>. She felt good, standing out here so close to the water and
the sky. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I’m
actually tempted now,” she said, opening her eyes and smiling. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tristan
shrugged. “You haven’t even seen the room yet.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maya
blinked in surprise. “It’s nice?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tristan
turned and walked back into the house and she was forced to follow him. He led
her back down a different hallway to a large room with pale blue walls and a
crystal chandelier. There was a large, iron bed and an heirloom quilt that had
her running her hand over the soft cotton. She turned and noted the antique
dresser and the pictures on the wall that were photographs. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She
walked over and stared at the pictures of mountains and trees and turned to
look at Tristan questioningly. “Yours?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tristan
nodded. “It’s my hobby.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maya
blinked in surprise and had to admit that there was more to this surly guy than
she’d thought. “This room, this house… it’s amazing. But I’m curious. Why do
you need a roommate? I mean, this house is gorgeous and you’ve obviously spent
a lot of time and energy and money on it. Why in the world would you want some
stranger to invade your personal space?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tristan’s
eyes went dark and gray as he looked away from her. “A few reasons. I have a
dog and she needs more company than me. That, and my parents are worried that I
don’t interact with other humans enough. They worry. And the rent money is
going towards a boat I want to buy.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maya
laughed. “Just get a loan like everyone else does. You’re really going to save
the money before buying something you want?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tristan
rolled her eyes. “I’ve seen a lot of my friends declare bankruptcy in the past
few years. They all had the same theory on money as you do. I’m a little old fashioned,
but then again, I own my own house and my car. Do you?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maya
cleared her throat and looked away. She had a few credit cards and she
probably, <i>definitely</i> needed to be
better with money. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Okay,
I get it. You’re a recluse with a bad attitude and a tight hold on his pennies.
Can I move in tonight?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tristan
blinked in surprise. “Really? You want to move in?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maya
glanced at the bed and then out the large bay window and smiled a little. “I
do. Where’s the contract?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tristan
didn’t smile but his eyes warmed briefly as he turned and walked out of the
room. Maya walked over and stared out the window for a moment before following
him. Two hours later she was unpacking her clothes as she docked her phone and
listened to <i>I’m like a bird</i> by Nelly
Furtado.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(c) Copyrighted Material 2015</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177266872328579993.post-63971891562376763292015-04-27T08:08:00.001-07:002015-04-27T09:03:15.491-07:00Check this out!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So everyone has been raving about my latest cover for Free Fallin' - here it is in case you missed it:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYlzXa4EAqBqmzk_RBhJVRXCYKFXvJafnK2-DT7al929U_zLkFccoT3Al9jl5dhIIt68ZLWC2BNw9KDHibvdTInSO6_rqIwMO0iZbxPN0tHgvAH4IRdfk2Bj4ADYhrDrKTTDE9NIc_1s/s1600/Shannonebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYlzXa4EAqBqmzk_RBhJVRXCYKFXvJafnK2-DT7al929U_zLkFccoT3Al9jl5dhIIt68ZLWC2BNw9KDHibvdTInSO6_rqIwMO0iZbxPN0tHgvAH4IRdfk2Bj4ADYhrDrKTTDE9NIc_1s/s1600/Shannonebook.jpg" height="320" width="228" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sherry Gammon is the design genius behind this one. What you might not know is that Sherry is also an awesome writer as well and just does her book covers on the side. She's got a great book that I have to mention because it's just that cool. It's called, Not So Easy. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">Senior Max Sanchez has it all. </span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">He’s the star pitcher for Port Fare High’s baseball team. He’s dating the </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">head cheerleader, Emma McKay, and he has a great group of friends. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: start;" />
<i style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: start;">Junior JD Miller’s life is Not So Easy. </i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">Unlike Max, JD struggles with making friends. He’s a social misfit, and </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">he’s being bullied at every turn. He’s also barely surviving. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">A tragic accident changes everything, merging their lives together, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">and Max soon learns that life is not so easy for everyone. Max works to the point of exhaustion trying to help JD survive the chaos that is his life, and his eyes are opened to a world he had no idea even existed. </span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: start;">Not so Easy is a story about hope, surviving, and never giving up.</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi48HvziivoovhXCRBgurJpLx0rA6WM2BK05dRIgRK4kp1KrkxRHgGE3xUP-N-Mli8QFy8ggLhha6XsZUVvv6YlP_4pe1VXVj3RM1TDcIyc4wSUGt2CYI572jdy4lmiVOte5psV19h-X88/s1600/Notsoeasy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi48HvziivoovhXCRBgurJpLx0rA6WM2BK05dRIgRK4kp1KrkxRHgGE3xUP-N-Mli8QFy8ggLhha6XsZUVvv6YlP_4pe1VXVj3RM1TDcIyc4wSUGt2CYI572jdy4lmiVOte5psV19h-X88/s1600/Notsoeasy.jpg" height="320" width="217" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here's the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Fantasy-Fiction-Souls-Peril-ebook/dp/B008YQJCL0/ref=sr_1_1_twi_2_kin?ie=UTF8&qid=1430146616&sr=8-1&keywords=Not+so+easy%2C+Sherry+Gammon">link.</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So if you're in the mood for a good book, don't miss this one. Here is some info on how to win an audio book of Not So Easy:</span></div>
<div>
<span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text0:0:$0:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;">To celebrate the re-launch of Not So Easy (Souls in Peril) I am giving away TWO audio books! </span><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text0:0:$1:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text0:0:$2:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not So Easy (Souls in Peril) has a new cover, exciting edits, (a new chapter has been added), and now Not So Easy is an audio book, narrated by the talented Ryan Shaughnessy.</span><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text0:0:$3:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text0:0:$4:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not So Easy has a 4.9 out of 5 star rating on Amazon!</span><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text0:0:$5:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text0:0:$7:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text0:0:$8:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Blurb:</span><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text0:0:$9:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text0:0:$10:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not So Easy </span><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text0:0:$11:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text0:0:$12:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Senior Max Sanchez has it all.Junior JD Miller’s life is Not So Easy. He’s the star pitcher for Port Fare High’s baseball team. He’s dating the head cheerleader, Emma McKay, and he has a great group of friends. </span><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text0:0:$13:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text0:0:$14:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Unlike Max, JD struggles with making friends. He’s a social misfit, and he’s being bullied at every turn. He’s also barely surviving. </span><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text0:0:$15:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text0:0:$16:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;">A tragic accident changes everything, merging their lives together, that life is not so easy for everyone. Max works to the point of exhaustion trying to help JD survive the chaos that is his life, and his eyes are opened to a world he had no idea even existed.</span><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text0:0:$17:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text0:0:$18:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not so Easy is a story about hope, surviving, and never giving up. </span><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text0:0:$19:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text0:0:$21:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text0:0:$22:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;">*Kindle booklove: Dani: 10 Wonderful, Amazing, Fantastic Stars This story will stay with me forever. It spoke to my soul because I know what it's like to be bullied relentlessly by kids at school and then go home and have to deal with an abusive stepfather and feel like you have nobody to turn to, nobody to trust, and nowhere to go. I know as it said at the end of the book that not all people being bullied have the same home situations but mine almost resembled Izzy's experience with some differences of course. My heart broke while reading about JD's and Izzy's story. I cried for them and their situation. I fell in love with Emma's character because she was one of those rare people with an untarnished soul who doesn't look at people and judge them by what they look like....Read the full review here:</span><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text0:0:$23:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text0:0:$24:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;">What other are saying about Not So Easy (from the Souls in Peril series):</span><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text0:0:$25:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text0:0:$27:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text0:0:$28:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;">*Once Upon a Twilight: As I try to compose all my emotions to write this review I feel an overwhelming responsibility to do justice to this book through my review. I laughed, I cried, I felt such bewildering sadness and in the end I laughed again. Sherry Gammon takes us on an astonishing journey through the eyes of Max Sanchez. Handsome and athletic with a wonderful and supportive family, Max lives a charmed life. Even as a seventeen year old Max knows that his girlfriend Emma will be the woman he grows old with. Em's beauty and brains are only out shone by her inner compassion and kindness. Max already recognizes that he can learn from her sweetness and tolerance. For the full review click her (Warning: SPOILER ALERT!)</span><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text0:0:$29:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text0:0:$31:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text0:0:$32:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> * Dani of </span><a data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$range0:0" href="http://kindlebooklove.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">KindleBookLove.blogspot.com:</a><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text1:0:$0:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Wonderful, Amazing, Fantastic Stars. This story will stay with me forever. It spoke to my soul...This book is amazingly written and so awesome. I will never forget this book. It got me deep... I recommend it to everybody with children, children, and adults alike. Everybody should read this amazing book. </span><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text1:0:$1:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text1:0:$3:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text1:0:$4:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;">*Camelia Skiba: Sherry drives the reader to real emotions masterfully creating trials, conflicts and doubts. You'll cry and laugh, ache and root for these heroes. I also liked the messages that come with this book, that life is worth living, that we should never give up and we should always try our best.</span><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text1:0:$5:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text1:0:$7:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text1:0:$8:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;">* Cindy Bennett: Souls in Peril is seriously one of the best books I've ever read. It had me in turn laughing and crying, my heart aching for all the characters involved. </span><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text1:0:$9:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text1:0:$10:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gammon's writing is full of humor, sorrow, realism, and pulls you into places you might not want to go, but will be happy you did when all is said and done. I HIGHLY recommend this book! </span><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text1:0:$11:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text1:0:$13:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text1:0:$14:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;">* Momma's Books. Brandy: If I could rate this book a 10 I would but Goodreads as well as amazon will only allow a 5. So it is 5+++++++ It was such an emotional read for me. It took me less than 24 hours to read this book once I started I could not put it down. I am honestly at a loss for words to explain how I feel about this book. But I will try so here I go… You will be taken on an emotional ride and your heart will hurt more times than not. You will wish you could just jump into the book and just rescue JD. I know I absolutely fell in love with Em she is the sweetest and kindest kid. I can only hope that my children turn out to be like her... It is absolutely AMAZING! Read full review (and check out the old cover;) here:</span><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text1:0:$15:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text1:0:$17:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text1:0:$18:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Donna~ The Romance Cover Heart wrenching, sobbed and sobbed through this book, so many familiar circumstances it was like reliving my school life all over again...very sad, very emotional but unfortunately oh so very true. A fabulous book, that puts you through an emotional wringer..not my usual romance but a great YA book that had some very important messages throughout the book...brilliant.</span><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text1:0:$19:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text1:0:$21:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text1:0:$22:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;">More reviews here, here and here</span><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text1:0:$23:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text1:0:$24:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Purchase Links</span><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text1:0:$25:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text1:0:$26:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon: </span><a data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$range1:0" href="http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Fantasy-Fiction-Souls-Peril-ebook/dp/B008YQJCL0/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Fantasy-Fiction-Souls-Peril-ebook/dp/B008YQJCL0/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8</a><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text2:0:$0:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text2:0:$1:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text2:0:$2:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Audio: </span><a data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$range2:0" href="http://www.amazon.com/Not-So-Easy-Souls-Peril/dp/B00W8KKA3C/ref=tmm_aud_title_0" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/Not-So-Easy-Souls-Peril/dp/B00W8KKA3C/ref=tmm_aud_title_0</a><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text3:0:$1:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text3:0:$2:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Ibook:</span><a data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$range3:0" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/not-so-easy-souls-in-peril/id556173950?mt=11" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/not-so-easy-souls-in-peril/id556173950?mt=11</a><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$1:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$3:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$4:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not So Easy ebook is specially priced for the next few weeks as I introduce the exciting audio book</span><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$5:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$6:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;">More reviews here, here and here.</span><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$7:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$9:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$10:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here is a fun interview with my narrator Ryan Shaughnessy</span><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$11:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$13:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$14:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$15:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$16:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? I’m from a cornfield an hour and a half southwest of Chicago and the oldest of three children. I was high school valedictorian and passed the CPA exam after obtaining a Masters degree in accounting. Then I followed my dream and moved to Los Angeles to make a career in acting and not from a cubicle. Every day brings a new adventure!</span><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$17:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$18:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. What do you do when you are not acting/narrating? Every day I’m doing something that relates to my acting. Whether it be auditioning, shooting, or social networking, the acting never stops. Even when I’m watching shows on Netflix, I watch certain shows that would appeal to my age demographic.</span><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$19:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$20:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. What is your favorite smell? Mom’s pot roast coming from the slow cooker when I travel back to Illinois.</span><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$21:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$22:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. What was your first acting project? There were the spring concert shows in grade school, but my first main gig was in the summer before my 8th grade year where I was the ventriloquist’s dummy in the radio show in a production of “Annie”.</span><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$23:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$24:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;">5. How/Why did you get into acting? I love entertaining people. After getting a feel of making so many people laugh with my lines, I was hooked. Looking back, I wish I would have pursued in sooner, but I didn’t realize I could make a career of it because of how and where I was raised.</span><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$25:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$26:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;">6. If you had 24 hours to live, excluding spending time with your family, what would you do? Skydive, ride in a hot air balloon, bungee jump off a bridge, and take my family to the gorgeous beaches of Thailand</span><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$27:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$28:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;">7. What is your favorite kind of cheese? Pepperjack</span><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$29:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$30:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;">8. Is there any particular actor or book that influenced you growing up or as an adult? I grew up watching all the James Bond and Indiana Jones movies. It’s been a goal of mine to be James when I’m the right age. But Harrison Ford has always been an influence because he is also from Illinois and wasn’t given much of a shot at the beginning of his acting career. I feel I am very similar to him in that regard in that we both have had a chip on our shoulders to prove the world wrong.</span><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$31:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$32:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;">9. Would I find anything growing in your refrigerator right now? Nope. I keep things pretty clean. If I let one thing go, it would probably be the dust in my bedroom.</span><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$33:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$34:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;">10. How would you describe yourself in three words? Intelligent, sarcastic, loyal</span><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$35:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$36:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;">11. Who is your favorite actor? It’s hard to pick just one. Sean Connery, Harrison Ford, Denzel Washington, Matt Damon, and Tom Hanks are at the top of the list.</span><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$37:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$38:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;">12. What is your favorite part of acting and why? Your least favorite and why? Favorite: Things are always changing but yet they are still structured. You may be on the same set, but the storyline is changing and things don’t get stagnant. Worst: Rejection haha.</span><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$39:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$40:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;">13. Chocolate or Brussels sprouts? I’m a fan of both actually, especially if the brussels sprouts are doused in butter.</span><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$41:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$42:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;">14. What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an actor? I was new to a class and the teacher thought I wasn’t taking the scene seriously. He said I wouldn’t amount to anything.</span><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$43:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$44:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;">15. What has been the best compliment given to you as an actor? I took a three week intensive with a casting director, and after we finished the scene in the last week, he told me he could easily see me as a contract role on the show.</span><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$45:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$46:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;">16. What is your least favorite smell? Rotten eggs</span><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$47:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$48:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;">17. Do you have any advice to give to aspiring actors? If a kid from a small town in Illinois with no formal training can move across the country and find a place in this crazy entertainment world, there is no reason you can’t do the same. You will most likely need lots of patience and a strong backbone, and most people from back home won’t understand the extent of what you are doing. But you will. As long as you believe this is what you were made to do, you will find a way to make it happen.</span><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$49:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$51:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$52:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ryan's Links</span><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text4:0:$53:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><a data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$range4:0" href="http://www.imdb.me/ryanshaughnessy" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">http://www.imdb.me/ryanshaughnessy</a><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text5:0:$1:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text5:0:$2:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Demo: </span><a data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$range5:0" href="http://youtu.be/hZ9ox8Q2HbI" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">http://youtu.be/hZ9ox8Q2HbI</a><br data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text6:0:$1:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span data-reactid=".4b.$mid=11430147842651=267f6f15e0428e7c736.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$text6:0:$2:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636354446411px; 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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177266872328579993.post-18047310118559496052015-03-28T10:26:00.001-07:002015-03-28T10:26:48.826-07:00KJ's Book Nook: And The Winner Is... Oh!! And More Swoony Reviews!...<a href="http://kjsbooknook.blogspot.com/2015/03/and-winner-is-oh-and-more-swoony-reviews.html?spref=bl">KJ's Book Nook: And The Winner Is... Oh!! And More Swoony Reviews!...</a>: Is it just me or did this month literally FLY by?! Please... someone tell me that it was not just me!! I am so sad to see Shannon Guymon ...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177266872328579993.post-67532783142576883262015-03-23T09:38:00.000-07:002015-03-23T09:38:24.420-07:001st Chapter from Take a Chance on Me (Pule's Story) AND a Free book!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h1>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Toc414867921" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Okay my friends, it's been a busy month, but <i><u>Take a Chance on Me</u></i> is finished! (except for some final editing) But in the meantime, here is the 1st chapter in Pule's story to tide you over. <i>(Sorry - you'll have to scroll down but first read my other cool news!)</i></span></a></h1>
<h1>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Toc414867921" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Guys, I have to tell you - Pule's story was intense for me. I heard back from one of my first readers and she says her husband was teasing her because she would be crying one minute and smiling the next. I have to admit there were a few chapters I cried through as I wrote them. And no spoilers on this one! Seriously - when you read it, girls you better hold it in and keep it to yourself. It's going to be hard to do but I have faith in you.</span></a></h1>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Alright, the second announcement I have is that</span><b style="font-size: x-large;"><i><u> Falling for Rayne</u></i></b><span style="font-size: large;"> is going to be </span><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">FREE</span></b><span style="font-size: large;"> from <span style="background-color: red; color: white;">3/<b><u>24</u></b> - 3/<b><u>28</u></b>/2015</span><span style="color: blue;">.</span> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>FREE!!!! </b></span><span style="font-size: large;"> (on kindle) So help me pass the news around. Tell your friends and family and let's share the love :) If you have a blog or Facebook or Twitter I'd LOVE it if you could help me get the news out. Here's the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Falling-Rayne-Book-Flowers-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00KVR19HK/ref=as_sl_pc_tf_ssw?&linkCode=wss&tag=shanguym-20">link.</a></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhNCcJcPGoSigiMyJfH56Z9VxQXB2EVrhoGUz37QYg6Dg1JoRqey02b1aims4_qUCUFroPz78jOg_vrGi72pxtcOsu6Y7Gt1DeFSCr-0bkaMTnM09BbT1R5XC26FNn8hu8k-inFYyiLdk/s1600/Falling+for+Rayne+EBOOK+UPLOAD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhNCcJcPGoSigiMyJfH56Z9VxQXB2EVrhoGUz37QYg6Dg1JoRqey02b1aims4_qUCUFroPz78jOg_vrGi72pxtcOsu6Y7Gt1DeFSCr-0bkaMTnM09BbT1R5XC26FNn8hu8k-inFYyiLdk/s1600/Falling+for+Rayne+EBOOK+UPLOAD.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h1>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> And my 3rd cool news is that I was featured in a Swoon Fest. Don't know what that is? Holy Cow you're missing out. A whole month of just my books were featured including my books from my Pen Name, Katie Lee O'Guinn. There are drawings and prizes and Amazon gift cards and rafflecopters. PLUS - awesome interviews (of me) plus interviews of some of my best and most loved characters, recipes and the best Hollywood casting you've ever seen. You must, <i>absolutely must</i> check it out. Here's the <a href="http://kjsbooknook.blogspot.com/">link.</a></span></span></h1>
<div>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Without further ado - I bring you, Pule's Story:</span></span></div>
<h1>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Toc414867921">Chapter 1 – The New Girl</a><o:p></o:p></h1>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pule
Matafeo was not a man to sit back and be told what to do. <i>Unless it was his mom doing the telling</i>. Then <i>yes,</i> he was definitely that man. But Meredith Jensen was not his
mother.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I
don’t care if Cleo needs even numbers. I’m not escorting Maya, the amazon
goddess, anywhere.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Meredith
closed her eyes and breathed in deeply as she clenched her fists. Pule hid his smile
and sat back to enjoy the show. Now that she was engaged to Asher, she’d turned
over a new leaf and was trying to work on her patience. It wasn’t going well.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Look,
this is Cleo’s big day and she does not need this aggravation. Just show up in
a tux, smile and escort Maya down the aisle. How hard is that?” she asked in
exasperation as she did the final edits on her wedding invitations. With Cleo’s
wedding being that weekend and everything was practically done, she was now
able to work on her own wedding preparations.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pule
sighed loudly as Asher massaged Meredith’s shoulders and grinned at him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Dude,
she’s gorgeous. Why are you putting up a fight?
Every man there will be jealous of you.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Meredith
stopped what she was doing and turned slowly to stare up at her fiancé with
narrowed eyes. Asher cleared his throat and kissed Meredith’s cheek. “I <i>meant</i> to say, everyone but me, because
I’ll be <i>your </i>escort and to me you’re
the most beautiful woman ever born,” he said in a low, tender voice.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pule
watched as Meredith’s face softened and she pulled Asher’s face down to hers
where he was subjected to a quick but passionate kiss that made him sigh for
real. He wasn’t necessarily jealous, but …<i>
yeah</i>, he was jealous. He was surrounded by people in love, getting married
or having babies constantly and it was starting to wear on his psyche.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“<i>Cut it out</i>,” Pule griped.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Meredith
rolled her eyes and pointed at him. “You’re doing this, Pule. Besides, Maya
told Cleo the other day that she thought you were hot. You’re always
complaining about your social life. Well, here we are helping you out. You’re
single and gorgeous. Maya is single and gorgeous. <i>What. Is. The. Problem?”</i> she said slowly and with enough sass to
send Pule’s eyebrow rising.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“She’s
too perfect, okay?” he said grouchily as he rested his head in his hands. “I
always feel weird around her like my hair is out of place or I might have
something in my teeth.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Asher
laughed. “I know exactly what you mean. When I dated Maya<i> I</i>…” Asher stopped suddenly and began whistling as Meredith glared
at him. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pule
grinned. “Stop being jealous, Mer that was all for your benefit and you know
it.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Meredith
shook her head as she unclenched her jaw. “My benefit, <i>my behind</i>,” she grumbled.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Asher
walked over and sat down on the couch. Probably so he could be out of hitting
range. “Look, the point is, Maya is a great girl. She can’t help it if she’s
perfect. Just escort her to the wedding and you never have to be with her
again,” he said reasonably, as he changed the subject smoothly.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Meredith’s
expression immediately cleared and Pule rolled his eyes. “I’m going to be so
tense from hanging out with Maya I’m going to need a massage afterwards.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Meredith
closed her laptop as she stood up. “And there will be hundreds of girls there
volunteering for the job. Just because you have to escort Maya doesn’t mean you
have to be glued to her side the entire night. What’s going on? You’re so moody
lately. Is something going on at work or at home you’re not telling us about?”
she asked, looking at him with concern.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Asher
narrowed his eyes as he studied his friend. “Pule, you and I promised to tell
each other everything. If something’s bothering you, then you have to tell us.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pule
blinked in surprise and tried not to smile. Asher Murphy took his role as best
friend seriously. He needed to remember that. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Everything’s
fine, guys. Really. Being a police officer is the best thing that has ever
happened to me. I love wearing the badge.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Meredith
raised an eyebrow. “What about Tate? Is it hard working for you cousin? Is he
harder on you than everyone else? Are you being bullied?” she asked softly.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pule
stared at her in shock and then laughed. “<i>Bullying</i>?
Mer, come on. Tate’s like my brother. He’s always looking out for me. No,
working with Tate is incredible. The man brings me one of Jane’s cupcakes every
day. No, work is amazing. I guess I am a little stressed at home though. My
uncle Sefe just moved here from California and the house is already
crowded. I feel like I don’t have my own
space anymore. The man throws his
clothes all over my bed. I’m about ready to shoot him,” he said, already
clenching his teeth as he thought about his uncle.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Asher’s
face relaxed and he laughed. “I met your uncle last week at The Iron Skillet.
Huge guy, larger than life and the biggest smile I’ve ever seen. He seems like
a fun guy.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pule
sighed and ran a hand over his face. “Yeah, it’s a party all the time with
Sefe. He’s my dad’s youngest brother and he was just hired on at Foss High
School to coach the Football team.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Meredith’s
face lit up. “Is he single? Because he needs to join Your One and Only.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pule
waved his hand in the air. “Yeah, yeah, Meredith. We all know.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Meredith
narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously. “Has your subscription run out? You know
all I have to do is ask Brogan and he’ll tell me.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pule
smiled brightly and stood up. “And on that note, I’ll be on my way. Tell Cleo that I’ll be happy to escort Maya
down the aisle,” he said and smiled as Meredith clapped her hands and jumped up
and down.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Thank
you, Pule!” she yelled and then threw her arms around his neck as she gave him
a big smacking kiss on the cheek.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pule
grinned and hugged her back before lifting a hand to Asher. “You two coming to
cheer me on tomorrow?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Asher
stood up and slapped him on the back. “Wouldn’t miss it. Seeing you crush bones
is one of the highlights of my life.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pule
laughed and pretended to punch Asher and tried not to enjoy the automatic
wince. He waved goodbye and glanced at his phone as he walked outside. He had an hour before work. Just enough time
to stop by the bakery and pick up a snack. Tate had today off and he didn’t
want to go without a cupcake. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Five
minutes later, he was pushing through the doors. He paused and closed his eyes
as he took in the smell that was so uniquely Belinda’s Bakery; chocolate,
vanilla and burnt butter. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Heaven,”
he said softly and then opened his eyes to see a girl he didn’t recognize staring
at him with wide, glazed eyes. <i>Meth
addicts</i>. They were everywhere.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Hey,”
he said with a smile and walked over to the display cases. “Is Jane around?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The
girl blinked as if she was in a daze. “<i>Jane</i>?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pule chuckled.
This must be her first day. “Jane Matafeo? Part owner?” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The
girl made a high squeaky sound that might have been a giggle and turned bright
red. Pule watched curiously as the girl wiped her hands on her white apron and
shook her head, sending her long, rich brown hair, pulled back in a ponytail
swinging crazily.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“She’s
upstairs with Tele. If you need her I can run up and get her though.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pule
shook his head and gestured to the case. “Nah, don’t bother her. Tele needs his
mama. Where are all the Matafeo cupcakes?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The
girl was staring again. He waited for a few seconds and then asked clearly in a
louder voice. “The Matafeo cupcakes? They’re gone. Did Jane make any today?” <i>Maybe she was hearing impaired</i>, he
wondered with a frown. Or, she really was high on something.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The
girl jumped and blushed again. “Oh, Tate’s uncle Sefe came in and bought all of
them. He said he wanted them for his team. He coaches the football team at Foss
High.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pule
rolled his eyes. <i>Of course Uncle Sefe
would take all of his cupcakes</i>. The man was taking over his life. He ground
his teeth and sighed. “Fine, give me one of those One and Only cupcakes and
I’ll take a strawberry shortcake one too,” he said with a frown. He’d been
looking forward to that burst of caramel and toffee all day. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Dang,
Sefe,” he muttered under his breath as the girl continued to stare at him. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“So,
um… so, what’s your name?” the girl asked, lifting her chin bravely.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pule
glanced at her and then did a double take.
She wanted to know his name? <i>Have
mercy.</i> The girl was so young looking. She had cute little freckles on her
nose that made her look like she was in high school. She also had gorgeous, big
green eyes and high cheek bones. Her mouth was wide and generous but it was the
look in her eye that had him taking a step back. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Pule
Matafeo, at your service. And who might you be?” he asked politely.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The
girl swallowed before answering as she stared at his arms. “I’m Posey Tyler and
I just moved to town this week. So
you’re related to Tate then?” she asked, leaning her hip against the counter.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pule
grinned and crossed his arms over his chest. “You’re Wren’s little sister. I
should have known. You have the same look around the eyes and mouth. You’re
taller and darker than her though. I bet she’s happy to have you in town,” he
said, relaxing. He loved Wren like a sister. His brother Kam had practically
adopted her into the family. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Posey’s
face lit up and she nodded her head. “Wren got me this job. When I’m not
working here I’m helping her out with Jackie on days she works at the
restaurant.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pule
nodded his head and looked pointedly at the cupcakes. He needed to get ready
for work and didn’t have too much time to chat. “That’s great. So how much do I
owe you?” he asked.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Posey bit
her lip and hurried to the case, lifting out a red velvet cupcake and a lemon
cupcake, slipping them into a bakery bag.
She told him how much he owed and he decided it wasn’t worth it to make
a big deal out of getting the wrong cupcakes.
He gave her his debit card and waited for his receipt as she had to try
a few times to figure out the machine. He bit his lip as he fought the urge to
reach over the counter and do it himself. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Here
you go, Pule,” she said, handing him the receipt. “Sorry about that.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pule
nodded with a smile and turned to leave. “Have a good one,” he called out and
hurried outside. He pulled the lemon
cupcake out of the bag and took a bite as he searched for his keys. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
He
smiled at the tart burst of flavor and decided to forgive Posey for messing up
his order. He slipped behind the wheel and promptly forgot all about the strange
girl as he hurried home. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(C) Copyrighted Material 2015</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177266872328579993.post-35714316637123429472015-03-17T08:37:00.001-07:002015-03-17T08:37:56.521-07:00KJ's Book Nook: Tuesday Trivia - Week 3<a href="http://kjsbooknook.blogspot.com/2015/03/tuesday-trivia-week-3.html?spref=bl">KJ's Book Nook: Tuesday Trivia - Week 3</a>: Hey, this is Katie, back with another week of quizzes! This is my favorite set of series of all. I love all the characters and the food. ...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177266872328579993.post-42206463586449695862015-03-09T07:49:00.001-07:002015-03-09T07:49:19.014-07:00KJ's Book Nook: Monday Munchies - Week 2<a href="http://kjsbooknook.blogspot.com/2015/03/monday-munchies-week-2.html?spref=bl">KJ's Book Nook: Monday Munchies - Week 2</a>: So while we were getting ready for Swoon Fest I had asked Shannon if she had a favorite recipe that she would like to share with all her ...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177266872328579993.post-39912399240403613622015-03-05T11:55:00.001-07:002015-03-05T11:55:32.748-07:00KJ's Book Nook: Character Casting and Bios - Week 1<a href="http://kjsbooknook.blogspot.com/2015/03/character-casting-and-bios-week-1.html?spref=bl">KJ's Book Nook: Character Casting and Bios - Week 1</a>: The Swoon Fest ladies and I have had so much fun putting these character casts together. KJ of kjsbooknook.blogspot.com , is the Casting Que...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177266872328579993.post-84923937986867621602015-03-04T09:46:00.001-07:002015-03-04T09:46:17.914-07:00KJ's Book Nook: Take A Chance On Love - Swoon Fest 2015 With Shann...<a href="http://kjsbooknook.blogspot.com/2015/03/take-chance-on-love-swoon-fest-2015.html?spref=bl">KJ's Book Nook: Take A Chance On Love - Swoon Fest 2015 With Shann...</a>: It's here!! It's here!! It's here!! Shannon's Swoon Fest is FINALLY here!! I have been DYING to do one for her since t...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177266872328579993.post-79898039226096871732015-03-04T09:45:00.001-07:002015-03-04T09:45:42.529-07:00KJ's Book Nook: Tuesday Trivia - Week 1<a href="http://kjsbooknook.blogspot.com/2015/03/tuesday-trivia-week-1.html?spref=bl">KJ's Book Nook: Tuesday Trivia - Week 1</a>: Tuesday Trivia will be hosted by Katie from Katie's Clean Book Collection Welcome to the first week of Tuesday Trivia! I&#39...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177266872328579993.post-26077337433886387872015-03-04T09:44:00.001-07:002015-03-04T09:44:52.826-07:00KJ's Book Nook: Gabbing With Guymon - Week 1<a href="http://kjsbooknook.blogspot.com/2015/03/gabbing-with-guymon-week-1.html?spref=bl">KJ's Book Nook: Gabbing With Guymon - Week 1</a>: Gabbing with Guymon is brought to you by Kathy over at Bookworm Nation . Enjoy! I am so excited to get to know Shannon a little better,...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177266872328579993.post-49857245322018514342015-02-13T09:25:00.000-07:002015-02-13T09:25:49.682-07:00Happy Valentine's Day Eve!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I know that doesn't exist but I just invented it. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I needed a reason to put 8 of my books on sale and decided to <span style="background-color: white;">seize </span>the day.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> To celebrate love and romance and everything fun that goes along with it, I've decided to put 8 of my books on sale for the next few days,2/13 - 2/15.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> The first book on sale is my brand new one, <b><i><u>My One and Only.</u></i></b> Original price is $4.99 but now you can grab it for <b><i>just $2.99.</i></b> I know, this is crazy. Here's the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/My-One-Only-Weddings-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00SNJ9B6O/ref=as_sl_pc_tf_ssw?&linkCode=wss&tag=shanguym-20">link.</a></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDg137NG1J5xKK_Fxq4c0MaPzWM2ZvP2zv0VcRguVnE_JcmvloOATTL6VJqe9MW7MiTbduIybTPWnTkLyc0HpXX0bsX5wX5pwn2vEdWgA13Mv9Hsd7PX_Y3-chsN0z1aKdTLMzbqchSNE/s1600/Ecover+Shannon.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDg137NG1J5xKK_Fxq4c0MaPzWM2ZvP2zv0VcRguVnE_JcmvloOATTL6VJqe9MW7MiTbduIybTPWnTkLyc0HpXX0bsX5wX5pwn2vEdWgA13Mv9Hsd7PX_Y3-chsN0z1aKdTLMzbqchSNE/s1600/Ecover+Shannon.jpeg" height="320" width="216" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here's the list of my other books I've decided to knock down to <b>$.99</b>:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Falling for Rayne- <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Falling-Rayne-Book-Flowers-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00KVR19HK/ref=as_sl_pc_tf_ssw?&linkCode=wss&tag=shanguym-20">link</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLGfigCbWL6viB9GnnDU4sA9QXlLyLIHBGq03HKb4oV06XOzVBoiENJ2qbcp64dLTB7F2ICOwR_dY8ToNdXLxGEz_lLvxNQXg6lZs9BqL3DWuIwgT6FBPZY8FcOMZ-RPDKP3Rstb6V7yM/s1600/Falling+for+Rayne+EBOOK+UPLOAD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLGfigCbWL6viB9GnnDU4sA9QXlLyLIHBGq03HKb4oV06XOzVBoiENJ2qbcp64dLTB7F2ICOwR_dY8ToNdXLxGEz_lLvxNQXg6lZs9BqL3DWuIwgT6FBPZY8FcOMZ-RPDKP3Rstb6V7yM/s1600/Falling+for+Rayne+EBOOK+UPLOAD.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> You Belong with Me- <a href="http://www.amazon.com/You-Belong-With-Me-Dessert-ebook/dp/B00D2J50VK/ref=as_sl_pc_tf_ssw?&linkCode=wss&tag=shanguym-20">link</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4e55SA7AWpooL2s_nY6ntmz2S7ap5iKnqEjFBDsxU16eoqDFeXW9ZKwZ0n5akunbM4pW3CUElhOElajqc7vi5EJg5N7-q0BGzFiQgEiECjtGz6wzj9z21QuHqcJC18XjjAoO5mRKK0lg/s1600/YBWM_1600x2400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4e55SA7AWpooL2s_nY6ntmz2S7ap5iKnqEjFBDsxU16eoqDFeXW9ZKwZ0n5akunbM4pW3CUElhOElajqc7vi5EJg5N7-q0BGzFiQgEiECjtGz6wzj9z21QuHqcJC18XjjAoO5mRKK0lg/s1600/YBWM_1600x2400.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
Dreaming of Ivy- <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dreaming-Ivy-Book-Flowers-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00LHGOSRM/ref=as_sl_pc_tf_ssw?&linkCode=wss&tag=shanguym-20">link</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQ1zAjdLEc3v4YMQXZjdnuoRjBuX_qAAN6t9LGq6Tprl3uZkYcbPV_CroGkjQMBgOXmer_DWUZB-txogrRFnQN6rmLgxduAjzD08iEIHLGztYMDDRY44wOzTzGbG8-Vv7rr4zH_dSN2A/s1600/Dreaming+of+Ivy+All+Other+Sites.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQ1zAjdLEc3v4YMQXZjdnuoRjBuX_qAAN6t9LGq6Tprl3uZkYcbPV_CroGkjQMBgOXmer_DWUZB-txogrRFnQN6rmLgxduAjzD08iEIHLGztYMDDRY44wOzTzGbG8-Vv7rr4zH_dSN2A/s1600/Dreaming+of+Ivy+All+Other+Sites.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
Come to Me - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Come-To-Me-Trust-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00HZUOXWE/ref=as_sl_pc_tf_ssw?&linkCode=wss&tag=shanguym-20">link</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikoS5swi1xS27HSevhfLuZAoQOnIfLn_Dz1-eVrwb6toIU7jDSFEsGmQnoXRQiOXpOWAI-3aMqRY-4tviWLE2DrNeGseARLd0zOAi90Cyh6gdPKMMtQtUF6k4jEstu0ryYZPOcOl7W8Oc/s1600/Come+to+Me+ORIGINAL+300+dpi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikoS5swi1xS27HSevhfLuZAoQOnIfLn_Dz1-eVrwb6toIU7jDSFEsGmQnoXRQiOXpOWAI-3aMqRY-4tviWLE2DrNeGseARLd0zOAi90Cyh6gdPKMMtQtUF6k4jEstu0ryYZPOcOl7W8Oc/s1600/Come+to+Me+ORIGINAL+300+dpi.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
and from my Pen name, Katie Lee O'Guinn - </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Werewolf Dreams -<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Werewolf-Dreams-Book-Taming-Series-ebook/dp/B00CJII238/ref=as_sl_pc_tf_ssw?&linkCode=wss&tag=shanguym-20">link</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8F7BlcsE83A_ROOYVy69PFrqzRXMQxTmDc7-c6h-7LI0qByyFfw2bOkYoAy7dY_7MmqBBl1PthcwBalJjPVYjDMqwK274U4JCJVEbQFGasCWM6kVDRdY6OSHVpH3ckYrhu4oQx201Trk/s1600/WD_667x1000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8F7BlcsE83A_ROOYVy69PFrqzRXMQxTmDc7-c6h-7LI0qByyFfw2bOkYoAy7dY_7MmqBBl1PthcwBalJjPVYjDMqwK274U4JCJVEbQFGasCWM6kVDRdY6OSHVpH3ckYrhu4oQx201Trk/s1600/WD_667x1000.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> and Hunted - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hunted-Book-Chasing-Wolf-Series-ebook/dp/B00K60LHTC/ref=as_sl_pc_tf_ssw?&linkCode=wss&tag=shanguym-20">link</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihYJWqypWZUfdUZyOnPBuFgDapk-lWA8Hw6IDWM-HFpQoO4tv43CoT0ovjCZiN0R6M-4H8oZzqkBZuTOTshK5KtwCZgKvrp4S-6Puba3_JY7gFRXnctgvdbB4xF4z6Ph5MDjqoYK8PGWw/s1600/Hunted+EBOOK+UPLOAD+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihYJWqypWZUfdUZyOnPBuFgDapk-lWA8Hw6IDWM-HFpQoO4tv43CoT0ovjCZiN0R6M-4H8oZzqkBZuTOTshK5KtwCZgKvrp4S-6Puba3_JY7gFRXnctgvdbB4xF4z6Ph5MDjqoYK8PGWw/s1600/Hunted+EBOOK+UPLOAD+(1).jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>All of them $.99 for 3 days only.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> So have an amazing Valentine's Day tomorrow and remember that romance is just as far away as your Kindle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hugs,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Shannon</span></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177266872328579993.post-6438407775683140832015-01-26T07:54:00.002-07:002015-01-26T07:54:46.355-07:00The Official Announcement - My One and Only is...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>My One and Only is LIVE! (on Kindle)</u></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I made a mini-announcement last Friday, but if you </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">don't follow me on Facebook or twitter you </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">missed hearing about it. Here's the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/My-One-Only-Weddings-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00SNJ9B6O/ref=as_sl_pc_tf_ssw?&linkCode=wss&tag=shanguym-20">link.</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3db-ITKqjGJ-J2X4fDhk8ENoLQrHSLhtyTDiLZw3VtOKEuecw2jeZ2qhQbAH-XEhAkmJ1yNW4DORtcl3ZPQWwMiI7KTVOUlaivJvyhrhFR6YjDO6EaigJDZE4vb1uvDWVeB-OhbEy70M/s1600/Ecover+Shannon.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3db-ITKqjGJ-J2X4fDhk8ENoLQrHSLhtyTDiLZw3VtOKEuecw2jeZ2qhQbAH-XEhAkmJ1yNW4DORtcl3ZPQWwMiI7KTVOUlaivJvyhrhFR6YjDO6EaigJDZE4vb1uvDWVeB-OhbEy70M/s1600/Ecover+Shannon.jpeg" height="320" width="216" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And I'm glad I let the cat out of the bag because I already have 3 reviews! To see all the reviews: go <a href="http://www.amazon.com/My-One-Only-Weddings-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00SNJ9B6O/ref=as_sl_pc_tf_ssw?&linkCode=wss&tag=shanguym-20">here.</a> Here's one of them :</span></div>
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<span class="swSprite s_star_5_0 " style="background: url(http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/common/sprites/sprite-site-wide-3._V375430972_.png) -30px 0px no-repeat; display: inline-block; height: 13px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 65px;" title="5.0 out of 5 stars"><span style="left: -9999px; position: absolute;">5.0 out of 5 stars</span></span> <a class="txtlarge gl3 gr4 reviewTitle valignMiddle" href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R3HUQI90AJTTH9/ref=cm_cr_dp_title?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B00SNJ9B6O&channel=detail-glance&nodeID=133140011&store=digital-text" style="border: 0px; color: black; cursor: pointer; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 0px 3px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: middle;"><strong>*dreamy sigh* I Love Meredith and Asher!! I Could NOT Put This One Down!!</strong></a><span class="gry valignMiddle" style="color: #666666; vertical-align: middle;"> <span class="inlineblock txtsmall" style="display: inline-block; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">January 24, 2015</span></span></div>
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<span class="gr10" style="padding-right: 10px;"><span class="txtsmall" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="gry" style="color: #666666;">By</span> <a class="noTextDecoration" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A2E7C4E7NI91YX/ref=cm_cr_dp_pdp" style="border: 0px; color: #996633; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Kathy Jo</a></span></span></div>
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<span class="inlineblock formatVariation" style="display: inline-block;"><span class="gr3 gry formatKey" style="color: #666666; padding-right: 3px;">Format:</span><span class="formatValue">Kindle Edition</span></span></div>
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Oh my goodness gracious great balls of fire Batman!! So many feelings!! I just don't know where to start!! My One and Only was absolutely AMAZING!! I LOVED it!!<br /><br />Meredith and Asher are no strangers to our town of Fircrest. I'm sure along the way you have loved them and also may have wanted to shake them a bit and say "What in the world is wrong with you?!" At least I did! ;)<br /><br />Meredith is pretty much broke. Her wedding planning business just is not taking off like she had hoped it would. She knew she needed to come up with something and fast before she either ended up on the streets or moving back home with her mom and dad. While talking with Asher she comes up with the brilliant idea of starting a dating service. And Asher, being the business savvy kind of guy that he is, takes the idea and runs with it. Enter in Brogan Moore and you now have True Love, L.L.C.<br /><br />Things are going great! And then all of the sudden Asher and Pule Matafeo decide that they BOTH have feelings for Meredith! But what does Meredith do?! Well... she decides that she has been hurt by love one too many times and she would rather concentrate on getting her business up and running. She thinks she can be happy with lots of friends around her and that she doesn't need love in her life. What?! I know!! Crazy, right?! *sigh* This girl I tell ya! After hurting Asher she enlists Pule's help to make things right between the two of them. What starts out as Pule helping Meredith get Asher back as a friend turns into the whole Fircrest crew trying to get Meredith to open her eyes and see how much Asher really does love her, how much she really does love him and just how perfectly perfect they are for each other!!<br /><br />One of the things I love most about Asher and Meredith is that they are just so passionate! When they love... they love hard... they will do anything and everything to hold on to what they've got... and as we saw in the other books... that isn't always a good thing. However, in My One and Only, you can see just how much those choices have affected them and see how much they want to change for the better. They really have grown up a lot!<br /><br />Pule has also grown up quite a bit. Having to experience what happened to Cleo has really opened his eyes and mellowed him out. Once he realizes just how much Asher loves Meredith he does the only thing he can and that is to help his best friend get the girl he loves. I think one of my favorite parts is the moment that Pule and Asher share at The Iron Skillet. I'm not going to say anymore.. you'll just have to read the book to find out what I am talking about. :)<br /><br />This journey for Meredith and Asher was more than just finding true love. It was a journey of self discovery.. of healing past hurts.. of hope that there is more to life then what they had been through.. of growing.. of learning.. of gaining new friendships and strengthening old ones.. finding peace with the past.. knowing that what they had been through had made them who they are.. and just knowing that no matter what has happened in the past they most definitely deserve their own HEA. And I. Loved. Every. Single. Minute!<br /><br />Another amazing book by Shannon!! I seriously love everything that she creates!! She just has a way of sucking you in and not letting you go until the very end!! I am definitely looking forward to the other books in this series!! I can't wait to see Pule and Tristan get their own HEA!! So Shannon... when does the next book come out?! ;) Hehe.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177266872328579993.post-18597375305304367402015-01-16T09:29:00.000-07:002015-01-16T09:29:11.616-07:00Cover Reveal for My One and Only!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I know, I know! I've been making you wait and I'm sorry for that. But I hope you will allow me to make up for it with this cover reveal. I found an amazing Cover Designer <i>(Sherry Gammon who also happens to be an amazing author - check out her books. Really, check them out.)</i> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">and I'm in LOVE with this cover. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I think Meredith deserved a rockin' cover and she got one. Tell me what you think. Oh, and when will My One and Only be live on Kindle? I'm hoping next week. Okay, <i>for sure </i>next week. You have my word on it. Have a great weekend!</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177266872328579993.post-84380377122976754532015-01-05T09:23:00.000-07:002015-01-05T09:23:05.514-07:00Want a Sneak Peek at Book 1 in the Love and Weddings Trilogy? <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h1 style="text-align: center;">
Happy New Years everyone!</h1>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> This year has started out amazing already. I can't wait to see what the rest of 2015 has in store for me. I found out a few days ago that <i><b>Dreaming of Ivy </b></i>won a Swoony Award! Here's the <a href="http://bookwormnation.blogspot.com/2015/01/2014-swoony-award-winners.html">link.</a> Check out all of the other books that won too, including my book <i><b>Hunted</b></i> that I wrote under my pen name, Katie Lee O'Guinn.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> And now, to share a little of the love. Meredith is a firecracker. Some people love her, some people hate her, but that girl is never boring. I think you'll enjoy her story.</span></div>
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<h1>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Toc408210243">Chapter 1 – Matchmaker</a><o:p></o:p></h1>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Meredith stared moodily at the door,
willing her client to walk through it.
She glanced down at her phone for the tenth time in two minutes and
sighed. Jo Sanderson had found her
website last week and scheduled a consultation for that morning. But she was
now fifteen minutes late and it was looking like she was going to be stood up. <i>Again.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Meredith closed her eyes and
concentrated on not throwing a temper tantrum like the three year old little
boy across the room who was that very minute kicking his feet into the air with
all the passion of an 80’s rocker. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I give up,” she whispered as she
sat up straight and slipped her phone into her purse. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “<i>Meredith</i>.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Meredith’s head whipped up as she
automatically cringed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Kam,” she said with what she hoped
was a confident smile, praying her desperation wasn’t showing. She watched as Kam pulled out the chair
across from her and sat down. He looked good. Of course he always did. <i>When
didn’t Kam Matafeo look amazing?</i> Being gloriously happy and in love gave
him an extra sparkle though and she had to admit that Bailey was good for him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What are you doing sitting here all
by yourself?” he asked, glancing around the bakery curiously.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Meredith had decided that since she
couldn’t afford office space yet and she did most of her work online anyways,
that meeting clients at Belinda’s Bakery was the smart thing to do. Unfortunately, it meant running into just
about everyone she knew.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’m actually meeting a client,” she
said with an upward tilt of her chin. “Well, I’m <i>supposed</i> to be meeting a client. She’s running late,” she said,
swallowing sickly as she thought of her bank balance and all of her bills that
were starting to pile up. If she didn’t
get a few clients soon, she was going to have to give up on her dream of being
a wedding planner and go back into the work force. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <i>Ugh</i>.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Kam nodded his head. “Pule told me
all about your wedding planning business.
How many clients do you have right now?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Meredith ran a hand through her
long, stick straight, blond hair as she began to sweat. “Not that many . . . um, it’s kind of close to
zero right now. I’m hoping Jo Sanderson will change that to one though. Getting clients in this business is all about
word of mouth. I planned Jane’s wedding,
but I need more experience. People don’t want to trust the most important day of
their life to me with just one wedding under my belt.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Kam frowned and scratched his chin
as he studied her. Meredith couldn’t
help the small sigh that slipped out as she studied his handsome, strong
face. Kam had been the man of her dreams
and she’d let him slip out of her fingers as carelessly as if she’d picked up a
handful of sand. <i>And she regretted it every single day</i>. She no longer cried at night when she thought
about him, but her heart still ached sometimes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Kam shook his head. “Mer, if the
clients aren’t coming to you, then you go and get them. You’re not a woman to sit back and wait for
life to happen. <i>You </i>make it happen.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Meredith smiled and then for some
reason felt like crying. A year ago, she would have thrown her arms around
Kam’s neck and kissed him but now he was married to Bailey Downing and they
were expecting their first child in a matter of months. Running into
ex-boyfriends was never fun. It always brought up so many memories.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> She smiled and patted his arm. “Thanks,
Kam. You’re a good friend.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Meredith’s head whipped up as she
heard the bell ring over the door. Her heart sped up as a tall, gorgeous
brunette, dressed in holey jeans, biker boots and a white t-shirt walked in
with a motorcycle helmet under her arm. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Kam glanced around curiously and
stood up. “Looks like your client has
arrived. Take care, Mer,” he said
softly, touching her shoulder before walking to the counter. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Meredith swallowed a few butterflies
and stood up, wiping her hands quickly on her pale cream skirt she’d picked for
the meeting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Jo?” she asked, smiling brightly at
the woman who was frowning nervously as she glanced around the bakery.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The woman glanced at her and nodded
her head briskly before walking over and holding her hand out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You must be Meredith,” she said and
then pulled out Kam’s vacated chair and sat down, setting her helmet on the
floor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Meredith signaled for Jane who was
smiling happily at her. She’d made
arrangements with Jane that as soon as her client showed up, she would bring
over a plate of pastries and hot chocolate.
It was January and in Fircrest, Washington that meant everyone and
everything was wet and chilly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Jo’s smile relaxed into a happy grin
as Jane set the hot chocolate and pastries down in front of them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I thought it was weird to meet at a
bakery, but now I can see why. The smell of chocolate, combined with warmth and
yummy things to eat is like instant Xanax.
I’m feeling better about this wedding stuff already,” she said, picking
up a pastry drizzled with chocolate and taking a large bite. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Meredith’s shoulders relaxed a
fraction and she picked up a lemon square and took a small nibble. “This is one of my favorite places to meet
people. It’s relaxed, it’s right in the
middle of town and everyone walks out happy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Jo grinned and took a sip of her hot
chocolate. “You’re smart. I like that.
So here’s the deal. Like I told you in my last email, I love my guy but
I have no idea how to plan a wedding. I
don’t have much money or time and I’m desperate since we’re supposed to be
getting married in two months.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Meredith bit her lip and nodded as
she opened her laptop. “I have many options
we can look into. Let’s go over my
package deals and see if one of these fits what you have in mind. If not, we
can always customize and I can handle part of your wedding and your family or
bridesmaids can help out with what we don’t cover.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Jo cleared her throat and looked
away as a shadow came into her eyes.
“Yeah, well, there’s a problem with that. I’m kind of on my own,” she
said quietly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Meredith’s eyebrows rose slightly
and she felt her heart ache for the young woman. “Not exactly. You have me now,” she said and
shut her laptop. She spent the next half
an hour talking about ways they could save money. Jo was willing to do a lot of the leg work
herself and with Meredith’s creativity and contacts she was hopeful that they
could pull off a small but elegant affair.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Jo’s fiancé, Nick worked for the
Seattle Sea Hawks as an assistant defensive coach. Jo worked as a counselor for troubled teens
and was passionate about her work since she’d been a troubled teen
herself. She’d grown up living in a
foster home since the age of eleven and still kept in touch with her foster mom
but she truly was on her own. Nick had
offered to help out with half of the costs for the reception but since Jo’s
salary was pretty meager, there wasn’t much to work with. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Meredith had been on a tight budget
for Jane’s wedding too and she’d had fun pulling everything together out of
practically nothing. She could do it again. <i>She
had to.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> She went over her ideas with Jo and
she ended up walking out with a happy grin on her face that filled Meredith’s
heart with hope. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “She walked in looking stressed and
now she’s glowing. I’m going to go ahead and assume your meeting was a success.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Meredith stood up and grabbed her
laptop case as she turned to hug Jane.
“That’s because it was. I’m going
to make sure that woman has the best reception ever. She’s such a sweetheart, Jane. She’s all alone in the world, but she’s
madly, passionately in love with her guy.
Time to create some magic,” she said, grinning as ideas and images
already began swimming through her mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Jane laughed and pushed Jo’s chair
into the table and picked up the empty plate.
“I still remember how mad Kit was that my half of the reception turned
out better than hers. I think she’ll
always hold it against you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Meredith grinned and flipped her
hair over her shoulder. “Good. It’s not every day I get to show up a
professional wedding planner with twenty years of experience.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Jane walked with her to the door and
held it open for her. “I’m so proud of you, Meredith. You found your dream and
you’re jumping in with both feet. I just
feel bad that Cleo has to wait until spring for her wedding.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Meredith’s smile faded a little as
she thought of her roommate and friend, Cleo who had just made it through a
horrific experience where she’d almost lost her life. Her body was healing but it would take time. And Cleo didn’t want to marry Tai until she
was 100% herself. They were planning on
honeymooning in Costa Rica for a week. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Well, I can’t blame her. I wouldn’t want to walk down the aisle on
crutches either. No, she’s smart to wait. She wants her wedding day to be perfect. Poor Tai though. He wants the wedding to be next week.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Jane giggled and shook her head.
“Those Matafeo boys have a hard time with delayed gratification. Waiting is good for the soul though.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Meredith pulled out her umbrella and
grinned. “I’m with Tai. I hate
waiting. See you later,” she said and
walked out into the cold drizzle. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> She walked the three blocks to her
apartment and smiled happily even though her toes were cold and her laptop case
was biting into her shoulder. She would
have driven her car to the bakery, but she was low on gas<i>. And money</i>. Splurging on the pastries and hot chocolate for Jo was
a business expense she’d be able to write off, but in the meantime, she was
wondering how she was going to buy groceries next week.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Some of her excitement in getting a
new client faded as she realized just how little money she was going to make
and just how many bills were waiting to be paid. She remembered Kam’s advice about not waiting
for clients to come to her and going out and getting the clients herself. <i>But
how?</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> She walked up the stairs to her
apartment and unlocked the door. She
slipped off her boots and leaned her umbrella up against the coat tree before
slipping out of her rain coat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Cleo?” she called out as she walked
to the kitchen and opened the fridge.
She was starving now since she’d been too nervous to eat at
Belinda’s. Jo hadn’t minded and had
gleefully eaten every pastry she’d ordered.
She didn’t mind since she’d gotten the job, but now she was hungry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> She immediately saw the large glass
filled with green slimy stuff with a note that had her name on it. Meredith grimaced and picked up the cold
glass and read the note. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <i>I
made this for you, Mer. You’ll love
it. It has mangos and pea protein so you
can have good energy today. Hope everything went well with your
meeting. See you tonight after dinner. Tai is taking me to Seattle
for the day to do a little shopping. Be
good! – Cleo<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Meredith smiled and felt her heart
warm. Cleo was a pain in the butt when it came to shoving green smoothies down
everyone’s throats, but the woman had a heart as big as the ocean. Meredith
glanced at the glass and sighed, taking off the plastic wrap before taking a
sip.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “<i>Hmm</i>,
not bad,” she muttered as she wandered back to the family room where she sat
down and pulled her legs up. She had a
lot to do. She had to begin planning
Jo’s wedding and figure out how to do a five thousand dollar wedding with just
two thousand dollars. <i>Yeah, no biggie</i>. That and she had to figure out how to get a
few more clients. She took another sip
and then closed her eyes as she waited for inspiration to come. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Her head whipped up as she heard a
light tapping on her door. She set her
glass down and hurried over, checking to see who it was before opening the
door. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Asher,” she said with a grin as she
opened the door wide. “What’s up?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Asher stood in the hallway looking
like he always did, too handsome for his own good. The man was eye candy. Pure
and simple. With his wavy brown hair and glittering blue eyes, he could date
any girl in Washington. <i>And probably had</i>,
now that she thought of it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Asher smiled and motioned toward her
apartment. “I had some free time and
figured we could hang out and you could tell me how your meeting went.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Meredith smiled and opened the door
wide before turning and walking back towards the couch. Asher shut the door and followed her, sitting
near her with his arm over the back of the couch. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It went well. I now have my first official client and she’s
darling. She’s a tomboy with no clue
about weddings but she’s so in love it makes me want to just hug her.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Asher lifted an eyebrow and
grinned. “And how is her budget? Can she
afford you?” Meredith winced and
took a sip of her smoothie before answering.
Asher was all about business and figures and sometimes forgot about
having a heart. “<i>Well</i>, we’re going to
figure it all out. She’s going to do a
lot of the legwork and I’ll help on the items that she can’t handle. I just want her to have the best day of her
life.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Asher groaned. “You’re such a
romantic, Mer. You’re going to be out on the streets begging in a couple months
and here you are giving your services away for free. You need an assistant to
do this part of the initial meetings so that you don’t get taken in by every
sad face who shows up with empty pockets.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Meredith frowned and looked away
from Asher. “Ash, she was a foster kid
growing up. She doesn’t have any family. <i>Any. </i>She has no one and she’s doing this all
on her own. How could I say no?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Asher sighed and reached over and
touched a strand of her hair, pulling it through his fingers. “Easy, you say, <i>no</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Meredith glared at Asher and then
punched his arm when he began laughing at her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Sorry, stop hurting me,” Asher
said, rubbing his arm. “But seriously,
if you want to stay in business, you’re going to need clients who actually pay
what you’re worth.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Meredith took another sip of Cleo’s
smoothie and set the glass down before leaning back. “I know. I ran into Kam at the bakery before
Jo showed up and he said something interesting to me. He said, I need to stop waiting for clients
to come to me and I need to go out and get them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Asher laughed and leaned his head in
his hands. “That’s actually a good idea, but how are you going to do that? Walk
up to people holding hands in the park and hand out your business card?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Meredith bit her lip and looked at
the ceiling as a crazy thought popped into her head. Her eyes went wide and
wondered if it was even possible. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “<i>Not
exactly</i>. I’m thinking more along the lines of match making.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Asher stared at her silently for a
moment. “You can’t be serious.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Meredith glanced at him and winced.
“Like you said, I could be out on the streets soon. Desperate times call for desperate measures.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Asher licked his lips and lowered
his arms. “There’s desperate and then
there’s crazy. Mer, <i>this</i> is crazy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Meredith glared at Asher and sat up,
turning her body to face his. “Hear me out. I start up my own little dating
website and I give the people who end up falling in love a discount package on
wedding planning. What do you think?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Asher massaged his forehead before
answering. “First off, dating websites aren’t just something that you can snap
your fingers and create in a day. But I
have to admit it could be good advertising for your wedding business even if
you don’t make it as a matchmaker. Any way you can get your name out there is a
good thing.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Meredith nodded. “I know who can help me with the matchmaking
website. Brogan Moore. He’s a computer
whiz. I could go in with him fifty,
fifty and like you said, I’ll get all of that business funneled my way. Plus it will give me an income until my
business takes off. What do you think?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Asher pursed his lips as he looked
at his hands before answering. “Dang,
Meredith … <i>it just might work</i>,” he
said, sounding surprised. “What does Brogan say about it? How fast can he get
the site up and running?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Meredith’s smile slipped. “Well, I
haven’t actually talked to him about it yet. I kind of just came up with the
idea a few seconds ago.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Asher tilted his head back and
laughed. “<i>Ah</i>, Meredith, you crack me
up. Such a firecracker. Tell you what, I’ve got his number in my
phone, I can give him a call for you and set up a meeting.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Meredith began bouncing up and down
on her couch as she clapped her hands. “Yes! <i>Wait,</i> but why would you do that?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Asher pulled out his phone and
scanned through his contacts. “Easy, because I want in on this.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Meredith’s face lit up as she
grinned at Asher before throwing a pillow at him. “Tell me I’m brilliant first.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Asher glanced at her and winked.
“Meredith, not only are you beautiful, but your mind is gorgeous.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Meredith’s smile went up a few more degrees.
When Asher wanted to be charming, the man could be charming. “Well, having you
on board would be a huge bonus. You
could run the business side of things, Brogan could run the website and I could
deal with the people. We could all do what we do best.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Asher nodded his head and then held
up his hand as he began speaking. “Brogan, how’s it going? . . . Great, great.
Listen, Meredith Jensen and I have a proposition we want to run past you and
we’re wondering if you’re free for lunch today? . . . <i>Perfect</i>. One sound good? . . .
Okay, we’ll see you then,” he said and hung up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Meredith stared at Asher in
shock. “I have an idea one minute and
now we have a business meeting in two hours? <i>Are you kidding me</i>?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Asher shook his head and slipped his
phone back in his pocket. “Deadly
serious. This will give me time to draw up a business proposal. I like what you’re wearing, but put your hair
up. Bring your laptop so you can show
him your wedding planning website. Sweetheart,
if this works, you’ll never have to worry about being penniless again.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Meredith tried not get too excited.
“That’s assuming a lot, Ash. That’s assuming Brogan even wants to help me with
the dating website.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Asher laughed and stood up, reaching
up to stretch. Meredith’s eyes went wide as she couldn’t help noticing his wide
shoulders and trim waist. She cleared her throat and looked away, blushing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Life’s a gamble, baby. But nothing
ever happens unless you try, right? Meet me at The Iron Skillet at one and
don’t be late,” he said, shooting his finger at her like a gun before walking
out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Meredith walked over and
automatically locked the door before turning around and leaning against
it. Life. Was. Crazy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> She grinned and pumped her fist into
the air. And wasn’t that a good thing?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>(C) Copyrighted Material</b></span></div>
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