New Series and Rocky Falls Update
For those of you who have been following my author journey, I’ve spent a lot of time starting my Rocky Falls series. I even have a Rocky Falls novella coming out in March. And one of the common questions I get is how many books do I plan to include in this series? Well, the answer to this has changed a few times. Initially, it was meant to be a four-book series, but after Falls on Fire, I saw the potential for so much more. So, at this point, my answer is that as long as you all love them, keep reading them, and continue to review them, I will keep writing them. As for any new series or books coming out, I have good news. I finished editing my first book in a new series. At this point, I have plans for a three-book series, but there is always room for more if you all love what I bring you. The first book is Caught in the Crosshairs and will center around a strong female lead and a standoffish gentleman. There will be suspense, tension, and give you all the feels. This was one of my favorite books to write, and I can’t wait for you all to read it. As for any other books I may have in the works. Despite my best efforts to focus on editing the chopping block stories, I started writing another new story. It features a female cop who suffers a significant loss and a sexy contractor who has spent his life finding beauty in the most unexpected places. They come together under unusual circumstances and connect in unexpected ways. Yes, this will still be a romantic suspense story, so I promise it will have lots of love and some danger lurking. I don’t have a timeline yet for when I will be bringing this story to you, but I promise to keep you well informed. If you have any questions feel free to reach out to me on the contact page. As always, if you like what you see, please make sure to head over to Amazon or Goodreads (or both if you feel inclined to) and leave a review. Reviews help me know what you like, what you don’t like, and what you want more of, so please leave feedback! Have a great Wednesday!
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If you follow me on Instagram, you saw that yesterday I was without power and in the midst of two rambunctious kiddos with no coffee. I know, scary, right?! But thankfully I made it out the other side and today we are feeling good. I have so many projects in the works that my workstation looks like a tornado went through and wreaked havoc on everything.
I'm working hard to get the novella ready for release and bring you all the cover and blurb (which is almost complete). Follow me on social media to see when the big reveal will be. The cover will also come with the release date and preorder availability. What I can tell you is this novella is a prequel novella for the Rocky Falls series and if you loved Mark Styles you will fall for his big brother Dan Styles as he ventures outside of Rocky Falls in this action packed story. And yes, Mark will make a cameo but this story will mainly focus on the eldest of the Styles brothers. I'm happy to announce that I finally found my footing with editing the first book in my assassin series and am working hard every night to fine tune the story so it can be sent to beta readers. And if you're still itching for more from Rocky Falls have no fear, book 3 and 4 are ready to edit and I will be moving straight to them as soon as my current project is with my betas. If that's not enough I am two chapters into writing another romantic suspense featuring a cop who meets a contractor in the most unorthodox of ways. I would love to share more but I will leave you with that little tidbit for now. I have many other projects that I am working on that are not related to any of my releases so I won't bore you with the details but I can tell you this is already a busy year for me and I look forward to hearing your feedback on my upcoming stories. If you would like to see what I'm currently reading find and follow me on Goodreads. There is much adventure to be had and I can't wait to share it with you all. Happy Thursday!!! Being a writer comes with many struggles but the one that stands out the most is patience. If you want to be a writer you’ve gotta have patience. I say this because it takes time in all aspects of the field. It takes time to craft the story, edit the story, and publish the story. Once your story is published, you’re still not done.
It takes time to build an audience. It takes time to build a backlog of books so people know you’re in it for the long haul. And it especially takes time for people to read and review your books. That is, if they review your books after they read (which is a crucial step in building your audience). To be a writer you really need to maintain the idea that things worth having, take time. It’s a lot of hard work and perseverance. So here’s my promise to readers…I will continue to push through the hard work and numerous rounds of editing to bring you stories with a blend of suspense and romance. One of which will be coming soon…so stay tuned for more information on my upcoming releases. So with Christmas only two days away I have decided to take a short break. That means this week's blog is a short one. To celebrate I will be offering a special Falls on Fire deal on Amazon so keep your eyes peeled for that. The Rocky Falls novella Outside the Falls is currently with beta readers and I'm patiently waiting for feedback. I am slowly but surely working hard on my manuscript for another series which will hopefully be full of action and adventure with the love tangled in the pages.
On the home front, my kiddos are excited about Christmas being around the corner and are helping me bake delicious goodies. We did some fun Christmas movie watching together and have plans for more movies leading up to the special day of opening presents and being grateful for the beautiful things in our lives. From our home to yours, we wish you a Merry Christmas. Sending love out to you all!!! It’s that time of the year again where the wind is bone-chilling cold, and the hot cocoa calls to warm you up from the inside. It’s that time of year where you want to cuddle under a warm blanket, sit by the fire, and enjoy the moment. For those who celebrate Christmas, you might have some twinkle lights wrapped around your pine tree and some ornaments that hold a special place in your heart.
For me, I’m encouraged to get cozy and write. This time of the year reminds me of traditions and family. In some cases, this time of year reminds us of the family we’ve lost or the things that have changed. This idea of tradition and family is what inspired me to write a new story. I’m not sure when it will see the light of day, but I’m hopeful that at some point, I will be able to share it with you all. I’ve gotten a few questions about this particular story, and though I can’t divulge too many details, it will center around family and traditions. My initial plan was to keep it a romance, but the suspense author in me is swirling around ideas for a mystery intermingled with that romance. For now, the only thing I can confirm is that the story will center around a woman who lost her grandma and works her way through the grief as Christmas edges closer and reminds her of the things she’s missing. Then a handsome man comes into her life and tries to shift her focus from what she’s missing to what she has to be thankful for today and every day. I hope I can count on all of you to stick around so I can continue to tell my stories and share my imagination with you. Thank you for following me and reading my blog for the week. I wish you all a Happy Wednesday! Time for a little December update. I missed last week's blog but I promise it was for a good reason...at least if you're a fan of mine anyway. I was hard at work ensuring that my Rocky Falls Novella is the best that it can be before sending it to beta readers. I'm on a hard deadline (self imposed, of course) that I'm trying to follow so I can deliver books to you in a timely manner. I'm a reader as well as a writer so I know the benefit of receiving the books we love as soon as possible.
I also want to let you all know that if you follow me on Instagram I will be sharing some holiday fun with you as my family and I spend our days celebrating in the best way we know how. I can tell you there is also some fun coming your way...deals, maybe some sneak peeks, possibly some behind the scenes, and if time allows for it a reveal of sorts for the upcoming release. Either way it will never be boring and I can guarantee there will be pictures. So stay tuned for more fun on the way. , It’s been a busy couple of weeks for me because life in general has been putting some serious pressure on me. In handling some of those pressures, I underplayed my newest release and didn’t get a street team together to help me promote. My reach has not expanded as far as I would like but I am hoping that by adding Falls on Fire to kindle unlimited with Rocky Falls I can change that.
Now on to the good news. I want to say a big thank you to everyone who came to the Instagram live event. It means the world to me that you not only took the time to come watch, but you all had great questions. For those of you who were unable to attend I decided to fill you in here. Let’s start with my upcoming releases. I don’t have solid dates at the moment but 2021 should be a fun year full of releases from me. I am currently working hard to fine tune a Rocky Falls novella that I’m hoping to release some time in early 2021. This will feature two characters from Falls on Fire, Dan and Grace (Dan is Mark’s brother & Grace is his wife). This is a short story about their journey to each other. If you like Falls on Fire I’m thinking you will feel the same heat in Outside the Falls. Oops, did I just reveal the name…ok, so maybe I’m really excited to share it with you all. News about my full length books….for the Rocky Falls series I have 5 more planned books totaling it out at 7 Rocky Falls books, however, if you all love it, I’ve left room for more. Book 3 features two wonderful characters who appeared in the first two books and will take us through a crazy journey together, part of which will take place outside of Rocky Falls. My currently WIP is Rocky Falls book 4 which will have more mystery than just the suspense of whose coming but the main leading lady will suffer from amnesia and need to lean on a special Rocky Falls bartender to help her survive while they search for the truth. So is Rocky Falls my only work at the moment, no, certainly not. This mind is full of fun ideas including a new series and many standalone books. If all goes as planned I will have book 1 of my newest series coming in 2021. It will feature an elementary school teacher and an assassin…intrigued? Follow me to find out about how they meet and where their story takes them. I also have a Hallmark style story in the works but no timeline yet on when it will see the light of day but I promise I am working hard to keep you all reading. Before I go there is one last thing I want to leave you with…if you like a book or an author please leave them a review. This really goes for business in general. We are coming up on the holidays and small businesses would love to hear that they are doing a good job. Recommend them to friends, post about your great experience, spread the love. We all need a little more love and a little less negativity. So please, help me spread the kindness! Have a great rest of the week and a very Happy Thanksgiving! Here's your sneak peek of Falls on Fire...enjoy!
Chapter 1 11 years later Angie Smith sat in her best friend's sporting goods store, Happy Trails, watching flower after flower pass by as it was spun into a low key yet elegant bouquet. Jules Cooper worked her magic as she pieced together many calla lilies, then wrapping them in white ribbon. It was understated, much like Jules. Simple and tasteful. Angie, on the other hand, would've chosen something bright and bold. Like dark pink Gerber daisies with some kind of little yellow flowers. But Angie was cheerful and outgoing. She, like the flowers, stands tall and confident, leaning toward the light. It had only been a year since the engagement, but she couldn't be happier for her friend. Jules reconnected with her former best friend and high school crush when he came back to town. Through their trials, they found their way back to each other. And what a difference it made. Mason Hunt brought out the fun, adventurous side that Angie always tried to weasel out of Jules. Angie was ecstatic for them and the life they were building together. If anyone deserved that level of happiness, it was Jules. Unfortunately, for Angie, it didn't take the sting out of never having that happiness herself. She'd never get the chance to pick flowers for her wedding or see a man look at her the way Mason looks at Jules. There was a point in time when Angie dreamed of owning a restaurant, being the head chef, getting married, and having a family. Then she realized it just wasn't in the cards for her. Her past doomed her to life as a permanent bachelorette. She dated, of course. She just never let anything get serious. The closest she's gotten to anyone since her Grandma Lane was Jules. But Jules didn't know her, not all of her. Angie had only herself to blame for that. Maybe one day, she would find the courage to open up. Until then, she would bask in the happiness of her best friend getting married. "What do you think about these?" Jules held the beautiful, white bouquets up with a look of serious scrutiny. As if she wasn't well aware of the magic she'd just created. The question pulled Angie out of her stupor to give immediate attention to her maid of honor duties. "I think it's perfect. You've done a spectacular job planning this wedding, and I can't wait to see it all come together." Jules smiled at the praised response. Angie couldn't believe that the wedding was in two short days. She thought it was oddly fitting to take care of the last-minute details while working at the store. Jules always believed in putting in the extra effort to get things done and saw no need to close the store to put some flower arrangements together. She never ceased to amaze Angie with her dedication. "One down, three more to go. So, you're all set to make the cake, right?" Angie knew how excited Jules was that she was making the cake. Not because she didn't trust Casey, the town baker, who was also a bridesmaid. She knew that if Casey made the cake, it would turn out fantastic, but Angie was the only one who could make her favorite cake. Angie spoiled her with desserts, and Jules came to favor her special concoctions that only Angie could make the way she liked. However, nobody made pastries like Casey. Try to snag one of her famous cinnamon rolls, you'd better do it before ten in the morning, or you're out of luck. "Of course. You know I would do anything for you. Now you wanted peanut butter and mint filling with a lemon cake and no frosting, right?" The look of complete horror on her face was priceless, and Angie struggled to contain the laugh building in her chest. She'd been hoping for that reaction. Angie could see the moment it finally dawned on Jules that she was messing with her. It didn't stop Jules from saying, "I know you're kidding, but to be clear, no one should put lemon cake with mint or peanut butter filling. That feels like a crime against food and sounds disgusting. Like someone putting mashed potatoes on pizza. It's unnatural." That had them both laughing. Jules had been very particular about the cake and its details regarding flavor and filling, but she let Angie have free rein with the design. It was an honor that Jules trusted her with something as important as designing and making the wedding cake. Angie felt the sinking heaviness of the pressure that her best friend bestowed upon her while also tasking her with the traditional maid of honor duties, but she was excited. They already celebrated a low-key bachelorette party last weekend—movie night, complete with a game of "I never" and a sleepover. Angie had contemplated strippers but knew Jules wouldn't like that, and Mason would probably be less than thrilled, so she stuck with the original plan. "Hello, ladies. It looks like you're having far too much fun to be at work." Angie was always stunned speechless when she saw Mark Styles close up. He was gorgeous with his sparkling smile and those lean muscles. She understood why he was the cover boy for the firemen calendar they sold every year. Or should she say, sold out of every year? "Hey Mark, what brings you in?" Jules stepped in to speak. Angie, however, couldn't seem to find the use of her tongue. She wondered what it would be like to run her hands through his dark blonde hair or follow the contours of those tanned, muscular arms up to his broad shoulders. Better yet, have those strong arms wrapped tight around her. Would they be strong enough to put the pieces of her back together? She brushed the thought away as quickly as it had appeared. "I thought maybe it would be a good idea to take you up on the offer to do the advance rock-climbing class and get whatever gear I might need to go outside." He was talking to Jules, but his gaze kept making its way to Angie. She tried to remain unaffected on the outside, but she was a mess on the inside. She never responded to any man like this, which is why she made an extreme effort to avoid him. "That sounds like a great idea. We have a whole section in the back. Angie would be happy to show you what you need for outdoor climbing and get you signed up for the class. I would help, but with the wedding only two days away, I'm using every minute I can to prepare." She smiled then nudged Angie in the right direction to escort Mark and offer assistance. It took a second, but Angie finally found her footing and moved to the back of the store to help supply him with the appropriate gear. Piece by piece, Angie started to grab items from the shelves. She shoved the gear in his direction without so much as a single word. She was trying hard to concentrate on the task at hand and keep her mind off the way his muscles flexed when he reached for each piece. The tight navy t-shirt seemed to hug his shoulders like a second skin. She should probably explain each item's use, and she usually would. But with Mark, she thought she'd get tongue-tied or make a fool of herself. It didn't matter. The class would teach him everything anyway. When she'd dealt with him in the past, she either mixed up her words or stuttered. Then there was her infamous snort before high tailing it away from him at the diner. Not exactly a ringing bell of sex appeal. She didn't know why it mattered so much. She didn't need a man like him in her life. She didn't need a man at all. "Wow, I don't know why, but I expected more gear—his doesn't seem like enough for rock climbing outdoors." She almost jumped at the sound of his voice. She'd been so far in her mind she almost forgot he was right next to her. Almost. "Well…this is the stuff you need for the actual climbing, but if you're going to hike to a spot, you'll want to make sure you have the proper gear for that too. Oh, and you'll want to make sure you have a proper first aid kit with you. I can show you a few of those too if you would like, or we can go back and get you signed up for the class." Angie was trying to remember everything he might need, so she didn't leave him stranded in the woods without the necessities. "I already have a pretty well-stocked medical kit, but I will probably need to get some hiking gear soon. Maybe after the class, you can show me what I need. I would do it now, but I don't have a lot of time to try on hiking shoes since I'm meeting my brother for lunch." Of course, he had a first aid kit. He was a firefighter. She imagined he had multiple first aid kits. She felt silly for even thinking she needed to show him one as they headed back to the register. "And Jules said you wanted to sign up for the advanced rock-climbing class, right?" When he nodded, she typed a few things into the computer then added, "So the class is Monday's at seven. If that works for you, I will get you signed up." "Yeah, that would be great. Thanks." Mark leaned on the counter while she asked him a few questions. Once she got him signed up for the class, she rang up his gear. Angie knew she was quieter than usual, but she couldn't help that this guy turned her into a puddle of mush every time he smiled. She even avoided eye contact, knowing her knees would weaken at the mere sight of his baby blues. Why did the man have to look like something out of a magazine? She handed over his bag, but he didn't make a move to leave. He continued to lean on the counter and give her his undivided attention. At that point, she didn't have anything to occupy herself with, so she had no other choice than to look up at him. The desire shot through her body immediately. She wondered what it would feel like to have those strong hands pull her close, to lift her into his arms. To slide up and--shoot! She needed to stop thinking about such things. "So Jules said that sometimes you get involved with the advance classes…does that mean I will be seeing you Monday?" She nodded in response and caught sight of that award-winning smile. Her knees threatened to give out under her. Then he added, "good to know. I guess I'll be seeing you Saturday too." "You will?" Why would Mark be seeing me Saturday? "Yeah, the wedding, I'll be there too. My sister is one of the bridesmaids. It should be fun." Oh, man. She hadn't realized he would be there. It made sense he'd be there. She just hadn't considered it. Then he gave her a strange, almost nervous look before covering it with another smile. "Save me a dance?" Before she had time to reply, he winked at her, then pushed off the counter and made his way to the exit. "Is that all it takes to get you to quiet down for a minute? I just have to invite Mark in here?" Angie jumped, not expecting Jules to appear from the backroom magically. She couldn't believe how jumpy she was today. "Haha, very funny. Don't you have some bouquets to make for some big event coming up? What was that again? Oh, yeah…your wedding." Angie was unamused that Jules was having fun at her expense. She knew it was payback because she did her fair share of teasing when Mason made his reappearance. Just because she understood it didn't mean she had to like it. "Nope. All done. It turns out I can multi-task. I can easily put together flowers for the wedding and eavesdrop on you at the same time. But I think it would be best to run these back home, so they don't wilt before the wedding. I didn't realize there was no space for them in the fridge here. Do you mind watching the store for me?" Jules had her hands clasped in front of her like she was begging for some extreme favor and not a fifteen-minute break. "Well, that depends on two things. One is your soon to be husband driving you there? And two, is there any food coming back with you?" "No, my fiancé is working right now, so I won't be long, and yes, I will get you whatever you want." She couldn't imagine having a better friend or boss than Jules. Not too many people went out of their way to take care of the people around them. Jules always made time for everyone. "You are too good to me. Of course, I will watch the store. You know that. And I would like fries and pies for lunch." Jules chuckled then left to take the bouquets back to her place. Angie thought it was sweet that they wanted to have the wedding at their house. Mason proposed to her on the dock, and the lake holds unforgettable memories for them from their high school days. She thought about how Mason looked at Jules and the love she could see between the two of them. She wondered what that would feel like, to be on the receiving end of that much love. To have a guy so head over heels in love with you that you could see it in the way he looked at you or feel it in the way he touched you. It was inspiring. Then her mind started to wander and landed on the supremely gorgeous fireman that came into the store today. If only she were open to dating. Though, she couldn't imagine a guy like him being interested in her. Angie was an average woman. Nothing particularly special about her appearance and her sarcasm tended to offend people. She didn't see a point in putting on so much makeup; it felt like a Halloween mask. Or spending hours on her hair every day, which would cut into her cooking time. No thanks. She was basic. She preferred a tiny bit of eyeliner and, on special occasions, a few curls to her long blonde hair. It was all irrelevant anyway. She would never trust another man. Not since the day, they took her father from her in cuffs. *** Mark took a minute to drop the bag off at his SUV before moving to Maggie's diner. He was looking forward to lunch with his brother. Travis was only in town for a short time before heading back out to test some camping gear. He worked for a high-end company that makes outdoor products, living his dream with his perfect job. He spent his days trying equipment and working with the marketing team on campaigns to accent the best qualities of said gear. Mark came flying into the diner. He was running a little later than he expected. It wasn't like him to be late, but he couldn't resist going into the store. He needed an excuse to see Angie; what he wouldn't give to run his fingers through her long, blonde locks and pull her petite body into him while looking into the sea-green depths of her eyes. He shut those thoughts down. That dream was for another day. He spotted his brother in the back booth and prepared himself for the barrage of questions coming his way for breaking his usual pattern. "Hey, little brother. I was about to call in the cavalry. You were a whole fifteen minutes late. What gives?" Travis didn't even wait for Mark to be seated before commenting. That's what Mark got for being too predictable. "Hi, Travis. It's nice to see you too." When his brother gave him the 'really?' look, Mark moved past the greetings. "I had to run an errand, and I didn't expect it to go as long as it did. Let's just leave it at that." Mark didn't want his brother to know about his massive crush on Angie. If he found out, the rumors would move through the family and eventually make it to the whole town. Then there was the added consequence that they would endlessly tease him for taking forever to ask her out. That's the thing about having such a big family and living in a small town, no way to keep secrets from surfacing. Mark had three brothers and a baby sister. Not much of a baby, of course, seeing as how she was twenty-two and engaged. However, he would always see her as his baby sister. Dan was the oldest of the clan and followed in their father's footsteps with Mark working at the fire station. Lance was the second born and became a high-powered lawyer, living the high life in Seattle. Then came Travis and Mark. They were called the dream team growing up. They were only a year apart in age, and that made for some exciting antics growing up. Travis being the adventurer, and Mark being the responsible one who kept everybody in line while still skirting around the rules. Then there was the baby of the family, his sister Sienna. She was a force to be reckoned with and engaged to one of the local deputies. "I will let it go just this one time, but you owe me. Now let's order some food because I am starving. I didn't get to order because some jackass showed up fifteen minutes late." Travis chuckled a little at his slight against Mark. He always gave Mark hell for being what he called too perfect. He was probably not going to live this moment down. Maggie came over quickly and took their orders before returning to the kitchen, where the magic happened. "So, what are you testing for the company now?" Mark couldn't imagine spending as much time in the woods as his brother did but to each his own. Not that he didn't love the outdoors because he did. Mark just preferred camping in the summer or taking short day trips. He wouldn't like camping in the rain to test the durability and waterproof exterior of a tent. Or spend weeks outdoors using the various tool to test their longevity. No thanks. "A couple of things. A tent for hikers that is supposed to be super light but very sturdy, a lantern that keeps the bugs away but is small enough to pack in the water bottle slot of your bag, and some new hiking shoes that have a grip like a tire tread. So basically, I get to hike and camp." When Travis talked about his work, his eyes lit up like a kid on Christmas morning. "Glad to see you still love the job." Mark loved what he did too, but sometimes he wondered if he would have chosen differently had his father been something other than a firefighter. After a few minutes of catching up, their food arrived. They downed their food faster than it could cool. It was great to catch up with Travis without the hustle and bustle of their large family. His big family was a gift, but they were overwhelming at times. When Travis moved to use the restroom, Mark went to pay the tab. Just as he reached the counter, Jules came in to pick up her to-go order. "Hey Mark, I'm so glad I saw you. I have something for Sienna for the wedding. Maybe you could do me a huge favor and stop by the store after hours to pick it up? If you say yes, there will be some homemade cookies in your future. She's going on a date with Jim tonight and told me to ask if you could bring them when you come over to her place tomorrow." Jules flashed her sweet, innocent smile that told him she already knew his answer. Of course, Mark would do it. Even before she mentioned the cookies, he planned on saying yes. It didn't hurt to be in her good graces seeing as how he wanted to date her best friend. He needed all the help he could get. "For you, anything, but I won't forget that you promised cookies." He smiled and finished paying before turning to meet his brother outside. *** "I understand what you're saying, but we've been following the guy for a year now. Following him is a freaking waste of time. He hasn't shown any signs of having the money. He works at a local grocery store making minimum wage, volunteers at the soup kitchen, and lives in a shithole apartment in the bad part of town. If he had the money, he would've used it by now. Nobody would live that way if they didn't have to." He didn't know what else to tell his boss, but he knew there was no way this guy had the money. He was pissed that he wasted a year following him. For what? Nothing because this guy didn't have squat. "If it's not him, then find out who took that money. I will not tolerate looking like a fool. His wife left him after the trial, and his daughter moved in with her grandma. Find them. Find out what they know. Maybe he gave one of them the money. Go through the paperwork. Dig into the evidence and find me some answers." By the end, he could feel the anger radiating through the phone. "I thought you already had someone go through the paperwork." "Don't question me, just do it." John rolled his eyes at the ridiculous situation. Why wouldn't his boss have started there? Look at the paper trail to find out where the money went. It seems like a logical first step. Not where you go when you've been following the same guy for a freaking year. He worked with an idiot boss and a partner who didn't know his head from his ass. "You better, or I will find someone else to get me the answers I need, and you know what that means for you." Before he could respond to the threat, he heard the distinct click of someone hanging up. He turned to his partner and gave him a rundown of the task at hand. Start with the paperwork, then move on to locating the family. Whatever necessary to find the guilty party and the money they were hiding. No matter who you are, no matter what you're writing, your words are influenced by what you write. That's the case for me, anyway. Sometimes it's a subtle touch here or there and sometimes it's so obvious it smacks you in the face like the cold wind whipping around outside.
So, today I want to talk about some of the things in my life that have influenced my writing. Rocky Falls is a great example. Many people who know me personally read the book and immediately said they pictured me as the main character. It wasn't intentional but it's also not a surprise. My heroine is unsure of herself and struggles with her difficulties internally, never asking for help and shouldering her pain herself. She's not a violent person but when someone she loves is threatened she becomes a force to be reckoned with. So it also comes as no surprise that my fun loving leading man, Mason was loosely based on my husband. Though my husband has his serious moments and can be protective at times he's always teaching me how to have fun in life. And we've always come up with cute little games to keep the fun and magic alive through the years (much like the dock game Mason and Jules play). This isn't the case for all of my books or all of my characters so be prepared to see variety. And these aren't the only things that project my personality. I love to hike and a huge chunk of the book takes place while hiking in the woods. Then there's the food. Ah, the delicious treats that are scattered throughout the story. Cinnamon rolls, pizza, etc...it's all food I ate while writing. Or did I eat it because I craved it after putting it in my book, who knows the timeline. What's important is that yummy food ended up in my book and my belly. Now, time for some Falls on Fire fun...yesterday I teased a scene where Angie is eating chocolate cake while Mark is trying everything in his power not to devour her instead of the cake. The inspiration for this wonderful and steamy scene was thought up in my crazy mind after looking up pictures of cakes. Yep, I was trying to find some inspiration for cake decorating ideas and it led me to one of my absolute favorite scenes in the book. Stay tuned for more insider info and teasers as we edge closer to the release day! As always thank you for following my writing journey and have a great Wednesday! With the release only two weeks away, I wanted to share a little bit of Falls on Fire with you all. I hope you enjoy learning about my leading lady and look forward to the November 22nd, 2020 release I'm currently hard at work formatting and preparing copies for ARC readers but I will be releasing a few teasers as we edge closer to the release date. Thank you all for following my journey and enjoy the prologue for Falls on Fire below! It had only been a week since that tragic day when Angie lost everything important to her: her friends, her home, and her parents. It all happened in the matter of a day, in a matter of minutes. The image of her father pulled away in cuffs after being sentenced to ten years in prison was on repeat in her mind, followed by her mom driving away after dropping her at Grandma Lane's house. Jacklyn, her mom, couldn't take the embarrassment of dad going to prison. She ran out on her family, to a place where no one would know her story. Angie wasn't welcome to join her even though she had to deal with the same repercussions.
If it weren't for her grandma, she'd be lost and alone. Angie knew, in her heart, this was her new reality. She wouldn't see her mom again, at least not anytime soon. Jacklyn was far too selfish to think about how this whole situation would affect her daughter. Like always, she dropped her newest problem on grandma's doorstep and hightailed it somewhere far away. While her mother's behavior was off-putting, it wasn't a total surprise. The part that disappointed her most of all was her father's role in the family's scandal. He'd been her hero. She thought he'd been an honorable man. He said he worked hard to bring affordable medicine to everyone in need. He even went so far as to set up a charity effort to send medication and vaccines to impoverished countries. It was technically Uncle Vic's business, but her dad had been the heart and soul. That was until he got greedy and embezzled money from said company. Thus, he landed in prison. His effort to create a better world for everyone wasn't enough for him. I wasn't enough for him. She fought back the tears that threatened to fall. She shouldn't have to deal with this. She was only fifteen. Not even old enough to drive, let alone understand adults and the dumb decisions they make. She drifted further into wallowing when she heard a soft knock at the door. Grandma peeked her head in the doorway as her white hair bounced atop her shoulders. "Hey Pumpkin, I came to see how you're holding up." She moved further into the room to sit on the bed and pulled Angie into her arms. It seemed her grandma thought as long as she hugged her tight enough, all those broken pieces would go back to normal. That wouldn't happen. The one man in her life, the one she looked up to, had betrayed and disappointed her beyond belief. There was no way to come back from that. "I'm fine, gram. You don't have to check on me every few minutes." Angie worried about being a burden on her grandma. She didn't sign up for any of this. She already raised her kid and should bask in retirement or travel the world, not care for a troubled teenager who had reckless, egotistical parents. "I know you're a strong girl, and you will get through this. I have faith in you." Grandma Lane kissed her forehead then continued, "I have something for you. Before you try to reject it, hear me out. I know you're mad at your dad right now, but he does love you. And to be clear, I'm not asking you to go see him, but he sent you this letter and asked that I make sure you read it." She pulled a small, battered envelope out of her pristine apron that hid her wide stature and held it out. When Angie tried to reach for the letter, her arms felt stuck in molasses. They lacked the strength to lift. She was terrified to read it. Worried about the excuses he probably made to justify his actions, and she didn't want to hear them. When she finally found her voice, it came out as a whisper, "I don't know if I can read it gram. I don't think I'm ready to hear what he has to say." "Would you like me to read it to you?" When Angie shook her head, Grandma Lane added, "I can leave it on the bed for you, and you can read it when you feel ready?" She could tell her grandma tried to be supportive, but this was unknown terrain for both of them. Neither of them knew how to navigate this situation. "If you could leave it here, I will try to read it later. Thanks, gram." She couldn't take her eyes off the letter as her grandma set it down gently. It was like a timed bomb that ticked down the moment it would blow the rest of her life to smithereens. Then she moved to the door leaving Angie to her studies. As if she could focus on homework at a time like this. "I'm going to be in the kitchen making dinner. If you feel like joining me, you are welcome to, but I understand if you need time to process everything." Then she closed the door. Angie could only assume she would make an elaborate meal even though it was just the two of them. Her grandma may have retired, but she would forever be a chef in the kitchen. Angie, however, sat frozen in place. It didn't make sense how something so small held so much power. She peeled her eyes off the letter only to glance back at it seconds later. Maybe she should get it over with and read it. If she didn't do it now, then it would monopolize her thoughts. She needed to focus on school. She didn't want to be yet another screw up in the family. She wanted to prove that her circumstances would not mold her into a terrible person. She pulled the letter open as if she expected a snake to jump out and bite her. She found only a single sheet of paper with words that changed her life forever. The sight of her dad's handwriting was almost too much to bear. To My Sweet Daughter, I can't find the words to say how sorry I am for everything that has happened. You are my whole world, and I wish I could be there for you now. I know the next few years will probably be tough on you, but I have faith you will bounce back and thrive despite the struggles that lie ahead. I want you to know that I am so proud of you and everything you do. You are always in my thoughts, and I can't wait to see the beautiful woman you grow up to be. Unfortunately, I can't be right by your side to wipe your tears or wrap my arms around you like I want to. But I want you to know that you are important, loved, and should be respected. I want you to find fun wherever you go and search for your passion. Now I need to tell you some important things to remember for the years to come. First, I want you to know that looks can be deceiving, so always make sure you know someone before letting them into your heart. Second, I want you to stay away from Victor and Celeste. I can't tell you why but please trust me when I say they aren't good people. Third, it would be in your best interest to stay away from the prison. I don't want you to have to deal with being associated with me or the pain it may cause. Lastly, if you ever get the chance to move away from Seattle, take it. There are so many beautiful places in the world. Don't tie yourself down to this place because you feel like it's part of your roots. Don't let it hold you back from your dreams. Before I go, I want to remind you that I love you more than anything in this world. When my ten years are up, and I'm a free man, I will find you. You will always be my baby girl. I am sending you hugs, Angel. Love, Daddy By the end of the letter, her tears had soaked the bottom of the paper, and her vision blurred. Her world was so far outside normal that she would never find her way back. She was afraid that she would never feel at home again. She'd lose herself forever. Why would he tell her to stay away from Uncle Victor and Aunt Celeste? Sure, they weren't blood-related, but she'd known them her whole life. If anything, she figured they'd want to stay in touch with her. She didn't do anything wrong. Maybe he was worried, Uncle Victor would make her work the debt off. She could see Celeste do that but not Victor. There was one thing that continued to bug her about his letter. If Uncle Victor was such a bad guy, why would her dad go into business with him? Why would Victor authorize all of those charity events? Nothing made sense. She couldn't stop the questions as they popped into her head one after another as she tried to put them out of her mind. She needed to stop thinking about all of this. It wouldn't do her any good to stress about the things she couldn't change. It hurt that her dad didn't want her to visit him. He said she's his world, yet he doesn't want to see her. It's like he wants to string her along, so she has this hope he'll return, with no real intention of doing so. Or maybe he does. The problem is, she can't trust him anymore. He lost that right. Thanks to him, she didn't know if she could trust anyone again. It was at that moment that Angie realized she needed to make a vow to herself. She would never let anyone get close. If Angie decided to move away, she would leave her past behind and hide her history and her old life. She refused to have those moments or her parents define who she is. And lastly, she would not dwell on the past or her unfortunate circumstances. She would keep her head high and push through because she had to rely on herself now. She had to find a new normal—a new life. |