Grea Warner's Blog, page 2
June 18, 2019
Finalist!
🎉🏆📙
I have such exciting news to share… COUNTRY ROADS is a finalist in a national book contest!
I am beyond honored and humbled to see Lara & Finn’s story recognized as one of the top finalists in the Womens Fiction category for the Stiletto Contest. It means the world to me that the story that is so dear to my heart has touched others, too. Regardless of the ultimate outcome (first place to be determined in late summer), I already feel like this story is a winner. Thanks to everyone who has read the first book and continues on the Country Roads journey.
I have such exciting news to share… COUNTRY ROADS is a finalist in a national book contest!
I am beyond honored and humbled to see Lara & Finn’s story recognized as one of the top finalists in the Womens Fiction category for the Stiletto Contest. It means the world to me that the story that is so dear to my heart has touched others, too. Regardless of the ultimate outcome (first place to be determined in late summer), I already feel like this story is a winner. Thanks to everyone who has read the first book and continues on the Country Roads journey.
April 15, 2019
THE PLACE I BELONG -- Excerpt
LARA TRIES TO CONVINCE FINN TO STAY WHERE HE BELONGS...
The way he stopped then and slowly turned to awkwardly face me told me he knew exactly what I was referring to. “Damn, Lara, please.” It was his turn to beg. “Just… just please.”
I didn’t know what else to say. There wasn’t anything else to say. He knew how I felt. I didn’t want him to leave. Yet, I knew it had to be his decision.
“I’ve got it.” He wanted me to feel reassured that he was in control. But the fact that he was leaving and the abruptness of his kiss, which did feel like fire, told me otherwise.
He wasn’t choosing to stay. And I tried hard not to think that he wasn’t choosing me. After all, in his mind, he probably thought escaping and regrouping was choosing me.
But I ached. I hurt. I worried… from the last glance I had of his back as the door shut to hearing the garage door open and the car starting. And then I tortured myself further by walking to the front door and watching as his car started down the long, trailing driveway surrounded by the sanctuary of tall trees on either side.
The way he stopped then and slowly turned to awkwardly face me told me he knew exactly what I was referring to. “Damn, Lara, please.” It was his turn to beg. “Just… just please.”
I didn’t know what else to say. There wasn’t anything else to say. He knew how I felt. I didn’t want him to leave. Yet, I knew it had to be his decision.
“I’ve got it.” He wanted me to feel reassured that he was in control. But the fact that he was leaving and the abruptness of his kiss, which did feel like fire, told me otherwise.
He wasn’t choosing to stay. And I tried hard not to think that he wasn’t choosing me. After all, in his mind, he probably thought escaping and regrouping was choosing me.
But I ached. I hurt. I worried… from the last glance I had of his back as the door shut to hearing the garage door open and the car starting. And then I tortured myself further by walking to the front door and watching as his car started down the long, trailing driveway surrounded by the sanctuary of tall trees on either side.
February 27, 2019
SALE!!!! 2/27/19
For a limited time, the Country Roads series is on sale. So, if you haven't started reading, now is the perfect time.
Start out with book 1...
COUNTRY ROADS -- 99 cents
And then read in order...
ALMOST HEAVEN -- 2.99
TAKE ME HOME -- 2.99
TEARDROP IN MY EYE -- 99 cents (latest release!)
That is nearly 50 percent off the entire series. But, remember, it won't last long.
Start out with book 1...
COUNTRY ROADS -- 99 cents
And then read in order...
ALMOST HEAVEN -- 2.99
TAKE ME HOME -- 2.99
TEARDROP IN MY EYE -- 99 cents (latest release!)
That is nearly 50 percent off the entire series. But, remember, it won't last long.
January 8, 2019
TEARDROP IN MY EYE -- Excerpt
THERE ARE MANY TEARS IN THIS BOOK BUT NONE GREATER THAN AFTER THIS EVENT...
When I couldn’t keep them entertained upstairs any longer and knew they needed some sort of breakfast, I brought the kids downstairs. I cautioned Chance, telling him that his father was asleep on the sofa, and we needed to be super quiet for daddy so he could sleep. I told him that we were playing a quiet game, and then a sudden flashback of my early childhood crashed into my brain. I had forgotten all about those similar days when my mother had tried to keep Lane and I hushed around our father’s hangovers.
Midway through Chance’s bowl of marshmallow-enhanced cereal, Finn started to moan in protest to, I am sure, a raging headache or just the effort of opening his eyes. Chance noticed right away. Our little boy, who had been away from his father for most of the summer, was eager to spend any moment with him. Quiet game was over.
“Daddy!” He popped up from his booster seat in the kitchen in record time.
“Chance!” I loudly whispered, but it was no use.
Running toward the sofa, Chance called out, “You awake now.”
Finn mumbled in response, “Give me a minute.”
“Daddy, I won quiet game. Arinn—”
“No.” Finn was mono-syllabic as he tried to get up.
When Chance bounced on the sofa on top of Finn, that’s when it happened. That’s when our world was turned completely upside down. That’s when I saw what I never, ever imagined I would ever be witness to.
When I couldn’t keep them entertained upstairs any longer and knew they needed some sort of breakfast, I brought the kids downstairs. I cautioned Chance, telling him that his father was asleep on the sofa, and we needed to be super quiet for daddy so he could sleep. I told him that we were playing a quiet game, and then a sudden flashback of my early childhood crashed into my brain. I had forgotten all about those similar days when my mother had tried to keep Lane and I hushed around our father’s hangovers.
Midway through Chance’s bowl of marshmallow-enhanced cereal, Finn started to moan in protest to, I am sure, a raging headache or just the effort of opening his eyes. Chance noticed right away. Our little boy, who had been away from his father for most of the summer, was eager to spend any moment with him. Quiet game was over.
“Daddy!” He popped up from his booster seat in the kitchen in record time.
“Chance!” I loudly whispered, but it was no use.
Running toward the sofa, Chance called out, “You awake now.”
Finn mumbled in response, “Give me a minute.”
“Daddy, I won quiet game. Arinn—”
“No.” Finn was mono-syllabic as he tried to get up.
When Chance bounced on the sofa on top of Finn, that’s when it happened. That’s when our world was turned completely upside down. That’s when I saw what I never, ever imagined I would ever be witness to.
November 18, 2018
website
Did you know about my website -- greawarner.com ?
Each book has a separate link with fun details...
*cover
*blurb
*excerpt
*buy links
*book trailer
*playlist
*discussion questions
Check it out today :)
Each book has a separate link with fun details...
*cover
*blurb
*excerpt
*buy links
*book trailer
*playlist
*discussion questions
Check it out today :)
TAKE ME HOME -- Excerpt
FIND OUT WHAT DRAWS FINN BACK TO LARA'S HOMETOWN TO CONFRONT HER PAST...
“Finn, stop! Don’t!” I cried out, tugging at my protector’s arm.
Miller wrangled up his brother and managed to awkwardly get him inside. Macon’s Cheshire grin was the last thing I saw before they disappeared into the house. Finn could not stand still and I think wanted to go all Hulk on the door and tear it apart.
“Hey,” I said in as calm of a voice as I could muster. “Let me look at you.”
He turned to me with his eyes ablaze, but I knew that hatred wasn’t directed toward me. “You shouldn’t be here,” he said, plainly and a little more rationally.
I pulled his gray ball cap from his head and put my hands up to his face to make sure that he hadn’t been hurt. That was my priority right then. Luckily, Macon was too drunk to have even gotten a swing in.
“I can’t believe—” I started to say as the door opened again.
“Finn, stop! Don’t!” I cried out, tugging at my protector’s arm.
Miller wrangled up his brother and managed to awkwardly get him inside. Macon’s Cheshire grin was the last thing I saw before they disappeared into the house. Finn could not stand still and I think wanted to go all Hulk on the door and tear it apart.
“Hey,” I said in as calm of a voice as I could muster. “Let me look at you.”
He turned to me with his eyes ablaze, but I knew that hatred wasn’t directed toward me. “You shouldn’t be here,” he said, plainly and a little more rationally.
I pulled his gray ball cap from his head and put my hands up to his face to make sure that he hadn’t been hurt. That was my priority right then. Luckily, Macon was too drunk to have even gotten a swing in.
“I can’t believe—” I started to say as the door opened again.
July 19, 2018
ALMOST HEAVEN -- excerpt
“Don’t. You’re perfect. Try to understand. I just don’t have anything more to give right now. It’s a lot.”
I knew that. That was why we needed each other. That was why he needed to stay. Hadn’t we broken through?
“Finn—”
He stopped me with not only his words but his pleading eyes. “Please, Lara.”
“Okay,” I consented, knowing that he was just as fragile as I was…even more. I didn’t need to add to his stress. I didn’t want to be another pressure point for him. For those reasons, I agreed to not only stop questioning him but gave into his desire to leave. I agreed verbally, but internally those pistons were re-igniting with concerns about him, us…everything. “Be careful.”
Finn took a second look at me with the slightest curve of his lips that was more like a twitch, and he left. I brought my knees to my chest, wrapping my arms around them. I felt naked and exposed in more ways than one.
I knew that. That was why we needed each other. That was why he needed to stay. Hadn’t we broken through?
“Finn—”
He stopped me with not only his words but his pleading eyes. “Please, Lara.”
“Okay,” I consented, knowing that he was just as fragile as I was…even more. I didn’t need to add to his stress. I didn’t want to be another pressure point for him. For those reasons, I agreed to not only stop questioning him but gave into his desire to leave. I agreed verbally, but internally those pistons were re-igniting with concerns about him, us…everything. “Be careful.”
Finn took a second look at me with the slightest curve of his lips that was more like a twitch, and he left. I brought my knees to my chest, wrapping my arms around them. I felt naked and exposed in more ways than one.
COUNTRY ROADS - excerpt
It was when I was looking at the board listing the arrivals and departures and thinking my nerves were too shot to even sit and wait, that I heard my name. It wasn’t loud. In fact, it was a bit winded. But I knew the voice well. Despite there being a number of people swarming around that area, I saw Finn instantly. He was a good few feet away. His head was shaking ever so slightly as he was pleading me with my eyes to come to him.
When I didn’t move, he looked around. I knew he didn’t want to be recognized. There were times when he didn’t mind it as much, but this…this certainly wasn’t one of them. And he didn’t have on any type of clothing that could be used as a disguise—not a ball cap, hoodie, or even glasses. Standing there in the brown suit he had worn to the party, it was probably close to a sure bet that someone would identify him.
But I guess he was willing to take that risk, because he walked toward me. I knew then that it was inevitable that we were going to talk. I certainly wasn’t going to take off running in my decorative heels and cocktail dress, after all.
“What? Where are you going?” His eyes swept repeatedly across mine.
“Home.” I kept it simple.
“Why? No. Lar, please…please don’t leave.” There was a bit of panic when he said that last word.
When I didn’t move, he looked around. I knew he didn’t want to be recognized. There were times when he didn’t mind it as much, but this…this certainly wasn’t one of them. And he didn’t have on any type of clothing that could be used as a disguise—not a ball cap, hoodie, or even glasses. Standing there in the brown suit he had worn to the party, it was probably close to a sure bet that someone would identify him.
But I guess he was willing to take that risk, because he walked toward me. I knew then that it was inevitable that we were going to talk. I certainly wasn’t going to take off running in my decorative heels and cocktail dress, after all.
“What? Where are you going?” His eyes swept repeatedly across mine.
“Home.” I kept it simple.
“Why? No. Lar, please…please don’t leave.” There was a bit of panic when he said that last word.
Thanks for Successful Start
So many readers have told me what an emotional roller coaster ride Country Roads put them on...and how they are looking forward to the rest of the series. Thanks to all of you who have supported the book and me. Because of you, Country Roads soared to the top 100 in all of its Amazon categories and was the #1 Bestseller in a category on Kobo. The second book, Almost Heaven, was just released and is sitting as I type in that same category at #10. Thank you for taking the journey with Lara, Finn, and me. I hope to continue to hear from you down the road.
January 1, 2018
Happy New Year - 2018!
The clock struck midnight and a new year began. But did anything really change from that one minute..that one second ...before? No, not really. There is still a winter arctic blast outside. The dishes still need to be washed. The bills will need to be paid.
But we didn't turn back into the cinders version of Cinderella, either. A new year gives us that symbolic fresh start to sparkle and shine. It encourages us to keep dancing ...or to actually just put your foot out there on the dance floor.
Will there be detours and sadness like every other year? Inevitably so. But there will also be new life lyrics and laughter along the twisty road.
Bring it on 2018! I'm ready to take part in the journey. I hope you are, too!
But we didn't turn back into the cinders version of Cinderella, either. A new year gives us that symbolic fresh start to sparkle and shine. It encourages us to keep dancing ...or to actually just put your foot out there on the dance floor.
Will there be detours and sadness like every other year? Inevitably so. But there will also be new life lyrics and laughter along the twisty road.
Bring it on 2018! I'm ready to take part in the journey. I hope you are, too!
