Kristy McCaffrey's Blog: Author Kristy McCaffrey, page 2
June 13, 2023
Coelophysis: Dinosaur of the Old West
By Kristy McCaffrey
When you think of dinosaurs, Tyrannosaurus rex comes to mind but there were many types of theropod that came before it. Coelophysis was a small bipedal carnivore and was one of the earliest dinosaurs to walk the earth. It was also an ancestor of T. rex.
Coelophysis, a small dinosaur from the Triassic Period (considered to be the Dawn of the Dinosaurs)
Dinosaurs lived during the Mesozoic Era (sometimes called “the Age of Reptiles”), which spanned from 252 million years ago to 66 million years ago. It was comprised of the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous Periods. Early dinosaurs (such as Coelophysis) emerged in the Triassic, but they were quite small. Giants such as T. rex and enormous sauropods such as Brontosaurus and Diplodocus lived during the late Jurassic and Cretaceous.
A Coelophysis fossil at the Museum of Northern Arizona
In 1889, Edward Drinker Cope was the first to identify and name Coelophysis. The first remains were found by David Baldwin, an amateur fossil collector working for Cope, in 1881 in northwestern New Mexico. These first finds were too poorly preserved to give a full picture of the dinosaur, but in 1947 a massive graveyard of fossils was found in New Mexico containing many well-preserved and fully articulated specimens.
It is theorized that Coelophysis may have run in packs, although no direct evidence supports this
There is wide consensus today that birds descended from theropods such as Coelophysis. (T. rex has more in common with the modern-day chicken than to a crocodile.) Both birds and theropods shared wishbones, likely incubated their eggs, had hollow bones, and were covered in feathers.
In my upcoming book, THE CANARY, Dr. Jack Brenner and Sarah Ryan are on the hunt in the Arizona desert for Jack’s father, the esteemed paleontologist Dr. Allan Brenner. And Allan is on the hunt for Coelophysis.
Coming July 25, 2023. Pre-order a copy today!!
Read an excerpt
Jack and Sarah have entered a marriage of convenience for various reasons, one being her difficult relationship with one of her professors, Dr. Everett Pierce. Isaac is a Comanche friend and paleontology assistant of Jack’s father.
“And why are you here, Dr. Pierce?” Sarah asked, sitting up straight and looking him in the eye. Either she was a very good actress, or her animosity was real. Jack at least had to concede that it was likely the latter.
“I’ve been contracted to explore the area,” he said.
“By whom?” Isaac cut in.
“Roderick Melton.”
That Pierce was still tied to Melton shouldn’t have surprised Jack, but it did, despite that it was no secret Pierce’s father pulled strings wherever he could for his son. It had been a topic of gossip in paleontological circles that the elder Pierce had been trying to establish business relations with Roderick Melton. And then there’d been the business with Betsy. Unbeknownst to Jack, he’d been in a romantic triangle with her and Pierce, and while he blamed Pierce wholeheartedly for being an unethical ass, Betsy had decisively left Jack despite that he’d protected her from possibly going to jail, which probably wouldn’t have happened considering Roderick’s wealth.
But Pierce had never won Betsy’s hand—she had later married someone else—and it had been the one bright spot in an otherwise painful period of Jack’s life.
He kept his reaction to himself by raising his glass—the whiskey this time and not the beer—and nursing a long drink.
Isaac folded his hands together on the table. “Selling out, are you?”
“Don’t give me the holier than thou speech,” Pierce replied with a smirk. “We’re all in it for the money. Private collectors have as much right to house collections as museums.”
“At least we know now for certain,” Isaac said.
Pierce raised a brow. “What’s that?”
“You have zero ethics.”
Unethical ass echoed in Jack’s head.
“Ethics don’t pay the bills,” Everett said. “And what about Allan Brenner? Who’s paying his bills?”
Jack and Isaac didn’t respond, so Sarah filled the empty space. “Yale University,” she said. “And Helen Parks, I would assume.”
“Yes, of course,” Pierce said conversationally, leaning forward. “And she’s the one who hired you, right Sarah?”
Jack didn’t like the proprietary tone in Pierce’s voice as he said her first name.
“You know,” Pierce continued. “If you’d wanted a dig, you could have come to me. I could’ve introduced you to Melton.”
“Like you did with Jane?” she countered.
Pierce’s eyes narrowed and he swallowed nervously, his Adam’s apple bobbing noticeably. “Jane quit school, a reminder that women really don’t have what it takes to be out here.”
“I’ve heard that could be said of some men, as well.” Sarah offered a polite smile while sipping her drink.
Jack tried not to laugh, but his lips twitched anyway.
Pierce rose to his feet. “I look forward to seeing you in class in the fall, Mrs. Brenner. I’m sure you’ll have much to share with the other students after your summer here.” He adjusted his jacket. “Gentlemen. I expect I’ll see you out there.”
“Not if I can help it,” Jack said plainly.
Pierce snatched the bottle of whiskey, clearly unwilling to leave the remainder with them. “Allan Brenner thinks he’s some sort of god out here. He’s not.
“I get it now,” Isaac said with a knowing nod. “You’re here to outshine him. How exactly do you propose to do that?”
“He’s pinned so many of his theories on Coelophysis,” Pierce said, “but he’s yet to find a full skeleton. And when I find one, I’ll debunk every hypothesis he’s put forward.”
Learn more about Kristy's books at kristymccaffrey.com
When you think of dinosaurs, Tyrannosaurus rex comes to mind but there were many types of theropod that came before it. Coelophysis was a small bipedal carnivore and was one of the earliest dinosaurs to walk the earth. It was also an ancestor of T. rex.
Coelophysis, a small dinosaur from the Triassic Period (considered to be the Dawn of the Dinosaurs)
Dinosaurs lived during the Mesozoic Era (sometimes called “the Age of Reptiles”), which spanned from 252 million years ago to 66 million years ago. It was comprised of the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous Periods. Early dinosaurs (such as Coelophysis) emerged in the Triassic, but they were quite small. Giants such as T. rex and enormous sauropods such as Brontosaurus and Diplodocus lived during the late Jurassic and Cretaceous.
A Coelophysis fossil at the Museum of Northern Arizona
In 1889, Edward Drinker Cope was the first to identify and name Coelophysis. The first remains were found by David Baldwin, an amateur fossil collector working for Cope, in 1881 in northwestern New Mexico. These first finds were too poorly preserved to give a full picture of the dinosaur, but in 1947 a massive graveyard of fossils was found in New Mexico containing many well-preserved and fully articulated specimens.
It is theorized that Coelophysis may have run in packs, although no direct evidence supports this
There is wide consensus today that birds descended from theropods such as Coelophysis. (T. rex has more in common with the modern-day chicken than to a crocodile.) Both birds and theropods shared wishbones, likely incubated their eggs, had hollow bones, and were covered in feathers.
In my upcoming book, THE CANARY, Dr. Jack Brenner and Sarah Ryan are on the hunt in the Arizona desert for Jack’s father, the esteemed paleontologist Dr. Allan Brenner. And Allan is on the hunt for Coelophysis.
Coming July 25, 2023. Pre-order a copy today!!
Read an excerpt
Jack and Sarah have entered a marriage of convenience for various reasons, one being her difficult relationship with one of her professors, Dr. Everett Pierce. Isaac is a Comanche friend and paleontology assistant of Jack’s father.
“And why are you here, Dr. Pierce?” Sarah asked, sitting up straight and looking him in the eye. Either she was a very good actress, or her animosity was real. Jack at least had to concede that it was likely the latter.
“I’ve been contracted to explore the area,” he said.
“By whom?” Isaac cut in.
“Roderick Melton.”
That Pierce was still tied to Melton shouldn’t have surprised Jack, but it did, despite that it was no secret Pierce’s father pulled strings wherever he could for his son. It had been a topic of gossip in paleontological circles that the elder Pierce had been trying to establish business relations with Roderick Melton. And then there’d been the business with Betsy. Unbeknownst to Jack, he’d been in a romantic triangle with her and Pierce, and while he blamed Pierce wholeheartedly for being an unethical ass, Betsy had decisively left Jack despite that he’d protected her from possibly going to jail, which probably wouldn’t have happened considering Roderick’s wealth.
But Pierce had never won Betsy’s hand—she had later married someone else—and it had been the one bright spot in an otherwise painful period of Jack’s life.
He kept his reaction to himself by raising his glass—the whiskey this time and not the beer—and nursing a long drink.
Isaac folded his hands together on the table. “Selling out, are you?”
“Don’t give me the holier than thou speech,” Pierce replied with a smirk. “We’re all in it for the money. Private collectors have as much right to house collections as museums.”
“At least we know now for certain,” Isaac said.
Pierce raised a brow. “What’s that?”
“You have zero ethics.”
Unethical ass echoed in Jack’s head.
“Ethics don’t pay the bills,” Everett said. “And what about Allan Brenner? Who’s paying his bills?”
Jack and Isaac didn’t respond, so Sarah filled the empty space. “Yale University,” she said. “And Helen Parks, I would assume.”
“Yes, of course,” Pierce said conversationally, leaning forward. “And she’s the one who hired you, right Sarah?”
Jack didn’t like the proprietary tone in Pierce’s voice as he said her first name.
“You know,” Pierce continued. “If you’d wanted a dig, you could have come to me. I could’ve introduced you to Melton.”
“Like you did with Jane?” she countered.
Pierce’s eyes narrowed and he swallowed nervously, his Adam’s apple bobbing noticeably. “Jane quit school, a reminder that women really don’t have what it takes to be out here.”
“I’ve heard that could be said of some men, as well.” Sarah offered a polite smile while sipping her drink.
Jack tried not to laugh, but his lips twitched anyway.
Pierce rose to his feet. “I look forward to seeing you in class in the fall, Mrs. Brenner. I’m sure you’ll have much to share with the other students after your summer here.” He adjusted his jacket. “Gentlemen. I expect I’ll see you out there.”
“Not if I can help it,” Jack said plainly.
Pierce snatched the bottle of whiskey, clearly unwilling to leave the remainder with them. “Allan Brenner thinks he’s some sort of god out here. He’s not.
“I get it now,” Isaac said with a knowing nod. “You’re here to outshine him. How exactly do you propose to do that?”
“He’s pinned so many of his theories on Coelophysis,” Pierce said, “but he’s yet to find a full skeleton. And when I find one, I’ll debunk every hypothesis he’s put forward.”
Learn more about Kristy's books at kristymccaffrey.com
May 28, 2023
New Release!! Sapphire Waves is now available!!
Sapphire Waves is Book 7 in The Pathway Series, but this novella can be read as a standalone.
A second-chance romance in the gorgeous blue waters of the Bahamas.
Dr. Missy Rembert interned at Shark Lab in the Bimini Islands when she was a graduate student, and although she decided to change her field of study from sharks to cephalopods, one thing marked her time there—a fling with Josh McKittrick. Now she’s back in the Bahamas as part of a team exploring a blue hole, and she’s stunned to come face-to-face with the only man she’s ever regretted losing.
Dr. Josh McKittrick never thought he’d see Missy again. After their brief relationship at Shark Lab went south, he was forced to put her out of his mind and work became his haven. He knew she’d switched her research focus, so he was certain they’d never cross paths. He should’ve known better, because seeing her now is bringing back all the old feelings. Missy was the only woman who had broken his heart, and he’ll be damned if he goes through it a second time.
Don’t miss an exclusive bonus story – Deep Blue Hawai’i – featuring Grace and Alec from the novel DEEP BLUE.
Dr. Grace Mann and her boyfriend, underwater filmmaker Alec Galloway, are in the Aloha State for a Galloway family Christmas. While surfing Pipe is on the agenda for the boys, Grace finds a way to get in the water with tiger sharks, but can Alec convince her to stay on dry land long enough for an important question?
Read Chapter One
eBooks available at
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Amazon CA
Amazon AU
Apple Books
Nook
Kobo
Google Play Books
Paperbacks are coming.
Excerpt
Josh reached into his pack and pulled out a packet of gummy bears.
“You still eating those things?” Missy asked.
He nodded, tearing the bag open and popping one into his mouth. It was his stress food, and if ever there was a stressful situation, this was it.
Missy Rembert. He’d come to accept that he’d likely never see her again. And now that he had, he was beginning to wish he hadn’t. He didn’t appreciate the tightness in his chest or the constriction of his throat as he sat beside her, pretending that she hadn’t completely broken his heart almost four years ago.
He was over her. He really was.
Kristy writes contemporary adventure romance as well as historical western romance. Her stories are filled with emotion and heart, with some steamy bits included. She lives in the Arizona desert with her husband and their rescue dog, Jeb, an American bulldog, and she currently enjoys doting on her new granddaughter while writing her next book. She's also trying to cut back on her chai tea latte addiction. You can find her at kristymccaffrey.com and at kristymccaffreybooks on Instagram.
A second-chance romance in the gorgeous blue waters of the Bahamas.
Dr. Missy Rembert interned at Shark Lab in the Bimini Islands when she was a graduate student, and although she decided to change her field of study from sharks to cephalopods, one thing marked her time there—a fling with Josh McKittrick. Now she’s back in the Bahamas as part of a team exploring a blue hole, and she’s stunned to come face-to-face with the only man she’s ever regretted losing.
Dr. Josh McKittrick never thought he’d see Missy again. After their brief relationship at Shark Lab went south, he was forced to put her out of his mind and work became his haven. He knew she’d switched her research focus, so he was certain they’d never cross paths. He should’ve known better, because seeing her now is bringing back all the old feelings. Missy was the only woman who had broken his heart, and he’ll be damned if he goes through it a second time.
Don’t miss an exclusive bonus story – Deep Blue Hawai’i – featuring Grace and Alec from the novel DEEP BLUE.
Dr. Grace Mann and her boyfriend, underwater filmmaker Alec Galloway, are in the Aloha State for a Galloway family Christmas. While surfing Pipe is on the agenda for the boys, Grace finds a way to get in the water with tiger sharks, but can Alec convince her to stay on dry land long enough for an important question?
Read Chapter One
eBooks available at
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Amazon CA
Amazon AU
Apple Books
Nook
Kobo
Google Play Books
Paperbacks are coming.
Excerpt
Josh reached into his pack and pulled out a packet of gummy bears.
“You still eating those things?” Missy asked.
He nodded, tearing the bag open and popping one into his mouth. It was his stress food, and if ever there was a stressful situation, this was it.
Missy Rembert. He’d come to accept that he’d likely never see her again. And now that he had, he was beginning to wish he hadn’t. He didn’t appreciate the tightness in his chest or the constriction of his throat as he sat beside her, pretending that she hadn’t completely broken his heart almost four years ago.
He was over her. He really was.
Kristy writes contemporary adventure romance as well as historical western romance. Her stories are filled with emotion and heart, with some steamy bits included. She lives in the Arizona desert with her husband and their rescue dog, Jeb, an American bulldog, and she currently enjoys doting on her new granddaughter while writing her next book. She's also trying to cut back on her chai tea latte addiction. You can find her at kristymccaffrey.com and at kristymccaffreybooks on Instagram.
March 10, 2023
The Pathway Series has new covers!!
I'm so excited to share BRAND NEW covers for my Pathway series!! They better convey the tone of the books - romance and high adventure - and I couldn't be more pleased with how they turned out.
You can find more info about each story here.
You can find more info about each story here.
The Sparrow is out in Italian!
Il Passero
Ali del West: Libro Tre
Impetuose rapide e antichi spiriti trascinano Nathan Blackmore ed Emma Hart in una selvaggia avventura nel Gran Canyon.
“I lettori ameranno la storia…” ~ RT Book Reviews
1877
In possesso del dono della chiaroveggenza, e tormentata da visioni, Emma Hart arriva nel Grand Canyon—una regione selvaggia, aspra e, fino a poco prima, del tutto inesplorata—in cerca di risposte sulla tragedia del proprio passato, il tradimento del presente e uno sfuggente futuro che echeggia fin dentro l’anima. Accompagnata da Passero, il suo animale guida, si immerge negli abissi del folclore Hopi, costretta ad affrontare un male che ha resistito ai secoli.
Sulle tracce di Emma Hart, il Texas Ranger Nathan Blackmore arriva al fiume Colorado e, sbalordito, la scopre determinata a percorrerne il corso su una barchetta di legno a fondo piatto. Ma in un posto dove le increspature del tempo sono profonde, la scelta sarà inevitabile. Nathan dovrà accettare il regno invisibile, il mondo al di là del mondo, da cui si era allontanato anni prima, o rischiare di perdere la donna che ormai ama più della vita stessa.
Un sensuale western storico ambientato nel Territorio dell’Arizona.
Disponibile in formato eBook e cartaceo.
Ali del West
Lo Scricciolo: Libro Uno
La Colomba: Libro Due
Il Passero: Libro Tre
Il Merlo: Libro Quattro (In arrivo)
Iscriviti alla newsletter italiana di Kristy per ricevere notizie sui libri.
December 22, 2022
My Best of 2022
By Kristy McCaffrey
It was a hard year. My father-in-law passed away in May. He was a man of charisma and charity, tough yet always there for his family. My beloved chocolate lab, Lily, passed in July after fifteen years. I won’t lie - this one wrecked me most of all. I’d raised her from a puppy, and she was embedded in my soul more than I’d realized until she was gone. But there were bright spots—my younger son got engaged and we’re looking forward to a 2023 wedding. And my first grandchild blessed us with an early appearance—little Scarlett was born five weeks premature, but she’s doing well, getting big and doing all the baby things, which is mostly to make you fall hopelessly in love with her.
Here’s my Best of 2022 list:
Best Life Hack
Live in the Moment
It sounds cliché but when my sweet Lily was in hospice the last six months of her life (she started having seizures and slowly lost her ability to walk), my husband and I cared for her around the clock. We took turns sleeping on a mattress in the living room so she was never alone. Every two to three hours we would carry her outside to do her business. She often couldn’t sleep and would pace and pant, or despite medication, she would seize for hours. It was a physically draining time. But I stayed in the moment, taking care with my thoughts (keeping a positive mindset and not wallowing in despair). I wasn’t naïve, I knew what was coming, but it allowed me to fully love her with no regrets. I changed my writing schedule so that my daily goals were very small (write 500 words or edit one page) because my brain was fuzzy from lack of sleep most days. I managed to finish a novel while not beating myself up for not being more accomplished. I learned the immense power we have in the NOW. It gave me the strength to keep going each day, to give Lily her best life until the very end.
Best drink
Hot Chai Tea Latte from Starbucks
I drink it with oat milk, no water, and three pumps of brown sugar syrup (or apple brown sugar syrup during the Christmas holiday). This sugary-caffeine drink has been my indulgence this year, a pick-me-up when I feel low.
Best challenge
My rescue dog, Jeb
A year ago, we went to the pound and brought home the saddest dog there. We wanted a companion for Lily, and Jeb needed a chance. He’s an American Bulldog, a breed I wasn’t familiar with, so I got to work educating myself. He’s been a handful! In addition to chronic health issues (environmental allergies that require lifelong medication - it’s so bad his toes periodically swell - and a low thyroid that now treated has given him more energy), he’s the most reactive dog I’ve ever had. While he was good with Lily (she always welcomed any new dog into her home with open paws), he hasn’t been good with any other pet. He grabbed the tail of my vet’s office cat and yanked it to the ground, attacked my daughter’s puppy after we accidentally left a door open (Dipsy was ok, thankfully, with only an abscess on his cheek), fought and tried to kill a large rattlesnake (Jeb was bitten in the face), bit my mom’s purse two different times when she entered my house, and well, you get the picture. We’ve been working on training him but he’s very emotional and it’s clear he wasn’t properly socialized as a puppy. He’s always leashed and in control for his evening walks (which he loves) but having people just “stop by” doesn’t work. He’s very loving, but he needs strong boundaries. We won’t give up on him!
Best Show
1883
Honorable mention: The English
Both shows had complex and emotional stories, and the acting was top-notch. Get your tissues handy.
Best Movie
Top Gun: Maverick
An entertaining big cinema experience - just the thing after a long pandemic.
Best shoes
Lined Crocs
So comfy!
Best Music
Lost Hits of the ’80s on iHeart Radio
My high school and college years, so … nostalgia.
Best Restaurant
Islands
Burgers and tacos but the best part is the tv screens that showcase surfing on a loop. It makes you feel like you’re at the beach.
Best Beauty Hack
A Beauty Oil
I learned that using essential oils on the back of my arms can get rid of those pesky dermatitis bumps. My favorite is Leahlani’s Pua Lei Oil. It smells so good.
Best Body Hack
A Theragun
I only recently learned of this amazing device that can break up the knots in your muscles. I use it on my neck and my feet (I developed plantar fasciitis this year). They can be quite expensive, but my husband found one at Lowe’s (generic name: muscle massager) for $40 and it works great.
Best Book
I can’t pick a favorite!
As many of you know, I’m an author so choosing a best book of the year is like favoring one of my children over the other. Impossible! So here’s a “best of” list of what I read in 2022, all excellent.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
A Cold Montana Christmas by Mina Beckett
Hunter by Julie Lence
Twisty Tortoise Tussles by Ann Charles
The Backside of Hades by Ann Charles and Sam Lucky
Shiver by Allie Reynolds
Following Faith by Jacqui Nelson
Continuum by G.S. Jennsen
Inversion by G.S. Jennsen
Echo Rift by G.S. Jennsen
A Lady’s Formula For Love by Elizabeth Everett
Just Haven’t Met You Yet by Sophie Cousens
Book of Night by Holly Black
It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey
The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells
Book Lovers by Emily Henry
Love On The Brain by Ali Hazelwood
Ocean Wolves by Theresa Beachman
The Queen’s Huntsman by Tanya Anne Crosby
The Six Deaths of the Saint by Alix E. Harrow
What are your “Best Of for 2022?” Let me know in the comments!
Wishing you all a blessed holiday and a Happy 2023!!
It was a hard year. My father-in-law passed away in May. He was a man of charisma and charity, tough yet always there for his family. My beloved chocolate lab, Lily, passed in July after fifteen years. I won’t lie - this one wrecked me most of all. I’d raised her from a puppy, and she was embedded in my soul more than I’d realized until she was gone. But there were bright spots—my younger son got engaged and we’re looking forward to a 2023 wedding. And my first grandchild blessed us with an early appearance—little Scarlett was born five weeks premature, but she’s doing well, getting big and doing all the baby things, which is mostly to make you fall hopelessly in love with her.
Here’s my Best of 2022 list:
Best Life Hack
Live in the Moment
It sounds cliché but when my sweet Lily was in hospice the last six months of her life (she started having seizures and slowly lost her ability to walk), my husband and I cared for her around the clock. We took turns sleeping on a mattress in the living room so she was never alone. Every two to three hours we would carry her outside to do her business. She often couldn’t sleep and would pace and pant, or despite medication, she would seize for hours. It was a physically draining time. But I stayed in the moment, taking care with my thoughts (keeping a positive mindset and not wallowing in despair). I wasn’t naïve, I knew what was coming, but it allowed me to fully love her with no regrets. I changed my writing schedule so that my daily goals were very small (write 500 words or edit one page) because my brain was fuzzy from lack of sleep most days. I managed to finish a novel while not beating myself up for not being more accomplished. I learned the immense power we have in the NOW. It gave me the strength to keep going each day, to give Lily her best life until the very end.
Best drink
Hot Chai Tea Latte from Starbucks
I drink it with oat milk, no water, and three pumps of brown sugar syrup (or apple brown sugar syrup during the Christmas holiday). This sugary-caffeine drink has been my indulgence this year, a pick-me-up when I feel low.
Best challenge
My rescue dog, Jeb
A year ago, we went to the pound and brought home the saddest dog there. We wanted a companion for Lily, and Jeb needed a chance. He’s an American Bulldog, a breed I wasn’t familiar with, so I got to work educating myself. He’s been a handful! In addition to chronic health issues (environmental allergies that require lifelong medication - it’s so bad his toes periodically swell - and a low thyroid that now treated has given him more energy), he’s the most reactive dog I’ve ever had. While he was good with Lily (she always welcomed any new dog into her home with open paws), he hasn’t been good with any other pet. He grabbed the tail of my vet’s office cat and yanked it to the ground, attacked my daughter’s puppy after we accidentally left a door open (Dipsy was ok, thankfully, with only an abscess on his cheek), fought and tried to kill a large rattlesnake (Jeb was bitten in the face), bit my mom’s purse two different times when she entered my house, and well, you get the picture. We’ve been working on training him but he’s very emotional and it’s clear he wasn’t properly socialized as a puppy. He’s always leashed and in control for his evening walks (which he loves) but having people just “stop by” doesn’t work. He’s very loving, but he needs strong boundaries. We won’t give up on him!
Best Show
1883
Honorable mention: The English
Both shows had complex and emotional stories, and the acting was top-notch. Get your tissues handy.
Best Movie
Top Gun: Maverick
An entertaining big cinema experience - just the thing after a long pandemic.
Best shoes
Lined Crocs
So comfy!
Best Music
Lost Hits of the ’80s on iHeart Radio
My high school and college years, so … nostalgia.
Best Restaurant
Islands
Burgers and tacos but the best part is the tv screens that showcase surfing on a loop. It makes you feel like you’re at the beach.
Best Beauty Hack
A Beauty Oil
I learned that using essential oils on the back of my arms can get rid of those pesky dermatitis bumps. My favorite is Leahlani’s Pua Lei Oil. It smells so good.
Best Body Hack
A Theragun
I only recently learned of this amazing device that can break up the knots in your muscles. I use it on my neck and my feet (I developed plantar fasciitis this year). They can be quite expensive, but my husband found one at Lowe’s (generic name: muscle massager) for $40 and it works great.
Best Book
I can’t pick a favorite!
As many of you know, I’m an author so choosing a best book of the year is like favoring one of my children over the other. Impossible! So here’s a “best of” list of what I read in 2022, all excellent.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
A Cold Montana Christmas by Mina Beckett
Hunter by Julie Lence
Twisty Tortoise Tussles by Ann Charles
The Backside of Hades by Ann Charles and Sam Lucky
Shiver by Allie Reynolds
Following Faith by Jacqui Nelson
Continuum by G.S. Jennsen
Inversion by G.S. Jennsen
Echo Rift by G.S. Jennsen
A Lady’s Formula For Love by Elizabeth Everett
Just Haven’t Met You Yet by Sophie Cousens
Book of Night by Holly Black
It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey
The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells
Book Lovers by Emily Henry
Love On The Brain by Ali Hazelwood
Ocean Wolves by Theresa Beachman
The Queen’s Huntsman by Tanya Anne Crosby
The Six Deaths of the Saint by Alix E. Harrow
What are your “Best Of for 2022?” Let me know in the comments!
Wishing you all a blessed holiday and a Happy 2023!!
December 6, 2022
National Novel Writing Month and The Canary
By Kristy McCaffrey
Last month was National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo for short. During November, writers from around the world try to write a 50,000-word novel. I signed up to punch out a first draft of my next Wings of the West book, The Canary, and I’m happy to report that I made it to 50k. Is the manuscript readable? Well, kinda ….
This is the fourth time I’ve participated in NaNo, and after much revising I’m happy to say the previous three projects all went to publication (The Blackbird, Deep Blue, and The Starling). The Canary will also need some work, but I’m pleased with what I have.
For previous NaNo’s, my goal was to get to some version of the end of the story, because it often helps to know the ending in order to fine-tune the beginning. This means skipping interior scenes, since my books usually fall between 75-85k.
For this NaNo, however, I changed my method. When I hit 40k, I realized I didn’t like my first chapter. I was working with a fake marriage trope between the main characters, Sarah Ryan and paleontologist Dr. Jack Brenner, but the initial setup left me feeling lackluster. In the first one, Sarah pretends to be married to Jack because she’s run into one of her professors who’s been harassing her, and she’s frightened to be in the Arizona desert with this man. But as I kept writing this premise, I felt it weakened Sarah’s character.
So, for the last 10k of NaNo, I rewrote the first five chapters from scratch, using a different approach to get Sarah and Jack “hitched,” and I like this one much better. I’ll have to tear apart the rest of what I have and repurpose it, but this is how I generally work anyway.
I have a few other projects I must return to, so I’ll start revising The Canary in February. This will allow me time to do more research, which is challenging when trying to write 2,000 words every day. (If you write each day of November during NaNo, you only need 1667 words, but I overwrote so that I could take time off around Thanksgiving).
I will say, though, that the more I read about the dinosaur fossils in the Painted Desert in the late 1800’s, the more intrigued I become.
I’m very excited for this book, and I hope the readers will love it too.
You can pre-order The Canary now at
Amazon
Apple Books
Barnes & Noble
It will also be available at Google Play Books and Kobo but closer to the release date of July 25, 2023.
Would you like a Christmas card from me for 2022? Fill out this Google doc and I’ll add you to the list.
Happy Holidays to you and yours!
Last month was National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo for short. During November, writers from around the world try to write a 50,000-word novel. I signed up to punch out a first draft of my next Wings of the West book, The Canary, and I’m happy to report that I made it to 50k. Is the manuscript readable? Well, kinda ….
This is the fourth time I’ve participated in NaNo, and after much revising I’m happy to say the previous three projects all went to publication (The Blackbird, Deep Blue, and The Starling). The Canary will also need some work, but I’m pleased with what I have.
For previous NaNo’s, my goal was to get to some version of the end of the story, because it often helps to know the ending in order to fine-tune the beginning. This means skipping interior scenes, since my books usually fall between 75-85k.
For this NaNo, however, I changed my method. When I hit 40k, I realized I didn’t like my first chapter. I was working with a fake marriage trope between the main characters, Sarah Ryan and paleontologist Dr. Jack Brenner, but the initial setup left me feeling lackluster. In the first one, Sarah pretends to be married to Jack because she’s run into one of her professors who’s been harassing her, and she’s frightened to be in the Arizona desert with this man. But as I kept writing this premise, I felt it weakened Sarah’s character.
So, for the last 10k of NaNo, I rewrote the first five chapters from scratch, using a different approach to get Sarah and Jack “hitched,” and I like this one much better. I’ll have to tear apart the rest of what I have and repurpose it, but this is how I generally work anyway.
I have a few other projects I must return to, so I’ll start revising The Canary in February. This will allow me time to do more research, which is challenging when trying to write 2,000 words every day. (If you write each day of November during NaNo, you only need 1667 words, but I overwrote so that I could take time off around Thanksgiving).
I will say, though, that the more I read about the dinosaur fossils in the Painted Desert in the late 1800’s, the more intrigued I become.
I’m very excited for this book, and I hope the readers will love it too.
You can pre-order The Canary now at
Amazon
Apple Books
Barnes & Noble
It will also be available at Google Play Books and Kobo but closer to the release date of July 25, 2023.
Would you like a Christmas card from me for 2022? Fill out this Google doc and I’ll add you to the list.
Happy Holidays to you and yours!
August 3, 2022
The Starling is out!!
By Kristy McCaffrey
I'm pleased to share that The Starling is out. Don't miss this new, full-length novel in my Wings of the West series.
Colorado 1899
Kate Ryan has always had a streak of justice in her. When she decides to apply to the Pinkerton Detective Agency, nothing will stand in her way. Initially hired in a clerical position, she quickly works her way up to field agent with the help of her mentor, Louise Foster. When Louise is injured, Kate gets her first assignment and the opportunity of a lifetime.
Henry Maguire has been undercover in the household of wealthy entrepreneur Arthur Wingate. Employed as a ghostwriter to pen the man’s memoir, Henry is also searching for clues to a lucrative counterfeiting scheme. When Henry’s “wife” shows up, he’s taken aback by the attractive woman who isn’t Louise. Now he must work with a female agent he doesn’t know and doesn’t necessarily trust. And because he has another reason for coming into Wingate’s world, Kate Ryan is unavoidably in his way.
Kate Ryan is the daughter of Matt and Molly from THE WREN, and THE STARLING is the first of five novels featuring the second generation of Ryans in the Wings of the West series.
The Wings of the West Series Reading Order
Book One: The Wren
Book Two: The Dove
Book Three: The Sparrow
Book Four: The Blackbird
Book Five: The Bluebird
Book Six: The Songbird (Novella)
Book Seven: Echo of the Plains (Short Story)
Book Eight: The Starling
Book Nine: The Canary (Pre-Order Now)
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Amazon AU
Amazon CA
Amazon DE (English version)
Amazon IT (English version)
Nook
Apple Books
Kobo
Google Play
Paperback
Add The Starling to your Goodreads TBR shelf
Excerpt
Kate used the glass of sherry as a shield. It was obvious undercover agent Henry Maguire was stunned to see her and less than happy with her presence. Luckily, she had known who to look for from a photograph Mr. Jones had given her, although it hardly did justice to the man before her.
Henry Maguire had presence. There was simply no other word for it.
His intense blue eyes accented the hard line of his jaw like the frozen slopes of Colorado where her cousin Molly Rose had lived. Kate couldn’t help but notice his clean-shaven face and the citrusy smell coming from him. It was pleasant in a way that unsettled her, and she was entirely uncertain why.
But she had been warned … Henry was expecting Louise Foster, and he would have no idea who Kate was. It was unfortunate that Mrs. Wingate had caught Kate right at the door and had started speaking with her, because it had made contacting her “husband” fraught with danger.
But it was over. Henry had accepted the charade, and they were now working together. He had said he wanted to speak privately, but as yet he hadn’t, so Kate could only conclude it wasn’t safe to do so while at the party. She vowed she wouldn’t break protocol. She wouldn’t say anything to Henry that his loving wife, who had been separated from him for nearly two months, wouldn’t say.
“When did you arrive?” Henry asked.
“Earlier this evening.”
“How did you get here?”
“A man named Francis O’Malley brought me. I hired him.” The Pinkertons had hired him, but she couldn’t say that aloud. “I believe he’s a blacksmith in town, and he runs a livery too. He offered to stay, but I assured him that you would be here and see me home.” Her lips stretched into a smile, but she couldn’t hold Henry’s gaze as he watched her rather intently, so she took in the room.
It was quite festive. The Wingate wealth was on grand display with sparkling crystal chandeliers hanging from tin ceilings, a tiled floor covered in ornate rugs, and stuffed chairs likely imported from Europe.
As she brought her attention back to her “husband” she caught him still staring at her, those ice-blue eyes holding her briefly spellbound. He must have been watching her the entire time she had scanned the room. She shifted, feeling a bit uncomfortable, wanting to clear the air more than anything.
Had she done something wrong? Was she dressed inappropriately?
But a second glance around the room revealed that while her gown might not be quite as fancy as the many ladies in attendance, it was good enough. It had been Louise’s dress, after all, and Kate had to believe her mentor had been very prepared to enter this operation as Henry’s wife.
That was it. Henry was upset about Louise.
She turned to him. “I’m sure you’re worried about my dear sister, Louise.”
He regarded her with interest. “I am,” he replied in a measured tone. “Is she well?”
“Unfortunately, no. She’s indisposed at the moment, but she should be better soon.”
Henry accepted the news with a nod, his gaze conveying a glimmer of concern. Suddenly, Kate felt terrible. It had been clear from Louise that she valued Henry’s expertise, as well as his friendship, but Kate hadn’t thought any further than that.
The additional assignment that Louise had given Kate—privately and outside the dictates of the job—now seemed to take a different tone. Louise had asked Kate to keep an eye on Henry because eight years ago his father had died in an accident in Trinidad, apparently falling to his death down a mine shaft. Kate had inferred that Louise considered Henry compromised, and that it could place him at odds with the job the Pinkertons had been sent to do.
But now the worry in Henry’s eyes, however brief, said something else. Did he and Louise have a relationship that extended beyond business associates? Is that what his irritation was about? Did Henry love her? And why did that thought cause another ripple of unease in Kate?
Ignoring it, she added, “She’ll be all right. You’ve no need to worry. The bullet missed all vital organs.”
His eyes flicked back to her, reflecting shock.
Oh, no. He did love her.
Copyright © 2022 K. McCaffrey LLC
I'm pleased to share that The Starling is out. Don't miss this new, full-length novel in my Wings of the West series.
Colorado 1899
Kate Ryan has always had a streak of justice in her. When she decides to apply to the Pinkerton Detective Agency, nothing will stand in her way. Initially hired in a clerical position, she quickly works her way up to field agent with the help of her mentor, Louise Foster. When Louise is injured, Kate gets her first assignment and the opportunity of a lifetime.
Henry Maguire has been undercover in the household of wealthy entrepreneur Arthur Wingate. Employed as a ghostwriter to pen the man’s memoir, Henry is also searching for clues to a lucrative counterfeiting scheme. When Henry’s “wife” shows up, he’s taken aback by the attractive woman who isn’t Louise. Now he must work with a female agent he doesn’t know and doesn’t necessarily trust. And because he has another reason for coming into Wingate’s world, Kate Ryan is unavoidably in his way.
Kate Ryan is the daughter of Matt and Molly from THE WREN, and THE STARLING is the first of five novels featuring the second generation of Ryans in the Wings of the West series.
The Wings of the West Series Reading Order
Book One: The Wren
Book Two: The Dove
Book Three: The Sparrow
Book Four: The Blackbird
Book Five: The Bluebird
Book Six: The Songbird (Novella)
Book Seven: Echo of the Plains (Short Story)
Book Eight: The Starling
Book Nine: The Canary (Pre-Order Now)
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Amazon AU
Amazon CA
Amazon DE (English version)
Amazon IT (English version)
Nook
Apple Books
Kobo
Google Play
Paperback
Add The Starling to your Goodreads TBR shelf
Excerpt
Kate used the glass of sherry as a shield. It was obvious undercover agent Henry Maguire was stunned to see her and less than happy with her presence. Luckily, she had known who to look for from a photograph Mr. Jones had given her, although it hardly did justice to the man before her.
Henry Maguire had presence. There was simply no other word for it.
His intense blue eyes accented the hard line of his jaw like the frozen slopes of Colorado where her cousin Molly Rose had lived. Kate couldn’t help but notice his clean-shaven face and the citrusy smell coming from him. It was pleasant in a way that unsettled her, and she was entirely uncertain why.
But she had been warned … Henry was expecting Louise Foster, and he would have no idea who Kate was. It was unfortunate that Mrs. Wingate had caught Kate right at the door and had started speaking with her, because it had made contacting her “husband” fraught with danger.
But it was over. Henry had accepted the charade, and they were now working together. He had said he wanted to speak privately, but as yet he hadn’t, so Kate could only conclude it wasn’t safe to do so while at the party. She vowed she wouldn’t break protocol. She wouldn’t say anything to Henry that his loving wife, who had been separated from him for nearly two months, wouldn’t say.
“When did you arrive?” Henry asked.
“Earlier this evening.”
“How did you get here?”
“A man named Francis O’Malley brought me. I hired him.” The Pinkertons had hired him, but she couldn’t say that aloud. “I believe he’s a blacksmith in town, and he runs a livery too. He offered to stay, but I assured him that you would be here and see me home.” Her lips stretched into a smile, but she couldn’t hold Henry’s gaze as he watched her rather intently, so she took in the room.
It was quite festive. The Wingate wealth was on grand display with sparkling crystal chandeliers hanging from tin ceilings, a tiled floor covered in ornate rugs, and stuffed chairs likely imported from Europe.
As she brought her attention back to her “husband” she caught him still staring at her, those ice-blue eyes holding her briefly spellbound. He must have been watching her the entire time she had scanned the room. She shifted, feeling a bit uncomfortable, wanting to clear the air more than anything.
Had she done something wrong? Was she dressed inappropriately?
But a second glance around the room revealed that while her gown might not be quite as fancy as the many ladies in attendance, it was good enough. It had been Louise’s dress, after all, and Kate had to believe her mentor had been very prepared to enter this operation as Henry’s wife.
That was it. Henry was upset about Louise.
She turned to him. “I’m sure you’re worried about my dear sister, Louise.”
He regarded her with interest. “I am,” he replied in a measured tone. “Is she well?”
“Unfortunately, no. She’s indisposed at the moment, but she should be better soon.”
Henry accepted the news with a nod, his gaze conveying a glimmer of concern. Suddenly, Kate felt terrible. It had been clear from Louise that she valued Henry’s expertise, as well as his friendship, but Kate hadn’t thought any further than that.
The additional assignment that Louise had given Kate—privately and outside the dictates of the job—now seemed to take a different tone. Louise had asked Kate to keep an eye on Henry because eight years ago his father had died in an accident in Trinidad, apparently falling to his death down a mine shaft. Kate had inferred that Louise considered Henry compromised, and that it could place him at odds with the job the Pinkertons had been sent to do.
But now the worry in Henry’s eyes, however brief, said something else. Did he and Louise have a relationship that extended beyond business associates? Is that what his irritation was about? Did Henry love her? And why did that thought cause another ripple of unease in Kate?
Ignoring it, she added, “She’ll be all right. You’ve no need to worry. The bullet missed all vital organs.”
His eyes flicked back to her, reflecting shock.
Oh, no. He did love her.
Copyright © 2022 K. McCaffrey LLC
June 7, 2022
Pre-Order The Starling
By Kristy McCaffrey
A brand new Wings of the West novel is coming August 2nd!!
Pinkerton Henry Maguire is about to gain an unwanted “wife” in the form of new agent Kate Ryan.
Kate is the daughter of Matt and Molly from THE WREN, and THE STARLING is the first of five novels featuring the second generation of Ryans in the Wings of the West series.
Colorado
1899
Kate Ryan has always had a streak of justice in her. When she decides to apply to the Pinkerton Detective Agency, nothing will stand in her way. Initially hired in a clerical position, she quickly works her way up to field agent with the help of her mentor, Louise Foster. When Louise is injured, Kate gets her first assignment and the opportunity of a lifetime.
Henry Maguire has been undercover in the household of wealthy entrepreneur Arthur Wingate. Employed as a ghostwriter to pen the man’s memoir, Henry is also searching for clues to a lucrative counterfeiting scheme. When Henry’s “wife” shows up, he’s taken aback by the attractive woman who isn’t Louise. Now he must work with a female agent he doesn’t know and doesn’t necessarily trust. And because he has another reason for coming into Wingate’s world, Kate Ryan is unavoidably in his way.
Excerpt from The Starling
Kate slid a sidelong glance at him. “Did you learn anything this evening?”
Only that you’re an enigma, and I can’t fathom my reaction to you.
“I did.” Henry hoped he wasn’t slurring his words.
When he didn’t elaborate, Kate said, “Well?” Her tone was tinged with annoyance.
“You sound upset,” he said.
“When I told you to watch the brandy, I didn’t tell you to go and drink the brandy.”
“I’m not happy about this either,” he muttered under his breath. He never let his guard down while working. Until now. Until Kate Ryan.
It was easier to blame her than the fact that he was unsettled about spending time with Wingate more than he had anticipated.
Her eyes lingered on him, and he held her gaze, drinking in the fierce intelligence reflected at him. He’d never had much use for meek women. Kate Ryan’s ambition, dedication, and obvious independence matched his own.
But she was so young. What could she possibly bring to the table? Except that she was beautiful and confident and capable. In that moment, he knew she would go far in the Pinkertons.
The hunger for her ignited in a flash, far more intense than earlier. He turned away before she sensed it, before he did something stupid like try to kiss her. Not that she’d given any indication of reciprocating the attraction.
He clamped down on his very male reaction, knowing it would ruin whatever working relationship the two of them might have. He needed to concentrate on that, because if she was as intelligent as he suspected, he would have a hard time keeping her away from his true mission of ferreting out what had happened to his father.
Pre-Order your digital copy now!
Print will be available in August.
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Amazon AU
Amazon CA
Amazon DE (English version)
Amazon IT (English version)
Nook
Apple Books
Google Play and Kobo links coming soon.
Add The Starling to your Goodreads TBR shelf
A brand new Wings of the West novel is coming August 2nd!!
Pinkerton Henry Maguire is about to gain an unwanted “wife” in the form of new agent Kate Ryan.
Kate is the daughter of Matt and Molly from THE WREN, and THE STARLING is the first of five novels featuring the second generation of Ryans in the Wings of the West series.
Colorado
1899
Kate Ryan has always had a streak of justice in her. When she decides to apply to the Pinkerton Detective Agency, nothing will stand in her way. Initially hired in a clerical position, she quickly works her way up to field agent with the help of her mentor, Louise Foster. When Louise is injured, Kate gets her first assignment and the opportunity of a lifetime.
Henry Maguire has been undercover in the household of wealthy entrepreneur Arthur Wingate. Employed as a ghostwriter to pen the man’s memoir, Henry is also searching for clues to a lucrative counterfeiting scheme. When Henry’s “wife” shows up, he’s taken aback by the attractive woman who isn’t Louise. Now he must work with a female agent he doesn’t know and doesn’t necessarily trust. And because he has another reason for coming into Wingate’s world, Kate Ryan is unavoidably in his way.
Excerpt from The Starling
Kate slid a sidelong glance at him. “Did you learn anything this evening?”
Only that you’re an enigma, and I can’t fathom my reaction to you.
“I did.” Henry hoped he wasn’t slurring his words.
When he didn’t elaborate, Kate said, “Well?” Her tone was tinged with annoyance.
“You sound upset,” he said.
“When I told you to watch the brandy, I didn’t tell you to go and drink the brandy.”
“I’m not happy about this either,” he muttered under his breath. He never let his guard down while working. Until now. Until Kate Ryan.
It was easier to blame her than the fact that he was unsettled about spending time with Wingate more than he had anticipated.
Her eyes lingered on him, and he held her gaze, drinking in the fierce intelligence reflected at him. He’d never had much use for meek women. Kate Ryan’s ambition, dedication, and obvious independence matched his own.
But she was so young. What could she possibly bring to the table? Except that she was beautiful and confident and capable. In that moment, he knew she would go far in the Pinkertons.
The hunger for her ignited in a flash, far more intense than earlier. He turned away before she sensed it, before he did something stupid like try to kiss her. Not that she’d given any indication of reciprocating the attraction.
He clamped down on his very male reaction, knowing it would ruin whatever working relationship the two of them might have. He needed to concentrate on that, because if she was as intelligent as he suspected, he would have a hard time keeping her away from his true mission of ferreting out what had happened to his father.
Pre-Order your digital copy now!
Print will be available in August.
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Amazon AU
Amazon CA
Amazon DE (English version)
Amazon IT (English version)
Nook
Apple Books
Google Play and Kobo links coming soon.
Add The Starling to your Goodreads TBR shelf
March 1, 2022
Wings of the West Epic Sale
By Kristy McCaffrey
It's an epic sale for digital copies of Kristy's Wings of the West series. From March 1 – 15, 2022, grab one or all of them. While the characters overlap, each book can be read as a standalone.
Experience the grit, the hope, and the romance of the Old West with honorable men and courageous women.
The Wren – When Molly Hart returns from the dead, no one is more shocked than Texas Ranger Matt Ryan.
The Dove – Reunited with Logan Ryan on the steps of the White Dove Saloon, Claire Waters hides under the guise of a fancy girl … and lets the ex-deputy believe the worst.
The Sparrow – Within Grand Canyon, raging rapids and ancient spirits sweep Texas Ranger Nathan Blackmore and Emma Hart into a wild adventure.
The Blackbird – Haunted by a deadly attack, Tess Carlisle turns to bounty hunter Cale Walker to find her missing padre. But in the land of the Apache, can he free her heart?
The Bluebird – Molly Rose Simms arrives in Colorado to meet her brother, but instead finds herself searching for the mythical Bluebird mining claim with a man known as The Jackal.
Available on Kindle, Nook, Apple Books, Google Play, and Kobo.
Find all the details here.
It's an epic sale for digital copies of Kristy's Wings of the West series. From March 1 – 15, 2022, grab one or all of them. While the characters overlap, each book can be read as a standalone.
Experience the grit, the hope, and the romance of the Old West with honorable men and courageous women.
The Wren – When Molly Hart returns from the dead, no one is more shocked than Texas Ranger Matt Ryan.
The Dove – Reunited with Logan Ryan on the steps of the White Dove Saloon, Claire Waters hides under the guise of a fancy girl … and lets the ex-deputy believe the worst.
The Sparrow – Within Grand Canyon, raging rapids and ancient spirits sweep Texas Ranger Nathan Blackmore and Emma Hart into a wild adventure.
The Blackbird – Haunted by a deadly attack, Tess Carlisle turns to bounty hunter Cale Walker to find her missing padre. But in the land of the Apache, can he free her heart?
The Bluebird – Molly Rose Simms arrives in Colorado to meet her brother, but instead finds herself searching for the mythical Bluebird mining claim with a man known as The Jackal.
Available on Kindle, Nook, Apple Books, Google Play, and Kobo.
Find all the details here.
February 8, 2022
Valentine's Anthology Release Day Is Here!!
By Kristy McCaffrey
It's release day!!
With Every Beat Of My Heart is out. Woohoo!
And just in time for Valentine's Day.
Grab a cup of hot chocolate, your favorite fuzzy blanket, and settle in for some romantic and fun reads.
Digital copies are only 99 cents, and it's also available in paperback for those of you who prefer to read that way.
The collection will be available wide for one month and then will enter Kindle Unlimited.
Read SHARK REEF, set in my Pathway world.
A Contemporary Adventure Romance Short Story
Dr. Gabe O’Grady has had it bad for Jen Fairfield since the moment they were introduced, but she had a boyfriend at the time, so Gabe stayed in the friend zone. When he learns she’s about to spend three weeks in the remote Chatham Islands off New Zealand tagging great white sharks with a notoriously sketchy filmmaker, Gabe inserts himself into the project to protect her. But her indifference confounds him.
After ending her previous stalled relationship, Dr. Jen Fairfield is blindsided by her true feelings for Gabe O’Grady. After a night out with girlfriends and buoyed by their support, she makes her move with a very forward voicemail after a few drinks. But when O’Grady ghosts her for two months, Jen buries her hurt, certain she’ll never see him again. Then he shows up on her expedition …
When Gabe learns Jen is single, he knows he can’t let a chance with her slide by. But first he must rekindle the friendship that she seems determined to walk away from. He also needs to keep her safe from one of the most dangerous predators on earth.
Read Chapter One
Amazon US
Apple Books
Nook
Kobo
Paperback
Add to your TBR shelf on Goodreads
Review it on BookBub (Thank you!!)
Kristy
xoxo
It's release day!!
With Every Beat Of My Heart is out. Woohoo!
And just in time for Valentine's Day.
Grab a cup of hot chocolate, your favorite fuzzy blanket, and settle in for some romantic and fun reads.
Digital copies are only 99 cents, and it's also available in paperback for those of you who prefer to read that way.
The collection will be available wide for one month and then will enter Kindle Unlimited.
Read SHARK REEF, set in my Pathway world.
A Contemporary Adventure Romance Short Story
Dr. Gabe O’Grady has had it bad for Jen Fairfield since the moment they were introduced, but she had a boyfriend at the time, so Gabe stayed in the friend zone. When he learns she’s about to spend three weeks in the remote Chatham Islands off New Zealand tagging great white sharks with a notoriously sketchy filmmaker, Gabe inserts himself into the project to protect her. But her indifference confounds him.
After ending her previous stalled relationship, Dr. Jen Fairfield is blindsided by her true feelings for Gabe O’Grady. After a night out with girlfriends and buoyed by their support, she makes her move with a very forward voicemail after a few drinks. But when O’Grady ghosts her for two months, Jen buries her hurt, certain she’ll never see him again. Then he shows up on her expedition …
When Gabe learns Jen is single, he knows he can’t let a chance with her slide by. But first he must rekindle the friendship that she seems determined to walk away from. He also needs to keep her safe from one of the most dangerous predators on earth.
Read Chapter One
Amazon US
Apple Books
Nook
Kobo
Paperback
Add to your TBR shelf on Goodreads
Review it on BookBub (Thank you!!)
Kristy
xoxo
Author Kristy McCaffrey
Kristy McCaffrey writes western historical and contemporary romances. She and her husband live in Arizona with their two dogs. Visit her online at kristymccaffrey.com.
- Kristy McCaffrey's profile
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