Twinkle (Sugandha) Varshney's Blog, page 8

Best Evidence

PoetryDate Published: January 2018

Evocative, deceptively straightforward and wry poetry that delivers a shock to the system.
Poet Mark S. Osaki covers a number of poignant topics in Best Evidence. Each poem in the four sections gives you a glimpse of a formative moment in Osaki’s life or expands your viewpoint on conflicts in the world. Some poems, like the powerful “Chinese Camp, California,” speak of a larger cultural experience and the nuances of navigating identity as an Asian American. Others still, like “Gun Song,” show the psychological and cultural impact of war. In each new work, Osaki captures powerful moments of longing and loss.





Praise for Best Evidence:
“Mark Osaki has shown himself to be one of the best poets of his generation.” -- David Rains Wallace, Author, The Klamath Knot: Explorations of Myth and Evolution
“I have found the poetic voices of Asian Americans to be among the strongest and most original in contemporary English literature. Among those writers, none impress me more than does Mark Osaki.” -- Joseph Bruchac, The Greenfield Review Press
“Mark Osaki belongs to no school, follows no master, and has stayed on the far margin of the business part of poetry. His spare style is a vehicle for an outsider’s view of our world. His poetic toughness is not for those who regard poetry as comfort. He is paring his experiences closer to a powerful reporting, as only poetry can report.” -- Leonard Nathan
"Mark S Osaki undertakes to illuminate the difficulty of  establishing one's home in a nation not one's own. These often soulful poems speak to us as members of families, as lovers, as travelers, journeys a reader is rewarded for taking. -- Carole L. Glickfeld, Author, Swimming Toward the Ocean
“Mark Osaki brings a rich poetic voice to his collection of poems in his recent book "Best Evidence".  He captures past and present moments, expressing hope through pain and personal loss. His work is subtle in nuances, yet possesses a keen clarity of vision and ultimately celebrates life itself.” -- Elizabeth Hack, Artist and Editor, San Francisco Peace and Hope
“Thoughtful, timely writing that demands further attention.” -- Kirkus Review
“A well done collection of poems seen from an Asian perspective of being an American.  Interesting and enlightening.” -- Goodreads
“Mark Osaki’s mastery of language and his ability to elicit in his reader introspective thoughts/emotions is evident in his poetry. If you are looking to learn more about racial prejudice, war, and its resultant psychological aftereffects, this is definitely the book for you.” -- Online Book Club


About the Author
Mark S. Osaki was born in Sacramento, California. He attended the University of California, Berkeley as an Alumni Scholar and went on to do graduate work in International Relations and Security Studies.
His work has appeared in various journals and anthologies, including: The Georgia Review, Carrying the Darkness—The Poetry of the Vietnam War (Avon, Texas Tech University Press), South Carolina Review, Men of Our Time—An Anthology of Male Poetry in Contemporary America (University of Georgia Press), Breaking Silence—An Anthology of Contemporary Asian American Poets (Greenfield Review Press), Onset Review and Báo Giấy—Vietnamese Poetry.
Mark has received awards for his poetry from the Academy of American Poets, University of California at Berkeley, San Francisco Arts Commission, Seattle Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.


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Losing Time By Chris Karlsen

Title: Losing Time (Knights in Time Book 5) Author: Chris Karlsen Genre: Historical Romance (With time travel elements) Release Date: September 16, 2018 Hosted by: Buoni Amici Press, LLC. 


Can love survive the wrong time and place? Felicia Wycliff’s peaceful stroll through the woods turned to disaster when her dachshund bolted after a rabbit. One minute Felicia was running after the determined little dog, the next she was hurled to the ground. Gathering her wits after her tumble, she brushed herself off and continued her pursuit—-right into three mounted knights who blocked her path. They were so authentic looking. They might’ve stepped from the keep of the nearby castle, Elysian Fields. But the old Norman fortress was a ruin and had been for three hundred years. “Seize her,” the middle knight ordered, the knight who sat tallest in the saddle. “Let me go.” She fought, striking out when the two knights grabbed her. “Who the deuce are you?” “I’m the Captain of the Baron’s Guard, and you are trespassing.” Kidnapped, her confusion and fear consumed her. But when they rode through the gates of Elysian Fields, the castle looking as formidable as the date it was built, her terror exploded. When she fell she knew exactly where she was. But where the devil had she landed?





   



I was born and raised in Chicago. My father was a history professor and my mother was, and is, a voracious reader. I grew up with a love of history and books. My parents also love traveling, a passion they passed onto me. I wanted to see the places I read about, see the land and monuments from the time periods that fascinated me. I’ve had the good fortune to travel extensively throughout Europe, the Near East, and North Africa. I am a retired police detective. I spent twenty-five years in law enforcement with two different agencies. My desire to write came in my early teens. After I retired, I decided to pursue that dream. I write three different series. My paranormal romance series is called, Knights in Time. My romantic thriller series is Dangerous Waters. The newest is The Bloodstone Series. Each series has a different setting and some cross time periods, which I find fun to write. I currently live in the Pacific Northwest with my husband and five wild and crazy rescue dogs.   




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Waking Wild by Ceri Grenelle

Title: Waking Wild
Series: Stupid Awesome Love #2Author: Ceri GrenelleGenre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: September 6, 2018


Blurb
Gemma…meets a gardener in shining armor.
I’m fine, at least that’s what I tell everyone. A series of heartbreaks leads me to move across the country, hide away in my pajamas, until a sexy gardener at the San Francisco botanical gardens gets me off my ass. Hell, he saves me when I step in dog shit. He’s close to perfect.
But the past has a way of catching up to me. A promise I made my husband before he died keeps me bound, keeps any chance at love a distant dream. The more time I spend with Jack, the guiltier I feel for breaking my promise. Everyone’s got their hang-ups, right?
Jack…can’t stay away from Gemma.
Life is good. I’ve got a successful landscaping business and I’m an active member of my community. I know better than most that our tragedies shape who we are. Gemma comes from the world I turned away from, but I can’t leave this undeniable thing I’ve got for her alone. I shouldn’t want her, and yet I do.
Being with Gemma makes me feel like a new man, like I’ve been hiding my true self without even knowing it. But something from her past keeps us from moving forward. Someone. Can a simple man compete with a ghost?

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Excerpt

The cadence of my banter falters. “Oh, no. It’s a New York thing. I moved here not too long ago. I’m still adjusting.”He shifts on his feet awkwardly, adjusts the tool belt. “What brought you out west?”I lost all faith in humanity and decided to run away from my problems. “Oh, just needed a change of scene, ya know?”He gives me that long, penetrating look again, like he’s trying to hack my brain. “You from here?” I ask, wanting him to stop staring at me like a circus freak. “No, I’m from San Diego originally. My folks moved us up here when I was ten. I moved away after college.”“Oh, how long have you been back?”“About five years.” He clears his throat, his voice faltering. “Why did you return?” I ask, just to continue talking. Though I probably should keep my big mouth shut. It’s the way he says five, like the word is cursed. I shouldn’t press him for this.“I was in an accident. Needed to come back and recuperate.” He strokes down the fade on the side of his head, his gaze focused on the bench. “That’s all I’d like to say about that, if you don’t mind?” “Of course. I’m sorry I pried. Blame it on East Coast blunt audacity.” The sound of my laugh is hollow. I should quit while I’m ahead. One month in hibernation and I’ve completely forgotten how to interact with people.  “Thanks for fixing the bench.” I wave awkwardly then turn away, giving him an easy out.“No problem, but do you want to take that tour now?”“Huh?”“You’re Lillian’s daughter, right? I’m Jack. I’m giving you a tour.”Oh, just fuck my life. Really? I cannot spend one more second in this man’s company. “Oh, Jack. Right. You know what? I’m okay. I think I’ll stay here for a little while longer. I can walk around myself.”“Listen, if you’re gonna be working here you need to get familiar with the park. The kids can be a little rambunctious, and they’ve been known to wander off.”“I can look at a map and find my way around. Thanks.”He crosses his arms, challenging me.“Those maps don’t show areas like this one, the little hiding spots. Best trees to climb. It’s a big garden. And that’s not even part of the main park.”“I’m fine.”“Don’t think you are.”“That’s not your decision to make.”“Opal is my boss. She told me to give you a tour. That’s what I’m gonna do.”My defenses shoot up.“Whether I like it or not?”His tone gentles.“Would you rather walk around a garden on a beautiful day with me, or stand here, talking to a bench?”Oh, it is on. “Fine.” I stomp past him. “If you ever tell anyone about that I will put cacti in your utility belt pockets.”“Ouch.” He cuts me off and faces me, walking backward, sidestepping around roots he can’t even see. “I’ve never met a person so worked up over a tour before. Do you have something against trees? Nature? Instructional experiences?”“Just show me what you need to show me,” I grumble as we reach the main path and all the pedestrians.“Sure.”“Jack!” An older woman with curly black hair and a gap-tooth smile encompasses Jack from behind in a big hug. “How are you, darling?”“Great, Marianne.” He turns to face her, bending low to give her a kiss on the cheek. “How are you? How are the grandkids?”“Wonderful. They keep asking when you’re going to babysit again. You’re their favorite.”“That’s only because I let them eat ice cream for dinner and chow mein for dessert. Don’t tell their parents.”“Ha, you gotta spoil them sometimes.” She elbows him playfully, clearly smitten. “We’re having a cookout next Sunday. Stop by for a bite.”“I will, thank you. Tell the kids to be good for their folks. Or at least as good as I would be.”Marianne chuckles and waves him off, shaking her head but charmed.I get it. He’s good looking. His grin is infectious. He put his hand on her shoulder so gently, yet full of good-natured warmth. Who wouldn’t be affected by that? Only someone with a dead heart.“Sorry about that, I know most of the regulars here.”Jack takes me to the sectioned parts of the garden, but he doesn’t tell me about the trees or the different Latin names of the flora as another tour guide might. Instead he points out hiding places, tricky places that visitors have tripped, plants that might be harmful to kids with sensitive skin. His attention to detail and familiarity with the garden is impressive, but he’s formal, never gives me the bright smile Marianne or any of the other people known to him are afforded. And there are a lot of people that stop to chat with the amiable Jack. Like every single person that crosses our path. Toward the end of our tour, I’m a bit frustrated by all the interruptions. “Are you the mayor of the Botanical Gardens, or something? How do you know all these people?”He laughs, shaking his head.“What?”“Your Mom calls me the town mayor sometimes. Says I know everything about everyone.” He shrugs like a good old boy. “I like getting to know people, hearing stories from their past, their hopes and dreams. Connecting to people on a level beneath the surface is a special gift. One I’ll always treasure and respect. The least I can do is provide human connection.” His mouth tightens as he says, “If they want it.”A hot bitterness wells up inside me, the great tide threatening to pull me under. I take a deep breath, think of coffee and loud subway trains. Times Square at Christmas. Sangria with Sophie. Playing hooky with my best friend, Adele. Moments in my life I love and miss…but where they used to bring comfort, now all I feel is loss.God, I made such a mistake coming here. There’s nothing I can connect with. Nothing to keep me from drowning.“Want to talk about it?” he asks as the silence between us grows tense.“There’s nothing to talk about.”“You sure?”“Yes.”“Because I’m a really good listener.” He dips his head, trying to get me to look at him.“You’re also annoyingly persistent.”We walk a bit longer, in silence this time. When I start to recognize where we are I decide to make my escape. Being around someone so shockingly open is like razor blades on my skin, and he is too nice to say he doesn’t want to be near someone as rude and closed off as I am. “Thanks for the tour. I can find my way back from here.”“Wait—”font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" ,

When We Kiss by Tia Louise

Title: When We KissAuthor: Tia LouiseGenre: Enemies to LoversRelease Date: September 6, 2018


Blurb
“Kiss me…You’re too law-abiding for me.What makes you say that?That uniform. Those handcuffs.Maybe I should put you in handcuffs.Maybe I’d like to see you try…”
Tabby Green:Preacher’s niece.Website designer. Bad Girl.
Chad Tucker:Retired military.Deputy sheriff. Hero.
He’s a hot cop with a square jaw, a sexy grin, and a tight end.I’m a bad girl, a “Jezebel”—just ask all the old biddies in town.We’re oil and vinegar. We don’t mix.
But when we kiss…

She’s got flashing green eyes, red-velvet lips, and luscious curves in all the right places.She’s a bad girl all right, and after what I’ve lost, I’m not looking for trouble.
But when we kiss…
Oil and vinegar DO mix,
And when they do,  it’s electric.

A full-length, STAND-ALONE, opposites-attract romance about heroes, bad girls, and what happens when you stop fighting and surrender to love. NO Cheating; NO Cliffhangers!


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Author Bio
Tia Louise is the Award-Winning, International Bestselling author of the ONE TO HOLD series.
From “Readers’ Choice” nominations, to USA Today “Happily Ever After” nods, to winning the 2015 “Favorite Erotica Author” and the 2014 “Lady Boner Award” (LOL!), nothing makes her happier than communicating with fans and weaving new tales into the Alexander-Knight world of stories.
A former journalist, Louise lives in the center of the USA with her lovely family and one grumpy cat. There, she dreams up stories she hopes are engaging, hot, and sexy, and that cause readers rethink common public locations...

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Amongst the Wildflowers by Amali Rose

Title: Amongst the Wildflowers
Series: Fleurs d'amour #3Author: Amali RoseGenre: Contemporary Romance/New AdultRelease Date: September 6, 2018


Blurb
Layla Jensen dreams of true love.
A quiet soul, she walks through life with one simple goal. Stay invisible in a world where she's never felt enough.
After living in the shadow of her beautiful, vivacious sister and believing she never measured up, Layla has withdrawn into herself, watching life pass her by.
Enter Ethan Miller. Confidant, carefree and outgoing, he is the opposite of Layla in every way. He is also the one person who sees her. Who has always seen her.
With Ethan back in her life, Layla is reminded of the love she once craved and her heart slowly comes back to life. But as they fight to make their dream a reality, their happiness is placed in jeopardy from a threat they never saw coming.
Book 3 in a STANDALONE series.

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Author Bio

Amali Rose is an Australian author, and former blogger, who released her debut novella in 2017.

A self confessed bookworm, her love affair with the written word began as a child, with The Magic Faraway Tree. Her tastes have grown and evolved over the years, and after stumbling into the indie community a few years ago, she discovered her passion for romance with a side of smut.

When not reading or writing Amali enjoys baking, yoga, cheesy pop music & netflix marathons; and believes strongly that pink, puppies and chocolate make the world a better place!

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The Long Way by Alice Tribue

Title: The Long WayAuthor: Alice TribueGenre: Contemporary Second Chance Romance
Cover Design: Mayhem Cover CreationsRelease Date: September 27, 2018


Blurb
Life lesson number one … If you find the love of your life, fight for him.
Life lesson number two … If you’re dumb enough to let the love of your life go, don’t let years pass without trying to get him back.
Life lesson number three … If he does come back, don’t help him take over your father’s multi-million-dollar company…even if your father had it coming.
I fell in love, had it all, and lost it all in the blink of an eye. I was young, naïve, and not in control of my own life. I was resigned to the fact that I would never see Sam again. So when I attended a meeting with the unknown buyer initiating a hostile takeover of my father’s company, I was stunned and horrified to come face to face with Sam. Only this wasn’t the Sam that I remembered. Gone was the sweet, romantic, kind boy I loved, and in his place was a cold, ruthless, and calculating man. Maybe I was right. Maybe I would never see my Sam again… or would I?

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Author Bio
Alice Tribue is a bestselling author of contemporary romance novels. She is currently living in New Jersey with her two children and spends as much of her free time as she can by the beach. She enjoys reading, writing, and an unhealthy addiction to coffee.

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Stop Being Invisible

Non-Fiction / Speaking & Communication / High Functioning AutismDate Published: September 12, 2018

Stop Being Invisible - Overcoming Communication Barriers comes to us from Dr. William Lane, global educational consultant.  He has spent over 35 years providing educational services, first working in public education as an elementary, middle and high school teacher and school administrator; and then later as a university professor and department chair of special education programs.  He has dedicated his life’s work to educating students and improving their opportunities for success in life.  Having experienced firsthand the pain of missed opportunities that were a direct result of his limited ability to communicate effectively from childhood until well into adulthood, his passion about this subject shines through as he very effectively communicates in this book how to improve not only the quality of your communications with others, but also your resulting experiences in life.


His “WHY” to answering his calling to not only work on changing his own communication challenges, but to focus his work on improving the struggles of others, occurred one day when during a conversation, it was brought to his attention that people often jokingly referred to him as a “weatherman.”  Thinking it odd, he questioned what was meant by that name. He was told that people avoided talking to him because usually, the only time he contributed to a conversation was when he asked about how the weather was.  He realized that he was choosing to participate in conversations by becoming a “non-participant.”  Whether in the role of boyfriend, husband, dad, brother, uncle, cousin, friend, coach or any of the many other roles in life he had assumed, few people had been able to understand his non-communicative style.


The response was not kind, but it did become a major wake-up call.  This powerful and descriptive one-sided revelation of how others felt about having him as part of their conversations made him realize that it was time for drastic changes.  He is no longer called “the weatherman,” and has gone on to guide many others with communication barriers to adopt effective communication skills resulting in the deeper connections that come from great conversations.



About the Author


Throughout Dr. Lane’s thirty-five-year educational career, his passion has always been providing information, practice, and support to individuals with special needs.
He believes that everyone, in their own way, can become a contributing and productive member of society and that effective communication is the most important of all life skills.   Improved communication skills improve the quality of life for all, not just individuals with special needs.
Dr. Lane is a proficient, dynamic, and sought after public speaker and speaks to audiences around the world.  His focus is educating individuals, families, and educators on the “awesome power” of effective communication skills.  He inspires his audiences to practice, discuss, and encourage others to improve their communication skills, while demonstrating practical ways to understand, retain and apply the skills he teaches.
Once these skills are understood, retained (through practice and reflection), and utilized, those who apply the life skills that are taught will feel more confident and better able to CONNECT with others in a variety of circumstances and setting


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Cold, Hard, & Heartless

Author: MV EllisTitle: Cold, Hard, & HeartlessGenre: Rock Star RomanceSeries: Heartless Few, book 2
Release Date: August 18, 2018
Publisher: Hot Tree PublishingCover Designer: Claire Smith
 Available now! 
Amazon: US | UK | CA | AU Cold. Hard. Heartless. 
If I don’t rise, I can’t fall. If I don’t give, I can’t take. If I don’t love, I can’t lose. If I don’t break, I can’t heal. If I don’t care, I can’t hurt. 
And if I don’t expose my heart, it can’t get broken.
As a boy, Arlo Jones learned that hearts could literally be broken. His shattered into a thousand tiny pieces when his dad died, and he vowed to never let that happen again. He had to be cold, hard, and heartless.
As a man, he has his shtick with chicks. He's never been in love, or even in lust. He gets horny, fucks, and sends them on their way. Rinse. Repeat. It ain't broke, so no need to fix it.
Until London. Meeting her is the start of something big, like the first bump of coke or hit of the pipe. From day one, the only way forward is deeper in, and there is no easy way out.
If this is love, he's never going to be the same again.

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2NjbtI0 Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2mlSFMX Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2urum4u Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2JsnYih 
We sat at your hospital bed and watched the life ebb from you. Slow… painful… undignified. As we walked out of your hospital room leaving your cold, hollow body, I knew I would never be the same again. Shouldn’t be. Couldn’t be. Didn’t want to be.
Cold. We watched as death clawed at you from beyond. Every day it beckoned you nearer. It dragged you kicking and screaming to the point of no return. It left its indelible mark on your mind, body, and soul. You became a shell of your former self. It broke your spirit and stole your pride. We lost our father and friend. Your warm body grew cold. We watched as life went and you went with it. We watched.
Hard. Death isn’t a beginning, it’s the end. It saps us of light, laughter, sunshine, and happiness. It puts an end to plans, fun, possibility, and promise. It snatches away childhood, innocence, optimism, and joy. It steals light and replaces it with darkness. Death is the end of tomorrow. The end of hope.
Heartless. If I don’t rise, I can’t fall. If I don’t love, I can’t lose. If I don’t think, I can’t feel. If I don’t care, I can’t hurt. If I don’t expose my heart, it can’t get broken.

 Heartless Few Series Available on
Catching London (Book 1) Amazon: US | UK | CA | AU
Pushing Arlo (Book 3)
Available now! Amazon: US | UK | CA | AU Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
MV ELLIS knows what it’s like to fall head over heels in love with a badass musician. She followed her heart halfway around the world to be with one. She moved from London to Sydney after a steamy holiday romance with a sexy bass player in sultry Brazil.
Twelve years, two children and a dog later, and she’s still smitten. All this with a guy she sat next to on a bus for 36 hours! She has toured internationally as a “WAG,” and her experiences inspire her writing.Ellis’s love of romance began when she was 11 years old, after a summer spent secretly reading her auntie’s books. She’s been a sucker for an alpha hero and strong heroine ever since.
An avid reader, Ellis always knew she’d write a book of her own one day. She was right about that. Following a career spanning advertising, marketing, and social media, she finally wrote Catching London in 2017.
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Her Royal Boyfriend By K.R. Grace

Title: Her Royal Boyfriend Author: K.R.Grace Genre: New Adult Release Date: September 6, 2018 Hosted by: Buoni Amici Press, LLC.



Reese Fitzgerald knows how to go for the gold…except when it comes to dating. After her gymnastic career ends with a near-death accident, she decides attending college is the best way to submerge herself into a regular life. Ever the Olympic athlete, Reese plans to go all in with the college experience: dating, sororities, football games, and one night of beer pong gone wrong. What she does not expect is to be sucked into a media frenzy by a prince with dreamy eyes and a smile that makes her forget her name. Mason Livingston has two years before he becomes king, and he plans to spend every bit of it living it up in America. Girls, parties, and drinking are par for the course. When a story leaks about an incident involving a friend back home, he must find a way to restore his country’s faith in his ability to assume his father’s throne. His advisors convince him the best way to do so is by showing he has found his queen. Someone with grace, elegance, and pedigree. And he sets his sights on Reese.Will the two together be Olympic gold, or will Mason turn out to be just another frog?








As a child, K.R. Grace had an overactive imagination. When it was obvious she wasn’t going to change anytime soon, her mom shoved a pen and paper in her hand and said, “Write it down.” So, at the age of eight, her first story was born, and the writing hasn’t stopped since. When she’s not running with wolves, sleeping with bears, or flying with falcons, she can be found checking out local bands or watching movies about things that go “boo” in the night. She lives in East Tennessee with a dog that is afraid of his own shadow and a cat that was a mob leader in a former life.







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Chasing My Forever By Heidi McLaughlin

Title: Chasing My Forever Author: Heidi McLaughlin Genre: Contemporary Romance Release Date: October 9, 2018 Cover Designer: Sarah Hansen Okay Creations. Photography: Mae I Design Models: Alex Denning & Cherry Albrecht Hosted by: Buoni Amici Press, LLC.


Music is his passion. It’s in his blood. Yet, Quinn James isn’t sure if stardom is right for him. His family wants him to join a band, and follow in his father’s footsteps but fear holds him back. He can’t explain it, and when he tries, no one understands what he’s afraid of or why he’s content playing coffee shop gigs where no one knows him.Eleanora Boone wants to live her life, not the one her very southern parents planned for her, which is why she chose a college thousands of miles away. Now she’s faced with returning home or doing something that would defy her family. When an opportunity to visit Los Angeles falls in her lap, she uses it to become someone different.California is everything Eleanora thought it would be, and even more so when she meets Quinn, the shy, reserved and brooding musician who’s the complete opposite of the guys she’s used to back home.  For the first time, Quinn’s smitten. The new, mysterious waitress has him wrapped around her finger, and he finds that he is finally able to open up and trust someone outside of his family circle.  But living a different life comes with its risks, and for Eleanora, that risk is a secret that has the power to destroy both of them.
     

Heidi McLaughlin is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of The Beaumont Series, The Boys of Summer, and The Archers. Originally, from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband and two daughters. Also renting space in their home is an over-hyper Beagle/Jack Russell, Buttercup and a Highland West/Mini Schnauzer, JiLL and her brother, Racicot. When she's isn't writing one of the many stories planned for release, you'll find her sitting court-side during either daughter's basketball games. Heidi's first novel, Forever My Girl, has been adapted into a motion picture with LD Entertainment and Roadside Attractions, starring Alex Roe and Jessica Roth, in theaters January 19, 2018. To stay connected with Heidi visit www.facebook.com/authorheidimclaughlin or heidimclaughlin.com