Cami Checketts's Blog, page 30

Snow Valley - New Release and Special

Summer in Snow Valley is available for pre-order for only $.99. Release date is June 1st and the $.99 special will last until June 6th. If you haven't read Christmas in Snow Valley, now is your chance to buy it May 24th through the 31st for only $.99.

Buy Christmas in Snow Valley - Amazon








#1 Bestselling Authors of Christmas in Snow Valley, have teamed up again with six wonderful summer novellas that are sure to make your summer sweet and sassy!


Buy Summer in Snow Valley


Amazon * B&N * iTunes * Kobo * Smashwords









Dead Running and Reality Ever After are also both on sale for $.99 to celebrate the end of school and the start of summer! Happy reading!







Buy Dead Running for only $.99

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

iTunes

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Smashwords



Cassidy Christensen is running.

Running from the mercenaries who killed her parents.

Running from a scheming redhead intent on making her life miserable.

Running from painful memories that sabotage her dreams of happiness.

With two very tempting men competing for her attention, she hopes she’ll finally have someone to run to, but can she trust either of them?





A light-hearted and clean romantic suspense, Dead Running will have you lacing up your running shoes and racing for the sequel, Dying to Run.







Buy Reality Ever After for only $.99 or download it for free with Kindle Prime



Amazon



Pregnant at eighteen, Sydney Richland's happily ever after is in serious peril. Her grandmother's ghost can work miracles, but she also might ruin Sydney's chances with the man of her dreams.



"I love Cami Checketts! Her books never disappoint! This one really hit home for me. I made some choices when I was young that could have easily landed me where Sydney was. Luckily for me, they didn't when I was young and unmarried. However, this story really touched me and I related to it more than I care to admit. I also don't want to spoil the story but I also have faced what she did and felt pain and loss. All around it was an excellent novella and my favorite of the set." Julia Lance, Book Reviewing Rocks



Blurbs for Summer in Snow Valley



Catching Caytie by Amazon Top Seller Cindy Roland Anderson




On the night Caytie Holbrook intends to break up with her cheating boyfriend, he blindsides her by announcing their engagement at a dinner party. When Caytie discovers her father is in on the scheme, she runs away from her home in Beverly Hills to hide out at her uncle’s ranch in Snow Valley, Montana. While Snow Valley is a beautiful place, Caytie only plans to stay until her twenty-fifth birthday when she’ll inherit a trust fund her grandmother left her, allowing her to pursue her dream to move to Italy. That is until she meets Jace McAllister, an incredibly sexy—although somewhat grumpy—cowboy who threatens to disrupt her plans.




Tin Foil Tiaras by Amazon Top Seller Jeanette Lewis




Cameron Elliott has come to Snow Valley to coach Annalisa Drake in the Miss Snow Valley pageant, and prove to her demanding boss that she deserves a place at the prestigious Westbrooke Agency. But Annalisa’s handsome and protective big brother, Kyle, is determined to keep his sister from becoming a reluctant beauty queen. As Cameron tries to win Kyle over, Kyle insists some things are more valuable than a title and as crazy as it sounds, Cameron might just believe him.



A Touch of Love by Amazon Top Seller Cami Checketts




Annie Stirland has endured a lifetime of teasing, embarrassment, and isolation due to her speech impediment. When irresistible cowboy, Luke Wilson, seems to be falling for her, she’s certain he’s too good to be true. A tragedy involving his ex-girlfriend proves she’s right. What man can resist sheltering someone they once loved? Annie knows she should walk away, but Luke isn’t ready to give her up.




First Love by Amazon Top Seller Taylor Hart 




Janet Snow doesn’t expect to get caught in a full-blown make out session at her brother’s wedding. Especially not with Michael Hamilton, the boy she’d written off ten years ago. Even though they both agree to no complications, Janet's not sure they can stick to it given their past. After a trip to the hot springs, a helicopter ride, and a proposal, even the most cautious single mother would start to wonder if true love really is just about the timing. Now Janet has to make a choice—play it safe or trust that her first love could also be her last. 







Romancing Rebecca by Amazon Top Seller, Kimberley Montpetit




Rebecca Dash loved spending her teen summers swooning over Jane Austen and helping her aunt at the Starry Skies Bed & Breakfast in Snow Valley. But as a recent college grad, she’d rather write sappy romance novels than go out with guys that make her a nervous wreck. When a team of fire-fighters set up camp on the lawns of the B&B and Captain Wade catches her eye, Becca soon learns that there’s more to a happily-ever-after than a flirty fireman with muscles the size of the Montana hills.




Love in Light and Shadow by Amazon Top Seller Lucy McConnell




Mercedes O'Shay has sworn off gorgeous men because they have a tendency to break her heart. When she meets her new neighbor, Chet Bauer, she immediately puts him in the Do Not Date category based on his well-defined muscles and stunning blue eyes. But the more Mercedes learns about the cowboy who reads classics and forges iron, the more she realizes the heart doesn't see in black and white; it sees light and shadows.

Let it Rain

We had a very mild and dry winter in Northern Utah. I should've probably worried about water and drought, but I'm not one to worry about things that are out of my control. I enjoyed every second of being outside in January, February, and March. Now it has been raining for weeks with the forecast showing no sun for a long, long time. It's great. I know we need the water and everything looks beautiful and green outside. The only problem is I'm fighting a bit of depression from no sunshine or outdoor activities (don't know that watching numerous lacrosse games while hiding under an umbrella counts). Any advice to keep smiling on rainy days? Thanks!

Authors United Against Child Slavery

Where authors unite to raise funds for Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.), a nonprofit that organizes undercover operations to free many of the 2 million children being trafficked as sex slaves around the world.




Participating authors are donating their books in exchange for donations



Donate $20 to receive a free book from a participating author (book prizes selected at random).
Donors of $40 or more will receive two free books, a series, or a bundle (selected at random as well). 




Nearly 200 books have been donated by generous authors to help raise funds for this great cause--see the list of participating authors/books below!




Give freedom, get a book












DONATE NOW

Donate directly to O.U.R. through the Authors United Against Child Slavery Campaign





AUTHOR UNITED AGAINST CHILD SLAVERY LINKS

Like the Authors United Against Child Slavery Facebook Page

Check out and donate to the Authors United Against Child Slavery campaign page

Authors and book bloggers who wish to help, please fill out this online form




OPERATION UNDERGROUND RAILROAD LINKS

Check out the Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.) Website

Follow O.U.R. on Twitter

Like the O.U.R. Facebook Page



Participating Authors/Books 

California Dreamin' Collection

Amazon #1 Bestselling series in *New Release* for Clean Romance 

Six brand new contemporary romance novellas with bestselling and award winning authors. 

In the sweet novella TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE by Heather B. Moore, Gwen uses her wedding photography business to keep her life simple and focus on something other than her own broken heart. When Jack, a guy too handsome for his own good, helps her clean up after a photoshoot, then asks her out, she doesn’t know if she can handle dating again. But Jack’s charm wins her over, and she agrees to meet him for dinner. The more she gets to know Jack, the more she likes him, but everything about him seems too good to be true. 

GONE FISHING, a charming novella by Kaylee Baldwin, follows Claire as she tries to convince her dad to leave his start-up company as a boat guide and come back home to Colorado. He’s the only one who can defend Claire against her domineering mother. But when she arrives at the San Diego harbor, she’s met with more than one surprise. First, that her dad is truly living his dream and has never been happier, and second, she’s unexpectedly attracted to his business partner, Miguel. 

In THE PIER CHANGES EVERYTHING, an enchanting novella by Annette Lyon, Alexandria has one last task to perform for her late husband, who died much too young: scatter his ashes in the Pacific Ocean. She goes to the Santa Monica Pier to do just that, but her plans get sidetracked after meeting Michael and feeling an immediate connection to him. They grab lunch, and the more time they spend together, the more they discover that they have in common—including past romantic hardships. As the day wears on, Alexandria begins learn that her heart just might be able to find love again. 

In Jennifer Moore’s captivating novella A HERO’S SONG, AnneMarie’s career as a romance novelist is skyrocketing and her agent books her on a late night talk show. The host gets her to admit that she was in love once, with a guitar player. Moments after her segment, Lance Holden appears on the same stage, to perform his newest song. Is it a terrible coincidence? AnneMarie hasn’t seen Lance ever since he broke her heart ten years ago, and she has refused to think about him again. Their lives are worlds apart, but as Lance tries to reconcile with AnneMarie, she finds herself taking a second chance. 

In STAY WITH ME, an endearing novella by Shannon Guymon, Jolie moves to L.A. to take on a nanny position for the summer, since apparently having a degree in art doesn’t translate to getting a job as a graphic designer. When Fitz, the family’s chauffeur, picks her up at the airport, she wonders if every man in LA is model-gorgeous. When Jolie meets her two charges, she finds them adorable and needy. But it’s harder to hold onto her job than she thought with a hostile Mrs. James and her spoiled brother. Fitz becomes both the silver lining of her job and the man who just might convince her to stay in L.A. 

In the delightful novella, A PLACE TO CALL HOME, by Sarah M. Eden, Ada is the best realtor around. The best. She prides herself in matching each client with the house that will fit all of their needs. She hasn’t failed yet. So when Craig hires her to find him the perfect condo for him and his son, Ada is up for the challenge. What she may not be prepared for is her unforeseen attraction to Craig, her immediate attachment to his nine-year-old son, and her heart telling her that it’s okay to take another chance.




My Review:

I really enjoyed each of these short stories. It was wonderful to be transported to the beach and every story had a fun and meaningful romance. I would highly recommend this collection, especially if you're going on a vacation or need a vacation!




Purchase e-book on: 

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

iTunes

Kobo

The Kingdom on the Edge of Reality

Guest Post The Kingdom on the Edge of Reality




Paperback: 360
pages

Publisher: Two Harbors Press

Language: English

ISBN-10: 937293645

Genre: fantasy,
romance, action and adventure

The Kingdom on the Edge of Reality

Would
if you were able venture back to the Middle Ages without going back in time? Live in a place
full of honor and chivalry; live in a castle, become a knight
and travel on horseback?

Welcome to Albert Keane’s beautifully designed medieval
kingdom nestled in a completely isolated river valley in the Canadian
wilderness. Peaceful, happy, and prosperous, it takes nothing from the modern
world, not so much as a single clock.



There is a castle, of course, and a monastery. There is even a pitch dark,
rat-infested dungeon – because you simply have to have one if you are trying a
rule a feudal kingdom!



Farmers work the land, artisans ply their trades, monks keep school and visit
the sick, and nobody (well, almost nobody) misses the modern world at all.



So why has Jack Darcey – actor, wanderer, ex-competitive fencer – been tricked
and seduced into paying a visit? And why hasn’t anyone told him that the only
way to leave is a perilous trek across hundreds of miles of trackless
wilderness without a compass or a map?



Because a tide of fear and violence is rising from the twisted ambitions of one
of King Albert’s nobles, and Albert’s fortune teller believes that Jack could
turn the tide – if he lives long enough . . .



Seamlessly blending medieval and modern elements, The Kingdom on the Edge of
Reality serves up a heady brew of action, humor, romance and satire in a
kingdom set apart in time and space where reality is the dealer’s choice.




The
Kingdom on the Edge of Reality answers the question why the past holds the key
to happiness that is definitely missing in our present day.  That it is possible to leave the present and
live in the past.




The Kingdom on the Edge
of Reality is chock-full of entertaining adventures involving knights,
damsels in distress, miracles, fierce jousting and sword fights. Gahan Hanmer
makes the characters instantly come alive on the page. His vivid storytelling transports you
to a world of fantasy, romance action and adventure.




When
Gahan began writing The Kingdom on the
Edge of Reality, it had several different titles. Gahan creativity came
from his background in theatre. He loved writing and drew on his previous
experience riding horse, as a
trained stage duelist and stage dueling teacher.




There were times where he put his book
project aside. To contemplate, focus better and think of new ideas. Setting it
aside for a time made the book ten times better. Gahan created living
characters the same way he had created characters as a ‘method’ actor in his
previous career in the theatre.




What
Readers are Saying




 "I
enjoyed The Kingdom on the Edge of Reality. I thought it strongly showed how
interdependent we are on the people around us and how that connectedness isn't
a bad thing. We spend so much time "alone" in the world, we don't
often stop and look around at the people closest to us. Full of intrigue, sword
fights, humor, and showcasing the strength of many against the one, this novel
is a great read for fantasy lovers!"

The Bibliophilic Book Blog




Except from the Book

“Are you a good rider?” she asked.

It took me a moment to find my
voice. “I have had a compliment or two in my time.”

“Then let’s see if you can catch
me.” Snatching up the reins like some crazed and exquisite
Amazon, she whacked her heels into Cassie’s flanks, and
shot off across the meadow like a vision in a dream."







About Gahan Hanmer

Born into a family of well-known actors
and painters, Gahan Hanmer naturally gravitated toward the arts. He
speaks French and Spanish and has a Master of Fine Arts degree from Columbia
University. The Kingdom on the Edge of Reality is available
at: Amazon, My Book Orders,, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and on his website.  Ask Gahan Hanmer questions by visiting his
website at http://thekingdomontheedgeofreality.com/contact.htm.

Contest







This Giveaway is open Internationally.

PRIZES 1 Winners will each receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal Cash.



a Rafflecopter giveaway




Or Enter Here

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/5ea48b526/?

Not so Easy by Sherry Gammon

To celebrate the re-launch of Not So Easy (Souls in Peril) I am giving away TWO audio books!



Not So Easy (Souls in Peril) has a new cover, exciting edits, (a new chapter has been added), and now Not So Easy is an audio book, narrated by the talented Ryan Shaughnessy.


Not So Easy has a 4.9 out of 5 star rating on Amazon!


Blurb:

Not So Easy  


Senior Max Sanchez has it all.

Junior
JD Miller’s life is Not So Easy. He’s the star pitcher for Port Fare
High’s baseball team. He’s dating the 

head cheerleader, Emma McKay, and he has a great group of
friends. 

Unlike Max,
JD struggles with making friends. He’s a social misfit, and 

he’s being bullied at every turn. He’s also barely
surviving. 

A tragic accident changes everything, merging their lives
together, 

and Max soon learns that life is not so easy for everyone. Max
works to the point of exhaustion trying to help JD survive the chaos that
is his life, and his eyes are opened to a world he had no idea even existed.





























Not so Easy
is a story about hope, surviving, and never giving up. 



*Kindle booklove: Dani: 10 Wonderful, Amazing, Fantastic Stars This story will stay with me forever. It spoke to my soul because I know what it's like to be bullied relentlessly by kids at school and then go home and have to deal with an abusive stepfather and feel like you have nobody to turn to, nobody to trust, and nowhere to go. I know as it said at the end of the book that not all people being bullied have the same home situations but mine almost resembled Izzy's experience with some differences of course. My heart broke while reading about JD's and Izzy's story. I cried for them and their situation. I fell in love with Emma's character because she was one of those rare people with an untarnished soul who doesn't look at people and judge them by what they look like....Read the full review here:
* Momma's Books. Brandy: If I could rate this book a 10 I would but Goodreads as well as amazon will only allow a 5. So it is 5+++++++  It was such an emotional read for me. It took me less than 24 hours to read this book once I started I could not put it down. I am honestly at a loss for words to explain how I feel about this book. But I will try so here I go… You will be taken on an emotional ride and your heart will hurt more times than not. You will wish you could just jump into the book and just rescue JD. I know I absolutely fell in love with Em she is the sweetest and kindest kid. I can only hope that my children turn out to be like her... It is absolutely AMAZING! Read full review (and check out the old cover;) here:
* Donna~ The Romance Cover Heart wrenching, sobbed and sobbed through this book, so many familiar circumstances it was like reliving my school life all over again...very sad, very emotional but unfortunately oh so very true. A fabulous book, that puts you through an emotional wringer..not my usual romance but a great YA book that had some very important messages throughout the book..brilliant.
Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iBooks | Scrib | Audio



 Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? I’m from a cornfield an hour and a half southwest of Chicago and the oldest of three children. I was high school valedictorian and passed the CPA exam after obtaining a Masters degree in accounting. Then I followed my dream and moved to Los Angeles to make a career in acting and not from a cubicle. Every day brings a new adventure!


What do you do when you are not acting/narrating? Every day I’m doing something that relates to my acting. Whether it be auditioning, shooting, or social networking, the acting never stops. Even when I’m watching shows on Netflix, I watch certain shows that would appeal to my age demographic.


What is your favorite smell? Mom’s pot roast coming from the slow cooker when I travel back to Illinois.


What was your first acting project? There were the spring concert shows in grade school, but my first main gig was in the summer before my 8th grade year where I was the ventriloquist’s dummy in the radio show in a production of “Annie”.


How/Why did you get into acting? I love entertaining people. After getting a feel of making so many people laugh with my lines, I was hooked. Looking back, I wish I would have pursued in sooner, but I didn’t realize I could make a career of it because of how and where I was raised.


If you had 24 hours to live, excluding spending time with your family, what would you do? Skydive, ride in a hot air balloon, bungee jump off a bridge, and take my family to the gorgeous beaches of Thailand


What is your favorite kind of cheese? Pepperjack


Is there any particular actor or book that influenced you growing up or as an adult? I grew up watching all the James Bond and Indiana Jones movies. It’s been a goal of mine to be James when I’m the right age. But Harrison Ford has always been an influence because he is also from Illinois and wasn’t given much of a shot at the beginning of his acting career. I feel I am very similar to him in that regard in that we both have had a chip on our shoulders to prove the world wrong.


Would I find anything growing in your refrigerator right now? Nope. I keep things pretty clean. If I let one thing go, it would probably be the dust in my bedroom.


How would you describe yourself in three words? Intelligent, sarcastic, loyal


Who is your favorite actor? It’s hard to pick just one. Sean Connery, Harrison Ford, Denzel Washington, Matt Damon, and Tom Hanks are at the top of the list.


What is your favorite part of acting and why? Your least favorite and why? Favorite: Things are always changing but yet they are still structured. You may be on the same set, but the storyline is changing and things don’t get stagnant. Worst: Rejection haha.


Chocolate or Brussels sprouts? I’m a fan of both actually, especially if the brussels sprouts are doused in butter.


What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an actor? I was new to a class and the teacher thought I wasn’t taking the scene seriously. He said I wouldn’t amount to anything.


What has been the best compliment given to you as an actor? I took a three week intensive with a casting director, and after we finished the scene in the last week, he told me he could easily see me as a contract role on the show.


What is your least favorite smell? Rotten eggs


Do you have any advice to give to aspiring actors? If a kid from a small town in Illinois with no formal training can move across the country and find a place in this crazy entertainment world, there is no reason you can’t do the same. You will most likely need lots of patience and a strong backbone, and most people from back home won’t understand the extent of what you are doing. But you will. As long as you believe this is what you were made to do, you will find a way to make it happen.



What other are saying about Not So Easy (from the Souls in Peril series):






*Once Upon a Twilight: As I try to compose all my emotions to write this review I feel an overwhelming responsibility to do justice to this book through my review. I laughed, I cried, I felt such bewildering sadness and in the end I laughed again. Sherry Gammon takes us on an astonishing journey through the eyes of Max Sanchez. Handsome and athletic with a wonderful and supportive family, Max lives a charmed life. Even as a seventeen year old Max knows that his girlfriend Emma will be the woman he grows old with. Em's beauty and brains are only out shone by her inner compassion and kindness. Max already recognizes that he can learn from her sweetness and tolerance. For the full review click her (Warning: SPOILER ALERT!)






                 * Dani of KindleBookLove.blogspot.com: Wonderful, Amazing, Fantastic Stars. This story will stay with me forever. It spoke to my soul...This book is amazingly written and so awesome. I will never forget this book. It got me deep... I recommend it to everybody with children, children, and adults alike. Everybody should read this amazing book. 





* Camelia Skiba:  Sherry drives the reader to real emotions masterfully creating trials, conflicts and doubts. You'll cry and laugh, ache and root for these heroes. I also liked the messages that come with this book, that life is worth living, that we should never give up and we should always try our best.





                   * Cindy Bennett: Souls in Peril is seriously one of the best books I've ever read. It had me in turn laughing and crying, my heart aching for all the characters involved. 



Gammon's writing is full of humor, sorrow, realism, and pulls you into places you might not want to go, but will be happy you did when all is said and done. I HIGHLY recommend this book!  





More reviews here, here and here.






Purchase links



Not So Easy ebook is specially priced for the next few weeks as I introduce the exciting audio book. 





Here is a fun interview with my narrator Ryan Shaughnessy



Ryan's Links



http://www.imdb.me/ryanshaughnessy



Demo: http://youtu.be/hZ9ox8Q2HbI



Viral Clip: http://youtu.be/hbeEuYAZFL4



@RynoShaughnessy (Twitter and Instagram)







Enter to win an audio book!

a Rafflecopter giveaway






Thanks for stopping by!

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Lady and the Minstrel by Joyce DiPastena

In 13th century England, Robert Marcel chafes against the law that holds him bound as a villein on his lord’s manor. He tries to make a daring escape and is nearly caught by his cruel master, but a young girl helps him slip away.



Years pass and Robert takes up trade as a minstrel. Invited to play at a banquet for the notorious Earl of Saxton, he is stunned to come face to face with the girl he’s never forgotten—now Lady Marguerite of Winbourne, betrothed to the earl. Her status as a noblewoman puts her completely out of Robert’s reach, but he knows they are meant to be together. He vows to make her his wife no matter what the cost.

Lady Marguerite has often thought of the young man she helped escape. Her tender feelings for him quickly turn into much more when they are brought back into each other’s lives. She longs to be free to marry Robert, the man she loves, but that will require her to sacrifice all she holds dear.



They are tested at every turn by those bent on driving them apart and destroying what they have found together. Can their love truly conquer all?



My review:

I've long been a fan of Joyce DiPastena's books, but this one is a personal favorite. I became so invested in Marguerite and Robert's story I found myself reading when I should've been working on my own writing or playing with my boys. This is such a touching and romantic story and I love that it also had a lot of action in it. I would highly recommend Lady and the Minstrel.



Buy Kindle or Print from Amazon

Buy NOOK Book from Barnes & Noble

Buy iBook from iTunes

Buy eBook from Kobo

Buy eBook from Smashwords

Prom

Not sure when my little boy grew up!




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Reading

"The man who doesn't read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them." Mark Twain
I taught my young women about the dark ages and had to fight tears as I thought about all those people who were illiterate and couldn't lose themselves in good book, couldn't read the Bible. I often forget how blessed I am. 

It is shocking to me how many people tell me, "I don't read." They aren't saying they don't know how to read, but they choose not to.

There are so many distractions in our world that I understand why people feel like they don't have time to read, but when you think about all the benefits to reading: Mental stimulation, stress reduction, memory improvement, help prevent Alzheimer's disease, better sleep, prevent depression, the list goes on. 

I love to read, but life is busy for all of us and I know it's hard to fit it in. I read in the bathroom, on the treadmill, while I eat lunch, while I wait for boys at lacrosse practice, when I get tired of chasing my four-year old at the park, anytime I can fit it in.



How do you fit reading in?

Do you feel reading benefits you?





10 Benefits of Reading: Why You Should Read Everyday - http://www.lifehack.org/articles/life... 

7 Unconventional Reasons Why You Absolutely Should be Reading Books - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10...

Between Now & Never by Laura Johnston

Contemporary YA Clean Romance

Now available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kensington Publishing, Kobo, and other online retailers.








A
convict’s daughter should never fall for an FBI agent’s son, certainly not a
feisty teenager like Julianna Schultz who is furious over her mother’s
incarceration and the injustice of it all. But that’s exactly what
seventeen-year-old Julianna finds herself doing when Cody Rush, the cocky son
of the FBI agent who put her mom behind bars, moves into her hometown of
Gilbert, Arizona.







Cody Rush—studious,
principled, athletic, good looking and blond to boot—is everything Julianna
hates, or so she thinks. Yet a series of ill-fated events one night brings them
dangerously close, entangling the futures of two people who were never meant to
be…








 Find BETWEEN NOW & NEVER for $3.03 on Amazon

BETWEEN NOW & NEVER on Goodreads

And on Barnes and Noble














Excerpt—Photo Booth

JULIANNA




We listen to the monotone voice
reel off instructions. Four pictures. A light will flash before each picture is
taken. Etcetera. How I ended up in this position I’m not sure. We both sit,
staring at our reflections on the dark plastic and, no doubt, both stuck on the
same thought that crosses everyone’s mind when they’re on this seat.

“Quick,” I say, “what should we
do?”

A flash of light. Picture one down.
Both of our mouths were hanging open, blank stares straight ahead.

We burst into laughter and can’t
stop. A second flash. Picture number two: both of us laughing.

Our gazes meet and we pull
ourselves together, his eyes never veering from mine. He leans toward me,
coming halfway before pausing, his eyes seeking permission. I regard him with
equal parts terror and anticipation, the intimacy of the situation whispering a
thrill. He closes the distance between us and glides his nose through my hair.
My heart rattles around as though this is the first boy I’ve ever been close
to.



“Now smile,” he whispers into my
ear. Even if I should be creeped out, forget it. My cheeks burn despite myself
and I feel the corners of my lips tugging upward. A flash of light signals the
third picture and I am totally seduced.




About the Author



Laura's Facebook Page, Twitter, Blog, Goodreads




Laura
Johnston lives in Utah with her husband and three children. Growing up with
five siblings, a few horses, peach trees, beehives and gardens, she developed
an active imagination and always loved a good story. She fell in love with the
young adult genre both through her experience in high school as well as her job
later as a high school teacher. Laura enjoys running, playing tennis, sewing,
traveling, writing, and above all, spending time with her husband and kids.







About Writing BETWEEN NOW & NEVER

My husband was a special agent for five
years, and while I’m sure he would have loved it if I’d written an intense
thriller about Special Agent Johnston thanks to all of his crazy stories
(sorry, babe…maybe someday!), I wrote a romance instead.

The convict’s daughter and the FBI
agent’s son—I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Couldn’t resist.

Soon, characters began taking shape.
And then a certain photo booth scene that had been on my mind for years came
back to me. For so long, I couldn’t shake the image of two strangers meeting in
the mall at a photo booth. I frequently wondered why I couldn’t stop thinking
about these two mysterious people.

The two characters now had a face, a
name.

Julianna,
the convict's daughter; Cody, the FBI agent's son.

Julianna
doesn't realize who Cody is at first. Yet he does—Cody knows who she is, knows
his dad put her mom behind bars. And he's into her. And Julianna is into him. However,
Cody knows it won't last...as soon as she figures out who he is.

Add to
all of this the fact that Cody knows Julianna is in danger and we have their
first meeting, near a photo booth, right after Julianna gets off work at the
mall.

















Their story was something else to
write, and I’m so excited to see it in print!







Be sure to add BETWEEN NOW & NEVER to your to-read list on Goodreads and get your print or eBopy copy on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kensington Publishing, Kobo, or select other online retailers.