Shiloh Walker's Blog, page 157

A Forever Kind of Love…#5

ebook release April 2011

You can always come home.

Second chances come a little harder.

Chase and Zoe were the high school golden couple. Football captain, cheerleader, prom royalty.

After graduation, though, Chase couldn't resist the urge to experience life outside their small town. He didn't exactly expect Zoe to wait twelve years for him, but now that he's back, he finds some small part of him hoping she did.

It's no big surprise she's married. The kick in the face is she married his best friend.

Zoe was devastated when Chase left, but she's filed those bittersweet memories under "Moved On". She loves her life, and loves her husband. She has all she needs. And Chase keeps an honorable distance.

One cold, wet, miserable day, tragedy turns Zoe's world upside down. Chase never expected her to simply fall into his arms, but a man can dream. Except his dream doesn't include the fact that this time, she's the one hitting the road…and he's the one left behind.

Six months later

"Ungrateful slut." Grace Childers peered at her daughter through milky, unhappy blue eyes, her mouth pinched and angry, her hands curled into tight fists. "Just go away and leave me alone. Stupid, ungrateful slut."

At eighteen, those words had hurt. They had slashed through her heart and her tears had been like salt water in an open wound.

Now, as she stared at her mother's aging, unhappy face, she felt more pity than pain. Still, she couldn't completely hide the wince as her mother continued to mutter in disgust.

Not that the woman entirely understood just what she was ranting about. Not now. Early onset Alzheimer's had taken a miserable but sharp woman and made her into a miserable woman who barely remembered her own name.

Stroking her mother's tangled hair back from her face, Zoe said, "Mama, it's time to eat. Aren't you hungry?"

In response, Grace Childers picked up the bowl of soup and if Zoe hadn't moved, she would have been wearing it.

One of those days. It was going to be one of those days.

Her phone rang and she glanced down, saw Roger's number. As she went about cleaning up the soup, she answered. "Hey, sweetie. How was the doctor's appointment?"

~*~

Some days just went from bad to worse. They started out miserable and just went to outright fucked up as the day progressed.

This had been one of them—it had started out shitty, and hit the fucked-up stage well before lunch had rolled around. Chase hadn't even gotten around to eating lunch, something his hollow stomach wasn't about to let him forget.

He had been back home for six months.

Six lousy, awful months and every damn day, he thought about just leaving. He could sell the car he'd bought, load up his bike and just leave. One of the reasons he'd come back no longer existed…at least not for him.

And because of that, he'd deliberately created himself another reason—he'd bought the town's sole bookstore. He didn't know jackshit about running a business, although thank God the store's manager did and she'd been delighted to hang around, not to mention delighted to hang around with somebody who wasn't opposed to bringing the store into the current century.

But that was a nightmare of work and today was the pinnacle of those nightmares.

But Tiffany finally had things under control and as she chattered with customers, he slipped into the back office and took five seconds to swear under his breath.

"Lousy day," he said. "Lousy fucking day."

The day was done, he could go home, eat. Collapse.

No, he had some books to sort through, he remembered as he stared at the box sitting on his desk. Okay, go home, eat, sort through the books, then collapse.

Hefting the bag of books onto his shoulder, he headed out of the office and slipped out the back door.

The Book Nook had been Warren's only bookstore for as long as he could remember. Now it was his bookstore. It had gone up for sale just two days after he'd come back home, when he'd seriously been considering whether he'd should get the hell out or really trying making this place his home.

In the end, there hadn't been much of a contest.

Warren had always been home.

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A Forever Kind of Love…#4

ebook release April 2011

You can always come home.

Second chances come a little harder.

Chase and Zoe were the high school golden couple. Football captain, cheerleader, prom royalty.

After graduation, though, Chase couldn't resist the urge to experience life outside their small town. He didn't exactly expect Zoe to wait twelve years for him, but now that he's back, he finds some small part of him hoping she did.

It's no big surprise she's married. The kick in the face is she married his best friend.

Zoe was devastated when Chase left, but she's filed those bittersweet memories under "Moved On". She loves her life, and loves her husband. She has all she needs. And Chase keeps an honorable distance.

One cold, wet, miserable day, tragedy turns Zoe's world upside down. Chase never expected her to simply fall into his arms, but a man can dream. Except his dream doesn't include the fact that this time, she's the one hitting the road…and he's the one left behind.

"Dad."

James Cochran lowered his eyes to the picture and sighed. Reaching out, he took the picture and studied it. Then he looked up at Chase and shook his head. "What do you want me to say, son? You were gone."

"You could have told me," Chase said, his voice harsh, flat. "You could have told me I'd spent the past fifteen years of my life thinking about a girl who is pretty much out of my reach now."

"If she meant that much to you, you shouldn't have waited so long to come back. Or maybe you should have given her a little bit more thought before you decided to disappear from her life," James said quietly. Then he took the picture and put it back on the shelf. "And I wasn't going to tell you, because there were…issues."

"Issues."

Chase studied Zoe's lovely face. She wasn't smiling, but she looked so lovely, so delicate, ethereal, even. They looked like a matching set, her and Roger.

"When did they get married?"

There was no answer. Lifting his head, he looked back at his dad. Quietly, he said again, "When?"

"That August."

That August.

Shit, he could imagine the issues.

Roger had been the issue. Roger had always had a thing for Zoe. He hadn't ever made a move on her but still…

"They're happy?" Envy, disbelief—pain—warred inside. She was gone. Out of reach. Turning, he looked at his dad and asked again, "Are they happy? Is she happy?"

"Yes." James tucked his hands in his pockets and nodded. "They're very happy."

"Okay. Yeah. Okay." It wasn't okay, though. Carefully, Chase set the picture down and then he turned away. Just as carefully, he tucked the necklace back inside his pocket. If he was smart, he'd throw it away.

But he wasn't smart.

He'd never been smart.

If he was smart, he would have taken her with him when he left.

Or he would have written.

Would have tried to call back and talk to her.

If he was smart, he wouldn't still let her have a hold on him after all this time.

"Chase?"

Looking at his dad, he asked, "Yeah?"

"You okay?"

He gave the old man a smile.

"Why wouldn't I be?"

But as he turned away, he could have sworn he heard his heart shattering inside his chest.

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Kindle | Nook | Samhain

Pssst…. lookie (also, news)

Wanna know what that's about?  Go .

Also, if the blog goes dead for a few days here and there, or you don't see me much on twitter/facebook, don't worry.

I found out I have to have surgery…again… ugh.  It's set for the the end of the month.  Don't ask, I'd rather not go into detail, but it's related to a problem I had last year and the doctor doesn't want to put it off.  I have a tendency to go in major lurk mode when I've got things on my mind, so if I'm not around a whole lot, it's just because I'm off to deal in my own special, sullen (I need to brood) way.

Sooo…. what is this…

Have an idea? Any idea?

Come on… just take a guess.  It could be worth your while… *G*

Soldier needing some letters, etc.

From Kelley…

We have 3 months to take care of this soldier.  Can you all help….start out with letters or if you want to jump in and do snack boxes have at it!

if theres anyway anyone could put some snacks or beef jerkey together in a box and send it. Not only would I really appreciate it but you would probably make his month over here. Thank you for your time.

His address:

PFC Dan Mason

832 En Co. 113 Cav

2-34th IBCT

APO AE 09354

Not sure what to send? Check out the Soldier Care Package FAQ

A Forever Kind of Love…#3

ebook release April 26 2011

You can always come home.

Second chances come a little harder.

Chase and Zoe were the high school golden couple. Football captain, cheerleader, prom royalty.

After graduation, though, Chase couldn't resist the urge to experience life outside their small town. He didn't exactly expect Zoe to wait twelve years for him, but now that he's back, he finds some small part of him hoping she did.

It's no big surprise she's married. The kick in the face is she married his best friend.

Zoe was devastated when Chase left, but she's filed those bittersweet memories under "Moved On". She loves her life, and loves her husband. She has all she needs. And Chase keeps an honorable distance.

One cold, wet, miserable day, tragedy turns Zoe's world upside down. Chase never expected her to simply fall into his arms, but a man can dream. Except his dream doesn't include the fact that this time, she's the one hitting the road…and he's the one left behind.

But he'd just needed to get away. He'd been eighteen, edgy and restless, and the girl who had looked at him with her heart in her eyes had…hell. It had made it worse somehow, because part of him had wanted to stay. Wanted to give her everything she'd wanted and never asked for.

"Get it over with," he muttered, rubbing a hand up and down his face. "Just get it over with."

Setting his jaw, he jogged up the steps.

Dad wasn't expecting him, but that didn't concern Chase.

The mayor's office was quiet—half of the staff out to lunch.

The secretary, though, she recognized Chase and with a beaming smile, ushered him in.

In his dad's office, a faint smile curling his lips, he studied the certificates, plaques and pictures on the walls.

His dad, the mayor. From small town police officer, to chief of police, to mayor.

What the hell.

One picture caught his eye and he narrowed his eyes, moved closer.

Huh.

Roger. Roger Kirkbride. "I'll be damned," Chase murmured. He skimmed the article below and then started to laugh.

Roger had been his best friend in high school. Apparently the guy had decided small town life—and politics—was his thing.

He was Dad's right-hand man.

Still smirking, Chase set the picture and moved on, studying the rest of the framed pictures.

The third one he picked up wiped the smile from his face and just about knocked the breath right out of his lungs.

Zoe.

His right fist clenched. A sharp pain jabbed into his palm and he looked down, opened it. Dazed, he realized he'd still been holding the necklace.

The door opened and he turned, stared at the man in the doorway.

His father.

All of a sudden, he understood why Zoe had been off limits.

"Hi, Dad."

"Chase…" A smile creased the older man's face and he crossed the room.

His father hugged him and Chase briefly returned the embrace.

Briefly.

But then he eased back and looked at the picture he had yet to put down.

Zoe's wedding picture.

Preorder

Kindle | Nook | Samhain

For the non-linear plotter

Maybe try mind-mapping

This is TOTAL RECALL, a mindmapping app (free) on the iPhone-wish the developer would do one for Android.  I'd prefer doing it on the Galaxy tab, but none of them work as well as I'd like.  So this does the trick, for now.

The other mindmaps available for Android may suit you well enough.

How to use it?  Well, that's up to you.  You create a map.  I like it better because I see my book in a short series of ideas and I connect them, so to speak-an image like this lets me do it. Much easier than typical plotting methods.

Book bloggers…

I need a few book bloggers to do reviews on A FOREVER KIND OF LOVE…

You can always come home.

Second chances come a little harder.

Chase and Zoe were the high school golden couple. Football captain, cheerleader, prom royalty.

After graduation, though, Chase couldn't resist the urge to experience life outside their small town. He didn't exactly expect Zoe to wait twelve years for him, but now that he's back, he finds some small part of him hoping she did.

It's no big surprise she's married. The kick in the face is she married his best friend.

Zoe was devastated when Chase left, but she's filed those bittersweet memories under "Moved On". She loves her life, and loves her husband. She has all she needs. And Chase keeps an honorable distance.

One cold, wet, miserable day, tragedy turns Zoe's world upside down. Chase never expected her to simply fall into his arms, but a man can dream. Except his dream doesn't include the fact that this time, she's the one hitting the road…and he's the one left behind.

This isn't erotic romance… it's probably hot, but not erotic.  It's also probably a tear-jerker.  Interested?  Then I'd like you to email my admin Nicole (not me!!!) at grimmhunter.shilohwalker@gmail.com.  Make sure to include a link to your blog.  We'll check them out and a couple of people will get digital copies of the book.

Please note… this isn't a contest. **

This also isn't a 'I'm giving you a book, so you have to give me a good review.'  All I ask for is honest opinion, posted to your blog either the week of April 18 or the week of April 25. (Yes, I know that's short notice-if you can't, then please don't request the ARC-if it helps, it's not a long book, roughly category length.)

ETA: Also, the reviews have to be on a blog…you can also post to FB as well, Amazon, Goodreads, etc, if you choose, but the review must be on your blog.

Keep in mind that if you've received ARCs from me (or if you receive this) and you don't get the review posted by the agreed time, you're less likely to receive ARCs from me in the future.  This isn't done to be mean, but I only send out a limited number and those who get the reviews posted by the agreed date will be those who get first priority.

**there will be a contest for a copy.  soon. I'll make sure Nicole reminds me…

Have You Read…

So I've mentioned that EC has dropped it's prices on some of the titles at 3rd party etailers…Nook, Kindle, etc… my titles are included.

For the next few months, off and on, I'm going to post excerpts from my older EC titles.  :) Just to be helpful, ya know..  ;)

Allie. Remember that? Little Allie? You and Mike taught her how to ride her bike?

So now I can teach her to ride me…

FUCK!

Damn it to hell, he didn't want to be here.

He didn't want to see Allie, didn't want to remember that night. He had been such a fucking coward. He should have at least gone after her and made sure she was all right—apologized.

Fucked her again.

Shit.

No, he didn't want to be here. But how could he tell his best friend—who was worried about his pregnant wife—that he couldn't pick Allie up because he'd fucked her brains out, it was the best fuck of his life, and now he was scared to see her again?

Still no Allie.

Probably missed her flight.

From the corner of his eye, he could see the little brunette approaching, and he started to hope Allie had missed the flight. She looked vaguely familiar, especially those green eyes. If Allie had missed her flight, then he could flirt with this much safer brunette with the wide smile. He could push Allie out of his mind temporarily, talk this cute thing into grabbing a bite with him, and he would put dealing with Allie off again.

He'd been successfully doing just that for months.

"Alex?"

His head swung around, his eyes narrowed. He knew that voice. He'd often wondered why God had wasted such a soft, throaty voice on a woman like Alison Ryan. Half the time, she was even afraid to talk, and when she did, it was in stops and starts that made her sound breathless.

But it wasn't Alison standing in front of him.

This long, leggy brunette had sun-streaked brown hair that tumbled and curled around a sweet, elfin face and a laughing smile on her sexy mouth. This sexy thing had big green eyes that met his head on while Allie preferred to stare past his shoulder, at her feet, or at his butt when she thought he wasn't looking.

Long slim legs outlined by form fitting jeans, a beat up pair of Nikes. Slim hips, the glimpse of a tight ass. He dragged his eyes back up the amazing pair of legs, over the mint green sweater tank that molded itself to her—not Allie. Couldn't be.

This cute thing had round, mouthwatering little breasts…just like Allie's. A smooth, slim white neck, a pink mouth…just like Allie's.

Oh, hell.

She arched an eyebrow and her luscious mouth opened again. "Have you seen Mike?"

"Allie?"

She grinned, and Alex blinked his eyes, certain sleep deprivation was playing a dirty trick on him.

"Long time, no see," she said, even though he could tell she was snickering inside.

"Uh, he, Mike asked me if I could pick you up. Lori had to go to the doctor, some kind of stomach bug." Drawing his sunglasses from his pocket, he slid them on, wanting to study her a little closer, without her grinning at him like that.

Like she knew he had been hit across the head with a two-by-four.

You can find the books at places like the Nook store, ARe & Kindle

#Fridayreads… One Scream Away

Kate Brady's One Scream Away

I just finished this.  It was pretty damn good.

"That's bullshit," Neil said, but Rick cut in.

"Maybe not."

"What?" Neil asked and Rick looked at the floor.

Okay, so this week's prize is going to be an unsigned copy of One Scream Away. To enter, read the rules…

About the Friday Reads

Want to enter for a chance to win this book? Do the following…

Grab a book…any book.
Turn to page 56.
Find the fifth sentence.
Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) in the comments section of this blog to enter
A winner will be posted here within a week or so-please read the disclaimer-entering means you've READ the disclaimer and all entries must be via the blog-not FB, not goodreads, etc.  Standard contest rules apply, and yep, those are in the disclaimer…please make sure you read it!

Last week's winner?  Winner of Eternal Rider…infinitieh, who commented:

"You will, in due course. If there is a crisis, and you see me opening the box, gather the rest of the part in close. This is important. Can you do that?"

"Knot Gneiss" by Piers Anthony

infinitieh, I need you to email my admin Nicole at grimmhunter.shilohwalker@gmail.com-she'll get your info!

Just a reminder guys… when you enter, that means you understand the rules.  One of them is winner name is posted to blog-that is how the winner is notified.  Then you have to get in contact.  Winners have two weeks, or the prize is forfeited.  One of our winners recently lost a prize because we didn't hear from her, still haven't.  An easy way to not miss out is to sign up for my blog feed, up in the box on the left!  :)