Rebecca Talley's Blog, page 5

Great Books, Great SALE!

If you love to read, here are some great books for great prices!

Aura, my YA urban fantasy, is on SALE beginning Wednesday, May 20th through Monday, May 25th. The ebook is only $.99 and is FREE for Kindle Unlimited members. Look at these other fantastic books too! Load up your Kindle with awesome books.

If you know anyone who loves to read, please share this sale with them.

Thanks!!

Aura
SALE Price $.99
Regular Price $2.99
FREE for Kindle Unlimited members

What if the greatest weapon in the age-old war between good and evil was inside of you? 

Crystal Scott has always felt different but tried hard to blend in. Now that she's scored the lead in the school play, has a boyfriend she adores, and a best friend she can't live without, she finally feels like she belongs. 

A few days before prom, a mysterious young man appears and suddenly she has to figure out how to use the weapon of Light she has inside her or mankind is doomed. 

Demons are determined to tip the war in their favor no matter what the cost and they're hot on Crystal's trail. With danger around every corner, she doesn't know if she can save herself, never mind anyone else. When things look darkest and there's nowhere to turn, Crystal must find the strength to use her newfound gifts against the tide of evil threatening all of them--or die trying.

Purchase Aura on Amazon


Ring on Her Finger
Lisa Swinton
$3.99

What happened in Vegas should stay there, not follow Amanda home, newly wedded to the man who broke her heart.

After celebrating college graduation with her friends in Las Vegas, Amanda St. Claire wakes up with a terrible hangover and a ring on her finger. Her day gets worse when she finds out she's married to rich playboy Blake Worthington—the guy she has loathed the past four years.

Amanda convinces Blake to legally terminate the marriage and they both return home like nothing ever happened. That is, until Blake shows up on her doorstep and Amanda has to come clean with her family.

 Together for better or worse while the legalities are cleared, Amanda reluctantly plays along, but then the unthinkable happens---she finds herself falling in love with Blake. Can they overcome the past? Or will it end their future before it even starts?

Those who enjoy What Happens in Vegas and The Prince and Me will find a kindred spirit in Ring on Her Finger.

Purchase Ring on Her Finger at Amazon

Begin Again 
Brittney MullinerSALE $.99
Escaping her past, Aubrey Tate moves to Southern California for a fresh start with her older brother, Brandon. Starting over at a new school seems easy with her cousin, Mckayla, and her two best friends at her side, but handling the new guys is another matter. Aubrey ends up in the middle of three rivals that each wants her to themselves. Mike claims her first and declares himself her friend and protector. Luke is the school heartthrob that stops Aubrey in her tracks, speechless. Gage is the mysterious, dark outsider that Aubrey can be herself around. 

How will she navigate her new life while she's still haunted by her past?
Purchase Begin Again on Amazon





The Ninth Chosen: The Shadow PrisonK.A. ParkinsonSALE $.99
Sixteen-year-old Macy is not your average teenager--she's a member of the Chosen, an elite group of gifted and magically talented children responsible for protecting the humans from the monsters of the Hidden race. Seventeen-year-old Tolen Parks wants nothing more than to be average, but life for the Ninth Chosen is anything but normal. 
Amidst monsters and Radia Warriors, the pair must discover who they really are and face the heart of darkness in order to achieve victory....
Purchase The Ninth Chosen: The Shadow Prison on Amazon



With a Kiss
Stephanie Fowers
SALE $.99


Faerytales. They're real . . . they just haven't happened yet. Halley Starr finds out the truth when she loses her heart with a curse. Now she has to get it back from that cute faery guy who stole it from her.


*"With a Kiss” is the first book in the Twisted Tales Series.


(Also included in this edition: A glossary of faery terms, Map of the Sidhe, and a List of Fae Creatures)

Purchase With a Kiss on Amazon

Awesome Writing Conference on June 19-20

Do you love to write? Not sure how to get started with your book? Or maybe you have a book you want to polish or maybe you're even at the point you want to dive into indie publishing but you aren't sure how.

We have a conference for you! And it's going to be AWESOME!! Really! You don't want to miss it!

You can register here.


2015 Indie Author Hub Writing & Publishing ConferenceJune 19-20
Marriott Hotel in Provo, Utah
Calling all Word Champions! Sweat Hard, Feel the Burn, Win the Race!Come train with our professionals and cross that finish line!With keynote speaker Michaelbrent Collings, an indie international bestseller in over 40 countries!
Here are the Class Descriptions, sorted by Track


Craft Track


The Psychology of Romance by Janette Rallison
The romance genre is going strong. Come learn the do's and don'ts to make your romance sellable. Avoid pitfalls like insta-love and the ever dreaded sagging middle. Learn how to make sparks fly and keep the tension going.


The Smart Outline by Christina Dymock
We’ll cover the science behind writing your best novel. How to use a mathematical formula to make sure your story stays on track and doesn’t drag. It's easy to do and once you understand the process, you'll put all your manuscripts to the test. Plottersand Pantsers can use this method to improve their writing and editing process.


Creating Suspense by Michaelbrent Collings
Michaelbrent Collings talks about why creating suspense is the most important part of any creative writing, and will also tell you the secret to all happiness, which is [FINAL WORD DELETED FOR PURPOSES OF CREATING SUSPENSE – COME TO THE PRESENTATION TO FIND OUT MORE].


Writing Your Novel from Start to Finish—The Top 10 Secrets to Writing a Brilliant Novel by Rachelle J. Christensen
Discover the best ways to create your novel from first draft to polished submission and learn secrets from several best-selling authors. These tips and tricks will help you in every stage of writing your novel, from start to finish.
Mining Ideas—What to Write Next by Karey WhiteWhat do you do when you just finished your novel and you're not sure what to write next? There are story ideas all around us, we just have to find the one that speaks to us. In this class, we'll talk about how to find new ideas and how to dust off old ideas so they're fresh and inspiring.
Dialog: How to get your characters talking—the right way by Janette RallisonDialog isn't real speech but must sound that way to your reader. In this workshop, you'll learn ten techniques that will help you create the artful deception. You'll learn which deadly tagline mistakes to avoid, how to do away with unnecessary taglines, and the right way to convey needed information to your readers through dialog (and when you shouldn't.)
Comedy & Fear: Two Sides of the Same Coin by Michaelbrent CollingsTwo Sides of the Same Coin – Michaelbrent Collings will explain why killing people is funny, how making jokes can be terrifying, and how both comedy and horror work together to enrich your work.
Putting Pen to Paper: Overcome 5 Obstacles to Make Your “Word Count” by Connie SokolGot a great book idea—or a half-finished one—but find yourself stuck? Make it a reality! Learn how how to deal with self-doubt, better manage your time and resources, pursue the best path for your writing vision, and more efficiently and enjoyably produce marketable books. As a bestselling part-time author who has written 13 books while a mother of seven, I’ll share tips and techniques that get pen to paper and meaningful results!
Romance in Urban Fantasy by Teyla BrantonWomen differ from men in many ways, and bringing out those differences in your speculative novel can enhance reader experience. Even as your heroine blasts away the bad guy or makes life-and-death choices, she can retain her femininity and fall in love. Author Teyla Branton will share the secrets she’s learned studying heroines in speculative novels and writing Unbounded, her popular urban fantasy series.

Chapter Structure—How to Make Every Chapter as Good as the First One by Rachelle J. ChristensenWe place a lot of emphasis on the first chapter and getting everything just right to hook the reader. Why should chapter 12 or 26 be any different? Rachelle will teach you how to break down each chapter using suspense cycles, character arcs, and plot points to create a page-turning novel.
Seriously Funny by Janette RallisonCan humor be taught? We sure hope so or this class might become an awkward exercise in silence. At any rate, Janette Rallison will share what she's learned from writing over a dozen romantic comedies. We'll talk about different types of humor and how to use them in your novel. Everyone loves a character who can make them laugh.
Show, Don't Tell: Eight Ways to Show the Micro and Macro Way by Annette LyonAuthors are constantly told to show rather than tell, but what does that mean specifically, and how do you DO it? We'll break the concept down into eight easy-to-understand but powerful techniques to make your characters, setting, and story come alive.




Marketing/Business Track


Enjoy Your Anonymity by Andrea Pearson
Common mistakes authors make that ruin their potential and how to get them out of your system before you're "discovered." We'll also discuss the average time it takes for authors to become successful, and things you'll want to have set in place before your writing career takes off.


Out with the old and in with the new: marketing that works in today’s saturated market by Cindy Hogan
With the flood of books on sale today, how do you become visible? Come to this class to explore marketing techniques authors are using today to rise to the top and sell tons of books.


Attracting Newsletter Subscribers/Creating Newsletters in Mailchimp by Christine Kersey
Everyone knows about Bookbub and how effective it is. Why not build your own Bookbub by building your mailing list? In this class we'll discuss ideas on how to get and keep people on your mailling list, as well as have a demonstration on builing a professional-looking newsletter using MailChimp.

How to Self-Publish on a Budget by Andrea Pearson
Self-publishing can be incredibly expensive! But it can also be very affordable. Come learn how to get a quality product on the market without selling your furniture and children.


Self-pub Ups and Downs by Michaelbrent Collings
Learn about the goods and bads of self-publishing from that rarest of all creatures: the full-time self-published author who thinks both self- and traditional-publishing have their place, and their ups and downs.
Business, Taxes, and Deductions—Oh, My! by Gwen HaggenTo deduct or not to deduct, that is the question.  Learn from the savvy accountant, Gwen Haggen, all about the ins and outs of smart accounting and how to go about starting your own company.  Illustrations provided by the IRS.
How to Effectively Market Your Books by Abel KeoghMarketing is more than posting on social media or do what other authors are doing. Real marketing is knowing how to find your audience and the most effective way to engage them—and it’s different for every author. Learn the best ways to identify your audience, spread the word about your books, and build an audience no matter what genre you write.
Increasing Your Online Presence by Karlene BrowningThe pool of authors and books is getting more and more confusing and chaotic every day, but the number of actual readers is staying constant. In an overcrowded marketplace, can your target readers find your books? Can they find you? We’ll discuss pros, cons, tips and how-tos on creating a solid online presence that will help readers find YOU when they’re looking for a good book!
Making Time to Write: Finding Balance Between Motherhood and Authorship by Stacy Lynn CarrollHow do you have time to write when you have small children? The answer lies within finding balance in your life, prioritizing, and time management. Author Stacy Lynn Carroll is a fulltime Mommy to three extremely rambunctious children, ages 5, 3, and 1. She spent a lot of time asking herself these very questions. Now, five years later, she has four published works and does not, in fact, neglect her kids. Learn how to prioritize and how to let things go. You don’t need to be perfect to find balance and experience success. And for many, waiting until they're grown isn't an option.
Marketing: The Total Lack of a Silver Bullet or Magic Want by Michaelbrent CollingsThere are no secrets to marketing, and Michaelbrent will let you in on the secret why. And he’ll also talk about marketing YOUR work, both some nuts-and-bolts “how to” and some reasons why you MUST.
Collaborating & Co-Authoring by Heather MooreIncrease your author presence and readership by collaborating with other authors in anthologies, box sets, serials, and collections. Benefits? Time to market is faster. Gain new readers with cross-promotion and readership-sharing. Outside the box creativity.
Copyright and Contracts by Nicholas WellsLearn about copyright and contract from attorney Nicholas Wells. Pre-submitted questions will also be address. Submit those to admit@indieauthorhub.com with Question for Attorney in subject line.



Book Creation/Technical Track


The Creation (of a Book) by Maria Hoagland
Creating a book can be confusing—unless you have a template. Journey with us as we follow the pattern of the Creation as outlined in the book of Genesis to create your own world (or book, in this case). The process will be broken down into manageable chunks (creative periods or days), complete with a checklist to get you from beginning to end—conception through publication. Learn about each stage including organization, writing, rewriting, editing and beta readers, getting the word out, and print and ebook creation.


Getting It Covered: Understanding Excellent Cover Design by Nichole Van
Designing a killer book cover can be nearly as difficult as writing the book itself. Which is a problem, as a book cover is a marketing piece, a hook to draw readers to take a closer look. What design components make for a compelling cover? What can you do to draw potential readers to click on your book when browsing online? This class will explore the finer points of graphic design, enabling you to understand what your cover needs to be in order to effectively market your next novel.


How Scrivener Totally Rocks & Will Make Your Writing Easier & Faster by Annette Lyon
What exactly is Scrivener, and why do so many writers love it? Learn how to use the program to maximize writing time, organize your work and research, map out characters, keep track of progress, export your files, and more. Whether you’re working on flash fiction, an epic novel with several POVs, a project with a ton of research, or a giant thesis with so many parts that it’s an organizational headache, this software is for you. After this Scrivener crash course, you’ll understand what everyone’s talking about.


Off the Rack vs. Custom Tailored: The Pros & Cons of eBook Options by Karlene Browning
Ebooks are more than a passing fad, and successful indie authors must provide their works in as many ebook formats as possible. But how do you do it? We’ll cover the various e-Readers, their formats and distribution channels; grinders (like Smashwords) vs. hand-coding; the pros and cons of doing it yourself vs. hiring it out; the hidden costs behind the “free” options; things that can go wrong and how to avoid them; plus a quick look at the various software tools for the do-it-yourselfers.
Jutoh: The Path of Least Resistance for E-books by Rachael AndersonLearn how to turn your Word document into a professional e-book. This class will walk you each step of the conversion process using the awesome, user-friendly program of Jutoh.
Paperback Typesetting for the Frugally Minded by Rachael AndersonCan't afford to pay a small fortune for InDesign? No problem. Join this step-by-step, hands-on class that will teach you how to make a plain-Jane Word document look like a professionally published book.
Creating a Website Using WordPress by Christine KerseyOne aspect of being a successful Indie author is having a professional looking website. Come see a demonstration on building a simple, yet attractive website, using WordPress.
InDesign: Typesetting Your Book by Catia ShattuckIn this class you’ll learn the basics of typesetting a book for print from start to finish, including how large to make your margins and how to make sure your document will be accepted by CreateSpace. Together, we’ll go through designing the front pages of a book, as well as the first chapter. You’ll not only learn the basics of InDesign but also the anatomy of a book and some design elements that can make your book look more professional. Finally, we’ll address some common issues people face with InDesign when they go through this process (there are many!).
Become an HTML Pro ASAP: Ebook Creation Through Word, HTML, and Calibre (hands-on class) by Stephanie FowersStudents learn to convert a sample manuscript in Microsoft Word to epub and mobi by using HTML editing and Calibre. In order to attend this class, please email stephaniefowers (at) gmail (dot) com by June 1st with the subject HTML IAH Publishing Conference to receive class materials. You must bring a laptop with Microsoft Word (a version that can save to html), and download the following free software: Calibre, Kindle previewer, Adobe epub previewer, notepad ++ and 7-Zip.
Why Pay a Middleman? (How to Upload Directly to all Vendors) by Christine KerseyThis class will walk you through the steps to upload your epub file to all of the major vendors (Amazon, B&N, Apple, GooglePlay, Kobo, D2D, Smashwords)
Photoshop 101 by James CurwenCome learn the basics of Photoshop, along with hints, tips, and tricks! We'll discuss mostly CS6 but can instruct on lower (and higher) versions as well.
So You Think You Want to Create an Audiobook by Cheri Schmidt and Berin StephensHow does one go about turning their novel into an audiobook? In this class, you will learn how to use ACX and how to find the right narrator for your story. But what if you want to record it yourself? You will also learn what equipment and software is necessary to create a quality recording as well as what basic techniques to use when recording and editing. Once you have your audiobook, then what? Then it's time to learn the tricks to marketing it and to get paid.

Register here.

Imperfect Love Nominated for a RONE Award

I received an email yesterday from InD'Tale Magazine that my novel, Imperfect Love, has been nominated for a RONE Award and is now in the second round. I'm ecstatic! During this round, people vote and the books receiving the highest votes move on to the next round where judges read and rate them. 


If you've read Imperfect Love and feel it deserves to move to the next round, you can vote for it here. You do have to join the site, which is pretty easy and totally free (and you have to click on the link in an email they send you to activate your membership). As part of your membership, you will receive InD'Tale Magazine with book reviews and author interviews.

I feel very honored that my book has been nominated and would be very grateful and super excited if you helped it move on to the next round. You can vote for Imperfect Love here.
Thank you so much for your consideration!

Christmas in Colorado

We went to Colorado for Christmas and had a wonderful time with all the kids. It was so great having all of my children, my daughter-in-law, and my granddaughter all together. I did learn that I have forgotten what it's like to have a two year old.
My very adorable granddaughter had quite the adventures while we were together. She found a crayon and decided to decorate the large window in the living room. She then decided that a bedroom upstairs needed some additions. She found my daughter's liquid cover-up, took the cap off, then jumped up and down on the bed splattering said make-up all over the comforter, the sheets, her brand new Christmas outfit, and the carpet. It is now a permanent reminder of her visit there.
And then she found the water. She filled the bathroom sink with some shoes and some toilet paper and turned on the faucet. She didn't, however, turn off the faucet. The water filled the sink then ran all over the floor, found the heating vent, and followed it to the ceiling in the basement. By the time we discovered her surprise, the water had soaked the sheetrock in the ceiling and had soaked the couch and carpet beneath. Fun times! It's a good thing she's so super cute.
It snowed the day after Christmas, which was beautiful. We got to play in the snow, make some snow angels, and have a few snowball fights. 
It was wonderful seeing family and friends and enjoying the holidays in Colorado. I miss family and friends and I miss those snow-capped mountains!

Rough Around the Edges Meets Refined by Rachael Anderson

Rough Around the Edges Meets Refined (Meet Your Match #2) by Rachael Anderson

For Noah Mackie, life is finally back on track. He has a great support system, a promised promotion is on its way, and he's finally getting the hang of this single father thing. But when the job falls through and his neighbor's matchmaking efforts become more aggressive,

Noah is in for yet another unwanted detour. With his career and two spirited daughters to worry about, he doesn't have time for dating—especially not someone like Cassie Ellis, his girls' beautiful and sophisticated dance instructor, who is about as open and approachable as a brick wall.

Rough around the Edges Meets Refined is about two people who think they know exactly what they want but who have no idea what they really need. It's about learning that people aren't always what they seem and that sometimes life’s detours take you exactly where you need to go.  




My Review:

5 Stars

This is such a fun, romantic, sweet story. I loved, loved, loved the characters! The two little girls are adorable. I loved that characters from the first book in the series made an appearance, because I really liked Emma and Kevin and I love what happens to them in this book.

I think both Cassie and Noah are rough around the edges, but for different reasons. Cassie finds it hard to trust. She's lost herself while in a bad marriage and now that she's free to be whomever she wants, she isn't even sure who that is. I loved experiencing her soul-searching and finding out who she really is.

Noah has his own baggage. He is a fantastic father and the scenes between him and his daughters are very tender as they all try to heal from their loss.

The romance built up naturally and had plenty of intensity. Rachael Anderson is masterful at writing romance!  It kept me reading long into the night.

If you are looking for a sweet, clean, fun romance that leaves you smiling, this is a book you don't want to miss. I highly recommend it.

Purchase Your Copy from Amazon.com
Excerpt:
Through the curtains hanging across Noah’s front window, Cassie could see the glow of what appeared to be little white lights framing the window. She hesitated on the front porch, pulling her jacket tighter around the long, flowing top she’d chosen to wear with her favorite charcoal leggings, thinking that she should have worn sweats instead.
What would happen if she knocked on the door and allowed herself to dance with Noah? What if he tried to kiss her? Would she be strong enough to say not yet? Two months ago, she only knew this man as the father of two little girls in one of her dance classes. Now she was about to spend the evening dancing with him.
A breeze whipped at her cheeks, and Cassie glanced at her car parked in the driveway. She should leave right now and send him a text that she’d changed her mind. He might be disappointed, but he’d understand.
Or—her gaze returned to the glowing window—she could knock and dance with Noah like they’d danced before.
No big deal.
Her mom used to tell her: “Don’t run toward a relationship, but don’t run away from it either. If it’s right, it’ll just happen.”
It had sounded so easy, so smart. And Cassie had thought she was doing just that when she’d dated Landon. But looking back, she’d not only run toward marriage, she’d full on sprinted. She’d let the fog of twitterpation, fairy tales and romance cloud her judgment. Cassie hadn’t really known Landon and he hadn’t known her. It was like they’d fallen in love on a reality dating show, where nothing had been real. She’d been romanced, schmoozed, and swept off her feet. But she’d never been loved.Looking back, it was all so clear to her now.
A shadow crossed in front of the window—a tall shadow with strong shoulders, a confident gait, and a good heart. Yes, it had only been two months since Cassie had met Noah. But in that short amount of time, he knew her better than Landon ever had—faults, quirks, Irish dancing, and all.
Maybe taking a small step forward wouldn’t be such a bad thing.
Cassie lifted her hand and rapped on the door. A moment later, it opened, and the dark shadow became Noah. His face was freshly shaved, his hair was slightly damp, and he wore a fitted, button-down shirt that was as blue as his eyes. Her breath caught.
“Wow,” said Noah. “You look beautiful.”
“And you look . . . great.” Too great. Her physical reaction to him was so strong that she wanted to sprint forward and forget all about taking her time.
Not good.
Noah opened the door wider. “Would you like to come in?”
Behind him, the soft glow of the lights created a sort of aura around him, and three beefy candles flickered on his bar. With the furniture pushed to the side, the room oozed romance. He probably smelled amazing too—just one more thing to sink her deeper into that quicksand.
Noah held out his hand. “Don’t be nervous, Cass. It’s just me.”
That was the problem. Noah wasn’t just anyone. He had the power to undo her. “Promise we won’t move too fast.” Her eyes pled with his.
“I promise,” he answered, wiggling his fingers. “I loaded a lot of slow songs, so we’ll be moving veryslowly.”
Purchase Your Copy from Amazon.com




 


Blog Tour Schedule

  Author Rachael Anderson USA Today bestselling author, Rachael Anderson is the mother of four and is pretty good at breaking up fights, or at least sending guilty parties to their rooms. She can't sing, doesn't dance, and despises tragedies. But she recently figured out how yeast works and can now make homemade bread, which she is really good at eating.

Website * Facebook * Twitter





$25 Blog Tour Giveaway Enter to win an Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 1/19/15 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by readinglight.com. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

HUGE Sale on eBooks!

Go to Bookmarked Bargains and see all the amazing ebooks. Most are priced at $.99, including my ebooks, Imperfect Love and Best Kind of Love . Lots of genres, lots of authors, lots of great deals. If you love ebooks, you won't want to miss this blowout sale!

Best Kind of Love: A Reunion Romance Novella First Chapter

CHAPTER ONE

Brynn Sawyer’s nerves twitched as the small airplane neared Seaspray. She clenched her fists and pushed out a loud breath. Why did I decide to do this?

“Are you okay, dear?” the lady with white hair in the seat next to her asked. Her voice sounded as if she needed to clear her throat.

With warmed cheeks, Brynn nodded. It was silly that she was so apprehensive about this trip back to her hometown.

“Have you been to Seaspray before?”

“Yes.” Brynn didn’t say more. She wanted to be left alone, so she could gather her thoughts and rein in her feelings before the plane landed.

“Do you live here?”

“No.”

“Here on vacation?”

Brynn mentally rolled her eyes. This woman seemed sweet and it was kind of her to try to have a conversation, but Brynn wasn’t prepared for the weekend and talking wouldn’t help. “No.” Guilt began to gnaw at her, so she said, “I grew up in Seaspray.” Brynn laid her head back. Maybe now she’ll stop asking me questions.

The woman coughed a few times and smoothed her short hair. “Oh, where do you live now?”
I guess she’s going to keep talking to me. I shouldn’t be rude. “I live in Houston. I moved there right after college.”

“Are you coming to see your parents?”

I wish.  “No. They don’t live here anymore.”

“Business trip?”

Brynn adjusted her weight in her seat. “A reunion, actually.” She swallowed. “High school.”

“Ah.” The woman studied Brynn. “Not looking forward to it?”

Is that written on my face? 

“I’ve become good at reading people in my old age.” She smiled, exposing crooked front teeth.

Brynn drew in a deep breath. “High school wasn’t that awesome, but my best friend—that I haven’t seen in years—talked me into coming. Now …”

“You wish you were headed back to Houston?”

“Yes.” A surge of relief swelled inside Brynn. Maybe talking to this lady would help her put her anxiety in its place.

After a few minutes, the lady said, “I went to my fiftieth reunion some years ago. A bunch of senior citizens showed up. I don’t know what they did with my classmates, but that room was full of old people, not the kids I knew in high school.” She laughed then coughed a few times. “I guess we all change.”

Brynn nodded, reminding herself that she wasn’t the same nerdy girl who tripped all over her words anymore. Right?

“My Frank was such a handsome man. All the girls liked him.” The woman rested her head back against the seat. “He was our senior class president and played football. He had the highest grades in the school. I didn’t think he’d ever want to take me on a date. I was shy and liked to spend my time at the library. Frank was popular and outgoing. I admired him from afar because I felt like I didn’t quite measure up.” She patted Brynn’s hand. “Probably makes no sense to a beautiful young woman like you.”

“Actually, it makes a lot of sense.” Brynn found herself fascinated by the woman’s story. “What happened with Frank?”

“After high school, he started working on our farm doing odd jobs. He built fences and milked the cows. He and Daddy became good friends. I’d see him every day and dream about him every night.

Then he went off to college.”

“And?”

“He came home from school one weekend.” A smile slowly spread across her face as if the memories were playing out right in front of her. “Came right over to our house and stood on the porch. He had a hat in his hands and he liked to have ruined it while he stood there twisting it over and over again.”

“What did he say?” Brynn was a sucker for a great romance.

“He looked at me with his deep blue eyes—the color of the sky right before the sun sets—and  said,
‘Myrna, I want to marry you.’”

“Just like that?”

“Just like that.” Her eyes filled with tears. “He said he’d loved me since the day we’d sat by each other in English class. He just didn’t have the courage to ask me on a date because he said I intimidated him. He thought I was too beautiful.” She laughed. “Imagine that. He thought I was too beautiful.”

“Where is he now?”

“Oh, he passed last year.” Her expression saddened. “I miss him something fierce.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. He was the love of my life. We were blessed with a long and happy marriage and three lovely daughters. My oldest, Barbara, moved to Seaspray a few years ago. I visit her and her sisters regularly. Helps to pass the time.”

Brynn imagined this woman’s full life filled with warm memories of the man she loved. She hoped to have that someday.

“What about you? Have you met your true love?”

“Me?” Brynn waved her hand. “I don’t know.”

“Maybe someone you’ll see this weekend?”

“Maybe.” She took a quick breath. “I don’t want to get my hopes up, but … I’d sure like to see a guy named Troy again. It’s been ten years since we graduated. I don’t even know where’s he’s been or if he’s married or if he’d even remember me.”

“Tell me about him.”

Brynn couldn’t stop her mouth from curling. “He played basketball. I used to go to the games just to watch him.”

“Did you ever talk to him?’

“No. Well, not really. Not in high school. He had his group of friends, and I had mine. I was in theater. Our worlds didn’t cross much. But that didn’t stop me from wishing.”

The woman gave her a look that prompted her to go on.

“I so wanted to go to prom with him. I even imagined it all in my head.”

“Did you go with him?”

“No.” Brynn shook her head. “He went with his girlfriend. A cheerleader, of course. Part of his group.”

The lady patted Brynn’s hand, conveying her empathy. After a few moments, she asked, “Did you go to your prom?”

“Yeah. With my best friend, Craig.”

“And?”

“It was awesome. Craig and I always had so much fun together. He made me laugh all the time. It wasn’t romantic or anything, but a lot of fun. ”

“Will he be at the reunion?”

Brynn shrugged. “I don’t know. We lost touch after graduation.”

The pilot spoke over the intercom and told them to prepare for landing. After some bumps, the plane slowed.

The woman laid her frail, warm hand over Brynn’s. “I hope you have a wonderful time at the reunion and I hope you get to see your Troy.”

My Troy? Brynn giggled to herself. I wish. “Thank you. Enjoy visiting your daughter.”

“If there’s anything I’ve learned at my age, it’s to seize the moment. Don’t let yours pass you by.”

Brynn exited the plane and stood at the baggage carousel thinking about her conversation on the plane. Would she have a “moment” at the reunion? Was that too much to hope for?  She spotted her navy blue suitcase and grabbed it, noticing that the airport had some improvements since the last time she’d visited Seaspray six years ago.

Brynn found the white four-door Chevy Impala she’d reserved out in the parking lot and plunged the key into the ignition. The engine roared and she was off. Rolling down the windows, she let the aromatic ocean air filter through her hair. She’d missed the unmistakable scent of Seaspray.

The sun hung low in the sky as she drove near the beach on the route back to the 101 freeway. She’d spent so much time at Henderson Beach. Memories poured in, like the time Craig had tried to teach her to surf. A smile broke out.  He’d been so patient during the thirty-seven times she’d fallen off his surfboard. She never did get the hang of it, but they’d ended the day watching the sun as it dipped below the horizon and talking about life—something they did frequently. She hoped he’d be at the reunion so they could catch up.

She couldn’t wait to see Kari and have some much-needed girl time with her best friend. Even if she was anxious about the reunion, this weekend would be a nice break. Brynn loved her job as project manager, but she needed some down time. Work kept her so busy she hardly had a social life. Who was she kidding? She had zero social life.

Thanks for reading!

You can purchase Best Kind of Love at Amazon.

Glorious by David Archuleta Cover by Madolyn T

If you have a chance, please watch my daughter sing this song on YouTube. If she gets enough views, her video might be featured on the Meet the Mormons page and she might have a chance to sing with David Archuleta.

She has always loved to sing and I think she sings this song beautifully!

Thank you!!!

Cover Reveal: Best Kind of Love

I'm so excited! I love the new cover for my novella, Best Kind of Love. This will be the first in my novella series, A Reunion Romance. It will be available November 7th. Isn't the cover beautiful?!

Awesome Giveaway!

28 authors have come together to give you a
 reading list of FUN FALL FAVORITES! 

Look at some of these incredible books by talented authors, including me :).

And with Christmas right around the corner, who wouldn't want a chance to win some moola?

PLUS a $300 GIVEAWAY
Click on the image to read a summary of each book :)













~ ENTER TO WIN ~

$300 Amazon Gift Card 
OR PayPal Cash

GIVEAWAY ends 11/17/14
No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older and legally able to receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code. This giveaway is not associated with Rafflecopter, Facebook, Twitter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. Void where prohibited by law.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway was organized by I Love to Read and Review Books :)
and is sponsored by the following authors ~
(While we can no longer ask you to "LIKE" Facebook pages as an entry~ Facebook links are below ~ as "LIKES" would be very much appreciated :)Debbie PetersonHeidi AshworthPaul Mark TagVictorine E. LieskeJenny Proctor
Rebecca Talley
Anna del C. Dye
Mona Ingram
Lisa Swinton
Shannon Guymon
Joyce DiPastena
Rebecca Belliston
Jo Noelle
A.L. Sowards
Christy Monson
Daniel Coleman
Rachel Rossano
Ronda Hinrichsen (aka Kathleen Marks)
Kathy Carmichael
Nichole Van
Beate Boeker
Virginia Ripple
Julie Coulter Bellon
Stacy Lynn Carroll
Theresa Sneed
Cindy M. Hogan
Anaiah Press
Julia Dweck
I Love to Read and Review Books :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway