April 27, 2022
Writing and sinus infections are never a good combo. The fogginess I've felt in my head for over a month now is finally clearing, thanks to a third round of antibiotics. I've spent a fortune on over-the-counter meds, trying to find the right combo of non-drowsy, cough-suppressing, itchy-eye relief. And don't get me started on trying a nasal rinse for the first time ever. I've been so miserable I half-expected my characters to start showing symptoms of allergic distress. I'm feeling so much better now, and just in time to help with a weekend garage sale at my daughter's home, and to celebrate our granddaughter's birthday next week. May will be a busy month so I'm anxious to put this behind me.
The Blueberry Point seasonal collection is almost ready for the editor. This will release late next month, just in time to celebrate LOVE, LIES and LAVENDER's birthday. The first novella in the collection, LILAC CRUSH, follows divorcee Grace Callahan who is still healing from a painful divorce when she returns to her hometown of Hendricks, determined to restart her life. Trouble is, the only affordable living option is the studio apartment inside the carriage house at Blueberry Point Lodge, which happens to be under repair by Kendon Wright, the high school friend she turned her back on to date her now ex-husband. Can she avoid him while she gets her life back in order, or will fixing her heart be on Kendon's to-do list before too long?
Here's a little sneak peak at a scene when they run into each other again:
“How many nights did we spend sitting on the rock wall by the water?” Kendon shook his head and chanced another look at Grace. It was still hard to believe almost twenty years had passed since high school.
Grace giggled. “Countless. I think I still have a scar on my elbow from when I slipped off that one night,” she answered. “Such simple times.”
Those were his favorite times together with Grace, even though Jeff was there too. He remembered the sensation of his and Grace’s arms accidentally brushing or their hips pressing against each other’s from sitting so close. He’d dwelled on that particular night, going over what was said, how she’d looked at him, the clenching desire in his gut, until the next time it happened. They’d sit there in the dark, looking at stars, listening to the water lap at the rocks, and he wished they could stay there until the sun came up again. A chill ran up his neck thinking about those times again. Kendon glanced at her hand resting on the table, her long, slender fingers, and wondered what she’d do if he enfolded her hand in his own. He almost laughed. She’d run off and not bother with him again, that’s what. One step at a time.
“I should get back to the inn,” Grace said, slipping off the stool. She crumpled her bag and hitched her purse onto her shoulder.
“Me too,” he answered, even though he had another twenty minutes.
“Thanks for the donut,” Grace said. “And your long John hack—brilliant.”
“Maybe I’ve missed my calling as a pastry magician.”
“If that’s even a thing, it would be a good side hustle,” she said with a smile.
Kendon waited until she left the store so he could watch her cross the parking lot. Was he too optimistic to think she’d warmed up to him a little over the last three days?
He was a patient guy. After all, he’d waited for nineteen years, hadn’t he?
The pre-order link for the BLUEBERRY POINT COLLECTION is coming soon! If you've missed reading any of the previous novels, it's a great time to catch up. All can be read as stand-alones too!
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MAY CLEAN MY SHELVES GIVEAWAY
Here's the selection of paperbacks for the May's Clean My Shelves Giveaway. If you're new to my newsletter, I am slowly emptying my shelves of books that I've read or haven't read (and won't any time soon). That means some of you will be the recipients of my shelf-cleaning projects!
I've read Where'd You Go, Bernadette and How to Make an American Quilt and can recommend both. The two new titles I've added--Nightbird and The Raven Boys--I've read too, and they're also good ones. Nightbird (by one of my favorite adult authors, Alice Hoffman) is an upper-middle grade book with a yummy Pink Apple Pie recipe at the end, and The Raven Boys is a young adult novel by Maggie Stiefvater. I’ll pick TWO lucky winners from those who send me their choice by replying to this e-mail. Please take note: all of these are lovingly USED books. Sorry, non-US friends, I can only ship within the US. If by chance I choose someone outside the country, I’ll offer a $5 Amazon gift card instead.
The contest closes on Sunday night 5/1/22, at 7 p.m. CST. Winners will be notified via e-mail and have 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen. Winners will also be announced in the next newsletter.
Happy Reading!
~ Dawn
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