Do you feel lucky? Then open me up!

Jan 30, 2023 12:01 pm

Hello! Thanks for welcoming me into your inbox. It's bitterly cold, and I'm so ready for spring. But in the meantime, I'm rewarding my writing progress with hot cocoa. I doctor mine up with a bit of cinnamon and nutmeg, homemade vanilla bean whipped cream, a dash of espresso powder, and chocolate shavings. This is one of my favorite hot drink mugs, given to me by one of my kids years ago.

What you'll find in today's email:

Lucky Break chapter 1
Related Reading
What's next for the Home Wreckers
Books by Cassie Lee Hart and Indie Sparks
January Sales & Freebies Ending Tuesday!

INSTALOVE SPOTLIGHT'S ON...

Lucky Break! small town, instant attraction, lucky in love, romantic comedy, Valentine’s love story

I came up with the idea for the Lotto Love series when the lottery jackpot was sky-high, huge. Everyone lined up to purchase tickets. Seeing the long lines got me thinking. Why do people buy lottery tickets? For the money, obviously, but what's the motivation beyond that? What dreams are they hoping to fulfill? What are they lacking that they want or need? What if money can't buy what everyone's truly searching for...love, happiness, contentment?

Why I wrote Lucky Break: This book released a few weeks before Valentine's Day. I love romance, but I'm not particularly fond of this holiday. There's too much pressure, and it feels forced to me. Love is for every day. But more importantly, Valentine's Day can leave those without a partner feeling less than loved. That makes my heart ache.

Gina's feeling left out in the dating world. When she gets stood up by her Valentine's date, she makes a beeline for the ice cream aisle. I mean, who wouldn't? Ice cream always loves us back. Ian's purchasing a lottery ticket for fear of missing out. When he sees Gina, he knows exactly what he wants, and it has nothing to do with a jackpot full of dollars.

Find out what happens when Gina and Ian meet on aisle two. Scroll for Lucky Break Chapter 1.

Lucky Break contains copyright material.

Chapter 1

Gina

Getting stood up on Valentine’s Day stinks. Technically it’s not Valentine’s Day, but my deadbeat date, Scott, said it would be a good idea to celebrate early. Skip the crowds and all. I mean, it’s still romantic even if it isn’t on the exact day, right? Celebrating early made planning a snap. I didn’t have to call all over town for a dinner reservation. Not that it did me any good.

The only thing worse than getting dumped by my date is having no one to commiserate with. My besties are away on a girls' weekend without me. I should've gone with them instead of hoping my date would be magical, just like the movies.

I can’t say they didn’t warn me, though. Trina said Scott gave off dodgy vibes. What does that even mean? Brooklyn swears relationships are bad news no matter what. Trying to convince her otherwise is pointless. Samantha thought Scott was smarmy. But she thinks all guys are only after one thing. Ha, I wish. They’re never fawning over me. For one night, I'd like to be the focus of someone's attention. Is it wrong to want someone to adore me for who I am?

I pull into the Jiffy Quick grocery and slump back in my seat. Is drowning my sorrows and irritation in a pint of ice cream a good idea? Probably not. It likely won’t make me feel any better either. There’s the guilt to contend with afterward. Are sugar-laden carbs good for me? Maybe not. But there's nothing comforting about eating a salad in pajamas while binge-watching Friends.

Forget rules and don’ts. Tonight, I know what’s good for me. And that’s allowing myself a little grace and comfort. I might not be the luckiest in love or anything else for that matter, but I can treat myself to an evening of just being me. The fool who stood me up can go fly a kite for all I care. He doesn’t deserve me.

My little pep talk lasts as far as the empty ice cream shelf labeled Häagen-Daz Mint Chip. Who am I kidding? I’m not even lucky enough to snag my favorite ice cream.

***

Ian

The line at customer service moves excruciatingly slow. Everyone wants in on the action, with the lottery teetering on close to a billion dollars. Call it peer pressure or fear of missing out. I’m not the only one chasing the ultimate dream tonight. Heck, I’m not sure what I’d do with all that money if I won. Pay bills, travel, share the wealth. Having someone special to share it with would be nice, too.

I’ve enjoyed my share of women, but I’ve lost the taste for chasing skirts for sport. This time of year is no time for wooing women with cheesy pickup lines. Valentine's Day is just around the corner. The last thing I need is a woman looking for a marriage proposal. Not that I'm opposed to the idea of settling down. But the perfect woman hasn't come along yet. Doubtful I’ll find her at a grocery store customer service desk.

The line shuffles forward. It’s a bit ridiculous standing in line this long to buy a ticket with a one in twenty-four million chance of winning. But that’s the dream, right? Go to bed a pauper and wake up a king.

I crane my neck to see around the older couple in front of me, counting the number of people in line ahead. A woman in a bright red form-fitting dress catches my eye as she passes through the store entry. The snug dress hugs her womanly curves, highlighting her distinct shapely figure. She’s a stunner with loose dark curls sweeping across her shoulders. I can only imagine she has dark chocolate eyes and pink pouty lips. She disappears briefly behind a champagne display, reemerging on the other side of the checkout lanes. I straighten my spine and neck, straining to get another glance of her, but all I catch is the wiggle of her ass as she disappears down a frozen food aisle.

“Ahem.” The man behind me clears his throat, urging me to move forward.

If I’m lucky, maybe I’ll get another glimpse of her before she’s finished shopping. The seconds turn to minutes as I anxiously wait to catch another glimpse of her. My chest tightens with every glance I take toward frozen foods. What's a knockout like her doing in a grocery store this time of night dressed to the nines?

“Next.”

I move to the register while taking another quick look over my shoulder.

“One Powerball with power play, please.”

I toss my last few dollars onto the counter and look over my shoulder again, but the woman doesn't appear. The cashier slides my ticket and receipt across the counter. I slide it into my wallet and reach back to return the wallet to my back pocket. The gentleman behind me stands a little too close, and I end up elbowing him in the gut.

"Sorry about that. Distracted, I guess."

“If I were a betting man, and I am, I’d say the odds of you finding that pretty lady is better than the lottery odds.”

He winks. It's all the encouragement I need to follow my gut instinct.

♥♥♥

Continue reading to find out if Gina and Ian end up big winners!

♥♥♥

Continue Reading Lucky Break

Lotto Love series

Lotto Love is available as a box set and paperback

Related Reading: Gina and her friends make an appearance in The Marriage Pact, where Brooklyn's on the hunt for a baby daddy before she loses her inheritance. Will an old college pact bring her more than a ring on her finger and a baby bump?

Lucky Break takes place in Kindlewood with a magical stop at Olive's cozy coffee shop.

I've written about winning lottery tickets before this series. Read Signature Needed and find out what happens when lottery tickets get forgotten in the bottoms of purses and pockets.

The Marriage Pact

Kindlewood Coffee Klatch

Olive

Signature Needed

Home Wrecker's Construction Continues

Pre-order Jonas

Pre-order Luca

Catch up on the series

AUTHOR CORNER

After a swimming injury that halts her career and a nasty breakup, Maya Cove decides it might be time to shy away from the spotlight and start all over again. She picks Diamond Sands, a small clearwater beach on the coast which she visited with her parents when she was seven. The townspeople are welcoming and live simple lives, and after three years, Maya is sure that she made the right decision.

Read Beach Romance