MFRW Blog Hop – Firsts

Posted on by February 10, 2013

Do you remember the first time you ate ice cream? The first time you danced? Your first pair of jeans? Probably not. But I’ll bet you remember your first love – the first person to make your heart race and your insides tingle? I do. Eighth grade. Dark hair, blue eyes, and a smile that made me melt in my shoes. And he didn’t even realize I lived on the same planet. I was sure I’d never survive such heartbreak. Luckily I did, and eventually I met the man I’d spend my life with. The funny thing is, I was his first (and only) love.

In Cade, the FIRST book in my western historical series, The Morgans of Rocky Ridge, Cade also remembers his first love, Isabella Morrow. They’ve been apart for years, but he’s never forgotten the one person he’s always loved. Unfortunately, she’s going to marry someone else. So what does he do? He holds up the stagecoach taking her home and kidnaps her.

Here’s a short excerpt:

Who was he kidding? He’d known even back then – before he’d even thought about girls for anything besides what fun it was to tease them and make them mad – that Bella was special. That he’d do anything to keep her safe and happy.

Cade couldn’t take it. In one swift move, he closed the gap between them and gently slid his arms around her shoulders.
Her floral scent reached his nose and he sucked in a greedy breath. He drew her closer, expecting her to pull away. Instead, she reached up and clutched his shirt in her fists and rested her head on his shoulder. Her hair felt like corn silk against his cheek.

“I’m sorry, Bella. You know I’d rather cut my heart out than hurt you, but I have to do this.”

She didn’t answer. He felt her heat against his chest, her heartbeat and his blending together until he wasn’t sure which was his and which was hers. Finally, she drew back slightly and looked up at him. Her lashes were damp, ringing dark blue irises. “I thought I knew you … but that was a long time ago. You’re not the same person now.”

No, he wasn’t the same carefree boy he’d been back then, when a fishing pole and Bella’s smile were the only two things he needed to be happy.

I’d love to hear about your first love. Leave a comment with your email address to be entered into a draw for one of three copies of The Morgans of Rocky Ridge: Cade.

The Morgans of Rocky Ridge: Cade is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

To learn more about me and my books, visit my website and follow me on Facebook and Twitter

Thanks for stopping by. Click the image at the top of the page to be transported back to main page of the hop.

Sneak Peek Sunday – a sign?

Posted on by February 10, 2013

As well as this weeks’s six paragraphs for Sneak Peek Sunday, I’m also taking part in the first MFRW Blog Hop. If you’d like to read that post, click here.

This week, I’m continuing on with six paragraphs from the first book in a new historical western series set in the fictional town of Calico Creek, Texas. When last we left Charlotte, she was debating whether she had a future in Calico Creek other than becoming a “soiled dove.”

Her stomach rumbled. She couldn’t remember the last time she ate. The day before? Two days? She might not have much schooling, but even she knew a body couldn’t survive without food. She had to find something to eat.

Moving on, she wandered down the boardwalk, past the bath house and the surveyor’s office. A faint glow shone through a window of a building a few doors away. Picking up her pace, she hurried toward it. Maybe whoever lived there would be charitable enough to give her a chunk of bread at least.

She stopped in front of the window, squinting as she read the fading words on the glass – The Lucky Star Hotel. Proprietor: William A. Johnson. Through the muslin curtains, she could see a shadow moving about inside. She crossed to the door. Then she saw the piece of cardboard leaning against the window, the words “Help Wanted” in bold print.

She grinned. It was a sign. She just knew it. Everything was going to turn out fine. All she had to do was get the job, whatever it was.

She looked a sight. She knew that. Even in the faint light glowing from the lanterns inside, she could see the smudges of dirt on her skirt, the three-cornered tear on the sleeve of her blouse. She couldn’t even imagine what her hair must look like since it hadn’t been brushed in three days. Then there were the bruises …

Nothing she could do about any of it. Sliding her hands down her creased, worn skirt, she sucked in a calming breath and pinched her cheeks to give them some color. Holding her head high, she opened the door and went inside.

I’d love to hear your comments, so please don’t be shy. And don’t forget to click here to read the other authors’ snippets.

I hope you’ll stop by again next Sunday. Have a great week!

Sneak Peek Sunday – Will she or won’t she?

Posted on by February 2, 2013

Welcome back to Sneak Peek Sunday. This week, we’re continuing on with six paragraphs from Under a Lucky Star, my current work-in-progress. Charlotte (or Charlie, as she prefers to be called) needs to find food and shelter. I’d love to hear your comments, so don’t be shy.

Startled, her heart skipped a beat. She bounded to her feet and ran.

Finally, she stopped in the alley between the mercantile and the sheriff’s office. She leaned against the wall, her breath coming in short gasps. A wave of dizziness washed over her. She sank to the dirt until it passed.

Laughter and music drifted through the night air. She got up, and using the wall as a support, she trudged to the alley entrance and looked out.

The swinging doors of the Broken Spur Saloon across the street opened, and two men staggered out. Flattening herself against the wall, she held her breath until they passed by.

Satisfied they’d moved on, Charlie scurried across the hard-packed dirt street and slid a glance into the saloon. Saturday night, and the saloon was packed with men drinking and playing poker. Her gaze drifted to the women casually moving from table to table. Women with painted lips, satin and silk dresses that showed their legs – and that barely covered their private parts. She watched the way the women smiled while the men ran their hands over them …

She couldn’t do it. Nausea bubbled in her stomach at the thought. Yet what choice did she have?

Thanks so much for dropping by. Please come back next week to see what Charlie does next. As well, don’t forget to check out the other amazing authors here

Going After the Heart with Kristen Beairsto

Posted on by January 29, 2013

Please help me welcome my guest today, author Kristein Beairsto. Kristen is going to tell us a little about herself and her book, Going After the Heart. She’s also giving away an e-copy of her book to one lucky commenter.

Thanks so much for visiting today, Kristen.

First, tell us a little bit about yourself.Thank you so much for having me! I live in San Diego, Ca, so I tend to wear flip-flops year round – yes, even in the rain. LOL! I’ve been addicted to romance novels since I was a teenager. The rare times I’m not reading or writing, I can usually be found spending time with my husband and our two little girls or cheering on one of my favorite New York sports teams.

Lucky you living where it’s warm enough for flip-flops year-round.

Can you tell us a little about your book?
Certainly. Going After the Heart is about a woman named Lizzy Bergstrum who thinks her life is going great. Her marriage, career, and daughter – everything is perfect. Then out of the blue, her husband leaves because he’s convinced she doesn’t even know he exists anymore. After getting over her shock, she decides to go after him to fix things and has to find the fine line between making changes and not compromising who she is.

Isn’t that the worst – something happening that you didn’t even see coming? Good for her going after what she wants.

What is the single most important thing you’ve learned about managing your career?
Patience. Everything takes time in this business. From building a brand and author recognition to receiving royalty checks, literally everything takes longer than you would expect it to. If you’re going to survive, you need to become good friends with the art of waiting patiently.

Agreed. Unfortunately, patience is not one of my strong suits 🙂

Everyone always wants to know about a writer’s writing space. What’s yours like?
In a closet, literally. I live in an apartment and in the master bedroom there is a walk-in closet that has a little nook area with some small cabinets and a small vanity. When we moved in about a year ago, I decided to use it as a desk and would make the best spot for me to work because I could close my bedroom door if I needed to hide from a couple of little girls I know. ; )

Do you write every day? Every week? Odd times?
I really wish I got the chance to write every day, but that’s often wishful thinking. I have a day job, plus a husband and kids and all the activities that busy kids entail. So I don’t really have a set time that I get to write, I fit it in at whatever odd times I can.

When you get deep into a project, how do you balance your time between work and family?
It really depends on what’s going on. Usually it involves me getting a lot less sleep. LOL! I’m also very lucky in the fact that my family is very supportive. I usually just have to let my husband know what’s going on and he does his best to keep our girls out of my hair for a few hours at a time.

What was the most exciting thing that has happened in your career so far?
Having been published for almost a year, there’s a lot of things that have been exciting for me because so much of it is still new. But if I had to pick, I’d have to say my sales slowly, but steadily picking up over time. It’s a wonderful feeling to be selling that many copies and know your stories are reaching new people – because I don’t know that many people to buy that many copies! LOL!

That is a fabulous feeling.

What are you currently reading?
I just started the fourth book of HP Mallory’s Dulcie O’Neil series, Wuthering Frights. I discovered HP Mallory about six months ago with her Jolie Wilkins series. I love her voice, the characters, and how she’s able to draw out the story into so many books without making it seem like its dragging.

Yay! A new author for me to check out.

Why is the setting to your story so important?
The setting in Going After the Heart plays a very vital role in the story. The small Oregon town the story takes place in is the Gavin’s (Lizzy’s husband) home where he grew up and it’s where his family and friends live. The small country town is a foreign environment for Lizzy, who’s visited but has always been an outsider. So while Lizzy is trying to win Gavin back, she also has to deal with being in an environment that she’s not use to and doesn’t always understand. So the setting in this story really has some major effects on the characters.

Going After the Heart Blurb

Lizzy Bergstrum thought she finally reached a point in her life when she could honestly say she had it all. A thriving writing career.A wonderful daughter.And a marriage to the love of her life. But looks can apparently be deceiving because her husband just walked out on her and their eight year old daughter hates her.

Gavin Bergstrum can’t handle the direction his life has taken. Not only did he get laid off from his job, but his wife seems to barely remember he exists. Convinced he’s tried his best to change things, he begins to wrestle with the possibility of divorce. But he can’t think straight in the same house as Lizzy. Hating to leave his daughter, but needing time to think and come to terms with what he feels he needs to do, Gavin decides to return to his small home town in Oregon and stay at his family ranch with his father and brothers.

In shock, Lizzy gives Gavin his space. But as time passes and he doesn’t say a word about their marriage, Lizzy decides it’s past time she takes matters into her own hands. Without a word, she follows Gavin to Oregon.

Now facing a daughter who blames her for everything, an irritated husband, and a small town that feeds on the drama, Lizzy finds herself trying to figure out how to convince Gavin to give her another chance, teach her daughter it takes two to make a successful marriage, and overcome her own insecurities – all without compromising who she is.

Going After the Heart Excerpt

“Here’s the keys to the cabin. The round one is to the front and back doors and the square one is for the shed.” Ray’s voice sounded clear and even behind him.

Turning, Gavin watched his father hand Lizzy a small set of keys.

“I had Clare clean it up for you. Like I said on the phone, it’s not the newest place in the world, but it’s still in pretty good shape considering its age.”

Lizzy gave his father a small smile as she took the keys from him. “I’m sure it’s great.”

Her gaze moved to him and resentment swelled watching her smile fade. Although, what did he expect, she hadn’t smiled at him for months prior to him leaving. Why would she start now?

But the indiscernible look settling on Lizzy’s features startled him. After ten years of marriage and five years together before getting married, Gavin would have bet big money he knew every single one of his wife’s expressions. But this one, he realized dumbfounded, he didn’t recognize.

Her gaze dropped down to Sky. “Come on, Sky, we’ve got to go up to the cabin to settle in.”
Beside him, Gavin felt Sky’s shoulders tense.

“No!” She shouted the word venomously. “I don’t want to go with you,” she spat before turning pleading blue eyes up at him. “Dad, can’t I stay here with you and Papa? I don’t want to go with her.”

Apparently he missed the memo about today being Surprise Day, Gavin realized, as he could only stare at his daughter for a moment, never having seen this side of her before.

“I tell you what, little missy, no little girl is welcome in my house that sasses her mama the way you just did. No matter what injustice you think she’s handed you, a child never speaks to their parent that way.” Ray delivered his little speech with an even look and matching tone.

Sky’s cheeks turned bright red. Gavin frowned down at her. “Your grandfather’s right, you know better than to talk to your mom that way.”

Looking up to his wife, he arched a brow. Apparently the statute of limitations for surprises for the day hadn’t been reached yet, he thought silently in disbelief when Lizzy didn’t scold, or even comment on, Sky’s behavior.

Rather than say anything, Lizzy looked away and her back stiffened so much he thought her spine would snap.

What the hell is going on? His bewilderment bothered him.

Seeing Lizzy wouldn’t say anything, Gavin looked back down at Sky. “Honey, since I didn’t know you were coming, I don’t have anywhere set up for you to sleep. I’m sleeping on a cot in one of the extra rooms. I’ll try to look at setting something up tomorrow so you can stay a few nights with me. How does that sound?”
A stubborn look Gavin recognized all too easily surfaced on Sky’s face, but she remained silent, temporarily mollified and nodded. Turning away from him, Sky made her way back to the car and climbed in without so much as a single glance in her mother’s direction.

Gavin returned his gaze back to Lizzy, but she completely ignored him as she turned to climb back in the car.

That, at least, he’d grown used to.

Kristen Beairsto
In between her to-be-read pile and trying to bring the characters in her head alive, Kristen spends as much time as she can with family and friends. Much to her husband’s dismay, she enjoys collecting purses, shoes, and jewelry. During those rare times she’s not working at her day job, rushing her daughters somewhere, watching movies with her husband, and trying to meet a deadline, she can usually be found energetically cheering for one of her favorite New York sports teams.

As with just about every other writer on the planet, Kristen grew up an avid reader. She started with young adult before she technically hit the age range and moved on to sci-fi classics by Isaac Asimov and Ray Bradbury. At fifteen, her best friend gave her a book she just had to read! The book was Honest Illusions by Nora Roberts. Always a sucker for a happy ending, she was a goner and fell in love with the romance genre. Having started writing novel length stories at the age of eleven, Kristen’s stories all took a romantic turn from that point on.

You can connect with Kristen through her website, Facebook, or Twitter.

You can find Going After the Heart on Amazon, Barnes & Noble , Kobo and Smashwords

Thanks again for spending this time with me today, Kristen.

Don’t forget to leave a comment. You may be lucky and win a copy of Going After the Heart.

Sneak Peek Sunday

Posted on by January 27, 2013

Since the close of Six Sentence Sunday, fabulous romance author – and my friend – Sara Ellwood has created Sneak Peek Sunday. Each week, authors are encouraged to post six paragraphs from a work in progress or a published book. I’m thrilled to be included in the first official SPS. I’m taking my six paragraphs this week from a historical western romance I’m working on tentatively called Under a Lucky Star.

A gust of wind whistled through the alley where Charlotte Reed huddled in the doorway behind the saddlemaker’s shop. She shivered. It sure was colder here at night than it was back in Austin.

She couldn’t stop the tears welling up in her eyes, but she sniffed loudly and blinked them back. What was she crying about? There was nothing left in Austin for her, and the less she thought about it, the better off she’d be.

Besides, crying didn’t help. Never had. Likely never would.

Crying stopped her from thinking, and right now, she needed to think. What was she going to do? She had no money left, no place to live, and no way to get to California. And she couldn’t stay holed up in an alley forever.

She could steal a horse, she supposed. But if she got caught … Things might not be looking very rosy right now, but she had no desire to end up on the wrong end of a noose. And horse thieving was a hanging offence in these parts.

A door creaked open. “Hey! You!”
Thanks for stopping by. I’d love to hear your comments. Want a sneak peek at some other great stories? Check them out here, and please stop by next week.

The Edge of Texas, with J.D. Faver

Posted on by January 23, 2013

Do you know where The Edge of Texas is? Please help me welcome my guest today, J.D. Faver. She’s going tell you just where it is, why it can be a dangerous place to hang out (in fiction, at least) and give away a copy of her latest release, BAD VIBES.

Thanks for visiting, J.D. First, can you tell us a little about yourself?

      I live near Houston, Texas. I write contemporary romance and mystery/suspense. Although I write daily, I still find time to enjoy family and friends. I also enjoy cooking, gardening, and painting.
      I am active in several writer’s organizations in the area. I belong to National RWA and am a member of all three Houston area chapters. I am owned by two cats and a small, yappy rescue dog.
      I would rather be sailing or on a beach somewhere, but if I can’t do either of those things, I would just as soon write.

Thanks for sharing that. Since I live in the frozen north, I’d love to join you on that beach. Now, the blog is yours. Take it away.

Thank you so much for inviting me to guest blog, Margery. I hope you’re staying warm. Living in south Texas, the temperature has been like a roller-coaster ride. It may be in the 80s one day and drop to freezing that night. I wanted to tell you about my series of Romantic Thrillers entitled The Edge of Texas. The setting, just 20 miles north of the Texas/Mexico border on the coast, has a semi-tropical atmosphere. South Padre Island is a lovely strip of white sandy beach separated from the mainland by a two and a half mile bridge spanning the Intracoastal Waterway. The first book in the series is BAD MEDICINE followed by BAD KARMA and BAD VIBES, my most recent release.

I’d like to share the blurb for BAD VIBES:
      When government agent Mike “The Iceman” Burke invades her South Padre Island turf, Deputy Darla Calhoun is assigned as liaison officer to his team. Her skills as a sniper come in handy when a gang of human traffickers strikes close to home, kidnapping local women including her best friend.
      Darla is recovering from her husband’s suicide and trying to be a good parent to her twin sons. The ICE assignment takes her out of her misery and plunges her into a dangerous mission and a steamy affair.
      Mike and Darla tear up and down the Intracoastal Waterway in search of the kidnappers and the captive women while Rafael and Javier conduct their own investigation. Will they rescue the captive women or will the kidnappers slaughter them as they have done in the past? Two teams race to find the answers before it’s too late.

In the following scene, Darla has been on the boat with the Feds for a short time, and Mike, with his usual lack of tact, has managed to insult her. His partner insists that he make amends.

      Darla had withdrawn.
      Mike knew he’d been hard on her, but she was the new guy. He had to be sure he could depend on her when the bullets started flying.
      Damn! The whole problem with working with women is that they’re women. He figured that the next thing she’d do was turn on the tears.
      Freddy was giving him a hard look.
      â€œOkay, okay,” he murmured, getting to his feet.
      She had gone to the front of the boat, settling on a built-in seat with storage below. She didn’t look up when he neared.
      Mike lowered himself onto the cushion beside her. “I hope I didn’t hurt your feelings back there.”
      She looked up at him. One side of her mouth lifted in a smirk. “Don’t flatter yourself.” She edged away from him. “You have the social skills of a water buffalo, but we’re not socializing.”
      â€œI’m, uh, sorry,” he said.
      The big brown eyes lifted, settled on him briefly and then looked away.
      â€œI don’t know what your problem is with me, but I’m here to do a job. I have knowledge that you don’t have. You can choose to ignore me or to utilize me.”
      He considered the ways in which he’d like to utilize her. None of them had anything to do with the job.
      Her voice was soft, spoken just above a whisper. “I could be an asset to your mission, but if you continue to discount me because I’m a woman, it’s your loss.”
      Mike shook his head. “I’m not discounting you.”
      â€œSave it. You’re not the first chauvinistic male I’ve had to work with, and I’m sure you won’t be the last.” She turned back to face him. “I’m not asking you to like me. Just respect me for my abilities and treat me like you would if I were male.”
      Mike sighed. “Well, when you walk off in a snit to go pout, it’s a little hard to think of you as a man.”
      She snorted. “You think I came up here to pout? I left because I was very close to kicking your ass.”
      Mike gazed into Darla’s eyes, grinning. He knew that she couldn’t possibly kick his ass. It was the idea that she thought she could, he found intriguing.
#

I hope you enjoyed the short scene. I would love to give a copy of BAD VIBES to a lucky person who leaves a comment. Thanks so much for allowing me to visit and share a bit of this novel.

Thanks for spending some time with me today. Best of luck with your new release.

Don’t forget to leave a comment to be entered into the draw for a copy of J.D.’s latest release, Bad Vibes.

Meg Bellamy – Reality TV? Bring it on

Posted on by January 16, 2013

My guest today is Meg Bellamy, author of the TV Love series of romances.

Along with her husband, her family and her books, language is Meg’s passion. In fact, by day she’s a mild-mannered language teacher. Currently she teaches ESL (English as a Second Language) to international students, but in her early teaching days, her main subject was French. Though her French is a bit rusty these days, she figures a trip to France would help fix that. She’s also studied Russian, Spanish and Italian. This love of language spills over into her writing craft and appreciation for books — and travel!

Meg gets to satisfy the travel bug with trips to England — as often as possible — to visit family. It’s great when Lee, her DH, also goes because driving on the left side of the road doesn’t intimidate him — talk about your basic hero type! Meg also has to travel to see other family members in New Jersey — a mere continent away from Meg’s home in Northern California.

Being a published member of the community of writers with her contemporary romances and women’s fiction is the fulfillment of one of Meg’s most cherished dreams. Her first release, Homecoming, was released October 19 — a week before her birthday — from The Wild Rose Press.

Thanks for taking the time to visit with me today, Meg. Your series, TV Love, intrigues me since I’m a huge TV watcher. So, in show biz terms, the stage is yours. Take it away.

Reality TV? Bring It On
by Meg Bellamy

Thank you so much, Margery, for inviting me to your blog today.

Is reality TV one of your guilty pleasures? It is one of mine. Since my husband and I don’t have cable, we miss out on the wide selection of fun shows available to those who do. When I visit my beautiful daughter who does have cable, we have some marathon viewing sessions. I love the food shows — the cupcake wars and more — and the shopping networks. I have to restrain myself from buying everything.

I also love to watch brides saying no to a lot of dresses before they finally say yes. How about the show where four brides go to four weddings and rate each one? And the one where people buy houses in the U.S. and abroad. Maybe it’s a good thing for my writing career and my home and hearth that I don’t have cable.
Luckily, there’s some reality TV on the regular networks. When it’s in season, I tend to plan my life around Dancing with the Stars. I love to watch and fantasize that I’m a ballroom champion, doing a romantic tango with a totally hot guy. Once I actually met Gilles Marini, one of my favorite stars, outside the nearby Costco. Talk about the ultimate shopping experience! He autographed the back of my receipt, which is still hanging in a frame on my fridge door.

When I fantasize about a being an entrepreneur with a million-dollar idea, I tune in to Shark Tank. I love seeing the ideas people come up with — and the competition among the sharks is a hoot.

When I watch, I often think of other scenarios for the people who invite us into their lives by being on these show. This idea sparked my TV Love series. Inspired by Shark Tank, I wrote TV Tycoons: TV Love, Book #0.5. This is the prequel to TV Bride: TV Love, Book #1 — my homage to one of the oldest reality TV shows, The Bachelor.

I’m excited that The Bachelor has just begun a new season. Like many other viewers, I love romance, brides and grooms, and weddings. I enjoyed seeing Sean Lowe, the current Bachelor, on The Chew, a foodie show. When I wrote TV Bride, I took my bachelor in a whole different direction. I wondered, What would happen if the Bachelor met the Godfather? TV Bride answers that question. I’ve included a blurb and excerpt, which I hope you’ll enjoy as much as I enjoy reality TV.

Cheers,
Meg

TV Bride: TV Love, Book #1, romantic comedy by Meg Bellamy, available on Amazon

Coming soon at other sites; please check my website for updates: http://www.MegBellamy.com

Blurb:
————————————————————————
Samantha Parker, a photographer with trust issues, and Nick Ryan, a cynical writer, meet when they compete to rent the same cottage. Though Nick wins the cottage, it comes complete with a curse from Samantha.

The next time they meet, he’s the reluctant bachelor on a nationally televised wedding reality show. She’s an even more reluctant potential bride. Who could have predicted that these two would fall in love? Too bad Nick is forced to propose to Melinda, another “bride” — or his brother will have to duke it out with some very tough guys. The gang behind Melinda has laid a very careful secret trap, leaving Nick with an impossible choice-a future with the woman he loves or a future for his brother.

Can Samantha’s love for Nick survive after he dumps her on national TV? Stay tuned to find outÅ 

————————————————————————

Excerpt:

Late May in Sausalito. Samantha Parker took a deep breath and smiled at the universe. Life didn’t get much better. Today she was moving into the perfect cottage for a rent she could almost afford. All she had to do was sign on the dotted line, transport the stuff she’d loaded into a U-Haul back home in Stockton and accept delivery of her new bed. Practically bouncing on air, she flew into the property manager’s office one minute early to sign the lease and get the keys from the owner, kindly Mrs. Harrigan.

Samantha’s descent from the clouds didn’t begin until she saw Mrs. Harrigan weeping into a lace-trimmed hanky. Mr. Owens, the property manager, twirled his mustache while a GQ model type, a stranger to Samantha, signed a lot of papers. When Mrs. Harrigan spotted Samantha, she wept harder and honked into her hanky.
“Miss Parker,” she said between sobs, “why are you here? Didn’t my son Edgar call you?”
Samantha frowned. “No one called me. I’m here to sign the lease for the cottage. You know,” she elaborated carefully in case anyone had forgotten, “for the perfect cottage where I can live and set up my photographic studio? The one you’re so happy to rent me because you wanted to be a photographer before you married Mr. Harrigan?”
Mrs. Harrigan appeared far too overcome to respond. Mr. Owens cleared his throat. “Mr. Ryan here is renting the property. We thought you’d been informed not to come.”
Samantha sat down hard in the faux leather chair opposite the desk where Mr. Ryan had evidently just signed his name to the last of the papers. She toyed with the idea of snatching the papers and ripping them to shreds. Instead, she sighed deeply. “I’ve just loaded all my belongings into a U-Haul and driven here. I’m supposed to sign the lease and get the keys so I can move into the cottage. Today. My new bed will be delivered there in less than two hours.” She turned to Mrs. Harrigan, who kept her face averted.
Mr. Owens cleared his throat again. “Mr. Ryan has already signed the lease.” He handed the younger man a set of keys and bared his teeth at Samantha. “The cottage is his.”
She barely resisted stamping her foot. “That can’t be. I’m the one who’s supposed to lease the cottage. Everything is set.”

Mr. Owens shrugged. “You didn’t have anything in writing. These things happen. I do have other rental properties to show you.” He thought for a moment. “Well, one or two in your price range. Not in Sausalito.”

Samantha, ready to throw herself on Mrs. Harrigan’s mercy, bypassed Mr. Owens and directed her words to the older woman. “This can’t be right. We had a deal, Mrs. Harrigan. I agreed to pay the rent you advertised. I don’t smoke and I don’t have pets. I promised to take photos of your grandchildren. I trusted you.” Her voice rose in an unintended squeak.
Mrs. Harrigan wrung her hands. “I wanted you,” she moaned, “but my son Edgar overruled me. Mr. Ryan outbid you on the rent. As I’m going to be living with EdgarÅ ”

Samantha glared at Mr. Ryan. He rose and held out his hand, which she refused to shake. “Nick Ryan.” When she continued glaring at him, he shrugged and sat down. “Hey, all’s fair in love, war and the Bay Area housing market.”
“I’m so sorry,” Mrs. Harrigan sobbed.
“You do understand, Miss Parker.” Mr. Owen looked on the verge of calling security. He chuckled dryly. “These things happen all the time.”
Samantha switched her glare to him. Rising to her full height, five-eight in her bare feet, she willed herself to look commanding. “Two things I understand,” she intoned, looking at the weeping woman. “One. It’s not your fault, Mrs. Harrigan. I know you’d never be swayed by demon money.” Then she turned to the usurper, ignoring his eye candy appeal to focus on his evil act. “Two. Nick Ryan, you’ve gotten your new home by unfair and unscrupulous means. By offering to pay more than the asked for rent, you struck a low blow against tenants who follow the rules.”
He rolled his eyes. “Lady, I need a place to live. I found one, not easy in the Bay Area. I did what I had to do. This is nothing personal against you.”
“I’m so tired of people doing crummy things and then excusing themselves by saying ‘It’s the lousy housing market, nothing personal’. Until you came along, the cottage was mine.” She tried in vain to gather her scattered thoughts so she could end on the perfect word. Instead, she said the first thing that popped into her head. “According to ancient tradition, because of your subterfuge, there will be a curse on you as long as you occupy the cottage. Nothing in your life will go right ’til you restore the balance of justice, and the rightful renter lives there.”

On that note, she spun around and majestically swept from the office. Walking tall with great pride, she held her mighty pose –until she got to her U-Haul and collapsed in a heap. With the last dregs of her strength, she pulled out her cell phone, called her best friend Tiffany Swanson and said, “Help!”

Thanks so much for visiting, Meg. I’m sure your books will be a huge success.