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Alphabet Dating by Monique McDonnell
 
Serena’s friends have a plan to get her dating again – 26 dates in a month – one for every letter in the alphabet. What could possibly go wrong? When Serena Sanders reluctantly agrees to participate in the Alphabet Dating Plan she knows it will be tough but there’s so much she hadn’t factored in. Who knew men were so complicated? Not Serena.  As she begins dating her way through the alphabet she starts to learn more about herself and her friends than she ever expected as secrets and hidden agendas are revealed. Alphabet Dating is a love story – a tale of lost love, unrequited love, platonic love and ultimately it’s about learning to love again.

Believe in Me by Mishael Witty
 
Reconciliations can occur. Broken hearts can be mended. If you believe…

Trina Gray leaves a stack of paperwork on her desk and heads home for the holidays. There’s just one slight problem. Her mother has invited her soon-to-be ex-husband, Walt, to spend Christmas with them. Walt’s presence sends Trina running to a friend’s house, where she runs into another ex—her old high school boyfriend, Kurt.
Trina and Kurt almost immediately pick up where they left off, and this is where the fun (and the questions) start. Will Trina and Kurt rekindle their young romance? Or will she repair her relationship with Walt, who keeps showing up at the most unusual times? Read BELIEVE IN ME to find out.

This is a “heartwarming tale” that has “tension, romance, and characters that are warm and believable.”

Blame It on the Fame by Tracie Banister
 
A power-trippin’ bitch, a has-been, a skanky ex-model, a press-shy indie queen, and a British stage actress no one knows – that’s how the Best Actress hopefuls in this year’s too-close-to-call Oscar race cattily describe each other. Which of them will win the much-coveted gold statue and what price will they be forced to pay as they travel the red carpeted-path to Hollywood glory?
Amidst  all the press-schmoozing and angsting over which designer gown to wear, these  Oscar contenders feud, commiserate, and face a succession of personal crises – scandalous secrets come to light, marriages implode, accidents land two nominees  in the hospital while another receives news that could derail her career, all  culminating on Tinsel Town’s biggest night when anything can happen, and  does.

Blame It on the Fame was a 2013 Next Generation Indie Book Award Finalist in the Chick Lit category. 

Finding Out by Sheryn MacMunn

Finding Out is an engaging story of friendship, the challenges we face and the importance of learning from the past. Getting dumped on the sidewalk by her live-in boyfriend of seven years and realizing that he nearly emptied their savings account is the first of Sheila Davenport’s problems. At thirty-six, Sheila had thought her life was on track.

Help comes unexpectedly from her elderly neighbor, Ruth Grey, who has had her own share of ups and downs. As their friendship grows, Ruth reveals her deeply moving story  of survival in WWII Germany. Ruth’s mesmerizing past is a powerful tale of love and revenge that provides the perspective Sheila desperately needs to put the pieces of her own life back together.  A story of love found and lost, true friendship, and how the human spirit endures.


Flirting with Magick by Leigh Bennett
 
When a new-age remedy fixes Abby Williams’ career rut, the twenty-five year old figures a spell could heal her broken heart too…  Suddenly, she’s having hot sex with an even hotter musician, which might work as long as she doesn’t get in the way of his rock stardom. Her work colleague is flirty and fun, but could he be keeping something from her? And now, the guy who broke her heart wants to rekindle their relationship. Can she trust him enough to give it another shot? So far, it seems Abby’s spell hasn’t worked. Or then again, perhaps it has?


The Forgotten Ones (New Adult Paranormal Romance) by Laura Howard

Allison O’Malley’s plan is to go to grad school so she can get a good job and take care of her schizophrenic mother. She has carefully closed herself off from everything else, including a relationship with Ethan, who she’s been in love with for as long as she can remember.
What is definitely not part of the plan is the return of her long-lost father, who claims he can bring Allison’s mother back from the dark place her mind has gone. Allison doesn’t trust her father, so why would she believe his stories about a long forgotten Irish people, the Tuatha de Danaan? But truths have a way of revealing themselves. Secrets will eventually surface. And Allison must learn to set aside her plan and work with her father if there is even a small chance it could restore her mother’s sanity.

The Gatsby Game by Anne R. Allen 

THE GATSBY GAME is a rom-com mystery inspired by a real unsolved Hollywood mystery. When David Whiting was found dead during the filming of a Burt Reynolds movie in 1973, it set off what’s been called one of “Hollywood’s 10 most notorious scandals”. Author Anne R. Allen knew Mr. Whiting and this is a fictional speculation of what might have happened to the man who thought of himself as “the ghost of Jay Gatsby” on that fateful night. 

NYT Bestseller Ruth Harris said it’s “Dark, twisted chick lit with a side of laughter. Plus celebrities, murder and and a smart-mouth nanny.” And Pay it Forward author Catherine Ryan Hyde said, “In The Gatsby Game, Anne R. Allen blends a perfect combination of witty, sharp narration, a plot that won’t let the reader go, and nuanced characters that evoke our caring. A genre novel that artfully transcends its genre.”

The Island of Secrets by Tammie Lynn Gibbs
 
What if you received a note of warning dated hundreds of years before you were  born? What if it was addressed to you?

A Time Travel- A Love Story  filled with Suspense-
 
A Mystery that will keep you guessing til the end…
 
On an Island of Secrets one woman, two men and a love that transcends time get a second chance to prevent history from  repeating itself.  But will love be enough to win the battle against time and  stop the force that’s kept them apart for centuries?

Mr. Right and Other Mongrels by Monique McDonnell
 
Blissfully happy in her own universe Allegra (Ally) Johnson is the sweet best friend everyone wants to have. Quietly and independently wealthy she runs a charming second-hand bookshop in beachside Manly. Heck, sometimes she even goes downstairs from her flat to run the shop in her Chinese silk pyjamas. It sounds like bliss. But is it enough?  When dog-phobic Allegra is rescued from an exuberant canine by the chivalrous Teddy Green, Australia’s hottest TV celebrity and garden make-over guru, her life begins to change. Dramatically!


The Perpetual Quest by Michelle Pace

Tourists flock to Jefferson Point for the antique shops and riverboat tours.  Everyone knows everyone and secrets are impossible to keep. Or so it  seems… Dr. Ryan Harper’s brutal slaying stuns the picturesque river  town. High school football star, Prom King, and on his way to finishing his  residency, Ryan was their golden child. After a two-year struggle to  care for their young son alone, his widow, Nicole, reluctantly returns to  Jefferson Point. Her homecoming reopens old wounds, as Ryan’s family and friends  struggle to adapt to life without his dynamic presence. The last person Nicole expects to reconnect with is Aaron Foster, Ryan’s best man and reluctant  keeper of his secrets. With opinions circulating on Nicole’s post-Ryan existence, she must maneuver the rapids of past loves, new expectations, and  haunting dreams of her fallen husband. The Perpetual Quest for the Perfect Life is a frank story of questionable decisions, small town politics,  and love after loss.

The Secret Keeper by Brea Brown

Peyton Stratford is her family’s unofficial keeper of all  things secret, from the petty and mundane to the potentially life-changing. Only  when she starts to keep a few secrets of her own does her family begin to  realize there’s more to her than a sympathetic set of ears and a tightly-closed  mouth. And it’s not until she relinquishes the title of Stratford Family Secret Keeper and assumes a more positive role in her own life that she can become the  person that someone’s been telling her she has the potential to be.  Newly formatted and includes a sneak peek to “The Secret Keeper Confined,” Book 2 in the series!!
  

The Smartest Girl In The Room by Deborah Nam-Krane
 
Nineteen year old Emily wants her college diploma fast, and she’s going to get it. But when the perfect night with perfect Mitch leads her to a broken heart, Emily is blind to her vulnerability. When the person she cares about the most is hurt as a result, Emily’s ambition gives way to more than a little ruthlessness. She’s going to use her smarts to take care of herself and protect the people she loves, and everyone else had better stay out of her way. But shouldn’t the smartest girl everyone knows realize that the ones she’d cross the line for would do the same for her?


Tainted Love by Erin Cawood
 
For anyone in a relationship, the words ‘we need to talk’ can only mean one thing. In the last twenty-two years, the McKenzies have been through it, survived it, learned by it, and grown stronger from it, because life didn’t stop for breath when they needed it. Amongst the tears and the tragedies, the hopes and happiness, they’ve built something amazing: a happy family, a luxury lifestyle and a booming empire. Don’t they deserve to have it all?

But for the perfect wife, those four sinister words mean something entirely different. They’re a summons into a private world where what happens behind closed doors stays behind closed doors.  Faith has no doubt in Calvin’s undying love for her. It’s what kept her sane in the darkest hours. If only she could figure out what it is she does wrong… because it’s rapidly becoming apparent their tainted love is running out of time.

CHICK LIT AUTHOR BLOG HOP - WHAT'S ON PAGE 25?

Learn "How to Hop & Win!" New to blog hops? Want to learn how to win this hop’s fabulous grand prize (a Kindle Keyboard 3G, with Free #G + WiFi, and a 6" E Ink Display + a Chick Lit starter e-book library)? Find complete information by clicking HERE and be sure to make note of the secret word that you will find in this post.

Pilar Alvarez, the beleaguered heroine of my novel, In Need of Therapy, just can’t catch a break. Having recently called it quits with her boyfriend, handsome restaurateur Victor Liscano, she’s ready to dive back into the dating pool, so she agrees to have dinner with a guy her bestie Sarah fixes her up with. To say that this blind/double date starts off badly would be an understatement of epic proportions. You’ll have to read the book to find out exactly what goes wrong, but I can reveal (since it happens on Page 25!) that in the middle of this debacle, Pilar spots her ex, Victor, at the bar.  

Now up to this point in the book, the reader hasn’t actually met Victor, just heard about him from other characters. Pilar’s sister, Izzy, thinks he’s loco and will probably come to their house in the middle of the night and murder them in their sleep (She watches too many movies about serial killers.) Meanwhile, Pilar’s mamá has practically canonized Victor because he’s rich, charming, and most importantly, Cuban-American, and she’s very miffed that her daughter let such a big fish off the hook!

As for the perpetually unfaithful Victor, he can’t quite grasp the concept of a “break-up” and he’s been exhibiting some stalker-ish behavior (calling, sending gifts) that has now culminated in him spying on Pilar. Although Pilar, who’s a psychologist, has deemed her ex “harmless,” she’s getting frustrated with his inability to take We’re through, Rico Suave. Stop harassing me! to heart. Their confrontation in this scene is one of the comical highlights in In Need of Therapy. Here’s an excerpt for your reading amusement:

"You are developing an unhealthy fixation on me, Victor. Please, get up." I tugged on his arm, and with a plaintive sigh, he stood up.

    

"You have no romance in your soul, mi querida," he chastised. "Most women would be thrilled to have a man fall at her feet and pledge his eternal devotion."

    

"So, why don't you go find one of them and leave me in peace?" I suggested.

Does Pilar finally get rid of Victor? Is her blind date a bust, or does she somehow manage to salvage it? Will watermelon mojitos be involved? You’ll have to read beyond Page 25 to find out!

Win the grand prize! The 1st secret word in the 25-word sentence is: Welcome.
  

Thanks so much for stopping by Books by Banister for The Chick Lit Author Blog Hop! Don't forget to visit all of the wonderful sites participating in the blog hop, which are listed at the bottom of this post. Enter to win the grand prize using Rafflecopter below. Contest is open to residents of US and Canada.

  

Book Blurb (In Need of Therapy): Lending a sympathetic ear and dispensing sage words of advice is all part of the job for psychologist Pilar Alvarez, and she’s everything a good therapist should be: warm, compassionate, supportive. She listens, she cares, and she has all the answers, but how’s the woman everyone turns to in their hour of need supposed to cope when her own life starts to fall apart? 

While working hard to make a success of her recently-opened practice in trendy South Beach, Pilar must also find time to cater to the demands of her boisterous Cuban family, which includes younger sister Izzy, an unemployed, navel-pierced wild child who can't stay out of trouble, and their mother, a beauty queen turned drama queen who’s equally obsessed with her fading looks and getting Pilar married before it’s “too late.” Although she’d like to oblige her mother and make a permanent love connection, Pilar’s romantic prospects look grim. Her cheating ex, who swears that he’s reformed, is stalking her. A hunky, but strictly off-limits, patient with bad-boy appeal and intimacy issues is making passes. And the sexy shrink in the suite across the hall has a gold band on his left ring finger. 

When a series of personal and professional disasters lead Pilar into the arms of one of her unsuitable suitors, she's left shaken, confused, and full of self-doubt. With time running out, she must make sense of her feelings and learn to trust herself again so that she can save her business, her family, and most importantly, her heart.

Purchase In Need of Therapy: 

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RELEASE DAY GUEST POST - ST BENDE (ELSKER)

Guest Post 

by ST Bende

Thanks so much for letting me visit on ELSKER’s release day, Tracie! As a debut author, it’s been such a treat to be embraced by such a kind group of bloggers. And it’s doubly exciting for me to be on Books By Banister. I’m a huge fan of your work, and I think your character development is brilliant. Anyone who loves Kenneth Branagh enough to put him in one of her books is pretty fabulous. (*cough, Tracie, cough*)

Thanks to our beloved Kenneth Branagh (and that cutie pie he cast in the title role of his film, Thor), we all know about America’s favorite Norse God. According to the mythology, the God of Thunder with the oversized hammer had a more colorful past than Sir Branagh led us to believe. See, before Thor married Sif (or fell for Natalie Portman, whichever version you prefer), he had an altogether different kind of love story… with that hammer, Mjölnir.

Once upon a time Mjölnir was kidnapped by an evil jotun.  Said jotun promised to return Mjölnir if he could marry Freya, the Goddess of Love. Freya wasn’t too into this plan. She was a goddess, a fierce warrior, and the original cat-lady -- she traveled around on a chariot pulled by cats. Seriously. Since Freya wasn’t about to give all that up to save Thor’s precious hammer, Thor had to come up with another idea.

A resourceful god, Thor decided to dress up as a bride his own self rather than live another day without his beloved Mjölnir. He traveled in drag to Jotunheim, tricked the perp out of his prize, and brought Mjölnir back to Asgard, leaving a trail of dead jotuns in his wake. Yep, Thor was the original runaway bride.

In ELSKER, Thor’s stepson Ull isn’t running from marriage -- in fact, he’d give anything to have a family of his own. But a family is a luxury he can never let himself have. As an Asgardian Assassin, Ull has experienced -- and inflicted -- plenty of loss. The idea of losing another person he loves literally immobilizes him. And since he’s fated to die at the Norse apocalypse, Ragnarok, he can’t see the point in getting attached to anyone. Ever. 

Ull’s not ready to meet Kristia Tostenson. Can the small-town human show the Norse God of Winter that there’s more to life than going through the motions? And more importantly, does she want to?

Sometimes fulfilling your destiny means doing the exact opposite of what the Fates have in store. 

Book Title: Elsker

Author Name: ST Bende

Series Title: The Elsker Saga

Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Entranced Publishing, Blush

Blurb: Kristia Tostenson prefers Earl Grey to Grey Goose and book clubs to nightclubs, but when she transfers from her one-stoplight town to Cardiff University in Wales she falls in love with Ull Myhr. Her new boyfriend isn’t exactly what she was expecting. He’s an honest-to-goodness Norse God — an immortal assassin fated to die at Ragnarok, the battle destined to destroy Asgard and Earth. Kristia’s crazy visions are the only thing that can save their realms.

Her orderly life just got very messy.

TUR, the prequel, can be downloaded for free HERE. 

Be sure to stop by ST Bende's blog between April 11^th and May 20^th to enter to win fabulous prizes in Waffle Fest -- the ELSKER Release Month of Giveaways! Prizes include $10 Amazon gift card, a query critique, and getting your name in the ELSKER sequel!

Buy ELSKER:

Amazon

 

Connect with ST Bende:

Blog

Goodreads

Twitter

 

RELEASE DAY - LEGALLY UNDERCOVER BY RACHEL KALL

Thanks to Tracie for hosting me on her wonderful blog.
 
Dreams do come true! Today is release day for my debut romantic suspense, Legally Undercover. To celebrate the release I wanted to do something special. Many of you probably know my love for animals. To celebrate the release this week, I will donate $2 dollars to Winging Cat Rescue for every copy of Legally Undercover sold per the details below. I can't think of a better way to celebrate a dream of mine coming true.

Whatever your dreams are, I encourage you to go after them. Life is too short not to fully embrace our dreams. Dreams don't get realized without a lot of hard work and dedication. In Legally Undercover, it is Alex's dream to become partner in a large law firm. Unfortunately, her quest for partnership is threatened when she's given a top secret assignment implicating national security. Alex must come to grips with the person she's become in pursuit of her dreams. It takes finding love and family to make her realize her true ambitions. So whatever your dreams are, don't let them change who you are or what is important to you. 

A little more about Legally Undercover-Then details about the giveaway and donation process!

Attorney Alex Popov’s dream of partnership is put to the test when she’s pulled into a top-secret investigation involving arms dealers and one of her clients, Rodrigues Capital. The only good part about her association with the secretive organization is her client contact, Pedro Martín. She’s drawn to him, but he’s hiding something.

When Jacob shows up as a new attorney at Alex’s firm, it’s clear Pedro isn’t the only one with secrets. As Alex tries to determine Jacob’s true identity, she’s drawn closer to Pedro and deeper into the mystery of Rodrigues Capital and its shadowy networks. Everyone has an agenda. In a world of lies, where no one is what they seem, Alex puts everything — even her dreams of partnership — on the line for love.

Now for details: Enter below for a chance to win a $20 Amazon Giftcard. To ensure the donation to the fabulous charity Winging Cat Rescue simply email me confirmation of your receipt after you purchase Legally Undercover. Also make sure you enter the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win the giftcard.The donation celebration will continue through Sunday April 21st.

Enter now for a chance to win, and grab Legally Undercover and help a great cause.

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Buy Links:
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Author Links:
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GUEST POST & GIVEAWAY - ELLYN OAKSMITH

A Happy Turn of Events

Guest Post by Ellyn Oaksmith

  

 

 Me after my Oprah makeover!

 

Life can turn on a dime. One event can propel your life in a different direction, vastly changing the outcome. Whether or not you believe in the chaos theory, we novelists and screenwriters make a living off this idea.

I had a random stroke of good luck that led to a sea change in my appearance and career. I was chosen, along with 9 other women, to interview Oprah Winfrey for the 10^th Anniversary of O Magazine. I don’t suppose I’ll ever know what the criteria were; suffice it to say I was the only West Coaster. 

 

Harpo Studios, here I come!

I was flown to Chicago, my sister as my guest, and driven to Harpo Studios for a fitting. The stylist looked at what I’d brought, turned to the rack of clothing behind her and found me a whole new look. The only item she used of mine was a belt. The finishing touch was a lovely double strand necklace. I asked if she’d found it in a thrift shop. She laughed, telling me it was purchased in an antique store in New York. Later I learned that it cost nearly as much as my wedding ring. 

The next day, before meeting Oprah, we all donned our carefully steamed clothes and had our hair and make-up done. My reaction, upon seeing my made up face, was to shriek and run into the bathroom. The stylist, who’d seen me hotfoot it across the hallway in my 4 inch heels, chased me, begging me to stop rubbing my face. “It’ll look amazing on camera.” She was right.

The gorgeous flowers given to each of us by Oprah.

The rest of the day was a dream. Lionel Richie and Drew Bees, fresh from his Super bowl win were the guests. Afterwards, Oprah met us in a conference room before leading us to her office where we chatted for 3 hours. She was as charming, hilarious and incredibly eloquent as one would expect.

After the magazine article (Oprah Gets Interviewed by O Readers) came out, I changed a few things in my life. I self-published my book which led to Adventures with Max and Louise being published by Harper Collins. I ended what my children call “the overall phase.” I didn’t spend any more money. I simply paid more attention to what I was buying and wearing and tried to see what that hairdresser, make-up artist and stylist saw in me.

Because what those people do for a living isn’t to see flaws, the way we do with ourselves. They see possibilities. I wish every woman could have that experience. Because what it does is make you realize, when you look in the mirror, you need to use kinder eyes. And believe in your own beauty.

And if all else fails, stand up straight and wing it! 

Happy Spring!

Author Bio:

Ellyn Oaksmith is the author of Molly's story, aptly and endearingly titled Adventures with Max and Louise. A graduate of Smith College, Ellyn holds an MFA from the American Film Institute, where she won the Richard Levinson Fellowship for best second-year screenwriter. She's worked as a screenwriter in Hollywood, winning awards and optioning several screenplays. She has also written limericks for coffee cups, worked as a copywriter and PR writer, and even done a stint as a cook on a fishing boat off the Aleutian Islands.

Book Blurb:

Molly Gallagher does not like to be the center of attention. As the mysterious Diner X, her pseudonym for a restaurant review column, she thrives on blending in. But before you can say "medical malpractice," she wakes up from a routine procedure to find that her chart got switched with someone else's, and now her A cup runneth over.

Suddenly, unassuming Molly is turning heads wherever she goes. The man she's been pining for since high school is sitting up and taking notice, a very handsome stranger has captured her attention, and her lifelong dream of publishing a cookbook is about to come true. But Molly feels like an imposter. Will some advice from a very strange place help her figure out how to navigate her new, full-figured world?

Molly realizes her revamped shape might change her life. She just doesn't anticipate quite how much . . .

Buy Adventures with Max and Louise:

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Connect with Ellyn Oaksmith:

Website 

Twitter

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Ellyn has generously offered to giveaway an e-book copy of her Chick Lit novel, Adventures with Max and Louise, to one lucky winner! You can enter up to 5 times using the Rafflecopter widget below. The giveaway will end at midnight on Sunday, March 31st, and a winner will be announced on Monday, April 1st.

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CHARACTER INTERVIEW - LAUREN CLARK (STARDUST SUMMER)

Ten Questions for Grace Mason

Single mom Grace Mason is the main character of Lauren Clark's new release Stardust Summer. Grace likes the quiet life, complete with her eight-year-old son, Evan, their tiny house, and her teaching job in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.

When tragedy strikes one thousand miles away, Grace and Evan find themselves on an unexpected journey to Upstate New York. Not only must Grace handle her father's tragic passing, but she must face the woman she believes responsible for her own mother's death.

While Henry’s passing brings little closure for Grace, she finds herself inexplicably drawn to her new surroundings. What begins as a short trip results in a series of adventures for Grace, her son, Evan, Kathleen, and their handsome and charming next-door neighbor, Ryan Gordon, the town doctor.

Today, Stardust Summer author Lauren Clark talks with Grace Mason about childhood memories, her relationship with her father, Henry, and why it often takes the offering of forgiveness to find true happiness in life.

Lauren:  What did you want to be when you grew up?

Grace: I always thought I'd grow up to work at a university like my father, Henry. I loved the atmosphere and activity on a campus—all of the students rushing around—everyone had somewhere to go, someplace important to be. And everyone loved my father. It was like this big, extended family. I had Evan, though, before I graduated from college, so my plans changed. I work at an elementary school as a teacher's aide so that I can be close to my son every day.

Lauren:  Jock or princess in high school? If you liked sports, which did you play?

Grace:  I was definitely a jock. Growing up, I was always outside, one of the tomboys in the neighborhood, always throwing the ball around with my father or playing kickball with the boys down the street. My father liked weekend adventures—fishing, camping, bike riding, and swimming in the ocean. I grew up loving nature and the outdoors.

Lauren:  Which is worse? A hangover or a really bad sunburn?

Grace:  Since I'm an outdoorsy kind of girl, and I'm lucky enough to tan rather than burn, a hangover is definitely worse! I have Evan, and he's only eight years old, so I don't allow myself to indulge much. 

Lauren:  Favorite food?

Grace:  Growing up in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, summers tend to be brutally HOT! From April through October, I have fond memories of walking with my friends down to the corner store to get an ice cream cone. The weather was always so humid that we had to eat our cones really fast, or the scoops would melt all over our hands. I think this treat cost about 75 cents, and I can remember spending every penny I could scrape together on those cones! My favorite flavors are anything berry:  Strawberry, Raspberry, Blackberry. I love all of them!

Lauren:  Dream vacation?

Grace:  I've always dreamed about going to Europe, specifically England. My father once traced our family history back from when our ancestors came over from the UK to America in the 1700's. I'd love to take a month and go explore those countries, learn more about the people, their lifestyles, taste the food, explore tourist spots, art galleries and museums. I'm enamored with any British accent, love hearing about the Royals, want to visit Oxford, and am, of course, smitten with "Downton Abbey."

Lauren:  Best advice you've ever received?

Grace:  My father always told me to follow my dreams, which, when I was younger, involved getting my Ph.D. and spending my career teaching or advising on a large college campus. I did end up majoring in education, and loved the students at my school. Now that I've moved to New York, though, there may still be time for me to chase that dream after all.

Lauren:  Worst advice?

Grace:  My best friend in college telling me to "Go For It!" when I mentioned my infatuation with one of our professors. He was notorious for flirting, breaking hearts, and womanizing. Somehow, in my barely-out-of-adolescent existence, I thought that everything the man told me was somehow different than the dozens of other girls he'd romanced and released. The other issue? We'd all had a few drinks, my inhibitions were lowered, and he was alone at the end of the bar. My friends left me there, swaying and swooning, practically sitting in his lap. A few months later, he'd gotten me pregnant, moved on to another co-ed, then took a job teaching abroad. The experience was enough to make me swear off of most men for (almost) a lifetime!

Lauren: Talk about your relationship with your stepmother, Kathleen.

Grace:  Thankfully, we have a very good relationship now. It took a long time to get here, and most of that was my fault. I harbored much grief over the loss of my mother and blamed Kathleen for many years for her death. It took my own father passing away to bring me closer to Kathleen; it was Henry's way of bringing us together when he couldn't do it during his life. Kathleen's really amazing. She loves Evan unconditionally, treats me like her flesh-and-blood daughter, and sees the good in everyone. Kathleen also introduced me to Ryan Gordon, the love of my life. Now, how can anyone argue with a gift like that?

Lauren: For your wedding, share the something old, something new, something borrowed, & something blue.

Grace: I still pinch myself when I think about my wedding. My entire life changed after my father died, and meeting Ryan Gordon was the most unexpected thing to come out of such tragedy. He's sweet, kind, and wonderful to Evan. 

Old:  My father was an old-fashioned sort of guy, always handsome and dressed well. He carried a small gold pocket watch with him at all times, which amused the students and college staff to no end. I had the florist create my bouquet so that I could carry the watch with me when I walked down the aisle. 

New:  Since we've had so many mishaps and accidents over the last year, we all decided that it would be best if I forgo the high heels and wear something low and sensible for the ceremony and small, intimate reception we'll be holding outdoors at the college. I actually shopped for weeks before stumbling on the perfect little pair of white satin ballet slippers. They match my simple silk dress perfectly, with just the toes peeking out from the hem. I'm hoping to be able to dance long into the night, under the stars, until Ryan tells me it's time to leave for our honeymoon.

Borrowed:  Kathleen offered up a strand of fine pearls to wear during the ceremony. The necklace is delicate, with graduated pearls that take on a pink color in the outside light. They were a gift to her from my father, Henry, which makes the necklace all the more special.

Blue:  As a surprise, Ryan took Evan on an adventure to find me the perfect little pre-wedding present. My son decided that Corning Museum of Glass would have a gift unlike any other. He spent several Saturdays creating the delicate glass beads that make up the bracelet. The beads are in three shades of blue:  Baby Blue for the way that the sky looks over Keuka Lake in the mornings, Turquoise for the clear, bright color at midday, and Indigo for the Stardust Summer skies I love so much.

Lauren: Define true happiness.

Grace: About a year ago, that would have been really difficult. I thought that I was happy in Ocean Springs. I had my career, my son, and my house. I had a huge buffer from the real world and kept myself busy with teaching, Evan, and occasional walks near the ocean. I didn't realize how lonely and isolated I was until my father, Henry, passed away. It was like I felt that I had forever to get over our differences. I thought that I had plenty of time. And then, one day, he was gone before Evan and I could say goodbye.

I miss him so much now, but living in New York, on 'his' lake and in his special place, I feel his presence all around me. I've regained a sense of what's truly important—family, friends, and unconditional love. That's true happiness.

Author Bio:

Lauren Clark has been a voracious reader since the age of four and would rather be stranded at the library than on a desert island. In her former life, she worked as an anchor and producer for CBS affiliates in Upstate New York and Alabama. Lauren adores her family, yoga, her new Electra bike, and flavored coffee. She lives near the Florida Gulf Coast.  

Book Blurb:

Single mom Grace Mason doesn't believe in miracles, magic, or love at first sight. She likes the quiet life, complete with her eight-year-old son, their tiny house, and her teaching job. For Grace, happiness means that nothing much ever changes in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.

Then, one thousand miles away, tragedy strikes. A massive heart attack leaves Grace's estranged father comatose in an Upstate New York hospital. While a team of doctors fight to keep Henry Mason alive, Grace and Evan rush to his bedside to say their final goodbyes.

Henry's passing brings little closure for Grace, but she finds herself inexplicably drawn to her new surroundings. What begins as a short trip results in an entire summer spent with Henry's second wife, Kathleen, and her next-door neighbor, Ryan Gordon, the town doctor. When a series of unlikely events lead to Evan's disappearance, Grace must face her worst fears to find her son and bring him back home.

Stardust Summer explores the complexities of forgiveness, what it means to be a family, and the fabulous possibility of falling in love—again.

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