Holy... well, let's stick with holidays and keep this Rated G, yeah?
Man. Did December sneak up on anyone else? I swear, it feels like October was the longest month of the year and then November blew by without me realizing.
Thanksgiving is one of y favorite holidays. Mainly because it's one of the few that doesn't require giving anyone a gift of any kind. No candy, no bags or baskets or boxes. Literally just food upon food upon food.
I need to know: what's your favorite Thanksgiving dish? Main or side, I don't care. Mine is green bean casserole. I happen to think I make the best but since we have to travel between my 2 in-law's houses, I never get to make it.
I also really look forward to pumpkin pie. LAWD do I love that dessert, and that's coming from someone who isn't a big "sweets" person. If made well, it's not overly sweet. It's heavy enough it feels like there's some real substance to it (as opposed to like a glazed donut that feels like biting air. I said what I said!)
Anyways, like I mentioned, we always bounce between no less than two houses for Thanksgiving. This is the second one we've had without Babe's grandmother and it felt a lot more pronounced this year. I think last year we were all still in shock at her passing but we also had a wedding for another family member to look forward to. This year? It felt different. It wasn't bad, but... I don't know. This year just hit me a lot harder at random times that I lost two incredibly important people to me in the summer of 2023.
Ugh. Moving on because I really don't want to feel my feelings too much just yet.
What's coming up in December?
On top of all the gift-giving holidays that are going on, I have so many fun things planned professionally.
The first is, obviously, I intend to release the third book of the 6th Man series before the year ends. Is this a big ask of myself? Absolutely it is! My kids are off school or home early so much between now and the end of the month--on top of all the days they were already off. But I'm loving Spencer and Ryleigh's story. I will say, I was shocked to learn something about my own character as I wrote her.
That's the crazy thing about being an author. So many people think I already know what the story is. Who these characters are--inside and out. But I learn about them so much as I write their story. And, after reviewing some early notes for books 1 & 2 in this new adult, college basketball romance series I can tell you that nothing has ended up the way I originally thought! So, I'm not surprised to find that Spence and Ry are giving me the same hell that Court and Clara, and Beau and Becky gave me!
As newsletter and/or blog subscribers, I want to share something with you that I haven't share with anyone outside of my Alpha Readers yet. And that is... THE BLURB! That's right. You're seeing it before anyone else.
Spencer Lawrence
One stupid play nearly cost my team their shot at the cup in the Spring Upshot Tournament back in March. It did cost me the rest of my season. Possibly my shot at next year’s draft. It’s the summer before my senior year and my last chance to get professional teams looking at me as a real contender. Coach has it in his head that some upstart trainer is my ticket back to the game; and while she seems to know her job, I have to resist. There’s no way I can jeopardize my one shot to get away from my past.
Ryleigh Simpson
I have a dream: to be the best in the world of professional sports athletic training. My biggest hurdle? I’m a woman. And while women are making a name for themselves in the arena of professional sports, it seems like this is one space we can’t get our foot in the door to. That is until the head coach for Franklin University’s Men’s basketball team asks me to rehab his star forward. This is my one chance to prove I can do the job as well as, if not better than, any guy out there.
The only problem? Spencer Lawrence isn’t sold on me. That’s fine. He doesn’t have to like me for me to do my job. But after spending weeks working out the issues with his ankle, I realize there’s more to the athlete than meets the eye. Although… it’s not a bad view from where I’m sitting. I’m starting to realize I might want more. More time. More touches. More… him.
As the summer comes to an end, will I bench myself?
… Or are we In the Zone?
Does this sound like something you might like to read? How about getting an early copy? Well, you're in luck. As subscribers, you get another perk: Here's the link to sign-up for my ARC team! You will have a copy sent to the email you indicate. All I ask is to share if you love it.
In a similar vein... Trading Tinsel should be available on Audible now! I say should because there's always a chance that ACX--the production company affiliated with Amazon and Audible--may not have gotten all their i's dotted and t's crossed. If it's not on Audible yet, please know that it's on its way. I've submitted everything and we're just waiting on the final production to verify everything.
But Amber Goode did such an incredible job voicing Nick and Eve, bringing their story of wrong sister, right time to life. I may have written the words, given the story-- but hearing Amber as she works through their emotions? Gut-wrenching! (But, like, in a good way. You know?)
This story is Book 3 in the Dropped Puck Series and follows Nick Atterton after he's traded from Chicago to Miami. His ex's twin sister, Eve Carter, is there doing her "lap-year" as she works to attain her degree. This book is childhood friends but with a twist!
***
Just seven minutes younger than her twin sister, Evelyn “Eve” Carter has always felt like the “shadow sister.” She’s fun when her sister is functional, more go with the flow than the structured nature of her womb-mate. Even looking exactly alike, she somehow still managed to come second to the first guy she really crushed on, Nick Atterton. Her sister’s high school boyfriend. Her sister’s near-fiancé. Fleeing halfway across the country to attend college in Miami, FL, Eve hopes to distance herself from that beacon of perfection and the daily soul crushing feeling of inadequacy.
Nick Atterton has loved the game of hockey since he was six years old. The next closest thing to that pure, unfiltered adoration was his high school girlfriend. But when he can’t commit to forever, they end things. Just in time for his trade to Miami.
A quick trip home for Christmas ends up rerouted when Nick and Eve find their flight emergency landed in Nashville due to an unexpected ice storm. Will tinsel and trinkets be the only thing exchanged this holiday season? Or will they be permanently added to the naughty list?
***
Not done yet!
The Naughty & Nice Winter Bundle is Live and ready for you. This limited time bundle gives you exclusive access to 10 new and original short stories that take place between Thanksgiving and New Years.
I have included my Origins prequel story as part of this bundle. In it, you'll meet Rhys Barbenstone before he owned the Chicago Sharks, and Maddie Smythe--the woman he's watched from afar. When the opportunity arises to combine two things he craves (Maddie and making a name for himself), well who's he to pass it up.
This sweet story (aka: no spice) has a fun twist that I think you'll love. It's a great way to see what made Rhys the man we liked throughout Dropped Puck, but knew so little about.
Okay, okay... one more thing before I go.
I set a few goals for myself early on.
One of the biggest ones was that I wanted my books to be accessible, in whatever way I could do that. It's why I stick with Kindle Unlimited even as more and more AI stories flood the platform (decreasing the value of each page you lovely readers turn).
And it's why I am in the works to have each and every book I write available in audiobook. As of right now, Saving Grace is currently in production to be made into an audiobook! It looks like Grace and Garrison's story can feasibly be expected in 2025, but I really am not too sure on the specifics.
I would give you more details if I could ... but I can't.
Not because I have contracts saying I have to keep the surprise. No. It's more like ACX doesn't really let me do pre-orders or know exactly when the book will hit Audible. But I promise: As soon as I know, you'll know. I'll also have an opportunity for one lucky subscriber to win a FREE audio version of Saving Grace. So, be on the lookout for more info on that in the new year.
Okay. I hope you love all these gifts. Of course, there's always the free and promo'd books I share on my website. That page is updated frequently so if you downloaded all the books from there last month, I suggest checking again! There's going to be at least one that catches your eye!
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