Karin has agreed to give away an electronic copy of this book. You can enter by using the Rafflecopter link at the end of the post. (Giveaway ends November 7, 2019. If you are the randomly chosen winner, I'll contact you.)
Story behind the story...
I love historical
romances—especially marriage-of-convenience stories. I have no desire to write
historical romance, but I wanted to try writing my favorite trope. That
inspired the question:
What would have to happen for two people
in modern-day America to decide to get married for practical reasons instead of
for love?
That actually required a bit of research,
as well as some creativity. The end result? Well …
“It isn't hard to keep turning pages when you
have swoon-worthy characters who find themselves in potentially crushing
circumstances. Unexpected chemistry and fast friendship make this story a
delightful read, and author Karin Beery’s deft words, wisdom, and wit make it a
memorable one.” (Kaley Rhea, co-author
of Turtles in the Road and Messy to Meaningful)
Blurb...
Ashley moves to a new town to
marry her fiancé. Instead, she buries him.
Ashley Johnson moves
to northern Michigan to finally meet her fiancé face-to-face, but she arrives
in time to go to his funeral. With no home back in Ohio, she decides to stay in
what would have been their house, except his cousin Russ lives there too, and Russ
has never heard of Ashley. To complicate matters, her fiancé accidentally willed
her the family farmhouse. Eager to please everyone and desperate to disappoint no
one, she proposes a marriage of convenience that could solve her and Russ’s
problems, if they can get past her aunt, his sisters, and an ex-girlfriend.
Excerpt...
Ashley
wrapped her hands around the white coffee mug. The hot ceramic warmed her
chilled fingers. If only it would warm her heart. She could forgive Tom for the
missed phone calls, possibly even for forgetting to pick her up, but she’d been
in Boyne Heights for two hours and still couldn’t find him. Her patience had
walked out with the last diner patron.
The waitress returned, refilling the mug. “Are you sure I can’t get you
anything? At least let me get you a piece of pie.”
Ashley smiled at the kind woman. Her name tag said Pearl. Judging by the salt-and-pepper
hair and creases around her mouth, Ashley guessed she was her mother’s age,
probably had kids of her own. Maybe grandkids. Taking care of people most
likely came second nature to Pearl. “Thank you, but I’m fine,” Ashley said. “I
won’t be here much longer, I promise."
“Take as long as you need. You look a little worried is all. Are you
waiting for someone?”
“How could you tell?”
Pearl’s laughter rolled through the dining room. “Most strangers pass
through. I make a decent cup of coffee, but no one’s ever stayed two hours to
enjoy it.”
“I’m waiting for my friend. He’ll be along soon. I hope.” Maybe. Ashley
offered another smile, but the waitress didn’t smile back.
“I’ve lived here my whole life and know pretty much everyone. Tell me who
you’re waiting for, and I can probably find him for you.”
“I’d appreciate the help. I was supposed to meet Tom—”
“Tom Russell?” The waitress frowned.
“You know him?” Sweet relief! “Thank goodness. I don’t have his home
address, only his cell number, but he’s not answering. Could you tell me where
I can find him?”
“You stay right there.” Pearl set the coffeepot on the table and pulled
the apron over her head. “Get whatever you want. It’s on the house. Lou! Get
this girl some food!” Pearl leaned over, eye to eye with Ashley. “I’ll be right
back. Don’t go anywhere.”
Ashley didn’t have a clue where she’d go, and she didn’t have time to
ask. Pearl ran down the hall before she could say anything. As soon as the
waitress disappeared, a skinny teenage boy set a giant sandwich in front of
Ashley. “Are you Lou?”
“No, that’s my dad. He said to fill you up. Sorry about Tom.”
“Uh, thanks. I really don’t need all of this food, though.” The kid
shrugged, took the coffeepot, and walked back to the kitchen. Tom had joked
about the solitude of his hometown and the characters who lived there, but he’d
never mentioned how hospitable they were.
Ashley’s stomach growled. She checked her watch. It had been four hours
and eighteen minutes since she found her luggage, rented a car, and finally
made her way to Boyne. Maybe she should eat something.
She made quick work of the sandwich, popping the last bite into her mouth
as Pearl emerged from the back of the restaurant. Behind her walked a tall,
brooding man. Dark hair stuck out from under his ball cap, and dark whiskers
shadowed his face. Like Pearl, he looked at her without smiling. Warning tingles
raced over Ashley’s spine. She kept her eyes on the frowning man who slid into
the booth across from her.
Ashley forced a smile. “Can I help you?”
The man nodded, his brown eyes locked on hers. “Pearl said you’re waiting
for Tom.”
Ashley’s pulse kicked up. “Yes. And you are?”
“Russ. I’m his business partner.”
That’s right. Tom’s cousin. “He’s mentioned you. Can you tell me where to
find him?”
Russ looked up at Pearl, then back at Ashley. Suddenly the booth seemed
too small, too crowded. The stranger across from her didn’t flinch. “I’m sorry,
ma’am, but there was an accident. Tom’s dead.”
About Karin...
Karin Beery grew up
in a rural Michigan town, where she wrote her first novel in high school. Today,
she writes contemporary stories with a healthy dose of romance. When she’s not
writing fiction, she’s reading, editing, or teaching it. In her free time, she
enjoys watching University of Michigan football and action-adventure movies
with her husband and fur babies.
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