Life Next Door (Love Not Included #2)
by: J.D. Hollyfield
Publication Date : November 3, 2014
SYNOPSIS
There is only one thing in life that professional pastry Chef Priscilla Westcott values more than baking and wine, and that’s honesty. A quality she soon learns that her marriage lacks when her husband runs off with their next door neighbor.
Divorced and alone, Priscilla is determined to make changes in her life. She decides to approach her new goals like one of her beloved recipes. Surely with a little time, a dash of patience, and measured planning she can whip herself—and her life—back into shape.
However, when a new—and utterly delicious—neighbor takes up residence in the house that ruined her marriage, Pricilla fears that her careful world will fold faster than a deflated soufflé.
Trent Walker knows what he wants and his sweet, sassy neighbor is at the top of the list. He’s certain that the chemistry between them would be explosive, but Priscilla fears that an affair with him, however hot, could be a recipe for disaster.
Purchase Links
Life Next Door
Life in a Rut, Love Not Included
EXCERPT
“Seriously this new paper boy needs a lesson in straight shooting.” I grumble while I bend over digging through the bush to grab the paper.
“Doing some early morning gardening?” There is this voice that comes from behind me. One that I unfortunately connect with Mr. WTF is he doing out right now!? I am frozen with my head in a bush. I register all the options I have right now, and all of them consist of me straitening and turning around. In my robe. Damn you world.
“Um no just looking for something. Thought I saw a cat. No worries here.” I ramble into the bushes. Please go away. Please go away.
His voice seems a bit closer, which does not sit well for my self-esteem right now. I mean I personally think my robe is dope but to be caught in it by this guy, I’m starting to wish I ditched Pinkie Pie pony when I was fourteen.
“Want some help?” I hear from behind me.
“Nope. All good!” I sound a bit panicked. He needs to beat it and like right now. My back is starting to cramp and my legs are about to give in and send me tumbling face first into the greens. I’m not even sure why he is being so normal with me. I’m pretty sure I was not very nice to him less than twelve hours ago. That smooth voice steps even closer. “Well why don’t you let me take a look. I’m pretty talented in digging through a good bush to get to the prize.” Oh hell no he did not just innuendo me! Digging through my bush. Dream on pal, I stand straight and whip around to face him and holy shit.
“Holy shit.” I let spill out of my mouth. Pretty much around the same time he jumps back and spits out, “Holy Jesus.”
“Jesus is right! Do you ever wear a shirt?” I ask like seeing his budging biceps is an insult to my drooling eyes. “Yes, I do but when I’m running and sweating it tends to be pointless.” He steps closer to me and I swallow my tongue. Anything else I was going to bark out stops completely and his close proximity shuts it down. Why is this guy having such a dizzying effect on me?
“So…” He begins with that purr to his tone. Seriously a purr? Who purrs while they talk?! “Do you always walk around in a kid’s robe and all that green gook covering your face?”
Insert jaw drop and gasp. There is nothing like forgetting, while having a stare down, two feet from your too hot for his own good neighbor, that you are wearing a god damn seaweed mask. Die cruel world.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
J.D. Hollyfield is a creative designer and first-time author. When she's not cooking, event planning, or playing around with her husband, son and three doxies, she's relaxing with her nose in a book. With her love for romance, and her head full of book boyfriends, she was inspired to test her creative abilities and bring her own story to life. Life in a Rut, Love not Included is her first novel. Hollyfield lives in the Midwest, and is currently at work on her second book. -------------------------------
Website: authorjdhollyfield.com
Twitter:https://twitter.com/jdhollyfield
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjdhollyfield
15. What are your expectations for the book? That people enjoy it.
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***Author Interview***
1. Is
there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp? My
message about the female characters I write come from the theory that
deep down every woman has a bad ass side. Love sucks sometimes, but in
the end, we seem to always come out on top. Sometimes we just have to go
through a little stink before we get to the sweet stuff. I loved
writing CeCe’s story because she wasn’t dwelling on her loss. She got
it. She accepted loves departure and wanted to move on. And I was proud
of her. I wanted to write her story in a way that anyone who read it
felt the same. Chin up. We have what it takes to be great.
2. Are
experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life? I
think that everyone has had a bad taste of love at one time in their
life. So I can relate and say I have taken a piece of my experience and
written it into both books I have written. I also love wine like its my
lifeline so that part is definitely written from personal experience.
3. If
you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor? An author
that influenced me the most was Darynda Jones. She actually writes
Paranormal but her humor and wittiness blows my mind. I think she is
great.
4. What book are you reading now? I am in the middle of opposition from Jennifer Armentrout. Great series. Great author.
5. What
are your current projects? Currently I am working on A Charmed
Life, which is book three in the Love not Included Series. I am sighing a
lot so I think you all will enjoy it as much as I am writing it.
Expected Spring 2015.
6. Name
one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members. Fans,
hands down. If anything keeps me ticking it is support and positive
feedback from readers, other authors and bloggers.
7. Do
you see writing as a career? I wish. I am not a big dog yet so I still
have to show up for my 9-5. I envy these amazing writers who get to play
in there writing rooms all day and let their brains make magic.
Hopefully one day I will be in a place where I have my secret writing
room and get to write stories for people to read and fall in love with.
8. Who designed the covers? The wonderful Nicole Blanchard from Indiesage PR.
9. What
was the hardest part of writing your book? First thought that comes to
mind is time. Having a fulltime job, family, and responsibilities,
writing has to fit in somewhere and that's normally once the world is
all tucked in bed. This all means I don't get much sleep. As anyone
knows once you start on a great idea, you can't stop until your mind is
empty of scenes, emotions, etc. This means I start my days with 4 hours
of sleep to do it all again.
10. Do
you have any advice for other writers? Do what your heart tells you and
don't look back. Everyone has a talent in them. It just takes a little
push to get going and you will be surprised on what you can create. I
was told that advice one day and I can only pay it forward and give it
to anyone who wants it.
11. Do
you ever experience writer's block? Yes! I go through slumps where it
just isn't happening for me. I try to fight through it but it just leads
to dumping thousands of words because I just wasn't in the zone. I tend
to take a time out and read read read! Other authors inspire me!
Reading gets the juices flowing and the moment I feel ready to jump back
in the game I am on fire.
12. Do
you write an outline before every book you write? No. All three books
actually have started with just a scene in my head. And from there I sit
down and write. I normally start a book 1/3 in, and work my way back to
the beginning once I finish. In my case the book/storyline gets
stronger the farther I get into the book so sometimes the beginning
changes.
13. Have
you ever hated something you wrote? Of course. I think every writer is
their own worst critic. It’s a pain to write something then scratch it.
But when you know it’s gotta go, it’s gotta go :)
14. While
you were writing, did you ever feel as if you were one of the
characters? I have related to both my characters in ways that it made it
easier to get lost in the story and write. At times I felt it was more
of a Dear Diary sort of story, but I guess when you are using realistic
life situations that can happen.
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GIVEAWAY
Yes there was a boy that moved next door to us when I was in high school and every girl at school was after him - he was hot LOL! Now I can't even remember his name!
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