Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Win a FREE Copy of "Findley's Lass"!!!

Today is the last day to enter for a chance to win Findley's Lass, Book Two of The Clan MacDougall Series! You'll receive a copy before its released to book stores! ;o)

Just leave a quick note here and you're automatically entered to win!

Have a great night!
Suzan


Yes, Virginia, Happily Ever Afters and Prince Charming do exist.

Yes, Virginia, Happily Ever Afters and Prince Charming do exist.

I have found out though, that the happy ending, in reality, is the happy beginning. My life is the perfect example. While I won't go in to all the details, suffice it to say that I have found my prince charming.

He is sweet, kind, funny, has a wicked sense of humor (I mean, really, he'd have to be in order to put up with me!) He's handsome, muscly, a phenomenal kisser, quite the romantic, honorable, would fight to his own death if he had to in order to protect me, loves me beyond all human comprehension, treats me like a queen, supports me in this roller coaster ride called writing, loves my children as if they were his own, and is just a really, really nice guy! I can tell by the way he looks at me that he loves me. He is a very talented carpenter who can fix just about anything. Did I mention he's handsome and has lots of really nice muscles? The list is endless.

So I found my little HEA (Happily Ever After) in real life. Kevin came into my life at a time when I thought, truly believed, that good guys were non-exisitant, Prince Charming only existed in fairy tales. Romance didn't happen in real life, it only happened in Harlequin Romance Novels. Romance, good guys, Prince Charmings, were as elusive as leprechauns and just as hard to find as the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow or a man who changes a diaper. They simply weren't real.

After my divorce, I swore by all that was Holy, truthful and right, that I would never, ever, ever, ever, not in a million years, get married again. Ever. Oh, I'd date and have fun, I'd go to dinner, I'd flirt, I'd enjoy being single after 19 years of marriage. No, I didn't sit on barstools in taverns waiting to be 'picked up' (Do they still use that term?)

Anyway, I'd sworn off marriage, believed romance was nonexistent, and was not-so-happily enjoying my life as a divorced mamma of three who worked full time and went to college full time. My life was crazy and I figured it would be no problem maintaining single status. I mean, really, who'd want to jump in to the craziness that surrounded my life? Who would want to step in and take on three kids that weren't his? No, we're not dysfunctional, just colorful. If you knew my family, that statement would make perfectly good sense! So single I would remain for all the rest of my life. Blissfully single.

Then he walked into my life. A curly headed, blonde, muscly -- not body builder muscles mind you, but real muscles developed over years of building really cool buildings and houses, walking up and down ladders carrying shingles on his back, or carrying two or three sheets of drywall at once -- man with a beard. Yes, my first thought of the beard was "does it scratch or tickle?" ;o) It tickles!

Honest as the day is long, even tempered, generous to a fault on so many different levels, kind, funny as hell, a sweet man who understands the importance of a mind-blowing, knee bending, earth shaking, tummy flipping kiss.

So yes, I do have my own version of Prince Charming.
And I've discovered that happily ever after is really a beginning. A beginning of a life that before I met my husband, I really didn't think existed. I'm going to save that for another time...the 'how I knew it was him' story. The 'why I fell in love with this guy' story.

Anyway...we've been married for seven wonderful years. We're still in the 'honeymooning' stage too! He's still quite the romantic -- which is yet another post for another time! He's still muscly, handsome, sweet and generous. I know you won't believe this, but it gets better every day, my life with Kevin. He's helped me raise my three children, he paid for my daughter's wedding, he's provided a home for my us, for my kids, he's been what a dad should be...again...stories for another time.

I think my husband knows the trick of being a great husband. He swept me off my feet before we were married. What makes him so amazing in my eyes is the fact that he never put away the broom. Its like he sweeps me off my feet every day. How goofy is that? ;o)

So yes, Prince Charming is real and he comes in varying shapes, sizes, and ages. Happily Ever Afters are -- or at least they should be -- happy beginnings. A beginning of a life where two people are respectful and kind to each other and they show each other every single day just how important the other person is. Its knowing that you can't imagine your life without him or her in it, and if you try to, even for a moment, it makes your heart seize, your stomach hurt, and big tears form in your eyes.

Its knowing you can trust the other person with anything. Its helping each other live a good life, full of laughter, silliness, and wonder. Its being able to laugh with each other, even when you feel like crying. Its knowing you've got each others backs. You just know these things.

No, he doesn't bring me flowers every Friday. And no he doesn't buy me expensive jewelry. But trust me when I say he gives the best gifts! Gifts that sometimes you just can't hold in your hand or wear around your neck. He gives gifts that stay in my heart and fill me with so much giddiness at times that I swear it's just beyond real, beyond goofy. ;o) But yes, happily ever afters are real. So is Prince Charming. So is love.









Saturday, August 25, 2012

Monday, August 20, 2012

Book Description for Findley's Lass


Hello! We're winding up the final edits of Findley's Lass! We have a September 1 deadline to get him all ready to go to the publisher so that we can make sure he's in stores by November 1...I keep having to remind myself to breathe! ;o) It may be a little confusing but we do have two release dates: October 12 for the digital version --Kindle, Nook, iBooks, and Smashwords. The November 1 date is for the actual paperback version. There will be more information on the paperback version coming to you later. ;o)
Anyway...today I thought I'd give you a sneak peek at the book description. Trust me when I say it was more difficult to write this book description than it was to write the book! Weird, I know, but when your dealing with secrets, mad men, ne'er-do-wells, and romance, its sometimes difficult to hone in on one thing without giving away too much! ;o)
Here you go:
The Highlands of Scotland, Autumn 1344…..
She had won his heart without trying… and he can only pray for the chance to give her his.
When Findley McKenna returns after his battle with the English to offer Maggy Boyle a home amongst his clan, he finds only death and destruction instead of the young widow who has stolen his heart. The only things left of her home is the burned out hut and decaying bodies of the auld people Maggy has taken care of for the past three years. With only a prayer, his Highlander heart, and a bit of bloodied plaid to cling to, Findley will crawl through hell if he must, in order to find Maggy and her sons and avenge the massacre before him. She had won his heart without trying, and he can only pray for the chance to give her his.
How can she place her trust or her heart in the hands of a man she barely knows and maintain her freedom and keep her secrets hidden?
Maggy has secrets, and her own hell to crawl through, before she can give her trust or heart to any man. Fearful that the uncle of her late husband will force her into a marriage with another cold and vindictive man, she goes into hiding to keep her true identity secret and her adopted sons together. After her home is destroyed and her young son kidnapped, those secrets begin to unravel, one agonizing thread at a time. How can she place her trust or her heart in the hands of a man she barely knows and still maintain her freedom and keep her secrets hidden? Findley McKenna is her last vestige of hope at keeping both.   
 I'd love to hear what you think!
Remember, you have until August 29 to stop by and say hi and be entered for a chance to win a FREE copy of Findley's Lass, BEFORE it hits the shelves! ;o) 
Hugs,
Suzan

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Book Launching Party!


Hello everyone! Let me start by saying I have the world’s best husband! ;o) Of course, you all knew that because I brag about him all the time….anyway…to the announcement.
On Friday, October 12, 2012, from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. we are having a Book Launching Party for Findley’s Lass, Book Two of The Clan MacDougall Series! (Thank you Kevin!!)  It will be held at the private dinning room at the Bass Pro Shop in East Peoria, IL. The room is so amazing! I reminds me of a judge’s chambers, from the 30′s, with all it’s rich, dark, wood walls, beautiful lighting…just very, very nice!
There will be free hors devours and drinks too! ;o) It is open to the public and I will have copies of Findley’s Lass available for purchase…that means you’ll be able to get a copy before its in the book stores! ;o) And yes, I’ll be available to sign them if you so desire. ;o)
If you are able to make it, please leave a message here, or at Facebook.  I’ll post that event link at Facebook shortly. ;o)
If you can’t make it…here’s the fun part: I’m going to Skype LIVE that night for my fans who can’t make it! You can tweet or send a message and I’ll answer it as soon as I can. ;o)
So even if you can’t be there in person, you can peek in and say hi! ;o)
Thank you all so very, very much for your support and kind words! You all mean the world to me and I wouldn’t be where I am if it weren’t for you!
Hugs,
Suzan