Thanks for having me today, Cynthia!
I’m the featured
Author-of-the-Week over at the Secret Cravings blog, and anyone who comments
here or on any of my guest posts between now and Thursday will be given a
chance to win a free download of their choice of my back list.
When I sat down to
write Endless Love, which is the 5th book in the Arbor University
series, I pictured the ‘Barbie and Ken’ story of the series, you know, the
golden couple who meet and fall in love in high school, then marry after they graduate
college and go on to live HEA. My
college roommate and BFF seemed destined for that course of action, until our
senior year. Suddenly Life dealt her and
her boyfriend a double blow. First came
a brush with the law, which took six months until his name was cleared, then
another more damaging charge, which literally shook the foundation of their
relationship and tested the strength of her love for him. After I wrote this, I sent it to my BFF, who
called me first in tears, since some of the conversations between Caitlyn and
either Amy or Peter actually took place, wondering why she wasn’t told certain
truths. Sometimes, when a person has
their mind made up, they don’t hear advice because they simply aren’t ready to
hear it or face it. The second time she
called me, she said it was “nice to know how my life would have turned out, had
I stayed on track.” Isn’t that true of
everyone?
Blurb:
Caitlyn McCarty plans to marry her high school sweetheart,
Bryan Johnson, and teach elementary school after graduating from Arbor University. But after Bryan's life turns upside down with an
unexpected turn of events, Caty begins to question her goals and every decision
she’s ever made.
Peter Criswell fell for green-eyed, opinionated Caitlyn when
he first met her. However, her
determination to hold onto a dream frustrates him. Sometimes you meet the right person at the
wrong time, and falling for a woman who’s caught between her parents’ wants
versus her own desires isn’t always easy.
When the foundation of Bryan Johnson’s relationship with
Caitlyn is tested not once, but twice, he faces the possibility of losing the
only girl he’s loved since high school.
When Caty does make up her mind, will she stand by her man or run into
the arms of another?
Excerpt:
“No, we didn’t have a fight. It’s just, right before
Halloween, things were back to normal for us, and this afternoon, I called, and
he was at the doctor’s office with Valerie, playing concerned daddy. It just
slapped me back to reality, that’s all.” She ran her hands through her hair.
“And watching Amy getting over Matt, and seeing Gretchen so happy, oh, I don’t
know what’s wrong with me. Maybe it’s just PMS.”
“Sounds more like
you’re jealous.”
“Me? Jealous? That’s
ridiculous.” Caty snapped her head around to face him. “I’m happy Amy’s moving
on with her life, Gretchen’s got her life mapped out, and even Keri’s going
out, although I’m not sure she’s really looking for anyone. I just...I don’t
know.”
Peter moved through
the late-day traffic. “Do you think you’re standing still? You keep saying that
every one of your friends is moving on. Sounds to me like you’re trying to hold
onto the idea of you and Bryan as this perfect couple.”
“We did get called
‘Barbie and Ken’ a lot. We used to joke about our fairytale romance, and one
year, dressed up as Cinderella and Prince Charming.”
“But…” Peter
prompted.
“But, I guess maybe
you’re right. My life is on hold. I used to believe I would graduate, get
married, teach school until I started having babies, and be happy the rest of
my life.” Caty shook her head. “Now, I know I’m going to graduate, but the rest
is all up in the air. Amy’s going to graduate sometime in the summer and do God
knows what. Keri’s got so many job offers, she doesn’t know which to choose,
and Gretchen’s going into the Peace Corps, if she gets accepted, then marry Troy and live happily ever
after.”
“And Stephanie?”
“She wants to teach
P.E. somewhere. She wants to stay in Evansville,
or at least in the area.”
“And where does that
leave you?”
“In limbo until
April.”
“Why does your
happiness depend on Bryan?”
He hit the wheel, causing Caitlyn to gasp. “I can’t understand it. You’re
young, beautiful, you’ve got what it takes to be a successful teacher, yet you
persist in clinging to this dream of marrying a guy who’s not even sure if he’s
about to bring a child into the world with someone he doesn’t even remember
sleeping with.” He sounded exasperated. “It’s 1988, Caitlyn. You’re not in
1958...you have the right to make your own happiness, not depend on any man.”
Like what you’re reading?
Buy it here:
Check out my blog: www.mollydaniels.wordpress.com
Again, thank you sooooo much for having me today! Don’t
forget to leave your contact information in your comment! I’ll be announcing the winner on Friday, Jan
17th.
No, thank you! Enjoyed the behind the scenes snippet and the excerpt. Until next time . . .
Cynthia
Hi Molly! Thanks for the excerpt. And thanls Cynthia for hosting her! ;)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for having me today Cynthia:) I had so much fun writing this story, having seen most of it while on the sidelines.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, my dear! When we as authors take reality and turn into fiction, it becomes more real! Good luck today.
DeleteWhat a great excerpt! I know we've talked about our first loves and how life has a way of changing our plans. I'm glad you could use the stories for a great novel! All the best!!
ReplyDelete