DREAMING OF A SMALL TOWN—AND SECOND CHANCES

With: Tracy Solheim

Congratulations to Michelle H., the winner in Tracy's giveaway. Thank you to all who participated!

Growing up military, I always envied those people who lived in the same town all of their lives. I craved the continuity of knowing my neighbors and classmates from cradle to grave; or knowing every creak of the stairs and groan of the radiator in our home.  Instead I got to live in “exotic” places like Biloxi, Mississippi for six months (during the hot summer, no less) and Wheatridge, Colorado for nine.  By the time I’d I reached the ripe old age of thirteen, I’d lived in seventeen different houses—none of them “home”.  A few years on one base seemed like an eternity, except the neighbors kept coming and going like passengers in a train station constantly reminding me of the lack of permanence. 

                So, it stands to reason that when I ventured into the fantasy world that existed in my head, it would be to a small town where everyone knows everyone else.  In my January 6 release, BACK TO BEFORE, the coastal hamlet of Chances Inlet is that very place.  The only problem is Gavin McAllister doesn’t exactly feel the same way about his home town as I would.  He HATES having everyone know his business.  It’s the main reason he escaped Chances Inlet in the first place—so he could live where he’d be anonymous.  Fate had other plans for Gavin and he’s forced to return home to sell his father’s construction firm.  Unfortunately, that isn’t as easy as he hopes (really, I wouldn’t have a story if it was, right?) and he gets pulled back into the meddling clutches of the folks who just want to see him happily married.  I had a blast parading out some stereotypical characters—and others who weren’t so typical.  It was fun to live in the small town I’d created as a refuge in my mind all those years ago.

What I didn’t see coming was the resiliency of the story’s other protagonist, Ginger Walsh, who has the innate ability to reinvent herself--a trait born from moving about the country as a child in her mother’s professional dance company.  Ginger just might be a little bit like a certain Air Force brat who grew up reinventing herself every time she moved.  While I never would base a character on me—trust me, readers wouldn’t get past page two of that book!—some of the life skills I picked up growing up military seemed to seep into Ginger’s personality.  Like me, she craves the continuity of small town life.  Until she gets to Chances Inlet and she finds out that the life she imagined might not be all that she dreamed.  And then the sparks really fly!

GIVEAWAY:

How about you?  Did you watch It’s a Wonderful Life last month and wish just a little bit that you lived in Bedford Falls?  Would you like to live in a town where everyone knows your name?  Or do you prefer a bit of anonymity? One random commenter will win a $10 Amazon gift card.

Chances Inlet, North Carolina, has an infamous power for second chances. But its charms are lost on the town’s favorite son—until she comes along…

When his father’s sudden death puts his family’s construction business in serious debt, architect Gavin McAlister is forced to put his dream career in New York on hold. Making matters worse, his fiancée calls it quits. Desperate to return to his big-city life, he discovers an opportunity to save his family, one that has him reluctantly starring in a home restoration TV show.

Former soap star Ginger Walsh hopes this job as a TV makeup artist will lead to better things. So far it’s only brought her to a hamlet full of people who don’t like her—except Gavin. After a wild night out leads to Ginger waking up in Gavin’s loft—and the rest of town talking—the two of them soon wonder if getting back to before is what they want. Because being in each other’s arms certainly feels like what they need.

Buy it here:

AMAZON

BARNES AND NOBLE

GOOGLE

iTUNES

Where to find Tracy:

www.Tracysolhem.com

Facebook: Tracy Solheim Books

Twitter: TracyKSolheim

Author Bio:

After years of writing reports and testimony for Congress, Tracy Solheim decided to put her fiction writing talents to better use.  Tracy is the international bestselling author of the Out of Bounds series for Berkley and southern novellas for Tule Publishing.  She lives in the heart of SEC country, also known as the suburbs of Atlanta, with her husband and their two works-in-progress.   When she’s not at the barn with her daughter or working out with friends (i.e. lifting heavy bottles of wine), she’s writing.  Except for when she’s reading, but according to her, that’s just necessary research. 

Giveaway ends 11:59pm EST Jan. 3rd. Please supply your email in the post. You may use spaces or full text for security. (ex. jsmith at gmail dot com) If you do not wish to supply your email, or have trouble posting, please email maureen@JustContemporaryRomance.com with a subject title of JCR GIVEAWAY to be entered in the current giveaway.