Aloha to Lynnette Austin and EVERY BRIDE HAS HER DAY (Magnolia Brides Book 2)

CAN LOVE REVIVE A WILTING HEART?

Cricket O’Malley can’t wait to plant roots back home in Georgia, where she’s returned to restore an abandoned flower shop to its former glory. The only blemish? Her neighbor’s house is even more neglected than her old flower shop, and its occupant seems as surly as he is darkly handsome.

Devastated body and soul after a tough case went south, New York City detective Sam DeLuca thought he’d have no trouble finding solitude in the quiet Georgia town of Misty Bottoms, but his bubbly neighbor seems determined to shine happiness into Sam’s life. Sam is equally determined to close himself off, but his heart says otherwise…

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The luxury of staying home when the weather turns nasty, of working in PJs and bare feet, and the fact that daydreaming is not only permissible but encouraged, are a few of the reasons middle school teacher Lynnette Austin gave up the classroom to write full-time. Lynnette grew up in Pennsylvania’s Alleghany Mountains, moved to Upstate New York, then to the Rockies in Wyoming. Presently she and her husband divide their time between Southwest Florida’s beaches and Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. A finalist in RWA's Golden Heart Contest, PASIC's Book of Your Heart Contest, and Georgia Romance Writers' Maggie Contest, she’s published five books as Lynnette Hallberg. She’s currently writing as Lynnette Austin. Having grown up in a small town, that’s where her heart takes her—to those quirky small towns where everybody knows everybody...and all their business, for better or worse. 

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Lynnette’s Tip for the Perfect Wedding

He’s asked you to be his wife. After you’ve shared the good news with family and close friends, what should you do? Save that date! Choosing a date can start the whole ball rolling. It will help with colors, theme, and food. It will help you decide on that all-important dress! If you have lots of out-of-towners attending, keep this in mind as well as a venue and weather conditions. Florida outdoor weddings are wonderful, but in July or August? The heat and humidity will be unwelcome guests.

A spring wedding can be light and breezy with pastels and tulips, daffodils, lilacs, and peonies. Think summer and it’s bright with so many flowers to pick from. Sunflowers to roses, magnolias to sweet peas. Autumn weddings bring to mind the russets and burnt oranges, the deep reds and golds. Chrysanthemums and fall foliage, golden and dark orange roses, dahlias and gerberas. For winter weddings, red and cream roses, mistletoe, gardenias and orchids, along with Star of Bethlehem. The colors, feel, and flowers will be much easier to deal with once you save that date.

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Lynette offers an excerpt from EVERY BRIDE HAS HER DAY ... 

“Hold on a sec.” Sam raised a finger and headed back inside. Grabbing the small radio he’d found tucked inside a closet, he placed it on the ledge above the sink, dialed up a station that played a lot of Frank Sinatra, and opened the window. The music drifted into the twilight.

In another cupboard, he found a stub of a candle in a squat holder. His aunt Gertie’d probably kept it in case of a power outage. It would do. He lit it and stepped outside to find Cricket curled up on the back porch swing, Hobo at her feet.

“So you decided to come home,” he said to the dog. “You’ve been gone half the day.”

In answer, Hobo thumped his tail on the porch.

“Yeah, I know. You heard steak was on the menu for dinner.”

The tail thumped harder, and Cricket laughed, a warm, sultry sound.

Sam set the candle on a small side table, his system on high alert.

Cricket O’Malley. The girl-next-door meets sex goddess.

He didn’t understand it, but that didn’t seem to matter. Chemistry fairly sizzled between them.

He cleared his throat, then leaned down beside the fire circle. After he got a nice little blaze started, he pulled an old bench close. “I know we don’t need the heat—” He broke off. No, they sure didn’t. If they got within ten miles of each other, they generated enough of their own. “I mean, uh, I thought it might add a little ambiance.”

“Nothing I enjoy more than sittin’ around a campfire.”

“Have a seat then, and I’ll start the steaks.”

After he tossed them on the grill, he inched down beside Cricket.

The woman smelled like heaven. Or sin. He couldn’t decide which and slung an arm over the bench back. Hobo jumped up beside him.

Sam slid closer to Cricket to give the dog more room.

Hobo took it and more.

“You’re crowding me, boy.”

Those big eyes stared up at him, then Hobo threw his head back in an ear-piercing howl.

“Stop that!”

The dog answered with another mournful cry.

“Oh, for Pete’s sake.” He tried to move the dog off the bench, but he’d become a boneless, dead weight.

Cricket laughed. “I think we both know what he wants.”

Sam let out a half-laugh. “You up for it?”

“I can handle it if you can.”

“Oh, yeah, I’m up for it.” He rolled his eyes. “Wrong way to put that, but—”

He broke off as she laid a hand on the side of his face, leaned into him, and gave him a taste of heaven.

“Not enough,” he muttered, pulling her closer, dipping his lips again and angling them to take more. He trailed kisses along her neck, then moved back to her mouth. His hands moved down her arms, brushed the sides of her breasts.

A log dropped and sent up a loud popping and a shower of sparks.

He drew back and laid his forehead against hers, noticed, thank you God, her ragged breathing matched his own. “Cricket—”

“Shhh.” She laid a finger over his lips. “Let’s just accept that for what it was.”

“What was it?”

“Darned if I know.” She laughed. “But Hobo’s quiet.”

Sam looked at the dog who, job done, had hopped off the bench and rested in the grass. “I’m liking that dog more every day.”

Aloha to Lynnette Austin and THE BEST LAID WEDDING PLANS

Top 5 Reasons Magnolia House is 

the Perfect Wedding Destination

White roses, tulle, and lace. Beaded gowns and champagne. Jenni Beth Beaumont wants to spend the rest of her life up to her neck in weddings. And Magnolia House, her ancestral home, is the perfect venue—or it will be once she finishes it. Brides will come from all over to marry here. First, though, she has to restore the once stately, now crumbling, antebellum home to its original glory. To do that? She’ll have to accept help from Cole Bryson, the man she’d loved, the man who’d broken her heart. An architectural salvager, he has different plans for her home.

“You know, sugar, I could make us all a fortune from that place.”

“No. You tear down the houses you buy. Sell them off piece by piece.” She lowered her voice. “You’re not getting so much as a nail out of Magnolia House to sell to some yuppie who wants an—” She waggled her fingers to indicate quotation marks, “‘authentic piece of history’ in his upscale renovated city loft.”

“You done?”

“Yes, I am.” Hot color warmed her cheeks, as she grabbed her purse and dug through it for money to pay her bill.

Cole reached across the table and snatched it from her. “Hold on. No need to get your panties in a twist.”

“My panties are none of your business.” She all but hissed the words.

“They could be.”

Her heart squeezed. There it was again, rearing its ugly head. That silly crush she’d developed when Cole and her brother had run around together. She’d been so sure Cole was the love of her life.

And later...

Stuff happened and the crush ended.

“In case you’ve forgotten, you and I, Cole? We’re history. Your decision.”

Casually, he stretched his legs out in front of him. “Actually, I beg to disagree. But that’s not what I came to discuss.”

She stared at him, open-mouthed. How could he say something so preposterous, and then just...just table it. Stick it in his back pocket for later. No. She jerked herself back. A head game. Cole Bryson was toying with her.

So what is it that makes Magnolia House the perfect wedding destination? Here are the top five reasons:

1. What girl doesn’t want to get married at an authentic Southern plantation? Haven’t we all watched Gone with the Wind and wondered what it would be like to say our vows at Tara? Since General Sherman spared much of the Savannah area, most of Magnolia House is original. Any bride would want to walk down the magnificent, sweeping staircase to her groom.

2. The rose garden. Maybe the bride’s soon-to-be husband hasn’t promised her a rose garden, but Magnolia House does. Many of the fragrant bushes date back to her great-great-great-grandma’s mama as did their silver.

Her mother held up a silver cake server and gravy ladle. “These are part of the house’s original set.” She traced a finger along the intricate design on the cake server. “The Beaumont servants wrapped them in heavy felt and buried them in the rose garden in case any Yankees came snooping around.”

What better place for an outdoor wedding, surrounded by the scent of the roses, with the renovated antebellum home as a backdrop?

3. The stately oak trees draped in Spanish moss. Doesn’t this photo say it all?

4. The architecture of the house itself. Cole, with his architectural salvage company, Traditions, is able to dig up the columns, hardware, and whatever else Jenni Beth needs to renovate the house. When she decides to turn the old brick carriage house into her office, Cole finds the most incredible chandelier for it. It’s a…no, I think I’ll keep that a secret. You’ll see it when you read The Best Laid Wedding Plans!

As part of my research, I visited Pinch of the Past in Savannah. They deal in architectural salvaging, and, if you’re ever in town, you really owe it to yourself to stop in and take a peek. This photo shows one little corner of this incredible store!

While I was there, I found a great doorknocker for my office. It’s the yellow chicken!

5. The love that has been poured into Magnolia House. Jenni Beth and her family have loved this home for generations.

Jenni Beth and her father made their way slowly across the yard, her grandmother’s gilt-edged mirror between them. Maneuvering it through the door, they rested it against the carriage house wall. Beside it, on the window ledge, Ms. Hattie’s African violet was lush with deep purple blooms.

Her dad draped an arm around her waist and together they stared at their reflection. She leaned her head on his shoulder.

“Love you, Daddy.”

“I love you, too, sweetheart.” He kissed the top of her head.

She moved back to the mirror, reached out to run a finger along the edge, and imagined she saw her grandmother’s face staring back at her.

“Thanks for this, Gram,” she whispered. “The house will be full of life and love again.”

Surrounded by that much love, any Magnolia House bride and groom will be sure to take some of it with them into their new life!

::Sigh:: I’m tempted to call Jenni Beth. Maybe I can talk my husband into renewing our vows at Magnolia House! Wouldn’t that be fun? The Best Laid Wedding Plans!

SOME DREAMS ARE WORTH WHATEVER IT TAKES

Jenni Beth Beaumont left her broken heart behind when she took her dream job in Savannah. But after her brother's death, Jenni Beth returns home to help mend her parents' hearts as well as restore their beautiful but crumbling antebellum mansion. New dreams take shape as Jenni Beth sets to work replacing floors and fixing pipes to convert the family homestead into the perfect wedding destination. However, some folks in their small Southern town are determined to see her fail.

Cole Bryson was once the love of Jenni Beth's life, but the charming architectural salvager has plans of his own for the Beaumont family home. As the two butt heads, old turmoil is brought to the surface and Cole and Jenni Beth will have to work through some painful memories and tough realities before they can set their pasts aside and have a second chance at their own happily ever after.

The luxury of staying home when the weather turns nasty, of working in PJs and bare feet, and the fact that daydreaming is not only permissible but encouraged, are a few of the reasons middle school teacher Lynnette Austin gave up the classroom to write full-time. Lynnette grew up in Pennsylvania’s Alleghany Mountains, moved to Upstate New York, then to the Rockies in Wyoming. Presently she and her husband divide their time between Southwest Florida’s beaches and Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. A finalist in RWA's Golden Heart Contest, PASIC's Book of Your Heart Contest, and Georgia Romance Writers' Maggie Contest, she’s published five books as Lynnette Hallberg. She’s currently writing as Lynnette Austin. Having grown up in a small town, that’s where her heart takes her—to those quirky small towns where everybody knows everybody...and all their business, for better or worse.

authorlynnetteaustin.com
twitter.com/LynnettAustin
pinterest.com/romwriter

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Sourcebooks offers an excerpt from THE BEST LAID WEDDING PLANS ...

Her experienced gaze scrutinized the scene, took in both the setting and the people, alert for any problems. The arbor, with its draping of wisteria, had turned out beautifully and smelled like heaven itself. The bride’s family, the groom’s family—both wore expressions of happiness mixed with a touch of relief.

Jenni Beth’s eyes drifted to the flower girl. Daniella was antsy, her little fingers busily plucking the lace from the basket that held rose petals. And what in the world was Ricky, the ring bearer, doing to his shoelaces? Her eyes narrowed. Had he tied them together? Oh, boy.

As the sun set, the minister announced the newly joined Mr. and Mrs. Talbot, and Jenni Beth clapped with the rest of the guests while checking to make sure the walkway remained clear. The music began on cue, and the happy couple started down the aisle, hands laced, smiles bright.

When the ring bearer tripped, the best man scooped him onto one shoulder, diverting a minor catastrophe. She’d have to remember to thank him for the quick thinking.

If the reception went as smoothly, she could congratulate herself on a job well done.

While the bride and groom funneled their guests through the receiving line, Jenni Beth bolted to a separate section of the garden to make sure the cake, the bubbly, and the band were in place. She did a last-minute check on table settings, place cards, candles—the list was never ending.

The music started, the bridal party wended their way to the area, and the celebration began.

As the evening wore on, Jenni Beth relaxed.

A familiar voice whispered in her ear. “Dance with me.”

Cole Bryson. She hadn't seen his name on the guest list.

Shivers raced down her spine, and her heart stuttered. It had been too long, not long enough. “No.”

She wouldn't turn around, wouldn't meet those mesmerizing eyes.

His hands settled on her bare arms, and she nearly jumped. As the work-roughened hands moved over her skin, her stomach started a little dance of its own.

“I'm working, Cole.”

“Nothin' needs doin’ right now. Come on, sugar.”

Knowing she shouldn't, she turned to face him. Mistake. She always had found him irresistible, and that hadn't changed. He'd perfected that slow Southern drawl, had the sound of a true gentleman. But the twinkle in his eyes gave him away. Revealed the bad boy tucked not far below the surface.

Right now, dressed in a dark suit and tie, the man looked like every woman's dream. He appeared smooth and debonair, but beneath lay the wild.

He took her hand, and, God forgive her, she followed him, weak-kneed onto the portable dance floor, telling herself she didn't want to, that she only did it to keep peace. Knowing she lied.

A full moon shone overhead and candlelight flickered. When he drew her into his arms and pulled her close, she sighed. One hand held hers, the other settled south of her waist.

“You smell good, Jenni Beth. You always do.”

His voice, low and husky, sent goosebumps racing up and down her arms. Despite herself, she rested her head against his chest, seduced by the strong, steady beat of his heart, the illusion he could make everything and anything all right.

Other books from Lynnette Austin

Aloha to Lynnette Austin and CAN'T STOP LOVIN' YOU

Lynnette Austin joins me for a cozy chat to celebrate the release of CAN'T STOP LOVIN' YOU.

Lynnette Hallberg grew up in Pennsylvania's Alleghany Mountains, moved to New York, then to the Rockies in Wyoming. Presently she, her husband, and her Siamese cat divide their time between Naples, Florida's beaches and Georgia's Blue Ridge Mountains. She has a Master's in Educational Leadership and taught middle school language arts before leaving it to write full-time. A lover of books, Lynnette loves to read and write and loves nothing better than to lose herself in her characters' world. Besides reading and writing, she loves to travel. She's visited all fifty states with the exception of Alaska. She's traveled extensively throughout Canada, Mexico, Europe, Africa, and Central America---always on the lookout for new characters or a new story.

Kim:  I am a Florida native. Despite it being flat everywhere, I know its inner beauty. What are you favorite sight, sound, and smell of the Sunshine State? 

Lynnette:  I’ll admit right up front that while most people think of Mickey and Minnie, of palm trees and sunshine, my favorite is a little different. I love to stand on the beach on a stormy day as the waves crash ashore, the foam flying in the wind, and rain on my face. 

Kim:  I've heard that a shower makes you creative.  Have you tried a waterfall? 

Lynnette:  Hah! My critique partners go crazy with my shower writing. J I’ll come out with an entire scene written. But a waterfall? Actually, yes. In fact, the premise for this book, CAN’T STOP LOVIN’ YOU, and the entire Maverick Junction series came to me as I walked around the lake and trekked to the waterfall in Vogel State Park near our summer home in North Georgia. So, yes, waterfalls work wonders! 

Waterfall along the Road to Hana

Kim:  Cheetos and M&Ms ... do you characters from CAN'T STOP LOVING YOU share your snack attack?

Lynnette:  I’m sure Annie, Sophie, and Maggie sneak some in—as do Brawley, Cash, and Ty. After all, who can resist? M&Ms and Cheetos are part of the five major food groups, aren’t they? Actually, M&Ms do find their way into NEAREST THING TO HEAVEN, the second book in the Maverick Junction series. I have to admit, though, that without more than a few Cheetos and M&Ms in my writing area, there’s a high likelihood these books would never have been finished. 

CAN'T STOP LOVIN' YOU pits handsome, cantankerous veterinarian Brawley Odell against hometown girl Maggie Sullivan. When asked to design heiress Annelise Montjoy's wedding gown, Maggie views it as her golden ticket out of Maverick Junction. At every turn, though, she bumps into Brawley, her high school sweetheart. He'd left her for college and a career in Dallas. But, now, country right down to the tips of his cowboy boots, he's returned to take over old Doc Gibson's practice while Maggie longs to escape to New York City's fashion district. Brawley's never stopped loving Maggie. Can he talk her into hanging around long enough to give him a second chance? Long enough to talk her into designing a dress for her own wedding--to him?

Buy Links

Amazon link

Barnes and Noble link

iTunes link

Author social media

Twitter: @LynnetteAustin
GoodReads: link
Author website: authorlynnetteaustin.com

A vintage pickup in Hanapepe

I am giving away an ecopy of CAN'T STOP LOVIN' YOU to one randomly selected commenter.  to enter the giveaway,

1.  What is your favorite snack food?  Like Lynnette, I also enjoy Cheetos and M&Ms.

2.  This giveaway is open to all readers.

3.  Comments are open through Saturday, February 8, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, February 9.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City