Forever and a Day (39 page)
“I see.” I looked into her eyes. “I might be able to make an exception this time. I will do whatever I can to help you protect your family.”
Note that I didn’t tell her I’d help her to escape. Or to get out of England.
A frantic, wonderful plan was forming rapidly in my mind. Yeah, I’d write her story. I’d “help” her keep Langley and her family safe. But once I did that, once I gained her trust, I’d find a way to make them happy, to boot. Because I’m a romance writer, and that’s what I do.
“Thank you,” she murmured, glassy tears forming in her eyes. “Thank you so much.”
I raised a warning finger. “Realize that in order for this to work, you need to tell me everything.”
She hesitated, her lips pressed hard together. Then she finally nodded.
I flipped up my laptop and opened a new document. “Tell me your story, Miss Donovan. From the moment of your rescue.”
And that was how I began to write the love story of Meg Donovan, the long-lost Donovan sister.
I truly hope you enjoy reading Meg’s story! Please come visit me at my website, www.jenniferhaymore.com, where you can share your thoughts about my books, sign up for some fun freebies and contests, and read more about the characters from PLEASURES OF A TEMPTED LADY.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Haymore
From the desk of Jill Shalvis
Dear Reader,
Ever feel like you’re drowning? In FOREVER AND A DAY, my hero, Dr. Josh Scott, is most definitely drowning. He’s overloaded, overworked, and on the edge of burnout. He’s got his practice, his young son, his wheelchair-bound sister, and a crazy puppy. Not to mention the weight of the world on his shoulders from taking care of everyone in his life. He’s in so deep, saving everyone around him all the time, that he doesn’t even realize that
he’s
the one in need of saving. It would never occur to him.
Enter Grace Brooks. She’s a smart smartass and, thanks to some bad luck, pretty much starting her life over from scratch. Losing everything has landed her in Lucky Harbor working as Josh’s dog walker. And then as his nanny. And then before he even realizes it, as his everything. In truth, she’s saved him, in more ways than one.
Oh, how I loved watching the sure, steady rock that is Josh crumble, only to be slowly but surely helped back together again by the sexy yet sweet Grace.
And don’t forget to pick up the other “Chocaholic” books,
Lucky in Love
and
At Last
, both available wherever books and ebooks are sold.
Happy reading,
Jill Shalvis
From the desk of Kristen Callihan
Dear Reader,
I’m half Norwegian—on my mother’s side. If there is one thing you need to know about Norwegians, it’s that they are very egalitarian. This sense of equality defines them in a number of ways, but one of the more interesting aspects is that Norwegian men treat women as equal partners.
Take my grandfather. He was a man’s man in the truest sense of the term. A rugged fisherman and farmer who hung out with the fellas, rebuilt old cars, smoked a pipe, and made furniture on the side. Yet he always picked up his own plate after dinner. He never hesitated to go to the market if my grandmother needed something, nor did he complain if he had to cook his own meals when she was busy. My grandfather was one of the most admirable men I’ve known. Thus when I began to write about heroes, I gravitated toward men who share some of the same qualities as my Norwegian ancestors.
Ian Ranulf, the hero of MOONGLOW, started out as a bit of an unsavory character in
Firelight
. All right, he was a total ass, doing everything he could to keep Miranda and Archer apart. So much so that, early on, my editor once asked me if I was sure Ian wasn’t the real villain. While Ian did not act on his best behavior, I always knew that he was not a bad man. In fact, I rather liked him. Why? Because Ian loves and respects women in a way that not many of his peers do. While he feels inclined to protect a woman from physical harm, he’d never patronize her. For that, I could forgive a lot of him.
In MOONGLOW, Ian is a man living a half-life. He has sunk into apathy because life has not been particularly kind to him. And so he’s done what most people do: He’s retreated into a protective shell. Yet when he meets Daisy, a woman who will not be ignored, he finds himself wanting to live for her. But what I found interesting about Ian is that when he begins to fall for Daisy, he does not think, “No, I’ve been burned before; I’m not going to try again.” Ian does the opposite: He reaches for what he wants, even if it terrifies him, even with a high possibility of failure.
While Ian certainly faces his share of physical battles in MOONGLOW, it is his dogged pursuit of happiness and his willingness to love Daisy as an equal that made him one of my favorite characters to write.
Happy reading,
Kristen Callihan
Simply Irresistible
The Sweetest Thing
Heating Up the Kitchen
(cookbook)
Small Town Christmas
(anthology)
Christmas in Lucky Harbor
(omnibus)
Head Over Heels
Lucky in Love
At Last
Praise for Jill Shalvis and Her Novels
Head Over Heels
“[A] winning roller-coaster ride…[a] touching, character-rich, laughter-laced, knockout sizzler.”
—
Library Journal
(starred review)
“Healthy doses of humor, lust, and love work their magic as Shalvis tells Chloe’s story…Wit, smoking-hot passion, and endearing tenderness…a big winner.”
—
Publishers Weekly
“The Lucky Harbor series has become one of my favorite contemporary series, and
Head Over Heels
didn’t disappoint…such a fun, sexy book…I think this one can be read as a stand-alone book, but I encourage you to try the first two in the series, where you meet all the characters of this really fun town.”
—USAToday.com
“The writing is, as always, very good. Shalvis makes her characters seem like reflections of ourselves, or at least our relatives. She also makes the scenarios real, not too sweet or too violent. Definitely a good choice for a rainy afternoon.”
—
RT Book Reviews
“A Perfect 10. A truly fun and engaging tale from beginning to end…readers will not be disappointed…Be sure to put this one on your book buying list and get ready to snuggle down for some hot reading.”
—RomRevToday.com
“Chloe and Sawyer are my favorite couple of the series…These two set the pages on fire!…It’s entertaining, sweet, steamy, and one of my favorite contemporary romances of the year!”
—GoodReads.com
“5 stars! A truly delightful read that had me chuckling while reading it…a nice blend of romance, humor, and drama. Definitely going on my keeper shelf. I highly recommend this one.”
—SeducedByaBook.com
The Sweetest Thing
“A wonderful romance of reunited lovers in a small town. A lot of hot sex, some delightful humor, and plenty of heartwarming emotion make this a book readers will love.”
—
RT Book Reviews
“A Perfect 10! Once again Jill Shalvis provides readers with a sexy, funny, hot tale…The ending is as sweet as it is funny. Tara and Ford have some seriously hot chemistry going on and they make the most of it in
The Sweetest Thing
. Trust me: You’ll need an ice-cold drink nearby.”
—RomRevToday.com
“Witty, fun, and the characters are fabulous.”
—FreshFiction.com
“It is fabulous revisiting Lucky Harbor! I have been on tenterhooks waiting for Tara and Ford’s story and yet again, Jill Shalvis does not disappoint…A rollicking good time…If you have not read the first book yet, this one will certainly compel you to do so…
The Sweetest Thing
is shiny and wonderful book goodness.”
—RomanceJunkiesReviews.com
“This is a fun and flirty story of past loves, secrets, and three sisters whose lives draw the reader in. For a good-time romance, check this one out.”
—
Parkersburg News and Sentinel
(WV)
“A fun-filled, sexy, entertaining story…[satisfies] one’s romantic sweet tooth.”
—TheRomanceReader.com
Simply Irresistible
“Hot, sweet, fun, and romantic! Pure pleasure!”
—Robyn Carr,
New York Times
bestselling author
“4 stars!…Introduces some wonderful characters with humor, heartwarming interaction, and an abundance of hot sex. Readers will be eager for the next story.”
—
RT Book Reviews
“This often hilarious novel has a few serious surprises, resulting in a delightfully satisfying story.”
—LibraryJournal.com
“Heartwarming and sexy…an abundance of chemistry, smoldering romance, and hilarious sisterly antics.”
—
Publishers Weekly
“Shalvis’s writing is a perfect trifecta of win: hilarious dialogue, evocative and real characters, and settings that are as much a part of the story as the hero and heroine. I’ve never been disappointed by a Shalvis book.”
—SmartBitchesTrashyBooks.com
“One of those books that totally and absolutely encapsulates its title…utterly irresistible. The romance instantly jumps off the page…Jill Shalvis seems to have a golden touch with her books. Each one is better than the previous story.”
—RomanceJunkiesReviews.com
“A beautiful start to this new series. The characters are as charming as the town itself. A pleasure to read.”
—FreshFiction.com
“A Jill Shalvis hero is the stuff naughty dreams are made of.”
—Vicki Lewis Thompson,
New York Times
bestselling author of
Chick with a Charm
“Jill Shalvis has the incredible talent for creating characters who are intelligent, quick-witted, and gorgeously sexy, all the while giving them just the right amount of weakness to keep them from being unrealistically perfect.”
—RomanceJunkies.com
Contents
Title Page
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2