Thanks for having me on your blog, Angela! I'm currently celebrating the release of my new book, Tess in Boots, and I'm also getting really excited for Christmas. So today, I thought I'd share some inspiration for a new romantic tradition that your readers can start this Christmas.
A while back I got an idea (full disclosure: not my own) to start a journal for my husband. At the time, he wasn't my husband. We were dating, and he was graduating from the college we attended together and moving eight hours away. I still had my senior year left, and to say I was bummed about him leaving is an understatement.
As a graduation gift, and a way to make things a little less sad, I purchased a leather-bound journal and wrote the first of many dated entries. It's been almost ten years since then, and now the journal is filled with entries. Some are for special occasions, like birthdays or anniversaries. Some are just-because entries and those are my favorites.
On our first Christmas as a married couple, I woke up to find a journal of my own in my stocking. Every once in a while I'll find the journal out of its usual spot, and I'll know there's a new entry waiting for me.
I love this tradition for so many reasons. It's touching to look back on all our notes over the years, and it's always exciting to read a new one. Plus, we are living in a time when the written love note (I mean literally written with a pen) is becoming a rarity. These collections of handwritten notes are such treasures to me. And of course, because I’m a sucker for a good deal, I love that we save money by writing in our journals instead of buying cards for birthdays, anniversaries, and Valentine's Day.
So there we have it - a new romantic tradition to start this Christmas! And speaking of romance, I hope you'll check out Tess in Boots for a heart-fluttering read this season.
Tess in Boots by Courtney Rice Gager
Anaiah Romance
Cover:
Blurb:
Tess Dougherty plans every aspect of her life right down to the
last detail. But she doesn’t plan on running her boyfriend off by bringing up the
topic of marriage before he’s ready. And she doesn’t plan to lose her job on the
day she’s set to receive a huge promotion. So when her perfect world unravels, Tess
makes a new plan: disappear.
Tess packs her bags and leaves her city apartment for a remote
vineyard in North Carolina. At first, she’s put off by the slow pace of small-town
life in the South. She’s especially irritated by Thatcher, the vineyard’s smart-mouth,
dimple-faced farmhand. But she soon begins to appreciate the area’s charm, and Thatcher’s
charm, too. She even swaps her trademark heels for a pair of cowboy boots. As Tess
spends more time getting to know Thatcher, she finds herself loosening her grip
on her old life little by little. Unfortunately, things on the vineyard aren’t as
simple as they seem. There’s a secret here, and when the truth comes to light, Tess
is forced to reconsider every plan she’s ever made.
Release Date:
December 2, 2014
Book Links:
Buy Links:
Excerpt:
I heard the sound of tires on the wet road, and looked up in time to see
another truck slowing down to avoid crashing into the cow. The truck pulled around
the cow and stopped alongside where I stood on the side of the road. The driver
rolled the window down, and when I saw his face, I wanted to cry.
Thatcher.
It was not my day.
“You all right?”
I crossed my arms. “I’m fine!”
“Guess your GPS didn’t tell you to go around the cow, did it, Heels?”
I turned away from him and pulled my phone out of my pocket.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“I’m calling for roadside assistance.”
“Good luck. Cell phones don’t work on this stretch of road.”
I turned around and glared at him. “What?”
“I said cell phones don’t work on this stretch of road.”
“I heard you. That’s insane.”
“Go ahead and try. Maybe you have some fancy magical cell phone.”
I rolled my eyes and turned away again, attempting to place a call. He was
right. Nothing.
“Get in the truck, Heels.”
I didn’t budge.
“Come on, now. Get in.”
I turned around to see him hop out of the truck, walk around to the passenger
side, and open the door.
There was no way I was getting in his truck.
“You gonna make me stay out in the rain all night?” he asked.
I put my hands on my hips.
“You know,” he said, “it ain’t right for a cow to stand in the road like
that. You ever heard of Mad Cow Disease?”
I looked at the cow, then back at Thatcher, then back at the cow.
Was he kidding? I couldn’t tell. What choice did I have anyway? I was soaking
wet, freezing, and miles from the vineyard.
I balled my hands into fists and took several strides toward the truck.
“Fine. But I’m only coming with you because you look like an idiot standing out
here in the pouring rain.” I got in the truck, and he shut the door behind me.
“Well, so do you, Heels.”
Author Bio:
Courtney Rice Gager graduated from Virginia
Tech with a bachelor’s degree in communication and a minor in creative writing.
Courtney is also the author of The Buggy List. She lives in New Jersey with her
husband and daughter.
Author Photo:
Thanks so much for having me and for sharing Tess in Boots with your readers!
ReplyDeleteI am looking forward to having a chance to read your book, it is jsut making the time to do so.
DeleteI think writing in those journals is incredibly sweet. I do something similar.