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Pie Girls:
Princess, Southern belle, and spoiled-rotten social climber Searcy Roberts swore on a stack of Bibles she’d never return home to Fairhope, Alabama. After marrying her high school sweetheart and moving to Atlanta, Searcy embraces big-city life—Carrie Bradshaw style.

But now, Searcy has a teeny, tiny problem. Her husband’s had a mid-life crisis. He’s quit his job, cancelled her credit cards, and left her for another man.

Searcy returns to Fairhope, ready to lick her wounds. But when her mother falls ill, she’s is thrust into managing the family business—only to discover the beloved bakery is in danger of closing its doors forever.

Enlisting the help of the adorable bike store owner next door, an array of well-heeled customers, and her soon-to-be ex-husband, Searcy hatches the plan of the century to save Pie Girls.

My Thoughts:
Pie Girls is a charming Southern tale about a spoiled Atlanta socialite, Searcy, whose wealthy husband leaves her high and dry, forcing her to fend for herself and return to her roots in small town Alabama. This witty and warm novel by Lauren Clark charms with laugh out loud moments and plenty of Southern hospitality, along with a few mean girls thrown in for good measure. I was immediately sucked into Searcy’s story at the outset, and even though she begins the book as a superficial diva with a dangerous shopping habit, I loved Searcy. She had a way of talking herself into situations that were absolutely hilarious. There were scenes I still fondly recall that had me laughing out loud. Seriously, I need this book made into a movie so I can “see� them play out! But Clark is terrific at balancing the storytelling with equally tender moments that pull at the heartstrings. Above all, this is a story about finding yourself and loving yourself, even in the face of adversity. And, of course, finding romance in the most unlikely of allies. Definitely a book to tuck in with at the end of a long day and escape with Searcy into a world of Southern comfort.

Q&A with author Lauren Clark

Q: What was the inspiration for your novel?

A: I visited a place in Greensboro, Alabama called the Pie Lab, a restaurant written up many times in Southern Living, Bon Appetit, and many newspapers around the Southeast. I kind of fell in love with the idea of such a place in Fairhope, Alabama, a lovely waterfront community near where I live. I decided to create a shop named Pie Girls there, and thus, Searcy’s story was born.

Q: Who is your favorite character and why?

A: I do love Searcy, the main character � but when we first meet Searcy, she is a very spoiled Southern belle who’s been pampered and polished to shine in Atlanta’s hottest social scenes. She has a personal shopper, a group of wealthy girlfriends, and a credit card with no limit. She spends her days shopping, going out to lunch, planning parties, and socializing.

What makes her so special is that even in the first chapter, we glimpse the real Searcy. She knows, deep down, that something is wrong, but can’t bring herself to admit it. She projects a positive, upbeat attitude and tries to keep things status quo, because she doesn’t believe she can live without her husband Alton.

Alton’s leaving upends Searcy’s life. At first, it appears that the impending divorce is the end of the world, but Searcy’s journey makes her into an entirely different person—someone caring, giving, empathetic, and truly loving. Best of all, she learns to rely on herself, forgives Alton, and finds true love.
Ìý
Q: What is your writing method? Are you a plotter or a pantser?

A: Plotter, definitely. I am definitely a plotter and an outliner. I work from a one or two line “What if?� idea and work out the plot from there. I end up with at least a few sentences about each chapter before I begin writing. I have the major plot points and twists, as well as the ending, mostly worked out before I begin the manuscript.

Q: Do you have any writing rituals to help get you in the mood to write?

A: I usually write in the morning—early morning, like 530 AM—have some coffee brewed, and I like to have the house quiet. If I can open this windows and let a little breeze in � or sit outside and write � all the better!

Q: What was the first car you owned?

A: Oh no! My parents bought me a 1977 bright orange Cadillac my senior year of college. I thought it was the most embarrassing vehicle ever, but my sorority sisters loved it!

Q: What is your favorite holiday and why?

A: I do adore Christmas, especially since my youngest still believes in Santa, but my kids and I really also love decorating for—and enjoying—Halloween.

Q: Who was your first celebrity crush?

A: Oh…LOL. Tom Cruise in “All the Right Moves.� (Old school football movie). I thought he was totally dreamy

Q: Do you have a current TV show obsession?

A: I adore Downton Abbey. Love the show, the writing, the drama, the characters. It just proves that you can have a great storyline with no blood, violence, or zombies!

Q: What was the first concert you went to and how old were you?

A: Bryan Adams (Summer of �69), I was 16, went with my best friend, and was accompanied by my mother! At the time, I was mortified, but looking back, it was a lot of fun and generous of her to give up her evening to spend with a concert hall full of screaming teenagers!

Q: If you could give just one piece of advice to your 16-year-old self, what would it be?

A: Stop worrying so much! You will be blessed with a wonderful life full of friends, love, laughter, and books!

About the Author:
Lauren Clark has been a voracious reader since the age of four and would rather be stranded at the library than on a desert island. In her former life, she worked as an anchor and producer for CBS affiliates in Upstate New York and Alabama. Lauren adores her family, yoga, her new Electra bike, and flavored coffee. She lives near the Alabama Gulf Coast. Visit her website at LaurenClarkBooks.com.

Website:
Blog:
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Amazon Author Page: Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ: /author/show/5280308.Lauren_Clark
Book Purchase Links:

Amazon (US)

A few months ago, Sue Watson released her third novel, Love, Lies, and Lemon Cake, which I , and I asked her to do a fun Q&A with me. Well, in between that time, we were both so busy working on that we barely had time to get around to it! Oh, and Sue wrote and released another novel, Snow Angels, Secrets, and Christmas Cake, too! She is one busy lady. But this is such a funny interview (Sue is a seriously hilarious woman) that I can’t hang on to it any longer and simply must share. So, enjoy!

Q: What was the inspiration for your novel, Love, Lies, and Lemon Cake?

A: Unusually for me, I started with the title. It was a chapter title in my first book ‘Fat Girls and Fairy Cakes� and has been percolating for a long time. I loved the alliteration and the concept of ‘Love, lies and Lemon cake.� Once I sat down at my desk it kind of wrote itself.

Q: Who is your favorite character and why?

A: I love the heroine, Faye, because I think she’s relatable. She got married, had a child � then woke up one morning in her forties and wondered where she’d gone. The novel is about Faye’s attempts to reclaim herself and her life before it’s too late and she’s too old to chase those dreams. However, my absolute favourite character has to be Dan from the deli. He’s a blond Australian, and he’s my hero in every sense of the word. He looks like a slightly rugged version of Ryan Gosling and I have fallen a little bit in love with him�
Ìý
Q:ÌýWhat is your writing method? Are you a plotter or a pantser?

A: I am a total pantser in life and in writing. As an ex journalist I’m just delighted to finally be able to write a story where the facts don’t get in the way and I sit at my desk and let my imagination take me there. It’s weird because if I’m ahead of schedule I tend to ruin it all and ramp up the stress by going out for lunch/cocktails and chatting to friends on the phone until the eleventh hour. I think I have a need for danger and get high on the whole ‘deadline junkie� thing!

Q:ÌýDo you have any writing rituals to help set the mood before sitting down at the keyboard?

A: Cake, coffee and being behind on a strict deadline usually do it for me.

Q:ÌýWhat was the first car you owned?

A: A white mini. The front wheel fell off. While I was driving. Memories�

Q:ÌýWhat is your favorite holiday and why?

A: I love Easter. A whole weekend of guilt-free chocolate consumption, what’s not to love? Also, my daughter was born at Easter and it always feels like a time of new beginnings for me because she changed my life in so many wonderful ways.

Q:ÌýWho was your first celebrity crush?

A: Donny Osmond.

Q: Do you have a current TV show obsession?

A: I completely love The Biggest Loser USA. There was a UK version, but it was like eating a sweetie with the wrapper on and we just can’t do it like you guys. American TV is the best. At the beginning of every season, I vow I will lose weight along with the contestants each week. I order the DVDs, plan to go running, and get really psyched about it. But by the final episode, I’m always on the couch watching in awe from behind a large tub of Ben and Jerry’s and thinking, ‘damn, that could have been me!�

Q:ÌýWhat was the first concert you went to and how old were you?

A: I was 9 and went with my Mum to see The Manhattan Transfer � not your typical pre teen beats � but I’ve always had strange taste in music! Last year, in my forties, I went with my best friend to see Rihanna � I do everything back to front!

Q:ÌýIf you could give just one piece of advice to your 16-year-old self, what would it be?

A: Know that no-one’s laughing at you. No-one thinks you’re fat or ugly, or stupid � in fact people are quite fond of you. Oh and you know that boy in your English class with the blond hair and the nice smile? He likes you. So talk to him � before someone else does.

Thank you so much for having me!

You are welcome to visit any time, Sue! You crack me up!

About the Author:

Sue Watson is a former BBC TV Producer who woke up one morning to the realisation that there was no such thing as ‘having it all.� Marriage, motherhood and a full-time career were taking over her life and what she really wanted to do was stay home all day, bake and eat cake, watch reality TV and write� in that order. So she quit the day job, baked a year’s supply of cupcakes and chased the dream. What followed was a lot of cake and many hours in the company of ‘The Real Housewives of New Jersey,� ‘The Biggest Loser,� and ‘Keeping up with the Kardashians.� During this, time Sue also managed to write a few books too: Fat Girls and Fairy Cakes; Younger, Thinner, Blonder; Love, Lies and Lemon Cake; and her latest cake offering, Snow Angels, Secrets and Christmas Cake. Learn more about Sue by visiting .

You might just be wondering what the heck I’ve been up to for the past few weeks. Well, I’ve been busy helping bring two newbooks to publication! The first one, , releases today! This is a great collection of short stories all centered around cake. And for this one, we have a guy’s perspective! And you know what? I think it’s the most romantic story in the bunch. How sweet is that? I’m also joined by two of my favorite authors, Cindy Arora and Sue Watson, whose stories both feature hot new guys who disrupt their heroines� work places. As for my story, well, let’s just say it’s a mixture of cake, sisterly (or rather auntie & niece) bonding, and righting past wrongs in Paris.

You might be wondering just how this anthology of sweets came to be. Well, way back in the spring, Sue Watson sent me an email (jokingly, I suspect) suggesting that we write a book about cake together. I thought it was a fabulous idea, so I reached out to Cindy Arora, whose I absolutely adored, and then she introduced me to new lad lit author, Joel Zlotnik. And before any of us really knew what the heck was happening, we were all off in our writing dens cooking up a great collection of cake-inspired romances. For me, this book is a true labor of love for not only did I write a story for it, but I also edited the whole thing. And boy, did those scrumptious tales drive me to bake! I spent many a weekend over my mixing bowl in the kitchen. I gained about ten pounds in the process. Oh, the sacrifices I make for my craft! Nonetheless, I’m so happy to share this fantastic book of delicious reads with you. I hope you’ll celebrate its release along with a big slice of your favorite cake! To get your copy, please visit !

Enjoy!
Lucie

Cake is often a major part of life’s celebrations, both big and small. From birthdays to wedding days, cake, in all its delectable concoctions, marks joyous occasions with a sweetness that can’t be beat. But even better is the love that is shared when two people connect over a sweet confection. Maybe it’s a cute new guy wreaking havoc on a broken heart, or a beautiful woman testing the limits of love, or an old beau stirring up long lost desires. Whatever the circumstances, cake can always be relied upon to save the day when it comes to affairs of the heart. In this collection of short stories, cake is the delicious center around which each tale unfolds and romance blooms.

When single mom and journalist, Olivia, sets out to find romance in’s “Cake Therapy,â€� she gets a little help from her friends and more than a few slices of cake to coax her off the couch and into the arms of a truly great love. ’s “Aprez Vousâ€� finds success-driven Tara in Paris reminiscing of her long lost love, Jean Marc, and her niece bound and determined to reunite them. In â€�The Heart-Shaped Secret of Raspberry Jamâ€� by , cake enthusiast, Milly, meets her match in the kitchen, and other places, when new owners take over the tea rooms where she works and her talents and her heart are put to the test. And Scott, mayor of a small seaside community,Ìýflirts with political suicide in ’s “Her Charmsâ€� when he falls for new-in-town Nicole, an entrepreneur with a passion for cupcakes and whose latest venture proves a little too sexy for the sleepy beach town.

From San Francisco to Paris, from small towns to tea rooms, this anthology tempts readers with humor, style, romance, and the powerful aphrodisiac that is cake. Petit Four is four stories, frosted with love.

I’m so excited about this new anthology! I’m joined by a couple of my favorite Chick Lit authors, and , and a debut Lad Lit author, . I think you’re going to really love this one. Isn’t the cover stunning? I want to eat it!

Petit Four
Edited by Lucie Simone

Cake is often a major part of life’s celebrations, both big and small. From birthdays to wedding days, cake, in all its delectable concoctions, marks joyous occasions with a sweetness that can’t be beat. But even better is the love that is shared when two people connect over a sweet confection. Maybe it’s a cute new guy wreaking havoc on a broken heart, or a beautiful woman testing the limits of love, or an old beau stirring up long lost desires. Whatever the circumstances, cake can always be relied upon to save the day when it comes to affairs of the heart. In this collection of short stories, cake is the delicious center around which each tale unfolds and romance blooms.

When single mom and journalist, Olivia, sets out to find romance in Cindy Arora’s “Cake Therapy,� she gets a little help from her friends and more than a few slices of cake to coax her off the couch and into the arms of a truly great love. Lucie Simone’s “Aprez Vous� finds success-driven Tara in Paris reminiscing of her long lost love, Jean Marc, and her niece bound and determined to reunite them. In “The Heart-Shaped Secret of Raspberry Jam� by Sue Watson, cake enthusiast, Milly, meets her match in the kitchen, and other places, when new owners take over the tea rooms where she works and her talents and her heart are put to the test. And Scott, mayor of a small seaside community, flirts with political suicide in Joel Zlotnik’s “Her Charms� when he falls for new-in-town Nicole, an entrepreneur with a passion for cupcakes, and whose latest venture proves a little too sexy for the sleepy beach town.

From San Francisco to Paris, from small towns to tea rooms, this anthology tempts readers with humor, style, romance, and the powerful aphrodisiac that is cake. Petit Four is four stories, frosted with love.

Love, Lies and Lemon Cake
Faye Dobson has lost her sparkle. Living on film star fantasies and vague memories of a marriage that once was, she can’t help feeling that life is passing her by. She dreams of being whisked to Paris for dinner, making three wishes at the Trevi fountain and having sex under the stars. But the wrinkles are multiplying, her husband’s passion is for plumbing, and the nearest she’ll get to Rome is a take-away pizza.

So when Faye meets Dan the gorgeous Australian surfer guy working in the local deli she can’t help but wonder what it would be like to see the world. He is blonde, tanned, ten years younger and bakes the most amazing lemon cake. Unlike her husband Dan actually listens to Faye, his smile makes her feel fizzy inside, and when he smiles� Oh. My. God.

But is Faye being silly? What would Dan see in someone like her? Even if he did have feelings for her, could she give everything up to be with him?

A laugh-out-loud, bittersweet comedy about taking your life back before it’s too late.

My Thoughts:
I adore Sue Watson and her books. Ever since falling in love with her first novel, Fat Girls & Fairy Cakes, I’ve been following (stalking) her career with much interest! And she just keeps growing as an author. In Love, Lies and Lemon Cake, Sue explores what some might describe as the “mid-life crisis,� but I believe it’s more about discovering one’s true self and following your heart than having a freak-out in your forties. As always, Sue’s brilliant humor shines through with great comedic scenes to balance the more contemplative nature of the story. Oh, and I have to mention this very important element. This story is steamy! With a hot, young Aussie as the catalyst to main character Faye’s sexual re-awakening, there was plenty of sexy action, which had me biting my nails with anticipation. But Sue always knew just where to close the bedroom (or car) door so as not to cross over into the realm of erotica. She is such a tease! And I loved it. So, if you’re in the mood for something sexy and funny and even a little thought-provoking, do check out Sue’s latest. It’s an (afternoon) delight!

Side note: Sue Watson and I are working on a project together along with and newcomer Joel Zlotnik, a lad lit author who I guarantee will get the ladies swooning! And it’s all about cake! So stay tuned for more information on what I promise will be a very delicious read. Out this fall!

About the Author:
Sue Watson was a TV Producer with the BBC who combined motherhood and family life with a busy career. However, one day it dawned on Sue that Cosmo magazine may have been telling porkies about ‘having it all,� and her life had become a slightly crazed juggling act.

So after much soul searching (and comfort eating) Sue abandoned her TV career, bought a pink laptop and wrote a novel. ‘Fat Girls and Fairy Cakes,� tells the story of Stella Weston, whose life is a constant struggle with a nasty boss at work, the weighing scales and being a mum, wife and daughter.

Originally from Manchester, Sue now lives with her husband and teenage daughter in Worcestershire. When she’s not toiling over her latest novel, Sue bakes (and eats) cake and enjoys very large tubs of Caramel Chew Chew ice cream all to herself while watching ‘The Biggest Loser USA.�

Sue’s second book, ‘Younger, Thinner, Blonder� was released in October (2013) and her third book ‘Love, Lies and Lemon Cake� is released on June 27th 2014. To learn more about Sue, please visit her

Here in Los Angeles, we’re on the cusp of a blazing hot week, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get in the holiday spirit. Especially when there are four fab Christmas reads on sale for 99 cents all week long, including Merry & Bright! With six cheery tales of wintery bliss, you’ll be transported to cooler climates, warm cups of cocoa, rosy cheeks, and hot Christmas kisses!

Sip your eggnog, linger under the mistletoe, and make a Christmas wish. Merry & Bright brings you six tales of Christmas cheer, featuring stories of budding romances, Southern charm, lost loves, heaps of humor, and lots of pie by authors , , , , and . From sunny Los Angeles to the Rocky Mountains to the Deep South, Merry & Bright will take you on a heartwarming adventure you’ll love to visit again and again. Wrap yourself in holiday mirth and prepare to be swept off your feet.

Recently, I stepped back into the online dating pool. I’ve been dating online off and on for a number of years, so by now I consider myself a pro. I’ve made lots of mistakes along the way that have helped me figure out the best way to navigate the maze that is internet dating. It may seem impossible to find a good guy online, but they are out there! In fact, I met two of my best guy friends this way. And to this day, we are still great pals. I also met my last boyfriend on the internet, and though that didn’t quite work out, we’re still friends (of a sort). Anyway, on to the good stuff! Below are my tips to keep you from hating online dating: Ìý


1. Ìý Ìý ÌýPut on your party dress â€� It might seem obvious, but it you’re looking to attract romantic interests online, you need to make a great first impression. Put some thought into your profile. Don’t just slap up a selfie you took at the beach and jot down a few stale lines about finding “the one.â€� Be creative and let your personality really shine. And get a friend to take your picture, preferably one that has a good eye. You need to stand out from the crowd. And that starts with a great, captivating picture and a brief, but clever description of yourself and your passions.
2. Ìý Ìý ÌýMake the first move â€� See someone you really like? Be bold and send him an email. Not a flirt or a wink. An actual email. It only needs to be a couple of sentences, but make them strong sentences that will grab him from the beginning. After all, that’s what you would want to get, too, right?
3. Ìý Ìý ÌýTrust your gut â€� If you get an email from a guy (notice I said email, not a wink â€� ignore those), and you’re just not sure about him, hit the delete button. Yep. Trust me on this. After years of online dating and giving guys the benefit of the doubt, I have learned after many awkward coffee dates that my first instinct was always correct. Don’t second guess yourself. You will avoid a lot of uncomfortable conversations over chai lattes.
4. Ìý Ìý ÌýDon’t take things personally â€� By this I mean, don’t get upset if some promising guy you’ve been emailing and texting suddenly disappears. It just means he wasn’t the one for you. Yes, it’s frustrating when you get dumped without so much as a farewell before you even meet him, but this is a clear indicator that he really wasn’t that into you and found someone he liked more. And on the internet, no one has any manners anymore, which leads me to my fifth tipâ€�
5. Ìý Ìý ÌýBe heartless â€� We’re all nice girls here, but I’ve learned that if someone who has emailed me doesn’t pique my interest right away, it’s best simply to hit delete. I know we’re all tempted to send a “thanks, but no thanksâ€� response, but in my experience, it just leads to more awkward emails. A lot of these guys are playing a “numbers gameâ€� where they just wink and flirt with every cute girl that pops up on their screen. And if one bites, even if it’s a rejection, he keeps trying to reel you in. I have even had to block guys that I’ve deleted. They just don’t give up!
Ìý
So, if you’re having a go at online dating, keep these tips in mind to make the process much less irritating. You may even have a little fun!


Ciao,
Lucie

Today on the blog, I’m happy to have Kelly Rimmer, author of Me Without You, for a little get-to-know-you Q&A. But before we dive right into that, here’s a bit about her new book! It sounds like a real tear-jerker!

A story of how love can break our hearts � and heal them.

A year ago I met the love of my life. For two people who didn’t believe in love at first sight, we came pretty close. Lilah MacDonald � beautiful, opinionated, stubborn and all kinds of wonderful in ways that words could never quite capture. The woman who taught me to live again.

My Lilah, who gave me so much, and yet kept from me a secret that she knew would break my heart.

My name is Callum Roberts, and this is our story.

Q&A with Kelly Rimmer

Q: What was the inspiration for your novel?
A: I was literally on a ferry when I had the first idea that lead to this book! I saw a lady in a suit � without shoes � and a man tried to pick her up. She was quite dismissive and it was actually rather awkward, but it got me thinking…what if it wasn’t like that…what if they had hit it off�? I’d had a few key ideas that I wanted to explore and the opening scene became the vehicle for that broader story.

Q: Who is your favorite character and why?
A: There’s a lot I admire about Lilah, although she wouldn’t be an easy person to have close in your life â€� people who are that passionate rarely are!! I think most of us want to live a life that’s true to our principles and that makes a really positive, strong impact â€� Lilah really takes that concept very seriously, and I just love her for it. Ìý

Q: What is your writing method? Are you a plotter or a pantser?
A: Left to my own devices I am absolutely a pantser, I’m usually as shocked by surprise plot twists as anyone. But it’s a horribly inefficient way to write, so I’m trying very hard to plan my novels more!!

Q: Do you have any writing rituals to help set the mood before sitting down at the keyboard?
A: I have a 2 year old and a 4 year old -Ìý and until recently I also worked full time â€� so my pre-writing ritual has traditionally been to sprint to the computer and to start frantically typing before someone disturbs me !!Ìý

Q: What was the first car you owned?
A: It was a white 1981 Ford Laser with velour trim, and when the engine died, I literally wept.

Q: What is your favorite holiday and why?
A: I have an aunt who lives in the rainforest in far north Queensland � I mean, quite literally in the middle of the rainforest, you can only get to her house by boat. I spent a few weeks with her over Christmas nearly ten years ago, licking my wounds after a horrendous year. Being four hours from anywhere in a Daintree paradise, eating great food, drinking great wine, sharing fantastic company � it just rebooted so many things for me. In hindsight, it was the dawn of a whole new (and much better) era in my life, so that holiday has particularly special memories for me !!

Q: Who was your first celebrity crush?
A: Michael J. Fox. I was pretty sure I was going to marry Alex P. Keaton. Ìý

Q: Do you have a current TV show obsession?
A: I’ll answer this question after I watch just one more episode of Orange is the New Black…I’m so addicted â€� it’s brilliant!! Ìý

Q: What was the first concert you went to and how old were you?
A: Living rurally as a teenager, there wasn’t much available in the way of recognisable-name concerts â€� not that I was much of a concert-goer anyway, I was much more likely to be at home reading. Ìý

Q: If you could give just one piece of advice to your 16-year-old self, what would it be?
A: That haircut you’re about to get will be a terrible mistake!!! Ìý

LOL! Thanks for visiting, Kelly! I think I also had a wee crush on Alex P. Keaton back in the day. I’m still a fan of Michael J. today. He’s just so cute and funny.

About Kelly Rimmer
When Kelly’s childhood friends grew out of make-believe games, she realised she’d have to become a writer (or join the real world with them, but that seemed far too dull). Several decades later, she lives in rural Australia with her husband Daniel and their two young children, and when she’s not reading, writing, or daydreaming about reading and writing, she has one of those unfathomable IT jobs which no one outside of the industry really knows about.

@KelRimmerWrites

Fiona Valpy, the author of The French for Always, and I have a few things in common. Aside from the fact we are both authors, we’re also both yoga teachers. And, funnily enough, I just bought a Fiat 500L and named it Fiona! And as I’m writing a novella set in France, Fiona’s guest post serves as the perfect inspiration for me, and hopefully for you, too! But before we get to that, here’s a bit about her new book to whet your appetite.

Five Weddings. The perfect venue. One little hitch�

Leaving the grey skies of home behind to transform a crumbling French Château into a boutique wedding venue is a huge leap of faith for Sara. She and fiancé Gavin sink their life savings into the beautiful Château Bellevue � set under blue skies and surrounded by vineyards in the heart of Bordeaux.

After months of hard work, the dream starts to become a reality � until Gavin walks out halfway through their first season. Overnight, Sara is left very much alone with the prospect of losing everything. With her own heart breaking, Sara has five weddings before the end of the season to turn the business around and rescue her dreams. With the help of the locals and a little courage can she save Château Bellevue before the summer is over?

French Lessons

Every now and then in life, you find yourself standing at a crossroads. Different paths open up before you and you hesitate, deciding which way to go. There may be a well-trodden path, one which you know will be safe, staying well within your comfort zone; and there may be paths that are less certain, riskier, leading off into uncharted territory. Six years ago, my husband and I took the riskier path, selling up in Britain and moving to France, in pursuit of our dream of owning a wine farm here. We’d researched it thoroughly, and our two sons were moving on in their own lives so it didn’t mean too much upheaval for them. We thought we had it sorted.

Which brings me to the first Life Lesson I have learned here: Never, ever think you have it sorted!

Having left our jobs and sold our house in Edinburgh, burning several bridges behind us, we arrived in France to buy our dream vineyard. And then the world changed overnight. Northern Rock collapsed, the world economy wobbled on its foundations, currencies began to slide, and we discovered that the French wine industry was in crisis. Whoops! We visited about thirty wine farms that were up for sale and ended up deciding to err on the side of caution (I know, I know, talk about shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted!) and buy a rambling farmhouse instead, a former wine chateau where the surrounding vines had all been sold off to other local winemakers so that we wouldn’t have the overwhelming responsibility of sinking our life savings into a risky business where we were complete newbies. It’s worked out perfectly � we support our local winemakers by buying the wine they make from “our� vines, so everyone’s happy.

So now we had a project on our hands, renovating our farmhouse, and for the first couple of years we worked flat out to restore it, creating a bright, welcoming home out of a collection of distinctly unloved-looking buildings.

And here’s my second Life Lesson: You’re never too old to learn new skills.

I now know how to mix cement, build a swimming pool, create new rooms out of drywall panels, and my painting and decorating skills have come on nicely so that, these days, more paint ends up on the walls and window frames than on me. We replaced draughty windows and rotting beams, re-roofed, re-wired and re-plumbed, put in heating and cosy wood burning stoves for the winter and created a garden with shady terraces for the summer heat.

Finally we sat back on our newly paved terrace, surveying our handiwork over a glass of chilled Bordeaux Blanc as the sun set on another beautiful summer’s day and then my husband and I looked at each other and said “What now?� Because whilst we’d created our dream home (and neatly resolved the wine-supply issue), we now needed to earn a living.

And here’s the third Life Lesson I’ve learned here: Trust yourself! You can always fall back on your own resources.

Over the years when I worked nine-to-five in an office, I occasionally used to wonder what it would be like to be able to do exactly what I wanted� and suddenly here I was in that position and it was completely terrifying! What would I do? What if I failed? Suddenly it was all up to me to make it happen, no nice safe salary coming in at the end of every month. But it was also exhilarating. Here was an opportunity to do the things I loved in order to make my living. And there are two things I REALLY love: books and yoga. So I gained my yoga teaching certification and I started to write. And I discovered that these two very different strands have created a new, fulfilling balance in my life. With my writing I’m free to explore the creative side, letting my imagination soar. And the yoga brings me back down to earth, keeping me grounded. Yin/yang.

These days I teach in a beautiful yoga studio, looking out towards the surrounding vineyards across the rose-filled garden that we’ve created, and I’ve established a thriving Yoga Association, through which I’ve gained the most wonderful circle of friends.

And the lovely people at Bookouture have published my first two novels, The French for Love and The French for Always, which have become Amazon bestsellers, and we have a third book in the works for later on this year.

They are books about women who find themselves at a crossroads in life and have to rely on their own instincts as they choose which path to take � with a little help from the lively local community, some delicious Bordeaux wines, and a very handsome Frenchman or two! And maybe, just maybe, they’ll also have the opportunity to learn a few Life Lessons of their own along the way�

About Fiona Valpy
Fiona Valpy lives in France, having moved there from the UK in 2007. She left behind a career in Marketing and Public Relations to explore new avenues and now teaches yogaand writes. Having renovated an old rambling farmhouse with her husband, she has developed new-found skills in cement mixing and interior decorating, although her preferred pastime by far is wine-tasting.

Website: fionavalpy.com
Facebook: Fiona Valpy Books
Twitter: @fionavalpy

Today I welcome Jenny Hale, author of Love Me for Me, to the blog for a little get-to-know-you interview. And check out her new book! I love the cover and it sounds so fun!

Sometimes you find perfect where you least expect it�

Libby Potter has just lost the perfect job, the perfect apartment and the perfect boyfriend. Moving back to the same home town that she couldn’t wait to escape when she was younger was definitely not on her todo list. Especially as it means running into the man whose heart she broke when she left.

Pete Bennett can still walk into a room and make Libby’s world stop with just the sound of his voice � even ten years on. Only now, she is the last person in the world that he wants to see. As everyone else welcomes Libby home with open arms, she realizes she’s missed that special closeness that comes from lifelong friendship. And, as Libby tries to make amends with Pete, she begins to wonder whether she made the right choice in leaving all those years ago.

When an amazing career opportunity gives her the chance to leave again, Libby will have to decide what her version of perfect is� and where she really belongs.

Q&A with Jenny Hale

Q: What was the inspiration for your novel?
A: Love Me for Me is set in a rural town in Virginia called White Stone where I rent a cottage for a week or so in the summers.Ìý My best friend lives nearby, and we have many friends who also visit, so when we get there, we always have people around us.Ìý It was this small town and my experiences in it that inspired the novel.

Q: Who is your favorite character and why?
A: I just love Pete.Ìý I love his honesty and loyalty to his family.
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Q: What is your writing method? Are you a plotter or a pantser?
A: Pantser!Ìý I get a basic plot in my head, but how the characters respond to that plot depends entirely on how they emerge on the page.Ìý As I’m writing the character, I’ll get to know him/her, and interactions and dialogue will come from that.Ìý I set up the scene and watch them go!
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Q: Do you have any writing rituals to help set the mood before sitting down at the keyboard?
A: I work full time as a teacher and have two small children.Ìý If I spent time on rituals, I’d never write!Ìý I write any and every free minute I get–even if it’s for two minutes.Ìý I’m always plotting out little scenes and scenarios and building characters in my head, so by the time I get a moment to write, I’m ready.Ìý I do listen to music if I get stuck.Ìý The right song can inspire a few pages or more.
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Q: What was the first car you owned?
A: A tiny, blue Geo Metro.Ìý I don’t think they make it anymore, do they?
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Q: What is your favorite holiday and why?
A: My favorite holiday is definitely Christmas.Ìý I love the whole atmosphere–the trees, the lights, the family get-togethers.
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Q: Who was your first celebrity crush?
A: Joe McIntyre of New Kids on the BlockÌý (I had many posters…Ì� Was slightly obsessedâ€�)
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Q: Do you have a current TV show obsession?
A: I don’t watch TV hardly at all.Ìý I enjoy watching college football, and I’ll get into a show here and there if my hubby is watching one, but it’s very rare that I turn on TV on my own.Ìý I will turn my head to The Voice, any music awards show, and some sporting events.
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Q: What was the first concert you went to and how old were you?
A: Whitney Houston.Ìý I went with my mom.Ìý I was ten.
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Q: If you could give just one piece of advice to your 16-year-old self, what would it be?
A: I am where I am now because of the choices I’ve made in my life, so I wouldn’t want to jinx it.Ìý I’m keeping my 16-year-old self in the dark–no advice!

Thanks for chatting, Jenny! I love your “advice� to your 16 year-old self!

About Jenny Hale
When she graduated college, one of Jenny’s friends said “Look out for this one; she’s going to be an author one day�. Despite being an avid reader and a natural storyteller, it wasn’t until that very moment that the idea of writing novels occurred to her. Sometimes our friends can see the things that we can’t. Whilst she didn’t start straight away, that comment sowed a seed and several years, two children and hundreds of thousands of words later, Jenny finished her first novel. Coming Home for Christmas went on to be a Kindle hit on both sides of the Atlantic � reaching the top 20 in the UK. Love Me for Me is Jenny’s second novel and you can visit her at: