ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

 

My name may be on the cover, but this was more than a one-person show. So many people rooted for this book in their heart and dedicated umpteen hours to the pages you now hold in your hand. If not for their labor, love, and confidence in this Southern romance, my dream might never have been more than a saved document on my laptop.

Now it’s real, and I’m grateful to every person whose hands have lovingly grabbed this novel and tugged it along this journey.

To God: You put the desire in my heart to pursue writing. You instilled in me the patience to wait on Your plan (I know that in itself was no easy task!) even when I couldn’t always understand the reasons why things happened like they did. Now, looking back, I know why. You had the foresight, and now, I have the hindsight. Thank You.

To Myra, Melissa, and the FVP team: Y’all believed in me and the story I had to tell, loving my characters enough to bring them to life, and for that, a simple thank you seems lacking. Standing by me through every step of the process, y’all created an environment that operates more like family, and then extended this support to the writing community at large. I’m grateful and proud to work alongside the FVP team—a bunch of “green girls” with a whole lot of heart and gumption.

To Carla and Jena: My girls. When I found you two, I found more than critique partners. I found friends. I found family. I found sisters. They say you should never become friends with your critique partners because you need the distance in order to feel completely at ease with issuing all the “tough love” your job entails. I love that we’ve found a way around this. Whether we’re calling, emailing, texting or chatting online to simply check in or tell the other one that their MC is acting like a total—ahem—in the latest chapter, it all seems to flow together seamlessly. Your honesty, support and friendship mean more to me than you will ever know, and I’m proud to call you “my girls.”

To Nick: The one critique partner I’ve actually gotten to meet face to face. It was such a pleasure to visit with you and your wonderful family. You were “lucky” (LOL) enough to read a super-early draft of this manuscript and somehow make it out alive. The advice you gave me was always on point, but, even better, was the encouragement and support. Your positive attitude was a ray of sunlight on all the dark days of self-doubt.

To RJ, Christina, and Chelsea: Y’all never hesitated to step up and read or give me some great advice along the way. Your thoughts and support helped shaped MtbB in significant ways, and for that, I’ll always be grateful.

To the rest of my “Writing Bootcamp Buds” and the aforementioned CPs: Who would’ve thought one online course could link us all together? Best. Investment. Ever. You guys have been there for YEARS now, ready with support, consolation, advice, and encouragement. It’s a pleasure to ride this crazy writer life with you. Y’all are truly My Tribe.

To all the people who’ve invited me into their lives, be it family, friends, coworkers, clients, and beta readers: Thanks for your time and energy. Each of you has left your mark on me in some form or fashion. We travel through the years, often never realizing how the simple act of just being in someone’s life can affect them. Be aware. Be kind. Be you, always.

To my children—Maddox, Hayden, and Colton: Never let anyone tell you a dream is not worth chasing. That inkling in your heart will lead you. Y’all make me proud—every single day. You’re the reason I fought for this dream, desperate to show you that you’re capable of achieving all of your desires through hard work and determination. I love you.

To my husband, Gene: Words fail. Nothing I can pen here could ever demonstrate just how big your role is in all of this. From brainstorming sessions to patiently listening to me read (and re-read) chapters to cooking supper when my nose was buried in the laptop, you made this possible. Thank you for believing in my dream, but most of all, thank you for believing in me. I love you.

To my readers: My greatest wish is that you would take Rayne and Gage into your heart and care about them as much as I do. If you laugh, curse, cry and maybe even fall in love along with them, then my goal is fulfilled. Thank you for letting me share my story with you.