REMEMBERING HOW TO MAKE MUSIC
Remembering How to Make Music is the story of a woman who, having triumphed over breast cancer, now faces the daunting challenge of regaining her sexuality and self-esteem as she builds a life worth living. When her life changes key, she is surprised to find a new melody.
Vinnie Cooper has just ended a twenty-five year marriage, seen her youngest son marry, and finished treatments for breast cancer. Her doctor gives her a clean bill of health and sends her out to live the rest of her life. She’s terrified as she stares at the blank slate she has become. The roles of wife, mother, homemaker, and cancer patient no longer apply. At forty-eight, she has to reinvent herself.
Vinnie decides to return to college to complete her degree in music education. She feels music is her only remaining passion. Until she accepts a job near campus as housekeeper and nanny for widower and college professor Chris Martin. Though he is ten years younger than she, Vinnie finds herself attracted to the vibrant and sexy Professor Martin. His attentions awaken her dormant sexuality, and she risks her fragile self-esteem to pursue a relationship with him. They struggle to overcome the obstacles of their age differences, their patchwork families, and a terrifying recurrence of Vinnie’s cancer to build a life together.
PANTS ON FIRE
Bailey Crawford just wants a peaceful Thanksgiving visit with her family in Truboro, South Carolina. But no, Aunt Sophie has to invite the newly divorced butcher who’s carried a crush for Bailey since kindergarten. Which was the last time Bailey thought of that stupid “Liar, liar, pants on fire” chant until she lies to Aunt Sophie about the new love of her life to save herself from the butcher. But she needs proof for determined Aunt Sophie. Bailey scans the Atlanta airport for a likely photo candidate. Bingo! The hot guy in the blue turtleneck sweater looks good. “Excuse me….”
Spencer James is happy to pose for a picture with the sexy brunette. Just like his agent said, being on the best seller list attracts fans. If they all look like this, he’s going to love it. Camera in hand, the airport custodian poses them. Encouraged by the waiting passengers, Spence gives his hot-looking fan a kiss. The sparks begin to fly.
And the sparks keep flying until both Spence and Bailey are on fire. The photo of the out-of-control airport kiss winds up in the national newspapers because of Spence’s nomination for a book award and they are both caught up in a lie that is out of control. Spence and Bailey must pretend to have a relationship to keep the wolves at bay. They are already hot, nearly in flames. Can they protect their hearts and keep from getting singed?
BOMBSHELLS
Bombshells tells the story of twelve-year-old Melanie Adams’ growth from innocent child to young woman. In her search for self, Melanie carefully observes the female role models in her life to determine how to accomplish this painful transformation. Set in 1962’s Florida during the tense days of the Cuban Missile Crisis, the story follows Melanie and her role model bombshells as they all deal with the biggest bombshell of all, the impending threat of nuclear war. In the process, Melanie and America both put their naiveté behind them and confront the ever-changing crises of modern life.
When Melanie turns twelve on the first day of summer 1962 and forgets her birthday, she knows it can’t be a good sign. Already, life around her is changing too fast. Men orbit the earth in space ships, Castro is in cahoots with Khrushchev, and soon Kennedy will have battleships patrolling the Florida coast. The Cold War and subterfuge are the pattern of the politically powerful and that attitude of secrecy seems to permeate Melanie’s everyday life. Everyone has a secret: her best friend, her big crush, her father. When the Navy evacuates the Gitmo base during the critical thirty days that could begin the third World War former neighbors come to live with them for weeks Melanie will have a horrible secret of her own. Can she handle it without it blowing up her whole life?
THE FIRST TIME, AGAIN
Amelia Grace Tynen is content after two years of widowhood. She doesn’t expect to fall in love again. Her marriage was blissful, perfect even, until her husband died of a sudden heart attack. Most people don’t have even that much happiness in lifetime. She’s not greedy. And besides, she has her favorite niece, Gina, her feisty mother-in-law, Harriet, and her brother-in-law’s mid-life crisis to keep her entertained. The family photography business is thriving. The crumbling old Atlanta manse she shares with her mother-in-law keeps them all busy managing the troublesome plumbing and holding home and hearth together. Yes, Amelia Grace Tynen had true love the first time. She doesn’t expect to find it again.
Gina Tynen is broken-hearted–again. Her love life is so messed up she doesn’t know where to begin to straighten it out, except at her Aunt Mimi’s (Amelia) house. Since her parent’s divorce, her mother’s in absentia and her father’s busy chasing the perfect breasts to photograph, so Gina doesn’t have much of an example to follow except for the perfect marriage of her Aunt Mimi. She tells her sob story to her aunt while her Maw-Maw Harriet interjects homespun advice about wooing, something about free milk and buying cows, and the need to make babies pretty darn soon. Aunt Amelia takes a different approach. She believes Gina rushes head over heels into love, when she should take her time and get to know a man before she gives her heart away. Or she takes him to her bed.
Harriet “Maw-Maw” Tynen is ready to retire to the good times with her friends at the Dunwoody Acres Retirement Village, but until she’s certain her lonely daughter-in-law, Amelia, and her flighty granddaughter, Gina, are settled and happy, Harriet must keep working to get their love lives in order. Amelia’s advice to the brokenhearted Gina is the perfect opportunity for Harriet to make her move. She bets her cherry red 1969 Corvette that Gina can’t remain celibate for three months to give herself a chance to find true love.
That hot Corvette is something Gina’s always wanted, and she’s desperate enough to try Amelia’s method to find true love. But if Gina has to change her love modus operandi, then Aunt Mimi must get a life too. Gina agrees to remain celibate for three months if Aunt Mimi gets back into the dating game. Better yet, if her aunt gets laid in three months, Gina will give up her job-drifting and take her rightful place in the family photography business. Harriet takes advantage of the younger women’s vulnerabilities and plays her trump card, making the women seal the bet. The clock is running and within minutes both women meet their first challenge on the bumpy road to true love.
