Date of publication: July 2014
Everyone knows that money can't buy happiness. The promise of money is even worse. Especially for a small town designer with big dreams. Bertie Anderson is finding out anticipation only buys trouble. When the offer of $150,000 is dropped into her lap for designing one house, she dumps her dreams of leaving town and gets to work. If only she wasn't so distracted by her hubbalicious client. Why would an ex-pro tennis player move to tiny Harmony, NC?
Keith Morgan is wondering the same thing. Sure, he needs a safe place to raise his daughter, away from the party lifestyle of his past. But does it have to be in a crazy, little town where everyone knows his business? What's worse is his aunt has given him an ultimatum: get married in three months or risk losing his little girl. Finding a woman is no problem. Parades of them show up at his house like the paparazzi. The problem is he only has eyes for Bertie, his quirky, curvy, maddening designer. And he couldn't marry her, because this go round he needs to play it safe...and Bertie is anything but safe!
My thoughts:
Find My Way Home is an enjoyable and cute debut novel. It's the first in a series about the town of Harmony. Bertie is an interior designer who is also everyone's go to person when they need something done in town. Everyone loves her, but she wants to leave town to start a new life. Keith has moved to his Aunt's town to try to make a new life with his daughter. When Aunt Francesca hires Bertie to renovate Keith's new home, the sparks fly. The problem? Bertie doesn't fit the quiet "motherly" image he thinks should be a new mom to his child.
I thought these two were cute together. It was fun to watch them try to fight their attraction to each other. Bertie is larger than life with a really big heart. I loved her character and she was just the thing that Keith needed. The only thing that annoyed me about the story was the amount of times that Keith mentioned Bertie's generous breasts. After the 4th or 5th time, I think I got the point.
There are other characters that round out the story nicely. I wish we could have gotten more of Cal and Liza's story. That looked to be intriguing, but we only get a glimpse of them getting together. Maybe there will be a novella? Anyway, this is a cute read and one I recommend trying out.
Kari& Autumn: What inspired you to become a writer?
Michele: I’ve always walked around with stories in my head…yeah, I know, sounds like a crazy person. But when I was young, I’d create make-believe worlds where everything would go my way. Coming from a family with eight brothers and sisters and being one of the youngest, you can understand my desire to control my world!
Kari& Autumn: Where do you come up with the ideas for your books?
Michele: Sometimes from snippets in life that I’d like to change or
make better. News, stories online, magazines. Mostly from life experiences…mine
and my friends. I send out a warning when I’m about to take a fascinating story
they’ve shared with me and turn it into a feel-good, laugh-out-loud romance!
(shock and then fainting usually follows)
Kari& Autumn: What exciting projects are waiting in the wings?
Michele: The second in the
series, Not So New in Town releases January, 2015. Lucy Doolan begrudgingly
returns home at her demanding step-sister’s request and thinks her life can’t
suck any worse, until she runs into Brogan Reese, Harmony High’s football star,
Homecoming King, Lucy’s mad crush and…her step-sister’s old boyfriend.
And finally, I’m
writing the third one about Katie McKnight, a location scout from California,
who discovers Harmony and spies the perfect house needed for the next
teenage-horror-mini-series. Getting Vance Kerner, the homeowner to agree,
however poses problems. Lots of laughter, love and small town fun in these next
books.
Kari& Autumn: Who is your favorite literary character and why?
Michele: Jane Eyre. Because she did the right thing. She was honorable,
refusing to go against her principles, despite her deep love for Mr. Rochester.
She survived harsh living conditions most of her life with little or no family
and very little love, and yet, she possessed a great capacity for love. One of
my all-time favorites. (hmmm, think I’ll read it again!)
Kari& Autumn: Just for fun, if you could be any animal, what would
it be and why?
Michele: The dreaded animal question…what would I be?? I’m always too literal for
questions like this. Instead of letting go, I’m always thinking of my new
living conditions: Would I like living in a cave or near a swamp? Or be eaten
by a tiger or bear or shark? Wouldn’t all that fur get itchy and start to
stink? What about those pesky flies? Okay, okay…I’ll answer. Bald eagle,
because I’d enjoy soaring through the air with my massive wing span, no traffic…just
me and a direct route to my next destination. And, because they don’t sweat.
Bet you didn’t know that! They have no
sweat glands. Instead, they open their mouths and pant…I do that all the time
on the tennis court, so I’d be an excellent eagle.
Thank you for having me on
your blog. It was fun and I loved your questions.
Michele Summers
About the author:
Michele Summers writes funny romances set in small Southern towns with sassy heroines, witty heroes and wacky, small-town characters, along with a satisfying happily ever after. Michele started her fiction writing career after Hurricane Wilma hit Miami and she was without power for over a week. Bored to tears, she scrounged for a legal pad and pen, and with the help of a trusty flashlight, started writing. Thrilled to have found another creative outlet, she's been writing ever since, when she's not working as an interior designer, personal chef, playing tennis, or raising her two great kids. Presently,she resides in North Carolina where she grew up with her family, but she still misses sunny South Florida, swaying palm trees and wearing open-toed shoes...everyday!
Twitter: https://twitter.com/michele_summers
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/michelesummers5/
This sounds like a very nice book and I also love the cover!
ReplyDeleteI just read her book! It was great!!! It was so funny and I loved every page of it!!! I'd give it a 5 star! Thank you Michele! You sound funny in real life too through this interview.
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