Showing posts with label Melissa Keir. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Melissa Keir. Show all posts

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Good Night and Thank you!

The weather today turned out to be beautiful.  It wasn't as warm as they said it was going to be, so I enjoyed a nice breeze as I posted with you.  It was wonderful sharing my stories with you and talking with each of you.  I hope you will find my stories to be engaging and exciting to read.

My books are available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Bookstrand and All Romance ebooks. I look forward to your feedback on my stories.



You can always check out my webpage at www.melissakeir.com for my blog and the latest information on my books as well as discussions with other authors and contests. 

I really appreciate all the comments and discussions about my stories.  I write for you.  :)

Good Night! 
Melissa Keir

Sneak Peek of my latest WIP

I've been sharing with you my latest release today, Protecting His Wolfe.  However, I already have a series that is out and two books strong.  The Wilder Sisters is a series about five daughters who face challenges in their lives as they must come back to the small town that they all left when their father is ill.  The first book in the series appears in the Love, Again anthology.  The story is Forever Love and tells the tale of Syndie Wilder, the oldest of the five girls, who left Amherst, Ohio when her heart was broken but comes back to take care of her father. She reconnects with that boy who broke her heart.  Can they find a second chance at love?



The second book in the Wilder Sisters series is called Beach Desires. It tells the story of Stacey Wilder who has hidden her desires out of fear.  Small town, Amherst, wasn't ready for a girl who had feelings for other women so she left town, but now she too has to come back to Amherst and face her fears.  But not before she escapes to the beach for some thinking time and meets a woman who will make her rethink her life's plans.



Finally, I am working on the third book in the Wilder Sisters series. This tells the tale of another sister who is married and expecting her first child.  She and her husband come home for Christmas only to face a devistating problem.  Can their love survive or will it take a miracle?

Here is an excerpt from that work in progress.  It is unedited.


The evening sky was dark with snow clouds as the weather took a turn for the worse. My husband, Mark, was driving our Tracker in the worsening weather as we headed south on Interstate twenty-three towards the Ohio border.

Mark and I had been having the same discussion for weeks.  It was Christmas and we both were looking forward to celebrating the holiday together. Chirstmas always held a special meaning for us. It was our anniversary, our speical time together. 

Last year we celebrated at home with a delicious dinner followed quiet evening of watching old holiday movies.  We both loved the classics like “Miracle on 34th Street” and “It’s a Wonderful Life”. Now that we were joyously awaiting the birth of our little peanut, our movie choices might have to change.  Not to mention those quiet nights, just the two of us.  However with our impending parenthood, we longed to find ourselves among family rather than celbrating alone this holiday season.

Looking over at Mark, “How are the roads? Do you think we can stop so I can use the bathroom?  Your son is pushing on my bladder.”

Mark looked over at me with a dreamy expression on his face.  His gaze settled on my stomach as it rolled and moved.  “Sure.  I could use some coffee.  How are you feeling?  Little Pea looks active tonight.”

“I’m okay except for the kicks to the bladder.  I swear he is practicing his temper tantrums so that he has them right when he comes out. Oh Ricky, we are so in trouble.” I replied with a silly high pitched whiney “Lucielle Ball-type” voice and smiled.

Mark and I eloped to Hawaii five years ago during our Christmas vacation. We kept our wedding private, only us and  have become closer than most married couples.  We enjoyed the same things, especially our cottage home on the Huron River, old movies and televison shows, and snuggling up with a blanket on those cold Michigan nights. 

While we both loved our families, neither one of us enjoyed traveling which was the basis for the fight. I’d  won the the argument after the announcement of my father’s recent diagnosis.  I’d spent hours on the phone with my sister and the internet gathering information on Altzheimers. 

Fear that my father would never meet or get to know my ‘little peanut’ was a constant in my mind. Mark and I distanced ourselves from our families over the years.  We always were so happy spending time together, that we never even considered what those choices did to others. Having a baby changes things.  And remembering my sister’s wedding invitation and my dad’s dignosis, we needed to get back to Ohio.  Christmas seemed like a perfect excuse.

Another Excerpt from Protecting His Wolfe

If you thought Jonah was a sweetheart, wait till you meet his brothers.  Here is a little excerpt from the book where Betsie meets Jonah's brothers. The excerpt is unedited.


On the drive to Jonah’s house, he tried to regale her with stories of his brothers’ antics from their youth. Marcus was the joker in the family and loved nothing more than to tease his brothers. He was always setting up practical jokes for them to fall into. Luke was the serious one who shared a passion for justice just like Jonah.

Hearing about his brothers, Betsie learned more about Jonah too, like how he felt that he had to take care of his brothers since the death of their parents in a car accident when Jonah was only twenty one. And that it’s because of this tragedy that all three boys entered the police academy to make a difference in the world. By the time they’d arrived at his house, Betsie felt that she knew both brothers personalities and could tell that Jonah loved and respected them both.

As the car slowed in front of Jonah’s house, Betsie took in the details of the two story home with a beautiful front porch. The house looked inviting with ferns hanging from the porch. Parking in the driveway, Jonah helped Betsie out of the car. “I’ll come back to get your things in a moment, I want to introduce you to my brothers and show you around.” he said, nervously.

The front door of the house was ornate with stained glass in an art deco style. The entryway was wide and accommodating with a small table where keys and gloves littered the table top. Sitting in the living room were two men who bore a strong resemblance to Jonah. They stood as she entered the room, giving her a smile. Both men had dark hair like Jonah’s but while one wore his hair short in a buzz cut, the other had longer hair that trailed down his back which he pulled back in a ponytail. Each man had Jonah’s blue eyes, yet one of the brothers had more laugh lines around his eyes and mouth. That must be Marcus, she thought.  He looks like he doesn’t want to take life too seriously. The other man looked like he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. But his large shoulders looked like they could handle that. It’s obvious that he worked out a lot. His body was built like a brick wall.

“Betsie, these are my brothers, Marcus and Luke.”

“Pleased to meet both of you. Jonah’s told me a little about you. Thank you for your help. I don’t want to be an inconvenience.”

“I’m Marcus. Jonah didn’t tell us that you were so beautiful. Now I can see why he’s so protective of you.”

“And that makes me Luke. Don’t worry Betsie, we’ll protect you. No one will harm you with the Pigg brothers protecting you.”

“Now that you have finished introducing yourselves and not scaring her away with your teasing, Marcus. Why don’t you go gather her boxes of things from the car? Make yourselves useful while I show Betsie around.” Marcus shoved Luke in front of him and out the door.


Betsie Wolfe from Protecting His Wolfe shares a scene from her childhood


Betsie Wolfe stops by to share a story about her life growing up.  You would think that being a minister's daughter would be easy.


Protecting His Wolfe will be released tomorrow.  :)






You would think that being the minister’s daughter would mean that my life was easy.  Not!  I was looked at and judged harshly growing up.  Not by my parents but by the town around me.  Innocent childhood pranks became town gossip.  I wasn’t a bad kid.  My parents loved and adored me.  But time and time again, I got into trouble.  My mom used to say that if sixteen other people did what I did, then only I was the one caught.



Here’s a little taste of one adventure:

Sundays were always a busy time at our house. Dad often woke up before anyone else and spent hours in his office working on the sermon of the day. He loved to pepper the scriptures with stories of his childhood and of us kids.  We were the best lessons for living right he’d say. 

I could hear mom puttering around in the kitchen.  She loved to plan a big brunch for when we got home for church which meant a lot of prep work before we left.  She had laid out my dress the night before.  The dress was white and made of white cotton eyelet material that made me feel like a princess even though I was just eight-years-old.  

Dresses were reserved for Sundays and I had to always put them on and take them off right before and after church.  They weren’t for playtime!  But this morning I couldn’t resist.  The dress had the most beautiful purple satin sash that was silky to the touch that tied around my waist.  I’d already spent twenty minutes running the ribbon sash through my hands and over my face.  The feel of it tantilizing my senses.

“No one will ever know,” I said as I donned the beautiful gown over my white undershirt and pink flowered underwear. 

Slipping on white socks and white pattened leather shoes, I stood and looked in my mirror.  “Yes, Prince Charming, I would love to dance with you.” 

Dancing around the room, feeling the breeze on my face was a heady experience.  The idea of looking so grown up enticed me to day dreaming about my future prince.

“Meow.”

The sound split the fantasy in my head.

“Meowww.”

Glancing toward my window I saw a small black cat stuck in the crook of the branches outside my window.  Never one to leave an animal in need nor ever leave an animal alone, I opened my window and pushed up the screen that kept me from my heart’s desire.

“Hello, little kitty.  What are you doing here? You shouldn’t be up so high.”

That was an understatement.  My room was on the second floor so the small frightened kitten must have climbed about ten feet into the tree to find itself stuck outside my window.

Leaning out the window, I couldn’t reach the kitten.  He must have been too afraid to come to me, a stranger, so I did the only thing that I could think of…I climbed out the window. 

“Don’t worry kitty.  I’m coming to get you.” I said bravely, as I carefully climbed over the window sill and out onto a strong looking branch. 

Slowly I made my way closer and closer to the kitten, whose nails appeared to be embedded into the tree’s bark.  Finally reaching the kitten, I looked down.  What a mistake that was.  Now I was too far away from my bedroom window to go back and climbing down wasn’t an option.

“Meow.”

“Thanks kitty.  Looks like we both are going to need saving.”

Clinging to the branch next to wear the kitten was holding on for dear life, I was a vision in white and began praying for a miracle.  I could hear the phone ringing inside the house.  Turning when I heard a voice down below, my fingers slipped on the rough bark, causing me to fall to the branch on my stomach.  The sharp bark scratched my leg as I twisted and pain cut into me.  Gripping the branch tightly, I feared falling to my death.  A trickle of what could only be blood began to slip down my right leg.

“Meow. Meow.”

“Oh kitty, you have surely gotten me into trouble this time.”

Which is just how the town found me, wearing my once beautiful Sunday dress, my flowered panties for everyone to see, blood dripping down my leg, and holding on for dear life. There was even a picture on the front page of the newspaper of the local firemen using their ladder truck to get me down. 

John Stempt, the fireman, ruffled my hair as he plucked me from the tree branch.  “Little Wolfe, don’t you know that wolves don’t climb trees.  Leave it for the birds.”

My parents were so frightened that I didn’t get punished but the public humiliation was enough.  Of course Dad had to find a way to use this latest excapade in his sermon and I had to throw away the once white and beautiful dress.

I don’t know what was worse…my beautiful dress being ruined or being the poster child for recklessness in the neighborhood.

MIssing Scene from Protecting His Wolfe

While the contest is over, you might want to stop by and enjoy the taste of a missing scene from Protecting His Wolfe that I shared on my blog.  In this scene we learn about young Jonah and why his family is important to him.



http://www.melissakeir.com/1/post/2012/06/protecting-his-wolfe-missing-scene-contest.html

Protecting His Wolfe (pg excerpt and cover)

Protecting His Wolfe

This scene takes place after Betsie witnesses the murder.  She isn't able to drive let alone walk home so Jonah offers to drive her. This excerpt is unedited.



The slam of the car door woke Betsie, who was a little disoriented. Seeing Detective Jonah Pigg coming around the side of the car to open the door for her, Betsie smiled. “You’re such a gentleman. Most of the guys I date don’t even open the door. How did you know where I live?” she asked curiously.

Extending his arm, Jonah said, “Here you go, Betsie. The guys that you date are losers if they don’t show some common manners. Let me help you to the door. I just looked up your address on your wallet in your purse, which I have right here along with your apartment keys, I assume.”

Putting some weight tentatively on her left leg, Betsie grabbed hold of Jonah’s arm and climbed out of the tan sedan. When she stood up, she noticed that the top of her head only came to his chin. He really was tall, dark and dangerous. They walked awkwardly toward her apartment, with Jonah holding her tightly around the waist to keep her from falling.

Taking hold of her purse, Betsie grabbed her keys and opened her apartment door. “Thank you again for everything.  Would you like to come in for some coffee or lemonade? My grandma taught me to use my manners.  That is unless you are afraid that I will bite. But I am a Wolfe after all. ” She smiled up at him with mirth in her eyes, transforming her face from beautiful to extraordinary.

“Oh I’m not afraid of your little bite, but I do want to take a look at that leg. You couldn’t put much weight on it a minute ago. I wouldn’t want to have a Wolfe out there with a broken leg. The vet will want to put you down.”

The shared laughter felt good with each of them enjoying the word games they played.  As Betsie sat on the couch, Jonah knelt on the floor and lifted the hem of her dress. Gently touching her left knee, elicited a cry of pain from her but he was able to bend and move the leg without much discomfort.

“Looks lucky for you that it’s only a bad sprain.  You’ll live. Put some ice on this, take it easy and you’ll be fine. I‘d better get back to the crime scene before they miss me. I put my cell number on the back of that card I gave you. Feel free to give me a call if the vet comes sniffing around you.”

With that, Jonah closed the door and headed back to his car. To Betsie it seemed as if all the sunshine drained out of the world.



Let me introduce myself- Melissa Keir

Good Morning,
I'm sending this good morning from my home in Michigan.  We are looking at some record breaking temperatures today which may lead to some rain that we desperately need.  I'm laying in bed with my dogs because of course on the last week of school, I get sick.  I'm an elementary teacher who has taught for almost twenty years and every grade level from preschool to sixth grade. I love teaching children about reading and writing and seeing their faces light up when they speak about a book or story. That look on their face is the same one you see on my face when I write a book!

I currently have three books in my growing list of accomplishments.  The fourth book comes out tomorrow with Rebel Ink and I couldn't be prouder. I write contemporary romances with characters that could be your neighbor or best friend.  My characters love with a passion and remember their own heartbreaks as well.  But they never give up on love.

Protecting His Wolfe is the story of Betsie Wolfe and Jonah Pigg.  It isn't a traditional fairy tale retelling.  Jonah and his two brothers own the Pigg Detective Agency.  Jonah is also a police detective because someone has to be the "responsbile" one in the family (according to him). Betsie is a small town minister's daughter who left her town for the big city and never thought she'd find drugs and murder.  When Jonah's and Betsie's worlds collide they find that their similarities might be more than their differences.

I will share more of their story with you throughout the day.  And if anyone has any sinus cold cures, be sure to share those with me as well!  I still have some more days with my students and want to be at my very best!

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Good Night and Thank you! by Melissa Keir

Thank you to all the readers and guests who stopped by today to take a look at my posts.  Michigan's weather has turned again.  It is sunny and pretty.  The wind is blowing and the flowers are in bloom.  I hope you enjoyed the excerpts and blogs about my stories.  Please check out my website at www.melissakeir.com for updates and contests.

Sincerely,
Melissa Keir

Beach Desires by Melissa Keir

Do you love the beach?  I always do my best thinking and reflecting when I'm on the beach listening to the waves.  My latest release "Beach Desires" has Stacey Wilder running away to the beach after receiving her sister's wedding invitation. Stacey had escaped small town, Amherst, Ohio and wasn't looking forward to going back.

Growing up Stacey knew she was different.  She hid her desires from everyone because no one in a small town would understand her love for women.  But with her sister's wedding and her father's Alzheimer's, she must face her past. 



Blurb:
Can a summer fling last a lifetime? Stacey Wilder escapes to the beach for a much needed vacation and meets a woman who tempts her passion. But Stacey hid her desires growing up because small town Catholic girls don’t fall in love with other women.

Mandy Kenzie is a Southern girl who also dealt with discrimination growing up over her choice of lovers. When she meets Stacey, sparks fly and passion ignites. But will their beach fling become a forever match or just a vacation affair?

Can Stacey and Mandy make their long distance relationship work? Or will they let the prejudices of their upbringing ruin their chance at happiness?


A PG (unedited) Excerpt from Protecting His Wolfe by Melissa Keir

Protecting His Wolfe is the story of a small town girl who after landing a job in the big city, she finds herself embroilled in danger.  This is the scene where she hears the drug deal.  Little did she know what would happen to her next.


It was a late October evening. Everyone else in the office had gone home, but there wasn’t anyone waiting at home for Betsie, so she decided to get the last of the filing done first, hoping to earn some bonus points from Miss Hildebrand. While sitting at her desk in the secretarial area she overheard a conversation between her boss, Mr. Anderson and another man.

“Do you have the stuff, you know the drugs?”

“Yes I do but they are hidden until you pay me twice the amount we agreed upon.”

“That’s not the way to do business. We agreed on a fee. I did the loading and driving. I had all the risk.”

“But it’s my company and my name on those trucks that’s taking the biggest risk if we get caught, moving your drugs. So the amount is double.”

“I don’t have the money now. You should know, you write my paycheck. You’ll pay for lying to me!”

“Don’t threaten me. You won’t like it when I’m threatened. Find a way to get that money by Tuesday or I’m selling them to another customer.”

Quietly the men left the area and Betsie couldn’t hear them anymore. She wasn’t quite sure if she had heard the whole conversation correctly. Could the men have been talking about something other than drugs? Wasn’t it illegal to ship drugs across the US border? Maybe it wasn’t her boss. After all she didn’t actually see the people talking.

Keeping her mouth quiet in fear, Betsie hid under her desk for two hours and then snuck out the door, hoping that no one had noticed her. Keeping her eyes alert, each sound that she heard made her jump. Even though she never saw anything on the dark walk home, her heart was going off like an alarm clock. Locking each of her three locks on the door, made Betsie feel a tiny bit safer, but it wasn’t until she climbed into bed and pushed the largest knife from the kitchen under her mattress that she fell into a deep sleep.

A Visit with Jonah Pigg from Protecting His Wolfe by Melissa Keir

Hello everyone.  My name is Jonah Pigg.  Of course my name gets a lot of attention.  I'm a police officer.  Tell me that you haven't heard how police are called pigs.  But to make matters worse, I have two younger brothers.  Yep. We are the three Piggs. I've been taking care of my brothers for most of my life.  Family is very important to me. My brothers and I own and run a detective agency.  I'm more of the silent partner because police work is my passion.  There is nothing like being able to protect others and convict the bad guys. 

That's how I met Betsie Wolfe.  She'd found a dead body and was the only witness to the murder.  Now someone was out to get her and it's my job to keep her safe.  I'll never forget that first time I saw her.  She was huddled in a blanket, clearly in shock, yet her beauty shown through.  I think it was her strong determination and will to do what was right and stand on her own two feet that made me fall in love with her.  No matter what was thrown at her, she always stood firm on her moral convictions.  She didn't like to rely on anyone but we all have to get help sometimes.

I'm not going to spoil the story for you but Protecting His Wolfe is a suspensful, sexy tale about love and danger.  Check it out today!


P.S. Protecting His Wolfe will be released this month from Rebel Ink Press and be available at various retailers.  Check out www.melissakeir.com for more information.

Protecting His Wolfe by Melissa Keir


What would you be willing to do when you learned that a crime had been or would be committed?  Would you risk your life to report the crime?  Betsie Wolfe was a small town minister's daughter and knew right from wrong.  With  strong moral convictions, even she didn't report it at first.  She wasn't sure what she overheard.  But the bad guys knew she had heard, putting her life in danger.

When push comes to shove... will Betsie stand up for what is right and fight against the corruption or will she hide and pray to stay safe?  What would you be willing to do?


Blurb for Protecting His Wofle:

Betsie Wolfe was a small town girl who left her cozy little life for a job in the big city, but she never expected to become a witness to a murder or face vicious threats. Detective Jonah Pigg was immediately attracted to Betsie’s lavender eyes and small frame huddled in the gray wool blanket when he arrived on the scene of the murder. When threats on her life begin, he takes her into his home under the protection of the three Pigg’s who own the Pigg Agency. It will take all his detective work to keep her safe from the killer. Passion has a way of igniting when people are under stressful situations and lust leads Betsie and Jonah into each other’s arms. But is their relationship only a matter of desire or is it something more?

Excerpt (NC-17) from Beach Desires by Melissa Keir

Beach Desires is a GLBT story that is the second story in The Wilder Sisters books.  The first story "Forever Love" was a part of the "Love, Again" anthology.  Each story tells the tale of one of the five Wilder sisters.


Excerpt:
Dinner with Mandy was perfect. We had a lot in common, finding that we both shared a passion for muscle cars. Most of our discussion was innocent, yet the desire for each other simmered under the surface.

“When did you realize you were a lesbian?” she inquired as she reached over to put her hand on top of mine.

The touch of her skin on mine caused my pussy to clench. Her full lips drew my gaze. I thought about kissing them, running my tongue along them before nibbling on her bottom lip. Focusing on her question, I knew she would understand my thoughts and fears.

“I’ve known since I was a teenager. I left my hometown after graduation, never looking back. Now my sister is getting married. She asked me to be a part of her wedding party. I really don’t want to go back to Amherst to face my past, but since my dad has Alzheimer’s, I’m afraid if I don’t go back for the wedding, I won’t see him again in this lifetime.”

“I understand. Living in the South, being different was frowned upon. I hid my desires as well. Luckily times have changed. I’m able to express my needs now, rather than hide them. Why are you so afraid to go back to your hometown?”

Speaking to Mandy about my past and my life was easy. I felt an instant connection to her in addition to the desire I had for her body.

“My town was very small. The people were small minded. If you didn’t have a boyfriend, you were teased. So I pretended to like guys, even “dated” some to keep my secret. Even with my family’s support, I’m nervous about going back and facing the people I knew. I’m worried about what they will think of me.”

“I understand your fears. However, you shouldn’t worry about them. You are a successful, caring person. Who you love doesn’t have anything to do with what kind of person you are. Let’s get out of here. Would you like to take a walk on the beach? I love the beach at night.”

“I’d love to. There is something about the waves crashing and the feeling of being alone in the world that I love,” I answered with a smile. “This has been a wonderful dinner. I’m enjoying getting to know you.”

The drive back to the condominium was quiet as we were each lost in our own thoughts. Anxious to get Mandy alone on the beach, I wanted to steal a kiss. I’d been fantasizing of her lips all night and couldn’t wait to see if they felt as soft as they looked.


Buy Link:http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.phl?main_page=book_info&cPath=4&products_id=329&zenid=0cd58f12ca337b848baf813aa80cba0e

A PG Excerpt from Second Time's the Charm by Melissa Keir

Here is an excerpt from my story Second Time's the Charm.  This is where the characters of Lissa and Alex first meet.  As you can tell, it is an instant attraction.


“He said he was on his way, so he should be here any…” I felt a presence enter through the sliding doors and turned to look. The guy who stood just inside the doors was built like a football player with powerful shoulders and arms. The military short haircut emphasized his chiseled features. Wearing black jeans and a polo stretched tight across his chest, Alex had that casual, yet roughed up look that made a statement that fell somewhere between ‘I've just crawled out of bed but still, you don't want to mess with me’.

As he drew closer to our little group, I noticed the piercing nature of his blue eyes and the sexiness of his lips. In response, my own tongue darted out to caress my bottom lip. My heart sped up and remarkably, I was at a loss for words.

“Chloe. Mike. Any word?” my fantasy football player stated. This was Alex? No no no no! shouted the voice in my head while the tingling in my lower abdomen screamed Oh, my!

Alex shook hands with Mike as Chloe clung to Mike’s waist. “Nothing definite yet. They're going to do a spinal tap to determine if Joe has meningitis. I’m so worried about him. He looked so pale and helpless lying in the hospital bed.”

“Joe’s a strong kid. He’ll pull through. After all, he got a double dose of stubborn,” Alex said, trying to lighten the situation. He turned to me. “You must be Lissa. I’m Alex. Thanks again for

calling.” Sliding his hands in the pockets of his jeans, Alex gave me his best smile. Did I imagine a spark of interest in his eyes?

“No problem. I have two boys of my own and I'd do anything for a friend.”

Alex’s smile tugged at my heartstrings. It wasn’t the 'full mouth with all his pearly whites showing' smile like Steve's, but a 'little boy when he was unsure of himself' smile. Sitting down in one of the empty chairs, I finally caught my breath and watched Alex out of the corner of my eye as he interacted with Mike and Chloe. Where was the fearsome man Chloe portrayed? Was Alex just putting on an act? He certainly looked bad-ass when he strode through those hospital doors, with his commanding air and determined stride. But seeing him interact with his ex now, Alex seemed caring and compassionate.

Alex had a very different body type than Mike. Staring at him was like trying to figure out a puzzle. Hot, steamy body, dangerous blue eyes, but what about that personality? I knew I'd have a few questions for Chloe about Alex later, the first being the most obvious - was he available?

“Mr. and Mrs. Hunter?” The doctor stepped through the doors.

“I’m Mark Hunter and this is my ex-wife, Chloe Winters and her husband, Mike. And this is Chloe’s friend, Lissa,” Alex volunteered as if he had done this awkward introduction a few times before. “How's Joe? Do you know anything?”

“We got a positive for Meningitis. However, until we grow the cells in a petri dish for seventy two hours, we can’t be sure if it's bacterial or viral. Bacterial is far more dangerous so we're moving Joe to his own room in the children’s ward. We isolated him and are treating him with antibiotics as a precaution. We'll let you know as soon as he's settled then you can visit. But only immediate family. We don’t want to expose anyone else.” With a somber nod, the doctor moved back into the emergency room area, leaving us in stunned silence.

“I’ll head home and get you a change of clothes and grab some things for Joe. Do you think they'll let him have his DS?” Mike pulled Chloe close, kissing her tenderly. Their love was evident with him holding her hand and listening as he whispered words of love and encouragement. I felt like an intruder on such a private moment and drifted to an empty bench, watching as Alex headed off toward the vending machines.

Returning shortly with coffee and candy bars, he shared his feast as we sat lost in our own thoughts. While my guess was his thoughts were of concern over his son, my thoughts were all about the carnal man sitting across from me.

Would you fall for your best friend's ex-husband?

Divorce and Second Time's a Charm by Melissa Keir



Divorce and Second Time’s a Charm by Melissa Keir:

Many families are facing divorce or have lived through a divorce.  When I was growing up, I remember only one or two families that had been affected by divorce.  Today divorce is so much more common.  

In fact, I am a divorced person.  I married my husband when I was eighteen and thought that we would grow old together.  But after twenty years together and raising two wonderful children, we found that divorce was the best answer for us.  Not that I advocate divorce, nor did I take my decision lightly.  We went through counseling.  Michigan also has a law in place that requires people with children to wait six months from filing to ending.  Talk about a touchy situation.  Can you imagine living with the person that you are divorcing?  

Because I had the experience of divorce, I wrote my character Lissa Vincent, from Second Time’s the Charm as a divorcee with two small boys.  I wanted to bring to the story some of the challenges that I faced as I navigated the divorced waters. In fact, four of the characters in Second Time’s the Charm are divorced. Each are in different points of the divorce process.  Chloe and Alex have been divorced for a while and have found a comfortable friendship putting their past behind them.  Chloe has even remarried.  The story shows how accepting Alex is of the new relationship.  Lissa and Steve are still coming to grips to the end of their marriage.  Lissa is feeling very self conscious about herself, physically and emotionally.  Steve is unwilling to allow anyone else to come into his children’s lives.  

The divorce isn’t the main character in the story of Lissa and Alex’s love.   It is a story about finding true love in the face of self-doubt and being open to what fate sends your way.  Like Lissa, I did find my own special love and married him.  My divorce added to my life experience and made me the person I am today, just as Lissa’s divorce made her who she was.  Her divorce opened her up to Alex and his charming, caring nature. 

I hope that you enjoy Lissa and Alex’s story as they take a chance on each other and on love.

Interview with Lissa Vincent, my heroine from Second Time's the Charm by Melissa Keir

Obviously Lissa heard that I was talking with Alex today and wanted to get in on the action.  She wanted to sit down right away which meant me coming to her house since she has her two sons this weekend.  I loved watching them play video games- (sarcastic tone).

 
1.      Lissa, thanks for having me over. I’m sure the readers would love to get to know you so can you tell us three words best describing you? Thank you for having me visit today.  I’m so excited to have a moment to myself!  Three words that describe me… obviously Mom, and if you ask the boys, they would say nag (sometimes it is the only thing that gets them to pick up their rooms), and caring.
2.      I understand you’re divorced.  What can you tell us about your ex-husband, Steve? I thought Steve was my prince charming but when we were dating, we were both young and immature.  As we got older, we grew apart.  That was probably my fault. I spent a lot of time on the boys.  They were my life.  Steve became very angry with me and then began to spend more time out with his friends from work.  He is a wonderful dad but he just wasn’t the man for me.  He made me feel very unattractive and even teased me about my insecurities.

3.      You’re a mother of two boys.  What’s the favorite thing you like to do with your sons for fun? We love to throw the football around the yard when the weather permits.  It is fun spending time with the boys.  Something is always happening.  Last week, we built the giant Star Wars’ Lego Millennium Falcon ship and played with them for hours. 
4.       What attracted you to Alex in the first place? The thing that attracted me about Alex was what a great father he was.  He was there for his son when he was in the hospital and never put his ex-wife down.  Of course, he made me feel like I was the most beautiful woman in the world and the most important person in his life.

5.       Are you afraid of committing to another relationship? I am nervous about another relationship.  I was married for a long time and Steve really messed with my self-esteem.  I also know the statistics, second marriages don’t have a great track record.  We are going to have a lot to work through as we blend a family.  But I love Alex and know that he is the perfect man for me.
6.     What is your favorite guilty pleasure? My favorite guilty pleasure is a bubble bath.  I love to indulge in that girly pleasure, soft lights and music playing softly.  I love to have those few moments to myself to escape from the daily stresses of being a working mom.

7.      Describe what you would consider the ultimate romantic evening. An ultimate romantic evening is a night out with my love.  We would have a delicious dinner at an intimate restaurant, then head out for a play at a local theater, followed by some passion back home.
8.      Do you dictate your story to your author or does she control what happens? I dictated my story.  Poor Melissa just had to go along for the ride.  Now the only thing that I have to complain about is that some things had to be cut, like one of Steve’s tirades.  I really wanted to show what Steve put me through.
9.       Let’s talk about your job.  Tell us what you do for a living and if you love it or hate it? Did you choose it? I’m a receptionist at a local pediatrician’s office.  I love being able to help families, especially when they are stressed about their child’s illness.   I went back to work when things started getting difficult at home.  I wanted to find something that would allow me to feel worthwhile.  Cold and Flu season keeps me busy but I love being around children.
10.   Can you name a song that is “yours”, that describes how you feel about yourself or your love? Or if not a song, a movie!  I love the song “When All is Said and Done” from the Mama Mia soundtrack.  The song makes me think about how Alex and I have faced a life and are together now. We aren’t to blame for the past but are going to look to the future, together.

Thank you for coming over today.  I wanted to get a chance to share my side of the story and hope everyone will check out my story and see just how Alex and I found love.  After all, would you date your best friend’s ex-husband?

Second Time's the Charm:
How does a middle aged, divorcee with two children find her way back to love after a devastating divorce leaves her with no self confidence and no faith in love? Lissa's ex-husband has shredded her self-esteem so she's thrown herself into her children and her work, leaving time for nothing else.

When an life threatening illness in her best friend's family puts Lissa on the path to romance, Lissa finds new love in a most unexpected way--an introduced by her new guy's ex-wife.

Who knew that first time loves could lead to second chances?      

An Interview with Alex Hunter from Second Time's the Charm by Melissa Keir

I hope you enjoy my recent interview with Alex Hunter.  He is the hero of my story, Second Time's the Charm.  He can do mean things with a candy bar and looks like a military man with his short buzz cut and strong shoulders.  After hearing about some of his less than stellar features from his ex-wife, I wasn't too sure I wanted to be alone with him but he quickly put me at ease. Here's the interview:

M: Hello Mr. Hunter.  Welcome.  I’m excited to sit down and talk with you about your recent love story.  Can I call you Alex?

A: Thank you Melissa.  Feel free to call me Alex.  I’m also looking forward to people hearing more about my sweetheart, Lissa.  She is amazing.  I couldn’t believe that I had been hoping to meet her for about six months before fate brought us together.

 

M: What do you love about Lissa?

A: Lissa is a kind and caring person.  She wouldn’t harm a fly.  Her children are first in her life.  She is an outstanding mother.  I don’t like how Steve, her ex, treats her.  He brow-beats her and puts her down.  Would you believe that he calls her daily to complain about how she is raising the boys?


 

M: That sounds frustrating. I can’t imagine how hard it must be for her.  How did you and Lissa meet?

A: Lissa is best friend’s with my ex-wife, Chloe.  They work together at a local pediatrician’s office.  Chloe has been talking about Lissa for a long time.  When Chloe told me that Lissa was going through a divorce, I wanted to reach out to her but wasn’t sure that she would be interested in hearing from me.  I was sure that Chloe had shared a lot of our issues with her.  Isn’t that what best friend’s do?  I was positive Lissa had a skewed image of me.  But when Joe, my son was taken to the emergency room with possible meningitis, Lissa was the one who called me to let me know.  When I saw her sitting in that ugly waiting room, I couldn’t believe how beautiful she was and couldn’t take my eyes off her. 


 

M: What is the most romantic night you’ve had with Lissa?

A: I pulled out the stops the one night with dinner at my place.  I had candles lit and soft music playing.  The food was amazing and it was the night that I wanted to show Lissa just how much she meant to me.  Everything was designed for a night of passion.


 

M: You mentioned that you have a secret sweet tooth.  What is your favorite dessert?

A: Chocolate is my favorite.  When Joe was in the hospital, I had gotten a couple of candy bars.  The chocolate was melting on my fingers and I could only imagine licking the chocolate off Lissa’s body.  When she came to Joe’s party, she brought her special recipe brownies.  It was then and there that I knew she was the woman for me!


 

M: Did you have any worries about getting married again, especially with the divorce rate being so high for second marriages?

A: Yes, I had fears.  My largest fear was bringing the boys together.  I was pleased that they were already such good friends and loved spending time together but becoming a blended family is tough.  There are now only two parents involved but in this case, we have four sets of parents involved.  Chloe and Steve will be a part of our relationship because they are the boys’ parents.  They may not always agree with us on our choices and compromise will be important.


 

M: I wish you all the best with a blended family.  I understand that the benefits do outweigh the challenges but it will take work.  Thank you for coming by today to share with us about your relationship with Lissa and your life.  Is there anything else you would like to share?

A: I want everyone to read my romance tale of love. Afterall, Melissa you did spend a lot of time and energy to bring out story to life. I know we sort of took over your brain for awhile. At least you have it back to your self now.  I have to ask the readers…  Would you have taken a chance on dating your best friend’s ex-husband?  I am certainly glad that Lissa did.  Second Time’s the Charm is available at Bookstrand, All Romance, Amazon and Barnes and Noble for only $1.99.  Pick it up today!

Good Morning from Michigan's Melissa Keir

Hello Everyone and Good Morning... 
My name is Melissa Keir and I'm the author of four short novella's now (with more to come!).  What makes my stories interesting is that my characters are people you would meet at the grocery store or even at work.  I write contemporary romance that feature moms with children, divorcees, and small town girls who fight against all odds.

In my life, I'm like one of those characters.  I live in a blended family of his, mine, and ours (ours being the dogs) but I wouldn't want it anyother way! I'm also an elementary school teacher who loves teaching children about the imporance of reading and enjoys instilling that passion for reading in their lives.

I hope that you will get to know me a little bit through my stories.  And that you will find yourself among my characters too... strong work ethic, strong character, a growth mindset, and a belief in love and happily ever after.

If you want to connect with me, my website is www.melissakeir.com. or you can reach me on facebook or twitter.


Melissa Keir