Ringing in the New Year with Gracie Meadows!

Gracie_meadows@yahoo.com

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As a person who does believe in love at first sight, it was easy to find romance where ever I went. I myself have fallen into fate's hand when I met my husband and married eleven days later. Now, we just celebrated our eleven year anniversary with four children. I never regret a single day, and love him more and more with each passing hour.

I was never much of a writer in school. I enjoyed mostly poems, but anything longer never held my interest. When a friend challenged me to actually write a book better than the one she was reading. I toyed with the idea, and now here I am today. I have found a hidden passion that allows my wild side to come out while keeping the romance together. I would love to hear from all of you.

You can find me on Facebook or email me @ Gracie_Meadows@yahoo.com

Till My Last Breath

Amazon | B&N | ARe

Warning: For Mature Adult Audiences. Contains language and actions some may deem offensive. Sexual explicit content. MF

Oliver Dansfield was just a simple ranch hand who happen to be at the right place at the right time. After a conversation with the owner of Holiday Ranch, the pair become fast friends. He soon finds himself moving to the ranch to help the older gentleman. When Patrick becomes ill, it is Oliver who is faced with uncertainty and must now deal with Patrick’s estranged daughter—with other ideas on how to handle her dad. 

Charlie Holiday works in and out every day to catch the perfect picture, as a photographer she is constantly on the move, but finds she is reminded of Tennessee quite often in her shots. Home a place she hasn't been in quite a while since the feeling of betrayal from her father set in, keeping her away. That is until a phone call sends her packing and heading back to the man she's not sure she can ever forgive.

Oliver and Charlie find themselves at an impasse when it comes to caring for Patrick. With the holidays approaching the only thing they agree upon is giving Patrick the best Christmas ever. Will a meddling old man's Christmas Wish be granted?

Come to Holiday Ranch and join in as a father and daughter learn what is important in life. And watch as a man and woman learn that love and happiness can be found even in devastating times.

Excerpt

Time was going too quickly for Charlie as October had soon turned into November with December right around the corner. Watching the men finish their game, she thought about the days that had passed and couldn’t helping wondering how many more would she get with her dad. She mentally shook herself from where her thoughts had taken her and focused back in on the men in front of her.

“How the hell did you win again?” Oliver asked as her dad smiled drinking his coffee.

“I’m just that good, ain’t that right, Snoopy?” her dad said, smiling at her. She loved the small bantering she had been doing with him lately. Oliver had even been playing along with her and the three of them seemed to be getting along a lot better than she originally thought they would have.
“Really, Dad. You are so full of yourself today, well pretty much every day," she joked right back. The three of them laughed as they cleaned up the game to get ready for dinner.

She had been spending more time with her dad, and the last couple of nights her dad had built a fire while she made cocoa with a little Kahlua in it, and Oliver sat on the sofa with his beer as her dad took the joy of reading them a chapter from the children’s story, the Jungle Book. This was a nightly tradition for them. Her mother used to do it, but then her dad took up the interest and so it became an every night thing.

The thought as to why he was reading to her was sobering. Her dad had only a sixth grade education, which was one reason he had pushed her so hard. He had dropped out as his father grew ill and needed help on the ranch, which was only a third in size at the time. Her dad could barely read when she was little, but he learned quickly along with what feed helped with growth in the cattle, and his math skills came from doing the books. He was an amazing man, he was the smartest man she knew, and she had the years of school behind her, where he had not. She admired him so much. He met her mother one day at a local barbeque. Her mom, Marie, had her dad caught the first time he laid eyes on her, but she didn't give him the time of day. She was attracted to him, but she had heard he was a bit of a ladies man.

However, he never gave up and did everything he could to try to get her to go out with him. In the end, they both had won. Her parents were so much in love, and it was a love that many dreamed about, even herself. She found herself wondering if Oliver wanted something like that for himself in the future, but Charlie herself didn't know if she could to do something like that. If she could have what her parents had, then maybe so, but how often did that all-consuming love come to someone. Peeking at Oliver from the corner of her eye, she wondered what her parents had done to build the love they showed each other or was it only something that occurred when the right two people came together. Will I ever know, was her last thought as she laid her head back on the couch, letting her dad's voice lull her until she slept.

*****

Oliver looked down at the sleeping beauty in his arms. Charlie had fallen asleep once again on his lap. She originally was sitting next to him while Patrick read the story, she'd closed her eyes and leaned her head back only to have it fall on his shoulder. Not soon after she stretched out on his lap sleeping deeply. He loved every minute. He had yet to tell her what she had done almost every time her dad read to them.

Patrick looked up and smiled before closing the book he was reading, not long after he began talking.

“Hey, Oliver, can I ask you to do me a favor?” Patrick asked.

“Sure, Patrick, anything,” he replied, and he meant anything.

“Thanksgiving is tomorrow and I would like a tree. I don’t know if I have the strength to go out and cut one. It had been a family tradition to put the tree up on Thanksgiving and decorate it. I haven’t done it since Charlie hadn't been home. You and I have never celebrated before so I think it is about time. I know this is my last year, but I would like to see the tree all lit up before I go. Do you think you could do that?”

Oliver could hear the desperation in his voice. He knew this would be his last Christmas on this earth, and he would do anything to make it special for him, and Charlie. Oliver thought about that as Patrick got up and poked at the fire. Oliver noticed that more wood needed to be brought in as well.

“Sure, Patrick, we can do that. It is going to be amazing." Patrick smiled at him before patting his shoulder as he went up to bed. Oliver sat a moment longer watching the flames dance around the fireplace while Charlie slept. Not sure if he should wake her, he eased out from under her, then lifted her head and placed the small throw pillow under her before he pulled a blanket over her. He looked down at the small woman sleeping peacefully and he wondered how well she too had been sleeping. He found nights were restless for him, not knowing when he woke if Patrick would be there. With one last look he headed to his room to try to get some sleep because come tomorrow, he would be cutting his very first real Christmas tree.

CODE WORD: Dream

Blog Post

The wonderful year of 2014 is going to be amazing. I am going to make sure of that. I have so many books planned, and I am stretching myself to do better. I have listened to what people liked and didn’t like and making them the book they all long for. I have another stand-alone book planned, but not until once again the Christmas time. But I will also have my new series which is awesome, and deals with female detectives. Oh and a super sexy Vampire series with the extremely talented Jana Leigh too. So much to do, and it so little time!

          On a personal for my New Year’s resolution, it will be like most people, and work out. I have a fun goal with a friend of mine and we are both training and going to try out for our local Roller Derby team. Try outs just came out so I am excited about that. I am also going to try and reorganize the house better to accommodate the kids better as they grow. Pinterest has been my best friend in this project.

Behind the Scenes

Ø What are your current projects?

I am currently working on the third book of the Hidden pack series, Panther Protection. I also have a new series called “Heels for Hire Inc.”, and I am coauthoring a book with Jana Leigh.

Ø Name one person you feel supported you outside of family members.

My two best friends.

Ø Have you written any other novels in collaboration with other writers?

Not as of yet, but I am in the works on a new series with the amazing Jana Leigh. I am going later in 2014 start another series with the talented Willow Brooke.

Ø What was the hardest thing about writing your latest book?

It was getting to correct emotions of each characters during the hard times. That and trying not to get tears in the keyboard.

Ø Do you think that the cover plays an important part in the buying process?  

Oh no doubt. People tend to look with their eyes first and then read the blurb. Plus people like to get an idea of what the story or characters look like.

Flash Round

How do you feel about being the center of attention?

I don’t have an issue with being the center of attention, and on certain time, I welcome it.

What makes you blush?

When an extremely hot guy says I’m cute or pretty. LOL, Yes I know I am a dork like that.

What is your worst habit?

 Facebook. It drives me insane, but keeps me busy. I am constantly checking to see what else is going on. It’s evil. Maybe I should add that to my New Year’s resolution too.

Do you have any irrational fears or phobias?

 Bridges. I freak out on them when someone else is driving.

What are you the most hopeless at?

On my goodness this is actually funny, but I can’t cook rice to save my life. I would die without my rice cooker. I either burn it, over cook it, or it’s crunchy. Evil little white grain.

Daily Contest: Enter to win an ebook from her backlist, winner’s choice. Contest Ends January 10^th at Midnight. Please leave a comment with a valid email address to enter. Don’t forget to also enter the Grand Prize Rafflecopter with the code word found above!

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