www.marilynbrant.com

Friday, August 31, 2012

My September Reads...& a Wine Tasting!

Quite possibly, the most thrilling part of finally finishing my draft of The Book I've Been Working On For Two Years is that I get to take a few weeks off (before I need to begin the inevitable revisions) and just READ FOR FUN!!

This is all the more enjoyable because several friends had summer releases (yay!!!) and I've been so anxious to delve into them. When you read the story descriptions below, you'll know why these three novels are at the top of my TBR pile:

Shelley Noble's  BEACH COLORS :
While renowned designer Margaux Sullivan was presenting her highly praised collection during New York City's Fashion Week, her husband was cleaning out their bank account. A week after he disappeared, the bank foreclosed on Margaux's apartment and business.

Suddenly broke, betrayed, and humiliated, Margaux has nowhere else to turn to but home: the small coastal town of Crescent Cove, Connecticut, where she once knew love, joy, and family before she put them behind her on the climb to fame. When she's stopped for speeding by local interim police chief Nick Prescott, Margaux barely remembers the "townie" boy who worshipped her from afar every summer. But Nick is all grown up now, a college professor who gave up his career to care for his orphaned nephew, Connor. Though still vulnerable, Margaux is soon rediscovering the beauty of the shore through young Connor's eyes . . . and, thanks to Nick, finding a forgotten place in her heart that wants to love again.

But as she continues to work on a bold new line that will get her back into the game, Margaux realizes that soon she will have to make the most important, most difficult decision of her life. . . .

Edie Ramer's  STARDUST MIRACLE :
A miracle is going to happen...

Becky Diedrich is the cheesemaker's daughter.
The minister's wife.
The good sister.

What she's not is her own woman.
What she can't be is a mother.

And then she catches her husband with another woman.
And she moves in with her sister.
And she starts to see sparkles.

And this is just the beginning...

Maria Geraci's  A GIRL LIKE YOU :
Every ugly duckling is a swan in waiting...

Emma Frazier is smart, hardworking, and loves her job as a journalist for a Florida lifestyle magazine. Emma knows she’s no great beauty, but she’s pretty certain she has a shot with her handsome new boss, Ben Gallagher—until Emma overhears a mutual acquaintance refer to her as the “ugly friend.” In an effort to reclaim her battered self-esteem, Emma decides to impress Ben at work by promising an exclusive interview with NASCAR legend, Trip Monroe.

Emma and Trip went to high school together and although it’s been fourteen years since they’ve spoken, Emma is certain she can score an interview with the elusive super star. But connecting with Trip turns out to be harder than Emma imagined. Her quest for the interview leads her back to her tiny hometown of Catfish Cove, where old secrets and a new romantic interest shake up Emma’s views on life and teach her that maybe the key to finding true love is as simple as accepting yourself for the person you were always meant to be.

Woot!! So excited to get started!

In other fun news, I'm participating in an event tonight that I've been looking forward to for over a month. I'm the guest author at a local bookstore for a novel chat PLUS a wine tasting! Check out Lake Forest Book Store's Summer Fridays for more general information. But, if you happen to be in the area, I'll be in Lake Forest at 7pm tonight, talking about A SUMMER IN EUROPE over glasses of wine ;).

Wishing you all a wonderful and relaxing Labor Day Weekend! Any special plans??

10 comments:

Edie Ramer said...

Marilyn, what a nice surprise for my Friday morning! Thanks for mentioning Stardust. The other books both sound wonderful.

I wish I lived closer to you. I'd love to be at your wine tasting tonight. I know you'll enjoy it. We might go to an art festival this weekend, and my son is going to help us figure out how to find TV stations on our new cable plan. Otherwise, our plans are fluid.

Marilyn Brant said...

Edie,
My pleasure!!
I love art festivals, but it's been a while since I got to go to one. And LOL about your son figuring out the TV stations for you! It's great to have these little techno wizards helping us, isn't it? I'm pretty sure I'd have no idea what stations we had if it weren't for my son actually making a list for us ;).

Maria Geraci said...

Aw, thanks for the shout out! Have a lovely time tonight and a great Labor Day weekend. We need to catch up soon!
xoxo

Beth Watson said...

Your event tonight sounds wonderful Marilyn. Wish I was a bit closer. I'd love to chat about the book over wine! My plans this weekend are to relax. Just returned from Ireland and need to catch up on sleep. Have a great holiday weekend!

Marilyn Brant said...

Maria, you are most welcome! And, yes, we definitely need to catch up soon... ;)

Beth, thank you! I wish you were closer, too -- it's been too long since we got to chat in person. And welcome home! I saw some of your FB posts about the Ireland trip and can't wait to read more about it!!

Pamela Cayne said...

First of all, CONGRATS (throws confetti) for finishing The Two-Year Book!!! Can't wait to see it on the shelves--wooden, virtual or otherwise!

Second, thanks for the recommends--they sound great! My TBR pile always has extra room. ;)

Wish I could be in Lake Forest tonight, but I'll raise a glass of wine from here. Happy holiday weekend!!!

Robin Bielman said...

Hi Marilyn!! Happy holiday weekend! And huge congrats on finishing your first draft!! *pom pom swish* That is awesome and gets us closer to another book from you! We readers are so lucky!

Thanks for these three wonderful suggestions! They all sound terrific. Congrats to Shelley, Edie and Maria! It doesn't matter how many books I have in my TBR pile, I keep buying and wanting more.

Hugs!

Marilyn Brant said...

Pam, *catching your confetti and giggling like a school girl at a Bon Jovi concert*!! Thank you for celebrating with me and for the long-distance toasting :). Hugs to you, my friend.

Robin, thanks so much for the pom pom swish, m'dear!! I'm so lucky to have friends who understand all of these writing ups and downs and share in the happy dancing with me ;). Have a fabulous weekend! xox

Caryn Caldwell said...

Congratulations on finishing your book! Hope the revisions go well, and that you enjoyed your event!

Marilyn Brant said...

Caryn, thank you!!
The night was lovely (I did really enjoy it) and I hope you had a wonderful and relaxing Labor Day Weekend as well :).