A look inside Coincidence

I walked over to the bed and sat down and opened one of the nightstand’s drawers. It was empty except for one photograph, folded in two, right down the middle. I opened it up and saw it was a photograph of Sean and Kevin, both smiling ear to ear and they looked so happy. What happened to this family? I wondered what exactly had caused the rift. Based on the O'Conners’ argument this morning, it was evident that it was something bad. I just didn’t know what.

I gathered that I was sitting on Patricia’s side of the bed. Judging from what I heard Martin say this morning about Sean, I couldn’t imagine him having this photo in the nightstand. I looked at it, gently running my finger down the photo over Sean’s face. There it was—the face that had been in my every thought and dream since I had first laid eyes on it nearly three weeks ago.

I shoved the photo in my pocket and began making my way out of their private living space. Just as I walked out of their bedroom into their sitting room, I heard the front door open.

“Hurry up, Martin. I can’t believe ye left yer hat. Ye never go anywhere without that stupid hat!” Patricia called from the front door. Martin’s quick footsteps approached their room. I froze in fear and looked around for a place to hide.

As he got closer, I ducked into the bedroom just as he entered their sitting room.

“I’m jist gonna check on Samantha again to make sure she’s alright,” Patricia yelled.

Martin turned back towards the door. “Leave that poor gerl alone. Yer pesterin’ her ti death, Pat! Let her git some rest! Come here and help me find me hat, please.”

Grateful that their bedroom was on the first floor, I shoved open the bedroom window. Just as Martin finished yelling at Patricia, I fell to the ground below. “Ouch,” I whispered as I landed on a bed of shrubbery. I just barely made it away before seeing the light switch on from their bedroom. The prickly shrubs scratched my exposed skin; however, I didn’t dare move. I didn’t want Martin to hear or see me lying outside of their bedroom window. There would be no good way to explain this. As the pain of my new scratches from the shrubs added to the pain of my bruises from my fall from the attic, I wondered how much worse this trip could get.

Coincidence makes the paper!

As appearing in Monday's Herald Dispatch:

Local authors release novels

October 25, 2010 @ 12:15 AM
2010/The Herald-Dispatch
Herald-Dispatch.com


HUNTINGTON — A pair of area authors have completed their respective first novels.

J.B. Reed’s first novel was recently released while Lesley Hager’s is set to be released in November.

Proctorville, Ohio, author J.B. Reed’s debut novel “Deadly Shamrocks” is now available through PublishAmerica.

The story revolves around Vivian Clancy, a beautiful girl born to Irish immigrant parents. Vivian learned at an early age that you did not mix with those not of your own kind. Bigotry was deep rooted in those days. She also learned that even those of your own kind would hurt you if given the right opportunity. One day while working at Flannery’s Pub, Vivian met a handsome Irish stranger. He was kind and generous and very charming. Little did she know just how much this man would change her life…forever.

Reed tried her hand at writing when her daughter was young, but with the demands of a full time job, writing had to be placed on the back burner. Although still working full time, she finds that writing is her first love.

Reed will be promoting her book with an upcoming book signing at the Briggs Lawrence Library’s Proctorville Branch in November. She will also be at Taylor Books in Charleston on St. Patrick’s Day, 2011.

For more information, visit her website at www.authorjbreed.yolasite.com.

Hager, a Hurricane resident, will have her debut novel “Coincidence” released in November.

So, what’s the craic? Have no idea what that means? Neither did Samantha “Sam” Montgomery the first time she was asked that question. Little did she know on that hot, humid summer night, that it would be the question that would change her life forever.

“Coincidence,” reveals exactly what that question means as the main character, Sam, embarks on a mission that takes her to Ireland in search of love and answers to her family’s puzzling past.

“Coincidence is about experiencing the possibility of everlasting love and taking risks to make that love come true,” said best-selling author Suzanne M. Hurley of Hager’s novel, in a news release. “It is about being so taken with someone that you will search the world to find him. It is about two souls coming together as one, forever.”

Hager, who earned degrees in marketing and criminal justice at Marshall University, works for the Charleston Area Alliance and teaches Zumba fitness classes. She is already working on her second novel.

The book is available through Wings ePress, Inc., out of Richmond, Ky. For more information, visit www.wings-press.com.

Into the Wild: Our Alaskan Honeymoon

No wonder this area of the world influenced the great American author, Jack London. We took a seven day cruise to Alaska and British Columbia for our honeymoon in September. To say that it was beautiful, would be doing an injustice. You just have to see it for yourself and once you do, you may not believe you are still on planet Earth. Perhaps Jack London himself says it best:

"It filled him with a great unrest and strange desires. It caused him to feel a vague, sweet gladness, and he was aware of wild yearnings and stirrings for he knew not what."

- Jack London, The Call of the Wild, Ch. 7

 

Here are some photos from our trip:

 

Our amazing wedding!

 My brother, Joseph and me.

 Barry and I entering the reception.

 Barry and I saying our vows.

 All of the wedding party.

 Mom, Fred and me.

 My bridesmaids, Joanne and Aisling; My maid of honor, Kimberly; and my junior bridesmaid, Carrie.

Me and Dad

I couldn't resist!  I just had to post some pictures of our 1920's themed September 18, 2010 wedding at the West Virginia State Capitol.  We had the best time and I can't believe how smoothly everything went (being organized, even if that means a 7 page itinerary pays off!)!

Here's the video we made to suprise our guests.  A silent movie to fit the 1920s theme!

Cover for Coincidence is complete!

A big thank you to Alexander Devenport for creating this fabulous cover!  I couldn't be more pleased!

Coincidence will be released in November, 2010. Published by Wings ePress.

Shades of Envy by Suzanne Hurley will be released in November!

Suzanne's Hurley's latest Samantha Barclay novel, Shades of Envy, will be released in November 2010.  I was able to get a sneak peak of the exciting fourth installment of the Samantha Barclay series this week and I was pleased to be able to provide a review.  The review is below.  If you haven't yet read the first three books, make sure you do!

With her Sheriff boyfriend, Al, acting strangely, the town's beautiful new deputy trying to steal her boyfriend and a defiant student who refuses to let her help, Milton High School counselor, Samantha Barclay, doesn't know how much more she can take—that is until the murders start. And once again, Samantha's curious nature pulls her in to the middle of all the mayhem!

Suzanne Hurley's fourth Samantha Barclay novel, Shades of Envy, is packed with action, mystery, suspense, romance and of course delicious baked goods!

Hurley's detailed description of the people, places and things make you feel as if you yourself are Samantha Barclay, trying to solve the tragic murders of some of Paxton's beautiful, young women. Plus, you'll find that you can almost taste the home made food from Connan's, Paxton's only restaurant.

Hurley has an impeccable way of telling a story full of surprising twists and turns that makes small town Paxton, West Virginia more exciting than the big city. Don't miss out on this exciting fourth installment of the Samantha Barclay series!

Reviewed by Lesley Hager

First Review of "Coincidence" is in!

I'm happy to report the first review of Coincidence is in and its a great one!  Thanks to fellow author, Suzanne Hurley, for her rave review of my book!  Coincidence will be released on November 1, 2010.  Published by Wings ePress.



Imagine meeting a guy and having an instant connection. You feel that you’ve known him forever! Your lips touch in a kiss that promises to be the best ever but chaos intervenes and you are yanked apart without ever finding out each other’s last name!

Such is the case in ‘Coincidence’, Lesley Hager’s exciting, new debut novel.

Samantha Montgomery sets off with her best friend Kate Mason, on their annual summer holiday at Blake’s Beach, South Carolina. There, Sam meets her possible soul mate, Sean, who is flying back to Ireland the next day. Due to a mess Kate is in, they are torn apart without exchanging vital stats - like names and addresses. They know nothing about each other except the magnetic pull, to be in each other’s arms.

‘Coincidence’ is about experiencing the possibility of everlasting love and taking risks to make that love come true. It is about being so taken with someone that you will search the world to find him. It is about two souls coming together as one, forever.

Ms. Hager pens a book that will satisfy your heart’s romantic inclinations. It is exciting as well as spell-bounding. This novel will have you rooting for Samantha as she sets out to find her love as well as search out information about her ancestors. Her descriptions of Ireland and the unique way the Irish speak, will sweep you up until you feel you actually are in this great country, living among the people there. This is a beautiful heartwarming story about love, family, ancestry and forgiveness.

So brew up some tea and settle down for some good reading. ‘Coincidence’ will have you racing to the end to find out if Sam finds Sean. Ms. Hager is an excellent writer and I look forward to reading more of her books.



Reviewed by Suzanne M. Hurley
www.suzannemhurley.com