Tracey Garvis-Graves

HEARD IT IN A LOVE SONG by TRACEY GARVIS GRAVES

October 23, 2021

About the Book:

From Tracey Garvis Graves, the bestselling author of The Girl He Used to Know comes a love song of a story about starting over and second chances in Heard It in a Love Song.

Love doesn’t always wait until you’re ready.

Layla Hilding is thirty-five and recently divorced. Struggling to break free from the past—her glory days as the lead singer in a band and a ten-year marriage to a man who never put her first—Layla’s newly found independence feels a lot like loneliness.

Then there’s Josh, the single dad whose daughter attends the elementary school where Layla teaches music. Recently separated, he’s still processing the end of his twenty-year marriage to his high school sweetheart. He chats with Layla every morning at school and finds himself thinking about her more and more.

Equally cautious and confused about dating in a world that favors apps over meeting organically, Layla and Josh decide to be friends with the potential for something more. Sounds sensible and way too simple—but when two people are on the rebound, is it heartbreak or happiness that’s a love song away?

(This title releases on November 9, 2021)

My Review:

I could not wait for this one after reading several of the author’s earlier books and absolutely LOVING them!! (And how stunning is this cover?!) I would not call ‘Heard It in a Love Song’ a romance per se because the focus is really on the main characters’ growth and experiences after their respective divorces; however, there are most definitely elements of romance in the story and the book ends on a very hopeful, upbeat note.

The author writes in a unique way, exploring the timelines of Layla and Josh’s past relationships and alternating that with their present-day lives. Both Layla and Josh are very strong characters and their stories will resonate with many readers. They are both extremely relatable, and for me, books about second-chance relationships are always enjoyable.

Layla is thirty-five and recently divorced from her husband. She gave up her passion and her dream of being a professional singer and now finally is able to explore her true self. Josh is the father of a student at Layla’s school and is also experiencing coming out of a long relationship. While I didn’t feel a lot of emotion or tension with his character, I appreciated his struggles to find someone he could connect with.

I am certain that the audiobook version narrated by the wonderful Andi Arndt is probably fantastic. Because Layla is a former band member, I would love to hear how her story is narrated!

Tracey Garvis-Graves is a fantastic writer and I read this book in one day. If you love contemporary and women’s fiction, you will like this book. It is a fresh, optimistic story about finding yourself, pursuing your passion and second chances.

(Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review.)

THE GIRL HE USED TO KNOW by TRACEY GARVIS GRAVES

April 2, 2019

SYNOPSIS:

New York Times bestselling author of On the Island, Tracey Garvis Graves, presents the compelling, hopelessly romantic novel of unconditional love.

Annika (rhymes with Monica) Rose is an English major at the University of Illinois. Anxious in social situations where she finds most people’s behavior confusing, she’d rather be surrounded by the order and discipline of books or the quiet solitude of playing chess.

Jonathan Hoffman joined the chess club and lost his first game―and his heart―to the shy and awkward, yet brilliant and beautiful Annika. He admires her ability to be true to herself, quirks and all, and accepts the challenges involved in pursuing a relationship with her. Jonathan and Annika bring out the best in each other, finding the confidence and courage within themselves to plan a future together. What follows is a tumultuous yet tender love affair that withstands everything except the unforeseen tragedy that forces them apart, shattering their connection and leaving them to navigate their lives alone.

Now, a decade later, fate reunites Annika and Jonathan in Chicago. She’s living the life she wanted as a librarian. He’s a Wall Street whiz, recovering from a divorce and seeking a fresh start. The attraction and strong feelings they once shared are instantly rekindled, but until they confront the fears and anxieties that drove them apart, their second chance will end before it truly begins.

MY REVIEW:

”Did you ever fall in love with a girl who was different? Not just from any girl you’d ever dated before, but from most people in general?”

OMG!!! What an unexpected treat. Another fantastic, nuanced story from Tracey Garvis Graves.

The Girl He Used To Know’ is one of the best books this year. Annika is on the autism spectrum and has been bullied her entire life. She struggles every day with the simplest things that we all take for granted, such as normal human interactions. She warmed my heart with her strength, humor and huge heart.

Annika and Jonathan meet and fall in love in college over their love of chess (yes, chess!) but their love story picks up again ten years later when they meet by chance. Annika is the girl that Jonathan never forgot and Annika still hurts over their breakup. The story alternates between the past and ten years later, and had I paid closer attention to the chapter headings I would have not been so shocked at the conclusion of this book. The story is simply beautiful and unputdownable.

They decide to reconnect. They agree to meet up for coffee and try out a new friendship and maybe even a relationship. To Jonathan, Annika was the girl who got away. For Annika, no one will ever understand her the way that Jonathan does. The story alternates back and forth between college and present time (2001). We get to experience their history unfolding as Annika slowly becomes able to face her past. Sadly for Annika and Jonathan, another horrific tragedy just might keep then apart forever.

This is ultimately a triumphant love story with two well-written characters that stole my heart. I wanted to scream at both of them, “YOU BELONG TOGETHER! THERE IS NO ON ELSE FOR YOU!” Pay close attention to the story flashing back to the college meeting and then back to them meeting again 10 years later, and you might figure out what is going to happen. I was totally surprised! Written in a clean and spare prose, this is one of the greatest love stories I’ve read in a long time.

There are two other relationships central to this book: Janice, Annika’s roommate, best friend and social behaviors instructor, and Tina, Annika’s therapist, who helps her find her way in the adult world of dating, working and meeting friends.

This is a unique book written with tremendous empathy. For romance lovers, ‘The Girl He Used to Know’ explores the sweetness of first love, heartbreak, redemption and unconditional love. Annika and Jonathan’s romance and friendship should be experienced by everyone! I fell so in love with them during this book, and did not want it to end. Bravo to the author for creating such a compelling and beautiful love story.

“Life isn’t easy for anyone. We all have challenges. We all face adversity. It’s how we overcome it that makes us who we are.”

”Did you ever fall in love with a girl who was different? Not just from any girl you’d ever dated before, but from most people in general?”

OMG!!! What an unexpected treat. Another beautifully nuanced story from Tracey Garvis Graves. The Girl He Used To Know’ is one of the best books this year. Annika is on the autism spectrum and has been bullied her entire life. She struggles every day with the simplest things that we all take for granted, such as normal human interactions. She warmed my heart with her strength, humor and huge heart.

Annika and Jonathan meet and fall in love in college over their love of chess (yes, chess!) but their love story picks up again ten years later when they meet by chance. Annika is the girl that Jonathan never forgot and Annika still hurts over their breakup. The story alternates between the past and ten years later, and had I paid attention to the chapter headings I would have not been so shocked at the conclusion of this book! The story is simply beautiful and unputdownable.

I don’t read many love stories that rise to this level, but this book grabbed me from the very first page. Annika’s family, her angel of a roommate Janice, and all of the supporting characters were loving, funny and real.Annika never had a boyfriend before Jonathan. He makes her feel safe in social situations and falls in love with her and all her quirky habits. Annika is painfully shy but Jonathan brings out the very best in her. He sees what a selfless and loving person she is, and learns to deal with her quirky behavior.They fall deeply in love and make plans to move to New York together after college. A terrible tragedy strikes which tears them apart. Jonathan reluctalntly moves to New York, expecting Annika to follow. Annika tells him it’s over and moves on with her life. Jonathan marries. But then ten years later, the happen to run into each other in back in Chicago.

They decide to reconnect. They agree to meet up for coffee and try out a new friendship and maybe even a relationship. They intend to take things slowly and try for a second chance. To Jonathan, Annika was the girl who got away. For Annika, no one will ever understand her the way that Jonathan does. The novel weaves back and forth between their college years, and present time (2001). We get to experience their history unfolding as Annika slowly becomes mentally and emotionally available to face her past. Sadly for Annika and Jonathan, another tragedy just night keep then apart forever.

This is ultimately a triumphant love story with two well-written characters that stole my heart. I wanted to scream at both of them, “YOU BELONG TOGETHER! THERE IS NO ON ELSE FOR YOU!” Pay close attention to the story flashing back to the college meeting and then back to them meeting 10 years later, and you might figure out what is going to happen. I was totally shocked!

Written in clean and spare prose, this is one of the greatest love stories I’ve read in a long time. Annika is kind-hearted, lost and anxious. But she has a lot of love to give. Jonathan early on just “gets” her and has infinite patience for her many odd behaviors. The story is both poignant and profound.There are two other relationships central to this book: Janice, Annika’s roommate, best friend and social behaviors instructor, and Tina, Annika’s therapist, who is helping her navigate the adult world of dating, working and meeting friends. This book certainly offers some hope and practical advise to those who might be struggling with living on the spectrum.

This is a truly unique book written with tremendous empathy. For romance lovers, ‘The Girl He Used to Know’ explores the sweetness of first love, heartbreak, redemption and unconditional love. Annika and Jonathan’s romance and friendship should be experienced by everyone. I fell so in love with them during this book, and did not want it to end! Bravo to the author for creating such a compelling and beautiful love story.

“Life isn’t easy for anyone. We all have challenges. We all face adversity. It’s how we overcome it that makes us who we are.”

(With thanks to the publisher for a review copy.)

Book Promo: HEART SHAPED HACK by Tracey Garvis Graves @tgarvisgraves

August 19, 2015

When Kate Watts abandoned her law career to open a food pantry in Northeast Minneapolis, she never dreamed it would be this difficult. Facing the heartbreaking prospect of turning hungry people away, she is grateful for the anonymous donations that begin appearing at the end of each month. Determined to identify and thank her secret benefactor, she launches a plan and catches Ian —a charismatic hacker with a Robin Hood complex—in the act.

Ian intrigues Kate in a way no man ever has. But after learning he’s snooped around on her personal computer, she demands retribution. Impressed with her tolerance and captivated by her spirit, he complies and begins to slowly charm his way past her defenses. Time spent with Ian is never boring, and Kate soon finds herself falling for the mysterious hacker.

But Ian has enemies and they’re growing restless. In the hacking world, exploiting a target’s weakness is paramount, and no price is too high to stop an attack. And when Kate learns exactly how much Ian has paid, she’ll discover just how strong her love is for the man who has hacked his way into her heart.

Add to Goodreads

AMAZON Barnes & Noble iBooks

Heart-Shaped Hack

EXCERPT

Kate was taking a break and having coffee and a muffin at Wilde Roast Café when Ian slid into the booth and sat across from her. He was wearing a lightweight cream-colored sweater with a tan-and-green-patterned shirt underneath, and he smelled good.

“Hello again.”

Confused, Kate looked around. “Where did you come from?”

“I walked in the door like everyone else.”

“Do you live nearby?” Kate lived in the St. Anthony Main neighborhood of Northeast Minneapolis. The food pantry was conveniently located on SE Main Street, which was a short three-block walk from her apartment. The quiet brick-paved street was lined with restaurants, shops, and a movie theater and included a stunning view of the Mississippi River and St. Anthony Falls. There were also bars that featured live music and plenty of green space in nearby parks.

He shook his head. “Not really.”

“Then why are you here?”

“I felt like talking to you again. You’re seated, so you probably won’t try to strangle me this time.”

“How did you know where to find me?” She was tucked away in a back booth instead of one of the tables near the windows that looked out over SE Main, so it wasn’t like he’d walked by and spotted her.

He held a steaming cup of coffee and blew on it to cool it. “I tracked your credit card activity. According to Capital One, you bought a cup of coffee and a muffin here twelve minutes ago.”

“You tracked my credit card?” Her voice sounded rather loud and shrieky.

He held a finger in front of his mouth. “Shh, Katie Long Legs. That information is for your ears only. How’s your coffee? Would you like a refill?”

Kate did not appreciate being shushed, but she lowered her voice. “Are you some kind of cyberthief?” she whispered. And since when were criminals so well-dressed and impeccably groomed?

“I did not steal your credit card number. I simply accessed your account to see where and when you’d used it last. Then I came here.”

“If you wanted to talk to me again, why didn’t you just go to the food pantry?”

He looked at her like it was obvious. “Because you’re not there. You’re here at this café.”

“If you’re not a cyberthief, then what are you?”

“I’m a hacker.”

“Is there a difference?”

“Most definitely.”

“When you said you steal from the rich to give to the poor, I thought you were kidding. Is that how you get the money?”

“I don’t steal it. I appropriate it from people who shouldn’t have it in the first place. Then I give it to those who are more deserving.”

Kate twisted her napkin. “I can’t keep the money. I’ve already spent the first two donations, but if you come back to the food pantry with me, I can return the most recent one. It’s still locked in the safe because I wasn’t planning on going shopping until tomorrow.”

“No, Katie. I don’t want it back. It’s for you. It’s for the babies.”

“It’s wrong,” she said quietly.

“Is it?”

“It’s against the law.”

“Trust me when I say the people I took it from don’t want the law involved any more than I do.”

“What are you saying? That you’re a thief who steals from other thieves?”

He wrinkled his nose, and it was adorable.

Stop! Thief!

“It sounds so distasteful when you say it like that. I prefer master appropriator of ill-gotten funds. You can call me master for short.”

“I have lots of things I’d like to call you. Master is not one of them.”

READ CHAPTERS 1-5 HERE

Tracey Garvis Graves is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author. Her debut novel, On the Island, spent 9 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, has been translated into twenty-seven languages, and is in development with MGM and Temple Hill Productions for a feature film. She is also the author of Uncharted, Covet, Every Time I Think of You, and Cherish.

Tracey loves to interact with her readers and can be found on Facebook and Twitter.

Goodreads Amazon Author Page

Heart-Shaped Hack by Tracey Garvis-Graves: Chapter Reveal

June 17, 2015

Add to Goodreads

AMAZON Barnes & Noble iBooks

Heart-Shaped Hack

CHAPTER ONE

“The babies are going to starve,” Helena said.
“Don’t be so dramatic,” Kate replied. “No one is going to starve, least of all the babies.” But her pinched expression and the way she was jabbing at the keyboard as she refreshed the donations page on their website said otherwise. For the first time in the sixteen months since Kate had left her position as a corporate attorney to open the food pantry, she faced the heartbreaking prospect of turning hungry people away. She couldn’t stand the thought of letting down her regulars, especially the young mother of three who relied on the pantry to feed them.
The problem was that Kate’s nonprofit organization was not the only one in Minneapolis that needed help. Tomorrow was the first of September, and everyone was trying to stockpile whatever resources they could before they headed into the colder months.
“Let’s see,” Helena said. “We could rob a bank. We could pawn our valuables. You could sell your body on a street corner.”
Despite their dire circumstances, Kate cracked a smile. Helena had walked through the front door of the food pantry shortly after Kate opened and said, “I’m sixty-five, and they’re forcing me to retire from my job at the insurance company. My husband retired two years ago, and now he’s home all day. That’s too much togetherness for us. I have to find something to do outside the house, and you wouldn’t have to pay me much.” Kate hired her on the spot and had never regretted it.
She swiveled her chair toward Helena. “Why am I always the one who has to sell her body? Why can’t you sell yours?”
“Who do you think is going to bring in more money? A gray-haired grandmother of seven, or a willowy twenty-nine-year-old beauty? It’s a no-brainer.”
It was hard to argue with logic like that.
Kate had been so determined not to let down their clients that she’d resorted to begging her ex-boyfriend Stuart—who worked as the executive producer on an hour-long talk show on the local ABC station—to let her appeal to the public during the afternoon broadcast.
“Do you know how hard it is for me to be around you, Kate?” Stuart said when he received her call. “Do you ever think of that?”
“Of course I do. But this is really important to me.”
“I used to be really important to you.”
Kate remained silent. They’d been through this before.
He sighed in defeat. “Come in tomorrow. I’ll squeeze you in after the cooking segment.”
“Thanks, Stuart.”
The skirt had been Helena’s idea. “We need to do whatever we can to grab viewers’ attention.”
“You mean I need to do whatever I can.”
“Of course I mean you. You have great legs.”

On the day of the broadcast when Helena arrived at the food pantry, Kate said, “I don’t remember this skirt being quite so short. I’m actually a little worried about the type of viewer I might attract with it.” She tugged on the hem, pulled out her desk chair, sat down, and crossed her legs. “Can you see anything?”
“You’ll be fine unless you decide to recross your legs in the middle of the segment like Sharon Stone did in that one movie.”
“I can assure you I will not be doing that. The skirt is as far as I’m willing to go. I draw the line at flashing people, not even for the babies.”
Kate had paired the black-and-white houndstooth skirt with a black short-sleeve top and her favorite black heels. When she arrived at the TV studio, she ducked into the bathroom to check her teeth for wandering lipstick. Before she left the food pantry she’d applied a raspberry lip stain that Helena claimed looked stunning on her. That morning she’d curled her long dark hair and then brushed through the curls with her fingers so they draped across her shoulders and down her back in loose waves. She’d used plenty of mascara to play up her brown eyes. The extra primping made her feel a little like she was standing on a street corner, but she banished those thoughts. At this point, they needed all the help they could get.
After Stuart snaked the mic up the back of her top, his hands lingering on her skin in a way that made Kate feel sad, he positioned her on a stool and told her to wait for his signal. She kept her legs tightly crossed, and when the light on the camera turned red, he pointed at her and she began to speak.
“Good afternoon. My name is Kate Watts, and I’m the executive director of the Main Street Food Pantry. As we head into the winter months, our needs—and those of all local food pantries—will be greater than ever.” Kate stared into the camera, imagining she was speaking directly to anyone who might have the means to help them.
“No child should ever have to go hungry, and many of our local residents depend on the food pantry to feed their families. I’m here today to personally appeal to you should you have the ability to help us in any way. The families we assist, and especially the children, depend on your generosity more than you could ever imagine. Thank you.” She ended the short segment with the food pantry’s telephone number and street address, and when Stuart gave her the all clear, she reached under her shirt for the microphone and handed it back to him.
“Thanks, Stuart,” she said, giving him a quick hug. “I really appreciate this.”
“Sure,” he said, looking over her shoulder as if there was something very interesting across the room. “Take care, Kate.”

That was yesterday, and so far only a few additional donations had trickled in. She and Helena spent the rest of the afternoon making calls to local churches and schools to set up additional food drives while continuing to monitor the donations page. Finally, at a little before three, Kate went into the back room to recount their inventory. It was the end of the month and they were down to their last cases of infant formula and baby food. Almost all of the canned vegetables had been depleted, and they were completely out of peanut butter and soup. If it was this bad now, Kate didn’t want to think about what might happen when budgets were stretched even thinner by holiday spending. Dejected, she was sitting on the floor, clipboard in hand, when Helena burst into the back room.
“I ran after him,” she said, gasping for breath. “But he was too fast. Boy am I out of shape.”
“Who did you run after?”
Helena tossed a brown paper bag to Kate and leaned over, resting her hands on her knees as she took in giant gulps of air.
“The man who dropped off the money. Seriously, I may need supplemental oxygen over here.”
Money?
Kate looked into the bag and blinked several times. “Did you lock the front door?”
“Yes.”
She turned the bag upside down and watched in disbelief as hundred-dollar bills rained down on the concrete floor. She counted it quickly. “There’s a thousand dollars here.”
Their website listed four levels for donations with amounts ranging from ten to one hundred dollars. There were higher amounts for corporations, but this was the largest donation they’d ever received from one person, and it was more than enough to replenish their shelves. Kate was already picturing herself pushing a giant cart through Costco. “Did he leave his name?”
“No. He walked up to my desk and said, “Give this to Katie. He must have seen you on TV yesterday.”
“Young? Old?” Rich?
“Young. Early thirties, maybe? Tall. Blondish-brown hair. He was in a real hurry to leave. I chased him out the door, but he jumped into the driver’s seat of an old blue car.”
“An old car? Are you sure?”
“I think it was old. It didn’t look like any car I’ve ever seen. It had stripes on the hood. And then he burned rubber.”
“Why would someone who drives an old car drop off a bag full of money?”
“I have no idea. But whatever the reason, he just saved us.”

Continue Reading Through Chapter 5 HERE

Tracey loves to interact with her readers and can be found on Facebook and Twitter.

Goodreads Amazon Author Page

Release Day Event: Every Time I Think of You by Tracey Garvis-Graves

September 16, 2014

We’re celebrating the release of Every Time I Think of You by best selling Author Tracey Garvis-Graves! Check out how Tracey came up with the idea for the book and take a peek at the excerpt below. Don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

Title: Every Time I Think of You

Author: Tracey Garvis-Graves

Age Group: Adult

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Goodreads

SYNOPSIS:
Thirty-year-old Daisy DiStefano has two people she holds dear: the grandmother who raised her, and her three-year-old son, Elliott. But when Daisy’s grandmother is killed in a seemingly random act of violence, Daisy must take steps to protect herself and her child.

Despite a thriving career in San Francisco, thirty-six-year-old Brooks McClain has returned home to spend what little time his mother has left before she succumbs to the deadly disease that is ravaging her. The seasoned investigative reporter has taken a position with the local newspaper and been on the job less than twenty-four hours when he’s summoned to cover the death of Pauline Thorpe.

Brooks is all business, but the more time he spends with Daisy DiStefano, the more invested he becomes; there’s something about a single mother, a defenseless child, and an unsolved crime that has stirred Brooks’s protective instincts like nothing ever has before.

And when the unthinkable happens, Brooks will do whatever it takes to clear the name of the woman he’s fallen for and the child he’ll protect at any cost.

Romantic and suspenseful, Every Time I Think of You shows how far two people will go to fight for the ones they love, and the life they’ve always imagined.

An idea was born.

One of the questions
I’m often asked is, “How did you come up with the idea for this book?” My books
are fairly plot-driven, and Every Time I
Think of You was no different. I could see the opening scene in my head
like a movie so I knew what the inciting incident – in other words, the event
that would send the main characters’ lives in another direction – would be. But
in this case, my opening scene was the result of not only plot, but also a
character. I have wanted to write a book where the main character was a crime
reporter for a while now. I tend to gravitate toward heroes who are regular
guys, and I wanted to see what would happen when I put this particular hero
into various situations (and a little hot water). What would he do? How would
he react? What, exactly, was he made of?

However, if main
character Brooks McClain was going to be a crime reporter, that meant I had to
come up with a crime (which ultimately, I’d have to solve). I’ve never written
a book with a mystery or suspense element before, but I wasn’t going to let a
little thing like that get in the way of telling this story. I’ve said time and
time again that I never want to be an author who writes the same book over and
over, but with that motto comes challenges. I have to deal with the discomfort
that comes from tackling something different than I’ve done before, and often
this means learning new things.

I have a love/hate
relationship with research. I keep telling myself I’m going to write a book
that doesn’t require as much research, and then I write a book that requires extensive research. I should really
start listening to myself! Some of the things I did in the name of research for
Every Time I Think of You included
taking a four-hour firearms safety course and learning how to load and shoot a
gun, which was something I didn’t have any experience with.

I also studied ALS,
also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, by reading memoirs and poring over
countless websites dedicated to the disease. Although the timing of the recent
ALS ice bucket challenge is merely a coincidence, it makes me happy to know
that this devastating illness is receiving such an outpouring of support from
the general public.

I studied addiction,
specifically methamphetamine addiction. What I learned was heart-wrenching,
eye-opening, and often tragic. In total, I read six memoirs about addiction and
read countless online articles. I watched a fascinating Frontline documentary from
PBS about methamphetamine addiction and its effects on law enforcement and the
community.

I reached out to a
criminal defense attorney in California so that I could gain an understanding of
that state’s legal processes, and I spent several hours in person and on the
phone with my cousin Jack, who is a detective with the Des Moines Police
Department. Jack was instrumental in explaining the outcomes of all the
different scenarios I proposed (naturally, I named the detective character
after him). I interviewed three different crime reporters (who all told me
slightly different things), and one of them saved me from a potentially
embarrassing gaffe. In Every Time I Think
of You, I include an actual newspaper article written by Brooks McClain. Newspaper
reporters use the Associated Press
Stylebook to ensure that their articles are written correctly whereas The Chicago Manual of Style is the go-to
guide for fiction writers. The crime reporter who proofed my article had me make
a small tweak so that it was correct in form.

I spoke to a nurse,
to make sure I got the details of Daisy’s DiStefano’s work schedule correct.
There were less significant things I needed the answers to, such as what kind
of jewelry a nurse would be permitted to wear to work and what floor she might
work on if she were involved with a particular patient.

In addition to the
factual research necessary to write this story, I also had to choose the path
I’d take to solve the crime. I learned that there were a few different ways I
could handle this: One, I could write the story in such a way that the reader
would probably not know who committed
the crime until the very end. Two, I could choose the slightly-less-suspenseful
route and let the reader be privy to clues that would allow them to guess the
identity of the perpetrator much earlier. That way, I could let the focus of
the story rest on how the person
would be brought to justice. I chose option two because I felt it would lend
emotional resonance and depth to the story.

Now that I knew how I’d tell the story, I needed to concentrate
on the characters. I usually have a pretty good outline in place before I sit
down to start writing. This method doesn’t work for everyone, but for me it
helps to have a roadmap of sorts so that I don’t waste too much time writing
myself into corners. This is not a spoiler because you know from the blurb that
the book deals with the aftermath of the death of Daisy’s beloved grandmother.
However, once I was about a fourth of the way through the first draft, I
realized that the character I’d chosen to
commit the crime didn’t actually do it.

I fought it for a
while, but the more I got to know these characters, the more I realized my
inner muse was right. This person couldn’t have done it.

Delete, delete,
delete, delete. Sigh.

The real perpetrator
had a motive, but it was subtle and at first I couldn’t see it. And the person
who I’d originally intended to commit the crime was actually somewhat responsible. But it will be up
to the reader to draw their own conclusions about what transpired that evening
in Daisy’s grandmother’s apartment, because the opening chapter of the book is
narrated by Daisy’s three-year-old son, who has a very limited ability to
explain it. I actually first wrote this opening chapter from the point-of-view
of Daisy’s grandmother, Pauline. It gave the book a much darker tone than I
wanted so I scrapped it and decided to let Elliott take the reins.

There is also one final
plot thread that I chose not to tie up with a big red ribbon. Initially I wrote
a paragraph that would have explained why
a certain character made the choice that he did, but then I realized it wasn’t
necessary. Readers are smart and book discussions are extra fun when there’s a
bit of speculation involved.

I’m not an especially
fast or prolific writer, and that’s fine with me. Between the research and the
actual writing time, this book took fourteen months to complete, and there were
times I wanted to pull my hair out. I’d told my husband there were a couple of
twists I was hoping to pull off, but wasn’t sure I knew how to accomplish them.
I told several people that writing this book made my brain hurt (but one of the readers who received an advance copy told me she kept saying to herself as she read it, “This book
is so smart!”). When I hear feedback like that, it tells me that everything I
did in the name of Every Time I Think of
You was worth it.

I hope you enjoy
Brooks and Daisy’s story.

EXCERPT

I glanced at my
watch. “I need to get going.” I stood and Daisy followed me toward the door.
“Don’t hesitate to call the police for any reason. Pay close attention to your
surroundings. Keep your door locked. Don’t ever open it without the chain on.”
I paused, once again struck by how alone she seemed. Was anyone watching out
for her? “Listen, I don’t mean for this to sound as sexist as it’s going to,
but is there a guy around?”

Rarely did I ask such
a personal question, especially when the answer was absolutely none of my business.

And I’ll admit to
being more than just professionally curious as I waited for her answer.

“There was, but not
anymore,” she said. “It’s just Elliott and me. We’ll be okay. When someone
knocks, I look through the peephole. If I don’t recognize the person, I leave
the chain on when I open the door. I also bought a gun.”

She said that last
part with such nonchalance that it took me a second to process it.

“You what?”
I probably said it with a little more force than I should have.

She looked taken
aback. “Shane helped me pick it out.”

I was speechless.
“I’m sorry, but you don’t—”

“Look like the type
of person who would own a gun?”

It was hard to argue
with that statement when it was exactly
what I was going to say. “Yes.”

“I didn’t buy the gun
because I wanted to. Frankly, I would rather not own one. They scare me,” she
said. “But I bought one anyway because the thought of looking something evil
right in the eye and knowing that I’m more than likely going to come out on the
losing end of it terrifies me. The fear that I’ll be assaulted, or raped and
left for dead, or worse yet, that someone will try to harm my child, is the
reason I have this gun. That’s the type I am.”

I saw her then,
really saw her. Five foot seven, maybe, but small-boned. She was wearing a
fitted V-neck T-shirt that emphasized her slight build. I could see the
prominent ridge of her collarbone and the deep hollow at the base of her throat
that I suddenly couldn’t stop looking at. She’d be no match for anyone. If she
wanted a gun, I was hardly in a position to tell her she couldn’t have one.

“I’m sorry,” I said.
“I was out of line. It’s really none of my business what you do.”

“It’s okay. Pam
reacted the same way you did. But I’m doing everything I can to be a
responsible gun owner. I’ve signed up for the safety class so I can learn how
to handle the gun. How to shoot it. I’ll apply for the permit as soon as I have
my certificate. I’ll go to the shooting range, and I’ll practice.”

Taking her to the
shooting range was something I could do to help her. It would also give me a
chance to spend time with her, which was something that was becoming more
appealing by the minute. I could feel the boundary between witness and reporter
starting to blur, but I really didn’t care. It had been a while since a woman
had sparked my interest the way Daisy had. “You don’t have to justify anything
to me. It sounds like you’re doing everything right,” I said. “I’ll let you
know if I hear anything on the case.”

“I would really appreciate
that.”

Elliott put down his
coloring book and ambled across the room.

Daisy lifted him into
her arms. “You look tired, buddy. Are you ready for your nap?”

“I’m not tired,”
Elliott said, yawning and rubbing his eyes.

“Oh, my mistake,”
Daisy said, smiling at him. “I think we’ll try a nap anyway, just in case.” She
looked at me. “Thanks for stopping by.”

“It was no problem.
I’ll see you soon.”

As I stepped into the
hallway she said, “Brooks?”

I turned around.
“Yes?”

“Maybe I’m reading
this wrong, but you seem to genuinely care about my safety, and I want you to
know that I appreciate it. I need all the help I can get.”

I met her gaze and
held it for a moment. “You aren’t reading it wrong at all. Take care, Daisy.”

She smiled and it
illuminated her face, making every feature even prettier. She closed the door,
and I made my way down the hall.

It was true that I
cared about Daisy’s safety. Maybe Scott DiStefano had never abused or neglected
Elliott, but Daisy’s decision to arm herself made me wonder what he’d done to her.

GIVEAWAY

ONE WINNER WILL RECEIVE (INT):

ONE signed copy of On the Island, Covet, and ETITOY. Also included, a $50 gift card to Barnes & Noble and Amazon. Also, the winner will receive an ARC of Tracey’s next work-in-progress, The Girl He Used to Know (an adult contemporary second-chance romance novel). And finally, Tracey will either use the winner’s name in The Girl He Used to Know (first name or last name only, or the actual real name if comfortable) OR the winner can suggest a name for a character.

**The restrictions to this are that it will not be the name of a main character. It will be a supporting or minor character. Also, this is a fictional character. It is not a character based on the winner.

Visit the author’s Website for an amazing giveaway!!

About the Author:

Tracey Garvis Graves is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Todaybestselling author. Her debut novel, On the Island, spent 9 weeks on the New York Timesbestseller list, has been translated into twenty-seven languages, and is in development with MGM and Temple Hill Productions for a feature film. She is also the author ofUncharted, Covet, Every Time I Think of You, and Cherish. She is hard at work on her sixth book.

Tracey loves to interact with her readers and can be found on Facebook and Twitter

COVER REVEAL: CHERISH (COVET #1.5) by Tracey Garvis-Graves

August 4, 2014

We
are thrilled to share the gorgeous cover for Cherish, by New York Times Bestselling Author Tracey Garvis-Graves. This
novella is a companion to Covet.

Title: Cherish (Covet 1.5)
Author: Tracey Garvis-Graves
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Women’s Fiction/Contemporary Romance

Add Cherish on Goodreads

Fans of Covet by New York Times bestselling author Tracey Garvis Graves will be delighted by this novella-length sequel.

When Daniel Rush wakes up in the hospital after suffering a gunshot wound to the head, the last person he expects to see at his bedside is his ex-wife Jessica. Their marriage disintegrated after the death of their infant son Gabriel, and Daniel gave Jessie what he thought she wanted: the freedom to start over with someone else. But Daniel never updated his emergency contact information, and Jessie is the one who receives the call with the devastating news.

Daniel was Jessie’s one true love. Together since college, Jessie had dreams of raising a family with Daniel, and growing old together. When Gabriel died, Jessie buried those dreams with her beloved son and shut everyone out, including Daniel.

Daniel faces months of grueling rehabilitation and he’s going to need some help. Jessie is the last person anyone expects to volunteer, but this is her one chance to make amends, giving her and Daniel a shot at getting things right this time.

The road to recovery will be long and arduous. But with Jessie leading the way, Daniel just might be able to get his old life back.

Daniel knows how to covet. But can Jessie help him remember how to cherish?

*Please note that this is a novella-length sequel. Reading Covet before Cherish is highly recommended in order to enhance your reading pleasure.

Pre-order CHERISH on Amazon:

See where Daniel’s story begins, with Covet

GoodReads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks

About Tracey Garvis-Graves

Tracey Garvis-Graves is the author of On the Island and Covet. She lives in a suburb of Des Moines, Iowa with her husband, two children, and hyper dog Chloe. She blogs at www.traceygarvisgraves.com using colorful language and a snarky sense of humor to write about pop culture, silly television shows, and her suburban neighborhood. You can e-mail her at traceygarvisgraves@yahoo.com. She’d love to hear from you.

HEARD IT IN A LOVE SONG by TRACEY GARVIS GRAVES

About the Book:

My Review:

THE GIRL HE USED TO KNOW by TRACEY GARVIS GRAVES

SYNOPSIS:

MY REVIEW:

Book Promo: HEART SHAPED HACK by Tracey Garvis Graves @tgarvisgraves

Heart-Shaped Hack by Tracey Garvis-Graves: Chapter Reveal

Release Day Event: Every Time I Think of You by Tracey Garvis-Graves

COVER REVEAL: CHERISH (COVET #1.5) by Tracey Garvis-Graves

Archives

Find us on GoodReads

Grab our Button

About the Book:

My Review:

SYNOPSIS:

MY REVIEW:

Archives

Find us on GoodReads

Grab our Button

Tags