I realize it's seemed like forever since I sent out a newsletter, but our life's been crazy the past ten months! Shortly after The Homecoming was released, we bought a lot on Puget Sound, which entailed many trips back and forth between Tennessee and Washington state during the house building process.
The new house was finished the last day of March, but since I had a book due in April (On Lavender Lane, Lucas Chaffee's Shelter Bay story which will be out 1/2012) we waited until I turned it in to put our TN house up for sale. And the house sold in the first week! That was the good news.
The not so good news is that three days later, those horrible storms hit the south, and hammered nearly everything on the house except the brick. But after a dark and scary night hunkered down in the powder room with our three rescued dogs, we survived and packed them into the motorhome, aka dogmobile, and drove them across ten states in nine days here to WA before the moving van. Then we went to work getting all the repairs done on the sold house so it could close. Which, thankfully, it did.
I took a LOT of photos along the way and plan to share them both on my blog and Facebook in following weeks. So I'll hope you'll check them out.
So, now we're back home in the gorgeous Pacific Northwest, not that far from the Oregon beach where my sweetie bought me a bag of saltwater taffy and proposed to me. The same place I set my Shelter Bay series.
The second book in the series, One Summer, will be out Tuesday, July 5th. (Though some stores may have it sooner.) Although I've already shared the cover on my author's page on Facebook -- where I chat with readers on a nearly daily basis -- I've always promised newsletter subscribers first look at certain content.
So here's the first draft of the cover I
received from NAL's art department.
They wanted to make sure it would fit
Gabe and Charity's story. It was a great
start and they promised me they'd add
flower pots and pretty colors. Which
they definitely did. I LOVE how it turned
out!!
Here's the back cover copy:
It was supposed to be nothing more
than a brief encounter. . .
Former U.S. Marine photojournalist
Gabriel St. James doesn't see the world as others do. His work reflects the heart of a dispirited, disillusioned loner. When he arrives in Shelter
Bay to help a fellow Marine, the last
thing he expects is for that cynical veneer to crack. Then again,he
never expected to meet a woman like Charity.
A veterinarian with a past that would have defeated a less resilient woman, Charity still possesses a heart as generous as her name. She's known men like Gabe before -- a guarded soul with an elusive nature. When they find they share an attraction that's impossible to deny, Charity and Gabe agree to a simple affair with no expectations.
But as summer unfolds, and Gabe finds reasons to extend his stay in Shelter Bay, he and Charity realize there's nothing simple about falling in love and nothing easy about the choices of the heart.
I've posted an excerpt and book club discussion questions on the bookpage at my website. There's also a video tour of Shelter Bay on the homepage. To view it in the larger version that shows the detail so much better, just click on the arrow in the bottom right-hand corner.
Ms. Ross has long been a favorite writer and this book adds to her collection of great emotional reads. She has created a world which makes the reader wish to live there. Peopled with interesting and engaging characters, the reader will enjoy their glimpse into the lives of others as we watch the relationship between Gabe and Charity deepen. We will grieve over Gabe and his inability to accept the love so freely offered. We will cry with Charity as she finds herself rejected and then admire her resolution as she moves forward.
RT Book Reviews says, “Ross has a wonderful knack for creating a story so lovely that readers want to stay immersed in it forever. One Summer pulls readers into the wonderful world of Shelter Bay and holds them close, like family. Rich with passion, compassion, and a touch of suspense, it's the perfect book for a relaxing long weekend or getaway."
And from JoyfullyReviewed.com:
Return to the world of Shelter Bay in One Summer. JoAnn Ross delivers a lovely tale that’s warm and sweet without ever becoming saccharine. As in the first Shelter Bay novel, The Homecoming, Ms. Ross makes it easy to become invested in One Summer’s romance. Charity and Gabe are incredibly likeable heroes who have been through much to get where they are today. They both possess an inner strength and a core of honor that is sure to appeal to everyone who reads One Summer. Because I adored them, I was swept away into the world of One Summer and I found myself reluctant to put the book down whenever the outside world interrupted my reading time.
One Summer is the second Shelter Bay novel, but it can easily be read as a standalone. For those who enjoyed The Homecoming, Sax and Kara, the hero and heroine of that story, do appear in One Summer. As much as I liked The Homecoming, I loved One Summer even more. One Summer has romance, a light splash of intrigue, two wonderful protagonists, endearing supporting characters, and an enchanting, fast-paced rhythm, making it the perfect summer read.
NAL Signet was kind enough to send me a huge box of bookmarks, so if you'd like one, just send a self-addressed, stamped, business-sized envelope to JoAnn Ross, 7205A Martin Way East, #110, Olympia WA, 98516-5535.
Also, beginning July 5th, release day, I'll be bringing back a popular contest. Just email me at JoAnn@joannross.com, where you spotted Gabe and you'll be entered in a drawing to receive a copy of A Woman's Heart, the first book in my Irish trilogy (Mary, from A Woman's Heart, will be the heroine of next summer's book) and a book of gorgeous photos from the Oregon coast, taken by the extremely talented Dennis Frates. To give everyone time to get in on the Where's Gabe? hunt, three winners, chosen at random, will be announced on my website on August 2nd.
Now that we're settled, I'm going to get back to sending out a newsletter more often. But, as I said, I chat nearly every day on Facebook and since it's a professional page, you don't have to join and be "friended." You can just go to the page and join in the conversation.
I'll also be bringing back my blog on my website and posting news more often so please check there from time to time.
And finally (!!!) the winners of this newsletter drawing, who'll receive bookmarks for The Homecoming and One Summer, a One Summer magnet, and an autographed copy of The Homecoming (or A Woman's Heart, winner's choice) are: Kathleen, from Blue Earth, MN (love that town's name!); Mary Alice, from Finley, TN; and Christine, from Seattle, WA. If you'll email your post office mailing address to joann@joannross.com, we'll get those out to you.
Thanks to everyone for subscribing to my newsletter. If you know someone you believe might enjoy it, there's a forward to a friend link at the bottom. And you don't have to worry about them being flooded with junk mail, they'll have to subscribe to receive future newsletters. Also, if you're not seeing the images, you can click at the top to view in your browser. Plus, there's a new social networking option to share with others.
I hope you have a wonderful and safe weekend with friends and family and, as always, Happy Reading!
xo,
JoAnn
