Thursday, May 20, 2010

Do You Take This Cop? Launch Picnic!

by Beth


Grease up the Cabana boys and ice down the drinks, it's time for another Launch Party in the Lair :-)


I have to admit, the release of Do You Take This Cop? is bittersweet. Bitter because it's the last book connected to my Serenity Springs series. I spent so much time with the characters, it's been difficult saying good-bye. But then the sweet kicks in, mainly because I'm really excited about DYTTC being set loose on the world *g*

Here's the back cover blurb:

Is she safer with him…or without him?

Without the badge, he’d be perfect!

The last thing Faith Lewis needs is a cop poking his nose in her business. Okay, yes, Nick Coletti is gorgeous. And charming. And great with her son. But dating the town’s most popular boy in blue is hardly going to help her keep a low profile. This guy could blow their world apart if he discovers their secret.

Funny thing is, he may also be their only hope. If she had someone like Nick on her side, maybe she could finally be free, and give her son the life he deserves. But trusting Nick means telling the whole truth about her past. He might protect them. Or he might just turn her in…

One of my favorite scenes in DYTTC is when Faith and her son Austin attend the Coletti family's annual Fourth of July picnic. Here's a quick excerpt:

A muscle jumped in Nick’s jaw as he slid his finger across her shoulder and down her arm to her elbow, trailing gooseflesh in his wake. Stepping back, he pulled a pair of sunglasses out of his front pocket and put them on.

“Let me get that for you,” he said gruffly, taking the cake from her.

“Oh. Thank you.” Except, without it, she had no idea what to do with her hands. So she wiped them down the sides of her white walking shorts. Crossed her arms and then let them hang at her sides before picking up her bag from where Austin had dropped it.

“Everyone’s out back,” he said. Then he took her hand.

She almost stumbled. She’d come to learn he was big on touching. His hand pressed to the small of her back when they left the restaurant. His arms around her, his solid chest pressed against her back as he went through the motions of the proper batting swing. His fingertips brushing against her cheek as he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear while she ate her ice cream cone.

It was…sweet. She couldn’t remember a time when a man had wanted nothing more than the simple pleasure of touching her. And realizing how much she enjoyed it, enjoyed being with him, was all too frightening.

So instead of focusing on how it felt, his rough, large palm against hers, she took in their surroundings. The Frey’s house was a mix of brick and wood with double front doors, tall, gleaming windows and immaculate landscaping. There were trees, shrubs and flowers to soften the austere lines of the house and make it warm and welcoming, and as far as she could tell, there wasn’t one blade of crabgrass in the lush lawn.

It was a far cry from her own week-choked backyard and spotty windows.

They rounded the garage and were met by the low hum of voices mixed with music. “This is a lovely house,” Faith said, withdrawing her hand from his before anyone could see them.
“Andrea and Steve are happy here.”

She slowed her steps as the voices grew louder. Many, many voices from the sound of it. “I especially liked that first flower bed, the one with the miniature roses. Does Andrea garden?”

He laughed. “Andrea doesn’t do dirt. Or anything related to getting dirty. Luckily, her in-laws enjoy it so they handle the gardens for her.”

As they reached the backyard, Faith’s throat was so dry, not even the enticing scents of grilling meat could work moisture back into her mouth. One look at the crowd talking and laughing on the long patio made her step back, bumping into Nick’s solid frame.

He steadied her with a hand to her upper arm. “Everything okay?” he asked.

She edged away from him—and the backyard—hugging her arms around herself. Okay? Let’s see…she was spending the day with a nice family. Her son had a new best friend and was acting like a normal, nine-year-old again and she had the interest of the sexiest man in town.

Everything was awful.

She was a liar. Worse, even she was beginning to believe her lies. Beginning to hope that she could stay in this town, be a part of these people’s lives and give her son the permanency he craved.

That she could be Faith Lewis forever.

Ever patient, Nick stood there, staring at her from behind his sunglasses, his posture relaxed, the damp hair at his nape curling. Forcing a smile, she looked up into his handsome face. “Everything’s perfect.”

(As you may have guessed, Faith isn't exactly what--or who--she seems to be *g*)



And with summer on its way (and Memorial Day coming up fast) I thought it'd be fun to have a Launch Picnic! Everyone slather on some sunscreen and let's take this party outside :-)

In DYTTC, Faith brings her signature dessert, Red Velvet Cake, to the picnic. What's your favorite dish to take to picnics? Your favorite thing to eat at a picnic? One commenter will win a copy of DO YOU TAKE THIS COP?

78 comments:

hrdwrkdmom aka Dianna said...

Beth, I just stopped by on my way to work to drop of the uhhh, fried uhhh stuff, and the potato salad, I would love to stay for the rest but I will be back and see what everyone else brought. GR can help me at work, they loved it the last time he came to work with me. Can't wait to read this book, I love secrets.

Helen said...

Well done Dianna what are you planning for him today it sounds like it is going to be a great picnic

Beth

I orderd my copy of DYTTC and it arrived the other day and it is next on the pile to read YAY I am soo looking forward to this one.

Congrats on the release and yes a picnic sounds like a great idea even though it is nice and cool here in Oz I love to take chicken and salad with fresh bread rolls on a picnic and some yummy caramel biscuit slice tops it all off nicely.

Have Fun
Helen

Gannon Carr said...

Congrats, Beth! I'm looking forward to reading DYTTC!

I love picnics, and they wouldn't be complete without potato salad, fried chicken and apple pie--Southern and all American, right? ;-)

Now, where are those cabana boys? My hands are empty! LOL

Anna Sugden said...

Oooh - what a day! Beth's latest book, a picnic and a chance to laze by the lair's swimming pool in the glorious sunshine ... while being attended to by one of the hockey hunks!

Zach has brought me a delish mojito and is rubbing in the lotion. Bliss.

Our picnics are different over here, it's all about the sandwiches, the finger foods and the desserts! I'll add my large sherry trifle to the table. The sausage rolls are bought in, but still yummy!

Congrats on the book launch, Beth. I'm looking forward to reading this one and finding out about where you're heading next now that Serenity Springs is finished.

Christie Kelley said...

Congrats on the release, Beth!! I can't wait to read this book. I've loved your series.

I'll bring a Crazy Cake. It's a chocolate cake that is so moist and yummy! But before I have some, I must go to aerobics. So save me a piece!

Laney4 said...

"Do you take this cop?" In a heartbeat, LOL! But I'll settle for the book!

As for picnics, I'm often asked to bring butter tarts and/or Caesar salad. I try to bring "simple stuff" because everyone else brings "fussy stuff". If there's a BBQ where I can warm up the food, I make what I call "hockey pucks". It is basically any meatloaf recipe poured into muffin tins with a chunk of cheese in the middle. Most meatloafs take 1.5 hours or so to cook at 350F; by splitting into smaller portions, it takes 15-20 minutes at 350F instead, and portions are easy to divy up. They taste like cheeseburgers, and people love calling them hockey pucks.

Barbara Monajem said...

Anna mentioned sausage rolls - yum! But I've never found them where I live (Southern US) so I go to Canada for my sausage roll fix.

Laney mentioned butter tarts - ahhhh! I adore butter tarts. Fortunately, I can make them for myself (because traveling north every time I have a yen for a butter tart could get a wee bit pricey). The best butter tarts I ever had were in a little town in British Columbia.

Potato salad (not the kind with mustard, though) is my favorite picnic food. Oh, and boiled shrimp and crawfish. Also Brunswick stew is yummy.

gamistress66 said...

love picnics as long as there's a shady spot to relax (I burn way too easy) and not too many bugs (eek). there's something about food cooked on a grill that makes it so tasty. here's some homemade choc chip cookies, after sitting in the sun for a little they'll get all nice and warm and gooey. yummy. I might still have a copy of my sister's whiskey slush recipe -- great on a hot summer day (though be careful it can sneak up on you).

Congrats on the new release.

Janga said...

Congrats on another release day, Beth! I've loved my visits to Serenity Springs. No need to enter me in the contest. I have Do You Take This Cop?, and I've read it already. I'm in love with Nick. :)

Gannon's Southern fried chicken will never be enough for a Bandita celebration, so I'm bringing some to the picnic too, along with seven-layer salad and amaretto-walnut brownies.

Beth Andrews said...

Good morning, Dianna! Congrats on nabbing the GR! I'm sure he's a big hit at work :-)

And I adore potato salad! Actually, my entire family loves it (except my youngest who only eats the hardboiled eggs out of it *g*)

So, here's a question for all you cooks out there: Do you use Mayo or Miracle Whip in your salads/sandwiches etc? My mom uses Miracle whip but I use Mayo ;-)

Beth Andrews said...

Thanks so much, Helen! I hope you enjoy DYTTC *g*

After a few weeks of cold, rainy weather, it's finally warm and sunny here. Perfect picnic weather!

Caramel slice sounds so yummy! I believe you've shared that recipe before, haven't you?

For Memorial Day we always take Pizza bread to the family picnic. It's a big hit :-)

Louisa Cornell said...

What? No more Serenity Springs?? SOB !! I'm looking forward to reading this one. CONGRATS, BETH and HAPPY RELEASE DAY !! (Do they have Hallmark Cards for that?)

Fried "stuff," Dianna? SNORT
Good luck keeping the GR on task!

I love picnics! How about some of my Mom's potato chip cookies, her pineapple casserold and her from scratch mac and cheese ? And MY deviled eggs!

I love potato salad and fried "stuff" too!

Beth Andrews said...

Thanks, Gannon! Let's round you up a drink (or two. or three *g*) Since it's a picnic, I've whipped up a batch of one of my favorite summertime drinks: Vodka Lemon Slush.

And Southern dishes sound fabulous. I've been reading Southern Living and I think I was born in the wrong part of the country :-) I should've been a Southern Girl!

Kirsten said...

Beth, I'd take anything to a picnic if you'd send me a copy of DYTTC!! I just adore your books and can't wait for another. This one sounds awesome. I can't wait to grab it off the shelf!

Congratulations -- and send one of those cabana boys over here, would you? I'm hitting the road in a couple of days and I need a massage before that long plane ride! :-)

jo robertson said...

Congratulations on the release of your newest SuperRomance, Beth! Now I'm dying to know what Faith's secret is.

Love that scene you excerpted. You gotta love a touchy-feely kind of guy.

Picnics scream fresh fruit salad to me, love the mix of all those sweet summer fruits.

Beth Andrews said...

Anna, I bet your sherry trifle is delicious *g*

Thanks for the congrats on DYTTC! I really enjoyed writing Nick and Faith's story - Nick is one of those good guys who takes on too much responsibility while Faith is so complicated and conflicted.

Enjoy those hockey hunks...er...I mean...enjoy the picnic and the pool ;-)

Deb said...

Congratulations, Beth! Thanks for the excerpts; ooooh, this story sounds great!

I usually take deviled eggs to picnics. I'm not big on cooking or creating like I used to be and I make fairly decent deviled eggs. For a dessert, I usually make homemade brownies, sometimes with homemade frosting, sometimes sprinkled with powdered sugar.

peggy said...

fried chicken. wonderful interview

pjpuppymom said...

Congratulations, Beth! I can't wait to pick up a copy of Do You Take This Cop? I know I'm going to love it. It will be sad to say farewell to Serenity Springs but I can't wait to find out what you have in store for us next! :)

I love picnics! I'm going to bring my Spinach-Mac salad, since I've been craving it lately. It's a delicious combination of spiral macaroni, fresh spinach, boiled eggs, English peas, shredded Swiss cheese and a dressing made with equal parts Mayonnaise and Miracle Whip. *So* good!

Linda Henderson said...

My favorite picnic foods are potato salad, deviled eggs and corn on the cob. Boy those sound good right now. Unfortunately if you were going to picnic here today you'd need a boat after all the rain we've had, with more on the way today.

Laurie Logan said...

DO YOU TAKE THIS COP sounds like a great read! I'll be on the lookout for it. I like the premise of a woman with secrets and a strong, protective, honorable hero.

I love picnics! My favorite picnic foods are raw veggies with spinach & artichoke hummus, watermelon, homemade vanilla icecream, and peach pie. :)

Suzanne Ferrell said...

***black sunglasses in place, walking shorts and cottonn shirt...I drop my dishes off at the food table and settle into a lounge chair byAnna S. by the pool.... Rocky-the-wonder-dog is carrying his pool toy and hoping he's going in the water, soonest.***

Ah, another wonderful story from Beth. Cannot wait to crack this one open! But who woke up that giant yellow ball in the sky? We could have picnics at night, y'know!

Psst, Anna, I brought macaroni salad and sinful brownies to the picnic. :)

Annnnnnnnd here come's Sven with my bellini! Thank you darling!! mmmmmmm, love peaches!!

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Macaroni Salad:

1 package macaroni, cooked, draine and cooled.
1 large cucumber, peeled and diced
1 bunch of scallions, (green onions) diced.
2-3 tomatoes diced.
Miracle Whip light
Salt and pepper

Mix pasta with vegetables. Add 1-2 cups of Miracle Whip, (enough to coat, but not too much), salt and pepper to taste. Refigerate.

My mom has made her macaroni salad like this for years and so have I. It's cool, crisp and reminds me of summer! Enjoy!!

Beth Andrews said...

Thanks, Christie! And thanks for bringing crazy cake - sounds right up my alley *g*

Now I'm really getting hungry!

Beth Andrews said...

"Do you take this cop?" In a heartbeat, LOL! But I'll settle for the book!

LOL, Laney! I'd definitely take Nick - he's one of the good guys
;-) And my next book is titled A Marine For Christmas. When I first heard it I told my husband that sounded like a great gift to me!

I bet hockey pucks would be a big hit at my family's picnics! And I'm with you on the simple. Especially if I have to haul food somewhere :-)

Beth Andrews said...

Hey, Barbara!

I've never had butter tarts. Sounds as if I'm missing something good *g*

So, no mustard in your potato salad (I actually make it both ways *g*) what about pickles or relish in it? I don't like either but my family does :-)

Beth Andrews said...

Oh, yum, gamistress! I love chocolate chip cookies, especially when they're warm *g* We use our Joanie T's recipe - they are the best!

And I imagine my Vodka Lemon slush is similar to your sister's Whiskey slush ;-)

Since we're grilling, let me tell you all about the Griller we had for dinner the other night. It's homemade Greek sausage (with spinach and feta cheese) wrapped with cheese, wrapped with ham, wrapped in a pounded chicken breast, seasoned and then wrapped in bacon.

I'm not a big sausage or ham fan but it was really good *ggg*

Pissenlit said...

Oh no! I didn't realise this was the last one in the Serenity Springs series!

My favourite thing to bring/eat at picnics is a giant melon ball salad...complete with tons of those colourful transparent plastic sword picks sticking out of it. Super pretty, easy and fun to make and eat and it's a huge hit with the kiddies! I love my melon baller...no one else in the house is allowed to use it. :D

catslady said...

Shrimp. I bring a container of ice for one large bowl and set the shrimp in another bowl and that way it stays nice and cold (and safe). Some cocktail sauce and you're all set. Nice and simple and it seems to be a hit.

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Beth, I adore Southern Living Magazine for recipes. I have two of their cookbooks and frequently sift through them for appetizers for parties or menu ideas for get togethers. Nothing like Southern cooks!

Donna MacMeans said...

Fuzzy Navel Cake! Works good for picnics, tailgates, and for those times you want to stay home with something sweet and buzz-worthy.

Congrats on the new release, Beth. Love that cover. Yes - I'd take that cop! In a heartbeat!

p226 said...

Favorite dish to take to a picnic: Beer.

Favorite thing to eat at a picnic:
Beer.

Kirsten said...

I love picnics too. My favorite thing to bring & eat is poppyseed cake. You can never go wrong with a cake really, I find. My mom used to make it and take it with us to the park, so I have some great memories attachted to it.

Beth Andrews said...

Hey, Janga! Thank you so much - I'm so glad you enjoyed DYTTC. And I'm a little bit in love with Nick myself *g*

I don't think there can EVER be too much fried chicken! And those brownies sound to-die-for :-)

Beth Andrews said...

CONGRATS, BETH and HAPPY RELEASE DAY !! (Do they have Hallmark Cards for that?)

LOL! If they don't, they should ;-)

Thanks, Louisa!

Pineapple casserole? Sounds interesting *g* What's in it?

And yes to all those dishes! I especially love homemade mac and cheese and deviled eggs. Yum, yum!!

runner10 said...

A picnic sounds like fun. I love potato salad. Not just anybody's potato salad. It has to be my Mom's potato salad. She is the best cook I know.

Beth Andrews said...

Thank you so much, Kirsten! And I'm counting the days until your debut is released. Luckily, the week it comes out is the week we're on vacation which means I'll get to read it as soon as it's in my hot little hands :-)

Sven is on his way over. He'll have you refreshed and relaxed and ready to fly *ggg*

Beth Andrews said...

Picnics scream fresh fruit salad to me, love the mix of all those sweet summer fruits.

Me, too, Jo! We've had some really good strawberries and cantaloupe already this season. I just hope my blueberries are better than they were last year :-)

Beth Andrews said...

Thanks, Deb *g*

Both my daughters are crazy over deviled eggs. And there's not much that's better than a homemade brownie! We used to put marshmallow fluff and then fudge frosting on ours. They're really sweet but really tasty :-)

Beth Andrews said...

Hi, Peggy! Thanks for stopping by.

I love fried chicken at picnics! Glad to see we'll have enough *g*

Anna Campbell said...

Beth, had to swing by - as you know, Sven has locked me down in the deadline cave! Oh, no, he's set the cabana boys after me! Eeek! Huge congratulations on the release of DO YOU TAKE THIS COP? The Book Depository got it in early and it's next on the TBR pile. As you know, I adore your books - you write emotion so beautifully and I love the sexual tension you build up between your hero and heroine. Yum!

Oh, no, skedaddling! Save me, Banditas! Sven has said he's going to spank me if he catches me!

And why are suddenly some of my naughty Bandita friends putting up their hands and saying "I am Spartacus"? That's just WRONG!!!!

Eeeeek!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Beth Andrews said...

PJ, spinach mac salad sounds great! Is that the full ingredient list? I'm going to have to try it *g*

Thanks for the congrats :-)

Beth Andrews said...

Linda, do you cook your corn on the cob on the grill or in banked fire? I love it that way *g*

Sorry to hear about the rain! We haven't had much but the temps were chilly for awhile so I'm really glad to see the sun shining today :-)

Beth Andrews said...

Laurie, I've been craving homemade ice cream! I'll have to break out the ice cream maker soon *g*

I love hummus but haven't heard of spinach and artichoke hummus. Is it as good as spinach/artichoke dip? We had that for our Mother's Day picnic :-)

Beth Andrews said...

Thanks, Suz. I hope Rocky enjoys the pool *g* And hopefully this picnic will still be going on well into the night!

That macaroni salad sounds wonderful! Another recipe I'm going to try :-)

Beth Andrews said...

Hey, Karyn! Thanks *g* And I agree on the cover. I love it! Especially the hero ;-)

Tomorrow we're having hamburgers and hot dogs for my son and his friends before they go to the prom (they didn't want to spend money eating out) and my husband always purposely burns a few hot dogs just in case someone likes them that way. Which my mom does!

And red potatoes are my favorite. I love them boiled, them smashed and 'fried' in butter. Yum!

Beth Andrews said...

I love my melon baller...no one else in the house is allowed to use it. :D

LOL, Pissenlit! I'm picturing you warning people to back away from the mellon baller ;-)

We all love melons here so that's a great addition to a picnic *g*

Beth Andrews said...

Catslady, that shrimp would be a huge hit at our house. We all way too much of it when it's around *g*

Sometimes those simple dishes are the best, aren't they? And the ones people seem to enjoy the most :-)

Beth Andrews said...

Nothing like Southern cooks!

I agree! I've saved at least ten recipes from the last issue alone. I've made white barbecue sauce, poundcake and potato salad. Next is the chocolate chip bundt cake
:-)

Beth Andrews said...

Fuzzy Navel Cake!

LOL, Donna! I was just thinking about Fuzzy Navels the other night (and no, I have no idea why *g*) I bet the cake is super yummy!

Beth Andrews said...

Favorite dish to take to a picnic: Beer.

Favorite thing to eat at a picnic:
Beer.


ROFL! You know, I'm not much of a beer drinker but now that the nicer weather is here, I'm all about it *g* Nothing like a cold beer on a hot summer day!

Except now I'm craving cake AND beer. Not sure how that combination would work.

Beth Andrews said...

You can never go wrong with a cake really, I find.

Kirsten, that is so true. Desserts of any kind really seem to be crowd pleasers. My family all loves Dirt which is great because it's so easy to make *g*

Pissenlit said...

Beth - LOL, Pissenlit! I'm picturing you warning people to back away from the mellon baller ;-)

All the while, waving the melon baller around in front of me in great sweeping arcs. Hahaha!

Pat Cochran said...

Along with all the grilled and
fried stuff, a picnic for me has
to include potato salad made to
our mother's recipe. I've also
begun to include my TexMex Corn-
bread Salad which is lighter
calorie-wise and has no mayo in
the preparation. Also I do a
fruit salad with a honey-lime
dressing. Guess I'll stop for now,
I've made myself so hungry!!

Pat Cochran

pjpuppymom said...

Those are all the ingredients, Beth. You layer it, starting with the cooked rotini (macaroni spirals). On top of that, you generously spread the dressing, then add spinach leaves, shredded Swiss cheese, a layer of sliced boiled eggs and a layer of English peas. Season lightly with salt then start over with rotini. Top layer should be dressing topped with sliced eggs and shredded cheese. For added flavor, I sometimes use Lawry's garlic (with parsley) salt instead of regular salt.

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Anna C: Oh, no, skedaddling! Save me, Banditas! Sven has said he's going to spank me if he catches me!...

Why are YOU running very slowly, Anna? Me thinks you doth protest too much!

But, if you wish for a stand-in, I'm sure I can keep Sven happy for a bit. ;)

Jane said...

Congrats on the new release, Beth. I don't really cook, so I'll usually bring some fruit salad to a picnic. I love potato salad and always have more than one serving.

hrdwrkdmom aka Dianna said...

Oh my, what a day, the GR flitted from cubie to cubie (100+ women in that office) and I couldn't get him to do a lick of work. I tried getting him to add some figures for me and he just pecked at the calculator like he didn't know what it was!

I make my mother's potato salad and it does have mustard but I have a recipe without so I can make it that way too. I also use dill pickle rather than sweet in mine.

Where is Lar? I think he has been training with Sven cos he is awfully good with his hands.

Nancy said...

Dianna, congrats on the rooster!

Thanks for bringing the potato salad. With the GR off to work with you, maybe the rest of us will get some.

Nancy said...

Beth, congratulations on your launch! The excerpt looks terrific, as usual. I happen to be heading out to the bookstore, and then to get hte boy, so I'll check the rack.

For the picnic, I'm bringing fruit salad and lemonade. Great picnic weather here--warm, not too humid, and very few mosquitoes so far!

Nancy said...

Uh, that's THE boy. Urk! Sorry.

Christine Wells said...

Beth, can't wait to read DO YOU TAKE THIS COP? Congratulations on the launch of yet another fabulous read!!

I love the tension in that excerpt. This one sounds like a doozy! I love that Nick is Faith's greatest threat as well as her one hope. That's wonderful conflict right there.

As for picnics, I love taking cheeses, pate and quince paste and crackers and a bottle of wine. That's a meal, right there and it feels so decadent to be eating gourmet food outdoors. Raining and cold here, so I'm enjoying imagining the beautiful outdoors over there!

Congrats on the rooster, Dianna!!

LindaC said...

Beth, I've already picked up a copy of this book and can't wait to read it. This has been a really great series!

LindaC

Beth Andrews said...

Sorry I disappeared - my daughter have a voice recital *g*

Runner, I love my mom's potato salad, too, but I think that's because it reminds me of my childhood. Nowadays when we want someone to bring potato salad, my kids insist my sister bring it since they like hers best :-)

Beth Andrews said...

Anna, thank you so much for ordering DYTTC? and for sneaking out of the cave for a minute or two *g* We'll be sure to send down a cabana boy or two with provisions :-)

Beth Andrews said...

All the while, waving the melon baller around in front of me in great sweeping arcs. Hahaha!

LOL! Exactly! The lengths we'll go to for our favorite kitchen gadgets :-)

Beth Andrews said...

Pat, I've been hungry all day readhing about all of these wonderful picnic foods *g*

I'm a huge cornbread fan and that fruit salad sounds heavenly!

Thanks for stopping by :-)

Beth Andrews said...

PJ, I've already copied down the recipe and can't wait to try it. Thanks!!

Beth Andrews said...

Thanks, Jane! And fruit salad is the perfect picnic dish, isn't it? You can eat and eat and eat it and don't have to feel guilty ;-)

Beth Andrews said...

Dianna, I'm not surprised the GR spent his day flirting instead of working *g*

My mom uses mustard in her potato salad. I like it both ways :-)

Beth Andrews said...

Thanks, Nancy. Lemonade would be perfect. I like mine nice and sweet *g*

We haven't had many bugs yet either (knock on wood). I hate those little black gnats even more than I hate mosquitos. They swarm :-P

Beth Andrews said...

I love that Nick is Faith's greatest threat as well as her one hope. That's wonderful conflict right there.

Thanks, Christine. I love the blurb for DYTTC since it sums up the book so well *g*

And I'm one happy camper because my Amazon order came today and SLS was in the box!! I can't wait to read it :-)

Indoor picnics can be just as fun. When my kids were little, we'd often sit on a blanket on the kitchen floor and have a picnic lunch *g*

Beth Andrews said...

Linda, thank you so much! I'm so glad you enjoyed the series. I had a lot of fun writing the stories.

Thanks for stopping by :-)

Unknown said...

OMGOSH, Beth these excerpts are fantastic! I can't wait for a free evening to read this book!

I love this series and I, too, hate to see it end. But I also know you'll have something else wonderful in store, so I won't mourn too much!

My favorite thing to take to potlucks is deviled eggs, and for dessert it's punch bowl cake. Just pile everything in and it tastes SO yummy. Slurp.

And Dianna is right. The secrets in that excerpt have me wondering....

Cassondra said...

OH! And fruit salad.

And a melon basket. I make a mean melon basket--too fancy for some potlucks, but they're so pretty and yummy and no refined sugar in sight!

Fedora said...

Hi, Beth!! Popping in late to the picnic with some freshly cut watermelon :)

Huge congrats on your latest--MUST pick it up!

Ooh, yummy, Cassondra! I'll just park myself next to your melon basket with a fork ;)

Laurie G said...

Picnics- I take a large bowl of fruit salad: strawberries, blueberries, honeydew melon, musk melon and watermelon Always refreshing!

I also take a plate of chocolate chip cookies because almost everyone loves them and they are easy to make and tote along.


I'd love to read your book! A great treat to read outside.

johnslake at usa dot com

Beth Andrews said...

Thanks, Cassondra! Punch bowl cake sounds yummy *g*

Hey, Fedora *g* Thanks for stopping by and bringing the watermelon! I haven't had any yet this year!

Thanks for commenting, Laurie! And your fruit salad sounds perfect :-)