Welcome to:

Yes. It's true.

Drunk Girl is actually releasing.

 

Depending on where in the world you are, it may be live when you receive this email. At minimum, it's live on Amazon (and Amazon is sending out the correct file), with Apple, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, and Google Play releasing at midnight June 13th.

 

Let's chat Amazon and January.

 

If you emailed me back in January/February, you should have a separate email from me dated…now-ish. If you did not, this is what you need to do if you own an Amazon copy of Drunk Girl, circa January 2023.

 

Head into amazon.com/mycd (My Content & Devices).
First, head to preferences, then Auto Book Updates, and make sure that's toggled to on. While that won't help you in this moment, it will help you in the future with any and all Amazon Kindle books that are updated for whatever reason.

If your toggle was “on” and your auto updates were approved, you'll now click “content” at the top. Search for “Drunk Girl.” When your Kindle version pops up, it's supposed to have a link saying “update available.” Unfortunately, this hasn't been 100% with those I've talked to on Facebook. If you have the link, click it, redownload the book, and you should now go from a handful of chapters, to 20 chapters + an epilogue. If you do not have the “update available” link, I was told to direct you to Kindle customer service, which is essentially non-existent (which reminds me, I have an email from a friend about this subject and I forgot to respond). So instead, just shoot me a reply and I'll get you squared away personally.

When Jake Wesley agreed to cover extra hours at O’Gallaghers, he figured he’d make a few extra tips and head home. Maybe grab dinner and mindlessly watch something on television before falling asleep earlier than his normal two in the morning.

But then she came in. And he can’t help but keep an eye on her.

What started out as a fun bar crawl with friends, turned into a mess of epic proportions.

The very last thing Sophia Burns expected to come out of her friend’s mouth at bar three was that she slept with Sophia’s boyfriend—not once, not twice...but a gross number of times for someone who was supposed to be her best friend.

Wanting to forget—and not quite ready to go to her quiet, empty apartment—Sophia finds herself at O’Gallaghers, where she drowns her sorrows.

At least, that was the plan. When she wakes in her bed in the morning, all she has is a note.

And the brief recollection of the kind guy with the messy hair.

Welcome back to O’Gallaghers Pub in San Diego, California!

I can’t explain the way I feel when I’m in Jake’s arms. His kiss is powerful, yet he doesn’t ask for more than I give.

 

Even though his arms are around me, there’s nothing possessive...aggressive about his hold.

 

We’re just two people in a close embrace, sharing a good—a really freaking good—kiss.

 

I lick my lips when I pull away, rolling them between my teeth after. Still, fear kicks in.

 

“You promise you’re okay with taking things slow?”

 

Jake presses his lips to my forehead and I expect him to step away after, but he doesn’t. I remain secure in his arms. “Promise. Listen.” His voice is soft. “I have two sisters.”

 

“Chandler and Hollis.”

 

“Right. I’m protective as hell with them, and I know guys aren’t always the most patient with women. If either of them told me they were pressured to go further with a guy than they were ready for, I’d find the asshole and teach him a lesson in respect. I can’t be like that for them, but then not be the same type of guy I want for them.”

 

“Even if you guys are miles and miles apart, they’re lucky to have you as a brother.”

 

“I like to think so.” His cocky grin and wink tell me he’s once again teasing, and I can’t stop my smile from widening.

 

“I like you a lot, Jake. What’s your last name?” I tip my head to the side.

 

“Wesley. Jake Wesley.”

 

“Was that a dig at my anti-James Bond moment earlier?”

 

He chuckles, shaking his head, “Not at all. Swear it.”

 

“Okay. Well, I like you a lot, Jake Wesley.”

 

“Good. I like you a lot too, Sophia...”

 

“Burns.”

 

“Sophia Burns.”

 

Jake drops his head to kiss my lips once more, but this one remains G-rated.

 

Although he does suck my lower lip after, in a move that has my girly bits ready to say “Fuck it. Fuck my standards. Fuck what I said earlier about slow. Fuck me.”

 

I can’t stop the small moan from escaping my lips but he doesn’t draw attention to it.

 

That is, until he presses a kiss to my cheek...my cheek bone...just in front of my ear...

 

And whispers, “When you play with yourself later, beautiful...think of me.”

Looking for first looks at books?

Want to keep up with my writing schedule, as I'm writing?

Interested in exclusive paperbacks and hardcovers?

Also…artwork is coming!

 

I know, I know. That's SUPER small.

Click the image to be taken to my website to get an larger view of the chart.

I'll put my big wordy spiel all the way at the bottom, because Drunk Girl was the important part of today's newsletter.

 

I hope everyone's doing well and making it through the days. There have been a number of loses in the book community lately and if you were close with those we've lost, or friends of friends… Please take care of yourself. The one that hit home the hardest for me was Becca Manuel. We lost touch over the last few years but she was a big cheerleader of mine in my early years of publishing. She even made the book trailers for O'Gallagher Nights, Saving Grace, and the Playmaker duet (at the time). I saw her at Denver but didn't say hello…anxiety told me if she wanted to say hi she would have, and I have the hardest time reaching out to someone first. I really wish I did. 

 

I'm working on meds for ADHD but if you're in a similar boat, you know meds are hard to come by right now. I'm on a super low dose, but re-dose mid-day, and it's mostly helping. I'm not writing so much in the morning like I used to (which limits my ability for 15k words days hahaha) but I am writing a good chunk of words every night, so I'll take it.

 

For those who have kept up with my dad and Hager, updates on them if you were wondering. Dad had an unexpected seizure in late March/early April (while I was in Denver for Readers Take Denver). Just prior to this (I think, my timelines are jumbled, but I remember him calling and talking about it during the Super Bowl) spots (in lungs and brain) that were discovered post-kidney-cancer removal were thought to have blood sources. This seizure quickened the steps needed for additional imaging. Doctors wanted a few different procedures but insurance ixnayed everything. Finally, they approved a craniotomy, which he had today. It's really hard being so far away from home when the big things are happening. But, initial reports are the tumor doesn't appear to have cancerous cells, so that's awesome. It was a relief to hear from my stepmom when that news came in, and then she and I had a nice phone conversation just a few hours ago. As for Hager, his liver responded well to the liver supplement he was on, so he was able to stop that about a week ago and he gets his labs re-drawn in July to make sure his liver stays happy. The entire reason he went to the vet in the first place, when those elevated liver enzymes were discovered, was because he was having some hip pain. He's done really well over the last few months (while the Denamarin is a liver supplement NSAID, I do believe the anti-inflammatory properties helped him as a whole), but I've noticed a change in his gait and he's doing a lot of old man moaning and groaning when moving around the bed at night. He turns 9 in November and still looks 5, so I keep telling him I need him for a few more years. I'm just keeping on top of his pain med and joint supplements for the time being. The vet suggested acupuncture and cold laser therapy. If you have experience with these and arthritic hip dogs, please let me know your thoughts!

 

All together, I'm doing well. I'm happy to be writing again. Heck, I'm excited to be writing. I have a few projects I'm actively working on and they've been really fun. I can't wait to give you more information as I'm ready. I will not be doing Amazon preorders for a while. I will need to be a good 3-5 books ahead of schedule before I attempt to play nicely with Amazon again. Preorders will remain for Apple, B&N, and Kobo, as they allow me to move things as needed. As of this moment, I have dates for Caged Lion, 82: Coast to Coast, and Thinking ‘Bout You, but dates are subject to change if the head doesn’t stay on nice. 

 

I'm working on mailing my book preorders from the RARE Melbourne signing I had to miss because of Dad, Hager, and finances wrapped into those things. Slowly but surely. My goal is to have that finished by the end of the month. 

 

Otherwise… that's my life update for those who are curious and want to know.

 

Happy reading, and welcome to summer!