Hey First name / y'all,

 

I’m looking out my window at the purple flowers on the redbud tree and daydreaming just a little. It’s nearly Easter—my favorite time of year—and I have some Easter photos I want to share with y’all.

 

This first one is so precious to me—just about the whole crew together, and every time I look at it, I smile. This was some years ago now, back when the grandchildren and my nieces were small and Mamma and Daddy were still strong and healthy. Mamma and Daddy put on a big Easter to-do every year. It's my mother's table—her food, her abundance, her gift for loving people by feeding them, whether it was a Thursday supper or Easter dinner—that inspires every spread Carolyn Talbot puts together.

And I love this one—Sugar with the grandkids and nieces. That man. I could look at this photo all day long.

And this last one is very dear to my heart—Daddy, me, and my sweet granddaughter Morgan. This is my daddy just as I want to remember him—happy. As I write this, Morgan is in Washington, D.C., serving with the National Guard—and we couldn't be more proud.

Sharing these with y’all felt right today, because Easter has me thinking about one of my very favorite scenes in TROUBLE’S TURN TO LOSE—which releases in just 19 days!! I am SO excited to share this book with y’all!!

 

There’s an Easter dinner scene at the Talbot family home that may be one of my all-time favorites that I’ve ever written. Carolyn Talbot does not do anything by half, and her Easter table is something special. What happens before the coconut cake arrives at the table? Well—that’s something you’ll have to discover for yourselves. 😊 I hope it brings y’all as much joy as it brought me to write it.

I’ll be honest with y’all…I’m the teentsiest bit nervous about this release. The last few years have been really hard for my family, and 2025 was a year when I simply didn’t have a book to give you. The Sullivan’s Island Supper Club came out in September 2024, and then everything caught up with me. I’m so eager to get back on the horse—but there’s been this nagging voice in the back of my mind wondering if I may have missed my moment.

 

And then something wonderful happened that shushed that voice for a few minutes, anyway. The lovely folks at Kirkus reviewed TROUBLE'S TURN TO LOSE, and y’all—this sent me dancing around the house grinning like an idiot.

 

 

I’ve also been so humbled and thankful for all the early reader reviews on Goodreads, NetGalley, and beyond. Y’all have not let me down—and I am truly grateful for every single review. It's impossible to overstate how important these are. 

If you haven’t already grabbed your copy, there’s still time to preorder! Signed, personalized copies are available exclusively in my online store—just enter your personalization details at checkout and I’ll sign it exactly as you request. It makes such a thoughtful gift for the reader in your life, or a special treat for yourself. Print, audio, and ebook versions are also available for preorder at all the usual online retailers via the preorder button below.

If you’re anywhere near Greenville the week before launch day, I would love to see your face at one of my pre-launch events!

 

🍽 Lunch & Lit with M. Judson Booksellers — Thursday, April 2 at Noon

Do you enjoy a bookish luncheon? Join me for Lunch & Lit hosted by M. Judson Booksellers at the gorgeous Soby’s New South Cuisine in downtown Greenville! Tickets include a scrumptious three-course meal and a signed copy of the book. Seating is limited, so grab your tickets soon! I’d so love to see you there!!

🥂 Pre-Launch Party at As the Page Turns — Tuesday, March 31 at 5:00 p.m.

Tied up at lunchtime but free in the evenings? Come sip a festive beverage, nibble appetizers, and chat with fellow book lovers at As the Page Turns in Travelers Rest! This event is free — just grab your free ticket so we’ll know to expect you.

I also have a few other South Carolina events on the calendar this spring (and I'm still trying to work in one or two more) before I have to pivot back to my desk. I'm on deadline for the next release, and it requires me to spend some quality time in Stella Maris! Check out the graphic below for the current list.

Winner's choice of any title from a 2026 Book of the Month author, or a $25 gift card to Susan's store!

 

1. Be a member of the Lowcountry Book Club on Facebook.

2. Be a subscriber to my newsletter. (If you're reading this, you're all set!)

3. Join the discussion by posting your review, thoughts, or questions in the group during the month — OR comment on someone else's post or the author interview post during the month.

 

The door prize drawing takes place on the last day of each month. Prizes must be claimed within one week.

Now, I mentioned Carolyn’s coconut cake, and I simply cannot tease y’all with that and not deliver. This is the cake Hadley calls the best she’s ever had in her life, and I believe it. It’s the kind of cake that makes a whole table go quiet for just a moment—which, if you’ve met the Talbots, is saying something.

I hope it finds its way to your table this spring and brings as much joy to your family as it brings to the Talbots.

Thank y’all from the bottom of my heart for being on this journey with me. Every single one of you means more than I can say. I’ll see you back here very soon—and in the meantime, you know where to find me in the Lowcountry Book Club!

With love and so much gratitude,

 

Happy Easter, y’all!

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