Something Lost
by Bernadette Marie
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Saying goodbye is sometimes the beginning.
Craig Turner was Coach Diaz’s star player, back in the day. He was held in high regard, until he broke the rules and dated the coach’s daughter. Young and stupid, his affection for her lasted until graduation, and then it was time to face the real world–but his love for her would never leave him.
Rachel Diaz became who her father wanted her to be, a well educated, well traveled, successful woman, but she holds a well full of secrets from the outside world. As a high school therapist, she uses her past traumas to help others overcome their own.
When the Fabulous Five arrive at Coach Diaz’s funeral, to pay their respects, a rekindling happens between them all—and between Craig and Rachel.
Is Rachel woman enough to face her demons and is Craig man enough to accept them? Or will their encounter be as brief as the affair they had a decade ago, behind her father’s back?
Excerpt:
She stepped to him. “I trusted you. You act all so cool and collected. Perhaps, this will faze you,” she said pushing him back and into the pool.
Suddenly, everything spun out of control. Olivia had been so upset that she hadn’t seen Santa Claus approach Jace carrying a small Christmas tree full of decorations for the hospital in Grand Cayman.
As Jace stumbled back into the pool, he unfortunately carried Santa and the tree with him into the water. The last thing Olivia heard was Santa’s “Ho! Ho! Ho!” turn into “Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!” before they both took a splash.
Olivia literally bit her tongue to stop from laughing. This was so not funny, but yet it was hilarious. She, Olivia Chasen, had finally found her fun and excitement. She had a new groove.
And as she looked around and noticed all the phone cameras rolling, and most likely had been the entire time, she delicately took a curtsy as proper as one she’d give Queen Elizabeth herself. Thankfully, watching all those episodes of the The Crown had paid off big time.
Author Interview:
1. Tell us a little about how this story first came to be. Did it start with an image, a voice, a concept, a dilemma or something else?
I can’t remember how the premise of the series came about, except that I sat down and was doing a brain dump/plotting session. The names came, and I designed the characters, then the story and series built around that.
2. What, if anything, did you learn when writing the book?
I worked hard on bringing mental health to the forefront and normalizing it.
3. What surprised you the most in writing it?
How much I carried the emotions of the characters with me. I had to take some time, during certain parts of the book, and let those feelings go so I could be around my family.
4. What does the title mean?
Something Lost refers to the loss of the coach, which brings the characters back together, as well as the relationship that Rachel and Craig lost years ago.
5. Were any of the characters inspired by real people?
If so, do they know? No one specific was thought of when I created these characters, but there are always little parts of those close to me in all my characters.
6. Do you consider the book to have a lesson or moral?
I want to normalize mental health care. So the characters have gone through things that they seek counseling for. This is an ongoing theme in the series.
7. What is your favorite part of the book?
I enjoy the parts where the friends all come back together and reconnect. It’s fun to learn about each character in this setting.
8. Which character was most challenging to create? Why?
Rachel has a lot on her plate as a high school counselor as well as having past trauma. Making her upbeat and full of life, and not a downer, was challenging.
9. What are your immediate future plans?
I’m finishing the series and then will finish a Christmas novel I’ve put on the side burner for the time.
Author Info:
Bestselling Author Bernadette Marie is known for building families readers want to be part of. Her series The Keller Family has graced bestseller charts since its release in 2011. Since then she has authored and published over thirty-five books. The married mother of five sons promises romances with a Happily Ever After always…and says she can write it because she lives it.
Obsessed with the art of writing and the business of publishing, chronic entrepreneur Bernadette Marie established her own publishing house, 5 Prince Publishing, in 2011 to bring her own work to market as well as offer an opportunity for fresh voices in fiction to find a home as well.
When not immersed in the writing/publishing world, Bernadette Marie and her husband are shuffling their five hockey playing boys around town to practices and games as well as running their family business. She is a lover of a good stout craft beer and might have an unhealthy addiction to chocolate.
Email: info@bernadettemarie.com
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Giveaway:
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Thanks for hosting!
You’re very welcome. Thank you for stopping by.
This looks like an interesting read. I enjoyed the interview too. I love getting to see behind the author-curtain a little.
I absolutely applaud your effort for bringing mental health to the table, so to speak. It is so important for this topic to be normalized and not so taboo. Everyone has suffered from a mental health issue at some point in our lives, whether it was just being depressed about missing a job opportunity or of the more serious side effects bipolar/manic depressant and thoughts of suicide. Talking about it is not a bad thing. People need to know that it’s OKAY not to be okay. That is normal.
About the book, I love second chance romances and I laughed out loud at the excerpt! Sounds like a wonderful story. Thank you for sharing an excerpt and your author interview.
The cover is gorgeous and the synopsis and excerpt are intriguing, this sounds like a must read for me. Thank you for sharing the book details and author interview
Sounds like a great book.
Congrats Lillie, on winning the giveaway.