Helloooooooo! I’ve got some exciting news to share today, but first, here’s more from Steeped in Love!
Continuing from where we left off, now switching to Addie’s POV:
Addie absentmindedly stirred her tea as Jonathan prattled on about…God only knows what. She was too distracted by his chiseled muscles to give a damn. Based on appearance alone, this guy was a winner. But she doubted her great-aunt Edna would have approved. She always used to say that attractive men don’t make good husbands. Something about them having too much testosterone and not enough brain power to know when to keep it in their pants.
Well, Edna was the main reason why she was doing this in the first place–searching for Mr. Right. Using a tried and true formula passed down from the woman who’d gifted her with her first bike, and then later, the first home she could call her own. She’d inherited her great-aunt’s house, along with a tidy sum of money, after she died close to a year ago. She never expected to be a homeowner until she got married and had kids, but she was no closer to that than she was at twenty.
Here’s the blurb:
Addie Mitchell is a pie-on-the-fly entrepreneur who’s finally ready to settle down in the big, empty house her late great-aunt Edna left to her. Frustrated with her lack of success in romance, Addie turns to another gift her great-aunt passed on to her—the art of reading tea leaves—to aid her in her search for the ideal mate.
Novelist Ethan Holtz is having a hard time sinking his teeth into his next project, but he finds Addie fascinating. Mainly for her ability to make her dates disappear in fifteen minutes or less. He can’t help but eavesdrop on her dates in the local coffee shop, his writing haven, and soon finds himself taking pointers on what not to do from her failed suitors.
Though her methods seem nothing short of mad, he falls fast and hard for the pixie-haired pie-pusher. She thinks they’re all wrong for each other, but Ethan teams up with the tea leaves to prove they’re so right.
Thanks so much for stopping by and be sure to visit the other Weekend Writing Warriors!
Okay, about that exciting news…I’m very delighted to report that Steeped in Love is a finalist in the First Coast Romance Writers Beacon Contest! Even better still, both judges gave it a perfect score! The final round will be judged by an agent and editor, so cross your fingers for me, folks! 🙂 In other news, I survived my camping/hiking trip in the Adirondacks this past week. More on that in Wednesday’s blog! Have a fantastic week, my friends!
Award-winning romance author & PE teacher who plays sports, sings, juggles, dances, has a sneaker obsession, & lives on PB! 
Congratulations on the contest Final – whee!!!
Thank you, Veronica! Wheeee, indeed! 😀
Woot! Woot! Congrats again! <3
Thanks, Mags! You’re the best! <3
Yay! We’re shifting over to Addie – can’t wait to hear what’s going on with her.
Huge congrats on the contest news! How awesome is that? Not surprised though, because this story is adorable and you are a fantastic writer. Already planning the celebration for when you win!
Aww, thank you so much, A-M! You’re so good for my ego. 😀 I’m excited just to be a finalist, but winning would be incredible! I’ll keep you posted! xo
Congratulations, Julie. Having got that far is absolutely awesome! Best of everything for the final stretch!
I love how the tables have turned: a woman dismissing a man as a jock just because he’s gorgeous ;-}
Thanks, Kim! I really appreciate the support! 🙂
Haha, so true!
Yah on the contest! A winner, indeed! And I know how your heroine feels about those distracting abs . . . but listen to your elders. We know of whence we speak!
Hee! I believe it! Thanks so much, Nancy! I hope it’ll be a winner! 😀
Hurray on the contest final. Whoo-hoo! Loved how she feels about very handsome men. Aunt Edna gave good advice.
Thanks, Diane! That Edna was a smart cookie. 🙂
Tea leaves … I don’t remember seeing that in a story lately, so good choice. Congratulations on finalling, too!
Thanks, Ed! I always strive to be original so I’m glad you haven’t seen this idea brewing anywhere else. 😉
Hah! Addie has feelings similar to mine about men who are just a little too good-looking.
Congratulations on finalling! I’m not the least bit surprised. This story is unique and charming, and you write it perfectly. 👏
Mine as well!
Thank you! It means so much to me to hear that, Christina, especially from such a talented writer as yourself! 🙂
Woot! on the finalist perfection! On to the win! Great take on hunka-hunks! Wins all around!
Hee! Thanks so much, Elizabeth! I sure hope so! 🙂
Congrats on being a finalist!
I’m not sure the advice on handsome men is 100% accurate. But if you choose based on looks alone, you’ll definitely be facing the possibility that the book isn’t so good as his cover!
Thanks, Caitlin!
I’m sure it’s not 100% accurate, either. One must never choose a book by its cover. 😉
Congratulations on the contest! I hope you win! And I love this snippet, it says so much. And her grandmother’s advice is perfect–– and hilarious!
Thanks, Amy! It’s actually her great-aunt’s advice, but I’m sure her grandma would have told her the same. 😀