From bad boys to the lone rancher, it’s never a dull moment living the single life. That is until you find yourself suddenly married. From love at first sight, friends to lovers, or perfect strangers making a deal, they all end the same with two little words, “I Do.”
Never underestimate the power of love and passion as they explode off the pages and leave everyone longing for more. Join ten amazing authors as they take you on an adventure where just for now becomes suddenly forever.
Featuring stories from: Ava Campbell, Hazel Gower, Debra St James, E.H. Demeter, Gemma Arlington, Jenna Lynn, Katherine Moore, Kenna Shaw Reed, Marina Hanna and Taylor Green!
RAFFLECOPTER PRIZES
1st Prize
$30 Amazon Gift Card
1 month Gift Membership for Audible.com
Signed Paperback by Sarah Marsh
Ebook copy of New Hope Valley series by Jess Buffett
Ebook copy of Till My Last Breath by Ava Campbell
Ebook copy of Dirty Secret by Ki Brightly and M.D. Gregory
Reader’s choice of ebook by Aja Foxx, Ciena Foxx, and Gemma Arlington
2nd Prize
$20 Amazon Gift Card
1 month Gift Membership for Audible.com
Signed Paperback by Sarah Marsh
Ebook copy of The Bete series by Stephanie Barr
Ebook copy of The Island Seduction set by Layla Piper
Reader’s choice of ebook by Debra St James and Ki Brightly
3rd Prize
$10 Amazon Gift Card
Signed Paperback by Sarah Marsh
Ebook copy of Foxy Heist by Zelda Knight
Reader’s choice by ebook by Debra St James and MD Gregory
4th Prize
$5 Amazon Gift Card
Signed Paperback by Britt DeLaney
Reader’s choice of ebook by Debra St James and Meg Bawden
5th Prize
$5 Amazon Gift Card
Name a character with Flora McGowan
Reader’s choice of ebook by Chasity Nicole and Aria Peyton
6th Prize
Connemara Candle Package by Alyson Burr
Reader’s choice of ebook by Elena Kincaid
7th Prize
Romantic Necklace from Etsy by Katherine Moore
Reader’s choice ebook by Rose Wulf
8th Prize
Reader’s choice of ebook by Taylor Green, and Dani Gray
AN INTERVIEW WITH AVA CAMPBELL
•The theme of the anthology is based on your inspirational love story. Can you tell us how you met your husband? What was your meet-cute?
My husband was stationed at Quantico Virginia at the time (He was in the Marine Corp), and my dad was stationed at DC (Coast Guard), I was working at the bank during the day but volunteered at the fire department at night and weekends as an EMT while working on getting my paramedic certification. And he was only a Lance Corporal.
Anyway, I was beyond tired and didn’t feel like going home to cook, so I decided to just stop into Burger King and grab something. I hated eating in my car, so I went in with my book to eat and just enjoy my quiet time. It was only about ten minutes after I sat down, and he walked in. Sure, I noticed him… but didn’t say anything. It wasn’t until he got his food that he walked over and asked if he could sit down and eat with me. From there we talked, and something just clicked.
It was as if I had known him my whole life, that I didn’t feel awkward or weird around him. Plus, he made me laugh. We exchanged phone numbers and the rest is history. Oh, and we met and married in 11 days! Crazy as it sounds, we’ve been together almost 19 years now.
•Writing romance, how much is inspired by your own love story?
What’s funny is that I didn’t get into writing love stories from my story, but from a friend who dared me to write a better story than the one she and I had read. So, I did. And shockingly it was accepted by a publishing house and I grew to love it. I had found my passion and calling.
•Last Christmas, can you take us through those first days?
No one ever expects to get a phone call- but I did. I was home with the boys as I planned on just relaxing while the boys watched a movie. However, I got a call from an odd number who asked me if I was Jordan’s mom. He then informed me there was a car accident and my husband was being airlifted and they were trying to get my daughter out of the car. My heart stopped and I remember not being able to breathe. What does one do when that happens? They both went out to finish Christmas shopping… for me. My husband took our daughter so they could spend time together, but to make sure he didn’t, in his words, mess up.
The bystander stated that they were really bad, and I needed to get to the hospital immediately. However, it is an hour away. Doing my best, I told the older boys to watch the little ones and a small amount of what is going on. I wasn’t able to give any information because I just didn’t have any.
When I got to the hospital, my daughter was getting ready to be moved to another hospital as she was a pediatric trauma, and the hospital they were taken to only did adults. Meanwhile, the doctors came in to tell me, from what they could see, that she had several breaks and would need surgery; however, my husband had internal bleeding and broken bones as well.
When I finally got to see him, he wasn’t completely with it and kept asking about Jordan. I remember trying to explain quickly what was going on and asked what I should do. At this point he was bad, but so was she, and I felt pulled in two. Needing to be with him, but also needing to go to another hospital for her. When the time came, I recall kissing him and telling him to stay strong and make it through, though parts of me knew there was a big chance it would be the last time I would see him alive. It was always a packed we had… follow the kids, no matter what, they come first. So, I left him, my heartbreaking in a way I never knew it could, but staying strong for Jordan as she was already fading in and out.
We arrived at the hospital and things happened so fast, and an hour later I found myself running with the team of doctors and nurses to the OR so they could try and save her leg.
FIVE hours later they were done and we got the full extent of what she was dealing with. Broken Femur, compound fracture of the ankle (right leg). Dislocated toes (left leg). Broken ulna (left arm) broken pelvic ring with broken tail bone and a brain bleed in her frontal lobe. Not to mention the facial burns and cuts and bruises. There really wasn’t a place on her tiny body that want affected.
I received a call midway from my husband’s doctors stating he had made it through surgery. He had a lacerated spleen, broken tail bone, shattered hip joint socket, broken right knee, broken left side clavicle, cracked ribs, and his whole right arm was shattered and that they had to put more hardware in him to get it to look like an arm again. He had a small brain bleed, but more swelling due to impact.
With all those things, I am beyond blessed they are alive. The car was a mess, and I was fielding phone calls, prayers, and doctors telling me what was happening. To be honest, most of it is blurry. John had two massive surgeries before he went to rehab to learn to be able to stand and move to his wheelchair. Jordan had six surgeries herself before her time to rehab, before luck took a turn and they realized the compound fractured bone was dying. The foot had to be removed, so she became a below-the-knee amputee at the age of 15.
•And I understand you have other children? How did you all support each other?
It’s funny how many people say tragedy can either make or break a family. In my case, my kids have always been close, but I could never have expected them to stick together and become men.
I have four other boys- 17, 14, 9, and 5 years old. When the accident happened my eldest was kind of a mess, and the younger ones didn’t know what had happened. They didn’t understand why I was gone. Since it was only 3 days before Christmas Day, my parents took them to their house but found it just wasn’t something everyone could be comfortable with. So, my oldest called me and told me he was taking the boys home. So, for over two months, he cooked, cleaned, and made sure they got to school and had homework done- all the while doing his high school classes and boy scouts once a week.
The four of them stuck together and bonded, though they knew they were missing me, their dad, and their sister- they found the strength to stay together and make me proud of them. I cannot say how much I am blown away by how they grew up.
•It seems the romance author community has really banded together to support you. How did the anthology happen?
Two of my best friends- sisters really, knew what happened when I messaged them the night it all happened. I knew they felt as helpless as I felt. It wasn’t until a few days later when we finally had an outline of the damages of what happened to my family. It was not just a few weeks, but long-term recovery and possibly a lifetime (and at that time she still had her foot). They reached out with an idea on how the author world could help us. Just a post by two people and it blew up and soon over fifty authors, editors, cover artists, and PR’s were wanting to help in some way. It all happened so fast. Jess Buffett and April Zyon started with just an idea, and with the help of our dear friend Tracie Runge, it bloomed to be something so beyond that. Each author who took the time to write and work on this is truly inspiring, and it is the most amazing gift. One that I will be forever grateful for!
•There are a lot of anthologies out there. What makes this one special?
This is a hard one. All stories are special and should be admired by the work that went into them. From editing to formatting, and the exquisite covers, and the time authors take to write the story. However, to answer the question this is special to me as it was started by two women who are my heart sisters, my very best friends. We have known each other for years and love and cry together. When this accident happened, they were there with me, keeping me calm when I felt like I was falling apart. This is a work of heart and love, and I hope others feel that when they read it!
•What difference would raising $10,000 or even $100 do for you, your family and medical expenses?
Honestly, I can’t even begin to properly explain. Prosthetics are not always covered completely with insurance. Plus, my daughter can use this to make her life a little easier. My husband is also a 7th grade math teacher, and currently, he is unable to walk more than a few steps. His right arm has severe nerve damage and will need surgery again to repair it so he may be able to use it once more. Along with that, the expense of driving to physical theory an hour one way, twice a week for one person, and once a week in the opposite direction, then doctors’ checkups which are an hour and a half away. Gas money is always needed. It’s not just the huge initial medical costs that hit, it’s the little things.
Even something as simple as being able to spoil Jordan once in a while with her favorite Starbucks drink (Green tea peach lemonade with sweetener) would make an impact on her mental health. Something just as tenuous as the physical injuries.
From the bottom of my heart, I’d just like to thank everyone involved. Through my darkest time, I have been reminded of the goodness in the world. So thank you!
