Falling For You is here! Have you gotten your copy yet? Six brand-new fall-themed romance novellas for only 99 cents. Yay!
I’m going to share a mini-blurb for the other five novellas in the set, and then I’ll give you the full blurb and an excerpt for An Informal Date, my contribution to Falling For You. Oh…and there’s a giveaway. Stick around to the end to find out what and how to enter. :)
OPERATION BACK-TO-SCHOOL by Elizabeth Maddrey
With both her girls in school Shannon Cross is looking forward to being back in the office. But how can Shannon fall for her daughter’s teacher without feeling that she’s betraying her deceased husband’s memory? 
A (SORTA) SOUTHERN SERENADE by Krista Phillips
They sing two very different tunes. Can they work together to make a joyful melody? 
LEARNING FROM EXPERIENCE by Ginger Solomon
An old man and his will change everything for Lexi Ross. Can she survive the memories and learn from someone else’s experience or will she choose to make her own path?
THE OTHER BROTHER by Carole Towriss
Marc has contentedly spent his life in his brother’s shadow—until he meets Kendall. Can she convince him he’s special, when no one else thinks so? And can he convince her she’s already found what she’s searching for? 
A HERO FOR HEATHER by Marion Ueckermann
Paxton Rathbone is desperate to make his way home. He has grown too accustomed to the disdain of mankind, which perhaps is why Heather Blume’s kindness penetrates his reserves. But there’s more to Heather’s actions than merely being the Good Samaritan—she has no doubt he’s a gentleman fallen far from grace. 
AN INFORMAL DATE by Heather Gray
Could two people be more different?
Kimi Fairchild is pursuing an Art Therapy degree while working as a barista at a local hospital. She takes life as it comes and has a smile for everyone who crosses her path. She’s never much cared for schedules, either…until a mysterious man starts showing up at her coffee kiosk every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at exactly 7:05 a.m.
Owen Pratt is a research scientist on the verge of obtaining FDA approval for a new cancer-fighting drug. He has limited people skills, a fondness for caffeine, and a love of strictly kept routines. He’s the antithesis of Kimi in almost every way. Something about her smile, though, keeps bringing him back for more.
How can two such different people go from a shared interest in coffee to a shared future? By getting out of God’s way and letting Him handle the details. Ha! Easier said than done.
And enjoy this – uh-hem – highly romantic start to Kimi’s and Owen’s story…
Here he comes again.
Kimi pretended to organize her muffin assortment as Dr. No-Name approached. She could set her clock by him. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 7:05 in the morning, he came for his large half-caff triple nonfat medium whip white mocha. Even though she knew what he would order, she waited for him to arrive. One day not too long ago, she’d started his drink as soon as he’d stepped into view. She’d had the steaming beverage ready and waiting for him. The poor guy had been so flustered he’d knocked over the fruit basket and taken out half the cookie display in the process.
She’d learned an important lesson that day. Two, really. Patience paid off. And some people don’t handle change well.
Dr. No-Name glanced to the side and tripped over a covered cable that ran along the floor. He kicked the toe of his loafer into the top of the cable’s molded rubber protector, lost his balance, hopped a couple of times on his left foot, swung his arms like a grade-schooler doing the windmill in PE, and finally got his right shoe back down on the ground. Despite the theatrical gymnastics, nobody but her appeared to be watching the show. She had to give him points for the landing. Not a brown hair on his head was out of place, and his lab coat hung from his shoulders with straight lines in complete denial of its recent whirlwind of activity.
The same cable had been positioned across that floor for as long as Kimi could remember. The doctor had to know it, too, but unless his eyes were trained directly on it, he seemed to forget. She’d witnessed his footwork often enough to realize that much, at least.
Kimi turned her back on him lest he catch her spying. Despite his oddities, she enjoyed Dr. No-Name’s visits to her kiosk and didn’t want to scare him off by staring or — heaven forbid — laughing.
“Um, excuse me.”
She turned around, her smile in place and hopefully no pity in her eyes. “Good morning! The usual?”
Dr. No-Name nodded. Most doctors wore their name embroidered on their official white lab coats, but not this one. Plain white, no fancy frills, and no embroidery. Either he wasn’t important enough for a name on his coat or he was humble enough not to care. She secretly hoped it was the latter.
Kimi set to work on his drink and tried to make conversation. “You always order a triple shot, but you want half-caff. Most people who want to go easy on the caffeine avoid the triple.”
She caught his shrug out of the corner of her eye. Getting this guy to talk was harder than pulling a barking dog’s molars with a pair of tweezers.
Click here to purchase Falling For You and get all six brand-new novellas for 99 cents.
Now for a giveaway! Comment below to tell me what you love the most about fall.
One commenter will be randomly selected to win a $5 Amazon gift card.
Giveaway closes September 30th.
In the meantime, enjoy the fall weather and curl up with a good book (or box set)!
Heather Gray loves coffee, God, her family, and laughter – not necessarily in that order! She writes approachable characters who, through the highs and lows of life, find a way to love God, embrace each day, and laugh out loud right along with her. And, yeah, her books almost always have someone who's a coffee addict. Some things just can't be helped. Despite their different lives and situations, Heather’s characters have something in common. They're all flawed...but loved anyway.
So many great reads…thanks, Heather! I love the Falling for You cover!
Thanks to the six talented romance writers, who collaborated on this inspiring fall themed boxed set. As a retired school teacher, I identified with Operation Back-to-School by Elizabeth Maddrey. A (Sorta) Southern Serenade by Krista Phillips inspired my musical side. The love of flowers and the story of the Good Samaritan were the highlight of A Hero For Heather by Marion Ueckermann. Learning From Experience by Ginger Solomon visualized the artistic side. The Other Brother by Carole Towriss brought me to tears because I am the mom of three sons and felt the other brother’s pain. As a coffee drinker, I enjoyed reading An Informal Date by Heather Gray.
What I love about fall, is experiencing the work of God’s hands through the five senses. Fall in Michigan arouses the senses: sight – the beautiful maple tree foliage, cheery pumpkins, and harvest moon; smell – the ripe grapes in our vineyards; sound – crunchy leaves and geese honking on their journey south; taste – a crisp, juicy, tart apple; and touch of God’s love in our lives.
Psalm 19:1 “The heavens declare the glory of God; the sky proclaim the work of His hands.”
Those bulbs sound great!
My favorite thing about fall is the changing of the leaves. I love it and it never gets old!
I enjoyed the fall box set! I enjoyed the hospital setting and doctor because I used to work in a hospital. I love the changing colors of the leaves and the cooler temperatures of fall.
Cup of hot spiced cider and a cozy soft throw with a collection of my favorite authors stories!!!
I ordered this set and can’t wait to start reading the stories. I love so many things about fall. The colorful leaves, the cooler temperatures, the crisp apples, and bringing out the sweaters. :-)
Sounds like a fun collection!
Living in the South, the cooler weather of fall is always a welcome relief?
the cooler weather, fall colors…
I love rhe blurb of your new book. Really curious to see how she makes him open up and talk.
My favorite thing about Fall is the change in leaves and the cooler nights. I live summer but by the time Fall sets in, I’m ready for some cooler weather.
I love the cool, crisp air, the changing leaves. and pumpkin. I am currently reading this set and am enjoying it a lot! Have a great day!
Fall is my favorite. I love that the weather is cooler. I also love pumpkins and scarecrows. My daughter rolls her eyes every time I get some new ones. She says I have too many but I say there is no such thing.
My favorite thing about fall is the crisp mornings that turn into sunny days.
I love fall! Hunting with my dad, going to the Kansas State Fair with my mom and sister, and having cookouts and hay rack rides are among my favorite fall things to do when I’m home. This year I’m most excited about the cool(er) weather and seeing my family at Thanksgiving.
Thank you Jill! We give all credit for the cover to the lovely Marion Ueckermann. She knows how to rock a cover design, doesn’t she!? :)
I love the way you relate to the stories Renate – I’m so glad you shared that! And you’re right, fall is such a fantastic time of the year. As you talk about the five senses, I can’t help think about the candles I bought recently. One is a pumpkin spice candle, and the other has cinnamon and something else in it. I love the fall candles. Spring candles usually have flowery scents, and I’m generally allergic to them, so I avoid those. The fall-scented candles, though, inspire a feeling of warmth and homecoming, and they do that because those fragrances remind of us times in our childhood when we came together with family and felt surrounded by happiness.
My grandmother grew up in Montana, and one of the things about Montana – Missoula, in particular – is that they have a lot of maple trees. While there are a few species that don’t, most maple leaves turn red in the fall. And I love those red leaves! I grew up mostly in Arizona…and we didn’t have maple trees. ;) Anyway – while she was alive, my grandmother bought me a maple tree every time I moved. Each house I’ve lived in has been left with a maple tree when we’ve moved on from there. Now that my grandmother has passed away, it’s up to me to buy the maple trees. We planted one a few years ago at our current house in Virginia, but it eventually died. So I’m going to have to try again. We have several maple trees in surrounding yards, though, and I revel in them each and every fall. I love that bright red mixed in with the other yellows and oranges!
I’m glad you enjoyed the story Diana! I, too, love the cooler temperatures of fall. My husband starts to complain that it’s getting too cold, and I shush him. “It’s not cold. It’s brisk.” ^_^ (I’m a tad more fond of cold temperatures than he is!)
Yes! Hot cider, a soft throw, and a pile of books! I think you just described my all-time favorite way to spend an autumn day!! :)
I love the cold crispy mornings in fall. It seems as if fall is one my busiest times of the year. With Fall Festivals, pumpkin patch visits, extended family visits, church conferences, it can be crazy busy, but it’s also a time when I feel so much connection and love from family/friends.
Okay, I admit it. I’m not much of a sweater person. I look at them and think, “So pretty…” Then I put them on and think, “So hot…” ^_^ I do, however, look forward to pulling out my long-sleeved t-shirts. What can I say? I’m a nontraditionalist, even when it comes to seasonal wear! ^_^
I’m *technically* in the south, but what I noticed this year is that summer took forever to arrive, but when it got here, it came with a vengeance and did NOT want to let go. I’m still not convinced we’ve left the 90s behind for the year. After having the house closed up all summer (because the a/c is running) I look forward to the days and nights that are cool enough where I can open the windows and get some fresh air moving through the rooms. Don’t get me wrong – I LOVE my a/c – but that whole closed-up feeling does get old after a while. :D
Thank you for stopping by today Rita – I’m glad you could make it! Cool weather and fall colors – priceless! :)
Looks like a great collection! I love the changing colors of leaves on the trees!
About halfway through winter, I start looking forward to spring – but when it comes to summer and fall, I make it about two days into summer before I start anticipating the coming of fall. Obviously I’m a cold-temperature gal! ^_^ I hope you enjoy the story Priscila and the way that Kimi and Owen’s relationship develops! :)
I’m so pleased to hear that you’re enjoying the set so far Beth! And I love the way you described the fall air as crisp! That brings the perfect image of fall to mind!
Ha! Too many… See, to me, that would be a challenge. “You think there’s too many? Oh, I’ll show you what too many looks like…” And 300 scarecrows later… ^_^ Enjoy your pumps and scarecrows this fall!!!
We’ve had a few more cloudy days around here than we’ve had sunny ones lately, but I know exactly what you mean! I like it when it’s cold enough at night that you have to think about what to wear when you get up in the morning. It’s a silly thing, I know – but I like it when I know the weather is going to change or be unpredictable. (That might come from having spent most of my childhood in Arizona where it was either hot, really hot, or kind of hot…) ;)
I love sitting in front of a fire in the fireplace, petting a cat, and reading a book :-)
I hope you have a marvelous Thanksgiving Katy – and that it gets here soon for you! It’s been ages since I’ve been on a hayride, but when my kids were younger, we used to go to the pumpkin patch and through the hay bale maze they set up there. Those are such fun memories!
Fall used to be a fun and relaxing time in my home. Then my kids started to grow up, and somewhere along the way life got busy. You’re right. Fall has become a hectic time of the year, which makes those moments when I can simply sit back and savor the season all that more precious to me. And you’re right – that connectedness we feel with our family and friends is so special.
Wonderful collection! I loved it!! I like the leaves changing color. We like to drive around just to see the beauty. My daughter in California said that is the thing she most misses about fall.
Looks like some good reading ahead.
Glad you could stop by today Heidi! I’m with you – I enjoy the changing color of the leaves!
I wish we had a fireplace! I have this image in my mind of how much fun that would be, how comfortable and cozy. Sigh. Maybe someday. ^_^
I have the box set and looking forward to reading it. I love the cooler weather fall brings and the changing of the leaves. The trees in all of their glorious colors are so pretty here in the mountains of southern West Virginia. An added bonus is that both of my daughters and I all celebrate our birthdays in September and October. Today is my younger daughter’s 39th birthday!
Having lived in Arizona for most of my childhood, I can say I honestly didn’t know what the big deal was until I moved north to Idaho. Then I saw the leaves change color and was awed by it. When we came to the east coast where there are so many more trees, it was even more beautiful. I can see why she would miss it.
Thanks for stopping by today Merrillee – I’m so glad you could spend some time with us! :)
I’ll bet your girls had wonderful birthday parties growing up! Cool enough to be outdoors but not so cold that you couldn’t do something fun. Sounds marvelous! And how special that you get to share that time with them. :)
Fall is my favorite season and my favorite time to go camping. Turning leaves, crisp clean air, campfires, s’mores and good books.
I’m enjoying this box set as I type! I really like the cooler temps of fall and the leaves changing colors. I also love to bake (made some zucchini muffins this afternoon as well as some banana muffins) and look forward to the coolness of fall so I can indulge and share :)
Camp fires and camping!!! Oh yes! Can I come? Or even – if you’re of the slightly more domesticated variety (as is my family), a fire pit in the backyard…and LOTS of marshmallows! ^_^
I’m pretty sure you just offered to bake zucchini bread and mail it to me…that IS what you meant, right? Because otherwise it would be downright mean to mention zucchini muffins, and you’re not a mean person…are you? ;) Just kidding! I can make my own zucchini bread. But it IS one of my favorites, even moreso than banana bread. Although I’m starting to like pumpkin bread, too. Mmmm….maybe I need to go turn my oven on… :)
A day to just read curled up with a light blanket, chop of coffee and my dog.
I love the cool weather and the beautiful colors. :)
I love my coffee, but some days call for hot cocoa or hot apple cider, too. But even those days still have to start with coffee. ;)
Thank you for spending part of your day with us Amber! I’m with you. Cool weather and warm colors make a perfect combination! :)
I would be happy to share, especially since it’s my Grandmother’s recipe with a few adjustments. Using her recipes makes me think of her and smile. You should know that I put in chocolate chips for the 15 year old boy child – definitely not in Gram’s recipe! I have my Gram’s pumpkin bread recipe too – it never fails :)
I love the leaves but they haven’t appeared yet
Lol. I know what you mean about a challenge. My daughter works at Hobby Lobby and whenever I go in she says to stay away from the pumpkins and scarecrows. Of course, I have to go over there. And get something. Because I can.
I was looking at my block the other day and realized that my hard is the only one covered in leaves. Everybody else still has green leaves, but my trees are dropping them faster than I snap my fingers. I’m not sure if that means my trees have intuitively picked up on my desire for fall to fully arrive, or if it means my trees are getting sickly. Personally, I’m hoping for intuitive! :)
I love the cooler weather, sweaters, pumpkins, and the gorgeous colors in the mountains. The leaves are all turning here and the nights are getting cooler!
You make fall sound absolutely lovely Winnie! It’s in the fall more than at any other time of the year that I wish I had a cabin somewhere tucked away in the mountains – a cabin with a big deck. Give me fresh air, hot coffee, and a view of the sunrise. It sounds just about perfect!
My two favorite things about fall is bonfires and the colors of the leaves!
I love fall because it’s cooler and the colors are my favorite, like burgundy, rust orange, and deep blues.
Bonfires! I never got to have bonfires growing up, but my son’s youth group usually has at least one each fall. Honestly, any time spent around an outdoor fire (that’s intentional and controlled, of course!) is fun time. Good choice!
I think I said it a bit earlier on, but there’s nothing like the cool weather and the warm colors! I enjoy the fall colors because they make me feel cozy and comfortable. They’re not necessarily colors I look good wearing, but I still like to have them around me. :)
I love the cooler weather (though on the Oregon coast it doesn’t get super hot in the first place), I love the rain, I love snuggling down in the evening with a cup of hot tea and a good book, and the crisp smell to the cooler nights. There’s just something so refreshing about that :-) Since we really don’t have a lot of trees that shed their leaves (pine trees don’t count), I miss the fall colors of when I grew up in Illinois. I loved when the big maple trees turned varying shades of vibrant colors…I look at pictures online just to be able to see them again, lol!
Though I don’t do it every year, I like going to the apple orchards and pumpkin patches :-) That right there just say’s Fall is here!
So glad you could spend some time with us Trixi! I mentioned in an earlier comment that my grandmother grew up in a part of Montana that had tons of maple trees – the kind that turn bright red in autumn – and that everywhere my husband and I moved, my grandmother bought us a maple tree to plant. Having grown up mostly in Arizona, fall colors were new to me, and I fell in love with those bright maples. My grandmother has since passed away, but now I plant a maple tree everywhere we move. Not that we move all that often anymore, but still. I hear you. There’s just something amazing about those elegant tall trees when they turn red. It’s majestic and it just shouts “fall.” :)
Fall brings less humidity and cooler weather to the Houston area. I feel better and can get out more. We live on about 50 acres in the country and have about 16 horses between us and our daughter. Watching them acting silly in cooler weather is most entertaining. Spend a bit of time watching them from my den looking out sliding glass doors. Ahhhhh, such fun!
Hi Heather. I just read An Informal Christmas and loved it. I look forward to reading An Informal Date and more of this series. Here in SW Virginia it has been hot and humid. So my autumn joy is cooler weather, changing leaves and all the wonderful craft festivals that happen this time of year. One of them offers fresh apple cider slushies which are a special treat and only offered in the fall. Fall blessings to you and your fellow authors!
Goodbye humidity and goodbye mosquitoes! Amen to that! (I say that as I’m scratching a mosquito bite on my leg…) And what fun – watching the horses play! Between them and what I assume are a lot of wide open spaces on your property – I’ll bet you love it there!
Thank you for spending part of your morning with us here! I’m so glad you enjoyed An Informal Christmas! I hope the rest of the rest of the books in the series live up to your expectations. :) I’m working on #5 right now – An Informal Affair, due out spring 2017. And you’re so right about the craft festivals! I’m not personally crafty – the “d” in “dyi” stands for “doom” in my house. I ruin more crafts than I complete. But I love seeing the great things that other people can do! And an apple cider slushy…that sounds almost too good to be true! :)
I LOVE the cooler temps (just right for a light jacket), the beautiful colors of the changing leaves, pumpkin flavored things, and s’mores around the campfire! :)
My mother-in-law was telling me yesterday that it was finally getting cool enough for her to need an extra layer for warmth, but she lives in Arizona, so her “cool enough” meant it was in the 80s. I laughed and told her I pull out the extra layer clothing when it gets into the 50s and that we’re not quite there yet. :-) Enjoyo your s’mores!!
learn to decorate pumpkin cheesecake
That sounds delicious!! I’ve always been a “plain” cheesecake gal, but I recently had a chocolate cheesecake that was worth changing my mind about! Then I had a lemon meringue cheesecake, and…let’s just say I’m no longer a “plain” cheesecake gal! :D
I love sets! Such a great way to discover new authors. My favourite thing about fall is crunching through the fallen leaves in the perfect fall boots :)
I have a few friend whose favorite thing about fall is BOOTS, period. No need for leaves. ^_^ I’m with you, though – there’s something about those crunchy leaves! (Of course, my kids would say they’d rather hear the crunch as they’re jumping into the pile – much more fun than just walking. ;) )
Great excerpt, Heather! My favorite thing about fall is apple cider! I love it hot or iced!
Apple cider rocks! I have this great crockpot recipe for making hot apple cider. Yum, yum, yum!!! ^_^
I love autumn! Cooler temperatures, blue jeans, and everything apple and pumpkin… What’s not to like? Trdivincenzo (at) gmail (dot) com
I’m working on a recipe for a pumpkin cream pie (kind of like coconut cream pie, but w/ pumpkin) for a church event later this month. I’m hoping it turns out in person as well as it sounds in my head! :)