That Day, Karen Deen [early readers .txt] 📗

beautiful day with my little family, Kurt is locking up the house downstairs for the night. Even though our life is so different now, he has never let go of that ritual, and I doubt he ever will.

Sitting out on the deck off our bedroom looking out on the moon’s rays beaming across the ocean, I can’t help feeling so blessed.

Since I regained the freedom to take over my own life again, my books have become favorites for many readers. And my stories have just kept growing in my head. Being a full-time author has given me the flexibility to be a stay-at-home mom with the girls and have the best of both worlds. Kurt is happy building and living a much quieter life, although he occasionally gets one of those calls from Ghost where he can’t say no, and he disappears for a while. I don’t ask questions. I owe all our lives to Ghost, so as long as my husband comes back in one piece, then I’m okay with that.

Out to sea, I can see a storm forming. The lightning is bright and shooting in random lines across the sky.

The distant rumble that comes with the unpredictability of it has me thinking back to my love-and-hate relationship with storms.

I could have sat back and felt sorry for myself after everything that has happened in my life, but what would be the point of that?

Instead, on that day, I took a chance to fight for the life I wanted.

When the storm of life was at its peak around me, I found my calm.

For all the hard days I lived, I will be eternally grateful for THAT DAY.

THE END

Please read on for a sneak peek of Gorgeous Gyno from the Chicago Boys series

Acknowledgments

Thank you to my beautiful readers.

I can’t believe I have just released my tenth book. What a journey this has been so far, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.

Without you, though, my words would be just words, but instead, with all of you reading them, you make them a story, one that you help me to share with the world. I will always be grateful for your support of my books and the way you show me your love.

For the bloggers, promoters, authors, and friends in the industry, thank you for your friendship and promotion of my books. Without you we wouldn’t have the indie world that we are all so lucky to publish in.

My beta readers have really had to hold my hand on this book. Through the tough times, they kept encouraging me and pushing me to keep my head down and are constantly showing me how much they believe in me. Vicki, Nicole, Di, Shelbie, Linda, and Nicole, writing a book without you would be impossible.

To Contagious Edits, thank you. You make my books so much better, and I would be lost without you. For all the craziness that is my drafts, I hope you get to enjoy the story that lies between them.

Linda and the team at Foreword PR – you girls rock. Thank you for everything you do for me and especially on this book, where at times it was hard to see the end through the fog. You knew I’d get there, and even during the times I didn’t believe it, you kept pushing me anyway.

Sarah Paige from Opium Creatives, who always makes my covers look amazing. Working with you is always so easy, and you make my books look fantastic.

Thank you to Kellie for your perfect formatting and helping me to get the book out on time.

The writing of this book has been in a time in my life that was personally hard. The strength I have needed to pull through has come from the people around me who I love more than life itself. My husband Michael, my three kids, and my family—that includes those of you who I claim as part of my family by choice—words can’t describe what you mean to me. The arms you have wrapped around me during this time are warm and strong and what got me through it.

To Mum – I did it. I promised that no matter what, I would finish this book for you.

You are my rock and the person I admire most in this world. Your strength astounds me, and I can only hope to continue my life as you have lived yours. Kind and compassionate to others, never afraid to help someone in need, and above all, love with a strong heart the important people in your life. You inspire me to do big things, and I will never be able to thank you for all you have done for me. But just know I will always carry your support and love with me.

Love you with all I am.

Happy reading, everyone.

Thank you so much, and until next time, I’ll meet you between the pages.

Karen xx

Gorgeous Gyno Excerpt

MATILDA

Today has disaster written all over it.

Five fifty-seven am and already I have three emails that have the potential to derail tonight’s function. Why do people insist on being so disorganized? Truly, it’s not that hard.

Have a diary, use your phone, write it down, order the stock – whatever it takes. Either way, don’t fuck my order up! I shouldn’t have to use my grown-up words before six am on a weekday. Seriously!

I’m standing in the shower with hot water streaming down my body. I feel like I’m about to draw blood with how hard I’m scrubbing my scalp, while I’m thinking about solutions for my problems. It’s what I’m good at. Not the hair-pulling but the problem-solving in a crisis. A professional event planner has many sneaky tricks up her sleeve. I just happen to have them up my sleeve, in my pockets, and hiding in my shoes. As a last resort, I pull them out of my ass.

I need to get into the office to find a new supplier that can have nine hundred mint-green