Summer 2023
Izzy
My life is not like I dreamed it would be. I had the foolish fantasy I would finish high school, go to college, make something of myself- maybe even become famous.
Instead, I’m the infamous kid of the father who killed himself in the family’s backyard.
How’s that for a legacy?
Excerpt
Prologue
Izzy
The day my life changed forever started like any other with Mom yelling for me to get out of bed, my sister hogging all the hot water in the shower, and my little brother peeping at me from the doorway to my room.
āBeat it, creep,ā I mumble, throwing my one good pillow at his head. He grins and takes off for the stairs as fast as his gangly legs will carry him. I sigh and flop onto my back, blinking the sleep from my eyes. Dust motes float in the air through the sunās early morning rays sneaking past my half-closed blinds. Upstairs, the floorboards creak as Mom moves around the kitchen preparing our lunches. That nagging cough of hers grosses me out. Itās a cross between a gag and a snort; real attractive first thing in the morning.
A vibration under my right shoulder blade has me doing a frantic search for my cell through the topsy-turvy mess Iāve made of my blankets. The Hello Kitty case shakes again. I turn it over to find five messages from my best friend, Trinity.
Did you decide yet?
Itās going to be a blast!!!
The biggest party of the year, and itās your birthday ļ
Kyleās going
Izzy, are you there?
Kyleās going? Oh, man. Trinity teased me, but Kyle is the cutest boy in tenth grade and nice, too. Ever since heād turned to me in Hendricksās class and asked for help with Canadaās social and economic growth and the connection to natural resources, Iād been dreaming of those dark brown eyes. I needed to go to that party.
What are you going to wear?
Knowing Trinity, sheād probably shopped all weekend for the perfect outfit.
I found the perfect outfit! Wait ātil you see it!!
I looked at the tired clothes hanging in my closet and sigh. The money I made working part-time after school at The Voltage, a popular coffee shop downtown, had to go toward helping Mom with the bills.
I stare at Trinityās words, her excitement contagious. I want some of that enthusiasm. To be a teenager, just for one night.
Iām supposed to work at nine
Iāll have to lie. I hate lying. I suck at it, my eyes always give me away.
Say youāre sick. Cāmon, Izzy, youāve got to go!!
The door of the bathroom I share with my sister opens. Steam billows around RenĆ©eās body as she sashays out in a bath towel.
āYou plan on showering before school? ā she says, crossing the chilly cement floor to her bedroom on the other end of the basement. āI can smell the deep fryer on your skin from here.ā The door closes and sheās gone on a whiff of the lavender body wash she adores.
I lift my arm to my nose and inhale. Yep, Ć de French fries. Lovely.
I gotta go. See you at school, k?
I roll out of bed and dig around in my drawer for clean underwear, my best pair of holey jeans, and the t-shirt RenĆ©e gave me for my birthday. She said sheād chosen the grass-green shade because it matched my eyes, then proceeded to ruin the moment by adding the sweetheart neckline would give my flat chest a boost. Mom gave her hell over it, but I didnāt care. The shirt is the nicest thing in my wardrobe.
āYou girls have five minutes and then Iām coming down there,ā Mom threatens.
She said the same thing every morning. One of these days Iām going to wait her out just to see if she follows through. Probably not anytime soon, though. The curse of the middle child; trying to keep everyone happy.
The shower goes from tepid to frigid just as I lather up the birdās nest on top of my head. My hair is the bane of my existence. RenĆ©eās sleek blond curtain does just what she asks of it. With his sandy hair and freckles, Benjamin gets a break for sheer cuteness. And then thereās me. My hair color is a cross between a pennyānot the shiny, pretty ones, the old, tarnished kindāand a copper kettle. The curls came from the postman; at least thatās what Dad says.
I swipe the mirror with my hand and stare at my reflection. The girl looking back at me seems so much younger than the person living inside her body.
āIzzy, the bus is here. You want to walk to school?ā Momās voice is louder, as though sheād dared a few steps into my sanctuary.
āIāll be right there,ā I call, anxious to have her leave.
āWell, hurry up then. I have things to do,ā Mom snaps.
I turned away from the flare of anger in my eyes and methodically dress. My powder blue lacy new bra and panties Iād bought with part of my cheque, the birthday shirt, my jeansāa little snug around the hipsāand a pair of flats so I wouldnāt raise too much suspicion with my mom. Because the decision is madeāIām going to the party.
Because the true power is love!
My heroes are tough, alpha males who know what they want. That is until they get gob-smacked by heroines who are strong, contemporary women willing to show them what they really need is love.
Iāve been blessed with a long, happy marriage and enjoy writing romance novels that end with happy-ever-afters.
Jacquie Biggar has a wonderful gift for writing hot and extremely likable military men!
Jacqui Nelson
From the time Jacquie was twelve years old, she knew she wanted to be a writer. That year she wrote a short story called Count Daffodil after spending countless hours searching for ideas. The story garnered Jacquie an A and was read aloud through the school’s loudspeaker system. Needless to say, after that she was hooked.
Jacquie grew up, married her best friend, raised a family and left her writing urges to simmer in the background unattended.
She owned and operated a successful diner in her hometown for a number of wonderful years before deciding to live her dream of becoming an author.
Jacquie’s first book, Tidal Falls, a romantic suspense novel about second chances, released September of 2014.
Connect with Jacquie here: jbiggar@jacqbiggar.com
Home
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http://amazon.com/author/jacquiebiggar
https://www.goodreads.com/JacquieBiggar
Jacquie Biggar-USA Today Best-selling author 
Looking forward to reading your books
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Thanks Dianne!
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Your welcome
Sent from my iPhone
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Congrats on your new release, Jacquie:) I have book one on my kindle and will be adding!
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Thanks so much, Denise!
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I I really liked going through your blog today, Lots of areas to keep you interested
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Thanks! I have fun playing with themes, lol
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This looks really nice, love that background
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Thank you! I love playing with WordPress themes š
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Wishing you much success xx
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Thanks, Jane!
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I enjoyed learning all about your books, Jacquie. Sharing this for you.
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Appreciated, Robbie, thanks!
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Congrats Jacquie! Wishing you lots of success! I have a few of your books on my Kindle that I am looking forward to getting to. š
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Thanks so much!
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Welcome. š
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I adored Sweetheart Cove. Nice to see it spotlighted here.
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I find after writing dark suspense I like to do something with a more heartwarming tone.
Thanks so much, Staci!
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That makes perfect sense.
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I do love a good Christmas romance.The cover of Mistletoe Inn is so enchanting and the excerpt was great. You are such an extremely prolific author, Jacquie!
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Thanks, Mae! This cover is courtesy of the wonderful Michele Hauf. She’s a dream to work with and understood my vision perfectly š
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My home right now is full of amazing fall colors of yellow, cream brown oak, vibrant oranges,burntred and those are just the color of the leaves ,then there is the smell of anchent ever greens and burning fire’s from the chimnies all a wanderfull scent of fall I love it, last but not least Halloween decorations every where scare crows sitting on bales of hae pumpkins with evil grins cornstalks keeping them company. I sit outside with a warm glow in my bell and heart, this is home the Canadian great north and I love it with pride. KAT
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I join in your love of our beautiful country, Kat. Thanks for this lovely picture you’ve painted with these words.
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I think I want to use this quote as the opening of an interview with you
“Jacquie Biggar has a wonderful gift for writing hot and extremely likable military men!” Jacqui Nelson
I enjoyed this post and like the way you include your twitter stream, Jacquie.
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Thanks, Rob! How are you doing? š
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I’m good, Jacquie! I have folks in from out of town. Today is a free day so I’m catching up. That’s such a great quote. It’s funny and it makes me want to read your books. š
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Thank you š Have fun with your friends!
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Thanks Jacquie! š
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Oooh, the circumstances for the male character sound heart wrenching, Jacquie.
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One of my favorite old television shows was Beauty and The Beast (not the Disney version) https://youtu.be/FQMV1F272wg
I was fascinated with Vincent and Katherine’s improbable love story and wanted to do my own twist on the tale.
Thanks for checking it out, Robbie š
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Beautiful and enchanting cover and blurb, Jacquie … congratulations on your latest release and best of luck with it. Off to check it out. ššŗ
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Thanks, Annika!
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Congrats on the new release, Jacquie. Great cover and I enjoyed the excerpt. Wishing you the best of luck!
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Thank you, I need it š
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I just reviewed a book about ‘thin ice’ although I think mine was a different sort than yours. Interesting review, Jacquie!
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Now you have me curious, lol. I used thin ice as a dual analogy for the danger they’re in, as well as a trust broken. I hope you give it a try when it releases, Jacqui š
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What a blessed life you have had Jacquie!
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Aw, thanks, Diane!
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I’m in awe of your literary prowess, Jacquie.
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Thank you! š
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Hi Jacquie, I couldn’t thank you on Norah’s ‘Schooldays site’ – as it went completely haywire…In answer to your questions about Wales and Canada. My mother was Welsh and had lots of relatives in South Wales. Inland, it was very peaceful (though not on the coast…) and my aunt was a lovely soul. When the Suez Crisis was in full flow, we lived in Toronto and I worked for Canadian Reinsurance, down town. We travelled to Montreal and all over the various lakes and Niagara and had a whale of a time.It’s a beautiful country but we, nevertheless, suffered homesickness and returned to the UK. We have good friends in Vancouver and stayed with them years later (visited Expo) and also fell in love with Vancouver island…Good luck with all your. obviously successful writing. Long may you reign! Best wishes. Joy x
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Hi Joy, thanks for getting back to me š
I’d love to visit Wales one day. The pictures I’ve seen are of beautiful, serene GREEN hills and of course, the Welsh ponies (which I adore!)
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Hi, If ever you reach Wales, one special place is LAUGHARNE. It’s quite beautiful: I’ll try and sort some photos out for you..The poet DylanThomas (“Under Milk Wood”) lived in a boat house near the estuary. Tenby beach is memorable too…Cheers! xx
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Thanks! I’ll look them up š
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The castle looks fascinating!
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Just fab, good luck and keep on keeping on. xx
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Thank you, Jane š
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GREAT BLOG, JACQUIE. GOOD LUCK WITH THE NEW BOOK I LOVE THE WAY YOU WRITE, CHINA
china.alexandria@livingthedream.blog
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Thank you, China, appreciated!
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Jacqui,
I really want to know what happens to Maggie and Frank! Please tell me that they will be back!
Edie LaReau
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Hi Edie,
Have you read Maggie’s Revenge? I’m currently working on a sequel to that book with more of their story. After the traumatic events Maggie endured, I didn’t feel it would be right for her to easily trust again, so I’m easing into their relationship.
Don’t give up on me š
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Love to read!!
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Me too! Thanks for stopping by to comment š
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Youāre welcome!!
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That’s quite a collection of works you have, Jacquie. š
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Thank you!
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I like the Maggie’s Revenge cover. š
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Thank you! It was created by Kim Killion š
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To great sounding books, Jacquie, with quite different themes too. You are very versatile.
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Thank you, Robbie, appreciated!
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So many ‘RomanceReaders’ are happy you’re following your dream, Jacquie ‘Prolific’! ā„ā„ā„
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Aw, that’s so kind, Billy Ray, thank you! I haven’t become famous yet, but I’m trying, lol
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It’s only one month away for your new release. Congratulations, Jacquie! I enjoyed the excerpt. And thank you for the generous offer of two of your book for free. I downloaded them!
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Thank you, Miriam. I’m scrambling to get it done in time!
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Best wishes to dashing through the line, Jacquie!
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I love that cover, Jacquie!
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Thank you! My 25th novel š
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You’re amazing!
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If only the film producers agreed with you š
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There’s someone out there who will. Never give up. š
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ā¤
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Hi Jacquie,
I don’t usually read romance novels but your excerpt is very well-written and intriguing. Nice to “meet” you.
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Hi Evelynn, thank you! May I ask what genres you usually read?
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Congratulations on the new releases, Love ’em! Best wishes, Michael
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Yay, thank you, Mark!
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:-))
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I’m sorry, Michael! I shouldn’t comment before I have my morning coffee, lol
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Lol Dont worry, me too, Jacquie! Enjoy your day!
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I am making my way up to this book, Jacquie:) I just noticed wordpress unsubscribed you on my list! I hate when that happens.
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They’ve unlisted a bunch from my favorite blogs, too- err!
Thank you, Denise. I hope you enjoy the series š
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An excellent, exciting story and book review. The ad logo is very catchy.šš
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Thank you, AOC!
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