Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms and Like-a-Mom women (and men) out there who’ve made an impact in another person’s life. I’ve been fortunate to have known several. I’d like to hope I have been that to my own precious daughters and all their wonderful friends I’ve had the privilege to meet over the years. But, Like-A-Mom women appear in our lives all the time. We just have to be paying attention. 

2018 has been a devastating year of loss in the Giordano family. As my girls and I have tried to adjust to a strange, new ‘normal’, the word that comes to mind lately, is grateful. Despite the overwhelming sadness we still feel, I have been humbled by the outpouring of love and kindness from so many friends, both current and close by, to the far-flung, decades-old friends who rushed to our sides when they heard the news. From busy co-workers, who have taken time from their packed lives to assist us in countless ways. To our caring neighbors who have embraced us with their love and concern. Who now check on us often and are happy to lend a helping hand, no matter how small or large the task.

To my daughters– future moms, themselves, I can only remind you that we will travel this dark, scary road together. Gripping hands. Gaining strength from one another. We may be lost in a swirling fog right now, but we will continue to plod on, because there is surely sunlight at the end of this heartbreaking tunnel we are lost in. When one of us stumbles, as we surely will– all of the Like-A-Moms in our lives will be right there with us, holding us up. All we need do, is ask. 

So, to all the Like-A-Moms out there and especially to the countless kind people in our lives, thank you so much. Your kindness has meant everything.   

Sometimes readers ask where a book idea comes from. In the case of Out on a Limb, the idea stems from the panic all pet owners experience when their buddy is missing. In Limb, the question is– what will you do when your cat climbs to the top of your neighbor’s tree in a howling rainstorm? 

It was a dark and stormy night… Arriving home at 10 pm, still in skirt, pumps, etc from a long workday and night school, I entered the house. Kids in bed. Husband watching a late Monday Night Football game. The Patriots were on the west coast. Time for bed . . . until the cat escaped. I immediately followed. Through our yard. Into the neighbor’s yard. Up their tree. In my pumps and skirt. Cat . . . climbs higher. I climb higher. It starts raining. Hard. Cue the wind gusts. I’m clutching the skinny limbs you see all the way at the top of trees. I realized how high I’d climbed when the neighbor’s bedroom light winked out. Ten feet below me. The branches were getting slippery. Cat continues yowling– but refuses to budge. I lose one pump. Cue hysterical female sobs. (quietly, because– ssshh . . . the neighbors are now sleeping).

By halftime of the Pats game, Husband finally realizes I’m missing. I know– so flattering, right? He appears outside with a flashlight . . . searching near the car. I whisper-yell to him (because the neighbors are sleeping) and he finally looks up. And up. He trudges over to the neighbor’s yard to the base of the tree. Our conversation goes something like this: Me: Please call the fire department. Him: They probably won’t come for the cat. Me: Uh– how about to get me down? Him: I’ll just get a ladder. (Disappears to the man-shed. Returns ten minutes later with a five foot ladder). Me: What about the other fifteen feet? Him: I’ll guide you down. (Meanwhile, he’s informed me that I’m on the clock because the 3rd quarter is about to start. Me: angry whispers Call the fire department. Him: We can do this– and can you hurry up about it?

Bingo! A story idea. The moral here is never follow a cat up a tree– especially in a rainstorm. Especially late at night– while wearing heels. Especially during a Patriots game. The cat survived. I survived. But my husband missed the third quarter of the Pats game. I still hear of it to this day. 

It has been a hot, busy summer! Glad it will soon be fall, my favorite season. I am excited to announce book 3 of my contemporary romantic suspense series, Can’t Help Falling is coming soon! Book three, OUT ON A LIMB, will be available at all retail sites on September 18th! 

MaryJo Mullaney is out on a limb . . . literally. High in a tree in the middle of a gusting rainstorm. No glasses. No shoes. No coat. Rescuing her cat, Jack– who doesn’t realize he needs rescuing. Banker by day, hacker by night, she’s given up on the male species. Except Jack.

Coding his next blockbuster software release, millionaire developer Travis Lockwood, discovers a spy perched in the tree outside his second floor window. A rival developer out for a little espionage. This time he’ll take matters into his own hands.

Rescuing MaryJo is a breath of fresh air for the workaholic loner. Convincing the beautiful hacker that a hot, no-strings affair is better than a relationship may prove challenging. Because MaryJo has rules. Specifically, a seven-date-rule. Battling wills with the stubborn beauty ticks him off– yet, somehow makes him try even harder to win. But, risking his heart might be the greatest victory of all.  

When corporate espionage morphs into threats against MaryJo, they will battle a faceless enemy bent on destruction. At stake: his company . . . or MaryJo’s life.