“Have a nice relaxing evening?” Kristen asked as she walked in. “Get plenty of sleep?”
Adrienne and I exchanged glances and nodded.
Kristen shook her head and laughed. “Right.”
Iris, Colie, and Teddy filed in behind Kristen. Teddy ran up to me and Adrienne with a huge grin and a remote-controlled truck. “Look what Santa brought me. I got a boat, too. We can take it to the water.”
“That is so cool.” I bent down and looked at the fire engine red truck with all-terrain tires. “We can chase Saber with this. He’ll love it.”
“What did Santa bring Kaia besides the train?” Teddy asked excitedly.
“Shh, she hasn’t opened her Santa gifts yet. Do you think we should make her wait until after breakfast?”
Teddy looked at me as though I’d slapped him and Kaia. “No, ma’am.”
“She’s been fed.” Elaine kissed Adrienne and me on the cheek. “She’s ready to start ripping wrapping paper.”
There were a lot of guffaws when Kaia opened the train set. I figured a baby could only tolerate so many chew toys and outfits. And I was right. Once Dad and I had the track set up around the base of the tree, we turned the train loose, and Kaia squealed with delight every time it whistled.
Adrienne and I stood by the bar watching our family enjoy Christmas morning. Kaia was sitting on Dad’s lap. She grabbed at his full-to-the-brim coffee cup. Dad overreacted and slung coffee all over Mom, who jumped up and staggered back into the tree. Black and gold balls crashed to the floor and broke into a million pieces.
I looked at Adrienne with a grin. “She really is my child.”
About the Author
Robin Alexander is the author of the Goldie Award-winning Gloria’s Secret and nine other novels for Intaglio Publications—Gloria’s Inn, Gift of Time, Murky Waters, The Taking of Eden, Love’s Someday, Pitifully Ugly, Undeniable, A Devil in Disguise and Half to Death. Her short story “Crossing the Line” can be found in the anthology Romance for Life.
Robin spends her days working with the staff of Intaglio and her nights with her own writings. She still manages to find time to spend with her partner, Becky, and their three dogs and four cats.
You can reach her at [email protected]. You can visit her Web site at www.robinalexanderbooks.com and find her on Facebook.
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Gloria’s Inn
by Robin Alexander
ISBN: 1-933113-01-4
Release Date: October 2004
Hayden Tate suddenly found herself in a world unlike any other, when she inherited half of an inn nestled away on Cat Island in the Bahamas. Expecting something like the resorts found in Nassau, Hayden was shocked and a little disappointed to find herself on a beautiful tropical island undiscovered by tourism. Hayden reluctantly begins to adapt to a simpler way of life found on the island, and her conversion is often comical.
Not only did Hayden’s aunt leave her an inn, but the company of her former business partner as well. Strange as she is beautiful, Adrienne turns Hayden’s world upside down in many ways. Hayden quickly learns that being with Adrienne will always be an adventure.
The tranquility of the island is shattered with the disappearance of a mysterious guest. Hayden and Adrienne soon find themselves at the center of a murder investigation, fearing for their own safety and the lives of their guests. Eager to rid themselves and the island of a ruthless killer, Adrienne and Hayden decide to conduct their own investigation. The eclectic mixture of guests and staff make their efforts both interesting and humorous.
Gloria’s Secret
Robin Alexander
ISBN: 978-1-933113-93-7
Release Date: October 2008
Hayden Tate had hoped that life on Cat Island would be peaceful with her former trouble causing handyman Hank out of the picture. But when strange occurrences and noises begin to happen around the inn she operates with her partner Adrienne once again the top suspect is Hank the only problem is – Hank is dead.
In this long awaited sequel to Gloria’s Inn, Hayden and Adrienne join their zany guests for another madcap adventure.
Also by Robin Alexander:
Pitifully Ugly
Shannon Brycen has decided to enter the dating world again after taking a hiatus from love. There’s only one problem—well, many—but her reclusive personality and her sister’s disastrous attempts at matchmaking force Shannon to try a different approach.
Hiding behind the online persona of Pitifully Ugly, Shannon finds the confidence she needs to pursue women, and the hunt is on. Many humorous lessons are learned along the way to her perfect match.
Undeniable
After twenty years, Samantha Jackson comes face to face with Jennifer Tanner at a memorial service for a mutual friend. Her plan is simple—pay her respects and maybe have an amicable conversation with the one person who affected her life the most.
Jennifer needs answers to questions that she has carried into adulthood. Circumstances, though unfortunate, have given her that opportunity. She wanted closure; instead, the revelations leave her with anything but resolution.
Two souls come to realize that sometimes love is simply—undeniable.
Devil In Disguise
After suffering a life-changing accident, Natalie Simmons is ready to begin living again. Two distinctly different women enter her life, and she finds herself drawn to both. A choice has to be made. Will she pick the right one or unknowingly choose the devil in disguise?
Half To Death
Sloan Hawkins cheated death when she slipped from its icy grip. It wasn’t until then she realized that she’d only lived half a life in more ways than one. She now accepts that to truly live life to its fullest she must bring down the walls she had built to protect herself. She is ready to let go and love, but finds herself behind a new wall not of her own making.
Corrine Verner (Jade) has also lived her life behind an emotional fortress, but as she gets to know Sloan she begins to hope that she might be different from the others. In her wildest dreams she never could have imagined just how different…
Published by
Intaglio Publications
Walker, La.
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