To my amazing author friends who allowed my incessant questions, provided much-needed guidance and gave me the inside scoop for indie publishing. Rachel Robinson, first a fellow blogger, now a fantastic friend and phenomenal author who still always makes time for me; you don't know how much I admire and respect you! Heidi Joy Tretheway, a wonderful storyteller who has held my hand and helped to get me through this complicated and foreign process. Lex Martin, who let me fangirl all over her, and even gave me much-needed publishing answers with a nice dose of humor. I would have stumbled far too often without all of the steady advice and fun humor they provided. These authors are the shit. Pick up their books as soon as you put this one down.
To the NAAU and RAU groups—I may lurk more than I participate, but I have developed great friendships and gleaned so much information and knowledge from you all! Love you people! To NaNoWriMo 2014. I wrote the entirety of the story within the month of November, cheered on by the NaNo community and the Austin NaNo group. I needed that boost of motivation more than anything, and can’t wait for next year.
Many thanks are due to Wendy Callahan, my incredible editor-extraordinaire. You put the smack down on my overuse of commas, figured out exactly what I was trying to say, and gave me such wonderful critiques while allowing my voice and story to remain true to me. Much luck and success with your own writing projects!
I give huge, mad props to Josh Baker of AzulOx Visuals, my very own frenetic blond ball of energy who shares my creative brain. You are not only a badass photographer, but also someone I love calling a friend. You made magic happen by turning my characters and story into real life by shooting my cover and promo images for me. Let’s keep creating art and beauty together.
To my grandma Lois, who may never read my work and would probably gasp in shock if she did. She gave me romance novels to read in the fourth grade trying to force me out of boredom, but managed to create in me a voracious appetite for reading, and sparked my love of romance at a tender age. I fully credit her with my vivid imagination that allows me to dive head-first into my more explicit scenes. Thanks, Grams!
Of course, to my amazing mother Brenda. The incredible love and bond between Bliss and Lisa is my own little love letter to my fantastic mom. She loved me enough for two parents, always provided for me, and has been my biggest fan in everything I do. She has always given me unwavering and steadfast support that I can count on. Thanks for letting me call you up crying and sad while I wrote the Lisa scenes and for giving me a good dose of mother’s love. I loved how often you would say something just like my fictional mom would, and it would make me feel better about my work. I love you!
Last but far from least, I must say thank YOU for taking a chance on an unknown author and reading this far. I am forever grateful you chose me when there are so many other options out there. You are helping me live my passion and dreams, and for that, there is no amount of thanks to perfectly sum up my shiny, happy feelings.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Adrian R. Hale loves sugar and spice and everything nice--so of course she loves a good happy ending, in fiction and otherwise.
When she’s not writing, she is making people beautiful as a hair and makeup artist, or trying to run off her overconsumption of sugar. A born and raised California girl, she now resides in Austin, TX with her husband and fur babies.
Playing with her imaginary friends is as common to her now as it was when she was a child; the only difference is now she lets other people know about them through her writing. She would love to hear from you at [email protected] or www.Facebook.com/adrianrhaleauthor.
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND UPDATES
Visit Adrian R. Hale on her website or facebook page. Feel free to stalk her on Goodreads, Twitter and Instagram as well.
COPYRIGHT
A Taste of Bliss
Copyright © 2015 by Adrian R. Hale. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This book is a work of fiction. References to real people, events, establishments, organizations or locations are intended only to provide a sense of authenticity, and are used fictitiously. All other characters and all incidents and dialogue are drawn from the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real.
Credits:
Editor: Wendy Callahan
Cover design: Kari Ayasha of Cover to Cover Designs
Cover photos: AzulOx Visuals
Cover models: Jennifer Lynn Larsen and David McKay
Author photo: Karonec Chreng
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-one
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Epilogue
Blurb for Drift It
Excerpt of Drift It by Adrian R. Hale
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A Taste of Bliss Page 26
