Author Spotlight Featuring Jill Haymaker's A Peakview Christmas

It's a pleasure to once again bring you a Jill Haymaker new release, this time a seasonal novel, A Peakview Christmas.

Hi, L.A., thanks for hosting me again. I love Christmas! The lights, the songs, the decorations, and the idea of it being a special time for love and family. I have to admit that I’m one of those people who will watch all thirty-six new Hallmark Christmas movies in the next couple of months. In A Peakview Christmas, I started out with a woman who’d been abused and beaten down by an alcoholic husband. When she can’t stand the idea of another miserable holiday, she runs away just a few days before Christmas. The outlook for a joyful Christmas is bleak for her and her young daughters until the magic of Peakview, Colorado and the holiday itself provides the backdrop for happily ever after. Join Faith on her journey to find Christmas magic.

 Excerpt:

CHAPTER ONE

 

Her coffee cup rattled on the table as the door slammed against its hinges. Rattled like her nerves. “I want this house clean when I get home,” Lenny yelled as he stormed across the front lawn. Faith Owens listened as the motor to his ancient pickup sputtered and the gears ground. Please start, she whispered quietly. The last thing she wanted was for her husband to return and demand she drive him to work.

She breathed a sigh of relief when she heard the engine catch and saw gravel fly as he peeled away. Laughter bubbled from the bedroom in the back of the small apartment—a sharp contrast from Lenny’s temper tantrum. Her daughters, Hope and Gracie, had just gotten home from the last day of school before Christmas break. “Two weeks of freedom,” they’d announced as they’d run through the door. What she wouldn’t give for even a day of freedom from the nightmare that her life had become.

She stuck her head in her daughters’ bedroom where they sat playing on the hard, worn, linoleum floor.

“Wanna play dolls with us, Mommy?” Gracie smiled, with that smile made even more adorable by the missing tooth right in front.

“Not right now, honey. I have some things to get done. In a little while.” Knowing that they were safe, she walked into her bedroom and frowned at the trail of clothes Lenny’d left on the floor of the cramped room. The room reeked of beer. Judging by the crumpled cans on the dresser, he chugged a couple before heading to his job. How he’d stayed employed this long, she’d never know. Obviously, being a nightshift janitor didn’t require sobriety.

Faith glanced at the clock. It was a little after four in the afternoon. With any luck, Lenny wouldn’t return until the sun was almost up. Oh, his shift ended at 1:00 a.m. but it was Friday. That meant that he’d hit one of the local dive bars with his buddies before heading home to pass out.

She glanced at her arm in the mirror where a yellow and green bruise still remained from where he’d grabbed her last Friday. How had her life gone so wrong? She was born and raised in this small New Mexico town of Scorpion. In the beginning, she’d thought Lenny was her savior. The first year of marriage had been okay, despite his drinking. Once she got pregnant with Hope, the drinking wasn’t so fun anymore. He resented that she no longer wanted to party.

A few months after Hope was born, she was pregnant again with Gracie. That’s when he’d hit her for the first time. She should have left that very day, but when he sobered up, he was very apologetic—promised it would never happen again. But it did. Over and over. She became numb to the pain. Where was she going to go with two young babies and only a high school education? At least they had a roof over their heads.

But as time went on, their relationship deteriorated even more. He barely spoke to her or slept in the same bed unless he was drunk and wanted sex. He repulsed her. That’s when she came up with her plan.

Buy: Amazon

Blurb:

Only five days until Christmas, and FAITH OWENS has had enough. Not willing to spend one more holiday with her abusive, alcoholic husband, she loads her two young daughters, Gracie and Hope, in her car and leaves her life in Scorpion, New Mexico behind.

Newly divorced, ZANE WILDER, faces his first Christmas without his son, Ace. He can’t wait for the holiday to be over. To escape sitting home sulking, he travels from Montana to Colorado to spend the week training his young horse, Storm Cloud.

When their paths collide at Hearts Haven Bed and Breakfast near scenic Peakview, Colorado, they find more than a place to rest. Two lonely, cautious hearts are brought together by the magic of Christmas, with a little help from Violet Crandall or maybe Santa himself. Will their budding romance continue when the holiday ends? Can two broken families find the missing pieces that lead to happiness?

THIS CHRISTMAS, REDISCOVER ROMANCE IN PEAKVIEW, COLORADO 

WHERE EVERYONE HAS THE CHANCE AT LOVE.

Bio:

Jill Haymaker was born and raised in Indiana and Ohio. After high school, and college she moved to Fort Collins, Colorado.  Ms. Haymaker made her home in Fort Collins until her recent move to East Texas. She practiced family law in Fort Collins for the past 20 years. She has three grown children, a son and two daughters.  She also has three granddaughters.

Jill has always had a passion for writing.  Colorado Sunset was her first full-length romance novel in her Peakview, Colorado series. Her latest book, A Peakview Christmas, is the eleventh and final book in the series. If you love small town romance, you will love the characters in this series. She also has had several short stories published by Chicken Soup for the Soul, the most recent in the book the Best Advice I ever heard, which will be released on November 6, 2018.

When not practicing law or writing, Jill enjoys The Colorado mountains, horseback riding, gardening, long walks with her Toy Australian Shepherd, Merlin, and spending time with her children and grandchildren. She enjoys their numerous sporting events. She is also an avid football fan and can be found on autumn weekends cheering on her favorite teams. 

She has a passion for working with high school youth, she serves as a mentor to an at-risk youth, is a youth group leader at her church, coaches a high school mock trial team and is a volunteer at cross country and track meets.

Find Jill:
Amazon Author Page | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Goodreads | BookBub | Website and Blog |Email

Author Spotlight Featuring Jill Haymaker's New Release ~ Mountain Hearts

Please welcome Jill Haymaker and take a peek at her lastest novel 

in the Peakview Series, Mountain Hearts.

Thanks, L.A., it's good to be back.

I’ve always wanted to write a book about someone who’d lost a child. It’s the most devastating thing anyone can live through. My heroine starts the story in this very dark place. This book is about recovery and coming through on the other side of grief. Love can help us get through just about anything. I decided to make my hero have his own past ghosts so they could heal together.

We’ve all experienced some kind of grief in our lives. My goal is to show hope to those who need it. I hope everyone will be able to relate to this story on some level.

Excerpt:

Suzy Quinlan kicked the dark gray slush in front of her tire with the pointed toe of her high-heeled black boot. The clump fell off her car with a thud, as she grabbed the door handle with her free hand to avoid the same fate. In her other hand, she clung to the large, black umbrella. The cold, icy drizzle continued to fall from the sky. She glanced back in the direction she’d come, in time to see the coffin being lowered into the cold ground. She quickly turned away. The grave side service was bad enough—she didn’t want to think about what happened next.

She carefully walked to the driver’s side of her car. A solid layer of ice had formed on her windshields. Could this day get any worse? She slid her way to the trunk and grabbed out her ice scraper. This was a two-hand job. She collapsed the umbrella and threw it in the trunk. Her long, red hair, which she had so carefully straightened this morning, was sure to turn into a frizz ball in about ten seconds flat in this weather. It didn’t matter. Nothing really mattered anymore. She made her way back to the front of the car and started chipping away. Reaching across the snowy hood, she cursed as her ankle twisted in a pothole. Icy, cold water entered her boot which was made for fashion, not function.

She gave up and climbed behind the wheel and cranked the defrost button to high. She’d wait while the car did the rest of the work. She sighed and laid her head on the steering wheel. She wasn’t going to cry, not now.

Tap. Tap. Tap. Suzy looked up to see her mom knocking on her window. She pushed the button, and slush flew as the pane descended.

“You’re coming to the house, right?” Mom’s pretty face was creased with worry.

“Yes.”

“Do you want to ride with us?” Mom pointed over at Dad sitting behind the wheel of the next car.

“It would be silly to leave my car here at the cemetery. Besides, my feet are soaked. I want to stop at the apartment and change. You go ahead.”

“Alright, but don’t take too long. Aunt Julie says people from the church have been bringing food by all day. I know everyone wants to see you. Don’t forget that Grams and Alice have to catch a plane tonight.”

“I’ll be there.” She rolled the window back up and watched her mom climb in their vehicle, and her dad drive away.

Her windshield had semi-cleared. She turned on the wipers, pulled away from the curb, and drove down the slushy street. Not toward her apartment—not toward her childhood home—just ahead. She knew everyone wanted to give her their condolences, but she’d lose it if she heard one more person say, “I’m sorry for your loss” or “It’s going to be alright.” It wasn’t going to be alright—ever. No amount of casseroles could change that.

  

Buy: 

Amazon

Blurb:

SUZY QUINLAN’S heart dies the day she buries her five year old son, Mason. Leaving the cold cemetery, she flees to the Colorado Mountains searching for peace. Unexpectedly caught in a blinding snowstorm, she seeks shelter in the tiny town of Peakview.

JERRY DECKER is known as the town’s hermit. Since returning from his service in Iraq eight years earlier, he lives a solitary life hiding from his demons, with only his dog, Bear, as company.

Two hearts damaged by grief drawn together as kindred souls. To move forward, they’ll have to face their pasts and lay their ghosts to rest. Can broken hearts dare to hope again?

COME HOME TO PEAKVIEW, COLORADO, WHERE EVERYONE HAS A CHANCE AT LOVE.

Bio:

Jill Haymaker was born and raised in Indiana and Ohio. After high school, she attended Bowling Green State University before moving to Fort Collins, Colorado.  Ms. Haymaker made her home in Fort Collins until her recent move to East Texas. She practiced family law in Fort Collins for the past 20 years. She has three grown children, a son and two daughters.  She also has three granddaughters.

Jill has always had a passion for writing.  Colorado Sunset was her first full length romance novel in her Peakview, Colorado series. Her latest book, Mountain Hearts is the eighth book in the series. If you love small town romance, you will love the characters in this series. She also has had several short stories published by Chicken Soup for the Soul, the most recent in the book Random Acts of Kindness.

When not practicing law or writing, Jill enjoys The Colorado mountains, horseback riding, gardening, long walks with her Shetland Sheepdog, Laddie, and spending time with her children and grandchildren. She enjoys their numerous sporting events. She is also an avid football fan and can be found on autumn weekends cheering on her favorite teams. She has a passion for working with high school youth- she is a youth group leader at her church, coaches a high school mock trial team and is a volunteer at cross country and track meets.

Find Jill:

Email | Amazon Author Page | Website/Blog |Twitter | Instagram | Facebook |Goodreads

Author Spotlight Featuring Jill Haymaker's Colorado Summer Stars

Jill Haymaker has started a new chapter in her life, writing full time. 

Please read on about her latest, Colorado Summer Stars. 

Leslie, Thanks for having you on your blog today. My new release, Colorado Summer Stars in the seventh book in my Peakview Series. These stories are set in the small, fictional town of Peakview, Colorado high in the beautiful Rocky Mountains, and focus on second chances in life. Although Peakview is a product of my imagination, it is based on many small mountains towns that I have experienced. Although I no longer reside in Colorado, my heart remains in the mountains.

I have always wanted to write a story about how one recovers from the horror of a relationship gone totally wrong. How does someone learn to trust again after their trust has been shattered? In Colorado Summer Stars we follow Nicole on one such journey. Her faith in men has been destroyed, but a handsome cowboy may turn everything around. It is never too late to find love.

Excerpt:  

CHAPTER ONE 

“If you think for one minute I didn’t see you flirting with those guys at table seven, you’re dead wrong.” Dave glared at her. Nicole Phillips slammed her tray of dirty glasses onto the large wooden bar so hard that the glasses clinked together and ice cubes jumped out like fish escaping from an aquarium. What would it take for him to trust her? Obviously, not five years of her undying loyalty. She’d never screwed around on him. Not even once. Never even considered it. And he didn’t know that, how?

She grabbed a bleach-filled rag and stomped away to clean off the now-empty tables. Wendy glanced over at her. “Don’t worry about it. He’s been drinking all night. He’ll probably forget what he said when he sobers up.”

Easy for her to say. She wasn’t the one living with Dave. Not the one he was supposed to love. She walked to the bar, and he turned his back to her like she didn’t exist. Was that supposed to hurt her even more? Even more than embarrassing her in front of all their friends and co-workers? She took off her apron and sat down beside Wendy to count her money. It has been a long night.

“You guys coming out to breakfast with us?” Wendy asked.

“I’m in.” Nicole had no desire to rush home to be alone with Dave.

“Dave?”

He turned to Wendy, still ignoring her. “I’ll pass. Not in the mood.”

“Fine. Suit yourself.” Nicole stood up to walk next door to the all-night diner with several of the staff.

Dave grabbed her arm. “If you’re meeting up with him, don’t bother coming home.”

She jerked away. “Meeting up with who? Will you get over it.”

“Did you give him your number?” He glared at her again.

She’d had enough. “Yeah, and our address, too. You can expect that he’ll be stopping by later.” She stormed out the front door into the cool evening.

“Hey, wait up,” Wendy called. “You know how he gets. Don’t let him upset you. He’ll sleep it off.”

“I know.” Nicole’s heart deflated. This wasn’t the life she dreamed of. Not even close. At 2:30 a.m. the breeze off the ocean in San Francisco sent a damp chill through her body. She ran the rest of the way to the diner. Maybe after a big breakfast she’d feel better.

It was almost 4:00 when she parked in front of the brownstone row house where she lived with Dave and two other couples. The rents were much too high in the city to get a place of their own. She liked it well enough. It was in walking distance of many small shops and restaurants. The vibrancy of the city had excited her when she’d arrived from Colorado. Now, she wasn’t sure.

She made her way up the narrow staircase that led to their third-story bedroom. She tiptoed into the room, hoping to slip into bed without awaking Dave.

“Have fun?” His voice boomed from the dark bed.

Blurb: 
How did her relationship go so wrong? When NICOLE PHILLIPS flees San Francisco after her boyfriend’s jealousy turns violent, she doesn’t know where to go next. Out of a job and a place to live, she heads to the only place she feels safe—her childhood home in the tiny town of Peakview, nestled high in the Colorado Rockies. The one place she’d sworn to never live again.

RICK BRADY was a skinny, nerdy kid, earning him the not-so-flattering nickname of Scarecrow in high school. He’d been glad to escape his reputation and leave Peakview behind. When his parents’ health begins to fail, he returns to Peakview and opens his own veterinarian practice on their ranch. He’s never really been in love, unless you count that crush he had on the most popular girl in school from kindergarten through senior year.

Now fifteen years after they both left town, they are back home and searching for answers to questions they can’t define. Beneath the beauty of the Colorado summer stars, they reconnect. They soon discover that it’s not easy to leave the past behind. To move forward and find true love, they must overcome their insecurities and doubts and learn to trust again.

Come home to Peakview, Colorado where everyone has a chance at love.

Buy:

Amazon

Bio:

Jill Haymaker was born and raised in Indiana and Ohio. After high school, she attended Bowling Green State University before moving to Fort Collins, Colorado. Ms. Haymaker made her home in Fort Collins until her recent move to East Texas. She practiced family law in Fort Collins for the past 20 years. She has three grown children, a son and two daughters. She also has three granddaughters.

Jill has always had a passion for writing. Colorado Sunset was her first full-length romance novel in her Peakview, Colorado series. Her latest book, Colorado Summer Stars is the seventh book in the series. If you love small town romance, you will love the characters in this series. She also has had several short stories published by Chicken Soup for the Soul, the most recent in the book Random Acts of Kindness.

When not practicing law or writing, Jill enjoys The Colorado mountains, horseback riding, gardening, long walks with her Shetland Sheepdog, Laddie, and spending time with her children and grandchildren. She enjoys their numerous sporting events. She is also an avid football fan and can be found on autumn weekends cheering on her favorite teams. She has a passion for working with high school youth- she is a youth group leader at her church, coaches a high school mock trial team and is a volunteer at cross country and track meets.

Find Jill:
Email |Website & Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Goodreads

Take Five and Meet Jill Haymaker And Her New Christmas Novella

Today I'm excited to bring you Jill Haymaker, who is a repeat guest, 

and has a brand new Christmas novella to tell us about. 

I love Christmas stories. Love them!!

Welcome to An Indie Adventure, Jill Haymaker. Tell us, what inspired you to write your book, Colorado Cowboy Christmas?

Hi, L.A., thanks for hosting me again, it's always wonderful to be here. I’ve always loved Christmas. It’s my favorite time of year and the best time for romance. I love my small fictional town of Peakview, Colorado so what better place to have a holiday romance? This is my first novella. I know how busy everyone is this time of year so I wanted to write a shorter story that people would have time to read.

 If you were not a writer, what vocation would you pursue?

Well, my “real” job is an attorney. I started writing to escape the nastiness and conflict that I have to deal with. Currently, I spend about 50% of my time writing and 50% practicing law. I hope for it to be 100% writing someday.

Do you prefer to read in the same genre you write in, or do you avoid reading that genre?  Why?

I write romance and that is what I read the majority of the time. I just love happily ever after. I see so much unhappiness in my day job, that I love to start a book knowing that everything is going to work out in the end whether I’m writing the story or reading it. We can’t have too much love in this world.

How do you create internal and external conflict in your characters?  I find conflict often the hardest to create when I start planning a book.

Conflict is always hard for me. I just want everyone to get along and be happy, but that doesn’t make for a very interesting story. I’m a pantser, so I try to find conflict as I go along. Being an introvert, and shying away from confrontation, I find it easier to create internal rather than external conflict.

If you could live during any era of history, which one would you choose?

If I had to choose an era other than today, I think I would choose the 1950’s. Life seemed simpler when I was a small child. Families had more time to spend just being together without the distractions of the digital age. We all knew our neighbors. Everyone took weekends off from work.

Give us a brief summary of Colorado Cowboy Christmas.

Cynthia Welch has made a name for herself as one of Chicago’s top divorce attorneys at the expense of her personal life. Burnt out, she heads to Peaktop Guest Ranch for a couple of months of solitude over the holidays.

AJ Coulter, a cowboy from Wyoming, has been a loner and a drifter ever since his divorce and his teenage daughters leaving for college. He finds a temporary job at Peaktop Ranch as the head wrangler.

When their paths cross, Cynthia begins to question her life in Chicago, and AJ struggles to find a way to keep her in Colorado. Can the spirit of Christmas bring these two people from very different worlds together and help them find their way to true love?

Buy Links: 

Amazon

  

Bio: 

Jill Haymaker was born and raised in Indiana and Ohio. After high school, she attended Bowling Green State University before moving to Fort Collins, Colorado in 1975. Jill has made her home in Fort Collins ever since except for three years in the 1990’s when she left to attend law school at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Nebraska. She has practiced family law in Fort Collins for the past 20 years. She has three grown children, a son and two daughters. She also has three granddaughters.

Jill has always had a passion for writing. Colorado Sunset was her first full length romance novel her Peakview, Colorado series. The second through fourth books in the series, Breakfast for Two, Colorado Cabin in the Pines and Colorado Wrangler are also available at Amazon.com. Colorado Cowboy Christmas is her first Christmas Novella. She also has had several short stories published by Chicken Soup for the Soul, the most recent in the book The Joy of Less, on sale April 19, 2016.

When not practicing law or writing, Jill enjoys The Colorado mountains, horseback riding, gardening, long walks with her Shetland Sheepdog, Laddie, and spending time with her children and grandchildren. She enjoys their numerous sporting events. She is also an avid football fan and can be found on autumn weekends cheering on the Broncos, the CSU Rams, and the Huskers. She has a passion for working with high school youth- she is a youth group leader at her church, coaches a high school mock trial team and is a volunteer at cross country and track meets.

Find Jill:

Website | Amazon Author Page | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Goodreads

Take Five with Author Jill Haymaker

Today you get to meet Jill Haymaker and learn a bit about her new series, Peakview. 

And wait until you read her answer to the last question. 

Don't miss it!!

Jill is offering a sale and don't miss her trailer...read on.

Welcome Jill, what inspired you to write Breakfast for Two?

I fell in love with both the main characters in this book Violet and Howard, when I wrote the first book in the series, Colorado Sunset.  I just love my little town of Peakview nestled high in the Colorado mountains.  I wanted to write a romance about characters in their sixties, to show that romance is just as real for people our age, that they still have the same feelings, wants and desires as twenty-somethings. But at the same time, I wanted to show the unique issues and dilemmas that older people deal with in a love relationship. I hope that I have been able to portray their unique personalities and sense of humor on facing their senior years. I wanted to give baby boomers a romance they could relate to.

How did you use setting to further your story?

I’ve always believed that setting is almost like another character in any story.  As a reader, I fall in love with the setting and want to continue to read more stories in the same location.  When I started Colorado Sunset I didn’t know Peakview existed. It just happened. But once I had created it, I fell in love with the small town.  Many of the issues my characters face are unique to small-town living.  I think Peakview and its residents allowed for Violet and Howard to fall in love.

How do you construct your characters?

I think my characters construct themselves.  I start out by doing a backstory for each of my characters, I construct as much detail as possible about their entire lives leading up to the beginning of my book (when your characters are in their 60’s that can be a lot of backstory. Then I try to have them conform to how someone with those experiences would react to what’s going on in their lives. I am definitely a Pantser, so I usually don’t know at the beginning of a story where my characters are going to take me. Sometimes they really surprise me.

How is your main character completely different from you?

All of my characters have a part of me in them.  Violet has lived a very different life than I have, so her views are somewhat different than mine, but I think we have the same hopes and dreams.  I made her the town busybody, which being an introvert is not something that I would do. She is way more outgoing than I am.

Tell us something about yourself we might not expect.

I was a bartender for almost twenty years before becoming an attorney. You can learn a lot about people by watching and listening to them when they drink. I think I draw many of my characters from people I met in bars. People will give their bartender more personal information than they share with most of their friends and family. I have always been fascinated by the study of people and how they react to others.

Blurb:

The tiny, mountain town of Peakview, Colorado, wouldn’t be the same without Violet’s Café, and its owner, Violet Woods. Widowed in her fifties, she leads a solitary life with only her cat Lucky to keep her warm at night. All thoughts of romance died with Stan. They had a wonderful, long happy marriage, and she’s content to live out the rest of her life with her memories.

Howard Crandall, Peakview’s only mechanic, is a confirmed bachelor and something of a hermit. When Stan died, he took it upon himself to look out for Violet. Over the years, they have become friends, but it isn’t until the past he has hid from for thirty year past suddenly catches up with him, that he opens up to the idea of finding love.

Is there a second chance for these two lonely souls?

Buy:
Amazon

Book 1 in the series, Colorado Sunset is Free from October 1-5

Buy Link: Amazon

Bio:

Jill Haymaker was born and raised in Indiana and Ohio. After high school, she attended Bowling Green State University before moving to Fort Collins, Colorado in 1975.  Ms. Haymaker has made her home in Fort Collins ever since except for three years in the 1990’s when she left to attend law school at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Nebraska. She has practiced family law in Fort Collins for the past 20 years. She has three grown children, a son and two daughters.  She also has three granddaughters.

Jill has always had a passion for writing.  Colorado Sunset was her first full-length romance novel.  It is the first in a series of novels centered in the small town of Peakview, Colorado. The second book in the series, Breakfast for Two, was released on September 15, 2015. She is working on the third book, a Cabin in the Pines, to be released in early 2016.She also has had several short stories published by Chicken Soup for the Soul. Her latest story in a book entitled Thanks to My Mom.

When not practicing law or writing, Jill enjoys gardening, long walks with her Shetland Sheepdog, Laddie, and spending time with her children and grandchildren. She enjoys their numerous sporting events. She is also an avid football fan and can be found on autumn weekends cheering on the Broncos, the CSU Rams, and the Huskers. She has a passion for working with high school youth- she is a youth group leader at her church, coaches a high school Mock Trial team and is a volunteer for high school Cross Country and Track teams.

Find Jill:
Email | Website/Blog | Twitter | Instagram| Facebook