Our next release has an official title! We’re excited to introduce My Unexpected Valentine. If you read our last blog post, you know we’re working on a Valentine’s Day themed romance. This title is fitting because the two leads, Emily and Nolan, thought they’d be the last people on earth to ever end up together. They’re completely unexpected valentines!
They’re in their 30s now, but these two go way back because they absolutely hated each other in high school. They both did things that left lasting scars, at least mentally. So when a dating app pairs them together on a blind date, you can imagine what happens. Can they overlook their past to give their future a chance?
One of them is more willing to give things a shot while the other is more reluctant. One of them is more serious while the other is a jokester. They’re opposites in many ways, yet they discover they have a great deal in common too.
My Unexpected Valentine is a cute love story with a lot of humor. It’s not as dark or heavy as Redemption. It’s a story about people dealing with problems that we believe readers can relate to. A story with humor, sweetness, heartbreak, and happiness.
We’re still shooting for a Valentine’s Day release and we’re happy with the progress we’re making on this one. Feel free to follow us on social media for updates! And now here’s a sneak peak from the un-edited draft of My Unexpected Valentine.
-A
Excerpt from My Unexpected Valentine
“Look,” Talia said, offering her phone to her sister. The screen was still on her new dating app.
“What about it?”
“You need something else to focus on right now. I know it’s none of my business but… you haven’t exactly went on a date in a really long time.” Talia had a look that was all too familiar to Emily. A look that said she was up to something. She was biting her lip, and had a mischievous glint in her eye.
Emily narrowed her eyes at her. “No.”
“Em, come on! I didn’t want to bring it up but Aaron is worried about the algorithms being off. He thinks the app isn’t gonna work. That it’s just gonna be like all the other apps. But I’m telling you, this code, it’s unlike any other dating app out there! It will find your perfect match! And if you try it out for me, and prove it, then it’s like a win for both of us!”
Emily couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She believed in her sister. She knew she was a great coder. But could an app really find someone’s perfect match? Emily highly doubted that. And to find her perfect match? She hadn’t even considered there being a man out there that was perfect for her. Everyone had flaws. She knew that first hand. She was chock full of them.
“I’m not gonna be your guinea pig,” Emily said, with a shake of her head.
“I’m not asking you to be, I just… I worry about you, Em. You’re in your 30s now, and you’re all alone. Don’t you want someone? Someone to talk to and confide in. Someone to hug and kiss, and just be close to? Someone that connects to your very soul?”
Emily rolled her eyes and let out a scoff. Talia had always been a romantic. She met her husband at a candy shop of all places. It was literally something out of a romantic comedy. They fell madly in love, and got married, and even had a variety of cute candies at their wedding, in honor of their first meeting. It was… sort of cute, in a way. But Emily had never been like her. Emily didn’t believe in love at first sight. She didn’t believe there was a one true love out there for her.
“I’m doing just fine, Talia. If I wanted a boyfriend, I would find one myself.”
“So you can say to me with complete confidence that you’re not at all lonely?” Talia asked.
Emily gave her sister a hard look. Was she lonely? Sure. Maybe she did wish she had all that wishy washy stuff that Talia had just mentioned. It would be nice to have someone to snuggle up with and watch a movie. Someone to come home to other than her pet tortoise Leo. But that required dating, and putting herself out there, and she didn’t know if she was ready to do that.
“And you know, Valentine’s Day is just a month away. Wouldn’t it be nice to have someone to spend it with this year?” Talia pressed.
Emily had already considered that she was going to spend Valentine’s Day alone again this year. It wasn’t enough to convince her to agree, but…
“I’ll think about it,” Emily said, which caused Talia to squeal with excitement. She jumped up and wrapped her arms around her, in a tight hug. Emily hesitantly hugged her back. Maybe Talia was right. Maybe it would be nice to have someone to spend Valentine’s Day with this year…
Amber is half of the co-author duo that is Danica Avery. She lives in Maryland with her three furbabies. When she’s not being a crazy cat lady, or working on books, she enjoys playing video games, baking sweets, crocheting, and other artsy hobbies.