The luxury of staying home when the weather turns nasty, of working in PJs and bare feet, and the fact that daydreaming is not only permissible but encouraged, are a few of the reasons middle school teacher Lynnette Austin gave up the classroom to write full-time. Lynnette grew up in Pennsylvania’s Alleghany Mountains, moved to Upstate New York, then to the Rockies in Wyoming. Presently she and her husband divide their time between Southwest Florida’s beaches and Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. A finalist in RWA’s Golden Heart Contest, PASIC’s Book of Your Heart Contest, and Georgia Romance Writers’ Maggie Contest, she’s published five books as Lynnette Hallberg. She’s currently writing as Lynnette Austin for Grand Central Publishing. Somebody Like You, Nearest Thing to Heaven, and Can’t Stop Lovin’ You are the first three books in her Maverick Junction series, contemporary romances set in Texas.
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Can’t Stop Lovin’ You
Genre: Contemporary Western Romance
Publication Date: February 4, 2014
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (Hachette)
Format: Somebody Like You, Nearest Thing to Heaven, and Can’t Stop Lovin’ You are available in print and digital versions.
Can’t Stop Lovin’ You is the third book in the Maverick Junction series.
Which to choose? The cowboy or the Big Apple? CAN’T STOP LOVIN’ YOU pits handsome veterinarian Brawley Odell against hometown girl Maggie Sullivan. Maggie views the invitation to design heiress Annelise Montjoy’s wedding gown as her golden ticket out of Maverick Junction, Texas. At every turn, though, she bumps into Brawley, her high school sweetheart. He’d left her for college and a career in Dallas. But, now, country right down to the tips of his cowboy boots, he’s returned to take over old Doc Gibson’s practice while Maggie dreams of escape to New York City’s fashion district. Brawley’s never stopped loving Maggie. Can he talk her into hanging around long enough to give him a second chance? Long enough to talk her into designing a dress for her own wedding-to him?
While I was writing CAN’T STOP LOVIN’ YOU, I decided to head to New York City and the Fashion District. I wanted to experience the excitement with Maggie, see what she was seeing, hear what she was hearing. I fell in love with it—but enough to choose it over Brawley Odell? Hmmm. I’m not giving that away. No spoiler here. J
Less than one square mile in area, the Fashion District is a beehive of activity and energy. Just like Hollywood, it has its own walk of stars—Ralph Lauren, Donna Karan, Oscar de la Renta, Caroline Herrera. Fans of Project Runway will find Parsons School of Design here, along with the iconic bronze sculpture, The Garment Worker. As an author, it’s not always possible to visit the locations in my books. But when I can, it always adds to the experience—for myself and, hopefully, for my readers.
Once upon a time, a handsome prince walked up to the Tastee Freeze window and asked the lovely princess—who was working there to earn money to redecorate the castle—for a chocolate milkshake and a date. She said yes to both, and they lived happily ever after.
Okay, maybe I embellished a little—the princess didn’t actually live in a castle—but it’s no wonder I write romances with their happy endings. My prince and I are still together.
We had one beautiful son whom we lost in 2006. Aaron brought untold love and happiness into our lives. He was one of those brave firefighters who run into the flames as others are fleeing.
Dave and I both grew up in Pennsylvania’s Alleghany Mountains. From there, we moved to New York, then to the Rockies in Wyoming. Presently we divide our time between Naples, Florida’s beaches and Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains.
I have a Master’s in Educational Leadership and taught middle school language arts before leaving it to write full-time. My books have finaled in Romance Writers of America’s national Golden Heart Contest, PASIC’s Book of Your Heart Contest, and Georgia Romance Writers’ Maggie Contest. My books written as Lynnette Hallberg include Enchanted Evening from Kensington, Moonlight, Motorcycles, and Bad Boys,Chantilly Lace and A Pretty Face, and Night Shadows from The Wild Rose Press, and Just A Little White Lie from Carina Press.
I love books and have closets full of them as well as two well-supplied ereaders. Nothing makes me happier than losing myself in my characters’ worlds. Besides reading and writing, I enjoy traveling. I’ve visited all fifty states with the exception of Alaska and have traveled extensively throughout Canada, Mexico, Europe, Africa, and Central America—always on the lookout for new characters or a new story.
So glad you stopped by,
Lynnette Austin
P.S. The beautiful horse I’m sitting on is Beau, courtesy of the Chunky Gal Stables, located in the scenic Chunky Gal Mountains of Hayesville, NC.
Connect with Lynnette at www.authorlynnetteaustin.com
You can also contact me at: twitter@lynnettaustin | Facebooks | GoodReads
Check out www.lynnettehallberg.com for my non-Maverick Junction books.
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