First Love
by Annie Knox
Love is in the air in Merryville, Minnesota, as Izzy McHale and her friends plan the wedding of 83-year-old Ingrid Whitfield to her first love, Harvey Nyquist. Ingrid and Harvey were torn apart when his parents shipped him off to a military boarding school. They both enjoyed long marriages to other people, but after they were widowed they reconnected on the Internet and that old flame reignited.
The romantic in me sighs at the idea of a love that spans the decades, a love so bone-deep that it survives a vast and lengthy separation. I’d like to think that the love my husband and I share is like that: if we were ever separated, we’d find our way back to one another.
I found my one-and-only in my 30s, so he was obviously not the first man (or boy) I had shared the L word with. I’ve kept in touch with one of them … my first love, my high school sweetheart. We’ve both gone on to have full and happy lives. He’s a lawyer who’s been married twice (last I heard), he’s successful, and he is surrounded by good friends and a big wonderful family. I’m blissfully married, have the best job in the world, and the best friends I could ever hope to have.
We’ve done well apart.
But a tiny little part of me wonders what would have happened if our first love had lasted. What would my life look like if that sweet boy and I had stayed together, weathered being apart during college, and made a go of things as a married couple? I don’t wish that had happened … I just wish I knew what it would have looked like if it had.
What about you? Did you marry your first love? Do you know what happened to him or to her? Do you ever let yourself wonder what might have been?
About the Author:
Annie Knox doesn’t commit–or solve–murders in her real life, but her passion for animals is 100% true. She’s also a devotee of 80s music, Asian horror films, and reality TV. While Annie is a native Buckeye and has called a half dozen states “home,” she and her husband now live in a crumbling historic house just a stone’s throw from the courthouse square in a north Texas town.
Izzy McHale wants her new Trendy Tails Pet Boutique in Merryville, Minnesota, to be the height of canine couture and feline fashions. But in a week of wedding bells, someone is about to hold their peace…
forever. Love is in the air, and Izzy is hard at work coordinating two special weddings at Trendy Tails. First, Izzy’s friend and mentor, Ingrid, will be tying the knot with her old flame. And a week later, Izzy will host “pupptials” for two lovable dogs.
But even with the hullabaloo, the Trendy Tails crew is intrigued by Daniel, an enigmatic writer boarding above the shop who’s caught the attention of Izzy’s zany aunt Dolly, who gossips like most people breathe.
Unfortunately, it’s Daniel who stops breathing when he drops dead at the altar on Ingrid’s wedding day. Then Dolly is found at the scene with the murder weapon, and it’s up to Izzy, her Trendy Tails pals, and her scrappy pets, Packer and Jinx, to find a killer before the two affianced doggies bark down the aisle….
Jennifer’s Review of Groomed For Murder
Review (4.25 Stars): I loved Ms. Knox’s first book, Paws for Murder, which I had finished in about a day. Groomed For Murder picks up shortly after the events of the first book, in which Izzy is helping Ingrid prepare for her upcoming nuptials. On the day of the wedding, a dead body interrupts the ceremony and Izzy’s aunt Dolly is found holding the murder weapon. Izzy must help find the true killer and why the victim was staying in Merryville before her aunt Dolly is locked up for a crime she didn’t commit.
This is such a cute cozy series! I really enjoyed Paws for Murder and Groomed For Murder is even better than the first one. Izzy is a very sweet character that you can instantly relate to and I love her idea of creating clothing specifically designed for your pets. I really enjoyed the mystery in this one because there were so many potential suspects in this one and I had a hard time figuring out why the victim was killed. Ms. Knox has created a winning mystery series that will keep you entertained until the very end. I’m looking forward to reading more about Izzy, Packer and Jinx in future installments of this fun series.
Giveaway
I’m excited to give away a copy of Groomed For Murder. This giveaway is for US Residents only. To be entered in the drawing by September 8th, please answer Ms. Knox’s question:
Did you marry your first love? Do you know what happened to him or to her? Do you ever let yourself wonder what might have been?
i did not marry my first love; very happy with my choice and don’t think of anyone else 🙂
jslbrown2009(at)aol(dot)com
No, no & no… 🙂
No I never married my first love. I do wonder at times whatever happened to him. Occasionally I wonder what might of been.
No I did not marry my first love. I am actually still friends with him. I believe that it was meant to be that we never ended up together as a couple. I believe that if we would have stayed together, it wouldn’t have worked out. So I am glad that we were able to stay friends this long, we don’t talk that often but do stay in touch through Facebook. My husband and daughters have met him and know that I have no romantic feelings towards him other then just being friends.
No. My first love is married to someone else. I haven’t seen him in years.
I did not. My first love had contacted me early in my relationship with my husband (prior to our marriage) and talked about trying again. I knew that I was with the one man for me so I said sorry, no. Last I heard he was married and had 3 girls.
I did not marry my first love. But I know where he lives, and he is married and has 8 kids. I don’t really wonder what might have been, because I am very happy with the husband I have.