{"id":9526,"date":"2020-04-22T04:46:55","date_gmt":"2020-04-22T11:46:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/?page_id=9526"},"modified":"2020-04-22T09:40:32","modified_gmt":"2020-04-22T16:40:32","slug":"excerpt-my-favorite-souvenir-by-penelope-ward-vi-keeland","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/excerpt-my-favorite-souvenir-by-penelope-ward-vi-keeland\/","title":{"rendered":"Excerpt: My Favorite Souvenir by Penelope Ward &#038; Vi Keeland"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/MyFavoriteSouvenir_FrontCover_Final_LoRes.jpg?resize=600%2C960&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"My Favorite Souvenir by Vi Keeland &amp; Penelope Ward\" class=\"wp-image-9516\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/MyFavoriteSouvenir_FrontCover_Final_LoRes.jpg?w=600&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/MyFavoriteSouvenir_FrontCover_Final_LoRes.jpg?resize=188%2C300&amp;ssl=1 188w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption>click to purchase<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>My Favorite Souvenir Excerpt:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cGood afternoon. You\u2019ve reached the Four Seasons Resort, Vail, Colorado. How may I direct your call?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I took a deep breath. \u201cHi. I checked out early this morning. My reservation was for ten days, but I only wound up staying two nights. Is there any chance you might still have my room available? Or any room, for that matter? My flight was canceled because of the storm.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cLet me take a look. What\u2019s your last name?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAppleton.\u201d I shook my head. \u201cActually, the reservation was under Ellis. My fianc\u00e9\u2019s last name.\u201d <em>Or ex-fianc\u00e9.<\/em> But I\u2019d let her call me Mrs. Ellis at this point if it meant I could have a place to sleep tonight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cGive me one moment and I\u2019ll check.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I sat down in the lobby of the Best Western, the third hotel I\u2019d been to in the last two hours. It was dumb of me to check out this morning. Though, at least I was consistent. After making the bad decision to go on my previously planned honeymoon alone, I\u2019d brilliantly decided to check out only two days into the trip\u2026<em>without <\/em>looking at the weather report for Vail. When I arrived at the airport, I had no idea that a blizzard was on the way. But the airline had assured me my flight was still scheduled as planned. And they\u2019d kept their word right up until five minutes before we were supposed to board, when they announced a two-hour delay. Two hours turned into three, and three turned into five, and when we hit six hours of sitting on uncomfortable plastic seats outside the gate, they finally admitted it wasn\u2019t going to happen. Every other flight had been canceled by then. And now, every hotel seemed to be full.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The hotel operator came back on the line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHi, Mrs. Ellis?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I cringed at being called that, but answered anyway. \u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m sorry. After you checked out, your room was rebooked. We\u2019re actually sold out for the night because of the storm.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I sighed. <em>Of course you are.<\/em> \u201cOkay. Thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This was just my luck lately. I called four more hotels, until one said they might have a few rooms available. Apparently they had guests that hadn\u2019t checked in yet and were in the process of making calls to confirm whether they would still be arriving today. Rooms would be freed up on a first-come, first-served basis. So I decided to take a chance and head on over. It was already seven o\u2019clock at night, and there was no point in sitting here anymore. Surprisingly, Uber was still running, even though the airport had called it quits hours ago.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Out front, the snow was coming down hard. A giant SUV with snow chains on the tires pulled up in front of the door. I couldn\u2019t check the license plate or get a look at the make and model of the vehicle since it was covered in snow, so I walked over to the car and motioned for the driver to roll down the window.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAre you Hazel?\u201d the older woman behind the wheel asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I smiled. \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHeading over to the Snow Eagle Lodge?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYes, please.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even though the next hotel was only two miles away, it took fifteen minutes to get there. By the time we pulled up, the conditions were almost white-out. It couldn\u2019t be safe driving in this anymore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cGod, it\u2019s really terrible out here,\u201d I said as I pulled up the hood of my jacket. \u201cBe careful driving tonight.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOh, I will, honey. The next place I\u2019m driving is home. I only picked you up because you were on my way. Good thing you\u2019re at your hotel now. No one is going to be on the roads tonight anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Great.<\/em> This place really better have a room for me.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As I climbed out of the SUV, a gust of snow smacked me in the face, despite the fact that we were parked under the building\u2019s overhang. The wind made it look like someone had shaken a snow globe, hard. Inside the hotel, I wiped flakes from my eyelashes and glanced around the lobby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Oh no<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This didn\u2019t look good. A line of at least thirty or forty people snaked five rows deep, waiting to get to the reception desk. I sighed and wheeled my luggage to behind the last person. More than half an hour later, I finally reached the front.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHi. I called earlier, and the person I spoke to said some rooms might become available, that you were going to contact guests who hadn\u2019t showed and see if they were still coming?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The woman nodded with a frown. \u201cYeah. I can put you on our waitlist. But we\u2019re still making calls, and to be honest, it\u2019s not looking too good.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>My shoulders slumped. \u201cOkay. Well, I guess please add me to your wait list.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The woman lifted a clipboard and set it down on the counter. She thumbed through a few pages and turned it to face me, pointing at the next available line, which was two from the bottom of the page. \u201cJust add your name and cell phone number.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I scribbled both and let the pages above the one I\u2019d been writing on fan back into place. Noticing the sheet at the top looked just like the one I\u2019d signed, five or six pages down, I glanced through all the papers. There had to be at least a hundred names and telephone numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAre these <em>all <\/em>on your waiting list?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The hotel clerk nodded.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHow many people haven\u2019t checked in?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI think about a dozen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Oh God. This really wasn\u2019t good. But maybe people had just added their names and left, like in a packed restaurant. Maybe the bulk of people ahead of me on the list had found other hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Turning around, whatever hope I\u2019d talked myself into immediately deflated. Every seat in the lobby area behind me was taken. Some were even sitting on the floor, leaning against their luggage. With very few options, I wandered over and found an empty space on a carpeted area of the floor, not too far from the concierge desk. Though I knew it was futile, I took out my iPad and continued to search for a hotel with availability. Even if I found one, getting there would be a miracle on its own at this point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The nearby concierge desk had been empty while I scrolled and made calls, but now two women walked over. One I recognized as the manager, since I\u2019d spent a half hour staring at the people behind the front desk while I\u2019d waited in line. The other had on a nametag and held a clipboard. I couldn\u2019t help but eavesdrop on their conversation from where I sat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThese seven we still haven\u2019t reached,\u201d the manager said. \u201cAll of the other rooms have been checked in, or we\u2019ve reallocated them to people from the waiting list.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The employee flipped through the pages and looked around the full hotel lobby. \u201cJeez. And this storm is supposed to stick around for days.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a guy standing on the other side of the concierge desk. His back was to the ladies talking, but he craned his neck, and I thought he, too, might be eavesdropping. Figuring he was probably just as bored as me, I went back to my iPad search\u2014until a few minutes later when I noticed him scribbling something with a pen on the inside of his hand.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>What the hell is he doing?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He wrote for a few seconds and then seemed to go back to eavesdropping. The manager had walked away, leaving the employee to make her phone calls. She hung up from one call and dialed again.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHi. This is Catherine from the Snow Eagle Lodge. I\u2019m trying to reach Milo or Madeline Hooker.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The minute she said the names, the eavesdropper scribbled on his hand again.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Catherine continued leaving her message. \u201cI just wanted to confirm whether you\u2019d still be arriving this evening. Your reservation is guaranteed, so we\u2019ll hold it as long as you need. However, if the storm has perhaps caused a change in your travel plans, we do have a long wait list of guests who could use the two rooms you have booked. My number here is 970-555-4000, if you could please return my call at your earliest convenience. Thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The same thing went on with the next two calls. Catherine left a message and the eavesdropper scribbled. Curious about what he was up to, I kept my eye on him. After the hotel clerk finished making her calls, she went back to the front desk. Eavesdropper picked up his backpack and casually strolled down a nearby hallway. I leaned to watch where he was going, and he eventually pulled up his hood and exited out a side door I hadn\u2019t even noticed was there.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I thought it was odd, but I figured the show was over.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But a few minutes later, a guy with the same ski jacket walked through the front lobby door. He pulled his hood down, and I got a look at his face for the very first time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Damn, he was handsome. Medium brown hair that was kind of shaggy and needed a cut, full lips, hazel eyes, and tanned skin. His warm skin tone really stood out against the pasty color of most people in Colorado this time of the year, including me. It was a shame I loathed men right now, because he was seriously gorgeous. He dusted some of the snow from the shoulders of his jacket and went to wait in line. It was much shorter now, with only two men in front of him, mostly because people weren\u2019t braving the storm anymore. I had no idea what possessed me to do it, but I decided to get up and wait behind the guy. Maybe I was imagining things to keep myself entertained, but I had the distinct feeling he was up to something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When it was his turn at the front desk, I moved as close as I could to listen without seeming like a stalker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHi. I\u2019m checking in,\u201d the man said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cGreat. What\u2019s your last name, sir?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He cleared his throat. \u201cHooker. Milo Hooker.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I squinted. The guy was totally full of shit. <em>I knew it!&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The unsuspecting hotel clerk punched a bunch of keys on her keyboard and smiled. \u201cI have your reservation right here. Two rooms for two nights, breakfast included. Is that right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cUhhh\u2026\u201d The guy nodded. \u201cYeah. I booked two rooms. But it turns out I\u2019m only going to need the one.\u201d He looked over his shoulder. \u201cLooks like you won\u2019t have a problem filling the other one, though.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She smiled. \u201cNo, we definitely won\u2019t. I\u2019ll just need a credit card and a picture ID please, Mr. Hooker.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I waited. This was the moment of truth. If he wasn\u2019t actually Milo Hooker, he was going to have to make up some excuse.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The guy reached into his front pocket like he was going to pull out his wallet. For a second, I thought I might\u2019ve been wrong, but then he pulled out a wad of cash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI lost my wallet on the slopes today. Luckily, I had some cash sent over through Western Union before the storm got too bad. Can I just pay cash?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The young woman hesitated. \u201cYou don\u2019t have any ID at all? I\u2019m not supposed to check people in without photo identification.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fake Milo poured on the charm. He leaned forward and showed off a set of cavernous dimples. \u201cWe could take a selfie together?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The woman giggled. <em>She actually giggled.<\/em> \u201cLet me just check with my manager.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She disappeared into the back and returned with the manager a few minutes later.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A crazy idea popped into my head.<em> She said there were two rooms\u2026<\/em> I made a spur-of-the-moment decision and approached the counter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThere you are, Milo.\u201d I rested my hand on the guy\u2019s shoulder. \u201cMy flight was canceled. I hope they still have our rooms.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fake Milo turned and looked at me with his brows furrowed.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He was going to blow it if I didn\u2019t do something, so I turned my attention to the two hotel employees. \u201cMy brother and I booked rooms here for two nights, but I was trying to get out before the storm. Obviously I had no luck. I spent the entire day in the airport. Please tell me you still have my room? I\u2019m dying for a hot bath.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Milo looked at me, then the hotel employees, then back at me. I smiled and arched a brow. For a second, I almost felt bad for the guy. He looked so bewildered. Since he still seemed to be at a loss for words, I figured I should continue talking. \t\u201cWe went skiing early this morning and had our backpacks stolen. Between that and the storm coming, I figured it was a sign that I should get back home early. Apparently Mother Nature had other plans. We should have two rooms\u2014Milo and Madeline Hooker. Someone actually just left me a message on my cell asking us to confirm. Her name was Catherine, I believe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The desk clerk nodded. \u201cThat was me. The storm has a lot of people stranded here unexpectedly without rooms, so we were checking in with guests that hadn\u2019t arrived yet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The manager looked back and forth between Fake Milo and me. \u201cWe\u2019ll have to take a hundred-dollar deposit for incidentals on each room since you don\u2019t have a credit card.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I smiled. \u201cOf course.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She nodded to her employee. \u201cCheck them in. It\u2019s fine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The man next to me still had his mouth hanging open. So I dug into my purse, being careful not to show my wallet, which was supposed to have been stolen, and scooped out all of the cash.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHow much are the rooms?\u201d I asked the clerk.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cLet\u2019s see. With tax, they come to three-hundred-and-forty-two dollars each, for the two nights, and then we have to collect the hundred-dollar deposit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Shit.<\/em> I didn\u2019t think I had that much cash. I counted the money in my hand and slid it over in front of Fake Milo. \u201cCan you spot me forty dollars? You know I\u2019m good for it, bro.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cUh, yeah. Sure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After we paid and got the room keys, we walked side by side to the elevator bank in silence. It wasn\u2019t until we were alone and the elevator doors slid shut that Milo turned to me. \u201cWhat the hell just happened?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I laughed. \u201cWe just got rooms, that\u2019s what happened.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He shook his head. \u201cBut who are you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI noticed you standing near the concierge desk and eavesdropping while she called the guests who hadn\u2019t arrived yet.\u201d I reached forward and took the man\u2019s hand, opening it to display blue ink. \u201cYou wrote down the names of the guests. I thought it was odd, so I followed you to the front desk to see what you were up to. When you made up that bogus story about losing your wallet so you could justify not having any ID, I knew you were full of shit.\u201d I shrugged. \u201cWhen the woman said there were <em>two rooms<\/em> on the reservation, I saw an opening and took it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHow did you know I\u2019d go along with it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I smiled. \u201cI didn\u2019t. But that\u2019s what made it so much fun!\u201d I covered my chest with my hand. \u201cMy heart feels like it\u2019s trying to ricochet out of my ribcage at this moment. It\u2019s been a long time since I did anything risky like that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His eyes roamed my face. I got the feeling he still wasn\u2019t sure what to make of me, even though I\u2019d just explained what I\u2019d done. He looked down at my lips, which were still curved in an excited smile.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhy is that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>My forehead wrinkled. \u201cWhy is what?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhy\u2019s it been a long time since you\u2019ve done anything risky? It looks to me like you enjoyed it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I blinked a few times, not having expected a question that would tug at my heartstrings, and my smile fell. \u201cI don\u2019t know. I guess I kind of turned into a different person over the last few years.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fake Milo\u2019s eyes locked with mine. We\u2019d gone from pulling off a crazy stunt and laughing, to an odd seriousness. His eyes flickered to my lips and back once again. \u201cThat\u2019s a shame. You have a great smile.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Warmth spread through me, and I couldn\u2019t seem to unlock my eyes from the stranger\u2019s\u2014at least until the elevator dinged and the doors opened on the third floor.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis is us,\u201d he said. \u201cRooms 320 and 321.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOh. Right. Okay.\u201d I stepped out and followed the signs to our rooms. Since we were, of course, family, they\u2019d put us right next to each other. We stood a few feet apart as we opened our respective doors. As my lock unlatched and I turned the handle to go inside, something dawned on me.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI almost forgot! I owe you forty dollars for the room.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He smiled. \u201cDon\u2019t worry about it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNo, don\u2019t be silly. I just didn\u2019t have enough cash and didn\u2019t want to hand the woman a credit card when we weren\u2019t supposed to have ID. I\u2019ll just throw my bag in the room and go downstairs to find an ATM. They must have one somewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI thought you couldn\u2019t wait to take a hot bath, or was that part of the act?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I laughed. \u201cNo, it actually wasn\u2019t. I wasn\u2019t lying when I said I spent the entire day at the airport. A hot bath sounds pretty amazing right about now. But I can grab your cash first. It won\u2019t take me long.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fake Milo scratched at the stubble on his chin. \u201cI\u2019ll tell you what. I\u2019m going to take a quick shower and then go downstairs to the bar for a drink. Take your bath. You can find me there afterward to give me the money.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We looked at each other for a moment.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAlright, well, enjoy your soak, sis.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I smiled. \u201cThanks, Milo. I\u2019ll see you later.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"\/\/www.pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/\" data-pin-do=\"buttonBookmark\" data-pin-color=\"red\" data-pin-height=\"128\"><img src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/assets.pinterest.com\/images\/pidgets\/pinit_fg_en_rect_red_28.png?w=640\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>My Favorite Souvenir Excerpt: \u201cGood afternoon. You\u2019ve reached the Four Seasons Resort, Vail, Colorado. How may I direct your call?\u201d I took a deep breath. \u201cHi. I checked out early this morning. My reservation was for ten days, but I only wound up staying two nights. Is there any chance you might still have my [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9515,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"spay_email":""},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":8128,"url":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/8128-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":9526,"position":0},"title":"Excerpt: Skin and Bone by Keary Taylor","date":"2019-11-17","format":false,"excerpt":"click to purchase Skin and Bone Excerpt: CHAPTER ONE Eight surgeries, twelve hair dye experiments, 1,834 hours of video observation, two years of yoga practice to try to make up that extra inch of height, and the public loss of gluten. That\u2019s what I\u2019ve gone through for love.\u00a0 That\u2019s everything\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"Skin and Bone by Keary Taylor","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/SB.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1564,"url":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/stan-morris-excerpt\/","url_meta":{"origin":9526,"position":1},"title":"Stan Morris - Excerpt: From Chapter Four  Death; Becomes Us","date":"2014-01-23","format":false,"excerpt":"Then the Chief looked at the prisoner and said, \"Bring him.\u201d The man started yelling at us, and he threatened to kill the Chief. \u00a0He described some really vile sexual things that he would do to us girls if we didn\u2019t let him go. \u00a0Some of the kids got really\u2026","rel":"","context":"With 10 comments","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":8044,"url":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/excerpt-the-conman-by-mike-murphey\/","url_meta":{"origin":9526,"position":2},"title":"Excerpt: The Conman by Mike Murphey","date":"2019-11-15","format":false,"excerpt":"Click to purchase Title: The ConmanAuthor: Mike MurpheyGenre: Sports Fiction (Baseball)Release Date: November 11, 2019 (What follows is based on a true story) CHAPTER ONEOctober 1992Phoenix, Arizona Failure can be an acute condition, perhaps even chronic, but quitting\u2014quitting is fatal. Conor Nash believed this to his marrow. No stranger to\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"The Conman by Mike Murphey","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/TheConman4.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":8583,"url":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/excerpt-viper-by-marteeka-karland\/","url_meta":{"origin":9526,"position":3},"title":"Excerpt: Viper by Marteeka Karland","date":"2019-12-21","format":false,"excerpt":"click to purchase Viper Excerpt \u201cWe\u2019re not gonna hurt you,\u201d Viper said, hands out in front of him as he approached her. \u201cI know,\u201d she said, her voice a whisper of sound. \u201cViper!\u201d It was the only warning Arkham could issue before the girl attacked. She launched herself at Viper.\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"Viper by Marteeka Karland","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/ViperBlitzBanner.png?fit=851%2C315&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":8419,"url":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/excerpt-edj-of-the-empire-revenants-omen-by-timothy-burns\/","url_meta":{"origin":9526,"position":4},"title":"Excerpt: EDJ of the Empire: Revenant's Omen by Timothy Burns","date":"2019-11-25","format":false,"excerpt":"click to purchase Chapter One {content Old Empire Archive Coming to consciousness in a trash-strewn alley behind a dive bar on a rough-and-tumble mining world was quite a rude awakening, let me tell you. I suppose it beat the alternative, though - not waking up at all. Not that Sam\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":8272,"url":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/excerpt-outmatched-by-kristen-callihan-and-samantha-young\/","url_meta":{"origin":9526,"position":5},"title":"Excerpt: Outmatched by Kristen Callihan and Samantha Young","date":"2019-11-20","format":false,"excerpt":"click to puchase How could I put much-needed distance between me and Rhys if I confided deep, emotional history to him? \u201cIt\u2019s not relevant.\u201d \u201cI think it is, if your boy is making such a big deal about it. My guess \u2026 Theo is some rich little f***er who screwed\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"Outmatched by Kristen Callihan and Samantha Young","src":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Outmatched-RB-banner.jpg?fit=1200%2C443&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9526"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9526"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9526\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9531,"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9526\/revisions\/9531"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9515"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9526"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}