I fell in love with a pair of shoes.

And it’s not in the way you’re thinking.

See, I recently had the absolute pleasure of reading a gripping, emotional, beautiful, and thoroughly stunning novel called Hawthorne & Heathcliff by R.K. Ryals.

GUYS. Go. Buy. This. Seriously. I haven’t read something so moving and so captivating since…well, since I read It Ends With Us earlier this year. (Yes, it’s THAT good.)

It all starts with a pair of shoes. And they aren’t even a fabulous duo. They’re plain, normal, worn, and well-loved. But the person those shoes belong to? That person is the exact opposite. I don’t want to give away anything with this book, but just know I was highlighting like crazy, which is something I NEVER do, and I could not put it down. I mean, I did for a night (because sleep), but then it was all I could think about. How were the shoes doing? Where were they going? Were they being taken care of? Were they learning? Falling? Finding love? It was an endless cycle of questions in my head, questions I needed answered. R.K. Ryals delivered.

I’ve never read anything by this author before, but I can promise you that Hawthorne & Heathcliff will not be my last book by this wildly talented author. In fact, R.K. released a new novel yesterday called Capture the World, a novel I one-clicked without even caring what it’s about. I must have more of her words. MUST.

Other than reading this fantastic novel, I spent my week writing, continuing my re-watch of SPN with the Marine, and cleaning my house because my sMother is coming to town this upcoming weekend. (YAY…but don’t tell her I said that.)

Now, I know some of you are wondering where the hell Gaige is. Truth is, this man is hard to write. I have never struggled so much with a character before. He’s quiet then loud, soft then demanding. It’s been a push and pull throughout the entire process. But, I’m working on him. I promise. I do still plan to have him to you this Fall (hey, Fall technically doesn’t end until December 20th), so at least that’s something. I know it’s been over six months since I released something, and I’m so sorry about that, but I’m hoping to have several releases next year because I plan to work on a few novellas after I get done with Gaige.

That’s all I have for now. I’ll see ya next Monday!

(BTW…I only gave up on the last novel I was reading for just a wee little bit. It was REALLY difficult to get through with all the flooding in Louisiana. Made me too sad to read it and still enjoy it, but I do plan on picking it up again.)