1. B.J. DANIELS
SHARES THE SECRET TO
CREATING INTERESTING
CHARACTERS
MOM’S THE WORD!
A SPECIAL MOTHER’S DAY
AUTHOR TALK
SPECIAL
VALENTINE’S
ISSUE:
OUR TOP ROMANTIC
BOOKS OF 2012
PLUS! A FREE
VALENTINE’S DAY NOVELLA
FEBRUARY-MAY 2013
Enjoy your free magazine subscription from the Harlequin Reader Service
™
R O M A N C E E D I T I O N

2. Contents
2 The Lure of THUNDER POINT
Robyn Carr introduces her NEW series
4 Embracing the Disfunction
B. J. Daniels’ fondness for flawed characters
6 Spring Reading Guide
8 Raising the Stakes inTexas
A Harlequin®
Romance Suspense series
10 Q & A with Christie Ridgway
The author discusses her new trilogy
12 Introducing Harlequin®
Kiss™
A NEW romance series
14 The Ambassador’s Daugther
An exerpt from Pam Jenoff’s new book
16 Pet Corner: Peanut the Rescue Dog
18 Sand Castle Bay
An exerpt from Sherryl Wood’s lastest
20 Steamy Romances forValentine’s Day
A selection of greatValentine-themed reads
22 Mom’s the Word
Authors share fond memories of their Moms
24 Top 10 Romantic Books of 2012
26 The Real Secret Behind Weight Loss
An exerpt from TheVirgin Diet by J.J.Virgin
28 Series Spotlight—
Harlequin®
Historical®
29 His CowgirlValentine
Your FREE Harlequin®
Romance Novella
45 Bonus Bucks Catalog
54 Meet the Customer Service
Representative
55 Book Order Form
56 The Last Word
What is your all-time favorite romantic book?
In this issue of Simply Books magazine, we’ve
compiled a Top 10 list of the most romantic
books we published in 2012. While creating our
list, we couldn’t help but think about the most
romantic books of all time.
Tell us your all-time favorite romantic book
and provide a brief description of why it’s your
favorite? The first 10 readers to respond will
receive a set of our Top 10 books of 2012 and
everyone’s submissions will be featured on the
www.ReaderService.com/SimplyBooksExtra blog.
“We loved with a love
that was more than love.”
— Edgar Allan Poe
U.S. and Canadian Residents mail to:
Simply Books Feedback
3010 Walden Ave.
P.O. Box 9048
Buffalo, NY 14240-9048
Or email us at ReaderService@harlequin.com with
‘Simply Books Feedback’ as the subject.
Editor’s Note
This spring issue of Simply Books
magazine comes from the heart. I hope it
touches your heart as much as it touches
mine. With Valentine’s Day just around
the corner, this could possibly be our
most romantic issue ever.
Inside, B.J. Daniels discusses her
upcoming books and Robyn Carr gives us
the inside scoop on her brand-new series.
There’s a special Q&A with Christie
Ridgway and an excerpt from Sherryl
Woods’ latest book. We’ll introduce you
to the new contemporary romance series
appropriately called Harlequin®
KISS™
.
As a special treat for Mother’s Day, we
asked some of our authors to talk about
mothers and grandmothers. They discuss
what they enjoy about being a mother
or grandmother and shared moving
memories about their own mothers
and grandmothers.
Plus, we’ll introduce you to Peanut, a very
special dog in this issue’s “Pet Corner.”
And, we’ve included two very special
reading lists—the top ten romance books
of 2012 and a Valentine’s Day romance
round up. So, Happy Valentine’s Day,
Happy Mother’s Day and...
Happy Reading,
Mary Ann MacKenzie

3. THUNDER
POINT
2 3
Robyn Carr’s new THUNDER
POINT series is something she and I
have been talking about and planning
for many months. We talked about
location ideas and character studies
and story lines. But most of all, we
talked about wanting to develop a new
series that would contain all the things
that Robyn is known for: emotional
writing, sexy heroes, lots of humor and
a great sense of community. I think
she has delivered in spades. I hope you
enjoy The Wanderer, the first book in
the THUNDER POINT series. I have
a feeling you will be spending a lot of
time in Thunder Point in the months
and years ahead.
Happy Reading!
Valerie Gray, Executive Editor,
Harlequin®
MIRA®
Books
Dear Reader,
Sometimes a man has to accept certain
things about himself and for Hank Cooper,
his reality was that he’d never stayed in one
place for long. In fact, since leaving home
at the age of nineteen, his longest stint in
one place was with the army as a helicopter
pilot, and that was saying something, given
the fact that the brass in the army seemed
to stay up nights looking for excuses to
transfer people. But Cooper never minded
that—he usually felt restless about a week
after getting to a new place. He wasn’t the
settling-down type; he even pulled a fifth
wheel so his very life was lived on wheels.
Cooper liked being flexible and ready
to roll. It’s with exactly that philosophy
that he went to attend to the unfinished
business of a recently deceased friend and
found himself camping out on the ridge
THEWANDERER IS AVAILABLE IN APRIL!
To learn more about Robyn Carr,
visit www.RobynCarr.com.
Visit www.ReaderService.com/SimplyBooksExtra
to read an excerpt from TheWanderer.
Introducing the new series
from #1 New York Times
bestselling author Robyn Carr
above a still, dark bay on the Oregon
coast. From where he sat outside his
trailer he could see a small, ordinary
town, a long and peaceful beach, a little
marina filled mostly with fishing boats
and, beyond the bay peppered with tall,
haystack rock formations, the crashing,
frothing Pacific Ocean. Picturesque, but
nothing spectacular. Until storms over
the Pacific rolled into the bay, then it
was like one of the seven wonders.
Cooper had traveled the world. He’d
seen beauty in every corner and it had
only inspired him to look further. He
was a rolling stone and had reached the
age of thirty-seven without putting down
roots. He had no bills or obligations and
life was easy, just as he liked it.
Cooper met a deputy who was the law
of the town, a man driven to keep a
quiet place safe and peaceful. There was
a young single mother who served him
his breakfast at a little diner who knew
everyone and how each one of them
liked their eggs. A search-and-rescue
pilot who looked more suited for a
modeling career, and a teenage boy who
was too alone. The town, so ordinary
and unaffected, was populated by people
who seemed to fit together like the last
two pieces of a puzzle. And something
bizarre began to happen, something that
had never happened to him before. They
began to draw him in despite the fact
that he was ready to move on.
Something snagged at his heart, something
he was more than ready to resist. A
kindhearted town, a beautiful woman,
a fatherless boy. A heart-stopping view.
Feelings of responsibility; feelings of desire.
In his mind he heard, Run Cooper, run. And
he thought—Tomorrow I leave. He knew he
couldn’t stay because he never had. But that
little town and its people tugged at him.
The town is called Thunder Point, and
you’d never know to look at it that dreams
are built there.
See you there. Bring your dreams.
The Lure of

4. THUNDER
POINT
2 3
Robyn Carr’s new THUNDER
POINT series is something she and I
have been talking about and planning
for many months. We talked about
location ideas and character studies
and story lines. But most of all, we
talked about wanting to develop a new
series that would contain all the things
that Robyn is known for: emotional
writing, sexy heroes, lots of humor and
a great sense of community. I think
she has delivered in spades. I hope you
enjoy The Wanderer, the first book in
the THUNDER POINT series. I have
a feeling you will be spending a lot of
time in Thunder Point in the months
and years ahead.
Happy Reading!
Valerie Gray, Executive Editor,
Harlequin®
MIRA®
Books
Dear Reader,
Sometimes a man has to accept certain
things about himself and for Hank Cooper,
his reality was that he’d never stayed in one
place for long. In fact, since leaving home
at the age of nineteen, his longest stint in
one place was with the army as a helicopter
pilot, and that was saying something, given
the fact that the brass in the army seemed
to stay up nights looking for excuses to
transfer people. But Cooper never minded
that—he usually felt restless about a week
after getting to a new place. He wasn’t the
settling-down type; he even pulled a fifth
wheel so his very life was lived on wheels.
Cooper liked being flexible and ready
to roll. It’s with exactly that philosophy
that he went to attend to the unfinished
business of a recently deceased friend and
found himself camping out on the ridge
THEWANDERER IS AVAILABLE IN APRIL!
To learn more about Robyn Carr,
visit www.RobynCarr.com.
Visit www.ReaderService.com/SimplyBooksExtra
to read an excerpt from TheWanderer.
Introducing the new series
from #1 New York Times
bestselling author Robyn Carr
above a still, dark bay on the Oregon
coast. From where he sat outside his
trailer he could see a small, ordinary
town, a long and peaceful beach, a little
marina filled mostly with fishing boats
and, beyond the bay peppered with tall,
haystack rock formations, the crashing,
frothing Pacific Ocean. Picturesque, but
nothing spectacular. Until storms over
the Pacific rolled into the bay, then it
was like one of the seven wonders.
Cooper had traveled the world. He’d
seen beauty in every corner and it had
only inspired him to look further. He
was a rolling stone and had reached the
age of thirty-seven without putting down
roots. He had no bills or obligations and
life was easy, just as he liked it.
Cooper met a deputy who was the law
of the town, a man driven to keep a
quiet place safe and peaceful. There was
a young single mother who served him
his breakfast at a little diner who knew
everyone and how each one of them
liked their eggs. A search-and-rescue
pilot who looked more suited for a
modeling career, and a teenage boy who
was too alone. The town, so ordinary
and unaffected, was populated by people
who seemed to fit together like the last
two pieces of a puzzle. And something
bizarre began to happen, something that
had never happened to him before. They
began to draw him in despite the fact
that he was ready to move on.
Something snagged at his heart, something
he was more than ready to resist. A
kindhearted town, a beautiful woman,
a fatherless boy. A heart-stopping view.
Feelings of responsibility; feelings of desire.
In his mind he heard, Run Cooper, run. And
he thought—Tomorrow I leave. He knew he
couldn’t stay because he never had. But that
little town and its people tugged at him.
The town is called Thunder Point, and
you’d never know to look at it that dreams
are built there.
See you there. Bring your dreams.
The Lure of

5. 10 11
silent movies were filmed at Crescent
Cove in the 1920s was something I
knew about the real Crystal Cove and
so I put that in the first book, merely
as a colorful piece of history. But it
became important to the plots of the
succeeding stories.
Do you have a favorite character?
Is there a character you relate to
more than the others?
Oh, boy. Can I just name my favorite
child instead? I’m going to go a little off
the grid here and say my heart really
went out to the secondary characters of
Beach House No. 9, Tess and David. But
the wounded heroes of the trilogy—
Griffin, Vance and Gage—are the kind
of tough-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-
inside men that I adore. The heroines—
Jane, Layla and Skye—all have wry
senses of humor and spines of steel. I’d
love to have lunch with them.
WithValentine’s Day just around the
corner, one can’t help but reflect on
their favorite romantic memory.
What is yours?
Speaking of tough-on-the-outside,
tender-on-the-inside, my husband isn’t a
great romantic (though he did write me
a song before we married!). He’s the type of
man who gives you what you need, such as
the birthday when I received a brown paper
bag full of greasy car parts. What he’d given
me was a tune-up and those were the pieces
he’d replaced. So I was surprised a few years
ago to discover a stash of cards he had, filled
with loving words in a feminine hand…my
loving words. He’s saved all the cards I’ve
given him throughout our marriage.
What are you working on next?
Another book set in California, of course!
I’m a native Californian and it’s my pleasure
to share with readers the unique beauty of
my state, from the wildflower-filled deserts
to the tree-covered mountains to the long,
golden stretches of sand.
BEACH HOUSE NO. 9
IS AVAILABLE NOW!
LOOK FOR BUNGALOW NIGHTS
IN MARCH AND THE LOVE SHACK
IN APRIL!
This month, visit
www.ReaderService.com/SimplyBooksExtra
to read an excerpt from Beach House No. 9.
For more information about Christie Ridgway
visit www.christieridgway.com.
You started writing your own
romantic stories as a young girl, but
it wasn’t until much later that you
decided to pursue your dream of
being a published author. What or
who inspired you to start writing?
After working in the tech industry for a
number of years, I stayed home to care
for my first son and immersed myself
in reading romances during naptime.
One of my best friends from high school
came to visit, saw what I was reading and
asked why I wasn’t writing those books,
since I’d always aspired to do just that. It
was the nudge I needed. Two weeks later
I’d joined a local chapter of Romance
Writers of America and I was invited
into a critique group right away. There
was no looking back! I was on my way to
my dream job.
When and where do you most
like to write?
I’m a morning person! I like to get up
early and head downstairs to my cozy
office. A few rituals to get going—feed
the pets, make coffee, check that no
emergency emails landed in my in-box
overnight—and then I slip on headphones
to listen to the current book’s playlist and
return to the story in my head.
What inspired the BEACH HOUSE
NO. 9 trilogy? I imagine, living in
California, there’s no shortage for
inspiration.
The original inspiration was just the words
“Beach House No. 9,” reminiscent of the
song “Love Potion No. 9,” floating into my
head. I was working on something else at
the time, so I wrote the phrase down and
pinned the paper to the bulletin board in
my office. It stayed there for a couple of
years, waiting for me to find the exact place
to set my beach house. I call it Crescent
Cove, but it’s very much like the real-life
Crystal Cove in Southern California. It’s
now a state park and is a great place to visit
for the day, or even overnight in some of
the refurbished bungalows.
When starting a new trilogy, is it more
or less daunting knowing there are
characters and plots to be explored
later in following books?
It’s definitely worrisome! I live in fear I’ll
paint myself into a corner, because as I’m
writing the first book, I don’t know every
detail of the second and third. But it’s
amazing how a casual insertion in book
one turns out to be an important point
that I didn’t see coming. For example, that
Christie
RIDGWAY
Q&A WITH
Christie Ridgway opens
up about what inspired her to
start writing, her morning routine,
and the characters of the Beach
House No. 9 trilogy.
10 11

6. 10 11
silent movies were filmed at Crescent
Cove in the 1920s was something I
knew about the real Crystal Cove and
so I put that in the first book, merely
as a colorful piece of history. But it
became important to the plots of the
succeeding stories.
Do you have a favorite character?
Is there a character you relate to
more than the others?
Oh, boy. Can I just name my favorite
child instead? I’m going to go a little off
the grid here and say my heart really
went out to the secondary characters of
Beach House No. 9, Tess and David. But
the wounded heroes of the trilogy—
Griffin, Vance and Gage—are the kind
of tough-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-
inside men that I adore. The heroines—
Jane, Layla and Skye—all have wry
senses of humor and spines of steel. I’d
love to have lunch with them.
WithValentine’s Day just around the
corner, one can’t help but reflect on
their favorite romantic memory.
What is yours?
Speaking of tough-on-the-outside,
tender-on-the-inside, my husband isn’t a
great romantic (though he did write me
a song before we married!). He’s the type of
man who gives you what you need, such as
the birthday when I received a brown paper
bag full of greasy car parts. What he’d given
me was a tune-up and those were the pieces
he’d replaced. So I was surprised a few years
ago to discover a stash of cards he had, filled
with loving words in a feminine hand…my
loving words. He’s saved all the cards I’ve
given him throughout our marriage.
What are you working on next?
Another book set in California, of course!
I’m a native Californian and it’s my pleasure
to share with readers the unique beauty of
my state, from the wildflower-filled deserts
to the tree-covered mountains to the long,
golden stretches of sand.
BEACH HOUSE NO. 9
IS AVAILABLE NOW!
LOOK FOR BUNGALOW NIGHTS
IN MARCH AND THE LOVE SHACK
IN APRIL!
This month, visit
www.ReaderService.com/SimplyBooksExtra
to read an excerpt from Beach House No. 9.
For more information about Christie Ridgway
visit www.christieridgway.com.
You started writing your own
romantic stories as a young girl, but
it wasn’t until much later that you
decided to pursue your dream of
being a published author. What or
who inspired you to start writing?
After working in the tech industry for a
number of years, I stayed home to care
for my first son and immersed myself
in reading romances during naptime.
One of my best friends from high school
came to visit, saw what I was reading and
asked why I wasn’t writing those books,
since I’d always aspired to do just that. It
was the nudge I needed. Two weeks later
I’d joined a local chapter of Romance
Writers of America and I was invited
into a critique group right away. There
was no looking back! I was on my way to
my dream job.
When and where do you most
like to write?
I’m a morning person! I like to get up
early and head downstairs to my cozy
office. A few rituals to get going—feed
the pets, make coffee, check that no
emergency emails landed in my in-box
overnight—and then I slip on headphones
to listen to the current book’s playlist and
return to the story in my head.
What inspired the BEACH HOUSE
NO. 9 trilogy? I imagine, living in
California, there’s no shortage for
inspiration.
The original inspiration was just the words
“Beach House No. 9,” reminiscent of the
song “Love Potion No. 9,” floating into my
head. I was working on something else at
the time, so I wrote the phrase down and
pinned the paper to the bulletin board in
my office. It stayed there for a couple of
years, waiting for me to find the exact place
to set my beach house. I call it Crescent
Cove, but it’s very much like the real-life
Crystal Cove in Southern California. It’s
now a state park and is a great place to visit
for the day, or even overnight in some of
the refurbished bungalows.
When starting a new trilogy, is it more
or less daunting knowing there are
characters and plots to be explored
later in following books?
It’s definitely worrisome! I live in fear I’ll
paint myself into a corner, because as I’m
writing the first book, I don’t know every
detail of the second and third. But it’s
amazing how a casual insertion in book
one turns out to be an important point
that I didn’t see coming. For example, that
Christie
RIDGWAY
Q&A WITH
Christie Ridgway opens
up about what inspired her to
start writing, her morning routine,
and the characters of the Beach
House No. 9 trilogy.
10 11

7. 16 1716 17
Hi. My name is Mary and I’ve
worked at the Harlequin Reader Service
for twenty-five years now. My friends
here asked me to share the story of Peanut
the Rescue Dog. Until last fall my “pack”
consisted of me, my lovely husband, John,
and our two dogs, Barney and Sacha.
At eighteen, it wasn’t surprising that Sacha
was slowly fading until one morning we
awoke to find that she had passed away
during the night. It was very sad but we
had the pleasure of knowing that we had
given her as much joy as she gave us.
And the silver lining was that Barney, our
thirteen-year-old “youngster” could now
have our full time and attention. He had
been so great about the adjustments that
came with having a senior sister, and now
it was his time.
And so the next week was filled with
longer, faster walks and accompanying my
husband on his errands. And a routine
visit to the vet for a consultation about
something minor. Being thorough, our vet
gave Barney a nose-to-tail look. “How long
has Barney’s eye been like this?” Then
began a whirlwind of visits to specialists
until, ten days later, the shocking news
that Barney had an inoperable tumor,
and the prognosis—eight good months.
And then, worse still, Barney’s condition
We’d love to hear from you!
Send us your pet story and we’ll feature it in the
Pet Corner on the Reader Service blog at
www.ReaderService.com/SimplyBooksExtra or
in an upcoming issue of Simply Books magazine.
Email to: ReaderService@harlequin.com
with “Pet Corner” as the subject.
Or
U.S. Residents Canadian Residents
mail to: mail to:
Pet Corner Pet Corner
3010 Walden Ave., 225 Duncan Mill Road,
P.O. Box 9048 Don Mills, Ontario
Buffalo, NY 14240-9048 M3B 3K9
Corner:PET
PEANUT
progressed rapidly and two weeks later we
had lost Barney, too.
I was in shock. Thank goodness for my
wonderful friends here at the Harlequin
Reader Service. They were so supportive
and understanding. And I sure needed it.
As well as my feelings of loss, I felt the
burden of knowing that we could have
given Barney more.
A few weeks later my husband asked
me about what type of dog I thought
we should get. He had been diligently
researching various breeds and keeping
me informed about their different
qualities. I reminded him of my theory of
Dog Kismet—that somehow the right dog
finds the right owner. John agreed with
me. He’d seen it happen many times. But
how, he asked, was Dog Kismet supposed
to happen if I didn’t start to look. “Do
you think they’re just going to phone
you?” The next day the phone rang.
A rescue organization had contacted our
vet about a seven-month-old puppy that
needed a home. And our vet thought of
us. One look at Peanut and I knew that
our dog had found us. Over the next
week, as we spent time together, I noticed
something. Was it simply my wishful
thinking?
It wasn’t just me. Our vet had noticed
it too. “You know,” she said, “it’s as if
Peanut is a combination of Sacha and
Barney.” Yes. She has Sacha’s intelligence
and all of Barney’s heart and sweetness.
I had been given a second chance. That’s
when I realized…Peanut IS a rescue dog.
She rescued me.
Mary Abthorpe,
Director, New Member Acquisition
and Retention
P.S. All of our dogs have had their quirks.
Peanut is a bird-watcher. Not to chase.
Just to look at and admire. In the picture
of Peanut and her chicken friends, you
can see from the chicken’s expression the
interest is mutual.
THE RESCUE DOG

8. 16 1716 17
Hi. My name is Mary and I’ve
worked at the Harlequin Reader Service
for twenty-five years now. My friends
here asked me to share the story of Peanut
the Rescue Dog. Until last fall my “pack”
consisted of me, my lovely husband, John,
and our two dogs, Barney and Sacha.
At eighteen, it wasn’t surprising that Sacha
was slowly fading until one morning we
awoke to find that she had passed away
during the night. It was very sad but we
had the pleasure of knowing that we had
given her as much joy as she gave us.
And the silver lining was that Barney, our
thirteen-year-old “youngster” could now
have our full time and attention. He had
been so great about the adjustments that
came with having a senior sister, and now
it was his time.
And so the next week was filled with
longer, faster walks and accompanying my
husband on his errands. And a routine
visit to the vet for a consultation about
something minor. Being thorough, our vet
gave Barney a nose-to-tail look. “How long
has Barney’s eye been like this?” Then
began a whirlwind of visits to specialists
until, ten days later, the shocking news
that Barney had an inoperable tumor,
and the prognosis—eight good months.
And then, worse still, Barney’s condition
We’d love to hear from you!
Send us your pet story and we’ll feature it in the
Pet Corner on the Reader Service blog at
www.ReaderService.com/SimplyBooksExtra or
in an upcoming issue of Simply Books magazine.
Email to: ReaderService@harlequin.com
with “Pet Corner” as the subject.
Or
U.S. Residents Canadian Residents
mail to: mail to:
Pet Corner Pet Corner
3010 Walden Ave., 225 Duncan Mill Road,
P.O. Box 9048 Don Mills, Ontario
Buffalo, NY 14240-9048 M3B 3K9
Corner:PET
PEANUT
progressed rapidly and two weeks later we
had lost Barney, too.
I was in shock. Thank goodness for my
wonderful friends here at the Harlequin
Reader Service. They were so supportive
and understanding. And I sure needed it.
As well as my feelings of loss, I felt the
burden of knowing that we could have
given Barney more.
A few weeks later my husband asked
me about what type of dog I thought
we should get. He had been diligently
researching various breeds and keeping
me informed about their different
qualities. I reminded him of my theory of
Dog Kismet—that somehow the right dog
finds the right owner. John agreed with
me. He’d seen it happen many times. But
how, he asked, was Dog Kismet supposed
to happen if I didn’t start to look. “Do
you think they’re just going to phone
you?” The next day the phone rang.
A rescue organization had contacted our
vet about a seven-month-old puppy that
needed a home. And our vet thought of
us. One look at Peanut and I knew that
our dog had found us. Over the next
week, as we spent time together, I noticed
something. Was it simply my wishful
thinking?
It wasn’t just me. Our vet had noticed
it too. “You know,” she said, “it’s as if
Peanut is a combination of Sacha and
Barney.” Yes. She has Sacha’s intelligence
and all of Barney’s heart and sweetness.
I had been given a second chance. That’s
when I realized…Peanut IS a rescue dog.
She rescued me.
Mary Abthorpe,
Director, New Member Acquisition
and Retention
P.S. All of our dogs have had their quirks.
Peanut is a bird-watcher. Not to chase.
Just to look at and admire. In the picture
of Peanut and her chicken friends, you
can see from the chicken’s expression the
interest is mutual.
THE RESCUE DOG

9. Of course Samantha would beat
the storm! Emily couldn’t seem to
stop herself from frowning. Though
she’d never totally understood it, the
odd competitiveness she’d always felt
with her oldest sister kicked in with a
vengeance. She supposed with three
sisters, there were bound to be rivalries,
but why with Samantha and not
Gabi? Gabi was the driven, successful
businesswoman, the one most like her in
terms of ambition.
“I’m getting on a flight out of here
tonight,” Emily said determinedly,
motivated by Samantha’s plans. “If I
have to drive from Atlanta, then that’s
what I’ll do.”
Rather than admonishing her, Gabi
chuckled. “Samantha said you were
going to say that. From the time you
understood the difference between
winning and losing, you hated it when
she beat you at anything. Okay, fine. Get
here when you can. Just do it safely. This
storm isn’t looking pretty. If it wobbles
even the slightest bit to the west, Nags
Head will take a direct hit. You can bet
the road down to Hatteras will wash out
on occasion simmering resentments rose
to the surface.
“He has work to do,” Gabi said,
immediately defensive, as always.
“Important work. Do you know the kind
of impact these biomedical studies at his
company could have on people’s lives?”
“I wonder how many times he said exactly
that to Mother when he went off and left
her to cope with raising us.”
For once Gabi didn’t overreact. “It was
a constant refrain, wasn’t it? Well, we’re
all grown up. We should be over all those
missed school plays and recitals and soccer
games by now.”
“Says the not-so-well-adjusted woman
who’s doing her best to follow in his
footsteps,” Emily taunted with good
humor. “You know you’re no better
than he is, Gabriella. You may not be a
scientist, but you are a workaholic. That’s
why you get so uptight when I criticize
him.”
The silence that greeted her comment was
deafening. “Gabi, I was only teasing,”
Emily apologized, aware that she’d crossed
a line. “Seriously. You know how proud
again unless they were a lot smarter when
they did the repairs after the last storm.”
“How’s Grandmother?” Cora Jane Castle
was in her mid-seventies, but still going
strong and determined to continue
operating the beachfront restaurant
opened by her late husband even though
no one in the family had demonstrated
any interest in running it. In Emily’s
view, she ought to sell it and enjoy her
golden years, but the mere mention of
such an idea was considered blasphemy.
“Stoic about the storm, but mad as a wet
hen that Dad drove over and picked her
up to bring her to Raleigh to ride out the
hurricane,” Gabi assessed. “She’s in my
kitchen cooking and muttering a few very
bad words I had no idea she knew. I think
that’s why Dad dropped her here, then
took off. He didn’t want to be around
when she got her hands on my knives.”
“Or it could be he had no idea what to
say to her. That’s his way, isn’t it?” Emily
said with a hint of bitterness. Under
the best of conditions, her father, Sam,
wasn’t communicative. Under the worst,
he simply wasn’t around. Most of the
time she’d made her peace with that, but
SAND CASTLE BAY
IS AVAILABLE IN APRIL!
ENJOY THIS EXCERPT FROM
Sand Castle Bay
18 19
New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author
Sherryl Woods takes readers to the North Carolina coast
with a new family and her trademark heartfelt emotions.
we all are of your accomplishments.
You’re a top executive at one of the
hottest biomed companies in North
Carolina, if not the entire country.”
“I know. You just struck a nerve, that’s
all,” Gabi said, then added briskly. “Let
me know when you’re getting in and I’ll
pick you up at the airport, okay?”
Before Emily could offer another
apology for what had obviously been an
insensitive, ill-timed remark, Gabriella had
hung up. Not with the sort of clatter that
would mirror Emily’s own quick flares of
temper, but quietly. Somehow that was
much, much worse.
Copyright © 2013 by Sherryl Woods

10. Of course Samantha would beat
the storm! Emily couldn’t seem to
stop herself from frowning. Though
she’d never totally understood it, the
odd competitiveness she’d always felt
with her oldest sister kicked in with a
vengeance. She supposed with three
sisters, there were bound to be rivalries,
but why with Samantha and not
Gabi? Gabi was the driven, successful
businesswoman, the one most like her in
terms of ambition.
“I’m getting on a flight out of here
tonight,” Emily said determinedly,
motivated by Samantha’s plans. “If I
have to drive from Atlanta, then that’s
what I’ll do.”
Rather than admonishing her, Gabi
chuckled. “Samantha said you were
going to say that. From the time you
understood the difference between
winning and losing, you hated it when
she beat you at anything. Okay, fine. Get
here when you can. Just do it safely. This
storm isn’t looking pretty. If it wobbles
even the slightest bit to the west, Nags
Head will take a direct hit. You can bet
the road down to Hatteras will wash out
on occasion simmering resentments rose
to the surface.
“He has work to do,” Gabi said,
immediately defensive, as always.
“Important work. Do you know the kind
of impact these biomedical studies at his
company could have on people’s lives?”
“I wonder how many times he said exactly
that to Mother when he went off and left
her to cope with raising us.”
For once Gabi didn’t overreact. “It was
a constant refrain, wasn’t it? Well, we’re
all grown up. We should be over all those
missed school plays and recitals and soccer
games by now.”
“Says the not-so-well-adjusted woman
who’s doing her best to follow in his
footsteps,” Emily taunted with good
humor. “You know you’re no better
than he is, Gabriella. You may not be a
scientist, but you are a workaholic. That’s
why you get so uptight when I criticize
him.”
The silence that greeted her comment was
deafening. “Gabi, I was only teasing,”
Emily apologized, aware that she’d crossed
a line. “Seriously. You know how proud
again unless they were a lot smarter when
they did the repairs after the last storm.”
“How’s Grandmother?” Cora Jane Castle
was in her mid-seventies, but still going
strong and determined to continue
operating the beachfront restaurant
opened by her late husband even though
no one in the family had demonstrated
any interest in running it. In Emily’s
view, she ought to sell it and enjoy her
golden years, but the mere mention of
such an idea was considered blasphemy.
“Stoic about the storm, but mad as a wet
hen that Dad drove over and picked her
up to bring her to Raleigh to ride out the
hurricane,” Gabi assessed. “She’s in my
kitchen cooking and muttering a few very
bad words I had no idea she knew. I think
that’s why Dad dropped her here, then
took off. He didn’t want to be around
when she got her hands on my knives.”
“Or it could be he had no idea what to
say to her. That’s his way, isn’t it?” Emily
said with a hint of bitterness. Under
the best of conditions, her father, Sam,
wasn’t communicative. Under the worst,
he simply wasn’t around. Most of the
time she’d made her peace with that, but
SAND CASTLE BAY
IS AVAILABLE IN APRIL!
ENJOY THIS EXCERPT FROM
Sand Castle Bay
18 19
New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author
Sherryl Woods takes readers to the North Carolina coast
with a new family and her trademark heartfelt emotions.
we all are of your accomplishments.
You’re a top executive at one of the
hottest biomed companies in North
Carolina, if not the entire country.”
“I know. You just struck a nerve, that’s
all,” Gabi said, then added briskly. “Let
me know when you’re getting in and I’ll
pick you up at the airport, okay?”
Before Emily could offer another
apology for what had obviously been an
insensitive, ill-timed remark, Gabriella had
hung up. Not with the sort of clatter that
would mirror Emily’s own quick flares of
temper, but quietly. Somehow that was
much, much worse.
Copyright © 2013 by Sherryl Woods

11. Real Secret
If you wanted to be your skinniest self
and to follow the healthiest diet in the
world, what would you eat? Egg-white
veggie omelets? Greek-style nonfat
yogurt? Whey protein shakes?
That sounds like the regimen famous
trainers and A-list stars follow, doesn’t
it? But what if I told you that I’ve been a
sought-after fitness and nutrition expert
for over two decades and worked with
thousands of clients, including some of
Hollywood’s hottest bodies? And what
if I told you what I told them, which is
that many of these supposedly “healthy”
foods could actually be making you fat?
Well, that’s exactly what I am going to
tell you. So listen up, because I’m about
to share the secret to weight loss. It isn’t
Maybe your daily diet is stressing your
body through its high content of sugar,
artificial sweeteners, and processed
foods, which tend to contain lots of
soy, corn, and gluten. Or perhaps
you’ve maintained a seemingly healthy
regimen, but have never realized that all
your healthy efforts are being sabotaged
by foods that commonly cause food
intolerance like yogurt (even nonfat), eggs
(even Omega-3-rich), and grains (even
whole). Either way, if you weigh more
than you’d like and look older than you’d
prefer, you are most likely struggling with
food intolerances. How can you tell?
Let me ask you what I ask my clients:
If the answer to even one of these
questions is yes, you’ve likely been eating
too many High-FI foods, or problem foods
that are likely to trigger food intolerance.
What’s the solution? Stop eating High-FI
foods and replace them with Low-FI foods:
foods that are unlikely to trigger food
intolerance. If you can cut out the top 7
High-FI foods for just three weeks, you’ll
see weight loss and beauty results that will
have you looking and feeling terrific.
Hey, if those old low-fat, low-carb, or
high-protein diets had worked for you in
the past, you’d already be at your ideal
weight and peak vitality, right? There’s
a reason that approach to food doesn’t
work—and there’s a reason that the
Virgin Diet does.
Copyright © 2012 by JJ Virgin
calories. It isn’t fat. It isn’t protein. It isn’t
even carbs. You can count them and cut
them all you want, but you won’t lose
weight if you’re eating foods that your
body can’t handle.
The key to weight loss is avoiding and
overcoming food intolerance.
Food intolerance is a series of
physiological responses that your body
has to certain types of food. They aren’t
the same as allergies. Food-intolerance
symptoms vary from person to person, but
the most common include bloating, gas,
indigestion, fatigue, mental fog, irritability,
moodiness—and weight gain. If you’re
eating foods that your body can’t tolerate,
you’re likely to gain weight, feel crummy,
and look years older than your actual age.
BEHIND WEIGHT LOSS
THE
Earlier this year, as part of a company-wide
challenge, I tried The Virgin Diet. By day 4, I felt more
energetic and less stressed and within one week, I lost 5
pounds. So I’m particularly happy to share this excerpt with
you. In the book, JJ Virgin explains that many common
issues—weight gain, bloating, fatigue and joint pain—are
caused by food intolerance. She’s helped thousands of
people feel better with her customizable program and now
it’s your turn to feel the benefits. I hope you enjoy and I
wish you happy reading and the best of health.
—Sarah Pelz, Senior Editor, Harlequin®
Nonfiction Books
2726
An excerpt from The Virgin Diet
by JJ Virgin, CNS, CHFS
THEVIRGIN DIET
IS AVAILABLE NOW!
For more information about JJVirgin and
TheVirgin Diet, visit www.JJVirgin.com.
For a recipe from the book, visit
www.ReaderService.com/SimplyBooksExtra.
• Have you tried unsuccessfully to lose weight?
• Is what you used to do to lose weight no longer working?
• Are you a yo-yo dieter?
• Do you frequently experience discomfort after
eating—bloating, gas, indigestion?
• Are you feeling and looking older than you should?

12. Real Secret
If you wanted to be your skinniest self
and to follow the healthiest diet in the
world, what would you eat? Egg-white
veggie omelets? Greek-style nonfat
yogurt? Whey protein shakes?
That sounds like the regimen famous
trainers and A-list stars follow, doesn’t
it? But what if I told you that I’ve been a
sought-after fitness and nutrition expert
for over two decades and worked with
thousands of clients, including some of
Hollywood’s hottest bodies? And what
if I told you what I told them, which is
that many of these supposedly “healthy”
foods could actually be making you fat?
Well, that’s exactly what I am going to
tell you. So listen up, because I’m about
to share the secret to weight loss. It isn’t
Maybe your daily diet is stressing your
body through its high content of sugar,
artificial sweeteners, and processed
foods, which tend to contain lots of
soy, corn, and gluten. Or perhaps
you’ve maintained a seemingly healthy
regimen, but have never realized that all
your healthy efforts are being sabotaged
by foods that commonly cause food
intolerance like yogurt (even nonfat), eggs
(even Omega-3-rich), and grains (even
whole). Either way, if you weigh more
than you’d like and look older than you’d
prefer, you are most likely struggling with
food intolerances. How can you tell?
Let me ask you what I ask my clients:
If the answer to even one of these
questions is yes, you’ve likely been eating
too many High-FI foods, or problem foods
that are likely to trigger food intolerance.
What’s the solution? Stop eating High-FI
foods and replace them with Low-FI foods:
foods that are unlikely to trigger food
intolerance. If you can cut out the top 7
High-FI foods for just three weeks, you’ll
see weight loss and beauty results that will
have you looking and feeling terrific.
Hey, if those old low-fat, low-carb, or
high-protein diets had worked for you in
the past, you’d already be at your ideal
weight and peak vitality, right? There’s
a reason that approach to food doesn’t
work—and there’s a reason that the
Virgin Diet does.
Copyright © 2012 by JJ Virgin
calories. It isn’t fat. It isn’t protein. It isn’t
even carbs. You can count them and cut
them all you want, but you won’t lose
weight if you’re eating foods that your
body can’t handle.
The key to weight loss is avoiding and
overcoming food intolerance.
Food intolerance is a series of
physiological responses that your body
has to certain types of food. They aren’t
the same as allergies. Food-intolerance
symptoms vary from person to person, but
the most common include bloating, gas,
indigestion, fatigue, mental fog, irritability,
moodiness—and weight gain. If you’re
eating foods that your body can’t tolerate,
you’re likely to gain weight, feel crummy,
and look years older than your actual age.
BEHIND WEIGHT LOSS
THE
Earlier this year, as part of a company-wide
challenge, I tried The Virgin Diet. By day 4, I felt more
energetic and less stressed and within one week, I lost 5
pounds. So I’m particularly happy to share this excerpt with
you. In the book, JJ Virgin explains that many common
issues—weight gain, bloating, fatigue and joint pain—are
caused by food intolerance. She’s helped thousands of
people feel better with her customizable program and now
it’s your turn to feel the benefits. I hope you enjoy and I
wish you happy reading and the best of health.
—Sarah Pelz, Senior Editor, Harlequin®
Nonfiction Books
2726
An excerpt from The Virgin Diet
by JJ Virgin, CNS, CHFS
THEVIRGIN DIET
IS AVAILABLE NOW!
For more information about JJVirgin and
TheVirgin Diet, visit www.JJVirgin.com.
For a recipe from the book, visit
www.ReaderService.com/SimplyBooksExtra.
• Have you tried unsuccessfully to lose weight?
• Is what you used to do to lose weight no longer working?
• Are you a yo-yo dieter?
• Do you frequently experience discomfort after
eating—bloating, gas, indigestion?
• Are you feeling and looking older than you should?