Kindle Edition Download to your Nook (eBook) Download from Apple iTunes (eBook) Download from Smashwords (eBook) Amazon Donna Fasano, In All Directions Category:  Action/Thriller Publisher: Hard Knocks Books ISBN-10:  1939000076 Pages: 204 Copyright: Jan 28, 2011 ISBN-13: 9781939000071 Price: $3.99 (eBook) Laurel falls in love with her pretend date. So what if Laurel Morgan hadn't had a date since the senior prom? If all it would take to convince her teenage sister to consider college was to go on a few dates and have some fun, it was a bet she could beat. And before she could change her mind, sexy forest ranger Michael Walker agreed to play the part of her ardent admirer!  Laurel never expected Michael's acting abilities to be quite so convincing. Whenever her sister was watching, Laurel found herself wrapped in a heady embrace with a passionate kiss on the way. Her captivating cohort promised a performance that would win her the wager, but when the curtain closed, would she lose the only man she would ever love? Excerpt Chapter One "This is just great!" Laurel slapped her hand against the steering wheel. "First I leave my wallet at that two-bit, sorry excuse for a diner. Then we get lost. And now I've got to change a flat tire." The car lurched forward slowly as she scanned the road ahead for a wide enough embankment so she could pull over. "Who said kidnapping would be easy?" The sullen teen's words grated on her already frayed nerves. "Ginny." Laurel's jaw was so tight she felt the beginnings of a tension headache shooting up her neck and into her skull. "There is no law against protecting someone you love." "Oh! So that's what you're doing." Ginny's acerbic tone continued as she placed a hand on her chest and feigned a dramatic apology. "Forgive me. Please. I thought taking a person off to God knows where without her permission was called abduction." Rather than feeling guilty, as Ginny clearly wanted, to her surprise, Laurel's aggravation vanished as quickly as it had erupted. The rigidity in her upper body eased and she relaxed against the seat, a mischievous grin tipping one corner of her mouth. "Oh, but little sister, I had your permission. It's not my fault that you were inebriated to the point of waking with a gap in your memory." "I wasn't drunk." Laurel glanced over just as lines of angry denial furrowed Ginny's brow. Compressed lips and tightly crossed arms completed the look of defiance that had become all too familiar lately. Arguing was useless. Her sister's wild, destructive behavior left Laurel feeling hopelessly bewildered. What could she possibly do to help Ginny? Nothing. Nothing, that is, until Ginny herself realized what a dangerous path she was racing down. The same deadly path their brother had followed. She had suppressed her suspicions for months, refusing to believe that Ginny would experiment with drugs or alcohol. Especially since Ginny knew those were the very things that had caused their brother's tragic and untimely death. Her grip on the steering wheel tightened. I won't stand still and watch Ginny kill herself, Laurel silently argued. I may have been too young to help Brian, but I will help Ginny. I will! No matter what I have to do. "Where are we, anyway?" Her sister's strained voice pulled Laurel from her thoughts just in time for her to spot a wide area on the side of the road and pull onto it. "We're on vacation," she replied, shoving the gear stick into park and shutting off the engine. Ginny gave a disgruntled sniff. "Does Dad know about this 'vacation'?" "Yes, and we have his blessing." Laurel was happy to answer Ginny's questions since this was the first sign of interest, hostile or otherwise, she had shown in the trip. "And he's actually going to stay home and care for Mom?" "Uh-huh." Laurel hoped her voice didn't betray the uncertainty she felt over their father's trustworthiness. She had plenty of doubts about him actually following through on his promise. But sometimes, problems had to be prioritized. "Amazing!" Ginny remarked. "And exactly where is this vacation taking us? It looks like the middle of nowhere." "You're about to enter the town of Oakland, set in the scenic mountains of western Maryland. Rest and relax as you watch wild creatures frolic in the lush, tranquil forest." Ginny's mouth cracked into the smallest of grins. "You sound like a brochure put out by the tourist council." "A smile." Laurel's voice filled with warmth. "That's what I wanted to see." Reaching out and taking her sister's hand, she waited until their gazes met and then softly added, "We'll have a good time, Ginny. You'll see." She ignored the skeptical look her sister shot her and glanced out at the tree-covered mountains, the autumn colors swirling in vibrant harmony. "You have to admit it's a beautiful place," Laurel said. "It was nice of Jim to loan us his house for a couple of weeks." "So—" Ginny nodded knowingly "—this is Jim's fault. I knew Dad shouldn't have hired him." "Ginny!" Laurel chuckled as she freed the keys from the ignition. "He's a great guy. You're just angry because he's not interested in you." "Yeah, well, don't you find that a little strange?" Ginny's eyes narrowed. "I mean, I could have a date seven nights a week if I wanted. I sometimes do. Why won't he take me out?" Laurel lifted her shoulders in a tiny shrug. "He's been busy working in the store, plus he's been working on fixing up the upstairs apartment." "That's weird, too." Ginny slid around and bent her knee up onto the seat. "Have you been up there? He sure is meticulous about how he wants things." Her eyes lit up as an idea hit her. "Do you think he's gay?" Laurel laughed outright and shook her head. "That kind of stereotyping is rude, little sister. A man can be neat and organized, and not be attracted to you, and still be heterosexual." "Well..." Ginny sounded unconvinced. "I still think it's weird." Unlatching her seat belt, she gave Laurel a curious look. "If he's moving to Ocean City, what do you think he'll do with his house here?" "It doesn't belong to him." Laurel unfastened her own seat belt. "He rents from an uncle or something." "Does this 'uncle or something' know we're coming?" "He should," Laurel said. "Jim said he'd call. But we won't be going anywhere until we get this flat tire changed." "Don't look at me," Ginny whined. "I didn't even want to come on this trip." "Get out of the car and help me with this. It's going to be fun." Laurel slammed the door. "Sure," Ginny muttered, shoving open her door and stepping onto the gravel shoulder of the road. "Let's have us some fun."

Love Comes in With a Stranger
What a wonderfully delightful book....The story will take you on several twists and turns as misunderstanding turns into understanding. You will find humor, compassion and grief in this book. It is a tale of that grief turning into happiness and love just when it is least expected. It happens after finding the love of a stranger. I truly enjoyed this book and recommend to everyone, young and old alike.

Charming!
A delightful book, beautifully described and seemingly effortlessly written. The writer brings us into the world of Laurel and her sister gently, artfully and doesn't let us go till we are in love with her characters, especially the special, mature, sensitive Laurel who seems intent on fighting the happiness she so richly deserves. Will she finally open her heart to life or will she continue to deny herself joy? You'll have to read her book to find out, and when you do, you'll find yourself rooting for Laurel.

Great Book!
I love the way these two authors write their books. The scenic discrtions are wonderful. I feel like I can see & smell everything, just as if I were standing there experiencing it all in person. I also love the characters and the story lines. Both are very down to earth and very believable, also.