Tell us a little about this book.
The second book in my “Oklahoma
Girls’ series is The Husband She Can’t
Forget. Carly Joslin is reluctantly
reunited with her ex-husband, Luke Sanderson, who arrives at her organic
gardening operation to deliver something she has inherited from his late
grandmother. Carly also learns that he
is going to be using the property next to hers for an oil extraction operation
that could threaten her gardens and the life she has built since their painful
breakup.
What made you want to write this book?
My parents were native Oklahomans
and I still have many relatives there so it has a fond place in my heart. The oil business has been big in the state
since the 1800’s, but methods of oil extraction are changing now and some have
caused environmental damage. I thought
it would be interesting to make this part of the conflict between Carly and
Luke, who married far too young, only to see their marriage dissolve. I enjoyed creating a story in which two
people meet again and find that the person they once knew has changed
completely.
Can you share an excerpt?
“So, tell me,” Carly said, studying Luke’s solemn face.“At my aunt and uncle’s barbecue, I mentioned buying property. I bought the property next door.”
“Next door?” Carly frowned. “Next to Tom and Frances? Are you going into the cattle business?”
“No, next
door to you.”
“What?” She
stared at him, not quite able to take in what he was saying. “You can’t mean
the Withers’ place?” She jerked a thumb in that direction. “Why?”
“It has
certain…aspects I need.”
“Aspects?
You mean rocks? There’re plenty of those next door. But I’ve got news for you—there’s
no door, or anything else over there. Not even a shed or a shack where you
could hang a
door.”
“Um, I
know.”
“Why on
earth would you want it?” She rubbed her forehead, trying to make sense of
this. “The soil’s so poor and rocky a goat couldn’t survive on it. You can’t
grow grass on it to graze cattle. The only thing that place has going for it is
the stream that empties onto my land, right below my apple trees, which has
long since brought most of the topsoil with it.” She held her hands up, shoulder
height. “And if this rain keeps up, I’ll have the rest of the topsoil by July.
That’s why Martin Withers couldn’t sell the place after his dad died and the
county condemned the house and outbuildings. It’s worthless.”
“Not
completely.”
“Yes,
completely, unless…” She paused, trying to remember what someone had mentioned
recently about the land. “Except I heard there was an offer from someone who
wanted it for—”
“My uncle
bought it.”
“Tom? I
thought it was purchased by a group of hunters looking for private land to hunt
deer and birds.”
“They were
interested, but Tom bought it for the same reason and sold it to me.”
Now Carly’s
mouth dropped open. None of this made sense. “For hunting? Since when did you
become a hunter? You never shot a gun, except at a carnival. You never wanted
to kill anything. People change, Luke, but I can’t believe you changed that
much.”
Luke shook
his head. “I didn’t, Carly. I haven’t. I’m not interested in hunting or in
topsoil. I’m not a farmer. I’ve got another project in mind.”
“Another
project? What kind? I’m telling you, nothing can grow there. It’s only shale
and…”
Eyes wide,
her face draining of color, she stared at him. “Is that it? The shale?”
“Yes.”
Horrifying
thoughts turned over and over in her mind. “For fracturing shale to get out the
oil? Fracking? Luke, you can’t do that. You must know about all the problems
it’s caused. Besides, it’s never been considered worthwhile in this part of
Reston County.”
“I do, but—”
“Earthquakes,
polluted water.” She threw her hands wide. “My place is downstream from you. I
use well water on my plants. It will ruin my gardens, my apple trees. My
livelihood. This is an organic garden, Luke. I’ve worked hard to get it
established. Do you have any idea how many tons of topsoil I’ve bought, hauled
and spread? It’s taken me years to get this place established. This could ruin
me.”
“I know
that, Carly. I’m not trying to ruin your land.”
“Oh, it
could simply be an unintended consequence? That makes me feel a whole lot better.”
“Carly, calm
down. It’s not like that.”
Panic pushed
at her as her mind conjured images of parched crops and blackened fields.
Breathing hard, she tried to get her rage and disappointment under control. “If
it’s not fracking to get out the natural gas, what is it?”
What’s up next for you?
There are two more books in the
Oklahoma Girls series. The third book in
the series, His Twin Baby Surprise
will be available in May 2017.
Patricia Forsythe is the author of twenty-five books for Harlequin,
with many more to come. She loves
creating stories with interesting characters and happy endings.
Congratulations for the release of Husband She Can't Forget, Patricia.
ReplyDeleteTwenty-five books and counting...wow! Keep them coming!
Thanks, Kate! Please keep your wonderful books coming, too.
DeleteYour book sounds great, Patricia! And 25 books--that's amazing! Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteThank you. I'm hoping for twenty-five more.
DeleteLove the excerpt. And Congrats on twenty-five books! Amazing. Keep the words coming.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great story, Patricia. Congratulations on your twenty-five!
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteSounds like another winner, Patricia!! :) Congrats on 25!! woohoo!
ReplyDeleteTwenty-five! That's amazing, Patricia. Congratulations on your recent release, it sounds great.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on a great job!
ReplyDeleteI love 2nd chance romances and I loved the excerpt. Can't wait to read it! Congratulations on 25 books. That is amazing!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, I'm anxious to read yours when it comes out next month, as well!
DeleteOld lovers reunited is one of my favorite story lines, too. There's so much built-in tension. And fracking is such a timely, widely-disputed subject. Good for you for going deep. And congratulations on a 25th book that sounds like a great read!
ReplyDeleteSuch a fun and touching book at the same time. How do you pull that off so well? Another book I want to recommend.
ReplyDeleteAww, thanks, Roz!
DeleteCongratulations on 25 books! This one sounds fantastic :)
ReplyDeleteAdded to my tbr list.
ReplyDeletePatricia, this story sounds wonderful. What a great conflict. I love the idea of a once-married couple reuniting after so many years. Congratulations!
ReplyDelete