We have ourselves a winner! Pam K….you have won a free copy of SNOWDRIFT & a $20 gift card to Barnes & Noble. I’ve already contacted you through your email address. Congratulations!

Now, for the best crush story…this was a difficult decision. There were so many fun stories. And I think I might slowly post them over the next week, so that everyone can enjoy.

Here is my favorite answer to the question: Did you ever have a high school crush?

“Yes, I did. Oddly enough, the boy had the same name and looked quite to similar to a man I met years later and married. It’s embarrassing to look back on now, but I was totally tongue-tied around him and I even kept a little notebook listing when I saw him, what he was wearing and what he said. I was on cloud nine for days when he asked me to loan him enough money for a candy bar (he did pay me back.) Of course that brand immediately became MY favorite candy. Hmmm, come to think of it, it still is my favorite after 30 years! :)”

- Cynthya

To me, this story epitomized the secret high school crush - angsy & cute. Plus, the tie in with the real husband. Thanks for sharing, Cynthya!

Now, onto my high school crush, which I drew on for this book.

His name was Corey, and he was 2 years older than I was. His sister was a friend of mine. Not a close friend, but because I had such a crush on this guy, I made it my business to be invited over to her house whenever possible. We would bake cookies and play board games…every now and then Corey would actually join in! Over the years, I spent the night at her house several times (gush!) and once even caught him sunbathing in the backyard (sigh!). The best part was, he was on the water polo team (I grew up in a very warm climate). Talk about a body!

When I was a sophomore and he was a senior, he started to flirt shamelessly with me…massaging my shoulders when we were playing Clue, etc. I was too dumb to get this meant something and that I should maybe get him in a dark corner and jump him. So, I just pined away…making sure we crossed paths in school as much as possible between classes.

The crush came to a crashing halt when he started dating a girl in my class! It was heart-breaking. For the last two years of high school, after he was graduated and gone, I was convinced he would see the err of his ways and track me down.

The end!

Hope you enjoyed it!

Join me tonight in the Cobblestone Press chat room for a chance to win another free copy of SNOWDRIFT and to just have a good time talking about all things romance.

***There still is time to enter my SNOWDRIFT contest. Read the post below this one for details. You have until noon today!***

My book is on the sales page this morning. How exciting! And tonight I’ll be joining the Cobblestone Chat…be sure to stop by. I’ll be giving away another copy of SNOWDRIFT. So if you don’t win my contest, you have another chance to win.

This book was a ton of fun to write. I had this idea, but no characters. And when I started writing, I uncovered Piper and Jacob little by little. Drawing a bit on my own crush experience. If you come back later today when I announce the winner of the contest, I’ll share my crush story and my favorite from the entries I’ve received.

I’ll give you a few hints about my crush: I was shy, he was a friend’s older brother, and he was on the water polo team. Sigh.