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Please welcome Helen Brenna. Helen is the RITA award winning author of romances for Harlequin’s Superromance and NASCAR lines, and her April 2009 release, FROM THE OUTSIDE, is a current RITA nominee. She lives with her family in Minnesota.
Timing is Everything
Ever think about what your life might be like today if something major in the past had been different? What if you’d … let’s say … moved to Kansas with that one guy instead of that other guy moving with you to Miami? Or you’d bought the BMW rather than the VW Beetle? You’d chosen the apartment near the lake rather than the one by the park, or bought that house in the city instead of the one in the burbs?
It’s easy to believe that major decisions do indeed change the outcome of our lives, but what if something minor had changed in your life? What if you’d missed that one stoplight this morning? Or went into the other checkout lane in the grocery store last week? What if the outcome of our lives isn’t determined by our big decisions, but by every little minor thing that happens or doesn’t happen in our lives?
ALONG CAME A HUSBAND, my June Superromance, is in a lot of ways all about timing.
Missy Charms and Jonas Abel (an FBI agent) meet one night about five years before the book starts. It’s a chance
meeting in a bar and they make a spit second decision to have hot and heavy sex in the parking lot. Only thing is that this supposed-to-be-a-one-night-stand night turns into a whole week of hot sex, a week turns into three months, and three months turns into until-death-do-us-part. Yeah, they get married.
Except that it wasn’t the right time for them for a lot of reasons.
Missy ends up asking for a divorce and Jonas, thinking he’s doing her a favor, accepts a long-term undercover assignment and fakes his death. Four years later, Missy’s living on Mirabelle Island and owns Whimsy, the new age gift shop. (And no, there is no secret baby!) When Jonas’s undercover assignment goes bad – he’s shot and bleeding – the only person in the world he knows he can trust is Missy. But is their timing any better this time around?
So do you think there such a thing as bad or good timing? Anything ever happen or not happen to you that you just know was all about timing?
ALONG CAME A HUSBAND is the fourth in my Mirabelle Island series, stand-alone books set on a fictitious Lake Superior island off Wisconsin’s northern shore. With cobblestone streets, Victorian B&Bs, horse drawn carriages and a lot of undeveloped wilderness, Mirabelle is a place I hope you’ll want to come back to again and again.
I’m giving away a copy of ALONG CAME A HUSBAND, so take a minute and chat with us today. And stop by my website to learn more about my November release, THE MOON THAT NIGHT, and the 3 more Mirabelle Island books coming in 2011.
Thanks to Margo and all the other Jaunty ladies for letting me visit today!
Helen (Helen’s website)
Filed in: Jaunty Post
Jun 25th
2010
6:48 am
Margay Said:
I think timing has a lot to do with everything. You can miss a lot of golden opportunities by missing a deadline or arriving somewhere late, or such.
Margay
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Jun 25th
2010
7:04 am
Gillian Said:
Oh, yes! Timing is everything. And what’s that saying–opportunity is timing plus preparation? I’m not sure that’s it exactly, I hope someone remembers and corrects me. But it’s something I try to get through to my girls–you need to be ready for your luck!
Your story sounds excellent, and huge congratulations on the Rita nomination.
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Jun 25th
2010
8:31 am
Edie Ramer Said:
I have those What If moments. But so far no thrown away husbands.
I’m going to look for your book at the bookstore on Sunday.
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Jun 25th
2010
8:45 am
Crystal B. Said:
Hi Helen. Love your books. I do think there is such a thing as good or bad timing. It all depends on certain factors falling in place.
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Jun 25th
2010
9:04 am
Elaine Said:
I am e be ready for your luck gal.
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Jun 25th
2010
9:08 am
Lizbeth Selvig Said:
Hi Helen,
It’s funny, I think about little happenings every day. If I miss a stoplight, I wonder if something not-so-nice would have happened had I made it. If I’m late, I wonder who I might have missed seeing had a I been on time (that can be positive or negative). I love the idea of a story based on timing–and because it’s a Mirabelle Island/Helen Brenna book,I know the timing will be spot on.
Congrats on the second Rita nomination, Helen. Fingers crossed that you’ll come home from Orlando with a sister for the statue that’s already on your desk!
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Jun 25th
2010
9:09 am
donna ann Said:
congrats on the book. I figure things happen for a reason and what’s meant to be will be.
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Jun 25th
2010
9:34 am
Shana Said:
Welcome and congrats on the Rita nom!
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Jun 25th
2010
9:38 am
helenbrenna Said:
Hi Margay!
Hey, Gillian – ready for your luck – what a good way to put it! And thanks!
Hi Edie – no thrown away husbands so far? LOL Hope you enjoy the book!
Hi Crystal – and karma, maybe?
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Jun 25th
2010
9:41 am
helenbrenna Said:
Hi Elaine – I try to be ready for luck, but I have this feeling that being so focused on my goals I miss things along the way. Need to stay on my toes!
Hey Liz and thanks! I think we could drive ourselves crazy with all those little stoplight timing things. In fact, I have!
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Jun 25th
2010
9:43 am
helenbrenna Said:
Thanks Donna Ann – thinking what will be will be is how I sleep at night – lol
Hi Shana and thanks! Those RITA awards will be here before we know it.
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Jun 25th
2010
9:46 am
helenbrenna Said:
Thanks again, Jaunties, for having me. We’re leaving on vacation tomorrow – renting a lake cabin for a week – so I’m a little crazy at the moment, but I’ll stop by a couple times later today!
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Jun 25th
2010
10:03 am
Karen H in NC Said:
Hi Helen,
You are a new-to-me author so I’ve never read your work, but since Lake Superior is my favorite of all the Great Lakes, I think I would enjoy reading stories set on a fictional island in Lk Superior even if it is off the Wisconsin coast.
I was born & raised in SE Michigan…LOL!
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Jun 25th
2010
10:05 am
eap Said:
Congralation on your Rita nomination
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Jun 25th
2010
10:07 am
Quilt Lady Said:
Congrats on your book! I think we choose our paths but I also think things happen for a reason and they are just meant to be that way!
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Jun 25th
2010
10:34 am
Mary M Said:
Your book looks fantastic.
Congratulations and Happy Vacation 
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Jun 25th
2010
11:10 am
runner10 Said:
I do believe there is such a thing as good or bad timing. Things don’t always fit our schedule.
Your book sounds great.
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Jun 25th
2010
11:28 am
Helen Brenna Said:
Hey Karen – Since you’re from Michigan, you’ll be happy to know that Mirabelle’s village is a lot like Mackinac Island! The rest of the island, though, is rustic wilderness. The best of both worlds!
Thanks eap, Mary M and runner10! And hi Quilt Lady!
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Jun 25th
2010
12:54 pm
Linda Henderson Said:
I’ve often thought what would have happened if I had done a few things different in my life. Oh well, things work out like they are meant too. I hope you have a wonderful vacation. I look forward to reading your Mirabelle Island stories.
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Jun 25th
2010
2:14 pm
Penney Wilfort Said:
Great review today I am going to get your book Helen it sounds great love the cover too
Penney
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Jun 25th
2010
2:31 pm
Sandy Said:
Yes, timing is everything. I often wonder what I would be doing if my hubby hadn’t encouraged me to write.
Your story sounds wonderful. I hope I win.
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Jun 25th
2010
2:45 pm
Helen Brenna Said:
Hi Linda and Penney. You know writing can be a lot about timing, Sandy. Before I was published, writers I knew were always saying, “Right desk, right day and bingo!”
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Jun 25th
2010
3:29 pm
Tamara Hughes Said:
Interesting topic, Helen. And I do agree that our lives are shaped by the decisions we make both big and small, and yet those decisions sometimes seem impacted by fate.
Sounds like a great story. I can’t wait to read it.
Tami
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Jun 25th
2010
3:35 pm
Nancy Robards Thompson Said:
Welcome, Helen! Glad to have you with us today.
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Jun 25th
2010
3:45 pm
Christie Craig Said:
Helen,
This book sounds wonderful. And I do believe in the power of timing. And how if one thing had happened differently, our whole lives might have been different.
Great post.
CC
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Jun 25th
2010
4:22 pm
Fedora Said:
Hi, Helen! This one sounds terrific! (And yay on no secret baby–that’s a plot twist I can live without!
) As for timing, sometimes it is everything, although I think that sometimes we get second chances for a reason, too!
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Jun 25th
2010
4:40 pm
Catherine Kean Said:
Hi Helen! It’s wonderful to have you here at the JQ blog! ALONG CAME A HUSBAND sounds like a terrific read.
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Jun 25th
2010
4:43 pm
chey Said:
Congratulations Helen!
I think the right timing is needed for a lot of things.
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Jun 25th
2010
5:26 pm
Helen Brenna Said:
Thanks Tami, Nancy, Christie and Chey!
Fedora, hon, already did the SB, don’t need to do another one. Although it was a good one!
Hey Catherine and thanks for having me!
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Jun 25th
2010
5:57 pm
Jessica C Said:
Yes, I think there is a thing with Timing. But, also destiny. I know I am meant to be with my husband, but if I met him 10 years ago, I was so different, I am sure we wouldn’t have progressed the way we have.
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Jun 25th
2010
6:50 pm
Helen Brenna Said:
Jessica, I met my dh 3 weeks before I’d graduated from college and was planning on moving to Mpls, even though we’d been in the same small town for more than 3 years and never met. Timing, definitely!
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Jun 25th
2010
9:40 pm
Teresa W. Said:
Congrats on the nom you deserve it!
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Jun 25th
2010
10:13 pm
kris Said:
congrats on the book….it sounds really great. I sure do believe that timing factors in to alot of things, and it’s not necessarily limited to those big decisions. I love second chance romances, they are so sweet.
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Jun 25th
2010
10:22 pm
Paula R. Said:
Hey Helen, I am sorry I didn’t get the chance to hang out with you today. I hope you had a great time. I absolutely loved Along Came a Husband, btw. Missy and Jonas are so great. You created a great setting with Mirabelle Island. I can’t wait to read the next one so I can catch up with everybody there.
Peace and love,
Paula R.
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Jun 26th
2010
1:01 am
Jane Said:
Hi Helen,
Can’t wait to read Missy and Jonas’ story. I do believe there is such a thing as good and bad timing. Sometimes things work out perfectly and everything falls into place nicely and other times a great opportunity comes at a time when you can’t take advantage of that opportunity.
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Jun 26th
2010
3:28 am
Kirsten Said:
I had a car-accident a few years ago and after it happenend I kept thinking if only I had stopped a moment to go to the bathroom… Nobody was badly hurt thankfully but the financial problems that came from it where making my life more difficult then I would have liked.
Something as small as stopping to powder my nose could have made all the difference.
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Jun 26th
2010
3:35 am
Mitzi H. Said:
I believe that timing is everything….Sometimes it might be that split second that avoided or delivered a blow…or were in the right place at the right time to meet that special someone in your life.
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Jun 26th
2010
8:51 am
Helen Brenna Said:
Kirsten, I’m so sorry about your car accident and the subsequent financial difficulties. It’s so hard to understand why some things happen. But I’m glad you weren’t seriously hurt.
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Jun 26th
2010
8:52 am
Helen Brenna Said:
Thanks, everyone, for stopping by to chat! Now I’m off on vacation – woot!
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Jun 26th
2010
9:53 pm
Lulu Said:
I believe that timing is everything. If I hadn’t decided to go on a last minute blind date I wouldn’t have a wonderful husband and children now.
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Jun 30th
2010
5:25 pm
Danielle Said:
I like your idea for this book. I do think even all our small choices could make our lives hughly different, the butterfly effect. I hope I can make a small decision someday that will lead me to my prince charming.
I can hope….lol.
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