Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for A Plan for Everything by Beverly Varnado, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: A Plan for EverythingAuthor: Beverly Varnado
Publisher: Anaiah Press
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Release Date: January 21, 2020
Connie’s Coffee and Cones is thriving, and owner Connie Spencer is right on track to realize her dream of expanding into a catering business. She believes she owes her success to her remarkable ability to plan. In fact, she has a plan for everything. At least, she thought she did—until Michael Cole appears in Worthville.
Michael has an agenda of his own—and a competing business—that threatens to derail everything Connie hopes for professionally. And if that isn’t enough, Michael carries a secret that could cause a backlash for both of them. So, why does she find herself attracted to him? When an accident on a rain-slicked highway leaves Michael temporarily incapacitated, Connie is presented with a dilemma she never saw coming—helping the man she’s falling for, or moving ahead with her meticulous plans.
As life spirals out of her control and Connie faces losing everything, she questions whether her plans are enough. But if hers aren’t, whose are? As she searches for the answer, she learns she must come to terms with her deepest hurt in order to embrace a higher plan for her future.
PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon
EXCERPT
Connie glanced from her calendar to see a nice looking man with a great tan wearing a classic fishing shirt. She moved beside Sofia, who placed a large cappuccino on the counter. “Do you know who that is?” Connie nodded to the man in question.
Sofia directed her gazed toward him for a moment.
He took off his sunglasses and stopped to look at the menu board. Premature salt and pepper at his temples gave him a weathered look… in a good way.
Sofia shook her head and called, “Evan, your cappuccino is ready.”
Fishing shirt, huh? Connie hadn’t been fishing in… the memory came back. She winced a bit at the bitter sweetness of it. It was a long time ago. What was this guy doing in Worthville? Maybe taking Dayton’s place at the plant. Dayton. The sting is so fresh.
Sofia poured another cup of coffee and put a decaf house blend on the counter. “George.”
Her voice shook Connie. She was staring. She busied herself making the next order―a strawberry sundae. A sundae for breakfast? Oh, well, not hers to question. If someone wanted to float through their morning on a sugar high, it was their business.
The fishing shirt man moved to the counter, glanced at the chalkboard above her, and tilted his head slightly to the left as their eyes met.
“What could we help you with?” she asked.
“I was reading your sign there. No disrespect to a founding father, but spontaneity has its merits, too.” He spoke with a slight grin, and his eyes crinkled in a winsome way.
Connie dismissed his comment and smiled her chamber-of-commerce smile. “Would you like coffee this morning?”
“Decaf vanilla latte…” He glanced at the muffin counter. “And how about one of those blueberry muffins?”
“Decaf vanilla latte, blueberry muffin,” she repeated with the ice cream scoop still in her hand.
Sofia put a small black coffee on the counter. “Rachel.”
As Rachael came to the counter, Connie reached over and released one scoop of strawberry ice cream into the cup.
No one said a word, but they all stared at a pink blob floating in black coffee, which sent hot liquid streaming down the sides of the cup and a rivulet running off the edge of the counter.
Then, as if suffering from electric shock, Connie said, “Oh no, what am I doing?” She grabbed the coffee cup, emptied it into the sink behind her, and threw a towel on the counter to mop up the spilled coffee. She grinned and laughed. “I must be a little tired.” What was she thinking? Or was she thinking at all? “You wanted… oh yes, decaf vanilla latte. I think we can handle your order without any further mishap.” Her face burned around the edges as the woodsy scent of his after shave drifted her way.
She turned to Sofia, who eyed her with suspicion as she poured a new cup of coffee for Rachael. “I’ll make the latte.” Sofia handed the coffee to Rachael, who stood at the counter appearing dazed by the strawberry in the black coffee incident. She took the cup and scuttled off to her computer.
The man extended his hand. “Hi, I’m Michael Cole.”
Connie wiped her hand on a towel. “Connie Spencer. Nice to meet you. Are you new in town?” Of course, he was new. Didn’t she know almost everyone in Worthville? Why was she so rattled?
“Just moved here.”
“What brings you to Worthville?”
“Starting a new business.”
Connie nodded. “We’re always excited to hear about new entrepreneurs. I’m surprised I don’t already know about it. What is your business?” She missed the last chamber of commerce meeting, so it might have been discussed then.
Sofia moved beside Connie and put Michael’s latte and muffin on the counter. “Excuse me, boss…”
Connie blocked the rest of Sofia’s sentence as Michael latched onto the coffee and put his money on the counter. “I see you’re busy. We’ll catch up later. Keep the change.”
Sofia continued talking, sounding like the teacher in that cartoon movie. Blah, blah, blah. What did she say? Something about chairs. Connie slid the money off the counter as Michael headed toward the door.
“Hey, boss? Did you hear me say we have twenty kids coming down the sidewalk?”
“Hmm, oh, yes, twenty kids?” Connie repeated, blinking.
Sofia pivoted to move into the dining room, moving chairs and tables around to accommodate the larger class.
Connie followed her, trying to understand what just happened. Had she lost her mind?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
She has written a nonfiction memoir as well as several novels and screenplays, one of which was a finalist for the prestigious Kairos Prize in Screenwriting. Her work is also included in several anthologies and periodicals. As an artist, her work was recently chosen for exhibit at a State University gallery.
She lives in Georgia with her husband, Jerry, and their chocolate Aussiedor who is outnumbered by several cats. Beverly is Mom to three children and Mimi to two grandchildren.
Read her weekly blog One Ringing Bell, peals of words on faith, living, writing, and art at oneringingbell.blogspot.com.
CONNECT WITH BEVERLY: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
TOUR GIVEAWAY
(1) winner will receive an A Plan for Everything inspired giveaway including a Jeremiah 29:11 planner, coffee mug, Starbucks coffee, and a $15 Amazon card!
Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule shown below. Giveaway will begin at midnight January 23, 2020 and last through 11:59 PM EST on January 30, 2020. US only. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
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