In The Hay by Keri Ford (Apple Trail #3)

Available: NOW Amazon/B&N/

Type: Novella

Publisher: Turquoise Morning Press

My Copy: Sent By Author

Series: 1-Through The Wall

  2 – On The Fence

It’s been a White Picket Fence life for Nicolette. Charming, but tedious. She graduated high school, raring to go. Nothing is ever as easy as it seems though. The fear of being stuck in a rut, living a dull day-to-day life keeps Nicolette from settling on a career, despite her six years of college. When the chance arrives for her to housesit, she takes opportunity by the horns for a little playtime. She would experience life and find something that would make her happy.

Drew knows exactly what he wants. To run the family construction business. Too bad his dad doesn’t think he’s ready. They make a deal. Drew will help his cousin put up a new fence and after he’s learned hard work, the construction business is his. Drew’s not sure learning how to string fence line together will see him suitable for a career of paper pushing, but he’ll do it.

When Drew meets the wanna-be-free-spirited Nicolette, his determined thoughts of what he’s always worked for begins to sway. Nicolette’s finding the fun in life. But their relationship is temporary. A week tops.

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I honestly think In The Hay was my favorite so far in Keri’s Apple Trail series. It was cute, quirky, heartfelt and just overall sweet. To the point that I had a shimmer of tears in my eyes at the climax (cough cough, not THAT climax).

I found the characters of Drew and Nicholette to be perfectly matched. They were truly meant for each other. Nicholette with her indecisiveness though she knew what she wanted when it was staring at her. Drew with his life plan that wouldn’t know what he needed if it hit him over the head with a baseball bat. Together they were fireworks on a warm summer night.

Drew was such a sweetheart. Trying to tell himself that Nicholette was just a fling. I wanted to slap him in the back of the head. Wake up boy…your heart doesn’t go pitter patter for a fling. Silly man. You don’t try to make the other person smile and laugh if you just want to get laid.

Nicholette has changed her life direction several times. The age old question of “what do you want to be when your grown up?” still unanswered. Dog sitting was supposed to clear her head…not complicate her life. The appearance of Drew startles her. This virgin is about to get a lesson in sex….and love. She actually Googles how to perform sex acts. How cute is that?

Speaking of sex acts. Oh my. Front, back, shower, up and down…nothing is left to wonder about. Keri definitely knows how to ignite the pages. Her scenes are scorching without feeling overdone. Sexy without being dirty..okay maybe just a bit dirty. *wink wink*

I think the reason I connect with Keri’s work is because it FEELS real. It feels like someplace I’ve been before. When I read a Keri Ford book I just…feel. I feel love, annoyance, sadness. I laugh. A lot. The full array. I experience the sensations with the characters. I’m there with them. Keri’s writing is realistic, right down to her characters Googling sex acts. I find that this type of experience doesn’t happen often for me. In most books it feels like a movie in my head. I can see, hear and smell…but not feel. It’s nice to experience the difference with Keri’s work.

I do believe Keri Ford is hitting her stride with her third addition to the Apple Trail series. She weaves a quick, sexy story with ease. This is a one-sitting novella that will knock your uninhibited socks off!

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I give In The Hay by Keri Ford 4 stars!

Keri Ford Interview and GIVEAWAY!

I would like to welcome rising star author, Keri Ford to the blog today! I found Keri through my cousin Julie and we have been chatting ever since. I have since fallen in love with her truthful, humor filled writing and would love everyone else to as well! Keri’s writing will set you on fire and then make you laugh..its the perfect combination! I am thrilled to have her on the blog today!

Thanks so much Nikki for having me today!

When did you realize you wanted to turn writing into a career?

The first day I started writing. I began reading books thereabouts 2004 or so. I started and didn’t stop. My husband came home from work one day to find me snuggled in bed reading a book. He’d just heard on the radio, “that Harry Potter lady is selling like 13copies a second right now. You need to stop reading and start writing.” I laughed him off. Me? Write a book? The next day I was in a college class and my husband’s words came back to me. A story idea bloomed and I jotted hand written notes down as fast as I could. About an hour later the class was over and I had the makings of my first plot and something I could wait to try my hand at.

That is an awesome story! I absolutely love hearing how authors got their start and what the catalyst was. I’m so glad you started writing! The Apple Trail series is so good!

Has the road to publication been a short process or did it take you awhile to navigate through it?

Uh, there was some navigation. It was five years from that day in my college class to when I had my first offer. I can’t say how many stories I’d written before I sold Through The Wall, because I have always written on several projects at once. At the time of writing this, I have two projects I’m editing, three I’m writing, one on submission, three in early brainstorming phrases.

Ha, that’s a lot of work at any given moment! You need an assistant? *waggles eyebrows* Please come take me away from my life. I’ll go willingly, I swear

Your writing is said to have a funny, realistic take on romance, why was this important for you to incorporate?

My writing is FUNNY???? (Your writing is HILARIOUS)

…that’s pretty much how I figured out I was dabbling in comedy. I don’t sit down to write and think, “lets get my funny on.” I just write my story and a humor bent works its way in. I was really nervous when my publisher wanted to tag my books as romantic comedy, ‘cause I felt like I was being set up with the expectation TO BE FUNNY. And that was just really terrifying.

I’ve since learned it’s not jokes in my writing people are finding funny (because I don’t crack jokes like a farmer who’s just picked a row of peas), it’s just the characters and the realistic things they do. Real life is naturally funny most of the time if we step back and look at it.

This is totally true. I’ve often said a sitcom could be made about my life. Sometimes I even imagine the corny happy music…don’t you wish everything could be solved in 30 minutes? Crap..I digress…back to the interview…

Let’s talk about inspiration. What gets the creative juices flowing for you?

I want to get paid. I can hype myself up on caffeine and sugar and all that to get me going, but when it comes down to it, I want to reach a place where my writing can contribute to my household. The first story I ever plotted was with the plans to make an income. Even if it’s just being able to buy the groceries once in a while, I’d love to be able to contribute.

What? You want to get a paycheck? Huh. LOL..well you are on the right track!

Who do you read? Whats on your TBR pile?

Oh, man. My TBR has never been higher than what it is right now. I used to finish writing a book and take some down time to read. Now that downtime is spent on promo. Right now in the TBR (on my kindle that is J) I see some Monica Burns, Renee Vincent, Christie Ridgway, Melissa Ecker, Tessa Dare, Shana Galen, Sarah Maclean, Michele Hauf, Kim Knox, and Zoe Archer just to name a few. And really, that’s just the top of the pile and doesn’t include the physical books in my house!

I don’t even want to talk about my pile…it’s scary…complete with Halloween music and hockey mask scary…

Tell us a bit about what you have available now?

On The Fence released Feb. 21. It is second in the Apple Trail, Arkansas series. (a blurb is posted below). And I love love love this book! It reminds me of two people feeling the giddy crush of a first kiss, first bit of romance and first love. Shellie is overcoming a life she’s always known and is gaining the courage to stand on her own two feet while Riley is being pulled out of his reserved, lonely spot his past has shoved him in. When they got together—nothing was stopping them!

What can we expect in the next year? What are you working on currently?

More Apple Trail books! There’s six in this series and they release throughout 2011. Up next is In The Hay. It features two characters who are so young at heart. I just adore them. I had the most fun writing their story and when the reader gets their hands on it, I hope they remember some of their younger, occasionally silly times.

After these initial first six Apple Trail novellas, I have a spin off idea coming from someone out of #5—Satisfying Her Tastes. But I’m not sharing anything!! My lips are sealed! I will say they are scheduled for back-to-back releases in 2012 and are expected to be a little bit longer novellas of 30k each.

If you were to hit the town for a night, what would you do? Where would you go?

Mmm. Dinner and a movie with my husband. We used to do that ALL THE TIME when were dating. Then we had a kid. Now we’re lucky to get one or the other!

Uggg I totally understand that. I never get to go out with my husband without the kids. Tell me again why I was so excited to have them? Yeah yeah I love them…blah blah

Tell us something about you that isn’t common knowledge?

I’m really anal about having my things when I go places. I like my shampoo, my soap, my lotion, my hairdryer, my stuff. I don’t care if people use my stuff, just so long as I have it. I’m flying to the Lori Foster conference in June. My awesome cp, KJ Reed is attending and driving in. I’ve talked her into letting me mail her my liquids so I can do all carryon for the plane!

Uh oh…you shouldn’t have told me this. My goal now will be to break into your hotel home and switch all your shampoos with hotel grade bottles if I make it down there…I will coerce Julie A Lindsey to help me….. …now THAT would be a good blog to write

If you could change one thing about your past (professional or personal) would you? What would you change?

Uh, maybe cut out some of those college courses I spent money on since I never went long enough for a degree? I can’t say I would change anything. Anything that stands out strong enough for me to remember would have no doubt shaped me into the person I am and driven me into the life I have. While things aren’t perfect here, I’m pretty darn satisfied.

Thanks again for having me! The interview was a lot of fun!

 

Keri Ford writes country set contemporary romances. She was raised in South Arkansas on a farm surrounded by family, horses, cows, donkeys, ostriches, emus, chickens, ducks, Canadian Geese, and enough dogs one would think they were a pound…and then she bought a Cosmopolitan when she was twenty-two. She doesn’t recall the fantastic sex tip that drew her to the magazine, but she vividly remembers reading an excerpt of Christina’s Skye’s Code Name: Princess. One elevator scene and quick thought of, I didn’t know people wrote stuff like this… and her life would never be the same.

On The Fence is second in the Uninhibited in Apple Trail, Arkansas series.

If Shellie Chambers has to hear one more condescending comment from her mother about life or men, she might scream. She packs up and takes a trip to see her long-missed high school friend, Riley. He’ll know exactly what she needs to loosen up. But instead of the girl-chasing jock she remembers from their youth, Riley’s gone country, keeping up a farm of his own.
Riley Hamilton has settled down on a farm his uncle left to him. Not the life he ever envisioned, but after getting a girl pregnant in college and then watching helplessly as the baby was aborted, he learned the hard way it was time to settle down. Shellie’s reentry into his life reminds of his wild past and it’s a fight to ignore the tempting woman Shellie has become.

Read the 1st Chapter Here

For more about Keri’s books and just about anything, please visit her website: www.KeriFord.com

 

Keri is giving away one e-copy of On the Fence! This is the second book in her Apple Trail series but does not require you to read them in order…so no worries there! I will leave the contest open a few days and post a winner early next week!

Thank you Keri!!