Lillian Summer Fairview, why do you keep coming to Gabriel’s Acres every week to visit that husband of yours?
More than once I’d been tempted to stab a losing scratcher lottery ticket over that pointy finial rising nearly hip high from the top of Harlan’s headstone just to give him the what-for after all he’d done. But for all his faults and this helluva mess he landed me in, Harlan had his good points, and deep down I still love that old fool.
I grew up here in the town of Summer Shoals at Summer Haven, the beautiful Georgian manor up the road. It’s the grandest place around. Daddy’s daddy built it, and the rest of the town to boot. Ah, the Summers—we were the wealthiest family in Summer Shoals. Those were the days.
You see, that dear husband of mine darn near squandered my family’s entire fortune before he died. Too bad it wasn’t until after he passed that I found out. Yep, bags and bags of losing scratcher tickets filled our attic and the carriage house, and the savings accounts were as empty as the offering plate after it passes by Deacon Jones. Lordy goodness, what a surprise that was.
And now I have to waste another tissue to wipe away that spider web stretching between the A in Harlan across the Y in Wayne to the R in Fairview on my dear husband’s headstone. As far as I know, no one’s realized that I planted Harlan’s sorry butt just beyond the perimeter. A tiny seed of guilt still tickles my insides for doing it, but it’s not like I had a choice. Yes, tradition dictated that my husband should be laid to rest in the family plot. But even dead, Daddy would have killed Harlan for his irresponsible actions, and I’d have been forced to find a way to keep the ghosts calm.
But things are going better these days. I’ve got some friends staying with me at Summer Haven. You really should come visit. I’ll introduce you to my dearest friend from the college days, Maggie Rawls. She’s handy as a girl can be. I swear she can fix just about anything with duct tape and a screwdriver. Then there’s Serendipity Johnson. Now, she’s a might different. In fact, it was just by chance we even met. You see, Sheriff Teague Castro was going to be forced to give that poor gal a ticket for boondocking down at the Wal-Mart if she didn’t move on, but she didn’t have anywhere to go. That’s how she ended up at Summer Haven. She’s a California girl who looks kind of like Bo Derek, if you remember her. And then there’s Abby Ruth Cady. She’s from Texas and her attitude is about as big as the Rio Grande. Anyway, the four of us are trying to keep ol’ Summer Haven afloat, and keep a secret, too. Try doing that in a town small as this!
Why don’t you stop on by Summer Haven later? I’ll get Maggie to whip up a batch of her “special” tea, and we’ll fill you in on what’s been going on around here. I have a feeling you’ll want to stay a while.
Read more about Lil, Maggie, Abby Ruth and Serendipity in the “Granny” Series. Co-written by bestselling authors Nancy Naigle and Kelsey Browning, these humorous novels combine the feel-good topics of women’s fiction with the twists of a cozy mystery.
The characters are quirky and heart-warming, and the Georgia setting provides a charming background for all sorts of adventures as the grannies find themselves in one hot mess after another. This series will appeal to those who believe life doesn’t end when you hit a certain age, but only gets better.
The books in the series are In For A Penny, Fit To Be Tied, In High Cotton, and coming May 2016 Under The Gun.
Honey, these are not your momma’s grannies. These gals are more like Dirty Harry. . .only over 50, female and from the south.
Visit www.TheGrannySeries.com to take the WHO’S YOUR GRANNY? quiz.
About In For A Penny
Honey, these are not your momma’s grannies. . .
When Lillian Summer Fairview’s husband up and dies on her, it leaves the last living member of the most prestigious family in Summer Shoals, Georgia, in a hot mess. While Lil was busy being a proper Southern lady, Harlan squandered dang near the whole family fortune on lottery tickets. To keep her financial skeletons in the closet and give him a decent burial, Lil made a deal that has now landed her in prison.
Desperate to keep her troubles a secret and the family estate from falling down while she pays her debt to society, Lil entrusts Summer Haven’s care to her best friend, Maggie, who recruits two more over-fifty ladies to live at Summer Haven and help keep it afloat.
But when Maggie discovers that Lil’s restitution is ten times the amount she “borrowed” from the federal government, she’s convinced Lil has taken the fall for someone else’s crime. And these gals will use every trick in their little-old-lady bags to prove it.
# # # # # # # # # # #
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 12 a.m. eastern on December 29 for your chance to win either a print (US entries only) or the digital version (open to everyone) of IN FOR A PENNY. Good luck everyone!
Meet the author
Nancy Naigle writes love stories from the crossroad of small town and suspense. Born and raised in Virginia Beach, Nancy now calls North Carolina home. She’s currently at work on the next book in The Granny Series, and a new women’s fiction novel. Stay in touch with Nancy on Facebook, Twitter at @nancynaigle or subscribe to her newsletter on her website ~ www.nancynaigle.com.
Sounds like a wonderful book. With a great story line, also character s 🙂
Sounds like quite a romp!
What fun!!!
Looks like a fun read. Thanks for the giveaway!
Happy new year
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
I would love to read this! Happy New Year!
I think I need this bit of fun reading. Happy New Year
Sounds like a fun read!
Reminds me of the “Geritol Grannies” in the Miss Fortune series. They’re delightful and Lillian and her friends sound great, full of life, and hijinks!
Along with the New Year I have another new beginning. I’ve added this author and series to my need to read list. robeader53@yahoo.com
Another new-to-me author to try and she now lives in my state. Thanks for a chance to win a copy.
Oh this does sound intriguing.
Sounds like my type of read.
Nancy Naigle is a “new to me” author and “In For A Penny” sounds like a fun read. Thank you for introducing me to this author and for this chance!
Sounds like a fun read, thanks for the giveaway.
Another author to add to my reading list. Can’t wait to read about how they save Summer Haven
This book sounds like a great read.
What a great sounding series this is! I already have it on my tbr list so I don’t forget to read them.
Love this series!
Sounds like a series I must read. Thanks for a chance to win.
Grannies in trouble—I must be one of them. I think I really want to read this book.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
A captivating feature and giveaway. Thanks.
Sounds like awesome fun for all . I really want to read 🙂
Sounds like fun…and I love the premise…Thank you for the contest.
Happy New Year… Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
I’ve been checking out some other reviews around the internet as well. This sounds like lots of fun, thanks for the chance to win it.
Sounds fun!
Loved the post. Looks like a fun read. Thanks for this chance to get a copy
Looks like fun, being of a “certain age” I love reading about feisty grandmothers
Would love to give this series a try!!!
Thanx for the giveaway…
Contest is closed.