When I was a young woman (and I won’t say how long ago that was) about the only thing I wanted in life was to get the heck out of Nags Head. The Outer Banks in the 70s: talk about boring! It wasn’t so bad in the summer, I guess, with the beach and influxes of tourists, but in the winter when we had school! I shudder to think.
I had dreams of becoming a famous model or actress, of a handsome rich man sweeping me off my feet to a life full of love and pampered. . .richness?
I am not, shall we say, unattractive, but I soon came to realize that I couldn’t act my way out of a paper bag and I’m much too short, at five foot four, to ever be a model.
But I did find my handsome rich man. I met him when I was still in high school, he was in law school, vacationing on the Outer Banks one summer. We fell in love almost instantly. It was heavenly. I adored him, and he adored me in return.
You can be sure that his blue-blooded Boston family didn’t care for me one bit. But tough on them, he didn’t care. And so we were married. Our first child came, with what his mother called unseemly haste, soon after. Three boys and then the daughter I dreamed of. I named her Lucille, after my mother-in-law, but I always called her Lucy, which the dowager Mrs. Richardson hated.
I got the pampered richness part of my dream, but the love didn’t last long. Still, I don’t suppose you can expect it to last forever, can you? I have my friends (what they call friends in my circle), my charities, my bridge clubs, and that serves me perfectly fine. As long as I can get a lot of shopping in as well.
And now, it’s up to me to make sure that Lucy doesn’t make mistakes of her own. She, foolish girl, fled Ricky’s marriage proposal for some silly idea of wanting to marry for love.
Really, Ricky is perfectly suitable; his father is my husband’s law partner after all. And if he has an eye for the ladies that isn’t entirely controlled, she can learn to live with that, can’t she? I did.
So, here I am in the Outer Banks to persuade Lucy to quit her job at that ridiculous library in a lighthouse where she works. She lives in an apartment on the fourth floor. Never mind the stairs; I can’t imagine there’s room for a suitable bath tub or a kitchen large enough for a catering company to work in.
I checked into the Ocean Side Hotel. It was quite a shock, I can tell you, when I saw my old high school enemy Karen Whiteside working here as a maid. I managed to avoid her once. I certainly don’t want to give her the opportunity to start spouting all that nonsense about that supposedly big “secret” she’s nurtured about me all these years.
Who knows what might happen if that gets out.
You can read more about Suzanne in Booked For Trouble, the second book in the “Lighthouse Library” mystery series, published by Obsidian. The first book in the series is By Book or by Crook.
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by noon eastern on Friday, September 11 for your chance to win a print copy of Booked For Trouble. (US entries only, please.)
About the author
Eva Gates is the national bestselling author of the Lighthouse Library cozy series from Penguin 
Obsidian, set in a historic lighthouse on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, The first in the series is By Book or By Crook. Booked for Trouble was released on September 1. Eva is the pen name of Vicki Delany, one of Canada’s most prolific and varied crime writers. Eva can be found at www.lighthouselibrarymysteries.com and Vicki at www.vickidelany.com and Facebook
look slike a greatr book!!!
I would love to visit a library that is set in a lighthouse. What an unusal and unique setting. Thanks for the giveaway.
Mine is fictional, unfortunately, but we can always imagine.
Interesting book!
What a wonderful series!
Oh, this sounds good. I wasn’t aware of this series. I love the idea of a lighthouse library.
Lighthouses and libraries are a winning combination, I think
I have always loved lighthouses! I would love to read this series! Thanks for the chance!
I have never read this author, but this book looks great. I love the unique idea of a lighthouse library.
Sounds like a good read. Thanks for the giveaway.
I’m reading the first one in this series right now, and I’m enjoying it very much. Looking forward to checking this new one out as well. Thanks for the giveaway.
Another great book to read, thanks for the chance 🙂
Book for Trouble sounds like a great book. I am looking forward to reading it, and the cover is gorgeous! Thank you for the giveaway.
myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com
Isn’t the cover marvellous!
Sounds great, love lighthouses
Have the first book on my shelves, haven’t had the chance to start it but would love to have that second book to follow up soon as I get to the first. Thank you for the chance. 😀
Booked For Trouble sounds like a good read … adding it to my TBR list. Thank you for this opportunity.
Any setting to do with books always interests me. Thanks for a chance to enter.
Books make great books, don’t they?
Thanks for your comments everyone! And thanks to the marvellous Dru for hosting me. I will be travelling most of today, and not have good Internet access, so I won’t be able to chat with you and reply to your comments as much as I might like. But I will be reading them all.
I love this series and since I love lighthouses it is a big plus.
What a super duper awesome cover on this new book….love, love, love it! I thoroughly enjoyed reading the first book in this series and can’t wait to read this one. Thanks for the chance to win it dearest Dru!!! You and Eva Gates totally rock!!!!! God bless you both!!!!
I’m on the side of the younger woman!
I can’t wait to read this book – thank you for the chance to win
Got mine already — OOOOH! sounds fabulous!
What a great place to put the library in the OBX. But watch out for those high school bullies.
I love the idea of a library lighthouse, I don’t think that it could get much better than that. Thanks for the chance to win.
I loved the first book in the series and am looking forward to this one. Thanks for the opportunity to win!
Look out, mom! You are about to get what you (probably) deserve.
Great post and I loved the first book. Thanks for the chance to win.
Thanks for this great feature. What a wonderful series by a talented and creative author.
Sounds like a great read.
Great cover. I love lighthouses and libraries. This book sounds wonderful!
This one is on my list…..
I love the Lighthouse series! Can’t wait for this one.
Loved the first book in this series❤️ I would love to read and review. Thanks Dru Ann
Love lighthouses.
Contains my 3 favorite things – books, cats, and NC. Thanks for a chance to win a copy.
I love the cover and also love lighthouses. I would love to read and review on 2 sites as it contains all the things that are great for a book to read!
I’m a huge lover of libraries and lighthouses, so I was so excited to come across this new series! I loved By Book or By Crook, and I can’t wait to read Booked for Trouble! 🙂
I am loving the lighthouse series. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of book #2.
I loved the first book and can’t wait for the next installment.
Loved the first book so excited to read more. Loved the story and the cover art work is colorful and eye catching.
I love lighthouses and libraries. What a terrific combination! This book looks wonderful and I can’t wait to read it!!!
Coco Ihle – CocoIhle(at)gmail.com
Booked for Trouble sounds good; thanks for the opportunity to win
it. Good luck to all.📖📚
I love lighthouses and I love libraries so this book must be a winner. Thank you for the chance!
Hmm, will Suzanne be a spoiler? Will she convince Lucy to quit her job!? I hope not! Thanks for the info and chance to win!
A library in a lighthouse, what a perfect job. I would love to find out about the comings and goings involved with this book. robeader53@yahoo.com
Wow, would love a library in a lighthouse would love to win,m ty for the chance
I’ve never been to the Outer Banks, but my cousins meet there every year.
Thanks for entering the contest everyone. I’ve had a long day, with book signings in Duck, NC, and Bethany Beach, DE. Now to bed!
Sounds like a great story. I would love to read it. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
Looks great!
Here I am a day late reading this…but I had to say the book (new series for me) has some interesting topics introduced in your blog! I love the outer banks to visit and will enjoy seeing how it is for Lucy to live there! Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy. 🙂 I am off to find book one!
Oooh this sounds catty, I love it 🙂
Meow.
I loved the first book. Love both libraries & have always been fascinated with lighthouses even as child in the landlocked Texas Panhandle. Thanks for the chance to win.
As a retired librarian I enjoy reading books about librarians.
thanks.
What an adorable cover….
Thanx for the giveaway…..
I would love the chance to read your book. Thankyou for the opportunity!
I loved the first book in the series, and I saw Eva Gates at LCC and she was very funny
Eva/Vicky, this is certain to be a winner. Love the character diversity and the mother/daughter interaction. I was wondering where the mystery was till the “secret” ending mentioned above.
Oh oh, I think we need to get mom under control, Lucy! Thanks for the giveaway.
This sounds like a great cozy! Thank you for the chance to win a copy.
wfnren at aol dot com
This sounds like a good cozy. Thank you for the chance to win a copy.
wfnren at aol dot com
Contest is closed.