An Awesomely Funny Connecticut Lady

By Robin Weaver

I must confess. I didn’t understand this month’s theme. I thought I kinda-sorta got it, but to be sure, I did what I always do (with my grammar, you’d never guess I was an author, write?)

Anyway… I asked my critique partner, Linda Lovely. Another confession--I didn’t understand her either. Not because she’s not clear and concise (she is), but I have a short attention span and lost interest when she said I couldn’t promote a fellow Genre-ista.

“Say what?”

Even though I hadn’t fully grasped this month’s concept, I was convinced any article about a Linda Lovely novel would work. Apparently not. Double Tut! (Still, don’t forget to check out her new book, Bones to Pick, available this October from Henery Press!).

As I was rambling before, er… I mean saying before, I decided I’d promote another of my all-time favorite authors, Ms. Kristan Higgins. I had the pleasure of meeting Kristan at a RWA conference and got to know her a little better when she visited our Carolina chapter. I’ve never met a nicer, or funnier lady. Is there a more perfect combination?

Not that Kristan needs my promotion. She’s a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author and a two-time winner of Romance Writers of America's RITA Award. Her sixteen novels (every single one is awesome) have been translated into more than twenty languages and have received dozens of awards and accolades. 

What makes Kristan so fabulous? First and foremost, she creates the most intriguing heroes and heroines—messed-up but totally lovable ladies you’ll be convinced you’ve seen in your mirror) and hunky, hunky guys you’ll want to see in the same looking glass.  If you’re also an author, you should use her books as a guide for creating totally likable characters—fictional people readers will cheer on to the very end (pun intended). Obviously, read her books for fun before you go psycho-analyzing.

Ms. Higgins also tries to mention Derek Jeter at least once per book. For us Yankee fans, that alone is reason to read every page. And I can’t repeat this often enough; she’s funny. She’s funny…okay, you get the message.  To give you an example, she tweeted her favorite editor comment about If You Only Knew: "You've used the word 'whore' 15 times so far.”

She’s read Gone With the Wind, her favorite book, fourteen times.  Which means (and I speak with full, unsubstantiated authority here), that even though she lives in Connecticut, she’s a Southerner at heart. Right? (See, I really do know when to use right and write. 😊.)

The title for Kristan’s book, Somebody to Love comes from the Queen song. No one can say she doesn’t rock it. Okay, my analogy is a bit corny, but Kristan clearly has good taste in music and her book is every bit as good as the classic song.

If all the reasons I’ve documented aren’t enough to convince you to speed your fingers over to Amazon to order a Kristan Higgin’s novel, there’s one more thing. Most of her books have a dog in them. Just because Kristin believes life without a dog is pretty lonely to contemplate.

Here’s the blurb from Kristan’s website about her latest book, On Second Thought:

Ainsley O’Leary is so ready to get married—she’s even found the engagement ring her boyfriend has stashed away. What she doesn’t anticipate is being blindsided by a breakup he chronicles in a blog…which (of course) goes viral. Devastated and humiliated, Ainsley turns to her older half-sister, Kate, who’s struggling with a sudden loss of her own.

Kate’s always been the poised, self-assured sister, but becoming a newlywed—and a widow— in the space of four months devastates her. Though the sisters were never close, she starts to rely on her sister, especially when Kate learns her late husband was keeping a secret from her.

Despite the murky, blended-family dynamic that’s always separated them, Ainsley and Kate’s heartache binds their summer together, when they come to terms with the inevitable imperfection of relationships and family—and the possibility of one day finding love again.  

Hopefully, you’ll love Kristan’s books as much as I do.  Happy reading. And happy summer!

 A fun summer read for you or your teen...

   Fun summer reads for you.