Jacqueline Hopper Official Author Website

I'm approximately a third of the way through final-read of Bouquets and Motorbikes. Been writing/editing this story since March and I'm not in the least sick of it. Can't wait to move on and finish Laughter for Tears, however, if I can read a story this often and enjoy it ... I hope that's a good sign.

Please be aware that my book, The Gingerbread House is at Smashwords.com.  Simply Use the code SSW50 at checkout
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The Gingerbread House features Jared; one of my favorite heroes. He's flawed, but his redeeming qualities are his compassion and child-like sense of wonder: the very reasons why his fans adore him.

Excerpt from The Gingerbread House:

"Let me assure you, Keren, no one ever blamed you for what happened."

"Well, I do." She broke free of him and jumped to her feet. "Knowing how abusive your father was, knowing you'd get hurt if he ever found out we'd ditched school, I pressured you to play hooky." She blew out a breath. "And it was me who went into that apartment, against your better judgment." 

"You thought you were going to see some kittens." He leaned back; legs crossed at the ankles and he watched her through hooded eyes. "No child can resist seeing a puppy or kitten. Classic child predator tactic."

"I wasn’t a child." She ranged the room in fierce, wide circles. "I was old enough to know better."

"Keren." He pulled out of his relaxed sprawl and leaned towards her. "Calm down."

"And because I was such a hard head I didn’t listen to my best friend. Oh, no." She continued to rage. "I wanted what I wanted and no one was going to tell me differently."

"Keren!" He stood and grasped her by her arms. "Don't do this to yourself."

"Why not?" She lifted her gaze to him, just as tears filled her eyes. She didn’t want his pity, she wanted his anger. "I’m the reason why I nearly ended up in the sex-trade business, why you were badly beaten by your crazy father and why my family moved away." Tears blurred her vision and her throat nearly closed with grief. "And why I lost the only best friend I've ever had."