Mended

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Where words leave off, music begins.

—Heinrich Heine

My thanks to the artists and musicians who inspired me through each chapter of writing this book. Music is a world within itself. It is a language we all understand. And although I hope the words in this book do not fail you, I also hope the music helps to enhance them. Music speaks to me, tells me a story, and when I listen to songs, I listen to that story. . . . I hope I have succeeded in telling you a story that was brought to life through both words and music.

This section is by far the most difficult to write because it is so very important to acknowledge all of those who have never wavered in their support not only of me, but also of the Connections Series.

First and foremost, I have to thank my family.

I would like to thank my beta readers—without your suggestions this book would not be what it is today.

In addition, a very special thank-you to:

Kimberly Brower of Book Reader Chronicles. She not only beta-read Mended, she did so much more. She felt the heart and soul of Ivy and Xander as deeply as I did. Thank you so very much. You’ve become a lifelong friend.

Mary Tarter of Mary Elizabeth’s Crazy Book Obsessions for your overwhelming support from day one. Thank you for all your help and for your friendship—both of which I truly value.

Jody O Fraleigh for friending me, for supporting me, and for helping me with whatever I need. Your SWAG is truly beautiful and represents a piece of each book.

To Amy Tannenbaum of the Jane Rotrosen Agency, who not only believed in Connected enough to sign me, but dedicates the time to help me each and every day! You are such an amazing person and I couldn’t be more grateful to have you as my literary agent. And thank you to the team at Jane Rotrosen Agency for all you do as well.

To Penguin. When I began this journey with Connected, I never imagined I would land a publishing deal, and now three books in, I couldn’t love my life more. So thank you, Kerry Donovan, for not only taking my words and making them so much better, but for believing in the romance itself. And thank you to the team at New American Library for so eagerly and enthusiastically helping to get Book Three of the Connections series published.

To all of the bloggers who have become my friends—you’re all so amazing! I cannot possibly put into words the amount of gratitude I have for each and every one of you!

And finally, my love and gratitude to my family: to my husband of twenty years, who became Mr. Mom while continuing to go to work every day; to my children, who not only took on roles that I for many years had always done—laundry, grocery shopping, cleaning—but always asked how the book was coming and actually beamed to their friends when telling them their mom wrote a book.

Without the help of those mentioned above, plus all of the support from my readers who have contacted me daily since Connected’s release, the writing of Mended wouldn’t have been possible—a giant thank-you to all of you.