(Blog Tour: Guest Post + Excerpt) Blue Wide Sky by Inglath Cooper

Synopsis
First love. . . forever love.

Sixteen-year old Gabby Hayden wasn’t the kind of girl who gave a hoot about boys. She had a few real loves. Water-skiing, going out on Smith Mountain Lake with her dad and her dog. Anything else ranked a distant second. Until the summer smart, caring, gorgeous Sam Tatum gave her his heart. It had been the most wonderful time of her life, lazy days hanging out at the dock, skinny-dipping at midnight, staring up at the stars from the back of Sam’s truck.

They are planning their future together when Sam’s father is transferred to South Africa. Devastated, Gabby and Sam promise to wait for each other during the two years before he returns for college. But lonely and angry, Sam makes a mistake that will change the course of both their lives.

Years later, an unexpected diagnosis brings Sam home to his parents’ house on Smith Mountain Lake where he believes he can find peace and acceptance. What he finds, however, is the girl he once loved, now a woman unwilling to lose him again, a woman who will make him realize that both love and life are worth fighting for.

Guest Post

Is there a place in your life that holds wonderful memories for you? Maybe somewhere you spent summers or weekends, went to family reunions or had holiday picnics?

For me, that place is Smith Mountain Lake, a beautiful spot in southwest Virginia.

When I was growing up, that’s where we went during the summer and where we had family reunions down by the water, long tables loaded with my Grandma Holland’s best dishes.

When I was considering ideas for a new series, I thought about writing a fictional version of Smith Mountain Lake, but at some point, I decided to use the actual place because I know it so well and it seemed like a good chance to share its beauty with others.

In Blue Wide Sky, the first book in the Smith Mountain Lake series, Gabby and Sam meet one summer when they’re sixteen years old. It’s first love for them both, and they begin to imagine spending their lives together. But when Sam’s father is transferred to South Africa for his work, Sam must go with his family to finish out high school. Missing Gabby to the point of grief, he makes a mistake that will change the course of both their lives.

But meant to be has a way of reaching out for another chance. When Sam returns to Smith Mountain Lake at a crisis point in his life, he will find that his love for Gabby has never died. And in this place where they once made wonderful memories, they discover that even though they are still soul mates, it may be too late for them.

Excerpt

Sam
I GET THERE FIVE MINUTES early and debate sitting in the driveway until I’m on time, but Kat looks out the front window of the house and comes rolling out the door to meet me.
I get out of the car, and she’s in front of me in seconds, her face lit with a smile. “Sam! They’re asking everyone if they know who put that ad in the paper. No one does, and I’m the last person they’d ever guess would do it.”
“That’s a good thing,” I say.
“I guess. Even though I’d sure like to see the look on their faces when they found out.” She turns back to the house, rolling along beside me as I walk to the front porch. I give her a push up the ramp, and Gabby meets us at the door.
We study each other for a moment, everything I’d practiced on the way over so much wasted effort since my mind can’t get a foothold on a word or a thought. “Thanks for having me,” I finally say, and it feels as lame as it sounds.
“Come in.”
I follow them both through the living room and into the kitchen where something smells wonderful. “Um,” I say. “What is that?”
“Kat is doing homemade pasta tonight,” Gabby says, by way of explanation.
“It’s a surprise past that,” Kat says. “You and Mama are banned to the deck while I finish.”
“Honey, I planned on helping,” Gabby says, as if she’s just spotted a pothole ahead that she hadn’t anticipated.
“But I want to do the whole thing,” Kat says, and I see Gabby waiver between her desire to avoid being alone with me and her recognition of her daughter’s sincerity. “I already put iced tea and glasses out there for you, so shoo.”
We’re left with little option but to do as she says, and Gabby leads the way through the sliding glass doors, shutting it behind us.
“Sorry about that,” I say.
“She wants to repay you,” Gabby says. “I understand.”
“She doesn’t owe me anything.”
“That’s not how she sees it.” Gabby picks up the pitcher of tea and pours us both a glass.
“Thanks,” I say, taking it and immediately setting my gaze on the lake beyond the deck when what I really want is to linger on Gabby’s face and the troubled look in her eyes.
“Do you think, for tonight, because it’s important to Kat, that we could just forget about everything we talked about last night?”
“Yes,” I say, wanting to add that I’d be happy if we could permanently erase all of it from both our minds.

Here’s what readers on Amazon.com have said about Blue Wide Sky.

“Great read. This book had me hooked from the beginning. I have to say have the tissues ready. Also get ready to start this book and never put it down. Then be mad because you will have to wait for the next one.” - LX - amazon.com Reviewer

5 Emotionally Riveting Stars - “Holy Wow! Public service announcement: Before sitting o read this book be sure to have time to read it from front to back. And make sure to have a box of tissues. I laughed, cried and was mad. This is an amazing story with amazing characters. A must read. Can't wait to read more of the series.” - Kindle Customer

Amazing Love Story! - “I have read several of Inglath Cooper 's books, and so far this is my favorite! It is what I call a feel good book. Romance has been my favorite type of book for about 45 years, and I have to say this one rates as one of my favorites! THANK you Inglath Cooper!” - RUFUS, amazon.com Reviewer