I am happy to welcome fellow Wild Rose Press author, Liz Crowe, to my blog for the first time! She has a new, fun, and exciting book to tell you about.
Thank you, Jan, for inviting me to share my new book with your blog followers today! I’m thrilled to be here.
The First Saturday of May
If you grew up in Kentucky like I did, you know that the First Saturday of May is kind of a holiday. Even if you aren’t a horsey person (I’m not), or rich (definitely not me), Derby Day is still a tradition that brings people together and kicks off spring and summer like no other event.
When I attended the University of Louisville, I went to my first Derby, in the infield which means you’re there for the party. I went again as a student and still didn’t get anywhere near a horse, but I had a ton of fun with my friends. As a grown-up, post-student, I went to the infield yet again, bringing some friends from Michigan. I’m lucky to have attended in my later, even more grown-up years in the grandstand and once, on Oaks Day, in a private box.
All of this background to let you know that I know this event pretty well, including most of the hoopla that surrounds it. Back in the day, “Derby Week” meant each day featured a different event: a parade, a balloon race, a paddleboat race (big boats, mind you, on the Ohio River), and more. Every day you could eat burgoo (a sort of catch-all stew not unlike Irish Mulligan stew) at a temporary outdoor food stand set up in parking lots of malls and car dealerships—very much like modern-day food trucks. These days, it’s more like Derby Month that culminates with Thunder Over Louisville, a fancy, and super loud fireworks and air show. But you can’t blame a city for doing all it can to celebrate such a fun tradition.
I wrote Win Place Show as a bit of a homage to Louisville, my husband’s hometown, the location of our alma mater and where we met, and where many of my friends still live. As a matter of fact, we’re invited this year and may take our friends up on their offer of space in their private box. This means I’d better get started with hat and dress shopping now!
Excerpt:
Lucy dropped the phone to her side, wishing she could sleep another three hours to skip the whole still-a-tad-drunk part of the hangover. She had, indeed, made some poor choices the night before. Beginning with thinking she could slide back into an easy, sexy time with Nate. She’d already more or less decided against it before he’d gotten there. But, of course, he’d shown up looking so flipping edible in a pair of dark jeans and a form-fitting purple polo with the Trifecta logo stitched where the little polo guy usually sat. Damn the man. He had no right to go around being so…hot.
He’d always been vain about his hair, something he’d discovered was a featured benefit about the same time he decided she no longer deserved his friendship. It was a wavy strawberry blond, cut just short enough so he didn’t have to use any products while it was full and tempting to female fingers. His eyes were so green, people accused him of wearing contacts to make them that way. Someone had obviously told him the trick about green eyes, that wearing purple made them even more striking.
“Some woman, I’m sure,” she said, lying flat on her back a few more seconds before hauling herself up and limping toward the shower.
Maintaining her anger at Nate was easy. She’d been ready to outright reject him. But when he’d shown up looking like some kind of a male model, turning every damn female head in the place, she’d stumbled. He was such a good dancer, not to mention a top-notch kisser. So she’d gone with it, fueled by too much booze, ready to leap back into bed with him as if no time had passed since they last hooked up.
Thankfully, he’d given her an out by going all talkative. That was the last thing she wanted from him. So she’d walked away. And subsequently had a lot more to drink, hence her current condition, ergo she planned to lay blame for her pounding head and queasy stomach at his feet, too.
So there, Mr. Perfect.
The shower transformed her from being a woman with a hangover into a clean woman with a hangover and many regrets. She glared at her bloodshot eyes in the foggy mirror, hating herself for being here, in her stupid bathroom where she’d spent so many hours as a little girl and later a teenager, second-guessing herself and her relationship with Nate.
She slapped on some rudimentary makeup, dried and styled her hair enough to pass her mother’s scrutiny, then stood in front of the dresses hanging in her closet. A line of matching shoes was on the floor beneath them. Several hatboxes stacked on the shelves to one side. The floral-patterned one made her headache worse, so she chose a light blue option, with a halter neckline, tight-fitting bodice, and skirt. It was a beautiful choice, as they all were. One thing she could never accuse her mother of was shopping poorly.
She slid her feet into a pair of cream-colored high heels, then pondered the hats with a sigh. When they were little, she and Mimi loved this weekend more than any other. The opportunity to put on a pretty new dress, hat, and shoes had been the highlight of their year. The hours spent at the track over the course of Derby weekends were some of her best memories.
BOOK BLURB:
Start with a perfect spring weekend full of pretty dresses, high heels, fancy hats, horse races, and bourbon.
Combine with a friends-from-childhood couple whose ongoing misunderstandings have led Lucy Granger to swear she’ll never move back home.
Mix in a splash of combined family pressure for Lucy and Nate Hawthorne to be The Golden Couple.
Pour over crushed ice and garnish with plenty of hot, secret hookups.
Win. Place. Show.
A funny sort of romance chock full of dressing up, mint juleps, an axe-throwing bar, and a huge winning bet at the big race.
PURCHASE LINKS:
ARC sign up (good through April 28, 2022):
About the Author:
Liz Crowe is a Kentucky native and graduate of the University of Louisville living in South Carolina. She’s spent her time as a three-continent ex-pat trailing spouse, mom of three, real estate agent, brewery owner, and bar manager, and is currently a digital marketing and fundraising consultant, in addition to being an award-winning author. With stories set in breweries, on the soccer pitch, inside fictional television stations and successful real estate offices, and even in exotic locales like Istanbul, Turkey, her books are compelling and told with a fresh voice. The Liz Crowe backlist has something for any reader seeking complex storylines with humor and complete casts of characters that will delight and linger in the imagination long after the book is finished.
Follow along with Liz online:
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/LizCroweAuthor
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/lizcroweauthor
FACEBOOK CHAT ROOM: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Lizcrowefans
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/lizcroweauthor/
TIKTOK: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMeQoUHjD/
BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/liz-crowe
AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE: https://www.amazon.com/Liz-Crowe/e/B00573TC7M
GOODREADS PAGE: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4350864.Liz_Crowe
WEBSITE: http://www.lizcrowe.com
EMAIL LIZ: lizcroweauthor@gmail.com
I have always dreamed of attending Derby. And Louisville is another lovely subject. I was surprised with a trip to there a couple years back and was able to take in some of the history. It’s a beautiful town, and I’m anxious to go back. So with that being said, you’ve already won me over, Liz! Now for the book… I love the style of your cover. It’s so eye-catching! And the blurb is fantastic! I’m already hopping over to Amazon to get myself a copy! Jan, thank you so much for always introducing me to authors I’m going to love and books I’m going to need. <3
My pleasure, Mar! Wouldn’t it be so much fun to attend the Kentucky Derby? I would love it too. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. I hope you enjoy the book!
Maybe one day we can make it happen & go together!!
Thank you, Jan, for sharing the new release by Author LIz Crowe. It sounds like a fun read!
Living in KY, I love that this is set during Derby. Best wishes to Liz on the new release!
It sounds like so much fun! Thanks for stopping by, Teri!
Congratulations on the new release, Liz! I visited Kentucky a number of years ago and toured The Kentucky Horse Park, it was a fun day! Thanks for sharing, Jan.
What fun, Mark! I bet that was a memorable day. Thanks for stopping by and sharing the new book from Liz!
Congrats on your upcoming release, Liz. Fun excerpt!
Thanks for hosting, Jan 🙂
My pleasure, Denise. Thanks for stopping by!
The book sounds wonderful. I’d never heard of Derby Day! Thank goodness I haven’t used that setting on that date
Thank you for stopping by to support Liz and her new book, Jacqui. Derby Day sounds like so much fun!
Congratulations on your new release!
Thank you for stopping by to cheer Liz on, Jennifer!
Congratulations on your new release, Liz. It sounds like a winner to me! And thanks for sharing the news, Jan. (I can see my towering TBR pile is about to get even taller!) Fun post, and best wishes for huge success, Liz. 😊
I’m happy to share, Marcia. Thanks for stopping by and boy, can I relate to that towering TBR pile! 🙂
Congratulations, Liz. Your book sounds like a fun read. Thank you, Jan, for introducing and featuring Liz today.
I agree, Gwen! Thanks for stopping by!
Congratulations on your release, Liz! I love the Derby, and this book sounds like a lot of fun.
Thanks for hosting, Jan.
Thank you for stopping by, Staci! I agree. This book sounds like a fun read!
Hi Jan and Liz – congratulations on your new book, Liz – sounds like a fun read. Being a northerner, it’s fun to read about southern traditions like Derby Day (Week, Month). Thanks for sharing Liz’s story, Jan!
Thanks so much! I hope you get a chance to read and enjoy it.
Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment, Book Club Mom. I agree that the book sounds like a fun and colorful read. I appreciate your support for Liz!
Great setting for a story. I’ve always dreamed of attending, but it’s a looooong ways from here.
thanks! It’s a super fun event for sure.
That is true, Craig. It’s on the other side of the world from you, but as Mae said, there is always TV. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
I look forward to watching the Kentucky Derby on TV every year, though I have never been fortunate enough to attend in person. I’ve even been known to watch with mint julep in hand while wearing a colorful spring hat.
Liz’s release sounds breezy and fun. Wishing her all the best. Thanks for sharing today, Jan!
Thanks! I hope you get a chance to both attend the Derby someday and read / enjoy my book!
Whoo-hoo, Mae! That’s the way to watch! Maybe someday you’ll get to attend in person. Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment today!
Congrats to Liz on the new release. Sounds like a fun read. Thanks for hosting today, Jan.
Thanks Joan. I hope you get a chance to read and enjoy my book.
My pleasure, Joan. Thanks for stopping by.
This sounds like a fun read. I’m looking forward to the Kentucky Derby. Congratulations to Liz! Thanks for sharing, Jan.
Thanks Jill. I hope you get a chance to read and enjoy my book.
I agree, Jill. It does sound like a fun read with lots of colorful scenes. Thank you for stopping by!
Congrats to Liz on this new release. Wishing her all the best. Thanks for sharing, Jan 💕🙂
thanks! I hope you get a chance to read and enjoy my book.
Thank you, Harmony. I appreciate you stopping by and sharing!