Authorpreneur Dashboard – Elizabeth McKenna
First Crush Last Love
Romance
Just friends . . . Back in high school, Lee Archer had the power to make Jessie Baxter’s cheeks flush and her heart race. But the popular athlete never wanted to be more than just friends. Ten years later, after a failed marriage and with her journalism career on shaky ground, Jessie’s come home for her high school reunion—and Lee still has the power to make her knees weak and her pulse pound. Lee’s teenage years were filled with more trauma and drama than anyone guessed. Though his damaged past has helped make him a successful police detective, it’s hurt every relationship he’s tried. But seeing the grown-up, stunning Jessie might just change his commitment-phobic mind. Jessie’s psycho ex-husband had her convinced no one would ever love her, but Lee is ready to step out of the friend zone and into her heart. Can she learn to trust again before she loses her chance to turn her first crush into her last love? Elizabeth McKenna’s novel will have you remembering the angst of high school, the grief of a failed relationship, and the joy of finding true love at last.
Book Bubbles from First Crush Last Love
Jessie comes home
In this scene, Jessie has come home for her class reunion. She met her best friend for some drinks and then returned to her mother's empty house. She gets spooked and begins to wonder if she's being stalked.
Passing notes in high school
Part 1 of First Crush Last Love is loosely based on my experiences in high school. Before texting, kids passed notes in school. My husband, who was my high school crush, saved some of the notes that I passed him. I recently read them and was a bit mortified by how immature I sounded - but, hey, I was a teenager in love with a guy who had friend-zoned me! Jesse says in the excerpt that receiving a note from Lee was the highlight of her day - and I remember the feeling well. Do kids today get the same thrill from a text? Probably, but I doubt they will have those messages thirty-five years from now - like I do.
Based on true events
This scene, where Jessie is in a gay bar for the first time with her brother, is based on a similar incident with my brother, who was gay. I had the same reaction as Jessie. Gorgeous men everywhere - and not a single one was looking at me! My brother died before he was thirty of AIDS-related pneumonia. It was heartbreaking.
This is pretty much how it happened...
First Crush, Last Love started out as a fictional memoir - but then morphed into its own being. However, some scenes in the book are based on my life. This bubble is one of them. I chased after this boy all through high school, trying to get his attention. One Fourth of July, I thought I had finally captured him and then...well, you will have to read the book to find out what happens next in this scene! I'm still not over it - LOL.
