Welcome to Honey Creek, Ohio!
Take a walk around town, where there is only one stoplight,
one gas station, one grocery story, many churches and one lake. But, oh man,
what a lake.
Honey Creek Lake is where a lot of the magic and drama
happens in the sweet, little town. Maybe take a dip in our man-made waters.
Walk along the edge and watch the boaters zip by sending waves a water to lap
the shores. Have a lazy day, cast out a line and wait for the fish to bite. Or
maybe, grab the hand of your loved one and step inside our new gazebo. Slip
under our famous Weeping Willow and steel a kiss from your sweetie. Every
corner of our lake holds a story. When you’re there, create your own.
Head five miles back into town from the lake, stop by our
White Cottage Restaurant, and have a slice of strawberry pie, although I’m
partial to the lemon meringue. The pie display case and red-topped tables only
add to the incredible yummies filling every plate. Catch 22 Pizza sets off the
perfect Italian mood with soft lighting and scents of garlic, warm bread and
spicy sauce. Grab a slice or an entire pizza pie. Is doesn’t matter because
after one bite, you’ll be back for more.
If you’re only here for a short while, maybe plan a trip
back during our summer months. We host a Strawberry Festival with music and
booths full of berry fare. July plays host to a Fourth of July celebration with
a parade and fireworks at the lake. Rent a cabin and stay awhile. You’re sure
to find whatever you’re looking for in our charming town and rural county.
Honey Creek sets the stage for a sweet Young Adult novella, Ice Princess. In it, Mya wants to shake
things up in her small town. But once she’s given what she wants, will she
change her mind and crave for normalcy.
Here’s an excerpt
from Ice Princess, Honey Creek Royalty Book 1:
“Okay. Stop me if
you’ve heard this one. A farmer and a pig….”
“Stop,” I yelled
without looking up.
“I already told you
that one?”
“No, but any joke
starting with a farmer and pig can’t be good.” I rolled over on the large towel
we’d spread across the sand. It was the last day of summer vacation, and
Michael and I agreed to spend the day together doing nothing but enjoying the
sun. Living in Ohio, we weren’t sure how many more days we had left. Soon the
leaves would fall showing off snow-covered cornfields.
“Can you toss me a Dr.
Pepper?”
“Sure.” Without
looking, I reached into the small red Igloo cooler we brought and produced a
cold dripping can. I knew it was for him since I preferred bottled water to
soda. Not Michael. The kid lived on caffeine and sugar. Which made the lack of
fat on his body hard to explain. Not that I’d ever noticed. Michael Graves was
my best friend. And nothing more.
“So, you ready for
tomorrow?”
“Sure, I guess,” I
answered. “How’s it any different than the last three years at Fayette County
High? Really, we’ve known the same people and gone to school with them for the
past twelve years. We all know who we’re gonna eat lunch with or who we’re
gonna sit with at opening assembly. Boring.” I wasn’t a pessimist or a Debbie
Downer, but Honey Creek needed some excitement and I didn’t think our senior
year would prove to be any different unless something unusual happened.
“Ok. So why don’t we
spice it up a bit.”
“Like what?”
“Let’s start a nasty
rumor or sit at a different table at lunch.”
“Ooh, Michael, you’re
so scandalous! Have I been rubbing off on you?”
“Hardly. I think the
most daring thing you’ve ever done was streak across my yard when we were five
because you’d heard wearing your bathing suit gave you tan lines. Even though
you had no idea what tan lines were, I might add,” he said with a smirk. The
afternoon sun danced across his blonde moppy hair, intensifying his golden
highlights. He sat next to me in a short beach chair staring out at the water.
Everyone we knew was out enjoying the last weekend of August. All of the rental
cottages were empty from the few Honey Creek vacationers that came to visit the
lake. It was a manmade watering hole, but that didn’t take away from the fun
had there. Boats skidded across the water pulling skiers or tubers in their
wake. The sand was dressed with towels and blankets full of half-clothed bodies
soaking up the sun like Michael and me.
“So word around town
is there’s a new kid coming to school.”
4 Star LASR Review: Great Read!
“It is
a wonderfully emotional short story with just the right balance of sweetness
and sadness. I recommend it to anyone who relishes a charming story of love and
friendship.”
"The emotional
scenes in the hospital and day of funeral are great - I know I cried when I
reviewed initially, and I cried again in both read throughs this week - I'm
such a sap :-)" -Wendy on GoodReads
Blurb:
Mya
Newman never minded the routine or quiet that came with living in Honey Creek,
Ohio. For her senior year, she craves something exciting to happen instead of
it melting into a cookie cutter routine like the previous years.
When a new girl, Audrey Moore, moves to town,
Mya finds herself caught in a triangle. She discovers hidden feelings for her
best friend, Michael Graves, but he seems to have eyes for the new girl.
After Mya's father becomes ill and eventually
passes, she turns to her best friend, Michael. He never leaves her side, but
she wonders if he'd rather be elsewhere. With fear of rejection and loss of
friendship, Mya decides she can't confess her recently discovered feelings.
When Michael and Mya share a dance at the Winter
Formal, does she open her heart to him? Or does she shy away, forever longing
to be the princess who finds her prince?
Thank you for having me *wink wink*. Small Town Charm, Love
& Mystery is available wherever e-books are sold.
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