Monday, September 23, 2013

Indie-Credible Author Renee Peterson



Ahhhh can I tell you how excited I am about this tour. Pretty dang excited!!!! First I wanted to give a huge thank you to Little Red Riding Hood & Creative Deeds Reads for having me on the tour. And a huge thank you to Renee for not only being an awesome author, but for being so amazing during this process.

 So onto one of today's stops. There are so many reasons why Renee Peterson is Indie-Credible. Something awesome I found out about Renee was that she lived in the Mojave desert for 6 months. She spends most of her time raising her two children and when she isn't doing that (or being a wife) she is dreaming of the places she writes and/or reads about. She loves reading stories where the setting becomes a part of the story, which is where her first series became inspired from; Cajun culture - from food to family loyalty. This is my first time doing a tour or stop like this and Renee was very understanding and patient while we exchanged emails. I'm so happy that (even as a newbie) I get to represent her because I love her works and after speaking with her I love her too and can't help but spread the word about her awesomeness!!!

 Okay so there are a lot of things going on with this post. 15 awesome facts about the wonderful Renee Peterson. As well as an awesome interview with my favorite character of the three brothers; Rafe. YEY!!! Information about the 3 books in the series as well as buy links. More information about Renee and where you can stalk her and I should mention that she loves hearing from fans. The tour schedule and a giveaway. So happy readings....
15 Facts about Renee:
1. My guilty pleasure in reading is bodice-rippers from the 80’s. Shh, don’t tell anyone.
2. I had only know my husband four months before we were engaged and six months before I followed up from Maryland to California.  Two kids and two cross country moves later, I’ve never regretted it.
3. A part of my heart stayed in the west. Seven years later, we’re slowly working out way back.
4. I am petrified of train tracks.
5. I’m a sucker for a stray animal. At one point we had over 5 cats and two dogs, but now we’re down to just one dog and two fish.
6. I’ve never missed watching seeing Santa in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (on tv), not even the year I had the flu.
7. Diet coke is my coffee.  I can’t start my day without it.
8. I can’t make biscuits or pancakes, even if they’re from a mix.  Somehow I always mess them up.
9. There is something about being on the interstate at night that relaxes me and makes me feel like anything is possible.
10. I was once in the governor’s inaugural day parade.
11. I am a daddy’s girl through and through.  I still talk to him every day.  Tim McGraw’s My Little Girl describes our relationship perfectly.
12. I can’t sleep with my feet covered.
13. My son’s name came from a character on a tv show.  If my husband knew that’s where I found it, he’d never have agreed to it.
14. Bugs and Spiders don’t bother me, but let me see a mouse and you’ll see just how girlie I become. And you might need earplugs to block my scream.
15. I once got lost on the streets of Montreal on a very cold, January night. College- those were the days.


Ahhhh how awesome are those anwers!!! I love it!!! :) 
Character Interview with Rafe:

 Meagan: Hi Rafe!! *waves* Welcome to Books to Get Lost In. I'm so excited to have you here today! First could you introduce yourself a bit to our readers before we get started in on the Q&A's.

 Rafe: I am Rafe Chauvin, a Cajun, country boy at heart and the eldest of the family.  After serving 13 years in the army, I recently moved back home to Louisiana with my new wife and daughters.  My family is very close-knit and we've all been through some pretty tough times in recent years, but things are looking up now."

 Meagan: I'm glad to hear things are looking up for your family. So speaking of your family, we’ve gotten to know your mom, but not much about your father since he has previous passed on. How did he influence your life?

 Rafe: My father was a man of great honor and integrity who would give the shirt off his back to someone in need.  He taught us to always honor our commitments and do the right thing, even when no one would know the difference.  His expectations were very high, but nothing beyond what he did himself. Even in little things that someone may not think twice about. For example, one time at the Sugarcane Festival, we parked next to an elderly couple. They were having car trouble and my dad stayed with them while mom took us kids to the festival.  I found out later, by pure coincidence, that he went to the local auto parts store, bought the parts with his own money and came back and fixed it on the spot.  That’s just the type of man he was.

 Meagan: Your father sounds like a wonderful man and it doesn't seem like the apple fell far from the tree. So I have to ask because you seem very mature for your age. Do you ever want to feel young and experience youth again?

 Rafe: If I seem mature, it’s only because of my life’s experience.  I’ve been to countries where people have little to no freedoms and live in extreme poverty.  I’ve seen my friends killed in combat. Those situations tend to make one reevaluate what is really important in life.  Do I want to experience youth again?  No, because every road I've traveled has brought me to this point, and I have to say life is pretty damn good right now.  I feel more alive than I ever have.

 Meagan: I'm glad to hear that. Speaking of experiences that have happened in your life, for years you've held onto the loss you experienced. Some people say you should have let it go and were overly dramatic about it. How would you respond to them?

 Rafe: Everyone deals with grief in their own way. To understand the loss I felt, you’d have to understand my values.  I’ll be the first to admit, I handled the situation poorly, but hindsight is always 20/20. I’m just grateful that life has a way of working out.

 Meagan: So how is your family doing now? 

 Rafe: Most of the family is doing great.  Mom and Mr. Adams are married and it’s great to see her so happy.  Part of me wasn’t sure if I could really be okay with mom remarrying, especially Serena’s dad, but it’s been a good experience.  He’s become part of the family and everyone loves him.  It’s been a trip watching Jared as a dad.  He was always the wild one of us, but Emily has him wrapped around his little finger.  Beaux was born to be a family man and has fallen perfectly into that.   Since I’ve moved home, our family makes it a priority to have regular gatherings, but considering Monica, Lacy and Hannah are all very close now, we generally are together more often than not. And when the three of them decide on something, heaven help us.  The only missing link is Mary.  Sometimes I worry about her. She’s still young and finding out who she is. Since she graduated college, she’s gone all over the world making a name for herself in photography. She’s finally stopped dating these loser guys, at least that we know of, but she still keeps herself detached from the family I’m so proud of her, but I miss her and hope she finds what she’s looking for before it’s too late.

 Meagan: Ahhhh....so it sounds like there's a more of a story there, maybe the wonderful Renee will capture that as she wonderfully captured you and your brother's stories. *crossing fingers* Okay so now onto a little more personal information. Is there anything embarrassing about yourself that no one knows that you might be willing to share? *Smiles sweetly*

 Rafe: It takes a lot to embarrass me, but my first day reporting to duty, I called my commanding officer 
“sir.” Let me just say, that she did not take too kindly to that.  It took a long time to live that down, but she ended up being a great mentor to me.  I admire and respect the hell out of her.

 Meagan: hahaha that sounds like it might have been rough for a bit, but I'm glad to hear it worked out. Now I know you're not supposed to, but do you have a favorite sibling? 

Rafe: I don’t have a favorite per say, but I am closest to Jared.  He was the nearest in age to me, and we were always getting in trouble together growing up.  When I left, we drifted apart, but unlike my mom and Beaux, Jared can be very confrontational. He had no problem calling out my bs during one of my visits home, but because of that, we grew closer again.  But I love each of my siblings and couldn’t imagine being an only child.

 Meagan: Always good to have someone call you out on stuff to keep you in check. Speaking of keeping you in check. When I found out that you met Hannah first (before Tom) I was a little surprised. Can you tell us a little more about that encounter and what were your feelings when you found out she was dating your best friend?

 Rafe: I remember how adorable she looked after I helped her up. Her cheeks were tinged with red from an embarrassed flush and she seemed so sweet and innocent.  It’s been so long, but I think I had a date that night or I probably would have asked her out. When I saw her sitting at the kitchen table that morning she stayed over with Tom, I couldn’t resist the urge to tease her a little.  Hannah’s facial expressions always give her away and I knew she remembered me. I somehow knew that she was the one for Tom.  Soon, the three of us were virtually inseparable. There was never any jealousy towards Tom, because I looked at her as a friend and sister. And don’t tell my mom or Mary, but it was Hannah who picked out their gifts all those years that I sent them.

 Meagan: Not problem your secret is safe with us.....right readers? *wink* When did you first notice your change of feelings for Hannah?

 Rafe: During my last deployment. It was the first one since Tom’s passing, so you can understand the emotional toll it would naturally take.  Without fail, she would send me weekly care packages.   In the third one she sent, there was a letter telling me about the daily events of life.  All things we’d talk about in emails already, but there’s something about having a handwritten note.  She included them in all the packages, but on this particular one I caught the scent of her perfume and it triggered something deep in me.   That deployment seemed to never end, even though it was one of the shortest I’d experienced.  When we returned and I saw her waiting for me at the homecoming with Sophie and Emma, I knew I loved her as a woman, not just a friend.    

 Meagan: Aww.....*swoon* I love it!!! So I have to know what do you find the most appealing about Hannah?

 Rafe: She is strong, sweet and has a heart of gold. Not only is she beautiful, but her spirit shines. There are few genuinely good people left in this world and she is one of them.

 Meagan: Aww.....again *swoon* If you could name one thing that Hannah does that drives you crazy what would it be?

 Rafe: She locks her keys in the car. Seriously. At least once a week.  But if that’s the worst thing I can say about my wife, I’m a pretty lucky man.

 Meagan: Yes I'd have to say you are. Now if we promise not to tell Hannah, can you tell us an embarrassing event or thing that she did that no one else knows about?

 Rafe: Every year, she still writes a letter to Santa. She never even told Tom that she does, and the only reason I know is because the letter was returned one year.  I kept teasing her about it, so she finally admitted it’s something she does every year- she says it helps keep the magic of Christmas alive for her.

 Meagan: Aww.....I love it!! Okay so your brother's have quite the stories. If someone kidnapped Hannah or one of the girls what wouldn't you do to get them back?

 Rafe: Absolutely nothing! Anyone who messed with one of my girls would rue the day they even thought of it.

 Meagan: I don't doubt that for a minute. When you found out about Meghan did it ever cross your mind about seeking a relationship with Serena?

 Rafe: No.  Maybe if I had been younger, I would have out of a sense of duty but I’m older, wiser and too much in love with Hannah.

 Meagan: When you read your unexpected letter what went through your mind?

 Rafe: Dieu, that letter.  It still chokes me up. I think Hannah and I would have expressed our feelings much sooner, but we were experiencing so much guilt because of Tom, even though those sentiments never occurred while he was still alive.   That letter was the ultimate love note.  To know just how much he loved Hannah, the love he had for his daughters and to know the love of a brother and immense trust he put in me.  I can’t even put into words, just how much it meant to Hannah and me.  We preserved the letter for when the girls mature into women (many, many, many years from now), we can give them the letter so they can keep the last words of their father with them and know just how much he loved them.

 Meagan: I just don't even have words for the special meaning behind the letter and what you guys are doing for the girls. It's so touching. Okay onto something else. I have to know what it's like living with 3 women full time and adding another girl part of the time?

 Rafe: Hmm.  This one could get me in trouble.  Hannah is a pretty even-tempered woman which makes life better, but we do have arguments here and there.  Sophie and Emma are still young, so we don’t get much attitude from them.  My biggest complaint would be that sometimes I get so sick of pink and purple. Sometimes a man just wants to have earth tones around.  Meghan has her moments of teenage girl drama, but fortunately for me, her mom is the one who typically gets to deal with that.

 Meagan: Smart man. So I have to ask, you have 3 daughters now and Meghan being the closest to dating boys. What are your thoughts with that? Shotgun in hand? Rules? Anything required?

 Rafe: I’m from the South and a military man. Of course there will be shotgun in hand. Just kidding. Well maybe. In all seriousness, Serena and I have talked about how we’ll handle the dating situation.  The only thing we’ve decided for sure is no dates alone with a guy until she is 16 and we must meet the boy first.  I’m pretty sure when that comes to pick her up, he’ll also be meeting her uncles along with me.  And I pray to God, she has better sense than Mary at picking boyfriends.

 Meagan: Boys you better watch out. lol Okay now onto a little rapid fire questions:

 Favorite:
     Food - Grilled Boudin
     Color - Blue
     Season - Summer
     Holiday - Chrismtas (ahhh mine too!!!)
     Sport - College Football
     Hobby - Fishing
     Music - Old Country

 Salty or Sweet - Salty
Cold Mountains or Sandy Beach - Beach if I get to go off-shore fishing
Ahhh...such awesome answers. Thank you so much for stopping by Rafe!!! I can't thank you enough and I'm so glad that we got to know a little more about you and your family!!!!    

About the Author:

Renee Peterson is the author of several works with many more in progress. She spends most of her time raising two young kids and the remaining part of her time creating stories of love in the places she has been the places she wants to go. She grew up in the country side of Maryland, but has traveled around the country living in California's Mojave Desert, along the Crystal Coast of North Carolina and now resides in the Cajun country of Southern Louisiana where she has fallen in love with the culture and food. Renee loves hearing from her fans and welcomes their feedback. 



Where to Stalk Renee:



 The Series:

 The Brothers of the Bayou series tells the story of the Chauvin brothers; three men bound of honor but fighting something from their past. They are stories of love, forgiveness and moving forward.



 Book 1 - The Best Laid Plans 
           
Beaux Chauvin loved his land of the bayous in the Cajun Country of southern Louisiana. He was an honorable, hard working man not given to impulses and had a serious avoidance of unattached females. Until meeting Lacy Landon.

Lacy Landon was finally standing on her own two feet. Born and raised in Charleston, she had been an unknowing pawn in a game of deceit from her father and boyfriend. Now she was beginning her own life that had no room for a man, especially not one as devastatingly sexy as Beaux Chauvin.

But life has its own plans for both of them as they embark of a journey of love, lies and hidden family secrets. As they face unseen dangers, they lean on each other as they fall more in love, learning that life may not always be beautiful, but love will see them through.

 Book 2 - The Best of Intentions
Chemistry ignites like a lightning bolt between Jared Chauvin and Monica Jenkins, but they are too much alike; both are independent, devoted to fast-paced careers and indulge in the wild side of life. When Jared offers Monica a relationship she runs away scared, and smoldering emotions are brought to life when she returns several months later. 

Just as they are adapting to their newly established relationship, tragedy strikes, and they are forced from their newfound bubble of bliss. Together they will grow as they discover what really matters in life, culminating in a decision that will prematurely change their lives forever. This second book in the Brothers of the Bayou series continues the story of the Chauvin family and will leave the reader with a fresh appreciation of love, family and friendship.

Book 3 - The Best is Yet to Come

 Rafe Chauvin left his home in the blink of an eye twelve years ago, running from a secret he kept buried deep
inside. The day after his high school graduation, he joined the Army to escape the pain the secret brought. 

When Serena Adams told Rafe Chauvin the lie of a lifetime twelve years ago, she never imagined what consequences those reckless nights would lead to. After years of trying to escape her lies, she returns to her hometown in South Louisiana.

Hannah Matthews is a war widow. Her husband, Tom, left her behind with two very young daughters and made his best friend Rafe promise that if anything were to happen to him that he would look after his girls. Bound by honor, Rafe keeps his promise, stepping up and forming a close friendship with Hannah.

When Serena is hired to plan the weddings of both Rafe’s brothers, they are brought together for the first time in over a decade. Lies are finally uncovered, leaving a trail of anger and bitterness in their wake. As the paths of these three individuals converge and they reach a crossroads in their lives, will they move forward and discover that the best is yet to come?

Tour Schedule:

 This is a month long tour so make sure to check out all the amazing authors and their stops.

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Monday, September 2, 2013

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Friday, September 6, 2013

Saturday, September 7, 2013

Teresa Lynn Tolles - Lori @ Contagious Reads
Alyssa Rose Ivy - Jackie @ No Bent Spines
Cindy M. Hogan - Chelsea @ Book Blogger Paradise
Jenni Moen - Dani Sanchez @ Just Booked
Michelle Madow - Becca @ BS Book Reviewers

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Monday, September 9, 2013

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Friday, September 13, 2013

Saturday, September 14, 2013

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Monday, September 16, 2013

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Wednesday, September 18, 2012

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Friday, September 20, 2013

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Renee Carlino - Yvette Cervera @ Nose Stuck In A Book
Kristi Strong - Stacey @ Illustrious Illusions
Heather Hildenbrand  - Christyn @ The Book Cafe
Bonnie Paulson - Zee Hayat @ Zee Books Blog

Monday, September 23, 2013

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Friday, September 27, 2013

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Monday, September 30, 2013

                                    S.M. Boyce - Mandi Kaye Ottaway @ Never Too Fond of Books
                                            Magan Vernon - Amy Logg @ The Reading Realm
                                          Jen Wylie - Azahara Arenas @ Living in Our Own Story
                                    Chelsea Camaron - Carrie Stadtler @ Books, Coffee, and Wine



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