How much i feel, p.27
How Much I Feel,
p.27
I’m going to drive myself mad with the speculation. I want to know everything about both of them, and even realizing I might be setting myself up for a huge disappointment, I can’t stop myself from wondering if A is really as wonderful as he seems in his emails. Does he drink or party or chase women or—
“Stop it, Maria,” I tell myself as I drive home from the grocery store. I live in a garage apartment that belongs to Aunt Francesca and Uncle Domenic, my dad’s sister and brother-in-law. Thankfully, my aunt and uncle also rent out the main house, so they aren’t around to clock my comings and goings.
I never would’ve lived here if they were right next door. Not that I don’t adore them. I absolutely do, but I don’t want anyone keeping tabs on me—or reporting to my parents about what time I get home or who I go out with. No, thanks. I love my cozy little place, but more than anything, I love the privacy. A couple of years ago, Dee moved to New York City with our cousin Domenic Junior, both of them eager to leave the clutches of the tight-knit family that spends far too much time minding each other’s business.
I can’t wait to see them both at Carmen’s wedding, which is now just over a month away. It’s been very difficult to stay focused on work and the wedding or anything other than hearing more from Mr. A as I counted down to the one-year mark.
It feels like ten years have passed since that first email from Mr. A, six months ago today. When I get home, I put my groceries away and fix myself a cup of tea before I allow myself to sit at my desk and fire up my laptop to check my email. Mixed into junk mail and a note from my sister with a link to an article on home decorating she thought I’d enjoy is a message from a name that’s familiar to me, but I can’t say why.
Austin Jacobs.
I click to open the message and gasp as I read the opening.
Dear Maria,
I thought today would never arrive.
Read Austin and Maria’s story in book 2, How Much I Care, right now!
Thank you for reading Carmen and Jason’s story! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I LOVED writing it. I wrote the opening chapters (everything up to the first time they go out for dinner) more than ten years ago and have wanted to do something with the story I started then ever since.
South Florida has played an important role in my life, and I’ve always wanted to set a book there. My dad attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Institute in the 1950s, when it in Miami (it’s now a university and has since moved to Daytona Beach). He fell in love with South Florida and would’ve stayed there permanently, except he was the only child of a widowed mother at home in Rhode Island. So luckily for me (and my brother), he moved back home to RI, where he met my mother and went to work as an aviation mechanic, eventually owning his own FAA-certified aviation repair station.
But every chance he got, he returned to South Florida. As a child, I swam in the pool at the Fontainebleau that Carmen recalls from her childhood and spent time in Key Biscayne and Fort Lauderdale, where my parents wintered after they retired. My dad loved it there so much, and so did we. During the writing of this book, I made two trips to Miami and loved every minute of bringing Carmen and Jason’s story to life in a place that has meant so much to me.
Join the Miami Nights Series Reader Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/MiamiNightsSeries to keep up on news about the series. After you finish reading, join the How Much I Feel Reader Group at facebook.com/groups/HowMuchIFeelReaderGroup to discuss the book with spoilers allowed. Also make sure you join my newsletter mailing list at marieforce.com and follow me on Facebook and Instagram to keep in touch.
A huge thank-you to Laura Ortiz, who grew up in Little Havana and helped me with a million details and even sent me a Cuban care package while I was writing the book. Thank you to my longtime reader friend and Miami resident Mona Abramesco, who introduced me to Laura. Mona and Laura also did advance reads for me, which were enormously helpful, and Mona plied me with delicious Cuban food in Miami. Special thanks to Tracey Suppo and Joyce Lamb for early reads and cleanup!
While I was in Miami, I held a luncheon for area readers. This was after I had finished writing the book and was in town to add some additional local details. Attending the luncheon was Carmen Morejon, who came to Miami from Cuba when she was ten years old, accompanied only by her five-year-old brother. I had so many questions about her experience, and Carmen generously shared her story with me and agreed to do an advance read of the book. Meeting such incredible people and hearing their stories is the best part of this amazing job, and it was truly a pleasure to get to know Carmen and other Miami-area readers who contributed to this story. I appreciate your generosity and your willingness to help me with large and small details.
Sincere thanks and appreciation to my Miami beta readers: Gwendolyn Neff, Lizbeth Silva Costa, Carmen Morejon, Dinorah Shoben, Tia Kelly, Miriam Ayala, Emma Melero Juarez, Stephanie Behill, Angelica Maya and Isabel Acevedo. As always, a special thanks to my primary beta readers, Anne Woodall and Kara Conrad. And a shout-out to Angel, my wonderful tour guide in Little Havana. I enjoyed our afternoon together so much!
To the many readers who responded to my queries for insight into hospital politics, I appreciate your input. And to Sarah Hewitt, family nurse practitioner, for helping me to flesh out Jason’s career and research. I’m so thankful for Sarah’s many contributions.
A huge thanks to the fantastic, dynamic team that supports me every day—Julie Cupp, Lisa Cafferty, Nikki Haley, Tia Kelly, Jean Mello, Andrea Lopes and Ashley Lopez—and lots of love to the home team—Dan, Emily, Jake, Brandy, Louie and Sam Sullivan.
Finally, to the readers who support my books no matter where my muse leads me, you make me feel lucky and blessed every day of my life.
Much love,
Marie
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Other Books By Marie Force
* * *
Contemporary Romances Available from Marie Force
* * *
The Miami Nights Series
Book 1: How Much I Feel
(Carmen & Jason)
Book 2: How Much I Care
(Maria & Austin)
Book 3: How Much I Love
(Dee & Wyatt)
* * *
The Gansett Island Series
Book 1: Maid for Love
(Maddie & Mac)
Book 2: Fool for Love
(Joe & Janey)
Book 3: Ready for Love
(Luke & Sydney)
Book 4: Falling for Love
(Grant & Stephanie)
Book 5: Hoping for Love
(Evan & Grace)
Book 6: Season for Love
(Owen & Laura)
Book 7: Longing for Love
(Blaine & Tiffany)
Book 8: Waiting for Love
(Adam & Abby)
Book 9: Time for Love
(David & Daisy)
Book 10: Meant for Love
(Jenny & Alex)
Book 10.5: Chance for Love, A Gansett Island Novella (Jared & Lizzie)
Book 11: Gansett After Dark
(Owen & Laura)
Book 12: Kisses After Dark
(Shane & Katie)
Book 13: Love After Dark
(Paul & Hope)
Book 14: Celebration After Dark
(Big Mac & Linda)
Book 15: Desire After Dark
(Slim & Erin)
Book 16: Light After Dark
(Mallory & Quinn)
Book 17: Victoria & Shannon (Episode 1)
Book 18: Kevin & Chelsea (Episode 2)
A Gansett Island Christmas Novella
Book 19: Mine After Dark
(Riley & Nikki)
Book 20: Yours After Dark
(Finn & Chloe)
Book 21: Trouble After Dark
(Deacon & Julia)
Book 22: Rescue After Dark
(Mason & Jordan)
Book 23: Blackout After Dark
(Full Cast)
Book 24: Temptation After Dark
(Gigi & Cooper)
* * *
Gansett Island Boxed Set, Books 1-3
Gansett Island Boxed Set, Books 4-6
Gansett Island Boxed Set, Books 7-9
Gansett Island Boxed Set, Books 10-12
Gansett Island Boxed Set, Books 13-16
Gansett Island Series Boxed Set, Books 17-20
* * *
The Green Mountain Series
Book 1: All You Need Is Love
(Will & Cameron)
Book 2: I Want to Hold Your Hand
(Nolan & Hannah)
Book 3: I Saw Her Standing There
(Colton & Lucy)
Book 4: And I Love Her
(Hunter & Megan)
Novella: You'll Be Mine
(Will & Cam’s Wedding)
Book 5: It's Only Love
(Gavin & Ella)
Book 6: Ain’t She Sweet
(Tyler & Charlotte)
* * *
The Butler, Vermont Series
(Continuation of Green Mountain)
Book 1: Every Little Thing
(Grayson & Emma)
Book 2: Can’t Buy Me Love
(Mary & Patrick)
Book 3: Here Comes the Sun
(Wade & Mia)
Book 4: Till There Was You
(Lucas & Dani)
Book 5: All My Loving
(Landon & Amanda)
Book 6: Let It Be
(Lincoln & Molly)
Book 7: Come Together
(Noah & Brianna)
* * *
The Butler, Vermont Series Boxed Set: Books 1-4
* * *
The Quantum Series
Book 1: Virtuous
(Flynn & Natalie)
Book 2: Valorous
(Flynn & Natalie)
Book 3: Victorious
(Flynn & Natalie)
Book 4: Rapturous
(Addie & Hayden)
Book 5: Ravenous
(Jasper & Ellie)
Book 6: Delirious
(Kristian & Aileen)
Book 7: Outrageous
(Emmett & Leah)
Book 8: Famous
(Marlowe & Sebastian)
* * *
Quantum Boxed Set: The Complete Series
* * *
The Treading Water Series
Book 1: Treading Water
Book 2: Marking Time
Book 3: Starting Over
Book 4: Coming Home
Book 5: Finding Forever
* * *
Treading Water Boxed Set: The Complete Series
* * *
Single Titles
* * *
Five Years Gone
One Year Home
Sex Machine
Sex God
Georgia on My Mind
True North
The Fall
The Wreck
Love at First Flight
Everyone Loves a Hero
Line of Scrimmage
* * *
Beach Reads Boxed Set
* * *
Love Always Boxed Set, First Books in Four of Marie’s Bestselling Series
* * *
Romantic Suspense Novels Available from Marie Force
* * *
The Fatal Series
One Night With You, A Fatal Series Prequel Novella
Book 1: Fatal Affair
Book 2: Fatal Justice
Book 3: Fatal Consequences
Book 3.5: Fatal Destiny The Wedding Novella
Book 4: Fatal Flaw
Book 5: Fatal Deception
Book 6: Fatal Mistake
Book 7: Fatal Jeopardy
Book 8: Fatal Scandal
Book 9: Fatal Frenzy
Book 10: Fatal Identity
Book 11: Fatal Threat
Book 12: Fatal Chaos
Book 13: Fatal Invasion
Book 14: Fatal Reckoning
Book 15: Fatal Accusation
Book 16: Fatal Fraud
* * *
The First Family Series—a Fatal Series Spin-Off
Book 1: State of Affairs
Book 2: State of Grace
* * *
The Wild Widows Series—a Fatal and First Family Series Spin-Off
Book 1: Someone Like You
* * *
Historical Romance Available from Marie Force
* * *
The Gilded Series
Book 1: Duchess by Deception
Book 2: Deceived by Desire
About the Author
Marie Force is the New York Times bestselling author of contemporary romance, romantic suspense and erotic romance. Her indie-published series include Gansett Island, First Family, Treading Water, Butler Vermont, Quantum and Miami Nights. She’s also the author of the Green Mountain and Fatal Series.
Her books have sold more than 10 million copies worldwide, have been translated into more than a dozen languages and have appeared on the New York Times bestseller more than 30 times. She is also a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller, as well as a Spiegel bestseller in Germany.
Her goals in life are simple—to finish raising two happy, healthy, productive young adults, to keep writing books for as long as she possibly can and to never be on a flight that makes the news.
Join Marie’s mailing list on her website at marieforce.com for news about new books and upcoming appearances in your area. Follow her on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/MarieForceAuthor and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/marieforceauthor/. Contact Marie at marie@marieforce.com.
Marie Force, How Much I Feel
