February 28, 2015

Book Spotlight! Finding Haven by T.A. Foster


Power. Money. Control. Love.
He has all but one.

When movie star, Evan Carlson, discovers his girlfriend’s picture with another man splashed on the cover of gossip magazines, he decides he’s had enough of his fishbowl life and attempts to outrun the media frenzy his relationships have become. Driving until the road stops, he ends up on the remote and quaint Perry Island, where a heartthrob can blend in like the locals and be a beach bum as long as he wants. All that changes when Evan meets Haven Owen, aspiring songwriter and the girl he just can’t get enough of. A summer romance turns into something much deeper and Evan gets tangled in his own web of lies to keep Haven in his life. But when his ex tracks him down, Evan learns there are some things you just can’t outrun.

Is the cost of love, losing all control?


“DO WE get breaks around here?” Evan thought it had to be close to lunchtime. His stomach was growling, and he could go for one of those barbecue sandwiches he saw a customer pack on the back of the kayak.

Haven was scribbling something on a piece of paper. “Huh?”

“Lunch. Can I break for a few?” He tried to catch her eye, but she was buried in a small notebook.

“Sure. Sure. Whatever. Thirty minutes I guess.” She whispered something as her pen furiously inked out another line.

“Ok.” He untied his apron. “I’ll be back in a few.” He waited for her to respond, but he was certain he could fall overboard at this point and she wouldn’t notice.

Evan followed the boardwalk around the cove. There were bait shops and a few restaurants along the marina waterfront. It was like something you would see in an idyllic movie scene, although these people were real. Evan smiled at the thought as he tugged on the door handle of one of the sandwich shops and ordered a sandwich.

Fifteen minutes later, he emerged from the cafe, satisfied the hunger pains had subsided. He looked toward the end of the docks and spied an ice cream stand. He strolled in that direction and got in line behind a family of five. The couple argued over whether their children could eat the ice cream out of cones versus cups. Evan smiled, thinking if that was the dilemma of the day, it was a damn good problem to have.

“What can I get you?” The ice cream attendant squinted from the sun.

At first the plan was to sit here and watch the boats sail by while he still had ten minutes left on his break, but when he spotted the bucket of chocolate, he had another idea. All girls like chocolate.

“One strawberry and one chocolate.”

“Cones?” The man already had his scoop in the cooler.

“Yep. I think we can handle cones.” Evan handed the man cash and accepted the two heaping cones, already dripping from the heat. He would have to hurry to get them back to the kayak stand before they completely melted.

“Thank you. Enjoy the day.” The man turned to face the next family behind Evan.

“Thanks.” He tasted the strawberry before launching into a full sprint back to the store.

Haven was exactly where he left her. Her nose pointed at the notebook and her hand scrawling words across the pages.

“Brought you something.” He shoved the chocolate cone in her direction, dripping the dessert on the page.

“Uh—what the—?” She looked up, annoyed that her page was splattered with the sticky treat.

“Shit.” Evan scrambled for a paper towel. “I didn’t mean to spill it.” He tried to wipe the pages for her.

“No. No. I’ve got it.” She brushed his hand away. “It’s probably better with chocolate all over it.” Her eyes rose to his, and he caught a glimmer of laughter.

“Tell me you at least like chocolate. Did I screw that up too?”

She bit her bottom lip as the corners of her mouth rose. “Actually, my favorite is strawberry. But, it’s good. I’ll eat it.”

Evan chuckled. He was striking out left and right. He shifted the cones and placed the strawberry one in front of her. “Take this one.”

“No, it’s yours.” She shook her head.

“I’ve already ruined your page. Just take it.” He held the cone next to her hand.

She wrapped her fingers around the paper sleeve, touching the top of his hand in the process. He lingered for another second, wishing this girl hadn’t just stolen his next great line because it was going to be good. But her eyes made him forget all his witty comebacks. He chuckled under his breath.

“Something funny?” She licked the top of the strawberry swirl.

“No. Just learning a lot today.” He crunched on the side of the cone and stepped out of the booth. A party boat was headed out of the marina. He needed to study it for a second and try to remember who in the hell he was.


T.A. Foster is a Southern girl whose heart and spirit are connected to the beach. She grew up catching rays and chasing waves along the North Carolina Outer Banks and now resides in the state with her adventurous pilot husband, two children and two canine kiddos. 
Her long love affair with books started at an early age, and as soon as she was able, she transformed imaginative stories into words on paper. 
T.A. has an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a graduate degree in Educational Psychology from Texas A&M University. When she’s not chasing her two-legged and four-legged children or trying to escape for date night, you can find her reading, writing or planning her next beach trip.


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