A Force of Nature
Page 25
I am more than just a wife. I am more than just a mother. I am more than just a woman. I can be anything and everything I want to be. I needed to prove it to myself first, though, before I could show it to the world.
My sons are far from being raised and launched, but I’m at the point where I can ease up a little bit and learn to let them shine when they need to and fall when they must. I always have a pillow in hand, just in case. You get my drift.
So, to my sons: you two drive me crazy, but you make my life fun, exciting, and worthwhile. Don’t grow up too fast, kiddos!
Once again, thank you, Mom, for being my ever-faithful, loyal reading buddy! You’re the best. Not only did you give me life but you also raised me well. Clearly I am a product of all of your hard work!
Dad, thanks for cheering me on. I know this genre really isn’t your thing, but I know you’re proud of me nonetheless.
To my in-laws: I can’t tell you how much it means to me that you’re always in my corner. You’re the best!
Fran and John: I will continue to “pay it forward.” You sparked something in us as a family, and I will be forever grateful for that.
I have to give a shout-out to all the military spouses out there. You have not only helped me professionally, but you’ve also helped me personally. I have forged so many amazing relationships over the years. I am indebted to this tight-knit group of warriors.
To my husband, Matthew: you inspired this! You gave me the story. You gave me the words. So, what I can give back to you in return is my whole self. You are absolutely, without a doubt, my real-life hero in uniform. I’d need another book’s worth of pages to write my thank-yous just to you. Just know I love you and can’t live without you. I don’t know what else to say because the rest is private. I get too choked up trying to put it out there. But now that I’ve shared some of us with the world, I’m going to tell all what I’ve been saying to you for fifteen years: “Matthew . . . take my breath away!”
It’s funny, because I used to be embarrassed to read books like this. I felt like I needed to be proper, demure, and put on this front that made it appear I was something I was not. I finally realized I’m a woman with needs. My husband never made me feel that I needed to be something I wasn’t. I was the one who felt a need to project a certain image. I’m glad that one day I realized I could just simply be me. I love this genre. No one should have to apologize for loving it. We are women with needs, wants, desires, fantasies. They can be as dirty or as clean as we want them to be. I want to give to you something that you can sink your teeth into and not ever have to apologize for.
Thank you to my beta readers, proofreaders, and copyeditor. It means the world that you helped bring this story to its final stage. I’m truly grateful to each one of you!
So lastly, to my amazing, awesome-sauce readers . . . you keep me going. I began writing for myself, but when I quickly discovered there were people who actually liked what I wrote, it drove me to want to share this side of myself. I absolutely love steamy romance novels. It’s not about the kink, though—even if that happens to be a perk. What it’s about is the character development, the passion between the leads, the overall story, and the love that only humans can so deeply convey to one another. The human spirit is the most moving thing in this world, and if I’ve brought a little bit of that to all—or even to any—of my books, then I have succeeded as a writer. My advice is for you to go be you, go do you.
You haven’t seen the last of me!
Hearts and smiles,
Kara Liane
About the Author
Kara Liane is a lover of all things romance. She holds several degrees, including a master’s in management from Wayland Baptist University. Her husband of fifteen years proudly serves in the military. The family, which includes twin elementary-age sons and two adult dogs, resides in New Jersey.
Stay connected with Kara Liane by visiting her website: www.karaliane.com