If you’re new to my books, thank you for being willing to take a chance on the unfamiliar. If you’re a fan, or a former reader back for another round, thank you for being a part of this ongoing journey. I so hope you’ve enjoyed it! If you would like more during the long wait for the next book, you can get:

• Semi-regular updates with the latest news, upcoming events, and details on where things are with each writing project, plus bimonthly essays that include an insider’s look at publishing, thoughts on overcoming adversity, personal insights, and everything I’ve learned on this writing journey via email drip from www.taylorstevensbooks.com/connect.php

• Real-life writing issues solved and in-depth story and line editing show-and-tell by weekly podcast at www.taylorstevensshow.com where, together with friend and co-host Stephen Campbell, we kick writing in the butt one word at a time

• Personal interaction in The Taylor Stevens Fan Club Group on Facebook or at facebook.com/taylorstevens

• And occasionally on Twitter @taylor_stevens

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This story would never have come to be without so many who’ve helped carry it through to the end. To my editor, Michaela Hamilton, thank you for your patience. To my agent, Anne Hawkins, thank you for always being in my corner, and also Annie, I’m so glad you are part of the team. To the many unsung heroes within Kensington Publishing, you guys are rock stars.

To the many authors, friends, and fans who’ve gone out of their way to support both me and my work, you know who you are, and I appreciate you more than you know, and I can’t name you here because I will one-hundred-percent forget someone and I’m just not that brave.

To my children, this book literally wouldn’t have been finished without your willingness to take weight off a load that had gotten too heavy for me to carry alone. To the Muse, thank you for the space to breathe. And thanks also go to childhood friend Lauren Hough, author of the viral piece “I Was a Cable Guy. I Saw the Worst of America,” for a description of Berlin that I would have included in its entirety (with permission and attribution, of course) had it not been so much better than anything I’ve ever written that the only way I could use it was by chopping it up and dumbing it down.

Special thanks to Allison Brennan, New York Times bestselling author of the Lucy Kinkaid and Max Revere books, who threw so much time, effort, and energy into promoting Jack and Jill’s first outing that it could have been mistaken for one of her own books. There’s just no way I can repay that. Allison, thank you.