Meet and Greet is a regular feature on my blog. Be forewarned…Unlike the typical interview, these brief questions will get to the true heart of my guests…or at least the heart of what’s in their kitchen. Grab a latte (or other beverage of your choice), find a comfy chair, and prepare to make a new friend.
I’m so excited to welcome Becky Melby as my guest today! Becky and I share the same agent and recently had the opportunity to work together. I even got to spend some time in her lovely home, which was a real treat. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her and learning from her along the way. Her newest book just released this month and blends history into a contemporary romance story. I loved the first book in this series and am excited to read #2!
Becky Melby has been married to Bill, her high school sweetheart, for forty years. They have four married sons and twelve grandchildren. Becky has co-authored nine books for Heartsong Presents and has had stories in two novella collections. Her Lost Sanctuary Series—three contemporary stories each with a historical thread—releases in 2012, as well as Contest of Wills, a novella in Cedar Creek Seasons. Becky is represented by Mary G. Keeley of Books & Such Agency. Her favorite pastimes are spoiling grandkids and taking trips with Bill in their RV or on their Honda Gold Wing.
You can connect with Becky on her website and blog.
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Welcome, Becky! Now on to the questions…
Opener Question: What seven words best describe you?
Blessed
Intuitive
Creative
Passionate
Semi-introverted
Distractible
Scatter-brained
Either/Or Questions:
1) Maui or London? London– where bathing suits are not required and everyone sounds like Paul McCartney.
LOL, I assume you mean it’s so cold there that people swim in their rain gear, right? 
2) Tennis shoes or Dress shoes? Tennis shoes because I’m all about comfy. Dress shoes just look odd with the jammies I write in.
3) Sit-com or TV drama? TV drama (Since romantic comedy wasn’t one of the options.)
4) Chinese carryout or Homemade fajitas? Fajitas with gobs of homemade guac.
5) Full steam ahead or Life in the slow lane? Both? Mostly slow lane with sporadic bursts of full steam.
6) Rustic campground or Five-star hotel? Campground. But after a few days camping in a pup tent in the mountains I’ve been known to do a happy dance over a hot tub, a comfy bed, and a meal that’s not freeze-dried.
7) Chocolate cheesecake or Creme brulee? Cheesecake Factory Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake—to die for and gluten free.
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Yum! That sounds wonderful. I didn’t realize they had gluten free cheesecakes there. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised since they’ve got pretty much every cheesecake imaginable. And apparently I’m extra hungry today, because I’m craving those fajitas. If I make it back to your house sometime, think you can treat me to Mexican?
Thanks for visiting here today! I loved having you.
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With an award-winning series to her name, Dani Gallagher is anxious to find her next big scoop…she just doesn’t expect it to come from the past. But while searching for answers connected to her last story, Dani discovers a tattered journal in an alley near Bracciano, an Italian restaurant run by Nicky Fiorini. The diary, written in the Roaring Twenties by a girl caught in a web of organized crime, mentions Nicky’s restaurant and despite an explosive first meeting, Dani persuades Nicky to help uncover what happened to the girl—and what her story has to do with their present.
Nicky is frustrated. No matter what he says, he can’t seem to convince Dani that she’s treading on thin ice. Her zeal to make a difference is leading her into some precarious situations—and just might get her hurt.
Attraction soon ignites, but in the struggle to reveal the truth, will Dani and Nicky miss the real story while clinging to secrets of their own?
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Blog Readers: Let’s talk…Say we’re meeting for a cheesecake date at The Cheesecake Factory. What do you get for dessert? (If you need to see the options, you can click here.) (I usually like the fresh strawberry, but I’ve gotten the pineapple upside-down cheesecake before and it was delicious!)
*Giveaway Details: Becky has offered to give away a copy of Yesterday’s Stardust! All you have to do is leave a comment. (For extra entries, you can Tweet or share this post on Facebook…I’ll add an extra entry for each. Just make sure to mention it in your comment.) Winner will be announced in next Monday’s post. Good luck!
**The winner of last week’s Karen Witemeyer giveaway is Judy Burgi! I’ll contact you this week with details.
Deefinitely the Godiva® Chocolate Cheesecake. I’ve had the Red Velvet Cheesecake and it is good. But Godiva would be difficulty to be even by Red Velvet.
Yum, Vera! Sounds like you can’t lose with either of those options.
I Tweeted this post at https://twitter.com/GG_Survey/status/217217048449789952
THE ORIGINAL for me thank you. YUM!!!
YESTERDAY’S SAWDUST looks wonderful.
Sometimes nothing beats the basics, right, Mary?
I would to say the Godiva one looks absolutely delicious!
Thanks for interview and giveaway!
Campbellamyd at gmail dot com
You’re welcome, Amy! Thanks for visiting!
Thanks to both of you for a great interview. I enjoyed getting to know Becky better. As for cheesecake, well, I’d have to go with the Original or the Lemon Raspberry Cream.
Lemon raspberry cream sounds delicious, Karen! A perfect palette cleanser.
It’s always so fun to meet a new author! If we were going to the Cheescake Factory (I’ve never been to one, so I’d be especially excited!) I would get something with lots and lots of chocolate – because if it’s not chocolate, it’s not worth it!
So true, Gabrielle! Did you see my recent post in Facebook? I shared my new favorite quote: “Chocolate is cheaper than therapy and it doesn’t require an appointment.”
I’ll go with the gluten-free option too.
And I’m a make-it-fresh guac gal too!
Fun interview — Yesterday’s Stardust has an intriguing premise!
Sounds like you and Becky are two peas in a pod, Beth!
Fun interview! This book looks right up my alley. (My WIP has a journal from the past in it too!)
I like the fresh cherry or the Oreo cheesecakes. Yum.
How fun, Lindsay! You definitely need to read Becky’s books then…I’m sure you would love them.
Nice to meet Becky.
Cheesecake Factory is a no-no for me. I’m lactose intolerant. I even have to be careful with my beloved chocolate.
Oh how sad to not be allowed chocolate, Susan. I’m afraid the Cheesecake Factory doesn’t have dairy-free desserts, but their meals are fabulous!
Fun interview! And Yesterday’s Stardust sounds great
I would have White Chocolate Raspberry Truffle (VERY healthy, I know!) because that’s the very first cheesecake I ever tried there. Yummy!
Yum, Cindy! And yeah, I’m pretty sure none of us pretend to be healthy when we eat at The Cheescake Factory, LOL.
Key lime cheesecake if they still have it!
I think they do, Stephanie. At least, last time I visited they did.
Fun interview, ladies! The original cheesecake! YUM!
Let’s make it a date, Loree!
You guys are making me hungry! Okay, you’re all invited to a book discussion at the Cheesecake Factory after you read Yesterday’s Stardust. My treat!
Sarah, thank you so much for the opportunity to get to know your fun followers. I will absolutely treat you to Mexican the next time you come up here–and we’re hoping a new contract makes that a necessity!
I guess I need to clarify my comment about no bathing suits required in London! I was simply meaning there aren’t endless beaches as in Maui and, um, well, not what it ended up sounding like!!
Now I know where to take you for dessert at the retreat in October, Becky! And I would love to “have” to come to your house again!
And I’m so glad for the clarification on the bathing suit thing. I was starting to wonder… (totally kidding!).
Is there a raspberry-chocolate option? If so, I’m all over that.
Fun interview!!
I think they have a raspberry/white chocolate one, Melissa. Oh, and it might even have a chocolate crust, if I remember right. (Yes, I’m much more of an expert on their cheesecakes than I should be, LOL.)
What a fun interview! ”Yesterday’s Stardust” looks like a fantastic read and the cover is beautiful. Oh, and I\’m gluten free too, so I\’ll take the GF option of the cheesecake and I love strawberries.
But can we throw in some of those little red candy hot tamales? I know – silly – but I just love those! 
(double smiley).
Candy hot tamales on top of cheesecake? Oh my, how daring are you, Penny! LOL
This was an interesting interview with Becky. Her book sounds like one I’d really enjoy reading. As for the cheesecake, I think I’d have to go more than once. There are so many delicious sounding cheesecakes but I finally decided I’d like to try Adam’s Peanut Butter Cup Fudge Ripple.
Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy of Yesterday’s Stardust.
If you want to go more than once, Pam, I’m right there with you! No need to twist my arm.
All this talk about cheesecake is making me hungry.
I think I would go for Becky’s choice–yum! Nice to meet you, Becky!
LOL, Melanie, I can see you going in search of a midnight snack right now.
I thing we’re up to a table for seventeen by now, and I’ve lost track of how many scrumptious flavors! You are all my kind of people!
Hmm, could they handle all of us…?
I have only been to Cheesecake factory once in my life and I had some sort of Snickers cheesecake, and it was AMAZING. I don’t think I’ve met a cheesecake I don’t love, though. And now I”m craving it. Gee thanks.
Oh my word, Bekah, Snickers and cheesecake in the same sentence? I’m so there.