I went to Walmart today to get the boys LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy for PS2, and I took a detour through the book aisle. I know it’s way too early, but I was hoping Lover Revealed would be there. Again, I know it’s too early. I’m pre-stalking, I guess.

Instead, I found the usual bounty of Leigh Greenwood books and Nora’s reprints. PLUS, there were multiple reprints grouping shorter books together from Janet Dailey, Linda Lael Miller and Julie Garwood. We’re talking a full shelf here, plus half the one above it. The Primrose books all together, for instance. And the Rose series. Now, I love the authors. I loved the books. I bought them individually the first time around. I bought the ‘packaged together for the first time’ reprints. I am NOT buying the ‘packaged together for the umpteenth time’ reprints.

Anyway. Slim pickings in the book aisle. But I was not leaving without a book, dammit. If the boys get a toy, mom gets a toy. I’m selfish that way. Then I noticed the Superromances (maybe because they shelved them lower than their usual spot). I don’t read a lot of Supers and I don’t know a lot of the authors. Not for any nefarious reason—the ones I’ve read have been incredibly good. I think the lines I read the most just eat up the book budget before I get to the Supers. But I didn’t really have time to read through the blurbs and I WANTED A BOOK. I walked out of Borders emptyhanded last weekend. That insanity has to stop.

Then I saw it. The Boy Next Door by Amy Knupp. Here’s the blurb:

Rundles and Salingers don’t mix. Not since the tragic accident involving Zach Rundle’s brother and Lindsey Salinger’s mother. But when the well-being of Zach’s five-year-old nephew is at stake, Zach and Lindsey are dragged together again.

At first Zach thinks the social worker is stirring up the old feud. But he soon realizes that’s the last thing on her mind. Before long, the attraction they’d felt twelve years ago returns, too. Could a child’s needs bring them together? More important–would it help keep them together?

I didn’t even read the blurb in the store. I tossed the book in my cart and headed for electronics. So why did I buy it?

Because I recognized her name and the cover. She blogs with Sharon, Larissa and Steph over at Writeminded.

There you have it. The group blog at work.