Forced to start over, she's determined to do things her own way this time. But she keeps running into roadblocks. Newly divorced and unemployed, Karen is struggling to make a life for herself, but she's learning that everybody wants something. Her hometown sweetheart would like a commitment, her family and friends want more of her time, and her fledgling new business needs her full attention. When a young mother arrives on her doorstep pleading for refuge, Karen is forced to make a decision that will change the rest of her life. This is the story of a middle-aged woman trying to figure out where she ends and everybody else begins. Can she finally be in charge of her own life, but still be a loyal friend, auntie, and sweetheart? What are the rules now that she's older? And who gets to make them? Join Karen Grace and her dear friends in this beautiful tropical setting as they forge a new path in middle age. "Lynne M. Spreen has a great gift for prose, sophisticated plot, and character. The setting is beautifully depicted in the story and it comes out clearly through the colorful prose. The writing features social commentaries, great dialogues, and strong conflict, and these are elements that make the story real to readers. Key Largo Blues is a fascinating story with unforgettable characters." - Readers' Favorite Book Review "The cover is gorgeous. I like the promise made in the opening, that there's going to be "a show." And of course, someone comes along to interrupt. The CRS ladies are an interesting element. I like how you don't explain it all right away. Piques the curiosity. An interesting shift to the male point of view, p. 23. "Her hormones stirred at the thought" - good line, p. 51. I love this image of Maddie as a blue heron. Beautiful bird, p. 76. You have a lovely balance in your writing. The digressions are long enough to inform, not so long that they distract from the pace. This description of Savannah on p. 98, for instance. Perfect. I really enjoy your dialogues. Your characters are lively and humorous speakers. Nice sex scenes, just little bits of feelings that paint a good picture. I like this feeling that she can't get comfortable at home because she's too sensitive to the needs of others...Tough trying to get away from a violent man, p. 265. -- Judge, 25th Annual Writer's Digest Self-Published Book Awards A heartwarming rumination on replenishment... Spreen returns with this engrossing tale of female self-discovery in the second installment of Karen Grace series. After her sudden divorce and losing the high-profile job, Karen joins women of CRS to travel across the country in an RV. Determined to start her own business, Karen is struggling to choose between a meaningful relationship and finding her own place in the world. Though the plotline is straightforward, the reader may feel there is more to the story than meets the eye as Spreen gracefully renders the notions that it is never too late to find one's place in the world. Spreen's characterization is thorough: Karen is at the center of the story but it is Jessie who charms the reader as she learns to plunge horrendous waters of her difficult life. This ably plotted and brilliantly written tale is sure to appeal to romance lovers.-- The Prairies Book Review, October 2019 I didn't intend to write a sequel to Dakota Blues , but everyone kept asking, and to tell you the truth, I couldn't get the characters out of my head. Since I'd established that Karen Grace broke free at age fifty to start a new life, it was fun to go back and see where she ended up. Turns out, she was in Florida, camping out with the CRS Ladies (yes, it stands for exactly what you think). But in this novel, young Jessie and her baby girl must flee domestic violence. They find Karen in Key Largo, which I visited several times to get a sense of the place. Being an author is a tough job, but hey, it's all about authenticity! I hope you enjoy the sequel.  After a thirty-year career in Human Resources, Lynne M. Spreen reinvented herself as an author, speaker, blogger, and teacher. She writes midlife fiction and romance, because she believes the second half of life is a rich, untapped literary vein of human drama.Her debut novel,  Dakota Blues , told the story of a 50-year-old woman who took a last roadtrip with a 90-year-old friend. The novel won an award for excellence in women's fiction. She followed with  Middle-Aged Crazy:ShortStories of Midlife and Beyond.  Her latest,  KeyLargo Blues,  is the sequel to  Dakota Blues .