Do You Love Funny, Steamy Romantic Comedies?

Detecting Autumn released a few weeks ago and I was thinking about some of the fun scenes from the book as I work on the next novel in the series, Catching Kiera.

Today, I thought I would share one of my favorite excerpts from the novel:

But first – the book description – which should help set the stage so to speak on what Detecting Autumn is about:

On the back cover:

“All’s fair in love, war, and romance novels.”
Bestselling romance author, Autumn Alex Monroe lives and works by her misguided credo.

Whether she’s jumping from planes, dating members of the mafia, or falling for the detective who’s trying to find out her true identity, Alex will do anything to write the perfect novel.

Private investigator turned brew master, Shane Everett, is selling his detective agency and moving to Granite Lake to open a brewery with his brothers.

When mafioso, Gabe Moretti, offers Shane easy cash to investigate his girlfriend, the witty and sexy author Alex Monroe, Shane takes the job.

Shane soon discovers that Alex has multiple personas, she’s weird, wild… and totally irresistible.

Plus, she needs Shane’s protection from the sociopathic goon who claims to be her boyfriend.

With Alex’s bizarre sleep disorder, a wedding held at gun point, and their off-the-charts attraction, Shane and Alex will have you cracking up with laughter and swooning over every page.

Excerpt:

“Alex is short for Alexandria,” she said, watching his response.

Shane didn’t hesitate and started typing on his laptop again.

“Are you looking me up? Right in front of me?” she asked.

“I am. It’s not a problem if you don’t have anything to hide,” he said, then added, “You’re named after a school and it’s not in Texas.”

The waitress appeared at the side of the table holding a carafe of coffee. “Would you like a warm up?”

“Please,” Alex said.

She refilled the cups and moved on.

Alex deliberately ignored Shane’s questioning glances and picked up her mug, buying some time before answering. Sweat collected under her arms and the warning bells chimed louder inside her guilt-ridden conscience. She chugged the coffee like it was the shot of inspiration she desperately needed, and promptly burned the ever-loving mother out of her tongue and throat. Hot coffee spurted from her mouth and nose and sprayed across the table.

“Holy monkey hellfire!” She reached for the nearest glass—her coffee-flavored Arnold Palmer—and swallowed the cold tea, then held ice cubes in her mouth to try to squelch the sensation of her tongue being emerged in lava. Tears collected in her eyes and her chest felt tight as she tried to breathe through the pain.

Shane dabbed a napkin against his face, then across the laptop. “Is the coffee a wee bit warm?” he asked.

She nodded. The ice cubes froze her tongue and the roof of her mouth, but the burning wouldn’t stop. Alex swallowed some of the melted ice water and wished it would cure the searing pain in her throat. “Sowree,” she mumbled around the ice.

The waitress appeared again and looked at the wet table and the front of Autumn’s now coffee-stained shirt.

“I think we’re finished here. Can you bring the check?” Shane asked.

They paid and returned to Shane’s 4Runner.

“How’s your mouth?” he asked.

“Nevah betta,” she said almost incoherently. Her tongue felt like it was three times its size and mostly numb. She wanted to laugh at the ridiculousness of the situation, but laughing moved her throat, which caused more pain.

“Are you ready to go back to your hotel?” he asked after starting the engine.

“Yass, pleee.” She sounded like a lunatic on a bender.

Her burnt tongue had conveniently gotten her out of the conversation about her identity. Was it a win-win? Based on the damage to her tender tissue, she thought it was more like a lose-win.

They pulled out of the lot and Alex watched for any dark sedans. She didn’t see anything or anyone suspicious.

“I’m concerned about your burned mouth. Third degree burns are serious. I know a little test to help determine if there’s going to be any permanent damage. The test might indicate whether you need to visit a walk-in clinic,” he said conversationally.

She eyed him. Was he serious? “Whaa is it?” Alex needed to stop talking. She didn’t want to make things worse. Anything but a suggestion to buy ice cream was unacceptable.

“If you can say the words, ‘I was born on a pirate ship with a bunch of apples,’ then I think you’re in the clear. Go ahead and try it so we’ll know if we should head to an Urgent Care or not.”

Alex scowled, even though the corners of her mouth twitched with humor. She said as clearly as she could, “I met a pirate ship named Shane who was a total apple.” And it came out sounding exactly like, “I met a pile of shit named Shane who was a total asshole.”

He laughed and the deep resonate sound entered her ears, caressed down the length of her spine like a lover’s tongue, and settled in the apex of her womanhood. Damn. That was not the response she wanted after calling him an asshole. His eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled and his teeth were white, straight, and the tips of his canines were pointed and incredibly sexy. He had a lot of positive checkmarks. She inhaled slowly and decided she needed to find his faults quick, or she was going to make more bad decisions which included Shane Thompson.

“Why don’t you put the wig back on? Just to be safe,” he said.

She reached back onto the floor behind their seats where she’d deposited the wig and picked up the dinosaur head. “We’re switchin’ roles this time,” she mumbled and slipped the T-Rex mask on, then tossed the wig into his lap. She wasn’t sure if he understood her words, but he caught her drift.

“Whatever floats your goat, Alex,” he said, the smile staying in place.

He circled the lot before parking near the rear entrance.

“The tires on my car are fat,” she said, pointing at a red Mini Cooper. “Flat,” she said more slowly this time, but the word still sounded like fat.

“Alex,” Shane said, his smile vanishing and his tone becoming more serious than she’d previously heard from him before.

She couldn’t stand the sound of her swollen tongue, so she gave him a questioning look which he couldn’t see because of T-Rex.

He backed into a parking space and cut the motor. “I’m going to escort you inside and I’m bringing my gun. If you would rather find a new hotel instead, we can do that.”

She gave it some thought before opening the door. Hadn’t she wanted the full mafia experience? She definitely did, and Shane Thompson joining her misadventure was buttercream icing on her danger cake.

She had to collect her belongings from her room, but more importantly, she needed her computer.

Shane finished adjusting the blonde wig on his head, then reached for the floor. He sat back up, holding a small hand gun. He tucked it into the back of his waistband underneath his shirt.

“Concealed carry?” she asked, but it came out all flibberty gibberish because of her tongue.

He seemed to be able to translate. “It’s legal, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“You’re a cop, aren’t you?” she said, but nothing coming out of her mouth sounded right.

“Did you just clear your throat or did you ask to see me…. cock my pistol?” He glanced at his crotch, slid her the side eye, and tilted one eyebrow suggestively. “I don’t usually show and tell on a first date, Ms. Monroe. You ready to do this?”

“Sweet Jesuits, you’re full of yourself,” she mumbled, grabbed her bag, and stepped into the balmy night.

~*~*~*~

If you’d like to read more from Detecting Autumn, the book is available on Amazon in ebook and paperback.

I loved writing Detecting Autumn and I hope to continue writing more romantic comedy in my next series.

Do you have a favorite scene from the book or any of the Granite Lake Romance novels?

I hope you do. You can comment below and let me know!
As always…

Cheers & Happy reading,

Jody A. Kessler

 

By the way, Catching Kiera should be available in April.

Happy Release Day – Detecting Autumn – Granite Lake Romance + Giveaway!

Detecting Autumn – the new Granite Lake Romance is available today!

Release day is a wonderful and exciting experience. I’m thrilled to share this novel with you and I’m absolutely in love and laughing at Autumn and Shane’s wild adventures together. These two are crazy – and maybe crazy about each other. – Keep reading for the book description and an excerpt from the novel.

Hooray! I’m also giving away a $20 Amazon gift card to celebrate!

 

About the Book  

“All’s fair in love, war, and romance novels.”

Bestselling author, Autumn Alex Monroe, lives and works by her misguided credo. From wild and outrageous adventures to dangerous and sexy flings, she’ll do anything in the name of book research, including dating Gabe Moretti, a well-known member of the mafia.

Confirmed bachelor and private investigator, Shane Everett, is selling his detective agency and moving to Granite Lake to open Black Bear Brewing with his brothers.

When Gabe Moretti asks Shane to investigate the stunning and eccentric author, Alex Monroe, he says, no, but blackmail and mafia persuasion convinces him to take the case.

Shane quickly learns that Alex is a witty, sexy, and secretive woman… and she needs his protection from Gabe, the sociopathic goon who claims to be her boyfriend.

After a kidnapping and a forced marriage—while dealing with Alex’s bizarre sleep disorder—not to mention her multiple personas—Shane discovers that detecting Alex is exhilarating and hazardous.

…But most shocking of all, he finds that Alex’s hilarious antics and unpredictability have captured his heart.

**A steamy, hilarious, and drama-packed romance with a happily ever after.

**Detecting Autumn is a stand-alone novel in the Granite Lake Romance series

Available on: Amazon

Included in Kindle Unlimited

Read an excerpt from the novel:

COMBINING DRUGS, ALCOHOL, AND PARASOMNIA is a volatile cocktail in any circumstance. Throw in a good old-fashioned kidnapping, a pitch black closet, and a misogynistic psychopath, and Autumn found the pot of fool’s gold at the end of a black rainbow. She groaned, rolled over, and threw up.

“Wow. That’s—” The male voice shifted away from her in the dark. “That’s a potent odor.”

Autumn wretched again. Acid burned her esophagus and she knew she’d never drink bourbon again. Not even to save her life.

“I aim to impress.” Her voice croaked like a bullfrog with laryngitis. She spat into the mess, trying to clear away the rank taste.

“You’re succeeding,” he said. “Autumn Alex, the girl with two names and two boyfriends.”

It was Shane who spoke. She recognized his voice. Or, more like, she recognized her body’s response to the appealing timbre of his voice. A tiny involuntary moan rose from her chest. How was that possible? With a raw throat, the sound came out as more of a garbled belch than a seductive whimper.

“I don’t have a boyfriend—or two of them, either—you yank wanker,” she said. Autumn didn’t deny having two names. Actually, she currently used four names plus a corporation name, but Shane didn’t need to know that right now. “How long was I out?” she asked.

“Less than an hour, I think,” he said. “There’s no clock in here.”

Fuzzy recollections of the previous forty-eight hours slapped around inside her head as she scooted across the carpeted floor. Memories mingled with the distorted and incomprehensible dreams she’d been having and increased the churning nausea inside her stomach.

With arms outstretched, Autumn searched for anything in the absolute dark. She found smooth walls and the floor beneath her and nothing else. Autumn breathed deep, trying to clear her mind and settle the roiling upset inside her gut. Her thoughts cleared, but the sick feeling remained. She understood that Gabe Moretti was the source of her stomach clenching and overwrought nerves more so than the drug he’d slipped into her bourbon.

“It feels like I slept for hours,” she said.

“No. Although, I think you’re part feline. You take short naps and lash out with uncalled-for attacks. You’re all teeth and claws for no reason at all,” he said.

“What did I do this time?” Autumn found Shane when her fingertips brushed against his leg.

He grunted for an answer.

Autumn stopped searching their makeshift prison. “No one has ever compared me or my sleeping problems to a cat before, but I see the resemblances. I’m independent, but occasionally need the company of others. I’m athletic, but a little finicky.”

“And a psychotic man-slayer,” he said, interrupting her cat analogy with his own.

She sat back against the wall and laughed. Shane may not be joking, but his remarks eased the knots of tension that had taken up residence along her spine and between her brows.

“Think what you will about me, but I’m not a man-slayer,” she said.

The sound he made was somewhere between another grunt or clearing his throat. Either way, she got the impression that he blamed her for their current predicament of being locked inside Gabe Moretti’s secret room…

~ Want more?  Download your copy HERE

Enter to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card

Happy Release Day – Detecting Autumn!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Thank you for taking a moment out of your day to catch up on the blog and for checking out Detecting Autumn. I sincerely hope you find yourself smiling and laughing with the residents of Granite Lake.

Good luck in the giveaway!

Cheers and happy reading,

Jody A. Kessler

“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

If you enjoy reading the Granite Lake Romance novels, would you please leave a review on Amazon? Reviews help authors in many ways, but they also help other readers decide which books to purchase and read. A short sentence or two is all it takes and your positive comments are greatly appreciated.  🙂  Thank you!

A Winter Morning in the High Country – Author Ramblings

Author Notes on a Friday morning… With a happy ending!

I’ve been awake since stupid o’clock. This is extra difficult since I stayed up late reading a book (as I often do) and the dogs were off and on awake throughout the night.

Why the 5 a.m. wake up call?

Because today is day 1 of Winter Ski Club – I don’t ski – but kidlet does and he’s been awake sine 4:?? a.m. – super excited, and can hardly contain himself about hitting the slopes for the first time this year. – I always wake up to pack his lunch and help him out the door.

After making sure he has enough food to last him a week, a pair of mittens, extra gloves just in case, hand warmers, a hat, snow suit, snow boots, bottle of water, and thirty warnings about safety – plus a, “Have fun today!” – I thought to myself – “I’m going back to bed and sleeping until I ABSOLUTELY have to get up and go to my DENTIST appointment.” — ugh. — Just what I want to do on my ‘bonus’ free day. I’d much rather be finishing my novel but the dentist appointment was already confirmed and I’M GOING, no matter how much I don’t really want to. – Does anyone really want their teeth scraped and gums prodded?

While snug beneath the covers and desperately trying to shut up my thoughts and sleep – something I’d been attempting since 11 pm last night – the phone rings. It’s John. He’s STILL at the bus stop waiting for the activity bus. He wants me to check with the teacher about where the heck the ski bus is and why it’s so late.

By the way, we have a landline here at my cabin in the middle of the Colorado wilderness… and I currently do not have caller I.D.  — The lack of caller i.d. is a minor inconvenience and an ongoing story of woe and phone company drama for another time, but I throw it in now to say, I have no idea who is calling until I pick up and say, “Hello?”  <— How very eighties of me, I know. Don’t judge. I dislike cell phones anyway. And now you know how backwards and out of date John and I really are. – I’m only partially kidding.

I make the call for him, even though I suspect the bus is late because A: there’s a crazy amount of fresh snow outside and it’s still coming down.

And B: it’s Day 1 of Winter Ski Club. Bonus, the teacher/club organizer is new this year.

But I call anyway, (I don’t send a text to the teacher because no cell phone, remember?) in my dark office, because it’s still stupid o’clock in the morning. I’m half dressed and getting colder by the second because I jumped out of bed to answer the phone which is in the other room. The teacher miraculously answers and says, “she’s on the bus and they are about 3 minutes away from the bus stop.”

Great news! I call John back. He doesn’t answer. – Confession: We actually do own cell phones. Old ones. Flip phones. And we only use them when traveling. Seriously, my phone is about 12 years old, which is why I still try not to send text messages.

I call John one more time, because I JUST spoke to him but he doesn’t answer again. — This is the joy of trying to use a cell phone in my area. Spotty reception at best – in a snowstorm – on his flip phone – in the dark. By this time, it’s now actually starting to get light outside.

And I am really cold by this point and I should put on some pants, and socks, and probably a sweatshirt.

Needless to say, I did not go back to sleep. John arrived about two minutes after I found my pants. Yoga sweatpants, let’s not get too crazy here.

AND>>>> while sitting at my desk doing admin. stuff, while caffeinating my poor sleep deprived brain, and waiting until I have to forge a path to the dentist through the worst snowstorm we’ve had all winter, which will take me over an hour to get there ( because of the weather and road conditions) the phone rings again.

My dental hygienist says hello and asks, “Are you coming to your appointment this morning? You can reschedule if you want to. The roads are terrible. It took me 3 times longer to get to work this morning. Everyone’s canceling due to the weather.”

I process her words slowly – I’m still tired and my one cup of Irish breakfast tea hasn’t really made any difference. – My brain slogs along with the conversation and finally goes something like this; What? Seriously? Yes!! Of course I want stay home and work on my book all day while I watch the snow come down outside my window, and my kid is having a great day at ski club!

I play it cool and politely reschedule my appointment.

Friday for the win! Snow Days aren’t just for kids!!

And now that I’ve shared my Friday notes, I’m off to clear the snow from my solar panels which helps keep our the batteries charged, and then finish writing Catching Kiera – Granite Lake Romance, book 6. – I also need (another) hot cup of tea or the whole pot.

In case you missed it, Detecting Autumn releases next Tuesday. I’m trying not to let my nerves take over, but I am nervous about the upcoming release. I hope you love the new book as much – or more – than I do. Also, I’ll be blogging again on Tuesday with a giveaway and an excerpt from the novel.

I hope you had more sleep than I did, and if you like to ski, I’ve heard that the snow is awesome in Summit County.  – I took a screenshot for you. You can also google, “Ski areas in Summit County Colorado” to find out more. – but notice every ski area says, “powder”! and look at that base (summit depth)! — that’s right, Kidlet is in heaven today!

No matter what you are doing, or where you are, have a fabulous Friday and a wonderful weekend!

Stay warm out there.

Cheers,

Jody

Granite Lake Romance

“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.”  ― Edith Sitwell

Book Spotlight ~ News ~ and Happy New Year!

I thought I’d share a book from Jody Holford with you today.

Yes, she spells her name the same way I do, which isn’t a common way to spell Jody. Our name is often spelled Jodi or Jodie. That isn’t the only thing we have in common. We also both write romance. So let’s check out her new release – Caught Looking by Jody Holford.

By the way, when my kid was very young he nicknamed me, Jodes. This isn’t my favorite family nickname but it stuck and “Jodes” has become a running joke.  🙂  Do you and your family members give each other nicknames? I swear we have dozens. And the dogs have their own nicknames too! It’s silly. — And now back to book blogging —

Jody Holford’s new novel.

Sometimes where we end up is exactly where we need to be.

Frankie Vaughn is eager to leave the empty—and phony—socialite life behind in search of something real. Nothing could have prepared her for how very real things get when she discovers three homeless brothers in the run-down rancher she inherits in small town Minnesota.
Ryan Walker never thought about life without baseball but a divorce, a scandal, and a public fist fight land him in rural Minnesota, hiding out from the paparazzi and trying to figure out what is next for him. When a sexy, sweet, and funny woman moves next door, he tries to ignore the immediate attraction but can’t.
Frankie and Ryan fall not only for each other, but the three boys who teach them a new definition of family, love, and loyalty. When the tight knit unit they create is threatened, Frankie is willing to fight, only to learn it might not be enough. When Ryan’s past comes back to hurt the people he’s grown to love, he tries to do the right thing, even if it tears him apart.

Available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited 

Some other news to share with you –

Detecting Autumn (Granite Lake Romance – book 5) is available for pre-order and will be released in one week! January 15th. – WE’VE REACHED THE FINAL COUNTDOWN to release day! Whoo-hoo

About the Book

“All’s fair in love, war, and romance novels.” Bestselling author, Autumn Alex Monroe, lives and works by her misguided credo. She’ll do anything to write the perfect novel.

Confirmed bachelor and private detective, Shane Everett, is determined to find out Autumn’s secret identities but mayhem, danger, and hilarity quickly turns his world upside down.

Throw in the mafia, a fake marriage, and an irresistible attraction to one another and Shane and Autumn are a match made in quirkyville.

On Amazon

~*~*~*~

Catching Kiera – Granite Lake Romance – book 6 is almost finished. You get to read a love story about Denny Masters and Kiera Monroe. (In case you forgot, Denny is Treasure’s biker friend from Chasing Treasure. Kiera is Autumn’s sister.) There may be a love triangle in this book, but I don’t want to give anything else away. More to come on Catching Kiera in the near future.

In case you missed the link, you can download your free copy of The Call – An Angel Falls novella HERE

I appreciate all my readers and this is an exclusive ebook from me to you just for being here. (FYI – The Call is a ghost hunting short novella. – Not a romance.)

Next week, I’m celebrating the release of possibly my favorite novel of all time, Detecting Autumn, so be on the lookout for a new giveaway and other fun, exciting book shenanigans.

Happy New Year! I wish you all the best in 2019 and always.

Cheers and happy reading,

Jody A. Kessler

“You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.”  ― Dr. Seuss

Granite Lake Romance

Cover Reveal and December Giveaway!

Hello and welcome,

Thanks for stopping by! This December, I’m participating in a Kindle Unlimited book fair and a $50 gift card giveaway… and I’m thrilled to reveal the book cover for the new Granite Lake Romance!

So… here it is! The new cover for Detecting Autumn – Granite Lake Romance #5

Book Description

“All’s fair in love, war, and romance novels.”

Bestselling author, Autumn Alex Monroe, lives and works by her misguided credo. She’ll do anything in the name of book research, including dating Gabe Moretti, a well-known member of the mafia.

Confirmed bachelor and private investigator, Shane Everett, is selling his detective agency and moving to Granite Lake to open Black Bear Brewing with his brothers.

When Gabe Moretti asks Shane to investigate the stunning and eccentric author, Alex Monroe, he says, no, but blackmail and mafia persuasion convinces him to take the case.

Shane quickly learns that Alex is a witty, sexy, and secretive woman… and she needs his protection from Gabe, the sociopathic goon who claims to be her boyfriend.

After a kidnapping and a forced marriage—while dealing with Alex’s bizarre sleep disorder—not to mention her multiple personas—Shane discovers that detecting Alex is exhilarating and dangerous.

…But most shocking of all, he finds that Alex’s hilarious antics and unpredictability have captured his heart.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

**A steamy, hilarious, and drama-packed romance with a happily ever after.

**Intended for 18+ for mature language and romantic scenes.

**Detecting Autumn is a stand-alone novel. However, some of the characters in this novel are also in the other Granite Lake Romance novels.

Release Date – January 15th, 2019

Pre-order your copy today! Amazon 

(Paperback should be available on by Jan. 15th as well)

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ December Giveaway ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Are you a Kindle Unlimited Reader??? No? That’s okay! You can purchase any of these books AND you can enter the giveaway.

A December Kindle Unlimited Showcase! Myself and some other romance authors are sharing our Kindle Unlimited books for you to read! Even better, we’ve pooled our funds to offer an awesome giveaway! Enter to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card. It’s just our way of thanking our loyal readers. (please make yourself aware of the official rules and terms of service before submitting your email address for a chance to win.)
ENTER HERE – Dec. GIVEAWAY

Next month, there will be a brand new giveaway hosted by myself in celebration of the release of Detecting Autumn.  –  The new book is probably my favorite of all time. I sincerely hope you enjoy it!

Cheers, Happy Holidays, and Merry Christmas. Wishing you many blessings this winter and always,

Jody

The Yin-Yang of Burrito Giving (How to change your acidic headspace & find positivity.)

Hubs brought me a breakfast burrito this morning.

What a good guy. ❤️❤️❤️

I take back all the bad things I’ve ever said about him. 😉

haha – only kidding –

But he really is a good guy and he does things for me all the time.

Just like I do things for him. We’re partners in every sense of the word.

As I sit here at my desk with a happy full tummy (thanks Hubby) I scroll through my news feeds and daily headlines and notice so much negativity about men, men in positions of power, and men in politics doing absolutely horrible things or being accused of atrocious behavior (toward women mostly) and I think to myself, wow… *I need a good cry now* but then I remember that

~ There are more good guys on this planet than there aren’t. ~

With all the negativity floating around in the media and social media about men I choose to focus on the positive because

I believe women and men are equals. We’re not the same in some respects (obviously – his anatomy is different *cough* penis *cough-cough*) but…

Hubs and I choose to be together. Because we’re better together.

Life is about balance.  – Balance is actually one of the universal laws – and that translates to

Male~Female * Yin~Yang * Positive~Negative * Up~down * Chocolate~Salad

Let me add in here that I am NO WAY saying there isn’t a problem with our male dominated society. There are a ton of problems—and there isn’t a good balance between women and men in our current modern civilization. But does Man Shaming really help anything? And… If the tides were turned and all the headlines were focused on terrible women doing and saying terrible things, I would still write these same thoughts and say: There are more good women on this planet than there aren’t.

So for today, I remind myself of this:

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi

What does that even mean?

Well… energetically speaking:

If you focus on the negative all the time, then that becomes your reality. Your energy will attract similar energies.

So I ask myself: Are my thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors helping make the changes I want to see in my world?

Am I focusing on too many negatives and forgetting all the positivity and love in my life? Because if I’m being a sourpus, negative, grumpy crab cake more often then I’m not, then I’ve officially become part of the problem…. (Like energies attract, remember?)

Umm…

That’s now how I want to live.

But I can’t just live with my head in the sand (all the time) – hmm – or can I?  I’ve unplugged and distanced myself from all the negativity around me many times. It actually does me a lot of good, but I eventually get sucked back into the frenzied mess we call modern life.

And being in an acidic headspace is emotionally draining and depressing. And guess what?  If I’m emotionally drained and depressed then I will attract more of that energy to myself.

– Which has dire consequences on my physical well-being. Because…. in case you didn’t know or have forgotten.  The mind~body~soul are one. They are not separate parts of a whole. We are whole beings not hole beings.

There is no separation between mind and body. <– If you’ve never heard that before, put it on repeat inside your head until the truth of it sinks in. –> There is no separation between mind and body.

So please take care of yourself on all levels. Mental, emotional, physical, spiritual, and intuitive. Do it for yourself and do it for the higher good of all.

Changing the world means SHIFTING YOUR PERCEPTION (aka transmutation.)  It’s that easy and that hard. (Sometimes it is SO hard. Ugh.)

Now it’s your turn. Get a burrito from a friend or loved one, then give one.

aka – find your healthy balance. 🙂

This has been your not quite so serious and somewhat silly blog post.

Thanks for being here. I appreciate all my readers.

Feel free to agree or disagree in the comments below.

Cheers & happy reading,

Jody A Kessler

In case you didn’t know, I am not only an author, but a long time yoga teacher. However, philosophies, beliefs, and strange opinions are my own.

I also change my mind quite often (a basic right of being a female or human) so check back here for more caffeine-fueled future ramblings.

You can find my really long ramblings in the form of novels on Amazon. 😉

p.s.

new Granite Lake Romance coming soon! 

99 Books for 99 Pennies – Plus NEWS & More!

Welcome to September & Thanks for being here!

It’s been a little while since I posted anything new. Summer is a busy time filled with a lot of reading and spending time with my family. However, I somehow managed to finish writing the new Granite Lake Romance!

Although, (sad news) I do not have a definite release date and I am waiting on the cover art. So, the book is done, but there is a long list of steps ahead to get Detecting Autumn published and in front of your lovely eyes.

In case you haven’t started reading the Granite Lake Romance series, you can download a copy of book one – Unwrapping Treasure – for 99 pennies today. AND >>> you can also enter to win some wonderful prizes and gift cards by hopping on over to Bookwrapt. ~~> Please be aware that Unwrapping Treasure is novella length with a nice happy-for-now ending. Genre: Steamy Contemporary Romance

A September Special for you – 99 Books @ 99 Cents Book Fair.

Almost 100 books ON SALE in all genres, romance, sci-fi and fantasy, paranormal romance, historical romance, romantic suspense, mysteries, thrillers, and more.

Plus, check in daily for a chance to win Amazon gift cards or play instant ebook giveaways for one of 12 books being awarded to lucky winners each day.

The book sale and giveaways are located at BookWrapt – CLICK HERE 

September 6 – 12th.

There are some wonderful books by some of my favorite authors for less than a dollar. I hope you will stop by and find some fantastic new books to read.

I will have a release date for Detecting Autumn – Granite Lake Romance – book 5 soon and hopefully a new book cover to share with you as well.

Happy reading,

Jody A. Kessler

P.S.

If you signed up to receive blog posts – thank you very much! – but if you were looking for my free novella – The Call (An Angel Falls)  – and you did not receive it, it is because you need to sign up for the newsletter. – I have both.  HOWEVER – the content between the blog and newsletters are very similar. Newsletter subscribers receive the free copy of The Call and special offers such as joining my Advance Reader Team.

I’m so grateful for each and every one of you. You’re welcome to join my blog and my newsletter or come and go as you please.

I can also save you some time if you missed the freebie and would like to read it. Here is the link to the FREE copy of The Call – An Angel Falls novella 

Genre: Paranormal with ghost hunting – this is a spin off from the An Angel Falls series.

Cheers. Have a great day!   ^_^

Crystal Casters ~ New Release from Jenn Nixon

I’d like to welcome my friend and fellow author, Jenn Nixon. She’s celebrating her brand new release, Crystal Casters – Awakenings.

Let’s find out more about this SciFi Parnormal Romance ~

About the book

When Cyndra Raine inherits her grandmother’s crystal, she inadvertently awakens a lethal elemental force she doesn’t understand. Panicked and desperate, she flees the safety of her village, determined to find answers only to run into a man named Rune with the same abilities and questions.

Zorin has spent twenty-five years soaring over his island waiting for something, anything, to change. After sensing caster power he can’t ignore, he leaves the island and finds two casters under attack on the mainland. He’s shocked to learn Cyndra and Rune are ignorant of their lineage and the war that destroyed the world.

Intrigued by Cyndra and the immense power she possesses, Zorin promises her the truth about the past in exchange for her help. Inexplicably drawn to the winged man, Cyndra agrees to his terms and together they begin a journey that tests everything she knows about her world and discovers a connection to Zorin more profound than any she’s ever imagined.

Release day – June 28th

Available on Amazon

Read a short excerpt from the novel:

Zorin felt fingers on his wing and spun around, clasping the man’s wrist, stunned at the alarm on his face. “You see me?”

The man nodded and glanced back at the woman, who mimicked the gesture.

This caster was as stronger as the woman and his power flooded the gap between them. Using every measure of control he had not to absorb it, Zorin grunted, shoved the man backward, and tucked his wings close to his shoulders. Shocked and grateful they had the ability to see him, yet curious what they actually saw, Zorin opened the mental crystal bond and frowned as the word crossed the man’s mind.

“I’m not a gargoyle,” Zorin spat, huffing and clenching his jaw to calm down so he wouldn’t scare them further. The wide-eyed woman, dressed like a true survivor, held a lonely sai in her shaking hand, determined to protect herself. A quality he admired. He met her eyes. “Where did the wraiths come from?”

“The, uh, crazy lady,” she began, glancing over toward the bushes and furrowing her brow. “They were right there.” ….

About the Author

Jenn Nixon’s love of writing started the year she received her first diary and Nancy Drew novel. Throughout her teenage years, she kept a diary of her personal thoughts and feelings but graduated from Nancy Drew to other mystery suspense novels. Jenn often adds a thriller and suspense element to anything she writes be it Romance, Science Fiction, or Fantasy. When not writing, she spends her time reading, observing pop culture, playing with her two dogs, and working on various charitable projects in her home state of New Jersey.

You can find Jenn Nixon all over the interwebs:

Website: www.jennnixon.com

Facebook: facebook.com/JennNixonAuthor

Newsletter: https://www.subscribepage.com/l8m1g3

http://twitter.com/jennnixon

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/712429.Jenn_Nixon

http://www.amazon.com/Jenn-Nixon/e/B002BLNBBQ/

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Thanks for stopping by! I hope you’re reading some fantastic novels and having a wonderful summer.

Cheers and happy reading,

Jody

“The Guide says there is an art to flying”, said Ford, “or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.”  ― Douglas Adams

New Release – Divining Elise + New Giveaways!

Hello again,

I have some fantastic news to share with you + book deals and new giveaways.

Divining Elise – the new Granite Lake Romance is available on Amazon!

Early readers are leaving positive reviews about the new book and the Everett brothers are winning the hearts of the readers. I hope you’ll give Divining Elise a chance and let me know what you think of Rob and Elise.

About the Book 

Elise Martinez wished her date with destiny didn’t include being run off the road by the most caring, handsome, and intelligent man she’d ever met.

Moving to Granite Lake to manage a bookstore and coffee shop meant Elise could finally leave her haunted past behind, but being a psychic mom to a deaf child has its benefits and downfalls—and her guarded heart isn’t ready for a new romance.

Rob Everett never imagined giving up corporate law to open a brewery with his brothers in Granite Lake would begin with a car accident and the arrival of a surprise baby.

As if being a single dad and starting a new business weren’t challenging enough, Rob can’t get the beautiful, mysterious, and feisty bookstore manager out of his mind.

Elise quickly captures Rob’s heart—but falling in love is a complicated, sexy, and emotional enterprise.

Mix in a baby, a haunted brewery, craft beer, and a dangerous ex-husband into this recipe of love and Rob and Elise’s future isn’t as easily divined as the fates would have foretold.

**Steamy Contemporary Romance intended for 18+ for mature language and sexual content.

**Full length novel with a happily ever after.

Available on: Amazon

Included in Kindle Unlimited ~ Paperback coming soon.

Read a short excerpt from the novel:

Elise rose from the couch and disappeared from the room. When she returned, she handed a paperback book to Rob.

“I bought this for you.”

He looked at the cover front and back. “I haven’t read this author.”

“He’s one of my favorite sci-fi authors of all time. The new book in the series came out yesterday.” She held up another book for Rob to see. “If you like it then I’ll bring you number two when you’re ready.”

“Are we having a reading date, Elise?”

“Is it too nerdy for you?”

“No. I’ve just never read with someone before,” he said.

“Well then you’re really missing out.”

“I guess I’ve been missing out on a lot of good things. I’ve never had homemade chimichangas or been whupped at the Memory game by a munchkin, either.”

“We’re pretty awesome like that.” Elise sat on the couch next to her son, Colton, who was already fast asleep. “Don’t tell anyone. I don’t want the word to get around about us.”

“I wouldn’t let this secret out. It’s too good to share.”

One eyebrow rose and she opened her book. Rob likewise began reading and to his surprise, he was instantly sucked into the story. After the first few chapters, he realized Maisie needed her nighttime bottle. He set the book on the coffee table to take care of his daughter. The sci-fi author was good. Really good. He could have kept turning pages for hours if he didn’t have responsibilities to take care of. After putting the baby in bed, he lifted Colton from the couch and carried him to the guest room. Elise took care of Colton, then joined him in the living room. The novels were forgotten and all Rob could focus on was Elise.

She took his hand and led him to his bedroom. Sixty-nine became Rob’s new favorite number. Elise was insatiable. Rob couldn’t believe how incredible their chemistry was. There was no ebb to their flow. He only wanted more of her.

Divining Elise is book 4 in the Granite Lake Romance series

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And if you’re looking for more wonderful books to read + fun giveaways to enter, check this out:

Fill your e-reader with some fabulous $0.99 cent ebooks?

SHOP OUR BEACH READS BOOK FAIR

All books are less than a buck! + GIVEAWAYS DAILY!

Whether you’re lucky enough to be heading off for a fabulous vacay, or stuck at your desk only dreaming of beachy bliss, make a date with a fantastic read this summer. We have over 50 ebooks on sale for 99 cents. Mysteries, thrillers, romance, romantic suspense, paranormal romance, fantasy, science fiction, whatever your genre, we have a book you’ll love!

Plus, every 24 hours, we’re putting up a new giveaway. Check in daily for a chance to win an Amazon gift card, ebook prize pack, or other great prizes for book lovers. Ends on June 18th.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE: BookWrapt

WAIT —> There’s more –>

Are you looking for culturally diverse novels?

I joined the Loving Day Book Promotion because the main character in Divining Elise is of Hispanic descent and her son is deaf. Personally, I love reading (and writing) about other cultures and people of all walks of life. In my humble opinion, diversity can make the characters more interesting and fun to read!

So…. Whether or not you read through Kindle Unlimited, you won’t want to miss the awesome collection of books featuring diverse characters. With multiple genres to browse, you’re sure to find something you love! And don’t forget to enter the giveaway where you can win a Kindle Fire.  CLICK HERE TO BROWSE DIVERSE BOOKS AND ENTER TO WIN

Thank you for taking a moment of your day to catch up on the latest book news. And good luck in the giveaways.

Cheers and happy reading!

Jody A. Kessler

Mother’s Day Bliss, Dog Puke, and Plastic – What?

It’s been an amazing week. A near perfect week. I am so grateful for this day and every day. My husband made me French toast for breakfast and cleaned the kitchen. He told me, “Happy Mother’s Day” and bought me some small gifts that I really wanted. In truth, I ordered the presents for myself — but I’m totally okay with this, as they were something I wanted to try out. (I’ll get to this part of my Mother’s Day post in a minute.)

It’s Sunday and hubs has been spending nearly every free minute of his time with me and my son since he returned a couple days ago from a week-long road trip. He didn’t remember Mother’s Day until yesterday evening. He was actually shocked that Mother’s Day had arrived so soon –> Of course, I casually pointed out that Mother’s Day is always near our son’s birthday EVERY YEAR. –> but you know, my hubs’s memory is questionable and we won’t get into the number of his past head injuries.

So he woke up this morning and made me breakfast and this was after taking us to lunch yesterday and out for breakfast the day before (Yes, I’m feeling fluffy around the middle — and yes, I still ate the cinnamon raisin French toast.) And when I thanked him he said, “all the other things we’ve been doing since Friday were for the kidlet and he wanted to do something just for me.” <– Sweet, right?  I love hubby. And I don’t want to go out and do anything special today. For Mother’s Day I need to be home and relax after the BUSY week.

Because sometimes happiness is relaxing at home, knowing I’m cared for, and my needs are met. I have two jobs I love and a supportive family. That is my bliss. And… I picked out an Earth friendly Mother’s Day Present for myself – which for me, is special.

Because… Mother Earth is the source of all life and without our home we’re all screwed. Royally ‘effing screwed. <– That’s the title of my next romance novel, by the way. Totally kidding.

Every plant, animal, our water, air, and soil should be respected and taken care of. This has been on my mind a lot lately and I’ve reading too many devastating stories on the health of our planet and the environment. Having the “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” mentality engrained into my brain since I was child and taking care of our Mother Earth isn’t anything new. I’ve taken steps to be a more conscious human since I was a little kid, but recently, the “single use plastics” issue has been in the forefront of my concerns.

Here’s a blog post from National Geographic for more information:  Pesky plastic: The true harm of microplastics in the oceans https://blog.nationalgeographic.org/2016/04/04/pesky-plastic-the-true-harm-of-microplastics-in-the-oceans/

I made a promise to myself: From now on, I am using less plastic.

So I ask myself again, what can I REALISTICALLY do for the planet that I’m not already doing?

Which sort of leads to the real reason I’m blogging today.

To share the Mother’s Day gift I’m excited about trying.

This is what I bought:

Organic Reusable Food Wraps by Etee    https://amzn.to/2IfPwHF

Reusable produce bags (The ones I bought are now out of stock but there’s a wide variety of them on Amazon.)  Similar to these: https://amzn.to/2Kkp7Jy

If I can make small changes in my daily routine that have less negative impact on our planet, then I’m doing SOMETHING. And all my little somethings will add up over a lifetime. What if we all made one small change every year – and taught our children to live in a similar way and continue our efforts? This could change our world for the better. 🙂

I started this post talking about my “near perfect week” and it has been fantastic, but it’s also been stressful. I don’t want anyone reading this and thinking Jody’s blogging because she leads some perfect fantasy life where all she does is sit around thinking up ways to save the planet. The truth is, I’m tired. I haven’t slept well for a week – or maybe 11 years. And after all the running around and enjoying the birthday celebrations and activities:

Last night, just after midnight I woke to the sound of my dog vomiting. I jumped – literally threw myself out of the bed – grabbed my glasses (so I could see any dog puke on the floor – and NOT step in it) to rush the dog outside before the puke hit the floor, or at least minimize the mess. And I shoved my hundred-and-twenty-pound dog out the door, turned around, and stepped right in cold dog vomit. (I was actually grateful it was on the tile and not the rug.) I limped to the bathroom trying not to dwell on the feeling of slime with hard chunks stuck to my foot and washed up in the bathtub, then returned to the hallway and cleaned up Nugget’s mess on my hands and knees. I eventually climbed back into bed and listened to my son cough and blow his nose because with all the birthday fun, he’s managed to acquire a cold. Yay. Not.

My poor kid feels like utter garbage. — Always keepin’ it real around here.

And I woke up this morning in a decent mood because somehow within the mystery of it all – the positive and happy moments and the less-than-stellar and challenging times that keep me humble – life is wonderfully complex and worth it.

And I just wanted to write this all down before I forgot. (I can’t blame past head injuries, my memory is awful.) Plus I’m excited about using less plastic and wanted to share what I found on Amazon to help me do just that – use less plastic.

Whatever you’re doing this weekend and the coming week, I hope it’s grand, or relaxing, or whatever you need it to be. Happy Mother’s Day to you, your loved ones, and our planet.

Cheers,

Jody