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Tempt Me Twice ~ New Release & Giveaway

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Happy Release Day! Tempt Me Twice (Romance with Altitude, #3) releases today!

I’m celebrating in the usual way authors do… by obsessively watching my various online dashboards and social media pages. Just kidding, sort of. I celebrated when I finished writing Tempt Me Twice. The novel took longer than I hoped (thank you, 2020 – the never ending year.) But just so you have an idea of how glamorous my writing life is. – I celebrated with a chocolate croissant and a latte. – Don’t be too jealous. Extravagance is my middle name. Joking aside…

I’m also celebrating release day with a Reader Appreciation Giveaway! You can enter to win one of three autographed copies of Tease Me Once or an Amazon gift card!

Let’s move onto the new book(s). Did you know that I also released So Tempting last month and Tease Me Once in December? Keep reading to find out more about the new Three Peaks romantic comedies ~ Romance with Altitude series.

On the back cover of Tempt Me Twice:

Armed with her favorite beaver underwear, a new job, and endless optimism, forest ranger Tawny Brooks is starting over in the small town of Three Peaks.

During her move to Colorado, a hot and irresistible cowboy makes an offer she can’t refuse.

After an outrageous one-night stand, Tawny vows to never see Jeremiah again—and she’s determined to leave her bad decisions in the past once and for all.

But when she arrives in town and they’re forced to work together, Tawny discovers that Jeremiah isn’t going away any time soon.

Rancher and playboy Jeremiah Erickson doesn’t believe in love or happily ever afters. He’s content with his bachelor lifestyle and too busy recovering his losses after the Forest Service revokes his grazing permits to get involved with Tawny.

So why is the funny and wildly unpredictable forest ranger everything Jeremiah never thought he wanted?

Don’t wait to find out what happens next in Tempt Me Twice: A Three Peaks Romantic Comedy.

READ AN EXCERPT

“Ranger Tawny Brooks. That’s definitely a name of consequence.”

Tawny jumped at the sound, but Jeremiah’s voice was unmistakable.

She put her hand up to her ear and leaned in. “I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that. The batteries on my darn hearing aids need charged again.”

“Are we going right back to lying, Ranger Brooks?” He leaned against the back of a full-sized pickup truck parked next to hers.

She laughed in spite of herself, then kept up her stalling tactics. “What’s that? I can’t hear well in the dark.” When he disappeared after the meeting, she couldn’t have been more grateful. Now that Jeremiah was confronting her alone, she didn’t know what to do or say. She wasn’t supposed to ever see him again.

“Is that so?” he muttered.

“Probably.” Tawny held her ground and wondered if she could vaporize then reappear inside her truck and drive away without having to face him and deal with the consequences of her spontaneous nature. Did he know he was standing between her and her truck?

“Did you track me down in Three Peaks after the Cattle Ranchers’ Association banquet in Estes? Should I be worried you’re suffering from some kind of erotomania?”

“What? No,” she said adamantly then asked, “Erotic what?”

“Still pretending to have selective hearing, eh?”

“No. Yes. I don’t know,” she said, her amusement and confusion growing simultaneously. “But I’m definitely not erotically delusional. Whatever word you’re worried about does not apply to me. Erotic mania. What is that?” The confusion was making her head hurt. Do conversations with cute men usually need a brain Band-Aid?

He crossed his arms over his chest. “How did you find me here? Or better yet, how did you find me in Estes Park?”

“I didn’t. I’m pretty sure you found me, and I had no idea you were from Three Peaks. Believe me, dude, if I’d known I would ever see you again, I would not have, well, you know, at the hotel or whatever.” She flipped her hand in the air in the general direction of his crotch. Yeah, great. Point at his dipstick. That helps clear things up. She wanted to smack her forehead with the same flippant hand but refrained.

Jeremiah dropped his arms and stepped away from the truck. He moved into Tawny’s personal bubble and stared down his nose at her. He was even sexier than she remembered, which was slightly shocking and blowing her mind. She was certain she’d imagined his level of sex appeal being off the charts, but nope, her whiskey goggles hadn’t been that cloudy. His level of hotness was beyond scorching. Jeremiah was surface-of-the-sun hot. Her eyes widened and she tried not to breathe in for fear of becoming intoxicated on his scent.

“It’d be nice to believe you, but how can I? You show up in town and give your little spiel about saving the weeds and toads after seducing me. What are you playing at, Ranger Brooks?”

— Want more? Find out what happens between Jeremiah and Tawny in Tempt Me Twice (Romance with Altitude, #3)

Available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited

GIVEAWAY TIME!

Three winners will be chosen for an autographed paperback copy of Tease Me Once (Romance with Altitude, #1) — or your choice of any autographed paperback in the Romance with Altitude series.

And one winner will be chosen to win a $5.00 Amazon gift card. Terms and conditions are on the Rafflecopter. TL:DR you must be eligible to win, and paperback copies will only be mailed in the USA or APO addresses. CLICK HERE TO ENTER or enter below:

( Giveaway ends March 10, 2021. I will email the winners and announce them in the next newsletter.)

The giveaway is over. Rafflecopter chose the winners at random and here they are: Pam W., Jenny C., Ellie W., and Brook L. Congratulations! Emails have been sent.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tempt Me Twice early readers have this to say:

“this book was a very enjoyable and entertaining read!” 5 Stars!

“The storyline was great and the characters were so well developed that Tawny and Jeremiah kept me totally glued to my kindle until the very last page! ” – Pat on BookBub

“I loved how this book made me laugh and lift me up, but also gave me that exciting mystery of who was causing trouble. I strongly encourage you to read the book.” – Becky on Goodreads

“I really enjoyed this book, Tawny and Jeremiah story was funny and endearing.” 5 Stars! – Diane from Goodreads

Catching Kiera – New Granite Lake Romance

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Today is the day!  Happy Book Birthday!!

Catching Kiera – book 6 – in the Granite Lake Romance series is available now!  Amazon

Included in Kindle Unlimited and in Paperback 

 

Book Description

Kiera Sawyer has always been a free spirit at heart. Her wanderlust and campervan take her wherever a new adventure awaits—which is often to the next music festival.

That is until she meets Denny, a biker mechanic whose Viking good looks and bachelor status are well known in the small town of Granite Lake.

Denny Masters was born with a calling to build motorcycles. Contrary to the rumors, he’s not anti-social or anti-women, but he does spend a lot of time in the garage.

That is until he meets Kiera at the grand opening party for Black Bear Brewing.

Unfortunately, it’s Denny’s old acquaintance, Jolene, who introduces them—and drunken shenanigans and miscommunication do not make for the start of a solid relationship.

While Denny tries to catch Kiera’s attention, Jolene doesn’t seem to be able to take no for an answer. Thankfully, Denny is heading to Motor and Metal Fest where he can sell bikes and get to know Kiera better.

A road trip and a music festival with a gorgeous, intriguing, and fun woman makes Denny believe the pieces of his life are finally coming together.

But Kiera isn’t being totally upfront about her personal life—or her relationship with her boss, Ash Wilde, the CEO of the company.

Will Denny and Kiera stick together through a tangle of misfortunes, a love triangle Kiera never saw coming, and Jolene’s stalker tendencies, or will they lose the trust, hope, and love they’ve found in each other?

**A drama-packed, fun, page-turning wild ride filled with heartfelt, steamy romance and traveling the world—because catching Kiera is a love worth fighting for.

**This book contains mature language and romantic scenes.

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

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Early readers had this to say,

“I loved Kiera and Denny’s story! If you’ve read any of Ms. Kessler’s Granite Lake Romance series, you’ll recognize both characters. If you haven’t, then what are you waiting for?” – Amazon Reviewer

“Add in the cutest dog, Jinx, witty humor with no filter, and some unbelievably weird requests, and you have a hilarious and wonderful love story.” – Amazon Reviewer

“I’ve read several books by Jody A. Kessler and I must say Catching Kiera is one of my favorites.” – Amazon Reviewer

I hope you love the new book! Denny and Kiera have unbelievable chemistry and they are a FUN couple!

Truly, Catching Kiera was a joy to write. <3

Thank you for your continued support!
Be on the lookout for a new & special giveaway coming next month!  Especially if you like paperback books!! (hint hint)

Cheers and happy reading,

Jody A. Kessler

Catching Kiera is on Amazon  Goodreads   BookBub

Hey… You made it to the end of the post!

Are you a Kindle Unlimited subscriber???

If you’re looking for new romance novels to devour, you can check out this Romance Book Fair – There’s also a $50 Amazon gift card giveaway – All the books are either .99 cents or part of Kindle Unlimited. on Magic Book Deals 

 

 

Cover Reveal! Catching Kiera ~ NEW Granite Lake Romance + Exclusive Sneak Peek

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Hello again!
Have you been wondering about the new Granite Lake Romance novel, Catching Kiera?

Your wait is almost over! Catching Kiera will be published on Thursday, June 20th.

Here’s a look at the new book cover! I adore the design, and as the author, I love how accurately the cover models represent Kiera Sawyer and Denny Masters.


What do you think? Do you have a favorite cover from the Granite Lake Romance series? Let me know! I would love to hear your opinions and comments. <3

Pre-order your copy of Catching Kiera today – on Amazon

About the book –>

Kiera Sawyer has always been a free spirit at heart. Her wanderlust and campervan take her wherever a new adventure awaits—which is often to the next music festival.

That is until she meets Denny, a biker mechanic whose Viking good looks and bachelor status are well known in the small town of Granite Lake.

Denny Masters was born with a calling to build motorcycles. Contrary to the rumors, he’s not anti-social or anti-women, but he does spend a lot of time in the garage.

That is until he meets Kiera at the grand opening party for Black Bear Brewing.

Unfortunately, it’s Denny’s old acquaintance, Jolene, who introduces them—and drunken shenanigans and miscommunication do not make for the start of a solid relationship.

While Denny tries to catch Kiera’s attention, Jolene doesn’t seem to be able to take no for an answer. Thankfully, Denny is heading to Motor and Metal Fest where he can sell bikes and get to know Kiera better.

A road trip and a music festival with a gorgeous, intriguing, and fun woman makes Denny believe the pieces of his life are finally coming together.

But Kiera isn’t being totally upfront about her personal life—or her relationship with her boss, Ash Wilde, the CEO of the company.

Will Denny and Kiera stick together through a tangle of misfortunes, a love triangle Kiera never saw coming, and Jolene’s stalker tendencies, or will they lose the trust, hope, and love they’ve found in each other?

**A drama-packed, fun, page-turning wild ride filled with heartfelt, steamy romance and traveling the world—because catching Kiera is a love worth fighting for.

**This book contains mature language and romantic scenes.

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

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  Exclusive Excerpt  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Through the summer, Denny watched Bodie Everett and his brothers remodel and update his father’s old bar, Floyd’s Tavern. From day one, Denny followed their progress as the Everetts stripped and replaced the siding off the exterior, gutted the interior, worked on the roof, upgraded the deck, and replaced just about everything inside and out of the old biker bar. But the surreal moment of entering the newly renovated building hit him on a level he’d not experienced before.

He practically grew up inside this building and now, with all the changes, he hardly recognized the place. It was too bad his father hadn’t come back to town for the grand reopening. His dad would have liked what the Everett brothers had done with the place. The updated interior had a rustic yet modern look about it. The beer couldn’t be better, and from the appetizers he’d tasted, he was destined to become a regular customer.

Growing up with a biker father had its perks and its pitfalls. Denny appreciated his freedom to do what he wanted whenever he wanted but his childhood wasn’t what most people would envy.

Too many memories cluttered his mind as he finished drinking a dark stout while listening to the band. The visit down memory lane wasn’t the purpose of attending the night’s party. He wouldn’t dwell on the past, but he didn’t disparage the nostalgia either.

Denny ordered a shot of Macallan Scotch whisky with a beer back from a passing waitress. Tonight, he celebrated with new and old friends. He reminisced over the past and looked forward to the future. His custom motorcycle business was doing better than ever, and thanks to his old friend, Treasure Vogle, renting her building to him, he had a new shop that could grow his business and provide a place to live. Denny had plenty to celebrate.

He glanced at the door that led to the deck overlooking the lake, and that’s when he saw her. He knew he’d never met her before because he would have remembered. She walked inside and smiled right at him.

Her kind, warm eyes and lovely face appealed to him first, but when he saw the rest of her, she was the whole package, from the strawberry blonde hair to the boots on her slender feet. Not many women caught his eye these days. Not that Denny lived like a monk… Okay, maybe he lived like a beer drinking, solitary, garage monkey, gear head most of the time, but he wasn’t a total recluse.

In all honesty, it had been a while since he’d been with a woman. Dating didn’t come easily or naturally for him. Most of the time, Denny found that women who were interested in him made the first move, and he didn’t object to having the attention of a pretty lady. But all too often, his girlfriend would try to move in with him before they truly knew each other, or she wanted him to play dad to their kid, or she didn’t care for the number of hours he spent in the garage. Eventually, they disappeared from his life—sometimes after blowing up and yelling at him for being him, or for not changing to suit their needs.

This woman, however, might call for an actual first move made on his part. He couldn’t remember ever wanting to speak to someone so strongly before. Damn. Denny ran his fingers over his scalp. Uncertainty fogged the inside of his head and made thinking difficult. His mojo fled the scene and left him hanging. This was an instant problem. Denny’s heart rate picked up as he wondered what the hell he was going to say to this babe.

She was probably way out of his league. Would she wrinkle her nose at the first sight of his grease-stained hands? It’d happened before. Some women didn’t like him because of his job. Well, screw that. Any person who thought they were better than him because he knew how to build a motor or restore a vintage Harley could piss off.

Yet the way she moved was so fluid and alluring. The tug on his loins wouldn’t be ignored. The gracefulness of her body caught his attention and he felt like he was being stalked by a panther, but it was a good thing. Her exposed neck and the top of her shoulders caught his gaze and led to imaginings that needed to be further explored. But it was her face with expressive eyes and inviting mouth that held him totally captivated. He wanted to hear her voice. Nothing was worse than an annoying voice. That was another reason Jolene irritated him. He’d rather have someone prodding his eardrums with tweezers than listen to Jolene say “Denny Bear” one more damned time.

A couple of guys stepped in front of the stunning woman and stopped her from approaching Denny. He sidestepped to clear his view of her, but the waitress reappeared with his drinks. With a drink in each hand, Denny glanced back at the gorgeous babe to make sure he hadn’t lost her in the crowd.

She fiddled with her hands and wore a tight-lipped smile as she said something to one of the men. Her gaze met Denny’s, and if he wasn’t mistaken, her eyes and the corners of her lips softened when they made eye contact.

He’d be damned if she wasn’t just as interested in meeting him as he was her. He had to find out. And the way she edged away from the two dudes said she really wasn’t interested in them.

Man up or get the hell out, his brain ordered. It hadn’t been that long since he’d introduced himself to an available woman, had it? Yes, yes, it had. His internal dialogue was murdering him. He was rusty. That wasn’t even close to being accurate. Denny had no skills in the picking-up-women department. Man, he sucked at this. What was he going to say? Only the worst clichéd lines came to mind. Can I buy you a drink? Are these two dirt bags bothering you, gorgeous? He may as well ask her astrological sign, or better yet, what her cat’s sign was. That ought to seal his celibacy for the next decade.

He watched as she rolled her eyes at dude number one, and with more confidence than he felt, Denny strutted over. “Hey there. The waitress just brought our drinks. Would you like to take them back to our table?”

“I’d love to,” she said and reached for the shot glass. The smile she flashed confirmed his suspicions that she didn’t want to be cornered by these two dip-wads any longer. And better yet, she was looking at him the way he thought.

Denny raised a challenging brow at the two bros. They weren’t altogether pleased about his intrusion, but didn’t question her. He kept up the pretense and led her across the dining room and away from the band where it would be easier to speak and be heard over the music.

Just when his confidence received the small boost by her agreeing to step aside with him, she struck it right back down….

(oooh… a cliffhanger! Yes, I just did that.) You’ll have to read the book to find out how Denny and Kiera’s first encounter turns out.

But seriously, Denny is one of my favorite heroes of all time! He’s sweet but powerful and totally swoon-worth sexy-with both his words and actions. I hope you love him as much as I do.

If you pre-order Catching Kiera, Amazon will deliver the ebook to your device as soon as the book is released! Pre-order by clicking HERE

Thank you for reading!
Cheers,
Jody A. Kessler

Photo credit: Lindee Robinson Photography
Models: Katlin Blake and Evan Cloyd
Cover design by Sommer Stein, Perfect Pear

~ Are you on BookBub? You can follow me on BookBub or leave reviews here: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jody-a-kessler

Or Goodreads

The Secret to Enjoying Kale – Yes, Really. Kale Tastes Good!

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I ate kale and I liked it.

How is this possible?! you ask? Seriously, before today I was under the impression that kale is a close cousin to crabgrass, except crabgrass tastes better.

So here’s my secret to enjoying kale. (I think I actually love it now!)

–> Add potatoes, Italian sausage, and bacon. Oh, and some cream, broth, and a dash of cayenne pepper.

I made Zuppa Toscana. It’s a wonderful hearty soup with tons of kale.

Here’s my recipe:

Ingredients
• 1 pound Italian sausage (spicy)
• 3-4 russet potatoes, cut into bite-sized cubes
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 2 tablespoons garlic, minced
• 32 ounces chicken broth
• 1/2 bunch kale (or swiss chard), destemmed and cut/torn into bite-sized pieces
• 1 cup heavy cream (or half-n-half if you want to save a few calories)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Cayenne pepper to taste (a dash or two is enough)
• 1/4 cup bacon, cooked and chopped

Directions:
Brown Italian sausage in a sauté pan. (I remove the excess fat on a paper towel before adding to the pot.)

Place sausage, chicken broth, garlic, potatoes and onion in a large pot. Add just enough water to cover the vegetables and meat.

Cook until potatoes are soft.

Add the kale, salt, pepper, and cayenne to taste. Cook the kale for 5-10 minutes or until the kale is tender.

Add the cream and bring the soup back to boiling. Turn off the heat. Stir in the crumbled bacon and serve.

~*~*~*~

This is one of my favorite comfort soups. (Forgive my poor picture. My camera changed the color a little bit.)

You too, can join the health food craze and eat your kale! – just kidding – but seriously, this recipe is really good. Some people substitute Swiss chard or spinach, but spinach is a lot softer and turns to mush easily, whereas the kale does not. And let’s not discuss Swiss chard. I’m not that brave yet. 😉

By the way, Zuppa Toscana pairs well with bread and butter, wine, and a good book! – lol

Side note: the leftover kale tastes great in an omelet or egg scramble. Be sure to add some mixed veg like bell peppers and some cheese & enjoy!

Cheers from my kitchen to yours,

Jody A. Kessler

 

How I Broke My Brain – By Writing a New Book

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I’m starting a new book today! – Hooray! But… to be honest, I’ve been telling myself this for a few weeks.

This month, I’ve come up with a new romance series and the basic plot and characters for 3 new books (to start with.)

Then I decided I should write a different book in a series that I started 4+ years ago. (Yes, yes, I know some of you are waiting for these books – and I am now going to continue, and hopefully finish, The Night Medicine series!)

After doing some research, I was feeling a little stuck on some of the plot points – so I took the time to refill my creative well – and rearrange my brain from contemporary romance to historical – and after a great yoga class, I mentally worked things out! YAY! –> more or less –>

While contemplating the complexities of timeline, multiple main characters, history, politics, & meshing storylines A B C D E F & G through Z, and not forgetting anything in the first Night Medicine book,

I broke my brain. – Yep, I’m broken.

Did you know that writing is really hard?

Like level 3 trillion-gazillion difficulty. — This *might* be part of the reason I haven’t returned to historical fiction. 🤷‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤓

That’s not totally true. I generally write what I feel like writing and contemporary romance has been super fun to write, and completely challenging in its own right.

But just because the new book will be my 17th novel, doesn’t mean things get easier. It might even be harder because the pressure and expectations I put on myself to make each book better are extremely high.

However, I do like a challenge. 😊 So – onward and upward! I’m piecing together the broken bits of my brain today and putting it all back in place. Hopefully, this will turn out to be another fantastic page-turning adventure in Old West, Montana and the Blackfoot Nation.

Historical fiction and time travel have been a passion of mine since I was a child. I foresee that I will be lost in this series for a while to come.

If you need me, please visit the years 1860 – 1870. That’s where I’ll be living for the rest of 2019. 😉

Unless, of course, I need some romantic comedy in my life, then I will be in the present time writing sexy, funny things that make me LOL.

#WritersLife #Amwriting #WritersAreTheirOwnBreedofHuman

As always,
Cheers and happy reading

Jody A. Kessler

Do You Love Funny, Steamy Romantic Comedies?

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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!

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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

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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!

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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!

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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