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.

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