Tag Archives: romantic comedy

Tempt Me Twice ~ New Release & Giveaway

Posted on by
Reply

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

Posted on by
Reply

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

Posted on by
Reply

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

Do You Love Funny, Steamy Romantic Comedies?

Posted on by
1

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!

Posted on by
Reply

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!

Chasing Treasure – New Release + Sale and Giveaway!

Posted on by
Reply
Title – Chasing Treasure: A Granite Lake Romance
Author: Jody A. Kessler
Genre: Contemporary Romance
ON SALE FOR $0.99 APRIL 6-12
After spending the winter apart, Treasure can’t stop thinking about her former paramedic partner, Bodie Everett. But, with her unfortunate history of dating, and an overwhelming fear of commitment, Treasure doesn’t know how she’ll react when Bodie returns from training at Wilderness School. Or, if the irresistible and sexy, Bodie, wants to continue where they left off back in December. With a flooded apartment and a ridiculous suspension from her job as a paramedic, Treasure heads to Granite Lake and back to her childhood home—a rundown apartment and a garage packed full of motorcycles.
 ~
Now that Bodie has new Search and Rescue certifications under his belt, he’s ready to move forward with his life. He hopes that includes a relationship with Treasure. After an unforgettable night together, he can’t seem to shake her from his head or his heart. He’s ready to take their friendship to the next level, but his intruding family members have their own agenda. Opening a brewpub with his brothers, joining the Mountain Division of Search and Rescue, and the surprise return of his ex-fiancé complicate and distract Bodie from chasing and catching Treasure.
Available in Kindle Unlimited

“Exciting, steamy, romance that’s heartfelt and entertaining!” – New York Times Bestselling Author Nancy Segovia

Treasure rolled over and admired, not for the first time, Court’s hard, delicious deltoid muscles. They capped broad shoulders and flowed seamlessly down to meet bulging biceps. His muscles elicited a baser need to climb on top of him, squeeze him between her thighs and stroke every inch of his incredible arms—and the rest of him too. His triceps were ripped. His forearms could have belonged to Popeye. She glanced at his chest and almost drooled at the sight of the smooth bronze pecs and rippling abs.
Court caught her attention the moment he entered the bar last night. She’d been chatting with friends and he quickly became the game of the evening. She supposed she’d won. In all honesty, her girlfriends hadn’t been as driven to win the prize as strongly as she had. Treasure knew going to Paradiso would more than likely provide a new boy-toy, or two, and she thought she was in the mood to fool around with someone new.
She hadn’t exactly meant to end up in bed with him, but she hadn’t been opposed to it either. Now, she was in Court’s brand new condo wondering where her clothes were while trying not to berate herself for sleeping with someone she just met. What did she even know about this guy? He told her he was new in town, which explained why she and her friends had never seen him before. He said he moved to Reno for a job and his last name was Prescott. Court Prescott. That should have been a huge flag to their sexual incompatibility. His name sounded ridiculously pretentious to Treasure even though he didn’t come across that way. And who names their kid Court anyway? It reminded her of basketball or tennis. Which brought on the image of balls and that made her snicker as she mentally renamed him Court Tennis Balls Prescott. Yeah, balls had definitely been involved last night, she thought, and knew it was juvenile, but ball jokes never got old. Except for actual old balls and that was unpleasant to think about.
Lying next to him, Treasure slid Court the side eye. This wasn’t the first time she’d done something like this, but it was the first time she regretted it with such whole-hearted distaste. He’d been a sloppy and unrefined lover. The thought of kissing him made her queasy. His lips were beautiful but had no finesse. She should have known after the first kiss sex with this man would be disappointing, but she’d pursued him and kept the foreplay going with the hope that the night would get better with a little coaching. It hadn’t. She cringed remembering the lackluster roll in the sack and his less than stellar performance. For all his good looks, the man had no moves. Was it the tequila shots? Some men couldn’t handle their liquor and their women in the same night. In her own experience, she thought alcohol improved her sex drive, lowered her inhibitions, and generally made naked encounters with men much more exciting. She’d have to rethink this approach. Either way, in her current state of undress, the insufficient stimulation after they left Paradiso clung to her like slime-coated cellophane.
She inched across the mattress and paused, listening for a change in Court’s breathing. If she could sneak away without waking him, it would save her a headache. She never wanted to see him again. Uggg, she groaned to herself when he rolled over and his hand brushed her side.
His eyelids fluttered before opening. The whites of his eyes were bloodshot. Treasure swallowed and wished she had pretended to be asleep. A sly grin crept across his face. His body had originally attracted her, but those damned dimples sealed the deal.
The dimples reminded her of Bodie and sent her mind reeling with vivid memories of her friend and work partner. When you watched Bodie smile, you had to search for the dimples, like they were a secret hiding just below the surface. Bodie’s dimples weren’t as deep as Court’s, but Bodie’s were sexier. She wished she could see them now, damn it. Why was Bodie always on her mind?
a Rafflecopter giveaway

“Hi. I won our bet. You owe me a fantasy.”
“Hi to you too,” Bodie said on the other end of the line. “Where are you?”
“Granite Lake. I, umm,” Shivers crept over her skin after mentioning Granite Lake with Bodie’s voice in her ear. She wanted a replay of their night together. She needed him triply bad after her experience with Court.
“Hmm….” he hummed into the phone.
She didn’t know if any sexual innuendo existed in the smooth purr coming out of him, or if it was the sound of curiosity being answered, but her inner thighs shivered. The phone beeped its low battery warning. Tamping down her lust, she said, “It’s not as great as it sounds. I have a mess to clean up at my dad’s old place. And I have a disaster at work to handle when I return to civilization. Cheer me up before my phone dies.”
“No charger?”
“Uh-uh. I rushed to get to the mountains and accidentally left it behind.”
“What’s going on at the ambulance barn?”
“I don’t want to get into it.”
“That bad?” he asked.
“Sort of.” And worse, she thought to herself. “Working with you was a thousand times better.”
“About that…” he said.
Treasure filled the gap. “You’re a total punk. A paramedic demigod compared to what I’ve been dealing with.” She didn’t want to rehash her time spent with Court. Luckily Bodie shifted gears.
“Boosting up my ego again? You better watch yourself Treasure or I’m going to think you’re a nice girl or something.”
“I can be nice. When I want to.” Treasure walked into the apartment and curled up on the couch.
“You may not be so kind when I tell you my news.”
“I’m not sure I can handle any more bad news today. Can’t you just tell me your naughtiest fantasy before my phone dies? I need something tantalizing to get me through the night.”
“You’re so not ready for one of my fantasies.”
“Now you have to tell me. I promise I can handle it.”
“I don’t think so. Besides, I didn’t agree you won,” he said.
“I did. But since you object, I’ll tell you a secret.”
She almost said, ‘I can’t wait to see you again. You’ve totally ruined my chances at ever having a worthwhile orgasm and you need to help me out immediately.’ Instead, she bit her lip. They weren’t a couple and she didn’t know what he thought about jumping into a relationship. “I miss you, Bodie. Work was pure hell this week.”
He stayed silent for a beat too long. Treasure regretted her confession. Speaking her emotions was difficult. She’d rather have a root canal in most cases. The secret she shared wouldn’t be hard for any normal person to say aloud, but it felt a little too real for Treasure. In the next moment, she erased her regret. She wanted to be truer to herself where Bodie was concerned.
“Now it’s my turn. I miss you too. I’m fantasizing about a hot day.” He paused again.
Treasure’s dour outlook perked up a bit. She liked when he said “fantasize,” and “hot.”
“You and me,” he continued. “I want to take the boat out on the lake. You up for it?”
“Definitely,” she said.
“Good.”
He didn’t continue like she hoped.
“That’s it? That’s your fantasy?”
“No. Of course there’s more. It has to be hot enough to swim. We’ll bring beer. Good beer. IPA beer. And chips and donuts. Why you like those awful mini powdered donuts is beyond me.”
She smiled into the phone. “And mini cherry pie.”
“Yeah, those too. And I can’t wait to put my hands on you…” he paused for affect.
Treasure held her breath imagining his hands on her body.
“And push your ass into the water.”
“Nice. Real nice,” she said sarcastically. “Your fantasy is lacking…umm,” she paused, searching for the right words. “Zing. Zest. Color. Sexiness. Give me something to warm me up and keep me company while I sleep.”
“What are you talking about? My fantasy is perfect.” He sounded offended. “I’ll let you wrap your hands around my…fishing pole if you want.”
“Fishing pole better be code for something else, Bodie Everett,” she warned, and laughed when she heard him snickering.
Chasing Treasure - Jody A Kessler - white - sale image
Jody A. Kessler is the winner of the Readers’ Crown Award for Best Paranormal Romance and an international bestselling author. She writes contemporary romance, historical time travel fiction, and paranormal fiction. She is the author of the An Angel Falls series, Granite Lake Romance series, The Night Medicine and more. 

Jody invites you to stop by her website and see what’s new at: www.JodyAKessler.com. Subscribe to the newsletter and receive a FREE eBook.

HOSTED BY:

Cover Reveal ~ Chasing Treasure ~ NEW Granite Lake Romance

Posted on by
Reply

It’s finally here! ~ The cover for Chasing Treasure – NEW Granite Lake Romance

ChasingTreasure_Ecover_LoRes

Chasing Treasure – Granite Lake Romance

 

“Exciting, steamy, romance that’s heartfelt and entertaining!” – New York Times Bestselling Author Nancy Segovia

Treasure Vogle wondered if anything else could possibly go wrong. Her job as a paramedic is on the line due to absurd sexual assault charges, and now her apartment is flooded. After spending the winter apart, Treasure can’t stop thinking about her former paramedic partner, Bodie Everett. But, with her unfortunate history of dating, and an overwhelming fear of commitment, Treasure doesn’t know how she’ll react when Bodie returns from training at Wilderness School. Or, if the irresistible and sexy, Bodie, wants to continue where they left off back in December. With nowhere else to go, Treasure heads to Granite Lake and back to her childhood home—a rundown apartment and a garage packed full of motorcycles.

Now that Bodie has new Search and Rescue certifications under his belt, he’s ready to move forward with his life. He hopes that includes a relationship with Treasure. After an unforgettable night together, he can’t seem to shake her from his head or his heart. He’s ready to take their friendship to the next level, but his intruding family members have their own agenda. Opening a brewpub with his brothers, joining the Mountain Division of Search and Rescue, and the surprise return of his ex-fiancé complicate and distract Bodie from chasing and catching Treasure.

Reserve your copy on Amazon for $2.99. The e-book will be delivered to your Kindle on April 6, 2017.

This is the follow up to Unwrapping Treasure – A Granite Lake Romance Novella, and can be read as a standalone novel.

In case you missed Unwrapping Treasure, you can find a copy at these retailers:

UnwrappingTreasure_Ebook cover_LoRes

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, iBooks, Smashwords – only $0.99 cents

Paramedics Treasure and Bodie never imagined their Christmas Eve night shift could turn into a dangerous and sexy holiday escapade that changes their lives forever.

A Special Gift For You

Unwrapping Treasure will be featured in the upcoming box set – Hunks to the Rescue (Releases in May 2017) Download a FREE printable Hunks calendar featuring Bodie Everett from the Granite Lake Romance Series. Click the image or Download HERE

calendar Feb teaser

 

This is a gift to you from the authors of the Hunks to the Rescue box set.

A full 15 month calendar will be available in March. But for now you can have February and a Year in Review version to enjoy with Bodie on the cover!

This calendar is designed to print on a regular home printer with 8.5″ x 11″ paper.

 

I would love to hear your thoughts on the new book cover! Leave a comment or message below. If you join the newsletter, you will receive sneak peeks and special offers before they’re posted anywhere else. You can subscribe on my contact page.

Happy reading,

Jody A. Kessler