M. Jean Pike's Blog, page 26
August 19, 2024
A perfect morning…
Cool and lovely, sitting beside the lake (Erie) with a cup of coffee, a notebook and a pen. Heaven 
August 6, 2024
Gazebos and an excerpt
I’ve always had a fascination with gazebos. As a romance writer, I like to tuck them into my stories whenever possible. A lot can happen in a gazebo. People get married in them, receive engagement rings and first kisses in them, and sometimes even have their first fights in them. In my upcoming release, King of Hearts, my heroine, Harper Blessings, is horrified when her forgetful Aunt Clara hires a drifter to paint theirs.
Here’s an early peek at the scene…
She heard the shrill whistle of the tea kettle, and then the rise and fall of Clara’s voice. When no voice answered, she made her way up the attic stairs to the chaos of her brother’s bedroom and peeked in. He was sound asleep.
Exasperated, she shook him. “Nicky, you’ve got to get up.”
He groaned and rolled over, burying his face in his pillows.
“Nicky!”
“I know, I know. I’ll be up in a minute.”
“That’s what you said yesterday, and Aunt Clara ended up walking around town in her nightgown. You know I need to be able to count on you this summer.”
He sat up and ran a hand through his messy blond curls. “I know. I’m sorry. What time is it?”
“It’s almost eight thirty.”
Groaning again, he flopped back onto the bed.
“Look, I know it’s your summer vacation. I get it. And when I get home tonight you can have the whole evening to do whatever you want. But right now, I have to go and prep the food truck and I need you to keep an eye on Aunt Clara.”
The doorbell chimed, followed by the raucous barking of Clara’s Yorkshire Terrier, Toby.
“What now?” Harper sighed, moving to the hallway.
“It’s probably the guy,” Nicky mumbled.
She turned back. “What guy?”
Downstairs, Clara’s cheerful greeting rose above the clamor of Toby’s barking.
“What guy, Nicky?”
“The guy from yesterday. Didn’t Aunt Clara tell you?”
“Aunt Clara didn’t tell me anything. She was in bed when I got home.” She hurried downstairs and was stunned to discover her aunt chatting with the carousel operator, Dalton King. He stood in the hallway, hands jammed in the pockets of his threadbare jeans, his dark, messy hair gleaming in the morning sunlight that spilled through the windows. The sight of him was at the same time thrilling and unsettling. How did he know where they lived?
“Good morning, Harper,” he said.
Ignoring the strange tickling sensation in her tummy, she raised an eyebrow. “Good morning.”
“Isn’t this a lovely surprise?” Clara asked, beaming.
“It certainly is a surprise.” She cleared her throat and struggled for composure. “What brings you here this morning, Dalton?”
“I don’t have to report to work until later. I thought I’d stop by and give Clara the estimate she asked for.”
The tickle in her tummy escalated to an insistent fluttering. “Estimate for what?”
“I’m hiring him to paint the gazebo,” Clara chirped. “Won’t that be grand?”
Her heart sank. Clara’s lapses in judgment were getting dangerous. Giving out their address to a perfect stranger? They didn’t even know this man. No way could she have some drifter hanging around all day while she was at work. She forced a polite smile.
“I’m sorry but we’ve already got someone in mind for the job. Aunt Clara must have forgotten.” She turned to Clara. “We were going to ask Sandy Fairbrother, remember?”
“I did ask him, dear. Sandy is not available until September. This might be my last summer to enjoy the garden, and I don’t want to put off sprucing up the gazebo, not for another day.”
Harper rubbed the base of her neck, where a tension headache threatened. “I’m sure Dalton is going to be too busy with the carnival to paint our gazebo, Aunt Clara.”
“Actually, I’m not moving on with the carnival company,” he said. “And since I don’t have any definite plans, I thought I’d come by and look at the job. I can start tomorrow.”
“So, you see, the Good Lord worked it all out beautifully,” Clara said serenely.
Harper had her doubts that it was the Lord’s doing, but she didn’t have time to discuss it just then. It would take a full two hours to prep the food truck for the lunch crowd, which typically began arriving at ten thirty. As it was, she was already late. She pulled in a calming breath. “I’ll discuss this with Clara after work tonight. We’ll get back to you.”
Ignoring Harper’s firm dismissal, Clara linked arms with Dalton and led him to the back door. “Come and have a look, dear, it’s right this way.” As the pair strolled across the yard, Harper hurried back upstairs, where Nicky was still in bed.
“Up. Now!”
“Okay, okay.”
“Get yourself dressed and get out to the back yard. And wear old clothes.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re painting the gazebo today.”
King of Hearts will be released on September 13 but you can preorder your copy here!
August 3, 2024
Around the Yard (again)
I haven’t blogged much about my flowers and veggies lately. To be honest, this sweltering Southern Ohio summer, they haven’t been anything much to blog about. I planted two porch pots of tomatoes this spring with high hopes. To date, I have gotten four tomatoes. The first one was about the size of a cherry tomato. A nice, bite sized snack. Tomatoes number two and three were slightly bigger, just enough to cut up in a garden salad.
My fourth one was the best yet. I picked it today and cut it up for grilled cheese and tomato sandwiches. Yumm! But I think my plants are done.
Fortunately, I have a friend whose yard was much more productive this summer.
I filled four freezer bags with blackberries and another with peaches for fruity deliciousness this winter!
As they say, the only thing better than a good friend is a good friend with peach trees!
July 31, 2024
Early reviews!
Reviews for my new Christian romance, King of Hearts, are starting to come in and I love this one! Read the full review here.
July 29, 2024
Cover Art Contest!
Hey friends, can I ask a favor? King of Hearts is entered in a cover art contest over at Clean Fiction Magazine. I think it’s the most beautiful cover ever! If you agree, could you take a minute and jump over there and give it a vote? I would appreciate it muchly 
Thanks!
July 25, 2024
Cover art day!
I just got my cover art for my Christmas novelette, The Key to Christmas, which comes out in November. What do you think??
July 8, 2024
Four cups of coffee
The Little Things got a nice review over at at Coffee Time Romance.
I have to confess, with ten books out there (soon to be eleven!) this is the first time I’ve had a secondary character sweep in and steal the show. Without fail, readers and reviewers have fallen in love with Gus, a grumpy, diaper wearing bull dog 
The Little Things by Jean Pike
July 2, 2024
Things are about to get interesting…
Babe Wayland. Because every story needs a villain.
Preorder your copy today!
June 30, 2024
Some random things I love about summer…
This beautiful cone flower is my favorite plant in my flower bed. I love that it blossoms in three colors.
I love this little honey bee and I’m glad he discovered my garden.
I love fruit salad for lunch on a hot summer day.
What are some of your favorite things about summer?
