Jean C. Joachim's Blog: Stories of Love and Passion, page 4

A TREASURY OF HOLIDAY STORIES TO WARM YOUR HEART

Welcome to my treasury of holiday stories. I'm a sucker for holidays and have been writing holiday books forever. Here they are, some award-winners, some poignant, some funny, short, long, they defy categorization -- except to say they are all holiday stories and they all have happy endings. From $0.99 to $4.99, your sure to find something intriguing. Let's start with Thanksgiving.




THE MARRIAGE LIST

Written specifically for Thanksgiving, this timeless story is a favorite of mine.


Can happily ever after start with a list? After 10 years of working, saving, and investing, Grey Andrews achieved a level of wealth that allows him to do what he wants with his life. He needs a woman to share it with, but not any woman, the perfect woman, one who possesses the three qualities on his marriage list. $2.99 Buy it HERE



HANUKKAH HEARTS

Relocated to New York City from the Midwest, Becky Cohen follows her dream by snagging a choice entry level job at a publisher. She plans to Skype with her family during their Hanukkah celebration, until her mother’s rushed to the hospital.  
Devastated to be removed from her loved ones during this trying time, Becky’s amazed to find a new gift appears on her desk every day. Does she figure out who her benefactor is? Read the story to find out. $1.99Buy it HERE








At Christmas, Laura Fleming lived her fantasy adventure. Paid to house-sit for the fabulously wealthy financier, C.W. Banley, while he traveled, she eagerly headed for New York City. As mistress of his elegant townhouse, she baked cookies and dressed the old gent’s richly-furnished residence for the holidays. Every year, she wished, in vain, for a happy ending. Will this be the year that Miss Fleming discovers her dreams can come true? A sweet, award-winning, Christmas Fairy Tale. $2.99Buy it HERE
When Connecticut Kings star football player, Keith Wilson, asks his actress sister, Molly, to sub for him at the annual Christmas party for kids, she refuses. Although he manipulates her into agreeing, she turns the tables by extracting a reluctant promise from him. Will she be able to carry off posing as a man? And what happens when Santa turns out to be someone she didn’t expect? A sweet, sexy short holiday romantic comedy. $0.99 Buy it HEREA
Why did life have to be so hard? And at Christmas, too. Things had been going great for him. Being the top defenseman on the Huskies and married to the hottest, nicest woman—Deke had captured the brass ring of life. This Christmas, half of that dream bursts into flames. Does he need a Christmas miracle to keep the other half from going up in smoke, too?  $2.99Buy it HERE







A contemporary holiday romance that starts in the country and travels into the glitzy glitter of New York City at Christmas. A steamy, funny, emotional story with a happy ending you'll never see coming! $2.99  Buy it HERE

Broken promises, heartbreak, bitterness keep Cal and Giselle apart. Can a little boy and the spirit of Christmas convince them to put their hurt aside and open their hearts to forgiveness? $3.99   Buy it HERE














As the men and their women celebrate the holidays, bad news rivals good as accidents, breakups, and unexpected reunions strain love to the breaking point. Who will get their Christmas wish and who will not? If you’ve loved the men of the First & Ten series, then you won’t want to miss this nail-biter, the final chapter that will have you in tears and laughing with the wonderful men of the Connecticut Kings. $4.99 Buy it HERE





When he turned eighteen, Tuffer  gave up on getting his one special Christmas wish. At twenty-three, the tough, pro football lineman turned his energies toward helping the Connecticut Kings win the Super Bowl and courting the coach’s daughter.One wintry day, Tuffer’s wish was granted. He hoped it would bring peace to his life, but the outcome was just the opposite. A story of Christmas spirit reaching into the heart of an angry young man. The emotion in this short story will rock you to your roots. Stand-alone short story. $0.99  Buy it HERE

FREE!!

Not sure if you like football romance? Read the first chapters of all nine books here – FREE!   Meet the men of the Connecticut Kings football team. Share their anguish and their triumphs as they strive for success in the game of football and the game of love. GRIFF MONTGOMERY, QUARTERBACK
BUDDY CARRUTHERS, WIDE RECEIVER
PETE SEBASTIAN, COACH
DEVON DRAKE, CORNERBACK
SLY "BULLHORN" BRODSKY, OFFENSIVE LINE
AL "TRUNK" MAHONEY, DEFENSIVE LINE
HARLEY BRENNAN, RUNNING BACK
OVERTIME: THE FINAL TOUCHDOWN
A KINGS' CHRISTMAS This is a compilation of the first chapters of all nine books in the football romance series, First & Ten. 

Find the free book here: 

https://wp.me/P2002B-zJ

JUST ONE KISS

Up for preorder, available now on Google Play. JUST ONE KISS, new romantic comedy! Here's an excerpt.



The GPS put her within two miles of her destination. Her pulse kicked up. Impatience pushed her foot down a little harder on the accelerator. Picking her gaze up from the road, she eased down on the brake as a sleepy little house emerged from the darkness.How thoughtful of Roberta to leave the light over the front door on. As she signaled for a turn, she frowned to see another car in the driveway. Maybe Roberta had a spare car? Could she have forgotten about Meg’s arrival date?She pulled up next to a silver BMW SUV. Hmm, maybe Roberta had custody of the house already?Meg opened the trunk and took out two bags. The rest could wait until the morning.She jostled Charlie. “Sweetheart. Charlie. Dear. We’re here. Can you get up long enough to get into bed?”Meg prayed the beds were made up already. Charlie mumbled something, rubbed his face and slid out the door. He stumbled his way up the cement path with his mother toting the bags right behind him. Meg fished the key from her purse. She put it in the lock and swung the door wide open.As Charlie tripped up the step into the house, the sound of barking, once faint grew louder. As the boy moved inside, the hound from Hell, snarling, teeth bared bounded into the room. Charlie and his mother screamed at the same time!Seeking escape, Meg fled to the dining room, dragging Charlie behind her. The dog nipped at the boy. Using all her strength, Meg grabbed him by the waist and vaulted him onto the table. Then she scrambled onto a chair, then the table with the black dog close behind.She and Charlie clung to each other screaming. The dog jumped, but Meg raised her foot and kicked its snout. The dog yelped.“Hey! Don’t kick my dog!” came a masculine voice.Meg looked up. “Call off your dog!”“Come here, Coco. Did the bad lady hurt you?” A man dressed only in boxers, followed by a young boy in pajamas fussed about the dog. The animal calmed down for a moment before it snarled again at Meg and Charlie.“It’s okay, Coco. I don’t think she’s armed.”“Call off your dog!” she repeated, only louder.“I will, if you tell me what you’re doing breaking into my house.” Despite his words, the man grasped the dog’s collar and held her at bay.Slowly, Meg let go of her son. “You okay? Did the dog bite you?”Charlie nodded. “I don’t think so. She ripped my pants.”Meg examined the boy’s leg. “Damn. She did. You’ll pay for new pants, mister. And by the way, what are you doing squatting in my house?”“Your house?” His eyebrows rose.“You heard me. Keep that beast away from me,” she said, easing her way down from the table.“I paid to rent this house for the entire summer! So get out before I call the cops.” Rusty frowned.“Cops? Please do! I paid to rent this house for the entire summer. This is thirty-five Pond Road, isn’t it?”The man yanked open the front door and checked the number nailed there. “It is. I have paperwork.”“You? I have paperwork, too!”“I’m calling the cops,” he said, leaving the room.“Fine with me.” Meg folded her arms across her chest. “And take the beast with you.”“Come on, Coco. You don’t have to stay here and be insulted.”“What kind of dog is it?” Charlie asked.“Rottweiler,” the other boy replied.“I’m Charlie.”“Tommy. Wanna see my room?”“Don’t leave my sight. The dog isn’t safe!”“Aw, Coco won’t hurt you. You’re with me.”Despite his mother’s words, Charlie went off with Tommy.The man returned with his cell phone in hand.“Come on, Coco,” the boy called, and the Rottie obeyed, following the boys into the back of the house.“I’d like to report an intruder,” Rusty said into his cell.


A bit about the book:

Advised by his son’s school to up his game as a single parent, arrogant ex-baseball star, Rusty Reisse, takes a hiatus from his broadcasting career to spend the summer with his son. Rusty hopes to bond with Tommy in rural Pine Grove. His plan blows up when Meg Gunderson, a brainiac schoolteacher, shows up with her son, claiming the house is hers. When police compare receipts, they discover Rusty and Meg have rented the same house. A widow, Meg, schemes to get Rusty out. He’s equally determined to send her packing. Although a war of words ensues, the boys become friends. Obligated to share the digs for the duration, they’re forced to declare a reluctant truce.
While no longer openly hostile, they still snipe at each other, too stubborn to admit their growing attraction. When their vacation ends abruptly, will their chemistry vanish, too, with the summer sun and fresh corn-on-the cob? 
Buy it here: 


https://wp.me/P2002B-z3

JUST ONE KISS! NEW BOOK

Pine Grove, book 5
Pre-order now
Releasing 7/21



JUST ONE KISS

Advised by his son’s school to up his game as a single parent, arrogant ex-baseball star, Rusty Reisse, takes a hiatus from his broadcasting career to spend the summer with his son.
Rusty hopes to bond with Tommy in rural Pine Grove. His plan blows up when Meg Gunderson, a brainiac schoolteacher, shows up with her son, claiming the house is hers. When police compare receipts, they discover Rusty and Meg have rented the same house.
A widow, Meg, schemes to get Rusty out. He’s equally determined to send her packing. Although a war of words ensues, the boys become friends. Obligated to share the digs for the duration, they’re forced to declare a reluctant truce.
While no longer openly hostile, they still snipe at each other, too stubborn to admit their growing attraction. When their vacation ends abruptly, will their chemistry vanish, too, with the summer sun and corn-on-the cob?

PREORDER HERE:
AMAZONhttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TKNDDZC/
APPLE BOOKShttps://books.apple.com/us/book/id1470484541
BARNES & NOBLEhttps://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/just-one-kiss-jean-c-joachim/1132247208;jsessionid=1A3DA61E62C4E380BC20F3B95C9086D3.prodny_store01-atgap05?ean=2940156569236
AMAZON U.K.https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07TKNDDZC
AMAZON CANADAhttps://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07TKNDDZC
AMAZON AUSTRALIAhttps://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07TKNDDZC

What people are saying about... "YOU BELONG TO ME"

What people are saying about "You Belong to Me:" 
5.0 out of 5 stars A true romance.April 9, 2019
Format: Kindle EditionVerified PurchaseA well-written small town, second chance romance with characters who ring true. They're your friends, relatives and the people next door. You want them to have their happy-ever-after, and as with any true romance, you won't be disappointed.

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely loved This Book!!!April 2, 2019Format: Paperback
This book was absolutely Amazing and Heartbreaking and made you feel what the characters were going through and you felt their pain. I have to say this is absolutely my favorite book this year. The characters were absolutely incredible and the storyline flowed from the beginning until the end and heck I want more from them. Joan Joachim you absolutely stoked my heart with this book... 

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW!April 1, 2019
Format: Paperback
These characters are so easy to visualize, they came to life on the pages. The little boy, darling! Reminded me of my guys when they were that age. And the one moment, (I don't want to give it away,) it brought tears to my eyes. A fabulous story from a talented author!

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Here's a new excerpt: 


Cal stopped at the front window to check out Giselle’s place. She inched her way down the slippery walk toward her mailbox. He shook his head. Where the hell are her boots? He wanted to turn away but couldn’t. Finally, he threw open the door and strode across the street. Opening her postbox, he snatched the mail inside and then joined her.“Here. Where are your boots?”“I didn’t realize it was this slippery.”“Didn’t you look?” he asked, anger tinging his tone.“I-I-I didn’t see the ice.”“Well, it’s there. Next time, look. Or just put on boots. This is Pine Grove, remember? You grew up here. I wear out a pair of boots every year. You’re going to get hurt if you don’t dress for the weather.”“Thank you.” She took the mail from his hand, ignoring his admonishment.“Suit yourself. But when you fall and break something, don’t cry for me.”She stiffened. “Don’t worry, Cal, I won’t. I could be dying on the ground and I wouldn’t call for you,” she said, her tone colder than a glacier.He stepped back, as if he’d been slapped. “Pardon me for trying to help.”“Is that what you were trying to do? Help? Seemed more like seizing an opportunity to yell at me. What’s eating you, Cal? It’s been a million years. You got over me in thirty seconds. You married someone else. What gives you the right to be so hostile to me?”“Got over you in thirty seconds? I’m not the one who walked out, who took off for Europe. I’m not the one who left me high and dry. Who agreed, in five seconds, to date other people? That wasn’t me, lady. You practically told me to find someone else. I can’t help it if you didn’t.”Her jaw tightened, and her lips compressed into a thin line. “Whether I found someone else or not is none of your business.”“Damn right it isn’t. And my marriage isn’t any of yours.”“Leave me alone, Cal.” Straightening her shoulders, she pushed by him.“My pleasure,” he said, making an exaggerated bow to her back.She stopped and called over her shoulder. “And it was you who said we should see other people. Don’t hang that on me.” She tossed her hair and continued on her way.Gripping the handrail, Giselle went up her steps slowly but without incident. Cal stood, watching. There was something about her, something different. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but Giselle had never been wobbly before. Of course, it had been six years, but she was still young. What had happened to make her so unsure on the path and the steps?She must be hiding whatever it was. Just like Giselle, never wanting to admit she was less than perfect. Well, hell, she’d sure told him off. Why should he even be curious? She’d ordered him to leave her alone, and that’s exactly what he’d do.
Cal brushed the snow off his sleeves and trudged home. Giselle Davenport made it completely clear she wasn’t his concern. Didn’t he have enough to worry about without adding her to the list? He’d take her advice and bug off. Time to face the fact she didn’t belong to him anymore, and probably never had.
Get the book here:
https://jeanjoachimbooks.com/pine-gro...

IT'S LIKE A GREAT HALLMARK MOVIE, BUT WITH STEAM! "YOU BELONG TO ME"

Here's an excerpt to give you a taste: 
Sure, Giselle used to be a sweetheart, until she left. Cal’s mind dialed back to the last week of the summer. He and Giselle had taken a midnight swim in Cedar Lake. They sat on the dock, dangling their feet in the water. He heard their conversation in his head as if it were yesterday.“When you comin’ back?” he’d asked.“I haven’t even left yet!”“I know. But I’ll be crossing off the days until you get back. So how many days do I have to x off?” he’d asked.“The contract is only for a year.”“Really? Can they renew?”“I don’t know. It’s a long way off. I figure a year in Europe’ll be plenty.”“You’ll be here next summer?”She’d reached over and combed his hair out of his eyes. Gazing directly at him, she’d smiled that gentle smile of hers. “I’ll miss you every hour of every day, Cal.”The air had stilled around them. Cal leaned over to kiss her. He cupped her cheek and ran his thumb over the outline of her upper lip. “No, you won’t. You’ll have all of France at your feet. Those Frenchmen. Ooh la la!”She’d laughed. “Don’t be silly. You’re the one I want. The only one.”“Yeah? Tell them that.”“There won’t be any ‘them.’ Only you. Can you wait?”“I can. The question is, can you?”She’d clasped his jaw in her hand and held him still while she kissed him. “I can wait forever for you, Cal Morrison.”“I wish. If I had the money, I’d go over there and bring you home myself.”“More coffee?” Laura asked, breaking into his reverie.He smiled. “Sure. Thanks.”He’d repeated her line over and over again in his head. “I can wait forever for you, Cal Morrison.” Shame flooded him. He hadn’t waited, had he? Had she waited? She wasn’t married, though he’d heard through the grapevine she’d dated European guys. He guessed maybe she had waited. Waited until she found out he was married. Of course, he’d never promised to wait forever. And it was not like he’d intended to marry Jane. Stuff kind of happened, and then he had to do the right thing.Here he was feeling guilty when, probably, she could care less. By now, he figured she’d had at least a dozen affairs with guys ten times as smart as Cal with a thousand times as much money. She sure didn’t give him a warm greeting today, either. It was obvious she was through with him. Who could blame her? He’d been married. And if Jane had listened to Cal, she’d still be here, and he wouldn’t be wondering about Giselle Davenport.
Nah. He had to be honest with himself. Even if Jane had lived, Cal would still be wondering about Giselle. Not that he’d do anything about it, then or now. But he’d wonder, always wonder what life would have been like if he’d waited or she’d stayed.
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This story will grip your emotions and hang on until the end of the tale. Book releases on April 6. Until then, you can pre-order so it will arrive, automatically, in your ereader.
Pre-order, or order now on Google Play, here:
https://jeanjoachimbooks.com/pine-gro...

YOU BELONG TO ME - brand-new small-town romance. Up for preorder, releasing April 9.

Here's an (unedited) excerpt. Take a peek into Cal and Giselle's life... 


A man approached her with a piece of paper. She made some gestures before signing. She brought the paper right up to her face before scribbling something with a pen. Hmm, he didn’t remember her being that nearsighted.  She must have left her glasses inside. But he didn’t recollect her wearing glasses, either. He shrugged it off. Things change over time, he figured. As he got to the place where their paths paralleled each other, he stopped. After the massive truck pulled out of her driveway, he faced her. “You’re back?” he called out, narrowing his eyes.She gave him a semi-smile and made her way down the walk. Halfway down, she stepped on an icy patch, slid, and went down hard on her butt. “Ouch!” she blurted out.Cal was by her side in a second. He grabbed her elbow and yanked her to her feet. “You hurt?” He raised his hand to clean off her bottom but stopped in the nick of time.Brushing off her pants, she shook her head. “Thanks.” She moved out of his grasp. “What are you doing here?” Cal asked, struggling to keep belligerence out of his voice, but failing. “In Pine Grove? It’s my hometown. I’ve always lived here.”“Okay, then. On Pond Road? Right across the street from me?” His folded his arms across his chest. “It wasn’t intentional. I needed a ranch. Small. Julia picked it out for me before I got back.”“Oh? Julia? And she didn’t know I lived here?”“I guess not. I think it was the only small ranch on the market.”“What do you need a ranch for? What’s wrong with your father’s Victorian?”“None of your business,” she said, pushing by him. “Thanks for the neighborly welcome,” she sniffed. “I did help you up,” he said. “And I thanked you. I could have gotten up by myself.”“But you didn’t need to, did you?”She whirled around and faced him. “What do you want? A medal? Should I call the newspaper? You did something neighborly and nice, but don’t ask me to give you a Purple Heart.” Giselle raised her chin for a second, then turned back and continued on her way. He stood, frozen in place, watching her walk away. She still had that haughty sway, the “I’m- better-than-you swing of her hips he’d so admired six years ago. Today it simply appeared condescending and haughty.At the stairs, she slipped again and went right down on the step. From where he stood, it appeared that her shin fell right on the edge of the flagstone. She uttered a cry of pain and stopped. Her shoulders heaved once. “Well, I suppose you can get up from that one on your own,” he said, his tone meaner than he intended. “Damn right,” she called over her shoulder. But, for several minutes, she clutched the railing with one hand, and her leg with the other. Cal gave in, strode over, and slid his hand under her elbow. “I’ve got it,” she said, attempting to wiggle out of his grasp.“No, you don’t. Why don’t you just shut up and let me help you?” he asked, easing her up. She leaned against him for a moment. “Thanks. I’ve got it,” she choked out, staring straight ahead and gripping the bannister. “Then I’ll just mosey on home,” he said, backing away from her property. His gaze stayed glued to her back. Slowing his pace, he waited for her to move. Finally, she limped up the steps and fiddled around at the lock. Boy, she’d sure gotten clumsy since he’d last seen her. He shook his head and continued on his way home.
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Here's a bit about the book: 


Cal promised to wait for her. It was only for one year while Giselle pursued her dream job in Paris. Devastated when he marries someone else, she remains in Europe. When her failing eyesight forces her to abandon her work, she returns to Pine Grove--only to find that Cal, now a widower with a young son, lives across the street.  
Each nurses a broken heart and vows to never let that happen again. But a small boy brings them together in unexpected ways. Can they move beyond the past to rebuild trust and a future together? Or will the truth of what happened all those years ago keep them apart? 
Preorder it here:
https://jeanjoachimbooks.com/pine-grove-novels/you-belong-to-me/

NEW THRILLER - STATUS:MISSING -- FABULOUS, SUSPENSEFUL, TAUT EDGE-OF-YOUR-SEAT THRILLER

“A rugged, indelible heroine headlines a riveting tale.” ~ Kirkus Reviews

Highest praise you can receive from one of the most respected journals in the country. Curious? Want to know more? Here's an excerpt from STATUS:MISSING: 

“Get me the info on the flight.” Other members of the task force were filing in now, looking sleepy, tired, and pissed off. “Grab as many people as you need. I want everything.” “Aren’t you jumping the gun?” Jude asked. “We aren’t even sure the plane is in trouble.”“Do you really believe everything is fine?”Jude shook his head. “No.”“I didn’t think so.”The director clicked back on the line. “What do you need, Major Sloan?”Amazing what a phone call from the right person could accomplish. “Global 2455. Somebody needs to make contact with the flight deck. Try the radio first. If it doesn’t work, try the secondary system.” Every airliner came equipped with the text-based Aircraft Communications and Reporting System (ACARS). While radio communications were mostly restricted to talking with air traffic controllers, ACARS allowed ground-to-aircraft communications regarding weather, routing, and gate assignments, as well as functioning as a backup system if radio communications were lost. “We need every commercial aircraft within five hundred miles of Hawaii to try to contact Global 2455 on Guard Frequency. That’s 121.5 if you don’t know.”“I know what it is, damn it,” the director grumbled. “I’ll get right back to you.” He clicked off.I passed the handset to Jude. “Sanchez! What have you got?”More office manager than analyst, Sanchez hustled over with his familiar yellow pad.“Shit.”When Jude swore, it almost never meant anything good. “What?”“It’s gone. Disappeared.”I searched the wall of monitors for the tiny pinpoint representing Global flight 2455. “Just like that? It’s gone?”“Just like that,” Jude confirmed. “Just like the others. Here one second, gone the next.”Except we hadn’t been watching the others when they disappeared. We’d found out after the fact on the others. This was different. Because we’d been watching this particular radar blip, we might have a chance of locating the plane in a timely manner. And, if our operating theory proved correct, we might find the person or persons behind the missing planes.“Last known position?” I signaled Sanchez to write it down. With no radar image to draw from, Jude rattled off the coordinates. “We need eyes on this plane, or what’s left of it, right now. Sanchez, get Rodgers on the horn again.”Ordering fighter jets into the air to search for a missing plane was way above my pay grade, and if there was one thing I’d learned from my time in the field, it was to let each member of your team do what they did best.
Buy the eBook here:  Amazon 
Apple Books
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Smashwords  

PINE GROVE TRILOGY!

The Pine Grove series is now a trilogy. The first book, Unpredictable Love, is now only $0.99 - for a limited time. 


Uh oh. Amber signed her sister’s name on a pen pal letter to a Marine. As usual, Jory Walker was stuck fixing her sister’s little white lie.  

When letters poured in from SSGT Trent Stevens in Afghanistan, Jory had no choice but to correspond. Sure he’d be drooling over Amber’s bikini photo, thinking it was Jory. Since they’d never meet, what harm could it do if she sent him a few letters?
Would her charade boomerang replacing happiness with pain? What started off as an innocent ruse, morphed into a monstrous web of deceit. Maybe unpredictable love was destined to break her heart. 
Buy it HERE:https://jeanjoachimbooks.com/pine-grove-novels/unpredictable-love/

**********************************************Here's book 2, "Break My Heart" 
   When fire ripped through his home, trapping his beautiful golden retriever, Breaker pushed firemen aside to rescue his beloved dog. While heading for the stairs with the canine in his arms, a falling beam crushed them, killing the animal and scarring Breaker’s face.   Life, as the famous Breaker Winslow, disappeared. With his career finished, Rick appealed to his friends –who turned their backs on him.        Broken, despondent, and alone, he takes refuge in a decrepit farm house in rural Pine Grove. Can the man who had success and love around every corner rebuild his life or is escape the only answer? 
Buy it HERE
https://jeanjoachimbooks.com/pine-grove-novels/break-my-heart/
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The newest book in the series, book 3 is "Renovating the Billionaire." 

Get rid of the house and sell the land. Bulldozing the broken-down mansion billionaire Stryker Alexander West inherited solves an annoying problem. Busy launching a new venture, he doesn’t have time to waste on sentiment. Taking down the historic building should be a slam-dunk. But Stryker comes up against a stone wall in the form of Landmark chair, Jess Lennox.
Supporting her brother and juggling a hard life, Jess refuses to approve a permit to demolish the old house. No way will she let arrogant, wealthy Mr. West destroy her dream. Unwilling to accept defeat, Stryker’s confident he can prevail.  He insists staying in town is about winning and has nothing to do with heat from a determined blonde.
Too stubborn to budge, Jess holds fast, struggling against her attraction to her worst enemy. Will the winner of the battle lose at love?  

Here are 2 short excerpts: 
Meet Stryker Alexander West:

Aunt Minnie had been his father’s big sister. She was lively, happy, and inquisitive, always poking into his personal business and giving him unwanted advice. She’d been a one-woman matchmaker, trying to marry him off until two years ago, when he turned forty. Then even Minnie West threw in the towel, declaring that he was not marriage material. So what? He doubted he was missing anything other than a messy, expensive divorce.Stryker West enjoyed playing the field, taking his pleasure whenever and wherever he could. He’d never been at a loss for female companionship. His billions, his most attractive quality, he assumed, made marriage a risk he preferred not to take.
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Meet Jess Lennox, newly minted Landmark Committee chair of Pine GroveLike there are any buildings to be landmarked anyway,” someone muttered.“Oh, but there are,” Jess replied.“Like what?”“Like that big old house on 113,” she said.A murmur ran through the crowd.“Excuse me, Miss,” said an unrecognized, deep voice. Jess turned toward the man.“Chair recognizes Mr. West.”“Do you mean to say that you are landmarking that house?” he asked.“Damn right I am. Of course, I will give it further study. But as of right now, my recommendation to the Town Supervisor is that no one bulldoze that building.”“But it’s decrepit. It’s falling down,” the stranger argued.“Nope. It’s completely stable. And it dates back to the early 1800s”“That building now belongs to me, and I’m planning to take it down.”Jess’s heart skipped a beat. Sweat broke out on her forehead. Take it down? Destroy her home, her dream? No way! “Think again, Mister. No one’s touching that house unless it’s to fix it up.”

Buy it HERE
https://wp.me/P2002B-tL

A taste of "Renovating the Billionaire."

   The bus ride to the prison in Fishkill and back provided reading time for Jess Lennox. She settled into a window seat and prepared to read. A man slid in next to her. Jess pulled the book closer. Feeling his stare, she squeezed up against the glass.   “You visiting a relative?” he asked, eying her up and down.   She nodded. The last thing she needed was some chatty, middle-aged man hitting on her.    “My wife. Shoplifting. Minimum security.”Jess ignored him and kept reading.    “It gets lonely with her gone,” he continued. Anger bubbled up in her chest. Damn it! She worked hard, and this trip once a month was her only time off.    “Your boyfriend in the slammer?” he asked. Her patience evaporated like water boiling on the stove. Jess slammed the book shut and faced the insensitive clod.    “My mother. She’s in for murder. She killed my father. They say murderous tendencies run in families,” she said, shooting him the meanest glare she could muster.    The man paled, nodded once and pushed to his feet.    “I can see you don’t want to be disturbed,” he muttered and headed for another seat. Jess smiled and opened her novel If I Loved You.  Totally absorbed by the story, tears formed in her eyes as she identified with the trials the characters endured.
   Jess ate up love stories from the library by the dozen. Romance books kept her believing that things could work out, that life could get better—and happiness did exist. When the bus pulled up to the Pine Grove stop, she scooted past the annoying man, down the steps, and ran for her car.She stowed the book in the glove compartment until her next visit and put the vehicle in gear.     The story stuck with her. What would she do if she ever met a man like Chaz Duncan? Would she even recognize his good heart under his arrogant attitude? With a short laugh, she figured she wouldn’t. Jess hated egotistical men, men so in love with themselves they couldn’t see anyone else.    She’d only met one man who had cracked her hard veneer. Chip Matthews won her heart in high school. He’d taken her virginity then, too. But she didn’t care. He had provided respite from the anger, fighting, and hostile atmosphere in her home. He’d been her refuge.    Pulling into the parking lot of Java the Hut, she turned off the car and plucked a dollar bill from her purse. Inside, an iced coffee-to-go waited on the counter. Marge, the waitress, looked up. Jess picked up the paper cup and slid her buck across the shiny Formica. She shot a small smile at the older woman and headed back to her vehicle.    Next stop, the old mansion on Route 113. She turned on the radio and cranked up the volume to banish the reality of how many more trips she’d make to Fishkill over the next fifteen years. Taking the winding road that hugged Cedar Lake refreshed her spirits.    There it was, in all its glory. Way below ramshackle, the 1825 four-story mansion stood with whatever pride it could muster. All the windows were broken and there were bare spots on the roof, including one large hole—providing entry for a variety of wildlife. When she was only eighteen, Jess had stumbled on the house and fallen in love. Minnie West, the old woman who owned it, had invited her in for tea and cookies. Jess gained entry to every room by volunteering to sweep and dust. Including bathrooms, there were forty rooms in the mansion.    The third floor resembled a rabbit warren of tiny rooms only big enough for a single bed and small dresser. Jess guessed those were the servants’ quarters. At the end of the floor was the longest staircase she’d ever seen. It went straight down from the top floor to the kitchen.    Minnie chatted about the history of the house and how, years ago, she’d raised her nephew there. The older lady didn’t go on much about him, and he never visited—at least not when Jess was around. As time went on, Jess noticed the house sink further and further into disrepair. When she asked Minnie about it, the woman had explained.    “Oh, I have money, but I spend it on saving animals. A house is just a thing. Animals are alive. So many need help, you know. I do what I can. I give to several shelters.”   While Jess agreed with the worthiness of the cause, she doubted the wisdom of putting it ahead of upkeep for the old house. Years passed, and Jess had less and less time for visits. Providing for her brother and herself had become more than a full-time job. She and Minnie lost touch.    
After studying cooking in high school, Jess had become a pretty fair baker. She eked out a meager living baking and selling her pies to restaurants, shops, and hotels. She conjured up a dream of buying the fixer-upper from Minnie for a song, repairing it, and running a bed and breakfast.  One day while spying on his big sister, Will had discovered her secret. He promised not to tell anyone and vowed that he’d fix it. He told her that new paint, hammer, nails, and a ton of elbow grease could restore the splendor of the mansion. Jess believed every word. From that day on, they had shared the secret.  Jess sold her cakes and pies while Will did odd jobs and a bit of carpentry when he could get it. They worked toward making the dream come true.   When Minnie got too old to take care of the place, she moved to an assisted living facility several counties away. Year after year, Jess spied the weather-beaten for sale sign staked in the front lawn. From time to time, a real estate agent brought someone by, but they left quickly. The only one with a visionfor the decrepit house, Jess smiled every time a car carried away someone shaking their head and wrinkling their nose.   A few pangs for the dotty old woman who had lived in the mansion tweaked Jess’s heart. She’d waited patiently for the old woman to put the building up for sale at a rock-bottom price.    Now thirty, with Will a sturdy twenty-five, she figured they were ready to take on world’s biggest renovation and make her dream come true. Even after such a long wait, Jess had never given up on her dream. She simply baked her pies, did odd jobs for folks in town and kept house for her and her brother. They put away a few bucks when they could and waited. Today she circled around back, eying the snarled weeds, wiry brambles, and tree stumps in the backyard. Jess planned where she’d plant her garden. Fresh veggies and herbs would make her food better than anyone’s for miles.
   She found a patch of grass and lay down, staring at the pitched roof and the top floor that, in its day, had cooks, butlers, and maids filling its rooms. As she picked at a weed, she made a mental list of the seeds and plants she’d buy when the place was hers.   The clouds cleared, and the sun shone down. Jess believed in guardian angels. How else had she and Will survived without parents these past twelve years?    She glanced around. Something wasn’t right. Jess sat up. What was missing? The “for sale” sign had disappeared. She picked up her phone and called her brother.    “Haven’t you heard? Old Minnie West finally kicked the bucket,” he said.   Jess put down her phone. Did this mean that her time to buy the place had come? If that was true, where was the sign?
To find out what happens next, pre-order the book, releasing on January 15, here:

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