Jean cut her teeth on short stories and inspirational nonfiction. Her articles have been featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul, GRIT, Lutheran Digest and others. After several years of writing short fiction, she decided to try her hand at novel writing. Her debut took eight years to complete! She has since penned ten others. Number eleven, a contemporary Christian Romance, The Little Things, is available now!
Here's the book blurb!
A decade ago, Rochelle Delany made a decision that changed her life forever. Wanting more than just football games and potluck suppers, she boarded a bus for California and didn't look back. But instead of a glamorous life, she became trapped in a nightmare of labor trafficking. Now, she's made a daring escape and returns home to Ohio.
Sandy Fairbrother has a problem with trust. Twice betrayed, he now puts his faith only in God. He' s a single dad doing his best to grow his construction business and raise his young son. But haunted by an impulsive kiss Rochelle gave him fifteen years ago, her unexpected return has him rethinking things. He' s been given a second chance to win her heart. And this time, he plans to succeed.
Rochelle barely remembers Sandy, but she's drawn to his goodness. But just when she thinks she's found peace, her past catches up with her, and she finds herself in danger of losing the only safe haven she' s ever known.
Read an Excerpt!
She searched his face, clearly at a disadvantage. ”Yes.”
“Sandy Fairbrother. Maybe you don’t remember me.”
She vaguely remembered the name. Her gaze moved over him, her mind trying to reconcile this big, handsome man with the thin, quiet boy she barely remembered from high school. Nice enough looking, but not gorgeous. Athletic enough to be on the sports teams, football, she thought, but not first string. Just an average boy.
“Of course,” she said.
“So, you’re back.”
“The prodigal daughter returns.”
“I’m sorry for your loss. Bess was a wonderful woman.”
“Thank you.” An awkward moment of silence passed. “May I ask what you’re doing here?”
“Austin mentioned that he assumed Bess left the house to the two of you in her will. He said he was hoping to unload it quickly and wondered if I’d be interested in buying it.”
The shock of his words was like a second slap. No, more like a throat punch. “Why would you be?”
“I own a few rental properties around town, as well as a small construction company. I do renovations, buy and flip homes, that sort of thing. I told Austin I’d be happy to take a look at the place.”
His words spun around inside her head, making her dizzy. The one place in the world where she felt safe was in danger of being sold? Torn away from her? Fear slithered inside her stomach and rose up the back of her throat as her last hope of security slipped away. Oh, Lord. Don’t let me be sick. Pulling in a breath to calm herself, she tossed the checkered dishcloth into the sink.
“Austin really should have discussed this with me first, before talking to you. We haven’t made any definite plans for the house yet.”
“Right. Well, I just thought—‛”
“You thought what?” She fixed him with an angry stare. “My foster mother is barely laid to rest, and you come swooping in here to take advantage of us for the opportunity to feather your own nest?”
He seemed momentarily taken aback. Then he grinned, infuriating her farther. “I wouldn’t exactly say I swooped. I walked in through the front door. After your brother invited me.”
“Well, I’m sorry you’ve wasted your time. Until further notice, this house is not for sale. Understood?”
He watched her for a long moment, something unreadable in his expression. Amusement, definitely, but something else as well.
“Understood.”
You can find the books in the links below:
Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Little-Things-M-Jean-Pike-ebook/dp/B0C1ZYD5VB
Pelican:
https://pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=37_46&products_id=1626
2 comments:
Thanks for letting us know about this author and her new book. I enjoyed the pages you shared. Blessings to you both.
MarjAnne:
Thanks so much for stopping by. Blessings to you, too.
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