Journal Jots – Blog

WHOO-HOO!! Cover Reveal for A Dare & a Prayer!

CONTEST: Win Character Named for You in A Dare and a Prayer, Signed Paperback Copy, & $25 Amazon Gift Card!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR AUG. 12-20 … to Sign Up For Your FREE TICKET to The Writing Romance Mastery Summit Aug. 21-25!

Read the following components from  prior blog HERE!

What I’ve Been Up To …

Inspirational Moments From My Novels!

The FREE Writing Romance Mastery Summit is Coming Aug. 21-25!

Coming this August … The Romance Writer’s Super Stack w/ 3-Chapter Edit

Excerpt from A Dare and a Prayer

 

Cover Reveal for A Dare & A Prayer!

Let me just start off by saying—this is one of my favorite books I have ever written!

Sweet mother of Job, I haven’t had this much fun writing a novel since I wrote A Passion Redeemed, Charity and Mitch’s story, which is pretty telling since Henry is their son.

Why?

Well, there are a number of reasons, but the biggest one is that it is soooo much fun taking a bad-boy womanizer with many vices to a noble and faithful man who loves only one woman and one God. And trust me—with Henry, it’s no easy feat!

Here’s the jacket blurb:

He’s a hotshot who takes up a dare.
She’s an aspiring missionary who wants to beware.
But will love become a gamble
with a dare and a prayer?

Lieutenant Henry Dennehy is a cocky and carefree fighter pilot in the Pacific Theatre of WW2, known for scoring big, both in the sky and on land. But when his buddies offer a bet he can’t refuse to turn the head of the “untouchable” nurse at 369th Station Hospital—a woman who’s shot down more flyboys than the enemy—he’s bound and determined to win. Problem is, if he wins the dare, will he lose at love?

Lieutenant Amy Leigh MacArthur was on her way to the mission field when she detoured to fight for her country instead, an Army nurse whose interest lies only in healing the wounded and teaching orphans to read. Certainly not in men, and definitely not in Henry Dennehy, the boy who ridiculed her years ago as a shy and homely teen. But when Henry pursues her and won’t take no for an answer, Amy finds a way that gives him no choice. Until, that is, love does the same for them both.

Release date is Oct. 1st,
and a pre-order discount is available NOW!

⬇️

PRE-ORDER DISCOUNT HERE!

And DRUM ROLL, PLEASE …
Here’s my new cover—hope you like it as much as I do!

 

 

CONTEST!
Win Character Named for You in A Dare and a Prayer, Signed Paperback Copy, & $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Wanna win?

Well, right now you can! The LiteraryScape Book Club recently discussed THE DAUGHTERS OF BOSTON SERIES with a brief podcast on each book per the schedule indicated below, so whether you have read the books or not, you can still win!

How?

CONTEST DIRECTIONS:

1.) Listen to each of the five podcasts per the schedule listed below on or after the given date (you have till contest-end date of Sept. 7th by 11:59 PM).

2.) Answer the question asked for each, then send your answer to me via my website at the CONTACT JULIE tab by SEPTEMBER 7th by 11:59 PM. Winners will be announced in my September 8th Journal Jot. NOTE: Answers can be found in first half of the podcast.

3.) Additional points can be accrued for three runners-up for their choice of a free e-copy of Book 1 in The Cousin O’Connor’s series, Gabe’s story, A Wing and a Prayer, Book 2, Hope’s story, A Hope and a Prayer, or Book 3, Henry’s story, A Dare and a Prayer by simply leaving a comment on each post.

 

Good luck in the contest!

 

Talk to you soon!
Hugs!
Julie

 

 

Heeeere’s Henry … Cover Reveal for A Dare & a Prayer!

What I’ve Been Up To …

Free Book Discussions on Daughters of Boston Series & Contest Interview! 

Inspirational Moments From My Novels!

The FREE Writing Romance Mastery Summit is Coming Aug. 21-25!

Coming this August … The Romance Writer’s Super Stack w/ 3-Chapter Edit

Excerpt from A Dare and a Prayer

 

Heeeere’s Henry…
Cover Reveal for A Dare & a Prayer!

Squeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!

I am soooo excited about Henry’s story, and after you see my cover model below AND read a new excerpt at the bottom of today’s blog, you will be too! I was hoping to have the final cover for you today, but there’s been a delay, so instead, I’ll have it for you in my next Journal Jot in approximately two weeks, so keep your eyes peeled for that Journal Jot email! Till then, here’s the jacket blurb:

He’s a hotshot who takes up a dare.
She’s an aspiring missionary who wants to beware.
But will love become a gamble with a dare and a prayer?

Lieutenant Henry Dennehy is a cocky and carefree fighter pilot in the Pacific Theatre of WW2, known for scoring big, both in the sky and on land. But when his buddies offer a bet he can’t refuse to turn the head of the “untouchable” nurse at 369th Station Hospital—a woman who’s shot down more flyboys than the enemy—he’s bound and determined to win. Problem is, if he wins the dare, will he lose at love?

Lieutenant Amy Leigh MacArthur was on her way to the mission field when she detoured to fight for her country instead, an Army nurse whose interest lies only in healing the wounded and teaching orphans to read. Certainly not in men, and definitely not in Henry Dennehy, the boy who ridiculed her years ago as a shy and homely teen. But when Henry pursues her and won’t take no for an answer, Amy finds a way that gives him no choice. Until, that is, love does the same for them both.

Tentative Release date is Sept. 15th, but no later than Oct. 1st, and a pre-order discount will be available soon!

And HERE’S our cutie — Lieutenant Henry Patrick Dennehy!

 

What I’ve Been Up To …

In between cranking out Henry’s story, I’ve been having a blast with my family on the lake, so here’s a wee bit of what we’ve been up to:

Lots of boating with son, daughter-in-law and four grands!

A visit to the Dogpatch Arcade!

A sunset cruise with my daughter and son-in-law.

A tuckered out grandson after a busy day!

 

Inspirational Moments From
My Novels!

Want to read some realllly cool spiritual moments from A Light in the Window and The Daughters of Boston?

Well, now you can because LiteraryScape Book Club is featuring a different inspirational moment from each of the above books every Monday, the first of which you’ll find at the following link for A Light in the Window. It’s a pretty cool feature that I absolutely love, so I hope you will too. You can read the blog or listen to the audio at the following link:

LiteraryScape Inspirational Moment
from A Light in the Window
(Monday, July 24)

2nd Chance Coming this August
for the Romance Writer’s Super Stack
w/ 3-Chapter Edit

Okay — it’s not often I get excited about writers’ resources, but this is one deal I wish I had had when I started out! Trust me when I say, Infostack’s ROMANCE WRITER SUPER STACK has what it takes to help you craft a page-turning romance, build heart-pounding tension, and create swoon-worthy characters.

And, to me, that shouts value. A total retail value of $1,525.89, to be exact … and all for only $49!  AND …  to sweeten the deal, I am once again offering a 3-chapter edit to anyone who buys the ROMANCE WRITER SUPER STACK, so keep your eyes peeled right here on Journal Jots for when the super stack goes on sale for the last time in August, so check for details in my next Journal Jot.

 

Sneak-Peek Excerpt from

A Dare and a Prayer

SETUP: Henry is walking Amy back to her quarters when they get into a fight over the kiss he gave her in the last excerpt I shared in the previous Journal Jots HERE. The following excerpt begins at the end of a chapter that is in Henry’s POV and continues with the beginning of the next chapter in Amy’s POV.

**********************

Blasting out a sigh of frustration, he gouged fingers through his hair, his anger tapering off when he realized they wouldn’t get anywhere with both of them shouting. “Look, Amy, I’m sorry if you’re upset,” he said quietly, “sorry if I read signals you didn’t intend to send, but the truth about that kiss is that you came on to me as much as I came on to you because whether you want to admit it or not, you liked it as much as I did, and I dare you to deny it.”

 

Chapter Twenty-Five

“Ohhhhhh!” Amy spun around and kicked at a rock, tears filling her eyes and dousing her temper because she knew he was right—she couldn’t deny it, but oh, how she wanted to! She clutched her arms to her waist, hating the fact that she’d gone and done exactly what she’d vowed she wouldn’t do—give Henry Dennehy an “in.” In one jagged beat of her heart, the memory of “the kiss” invaded her mind, and shame broiled her cheeks.

An “in” in more ways than one …

She bowed her head, hand to her eyes. Over the last week, she’d done everything in her power to purge him from her mind, but the memory of that kiss refused to comply, haunting her day and night until she wanted to scream. Months of spending time with him at Camp Susupe, on base, at mess and chapel, had softened her toward him, his easy nature, his ready humor, his dogged resistance. But it had been his love and compassion for Li, Koyu, Kei, and the children, and his sweet affection for Sister Genevieve and the sisters that had stolen her heart, along with the wild little boy she saw so often inside of the man.

Even so, she’d held her emotions at bay, unwilling to fall for a man with more faith in himself than in God, more interested in women than in just one. But then that kiss had sealed her doom, and now the very notion that she was falling under his spell completely overwhelmed her. Shoulders slumping in defeat, she had no power over the tears that slowly trickled her cheeks.

“Amy,” he whispered, his voice suddenly closer than before, “don’t shut me out, please. I care about you—more than I ever expected to, so I’m asking you to give me a chance.”

A chance. She slapped at the tears on her cheeks. Unwilling to turn around, she raised her head, as stiff as the fists clenched at her sides. “What? To break my heart like you do every other girl?”

She startled when he gently turned her around to face him. “No,” he said softly, stepping back to bury his hands in his pockets, looking more like an uncomfortable little boy than the confident Romeo who wreaked havoc on women. Those broad shoulders lifted in an awkward manner. “I mean, that’s not my intent,” he said, voice fading to low, “at least not anymore.”

She folded her arms to her waist, as tight as the clip of her voice. “Then, what exactly is your intent, Henry?”

Even in the moonlight, she could see a ruddy blush creep into his face as he gave another shrug. “I don’t know,” he said with a cuff of his neck, gaze pinned to his boots rather than her face. “I just know that I like you—a lot—and I enjoy your company.” He finally glanced up, his serious gaze locking onto hers. “I guess I just want to get to know you a whole lot better, that’s all.”

“You mean romantically.” Her tone was flat.

The edge of his mouth tipped up in a near-crooked grin. “Well, yeah—I mean after that thunderbolt of a kiss—come on. I’m pretty sure deep down, that’s what we both want, isn’t it?”

Her heart cramped. Oh, Henry—I do. But not ultimately with you …

He moved in once more to buff her arms with those magical hands, true to their skill when she felt the heat begin to build all over again. His voice was a mastery all its own as if massaging her like those practiced fingers. “I want more than kisses, Amy—I want you. Your laughter, your keen mind, your purity and your deep faith, your love of children and innate giving to others, and especially your heart for Li and her sisters.” As if feeling her weakness, he slowly pulled her in, his breath warm against her ear before he teased it with his tongue. Her eyelids weighted closed like lead as her breath grew as ragged as her resistance. “I want all of you, Amy Leigh,” he whispered, skimming her jaw with his lips before taking her mouth with his own.

She caught her breath as that same traitorous sensation of fire kindled deep in her belly to capture her all over again, rendering her too weak to fight the pull of his arms, the press of his body, the taste of his mouth mingling with hers.

They were both breathless when he finally pulled back to touch her forehead with his, her body thrumming while his hold remained as possessive as his kiss. “Please, Amy, give me a chance,” he whispered, leaning to nuzzle his way to the lobe of her ear, gently taking it in his mouth with a groan that matched hers to a rasp.

Nearly gasping for breath, she pushed him away, stunned at the control he seemed to have over her. This may be what her body wanted, but she knew to the depth of her soul it wasn’t what her heart wanted and more importantly, what God wanted either.

Resist the devil and he will flee.

Battling a hard shiver, she squeezed her eyes shut and prayed, arms shaking as she held him at bay. Lord, help me, please …

“Amy? What do you say?” He broke her hold when he slowly slid his arms to her waist to draw her in once again, his whisper warm against her skin. “Give me a chance, please?”

Her eyelids flew open and alarm curled in her stomach when his eyes sheathed closed, his body leaning in for another kiss.

“No!” she shouted, no longer concerned with who might hear or who might see. With a ferocity she hadn’t known she possessed, she slammed her palms to his chest so hard, he literally stumbled back, mouth hanging open in shock. Backing up considerably she bludgeoned a stiff finger in the air. “You’re a devil, Henry Dennehy, and if you ever touch me again, I will scream my fool head off, do you hear?”

His gaze quickly darted up and down the nearly dark road before facing her again, scratching the back of his neck with a hint of that crooked smile he wielded against her and every other woman. It shadowed his lips with tease despite a telltale groove between those golden-blond brows. “Uh, I think everybody heard, Princess,” he said with a touch of humor he apparently hoped would soften her stance.

It didn’t.

“You can smirk all you want, Hotshot, but you and I?”—she waved a hand between the two of them—“we’re done.” She spun on her heel to walk away.

“Amy, wait,” he said in a near plea, his hand mere inches from grasping her arm before she jerked away and opened her mouth to scream.

“No, wait!” He distanced himself on the double, palms in the air. “See? I’m backing off, okay? So don’t scream, please?” Huffing out a blast of surrender, he raked a shaky hand through his hair. “Look, Amy, I won’t touch you again, I swear, but I have a duty to escort you to your quarters, so please, can’t we at least discuss this while I see you home?”

Arms barricaded to her chest, she assessed him through narrow eyes, wondering if she could ever trust a man like Henry Dennehy. A melancholy sigh slowly seeped through her lips when she suddenly realized she couldn’t even trust herself with a man like him. “Yes, we can discuss it, Lieutenant, as long as you stay six feet away.”

He blinked, that formidable jaw disengaging once more before it snapped shut in a tight compression that told her she’d effectively engaged his temper. He slammed his fists into his pockets and started walking, gaze straight ahead.

Good. Temper she could deal with. Passion, apparently not. She followed safely beside him.

Silence ensued for almost half a block before he finally spoke. “You know, Amy, there’s one thing I don’t understand. I like you—a lot—and you like me too—I can feel it. Plus we have this chemistry like nothing I’ve ever experienced before, and I know you feel it too. So, enlighten me, please, as to why you won’t give me a chance?”

She peeked at him out of the corner of her eye, silently thanking God for giving her the strength to say no. “How many reasons do you want, Lieutenant?” she asked innocently, biting back a smile when his jaw steeled all the more.

He threw his hands up, his sarcasm as thick as the humidity fogging the air. “Oh, why spare me now, Princess? Just shoot me with everything you got, so you can watch me go down in flames.”

“Well, for one,” she said carefully, “I have no intention of falling in love anytime soon or even being in a romantic relationship with a man because I plan to be a missionary after the war. And secondly, even if I was interested in a romantic relationship—which I’m not,” she emphasized with a dip of her head—“it would be with a man who’s as committed to his faith as I am, and we both know that’s not you, Henry.”

“I have faith,” he said with a crimp of his brow, a definite pout in his tone.

She softened her voice with a smile. “In yourself, Henry, unfortunately, more than in God.”

He shook his head as he slashed his fingers through his already disrupted hair. “Sweet mother of Job—you sound just like my sister.”

“Thank you!” she said with a grin.

He seared her with a half-lidded look, enunciating each word with attitude. “It-wasn’t-a- compliment.”

Her shoulders lifted. “I guess not to you, but it is to me … and therein lies the problem, my friend.”

His brow jagged high in accusation while his tone taunted. “I thought we couldn’t be friends.”

“Whoops.” She nibbled on the edge of her smile. “My acquaintance, then.”

His eyes narrowed considerably as he shifted his weight to one leg, hands moored low on his hips. “I think you’re being awfully cavalier about this, Amy”—he jerked a thumb to his chest—“at my expense.”

Her smile died on her lips, allowing the affection she felt for him to bleed into a mournful look. “You’re right, Henry, I am being cavalier, but only because if I don’t make light of this, I’m going to break down and cry because I really do care about you.” She paused for a moment before continuing on, hoping to lift his ego, if not his spirits. “Because as much as I hate to admit it, you’re right about the chemistry between us—you make me feel things I never knew I could feel—utterly exhilarating, intoxicating, and euphoric things—”

He stopped dead in his tracks to stare at her like she’d gone as balmy as the weather. “Are you serious? Then why on earth—?”

“Because you’re a temptation I simply cannot afford, Lieutenant, so there’s no reason to continue our friendship because honestly?” She offered a tiny shrug, sympathy lacing her tone. “I can’t trust you to keep your hands to yourself, Henry. Nor can I trust myself when I’m with you, because yes, we do like each other—a lot—which makes even friendship at this point too dangerous to contemplate.”

“Wait.” He put a hand up, eyes gaping along with his mouth. “Are you saying we can’t even be friends?”

She bit her lip, realizing how extreme that sounded. But then the way he made her feel when she was in his arms was extreme too, so she couldn’t risk it. Head bowed, she peeked up beneath her lashes to soften the blow of her words. “We were never supposed to be more than acquaintances,” she said quietly, “remember? Our agreement?”

He gouged the road with a hard kick, sending dust flying into the air. “To the devil with our agreement, Amy—you’re being ridiculous!”

Her chin nudged up a fraction. “No, Lieutenant, I’m being safe.”

Looking away, he cursed under his breath. “For crying out loud, MacArthur, you’re acting like I’m trying to get you into bed.”

Her breath hitched in her lungs, the very thought sending both warm and cold chills on a collision course within. She swallowed hard, well aware of his reputation with women. “Well, aren’t you?” she asked quietly, praying that he wouldn’t lie.

Burying his hands in his pockets, he looked away, shoulders sagging enough for her to notice. His chest rose and fell in a weary sigh as he chafed the back of his neck. “Yeah, I guess so”—his voice trailed off—“at least eventually …”

She slowly expelled the breath she’d been holding, both shocked and relieved that he’d been so forthright, a true victory from what she knew of him. “Thank you for your honesty, Henry.”

He grunted. “Yeah, but it doesn’t get me very far, does it?”

“Farther than you think, Lieutenant.”

He glanced up, body stilled as if he dare not breathe. “What do you mean?”

Drawing in a deep breath, she released it with an affectionate smile. “It means, truth happens to be a weakness of mine.”

The edge of his lips tipped up as a twinkle lit in his eyes, revealing one of the things she loved best about him—his ready sense of humor. “You mean besides me?”

She rolled her eyes for effect, grateful when it earned her a husky chuckle.

Gaze down, he kicked at the dirt with his boot, no anger anywhere in sight. “So … where do we go from here, Amy?” he asked quietly, smile fading into a rare sobriety as he looked up with the barest hint of hope in his eyes.

Oh Lord, if only he lived for You …

Her sigh lingered in the thick night air. “We’ll remain acquaintances, like we did originally when I tried so hard”—a hint of tease lightened her tone—“unsuccessfully, I might add, to keep you from worming your way into my heart.”

His hand slid to massage his temple as he met her gaze head-on, that deadly trace of a smile flickering at the edge of those full lips that had lured her into caring way too much. “So, I actually made it in?”

Her smile was tinged with a trace of tears. “You did,” she whispered, “and onto my prayer list as well.”

He managed a half grin as he shook his head, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Oh, goodie.” His ribcage expanded as he inhaled a deep draw of air, releasing it again in apparent resignation. “So, Lieutenant, just so I don’t blow it again—what does ‘acquaintance’ entail this time?”

“Group functions only—not couple functions like before with Lilly and Preacher.”

Hands back in his pockets, he peered up with solemn eyes. “So, the different shifts continue, then, like this last week at Camp Susupe?”

She tugged at her lip with her teeth. “I think that’s best, because I just can’t afford to be alone with you, Henry.”

His gaze lowered as he nodded. “But we can talk, tease, kid around like before?”

She nodded. “Sure, in a group.”

He looked up. “What about our project for Li and her sisters?”

She hesitated, loathe to cause any more upset for either of them. “We can still do all that in occasional meetings with Sister Genevieve since I think she needs to be involved too, don’t you?”

“Yeah.” He huffed out a noisy sigh. “Well, now that you’ve effectively crushed all my hopes and dreams and set them ablaze—”

Her lips squirmed. “Better than setting our passions ablaze.”

He grunted. “Speak for yourself, Nurse MacPriss.”

She jutted her chin up with an impish smile. “I am.”

“Yeah, I know.” His smile was flat as he motioned his head toward the nurses’ quarters down the road. “Let’s get you back to your quarters so we can get you into bed.” Smile dry, he slid her a wayward look that tumbled her stomach. “Alone—unfortunately.”

 

Happy Summer to You & Yours

What I’ve Been Up To …

Historical Christian Romance Webinar, Win Free Edit or Character Named in Henry’s Story & Signed Paperback Copy

Coming this August … The Romance Writer’s Super Stack w/ 3-Chapter Edit

2nd Excerpt from A Dare and a Prayer

 

Happy Summer to You & Yours!

Can you believe summer is only days away?? But I’ll tell you what, in Lake of the Ozarks, it is full-blown, so thank you, Jesus! Eighty-degree temps and lots of sun, so the Lessmans are kicking off the season with a bang, and here’s just a quick glimpse:

 

What I’ve Been Up To …

As you all know, I spent January through March with my family in warmer climes, so I didn’t get much writing done, but it was soooo worth it!

Once I returned home to Lake of the Ozarks in April, I promise you I hit the ground running on Henry’s story, and let me just say that I haven’t had this much fun since writing Charity’s story, A Passion Redeemed. Maybe that’s because I see Henry as the male component of Charity, and y’all know just how much I LOVE writing about that girl! 😉

In addition to that, y’all also know how much I LOVE writing a bad-boy hero, and sweet mother of Job, that is Henry to a T (for “Trouble”)! And because he is a bad boy, I’ve had a few more opportunities to write kissing scenes, and I sure don’t have to tell you how much I LOVE to write those. That said, I thought I’d give you a sneak peek at a kissing scene in an excerpt at the end of this blog, so I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it! 😉

I’ve also had ample opportunity to get back to nature with wonderful things like walks in the woods with my grands or even piddling with my own gardens, small though they be. The first one is my main rock garden, which has a chipmunk family living in it, and the second pic is my kitchen garden, which is right out my kitchen window and a heck of a lot better than staring at a wall! And HALLELUJAH … this is the first year I’ve been able to keep the deer from chomping my hostas by stapling almost invisible garden netting to our wooden walkways, so thank you, Jesus!!

 

 

Historical Christian Romance Free Live Webinar, Win Edit or Character Named for You in Henry’s Story & Signed Copy

ATTENTION BOTH READERS AND ASPIRING AUTHORS …

Hey, READERS … do you just want to join in on a Q & A with me and other authors to win a character named after you in Henry’s story and a signed paperback? Simply contact me via the CONTACT tab of my website to let me know you signed up for the free live webinar as a “Reader” and will attend, and you’ll be entered in the draw.

Hey, ASPIRING AUTHORS … do you dream of becoming a historical Christian romance author? Do you want to learn from award-winning authors of historical Christian romance? Then join me and other authors for a free live webinar that will fill you in on all the details for the upcoming Historical Christian Romance Writers Summit.

NOTE: Journal Jot subscribers who sign up for and attend the free webinar are eligible to win a 1-chapter edit from yours truly. Simply contact me via the CONTACT tab of my website to let me know.

Either way, join me for a FREE LIVE WEBINAR & Q&A on JUNE 19 AT 4 PM EST with:

• Julie Lessman – Romance-ology 101
• Crystal Caudill – Picking the Write Fight
• Misty M. Beller – Finding Your Target Reader
• Mara Eller – Take Your Romance Novel Beyond the Formula
• Thomas Umstattd Jr. – 7 Secrets to Amazing Author Websites
• Melissa LaShure – Host and Creator of HCRW

NOTE: Registration for the Historical Christian Romance Writers Virtual Summit opens on June 19th following the live webinar.

Plus, webinar attendees will be invited to a free critique session with an award-winning author in the historical Christian romance genre (guess who!).

Attendees will also be among the first to purchase Sara R. Turnquist’s plotting notebook. This is an incredible writing tool, sold for the first time during the HCRW webinar and summit!

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE LIVE WEBINAR ON MONDAY, JUNE 19TH AT 4 PM EST.

https://www.crowdcast.io/c/0k7z8ylxz2z3

 

2nd Chance Coming this August for the Romance Writer’s Super Stack w/ 3-Chapter Edit

Okay — it’s not often I get excited about writers’ resources, but this is one deal I wish I had had when I started out! Trust me when I say, Infostack’s ROMANCE WRITER SUPER STACK has what it takes to help you craft a page-turning romance, build heart-pounding tension, and create swoon-worthy characters.

And, to me, that shouts value. A total retail value of $1,525.89, to be exact … and all for only $49!  AND …  to sweeten the deal, I am once again offering a 3-chapter edit to anyone who buys the ROMANCE WRITER SUPER STACK, so keep your eyes peeled right here on Journal Jots for when the super stack goes on sale for the last time in August.

 

Sneak-Peek Excerpt from

A Dare and a Prayer

SETUP: Henry and his pilot friend Lieutenant Shane (Preacher) Kelly take the heroine, Lieutenant Amy Leigh MacArthur and her nurse friend, Lieutenant Lilly Wong, on a surprise picnic after their volunteer work at Camp Susupe. But when Preacher and Lilly decide to take a walk to pick flowers, leaving Amy alone with Henry, she’s more than a little nervous over being alone with the man she’s not only regrettably attracted to, but swore to avoid at all costs.

 

***********************

Amy gulped, throat convulsing as she peeked over at Henry, who was watching her with a patient smile while pouring himself more wine. “They’ll be fine, Amy,” he said softly, his rare usage of her name giving her shivers that flashed first warm and then cold.

She swallowed hard. Yes, but will I be … ?

He held the bottle out. “Need a refill?”

She shook her head so vehemently that he laughed, the sound booming through the forest.  Not much of a drinker, huh?”

“No”—her chin nudged up—“Are you?”

He studied her with a quizzical look, as if gauging his response. “Not really. Can’t drink before a mission, you know, which is most of the time; only on the rare nights we’re off, like tonight.” Ramming the cork into the bottle, he stored it back in the knapsack, then held the cup in a teasing toast. “But did more than my fair share in college, I’m afraid, which drove my parents up the wall.” He wrinkled his nose as he stared into his cup. “No question about it—I was a wild one back then.”

“But not now?”

He took a long, slow drink of his wine, watching her over the rim of his cup before setting it aside. “I can be, I guess.” Positioning the knapsack behind his head, he laid back, long legs stretched out and crossed at the ankles. “At times. But the military has a way of quashing that, you know.”

Oh, and thank God! Her fingers shook as she put her cup down, aware that being alone with Henry Dennehy while drinking alcohol on a blanket wasn’t the smartest thing she’d ever done. She buffed her arms as if she were cold despite the fact that the temperature was still hot, but then Henry Dennehy had that effect on her, she supposed. Cold chills that flashed into warm ones way too easily.

Striving for the same nonchalance that he seemed to own, she leaned back on her hands to take in the sunset, which had deepened to shades of fuchsia and violet. “This really was a wonderful idea,” she lied, foot twitching as she sat with legs extended and crossed at the ankle just like him.

“Was it?”

“Sure,” she said, avoiding his gaze, wishing more than anything that Preacher and Lilly would suddenly appear. She glanced at her watch.

“Then why do you seem so nervous?” His voice was soft and low, completely void of his usual tease.

“I’m not ner—OH!” With a loud squeal, she all but catapulted over to Henry, clutching to his side as she stared in horror at a tiny emerald-green frog with a bubble-like bulge on his throat, right where her hand had been. She shivered as she quickly wiped her hands on her khaki slacks. “Oh, I can’t stand to be around slimy things!”

A husky chuckle rumbled near her ear. “Well, I’ll take that as a compliment, then, Princess, since you’re practically sitting in my lap.”

Heat gorged her face when she realized she was butted up right next to him, thigh to thigh. With another tiny squeak, she tried to lunge away, only to have Henry halt her with a firm hand to her arm. “It’s okay, Amy, I’m not going to bite.” His gaze dropped to her lips and back, the twinkle in his eyes practically blinding her. “Unless, of course, you want me to …”

Shooting straight up like a German buzz bomb, Amy leapt off the blanket, causing the little frog to bolt back into the woods, much to her relief. She put a shaky palm to her chest, nearly hyperventilating.

Henry’s laughter only broiled her cheeks all the more as he slowly rose to his feet. “How ‘bout I make a deal with you, Princess. You sit in my spot, and I’ll sit over there,” he said, nodding toward a boulder about twenty feet away.” Sauntering over to the rock, he sat down and hoisted his tin cup in the air with a grin. “But I gotta tell you one thing for dead sure, Amy Leigh MacArthur. I do believe I love teasing you more than just about anything.” Eyes dancing, his gaze flicked to her lips and back with a crooked smile. “Well, almost anything …”

Ignoring his last statement, Amy buffed her arms again, glancing at the spot where Preacher and Lilly had disappeared. “They should be back by now, shouldn’t they?”

“Nope.” Henry checked his watch as he took a swig of his wine. “They’ve been gone all of ten minutes, Lieutenant, so I suggest you sit back down and finish your wine”—he scrunched his nose in tease—“might take the edge off, you know?”

Yeah, she knew. Heart racing, she sat next to the knapsack where Henry had been, as far away from the frog as she could possibly get. After all, with the frog long gone and Henry on a boulder twenty feet away, she was relatively safe, right? Expelling a wobbly breath, she reached for her cup and began to sip, a whole lot more relaxed than before. “So,” she said, finally enjoying the warmth of the wine now that both Henry and the frog were no longer a threat. “You said you drove your parents up the wall in college, and from the little I know about you, I’m guessing that included both grade school and high school as well?”

He grinned as he raised another toast with his cup. “Well, well, now, the lieutenant is finally feeling safe enough to toss a few grenades at the poor and vulnerable pilot.”

She giggled as she took another hefty swig of her wine. “‘You, Lieutenant Hotshot, are neither ‘poor’ nor ‘vulnerable’ from the tales I’ve heard. Rather, rumor is that’s a title reserved for the women you pursue.”

“Ouch.” Sucking air through a clenched smile, he scratched the front of his neck.

She laid back on the knapsack like he had, limbs finally limp without a twitch as she stretched out. “So, your parents—are you close to them?”

He stared out toward the sunset as if thinking about her question. “Yeah,” he said with a tight smile, “I am. But in different ways.”

She cocked her head, her curiosity aroused. “What do you mean?”

He laughed as he took another drink. “I mean I love them both very much, but I’m more comfortable with my dad than I am with my mother.”

She continued sipping, enjoying the warmth as it slid down her throat. “How so?”

“My dad is easy. No nonsense, no games. When he tells me to do something, I do it. Because I respect him.”

“And your mom?”

Chuckling, he shook his head. “She’s a piece of work.”

Her eyes went wide. “You don’t love her?”

He scowled. “Of course I love her—there’s nobody in the world like her.” He issued a grunt accompanied by a smile. “Thank God.”

“Then why thank God that she’s one of a kind?”

He appeared to think about the question for a few moments, eyes in a squint as he twirled the tin cup in his hands. “Because she’s got a mind like a steel trap and a bite just as bad. Which would be just fine and dandy if she let things alone, let a person live their own life.” He upended his cup, his voice veering toward sharp. “But she doesn’t.”

Amy tipped her cup straight up as well, surprised that it was all gone. “What do you mean?”

He pinned her with a pointed glare, his gaze suddenly sparked with an annoyance she hoped wasn’t directed at her. “She’s controlling. Oh, it’s all out of love, to be sure, but a man needs to find his own way, not be pushed by a woman.” He scowled. “Especially by a mother.”

She blinked several times, struggling to sit up. “But love is a powerful motivator, Henry. Can’t you overlook her pushiness to see how much she loves you?”

“No!” His vehement tone shocked her, stilled her as she stared, her pulse thudding hard.

“I am my own man, Amy,” he said, thumb bludgeoning his chest, “the only person who will decide what I do and when. Not my mother, not my father, not my sister and not my grandfather. Nobody.”

Her heart squeezed as her voice drifted out on a whisper. “Not even God?”

He observed her, his chest rising and falling with a weary sigh, as if he just realized how his answer might affect their relationship. And then, as if he’d decided, his jaw calcified. “Especially Him.”

She caught her breath, heart twisting as tears glazed her eyes. “Oh, Henry…”

He glanced at his watch. “They’ll be back soon. We better pack up.” Jumping up, he strode over to snatch up the knapsack, mouth compressed and body stiff.

Rising, she moved away, flustered that she’d obviously upset him, but even more so over his blatant anger towards God. Her heart broke all over again for this man she’d been so intent on avoiding, wishing there was some way she could help.

Tears pricking, she bent to pick up the open bag of Cheetos at the edge of the blanket …

And then … screamed like crazy! “Eeeeeeeek!!! Heart in her throat she bolted into Henry’s arms, shocking him as much at it shocked her. “An alligator!” she rasped, clinging to him with all of her might.

His arms swallowed her up, and she let him, fear disarming her as she peered over her shoulder at the animal who was easily four feet long, his snout buried deep in the Cheetos bag.

“Shhh, it’s not an alligator,” he whispered, easing her further away from the animal while his head tucked tightly against hers. “It’s a monitor lizard, Amy, and he won’t hurt you.” His low chuckle blew warm against her ear. “Although I can’t say the same for the Cheetos.”

For the first time, she didn’t laugh at his humor, too terrified to do anything but shake. “H-How d-do you know?”

“Because they’re native to the island and so friendly, some people keep them as pets.” He stroked her hair, and she closed her eyes, allowing him to cocoon her with his safety and warmth, a warmth that was suddenly in league with her own, whether from the wine, his touch, or both. She felt the callouses on his palms as his hands slipped to her neck, massaging until a fire lit within, pooling heat in her belly. His tone soothed and she pressed in, wondering why it suddenly didn’t matter that she was in Henry Dennehy’s arms. Her pulse skipped a beat when he kissed her hair—once, and then again—before those deadly fingers roamed to draw her closer.

 Her breathing grew shallow as his mouth ventured on, caressing her neck, her jaw, then luring a soft moan to her lips when he suckled the lobe of her ear. “Henry, no,” she said, her voice little more than hoarse consent when he cradled her head to nuzzle her brows, her eyes, the curve of her cheek, the shape of her jaw.

“Amy …” he whispered, fondling her lips with such tenderness, they parted in ready assent, his mouth mating with hers in gentle exploration that robbed her of any desire to say no. Pulse throbbing, she returned his kiss with such passion, his raspy groan tangled with her own, unleashing a firestorm of heat that sealed her surrender.

“Yoo-hoo, Mac—wait till you see the flowers we found,” Lilly called from somewhere in the woods, and Amy froze, her body paralyzed for one excruciating moment before she thrust Henry away. Body humming, she stumbled back, the air in her lungs so ragged, she could barely catch her breath as Lilly and Preacher emerged from the woods, mere shadows in the dusky light.

Spinning around, Amy emptied both tin cups and tossed them in the knapsack before snatching up the blanket with such speed, dust and dirt whirled in the air. She avoided Henry’s gaze as she frantically folded it, thoughts of the lizard long forgotten as the memory of Henry’s kiss obliterated all else from her mind.

“And the lettuce tree?” Lilly continued, close enough now that Amy could see the excitement on her face, “it tastes okay, I guess, but Shane found a breadfruit for me, so I brought half of it back for you. Because I swear, Mac, I bet you’ve never tasted anything so good in all your life.”

“Is that so?” A nervous giggle tripped from Amy’s lips as she all but pelted the folded blanket at Henry, ignoring the satisfied smile on his face. Against her will, her gaze snagged on the lips that had just devoured hers not mere minutes ago, and heat instantly scorched her from head to toe. Striving for composure, she faced Lilly with a weak smile and a quivering palm to her stomach.

Unfortunately, Lil, I bet I have …