My second story involves a tiny blue jay and a mild case of bird-induced anxiety.
If you follow me on Facebook, you may have seen my posts yesterday and today about a fledgling blue jay that decided my birdbath was the place to spend the afternoon. And by afternoon, I mean hours. The little guy just sat there in the water while his parents appeared to be on an all-you-can-eat frenzy in my bird feeders.
Naturally, I consulted Google, which informed me that hypothermia was a possibility. As evening approached, a feral cat began making suspicious laps around the baby, and my worry level went from "concerned bird watcher" to "protective foster mom."
So, I brought the baby blue jay inside for the night.
I'm happy to report that he was much perkier this morning. After a quick release, he flew into the trees where his parents promptly reclaimed responsibility for their child. Crisis averted. The bird survived, the cat was disappointed, and I successfully resisted the urge to add "wildlife rehabilitator" to my rรฉsumรฉ. I love a happy ending!
Speaking of wonderful things finding their way into the world, I have a fantastic new release to share with you!
โGood Hands by Maggie Gates is live today!
What if the only person trying to protect you is the man youโre supposed to run from?
From USA Today bestselling author Maggie Gates comes a new summer small town romance that will sweep you off your feet!
โฆAnd have you looking over your shoulder.
Statistics professor Amelia Hawthorne never expected to find herself in a rundown Atlantic City casino. But here she was, counting cards to help pay off her brotherโs debt under the watchful eye of the mysterious Judah Greear.
The last thing Jude wanted to do was kidnap the hot brainiac, but orders were orders. Especially when they came from legendary mob boss John Valentine.
Now, Jude must choose between duty and desire. Will he protect the girl who sees past the tattoos and mugshots or save himself?
Tropes:
- Hidden Identity
- Bad boy x Good Girl
- Grumpy / Sunshine
- Forced Proximity
- Romantic Suspense
- Virgin FMC who takes charge in bed
Get a little taste of Good Hands below:
Amelia was being far too amicable for someone who had just been abducted.
I had kidnapped plenty of people and even kept a pair of earplugs on hand should such an occasion arise.
The constant screaming and โplease donโt kill me!โ was always rather taxing.
But there she wasโsitting in the front seat, ankles crossed, pretty as a picture.
She was up to something. I just didnโt know what.
The truck rumbled as I navigated the mess of highways that would get us out of New Jersey. Not that crossing the state line would protect us from John Valentine, but the first rule of self-defense is to make space. The more space, the better.
I glanced at Amelia out of the corner of my eye. She was just . . . sitting there. She wasnโt looking out her window. She was staring straight ahead, as if she was the one driving.
Why isnโt she freaking out?
Why isnโt she asking questions, like where Iโm taking her or whatโs happening to her brother or how long weโll be gone?
Does she know more than sheโs letting on?
I squeezed the steering wheel as I tried to figure out what was going on in that brilliant head of hers.
I had read all the articles, news pieces, and interviews. I knew everything there was to know about the genius in my passenger seat and her eidetic memory. Usually, knowing more about the subject than they knew about me gave me the upper hand.
But with Amelia Hawthorne, I wasnโt so sure.
Her silence was unsettling, and I was never unsettled.
Did she think I hadnโt done a good job? Iโd seen some sloppy kidnappings over the years. Nausea aside, Amelia had gotten a premium abduction experience.
Grab this free book!
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My friends call me Sister Callie. I'm the good girl. The responsible one who never took a risk and always did what was expected of me.
But that was before Jayden Reed stood before me, shirtless, jeans unbuttoned, and a sinful smile that promised to do wicked, wicked things to me.
I want him. I want to be reckless. I want one wild night. Consequences be damned, itโs time to be a bad, bad girl. Except I never imagined the consequences would come with a side of murder.
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"The love of books is a love which requires neither justification, apology, nor defense." โ.A. Langford
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I hope you're finding moments of joy in the everyday, whether it's a thoughtful surprise, an unexpected adventure, or simply a good book.
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I'll return to writing books instead of rescuing birds. I hope you have a wonderful week filled with good stories and happy surprises.
Thank you for spending a little part of your day with me.
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Happy reading!
Much love,
Erica
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