A Birchwood Falls Novel
by Jane Leopold Quinn
Thank you, Kate, for hosting me today.
I’ve always loved the idea of small towns. I grew up in one but have lived in the big city for more years than I did in the small town. I’m not sure I could re-acclimate to a small town after all these years, so I’ll write about them and about the people who live there.
For quite a while I’ve had the idea of a series taking place in a small town. I love birch trees, and that became the inspiration for the town name, Birchwood Falls. I even drew a map of the town – a very rough map.
The idea of a map was inspired by another author’s books. Jan Karon writes a series of novels that take place in a small town named Mitford. Her main character is an Episcopal priest, pretty much completely different from my characters. 😉 But I love the books and especially the map in the front. My map isn’t as luscious as hers, but it’s something for me to aspire to.
After I invented a town, Birchwood Falls, I thought about what love stories I wanted to give the town. Several of my books have a hero either former or current military. So, my first character is a Marine (the Gunny Sergeant in the title) raised in Birchwood Falls and home on leave after almost a decade of deployments in the Middle East. Tragically his parents had been killed in a car accident in his senior year of high school. He couldn’t wait to leave town after graduation and escape from his pain. After almost ten years he comes home, because he’s never believed their deaths were an accident. He’s going to settle his mind once and for all.
What kind of woman would be a good foil for Marc’s military persona? Hmm…a young artistic and musical jazz singer? Phoebe was abandoned as a baby but eventually adopted by a wonderful couple, and she grew up in a happy family. Her parents recognized her singing talents and gave her lessons. She began her jazz career and yearns to make it to the “big time.”
Marc and Phoebe have divergent goals, but their attraction is real and immediate. They’ve both lost a great deal in their pasts but find love with each other.
Here’s a description of The Gunny & The Jazz Singer –
U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant Marc Rahn, Jr. enlisted after high school graduation to escape the pain of his parents’ fatal car wreck. Now on leave after eight years and multiple Iraq and Afghanistan deployments, he returns to his hometown to put to rest his suspicions that the “accident” might actually have been anything but.
What he doesn’t expect on move-in day from the neighbor across the street is an intriguing flash of pierced nipple. The breast’s owner, Phoebe Barnes, is a beautiful young jazz singer who has plans to make it big in the music business. Her early years in foster care made her hungry for attention and fame, and she’s out to achieve both at almost any cost.
Despite their differing goals, Marc and Phoebe quickly give in to the sizzling attraction between them. But will their passion turn deadly when the person who killed Marc’s family decides two murders might not have been enough?
Author’s Note: This book was originally published as Lost and Found.
It now has a new title and new cover.
The Gunny & The Jazz Singer – a PG-rated excerpt-
They strolled to the bridge overlooking the river and leaned on the railing, watching the dark water race beneath their feet. Actually, in the darkness of the summer sky they could only hear it rustling along fast from the falls.
“All this water is such a luxury compared to…”
“Is it really as desolate and dirty over there as it looks on TV?”
“More. You can’t imagine.” He shrugged dismissively.
“And you’re constantly in fear of gunfire?” In the streetlight, she was able to watch his expression. If he had enough nerve to fight, she should have enough to talk about it.
“Pretty much.”
“Do my questions bother you?”
“No. I’d just rather think about you right now. About us. It’ll be time soon enough for me to go back.”
Thinking it might be good to lighten things up, she turned and leaned back on the railing. “So what did you really think I was like? Glamorous? Super-talented? What?” She teased him lightly.
“Of course. All of the above.” He bent near, sliding a palm around her neck, and fingered a long strand of hair lying on her shoulder loosened from her ponytail.
Her eyes fell closed at the feel of his fingers on her skin. She was losing the battle of admitting to herself how exciting he was, how attracted she was to him. His fingers crept upward one by one as he cupped her head. She opened her eyes. His were slits, his lips parted. They were nice lips. Very nice.
Pull back.
Too late. He brushed her mouth. Once across one way. Back again the other. Waiting for her response?
Placing her palms on his muscular chest brought her closer. He tugged her against the heat of his body. She melted into his embrace, as protective as she’d imagined. And as she’d feared.
Keep this easy. Casual. Keep it in perspect—
He re-angled his mouth as a harsh breath bathed her face, and his kiss turned deep. Consumingly, disconcertingly deep.
She curled her fingers into the cool, crisp cotton of his shirt. The wall of his chest felt as hard as an in-shape Marine’s should. Her palms roamed of their own accord, exploring the curved pectorals, brushing tentative fingertips over erect nipples. She could feel his low, responsive growl in her own chest, flattened against him as she was, chest to muscular thigh.
He commanded more from her, his tongue sweeping inside her mouth, thrusting and circling.
Answering him, she suckled his tongue, felt him widen his stance, tighten his arms around her. She slid her arms over his shoulders and neck, gripping his nape.
A honking horn and teenage boys’ catcalls plowed through to her brain. They both stilled, the kiss ending, lingering a bit, lips just lightly touching. He cupped her head protectively, her nose in his neck so the teenagers in the car couldn’t see her face.
His torso shook with laughter. “Jesus, was I ever that lame?”
She gazed up at him, smiling into his glittering eyes. “Oh I’m sure you weren’t.”
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The Gunny & The Jazz Singer
is available here – http://amzn.com/B017X3K5L0
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Mike Banning, Marc’s childhood friend, watch
Marc and Phoebe struggle against a foe and
then are rewarded by finding love with each other.
Look for Mike’s love story in
The Bride Takes a Powder
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Two county deputies, Hank and Pete, from Parkersburg, a neighboring town,
appear briefly in this story as Phoebe’s home town friends.
These deputies have their own love stories also available now.
Hank’s story is Home to Stay http://amzn.com/B00P3AQ8WQ.
Pete’s is The Keeper http://amzn.com/B0087RW3KI.
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About Jane
Sensual fantasies were locked in my mind for years until a friend said, “Why don’t you write them down?” Why not, indeed? One spiral notebook, a pen, and the unleashing of my imagination later, and here I am with nineteen books published. The craft of writing sensual romance has become my passion and my niche in life. I love every part of the creative process—developing characters, designing the plot, even drawing the layout of physical spaces from my stories. My careers have been varied—third grade school teacher, bookkeeper, secretary—none of which gave me a bit of inspiration. But now I’m lucky enough to write romance full time—the best job in the universe! And I’m fortunate enough to have found my own happily ever after husband.
Jane Leopold Quinn
My Romance: Love With a Scorching Sensuality
http://janeleopoldquinn.BlogSpot.com
https://twitter.com/jelquinnauthor
Amazon Author Page http://amzn.to/1DfiXkP
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My Books
Historical Indie
Smokin’ Hot Mini Tales of the Olde West
Contemporary Indie
Love Awakens—Erotic Vampire Romance
Scorching Mini Tales—Educating Eris and My Parisian Sabbatical
The Bride Takes a Powder – coming soon
Siren
Social
Thank you, Kate, for this opportunity to talk about the inspiration for this book.