🐓 48th Anniversary Dawn Farm Jamboree ❤️
September 1 – 30, 2021
The famous Jamboree Auction is now live and will be available online the whole month of September! If you live in SE Michigan, then you’ll definitely want to check out this Online Auction! There’s close to a hundred items to choose from including jewelry, décor, gift certificates, and more, including my donation of books, bookmarks and gift card.
They are constantly updating the auction website with new items, so be sure to check back often!
Proceeds support Dawn Farm Programs. Special Pickup/Shipping Instructions apply.
Below is a picture of my donation for the auction; three books, bookmarks, and a gift card. I love supporting a good cause!
https://www.32auctions.com/48thAnniversaryJamboree
Below is a short list of Book Sales, Fairs, and Giveaways. Be sure to look them over and pick some new favorite characters. Happy reading!
💏 Love Bounces Back ❤️📚
September 22 – 29, 2021
Sometimes readers find their new favorite book in the most unlikely of places. The Love Bounces Back book fair offers full books, previews, and excerpts. The theme is all about second chance romances and who doesn’t want a second chance?
https://books.bookfunnel.com/lovebouncesback/gimkl3c6b0
💋 Love the One You’re With 📗
September 20 – October 4, 2021
Or, love the book you’re with! The Prolific Works team is proud to present the Love the One You’re With Group Giveaway! They have a great selection of romance titles for you to discover. Claim as many as you’d like and enjoy your new reads!
https://claims.prolificworks.com/gg/DJFgYYynjcpYkAwR64IW
Moonlighting Bride and the Kousa Dogwood
In Moonlighting Bride, Chapter 30 Back in the Backyard, Jan’s neighbor tells her about the Kousa Dogwood and its beautiful flowers in the Spring and berries in the Fall. Below is the excerpt for you to read. From the passage, can you tell if Jan is starting to like nature? Do you think there’s a Master Gardener certificate in her future? I’m also showing a side-by-side picture of my Kousa Dogwood so you can see they really are beautiful trees.
Jan stood up and stretched out the stiffness that set in from stooping and reaching. Looking at her watch, she couldn’t believe how late it was. At 1:30 P.M., she had been gardening for hours. The time went by so quickly she didn’t notice she had missed lunch. Her arms and knees had smears of dirt and green from the plants. Some of her hair was falling loose from the ponytail holder, framing her face in wavy, golden-brown strands.
Jan slowly turned at the waist from side to side looking over her efforts feeling a great sense of pride. “Now the view from the kitchen window will be much better,” she marveled. “Not bad for a novice gardener. There’s just one exception—where’s my husband to share it with.” The smile left Jan’s face as she gazed at the garden. If only we had more money, maybe then Rob wouldn’t be so tight with the budget. If we had more money, maybe then we could be together doing things like we used to before we were married. If we had more money maybe then we’d be . . . But, the insurance papers? How could Rob ever consider using that . . . me for money? I thought I knew him. I should have married a man with money. That I knew had lots of money—like Harold. I could leave Rob before he puts the insurance on me and go find a man who’s rich—
“Hi, I’m Rich,” a man shouted as he walked across the flowing, green grass that blended the neighboring yards. He was wearing Bermuda shorts and a white t-shirt with sleeves that emphasized his tanned, muscular arms and chest.
Surprised by the outside contact and having rarely been with Rob lately Jan realized she was staring and quickly moved her eyes up to see the man’s face. “Hello?” she said in a curious-to-meet-you tone. “You’re rich?” Jan squinted.
“No, no, I mean my name. Rich is my name.” They laughed together. “And, actually I don’t do too badly for myself financially either.”
She removed her gloves and threw them to the ground next to the flower shears and fresh bouquet. Of course not. Jan kept smiling and shook Rich’s hand. Seems I’m the only financially ignorant person left on the face of the earth.
Jan was embarrassed by her mistake. “It’s just that . . .” she waved her hand in the air. “You see, I’ve been . . .”
“That’s okay. This isn’t the first time something like that has happened.” The two stood still and smiled at each other with an awkward silence. “I’ve been waiting to introduce myself to you and your husband but you two are rarely home. Do you do a lot of business travel?”
“Some business travel, but mostly just business,” Jan said as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear that had blown across her face. “My husband owns and runs Nichols Construction Company and I’m a director at Hedge Corporation. It’s a marketing firm.” She pointed to the glasses in Rich’s hand. “Those drinks look delicious.”
“Oh, right. This is my famous homemade lemonade. I hope you like it.” Rich passed a glass to Jan.
The condensation made it slippery and so she held it in both hands. She didn’t realize how thirsty she had become until the cold, tangy-sweet drink quenched her hot dry mouth. Having missed lunch she continued to drink voraciously until it was half gone.
“It looks like I arrived just in time,” Rich teased.
“That hit the spot, but where are my manners.” Jan shook her head. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure.” Rich drank from his glass, then surveyed the yard from where he was standing. “So are you a Master Gardner or is this just a hobby of yours?”
“A Master Gardner?” Jan looked at him curiously.
“Yeah, that means you’re certified after taking a certain amount of gardening and horticultural training, and doing some volunteering.”
“I never realized there was such a thing. Sounds interesting, but no, this is my first garden. But, I must say I’m really starting to get the hang of it,” she delighted.
“Well, I’m impressed. Your work looks great,” Rich said, then turned and pointed at the house diagonally across the street. “See that two-story red brick colonial?”
Jan nodded even though she was still observing how his blue eyes contrasted nicely with his dark, wavy hair.
“That’s the Bonkowski’s. They’re both Master Gardeners and they’re both always happy to help if you have questions.”
Jan raised her eyebrows with pleasant surprise and interest.
“That’s my house there. And, see that decorative tree on the corner?”
Jan followed the view.
“That’s a Kousa Dogwood. Last year they helped me with it and this spring it was covered in these gorgeous white blossoms. Around Christmas time the fruit appear as big, red spheres that look like decorations. It’s wonderful for a decorative tree,” Rich said spanning the back of Jan’s house. “If you ask me, one would look great next to your patio over there.” He looked toward the area and pointed while holding the glass. “And you could enjoy its beauty from inside through the window as well as when you’re outside.”
Jan turned and looked at the area for a moment. “Yes, I think you’re right,” Jan said as she turned back towards Rich and became startled by his abrupt closeness. “Is everything okay?” She braced herself for an awkward moment. Rich moved in closer, focused on the left side of her cheek. “Rich, I’m a married woman.”
“Hold still.”
You can continue reading Moonlighting Bride for free with Kindle Unlimited.
🍂🍁 Hope you enjoyed the excerpt. Speaking of enjoyment, September 22nd was the first day of Fall. Time for tailgating and bonfires again. And, time to Fall in love with a new book! 😉 📚
❤️ Deborah
