Welcome back to Romance Sweet Reads. Today we'll take a first peek at the Easter edition of our small-town, clean and wholesome contemporary romance series. This series is one of the most unique you'll see for the entire year. Collectively known as the "Small-Town Holiday Romances", each of the featured holidays will have four to ten books in the sub-series for that holiday.
We continue our 2023 holiday tour with Easter, and Jelly Bean Dreams, by Author Nancy Fraser.
When Alicia Miller answers an ad in the nearby campus newspaper, she’s hoping the repairman knows what he’s doing. While his price is right, if he botches the upgrade, she’ll be back to square one. With her opening scheduled two weeks before the Easter holiday, she realizes both she and her handsome handyman will need to work long hours to get the job done.
Ex-Army Ranger, Dean Cole, is on his way to earning a degree in engineering. All he needs is to keep his head above water financially until he graduates. To do that, he’s picking up odd jobs. If eight years in the military taught him anything, it was how to punt your way through adversity, no matter your limitation. In Dean’s case it’s partial hearing loss caused by head trauma during deployment.
Will being surrounded by something as enticing as boxes of candy coax them into a few sweet kisses? And, once the job is done, will he want more than just a sample of what life could be like with his own candy girl?
Ex-Army Ranger, Dean Cole, is on his way to earning a degree in engineering. All he needs is to keep his head above water financially until he graduates. To do that, he’s picking up odd jobs. If eight years in the military taught him anything, it was how to punt your way through adversity, no matter your limitation. In Dean’s case it’s partial hearing loss caused by head trauma during deployment.
Will being surrounded by something as enticing as boxes of candy coax them into a few sweet kisses? And, once the job is done, will he want more than just a sample of what life could be like with his own candy girl?
Available exclusively on Kindle Unlimited
Also available in Print
Dean Cole tacked up a flier on The Blue Beanery’s cork board. Between his engineering classes, studying for the frequent exams, and trying to drum up some handyman business on the side, he was stretching his energy reserves, not to mention his last few military paychecks, to the limit.
“I wish I had some work for you,” Nadine Williams told him. “I believe in helping all our ex-servicemen find a good job when they come home.”
“Thank you, Nadine. It’s been more of a struggle than I thought it would be. I’d all but forgotten what it was like to go to school on a regular basis.”
“How much longer have you got?”
“Did you ever find yourself an apartment between here and the extension campus?”
There was no way he’d admit that he’d resorted to sleeping in his pickup to save money.
Knowing Nadine, one of his late mother’s best friends, she’d offer to take him in. “I got something,” he said instead. “It’s not as swanky as some of these Brant Mills’ homes, but it’ll do.”
“I’ll be sure to point out your flier to everyone who comes in, along with the fact that you’re homegrown and a soldier.”
“Homegrown, as long as you only take in the poorer side of town.”
“Nothing to be ashamed of in that, Dean,” Nadine told him. “Thankfully, we don’t have train service here, or we’d both be considered wrong-side-of-the-tracks people.”
“I’m pretty sure there are a few up on the hill who’ve drawn imaginary tracks at one time or another.” Nodding toward the coffee urn, he told her, “I’ll have a tall black, nothing fancy and a chocolate chip muffin.”
“Plain coffee. I don’t get many of those anymore. My niece even has me learning how to draw fancy designs on the lattes.” Shaking her head, Nadine admitted, “Silly, if you ask me. Who needs a flower that’s going to disappear when you take the first sip?”
“Agreed. All that fancy foam and added flavors dilutes the bite of the coffee. Given I’ve got a structural efficiency exam in the morning, I need all the caffeine I can get.”
Nadine handed him his coffee and muffin, with a couple of extra cookies tucked in the bag. “For your late-night study session,” she said simply.
“How much do I owe you?”
“Nothing.” Shooting him a sly wink, she added, “Unless you don’t mind me watching you walk that cute little tush of yours out of here.”
“Nadine!”
“I might be pushing sixty, young man, but I’m not dead yet.”
He was still laughing when he climbed into the cab of his ten-year-old truck. He’d drive around for a few minutes and enjoy his coffee and muffin. Then, once the streetlights came on, he’d search for a quiet parking spot beneath one of the overhanging lamps to study before moving to his usual nighttime berth behind the church.
If he were smart, he’d hightail it over to the library for the last hour before they closed and get some extra inside time.
You just want to see the pretty blonde librarian.
Dean shook off the taunt of his inner voice. Sure, she was pretty but—no doubt—way out of his league.
What was her name again? Alice, Alora... no... Alina. Beautiful name for a beautiful lady.
Nancy Fraser a Top 100 best-selling and award-winning author. She is the 2022 winner of the NEST (National Excellence in Story Telling) award for her western historical romance, An Honorable Man for Katarina.
She's also the granddaughter of a Methodist minister known for his fire-and-brimstone approach to his faith. Nancy has brought some of his spirit into her Christian romances. And, her own off-beat sense of humor to her clean & wholesome books.
When not writing (which is almost never), Nancy dotes on her five wonderful grandchildren and looks forward to traveling and reading when time permits. Nancy lives in Atlantic Canada where she enjoys the relaxed pace and colorful people.
We're continuing our romantic stroll through the holidays with Easter romances. You can find all the Small-Town Holiday Romances on Kindle Unlimited.
Throughout the year, this same group of talented authors, along with others, will bring you stories for 4th of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years.
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Thank you for stopping by. Come back soon for a peek at the next book in this series. Until then, stay happy, stay healthy, stay well read.
Blessings,
Nancy
Congratulations Nancy! I adore your books - I'm sure this one will be no different.
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