Engaged in Trouble (Enchanted Events Book 1)
Page 29
Home was a gas station that offered fried chicken and live bait. It was a Sunday handshake in church from someone who knew you before and after you’d risen from the baptismal waters as a Barbie-toting seven-year-old. It was a walk to the Civil War battlefield, where oak and maple trees joined hands and lucky day-trippers still happened upon arrowheads and musket balls—reminders that life does go on, yet a part of us will always remain. It was sitting on the front porch on a fall Friday night, where you could hear the high school football game, the announcer’s rich voice carried on the backs of fireflies and evening breezes. It was driving by a white house that used to be pink, and every time you passed you thought of a beloved great-aunt and her deft way with a piecrust.
This was home.
For most of my life I’d wanted nothing to do with it.
But it welcomed me back all the same, gathered me to its freshly laundered bosom, and said, “Child, I’m gonna love you anyway.”
Home.
Dear Reader,
The Enchanted Events series is my love letter to my home and small towns everywhere. I grew up in a small town and still love the life. Though Sugar Creek is a fictional town, Sugar Creek itself is a very real geographic area and water system in the northwest corner of Arkansas. My imaginary Sugar Creek is located by a real city called Bentonville, which, as the series states, is a unique mix of Mayberry meets Los Angeles. Due to Bentonville being the home base of WalMart, it’s not uncommon to go to the picturesque town square and see a celebrity or two, especially during certain times of the year. This corner of Arkansas is an odd (but fun) mix of rural and city, and I hope you enjoyed reading about it as much as I loved writing about it.
The sweet town of Sugar Creek can also be found in A Sugar Creek Christmas, Emma and Noah’s romance, as well as Wild Heart Summer, a romance novella set on Mitchell Crawford’s ranch. And don’t forget Sylvie has a crazy sister Maxine, who stars in her own series, A Katie Parker Production.
Stay tuned for more mystery and mayhem with the next Enchanted Events mystery, hitting shelves late this summer. Sign up for my newsletter to get a free ebook and be the first to know when new books are on the horizon.
Happy reading to you all!
Jenny
Acknowledgments
I had a lot of help writing this book. Enormous thanks to:
Beverly Jones, for making sure your kids knew who Miss Marple and Jessica Fletcher were.
Kristin Kathryn Rusch, for totally kicking my tail in a mystery writing intensive and being the first to say, “Hey, have you thought about writing cozies?”
Sibella Giorello, for holding my hand during that destined writing intensive we both barely survived. (Have we picked out our tattoos for that yet?) Thank you for all your advice and encouragement.
Officer Will Gardner, for letting me throw a hundred legal questions at you and for answering every one. “So, if I bashed someone over the head with a bottle, what would that look like . . .?”
Michael Simonson, for your help with medical procedure, as my own knowledge base didn’t go beyond Ninja Turtle Band-Aids.
Army Lieutenant Colonel Brian Easley, who was a HUGE help in creating the character Beau Hudson’s backstory. Thanks for “getting it” and for the info. It was a missing piece (or two) I needed. Hey, have you ever been to San Antonio. . .?
Jocelyn Bailey, for your friendship, your support, and for making this book so much better, thanks to your editing eagle eye.
Rel Mollet, for catching manuscript errors, for your Richard Armitage appreciation, and for the way you encourage and promote authors like no other.
Carina Paredes, for giving me the name Bayonet for a Sugar Creek restaurant. I appreciate your creativity!
Reba Buhr, a fabulous actress and a genius at audio book narration. Thank you for bringing the series alive.
My beloved readers, who are simply the best. That you’d give up moments of your life to read words I wrote never ceases to humble me (and baffle me). Thank you for every book, every page turn, every review, every email, and every kind word.
And finally, thanks be to God for giving me the opportunity to write about kissing and killing.
(Any errors in the book are my own, despite harassing many experts on various topics related to the book.)
About the Author
Award-winning, best-selling author Jenny B. Jones writes romance, mystery, and YA with sass and Southern charm. Since she has very little free time, Jenny believes in spending her spare hours in meaningful, intellectual pursuits, such as eating ice cream, watching puppy videos, and reading celebrity gossip. She lives in the beautiful state of Arkansas and has worked in public education for half of forever. She loves bluegrass, a good laugh, and strong tea. She adores hearing from readers.
For information contact:
Jen@jennybjones.com
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