This book was previously published with The Wild Rose Press, but I've re-edited and added to it, along with having my wonderful cover artist Tamra Westberry design a new cover.
Release date, Dec. 6th, 2011
Reviews
Got Romance Holiday Reviews ~ 5 Stars ~ “I sincerely
adored this story. Dragonfly Dreams smacks of Gift of the Magi while remaining
original, heartwarming, and honestly lovely. Dragonfly Dreams sucked me in and
held me from start to finish. Jake is sweet, kind, and noble – everything a
true romantic hero should be. Loral, on the other hand, is tough yet vulnerable
and adorable – the perfect heroine. I give this the highest rank because I
would read it again and again.” ~ Becca
Night Owl Reviews ~ Reviewer TOP PICK ~ “Ms. Netzel penned
a remarkable ending that totally surprised me and she masterfully tied all the
loose ends up for each one of her characters. This is a charming tale that
blended strength, hope and love into one fantastic story.” ~ Diana Coyle
Dragonfly Dreams, by Stacey Joy Netzel
Can a family
connection to the ill-fated Titanic bring new hope to sinking dreams?
With his
antique shop on the brink of bankruptcy, Jake Coburn knows he shouldn’t buy
costume jewelry at a price that won’t turn a profit. Then again, it’s Christmas, and he hasn’t
been able to say no to Loral Evan’s since the first time she entered his shop.
During a season of giving, Loral learns there’s a big difference between pride and dignity, and Jake’s determination to do the right thing brings rewards beyond what either of them ever dreamed of.
EXCERPT:
Loral hunched her shoulders and jogged toward the bus stop. Despite the December chill biting through her coat, humiliation still burned her cheeks. It was bad enough that she knew he knew she was desperate enough to sell their family heirlooms piece by agonizing piece, but to have him offer her money outright? Mortified didn’t begin to cover it.
The first time she’d met Jake,
her heart hadn’t stopped racing until after she’d left the antique shop and
driven half-way home. She’d been captivated by his dark good-looks the moment
she first walked through the doors, and then he’d smiled that sincere, casual
smile that reached all the way to his amber eyes. It was his smile that kept
her coming back, even though it became harder and harder to face him with her
head held high.
The worst part was she always
wondered if he paid more for the items she brought than they were worth. Though
he never paid more than the list prices she looked up at the library, it was
certainly more than he should in order to make a profit. But, unable to resist
the lure of seeing him again and again, of deepening what she hoped was a
budding friendship, she’d pushed aside her suspicion instead of finding another
dealer.
Now she knew. She didn’t have to
touch the sixteen one hundred dollar bills stuffed deep in her jeans pocket to
know they were there. One thousand dollars for the dragonfly. She snorted with
annoyance.
Sure, it was beautiful, but
she’d have seen through that ridiculous offer even if he hadn’t tried to give
her a handout moments earlier. Pain had sliced through her, because while she’d
melted inside from the heat of his electric touch on her hands, seconds later
he’d revealed he only felt sorry for her.
Well, at least it was over. She’d
sold him the last of what she and her mother owned that would bring in the
amount of cash they needed. She had no clue what they’d do next month, but now
she had no reason to see Jake Coburn again.
A lump formed in her throat. She
swallowed it down and increased her stride as fat, wet snowflakes began to sink
from the city-lit sky above her. Turning the corner, she saw the blue bus at
the end of the block, accelerating away from her stop.
“No!”
She ran faster on the slick
sidewalk, but it was no use. The taillights grew smaller and smaller until they
became a blur, blending with other vehicles and the Christmas lights twinkling
along the street.
Loral came to a defeated halt,
lungs burning, her breath pluming out to mingle with the snow as she braced her
hands on her knees. Another bus wouldn’t come for forty-five minutes, and given
the fact that she needed every damn dollar in her pocket, a cab wasn’t even a
consideration; she’d have to wait.
Headlights flashed behind her. After
a quick glance over her shoulder at a black sedan driving toward her, she
straightened and shoved her hands deep into her pockets.
She’d wait for the next bus,
just not out here on the freezing street. In the dark. Alone. Walking briskly down
the block, she waited for the car to pass. Anxiety rippled along her spine with
the realization that it’d slowed to keep pace with her. Her numb fingers curled
around the can of pepper spray at the bottom of her pocket.
“Loral? What are you doing?”
Jake’s disapproving voice jerked
her attention to the car. Her heart pounded loud in her ears. Not wanting him
to see she was cold, she hugged her arms across her middle to stop her
shivering as she peered through his passenger side window. He watched her from
his leather seats with the street light above casting light onto his head
through the sun roof. Great—nothing like adding insult to injury.
She resumed walking. “What does
it look like I’m doing?”
The engine of his car revved as
he caught up with her again. “Did your Tahoe break down? Do you need me to call
someone for you?”
Okay, just shoot me now. She glanced in the direction the bus had
disappeared, and lifted her chin while keeping her voice indifferent. “I sold the
Tahoe two months ago.”
“You’re not walking home, are
you?” The tone of his voice conveyed his disbelief. “It’s below freezing.”
A snowflake caught on her
eyelashes, she blinked it away. “I missed my bus and the next one isn’t until
eight. I can hardly just sit here and wait.”
“Can’t you call someone?”
She didn’t answer, unwilling to
explain that she not only didn’t have a cell phone, but no one to call for help.
Like she needed more of his pity tonight.
“No family?” He paused. “A
boyfriend?”
She shook her head sharply,
still walking as his car inched alongside at an idle.
“Let me give you a ride, then.”
Two years ago she would’ve
gladly accepted, following her desire to spend some time with him. Now she
forced a smile to her stiff lips and willed her teeth not to chatter. “Thanks
for the offer, but I’ll just wait for the next bus. There’s a coffee shop a few
blocks from here.”
A horn blasted behind them. Loral
flinched, glanced at the irritated driver behind them, and waved Jake onward. “Go.
Seriously, I’ll be fine.”
With a rev of the engine, his
sleek black car surged forward. She fought disappointment until he swerved
sharply into an empty parking spot halfway down the block. Her step slowed as
the impatient driver zoomed past. Jake swung from his car and strode toward her
with those long legs of his that made him tower over her five feet five inches.
“That coffee shop closes at
six,” he told her. “Not enough evening traffic.”
Just her luck. The unfairness in
her life threatened to overwhelm her, but she refused to let the useless
emotion drown her in the undertow. Things wouldn’t change until her mother was
better, and until then, she’d just deal with missed buses and closed coffee
shops.
She lifted her head to meet
Jake’s gaze, noticing how quickly the snow gathered on his dark hair. Her own
hair must be covered. She reached up a hand to brush it off, then wished she
hadn’t as the moisture made her fingers even colder and frigid air rushed under
the bottom edge of her coat. A shiver shook her shoulders.
Jake muttered under his breath
while shrugging out of his black leather jacket. Before she realized his
intent, he stepped forward and draped it around her. Immediate warmth permeated
her somewhat threadbare coat, lethally combined with the scent of leather and
man. Her senses sharpened even as the rest of the world faded away, leaving her
unable to do anything more than stare up at him.
He stood close enough to make
her knees weak, a hand on either lapel, tugging the jacket tight so she was
wrapped in a comforting cocoon of warmth. His eyes reminded her of the melted caramel
her grandmother used to drizzle over ice cream.
“Let me take you home, Loral.”
~*~
If you would like to get the rest of the story, grab your ebook copy here:
Amazon US UK CA BR DE FR ES IT JP, Nook, ARe, SW, Apple, Kobo
AudioBook
Or save by checking out my 3-in-1 Stacey Joy Netzel Novella Collection at any of the above links.
Stacey Joy Netzel
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