today’s book: Right Here Waiting
Happy Thursday once again! Even though Christmas is over, I still think it counts until New Year’s Day, so I am continuing our annual blog series spotlighting (over 60 this year) new and recently-released Christmas reads! So… snuggle in, grab your fave hot beverage and comfiest blanket, turn on some Christmas tunes if you aren’t sick of them yet and continue your bookish Christmas list! Oh… and did I mention there are GIVEAWAYS with EACH POST in this series??!! (Because authors are awesome!)
Today’s next featured book is a twist on You’ve Got Mail (yay!), and author Michelle Sass Aleckson shares an excerpt!
RIGHT HERE WAITING by Michelle Sass Aleckson
SERIES: Deep Haven Collection #6 / Susan May Warren Presents
GENRE: Inspirational Contemporary Romance
PUBLISHER: Sunrise Publishing
RELEASE DATE: November 9, 2021
PAGES: 287
affiliate links used
The winding dirt road climbed farther up the forested incline while the late morning sun played hide and seek with the clouds and tree branches overhead. Stark white birch branches waved high above the hood of Jae’s Subaru while stately evergreens stood tall and resolute on the hillside.
Absolutely gorgeous.
Jae checked the navigation on her panel with a glance. Nick’s vlog, Get Lost in the Woods, wasn’t too far off. It certainly wouldn’t be hard to do out here.
Everything surrounding her sang of fresh air and beauty—the perfect place to start a new adventure.
Jae’s phone rang through the Bluetooth speaker, interrupting her reverie.
“Hey, Daddy.”
“How’s my Sugar-Blossom doing?” Her father’s Texas twang came through the speaker loud and clear. “Did ya make it to Minnesoooota yet?”
She laughed at his awful attempt at the Minnesotan accent. She could picture him standing on her grandparents’ front porch, leaning against the post and sipping a dark Italian roast coffee out of an enamel mug. His gray-streaked brown hair would be hidden beneath his favorite black Stetson, his plaid shirt tucked neatly into his Levi’s and his cowboy boots caked with dust and dirt.
“I made it in last night.”
“And how is it? Did you meet Ronnie and Cole?”
“Yeah, they were great. Just like you said.”
“I tell ya, those two got more guts than you could hang on a fence. I’m glad they can watch over you.”
“Daddy, I can take care of myself. I don’t need watchin’.” And there went her own non-twangy accent she’d worked so hard to cultivate. She rolled her eyes at her own slip. “So, how’s Omma?”
“Your mama is just fine. Happens to be right here next to me making me the most blessed man in the great state of Texas. Mimi and Pap are in town picking up a few things.” His voice became muffled. “What’s that? … Yeah. … I’ll ask her.”
“Daddy?”
“Darlin’, your mama wants to know if you’ll be down here for Thanksgiving.”
“I wish I could, but I won’t have any vacation time yet. I’ll see what I can do to get down there before you go back overseas.”
“Maybe Christmas we can fly up there. Sure do miss ya, darlin’.”
“I miss you too, Daddy. I think you’ll like it up here if you come visit. Lots of forest and hills. And Lake Superior is incredible.” A glance out her driver’s side window showed a break in the trees. The sapphire lake horizon stretched wide, as far as she could see.
“Doesn’t it get mighty cold up there? I’m still surprised you’re trading the blue Texas skies for the frozen tundra.”
“The cold isn’t too bad.” When she didn’t think about it. Yes, she’d had to don her sweatshirt and bathrobe as well as her thickest socks before she could fall asleep last night, but the headquarters building was so big. Surely once she found a small, cozy apartment, she’d be fine. Besides, though people might try to treat her like one because of her size, she was no delicate flower. “Texas was okay for a while, but…I need to find my own place, Daddy. And I think this is it.”
“I get you have to find your place, but did you have to sell everything? You could’ve kept your furniture in storage or paid rent on your apartment another month or two until you were certain it would work. Or taken a leave of absence instead of quittin’ your job.”
Jae remembered Nick’s video he’d posted the day she was offered the Deep Haven job, his direct gaze coming through her screen as he’d pointed to the camera and spoken. “If you’re going to do something in life, don’t do it halfway. Give it everything. Don’t leave yourself an escape. Burn the ships and move on with the conviction that your only way through is to move forward.”
She’d heard that and she’d known. She had to do this.
Michelle Sass Aleckson, Right Here Waiting
© Sunrise Media Group, 2021. Used by permission.
Michelle Sass Aleckson lives the country life in central Minnesota with her own hero and their four kids. She loves rocking out to 80’s music on a Saturday night and getting lost in good stories-especially stories that shine grace. And if you’re wondering, yes, Sass is her maiden name. Visit Michelle at www.michellealeckson.com.
Susan May Warren is the USA Today best-selling novelist of 80 books. With more than 1.5 million books in print, she is beloved by reviewers and readers around the world. Visit Susan at www.susanmaywarren.com.
Michelle Sass Aleckson is offering a print copy of Right Here Waiting to one of my readers! (US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.) This giveaway is subject to Reading Is My SuperPower’s giveaway policies which can be found here. Enter via the Rafflecopter form below.
What about you? What makes you want to read Right Here Waiting by Michelle Sass Aleckson?
Sounds like a good read.
This sounds so good! And I love Susan May Warren books!
It’s been awhile since I read one of her books, and this one sounds really good.
Sounds really great
I would love to read this book, thank you so much for the giveaway.
Wonderful author and captivating story.
Love the “You’ve Got Mail” vibe!
This sounds like a fabulous book. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you. Happy New Year.
It sounds like a really interesting book. Thank you for sharing.
Love her books. Thanks.
I enjoy reading books that are set in Minnesota (my home state!) & books w/ dogs too!
Sounds like a great book!
sounds interesting
I want to read this because it sounds like it will be an amazing read
I want to read the book because it sounds like it would be a fun read.
I’ve been hearing good things about this Susan May Warren spin-off series.
The book sounds awesome. Thanks for this absolutely amazing giveaway.
I love her stories!
this story reminds me of a friend who sold everything and moved to Alaska, but missed his hometown and went back with his tail between his legs. Jae seems like a strong woman who knows what she wants and knows what she’s going to do to get there. I like the twist with a musher who needs to be rescued.
The synopsis and excerpt make me want to read this book. I love the winter, snow and dogs!