Welcome to the Ruby's Choice
Blog Tour,
Blog Tour,
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For my stop, I'm featuring a mini-review and excerpt!
There's also a tour-wide giveaway!!
Ruby's Choice
(Ditch Lane Diaries, Book 1)
D.F. Jones
Trade Paperback, 182 pages
D.F. Jones, Publisher
July 23,2015
Contemporary Romance, Paranormal Romance,
Urban Fantasy
Ditch Lane Diaries:
Ruby’s Choice is the debut novel by D.F. Jones and Book One of the Ditch
Lane Diaries. Ruby’s Choice is a coming-of-age story set in the late
1970’s in Middle Tennessee with a splash of paranormal which will
blossom in the second and third books of the series.
Ever since Ruby discovered an amber-encased spider web in the Campbell Ridge Cave, she has had dreams of births, deaths and glimpses into the future. Ruby’s dreams have foretold the daughter of her high school friend, Cathy, the death of her beloved Aunt Sammie, and the coming of a new love in her life. Ruby’s shift is coming to a close at Everglade General Store. As she stacks the last row of bath soap, Ruby recalls the delicious dream she had the night before. In the dream, a gorgeous guy is kissing a tickle spot, just behind her left earlobe, sending shivers up her spine. If only that dream could come true, instead of the one where a state trooper gives her a seventy-five dollar speeding ticket! Ruby snaps back to reality when she hears the store’s front door bells chime. If she didn’t know any better, she’d say the frickin’ Adonis from her sexy dream just walked through the door. Reed Jackson and Brent Brown introduce themselves to Ruby as members of the local baseball team her brother, George, manages. Brent mentions they specifically came out to the store to meet George’s hot, little sister. Ruby is slightly confused when she hears Reed murmur "Tap It" under his breath, but then she remembers the rumor going around campus about Reed and Brent’s dating game, where the two best friends compete to have a girl profess undying love to one of them. And "Tap It" is a winner takes all—all of what, though, Ruby has no clue. Ruby decides that she’ll play along, but according to her rules. She’ll suss out if either of these players is worthy of her love and respect. One thing is for sure, Ruby is no pawn. Who will be Ruby’s Choice?
Ever since Ruby discovered an amber-encased spider web in the Campbell Ridge Cave, she has had dreams of births, deaths and glimpses into the future. Ruby’s dreams have foretold the daughter of her high school friend, Cathy, the death of her beloved Aunt Sammie, and the coming of a new love in her life. Ruby’s shift is coming to a close at Everglade General Store. As she stacks the last row of bath soap, Ruby recalls the delicious dream she had the night before. In the dream, a gorgeous guy is kissing a tickle spot, just behind her left earlobe, sending shivers up her spine. If only that dream could come true, instead of the one where a state trooper gives her a seventy-five dollar speeding ticket! Ruby snaps back to reality when she hears the store’s front door bells chime. If she didn’t know any better, she’d say the frickin’ Adonis from her sexy dream just walked through the door. Reed Jackson and Brent Brown introduce themselves to Ruby as members of the local baseball team her brother, George, manages. Brent mentions they specifically came out to the store to meet George’s hot, little sister. Ruby is slightly confused when she hears Reed murmur "Tap It" under his breath, but then she remembers the rumor going around campus about Reed and Brent’s dating game, where the two best friends compete to have a girl profess undying love to one of them. And "Tap It" is a winner takes all—all of what, though, Ruby has no clue. Ruby decides that she’ll play along, but according to her rules. She’ll suss out if either of these players is worthy of her love and respect. One thing is for sure, Ruby is no pawn. Who will be Ruby’s Choice?
From this short excerpt, I can see that this is
a totally delicious romantic read!
(After all, that's how the author describes
Ruby's dream.) And there are two very
scrumptious male leads, too. I can't make up
my mind which one I find more attractive,
either. Ah, choices, choices! And that's exactly
what this novel is all about -- romantic choices.
I like the paranormal angle, too. In fact, I
prefer romance novels that include
this element. Reality can be soooo boring....
This book sounds anything but,
which is why I'm looking forward to reading it!
a totally delicious romantic read!
(After all, that's how the author describes
Ruby's dream.) And there are two very
scrumptious male leads, too. I can't make up
my mind which one I find more attractive,
either. Ah, choices, choices! And that's exactly
what this novel is all about -- romantic choices.
I like the paranormal angle, too. In fact, I
prefer romance novels that include
this element. Reality can be soooo boring....
This book sounds anything but,
which is why I'm looking forward to reading it!
Ruby straightened her spine, lifted her chin, looked Dreamy straight in his eyes, and flashed him a Colgate Ultra Brite smile. "Will that be all for you today?"
Mr. Dreamy said, Yes, ma'am. This is it. Y'all been busy today?" His voice had a sweet Southern drawl.
Ruby began ringing up their items on the cash register. "Yes. Fridays and Saturdays are the worst." She tossed a glance over her shoulder to make Mr. Burns hadn't heard her. Green Eyes turned to see who she was looking at and then turned back to her and winked.
"You're safe; he's not looking." He paused slightly and then said, "Hey, we're looking for Ditch Lane. George Glenn invited us to a party there tonight. Would you mind giving me directions?"
Ruby placed their items in a brown paper bag. Her head shot up when she heard the bells chime from the store door opening again, and more people came. Crap, it's time to close. Don't people ever read the hours on the front door? She looked back to the guys at the counter. "That'll be sixty-five cents." She paused and then said, "George Glenn? He's my brother."
Dreamy placed sixty-five cents on the counter and leaned in a little too close. "I didn't realize George had such a pretty sister. I'm Reed Jackson, and this is my friend, Brent Brown."
Ruby picked up the money and opened the register drawer, dropping the coins in their specified slots, and said casually, "Nice to meet you. I'm Ruby."
Reed pulled his drink out of the bag and popped the top. "Well, hello, Ruby. I like your name. It's a good ole Southern name."
Good ole Southern name...is he joking? She smiled inwardly -- surely he had a better pickup line. Ruby's name had been in the Glenn family tree for generations.
Brent reached for the bag and pulled out his drink and Snickers bar. He handed the empty bag back to Ruby. "We're playing on your brother's baseball team this summer. Do you ever come out and watch him play?"
Ruby noticed the other customers in the store were nearly finished shopping, and then she returned her attention to Brent. "I haven't seen him play this year, but I'll make it to one of his baseball games before the season ends."
George had formed an adult men's baseball team to compete in the Williamson County League in Franklin. He looked for talent around the Middle Tennessee area to play on his team. She wondered where George had found these two. Ruby planned on getting the scoop on Reed and Brent tomorrow when she went swimming with George's wife, Lizzie.
Ruby watched Reed as he turned his head around to check out the other shoppers in the store. There was a little boy who was running up and down the aisle with a toy wind fan, and his mother was shouting to the boy to put it back. The little boy was screeching, refusing to let go of the toy.
Reed shook his head and turned his attention back to her. Reed's gaze flickered to her lips and then rose back up to her eyes, which made her nervously shift her feet. Her palms began to sweat.
Reed lifted a brow and then asked, "So, are you going to the party tonight?"
Ruby sat back on the little stool behind the counter and crossed her arms. Her knee was unconsciously bouncing up and down. She tried to exude a laid-back attitude, but her blood thundered through her veins. "Yeah, I'm meeting some friends there later."
Reed placed his arm on the glass bin, leaned closer, and asked, with a sly and very sexy sideways grin, "Are they girl friends or guy friends?"
Ruby arched her brow and leaned closer to him. "Both."
Brent and Reed both laughed loudly at Ruby's comeback. Brent slapped Reed on the back and said, "She's got your number, brother." Reed shrugged his right shoulder and took a step back.
Little Tommy, the kid who had been running the aisle, was throwing a huge temper tantrum now as his mother physically removed the toy from his fingers. Mr. Burns walked out of his office to go talk with the boy's mother. He rustled the hair on the boy's head and Ruby overheard Mr. Burns tell Tommy's mom the boy could have the toy.
Ruby's eyes were drawn back to Brent. He straightened his shoulders and flexed his chest muscles, as he rubbed his hand down his bicep. Dang, that boy is off the charts! Brent placed his arm on the register. "So, what time are you going?"
"I have to close tonight, so probably in an hour or so. Why?" Brent stepped around the counter and whispered in her ear, "So I can kiss you."
Reed shook his head, laughing under his breath. Brent stepped back and shoved his hands in his pockets. He looked so cool -- like he expected her to fall at his feet or something.
Brent reached for the bag and pulled out his drink and Snickers bar. He handed the empty bag back to Ruby. "We're playing on your brother's baseball team this summer. Do you ever come out and watch him play?"
Ruby noticed the other customers in the store were nearly finished shopping, and then she returned her attention to Brent. "I haven't seen him play this year, but I'll make it to one of his baseball games before the season ends."
George had formed an adult men's baseball team to compete in the Williamson County League in Franklin. He looked for talent around the Middle Tennessee area to play on his team. She wondered where George had found these two. Ruby planned on getting the scoop on Reed and Brent tomorrow when she went swimming with George's wife, Lizzie.
Ruby watched Reed as he turned his head around to check out the other shoppers in the store. There was a little boy who was running up and down the aisle with a toy wind fan, and his mother was shouting to the boy to put it back. The little boy was screeching, refusing to let go of the toy.
Reed shook his head and turned his attention back to her. Reed's gaze flickered to her lips and then rose back up to her eyes, which made her nervously shift her feet. Her palms began to sweat.
Reed lifted a brow and then asked, "So, are you going to the party tonight?"
Ruby sat back on the little stool behind the counter and crossed her arms. Her knee was unconsciously bouncing up and down. She tried to exude a laid-back attitude, but her blood thundered through her veins. "Yeah, I'm meeting some friends there later."
Reed placed his arm on the glass bin, leaned closer, and asked, with a sly and very sexy sideways grin, "Are they girl friends or guy friends?"
Ruby arched her brow and leaned closer to him. "Both."
Brent and Reed both laughed loudly at Ruby's comeback. Brent slapped Reed on the back and said, "She's got your number, brother." Reed shrugged his right shoulder and took a step back.
Little Tommy, the kid who had been running the aisle, was throwing a huge temper tantrum now as his mother physically removed the toy from his fingers. Mr. Burns walked out of his office to go talk with the boy's mother. He rustled the hair on the boy's head and Ruby overheard Mr. Burns tell Tommy's mom the boy could have the toy.
Ruby's eyes were drawn back to Brent. He straightened his shoulders and flexed his chest muscles, as he rubbed his hand down his bicep. Dang, that boy is off the charts! Brent placed his arm on the register. "So, what time are you going?"
"I have to close tonight, so probably in an hour or so. Why?" Brent stepped around the counter and whispered in her ear, "So I can kiss you."
Reed shook his head, laughing under his breath. Brent stepped back and shoved his hands in his pockets. He looked so cool -- like he expected her to fall at his feet or something.
******
Ruby's hand rested on top of the cash register. Brent gently picked up her hand and rubbed his thumb across the top. "I'll be looking for you, sweet girl."
She stared at Brent but didn't reply as she nervously bit her bottom lip. She had been unconsciously holding her breath. When they walked out the door, she let out a sigh. Ruby turned her attention to ringing up the last customers of the day.
Did that just really happen? Those two guys are smoking hot.
D.F. Jones is a native of Middle Tennessee, and is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University. After college, she landed a job with the ABC affiliate in Nashville, as a broadcast consultant. She opened her advertising agency in 1998.
After years of doing creative writing for
other people through her media company, she decided to write something for
herself. It turned into her debut novel, Ruby’s Choice. If you love to read and
get immersed into the characters of a book, then you will catch a small drift
of how incredible it is to write your own characters and breathe them into
life.
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I love your blog. Thank you so much for the spotlight and mini-review! You're the best!
ReplyDelete~D.F. Jones
Hi, D.F.!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome for the spotlight and the mini-review! I began including such reviews, which deal with spotlight excerpts, some time ago, so as to include something original in this type of post. Glad you liked it!
Thanks for complimenting my blog! Music to my ears! And thanks for the overall lovely comment!! ::