Justin's Body of Work
by Janice L. Dennie
A Woman in Denial
Ashley Jacobs relishes in providing her customers with a soothing and healing environment at her day spa in the Silverado area of Napa Valley. She maintains her even temper and peace of mind, avoiding anger at all costs. But when she faces a vicious lawsuit, from someone she least suspects, her peace of mind comes to a complete halt.
A Modern Day Knight
Justin Underwood is a successful attorney with a stellar resume and a body of work that consists of winning civil rights cases for the disenfranchised. The moment he hears Ashley’s sultry voice and feels her gentle touch, he finds comfort simply by being in her presence. He becomes hopelessly drawn to the siren with the sexy bedroom eyes.
But Ashley has a family secret that prevents her from totally committing to Justin. After taking her case, he watches her coast along, with her head in the clouds, turning a blind eye to the facts of her lawsuit. Can Justin get Ashley to commit to him, and open her eyes to the facts surrounding her lawsuit? Can Ashley overcome her family’s secret that prevents her future happiness?
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http://www.amazon.com/Justins-Body-Work-Underwoods-Valley-ebook/dp/B00U54S8IC
THE UNDERWOOD’S OF NAPA VALLEY SERIES
The Underwood brothers have inherited the character DNA of their male ancestors, a line of old fashioned southern gentlemen who took great pride in protecting their families. The matriarch of the family, Henrietta Underwood, has dubbed each one of her five grandchildren with a character trait.
As the eldest brother, Kenton Underwood is “the protective one.” He’s protective of his family and environment, and stays busy running his family’s winery. Kenton has no room for love until he meets sexy, understated, Briana Rutledge, who finds a special place in his heart. Justin Underwood is “the strong one.” He’s the hotshot civil rights attorney who carries his family with his strength in the court of law. He fights, in court, to protect the woman he loves.
But, Ashley Jacobs, has a family secret that prevents her from totally committing to Justin. The Underwood’s of Napa Valley series takes place in a romantic setting that enhances love, passion and relationships, and changes personalities forever.
CHAPTER 1
Unedited Book Excerpt: ARC version
Ashley Jacobs drove her Mazda Miata convertible in the warm morning sun humming to the song “Happy” by Pharrell Williams. She was happy because she’d just read an online review in the Napa Register News about her spa. Ashley’s Day Spa in Napa Valley is a hidden jewel that provides its customers with a tranquil and healing environment to rest and rejuvenate.
Her day spa was a jewel because she trained her employees to create a peaceful and harmonious environment at work. She taught them to approach customers with an even-tempered attitude, at all costs.
Ashley drove up the circular driveway and listened in horror as Christina, her female masseuse, and India, her top hair stylist, argued with voices so loud that she could hear them from her car.
Ashley entered her spa through the elegant glass doors and stopped at the receptionist desk. The arguing immediately stopped.
“What’s the matter Chris?” Ashley asked her best friend in a soothing voice.
“India is calling me names.” Christina held her hands on her hips.
Ashley placed her briefcase and purse on the reception desk and walked over to Christina. Taking her by the hand, Ashley led Christina to the massage chairs in the manicure room.
“Have a seat Chris. I want to talk to you.”
Ashley and Christina met each other in middle school when both of their father’s served in Desert Storm, and a time in their lives, when they were both awkward tweens. When they turned sixteen, Ashley had developed into a beautiful young woman, but Christina developed into a unattractive young woman with bad skin, that she concealed with heavy makeup.
“India come and have a seat with me. I want to talk to you.” Ashley took India by the hand and led her to the massage chairs in the manicure room. She sat between the two women.
“This is a place of healing. Our priority here is to provide our customers with a peaceful and relaxing environment, so we cannot have any arguing.”
“But Christina is always flirting with every man that walks through the door.” India barked out.
“This wouldn’t have anything to do with the new barber I just hired, would it?”
“That’s what this is all about,” India said. “Christina is already dating the man.”
Christina gave India a cool look. “You’re just mad because he didn’t ask you out.”
“Ashley’s Spa has standards of conduct. I had gone over all of that with both of you before you started working here. I’ll remind you again that arguing in this establishment is off-limits. If you two must argue, wait until you are off work and away from these premises. Do you both understand me?”
Christina turned away and inspected her nails. India nodded and turned her face away from Christina.
Ashley’s voice had a soothing effect on them.
“Now, while both of you are at work, I expect you to respect each other. No cursing or gossiping or loud voices. Why don’t you both come into the kitchen and have a cup of chamomile tea with me? There are some positive things that I want you to know about each other.”
The two women acted cordially toward each other in front of Ashley, but Christina cut her eyes at India, giving her an evil look, indicating that this fight was not over. Ashley put the entire incident behind her. She shared her thoughts on some of their positive attributes over a cup of tea. After the discussion, both women went back to their workstations, with a better attitude.
Ashley walked into her office and sat down at her desk. She twisted in her chair thinking about the changes she wanted to make to expand her spa. She wanted to add three more workstations, two more shampoo bowls, two hair dryers and another massage room in the back of the spa near the whirlpool.
An hour later, a man delivered an envelope requiring a signature to Amara, the receptionist, and water therapist.
“I need a signature for this letter.”
Amara looked at the letter and thought it looked important. “Please wait while I get the owner.”
Ashley came out and signed the letter. After opening it, she saw that it was a personal injury lawsuit naming Ashley’s Spa as the defendant and Kimberly Lewis as the plaintiff suffering from a neck injury caused by a massage at the spa.
She and Christina were the only masseuses at the spa. Ashley’s mouth went dry. She tried to remember, but the plaintiff’s name didn’t ring a bell. She’d never met a client named Kimberly Lewis. She picked up the appointment book and took it with her to her office.
“Everything okay?” Amara’s eyes clung to Ashley when she removed the appointment book.
“I’ll bring it back. I want to check something.” Ashley walked away from Amara. “I’ll be in my office if anyone needs me.”
Ashley sat silently for a long time on her white leather sofa in her office. She had a tendency to bottle up her feelings, in an effort to remain even-tempered. Crossing her legs, she leaned back and continued to read the document. She saw that the plaintiff was claiming damages in the amount of $250,000.
CHAPTER 15
Unedited Book Excerpt: ARC version
Ashley drove beneath a freeway underpass, near downtown Napa’s historic district. Suddenly the earth trembled under her car. She immediately stopped the car to wait out the quake. Earthquakes were nothing new to her; she’d been in several before that never lasted more than thirty seconds, but this one wouldn’t stop. Suddenly a large piece of concrete fell on top of her hood. “What?” she shouted out loud. Then a second piece of concrete fell onto her roof. Suddenly, pieces of concrete came tumbling down on the side of her car from the overpass. She rolled up her windows to keep the dust from flying inside her car. Concrete began falling in large and small pieces from the foundation of the highway overpass. She thought she was going to die.
Within minutes, her car was surrounded with concrete blocking out all sunlight. She tried to open her car door in the darkness, but it wouldn’t move. Finally, the earthquake stopped. There was an eerie silence all around her. After a few minutes, she heard the sound of fire engines.
Stunned, Ashley sat completely still. Then her lips began to tremble. The color drained from her face as she faced the stark reality of her situation. Fortunately, the falling concrete hadn’t crushed the roof of her car. She rolled down her window just enough so that the dust and pieces of concrete wouldn’t come inside.
“Help,” she screamed out with tears welling in her eyes. But no one heard her cry for help. “Calm down Ashley, you can deal with this,” she said out loud. Think; she uttered.
She reached for her handbag and then remembered that she’d left it at home. She was so angry and in such a hurry to catch up with Christina, that she left her handbag with her cell phone on the sofa.
What was she going to do to survive this tragedy? She refused to be a victim. Justin had told her to face her problems head on and get her head out of the clouds. She began to think of how to get out of this situation. She knew she had some tire changing tools in the trunk of her car. Maybe if she could get to some tools, she could push away some of the concrete. She climbed over the seat and lowered the armrest that opened up to the trunk. She reached through and found a safety kit containing a flashlight, bottled water, and other emergency equipment. Then she felt a crowbar.
She climbed over the driver seat, rolled down the window a bit, and began hitting the concrete with the straight end of the crowbar. Maybe someone would hear her or maybe she could dig her way out.
She worked with the crowbar for over an hour making little progress. She wished she would have stayed at home. All she could do now was continue using the crowbar to make a path. She took a quick break before, taking a sip of water from one of the bottles in the emergency kit.
Before the earthquake, Ashley had broken up with Justin. Now, being stuck in this situation made her realize how much she loved Justin, and how wrong she’d been.
( Continued... )
© 2015 All rights reserved. Note: Unedited Book Excerpt. Book excerpt reprinted by permission of the author, Janice L. Dennie. Do not reproduce, copy or use without the author's written permission. This excerpt is used for promotional purposes only.
Purchase Justin's Body of Work by Janice L. Dennie
The Underwood's of Napa Valley Book 2
About the Author
Veteran author, JANICE L. DENNIE, has returned with a heartwarming new romance set in California’s lush Napa Valley. Kenton’s Vintage Affair, book 1 in the Underwood’s of Napa Valley series, introduces the reader to the fictitious Underwood family, owners of a successful winery in Napa Valley. Justin's Body of Work (The Underwood's of Napa Valley Book 2) will be available on May 15, 2015.
Janice began her her writing career in 1997 with her debut novel, The Lion of Judah. Her second novel, Moon Goddess Queen of Sheba, was published in August 1999.
Janice was born in Denver, Colorado and raised in Northern California. After graduating from college, she began working for a federal agency. However, writing has always been her passion. Janice services her community through various charities, and non-profit organizations. She currently writes full-time and lives in Northern California with her family.
Visit Janice's website at: www.janicedennie.com
Find her books here: www.amazon.com/Janice-L.-Dennie/e/B000APUISO
WHAT’S SO ROMANTIC ABOUT NAPA VALLEY?
By Janice L. Dennie
JUSTIN’S BODY OF WORK, Book 2, in The Underwood's of Napa Valley series is scheduled to be released on May 15, 2015. I decided to describe the wine country for those who have never heard of Napa Valley. It is a region in Northern California filled with vineyards, wineries, fine restaurants, quaint bed and breakfasts, spas, boutiques and art galleries.
The Underwood brothers have inherited the character DNA of their male ancestors, a line of old fashioned southern gentlemen who took great pride in protecting their families. The matriarch of the family, Henrietta Underwood, wants to marry off all five of her adult grandchildren to loving spouses. She has dubbed each one with a character trait. As the eldest brother, Kenton Underwood is “the protective one.” He’s protective of his family and environment, and stays busy running his family’s winery. Kenton has no room for love until he meets sexy, understated, Briana Rutledge, who finds a special place in his heart.
The next brother, Justin Underwood is “the strong one.” He’s the passionate civil rights attorney, a modern day knight in shining armor, who fights to protect the woman he loves in the court of law. But, Ashley Jacobs, has a family secret that prevents her from totally committing to Justin. There are three more siblings in the series who have their stories to tell.
The Underwood’s of Napa Valley series takes a look at a family that enhances love and relationships in the wine country, and changes personalities forever.
Amazon.com Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/janicedennie
Kenton's Vintage Affair
by Janice L. Dennie
Unemployed chef, Briana Rutledge, inherits a cottage on one thousand acres of land in California’s Napa Valley, making her a millionaire. She sets out to turn the cottage into her dream restaurant. But others have agendas to destroy Briana and her plans.
The Underwood brothers have inherited the character DNA of their male ancestors, a line of old fashioned southern gentlemen who took great pride in protecting women and children. As the eldest brother, Kenton Underwood has been betrayed and no longer believes women need his protection. He has no room for love until he meets sexy, understated, Briana Rutledge, who finds a special place in his heart. But Briana harbors a deep seated fear that prevents their future happiness. Kenton has also been scarred by an obsession that fuels his competitive behavior. Can their relationship survive Kenton’s obsession and Briana’s fear?
Excerpt from Kenton's Vintage Affair by Janice L. Dennie
Listen to the author reading from the book: http://www.audioacrobat.com/note/CPT6vSfx
“Want some wine?”
“Sure, I’ll have a glass.”
Kenton walked over to the butler’s pantry to select a bottle of wine. He grabbed two red wine glasses, a corkscrew and walked back to the sofa. After leaving the wine bottle on the coffee table, he walked over to his Bose docking station and selected the John Legend song, Best You Ever Had from his iPod. As the music began to play, and the base thumped, Kenton sang along with the song. Baby tonight’s the night….
The excitement of hearing Kenton’s melodic voice singing along with the music added shine to Briana’s eyes. She watched Kenton hold out his hands beckoning her to dance with him. He pulled her up from the sofa. “Come on baby let’s dance.” A faint light twinkled in the depths of his eyes when he pulled her up, holding her around her waist. He pressed her body to his, spinning, swaying and dipping her. Briana realized he was stepping Chicago style. Determined to keep up with his pace, Briana felt dizzy following his lead. She hadn’t stepped in a long time, but the movements came back, like riding a bike. Briana felt alive dancing, spinning, swaying, dipping and twirling in Kenton’s arms.
Kenton complimented her. “You’re a good dancer,” he said, holding her in his embrace. He continued to sing along with the song. I don’t wanna brag…. Briana grinned and leaned her head back in delight. He slowed down, and sang into her hair I’ll be the best you’ve ever had….
“You remembered my favorite artist.” Briana closed her eyes as she laughed. The sound of the music, the smoothness of Kenton’s dancing and singing fascinated Briana. Kenton was the best man she’d ever known.
“How could I forget?” Kenton said in between words to the song.
Briana began to sing along with Kenton. They sang her favorite part simultaneously with loud voices, the best you ever had…. They both paused for a few seconds which felt like an eternity. Within seconds, Briana snapped back into real time, although she felt as if she’d been hanging in space for hours. Looking into Kenton’s eyes, she melted in the tenderness of his gaze.
Kenton twirled her around and then pulled her close. Staring into her eyes, he gave Briana a smoldering look. “How did you like that?”
( Continues... )
Copyright © 2014 by Janice L. Dennie. All rights reserved. Book excerpt reprinted by permission of the author, Janice L. Dennie. This excerpt is used for promotional purposes only. Do not reproduce, copy or use without the publisher's written permission. Copyright infringement is a serious offense. Share a link to this page or the author's website if you like this promotional excerpt.
Purchase Kenton's Vintage Affair by Janice L. Dennie
The Underwood's of Napa Valley Book 1
Contemporary African American Romance
Print or eBook: http://amzn.com/B00NS4KW0I
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