Welcome to my stop on the NBtM virtual book tour for Parallax by Dixie Jackson. This book tour was organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. On my stop, I have an excerpt from the book as well as a fabulous guest post from the author. There's also a tour wide giveaway for a chance to win a $50 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card. Be sure to visit the other stops on the tour for more content. Enjoy!
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Title: ParallaxSeries: S3 #1
Author: Dixie Jackson
Publisher: Paisley Creek Writers
Publication Date: October 1st 2020
Print Length: 217 pages
Genre: Romantic Suspense
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Six years later, Trent Wayland still isn’t over his spring fling. Probably because he was convinced when he married Captain Leila O’Neil, their fling would go on a lifetime. Leila is his soul mate and Trent knows it. He might not admit it on a regular basis, but that doesn’t negate the raw emotion she draws out of him each and every time he thinks about her. Forget the fact his heart splits in two all over again when he’s afforded the luxury of hearing her voice. That doesn’t happen often, however. Leila only tosses a handful of words his way when she initiates the weekly video calls he’s allowed with the other love of his life, their daughter Lucy.
Once upon a time, Leila O’Neil wanted to be a Marine when she grew up. She worked hard, she landed a seat at the Academy, and she was the head of her class. Then her dream was destroyed and she traded it in for a new one at the nearest Coterie portal. She wears so many faces and so many hats, at some point she lost track of her soul. That didn’t really bother her until Trent Wayland came along and almost peeled her dressing room curtain back nearly exposing her innermost person. The real person, the real Leila, who once upon a time wanted to be a Marine when she grew up.
Leila misses the real person, and realizes it at the worst possible moment. With her daughter’s life on the line and Trent on the scene of the crime, Leila figures out she’s been using her hurt and anger to fuel all the wrong goals. In a daring move, she puts it all on the line, hoping it’s enough to gain her freedom from her handlers and her husband’s forgiveness.
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EXCERPT:
“Does your mother know?” Trent asked. “Does she at least know you’re alive?”
“No. No one in the real world does. Well, except you.” Leila waved one hand toward him then jerked it back and tucked her hair behind her ear. “Now you do.”
For a few bloated moments, Trent just stared at her with a look in his eyes which told Leila he was trying hard to wrap his head around what she’d just revealed, but was having a hard time making two ends meet.
“You need to pack.” Standing, Trent stuffed his hands in his pockets and shrugged. “We’re moving out of here within the hour.”
With his eyes to the floor, he shuffled away, left the room, and didn’t look back.
Leila pulled her hands down her face, growled, and flopped back onto the bed. Insufferable daddy issues. Why hadn’t she just sought the counsel of a good therapist instead of trying to be super daughter? But no. Absolutely not. She couldn’t let life be that easy. Leila had to take the hardest route she could map out. Except now she was lost along the road in a blinding snow storm with no GPS. Honestly, at this point, she didn’t even have a Cracker Jack box compass.
Easing back up, Leila palmed the top of her head and sighed. Pack? A half-chuckle popped out of her. When was the last time she’d been on assignment without Lucy and a situation presented itself requiring her to bug out?
She didn’t want to do this anymore.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Born and raised in the heart of the Ozarks, Dixie Jackson learned a love of the written word at a young age. She remembers spinning tales before she could even write them down, but it was the encouragement of her sixth-grade creative writing teacher which would plant the idea that just never seemed to go away. She wanted to someday see her works in print.
Dixie makes her home in the Great Smoky Mountains with her retired Marine husband, two rescue dogs, and her beloved chickens. When she’s not writing, you can find her digging in the dirt and nurturing her plants while plotting the next step in one story line or another. She also loves experimenting in her kitchen, embroidering, quilting, crocheting, tracing her family’s twisted tree, and of course reading.
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GUEST POST:
Where Have You Been My Whole Life?
by Dixie Jackson
by Dixie Jackson
Hi, y’all! Thanks so much to All the Ups and Downs for hosting my tour today. I’m so excited to be here and interact with all the readers.
When I opened my proverbial envelope revealing the topic of discussion, I really had to smile, because…
Yes! I absolutely believe in soulmates! I believe in soulmates because I married mine.
I know that’s a really short answer and not post worthy, but that’s the short of it. The long of it is…
Twenty-four years ago, I was a single mom working in a factory to make ends meet, even though I hold an advanced degree or three or so, whatever. You do what you have to do when the chips are down and you have a growing six-year-old boy to clothe and feed. I was freshly divorced and wasn’t looking for Mr. Right, or Mr. Anything for that matter. I’d sworn off men and was focusing on me. Then, as fate would have it, I was out celebrating with my family for my brother-in-law’s birthday, in a smoky bar just outside the Army base I grew up near, and saw my future husband. Although, at the moment I saw him I was sure he was a first-class jerk. (Yes, he knows he was giving off that vibe. He wasn’t looking for Mrs. Right or Mrs. Anything either. He was also freshly off the separated train.)
We tip-toed around each other all evening and toward the end of the night, a kid headed my way as though he was going to ask for the next dance and I was looking all around hunting a hidey-hole to avoid this guy in parachute pants. In steps my Marine in dusty cammies (although that night he had on jeans, boots, and a cowboy hat), and tells me we’re going to dance. O-kay! Later he revealed that he just couldn’t stand by and see that jerk make off with me so he knew he had to act even though he’d avoided my advances and attempts at flirting all night.
I think we danced through no less than half a dozen songs at turtle speed, although the music was galloping along at ostrich speed (hey, those things are fast!). Then he asked to drive me home, to which I was wary and reluctant. In the end I gave in and he did drive me home. We put my kid to bed and tucked him in then we sat and drank coffee together until nearly dawn when he needed to be at muster. We traded phone numbers and I saw him out. And, before he left my porch, he swooped in, cupped my face (just like in the romance novels), and came in for a kiss that left me seeing stars. He didn’t say a word when he pulled back, just left me standing there in a daze, asking in my head: where have you been my whole life?
The next day he came back with flowers and a pizza. Two months later he moved in and a few weeks after that we were married. Today I wonder where twenty-four years have gone and what I ever did before he came along.
Soulmates? Yes! I absolutely believe in them, because I married mine.
Thanks again for having me over today!
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GIVEAWAY:
Dixie Jackson will be awarding a $50 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter. To increase your chance of winning, leave a comment at a different stop on the tour each day. Good luck!
Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good read.
ReplyDeleteLove the cover! Sounds like a thrilling read! Thanks for the chance to win!
ReplyDeleteGreat post - thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI love the cover. It has great artwork.
ReplyDeleteabfantom at yahoo dot com
This sounds like a great love story.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteGreat guest post
ReplyDeleteI love a good romance full of mystery. Thanks for your good work.
ReplyDeletethis sounds like a wonderful book
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting me today, and thanks everyone for coming by to say hello and have a look at my latest release!--Dixie
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great book. I like the cover.
ReplyDeletesounds so good!
ReplyDeletemia2009(at)comcast(dot)net
The book sounds really great.
ReplyDeleteWow, this is an amazing plot, and now I want to find out what happens!
ReplyDeleteI love romantic suspense so definitely a read for me!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this review.
Looks like an interesting book.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the contest.
This looks like a great read
ReplyDeleteWhat's your tips for writer's block?
ReplyDeleteNice book cover and the book sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteNice cover. It sounds like a really interesting book. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHow long was the writing process?
ReplyDeleteWhat inspired you to write the book?
ReplyDeleteGreat cover!
ReplyDeleteWhat do you do when you're feeling sad?
ReplyDeletehow do you start your process
ReplyDeleteThe excerpt is interesting. Thank you for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteHow long did it take you to write this book?
ReplyDeleteI like this unique cover and love a good suspense read. I enjoyed reading the excerpt.
ReplyDeletethis looks like a great read
ReplyDeleteThe cover is awesome!I'm excited to read this!
ReplyDeleteThe cover is very suspenseful. Thanks for your good work.
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds great.
ReplyDeleteI love the cover, very intriguing! Sounds like a great read
ReplyDeleteA Romantic Suspense book is just what I need right now.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the Book.
ReplyDeleteWhat's your favourite ghost story?
ReplyDeleteHow old were you when you wanted to become an author?
ReplyDeleteCool looking cover
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing sounds good!
ReplyDeleteWhat do you do when you feel lost?
ReplyDeleteWas it difficult deciding what artwork to put on the cover?
ReplyDeleteLooks like a good read.. I could use some suspense right about now.....
ReplyDeleteHow has quarantine affected your writing?
ReplyDeleteI think that the cover of your book is unique and interesting.
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
What is YOUR favourite book?
ReplyDeleteWhat was yr favourite book as a kid?
ReplyDeleteWell I had to look up the meaning of the title, interesting!
ReplyDeleteHow do you stay awake when you want to sleep?
ReplyDeleteHave you ever written a six word story?
ReplyDeleteDo you have a favourite snack that fuels your writing?
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking time to share this book, and the excerpt. I enjoy discovering books I believe my family will enjoy reading.
ReplyDeleteWhat's your biggest inspiration?
ReplyDeleteSounds like an intriguing read! Neat cover!
ReplyDeleteWhat was your most exciting writing moment?
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteThe cover looks chilling.
ReplyDeleteHow did you begin writing?
ReplyDeleteWhat question would you ask an author if you had to think up a question to ask them every single day for the rest of your life?
ReplyDeleteIt looks like a good read.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you do on yr bad days?
ReplyDeleteWhat podcasts do you listen to?
ReplyDeleteCan you speak a foreign language?
ReplyDeleteGreat cover.
ReplyDeleteWhat's your main character doing today?
ReplyDeleteI like the cover.
ReplyDeleteDo you play video games?
ReplyDeleteWhat's your favourite word?
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful day!
ReplyDeleteDo you listen to music when you write?
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good read!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this giveaway
I like the book cover and the book sounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteWhat was your favourite book as a kid?
ReplyDeleteDo you ever get writer's block?
ReplyDeleteDo you like true crime books?
ReplyDeleteI like the book cover and the book sounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteDo you have any pets?
ReplyDeleteWhat are yr writing goals for this year?
ReplyDeleteWhy is this contest so long?
ReplyDeleteDo you worry about what other authors think of yr work?
ReplyDeleteI do like the cover and would really enjoy reading it too.
ReplyDeleteCool cover
ReplyDeleteWhat's your advice for new writers?
ReplyDeleteTell me about yr first book.
ReplyDeleteHow do you pick each main character
ReplyDeleteHave you ever won a blog giveaway?
ReplyDeleteDo you relax on the weekends?
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds very interesting and I do like the cover too.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever had sleep paralysis?
ReplyDeleteWhat was your proud accomplishment as a writer?
ReplyDeleteDo you drink tea>?
ReplyDeleteWhat is your hometown's creepiest story?
ReplyDeleteHave you ever been heartbroken?
ReplyDeleteWhat's your next book about?
ReplyDeleteHello, Do you ever have writer's block? If so, what do you do about it? Thank you for the giveaway, and best of luck with the book.
ReplyDeleteTell me your best outdoor story.
ReplyDeleteHow many books do you read in a year?
ReplyDeleteWhat do you like to watch?
ReplyDeleteWhen was the last time you donated to charity?
ReplyDeleteWhat author do you most admire?
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds so interesting. I love the cover too.
ReplyDeleteOhhh this looks great!!
ReplyDeleteGreat cover for a very interesting book I would love to read too.
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting this and thank you for showing us a great book
ReplyDeleteHave a fun weekend!
ReplyDeletewhat book is your favorite?
ReplyDeleteHope you had a great day!
ReplyDeleteCool book!
ReplyDeleteHave a great day!
ReplyDeleteWhat difference do you see between a writer and an author?
ReplyDeleteHappy meteorological spring!
ReplyDeleteHave a great day!
ReplyDeleteWhat do you like to do when you're not writing?
ReplyDeleteHope you have a great day!
ReplyDeleteI love the cover and would really enjoy reading it too
ReplyDeleteWhat happens, or should happen, after the ending?
ReplyDeletekeep up the great work!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to read book
ReplyDeleteTell me about the best day of your life.
ReplyDeleteHow do you develop your plot and characters?
ReplyDeleteHappy Friday!
ReplyDeleteDid you go to college?
ReplyDeleteHappy Saturday!
ReplyDeleteWhat part of the book did you have the hardest time writing?
ReplyDeleteA joke for you:
ReplyDeleteI MAN WHO WROTE SEVERAL NOVELS(BUT NEVER HAD THEM PUBLISHED). THE MAN DIES AND GOES TO THE PEARLY GATES AND SEES ST. PETER THERE.
ST. PETER TELLS THE MAN THAT HE WILL BE TAKEN TO HELL AND THEN TO HEAVEN. HE WILL THEN DECIDE IF HE WISHES TO SPEND THE REST OF ETERNITY IN HELL OR IN HEAVEN.
IN HELL,THE MAN SEES PEOPLE GOING UNDER ALL KINDS OF TORTURE. IN HEAVEN, THE MAN SEES PEOPLE GOING UNDER ALL KINDS OF TORTURE.
THE MAN SAYS TO ST. PETER,"I DON'T UNDERSTAND, I DON'T SEE ANY DIFFERENCE IN HELL AND HEAVEN. WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?"
ST. PETER TELLS THE MAN, "IN HEAVEN, AUTHORS GET PUBLISHED."
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS JOKE?
What was your favourite vacation destination?
ReplyDeleteSo impressive to read it
ReplyDeleteHappy Sunday!
ReplyDeleteWhat are your writing plans for the week?
ReplyDeleteHappy Monday!
ReplyDeleteHappy WOmen's Day
ReplyDeleteHappy Tuesday!
ReplyDeleteDo you wear glasses?
ReplyDeleteHappy Wednesday!
ReplyDeleteWoohoo would be such a great book to read this summer
ReplyDeleteHappy Hump day
ReplyDeleteWhat makes you one of a kind?
ReplyDeleteHave a great evening.
ReplyDeleteNeat!
ReplyDeleteDo you get much snow where you live? We're expecting 2 to 3 FEET of snow this weekend.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the great read!
ReplyDeleteDo you like meeting fans?
ReplyDeletelike the cover looks really cool. Love to read this book too.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your Sunday!
ReplyDeleteHow do you ever figure out what to use for your covers?
ReplyDeleteHappy Monday :) Hope all is well :)
ReplyDeleteWe got 2 feet of snow. Will be 60 degrees on Saturday.
ReplyDeleteThank you for a great read!
ReplyDeleteNice cover and it sounds like a really interesting book to read.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your weekend!
ReplyDeleteI think that the cover of your book is very striking in design.
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
Thank you for a great read!
ReplyDeleteHit 65 degrees today. Will have snow tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteI would enjoy reading this book!
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteHope you're having a nice weekend.
Hope you are having a good day!
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting!
ReplyDeleteWhat inspires you?
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic cover!
ReplyDeleteHappy Hump day!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a book that i would enjoy reading
ReplyDeleteHaving a nice sunny spring day in MN.
ReplyDeletewhat is the longest it has taken you to complete a writing work?
ReplyDeleteWhat's your favourite writing snack?
ReplyDeleteIt's time for me to try a new author.
ReplyDeleteI like some variety.
What's your most wild meeting on the internet story?
ReplyDeletesounds like a fun one
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your Sunday - hope it is a day of rest for you!
ReplyDeleteThe excerpt is really compelling to read.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like an interesting book and I also like the cover.
ReplyDeleteDo you ever use real life experiences for your books?
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds very interesting.
ReplyDeletesounds like a fun one
ReplyDeleteThank you. This sounds like a good story.
ReplyDeleteHope you have a swell week!
ReplyDeleteThiis looks a good read.....cheers!
ReplyDeleteHappy Tuesday
ReplyDeleteAny good April's Fools pranks? #GiveThanksNotPranks
ReplyDeleteDo you have certain times of the day to write or is it random?
ReplyDeleteI love romantic suspense so definitely a read I will check out!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the excerpt! Congrats on its release!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the excerpt. This sounds like a good story.
ReplyDeleteHope it's a best seller
ReplyDelete