Book Blitz and Giveaway - The Text God: Text and You Shall Receive... (An Acidentally in Love Story #2) by Whitney Dineen and Melanie Summers

Title: The Text God: Text and You Shall Receive …
Series: An Accidentally in Love Story #2

Authors: Whitney Dineen & Melanie Summers
Publication Date: April 1st 2021

Print Length: 317 pages
Genre: Contemporary Romantic Comedy

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Text and you shall receive…

Jen Flanders moved to New York to be an artist. This translates into walking dogs for money, practicing yoga for sanity, and hitting up her friends at a local bakery to supplement her diet. Rent is due and she’s running out of cash. After begging the universe for a sign that help is on the way, her phone pings with an incoming text. GOD: You can do it; I believe in you!

Gabriel Oliver Daly agreed to mentor a friend’s younger sister. Unbeknownst to him, after losing her phone, said sister uses her dog walker’s phone to text him about a job offer. He responds enthusiastically.

Jen can’t believe GOD is actually texting her! But who is she to question the ways of the universe? On the first day of texting, GOD gets her a job that will keep her afloat. On the second and third days he offers even more help.

Gabriel starts to think his friend’s sister might be too flighty to make it in the legal jungle of New York. Why exactly does she need a survival job? Wasn’t she supposed to be interviewing for a position as a junior lawyer? And why is she texting him random (not to mention very personal) stuff all the time?

When they finally meet, Jen realizes GOD isn’t a deity but a divinely handsome lawyer. A complete stranger has answered all her prayers. After all, God does move in mysterious ways.

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EXCERPT:

Jen

I love Mr. Daly’s parents. I only wish mine were as kind and loving. When I open my portfolio, the first page is a photo I took of my lily painting. Mrs. Daly takes one look, makes the sign of the cross, and whistles, “Sweet Jaysus, that’s quite the picture! Are you sure it’s a lily, love?”

“I painted it as a lily, but that’s the great thing about art. It’s subjective so it can be anything you want it to be.”

Mrs. Daly fans her face with a cocktail napkin. “Okay, then. Well, good job, you.” Then she takes a sip of the half glass of wine sitting on the table and points to her son. “Tell me what you think of my Byrne.” Ah, finally I have a first name for Mr. Daly. Byrne. I like it!

“Oh, well, I …” I feel a blush come to my cheeks that I’m hoping is camouflaged by the darkness of the pub. “He’s a lovely man. Truly.”

“His da and I think so, that’s for sure. But I’ve got to tell ya,” she leans in conspiratorially and adds, “I don’t think that lass of his is on the same page. She’s a cold one.” She offers a theatrical shudder to emphasize her point.

“Really?” I don’t want to act too interested, but I still want to know more.

“Been together since law school, they have. Joe and I thought it would blow over after they graduated, but they just kept on going. She’s like a bad habit, like biting your fingernails until they’re so low they’re bloody.” That’s quite a visual.

“Well, if they love each other …” I start to say but Byrne’s mom interrupts by crossing herself again.

“Don’t say it! Do not invoke that word when referring to that girl. My poooor mother’s heart can’t take it!”

I can’t suppress the laughter that overtakes me. Then, getting more serious, I say, “But if they’ve been together since law school, that has to be what? Six, seven years?”

“Eight,” she practically spits.

Eight years and they don’t live together? That’s kind of telling. Maybe Byrne isn’t really as taken as I’d thought.

“You should make a play for him,” his mother says like she’s reading my mind.

“Oh, well, ah … you know, I’m not the kind of girl to go after someone else’s man.” I start shaking my head like I’m trying to gain enough momentum to fly out of my seat. “You think he’s cute though, dontcha?”

I look across the room as Byrne takes drink orders from the large party that just walked in. I thought he was handsome in a suit, but in jeans and a tee, wow. I might have to borrow Mrs. Daly’s napkin to fan myself. “Yeah …” I sigh, sounding like I want to jump his bones right here and now. Totally forgetting that I’m saying this to his mother.

“That’s what I thought. Good girl,” she says. “Now the trick is, you have to find a way to spend more time with him.”

“That might be a problem,” I tell her. “I lost my job today.” My stomach flips over again at the knowledge. God is going to be so disappointed in me. Maybe even as disappointed as I am. I glance around, wondering where he is. “I actually got fired. This sweet little old man—who turned out not to be so sweet after all—pulled a money changing scam on me. Took me for fifty bucks.”

“The wee bastard,” she says, shaking her head. “Was there a huge lineup at the time?”

“Yes,” I say, wondering how she knows.

“Yup, that’s when they hit. Lots of niceties and apologies?”

“I take it you’ve had this happen to you.”

“Hell no, but it’s happened to Joe, six times.” She takes another sip of wine and settles deeper into the booth.

I glance at Byrne’s dad, deciding he must be the softy between the two of them. I let out a sigh. “It’s so embarrassing. I’ve never been fired before. Plus, a friend got me the job in the first place, so I’m really worried he’ll be upset with me.” Mrs. Daly nods and puts an arm around my shoulder. “Don’t you worry, I’m sure your friend will understand.”

“I hope so. I don’t know him well.” I nod.

“So, you’re back on the hunt for employment then?”

I let my shoulders drop, feeling the weight of my financial woes. “I guess so.”

“Have you had your supper yet, darlin?” she asks me.

“I haven’t, Mrs. Daly,” I tell her. “But eating out isn’t in my budget right now. I promise to come back once I get paid though. The food looks wonderful.”

“Oh, now”—she sits upright—“don’t talk nonsense, love. I’m going to go get you a bowl of Joe’s famous Guinness stew. It’ll be a gift from me to you. And call me Mary.” She stands up and walks away before I can stop her.

I look around wondering where God is, and I suddenly know beyond a shadow of a doubt that he’s not coming. Maybe he’s upset with me for being conned. But that doesn’t sound right. Would God really be mad at me for trusting a little old man?

Huh, now that I think of it, earlier today I told him, via prayer, not text, that I really wanted to get to know Byrne better—I feel a thrill of excitement at finally knowing his name—and what happens? He sets up an appointment to meet me at the pub Mr. Daly’s family owns. Could He be answering my prayers again? I wish I could talk to Zay about this, but I can’t bear to have him poke holes in my relationship with God.

When Mary comes back, she’s carrying a tray with two bowls of stew and a basket of bread. “I thought I’d join you, if you don’t mind.”

Her husband calls out from across the room, “Mary gal, what on earth are you doing? We’ve got customers!”

She waves him off and yells back, “Tell your son. He can help you while I get to know Jen here.”

I look around to find Byrne. He’s staring right at me, which causes waves of heat to pour through me like I just stepped foot into a jacuzzi. His expression is almost one of longing, like there’s something he wants to tell me. God knows there’s something I want to say to him, which is, “Drop your girlfriend and ask me out!”

“He’s staring at you like a leprechaun looks at his gold,” Mary interrupts my thoughts.

Forcing my eyes away from her son, I reply, “I don’t think so. He’s just being nice to me is all.”

“Listen, Jen, I know of the perfect job for a girl with such a lovely disposition as yours. It'd be evening work, so you’d have time to paint your pretty pictures during the day.”

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ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Whitney loves to laugh, play with her kids, bake, and eat French fries -- not always in that order.

Whitney is a multi-award-winning author of romcoms, non-fiction humor, and middle reader fiction. Basically, she writes whatever the voices in her head tell her to.

She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband, Jimmy, where they raise children, chickens, and organic vegetables.

Gold Medal winner at the International Readers' Favorite Awards, 2017.
Silver medal winner at the International Readers' Favorite Awards, 2015, 2016.
Finalist RONE Awards, 2016.
Finalist at the IRFA 2016, 2017.
Finalist at the Book Excellence Awards, 2017
Finalist Top Shelf Indie Book Awards, 2017

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Melanie Summers also writes steamy romance as MJ Summers.

Melanie made a name for herself with her debut novel, Break in Two, a contemporary romance that cracked the Top 10 Paid on Amazon in both the UK and Canada, and the top 50 Paid in the USA. Her highly acclaimed Full Hearts Series was picked up by both Piatkus Entice (a division of Hachette UK) and HarperCollins Canada. Her first three books have been translated into Czech and Slovak by EuroMedia. Since 2013, she has written and published three novellas, and eight novels (of which seven have been published). She has sold over a quarter of a million books around the globe.

In her previous life (i.e. before having children), Melanie got her Bachelor of Science from the University of Alberta, then went on to work in the soul-sucking customer service industry for a large cellular network provider that shall remain nameless (unless you write her personally - then she'll dish). On her days off, she took courses and studied to become a Chartered Mediator. That designation landed her a job at the R.C.M.P. as the Alternative Dispute Resolution Coordinator for 'K' Division. Having had enough of mediating arguments between gun-toting police officers, she decided it was much safer to have children so she could continue her study of conflict in a weapon-free environment (and one which doesn't require makeup and/or nylons).

Melanie resides in Edmonton with her husband, three young children, and their adorable but neurotic one-eyed dog. When she's not writing novels, Melanie loves reading (obviously), snuggling up on the couch with her family for movie night (which would not be complete without lots of popcorn and milkshakes), and long walks in the woods near her house. She also spends a lot more time thinking about doing yoga than actually doing yoga, which is why most of her photos are taken 'from above'. She also loves shutting down restaurants with her girlfriends. Well, not literally shutting them down, like calling the health inspector or something--more like just staying until they turn the lights off.

She is represented by Suzanne Brandreth of The Cooke Agency International.

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