#SaturdaySpotlight is on Joie Lesin & The Passenger!

 Good Morning and Welcome to the first non-holiday edition of Saturday Spotlight in 2025!

I hope you enjoyed the All Christmas thru Christmas posts and that you are ready for some non-holiday books.

I know I am LOL! I DO love Christmas but with all the year long hype, it's not as fun for me as it used to be.

Anyway, what better way to begin a new year than with an author who is brand new to our blog? 

Please give Joie Lesin a huge SW Louisiana Hoo-Ra!

Tell us a little about your brand new book, Joie...

The Passenger, a 1940s ghost story set in the California wine country, tells a tale of family connections, life-changing choices, and love—lost and found.

Blurb: Burdened with her empathic gift, Elizabeth Reilly wants to be free of it and fit in with normal people. Nevertheless, when the spirit of an old man asks for her help, she travels across the country to help him return home. Gio Clemente is still angry with his father who abandoned him as a child. To help the father pass on, Elizabeth must persuade Gio to let go of his anger. Though he resents her intrusion, they are both stunned to find themselves fighting a profound attraction. Elizabeth can accept his headstrong brand of love, but can Gio accept her gift—and believe in her?

Excerpt: Elizabeth’s stomach churned in nervous knots. She squirmed on the cloth seat, and her foot twitched. If he heard her erratic heartbeat, he’d realize how frantic she was—and hot. Perspiration built up on her forehead. Grabbing the metal handle, she rolled down the squeaking window, and inhaled the pure air. The fragrances of the forest filled her senses—the resinous scent of pine, the earthiness of soil, and damp detritus of fallen branches and decaying leaves. The surrounding land was alive, vibrant, and something more she couldn’t quite identify. Somehow, the vehicle they drove in and the path it traveled seemed out of place.

Gravel on the uneven road crunched and ground under the truck’s tires. Elizabeth sat straight in her seat and stole stiff, awkward glimpses at Giovanni. A frown marked his lips. His lean, well-defined face held soulful eyes bringing to her mind images of the sad little boy he must have been.

A thin red scar stretched down his right cheek and she itched to run a finger along the faded edges. She’d caress his stubble-shadowed chin and tell him how terribly his father missed him. Instead, she stared out the truck window.

**Oh WOW, Joie, if this blurb and excerpt doesn't get readers' attention, I don't know what will! What makes this book special for you?

Perhaps, it’s a bit cliché to say this is the book of my heart, but I can wholeheartedly tell you that it is. To understand why I say this, I need to take you back to the distant (or not-so-distant depending on how one looks at it) past when a girl (that’s me) of sixteen first met the character that would become Paolo Clemente, my ghost from The Passenger. Okay, so I didn’t meet him in the actual physical sense. No, in fact, I was on the bus on the way home from school entertaining myself with my “what if” game where I imagined lives for strangers—complete with backstories. This is where the idea for the character that launched this story first came to life for me. 

Now keep in mind, I’d drafted more than one treatment for this story. Names changed and so did the plot, but what remained constant was Paolo and the woman who would become the main character, Elizabeth. It wasn’t until sixteen years later, that I finally sat down to write what would become book we have today.

So, you see, I had no choice other than to write this story that has lived in my head for so long. What’s more, I now delight in sharing these characters that have become so near and dear to my heart with readers.

**Yep, I think we can all relate to that! Such great inspiration for a story though. Thanks for sharing. Where can readers find The Passenger?

Published by The Wild Rose Press, The Passenger can be found at Amzon in Ebook and Print, B&N, Apple Books, and GoodReads. OR it can be purchased directly from the Publisher.

**Perfect! Do you have a bio, website and links for readers to find and follow you?

Yes! Below are my bio and links...

Award-winning author, Joie Lesin is a life-long fiction writer and poet. She is most recently the author of The Passenger (The Wild Rose Press, 2024). She has long been fascinated by anything otherworldly including mermaids and ghosts. Joie writes character-driven, emotional, atmospheric tales about heartache and hope.

Originally from Massachusetts, at six years old, Joie moved to her mother’s birthplace, Minnesota. By eight, Joie lost her New England accent, however, it's gradually returning as the years go by. She grew up in Minneapolis but now resides in St. Paul with her husband and their blended family—which includes a rambunctious grand-corgi.

Joie misses the ocean, but she often finds herself walking by one of Minnesota’s many lakes and travels to one of the coasts as often as she can. In fact, she considers California her home away from home. When she’s not writing, reading, or walking, you can find her listening to music. She absolutely loves music—especially live—and songs have sparked most of her story ideas.

Find and follow Joie at her Website, Bluesky, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok

THANK YOU SO, Much, Joie for sharing with us today! We certainly wish you the best of luck and God's blessings with your books.

Well Friends, I hope you enjoyed this week's spotlight. Join us every week for a new author and his/her book(s).

Until next time, be blessed and keep reading.

PamT

PS: If you love to travel, check out my travel blog Bathroom Blues as I reminisce over the places I've been. AND if you love spiritual development and growth, follow my journey on Rainbows, Potholes & Nuggets of Gold!

#SaturdaySpotlight is on D.V. Stone & A Christmas Storm!

 

Good Morning and Welcome to the final installment of All Christmas thru Christmas for this holiday season!

Today we'll visit with D.V. Stone and find out all about her book, A Christmas Storm. Take it away DV!

In the spirit of Dickens, a delightfully sweet holiday story about family love and the opportunity for second chances. A Christmas Storm is a small town Christmas romance.

Blurb: An early storm is brewing in Upstate New York, and military wife Lacey Prescott is caught unprepared when it turns into a blizzard. Defeated by her own lack of preparation and the recall of her husband’s Christmas holiday leave, her joy in the season is replaced by bitterness and anger. In an unexpected turn of events, Lieutenant Matthew Prescott’s leave is reinstated. But the journey home is not an easy one since a Nor’easter stands between him and his family.

Amidst the storm’s fury, Lacey gets a glimpse of the past, present, and possible future, while Matt gets assistance from a mysterious stranger.

In a heartwarming story of determination, the resilience of the human spirit, and the unexpected kindness of strangers, the possibility of a Christmas reunion brings a sense of hope with a message of love and support from friends and family that embodies the true spirit of Christmas.

Excerpt: “Why me?” Lacey Prescott wailed to the sky as she lay sprawled on the icy path leading to the shed.

Snow started to replace the sleet and fluttered down from the starless sky. 

Christmas was only three days away. Even with her dad, Nathan, and Gloriana installed in the guest room, it wasn’t the holiday she’d hoped for since getting the call. Matt wasn’t going to make it home. She’d put on her game face when she’d greeted Dad and his new wife at the door earlier, but her heart was no longer into celebrating the holiday. 

“I miss you so much.” She rubbed her eyes before struggling to get traction on the slippery surface. Finally, her foot found the gravel under the snow on the path’s edge.

Her heart broke when her husband called the previous month to let her know plans had changed. This was to be the first time they’d spend the holidays together since getting married.

He would’ve spent the season with her and little Adele. But duty called, and Lt. Matthew Prescott’s deployment had been extended—indefinitely.

Now, here she was without him and with a house full of company. To top it off, what had been expected to be light snow was now being reported by the weather stations as a storm of epic proportions. And she’d neglected to lay in supplies.

She’d lived in Upstate New York long enough to know storms could quickly morph from forecasts of flurries to blizzards in a heartbeat.

While gingerly making her way to the shed where the ice melt was, she’d wanted to kick her own butt. Until she slipped and fell. Okay, ice kicked her instead. 

“Argh.” She yanked on the frozen-shut door and then slammed her hand against the wood slats.

Done, she was done. Toast. No, burnt toast. 

Turning around, she slid down the rough door and buried her head in her arms while wet seeped into her jeans. She didn’t even care. Banging her head on her knees, she wondered yet again, why her?

“Lacey! Are you okay?”

Alita Marshall’s fur-edged snow boots appeared in front of her.

“Did you fall?”

Lacey looked up when her friend, another military wife, stooped to her level. The light from over the shed door washed over the woman’s warm brown complexion and reflected in her concerned chestnut-colored eyes.

“I’m okay. On the outside anyway.” Lacey sighed and sniffed. “Just having a pity party for myself.”

“Oh, honey.” A red-mittened hand bedazzled with silver snowflakes grasped Lacey’s bare one and helped her to her feet. “I get it.”

“You seem to have it all together.” Lacey shivered and plucked at her wet bottom. Her hand stung with cold when she grabbed the door handle again and tugged to no avail. And she wasn’t okay. Her lower back was starting to ache.

After a few bangs around the edge, they pulled together, and finally, she could get into the shed. 

Lacey grabbed the bucket of salt while Alita took the shovel off the hook.

“I have my meltdowns too, you know.” Alita hooked her arm through Lacey’s as they slipped and slid their way back toward the house. “I’m just not sitting in the slush when it happens. Usually, it’s in a locked bathroom with the shower running, so the boys don’t hear.”

The back door opened, and Lacey’s stepmom, Gloriana, hurried across the porch, then slowed and walked like a penguin toward them. “Here, give me that.” She took the bucket from Lacey and started sprinkling salt on the steps. “I was just about to send out a search party.”

“The shed door wouldn’t open.” Alita made no mention of Lacey’s breakdown.

“So, you decided to make snow angels instead?”

“What do you mean?” Lacey glanced over her shoulder.

Gloriana eyed her wet behind. “Your tush is soaking wet.”

“Ha, I wish it were snow angels.” Lacey rubbed her aching lower back. It was going to be sore. “I slipped and went down like a ton of bricks.”

“Oh honey, are you all right?” Gloriana started mother-henning.

“I’ll be fine.” Lacey limped up the steps while hanging on to the railing. “Can you finish salting while I go change? I’m also going to take a shower to warm up.” 

“Sure.” Gloriana spread a thick layer of salt on the steps.

Lacey glanced at Alita’s raised eyebrow and then hobbled into the house. 

It looked like a day care. The presence of not only Cyclone Adele but now the boys, toys, and juice boxes, the shrapnel of life lay scattered across tables, floors, and furniture. Sounds of cartoons came from the den, accompanied by giggles. 

She peeked in and sighed, a sound coming from her too often.

What A Christmas Storm means to me.

I adore my Lake Unami characters. This fictional small town in New Jersey is one of my favorite places. Though I took several of my characters out of town for the holidays, the spirit of the town went with them. In Rainbow Sprinkles, several readers commented they loved the character of Lacey. She and her dad had a special relationship and wanted to know more about her. I wasn’t sure how it would play out until I began writing, and the muse took over. The story became cathartic to me. Since then, readers have let me know how, like me, Lacey’s story has helped them with issues they, too, have struggled with.

In 1977, I lived on a dairy farm in Minnesota. I was the oldest of four. My dad, who was only 38 years old, died in our living room after a long struggle with heart disease. At seventeen I became the caretaker of the home. My mom was devastated and withdrew. The kids were twelve and under. The character Lacey has many of the attributes I took on. I don’t need anyone’s help. I can do it on my own. It’s taken almost fifty years but I’ve learned, no, I don’t have to and don’t expect to. I’ve realized that allowing others to help is often a blessing for them. Think of how it makes you feel when you reach out to others. I still struggle with ingrained habits of going it alone, but I’m a work in progress you know.  

Besides Amazon, A Christmas Storm can be found at B&N; Apple Books; GoodReads and other Online Retailers.

D. V. Stone is known for her engaging and captivating storytelling, often weaving elements of romance, fantasy, and adventure into her novels. Her official website, dvstoneauthor.com, serves as a central hub for fans and new readers alike to explore her literary works, learn about upcoming book releases, and gain insights into her creative process. The site typically features detailed book descriptions, author blogs, and exclusive content such as interviews and behind-the-scenes looks at her writing journey. Additionally, visitors can find information on where to purchase her books, sign up for newsletters, and connect with DV Stone on social media. Whether you’re a long-time follower or new to her stories, dvstoneauthor.com offers a comprehensive and inviting space to immerse yourself in the world of DV Stone’s imagination.

 

“My greatest pleasures are spending time outside with friends and family, cooking over the open fire, sipping a glass of wine, and reading.”

 

Hali, her rescue dog, always reminds her to let readers know, “Woof, woof.” Which loosely translates to “support your local animal rescue.”

 

You can learn more about D. V. by following her on Social Media.

 

Link tree for one-stop connections Link Tree

https://www.dvstoneauthor.com/

https://mailchi.mp/18125bb60cc5/dv-stones-news-bulletin

https://t.co/MUVW91E2iB

https://www.instagram.com/d.v.stone/

https://twitter.com/donnavstone

https://www.facebook.com/dv.stone.1

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16344100.D_V_Stone

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/d-v-stone

https://www.amazon.com/D.-V.-Stone/e/B01N154Y9U

https://www.tiktok.com/@dvstoneauthor

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoWqGJB3WxpUCV2OUE2VN_w

Aww, DV so sorry to hear about your dad. So young! But your growth is inspiring. Thank You for sharing. And yes, we know we're all a work in progress. 

Hope you enjoyed DV's post friends. Next week we begin normal Saturday Spotlights with Joie Lesin and her book, The Passenger.

Until then, happy reading!

PamT