by: Janine Amesta
Series: Love in El Dorado
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: August 24, 2023
Publisher: Tule Publishing
Not all that glitters is gold…especially in love.
Mia Russo is well aware that being voted “most likely to succeed” in high school doesn’t guarantee anything, especially after her political career crashes and burns. Without a plan for the first time in her life, Mia moves back home with her dad. After being rejected by the handsome local jewelry store owner who seems way too familiar, she takes a barista job while she determines her next steps.
Orphaned at a young age, Ross Manasse finally finds peace when he inherits his grandfather’s jewelry store. It’s been a tough road, and Ross is looking for quietness and stability. When his former high school tutor—someone Ross once thought of as a friend—barges into his shop looking for a job and doesn’t recognize him, his safest option is keeping her at arm’s length.
Mia’s determined to make something in her life work, but in rekindling a relationship with the grumpy jeweler, she digs up more about their shared history than they expect. Mia and Ross will need to decide what’s more important: finding success or true happiness?
Thank you so much for inviting me to your blog. I’m so happy to be here to talk about my book. It’s definitely surreal. I sold this book to Tule Publishing in 2020, so it’s been so long that I started to feel I’d just keep waiting forever. But I’m happy to report that I do have a real finished book and it’s currently sitting on my desk…so definitely not a dream.
Congratulations. You are a debut author. How have you found the experience to be so far?
Thank you! Oh my goodness. I would say overwhelming. Seriously, everything just overwhelms me whether it’s good or bad. Maybe because my emotions are so wrapped up in my book baby that I feel things ten times more. I’m not quite sure. But, yeah, I feel like I should be doing a hundred things to celebrate and yet can manage none of it. And every nice thing people have said about my book has made me want to weep. There have been so many wonderful people supporting me but I’m not that great at handling it because I always expect a “but” to follow any compliments. Maybe I’ll be less overwhelmed and more normal by book two.
I think you should start by taking a little breath. What can you tell me about Striking Gold?
Striking Gold is a contemporary grumpy/sunshine romance. It’s about a woman who returns to her hometown after her career falters and is trying to figure out what’s next in her life. In the meantime, she looks for a temporary job and runs into the man she used to tutor in high school. Back then she was the star student and he was struggling just to pass. But, in a twist of fate, their situations have flipped as now he has his own jewelry business and she’s asking him for a job, which he doesn’t want to give her.
Despite his commitment to keep her at arm’s length, she pushes her way into his life. They start to rekindle their relationship but, with it, bring up some darker secrets from the past. It’s a story about facing the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable, and finding their true selves. Plus, there’s also lots of kissing.
Striking Gold is the first book in your Love in El Dorado series. Is El Dorado a real or fictional town?
It’s a real place and I highly recommend a visit. El Dorado County is located in California and it encompasses the Sierras, including the Lake Tahoe area. Striking Gold takes place in the small city of Placerville which is part of the Sierra foothills. It’s an area with historical significance because it was at the epicenter of the California Gold Rush. The city really plays this up with its old-timey downtown area. But looking beyond its cute storefronts and restaurants there’s also something darker from its past. You’ll frequently see its historical nickname “Old Hangtown” popping up all over town. So beyond this pretty facade is some pretty disturbing history regarding questionable justice. The significance of picking this particular place is an important allegory in Striking Gold because, as my characters learn, not all that glitters is gold and their perception of things change.
Tell me about the main characters of Mia Russo and Ross Manasse.
Mia’s always been the overachiever, straight A-student while Ross’s educational experience has always been a struggle. While on the surface they seem opposites, they’re actually very similar because they both are plagued with the idea of success and failure. Mia’s always been faced with the high expectations of success and is afraid she’ll never achieve it. While Ross has always been expected to fail and therefore feels he’s a constant disappointment to people so why try. It’s through this that they connect with each other.
The two originally met in high school. As you said, Mia was Ross’ tutor, but when she returns to El Dorado she doesn’t recognize him. Who do you think made the biggest transformation since high school, Ross or Mia and why?
Mia not recognizing Ross when she first comes across him is based on a real experience. I went to my ten-year reunion and there was a guy who was so excited to see me and acted like we were best friends in school and I didn’t remember him at all. Eep! It was so awkward. Haha. But, yes, they did meet in high school when they were paired together in a peer tutoring situation.
Physically, Ross has the bigger transformation which is why she doesn’t recognize him and they were only paired for a few months. While it was more of a blip during high school for Mia, for Ross their time together affected him in an unexpected way and it wasn’t in a good way. Therefore, their time together sticks with him more. His last name, Manasse, means “to forget” and being forgotten is how he’s felt for most of his life. In the beginning, he doesn’t want anything to do with her because he’d rather forget things in the past. Unfortunately (fortunately?) for him, Mia just bursts her way through his defenses, especially after she remembers him.
I would say personality-wise, they haven’t changed much since high school. Mia is still very much an overachiever and Ross is still sullen, but they go through a lot of growth over the course of the story.
Who are some of the other characters readers will meet in Striking Gold and the rest of the Love in El Dorado series?
There’s Ross’s dog, Hermes, who he also tried very hard not to get attached to. The dog just showed up one day at the jewelry shop and eventually wears Ross down, proving he may have a grumpy outer shell but is full of marshmallow fluff.
Another important character is the judge, Mia’s father. He has a name but most of the time he’s referred to as Judge even by Mia and her mom. He’s always been the moral compass in Mia’s life and on the highest of pedestals.
What was your favorite part of Striking Gold to write and why?
I love to write any scene that has a lot of dialogue. In college, my emphasis was in screenwriting so that’s where I got my start in writing. Any snappy back and forth is my absolute favorite to write, so if it happens during the first meeting or the big fight then I’m pretty happy. Many writers “see” scenes. I tend to “hear” them. Many times while drafting it’ll just be a wall of dialogue and then I have to go back in and make it more book-friendly and fill it with other details. Apparently, readers like things like descriptions and action. Who knew!
Can you tell me about one of your favorite scenes from the book, and why is it a favorite?
I have a few favorite scenes. But one of them is when Ross and Mia meet again in Ross’s shop and she doesn’t remember him. I like it because Mia thought she was going to have a meet-cute moment with a totally different guy and didn’t even notice Ross at first. She really wants a job so she’s trying so hard to charm him and just running into a wall. Nothing is really working out the way she wants it to go. Their first interaction was pretty fun to write and hasn’t really changed much since my first draft.
Janine, what’s next for you?
In October is the release of the second book in the series, A Poinsettia Paradise Christmas. It’s a holiday romance taking place on a tree farm, featuring Natalie, Mia’s boss in book 1. And then Lucky Strike releases in January. It’s with Ross’s younger cousin, Luna, who decides to renovate her standard apartment behind her handsome landlord’s back.
Oh. Lucky Strike sounds pretty fun with a landlord who doesn’t want you to touch the apartment. Janine, congratulations again on the release of Striking Gold. Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions for me.
Thank you for a wonderful interview! 😀
When the bell above the door jingled again, Ross Manasse glanced up.
She had returned.
As someone who was used to hiding—
Correction.
As someone who was used to working diligently in the rear of the shop, Ross was successful at avoiding most of the day-to-day interactions with the characters who would peruse the contents of El Dorado Jewelry. The front of the shop usually fell to his younger cousin, Luna. The same person who took pleasure in reminding him several times they weren’t characters as much as they were valued customers.
But times were changing, and he needed to adjust. Ross hated adjusting. In fact, he hated adjusting more than he hated awkward interactions with valued customers. He spent the majority of his time in the workshop for a good reason. Precious metal and stones didn’t require a casual exchange of pleasantries. They succumbed to his will under nothing more than calloused, experienced hands. Troublesome words weren’t necessary. He preferred it this way.
Although, when it came to Mia Russo, it was pretty safe to say she fell more into the character category. Some things didn’t change. Even so, he wasn’t sure he liked this latest development to his day. Her walking into his shop the first time was a surprise. Her walking in a second time...well, now it was interesting.
“I wondered if you’d be back,” Ross said as he bent to replace the silver and rose gold earrings to their original position within the glass case.
“I’m sorry?”
Ross’s eyes met hers. “Did you change your mind?”
Her forehead crumpled in confusion. “Change my mind?”
“About the earrings. If so, I’m going to need your boyfriend’s credit card again because of the price difference.”
Mia waved her hands in front of her. “Oh! No. He’s not my boyfriend.”
“Fiancé? Husband? Whatever. It doesn’t matter. All I care about is the credit card.”
“No, I mean...none of those.” She paused to take a moment before pushing ahead. “I’m not here about the earrings. I’m sure his actual girlfriend will be thrilled with them. I just met the guy in the coffee shop and he asked me to come with him for a second opinion.”
Mia’s eyes drifted upward, studying the ceiling panels. “Now that I say it out loud, it is...kind of weird. But I’m not surprised. Weird things always seem to happen to me.”
“Okay,” Ross replied, unsure of the proper response to her ramblings. “So,” he said, stretching the word to fill the silence. “I take it you’re here for me then?”
“What?” Mia’s amber-colored gaze zipped to his, her cheeks blooming pink. She eyed the door as if calculating how long it would take to escape the shop if it became necessary.
This reaction befuddled him. “Well, I doubt you’re going to reminisce with the dog.”
“I...uh...I,” Mia said. “I’m actually here because of your sign.”
“What sign?” Ross replied, his own patience fading fast at whatever game this was.
Mia leaned, pointing to the Help Wanted sign he’d set in the window earlier in the day. “That one.”
It was his turn to stumble. “Wait. What? You’re asking me for a job? Is this a joke?”
She crossed her arms. “Are you the owner? If you don’t want people coming in asking you for a job, why’d you hang the sign?”
“Yeah, I’m the owner.” Ross gave her a solid once over. “You have experience in jewelry retail?” He didn’t bother hiding his skepticism in the question.
Mia lifted her delicate chin, drawing closer to the jewelry case, which served as a barrier between them. “I don’t actually, but it doesn’t mean I still couldn’t do the job to your satisfaction. I’m a quick study, and I imagine jewelry, especially pieces as unique and beautiful as these, have no problem selling themselves.”
Ross returned her look of bravado with a flat one of his own before reaching to retrieve a bottle of glass cleaner. He sprayed the counter, wiping away nonexistent fingerprints as if this was his biggest priority of the day and required all of his attention.
Despite his nonresponse, Mia spoke again. “Let me at least fill out an application. I’m–”
“Mia Russo. Valedictorian. Class Treasurer. National Honor Society. National AP Scholar. Yearbook editor. Debate club. Model UN.” As he rattled off the list, her eyes grew wider. “That’s all I can remember right now. And, in that very impressive list, I don’t think any of it qualifies as experience for working in a small jewelry store.”
A brief moment of pleasure passed through him as Mia’s mouth dropped open. But it would be a matter of seconds before her brain rebooted itself as she never remained silent for long. “What? How?” She shook her head. “Did we go to school together?”
Ross narrowed his eyes before returning the spray bottle to the bottom shelf. Her reaction was sincere. She didn’t remember him. Hurt gave way to annoyance. He leaned against the glass case, not caring about adding a new set of fingerprints to it. “It was a long time ago.”
It had been close to ten years since they last interacted, which was a long time. For Mia to remove his face and name from her memories, as she moved through her academically privileged life, shouldn’t have been surprising. But the disappointment was startling anyway.
Ross’s memory was not flawed. He knew it was Mia the moment she walked through the door of his jewelry store. It didn’t matter if the braces were gone or her face narrowed, or her golden-brown hair fell in thick, soft waves instead of being pulled into an ever-present ponytail. The way her soft curves filled the short summer dress and navy blue blazer, revealing long shapely legs—
Anyway, those were the things that had changed. Her large eyes, the color of warm, melting amber, remained the same and were still framed behind glasses. Although, presently, she was sporting chunky, black frames instead of slender silver ones. The style of the glasses didn’t matter, they suited her either way. And her eyes still possessed the ability to thaw anyone’s resolve. Anyone else’s that is. Ross’s resolve had been permafrozen.
Worse yet, the same smile was there on her lips, something he would remember today or a hundred years from now. And that single, damn dimple on her right cheek. It was burned into his memory as if it was branded with a hot poker. He used to love and hate Mia Russo’s dimple because, in the old days, he would have done almost anything to see it.
But that was then. Maybe time had changed her the same way it had changed him. Life had taught him so many lessons over the last ten years, the adult version of himself was nothing like sixteen-year-old Ross. Not all changes were physical, including his late growth spurt and actual muscle definition. The teenage version had spitfire lava running through his veins. But years had cooled the heat, turning his heart into a hard, cynical stone. As a result, Ross, the man, would never succumb to anything as ridiculous as a dimple these days, even if it came in looking for a job.
At this point, Mia wasn’t wielding a dimple or any of her other charms as she guided a careful perusal of his features. “What’s your name?”
“Doesn’t matter.”
“If it doesn’t matter, then why keep it a secret?” Her eyes processed the shop as if she was a detective looking for the one piece of evidence that would break The Case of the Missing Name wide open. When her search proved fruitless, she returned to his face.
Satisfied Mia was stuck, he offered a slight smile of benevolence. “I’ll tell you what, if you can remember my name by the time I close today, you can have the job.”
Her brow furrowed. “Are you serious?”
“Perfectly.”
“Okay, I’ll be right back. I’m going to talk with your neighbors.”
Ross shrugged. “Go ahead. I never talk to them. They probably refer to me as the jewelry guy with the dog.”
“What’s your website?”
“Don’t have one.”
“Can I have a business card?”
“No.”
Her mouth slipped into an angelic smile, her damn dimple flashing in unison as if she was auditioning for the role of innocent girl. All she was missing was the batting of eyelashes. “Come on, John.”
“That’s not my name.”
Mia pointed one of her fingers at him while moving in the direction of the door. “You’re going to lose. I’m getting this job. Nothing I like better than a challenge, Freddy.”
“So, if I hire you, I lose? That doesn’t make me want to hire you. This isn’t a scavenger hunt. You’re supposed to remember my name, not dig through old newspaper clippings.”
She opened the door. “Okay, dig through old newspaper clippings. Got it. I actually do need a business card. How will I get a hold of you to accept my offer of employment for your place of business, Henry? Rick? Sebastian?”
“Google it.”
“Oh, good idea. I’ll do that now.” Mia pulled her phone from her purse, typing with the voracity of a teenager as she walked past the shop window until she was gone.
Ross returned to wiping his fingerprint smudges from the glass counter. With any luck, she was out of his life again. He was alone with his thoughts, which was what he preferred. He didn’t need interesting characters in his shop, even if they had tempting curves, amber eyes, and a single, provoking dimple. He didn’t need that in his life or to even think about it. And he wasn’t thinking about it.
One thing clearly hadn’t changed: Mia was smart. A nervous finger tapped against the counter as he checked the clock. Perhaps giving her until five p.m. was a mistake. He didn’t want to deal with her on a social level, let alone hire her. She had three and a half hours. He should have played it safe and given her twenty minutes.
The bell jingled, grabbing his attention. Mia poked her head in and grinned.
Shit. Twenty minutes was still too much time.
“Is it Rumpelstiltskin?” she asked.
“No,” Ross answered, relieved.
“Dammit! I thought it was worth a shot. Okay, I’m still on this. You better not hire anyone else before five o’clock.”
Then Mia was gone, possibly already forgetting him for the second time. Maybe he should be used to it. Maybe he shouldn’t care. One thing for sure, he shouldn’t be secretly hoping she’d remember.
She had returned.
As someone who was used to hiding—
Correction.
As someone who was used to working diligently in the rear of the shop, Ross was successful at avoiding most of the day-to-day interactions with the characters who would peruse the contents of El Dorado Jewelry. The front of the shop usually fell to his younger cousin, Luna. The same person who took pleasure in reminding him several times they weren’t characters as much as they were valued customers.
But times were changing, and he needed to adjust. Ross hated adjusting. In fact, he hated adjusting more than he hated awkward interactions with valued customers. He spent the majority of his time in the workshop for a good reason. Precious metal and stones didn’t require a casual exchange of pleasantries. They succumbed to his will under nothing more than calloused, experienced hands. Troublesome words weren’t necessary. He preferred it this way.
Although, when it came to Mia Russo, it was pretty safe to say she fell more into the character category. Some things didn’t change. Even so, he wasn’t sure he liked this latest development to his day. Her walking into his shop the first time was a surprise. Her walking in a second time...well, now it was interesting.
“I wondered if you’d be back,” Ross said as he bent to replace the silver and rose gold earrings to their original position within the glass case.
“I’m sorry?”
Ross’s eyes met hers. “Did you change your mind?”
Her forehead crumpled in confusion. “Change my mind?”
“About the earrings. If so, I’m going to need your boyfriend’s credit card again because of the price difference.”
Mia waved her hands in front of her. “Oh! No. He’s not my boyfriend.”
“Fiancé? Husband? Whatever. It doesn’t matter. All I care about is the credit card.”
“No, I mean...none of those.” She paused to take a moment before pushing ahead. “I’m not here about the earrings. I’m sure his actual girlfriend will be thrilled with them. I just met the guy in the coffee shop and he asked me to come with him for a second opinion.”
Mia’s eyes drifted upward, studying the ceiling panels. “Now that I say it out loud, it is...kind of weird. But I’m not surprised. Weird things always seem to happen to me.”
“Okay,” Ross replied, unsure of the proper response to her ramblings. “So,” he said, stretching the word to fill the silence. “I take it you’re here for me then?”
“What?” Mia’s amber-colored gaze zipped to his, her cheeks blooming pink. She eyed the door as if calculating how long it would take to escape the shop if it became necessary.
This reaction befuddled him. “Well, I doubt you’re going to reminisce with the dog.”
“I...uh...I,” Mia said. “I’m actually here because of your sign.”
“What sign?” Ross replied, his own patience fading fast at whatever game this was.
Mia leaned, pointing to the Help Wanted sign he’d set in the window earlier in the day. “That one.”
It was his turn to stumble. “Wait. What? You’re asking me for a job? Is this a joke?”
She crossed her arms. “Are you the owner? If you don’t want people coming in asking you for a job, why’d you hang the sign?”
“Yeah, I’m the owner.” Ross gave her a solid once over. “You have experience in jewelry retail?” He didn’t bother hiding his skepticism in the question.
Mia lifted her delicate chin, drawing closer to the jewelry case, which served as a barrier between them. “I don’t actually, but it doesn’t mean I still couldn’t do the job to your satisfaction. I’m a quick study, and I imagine jewelry, especially pieces as unique and beautiful as these, have no problem selling themselves.”
Ross returned her look of bravado with a flat one of his own before reaching to retrieve a bottle of glass cleaner. He sprayed the counter, wiping away nonexistent fingerprints as if this was his biggest priority of the day and required all of his attention.
Despite his nonresponse, Mia spoke again. “Let me at least fill out an application. I’m–”
“Mia Russo. Valedictorian. Class Treasurer. National Honor Society. National AP Scholar. Yearbook editor. Debate club. Model UN.” As he rattled off the list, her eyes grew wider. “That’s all I can remember right now. And, in that very impressive list, I don’t think any of it qualifies as experience for working in a small jewelry store.”
A brief moment of pleasure passed through him as Mia’s mouth dropped open. But it would be a matter of seconds before her brain rebooted itself as she never remained silent for long. “What? How?” She shook her head. “Did we go to school together?”
Ross narrowed his eyes before returning the spray bottle to the bottom shelf. Her reaction was sincere. She didn’t remember him. Hurt gave way to annoyance. He leaned against the glass case, not caring about adding a new set of fingerprints to it. “It was a long time ago.”
It had been close to ten years since they last interacted, which was a long time. For Mia to remove his face and name from her memories, as she moved through her academically privileged life, shouldn’t have been surprising. But the disappointment was startling anyway.
Ross’s memory was not flawed. He knew it was Mia the moment she walked through the door of his jewelry store. It didn’t matter if the braces were gone or her face narrowed, or her golden-brown hair fell in thick, soft waves instead of being pulled into an ever-present ponytail. The way her soft curves filled the short summer dress and navy blue blazer, revealing long shapely legs—
Anyway, those were the things that had changed. Her large eyes, the color of warm, melting amber, remained the same and were still framed behind glasses. Although, presently, she was sporting chunky, black frames instead of slender silver ones. The style of the glasses didn’t matter, they suited her either way. And her eyes still possessed the ability to thaw anyone’s resolve. Anyone else’s that is. Ross’s resolve had been permafrozen.
Worse yet, the same smile was there on her lips, something he would remember today or a hundred years from now. And that single, damn dimple on her right cheek. It was burned into his memory as if it was branded with a hot poker. He used to love and hate Mia Russo’s dimple because, in the old days, he would have done almost anything to see it.
But that was then. Maybe time had changed her the same way it had changed him. Life had taught him so many lessons over the last ten years, the adult version of himself was nothing like sixteen-year-old Ross. Not all changes were physical, including his late growth spurt and actual muscle definition. The teenage version had spitfire lava running through his veins. But years had cooled the heat, turning his heart into a hard, cynical stone. As a result, Ross, the man, would never succumb to anything as ridiculous as a dimple these days, even if it came in looking for a job.
At this point, Mia wasn’t wielding a dimple or any of her other charms as she guided a careful perusal of his features. “What’s your name?”
“Doesn’t matter.”
“If it doesn’t matter, then why keep it a secret?” Her eyes processed the shop as if she was a detective looking for the one piece of evidence that would break The Case of the Missing Name wide open. When her search proved fruitless, she returned to his face.
Satisfied Mia was stuck, he offered a slight smile of benevolence. “I’ll tell you what, if you can remember my name by the time I close today, you can have the job.”
Her brow furrowed. “Are you serious?”
“Perfectly.”
“Okay, I’ll be right back. I’m going to talk with your neighbors.”
Ross shrugged. “Go ahead. I never talk to them. They probably refer to me as the jewelry guy with the dog.”
“What’s your website?”
“Don’t have one.”
“Can I have a business card?”
“No.”
Her mouth slipped into an angelic smile, her damn dimple flashing in unison as if she was auditioning for the role of innocent girl. All she was missing was the batting of eyelashes. “Come on, John.”
“That’s not my name.”
Mia pointed one of her fingers at him while moving in the direction of the door. “You’re going to lose. I’m getting this job. Nothing I like better than a challenge, Freddy.”
“So, if I hire you, I lose? That doesn’t make me want to hire you. This isn’t a scavenger hunt. You’re supposed to remember my name, not dig through old newspaper clippings.”
She opened the door. “Okay, dig through old newspaper clippings. Got it. I actually do need a business card. How will I get a hold of you to accept my offer of employment for your place of business, Henry? Rick? Sebastian?”
“Google it.”
“Oh, good idea. I’ll do that now.” Mia pulled her phone from her purse, typing with the voracity of a teenager as she walked past the shop window until she was gone.
Ross returned to wiping his fingerprint smudges from the glass counter. With any luck, she was out of his life again. He was alone with his thoughts, which was what he preferred. He didn’t need interesting characters in his shop, even if they had tempting curves, amber eyes, and a single, provoking dimple. He didn’t need that in his life or to even think about it. And he wasn’t thinking about it.
One thing clearly hadn’t changed: Mia was smart. A nervous finger tapped against the counter as he checked the clock. Perhaps giving her until five p.m. was a mistake. He didn’t want to deal with her on a social level, let alone hire her. She had three and a half hours. He should have played it safe and given her twenty minutes.
The bell jingled, grabbing his attention. Mia poked her head in and grinned.
Shit. Twenty minutes was still too much time.
“Is it Rumpelstiltskin?” she asked.
“No,” Ross answered, relieved.
“Dammit! I thought it was worth a shot. Okay, I’m still on this. You better not hire anyone else before five o’clock.”
Then Mia was gone, possibly already forgetting him for the second time. Maybe he should be used to it. Maybe he shouldn’t care. One thing for sure, he shouldn’t be secretly hoping she’d remember.
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The Love in El Dorado Series:
A Poinsettia Paradise Christmas releases October 30, 2023
Places to find Janine Amesta:
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