by: Maria K. Alexander
Series: Pelican Bay
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: January 29, 2024
It’s lights, camera, action when reality TV comes to the Jersey shore.
Ten years have passed since a hurricane ravaged the small beach town of Pelican Bay. On that fateful night, Emma Erickson was part of a tragedy that changed her life. While her friends moved away after the storm, Emma gave up her dream of art school and remained on the island. When her grandmother passed away, Emma became successor to head the committee to restore the family amusement pier. Now, Emma will need to convince her friends to return, including the boy who once held a special place in her heart.
Jason Maguire hasn’t looked back since leaving the broken beach town ten years ago. After abandoning his dream of architecture school, he moved to Florida, where he and his brother started a business flipping houses. Their talent caught the eye of producers from a reality TV show, where they rose in popularity and now live the life they’ve always dreamed. When Jason returns home for a funeral, he’s forced to remember details from that night, including facing the girl he left behind.
Now, tempted by a proposal to use his home improvement skills to restore the pier and attract new visitors to the dying beach town, he’ll need to overcome the past that’s haunted him. With the town and their hearts on the line, when the final episode is filmed, will it be enough to reunite them or prove they were never meant to be together?
“So what now, Jace? You’ve paid your respects. Are you going to just leave?” she asked. “Without seeing the town?”
What’s left of the town.
He’d driven around a little on his way into his hometown, and it was a shell of what he remembered. It hurt…seeing it still broken, a ghost of his childhood. Much like how he felt about himself.
“I have responsibilities in Florida,” he said. His mom…his brother…his business. With two seasons left to fulfill his network contract, he didn’t plan on renewing. It was time to move on and return to what he loved doing best—taking broken houses and making them into something beautiful.
“I know…you’ve built a life in Florida. I get it.”
She tugged her lower lip between her teeth, causing a burst of lust to travel to his groin. “It’s just…I need a favor.”
He furrowed his brow. “What kind of favor?”
She pressed her lips together. “Not the kind I can discuss now.”
“You need something and can’t tell me what it is?”
“It’s been a rough week dealing with Gram’s death and the funeral arrangements,” Emma said. “Let’s talk tomorrow…after the funeral.”
“I leave tomorrow night.”
Her voice cracked. “Please, Jace.”
And that quickly, it was as though they were back in high school, when he’d have done anything for Emma Erickson. He’d been naïve then, in the ways of the world—including the cruelty of it. He’d changed over the past decade. Grown a pair, as Connor used to tell him. Some would say—and had—that he was cold. He did what he wanted, and on his terms. No more getting emotionally involved…it wasn’t worth the heartache.
But the familiar pull of Pelican Bay, along with Emma’s bright blue eyes, brimming with unshed tears, lowered his defenses. Now, while his head told him to turn tail and return directly to Florida—do not pass Go, do not collect two hundred dollars—the carefully built shell around his heart threatened to crack, and he caught himself before he pulled her in close and never let her go.
“Fine. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
Her face relaxed with relief. “Thank you.”
Regardless of her pretty eyes that held a bit of desperation, he had to protect his heart. “Just be clear that when we’re done, I will be catching my flight, and I will be going back to Florida.”
What’s left of the town.
He’d driven around a little on his way into his hometown, and it was a shell of what he remembered. It hurt…seeing it still broken, a ghost of his childhood. Much like how he felt about himself.
“I have responsibilities in Florida,” he said. His mom…his brother…his business. With two seasons left to fulfill his network contract, he didn’t plan on renewing. It was time to move on and return to what he loved doing best—taking broken houses and making them into something beautiful.
“I know…you’ve built a life in Florida. I get it.”
She tugged her lower lip between her teeth, causing a burst of lust to travel to his groin. “It’s just…I need a favor.”
He furrowed his brow. “What kind of favor?”
She pressed her lips together. “Not the kind I can discuss now.”
“You need something and can’t tell me what it is?”
“It’s been a rough week dealing with Gram’s death and the funeral arrangements,” Emma said. “Let’s talk tomorrow…after the funeral.”
“I leave tomorrow night.”
Her voice cracked. “Please, Jace.”
And that quickly, it was as though they were back in high school, when he’d have done anything for Emma Erickson. He’d been naïve then, in the ways of the world—including the cruelty of it. He’d changed over the past decade. Grown a pair, as Connor used to tell him. Some would say—and had—that he was cold. He did what he wanted, and on his terms. No more getting emotionally involved…it wasn’t worth the heartache.
But the familiar pull of Pelican Bay, along with Emma’s bright blue eyes, brimming with unshed tears, lowered his defenses. Now, while his head told him to turn tail and return directly to Florida—do not pass Go, do not collect two hundred dollars—the carefully built shell around his heart threatened to crack, and he caught himself before he pulled her in close and never let her go.
“Fine. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
Her face relaxed with relief. “Thank you.”
Regardless of her pretty eyes that held a bit of desperation, he had to protect his heart. “Just be clear that when we’re done, I will be catching my flight, and I will be going back to Florida.”
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When I'm not writing, I enjoy reading, baking, crochet, biking, visiting the beach, and watching romantic comedies. I live in New Jersey with my husband and juggle a full-time job, while dreaming of writing by the Jersey shore.
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