Jean Joachim: Now and Forever 2, The Book of Danny

Saturday, March 20, 2021

Now and Forever 2, The Book of Danny - Free for 5 Days!

FREE FOR EVERYONE UNTIL MARCH 24!

My journey writing this book.

I don't talk much about the Now and Forever series these days, though it's still one of my favorites. It was one of my first. I have re-edited it and put out second editions for all the books. Yes, I had visions of Mac Caldwell in my mind as I wrote his story, which is book 1. But during that book, and "Callie's Story", Danny Maine kept coming back demanding attention.

When I finished writing book 1, Danny came to me and wanted his story told. He wasn't my usual book boyfriend. Danny's scarred, inside and out. He's got PTSD, which gives him nightmares from time to time. In the Army, he was a killer, a sniper. He's having a hard time leaving it behind.

What shone through for me was his strength, loyalty, and humanity. Danny is all in when it comes to protecting the ones he loves. So I had to tell his story. And I felt like he sat on my shoulder, dictating every word. He lived inside me while I wrote this emotional, suspenseful tale.

This book took me on a journey. It was the first time a character took over, refusing to let me direct the story. He took it places I hadn't imagined. I couldn't wait to get my fingers on the keyboard each day to see where the story would go.

Danny took a journey. He came back to life. I was privileged to go along for the ride. Still one of my favorite books, I'm pleased to offer you, "Now and Forever 2, The Book of Danny" for free until March 24. I hope you download it, read it, and enjoy it...and fall in love with Danny, just the way I did.

Here's a bit about the book:

Killer? Lover? Professor? Which one is Danny Maine? Leaving the Army to teach college didn't mean the war left him. Scars to his body, heart, and soul haunt him. Capt. Danny Maine seeks a normal life. He struggles to free himself from crippling war memories and dangerous men, hoping love and a new Glock will bring him peace.

Eliza Baines, widowed dean at the university, finally has life exactly the way she wants it, doesn’t she? When Danny Maine blows into town, he fires up her hunger for love and affection. Can she throw aside convention to build a life with a much younger man?

An engrossing, tale of love, loss, mind-blowing surprises, and facing off against insurmountable obstacles, the Book of Danny will touch your heart.

Caution: Occasional cursing and violence.

“...it was a wonderful read that tore me up in the middle, but left me satisfied in the end.”

HERE'S A TASTE OF THE BOOK:

“This way, Danny.” Cal motioned.

“No, don’t go that way…” Danny hollered.

Too late. The explosion might have deafened him, but Danny got lucky. Running away from a bomb one minute, the next, he woke up in an army hospital in Germany. Still, he was the charmed one—getting the Purple Heart and a trip home. Cal hadn’t been so blessed.

Danny had only been out of the hospital for three days when he hitched a ride on a military transport back to the United States. A long plane ride provided the chance to say goodbye to his buddies.

“Hey, Captain, ever get the guy in Iraq who killed your brother?” asked Sgt. Josh Benson.

“Sure, Benson. Him and the rest, too. All those bastards,” Danny replied.

“You got the highest score. How many killed?”

“Lost count.”

“More than me.”

“Everybody got more than you, Benson. Jenny behind the desk hit more than you.”

“Can’t see nothin’ on you. Looks like they never touched you.”

“Yeah, looks can be deceiving. How’s your leg doing?” Danny asked, moving away to make more room for Benson’s leg cast.

“Good,” he lied.

Danny saw the beads of sweat on Benson’s forehead, his pale face. Benson had always been a good liar.

“Glad to be delivering you back to your sister. Say what does she look like again?”

“Stay away from her, Captain. She’s got enough to do takin’ care of me. She can’t be cryin’ her eyes out over givin’ it up to you.” Benson chuckled.

“Too bad. But if she looks like you, maybe not!” Danny laughed.

“I’m not tellin’.” His brow furrowed, Benson asked, “Say Captain…you sleep good?”

“Okay, I guess,” he said, side-stepping the truth.

“I see things. I wake up. I don’t sleep all night,” Benson said quietly.

Danny nodded, looking away.

“Will those things go away? Will I always be seein’ Joe or Cal when I go to sleep?”

“I hope not,” Danny said, looking down at his hands.

“At least I’m still here. Thanks to you.”

“I told you, just shut up about what happened,” Danny snapped, making a fist.

“Why?”

“Everybody here does his bit. I did mine…with you. Don’t talk about it,” Danny said in a low voice.

“Okay, okay.”

“You’re one brother I’m returning home,” Danny said to himself.

“Hey, Maine, we’re coming down over Syracuse. This is your stop, right?” the pilot hollered. Danny moved up to the cockpit.

“Yeah. That’s me.”

“Where do you go from here?”

“I got a ride with Sgt. Marie Willis to Willow Falls,” Danny said.

“Some hick town?”

“College town.”

“You going to school?”

“Teaching.”

“Marie, huh?”

“Better warn her about the Captain,” Benson piped up from the back.

“Shut up Benson or I’ll have to break your arm, too,” Danny called.

“Ever see her, Benson? Don’t think the Captain’ll be interested.”

“She’s female, isn’t she?” Danny cocked an eyebrow.

“As far as I know.”

“I’m interested,” Danny said with a snicker.

“Your vitamin E pack, Captain.”

Accepting the pouch from Benson, he put it in his duffle bag. “Thanks.”

The plane landed. Danny parted from Benson and two other members of his squad. Marie Willis stood at the gate jingling car keys in her hand. Danny stored his gear in her trunk then got in next to her.

“How long a trip is this, Sergeant?” Danny asked the washed-out brunette.

“Call me Marie.”

“Okay, Marie. How long?”

“Maybe four hours?”

“Too bad. Thought we might need to stop for the night,” he said, looking her over.

“That could be arranged,” she said, smiling.

You'll find the ebook free only on Amazon here: