Joy After Noon by Debra Coleman Jeter - Book Tour - Book Review - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Hello lovelies!  It gives me great pleasure today to host Debra Coleman Jeter and her new book, “Joy After Noon”!  For other stops on her Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above or any of the images in this post.

Be sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card!!  Also, come back daily to interact with Debra and to increase your chances of winning!

Thanks for stopping by!  Wishing you lots of luck in this fabulous giveaway!

Joy After Noon

by Debra Coleman Jeter

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GENRE: Contemporary Romance

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BLURB:

Joy marries a widowed bank executive caught in an ethical dilemma and misreads his obvious frustration while struggling to integrate into her new family. Inspired in part by Love, Come Softly, this novel explores the challenges of second marriages and dealing with step-children during the crucial years of puberty and teenage angst. A college professor coming up shortly for the huge tenure decision, Joy finds herself falling apart as her career and her home issues deteriorate and collide.

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EXCERPT THREE:

Though it was Saturday, Ray had gone in to work anyway, saying he had a lot of catching up to do. Joy resisted the urge to flee to her own office, where stacks of papers and unread journals piled high, not to mention the project with Natalie that needed to be finalized. How much easier to tackle the tasks she knew than the unfamiliar. She plopped into a chair. Her thoughts drifted to the sequence of events that had brought her here.

Their whirlwind courtship was so romantic, so fairytale-like, Joy had not questioned her feelings. Swept into Ray’s arms, literally and figuratively, she dared imagine a lifetime with him and his daughters. She’d tried to warn him that she was an incompetent cook. Perhaps he hadn’t taken her light-hearted confession seriously. When he suggested they elope, she was ecstatic. Of course she met the girls, but never really interacted with them. Facing hard facts now, she knew she had been afraid of turning Ray against her—by her lack of finesse with kids and zero domestic skills. She’d been glad—so glad—to be romanced and cherished. Had she made a huge, irreversible mistake by not being more candid?

Ray was gorgeous, with his long, rangy body, his face tanned and creased from years of Sugar Sands sun. His eyebrows and eyelashes were inky black, a startling contrast to the bright caramel hair on his head and faint stubble on his chin. Joy couldn’t help feeling—both then and now—that he was out of her league. Dating him, much less marrying him, had seemed too much to hope for. Yet, here she was, in these beautiful, sun-filled rooms that were about to be jarred from their history of perfection.

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MY BOOK REVIEW:

In today’s society blended families are on the rise.  Which is why I found this book to be such an interesting, intriguing, important, honest, and realistic account of second marriages.

This book is not only an enjoyable read, but also a helpful, informative read.  I felt like I learned and grew from reading this book.

This book tells a realistic story of the delicate, romantic, wonderful, but also at times dreary, difficult, and challenging facets of second marriages.

This book focuses on Joy, who marries Ray, a widower, and father of two teenage daughters, Marianne and Jenny.  This book follows these characters on the ups and downs of re-building a new family, a new life, and trying to move forward.

So, when Joy fell in love with Ray, she didn’t think about anything else, but him.  Until they returned from their honeymoon, being a stepmom hadn’t finally sunk in.  Joy had been so swept up with finally being loved and cherished for the first time in many years, she hadn’t even begun to think about being responsible for two teenage girls and a household.  But after moving into “the” house, as in Carolyn’s old house, reminders where around every corner pointing out Carolyn’s spices, cookbooks, her beachy home décor, her photos on the girl’s dressers, etc. it was all memories of Carolyn.

This would be such a difficult situation to navigate.  I can definitely understand the disappointment and uneasiness in Joy.  On one hand it would be upsetting to be tossed into my new husband’s dead wife’s life.  Part of me would want to throw everything out and make it my own.  And I honestly think Joy feels like that too.  At the beginning of the book she’s talking about selling Carolyn’s stuff.  But on the other hand, I’d worry what the girls would think, and I wouldn’t want them to see me come in and just throw their “mom” out on the curb.  They barely know me, and I wouldn’t want that to be their first impression of me.

I really liked the main characters, Joy, Ray, Marianne, and Jenny.  These characters felt realistic, genuine, and likable.  They were easy to connect with and relate to.

My mom was a single parent and I remember her dating and later re-marrying (and later divorcing).  The tricks I played on those guys and the rude behavior I had towards them – they never stood a chance.  So, I completely understand and the younger me can easily identify with Marianne and Jenny with the way they react to and torture Joy.

I really liked Joy as she is someone the older me would connect with in the sense as I have dated guys with children and feared for their approval as well.  Joy is considerate, polite, and thoughtful.  However, she is also, insecure, vulnerable, worried, unsure of herself, and constantly feels inadequate and flawed.  Joy is consistently comparing herself to Carolyn (the first wife) and is always coming up short.

It is really hard competing with a ghost especially when you’re in their house, with their family, their friends – basically just taking over their spot – which is exactly how Joy feels.  Everyone goes on about how amazing Carolyn was and how wonderful of a cook, baker, homemaker, wife, mother, committee organizer, etc. she was.  Unfortunately, Joy can’t seem to not burn the pie and is just an overall disaster in the kitchen, she forgets to sign the girls field trip permission slips on-time and is just struggling between a work/home balance.  All Joy wants is to be like Carolyn.  Perfect.  But little does she know how far off from perfect Carolyn truly was.

I really enjoyed the supporting characters as well.  It was pure entertainment when Carolyn’s parents came to visit for Christmas.  You could feel the awkwardness just roll off the pages!!  But there were so many amusing lines from Carolyn’s Mother, Lillian, that explains a lot about the perfection upbringing mannerisms and its ripple effect that has spread – no, more like torn throughout this family.

Another main plot point in this book is perfectionism.  In this book, perfectionism ethics are presented as being the best wife/mom/homemaker, the best ballet dancer, the best cheerleader, the best in school, the happiest family, the wealthiest family, the best daughter, etc.  Always striving to be perfect.  Always trying to be better.  Always trying to please that someone, but more likely trying to get their attention, affection, love, and support.  And when that isn’t given, and the person finally realizes perfection is unobtainable they often lash out and do something drastic, like in this book.  Unfortunately, this mannerism often passes down from generation-to-generation as Lillian passed it down to her daughter, Carolyn, and Carolyn passed it down to her daughters, Marianne and Jenny.  Perfectionism is a real psychological personality trait that although has pros and cons – the cons can be significantly destructive, as seen in this book.  No spoilers here!!  But you definitely will want to read this book and find out!!

This book proves that poor communication, misreading signals, keeping secrets, not paying attention, and failing to provide full disclosure can lead to some serious and negative downfalls in a relationship.

This book truly paints a realistic picture about second marriages and their happiness and struggles.  And what it takes to overcome the obstacles.  Open communication, hard work, and of course, faith.

This book contains strong Christian values.  The main characters met through church at a small Bible Study Meeting.  This book includes Bible verses, Bible references, and prayers.

This book is book one in the Sugar Sands Book Series.  It can be read as a standalone, but book two is scheduled to be released later this year.

All in all, I really enjoyed reading this book and would absolutely recommend it!  I think all contemporary romance readers will like this book, too!  So, add it to your TBR List and get to reading - you won't be disappointed!

**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book and have voluntarily provided an honest, and unbiased review in accordance with FTC regulations.** 

Did you find this review helpful?

If so, please, please, please mark it as helpful on Amazon here:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/review/RLBH10VVJ4H5T

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AUTHOR BIO:

Debra Coleman Jeter has published both fiction and nonfiction in popular magazines, including Working Woman, New Woman, Self, Home Life, Savvy, Christian Woman, and American Baby. Her first novel, The Ticket, was a finalist for a Selah Award, as well as for Jerry Jenkins’ Operation First Novel. Her story, “Recovery,” was awarded first prize in a short story competition sponsored by Christian Woman; and her nonfiction book “Pshaw, It’s Me Grandson”: Tales of a Young Actor was a finalist in the USA Book News Awards. She is a co-writer of the screenplay for Jess + Moss, a feature film which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, screened at nearly forty film festivals around the world, and captured several domestic and international awards.

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CONNECT WITH DEBRA:

Website:

www.debracolemanjeter.com

Blog:

http://www.debracolemanjeter.com/blog

Newsletter:

http://www.debracolemanjeter.com/about-the-author.html

Email:

http://www.debracolemanjeter.com/contact.html

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/debra.c.jeter

Twitter:

https://www.twitter.com/DebColemanJeter

Pinterest:

https://www.pinterest.com/njjeter/the-ticket-a-novel

Vimeo – The Ticket Book Trailer:

https://vimeo.com/50187275

BookBub Author Page:

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/debra-coleman-jeter

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/539783.Debra_Coleman_Jeter

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44257127-joy-after-noon

Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/2DFPMzp

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BOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/2PDud7w

Amazon Paperback:

https://amzn.to/2GQNDms

Barnes and Noble Paperback:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/joy-after-noon-debra-coleman-jeter/1131286449

The Book Depository Paperback:

https://www.bookdepository.com/Joy-After-Noon-Debra-Coleman-Jeter/9781948888974

BAM! Books-A-Million Paperback:

https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Joy-After-Noon/Debra-Coleman-Jeter/9781948888974

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

Debra will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a purchase is made, I may receive a small commission to help support this blog.  This does not cost you anything, it just helps pay for all those awesome giveaways on here.**

This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions.  Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.