Pre-Order Seeking Sanctuary – Book 3

Seeking Sanctuary, book 3 in the exciting standalone U-District mystery romance series is now available for pre-order in Kindle edition on Amazon through October 2, 2018. The print book will be available next month.

She didn’t mean to attack a killer to save a woman’s life. He didn’t mean to complicate his world when he offered her protection. The killer’s next target… her. If you like sizzling chemistry, edgy characters, and twists you won’t see coming, then you’ll love this riveting tale.

 

Pre-order Seeking Sanctuary today!

 

To celebrate, Secrets at Synergy, book 1 of the series will be free in the Kindle store from August 20 to August 24, 2018.

 

Don’t miss out on downloading Secrets at Synergy for FREE!

 

Make sure you get notified when the next hot release it out.

Sign up for my VIP Reader List today!

Ripped from Obscurity – The poem that started it all

Check out this controversial poem (below) written by my spunky fictional character, Selena Hawkins, which puts her face-to-face with the sexy country star, Tucker Calhoun. Don’t miss out on Ripped from Obscurity today!

 

Lost in the Fog

By Jodi Ashland

 

His eyes are gray, the color of sadness, misery, and sorrow

His matching hat, button-down shirt, and cowboy boots don’t mask it

Gray could be silver, the color of shiny sports cars and coin

Meant to exude wealth, power, and fame

But all I see is the subdued shade of gray and the subdued man

 

Even the absence of color—black—or all colors—white—go with everything

But gray, what does gray go with except other shades of gray

It’s the color of fog and clouds bloated with rain

Causing air, sidewalks, and streets to look the same

Gray drives all signs of life into their cocoons

It’s a lonely color, reflecting the lonely, desperate man

 

Others don’t see past the outer beauty of him

The strong jaw and shoulders imply his character is the same

His height and long legs mean he is afraid of nothing

Why can’t they see it in his eyes, the ones that betray him

He’s disheartened and he’s lost in the fog

 

Come back to me, lyrics sung to the woman who is gone

His voice exposing his anguish, his eyes showing what it cost

Did he hurt this woman as much as she hurt him?

Or did she push him away, as if on a whim?

Why can’t they leave this man alone?

His words aren’t meant for anyone… but the one he has lost

 

This poem may be reproduced electronically for non-profit use, without intent to harm others, or intent to slander the author, and without modification of the poem including the title, author’s name, poem, and this disclaimer. This poem may not be reproduced in print form without the prior written permission of the copyright owner, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review. ©Jodi Ashland http://www.jodiashland.com

Ripped from Obscurity – RT Book Reviews Top Pick

Wow, what a surprise. Ripped from Obscurity book 2 in the U-District series, made RT Book Review’s Top Pick.

“Ashland writes a compelling tale featuring a sexy cowboy who steals a beautiful, spunky author’s heart. This page-turner with plenty of sexual tension, swoon-worthy moments, twists, and suspense will keep readers enthralled to the end.”

If you like smoldering chemistry, sexy country singers, and mysteries that wind like a country road, then you’ll adore this starstruck love story. Don’t miss out on book 2 of the U-District standalone series. Buy Ripped from Obscurity today!

 

I am a Breast Cancer Survivor!

Two years after being diagnosed with breast cancer, I just found out I’m still cancer free!! I’ve had many people ask me how I stayed so positive after my diagnosis. I think part of it was my strong work ethic and the other part was my life long battle with depression and the understanding that I couldn’t let it take over. When I was diagnosed, I told my doctor and family that “I am a cancer survivor!” I committed right then and there that I was going to beat this thing. And one thing I knew from battling depression, is that I couldn’t curl up into a ball and stop taking care of myself or it would be a death sentence for me. Instead, I did research to find out what life changes I needed to make to survive this. Breast cancer does not run in my family. So why did I get it? I found so many toxins that I was exposed to from food, water, the environment, synthetic medicine, and my own mental and physical health. That’s what I’m going to share in my Detox Your Life posts that many of you have asked me to share.

While I worked hard during the day to eat healthy, exercise, and remove the toxins from my environment, it was deep into the night that the anxiety and depression threatened to take over. When I’d wake up terrified and in a cold sweat thinking about dying, about not seeing my daughter graduate college or my son get married, I knew I needed to turn off these depressing thoughts or it would take over. Netflix was a godsend and I found the longest running show that interested me. Supernatural was in its 11th season, so I binge watched it every night until I could sleep without my own demons haunting me. And I re-watched every funny episode because laughter lightens the heart and pushes away depression.

A month after I was diagnosed, I had a lumpectomy and several lymph nodes removed in my left armpit which confirmed the cancer hadn’t spread. I was blessed that we caught it early on a 3D mammogram. Within two months, I had undergone six weeks of radiation Monday through Friday. Every day, I parked at the top of the hospital garage, and every day I walked up and down those five flights of stairs. The radiation kicked my butt in weeks six (the final week) through week eight, but everyday I’d get up, eat right, and go for a walk. I worked thirty-five hours a week as a telecommuter from home through all of it. It was amazing how much support I got from my employer, co-workers, family, and friends. I shared what I was going through with anyone who would listen, even my co-workers. And everyone was thankful. No one pulled away or got weird when I’d talk about it. Instead they opened up to me and told me about what they or their loved ones were going through. I consider that such a blessing.

I no longer consider my cancer diagnose a death sentence. I consider my cancer diagnosis a life sentence. Because without it, I would not have made the changes in my life that have led me to lead a much richer and deeper life.

Stay positive, strive to be healthy, fight against depression, and live life like there is no tomorrow.

Note: My blog at http://www.jodiashland.com auto feeds my author blogs on various web-sites. If you see funny characters, it is a result of their import routine. My apologies. I wish I had time to update them all by hand.

Secrets at Synergy published on Amazon

Secrets at Synergy is now available on Amazon in print and e-book formats. Although it is book 1 of the U-District series, it can be read as a standalone novel.

This romantic mystery series takes place in the University District of Seattle following Detective Neal Hawkins (aka Hawk) as he gets involved with each crime, sometimes outside of his jurisdiction. Yeah, he’s that kind of cop. Don’t discount the strong heroine and hero who will not only have a sizzling romance, but may help solve the mystery.  See my earlier post titled “Secrets at Synergy – Debut Novel” to see what it is all about.

I hope you share my excitement and enjoy Jade and Bryce’s adventure.

Waiting to see my first book in print

My fabulous editor just uploaded Secrets at Synergy to Amazon for me to buy a proof. It’s difficult to put into words just how excited I am to see my book in print for the very first time. I’ve set a release date for August 2nd and will post when it’s available for sale.

See my earlier post to see what Secrets at Synergy, book 1 of the U-District series, is all about.

Secrets at Synergy – Debut Novel

Super Excited!! This summer I’ll be publishing my debut romantic suspense mystery novel, Secrets at Synergy, book 1 of the U-District series. Here’s what it’s about:

Desperate to save her late grandmother’s financially ailing company, a young woman must unearth a murderous embezzler—even if the evidence points to the man she loves.

Twenty-two-year-old Jade Buchanan suffers one blow after another. First, her grandmother dies, then she’s forced to quit college to take over Gran’s mysteriously ailing company. While handling a rebellion among the senior managers, who resent taking orders from an inexperienced CEO, Jade desperately tries to uncover the reason for the company’s financial difficulties before it goes under. The only bright spot is working side by side with her long-time crush, Bryce, but he runs so hot and cold, she doesn’t know where she stands. Can Jade uncover the murderous embezzler in the company’s midst before she becomes a target—or is it already too late?

Even though Jade seems under-qualified, Bryce Radisson accepts his new position as COO, but working with an impulsive—and incredibly attractive—woman like Jade could be more than he can handle. His feelings for her are irrational and unprofessional. Even worse, she stokes in him a deep, uncontrollable passion that he fears will ruin him. As Jade digs deeper into the truth, Bryce has to choose between protecting himself or protecting the woman he loves.