Title: Worry Beads: The Big Uneasy 4
Author: Pauline Baird Jones
Genre: Romantic suspense/mystery/humor
Book Blurb:
A Humorous New Orleans Romantic Suspense Series from USA Today Bestselling author Pauline Baird Jones.
When New Orleans EMT Laura Baker's act of kindness lands her in the crosshairs of danger, she learns the true risks of her profession. Archie Gunn's unexpected journey to the vibrant city brings more surprises than he anticipated. Get ready for an unforgettable ride with the next installment of The Big Uneasy series, where the charm of New Orleans blends with suspense and unexpected twists.
New Orleans EMT Laura Baker has seen it all, handling every kind of emergency. But one act of kindness during a call thrusts her into the spotlight—and into a world of danger. Her heart is on the line and her life hangs in the balance, all because she made the evening news.
Travel writer Archie Gunn's latest tip-off lands him in the mystic city of New Orleans. The journey uncovers more than he imagined—a world filled with more mystery, and danger lurking in the bayou. As he digs deeper, he realizes that New Orleans isn't just about good times and Mardi Gras.
In this latest captivating installment of The Big Uneasy series, explore the thrills and spills that the city of New Orleans holds. Life can be more than just a little deadly in the Big Easy!
Prepare to be swept off your feet with a story that shows how an act of kindness can spiral into a whirlpool of danger. Immerse yourself in the vibrant and dangerous New Orleans and unlock the latest suspense-filled chapter in the humorous romantic suspense Big Uneasy series today!
Excerpt:
The smell in the alley was not subtle, but it was sadly familiar. At least it was cooler this time of year, so the smell wasn’t getting amped up by the heat. Even if it had been chilled, Laura Baker would be taking whatever she was kneeling in home with her. Garbage, urine, and of course, blood. Lots of blood. He lay where the car had tossed him, legs and arms bent at angles they’d never been meant to go. And because it was New Orleans, jazz played in the distance, the sound carried in by the cool January night air, while their emergency lights pulsed across the scene.
She was working on getting his vitals. LaFon was still trying to find a vein for the cannula.
Guy hadn’t moved since they got there. Based on his vital signs, he wouldn’t be—
His lids lifted, the fog in his eyes clearing just enough for him to focus on Laura.
His blue lips moved. “You a real blonde?”
Her lips twitched.
“Would you believe me if I said I was?” she asked, her gaze holding his while her hands continued their all too familiar task.
“I would,” LaFon said, a white grin cutting across his dark face.
“Always liked blondes,” their victim muttered. The hand nearest her twitched, shifting in the pile of she-didn’t-want-to-know-what it was. He winced, the effort adding more gray to his face, but he managed to lift his hand enough so she could see he held some Mardi Gras beads.
She almost sighed. Orleanians did like their beads, but she wasn’t going to show him something to get them.
“Take them. Pretty girl should have…beads.” Air bubbles popped in the blood that oozed out with each word.
She met LaFon’s gaze and he half shrugged. “Make him feel better, girl,” he advised.
Laura gingerly extracted the strand from fingers almost as twisted as limbs and held it up. It was strung with what was probably the usual fake pearls and a huge bobble hung off the Krewe badge. With a smile hiding her sigh, she slung it around her neck. He was dying and she’d had worse things on her uniform.
“How does it look?” she asked, giving him a sultry smile, even as she returned to the futile task of trying to save his life.
The edges of his mouth moved. “Hang on…bring…you…luck…”
The beads hadn’t brought him luck, but she smiled again and thanked him. “I’ll hang on to them,” she promised. “For luck.”
The man’s gaze slid sideways, as if looking to see if anyone was near. The beat cops were keeping the small crowd back. Most people were a couple of streets over on Bourbon Street. The distant music changed to something slower and very jazzy.
“Ogre…” The effort exhausted him and his eyes closed. “Hunt…ogre…” he said again.
“We’ll do what we can,” she said, trying to sound reassuring.
“Bay…”
“Bay?” Laura tried not to make it a question, hoping that her calm tone would reassure him.
“Ba…by…”
Her gaze flicked to LaFon who shrugged. It wasn’t unusual to call someone baby around here, but the way he said it was neither the affectionate or the creepy version. More like…scared.
“Baby.”
His lids flickered, lifting enough for him to see her again. “Pretty girl…careful…”
“I’m always careful.”
Suddenly his eyes opened wide. “Treasure.”
He said the word clearly and she shot LaFon a startled look. Then the man’s eyes dimmed, light fading from them as he flatlined.
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What’s your favorite thing about autumn:
I love it when the air turns crisp and cool! I feel like I come alive again. Heat is definitely NOT my thing!
What inspired you to write this story:
I can’t explain why I like to write. I just know I can’t not write. People who work in other jobs can mark their progress by promotions or salary increases or, I don’t know. It always seems like non-writing jobs have more tangible signs of progress. An A/C technician can look back on their day and see progress as units are repaired and customers are happily cool or warm again.
For an author, sometimes all we have is that book. Lol It’s like throwing a party that people may—or may not—attend. But no matter if they do or don’t, there is the book.
So publishing a book makes me happy. Lol
Publishing this book made me happy because I love the series. I actually started this book, but events overtook me and I switched gears and wrote Zach and Becca’s story instead.
When I came back to Laura’s story, it wasn’t any easier to figure out, but I didn’t want to back burner them again. She and Archie were tapping their feet and giving me some very pointed looks.
One of the challenges of writing this book was that Laura was an EMT — an Emergency Medical Technician. She saved lives, which was very cool, but now I needed to put her life in danger. I needed to cause her all kinds of problems. I knew Archie was going to “help” with that, but first I had to find a way for them to meet and then set in motion their hosing.
I started with “what if” and before I knew it, they were having all kinds of problems. My problem is that I am ultimately responsible for getting them OUT of trouble. I may have burned my candle at both ends and in the middle doing that, but one thing I promise my readers is a happy ending. My hero and heroine might be bruised and shell-shocked, but they are happy. Lol
Giveaway –
One lucky reader will win a $100 Amazon gift card.
Open internationally.
Runs September 1 – 30, 2024
Drawing will be held on October 1, 2024.
Author Biography:
USA Today Bestselling Author, Pauline never liked reality, so she writes books. She likes to wander among the genres, rampaging like Godzilla, because she does love peril mixed in her romance.
Social Media Links:
Website: https://paulinebjones.com
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/paulinebjones
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/perilouspauline/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulinebairdjones/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/paulinebjones