Crossed by the Stars: A Second-chance, Slow-burn Romance

by LJ Evans

  The last Anchor Suspense Novel is coming in Spring 2022! Enigmatic FBI agent, Cruz Malone, is determined to bring down the Leskov clan for good. If that means he has to arrest or bed the sexy blonde scientist of the family, so be it. Too bad Raisa has other ideas. There’s no way she’s just going to sit back and let the broody agent dismantle her world…or her heart.

  You can add DISGUISED BY THE DAWN to your Goodreads shelf now!

  Can’t get enough of LJ’s achingly heartfelt slow-burns with characters you want as friends and stories that leave a mark on your soul?

  Check out her debut, award-winning novels in the My Life as an Album series. You can get all 4 books with an exclusive novella written from Blake Abbott’s perspective in the box set. It’s FREE in Kindle Unlimited or available with 41 hours of audio for only one Audible credit.

  It all started with kids at a lake. And when loss hit, they all had to learn to live again…

  To find joy…

  To find redemption…

  To find love…

  5 HEART-STOPPING BOOKS = Over 2,100 pages full of soul-tugging Southern charm. This fresh and original series might just leave you with a book hangover.

  Read: https://geni.us/AlbumBox

  Listen: http://adbl.co/3pXNMsb

  Box Set Free Sample

  If you want to keep tabs on all these stories as LJ writes them and get exclusive content, giveaways, and more, then you might want to join her weekly newsletter: LJ’s Newsletter

  Want even more teasers? Want even more chances at giveaways? Join her Facebook Group, LJ’s Music and Stories, where she chats daily about her National Day obsession, and we help each other through this wild ride called life with books, music, and inspiration.

  Chaji is a formal Japanese tea ceremony.

  Chakai is an informal Japanese tea ceremony

  Chérie is French for sweetheart or darling

  Haha is Japanese and humble for Mother when speaking to others, but it is never said about other people’s mothers.

  Jigai is the ritualized suicide women of the samurai class committed.

  Kaasan is a Japanese nickname for Mother and short for okaasan. Used here to distinguish between the similar words of Otōsan, Okaasan, and Obaasan.

  Kaiken is a dagger once carried by men and women of the samurai class in Japan.

  Kyōdaina means the “mighty ones” in Japanese. Here, it is the made-up, international crime syndicate that Jada’s father built.

  Kyusu is a Japanese teapot with a side handle.

  Maman is French for Mom

  Mon amour is French for my love

  Mon Dieu is French for my God!

  Mon petit bijou means my little jewel

  Musume is Japanese for Daughter

  Obaasan is Japanese for Grandmother

  Okyaku-San is close to "dear guest" in Japanese.

  Otōsan is Japanese for Father

  Oyabun is the head, or highest-ranking member, of the syndicate.

  Papa is French for Dad

  Putain, Putain de merde, Bordel de merde, putain de bordel de merde contrary to the translation services, this doesn’t mean whore. These are all French curse words similar to fuck, fucking hell, and holy hell.

  Tetsubin is a cast iron teapot.

  Saiko-Kommon is the Oyabun’s senior advisor in the syndicate.

  -san is an honorific applied to last names and is used as a term of respect in Japan. No one but those closest to an individual would use their first name or someone of much higher status.

  Seppuku is the ritualized suicide men of the samurai class committed.

  Shateigashira are the regional bosses in the syndicate.

  Uragirimono is Japanese for betrayer

  Wakagashira is the Oyabun’s first lieutenant, or right-hand man, in the syndicate.

  Thanks again for reading Crossed by the Stars. At the beginning—if you even saw it—I told you I didn’t want to fill your head with my social media sites and other books because I wanted you to read the story and then decide how you felt about me and my words. I hope you loved Jada and Dax’s story of strength and resilience. I hope the mix of lyrics and story burned a memory into your soul that you’ll think about every time you hear one of the songs from now on.

  We talk about music, books, and just what it takes to get us through this wild ride called life a lot in my Facebook reader’s group, LJ’s Music & Stories. If you do nothing else with the links here, I hope you join that group. I hope that we can help YOU through your life in some small way.

  Regardless if you join or not, I’d love for you to tell me what you thought of the book by reaching out to me personally. I’d be honored if you took the time to leave a review on BookBub, Amazon, and/or Goodreads, but even more than that, I hope you enjoyed it enough to tell a friend about it.

  If you still can’t get enough (ha!), you could also sign up for my newsletter so that you’ll be able to keep tabs on all my stories as I write them. Not only will you receive music-inspired short scenes weekly, but you’ll also be entered into a giveaway each month for a chance at a signed paperback by yours truly.

  Finally, I just wanted to say that my wish for you is a healthy and happy journey. May you live life resiliently, with hope and love leading the way!

  Thanks for reading my little story!

  LJ EVANS

  ♫ where music & stories collide ♫

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  I’m so very grateful for every single person who has helped me on this book journey. If you’re reading these words, you ARE one of those people.

  To my husband, who means more to me than I can explain in one or a thousand sentences. I don’t know what I’d do without you at my side, never giving up on me, forcing me to continue this journey, and letting me cry and storm and talk for hours about worlds and people who aren’t real but who are real to me. I love you, Stephen Michael, more than all the words in all the books I’ve ever written.

  Our child, Evyn, floors me with their strength and resiliency. They truly shine a light into this world, and I can’t wait for people to read their story and see all the nuances of life that they’ve built into them. In the meantime, I am so very grateful to them for being my harshest and kindest critic and making my stories better than they could ever be without them at my side. If you’re a beginning writer or a successful author and you need a content and line editor to push you out of your comfort zone, Evans Editing is definitely for you.

  My publishing journey wouldn’t have happened at all if my sister hadn’t pushed, pushed, pushed in the way only siblings can. I’m so grateful to Kelly for giving me the confidence to hit the publish button and for always reading my crappy first drafts.

  My parents have always been my biggest defenders and fans. I love them for celebrating every “little” thing in my life as a “big” thing and for never making me feel like my accomplishments are small. Thank you for celebrating with me and lifting me up when things get tough. Thank you to my dad for bringing my books along to the strangest places and telling everyone he knows (and doesn’t know) about my stories.

  I don’t know what I’d do without the people who I am lucky enough to have as part of my publishing team. Megan Keith at Designed with Grace, you are much more than my cover designer, you are a true friend and partner. Thank you for reading my words and making them better and demanding that I see myself as more than a “small fish.” Jenn at Jenn Lockwood Editing Services, I will forever be grateful that you read Country Album and then reached out to me in order to make it all it should be. Thank you for being patient with my gazillion missing commas and my hatred of the semicolon. Karen Hrdlicka, thank you for ensuring the f
inal versions of my books are beautiful and for never getting tired of telling me “that” should not be my favorite word. To the entire group of beautiful humans in LJ’s Music & Stories who love and support me there and throughout the Internet kingdom, I can’t say how much I adore each and every one of you.

  Thank you to Rose with Griot Editing Services for keeping my worldview strong and bold and making sure I see things through a million other eyes than mine. I’m so glad the book world brought us together. Thank you to the beautiful Katharine Hong Kobzeff for being one of my Asian sensitivity readers and always being so excited about my stories and my characters. Thank you to Steph Pajonas and Nicole French for letting me bug you about your Japanese knowledge and experiences.

  To all the bloggers who have shared my stories on your own time and your own dime, I cannot say enough. From my heart, I am full of love for Rachel at NovelMomma, Launa at Energy Rae, Candyce at The Book Dutchesses, Rebecca with Bex Book Revieuxs, Menotah at Canadian Girl Book Blog, Tracy at The Pages In-Between, Jenn at Jenns Book Vibes, Emily with What’s Emily Writing, Kelly at KelChick BookLover, Korrie Kelly at Korrie’s Korner, and so many more. Thank you for helping me accomplish my dreams and making me feel like a rock star.

  To the other independent authors who have helped keep me sane, including Clare Lesbirel, Stephanie Rose, Annie Dyer, Kathryn Nolan, Amanda Johnson, Erika Kelly, Mika Jolie, Lucy Score, Jennifer Hanks, Pippa Grant, Kelsey Kingsley, Lacey Dailey, Emily Silver, Dylan Allen, Andrea Hopkins, Traci Hilton, Tamsen Parker, Stefanie Torrez, and Jonella Brown, I have not enough words. Thank you, and virtual hugs to all of you.

  Thank you to Emma Scott, Amy Harmon, and Jessica Park for not only inspiring me with your words but with your kindness and generosity. Every time I read your stories, I’m encouraged to make mine better. Your talent truly blows me away.

  To all my ARC readers who have become incredible friends, thank you for encouraging me to continue this book adventure. Thank you to Leisa Ann, Leanne, and Jamie S. for being some of the biggest cheerleaders for my books on the Internet. To my social media peeps who make me feel like a rock star, including KJ, Emily, Nicole, Becca, Sarah, Judy, Amy, Michelle, Dana, Lisa, Tara, Stephanie, Jenn, Rachel, Zoe, Angela, Jenny, Leticia, Paula, Rikki, and Penny, thank you for sticking with me through all my writing foibles.

  I love you all!

  Award winning author, LJ Evans, lives in the California Central Valley with her husband, child, and the terrors called cats. She's been writing, almost as a compulsion, since she was a little girl and will often pull the car over to write when a song lyric strikes her. A former first-grade teacher, she now spends her free time reading and writing, as well as binge-watching original shows like The Crown, A Discovery of Witches, Veronica Mars, and Stranger Things.

  If you ask her the one thing she won’t do, it’s pretty much anything that involves dirt—sports, gardening, or otherwise. But she loves to write about all of those things, and her first published heroine was pretty much involved with dirt on a daily basis, which is exactly why LJ loves fiction novels—the characters can be everything you’re not and still make their way into your heart.

  Her debut novel, MY LIFE AS A COUNTRY ALBUM, was the Independent Author Network's 2017 YA Book of the Year. For more information about LJ, check out any of these sites:

  LJ Evans Books Website

  LJ’s Music and Stories Facebook Group

  Amazon

  Goodreads

  Bookbub

  Facebook

  Instagram

  TikTok

  Pinterest

  Twitter

  Standalone

  Charming and the Cherry Blossom — July 2021

  A small-town, contemporary romance with hints of magical realism

  Today was a fairy tale…I inherited a fortune from a dad I never knew, and a thoroughly charming guy asked me out. But like all fairy tales, mine has a dark side...and my happily ever after may just disappear with the truth.

  Charming Free Sample

  My Life as an Album Series

  My Life as a Country Album — April 2017

  A boy-next-door, small-town romance

  This is tomboy Cam’s diary-style, coming-of-age story about growing up loving the football god next door. She vowed to love him forever. But when fate comes calling, will she ever find a heart to call home? Warning: Tears may fall.

  Country Free Sample

  My Life as a Pop Album — January 2018

  A rock-star, road-trip romance

  Bookworm Mia is trying to put behind her years of guilt when soulful musician, Derek Waters, strolls into her life and turns it upside down. Once he’s seen her, Derek can’t walk away unless Mia comes with him. But what will happen when their short time together comes to an end?

  Pop Free Sample

  My Life as a Rock Album — June 2018

  A second-chance, antihero romance

  Recovering addict, Seth Carmen, is a trash artist who knows he’s better off alone. But when he finds and loses the love of his life, he can’t help sending her a whole host of love letters to try and win her back. Can Seth prove to PJ they’ll be able to make broken beautiful?

  Rock Free Sample

  My Life as a Mixtape — November 2018

  A single dad, rock-star romance

  Lonnie’s always seen relationships as a burden instead of a gift, and having to pick up the pieces his sister leaves behind is just one of the reasons. But when Wynn enters his life with her world disintegrating, he finds their mixed-up lives colliding in a way that has him seeing a new beginning he never expected.

  Mixtape Free Sample

  My Life as a Holiday Album – December 2020

  A collection of small-town, holiday novellas

  This holiday, all the children from the original cast of the Album series come home with secrets that are sure to send their parents and their families into a frenzy. Will they be able to keep them hidden, or will they be exposed with a bang that isn’t at all the New Year’s Eve fireworks that are planned?

  Holiday Free Sample

  My Life as an Album Series Box Set – March 2020

  All four Album series stories plus an exclusive novella

  In the exclusive novella, This Life With Cam, Blake Abbott writes to Cam about just what it was like to grow up in the shadow of her relationship with Jake and just when he first fell for the little girl with the popsicle-stained lips. Can he show Cam that she isn’t broken in half?

  Box Set Free Sample

  The Anchor Novels

  Guarded Dreams — Eli & Ava, May 2019

  A second-chance, military romance

  Eli’s chasing a dream that he’s determined to succeed at, no matter the consequences. He isn’t looking for love, but when the free-spirited singer, Ava, breezes into his world, he finds himself changing his tune.

  GD Free Sample

  Forged by Sacrifice — Mac & Georgie, October 2019

  A friends-to-lovers, military romance

  Mac is determined to change the world. A life in politics is his future. The dream Georgie once gave up is finally in reach―a law degree. When their lives are thrown together and they're given an unexpected chance at love, will her family’s past make his future an impossibility?

  FBS Free Sample

  Avenged by Love — Truck & Jersey, April 2020

  A fake-marriage, military romance

  Travis is focused on two things: his Coast Guard career and his brother's future. That all changes once the beautiful, comic-loving Jersey crashes into his world, needing more help than he knows how to give. A marriage of convenience seems like the only solution. But what happens when convenience turns to love?

  ABL Free Sample

  Damaged Desires — Dani & Nash, October 2020

  A brother’s-best-friend, military romance

  Nash is all about honoring a promise to his dead brother, so accepting a c
hallenge from the long-legged force of nature tempting him isn’t in the cards. Not if he wants to keep his only remaining friend and stick to the code he grew up on. Several dares later, he has to decide whether to continue hiding in his past or face a new future.

  DD Free Sample

  Branded by a Song — Brady O’Neil, February 2021

  A small-town, rock-star romance

  Brady’s come home to help the sister he left behind and find inspiration for a new album. What he doesn’t expect is to discover his muse in a woman who’s completely off limits and lost in a past that won’t let her go. Can he help her find the strength to sing a brand-new love song?

  BbaS Free Sample

  Tripped by Love – Cassidy & Marco, January 2022

  A small-town, single mom romance

  Cassidy is juggling a brand-new restaurant, a tiny human being, and unrequited love, so there’s no time for her baby’s father to try and derail her. Marco is determined to bury the feelings he harbors for his boss’s sister, but that doesn’t mean he’s going to let the sniveling father of her child steamroll her. What happens when the boundaries between them disappear?

  The Anchor Novels: The Military Bros Box Set — May 2021

  The first three slow-burn, military romances + an exclusive novella

  Guarded Dreams, Forged by Sacrifice, and Avenged by Love plus the novella, The Hurricane! Heartfelt beach reads full of love, sacrifice, and family. The perfect book boyfriends to kick off a binge read.

  Anchor Box Set Free Sample

  The Anchor Suspense Novels

  Unmasked Dreams — Violet & Dawson, April 2021

  A second-chance, romantic suspense

  Violet and Dawson once had a heart-stopping attraction they were compelled to deny. When fate tosses them together again, it proves nothing has changed―except the lab she’s built in the garage and the secrets he’s keeping. Accidentally stumbling into his dark world turns a storm in Violet’s direction, and Dawson is forced to break old promises to keep her safe. But when the swells subside, what will be left of their hearts?