My Life as a Holiday Album: A Small-town Romance (my life as an album Book 5)

by LJ Evans

  I bled a lot of heartache over Eliza and Brett’s interracial relationship. While in my original story, a year ago, Brett was black, I wasn’t sure if this was the time for me to showcase their story. I wasn’t sure I was qualified to show their story without screwing it up and hurting anyone in the Black community or those in interracial relationships, so I asked several Black people in the bookish community to read the story and help identify any hurtful words and concepts that I might have included. I am incredibly grateful to Eros Lovelace and Korrie Kelly for being my sensitivity readers and helping to shape my words. I appreciate your time more than you will ever know. To anyone reading this who I still offended in some way, I am deeply apologetic, and I hope you will reach out to me so that I can continue to learn, grow, and get it right for the future.

  The country I live in, the U.S.A., is a mess at the moment. But I also know that we are still a country that can get it right. That we can clean our own house and be a light in the world. It may not happen in my lifetime, but if we start now, we can make it happen. I hope that as we journey into the New Year that 2021 brings our country true change that brings us closer to being the truly equal, unified place our children deserve to live in. I hope the Album family children and our real life children see that beautiful world rise on the horizon.

  While Christmas is certainly not the only holiday that is celebrated in December, it is a portion of what brings these characters together because it’s the holiday I know best from my own childhood experiences. I hope that whatever holidays you celebrate this winter, that they are full of the same love, joy, happiness, and ACCEPTANCE that these characters found with their families. I hope you have someone, blood or not, that is there holding you up and getting you through this wild ride called life.

  May your New Year be full of peace, love, health, and happiness.

  XO

  LJ

  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. Even if all you did was read my words, it’s important to me. I’m grateful to you for reading the stories that I can’t help but write. THANK YOU!

  My daughter and my husband continue to not only listen for hours and hours about my stories and characters and this complicated book world, but also encourage me to not give up. Thank you for our life together and the love you give me.

  My sister and my parents have always been my biggest defenders and fans. Thank you for celebrating with me and lifting me up when things get tough.

  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. 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. Karen Hdrlicka, thank you for ensuring the final versions of my books are beautiful. 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.

  I’ve learned so much this year about how to START being a better human being for our future generations in the conversations about supporting marginalized communities. My growth has been encouraged by a beautiful group of human beings in Culture 101, and I’m so grateful to be able to talk safely and openly in that group. Thank you to my sensitivity readers, Eros Lovelace and Korrie Kelly, for helping shape my words so that they are accessible to more and a burden to less. Thank you to author Kathryn Nolan for being my White accountability partner.

  To each and every one of 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, Korrie the Curlyhairlass, and Jenn Vining at JennsBookVibes. 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, Mika Jolie, Mia Kayla, Annie Dyer, Kelsey Kingsley, Amanda Johnson, Maria Luis, Stephanie Rose, Kacey Shea, Erika Kelly, Dakota Willink, Jennifer Hanks, Stefanie Torrez, and Sophia Peony, I have not enough words. Thank you, and virtual hugs to all of you.

  Thank you to Willow Aster, 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 my ARC readers who have become incredible friends, thank you for encouraging me to continue this book adventure. Leisa Ann, Sarah, Judy, Amy, Michelle O., Dawn, Michelle F., Dee S., Zilpha, Lisa, Emily, Misty, Tara, Stephanie, and Melissa, 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, daughter, 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 days 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 and her books, check out any of these sites:

  LJ Evans Books

  LJ Evans Newsletter

  LJ’s Music & Stories FB Group

  Bookbub

  Amazon

  Goodreads

  Facebook

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  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.

  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?

  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?

  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.

  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 fi
rst fell for the little girl with the blue popsicle-stained lips. Can he show Cam that she isn’t broken in half?

  My Life as a Holiday Album – December 2020

  A collection of small town, holiday short stories.

  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?

  Standalone 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.

  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, they're given an unexpected chance at love, but will her family’s past make his future an impossibility?

  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?

  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 challenge 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.

  Branded by Love — Brady O’Neil, coming in 2021

  A country rock star, slow burn 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?

  Unmasked Dreams — Violet & Dawson, coming in 2021

  A second chance romance.

  Dawson is barely holding his head above water when Violet first enters his world. He can’t help being drawn to her vibrant love of life, even after it’s kicked her around more than once. It’s intoxicating in the wrong way because she’s all kinds of off limits to him. But what happens when he’s the only one around to save her from herself?

  Free Flash Fiction Stories

  Rumor – FREE with newsletter signup

  a small town, rock star romance

  There's one thing rock star Chase Legend needs to ring in the new year. He needs to know, once and for all, what Reyna Rossi tastes like. After ten years, there's no way he's letting her escape the night without their souls touching. Reyna might just have other plans...because she doesn't need the entire town wagging their tongues about her any more than they already do.

  Love Ain’t – FREE with newsletter signup

  a friends-to-lovers, cowboy romance

  Reese knows one thing for a fact. Her best friend and rodeo king, Dalton Abbott, is never going to fall in love, get married, have kids. He’s left so many broken hearts behind there’s gotta be a museum full of them somewhere. All she has to do is resist that look he’s giving her from under the brim of his hat promising both jagged relief and pain.

  Coming in Some Dream World When LJ Has Enough Time

  Untitled, magical realism — contemporary romance

  Down on 4th – Historical Fiction

  Untitled, Ezra and Elara duet —urban fantasy