Today, HJ is pleased to share with you Lacie Waldon’s new release: THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN
One small town, one big prize, one handsome stranger…
Nothing ever changes in Redford, Georgia. That’s what freelance editor Jess Reid loves about her hometown—and part of what keeps her from leaving. Content taking care of her father, a car mechanic who singlehandedly raised her after her mom skipped out, Jess is resigned to a safe, unremarkable existence…until Jasper Wilhelm, the town’s eccentric benefactor, dies suddenly and leaves behind the opportunity of a lifetime.
Financial advisor Carter Barclay has been too busy to visit his grandfather in Redford, but he’s heard countless stories about the town and its zany residents from Jasper. A small, insular town in Georgia is the last place Carter expects to be spending his summer—but it seems his grandfather had one final trick up his sleeve.
At the funeral, it’s revealed that Jasper has devised a massive, high-stakes game for the people of Redford, with the winning duo taking home his entire fortune. The catch? He’s already taken the liberty of pairing them up. As tensions of all kinds rise between Jess and Carter, and the life-changing prize looms closer, the two must decide what they’re willing to risk to change their lives. A love story full of spirit and hijinks, The Only Game in Town is a funny, quirky homage to the people we get to call home.
Enjoy an exclusive excerpt from THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN
“Before his death,” he said loudly, “Mr. Wilhelm devised a game, of sorts. It will be an event lasting an unspecified amount of time and will be comprised of various challenges, in which you will be invited to compete against each other for the ten million dollars. In each challenge, those who succeed will make it to the next round and will be awarded an unspecified amount of points for their performances. When the competition is over, I alone will be responsible for determining who has accumulated the most points, using a rubric designed by Mr. Wilhelm. That team will win Mr. Wilhelm’s fortune.”
Jess gasped at both the lawyer’s words and the roar that filled the room in response to them. Questions rang out, some people in the audience waving their hands like children, others simply shouting toward the stage. It was madness, and rightfully so. Surely, Jasper wouldn’t be the first millionaire to donate money to the greater good. But this? A game? It was an absurd way to distribute such a vast amount of money.
It must be one of Jasper’s jokes. He was messing with them. Playing a game by making them pretend they were going to play a game. Jess laughed aloud at the realization, but it was drowned out by the wild reaction of the crowd. Excitement and incredulity had all but replaced the grief that had weighed down the room. Jasper would’ve loved it. He had, after all, been the brains behind Thanksgiving in May the year the town market was at risk of closing its doors. It had been his idea to cover the courtyard in slip-and-slides that summer the high hit 103 degrees. Why wouldn’t he have found a way to make his own funeral the most exciting event the church had ever held?
A few pews ahead of her, a big, burly man—Bobby Randall, the owner of the garage where her dad worked—jerked to his feet. He had the bearing of a gorilla, though he lacked the emotional intellect of one.
“I assure you,” Novak said, gesturing for Bobby to sit back down, “all will be revealed in due time.”
“Understood,” Bobby said in his deep, gravelly voice, making no move to sit. He prided himself on his refusal to take instructions from anyone, and a man half his size who carried around a reusable tissue with initials embroidered on it wasn’t going to be the exception. “But just so I understand, you’re telling us that Jasper Wilhelm left his money to the people of Redford, but we’re going to be separated into teams. So, if you divide the town into two different teams, half of us will get to split all the money and the other half will end up with nothing?”
“No, no.” Mr. Novak shook his head and smiled reassuringly, stuffing his handkerchief back into his jacket pocket. “Mr. Wilhelm has taken the liberty of pairing each of you up. Only two of you will win any money.”
A collective gasp met his words, and then the audience erupted again. Surprisingly, this time the room filled with cheers. Jess heard a few complaints about fairness and sharing and not wanting to compete against their friends and family. But most of the people around her seemed to be thrilled at the thought that they might win five million dollars. As they should be.
It would be like playing the lottery, only everyone’s odds of winning were a whole lot better than one in fifteen million. Two of the people in this room were about to become ridiculously, fantastically wealthy. She might even be one of them. Tilting her head back, Jess joined in with her neighbors, letting loose a loud, boisterous whoop of her own.
Excerpt. ©Lacie Waldon. Posted by arrangement with the publisher. All rights reserved.
Giveaway: A print copy of THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN by Lacie Waldon
To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and post a comment to this Q: What did you think of the excerpt spotlighted here? Leave a comment with your thoughts on the book…
Meet the Author:
Lacie Waldon is a writer with her head in the clouds—literally. A flight attendant based in Los Angeles, Waldon spends her days writing from the jump seat and searching the world for new stories. She is the author of The Layover and From the Jump.
https://www.laciewaldon.com/
https://www.laciewaldon.com/
https://twitter.com/LacieWaldon/
EC
Sounds like an entertaining book. Thanks for the excerpt, HJ!
Debra Guyette
This should be good. thanks for the great excerpt.
Mary Preston
What a fun idea for a story. I’m going to love this.
Laurie Gommermann
Definitely a different storyline. Quirky characters!
Hopefully whoever wins will find a way for the whole town to win and share the loot.
I’m interested in the development of Jess and Carter’s relationship. It sounds like Jasper wanted them to get together.
Lori R
I enjoyed it and want to read the book.
hartfiction
I love a southern setting!
Lori Byrd
sounds so good.
Janine
Sounds really good.
Rita Wray
Sounds like a book I will enjoy reading.
Diana Hardt
I liked the blurb and excerpt. It sounds like a really interesting book.
Glenda M
Sounds like it has the potential for all sorts of interesting events
lasvegasnan
Sounds good.
Dianne Casey
I enjoyed the excerpt and I’m looking forward to reading the book.
Amy R
Sounds good
Daniel M
looks like a fun one
Banana cake
Sounds like a fun read.
Latesha B.
An interesting concept for a story. I look forward to reading more and seeing who ends up winning.
Mary C
Sounds like a fun read.
Linda F Herold
Sounds different than anything I’ve read.
Bonnie
Sounds very interesting. Great excerpt. I’d love to read more.
Texas Book Lover
Sounds fantastic
bn100
fun
Shannon Capelle
Sounds like a fun read
Patricia B.
Interesting concept. The excerpt tells us what is to be set in motion and the reactions of some of the people. What will be interesting will be who he paired up and what he is going to have them do. Since he seems to like to play games and do the unexpected, I wonder off he has something else behind this for his grandson and Jess. A bit of matchmaking, perhaps.
Tina R
This sounds like a fun story.
Kim
I like the excerpt. This sounds like a fun story.
Ellen C.
Good excerpt. Should be full of quirky small town fun.
Terrill R.
I loved The Layover by Lacie Waldon. I’m so excited for this newest release.