Welcome to my tour stop with JustRead Publicity Tours!
Read a fun guest post from the author and enter the giveaway below...
Solving crimes
And falling in love!
Charming, small-town Golden, Georgia, has everything Briana Connelly needs—her four-year-old daughter, her family, and her job as a police officer. When her former best friend, Jackson Walker, returns suddenly and is made her partner at work, she’s forced to face the events that drove them apart. With a mysterious theft to investigate, spending time with Jax is unavoidable…and easier than she’d like. Especially when his effortless warmth wins over her precious daughter. As a deeper connection grows between them, he starts to feel like a part of Briana’s little family. But if overcoming the past means admitting their true feelings—that might be the biggest risk of all.
USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR
From Harlequin Heartwarming: Wholesome stories of love, compassion and belonging.
Where do I start? Probably at the beginning.
Jax and I were best friends growing up. We got into mischief together, spent the majority of our days together, knew each other’s secrets and saw each other at our best and worst. When he decided to go into the military, he asked me to go with him, but I stayed behind in Golden. My mom had just gone through a divorce and being the oldest child, I wanted to be there for her. In return, I lost my best friend.
Now, he’s back in Golden and my new partner at the Golden PD. Who thought that was a good idea? That would be my boss. So now that Jax has been home for a while and I see him every day, what are my tips on not falling in love with your best friend?
#1. Place all your memories in a mental lockbox. It seems like every time I turn around, Jax and I are recounting old times. Which is sweet, but I try not to recall those special times we shared because it draws me closer to him. I’m supposed to be keeping a clear head about Jax being my friend only, right? Talking about how we learned to drive, the time we went to prom together or the location of our secret meetup spot makes me want new memories with him, which is a no-no if I want to stay in the friend zone.
#2. Forget that Jax knows me better than anyone. Right now, we work because we’re partners on the job, but in our social time? He knows that I love potato chips, that I read romance novels and how my father bailing on our family affected me emotionally. It’s tough keeping my shields up when he knows the real me. Maybe I should treat him like a new friend who doesn’t know a thing.
#3. Put a limit on sharing new sides of each other. We spent many years apart, so there is a gap in our friendship. He wasn’t there when I adopted my daughter, Cami, or got hired onto the Golden PD. On the flip side, I didn’t know about his years in the military or the places where he was stationed. The more I learn about Jax, the more it makes me want to know even more and I’m not supposed to be noticing him.
#4. Try not to make the fact that Jax is back in town awkward for everyone. We live in a small town where everyone is in everyone else’s business. Our families live here and they remember the years when Jax and I were friends. And when we’re out in the community, we can’t ignore small talk which usually leads back to when we were younger. Folks expect us to pick up where we left off, but too many years have gone by. So, we do our jobs and pretend that we don’t miss the friendship we once shared.
#5. As hard as you try, ignore those pesky feelings that creep up on you. No matter how many times I remind myself that Jax is my friend, I want more. Family. Connection. And most of all, love. Can Jax be my best friend and the love of my life?
I hope you read The Hometown Cop’s Forever Family to discover if I followed my own tips.
Tara Randel is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author. Family values, a bit of mystery and of course, love and romance are her favorite themes, because she believes love is the greatest gift of all. Tara lives on the West Coast of Florida, where gorgeous sunsets and beautiful weather inspire the creation of heartwarming stories. Tara has received the Heart of Excellence Readers’ Choice Award and the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award.
Connect with Tara by visiting tararandel.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email updates.
(1) winner will receive a prize bundle which includes a $25 Amazon Gift Card, bookish tote bag, booklover's keychain, bookmark and 2 autographed books by the author!
(1) winner will receive a $15 Amazon gift card!
Full tour schedule linked above. The giveaway begins at midnight May 4, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on May 11, 2026. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.
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