Just a Little Series by Tracie Puckett

When a class assignment requires seventeen-year-old Julie to shadow someone on the job, she’s overwhelmed by the decisions she’ll have to make. After all, she has no clue what she wants from life post-graduation. So when her Uncle Charlie, Oakland’s Chief of Police, suggests Julie fulfill her twenty hours of required job shadowing at the local police department, she’s thrilled at his solution... moreWhen a class assignment requires seventeen-year-old Julie to shadow someone on the job, she’s overwhelmed by the decisions she’ll have to make. After all, she has no clue what she wants from life post-graduation. So when her Uncle Charlie, Oakland’s Chief of Police, suggests Julie fulfill her twenty hours of required job shadowing at the local police department, she’s thrilled at his solution. Thinking she’ll spend her days filing paperwork behind a desk, she finds herself quickly agreeing to his proposition. But Julie’s expectations are soon turned upside down when she meets Luke, the young and handsome (albeit somewhat stubborn) officer she’s assigned to shadow on patrol. With every hour she logs with Luke at the wheel, her feelings stir deeper, and Julie can’t help but wonder if what she’s feeling has developed into more than just a little crush . less

Gone are the days of police patrol. With ten hours to go before completing her job shadowing project, seventeen-year-old Julie Little’s assignment has switched gears, and now she’s required to start living the lifestyle of every man (and woman) in uniform. Under Luke’s command, Julie is obligated to complete her remaining hours through early morning exercise training... moreGone are the days of police patrol. With ten hours to go before completing her job shadowing project, seventeen-year-old Julie Little’s assignment has switched gears, and now she’s required to start living the lifestyle of every man (and woman) in uniform. Under Luke’s command, Julie is obligated to complete her remaining hours through early morning exercise training. And despite her distaste for physical exertion, Julie’s crush on her mentor continues to grow by leaps and bounds with each passing day. And just when she’s certain that she’s making progress in her relationship with Luke, Julie learns that the new guy in town has taken an interest in winning her heart… and as far as she’s concerned, there’s only room in her heart for one man… even if he still hasn’t figured out that they’re meant to be. less

Plans for the Oakland Fall Ball are officially underway, and it’s up to seventeen-year-old Julie Little to pull off a night her classmates will never forget. But with the recent tragedies that have torn through her life, Julie can’t stay focused on the task at hand. With the added stress of the dance, family, and fragile friendships, she continues to struggle with the pain that comes with love and loss... morePlans for the Oakland Fall Ball are officially underway, and it’s up to seventeen-year-old Julie Little to pull off a night her classmates will never forget. But with the recent tragedies that have torn through her life, Julie can’t stay focused on the task at hand. With the added stress of the dance, family, and fragile friendships, she continues to struggle with the pain that comes with love and loss. And with the fate of her love life hanging in the balance, a close friend finally lays it all on the line; Julie will never be happy… until she finally lets Luke go… less

In the beginning, all she wanted was a sense of direction. Now, she’s fighting in the name of love. Seventeen-year-old Julie Little is under constant scrutiny. Try as she might, she can’t make a single move without her uncle’s permission—and Charlie will stop at nothing to keep her from Luke (even if that means putting her behind bars for an hour or two). But Charlie’s overbearing behavior is the least of her worries. Derek is consumed with guilt. Luke is struggling to overcome his past... moreIn the beginning, all she wanted was a sense of direction. Now, she’s fighting in the name of love. Seventeen-year-old Julie Little is under constant scrutiny. Try as she might, she can’t make a single move without her uncle’s permission—and Charlie will stop at nothing to keep her from Luke (even if that means putting her behind bars for an hour or two). But Charlie’s overbearing behavior is the least of her worries. Derek is consumed with guilt. Luke is struggling to overcome his past. And Julie is on a diehard mission to change things that are completely out of her control… even if that means betraying the man she loves. less

We were doing each other a service; I’d spy on her boyfriend, she’d spy on mine. Everything is not what it seems, and seventeen-year-old Julie is learning that lesson the hard way. Matt is lying through his teeth at every given opportunity, and Julie believes there’s more to his secrecy than meets the eye; she’s convinced her cousin is cheating on Kara. And Matt is the least of her worries... moreWe were doing each other a service; I’d spy on her boyfriend, she’d spy on mine. Everything is not what it seems, and seventeen-year-old Julie is learning that lesson the hard way. Matt is lying through his teeth at every given opportunity, and Julie believes there’s more to his secrecy than meets the eye; she’s convinced her cousin is cheating on Kara. And Matt is the least of her worries. Luke has been just as dodgy; he comes and goes as he pleases, ignores her calls, and is caught sneaking around with one of Oakland’s newest—and undeniably beautiful—residents. With no real certainties in her life, Julie enlists the help of a friend to help her expose the truth… no matter what it may cost them in the end. less

PART SIX in a series of novelettes. I hate surprises. Always have, always will. And that’s not me being stubborn; that’s just me telling it as it is. There’s nothing—I repeat nothing—good that has ever come from a surprise. Julie’s eighteenth birthday is just around the corner, and there’s nothing she’d like more than to just forget about showing up for the (not-so-surprise) “party of the century” that her uncle has been planning for weeks... morePART SIX in a series of novelettes. I hate surprises. Always have, always will. And that’s not me being stubborn; that’s just me telling it as it is. There’s nothing—I repeat nothing—good that has ever come from a surprise. Julie’s eighteenth birthday is just around the corner, and there’s nothing she’d like more than to just forget about showing up for the (not-so-surprise) “party of the century” that her uncle has been planning for weeks. So between dodging Charlie, avoiding Luke, and ignoring nearly every one of her deep-seated feelings for the men in her life, she has more on her plate than she’s ever willing to admit. But when an unexpected phone call from an old friend comes completely out of the blue, Julie can’t help but wonder if every surprise is really all that bad…. less

When a prison break puts a dangerous convict on the loose, eighteen-year-old Julie Little is faced with making the biggest decision of her life: run away, or face her biggest fear. And when her Uncle Charlie puts forth a plan to have Detective Bruno get her out of Oakland (and as far away from the danger as possible), she’s in no hurry to put up a fight... moreWhen a prison break puts a dangerous convict on the loose, eighteen-year-old Julie Little is faced with making the biggest decision of her life: run away, or face her biggest fear. And when her Uncle Charlie puts forth a plan to have Detective Bruno get her out of Oakland (and as far away from the danger as possible), she’s in no hurry to put up a fight. But when a sudden change of plans demands Bruno’s attention at home, Julie’s suddenly left to escape with no one but Officer Lucas Reibeck himself. And their escape is only the beginning…. less

We’d all changed. Matt grew a harder exterior. I’d had chronic nightmares triggered by post-traumatic stress. Kara had distanced herself, turned a little colder. Charlie had become less protective and more accepting of what I wanted. And Luke… well, he’d become agreeable. But then there was Derek…. After watching Conan’s lifeless body collapse to the floor, eighteen-year-old Julie Little only expected life to get easier... moreWe’d all changed. Matt grew a harder exterior. I’d had chronic nightmares triggered by post-traumatic stress. Kara had distanced herself, turned a little colder. Charlie had become less protective and more accepting of what I wanted. And Luke… well, he’d become agreeable. But then there was Derek…. After watching Conan’s lifeless body collapse to the floor, eighteen-year-old Julie Little only expected life to get easier. After all, what was left to fear? But her expectations for a happier and easier life crumble when she’s haunted by reoccurring nightmares of love, loss, and death. She’s slipping away, losing herself. And when she needs nothing more than a shoulder to cry on, nearly everyone around her is suddenly consumed with their own problems and fears. Only one person steps up, and he’s the only person who has what it’s going to take to save her… she just has to learn to let go and trust him… once and for all. less

It’s one year, two months, and five days later, and Julie is still dealing with a lot of doubt. Finally having her Uncle Charlie’s blessing, she’s eager to move forward in her relationship with Luke. But something’s up with her adoring boyfriend, and she can’t quite decipher his odd behavior. And Luke’s only the beginning of her problems: Matt’s moved home from college with a big secret, her best friend is growing up too fast for her liking, and Charlie is refusing to loosen his grip... moreIt’s one year, two months, and five days later, and Julie is still dealing with a lot of doubt. Finally having her Uncle Charlie’s blessing, she’s eager to move forward in her relationship with Luke. But something’s up with her adoring boyfriend, and she can’t quite decipher his odd behavior. And Luke’s only the beginning of her problems: Matt’s moved home from college with a big secret, her best friend is growing up too fast for her liking, and Charlie is refusing to loosen his grip. With the sudden and strange tension growing between Charlie and Luke, Julie begins to question a lot, and her doubt only grows deeper. She’s been praying for her happily ever after from the beginning, but she soon learns that getting that happy ending isn’t as easy as it seems. less