Before The Bar

He came to Alaska to outrun his past. He didn't expect a town to get in the way. Jackson "Jax" Moretti has spent his entire life being the loud one. The fun one. The guy who can charm his way through almost anything. But after one mistake too many and a life in Boston he no longer recognizes, Jax packs up everything he owns and drives 4,500 miles to Ashwood Falls, Alaska. His plan is simple: buy a rundown bar, keep his head down, and start over. There's just one problem. Ashwood Falls has other ideas. Between a judgmental town moose, a raccoon who refuses to vacate the premises, a self-appointed committee of locals determined to manage his life, and his best friend Ryder Lockwood quietly watching his back, Jax discovers that starting over isn't nearly as easy as driving away. As he brings The Grizzly back to life one board, one beer, and one karaoke night at a time, Jax begins to realize that maybe he wasn't looking for a fresh start after all. Maybe he was looking for a place to belong. Before the Bar is a heartwarming prequel novella to the Ashwood Falls series—a story about friendship, found family, second chances, and the small Alaskan town where it all begins.