I obviously read a lot of books. It’s part of the job. And sometimes those books transport me to a different place—a familiar place. Like New Jersey.

You see, the last place I expected to go when I was reading Grapevine Springs, the latest novel in Dean Wesley Smith’s Thunder Mountain series, was Jersey. I mean, these books are set in the West, particularly Idaho. And when you’re a Jersey girl, you grow up barely knowing where Idaho is.

So, imagine my surprise when I was reading this novel and began reading about a small town in New Jersey where I’d spent a good amount of time. I mean, I actually dated a guy from Phillipsburg when I was in college.

That’s the great thing about fiction—you never quite know where it will take you.

And for those of you fans wondering why Jersey shows up in a Thunder Mountain book, not to worry: it’s character background, not book setting. All the things you love about this series hold true for this latest novel as well.

Here’s the synopsis:

Could the entire history of an Old West mining town be false?

Did Grapevine Springs ever really exist?

Duster Kendal wants to know the answer to that question. But to get the answer, he must turn for help from two top researchers who must risk everything, including their lives, to find the answer.

A gripping new adventure in the Thunder Mountain series.

A little Jersey influence isn’t the only unique thing about this new book, which will be released on Tuesday, April 19. You also get to read from Duster’s point of view. Plus, lots of other great twists that I won’t spoil for you here.

And speaking of the Thunder Mountain series, Melody Ridge recently joined the rest of the series in audiobook, voiced by the amazingly talented Flora Plumb.

So, check it out. Don’t make me go all Jersey on you.

Allyson Longueira is publisher of WMG Publishing. She is an award-winning writer, editor and designer.