J.P. Barelli
Author
Embedded Files
Arizona Authors Association (AAA) Member
Arizona Authors Association (AAA) Member
My professional career spans several decades in Kansas, Montana, Missouri, and Arizona courtrooms as a public defender or judge, so my novels are strongly influenced by the gritty dramas, comedies, and tragedies of real life.
With compelling, page-turning plots, my novels engage both adolescent and adult readers. Each story is rooted in timeless virtues such as duty, fidelity, bravery, honesty, and trust. My G-rated texts offer wholesome narratives suitable for all ages.
Contact Information:
J.P. Barelli, Phoenix, AZ
My email is revcounsel@gmail.com
BELOW: Author J.P. Barelli (second to the top row, fourth from the left) and his sixth grade class at Stanford B. Ladd School in Kansas City, Missouri.
Route 66: The Whole Enchilada
LITERARY REVIEW
Get ready for a sweeping adventure down America’s most iconic highway. Route 66: The Whole Enchilada takes readers to Santa Cuervo, a fictitious New Mexico town, where folklore clings to the desert air and every stranger rolling in brings the promise of change.
At the heart of the story are a young boy and his teenage sister—two resilient siblings fighting to rise above poverty, superstition, and the secrets their family has tried to bury. As they chase dreams of freedom and prosperity, the familial mystery begins to stir beneath the desert dust.
Full of heart, suspense, and the unmistakable magic of the American Southwest, Route 66: The Whole Enchilada is a captivating tale of courage, destiny, and the power of hope on the open road. It's perfect for fans of faith-based, coming-of-age stories, family drama, and unforgettable desert legends.
Gina M. Deegan, Ed.D
Scottsdale, Arizona
On Sale Now!
To purchase, please click the link below:
Route 66: The Whole Enchilada – Dorrance Bookstore
A Kindle editions is available on on Amazon at:
Route 66: The Whole Enchilada
Route 66: The Whole Enchilada
Historical Fiction; Coming of Age; Faith-Based
Copyright © 2025 by J.P. Barelli
Route 66 - the legendary “Main Street of America” - connected the Midwest to the Pacific Coast. When it opened in 1926, it soon became a vital corridor for commerce, migration, and cultural exchange..
Route 66: The Whole Enchilada tells the story of the people of Santa Cuervo, a fictional town in New Mexico, located along the dusty bends of Route 66. Among its residents are a young boy and his teenage sister who struggle to flee poverty and isolation amidst the town’s culture of superstition and folklore. Their odyssey to maturity, love, and prosperity are tested as family secrets haunt their journeys. Can the boy muster the courage when duty calls?
As Route 66 carries strangers, omens, and change into their small town, the characters are pulled into a mystery that has long been buried in the dust and silence of the desert. The past is about to rise.
LITERARY REVIEW
Get ready for a nostalgic step back in time along Route 66 - the Mother road that stretched across America and across the generations of those who struggled to find themselves along that roadway. To a time when life was simpler and yet, at the cross roads of life that could lead in several directions; which way is right?
Here's a story of a brother and a sister coming into the mainstream of their lives, trying to figure out what's important and where real truth is. Family is the heart of our story, but sometimes the truth is harder to comprehend, and love and life get complicated. It's a very compelling story that keeps you waiting to find out what happens next. It's hard to put down since unexpected turns lead you deeper and deeper as you journey around each turn in the bend. Enjoy! You'll want to check out another of J. P. Barelli's books, as he's authored several, all as compelling as the other; good writer.
Paula Erlene,
Award-Winning Yodeler and Entertainer
Branson, Missouri
Esmaria and Her
Peppermint Prince
Historical Fiction; Inspirational; Faith-Based
Copyright © 2025 by J.P. Barelli
Kansas City, 1970
When eleven-year-old Esmaria Paulk moves from Atlanta with her family, she expects nothing more dramatic than starting sixth grade at Sanford B. Ladd School. But at her family’s new Bible church, she witnesses an unexpected miracle: the long-lost daughter of one of the long-time congregation members returns after more than a decade—alive, troubled, and with a past that refuses to stay buried.
Among the swirl of whispers and celebration stands Lamont Jackson, the grandson Mrs. Jackson has lovingly raised since his birth. Quiet, proud, and charming, Lamont quickly becomes Esmaria’s first friend in her new city.
But when Lamont’s unstable mother resurfaces and, out of spite, tears him and his younger siblings away from the only home they’ve ever known, his world collapses. Forced into a life of neglect and hardship, Lamont runs away determined to survive the bitter Kansas City winter on his own terms. Hungry, cold, and alone, he relies on sheer ingenuity to stay alive.
Esmaria cannot bear to watch her friend disappear. Guided by fierce loyalty and a wisdom far beyond her years, she sets out to find the boy everyone else has written off.
Can Esmaria find Lamont before tragedy strikes? And will Lamont learn to trust the adults who want to save him—before it’s too late?
A story of courage, compassion, and the mysterious power of charity, Esmaria reveals what can happen when one determined girl believes a lost boy still has a future worth fighting for.
Companion novel and audiobook Street Prince —Lamont Jackson’s story in his own words—are also available. Please see the next page for a preview of the story.
For additional literary works by John Barelli, please click the tabs above🔝
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