Tuesday Knowls is done. Once burned, twice shy. Twice burned? Game over.
On the outside Tuesday has it all. She comes from money, she’s a beautiful runway model, her smile comes easy, and she’s quick to laugh. But looks can be deceiving. Inside, she’s lost and lonely. So when the smokin’ hot firefighter swoops in with his sweet talk and promises, she decides to be the one who uses, for once.
Jackson Clark is a man who knows what he wants. And he wants Tuesday. He sees past the beautiful façade she shows the world straight to the pain she hides. When Tuesday offers him a friends with benefits arrangement—minus the friendship—he has no choice but to accept her offer. He’s willing to do anything to get close to the elusive woman and show her he’s worth the risk.
When Tuesday starts getting presents from a secret admirer, she goes into a tailspin. She’s been down this ugly road before and she knows how it can destroy her life.
Can she really trust that Jackson is the good guy in this mess? And, if he is, will she realize in time that not only will he protect her heart, but he might just save her life?
My Book Review:
RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars
I anxiously await each Next Generation series book because I
know I am going to get an honorable, sexy, alpha hero and a smart, intelligent
heroine who makes me laugh, sigh and cry. I fall right into each story and I hate
when they end.
CLAIMING TUESDAY
(The Next Generation #4) by Riley Edwards is the new romantic suspense in the
series. Like all of the other Next Generation books, I feel they are more
focused on the romance in each with the suspense as a subplot rather than equal
to the romance.
Jackson Clark knows what he wants and will not stop until he gets it. He knew at the age of five he wanted to be a fireman and he worked to make it happen. At a family barbeque, he spotted Mercy’s friend, Tuesday and knew she was the woman for him. He knows this is going to be a challenge, not just because Tuesday is older than him, but also because Tuesday does not let men get close.
Tuesday Knowls has grown-up in the modeling world. She knows
many people see only her beauty on the outside, but she has emotional baggage
that she does not want to share. After a life-changing and emotionally devastating
relationship that destroyed all of her trust in men, Tuesday does not let
people in. She finds it exasperating that Jackson refuses to believe she does
not want him for anything other than sex.
When flowers and threatening letters begin to appear at
Tuesday’s door, she breaks down as the past is starting to repeat itself.
Jackson and his family consider Tuesday one of their own and work to find and
eliminate the threat. Can Tuesday open up, share her past and rely on Jackson
to protect her body as well as her heart?
Ms. Edward’s characters always seem so real to me. I felt
sad and mad for Tuesday’s past experiences every time one was revealed. Thank
goodness she had her grandparents. Jackson was the perfect match for her with
his persistence and ability to see beyond her outer protective shell. Ms. Riley’s
dialogue is realistic, entertaining and had me laughing out loud at times. In
all of the books in this series, the sex scenes are smokin’ hot and explicit. Each
book contains a complete romance, but they also have some crossover between
them due to the closeness of the extended family.
I can highly recommend this book and series.
And now I have to wait again.
About Riley:
Riley Edwards is a bestselling multi-genre author, wife, and military mom. Riley was born and raised in Los Angeles but now resides on the east coast with her fantastic husband and children.
Riley writes heart-stopping romance with sexy alpha heroes and even stronger heroines. Riley’s favorite genres to write are romantic suspense and military romance.
Below you will find the Feature Post and Book Review for S.C. Stephens’ new release UNDER THE NORTHERN LIGHTS. Also included is a guest piece from the author, an excerpt from the title, my book review and info and social media for the author.
At the end of the message, you will also see a Rafflecopter giveaway for a $25 Amazon gift card and a digital copy of the book. Good luck!
***
Guest Post:
Cabin Fever – Finding Love in the Wilderness
My latest book, Under
the Northern Lights, is about Mallory Reynolds, a driven, passionate woman
who is pursuing her dream of photographing wild animals in remote locations. On
the way to her favorite spot in the Alaskan wilderness, the unthinkable
happens—the engine on her plane stalls and she crashes. Mallory survives the
crash only to find herself injured with limited supplies and no hope of
returning home. Just when all seems lost, Michael Bradley, a mysterious
mountain man, comes to her rescue.
Planning on being in the wild for just a couple of weeks, Mallory only brings a few important items with her into the wilderness—a gun for protection, survival gear, a limited amount of food, her cross necklace for her faith, and her most prized possession, her camera. After realizing that she’s going to be spending the entire winter in a secluded cabin with a stranger, she probably wishes she’d brought a few more items along with her. Things like a high-powered rifle, a chainsaw, a snow mobile, a lot more food, and even better—a satellite phone.
***
Excerpt: Under
the Northern Lights
We both heard a loud clatter outside.
Michael instantly snapped to his feet, his face intently focused as he listened
for further sounds of trouble; he had no human neighbors to speak of, so things
were generally silent here.
Fearful curiosity was killing me, and
I was dying to ask him if he knew what was out there, but I didn’t want to
disrupt his concentration. And it turned out I didn’t need to ask. Seconds
later, I heard the deep, resonant, unmistakable growl of a bear.
Michael turned my way, his expression
serious. “Stay here.”
He grabbed his high-powered hunting
rifle, and my heart started thudding. Was he nuts? If there was a hungry bear
out there, we should be barricading the cabin, not going out into the
wilderness. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Lips twisted in a frown, he told me,
“All our food is out there, our meat. If I let the bear destroy it, we’ll have
nothing to get us through the winter.”
I knew he was right, but still, I was
terrified. “Okay … I’ll help.” I grabbed my gun and checked it for bullets. It
wasn’t as powerful a rifle as Michael’s, but it might hurt the bear enough that
it would change its mind about gorging on our food stash. Or it might just piss
it off.
Studying my gun, Michael shook his
head. “No, stay in here—guard the cabin.”
His answer made me frown. “The bulk of
the food isn’t in here. There’s nothing to guard.”
His eyes softened then. “Yes … there
is something to guard.”
My cheeks heated when I realized he
meant me. “Be careful,” I whispered.
“Always am,” he stated; then he darted
out the door.
Racing to the window, I peered
outside, searching in vain for some sign of Michael or the bear. The moonlight
wasn’t strong enough to illuminate much, and even though only candles were lit
in the cabin, it was enough to wreck my night vision; I couldn’t see a damn
thing out there. My nerves spiked, and my heart started racing. I felt like I
was out there in the woods, possibly about to get mauled, and following
Michael’s orders and staying put grew harder and harder with every second.
I strained my ears, listening for the
bear since I couldn’t see it. Sounds of lumbering steps crashing through brush
met my ear. Then I heard the dreadful sound of sharp claws raking down wood.
With no electricity, freezers weren’t an option here. Michael stored his food
the old-fashioned way, either drying it into jerky or curing it with salt. The
prepared food was kept in his enclosed workshop, and while Michael had bear
proofed the shop as much as possible, hungry bears were tenacious. With food
being so close to its reach, the grizzly might not stop until it had ripped the
door to shreds.
Knowing where the bear was outside
calmed my nerves somewhat. I fingered my rifle, debating whether running out
there would help Michael or hurt both of us. It was dark, and if Michael
thought I was inside, he could shoot me just as easily as the bear. And
verbally warning him would get the bear’s attention—attention I’d rather not
have. No, it would be best to stay put and let Michael handle it. But still … that
was hard to do.
I heard Michael shout then, yelling at
the bear to leave. A gunshot rang through the night, startling small nocturnal
animals and rattling the windowpanes. Another one followed shortly after, and
fear trickled down my spine. Was that a warning shot? Or was the bear
attacking?
Michael wasn’t shouting anymore, and
the night was still, silent. Oh God, no … The ball of dread in my belly was too
great to ignore, and I nearly tripped in my haste to get to the door.
“Michael!” I screeched into the night as I flung the door wide.
A dark shape was suddenly right in
front of me, and as I stared in shock, a gaping mouth of thick, sharp teeth
opened, and a powerful roar pushed me back a step. I’d never been so close to a
bear before, and my legs felt like water. I couldn’t move them, couldn’t move
anything. My mind was trying to avoid the here and now by drifting off to
happier times with my family, my friends. Death was once again staring me in
the face, but even still, the part of me that was still cognizant of the
present was awed and amazed by the ferocious beauty of the beast before me.
There was a reason these creatures ruled the forest.
The bear rose up on its hind legs,
visually warning me that it was bigger, stronger, and most likely hungrier. My
eyes flashed to the various weapons it could use in an instant to end
me—talonlike claws, ice pick–like teeth, or just its massive weight. All I had
was a gun.
Thinking of my own weapon jostled me
from my state of panic. Raising the barrel, I chambered a bullet and yelled at
the bear to back off. It seemed a poor tactic at this point, but I didn’t
really want to kill the animal. If I could scare it into submission, I’d take
that as a win.
The bear, however, was unimpressed by
my shouting. Landing heavily on its front feet, it began lumbering toward me.
Damn it, I was going to have to shoot. And hope my gun did more than anger it.
With shaking fingers, I lined up my shot. “Please go away,” I murmured, putting
light pressure on the trigger.
Like it heard me, the bear suddenly
looked to its left. It growled again and took a step back, away from the cabin.
I heard Michael’s voice, and then a gunshot rang out in the night. The bear
roared again, then seemed to realize it was outmatched. It turned and ran, its
winter bulk vibrating with each thundering step.
I was still shaking as Michael stepped
into view. Disengaging the gun, I dropped it on the ground and flew over to
him. Before I knew it, my arms were around his neck, and I was pulling his firm
body into mine. Thank God he was okay. Thank God I was okay.
“Oh my God, Michael,” I murmured into
his shoulder, inhaling his woodsy scent. “That was terrifying. I thought for
sure…”
Once I fully comprehended that I was
squeezing the life out of him, I froze, every limb rigid with tension. I wasn’t
sure if Michael would push me away or not, but then he surprised me by wrapping
an arm around my waist and pulling me into him just as hard as I was holding
him, maybe harder. As we held each other, the anxiety and fear started easing,
and I was flooded with warmth; I’d never felt more at peace.
***
My Book Review:
RATING: 3 out of 5 Stars
UNDER THE NORTHERN LIGHTS by S.C. Stephens is a sweet contemporary
romance set in the Alaskan wilderness. This romance is a very slow burn with a
reclusive hero who rescues a heroine trapped and injured in the wilderness by
her small plane crash. (Depending on your personal preferences, I believe it
should be disclosed that this story has dialogue about Christian faith and
values.)
Mallory Reynolds has a passion for photography. She
especially loves a remote location in the Alaskan wilderness. Every year she
takes off from her small home town in Idaho to spend two weeks camping and photographing
the wild Alaskan animals. Even with all of her careful planning and checks, her
plane stalls out and then crashes on the way to her camp site in a storm.
Surviving the crash with multiple injuries, Mallory must
find a way to gather the supplies that are still useful to protect her from the
elements. As she rests, the very animals she loves to photograph threaten her life.
She is saved at the very last minute by a mysterious mountain man.
Michael Bradley has lived a solitary life in the Alaskan
wilderness for the last five years. When he investigates the plane crash site,
he is surprised to find Mallory has survived. He helps Mallory to his secluded
cabin, but he has no way to communicate with the outside world until spring.
As Mallory heals, the two learn to help each other with the
difficult task of surviving in the wilderness and continue to grow closer.
Mallory opens her heart to Michael, but he is still unable or unwilling to move
on. Can Mallory’s love and prayers be enough to help Michael heal by the time
they are set to separate in the spring?
I found the author’s writing continually made me feel the
edge-of-the-knife balance between survival and one small mistake being the disaster
that could kill you. The description of their everyday life was very
interesting to this modern city girl. For a large portion of the story the
romance is one-sided. Mallory works to find the reason for Michael’s preferred
isolation and then hopes to find a way to heal him. This romance emphasizes the
growing trust and feelings of love between the two with no sex until almost the
last chapter.
I loved the adventure and suspense in the wilderness. I was
not expecting the several religious passages. I loved that these two found each
other, but it took longer than I was hoping for. This is definitely one of
those books that everyone will have to make up their own minds about.
***
About the Book
Title: Under the Northern Lights
Author: S.C. Stephens
Release Date: April 30, 2019
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Summary
Mallory Reynolds is a driven woman fueled by her passion for photographing wild animals in remote locations. Every year she makes a trek deep into Alaska, but this time the unthinkable happens: she crash-lands after her plane stalls out in a storm. Injured, vulnerable, and threatened by the very creatures she loves, Mallory fears the worst—until she’s rescued by Michael Bradley, a mysterious mountain man living in self-imposed exile. Mallory is grateful for Michael’s help but desperate to return home to let her family know she’s alive. Unfortunately, neither of them can leave Michael’s secluded cabin until spring. Mallory’s stuck with a stranger for months. As Mallory recovers, a deep bond begins to form between the pair. Mallory is convinced that fate brought them together, but Michael is buried in his past, unable to move forward. Undaunted, Mallory tends to Michael’s heart as tenderly as he cared for her wounds—but will her love be enough to heal him?
***
Author Biography
S. C. Stephens is a bestselling author who enjoys spending every
free moment creating stories that are packed with emotion and heavy on romance.
Her debut novel, Thoughtless, an angst-filled love story featuring
insurmountable passion and the unforgettable Kellan Kyle, took the world of romance
by storm in 2009. Stephens has been writing nonstop ever since. In addition to
writing, Stephens enjoys spending lazy afternoons in the sun reading fabulous
novels, loading up her iPod with writer’s block–reducing music, heading out to
the movies, and spending quality time with her friends and family. She
currently resides in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her two equally
beautiful children.
Today the Feature Post and Book Review is for Mary Burton’s upcoming release HIDE ANDSEEK (Criminal Profiler #1). Below you will find a guest piece from the author, an excerpt from the title, my book review, a bio about the author and social media links for the author. At the end of the post, you will also see a Rafflecopter giveaway for a $25 Amazon gift card and a digital copy of the book.
It was hard to put this book down and I was on the edge of my seat at the climax. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series. As always, good luck on the Rafflecopter giveaway!
***
Profiling FBI Profiler Macy Crow
Special Agent Macy Crow is 33-years-old and is
an accomplished FBI Agent. She’s worked a series of high profile cases
across the United States and isn’t afraid to take chances. When her father was
murdered, she headed to Texas to investigate the crime. Following clues left
behind by her father, she was closing in on the killer when she became the
victim of a hit and run accident.
Most would have died from the injuries Macy
sustained or would have been permanently disabled. However, Macy channeled her
extreme ability to focus into her recovery. Though her fit muscles have
softened during her recovery, she is regaining strength each day and is now
laser-focused on returning to the FBI as a field agent. Before her
accident, she had shoulder length blond hair but the brain surgeons who saved
her life cut off all her hair. She now proudly sports a pixie cut.
When Macy returned to Texas, she learned a
startling fact about herself. She has an identical twin—medical examiner Dr.
Faith McIntyre. Though adopted by different families, the sisters already have
a strong connection.
Macy’s adoptive parents split when she was two
and she moved from Texas to Alexandria, Virginia located outside of Washington,
D.C. Over the years she remained close with her father and spent many summers
with him helping repair old cars on his auto salvage lot. In Alexandria, she
and her mother lived in a large apartment complex. When she was young, a
neighborhood girl was murdered. That tragedy had a very profound affect on
Macy, who discovered she wasn’t afraid of the police and FBI agents swarming
the apartment complex. Instead, she was fascinated by their work and not only
watched law enforcement in action but also walked the actual crime scene
herself in search of clues.
Macy has never been married and has no children. For a long time, she considered herself married to her job and it wasn’t until she met FBI Special Agent Mike Nevada that she reconsidered her single status. However, her accident cut short their romance. Nevada is now the sheriff in a small Virginia town in the Shenandoah Valley. He understands Macy’s need to reclaim the FBI job she has always loved so much. In the last year, he has never forgotten her and is committed to helping regain her old life. When the two are paired on a cold case murder investigation in Nevada’s district, they become an unstoppable team.
***
Excerpt: Hide and Seek by Mary
Burton
Vivid blue
sky, white clouds, and golden fall leaves blanketed the Blue Ridge and
Allegheny mountains and created a picture-perfect day in the valley. In Macy’s
book, the beauty was wasted. If she had God’s ear, today would have been cold,
overcast, and damp. Save the pretty days until she caught this killer.
As she drove south down I-81, Macy mentally
replayed her ten minutes of regional research. In the last couple of decades,
the Shenandoah Valley’s population had ballooned thanks to a growing
university, its proximity to Washington, DC, and a thriving tourism trade
peddling vineyards, Civil War battlefields, and railroad museums. Filling in
the economic gaps were warehouse distribution centers, chain hotels, and strip
malls.
The voice of Macy’s GPS cut through AC/DC’s Back in Black blasting from her
playlist and instructed her to take the upcoming exit toward Deep Run. As she
rolled onto Route 250, a sign for her go-to fast-food eatery gave her an excuse
to stretch her legs before driving the remaining ten miles to the crime scene.
Parking, she gingerly rose up out of the car.
Her leg hurt. Stretches weren’t optional any more. She grabbed her ankle and
pulled until the bunched muscles in her thigh released. After a quick walk
around the lot, she made a beeline for the restaurant bathroom.
She glanced into the mirror as she washed her
hands. Even after five months, she still didn’t recognize the woman with the
short hair and thin face.
Nevada was in for a rude awakening.
She wiped her face with a paper towel. “Macy
Crow, you’re above ground and headed in the right direction. That’s what
counts.”
At the counter, she ordered a supersize bucket
of fries and a large soda. It wasn’t that she loved the food—okay, maybe she
did love the fries—but the chain restaurant’s predictability and sameness was
comforting after so many life changes.
A few fries later, she was in her car and
backing out of her space when her phone rang. Nevada’s number appeared. She
cleared her throat and sat a little taller.
“Agent Macy Crow,” she said.
“Ramsey tells me you’re on your way. Where are
you?”
He was direct, rarely charming, and she always
knew where she stood with him. “Fifteen minutes from the barn.”
“I’m here now.”
The transition back into a working relationship
appeared effortless. Whatever they had was over and done. No hard feelings.
“See you soon,” she said.
En route on the interstate, she ate her fries
and drained her soda. There were no guarantees on when the next meal would be.
The last few miles took her down smaller roads
until she spotted the driveway marked by stacked stones. Gravel crunched under
her tires as she passed a freshly cleared field. Over the rise of a hill, she
saw the old barn encircled by yellow crime scene tape.
When she had been researching the area, slogans
such as “Best Quality of Life” and “Raise Your Family in Deep Run” popped up on
her computer screen. As she had read about the area, she had kept glancing
toward her open case file filled with images of Tobi Turner’s scattered bones.
Recent pictures had captured the barn surrounded by dozens of state and local
law enforcement vehicles crammed side by side in the grassy field.
Now as Macy parked, she noted that all the
vehicles were gone expect for a lone black SUV. She grabbed her Glock from the
glove box, holstered it, and stepped out of her car. Her worn hiking boots
sloshed in the damp muddy soil. She tugged on an FBI windbreaker and draped her
FBI credentials around her neck. As a stiff breeze blew a lingering chill and
autumn scents, she checked her pockets for latex gloves, sunglasses, a small
pocketknife, and pendant light.
Edginess and excitement fused as she strode
toward the stretch of yellow tape and searched for Nevada. She ducked under the
tape and stepped inside the barn.
***
My Book Review
RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars
HIDE AND SEEK (Criminal Profiler #1) by Mary Burton is a romantic suspense with a stronger emphasis on the suspense/thriller plot line than the romance. The two main characters have been involved in the past, both professionally and romantically, which allows the author to amp up the suspense without the reader feeling cheated on the romance. This is a new series, but there is overlapping of characters from Ms. Burton’s previous books.
FBI Special Agent Macy Crow has an innate ability to connect
seemingly unconnected pieces of a crime together to solve big cases. She is
attempting to get on the FBI’s elite profiling team so she can get back out
into the field. After being almost killed by a hit-and-run tied to her last
case in Texas, she knows she is not yet one-hundred percent, but she is tired
of sitting behind a desk.
Mike Nevada has returned home after resigning from the FBI.
He was a profiler and had had enough of the death and depravity. He is elected
sheriff after discovering multiple rape kits that the current sheriff purposely
never had processed. When the bones and backpack of a fifteen-year-old missing
person case of a high school girl are discovered, Mike requests Macy’s assistance
on the case.
Macy and Nevada work together as seamlessly as before, but
they are up against a killer who has evolved and honed his skills over many
years. In 2004, he started with rapes and then worked his way up to kidnapping
and murder. He is bold enough to have left his DNA at every scene and he is
still free. He is watching as Macy starts to put the pieces together and he has
decided she needs to be stopped – permanently.
I read this book in one sitting. The investigation was so intriguing
and the killer so depraved that I just had to find out who the killer was. The
climax had me on the edge of my seat. Macy and Nevada are a great couple who
each understand what drives the other. Macy is extremely strong and resilient and
yet vulnerable due to her physical changes since the accident. Nevada is
strong, smart and the perfect man to support Macy. The sex scenes are not too
explicit or long. All of the secondary characters are fully fleshed out and I
will be looking forward to following them in future books, too.
I can highly recommend this book and I will be waiting
anxiously for the next book in this series!
***
About the Book
Title: Hide and Seek
Author: Mary Burton
Release Date: April 23, 2019
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Summary
Special Agent Macy Crow is a survivor. After a vicious hit-and-run nearly kills her, she gets right back to work, and now she’s gunning for a spot on the FBI’s elite profiling team. As an audition, she offers to investigate the recently discovered bones of Tobi Turner, a high school girl who disappeared fifteen years ago.
While investigating with local sheriff Mike Nevada, a former colleague and onetime lover, Macy discovers a link between Tobi’s case and several others that occurred around the same time as her disappearance. As Macy interviews victims and examines old cases, she uncovers a sinister picture of a stalker who graduated to sexual assault—and then murder.
Macy and Nevada race to put this monster behind bars before he can come out of hiding. But the murderer’s had years to hone his skills, and soon Macy herself becomes a target. She’s no stranger to pain and terror, but will Macy’s first profiling case be her last?
***
Author Biography
New York Times and USA Today bestselling novelist Mary Burton is the highly praised author of twenty-six romance and suspense novels and five novellas. She lives in Virginia with her husband and three miniature dachshunds.
Welcome to the Feature Post and Book Review for Carolyn Brown’s upcoming release THE PERFECT DRESS. Below you will find a message from the author, an excerpt from the title, my book review and info about the book and author.
Also included is a Rafflecopter giveaway for a $25 Amazon gift card and a digital copy of the book. Enjoy this preview about three strong female friends and as always good luck on the Rafflecopter giveaway!
***
Carolyn Brown’s Real Life Inspiration for Writing THE
PERFECT DRESS
Hello, everyone and thank you for inviting me to your site
today!
My granddaughter is getting married this fall, and she’s not
one of those size six girls who can walk into wedding dress store, try on a
dozen dresses and find the perfect dress—especially when she has her heart set
on a black lace dress for her wedding. When we began to shop for her dress, I
wished for a custom wedding shop that catered only to women who wore a size
fourteen or larger. So I created one called The Perfect Dress and
set it in the little town of Celeste, Texas. This summer I plan to bring my old
Singer sewing machine out of retirement, and make my granddaughter’s black lace
wedding dress—just the way she and I will design it!
The Perfect Dress is not a real place so don’t
go to the local doughnut shop in Celeste and ask about it, but the town, the
characters and the shop were all very real to me while I was writing about it.
Speaking of characters let me introduce you to Mitzi. She’s
and her two plus sized friends, Paula and Jody, have dreamed of putting in
their own plus-sized wedding dress shop for years. Now it’s a reality. They’ve
bought an old two story house at the edge of Celeste and hung out their
shingle.
Jody is a thin vegetarian now, but when the girls were in
high school, she was a big girl just like her friends. She’s living proof that
a woman will do anything for love, but when love goes awry, she’s sure glad
that she’s got Mitzi and Paula to support her.
Paula is carrying a big secret. The three women have shared
everything since they were little children, but she can’t talk about her
secret, not when both her friends are in the middle of drama themselves. She
has to be the strong one to share Jody’s sorrow and Mitzi’s happiness.
Fanny Lou, Mitzi’s grandmother, is an eccentric old gal with
lots of advice that she’s not one bit shy about spreading around. She’s the
mother role for all of them, constantly popping into the shop with a box of
doughnuts, or the local gossip.
Lately Mitzi has been feeling like maybe her ‘perfect
family’ is missing someone… perhaps the perfect man. She hasn’t seen him
since high school, but that doesn’t mean that Mitizi’s heart doesn’t go
pitter-patter for this awesome single dad. Graham towers above Mitzi, who is
almost six feet tall. He has twin girls, who are also plus sized. He feels the
sparks, too, but questions whether Mitzi could ever love some big guy who
already has teenage daughters.
There is definitely a gap between the teenager girls, who help out in the shop, and Fanny Lou, the granny, and the three best friends. But true friendship knows nothing about age—it’s love, support, and unflinching loyalty towards each other, no matter what the age.
***
Excerpt: The Perfect Dress by Carolyn Brown
Mitzi
rushed back to the sewing room, where the hum of two sewing machines filled the
air. “Graham Harrison just came in the shop to set up an appointment for his
two daughters. He said they only live a few houses up the street from us. He
looked like a bull in a china shop sitting on that pink sofa. And of course he
didn’t even recognize me, but I sure knew him the minute I laid eyes on him.”
At the mention of that name from the past, work
jolted to a halt.
“All the girls in high school swooned over him,
including Mitzi, but she hasn’t told us if he’s still as sexy as he was back
then.” Jody took a bowl of salad from the fridge along with a plate of
vegetables that she stuck into the microwave to heat.
“He’s aged very, very well, and I’m having
cookies,” Mitzi said.
“Smart girl,” Fanny Lou said. “Life is short.
Eat dessert first. So you had a little crush on Graham?”
“Everyone did,” Mitzi answered.
“Not me. I was always in love with Lyle,” Jody
said.
“Well, according to what I heard at the church
bake sale today, Graham moved his daughters here to Celeste because they were
being fat shamed down in Greenville. One of them knocked a girl on her butt,
blacked both eyes, and bloodied her nose with one punch. It was the last day of
school and they said they were going to suspend her for the first two weeks of
next year for fighting,” Jody said.
“She should get a medal, not suspended,” Mitzi
fumed.
Fanny Lou took a gallon jug of sweet tea from
the fridge. “Who all wants a glass?”
Three hands went up.
She filled four glasses with ice and then tea
and carried them to the table. “I remember when he went to work for his dad at
the Cadillac dealership—right after he and Rita got married. His dad gave him a
job on the lowest level, and he had to work his way up. Rita was furious
because she thought they’d get a big house and a new Caddy every year. Stupid
woman figured since his folks had money that he had an open bank account.”
Paula took the ham and cheese containers from
the fridge while Mitzi pulled a loaf of bread from the cabinet. “You eating
with us, Granny?”
“I’ll eat with you and Paula, but I don’t want
any of that stuff Jody is having. I don’t eat fake meat. I’ll eat what I want
and die when I’m supposed to. Slice some of them tomatoes I brought in here
earlier. And I’d rather have bologna instead of ham and mustard instead of
mayo,” Fanny Lou answered.
“Me, too,” Paula said. “I want one like hers.”
“I was thinking the same thing.” Mitzi set
about making three sandwiches.
So Graham was divorced and raising girls on his
own. Bless his heart for getting them away from a school that bullied them
because of their size. Mitzi could relate to the girls. But then, so could Jody
and Paula. She’d always figured that Jody adopted her own modern-day hippie
style to combat those feelings of insecurity. Paula had retreated into
superstition. Mitzi had just plowed her way through emotions and other kids,
spending a lot of time in the principal’s office for fighting.
She pushed all that to the back of her mind,
put the sandwiches on plates, and carried them to the table. “Y’all know that
this job for Ellie Mae could turn into a big thing. I bet her older sister will
be the maid of honor and her mother will want a fancy dress.”
“That’s what you’re in business for, isn’t it?”
Fanny Lou said. “Man, this brings back memories. Friday night was bologna
sandwich night when I was a kid.”
“Why?” Jody asked.
“Because Mama always cleaned house on Friday,
and she didn’t have time to make a big meal,” Fanny Lou answered.
“Funny how an hour of beading takes forever and
our noon hour goes so fast.” Jody pointed to the clock.
“Good Lord!” Fanny Lou finished off her
sandwich and grabbed a cookie. “I’ve got an appointment with my CPA at one and
it’s a fifteen-minute drive to Greenville. See you girls later. You have my
permission to flirt with Graham, Mitzi.”
Mitzi’s cheeks began to burn. “I had a teenage crush on him. I’ve grown
up since then.”
Fanny Lou winked as she headed for the door.
“Paula, since you live with Mitzi, I’m putting you in charge of being sure she
takes her birth control pills every morning.”
Mitzi felt even more heat in her cheeks.
“Granny!”
“When you get old you get to say whatever the
hell you want to.” Fanny Lou closed the door behind her.
***
My Book Review
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
THE PERFECT DRESS by Carolyn Brown is an emotionally packed women’s fiction story with a cozy romance subplot of three lifelong friends and their plus-size only custom made wedding dress shop “The Perfect Dress” in small town Celeste, Texas. Mitzi, Paula and Jody are three strong female characters that are all going through differing life challenges as the story begins, but no matter the problem they always know they can count on each other for love and support.
Mitzi is the dress designer of the group. Her grandma and
her father have always supported her and her dreams. When her high school crush
moves back to town in the summer divorced and with a set a twin girls, Mitzi
wonders if she has a chance with Graham. The twins love The Perfect Dress shop
and Mitzi has them helping with flower arrangements. She loves the twins and
does not want to ruin her relationship with them if she starts dating their
father and she also is insecure about her larger size since the twins mother
was a tiny woman.
Jody specializes in beading veils and dresses. She has lived
“in sin” with her high school sweetheart since graduation, but she is about to
learn he has not be faithful and is dumping her for the mother-to-be of his
child. Jody has put up with years of abuse from her mother about not being
married and now she has to deal with the entire small town knowing she was
cruelly dumped.
Paula loves sewing the beautiful dresses they make. She has
been criticized and abused by her mother and sister because of her weight her
whole life. She had been secretly seeing a man until she found out his wife is
pregnant and he lied about getting a divorce. When she finds out she is
pregnant, she wants to raise the baby as a single parent and does not want the
cheater to ever know he got her pregnant. Her mother disowns her when she finds
out, but Mitzi and Jody swear they will all be loving her baby right along with
her.
Mitzi and Graham’s cozy romance is more of a subplot than the main focus of this book. This book revolves around the three friends who love each other and will do anything for each other. This is a book about how messy life can be, but with good friends you can get through the tough times and triumph in the end. Ms. Brown deals with many weight related prejudices throughout this story realistically and with heart. The Perfect Dress is a heart-warming, feel good book that had me closing the book with a smile on my face.
***
Title: The Perfect Dress
Author: Carolyn Brown
Release Date: April 16, 2019
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Summary
In the small
town of Celeste, Texas, Mitzi Taylor has never quite fit inside the lines.
Nearly six feet tall, flame-haired, and with a plus-size spirit to match every
curve, she’s found her niche: a custom wedding-dress boutique catering to big
brides-to-be with big dreams. Taking the plunge alongside her two best friends,
she’s proud they’ve turned The Perfect Dress into a perfect success.
Just when Mitzi
has it all pulled together, Graham Harrison walks back into her life, looking
for bridesmaid dresses for his twin daughters. A still-strapping jock whose
every gorgeous, towering inch smells like aftershave, the star of all Mitzi’s
high school dreams is causing quite a flush.
For Mitzi, all it takes is a touch to feel sparks flitting around her like fireflies. She can just imagine what a kiss could do. Graham’s feeling it, too. And he’s about to make that imagination of Mitzi’s run wild. Is it just a hot summer fling, or are Mitzi’s next designs for herself and seeing her own dreams come true?
Author Biography
Carolyn Brown
is a New York Times, USA Today, Publisher’s
Weekly, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author and a
RITA finalist with more than ninety published books. Her genres include
romance, history, cowboys and country music, and contemporary mass-market
paperbacks. She and her husband live in the small town of Davis, Oklahoma,
where everyone knows everyone else, knows what they are doing and when . . .
and reads the local newspaper every Wednesday to see who got caught. They have
three grown children and enough grandchildren to keep them young. Visit Carolyn
at www.carolynbrownbooks.com.
I am very excited to share this Feature Post and Book Review for THE PROMISE OF US (Sanctuary Sound Book 2) by Jamie Beck. Below you will find an interview with the author, an excerpt from the book, my book review, a book summary and the author’s biography and social media links. At the end of the post is a Rafflecopter giveaway.
I actually missed my bus stop going to work because I was so engrossed in Claire and Logan’s story! This story is as heartwarming and realistic as it is emotionally heartbreaking at times. Have the tissues ready for this one. As always, good luck on the Rafflecopter giveaway!
***
Interview with Author Jamie Beck
1. Can you give readers a quick snapshot of your newest
novel The Promise of Us.
At its heart, this book is based on some favorite romance
tropes (best friend’s older brother, unrequited crush, second chance-ish)
although the circumstances are unusual. Basically, Logan returns to town to
help his sister recover and, in his desire to help his sister mend fences with
Claire, he hires Claire to redecorate his apartment. What starts out as a
somewhat manipulative—though well-intentioned—plan flips on him. He remembers
the version of Claire from before the gunshot wound and wants her to stop
living in fear, so he sets about slowly challenging her limits to help her lead
a fuller life. In the process, he falls for her, although his job and wanderlust
(and Claire’s inability to forgive Peyton) conspire to make her push him away.
Ultimately, they have to figure out how to compromise if they want things to
work out.
2. What makes Claire and Logan’s story special to you?
Each book I write is special in its own way. I think what
stays with me about this one is a sense of tenderness that developed in Logan
that didn’t really exist before he spent more time with Claire. He was a fairly
selfish guy (meaning he put his needs and career aspirations ahead of
everything) for most of his life. His sister’s life-threatening illness was the
first catalyst for change, but his relationship with Claire develops a new
facet of his personality. I liked him so much by the end of the story. And I
had fun writing Claire, despite her being a very nervous, conservative
character at the outset.
3. Your heroine Claire has suffered tremendously (both
physically and emotionally) yet she perseveres and has made a great life for
herself. What gives her strength?
In my mind, Claire’s greatest strengths are her ability to
be content with the little things and her gratitude for her family and friends.
For the most part, she rarely laments her quiet life. When she had to give up
her first love (tennis), she directed her energy into something else she
enjoyed and made that a career. She feels that she is good at her job and she
enjoys it, so that also gives her a sense of pride and accomplishment. I think
her job (making old or ugly things pretty) is a bit of a metaphor for how she dealt
with her injury.
4. Claire has had love and lost it. How has her past
experience changed her?
I think losing her boyfriend to a best friend rocked her to
the core. Those two betrayals shook a fundamental sense of trust in all
relationships. And in love. She recovered much better from her physical injury
that the emotional ones, that is for sure. In any case, this cynicism about
love and friendship definitely makes it hard for her to believe anything Logan
has to say, or to believe that he could truly love her.
5. What is her reaction to first seeing her childhood crush
Logan?
She’s caught unaware, so she reacts badly, especially
because she suspects he is trying to manipulate her. Hostile might be how some
would describe her mental state, although Claire tempers her feelings most of
the time, so it is more of a quiet rage with a hint of desperation to flee!
6. It seems like Claire and Logan are complete opposites.
She is cautious about new experiences, while he jet sets around the world. Was
it difficult to write about two very different characters?
No. They are opposites, but in a complementary manner. In
other words, he is able to use his strengths (courage) to help her tap into her
own, and she is able to use her strength (contentedness) to give him a sort of
stability and affection sorely lacking in his life.
7. What common ground do your heroine and hero have?
The have the common ground of growing up in the same
community, with all the values and ideals that help form us as children. They
also have mutual friends and some shared history, which binds them. In terms of
their interests, they are both creatives—him with photographs, her with fabrics
and such—so they understand that way of seeing the world.
8. A hallmark of your writing is the maturity that your
characters find throughout their journey of falling in love. What are some
lessons that Claire and Logan must learn for them to get their
happily-ever-after?
The hallmark of any well-written romance (of which there are
plenty) is that its characters will have a strong arc (they will grow and
become better, stronger individuals). In this story, Claire needs to learn to
take risks again, and to trust that, come what may in life or love, she will
survive and be okay. Logan needs to learn to compromise, and to learn that the
relationships he makes in the here and now are more likely to bring true happiness
than achieving any aspirational goal.
***
The Promise of Us Excerpt
“What are you
thinking?” Claire dropped her hands to the table.
Steffi shook her head, waving one hand.
“Nothing.”
“Don’t lie. Is there another problem I’m not
aware of?”
“No.” Steffi inhaled, held her breath, then
exhaled slowly.
“I know of one project that would make a sweet
profit and let you really stretch your talent. ‘Sky’s the limit’ kind of
budget.”
Excitement lifted Claire’s spirit,
straightening her spine. Anything that accelerated plans to open a retail
outlet merited her attention. “Sounds amazing. What’s the catch?”
Steffi hesitated.
“Never mind. You won’t take it, so let’s move
on.” Steffi spooned whipped cream into her mouth. “Oh! Molly says that Mrs.
Brewster is thinking of remodeling her master bath.”
Mrs. Brewster’s late husband had left her
comfortably well off, but you’d never know it. She clipped every coupon
available to humanity—Claire had been behind her at the grocery store more than
once. She put only two dollars in the collection basket at church each week,
despite having enough money to leave more. And she gave out bite-size candy at Halloween.
Bite-size!
“We can’t rely on Ryan’s mom as our major
source of leads, and Mrs. Brewster spending big bucks on a remodel sounds
improbable..” She leaned forward, elbows on the table. “Don’t make me beg. If
you have a solution, I won’t dismiss it out of hand, I promise. I’m not an
idiot. We need income. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep the doors open.”
Steffi went still, her chin just above the mug
held midair. “Whatever it takes?”
Claire’s hair stood on end, but she motioned
“Let’s have it” with both hands.
Steffi hesitated. “How would you like to
redecorate a high-end condo in Chelsea?”
“In the city?” Her entire body prickled
painfully at the thought of putting herself in the midst of that chaos and
danger. She’d already been one madman’s random victim. Manhattan teemed with
crazy people, not the least of whom were the ones who drove their cars like
heat-seeking missiles. “Who’d hire us instead of any of the premier designers there?”
Steffi met Claire’s gaze. “Logan.”
Claire’s tongue seemed to swell and turn
sticky. Work with Logan … Her blood thickened
like warm syrup. Tingles and terror all at once—a sensation she both loved and
loathed. Her own brand of crazy. Maybe she did belong in New York, after all. “No.”
“You just said you’d do whatever it takes.”
“Not that. Never that.” Claire didn’t need to look into a mirror to know that her
fair, lightly freckled cheeks now looked like someone had smeared them with
ripe strawberries.
“As I suspected.” Steffi shrugged nonchalantly,
as if she hadn’t just pulled the pin from a grenade and dropped it on the
table. “So that leaves us a little tight until something else comes up. In
terms of our social media presence, I just read an article …”
Claire heard Steffi talking, but the words ran
together like white noise because Claire’s brain was still stuck on the idea of
working with—no—for Logan Prescott. His
obvious ploy made her want to laugh. Did he really think he could buy her
forgiveness for his sister? Well, Claire would never, ever forgive Peyton. Not
even if he paid her a million dollars to renovate his condo.
“Claire? Did you hear anything I said?” Steffi
turned her hands out in question.
“Sorry.” She rubbed the scowl from her
forehead. “I’ll find another way to turn up new leads. Working with Logan is a
hard no.”
“Too bad. You’d have so much fun decorating his
place. I’m sure he’d let you do whatever you wanted. Anything would be better
than how it looks now. Guess he never cared before, since he was rarely around
to enjoy it.”
Only a Prescott would own a million-dollar
property that sat vacant as often as it was occupied.
“I’m not an idiot.”
“Did I call you one?” Steffi had the gall to
look stunned.
“This has Peyton’s paw prints all over it. I’d
bet my last penny that she put him up to it. I don’t know what I hate more,
that she did it, that you took the bait, or that she knows we’re desperate for
money.”
“It’s not a conspiracy. I mentioned that I felt
bad about putting you in this situation because of this home. Logan tossed out
the idea on the spot.”
“I can’t deal with the strings that would come
with his offer.” Except now Claire couldn’t focus on anything else because
thinking about Logan took up all the space in her head. If Peyton hadn’t stolen
Todd, she might’ve pounced on a chance to work closely with Logan. Of course,
then she wouldn’t have been free to act on her desire. Not that she had ever
acted on it before Todd, either. The hawkish way Logan could stare at her
turned her to jelly around him and—oh, just no. “I thought you finally
understood that.”
“I do. That’s why I wasn’t going to say
anything.” Steffi crossed her arms. “You forced me to tell you.”
True enough. Logan’s image flickered through
Claire’s mind again, poking at the tender spot of her pointless longing, like
always.
She shook her head, dislodging all thoughts of
Logan. “I’ll catch up with Mrs. Brewster and pitch a proposal for her bathroom.
But we also have to scrape together funds to advertise and update the website,
and you need to scare up reno work pronto. Promise me we’ll earmark new revenue
toward retail space—”
A knock at the door interrupted her monologue.
Steffi rose from the table and disappeared
around the corner.
From the other room, Claire heard Steffi’s
surprised voice say, “Oh, we didn’t expect you so early.”
“Hope that’s not a problem,” replied Logan, in his unmistakable baritone.
***
My Book Review
RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars
THE PROMISE OF US (Sanctuary Sound Book 2) by Jamie Beck is
a contemporary romance with characters I know I will be thinking about well
beyond “The End” of this book. Ms. Beck’s characters in The Sanctuary Sound
series are realistically written and fully fleshed enough to walk right off the
page. Even knowing my HEA will arrive, the journey is never easy or
cookie-cutter in Ms. Beck’s Sanctuary Sound books.
Claire McKenna is the artistic design half of the fledgling
company she started with one of her closest childhood friends in her hometown.
She has rebuilt her life since losing her promising career as a professional
tennis player to a random bullet to the hip in the local mall and her boyfriend
who dumped her and left town with her other best friend. Claire was focused on
her career and travelled the country, but now she allows her fear to build a
wall around her hometown and never takes any risks.
Logan Prescott lives every day trying to live up to his famous
grandfather’s legacy. He is a photographer who travels the world trying to find
the job that will give him fame and recognition. When his sister is diagnosed
with breast cancer, he comes home to be by her side. They have returned to the
family home to document Peyton’s cancer fight and Logan would like to get
Claire’s forgiveness for his sister, who is the one who stole Claire’s
boyfriend.
Logan offers Claire the job of remodeling and decorating his
NY condo for enough money to get the store front she wants for the business. He
turns on his charm to get Claire to take the job, but he soon finds that Claire
has changed and he wants to help her get over her fears as much as he wants
forgiveness for his sister. Claire has had a crush on Logan since they were
young. Can taking risks with Logan free her or break her all over again?
Get the tissues ready. Claire and Logan are opposites that attract and in the end fill the empty spaces in each other, but not without a lot of emotional growth. Claire’s fears after the shooting and her parents’ over-protectiveness, Peyton’s breast cancer journey and Logan’s emptiness were realistically written and intertwined into a beautiful story. They are imperfect characters that are all changing and on a journey to forgiveness and understanding. The sex scenes are behind closed doors or PG rated. This book can standalone, but Claire’s partner, Steffi has a great story in book 1 of this series that you will not want to miss.
I highly recommend this romance, series and author!
***
About the Book
Title: The Promise of Us
Author: Jamie Beck
Release Date: April 9, 2019
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Summary
Claire McKenna
knows about loss. The bullet wound that ended her promising professional tennis
career drove her to make a quiet life for herself working with fabric samples,
chatting with her book group, and spending time with her parents in her sleepy
coastal Connecticut hometown. Then there was the boyfriend who dumped her to
pursue her adventurous childhood friend. Now, Claire’s business has hit a
financial snag, but she’s up to the challenge. After all, she can survive anything.
At least she thinks so . . . until her teen crush, Logan, returns to town with
his sister, Claire’s traitorous friend.
Photographer
Logan Prescott is more playboy than homebody. But his sister’s illness teaches
him that there’s more to life than chasing the next thrill. Bent on helping her
win Claire’s forgiveness, he turns his charm on Claire and offers her big bucks
to renovate his multimillion-dollar New York City condo.
After years of playing it safe, Claire must now take some risks. The payoff could be huge, but if it all falls apart, can her heart recover from another loss?
***
Author Biography
National
bestselling author Jamie Beck’s realistic and heartwarming stories have sold
more than one million copies. She’s a Booksellers’ Best Award and a National
Readers’ Choice Award finalist; and critics at Kirkus, Publishers
Weekly, and Booklist have respectively called her work
“smart,” “uplifting,” and “entertaining.” In addition to writing, she enjoys
dancing around the kitchen while cooking and hitting the slopes in Vermont and
Utah. Above all, she is a grateful wife and mother to a very patient,
supportive family.
For fun tips,
exclusive content, and a chance to win the monthly birthday reader box, please
sign up for her newsletter at jamiebeck.com.
Below you will find the Feature Post for Rachel Van Dyken’s new release RISKY PLAY (Red Card Book 1). It is book one of a contemporary romance series featuring professional soccer players. This post includes a guest post from the author, an excerpt, my book review, the author’s social media information and a Rafflecopter giveaway.
This is a great start to a new series. I hope you enjoy all of the information in this post and as always good luck on the Rafflecopter giveaway.
Why Sports Heroes Make the Best Book Boyfriends by Rachel Van Dyken
Hey everyone! I’m Rachel Van Dyken,
author of over eighty (holy crap) books in multiple genres, one of my favorites
being, sports romance! My latest book, Risky Play, is about two broken
main characters who find themselves on a last minute holiday to Puerto
Vallarta.
Pro Soccer player Slade Rodriguez is trying to lay low after finding out his girlfriend and his ex teammate hooked up behind his back, for over a year. Licking his wounds he changes teams and moves to Seattle, but isn’t ready to settle down yet. Needing time to himself, he gets on the first jet out. He sits next to Mackenzie Dupont on a plane and is immediately intrigued, especially since a few hours into the plane ride, they have single engine failure. She asks him what one thing he would do different. And they kiss. Once the plane safely lands, to protect his own identity, he gives her a fake name, Hugo. What he doesn’t realize is she’s famous in her own right, so she does the same thing. After all, she’s running away from a broken engagement.
What follows is a whole lot of steaminess and taking chances with a complete stranger assuming that it’s just that, a one night stand, a two night stand. Whatever it is, Mackenzie’s obsessed with “Hugo’s” intense golden gaze, the eight pack helps, and the fact that he seems genuinely interested in everything she says. He promises the universe he’s going to keep her, but sometimes the universe is against us. Tragedy strikes and they go their separate ways only to meet again in Seattle, this time, sparks fly and not the good kind The “I want to kiss you, then strangle you, then kiss you again” kind.
I love writing sports romances because I think it adds this extra layer of pressure from the press to act a certain way. Not only does Slade have to deal with paparazzi but he has pressure to perform, to lead his team to the championships after training with another team. I think it brings in so many details from behind the scenes that we never think about when watching sports on TV. I’m fully dedicated to interviewing real athletes (and my last sports romance I interviewed NFL players). This time I wanted to focus on a sport that isn’t as huge here as it is internationally and really do it justice. These athletes eat, sleep, and breathe their sport, there isn’t a lot of time for a personal life and if you do have one, the balance is always going to be a struggle (not to mention the fact that Slade is still mourning). In this book, I wanted to introduce a really strong female character that wouldn’t let Slade project all those feelings and basically Mackenzie is the type of girl that doesn’t put up with his crap. I think it’s important to have strong female characters that women can look up to. I love that during the entire journey my heroine doesn’t give up. She knows her worth and demands that Slade recognize it too.
All in all it was such a fun book to
write, I can’t wait for everyone to read it!
***
Excerpt: Risky Play by Rachel Van Dyken
I was kissing her again.
Maybe it was because it had been months since
I’d had a decent kiss, since I’d jumped into the arms of anyone who didn’t know
me by name.
I could be Hugo for a few days.
Hugo seemed spontaneous.
Hugo seemed relaxed.
Hugo seemed fun.
I sure as hell needed some fun.
I broke away from her kiss and trailed my
fingertips down her chin. “So, now that we’ve established the plane didn’t
crash and we’re here side by side, what did you have in mind?”
Ashley grinned up at me, her eyes a bit
hesitant as she looked from me to the ocean. “Well, I’ve never gone cliff
diving, I heard there’s a great place close by.”
My eyebrows shot up. “No offense, but you don’t
seem like a thrill seeker.”
She laughed. I decided I liked the way her
laugh relaxed me, made me respond with a smile and a need to kiss her again.
“I’m not, trust me.” She sobered a bit. Her lips turned down.
I wanted nothing more than to press a soft kiss
to the corner of her mouth just to see if it would it make it decide to smile
in my direction again.
“But it would be fun, I need fun.”
I sighed heavily and looked at my feet. When
the hell had I ever looked away like that? “That makes both of us.”
“Great!” She walked ahead of me into her
penthouse suite, which matched mine even in color. I suddenly wondered what she
did for a living. I mean I could afford it because I had been the highest paid
soccer star in Europe for the last ten years.
The place was around three grand a day.
I eyed the large master suite as she ran around
and then held up her hand. “One sec, I’m going to change into a suit, alright?”
“Great.” I smiled reassuringly. It would give
me time to look around, not that I was stalking her, but I could never be too
careful. I was still surprised she didn’t recognize me. And I knew when she
did, this little facade, this freedom I felt in my chest, the easy way she let
me breathe around her? It would go to hell, and I’d need another escape.
I thumbed through a few of the magazines on the
table, and dropped the last one down just in time to hear the sliding bathroom
door open and see a goddess emerge.
A one-piece swimsuit covered her body. It had a
plunging neckline that showed off two generously sized breasts, and I
immediately regretted not telling her who I was.
Because clothing tended to get pulled off, not
put on, when I was in the room.
I eyed the scrap of material she called a
swimsuit, my eyes raking over her muscular legs, her curvy body.
“Unless you’re jumping naked, you should change
too,” she pointed out, then cleared her throat and looked away like she was
insecure. Damn, the woman could make a man cut his own heart out for a taste of
her special brand of sin.
I peeled my shirt off over my body and
shrugged. “Ready.”
Her eyes went so wide I had to fight not to
laugh.
I knew what she saw.
I had Instagram pages dedicated to my eyes
alone, don’t even get me started on my abs.
Eight.
Tight, packed abs, all tanned and golden like I
was the sun god himself.
“Uh, right.” Her cheeks brightened as she
clasped her hands together. “Let’s go!”
I checked her out the entire time she walked
ahead of me, and when she caught me staring I just shrugged and said, “Next
time wear more clothes if you don’t want me to look.”
“You should talk,” she fired back.
“Misunderstanding.” I grinned. “I wanted you to
look.”
She slapped a hand against my bare chest.
I laughed, and then grabbed her hand and kissed
her fingertips. “You ready to jump off a cliff with a stranger you’ve kissed
twice?”
“Once,” she corrected with a whisper. “I kissed
you, you kissed me, we’re even.”
The doors to the elevator opened as I whispered
under my breath. “Not for long.”
***
My Book Review:
RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars
RISKY PLAY (Red Card Book 1) by Rachel Van Dyken is the
first contemporary romance in a new series featuring pro soccer players.
Mackenzie “Mack” Dupont had her fiancée walk away from her at the altar. Splashed across all of the society pages, Mack’s humiliation leads her to taking her already scheduled honeymoon trip to Mexico alone to get away. She is ready to lose her virginity and live life on her terms.
Slade Rodriguez is now the highest paid striker in the
American soccer league. After finding out his fiancee was pregnant with a
teammate’s baby he knew he had to change his life and location. Before the new
season begins, he is off to Mexico to hide out and get away from the paparazzi.
When Mack and Slade come together, what they hope can be
more turns into a one-night-stand with Mack waking up alone and wondering why
everyone leaves her.
Slade has tragic personal reasons for vanishing from Mexico
without a goodbye. Grieving and blaming the stranger for his loss, Slade is
shocked when Mack shows up at his door as his new personal assistant. Mack
cannot believe who opens the door for her new temporary job. They both have a
lot to learn about each other after all the lies. Slade needs to let his grief
and anger go and Mack refuses to be walked all over anymore. What they do not
know is that they have a common enemy who wants to ruin them both.
Mack is such a great heroine. She had a lot of emotional
growing up to do. She starts out just rolling along filling everyone else’s
expectations and doing all the right things. After having two major emotional
upsets, she learns to stand up for herself and make herself first and she does
this without becoming bitter or hard. I love sports, but I do not necessarily
like the players, young men with too much money, too many women and bad
attitudes. I had a hard time liking Slade and his treatment of Mack at first
when she ends up working for him, but he did redeem himself and had me cheering
for him in the end. The author’s writing has made me interested in finding out
more about the other players in future books.
I loved the dialogue in this book. It feels realistic and
had me laughing out loud and near tears at times. Ms. Van Dyken brings her
characters to life on the page. The sex scenes are hot and explicit and at
times funny, but they never felt gratuitous. The secondary characters were
fully fleshed out and realistic. This is a new to me author that I am looking
forward to following in the future.
***
About the Book
Title:
Risky Play
Author: Rachel
Van
Dyken
Release Date: March 19, 2019
Publisher: Skyscape
Series: Red Card, Book 1
Summary
What else can a
virgin do when she’s ditched at the altar? Seattle heiress Mackenzie Dupont is
treating herself to a single-girl honeymoon in Mexico and a desire to
relinquish her innocence to a gorgeous one-night stand. Fake names. True
pleasure. But when she wakes up alone, Mackenzie realizes just how much anger
is left in her broken heart.
Suffering a tragic
personal loss, pro soccer player Slade Rodriguez has his reasons for vanishing
without a goodbye. Right or wrong, he’s blaming the beautiful and infuriating
stranger he never wants to see again. They’re both in for a shock when
Mackenzie shows up as his new personal assistant. And they both have a lot to
learn about each other. Because they share more than they could possibly know,
including a common enemy who’s playing his own games. And he’s not afraid to
get dirty.
Now there’s only one way Mackenzie and Slade can win: to trust in each other and to stop hiding from the lies they’ve told, the secrets they’ve kept, the mistakes they’ve made, and the attraction that still burns between them.
***
About the Author
Rachel Van
Dyken
is a Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and #1 New York Times bestselling author known for regency romances, contemporary
romances, and her love of coffee and Swedish fish. Rachel’s
also recently inked a deal for her Wingmen Inc. series—The Matchmaker’s Playbook and The Matchmaker’s Replacement—to be made into movies.
A fan of The Bachelor and the Seattle Seahawks (not necessarily in that order), Rachel
lives in Idaho with her husband, a super cute toddler son who keeps her on her
toes, and two boxers. Make sure you check out her site, www.RachelVanDykenauthor.com,
and follow her on Twitter (@RachVD).
