Casey Dawes's Blog, page 19
March 31, 2014
Release Blast: Nothing to Lose, Romantic Suspense
NOTHING TO LOSE
(A Grey Justice Novel)
Romantic Suspense
By: Christi Reece
Published March 31, 2014
Blurb
Choices Are Easy When You Have Nothing Left To Lose
Kennedy O’Connell had all the happiness she’d ever dreamed—until someone stole it away. Now on the run for her life, she has a choice to make—disappear forever or make those responsible pay. Her choice is easy.
Two men want to help her, each with their own agenda.
Detective Nick Gallagher is accustomed to pursuing killers within the law. Targeted for death, his life turned inside out, Nick vows to bring down those responsible, no matter the cost. But the beautiful and innocent Kennedy O’Connell brings out every protective instinct. Putting aside his own need for vengeance, he’ll do whatever is necessary to keep her safe and help her achieve her goals.
Billionaire philanthropist Grey Justice has a mission, too. Dubbed the ‘White Knight’ of those in need of a champion, few people are aware of his dark side. Having seen and experienced injustice—Grey knows its bitter taste. Gaining justice for those who have been wronged is a small price to pay for a man’s humanity.
With the help of a surprising accomplice, the three embark on a dangerous game of cat and mouse. The stage is set, the players are ready…the game is on. But someone is playing with another set of rules and survivors are not an option.
Buy Links
Amazon
| iTunes | Barnes & Noble | GooglePlay | AllRomance | Smashwords
Link to follow tour: http://tastybooktours.blogspot.com/2014/03/now-booking-release-day-tasty-book.html
Excerpt
Nick opened his apartment door and headed straight to his bedroom to change into a pair of shorts and an old sweatshirt. About the only way he had to battle the hopelessness inside him was to beat the hell out of his boxing bag and work himself into exhaustion. He was halfway to the kitchen for a bottle of water when he realized he wasn’t alone. The dark figure of a man sitting in a chair in the corner caught his eye.
Cursing his inattentiveness, he grabbed the closest weapon—a bust of Sherlock Holmes—and tu
rned toward the intruder.
“Before you allow Mr. Holmes to bash my head in, wouldn’t you like to know why I’m here?”
The crisp British voice sounded familiar, but he couldn’t place it. Nick replied coolly, “I’m more of an attack-first-and-ask-questions-later kind of guy.”
“Pity. You don’t seem the type to go off half-cocked.”
“Depends on the situation. Having some asshole break into my house is the type of thing that pisses me off.”
“Understandable, but you can often learn more things if you wait awhile.”
“Or you can get yourself killed. Now, tell me who the hell you are and why you’re here.”
“Let’s talk first. Then we’ll decide if we want to exchange personal information.”
If the man was going to shoot him, he would’ve done so by now. Nick lowered the statue to his side but held on to it just in case. He reached for the light switch on the wall.
“No lights.”
“So I’m not allowed to know your name or what you look like?”
“Not yet. Have a seat.”
Despite the aggravation of having a stranger break into his house and the man’s numerous rules, Nick was intrigued. He pulled his hand back from the light switch. “I’ll stand. Now tell me what the hell you want.”
“I want what you want—to bring Mathias Slater and his goons to justice.”
If he hadn’t captured Nick’s attention before, he sure as hell had it now. “What do you know about Slater?”
“That he’s into more shit than anyone could ever imagine.”
“And why do you care?”
“Let’s just say that seeing bad guys get what’s coming to them is a hobby of mine.”
“And how can you assist me in seeing that Slater gets what’s coming to him?”
“By giving you access to information you can’t get through your channels.”
“You mean illegal channels.”
“Semantics. What you see as illegal, I see as creative license.”
Still wary but more interested than ever, Nick returned the statue to the end table and dropped down onto the sofa. “Okay, you have my undivided attention.”
“Excellent. However, we need to come to an agreement before we go further.”
“Such as?”
“If you decline my proposal, this discussion never happened.”
“Agreed.”
“Excellent.”
“You’re just going to take my word for it?”
“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t already know you can be trusted, Mr. Gallagher.”
Where and how he’d gotten information on Nick could wait till another time.
“Okay, I’m listening.”
“Mathias Slater and his antics hit my radar several years ago. I’ve tried penetrating his tight-knit circle. Unfortunately, I’ve gotten only so far before someone ratted out my informant.”
“And how can I help? If you know that much about me, then you already know that I’ve run into a road block in every avenue I’ve taken against Slater.”
“That’s true. However, you have an avenue you don’t even know you can take.”
“And what’s that?”
“There’s a folder on the table in front of you. Take a look inside.”
Nick didn’t move…considered what could be inside.
“I’m glad to see that my informants were correct. You have a short fuse, but it’s tempered with a deliberative cautiousness.”
“I’m assuming that I’ll be allowed to turn on the lights to look at the folder.”
“That’s correct. Another reason why your deliberation is important. You turn on those lights, you will have information that could destroy not only me, but negatively impact the lives of thousands.”
Nick reached up and flipped on the lamp beside him. Light illuminated the man sitting in the corner and he knew why the voice had sounded so familiar. This was a man known to millions. And he was right—if anyone discovered the truth, thousands of lives would be affected.
Deciding to mull over the man’s identity later, Nick grabbed the folder and opened it. The instant he saw the first photograph, everything within him froze. He looked up at the man who sat so calmly across from him and whispered hoarsely, “What do I need to do?”
Author Info
Christy Reece is the award winning and New York Times Bestselling author of dark and sexy romantic suspense. She lives in Alabama with her husband, four precocious canines, an incredibly curious cat, a very shy turtle, and a super cute flying squirrel named Elliott.
Christy also writes steamy, southern suspense under the pen name Ella Grace.
Connect with Christy: Twitter | Facebook Author Page | Website
Connect with Ella Grace: Twitter | Facebook Author Page | Website
March 26, 2014
Countdown to California Thyme! Part Two
The next in my contemporary romance series, California Thyme will be available in less than three weeks! Look forward in the weeks ahead for opportunities to win over the next 21 days.
Members of my list have already been given an opportunity to receive an advanced review copy (ARC) of the book. They will also have an opportunity to win signed print copies of the first three books in the series. Are you signed up yet? If not, enter your email address in the box to the right. (No, I don’t give away your email address…for any reason.)
The second of THREE giveaways on Goodreads ends at midnight tonight! This is an opportunity to win an autographed copy of California Wine, the second book in the series. Follow the link below to enter. Good luck!
Goodreads Book Giveaway
California Wine
by Casey Dawes
Giveaway ends March 27, 2014.
See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.
March 24, 2014
Release Blast: FOREVER (Time For Love #1), Contemporary Romance
FOREVER (Time for Love #1)
Contemporary Romance
By: Miranda P. Charles
Published March 24, 2014
Blurb
Rebecca Andrews knew she was lucky to be hired as a private nurse for an elderly lady who was going on a one-month trip aboard a luxury cruise ship. But there was one big problem. The client was the grandmother of her ex-boyfriend–the guy she was still in love with; the guy who didn’t love her back.
Zach Carmichael couldn’t say no to his grandmother’s plea to join her on a month-long cruise for her eightieth birthday. But he didn’t expect his sprightly gran to bring two private nurses with her. One of them happened to be the woman who broke his heart–the one he believed lied to him about her feelings.
Aboard a luxury liner, their passion for each other flared again. Was it just a temporary flame brought about by the romance of being in a cruise? How could they give love another chance when they were both afraid to put their hearts back on the line?
Buy Links
Amazon
| iTunes | Barnes & Noble | GooglePlay | AllRomance | Smashwords
Link to follow tour: http://tastybooktours.blogspot.com/2014/02/now-booking-release-blast-for-forever.html
Author Info
Ever since I was a young teenager, I have loved reading romance novels. My auntie used to send me boxes of her books and I would devour them one after another.
Every so often, I would read a mystery or a suspense or a paranormal novel as I love those genres too. But romance is still my favourite. 
For many years, I wrote technical and non-fiction materials for professional use and had only dreamt about writing a novel. Then, one day, after a period of binge-reading sexy romances, I decided to sit in front of my computer and start writing my first fiction book.
The result? My debut novel Will To Love, the first in the hot and sexy Lifestyle by Design series. After that, I knew that I would love to tell more beautiful love stories through my books.
I live in Sydney, Australia with my amazing husband who lovingly cheers me on in my journey as a novelist.
Connect with Miranda: Twitter | Facebook Author Page | Website
March 19, 2014
Cover Reveal: California Thyme
I love the new cover for California Thyme, don’t you? I’m really excited about my latest contemporary romance. I know it’s been long in coming, and I appreciate your patience.
California Thyme is Mandy’s story. Remember the waitress in California Homecoming who talked too much? That’s her! Now she’s begun to worry she IS talking too much. Is she going to turn out like her mother, actress Lola Parker? Lola dealt with undiagnosed bipolar disease for a long time, a situation that affected Mandy greatly. Does she have the disease?
Thanks to a chance encounter with movie location manager James Lubbock, she winds up working on a movie set, exactly the type of situation she didn’t want. The film shoot requires her to examine her relationship with her parents…and her growing attraction to James.
James has a life plan and there’s no room for Mandy. Besides, he’s got to figure out who is sabotaging his set. If he doesn’t, his life plan could go down the drain. Still, he finds he’s very attracted to Mandy.
California Thyme will be available for pre-sale shortly! I’m so excited! (Those of you old enough to remember the Pointer Sisters will get that.)
Want a chance to win an autographed copy of the second book in the series, California Wine? I’ll be running a Goodreads giveaway that ends on March 27th! Link coming soon.
March 14, 2014
Atonement, Western Romantic Suspense by B.J. Daniels
ATONEMENT
Western Contemporary Romantic Suspense
By: B.J. Daniels
Published February 25, 2014
Published by Harlequin
Blurb
Just how far are people willing to go to keep their secrets?
Protecting the citizens of Beartooth, Montana, is never an easy job. It’s been one year, and Sheriff Dillon Lawson still feels guilty that he couldn’t save his twin brother, Ethan. But the biggest test of his bravery comes when Tessa Winters arrives, claiming to be pregnant…with Ethan’s baby. At first, Dillon can’t decide if this beautiful woman is a con artist or a victim. If Ethan didn’t die in that car crash, then where is he—and why is he hiding?
Now, Dillon is prepared to do anything to uncover the truth—anything except admit his growing feelings for Tessa. But with violence threatening, Tessa and Dillon must trust in each other to save not only themselves…but also Tessa’s unborn child.
Buy Links
| My Thoughts
B.J. Daniels always takes you on a fast-paced romantic suspense set in Montana. Atonement is no exception. Within a few pages, I was hooked into the complex story and the main characters, Dillon and Tessa. The story never let up, and I indulged in a lazy afternoon to finish the book. That’s a definite testimonial to a good read!
My only objection would be the speed at which the point of view changed at times. At times it distracted me from the story, but never long enough to stop reading!
Excerpt
One year later, sheriff Dillon Lawson still feels guilty that he couldn’t save his twin brother Ethan. But the biggest test of his bravery comes when Tessa Winters arrives, claiming to be pregnant…with Ethan’s baby.
“You bastard.”
“You’ve made a mistake,” Dillon said.
“The mistake was ever falling for you.”
He shook his head sadly. “I’m not who you think I am.”
“You’re telling me? Put me down.”
Dillon did as she’d ordered and watched her struggle to get her feet under herself. Seeing him had been a shock for her, that much was clear. And yet, she’d come here looking for him as if…
He frowned as he tried to make sense of this. Ethan had been dead a year tomorrow. Why would she think he was Ethan? Not to mention… He stared at her swollen belly. The woman looked as if she might deliver that baby at any moment.
“You knew my brother?” he asked suspiciously.
She had dropped her large shoulder bag. She now bent to pick it up from the dirt before turning to glare at him. “I just want my money,” she said as she slung the bag over her right shoulder.
“Your money? Are you talking about the insurance money?” The check had come only a few days ago. Apparently his brother had taken out a half-million-dollar policy on himself and made Dillon the beneficiary. Ethan had always been full of surprises. This woman was apparently another one.
“Insurance? Is that what you call it? Just give me what’s mine and I’m out of your hair for good,” she said, and glanced toward the mountains as if she couldn’t bear looking at him any longer.
“Why don’t we go into the house?” he suggested. “I think we can settle this easy enough. Just let me get the halter rope off my horse—”
“If you think you can sweet-talk me, you’re dead wrong. And you sure as the devil aren’t seducing me. Not again.” Her hand went to her stomach and he felt his heart drop.
She wasn’t really going to try to convince him that she was carrying Ethan’s baby, was she? He’d never been the brightest kid in school, but this one was a math no-brainer. Even if the woman did look as if she could give birth any moment, his brother had been gone twelve months tomorrow.
“Look, I’m not sure what your story is, but that baby you’re carrying? It isn’t—”
“If you dare say it isn’t yours…” Her right hand dipped into her shoulder bag. An instant later he was staring down the barrel of a .45.
Author Info
B.J. DANIELS, a USA Today and New York Times bestselling author, wrote her first book after a career as an award-winning newspaper journalist and author of 37 published short stories. That first book, ODD MAN OUT, received a 4 ½ star review from Romantic Times magazine and went on to be nominated for Best Intrigue for that year. Since then she has won numerous awards including a career achievement award for romantic suspense and numerous nominations and awards for best book. Daniels lives in Montana with her husband, Parker, and two Springer Spaniels, Spot and Jem. When she isn’t writing, she snowboards, camps, boats and plays tennis. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Thriller Writers, Kiss of Death and Romance Writers of America.
March 11, 2014
Countdown to California Thyme!
The next in my contemporary romance series, California Thyme will be available in less than three weeks! Look forward in the weeks ahead for opportunities to win over the next 21 days.
Members of my list have already been given an opportunity to receive an advanced review copy (ARC) of the book. They will also have an opportunity to win signed print copies of the first three books in the series. Are you signed up yet? If not, enter your email address in the box to the right. (No, I don’t give away your email address…for any reason.)
Today launches the first of THREE giveaways on Goodreads! This is an opportunity to win an autographed copy of California Sunset, the first book in the series. Follow the link below to enter. Good luck!
Goodreads Book Giveaway
California Sunset
by Casey Dawes
Giveaway ends March 20, 2014.
See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.
March 7, 2014
Locations in Romance Novels & a Contest
My grandfather on my mother’s side like to travel. He wasn’t really good about letting his wife know about it ahead of time. She’d find a note. Or get a telegram. Or just assume…
A few months later he’d be back from his stint working as a waiter on a cruise ship with treasures from whatever ports of call he visited. I remember a brick from Pompeii that has disappeared over the intervening years.
My grandfather died when I was about eight and I was heartbroken. He was a quirky lovely man who paid exquisite attention to his daughter. My mother’s and aunt’s viewpoints were slightly different.
All of this is a long introduction to how I inherited my itchy foot. I love to travel and have been blessed to be able to do a great deal of it in my life. I’ve also moved around a great deal. My children are responding by staying put.
One of the reasons I love to travel is to meet people and experience new things. Of course, travel is a great inspiration for romantic locations for stories. A few years ago, a trip through Nevada gave birth to Chasing the Tumbleweed
. Memories of a camp job in the Catskills as well as trips my family took through the Finger Lakes region informed A Christmas Hope
.
Currently I’m working on a book for Books To Go Now about an area a little closer to home–Livingston, Montana. (Livingston has a great little quilt shop, Thimbelina’s Quilt Shop. If you ever go through this small town, stop in!) In Montana, Mother Nature is ever present. That particular location will have a significant impact on the stories of The Ranch Collection which will come out in the next few months. (If you want to know when, sign up for my newsletter to the right.)
As a writer, I need to build a world and invite you, the reader, to come visit my romantic location. I need to explain the importance and essence of that location, without boring you to death. Integrating location into the story is vital.
As spring approaches and Mother Nature loosens her grip on the northwest, I’m going to be exploring more of Montana, spending time listing to the birds and watching the stars pinprick the obsidian sky. If you have a hankering to visit our state, please come. If you’re a writer, consider the Montana Writer’s Conference. We’ll show you a side of Montana you’ll never forget!
Enter the Books To Go Now Contest!
There are three chances to win!
In order to enter either one of the two Grand Prizes, you MUST leave a comment and an email address below. (Feel free to disguise your address.) The Stories About Love entry is the Rafflecopter below.
Prizes will be awarded by March 15, 2014.
What are the Grand Prizes?
1st Grand Prize: (1) $Paperwhite Kindle
2nd Grand Prize: (1) $25 Amazon Gift Card
The Stories About Love Prize is a $15 Amazon gift certificate. In order to enter that contest, please choose the Rafflecopter options below!
If you want more chances to win the Grand Prizes, follow the blog hop!
February 26, 2014
Guest Blog Post: Cowboy of Valentine Valley, Contemporary Romance
COWBOY OF VALENTINE VALLEY
Contemporary Romance
By: Emma Cane
Published January 28, 2014
Published by HarperCollins Publishers
Blurb
Welcome to Valentine Valley, where the cowboys have many talents and love is waiting around every corner . . .
Ever since a heated late-night kiss—that absolutely should not have happened—cowboy Josh Thalberg makes former Hollywood bad girl Whitney Winslow’s pulse beat faster. But when she decides to use his gorgeous leatherwork in her new upscale lingerie shop, Leather & Lace, she’s determined to keep their relationship strictly professional . . . even if she wants so much more.
Josh has never met a challenge he isn’t up for. Which is probably why he allowed Whitney to persuade him to take the sexy publicity photo that went viral—and now has every woman in America knocking down his door . . . every woman except the one he can’t get out of his head.
But how to convince a reformed bad girl that some rules are worth breaking?
Buy Links
Amazon
| BAM | Barnes & Noble
Link to follow tour: http://tastybooktours.blogspot.com/2014/01/now-booking-tasty-virtual-tour-for_23.html
Guest Post: A Writer’s Life
Hi! I’m Emma Cane, author of the Valentine Valley series. Let’s get the book details out of the way first! In February and March, I have two books out back to back. The first is already available, THE COWBOY OF VALENTINE VALLEY, about cowboy artist Josh clashing with reformed Hollywood bad-girl Whitney. And in March, there’s A PROMISE AT BLUEBELL HILL, where flower-shop-owner Monica has to keep a secret from Secret Service agent Travis.
But now I’d like to tell you a bit about what it’s like to be a writer. Yes, yes, I’m sure you think it’s a life of glamour. 
Okay, maybe you’re a bit more realistic than that. After all, as a writer, I spend hours and days all alone in an office, the only company being the characters in my head. But they can be pretty good company—and pretty real to me, by the time I’m done fleshing them out, creating what they look like and the backgrounds that form them. But I always tell the kids who hear me speak at Career Day in our local schools, that if you want to write fiction, make sure you enjoy your own company all day long, day after day…
In order to meet my deadlines, I have to write so many pages a day, usually 10-20, five days a week (or weekends, if I haven’t met my weekly page goal yet). But writing isn’t all just about writing the actual book. I have to write a proposal first, a short story version of the book, so that an editor will buy it. And I write that before the book, so I really have to have things figured out, like how it will end, besides the obvious happily-ever-after. After I write the book, I receive a revision letter from my editor, full of changes to make to strengthen the story. I’m always amazed at the flaws I don’t see until she points them out to me. Then I slap my forehead in a “duh” moment. Later, I read the book again two more times, checking for spelling and grammatical errors. All this repetitious rereading is worth it when I see the cover, my story come to life.
In our modern computer era, there are also so many ways to interact with readers. I rarely receive a snail-mail letter from fans. It’s all by email or Facebook posts or reader reviews on bookseller websites. We authors really appreciate all of this communication. I write blogs like this, I answer interview questions, I post on Facebook and twitter and update my website. I want to make sure you, the reader, can discover everything you need to about me and my books.
Somewhere in there, I fit in reading for pleasure—because that made me the writer I am!
So is there anything I’ve missed that you want to know about?
A PROMISE AT BLUEBELL HILL
Contemporary Romance
By: Emma Cane
Release Date February 25, 2014
Published by HarperCollins Publishers
Blurb
Welcome to Valentine Valley, where romance blooms and love captivates even the most guarded of hearts . . .
From the moment Secret Service agent Travis Beaumont strides into the town and through the door of Monica Shaw’s flower shop, she feels a sizzle of attraction. After years of putting everyone else’s needs first, Monica is ready to grab hold of life. If she can just persuade the ultimate protector to let his own walls down for once . . .
The President’s son is getting married in Valentine Valley, and Travis should be avoiding all distractions . . . not fantasizing about a forthright, sexy-as-hell florist. Especially when she’s keeping secrets that could jeopardize his assignment. But just this once, Travis is tempted to put down the rulebook and follow his heart—right to Monica’s door.
Roses are red, violets are blue, and in Valentine Valley, love will always find you.
Buy Links
Amazon
| BAM | Barnes & Noble
Link to follow tour: http://tastybooktours.blogspot.com/2014/01/now-booking-tasty-virtual-tour-for_23.html
Author Info
EMMA CANE grew up reading and soon discovered that she liked to write passionate stories of teenagers in space. Her love of “passionate stories” has never gone away, although today she concentrates on the heartwarming characters of Valentine, her fictional small town in the Colorado Rockies. Now that her three children are grown, Emma loves spending time crocheting and singing (although not necessarily at the same time), and hiking and snowshoeing alongside her husband Jim and two rambunctious dogs, Apollo and Uma.
Connect with Emma: Twitter | Facebook Author Page | Website
February 21, 2014
Review: Bursting with Love, Contemporary Romance
BURSTING WITH LOVE
Contemporary Romance
By: Melissa Foster
Releasing January 2014
Published by World Literary Press
Blurb
After having her heart broken by a country music star, Savannah Braden has sworn off men. She takes a break from her fast-paced Manhattan lifestyle for a weekend at a survivor camp to rebuild her confidence and readjust her priorities. But when she meets the handsome guide, Jack Remington, she’s drawn to everything about him—from his powerful physique to his brooding stare—despite the big chip on his shoulder. Powerless to ignore the heated glances and mounting sexual tension, Savannah begins to reassess her hasty decision.
After losing his wife in a tragic accident, Jack Remington found solace in the mountains of Canada. This solitary existence allows him to wallow in his guilt and punish himself for having made a decision that he believes cost his wife her life. He never expected to want to return to the life he once knew—but then again, he never expected to meet gorgeous, stubborn, and competitive Savannah Braden.
One passionate kiss is all it takes to crack the walls the two have built to protect themselves, and allow love to slip in. While Jack fights his way through his guilt, and struggles to get back into the lives of those he left behind, Savannah is there to help him heal, and together they nurture hope that they’ve finally found their forever loves.
My Thoughts
I really enjoyed the last Melissa Foster book I read, Sisters in Love
, and blogged my review of this contemporary romance here, so I was looking forward to reading Bursting with Love
. Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy this book as much as the first. Part of it may have been the sex scenes at the beginning of the book that caused the problem for me. I never quite connected with the characters, either. Another reader may have a different experience.
There were moments in the book that I found beautifully written and thought-provoking, like, “You have ten minutes to be angry, ten minutes to be sad, ten minutes to be anything other than thankful that you have an eleventh minute to look forward to.” If you’re a fan of Melissa Foster, you’ll probably enjoy this book.
Buy Links
Amazon | iTunes | Barnes & Noble
Link to follow tour: http://tastybooktours.blogspot.com/2014/01/now-booking-tasty-review-tour-for.html
Goodreads Series Page: https://www.goodreads.com/series/111661-love-in-bloom-snow-sisters-the-bradens
Author Info
“Melissa Foster is a wonderful connector of readers and books, a friend of authors, and a tireless advocate for women. She is the real deal”– Bestselling Author Jennie Shortridge
“What sets Melissa Foster apart are her compelling characters who you care about… desperately. This is psychological suspense at its most chilling. I dare you to read the first chapter and not be hooked.” International bestseller, M.J. Rose
Melissa Foster is an award-winning, International bestselling author. Her books have been recommended by USA Today’s book blog, Hagerstown Magazine, The Patriot, and several other print venues. She is the founder of the Women’s Nest, a social and support community for women, the World Literary Café. When she’s not writing, Melissa helps authors navigate the publishing industry through her author training programs on Fostering Success. Melissa is also a community builder for the Alliance for Independent Authors. She has been published in Calgary’s Child Magazine, the Huffington Post, and Women Business Owners magazine.
Connect with Kimberly: Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook Author Page
February 17, 2014
Breakaway Hearts, Contemporary Romance
BREAKAWAY HEARTS
Contemporary Romance
By: Crista McHugh
Published February 3, 2014
Blurb
Hockey star Ben Kelly has retreated to his mountain cabin in the ski town of Cascade, BC, to recuperate from a season-ending knee injury and contemplate his future in the NHL. He never expects to run into the one woman who got away. Nine years may have passed, but nothing has dulled the explosive chemistry between them. Now he wants more than just one night.
Hailey Eriksson had Olympic-sized dreams until an accidental pregnancy from a one-night stand halted her ambitions. Her life was shattered when her son died. Nothing will keep her from fulfilling her promise to him to make the Olympic team, especially not the charming Ben Kelly. Unfortunately, he’s out of sweep her off her feet this time, and she finds him harder and harder to resist with each passionate kiss. But when he learns about the child he never knew, will their rekindled romance be on thin ice?
Buy Links
Amazon
| Kobo | Barnes & Noble
Link to follow tour: http://tastybooktours.blogspot.com/2013/12/now-booking-tasty-review-tour-for_9430.html
My Thoughts
I’m always awed by people who can write a really good sex scene. Breakaway Hearts starts with an excellent one, which might be a bit off-putting for some readers. The scene is vital to the book’s plot. The story, with the exception of a few of the aforementioned scenes is actually a poignantly sweet contemporary romance.
I’m not a big hockey fan, and this book gave me a new perspective on the sport and the people who play it. I can’t say anything about the accuracy, but the spirit of the game felt real to me as a reader.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.
Excerpt
The ice called to him.
After he’d torn up his knee, Ben had sworn he’d never go near a hockey rink again.
And yet there he stood in the shadows, holding on to his cane with white knuckles while he watched some teenagers scrimmage, wishing he could go out there and join them.
“Come on, guys,” the coach barked. “Erikson’s tearing you to shreds out there.”
He followed the coach’s finger to the player with puck. The kid was tall and thin, probably a junior member of the team judging by his lack of muscle mass. But what he lacked in size, he made up for with speed and skill. He handled the puck as well as any player Ben had faced in the NHL, shifting left and then right, throwing his opponent off guard with a deke and slipping past him into the breakaway. One slap shot later, the puck was in the net.
A groan came up from the team as Erikson raised his hands in the air and skated a small victory lap around the rink.
The coach mumbled something under his breath and stared at his clipboard before scribbling a note on it. “That’s six, guys. You’re embarrassing me.”
It wasn’t until Erikson came closer that Ben knew the reason why.
Erikson was girl.
The helmet had concealed her hair, but there was no mistaking the feminine curve of her lips or the thick fringe of her lashes. A pair of matching dimples cut into her cheeks as she gave one of the guys a playful hip check, and an odd feeling of déjà vu washed over him. She looked familiar, but he couldn’t remember why.
His curiosity propelled him from the shadows and down the stairs toward the coach, his knee no longer protesting each step. He waited until the coach finished calling the next play before he asked, “Local team?”
The coach jumped, then gave him a narrow-eyed once over. “I haven’t seen you before.”
Ben smothered a laugh. After years of being recognized everywhere he went, the anonymity was nice for a change. Amazing what losing a playoff beard and getting a haircut could do. He hadn’t worn his hair this short since before he was drafted. “I’m new in town.”
The coach peered closer, and for a second, Ben feared his secret was out. “I know I’ve seen you before. Ever play hockey?”
Ben grinned. “Yeah, just a bit.”
“I thought so. You’re built like a power forward.”
He wasn’t the first coach who’d said that. At six-four and two hundred and forty pounds, he’d always been one of the biggest players on the team, but he lacked the aggressive nature to play that position. Instead, he’d made a successful career of playing goalie. All-Pro teams, Olympic medals, even trips to the Stanley Cup finals.
Until one bad collision twelve weeks ago had ended all that.
He’d retreated to the resort town of Cascade, British Columbia, to lick his wounds, but after a week stuck in his home, the solitude became unbearable. He came down the mountain and drove through the small town where most of the locals lived, winding up at the only thing he knew.
The ice rink.
He stood quietly by the coach and observed the next play. Erikson was on the defensive now. She bit her blades into the ice, catching up to the player with the puck and passing him. With a quick half turn, she was in front, skating backward, and she snatched the puck away as the player stumbled and skidded into the boards. She took it coast to coast, and the puck soared through the biggest five-hole he’d ever seen on a goalie.
The coach threw his clipboard on the bench. “Aw, come on, Watson! You can’t leave a hole like that, especially with her. You want to make amateur league or not?”
Erikson plowed to a stop and helped the goalie up. “Give him a break, Gus. I caught him off guard.”
“You caught him sleeping in his skates.” He paced back and forth, running his fingers through his sparse hair. “All right, that’s enough. Hit the showers.”
“You’re letting them off lightly,” Ben murmured. “My old coach would have had us skating sprints after practice.”
“Yeah, but my boys just took on Erikson, so they’ve been punished enough.”
Ben watched her joke with the boys and give them a few words of encouragement as they skated toward the bench. But when her gaze zeroed in on him, her smile faded, and her blue eyes turned frigid.
His heart thudded from the palpable tension in the air. He racked his mind, trying to remember where he knew her, but drew a blank. Frustration knotted his gut. The docs had warned him that the number of concussions he’d sustained over the years could affect his memory, and this was proof of it.
She turned away. “I’m going to make sure the back door is locked, Gus.”
She skated to the other side of the rink like she was chasing after a free puck.
Gus narrowed his eyes at Ben again. “You two know each other?”
“Maybe.”
“Maybe?”
“She looks familiar, but you know how hockey players’ minds can be.” Ben tapped his skull and nodded in the direction Erikson had gone. “She’s good.”
“No kidding.” Gus lifted a bucket of pucks with a grunt. “If she’d been a boy, she’d be playing in the NHL right now.”
“The next Sid Crosby?”
“Ha! More like the next Gordie Howe, complete with the fisticuffs. The girl’s got a temper on her, and if I were you, I’d steer clear of her. She’s not someone you want to dance with.”
“What makes you think I’d be in trouble?”
“I saw that look she gave you.” Gus stepped out onto the ice with the bucket and headed toward the Zamboni. “I’ve known her since she was yay big, and I’ve seen the crap she’s been through. If you’re here to cause her any trouble, then she’s not the only person you need to worry about. We look out for our own.”
Ben stopped short of the ice, staring at it like it was an old nemesis. He wasn’t about to follow Gus. “I’m not here to do that. I can barely remember if I’ve met her before or not.”
“Well, you’re sure asking a lot of questions.” Gus set the bucket down behind the wall with another grunt and climbed up on the Zamboni. “What are you doing here anyway?”
He sighed and stared at his reflection in the ice, barely recognizing himself. “I’m not quite sure.”
“Yeah, well, you need to get going now. I’ve got to do a few laps with this before locking up, and I don’t want to have to worry about you spending the night here.”
“No worries. Just one question—do you know where I can find her?”
“Can’t take hint, can you?” The Zamboni roared to life, and Gus drove it out onto the ice. “If you’re looking for trouble, then you’ll find her at the Sin Bin downtown. Just make sure you’re wearing a cup before engaging her.”
“Will do, and thanks.” Ben turned around and climbed the stairs one by one, leaning on his cane all the way up. He wouldn’t know any peace until he figured out how he knew her.
Next stop: the Sin Bin.
***
Hailey gripped the steering wheel and took a deep breath, but that didn’t steady her rattled nerves like it normally did.
Who’d have thought coming face-to-face with Ben Kelly after nine years would affect her like this? Worse, she had no idea why he was here. It wasn’t like he’d wanted anything to do with her when she’d actually needed him. And now when she was finally getting her life back together, he’d shown up her in her small town.
“Probably schmoozing up at the ski resort,” she muttered and started her beat-up Ford Bronco. After all, that’s where celebrities like him hung out, not down here in the actual town. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t have a little harem of puck bunnies to tend to him while he recovers.”
She’d seen the collision that had taken him out for the rest of the season. Most of Canada had, since the game had been broadcast nationally. The opposing team’s grinder had charged at him, hooking his skates with his stick, and had knocked Ben to the ice. Despite their history, she’d held her breath as he lay there, not moving, his leg bent at a sickening angle. Once he’d finally come around, he’d skated off the ice with assistance, but that was it for him.
The news the next morning listed all the injuries he’d sustained. Concussion. Torn ACL, PCL, and MCL. Tibial fracture. Then the bets had started rolling in on whether or not the starting goalie for the Vancouver Whales would be returning to the team next season, if at all.
Hopefully Gus had given him a get-lost speech and that would be the end of it. Ski season was almost over, and summers in Cascade were usually quiet without the influx of outsiders. He’d probably leave in a couple of weeks, and that would be the last she ever saw of him.
But a squirm deep inside her stomach reminded her she wanted to see him again, if only to give him a piece of her mind after all the shit he’d put her through.
Don’t let him distract you from your goal. Remember your promise to Zach.
She pulled into the parking lot of her dad’s bar and took another cleansing breath in through her nose. This time, it worked. All her anger, her hatred, her frustration flowed out with the air from her lungs. She’d wasted too much time and too many tears over Ben Kelly, and now was not the time to lose focus.
Erikson’s Sin Bin sat right in the heart of town, on the main drag. Complete with a half dozen plasma screen TVs showing the latest games, it was the favorite watering hole for the locals. The Stanley Cup playoffs were in full swing, so the place would be packed tonight. The Whales were also playing, which meant the crowd would be that much more invested in the game. And if the Whales won, then her tips would be up.
She went in through the kitchen and grabbed her apron from under the bar. “Hey, Pop, you ready for tonight?”
“Got seven cases of Labatt.” Her father leaned over and placed a kiss on her cheek. She was built like him, tall and lean, with the same bright blue eyes and blond hair. “How was practice today?”
Besides the fact the man who’d refused to acknowledge my existence two years ago had showed up?
“I roughed them up a bit,” she said after a moment’s pause. No need to tell him about Ben. Her dad would probably roll up his sleeves and beat the crap out of him if he knew.
“How bad?”
“Six to nothing.”
“That’s my girl. You keep playing like that, and the Canadian team’s bound to offer you a place.”
“First I’ve got to convince them to give me a tryout.” At twenty-seven, she was a bit older than the average player, but she was still in fantastic shape and could outplay anyone she knew. “Gus forgot his camera today, but he’ll record the next scrimmage.”
“And don’t forget Monday’s league game, either.” He ruffled her hair, pulling some of it free from her ponytail, before crossing the bar to see to a customer.
“Hailey, darlin’,” her stepmother, Cindy, called from the kitchen in her thick Texas drawl, “do you mind getting the drink order for the man at table twelve? I’m trying to get fourteen’s order out.”
One quick peek into the kitchen revealed the petite woman was carefully trying to balance four platters of wings and potato skins. “Can I help you with those?”
“Nope, I got ‘em. Just get twelve started, and I’ll be by in a few minutes to see if he wants anything to eat.”
The Sin Bin was a true family-run business. Her father had opened it shortly after her older brother was born, and the whole family pitched in to keep it running. Her brother had moved away ten years ago to work in Toronto, but that was just about the time Cindy had showed up in town to take over his shifts. On busy nights like tonight, they were all there. Her dad stayed behind the bar while she and Cindy split the tables.
Twelve was a small corner booth, usually occupied by someone not entirely into the game since it had the worst view of the TVs. A lone man sat there, his back to the rest of the bar while he bent over his iPad. He was big, powerfully built with short black hair, and wore a fine-gauge sweater that hugged his broad shoulders. Definitely not one of the locals.
She approached the table and pulled her pen and notepad from her apron pocket. “Can I get you started on anything to drink?”
He looked up, and her heart kicked into overdrive as soon as she saw his slate-blue eyes.
Ben Kelly.
Her throat tightened, which was a small blessing. It was the only thing that kept her from calling him a dozen four-letter words.
He held up the display card on the end of the table. “You’re truly serving Labatt for a loonie?”
She swallowed, pushing the lump of anger out of her throat and into her stomach, where it burned with more fire than Cindy’s extra-spicy Buffalo wings. Two could play this nonchalant game of I don’t know who the hell you are. “Yep, but only when the Whales are playing.”
A cheer rose from the other side of the bar as the TV showed the the team skating out onto the ice.
“It looks like the game’s about to start,” he said.
She squeezed her pen until it started to bend in the middle. “So do you want one or not?”
He set the card down, his eyes never leaving hers. “Sure, why not?”
“Fine. Cindy will be over in a few minutes to get the rest of your order.” She shoved her pad and pen into her apron and spun around on her heel. He had a lot of nerve showing up here, but she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of knowing how much he got under her skin.
She grabbed a bottle out of the cooler and popped the lid off, leaving it on the bar. “Here’s twelve’s order.”
“Aren’t you going to take it to him?” her dad asked.
“No.” As far as she was concerned, he could rot in hell.
Author Info
Crista McHugh is a multiple award-winning author of fantasy romance and paranormal romance with heroines who are smart, sexy, and anything but ordinary. She currently lives in the Audi-filled suburbs of Seattle with her husband and two children, maintaining her alter ego of mild-mannered physician by day while she continues to pursue writing on nights and weekends.
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