R.E. Hargrave's Blog, page 84
July 6, 2021
B@@K REVEAL: Undercover Engagement by Samanthe Beck
Undercover Engagement
Samanthe Beck
(Private Pleasures, #5)
Published by: Entangled: Brazen
Publication date: July 26th 2021
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Buttoned-down Eden Brixton is less than thrilled when she’s partnered with smooth-talking wild card Marcus Swain in an undercover op. Both their careers hinge on convincing folks in tight-knit Bluelick, KY that he’s the love of her life. She’d sooner tase him than prance around in practically nothing, hanging all over his chiseled body like she can’t get enough.
For Swain, being partnered with the too-gorgeous-for-his-sanity Eden promises to test his well-honed control. She’s smart, she’s skilled, she’s not just by-the-book—she knows the damn book backward and forward. And she hates his guts.
When Eden absolutely nails her role as his sexy fiancée—where the hell did she learn to seduce with a single glance?—Swain is knocked right on his ass. Living with a temptation like Eden makes it hard to remember their chemistry is strictly for show. And when the heat gets too real, doing the undercover op might prove to be their undoing.
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo
Author Bio:
Wine lover, sleep fanatic, and USA Today Bestselling Author of sexy contemporary romance novels, Samanthe Beck lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with her long-suffering husband, Charles, and their turbo-son, Hud. Throw in a furry ninja assassin named Gander, a few hundred Nerf blasters, one electric guitar, (with amp!), and...well...you get the picture.
When not dreaming up fun, fan-your-cheeks ways to get her characters to happy-ever-after, she searches for the perfect cabernet to pair with ASMR podcasts.
Connect with Sam via her website at www.samanthebeck.com to check her progress on that never-ending quest, or to get the latest on her upcoming books.
Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram
Hosted by:
BOOK BLITZ: Back Home to You by Maggie Wild #GIVEAWAY
Back Home to You
Maggie Wild
(Hope Valley, #2)
Publication date: June 30th 2021
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
She’s desperate to get her life straight. He’s struggling to stay true to his dreams. Together, can they whip up the recipe for happily ever after?
Harriet “Harry” Belmont feels like a total failure. Returning from San Francisco to England to care for her grandmother after being fired and discovering her boyfriend is married, she’s determined to turn a mess into something vaguely positive. But when her woeful cooking skills send her gran’s dinner up in smoke, the big-city refugee is stunned when the man who jumps to her rescue is a handsome old flame.
Jamie Forrest’s love of culinary creations has come back to bite him. Though the small-town chef loves the meal-kit business he built to help others, it’s become so successful he no longer has time to spend in the kitchen. But his stress multiplies exponentially when the woman he saves from a food-prep disaster turns out to be his gorgeous childhood sweetheart.
As Harry’s forgotten feelings resurface, she’s torn between helping him open his dream restaurant and fleeing back to the life she promised she’d never sacrifice for a man. And though Jamie realizes he never got over her, he’s terrified that if he lets her in, she’ll just break his heart again.
Can the reunited friends find a way to put love on the menu?
Back Home to You is the charming second book in the Hope Valley contemporary romance series. If you like feisty females, kindhearted men, and wry humor, then you’ll adore Maggie Wild’s sweet tale.
Read Back Home to You to order up affection today!
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play
—
EXCERPT:
“Dance?” Jamie said, holding out his hand.
Harry glanced at Nicki, who raised her eyebrow. “I’d take him up on the offer if I were you. You might not get a second chance.” She winked at Harry, raised her empty champagne glass, and headed for the bar.
Harry took Jamie’s hand. Her fingers prickled when she touched his, clicking on a memory she’d long since stored away: his touch. The feeling of taking the hand of someone special.
“What was Nicki talking your ear off about?” Jamie asked as he led her to the floor.
Harry smiled to herself. “Just life,” she said, and started to dance.
The band played every song from Harry’s youth. She and Jamie danced and sang words she didn’t know she remembered. Harry pulled out dance moves she hadn’t used for decades, and Jamie mirrored her like they’d been dancing that way forever. By the time the band slowed things down, Harry’s feet were on fire and her dress stuck to the moisture in the middle of her back. Jamie’s hair stuck up in damp spikes. At some point, he’d undone another button on his shirt.
“To all the lovers out there,” the singer said, her voice breathy. “We’re available for weddings.”
The crowd laughed and as the band played the opening notes of a familiar ballad, couples paired up, others left the floor, and people who’d been sitting on the sidelines suddenly found themselves pulled to their feet and led onto the dance floor. Harry made a show of looking tired. She ought to sit this one out. It was one thing to boogie the night away with Jamie, to laugh at one another’s moves, to have fun. But slow dances always meant something, and Harry didn’t want to send the wrong message. “Drink?” she asked.
Jamie took her hand and Harry was relieved he felt the same way and was leading her from the floor. But he didn’t. He held out his hands and took Harry’s. He smiled. That smile. And when he invited Harry into his arms, she went.
Jamie’s hands wrapped around her waist, and Harry’s body moved in time with his, and when she rested her head on his shoulder, her senses relaxed with the familiar scent of somewhere she belonged.
It felt like being home.
Author Bio:
Maggie Wild lives in California Wine Country with her own Mr. Right and a small collection of furry friends. A native of Yorkshire, England, she returns "home" every day through her fictional worlds. When not writing her fun, contemporary romance stories, she loves to watch the birds in her garden and hike through the local redwoods.
Learn more at MaggieWild.com.
GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Hosted by:
July 5, 2021
BOOK BLITZ: Withstanding the Enemy by T.L. Mahrt #GIVEAWAY
Withstanding The Enemy
T.L. Mahrt
(With Emma, #1)
Publication date: January 31st 2020
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense
Can Emma withstand a lifetime with her captor?
Emma Andrews was orphaned at a young age with no family to turn to. Tired of the broken foster-care system, and believing it was her only option, she runs to a multi-millionaire with a reputation of hiring young women. It is only then that she learns what real monsters look like…
Emma uses her overactive imagination to help her get through the toughest of days. By daydreaming a life full of love and freewill, she manages her colorless prison, but even in her wildest dreams, she would have never imagined it could become a reality. That is, until she meets Chance, a man willing to lay his life down to save hers.
But what Emma doesn’t expect is to fight her own personal demons—her heart.
The complete trilogy:
—
EXCERPT BOOK 1:
Two tree-trunk arms fold around my waist and I am briskly swept up. A faceless man carries me four or five powerful strides before coming to an abrupt stop. With my hands still blocking my vision, my senses heighten, causing the smell of clean linen to waft around me. His solid chest vibrates as his unfamiliar voice tickles my ear.
“Are you all right?”
My chest rises and falls as I labor to control my breathing. It isn’t fear that has my body reacting—I know fear all too well. This is something I’m not familiar with. I can feel the energy between us—it’s powerful and dangerous like fear, but I am not afraid. This is something else entirely. As my body reacts to this new energy, it grows hotter—feverish even.
The energy intensifies as our bodies merge and he sets me down. My feet land on the icy marble floor, cooling the growing heat of my body. I hear a raspy grumble as the faceless man clears his throat and lets go of me. The warmth of his body dissipates with his release.
“Miss, are you all right?”
Cowardly, I nod my head while still hiding my flushed face in my palms.
Two firm yet gentle hands encircle my wrists, tugging to show my face. I squeeze my eyes tightly shut, desperately wishing I could disappear.
A chuckle echoes in the hallway—of what I assume to be the foyer, judging from the direction he carried me. I open my eyes to the black T-shirt, this time focusing on the hard lines of his chest. He towers over me and a pulsing sensation sizzles through the air like lightning, licking my bare skin. I stumble backward as I try to look up at him.
“Ummm,” I manage to mumble and quickly look away.
My eyes dart to the staircase in the foyer which leads to the second floor—my bedroom. The one place I can always run to. Taking another step back, I bump into an unforgivingly hard statue and lose my balance. I tumble toward the floor.
“Easy, I got you.” He catches me effortlessly. “Your name’s not Grace, is it?” He laughs as he steadies me on my feet.
“Umm, sorry … I…” My chest tightens.
“Hey, easy…” His tone reminds me of someone who is trying to calm a wild animal.
His voice eases my nerves and builds confidence within me. My eyes search for his, needing to see the kindness and tranquility I hear in his voice—something I haven’t seen for some time.
His blue-green eyes suck me into their depths, as if dragging me into the ocean with no hope of escaping. I have an overwhelming sense that the man who possesses these magnificent eyes will turn my world inside out…
There it is—fear—kicking off my fight-or-flight reaction. As if in slow motion, I twist out of his arms and bolt for the staircase. Taking two steps at a time, which is impressive with my short stature, I clear it in record time. I scurry around the corner in the direction of my safe haven without so much as a glance over my shoulder.
Author Bio:
T. L. Mahrt is a former business owner, where she utilized her education in cosmetology, barbering and massage therapy for several years. She was raised on and is currently living on a farm in Nebraska, where you can find her running barefoot in the country side with her loving husband and inspiring children and massive dogs.
After having her son, who was born with Cerebral Palsy, she made the life altering decision to stay home to care for her two children and pursue her love for writing. She has a love for romance and poetry where, her overactive imagination, along with her adventures and up beat lifestyle drives her inspiration for her writing.
T. L. Mahrt has a thirst for knowledge, and is currently working on her Bachelor of Applied Science in Communication Studies degree.
Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram
GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Hosted by:
BOOK BLITZ: Undiagnosed Love by Jacqueline Lee #GIVEAWAY
Undiagnosed Love
Jacqueline Lee
Publication date: July 1st 2021
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
What happens when you fall for the one person you can’t have?
Anna has always tried to do everything right, working hard through medical school, and now in her career as a doctor. She’s worked hard at her eight-year relationship with her fiancé Phil too, and can’t wait to get married and become part of Phil’s extended family. Then the unthinkable happens. Phil breaks up with her three months before their wedding.
Luckily, Phil’s younger brother Seth works at the same hospital and is there to help her through the aftermath.
Seth’s always been the laid-back, jokey one in contrast to his more serious brother. He’s always secretly envied Phil’s relationship with Anna because she’s his epitome of the perfect girl. When he sees how devastated Anna is after his idiot brother dumps her, he does everything he can to get her smiling again. But the more time they spend together, the more their connection grows.
Your brother’s ex-fiancée is off-limits. Everyone knows that.
The problem is when you accidentally cross that line, the repercussions can be immense.
—
EXCERPT:
The intercom buzzed. Sure enough, it was Seth: Mr. Dependable. Right on time. That was one trait he shared with his brother. Their mother had drilled punctuality into them.
When Seth and I started hanging out, there had always been those first few moments when I saw him, before his height or the unruly hair registered, when my imagination could fool itself into thinking he was Philip. Funny how I’d stopped doing that in recent weeks. I no longer wanted it to be Philip; I was more than happy it was Seth.
“Happy Birthday.” Freshly shaven, he enveloped me in a quick one-armed hug at the door while holding a bag of groceries in his other hand. I caught a whiff of his aftershave.
“You smell nice,” I said as I pulled away.
“Yeah, I’m trying out this new thing. It’s called showering.”
“Sounds revolutionary.”
“Oh, trust me, it is.” Seth strolled into the apartment and set the grocery bag on the counter. “So, I know we talked about doing those mini quiche things that Mum makes as a starter, but I thought some hearty pumpkin and bacon soup might be better given the weather.”
“It’s your show. I’m merely the hired help,” I said.
We chatted about work and life as we sliced and diced the pumpkin. Soon the soup was bubbling away, and Seth turned his attention to seasoning the lamb rack while I put the finishing touches to the cheesecake. As I returned it to the fridge, I realized there was one topic Seth hadn’t touched on.
“Have you hung out with Imogen this week?”
“Um…no, actually…Imogen and I broke up.” Seth scratched his nose, looking uncomfortable.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I thought things were going well between you guys.”
“Yeah…they were. But it was one of those situations where things looked good on the surface, but we didn’t really connect at a deeper level.”
I felt a surge of anger at her. Seth was such a great guy; she must be some kind of fool to let him get away.
Seth glanced at me. “I know what you’re thinking. You’re surprised to hear I have a deeper level, right?”
“A bit. I had you pegged as someone with about as much depth as a puddle.”
Seth grinned. “I like that. Bradley’s writing a song about the things people say to each other when they break up. I might give him that line.”
“Make sure he doesn’t forget ‘It’s not you, it’s me.’” I could hear the bitterness in my voice. “That’s the one Philip used on me.”
Seth picked up a spoon to stir the soup. “That’s probably the first time in Phil’s life that he got something in the emotional domain correct.” He held out the spoon. “Want a taste?”
I opened the drawer and took out a clean spoon. “We’re doctors, remember? We should probably observe the basic rules of hygiene.”
“I’m also a guy,” Seth pointed out. “I can cook an entire meal using one spoon and one pot.”
“That’s something everyone should aspire to.”
“It sure saves a lot of time washing up.”
I helped myself to a spoonful of soup. The flavor exploded on my tongue: the perfect balance of sweet pumpkin and salty bacon. “It’s delicious. You’re a culinary genius.”
Seth gave me a wink. “I need to pad out my resume somehow, make myself more attractive to the ladies. With a face like this, I need all the help I can get.”
I snorted. “Whatever.” Both Johnson boys were far too handsome for their own good. I couldn’t imagine Seth having any trouble attracting women, and Philip had even managed to attract one while engaged to another.
Not that Seth would ever do that. Funny how I knew that instinctively. I couldn’t imagine a scenario where Seth would cheat on the person he was with.
Then again, before he’d done it, had I ever imagined Philip would?
Why was I thinking about Philip so much tonight? Maybe it was due to the fact this was my first birthday in nine years without him. And, if everything had gone as planned, he would have been at my side, helping me instead of his younger brother.
Seth grabbed the oven mitt and pulled out the lamb rack. As I watched him make a delicate slice, testing whether it was cooked through, I couldn’t help rewinding the evening, imagining if it had been Philip cooking alongside me.
Philip always cooked in an “Aren’t I amazing? Make sure you admire me as I’m such a fantastic guy for helping you out” kind of way. He would have instructed me while we cooked, trying to make sure everything was perfect.
And it would have been tense because for Philip, it was always about making an impression. He could even turn a casual birthday dinner with friends competitive. He’d have found some obscure wine and made a big deal of opening it. We’d have cooked complicated dishes well outside our comfort zone, as it was important to Philip that everyone gushed over the dinner.
And I would have gone along with him because that’s what I did.
I could almost see myself—that alternative Anna—face flushed, trying to think of ways to destress Philip before our guests arrived, inwardly cursing that I’d ever suggested doing the cooking when a restaurant would have been so much simpler.
In contrast to this reality, where I’d spent the past few hours laughing and joking with Seth as we prepared a perfectly edible meal. Okay, it might not be haute cuisine, but my guests wouldn’t care. Nor would they care when I served them cheap bottles of wine.
I was so much happier than alternative Anna would have been.
That thought startled me out of my daze.
Seth was talking. I blinked, trying to focus on what he was saying.
He was telling me about the musical aspirations of his roommate Bradley.
“Anyway, his band’s scored a gig at that new club on Victoria Street in a few weeks, so I said I’d go along to support them. Do you want to come too?”
“Don’t you think I’m a bit old to go clubbing?”
“I’m reasonably confident your arthritic limbs can handle it.”
“Okay, sounds like fun.”
“Based on the noises coming from his room when he’s practicing, fun isn’t quite the word I’d use. More like painful.”
“You’re really not selling it to me now.”
Seth flashed me a grin. “I’ll be there. What more of a sales pitch do you need?”
“So true,” I deadpanned. I met Seth’s eyes, clocking their deep hazel color before regaining my senses. What was I doing? Making meaningful eye contact with Seth? That’s the kind of thing one did when having a flirty conversation, not our typical jokey exchanges. I looked away, acutely aware of the blush creeping up my neck, hoping he’d put it down to the heat in the kitchen.
Fortunately, the buzzer rang.
“I’ll get it.” I wiped my hands on a towel and headed over to buzz the first of my guests in.
Author Bio:
Never miss a new book or exclusive FREE short stories! Sign up to Jacqueline's newsletter at: https://jacquelineleeauthor.com/newsl...
Jacqueline Lee is an award-winning romance author who writes stories with heart and humor. She loves writing characters who have fun with each other while building a deeper connection. Formerly a high school biology teacher, Jackie is living her own version of happily-ever-after with her husband and three children in New Zealand.
Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram
GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Hosted by:
July 4, 2021
BOOK BLITZ: When Villains Rise by Giana Darling #GIVEAWAY
When Villains Rise
Giana Darling
(Anti-Heroes in Love, #2)
Publication date: July 5, 2021
Genres: Adult, Dark Romance, Romance
From Wall Street Journal bestselling author Giana Darling comes the conclusion to the Anti-Heroes in Love duet, a gripping mafia romance about the capo who will risk everything to keep the woman he loves safe…
I am the hero no one wanted…
I was a murderer.One of the cruelest and wealthiest men in New York City.
Dante Salvatore, capo of capos.
Yet I had one weakness.
Elena Lombardi.
Cold as ice, sharp as the edge of broken glass, and more beautiful than any woman should have the right to be, she stormed my defenses and razed my life as I knew it to the ground. For her, I would once again play the hero and prove myself worthy of her unconquerable heart.
For her, I would change everything.
I could have left her to the enemies hounding me, but instead, I made the unforgivable decision to take her with me to the old country. Now, there is no other option. In order to keep both of us safe, Elena Lombardi must become my wife.
—
EXCERPT:
No matter the adversity, I could always count on one constant.
Elena Lombardi was a weapon.
And she was mine.
“Put the gun down, cuore mia,” I coaxed, letting the comatose man drop unceremoniously to the ground so I could go to her. She kept the gun raised, almost frozen with her determination to protect me, until the barrel was pressed to my stomach. I put my hand over the weapon and released the chamber so it fell into my waiting hand beneath. Then, I carefully untangled her fingers from the grip and used my free hand to sink my fingers deep in her hair, angling her head to take her mouth in a possessive kiss.
Instantly, she melted. All that dangerous revolve dissolving on my tongue like fucking candy, sweet and addictive. I ate at her until she trembled. Unable to resist, I used my other hand, still cradling the dismantled gun, to palm her sex. It was as wet as I’d known it would be, her juices slick on my fingers, on the weapon that had been intended to kill us both.
When I broke away, she clutched me close, her breath as harsh as mine.
“No one will take you from me without a fight,” she whispered vehemently, the nails of the hand she had curled around my neck sinking into my skin so I hissed.
“Anyone who tries to come between our love will suffer then die,” I swore to her, kissing her again because I was high on adrenaline, on the scent of her damp pussy in my nose and the victory of a fight won in my blood.
Author Bio:
Giana Darling is an USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Top 40 Amazon Best Selling Canadian romance writer who specializes in the taboo and angsty side of love and romance. She currently lives in beautiful British Columbia where she spends time riding on the back of her man's bike, baking pies, and reading snuggled up with her Golden Retriever puppy, Romeo.
Newletter / Facebook Reader's Group / Instagram
GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Hosted by:
July 3, 2021
BLEEDING SOULS SAVED BY LOVE! Lost in the Woods by Jessica Joy #NowLive
Wicked Warriors MC Minnesota Chapter (Wicked Bad Boy Biker Motorcycle Club Romance)
Having a famous older sister isn’t always as fabulous as it seems. The luster of her sister’s fame tarnished as soon as Astrid Daniels finds herself lost in the wild woods of Northern Minnesota when Margo seemingly falls off the face of the planet. The one bright side could absolutely be getting rescued by a Viking reincarnate on a motorcycle.
Bjorn “Pick” Kristiansen can count on two things in life: the thrill of the ride on his bike and the family feeling he gets with his brothers in the Wicked Warriors MC. But even Pick can’t get away from the expectations associated with being adopted by the Club Prez, Ice. Patch in or be cast out—Pick has one summer to make a decision that will impact the rest of his life. Things get interesting when his summer plans get turned upside down by a feisty woman who ropes him into helping her search for a lost pop star.
Maybe he's a little rough around the edges and has a strange relationship with his motorcycle, but he's easy on the eyes and the only one who can help find her sister.
Maybe she's a little naïve and has more stubborn than sense, but she's the first one to make him feel like he has a purpose in this life.
Getting lost in the woods might just end up being the very best way to spend a summer.
A Bleeding Souls Saved by Love! Fable Retelling of Frozen
GOODREADS BOOKBUB BUY LINK
PLEASE VOTE for both titles in Goodreads Most Anticipated Romance Releases of July: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/154715.July_2021_Most_Anticipated_Romance_Book_Releases
Be sure to join the Facebook Group to stay up to date with cover reveals, new releases, and general carousing as this amazing collection of Wicked Warriors MC & Fabled Mafia Wars fable retellings is unveiled: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bleedingsoulssavedbylove
Bleeding Souls Saved by Love!
B@@K REVEAL: Kingdom of Sirens and Monsters by Tara Quinn #PreORDER
Kingdom of Sirens and Monsters
Tara Quinn
Publication date: January 5th 2022
Genres: Fairy Tales, Fantasy, New Adult, Young Adult
“Mirror, mirror, in the shell that thy lay,
Who is the fairest in Odyssey Bay?”
On the island of Odyssey Bay, a wedding day looms—and Coral will do anything to stop it.
Since their mother died, twin sisters Coral and Kendra were raised solely by their father. But since Melody came along, their father has been swept into a blinding, whirlwind romance that Coral fears will end in heartbreak and loss.
It feels like nobody but Coral can see Melody’s true nature—she’s wretched, power hungry, controlling, and clearly desires to obtain their island resort and family wealth. But Kendra adores Melody, and her father is smitten, leaving Coral the sole sceptic.
Then Coral meets Lysander—a mysterious, handsome stranger who returns her surfboard after it’s lost in a storm. Lysander knows things about Melody, about Coral’s dead best friend Maya, and about Coral’s mother.
When Melody’s true and terrifying nature is revealed, Coral has no choice but to escape to an unknown world beneath the sea—where ancient magic, family secrets, and power she didn’t know she possessed awaits…
A Snow White meets The Little Mermaid retelling.
Author Bio:
Tara Quinn is a fairytale retelling author with a love of blending contemporary worlds with fantasy.
When Tara isn't writing, she's binging chocolate and The Office--neither in moderation--and fantasising about long train rides through the countryside and trips to Greece.
Tara's stunning debut young adult fantasy, KINGDOM OF SIRENS AND MONSTERS, a double retelling where The Little Mermaid meets Snow White, is will be released in January 2022.
Goodreads / Twitter / Instagram
Hosted by:
BOOK BLITZ: Come Fly With Me by Janet Elizabeth Henderson #GIVEAWAY
Come Fly With Me
Janet Elizabeth Henderson
(Invertary Too, #1)
Publication date: June 28th 2021
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance
They married in their teens. They haven’t seen each other in ten years. And now they have to fake a relationship to keep their land.
At seventeen, Katya Savage eloped with her lifelong best friend, Brodie MacGregor. Everything was perfect for two glorious years—until Katya became obsessed with her great-grandmother’s legacy. To be fair, who wouldn’t get excited about having a female bomber pilot in the family tree? Brodie, that's who. Because when Katya asked him to help her find a plane exactly like the one her great-gran flew during World War Two, he had a hissy fit and gave her an ultimatum—him or the plane. Yeah, that was a dumb move…
Anyway, now Katya’s back. With her plane. And all she wants to do is set up a scenic flight business on the land gifted to them both. Unfortunately, there are a few teeny tiny problems with her plan: 1. Brodie has his own ideas for the land that don’t involve her or her plane. 2. The family who gifted the land to them wants it back. 3. The only way to keep the land is to convince their families, the town, and a bunch of lawyers that they’re back together again.
Now, if they could just stop fighting long enough to act like they’re in love…
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo
—
EXCERPT:
It wasn’t every day you watched a World War Two Soviet fighter plane make its way up the main street of a small Highland town. To be fair, it was wingless and secured to a flatbed lorry at the time, not flying over the cobblestone road. Still, the sight was definitely out of place in among the crooked old white houses that made up the high street. Nor did it blend in with the green hills and blue loch that gave the town of Invertary its picturesque setting. In fact, the aircraft was such an oddity—in a town where oddities were commonplace—that it’d brought everyone out to watch the spectacle.
“So, she’s really come home then?”
At his younger brother Darach’s words, Brodie MacGregor grimaced. “It would appear so.”
“And she has the plane she went off to find.”
“Aye.” The self-same plane that was responsible for ending his marriage.
“I hear tell she’s a rocket in the sky. Can fly pretty much anything you put in front of her.”
Brodie cocked an eyebrow at his brother. “Where exactly did you hear that?”
“A wee bird told me.” The dickhead grinned. “Must make you feel like a complete arse, seeing as you told her she’d never make it as a pilot or find one of the planes her granny used to fly. In fact, some might say you had egg on your face from being so bloody arrogant in the first place.”
“If some were to say that within my hearing, it would be the last words they uttered.”
From the mocking smile on Darach’s face, it was clear he wasn’t intimidated by his brother’s threat. Idiot. Even though Darach had a couple of inches on Brodie, and some army training under his belt, the numpty still thought he could take him in a fight. Brodie knew better. Unlike Darach, he never pulled his punches with his brothers. It was the only way he’d managed to survive growing up as the middle child of seven boys.
“Did she give you a heads-up she was coming back?” Darach asked, lifting his chin toward the cab of the truck, where Brodie’s ex-wife sat behind the wheel.
“A letter from her lawyer.”
“So, she’s still pissed at you, then.”
“You could say that. I was charged for the postage.”
Darach burst out laughing. “I always liked that girl.”
Aye, and so had Brodie. Liking Katya was never the problem—living with her was.
When the truck sped past, he caught sight of Katya’s face as she stared straight ahead. And just like that, his jeans became uncomfortably tight while his stomach did a backward somersault. Almost ten years since they’d parted ways, and all it took was one glimpse to make him want to bed her. It came as a brutal blow to his ego to discover his Katya addiction hadn’t waned. And he’d just bet she would laugh her head off if she ever found out.
Darach elbowed Brodie to get his attention. “Does it bother you that she’s still calling herself MacGregor?”
“No.”
Sure, it’d been a slap in the face when she’d kept the name and dumped the man, but he could hardly blame her. MacGregor was preferable to Savage any day of the week. In fact, he’d often wondered if one of the reasons she’d been so eager to marry, despite them both being barely legal, was just to get rid of her family name.
But then, there were easier ways to achieve that than taking on a MacGregor.
“Do you think she heard about your plans?” Darach mused as they watched the plane disappear over the crest of the hill at the top of town.
“I’d be surprised. Her family doesn’t exactly live on this planet most of the time. Even if they heard the gossip, it probably didn’t register.”
Darach grinned widely. “Have to say, I kinda miss the family dinners we had when you two were together.”
Yeah, it was hard not to smile at those memories. Brodie caught his brother’s eye, and they both said, “Delia Savage’s dramatic monologues!” And burst into fits of laughter.
“But seriously.” Darach wiped at his eyes as he sobered. “What are you going to do if she has plans for your land?”
And just like that, all the humor in the situation was sucked right out. “I’ll do what I have to.” Both their names might be on the title, but he’d been the one tending the land for the past decade. Katya hadn’t set foot on it since she’d walked out on him.
“Eh, I hate to point this out, big brother, but you don’t exactly have a lot of options. Unless you split the land down the middle.”
Aye, that wasn’t going to work. Their plot of land was a long, narrow rectangle, with the best views lying on one of the shorter sides. Even if they halved it, neither of them would take the back section with the crappy views. And you couldn’t split it lengthwise, because they’d both end up with a strip that was too narrow to be of any decent use.
“She’ll just have to see reason.” Brodie folded his arms over his faded blue plaid shirt.
Darach nodded. “Because Katya’s well known for her ability to see reason. Like when you told her to do exactly that, right before she left you.”
“This is different.” It had to be. “We’ve both grown up since then. Surely now, we can act with civility toward each other?”
“The letter from her lawyer seemed really civil.”
Brodie glared at Darach as he wondered for the millionth time why he’d been cursed with six smart-arsed morons for brothers. “Are you trying to help here?”
“Mainly, I’m trying to ensure I get a ringside seat for whatever happens next. I know it’s going tae be helluva entertaining.” He mimed an explosion, with sound effects.
“Dickhead.”
“Entertained dickhead. One whose sister-in-law has returned to town and is about to drive my brother insane.”
Author Bio:
Janet is a Scot who moved to New Zealand fifteen years ago. Among other things, she’s been an artist, a teacher, a security guard at a castle, a magazine editor, and a cleaner in a drop in center for drug addicts (NOT the best job!). She now writes full-time and is working on her 19th book. Her books have won several awards, including the Daphne du Maurier award for excellence in mystery and suspense. When she isn’t living in her head, she raises two kids, one husband, and several random animals. She survives on chocolate and caffeine.
Website / Facebook / Instagram / Newsletter / Pinterest
GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Hosted by:
July 2, 2021
B@@K REVEAL: An Unexpected Kind of Love by Hayden Stone
An Unexpected Kind of Love
Hayden Stone
Published by: Entangled Embrace
Publication date: August 9th 2021
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
Bookstore owner Aubrey Barnes likes his quiet, orderly London life, thank you very much. His shop may be struggling, his only employee is a menace, and his plumbing is one creaky pipe away from disaster, but he can handle it. Maybe. He cannot, however, handle the film company that’s thrown his Soho street into chaos.
And he definitely can’t handle the charismatic American actor Blake Sinclair.
Which is why he’s extremely reluctant to lease out his shop as a set for Blake’s film, but it’s his one opportunity to save his business. Now he can’t get away from the distractingly hot actor.
Then Aubrey finds himself alone with Blake in a trailer, and what happens next turns London’s heat wave into an inferno that leaves him breathless.
Aubrey is not cut out for the high-profile life of dating a celebrity, especially an American actor who’s not even out yet. Good thing their tryst is absolutely not going anywhere.
Of course, when you expect nothing, that’s exactly when it starts to mean everything.
Hosted by:
BOOK BLITZ: The Imperial Orchid by Nicola Italia #GIVEAWAY
The Imperial Orchid
Nicola Italia
Publication date: June 22nd 2021
Genres: Historical Romance
At the end of the Victorian era, Orchid Mania has gripped the wealthy and aristocratic men of England. Collectors are willing to spend a small fortune to obtain the rare flowers from distant lands. Lord Holloway, president of the Royal Horticultural Society in London, has decided to finance an expedition team to Ceylon to capture one of the rarest orchids on earth.
Frances Wakefield is an educated woman and a gifted illustrator and has traveled throughout Europe documenting various plants and flowers for the Society. When Lord Holloway handpicks her to travel to Ceylon as a member of the expedition team, she is thrilled.
When she lands in Egypt to meet the other team members, she comes face-to-face with Miles St. Clair, Lord Holloway’s son and heir. He is the arrogant, handsome, insufferable man she encountered at several soirees in London and the team’s leader.
Frances soon learns the trip to Ceylon is to find a very rare orchid. But someone has been watching Lord Holloway’s expedition team, and treachery is afoot. While the expedition intensifies, so does the growing attraction between Miles and Frances, who must work together if they hope to make it out of Ceylon alive.
—
EXCERPT:
Miles rubbed his chin and felt the growth of a day’s beard. He could barely remember the night before except that he had lost a goodly sum on whist, and he vaguely recalled a blonde half-naked in his arms.
He opened his eyes gingerly and saw that there was no blonde in sight, and he was indeed lying in a bed in one of his favorite brothels. The curtains covering the windows were crimson red, and the bed was a plush mattress in an ornate wooden frame with baby cupids detailed in the artwork. He groaned as his head ached; he had lost count of the number of whiskeys he had consumed the night before.
He contemplated looking for his trousers and getting dressed, but he knew that would cause his head to pound more. He preferred to lie in bed a while more until he felt a little better.
A sharp knock fell upon the door, and he looked up, wincing. He looked around but knew he was very much alone. Had the blonde returned? He wasn’t up for any more love play.
“Come in,” he called out.
He grinned with relief when his companion and long-time friend from university, Percival Browne, entered the room.
“You look like half-baked shit,” Percival told his friend as he picked up Miles’s trousers from the floor. Miles groaned as he caught the pants Percival flung at him.
“I don’t remember much of last night, Percy. Except that I lost a fair amount, and there was a blonde.” He tossed the bed sheets back and pulled on his trousers.
“Do you see my shir—” he began just as the clothing article hit him in the face.
“Cheers, mate,” Percival said as he took a chair opposite the bed. Miles narrowed his eyes at his friend as he pulled his shirt on.
“And did you say, ‘lost a fair amount?’” Percy eased the chair back. “If I recall the exact amount you lost as the correct amount, your best bet is to go to America and start afresh, so your father doesn’t skin you alive.”
Author Bio:
Nicola spent her childhood in Los Angeles. As a young student in elementary school, she had a great fondness for reading and began to write creatively. She graduated from university with a degree in communications and held a variety of positions in journalism, education, government and non profit.
Nicola has traveled extensively throughout Europe, China, and Central America.Nicola's goal is to create rich characters with a strong male lead and a passionate female lead.
Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Bookbub
GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Hosted by:
