Taylor Hart's Blog, page 6
September 27, 2024
Flash Sale on Soon to be Released A Second Chance Christmas Kiss!
Don't Miss This Special $3.99 Pre-Order Pricing!
Only $3.99! A Second Chance Christmas Kiss: Sweet Small Town
You guys—I’m so happy to SOON be releasing A Second Chance Christmas Kiss! I love Christmas and I Love Second Chance Romance!
This book actually took me by surprise because the Heroine—grew up working and living in a doll shop on Main Street in Jewel Cove Beach…and 19 years later—after her mother passes away and she gets divorced…she’s back working and living in a doll shop.---It was so much fun to write about how other characters perceive the ‘freaky’ dolls …. And even she thinks some of them are ‘freaky’ :)
Only $3.99! A Second Chance Christmas Kiss: Sweet Small Town
Take a Christmas vacation any time of year to Jewel Cove Beach! Kindle All-Star and USA Today bestselling author, Taylor Hart!
"I remember that Christmas when ALL I could think about was getting back to Jewel Cove and kissing you. But ... grandfather stopped me. He stopped me."
"No one is stopping you now."
He doesn’t believe in Christmas magic. She’s in need of a miracle. Together, they might just find both in each other.
Charles King never planned on returning to Jewel Cove. It’s the town where he first fell in love—and had his heart shattered—leaving him the center of small-town gossip for years. Now, after a failed marriage, he's back as the town’s favorite bachelor, convinced that love and Christmas magic are equally out of reach.
Melody Paine’s heart has been in pieces since last Christmas, when her husband walked out on her, leaving her alone on Christmas Eve. Now she’s back in her hometown, running her late mother’s doll shop, trying to piece her life together one day at a time. The last thing she needs is more heartache.
When Melody crosses paths with Charles, she never expects the handsome, brooding man to ask her out—not once, but again and again. As they share a whirlwind motorcycle ride under the stars, old sparks reignite, and memories of their first love rush back to life.
Could Charles be the one to heal Melody's broken heart? And can she convince him to believe in love—and maybe even Christmas magic—once more?
This Christmas, miracles come in the form of second chances, if only they’re both brave enough to seize them.
Only $3.99! A Second Chance Christmas Kiss: Sweet Small Town
You guys—I’m so happy to SOON be releasing A Second Chance Christmas Kiss! I love Christmas and I Love Second Chance Romance!
This book actually took me by surprise because the Heroine—grew up working and living in a doll shop on Main Street in Jewel Cove Beach…and 19 years later—after her mother passes away and she gets divorced…she’s back working and living in a doll shop.---It was so much fun to write about how other characters perceive the ‘freaky’ dolls …. And even she thinks some of them are ‘freaky’ :)
Only $3.99! A Second Chance Christmas Kiss: Sweet Small Town
Take a Christmas vacation any time of year to Jewel Cove Beach! Kindle All-Star and USA Today bestselling author, Taylor Hart!
"I remember that Christmas when ALL I could think about was getting back to Jewel Cove and kissing you. But ... grandfather stopped me. He stopped me."
"No one is stopping you now."
He doesn’t believe in Christmas magic. She’s in need of a miracle. Together, they might just find both in each other.
Charles King never planned on returning to Jewel Cove. It’s the town where he first fell in love—and had his heart shattered—leaving him the center of small-town gossip for years. Now, after a failed marriage, he's back as the town’s favorite bachelor, convinced that love and Christmas magic are equally out of reach.
Melody Paine’s heart has been in pieces since last Christmas, when her husband walked out on her, leaving her alone on Christmas Eve. Now she’s back in her hometown, running her late mother’s doll shop, trying to piece her life together one day at a time. The last thing she needs is more heartache.
When Melody crosses paths with Charles, she never expects the handsome, brooding man to ask her out—not once, but again and again. As they share a whirlwind motorcycle ride under the stars, old sparks reignite, and memories of their first love rush back to life.
Could Charles be the one to heal Melody's broken heart? And can she convince him to believe in love—and maybe even Christmas magic—once more?
This Christmas, miracles come in the form of second chances, if only they’re both brave enough to seize them.
September 9, 2024
FREE & 99¢ Cross Creek Romances Flash Sale!
Get Ready For The Next Cross Creek Romances!
FREE! Porter
Only 99¢ Colt
Only 99¢ Chance
Only 99¢ Blaze: Top Secret Undercover Cowboy
Pre-Order Now! Cheyenne: Second Chance Romance
Do you know what I hate?
Yes—hate?---When I’m not READY for the next book in a series when it comes out because I haven’t read ALL of the books in the series….
So I’m helping you out today!
I have one FREE book in the Cross Creek Wyoming Ranch Romances….and I have 4 for 99 Cents! Crazy deal! Plus—Get Cheyenne’s story while it’s hot!—It will be out in the next couple of months!
Hope you have an amazing Monday!
FREE! Porter
★★★From USA Today Best-selling Author, Taylor Hart--what could go wrong with a fake marriage and a hunt for Conquistador Gold?
After the death of their father, six siblings are upset the family ranch in Wyoming was left solely to their oldest brother, Porter Cross. He's been on bad terms with the family for fifteen years and their father's wishes feel like a betrayal to the rest of the siblings. But the possibility of a cache of conquistador gold being stashed somewhere begins to unite them. The trickiest part of the whole situation is that Porter has to get married or the ranch will be lost to everyone.
When Sadie Hunt comes back to Cross Creek to start over with her son, she never expected her high school love would ask her to marry him and she really never expected to find herself looking for gold.
As a hunt for conquistador gold and a fake marriage bring all of the Cross siblings together, their relationships get tried and they find they have to do the one thing their father always wanted them to do; trust each other and protect the land that is their legacy.
Enjoy 3 bonus books, Her Hidden Falls Anti-Hero Cowboy, Her Hidden Falls Doctor Cowboy, Her Hidden Falls Ex Military Cowboy.
Only 99¢ Colt
An ex-bull rider tasked with watching a baby. The woman who left him 14 years ago and who doesn't want to be back in this small town. When a medical emergency brings their worlds together, will the secret keeping them apart finally be revealed?
Colt Cross adores his niece and doesn't mind watching her for a week while his brother is on vacation. He's got it handled. He can definitely run the ranch and watch a baby. Until she comes down with a fever and he needs medical help. When he shows up at the doctor's house in the middle of the night, he never expected that the woman who left him at the altar fourteen years ago would be there, and he really never expected he would demand to know the truth.
When Sierra Shamrock, ER Doctor, comes to Cross Creek to help out her father after a heart attack, she never imagined she'd be face to face with Colt. And she really never imagined all of the old feelings coming back; it'd been fourteen years, and she should be over him. Yet, as he demands to know the truth of that night all those years ago, Sierra finds herself wanting to give this man more than the truth, possibly her heart.
Will a fire and conquistador gold pull them together or tear them apart?
As the Cross siblings get tested, they find they have to do the one thing their father always wanted them to do; trust each other and protect the land that is their legacy.
★★★Enjoy 3 Bonus Books:
Flirting with Your FBI Heartbreaker
Flirting with Your Hollywood Heartbreaker
Flirting with Your Ex-Best Friend Billionaire Fake Fiance
Only 99¢ Chance
★★★★★From kindle all-star and USA Today author, Taylor Hart! The Cross Creek Family Romances! ★★★Taylor Hart always does a great job of writing clean, faith-filled romances. All the stories in this book are excellent, and I highly recommend them!★★★Kindle Customer
A small town sheriff trying to put this gold hunt to rest once and for all. A woman from his past, running from her ex. Will they keep each other's secrets and open their hearts once again?
Chance Cross only knew one thing; whoever was going after his family--would pay. And he would put this gold hunt to rest once and for all. Even if it meant leaving Cross Creek and going undercover in South Port. He had a journal that showed the gold was still in this beach town and he would prove it.
Kelly Hamilton never meant to end up in South Port. She never meant to run into Chance Cross, and she really never meant to wind up smack dab in the middle of a gold hunt ... and be running from her ex--but life had funny ways.
When she agrees to team up with Chance to find the gold its' on one condition; he tell no one she's pregnant. She doesn't know what she's going to do and ... she can't let her ex find out.
Will the feelings from the past and conquistador gold pull them together or tear them apart?
As the Cross siblings get tested, they find they have to do the one thing their father always wanted them to do; trust each other and protect the land that is their legacy.
Please enjoy three bonus books; The Football Groom, The Country Groom, The Unfinished Groom!
Only 99¢ Blaze: Top Secret Undercover Cowboy
★★★★★From kindle all-star and USA Today author, Taylor Hart! The Cross Creek Family Romances! ★★★Taylor Hart always does a great job of writing clean, faith-filled romances. All the stories in this book are excellent, and I highly recommend them!★★★Kindle Customer
What do you do – when you find a dead man's phone? Not just a dead man's phone, but a phone filled with messages from the woman who still loves him? And when you try to give it back ... she yells at you!
Blaze Cross doesn't want drama. He doesn't do drama. In fact, he normally doesn't even do people. He's a small town veterinarian, who specializes in horses. When he goes to Kentucky to meet with a horse dealer who might know something about the Conquistador Gold, he picks up a stray phone on the ground. One he means to get back to the owner, until he's searched by drug dogs at the airport. Later, when the phone keeps going off, he finds himself reading messages. Messages he shouldn't be reading, but can't stop.
Eden Cappa doesn't want to be stuck in grief. It's been almost a year since her husband passed and between her time in a hospital to get help and the time she spends defending herself to her family that she REALLY is okay, all she wants to do is get away from it all. But she never expected to lose the phone. The only thing that's kept her connected to the man she loved. The only thing thing that allows her to still hear his voice.
When Blaze and Eden find themselves thrown together to help out a giant Husky dog, something starts to happen between them. Something that this horse vet never anticipated; he starts to fall in love.
Will discovering the secret Blaze has kept from her take away all chances of them being together?
Will Eden's history with the Conquistador Gold be the next clue in the puzzle ... or will they team up and find it together?
As the Cross siblings get tested, they find they have to do the one thing their father always wanted them to do; trust each other and protect the land that is their legacy.
Pre-Order Now! Cheyenne: Second Chance Romance
When Cheyenne goes on Spring Break and runs into the guy she almost married--it seems fate has taken a hand in her love life.
Until things start to get dicey and the hunt for the Conquistador's Gold seems to be on everyone's mind.
Who can Cheyenne trust, because she definitely can't trust her heart!
FREE! Porter
Only 99¢ Colt
Only 99¢ Chance
Only 99¢ Blaze: Top Secret Undercover Cowboy
Pre-Order Now! Cheyenne: Second Chance Romance
Do you know what I hate?
Yes—hate?---When I’m not READY for the next book in a series when it comes out because I haven’t read ALL of the books in the series….
So I’m helping you out today!
I have one FREE book in the Cross Creek Wyoming Ranch Romances….and I have 4 for 99 Cents! Crazy deal! Plus—Get Cheyenne’s story while it’s hot!—It will be out in the next couple of months!
Hope you have an amazing Monday!
FREE! Porter
★★★From USA Today Best-selling Author, Taylor Hart--what could go wrong with a fake marriage and a hunt for Conquistador Gold?
After the death of their father, six siblings are upset the family ranch in Wyoming was left solely to their oldest brother, Porter Cross. He's been on bad terms with the family for fifteen years and their father's wishes feel like a betrayal to the rest of the siblings. But the possibility of a cache of conquistador gold being stashed somewhere begins to unite them. The trickiest part of the whole situation is that Porter has to get married or the ranch will be lost to everyone.
When Sadie Hunt comes back to Cross Creek to start over with her son, she never expected her high school love would ask her to marry him and she really never expected to find herself looking for gold.
As a hunt for conquistador gold and a fake marriage bring all of the Cross siblings together, their relationships get tried and they find they have to do the one thing their father always wanted them to do; trust each other and protect the land that is their legacy.
Enjoy 3 bonus books, Her Hidden Falls Anti-Hero Cowboy, Her Hidden Falls Doctor Cowboy, Her Hidden Falls Ex Military Cowboy.
Only 99¢ Colt
An ex-bull rider tasked with watching a baby. The woman who left him 14 years ago and who doesn't want to be back in this small town. When a medical emergency brings their worlds together, will the secret keeping them apart finally be revealed?
Colt Cross adores his niece and doesn't mind watching her for a week while his brother is on vacation. He's got it handled. He can definitely run the ranch and watch a baby. Until she comes down with a fever and he needs medical help. When he shows up at the doctor's house in the middle of the night, he never expected that the woman who left him at the altar fourteen years ago would be there, and he really never expected he would demand to know the truth.
When Sierra Shamrock, ER Doctor, comes to Cross Creek to help out her father after a heart attack, she never imagined she'd be face to face with Colt. And she really never imagined all of the old feelings coming back; it'd been fourteen years, and she should be over him. Yet, as he demands to know the truth of that night all those years ago, Sierra finds herself wanting to give this man more than the truth, possibly her heart.
Will a fire and conquistador gold pull them together or tear them apart?
As the Cross siblings get tested, they find they have to do the one thing their father always wanted them to do; trust each other and protect the land that is their legacy.
★★★Enjoy 3 Bonus Books:
Flirting with Your FBI Heartbreaker
Flirting with Your Hollywood Heartbreaker
Flirting with Your Ex-Best Friend Billionaire Fake Fiance
Only 99¢ Chance
★★★★★From kindle all-star and USA Today author, Taylor Hart! The Cross Creek Family Romances! ★★★Taylor Hart always does a great job of writing clean, faith-filled romances. All the stories in this book are excellent, and I highly recommend them!★★★Kindle Customer
A small town sheriff trying to put this gold hunt to rest once and for all. A woman from his past, running from her ex. Will they keep each other's secrets and open their hearts once again?
Chance Cross only knew one thing; whoever was going after his family--would pay. And he would put this gold hunt to rest once and for all. Even if it meant leaving Cross Creek and going undercover in South Port. He had a journal that showed the gold was still in this beach town and he would prove it.
Kelly Hamilton never meant to end up in South Port. She never meant to run into Chance Cross, and she really never meant to wind up smack dab in the middle of a gold hunt ... and be running from her ex--but life had funny ways.
When she agrees to team up with Chance to find the gold its' on one condition; he tell no one she's pregnant. She doesn't know what she's going to do and ... she can't let her ex find out.
Will the feelings from the past and conquistador gold pull them together or tear them apart?
As the Cross siblings get tested, they find they have to do the one thing their father always wanted them to do; trust each other and protect the land that is their legacy.
Please enjoy three bonus books; The Football Groom, The Country Groom, The Unfinished Groom!
Only 99¢ Blaze: Top Secret Undercover Cowboy
★★★★★From kindle all-star and USA Today author, Taylor Hart! The Cross Creek Family Romances! ★★★Taylor Hart always does a great job of writing clean, faith-filled romances. All the stories in this book are excellent, and I highly recommend them!★★★Kindle Customer
What do you do – when you find a dead man's phone? Not just a dead man's phone, but a phone filled with messages from the woman who still loves him? And when you try to give it back ... she yells at you!
Blaze Cross doesn't want drama. He doesn't do drama. In fact, he normally doesn't even do people. He's a small town veterinarian, who specializes in horses. When he goes to Kentucky to meet with a horse dealer who might know something about the Conquistador Gold, he picks up a stray phone on the ground. One he means to get back to the owner, until he's searched by drug dogs at the airport. Later, when the phone keeps going off, he finds himself reading messages. Messages he shouldn't be reading, but can't stop.
Eden Cappa doesn't want to be stuck in grief. It's been almost a year since her husband passed and between her time in a hospital to get help and the time she spends defending herself to her family that she REALLY is okay, all she wants to do is get away from it all. But she never expected to lose the phone. The only thing that's kept her connected to the man she loved. The only thing thing that allows her to still hear his voice.
When Blaze and Eden find themselves thrown together to help out a giant Husky dog, something starts to happen between them. Something that this horse vet never anticipated; he starts to fall in love.
Will discovering the secret Blaze has kept from her take away all chances of them being together?
Will Eden's history with the Conquistador Gold be the next clue in the puzzle ... or will they team up and find it together?
As the Cross siblings get tested, they find they have to do the one thing their father always wanted them to do; trust each other and protect the land that is their legacy.
Pre-Order Now! Cheyenne: Second Chance Romance
When Cheyenne goes on Spring Break and runs into the guy she almost married--it seems fate has taken a hand in her love life.
Until things start to get dicey and the hunt for the Conquistador's Gold seems to be on everyone's mind.
Who can Cheyenne trust, because she definitely can't trust her heart!
September 3, 2024
My hands are shaking—NEW Release from ME!
Enjoy this NEW Release!
Home to You: Christian Fiction with a lot of Romance
It’s been A LONG TIME since I’ve released a new one!—Why? Why? Why?
Because of LIFE!
You guys know what I’m talking about!—Kids and weddings and all GOOD things—but life……
Soo—I’m SO happy that Home to You is OUT now! Wahoo! Happy dance!
And---You guys will LOVE these characters! Seriously—Noah is just …broken and sweet and wants to FIX all of the problems that were left in the wake of him leaving 8 years ago.
Ella knows…loss.
Loss of her brother. Loss of her husband to divorce. Loss of the small town she loved. Loss of any kind of parental relationships.—I think she is bar far a character most of us can relate to.
It’s the sweetest Second Chance Romance story! You’ll love it :)……as always, I’m slightly bias.
Home to You: Christian Fiction with a lot of Romance
After the heart attack of their father, six siblings come back together in the small town of Refuge Falls to support and care for their parents. Noah, the oldest brother, and the prodigal son, comes home to discover that many resentments are in the wake of his eight years away.
Noah Armstrong didn't need to remember he'd left town eight years ago to run away from the past. He didn't need his siblings rubbing it in his face. And he really didn't need his father guilt tripping him by having a heart attack! Fine, he would come home and meet up to his family obligations. He would stay a week and do his 'duty.' But, that duty didn't include facing the very demons that had caused him to run eight years ago. He shouldn't have to do that. He WOULD NOT do that!
Ella Kind lost the only person she could truly rely on eight years ago; her twin brother. She has felt that loss every day of those eight years. She has never forgiven herself or anyone else for that loss. Why should she? It was her fault...and the fault of Noah Armstrong. It was his fault too and if she never sees him again, it will be too soon. Too bad she runs into him at the hospital after his father's heart attack and too bad ... she tries to console him. Why would she do that?
When Noah's nephew gets hurt and Ella is the one on the front lines of helping him ... things get complicated. Can the past be forgiven or will feelings buried down deep lead to more and more pain?
As six siblings reunite together, they must learn to let go of what doesn’t matter and cling to family, friends and the refuge their town always gave them.
Home to You: Christian Fiction with a lot of Romance
It’s been A LONG TIME since I’ve released a new one!—Why? Why? Why?
Because of LIFE!
You guys know what I’m talking about!—Kids and weddings and all GOOD things—but life……
Soo—I’m SO happy that Home to You is OUT now! Wahoo! Happy dance!
And---You guys will LOVE these characters! Seriously—Noah is just …broken and sweet and wants to FIX all of the problems that were left in the wake of him leaving 8 years ago.
Ella knows…loss.
Loss of her brother. Loss of her husband to divorce. Loss of the small town she loved. Loss of any kind of parental relationships.—I think she is bar far a character most of us can relate to.
It’s the sweetest Second Chance Romance story! You’ll love it :)……as always, I’m slightly bias.
Home to You: Christian Fiction with a lot of Romance
After the heart attack of their father, six siblings come back together in the small town of Refuge Falls to support and care for their parents. Noah, the oldest brother, and the prodigal son, comes home to discover that many resentments are in the wake of his eight years away.
Noah Armstrong didn't need to remember he'd left town eight years ago to run away from the past. He didn't need his siblings rubbing it in his face. And he really didn't need his father guilt tripping him by having a heart attack! Fine, he would come home and meet up to his family obligations. He would stay a week and do his 'duty.' But, that duty didn't include facing the very demons that had caused him to run eight years ago. He shouldn't have to do that. He WOULD NOT do that!
Ella Kind lost the only person she could truly rely on eight years ago; her twin brother. She has felt that loss every day of those eight years. She has never forgiven herself or anyone else for that loss. Why should she? It was her fault...and the fault of Noah Armstrong. It was his fault too and if she never sees him again, it will be too soon. Too bad she runs into him at the hospital after his father's heart attack and too bad ... she tries to console him. Why would she do that?
When Noah's nephew gets hurt and Ella is the one on the front lines of helping him ... things get complicated. Can the past be forgiven or will feelings buried down deep lead to more and more pain?
As six siblings reunite together, they must learn to let go of what doesn’t matter and cling to family, friends and the refuge their town always gave them.
August 27, 2024
99¢ Christmas Sales!!
Are You In The Mood For Some Christmas Romance?
Only 99¢ Her Second Chance Prodigal Groom
Only 99¢ A Player for Christmas
Only 99¢ The Betting Groom
I’ve put a couple of my best-selling Christmas books on sale for 99¢ for a limited time! Don't miss it!
Only 99¢ Her Second Chance Prodigal Groom
He loved her his whole life. Then she married his brother.
If DJ never saw Aspen again, it would be too soon. But when the pro football player challenges his team to deal with past regrets, he runs right into her. Why can’t he make himself walk away?
Everything is looking up for Aspen. Until DJ sends it all crashing down—again. She never could deny their chemistry. But he walked away once, leaving her to hold all the pieces together. Can she trust him now?
They have a choice; face the lies from their past … or lose a second chance at love.
Only 99¢ A Player for Christmas
A football player with demons from Christmas past who wants to be left alone at Christmas. A little girl whose only Christmas wish is to meet him. A mother who needs help.
Brooks Stone, wide receiver for the Miami Surf, isn’t the type of guy to make dreams come true; he’s too busy dealing with a high ankle sprain and the anniversary of his wife’s death.
Callie Given, a cancer patient at Primary Children’s Hospital, only has one wish for Christmas—dinner with Brooks Stone. He flatly refuses, until Sam Dumont threatens to make sure the coaches bench him if he doesn’t comply.
Ana Given thought fighting for her daughter’s life was enough of a challenge. She never expected famous football player Brooks Stone to show up. If he was a friend of her ex-husband, he’s not someone she wants hanging around her daughter. Good thing she sent him away. Too bad her daughter sees him before he can leave.
When Brooks and Ana find themselves on a quest to find Callie’s father, neither would have imagined getting on a plane together, going to a cage fight, or…kissing. Brooks wonders how these two women have become everything to him in less than seventy-two hours. Now he has to make a decision—get what he wanted for Christmas or become the player he was always meant to be.
Only 99¢ The Betting Groom
How much would you bet on true love this holiday season?
After getting caught in a media frenzy at a charity event, Will Kent, Quarterback for the Denver Storm and five of his buddies found themselves in jail—with no one coming for them. After bemoaning their situation, Will challenges the guys to a Christmas Bet to find the woman they had always loved, the one who had gotten away…and kiss her by Christmas Eve.
Tara Lighthouse never would have expected to find herself barefoot, on a ledge, in the middle of a snowstorm. But the recent divorce and the pregnancy test made her feel hopeless. After saying a prayer, she is shocked when Will Kent shows up at her door. And even more shocked when he offers to hire her as his PR consultant for the next four days.
After playing Mr. and Mrs. Claus, buying Christmas for a bunch of children, skiing, and spilling secrets, both of them recognize something magic is happening between them.
When the truth comes out, they are left with a choice: forgive or walk away from the only love they’ve ever wanted.
Only 99¢ Her Second Chance Prodigal Groom
Only 99¢ A Player for Christmas
Only 99¢ The Betting Groom
I’ve put a couple of my best-selling Christmas books on sale for 99¢ for a limited time! Don't miss it!
Only 99¢ Her Second Chance Prodigal Groom
He loved her his whole life. Then she married his brother.
If DJ never saw Aspen again, it would be too soon. But when the pro football player challenges his team to deal with past regrets, he runs right into her. Why can’t he make himself walk away?
Everything is looking up for Aspen. Until DJ sends it all crashing down—again. She never could deny their chemistry. But he walked away once, leaving her to hold all the pieces together. Can she trust him now?
They have a choice; face the lies from their past … or lose a second chance at love.
Only 99¢ A Player for Christmas
A football player with demons from Christmas past who wants to be left alone at Christmas. A little girl whose only Christmas wish is to meet him. A mother who needs help.
Brooks Stone, wide receiver for the Miami Surf, isn’t the type of guy to make dreams come true; he’s too busy dealing with a high ankle sprain and the anniversary of his wife’s death.
Callie Given, a cancer patient at Primary Children’s Hospital, only has one wish for Christmas—dinner with Brooks Stone. He flatly refuses, until Sam Dumont threatens to make sure the coaches bench him if he doesn’t comply.
Ana Given thought fighting for her daughter’s life was enough of a challenge. She never expected famous football player Brooks Stone to show up. If he was a friend of her ex-husband, he’s not someone she wants hanging around her daughter. Good thing she sent him away. Too bad her daughter sees him before he can leave.
When Brooks and Ana find themselves on a quest to find Callie’s father, neither would have imagined getting on a plane together, going to a cage fight, or…kissing. Brooks wonders how these two women have become everything to him in less than seventy-two hours. Now he has to make a decision—get what he wanted for Christmas or become the player he was always meant to be.
Only 99¢ The Betting Groom
How much would you bet on true love this holiday season?
After getting caught in a media frenzy at a charity event, Will Kent, Quarterback for the Denver Storm and five of his buddies found themselves in jail—with no one coming for them. After bemoaning their situation, Will challenges the guys to a Christmas Bet to find the woman they had always loved, the one who had gotten away…and kiss her by Christmas Eve.
Tara Lighthouse never would have expected to find herself barefoot, on a ledge, in the middle of a snowstorm. But the recent divorce and the pregnancy test made her feel hopeless. After saying a prayer, she is shocked when Will Kent shows up at her door. And even more shocked when he offers to hire her as his PR consultant for the next four days.
After playing Mr. and Mrs. Claus, buying Christmas for a bunch of children, skiing, and spilling secrets, both of them recognize something magic is happening between them.
When the truth comes out, they are left with a choice: forgive or walk away from the only love they’ve ever wanted.
August 22, 2024
99¢ BLOW OUT END OF SUMMER SALE!
Don't miss this HUGE Back to School Sale!
Only 99¢ Her Hidden Falls Anti-Hero Cowboy
Only 99¢ Her Hidden Falls Doctor Cowboy
Only 99¢ Her Hidden Falls Ex Military Billionaire Cowboy
Only 99¢ Her Hidden Falls Bronc Riding Cowboy: A Sweet Brother's Romance
Only 99¢ Her Hidden Falls Bodyguard Billionaire Cowboy
Only 99¢ Her Hidden Falls Last Chance Billionaire Cowboy
The kids are back in school! How are you feeling?
My feelings are mixed about that—BUT—I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like to be back to some routine!
Routine—so I can have some ‘set’ writing hours 😊---And READING HOURS.
And—all of the set hours—cleaning, dinner, night time rituals and BED TIME! Hahaha!
I hope you are all having a GREAT day!
I am SO excited about this BACK TO SCHOOL SALE!---99¢ on the Hardman Brothers! Ahh—I love these brothers so much!
If you haven’t had a chance to read them yet---DON’T MISS THIS!
Only 99¢ Her Hidden Falls Anti-Hero Cowboy
A prodigal cowboy returning to his hometown. The best friend he left behind all those years ago. She’s divorced with a son now and he needs her ranch. Too bad she’s not giving it up!
Ex-marine, Ryan Hardman, hasn’t been back home to Hidden Falls for seven years. Home? It’s not home when your brothers hate you and your girl married someone else. Good thing he’s only here on business. When he discovers the woman he loved is divorced, things start to change.
The beautiful Charlotte Talon only wants to focus on raising her son and keeping her bookstore alive. Ever since the harsh divorce she’s been on a NO man diet. When the man she’s never forgotten shows up and wants to buy her ranch, she slaps him. He deserves it for leaving her all those years ago.
Can they find a way to forgive each other and have a second chance at love? Or will Charlotte risk her heart to a soldier who can’t leave the past in the past?
Only 99¢ Her Hidden Falls Doctor Cowboy
A cowboy who’s traded his boots for doctor scrubs and the woman he let go of ten years ago. Will his brother’s matchmaking skills be just the thing to rekindle an old flame?
Doctor Kent Hardman wanted to leave everything behind—including memories of the past. He never expected to find himself in contact with the woman who turned down his marriage proposal ten years ago, and he really never expected her father to keep calling him.
Attorney Jewel Jackson only wants to take care of her father and focus on becoming junior partner at her firm. When her father connects with the man she’s never quit loving, things get even more complicated—especially when Kent tells her he will be in town and wants to meet for dinner.
Can Kent and Jewel overcome the hurt from the past and build a future together? Or will their relationship end like it did the first time?
Only 99¢ Her Hidden Falls Ex Military Billionaire Cowboy
A cowboy avoiding his hometown. The woman he's never forgotten. When he stumbles upon a man proposing to her, all he knows is that he has to get her back!
Kane Hardman, ex soldier turned computer programmer billionaire, only wanted to hang out with his business partner and grow their Forbes top 100 company. When he sees the woman he never stopped loving being proposed to, he takes swift action.
Madison Knight, the head of fundraising for Texas Children’s hospital, doesn’t want to accept such a public proposal, but she feels trapped. The night gets worse when the man she’s spent the past ten years hating shows up and kisses her. Good thing she slaps him! He broke her heart once, he doesn’t get to do it again!
Will Kane still love her when he knows the secret she hasn't told anyone else? Or will Madison be left high and dry all over again?
Only 99¢ Her Hidden Falls Bronc Riding Cowboy: A Sweet Brother's Romance
A small town cowboy. A Billionaire. And the woman who has to choose between them.
Beau Hardman, bronc rider and proud owner of the Hardman Ranch, doesn’t need a woman to make his life complete. Sure, it’s nice for his brothers to settle down and find love but he’s always been the lone cowboy and been just fine with it. Too bad his brother’s best friend is putting the moves on his best friend. Pfft. Beau could care less about the rich billionaire and all of the flowers he’s buying Star. Did you hear that? He doesn’t care a bit.
Star Haven has always been content in Hidden Falls. Content, running the family Inn she was instrumental in restoring. Content, dating here and there and enjoying her small town. Until Richard Chavez shows up and invites her to a ball at his estate. A ball he plans to send a helicopter to pick her up for.
When Beau discovers Star's thinking of leaving Hidden Falls--for good, he has to come clean about his feelings….or is it too late?
Will Beau and Star be able to dig through complicated pain of the past and make a happily ever after together? Or will Beau be left in the dust by the rich billionaire and his helicopter?
Only 99¢ Her Hidden Falls Bodyguard Billionaire Cowboy
A small town cowboy turned FBI. A woman who has been running for way too long. The fake marriage that just might save both of them.
Sean Hardman, police officer and part-time poet, had a dream to be FBI, but he was willing to give it up for a woman. Too bad said woman told him she’s not interested. Fine, he’ll leave this small town in the dust.
Angela Orion never wanted to hide out in Hidden Falls and she really never wanted to put the lives of her friends in danger. But when the mafia thug who killed her brother finds her, a shooting match ensues; the Hardman family will not go down without a fight.
When the FBI shows up to protect her, she really never expected Sean would be the agent in charge of her case and she definitely never expected that pretending to be married to him would be part of she’d be posing as his wife.
Will Sean and Angela be able to trust each other enough to keep her safe and get a second chance at love or will the mafia thug take them both down?
Only 99¢ Her Hidden Falls Last Chance Billionaire Cowboy
A man who’s been hurt by love too many times. The best friend he refused to marry in his youth. She’s divorced and looking for a home. Not a home with him!
Ex-marine, Richard Chavez, is the kind of man who can handle anything. The confusion of war, growing a family dynasty, siblings who can’t get along, but don’t ask him to a party and surprise him with the woman who broke his heart.
The beautiful, River Woods, hasn’t been back to Hidden Falls since she was a child and visiting her grandparents on their ranch. But since the divorce, she’s been looking for someplace to put down roots that feels like home. Running into Richard Chavez was like a cold bucket of memory lane water hitting her in the face. The man looked good. But so what? She wasn’t here to relive a past long forgotten and she wasn’t here to watch women fawn all over some so-called war hero and billionaire! Plus, she doesn’t want to hear all about the previous Hardman women who dated him. No thanks.
Only 99¢ Her Hidden Falls Anti-Hero Cowboy
Only 99¢ Her Hidden Falls Doctor Cowboy
Only 99¢ Her Hidden Falls Ex Military Billionaire Cowboy
Only 99¢ Her Hidden Falls Bronc Riding Cowboy: A Sweet Brother's Romance
Only 99¢ Her Hidden Falls Bodyguard Billionaire Cowboy
Only 99¢ Her Hidden Falls Last Chance Billionaire Cowboy
The kids are back in school! How are you feeling?
My feelings are mixed about that—BUT—I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like to be back to some routine!
Routine—so I can have some ‘set’ writing hours 😊---And READING HOURS.
And—all of the set hours—cleaning, dinner, night time rituals and BED TIME! Hahaha!
I hope you are all having a GREAT day!
I am SO excited about this BACK TO SCHOOL SALE!---99¢ on the Hardman Brothers! Ahh—I love these brothers so much!
If you haven’t had a chance to read them yet---DON’T MISS THIS!
Only 99¢ Her Hidden Falls Anti-Hero Cowboy
A prodigal cowboy returning to his hometown. The best friend he left behind all those years ago. She’s divorced with a son now and he needs her ranch. Too bad she’s not giving it up!
Ex-marine, Ryan Hardman, hasn’t been back home to Hidden Falls for seven years. Home? It’s not home when your brothers hate you and your girl married someone else. Good thing he’s only here on business. When he discovers the woman he loved is divorced, things start to change.
The beautiful Charlotte Talon only wants to focus on raising her son and keeping her bookstore alive. Ever since the harsh divorce she’s been on a NO man diet. When the man she’s never forgotten shows up and wants to buy her ranch, she slaps him. He deserves it for leaving her all those years ago.
Can they find a way to forgive each other and have a second chance at love? Or will Charlotte risk her heart to a soldier who can’t leave the past in the past?
Only 99¢ Her Hidden Falls Doctor Cowboy
A cowboy who’s traded his boots for doctor scrubs and the woman he let go of ten years ago. Will his brother’s matchmaking skills be just the thing to rekindle an old flame?
Doctor Kent Hardman wanted to leave everything behind—including memories of the past. He never expected to find himself in contact with the woman who turned down his marriage proposal ten years ago, and he really never expected her father to keep calling him.
Attorney Jewel Jackson only wants to take care of her father and focus on becoming junior partner at her firm. When her father connects with the man she’s never quit loving, things get even more complicated—especially when Kent tells her he will be in town and wants to meet for dinner.
Can Kent and Jewel overcome the hurt from the past and build a future together? Or will their relationship end like it did the first time?
Only 99¢ Her Hidden Falls Ex Military Billionaire Cowboy
A cowboy avoiding his hometown. The woman he's never forgotten. When he stumbles upon a man proposing to her, all he knows is that he has to get her back!
Kane Hardman, ex soldier turned computer programmer billionaire, only wanted to hang out with his business partner and grow their Forbes top 100 company. When he sees the woman he never stopped loving being proposed to, he takes swift action.
Madison Knight, the head of fundraising for Texas Children’s hospital, doesn’t want to accept such a public proposal, but she feels trapped. The night gets worse when the man she’s spent the past ten years hating shows up and kisses her. Good thing she slaps him! He broke her heart once, he doesn’t get to do it again!
Will Kane still love her when he knows the secret she hasn't told anyone else? Or will Madison be left high and dry all over again?
Only 99¢ Her Hidden Falls Bronc Riding Cowboy: A Sweet Brother's Romance
A small town cowboy. A Billionaire. And the woman who has to choose between them.
Beau Hardman, bronc rider and proud owner of the Hardman Ranch, doesn’t need a woman to make his life complete. Sure, it’s nice for his brothers to settle down and find love but he’s always been the lone cowboy and been just fine with it. Too bad his brother’s best friend is putting the moves on his best friend. Pfft. Beau could care less about the rich billionaire and all of the flowers he’s buying Star. Did you hear that? He doesn’t care a bit.
Star Haven has always been content in Hidden Falls. Content, running the family Inn she was instrumental in restoring. Content, dating here and there and enjoying her small town. Until Richard Chavez shows up and invites her to a ball at his estate. A ball he plans to send a helicopter to pick her up for.
When Beau discovers Star's thinking of leaving Hidden Falls--for good, he has to come clean about his feelings….or is it too late?
Will Beau and Star be able to dig through complicated pain of the past and make a happily ever after together? Or will Beau be left in the dust by the rich billionaire and his helicopter?
Only 99¢ Her Hidden Falls Bodyguard Billionaire Cowboy
A small town cowboy turned FBI. A woman who has been running for way too long. The fake marriage that just might save both of them.
Sean Hardman, police officer and part-time poet, had a dream to be FBI, but he was willing to give it up for a woman. Too bad said woman told him she’s not interested. Fine, he’ll leave this small town in the dust.
Angela Orion never wanted to hide out in Hidden Falls and she really never wanted to put the lives of her friends in danger. But when the mafia thug who killed her brother finds her, a shooting match ensues; the Hardman family will not go down without a fight.
When the FBI shows up to protect her, she really never expected Sean would be the agent in charge of her case and she definitely never expected that pretending to be married to him would be part of she’d be posing as his wife.
Will Sean and Angela be able to trust each other enough to keep her safe and get a second chance at love or will the mafia thug take them both down?
Only 99¢ Her Hidden Falls Last Chance Billionaire Cowboy
A man who’s been hurt by love too many times. The best friend he refused to marry in his youth. She’s divorced and looking for a home. Not a home with him!
Ex-marine, Richard Chavez, is the kind of man who can handle anything. The confusion of war, growing a family dynasty, siblings who can’t get along, but don’t ask him to a party and surprise him with the woman who broke his heart.
The beautiful, River Woods, hasn’t been back to Hidden Falls since she was a child and visiting her grandparents on their ranch. But since the divorce, she’s been looking for someplace to put down roots that feels like home. Running into Richard Chavez was like a cold bucket of memory lane water hitting her in the face. The man looked good. But so what? She wasn’t here to relive a past long forgotten and she wasn’t here to watch women fawn all over some so-called war hero and billionaire! Plus, she doesn’t want to hear all about the previous Hardman women who dated him. No thanks.
August 5, 2024
It’s FREE book Monday!
Enjoy this FREEBIE to start off your week!
FREE! The Undercover Groom
I thought it was about time for a FREE book—didn’t you?
Have you had a chance to catch all my Bachelor Billionaire Romances?---this is one of them!
Enjoy!
FREE! The Undercover Groom
Enjoy this fast-paced romance by best-selling author, Taylor Hart.
Nick Freestone is a cop to the core. He has lived his life in the service of others—would die for others. His senses go into full alert when he pulls into a gas station and spots a girl who needs help. But when she extemporaneously pulls him in for a kiss … all his cop senses slip away.
Ava Haughty…no, NOT hottie!...doesn’t like playing the damsel in distress. After being tormented by her ex the past two years, she’s not sticking around to see what surprise he has coming for their two year ‘divorce-anniversary.’ An unusual dream sends her to Park City where she seeks the help of Sheriff Kantrell, the father of her dead best friend. But, when the Sheriff tells her the hot cop she kissed at the gas station is going to pose as her fiancé she refuses. But Nick Freestone won’t take no for an answer and ends up taking Ava to Jackson Hole, Wyoming on his brother’s jet, to keep her off the grid for a couple of days until they can figure out how to shut down her ex.
Ava’s not in the mood for a nice cop and she’s really not in the mood for sky diving, self-defense lessons…or the butterflies that erupt every time Nick is near. Sparks ignite between Ava and Nick as they begin to confide in each other. But Ava’s ex isn’t going to take things lying down.
Can Ava find the inner strength to overcome her destructive past? And will her undercover fiancé be able to save her in the end?
This is a stand alone book, part of the Bachelor Billionaire Romances. Nick is also the 3rd Freestone Brother with a story. If you want to read the Freestone Brother's Stories in order, it would go like this... Damon, Rescue Me: Park City Firefighter Romances Luke, The Lost Groom: Bachelor Billionaire Romances Nick, The Undercover Groom: Bachelor Billionaire Romances
FREE! The Undercover Groom
I thought it was about time for a FREE book—didn’t you?
Have you had a chance to catch all my Bachelor Billionaire Romances?---this is one of them!
Enjoy!
FREE! The Undercover Groom
Enjoy this fast-paced romance by best-selling author, Taylor Hart.
Nick Freestone is a cop to the core. He has lived his life in the service of others—would die for others. His senses go into full alert when he pulls into a gas station and spots a girl who needs help. But when she extemporaneously pulls him in for a kiss … all his cop senses slip away.
Ava Haughty…no, NOT hottie!...doesn’t like playing the damsel in distress. After being tormented by her ex the past two years, she’s not sticking around to see what surprise he has coming for their two year ‘divorce-anniversary.’ An unusual dream sends her to Park City where she seeks the help of Sheriff Kantrell, the father of her dead best friend. But, when the Sheriff tells her the hot cop she kissed at the gas station is going to pose as her fiancé she refuses. But Nick Freestone won’t take no for an answer and ends up taking Ava to Jackson Hole, Wyoming on his brother’s jet, to keep her off the grid for a couple of days until they can figure out how to shut down her ex.
Ava’s not in the mood for a nice cop and she’s really not in the mood for sky diving, self-defense lessons…or the butterflies that erupt every time Nick is near. Sparks ignite between Ava and Nick as they begin to confide in each other. But Ava’s ex isn’t going to take things lying down.
Can Ava find the inner strength to overcome her destructive past? And will her undercover fiancé be able to save her in the end?
This is a stand alone book, part of the Bachelor Billionaire Romances. Nick is also the 3rd Freestone Brother with a story. If you want to read the Freestone Brother's Stories in order, it would go like this... Damon, Rescue Me: Park City Firefighter Romances Luke, The Lost Groom: Bachelor Billionaire Romances Nick, The Undercover Groom: Bachelor Billionaire Romances
July 30, 2024
NEW! 99¢ Feel Good Billionaire Romance Collection!
Enjoy this Feel Good Billionaire Romance Collection!
Only 99¢ Feel Good Billionaire Romance : Sweet, Contemporary, Christian Collection
I'm still working hard on my newest book – The Armstrong Family Reunion! It's coming soon and will be here before we know it!
While you are all patiently waiting for it to release I've got a NEW 6 book collection for you! Feel Good Billionaire Romances is only 99¢! This is a great collection of Feel Good Romances and is sure to let you escape life for a bit!
Check out the excerpt I've included from Secret Undercover Vanlife Billionaire!
Have an awesome day!
Only 99¢ Feel Good Billionaire Romance : Sweet, Contemporary, Christian Collection
FALLING IN LOVE NEVER FELT SO GOOD! ★★
A great collection of FEEL GOOD ROMANCES!
Included are 6 Sweet, Contemporary and Christian Romances. ★★ Get away from your life Romance by USA TODAY Author and kindle all-star, Taylor Hart.
From the author:
I, personally, love a good book when I need to get away from my life...just for a bit. Get away from all the crazy or something hard or just have a book vacation when I need one!
I love collections for that!
Enjoy!
Taylor
Books included:
The Wedding Planner
The Dream Groom
Secret Undercover Vanlife Billionaire
Secret Undercover Counterfeit Billionaire
Married by Christmas
The Fake Fiancé Groom
**Excerpt from Secret Undercover Vanlife Billionaire – Included in this Collection:**
Tara lay on the ground, too shocked to move. Pain seared through her head and her wrist where she had taken the brunt of the fall.
She didn’t know how long she’d been lying there before Sam showed up. He hopped off his bike and kneeled beside her. “Tara! Are you okay?”
She turned to face him, but his image was hazy. “I don’t know.” She closed her eyes, then opened them again. Were there supposed to be two of him?
“What hurts? Where did you hit?” His hands gently touched her legs, then moved farther up her body, checking for broken bones. “It doesn’t seem like your legs are hurt.”
Her mind flashed to the night when she’d gotten that fateful phone call about Tina. Maybe it was because when the body was in an emergency situation, the mind was thrown back to a similar experience. She thought about walking into the hospital and finding her mother crying into the doctor’s shoulder.
The feel of Sam’s hands on her arms jolted her. “Ouch! My wrist.”
“Does that hurt?” Sam asked, touching both wrists.
She blinked, trying to clear the haze from her eyes. “My left wrist and arm hurt. Yes. I came down on my wrist and shoulder. But my head hurts too. When I look at you, I see double.” She didn’t want to admit that, but her nursing instincts were kicking in. She’d had a class on human anatomy, and the professor had talked a lot about how important it was for nurses to identify a situation for the doctor.
Sam’s hands settled on her head. “I don’t know if I should take your helmet off. I need to call 911.”
“No.” Tara tried to use her other arm to push herself up, but she collapsed when nausea threatened to overwhelm her. “We don’t have the money for hospital bills. I don’t have insurance. Don’t call 911.” She kept her eyes closed and tried to regulate her breathing. “That was stupid. I never should’ve come up here. I never should’ve taken that hill so fast.” She was kicking herself. She’d known she wasn’t in a great mental state when she’d started down the hill.
Sam gently unclasped the helmet strap beneath her chin. “I know you might be in pain, but the fact that you tried to sit up is a good thing. It tells me your neck isn’t broken. You probably have a concussion.” He dropped the helmet beside them.
It felt better to have the helmet off. “Yeah, it’s probably just a concussion. I’m fine.” She looked at Sam again, but her vision was swimming too much and she squeezed her eyes shut again. “Crap.”
“Just hold still. You don’t have to hurry. Let’s give this a second. Let’s figure out what’s going on.” Sam’s hands were back on her arm and wrist and elbow. “I’m going to compare your left arm with your right arm,” he told her. “Any pain as I move up your arm?”
Tara kept her eyes closed and focused on how his fingers traced her muscles. “No. There wasn’t pain in that arm when I tried to sit up either. The other arm took most of it.”
Sam’s hands moved to her other arm, grazing her fingers, then her wrist. The pressure increased as he moved up toward her elbow.
“Ouch.” Yes, it was her elbow.
“Okay. I think you might’ve hyper-extended your arm, but there’s nothing puncturing the skin, so that’s good.” His hands moved up to her shoulder.
“It’s sore, but I think you’re right. I think I just came down wrong and it hyper-extended the elbow.” She found comfort in knowing that none of her bones needed to be set.
Sam’s hands moved across her shoulders, up her neck, then onto her head, gingerly feeling the top. “Is there pain in your neck and shoulders?”
“Yes, on the right side. But I hit the ground there, and then I kind of lifted and slammed back to the ground right there.”
Sam carefully prodded her neck. “Okay. Okay. We probably need to get some ice on it.”
How could she possibly walk with double vision? But if she’d learned anything in her life, it was that there was no time to cry about it and she just had to figure it out. “If you don’t mind helping me stand, I can probably lean on you and walk back to the car. But you can take the bikes back first.” It would be a pain to get the bikes back to Vince’s truck, and she couldn’t help.
“I’ll come back later.” Carefully, Sam put a hand beneath her shoulder, then began lifting her to her feet. “I’m more concerned about getting you to a place where we can get some ice and some medicine.”
Pain shot through Tara’s head, and she cried out.
Sam froze. “Shoot, are you okay? If you have this much pain, we might have to just call the ambulance. We’ll figure it out.”
Tara steeled herself. “We are not calling an ambulance. I’m ready; I’ll just have to hold on to you. Sorry.” She didn’t like feeling vulnerable, especially considering she’d been rude right before her descent down the hill.
“Are you kidding? We military guys like saving a damsel in distress.”
Despite herself, she cracked a smile. “I hate being a damsel.”
“I know.”
This time, she was ready for him to bring her upright, and she braced herself against him as the pain seared through her skull.
“I’ve got you. Can you walk?”
She squinted and did her best to take one step after another. “I still have blurred vision, but I can walk.”
“You’re a tough one, Tara. Whether you’re pointing a gun in my face or have a concussion, I am always impressed by how tough you are.”
Only 99¢ Feel Good Billionaire Romance : Sweet, Contemporary, Christian Collection
I'm still working hard on my newest book – The Armstrong Family Reunion! It's coming soon and will be here before we know it!
While you are all patiently waiting for it to release I've got a NEW 6 book collection for you! Feel Good Billionaire Romances is only 99¢! This is a great collection of Feel Good Romances and is sure to let you escape life for a bit!
Check out the excerpt I've included from Secret Undercover Vanlife Billionaire!
Have an awesome day!
Only 99¢ Feel Good Billionaire Romance : Sweet, Contemporary, Christian Collection
FALLING IN LOVE NEVER FELT SO GOOD! ★★
A great collection of FEEL GOOD ROMANCES!
Included are 6 Sweet, Contemporary and Christian Romances. ★★ Get away from your life Romance by USA TODAY Author and kindle all-star, Taylor Hart.
From the author:
I, personally, love a good book when I need to get away from my life...just for a bit. Get away from all the crazy or something hard or just have a book vacation when I need one!
I love collections for that!
Enjoy!
Taylor
Books included:
The Wedding Planner
The Dream Groom
Secret Undercover Vanlife Billionaire
Secret Undercover Counterfeit Billionaire
Married by Christmas
The Fake Fiancé Groom
**Excerpt from Secret Undercover Vanlife Billionaire – Included in this Collection:**
Tara lay on the ground, too shocked to move. Pain seared through her head and her wrist where she had taken the brunt of the fall.
She didn’t know how long she’d been lying there before Sam showed up. He hopped off his bike and kneeled beside her. “Tara! Are you okay?”
She turned to face him, but his image was hazy. “I don’t know.” She closed her eyes, then opened them again. Were there supposed to be two of him?
“What hurts? Where did you hit?” His hands gently touched her legs, then moved farther up her body, checking for broken bones. “It doesn’t seem like your legs are hurt.”
Her mind flashed to the night when she’d gotten that fateful phone call about Tina. Maybe it was because when the body was in an emergency situation, the mind was thrown back to a similar experience. She thought about walking into the hospital and finding her mother crying into the doctor’s shoulder.
The feel of Sam’s hands on her arms jolted her. “Ouch! My wrist.”
“Does that hurt?” Sam asked, touching both wrists.
She blinked, trying to clear the haze from her eyes. “My left wrist and arm hurt. Yes. I came down on my wrist and shoulder. But my head hurts too. When I look at you, I see double.” She didn’t want to admit that, but her nursing instincts were kicking in. She’d had a class on human anatomy, and the professor had talked a lot about how important it was for nurses to identify a situation for the doctor.
Sam’s hands settled on her head. “I don’t know if I should take your helmet off. I need to call 911.”
“No.” Tara tried to use her other arm to push herself up, but she collapsed when nausea threatened to overwhelm her. “We don’t have the money for hospital bills. I don’t have insurance. Don’t call 911.” She kept her eyes closed and tried to regulate her breathing. “That was stupid. I never should’ve come up here. I never should’ve taken that hill so fast.” She was kicking herself. She’d known she wasn’t in a great mental state when she’d started down the hill.
Sam gently unclasped the helmet strap beneath her chin. “I know you might be in pain, but the fact that you tried to sit up is a good thing. It tells me your neck isn’t broken. You probably have a concussion.” He dropped the helmet beside them.
It felt better to have the helmet off. “Yeah, it’s probably just a concussion. I’m fine.” She looked at Sam again, but her vision was swimming too much and she squeezed her eyes shut again. “Crap.”
“Just hold still. You don’t have to hurry. Let’s give this a second. Let’s figure out what’s going on.” Sam’s hands were back on her arm and wrist and elbow. “I’m going to compare your left arm with your right arm,” he told her. “Any pain as I move up your arm?”
Tara kept her eyes closed and focused on how his fingers traced her muscles. “No. There wasn’t pain in that arm when I tried to sit up either. The other arm took most of it.”
Sam’s hands moved to her other arm, grazing her fingers, then her wrist. The pressure increased as he moved up toward her elbow.
“Ouch.” Yes, it was her elbow.
“Okay. I think you might’ve hyper-extended your arm, but there’s nothing puncturing the skin, so that’s good.” His hands moved up to her shoulder.
“It’s sore, but I think you’re right. I think I just came down wrong and it hyper-extended the elbow.” She found comfort in knowing that none of her bones needed to be set.
Sam’s hands moved across her shoulders, up her neck, then onto her head, gingerly feeling the top. “Is there pain in your neck and shoulders?”
“Yes, on the right side. But I hit the ground there, and then I kind of lifted and slammed back to the ground right there.”
Sam carefully prodded her neck. “Okay. Okay. We probably need to get some ice on it.”
How could she possibly walk with double vision? But if she’d learned anything in her life, it was that there was no time to cry about it and she just had to figure it out. “If you don’t mind helping me stand, I can probably lean on you and walk back to the car. But you can take the bikes back first.” It would be a pain to get the bikes back to Vince’s truck, and she couldn’t help.
“I’ll come back later.” Carefully, Sam put a hand beneath her shoulder, then began lifting her to her feet. “I’m more concerned about getting you to a place where we can get some ice and some medicine.”
Pain shot through Tara’s head, and she cried out.
Sam froze. “Shoot, are you okay? If you have this much pain, we might have to just call the ambulance. We’ll figure it out.”
Tara steeled herself. “We are not calling an ambulance. I’m ready; I’ll just have to hold on to you. Sorry.” She didn’t like feeling vulnerable, especially considering she’d been rude right before her descent down the hill.
“Are you kidding? We military guys like saving a damsel in distress.”
Despite herself, she cracked a smile. “I hate being a damsel.”
“I know.”
This time, she was ready for him to bring her upright, and she braced herself against him as the pain seared through her skull.
“I’ve got you. Can you walk?”
She squinted and did her best to take one step after another. “I still have blurred vision, but I can walk.”
“You’re a tough one, Tara. Whether you’re pointing a gun in my face or have a concussion, I am always impressed by how tough you are.”
July 9, 2024
NEW Series!! –– First Two Chapters!!
You're going to love this NEW series!
Pre-Order Today! Home to You: Christian Fiction with a lot of Romance
I have SERIOUSLY been behind on writing new books for you :) - But I’m happy to give you a pre-order in a new Series today and the FIRST TWO CHAPTERS!—so you can check it out!
I love Noah and Ella and I’m hoping you will too!
Hugs!
Pre-Order Today! Home to You: Christian Fiction with a lot of Romance
After the heart attack of their father, five siblings come back together in the small town of Refuge Falls to support and care for their parents. Noah, the oldest brother, and the prodigal son, comes home to discover that many resentments are in the wake of his eight years away.
Noah Armstrong didn't need to remember he'd left town eight years ago to run away from the past. He didn't need his siblings rubbing it in his face. And he really didn't need his father guilt tripping him by having a heart attack! Fine, he would come home and meet up to his family obligations. He would stay a week and do his 'duty.' But, that duty didn't include facing the very demons that had caused him to run eight years ago. He shouldn't have to do that. He WOULD NOT do that!
Ella Kind lost the only person she could truly rely on eight years ago; her twin brother. She has felt that loss every day of those eight years. She has never forgiven herself or anyone else for that loss. Why should she? It was her fault...and the fault of Noah Armstrong. It was his fault too and if she never sees him again, it will be too soon. Too bad she runs into him at the hospital after his father's heart attack and too bad ... she tries to console him. Why would she do that?
When Noah's nephew gets hurt and Ella is the one on the front lines of helping him ... things get complicated. Can the past be forgiven or will feelings buried down deep lead to more and more pain?
As five siblings reunite together, they must learn to let go of what doesn’t matter and cling family, friends and the refuge their town always gave them.
Read the first two Chapters here:
Chapter One
Noah
Tolstoy once said, “The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.” I didn’t really have patience, but time kept going.
I gripped the steering wheel and pressed the gas pedal, taking the curves of the mountain with ease. I’d driven them a thousand times. My father would have disagreed, saying I didn’t come home that much. In the past eight years, I’d only come at Christmas for my mother.
Now the old man had gotten his way; I was coming home at a time that wasn’t Christmas. He’d probably staged the heart attack.
After high school, I’d gone straight to the Marines, then graduated to Delta Force. I’d quit doing that two years ago and opened my own private security company with a buddy of mine. It was the reason I hadn’t been accessible when my sister had tried to call and tell me about my father’s heart attack initially.
Then all of my siblings had tried to call. I had a total of five messages, one from each of them, telling me about Dad’s heart attack and that it was time to come home.
My brother Damon, sheriff of our hometown, had said it best: “Noah, we need you. It’s time to get over your crap and come home. For Mom.”
He knew that using my mother against me was the best tactic. My mother was the exact opposite of my father: witty, funny, and always sending me text messages to update me on what everyone in the family was up to. She never guilted me, just let me know that I was loved.
I slowed as the sign for Refuge Falls came into view. Just reading the name lifted my spirits. The smell of pine overwhelmed me as I rolled down the windows on my rental Jeep. It was almost like going back in time in some ways, because tourism had somehow skipped over this town. I was grateful for that. I knew my family was too. Our family owned the main resort in town that consisted of several cabins around the lake.
I passed Main Street and kept going toward the hospital. Had my father been released yet? It felt like a big to-do to call one of my siblings and ask them. I didn’t want to hear about how I needed to stay home. Even though Damon had used my mother against me, I’d come to check on her and my father. I wasn’t some ogre without feelings. The man had raised me right. He’d taught all six of us to love God and country music and search and rescue.
Dad was a semi-retired pastor and search and rescue volunteer. Those were the favorite points on his résumé. He’d been a gambler turned entrepreneur, getting rich after a lucky poker game, then using the money to buy land and build resort cabins. Nowadays, running the resort was left to my only sister, Kayla.
I pulled up to the hospital and parked, cutting the engine. I got out and hurried to the main part of the hospital, walking quickly and only pausing at the front desk. The receptionist was someone I didn’t know, which felt strange. From the time I was young, I had seen familiar faces everywhere we went—every ball game, every town event, all of the locally owned stores in town. When we’d gone to the county fair each summer, I’d known everyone. That was the consequence of living in a small town.
The older woman’s eyebrows rose. Her smile was bright. “Well! Noah Armstrong, the prodigal son, is finally here. Too bad you’re late, young man. Your father checked out an hour ago. You’ll want to head out to the house.”
I nodded. Maybe I did know this woman. She looked vaguely familiar, and for a second, I thought about my third-grade teacher, Mrs. Hawthorne. She would be older now, probably as old as this woman was.
I didn’t have a chance to ask if it was her, though, because someone said my name.
“Noah? Is that you?”
I did recognize that voice. Of course I did, though I hadn’t expected to ever hear it again. I spun slowly, and my eyes weren’t disappointed when I drank in the sight of Ella. My heart raced, and my mouth went dry. Ridiculous. I’d been on countless ops where terrorists were threatening to kill me. With my training, I didn’t even react to that kind of danger anymore, but Ella… she was a different kind of dangerous.
She rushed toward me, putting her hand on my shoulder. “I’m so sorry about your dad.”
Confusion swirled through me. It was as though she’d forgotten what she’d done to me. What I’d done to her. I stepped back as if burned. “What are you doing? Why are you here?”
She pulled her hand back, her eyes wide. “I thought someone would’ve told you. I came back to Refuge Falls three months ago.”
Her words hung in the air, and I wanted to take them, put them into a computer, and analyze everything about them. For the first time in eight years, I wanted to know what she’d been up to and whatever had led her to this hospital. “You’re back?”
Ella nodded. “I’m back.”
For a long time, both of us just stared at each other. I couldn’t help but think of my best friend, her twin brother … the accident.
She blinked as if disoriented and took a step back. “I’m sorry. You’d better go. He just got out.” She turned away. “Go home, Noah.”
I watched her go, frozen in place. If I had the strength, I would’ve run after her and caught her, demanded answers. What was she doing back here? Where was her husband? And why the hell had she touched me?
Chapter Two
Ella
It was a good thing I was at the end of my shift, because I was close to the end of my rope. I moved toward the nurses’ station and took off my name tag, placing it next to the others, then tapped the computer and signed out.
Mercy, my boss and best friend, eyed me. “You okay?”
I nodded and then sucked in a breath. If only I hadn’t spoken to Noah. That was a mistake. My hand shook as I went to the locker room and retrieved my purse.
Mercy followed me. “You’re not okay. Would this have anything to do with Noah Armstrong being back in town?”
A stilted laugh came out of me. “I’m not in the mood to discuss it, okay?”
“It’s okay to be rattled,” she told me, shaking her head. “And it’s okay to talk to your best friend about it.”
I kept walking, holding up a hand. “Thank you, but I can’t.”
“You’re welcome, and it’s okay.”
I smiled a little. The annoying thing about a small town was that everyone knew your business, but there were benefits to that. Mercy knew I wouldn’t want to talk about Noah Armstrong.
Once I was on my own again, I got in the elevator and pressed the button for the parking level. This wasn’t a huge hospital, but it had been built two years ago and had a parking garage, which I was grateful for. I would definitely be grateful for it in the winter. Winters were brutal here. I’d come in the spring, and now the end of June was upon us. The best time to be in Refuge Falls was in the summer.
Too bad seeing Noah had put a damper on all of that.
I walked to my car and settled into the driver’s seat, musing that Noah no doubt blamed me for our breakup. But I blamed him for … too much. For everything. The accident. For saving me.
He never should have saved me.
I sucked in a deep breath. My eyes burned at the familiar resentment stabbing through me.
No. I wouldn’t think about the past eight years.
Picking up the water bottle in my cup holder and taking a sip, I tried to clear my mind, but thoughts of my brother, Greg, bubbled to the surface.
How could those memories not come back to me after seeing Noah? The three of us had been inseparable. Until the accident. Noah blamed himself for it. I blamed Noah for it, too. It was his fault. He had chosen to save someone besides my brother.
He should have chosen my brother.
Tears slipped down my cheeks, but I clamped down on that train of thought. That’s what my therapist had taught me: the thoughts might be there, but I could decide how much energy I gave them.
Deep breath. In, two, three, and out, two, three.
Coming back here was supposed to be a fresh start. I’d thought I was safe because Noah steered clear of this town. I’d run into his sister, Kayla, at my grandmother’s funeral last year when I’d found out I’d inherited her lake house. Kayla had told me Noah only ever came home at Christmas. I’d talked myself into coming back home because I thought I would be safe.
Home. What a funny word. Yes, Refuge Falls was my home, but it wasn’t because of the home I’d been raised in. My parents were the kind of people who never really wanted children, and they spoke about having twins like it was a huge inconvenience. They had always told me and Greg that we were a huge “oops” and they had important journalism stories to write. They’d left most of the child-rearing up to our grandmother, which had suited us just fine. They’d sold their home in Refuge Falls a few years ago and were now based in New York, a place that seemed to suit them.
My mother had told me at my grandmother’s funeral that I should sell the place and move to the city. Focus on getting more education. Maybe become a doctor. Pfft. I liked being a nurse. My parents were all about degrees and who you knew and what conspiracy to write about next; I wasn’t interested in any of that.
It had been strange having that conversation with my mom. She and Dad had never really taken part in my life. Sure, they had been there for every milestone event. They’d shown up at my high school graduation long enough for a picture and dinner before jet-setting back to whatever story they’d been working on. My grandma and I had gone over to the Armstrongs’ house to celebrate instead.
The Armstrongs. Ugh. I’d tried to steer clear of them since I’d been home, but that was nearly impossible. The family was large and very involved in the town.
It was difficult to stay away from anyone in town, actually. Hardly a day after I’d moved back, Mercy had cornered me in the grocery store. She’d grilled me about a lot of things, but her main goal was to ask me about working with her at the hospital. They needed nurses, and I could help. I’d taken the job, and even though I got looks and people still said stupid and hurtful things about the loss of my brother, it was a relief to work. I liked helping others, and it got my mind off Brian.
As if just thinking about my ex could conjure him, my phone buzzed with a call from him. I pushed decline, but then it buzzed again. It’d been over six months since the divorce, but he wouldn’t quit bugging me.
Huffing in annoyance, I drove out of the parking garage and toward the highway.
My ex was another mistake from my past. No one knew the truth about him and me. That was good; there were so many things I was ashamed of. I was grateful my grandmother had left me her house when she’d passed. I hated that she was gone from this earth, but her house had given me the freedom I needed, as well as the courage to file for divorce papers. We’d only been married two years, but I should have divorced him sooner.
The first time he’d hit me, I’d been struck equally hard by shame.
Swallowing, I pounded the steering wheel. Why was all of this affecting me today? It probably had something to do with seeing Noah so unexpectedly.
The path not taken. That’s what Noah symbolized for me. A path where our lives would have been intertwined, but … it hadn’t happened.
I sucked in another breath, forcing myself to calm down. I had gotten away from the monster I’d been married to. That was a good thing. Grandma’s house had given me the chance to restart my life without stooping to asking my parents for help. I was safe now, back in my hometown.
I drove toward my home, passing the turn to the Armstrong property. I didn’t have to think of the past and all the stupid decisions. Noah wouldn’t stay in Refuge Falls. No way. He was only here because of his father, who would be okay in no time. It was fine. Everything was fine.
Turning on the radio, I tried to clear my mind. Noah Armstrong wasn’t a problem. Facing the past wasn’t a problem. The past would be leaving town in a couple days.
I toyed with the idea of skipping work for the next few days and focusing my time on repairing my grandmother’s home. My home. But skipping work and avoiding people was something my therapist and I had agreed I shouldn’t do. Avoidance had been one of the biggest problems in my marriage.
When Brian called again, I told myself I was done avoiding him. “We’re not talking, Brian. That’s what divorce is. Not talking.”
“Wait. I just … I had a bill come in, and I wanted to make sure it was good with you if I canceled it.”
“What bill?” He’d been making these kinds of excuses for talking to me lately—sorting out all the bills and insurance and blah blah blah after the divorce.
“Um. That life insurance policy we bought for you.”
His tone sounded uncertain. It confused me. “What?”
“Fine. It’s not about a bill. Ella, look, we can’t be divorced. I need you. I have been getting help, and I need to see you.”
“No,” I snapped. “I can’t do this with you, Brian. Don’t call again.”
“Did you know I’m not even working? I can’t be called a doctor after what I did. I took an oath: ‘Do no harm.’ And I technically broke it by how I treated you. I realize that now.”
I hesitated. “I’m glad you see that.” Apparently, all the therapy he was doing now was finally having an effect on him. If only he’d started doing it when I’d brought it up to him again and again.
“Let me come see you. We can talk all of this out.”
“Brian,” I said, trying to keep my words calm. “We’re finished. While I’m happy you are getting help, it doesn’t mean I want to talk to you.”
“How can you do that?” he said, his voice rising. “Just act like you care, then turn me away when I need you. Can’t you see that I need you?”
I hung up, fuming. This was his tactic: constantly finding ways to talk to me, to try to apologize, to say he needed me.
My phone buzzed. A text popped up from Brian.
We’re not done, Ella. We can’t be done.
I chucked my phone onto the passenger seat. I was angry now. Ironically, that made me feel better. Anger was a nice emotional change from being afraid or insecure. “We are done, Brian. We are so done!”
I tried to focus on the radio for a few minutes, but I couldn’t let the music all the way in. My monkey mind kept reminding me about all the stupid stuff with Brian, occasionally adding flashes of Noah’s face for good measure. Ugh.
Finally, I grabbed my phone and pressed Mercy’s phone number.
She answered on the first ring. “Are you okay?”
I sighed, hating that I was so vulnerable. “I’ve had an emergency come up, and I’ll be out of town for the next couple days. I’m sorry.”
“You mean Noah Armstrong? That emergency?”
“Mercy, please. I’ll be back at work on Monday. I’ll just take Sunday off.”
“Ella, you have tomorrow off.”
Right. My breathing was shallow, and I forced myself to suck in air. Sunday was my regular day off. “Sorry I called. I’ll let you go.”
“Wait.”
I hedged between pressing the red button on the screen in my car and not wanting to hang up on my best friend.
“You have to forgive yourself for what happened.”
I was stunned she was talking to me about this. “What?”
“For Greg’s death, girl,” she said, her tone soft. “He wouldn’t want you to keep punishing yourself … or Noah. You need to find a way to forgive.”
I was quiet, but my heart raced. Annoyingly, tears sprang to my eyes. Mercy knew what tomorrow was. She knew that it was my fault, and Noah’s fault. “I …”
“Just turn back and come to town and have dinner with me. Let’s talk this through.”
My hands shook on the steering wheel, and I was suddenly overwhelmed with fury. I was angry at Mercy, angry at Noah, and angry that I had to explain myself, because Mercy probably did know more about the whole situation than anyone else. She hadn’t been there that day, but she was my best friend. I’d cried to her over the years and talked about everything. She was a key factor in why I’d felt like I could come back to Refuge Falls. She’d always made me feel understood and safe.
“I will never forgive him or myself. You know that.” My mouth was dry. “I will see you Monday.”
I hung up. There was no point in staying on the phone and arguing with Mercy.
My eyes burned again. I let out a frustrated scream and pounded the steering wheel. Why had Noah Armstrong come back to Refuge Falls? And why had I tried to talk to him and touched his arm? Why was I even thinking about the way he’d looked at me when I’d told him I was sorry about his dad?
I put the phone down and focused on the road, then took the turn toward my home. The road was winding, and I passed a few other houses on the lake.
The sight of my home nearly took my breath away, and it had a calming effect on me. This was my home. Mine. I could hide away as long as I needed to.
I would go back to work on Monday. I wouldn’t let the past control me. Not my abusive ex, not the man who’d broken my heart, and not losing my brother.
Once I parked and got out of the car, I walked toward the edge of the dock and sucked in a long breath, relishing the peace and quiet of the lake. I was okay. I was.
My grandparents had always taught me and my brother that we were in control of our lives. We weren’t simply agents that were acted upon. No. We made our own choices.
Well, I would never choose to forgive Noah Armstrong. That would be like saying it was okay that Noah had chosen me that day on the ledge.
And it wasn’t.
Pre-Order Today! Home to You: Christian Fiction with a lot of Romance
I have SERIOUSLY been behind on writing new books for you :) - But I’m happy to give you a pre-order in a new Series today and the FIRST TWO CHAPTERS!—so you can check it out!
I love Noah and Ella and I’m hoping you will too!
Hugs!
Pre-Order Today! Home to You: Christian Fiction with a lot of Romance
After the heart attack of their father, five siblings come back together in the small town of Refuge Falls to support and care for their parents. Noah, the oldest brother, and the prodigal son, comes home to discover that many resentments are in the wake of his eight years away.
Noah Armstrong didn't need to remember he'd left town eight years ago to run away from the past. He didn't need his siblings rubbing it in his face. And he really didn't need his father guilt tripping him by having a heart attack! Fine, he would come home and meet up to his family obligations. He would stay a week and do his 'duty.' But, that duty didn't include facing the very demons that had caused him to run eight years ago. He shouldn't have to do that. He WOULD NOT do that!
Ella Kind lost the only person she could truly rely on eight years ago; her twin brother. She has felt that loss every day of those eight years. She has never forgiven herself or anyone else for that loss. Why should she? It was her fault...and the fault of Noah Armstrong. It was his fault too and if she never sees him again, it will be too soon. Too bad she runs into him at the hospital after his father's heart attack and too bad ... she tries to console him. Why would she do that?
When Noah's nephew gets hurt and Ella is the one on the front lines of helping him ... things get complicated. Can the past be forgiven or will feelings buried down deep lead to more and more pain?
As five siblings reunite together, they must learn to let go of what doesn’t matter and cling family, friends and the refuge their town always gave them.
Read the first two Chapters here:
Chapter One
Noah
Tolstoy once said, “The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.” I didn’t really have patience, but time kept going.
I gripped the steering wheel and pressed the gas pedal, taking the curves of the mountain with ease. I’d driven them a thousand times. My father would have disagreed, saying I didn’t come home that much. In the past eight years, I’d only come at Christmas for my mother.
Now the old man had gotten his way; I was coming home at a time that wasn’t Christmas. He’d probably staged the heart attack.
After high school, I’d gone straight to the Marines, then graduated to Delta Force. I’d quit doing that two years ago and opened my own private security company with a buddy of mine. It was the reason I hadn’t been accessible when my sister had tried to call and tell me about my father’s heart attack initially.
Then all of my siblings had tried to call. I had a total of five messages, one from each of them, telling me about Dad’s heart attack and that it was time to come home.
My brother Damon, sheriff of our hometown, had said it best: “Noah, we need you. It’s time to get over your crap and come home. For Mom.”
He knew that using my mother against me was the best tactic. My mother was the exact opposite of my father: witty, funny, and always sending me text messages to update me on what everyone in the family was up to. She never guilted me, just let me know that I was loved.
I slowed as the sign for Refuge Falls came into view. Just reading the name lifted my spirits. The smell of pine overwhelmed me as I rolled down the windows on my rental Jeep. It was almost like going back in time in some ways, because tourism had somehow skipped over this town. I was grateful for that. I knew my family was too. Our family owned the main resort in town that consisted of several cabins around the lake.
I passed Main Street and kept going toward the hospital. Had my father been released yet? It felt like a big to-do to call one of my siblings and ask them. I didn’t want to hear about how I needed to stay home. Even though Damon had used my mother against me, I’d come to check on her and my father. I wasn’t some ogre without feelings. The man had raised me right. He’d taught all six of us to love God and country music and search and rescue.
Dad was a semi-retired pastor and search and rescue volunteer. Those were the favorite points on his résumé. He’d been a gambler turned entrepreneur, getting rich after a lucky poker game, then using the money to buy land and build resort cabins. Nowadays, running the resort was left to my only sister, Kayla.
I pulled up to the hospital and parked, cutting the engine. I got out and hurried to the main part of the hospital, walking quickly and only pausing at the front desk. The receptionist was someone I didn’t know, which felt strange. From the time I was young, I had seen familiar faces everywhere we went—every ball game, every town event, all of the locally owned stores in town. When we’d gone to the county fair each summer, I’d known everyone. That was the consequence of living in a small town.
The older woman’s eyebrows rose. Her smile was bright. “Well! Noah Armstrong, the prodigal son, is finally here. Too bad you’re late, young man. Your father checked out an hour ago. You’ll want to head out to the house.”
I nodded. Maybe I did know this woman. She looked vaguely familiar, and for a second, I thought about my third-grade teacher, Mrs. Hawthorne. She would be older now, probably as old as this woman was.
I didn’t have a chance to ask if it was her, though, because someone said my name.
“Noah? Is that you?”
I did recognize that voice. Of course I did, though I hadn’t expected to ever hear it again. I spun slowly, and my eyes weren’t disappointed when I drank in the sight of Ella. My heart raced, and my mouth went dry. Ridiculous. I’d been on countless ops where terrorists were threatening to kill me. With my training, I didn’t even react to that kind of danger anymore, but Ella… she was a different kind of dangerous.
She rushed toward me, putting her hand on my shoulder. “I’m so sorry about your dad.”
Confusion swirled through me. It was as though she’d forgotten what she’d done to me. What I’d done to her. I stepped back as if burned. “What are you doing? Why are you here?”
She pulled her hand back, her eyes wide. “I thought someone would’ve told you. I came back to Refuge Falls three months ago.”
Her words hung in the air, and I wanted to take them, put them into a computer, and analyze everything about them. For the first time in eight years, I wanted to know what she’d been up to and whatever had led her to this hospital. “You’re back?”
Ella nodded. “I’m back.”
For a long time, both of us just stared at each other. I couldn’t help but think of my best friend, her twin brother … the accident.
She blinked as if disoriented and took a step back. “I’m sorry. You’d better go. He just got out.” She turned away. “Go home, Noah.”
I watched her go, frozen in place. If I had the strength, I would’ve run after her and caught her, demanded answers. What was she doing back here? Where was her husband? And why the hell had she touched me?
Chapter Two
Ella
It was a good thing I was at the end of my shift, because I was close to the end of my rope. I moved toward the nurses’ station and took off my name tag, placing it next to the others, then tapped the computer and signed out.
Mercy, my boss and best friend, eyed me. “You okay?”
I nodded and then sucked in a breath. If only I hadn’t spoken to Noah. That was a mistake. My hand shook as I went to the locker room and retrieved my purse.
Mercy followed me. “You’re not okay. Would this have anything to do with Noah Armstrong being back in town?”
A stilted laugh came out of me. “I’m not in the mood to discuss it, okay?”
“It’s okay to be rattled,” she told me, shaking her head. “And it’s okay to talk to your best friend about it.”
I kept walking, holding up a hand. “Thank you, but I can’t.”
“You’re welcome, and it’s okay.”
I smiled a little. The annoying thing about a small town was that everyone knew your business, but there were benefits to that. Mercy knew I wouldn’t want to talk about Noah Armstrong.
Once I was on my own again, I got in the elevator and pressed the button for the parking level. This wasn’t a huge hospital, but it had been built two years ago and had a parking garage, which I was grateful for. I would definitely be grateful for it in the winter. Winters were brutal here. I’d come in the spring, and now the end of June was upon us. The best time to be in Refuge Falls was in the summer.
Too bad seeing Noah had put a damper on all of that.
I walked to my car and settled into the driver’s seat, musing that Noah no doubt blamed me for our breakup. But I blamed him for … too much. For everything. The accident. For saving me.
He never should have saved me.
I sucked in a deep breath. My eyes burned at the familiar resentment stabbing through me.
No. I wouldn’t think about the past eight years.
Picking up the water bottle in my cup holder and taking a sip, I tried to clear my mind, but thoughts of my brother, Greg, bubbled to the surface.
How could those memories not come back to me after seeing Noah? The three of us had been inseparable. Until the accident. Noah blamed himself for it. I blamed Noah for it, too. It was his fault. He had chosen to save someone besides my brother.
He should have chosen my brother.
Tears slipped down my cheeks, but I clamped down on that train of thought. That’s what my therapist had taught me: the thoughts might be there, but I could decide how much energy I gave them.
Deep breath. In, two, three, and out, two, three.
Coming back here was supposed to be a fresh start. I’d thought I was safe because Noah steered clear of this town. I’d run into his sister, Kayla, at my grandmother’s funeral last year when I’d found out I’d inherited her lake house. Kayla had told me Noah only ever came home at Christmas. I’d talked myself into coming back home because I thought I would be safe.
Home. What a funny word. Yes, Refuge Falls was my home, but it wasn’t because of the home I’d been raised in. My parents were the kind of people who never really wanted children, and they spoke about having twins like it was a huge inconvenience. They had always told me and Greg that we were a huge “oops” and they had important journalism stories to write. They’d left most of the child-rearing up to our grandmother, which had suited us just fine. They’d sold their home in Refuge Falls a few years ago and were now based in New York, a place that seemed to suit them.
My mother had told me at my grandmother’s funeral that I should sell the place and move to the city. Focus on getting more education. Maybe become a doctor. Pfft. I liked being a nurse. My parents were all about degrees and who you knew and what conspiracy to write about next; I wasn’t interested in any of that.
It had been strange having that conversation with my mom. She and Dad had never really taken part in my life. Sure, they had been there for every milestone event. They’d shown up at my high school graduation long enough for a picture and dinner before jet-setting back to whatever story they’d been working on. My grandma and I had gone over to the Armstrongs’ house to celebrate instead.
The Armstrongs. Ugh. I’d tried to steer clear of them since I’d been home, but that was nearly impossible. The family was large and very involved in the town.
It was difficult to stay away from anyone in town, actually. Hardly a day after I’d moved back, Mercy had cornered me in the grocery store. She’d grilled me about a lot of things, but her main goal was to ask me about working with her at the hospital. They needed nurses, and I could help. I’d taken the job, and even though I got looks and people still said stupid and hurtful things about the loss of my brother, it was a relief to work. I liked helping others, and it got my mind off Brian.
As if just thinking about my ex could conjure him, my phone buzzed with a call from him. I pushed decline, but then it buzzed again. It’d been over six months since the divorce, but he wouldn’t quit bugging me.
Huffing in annoyance, I drove out of the parking garage and toward the highway.
My ex was another mistake from my past. No one knew the truth about him and me. That was good; there were so many things I was ashamed of. I was grateful my grandmother had left me her house when she’d passed. I hated that she was gone from this earth, but her house had given me the freedom I needed, as well as the courage to file for divorce papers. We’d only been married two years, but I should have divorced him sooner.
The first time he’d hit me, I’d been struck equally hard by shame.
Swallowing, I pounded the steering wheel. Why was all of this affecting me today? It probably had something to do with seeing Noah so unexpectedly.
The path not taken. That’s what Noah symbolized for me. A path where our lives would have been intertwined, but … it hadn’t happened.
I sucked in another breath, forcing myself to calm down. I had gotten away from the monster I’d been married to. That was a good thing. Grandma’s house had given me the chance to restart my life without stooping to asking my parents for help. I was safe now, back in my hometown.
I drove toward my home, passing the turn to the Armstrong property. I didn’t have to think of the past and all the stupid decisions. Noah wouldn’t stay in Refuge Falls. No way. He was only here because of his father, who would be okay in no time. It was fine. Everything was fine.
Turning on the radio, I tried to clear my mind. Noah Armstrong wasn’t a problem. Facing the past wasn’t a problem. The past would be leaving town in a couple days.
I toyed with the idea of skipping work for the next few days and focusing my time on repairing my grandmother’s home. My home. But skipping work and avoiding people was something my therapist and I had agreed I shouldn’t do. Avoidance had been one of the biggest problems in my marriage.
When Brian called again, I told myself I was done avoiding him. “We’re not talking, Brian. That’s what divorce is. Not talking.”
“Wait. I just … I had a bill come in, and I wanted to make sure it was good with you if I canceled it.”
“What bill?” He’d been making these kinds of excuses for talking to me lately—sorting out all the bills and insurance and blah blah blah after the divorce.
“Um. That life insurance policy we bought for you.”
His tone sounded uncertain. It confused me. “What?”
“Fine. It’s not about a bill. Ella, look, we can’t be divorced. I need you. I have been getting help, and I need to see you.”
“No,” I snapped. “I can’t do this with you, Brian. Don’t call again.”
“Did you know I’m not even working? I can’t be called a doctor after what I did. I took an oath: ‘Do no harm.’ And I technically broke it by how I treated you. I realize that now.”
I hesitated. “I’m glad you see that.” Apparently, all the therapy he was doing now was finally having an effect on him. If only he’d started doing it when I’d brought it up to him again and again.
“Let me come see you. We can talk all of this out.”
“Brian,” I said, trying to keep my words calm. “We’re finished. While I’m happy you are getting help, it doesn’t mean I want to talk to you.”
“How can you do that?” he said, his voice rising. “Just act like you care, then turn me away when I need you. Can’t you see that I need you?”
I hung up, fuming. This was his tactic: constantly finding ways to talk to me, to try to apologize, to say he needed me.
My phone buzzed. A text popped up from Brian.
We’re not done, Ella. We can’t be done.
I chucked my phone onto the passenger seat. I was angry now. Ironically, that made me feel better. Anger was a nice emotional change from being afraid or insecure. “We are done, Brian. We are so done!”
I tried to focus on the radio for a few minutes, but I couldn’t let the music all the way in. My monkey mind kept reminding me about all the stupid stuff with Brian, occasionally adding flashes of Noah’s face for good measure. Ugh.
Finally, I grabbed my phone and pressed Mercy’s phone number.
She answered on the first ring. “Are you okay?”
I sighed, hating that I was so vulnerable. “I’ve had an emergency come up, and I’ll be out of town for the next couple days. I’m sorry.”
“You mean Noah Armstrong? That emergency?”
“Mercy, please. I’ll be back at work on Monday. I’ll just take Sunday off.”
“Ella, you have tomorrow off.”
Right. My breathing was shallow, and I forced myself to suck in air. Sunday was my regular day off. “Sorry I called. I’ll let you go.”
“Wait.”
I hedged between pressing the red button on the screen in my car and not wanting to hang up on my best friend.
“You have to forgive yourself for what happened.”
I was stunned she was talking to me about this. “What?”
“For Greg’s death, girl,” she said, her tone soft. “He wouldn’t want you to keep punishing yourself … or Noah. You need to find a way to forgive.”
I was quiet, but my heart raced. Annoyingly, tears sprang to my eyes. Mercy knew what tomorrow was. She knew that it was my fault, and Noah’s fault. “I …”
“Just turn back and come to town and have dinner with me. Let’s talk this through.”
My hands shook on the steering wheel, and I was suddenly overwhelmed with fury. I was angry at Mercy, angry at Noah, and angry that I had to explain myself, because Mercy probably did know more about the whole situation than anyone else. She hadn’t been there that day, but she was my best friend. I’d cried to her over the years and talked about everything. She was a key factor in why I’d felt like I could come back to Refuge Falls. She’d always made me feel understood and safe.
“I will never forgive him or myself. You know that.” My mouth was dry. “I will see you Monday.”
I hung up. There was no point in staying on the phone and arguing with Mercy.
My eyes burned again. I let out a frustrated scream and pounded the steering wheel. Why had Noah Armstrong come back to Refuge Falls? And why had I tried to talk to him and touched his arm? Why was I even thinking about the way he’d looked at me when I’d told him I was sorry about his dad?
I put the phone down and focused on the road, then took the turn toward my home. The road was winding, and I passed a few other houses on the lake.
The sight of my home nearly took my breath away, and it had a calming effect on me. This was my home. Mine. I could hide away as long as I needed to.
I would go back to work on Monday. I wouldn’t let the past control me. Not my abusive ex, not the man who’d broken my heart, and not losing my brother.
Once I parked and got out of the car, I walked toward the edge of the dock and sucked in a long breath, relishing the peace and quiet of the lake. I was okay. I was.
My grandparents had always taught me and my brother that we were in control of our lives. We weren’t simply agents that were acted upon. No. We made our own choices.
Well, I would never choose to forgive Noah Armstrong. That would be like saying it was okay that Noah had chosen me that day on the ledge.
And it wasn’t.
July 4, 2024
FREE book---Happy 4th! Freedom ISN’T FREE! Small town parades are the best!
Don't Miss This MEGA 4th of July Sale!
FREE – The Tough Love Groom
Only 99¢ – The Dream Groom
Only 99¢ – The Broken Warrior
Only 99¢ –The Lone Star Groom
I absolutely love the 4th of July! I’m so grateful for the birth of this great nation!
This year—I went back to the place I grew up going to every summer—a small town in Southern Utah!
A small town where the parades are amazing and the candy reigns down and everyone wears 4th of July t-shirts!
It’s awesome and I’m grateful! One of MY BEST memories of this parade, when I was little, was of my grandfather walking in the parade honoring WW2 Vets! He always polished his shoes and participated in a gun salute for freedom. In recognition that freedom really isn’t free.
I remember my mom always talking to us kids about how proud she was of her father and how he fought to keep this nation FREE!
I too am so grateful and proud of all of those who serve to protect our nation and keep us FREE!
Thank you!
And—to celebrate this day—I have Tough Love Groom FREE and a bunch of 99¢ books—about our military brothers and sisters and their sacrifice and –of course—their love stories! :)
Only 99¢ – The Dream Groom
A man who only wants to focus on his career. A fiesty waitress who calls him by accident. Will a stalker be just the thing that brings them together?
Scar Walker, professional football player and ex Navy Seal, only wanted to focus on getting his gym built for military vets while he was in San Diego. He didn’t want to take crap from his brother, he didn’t want to deal with a lippy waitress, and he really didn’t want random people calling him on the phone.
Shayla Castle came to San Diego to finally live out her childhood dream. When she accidentally calls the mysterious phone number left on her table while waitressing, she never anticipated it would be the handsome jerkface soldier who chewed her out that morning. It confuses her even more when the same jerkface shows up the next night and saves her from an attacker.
She never would have imagined she and soldier boy would start talking every night and she really never imagined he would convince her to let him do her bucket list together. After a hike at Torrey Pines, a helicopter ride, and surfing at Oceanside…she finds she just might be falling for this soldier boy.
When things get heated, she’s left with a choice—let go of the past or lose a new dream she was just starting to discover.
Only 99¢ – The Broken Warrior
A man who almost died. A woman who thought he was dead, but always loved him. Too bad, she fell for his best friend before he came back. Now, they meet all these years later.
Zane Kent, ex Navy SEAL and Thor look-alike, takes pride in keeping calm in stressful situations while being part of a ‘special teams’ vigilante group. But when he walks into a mission blind and discovers the woman who broke his heart 7 years ago is the target, the lines become fuzzy and his pride flies out the window.
Sarah Hamilton moved to San Diego to start a new life with her son and start a matchmaking business. She is shocked when Zane Kent shows up at a client meeting and down-right stunned when she finds herself asking for his protection. But it’s fine because their relationship is professional now. Too bad he kisses her. Good thing she slaps him. After Zane insists on moving into her home, following her everywhere, easily bonds with her son over lightsabers, her old attraction to Zane begins to surface.
Only 99¢ – The Lone Star Groom
Enjoy this fast-paced love story by best-selling author, Taylor Hart. Texas Waters, bad boy of country music likes doing things when he wants and how he wants. He doesn’t appreciate his boss forcing him to do an up-close and personal article with The New York Times. Nor does he appreciate the hot-shot reporter who shows up at his door, demanding his time in the middle of a tight recording deadline. Headstrong and determined, Liberty Wright only wants one thing—to cover the refugee crisis in Nigeria. Too bad her editor at the New York Times, who also happens to be her mother, won’t let her go to the conference unless she gets the dirt on Texas Waters. She hates being forced to travel to the sticks to do a puff piece on some arrogant singer almost as much as she hates country music! When Texas fires Liberty for not knowing any of his songs, she never imagined she’d fall off a ski lift and Texas would be the one to save her. And she certainly never imagined he’d take her back to his house and give her a second chance. As Liberty gets to know the man behind the music, she discovers she just might be interested in Texas Waters for more than just an article. After a bold decision to follow her dreams puts Liberty in grave danger and Texas scrambles to save her, Liberty is left with a choice—live her life the way her mother has always wanted her to … or trust ‘The Lone Star Groom.’
FREE – The Tough Love Groom
A superstar quarterback who pays someone to buy him at a bachelor auction. A beautiful public relations woman who doesn't have time for entitled quarterbacks. Will a horrible fake date bring expose the truth?
Texas Titan quarterback, Kade Kincaid, affectionately known by his fans as Zeus, doesn’t want to go to some stupid bachelor auction, and he really doesn’t want some newbie PR rep babysitting him, but a crazed, supermodel stalker won’t leave him alone and he needs someone to block for him. Felicity Song has plans for her PR career, and babysitting a spoiled quarterback billionaire wasn’t one of them. When he demands she ‘fake’ buy him at the auction or risk losing her job, she takes the assignment with one demand, she will NOT go on a date with him. Too bad Zeus is as cocky as his namesake and won’t let her off the hook. When she plans a perfectly horrible date full of activities Kade hates, she’s blindsided when he agrees to actually jump out of a plane with her and even more surprised when he kisses her. Good thing she slaps him and discovers… this Greek God’s flesh is just as fragile as any other mortal man. When a tragedy strikes Felicity and Kade steps up to help her, she has to make a choice: lose her one shot at love…or do the one thing she’s told herself she would never do again.
FREE – The Tough Love Groom
Only 99¢ – The Dream Groom
Only 99¢ – The Broken Warrior
Only 99¢ –The Lone Star Groom
I absolutely love the 4th of July! I’m so grateful for the birth of this great nation!
This year—I went back to the place I grew up going to every summer—a small town in Southern Utah!
A small town where the parades are amazing and the candy reigns down and everyone wears 4th of July t-shirts!
It’s awesome and I’m grateful! One of MY BEST memories of this parade, when I was little, was of my grandfather walking in the parade honoring WW2 Vets! He always polished his shoes and participated in a gun salute for freedom. In recognition that freedom really isn’t free.
I remember my mom always talking to us kids about how proud she was of her father and how he fought to keep this nation FREE!
I too am so grateful and proud of all of those who serve to protect our nation and keep us FREE!
Thank you!
And—to celebrate this day—I have Tough Love Groom FREE and a bunch of 99¢ books—about our military brothers and sisters and their sacrifice and –of course—their love stories! :)
Only 99¢ – The Dream Groom
A man who only wants to focus on his career. A fiesty waitress who calls him by accident. Will a stalker be just the thing that brings them together?
Scar Walker, professional football player and ex Navy Seal, only wanted to focus on getting his gym built for military vets while he was in San Diego. He didn’t want to take crap from his brother, he didn’t want to deal with a lippy waitress, and he really didn’t want random people calling him on the phone.
Shayla Castle came to San Diego to finally live out her childhood dream. When she accidentally calls the mysterious phone number left on her table while waitressing, she never anticipated it would be the handsome jerkface soldier who chewed her out that morning. It confuses her even more when the same jerkface shows up the next night and saves her from an attacker.
She never would have imagined she and soldier boy would start talking every night and she really never imagined he would convince her to let him do her bucket list together. After a hike at Torrey Pines, a helicopter ride, and surfing at Oceanside…she finds she just might be falling for this soldier boy.
When things get heated, she’s left with a choice—let go of the past or lose a new dream she was just starting to discover.
Only 99¢ – The Broken Warrior
A man who almost died. A woman who thought he was dead, but always loved him. Too bad, she fell for his best friend before he came back. Now, they meet all these years later.
Zane Kent, ex Navy SEAL and Thor look-alike, takes pride in keeping calm in stressful situations while being part of a ‘special teams’ vigilante group. But when he walks into a mission blind and discovers the woman who broke his heart 7 years ago is the target, the lines become fuzzy and his pride flies out the window.
Sarah Hamilton moved to San Diego to start a new life with her son and start a matchmaking business. She is shocked when Zane Kent shows up at a client meeting and down-right stunned when she finds herself asking for his protection. But it’s fine because their relationship is professional now. Too bad he kisses her. Good thing she slaps him. After Zane insists on moving into her home, following her everywhere, easily bonds with her son over lightsabers, her old attraction to Zane begins to surface.
Only 99¢ – The Lone Star Groom
Enjoy this fast-paced love story by best-selling author, Taylor Hart. Texas Waters, bad boy of country music likes doing things when he wants and how he wants. He doesn’t appreciate his boss forcing him to do an up-close and personal article with The New York Times. Nor does he appreciate the hot-shot reporter who shows up at his door, demanding his time in the middle of a tight recording deadline. Headstrong and determined, Liberty Wright only wants one thing—to cover the refugee crisis in Nigeria. Too bad her editor at the New York Times, who also happens to be her mother, won’t let her go to the conference unless she gets the dirt on Texas Waters. She hates being forced to travel to the sticks to do a puff piece on some arrogant singer almost as much as she hates country music! When Texas fires Liberty for not knowing any of his songs, she never imagined she’d fall off a ski lift and Texas would be the one to save her. And she certainly never imagined he’d take her back to his house and give her a second chance. As Liberty gets to know the man behind the music, she discovers she just might be interested in Texas Waters for more than just an article. After a bold decision to follow her dreams puts Liberty in grave danger and Texas scrambles to save her, Liberty is left with a choice—live her life the way her mother has always wanted her to … or trust ‘The Lone Star Groom.’
FREE – The Tough Love Groom
A superstar quarterback who pays someone to buy him at a bachelor auction. A beautiful public relations woman who doesn't have time for entitled quarterbacks. Will a horrible fake date bring expose the truth?
Texas Titan quarterback, Kade Kincaid, affectionately known by his fans as Zeus, doesn’t want to go to some stupid bachelor auction, and he really doesn’t want some newbie PR rep babysitting him, but a crazed, supermodel stalker won’t leave him alone and he needs someone to block for him. Felicity Song has plans for her PR career, and babysitting a spoiled quarterback billionaire wasn’t one of them. When he demands she ‘fake’ buy him at the auction or risk losing her job, she takes the assignment with one demand, she will NOT go on a date with him. Too bad Zeus is as cocky as his namesake and won’t let her off the hook. When she plans a perfectly horrible date full of activities Kade hates, she’s blindsided when he agrees to actually jump out of a plane with her and even more surprised when he kisses her. Good thing she slaps him and discovers… this Greek God’s flesh is just as fragile as any other mortal man. When a tragedy strikes Felicity and Kade steps up to help her, she has to make a choice: lose her one shot at love…or do the one thing she’s told herself she would never do again.
June 24, 2024
Christmas in ALMOST JULY! 99¢ Limited Time Collection!
Don't Miss This 99¢ Christmas in July Collection!
Only 99¢ Christmas in July Romance Collection: 7 Book Second Chance Billionaires
Of course we need a Christmas Collection in the summer! Right?
Because the Christmas stories NEVER go out of style. And I always want to read more of them!
Enjoy this Collection for 99¢—limited time!
Only 99¢ Christmas in July Romance Collection: 7 Book Second Chance Billionaires
★★FALLING IN LOVE NEVER FELT SO GOOD! ★★ From Kindle All-Star and USA Today author, Taylor Hart!
Get away from your life Romance in this Mega 7 Book Collection!
★★One of the newest South Port Books included--The Pretend Christmas Fake Fiance!
★★ Included are 7 Sweet, Contemporary and Christian Christmas Romances. PLUS all 3 Kelly Brother Billionaire books--out only in one other collection!
Note from Author:I LOVE the 4th of July, the day we celebrate independence as a nation. I am so grateful for the men and women who fought for the freedoms we enjoy today! And--I LOVE Christmas--I love the extra good will people seem to have one for another!
So I thought--WHY NOT COMBINE THEM?
Enjoy this fun collection!
Books included:
The Betting Groom
Her Second Chance Prodigal Groom
Always Kiss Your Fake Amnesia Christmas Fiance
Her Country Star Billionaire Groom
Her Detective Billionaire Groom
Her Protective Billionaire Groom
**Newest Book**The Pretend Christmas Fake Fiance
**Excerpt from The Pretend Christmas Fake Fiancé – Included in this collection:**
Just hours ago, Raine never would’ve guessed all of this would happen. He’d been surprised to run into Oliver and John before getting here. Heck, he’d surprised himself when he’d decided to pretend to be Sarah’s fiancé.
He couldn’t have asked for a better group to help him pull off the con. The beach crew chatted happily like none of them were surprised. It wasn’t long before they came over to meet John and welcome him to town. Raine wasn’t sure how, but they seemed to know that he and Sarah were supposedly engaged.
Lucy strolled over to them and said, “I know we planned on hammering out more details for the wedding this week, but can we push that back to the 27th? I’m really busy with the party tomorrow.” She winked at them. Lucy was brilliant, as usual. Raine had initially liked Lucy when he’d come to town. When things were bad with Matt and he wasn’t living here, she had been here for him. Even though they hadn’t worked out romantically, she would always be a good friend.
“That works.” Raine was keenly aware that John was watching him and Sarah.
Sarah glanced at Raine and then said, “Yeah, the 27th works for me.”
Raine tried to be casual. “Helping Hands will be open by then, so can I just make sure we have coverage?”
Lucy nodded. “For sure.”
Raine remembered then that he needed to check in at the building to make sure the final touches were happening.
As if on cue, Hunter asked him, “Are you going to check in with the crew today at the shelter? I won’t be able to; Cheryse needs some help at her shop.” Cheryse was doing some remodeling.
“I was planning on it.”
“Listen, the next time we talk, I want to finalize which cake you like.” Lucy turned to Sarah, gesturing excitedly. “I have a couple dresses for you to try on, and I’ll check the fit and see which ones you like so we can make adjustments. And I want to discuss the things you two haven’t been able to agree on: the location and the menu. But it will be a beautiful church wedding, so that will be good.”
Sarah looked like she wanted to laugh at how Lucy was taking it so seriously.
Raine shook his head, shoving his hands into his pockets. “No. Not gonna work. If Sarah decides for sure that we’re doing a beach wedding, it’s going to be at my house.” He pulled Sarah into his side. “Remember, sweetie, I want our kids to look at those pictures and see that we were here before they were—together.” He was laying it on thick, but he had to since John was scrutinizing the little scene.
Her eyelashes fluttered. “So no church wedding?”
“Do you want one?”
“Uh, well, like we’ve discussed, the beach would be nice, too.”
“With Pastor Henry, of course.” Suddenly, Raine realized this might be hard on Sarah. After all, her husband had only been gone a year, right? He wasn’t sure.
Lucy kept the act going. “You two are planning on being at my party tomorrow night, right?”
Both of them nodded.
An idea occurred to Raine, and he asked Sarah, “What time did you want to leave for Wilmington today?”
She looked confused. “Wait. What were we going to Wilmington for?”
Raine patted her shoulder. “Honey, we talked about getting some clothes for Christmas. Remember, you wanted those matching sweaters for the Stone family party? ’Cause we can’t win the contest if we don’t have matching sweaters.” He pressed his lips together and leaned in, nuzzling her neck. “And you want to win, don’t you?”
She froze. “Uh, right.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Raine saw John glaring at them.
Izzy tugged at Oliver’s and John’s arms. “Okay, I’m going to go pack and finish up a few things. I know Oliver has to still talk to John about looking after the store, but how about we all meet back at the Italian place on Main Street for dinner at six? That work?”
“Works for me.” Sarah turned to Raine. “That work?”
“Works for us. Unless you wanted to be in Wilmington longer? Did you have to shop for stuff you need for the wedding?”
“What day is the wedding?” John asked, stepping forward.
Raine improvised. “We were thinking Valentine’s Day, right?”
Sarah plastered a smile on her face. “Right.”
Izzy cleared her throat. “We were all considering a double wedding.”
“Nice of you to tell me,” John told Oliver, looking suspicious.
Oliver gave him a huge grin. “Hey, you know I can’t scoop the women. Not my style.”
Raine chuckled, but it came out a bit forced.
Out of the blue, John punched Raine’s shoulder, possibly a bit too hard. “I’ll look forward to it, bro.”
Raine winced and rubbed his shoulder. “Dude.”
“Oh, did that hurt?”
“Nah.” Raine wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. There was major tension coming off of John, and Raine couldn’t help but glare back at this clearly overprotective dude.
John laughed and patted Raine’s back extra hard. “I’m looking forward to being here this week, Raine. It’ll be good to get to know you.”
But Raine wasn’t a stranger to threats. “It will be good.”
Sarah’s eyes widened, and she and Izzy exchanged looks.
On impulse, Raine punched John in the shoulder. John didn’t so much as flinch.
Raine laughed. “It will be great to finally get to know more of Sarah’s friends from Snow Valley.” He put his arm around John and pulled him close. They were about the same height, though John probably outweighed him by fifteen pounds. But he could take him in a fight if he had to.
Was Raine really doing this—sizing people up to see if he could fight them?
The anger coming off John was palpable, but he smiled. “Great.”
Too bad the man didn’t know he was messing with a foster kid. Raine could do this testosterone-fueled “who’s in charge” thing all day long.
Sarah took Raine’s hand. “Let’s get going.”
Only 99¢ Christmas in July Romance Collection: 7 Book Second Chance Billionaires
Of course we need a Christmas Collection in the summer! Right?
Because the Christmas stories NEVER go out of style. And I always want to read more of them!
Enjoy this Collection for 99¢—limited time!
Only 99¢ Christmas in July Romance Collection: 7 Book Second Chance Billionaires
★★FALLING IN LOVE NEVER FELT SO GOOD! ★★ From Kindle All-Star and USA Today author, Taylor Hart!
Get away from your life Romance in this Mega 7 Book Collection!
★★One of the newest South Port Books included--The Pretend Christmas Fake Fiance!
★★ Included are 7 Sweet, Contemporary and Christian Christmas Romances. PLUS all 3 Kelly Brother Billionaire books--out only in one other collection!
Note from Author:I LOVE the 4th of July, the day we celebrate independence as a nation. I am so grateful for the men and women who fought for the freedoms we enjoy today! And--I LOVE Christmas--I love the extra good will people seem to have one for another!
So I thought--WHY NOT COMBINE THEM?
Enjoy this fun collection!
Books included:
The Betting Groom
Her Second Chance Prodigal Groom
Always Kiss Your Fake Amnesia Christmas Fiance
Her Country Star Billionaire Groom
Her Detective Billionaire Groom
Her Protective Billionaire Groom
**Newest Book**The Pretend Christmas Fake Fiance
**Excerpt from The Pretend Christmas Fake Fiancé – Included in this collection:**
Just hours ago, Raine never would’ve guessed all of this would happen. He’d been surprised to run into Oliver and John before getting here. Heck, he’d surprised himself when he’d decided to pretend to be Sarah’s fiancé.
He couldn’t have asked for a better group to help him pull off the con. The beach crew chatted happily like none of them were surprised. It wasn’t long before they came over to meet John and welcome him to town. Raine wasn’t sure how, but they seemed to know that he and Sarah were supposedly engaged.
Lucy strolled over to them and said, “I know we planned on hammering out more details for the wedding this week, but can we push that back to the 27th? I’m really busy with the party tomorrow.” She winked at them. Lucy was brilliant, as usual. Raine had initially liked Lucy when he’d come to town. When things were bad with Matt and he wasn’t living here, she had been here for him. Even though they hadn’t worked out romantically, she would always be a good friend.
“That works.” Raine was keenly aware that John was watching him and Sarah.
Sarah glanced at Raine and then said, “Yeah, the 27th works for me.”
Raine tried to be casual. “Helping Hands will be open by then, so can I just make sure we have coverage?”
Lucy nodded. “For sure.”
Raine remembered then that he needed to check in at the building to make sure the final touches were happening.
As if on cue, Hunter asked him, “Are you going to check in with the crew today at the shelter? I won’t be able to; Cheryse needs some help at her shop.” Cheryse was doing some remodeling.
“I was planning on it.”
“Listen, the next time we talk, I want to finalize which cake you like.” Lucy turned to Sarah, gesturing excitedly. “I have a couple dresses for you to try on, and I’ll check the fit and see which ones you like so we can make adjustments. And I want to discuss the things you two haven’t been able to agree on: the location and the menu. But it will be a beautiful church wedding, so that will be good.”
Sarah looked like she wanted to laugh at how Lucy was taking it so seriously.
Raine shook his head, shoving his hands into his pockets. “No. Not gonna work. If Sarah decides for sure that we’re doing a beach wedding, it’s going to be at my house.” He pulled Sarah into his side. “Remember, sweetie, I want our kids to look at those pictures and see that we were here before they were—together.” He was laying it on thick, but he had to since John was scrutinizing the little scene.
Her eyelashes fluttered. “So no church wedding?”
“Do you want one?”
“Uh, well, like we’ve discussed, the beach would be nice, too.”
“With Pastor Henry, of course.” Suddenly, Raine realized this might be hard on Sarah. After all, her husband had only been gone a year, right? He wasn’t sure.
Lucy kept the act going. “You two are planning on being at my party tomorrow night, right?”
Both of them nodded.
An idea occurred to Raine, and he asked Sarah, “What time did you want to leave for Wilmington today?”
She looked confused. “Wait. What were we going to Wilmington for?”
Raine patted her shoulder. “Honey, we talked about getting some clothes for Christmas. Remember, you wanted those matching sweaters for the Stone family party? ’Cause we can’t win the contest if we don’t have matching sweaters.” He pressed his lips together and leaned in, nuzzling her neck. “And you want to win, don’t you?”
She froze. “Uh, right.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Raine saw John glaring at them.
Izzy tugged at Oliver’s and John’s arms. “Okay, I’m going to go pack and finish up a few things. I know Oliver has to still talk to John about looking after the store, but how about we all meet back at the Italian place on Main Street for dinner at six? That work?”
“Works for me.” Sarah turned to Raine. “That work?”
“Works for us. Unless you wanted to be in Wilmington longer? Did you have to shop for stuff you need for the wedding?”
“What day is the wedding?” John asked, stepping forward.
Raine improvised. “We were thinking Valentine’s Day, right?”
Sarah plastered a smile on her face. “Right.”
Izzy cleared her throat. “We were all considering a double wedding.”
“Nice of you to tell me,” John told Oliver, looking suspicious.
Oliver gave him a huge grin. “Hey, you know I can’t scoop the women. Not my style.”
Raine chuckled, but it came out a bit forced.
Out of the blue, John punched Raine’s shoulder, possibly a bit too hard. “I’ll look forward to it, bro.”
Raine winced and rubbed his shoulder. “Dude.”
“Oh, did that hurt?”
“Nah.” Raine wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. There was major tension coming off of John, and Raine couldn’t help but glare back at this clearly overprotective dude.
John laughed and patted Raine’s back extra hard. “I’m looking forward to being here this week, Raine. It’ll be good to get to know you.”
But Raine wasn’t a stranger to threats. “It will be good.”
Sarah’s eyes widened, and she and Izzy exchanged looks.
On impulse, Raine punched John in the shoulder. John didn’t so much as flinch.
Raine laughed. “It will be great to finally get to know more of Sarah’s friends from Snow Valley.” He put his arm around John and pulled him close. They were about the same height, though John probably outweighed him by fifteen pounds. But he could take him in a fight if he had to.
Was Raine really doing this—sizing people up to see if he could fight them?
The anger coming off John was palpable, but he smiled. “Great.”
Too bad the man didn’t know he was messing with a foster kid. Raine could do this testosterone-fueled “who’s in charge” thing all day long.
Sarah took Raine’s hand. “Let’s get going.”
