Thursday, May 31, 2018

Excerpt Tour: Legends (Catori)


Title: Legends: Catori
Author: Maggie Adams
Series: Legends
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: June 2, 2018

Blurb:
It’s hard to keep secrets in a small town…
It’s even harder to keep a secret that could expose not only your family, but an entire species. That’s what Frankie Cavanaugh must do. As the daughter of the leader of the Wisdom Council, it’s up to her to step into her father’s shoes until another leader is chosen.
It’s also up to her to continue her lineage within the species.
She wants to do neither. She considers the shifter gene a curse rather than a gift, robbing her of a normal life. Unfortunately, the Council doesn’t see it that way and is determined to wed her to their next leader – by force, if necessary.
Tanner Coalson is fresh out of college and ready to tackle whatever life has in store for him. First item on his to-do list is marrying the woman he has loved for years. He knows Frankie will baulk at the notion because she’s fifteen years older and was his childhood sitter. He’s no longer a young boy, but a man who is determined to win her heart, and he is prepared to do just that.
But convincing her they are destined to be together gets much harder when she is kidnapped by an old enemy. In order to survive, Frankie may have to reveal her secret, and Tanner may have to accept what seems impossible, or reject the love of his life.

Find out more at: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Prologue Excerpt:
Talon Cavanaugh stood on the grassy knoll above the cemetery, watching the procession as it wound through the cracked tombstones to the final resting place of the Wisdom Council’s leader, Leonard Cavanaugh. He smiled in satisfaction as the urn was laid into the dirt pit next to where his human wife would someday reside. Soon, he thought, soon all would be in place and he could claim his birthright.
“Son, I know how much you loved your uncle. Are you sure you don’t want to go down and join in the ceremony?” his father asked.
Well, the man he had called ‘father’ for most of his life, inquired. It was only on his mother, Sylvia’s, death bed, that Talon had learned the truth. He was the son of Leonard Cavanaugh, the owl leader of the Wisdom Council, who had died never knowing he had fathered a son. Sylvia had wanted to ensure the bloodline stayed pure when it became apparent that the old fool was planning to wed that woman, Paige, an inferior human. Sylvia had slipped a potion into his wine as the family celebrated her engagement to the leader’s brother, Lester, Talon’s assumed father.  Leonard Cavanaugh had mated with Sylvia that night, the potion making him hallucinate that he was with his beloved Paige. Sylvia’s plan worked, and she gave birth to Talon, who was a pureblood shifter, keeping the bloodline intact.
Glancing over his shoulder, Talon shook his head in the negative at Lester. He had no need to go down there. He was the true heir to the leadership position of the Council. He knew the death procedure -  one year of grieving for the widow and the family. He looked to Frankie Cavanaugh. She was a beautiful woman, despite her human blood. Her red hair glowed like flames in the sunlight. She was appropriately dressed in black, her cultural brooch, made of gold and the feathers of her father, pinned to her breast. She was crying quietly into a handkerchief, hugging her mother, in solace. It was almost a pity she would have to die, but there could only be one true leader.
And that position would be filled by him.

About Maggie Adams:
Maggie Adams is an Amazon Best Selling contemporary romance author. Her first book in the Tempered Steel Series, Whistlin’ Dixie, debuted in Amazon’s Top 100 for Women’s Fiction, humor, on November, 2014. Since then, she has consistently made the Amazon best seller 5-star list with Leather and Lace, Something’s Gotta Give, and Love, Marriage & Mayhem. She is also the recipient of the Dayreader Review’s Best New Series Award for 2015. Her series has launched the tiny town of Grafton, Illinois, into International recognition with sales in Mexico, Ireland, Scotland, Australia and the UK.

Back home, she resides in the Midwest, with her high school sweetheart, Ned, and their children, Katie (Kyle) and Ross (Valerie) and first granddaughter, Lorelei, otherwise known as “The Boss”
You can connect with her online at: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon | Goodreads | Instagram | Pinterest | BookBub

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Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Excerpt Tour: Part Time Husband 



Title: Part-Time Husband
Author: Noelle Adams
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: May 29, 2018
Publisher: Noelle Adams
Series: Trophy Husbands
Format: Digital eBook / Print
Digital ISBN: B07B9WH8KT
Print ISBN: 9781386724124

Synopsis:

On a Wednesday afternoon, I ask Trevor Bentley to marry me. He might be the most arrogant, obnoxious man I know, but I need him to be my husband for a year.

There are reasons.

He's not going to be a real husband. Just part-time. Yes, I have to live with him. And, okay, I also have to share his bed. And, sure, he's the sexiest and most exciting thing to ever happen to my controlled, organized life.

But still... It's only a part-time marriage. I'm not going to give him my heart. I know what I'm doing, and I'm too smart to fall for my husband.

I hope.

Add to your TBR list:  Goodreads

Available at: Amazon  | Barnes and Noble  | Kobo  | iTunes



Copyright© 2018 Part-Time Husband
Noelle Adams

The flash of annoyance I feel at his smug expression is enough to get me going again. I say in my most poised voice, “I have a proposition for you.”
No sense in wasting time in small talk. That’s not my way or Trevor’s.
He leans back in his chair, his eyes lingering on my face. Instead of looking like he’s descending from a pedestal, now he looks more like he’s solving a riddle. “A proposition?”
“Yes. A good one.”
“I realize Pop’s needs help with advertising, if those tacky commercials you’ve been running are any indication, but you have to know I’m no longer interested in working for you.”
My fingers tighten around the portfolio I’ve just picked up again, but I manage not to display my resentment on my face.
Tacky commercials.
He just said it outright to my face.
Yes, I happen to agree with his assessment, but still… Who does that?
“I’m not offering you a job with Pop’s,” I say, my voice almost prim in its coolness. “I actually have a favor to ask you, and so I’ve got something to offer you in return. Something you’ll want.”
His lips part just slightly, and I notice because my eyes keep slipping down to his lips.
So kill me. He’s got the sexiest mouth I’ve ever seen.
“What do I want?” he asks after a moment’s pause.
This part is easy. I slide a contract out of my portfolio and hand the stack of papers to him. He reaches to take it and then scans the top sheet with a bullet-point summary of the contract.
Basically, it’s an agreement for his company to develop a regional advertising campaign for Pop’s for a very large amount of money. I had to pull from other budget lines to find the financing for it, but I know any campaign Trevor puts together will at least double the money expended. He’s that good.
Both his eyebrows go up as he reads.
Very slowly his eyes (like dark chocolate) rise again to my face. “You must need a very big favor.”
“I do.”
While I don’t know the ins and outs of Trevor’s contracts with other companies, I have a general sense of the level he’s working at. He’s good enough that he could have made a success of it in New York or LA, but for some reason five years ago he moved back to Charleston, where he was raised. Most of the jobs his agency handles are local or statewide. The one I’m offering him has to be bigger than anything else he’s done yet.
He looks back down at the top sheet. “This is for real?”
“Yes, it’s for real.”
“Pop will never go for this. He despises me.” It’s not at all surprising that Trevor knows Pop’s opinion of him. Everyone knows.
“Yes, he does. But advertising got moved last year, and now it’s under me. I make the decisions. This is real. I’m willing to sign that contract right now.”
“But it’s not just because I’m so good.”
“No. It’s not because you’re so good. We need some better advertising, but we’re not desperate. I’m going to have to put up with a lot a grief from my in-house folks and from Pop to make this deal with you, so I need something in return.”
“A favor?”
“Yes. A favor.”
I’ve been killing it so far—sounding cool and professional and exactly on his level. I’ve even managed to keep my expression perfect and not blush the way I sometimes do when I’m emotionally discomposed.
But now the moment has arrived, and the truth is I’m nervous.
More than nervous. Scared as hell.
I’m about to ask this arrogant man to marry me.
Trevor waits a beat. “Are you planning to tell me what the favor is?”
It’s time. I have to just say it. “I need you to marry me for a year.”


Book Trailer:



About Noelle Adams:

Noelle handwrote her first romance novel in a spiral-bound notebook when she was twelve, and she hasn’t stopped writing since. She has lived in eight different states and currently resides in Virginia, where she reads any book she can get her hands on and offers tribute to a very spoiled cocker spaniel.

She loves travel, art, history, and ice cream. After spending far too many years of her life in graduate school, she has decided to reorient her priorities and focus on writing contemporary romances.

 

Website  | Twitter  | Facebook  | Goodreads  | Amazon  | BookBub

Rafflecopter for Part-Time Husband Giveaway:

Noelle is offering one (1) lucky Grand Prize winner a $25 Amazon Gift Card and three (3) Runner-Ups an eCopy of any one her backlist titles (Winner’s Choice). To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter below:


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Blog Tour: The Duke of Lies

"Darcy Burke is synonymous with passionate, emotional romance. Her heroines are intelligent and strong, and her unforgettable heroes melt my heart. Darcy never fails to deliver hot, keeper-shelf historical romance.” - Erica Ridley, New York Times Bestselling Author

The Duke of Lies, an all-new historical standalone from USA Today bestselling author Darcy Burke, is coming May 29th!

Burke, Darcy- The Duke of Lies (final) 800 px @ 300 dpi high res
Verity Beaumont has suffered domineering men most of her life, first with her father and then with her husband. Free from both men, she has finally found peace. Even meeting a kind and hard-working gentleman who just might be the perfect father her young son so desperately needs. But as she dares look to the future, her carefully ordered world is shattered when her dead husband returns.
Imprisoned in America during the war, Rufus Beaumont, Duke of Blackburn, wants nothing more than to return to his native England. He longs for comfort and safety away from the horrors of battle, only the life he returns to is not the life he left. He must convince his wife that their marriage is worth fighting for, that he’s not the man he was. But when the truth about what happened to him leaks out, he must prove that not everything about him, especially his love for her, is a lie.


Download your copy today!
Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2F9pHLk
Excerpt:
The day was warm and bright, and she was looking forward to being outside. The door she’d come through suddenly burst open. Beau dashed out, his laughter immediately filling the courtyard.
He was quickly followed by Rufus, who chased him along the edge of the garden to the center path. Beau didn’t slow as he rounded the corner, and his feet slipped on the cobblestones. He fell down, landing on his side.
Verity dropped the blanket and ran toward him, but Rufus beat her by quite a bit. It was then that she realized he hadn’t been using his top speed to chase the boy. She’d seen that when he’d caught Racer that day at Mr. Maynard’s farm.
Rufus picked Beau up and set him on his feet and squatted down in front of him.“All right?”
Verity had expected Beau to cry, and his face had gone slightly pale. She lowered herself next to Rufus.“Did that scare you?” she asked, stroking Beau’s arm from shoulder to elbow and back again.
Beau nodded. Then a moment later, he ran to the top of the stairs leading to the courtyard.“Comeon, Papa, catch me!”
Rufus stood and offered his hand to Verity to help her rise. She wasn’t wearing gloves, and neither was he. It was the first time their flesh had touched, and it was like grabbing lightning. Or how she imagined it to be—electrifying and hot, and it left a lasting impression.
“Please don’t chase him down the stairs. He already fell once.” She turned to Beau and called,“Please be careful.”
“I am being careful, Mama. And don’t worry about the stairs. I ran down them to the kitchen passage and didn’t fall.”
She looked over at Rufus.“Isthat right?”
His gaze drifted to the side, and he hesitated a moment.“Er,yes. We were playing knights and villains.”
“Which one were you?”
“It was my turn to be the knight.”
Verity frowned and shifted a glance toward Beau.“Idon’t like thinking of my boy as a villain.”
“It’s pretend,” Rufus said.“But if it makes you feel better, he only chooses to be the villain because he likes to be chased.”
“Can’t the villain chase the knight?”
His mouth tipped into a crooked smile, and her stomach did a flip. It was as if lightning had struck again.“It’s pretend. We can do whatever we like.” He looked back toward the basket and the blanket on the ground.“I’ll get the things for the picnic.” He turned and started along the path.
“I can grab the blanket,” she offered.
He waved a hand.“I’ve got it.”
Verity went to Beau instead. She took his hand, and they descended into the courtyard, then veered right toward the gateway to the stable yard.“Perhaps I should play knights and villains.” She wondered why they hadn’t done that before and felt bad. It was a stark reminder of how much he’d missed not having a father.
“But you’re a girl.” Beau sounded scandalized.
Rufus met them as they approached the gate.“What’swrong with your mother being a girl?”
“She wants to play knights and villains.” He made a face that clearly showed what he thought of that idea.
Verity was caught between laughter and disappointment.
“It would be better if she joined us,” Rufus said, drawing Beau’s sharp attention.“A knight needs a fair maiden to rescue.”
“Then I am definitely going to be the villain. I don’t wanna rescue a girl.” He frowned, then sent his mother an apologetic glance.“ExceptI do want to save you, Mama.”
Verity surrendered to the laughter. “Thank you.”
“But Papa should be the one to save you. That’s what dukes do, right?”
“That’s what husbands do,” Rufus corrected,“whether they are a duke or not.”
About Darcy:
Darcy Burke is the USA Today Bestselling Author of sexy, emotional historical and contemporary romance. Darcy wrote her first book at age 11, a happily ever after about a swan addicted to magic and the female swan who loved him, with exceedingly poor illustrations. Join her reader club at http://www.darcyburke.com/readerclub. A native Oregonian, Darcy lives on the edge of wine country with her guitar-strumming husband, their two hilarious kids who seem to have inherited the writing gene, two Bengal cats and a third cat named after a fruit.
740B2310 Darcy
Connect with Darcy:
Stay up to date with Darcy by joining her Reader Club today:
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VBT: Biblical Proportions



Biblical Proportions
by Natashia Brewer

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE:   Fiction

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Edward and James Shaw are twins who are successful executives at Rock Star Records.  The company that was started and operated by their father, Irvin, who is a well-known hip hop artist.  Edward has a great love for music and is focused on ensuring the success of the business, just like his dad.  James on the other hand has a great love for women and power.  
Unfortunately, they were blindsided by the challenges of life which were of biblical proportions.  Edward found himself in the struggle of his life to save his marriage and his career after there had been some horrible choices made, while James found himself fighting for his freedom.  

The only way for them to find their way through the drama, infidelity, damaged trust, addiction, meaningless sex, and betrayal was to build a solid relationship with God.  When Edward and James hit rock bottom mentally and emotionally, they found out who they were and what the Lord called them to do.  They both began to walk into their purpose realizing that although the storms came one after another, after another and almost took them out; they survived through the grace of God…   

Take this journey with Edward and James and the rest of the Shaw family as they endure the many trials and tribulations of this life.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Excerpt:

Cynthia could not resist that man of hers.  So, she grabbed his hands and stood in front of him.  He pulled her close, embraced her, and placed his forehead upon hers.  He began to pray over him and his wife.

“Dear Lord, hear my pleas.  I lift my heart to you today.  I ask that you give Cynthia and me strength to make the right decisions.  I ask that you show me how to love her through the pain that I have inflicted upon her.  I ask that you open her heart to receive and forgive. I ask that you heal the deep wounds that have been created because of poor choices.  I decree and declare that our marriage will be made whole again. I ask these things in Jesus name. Amen!” Edward prayed.

Cynthia was full of emotions as Edward gently lifted her face and kissed her quivering lips.  The peck quickly turned into something that neither of them thought it would be.

Life Lesson Two:  Ignoring an issue will not make it disappear.  You must become grounded in the word so that you will have the strength to endure the storm.



AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Natashia Brewer is the established Resonation Entertainment Group in 2014.  Since the launch of her company, she has released many motivating and inspiring musical and literary projects, like:  The Infinite Love EP; Love Song the book; and Biblical Proportions. When she isn’t creating music for upcoming projects, writing books, conducting interviews, or writing blog post, Natashia is a contributing songwriter for the charity Songs of Love, creating personalized songs for sick children.

In addition to being a published author, songwriter, and music producer, Natashia is a speaker who’s objective is to use her life’s testimony to uplift and inspire others.  Letting people know that they can change their lives if they change their minds.
Natashia is currently married with two children, she resides in Maryland.  
Twitter:  @itstashiab
Instagram:  @itstashiab
Facebook:  @itstashiab

Buy Links:



~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My Interview

* Did you use any of your own experience as inspiration?
  • In my first book, Love Song, I used some of my own experiences as inspiration.  In Biblical Proportion this inspiration for the book was the story of Esau and Jacob from the Bible.  The family dynamic and the backstabbing the took place inspired all that is Biblical Proportions


* On average, how long does the writing process take?
  • On average, my writing process takes about three weeks


*  When did you realize you wanted a career in writing?
  • I knew for many years that I wanted to write a book, but I just could not figure out what I wanted to write about.  I had ideas, but nothing was clicking for me. It was not until January of 2017, when I was separated from my husband and jobless, that I found myself in a position where I had to find myself.  I created this process titled Finding Life’s Love Song which is a process that take you through step by step on how to free yourself from the baggage weighing you down. Once I was done going through the process, I knew that I had to share it with the world because I was not the only person going through this type of storm.  One night I dreamed about a woman and her friends and their dynamic. When I woke up, I knew I had to write this story and it is the first book I wrote. The book is titled Love Song and it was written in three weeks. To God be the glory


* If you weren't an author, what other career paths would you have taken?
  • In addition to being an author, I am also a songwriter, music producer, and speaker


* Out of the charaters that you created, who is your favorite?
  • That is a tough choice because I have a favorite in each book and for different and similar reasons.  Both Amelia Robinson (Love Song) and Edward Shaw (Biblical Proportions) are my favorite characters. They both found their purpose in life and not letting the trails of life get in their way.  Amelia is a strong business woman who was finally able to know her worth and take control of her love life. Edward is a strong family man who made a very bad decision. Instead of him blame everyone around him, he took ownership of his role and work consistently to improve the situation for his family.  I love them both!


* What advice would you give to someone looking to be a writer?
  • I would tell anyone who is looking to write to just do it.  Writing a book or anything, like a song, can be intimidating.  Don’t let the fear stop you. You have the desire to do it for a reason – step out of your comfort zone and stretch yourself.  You will be surprised!


* What kind of research (if any) was required for any of your books?
  • The research I do for my books are mainly around settings and locations in a particular area.  I have also given my characters certain ailments that I need to research and make sure I am using the correct terminology and treatment


*How long after you finish a book do you start another one?
  • It depends on when the new idea hits me.  When I finished Love Song, I didn’t get inspired to write Biblical Proportions until six months later.  I finished Biblical Proportions in October 2017 and release it on May 11, 2018. I just got inspired in May 2018 to write my third book, There Was Power in the Pain, From the Pit to the Palace (about seven months later).  I get ideas for books all the time, but I am not immediately inspired to write them.

Thank you for having me on your blog today!  Peace and blessings

Natashia Brewer will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
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Tuesday, May 29, 2018

Excerpt Tour: You Send Me



Title: You Send Me
Author: Jeannie Moon
Genre: Women's Fiction
Release Date: May 29, 2018
Publisher: Tule Publishing Group
Series: Compass Cove
Format: Digital/Print
AISN: B07CGJGDPZ

Synopsis:

Jordan Velsor didn’t want to need anyone. After dumping her cheating fiancé, caring for her sick dad, and nearly being crushed along with her car during a violent storm, she’s pretty much at her breaking point. If anyone needs some luck, it's Jordan, but the last thing she wants is gorgeous Nick Rinaldi, her landlord’s grandson, hovering over her while she nurses a bad cold. The wounded Navy doctor seems too good to be true... which means he probably is. 

Nick Rinaldi left the Navy broken and adrift, wondering if he would ever practice medicine again. When his grandparents' tenant is almost killed by a falling tree during a storm, he discovers Jordan is not only in shock, but suffering from pneumonia. Not one to miss an opportunity to play white knight, Nick arrives at her cottage to take care of her during the storm... But the lovely teacher has a fierce independent streak, and as he learns more about her, he wants to do more than merely help. 

Can Jordan and Nick let go of their separate pasts and seize their future together?

Available at:

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2vpQ6ki
iBooks: https://apple.co/2IVOqof



You Send Me Excerpt
Copyright © 2018 Jeannie Moon

    The deep rattling cough woke her from a restless sleep. This cold was kicking her ass, but even though all she wanted to do was burrow under the covers, she was out of tissues, and the dog needed to go outside.
    Glancing out her window, the weather had worsened. She almost would have been content putting out a pad for Gertie to go inside, but her tissues and cough medicine were in the back seat of her car. She had to go out regardless.
    “Come on, Gertie, time to pee.”
    With a whimper and a moan from her spot at the other end of the couch, her little rescue buried her face in the corner. Gertie was no dummy.
    “Look, if I have to go out, so do you. Your bladder is the size of a thimble, and it’s going to get even worse later.”
    The dog sighed—sighed her annoyance at Jordan. A dog with an attitude. Didn’t it figure? Gertie practically rolled off the plush cushion and settled on her back on the blue patterned rug. Her short little legs were straight up in the air, feigning death.
    Jordan felt pretty dead herself, but they still had to go outside.
The wind howled, and all the windows in the cottage shook like it was going to lift up and fly away. Gust after gust provided a not-so-subtle reminder that the nor’easter currently blowing across Long Island was going to make all their lives miserable. This storm was brutal. It had been wreaking havoc for the last twelve hours and based on the latest weather report it had slowed down to a crawl, meaning it was going to stick around for a while.
    Grabbing the dog’s leash, Jordan gently nudged the little furry blob on the floor. Nothing. She didn’t budge. “Gertie! Come on!”
    Ninety-nine percent of the time, she loved the little mutt. This moment definitely fell into the one percent.
    After she broke her engagement, Jordan had the sudden urge to have a pet. A lot of people told her it would pass, but she knew that wasn’t the case. Jordan needed unconditional love in her home, so she kept her eyes open for the right opportunity. She couldn’t handle a puppy or a kitten, so when she wandered around a rescue fair one Sunday this past September, she found herself completely enamored with Gertie. A stubby-legged little mutt, Gertie was a tube of golden fur with a pointy snout and big, soulful brown eyes. She was about five years old, and her owner had just died, leaving the little dog all alone.
    Jordan felt a kinship with the pooch, and took her home that day.
    Lina Rinaldi, who usually frowned on her cottage tenants having pets, took to the dog right away, and Gertie loved the older woman right back.
    As Jordan stared at the lump still upside down on the floor, she was about ready to offer Mrs. Rinaldi full custody. Then a deep, rasping cough shook Jordan to the core. It racked her body violently, and pain shot around her chest. God, she felt awful.
    “Come on,” she said firmly to the pooch. “We’ll skip the leash this time. Out and in. Let’s get this over with.”
    Gertie rolled over and trotted to the front door, giving Jordan the side eye as she waited. Donning her parka and a pair of lined wellies that she pulled over her pajama pants, Jordan grabbed the remote and unlocked her car. When she opened the front door, she was hit by a blast of wind, rain, and sleet that stung her cheeks and chilled her to the bone. “Lord, it’s miserable.” Looking down at Gertie, she nodded. “Okay, let’s make this quick.”
    The two of them bolted outside, with Gertie heading for her favorite patch of grass and Jordan heading for her car. She stopped when she coughed so hard she could barely breathe. It hurt. She’d never had a chest cold that hurt so much. Finally, yanking open the door, she heard her pooch barking from the small covered porch. Jordan grabbed the bag that was filled with some basic food provisions, juice, tea, tissues, and a selection of over-the-counter cold remedies. She slammed the car door shut, and on her way back inside she noticed the whitecaps on Jennings Bay. The wind was forcing massive amounts of water into the coves and harbors around town, and she hoped the it didn’t breach the seawall surrounding the property. Jordan’s cottage was closer to Cove Road, but the Rinaldis’ big house was at risk.
    Without any further delay, Jordan made it back to the porch, feeling chilled and soaked to the bone despite all the foul weather gear she’d put on. Gertie was barking frantically, having positioned herself under the old wooden swing, and Jordan was starting to lose her patience.
    “Gertie, what the hell is the problem?”
    That’s when she heard the groan and crack. Jordan looked up just as a large section of an old oak tree, about fifty feet from the house, gave way. Throwing her body against the wall to avoid any debris, Jordan watched as the massive tree split in half and came crashing down, crushing her car in the process.
    If she had waited ten more seconds to head outside, Jordan would have been killed.
    Frozen in place for—she didn’t know how long—Jordan startled when a large, strong arm wrapped around her.
    She looked away from the wreckage in the front yard and into the gorgeous face of Nick Rinaldi.
    “Damn. Are you alright?”
    Was she? She wasn’t sure. Jordan tried to answer, but she had trouble catching her breath. Sucking in air, he kept her steady when they walked into the house.
    Waiting for the dog before he closed the door, Nick sat her on the bench in the entryway. Glancing in the canvas tote from the market, his brow furrowed.
    “You’re sick? What’s wrong?”
    With a low rattling cough that had him pressing the back of his hand to her forehead, she muttered, “Chest cold.”
    Shaking his head, he helped her off with her boots and jacket. “Let’s get you settled in bed, and I’ll go get my bag. You’ve got a lot more than a chest cold.”
    “My car…”
    “We can’t do anything about your car until the storm passes, so put it out of your head. It’s the last thing you need to worry about.”
    “Are you kidding? Not worry about it?” How was she supposed to get to work or see her dad? How was she supposed to do anything if she didn’t have a car? The pain in her chest wasn’t just from her cough at that moment, but at the wave of dread—helplessness—that rushed through her.
    “One thing at a time.” Nick, a former Navy doctor, was single minded. And as much as Jordan didn’t want to admit it, he was right. In this weather, there was nothing she could do.
    “Come on,” he said. “Lead the way.”
    “I’ll be fine,” she said, stopping in her tracks. Those few words taxed her already strained system. She coughed painfully into her arm while Nick guided her into her room. The coughing spell was so violent, ripping at her tender lungs, she couldn’t even object as he tucked her into bed.
    Sick as she was, Jordan wasn’t blind. Nick Rinaldi had been on her radar since he landed back in Compass Cove the previous fall. The guy was gorgeous, smart, and a gentleman to the core. But he’d settled back in with his grandparents almost six months ago, and other than a token hello, or a polite smile, he rarely spoke to her.
    Still, with his lean frame, dark hair, and kind eyes, he checked a lot of boxes.
She thought she heard him mutter something about being stubborn, but her lack of breath didn’t allow a response. If anyone was stubborn, he was. The man of mystery was a well-known do-gooder, and obviously she was his next project. There was only one problem with that. She didn’t want his help. Needing people was a slippery slope, and Jordan had no intention of heading down that way again.



About Jeannie Moon:

Jeannie Moon, author of fifteen novels, has always been a romantic. When she’s not spinning tales of her own, Jeannie works as a school librarian, thankful she has a job that allows her to immerse herself in books and call it work. Married to her high school sweetheart, Jeannie has three kids, three lovable dogs and a mischievous cat and lives in her hometown on Long Island, NY. If she’s more than ten miles away from salt water for any longer than a week, she gets twitchy.

Connect with Jeannie at: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest


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