tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24595409166019144032024-03-05T21:39:58.074-06:00Denise Devine's Book DiaryDenise Devine is a USA Today bestselling author of romance, suspense, and cozy mystery. Read the first chapters of all of her books by selecting any title on the pages bar!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2459540916601914403.post-75072462619192866392023-01-10T13:20:00.000-06:002023-01-10T13:20:02.743-06:00The Bootlegger's Wife, Book 1, Moonshine Madness Series<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><h1 style="text-align: center;">The Bootlegger's Wife</h1><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b><i>A 5-star rating in the Readers’ Favorite International contest!</i></b></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5RqgATM2IGwpCu9bkt2l1WBPD3LOLIqkhV701yJ2nm4znw2Hl38pM1K5Ve1UHP3wKk2fPj7errY-J3mjTrtVvSJX8p4Rouu1ePW9va6I1ckpUdE0uIid5l_AlOIPVuXMxeZ8EReAUnd8Eto3QRqIwUzLml9DwOrET0DyHIUoPehizOikJo4460eUt/s2550/600TheBootlegger'sWifeDeniseDevineFinalLarge-Revised%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2550" data-original-width="1650" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5RqgATM2IGwpCu9bkt2l1WBPD3LOLIqkhV701yJ2nm4znw2Hl38pM1K5Ve1UHP3wKk2fPj7errY-J3mjTrtVvSJX8p4Rouu1ePW9va6I1ckpUdE0uIid5l_AlOIPVuXMxeZ8EReAUnd8Eto3QRqIwUzLml9DwOrET0DyHIUoPehizOikJo4460eUt/w414-h640/600TheBootlegger'sWifeDeniseDevineFinalLarge-Revised%20(1).jpg" width="414" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SCRTGF7">AMAZON</a></span></p><p><em><strong>It's 1925 in St. Paul, Minnesota, a haven for hardened criminals - and the women who find themselves trapped in a dangerous game...</strong></em></p><p>Charlotte LeDoux's nine-year marriage to bootlegging kingpin, Gus "Lucky" LeDoux is falling apart. The same day Char learns she is pregnant, she catches Gus in the act of adultery and it's clear he has no intention of ending the affair. Soon after, their nightclub is raided by Federal agents. As she flees from the chaos, Char is separated from Gus and faces a choice; search out her fugitive husband or change her identity and disappear. With her life in shambles and her future in doubt, she knows what she must do to protect her child.</p><p>Char alters her appearance and takes a job in domestic service for a private investigator. At first, living in Will Van Elsberg's home is quiet, comfortable, and safe, but everything changes the day Gus seeks out Will to find his missing wife. As Will's investigation closes in on her, Char must once again make a decision. Should she run away again or face her violent husband and fight for her freedom? With her back to the wall, Char discovers she has more strength and determination than she ever thought possible.<br /></p><p><em><strong>Book One of the Moonshine Madness series</strong></em><br /></p><p><em><strong>Get your copy for 99 cents now on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SCRTGF7">Kindle</a>! Only for a limited time!</strong></em></p><p><em><strong>Also available on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SCRTGF7">Kindle Unlimited</a> and in <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SCRTGF7">audiobook</a> too!</strong></em></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJXunjgKwifDXyYKNs6lzSjHKs27Rqceoa1mDDsyOx5deMjYDQOjFTEjoRKOmpguHHvkUwXNR-iuL3m4wsvLo7cEtkYzHc4kDKmSf_yTGOW6vcPuT0fThzfHzuduy12D3lOF9SmlZkLQei1tDKj-dHF63nY1QD-x8Kye83jT4Tyft4S1q0etShwPBH/s509/1b.%20Signature%20Divide%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="509" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJXunjgKwifDXyYKNs6lzSjHKs27Rqceoa1mDDsyOx5deMjYDQOjFTEjoRKOmpguHHvkUwXNR-iuL3m4wsvLo7cEtkYzHc4kDKmSf_yTGOW6vcPuT0fThzfHzuduy12D3lOF9SmlZkLQei1tDKj-dHF63nY1QD-x8Kye83jT4Tyft4S1q0etShwPBH/w200-h114/1b.%20Signature%20Divide%20(2).jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p align="center" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><a name="_Hlk124248144"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Want to stay in touch with me?</span></b></a></p><p align="center" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><a name="_Hlk124248144"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></b></a></p><p align="center" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><a name="_Hlk124248144"><b></b></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlm8OVS02tTbEAQU0_vjkDAu8JuPZofBDYBkB1Rd_0GJ6_z7DJoaEFUaoZNLTEBRFUs-DZkhLMti2ZsKd7DiCCZkl7eGOsP_uAzcjEft02EXtuWrjii4H9_fIZdrYEG22ZA6AC9deLWA8LduMdqYKAhwIDTF7QbfrUR0UfKJC6hB0socv5R2AwqgSy/s760/2Denise%20in%20Garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="759" data-original-width="760" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlm8OVS02tTbEAQU0_vjkDAu8JuPZofBDYBkB1Rd_0GJ6_z7DJoaEFUaoZNLTEBRFUs-DZkhLMti2ZsKd7DiCCZkl7eGOsP_uAzcjEft02EXtuWrjii4H9_fIZdrYEG22ZA6AC9deLWA8LduMdqYKAhwIDTF7QbfrUR0UfKJC6hB0socv5R2AwqgSy/w320-h320/2Denise%20in%20Garden.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div><a name="_Hlk124248166" style="text-align: justify;"></a><p align="center" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><a name="_Hlk124248166" style="text-align: justify;"></a><a name="_Hlk124248144"></a><a name="_Hlk124248166" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></a></p>Sign up
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You’ll be the first to know about my new releases, sales and special events.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p align="center" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJXunjgKwifDXyYKNs6lzSjHKs27Rqceoa1mDDsyOx5deMjYDQOjFTEjoRKOmpguHHvkUwXNR-iuL3m4wsvLo7cEtkYzHc4kDKmSf_yTGOW6vcPuT0fThzfHzuduy12D3lOF9SmlZkLQei1tDKj-dHF63nY1QD-x8Kye83jT4Tyft4S1q0etShwPBH/s509/1b.%20Signature%20Divide%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="509" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJXunjgKwifDXyYKNs6lzSjHKs27Rqceoa1mDDsyOx5deMjYDQOjFTEjoRKOmpguHHvkUwXNR-iuL3m4wsvLo7cEtkYzHc4kDKmSf_yTGOW6vcPuT0fThzfHzuduy12D3lOF9SmlZkLQei1tDKj-dHF63nY1QD-x8Kye83jT4Tyft4S1q0etShwPBH/w200-h114/1b.%20Signature%20Divide%20(2).jpg" width="200" /></a></p><p align="center" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Want to find more authors who write
sweet romance?</span></b></p><p align="center" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><a name="_Hlk124248144"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></b></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4Vq2xEj8PVG9vsvBgDV_JHJIN-EDBcKurJm7wQBVSsoD6MlvKBuN4Wcq2IjBssyTpdi5VCamSljnqhyQQZ-WFQbltO7W1ufV_MSSSxWY-mTiCTbkFZXnv7b-bJNr6OuWfO8QA8945jhxMj2X-uBZQ6uMafZ1VJsfVV5_RGa8iXhjeQE8Urqcj6LW/s1640/1.%20HEA%20Reader%20Group%20Banner.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="Happily Ever After Stories - Sweet Romance" border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4Vq2xEj8PVG9vsvBgDV_JHJIN-EDBcKurJm7wQBVSsoD6MlvKBuN4Wcq2IjBssyTpdi5VCamSljnqhyQQZ-WFQbltO7W1ufV_MSSSxWY-mTiCTbkFZXnv7b-bJNr6OuWfO8QA8945jhxMj2X-uBZQ6uMafZ1VJsfVV5_RGa8iXhjeQE8Urqcj6LW/w400-h225/1.%20HEA%20Reader%20Group%20Banner.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><a name="_Hlk80308576">Join my
reader group at Happily Ever After Stories – Sweet Romance. If you like sweet
romance and want to be part of a great group that has lots of fun and fantastic
parties, visit us at:<o:p></o:p></a></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/HEAstories/">https://www.facebook.com/groups/HEAstories/</a><o:p></o:p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2459540916601914403.post-55577205457526419952022-11-02T13:16:00.000-05:002022-11-02T13:16:33.324-05:00A Merry Little Christmas by @denisedevine5 #christmasromance #mgtab<p> </p><h1 style="text-align: center;">A Sweet Holiday Happily-Ever-After Romance</h1><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHFHSs4POTEDLpMAaXoiYrMa5ucn1VGzxIKAf3xafRxa5GXcosJKfq5D0FfAXNUayNdW87xapFZkl-BiFJagZgzZRt7v_VDuLXsUUfvg_0a6M4QyR9pNkGMlGvxkb-ZnhYFFKCply0eNxengyIp6s4bpQIf1PNv7FQljbLYHHf8ukfBWHP2cFrJFce/s2700/400Denise%20Devine%20A%20Merry%20Little%20Xmas%20Denise%20Devinelg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="1800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHFHSs4POTEDLpMAaXoiYrMa5ucn1VGzxIKAf3xafRxa5GXcosJKfq5D0FfAXNUayNdW87xapFZkl-BiFJagZgzZRt7v_VDuLXsUUfvg_0a6M4QyR9pNkGMlGvxkb-ZnhYFFKCply0eNxengyIp6s4bpQIf1PNv7FQljbLYHHf8ukfBWHP2cFrJFce/w426-h640/400Denise%20Devine%20A%20Merry%20Little%20Xmas%20Denise%20Devinelg.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Available on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Also in audiobook, too!</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MAUZJRS">Amazon</a></b></span></p><p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><b><i>Merry Connor is struggling to feed her two
children, pay heat bills and fix her secondhand car.<o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">Though she’s barely making it
financially, life is good. That is, compared to two years ago when she lost
everything—thanks to her lying, deceiving ex-husband. She’s come a long way
since then and doesn’t intend to look back. Even so, it’ll be a long time
before she trusts anyone with her heart again.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><b><i>Tony Lewis hasn’t had a merry Christmas
since his wife and son perished in a car collision three years ago.<o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">The holidays are lonely without his
family, but his heart begins to mend when he meets Merry Connor and her two
rambunctious kids. He can’t stop thinking about her and yearns to get closer to
her. Will she turn him away once she learns of his connection to her
ex-husband?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">Available on Kindle for only 99 cents. Also available on Kindle Unlimited.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF1oYFTx_gYuRObdHVyVjLM4vmRB_R98Icms_tLTVpe-yVGBNtuaS3pEulQsldAPLXeKvExlgG2mQ4OQB-fac6UK7JzfD4VUVMqrO75eIUjjj6chkDD3tqvOPUQz5XjyProBvl4Te2ZVaC7S3ZFTXyF_gRxvARqnhOJyGgYp9mb8FTn4kZfDlPuC8K/s1683/ball-17028_1920%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="1683" height="58" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF1oYFTx_gYuRObdHVyVjLM4vmRB_R98Icms_tLTVpe-yVGBNtuaS3pEulQsldAPLXeKvExlgG2mQ4OQB-fac6UK7JzfD4VUVMqrO75eIUjjj6chkDD3tqvOPUQz5XjyProBvl4Te2ZVaC7S3ZFTXyF_gRxvARqnhOJyGgYp9mb8FTn4kZfDlPuC8K/s320/ball-17028_1920%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>For a limited time only!</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Audiobook on sale at Chirp for $1.99</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLBBv38vx8hKM8QXsXo5-f3hoCKWe2OXkI9kl0CovcxgBFq6qQ8SCH71yIs_bV4jpYOE13nPg0Nc7YFiNvrcdznByHuwDwKgI9a8V14TRizyAe8N142cEMzLI6kZauUG2StGrrVB-Tgy35CS_sm4HgM7DHFOQQURYPeTbd13RVntxPM8jvnWWDMcBq/s2400/405AMerryLittleChrismtas-Audio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="2400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLBBv38vx8hKM8QXsXo5-f3hoCKWe2OXkI9kl0CovcxgBFq6qQ8SCH71yIs_bV4jpYOE13nPg0Nc7YFiNvrcdznByHuwDwKgI9a8V14TRizyAe8N142cEMzLI6kZauUG2StGrrVB-Tgy35CS_sm4HgM7DHFOQQURYPeTbd13RVntxPM8jvnWWDMcBq/w400-h400/405AMerryLittleChrismtas-Audio.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://www.chirpbooks.com/audiobooks/a-merry-little-christmas-by-denise-devine">Chirp</a></b></span></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">This audiobook is also available at many online libraries. Check your library to see if it's in their catalog!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>~*~</b></span></span></div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Want to find more authors who write
sweet romance?</span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4Vq2xEj8PVG9vsvBgDV_JHJIN-EDBcKurJm7wQBVSsoD6MlvKBuN4Wcq2IjBssyTpdi5VCamSljnqhyQQZ-WFQbltO7W1ufV_MSSSxWY-mTiCTbkFZXnv7b-bJNr6OuWfO8QA8945jhxMj2X-uBZQ6uMafZ1VJsfVV5_RGa8iXhjeQE8Urqcj6LW/s1640/1.%20HEA%20Reader%20Group%20Banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4Vq2xEj8PVG9vsvBgDV_JHJIN-EDBcKurJm7wQBVSsoD6MlvKBuN4Wcq2IjBssyTpdi5VCamSljnqhyQQZ-WFQbltO7W1ufV_MSSSxWY-mTiCTbkFZXnv7b-bJNr6OuWfO8QA8945jhxMj2X-uBZQ6uMafZ1VJsfVV5_RGa8iXhjeQE8Urqcj6LW/w400-h225/1.%20HEA%20Reader%20Group%20Banner.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><a name="_Hlk80308576">Join my
reader group at Happily Ever After Stories – Sweet Romance. If you like sweet
romance and want to be part of a great group that has lots of fun and fantastic
parties, visit us at:<o:p></o:p></a></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/HEAstories/">https://www.facebook.com/groups/HEAstories/</a><o:p></o:p></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com04401 231st Ln NE, Bethel, MN 55005, USA45.388146 -93.15783599999998945.382118127485086 -93.166419068847645 45.394173872514912 -93.149252931152333tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2459540916601914403.post-47807922998938464112022-10-18T14:11:00.000-05:002022-10-18T14:11:12.265-05:00New Release! Brown-Eyed Girl by Denise Devine<p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Brown-Eyed Girl<br /></b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Book Two, West Loon Bay Series<br /></b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The exciting new contemporary small-town series<br /></b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>by Denise Devine<br /></b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>On sale now for only 99 cents!<br /></b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Don't wait--this sale ends October 20th!</b></span></h1><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglR76zeasqxIPKDC_3ZTwtKPdDuyan6gmR5NkahXsqCVqsqFVLVGIdUl7_FERdHUxTkkM4SzWmB5h9gnHlMTRSzvMVtTxisMwXOU9uFGrkCNP5GcQ36Rz5MUe_ReQmcfn7XX1ejMWGqcz4bRHmyBze6VsZhq99UMVneUiV9MLdS8wKAlCXjK2KlRq3/s2550/1604BrownEyedGirl-Lg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2550" data-original-width="1650" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglR76zeasqxIPKDC_3ZTwtKPdDuyan6gmR5NkahXsqCVqsqFVLVGIdUl7_FERdHUxTkkM4SzWmB5h9gnHlMTRSzvMVtTxisMwXOU9uFGrkCNP5GcQ36Rz5MUe_ReQmcfn7XX1ejMWGqcz4bRHmyBze6VsZhq99UMVneUiV9MLdS8wKAlCXjK2KlRq3/w414-h640/1604BrownEyedGirl-Lg.jpg" width="414" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Available on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Get your copy today!</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BF5TR5H5" target="_blank">Amazon</a></b></span></p><p><b style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></b></p><p><b style="text-align: justify;"><i>The worst lies are the ones
that you tell yourself…</i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Carly Strand has been holding a
secret close to her heart for nearly a decade. In high school, her infatuation
with Erik Nilsen had produced a child. Sadly, by the time Rylee was born, Erik
was long gone, leaving Carly no choice but to allow a married cousin to adopt her
baby. She’s never been able to cope with losing her child or deal with Erik’s
abandonment. Now, he’s back in town and wants to make amends—with her <i>and</i>
Rylee—but can he be trusted or will he break her heart again?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i>They say you can’t run from your past. What if you don’t
want to?<o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Erik Nilsen is ready to leave the
last decade behind him. Ten years of touring with his rock band has made him wealthy
and famous, but the experience has also taught him that money can’t buy true
riches. He’s determined to take a year off to reunite with his family and old
friends. The trouble is, the person from his past that he wants to be with the
most is pushing him away. When he learns of her secret, he realizes how much he
has to lose by staying silent. Can he convince Carly Strand to rekindle the
love they once shared or will she refuse to forgive him for leaving her back when
she needed him the most?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>~*~</b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl0lcFvWpOf3nBpNTwGlMAZNLdQQprknK5nb088bY9lJbzGEwNo-4cSTV9yyAil4q9F1Kdnoek28V4pzAaopMZE3L5iMuUg9Ao76yvwnXUi5fnU6A2DSIh-2QV1aLsB_7GtMnhVnO9dN1lx-uf2Q_vyE_xQva6gw4TR1J4LoSc-tBxBhcy0lusPJx8/s1640/Welcome%20to%20West%20Loon%20Bay,%20Minnesota.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Contemporary small-town sweet romance series" border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl0lcFvWpOf3nBpNTwGlMAZNLdQQprknK5nb088bY9lJbzGEwNo-4cSTV9yyAil4q9F1Kdnoek28V4pzAaopMZE3L5iMuUg9Ao76yvwnXUi5fnU6A2DSIh-2QV1aLsB_7GtMnhVnO9dN1lx-uf2Q_vyE_xQva6gw4TR1J4LoSc-tBxBhcy0lusPJx8/w400-h225/Welcome%20to%20West%20Loon%20Bay,%20Minnesota.jpg" title="West Loon Bay Series" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Coming soon - Six exciting books set in the small, midwestern town of</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">West Loon Bay, Minnesota</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Books one and two are on sale now!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>Book One</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirlN_CP2oH7cjwJ2o_1-J6zJ6EtY1tW4KspdJLSgUDleL6E5mbSkhjcfibWZOJcRSOGbwaYHvSwnsi4mj6a0ekl9t7cxF0ubFmG7L9aOcmk5CjTB9L5xkdowNMGeiH-sY5PJ4Zl1wnip1XFI4WdR-aSSBQ94teOasp95wjJFwbkyGr10RzZG2aIG1s/s1600/1600SmallTownGirl-DeniseDevineLarge.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1035" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirlN_CP2oH7cjwJ2o_1-J6zJ6EtY1tW4KspdJLSgUDleL6E5mbSkhjcfibWZOJcRSOGbwaYHvSwnsi4mj6a0ekl9t7cxF0ubFmG7L9aOcmk5CjTB9L5xkdowNMGeiH-sY5PJ4Zl1wnip1XFI4WdR-aSSBQ94teOasp95wjJFwbkyGr10RzZG2aIG1s/s320/1600SmallTownGirl-DeniseDevineLarge.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><br /><h4 style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Get your copy for only 99 cents now</i></b></h4><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08WJ4ZPZ6"><span style="font-size: large;">Amazon</span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>Book Two</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglR76zeasqxIPKDC_3ZTwtKPdDuyan6gmR5NkahXsqCVqsqFVLVGIdUl7_FERdHUxTkkM4SzWmB5h9gnHlMTRSzvMVtTxisMwXOU9uFGrkCNP5GcQ36Rz5MUe_ReQmcfn7XX1ejMWGqcz4bRHmyBze6VsZhq99UMVneUiV9MLdS8wKAlCXjK2KlRq3/s2550/1604BrownEyedGirl-Lg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2550" data-original-width="1650" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglR76zeasqxIPKDC_3ZTwtKPdDuyan6gmR5NkahXsqCVqsqFVLVGIdUl7_FERdHUxTkkM4SzWmB5h9gnHlMTRSzvMVtTxisMwXOU9uFGrkCNP5GcQ36Rz5MUe_ReQmcfn7XX1ejMWGqcz4bRHmyBze6VsZhq99UMVneUiV9MLdS8wKAlCXjK2KlRq3/s320/1604BrownEyedGirl-Lg.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BF5TR5H5"><span style="font-size: large;">Amazon</span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>Coming Soon!</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>Book Three</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM7aQtkFm92-9S4jwjd0kLvn5ATyd_THo_oyd7TufPES5ZbAOdH7eFUnxh5Q9VWAVxZgbkdVLutSE9UvZM9uDYmpnIHd-xO4HcwxpayFXC647kFd0VS_G_n2qMZlzx3FU4UyuXOY3DSGXWpgGWW5TDd9tNfGym6eS5KAo505N0wPB2IvaQFUQh6Qg6/s2550/1608CountryGirlLarge.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2550" data-original-width="1650" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM7aQtkFm92-9S4jwjd0kLvn5ATyd_THo_oyd7TufPES5ZbAOdH7eFUnxh5Q9VWAVxZgbkdVLutSE9UvZM9uDYmpnIHd-xO4HcwxpayFXC647kFd0VS_G_n2qMZlzx3FU4UyuXOY3DSGXWpgGWW5TDd9tNfGym6eS5KAo505N0wPB2IvaQFUQh6Qg6/s320/1608CountryGirlLarge.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">~*~</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxnBUhE8RzubpyJG8SAKippgn27QGBgMRIxLMYV3Cgjz17YJ3aG_RdYFeULqqLuvcu3XS_u71EdFlMunQA8ZWc2iazbFPTCrnQHLeg7BVV7kDGj-U_owbC197YXy5b_smtKUwZYcmF_oGyjZO5nLtjFyHB1WeXq3zfihu-NzGdwOfkjckI6SsXRR56/s940/Newsletter%20Invite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxnBUhE8RzubpyJG8SAKippgn27QGBgMRIxLMYV3Cgjz17YJ3aG_RdYFeULqqLuvcu3XS_u71EdFlMunQA8ZWc2iazbFPTCrnQHLeg7BVV7kDGj-U_owbC197YXy5b_smtKUwZYcmF_oGyjZO5nLtjFyHB1WeXq3zfihu-NzGdwOfkjckI6SsXRR56/s320/Newsletter%20Invite.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Sign up for Denise's newsletter</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://eepurl.com/csOJZL">Here!</a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comEast Bethel, MN, USA45.3194095 -93.20244869999999117.009175663821154 -128.3586987 73.629643336178844 -58.046198699999991tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2459540916601914403.post-41484339725025072362022-10-09T16:26:00.001-05:002022-10-09T16:28:47.175-05:00Sweet & Sassy Falling into Love for 99 cents<p></p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large; text-align: center;">Four amazing stories set in the fall and brought to you by USA Today Bestselling authors of the Authors' Billboard</span></h1><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ajJnKFJOaNIxFvwC_4wcQe_snZjAMQOoSO5uRu0ZeE4qN1NlnzAOKw4G8xD-ahb0yYJbhd-AtQiFWFD-Zxn4QGC4oEksMEi4pcqaUscx-ABuXoFOdR5sc59Yfwj3V_a3Ei-35oMjc5IOqIh0ib9Lbqn-Vki6vc_fveitwNO5dHshhUUVUH4kVwtR/s500/2b.%20S&S%20Fall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="421" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ajJnKFJOaNIxFvwC_4wcQe_snZjAMQOoSO5uRu0ZeE4qN1NlnzAOKw4G8xD-ahb0yYJbhd-AtQiFWFD-Zxn4QGC4oEksMEi4pcqaUscx-ABuXoFOdR5sc59Yfwj3V_a3Ei-35oMjc5IOqIh0ib9Lbqn-Vki6vc_fveitwNO5dHshhUUVUH4kVwtR/w336-h400/2b.%20S&S%20Fall.jpg" width="336" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><h2><span style="font-size: large;">On sale now for only 99 cents.</span></h2><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.Amazon.com/dp/B09FND3NYK">Amazon</a></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">There is never
a wrong time to snuggle up and fall in love! The Authors’ Billboard has another
Sweet and Sassy boxset aimed directly at </span><i style="color: #333333;">Falling Into Love</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">This four-book set from USA Today Bestselling,
Award-Winning Authors contains stories of second chances, single parents,
small-towns and large. With some touches of suspense, unexpected sparks, and
close-knit families, these characters are out to find more than they bargained
for while </span><i style="color: #333333;">Falling Into Lov</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">e.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></div>
<b style="color: #333333;"><span style="background: white;">Stacy Eaton, USA Today Bestselling Author,
Bradley, Loving a Young Series:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"> With
a new house in her name, Nolan Nickels seeks out the perfect plan to get the
house ready so she can bring her two daughters’ home, but is her fixer-upper
more than she bargained after Brad Young comes to help?</span><br />
<br />
<b style="color: #333333;"><span style="background: white;">Susanne Matthews, Bestselling Author, – Make
Mine a Manhattan: </span></b><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">Assuming her heroine’s
identity, Savannah Long heads for New York to experience life and gets far more
than she bargained for.</span><br />
<br />
<b style="color: #333333;"><span style="background: white;">Denise Devine, USA Today Bestselling Author,
– Unfinished Business: </span></b><a name="_Hlk83295115" style="color: #333333;"><span style="background: white;">When Alana Morgan’s life is upended by a suspicious
death and a betrayal, she joins forces with Reid Sinclair to uncover the
evidence she desperately seeks.</span></a><br />
<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="color: #333333;"><span style="background: white;">Taylor Lee, USA Today Bestselling Author - You
Can’t Always Get What You Want:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"> He’s
a hard as nails police chief. She’s a feisty ADA. The one thing they have in
common is arrogance. Sparks flare when the challenging duo face off.</span></div>
<o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background: white;">** ** **</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;">This is Alana's story...</p><h1 style="text-align: center;"><a name="_Toc32602794">Chapter One</a><o:p></o:p></h1><p class="Taglines" style="text-align: center;">Mid-August<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The flowers, balloons, and stuffed bears at the foot of
Alana Morgan’s front door resembled a shrine for the dead.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">With one hand on her suitcase and the other holding her
keys, she stood in the hallway outside her condo and stared down at the
colorful exhibition in dismay. The display wasn’t a memorial for someone. It
was for <i>something</i>; a relationship with
Dylan O’Rourke that should have never happened.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The door of the condo next to hers cracked open a few inches.
Gina Alfonsi poked her graying head into the hallway. “He’s been here every day
this week. Now that you’re back home, you need to either kiss and make up or
get a restraining order.” Shaking her head in disgust, Gina stared at the items
piled on the floor. “Put the poor guy out of his misery.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Alana deactivated her security system then put her key in
the deadbolt lock and turned it. “We had it out just before I left for Paris
and I gave him back the engagement ring. He begged me to forgive him but I
refused. A couple of nights ago, I described the situation to my girlfriends
and they agreed I’d be crazy to take him back.” She pushed the door open. “I
don’t care how sorry Dylan is; he’s history. There is <i>no</i> second chance for
a man who cheats.” Leaving her suitcase behind, for now, she stepped over the obstacles
in her way and entered her condominium.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">She would have never known about his infidelity if her
business trip to Los Angeles hadn’t been cut short. A product manager in retail
price management for a private software firm, she’d planned to be in L.A. for
five days to work with a client<span style="background: white;">. The meetings, however, were very productive and wrapped up a
day early, giving her an extra day to get ready for her trip to Paris. She’d
caught the red-eye back to Minneapolis on Thursday night. Arriving home early
Friday morning, she’d purchased muffins from a coffee shop and had gone
straight to Dylan’s place on the sixth floor of her condo complex. She wanted
to surprise him before he left for work, but a nasty surprise was in store <i>for
her</i> when she let herself in and discovered her fiancé in the shower with
another woman...</span><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white;">Alana grimaced. </span><i>Why do I always manage to pick
losers?</i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Successful, sexy, and sweet-talking, Dylan’s charming
personality was the kind she always fell for, but obviously, his kind wasn’t
right <i>for her</i>. A relationship had to be based upon more than physical
attraction and she realized now theirs had been merely skin-deep. That’s why
he’d cheated on her. In the end, he’d come to that conclusion too, and that’s
why he wanted to start over, but it was too late. She could never trust him
again.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Alana crossed the living room to the floor-to-ceiling windows
and pulled open the fabric blinds, filling her spacious home with afternoon
sunlight. She loved living on the thirtieth floor of Marquette Towers. Situated
on the south edge of downtown Minneapolis, the spectacular view of the metro
area from her balcony stretched as far as she could see. Looking downward, her
gaze swept across the lush, eleven-acre grounds of the Sculpture Garden a
couple of blocks away and Loring Park with tall, shady trees and its
centerpiece, Loring Lake. She’d had a great time in Paris, but it was good to
be back in Minnesota again.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Well, it would be once she’d returned Dylan O’Rourke’s gifts
and purged him from her life forever.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Gina stood in the doorway wearing black leggings, a lacy white
tunic, and a necklace of chunky aqua beads. She smiled, revealing a space
between her front teeth. “Did you have a good trip?”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“Oh, yes! I always have a great time with my ex-roommates
from college. We take a vacation together every year at the end of the summer
for some girls-only fun. It’s been our tradition since we graduated.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Alana dropped her purse on the coffee table and began to
collect the items in the doorway. The flowers went into the trash. “On our
first day, we had lunch at a sidewalk café and spent the afternoon shopping,”
she said as she poured the water from the vases into the sink. “On other days,
we wandered through The Louvre, took a river cruise on the Seine, and watched
the evening light show at the Eiffel Tower.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“How was the wine?”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“Wonderful!” Alana knelt in front of the doorway holding a
white garbage bag in her hands. “One evening we went to a place on Rue des
Boulangers where we drank Bordeaux and snacked on wild boar sausage with cheese
and crackers.” She shoved a stuffed bear into the bag.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Gina laughed. “The wine sounds good. I’m not sure about the
wild boar...”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“It wasn’t as bad as it sounds. It tasted like summer
sausage to me.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">As Alana worked, she thought back to that balmy night in
Paris. Josie, Ryley, Annika, and she had started confessing their tales of relationships
gone bad as they sipped on delicious Bordeaux. By the end of the evening,
they’d all promised to hit the “pause” button on love and swear off men for one
year so they could focus on pursuing their professional goals instead.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Deep in her heart, Alana truly wanted to find Mr. Right, get
married, and have a couple of kids, but for now, the prospect seemed so remote.
Were all the good men her age taken? It certainly felt that way. Maybe her
friends were right about putting relationships on hold for a while to focus on their
careers. The thought of pursuing a high-level promotion at work energized her,
giving her a renewed sense of purpose.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“Here, let me help you with that,” Gina said as she tucked
her chin-length hair behind her ears and knelt on the floor to push a couple of
Mylar balloons into the bag. They suddenly slipped from Gina’s hands and popped
out, rocketing toward the ceiling.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“Hold on. I’ll fix this.” Alana went into the kitchen and
grabbed a scissors from one of the drawers. She pulled down the balloons,
stabbing a hole in each one and dropping them, deflated, into the bag. She quickly
pulled the bag’s drawstrings tight and tied them in a knot. “It needs one more
thing.” She went back into the kitchen to retrieve a notecard, a black Sharpie,
and some cellophane tape. On the card, she wrote “Delivery Refused - Return to
Sender” and taped it on the bag. “That should do it. I’ll go down to the sixth
floor and set it in front of <i>his</i> door.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Gina folded her arms as she leaned against the door frame. “Judging
by how persistent he is, I doubt it will deter him.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Alana set the bag aside with a sigh. “You’re right. When he
sees the bag, he’ll know I’m back and he’ll try to talk me into giving our
relationship another chance. The problem is, it’ll simply be round two of the
same argument we’ve already had. I have nothing else to say to him.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“It’s too bad you couldn’t go back to Paris for another week.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“I’d love that!” Alana glanced at her suitcase, packed full of
new clothes from Paris and she winced at the thought of how much she’d already
overspent her travel budget. “Unfortunately, I can’t afford to go back there
right now. Besides, I called my mom at the airport to let her know my plane had
arrived and she talked me into spending the other half of my vacation at my
grandmother’s house. I’m supposed to start packing Grandma Essie’s things and
doing some serious cleaning to get the house ready to put on the market.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“You sound like you’re dreading it,” Gina remarked.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“This isn’t my idea of a fun vacation.” She looked back at
Gina. “My parents rarely ask for my help so I feel duty-bound to set my own
plans aside and get the project started for them while they’re in Europe
celebrating their fortieth anniversary. Grandma Essie’s passing took an
emotional toll on Mom so she really needs this time away. Well, it was tough on
all of us. It’s going to be difficult going back there because I have so many
memories tied to that house, but I guess I should see the place one last time
before it goes up for sale. Growing up, I spent a lot of my summers there and
I’m really going to miss it.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">It would be a nice change for a few days to wake up in the
same bedroom her mother had occupied as a child in Grandma Essie’s big house in
Merrick. The small, southern Minnesota town was a little boring, perhaps, but
at least she’d have some peace and quiet for a few days. Nothing ever happened
there…<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Until Essie’s untimely death.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>How? Why? At Mom’s Fourth of July picnic, Grandma Essie was
her usual self—funny and in good health. She’d lived in that house for sixty
years and never had any problem with the back steps. What had caused her to
take such a bad fall now? I wish I knew!<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal">Alana shook off the sad, frustrating thoughts. “Why don’t
you come in for a few minutes, Gina, and visit with me while I repack my
suitcase? I’ll get you a bottle of sparkling water. I need to get on the road
before rush hour starts or it will be a nightmare trying to get out of the
metro area. Fridays are always the worst.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">After retrieving a couple of cold bottles of Voss water from
the refrigerator, Alana pulled her suitcase into her bedroom and dumped the
contents onto her bed. Gina sat on the corner of her king-sized mattress and
chatted with her about Paris as Alana packed enough clothes to stay at Grandma Essie’s
for a week. When she finished, she went back into her living room and closed
the blinds then went into the kitchen and filled out a new index card.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“Enjoy the rest of your vacation,” Gina said as she tossed
her empty bottle in the recycling bin under the sink. She followed Alana out
the door. “If lover boy shows up again, I’ll act like I haven’t seen you.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“Great, thanks!” Alana locked the door and set the alarm
with her key fob. “I’m all set. See you when I get back, Gina!”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Setting her purse on top of her suitcase, Alana took one
last look around. “Oops, I almost forgot this…” She held out the notecard with
a piece of tape on it and stuck it on the door.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">They laughed. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">She made her way toward the elevators rolling her suitcase
with one hand and dragging Dylan’s bag with the other. At the corner, she
stopped and looked back to make sure the sign on her door hadn’t fallen off. It
was still there. The notecard simply read, “Gone Fishing.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="Taglines" style="text-align: center;">***<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Reid Sinclair sat at the computer in his home office, working
from his notes on a keynote address to be given at a leadership summit in late
September. He needed to complete the first draft by the end of the week and
send it to his colleague and business partner, Nate Gilbertson, for review. A
management professor at the University of Minnesota, Nate critiqued all of Reid’s
manuscripts, conducted research projects with him, and filled the role of agent
for Reid’s conference schedule and his published books. Reid needed peace and
quiet to concentrate, but his private landline phone had been ringing off the
hook all day with family and friends calling, grating on his nerves, and repeatedly
disrupting his concentration.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“Da-dee, the phone is ringing!”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“I know that, Hannah,” he replied to his five-year-old
daughter who was supposed to be watching a children’s show on television. “Just
let it go to the answering machine. Daddy will play the messages back later.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“You always say that,” she wailed from the living room. “I <i>like</i>
to answer the phone.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“No, Hannah, let the machine take a message—”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“Hallo?” He suddenly heard her little voice chirp. “Who is
this? I’m Hannah and I’m five...” The little pause meant Hannah was nodding at
the phone while holding up five fingers. “My da-dee? He’s <i>working</i>.” Another
little pause. “Oh-kay!” Little footsteps scampered through the living room to
the door of Reid’s office. “Da-dee, the lady says you haf to talk to her.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Reid swiveled his chair to see Hannah standing in the
doorway with the white cordless phone in her tiny outstretched hand. Instead of
becoming angry with her for disobeying him, a twinge of guilt embraced his
heart at her sweet, but disheveled appearance. Her white leggings and pink
unicorn shirt were stained with the macaroni and cheese she’d spilled on
herself at lunch. Her blonde braids were yesterday’s hairdo, now coming apart
with stray hairs poking out everywhere.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Hannah came into the room and leaned against his knee, her
bright blue eyes shining up at him. “Here,” she said and offered him the mobile
handset. “It’s important!”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“Okay, honey,” he said as he accepted the phone. “Now you be
a good girl and go back into the living room to watch TV. Okay?”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“Who is it?”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“I don’t know yet.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“Can I haf a fruit snack?”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Reid nodded, anxious to get her back in front of the TV
until he’d finished his call. “But only one. I don’t want you to spoil your
appetite for dinner.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Hannah beamed. “Oh-kay!”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“What do you say?”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“Thank you!” She turned and ran out of the room.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“Don’t—” <i>…run in the house…</i> He shook his head,
letting it go for now, and hit the speakerphone on the handset. “This is Reid.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“It’s Monique.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The clear, feminine sound of his ex-wife’s voice startled
him. The fingers on his free hand, white-knuckled and tense, gripped the arm of
his chair. He hadn’t spoken to her in years and their last conversation had
been less than friendly. He still remembered every word. Why was she calling
him after all this time? His mind swirled with suspicion. “How did you get the
private number to my home? It’s unlisted.” Only a small number of people knew
it. One of them had betrayed him.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“It doesn’t matter,” she replied hastily. “I’m calling to
find out how Hannah is doing.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">His temper flared. “What do you care? You haven’t seen her
since the day you abandoned her.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Hannah had just turned three months old when Monique left.
Their daughter was registered to start all-day kindergarten in a couple of
weeks. He was glad Hannah had been too young to remember Monique or recognize
her voice on the phone. The less Hannah knew about Monique, the better.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“Look, Reid, I know you were angry about the divorce. I
understand what a shock it was at the time, but that was five years ago. I’ve
had a lot of time to think about the way I acted and I want to make amends.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“I forgive you. Case closed. Don’t bother calling again. As
soon as I hang up, I’m changing this number.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“Reid,” Monique countered in a low, warning voice, “Hannah
is my daughter, too, and I want to see her. I want to get to know her and start
the proceedings for joint custody.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>What the…?</i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“You’ve got to be kidding me.” He sat ramrod straight, his
heart hammering behind his eyes. “Not in a million years would I trust you with
her!”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“You can’t stop me from seeing my daughter.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“I’ll keep you in court for the rest of your life if that’s
what it takes,” Reid snapped. “When my lawyers offered you a fortune to sign
away your parental rights, you couldn’t wait to put your signature on the
agreement to get your hands on the money. You got exactly what you wanted and
so did I. There’s no going back now.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“I want joint custody of Hannah,” Monique repeated acidly.
“She’s my daughter and I have a right to see her.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Reid had all he could do to keep from throwing the phone on
the floor and pulverizing it with his heel, but he kept his voice calm. “Not
after what you did. You don’t deserve her.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“I knew you’d try to keep me from seeing her. If you
persist, I’ll go after full custody.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Good luck with that, lady. Any lawyer that got involved
in your case would be just taking your money…<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal">He drew in a deep breath. “Look, I still have the security
tapes and plenty of evidence to show you’re not fit to be Hannah’s mother. When
she’s old enough to understand the situation, I’ll let <i>her</i> decide if she
wants to see you or not. In the meantime, leave us alone. Don’t call here <i>ever
</i>again.” Shaking with fury, he ended the call and blocked the number.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“Da-dee,” Hannah cried breathlessly as she ran into Reid’s
office. She pointed to the window. “Someone is at Grandma Essie’s house!”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Monique’s call had distracted Reid so intensely he could
barely concentrate on anything else. He stared at the floor, trying to calm
down and wondering what to do now. <i><o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal">Hannah tugged at his sleeve. “Da-dee! Look!” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Reid pulled his thoughts away from the current crisis to
gaze out the window at his neighbor’s house. The elderly lady had passed away a
month ago with a head injury from a bad fall and since then, except for the man
who mowed the lawn every week, the house had been ignored.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">A car had pulled into the gravel driveway dividing the two
properties and it was partially hidden by Essie’s white picket fence and giant pink
hollyhocks, but he could see enough of it to make out a bright red Mercedes convertible.
A tall, slender woman with elbow-length dark hair who looked to be in her early
thirties stood next to it, taking in the house and yard. The pricey car, oversized
sunglasses, and fancy purse on her shoulder gave her a pampered, ultra-feminine
look. Someone who was used to having money and expensive tastes—<i>like Monique</i>.
Even so, he had a hard time pulling his gaze away. Something about the woman
caught his eye. The way she leaned against the car, her hands at her sides,
staring at the huge red brick, Queen Anne-style house intrigued him. She seemed
hesitant…longing for something…<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Hannah tugged at his sleeve. “Can we go see her? Pweeease?”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">He spanned his hands around Hannah’s waist and pulled her
onto his lap. “Honey, she’s probably a realtor who’s been contracted to sell
the house. If we went over there, we’d just be bothering her. Besides, it’s
damp outside from the rain and the mosquitoes are really bad today.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Hannah began to cry and rub her eyes with the back of her
hands. “I wanna go to Grandma Essie’s house!”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Reid slid his arms around her and kissed the top of her
head. She’d missed her nap today because he’d been too busy working on his
speech to put her in bed with a picture book after lunch and she was clearly
overtired. “You miss Grandma Essie, don’t you?” he murmured.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Hannah nodded her head and continued to cry.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“I do, too.” He wiped her tears away with his thumbs.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Ever since they moved to Merrick ten months ago, Grandma
Essie had taken care of Hannah whenever he needed a sitter. She’d even kept
Hannah overnight when he had to go out of town on business. The elderly lady
had been recommended to him by the Lutheran pastor in town and because of her
excellent references, he’d trusted her explicitly. It was an unfortunate
accident that had taken her life and he missed her. He didn’t know what he was
going to do without her.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“Hey,” he said in a soft voice and brushed a lock of stray
hair from Hannah’s face. “Do you want to go to McDonald’s and get a Happy Meal
for dinner?” He only took her out for fast food on days when his schedule was
tight, and give the interruptions he’d had today, he was definitely in no mood
to switch gears and cook. He’d print out what he had written so far and review
it while Hannah ate her chicken nuggets.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“Oh-kay,” Hannah said through her tears.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“But first, go to your room and put on a clean outfit. Then
we’ll wash your face and brush your hair.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Momentarily appeased, she slid off his lap and ran out of
the room.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Reid leaned back in his chair and covered his face with his
hands. He didn’t know if Monique truly meant what she said about going after
him in court, but he couldn’t afford to ignore her threat. He needed a plan—and
fast. It had cost him nearly everything to get rid of her, including his
position as CEO of a nationwide auto parts company. In the years since the
divorce, he’d relocated, become a full-time caregiver to his daughter, and
reinvented himself in the business world.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal">He took his hands away from his face and stared at the phone.
No way would he allow Monique to upend their lives again. <i>No way…</i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i>Get your copy today!</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.Amazon.com/dp/B09FND3NYK">Amazon</a></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i>** ** **</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8enLaWWWSjm4OODrfUcT-9CbepaZQXeFBej5H-Rn2fX9h90VwGbahY1_3v_AhjCZr1Dm3A-U6USNPvdRsow8pbIJdvu_llUlKRqv2j_G7vAlEaw1iTsK13tRLqAfrWeGhtCEEYzXiv2E/s720/In+My+Garden+%252709.bmp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="720" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8enLaWWWSjm4OODrfUcT-9CbepaZQXeFBej5H-Rn2fX9h90VwGbahY1_3v_AhjCZr1Dm3A-U6USNPvdRsow8pbIJdvu_llUlKRqv2j_G7vAlEaw1iTsK13tRLqAfrWeGhtCEEYzXiv2E/s320/In+My+Garden+%252709.bmp" width="320" /></a></div><a name="_Hlk21956026"></a><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;"><a name="_Hlk21956026"></a><a name="_Hlk21956026"><br /></a></p>Denise Devine is a USA Today bestselling author who <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">has had a passion for books since the second
grade when she discovered Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder.
She wrote her first book, a mystery, at age thirteen and has been writing ever
since. She loves all animals, especially dogs, cats and horses, and they often
find their way into her books.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">She has written seventeen books, including books in the Beach Brides Series, The Perfect Match
Series and the Hawaiian Holiday Series. Besides the USA Today list, her books
have hit the Top 100 Bestseller list on Amazon and she has been listed on
Amazon’s Top 100 Authors.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">If you’d like to know more about her, visit her website at: <a href="https://www.deniseannettedevine.com/"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.deniseannettedevine.com</span></a>
or <span style="background: white; color: #1d2129;">join her VIP list today to get
the scoop on free books, new releases and lots of goodies at </span><a href="http://eepurl.com/csOJZL"><span style="color: blue;">http://eepurl.com/csOJZL</span></a><span style="color: blue;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #111111;">Ghostwriters are NEVER used in the creation of any of Denise
Devine’s books. All of her books are conceived, plotted and written 100% by
her.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #111111; font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>~*~</b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #111111;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #111111;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfS7_ONL6dQI7DlaNejO5n-oYzY4ZVFrs9F2TOd2G-H3pc4lw6pUJXf-E6yDjYGFmN63DNF8TnVYG88tGbgAFFnCY3bwdKBrjc0TcLikn0y28R5jsu9GcIOi7DXwglOK9EilJioYwrvmajTd07trUeOy3d8bgxVdkwaayQ9oAA48qy4D5Ke8354thS/s1080/ABB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfS7_ONL6dQI7DlaNejO5n-oYzY4ZVFrs9F2TOd2G-H3pc4lw6pUJXf-E6yDjYGFmN63DNF8TnVYG88tGbgAFFnCY3bwdKBrjc0TcLikn0y28R5jsu9GcIOi7DXwglOK9EilJioYwrvmajTd07trUeOy3d8bgxVdkwaayQ9oAA48qy4D5Ke8354thS/w400-h400/ABB.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #111111;"><br /><br /></span></div><span style="color: #111111;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/m7n2r8">Sign up for the Authors' Billboard weekly newsletter here!</a></span></span></div></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="background: white;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<!--start LinkyTools script--><script src="https://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=304361" type="text/javascript"></script><!--end LinkyTools script--><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2East Bethel, MN, USA45.3194095 -93.20244869999999116.578306765188891 -128.3586987 74.060512234811114 -58.046198699999991tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2459540916601914403.post-24026241533692940862022-01-05T14:38:00.004-06:002022-10-01T15:08:03.660-05:00Cute But Crazy 4 boxed set - 99 cents!<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Brought to you by the amazing women of the Authors' Billboard!</b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhM7ITR-tNIO6gk1n035S5CJVC-PoZr-mZEykKiyaAKUYRliiGkzzZmHz81vE-7xjdkbqEWzRpJgLSjeYQfbP-mNB39biEoftvdwRS_UVQk5ShTVtDTIeBsnLpWNCxlbzdcofgK5bV6x0WSjeSTWjX04eRKdyXSKxfG-Vgwf0Mq9CLp9IWwlrZL_l9_=s500" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="ome of your favorite Romantic Comedy authors are returning with NEW stories to take the edge off the hassles of the day and life in general. The Word Wranglers of the Wacky, Wonderful Women, Ditzy Dudes, and Unique and Unpredictable CUTE BUT CRAZY box set collections have taken on another topic: Quirky Careers. Loads of laughs as our authors follow behind hapless men and women as they tangle with weather, obstacles, and each other while trying to maintain a good work ethic and not fall in love." border="0" data-original-height="493" data-original-width="500" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhM7ITR-tNIO6gk1n035S5CJVC-PoZr-mZEykKiyaAKUYRliiGkzzZmHz81vE-7xjdkbqEWzRpJgLSjeYQfbP-mNB39biEoftvdwRS_UVQk5ShTVtDTIeBsnLpWNCxlbzdcofgK5bV6x0WSjeSTWjX04eRKdyXSKxfG-Vgwf0Mq9CLp9IWwlrZL_l9_=w400-h395" title="Brought to you by the amazing women of the Authors' Billboard!" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><h1 style="text-align: center;"><br /></h1><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GYKGCGM">AMAZON</a></div></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></i></b></p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">QUIRKY CAREERS?
You bet! Follow the Fun with NEW Romantic Comedies!<br /></span></i></b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><i><span style="background: white;">There’s humor in everything, even that
economic obligation called a career!</span></i></span></h1><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="background: white;">What’s the weirdest job you’ve ever heard of? An
ostrich groomer? A Lego inspector? A toothpick tester? How about a barroom
Santa, exotic dancer, or a woman who repairs chain saws and lawnmowers?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Some of your favorite
Romantic Comedy authors are returning with <b>NEW</b> stories to take
the edge off the hassles of the day and life in general. The Word Wranglers of
the <i>Wacky, Wonderful Women, Ditzy Dudes, and Unique</i> and <i>Unpredictable
CUTE BUT CRAZY</i> box set collections have taken on another topic: <i>Quirky
Careers</i>.</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Loads of laughs as our authors follow behind
hapless men and women as they tangle with weather, obstacles, and each other
while trying to maintain a good work ethic and not fall in love.</span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="background: white;">Susan Jean Ricci </span></b><i><span style="background: white;">– Just Horsing Around: NEW! </span></i><span style="background: white;">Horse ranchers turned sleuths, Joshua and Bella
endeavor to purge an unsavory character who’s destroying their precious
neighboring wetlands – and confront falling love in the process.</span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="background: white;">Dani Haviland</span></b><span style="background: white;"> – <i>The Purebred and the Mutt</i>: <i>NEW!</i> Cultures
clash when a British celebrity and a proud but poor American wind up under the
same roof in Forever, Montana.</span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="background: white;">Mona Risk – </span></b><i><span style="background: white;">Delightfully Serious Plans: NEW! </span></i><span style="background: white;">A jack of all trades fights discrimination to win the
heart of the lady lawyer who dreams of cruising the world with him.</span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="background: white;">Susanne Matthews</span></b><span style="background: white;"> – <i>Emerald Glow</i>: <i>NEW! </i>She’s
given up on finding the right man. After a painful divorce, he’s sworn off
women. A new job is what they both need to get their lives in order. But you
don’t always get what you want, especially when a typo can spell disaster.</span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="background: white;">Aileen Fish </span></b><span style="background: white;">– <i>That Dream Girl:</i> <i>NEW! </i>She’s
supposed to be an authority on dreams, but he’s breaking all the rules.</span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="background: white;">Rachelle Ayala</span></b><span style="background: white;"> – <i>Santa on Strike</i>: <i>NEW! </i>Bette’s
bar is on the ropes when her biggest attraction, the barroom Santa, goes on
strike a few days before Christmas.</span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="background: white;">Denise Devine</span></b><span style="background: white;"> – <i>Merry Christmas, Darling</i>: A
desperate bachelor enlists his neighbor to pose as his wife to appease his
dying mother and unexpectedly finds love under the mistletoe.</span></span><span style="background: white; color: #0f1111;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p>Only 99 cents but for a limited time! Get your copy now!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GYKGCGM"><span style="font-size: large;">AMAZON</span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhv79vAOFp-QFOYIDESoYC8bMAIO9tEnd__oG9eYjveCRIoZFgrZoEqIYoQvWrFFACvFENr72WPS_RIEqzQHcq-J4LeAWzm0pLPOsljl99l83hHcYVhHmC3I0z5yW_zzMImy2_-axs0nrAlL_Lk0W8BB0Zu89Hb4oLTO96OnFKZmhJRyUEfzOrE4CK-=s640" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="640" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhv79vAOFp-QFOYIDESoYC8bMAIO9tEnd__oG9eYjveCRIoZFgrZoEqIYoQvWrFFACvFENr72WPS_RIEqzQHcq-J4LeAWzm0pLPOsljl99l83hHcYVhHmC3I0z5yW_zzMImy2_-axs0nrAlL_Lk0W8BB0Zu89Hb4oLTO96OnFKZmhJRyUEfzOrE4CK-=w400-h283" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Authors Billboard newsletter has FREE and Bargain Books and New Releases every week!</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Subscribe here - Yes, I want to join your weekly newsletter at <a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/m7n2r8"><b>Authors Billboard</b></a>!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2459540916601914403.post-59404674692482832492021-12-14T22:30:00.025-06:002021-12-14T22:30:00.212-06:00A Merry Little Christmas Audiobook Sale $1.99 iTunes<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgTPnvS9Udh5bXn0kpG6ffFZIeegDDqXZamVEthG4I0AsYc3id5Q-ui_yqdZNbL5QU_wg6dZxkC2LQOqt6yA6F4Ro7uN_j7XBgQLfRJJQXyHcBwDwnQDPrvwZemoAGJmsl30Qo6WovfQm5p3eiMLAFGFcMkLt2pDQ1op3MMZ_co-7k6TdXrhoCN16q6=s2400" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="2400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgTPnvS9Udh5bXn0kpG6ffFZIeegDDqXZamVEthG4I0AsYc3id5Q-ui_yqdZNbL5QU_wg6dZxkC2LQOqt6yA6F4Ro7uN_j7XBgQLfRJJQXyHcBwDwnQDPrvwZemoAGJmsl30Qo6WovfQm5p3eiMLAFGFcMkLt2pDQ1op3MMZ_co-7k6TdXrhoCN16q6=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Audiobook Sale!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large; text-align: center;">$1.99</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://books.apple.com/us/audiobook/id1534129513">iTunes</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><b><i>Merry Connor is struggling to feed her two
children, pay heat bills and fix her secondhand car.<o:p></o:p></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">Though she’s barely making it
financially, life is good. That is, compared to two years ago when she lost
everything—thanks to her lying, deceiving ex-husband. She’s come a long way
since then and doesn’t intend to look back. Even so, it’ll be a long time
before she trusts anyone with her heart again.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><b><i>Tony Lewis hasn’t had a merry Christmas
since his wife and son perished in a car collision three years ago.<o:p></o:p></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">The holidays are lonely without his
family, but his heart begins to mend when he meets Merry Connor and her two
rambunctious kids. He can’t stop thinking about her and yearns to get closer to
her. Will she turn him away once she learns of his connection to her
ex-husband?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">Listen to an audio sample here: <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/audiobook/id1534129513">https://books.apple.com/us/audiobook/id1534129513</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="1683" height="58" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLWBH_6gw-Rx7pnG7eW1InSp9RpUU0oA-9r_znWe1JhEmtbu_tWSdn0TG3rd1t7foRWp0IdwuYLs6akbl39p8M8hPIzhNFl0-zo_fywijNT3VYAnzF4oop749zorWWYIfo2h0UH1OKWuGUYoZI9aXwd4o7Kn9-ohRnGXRaJSILh5Ud_1RDznimyFYJ=s320" width="320" /></div><br /><h2 align="center" style="background: rgb(250, 250, 250); margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0in 7.5pt; text-align: center;"><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 22.5pt; font-weight: normal;">Sweet
Christmas Romance Books<o:p></o:p></span></h2><h2 style="background: rgb(250, 250, 250); margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0in 7.5pt;"><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">Searching for a sweet, feel-good Holiday
Romance? Look no further! These bestselling authors have teamed up to offer a
delightful selection of holiday books. Get ready for Christmas cookies,
mistletoe, sweet kisses, and plenty of swooning. Available for a limited time.</span></h2><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
</p><p style="background: rgb(250, 250, 250); margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="color: #222222;">A
Merry Little Christmas eBook by Denise Devine is only 99 cents and a 5-star favorite!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGC0AX-r9CObGhJA2RkcGXNRbz37Jjfk9MAtwdeIGgDUFhMh6nf1bcn3VjaWA0qvnRYVdLEMQ22UgT-gjw80o47asKdqqXQwpKt7f8LExdPXzdkrakR-9jhMjdEBK30BwgUM6tjjnziFf2f_VtK-8U7S4tZ7nF-saw-oJXKomtU0i2M0A6-2sYSg66=s940" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGC0AX-r9CObGhJA2RkcGXNRbz37Jjfk9MAtwdeIGgDUFhMh6nf1bcn3VjaWA0qvnRYVdLEMQ22UgT-gjw80o47asKdqqXQwpKt7f8LExdPXzdkrakR-9jhMjdEBK30BwgUM6tjjnziFf2f_VtK-8U7S4tZ7nF-saw-oJXKomtU0i2M0A6-2sYSg66=w400-h335" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;"><a href="https://books.bookfunnel.com/christmasbooks/9qzvfeikqh" style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">https://books.bookfunnel.com/christmasbooks/9qzvfeikqh</a></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">~*~*~</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqc-15LiwcyhHn7XpnGmu3Ow7psd497aqOP7Eyn9p8Ubhpf0Dv6xUv-WpVdbrbcIdcVfZAHCtkEmEsCKCL8FUpl7KzEzfuRFCO_LuwD3Sjg8UlBGQJbFw9FXuevuoScV9FjmRjB-Q-nm7n71S_PAonoHacnvjbmpkFdWXCstZtURngrjBWOPhGqX9u=s320" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqc-15LiwcyhHn7XpnGmu3Ow7psd497aqOP7Eyn9p8Ubhpf0Dv6xUv-WpVdbrbcIdcVfZAHCtkEmEsCKCL8FUpl7KzEzfuRFCO_LuwD3Sjg8UlBGQJbFw9FXuevuoScV9FjmRjB-Q-nm7n71S_PAonoHacnvjbmpkFdWXCstZtURngrjBWOPhGqX9u" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />
<!--start LinkyTools script--><script src="https://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=305094" type="text/javascript"></script><!--end LinkyTools script-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA42.7316265 -92.6372515.6568977443415 -127.7935 69.8063552556585 -57.480999999999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2459540916601914403.post-62710774371704676052021-06-08T22:30:00.014-05:002022-12-13T18:17:57.971-06:00The Encore Bride<p> </p><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>The Encore Bride</b></span></h1><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">a sweet romance about second chances<br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">and it's only 99 cents on Kindle!</span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjUO6EFntE6je2DqMfOkRlVHGga7mXqr08itbUMWRUxGiyuMtAV5-j8yQr1jHFQzQv9UMi4N5qS_o2YliKg60pvKeIHJVMH3Px9p6aGeRQE6bZPQh818U9pmmqNGTbxMrJkrVml9F9_YM/s1600/101.+EncoreBride.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Encore Bride eBook" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjUO6EFntE6je2DqMfOkRlVHGga7mXqr08itbUMWRUxGiyuMtAV5-j8yQr1jHFQzQv9UMi4N5qS_o2YliKg60pvKeIHJVMH3Px9p6aGeRQE6bZPQh818U9pmmqNGTbxMrJkrVml9F9_YM/w426-h640/101.+EncoreBride.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now available in audiobook!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072NBFLKC"><b>Amazon</b></a></span></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">What is an encore bride?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A woman who has made a previous
trip down the aisle.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Excerpt #1</i></b></span></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">A tall waiter, looking like a classy
penguin in a black and white uniform rushed over to pull out her chair. Once
Jenny was seated, he took the folded napkin on her plate and shook it, laying
it flat across her lap. “Would you care for a glass of wine, perhaps?”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Jenny smiled but shook her head. “Iced
tea will be fine, thank you.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">The waiter left and Heather resumed
scrutinizing her outfit. “Where did you get that ugly purse? It’s horrible!”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Jenny stared at her lap. “It’s not a
purse, it’s a dog carrier.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Heather’s face blanched. Quickly
composing herself, she glanced around, presumably to make sure no one had
overheard. “A <em>what</em>...”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Jenny pulled back the brown fabric and
Princess sat up, sniffing the edge of the table.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“I can’t believe this. You’re embarrassing
me!” Heather reached over and tried to shoo the dog back into her carrier, but
Princess stayed put, her ears perked. “You and your pound puppies. When will
you grow up, Jennifer? You’re thirty-three going on thirteen. You know very
well you’re not supposed to bring that…that hairy <i>thing</i> in here.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Well, I just did,” Jenny replied
wryly.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">The waiter delivered their first
course, a cup of shrimp bisque, and tactfully ignored the uninvited guest at
their table.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Jenny sipped the tangy soup and
changed the subject. “I can’t believe you’ve set your wedding date for the first
week of June. That’s only six weeks from now. Do you realize how much planning
you have to do?”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Heather nodded and took a sip of her
cucumber water, letting her soup get cold. “I’ve got two full-time wedding
planners working on it.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“What’s the hurry?”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Heather gave her a dreamy smile.
“We’re in love.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Heather and her fiancé, Brandon Moore,
performed the ten o’clock news together on a local television station. The
entire Minnesota viewing area knew of their off-camera romance and the gossip
columns had been speculating on the wedding date for months. Now that Heather
and Brandon had finally announced it, their ratings had blasted through the station’s
roof.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“My wedding planners had to pull a lot
of strings to arrange our engagement dinner at the restaurant we wanted on such
short notice.” She sighed. “I’m glad we were able to book it, but I have <i>so </i>much to do before tomorrow night.” Heather’s
four-carat, heart-shaped diamond sparkled under the glow of the chandelier as
she picked up her water glass. “I expect you to be there on time.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><em>Just say it...</em><o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Heather, about the wedding...I really
think you should find another bridesmaid.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Jenny, don’t start that again.”
Heather put down her spoon and pushed her shrimp bisque aside. “You’re my only
sister and now that Mom and Dad are both gone, all we have is each other,” she
said softly. “Of course, you’re going to be in my wedding. I can’t imagine it
any other way. And you’re not my bridesmaid. You’re my maid of honor.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“I just don’t think I’m ready yet.
I’ve been having—”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Oh, for crying out loud,” Heather
argued. “Yes, you are. You’ve been through a difficult period, but you’re
strong.” She placed her hand over Jenny’s. “You’re doing great, Sis. Stay
positive.” Heather cringed. “And get that dog’s tongue out of your soup! That’s
gross!”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">But Jenny merely gave Princess an
affectionate pat on the head as she moved the dish away. “No, that’s good. Getting
her appetite back means she’s starting to come out of her depression.” Jenny
pulled a ribbon from the flower arrangement on the table and used it to gather
the long fur on the dog’s head into a loose top knot. Then she fed Princess a
nugget from her bag of treats.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">After that, the conversation steered
toward less controversial topics: Heather’s latest shopping trip, Heather’s
house-hunting expeditions, Heather’s wedding preparations, and Heather’s quest
for the perfect honeymoon. Jenny pretended to listen, but kept an eye on the
clock on her phone, desperately waiting for the event to end. Thinking of Adam
and their wedding had dampened her mood. Though she did her best not to show it,
all she wanted was to go home, away from having to smile and act as though her
life had not fallen off a cliff.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">The fashion show commenced after their
waiter served them coffee and dessert. Jenny and Heather oohed and aahed as
pencil-thin models strutted around the room, giving everyone a close-up look at
the latest trends in designer bridal dresses.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">The last model approached their table wearing
a strapless gown in ivory silk with a sheer cape and elbow-length gloves. She
carried a huge bouquet of blush roses and ivory peonies with a rope of faux
pearls wrapped around the stem.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“That bouquet looks heavy,” Jenny
remarked as the model walked away.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Heavenly, yes...” Heather replied as
she made notes on her program. She looked up. “I almost forgot to tell you,
Brandon’s best friend, Luke McCarran is going to be the best man. We’re seating
you next to him at the engagement dinner and I expect you to be on your best
behavior.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><em>Oh-oh. He must be a doozy if Heather
has to lecture me about him beforehand.</em><o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Jenny stared warily at her sister.
“Why are you hassling me about being nice to this guy? What’s the problem? Is
he a dog hater or something?”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Heather gave her a stern look. “He’s a
widower, like you, and he’s also going through a tough time right now.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><em>What was this? Heather and Brandon’s
idea of Widow Match.com?</em><o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“You and Brandon did that on purpose,
didn’t you?” Jenny grabbed her phone and threw it into her purse. “It’s your
sneaky way of trying to pair me up with Brandon’s best man, isn’t it? Well, I’m
not falling for it!”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Heather kept her expression neutral. Heaven
forbid that any of her adoring viewers would see her create a scene in public, but
even so, her soft voice bordered on murderous. “You’re being ridiculous, Jenny!
It’s a coincidence, that’s all. We simply thought you and Luke should get to
know one another since you both have key positions in the wedding.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“You mean, you thought if you got us
together, we’d be so preoccupied with commiserating over our dead spouses that
I’d be too distracted to have second thoughts about being in your wedding!”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“That’s not true! The two of you have
a lot in common. What would be so bad about making friends with Luke?”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Jenny wanted to compare funerals with
Luke McCarran about as much as she wanted a colonoscopy. “I know you mean well,
Heather, but stop trying to set me up,” Jenny said. “I’m not interested in
finding another husband. I am <em>never</em> getting married again.” Sipping
her purse over her shoulder, she pushed back her chair and stood. She needed to
calm down before she embarrassed her sister more than she already had. “Excuse
me. I’m going to the ladies’ room.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">The model turned her back to the crowd
and tossed the bouquet. It flew high into the air.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Look out!” A chorus of horrified
gasps prompted her to look up. She saw it coming down, shooting through the air
like a missile, but she didn’t have time to move out of the way.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><em>Thunk.</em><o:p></o:p></p><p>
</p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">The bouquet hit her in the face then
dropped into her outstretched hands.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Excerpt #2</i></b></span></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Luke had just started on his salad
when Heather’s sister arrived. Jenny Landon slipped quietly into her chair,
ignoring the festivities as she set her purse under the table and spread her
napkin on her lap. She studied the menu card with her head down, clearly trying
to blend in so no one would notice her tardiness.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Curious, he pretended to be
preoccupied with buttering his roll, while studying her out of the corner of
his eye.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Blonde and petite, her features bore a
remarkable resemblance to her sister’s, but the similarities ended there.
Heather’s bone-thin frame looked great on camera, but couldn’t compare to the
healthy, athletic build of her sister. Heather always appeared poised and
meticulously groomed, ready to “go live” at any moment, whereas Jenny had a
fresh-faced, almost careless air about her. Jenny’s golden hair hung long and
straight and lightly mussed, as though the wind had whipped it about her
shoulders. Instead of formal evening attire, she sat ramrod straight in black
slacks and a white lace top. The rigidity of her posture suggested she didn’t
want to be there. The sharp look in her deep blue eyes boldly stated she didn’t
care if he knew it.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><em>That one has quite the attitude...</em><o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Within moments, a server appeared at
her side and filled her water glass. When he asked if she’d like something else
to drink, she merely shook her head.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Jenny frowned at the strange-looking
greens on her salad plate topped with tomato slices and drizzled with an
onion-speckled dressing. “What the heck is this?”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“It’s a goat cheese and tomato salad,”
he heard himself say. He didn’t know if she’d directed the question at him or
simply thought aloud, but he’d answered before he could stop himself. His fork
halted in mid-air as he studied her profile, taking in the delicate curve of
her chin and the softness of her long, graceful neck. Through his business, he
encountered pretty women every day, but for some reason, he couldn’t take his gaze
off her.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">She rolled her eyes. “What’s wrong
with ordinary lettuce? Why does Heather always have to pick the weirdest items
on the menu?”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“It’s actually very good, despite how
it looks.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">She sounded upset, but he sensed her
displeasure had nothing to do with the food. And though he knew better than to
get involved in the personal issues of a total stranger, he couldn’t help wondering
why she looked so unhappy.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Remembering his manners, he extended
his hand. “I’m Luke McCarran, by the way. Brandon and I go way back, since high
school.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“I’m Jenny Landon,” she said and
slipped her hand into his.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">The moment they touched, he realized
he’d made a mistake. The friction of her smooth skin against his rough palm
took him by surprise, jolting his senses, and scrambling his thoughts. As his
fingers curved around hers, he knew he should let go of her hand, but his brain
wouldn’t cooperate.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">She looked up, wide-eyed. “...s-sister
to the bride.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">They froze, locked into each other’s
eyes. His jaw dropped as he tried to speak, but he couldn’t utter a word. His
mind had gone completely blank.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Then he saw the thick, purple and
black stripe underlining her left eye.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><em>Whoa...</em><o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">His shock must have been obvious
because she pulled her hand away and the mask of indifference returned. “It’s
not what you think,” she stated in a challenging tone.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Hey, I don’t think anything. Your
life is your business.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">She glanced across the table at
Heather. “I wish someone would convince my sister of that. I sure can’t.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">He almost choked on a tomato slice. “<em>She
did that to you?</em>”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Are you kidding?” Jenny let out a wry
chuckle. “Heather can’t open her own wine bottles much less take <em>me</em>
down.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">He had no idea how to respond to her
“take me down” remark so he decided to simply keep quiet and concentrate on his
funny-looking lettuce.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“I got in the way of a flying
bouquet,” she said matter-of-factly and reached for a dinner roll.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">He snatched up the wire basket and
pulled back the cloth liner for her. “Someone hit you in the eye with a bunch
of flowers?”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Not just a bunch.” She selected a
parmesan-encrusted roll and began to break it apart. “A big honkin’ monster of
a bouquet studded with crystal hearts the size of lug nuts. It had a rope of
pearls wrapped around the stem, making it so wide the model could barely get
her hands around it. I saw her toss it into the air, but I didn’t notice it
coming toward <em>me</em> until it was too late to get out of the way.” She
stuffed a piece of roll in her mouth. “The sucker felt like a bowling ball
dropped on my head.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">He almost choked again, but this time
it took all the strength he could muster to keep a straight face.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“I should never have allowed Heather
to talk me into going to that bridal show with her at the convention center,
but she’s convinced I have to be her maid of honor.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“What’s wrong with being the maid of
honor?”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">She looked boldly into his eyes.
“Maybe I don’t believe in happy endings.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">The sudden flush staining her cheeks
gave him the sense she would rather get another shiner than participate in her
sister’s wedding. Sibling rivalry or jealousy perhaps?<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“It’s not the first marriage for
Heather,” Jenny said as if reading his thoughts. “So, what’s the point? She
paid for a Hollywood production the first time around. You’d think she would
simply want to quietly get hitched and get on with her life.” She stared
intently at her sister sitting at the head table. “Not Heather. She’s spending
a fortune to roll out the red carpet again.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">The more she talked, the more
discomfort seeped into her voice and it gave him pause. Jenny’s reasons for
avoiding the bridal gig amounted to more than a little inconvenience. She held
a deep emotional aversion to this wedding.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">A server appeared and silently removed
their salad plates. Then another server delivered the main course of <em>filet
mignon et crevette</em>, a steak and shrimp combo<em>.</em><o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Luke decided to let the matter drop
and get busy slicing into his mouth-watering filet. He’d been salivating over
this part of the meal ever since he sat down to eat, and he planned to savor
every bite.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“So, what do you do for a living?”
Jenny asked in between bites. “Cameraman? Soundman? Are you in the television
industry, too?”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"> “No, I’m not,” he replied, cutting off a piece
of his luscious steak. “I own an auto repair shop and a towing business. I
gather you don’t work at the station, either.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“No way,” she said, brushing it off
with a laugh. “I’m not the type to sit behind a desk. These days I’m a foster
mom.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“How many children do you foster?”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Not children. Dogs.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><em>Say what?</em><o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">When he didn’t respond, she turned to
him. “The—the dogs help me cope.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">The softness in her voice made him
wonder what she’d been through and why she’d turned to animals for comfort. He
knew it was rude to ask, but he suddenly had to know. “Why is that?”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“When my husband died, I... sort of
went off the deep end. I was angry, I felt like a victim and I took it out on
everyone else, especially my family. I wouldn’t listen to anybody’s advice.
Instead, I did just the opposite of what everyone wanted me to do.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">He stopped eating and stared at her in
amazement. “That’s exactly what my son is going through. He lost his mother a
year ago and he hasn’t come around yet.” Luke put down his fork. “Liam seems to
be getting worse as time goes on, not better.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Her expression softened. “I imagine it
must be difficult for a little boy to lose his mom.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Actually, he’s fifteen,” Luke
replied, “but it has been a tough transition for him. His mother was only
thirty-six when she passed.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Does he have a dog?”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“No,” Luke said, wondering what
difference that would make. “His mother had severe allergies to animal hair.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Dogs love you unconditionally, Luke,”
she said, her eyes widening in earnest. “Your son needs one to fill the
emotional gap in his heart.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">He shook his head. “I really don’t see
how a dog would—”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">She placed her hand on his arm. “I’m a
volunteer at the Blue Sky Rescue Animal Shelter on Tuesdays and Fridays. I see firsthand
the good that adopting a pet does for people. Take it from me, owning a dog
will cheer up your son and help take his mind off himself.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Thanks for the advice,” he said,
distracted by the softness of her touch. “I’ll give it some thought.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">When coffee and dessert arrived,
Heather and Brandon began opening a small pile of gifts, most of which were
“naughty” items. Each time Heather unwrapped another one, the room broke into
laughter and hilarious “wedding night” jokes.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Bored, Luke checked the time on his phone.
He’d devoured his curd-filled lemon cake and wanted to leave. He pushed back
his chair, intending to quickly say his goodbyes and be on his way when
Brandon’s booming voice pulled him up short.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“I’d like to make a special toast to
Luke McCarran, my best man, and a good friend.” Brandon stood and walked around
the table, stopping between Luke and Jenny. He held up his glass. “Here’s to
you, old man.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">When the laughter died down, Heather pushed
back her chair and stood holding up her stemmed water glass. “Now it’s the maid
of honor’s turn!”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Jenny gasped; her face paled, her
expression stricken as though Heather had just pronounced her death sentence.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Brandon held up his glass. “Let’s make
a toast to Jenny Landon, Heather’s maid of honor!” His other hand landed
lightly on Jenny’s shoulder.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“I can’t do this,” Jenny said, her
shaking voice barely a squeak. “I simply can’t do this!” She snatched her purse
and bolted from the room.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">A sudden hush fell upon the group.<o:p></o:p></p><p>
</p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Luke stared in shock as he watched
Jenny run away, wondering what had just happened.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="text-align: center;">~*~</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>Do you listen to audiobooks?</i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>Or have you been meaning to try one to see how you like it?</i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Encore Bride audiobook is now on sale.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It's free with your Audible subscription!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivW_I_gB37MGAJUmDp131sN3prppz5poYocRuozErFCq4yuLfNN6sR5UDZVV5QVnxUyxKcrYZoZ-cX6fCspIPTwgclfeIKDxkVwPP-lOps6Cb_xjAtHCei_cMiCEcv3nwzUI77iAv2pBc/s2400/102EncoreBride-AudioCover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Encore Bride audiobook" border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="2400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivW_I_gB37MGAJUmDp131sN3prppz5poYocRuozErFCq4yuLfNN6sR5UDZVV5QVnxUyxKcrYZoZ-cX6fCspIPTwgclfeIKDxkVwPP-lOps6Cb_xjAtHCei_cMiCEcv3nwzUI77iAv2pBc/w320-h320/102EncoreBride-AudioCover.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;">https://</span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B072NBFLKC"><span style="color: blue;">www.amazon.com/dp/B072NBFLKC</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: blue;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="background: white; color: #444648; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://www.kobo.com/us/en/audiobook/encore-bride-the<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="background: white; color: #444648; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://bingebooks.com/book/the-encore-bride<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="background: white; color: #444648; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://www.scribd.com/audiobook/493196612/The-Encore-Bride-A-Sweet-Contemporary-Romance-about-Second-Chances<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="background: white; color: #444648; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details/Denise_Devine_The_Encore_Bride?id=AQAAAEBc4x6jUM<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="background: white; color: #444648; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://www.chirpbooks.com/audiobooks/the-encore-bride-by-denise-devine<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="background: white; color: #444648; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://www.hibooks.com/discover/audiobook/encore-bride-the<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="background: white; color: #444648; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://books.apple.com/us/audiobook/id1551959141<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="background: white; color: #444648; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-encore-bride-denise-devine/1140104140<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="background: white; color: #444648; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/14004641<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">~*~</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9j-mavKWtA-BTwR9YfvHEuuzzei02hSqg0khfNzURTIU0cq3rWdBTBc_SGbr_3mmK00sxzreg1VjvXiES7p9lf53yQ1XT5K1D3L-N-IZJ3qW09S_BjyJBjiBXGfWGHr7YulmDmf1gfdnPuG3cirSW9pPc-_QBLSRLH8rWUogg4HVeyre1RipGMcar/s1640/1.%20HEA%20Reader%20Group%20Banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Happily Ever After Stories - Sweet Romance" border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9j-mavKWtA-BTwR9YfvHEuuzzei02hSqg0khfNzURTIU0cq3rWdBTBc_SGbr_3mmK00sxzreg1VjvXiES7p9lf53yQ1XT5K1D3L-N-IZJ3qW09S_BjyJBjiBXGfWGHr7YulmDmf1gfdnPuG3cirSW9pPc-_QBLSRLH8rWUogg4HVeyre1RipGMcar/w400-h225/1.%20HEA%20Reader%20Group%20Banner.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><a name="_Hlk44717169">Want to find more good authors who
write sweet romance? Join my reader group - Happily Ever After Stories. If you
like sweet romance and want to be part of a great group that has lots of fun,
visit us at </a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/HEAstories/"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.facebook.com/groups/HEAstories/</span></a><span style="color: blue;">.</span></p></div>
<!--start LinkyTools script--><script src="https://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=301777" type="text/javascript"></script><!--end LinkyTools script-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2459540916601914403.post-82120319237571275382021-05-11T22:44:00.000-05:002021-05-11T22:44:09.671-05:00Sweet Summer Romance Audiobooks #mgtab<p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">New!</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Get your copy today!</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinprmTG8YjEhzy7p0d8WA5dPfCgYc-9DePh6SjcE8Qil9_vPXMlvm-slnpjtiAd-3jS2iYP6tvyStLv0IOyvLnMdu-J1jGoCPnULVLfnF5aNUqbwT5s2KRrMStKXsw-J_Q21OYcKIs01A/s2400/204Lisa-Audio.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="2400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinprmTG8YjEhzy7p0d8WA5dPfCgYc-9DePh6SjcE8Qil9_vPXMlvm-slnpjtiAd-3jS2iYP6tvyStLv0IOyvLnMdu-J1jGoCPnULVLfnF5aNUqbwT5s2KRrMStKXsw-J_Q21OYcKIs01A/w320-h320/204Lisa-Audio.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><a name="_Hlk503546263"><b><i>Is it possible to find true love through a
message in a bottle?<o:p></o:p></i></b></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Spending a week on
a Caribbean island with the members of the Romantic Hearts Book Club is like a
dream come true for Lisa Kaye. On their last night, each woman writes a personal
message to her “dream hero,” stuffs it in a bottle and tosses it out to sea.
Lisa’s real dreams crash, however, when she returns home and loses not only her
job but her boyfriend on the same day. Determined to start over, she returns to
Enchanted Island, the idyllic place of her childhood to manage her aunt’s bed
and breakfast hotel. <o:p></o:p></p><p>
</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Fifteen months pass without a clue
to the fate of her bottle. Then it happens. She receives an email from the man
who found it and she doesn’t know what to do. Should she ignore it or take a
chance at finding true love?</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">A sample of this audiobook is at Amazon.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/B08JPX5D3F"><span style="font-size: large;">Amazon Audible</span></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://books.apple.com/us/audiobook/id1530014867"><span style="font-size: large;">Apple</span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.chirpbooks.com/audiobooks/lisa-by-denise-devine"><span style="font-size: large;">Chirp</span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.nookaudiobooks.com/audiobook/1020383/Lisa"><span style="font-size: large;">Nook Audiobooks</span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details/Denise_Devine_Lisa?id=AQAAAEAcDgdOCM"><span style="font-size: large;">Google Play</span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/audiobook/lisa-27"><span style="font-size: large;">Kobo/Walmart</span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.scribd.com/audiobook/474406377/Lisa"><span style="font-size: large;">Scribd</span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Bookshelf Symbol 7"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: "Bookshelf Symbol 7";"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Bookshelf Symbol 7"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: "Bookshelf Symbol 7";">w </span><span style="font-family: "Bookshelf Symbol 7"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">w </span><span style="font-family: "Bookshelf Symbol 7"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">w</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Bookshelf Symbol 7"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;"><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ4q2ycFI66gkt70MQNCMxEi6FeLy4CuXoz1UE4e-UP6659qjyiYrc4lHMH-XYCGe8ZKSDj6VO4bw4W9QzYvhtUg7SwIkfzWOnxaVcmws7sN2qnVcPOE-b0K4tXNJlqu05ApxjWzHtgF0/s2400/2003Ava+Audio+Cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="2400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ4q2ycFI66gkt70MQNCMxEi6FeLy4CuXoz1UE4e-UP6659qjyiYrc4lHMH-XYCGe8ZKSDj6VO4bw4W9QzYvhtUg7SwIkfzWOnxaVcmws7sN2qnVcPOE-b0K4tXNJlqu05ApxjWzHtgF0/s320/2003Ava+Audio+Cover.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><i>It sounds too good to be true...</i></strong><o:p></o:p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The invitation from “Perfect Match Online Dating
and Travel Agency” offers Ava Godfrey an all-expenses-paid week on Enchanted
Island with the man of her dreams. Seven days of Caribbean sunshine, tropical
beaches, and candlelight dinners sounds like heaven. The only catch--she can’t
meet her Prince charming until she arrives on the island. The scenario sounds
risky, yet she finds the prospect intriguing. Will she find her “perfect match”
or will she encounter the perfect scam?<o:p></o:p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><i>They send him to deal with the diva...</i></strong><o:p></o:p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">
</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Jeffrey Thomas has a job to do--cancel Ava
Godfrey’s contract. She’s cost his boss a small fortune by turning down not
one, but two matches sent to Enchanted Island by the agency. He’s determined to
cut her loose until he meets the spunky, fun-loving redhead and is irrevocably
attracted to her. Though he’s tempted to stay on the island and find out if she’s
his perfect match, his priority is to persuade her to go home. But when Ava’s
purse is stolen along with her identity, Jeff’s only concern is helping her
recover what she lost. Will he lose his heart to her in the process?<o:p></o:p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">A sample of this audiobook is at Amazon.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NTZRNLR"><span style="font-size: large;">Amazon Audible</span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://books.apple.com/us/audiobook/id1534133525"><span style="font-size: large;">Apple</span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.chirpbooks.com/audiobooks/ava-by-denise-devine"><span style="font-size: large;">Chirp</span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.nookaudiobooks.com/audiobook/1022022/Ava"><span style="font-size: large;">Nook Audiobooks</span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details/Denise_Devine_Ava?id=AQAAAECchg3GgM"><span style="font-size: large;">Google Play</span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/audiobook/ava-16"><span style="font-size: large;">Kobo/Walmart</span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.scribd.com/audiobook/478370342/Ava"><span style="font-size: large;">Scribd</span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Bookshelf Symbol 7"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Bookshelf Symbol 7"; font-size: 12pt;">w </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Bookshelf Symbol 7"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">w </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Bookshelf Symbol 7"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">w</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Bookshelf Symbol 7"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">More audiobooks...</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYen9abws6pC_5_F35z1oARCr0DTRf2hSXIketanOpiVkPoFotIUlVR09yv7JzbiHahXLrgReLIavBEzXm77_mjXxckhjqehy71QEvpSt_mdjCcwG2uZC2t32IVs3tL2mmIEWnbNJvWwQ/s940/Clean+Audiobooks.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYen9abws6pC_5_F35z1oARCr0DTRf2hSXIketanOpiVkPoFotIUlVR09yv7JzbiHahXLrgReLIavBEzXm77_mjXxckhjqehy71QEvpSt_mdjCcwG2uZC2t32IVs3tL2mmIEWnbNJvWwQ/s320/Clean+Audiobooks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="background: rgb(250, 250, 250); margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt; text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #4d5156;">Searching for your next
favorite listen? Download and enjoy these</span><em><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #5f6368;"> Clean</span></em><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #4d5156;"> &
Wholesome romance audiobooks today!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background: rgb(250, 250, 250); margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt; text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222;">Clean Audio Romance – May 1 – 31st<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://books.bookfunnel.com/cleanaudioromances/2g4upf8994"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">https://books.bookfunnel.com/cleanaudioromances/2g4upf8994</span></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Bookshelf Symbol 7"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Bookshelf Symbol 7"; font-size: 12pt;">w </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Bookshelf Symbol 7"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">w </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Bookshelf Symbol 7"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">w</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2459540916601914403.post-50820450109958278452021-03-16T22:30:00.013-05:002023-01-01T15:09:34.691-06:00A New Small Town Series by Denise Devine<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Plus--A Sweet March Promo!</b></span></p><p><em></em></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWSbRLI9cegoY6nwRlLevZru1IwWlKOCEZhltNBFfvBmdCoitqn2bzJyxYilqm0WVlcVer4V3oO141yD2LWwaCmbTbjHDos1p4m1K8iIAUSLkrQ7EbLLw6V8TU3tt7pbKjaIZ7Iy62_N8/s2550/1600SmallTownGirl-DeniseDevineLarge.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2550" data-original-width="1650" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWSbRLI9cegoY6nwRlLevZru1IwWlKOCEZhltNBFfvBmdCoitqn2bzJyxYilqm0WVlcVer4V3oO141yD2LWwaCmbTbjHDos1p4m1K8iIAUSLkrQ7EbLLw6V8TU3tt7pbKjaIZ7Iy62_N8/w259-h400/1600SmallTownGirl-DeniseDevineLarge.jpg" width="259" /></a></em></div><em><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><em><b>Available on Kindle for 99 cents. Also on Kindle Unlimited!</b></em></div></em><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08WJ4ZPZ6"><span style="font-size: large;">Amazon</span></a></i></b></p><p><em><b>Annika Nilsen is a small-town girl, but she's got big-city dreams...</b></em></p><p>At twenty-eight, she's stuck in her hometown of West Loon Bay, Minnesota, population 397, with no boyfriend, no money, and no future. Life is boring and predictable until her best friend convinces her to take a road trip out west to see what they're missing. Everything is going according to the plan until her brother suddenly shows up with his bandmate, Alexander Lange. Annika's attraction to Alex is instantaneous, giving her second thoughts about leaving. She's faced with a choice--cancel her trip and betray her best friend or leave Alex behind. Someone must lose. Will it be her?</p><p><em><b>Alexander Lange has learned the hard way that fame and fortune don't always equal 'livin' the dream'...</b></em></p><p>After ten years on the road and multiple double-platinum hits, Alex and his band are burned out. They've come home to West Loon Bay to reunite with their families and reassess their lives. The last thing Alex needs is a girlfriend, but the moment he sees Annika, he's instantly drawn to her. The problem is, she's leaving town and while he's desperately trying to convince her to stay, it becomes apparent that someone else wants her permanently out of the way. Can he save the woman he loves or will he lose her to an unknown enemy?</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Excerpt</i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>Alex and Annika walked the rest of the way to the water’s
edge in silence except for the soft tapping of their tennis shoes on the
blacktop. When they reached the public boat landing, they gazed at the full
moon lingering above the skyline with a dark silhouette of clouds floating
behind it. The bright, silver-blue sphere cast a wide, V-shaped streak of moonlight
glistening across the serene waters of the vast lake. Alex pulled back his arm
and threw the stone, watching it skip across the water until it disappeared out
of sight. He sighed, realizing how much of the simple things in life he’d
missed out on in the last decade.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>They talked about other subjects as they walked back to the
café, but once they reached the back stairway to Annika’s apartment, they
lingered at the bottom step in awkward silence. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>“I enjoyed our walk, Alex,” Annika said at last, giving him
the feeling she wasn’t ready for their time together to end. “I’m glad your
band decided to come back home for a while.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>Alex smiled, taken with how fascinating he found the slight
Scandinavian lilt to her voice. Everyone who was born in this area or lived
here most of their lives had it, too. Not all the time; just in a certain
phrase now and then or an occasional word. He’d probably sounded the same way
to people on the road when he first left West Loon Bay, but it had faded from
his voice long ago.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>“The pleasure was all mine, Annika. I think it’s important
for you and Erik to get together.” Meant as a friendly gesture only, he took
her narrow palm in his, but the moment her smooth skin pressed against his calloused
hand his pulse jumped. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>“I—I’d better go call Erik,” she said, sounding flustered as
she jerked her hand away.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>He tried to give her back the flashlight, but she refused to
take it.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>“You’ll need it for the walk home. You can return it to me
later.” She tried to back up, nearly stumbling on the stairs. Turning, she bolted
up the stairway, but stopped at the top and spun around. When their gazes
connected, she drew in a sharp breath and hesitated as though she wanted to say
something else. She waved at him instead. “Good night, Alex!”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>He watched her disappear into her apartment then he headed
down the alley. It was at least a mile walk back to his cabin using the trail
around the lake, but he needed the fresh air and the time alone to clear his
head.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>Annika Nilsen was a refreshing change from the women in his
past. She wasn’t obsessed with her looks and yet he found her natural beauty
more appealing than any woman who’d ever attracted him. She didn’t hang on him
or flaunt her sexuality by wearing skin-tight dresses or tops exposing miles of
cleavage. She didn’t need to make overtures like that for him to notice her.
The fact that she didn’t even try was what got his attention the most.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>Unfortunately, even though Annika was—amazingly—<i>still single</i>,
she was Erik’s sister. That automatically made her off-limits; totally <i>off
the chart</i> degree of off-limits. No way would Erik ever go along with one of
his bandmates getting up close and personal with her, but Alex didn’t blame
him. After the decadent, self-destructive lifestyle they’d lived on the road, Alex
wouldn’t want any of his buddies getting within five miles of his sister, either,
if he had one. Annika deserved better than to get swallowed up in the shadow of
a burned-out rock star. Someone who’d been “Zander” for so long, he didn’t have
a clue who he was anymore.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>Alex sighed as he trudged across the city park toward the
edge of town and the “Tremolo Trail” that circled the lake. He needed to get
her off his mind and move on.<o:p></o:p></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>The image of Axl Rose flashed into his mind singing “Sweet
Child O’ Mine.” The words made him realize how incredibly lonely he was—and had
been for as far back as he could remember.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><em><b>♥♥ Book one of the West Loon Bay series. Get your copy now! ♥♥</b></em></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08WJ4ZPZ6">Amazon</a></span></i></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><em><b>~*~</b></em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #414141; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">For Sweet Romance Fans!</span></p><h2 style="background-color: #fafafa; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(225, 190, 231); box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Verdana, "Lucida Grande", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 30px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin: 20px 0px 10px; padding: 0.6em 0px 0.5em; position: relative; text-align: center;"><br /></h2><p style="background-color: #fafafa; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Verdana, "Lucida Grande", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"> </p><p style="background-color: #fafafa; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Verdana, "Lucida Grande", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #414141; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #414141; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><!--start LinkyTools script--><script src="https://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=300863" type="text/javascript"></script><!--end LinkyTools script-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2459540916601914403.post-10029918653715946852020-11-03T22:30:00.002-06:002020-11-03T22:30:03.458-06:00Merry Christmas, Darling for 99 cents #MFRWHooks<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRAPoa-chNAJT8-iJp4HGiR69qnfuXLgHX6832yH7c7pxBc6AMB4Zn9fsG0LJkJBi5Dph8lhHQqZtSadq_uUVVWPPM7tAymWBuL_dc8fVaOpRIKETgTFVRoBB5sDQB4YQ9uvEFPfB54_w/s759/901DeniseDevineMed.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="759" data-original-width="475" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRAPoa-chNAJT8-iJp4HGiR69qnfuXLgHX6832yH7c7pxBc6AMB4Zn9fsG0LJkJBi5Dph8lhHQqZtSadq_uUVVWPPM7tAymWBuL_dc8fVaOpRIKETgTFVRoBB5sDQB4YQ9uvEFPfB54_w/w400-h640/901DeniseDevineMed.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Merry Christmas, Darling</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">A sweet romantic comedy</p><p style="text-align: center;">by Denise Devine</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IOWTC28">On Kindle and Kindle Unlimited</a></b></span></p><h1 style="text-align: center;"><a name="_Toc50409765">Chapter 1</a><o:p></o:p></h1><p align="center" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">Friday
evening, December 18<sup>th</sup><o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 27pt;">“Merry Christmas,
darlin’.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">Rock
Henderson lounged against the doorway of Kimberly Jo Stratton’s condominium,
wearing a killer grin, a bright red Santa hat, and a sleek tuxedo. One hand
gripped a bottle of champagne; the other displayed two crystal flutes dangling
upside-down between his long, slim fingers.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">“I’ve
brought you a little gift.” He raised the bottle. “Vintage holiday cheer.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">The
grandfather clock in the opposite corner of her dining room chimed nine times
as Kim tightened the sash around her pink chenille bathrobe. Rock’s assistant
had called at the last minute and said he would meet with her at four o’clock that
afternoon to discuss the war brewing between the residents of their condominium
complex, but he never showed. She’d skipped the hospital’s Christmas party to
keep that appointment, only to get stood up. By seven o’clock, she’d given up
on him and changed into her pajamas and robe. How dare he drop by at this late
hour, unapologetic, unconcerned about the situation, and ready to party?<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">At
her feet, a fawn Chihuahua with a white face yapped non-stop, jumping at her
ankle like a wind-up toy. “Hush, Sasha,” she snapped at the small dog, worried that
all the commotion would draw attention and expose her plan to other tenants on
her floor.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">“You’re
five hours late, Henderson.” Intent on keeping their meeting confidential, she
grabbed him by the lapels and hauled him into her living room. “Did you get
lost?” Her gaze swept pointedly over his formal attire as she quickly shut the
door. “Or were you sidetracked by someone more glamorous than your lowly,
working-class neighbor in 601E?”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">Sasha
looked up at Rock, let out a high-pitched yelp, and dashed out of sight, her fluffy
tail curled between her legs.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">He
moved close, murmuring in Kim’s ear. “I had an emergency, but I’m here now.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">Rock
Henderson, a self-made millionaire and CEO of his own software design company,
possessed the charm of a Hollywood heartthrob and the reputation of a ladies’
man who switched girlfriends as often as he changed the oil in his sports car.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">“Come
on, darlin’,” he coaxed in that deep, throaty purr she’d heard him use on other
women in the building, “just hear me out before you chew me out.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">An
emergency that required a tux? Yeah, right. A laughable excuse if she’d ever
heard one. No way could she count on his cooperation if she couldn’t even trust
him to keep his word. He held out the bottle to show her the label, but she
ignored his ill-timed bribe for standing her up, and instead, glared into his coffee-colored,
deep-set eyes. “You’re drunk, Rock. Get on your private elevator and go home. And
stop calling me darlin’!”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">“I’m
stone sober,” Rock muttered as he strode past her, giving her a wry, sideways
glance. “And for the record, I did not pass up our meeting for a hot date. I’ve
just spent a long and difficult day dealing with an issue that literally landed
on my doorstep.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">He scanned
her newly refurbished living room, illuminated only by the TV screen and twinkle
lights on her Christmas tree. “Nice place you’ve got here,” he said, abruptly
changing the subject. He collapsed his broad, six-foot frame onto a cream
loveseat, stretched out his legs, and toed off his patent leather dress shoes. “Ah-h-h...
feels good.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">Kim
followed him, ignoring the obvious compliment to flatter her into a good mood. They
both knew her one-bedroom unit looked like a walk-in closet compared to the ballroom-sized
penthouse he occupied on the twentieth floor. She folded her arms and stared
down at him. “Look, Rock, if all you want is someone to drink with—”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">“Hey,
hey, wait a minute.” His dark brows arched as he set the champagne and flutes
on the metal and glass coffee table. “You’re the one who pressed my assistant
repeatedly for this meeting. I’m simply providing refreshments.” He pulled off
his Santa hat and tossed it across the armrest of the loveseat. A thick lock of
tousled black hair fell across his forehead. “What exactly do <i>you</i> want?”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">Realizing
she might actually have a chance to persuade him to accept her point of view, Kim
sat on the opposite loveseat, picked up the TV remote, and muted the sound of <i>Pillow
Talk</i>. “I’d like to discuss what happened at the association meeting last
week.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">“Lucky
me,” he countered in a bored voice as he began peeling away the foil on the top
of the bottle. “I’ve made it a rule to avoid those things. Most of the discussion
is nothing but a complaint session. I have a corporation to run, clients to
satisfy. It’s immaterial to me whose overnight guests are taking up too many
parking spots or whether we plant red flowers or gold ones along the front of
the building.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;"><i>If
only...<o:p></o:p></i></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">The
meeting last Wednesday nearly turned into an instant replay of a reality TV
episode, almost degrading to the point of chair-throwing and a down-and-dirty
brawl. Kim pushed the image of the emotionally charged crowd to the back of her
mind as she edged closer to the coffee table separating her and Rock. “But you
do understand the real issue in the latest controversy, don’t you?”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">He
crumbled the foil into a ball and slipped it into his jacket pocket. “With all
the arguing going on everywhere I turn, I’d have to be an alien from Mars to be
ignorant of this one.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">“Then
tell me, which side are you on?” Her heart skipped a beat. She hoped he
understood how much the outcome was riding on his opinion. How drastically
things could change if he elected to support the opposing view. “Are you for or
against changing the bylaws to prohibit pets in this building?”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">“Don’t
care either way.” He unwound the wire cage protecting the cork then pointed the
bottle toward the ceiling. “Pardon the pun, dar—my dear, but I don’t have a dog
in this fight.” His brows drew together in concentration as he gripped the cork
between his thumb and fingers and gently pulled. It made a long, low hiss as
pressure escaped. After a few moments, he eased the cork out, but no bubbly
liquid gushed forth. Only a slight mist curled above the opening.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">“Rock,
the preliminary vote ended in a tie and no one will budge.” She leaned forward,
placing her palms on the table. “Your vote could swing the decision either way.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">At
a time when she expected him to be serious, he chose to grin. “What you’re
really saying is, you want me to cast my vote in favor of the status quo so you
can keep your mutt, right?”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">A
low growl unfurled under the Christmas tree followed by a succession of rapid snorts.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">Rock
glanced around in surprise. “What was<i> that?</i>”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">“My
dog and she isn’t a mutt,” Kim replied as Sasha glared at them from between two
presents wrapped in red foil. “Here, Sasha.” She patted the empty cushion next
to her and smacked her lips. “Come on, sweetie. Rock’s not going to hurt you.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">The
pint-sized canine crept from the shadows with pointed, white-tipped ears laid
back, her bulbous brown eyes focused on Rock as she cautiously approached the
loveseat. A ridge of fawn hair spiked in protest along her spine. Multi-colored
lights twinkling on the tree reflected a rainbow of hues against her white
chest and finger-length legs. She jumped on the loveseat and settled on Kim’s
lap with a snort, never taking her attention off the stranger sitting across
from them.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">“So
that’s what all the fuss is about, huh? No offense, but it looks like a furry rat.”
Grinning, Rock handed Kim a flute of champagne. His fingers grazed hers as the crystal
changed hands. A sharp tingle sparked like a live wire up her arm and down her
spine. Rock had that effect on women. All women, to be precise; but then, who
could resist a tall, dark, handsome man who owned a penthouse on the Minneapolis
riverfront and drove a red Jaguar?<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;"><i>She</i>
could and she’d made up her mind a long time ago she always would. Growing up,
she’d watched her mother fall in and out of love with men like him—successful,
high rollers who loved the chase but didn’t know the meaning of commitment. The
late Veronica Stratton would have schemed night and day to net a fish like Rock
Henderson. Based upon her mother’s experience, Kim knew first hand that you
didn’t catch a shark. The shark caught you and always left you deeply wounded
in the water. She’d rather swim alone than take that chance.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">Sasha
glanced back and forth, voicing her own opinion with an occasional “<i>R-r-r-ruff</i>.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">“This
time it’s more than a mere fuss, believe me.” Kim slowly twirled the glass
between her fingers. “If the majority vote swings in favor of banning animals,
a lot of residents will sell out and move, including me. Most of the pet owners
have been here since this complex was built. We’re more than just friendly neighbors;
we’ve become as close as family and I don’t want my family to split up. Some of
our elderly residents depend upon their neighbors for help so they can continue
to live independently. Who would they turn to if we left?”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">Rock
frowned as he filled his glass. “With all those units for sale at the same
time, the value of everyone’s property is bound to decrease.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">“Including
yours.” Kim sipped her champagne and waited for that little tidbit to sink in.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">Rock
looked her straight in the eye. “Perhaps there’s a way we can accommodate each
other.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">She
froze, suspending the flute midway to her lips as her suspicion grew. His
insinuation that they might be able to find a workable solution should have
alleviated her fear. Instead, it angered her. It always came down to sex, didn’t
it? Men didn’t have anything else on their minds. “If you’re suggesting I sleep
with you as a tradeoff—”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">“No,
no.” He waved away the notion. “Just live with me for about a week. I need your
help.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">What
did he have in mind—a live-in maid with a little hanky-panky on the side? Did
he really think she’d fall for that lie? Her disgust boiled over.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">“Why?
Are you in between girlfriends? Looking for a little distraction until
something better comes along? If you are, you’ve looked in the wrong direction!
I’m not a member of your fan club.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">He
gave a little tug on the lapel of her robe. “I’ll make it more than worth your
while.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">Get
out of my house, Rock Henderson!” She scooped up Sasha and jumped to her feet. The
dog wriggled from her grasp and landed on the loveseat cushion, barking as it dived
to the floor and raced out of sight. “This conversation is over.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">She
tossed the last swallow of champagne into his face and stormed out of the room.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="Taglines" style="text-align: center;">* * *<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">Rock
snatched the silk handkerchief from his front pocket and mopped his chin before
the sticky liquid dripped onto his jacket.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;"><i>Huh...that
went well.<o:p></o:p></i></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">A moment
later, Kim’s bedroom door slammed, reminding him that he needed her in his bed.
<i>Tonight.</i><o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">“Ah,
c’mon, Kim,” he coaxed gently as he crossed the room and rapped his knuckle on
the door. “I didn’t mean it the way it sounded. I’m sorry if I made you upset.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">“Apology
accepted,” she said, sounding tired, but deliberate. “Now, go home.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">“I’m
not leaving until you come out and give me a chance to explain.” He tried the
knob and found it locked. “Besides, there’s at least two more glasses of
champagne left and I hate drinking alone.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">The
tree lights suddenly flickered and went dark. He glanced over his shoulder just
in time to catch that mutt with the cord between its teeth, pulling the plug
out of the wall.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">“Hey,
you, stop that!” He walked over to the tree and knelt to rescue the dog, but
snatched his hand back before the ungrateful little critter could sink a
mouthful of pointy teeth into his thumb. “You keep chewing on that cord, half-pint,
and I guarantee you’re going to turn into a grilled sausage, fully charred.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">Behind
him, the bedroom door flew open and Kim rushed to his side, gasping in horror. “Let
go of the cord, baby!” She pried the apparatus from Sasha’s mouth and snatched
the dog into her arms. Without a word, she turned to head back into her
boudoir, but Rock stepped in her path, nearly causing her to collide with his
chest. The top of her head barely reached his chin and she couldn’t have weighed
more than one hundred ten pounds soaking wet. Wrapped in all that pink fluff, she
looked more like a ball of cotton candy than a tough-as-nails nurse
practitioner.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">She
looked up, her gaze boring into his. “You’re blocking my way.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">“Just
a minute.” He gripped his hands on his hips, unwilling to let her pass until he’d
made his point. “I just saved your pooch from getting barbecued and that’s all
you have to say?”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">“You’re
right,” she answered with a begrudging smile. “Thank you.” As she attempted to skirt
around him, he cupped her elbow, steering her toward the living room.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">“You’re
welcome. Now, can we please start over?” Anxious to make amends, Rock ditched
the flirtatious manner and lowered his voice to a gentler tone. “You said you
needed my help.” He gestured toward the twin loveseats. “Let’s sit down. I have
a proposal to make and I promise I won’t bite, though I can’t say the same for
your mutt...er, baby.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">As
if it understood, the mangy little cur rolled back its top lip, silently
showing him a set of sharp fangs.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">Rock
cleared his throat and shoved his hands into his pockets. After the day he’d
endured, he could use a nice, stiff shot about now, but preferably not tetanus.
He nodded toward the living room. “Shall we?”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">Kim
hesitated as if weighing her options. “All right,” she replied with a sigh, “but
don’t try coming on to me again or I’ll sic my dog on you.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">He
agreed and followed her back to the loveseats, taking his previous spot. “Now,”
he continued in a business tone, “I want you to listen with an open mind until
I’m finished.” He took a deep breath and braced himself. Might as well cut to
the chase and get it out there. “I really need you to move in with me for about
a week...and pretend to be my wife.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">Her
jaw dropped. “Excuse me?”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">The
sudden chill in the air almost made him shudder as she sat up straight, mirroring
the image of an ice sculpture he’d once viewed at the St. Paul Winter Carnival.
Her wide blue eyes regarded him with skepticism and distrust. He studied her
for a moment, wondering what to say next. Her blonde pixie cut, upturned nose,
and smattering of freckles fit the image of the proverbial girl next door. She’d
probably make a great wife for the right guy one of these days. However, did
she possess the skill to convince Zelda that she would be the perfect wife for
him?<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">“Let’s
have another drink.” Rock grabbed the bottle and began to pour, filling her
flute. “I’ll start from the beginning.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">“Please
do.” Her lips barely moved, the words slipping out in monosyllables.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">“A couple
of months ago I became engaged. That was my first mistake.” He set the bottle
down and clasped his hands together. “Then I told my mother.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">“What’s
wrong with telling your mom? That’s usually the first person you call to
announce good news.” Kim picked up her bubbling flute. “I gather you’re not
engaged any longer.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">“No.”
He rubbed his palm over his emerging five-o-clock shadow. “She didn’t work out.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">Kim
didn’t comment, but her raised eyebrows suggested she didn’t empathize with
someone who talked about breaking up with his future wife like a business deal
gone bad.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">“Okay,
there’s more to it than <i>that</i>. She double-crossed me.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">“She
cheated on you?”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">“It’s
on par with infidelity as far as I’m concerned.” He shook his head, still angry
about it. “She obtained confidential information through intimate conversations
with me and turned it over to my competitor. Of course, when I discovered the
leak and confronted her, she professed extreme remorse. According to her,” he
paused, replaying the scene in his mind, “by that time, she had allegedly
realized she’d fallen in love with me.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">“What
does all this have to do with me getting your vote?”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">“I
didn’t tell my family what happened once the engagement ended.” He gave a cynical
laugh. “My mother would’ve been so disappointed she would have never let me
hear the end of it.” Squaring his shoulders, he downed his drink in three gulps
and set the flute on the table. “Now that the wedding date has passed and no
one received an invitation, everyone thinks I eloped.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">Kim
burst into incredulous laughter. “Why don’t you just tell them the truth, Mr.
Chief Executive Hypocrite? You didn’t like being deceived, so why are you
deceiving them?”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;"><i>Because
you don’t disappoint Zelda</i>, he thought glumly. Especially the way things
stood now. “My mother’s heart is in bad shape. I’m afraid of what it would do
to her if I told her what really happened. She’s so happy now that she thinks I’m
married.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">“How
is putting on a charade going to keep her happy? She’ll find out eventually and
then you’ll have to account for lying to her, too.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">“She’s
not going to last much longer, so I don’t see the point in causing her any more
pain than she’s already bearing.” Rock grabbed Kim’s glass and consumed her champagne,
wishing he could just tell his mother the truth. Unfortunately, the tug-of-war
relationship with his imperious mother didn’t work that way. “If she’s going to
die soon then all I want is for her to go happy.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">“You
don’t actually believe you’re going to pull this off, do you? I mean, I’m not
the vain, self-centered type that you date. I don’t know how to act haughty and
spoiled. She’s going to see right through me.” Kim set her dog aside and stood
up. “Forget it.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">Desperation
fueled his frustration. Rock stood to his full height, towering over her. “Look,
you don’t have to be my type; you just have to be by my side for a week. I’ve
got everything covered.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">“<i>If</i>
I agree to it, I’m not moving in with you.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">Heat
began to build under his collar. “Oh, yes, you are, <i>darlin’</i>. The last time
I checked, that’s the way married couples operated.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">“But
we’re not married. We’re not even working out at the gym together.” She rose on
her tiptoes and poked him in the chest with her index finger. “So, if you think
I’m going to sleep in the same bed with you—”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">He
leaned forward and grabbed her hand. A surge of attraction coursed through him
as he covered her petite fingers with his broad palm. It threw him off guard
for a moment, but the prospect of spending the night with her suddenly
intrigued him. “What’s the matter, darlin’, are you afraid you might like sharing
a bed with me?”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">Her
eyes narrowed as she jerked her hand away. “Get over yourself, Rock Henderson. What
I’m afraid of is that this is all just an amusing game to you and once we’re
alone, you’ll pull out every trick in your little black book to try to seduce
me—no matter what we agree on.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">“Don’t
worry about that. You’re not my type—remember? I’ll be a perfect gentleman. Besides,
before you know it, the week will be over. Look, I can’t disappoint my mother.
If you want my vote, those are my terms. No <i>wifey</i>,” he pointed at her
mutt, “no doggie.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">She
clamped her jaw shut. After a few tense moments of staring him down, she said
through clenched teeth, “When is <i>Mother</i> scheduled to arrive?”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">His
stomach churned. “She showed up this afternoon with her nurse.” He grabbed the
champagne bottle by the neck, brought it to his lips, and drained the last few
drops. The champagne went down like water, but it did little to relieve his apprehension.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">“I
had no idea she’d planned this visit. She decided to surprise me and lay over a
few days in Minneapolis before flying to Vail to spend Christmas with my
brother, Patrick. She wanted to meet my wife! I didn’t know what to do until I
remembered my assistant telling me you had left messages with her saying that
you desperately needed <i>my</i> help. So, I decided to pay you a visit and see
if we could strike a deal. I couldn’t get away earlier to talk to you about it
because I had to take Mother out to dinner. I told her you couldn’t make it
because you were out for the day shopping with your girlfriends.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">His
iPhone suddenly buzzed. He glanced at the screen and turned it off. “It’s her. I’d
better go. She’s probably wondering why it’s taking so long to get a newspaper.
How soon can you change and come upstairs?”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">She
gave him a stubborn look. “I didn’t say I’d do it, yet. I’ve been looking
forward to taking a vacation at Christmastime for years. Do you have any idea
how long it took me to gain enough seniority at the hospital to get this week
off? I have gifts to buy, parties to attend, and lunch dates with friends. Playing
house with you isn’t my idea of a vacation!”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">“Yeah,
but you did say that the fate of your residency here and all your long-time
neighbors is hanging on my vote. You hold all the cards...”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">“But,
Rock, I don’t have the expensive designer clothes that your fiancée would wear.
I live in scrubs and a lab coat.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">He
shrugged. “The day I showed my fiancée the door, she departed in such a rage
that she left some clothes in my closet—mostly things I bought.” He looked her
over. “She’s taller, but you’re about her size. Just wear hers. They’ll look
better on you than they did on her, anyway.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">He
set the empty bottle back on the coffee table and headed for the door. Pausing
with his hand on the doorknob, he turned back. “I’ll tell Mother you’re on your
way home and due to arrive any minute. Oh, and by the way, your name is Diona Daye.
Got that?”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">“What?”
She stomped across the room. “You mean I have to change my name, too? What are
we going to do when someone sees me in the lobby and calls me Kim?”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">“I
don’t know. We’ll just make sure no one sees us together. At any rate, let’s
concentrate on one issue at a time, like getting through the next hour or two.”
He reached into his trouser pocket. “Here’s your security card for the elevator.
It’s also my private entrance into the garage. You can move your car tomorrow.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">Something
caught his eye. He glanced down as she slowly took the card. “Hey,” he remarked
with a wide grin, “are those bunny slippers on your feet? I haven’t seen anyone
wearing those since I was ten years old.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">“Yeah.”
She stuck out her chin. “Gee, is that a tux you’re wearing? I haven’t seen anyone
show up for a meeting with me in one of those <i>ever</i>.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">She
sure was cute, but he knew better than to verbalize it.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">He
opened the door a crack and peered out at the empty hallway before looking back
at her. “My company Christmas bash is going on tonight at the Hilton. It’s too
bad I had to miss my own party, but Mother didn’t feel up to going. It cost a
small fortune.” He gave her a wink, determined to let it go, and concentrate on
the issue at hand. “See you in a few minutes, <i>Diona</i>.”<o:p></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">The
throw pillow intended for his head hit the backside of the door as he slipped
out and hustled toward the stairwell. Kim’s spunky temper felt like a
refreshing breeze compared to Diona’s constant pouting. He exhaled; relieved
that he’d caught on to Diona’s traitorous scheme before she’d caused too much
damage to his company. Even so, she’d still managed to ruin his belief in
marriage. Her duplicity had proved beyond a doubt that he couldn’t trust anyone
with either his deepest secrets or with his heart. He had no idea if he’d ever
meet someone who would change his mind, but for now, he planned to live his
life one day at a time, leaving the past behind.<o:p></o:p></p><p>
</p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">He
slipped into the stairwell and bounded down the stairs to make it to the lobby
and get on his private elevator, all the while wondering if Kim would hit it
off with Zelda or if his mother would see right through her pretense. Time
would tell, but one thing seemed certain. No matter how well Kim played her
part, it would take a miracle to get through this week—with both women.</p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;"><br /></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-indent: 27pt;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Available on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IOWTC28">Kindle</a> for 99 cents. Free on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IOWTC28">Kindle Unlimited</a>!</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">~*~ </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKLQYXnL1NueNSRAn41lVcyxRE5rowbSg6-tCvyukE0v70quCOvVzb6ujdtLVtwGEXtCPzWaB5OKU-4zI4VKHaBs2sI56IKODLVbETllOsQFtD63jDy-S65mWESLsy4ADk0HTWPeI8Xbk/s529/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="529" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKLQYXnL1NueNSRAn41lVcyxRE5rowbSg6-tCvyukE0v70quCOvVzb6ujdtLVtwGEXtCPzWaB5OKU-4zI4VKHaBs2sI56IKODLVbETllOsQFtD63jDy-S65mWESLsy4ADk0HTWPeI8Xbk/s320/image.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Want to find more good authors
who write sweet romance? Join my reader group - Happily Ever After Stories. If
you like sweet romance and want to be part of a great group that has lots of
fun and fantastic parties, visit us at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/HEAstories/">https://www.facebook.com/groups/HEAstories/</a>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnEp9jFcNpk-jSIWJGQwbkMdPa4oBKfHXgmxvnci6mFLMXq5r4rD-JTmBWAcv7MzzPlWAP0tzgu0lARXoH20wS5VvyvzozGDgsdYoMaMGe6gibwTNYn38CwQ7Ze5aBwPlqJ96H0Qxy7PY/s320/mfrw-book-hooks400.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnEp9jFcNpk-jSIWJGQwbkMdPa4oBKfHXgmxvnci6mFLMXq5r4rD-JTmBWAcv7MzzPlWAP0tzgu0lARXoH20wS5VvyvzozGDgsdYoMaMGe6gibwTNYn38CwQ7Ze5aBwPlqJ96H0Qxy7PY/s0/mfrw-book-hooks400.jpg" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;"><br /></p>
<!--start LinkyTools script--><script src="https://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=299081" type="text/javascript"></script><!--end LinkyTools script-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2459540916601914403.post-17672895209582056152020-10-06T22:30:00.005-05:002023-01-01T15:10:31.308-06:00Sweet Christmas Romance Collection #MFRWHooks<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5Mr5TCG8cyl4DrXrz7R7byu6K4Zfn9Md2tsO7vX-StR3nv49YyJhsQJO5vloQ2eCPjMCNWTIWp7_XqnnxVdpxDLLQQEcUYkEm0HCFxgIeXGZotndJWyOLWqV_E_nSr1EvpQSAiWBSH0/s1200/MerryandBright-BoxedSet.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5Mr5TCG8cyl4DrXrz7R7byu6K4Zfn9Md2tsO7vX-StR3nv49YyJhsQJO5vloQ2eCPjMCNWTIWp7_XqnnxVdpxDLLQQEcUYkEm0HCFxgIeXGZotndJWyOLWqV_E_nSr1EvpQSAiWBSH0/w360-h400/MerryandBright-BoxedSet.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Merry & Bright</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>A Sweet Collection of Christmas Stories</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>by Denise Devine</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KN1H47D">On Kindle and Kindle Unlimited</a></b></span></p><p><em><b>It's the happiest season of all...</b></em></p><p>With snowflakes dancing in the frosty air, and the ring of carols everywhere, Christmas holds a special place in our hearts, our favorite time of the year. Set in the Midwest, this sweet collection of "Happily Ever After" Christmas stories are sure to brighten your day and lift your spirits. Enjoy them all year!</p><b><span style="color: red;">
A Merry Little Christmas
</span></b><p><strong><em>Merry Connor is struggling to feed her two children, pay heat bills, and fix her secondhand car.</em></strong></p><p>Though she’s barely making it financially, life is good. That is, compared to two years ago when she lost everything—thanks to her lying, deceiving ex-husband. She’s come a long way since then and doesn’t intend to look back. Even so, it’ll be a long time before she trusts anyone with her heart again.<br /></p><p><strong><em>Tony Lewis hasn’t had a merry Christmas since his wife and son perished in a car collision three years ago.</em></strong><br /></p><p>The holidays are lonely without his family, but his heart begins to mend when he meets Merry Connor and her two rambunctious kids. He can’t stop thinking about her and yearns to get closer to her. Will she turn him away once she learns of his connection to her ex-husband?<br /></p><b><span style="color: red;">
A Christmas to Remember
</span></b><p><strong><em>Katie McGowan is desperate to make it home for Christmas.</em></strong></p><p>Since the death of her husband in a snowmobile accident two years ago, her family has filled the void left by Josh’s passing. Returning home from a business trip on December 23rd, Katie finds herself trapped by a blizzard in Alexandria, Minnesota. Stranded travelers have filled the hotels, leaving her no choice but to take an executive suite in the same resort where Josh died.</p><p><strong><em>Ryan Scott intends to spend the weekend at Lakewood Resort, riding his new snowmobile and dodging Christmas.</em></strong></p><p>His parents’ sudden divorce announcement has ruined his holiday and he’s in no mood to socialize. His plan derails, however, when he meets Katie McGowan and she steals his heart.</p><p>Overwhelmed by memories of the past, neither Katie nor Ryan believes they are open to the possibilities of a new relationship. But a little bit of Christmas magic, along with a stray dog rescued from the storm, gives them a reason to unwrap their hearts. Together, they find the courage to rediscover the joy of the holiday season.<br /></p><b><span style="color: red;">
Once Upon a Christmas
</span></b><p>When old friends reunite, will a new enemy keep them apart?<br /></p><p><em><strong>Ashton Wyatt has spent a decade running from her past.</strong></em><br /></p><p>Hanging out with a bad crowd in high school cost Ashton her reputation, her boyfriend, and her relationship with her parents. Determined to start over, she has moved far away, but can't escape the loneliness that shrouds her heart. When she receives an offer to return to the small, tourist town of West Loon Bay to revive The Ramblin' Rose bar with her sister and her cousin, she accepts the challenge, hoping to repair the bond with her family as well. But just when her life is on the mend, she crosses paths with someone from her past and things spin out of control...<br /></p><p><em><strong>The last thing Sawyer Daniels needs is to get mixed up with the town's wild child</strong></em>.<br /></p><p>Sawyer did his share of partying and keeping the cops busy in his misspent youth, but he has long since abandoned that crowd in order to make some sense of his life. He's already under contract to renovate The Ramblin' Rose when he learns Ashton Wyatt is back in town. Though the situation gets off to a rocky start, their friendship grows as they work side by side. He doesn't realize how much he's grown to care for her until a stalker puts her life in danger. Now that he's finally found his true love, is he about to lose her?<br /></p><b><span style="color: red;">
So This is Christmas
</span></b><p><em><b>Annabelle Lee</b></em> - She's looking forward to a weekend of catching up, munching cookies, and enjoying Christmas cheer with her childhood girlfriends. She hasn't had a vacation since this time last year and desperately needs the time off. Her business has taken a toll on her life, leaving her exhausted and questioning the price of success. She arrives early at Ellie Stone's family cabin to relax and decide the direction of her future, but to her dismay, she's not alone. Ellie's twin brother is also there and declares he isn't leaving until Friday.</p><p><em><b>Christopher Stone</b></em> - He's the boy who mercilessly teased her when they were kids. He's grown into a handsome man with a career in professional baseball and a pop-star girlfriend. He appears to have an idyllic life, but the longer they talk, the more Annabelle suspects his love life isn't as perfect as he claims. She can't deny her attraction to him and knows he's attracted to her as well.</p><p><em><b>Best Friends Forever </b></em>- Will this week proceed like old times or turn out to be a new chapter in her life?</p><p>Available on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KN1H47D"><b>Kindle and Kindle Unlimited</b></a>. Get your copy today!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57xEnK00_BNkaZPzE-Xv2YmAA3OncMFK4MwHHrjhmKd448ObxmMiMtUglEKHn45V9o3-mh_ENSdZNH2k3CqQf3YdTfHOekRf87cWHhFkhZn4_xiMQtiadpPhvi5pQWCMHuNTVa1mSygM/s784/HEA+Banner.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="395" data-original-width="784" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57xEnK00_BNkaZPzE-Xv2YmAA3OncMFK4MwHHrjhmKd448ObxmMiMtUglEKHn45V9o3-mh_ENSdZNH2k3CqQf3YdTfHOekRf87cWHhFkhZn4_xiMQtiadpPhvi5pQWCMHuNTVa1mSygM/s320/HEA+Banner.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Want to find more good authors
who write sweet romance? Join my reader group - Happily Ever After Stories. If
you like sweet romance and want to be part of a great group that has lots of
fun and fantastic parties, visit us at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/HEAstories/">https://www.facebook.com/groups/HEAstories/</a>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>Read all of the first chapters of Denise's books by clicking on any story in the title bar at the top of this blog!</i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDam6xUkhHyOCA4Pf21119sWDEGfYewb65xBKACEhkDJBxd8FeIm2zUxMBU6l3NTfc4UOFdkdpztymIUuUdvHnty_SUnPPlI1wbAwtbiIvAbgz5BGiFjYib7Nlfq2XvakXdzJ_cr2M2qc/s320/mfrw-book-hooks400.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDam6xUkhHyOCA4Pf21119sWDEGfYewb65xBKACEhkDJBxd8FeIm2zUxMBU6l3NTfc4UOFdkdpztymIUuUdvHnty_SUnPPlI1wbAwtbiIvAbgz5BGiFjYib7Nlfq2XvakXdzJ_cr2M2qc/s0/mfrw-book-hooks400.jpg" /></a></b></span></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></p><p><br /></p> <!--start LinkyTools script--><script src="https://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=298519" type="text/javascript"></script><!--end LinkyTools script-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2459540916601914403.post-34806076724552959552020-05-26T22:00:00.003-05:002023-01-01T15:13:54.568-06:00Unforgettable Joy! #MFRWHooks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh4FHKQ65HGwINFjGCaz4gUcR0zeDusdqRwmKa9Li4yOt9PQfyofpDDu5pPRvWi19EThc46RHH42x1fhOG7mE8HcHeT4Rch7MtOCg1Osp6X5txC3b0YeJUjzK1OyNBkye2uu9l4X4Wvbg/s1600/100+Unforgettable+Joy2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh4FHKQ65HGwINFjGCaz4gUcR0zeDusdqRwmKa9Li4yOt9PQfyofpDDu5pPRvWi19EThc46RHH42x1fhOG7mE8HcHeT4Rch7MtOCg1Osp6X5txC3b0YeJUjzK1OyNBkye2uu9l4X4Wvbg/s320/100+Unforgettable+Joy2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085XJNFMY">Amazon</a></span></div>
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A fabulous
collection! Also on Kindle Unlimited! Don’t miss this great
bargain!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">Pets make everything better, even a
fabulous and <b>Unforgettable Romance!<o:p></o:p></b></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333;">Pets can make us happy – Yes! – but
romance lifts us even higher still! As many of our favorite love stories
promise, there’s a perfect partner somewhere in the world for each of us. When
that soul mate is found, Unforgettable Joy is found.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333;">Experience NINE romances by <i>NY Times
and USA Today Bestselling Authors </i>as they bring to life stories of
adversities experienced and conquered with the help of silent four-pawed
buddies, guiding our fabulous heroes and heroines toward each other in their ultimate
discovery –<b><i>Unforgettable Joy!<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">We’re One by Mimi Barbour</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">, <i>NY Times & USA Times
Bestselling Author</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;">
<span style="background: white;">Celebrated Vegas star Crystal loves all the
animal kingdom! The human male animal - not so much.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">Avalanche Puppy by Nancy Radke</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">, <i>USA Times Bestselling Author</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333;">The angel and her dog rescued him, but
would she be able to rescue his heart?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">Merry Christmas, Darling by Denise
Devine</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">, <i>USA Times
Bestselling Author<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333;">A desperate bachelor enlists his
neighbor to pose as his wife to appease his dying mother and unexpectedly finds
love under the mistletoe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">Catching Gabe by Angela Stevens<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333;">A model and his Irish wolfhound become
embroiled in a woman’s secret past.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">Smooth Irish Seduction by Jennifer St.
Giles</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">, <i>USA Times
Bestselling Author</i></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333;">Going Nowhere Jackson and Going
Somewhere Nan’s unforgettable passion takes them on a wild ride. Will their
crash landing destroy them both?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">Rainbows and Rescues by Susan Jean Ricci</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">, <i>USA Times Bestselling Author<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333;">Seeking solace after his best friend’s
death, Jace discovers companionship and love when he rescues a trio of hearts,
including his own.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">Valentine: A Hearts and Kisses Romance
by Jacquie Biggar</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">, <i>USA
Today Bestselling Author<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333;">Take two humans who pretend they can’t
stand each other and one matchmaking canine and the fun is nonstop!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">Reckless by Leanne Banks</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">, <i>USA Times Bestselling Author<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333;">What happens when a tough guy takes a
shy widow for a wild ride? Can real love be in their future?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white; color: #333333;">This is Denise Devine's story, <i><b>Merry Christmas, Darling...</b></i></span><br />
<span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Rock
Henderson needs a wife—and fast. His dying mother’s last wish is to leave this
world knowing her son is blissfully married…and producing grandchildren. It's
just a small lie to make her eternally happy, one he doesn’t think he’ll have
to make good on until Zelda shows up the week before Christmas with her nurse
and her twenty-pound tabby cat. With his ex-fiancée long gone and his
wheelchair-bound mother sitting in the living room of his penthouse demanding
to meet his wife, he’s desperate—and hard-pressed to find a stand-in on such
short notice. That is, until he remembers his neighbor in 601E.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Kimberly
Jo Stratton is looking forward to a hard-earned vacation the week before
Christmas. Her calendar is filled with last minute shopping, lunch dates,
holiday parties and catching up on old friends. There’s just one problem—she
needs to find someone ASAP to cast the tie-breaking vote to the proposed bylaws
change of her condominium association, which is a total ban on <i>all</i> animals. If that change goes
through, Kim and many of her closest neighbors will have to move. They're not
going to give up their furry children!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Kim and
Rock strike a deal. Kim will spend the week as Rock’s wife in return for his
vote. It seems like a foolproof plan. That is, until Kim's Chihuahua tangles
with Zelda’s tabby, Zelda’s health seems to take a sudden turn for the better
and Zelda’s nurse does more pouting than nursing, except when she's flirting
with Rock. In the midst of it all, Kim and Rock discover that there is such a
thing as love under the mistletoe…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">A sweet romantic comedy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Unforgettable Joy! </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085XJNFMY"><span style="background: white;">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085XJNFMY</span></a></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDam6xUkhHyOCA4Pf21119sWDEGfYewb65xBKACEhkDJBxd8FeIm2zUxMBU6l3NTfc4UOFdkdpztymIUuUdvHnty_SUnPPlI1wbAwtbiIvAbgz5BGiFjYib7Nlfq2XvakXdzJ_cr2M2qc/s1600/mfrw-book-hooks400.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDam6xUkhHyOCA4Pf21119sWDEGfYewb65xBKACEhkDJBxd8FeIm2zUxMBU6l3NTfc4UOFdkdpztymIUuUdvHnty_SUnPPlI1wbAwtbiIvAbgz5BGiFjYib7Nlfq2XvakXdzJ_cr2M2qc/s1600/mfrw-book-hooks400.jpg" /></a></div>
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<!--start LinkyTools script--><script src="https://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=297337" type="text/javascript"></script><!--end LinkyTools script-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2459540916601914403.post-52807461388781312122018-09-08T15:06:00.004-05:002023-01-01T15:15:41.502-06:00A Very Merry Christmas by Denise Devine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">A Very Merry Christmas - </span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">Hawaiian Holiday Series</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Available at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/%20B07H3QYZZ7">Amazon</a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5Y-I9vdwi-5VefZaf2cm8qbEWAHo4oiGvnNN1f6E2rio4HRlXkwjtAFYvlst0U4-Ou5vJ3IflZl5Yc8cn_dkKR3gzfKovQ0pc7h3v7eAXtwY-UZfI-pOwazTmBtjUjPGePNB_tx-OAg/s1600/2100HHAVeryMerry+Christmas-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1036" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5Y-I9vdwi-5VefZaf2cm8qbEWAHo4oiGvnNN1f6E2rio4HRlXkwjtAFYvlst0U4-Ou5vJ3IflZl5Yc8cn_dkKR3gzfKovQ0pc7h3v7eAXtwY-UZfI-pOwazTmBtjUjPGePNB_tx-OAg/s400/2100HHAVeryMerry+Christmas-large.jpg" width="258" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Spend the
holidays in Hawaii! Get ready for six weeks of romance with a new Christmas
series brought to you by <i>USA Today</i> bestselling authors…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i><b>Hawaiian
Holiday!</b></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b><i>Six
exciting, sweet novellas linked by a unifying theme. You’ll want to read each
one!</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">HAWAIIAN
HOLIDAY SERIES<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Six women
set out on a twelve-day holiday getaway cruise to the Hawaiian Islands. Each
woman decides to enjoy a beautiful, much-deserved holiday in an exotic locale
and ends up unexpectedly finding love along the way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This is A
Very Merry Christmas…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><em><strong>Guess
who's coming to
dinner?</strong></em><br />
Sophie Lillie is
looking forward to spending the holidays with her family on their annual
Christmas cruise. It won't be the same this year, however, without her mother.
Maggie's death has drawn the family closer together, but when Sophie's father
shows up with his glamorous new girlfriend, their fragile reunion is torn
apart. Sophie turns to an unlikely stranger, a man who is dealing with a
betrayal fo his
own.<br />
<em><strong>There's trouble
brewing in
paradise...</strong></em><br />
Sam
Alexander's plan to turn a boring company cruise into a romantic getaway with a
female coworker falls apart when she dumps him at the last minute for someone
else. To make matters worse, his ex-girlfriend's new flame is Sam's workplace
rival. He's stuck on a ship sailing to Hawaii with a bad attitude and nothing
to do. That is, until he meets Sophie, a vivacious girl who melts his heart and
gives him a reason to celebrate the season.<br />
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b><i>Find
all the Hawaiian Holiday novellas at Amazon!</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Christmas
Charm by Raine English<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Seashells
& Mistletoe by Rachelle Ayala<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Cruising
into Christmas by Aileen Fish<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sunny Days
Ahead by Julie Jarnagin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Aloha to
Love by Josie Riviera<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">A Very Merry
Christmas by Denise Devine<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b><i>Meet
the authors of Hawaiian Holiday!</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Raine
English</b><b> </b>(<i>Christmas
Charm</i><i>)</i> is a <i>USA
Today</i><i> </i>bestselling author of
sweet contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and paranormal romance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Rachelle
Ayala</b> (<i>Seashells & Mistletoe</i>) is a <i>USA
Today</i><i> </i>bestselling author of
contemporary romance and romantic suspense.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Aileen
Fish</b><b> </b>(<i>Cruising
into Christmas</i>) is a <i>USA Today</i><i> </i>bestselling author of sweet contemporary and Regency historical
romance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Julie
Jarnagin</b><b> </b>(<i>Sunny
Days Ahead</i>) is a <i>USA Today</i><i> </i>bestselling author of sweet and inspirational romance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Josie
Riviera</b><b> </b>(<i>Aloha to
Love</i>) is a <i>USA Today</i><i> </i>bestselling author of sweet contemporary, inspirational, and
historical sweet romance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Denise
Devine</b><b> </b>(<i>A Very
Merry Christmas</i>) is a <i>USA Today</i><i> </i>bestselling author of romantic comedy
and contemporary romance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2459540916601914403.post-24847072724333289882018-06-29T22:04:00.001-05:002022-12-31T22:22:43.236-06:00Ava by Denise Devine - Perfect Match Series<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjl5wizxR3digstx-OQUXHPBLlayExXMP9cD2wXibcc4tQPTBSyth6_4WuS004JS6T528uBZDRx4Egk7pwvMm6MuRxWhdlTidbbrfQ6bYtQIA6besdkIvG5wUo0EnstANcDTC0_MUqr4/s1600/2000PM-Ava-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1036" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjl5wizxR3digstx-OQUXHPBLlayExXMP9cD2wXibcc4tQPTBSyth6_4WuS004JS6T528uBZDRx4Egk7pwvMm6MuRxWhdlTidbbrfQ6bYtQIA6besdkIvG5wUo0EnstANcDTC0_MUqr4/s320/2000PM-Ava-large.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Announcing an Exciting New Summer Romance
Series! <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #353535; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Grab your beach
umbrella and prepare for lots of fun and romance this summer with the Perfect
Match series! </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Join Bree, Marni, Molly, Jade, Ava, and Maeve
as they embark on a once-in-a-lifetime vacation in the pursuit of love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">AVA, book 5, by Denise Devine:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ava’s
Perfect Match Dating Profile…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">A Minnesota Girl –
Age 31<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Like everyone
else, I’ve had my heart broken in the past, but I still find it difficult to
believe in the power of love.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Do you have what
it takes to prove me wrong?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I’m looking for
someone who is honest and genuine, a man who would accept me for who I am and
bring out my true self—a crazy, fun-loving girl with an adventurous heart. If
you really exist, you’re one in a million.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">And you just might
be the one for me.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Excerpt
from AVA:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">After
they finished their beverages, they climbed the well-worn pathway up to the
cliffs. People were congregating in small groups, laughing and talking, many of
them soaking wet. Others went straight to the edge and jumped off, whooping all
the way down to the water.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jeff
took Ava’s hand as they walked toward the edge. “It’s beautiful down there,
isn’t it?” The water truly looked turquoise and as clear as a windowpane.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">She
moved closer to the edge of the cliff and gingerly stared down at the cove. “It
must be at least a twenty-five-foot jump.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Do
you know how to swim?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">She
snorted. “Ah, yeah. I was a lifeguard all through senior high and college.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Really?
Me, too.” He tightened his fingers around her slender hand. “Do you like to
swim in the ocean?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Oh,
yes, I love it. I’ve already gone swimming several times at the resort.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Great!”
He grinned. “Then let’s do it.” He leaped off the cliff and pulled her with
him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">At
first, she gasped from sheer surprise then she screamed. “I’m going to <i>kill </i>you for this, Jeff Thom-a-a-a-s!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Down
they went, feet first.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Splash!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">They
plunged into the cove, but quickly swam upward, breaking through the surface of
the water at nearly the same time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">As
soon as she bobbed to the surface, Ava blew out a lungful of air and shook the
water from her eyes. Without a word, she took off like a shot and swam toward
the beach. Jeff quickly caught up to her and followed her out of the water. She
ignored him and stomped away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Come
on, Ava. Don’t be mad—”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Oh,
I’m not mad,” she said, whirling around, getting in his face. “I’m furious!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Be sure to grab a copy of AVA today! Available
exclusively on Amazon. Free with Kindle Unlimited! https://www.amazon.com/Ava-Perfect-Match-Book-5-ebook/dp/B07BWYJJHJ</span></div>
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</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2459540916601914403.post-23848998304143838062017-05-30T23:11:00.003-05:002022-12-31T22:05:27.115-06:00Beach Brides Series: LISA - by Denise Devine
<br />
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #1d2129;">Grab your beach hat and
a towel and prepare for a brand new series brought to you by twelve <i>New York
Times</i> and <i>USA Today</i> bestselling authors…</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white;">
<b><i><span style="color: #1d2129;">Twelve
heartwarming, sweet novellas linked by a unifying theme. </span></i></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white;">
<b><i><span style="color: #1d2129;">Beach Brides! Fun
in the summer sun!</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2tH5XylgYdHokMoFn87hJLGMsZt80lMezuPnU55T6Anpiw_DphFmdZp1e1dHPh5DoK7mABRImNQ_bM52zIeKxIIwE9mJ_bQuuXFUvhT1W4n7kH6RlHa_D_B8Tfm2kN1WIQ1QCS5S9ioM/s1600/BeachBridesLisaFinalCoverLarge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1036" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2tH5XylgYdHokMoFn87hJLGMsZt80lMezuPnU55T6Anpiw_DphFmdZp1e1dHPh5DoK7mABRImNQ_bM52zIeKxIIwE9mJ_bQuuXFUvhT1W4n7kH6RlHa_D_B8Tfm2kN1WIQ1QCS5S9ioM/s320/BeachBridesLisaFinalCoverLarge.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
BEACH BRIDES SERIES (Lisa)<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Twelve friends from the online group Romantic Hearts Book Club decide to finally
meet in person during a destination Caribbean vacation to beautiful Enchanted
Island. While of different ages and stages in life, these ladies have two
things in common: 1) they are diehard romantics, and 2) they’ve been let down
by love. As a wildly silly dare during her last night on the island, each
heroine decides to stuff a note in a bottle addressed to her “dream hero” and
cast it out to sea!<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
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Is it possible to find true love through a message in a
bottle?<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
Spending a week on a Caribbean island with the members of the Romantic
Hearts Book Club is like a dream come true for Lisa Kaye. On their last night,
each woman writes a personal message to her “dream hero,” stuffs it in a bottle
and tosses it out to sea. Lisa’s real dreams crash, however, when she returns
home and loses not only her job but her boyfriend in the same day. Determined
to start over, she returns to Enchanted Island, the idyllic place of her
childhood to manage her aunt’s bed and breakfast.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Fifteen months pass without a clue to the fate of her bottle. Then it
happens. She receives an email from the man who found it and she doesn’t know
what to do. Should she ignore it or take a chance at finding true love?<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Lisa (Beach Brides Series) is available for
pre-order! Releasing on June 27th!</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #1d2129;">** $2.99 on Kindle,
FREE in Kindle Unlimited **</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B071F9P1W7"><span style="color: #0563c1;">www.amazon.com/dp/B071F9P1W7</span></a><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Find all the Beach Brides at Amazon!<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Beach-Brides/e/B071HW8F9H"><span style="color: #0563c1;">https://www.amazon.com/Beach-Brides/e/B071HW8F9H</span></a><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p>MEG (Julie Jarnagin)<o:p></o:p></div>
TARA (Ginny Baird)<o:p></o:p><br />
NINA (Stacey Joy Netzel)<o:p></o:p><br />
CLAIR (Grace Greene)<o:p></o:p><br />
JENNY (Melissa McClone)<o:p></o:p><br />
LISA (Denise Devine)<o:p></o:p><br />
HOPE (Aileen Fish)<o:p></o:p><br />
KIM (Magdalena Scott)<o:p></o:p><br />
ROSE (Shanna Hatfield)<o:p></o:p><br />
LILY (Ciara Knight)<o:p></o:p><br />
FAITH (Helen Scott Taylor)<o:p></o:p><br />
AMY (Raine English)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2459540916601914403.post-62948597163904352092014-04-04T21:11:00.002-05:002022-12-31T20:53:58.264-06:00This Time Forever, an Inspirational RomanceNow available on Kindle.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JGL83LW"><span style="color: red;">www.amazon.com/dp/B00JGL83LW</span></a><br />
<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2