Category Archives: Recommended
RELEASE BLITZ ~ A Cowboy Christmas Miracle by Carolyn Brown
It will take a miracle bigger than the state of Texas for these two feuding families to survive the holidays!
Opposites might attract…
The Brennans and the Gallaghers put aside their one-hundred-year feud every Tuesday for their weekly poker game. This week, the stakes are sky-high. Goaded to recklessness, Declan Brennan bets one thousand dollars that he can woo the next woman to walk into the saloon. A minute later, fiery-haired Betsy Gallagher pushes through the doors. If Declan can tame this wild Gallagher, he’ll have earned every penny.
If they don’t kill each other first…
Betsy can outshoot anybody in Burnt Boot and loves ranching more than anything—until she falls for Declan. He’s fallen for her too. But when she discovers what sparked their courtship, Declan will need a Christmas miracle to save his hide—and his heart.
NY Times and USA Today Bestselling author and RITA Finalist, Carolyn Brown, has published more than seventy books. These days she is concentrating on her two loves: women’s fiction and contemporary cowboy romance. She and her husband, a retired English teacher, make their home in southern Oklahoma.
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Excerpt:
Even with all that, Betsy was so jealous of Angela that she could feel her soul turning neon green. It’s a wonder she didn’t glow with envy like an alien life force.
Angela wiped tears away with a soggy tissue. “It’s a boy, and I’m naming him Christian because he’s arriving during the Christmas season, and he’ll be too old to be baby Jesus next year, and I wanted him to grow up to be a preacher like my daddy and my brother, John, and now he’ll grow up to be a… Oh no…”
“What?” Betsy tensed. “Is it labor? Do I need to call Jody?”
Angela grabbed for more tissues. “No, it’s worse. Burnt Boot isn’t going to have Christmas. It’s an omen. Christian will grow up to be an outlaw and put shame on the Gallagher name.”
Betsy patted her on the arm and wished she had a shot of whiskey, but there wasn’t even a beer in Jody and Angela’s house. Angela abstained from anything that had a drop of liquor in it—she didn’t even have a slice of butter rum cake at the family holiday parties.
“It’ll be okay,” Betsy said. “It’s a season of miracles. Something could happen so that we’ll have Christmas.”
Angela’s blond hair covered her tear-streaked face when she bent forward, head in hands, and wept. “That would take more than a miracle. It would take magic the way the Brennans and the Gallaghers have both set their heels and refuse to give anything to the church for new Christmas decorations.”
“What about the other folks in town?” Betsy asked. “Those who aren’t part of this feud?”
“If they help out with the program, then the feudin’ folks won’t do business with them, so they’re between a rock and a hard place.” Angela lifted her head and threw a handful of soggy tissues in the trash. “I want a Christmas program at the church, and I want my son to be baby Jesus, and I know you can make it happen, Betsy Gallagher.”
Betsy’s emerald-green eyes widened. “I’m not a magician.”
Angela inhaled deeply, straightened her back, and crossed her hands over an enormous baby bump. “I’m depending on you, Betsy. If anyone in the whole state of Texas can put my Christian in that manger for the Christmas program, you can do it.”
“Come on, Angela, you know that Granny would disown me if I lifted a finger to make Christmas happen. You’ll have to be content with the Christmas tree lighting on Main Street,” Betsy said.
Angela held up a finger and sniffled. “No! I won’t be satisfied with that. I want my Christian to be wrapped in swaddling blankets in a manger, and I want the wise men and the shepherds to come and see him.” The finger shifted to point straight at Betsy. “And you are going to talk those two old women into letting it happen.”
Betsy flinched. “Granny will go up in flames if she hears you call her old.”
“I’m sick of this feud. It’s time to bury the hatchet or sign a treaty in blood or spit in their hands and shake like a couple of kids—whatever it takes to end this shit,” Angela said.
“You said a bad word,” Betsy whispered.
Tears started in earnest again. “That should”—hiccup—“tell you”—hiccup—“how much Christmas means to me?” A final hiccup.
Betsy patted her shoulder and handed her the box of tissues from the coffee table. “I’ll do what I can—I promise.”
Angela blew her nose loudly and hauled herself off the sofa. “Time to go to the bathroom again. All I do is cry and pee. It’s a wonder Jody stays with me.”
Betsy quickly pushed up out of the recliner and said, “I should be going anyway. It’s getting late.”
“I hear Jody driving up in the yard. He’ll be excited that you are going to fix it so that we have a Christmas program.” Angela smiled brightly. “Why don’t you stick around and have a glass of tea with us?”
Betsy needed something a hell of a lot stronger than sweet tea at that moment. She really, really needed a strong shot of good old Irish whiskey, preferably Jameson or at least a beer. “No thanks. I really do have to go, but you hang in there, girl. It’s only another week until that baby boy will be here. Then, according to what I hear, you won’t get any sleep for a few months.”
Jody pushed through the door, letting a blast of cold November air into the small house. Angela gave him a kiss. “Hello, darlin’. I want to hear about the meeting with Granny Naomi right after I get out of the bathroom. Bundle up, Betsy.”
Jody held Betsy’s coat for her and whispered, “Whatever you did, thank you. She seems happy.”
Betsy raised a shoulder. “I’m supposed to work miracles in the middle of the worst feud war we’ve ever had. She wants me to talk Granny into having a Christmas program at the church. Might as well try to talk a donkey into changing into Cinderella.”
“If anyone can do it, you can.” Jody grinned.
Betsy took those words out the door and into the cold night air, wishing she was as mean and tough as everyone thought. Tanner, her favorite cousin, said she was ninety percent bluff and ten percent mean.
“But you don’t want to test that mean part.” He’d laughed when she’d given him the old stink eye.
Light shined out from the living room window, giving the brown grass a yellow glow, like the star that used to hang from the ceiling at the Christmas program. What Angela wanted was totally impossible, but Betsy would try to think of something. Maybe they could have a Gallagher program at the Christmas dinner, complete with a nativity scene.
She sat in her hot-pink pickup truck for several minutes. Through the window, she saw Jody hug Angela. Their body language said they were in love, and the way Jody’s hands went to Angela’s rounded tummy left no doubt that they couldn’t wait for their son to be born.
Betsy blinked the tears back, refusing to let them fall. She wouldn’t cry for what she couldn’t have. She finally started the engine but sat for several more minutes, staring at the house. It was one of a dozen small log cabin homes scattered about Wild Horse Ranch. They’d been built one by one as first homes for the newly wedded Gallagher couples. When the couple got on their feet and had enough money to buy their own land, they then moved to another section of the ever-growing ranch. She wanted a house like they had. She didn’t care if she never had a big spread of her own. She’d be content to work for her granny and live in a little log cabin the rest of her life if she could have a husband who loved her as much as Jody loved Angela.
BLP REVIEW ~ Tracy
A great end to the series. I must admit I wasn’t a huge fan of Betsy after the nonsense with her and Tanner in Leah & Rhett’s book but she definitely grew on me whilst reading A Cowboy Christmas Miracle. I liked that she thought for herself, wasn’t afraid to stand up for what she believed in and wanted to be more than just a clone of her granny, running the Wild Horse ranch.
I really liked Declan, for someone with the reputation he had as a real womaniser, he was actually quite a sweetie – a really smokin’ hot sweetie at that – despite his crazy bet with Tanner!! He’d had a crush of Betsy for years but due to the fact that she was a Gallagher and he was a Brennan he never considered approaching her. A modern day Romeo to her Juliet!!
Besty and Declan were really great together. They had a lot in common – especially when it came to cray-cray grandmothers who just wouldn’t let the feud between the two families go.
Gods, if we thought things were bad before when it came to Naomi & Mavis and they’re never ending one-upmanship, could you just imagine how bad they were bound to get if anyone found out that our lead characters were secretly working together to pull off a Christmas miracle, never mond that they might be interested in each other!!! I loved how they came up with novel ways to keep in touch and how they decided to ‘suspend’ the feud when they were away from Burnt Boot.
I loved that the rest of the families & friends were involved throughout the story and I really liked Kyle, the new preacher – he felt like Betsy and Declan’s secret weapon!! 😉
Funny, sassy, sweet and extremely hot when these two got together, A Cowboy Christmas Miracle was a really entertaining, well written read. I can’t wait to see what Carolyn brings out next!!!
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About the Author 
NY Times and USA Today Bestselling author and RITA Finalist, Carolyn Brown, has published more than seventy books. She has written historical single title, historical series, contemporary series and single titles, cowboy romance and women’s fiction. These days she is concentrating on her two loves: romantic women’s fiction and cowboy romance. She and her husband, a retired English teacher, make their home in southern Oklahoma. They have three grown children and enough grandchildren to keep them young. When she’s not writing she likes to spend time in her back yard with her two cats, Boots Randolph Terminator Outlaw and Chester Fat Boy, and watch them protect the yard from vicious critters like field mice, crickets and spiders.
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NEW RELEASE SPOTLIGHT ~ Roadside Assistance (Body Shop Bad Boys #2) by Marie Harte
Underneath the axle grease and tats
He’s a gentleman
Foley Sanders figured he’ll always be content with a life of cars and casual hookups. Until a run-in with Cyn, a statuesque firecracker with a hate-on for men, leaves him bewitched and intrigued—much to her annoyance.
Maybe Cynthia Nichols was a little hard on Foley, that muscular, tattooed, super-hot mechanic next door. But she’s tired of feeling defensive about her size and has sworn off men. She’s got a new job, new life, perfect plan. Foley has trouble written all over him—no way is she going to fall for his charms.
Foley might look like a bad idea, but underneath, he’s all gentleman. Too bad Cyn’s not buying it. What’s a bad boy to do when the goddess of his dreams won’t give him the time of day?
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GET TO KNOW THE BODY SHOP BAD BOYS
Johnny, Foley, Sam, and Lou are the rough and tumble mechanics of Webster’s Garage.
These reformed bad boys are used to living fast, but it’s the women in their lives who take them from zero to sixty in a heartbeat.
Excerpt:
She and Nina worked together to help a few more customers. Funny how the rushes came and went with no discernible pattern, not counting the morning craziness.
“Have I mentioned I’m thinking about becoming the neighborhood cat lady?” she said to Nina just as the bell over the front door chimed again. She finished cleaning up after the last order, not looking at Nina. But her friend’s silence made her curious.
A glance at Nina’s smirk had her groaning inside, because trouble was sure to follow.
“Hey, Foley,” Nina said with way too much pleasure. “How are you?”
“Lookin’ good, Nina. How’s Matt?”
“He’s great. And if he’s smart, he’s done all his Christmas shopping by now. Not like last year’s fiasco.”
The deep chuckle went straight through Cyn…and had her bristling at her reaction.
“I, ah, I’m here to apologize to your friend, actually.”
Cyn took that as her cue to turn around. Hell. Foley Sanders looked even better under the bright lights of the shop. She tried to pretend she wasn’t studying him as intently as he studied her.
But damn, where the hell had he come from? He topped her own grand six feet by a few inches, and even despite his jacket, she couldn’t detect any body fat on the man. He had broad shoulders and—as she vividly recalled from eyeballing him at the garage—huge, tattooed arms.
Short black hair framed a handsome face. Rough and manly. He had a five-o’clock shadow, and that rumpled hair look that on her would have appeared messy but on him shouted “sexy.” Bright gray eyes watched her with caution, showing he had a measure of intelligence under all that muscle and ink.
She steeled herself not to get taken in by so much manliness. Neighborhood cat lady, remember? Besides, his cars are littering the parking lot! Men suck. He’s probably only into skinny chicks anyway.
That made her feel better, imagining his intolerance for real women.
But real women can be any size. Plump or stick thin, fat or slender, tall or… Shut up, Cyn! This isn’t time for a life lesson. Deal with Conan and love your gender later.
“Yes?” she said with an icy politeness that had Nina trying to bite back a grin.
“I’m sorry. I think we got off on the wrong foot.” He smiled, but she wasn’t buying the charm. “I’m Foley Sanders.” He held out a hand.
Nina stepped on her foot, and she jerked toward Foley before realizing it. She glared at Nina before reminding herself to be a professional. She’d dealt with overwhelming men before and would no doubt again. So she held out her hand and pasted a smile on her face. “Cyn Nichols.”
He blinked. “You’re related to Matt?”
“Yes, is there a problem with that?” She didn’t even have to pretend to be tired of that question. Matt was so handsome and in shape and popular. What tree had they shaken her out of?
“Not at all.” His grin broadened. “I just hadn’t realized Matt had such a hot sister.”
She blinked. “What?”
“Before I somehow piss you off again, I’m here to get the cars,” he said in a hurry. “Dale, our new guy, must have parked them in the wrong spot. Apparently our agreement was with the sewing place next door, not your parking lot. And I’m sorry I never answered your calls. I misplaced my phone again.” He gave her a disarming smile that—damn it—worked.
She felt herself blushing. “Oh. Sorry if I came on a little strong.” A little? Even she knew she’d been over-the-top bitchy. “It’s just that we had some complaints with customers, and I couldn’t understand why no one had gotten back to me.” She still didn’t understand that. What professional these days ever parted with his or her cell phone? But he’d made amends, so she could forgive him the lapse. “So you’ll move the cars?”
He held up a ring of tagged keys. “Right away, Ms. Nichols.”
“How do you know I’m not a Mrs.?” she asked, annoyed with the assumption. Was she so unattractive and ungainly she couldn’t land a man?
He had the gall to wink and nodded to her hand. “No ring. Trust me. First thing I checked…after that dress. That’s a really, really nice dress you’re wearing.” He let out a small sigh and left before she could think of something to say.
Like I’m sorry for being so damn defensive about my size. It’s not you, it’s me. But then, it’s guys like you who made me this way. Well, you and my mother.
Thoughts of her mother scared her straight. She’d told herself time and time again to stop letting Ella Nichols dictate her feelings about herself. She just needed to follow her own advice.
“Ahem.”
Knowing she had to face the inevitable, she looked at the smug woman standing next to her and groaned at Nina’s wide smile.
“You and Foley Sanders. Oh my God, will you guys have the best-looking, tallest babies or what?”
BLP REVIEW – Tracy
Roadside Assistance is the second book in the Body Shop Bad Boys series, which is a spin off from the McCauley Brothers series that is a favourite of mine by Marie Harte.
Foley Sanders was quite a surprise…. We knew from the previous book that the guys at the garage all have a bit of a past, they are all big, tattooed and badass….. but Foley had a really sweet, caring and protective side to him which we saw often, particularly when he was dealing with his mum.
When he encounters Cyn, who is so unlike the females he usually dates, he is instantly intrigued and more than a little interested in the feisty female even though she seems to have a serious dislike of him.
Cynthia Nichols had pretty much had it with guys.. They can’t accept her as she is and no matter how things start out with them they end up trying to change her. Between this and the hurtful comments from her mother about her size and how she’ll never get or keep a man if she doesn’t pay more attention to how she looks Cyn has all but given up on men – until she runs into Foley.
This story was about acceptance and love. Not only being cared for as you are by someone else but about loving and accepting yourself and being open to the fact that someone can be and is interested in you for ALL of you, and that they honestly do like what they see, even when you can’t.
I loved how determined Foley was when it came to pursuing Cyn and how he made her feel. He was all in, regardless of how much she may have doubted his feelings. Don’t get me wrong, he was an idiot at points and had the typical ‘foot in mouth’ issue (especially on their 1st date) but he was a straight talking guy and had the best intentions when it came to the women in his life that he cared for. There’s so much more to Mr Sanders than how he looks, the guy is smart, funny, loyal, hard working, sexy and a hot as hell dirty talker (always a plus in my book… 😉 )
Cyn was sarcastic and funny and gave as good as she got – the banter between her and Foley was great fun to read. As the story unfolded we found out just how aware of her looks she was and why she felt as she did. Once or twice I wanted to give her a bit of a shake and make her stop looking back and comparing Foley to previous boyfriends, she needed to believe in him more than she did – but given her history, I did get why she had doubts and an occasional lack of self confidence. When she eventually got her head on straight I was cheering her on for finally getting with the program – and not just when it came to her relationship.
We once again met up with the other guys at Webster’s garage – always a lot of fun – and we found out a little more about Sam Hamilton (Foley’s best friend, and the main man in the next book in the series) that gave us a little insight into his character and why he did some of the things he did in the book (I could have happily smacked him at one stage) and we caught up with Del and Mike (from What to do with a Bad Boy, McCauley Brothers #4) and how things were going with them.
We were also introduced to the Donnigan’s (now, there’s another great series – let me tell you that’s gonna be as good a read as the Body Shop Bad Boys, but I digress)
I loved Nina, Cynthia’s sister in law, but gods, when it came to her mother….. aahhhh, that woman! As you’d expect from Marie’s books, the supporting characters were likeable and interesting and I now want to know some of their stories more than ever.
Roadside Assistance was a really great read and another hit in the Body Shop Bad Boys series. I’m really loving these books and can’t wait for more in the series!!
About the Author
Caffeine addict, boy referee, and romance aficionado, MARIE HARTE is a confessed bibliophile and devotee of action movies. Whether hiking in Central Oregon, biking around town, or hanging at the local tea shop, she’s constantly plotting to give everyone a happily ever after. Visit her website and fall in love.
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SPOTLIGHT TOUR ~ Her Rogue Alpha (X-Ops, #5) by Paige Tyler
Title: Her Rogue Alpha
Series: X-Ops, #5
Author: Paige Tyler
Pubdate: September 6th 2016
ISBN: 9781492625896
HE’LL DO ANYTHING FOR HER
Former Special Forces Lieutenant Jayson Harmon can’t believe that his war scars don’t matter to beautiful feline shifter Layla Halliwell. Why would she saddle herself with a broken man?
But Layla knows that Jayson is a hero to the core, and that only she can heal his wounded soul. So when Jayson is deployed on another deadly mission, no way is Layla staying behind…
Paige Tyler is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of sexy, romantic fiction. Paige writes books about hunky alpha males and the kick-butt heroines they fall in love with. She lives with her very own military hero (a.k.a. her husband) and their adorable dog on the beautiful Florida coast. Visit www.paigetylertheauthor.com.
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This September, Paige Tyler releases Her Rogue Alpha, the fifth in her heart-pounding X-Ops series. To celebrate, we have a letter from the hero and heroine to share with you. We also have the first THREE chapters to read FOR FREE!
Letter from Jayson Harmon, hero of HER ROGUE ALPHA.
Hi everyone. I’m Jayson Harmon, and you’ll be seeing me in the next X-OPS book called HER ROGUE ALPHA. Paige asked me to tell you about my background and how I feel about my girlfriend, Layla Halliwell. I usually don’t like talking about personal stuff like this, but Paige threatened to go back into the book and give me a pink Mohawk and size six boots if I didn’t, so here goes.
I used to be in the Army Special Forces, but I got injured during a mission in Afghanistan and ended up taking a butt load of shrapnel in my back. The Army did their best to patch me up, but it didn’t help. I still got medically separated from the Army. I have to admit; I’m not dealing with that decision very well. The Army was going to be my life, and now that’s all gone. Worse, the guys on my SF A-team are still out there, fighting and risking their lives without me. That stings. Now I’m left figuring where my so-called life goes from here—if anywhere. I have a job running the weapon ranges at the Department of Covert Operations, but watching field agents train to go on missions I’ll never be able to is hard as hell. It wasn’t the life I pictured having, but I’m trying to make the best of it.
I also have an amazing girlfriend, though I can’t for the life of me figure out why she’s interested in broken man like me. Feline shifter Layla Halliwell is total perfection. She’s beautiful, talented, and has everything going for her. She’s even getting ready to go out on her first field mission as a DCO agent. Thinking about her being out there, in danger, without me there to watch her back is driving me crazy with worry.
Now the deputy director of the DCO wants me to take an experimental drug that will not only heal my injuries, but give me shifter abilities. Problem is, people who were given previous versions of that same serum either died or ended up like wild, uncontrollable animals. I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was terrified to take the stuff, but at the same time, I’m afraid not to take it.
Is it crazy for someone like me—as screwed up as I am—to want to be whole enough to be able to be Layla’s partner in every way possible, including in the field on missions? I’d do anything for a chance like that.
Letter from Layla Halliwell, heroine of HER ROGUE ALPHA.
Hi! It feels kind of strange to write an open letter to people I don’t know, disclosing personal—not to mention classified—information. But Paige is nodding at me, so I guess this is okay.
I went to college to become a psychologist because I’ve always wanted help people. After graduation, I got a job at the Department of Covert Operations so I could work with shifters like me. I didn’t take the job intending to ever become a field agent, but now that I’m in training to become on, I’m excited at the prospect. I’ll still help people and I won’t have to sit behind a desk to do it.
My boyfriend, Jayson Harmon, on the other hand, isn’t as thrilled about my career change. He’s exactly what I’m looking for in a man and I really care about him. He’s strong (physically and mentally), heroic, charming, romantic, and yeah, he’s attractive as hell, too! Problem is, he seems determined to push me away. I know he’s still dealing with injuries he sustained in Afghanistan and I want to help him get through this rough time in his life, but I have to admit, it’s wearing me down. I don’t know how much more I can handle. How can I help him when he refuses that help? This mission I’m about to head out on might be the last straw. I’m not sure if our relationship can handle something like that. And if that isn’t enough, the deputy director of the DCO is trying to talk Jayson into taking an experimental drug he claims will not only heal Jayson, but also give him shifter abilities. I’ve tried to talk him out of it, but I don’t think I was very successful. I’m scared he’s going to be something stupid and extreme while I’m away on this mission, and I won’t be there to stop him…
You can find out more about Layla and Jayson’s story in Paige Tyler’s latest release, Her Rogue Alpha.
Download the first THREE chapters here!
BLP REVIEW ~ Tracy
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About the Author
Paige Tyler is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of sexy, romantic suspense and paranormal romance. She and her very own military hero (also known as her husband) live on the beautiful Florida coast with their adorable fur baby (also known as their dog). Paige graduated with a degree in education, but decided to pursue her passion and write books about hunky alpha males and the kick-butt heroines who fall in love with them.
She is represented by Bob Mecoy.
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BOOK SPOTLIGHT ~ Waking The Bear (Shifter Wars #1) by Kerry Adrienne
WAKING THE BEAR
Series: Shifter Wars
by Kerry Adrienne
A shifter war is brewing and Griff must decide between the clan he has to protect and the woman destined to be his mate.
WAKING THE BEAR is a tale where passion and danger lurk in the heart of the forest.
This novel is perfect for fans of The Bear King’s Captive by Milly Taiden and Reinike by Becca Fanning.
Praise for Waking the Bear:
“Waking the Bear is a quick shifter read that will have you coming back for more from this author, I know I will.”
Night Owl Reads
I’m rating Waking the Bear a 5 out of 5 stars.”
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: August 1, 2016*
Publisher: Carina Press
Synopsis:
Sexy shifter passion is awakened when two unlikely lovers are challenged by secrets, danger and an unstoppable need to claim one’s mate…
For human Amy Francis, the secluded cabin in Deep Creek is the haven she needs to map out a fresh new start. She never expected her heart to be reawakened by a distraction like Griff Martin, commanding yet gentle, too ferociously sensual to ignore. It’s clear that patrolling the forest is more than a job to Griff—it’s a means of survival. But what Amy doesn’t realize is she’s reawakened the beast within him.
Griff’s dormant hunger is stirred by this intoxicating woman…and threatened by the secret she must never learn. Duty-bound to defend his bear clan against an avenging pride of lion shifters, Griff’s entire world is upended when he meets Amy. His animal need to claim his mate has taken hold, but that very desire could seal her fate as an unwitting pawn in battle.
Now, as a shifter war looms, Griff must decide between letting Amy go or following his most carnal instincts. To have her would change his life…but risk everything he knows and was born to protect.
*Previously published, newly revised by author
Order Now: Amazon | Carina Press | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | ARe
Excerpt from WAKING THE BEAR:
“Griff, this is Amy Francis, your new tenant.” Jill rushed over to Amy and took her by the elbow to lead her to the small kitchenette table. “I’ve already done the background check and credit check, and she’s prepared to pay two months up front. Just gotta sign the papers.”
As Amy passed the ranger he peered down at her, his hazel eyes locking on to her, examining. Warm, and soul-deep, they stared. Not judging or comparing, he truly seemed to be studying her without any pretense. She gazed back, her mouth partly open, her heart rate accelerating from being so close she could smell his woodsy scent. He wore a full beard, the kind of scraggly brown mess of wiry hair usually reserved for reality TV. His hair matched, curling to his shoulders in a tangle of waves.
Something about his eyes warmed her to her core.
“Nice to meet you, Ms. Francis,” his deep voice almost growled. He set her scarf on the table.
What had he been doing with her scarf? She’d left it on the table. She grabbed it then wrapped it around her neck, hoping to conceal her flush. “Nice to meet you, too.”
She was instantly at ease with him, despite his gruff appearance and her body’s reaction to his maleness. He had that Grizzly Adams kind of comfort in his posture. Big, but safe. Trustworthy. At ease with himself and his environment. The kind of guy that made you feel like everything was going to be okay.
Not the kind of guy she was used to being around.
“Glad you find my cabin to your satisfaction.” He continued to stare, but it wasn’t threatening, it was curious.
“It’s a lovely place, and the view is amazing, but you know that. Exactly what I was looking for, though. So thank you for agreeing to rent it to me.” She could tell she was babbling but her mouth wouldn’t stop. Something about the sexy ranger made her slap happy. She squeezed her scarf, trying to keep quiet and slow her thoughts down. Amy time. Amy time. Not looking for a man. Shouldn’t even be looking at a man, especially not a man like this. Whew, is it hot in here? She fanned herself.
“I have some questions.” He eyed her for a few seconds before continuing, his gaze cutting into her. “This is my family’s cabin and it’s very special to me. I don’t rent to just anyone that shows up. Even someone Jill has picked and background checked.” He nodded toward Jill. “Even though I’ve known her a long time.”
“Her background check was clear.” Jill nodded.
“I hope you’ll consider me.” Amy shuffled her feet. Her heart thudded and her palms dampened. She hadn’t considered that he might not rent to her. If he didn’t, she’d have to stay in a hotel till she found another place, and that wouldn’t be easy.
He ran his fingertips across the chairback and paused before speaking. “This cabin is a special place to me.”
She followed his fingers, watching them slide across the smooth wood. “I can see how it would be.” Her mouth went dry. His long fingers and large hands exuded the same power his height did. No wonder Jill seemed to have a crush on him. Who wouldn’t? She cleared her throat. “What questions do you have? I’m prepaying.”
“I’ve got the contract,” Jill interjected. “Ready to go.”
“No, it’s not that.” He ran his fingers through his beard. “I need to know how you’ll use the cabin.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t damage anything. I’m an artist and I draw and paint landscapes and florals. Mostly watercolor, and almost always outdoors. That’s why I thought about coming to the mountains of New York. It’s so beautiful here.” Damn, she was still babbling. What was it about the big man that both put her off guard and comforted her at the same time? Her body hummed with excitement being in his presence and she’d left her cool in the cabin bedroom. She had to get control. She was in New York to get away from people, not meet new ones. Especially not sexy new ones.
He had facial hair and she had a rule. No facial hair. That was simple enough, right? No facial hair meant zero facial hair. Well, except eyebrows. She’d dated a guy in college who shaved off his eyebrows as part of his Goth sensibilities. Best guy ever at quoting Whitman. No facial hair except eyebrows had been a rule since that guy was out of her life.
“I see. Well, I’m glad to hear you aren’t painting with harsh chemicals.” He yawned and rubbed his eyes. He gripped the back of the kitchen chair and scooted it across the wooden floor to its place under the table. “Sorry. I’m having a hard time staying awake.”
“Sorry.” Her face heated again. “I’m trying to tell you how lovely I think this area is, especially compared to the city.”
“The mountains are picturesque, especially in springtime. I think you’ll be an ideal tenant, long as you can follow the rules.”
His gaze lingered, and she crossed her arms over her chest. “Th-thank you,” she stammered at his close inspection. “I can follow the rules.” The landlord won’t be too bad to look at, either. Not a bonus I was expecting. Looking is okay.
“One thing you need to know. Take it to heart, please. The mountains are very dangerous. Especially if you don’t know what you’re doing or where you’re going. You don’t want to go traipsing around these trails by yourself. You could get lost pretty easily and it could be days before someone finds you. There are things—”
“I don’t think you need to worry about Ms. Francis,” Jill spoke up. “She’ll be fine.” She fiddled with her notebook, flipping pages quickly. “She’s from Atlanta.”
Griff reared up to his full height and stared at the Realtor. “This is not Atlanta.”
BLP REVIEW – Tracy
Aahhhh, my fave genre….. PNR!!!
Waking the Bear was a good read. The first book in the Shifter Wars series nicely introduced and set up the storyline for what is sure to be one helluva battle between the Deep Creek bears and the Sen Pal lions.
I really liked Griff, yeah he was a real alpha male but he was a good guy, cared about the forest and the bears in his clan and knew pretty much from the get go that Amy was his fated mate but given everything that was going on in and around Deep Creek and the Caves of Whispers I could totally understand why he felt he had to pull himself back from thinking about a future with her.
Amy, looking to have some ‘me time’ for a couple of months having ended a horrible relationship with an overly possessive and controlling guy ends up renting a cabin from Griff in the Deep Creek National Park .
I liked that Amy was cautious about starting anything serious with Griff. She hadn’t been single for long at all and, even though she could fell the intense draw between them, she wasn’t sure where she would be in 2 months. The last thing she feels she needs is to get involved with her overprotective landlord – gods help her when she finds out that she’s actually his mate!!!
With a real nasty villain holding onto a deep seated grudge, some action and drama with a few twist and a whole lot of heat, Waking the Bear was an enjoyable read and I’m looking forward to reading more in this series from Kerry Adrienne.
I rate WtB 3.75*
Other Books By Kerry Adrienne:
Storm Damaged:
In a world where humans don’t know mermaids exist, Mari leaves her home in the ocean to escape her mother, her betrothed, and her tribe’s expectations in order to make a go of independence on land. Chase, former Navy diver and self-appointed curmudgeon-who-isn’t-worthy-of-love, lost his brother in a freak diving accident and now fears the ocean he once loved.
Mari’s a mermaid with a plan. She has to get the sexy bartender, Chase, to remain on the island so she can get him into her bed. Trouble is, he’s afraid of the water and there’s a hurricane coming. But with Mari’s betrothed on the rampage over a centuries-old vendetta, the storm isn’t the worst thing they’ll have to face.
Storm Damaged is available now: Amazon | Kobo | ARe
The Wolf and the Butterfly:
Nika, the pack’s newest scout, wants nothing more than to please his Alpha. When he discovers a beautiful, and very sick, stranger in the woods outside Los Lobos, he finds himself torn between his duty and his hormones. The stranger carries a deadly wolf virus—one that hasn’t been seen in the Black Hills in ages.
Kimi, a Lakota Sioux, is dying. She’s transported herself forward in time, hoping to find the cure to the illness that’s stricken her tribe. Her only chance for survival is to trust Nika, even if she’s not used to having help.
To find the cure and save the pack, Nika and Kimi must travel to a time long ago—before the Lakota populated the Black Hills—a time filled with dangers neither can imagine. Their growing attraction may save them, or kill them both.
The Wolf and the Butterfly is available now: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | ARe
About Kerry Adrienne:
Repped by the fabulous Marisa Corvisiero with the Corvisiero Literary Agency.
Kerry loves history and spends large amounts of time wondering about people who lived and walked on Earth in the past. She’s a mom to three daughters, six cats, and various small animals. Her husband says she’s a marketer’s dream, as she often believes everything she hears—at least initially. Her shoe horde will attest to her fine shopping skills.
In addition to writing, Kerry loves to sew (costumes and cosplay, especially), draw, paint, make chainmail, and play guitar.
Her new love is her Mini Cooper Convertible, Sheldon, and they have already gone on many adventures. They travel to as many concerts as they can–especially Green Day and Marilyn Manson.
You can visit her much-neglected costuming blog here: Maybe she’ll have time to update it soon.
Connect with Kerry: Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon
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