Hot in Hellcat Canyon by Julie Anne Long
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Stays mostly in the shallow end, no risk story telling. Hero reminded me a little bit of SEP's Bobby Tom Denton, with charm and flirt. Heroine had abusive past but pretty much glossed over except for mention and device to create ending foil to HEA.
Small town cuteness, drama, and series baiting secondary characters.
Relationship skirted depth but couple had some fun back and forth.
Solid contemporary romance apple pie, good but not terribly exciting.
View all my reviews
Romance book talk mainly, all genres reviews (Sept. - Oct. horror pops up more), and recipes
Friday, March 31, 2017
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
April New Releases
New Releases I'm reviewing and excited to read
4th
Title: My
One True Highlander
Series:
No Ordinary Hero #2
Author:
Suzanne Enoch
Format:
Paperback & eBook, 319pgs
Published: April
4, 2017 by St. Martin’s
ASIN: B01LX5LOTJ
Rugged highlander
Graeme has one thing on his mind—take a stand against the horrible Englishman
Lattimer and he will be rewarded with enough money to be set for life. But when
his reckless younger brothers take it one step too far and kidnaps a young woman
on her way to see Lattimer, Graeme has to intervene. He cannot send the lady
back without his kin getting in trouble. And when a damsel this beautiful is
dropped into your lap, it’s hard to let her go...
Marjorie should be terrified she’s been captured by highland scoundrels, but it’s hard to live in terror when your captor is a devilishly handsome and sinfully tempting as Graeme is. She cannot stay by his side forever—no matter how her heart may pound at the thought—but Graeme seems to have other plans. This wicked highlander is out to seduce her and doesn’t plan to stop until she’s in his arms...forever...
Marjorie should be terrified she’s been captured by highland scoundrels, but it’s hard to live in terror when your captor is a devilishly handsome and sinfully tempting as Graeme is. She cannot stay by his side forever—no matter how her heart may pound at the thought—but Graeme seems to have other plans. This wicked highlander is out to seduce her and doesn’t plan to stop until she’s in his arms...forever...
Title:
Wild Ride
Series: Black Knights
Inc #9
Author:
Julie Ann Walker
Format:
Paperback & eBook, 384pgs
Published: April
4, 2017 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
ASIN: B01GST2X1A
The hero
we've all been waiting for...
Ethan "Ozzie" Sykes
Former Navy SEAL
Underground operator for Black Knights Inc., the covert government defense firm disguised as a custom motorcycle shop.
In a black-on-black international mission that went seriously sideways, Ozzie was badly injured—now he's stuck at BKI headquarters in Chicago, champing at the bit to get out into the field again. To his disgust, he's tasked with distracting Chicago Tribune ace reporter Samantha Tate, who's been trying to dig up the dirt on BKI for years. Turns out Samantha's beauty, intelligence and sense of humor are a seriously big distraction, and Ozzie's losing his desire to keep her at bay.
Ozzie's tired of hiding, and Samantha may be the best-and worst—person to share his secrets with...
Ethan "Ozzie" Sykes
Former Navy SEAL
Underground operator for Black Knights Inc., the covert government defense firm disguised as a custom motorcycle shop.
In a black-on-black international mission that went seriously sideways, Ozzie was badly injured—now he's stuck at BKI headquarters in Chicago, champing at the bit to get out into the field again. To his disgust, he's tasked with distracting Chicago Tribune ace reporter Samantha Tate, who's been trying to dig up the dirt on BKI for years. Turns out Samantha's beauty, intelligence and sense of humor are a seriously big distraction, and Ozzie's losing his desire to keep her at bay.
Ozzie's tired of hiding, and Samantha may be the best-and worst—person to share his secrets with...
Title: Fighting
for Love
Series: Boston Love #2
Author:
Kelly Elliott
Format:
eBook, 360 pgs
Published: Aril
4, 2017 by Loveswept
ASIN: B01I85PPSU
A larger-than-life firefighter inspires a career-driven woman
to live in the moment—and trust in the power of love—in this flirty, emotional
novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Searching for Harmony.
Finn Ward has two passions: being a firefighter and being single. Although his parents are constantly nagging him to settle down, Finn just wants to enjoy himself while he’s young. Then, at a union meeting, he meets a gorgeous lawyer with a dazzling smile—and suddenly, settling down doesn’t sound so bad.
Rory Adams is fresh out of law school and looking to make a name for herself at her mother’s firm. She doesn’t have time for silly games anymore. But when she catches the eye of a dashing fireman who makes her body tingle from across the room, something instantly ignites between them. The only problem? Her father is Finn’s boss.
Their relationship turns both of their lives upside-down. Rory tames Finn’s wild ways, while he shows her that life can’t be all work and no play. But it’ll take some serious determination to keep their love secret—and real courage to admit the truth.
Finn Ward has two passions: being a firefighter and being single. Although his parents are constantly nagging him to settle down, Finn just wants to enjoy himself while he’s young. Then, at a union meeting, he meets a gorgeous lawyer with a dazzling smile—and suddenly, settling down doesn’t sound so bad.
Rory Adams is fresh out of law school and looking to make a name for herself at her mother’s firm. She doesn’t have time for silly games anymore. But when she catches the eye of a dashing fireman who makes her body tingle from across the room, something instantly ignites between them. The only problem? Her father is Finn’s boss.
Their relationship turns both of their lives upside-down. Rory tames Finn’s wild ways, while he shows her that life can’t be all work and no play. But it’ll take some serious determination to keep their love secret—and real courage to admit the truth.
18th
Title:
The Thing About Love
Author:
Julie James
Format:
Paperback & eBook, 384pgs
Published: April
18, 2017 by Berkley
ASIN: B016VRFTOC
Two undercover FBI agents can hide who they are from everyone
but each other in the latest novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Suddenly One Summer.
FBI agents Jessica Harlow and John Shepherd have a past. The former lawyer and cocky Army ranger clashed during their training at Quantico, gladly going their separate ways after graduating from the Academy. Six years later, the last thing either of them expects is to run into each other again–assigned to work as partners in a high-profile undercover sting.
For both of them, being paired with a former rival couldn’t come at a worse time. Recently divorced from a Hollywood producer and looking for a fresh start, Jessica is eager to prove herself at her new field office. And John is just one case away from his dream assignment to the FBI’s elite Hostage Rescue Team. In order to nail a corrupt Florida politician, they’ll have to find a way to work as a team–a task that becomes even trickier when they’re forced to hole up at a romantic, beachfront resort as part of the investigation. Suddenly, the heat behind their nonstop sparring threatens to make the job a whole lot more complicated. . .
FBI agents Jessica Harlow and John Shepherd have a past. The former lawyer and cocky Army ranger clashed during their training at Quantico, gladly going their separate ways after graduating from the Academy. Six years later, the last thing either of them expects is to run into each other again–assigned to work as partners in a high-profile undercover sting.
For both of them, being paired with a former rival couldn’t come at a worse time. Recently divorced from a Hollywood producer and looking for a fresh start, Jessica is eager to prove herself at her new field office. And John is just one case away from his dream assignment to the FBI’s elite Hostage Rescue Team. In order to nail a corrupt Florida politician, they’ll have to find a way to work as a team–a task that becomes even trickier when they’re forced to hole up at a romantic, beachfront resort as part of the investigation. Suddenly, the heat behind their nonstop sparring threatens to make the job a whole lot more complicated. . .
25th
Title: Hard-Hearted
Highlander
Series:
Highland Grooms #3
Author:
Julia London
Format:
Paperback & eBook, 384 pgs
Published: April
25, 2017 by HQN
ASIN: B01MG7KX4A
A indomitable governess...a brooding Highlander...a forbidden
affair...
An ill-fated elopement cost English-born governess Bernadette Kent her reputation, her fickle lover and any chance of a future match. She has nothing left to fear—not even the bitter, dangerously handsome Scot due to marry her young charge. Naive wallflower Avaline is terrified to wed Rabbie Mackenzie, but if he sends her home, she will be ruined. Bernadette's solution: convince Rabbie to get Avaline to cry off while ignoring her own traitorous attraction to him.
A forced engagement to an Englishwoman is a hard pill for any Scot to swallow. It's even worse when the fiancee in question is a delicate, foolish young miss unlike her spirited, quick-witted governess. Sparring with Bernadette brings passion and light back to Rabbie's life after the failed Jacobite uprising. His clan's future depends upon his match to another, but how can any Highlander forsake a love that stirs his heart and soul?
An ill-fated elopement cost English-born governess Bernadette Kent her reputation, her fickle lover and any chance of a future match. She has nothing left to fear—not even the bitter, dangerously handsome Scot due to marry her young charge. Naive wallflower Avaline is terrified to wed Rabbie Mackenzie, but if he sends her home, she will be ruined. Bernadette's solution: convince Rabbie to get Avaline to cry off while ignoring her own traitorous attraction to him.
A forced engagement to an Englishwoman is a hard pill for any Scot to swallow. It's even worse when the fiancee in question is a delicate, foolish young miss unlike her spirited, quick-witted governess. Sparring with Bernadette brings passion and light back to Rabbie's life after the failed Jacobite uprising. His clan's future depends upon his match to another, but how can any Highlander forsake a love that stirs his heart and soul?
Title: No
Easy Target
Author:
Irish Johansen
Format:
Paperback & eBook, 352pgs
Published: April
25, 2017 by St. Martin’s Press
ASIN: B01LX3ACC7
When an enemy from her past threatens to return, Margaret
Douglas must go on the run. But danger is in hot pursuit, and Margaret finds
herself matching wits with a man who refuses to be stopped. Turning from the
hunted to the hunter, Margaret must use everything she has to not only survive,
but defeat evil and prove she’s No Easy Target in this high-octane thriller.
Title: Six
Impossible Things
Series: Rhymes With
Love #6
Author:
Elizabeth Boyle
Format:
Paperback & eBook, 384pgs
Published: April
25, 2016 by Avon
ASIN: B00OP06EV0
In the sixth novel of
the enchanting Rhymes with Love series from New York Times bestselling author
Elizabeth Boyle, a nobleman falls in love with a beautiful spy he must protect
Lord Rimswell is a man of honor and absolutes. If he says something is impossible, it is. Yet his life of right and wrong is turned upside down when he finds himself in a compromising situation with the most unyielding, yet maddeningly beautiful, woman in London. If only he had not given in to the irresistible temptation to kiss her. Now he must marry her.
Miss Roselie Stratton is the very definition of impossible—headstrong, outspoken and carrying a reticule of secrets that could ruin more than her reputation. Kissing Brody is hardly the most ruinous thing Roselie has ever done as a secret agent for the Home Office…nor will she let a marriage of convenience stop her from continuing her work. Little does Roselie realize that she has underestimated Brody’s resolve to keep her safe—for he has hopelessly fallen in love with her and is determined to do the impossible by stealing her heart in return.
Lord Rimswell is a man of honor and absolutes. If he says something is impossible, it is. Yet his life of right and wrong is turned upside down when he finds himself in a compromising situation with the most unyielding, yet maddeningly beautiful, woman in London. If only he had not given in to the irresistible temptation to kiss her. Now he must marry her.
Miss Roselie Stratton is the very definition of impossible—headstrong, outspoken and carrying a reticule of secrets that could ruin more than her reputation. Kissing Brody is hardly the most ruinous thing Roselie has ever done as a secret agent for the Home Office…nor will she let a marriage of convenience stop her from continuing her work. Little does Roselie realize that she has underestimated Brody’s resolve to keep her safe—for he has hopelessly fallen in love with her and is determined to do the impossible by stealing her heart in return.
Any ones I missed? I have a feeling some J.R. Ward fans think I did ;)
What April new releases are you looking forward to?
March Read Roundup
I finished off so many series (some I decided to give up on) thanks to my themed month. Those selection books will be denoted with ***book cover***. I'm really happy I do this, it helps to vary my sub-genres and whittle down my tbr books that I would normally keep shoving to the side. April is my Singles month, which basically consists of me blindly pulling out two books (one contemporary, one historical) from my closet boxes. They are ones that I sorted out as not being part of a series but these boxes are kind of old, before I had Goodreads, so it usually turns out they are in a series :/ March seemed to fly by but I'm ready to get some April spring reading in!
*Click on book cover to be taken to my review or if I didn't write one, the book's Goodreads page
*Click on book cover to be taken to my review or if I didn't write one, the book's Goodreads page
5 stars
4.5 stars
4 stars
3.5 stars
3 stars
2.5 stars
2 stars
1 star
A total of 14 books read for the month with 9 my monthly theme. I see 7 of the 9 were 2 stars (ok rating) which is kind of disappointing but The Dutch Girl by Donna Thorlund managed to save my month. Can't wait to see what surprising books April has in store for me :)
How many books did you all get to read this month, any favorites?
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
Giveaway and Happy Book Birthday to Holding Fire by April Hunt!
Excerpt:
Elle stared, transfixed by the clock behind the airport’s claims
counter. Each snap of the second-hand took about five years off her life. Being
a few weeks shy of her thirtieth birthday, she estimated she had roughly
ten-and-a-half seconds until the coroner needed to be called. Twelve, max, with
a little bit of luck, but her luck seemed to be in short supply.
Her normal patience was at an all-time low, sucked into a black
hole right along with her personal hygiene and her luggage. Twenty total hours
in a plane, plus an unscheduled six-hour stop for mechanical repairs, was to
blame for the first. The latter two were entirely the fault of the airline.
With a deep sigh, Elle looked around the large, open space. People
milled through the airport, bulky suitcases bouncing behind them as they
scrambled to their destinations, while others procured blankets and pillows and
looked to be settling in for the duration of the night.
On her left, two children tackled the legs of a tall, slender
soldier dressed in desert fatigues. Laughing, the woman bent, spreading kisses
over every surface of their little cheeks.
Elle ignored the faint ache in her chest and watched the happy
family walk away. As they disappeared around the corner, a new sensation
whittled its way in—a tingle; the one
she’d felt the instant she and Shay unloaded from the gate—the one that came
with the ardent focus of someone’s attention. It took root in the pit of her
stomach and didn’t let go.
When she’d sensed it earlier, she blamed the paranoia on lack of
sleep and inhumane travel hours. But the prickle of awareness came back
tenfold, turning her head until she noticed the man leaning against the far
wall, reading a newspaper.
Elle did a double take. It wasn’t Trey. It couldn’t be. She’d left
him back in Thailand without so much as her last name, much less her travel
itinerary, yet the longer she stared at stranger across the room, the faster
her heart galloped.
Worn blue jeans encased his thighs perfectly. Not tight. Not baggy.
No doubt if he turned around, the rear would look as impressive as the front.
Both his face and his hair were disappointedly half-hidden by a baseball cap
and sunglasses, but he had the same strongly chiseled jaw and sexy blond scruff
that made her want to throw every razor known to man straight into the garbage.
Though he never looked away from his paper, the wall lounger’s lips
twitched, almost as if sensing her visual appraisal. That smirk. Those lips.
The stretch of a long-sleeved T over a chest wide enough to land an airplane
on. Elle nearly collapsed into an X-rated memory of how lips nearly identical
to those of this stranger had pleasurably ripped away all her sensibilities only
a scant few days ago.
Standing in the middle of a busy airport definitely wasn’t the time
to relive her night with Trey. When her turn came up at the counter, she gave
herself a mental slap and focused on giving the attendant the information the
airline needed to reconnect her with her suitcase. And then with a Have a nice day and her single carry-on,
Elle shuffled away to wait for Shay to finish in the bathroom.
She searched her purse for her cell phone and bounced off the chest
of another traveler.
“Oh, my God. I’m so
sorry.” She reflexively reached out to steady to victim.
“Shut it,” a low voice
snarled.
Oh, hell no. Exhaustion
mixed with an insane need to shower off the last day and a half made her head
swivel to Mr. Attitude. She looked up. And up. Whoa. He was ridiculously tall.
If she’d had a little bit more sleep she’d probably be able to talk
herself out of confronting someone so freaking huge, but she’d had a middle
seat, and both Shay and the man to her left had been armrest hogs. Elle was
eight hours past polite.
She narrowed her eyes, wishing her glare would make him squirm. “It
was an accident. I said I was sorry. There’s no need to be a jerk about it.”
“Actually, there is.” Mr. Attitude clamped a hand around her upper
arm and squeezed.
“Ow. Hey, watch it!” She
tugged, and he tightened his hold.
He leaned his large body way past her personal boundaries. That was
when she saw the scar, half-hidden behind his sunglasses. It looked angrier up
close, the skin around his eye socket puckered straight up to his hairline.
Cold dread licked up Elle’s spine.
It was Alley Man.
“I told you to shut. The fuck. Up.” He emphasized each word and
punctuated it with a sharp jab to her ribs. When she attempted to twist away,
the poke came again—this time with the cool sensation of metal.
A gun.
Alley Man stepped closer, careful to keep it hidden from view. “If
you so much as twitch, sputter, or look at anyone cross-eyed, I won’t hesitate
to make this very bad for you. Do you fucking understand me?”
Elle re-swallowed the bile that had risen to her throat. “I should
probably warn you that I don’t have any money. Well, I have about ten dollars’
worth of Thai baht, but that’s about
it. And maybe a fuzzy breath mint.”
Tightening his grip, he steered them away from anyone who would
remotely care what was happening. And let’s face it: This was one of the
busiest airports in the country. No one was going to notice one travel-ravaged
blonde, even if she stripped down to her cotton undies and streaked half naked
through the terminal.
Alley Man kept the gun pressed firmly between her ribs as he
directed them to the exit. “I don’t want your money, Miss Monroe.”
Elle’s heart went from a steady thunder to an apocalyptic roar. He knew her name. He knew she’d be at this airport. On this day. On this flight.
The only thing Elle knew was that she was really—and
completely—screwed.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: HOLDING FIRE
Author: April Hunt
Series: Alpha Security, #2
On Sale: March 28, 2017
Publisher: Forever
Mass Market: $7.99 USD
eBook: $5.99 USD
The second book in April Hunt's romantic
suspense series, perfect for fans of Julie Ann Walker, Lora Leigh, and Rebecca
Zanetti.
Alpha Security operative Trey Hanson is ready
to settle down. When he meets a gorgeous blonde in a bar, and the connection
between them is off the charts, he thinks he's finally found the one. But after
their night together ends in a hail of gunfire and she disappears in the chaos,
Trey's reasons for tracking her down are personal . . . until he learns she's
his next assignment.
Elle Monroe never expected to see Trey again.
The night they shared was incredible, but the last thing she's looking for is a
relationship. Now that it's clear she's being targeted, though, she has no
choice but to trust this man she barely knows with her life. And Trey's not
just determined to keep her safe . . . he's determined to win her heart.
BUY THE BOOK HERE
THE ALPHA SECURITY SERIES
HEATED PURSUIT, #1 My Review
HOLDING FIRE, #2
HARD JUSTICE, #3
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
April blames her incurable chocolate addiction
on growing up in rural Pennsylvania, way too close to America's chocolate
capital, Hershey. She now lives in Virginia with her college sweetheart
husband, two young children, and a cat who thinks she's a human-dog hybrid. On
those rare occasions she's not donning the cape of her children's personal chauffer,
April's either planning, plotting, or writing about her next alpha hero and the
woman he never knew he needed, but now can't live without.
FOLLOW FOREVER ONLINE
Giveaway and Happy Book Birthday to Crazy For You by Rachel Lacey
Title: CRAZY FOR YOU
Author: Rachel Lacey
Series: Risking It All, #2
On Sale: March 28, 2017
Publisher: Forever
Mass Market: $7.99 USD
eBook: $6.99 USD
The second book in Rachel Lacey's irresistible
contemporary romance series about three foster brothers who return to their
hometown to open an extreme sports business, perfect for fans of Kristan
Higgins, Rachel Gibson, and Jill Shalvis!
SHE'S TAKING A WALK ON HIS WILD SIDE
Emma Rush can't remember a time when she didn't
have a thing for Ryan Blake. Haven's resident bad boy is just so freakin'
hot-with tattoos, a motorcycle, and enough rough-around-the-edges sexiness to
melt all her self-control. Now that Emma's over being a "good girl,"
she needs a little help being naughty . . . and she knows just where to start.
Before Emma's brother enlisted in the military,
he made Ryan promise that he would protect her from everything--including
himself. When her brother doesn't come home, Ryan needs to turn his screwed-up
life around to honor his pledge. But he knows he's still not the right kind of
guy for someone as sweet as Emma. Only he can't stop wanting to be with her.
Wanting her. Falling in love with a good girl may be the craziest risk this bad
boy can take . . .
BUY THE BOOK HERE
Excerpt:
Ryan Blake held a bottle of Maker’s 46 in his right hand, a tumbler in his left. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed the bottle.
It flipped once before landing
back in his grip, top down, ready to pour.He filled the tumbler,
set a napkin on the bar, and placed it in front
of the brunette on the other side. “Bourbon, neat.”
“You’re good.” She
picked up the glass and tipped it in his direction.
“Not what I was expecting
in this little bar in the
middle of nowhere.”
“I try,” he said with the friendly, semi-flirtatious smile he always used on single ladies seated at his bar. She wasn’t wrong. The usual clientele at The Drunken Bear had little
use for fancy liquor or
bartending tricks, but the trio in
front of him were tourists looking for a good time, and he’d see that they
had one.
“You were just about to tell me about this tattoo.”
She placed her hand on his biceps,
fingering the eagle he’d had inked there after he flew this coop ten years ago.
“That’s right.” He
shifted backward so that her hand slipped to the countertop. He encouraged flirting—it led to better tips and made the night more interesting—but this chick was getting
a bit too friendly,
considering the diamond
band on her left ring finger.
“This one was for spreading my wings. Thought
I’d fly far away, and yet, here I am back in Haven.”
“You’re from here then?” one of the other women asked, shamelessly ogling the tattoos on his arms while giving him an eyeful
of cleavage.
“Born and raised.
Moved around a lot, but I can’t seem to shake this place. It’s in my blood.” Once upon a time, he’d been hell bent on getting as far away from this sleepy North Carolina mountain
town as possible. Spent the better part of a decade drifting from place to place, taking with him only
what he could carry on his bike. Funny how things came full circle. He picked up an empty pilsner
glass another patron had
left behind.
“Ryan?”
He turned at the familiar
voice to find Emma Rush stand- ing there,
one hip propped
against the bar, and he damn near dropped the glass. Emma’s trademark ponytail and jog- ging pants were nowhere
in sight. Tonight, her blond hair cascaded over her shoulders in shiny waves, her blue eyes sparkled at him from behind a tasteful—yet sexy—amount of makeup, and her red top was tucked into a pair of jeans that fit her like a glove. He swallowed
past the sudden dry- ness in his throat. “Hey, Em. What brings you out tonight?” “Girls’
night,” she said with a smile,
gesturing to her friend Mandy, who stood by the door talking on her cell phone.
Emma slid onto an empty barstool. “I wasn’t
expect-
ing to see you.”
“I’m still here a few nights a week.” His new business
venture—Off-the-Grid Adventures, an
extreme outdoor
sporting facility
he’d opened with his good buddies Ethan Hunter and Mark Dalton
six months ago—was finally
bring- ing in enough income
that he soon wouldn’t need to
bartend to pay his rent. “What can I
get you?”
“Untapped
amber ale, please.” She watched
while he filled
a frosted mug. “Thanks.”
“My pleasure.”
She lifted the mug to her lips and took a long drink.
“Damn, that’s good,” she said with a happy sigh, setting
it on the bar.
“Always been more of a pilsner
guy myself.” He tried
not to stare as she licked froth from her upper lip.
“Hi, Ryan.”
Mandy stepped up to the bar beside Emma. He leaned back, tearing
his gaze from Emma’s lips. “Hi.”
Emma turned to her friend with a smile. “Ready to get a
table?”
“Yep,” Mandy said. “Have fun, ladies.”
“We will.” With a wave, Emma walked off after her friend, and damn, those
jeans cupped her ass like perfection. No doubt about it, Emma looked hot tonight. And his thoughts
were way out of line. He’d promised
Derek he’d look out for his
little sister, not drool all over her.
“Your girlfriend?” the brunette at the bar asked, eyebrows
raised as she sipped her bourbon.
Ryan cleared his throat and dragged his eyes away from Emma. “Just a friend.”
“Mm-hmm.” The brunette gave him a look that said she didn’t believe
him.
He turned to check on his patrons at the other end of the bar, but his attention was once again diverted
by Emma— or rather, the preppy-looking businessman she was talking to now. Ryan couldn’t
make out their conversation, but the
guy wore an irritatingly smug smile, and Emma didn’t look at all happy to have
bumped into him.
Ryan moved down the bar, chatting
and pouring drinks
as he went, all the while keeping an eye on Emma. She was deep in conversation with the businessman, although
the guy seemed to be doing most of the talking. Emma smiled and nodded. She glanced up and met Ryan’s gaze, rolling her eyes at him with a smile while her companion
kept on talk- ing.
Next thing Ryan knew, the guy had slung an arm around her shoulders, gesturing wildly with his free hand while
Emma subtly edged away from him.
Ryan was around the bar and across the room before
he’d even realized what he was doing.
“Everything okay over here?”
Emma shrugged out from under the guy’s arm, but her smile wasn’t nearly as warm or genuine
as the one she’d given Ryan a few moments ago. “Yep.”
“We’re fine,” Obnoxious Dude answered. “Who are you?”
“Ryan Blake.
And you are?” “Tristan Farrell.”
“Tristan and I are . . . old friends,”
Emma said.
By old friends,
Ryan assumed she meant former flames.
And since she clearly wasn’t enjoying his company, it was time for Tristan to leave.
Ryan crossed his arms over his chest and stared him down, waiting
for the loser to get the message. It didn’t take long.
Tristan backed up,
his eyes darting toward the front door. “Well, it was great seeing you, Emma. Take
care.”
“You, too.” She
watched as Tristan
left the bar then turned to Ryan. “Forgot how much I dislike that guy.”
“He hassling you?”
Her eyes rounded. “No! Just talking
my ear off, really.
Sorry to distract you from your duties at the bar.”
“No problem.”
Keeping an eye on his patrons was
part of the job, although he was probably feeling
more protective of Emma right now than the situation called for.
“Right, well . . . looks like my table is ready.” She waved over
her shoulder as she walked away.
Ryan headed back behind the bar, turning his attention to the trio of tourists and their mostly
empty cocktails. “Any of you
ladies ready for a fresh drink?”
As it
turned out, they all were. While he mixed their cock- tails, he allowed his gaze to roam over to
Emma’s table. She was
deep in
conversation with her friends Gabby, Carly, and Mandy, all of
whom he
knew, none of whom made his
gut tighten the way
it did
every time he looked at Emma tonight.
He had no idea where this had come from, but he had to get over it, pronto.
Emma wasn’t interested in a player like him, and even if she were, she was off limits. He’d made a promise
to her brother when Derek went off to war, and Ryan had no intention of breaking it.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rachel Lacey is a contemporary romance author
and semi-reformed travel junkie. She's been climbed by a monkey on a mountain
in Japan, gone scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef, and camped out overnight
in New York City for a chance to be an extra in a movie. These days, the
majority of her adventures take place on the pages of the books she writes. She
lives in warm and sunny North Carolina with her husband, son, and a variety of
rescue pets.
THE RISKING IT ALL SERIES
ROCK WITH YOU, #.5
RUN TO YOU, #1
CRAZY FOR YOU, #2
CAN’T FORGET YOU, #3
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