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Falling
for Her Enemy
Still Harbor #2
By: Victoria James
Releasing
November 9, 2015
Entangled Bliss
TOP 5 SCENES WITH MINI EXCERPTS
Scene 1:
I love highlighting the differences in the way men and women think...here's Hayden and Alex entering a discussion about weight...
“When you work in a bakery, you have to sneak in
every opportunity to burn off the inevitable calories that
you ingest during the day. I go in with the best of intentions,
but there’s always something to try or sample. I’ve put on
fifteen pounds in the last year,” she said. He glanced over at
her. She looked perfect to him. He didn’t see anything that
needed to come off. He knew he was treading on dangerous
ground though when it came to women and weight.
“You could always try running.”
Wrong answer. Her eyes were all squinty and evil as she
looked at him again. “I wasn’t asking for diet advice.”
Diet advice? “What? No, that’s not what—”
“No, it’s fine.”
None of it would ever be fine ever again if he didn’t get
this sorted out fast. “You’re misinterpreting what I meant.
You said you gained fifteen pounds. All I’m saying is that
running burns lots of calories and—”
“You think I need to burn lots of calories.”
He was so up shit’s creek. “No, I’m not saying that.”
“You did. You just said that.”
“We need to back this up. Right now. For the record, I
think you look normal.”
Scene 2:
I love writing kids in books. The things they say are priceless-and sometimes embarrassing! This is a scene with six-year old Cassy giving her mother unsolicited dating advice:
“Mommy, are you listening? The way Hayden smells?”
Hayden smelled delicious. Like cedar and winter. Or
maybe just hot man.
“Hello? Mommy?”
She smoothed Cassy’s hair away from her face and
kissed the top of her head. “I hadn’t really noticed.”
“Also, I think that it’s nice to have a new friend here
for the holidays. Maybe he could be your boyfriend, like
how Matt was Auntie Kate’s boyfriend. Now they’re getting
married. That would be nice for you, don’t you think?”
Alex’s mouth dropped open.
“It worked for Auntie Kate.”
“Well, it doesn’t just work like that. It’s special to have
something like Auntie Kate and Matt. It doesn’t just happen
with anyone.”
Cassy bolted off the sofa, hands on her hips and faced
her. “But it can happen. Why don’t you try smiling at him?”
Alex blinked. “I smile.”
Cassy rolled her eyes. “Only when he’s not looking! Try
smiling at him! Or maybe you can bake him some cookies
or something.”
This could almost be funny. Almost. Except that it was
really, really sad. Her six year old was giving her pick-up tips.
“Sweetie, it takes more than that. I can’t bribe someone with
cookies. You can’t fake love or buy love.”
“Well, then do more. Hayden’s so nice, and you’re cranky
to him.”
Ohmigod
Scene 3:
This is a scene,which ends with Cassy totally winning over Hayden's heart...but first, she lets him in on her future plans:
She nodded, looking wise beyond her years. “I don’t
think I ever want to get married. My friend Samantha always
likes playing married games with her Barbies. And she talks
about things like getting married. I think it’s stupid.”
“Getting married?”
“Yeah. I won’t have time for it.”
He didn’t want to smile and have her think he was making
fun of her. “So what will you spend your time doing?”
“I’m going to be a captain.”
He was proud. “That’s a fine profession.”
“Yup. Captain of my own pirate ship.”
He wasn’t going to burst out laughing. Hell, no. He was
going to pretend that wanting to be a captain of a pirate ship
was a perfectly acceptable profession. And if he remembered
correctly, there was a point in his life where he thought the
same. “Do you know where you’re going to sail?”
“Depends on what treasure maps we find.” She tossed
him a look that suggested she doubted his intellect; obviously
their route would be determined by the treasure map.
Scene 4:
This next scene is when Hayden is fully aware of how much he wants Alex, and is done denying his feelings...the only problem is that Alex is still in denial-mode!
“I missed you.”
She pressed another shape into the dough and
pretended she didn’t hear him. What did that mean even?
I missed you. They had seen each other every day when he
was busy charming the pants…or whatever…off the entire
household this week. He was sweet and funny and kind, and
she realized her daughter was right: he was perfect.
“I said I missed you.” He pried the snowman cookie
cutter from her hands, and she was forced to look up at him.
She gave him a serene, bland smile, except the second her
eyes locked with his, her heart started hammering. Then
there was the feel of his warm, large hand on her wrist.
Added to that was his delicious Hayden scent. So many
layers, much more than any parfait she’d ever put together.
“I don’t know what I’m supposed to say to that. I’ve
seen you every day this week.”
He took a step into her. “I miss being alone with you. I
miss hearing your voice, the way it sounds when it’s just the
two of us.”
Her jaw almost dropped, but she managed to keep it
shut. “It sounds normal, like a normal voice, whether it’s a
voice for a hundred or a voice for one.”
“You’re wrong,” he said, reaching out to gently brush
her cheekbone with his thumb. Good grief, what was he
doing? “First, it’s all screechy when you’re busy pretending
you don’t want to see me. Then, your voice gets all soft when
it’s just the two of us, and you’re not busy being pissed at
me.” He ended that with a slight smile, slight enough that if
she hadn’t been transfixed and staring at him close-up, she
might have missed it.
“You’re here to take away my daughter, remember? I’m
not interested in being your BFF.”
“BFF? I guess I’ll have to make myself clear.” He
grabbed her wrist and tugged her into him.
“Not a good move, Brooks. I don’t like being pulled
around like a rag doll.”
He gave some a grunting laugh that somehow managed
to sound sexy. She deserved a medal for self-control,
because she placed her hands on his chest. And just as she
remembered, it was hard under her fingertips, the beating
of his heart steady and strong. “Don’t even think about it.”
“But I do. I think about it. Every day. Every night. I
think about you and want you more. And I don’t know what
the hell we’re going to do about it, but I know you want it
too, Alex.”
She grabbed a fistful of his shirt, holding on because her
knees felt like mush. She was going to cave. She was going
to cave and choose instant gratification instead of long-term
self-preservation. “You’re going to break my heart,” Alex
whispered.
Scene #5:
This last scene is when they finally give in to their attraction:
“Alex,” he whispered, raising his hands to cup the sides
of her face. Her skin was soft and smooth beneath his hands.
He slowly lowered his head, his mouth brushing hers as
he spoke. “I want you. I want you, and I want Cassy to be
my little girl.” He knew it was dangerous voicing his real
feelings, but there was something about her that demanded
truth. He stepped closer to her, smiling as she tilted her head
back, her mouth parting slightly.
He reached out to sink his fingers in her hair, pull her
close, and kiss her.
BLURB:
She’s falling for the one man who
could destroy everything…
Alex McAllister always dreamed of a
life filled with the laughter and love of a family, but being abandoned at a
young age left her wary of letting anyone in. Now that she’s settled in Still
Harbor, Alex struggles between keeping her distance and the magnetic pull of
the handsome stranger who claims he’s the biological father of her adopted
daughter.
Hayden Brooks never wanted to be a
father. Long hours spent building his family’s real estate empire suits him
just fine. But when he discovers an ex put the baby he unknowingly fathered up
for adoption, his world crumbles. He tracks the child to Still Harbor with the
intention of bringing her home—and comes face to face with his daughter’s
stunning adoptive mother.
The paternity test is in. And
Hayden’s about to make the most shocking decision of his life, just in time for
Christmas…
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Victoria James is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling
author of contemporary romance.
Victoria always knew she wanted to be a writer and in grade five,
she penned her first story, bound it (with staples and a cardboard cover) and
did all the illustrations herself. Luckily, this book will never see the light
of day again.
In high school she fell in love with historical romance and then
contemporary romance. After graduating University with an English Literature
degree, Victoria pursued a degree in Interior Design and then opened her own
business. After her first child, Victoria knew it was time to fulfill her dream
of writing romantic fiction.
Victoria is a hopeless romantic who is living her dream, penning
happily-ever-after's for her characters in between managing kids and the family
business. Writing on a laptop in the middle of the country in a rambling old
Victorian house would be ideal, but she's quite content living in suburbia with
her husband, their two young children, and very bad cat.
Sign up for Victoria's Newsletter to stay up to date on upcoming
releases and exclusive giveaways, follow her blog for daily antics and insight
into her daily life, and get to know her on twitter and Facebook. She loves
hearing from readers!
Kissing Her Crush
Sugar City #2
By: Ophelia London
Releasing November 9, 2015
Entangled Bliss
CHARACTER PROFILES
Meet the Heroine
Name:
Natalie Holden
Hair
and eye and celeb doppelgänger: Blond, brown, Emily VanCamp from “Revenge”
Profession:
Food Chemist in the Sweets & Refreshments lab at Hershey Company
Home
base: Hershey, Pennsylvania… “The Sweetest Place on Earth”
Kudos:
After 3 years of hard work, was finally awarded grant money to begin her
research project on how a special Amazonian cocoa plant with its neighboring
root oils can help teenage depression. Yes, chocolate makes you happy!J
Diet:
Lots of salads so she can eat alllllll the chocolate!
Vices/Weaknesses:
1) short temper, 2) overly-protective of her little brother, 3) feeling like
she has to solve everyone else’s problems so she won’t have to face her
own—especially when it comes to relationships, 4) a guy who kisses that one spot
below her ear, over and over, 4) NOT bologna!
About
Natalie: creative, fiercely loyal, devoted to Hershey and all the sweet joys it
stands for—even when a superhot nutritionist (who she’s kind of been in love
with forever) fights her at every turn.
Meet the Hero
Name:
Luke Elliott
Profession:
Microbiologist and all-around super healthy dude
Hair
and eyes and celeb doppelgänger: Brown, blue, the guy who stars in “Arrow”—but taller
Home
base: Has lived in Philadelphia for 10 years, but born and raised in Hershey,
PA
Kudos:
Specialist in nutrition and headhunted by the National Institutes of Health to
run his own research team. Able to break safety bars with his bare hands in the
Tunnel of Love at Hersheypark, just so he can make out with Natalie
Workouts:
running the streets of Philly like Rocky. Followed by many, many, many
pushups—which makes Natalie quite happy
Vices/Weaknesses:
1) a big, caring heart that is still closed to relationships, 2) chocolate…especially
when offered by Natalie on the tip of her tongue, 4) a woman who lets him kiss
that one spot under her ear, over and over, 3) NOT bologna!
About
Luke: strong, patient until pushed, “King of the Bets,” willing to drive the
dusty Amish roads of Intercourse to track down the woman he loves.
Did these little character profiles whet your romance whistle? Now you have to know what happens when these two explosive personalities collide. When it comes to reading romance, are you more about opposites attract or a perfect match?
BLURB:
He’s sweet trouble...
Natalie Holden wants three things: To be the best chocolate chemist in Hershey, Pennsylvania, to prove her chocolate recipe can help teenage depression, and to get over gorgeous Luke Elliott, the guy she’s had a crush on since birth. Unfortunately, he’s the microbiologist set to debunk her chocolate study. And, of course, he looks more delicious than ever!
Luke Elliott is still bitter over his divorce. Work is his passion now, and landing a huge promotion is just what he needs. What he doesn’t need is a crackpot trying to prove that chocolate cures depression. The last thing he expects is for the crackpot to be Natalie Holden—his “what if” girl from high school—or that she’d still tempt the hell out of him.
They may not see eye-to-eye on her project, but they can’t deny the explosive chemistry that keeps pulling them together. Even when it risks their jobs and the very different futures they both want…
“Are
you mad?”
“I
must be, right? Freakin’ loco in the cabeza.”
“I
mean, are you angry about…what happened?”
“Oh.”
She bit her lip. Luke remembered how it had felt between his teeth, soft and
full. “Why did you do that, anyway?”
“Kiss
you?”
She
stared up at the sky. “Um, yeah.”
He
slid his hands in his pockets and shrugged. “It was an impulse. You were saying
that stuff about it not being a requirement and then the lights went out and, I
don’t know. It was entrapment. I had no choice.”
“You
always have a choice.”
Luke sighed. Of course, she was right. It
might’ve been an impulse, but he could’ve squelched it. Truth was, he’d been
dying to kiss her; he just hadn’t known it until that moment.
“Okay
then.” He looked her dead in the eyes. “Why did you kiss me back?”
She rubbed
her nose and glanced away. “Yeah, um, I claim entrapment, too.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
USA Today bestselling author Ophelia
London was born and raised among the redwood trees in beautiful northern
California. Once she was fully educated, she decided to settle in Florida, but
her car broke down in Texas and she’s lived in Dallas ever since. A cupcake and
treadmill aficionado (obviously those things are connected), she spends her
time watching arthouse movies and impossibly trashy TV, while living vicariously
through the characters she writes. Ophelia is the author of AIMEE & THE
HEARTTHROB; DEFINITELY, MAYBE IN LOVE; the Abby Road series; Perfect Kisses
series; Sugar City series; and the brand new cozy mystery CHALK LINES &
LIPSTICK. Visit all her books HERE, but don’t call when
The Vampire Diaries (or Dawson’s Creek) is on. #paceylove
