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Albert Camus

Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.

Thursday, July 12, 2018

Two scheming matchmakers are at it again… Summer Bride (Holiday Brides #2) by Shanna Hatfield

"I adored this book! It's a delightful & touching story.[...] Summer Bride is an engaging, feel good romance. Great characters
& romance makes it the perfect summer read.
A MUST READ FOR EVERYONE!!!" - Doni, Goodreads

Description:

Release Date: July 12th, 2018

Two scheming matchmakers are at it again…

Sage Presley loves her job as the receptionist at Golden Skies Retirement Village in Holiday, Oregon. She enjoys the residents and their wisdom, even if some of them are more than a little quirky. Determined to ignore the matchmaking efforts of two women at the retirement home, Sage’s sole focus is on raising her brother, Shane. In spite of her best efforts, she can’t help but notice the hunky electrician who continually comes to her rescue. Grateful for the opportunity to open his own electrical business, Justin James moves to Holiday full of plans and dreams. He’s quickly drawn in by the close-knit community, but finds the lack of suitable single women disturbing. Despite himself, his attention is captured by the receptionist at the retirement home where he’s working on a big job. Yet, he can’t begin to understand why two matchmaking octogenarians are intent on forcing him together with the woman he’s convinced is married. 

A sweet romance sprinkled with humor, hope, and the meaning of real love, Summer Bride will warm the hearts of readers while bringing them a smile.

EXCERPT

Matilda held out a bright purple gift bag with orange polka-dotted tissue paper stuffed inside.

Justin took the bag, removed the tissue, and pulled out a T-shirt. He unfolded it and held it up, unable to hide a grin. “I work with strippers” was emblazoned across the front along with a silhouette of a pair of wire strippers.
“This is great. Thank you so much,” he said, smiling at the two women.
“Try it on! We want to see how it looks,” Matilda said in an insistent tone.

Ruth placed a hand on Matilda’s arm, as though she could restrain her friend’s demands and ideas. “Now, Tilly, let’s leave the boy alone and let him get back to work.”

“Not just yet. It’s only half as fun if he doesn’t model the shirt for us,” Matilda said, her vermilion-coated lips rolling into a pout.

Justin wondered how an octogenarian could appear so girlish, but Matilda Dale had it down to an art.

Rather than disappoint her, he unbuttoned his work shirt and slipped it off then pulled the T-shirt on over his head.

“How’s it look?” he asked, wondering if Matilda had purposely ordered a size too small or if it had been an accident. The shirt clung to every muscle and outlined every line and ridge of his form.

“Mmm. I’m not sure. Let’s get another opinion.” Matilda grabbed his hand and tugged him out of the construction area. He went along, not wanting to disrupt her fun. However, he hoped no one saw him parading around in the T-shirt that was outrageously tight.

Ruth strolled along on his other side. “We really should let him get back to work, Tilly.”

“Oh, bosh. This will just take a moment.” Matilda said, leading him down the hallway to the lobby.

Justin wanted to pull away and turn around when he saw Sage sitting at the receptionist’s desk talking to someone on the telephone. She wore her hair twisted away from her face and secured at the back of her head in a tidy knot, although a few wisps escaped and danced around her cheeks. She looked lovely in a pink top that brought out roses in her cheeks and accented the soft shade of her lips. Lips that looked so inviting and entirely too kissable.

Annoyed with himself for noticing every detail about her appearance, he freed himself from Matilda’s grasp. “I don’t want to bother her. She’s busy working and I should be, too.”

“Fiddle-faddle,” Matilda said, giving him a push forward. “See, she just hung up the phone.”

Justin started to argue, but Matilda gave him another push and waved a hand at Sage. “Sage, darling, we need your opinion.”

Sage glanced up from the note she was writing then did a double take. Her amazing green eyes widened in shock as she gaped at him. Slowly, a smile lifted the corners of her mouth into an amused smile.

“What kind of opinion, Matilda?” Sage asked, leaning back in her desk chair. Her gaze lifted and Justin felt the impact when it collided with his. Something magnetic and strong arced between them, like electricity dancing between two points of contact.

“We bought this shirt for Justin as a thank you for his help the night of your accident. What do you think? Does it fit him okay?” Matilda asked. The brazen old woman ran her hand across the width of his chest then had the audacity to wink at him.

About the author: 
USA Today Bestselling Author Shanna Hatfield writes character-driven romances with relatable heroes and heroines. Her historical westerns have been described as “reminiscent of the era captured by Bonanza and The Virginian” while her contemporary works have been called “laugh-out-loud funny, and a little heart-pumping sexy without being explicit in any way.”

Convinced everyone deserves a happy ending, this hopeless romantic is out to make it happen one story at a time. When she isn’t writing or indulging in chocolate (dark and decadent, please), Shanna hangs out with her husband, lovingly known as Captain Cavedweller.

Shanna is a member of Western Writers of America, Women Writing the West, Romance Writers of America, Sweet Romance Reads, Cowboy Kisses, and Pioneer Hearts.

1 comment:

Shanna Hatfield said...

Thank you so much for sharing Summer Bride! I greatly appreciate it!