Description:
Published: June 27th, 2018
Cover Designer: T.E. Black Designs
While this is book 3, it can be read as a standalone.
When she was a little girl, Michaela Snow dreamed of a life full of love and adventure, but not all dreams come true. As a widow raising her niece, Lauren, she doesn’t have time to think about what could have been, and she certainly will not allow herself to think about a certain taekwondo instructor with mesmerizing hazel eyes. Meeting Evan was never part of the plan, and now she can’t seem to get rid of him. She doesn’t want him there, however, the more he’s around, the more she finds herself reluctantly trusting him.
Evan Gibson loves his life and his job, but something is missing. After watching his friends find partners to share their lives with, he wants the same thing for himself. One night stands no longer hold the same appeal they did and so far, no woman has been able to measure up to his ideal…until Michaela.
Complications arise, threatening everything. Life is about to change. Will it tear them apart or push them together?
Staking a claim doesn’t always mean forever.
EXCERPT
Michaela
My grandmother was my hero. If I took after anyone in my family, it was her. She was outspoken, lived her life the way she saw fit, and didn’t take crap from anyone. I loved her. Taking a deep breath, I released it slowly and said, “Lauren just doesn’t seem to be settling in. She doesn’t get along with the kids at school, she doesn’t trust me, and she always has her bag packed like she thinks I’m going to get rid of her.”
“She’s a kid who has been through a lot. You have too.”
“My ‘a lot’ and her ‘a lot’ are very different,” I countered.
“Is it?” she asked cryptically with a tiny laugh. Sometimes I hated how she turned things around on me.
I looked around me, afraid someone would overhear our conversation, but with her on the phone and me in my cubicle away from most others, I had a small level of privacy, and the two others on my team were across the aisle and out of earshot. “Grandma, it is.”
“I don’t think so. Both of you experienced loss. You bounced back…sort of, and with time she will learn the same.”
“What do you mean by ‘sort of?’”
“Well, dear, you haven’t exactly moved on with your life completely.”
“It’s only been four years.”
“Yes, dear.”
“That’s not much time.”
“I know.”
“You haven’t started dating again. Or have you?”
“Michaela, my life and your life are different. Your grandfather was the love of my life, and no one will ever replace him. Plus, I didn’t lose him until I was an old woman. We had a long and happy life together.”
“Maybe Thomas was the love of my life and no one else will ever compare,” I challenged.
“Keep telling yourself that, but if that were truly the case, you wouldn’t have brought up this teacher the last couple of times I’ve talked to you.”
“I was just telling you that out of everyone Lauren has contact with, he seems to be able to reach her.”
“I think I need to meet this man for myself. When does Lauren have class next?”
“Tomorrow, but you don’t need to come—”
“Perfect! Swing by and pick me up from my house before you take her to class.”
“Grandma, I don’t think sabum—”
“Nonsense. And don’t think I haven’t noticed that you never call him by his name. You are trying to pretend you aren’t interested, but I can hear it in your voice that you are.”
“Grandma,” I growled in warning. Fat lotta good that would do me though. When she got an idea in her head, there was no dissuading her.
I heard her giggle. “Yes, dear?”
“Nothing,” I finally conceded.
“I really must be going. I’m supposed to have lunch with Agnes today. We are going to try and set her up with the new widower at the club.” She hung up and my line went dead. I almost felt sorry for Agnes.
It appeared that tomorrow my world would come crashing down because my grandmother was a force to be reckoned with.
About the author:
Maria Vickers currently lives in St. Louis, MO with her pug, Spencer Tracy. She has always had a passion for writing and after she became disabled in 2010, she decided to use writing as her escape. She believes that life is about what you make of it. You have to live it to the fullest no matter the circumstances.
From a young age, she has always loved books and even dreamed of being an author when she was younger. Growing up in the Navy, she used to weave tales for her siblings and her friends about anything and everything. And when she wasn't creating her own stories, she had a book in her hand. They transported her to another world. She hopes that with her books, her readers have the same experience and that they can relate to her characters.
Getting sick changed her life forever, but it also opened doors for her that she thought would always be out of reach.
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