"Yall, this book. This series. Yes, I’ve read all of the books but this one is my favorite by far. I’ve had a soft spot for Aiden since Rhett’s book and Ms. McCarty delivered a sweet, funny, emotional romance with a bit of suspense and golf (woot!). I was hooked from the first page and this is definitely a re-read for me. Oh yes, a must."- Harlie, Goodreads
Description:
Published: July 2018
Billionaire Aidan Cross longs to escape his life of celebrity and become a regular guy, if only for a brief time. His chance comes when his yacht breaks down near quaint Cypress Key, Florida—the site of his planned five-star golf resort. The golf resort no one in town wants.
Casey Stuart has given up her dream of escaping to the big city. She refuses to desert her uncle, even when he hires the new stranger in town to replace her at their golf course. Casey vows to steer clear of the stranger called Aidan and the danger their inescapable chemistry provokes. Aidan’s stay is temporary, and falling for him promises only heartbreak.
When Casey discovers Cypress Key’s mayor is making underhanded business deals, she ends up on the wrong side of the powerful autocrat. Aidan steps in to rescue her, but secrets from his past threaten to bogey their newfound relationship.
EXCERPT
Silhouetted in the outside light, Aidan looked big . . . and dangerous. Over six feet of pure sin. Too much for her to handle, and Casey officially changed her mind. Turned chicken.
He must have sensed her decision to flee, like a timber wolf senses his prey. “What are you doing down here?”
The deep sensual timbre of his voice vibrated along her spine and created tiny pinpoints of desire along its length. Her mouth had that dry feeling she got at the end of her tour spiel—dry and raspy.
“I-I was just going up to bed.”
“No, you weren’t.”
“I-I was too.”
His sexy chuckle rumbled in the darkness, and her skin prickled with anticipation. She couldn’t fool Aidan or herself.
Her brain taunted, Flight or fight, make up your mind.
She suddenly recalled her earlier decision following Janie’s call—to grant herself the month with Aidan. Better her have him than let Deedee steal him away. Casey had fully intended to enjoy every single minute of that month with Aidan before she’d chickened out just now. Instead of running away, she could enjoy the feel of those broad shoulders and muscled arms filling up the doorway right here. She could also allow herself a good long stare at that perfect butt when he turned, and maybe even enjoy that kissable mouth with those please-never-take-them-off-me lips.
“Stop looking at my mouth,” Aidan growled, “or you’ll be sorry.”
Her heart ended her dilemma. Go for it.
She could feel his unseen eyes track the movement of her chest, rising and falling with each hard-won breath. Time to force the issue for them both.
“K-Kiss me,” she whispered. Frozen in place, she left the outcome up to Aidan.
He didn’t move a muscle for three lifetime-lasting heartbeats.
One . . . he doesn’t want me.
Two . . . he’s still angry.
Three . . . my own fault.
She turned for the stairs, and he had her in two strides. His arms snaked around her waist and yanked her tight to his chest as his mouth took hers. This was no tender, make-up kiss. This was all need and desire and maybe a little punishment too.
She didn’t care. Her fingertips had gotten their Christmas wish, and Casey buried them in the silky hair at his collar, luxuriating in the soft texture and wanting to keep him close. Even that didn’t stop the tingling in her fingertips.
Aidan tongue teased at her lips, then swept inside and tangled against hers. She grew lightheaded as she reacquainted herself with the moist sweetness of his mouth, tinged with a hint of beer. A joyful reunion after the fear of separation, and she intended to savor every sexy nuance of flavor.
He growled low in his throat and turned his head to deepen the kiss. Casey just prayed he wouldn’t stop kissing her. Aidan had to care about her. He didn’t, couldn’t kiss another woman like this. Could he? An image of Deedee flashed behind her eyelids.
She pulled back, but her fingers refused to relinquish their hold on his soft curls.
“What was that for?” he asked, his voice rough with desire. “Not that I’m complaining, mind you.”
“I don’t want to be just friends,” she whispered.
“Thank God.”
About the author:
Petie spent a large part of her career working at Walt Disney World -- "The Most Magical Place on Earth" -- where she enjoyed working in the land of fairy tales by day and creating her own romantic fairy tales by night, including her new series, The Cinderella Romances. She eventually said good-bye to her "day" job to write her stories full-time. These days Petie spends her time writing sequels to her regency time travel series, Lords in Time, and her cozy-mystery-with-a-dash-of-romantic-suspense series, the Mystery Angel Romances.
Petie shares her home on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee with her horticulturist husband, a spoiled-rotten English Springer spaniel addicted to pimento-stuffed green olives, and a noisy Nanday conure named Sassy who made a cameo appearance in Angel to the Rescue.
I liked the excerpt, sounds like a good read.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fun one. And that title and cover are too cute.
ReplyDeleteThis is the first golf-themed cover I've seen. Very creative. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteCinderella thanks you, Mythical Books, for hosting our Silver Dagger Book Tour! Best always, Petie
ReplyDeleteI love the sound of this book. Cute cover too.
ReplyDeletesounds like an interesting take on the Cinderella story
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind comments--Rita, Laura, Christina, Stephanie, and Arf2D2--and for stopping by to check out our story!
ReplyDeleteHave a magical weekend,
Cinderella