Here we are in the heat of the summer. It feels like time slows down and most folks just want to put their feet up and ignore the high temperatures. And what better way to get through the long summer days than to read a book? Since we tend to go on vacations or spend less time running around this time of year, it’s a perfect time to catch up on your TBR pile.
When I was a kid, I remember long, lazy days of
summer when I would grab a blanket and a book, then find a shady spot in the
yard to read my favorite authors. As I got older, escaping to the beach for the
day, with a book, of course, was a highlight. Listening to the surf was
soothing and I could get lost in a story for hours.
Now I carve out any time I can to read the books
piled up beside my bed. Sometimes I can get quite a few books read, other times
it feels like I haven’t read in days. Which I hate. I need my reading fix
daily!
This summer I’m thrilled to have a new Heartwarming
release, The Lawman’s Secret Vow. This
is the first book in the Meet Me At the Altar series, featuring the Matthews
brothers, first introduced in The Bridal Bouquet. You’ll be meeting more of
them in the books to come, but in The Lawman’s Secret Vow, we begin the journey
with Dante, the youngest of the Matthews clan. The brothers are on a mission to
protect their widowed mother from the mysterious man she's dating and being the
well-meaning, but suspicious, sons they are, you can imagine the lengths
they’ll go to uncover the truth. As well as the trouble they’ll get into along
the way.
In the meantime, Dante and fellow detective, Eloise
Archer, are paired up to go undercover as a married couple. What could possibly
go wrong? I hope you enjoy Dante and Eloise’s journey!
The Lawman's Secret Vow
To have and to hold—
until the case is solved?
When an undercover assignment pairs laid-back
Florida detective Dante Matthews with by-the-book cop Eloise Archer, he knows
it won’t be easy. And not just because they’re competing for the same
promotion. Now they’re living together under the same roof, and it’s getting
harder to ignore his deepening feelings for “his wife.” Can he convince Eloise
to partner up—for life?
Excerpt:
When he went back to the squad room, he noticed
Ellie had returned.
Mug in hand, he sauntered to her desk. Leaned
against the side.
“Heard you’re going to the mud run.”
Her head jerked up. “What? Who told you that?”
“Mason. Said he heard it from some guy over at the
Palm Beach PD.”
“Well, he heard wrong. I have no intention of
running in mud.”
“Chicken?”
Her eyes narrowed at his challenge. “Sane.”
“It could be fun.”
“Says who?”
Her horrified look had him chuckling. “I’ll take
that as a definite no.”
“Because my first answer was unclear?”
“Touchy.”
She blinked at him. “Bleary-eyed.”
“Guess my wrangling you into reviewing my reports
is moot.”
“I can’t provide information I have no knowledge
of.”
“That’s right, we’ve never worked on a case
together.” He took a sip of the bitter coffee and grimaced. “Although that
might change. I’ll be around more often.”
“No new exciting cases?” she asked.
He shrugged. “Not for me. For a while, anyway.”
“So you hone your detective skills in the
meantime.”
“Saying I’m rusty?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never worked with you.”
She’d used his words against him. He held up his
mug and grinned.
“Not that I’ve asked not to be paired with you.”
“I never thought you did.”
She relaxed.
Add nice person to the mental list he’d
been making about her earlier.
“How come you never go out with your fellow
officers after work?” he asked, genuinely curious.
“I don’t know. I’m not a terribly social person.”
“Why is that?”
She shoved her glasses up her nose. A nervous tick
he’d noticed.
“Not good company, I guess.”
“Then why is a Palm Beach detective interested in
you?”
Her mouth gaped open. “Why would you think that?”
“Because he told Mason.”
“Good grief,” she muttered under her breath, then
met his gaze again. “I think work relationships are better left at work.”
Interesting. History there?
“Fair enough.”
The conversation lagged for a few moments. Ellie
glanced at a clock on the wall. “I need to head out.”
“You never answered me about dinner tonight. Two
colleagues discussing work over a burger and fries?”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea, but thank you.”
She stood, gathered her purse and slid the chair up
to the everything-in-its-place desk. He wanted to mess it up and see her
reaction. Instead, he moved aside as she passed, her light floral perfume
following in her wake.
Sounds great, Tara!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Liz!
DeleteWhat a beautiful cover! Congratulations on your release :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Cathy.
DeleteI'm half way through reading the book. Already know I'm going to love all of the brothers stories, too.
ReplyDeleteAwesome! Creating characters like these brothers make being a writer such a joy.
DeleteWhat a great excerpt! Love your way with dialogue. Congratulations on this release!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! I love writing dialogue.
DeleteI love the excerpt, too. And a delicious premise, to boot. Good luck on your release, Tara!
ReplyDeleteGreat excerpt. I'm always intrigued by books with Secret in the title.
ReplyDeleteMe too. Secrets are so captivating!
DeleteOh my. Sounds good. My desk is so not everything-in-it's-place LOL
ReplyDeleteI love incorporating real life into my stories. And as for the state of my desk, depends on where I am in the book I'm writing!
Delete