Showing posts sorted by date for query harlequin. Sort by relevance Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by date for query harlequin. Sort by relevance Show all posts

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Made the Grade: A Daddy for Baby Zoe? by Fiona Lowe | #BookReview @FionaLowe

- This is an ARC book - Available Formats through Amazon: Paperback - Pages: 256; Kindle Edition - File Size: 511 KB | Expected Release Date: January 1, 2016 | Publisher: Harlequin : Medical Romances | Obtained: NetGalley

"A Daddy for Baby Zoe?" by Fiona Lowe

Author's Book Description : A baby to bind them

Weeks away from giving birth, Dr. Meredith Dennison finds herself with no husband and few funds. Retreating to Shearwater Island, she just wants to hide from the world…until she meets her gorgeous, caring neighbor, multimillionaire Raf Camilleri.

Meredith is the last woman Raf should fall for. He's no more ready for her and newborn baby Zoe than Meredith is for him! But they so need his support, and their tender pull makes it impossible for Raf to stay away…

My Book Review : 3 out of 5 stars! Meredith (M) thought she had everything planned out and after years of waiting for her husband, to be ready she is now pregnant and about to be a mother. Yet, life isn’t as easy as she wished especially when married to an extreme adventure-seeker. Then when she gets the unexpected news that her husband died in an avalanche while on Australia’s Mount Feathertop, to say she was shocked would be an understatement. Therefore, she retreats to her and her husband’s vacation home to try to work through her grief and it is there that she meets Rafael (Raf) her neighbor who is still struggling through he own personal turmoil. Over the course of them getting to know and help one another, Meredith gives birth to Zoe who changes both Raf and Meredith’s lives for the better. Will Zoe be able to turn them into a family too?

Wow. This novel is more realistic then I was hoping for, yet it worked. As it was very believable. While I am happy with Meredith’s personal standards and how much she truly loved her husband, in the same breath it annoyed be to no end because of how great a guy Raf was and how she kept on putting him at a distance. Especially after you hear about Raf’s backstory I was surprised by how obtuse Meredith seemed by her actions and why Raf clung onto their relationship more/faster than she expected. It was because of how Meredith handles everything that it made it hard for me to enjoy this novel as much as I’d have liked. On the flip side though, it was because of Meredith’s actions that this novel feels more real and believable.

I recommend this to those looking for believable yet fictional contemporary “new parenthood” romance.

Purchase This Book Here :
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Amazon (Kindle) : Harlequin Medical Romance January 2016 - Box Set 1 of 2: A Daddy for Baby Zoe?\Her Playboy's Proposal\A Mother for His Adopted Son

Author's Novel Extras : ​A Daddy for Baby Zoe? - Overview & Excerpt

Ms. Lowe's Pinterest Board for A DADDY FOR BABY ZOE?

Book Teaser(s) :
'A Thousand and One Baby Names,' he said with a grin. 'This has to be the only occasion Dad's hoarder tendencies have come in handy.'
He sat back down against the bed end and opened the age-yellowed pages. 'Okay. Abby, Acacia, Ada, Adelaide, Africa, Aisha, Alberta, Amanda---'
She stared at him, gobsmacked. 'You're not seriously going to read out a thousand names?'
His finger paused on the page and he looked up with a slight frown on his face. 'You've got nine hours to come up with a name that both suits possum here and that you love or else she'll be named for you.'
'Put that way, I see your point.'
He winked at her and went back to reading. 'Amelia, Angela, Aphra, Ardith...'
She settled back against the pillows, letting his melodic voice rain names down upon her, waiting for the one that said, This one. ~ within Chapter 6

Book Preview(s) :

For more information on this book and/or any other books by Fiona, then please check out her Amazon Acct.

Friday, August 4, 2017

Disappointmentville: Lone Star Cowboy League: Multiple Blessings Series, Book 1 | #BookReview #LindaFord

- This is an ARC book - Available Formats through Amazon: Paperback - Pages: 288; Kindle Edition - File Size: 2564 KB | Expected Release Date: April 1, 2017 | Publisher: Harlequin : Love Inspired : Historical | Obtained: NetGalley

"The Rancher's Surprise Triplets" [Lone Star Cowboy League: Multiple Blessings Series, Book 1] by Linda Ford

Author's Book Description : Three Little Matchmakers

Rancher Bo Stillwater has no plans of becoming a husband or a father…but he can't turn away from the three babies he finds at the county fair. After leaving the abandoned triplets in the care of the doctor's daughter, Louisa Clark, his duty should be done. So why can't he seem to stay away from the babies and their pretty caregiver?

Watching the town's most eligible bachelor with the little trio reawakens Louisa's unmet dreams. She's found satisfaction in spinsterhood and caring for others, convinced that motherhood passed her by. Do she and Bo only work so well together for the children's sakes…or could they both find courage to make this sweet temporary arrangement something truly lasting?

My Book Review : 2.5 out of 5 stars. A man (Bo) finds abandoned 9-month-old triplets at a fair and takes them to the doctor to get healthy. The doctor's daughter (Louisa) looks after them while they get well again. During the babies recovery Bo and Louisa form a sweet relationship, but is what they have strong enough to overcome their own fears about themselves?

I wish I could've liked this one more. While I liked this novel and series' setup, I had a hard time with the way the plot wrapped up and how some secondary story lines never completed. I mean, even though I liked that Bo and Louisa got together, I feel the ending just wrapped everything up way to nicely. Especially after all the fuss Louisa made about her life. Then there was the baby-twist that I wish was a more completed plotline. Yet, from what I looked up, it's going to be a theme throughout this series. I just wish I caught on to that “theme” sooner as it might not have bugged me as much as it does now if I had known about it earlier. 😕 😛

Even so, I was enamored with all the characters, which is why I’m having a difficult time with the plotline.

Nevertheless, it’s because of the characters, I still recommend this novel to those looking for a sweet Christian romance.

Purchase This Book and/or The Other Books From It's Series Here : Amazon (Kindle) USD : The Nanny's Temporary Triplets (Book 2) | Amazon (Kindle) USD : The Bride's Matchmaking Triplets (Book 3)


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Amazon (Kindle) : THIS IS A FREE PREVIEW OF THE SERIES -- Lone Star Cowboy League: Multiple Blessings Sampler: The Rancher's Surprise Triplets\The Nanny’s Temporary Triplets\The Bride's Matchmaking Triplets

Amazon (Kindle) : THIS IS FOUR COMPLETE STORIES -- Love Inspired Historical April 2017 Box Set: The Rancher’s Surprise Triplets\Cowboy Homecoming\Undercover Sheriff\Family of Convenience
Amazon (Paperbacks) : Lone Star Cowboy League: Multiple Blessings Series

Kobo (e-Book) USD : Lone Star Cowboy League: Multiple Blessings Series

Author's Novel Extras : Nineteen Teen Welcomes Linda Ford!




Book Teaser(s) :
"Love comes in many ways. It is not always romantic love. There is a mother's love for her child. A child's for her mother. Even the love people have for children not their own. I think---" Her words came slowly. "Love provides the power to accept what God lays in our path. Sometimes love calls for sacrifices." ~ within Chapter 11

Book Preview(s) :

For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by Linda, then please check out her Amazon Acct.

Sunday, January 29, 2017

Feasted On: Leadville, Colorado Series, Book 5

Format: Kindle Edition | File Size: 2622 KB | Release Date: January 1, 2017 | Publisher: Harlequin : Love Inspired : Historical | Obtained: Harlequin.com

"For the Sake of the Children" [Leadville, Colorado Series, Book 5] by Danica Favorite

Author's Book Description : The Nanny Agreement

Widower Silas Jones needs a mother for his daughter, and marriage could help his former sweetheart repair her tattered reputation. Yet he can't blame Rose Stone when she refuses a marriage of convenience after he once broke her heart, marrying another woman to save his family's farm. He's blessed Rose agrees to be his nanny. If only she'd look at him again with the warmth she shows little Milly…

Rose's tarnished past hasn't quelled her spirit. She's building a good life in Colorado with her infant son—and the glimmer of a future with Silas. But when his in-laws try to claim Milly, Rose must decide if the makeshift family she and Silas have forged can reopen her heart to love.

My Book Review : 4 out of 5 stars! When they were younger Silas and Rose were inseparable. They were each other's secret friends and confidants while they dreamed of running away and marrying one another. Yet that all came crashing down after Silas marries his neighbor Annie in hopes of saving his family's farm instead. Now three years later, Silas is a widower and Rose's reputation has been questioned more than once because of her new son. But as circumstances bring their lives back together again will they reconcile their pasts in hopes for a future together or will everything between them be too much to overcome?

This was a novel about receiving and accepting redemption from past sins. The depth that Rose goes through to make sure everyone around her was cared for truly touched me. In addition, Milly's relationship with Rose was so sweet. What can I say other than, I was charmed!

Then when you throw in Silas and Rose's rocky past and how difficult their new start together is, makes it hard not to root for the two of them to be together. As the relationship, that they shared was one that would last through just about anything IF they planned to stick it out no matter what.

I recommend this to those wanting a sweet historical Christian romance.

Purchase This Book and/or The Other Books From It's Series Here : Amazon (Kindle) USD : Rocky Mountain Dreams (Book 1) | Amazon (Kindle) USD : The Lawman's Redemption (Book 2) | Amazon (Kindle) USD : Shotgun Marriage (Book 3) | Amazon (Kindle) USD : The Nanny's Little Matchmakers (Book 4)


Shop Your Indie/Local Bookstores (IndieBound - Paperback) USD : For the Sake of the Children (Book 5)
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Author's Novel Extras : For the Sake of the Children (Book 5) - Overview

Author's Series Extras : Leadville Historical Romance Series - Overview | Research on Leadville, Colorado | Rocky Mountain Dreams (Book 1) - Overview | The Lawman's Redemption (Book 2) - Overview | Shotgun Marriage (Book 3) - Overview | The Nanny's Little Matchmakers (Book 4) - Overview | An Unlikely Mother (Book 6) - Overview


Book Teaser(s) :
"I missed you, my doxy."
Rose stilled. "What did you just call me?"
"My doxy." Milly grabbed Rose's face with both hands then planted a wet kiss on her cheek. "That's what Granmudder calls you. The doxy. An' you're mine."
Milly eased back into Rose's lap, then rested her head on her chest, closing her eyes. "Granmudder not cuddle like you."
Rubbing the little girl's back, Rose blinked back tears, trying to focus more on the loving way Milly spoke to her rather than the horrible word she used. How was she supposed to even address it? They didn't use words like that in their home, even if they were true.
"Rosey?" Milly lifted her head and looked up. "Did you miss me?"
She planted a kiss on Milly's forehead. "Of course I did."
Matthew let out a small cry. Milly jumped up. "He go back to sleep. He no share you when I wif Granmudder, so is my turn."
The look Milly gave her nearly broke Rose's heart. "See? I know sharing. I teach Ma-few." ~ within Chapter 12

Book Preview(s) :

For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by Danica, then please check out her Amazon Acct.

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Made the Grade: The Princes of Xaviera Series, Book 1

- This is an ARC book - Available Formats through Amazon: Paperback - Pages: 253; Kindle Edition - File Size: 498 KB | Expected Release Date: February 1, 2016 | Publisher: Harlequin : Romance | Obtained: NetGalley

"Pregnant with a Royal Baby!" [The Princes of Xaviera Series, Book 1] by Susan Meier

Author's Book Description : Marrying for the baby's sake

Prince Dominic Sancho has always lived up to his family's royal expectations. Until one irresistibly spontaneous night with teacher Ginny Jones has dramatic repercussions—she's now carrying the next heir to Xaviera's throne! There's only one solution—a royal wedding…

A marriage of convenience is Ginny's worst nightmare, but for their baby's sake, she says "I do." And as the royal couple jet off on their honeymoon, she begins to realize that beneath the royal etiquette, Dominic is a daddy—and loving husband—in the making!

My Book Review : 3 out of 5 stars! Virginia (Ginny), a guidance counselor, meets Dominic (Dom), a prince, while he's making a diplomatic visit to the United States. They have a fling that leaves Ginny pregnant and Dom's father insists that they marry but because both of them have trust issues they come up with a plan to stay together for two years than divorce, all the while getting to know one another but planning on keeping love out of the equation. Soon Ginny finds that it's harder to do then she had hoped and as they get closer, will Ginny be able to prove to Dom that them as a permanent family is a good thing? Or will their plans and hopes come crumbling down around them?

While this is a sweet romance that skips over the sex scenes, it is definitely cute and keeps the readers intrigued from beginning to end. I enjoyed learning about the royal family and how all these characters interacted with one another. Plus the build-up for a story for Dom's younger brother Alex was interesting too.

Nevertheless, this novel is ALL about Ginny & Dom. Their hopes and fears are all laid bare, and though I'm still not happy with how cold Dom held himself to be for most of this novel, I enjoyed the execution of how the plot was laid out and how Ginny showed some backbone. When they weren't hiding behind their fears Ginny and Dom made a great couple!

I recommend this novel to those looking for a Cinderella-esque sweet romance.

Purchase This Book and/or The Other Books From It's Series Here : Amazon (Kindle) USD : Wedded for His Royal Duty (Book 2) | Amazon (Paperback) USD : Wedded for His Royal Duty (Book 2)


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Amazon (Paperbacks) USD : The Princes of Xaviera Series

Kobo (e-Books) USD : The Princes of Xaviera Series

Author's Novel Extras : Pregnant with a Royal Baby! - Excerpt

Book Teaser(s) :
Unlike her ugly blue dress, his tux appeared to have been made for him. Again he was every inch a prince. Handsome. Debonair. Regal.
While she looked like a frumpy old bat.
"You look lovely."
"I look like the Queen of England. Get me a hat and one of those sedate purses she carries all the time and people would probably get us confused."
He laughed. "You are meeting a king."
"Who wants to be reminded of his grandmother?"
"You do not look like a grandmother."
"Well, I sure as hell don't look like a twenty-five-year-old guidance counselor in the coolest school in Texas."
"Trust me. You will want the armor of a grandma dress when you meet my dad." ~ within Chapter 2

Book Preview(s) :

For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by Susan, then please check out her Amazon Acct.

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Blog Tour - Playing It Cool by Amy Andrews | Spreading the Word & GC Giveaway

Today I'm showing off Amy Andrews' "Playing It Cool," which is the SECOND novel in her Sydney Smoke Rugby Series!!


ALSO -- Be sure to check out Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post to be able to sign up for this blog stop's GIVEAWAY(s)!! [Blog Tour will run from September 12 - 23, 2016 & Giveaway will run until September 29, 2016]



"Playing It Cool"
[Sydney Smoke Rugby Series, Book 2] by Amy Andrews

Author's Book Description :
    Score one for the curvy girls.

    Harper Nugent might have a little extra junk in her trunk, but her stepbrother calling her out on it is the last straw… When rugby hottie, Dexter Blake, witnesses the insult, he surprises Harper by asking her out. In front of her dumbass brother. Score! Of course, she knows it's not for reals, but Dex won't take no for an answer.

    Dexter Blake's life revolves around rugby with one hard and fast rule: no women. Sure, his left hand is getting a workout, but he's focused on his career for now. Then he overhears an asshat reporter belittle the curvy chick he'd been secretly ogling. What's a guy to do but ask her out? It's just a little revenge against a poser, and then he'll get his head back in the game.

    But the date is better than either expected. So is the next one. And the next. And the heat between them…sizzles their clothes right off.

    Suddenly, this fake relationship is feeling all too real…

This book is available to order on :

Amazon (e-Book) USD | Amazon (Paperback) USD | Barnes & Noble (NOOK Book) USD | Barnes & Noble (Paperback) USD | Kobo (e-Book) USD | Shop Your Indie/Local Bookstores (IndieBound - Paperback) USD

** Be sure to add it to your TBR pile on Goodreads & LibraryThing! **





About the Author :

Amy Andrews is an award-winning, USA Today best-selling Aussie author who has written over fifty contemporary romances in both the traditional and digital markets. She has written for Harlequin Mills & Boon, Entangled, Harper Collins, Momentum, Tule and Escape. She's sold over a million books and been translated into thirteen different languages including manga.

Amy spent six years on the national executive of Romance Writers of Australia including a two year term as president and after many years of unofficial mentoring of emerging writers, Amy and her fellow Harlequin author Anna Cleary have started their own manuscript assessment business, Word Witchery, which specialises in romantic fiction. With unique insight into what makes a story that sells, Amy and Anna aim to help every manuscript shine.

Amy loves good books, fab food, great wine and frequent travel - preferably all four together. She lives on acreage on the outskirts of Brisbane with a gorgeous mountain view but secretly wishes it was the hillsides of Tuscany.


My Previous Review(s) for this Author : The Hero

My Previous Mention(s) of this Author's Books/Characters : Best Book Couples -- Happy Valentine's Day 2016 | Blog Tour - Playing It Cool by Amy Andrews | Release Day Launch, Spreading the Word & GC Giveaway




Book Excerpt(s) :

Dex pulled up at her place and was knocking on her door twelve minutes later. She was still in that dress but she could have been wearing a sack as far as he was concerned. He just wanted to hold her.

“Dex?” She frowned at him clearly not expecting him back although the slight tremor in her voice did betray her excitement that he had.

“I don’t think I’m going to be invited to any Nugent family BBQ’s in a hurry.”

Harper laughed, folding her arms as she settled against the door frame. “Oh no. What happened? Did you punch Chuck?”

Dex snorted. “No. But I may have...implied you were using me for sex.”

She blinked. “Implied?”

“Well...stated is probably more accurate.”

She laughed harder. “What the hell?”

“What can I say?” He shrugged. “They were pissing me off.”

She fluttered a hand over her heart and gave an exaggerated sigh. “My hero.”

His gaze fell to where her hand nestled against the roundness of her breast. She was so soft there. When Dex returned his attention to her face she was watching him closely.

“Thank you for defending my honour.”

He chuckled. “By besmirching it?”

“Meh,” she said dismissively. “Whatever works.”

They grinned at each other for long moments. “Do you need to go home?” she asked.

Dex hesitated. He should. Griff had organised for some ex-military guy who specialised in survival training to do some sessions with them. For some unknown reason these started at four in the morning—some crap about conquering mental conditioning—and tomorrow was their first session.

“Not yet. What’d you have in mind?”

She pretended to ponder for a beat or two. “How about more Star Wars?” she mused, her face a picture of innocence.

“Not quite the stars I had in mind.”

“Me neither,” she grinned and grabbed him by the front of his shirt, pulling him inside.



Book Preview(s) :




Giveaway(s)!! :
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Soo .... COMMENT on this post!! And you could WIN!! =0)

Blog Tour Schedule:

September 12th

Stuck In Books Excerpt

The Book Bee Excerpt

Diane’s Book Blog Excerpt

JOJO THE BOOKAHOLIC Excerpt

September 13th

I Love Romance Review

From Me to You ... Video, Photography, & Book Reviews Excerpt

My Slanted Bookish Ramblings Review

Romance Playlist Guest Post

Smut Book Junkie Reviews Review

September 14th

CReneeBookWorld Review

Reading Tigress Excerpt

Books,Dreams,Life Excerpt

SBB Reviews Review

NightWolf Book Blog Review

September 15th

The Silver Dagger Scriptorium Excerpt

After Dark Book Lovers Review

Alpha Book Club Review

A journey to a lifetime Review

September 16th

Romance Book Nerd Excerpt

T&G Book Boutique Excerpt

Southern Vixens Book Obsessions Excerpt

The Lusty Literate Excerpt

September 17th

The Pervy Ladies Book Blog Review

Friends Till The End Book Blog Excerpt

Brittany's Book Blog Playlist

Fiction Conviction Book Blog Excerpt

September 18th

Ruby's Books Review

Reading Addict Excerpt

Evermore Books Excerpt

Liz's Reading Life Excerpt

September 19th

A Fortress of Books Review

Romantic Reads and Such Review

Sweet Reading Review

Four Chicks Flipping Pages Review

September 20th

bookshelf dreaming Revew

Ashley Book Blog Review

Renee Entress's Blog Review

What Is That Book About Guest Post

September 21st

I'm A Sweet And Sassy Book Whore Review

Short and Sassy Book Blurbs Review

Amo & Sarah Book Corner Review

Captain Reads A Lot Excerpt

September 22nd

babbling about books and more Review

Crazy Chaotic Book Babes Review

TBR Book Blog Review

September 23rd

queenzany Review

Nose Stuck in a Book Excerpt

G & T's Indie Café Excerpt




Find Amy Andrews :


This was put together by myself (From Me to You ... Video, Photography & Book Reviews) please contact me if you'd like your own promo post, while the tour is through InkSlinger PR and they supplied some of the info.

Monday, September 12, 2016

Blog Tour - Playing It Cool by Amy Andrews | Release Day Launch, Spreading the Word & GC Giveaway

Today I'm showing off Amy Andrews' "Playing It Cool," which is the SECOND novel in her Sydney Smoke Rugby Series!! Today is it's Release Day!! So, help me wish it & Ms. Andrews a HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY!!


ALSO -- Be sure to check out Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post to be able to sign up for this blog stop's GIVEAWAY(s)!! [Blog Tour will run today (September 12, 2016) & Giveaway will run from September 12 - 29, 2016]



"Playing It Cool"
[Sydney Smoke Rugby Series, Book 2] by Amy Andrews

Author's Book Description :
    Score one for the curvy girls.

    Harper Nugent might have a little extra junk in her trunk, but her stepbrother calling her out on it is the last straw… When rugby hottie, Dexter Blake, witnesses the insult, he surprises Harper by asking her out. In front of her dumbass brother. Score! Of course, she knows it's not for reals, but Dex won't take no for an answer.

    Dexter Blake's life revolves around rugby with one hard and fast rule: no women. Sure, his left hand is getting a workout, but he's focused on his career for now. Then he overhears an asshat reporter belittle the curvy chick he'd been secretly ogling. What's a guy to do but ask her out? It's just a little revenge against a poser, and then he'll get his head back in the game.

    But the date is better than either expected. So is the next one. And the next. And the heat between them…sizzles their clothes right off.

    Suddenly, this fake relationship is feeling all too real…

This book is available to order on :

Amazon (e-Book) USD | Amazon (Paperback) USD | Barnes & Noble (NOOK Book) USD | Barnes & Noble (Paperback) USD | Kobo (e-Book) USD | Shop Your Indie/Local Bookstores (IndieBound - Paperback) USD

** Be sure to add it to your TBR pile on Goodreads & LibraryThing! **





About the Author :

Amy Andrews is an award-winning, USA Today best-selling Aussie author who has written over fifty contemporary romances in both the traditional and digital markets. She has written for Harlequin Mills & Boon, Entangled, Harper Collins, Momentum, Tule and Escape. She's sold over a million books and been translated into thirteen different languages including manga.

Amy spent six years on the national executive of Romance Writers of Australia including a two year term as president and after many years of unofficial mentoring of emerging writers, Amy and her fellow Harlequin author Anna Cleary have started their own manuscript assessment business, Word Witchery, which specialises in romantic fiction. With unique insight into what makes a story that sells, Amy and Anna aim to help every manuscript shine.

Amy loves good books, fab food, great wine and frequent travel - preferably all four together. She lives on acreage on the outskirts of Brisbane with a gorgeous mountain view but secretly wishes it was the hillsides of Tuscany.


My Previous Review(s) for this Author : The Hero

My Previous Mention(s) of this Author's Books/Characters : Best Book Couples -- Happy Valentine's Day 2016




Book Excerpt(s) :

-- Chapter One --


Dexter Blake liked a woman with some junk in her trunk. And the tall, curvy chick on the sidelines was packing a whole lot of booty. She had one of those itty-bitty waists, too. And her cups floweth’d over.

Staring at her chest was practically a religious experience.

Unfortunately, she only had eyes for Chuck Nugent, the pretty boy sports reporter for Channel Five. He was currently doing his sycophantish spiel on the field, a cameraman following him around as he interviewed the players still milling around for their obligatory post-match interviews.

She was impatient for his attention, too, if her pacing was anything to go by.

Lucky bastard.

As far as Dex was concerned, she could keep pacing. Watching everything jiggle was the cherry on the top of his pie tonight. There was nothing better than winning a hard-fought game of rugby union. But watching a fine-looking woman strutting her stuff came a very close second.

“I’d say don’t look now, booty at six o’clock, but I can see you’re ahead of me.”

Dex smiled at Tanner Stone, the captain of the Sydney Smoke and his good mate, as he pulled up beside him then dropped at the waist to stretch out his hamstrings.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Hey, Dex,” Bodie Webb said as he pulled up on the other side. “Your kinda ass on the sideline.”

A low whistle came from behind them. “I hope you’re planning on hitting that, Dex,” Lincoln Quinn murmured as he also appeared, casually waving at some teenage girls hollering at him from the dispersing crowd.

Dex chuckled. “Since when did you all turn into pimps?”

Linc clapped him on the back. “Just lending a hand.”

“Thanks. I can get my own ass.”

And, sadly, as much as sideline-chick ticked every box, her ass was off-limits. One look at her told him she was the kind of girl a guy loved. Got into a relationship with. The kind he married. Made babies with.

She was the commitment type.

Over a decade of avoiding romantic entanglements had alerted Dex to the signs, and this woman had I don’t do casual written all over her.

And he didn’t do commitment. His career came first. He’d fought hard for his place on the team, and at thirty, he probably only had a few good years left. He couldn’t afford to take his eyes off the ball for a second. He knew how easy it was to lose everything. To have it all go to shit when you least expected it.

He was never going back to Perry Hill.

There would be time for commitment later. Rugby was it for now.

“But you don’t,” Tanner said.

“Just because I don’t walk around with a permanent hard-on like Linc—”

“Hey!”

Everyone ignored Linc’s half-hearted protest. The cocky back rower wore his horniness like a badge of frickin’ honour. “—doesn’t mean I go without.”

And if he did—it was none of their damn business.

Chuck finished his interview with the skipper of the losing team and, spotting Tanner, headed toward them.

“Christ,” Dex said. “Dickhead approaching.”

Tanner sighed. “Best to just think of our contracts and smile for the camera.”

“Ooh, helllllo,” Bodie purred. “She’s on the move, too.”

Dex’s gaze flicked to the woman again, tracking her progress as she hurried after Chuck. Her hips swung enticingly and her chest moved interestingly beneath her T-shirt.

Christ, it was a turn-on.

“Chuck,” she called, hurrying to catch up with him.

Idiot. Dex would never let a woman trail behind him like that. Not when she could walk in front and he could check out her luscious ass.

“What in hell does she see in that guy?” Bodie asked.

Dex had no idea, but the urge to throttle the smarmy reporter—something that was never far from the surface—spewed like the sudden rush of a geyser in his chest.

“Chuck,” she called, louder this time, almost caught up with him.

Dickhead stopped. Turned. Then glared before looking around him as if he was embarrassed. He hissed, “What the fuck, Harper?” He’d kept his voice low, but the edge of fury carried it farther than Dex was sure Chuck would have liked.

“I told you to stay in the stands, not embarrass me by running onto the goddamn field in a pair of jeans you’ve barely managed to squeeze your lard ass into. I have a certain image to maintain, and it does not involve being followed around by fat chicks.”

Dex’s jaw clamped tight as the hackles rose on the back of his neck. Fat chick? He could see the stain of red creeping up her neck from here, and the spewing geyser in his chest turned viscous, like lava.

“God, he’s a fuckwit,” Bodie whispered.

“Excuse me,” Dex growled.

Lava burning in his chest, he strode purposefully toward Chuck and the woman, who was hissing something back at the reporter Dex couldn’t quite hear. He was sweaty and dirty and every damn muscle bitched at him, but Dex paid none of it any heed.

The urge to deck the smarmy front man rode him hard, but by the time he pulled up beside Chuck, Dex had another plan.

A better plan.

One that involved less potential penalty. And more potential booty.

“Hey, Chuck,” he said, forcing himself to smile as he clapped the reporter hard on the back. It was satisfying to hear a strained, involuntary cough from the man.

“Oh Dex, hi,” Chuck said, sleazy smile in place, turning as if he were trying to block the woman from Dex’s view.

No chance with those puny coat hanger shoulders.

“Great game tonight,” Chuck enthused. “If you could just give me thirty seconds, I’ll be right over.”

“Actually, Chuck,” Dex glanced at the woman and smiled at her. She was even more magnificent up close, with a whole lot of pissed-off glittering in the depths of her Marsala brown eyes. “I was hoping you might introduce me to the lady.”

It was amusing to watch the pretty boy almost choke on his tongue. For a moment, Dex thought he was going to say lady, what lady? But he finally turned to acknowledge the woman behind him. “Of course. This is Harper…Nugent. My…”

The woman—Harper—folded her arms across her chest, and all the blood rushed from Dex’s big head to his little one. “Come on, Chuck, you can say it,” she said, her voice dry with amused sarcasm. “It starts with S. Ssssister.”

Something eased in Dex’s chest. So she was not getting naked with Pretty Boy. There was a God.

“Step!” Chuck said quickly, his voice sharp.

She rolled her eyes as she smiled at Dex and offered her hand. He absently noted there were streaks of paint on her fingers. “Nice to meet you.”

Dex was a tall guy. Big. Not as big as some of the team’s front row, but he was still six foot and had trouble buying shirts that weren’t tight in the shoulders. This tall—hell, Amazonian—woman could look him straight in the eye. He’d never met a woman who could do that in a pair of flats, and it was a strange kind of turn-on.

“The pleasure’s entirely mine,” he murmured, returning her firm and sure grip with one of his own.

He liked a woman who could handshake like a boss.

“Yes…anyway,” Chuck said, his expression pained, as Harper’s hand fell away. “Harper has to run. A girlfriend crisis or something.”

Dex’s eyebrow kicked up. A girlfriend crisis? A crushing sense of disappointment slugged him in the chest.

She was a lesbian?

She laughed and shook her head. “Not that kind of girlfriend.”

His gaze was drawn to her mouth, a plush, sexy crescent in the midst of her flawless olive complexion. He didn’t think she was wearing any makeup, but she was sporting some kind of clear lip gloss that emphasized the luscious curve of her lips.

They glistened, wet and tempting.

Dex laughed, too, as relief flowed like champagne bubbles through his veins. “I am so pleased to hear that.”

Chuck cleared his throat. “Yes. Well. I have to interview the team.” He looked pointedly at his sister.

“Fine. Just don’t forget to pick up Jace and Tabby after you’re done. They’re fine in the stands with Jenny while you wrap up, but she can’t take them home and I’ve told your mother that you’re bringing her kids now instead of me.”

“I’m not going to bloody forget them, Harper,” Chuck replied testily.

She shot an apologetic smile at Dex then turned to go. He and Chuck watched her. The outline of her sexy, rounded butt in the denim of her jeans actually made Dex a little light-headed. It was a sight to behold.

“God, she has a fat ass,” Chuck muttered, disgust colouring his voice.

Dex’s hands tightened to fists. What a monumental wanker. He opened his mouth before he engaged his brain. “Harper! Wait up.”

She looked over her shoulder, a puzzled expression drawing a crease between her brows. “Dex,” Chuck said, putting a hand on Dex’s arm as he took a step in Harper’s direction.

“Tanner’s waiting,” Dex said, shaking off the hand before jogging the short distance to where she’d stopped.

“Hey,” she said, tossing the long strands of her rich dark hair behind her shoulder, clearly still puzzled.

He smiled. “I was hoping you might like to go out with me one night.”

She blinked, the crease between her eyebrows almost cavernous now. “Oh.”

Dex chuckled. It wasn’t the standard response he got from women. Normally, they were tripping over themselves to be asked out by him. Hell, most of them didn’t wait to be asked. It was well known that he didn’t generally date, so they were more than happy to do the asking.

A man with a less healthy ego might have been insulted by Harper’s tepid response. But he could sense her reticence was real as she glanced at the guys to her left, all gawking and smirking, clearly talking about them. Her gaze travelled over his shoulder to where Chuck stood—glaring, if the prickle between Dex’s shoulder blades was anything to go by.

Her gaze returned to him. “Um…”

Hmm. Maybe this wasn’t going to be as easy as he’d thought. He looked pointedly at the mobile she held. “Give me your phone.”

She glanced at it for a moment, frowning some more. “Why?”

Dex gave an exaggerated sigh and plucked it out of her unresisting hand. “It’s okay,” he assured her as she murmured a protest, and his fingers busily navigating to her address book. “I’m just going to put my number in because obviously I don’t have my phone available to put yours into mine.”

She crossed her arms as she watched him enter the details, and it took him twice as long.

“There,” he said, passing the phone back to her.

She glanced at the entry, and his heart tap-danced in his chest as a smile pulled at the curve of her mouth. She quirked an eyebrow at him. “Dex the Stud?”

He grinned and shrugged. “What can I say?”

“And what do you expect me to do with this?”

“As soon as you’re done with your girlfriend thing, give it a ring and we can set up a time and a place for our date.”

“Well, that’s a step up from the last guy, who put his number into my phone hoping I’d send him nude photos,” she said, her tone flippant.

Dex blinked. What the actual fuck? “Absolutely no class.”

“Well, to be fair, he did request arty ones.”

He laughed. “Hey.” He held his hands up in faux surrender. “Never let it be said that I stand in the way of artistic expression, if you feel so inclined with my number. But definitely lose his.”

She laughed back, and it grabbed him by the balls. Like everything else about her, it was big and rich and real. But then her gaze flicked over his shoulder again, and her smile slowly slipped from her face.

Dex gave an exaggerated sigh. “You’re not going to ring it, are you?”

She shook her head, a glossy smile playing on her glossy mouth. “No chance in hell.”

“Why?”

She glanced at her stepbrother again. “Some things just aren’t worth the hassle.”

Dex couldn’t agree more. But he didn’t think Harper Nugent was one of them. Undeterred, he grabbed for her phone again, his reflexes lightning fast after a decade of professional rugby. “You leave me no choice,” he chided as he quickly rang his own number.

“Hi, Dex the Stud,” he said as the ring tone eventually gave way to his message bank. “It’s Dex.” He waggled his brows at Harper, and she smiled and rolled her eyes. “I’m ringing to remind you to call Harper Nugent on this number and ask her on a date again. Do not take no for an answer. Even”—he grinned at her—“if she offers nude arty photos in lieu.”

Dex hit the end button and passed the phone back to her. “There now. You’re in my phone. And I will be ringing you.”

She glanced at the phone then at him before flicking a look at the guys again. Linc was grinning like a loon as he shot Dex two thumbs-up.

“Sure you will,” she said, the tight, polite smile on her face making Dex want to slap Linc upside the head.

She bade him farewell and walked away, and for the first time in his life, Dex looked forward to something other than rugby and inflicting bodily harm on Linc.



Harper’s phone rang three hours later. She was a bottle of wine down with her best friend Em, who was in the middle of a boyfriend-number-sixteen crisis. Em was cute, peppy, and up for anything.

She just had really lousy taste in men.

When Em went into a relationship, she went all in, something which Harper had always admired even if her friend consistently chose the wrong guys to be “in” with. The type who were only out for a good time, not a long time. But she always sprang back, and Harper was in awe of her friend’s tenacity and absolute conviction that the right person was out there for everyone.

Although not tonight. While Harper was drinking wine, Em’s breakup booze of choice was butterscotch schnapps, and tonight it was leading her to seriously consider becoming a nun. To prove her seriousness, she was currently Googling how to re-virginise.

So, Harper was both tipsy and completely distracted when she answered the phone.

“Hi,” she said as Em made gagging noises at pictures on a website she was skimming.

“Hey, Harper.”

The hairs on the back of her neck stood up in instant awareness as they had earlier tonight when Dexter Blake had singled her out for a bit of attention.

Her mind went blank for a beat or two. He rang?

Of course he had. She had clearly been some kind of bet or dare or something with his team buddies. At twenty-three, it wouldn’t be the first time she’d been the butt of some douche’s idea of a good time. I dare you to ask the fat chick out. Snigger, snort, backslap.

Some men were such assholes.

But it had been so good, even momentarily, to put her sanctimonious step-brother in his place.

“Harper? It’s Dex the Stud. Remember me?”

His voice was warm and rich with amusement, and Harper shut her eyes. Remember him? She’d relived him asking her out about a dozen times, no matter how much she’d told herself it had all been some sick joke. It had been the first thing she’d told Em after her friend had stopped crying and asked for something happy to cheer her up.

Then they’d Googled him.

“Harper?”

His voice was sharper this time and Harper pulled herself together, sitting straighter in the chair. “Yes. Of course… Hi.”

“You sound kinda…outta it.”

Harper eyed the empty wine bottle and the full one she’d just cracked open. “Well…I’m kinda drunk, so that’s probably why.”

His low chuckle slid seductive fingers down her neck. “The girlfriend emergency?”

“Yup.”

Em looked over her shoulder. “Who is it?”

“Dex.”

Her eyebrows practically hit her hairline. “The rugby dude?”

“Is that the girlfriend?” Dex asked in her ear.

“Yup,” she said to them both.

“Ask him if he knows how to re-virginise.”

Harper shook her head. “I’m not asking him that.”

“Asking me what?” His voice sounded delicious when it was amused. Thick and gooey, oozing all over her body. Like chocolate topping.

God, she loved chocolate topping.

“You should totally ask me whatever it is.”

“Trust me, you don’t want to know.”

“Are you kidding?” Em interrupted. “He’s a professional rugby star. Everyone knows they get laid all the time. What he doesn’t know about a woman’s anatomy probably isn’t worth knowing. He’ll know about re-virginising.”

Harper thought it more likely he’d know about de-virginising.

“Did she just say re-virginising?”

Had Harper been sober, she would have paid more heed to Em’s sage words about the mating habits of professional sportsmen and not the sweet seduction of a chocolate-topping voice. She sighed. “Yup.”

“Why would anyone want to re-virginise? Hell… Can someone re-virginise?”

“I don’t know and yes, apparently, according to the internet. Spiritually and surgically.”

“That sounds…painful.”

Harper laughed. “Yes. For both.”

“And seriously, would you want some strange dude with a scalpel down near your lady parts?”

She shuddered. “I can think of better uses for a dude down near my lady parts.” His bark of laughter was loud in her ear, and she realised what she said. Her face flamed. “Oh God, sorry. I said that out loud, didn’t I?”

“You certainly did, Harper Nugent.”

“I take it back.”

“Oh no,” he chuckled some more. “You can’t take that back.”

Harper groaned internally. Jesus. Where was her filter? She glanced at the wine bottle. Somewhere at the bottom of that, no doubt.

“Fine. Ignore it then. It’s the booze. White wine makes me mouthy.”

“I can’t wait to see that.”

His voice had dropped an octave and roughened with the merest hint of a promise. It went straight to those aforementioned lady parts, and Harper actually squirmed in her chair to ease the sudden ache.

“She’s not serious, is she?”

It took her a moment to realise he’d moved on, and she leaped at the opportunity gratefully. “No. She’s pissed. Both at men and in the alcoholic sense.” Em had already been several shots of Schnapps down when Harper arrived. “Re-virginising is just one of many options we’ve already discussed tonight. I think she wants to make a voodoo doll next.”

He laughed again. “I like the sound of her.”

Harper sighed, looking at the gorgeous mop of caramel curls and the alabaster wedge of cheekbone making up Em’s profile. She looked like one of those babies from old-fashioned adverts for Pears soap. Only all grown-up.

“She’s gorgeous. You should ask her out. You’d make beautiful babies.”

There was a long pause. Long enough to make Harper think, somewhere in her alcohol-addled brain, babies were not on Dexter Blake’s agenda.

“Thanks,” he said, voice low and amused. “I think I’ll stick with my original plan, though.”

“Oh?”

“You and me. A date.”

“Oh.” Harper’s stomach tightened. She’d seen the way his teammates had been watching them tonight. The way the younger guy had given the thumbs up. She could have kissed Dex for his timing, but a girl had her pride, right? Plus she never wanted to be one of those people who were gossiped about for punching above her weight.

“Look. I’m very flattered that you want to go out on a date with me, but—”

“You should do it,” Em interrupted.

Harper blinked at her best friend. “What?”

“I told you I liked the sound of her,” Dex said in her ear.

Em shrugged. “It’d be worth it just to piss off Chuckers.” If it was possible, Em disliked Chuck more than Harper did.

Harper considered that angle for moment, her head still spinning a little. It was a powerful argument. Why not? If Dex was using her to win some kind of ridiculous frat boy dare, why shouldn’t she use him, too?

“Okay, fine.” Clearly there was a level of drunk where pride rapidly diminished. “But I’m not sleeping with you. Or letting you anywhere near my lady parts.”

That low chuckle again. It ruffled seductively along flesh and nerve endings, and Harper fought the urge to stretch. And purr.

“You know you said that out loud, too, right?”

The lazy smile in his voice ruffled things even lower. “Yes. I know.”

“I will be on my best behaviour. I promise I won’t even bring condoms.”

Sober Harper nodded, pleased with the concession. Drunk, uninhibited Harper knew full well he could ruin her without the aid of a condom, and she seemed perfectly fine with that, too.

Uninhibited Harper was dangerous. She was going to have to cut that bitch off at the knees.



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