Can you find yourself in the midst of losing everything?
Levi
I could never be what my father expected of me. Content to run the family business wasnโt the life I saw for myself. I longed to serve my country, and it cost me more than my relationship with my dad. Now, as I recover from losing a limb, I smile through the pain. I pretend being alone doesnโt bother me. Make jokes to mask the anguish. But Mandy sees the truth and calls me out for self-sabotaging. That is one of the many reasons I find myself falling for her, despite her being my ex’s best friend…
Mandy
I beat the odds and built a life I love. I know it can be done. Therefore, I refuse to allow my patients to think otherwise. When I see Levi masking his pain, I know it will prevent him from accepting his new truth and overcoming it. By working with him, I guide him on the road to recovery… until his estranged father shows up. Will everything we have worked for so far be shattered in a single moment or will Levi finally stand up for what he wants. And what if what he wants, isn’t me?ย
Kaci runs on coffee, chocolate, and Oreos. She loves her book boyfriends with tattoos, muscles, beards, and a little dirty.
Kaci loves romance books and has been jotting down ideas since she was in high school and is now putting the ideas down on paper. She believes in satisfying, happily ever afters with a lot of steam on the way.
She was born and raised in Southwest Florida but is wholeheartedly a mountain girl. She has been reading as many books as she could get her hands on since grade school and loves to travel when she gets the chance.ย
Tragedy brought Bree back to her hometown with no plans to stay. Her brotherโs best friend, Tony, doesnโt want her to leave. With a killer on the loose and Bree in danger, itโs up to Tony to keep her safe, then keep her in Whiskey Falls. Readers who enjoy Brynne Asher and Devney Perry will love this spicy, small town, brotherโs best friend, romantic suspense.
Whiskey Home
Whiskey Falls, Book One
by Taryn Rivers
Blurb:
Tony
I promised to protect my best friendโs little sisterโI didnโt plan on falling in love.
But when a murderer strikes in my county and she may be the next target, I canโt hold back anymore.
She doesnโt know it yet, but when this is over sheโs here to stay.
If I can keep her alive.
Bree
A tragedy called me back to Whiskey Falls, but as soon as I take care of business, Iโm out of here.
It doesnโt matter that Iโve been in love with Tony Kane since I was a child.
Or that I go weak at the knees every time I see him.
My family broke my heart, but he has the power to shatter it.
The patio door opens behind me, alerting me to Breeโs presence.
โBreeโs here. I gotta go,โ I tell him.
โWatch your back,โ he warns, not hiding the worry in his voice.
โYou, too.โ I hang up and turn around to find Bree rubbing the back of her neck with a resigned look on her face.
โSheโs on her way, isnโt she?โ I ask.
She winces and nods.
โPlease tell me Coltโs with her.โ I like Colt, and itโs obvious he cares for both women. Plus, he can handle himself and is one hell of a shot.
โNo. Coltโs not with her. But sheโs not alone.โ
โYou need to call her back and tell her to turn around. We barely have enough manpower to cover you, much less Sadie and whichever one of your friends sheโs dragging with her.โ
โItโs, um, well, itโs Killian,โ she stammers. โHe didnโt want her driving by herself.โ
It takes a few seconds before I trust myself to speak. โAre you telling me Killian Cross is on his way here right now?โ
She bites her lip and nods reluctantly.
โExactly how many times has Cross asked you out?โ I ask.
She wrings her hands together. โTwice. And itโs been months. Weโre just good friends, not that itโs any of your business.โ
I see red. โNot my fucking business? Are you high? Everything about you is my business.โ
She backs up but itโs too late. In two steps Iโm on her. I pull her to me and slam my mouth down on hers.
Instead of fighting it, her arms wrap around me. I fist her hair, and she gasps, giving me what I need to slide my tongue home. I bring her even closer, and she melts into me.
I pour everything I have into the kiss. If she wonโt believe it when I tell her sheโs mine, Iโll fucking show her and leave no room for doubt.
Iโve been waiting for this moment for two years, and all my frustration comes through. She moans into my mouth which spurs me on. I thought our first kiss couldnโt be beat, but this one blows it out of the water.
This kiss is everything. Heaven and hell, want and need, every ounce of my being focused on the slide of her tongue. I slow it down until our lips separate. I run my nose along hers then drop my hand down to her lower back and bury my face in her hair.
โThis is why youโre my business. This proves you want me as much as I want you. Face it. Youโre mine, and Iโm fucking yours. Always have been. Always will be.โ
I lean in and kiss the side of her lips. โGive us a chance, beautiful. Itโs going to work out. I promise.โ
Her entire face softens, and I think I have her. But then she blinks, and I see naked fear flash in her eyes right before she shuts down.
Fucking hell.
Copyright 2021 Taryn Rivers
*****
Author Info:
Taryn Rivers lives in central Arkansas with her extremely patient husband and her golden retriever, Patton. When sheโs not writing, sheโs kicking back with her husband at the lake, eating her weight in fried cheese curds and fish fry while visiting family in Wisconsin, or sheโs guilting her children into coming to see her. She loves reading, coffee, wine, and her family, not necessarily in that order.
A vacation in Las Vegas with friends was going to be nothing but a good time.
When two of Samantha Nollins friends surprised everyone that they eloped, she was ready to party. After all, she was known to celebrate at all times, along with her bestie Nate Haddic. However, when they wake up the next day, their two friends werenโt the only ones who eloped!
Samantha and Nate immediately go to the courthouse, only to be told they need to wait ninety-days and try to make their marriage work.
There was nothing worse than two players who had to settle down. In order to keep their friendship intact, they created rules โ which seemed easy enough.
First rule, no sex. This was a bummer, but there was no way they were cheating on each other, even if the wedding was fake.
Second, they had to visit each other more, which was no sweat off their backs.
Third, they couldnโt tell anyone. This was mainly because it was only ninety-days, why get anyone else involved?
Fourth was more because of the court order, but they had to take pictures of them together. This way, they could show the judge they tried, but it didnโt work.
Lastly, the most important role, was no falling for each other.
Samantha moved over to him and poked his shoulder in anger. โNow isnโt the time to admire the city. You ended a party where people, including me, were having fun. Then you decide to kiss the hell out of me like I was all you wanted. And now you pull back and tell me not to look at you like that. Do tell, how am I looking at you?โ
Nate, being four inches taller, stared down at her. โLike you want something thatโll ruin everything.โ
โDidnโt you kiss me?โ
โWe were playing the game.โ
This made her laughโand not the good kind. It was almost manic, like she couldnโt believe this was actually happening. What a lame excuse, blaming their chemistry on a game. โAre you serious?โ
โAs serious as our signed contract,โ he said, a touch of bitterness in his tone.
She flipped her hair over her shoulder before putting her hands on her hips. โDonโt you dare act like this is my fault. Our sham of a marriage wasnโt something I forced on you. It wasnโt like I woke up in a committed relationship and celebrated the news. Weโre in the same boat here.โ
He huffed. โI know itโs not your fault weโre married.โ
โWow, you sound so sincere.โ Her voice oozed sarcasm.
โIt isnโt either of our faults,โ he conceded. โBut it was stupid for us to kiss for no reason. We need to follow the rules. Iโm going to hold up my end of the bullshit bargain.โ
If kissing her senseless was part of holding up his end of the bargain, she wasnโt sure sheโd survive anymore of their marriage. Her lips were bruised at the way heโd devoured her. Her pulse was still racing over the excitement of feeling his hands on her.
*****
Author Info:
Erin Lynne is a romantic comedy writer who lives outside of Philadelphia with her husband and kiddos. When she is not chasing after her boys, you can find her writing. She loves going on adventures with her family (theme park junkie), drinking champagne, and reading.
Join her on Facebook at Erin Lynne Romance Lovers and follow her at http://www.erin-lynne.com for updates on releases, thoughts to make you smile, and to sign-up for her newsletter.
Romantic Reads and Such 