Charlie Benson is happy with her life; she just feels a little lost. The empty nest years haven’t been as easy as she thought they might be, and while planning her daughter’s wedding should be fun, it’s become more about appeasing overbearing relatives than her daughter’s happiness.
Davis Benson wants nothing more than for his wife to be happy, but since their two kids left for college, things just haven’t been the same. Charlie isn’t her usual bubbly self, and the empty nest years aren’t as fun as he expected.
When a potential real estate deal threatens the small town where they live, and Charlie and Davis risk losing their home, their world feels beyond their control, making it increasingly difficult to find hope. Together, they must find a way to carve a new path unlike the one they imagined, holding tight to what matters most.
โHey, honey. Iโm home!โ she hollered as she came through the front door.
โIn here!โ Davisโs voice echoed down the hallway from the kitchen.
Charlie set her purse on the bench inside the door and hung her coat on the rack. She took off her shoes and kicked them under the bench. Padding down the hall in her stocking feet, she found her husband of twenty-five years humming as he opened takeout containers heโd placed on the large island at the center of the kitchen. He hadnโt heard her come into the room yet. She took in the sight of him. Tall with blond hair cut short and blue eyes that reminded her of the lake in summer when the sun hit it just right. With a bright smile that won over everyone he met, Davis personified friendliness. While Charlie could get herself worked up about most anything, Davis was steady. Easy going. Her calm in any storm. Coming home to him was what soothed her most in life.
He looked up and smiled at her. โHey, babe.โ
She made her way around the island to him. โHey.โ
He turned and pulled her into his arms, something heโd done thousands of times over the years. She tucked in against him, her arms around his waist, and sighed.
โI love it when you do that.โ He rested his chin on top of her head.
โDo what?โ
โWhen your whole body relaxes when I hold you.โ
Charlie smiled against his chest. โI like that, too.โ
She pulled back and looked up at him. He kissed her softly.
โI see you got us takeout from Mariannyโs,โ she said as she turned her head toward the containers on the counter.
โI did. I figured it would be nice for us not to have to cook tonight.โ
โThere are many reasons why I married you. Knowing when Iโm not up for cooking and getting us food from Mariannyโs is one of them.โ
โHmm. Not my charm and good looks?โ
โThose are bonuses.โ She winked at him and then stepped out of his arms to grab two plates from the cupboard. The sound of his laughter caused any concerns of the day to fade away.
They dished up food, grabbed silverware, and made their way to the kitchen table. Soft jazz music played from the speaker Davis had installed in the corner of the room. As he set down two wine glasses and poured her a glass, Charlie took a deep breath and soaked in the moment. Yes, having an empty nest was a huge change. And yet, there were nights like this one that reminded her some things donโt change. Some things in life she could still rely on.
Davis sat beside her and held her hand as he said a small blessing over their meal, then dove into their food. Mariannyโs made the best arepas, a popular Venezuelan food Charlie and Davis had fallen in love with when the restaurant opened a few years back. Filled with yummy meat and cheeses, Charlie moaned with pleasure as the flavors danced across her tongue, the warm, gooeyness the best comfort food imaginable.
โHow was work today?โ Davis asked once heโd finished his bite of food.
Charlie took a sip of wine and sat back in her chair. โInteresting. Amber gave me a new listing. I went by, and it needs some work, butโฆโ
โWhere is it?โ Davis took a sip of wine.
โItโs a Colonial Revival just outside of town on White Pine Drive.โ
Davis nodded. โI think I know the one youโre talking about. It needs a bit of work, doesnโt it?โ
โIt does, but it has good bones.โ
Davis smiled as Charlie took another bite of food.
They had agreed over the years that having a common interest in architecture and building construction was something they appreciated.
โTell me about your day,โ Charlie said as she finished her bite and wiped her face with a napkin. The food was deliciousโand messy.
โIt was fine.โ
Charlie stopped and stared at Davis, the napkin halfway back to her lap. Davis didnโt say โfineโ unless something was up. She placed her napkin and her hands in her lap and looked at her husband, who was doing a tremendous job of avoiding eye contact with her.
โDavis.โ
*****
Author Info:
Writing stories since she was a young girl, Lara’s dream of being aย novelist became a reality with her Men of Honor series. An avidย reader, she worked as a book reviewer for 18 years with variousย organizations. She has a BA in Journalism and a Masters ofย Divinity in Chaplaincy. Lara loves tea, baseball and living in Idahoย with her husband and Great Dane.ย
Known for her witty sense of humor, Chelle Sloan is a former sports reporter who recently completed her Masters in Journalism, and is now putting that to good use — one happily ever after at a time.โฉ An Ohio native, she’s fiercely loyal to Cleveland sports, is the owner of way too many — yet not enough — tumblers and will be a New Kids on the Block fan until the day she dies. She does her best writing at Starbucks, where you can usually find a venti Pink Drink within reach. Oh, and yes, you might have checked her out on TikTok with her thirst traps.โฉ
As for her own happily every after? Maybe one day…
Sabotaged brakes didnโt kill Rueben Sanchez, but waiting for his assailantsโ trial to start just might. A potential witness for the prosecution canโt explore his lusty feelings for the hunky sheriff who saved him, but that doesnโt stop his imagination from running wild. Rueben has already shaped his traumatic mountainside meet cute with Seth Burke into a happily ever after to tell their future grandkids. When the delay threatens to stretch on for years, Rueben feels his dreams slipping out of reach. Should he surrender gracefully or fight for his man?
Pressure and scrutiny are nothing new to Seth, but shouldering his duties has never felt like a burden until they keep him from the man he wants most. Cracking an unsolved murder, safeguarding a high-profile trial, and winning re-election should be enough to keep him busy. But he canโt stop thinking about the perfect weekend he shared with Rueben before everything careened off course. Are they as good together as Seth remembers, or is his memory swayed by the allure of the forbidden? And does he dare to find out?
Late-night phone calls and shared secrets lead to stolen kisses and a lakeside cabin rendezvous. But one encounter isnโt enough, and the two men will risk everything to explore their deepening bond. When a series of chilling events rock the county, Rueben and Seth must put more than their hearts on the line because one misstep could prove fatal.
The Keeper is book five in the Redemption Ridge series. Though each story features a different couple, reading the series in order is essential. The Keeper contains mature themes and is intended for adults.
We’ve been waiting for these two to find their HEA and it was just a steamy, sweet, & funny as readers could expect. They had a meet cute that was a little more hazardous than most – with Seth keeping Rueben calm as he was stuck in a wrecked vehicle perilously hanging off the side of a mountain. It was a good indication of where their relationship would go – moments of levity to keep their mind off of more serious concerns.
I’m not sure I’m as confident that Seth would be willing to risk so much for Rueben. It’s not like it can’t ever happen, just not right now. But then again, they’ve been dancing around each other for a bit so it was just a matter of time.
My biggest wish was that we’d get more of the ranch folks. The relationship of these guys to each other is one of the best things of the series. I’m enjoying seeing each one of them fall in love and the suspense element that ties the series together but I love their friend group and I really want to see more of that. I’d have loved to see Rueben and Keegan interact a bit more because what we did get was exactly what we’ve come to expect from these guys.
I always look forward to a book in this series and the romance between Seth & Rueben is no exception. It has always been a hoot to see Rue flirt so shamelessly with Seth and I was ready to see that come to fruition. The having to hide part could put some off and while I think that it didn’t quite fit the situation & Seth’s steadfast personality, I understand that Walker was going for an attraction that can’t be ignored. So excited that there are two more books coming!
**It really is better to read the entire series because there are elements that flow from one book to another.**
A delightful Caribbean-set romp about an ambitious designer of apocalyptic video games with a strategy for (almost) everything who discovers what happens when her best-laid plans go off course…
Sloane Cooper is up for her dream job as a designer for a top video game company. During the interview, though, she somehow promises the all-male panel that sheโll remain single and fully dedicated to the work. Itโs actually fineโafter her last boyfriend cheated on her, she vowed to focus on her career anyway.
Enter Charlie, aka Hot Neighbor Guy, a near-stranger who shocks her with the offer of an all-inclusive trip to a Turks and Caicos resort. The catch? Charlie originally planned the trip with his ex, and asks Sloane to pose as his new girlfriend to make his old flame come running back. Against her better judgment, Sloane says yes; she can use the time away to develop a game design that will dazzle the Catapult team and get her a job offer.
Despite sparks flying in paradise, the trip canโt lead to more. As their connection deepens, Sloane is reminded that she canโt fall for Charlie and get knocked off her professional path. Besides, heโs trying to win back his true love. Can Sloane figure out a way to move past heartbreak, land the job of her dreams, and avoid catching feelings? The zombie apocalypse would be easier to solveโat least sheโs prepared for that.
โTubati Alexander is a writer to watch!โย โEmily Giffin
“In a Not So Perfect Worldย by Neely Tubati Alexander was a delight from start to finishโฆWhen I reread this book, let it be on a beautiful tropical beach, please!”ย โAlicia Thompson, USA Today bestselling author ofย Love in the Time of Serial Killers
“Neely Tubati Alexander does it again, and this time even dreamier than ever. I felt like I was right there with Sloane in beautiful Turks and Caicos, and for a lighthearted vacation read, this tackles some real issues of sexism in the game industry. I loved every second and cheered for Sloane every (mis)step of the way!” โJesse Q. Sutanto, author of Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers
Tropes youโll love: Love on vacation, forced proximity, fake dating
Laugh-out-loud moments: Neelyโs signature voice shines in this release โ bringing humor to the relatable moments in our own not-so-perfect worlds
Relevant: Sexism is a barrier many women face today when pursuing their passions in male-dominated industries
*****
Author Info:
Neely Tubati Alexander is originally from the Pacific Northwest and resides in Arizona with her husband and two children. Her debut novel, LOVE BUZZ, won the Zibby Award for Best Beach Read and was hailed by Good Morning America as “the perfect escapist read…absolutely delightful.” Her books have been featured in Cosmopolitan, Elle, and Nerd Daily, with starred reviews of her work from Library Journal, Publisher’s Weekly, and Kirkus. Booklist declared her “an exciting new romance writer.”
Sheโs not here to make friends. Sheโs here to make trouble.
With her piercings, tattoos and spiky blond hair, Ellen Truesdale doesnโt quite fit in with the other folks in Coyote Canyonโand thatโs just fine with her. Sheโs only here to put her father out of business, as payback for abandoning her when she was young.
Or is she more interested in finally proving that she was worth keeping?
Either way, sheโs struggling to keep her rival well-drilling company afloat. And being a single woman in a male-dominated field has started to take a toll. So when Hendrix Durrant steps in to help, Ellen has no choice but to let himโeven though he happens to be her fatherโs business partner and therefore her enemy. But the closer she works with him, the more she sees what sheโs been missingโฆin life and love. And once she lets go of her anger long enough to learn the truth about her past, she might just find the family sheโs always wanted.
Hendrix Durrant eyed his longtime neighbor, speaking with a hard-edged frustration he didnโt bother to conceal. โYouโre hiring Ellen? Really, Jay? Youโve been talking to me about getting this well dug for the past eight months. Youโve had me meet you out here two or three times for details on where to drill, how deep to go, what size pump youโll need to get enough water, what weโll do if we encounter sand, and on and on. And now youโre going with my competitor?โ
Jay Haslem, a forty-something mechanic who was finally getting the chance to build a nicer home outside the small town of Coyote Canyon, Montana, where Hendrix had lived since he was eleven and Jay had lived his whole life, shoved his hands in the pockets of his grease-stained overalls and stared down at the dirt. โWell, sheโs not really your competitor, is she?โ
Hendrix rested his hands on his hips. โShe does the same thing I do, but her business is completely separate from mine. Wouldnโt you call that competition?โ
โYeah, butโฆsheโs Stuartโs daughter. And heโs married to your aunt Lynn. I know youโre not related, but youโre sort ofโฆconnected, right?โ He offered Hendrix a weak grin, which Hendrix immediately wiped from his face with a heated retort.
โNot only are we not related, I barely know her and hate that she moved to town two and a half years ago, because ever since then, sheโs made a concerted effort to become a major pain in my ass.โ
โItโs just thatโฆher dadโs married to your aunt,โ Jay said again.
Lynn had raised Hendrix from the first year she married Stuart, after his mother died of breast cancer. Everyone knew heโd been taken in out of the goodness of her heart, that he wouldโve gone into the foster care system otherwise. It wasnโt as if he had a father, like most other kids. His mother, Angie, whoโd lived and worked as a venture capital analyst in San Francisco, where attitudes were more liberal in general, had been so determined to have a child on her own terms sheโd used a sperm bank, never imagining what might happen to him if she wasnโt around. That meant, once she was gone, heโd been lucky to have extended family who would give him a home. โI donโt care. That doesnโt change anything.โ
Jay winced as he pulled on his beard. โMy wife likes her, Hendrix. Theaโs the one who promised her the job. Not me. Ellenโs a tough little thing, a go-getter. Weโฆ I donโt know, we admire that kind of gumption, I guess. After all, there arenโt many women in your field.โ
Jayโs, either. Not too many female mechanics aroundโฆ But Hendrix was too focused on other things to point that out. โYou admire her gumption,โ he echoed, chuckling humorlessly. โYouโre giving her the job because sheโsโโ he used air quotes โโa tough little thing.โ
Once again, Jay shifted uncomfortably. โThat andโฆsheโs saving us a few bucks, of course.โ
โOf course,โ Hendrix echoed flatly. Ellen had been undercutting him and Stuart since she moved to town. โHow much is a few bucks?โ
โShe saidโโ He stopped and cleared his throat before finishing in a mumble, โShe said sheโd do it for a thousand less than whatever you bid.โ
โExcuse me?โ Hendrix had heard him fine, but he wanted to make his neighbor state, clearly, the reason heโd chosen Ellen. This wasnโt about supporting a female-owned company in a largely male-dominated field, as Jay had tried to claim a few minutes ago. This was nothing more than pure self-interest. Ellen had been working day and night since she moved to Coyote Canyon, just to best him and Stuart, her father. Hendrix knew that was true because, in some cases, she wasโhad to beโdrilling wells and replacing and repairing pumps for next to no profit, other than the pleasure of taking jobs that would otherwise have gone to them.
โShe said she didnโt have the time to come out and bid, but sheโd do it for a thousand less than what you said youโd do it for,โ Jay repeated. โAll we had to do was give her the paperwork you left with us.โ
โYou handed over my bid? Now she can order the supplies and get you on her schedule without spending any of the time Iโve invested in assessing your needs.โ
Jay hung his head. โIโm sorry. You know I donโt have a lot of money. Thea and I have held on to this property for several years, hoping to save enough to start improving it, orโฆor I wouldโve gone with you no matter what.โ
Drawing a deep breath, which he immediately blew out, Hendrix stared over Jayโs shoulder at the rugged Montana terrain that constituted his neighborโs five-acre dream parcel. Ever since Ellen Truesdale came to town, heโd made a point of avoiding her. If he ran into her by accidentโin a population of only three thousand it was impossible not to encounter each other every once in a whileโhe nodded politely, so she wouldnโt know how much it bothered him to have her around. But she never responded. She just gave him that unflinching, steely-eyed gaze of hers that let him know she was gunning for him.
Despite that, heโd remained determined not to let her get to him. But as time wore on, and she stole more business from him and Stuart, she was harder and harder to ignore.
Why couldnโt she have sold the place her grandparents had given her here in town and remained in Anaconda, where sheโd been born and raised? Anaconda was twice the size of Coyote Canyon; there had to be more people in that part of the state who were looking to drill a water well. Actually, he knew that to be true because he and Stuart occasionally drilled a well or helped with a pump out that wayโFetterman Well Services ranged over the whole state and even went into Utah and Nevada. And if Ellen had stayed in Anaconda, which was almost two hours from Coyote Canyon, their paths would most likely never have crossed.
But Hendrix knew her decision had very little to do with where she could make the most moneyโor even where she might be happiest. She had a vendetta against her father, whoโd left her mother when Ellen was only ten to marry Hendrixโs aunt, and she was determined to make him pay for walking out on them. Hendrix and his cousin, Leo, whom he considered as close as a brother, were just the visible representation of all she resented.
โNo problem,โ he told his neighbor as he started back to his truck. โHereโs hoping she does a decent job for you.โ
โAre you saying she might not?โ Jay called after him, sounding alarmed.
Hendrix didnโt acknowledge the question, let alone answer it. Undermining Jayโs trust in Ellen was a cheap shotโbeneath him, really. Ellen knew what she was doing. In many ways, she ran her business better than Stuart ran the one Hendrix had helped him build since he was brought from San Francisco. She didnโt have the resources or the experience they did, but she was a quick study. From what heโd heard, she was also detail-orientedโstayed right on top of everythingโand since Fetterman had two crews consisting of three employees each, and covered a much bigger area, he had no doubt she was operating with far less overhead, so she could be nimble.
Although Stuart insisted they didnโt have anything to worry about when it came to Ellenโthat sheโd give up trying to get back at him and eventually move onโHendrix was beginning to realize that wasnโt true. Stuart was just avoiding the problem because he felt guilty about the past. And the more he avoided it, the worse it got.
When Ellen Truesdale heard a vehicle pull up, she assumed it was Ben Anderson, her only employee. Sheโd finally sent him out to grab some lunch. Since breakfast early this morning, theyโd been too busy to eat, and she was starving. He had to be, too; it was almost three. At twenty-one, he seemed to consume twice his body weight in food each day. But when she finished welding the steel casing they were putting down the well and flipped up her helmet, she saw that it wasnโt Ben. Hendrix Durrant had just parked next to her older and much less expensive pickup.
Since Hendrix hadnโt actually spoken to her since she came to town, she was more than a little surprised heโd driven out to her jobsite. That meant he was here with a very specific intention.
Setting her torch aside, she removed her helmet entirely and shoved up the long sleeves of her shirt. She had no idea what he wanted, but whatever it wasโฆshe couldnโt imagine she was going to like it.
Instead of approaching her right away, he slipped his hands into the pockets of his well-worn jeans and studied her GEFCO rotary drilling rig. Maybe heโd assumed she couldnโt afford a top-head drive, which enabled her to advance the casing that blocked off the sand and gravel as she drilled, and was shocked to see it. She could understand why that might be true. A rig like hers cost almost a million dollars, and sheโd never had the luxury of being able to ride on her fatherโs coattails. If she hadnโt been able to take out a loan against the house and property her paternal grandparents had passed on to her, she wouldnโt have had the down payment necessary to purchase it. And if sheโd had to settle for an older rig, it wouldโve made her job much more difficult.
As it was, her payments were almost ten thousand a month, and that didnโt include the water truck sheโd also had to buy. Fortunately, it wasnโt nearly as expensive as the rig. Sheโd managed to find a used one in Moab, Utah, for only fifty thousand. But it all added up. She had a lot on the line, which was why she worked so damn hard.
โIs there something I can do for you?โ she asked, tensing in spite of all the self-talk that insisted there was no reason to be nervous. She didnโt care if she had a confrontation with her father and those connected to him. Sheโd been spoiling for a fight with them almost as far back as she could remember. Except for Leo, of course. Leo was harmless. Everyone knew that.
Hendrix turned to face her. She hadnโt moved toward him, hadnโt closed one inch of the gap between them. If he wanted to speak to her, he was going to have to cross that distance himselfโwhich he did, reluctantly from what she could tell.
โYouโve been in town for two and a half years now,โ he said.
She wiped the sweat from her face before giving him a smirk. โI didnโt realize youโd been counting.โ
His eyebrows slid up. โIโve only been counting because youโve been doing everything you possibly can to make me notice youโand now I have.โ
She barked a laugh. โAm I supposed to be excited about that?โ She had to admit most women would be. With sandy-blond hair, smooth golden skin and wide, sky blue eyes, he reminded her of Brad Pitt in Troyโmostly because of the structure of his face but also his build. She couldnโt claim he was hard to look at.
โI was hoping to convince you to come over and talk to your father,โ he said. โScream and yell, say whatever you want, but quit trying to punish him by ruining our business.โ
She removed her leather gloves and slapped them against her thigh, which made him take a step back to avoid breathing in the resulting cloud of dust. โI have nothing to say to my father.โ
โObviously you do, or you wouldnโt be living here.โ
โIn case youโre not aware of it, my grandparents gave me their house, and it happens to be here. I guess you didnโt quite manage to replace me in their affections.โ
โI didnโt try to replace you at all. Iโm sorry if you feel I did. But just so you know, your grandpa and grandma Fetterman have been good to me, too.โ
She shrugged off his words. โOnly because theyโre nice to everyone.โ
โMaybe so, but just because you got their house doesnโt mean you have to live in it. You could sell if you wanted toโฆโ
โThatโs the thing.โ It took effort, but she brightened her smile for his benefit. โI like it here.โ
โCome on,โ he said. โBe honest. Youโre only staying because you think it bugs your father.โ
โThatโs not all,โ she said with a taunting grin. โIโm staying because it bugs you, too.โ
โAnd that makes you happy?โ
โHappier,โ she clarified.
He shook his head. โThereโs something wrong with you. Whatโre you trying to do? Prove you can build the same business weโve built on your own?โ
โAnd do it even better,โ she said with apparent satisfaction. That had been her goal for a long time, ever since sheโd finished college at Montana State with a degree in business and returned to Anaconda to help her mother make ends meet. After seeing her father become successful drilling water wells, sheโd decided to do the same thing. She knew she didnโt want to get stuck waiting tables forever, and Anaconda didnโt offer a great deal of opportunity.
But it hadnโt been easy to get started. If she hadnโt managed to convince Ross Moore, a successful driller in Anaconda, to hire her, she wouldnโt have had the chance. But sheโd needed only two years of experience, drilling fifteen wells under a licensed contractor, in order to get her own license. So Ross had eventually agreedโjust to be a nice guy, she thoughtโand wound up being so happy with her work heโd kept her as his business expanded until her grandparents gave her their house in Coyote Canyon two and a half years ago, and she decided to go out on her own.
Hendrixโs eyes narrowed. โIโve been pleasant so far, havenโt lifted a finger to stop you. I donโt want toโโ he spread out his hands โโdo anything that would harm you, even financially.โ
โIf there was anything you could do to me financially, you wouldโve done it already,โ she pointed out, which only seemed to enrage him further.
โOur companyโs bigger than yours,โ he said with a hard set to his jaw.
Our company. She was Stuartโs daughter. Hendrix was only his second wifeโs nephew. He stood to take over the business when Stuart died, since Leo wasnโt capable, but he wasnโt even considered a true partner at this point. As she understood it, he was only on salary. And yet, when Hendrix lost his mother to breast cancer, her father had not only allowed Lynn to take him into their home, heโd chosen Hendrix over her in every regard. No doubt Stuart assumed Hendrix was stronger and more capable than she was, but she was bound and determined to prove heโd significantly underestimated her abilities. โThatโs obvious.โ She gave him the once-over. โBut bigger isnโt always better.โ
He stepped closer, too close for comfort, which was probably his intent, and glared down his nose at her. โIt is in this case. Donโt make me put you out of business.โ
He turned on his heel to stalk back to his truck, but she called after him. โYou couldnโt put me out of business if you tried!โ
He stopped before opening his door. โWe have deeper pockets than you do, Ellen. We can play the price game, too. What if I were to go around to all your jobs and offer to drill cheaper? Youโre saying I couldnโt steal your next six months of work from you?โ
โYouโll be taking a heavy loss if you do!โ
He studied her for several seconds. โIโm beginning to think it would be worth it.โ
The size of her monthly billsโthe payment she had to make on her rig aloneโsent a tremor of foreboding through her. She couldnโt withstand a full-on battle with her father and Hendrix. Not one that went on for very long, at least. She needed to back off. But she couldnโt. โYou donโt scare me!โ she yelled. โIโll take you on. Iโll take on both you sons of bitches!โ
His tires spun dirt and gravel as he backed up and nearly hit Ben, who was just coming back in his Jeep.
Ben slammed on his brakes in the nick of time and waited for Hendrix to swerve around him. Then he got out, wide-eyed and slack-jawed, and walked over to where Ellen stood at the rig. โThat was Hendrix Durrant, wasnโt it?โ he said. โI told you he wouldnโt like what weโve been doing. He confronted you about it, didnโt he? Whatโd he say?โ
โNothing,โ she retorted. She couldnโt bring herself to admit that the resentment driving her might have caused her to sign the death warrant on her fledgling businessโthe only thing that was currently keeping a roof over both their heads.
Damn her! Whatโs wrong with her? Hendrix fumed as he drove, probably a little too recklessly, to Lynn and Stuartโs. At thirty-one, he no longer lived with them, but his house wasnโt far away, and he was at their place a lot to see his cousin, Leo, who had Down Syndrome. The office for the drilling business was in one section of the barn, too, and most of their drilling equipment was parked on the property.
Leo was in the wide front yard wearing a snowsuitโeven though it was the end of March and edging toward spring and there were only little patches of white in the shadowsโplaying with his dog, Zeus. He lit up like a Christmas tree the second he saw Hendrix turn in, and came running to the truck.
โHi, Hendrix!โ he said, waving enthusiastically as Hendrix got out. โI been waitinโ for ya. I knew youโd come!โ
Because Hendrix came almost every day. He typically brought Leo a donut or other treat, and he wouldโve again today, except Lynn had told him he had to stop. Leo was gaining too much weight. It was hard for Hendrix to disappoint him, but he had no other choice. โI know youโre probably hoping Iโve got a donut for you, bud, but I couldnโt get over there in time to buy one. Iโm sorry.โ
Leoโs shoulders slumped, and the corners of his mouth turned down, which made Hendrix feel terrible. But in typical Leo style, he perked up right away. โThatโs okay, Hendrix,โ he said as they started to walk, with Zeus, toward the office. โYouโll bring me one tomorrow, right? I like the chocolate with sprinkles. Itโs my favorite. I bet thatโs the one youโll buy me. Youโll bring me the chocolate one tomorrow, wonโt you, Hendrix?โ
Hendrix eyed his thickening middle and offered to take him on a walk instead, but Leo was having none of it.
โAfter I eat my donut?โ he asked.
โYeah, after you eat your donut,โ Hendrix said, finally relenting. He couldnโt refuse, despite Leoโs weight.
Heโd just have to take Leo somewhere else to eat it so Lynn wouldnโt catch them. He hated to contribute to the problem when sheโd asked him not to, but he couldnโt deny his cousin the few simple pleasures he enjoyed so much. Maybe the walk after would zero it out.
โThank you, Hendrix. I canโt wait!โ He rubbed his hands in anticipation as they reached the office. โWhat are you doing today?โ he asked before Hendrix could open the door. โAre you drilling another well? Can I get my steel-toed boots and my hard hat and go with you?โ
It was Friday, Hendrixโs day for picking up parts, fixing broken equipment, giving estimates and helping catch up on any paperwork Lynn was holding back because of questions she had. She helped in the office while they did the drilling, but she must be in the house or getting her hair done or something else today, because Hendrix didnโt see her when he swung open the door. โFor the next little while, Iโm mostly hanging out here with Stuart, okay, bud?โ he said. โBut if I have to run an errand or two, you can come along.โ
Leo smiled widelyโsomething he did almost all the time. โMaybe we could buy a candy bar while weโre out!โ
โNo treats, Leo,โ he said. โThey arenโt good for you, remember?โ
Leoโs shoulders rounded again, until he thought of the donut. โBut youโll bring me a donut tomorrow?โ
Hendrix barely refrained from groaning. Heโd never known anyone with such a sweet tooth. Leo was at him for candy, soda and other junk food all the time. โYes,โ Hendrix told him. โI said I would.โ
โI love you, Hendrix,โ he said. โYouโre the best!โ
It was hard to remain angry about anything in the face of his childlike exuberance. โI love you, too,โ Hendrix said with a chuckle.
But when he walked into the office and Stuart glanced up, he remembered why heโd come skidding into the driveway of their house in the first place.
โYou need to do something about Ellen,โ he said bluntly.
โEllen Truesdale?โ Leo piped up before Stuart, who was sitting at his desk, could respond.
Hendrix wasnโt surprised Leo knew who Ellen was. With her bleached blond hair, cut in a short, jagged style, nose ring and ear piercings, together with the tattoo sleeve that covered one arm, she stood out in the ultraconservative community in which heโd been raised. Not only had she been a hot topic around town, sheโd come up in plenty of conversations between Stuart and Lynn.
Hendrix was surprised, however, that Leo remembered her last name. It wasnโt as if they knew any other Truesdales. As soon as sheโd turned eighteen, Ellen had legally changed her last name to her motherโs maiden nameโanother of her many attempts to get back at Stuart. Leoโs father had been an alcoholic whoโd raised and sold hunting dogsโbefore he shot himself when Lynn left him. Stuart adopted Leo when he and Lynn married three years later, so Leo went by Fetterman. And since Hendrixโs father was found in a tube of sperm cells in a lab somewhere, heโd retained his motherโs last name and went by Durrant.
โYes, Ellen Truesdale,โ Hendrix told him.
Stuart sighed as he rocked back in his chair. โWhatโs she done this time?โ
โTook the Haslem job from us.โ
His father looked startled. โI thought we had that one in the bag. Isnโt Jay your neighbor?โ
About four years ago, Hendrix had bought a small, two-bedroom, two-bath, log-cabin-style home on a couple of acres about five minutes away. Jay lived in the mobile home next doorโuntil he could move to his other property, anyway. โYeah, well, I guess loyalty doesnโt count for much when moneyโs involved.โ
โShe undercut us again?โ
โWordโs getting around that sheโll beat any price we give. At least, thatโs what Iโm guessing. All Jay told me was that he was hiring her because it would save him some money.โ
The beard growth on Stuartโs chin rasped as he rubbed it. โDrillinโs hard work. I canโt believe sheโd do it that cheaplyโand that sheโs actually doing a decent job. Sheโs only about five foot four, maybe a hundred pounds soaking wet.โ
โYou know she has Ben Anderson to help her, right? She hired him right out of high school when she first got here.โ
โI know sheโs got Ben, but it has to be difficult for her even with a hired hand.โ
Hearing the grudging admiration in his voice made Hendrixโs hackles rise again. โSheโs trying to damage our business. You realize that.โ
โSheโs not going to damage it for long,โ Stuart said dismissively. โIโve been drillinโ wells and servicing pumps for forty years. Weโll reach a new equilibrium sooner or later.โ
โIโm not so sure,โ Hendrix argued. โCanโt you meet with her? Have a discussion? Folks talk, especially in a small town like this. If word has it that sheโs the cheapest around, and sheโs a good drillerโฆโ He shook his head. โItโs been two and a half years since she moved here. Sheโs only getting a firmer foothold as the days go by.โ
โWhat do you want me to say to her?โ his uncle asked. โSheโs not doing anything wrong.โ
โPurposely targeting our business isnโt doing anything wrong?โ
โItโs a free market,โ he said with a shrug. โThereโs nothinโ to say another driller canโt move in here and compete with us. Whether itโs her or someone elseโฆโ
โIโll talk to Ellen!โ Leo volunteered. โSheโs so pretty. And such a little thing. I bet I could pick her up.โ
โOh, Iโd never hurt her,โ Leo hurried to reassure him.
Hendrix knew heโd never hurt her intentionally. Leo would never hurt anyone intentionally. But he was a big man, and he didnโt know his own strength. Sometimes he reminded Hendrix of Lennie in Of Mice and Men, not least because he himself identified with George Milton in the role of Leoโs protector. During his teens, heโd been in more fights than he could remember trying to defend Leo from the bullies whoโd tease and make fun of him. โI know you wouldnโt, bud. You just have to remember not to touch her, okay? Ever.โ
โOkay,โ Leo said dutifully.
โSo will you talk to her?โ Hendrix asked, turning back to Stuart.
Stuart blanched. โI donโt know what to say to her,โ he admitted. โI meanโฆwhat can I say? I didnโt do right by her, and thereโs no changing that now.โ
โThen apologize,โ Hendrix said, โbefore she makes me lose my mind.โ
Stuart stared at the paperwork on his desk for several seconds before finallyโand grudginglyโrelenting. โIf I get the opportunity, Iโll see what I can do.โ
โLet me give you the opportunity,โ he said. โSheโs drilling the Slemboskis a well right now. Should be there another day, at least. Maybe longer.โ
His uncleโs jaw had dropped as soon as he heard the name. โThe Slemboskis went with her, too? Slim Slemboskiโs on my bowling team!โ
Hendrix threw up his hands. โSee what I mean?โ
Stuart winced as he went back to rubbing his jaw. โO-kay,โ he said on a downbeat, as if agreeing to talk to Ellen was tantamount to walking the plank. โIโll go over there tomorrow, see what I can do.โ
Excerpted from The Talk of Coyote Canyon by Brenda Novak. Copyright ยฉ 2023 by Breda Novak, Inc. Published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
*****
Author Info:
Brenda Novak, a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author, has penned over sixty novels. She is a five-time nominee for the RITA Award and has won the National Reader’s Choice, the Bookseller’s Best, the Bookbuyer’s Best, and many other awards. She also runs Brenda Novak for the Cure, a charity to raise money for diabetes research (her youngest son has this disease). To date, sheโs raised $2.5 million. For more about Brenda, please visit http://www.brendanovak.com.ย
Who else is ready for a sweet holiday romance? How about nine of them!
A Cowboy This Christmas: A Sweet Romance Anthology
by Roxy Boroughs, Victoria Chatham, Amy Jo Fleming, Raine Hughes, Lawna Mackie, Shawna Mumert, Jan O’Hara, A.M. Westerling, Joanie Wilde
Blurb:
At Christmas, even the loneliest cowboy can find true love, whether it arrives with the subtle fragrance of evergreen or the kick of a wild stallion. Celebrate the holiday season with these nine short, sweet, and heartwarming contemporary romances.
โThe Cowboyโs Comeback Christmasโ โ by Jan OโHara โ USA Today Bestselling Author
The woman formerly known as Shrinking Violet is back, bearing a new no-nonsense attitude and a deadline for leaving town. Five Christmases ago, Russ broke both their hearts. Can he prove heโs a changed man and convince her to stay?
โCapturing the Christmas Cowboyโ – by Roxy Boroughs, Amazon Bestselling Author
To secure her job with an advertising company, an L.A. photographer travels to the wilds of Montana, searching for a rugged cowboy to peddle cheap cologne. There she meets a down-on-his-luck, camera-shy rancher, who wants to give his little brother a homespun Christmas โ just like the ones they knew before they lost their parents.
Recovering from a life-changing injury, a bronc buster drives across Canada with his young sons to work as a ranch foreman. Heart-sore owner, Sally, hides a wariness of being touched with a warm, hopeful smile. Will the miracle of Christmas help them find true healing love?
Mandy Robinson, a server in a country diner is puzzled when her encounters with the new short order chef, injured bull rider, Chay Burton, seem to mirror events as chronicled over a hundred years ago in her great grandmotherโs diary. Romance blossoms as Christmas approaches but should she trust the journal that hints of eventual heartbreak or a cowboy who only has his love to offer?
โAll I Want for Christmasโ โ by Victoria Chatham, Books We Love Bestselling Author
Rancher Luke Evans expects to spend Christmas alone. When a snowstorm strands Kate Cooper and her five-year-old daughter Alice, that changes. While the childโs smile warms his heart, will widowed emergency nurse Kate dare to love again? Could she and Alice become the family Luke always wanted?
โCome Home for Christmas, Cowboyโ – by Amy Jo Fleming
Jolene, a young widow, needs to sell the ranch that she loves. Itโs the only home her son Cody has ever known. Thereโs a catch. Her late husbandโs cousin owns half the property. Devon will be home for the holidays and Jolene needs to convince him to sell before Christmas. Will those old feelings that Jolene and Devon once shared ruin her plans?
โSilver Belleโs Christmas Cowboyโ โ by Lawna Mackie
Being the caregiver to nine reindeer in Alaska has many challenges, including a promise Silver Belle Delaney intends to fulfill. Granted, there are a few hiccups. Steal her employerโs reindeerโฆoh, and his truck and trailer, drive through a blizzard, then hope and pray the handsome, wealthy rancher doesnโt throw her in jail on Christmas Eve.
โMy Cowboy, Until Christmasโ – by Shawna Mumert โ Debut Author
Desperate to keep her ranch, Caroline Bailey, a young widow, hires Trace Morgan, a drifter, to help her until Christmas Eve, when the final ranch payment is due, but working together changes their dreams and their lives.
โA Heart Creek Christmasโ โ by Joanie Wilde โ Debut Author
A kind-hearted equine osteopath lands her dream job โ and possibly the love of her life in a broken-down cowboy. Can they move past their personal barriers to find love in time for Christmas?
This anthology is the work of nine independent-minded women who live in or near cattle country, Alberta.
He’s the new hockey team captain Also my roommate And now my fake fiancรฉ…
When I discover my boyfriend is cheating on me, I quit my job, and move to take up a role as the PR manager for a hockey team. Only problem? There’s a mix up. Now I’m stuck sharing a flat with the grumpy, hockey captain. Worse? (or is that better?) There’s only one bed! Even worse? My ex too has moved, as the captain of the rival team, ugh! When my roomie realizes how much I want revenge he comes up with a plan. He asks me to pose as his fake fiancรฉe on his trip home. In return I get to be seen with him, and show up my ex. I’ve sworn off men, there’s no way I can fall for him. But what happens when sparks fly?
This is a standalone roommates to lovers, fake relationship, one-bed, hockey romance with a possessive hero, a woman who doesn’t hesitate to go toe-to-toe with him, and a champagne guzzling Great Dane who plays matchmaker by mistake. HEA guaranteed. 1-Click NOW
Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
L. Steele writes stories featuring powerful men and strong women who bring them to their knees. When she’s not writing she enjoys trading trivia with her husband, watching lots and lots of movies, and walking nature trails. She lives with her family in London.
Grace Bianchi has always been drawn to men who are allergic to relationships. But when a mysterious man walks into her shop, saving her from a disaster, she finds herself wondering… is he different than the others?
Ryder Cooper is fumbling his way through life. He’s been lost since his wife passed away, leaving him to raise two young children.
But when he meets a beautiful tattoo artist with a zest for life, she makes him wonder…could he love again.
Never Too Soon is a journey of two broken hearts who believe in love as they mend their broken hearts, finding their happily ever after.
I seem to be picking slow burn romances lately ๐
Ryder obviously loves his kids and has put them first the last few years. Needing a fresh start he packs them up to a new town. He’s been struggling a bit but hopefully the change of scenery will help them move forward.
I like Gracie. She’s sassy but with a vulnerability thanks to a troubling past relationship. Her family is also a hoot – loving and open, sometimes a little overwhelming in how they embrace others, but with enormous hearts.
The first part of the book is a lot dancing around each other for Ryder and Gracie, as they get to know each other and we get to know them. It’s low drama with a very realistic feel as they have to decide if that pull they felt on the first meeting is worth pursuing and whether a relationship will work in their lives. This kinda book isn’t going to be for everyone but I think it’ll be enjoyed by those that do.
*****
Author Info:
Chelle Bliss is the Wall Street Journal & USA Today bestselling author of Men of Inked Series and Misadventures of a City Girl.
She’s a full-time writer, time-waster extraordinaire, social media addict, coffee fiend, ex-high school history teacher, and currently lives near the beach even though she hates sand. Chelle loves spending time with her two cats, alpha boyfriend, and chatting with readers.
Acacia has hated Edwin ever since โthe incidentโ four years ago, but when stormy weather threatens both their businesses, they realize a farewell to arms may be the best way to avoid a dangerous summer. Readers who love the Man of the Month Club will devour Enemies in Earnest by Willow Sanders, a steamy, small town, forced proximity, enemies-to-lovers romance.
Enemies in Earnest
Candy Cane Key
Man of the Month: July
by Willow Sanders
Blurb:
Acacia Ashley has one love: the written word. Specifically the rich, earthy, prose of Mr. Ernest Hemingway. Her love for Hemingway goes so deep that she opened a bar in his honor. Every year in July she plays host to Hemingway Days in Candy Cane Key, and every year she has to stay on guard in case Edwin Wheeler decides once again to find a way to ruin the solemnity of the occasion.
Edwin Wheeler doesn’t care about books or old men, but the sea? The sea is where he spends his days in search of the almighty dollar. But when he grows bored of plying tourists with fruity drinks, heโs often found needling the resident bookworm, Acacia. She’s hated him ever since the incident four years ago. Why does getting a rise out of her give him a bit of a rise as well?
When the bell tolls signaling approaching stormy weather that threatens both of their businesses, the pair realizes a farewell to arms may be the best way to avoid a dangerous summer.
It was much easier to ruminate over oneโs nemesis when he wasnโt ten feet away. The other problem? The way he doted on and cared for his mother was literally catnip. Lady Kitty catnip, not like, for Six- toed Joe. The second his mom shivered, he was there with her cardigan. She coughed, he had her water at the ready. He repeated what MariJoโs nephew and niece said, but louder and in the direction of her good ear, without making it obvious he did it for her benefit. How could someone who was such an asshole be so sweetly attentive to his mother? It didnโt compute.
โWhat if we served a buffet of Hemingway-inspired appetizers?โ Asher asked, his bushy eyebrows the only thing I could make out over the clipboard he referenced.
โNow wouldnโt that be a hoot?โ Edwin flipped a fifty onto the counter. โIโm sure no one in the history of Hemingway-inspired bars, restaurants, parties, or events has ever thought to offer a little canape dipped in literary puns.โ
Asher lifted an eyebrow in his direction as if to ask me is he for real? Unfortunately, yes, he was. The two of us had a War and Peace length conversation in silent eye rolls and quirks of lip before Asher heaved a dramatic sigh and placed his clipboard on the counter.
โI believe it was the great Oscar Wilde who said sarcasm is the lowest form of wit.โ
Edwin nabbed a cherry from my garnish center, shrugging in Asherโs direction. God, he was ridiculous. He never took his eyes off me, even though the shrug was directed at Asher. Did he want me to chastise him for stealing a cherry? Because of the list of things I could chastise the man over, being a cherry stealer was low on the list.
โWhat can I do for you Edwin?โ
I tried to be as subtle as I could, affixing the plastic top to the tray of garnish. It was a place of business after all. Sanitation was important. Certainly, no one wanted his grubby, work-roughened fingers anywhere near their drinks.
โNow thereโs a statement heavy with possibility.โ
Edwin Wheeler did not get to do funny things to my nervous system. No maโam. The way his voice went soft and gravely did not affect the steady, reliable thrum of my pulse. And his tipped lip or the mischievous glint in his eyes did not make my face feel hot. Iโd rather succumb to food poisoning from bad fish than have him be the reason I felt flushed and a little woozy.
โDid your mom call up your cousin and ask him to come for a playdate? That was so considerate of her. This way you have someone who is obligated to tolerate your company every day while your boatโs boo-boos get all patched up.โ
At that moment, the sexy version of Santa Claus, also known as Edwinโs cousin, took a seat next to him at the bar and regarded me.
โHowโs that champagne coming along?โ he asked his cousin.
โThis hereโs Klaus.โ Edwin cocked his head.
โBottle or glasses?โ I asked, ignoring the flirty challenge in Edwinโs eyes. โThe bottle is probably the better choice as youโll get four glasses out of it for thirty dollars versus four glasses of champagne at nine fifty a piece which would be thirty-eight, before tax.โ
Edwinโs eyes flit to the fifty he had sitting in front of him and back up to look at me. Though that didnโt really answer the question. Regardless of which he chose, the fifty covered it and then some.
He didnโt get to win. It was my bar. If I were a petty person, Iโd pour four glasses and charge him the per-glass rate. If he wanted to play Mr. Unaffected, James Dean cool, and answer me in smirks and eyebrow lifts instead of words, fine. Iโd show him.
Copyright 2023 Willow Sanders
*****
Author Info:
A marketer by day, and author by night, Willow Sanders is a best-selling author of sweet with heat Contemporary Romance and Romantic Suspense. She loves to write spunky, take no shit women, and understanding men with a strong side of sarcasm and an extra helping of BDE. When not writing you can find her torn between her loyalty to the Fighting Illini and her husbandโs loyalty to Michigan State, bemoaning traffic, feeding her caffeine addiction, and trying to find the connection between her and the Gilmore Girlsโbecause she is certain she is a long-lost family member.
Drake McGinn turned his back on hockey after the league betrayed him. Will the Titans be his chance to clear his name and take back the career he once loved?
After I made the decision to divorce, my ex-wife set out on a smear campaign against me, telling anyone who would listen that I was betting on hockey and throwing games. It wasnโt surprising that my ex told the lies, but the fact that the media, league, and fans chose to believe her baseless claims was unforgivable. I walked away from it all and never looked back.
Having settled into life as a single dad to three boys, Iโm content. I have more money than I could ever need, and plenty of time to do whatever I want, whenever I want, and whoever I want. So when Brienne Norcross, the team owner for the Pittsburgh Titans, shows up at my house with a job offer, I have no problem turning her down. But the no-nonsense billionaire, with sinfully seductive red lips and killer heels that would look hot as hell thrown over my shoulders, wonโt take โnoโ for an answer.
Now I need to find balance between hockey, my boys, and the explosive chemistry Brienne and I can no longer deny. A cast-off hockey player and the leagueโs only female team owner? I can think of a million reasons why it could never work but canโt bring myself to care about a single one of them. Game on.
Drake has some serious trust issues after being betrayed by both his ex-wife and the league. It makes his attraction to Brienne very complicated – he can handle things when its just his body involved but as soon as its his heart things become problematic.
While Brienne tries, she can’t resist the pull she feels for the cocky hockey player. If they can keep it superficial … but as he shows her his caring side, for his family and for her, deeper feelings soon follow.
Bennett is amazing at delivering characters, both male and female, that are strong but with vulnerabilities that need to be overcome on their way to a HEA. Both Drake and Brienne have their reasons for keeping things light but their attraction is so overwhelming that they find themselves spending more and more time together, with emotions developing that neither of them want. Steamy, sassy, and smart Bennett delivers yet another must read. Her Titans are guaranteed to deliver and I’m ready to see what she will bring next.
(I think there should be a content warning for those who have concerns around consent. Drake is very alpha and a take charge guy in the bedroom. He also recognizes that while Brienne owns her sexuality, most of the time she wants to give up control because she spends so much of her time making big decisions as the CEO of her company. It works for a romance novel but it may be disturbing for some as there are times when Drake pushes her a little. Just putting that out there for those that need it.)
*****
Author Info:
New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author Sawyer Bennett uses real life experience to create relatable stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From contemporary romance, fantasy romance, and both womenโs and general fiction, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.
A former trial lawyer from North Carolina, when she is not bringing fiction to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to her very adorable daughter, as well as full-time servant to her wonderfully naughty dogs.
If youโd like to receive a notification when Sawyer releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter (sawyerbennett.com/signup).
Romantic Reads and Such 