Thank you, Nancy.
Released this week, Catching a Curveball is now available as an ebook. Four delightful women I met on a cruise were the inspiration for the characters Michelle (the heroine) and her sisters and best friend . A fun book to write, this contemporary romance filled with humor, heartbreak, and powerful chemistry is the fourth in the Azalea Valley Series and can be read as a standalone. The first three in the series, Wildfire and Roses, Rhythm in Blue, and Blue Skies of Summer are also available through Amazon and my publisher, Soul Mate Publishing.
Blurb
Benjamin McLemore, a major league pitcher with a magazine cover worthy face and body, agrees to accompany his girlfriend, a professional model, on a Caribbean cruise, but she cancels at the last minute leaving him onboard.
To celebrate her 25th birthday, Azalea Valley's stunning air-traffic controller, Michelle Barlowe, books the same cruise with her sisters and best friend. Broken-hearted from a personal tragedy, she hopes for a relaxing vacation to help her heal.
Neither is looking for a relationship, but when Benjamin and Michelle meet on deck, their chemistry is instant and undeniable. The shadow of his girlfriend, however, thwarts their passion despite their powerful attraction and forces them to part ways.
The two meet again in the cozy world of Azalea Valley after Benjamin returns during his off-season for a family wedding. Their love blossoms and this time cannot be denied. That is, until a cruel twist of fate steals Benjamin's future, and Michelle learns a shocking secret that tears them apart.
Can they navigate the storm, or will they crash on the rocks?
Excerpt from Catching a Curveball
Relaxed after the massage and lunch, Michelle dawdled while
getting ready for the drink with Benjamin. After conferring with her cabin
mates, she chose the new cobalt blue bikini she’d bought for the cruise and
slipped on shorts and a halter top purchased on her last trip to Charleston.
The idea of seeing him again caused her internal temperature to rise—a feeling
she had not experienced in a long time.
Slinging her hands to release the nervous energy, she
proceeded to the Lido deck. Benjamin sat at a patio table in the pool area near
the entrance. Oh, my. The white linen shirt, a stark contrast
against his tan, thick dark hair a woman could run her fingers through, and
those deep brown eyes . . . She studied his profile. A strong jaw. When she
stepped beside him, he stood. His male scent alone left her lightheaded. Mmm,
those full lips. Perfect for kissing. Too bad she would never find out. “Hi.”
“Hello again.” A gentleman, he pulled the chair out for her
to sit.
A crew member came to their table. “Would you like anything
to drink?”
Benjamin motioned for her to order.
She lifted her sunglasses. “What is the drink of the day?”
“Sex on the Beach.”
“Oh, I had Sex on the Beach yesterday.”
The attendant suppressed a smile. Benjamin didn’t. Instead,
he let out a rich deep laugh. “Good for you.”
She felt the heat in her face. “I mean . . . Never mind. You
know what I meant.” What was wrong with her? Get it together. What
the heck? Since she didn’t plan to fall in love again, a Caribbean fling might
be what she needed. “On second thought, sex on the beach sounds
perfect."
More about the Author
Hope Malory, author of contemporary
romance and romantic suspense novels, grew up in a small Tennessee town. An
avid reader, she was often away on an adventure in her mind…a true
foreshadowing of things to come. Ms. Malory invents strong-willed characters and
puts them in precarious situations.
Today, Hope and her husband live near Nashville and travel as often as they can. Together they still make plenty of time for family including two grandchildren, but you’re just as likely to find them preparing for their next journey. Hope’s love of travel and culture make it into her novels giving them a touch of intrigue and creating beautiful settings for a down home story of love and family. Connect with her at these sites:
No comments:
Post a Comment