I met Donna Steele many years ago at a writer's meeting in Raleigh, North Carolina. She lives quite a distance away so it was nice to see her and talk over coffee after those monthly meetings. The pandemic meant we 'talked' on zoom for the next couple of years, but we kept competing by writing the next book and the next (she is winning). I am excited to help her share the release of her latest book, a contemporary romance that will take your breath away.
Blurb
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Dylan has no time for a relationship, even one
her older relative dictates. She’s learning the corporation she will eventually
head and that’s enough, until she steps off the elevator and see the new guy
who moved in next door.
Nash’s military career is over, due to an explosion, but he has a job now with
friends at Sutton and Associates and new place to live. He can heal there and
work from home. Then his new neighbor steps into the hall…
Excerpt -
Dylan stepped off the elevator outside of her place, more than
ready to kick off her shoes and relax. It had been a long day and she was more
than ready to sluff it off. She had even taken the time to stop in the lobby of
her building to look at her dad’s portrait. That had helped. It was on the wall
next to Granddad now. Great-aunt Lucille’s picture wasn’t on the wall, not yet,
even though she was running the company currently. Such placement would be
Dylan’s responsibility after Lucille was gone no doubt.
It was a good portrait of Dad, but she’d so much rather have him
back. She would run the company one day, for him. It would have been better to
do it together.
She stopped short at the sight of the chaos and mess that
confronted her in the hall outside of her apartment.
Flattened cardboard, bubble wrap, and paper wrappings were piled
high outside the apartment next door to hers. The place had been unoccupied for
a couple of weeks while the company cleaned it. Looked like she had a new
neighbor. At least she didn’t see a drum set or any brass instruments thank
goodness. Before she could get to her door, the other one opened and a man
stepped out.
Okay, yes, she swallowed hard at the sight of him. Damn, did they
really make them like that? Tall, well over six feet, military short dark hair,
and all muscle. The t-shirt covering his chest showed his pecs off to great
advantage. Had she ever seen an honest-to-god six pack not air brushed before?
There was no way she could get her arms around his chest. Not that she’d ever
have an opportunity to try. She took a mental step back.
He looked up and gave her the most adorable sideways grin which
transformed his face from slightly scary to mischievous. There was even a
twinkle in his dark eyes. “Sorry. I’ll get this stuff out of here as soon as
possible.”
“Don’t worry about it. Moving is a messy business. I’m Dylan, I
live there.” She pointed at the apartment next to his. Their doors were next to
each other, so his place was a mirror image of hers. Good, their bedrooms were
on opposite ends of the apartments because a man who looked like him would no
doubt have lots of overnight company.
“Nash.” He held out a hand and she took it, though it engulfed
hers. Wherever he came from, they grew ‘em big. Did she hear a slight southern
accent? She couldn’t stop herself from wondering how large he was everywhere
and mentally slapped herself. This was no way to think about a new neighbor.
Even a hunk like him.
“Let me get this out of the way.”
His packing material wasn’t encroaching on her door yet, but it
would be soon if he had much more.
“Guess I’ll be seeing you around.” His devastating sideways grin
was back, and her next thought was ‘player.’ Damn good-looking player. Yeah, a lot of
overnight guests. And she couldn’t blame them.
Snap judgment, Dylan, she chastised herself but
met his grin with a smile of her own. “I’m sure we will,” she offered as she
stepped inside.
She let herself in and with a last glance, closed the door behind
her.
And sank against it.
Damn, he was pretty. Okay, pretty wasn’t nearly the correct word,
but looking at him at been no hardship at all. If thugs took over the
neighborhood, she was planning to huddle behind him. They’d never see her. Too
bad she didn’t have time to pursue something with him. Nope, he was a neighbor
in any case, too close for that kind of thing. And she was pretty sure she
wasn’t his type. Why did strippers and pole dancers immediately come to mind?
He had however brightened her outlook at the end of a long day.
She kicked off her shoes and headed for the kitchen.
As far as she was concerned, the neighborhood, already
nice—despite her aunt’s opinion—had just ticked up several notches.
Bio -
Donna writes
science fiction, paranormal and small-town romances about women coming into
their strength and having the courage to find and accept love.
Now that she has
retired from going into an office every day, she created an office at home and
writes full time. Talk about living the dream!
She was the girl
at the party who was yearning for the quiet corner and a book to read (go Rory
Gilmore!) and has been writing in her head since she learned to read. Getting
those stories down on paper (or in her laptop) has been more fun than she ever
imagined it could be.
The possibilities
of science fiction have always drawn her, and she’s read them all, there just
needed to be a little more romance in them. She finally
got up the courage to write them herself and is delighted to be able to share
these stories with you.
She is a member
of Romance Writers of America and the Heart of Carolina Romance Writers.
Please sign up
for her newsletter here.
And follow her at Twitter, Bookbub, Goodreads, Facebook
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