Unwrapping a Guest Review by Connie Fischer of A LORD APART, a The Way to a Lord's Heart novel by Jane Ashford

Greetings my darling readers, I know I’ve been remiss in providing you reviews of good reads this past year and I apologize. Life has a hold on me which does not allow me much reading time. I have tried to make up for that in publishing my own good reads for you and I hope you’ve given them a try. So to make up for my neglect, I will be offering up guest reviews for you enjoy. I hope to be back reviewing for you soon but in the meantime, I hope you’ll enjoy my dear friend, Connie Fischer’s reviews to guide you to good reads. Enjoy and Happy Reading!

I present to you a guest review of A LORD APART, a The Way to a Lord’s Heart novel by Jane Ashford, published March 26, 2019.

Blurb for A LORD APART:

Family secrets, an unlikely alliance―and a love neither expected...

After his parents' sudden death, Daniel Frith, Viscount Whitfield, is struggling to unravel a web of chaotic family records. He is astonished to learn his father's will contains a mysterious legacy: a house left to a complete stranger. He knows nothing about the beautiful Penelope Pendleton and he's not sure he wants to...until she turns out to be a whiz at all those nasty tasks involved in estate administration...

Penelope has no idea why Rose Cottage was left to her. But it's a godsend after her brother's reckless actions disgraced her family. She had planned to stay out of Viscount Whitfield's way, not grow ever closer to him. But when they discover how entwined their families really are, Daniel and Penelope must collaborate to avoid a scandal that reaches much higher than they could have guessed...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Connie’s Review:

Daniel Frith, Viscount Whitfield, age 27, recently lost his parents when their ship went down in a storm. The couple had loved to travel, exploring new places, and that’s how they spent most of their lives.

Since becoming the Viscount and owner of the family estate, Frithgerd, Daniel has been overwhelmed with the mess of papers piled up in no sort of order. It appears that the estate manager also left some time ago. After spending days trying to sort through the papers, Daniel becomes more and more frustrated.

Penelope Pendleton, age 23, is riding in a coach with her maid, Kitty, when she is overtaken by a coughing fit. The smoky factory air of Manchester has irritated her lungs for a long time now, and she hopes the clean air of Yorkshire will help her. Her destination is Rose Cottage, a small cottage on Daniel’s estate. When he meets her, they both realize they don’t know why his father left her the cottage. It has been uninhabited for some time so Daniel insists on sending people to clean it for her.

As Daniel and Penelope get to know one another, he confides that he has a mess of papers to sort and she volunteers to help him as this is something she has done before and she is quite good at it. They are hoping that they also find out why his father left Rose Cottage to her. She confides that after her parents died, her brother was suspected of being a Luddite before his death which resulted in her losing her home. Now, she is very grateful to have received the gift of Rose Cottage.

In sorting the papers, they find some journals that could have some devastating repercussions if they got in the wrong hands. Will they be able to find out the meaning of these journals? Will their togetherness lead to something more?

I have read many books by Jane Ashford. Some of them have been confusing so readers must pay very close attention to what they are reading. The author adds quite a few subplots which all come together in the end to make for a great read. Enjoy!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A LORD APART, a The Way to a Lord’s Heart novel by Jane Ashford, Sourcebook Casablanca,  available now in ebook and print at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobobooks.

Unwrapping a Review for HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF, a SWAT: Special Wolf Alpha Team novel by Paige Tyler

It’s been a while since I’ve won a print book in a giveaway, but I was thrilled to win one with such a hot cover that I can actually see – laughing – and that featured hot SWAT team members who happen to be alpha wolf shifters. HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF – great title – by Paige Tyler and I was not disappointed.

***print copy courtesy of Crystal Blog Books and the publisher without a request for review, but I’m sharing my honest and unscripted review

Blurb for HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF:

The Dallas SWAT team is hiding one helluva secret . . . they're a pack of wolf shifters.

The team of elite sharpshooters is ultra-secretive—and also the darlings of Dallas. This doesn't sit well with investigative journalist Mackenzie Stone. They must be hiding something . . . and she's determined to find out what.

Keeping Mac at a distance proves impossible for SWAT team commander Gage Dixon. She's smart, sexy, and makes him feel alive for the first time in years. But she's getting dangerously close to the truth—and perilously close to his heart...

~*~               ~*~                ~*~                ~*~

Mackenzie Stone, Mac to those who know her, is an investigative reporter and she doesn’t quit until she gets her story. When she gets a tip that there might be something mysterious going on in the ranks of Dallas’s elite SWAT team, she goes after the story and comes away with more than she expected…one hot man.

Gage Dixon has his hands full as commander of the toughest, hottest, most alpha pack of elite sharpshooting wolf shifting SWAT team imaginable. These guys are tough, ready to the job, but also ready to tear each other apart at any moment – alpha males extraordinaire. As if keeping them from killing each other isn’t enough to prevent him from having any kind of a life, he also has to make sure that their secret is kept under wraps too. Of course, this isn’t going to be easy with the sexy, delicious smelling Mac Stone nosing around, but then he has to admit that he likes having her around – a lot.

When the bad guys start getting too close and far too close to Mac, Gage and the team have to make some tough decisions, but allowing anything to happen to her is totally unacceptable.

HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF by Paige Tyler is everything I love in a PNR. It’s action-packed, exciting, filled with sexy men that make your mouth water imagining them, and then for some reason, whenever you throw alpha males together, you get humor too. I love these guys and yes, I want more of the Dallas SWAT team. These guys are bigger, tougher, faster, stronger, and growl a lot but they are funny, smart, sexy, and very protective. Yeah, they might leave a bit more hair around than we prefer for our heroes but I can handle that because they are hot, and Gage is the hottest of the hot. He’s the alpha who is alpha among the alphas yet with Mac, he’s a sweet, gentle, although major alpha in bed, sexy man or should I say puppy dog. J

And when he shifts into his wolf, he gives Mac a whole new definition of riding her man.

I highly recommend HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF, book one in the SWAT: Special Wolf Alpha Team series by Paige Tyler even if you’re not a great fan of paranormal romance because the story is exceptional even without the wolf shifting and the romance, steamy as all get out. If you like sexy alpha male heroes…this series promises and delivers. I know I’m going to be reading more from Paige Tyler.

Happy Reading Everyone!

HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF, a SWAT: Special Wolf Alpha Team novel by Paige Tyler, Sourcebooks Casablanca, available in print and ebook formats at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobobooks.

Unwrapping a Review of SHARP SHOOTIN' COWBOY, a Hot Cowboys Night novel by Victoria Vane

Okay, I admit it…I am a die-hard fan of Victoria Vane’s, whether it be her Georgian erotic romances or her contemporary cowboy romances. SHARP SHOOTIN’ COWBOY, Victoria’s newest Hot Cowboy Nights novel, which releases tomorrow, proves it without a doubt.

***eARC provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unscripted review.

Blurb for SHARP SHOOTIN’ COWBOY:

TAKE YOUR BEST SHOT, COWBOY…

A Weary warrior…After eight years as a Marine sniper, war-scarred Reid Everett is back in his native Wyoming. He knows and loves this rugged land, so working for wildlife services to reduce the booming wolf population suits him to a T.

A Caring crusader…Wildlife biologist Haley Cooper is desperate to make a difference. Leaving the world of academia behind, she accepts a position as a wolf advocate to protect the animals she loves.

Raw attraction…Their jobs set them on a collision course, but chemistry sparks like wildfire between Reid and Haley. They’ll have to brave some rough territory if they hope to reconcile their polarizing views with a passion that won’t be denied.

~*~                 ~*~                 ~*~                 ~*~                 ~* ~

Two people with completely differing ideas about life and the value of life come together in a clash of passion. Haley Cooper has no use for men with guns, especially Marines. When he kills animals for food and to protect livestock, well, this just gives him even more strikes against him. Now, if only she can get him out of her head.

Reid Everett is a man of honor, a man of principle, and a man of the frontier. He’s lived his life with a gun in his hand, and went on to use that skill as a Marine sniper who has seen his fair share, and more, of death but values what’s necessary to keep the balance. Meeting Haley Cooper has him rethinking things even as he butts heads with her. His desire for her drives him to reconsider many things, including his tactics to win her heart.

Victoria Vane certainly knows how to write some sexy cowboys and some stand by her principles women. SHARP SHOOTIN’ COWBOY is the third book in the Hot Cowboy Nights series and as with the first two books, we meet men with some old-fashioned ideas about what kind of women fit into their world, and then we meet the women who change their minds.

Haley is such a woman. She carries a passion for protecting the wildlife of this planet and cannot wrap her mind around how a man, who puts his life on the line to protect the freedoms of our country and others, can hunt animals, particularly wolves, in good conscience. Of course, her self-proclaimed prejudice against Marines doesn’t do much to gain him favor in her eyes, but Reid isn’t one to give up easily either. Compromise and understanding become the name of the game in this passionate, banter-filled relationship that constantly teeters on the edge of falling apart. A deep attraction and sexually charged desire keep them coming back together until love finally conquers their bullheadedness. I’m not going to give anything away but when you read the epilogue, you’ll discover yourself grinning from ear to ear.

It’s truly difficult for me to choose a favorite in this series and I suspect with each addition, it’s going to become even harder. The strength of Victoria's imagination and writing speaks for itself...and her cowboys rock the pages.

I highly recommend reading SHARP SHOOTIN’ COWBOY by Victoria Vane. It’s a sweet, compassionate contemporary romance starring a sexy, sharp shooter cowboy turned Marine, who reveals just how honorable a man he truly is, and in a way, which will surely surprise you. Each novel in this series easily stands alone but this one does it the best. If you haven’t tested out the cowboy love of the Hot Cowboy Nights series yet, do it with SHARP SHOOTIN’ COWBOY. I think you’ll have a very good time.

Happy Reading Everyone!

SHARP SHOOTIN’ COWBOY, a Hot Cowboy Nights novel by Victoria Vane, Sourcebooks Casablanca, release date – June 2, 2015, available in print and ebook formats at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobobooks.

***click on links above or cover below for purchasing information, please remember even pennies per sale using my links help keep this blog alive. Thank You.

   

Unwrapping a Review of VISCOUNT OF VICE, a Covent Garden Cub novella by Shana Galen

I’ve been reading Shana Galen’s wonderful stories for some time now and have watched her grow into a first-class author of historical romance. With the Jewels of the Ton series, she made me a die-hard fan. The novella, VISCOUNT OF VICE is her transition story from this amazing series to the brand new Coven Garden Cubs series and well, she’s done it again. I’m hooked.

***purchased for my own personal reading but sharing my honest and unscripted review

Blurb for VISCOUNT OF VICE:

This sparkling novella introduces award-winning author Shana Galen's brand new series, Covent Garden Cubs. Galen mixes London's glittering ballrooms with the gritty underworld in her exciting new Regency romance series.

Whispers and secrets are no match for love...

Henry Flynn, the new Lord Chesham, still blames himself for the disappearance of his younger brother when they were children. That incident destroyed his family, and now he's on a path of self-destruction that no one can interrupt...

Lady Emma Talbot can't stand watching the man she secretly loves destroy himself little by little. She's determined to show him that no one holds him culpable, before it's too late. But Emma doesn't know what really happened to Flynn on that fateful day long ago, so what chance does she have of saving him from himself? 

~*~             ~*~             ~*~             ~*~

Henry Flynn carries guilt like other men carry confidence. With no wish to believe himself deserving of anyone or anything grand, he does his best to drown his sorrows in drink and live up to the name of Viscount of Vice. The darling Emma Talbot believes him to be one of the best men, if he’d ever take a moment to notice her. When Henry is finally reunited with his long lost brother, Matthew, his guilt over his brother’s state threatens to pull him even deeper into a state of deserving nothing good in his life. Emma is determined to help him see the error of that thinking, and save him from himself.

We first met Flynn in the Jewels of the Ton series and Emma is the sister of the Duke of Ravenscroft from SAPPHIRES ARE AN EARL’S BEST FRIEND. Emma has been in love with Flynn for years but always felt like she went completely unnoticed by the handsome man. When she comes of age, she gains Henry’s notice but now she feels it’s too late because he is steeped in his own wallowing guilt. What she doesn’t realize is that Henry has always noticed her, and lusts for her.

I liked Emma a lot. She’s not the average young lady of the ton looking simply to marry a wealthy man of title. She’s got an independent nature and enjoys her volunteer work at the hospital. We are introduced to an element of mystery, which I suspect will carry through into the series, when Emma and Flynn are pulled away to Bath and become embroiled in a dramatic rescue surrounding his brother. It was rather delightful to have the setting take us out of London to the sleepy town where a dark side is revealed. I don’t wish to tell you more for it would be too easy to reveal the whole story.

I highly recommend reading VISCOUNT OF VICE by Shana Galen as it is driven by action from the first pages to the last - some funny things happen too. If you’ve read the Jewels of the Ton, you most certainly will thrill to Flynn and Emma’s story and be left wanting more in the Covent Garden Cubs series which leads off with the full length, EARLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN, already available and on my reading list.

If you haven’t experienced the exciting stories of lords and ladies, spies, and bow runners conjured by Shana Galen, then get your first taste with VISCOUNT OF VICE…you’ll be hooked forever.

Happy Reading Everyone!

VISCOUNT OF VICE, a Covent Garden Cubs novella by Shana Galen, Sourcebooks Casablanca, available now in ebook formats at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobobooks.

***click on links or cover below for purchasing information, remember even pennies per sale using my links help keep this blog alive. Thank You.

   

Spotlight on ROUGH RIDER, book 2 in the Hot Cowboy Nights series by Victoria Vane + #Giveaway

ROUGH RIDER
Hot Cowboy Nights #2

by Victoria Vane

Coming February 3, 2015 from Sourcebooks Casablanca

Two wary hearts …

Janice Combes has two loves, bucking bulls and Dirk Knowlton. But Dirk only has eyes for a dazzling rodeo queen. How can Janice ever compete while mired ankle-deep in manure? Exchanging playful banter with Dirk is all Janice can expect—until the stormy night he knocks on her door dripping wet and needing a place to crash.

Different Dreams…

Dirk Knowlton is living the cowboy dream. Life should be good—roping, branding, backing broncs, riding bulls, but there's a void he can't seem to fill. After getting hung up by a bull, he wonders if this is really the life he wants. Restless and rebellious, he bolts…but there’s a certain cowgirl he can’t forget.

When a battle-scarred Dirk returns to his Montana ranch he's determined to hang on at any cost. Janice has come back home to lick her own wounds. When old dreams turn to dust, can two wary hearts take another chance on love? 

  

Excerpt from ROUGH RIDER by Victoria Vane:

He looked abashed. “We didn’t just have to leave the party, we got kicked out of the hotel too.”

“Evicted from your room?”

“Yup. And there aren’t any others available in all of Casper.”

“I know,” she said. “It’s why I’m camped out here.” She paused to digest what he’d left unsaid. “So you and Rachel?”

He shook his head with a scowl “We’re done now. Quits.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Nope. History. Case closed.”

“It’ll blow over.”

“Don’t think so. It was her idea to boot us. Said she didn’t give a shit if

I had a room tonight or not. Then I couldn’t even try finding anything outside of town because my asshole brother took my keys so I wouldn’t drive. My next move was to pilfer a blanket and pillow and camp out under the stars in my truck bed, but then it started pouring on me.”

“So you came here. How’d you do that with no wheels?”

“Walked.”

“Three miles in the pouring rain? No wonder you look like something the cat dragged in.”

“Can I crash for a coupla hours? Maybe just camp out in the back seat of your dually? All I need is to get warm and dry again.”

Janice’s mouth went dry as sawdust. Dirk Knowlton. Cold. Wet. Here. Now. Wanting a bed? She’d give her right arm to warm him up. Heck yeah.

Misreading her silence he mumbled a curse. “Sorry, Janice. It’s my damned head. I’m not thinkin’ right. It’s still throbbing like hell.

Haven’t been myself all night. M’pologies for being such a dumb-ass and imposing on you—” He turned to the door.

“No! Wait. It’s not that.” She grabbed his sleeve. “I was just thinking of your injuries. You don’t need to make matters worse by sleeping all cramped up in the truck.” She gnawed her lower lip and then blurted.

“Y-you wanna just stay here instead?”

“Here? That’s mighty generous but there isn’t a whole lot of room for both of us.” He glanced up at the gooseneck with a frown. “If you’ll just gimme a blanket, I’ll take the floor.”

“You don’t need to do that,” she said. “The bench here flips down over the table and converts into a single. It’s really narrow and not very comfortable, but still better than the truck. Warmer anyway. Besides you need to get dry.”

“You sure about this?” he asked.

“Yeah.” She smiled. “What are friends for? I’m sure I’ve got a shirt for you too.”

“Thanks, Red. That would be great.”

Red? The single syllable rippled warm and tingly, all the way to her toes. He followed up with a lopsided grin that stopped her in her tracks. She turned to the small cabinet that served a dual function as dresser and closet and shut her eyes on a sigh—but the same air stuck in her throat the minute she turned back around.

He’d shed the denim jacket. And the black tee. His bare torso with well-developed pecs and a mouthwatering six pack greeted her. He was drying his face with his discarded shirt. Janice tore her gaze away and cleared her throat. “Here.” She thrust an extra-large Dixie Chicks T-shirt into his hands, a souvenir from their Top of the World Tour.

“I—I can get you a towel too.”

He eyed the shirt skeptically. “No thanks.”

“What? You don’t like female musicians?”

“Don’t like their politics. Natalie should just shut up and sing.”

“Ah.” She nodded slowly. The shirt was from the tour that caused the “incident.” A lot of her friends had since thrown out their Dixie Chicks CDs, but Janice still loved their music. “I Can Love You Better” was her favorite. The lyrics, she’s got you wrapped up in her satin and lace. Tied around her little finger…but I can love you better, perfectly summed up all the heartbreak and frustrations of unrequited love; all her secret feelings for Dirk. She only wished she could show him now that he was here. In the flesh. A big strong, blue-lipped and teeth-chattering fantasy come true.

***Click HERE to read my review of ROUGH RIDER by Victoria Vane.

Praise for SLOW HAND by Victoria Vane:

“A “red-hot cowboy tale...their sexual chemistry crackles. Well-paced, scorching scenes and witty banter move the story along while setting the stage for Wade’s war-hero brother to find his own true love in the next installment.” – Publishers Weekly

“SLOW HAND by Victoria Vane is delightful, funny, page turning steamy sexy… I'm beginning to think Victoria could write a phone book and make it sexy.” –Unwrapping Romance (Check out my review of SLOW HAND)

“PULL THE FIRE ALARM & STOCK UP ON FIRE EXTINGUISHERS FOR THIS STEAMY ROMANCE!” – Avon Romance

About the Author:

Victoria Vane is a multiple award-winning romance novelist and history junkie whose collective works of fiction range from wildly comedic romps to emotionally compelling erotic romance. Victoria also writes historical fiction as Emery Lee and is the founder of Goodreads Romantic Historical Fiction Lovers and the Romantic Historical Lovers book review blog.

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest| Goodreads

Buy Links: 
Amazon | Apple | B&N | BAM |!ndigo | IndieBound | Kobo

TOURWIDE GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ROUGH RIDER, a Hot Cowboy Nights novel by Victoria Vane, Sourcebooks Casablanca, releasing February 3, 2015, available in print and ebook formats.

   

Unwrapping a Review of ROUGH RIDER, book two in the Hot Cowboy Nights series by Victoria Vane

The Hot Cowboy Nights series by Victoria Vane is turning out to be an exceptionally good contemporary romance set from an author who has given us richly researched and in depth looks into Georgian period piece romances. Am I surprised? Yes. And no. ROUGH RIDER, book two in the Hot Cowboy Nights by Victoria Vane is worth the ride if you love cowboys, rodeos, and steamy second chance romance.

***eARC provided by author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unscripted review.

Blurb for ROUGH RIDER:

Two loves ...
Janice Combes has two loves, bucking bulls and Dirk Knowlton. But Dirk only has eyes for a dazzling rodeo queen. How can Janice ever compete while mired ankle-deep in manure? Exchanging playful banter with Dirk is all Janice can expect-until the stormy night he knocks on her door dripping wet and needing a place to crash.

Different Dreams...
Dirk Knowlton is living the cowboy dream. Life should be good-roping, branding, backing broncs, riding bulls, but there's a void he can't seem to fill. After getting hung up by a bull, he wonders if this is really the life he wants. Restless and rebellious, he bolts...but there's a certain cowgirl he can't forget.

When a battle-scarred Dirk returns to his Montana ranch he's determined to hang on at any cost. Janice has come back home to lick her own wounds. When old dreams turn to dust, can two wary hearts take another chance on love?

*                   *                     *                     *                      *

Janice Combes grew up around tough talking, rough acting cowboys so she was used to how they acted around each other, and her. She was one of the crew when it came to rodeo life and the men, who rode the bulls she took care of and carted from rodeo to rodeo. She may understand them, but it didn’t keep her from wanting one particular cowboy to look at her the way he looked at the Rodeo Queen.

Dirk Knowlton loved the rodeo, the freedom of the road, and when his long-time girlfriend started making noises about getting married and settling down, he did what any self-respecting cowboy would do, he bucked and ran. Ending up on the doorstep of the woman he’d watched grow up, one he’d watched his buddy, Grady, take notice of and discovered he didn’t like it, surprised him. What happened next surprised him even more and haunted him for the next ten years?

Phew! Some cowboys are definitely hotter than others. ROUGH RIDER by Victoria Vane treats us to one hot cowboy and the only woman meant to tame him. We first meet Dirk Knowlton in SLOW HAND, book one of the Hot Cowboy Nights series. Whereas Wade was dreamy to die for, Dirk came across as a complete and total ass. All the more reason why I wanted to read his story. Yeah, he was still a bit of an ass in this one, but once you learned why, everything made sense.

ROUGH RIDER started out a bit slow for me. I appreciate Victoria’s research into rodeos and bull riding, but maybe I didn’t need quite so much time in the bullpens with talk about manure. *laughing* Once things heated up between Janice and Dirk, this story took off like a lightning flash. Grady was just creepy enough to keep us hoping Dirk would rescue Janice from his clutches, but goofy enough to keep us thinking Janice could handle him on her own. What happens isn’t all that surprising but what is learned later, is most definitely surprising. Nope, not going to tell you anything more, you’ll just have to wait until February 3^rd to read it for yourself. I will treat you to the trailer for the book though, just to whet your interest even more.

I highly recommend reading ROUGH RIDER, book two in the Hot Cowboy Nights series by Victoria Vane mainly because if you read SLOW HAND, which I definitely recommend, you will want to read this one too. If for no other reason, but to find out what bug is up Dirk’s well shaped butt and why Janice would even begin to be interested in the curmudgeon. This one is hot, hot, hot, and in the end, very sweet. Victoria gives us a wonderful happily-ever-after.

Happy Reading Everyone!

ROUGH RIDER, a Hot Cowboy Nights novel by Victoria Vane, Sourcebooks Casablanca, release date – February 3, 2015 – to be available in print and ebook formats at Amazon, Barnes &Noble, and Kobobooks.

***click on links above or cover below for purchasing information, remember even pennies per sale using my links help keep this blog alive. Thank You.

   

SLOWLY UNWRAPPED, a Very Short Christmas Story by Victoria Vane - #Free Read + #Giveaway

SLOWLY UNWRAPPED

By Victoria Vane

A Very Short Christmas Story

Decatur, Georgia - Christmas Day

Nikki yanked the handle of the shopping buggy. It stuck. She cursed and gave it another jerk but it remained jammed.

“Use your foot,” Shelby instructed. “Like this.” With one solid kick, Shelby wedged the buggy free. “I still don’t understand why you’re going through all this stress and aggravation, Nik. The man just gave you a ring. Are you really sure you want to risk cooking for him?”

Nikki grimaced. “Thanks a lot, Shel.”

“I’m just sayin’ he has to know by now that you’re no domestic goddess.”

“But I still want to do this for him,” Nikki insisted. “He’s come all this way from Montana. The least we can do is show him some Southern holiday cheer.”

“But didn’t you tell me his mother’s a Texan?” Shelby remarked.

“She is,” Nikki replied. “But Texas isn’t Georgia, Shel. I’d argue that Texas is even part of the south. They eat tamales on Christmas. We don’t do that.”

“Yeah, well they don’t exactly sell turkey and dressing at Walgreens either.”

“But there was no place else open. What am I even going to feed him?” Nikki lamented, nearly at the point of despair. “I thought it was only going to be us and you don’t eat meat so I didn’t even buy anything for a real Christmas meal.”

“Don’t worry about me. I already have plans with that hot guy from Home Depot who delivered our Christmas tree. You could always just go out to eat,” Shelby suggested.

“Where? Everything is closed on Christmas Day.”

“There’s the China Buffet on North Decatur,” Shelby said. “You could do the

Peking duck like they ate in A Christmas Story. Or there’s always Waffle House. They never close for anything.”

“I can’t believe you just suggested Waffle House for Christmas Dinner.” Nikki sounded an exasperated huff. “It just wouldn’t feel right. Christmas is meant to be spent at home.”

“All right. Have it your way. Let’s try the frozen food case.”

Nikki chewed her lip as they scanned the contents of the freezer. The first two cases held nothing but Lean Cuisine and frozen pizzas. The third held more promise.

“Lookie here, Nik,” Shelby exclaimed. “I think we hit the jackpot.” She tossed two boxes of Stouffers frozen mac and cheese into the cart with a grin. “A Southern holiday staple.”

“Great! What else is there?” Nikki asked.

“I think I even got you covered on the turkey.” Shelby tossed two Marie Callender’s turkey pot pies into the cart. Wheeling down the snack aisles, they added a big bag of pecans.

“What am I going to do about dessert?” Nikki asked.

Shelby paused at the breakfast foods. “If he likes cherries we’ve got desert covered.”

“I don’t know about cherries but he certainly has a thing for peaches.” Nikki recalled a certain night in a mountain cabin with a sudden frisson of desire.

Shelby tossed a box of cherry Pop Tarts into the cart.

Nikki snorted. “Pop Tarts?”

“Why not? A tart’s the same as a pie right?”

They proceeded down the aisle to the canned goods where Nikki picked up

cans of jellied cranberries, French cut green beans, and cream of mushroom soup. She was reaching for a carton of French’s fried onions when Shelby grabbed her hand. “Don’t! I beg you! No one ever eats that disgusting green bean casserole.”

“But it’s a Southern tradition,” Nikki protested.

“One that needs to end here and now,” Shelby insisted. “Here. Skip the veggie.” She grabbed a can of fruit cocktail and some flaked coconut. “Make ambrosia instead.”

“But I need whipped cream for that.”

“Then I’ll go to dairy and see if they have Cool Whip.” Shelby returned a moment later with a can of Reddi-Wip. She dropped in in the cart with a shrug. “It’s all they had.”

Nikki took a dismal inventory of her cart. Tears blurred her eyes as they wheeled it to check out. “It’s times like this that I truly miss Mee-Maw. She made every holiday special. And no one made a better fried turkey and cornbread dressing. I even miss sitting at the kitchen table with her stringing popcorn and making Magnolia wreaths.”

“Then why haven’t you continued the tradition?”

“For who? It’s usually just been you and me at Christmas and you’ve never been into any of that Southern Living kinda stuff.” Nikki palmed her eyes with a sniff.

“Don’t cry, Nik.” Shelby wrapped her arms around her sister. “He doesn’t expect anything. You didn’t even know he was coming.”

“Doesn’t matter.” She hiccupped. “It’s our very first Christmas and it’s going to be his lamest one ever. The worst part of this is that he gave me the best present I ever got and I don’t even have anything for him to unwrap!”

“You do now!” Shelby snatched a sparkly pink Santa hat from a clearance end cap and plopped it on Nikki’s head. “Just put this on, add a matching bow, and let him unwrap you.”

                                                                     ~*~ 

Hours later, with a wink at her sister, Shelby made an excuse to go out, leaving Wade and Nikki stretched out on the couch watching It’s a Wonderful Life.

“I’m so sorry about dinner, Wade.” Try as she might, Nikki couldn’t suppress the quiver from her voice or the burning sensation behind her eyes.

Wade’s warm strong arms tightened around her. She loved having his arms around her, being cloaked in his body, in his scent.

“Why’s that sweetheart?” he asked.

“Because everything was just awful.”

“What makes you think I’m so hard to please? For the record, one of the best meals I ever had was fried Spam and a can of cling peaches up in that mountain cabin with you.”

That was their first time together and he’d made it a night she’d never forgotten either.

“I don’t think it was the meal that you remember so fondly.”

He grinned. “Probably not. But I sure liked the dessert.”

“Stop humoring me, Wade.” She gave him a playful swat. “You aren’t helping a bit. Can’t you see I’m trying really hard to be miserable? I don’t even have a gift for you. I mean I do, but it’s not anything you can unwrap.”

“What is it then?” he asked.

“I was hoping we could go away together. You’ve worked so hard for so long, I thought that now with things settled down a bit with your brother, maybe I could

entice you into taking some time off. Since Dirk has Janice helping him out at the ranch, I was hoping maybe you and I could take that trip to Mexico we’d once talked about.”

“I think that’s a mighty fine idea indeed. In fact, why don’t we plan to make it a honeymoon trip?”

“Really?” She instantly brightened. “I’m so glad you like the idea.” Then her smile faded again. “But that still doesn’t make up for this lousy Christmas. I wanted so badly to show you how we do it Southern style.”

He laughed, a deep throaty rumble. “If that’s all that’s eating you, sweetheart, you can make it up to me real easy.”

“How?” she asked.

He tipped her face up to his, his eyes gleaming with humor and something else that made her insides quiver. “Why don’t you just grab that can of Reddi-Wip, put on that little pink Santa hat, and do me cowgirl style?”

                                                       

                                                           ~THE END~

Read SLOW HAND by Victoria Vane for Wade and Nikki’s full story.

 

SLOW HAND

By Victoria Vane

Available now from Sourcebooks Casablanca

In rural Montana…

Wade Knowlton is a hardworking lawyer who’s torn between his small-town Montana law practice and a struggling family ranch. He’s on the brink of exhaustion from trying to save everybody and everything, when gorgeous Nicole Powell walks into his office. She’s a damsel in distress and the breath of fresh air he needs.

Even the lawyers wear boots…

Nicole Powell is a sassy Southern girl who has officially sworn off cowboys after a spate of bad seeds—until her father’s death sends her to Montana and into the arms of a man who seems too good to be true. Her instincts tell her to high tail it out of Montana, but she can't resist a cowboy with a slow hand…

 

About the Author:

Victoria Vane is a multiple award-winning romance novelist and history junkie whose collective works of fiction range from wildly comedic romps to emotionally compelling erotic romance. Her books have received more than twenty reviewer awards and nominations including the 2014 RONE Award for TREACHEROUS TEMPTATIONS and Library Journal Best E-Book romance of 2012 for The Devil DeVere series. Victoria also writes historical fiction as Emery Lee and is the founder of Goodreads Romantic Historical Fiction Lovers and the Romantic Historical Lovers book review blog.

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