Title: No Good Without You
Author: Emma Ames
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Book Blurb:
A small-town girl rising to fame.
Swan Malone never imagined leaving Sparrow, Texas, but when her college cheerleading gig leads to fame, and her first film becomes the top-grossing movie of the year, she realizes dreams really do come true. However, not everything in her life is as good as a fairytale.
A soldier barely hanging on.
Nothing could have prepared Army Sergeant Teague Shanahan for what he endured while held hostage in enemy hands. Battered and scarred, he returns home hoping to put his life back together but finds he’s still a prisoner of his past—too broken to be fixed, even by the woman he loves.
Welcome to Sparrow, Texas
Where a girl with stars in her eyes fights to save a man with demons in his soul.
Excerpt:
Chase dropped his suitcase, wrapped Swan in a bear hug, and spun her around. “Is that any way to greet your favorite leading man?”
“Put me down.”
He released her. “Oh, come on, you know you’re glad to see me.”
Swan peered outside, scanned for reporters, and slammed the door. “How’d you find me?”
“Tracked your phone.”
“With what?”
“White pages app. Tracks anyone’s location.”
“Thanks a lot. You brought the paparazzi to town. My mom called and said her street’s packed with photographers.”
“Sorry. That’s why they’re there instead of here. I lost them when I arrived in Dallas. Found a fan to take me to rent a car.” He eyed Tiffany and stuck out his hand. “Hi, I’m Chase Collins, Swan’s co-star and fake lover. Although I’d be happy to make it real. All she has to do is say the word.”
“Tiffany Harper. You’re even more gorgeous in person.”
Had Chase grinned any bigger, his face would’ve split. “Thank you, Tiffany.”
She pursed her lips and glanced at Swan. “Prime coyote.”
“Thanks again,” Chase said.
Swan frowned. “Not a compliment.”
“Pretty sure it is. She thinks I’m clever. You know. Wily. Like Wile E. Coyote. Right, Tiff?”
“Oh, good grief.” Swan wanted to knock the smirk off his face. “He only thought he was clever. Road Runner outsmarted him every time. Remember?”
“Wile was playing straight man to Road. It’s called acting.”
“Oh, dear Lord. I give up. Again, why’re you here, Chase?”
“I missed you.” He looped an arm around her shoulders. “Besides, you’ve talked about your family so much. I wanted to meet them.”
Swan drew a deep breath and reminded herself he was all alone. She shrugged away. Guilt stabbed her gut. So, he’d stay a day or two. What was the big deal? Maybe he’d be a nice distraction for Tiffany. Give her a chance to hone her new coyote detection skills.
“You can stay a couple of days, but if we’re in public, none of the kissy-kissy, smoochy-smoochy stuff. Got it?”
“Got it. No PDA, but in private…” He puckered and came at her with fish kisses.
She placed one palm over his mouth, and the other shoved against his chest. “Behave or leave.”
He removed her hand and kissed it. “I’ll be nice. Just having a little fun. It was a long drive. I’m starving. Have anything to eat? Oh, and where do you want my luggage?”
Swan threw her hands in the air. “Whoa! You’re not staying here. We have a nice little motel down the road, and they always have a vacancy unless it’s during the Sparrow Festival.”
“I want to come back for that. Sounds like fun. But for this trip, I have to stay here. You already said your mom’s house is staked out. We can’t go there, and the motel will be the second place they look.” He gave the room a once-over. “Looks like Tiff has plenty of room. What is this, a 3/2? We’ll each have a bedroom. You’ll never know I’m here.”
He sauntered to the back door like he owned the place, and Swan tamped down the urge to trip him—or hit him with a skillet. She hated he was right. No way she could go to Mom’s. His voice brought her back from plotting the crime.
“Nice backyard, Tiff. Own a dog? You should. Plenty of room for him to run.”
“I’m making plans for that area,” Swan said.
He puffed out his chest. “Let me guess. Break out the grill for some Texas BBQ. Right?”
“Not exactly. My plan includes you and a shovel.”
Tiffany giggled, and Swan loved the sound. It was the first time her friend had smiled since Thacker’s text.
“Oh, Swanee, you’re so funny. You know you love me,” Chase said.
He was right. Everybody loved Chase because underneath his cocky, flirtatious attitude, beat the heart of an orphan man-child still looking for affection and acceptance. “You aggravate me, Chase. This house is only a 2/2. I’m in one bedroom, and Tiffany is in the other. So, guess where you’re sleeping?”
He swung his attention back and forth between the two women, then settled on Swan. “I prefer to sleep with you because we’ve already been intimate.”
Swan didn’t know who looked more surprised, Tiffany or her. “We have NOT been intimate!”
“Yeah, we have. We’ve French kissed, and that’s much more intimate than sex because it allows both partners to penetrate at the same time.”
Swan clamped her hands over her ears. “Don’t say that word! There was no mutual invasion. Your tongue was the only attacker, and it was during a movie scene.”
“What word? Penetration?”
“La-la-la-la-la. I can’t hear you.”
Chase doubled over laughing. “See, this is why I’ve missed you so much, Swanee. You make me happy.” He grasped her wrists and pulled her hands away. “I won’t say it anymore. Let’s eat. Sleeping arrangements to be decided later.”
Buy Links:
Emma Ames is a new pen-name for Ann Everett. Please follow Ann on BookBub and Goodreads.
Goodreads profile https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5195211.Ann_Everett
Bookbub profile https://www.bookbub.com/authors/ann-everett
November is a time to be thankful. What are you most thankful for this year?
Health. As I get older, health is on my mind much more than in the past. Not just for me, but also for those I love most.
Why is your featured book worth snuggling up to?
It’s a contemporary love story featuring a young woman who won’t give up on the man she loves, even if he has issues to overcome. It also has a bit of humor. I hope readers find it to be a ‘feel good’ read. Plus, it has two secondary romances so it’s just full of love!
Giveaway:
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Open internationally.
Runs November 1 – 30.
Drawing will be held on December 1.
Author Biography:
Emma Ames is an alter-ego of Ann Everett, who is an alter-ego of a real person. All three live in Texas.
Soon, Emma will have her own page on Ann’s website.
Social Media Links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EmmaAmes11
Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/author/emmaames