Title Heartquake
Author Terry Newman
Genre Paranormal Romance
Publisher The Wild Rose Press
Book Blurb
Coffee shop owner, Charlee Lightheart, views corporations with contempt. She believes her father died at the hands of the pharmaceutical industry. When she's approached to run for city council on an anti-fracking platform, she's reluctant. She's not sure this movement is her cause.
Billionaire Riley Brockton has given up on love. Then he walks into Charlee's shop. All he wanted was coffee and muffins. From that first electrifying touch, he knows he needs more. He withholds one piece of vital information: he's a lionshifter.
A rogue reporter sets out to reveal the one secret that can destroy the anti-fracking movement and the couple's relationship. Can their love survive the truth and public exposure?
Excerpt
“Something amazingly awesome is going to happen to me today, Mel!”
Charlee Lightheart sung out the refrain as she padded about the shop. She owned That Coffee Shop and Melanie Milan was not only her trusted employee but her best friend.
Melanie looked at her suspiciously, her head tilted with one eye squinted as if she needed a better look at her friend, then began rifling through several cabinets and drawers behind the counter.
“What are you looking for?”
Having been crouched down, out of sight, Melanie popped up like a Jack-in-the Box. “The drugs you’re using and obviously not sharing with me.”
“Can’t a woman be optimistic about the day without being accused of using illicit drugs?”
“Sure, some women can, but not you. You’re the epitome of Murphy’s Law: whatever can go wrong, will go wrong.”
“All of that is behind me now,” she said brightly. “I’ve changed my ways.”
“That’s got to mean only one thing: you’ve read another one of those ‘woo-woo’ happy books.”
“What if I have?”
Charlee took her employee’s remarks in stride. She had known Mel long enough to know she was kidding.
The tinkle of a small bell on the door interrupted the conversation.
“You take this customer, Charlee.” Mel picked up the coffee pot. “I’ll make sure all the other customers are having”—she paused a beat before continuing— “an amazingly awesome experience.”
Charlee took a moment to size up the customer as he walked toward the counter. She didn’t recognize him as an early morning regular. And that suit he wore screamed money—gobs of money. She guessed it was custom-tailored to his build. How else could it so unassumingly highlight that broad muscular upper body?
She scanned all of the customers she didn’t know like this. It kept her mind active while she made their coffee and filled their pastry orders. She enjoyed creating a quick character sketch of them. And it helped to pass the time, especially when it was slow.
He walked up to the counter. “Good morning. I’ve never been here before. I know I want three caramel lattes, but what muffins would you suggest?”
“Our most popular is the coffee cake muffin. And it looks as if you’ve come just in time,” she said as she looked at the display case. “We happen to have three left.”
“They’re mine then.”
As she started the order, she thought the man was quite handsome. Such a shame those good looks are probably wasted on an oversized ego.
It took no time at all to whip up the three flavored coffees and pack up three muffins. She reached under the counter to retrieve a cup carrier. She took his money and handed his change back to him.
Their hands accidentally touched. The electric surge flew through her fingers, up her arms and, she swore, jumpstarted her heart.
Her heartbeat raced and with it a cascade of sensual feelings flooded her body. Feelings she hadn’t experienced since…well, she didn’t think she’d ever felt before. Not even with her last boyfriend.
Did he feel it too?
Of course not, she told herself, immediately dismissing the idea. After all, he looked like Mr. Impervious. I bet he expected women to be weak-kneed and short of breath in his presence.
She let out a short gasp, which of course, Mr. Impervious called her on. Thinking quickly, she said, “That’s some static electricity you have built up.”
“So I’ve been told.”
She wanted so much to mock him, but when she looked at his face, she saw a lopsided smile packed with a boyish charm instead of the smug grin she expected. That’s when she took a second look at his hair. Tawny brown and curly. Certainly not the type of hair befitting a man who would be trying to win high-powered negotiations.
She could easily imagine him in a pair of jeans and a tee shirt. And he would be every bit as comfortable and every bit as…dare she say…handsome.
He stuffed his change in his wallet, closed it, and put it in his pocket. “Sorry, if I gave you a jolt, miss.”
As he left, she leaned over the counter so far that she practically climbed over so as not take her eyes off him.
Mel returned with the coffee pot and found her in that position. “What is this all about?” she asked as she poured what little coffee was left in the sink, rinsed out the pot, and prepared another pot.
“I think I experienced my ‘amazingly awesome’ moment.”
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub)
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Heartquake-Terry-Newman-ebook/dp/B09PJZ5FK1/ref=sr_1_1?crid=8O69AITAZH3O&keywords=heartquake+terry+newman&qid=1645631543&sprefix=Heartquake+%2Caps%2C98&sr=8-1
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/heartquake-terry-newman/1140834497?ean=9781509239108
Google playbooks: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Terry_Newman_Heartquake?id=EpxhEAAAQBAJ
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60574351-heartquake?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=99H2V7dnWm&rank=1
Bookbub: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60574351-heartquake?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=99H2V7dnWm&rank=1
Giveaway –
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Runs March 11 – March 20, 2024.
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Author Biography
I’m the author of several paranormal romances, including Heartquake, a 2023 Rone finalist, and Rewrites of the Heart, the paranormal romance N.N. Book Award winner.
My books are set in fictional towns in northeast Ohio. And I write about the things I love—like coffee.
I’ve spent most of my adult life writing in some fashion, from small-town reporter, to editor-in-chief and ghostwriter for a national natural health publishing firm. The last decade and a half I’ve worked as a freelance writer, penning ebooks that range from starting a doula services business to Native American herbs.
I write fiction because the characters in my head won’t leave me alone. The continue to introduce themselves and beg to have their story written. I really have no recourse, but to agree.
I live in North Lima, Ohio, a real town in northeast Ohio with all my characters. And yes, it does get a bit crowded.
Social Media Links
Website: https://terrynewmanauthor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewmanWrites
X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/tnewmanwrites