Title: Heartquake
Author: Terry Newman
Genre: Paranormal romance
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:
“I hope you don’t drop out of the race because of this,” Fred said. “I don’t know if you realize it, but you’ve become something of a folk hero around town.”
“Oh, come on. I don’t believe it for a minute. I would believe that I’ve been a thorn in the side of the residents.”
“Why would you say that?”
“Because I feel like the majority of the residents would just rather ignore the fracking issue. They believe I’m stirring up trouble where there is none. They’re riding high on the burgeoning economic conditions. Of course, those are people who don’t have to live with the noise, the odors, and the chronic health problems.”
“I think you’ve misread them.” Fred opened a packet of sugar and dumped it in his coffee. “The people I talk to are thrilled someone is finally taking a stance against the corporate powers. Someone who is looking out for the interests of the little guy. Despite what you hear, we’re all pretty scared that one day we’ll wake up to find one of those wells in our backyard.”
“Yup,” Ed said, who had been quiet until now. “That’s the word on the street.”
She finally sat down. “Frankly, I have thought of quitting. I don’t want to come to work to find my shop destroyed. Worse yet, I’m afraid they’ll hurt my employees. I’m worried about their safety.”
“The impression I get from your employees is that even if you tried to withdraw from the race, they wouldn’t let you,” Fred said. “You’re underestimating your efforts. Everyone is proud of you—employees and customers. I know me and Ed are. Everyone would walk to hell and back with you.”
She laughed. She knew they were exaggerating, but it did buoy her spirits. “And how do you know this? Don’t tell me that’s the ‘word on the street’?”
“Prague has a lot of streets. There are a lot of words out there.”
She excused herself to retrieve their muffins, hidden from view from everyone to ensure no one would sell the last two.
She went into the kitchen to warm them in the microwave. That’s when they cornered her.
The employees on duty, led by Mel, surrounded her. “I’ve called everyone this morning, Charlee,” she said. “And asked everyone privately so they wouldn’t feel pressured.”
“What did you ask them?”
“Whether you should withdraw from the race.”
“Why would you do that?” Charlee asked. It had been a long couple of days—a couple long weeks—for Mel to be playing mind games with her. “I don’t recall telling you I was giving up.”
“No, but I read your face and body language this morning. You’re worried. And not about yourself. You’re worried about us.”
Mel paused as Charlee pulled the muffins out of the microwave.
Marco took the muffins from her hands. “You two keep talking, I’ll make sure Ed and Fred get these.”
“Don’t forget their butter,” she reminded him. Mel led her to an empty table in the café.
She talked softly. “The bottom line is simple, Charlee. We all, down to a person—even Aunt Lilac—want you to stay in. At the very least don’t drop out because you’re worried about us. We’re all behind you one-hundred percent.
“If you truly fear for your life, though, that’s a decision that only you can make. And if you drop out because you feel you’re being threatened, well, we understand that too.”
She had a difficult time focusing her eyes. The tears welled up in her quicker than she anticipated. She knew her attempts at hiding her emotions were futile. Luckily, Mel didn’t call her out. These people, her employees, and dear friends, were all standing by her.
Today she realized that what she had around her right now was a true family.
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
Amazon
B&N
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Google Play
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
November is a time to be thankful. What are you most thankful for this year?
I’m thankful for the gift of humor. Without it, I know I wouldn’t have survived the last three or so years. They weren’t easy.
Why is your featured book worth snuggling up to?
7 Reasons to Snuggle Up with Heartquake:
1. Riley Brockton, the hero, is hot.
2. The heroine, Charlee Lightheart, is strong and determined.
3. The politics are corrupt.
4. The secondary characters are quirky and fun.
5. The story contains a paranormal twist.
6. Fracking is causing environmental and health concerns
7. And, oh yeah, there’s lots and lots of coffee.
Giveaway –
One lucky reader will win a $75 Amazon gift card.
You must have an active Amazon US or Amazon Canada account to be eligible. Open internationally.
Runs November 1 – 30
Drawing will be held on December 1.
Author Biography:
Terry Newman has always loved words. As the editor-in-chief of a national natural health publishing company, she has written books on a variety of topics, as well as written direct-mail advertising.
She’s also worked as a reporter, a communications specialist and a freelance writer. She’s had clients worldwide, and researched and wrote hundreds of eBooks and print books as well as ghostwrote novellas and short stories.
One day she woke and decided to make her dream of writing her own novel come true. She sets all her stories in fictional towns in northeast Ohio and writes about things she loves—like coffee.
Terry has taught workshops on writing and character development.
She has a daughter, a son-in-law, and a grandpuppy, and lives in North Lima, a real town in northeast Ohio.
Social Media Links:
Website
Facebook: Terry Newman
Twitter: @tnewmanwrites
Instagram: terry.newman.31521
TikTok: