Title: Her Forever Love, Book 4 in the Horses Heal Hearts Series
Author: Kimberly Beckett
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Second Chance at Love, Secret Baby, Equestrian Romance
Publisher Soul Mate Publishing, LLC
Book Blurb:
Liz Randall is coming home a champion. Fifteen years after leaving Columbus to follow her dream of riding dressage for the United States Equestrian Team, Liz has returned with a gold medal, a determination to raise her teenage daughter, and a dream to expand her therapeutic riding practice. Falling in love again isn’t in her plan, especially not with Jason Merrick, her first love, the boy whose heart she broke all those years ago. The man with whom she shares more than just a history. Jason Merrick came home a hero. An Army Ranger seriously wounded in the same attack that killed his best friend, Jason sought the familiar comfort of his hometown to recover. Now he’s ready to build something rather than destroy. What he wasn’t ready for was seeing Liz Randall–-the girl who broke his heart fifteen years ago. His growing construction company needs the money remodeling Liz’s stables will bring. That’s the only reason to take the job…or so he tells himself. The moment they see each other again, feelings that never died come rushing back. Jason knows he’ll do anything to have her. But as much as Liz wants to be his, she has a secret. A secret that, once revealed, could make him walk away from her forever.
Excerpt
As Liz pulled her truck into the farm driveway, she saw Amy and Jason sitting together on the front porch of the house. Amy was talking animatedly, and Jason appeared to be listening intently to what she was saying. Seeing the two of them together like that caused a stab to her heart. Tears welled in her eyes knowing that the two of them should have been together as father and daughter long before now. She hoped for both of their sakes that she could make that happen with a minimum of pain for them all.
As she observed them surreptitiously, Liz noticed that the way that Amy gestured when she talked reminded her exactly of how Jason communicated back in high school. A cold hand gripped her heart and she prayed that Jason didn’t notice the same thing. The last thing she needed right now was Jason figuring out that Amy was his daughter before she had a chance to explain why she hadn’t found a way to tell him for fifteen years. Even as it was, he would probably still be angry, and any chance for a relationship with him going forward would be gone. She quickly exited the truck and approached the pair.
“Hey, you two. What’s up?”
Liz could tell by the sound of pounding hammers and power saws whining out by the barn that Jason’s crew was hard at work. She also noticed the gleam of sweat on Jason’s exposed arms and face and the sweat stains and sawdust on his battered t-shirt that confirmed he had been working hard in the late spring heat.
Liz caught herself admiring his muscular arms and healthy tan, but stopped herself before Jason noticed, or at least she thought she had. She watched Jason partially stifle a cocky grin. Well, she thought sheepishly, maybe he had noticed after all.
“The men and I have been working most of the day. I’m just taking a short break. Amy was telling me about her equine therapy sessions. I think it’s fascinating how horseback riding can be so beneficial to cerebral palsy patients.”
Liz scrutinized Jason’s face and body language for any sign of distain or revulsion at Amy’s disability, but she saw nothing but caring and enthusiasm for her efforts. She relaxed a bit and noted another reason why she had always known he was a good man. Someone she had never stopped loving.
He met her gaze with an intensity that took her breath away. Liz couldn’t help it. That look along with the potent combination of gorgeous male body and decent, hard-working man went straight to her core. She could feel her body heating up as she sensed his mutual attraction. She licked her lips self-consciously and found Jason’s gaze fixed there. She knew that instant that he was feeling the exact same thing.
Amy interrupted her wayward thoughts, “I was just telling Mr. Merrick that horseback riding was good for CP patients. When I’m on a moving horse, I feel a rhythmic movement kind of like the way people without CP normally walk. The rhythm of the horse’s motion acts on the part of the brain that controls movement and helps me balance better and makes me stronger.”
Jason looked impressed. “That is really awesome. You’ll have to let me know when your next session is, Amy. I’d really like to watch you in action.”
Amy grinned, clearly smitten with Jason. It didn’t surprise Liz that the two of them had bonded so quickly. The more she saw them together, the more she could see the similarities between them. “Sure. No problem.” Amy then turned to Liz. “I’m going to go in and get something to drink. Do you want me to bring you something?” Liz hesitated, not certain she trusted herself to be alone with Jason. Ultimately, though, she really had no choice. From their very first meeting, Jason had always made her feel safe. She needed that feeling so much right now.
Her emotions had been in turmoil since her meeting with Rick, then seeing Jason and Amy together and enjoying each other’s company without knowing the fact of their true connection - the enormity of her responsibility and the risk of the consequences of revealing her secret were hitting her like a ton of bricks. It took a gargantuan effort to keep her emotions under control.
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Giveaway:
I’m one of the authors participating in the Spooky Halloween Bookish Giveaway and you can win a $10 Amazon gift card.
Runs October 1 - 31 and is open internationally for most prizes.
Winners will be drawn on November 2, 2020.
Author Biography:
Ever since she can remember, Kimberly Beckett has loved horses. She wore out 4 rocking horses before she was 5 years old, and as she got older, she read every horse story in print, from Black Beauty to My Friend Flicka. Her parents couldn’t afford to buy her a horse of her own, and believed it was just a phase she would soon outgrow, but as soon as she had her first attorney job nearly 30 years ago, Kimberly bought her first horse, and she hasn’t been without at least one ever since. She has been riding dressage for several years and has earned her United States Dressage Federation Bronze Medal. When she wasn’t reading about horses, she was reading romance novels, and her favorites always involve an alpha male Hero riding a magnificent horse. Kimberly has now found a way to combine her love of horses with her love of romance by writing her own version of equine-facilitated happily ever afters. She truly believes that Horses Heal Hearts. She lives in southwest Ohio with her two adopted greyhounds, and two warmblood horses. She hopes you enjoy her stories, and encourages you to leave positive reviews for her work. She also loves to hear from her readers. She can be reached via her Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/Author-Kimberly-Beckett-270784220060587/ or visit her website at www.kimberlybeckett.com.
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