Title: Her Perfect Blend
Author: Zelda Benjamin
Genre: Sweet romance
Book Blurb:
B and B owner Fiona Campbell leads a busy, yet well-organized, life. She hosts a popular afternoon tea, while adjusting to a recent guardianship. An unfamiliar man arrives to assess the needed repairs on the property's old barn, and she's inexplicably intrigued by his charm, compelling presence, and knowledge about construction techniques. However, she suspects he's not being open about his family's construction business. Could he be a secret billionaire or involved in illegal deals? Gavin McIver traveled from Scotland to participate in the local Highland Games. Helping a friend, Gavin goes to assess the Campbell barn repairs. Meeting Fiona, a woman who captivates him with her intelligence, independence, and understated glamour, is the highlight of his visit. His divorce left him leery about relationships, but winning custody of his daughter was the marriage's silver lining. He can't deny that meeting the sassy innkeeper gives him a change of heart.
Excerpt:
Fiona Campbell stood in the centuries-old barn and listened to the rainfall on the leaky tin roof. A limited amount of light filtered through the cracked walls and the dusty windows. The unusual assault of rain concerned her. The havoc the weather brought on her old barn limited the number of barn seekers and leaf-peepers. And like the townspeople, she worried the weather would put a damper on the upcoming Highland Falls Scottish games.
At last night’s meeting, Mr. Paisley, the event committee chairman, attempted to calm the board’s concerns. The athletes have Scotland in their blood. A little rain won’t stop them. If only he could reassure this old barn would make it through October.
Locals bragged how her barn was one of the oldest still standing in this part of the Adirondack region of New York State.
She glanced at the weathered walls. The broad beams had withstood centuries of storms and the test of time. How much more can they take? She’d find out soon.
She glanced at the weathered walls. The broad beams had withstood centuries of storms and the test of time. How much more can they take? She’d find out soon enough—if the contractor ever got here. She glanced at her watch—twenty minutes late.
Jack and his dad always showed up early. “She wouldn’t hold being late against them, not today. The weather was miserable. Behind her, the wagon door swung open, bringing a breath of cold, wet air inside the damp barn. She turned on the heels of her barn boots and stood in place. The man who ducked beneath the doorframe was taller and thinner than Jack Drummond or his father, Ed.
“’Tis a dreich out there.” The man stepped from the shadows and shook the rain off his jacket. Spangles of water cascaded to the dirt floor, leaving a puddle at his feet. He stepped over the water, walked toward her, and gazed toward the roof. “And in here, too.”
In a soft Highland lilt, he described, to a T, the drab gray day. The man, however, was anything but dull. She gazed from his russet hair to straight-line Viking features. A tall, lean build made him preternaturally photogenic. He looked like he had stepped “off a poster advertising the upcoming festival and games. “If it’s a room you need, I’m sorry, the B and B is booked solid.”
“The inn next door is more charming than my current accommodations.” He glanced at the dusty window with a hazy view of the inn. “’Tis not a room I’m here for today, lass.”
“Then why are you here? Are you lost?” She did a quick visual check for the usual signs he might be a barn seeker. She didn’t see a camera, a map, or a guidebook listing sites of interest. So, she quickly nixed the idea. No one had stopped to photograph the old barn in over a week.
“No, I don’t believe I’m lost. I’m here to see…” He pulled a wet, crumbled paper from the well-worn rain jacket’s pocket. “Fiona Campbell?”
“Then you’re in the right place.” She shook off her girlish infatuation and put on her business persona. “How can I help you?” Was he here to sign up for the games? As the head of the registration committee, she’d already processed dozens of online applications. Occasionally, she met a contestant in person. The event was only a week away. Lots of attractive athletes were already in Highland Falls. So why did this man capture her attention?
“The Drummonds sent me, lass. I’m here to access the barn reconstruction you’re proposing. Sorry, I’m late. It’s not easy seeing the road signs.” He returned her once-over with a quick head-to-toe assessment.
“I thought Jack and his dad worked alone.” She forced a smile and turned away from his gaze.
“They’re a wee bit busy setting up the viewing stands for the festival.” He shrugged and turned his palms up. “I offered to take the call.”
“Do you know something about barn wood?” She glanced at his callused palms.
“Aye, lass. I know a bit. We Highlanders are a very self-sufficient group. I’ve done my share of reconstructing old buildings. I’ve even sold a few here and there.” He glanced from the north wall to the south wall, along the foundation, and to the roof. “This structure must have been a beauty in her prime.”
Only someone with a background in preserving old buildings would appreciate her crumbling barn. She nodded. “Do you work for a big company, or is it a family business like the Drummonds?”
“Aye, a family business.” He shrugged.
His response, short and to the point, sent a message he did not want to elaborate. The Drummonds would never send someone who didn’t understand the nature of this kind of restoration. She took a breath and dismissed the topic for now. “Sounds like you’re qualified, Mr.…?”
“Please call me Gavin.” He extended his right hand.
“Welcome, Gavin.” She accepted a firm handshake. “We’ve already established I’m Fiona Campbell.”
“Aye, that you are, lass.” He ran a hand through wet hair.
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What makes your featured book a must-read?
Readers who enjoy small-town romance, secret billionaire plots, and a touch of history will enjoy this story with Scottish vibes. Fiona and Gavin, both single parents share a common bond-Fiona as the guardian to her niece and nephew and Gavin as the custodial parent of his daughter. Their journey is complicated with secrets and misunderstandings threatening to tear them apart. But their love and respect for each other bring them to a heartwarming conclusion, taking the reader on an emotional journal.
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Runs January 6 – January 14, 2025.
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Author Biography:
Zelda Benjamin is the author of the Love by Chocolate series and Highland Falls series. She lives in Florida with her husband and a very active Labrador mix. She always loved telling stories and expanded her repertoire to include writing sweet romance with strong female characters. All her stories conclude with a delightful happily ever after. When not writing she loves to travel with family, experiencing the food and culture of the places she visits.
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