Title: Mountain Blaze
Author: Debby Grahl
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Book Blurb:
Disillusioned by his wife’s betrayal, rodeo star Dillon McCoy comes home to the mountains of North Carolina to lick his wounds. When he agrees to take over the family ranch, the Lazy M, he’s unaware danger waits.
Diana Thompson is having doubts about her engagement to Trent Sawyer. She agrees to leave Chapel Hill and spend Thanksgiving with her friend Jenn at the Lazy M. When Diana and Dillon meet, neither can deny their attraction, but both must resolve past relationships while fighting their growing desire.
After Dillon turns down an anonymous offer to purchase the ranch, attempts are made on his life. When a body is found, Dillon sets out to discover who wants the McCoy land enough to commit murder.
Excerpt:
Diana nodded and Flora fell into step behind Flame. They passed the last cabin, and the meadow spread out before them. Dillon drew Flame to a halt and motioned for her to quietly come next to him. When she did so, he pointed to three deer standing near some pine trees, and in the distance were the snow-crested ridges of the Smoky Mountains.
Diana caught her breath. “It’s magnificent,” she whispered.
“I never get tired of this view. Because of this.” He indicated their surroundings. “The last cabin we passed is another favorite of our guests.”
“It all reminds me of a Christmas card.” Diana patted her pockets. “Damn,” she murmured. “I don’t have my phone to take a picture.”
Dillon gestured. “They’re leaving anyway.”
For a minute, the deer stared at them, their ears alert, then bounded off into the woods. “Oh, I must have made too much noise,” Diana exclaimed.
“You didn’t do anything. They could smell us. I’m surprised they stayed as long as they did. If it wasn’t so slippery, we could go out onto that outcropping of rocks.” Diana glanced to where he pointed and shuddered.
“It’s smooth on top, and you can see the stream that runs through the valley below,” he continued.
She shook her head. “I don’t mind heights if I’m a safe distance away. Out there, I’d go into a full-blown panic attack. In fact, that’s why I never learned to ski. You’d have to drag me kicking and screaming onto one of those chair lifts.”
Dillon smiled and Diana thought it the sexiest smile she’d ever seen. There was a slight cleft in his chin, and fine lines formed at the corners of his eyes. Diana inwardly groaned. The butterflies were back.
“I’d hold onto you. I wouldn’t let you fall,” he softly said.
With his slow southern accent, the words sounded like warm honey rolling off his tongue. The depth of his eyes and the sound of his voice mesmerized her.
The horses stood side by side. Her and Dillon’s legs touched. He leaned toward her, and the light aroma of wood smoke, hay, and his spicy cologne filled her nostrils. Diana knew what he was about to do but had no willpower to stop him. He cupped her cheek and their lips met.
Gentle at first, his lips glided over hers. He increased the pressure until she opened her mouth and his tongue slipped in. Diana moaned and wrapped her arms around his neck. His arms around her waist, he deepened the kiss. Before she realized what he was doing, without breaking their kiss Dillon lifted her from Flora and placed her across his lap.
Cradled in his arms, Diana clung to him, delicious sensations filling her. Her body came alive in a way that surprised her. The only thing that mattered was this man and this moment.
Flame moved, bringing her back to reality. Diana’s eyes fluttered open, and she stared into Dillon’s, deep with passion and need.
Oh, dear God, what was she doing? She barely knew Dillon, and there she lay sprawled across his lap. What would he think of her? “Dillon, I…”
He placed a gloved finger over her lips. When he spoke, his voice was low and husky. “It’s not your fault. You’re engaged, and I shouldn’t have done that.
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
If money were no object and we weren’t in a pandemic, where would you go for a Spring Break vacation and why?
England! I want to hide away in an English country village and work on the sequel to Mountain Blaze without any distractions.
Why is your featured book a must-read this spring?
The romance between Diana and Dillon is heart-warming, and they’re running from a killer. It’s riveting suspense.
Giveaway:
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Open internationally
Runs April 1 – 30, 2021.
Drawing will be held on May 3, 2021.
Author Biography:
Award-winning author Debby Grahl lives on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, with her husband David. Besides writing, she enjoys biking, walking on the beach and a glass of wine at sunset. Visually impaired since childhood by Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), she uses screen-reading software to research and write her books. Rue Toulouse, a contemporary romance set in the French Quarter, was just awarded first place in the Top Shelf Fiction/Romance category. His Magic Touch, a paranormal romance, is also set in New Orleans. Her latest book, Mountain Blaze, released November 2, 2020, has received a five-star review from Readers’ Favorite.
Social Media Links:
Website -- www.debbygrahl.com Facebook -- https://www.facebook.com/debbygrahlauthor?ref=br_rs
Twitter -- https://twitter.com/DebbyGrahl
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