Title: When Lonely Hearts Meet, Sugar ‘n Spice Bakery, Book 2
Author: Linda Carroll-Bradd
Genre: Sweet Contemporary Romance
Book Blurb:
Clover Damone travels to Dorado, Texas to handle a family member’s estate. A trip to the Sugar & Spice Bakery involves a mysterious gift—a cowboy gingerbread man cookie. The farmhouse is filled with items that display her aunt & uncle’s enduring love. If only she could find a love like that…
Rancher Wade Pallaton comes to the rescue of an attractive woman in distress…in the paint aisle of a home improvement store. One look sparks his interest, one he thought had died a decade earlier. Divorce made them gun shy about relationships but can Lasso-A-Heart online dating emails entice them to reveal the secrets of their lonely hearts?
Excerpt:
The older woman’s voice was pitched low but the throaty tone carried. What caught his eye was the sight of shapely calves encased in skinny jeans. The trio of brass bracelets and the long sweater that almost reached her knees clued him in that the lady was new in town. Not normal attire for this rural Texas town. He’d automatically registered that her left hand was ring-free.
The sight of the key making station meant he’d walked halfway down the aisle in his perusal of the interesting stranger. Wade glanced up and jerked when he spotted a narrowed gaze shooting daggers from the thin face of a woman close to his younger son’s age. Busted.
“Eavesdrop much?” The younger woman jammed a hand onto her angled hip.
Tread lightly around this suspicious one. “Beg pardon, miss.” Wade tipped a forefinger against the brim of his Stetson as he dipped his chin. “Ma’am, I heard the call for assistance and thought I’d see if I could answer a question.”
“You work here?” Eyebrow raised, she gave him the once-over. “Dressed like that?”
“Hayley.” The older woman gave a sharp wave, glanced at his length then stepped closer. “Do you know about paints?”
“Done my share of painting. And I’m a fair-to-middlin’ handyman.” He gazed at her, recording the details of her easy smile, her hazel eyes, and the waves of light brown hair framing her face. The combination piqued his interest, something that hadn’t happened in a very long time. “I’m not an employee here…” he shifted his gaze to the young lady and again, dipped his chin, “but I can be neighborly and try to answer your questions.”
“I’m clearing out my great-aunt’s house and it needs a bit of work.”
Just visiting. A niggle of disappointment ran through him. But he still intended to see if he could offer assistance, and maybe even volunteer to help. “First things first. Name’s Wade Pallaton, ma’am.” He extended his hand in a friendly greeting.
A moment passed as she glanced at his hand and then back at his face before sliding hers into his. The edges of her lips flashed a brief smile. “Of course, I’m sorry.”
Warmth built between their palms and he tightened his fingers. Ten years had passed since his divorce, and this was the first honest-to-goodness spark of attraction he’d felt. Her skin was soft and her bones delicate within his grasp.
“I-I’m Clover Damone.” She stared down at their clasped hands, sucked in her lower lip and then jerked her gaze back to his, eyes widening.
A raspy throat clearing sounded from just a few feet away.
“Oh.” Clover broke the connection, wiggled her fingers and then pointed over her shoulder. “And this is my daughter, Hayley.”
“Do you live around here?” Hayley tilted her head and a ponytail a shade darker than her mother’s hair swung to the side.
“Sure do. Got a ranch twenty miles outside of Dorado.”
“So, you’d know if mold is a problem in ancient houses. Cuz the smell that rolled out of that old farmhouse made me wonder about that ugly black stuff.” She shuddered and moved her hands through the air as she talked. “Like maybe we’ll get sick if we stay there.”
Shaking her head, Clover frowned and pressed her lips into a straight line. “I told you, the house just needs airing. We’re staying.”
“Fine.” Hayley jerked her head and pushed an ear bud into each ear, tapping the screen of her phone. “Pick me up in the magazine section when you’re done.” She flashed a glare his way, then spun and headed toward the front of the store.
Unsure of the conversation’s undercurrent, Wade just waited, giving him a few more moments to enjoy the sight of this intriguing woman. Not having raised a daughter, he’d always admired people who maintained a rational tone around sassy attitudes.
“I apologize. She’s really not a rude person. Hayley’s between terms at college, at least I hope she is, and I convinced her this Texas trip would be a fun getaway.” Clover braced her hands on her hips and stared at the floor for a second before meeting his gaze again and crinkling her nose. “I might have exaggerated the “fun” part of packing up family heirlooms, especially to my ultra-modern, social media-fixated child.” She let out a sigh then ran a hand through her hair. “And I have no idea why I’m revealing all this to a complete stranger. This is twice I’ve acted like this in two days. Just ignore me.”
Impossible. Seemed that from the moment he heard her voice, Wade wanted to hear everything she could tell him.
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
Amazon US http://amzn.com/B00INLCWUY
Amazon UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00INLCWUY
Barnes & Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/when-lonely-hearts-meet-linda-carroll-bradd/1118821584?ean=2940045724487
Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/412736
What makes your featured book a must-read?
This second chance at love story involves a widower and a divorcee who think they’ve had their big loves. But then this new person sparks an attraction. I really enjoyed showing mature characters fumble with online dating because they really miss a personal connection.
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Runs April 6 – April 12, 2021.
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Author Biography:
As a young girl, Linda was often found lying on her bed reading about fascinating characters having exciting adventures in places far away and in other time periods. In later years, she read and then started writing romances and achieved her first publication--a confession story. Married with 4 adult children and 2 granddaughters, Linda now writes heartwarming contemporary and historical stories with a touch of humor from her home in the southern California mountains.
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