Lexie whirled around again. “What?” But as soon as she saw her daughter’s timid look in her eyes, she apologised straight away. “I’m sorry, sweetie. But—”
Zoe shook her head. “Mum, listen,” she said just above a whisper.
Lexie focussed and followed the girl’s gaze.
“Look! A car.”
“Hallelujah,” Lexie murmured.
“Can you run?”
Hands on hips, Lexie said, “I’m old, but I’m no geriatric.”
“Well, duh, Mum. Run.”
“Wait,” she almost shouted. “We can’t just—”
“Mum, just run. You’re not wearing your glasses, are you? It’s the Park Ranger vehicle.”
Shaking her head at her own embarrassment, but also at her clever daughter, she rushed after Zoe through the forest, literally over sticks and stones. Worried about her daughter stopping a stranger’s car, Park Ranger or not, she screamed, “Wait, Zoe. Wait for me!”
Without looking back, her daughter replied, “No way I’m letting this guy drive off.”
When Lexie stopped a couple of minutes later in front of the Ranger’s truck, she placed her hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath.
“Mum got us lost.”
The Ranger came around the car and placed his hand on Lexie’s arm, “Ma’am, are you okay?”
She straightened. “I’m okay. Embarrassed, my ego dinted, and having aged by about ten years, but I’m okay.”
BLURB
She loves the feel of his skin beneath her hands …
Lexie Marshall packs up and moves 3,000 km east with her daughter Zoe, to forget and move on. Now, all that matters is her daughter and her new job. She tries hard to stay focussed, but the sexy and extremely kind park ranger, Jesse, is not making it easy. And when her husband shows up in the small coastal town creating chaos, all she can do is hang on and trust her new friends.
After his last girlfriend walked out on him, Jesse Parker is doing just fine on his own. Until his accidental meeting with single mother Lexie, when he rescues her and her daughter from getting lost in the forest. But when her past catches up with her, he is right in the middle of it all and it might ruin his career.
Will returning to her old life be the only chance to save his career?
Happy Sunday I’ve returned to an old manuscript which I started years and years ago. The story is about Sadie who’s found her mother’s diary, which will eventually take her on a journey to Germany. … she’s just landed in Singapore …
ENJOY ♥
Today’s Snippet
I look straight into two gorgeous blue eyes and whisper, “Hi.”
It’s the guy from across the aisle. There’s no need for me to whisper. In fact, a louder than usual volume would’ve likely been more appropriate, but in all my shyness it’s all I can come up with.
“Glad I found you,” he admits.
I sense a smile tug on my lips. Yes, so am I, but all I can do is nod.
He holds out his right hand. “Mathias. I’m from Sydney.”
I notice how he says Maa-tee-aas and take his hand, which feels oddly soft and a bit cool. Mathias obviously has had the common sense to wash his hands after eight hours on the plane.
“Nice meeting you,” I croak and I sigh. “I swear I don’t always sound like this.”
Maa-tee-aas smiles and suddenly my stomach makes a big flip.
Title: You Can’t Hurry Love ASIN: B09S35VNTL Release Date: ebook: March 24, 2022, print: March 6, 2022 Rating: Explicit/Mature Audiences Only
Blurb:
Sometimes love is worth the wait.
Sara Carlisle and Charlie Rhodes are complete opposites. Oil and water. Chalk and cheese.
Before Sara even meets Charlie, she hates him. He’s insulted her best friend -a woman Sara considers family- and that is unforgivable. In person he proves to be just as obnoxious and insufferable as she’d anticipated. And, as far as she’s concerned, the fact that he’s tall and muscular with an accent to die for is not enough to redeem him. Charlie Rhodes is an arrogant A–hole (with a capital A!) and that’s all there is to it!
For his part, Charlie thinks Sara is a conceited pain in the arse. A prissy princess to the nth degree. It becomes his prerogative to get under her skin for the sheer pleasure of riling her up. He feels genuine enjoyment in the face of her frustration, and he makes no secret of it. Besides, she gives as good as she gets!
Fundamentally opposed in every way, it’s obvious to those around them that they’re not going to get along.
But unfortunately, thanks to their respective families, they are stuck in each other’s lives for the foreseeable future. Being civil is as good as it is going to get…or is it?
When their relationship turns from reluctant acquaintances to red hot lovers, they find it’s good.
Really good.
What could possibly go wrong?
In a slow-burn romance that follows hot on the heels of Handle With Care*, Sara and Charlie discover that you really can’t rush romance.
*Both Handle With Care and You Can’t Hurry Love can be read as standalone novels in the expanding Jukebox Collection series.
Guess Who’s Back? (Someone You’ve Never Heard Of)
When I wrote Handle With Care, I wrote for myself. I wrote because I could feel some sort of countdown clock hanging over my head. I’d graduated high school in 2002, and the twenty-year deadline I’d given myself to become a published author was looming. So I wrote and then published it -silently, without fanfare- without any idea of what I was doing.
I just NEEDED to get it out there.
I thought that would be that. I thought I’d wash my hands of it. I’d ticked my bucket list goal off my list (an entire year early!) and I could sleep easily from there, right?
Wrong!
Writing has always been an escape for me, though I stuck to the realm of fanfiction for years. Despite changing fandoms a lot (I’m a fickle cow), I’m comfortable in the fanfic community. The anonymity of it. Borrowing pre-existing characters and worlds…but then I developed my own, and suddenly I’m in love with them.
So in love, in fact, that I couldn’t actually leave Handle With Care as the one-shot that I’d intended it to be. Instead, Charlie and Sara’s story begged me to put it to paper. It flowed so easily -easier than its predecessor- and not long after that an entire series of plot bunnies started bouncing through my head.
And that brings us here. You Can’t Hurry Love is my second release, a follow up (but easily stands alone) to Handle With Care. This time, I wrote not just for myself, but for other readers: people who had emailed me and asked me if I was going to delve into Charlie and Sara’s story, people who have offered feedback and ideas that have honestly helped improve my writing.
I won’t lie – I’m more anxious this time around. With my first novel, I had hoped other people might like it, but the goal at the time was simply to prove to myself (and the 17-year-old version of me who dreamed big things) that I could do it. This time I want to entertain other people. I want people to fall in love with Charlie and Sara, to laugh at their antics and wonder what’s next in the series. And I think that I might have achieved that. Maybe.
It’s A Small World Afterall
So, I’m back with a new contemporary romance novel, once again set in my backyard of Brisbane, Australia. For the most part, anyway.
Aside from writing about a location that I’m familiar with, I guess I chose South East Queensland as my main setting for the Jukebox Collection series because most Australian novels I’ve read have sort of skipped my little corner of the world.
And I get it. I do. Brisbane’s pretty much unheard of. Most people, when you say “Australia”, automatically imagine the outback or Sydney or Byron Bay. (Ugh. Byron. I’m not a fan. It’s overrated. This is the hill I will die on.)
But South East Queensland has so much to offer. We have beaches that are far superior to Bondi or Byron (fight me), rainforests to explore and mountains to climb, zoos, and theme parks, and a cultural centre in Brisbane which -while it is admittedly nowhere near as good as Melbourne- is steadily growing and improving over time. Hell, we even have movie studios on the Gold Coast. Oh, and the subtropical climate here is generally pretty awesome. (Let’s not consider the recent flooding and months of rain. That’s a once-or-twice-every-decade sort of deal.)
It seemed only natural to set a series of novels here. My little urban paradise.
I’m aware that I spend a bit more time describing the local setting in Handle With Care (Book 1 of the Jukebox Collection), but in You Can’t Hurry Love we venture a bit further north to explore Hervey Bay, and also take a short flight across the pond to visit Charlie in London.
And I love that. I love that novels can take us all over the world, without ever leaving our homes. That’s something I’ve relied heavily on since a certain pandemic happened. As much as I’m looking forward to travelling again, I’m glad I can do it from my armchair…and I like to hope that, through my writing, I can share the gift with other readers, too.
Anita (A.N.) Verebes is a daydreamer and romance novelist. As a civil marriage celebrant, Anita makes a living telling other people’s love stories and celebrating real romance! Also armed with a Bachelor of Education (Secondary), Anita is a qualified -but not practising- High School English teacher who loves to read anything she can get her hands on, including fanfiction. (And, yes, she’s written her fair share of that, too.) Living directly between Queensland’s sunny Gold and Sunshine coasts, Anita spends her days exploring the Great South East with her husband and their two rambunctious sons. When at home, she’s also a slave to two cats and one very spoilt Great Dane X.
“Well, so do I, but I am trying to do the best in a bad situation. How about we try to get out of this jungle of trees and next weekend we’ll check the real estate agent for a bigger house?”
“We had a big house in Perth—”
Lexie looked into the distance and then back at her daughter. “Look, I get it that you’re not happy with the current situation. But I’m trying my best here.” She inhaled a long breath to calm herself. “I don’t really think this is the right place to have this discussion, but maybe the right time for you to ponder about the alternatives. Perth, big house, your mother working massive hours to afford it, which would mean you’re in after care, or Alinta Bay, small house, hopefully we’ll find something bigger soon, and I can drop you off and pick you up from school, plus we will have enough money for two holidays a year.”
Without waiting for an answer, Lexie turned again, but didn’t move. Cursing under her breath, she conceded that they were lost. And it scared her. A lot. “Mum?”
BLURB
She loves the feel of his skin beneath her hands …
Lexie Marshall packs up and moves 3,000 km east with her daughter Zoe, to forget and move on. Now, all that matters is her daughter and her new job. She tries hard to stay focussed, but the sexy and extremely kind park ranger, Jesse, is not making it easy. And when her husband shows up in the small coastal town creating chaos, all she can do is hang on and trust her new friends.
After his last girlfriend walked out on him, Jesse Parker is doing just fine on his own. Until his accidental meeting with single mother Lexie, when he rescues her and her daughter from getting lost in the forest. But when her past catches up with her, he is right in the middle of it all and it might ruin his career.
Will returning to her old life be the only chance to save his career?
Confronted with the choice to care for his friend’s
family on the other side of the world or to return to Alinta Bay to be with his
own newfound family, how will Noah choose?
Following the death of his grandmother, Noah
Fielding returns to Alinta Bay and the first thing — or person — he finds is
the next-door neighbour in his nan’s bathroom — naked no less. Still jetlagged,
he doesn’t hit it off with Molly at first. Yet, over the next few weeks, as his
past uncovers itself bit by bit, she becomes is anchor, his friend, and his
lover.
Molly Reid had the world at her feet, happily
married with a young son … until a tragic car accident took everything away
from her. With her heart broken, she moves to Alinta Bay to escape the memories
of the past. Her peaceful existence, however, is interrupted after a heavy
storm floods her house and she temporarily moves into her recently deceased
neighbour’s house next door.
When Noah’s friend and partner goes missing during
a routine flight, Noah returns to Alaska to help, but will he come back for
Molly?
Get your copy of TELL IT TO MY HEART today! Amazon
Excerpt
As she <Molly> reached for her underwear, the door opened. Jerking to a straight upright stance, ignoring the hammering in her chest, she stared for a second. A scream was stuck in her throat, almost choking her, she tried to let it out but in vain. Instinctively, she grabbed the soap and threw it at the person standing in the door.
The man didn’t budge.
She looked around, grabbed for her face washer, and threw that at him as well, even as she admitted to herself about the uselessness of the piece of cloth.
He caught it and a frown crossed his face. “Will you stop it?”
Finally able to, she shouted at the top of her voice. “Out! Get out!”
But he only cocked a lazy brow at her.
Holding on to the towel with one hand, she searched for something else to throw at him. “Who are you? What are you doing here?”
He raised his other brow as well. “Me?”
Although the steady drumming of her heartbeat still pulsed in her ears, the initial scare inside her abated. Despite a startling tingle tiptoeing down her spine and worry washing over her, her feet remained rooted to the floor, because there was something about him that didn’t scream danger to her. “Can you see anybody else here?” There could be no mistaking the hard note of annoyance in her voice.
His gaze flicked down to her chest where it paused for a moment before their eyes met again. Or was he checking out her scar? Awareness came over her, and she wished she had something to cover it up with.
And finally, he told her the reason of his intrusion. “I own the house.”
It took her a beat to relay the information to her brain. “Excuse me?”
“I own the house,” he repeated.
Finding her moisturiser bottle, she held on to it as tightly as possible for the sake of holding onto something. She hoped there was going to be an end to this soon. She squared her shoulders and narrowed her eyes. “Not sure what you’re on about, but this house belongs to the late Mrs. Fielding.”
His lips quirked on one side. “I know. She was my grandmother.”
Sometimes one has to break rules in order to find
happiness…
Widower Logan Hendrix is puzzled by the recent
series of small crimes against his son’s new teacher. It’s a mystery to him,
and he offers her his help. There’s an instant attraction, and Logan wants to
take their parent/teacher relationship to a more personal level.
It doesn’t take Addison Ryker long to fall in love
with Alinta Bay, the small town she’s moved to for her new teaching position at
the local primary school. Her newfound haven is threatened, however, when her
house is broken into and she is relying on the unbelievably stubborn but very
sexy Logan for help. Although captivated by him, Addison worries her career
could be compromised, because there are rules about dating a parent.
Happy Sunday I’ve returned to an old manuscript which I started years and years ago. The story is about Sadie who’s found her mother’s diary, which will eventually take her on a journey to Germany. … she’s just landed in Singapore …
ENJOY ♥
Today’s Snippet
“I meet you outside,” the guy from across the aisle says and I try to make eye contact with him.
I just nod, not having enough energy to talk above all the noise. And I add a smile, too. Actually, it’s a genuine smile. I’d love to talk to someone and I’d really like to talk to this guy even more.
I step out of the plane and walk through an eerie tube-looking gate. Initially, I’m a bit overwhelmed by what’s in front of me and all I can think of is: this is Singapore. I take in the details as I follow the crowd, because I have no idea where I’m supposed to go. The travel agent told me to change planes over here, but I guess I should’ve listened more carefully.
It’s obvious to me from after just the few minutes that I’m in a different country and not only because of the language, which seems to be English most of the time, but the atmosphere. It’s different and foreign, and so beautiful with flowers everywhere and calming music. There’s a couch over near a little water fountain and I’m heading straight to it soaking in the hustle of the place.
I startle when I feel a hand on my shoulder. “Hi there.”
I’m continuing with book 4 in the Alinta Bay series, which is set along the Great Ocean Road in Australia. I hope you’re enjoying “the hook” ♥
This week’s hook …
TOUCH ME
by Iris Blobel
Lexie Marshall looked around, seeing nothing but trees. Worry crept into her mind. It’d been a while since they’d seen another soul. The old farmer on the tractor had warned them, but she’d been certain she had known the way back to the car.
“Mum, are you sure you know where you’re going?” Zoe asked.
Loosely circling her shoulders to rid herself of the kink in them, Lexie replied, “Sweetie, I’m sure we’re almost there. It can’t be far.”
“Such a stupid idea to go for a bushwalk.”
Lexie stopped and turned, looking at her daughter, undecided whether to be annoyed or feel guilty. “I thought it was a great idea. We’re stuck in that small house seven days a week with the walls closing in on us.”
Zoe met her gaze, tears shimmering in her eyes. “Not my fault we moved here.”
Massaging the temples, she took a deep breath. “I hope we’re not going through the separation discussion again. Your dad and I drifted apart. Nothing I can do about it.”
The girl lifted her shoulder in a shrug. “That didn’t mean you have to drift all the way to this godforsaken place.”
“This godforsaken place is giving me a chance to work in my profession as a lawyer during school hours only so you’re not on your own at home.”
BLURB
She loves the feel of his skin beneath her hands …
Lexie Marshall packs up and moves 3,000 km east with her daughter Zoe, to forget and move on. Now, all that matters is her daughter and her new job. She tries hard to stay focussed, but the sexy and extremely kind park ranger, Jesse, is not making it easy. And when her husband shows up in the small coastal town creating chaos, all she can do is hang on and trust her new friends.
After his last girlfriend walked out on him, Jesse Parker is doing just fine on his own. Until his accidental meeting with single mother Lexie, when he rescues her and her daughter from getting lost in the forest. But when her past catches up with her, he is right in the middle of it all and it might ruin his career.
Will returning to her old life be the only chance to save his career?
Sara Whitney is returning to her
Cinnamon Roll Alpha Series
with a new second chance romcom. TEMPTING FATE
Title: Tempting Fate Author: Sara Whitney Genre: Second Chance Rom Com Release Date: March 11th
About Tempting Fate:
Leo Morales never forgot his first love, but he never quite forgave her either.
When a twist of fate puts Leo in charge of a grant that could save Faith Fox’s struggling non-profit, his desire to assist her worthwhile cause barely wins out over his need to stay the hell away from her.
Faith swallowed her pride to request funds for her after-school tutoring center, but she had no idea her old boyfriend would be the one holding the purse strings. Now he’s insisting on a hands-on partnership—one that has her wanting even more hands-on attention.
With years of history between them, Faith and Leo will need to learn from the lessons of their past if they want to fall in love as the people they are today.
The award-winning Cinnamon Roll Alphas series continues with Tempting Fate, featuring the playful banter, steamy encounters, and sunny outlook that Sara Whitney’s readers have come to love.
Sara Whitney writes sassy, sexy contemporary romance novels packed with wit, heat, and heart. A 2019 Romance Writers of America Golden Heart award finalist, Sara worked as a newspaper reporter and film critic before she earned her Ph.D. and landed in academia. She’s a good pinball player, a so-so karaoke singer, and an expert TV opinion-haver.
In a funny twist of fate, Sara’s married to a divorce attorney, and she likes to think that her happily-ever-afters help keep their household in balance. She and her husband live in the Midwest surrounded by books, cats, and half-empty coffee cups. Keep up with Sara by subscribing to her mailing list here.
