 |
| Harlequin Christmas |
ABOUT THE BOOK
Spend a white Christmas on Summer Island, where the fires are warm and the romance is hotter.
Lila Sloan wonders why she ever thought house-sitting for her sister Meg on the remote Summer Island was a good idea. And to make matters worse, local real estate developer Beck Grainger is trying to cut down the beautiful trees that line the property. Lila can't let this happen; Meg will never forgive her.
Beck can understand Lila's anger--sort of. The trees are actually on the neighboring property, and the land was zoned for development months ago, so his plans were no secret. But he dislikes being at odds with his friend's sister, especially because Lila is appealing in every way: loyal, quick-witted and completely stunning.
Lila hates that she's so attracted to Beck, who seems like a genuinely good man, despite his tree-murdering tendencies. And their chemistry is off the charts. She just wishes he'd let this development go. As Summer Island counts down to a snowy Christmas, Lila and Beck will have to strike a compromise that seems impossible for them both--or risk losing the best thing either of them has ever had.
Publisher: HQN Books
Release Date: October 29, 2019
OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES
MY REVIEW
When Lila Sloan arrives on Summer Island to take care of her sister’s inn, she takes an instant disliking to Beck Grainger, a real estate developer determined to ruin the inn’s view in order to build. Yet, over the course of the following days, as they get to know one another while arguing about the trees, they find that perhaps, they do not need to be at odds. Still, the potential romance is complicated by Beck’s infatuation with a local, Suzanne, while Lila has her past to confront.
The second in Toni Blake’s Summer Island series, A Giving Heart delivers a snowy romance as these characters decide what they are willing to accept, risk, and give, growing into the people they need to be along the way. (There is a particularly cute kid that helps Beck with this.) It is an enjoyable holiday read, perfect for anyone looking for a quick contemporary (as long as love triangles aren’t a problem!).
★★★★
I received a complimentary copy of this book and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.
EXCERPT
“Smile. You should do it more often.”
“I reserve it for people not ruining my family’s legacy,” she quipped.
And he just laughed.
And when her gaze then happened to zero in on the area of the tree where he’d been working, she said, “Oh my God—you can’t put all the glass ones together in a clump like that. You have to mix in the others to even things out. Is this your first time decorating a tree?”
She stepped up to move the blue star—just as he reached for it as well, bringing their hands together, his over hers, on the antique ornament. She felt the touch in her panties—a rush, a warmth, desire. Oh boy.
She didn’t draw her hand away. And neither did he. She dared glance over and their eyes met, locked. More warmth cascaded through her as they stood frozen in place, tree-trimming statues.
“Maybe you don’t hate me as much as you’re acting like,” he had the audacity to say.
“Oh, I do. I really do. Trust me.”
“Then why haven’t you pulled your hand away?”
She sucked in her breath. God, he was just…asking like that? Putting it out there, that plainly?
She tried to think fast. “Because it’s an antique and I don’t want to jostle it?” Ugh, it had come out as a question.
Which he answered with, “No.” So sure. So bold.
Fine then. She’d just go back to being honest with him. She glanced toward their two cocoa mugs, one red, one green, sitting side by side on one of the TV trays. “I blame the Baileys,” she said. “Why haven’t you?”
“Same,” he replied. “And…”
Her heart beat double time in her chest. “And…?”
“Like I said, you’re cute. Saucy. Funny as hell.” The whole time, they both stood frozen, holding their ground, hands touching, his lightly covering hers on the blue glass star. “You definitely stand up for what you want, that’s for sure.”
“Damn straight, Indiana Jones,” she told him.
That was when his hand closed more fully around hers on the ornament, warm, firm, a touch unmistakably sexual, as their eyes stayed fixed on one another. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears. Her body swirled with liquid heat. And then he did that thing—that thing where the other person leans in, just a little, their eyelids heavy, their head starting to tilt. Body language for: I’m going to kiss you, so if you don’t want me to, you should back away.
She didn’t back away.
TOUR SCHEDULE
This sounds like a good one to take on the car ride to my inlaw's for Christmas! Thank you for being on this tour. Sara @ TLC Book Tours
ReplyDelete