40 AND (NO LONGER) FIGHTING IT is coming in just three weeks! Have you pre-ordered yet? You don’t want to miss this fun and sexy story for Claire and Lincoln. I haven’t had this much fun writing a book in such a long time. And the food… Sometimes I think I gained five pounds just reading about all the wonderful things Claire made in her bakery, Gimme Sugar.
If you haven’t seen it yet, here’s the cover for FIGHTING IT, and a little excerpt just for y’all. Enjoy!
JD bypassed Lily’s wide front porch and headed directly for an open side gate leading to the backyard, stopping to chat at the various clumps of people gathered around, introducing Linc to too many individuals to keep track of. The backyard was generous for a neighborhood like this one, right in town, but Lily had utilized every bit of space for chairs and picnic blankets and small tables. A tent had been erected that covered the side farthest from the gate, and Linc could see a couple of long tables laden with covered dishes. The smell of barbecue permeated the air, and he began to think maybe JD had been telling more truth than his taste bud–challenged judgments knew when he’d said the meat would be good.
“Lily!” JD raised a hand along with his voice. His fiancée stood near a massive grill, a red plastic cup in her hand and a smile on her face that turned brilliant when she saw JD. She waved him over, Linc trailing along. Surrounding her was a group of women and one man at the grill who he assumed was Clayton of the barbecue fame. Linc’s glance slid across the faces, not really taking in details, until it came to rest on the woman directly next to Lily. Her warm brown skin glowed under the bright sun, her dark curls bouncing in the faint breeze. But it was the mahogany eyes fixed on his face that locked him in. He knew those eyes. He hadn’t seen them in years, but he could never forget the last moment they’d stared up at him, betrayal shining bright.
Linc’s steps slowed, dread rising. “You said Lily’s baker friend was named Claire?” he asked JD.
“Yeah.”
“Claire what?” he managed to get out.
“What?” JD stopped, turned to him.
He broke eye contact with the woman, forced his gaze to his friend. “Claire what? What’s her last name?”
JD’s eyes narrowed. “Why?”
“What is it?”
“Claire Taylor. Why? Do you know her?”
Claire Taylor. In Black Wolf’s Bluff, Tennessee. The last place he’d ever expect her to be. Yes, he’d lost track of her, but how in hell had she ended up here?
JD’s stare demanded an answer.
“Oh yeah, I know her.”
JD looked like he was about to say something, but he was forestalled when Lily appeared in front of them, two women in tow. And one of them was Claire.
“Linc, let me introduce you to my two best friends,” she said. “Erin is your general contractor, and this is—”
“Claire,” he choked out, unable to find the inimitable charm he was famous for. “Hello again.”
***
40 AND (NO LONGER) FIGHTING IT releases on January 24th, so make sure it’s on your e-reader the minute it comes out!
I’ve also got another little goodie for everyone who enjoyed GRIFFIN UNDONE. Book 2 of the Archai Warriors series, PHOENIX FALLING, will release on November 28, 2023. But you don’t have to wait because it’s also now on pre-order. You don’t want to forget it’s coming, so pre-order your copy today. It’s a long wait, but it’s going to be so worth it when you read Risk and Sun’s story.
Sun and Risk are coming November 28th.
The Archai — and their prince — are about to fall.
Sun and Risk are coming November 28th.
The Archai — and their prince — are about to fall.
