I’m excited to give you a glimpse of my new book SECOND CHANCE HERO, which will be out March 26. It’s part of a new trilogy in the Palm Cove Tales.
Second Chance Hero is the follow-up to The Heiress Games trilogy, featuring Serena Douglas, who not only lost the Armington fortune, but also managed to escape the competition without falling in love. Or so she thought…
After losing the Heiress Games, Serena Douglas, has been reduced to living off the largess of a pampered pig and the benevolent graces of her childhood nemesis, Eve Bennett. Then Serena learns she has a chance to win a fortune of her own. Deceased heiress, Victoria Armington, has arranged for the other Armington descendants to secure a $10 million trust, including Serena’s sister Isabella. The catch? In order to gain control of the trusts, they must all be gainfully employed. Serena is determined to get her hands on the trust. Not for herself, but for the sake of Isabella, who needs the money to fight leukemia. All she has to do is convince someone to hire a former heiress with no job skills. Her search leads to Damon Grant, the man she’s been trying to forget since she was a teenager. All she has to do is convince him she can help protect a bald show cat.
Security expert, Damon Grant, nearly lost his life when a bereaved mother tried to take out the participants of the Heiress Games. He’s been stuck in Palm Cove trying to recover. Just when he’s finally ready to escape, Damon finds himself agreeing to protect a Sphynx cat named King Tut, who’s been threatened if his owner doesn’t remove him from a prestigious cat show. Damon never figured on hiring an assistant for the job, and certainly not pampered princess, Serena Douglas. She’s been an enticing thorn in his side since he was a teenager. By rights he should hate her. She’s spoiled, arrogant, and she used to torment his best friend, Eve Bennett. Still, that’s never stopped him from wanting Serena, or saving her, even when it cost him everything.
As Serena and Damon work together to uncover the villain threatening King Tut, they’re also working overtime to resist an attraction that’s been simmering for decades. Can they overcome past pain, and Serena’s past behavior, to find a second chance at love?
Here's an Excerpt:
Serena grabbed a glass of champagne and swallowed the contents in a few gulps.
“Easy there, Your Highness,” a deep, masculine voice drawled in her ear.
Serena choked, nearly spitting out the last sip of champagne. Damon Grant smacked her
She took a strategic step back. “What are you doing here?”
“I was invited.”
“Why?”
Serena knew the question was unforgivably rude, but she was in a pretty unforgiving mood. How dare he show up and make her relive those moments in the grand salon? And how dare he look so delicious? Damon had red hairfor heaven’s sake, which wasn’t supposed to be sexy on a man. Okay, his hair was more of a dark brown burnished with deep auburn. Not like his cousins, Chloe and Mia, who both had flaming red locks. Plus, his eyes were strange. Saved from ordinary brown by a touch of gold, like an Old Spanish coin.
One rust-colored brow arched as Damon regarded her with barely disguised amusement. “Maybe because I helped save Matilda’s life?”
“I helped save Matilda’s life,” she groused. “I stood between Matilda and Mrs. Palmer’s gun.”
“I know.” Damon gazed at her for a long moment. “You nearly got yourself killed, Your Highness.”
“So did you.” Her eyes automatically swept downward. Somewhere under his black, button-down shirt, a bullet wound marred his chest.
“I’m okay.” His tone went soft and gentle. Or as gentle as a man like him could be.
Shuddering, she lifted her gaze back to meet his. Why did he have to look at her like that? Like he saw past the mask she carefully kept in place? “When did you get out of the hospital?”
He seemed willing to go along with the new direction. “Last week.” He looked across the pool deck to where his cousin stood with Eve Bennett. “I’ve been laid up in Chloe’s apartment above the bakery.”
“She’s taking good care of you?”
“Chloe’s been stuffing me full of pastries.” Damon chuckled, a sound that seemed to sweep right down her spine, like it always had. “If I don’t get out of there soon, I’ll end up weighing three hundred pounds.”
“I don’t think you’ll ever be out of shape,” Serena said, trying to ignore the sizzle that warmed her veins as she took him in. Damon was built like fortress, with muscles decorating his muscles. He towered over just about everyone here, except for Killian, but with even more bulk. Killian had a quarterback’s sleek build. Damon looked like someone who could tear you apart with his bare hands…and smile while he did it.
Still, Damon wasn’t invincible. He hadn’t been immune the effects of a bullet, in the end. He’d almost been killed. Saving her.
Without thinking, Serena put her hand on the place where the bullet had entered his chest. “Did I ever say thank you?”
Under her palm, his muscles tensed. “For what?”
“If you hadn’t pushed me out of the way—”
“—If you hadn’t jumped in front of Mrs. Palmer’s gun.” Damon placed a hand over hers, trapping her fingers tight against his shirt. The warmth of his skin burned through the cotton fabric.
For a moment, the sounds of the party receded. She and Damon might have been alone on the
“Saving you was not stupid.” His words were sharp, firm, and definite.
Her lips curved in a sardonic smile. “There aren’t many people who would agree with you.”
“There aren’t many people who know your true worth, Serena.” He stepped closer, until he was an inch away. “They don’t know what you hide under that glamorous shell.”
Her entire body seemed to flutter. “What do you think I hide?”
“A heart.”
“Take that back.” The words came out breathy, rather than resolute, which she blamed entirely on the fact that he was standing so close. Damon had always caused her brain to short circuit, and it was as dangerous now as it had been all those years ago.
PRE-ORDER TODAY!
AMAZON / APPLE BOOKS / BARNES & NOBLE / KOBO
GIVEAWAY! COMMENT and SHARE this post for a chance to WIN an ebook copy of SECOND CHANCE HERO!!
Kristin Wallace is the USA Today Best Selling Author of inspirational and contemporary romance filled with “Love, Laughter and a Leap of Faith”. SECOND CHANCE HERO will launch March 26th.
2 comments:
Thanks for the preview. Looks like another winner for you!
Looks like a fun read. A literal "save the cat" moment in the past and it sounds like perhaps in the future. :) I'll bet thousands of readers will be jumping to read this the minute it is released.
Post a Comment