TEN MILLION FIREFLIES by Marianne Rice

Happy Saturday everyone! Today we welcome author Marianne Rice to the blog.

Her new book, Ten Million Fireflies is the first book in her new Band of Sisters series. I'm so looking foward to this exciting series featuring miltiary/former military heroines! It's about time our sisters got their due!

About the Book

She wants to make up for her lonely past by doing something good for children. He wants to forget his past and stay the loner that he is.

She’s Brooklyn Ross, former Army sergeant and the reluctant recipient of a surprise five million dollars from her father—a man who gave her everything except love and support. So when she spends the cash on a deserted summer camp for kids who need just that, Brooklyn figures her future is looking bright. It doesn’t hurt that there’s a sexy neighbor with soulful green eyes right next door, who makes her laugh and challenges her at the same time. Because challenges are her specialty.

He’s Drew Beckett, an author who is definitely not facing writer’s block. And he’s absolutely not distracted by the gorgeous, nosey woman who thinks she’s going to make a project of the camp next door. He has a history with that property, and he has no interest in dredging up the guilty secret that comes with it. No prying neighbor is going to bring down the walls he’s built around his home… or his heart.

Until he meets Brooklyn.

~ ~ ~

An Excerpt

“Any advice on how I can find out if she’s interested without making a fool of myself?”

If she’d known, she wouldn’t have come two seconds away from making a fool of herself. Thank God she didn’t say anything to him. Besides, she wasn’t the one to ask for dating advice.

“Not a one.” She bit into the salmon, the maple and ginger tingling on her tongue. Damn, she’d miss his cooking.

“You were amazing coming up with a series idea for me. Surely you can help me out here.”

Brooke swallowed her fish and washed it down with a sip of water. She’d need to cut back on the wine if she planned to keep her head on straight.

Mimicking his earlier moves, she dabbed the corners of her mouth with her napkin and set it by her plate. “I’m not one for mind games,” she sort of lied. Well, she hadn’t been until lately. “Your best bet is to come right out and tell her you’re interested.”

“I’m interested.”

“Yeah, like that. Just say it.”

“I’m interested.”

“See? You got it.”

That adorable smirk and gleam in his eyes made her girly parts wiggle. Not a good sign. She’d definitely had too much wine. She needed to leave before she did something stupid like cry or profess her undying love for him, which was completely obnoxious. Love had nothing to do with this.

“I’m interested.”

“There you go.” She stood and patted his shoulder. “Grub was good. I’ll help you with the dishes.” Brooke carried her plate and the empty risotto dish to the sink. The clouds had rolled in over the past hour as the weather forecasters had predicted, making the night sky darker than normal.

Drew didn’t exactly sneak up on her, his reflection in the window over the sink giving away his presence, but she would have known he was there anyway. He didn’t give her much personal space, his legs brushing up against her backside.

Brooke curled her lips, biting down on them, and sucked in a breath. “Do you, uh… have a container for the leftovers?” She wanted to turn around, but he nearly pinned her to the counter, not giving her much room to move.

“I’m interested,” he said softly, his words whispering across the nape of her neck, followed by the delicate touch of his hand on her shoulder. Drew’s touch was light as it swept down her arm, his fingers tracing along until they reached her wrist.

No man had ever seduced her with such simple words or light touch, if in fact what he was doing was seducing. It could be the wine she’d downed clouding her brain and distorting Drew’s words. Brooke lifted her gaze to the window and met his. Even with the dark shadows, she could see the intensity in his stare.

Could he really be directing those words at her? Weren’t they arguing just a few days ago about her opening the camp?

Shifting slightly so she faced him, the counter pressing against her butt, she tilted her head just a fraction. He was only a few inches taller than her and she liked how they fit together, even though they barely touched.

“You’ve got those lines down pat. I think you’re ready to use them on… her.” She still wasn’t one hundred percent sure she was reading him correctly. Although, if this was practice, when he spoke those words for real, the woman would orgasm simply by the intensity in his eyes and the softness of his words.

“Is there something else I need to say or do to make sure she understands how interested I am?” His voice was soft and tender.

“You could… you could show her.” Brooke didn’t mean to sound so throaty.

“How?” His fingers continued to trace circles around her wrist and up her forearm.

“With a kiss?” She wet her lips in anticipation. Please let this be real, she begged whatever gods were listening.

And hell on wheels, they were. Drew didn’t hesitate as he lowered his mouth to hers, his lips as sweet and soft as his fingers. He didn’t take possession of her, but touched his lips to hers with warm, tender kisses.

~ ~ ~

About the Author

Marianne Rice is the author of more than twenty small-town romance novels set in rural New England towns. She loves high heels, reading romance, scarfing down dark chocolate, gulping wine, and Chris Hemsworth. Oh, and her husband and three children.

Marianne's Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Pinterest ~ Instagram ~ Newsletter Signup

Be sure to come back all next week. Notes From a Romantic's Heart will be featuring a number of new releases and celebrating at least two or three Book Birthdays!

Until then, stay safe, stay healthy, stay happy, and stay well read.

Nancy