GENRE: Contemporary Romance
At the stroke of midnight, a stranger’s kiss changes everything…
Brian Fortune doesn’t think he will ever find the woman he kissed at his brother's New Year's wedding. So when the search for the provenance of a mysterious gift leads him into a local antique store a few days later, he's stunned to find Emmaline Lewis, proprietor—and mystery kisser! Surprise turns to shock when he realizes that she's also six months pregnant. Brian has never been the type to commit—and he’s really not ready to become a family man in one fell swoop! But suddenly he knows he’ll do anything to stay at Emmaline's side—for good…
“May I kiss you, Emmaline?”
Welp. There it was. He was actually asking her permission. As if Emmaline could be more taken with him, his quiet question pushed her over the edge of reason.
She was smitten. The kind of enamored that had her wondering if he might be able to hear her heart pounding against her rib cage. As if her anticipation was a palpable thing.
After a moment, she nodded, not trusting her voice.
He leaned in and brushed his lips against hers, featherlight and controlled. Her body erupted in goosebumps and she let out a tiny moan, both in satisfaction and frustration. She reveled in the sensations swirling through her and, at the same time, wanted more.
Brian must have heard the sound—another tally in her list of embarrassments for this night—but he didn’t seem to find anything wrong with it.
In fact, it seemed to spur him on. The kiss turned deeper as he shifted both of them into a nearby alcove so she couldn’t be seen by the crowd.
He continued to cup her cheeks, the softness of his touch in sharp contrast to the hard planes of the chest she could feel under her hands. But when he lowered one hand to the small of her back to pull her closer, Emmaline wrenched away.
She could not allow herself to be pressed up against him. Not now. Not without revealing…too much.
He looked as dazed as she felt as he stared at her.
“I have to go,” she whispered, more to herself than him.
Before he could answer, she turned and ran away.
He continued to cup her cheeks, the softness of his touch in sharp contrast to the hard planes of the chest she could feel under her hands. But when he lowered one hand to the small of her back to pull her closer, Emmaline wrenched away.
She could not allow herself to be pressed up against him. Not now. Not without revealing…too much.
He looked as dazed as she felt as he stared at her.
“I have to go,” she whispered, more to herself than him.
Before he could answer, she turned and ran away.
3.5 Stars
This was a nice, comfy, romance. Plenty of family, activities and love to go around. A bit confusing at times with a large host of characters but, once I got them straight in my head, I was able to follow along well enough to enjoy the story. I found it a bit strange that all the young heroines were pregnant when they nabbed their hero, but I’m going to assume that was the premise for a new series.
The story follows the standard Harlequin formula. So, if you enjoy this tried-and-true genre, I’m sure you’ll like this book.
USA Today bestselling author Michelle Major loves stories of new beginnings, second chances and always a happily ever after. An avid hiker and avoider of housework, she lives in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains with her husband, two teenagers, and a menagerie of spoiled furbabies.
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It's been my pleasure hosting Michelle for today's stop on her tour. Please come back again later in the week and all month for more authors, books, and giveaways!
Nancy
Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteWonderful excerpt, Their New Year's Beginning sounds like my kind of book! Thanks for sharing it with me! Thanks Notes From a Romantic's Heart for sharing your review! Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteLovely excerpt!
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