New Release Spotlight: Love Someone Like You by Susan Fox

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LOVE SOMEBODY LIKE YOU

Caribou Crossing #6

Susan Fox

Released Sept 29th,2015

Kensington: Zebra

With its breathtaking terrain and welcoming people, the Western town of Caribou Crossing is the perfect place for a heart to heal, and for love to blossom once more…

Since the death of her husband three years ago, young widow Sally Ryland has kept to herself and focused on her struggling business, Ryland Riding. Folks assume she’s still grieving, because Sally has never shared the truth about her abusive marriage, or the trust issues that remain. But when a sexy rodeo rider from her past turns up for a visit, he’s a reminder of the feisty woman she once was—and maybe still could be…

Ben Traynor was always attracted to Sally, but he didn’t move fast enough. Now what Sally needs is patience and gentleness. With an injury keeping him from his next rodeo, Ben has the perfect excuse to stick around and help with her chores—and her healing. And as Sally finds the courage to face her demons and open her heart again, she’ll have to decide if what she has with Ben is more than safety, gratitude, and short-term passion, but a forever love…

“Fox knows how to strike just enough sway between sweet and bitter, homespun and steamy.” --Publishers Weekly

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He unhitched the trailer, then climbed into the old Dodge Ram. The truck was a dually, the double set of rear tires giving it the extra strength he and Dusty needed to haul the rig. He cranked the windows down to enjoy the fresh air, and drove off, avoiding using his left hand unless absolutely necessary. On the way from Williams Lake, he’d found the local country and western station, CXNG, on the radio. Now he hummed along to some vintage Merle Haggard: “Workin’ Man Blues.”

Damn pretty land around here, but then horse country always was scenic, he reflected. The kind of scenic that not only pleased his eyes, but sank deep into his soul. On either side of the two-lane road, ranch land rolled away in gentle curves. On the right, low, craggy hills formed a backdrop. Traffic was light on this Tuesday afternoon, no one in a hurry. He slowed to pass a couple of riders on the gravel shoulder. When they waved, he took his right hand off the wheel for a moment to return the salutation.

He saw the turnoff to the main highway, leading back the way he’d driven earlier. He passed by, staying on the country road, and soon was greeted by a WELCOME TO CARIBOU CROSSING sign with a stylized caribou illustration. A couple of minutes later, he was in the outskirts of town.

Cruising down the main street, he noted some nicely restored heritage buildings, fresh paint on most storefronts, and flowers in planter boxes. A cute little town and yeah, it wasn’t much more than fifteen minutes’ drive from Sally’s place. How odd that she never came here.

Seeing a parking spot across from the town square, he grabbed it.

He strolled a couple blocks. A restored old hotel called the Wild Rose Inn had a fine-looking dining room and Western-style bar; a coffee shop called Big & Small offered sandwiches, wraps, and salads; a Japanese restaurant called Arigata looked interesting. He wasn’t a sushi guy, but he liked teriyaki, tempura prawns, and a few other Japanese dishes.

He settled on the Gold Pan, a diner that was two thirds full. It had Formica tables and red leatherette booths, a long counter and red-topped stools, even a jukebox. John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” wove beneath the sound of customers chatting. On the walls hung black-and-white photos of gold miners, some looking haggard as all get-out, others beaming and holding up sizable nuggets.

Feeling right at home, Ben took a seat at the counter. The middle-aged, auburn-haired waitress gave him a plasticized menu and a big smile, which he returned. The air smelled of frying chicken and grilling beef, and everything on the menu sounded delicious.

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Award-winning, international best-selling author Susan Fox (who also writes as Savanna Fox and Susan Lyons) is a Pacific Northwester with homes in Victoria and Vancouver, British Columbia. She has degrees in law and psychology, and has had a variety of careers, including perennial student, computer consultant, and legal editor. Fiction writer is by far her favorite, giving her an outlet to demonstrate her belief in the power of love, friendship, and a sense of humor.

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New Release Spotlight: Slashed by Tracy Wolff

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SLASHED

Extreme Risk #3

Tracy Wolff

Releasing Sept 29th, 2015

Loveswept

Do nice guys always finish last? In the new Extreme Risk novel from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Tracy Wolff, a burnt-out underdog and a vulnerable tomboy defy the pressure to be perfect and go after what they really want.

Bighearted and easygoing, Luc Jennings is falling behind in a family of serious overachievers. While he may be decent enough at snowboarding to turn pro and rack up some sponsors, he’s never topped any podiums—unlike his friends Z, Ash, and Cam. Luc’s always been head over heels for Cam Bradley, but she’s never seen him as anything more than a friend. Now, after years of coming in second, Luc can’t take it anymore—especially if it means watching Cam chase another guy.

Cam hangs out almost exclusively with dudes, and that’s fine by her. She’d much rather be shredding at the Olympics than primping in the mirror. Cam’s wildest dreams have a way of coming true except when it comes to getting her longtime crush and best friend, Z Michaels, to notice her. Then her mother suddenly shows up after being gone for, like, ever, and Cam’s whole world comes crashing down. Desperate for a place to lay low, she turns to the one person who’s always had her back.

Try as he might to move on, Luc could never leave Cam hanging. He lets her crash at his place—and it isn’t long before she winds up in his bed. With Cam running scared and her icy facade starting to melt at last, Luc’s determined to finally win the only prize that matters.

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 “Stomp it out there.”

Relief sweeps through me and I smile, probably way more than his comment warrants.

“I plan on it.”

I fasten my wakeboard onto my feet, then slide over the side of the boat and into the water with a splash. I gasp a little at the chill of it—it’s only September, but up here in the mountains, the water is already pretty cold. Not cold enough for a wetsuit, but definitely cold enough to make me shiver at first contact.

“You ready?” Z calls.

I grab the line, get myself in position with my knees pulled toward my chest and the board on its side, running parallel to the back of the boat.

“Hit it!” I tell him.

He laughs a little maniacally, but when he starts moving forward, he keeps it slow and steady. But that’s Z for you. He’s an adrenaline junkie who will try just about anything once—even stuff that’s almost guaranteed to kill him—but when it comes to the rest of us, he’s totally rock solid, totally responsible.

It’s one of the things I love about him. One of the things that used to make me think I was in love with him even though it was really more infatuation than anything else. There aren’t many people in my life who try to take care of me—the fact that Z always did made him special. But confusing that kind of friendship with love was stupid on my part, and something I totally got over once I accepted Ophelia wasn’t going anywhere. Because she loves Z for real and he loves her the same way. What she’s done for him—how she’s helped him come to grips with all the shit in his own life—matters more to me than any feelings I might have had for him way back when.

“Hey, faster,” I call, when he seems determined to be all old lady about the speed thing. “We’re barely moving!”

He lets out another maniacal laugh, but waves his hand in acknowledgement. And then we’re moving, cruising through the water at a speed that’s enough to get my adrenaline pumping.

I shift my hips, let the board sink like it’s been wanting to since we started moving. I can feel the pull in my shoulders now, but resist standing up. Not yet, not yet, not yet . . .

We hit what feels like about twenty miles an hour, and that’s when I pull up. We’re racing across the lake now, and I’m laughing as water sprays up into my face. For long seconds, I keep my arms relaxed, my knees bent, and just ride. We’re going fast, and the boat is kicking the water up, making it a little choppy. But I like it that way—and as Z lays on the speed, I shift my weight and pop a couple Ollies.

Logan cheers, and I laugh, but settle in to do a couple more tricks for him—a corked spin followed by a monkey spin, an invert, a couple different turns. Z guns it then, gets the boat up to what I’m guessing is twenty-three or so miles per hour as he doubles, then triples up.

I’m grinning like a crazy person now, but I love riding when he does that, love what it feels like when the wakes cross and hit three times normal size. Lowering my shoulders, I tuck in, then when it feels right, when it feels perfect, I jump. I catch mad air, just like I’d hoped, and I do a double inverted cork that I land perfectly, despite the huge wake.

It’s a great fucking feeling. The trick. The landing. The rush.

Logan screams encouragement, and I can hear Tansy and Ophelia clapping, too, so I do it again.

I land harder this time—the wake is dissipating and I don’t catch as much air, but it still works. Except then Luc gets up, says something to Z, though I can’t hear what. Then the boat starts to slow, much to my disappointment.

I get one more small jump in before Z gets the speed down too low to board. I let go of the rope, fall backward into the water, then reach down and unlace the boots that hold my feet onto the board as I wait for Z to circle back and pick me up.

It only takes a minute or two, and then Luc is pulling me up and into the boat. Looks like he remembers I exist, after all. Which, hey, I’m not about to knock.

“Thanks,” I say as I set my board next to him.

He just nods, then drops his hands so fast that I can’t help being a little insulted. I mean, we’re not in elementary school and I don’t have cooties.

I really enjoy the friends to lovers trope and this is no exception. Against the backdrop of the professional world of competitive snowboarding, this the first book I have read in the Extreme Risk series.

What happens when two people who have know each other since they were four years old end up having a one-night stand?

Luc Jennings and Cameron “Cam” Bradley's reactions are at the opposite end of the spectrum from one another after a one night stand! Cam is horrified because Luc is her best friend. Luc is left shattered after the best night of his life with the woman he's secretly in love with turns into a nightmare.

The author creates palpable sexual tension between the protagonists as they try to rebuild some sort of mutual relationship again. Luc's feelings of inadequacy leave him believing he can't compete with Cam's unrequited love for Z. Both are dealing with abandonment issues having been rejected by their respective mothers. They have so much in common but seem to have totally forgotten how to communicate on even the most basic level.

I found the settling for the story insightful but didn't really care much for the sub-plot surrounding Cam's Mom. It just seemed a bit too far fetched and didn't really bring anything worthwhile to the main story.

Many times I've read a standalone within a series only to feel as though I really needed to have read the earlier books; to get a better understanding of the dynamics between the characters. Not so with this book, which was a huge bonus, although I am intrigued to know more about Z and Ash.

The book ended with a few unanswered questions but I'm okay with that. I'm guessing we'll get a chance to see how Luc and Cam are doing in the next Extreme Risk book? If not, I'm more than happy for my mind to fill in the gaps. This is the first book I've read by Tracy Wolff and will definitely be reading more of her books in the future.

***arc generously received courtesy of Loveswept Publishing via NetGalley***

The Extreme Risk Series

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New York Times bestselling author Tracy Wolff lives in Texas and teaches writing at her local community college. She is married and the mother of three young sons.

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