Christmas At The Cove
Temptation Cove, #4
Rachel Brimble
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Harlequin Superromance
Date of Publication: November 1, 2014
Number of pages: 384
More family for Christmas?
Scott Walker doesn't have time for a relationship. The sexy mechanic has career ambitions, not to mention a mother and three sisters to take care of. The last thing he needs is Carrie Jameson, the beauty he never forgot, arriving in Templeton Cove over the holidays with some unexpected news.
Scott still finds Carrie irresistible, and he's not one to shirk responsibility. Scott's issues with his own dad make the prospect of parenthood a minefield. But if he and Carrie can overcome their fears, this Christmas could bring them the best gift of all.
Excerpt:
She squeezed her eyes shut. “I’ll stay for another couple of days, but then I have to go home. I can’t stay here for Christmas.”
The soft whisper of his exhalation drifted over her folded hands on the table. “That’s great. It’s more than great. Thank you.”
She swallowed, wanting the words she needed to say out of her body as soon as possible. “You have your life, and I have mine.” She opened her eyes. “Neither of us has to change our plans because I’ve told you about Belle. You can still do what you want to do.”
His eyes ever so slightly darkened. “If I’m a father, it changes everything.”
Be strong, Carrie. Lay down the ground rules. “I disagree.” She straightened her spine. “I get it, Scott. Truly. I understand you think knowing about Belle means you have to change your entire life, but that’s not true.”
“That’s not what I’m––”
“Let me just say this, please.”
He closed his eyes and she took that as permission to continue. She inhaled a deep breath. “I like, and appreciate, you thinking what you should to do and how to do it, but I’m not asking you to change your plans overnight. This is going to take time. I want it to take time. Belle doesn’t need to know about you yet. You can go on with your life and when the time’s right, I’ll tell her about you.”
Silence.
Carrie swallowed against the dryness in her throat. When she’d been standing outside the holiday park, the decision to see her mission through to the end burning like a flame inside her, she’d thought her words would be strong and clear, delivered with a reverence he couldn’t argue with. Yet now, her stomach trembled with nerves and her hands longed to take his.
Why did he make her feel so torn and her reasoning unfair? Belle was hers. He had no obligation to her unless he wanted one. “I’m not saying that to be cruel, you know.” She sighed. “I’ve looked after her the last year without a partner beside me. She’ll be okay…whatever you decide.”
His continuing silence raised the hairs at the back of her neck, made her fear she drove a bigger wedge between them, but she wouldn’t falter. She had come to Templeton and achieved what she came to do––the gates were open and Scott could step through them whenever he was ready. As long as he realized the hinges wouldn’t creak back and forth on a whim.
Guest Post:
You have said you are a fan of US TV and books – if you could go to any US city/region to research a book, where would it be and why?
Ooh, great question!
I have thought about this a lot for years – so far I have only been to Manhattan in New York for four manic days and nights. As much as I loved my trip, where I really want to go is Washington.
I am obsessed with American history and feel this is one of the places where I will be become really immersed and properly educated. My imagination and knowledge of Washington and its history is mostly fueled from what I see on TV…so how much is true to real-life, I look forward to finding out.
Shows like Scandal and The West Wing have had me glued to the screen for years and when I think of all the presidents, their achievements and history everything intrigues and fascinates me in equal measure.
There are so many past presidents that I would love to learn more about and how they came to such an incredible and powerful position. I love to think one day I will write a blockbuster of a novel set in Washington.
From Washington, I would then travel to Boonsboro, Maryland. I am a huge Nora Roberts fan and I have to say her and Jill Shalvis are probably the biggest influences of my writing and career. I would love to visit her husband’s bookshop, having timed it right so I get to one of Nora’s booksignings and then stay in one of the fantastic, literary-themed room at her hotel, Inn Boons Boro.
Washington and Boonsboro are first on my list but there are many, many other places in the US I would love to visit and write about my experiences in future novels. New England looks beautiful, I have a dear and close friend in San Antonio, Texas as well as desperately wanting to visit Margaret Mitchell’s house in Atlanta…Gone With The Wind is my all-time favorite book.
Fingers crossed, I will visit all these places through my lifetime. I can’t wait!
Giveaway:
Author Bio:
Rachel lives with her husband and two teenage daughters in a small town near Bath in the UK. After having several novels published by small US presses, she secured agent representation in 2011. Since 2013, she has had five books published by Harlequin Superromance (Templeton Cove Stories) and three Victorian romances by eKensington/Lyrical.
Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and Romance Writers of America, and was selected to mentor the Superromance finalist of So You Think You Can Write 2014 contest. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find Rachel with her head in a book or walking the beautiful English countryside with her family. Her dream place to live is Bourton-on-the-Water in South West England.
She likes nothing more than connecting and chatting with her readers and fellow romance writers. Rachel would love to hear from you!
To connect with the author online:
Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Log in with Facebook 
