Can Catherine accept the consequences of a great-aunt's dying wish without losing her heart or independence?
Taking in stray, injured or needy animals, veterinarian doctor Catherine Mornelli opens the Four Hooves and Paws Rescue program. But the land where the animals are kept is being sold. She approaches her Great-Aunt Elaine about possibly using her barn. However, visiting her aunt and checking out the barn also means seeing her ex-boyfriend.
Josef Garrison farms land that once belonged to his family for generations but went to his neighbor Elaine after his great-grandfather lost it in a poker game to Catherine’s great-grandfather. When Catherine returns, he sees a way to win back her heart and the land at the same time.
Excerpt:
Josef and Elaine sat on lawn chairs under the oak tree in the grassy center of the roundabout drive. They stood as the truck approached. Catherine groaned at the sight of the two. Her aunt was up to her old tricks, trying to get Josef and her back together.
“Shit.” She brought the truck to a halt. “I should’ve known Aunt Elaine’d do something like this. Let’s get your leashes on. I can’t have you running off,” she said to the dogs as she clipped the chains to their collars. “Okay, out.” She opened the door, and they bounded from the truck.
The dogs pulled her forward. “Aunt Elaine, how are you? You look great.” Catherine embraced her short round aunt who wore a large floral print dress. She whispered in the older woman’s ear, “You planned this. Him being here.”
“Nonsense,” her aunt murmured before speaking louder. “I’m doing well.”
“Josef, hard to believe you’ve gotten taller since ... well, years past.” He wasn’t the young college kid she remembered. He’d grown several inches, and his muscles were bulkier and well formed—all around.
“Cat. You’ve changed, too.” He rubbed the dogs’ heads, giving them the attention they sought from him. “What are their names?”
The dogs were enjoying the new environment and explored as far as the leashes allowed. “Fuzzy is the little guy, and Darby’s the yellow lab.” She forcefully twisted the tie-down stakes into the dry hard ground away from each other and secured the dogs’ chains.
“Yours or rescue acquisitions?” His baseball cap shadowed his eyes which gave them a sense of mystery.
“Mine.” Something stirred in her stomach—the past. Thank God for the hat, as his eyes were beautiful to look into. And that’s when she’d always found trouble. Trouble of the good kind.
The dogs barked wildly at the road, and a yellow lab ran through the yard.
“Who’s let their precious dog run wild?” She approached the oncoming dog. “You’re a friendly guy.” She knelt. “Where did you come from?”
“He’s a she, and her name is Blondie.” Josef stepped beside Catherine.
About the author:
Born and raised in Minnesota, Jody remains close to home, living with her husband of more than twenty years as well as three children and a cat named Holly. Growing up, she enjoyed reading V.C. Andrews' Dollanganger series, S.E. Hinton and Stephen King to name a few.
She’s traveled throughout the United States, to the Bahamas and Cancun, Mexico. Between watching soccer games, scrapbooking and being the COO of the Vitek household, she writes contemporary romances.
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**Jody will be awarding a $20 Amazon Gift Card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.
38 comments:
This sounds really great!
Thank you for hosting
I think I'm going to rather like Aunt Elaine.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
I think I'm going to rather like Aunt Elaine.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
This book looks like I'm going to like it.
First I would like to thank Julianna for hosting me today at Reading in Twilight.
Lisa B., thank you for stopping by so early this morning.
Thank you for visiting, Mary P. I hope you enjoy Aunt Elaine. She's a sneaky old lady.
Welcome Patricia and thanks for stopping in.
As a volunteer at our local Animal Shelter, I fall in love with all the dogs, and wish I had the land to take them all home with me. But since I don't have the land, and can't take them all home, reading stories about Rescue Shelters has to stand in the gap for me! Thank you for writing this book... I'm putting it on my TBR list, and I'm looking forward to reading it. Thanks as well for putting on this contest.
acwa at netscape dot com
I've read the book and it's a fun read. Love the cover, Jody!
The synopsis of this book sounds fantastic and I hope I am the lucky winner!!! YEAH! Another fabulous giveaway! Thanks!!!
Love the story line, would be great read. Thank you for the opportunity.
jslbrown_03 at yahoo dot com
Sounds like a good book, I can't wait to read it.
Kit3247(at)aol(dot)com
This sounds like a wonderful read. Thank you for the excerpt and the giveaway!
smhparent [at] hotmail [dot] com
Grampy, thank you for commenting. There are too many animals in need and I wish I had the funds to help by taking them into my home.
Brenda you're very kind. Thank you. I love the cover and was surprised with the back side, as they were able to put the cat peeking through the barn wall on the back cover.
Thank you for coming by Melissa, and I wish you good luck on the drawing.
Lisa, thank you for coming by today.
Welcome Rita, and thanks for stopping in.
Susan, I'm glad you enjoyed the excerpt and wish you luck on the drawing.
the cover was good but the back cover with the cat peeking through the barn was so cute. Thanks for the chance to enter the drawing
Sounds like a great book! Very lovely cover :)
ChaoticKarma23 at gmail dot com
Thank you Gayle, for commenting and good luck!
Veronica, thank you for coming by.
I always appreciate a good read of passion and friendship. I am excited about this book tour!
Michelle, thank you for visiting and your excitement!
***waves*** "Hi to Jody!!!!!
Hi, Melinda! Thanks for stopping by this evening!
Nice blurb
bn100candg at hotmail dot com
Thank you for coming by BN.
This is another great looking and sounding book to add to my tbr stack.
Thanks for sharing :)
Lori
Have a great weekend! :-)
justforswag(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
This looks great! Thanks for the giveaway!
mestith at gmail dot com
this sounds great! thank you for the giveaway and opportunity to win :)
Lori, thank you for stopping by this evening.
Have a great weekend too, Chelsea.
Thank you for visiting, Meghan .
Vishous, thank you for commenting and I wish you luck in the drawing.
I hope that by the end of the story Josef has true feelings for Cat.
Thank you for visiting, Emi. I don't want to give anything away but remember this is a romance and I believe in happily ever after.
Sounds like a great read!!
Thanks for the chance to win!
natasha_donohoo_8 at hotmail dot com
Thank you for the giveaway! :)
Thank you for the giveaway!
The book sounds really interesting. Definitely going to add it to my tbr list. Thanks for the giveaway!
Sounds like a good read.
Thank you Natasha, Holly, 4blueeyes7, jessie2247 and Holly Letson, for stopping by commenting. Good luck on the drawing!
sounds like an awesome read
drea8685 at yahoo dot com
I love second chance stories,sounds like a good read.
Thanks for sharing :)
qwertzuio789@net.hr
Andrea and Lilith, thank you stopping by and commenting.
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