Excerpt!
“Hi,” they said at once to each other, and then shared an awkward, huddled laugh.
“So, what was that about?” James asked nervously.
“We were totally talking about you. Were your ears burning?”
“As a matter of fact, they were,” he answered, rubbing an ear instinctively.
“They apologized for keeping a certain secret.” Isabelle angled an accusatory, though playful glare at him.
“As I intend to do…” James cleared his throat, gearing up for the apology.
Except a snowball hit James in the back of the head, knocking off his cowboy hat. His shocked expression, eyes goggled, mouth wide open, made Isabelle burst out laughing. As he turned around to identify the culprit, Isabelle could see Clint and Cole lobbing snowballs at everyone. Another snowball came flying toward James. He dodged it, but Isabelle was too busy laughing to notice it in time; it hit her clean in the face. Luckily, it was soft and didn’t cause any harm, but it had her spluttering in surprise.
“Ha, serves you right for laughing at me!” James shouted, balling up a snowball in his hands and threw it at her.
She ducked.
“How would you like one in the face, Mr. Fancy Pants?” Isabelle bent down and began wadding up snow.
“Fancy Pants?” James paused, hands on hips, and sniffed haughtily. “And here I thought you liked my suits, Queenie.”
“Queenie? Now, you’re just making fun of me.” Isabelle threw her snowball and it hit him square in the chest, exploding into his face.
“Oh, you’re in trouble now!” James shouted, chasing her.
Isabelle screeched and took off running. He caught her by the arm and tackled her. They fell into the snow, and James landed on top of her. Isabelle wriggled and squealed as James hovered, the two of them reeling in laughter, trying to control their jagged breaths. A broad smile teased at James’s lips.
“I guess this would be a bad time to ask you out on a date.”
“Some might consider this the perfect time.” She quirked a silly smile and winked.
His cheeks flushed a lovely shade of pink as he rolled into the snow and stood. He held his hand out to her and pulled her up. “Would you like to go on a sleigh ride with me, Isabelle?”
Isabelle hesitated. She saw the look of disappointment already filling his eyes. He’d worked hard to regain her trust and try to rebuild their friendship. He deserved a break and she wasn’t prone to hold grudges. She was in the mood for some Christmas fun, and hadn’t gone on one since she was a kid.
Besides, it’s just a sleigh ride, right?
A British cowboy bachelor, the rodeo queen he’s been crushing on, and fateful family entanglements threatening to keep them apart…
While visiting his former Oxford flat mate, British bachelor James Davenport falls in love not only with the small town of Primrose, CO, but with rodeo queen Isabelle Pomeroy. But a family crisis sends James scuttling back across the pond leaving Isabelle without an explanation.
Isabelle Pomeroy spent the last year touring the state as Miss Rodeo Colorado, and comes darn close to winning Miss Rodeo America. But her tenure is over and she’s anxious to come home to her family for Christmas. Helping at her family’s ranch is a welcome distraction from the heartache left by a handsome Brit who left without so much as saying goodbye.
Without warning, James returns, working hard to become a true-blue cowboy and anxious to win her back. Isabelle is determined to avoid another heartbreak, but it seems a tall order amidst her small town’s festive traditions and everyone brimming with holiday spirit.
Will James weave some Christmas magic and convince Isabelle of what’s truly in his heart? Will Isabelle allow herself to heal, so they can finally forge a real relationship?
Check it out on Goodreads!
Buy your copy from Amazon
Author bio:
Shantal is hopelessly romantic. She adores writing ALL THE FEELS right up to the first kiss and beyond saying, “I do.” She is a multi-genre sweet romance author who engages in her two great passions: reading and writing heart-soaring romance, charming characters with chemistry, and scintillating kisses that will steal your breath away. Originally drawn to writing young adult Medieval romance, she’s since written contemporary romance, all sweet and clean.
Happily living in a love story all her own, she lives in Utah with her husband, near her two married sons and amazing daughters-in-law, and her two granddaughters. Shantal loves the great outdoors and can be found gardening in summer and skiing in winter. She’ll come inside to hunker down for a Jane Austen book or film (or romance, romcom, and costume drama), and to make the most delectable pumpkin chocolate chip cookies on the planet. Learn more at https://www.shantalsessions.com.
Goodreads
Giveaway!
I love books about cowboys, this sounds awesome! And I love the beautiful cover!
ReplyDelete