Book Crazy: Book Blitz & Giveaway: Breaking the Ice [Love on Thin Ice 01] by Whitney Dineen!

Excerpt!

Of course, Zachary Hart showed up early. The man is clearly so self-absorbed he thinks the world’s population is here for no other reason than to serve him. I turn toward my class and announce, “Everyone on the ice. Practice your revolutions until I come back.” Then I skate toward the opening in the boards where Troy is standing next to his brother. 

“Hey, Ellie,” Troy greets. “How’s it going? The kids look like they’re having a blast.”

“Thanks to you and Kelly,” I tell him. “These girls wouldn’t be skating without you.”

Troy passes off the compliment in that aw-shucks self-deprecating manner of his. “Sure they would. They’d just have to wait until the ponds froze up in the winter.” He reaches an arm out toward his brother. “Zach came a day early. I hope that won’t be a problem.” Before I can answer, he adds, “Zach, this is Ellie Butler.”

I shift my attention in the billionaire’s direction, with every intention of giving him a piece of my mind.  But as soon as our eyes meet, my throat constricts, making coherent verbal communication impossible—on my part anyway. 

Zach is way hotter than he looks in the tabloids and on TV. He also possesses a magnetic aura that’s drawing me in—like I inexplicably want to jump into his arms. How is that even possible since I fervently loathe him?

Mr. Smug extends his hand to shake mine. “I wanted to get here ahead of the press.”

My eyes drop to the offered hand and bounce back to stare at his—dang it—handsome face. Keeping both of my arms at my sides, I tell him, “The cottage won’t be ready until tomorrow.” 

“I was worried it wouldn’t,” Troy says. “But that’s no problem. Zach can stay with us for the night. The boys can’t wait to see him.”

Zach has other ideas. “I don’t mind if it isn’t perfect.” He continues, “I’m going to need a quiet place to work, and my nephews are anything but quiet.”

“Then you should stay at the lodge,” I tell him, unwilling to budge on his occupation date.

“That won’t work for me.”

“Why?” I demand incredulously. Does this guy really think the entire world is at his beck and call?

“Because the team arrives tomorrow, and the press will be on site. I don’t want to be anywhere near them until I’m ready.” 

I unconsciously look at his fingernails and wonder if he gets manicures. Sure enough, there are no cuticles, and his nails look shiny and buffed. 

“Afraid they’ll make you look bad?” My sarcasm is heavy. 

Zach’s shoulders square off like he’s turned to stone. “Excuse me?” He’s clearly not used to anyone standing up to him. 

“The cottage will be ready tomorrow after three,” I tell him firmly. “The key will be waiting for you in the office.” I glance at Troy to make sure I haven’t made him angry, but he looks nothing short of amused. 

“I need to stay there tonight,” Zach says more firmly than he should for a man with no control over the situation. 

“Good luck with that.” I know I’m taking things too far, but I can’t seem to stop myself.

Richie Rich runs a hand through his hair like he’s going to rip it out. “Ellie, is it?” He knows darn well that’s my name, so I don’t respond. “What is it going to take for me to get into your mother’s cottage right now?”

What do an entitled billionaire and small-town ice-skating coach have in common?

Ellie

My life is not turning out like I thought it would.

My mom’s arthritis has gotten so bad that I had to move in with her. I’m making ends meet by giving ice skating lessons at the arena in Maple Falls. I’d be in serious trouble had the Harts not given me that job.

Which makes it impossible to say no when they ask me to let Troy’s obnoxious billionaire brother stay in the cabin on my mom’s property during the charity hockey event they’re running.

Zach

First the tabloids call me out for being a cheapskate and then Yolanda Simms takes to national television to tell everyone what a vicious heartbreaker I am?

Yeah, my life has been better.

My brother thinks I can fix my bad press by coming to Maple Falls and donating big to his new charity endeavor. Too bad he didn’t mention the woman who owns the cottage I’ll be staying at hates me with a passion.

He also didn’t mention she’s everything I’ve ever looked for in a woman…

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Author bio:

Whitney loves to laugh, play with her kids, bake, and eat french fries -- not always in that order.

Whitney is a multi-award-winning author of romcoms, non-fiction humor, and middle reader fiction. Basically, she writes whatever the voices in her head tell her to.

She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband, Jimmy, where they raise children, chickens, and organic vegetables.

Gold Medal winner at the International Readers' Favorite Awards, 2017.

Silver medal winner at the International Readers' Favorite Awards, 2015, 2016.

Finalist RONE Awards, 2016.

Finalist at the IRFA 2016, 2017.

Finalist at the Book Excellence Awards, 2017

Finalist Top Shelf Indie Book Awards, 2017