Crushing on Love
The
Bradens at Peaceful Harbor #4
By: Melissa Foster
Releasing September
21, 2016
World Literary Press
World Literary Press
Blurb
Steve Johnson is living his life’s passion watching over the Colorado Mountains as a ranger and wildlife consultant. But his peaceful life is upended when overzealous and insanely beautiful Shannon Braden flits back into his life after returning from a brief trip home to Maryland. He thought his attraction to her was under control—after all, she’s only in Colorado temporarily, and he doesn’t do casual affairs.
Steve Johnson is living his life’s passion watching over the Colorado Mountains as a ranger and wildlife consultant. But his peaceful life is upended when overzealous and insanely beautiful Shannon Braden flits back into his life after returning from a brief trip home to Maryland. He thought his attraction to her was under control—after all, she’s only in Colorado temporarily, and he doesn’t do casual affairs.
Shannon’s return to Colorado has as much to
do with the game of cat and mouse she and Steve have been playing as it does
the data she’s been hired to collect. But despite her efforts to explore the
undeniable heat simmering between them, Steve’s intent on keeping his distance.
When a ranch abutting the national park goes
up for sale, Steve will do whatever it takes to keep it from falling into the
wrong hands. And when all his attempts fail, he’s left with no alternative but
to follow Shannon’s guidance into the online world he abhors in order to raise
the funds. The more time they spend together, the deeper their attraction
becomes, and a game of cat and mouse turns into an unstoppable connection. But
when Shannon’s assignment comes to an end, will it mean an end to them, too?
My Thoughts:
Adorable. Seriously, Steve and Shannon are adorable. There personalities couldn't be anymore different either. You have Steve who is practically a recluse; he's not to that point, but almost. He loves his solitude and being up on the mountain. Then you have Shannon who is out going, bubbly, bursting with energy, just like a butterfly. She totally fits her nickname Steve has given her. The more you read the story she's a butterfly. Knowing this Steve wants to make sure his barriers are intact, but she's a butterfly and she manages to fly over them.
Basically, Shannon helps Steve with this project which opens him up to her. I automatically liked Shannon, because she reminds me of me, but Steve I totally adore. He melted my little heart with acts of love towards Shannon. Puddle of goo, because of Steve. Who knew that he that kind of power, I mean he's not the most outgoing guy, but yet he has some magic. Overall, a sweet story. Easy to fall in love with the characters.
Copy provided by author via Tasty Book Tours
Excerpt:
Shannon watched Steve swing his ax. He was
built like the very mountains he loved: strong and stable, with layers of
hard-earned muscles born from honest, hard work. Pure perfection.
And that hair? Lord. What would it be like to fist her hands in his
hair and kiss him? To touch all those hard planes of muscle? To discover the
man behind the walls? She told herself those were wants not needs,
no matter how much they felt like it. The kind of unrelenting wants that
bring a girl to reach beneath the sheets and satisfy her fantasies.
Down, girl.
Shannon had been surprised by how much she’d
missed Steve when she’d gone home for her eldest brother Cole’s wedding. She
and Steve hadn’t spent more than a few stolen moments together during the weeks
she was here for her first assignment. Usually she’d catch him working on
equipment, or in his yard, before she returned to her uncle’s ranch in the
evenings. He’d captivated her with his passion for, and endless knowledge about,
all things wilderness related. And he was different from most of the guys she
knew. He wasn’t hung up on his looks or material things. He was real,
with a strong set of values and priorities. Somehow, between their almost daily
conversations and weeks of hoping she’d see him, she’d become completely and
utterly taken with him.
When she’d been offered the assignment and the
cabin, she’d accepted without hesitation. She’d missed Steve too much to deny
the attraction, and she wanted to see if something might come of it.
Now that she was here, her body was thrumming
at the mere sight of him. Given that she’d actually asked him about his sex
life—and nearly died on the spot when the question slipped out—she desperately
needed to rein herself in.
He wiped sweat from his brow, his tanned skin
glistening in the morning sun. “Need anything from town?” he asked, setting
another log on the stump.
She couldn’t pry her eyes from his rippling
abs and his bulbous biceps flexing with every move. “Town?”
He cocked a smile and hoisted the ax again.
“Town. You know, the place where people who like Pinterest live?”
She forced her eyes away, glancing at the
trees swaying in the breeze, the rocks at her feet, anywhere but at him.
“I know what town is. I’m just surprised
you’re going there.” Everyone knew Steve hated to leave his precious mountain.
“Gotta take care of some business.”
Going into town was a big deal. Unlike a quick
trip to the store from her apartment in Peaceful Harbor, the drive into town
took at least thirty to forty-five minutes, depending on which town he was
going to. She’d realized last night she’d forgotten two very important
supplies. Pop-Tarts and toilet paper. She could probably live with the single
roll of toilet paper she had in the cabin for another few days if she needed
to, but Pop-Tarts were pretty much a necessity. Besides, maybe she could
convince Steve to help her scout gray-fox habitats at dusk. Perfect!
“Can I come with you?” she asked hopefully. “I
need to pick up a few things.”
“I’ll get them for you. What do you need?”
She bit her lower lip, willing herself not to
fib. But if she asked him to pick up what she really needed, he’d leave and
she’d have to go searching for habitats by herself. Now that she’d thought
about going later with her yummy mountain man, she’d already settled on it in
her mind.
“It’s girl stuff. You won’t want to get it.”
So much for not fibbing. “Can I please go with you?” She gave him her best
pleading look. “I promise not to talk your ear off.” Fib, fib, fib! She
had no control over what came out of her mouth, especially around him.
He muttered under his breath and set the ax
against the stump. “I’m not making a hundred stops.”
She leapt with delight and ran over to hug
him. Her heel slipped out of her boot and she stumbled into him in a half hug,
half full-body-draped-over-Steve embrace. His skin was hot, his body was
hard, and getting harder by the second. He smelled like man and
musk, and…she was still plastered against him.
She cleared her throat and managed, “Thank
you.” Using his chest for leverage—yum, yum—she found her footing and
pressed her heel back into her boot. “One stop. That’s it. Promise.”
“You’re excited to get those supplies.” He
picked up the logs he’d chopped and piled them on his forearm like they were toothpicks.
“I’m just excited to be back. Maybe at
dusk you can help me map out the habitats? It’ll be fun to scope them out
together.”
He gave her a curious look. “Haven’t heard
anyone describe hanging out with me as fun in a long time.”
“Then you’re hanging out with losers, and I’m
taking that as a yes.” She grabbed the coffee mugs, unable to stop smiling.
“I’m leaving in twenty minutes.”
“I’ll be back lickety-split.” With a bounce in
her step, she headed toward her cabin and heard him mutter, “Lickety-split,”
followed by a chuckle.
Goodreads Series Link:
Author
Info
Melissa Foster
is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling
and award-winning author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary
romance, new adult romance, and women's fiction with emotionally compelling
characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Melissa's
emotional journeys are lovingly erotic, perfect beach reads, and always family
oriented.
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