Racehorse trainer Kurt MacKinnon resents
being yanked back into undercover police work. But when his ex-partner is
brutally murdered, he moves his third-string horses to a dirt road track,
determined to hunt down the killer. Struggling apprentice jockey Julie
West pins her dreams of a vital win on the charismatic trainer, never suspecting
she's a person of interest-and not because of her riding ability. Kurt
didn't expect his temperamental colt to blossom under Julie's deft touch nor for
his own rusty heart to soften. However, his deception draws them both into the
cross-hairs of a killer...and now much more than their love is in
danger.About the AuthorBev Pettersen is an award-winning writer and two-time finalist in the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart® Contest. She competed for five years on the Alberta Thoroughbred race circuit and is an Equine Canada certified coach. Presently, she lives in Nova Scotia with her husband and two teenagers. When she’s not writing novels, she’s riding. Visit her at http://www.bevpettersen.com Views: 59
Jaided: Chapter 1Jaide knew her life depended on getting along with boys in this all-boy school, the one where she had suddenly become the only girl. That wouldn’t be easy. Most of the boys she had known smelled bad, had bad manners, and were rude and generally beastly. Despite the logistics of one girl living in a sea of testosterone, her father had made it happen. They both knew that this was the safest place for her. Here, she would receive a good education. Here, she would feel shielded from her past. At least, she hoped she would. She just hoped nobody would ask too many questions. After all, a female in a boys’ school was bound to raise eyebrows. As she approached her assigned room along the dormitory hall, Jaide felt her beauty could become a survival weapon. Boys were suckers for good looks.Chapter 2Blaize remained steadfastly belligerent through dinner and later in their room, he nixed every attempt Jaide made to breach the gap between them. All the other boys were delightfully convivial but she noticed they seemed to avoid the obvious question: “What the fuck are you doing here?”Chapter 3Jaide woke at 6:30 with a leg cramp. "Shit," she muttered sharply and threw the covers back. She limped to the other side of the room and then back again, trying to walk it off.Chapter 4Blaize and Jaide grabbed a quick dinner with the boys, then everyone headed off to their room. Jaide entered the bathroom to change into the sleeping clothes that she planned to wear for rest of the night, knowing that she would probably be stuck in her room doing homework. She changed into her little sleeping shorts and tank top.Chapter 5The period flew by. Blaize was still being anti-social. He hadn't even shown any emotion when she informed him that Tremaine was coming that weekend. The next class she had with Garret, and she wanted to talk to him about Alex.Chapter 6Blaize set Jaide down on her bed as the rest of the team crowded into the room with varying looks of apprehension scattered across their worried faces. Chance and Blaize bent over her.Chapter 7A large and robustly athletic Tremaine shoved open the door to glimpse Chance in one bed and a lump of covers in the other bed, with Jaide’s tousled hair splashed against an unknown boy’s chest.Chapter 8The next morning when Jaide awoke, she realized that she wasn't alone in her bed. An arm clung around her waist and a large body cuddled against her back. She twisted her head around to see the peaceful, sleeping face of Blaize. His black hair had fallen into his face a little and he looked quaintly adorable, like a child. Groggily she asked, "Uh, Blaize?"Chapter 9Jaide found Blaize squatting on his bed, earphones snapped around his head, his body rocking gently to whatever piped through his electronic gadgetry.Chapter 10The next morning, Jaide awoke alone in her bed without a cuddling stranger. Blaize's bed was empty but she could hear a soft hum coming from the bathroom.Chapter 11Jaide woke up but didn't open her eyes. She didn't want to end her sleep. She felt so refreshed, as though she had slept for days, but she didn't want to leave the soft, warm cocoon of her blankets.Chapter 12In the ensuing weeks, Blaize and Jaide endured a barrage of juvenile taunting that ranged from soccer practice to suspiciously timed knocks on their door, many late at night as though the inquisition had found a rebirth at Exeter Creek five centuries later. Together and separately, they professed their innocence of doing anything other than homework. Their friends and teammates remained skeptical and that annoyed each of them. Blaize grew edgy and Jaide slept less peacefully until finally, one night the tension exploded.Chapter 13Chance had advised the team of Maddy’s passing and everyone respectfully let Blaize go about the daily routine of school and soccer without burdening him with too many overly sympathetic expressions. One day became pretty much like the next, with Jaide and Blaize often squeezing in a mutual massage before soccer practice.Chapter 14Jaide already had butterflies. They had a game today, their first league game of the season. She had taken some time to do some research. She discovered that this team was very good and very aggressive, causing injuries in almost every game they played and building up a good record of yellow and red cards. She lifted her head from Blaize's chest to look at the clock. It was 6 a.m. She knew she wasn't going to be getting any more sleep with worrying about the upcoming soccer game.Chapter 15When fall break arrived, Matt casually asked Jaide, "Are you going home this weekend?"Chapter 16As school resumed and soccer practice kicked in, Jaide obediently fulfilled her ten suicides for Coach Thacker, essentially running her backside off. She felt it was worth every step because now she was assured she’d be traveling with the team to Arlington.Chapter 17Jaide woke up with a dull headache but was still incredibly comfortable. She was resting atop a warm chest, wrapped tightly in strong arms.Chapter 18It was lunchtime and everyone headed for the cafeteria. Earlier that day, Jaide had finally gotten the chance to sneak into her room and change quickly, barely making it to class. The day had been awkward so far. Blaize was being his normal self, trying to kiss her between classes, putting a casual hand on her leg during class. But Jaide felt weird, like she didn't want him to show her affection while she was lying to him. She would pull away from his kisses and turn away from his hugs. She got increasingly uncomfortable when they were in class with Leith.Chapter 19It was Friday afternoon and the entire soccer team was on a bus halfway to Arlington. The day had gone by fast so far. They got up, went to classes, had a short soccer practice and then got on the bus to take the long drive to their soccer game. They decided to spend the night before the game as opposed to after. The game was relatively early in the morning and coach wanted them to be rested.Chapter 20Blaize checked the time on his cell phone. Jaide had been gone for several minutes. He wondered what she was up to. Maybe she couldn't find her key or something, or maybe she got lost. He sighed and stood up. It would probably be faster to just go help her than wait around worrying about her.Chapter 21Mason was walking Jaide downstairs to the lobby where a few policemen were standing around, and Jaide's teammates were talking to them. Everyone got quiet when they noticed the two enter the lobby.Chapter 22It seemed to Jaide that the melodrama in the Arlington Hotel had provided so much confusion and excitement that the only possible recovery would be a long autumnal snooze. She found during the return bus ride, nothing but the pleasant sound of 20 boys and a girl snoring away. The bus unloaded at their Exeter Creek dorm a weary but fairly content load of students, each of whom managed in his or her own individual way to stumble to their appointed room.Other BooksWhen eighteen-year-old Carmondy Hamilton moves across the country and starts a new school midway through her senior year, she immediately finds herself drawn to Beck Nicholson. They share a love for basketball, and he is tall, brooding and gorgeous. Soon, he is showing her new moves, both on and off the court, but he lets her know in no uncertain terms that he wants to keep it casual. However, soon their physical relationship heats up, they venture into the world of light domination, and a fragile trust grows between them. Author's NoteWord-of-mouth is crucial for any author to succeed. If you enjoyed the book, please leave a review even if it is only a line or two; it would make all the difference and would be very much appreciatedNewsletterBe the first to find out about new releases by signing up for email alerts. Your email address will never be given away and you can unsubscribe at any time. Views: 59
Kelsey O'Brien is the definition of a free spirit. She goes where she wants, when she wants, and takes to bed who she wants. And when she arrives back at Grover University after eight months on an African animal preserve, its her newly hunky best friend that has caught her eye. As their friendship turns physical, Kelsey begins to form feelings she swore she'd never have for anyone. But when the past she's not ready to face finds her, she must make a decision whether to stop running, or confront the truth. The first time Clint Bellows laid eyes on Kelsey, he fell hard. Too bad she looked right through him. A year and countless hours in the gym later, she's back and hardly recognizes him and his new body. After a drunken encounter takes them over the line of friendship, Clint agrees to Kelsey's proposal of a benefits-added relationship. Only he's playing for keeps, and is willing to round all of the bases trying to score the self-proclaimed gypsy. She's running from her demons. He's committed to winning her over. Can he catch her in time, or will she be out of his grasp before he can blink?** Views: 58
Next up to the plate--book #5 in our early chapter book mystery series, where each book is set in a different American ballpark! The stars are out in Kansas City . . . the baseball stars, that is! Mike and Kate are at the All-Star game, and even get to go on the field during the Home Run Derby to catch pop-ups! That's where they meet Andy, whose dad, Josh Robinson, is an All-Star catcher. But before the Home Derby ends, Josh finds himself in hot water. Someone is playing practical jokes on the other players, and the coach is sure it's him. Andy swears his dad is innocent. Who would want to frame Josh? And why?The All-Star Joker includes a fun fact page about Kansas City's stadium.Cross Ron Roy's A to Z mystery series with Matt Christopher's sports books and you get the Ballpark Mysteries: fun, puzzling whodunnits aimed at the younger brothers and sisters of John Feinstein's fans.From the Trade Paperback edition. Views: 58
From the street game to March Madness to Jordan and LeBron, the greatest writing about the grit, grace, and glory of basketballMade in America, basketball is a sport that stirs a national passion, reaching fever pitch during the NCAA's March Madness and the NBA Finals. Masterfully assembled by longtime Sports Illustratedwriter Alexander Wolff, Basketball spans eight decades to bring together a dream team of writers as awe-inspiring and endlessly inventive as the game itself. Here are in-depth profiles of the legends of the hardcourt—Russell, Kareem, Bird, Jordan, and LeBron—and storied franchises such as the Knicks and Celtics, along with dazzling portraits of the flash and sizzle of playground ball and more personal reflections on the game by some of America's finest writers, among them Donald Hall, John Edgar Wideman, and Pat Conroy. Highlights include James Naismith recalling how he invented the game that would go on to conquer the world;... Views: 58
