Release Date: June 17, 2014
Forever is a heartbeat away . . .Kerris Moreton knows how to make things work. Bounced from foster home to foster home as a kid, she adapted; when opportunity arose, she thrived. Now, about to open her own business and accept a marriage proposal, Kerris is ready to build the life she’s always wanted. The only thing missing? A passionate connection with her would-be fiancé, Cam. Kerris wants to believe that sparks are overrated-until Walsh Bennett lights her up like the Fourth of July.
. . . but what about love?
As one of the East Coast’s most eligible bachelors, Walsh enjoys financial independence, fulfilling work with his family’s nonprofit, and plenty of female attention. But lately he’s been distracted by the one woman he can’t have. Lovely to look at and even sweeter to know, Kerris is the soul mate Walsh never thought he would find. The problem is, his best friend found her first . . .
Release Date: October 17, 2014
Right or wrong, Kerris made her choice. She chose Cam, and she’s not a girl who sways or strays. But the feelings, the connection, the chemistry between her and Walsh – it wont go away. And now that Cam has seen for himself how deep it goes, everything is in ruins–the lifelong friendship between Walsh and Cam and maybe, her marriage, too. But sometimes the heart just doesn’t know when to quit. If there’s a way to make things right on all fronts, Kerris will find it, no matter what it costs her. Her heart tells her to fight to have it all. And the heart that fights loves forever and for always.
Walsh reached behind her ear, pulling out the orchid lodged there in her tousled knot of curls.
“You wear flowers in your hair a lot.”
She blinked and nodded, unsure what this had to do with what she had just shared.
“Which flower is your favorite?” He stroked the velvety petals of the flower he held.
“The orchid.” She didn’t even have to think about it.
“What would you say an orchid needs to grow?”
“Um, soil, water, sunlight.” She rattled off the list, trying to read the inscrutable expression on his face.
“Those are optimal conditions for growing, right?”
“I suppose so.” She frowned, unable to wrench her gaze away from the fragile flower cuddled in his strong hand.
“What would you call an orchid that sprang up out of thin air?” He leaned forward to look into her eyes, so close she could feel his breath on her own lips. “A flower that had no soil, no roots, the worst conditions to grow in, but just sprouted out of thin air, beautiful and exotic and perfect?”
She shrugged, dazed and unable to assemble words. His impassioned description and the heat of his eyes mesmerized her.
“I’d call it a miracle.” Walsh bathed the words in tenderness, sliding a finger down her neck like it was a delicate stem.
“Kerris, your childhood was a nightmare sometimes, but you managed to become this amazing woman. This smart, independent, compassionate, ambitious person who drives old ladies home and cries for little girls she barely knows. Your past haunts you, but it hasn’t twisted you, it hasn’t ruined you. If anything, it’s made you a stronger person. That’s a miracle. You’re the miracle, baby.”
She closed her eyes at his sweet endearment, feeling it wrap around her nerve endings like a blanket. And then his arms twined around her, bindings for wounds left too long unattended.
There were several signs that Kennedy Ryan would be a writer, but making up stories with a mop as her long-haired heroine while the other kids played kick ball may have been the most telling. After graduating with her journalism degree from UNC-Chapel Hill (GO, HEELS!), she found various means of gainful employment having absolutely nothing to do with said degree, but knew she would circle back to writing, in some form or fashion. Some day. After years of working and writing for non-profit organizations, she finally returned to her first love – telling stories. Her debut novel, When You Are Mine, the first of The Bennett’s trilogy, releases through Grand Central’s Forever Yours imprint in June 2014.
Kennedy writes contemporary romance and women’s fiction. She always gives her characters their happily ever after, but loves to make them work for it! It’s a long road to love, so sit back and enjoy the ride.
In an alternative universe and under her government name Tina Dula, she is wife to the love of her life, mom to to her son, and a friend to those living with autism through her foundation Myles-A-Part.
This really is one of my favorite scenes in the book, and thus one of my favorite excerpts. Thank you SO much for posting and for being a part of my debut. Really appreciate it. 🙂
Can’t wait to read this!