Minxy Summer Reads

We had two new minx books out in June, and one in July, so instead of the author spotlights today, I'm going to feature these 3 new books.

First up : Dear Julia by Rae Summers (aka Romy) which came out on June 6th...
The discovery of a long-lost love letter in a house she’s redecorating sends Rosalie Stanton on a quest to find its rightful owner.
Since his return from the Great War, William Cavendish has lived as a recluse. His peaceful existence is shattered by the return of the letter that once held all his hopes — and by its bearer, the irrepressible Rosalie, who bears an uncanny resemblance to his lost love.
As Rosalie sets out to lure William back into society, she realises that in him she might just have met her match.

Here's an excerpt:
He leaned against the doorjamb, effectively blocking her view into the house. And making it quite clear she was not welcome. No woman had stepped foot in this house in close on ten years, and he wasn’t about to let this Julia doppelganger change that. “Yes?”
“I have something I think might belong to you.”
“Oh?”
She pulled an envelope out of the silk purse attached to her wrist, and his chest pulled tight as he recognised it. He’d been frozen so long he wasn’t sure he’d ever feel again, but as she unfolded the envelope, his heart clenched so hard it was almost painful.
“Where did you get that?” His voice sounded choked.
“Let me in, and I’ll tell you.”
He recovered just in time to stop himself from snatching the envelope from her hand. He had to know if it had been opened. If the ring was still there. Letting her in was a small price to pay for getting his hands on that envelope.
Slowly, very slowly, he backed away from the door. “Come in.”
Dear Julia is available from Amazon (UK & US), The Wild Rose Press, and all other ebook places.

Next: Challenging Andie by Sally Clements (aka me) which came out on June 23rd...
Jaded war correspondent Ryan Armstrong reports terrible events without letting them pierce the armor covering his heart. When his colleague Emily Harte is murdered, he feels responsible for her death, and travels to England to return Emily’s effects to her daughter.
Bereaved, primary school teacher, Andie Harte has set herself a list of challenges to prove she can be as brave as her recently murdered mother, but when she’s hounded by the press the need to escape means she must accept help from Ryan. During their time in seclusion, attraction blossoms into an affair. Their relationship was only supposed to be a fling. When the time comes for Ryan to return to Bekostan, can she risk loving a thrillseeker, or is that a challenge too far?
Ryan avoids love, knowing the pain losing it can bring. A life without Andie is sensible, but is it possible?

Here's an excerpt:
They were close as peas in a pod in a tiny metal carriage. Linked palm to palm, while within, Ryan battled down a totally inappropriate desire to kiss her.
Her vivid blue eyes widened as the carriage slowed at the base of the first rise. A series of slow clicks filled his ears as the carriage winched slowly up the incline.
“I’m here,” he said. “It’s all right.”
“Thank you,” she whispered a moment before the carriage crested the top and dived.
She was screaming. Her eyes were clamped tight, and the high, terrified sound rang out in the clear air.
Ryan’s insides churned as the carriage jerked to the left. He held on tight, hoping to provide some comfort that she wasn’t alone.
Around them people were screaming in shock and delight as the coaster tilted at a perilous angle and shot down into an underground cavern. Another shift, this time to the opposite angle, and they were soaring skywards again.
The ride slowed. His heart raced with adrenalin overload. Breathing deeply, Ryan let the thrill flow through him. The track twisted and rose higher and higher.
He glanced over. She’d stopped screaming, but her white face with eyes scrunched tightly shut told its own story. She really hated this. Distress bled from her, like a tangible mist of fear.
For the first time ever, he wanted a rollercoaster ride to be over.
Long, black eyelashes dusted against her cheekbones.
He’d known she was pretty, of course.
The pictures on the front pages had shown that clearly, even while her face was transformed by grief, and her eyes reddened by tears. The instant kick of attraction he’d felt standing in the queue next to her had been unexpected.
He hadn’t felt so strongly attracted to a woman since…since forever. It was damned inconvenient that it was this woman. The woman who’d doubtless hate him when she discovered the truth.
Challenging Andie is available from Amazon (UK & US) in ebook and paperback.

And finally: Love on the Vine by Sally Clements (aka me) released July 9th.
Bella St Clair must keep her business, Celebrate! afloat to prove she can succeed without her controlling family. But she needs a big contract, and soon.
New owner of the St Clair Durand Vineyard, Vintner Etienne Durand hangs his dreams for success on hiring an event planner to organize a launch party. Upon entering Celebrate’s office, he’s stunned to discover its owner is none other than the enticing nymph recently spotted skinny dipping in his lake—as well, the daughter of the vineyard’s previous owner, a man set on destroying Etienne’s business.
Can he trust Bella when she denies she’s anything like her father—in spite of evidence to the contrary? In surrendering to the attraction for the handsome Frenchman, can Bella overcome her fear of being controlled and take another chance on love?

Here's an excerpt:
Her eyes sparkled and shone, and her cheeks were pink. Her body moved in perfect harmony with the relentless beat.
Ice chilled his top lip as Etienne took a long swallow of his drink and smiled back. With any luck, she wouldn’t see how much her dancing affected him.
With a flip of her hand, she pointed at her feet, mouthing watch. A mock frown creased her brow.
Of course, he’d watch her, he couldn’t drag his gaze away as her feet repeated the steps. The pattern didn’t look too hard. And he’d always had a good sense of rhythm.
The music faded. Bella returned quickly to the table and picked up her glass. “Okay, so those are the basics.” She drank deeply. “Are you ready to try it?”
“I’d prefer to just watch you.” He trailed a finger down her cheek, feeling the sharp tug of attraction as her eyes darkened to jade. “You look beautiful.”
“So do you.” She tilted up her chin.
Etienne stood and snaked a hand around her waist to hold her close.
At the action, her lips parted and her eyelashes fluttered closed.
She looked like a woman who wanted to be kissed. Instead, he moved his lips to her ear, speaking words intended for her alone. “Would you like me to kiss you?” He felt her shiver. “If you do, you have to tell me, remember?”
Her long, dark eyelashes fluttered and her eyes opened, staring straight into his.
The arousal in their depths stunned Etienne to his core.
“I want you to kiss me,” she murmured.
Love on the Vine is available from Amazon (UK & US), The Wild Rose Press, and all other ebook outlets.