(Charming, Texas, #7)
Published by: Harlequin Special Edition
Publication date: July 23rd 2024
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis:

Her Prince Charming…

In a make-believe fairy tale?

Talented divorce attorney and town newcomer Michelle LaCroix needs roots in Charming to make partner, according to her old-fashioned boss. And that means a boyfriend! Problem is, she’s got to produce her beau in the flesh. Enter the town’s most eligible bachelor, former professional athlete Finn Sheridan, who’s only too happy to play pretend with his best friend’s ex—for a price. To his surprise, the more he’s thrown together with Michelle, the more he’s intrigued by a woman who’s far more than her ice-queen exterior. But with Finn’s trust still shattered by a brutal divorce, the make-believe match is just a fun diversion…until it becomes all too real!

From Harlequin Special Edition: Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.

Excerpt

“There you are, Boo!” Michelle ran over and threw her arms around him.

Finn seemed to freeze in place, his arms remaining where they’d been at his side. “Huh?”

“Please,” she hissed in his ear. “Go along with this and I’ll make it worth your while.”

“Go along with what?”

“Long story, I’ll explain later. For now, pretend you’re my boyfriend.”

Hands on her waist, he set her back a step, eyes narrowed. “Have you been drinking?”

“No. I wish! Listen, there’s someone here I need to impress.”

“With me?” He quirked a brow.

“Well, you’ll do.”

He scowled. “I’m not interested in pretending. I know you’re a lawyer and this is your life but the rest of us don’t lie to people daily. Excuse me.”

He tried to step aside but she grabbed him by the lapels of his navy peacoat and planted a kiss on him. Nothing too crazy as she wasn’t big on PDA especially when she actually knew people were watching. Arthur hadn’t taken his eyes off them since she ran over here. Still, Finn’s lack of resistance surprised her. So did the buzz through her body. Finn was not a terrible kisser, as it turned out. And dear Lord he smelled good.

When she broke the kiss Finn was staring at her with mossy green eyes. It was a look that said he thought she should be committed to the nearest mental hospital, and the idea made him a little sad.

Well, she could work with that.

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About the Author

Connect:
https://www.heatherlybell.com/
https://www.facebook.com/heatherlybellbooks
https://www.instagram.com/heatherly.bell
https://twitter.com/HeatherlyBelle
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9836502.Heatherly_Bell

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(Charming, Texas, #6)

Published by: Harlequin Special Edition

Publication date: November 28th 2023

Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Holiday, Romance

Synopsis:

Time to rewrite their story?

He’d always simply been her best friend. But when Noah Cahill moved back to town, bookstore owner Twyla Thompson knew something was different. Was it holiday memories of the loss they’d both shared or Noah’s surprising decision to reignite a dangerous career? Their solid friendship had been through so much, yet now Twyla grew breathless every time Noah was near. Why wasn’t Noah—handsome, fun, but never one to cross the line—showing any signs of stopping?

From Harlequin Special Edition: Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.

Charming, Texas

Book 1: Winning Mr. Charming

Book 2: The Charming Checklist

Book 3: A Charming Christmas Arrangement

Book 4: A Charming Single Dad

Book 5: A Charming Doorstep Baby

Book 6: Once Upon a Charming Bookshop

Excerpt

She took the opportunity to grab the remote. “Well, let’s fast forward and watch evil Hans fall off the Nakatomi building. That’s your favorite part.”

“Great special effects. He actually looks like he’s falling.”

“I know. He was such a great actor.”

“But we’re starting from the beginning.” Noah reached for the remote and lowered himself to the floor with his back leaning against the couch, then pressed play. “Hey, do I…um…”

There was a pause. Too long of a pause. “Do you what?”

“Confide in you too much?”

“What’s too much? We’re best friends. I’ve known you for half my life.”

“Okay. So, it doesn’t bother you?”

“Why would it bother me?”

There were already lines they wouldn’t cross. She and Noah were both private about stuff you wouldn’t necessarily share. They had achieved, in her opinion, the perfect balance. Were there times when she shared more with him than a partner? Sure, yes, but that was only reasonable given their closeness.

“I had a feeling I was wrong about this.”

But rather than seem happy, he looked disappointed.

“Wrong?”

Twyla felt a pinch of dread squeeze between her ribs. Since the moment he’d returned, she understood on a bone deep level that he wasn’t telling her something. This thing, whatever it was, was bigger than his breakup. Bigger than a decision to go after his dream.

And every time she saw him it felt like that tiny thing had grown larger between them.

“Don’t worry.” Noah patted the empty space next to him. “Some people are trying to mess with me.”

The movie had started, and Bruce Willis now carried an enormous teddy bear off the plane and met his driver. It was difficult for Twyla to focus.

Something had rattled Noah.

She plopped down and grabbed a handful of popcorn. “Who’s messing with you? Finn?”

“No.” Noah scowled. “Why are we talking about him?”

“Did he say you and I are too close? I shouldn’t have asked you to fix me up with Finn. That was stupid.”

“You’re right. That was stupid.”

“Why was it stupid?”

He cocked his head, observing her as if studying a strange phenomenon. “You just said so.”

“Well, I can say that. But why would you say it?”

He closed his eyes and rubbed the middle of his forehead. “God, help me.”

“Honestly, is there something fundamentally wrong with me? Why is it so stupid that me and Finn could be a thing? He’s single. I’m also single.”

“It’s because…” Noah’s eyes were strangely focused on her now, as if there was nothing else in the room. No TV on in the background with Bruce Willis making his way into his screen wife’s boisterous office Christmas party. “Well, Finn…is… He’s still hung up on someone.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah, so it wouldn’t work because he can’t stop thinking about this other woman.”

“Well, that’s a good reason.”

“He thinks about her all the time. Day and night. It’s…ridiculous.” Noah rubbed between his eyebrows and looked genuinely worried for Finn.

“Gosh, don’t be so hard on him,” Twyla whispered. “It happens.”

“Yeah. Okay. I won’t be.” Noah squeezed her hand, like he always did. A little pat of reassurance.

But this time, his hand lingered on hers even as he put his attention toward watching the movie.

Twyla lost what little focus she had, though she tried to follow along. Easy to do since they’d watched this movie dozens of times.

She was afraid to speak or even breathe.

Noah practically recited certain lines verbatim. Twyla winced when the elevator doors opened, and a dead man appeared wrapped in lights and wearing a Santa hat.

“This is not a Christmas movie,” she said, shaking her head.

Buy on Amazon | Bookshop.org

About the Author

Bestselling author Heatherly Bell was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama but lost her accent by the time she was two. After leaving Alabama, Heatherly lived with her family in Puerto Rico and Maryland before being transplanted kicking and screaming to the California Bay Area. She now loves it here, she swears. Except the traffic.

Over 200,000 copies of Heatherly's books have been sold, many of them translated into two languages.

Heatherly also writes sweet and wholesome books under the pen name of Maria Michaels. She is represented by Elaine Spencer of The Knight Agency.

Luke’s unwavering loyalty to Lexi and her family gives this sweet romance unexpected integrity ...Readers looking for a tender romance that leans more toward the emotional than the physical will find this very satisfying." ~ Publishers Weekly/Booklife review on Country Gold.

"Heatherly Bell writes romance that will capture your heart." ~ Marina Adair, New York Times bestselling author.

"What a thoroughly delightful story. I adored it." ~ Lori Wilde, New York Times bestselling author on Lucky Cowboy.

Connect:

https://www.heatherlybell.com/

https://www.facebook.com/heatherlybellbooks

https://www.instagram.com/heatherly.bell

https://twitter.com/HeatherlyBelle

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9836502.Heatherly_Bell

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