Today I'm featuring a New To Me Author!
Donna Marie Rogers and her book There's Only Been You!
Short for the title??? TOBY! Fun huh!?
So, sit back and enjoy the blurb and today???
AN EXCERPT!!!
Thanks so much for sharing Donna Marie Rogers!!!
4 Stars
Romantic Suspense
Malicious lies, drugs and a videotape are the reasons young lovers Sara Jamison and Mike Andrews have spent the last eight years apart, each believing the other betrayed them. Sara has no clue where Mike's been all these years, but she knows where she's been busy raising their son. Two weeks after he accused her of cheating and disappeared from her life, Sara discovered she was something she never expected to be, an unwed pregnant teenager. But with the love and support of her annoyingly alpha-male family, she's managed to make a good life for herself and her young son. She even owns her own business, Sara's Bakery, which she's built into a thriving success. Sure, she works too hard and her social life is nonexistent, but for the most part, she is content. Until the day Detective Mike Andrews walks into her bakery and back into her life.....
Excerpt from There's Only Been You!
Sara blew out a frustrated breath as she faced the troublesome machine. “Couldn’t have waited ‘til Monday, could you? Rotten appliance.”
Ten minutes later, she smiled with triumphant satisfaction as the sweet aroma of vanilla coffee filled the bakery. First thing Monday morning, she’d call the dealer and ask when they could deliver a new machine.
The bell above the door chimed. “See, Amanda. You just have to show this devil who’s bos...” The words died on her lips.
Legs braced apart, a disdainful scowl curling his lip, Mike stood just inside the door. Her heart lurched and her breath caught.
This isn’t happening, this isn’t happening, this isn’t happening—
“You sound just like that arrogant brother of yours.”
Deep breath, compose yourself. “I’ll take that as a compliment.” She narrowed her eyes. “Now get the hell out.”
“You need to work on your people skills, lady.” He strode forward and stopped in front of the display case, looking around in obvious astonishment. “Well, I’ll be dipped. When I saw the Sara’s Bakery sign, I said to myself, no friggin’ way. But morbid curiosity got the better of me. So a bakery, huh? Not much of a surprise, really—”
“What do you want, Mike?”
He turned toward her and she finally got a good look at the side of his face. My God, had Garrett done that? She couldn’t help feeling a measure of satisfaction. Oh, who was she kidding? She hoped it hurt like hell.
He must have realized where her gaze rested because he reached up and fingered his jaw. “Don’t get too excited, he sucker-punched me.” He leaned over and tapped the glass above her jumbo chocolate muffins. “I’ll take one of those and a large coffee. Regular, not that flavored crap.”
With an angry huff, she stalked over to pour him a cup. Why did he have to look so damn good? Was it too much to ask for a receding hairline and a donut around the middle?
He wore his thick, blue-black hair shorter than he used to, which only made the resemblance between him and Ethan more pronounced. He’d put on a good twenty-five to thirty pounds of solid muscle as the black T-shirt stretched tautly over his chest could attest to. And those eyes—cobalt and incredible—had continued to haunt her over the years.
Ethan’s were the exact same color.
Closing her own eyes for a brief moment, she prayed for strength. She turned around and set his coffee on the counter. She felt like she should say something about his father. “Sorry to hear about your dad.”
“Don’t be, I’m not. I hope the bastard suffered.”
Her gaze flew to his. “My God, you’re cold.” She shook her head, surprised by his callous words despite...everything.
“My old man deserved a lot worse than what he got, and you know it. Or maybe you think I deserved what I got...?”
She gasped. “I can’t believe you’d even say that to me.” No child should have to go through what Mike had. Parents are supposed to love and protect their children, not abuse them. Unfortunately, it seemed Mike had inherited his father’s cruel streak. A chill ran up her spine at the thought of him putting his hands on Ethan in such a way. She’d die before allowing that to happen.
Using a sheet of waxed paper, she snatched a muffin off the tray and stuffed it into a bag. “It’s on the house.” She dropped the bag next to his coffee. “Now, get the hell out.”
Mike flipped a folded five-dollar-bill on the counter. “Something tells me you can’t afford to give out freebies. Not with the way you treat your customers.”
That got her hackles up. Jackass. She flicked the bill off the counter using her thumb and middle finger.
His jaw worked back and forth. He didn’t bother to pick up the money.
“Look, I’m on my way out,” she finally said. “So if there’s a reason for this visit other than to ruin my weekend, get the hell to it.”
He glared at her for what seemed like forever. “You sure fed your brothers a line of bullshit, didn’t you?”
“What in the world are you talking—” Before she could finish, the bell above the door chimed and Amanda walked in, humming softly.
Mike shot an impatient glance over his shoulder.
“You did a beautiful job, Amanda. Thank you.”
The young woman walked behind the counter and stuck the bottle of cleaner and paper towels back under the register. When she straightened, she gestured toward the coffee machine. “Fixed it?”
Sara nodded. “If it gives you any trouble, though, just turn it off and clean it up.”
“I will. So how come Ethan didn’t come with you?”
Sara’s breath caught. The inquisitive teenager couldn’t have known the inner turmoil she’d just caused. She flicked her gaze Mike’s way before replying, “He was still in bed when I left.”
“Ah. Well, I still need to package those pies. Thanks again, Sara.” Amanda gave Mike a curious once-over before disappearing through the swinging door.
“Who’s Ethan?” he asked as soon as the door swung shut.
Sara met his gaze dead on. “He’s the love of my life.”
Mike’s eyes hardened. “Hope you and this idiot are happy together.” He snatched up his bag and cup and strode out the door.
Sara’s knees buckled the moment the door closed behind him. She slapped her palms on the counter for support and let out a deep, calming breath. After all these years with no phone call, no letter, no nothing, he decided to just stroll into her shop and act as if—as if a whole eight years hadn’t gone by since he’d slunk out of her life? Since he’d betrayed me with that slut Rachel Montgomery? Since he’d accused her of sleeping with Rachel’s brother, Carl, then beaten Carl to within an inch of his life?
“You sure fed your brothers a line of bullshit, didn’t you?”
What could he have possibly meant by that? Everything she’d told her brothers was the gospel truth, and he knew it.
Forget it. Forget him.
She let out a disgusted sigh.
Easier said than done.
Don't miss Donna Marie Rogers other books!
Tobi, thank you for featuring There's Only Been You!
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