Happy Hottie McTottie Monday Cover Reveal!
Today I'm featuring the 3rd book in the Snowberry Holiday Series,
Noel's Hart!
This series is filled with sexy Hottie McTotties!
DRUM ROLL PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Back Blurb:
Psalm 61:4: “You are my safe refuge, a fortress where my
enemies cannot reach me. Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath
the shelter of your wings.”
Savannah Hart grew up in the school of hard knocks and as
an adult wants everything in her life to be perfect. She’s poured blood, sweat
and tears into her home and her business to make that happen. Suddenly faced
with choosing between her home, her shop, or her health, she discovers an added
complication, Noel Kiss.
Noel Kiss is determined to stay in Snowberry and get to
know his twin, December, again. He buys the local family restaurant, only to
discover his new neighbor is Savannah’s Flower Emporium, run by none other than
the mysterious Savannah Hart.
Desperate for relief Savannah agrees to Noel’s crazy
proposal. She tells herself when her life is perfect again she will tell him
goodbye, but Noel knows his life is perfect with her in it. Can Noel convince
her that his arms are the shelter she’s been looking for or will he be holding
a broken heart on Valentine’s Day?
Here on Forget The Housework I like to interview the Hotties I'm featuring and I managed to convince mild mannered Noel to come by for a visit.
Tobi: Welcome to Forget The Housework, Noel! I owe Jay a pizza from Gallo's for convincing you to come, but it was worth it!
Noel: Hi, Tobi, thanks for having me today. I'm laughing about the pizza. I was quite charmed to be asked and planned to come all along, but it was fun messing with Jay. My sister really picked a keeper when she married him.
Tobi: Wait, so I didn't have to offer pizza from the best place in town to get you to come here?
Noel: *Laughing* No, but we can let Jay think he had something to do with it, makes him feel special. I don't think Gallos is the best place in town though. Have you ever heard of Kiss's Cafe? That's the best place in town. *wink*
Tobi: Always the salesman, aren't you? I'm familiar with the Kiss's Cafe in Rochester, Minnesota. That's where we met you in December Kiss, but there isn't one in Snowberry?
Noel: Yet. Give me another month or so and there will be. I'm remodeling Bucks Tackle Barn and turning it into a Kiss's Cafe. With both Kiss twins in the town there has to be a Kiss's Cafe there too.
Tobi: Congratulations, Noel! I know it will be a big success, Jay couldn't stop talking about that December Morning omelette you make. We know December lives in Snowberry, but are you moving there too? When we left Jay and December you were heading back to Rochester after Christmas.
Noel: *Shifts uncomfortably* I was, but then I needed a place to stay and Snow's best friend Savannah offered her spare room to me. I don't know why, she didn't know me from Adam, but it was very kind of her. Anyway, I couldn't stop thinking about December, Snowberry or Savannah after I returned to Rochester. Something was telling me I needed to go there to stay, not just to visit. It was quite unlike me I have to admit. I drove into town, bought a shut down restaurant and propositioned a woman all in the span of one day.
Tobi: *Raises eyebrow* Propositioned a woman? That sounds worthy of a read right there.
Noel: *Snort* It sounds far more studly than it was, actually. She needed help and I had the capacity to offer it, so I did.
Tobi: I don't think it's a bad thing to follow your gut. Sometimes those things we can't get out of our head are the ideas and plans that change our life, sometimes good and sometimes bad, but I'm betting this time it was good.
Noel: In this case it was good and bad. Savannah has been through so much I had no idea about until I got to know her better. I had a decision to make and I made it with the help of an angel. Once I made it felt relief that I was following the path He wanted me to follow, that made everything else that happened easier to deal with.
Tobi: An angel? That sounds intriguing.
Noel: *Shaking head* You should have been me waking up from that dream! I wondered if the white coats were going to come and haul me away or if I was even awake. It took a lot of coffee that morning to convince myself it was real, but I truly believe it was. I guess Savannah did too because when I told her she didn't tell me I was crazy and ask me to leave.
Tobi: *Laughing* I'm glad she didn't tell you to leave, because we just met you and I'm sure we will learn a lot about you in Noel's Hart. Maybe a little bit more about December too?
Noel: *Grinning* Yes! There is a lot to learn about the Kiss twins. I regret the years December and I spent apart and the pain I caused her. I know she has forgiven me, but I'm not sure I can ever forgive myself. I didn't do right by her. She was always my other half and I missed her so much those eight years we were apart. I didn't realize until Jay showed up in my cafe just how much was missing in my life because she wasn't part of it. I wanted to move to Snowberry so I could be there when my niece or nephew is born and be part of my sister's life again.
Tobi: Whoa, niece or nephew? *Raises eyebrow high*
Noel: *Laughing* No, there is no baby yet, but someday there will be. Sorry to get your hopes up!
Tobi: *Sigh* Durn, I'm looking forward to all kinds of new babies in Snowberry! Snow and Dully's will be here soon and then I'm hoping a little December or Jay, and then, maybe?????
Noel: Oh no, I'm not saying a word. No way, no how!
Tobi:*Raises brow*
Noel: *Laughing* You do have a way about you, Tobi. I could tell you, but then what fun would it be to read Savannah's story? Nope, you will have to wait.
Tobi: *Sigh* Okay, I'll be good, but not because I want to be. Before you go did you bring me anything to share with my readers?
Noel: Of course, Jay gave me a thorough lesson on what I needed before I came to visit.
Tobi: Yeesh, that makes me sound like a real hard nose.
Noel: *Laughing* No, not at all. It makes you a sucker for a great story, so I brought you one. Well, an excerpt anyway. This is the first time I saw Savannah again after I got back to Snowberry. It broke my heart, but definitely gave me the ammunition to stay and stick my nose in where it didn't belong.
Tobi: Awwwww, I'm very glad you did and I know Savannah is too. Thanks for stopping by today and sharing this excerpt with my readers. I know they are going to fall in love with you and Savannah's story the same way they did with December and Jay. *Rustles around in pocket and hands over a twenty* Can you make sure Jay gets that pizza I promised him?
Noel: *Laughing* Keep the money Tobi, this pizza is on me. You might need that twenty to order pizza for your kids once you start Noel's Hart! Thanks for letting me sit in the Hottie McTottie Hot Seat today and the next time you're in Snowberry, stop by for a December Morning, on the house.
Tobi: Sounds great, Noel. Thanks for coming!
Excerpt of Noel's Hart:
The only guy I’ve seen pull off a well cut suit lately was December’s husband, Jay. Now that guy can wear a suit. My skinny, string bean physique always makes me look like I’m drowning in pinstripes. I definitely preferred jeans and a flannel shirt to this any day. I stopped in front of Savannah’s Flower Emporium and took a deep breath. I haven’t seen her since Christmas Day, but sent her a few texts to check on her. She always assured me she was fine, but I knew she wasn’t. It only took one look at her face to see she was far from fine, but I prayed she had someone found some relief from her pain.
I pulled the door open and the smell of fresh roses, carnations and violets hit me in the face. I took a long deep breath of the fragrant petals, surprised by how it suddenly felt like spring in the middle of winter. I made a mental note to make sure I kept fresh flowers in my café during the winter. I grinned. Guess I knew just the person to get them from.
The door closed behind me, but I didn’t see Savannah anywhere. I waited by the counter for a few moments, but when she didn’t come out, I walked towards the backroom where she cuts and sorts flowers, and does paperwork.
“Savannah? Are you here?” I called, so I didn’t scare her if she just hadn’t heard the bell. I peeked in the open door and she had her back to me, wiping her face. “Savannah, are you okay?”
She nodded, wiping her hands on her apron. “Hi Noel, I wasn’t expecting you today.”
My eyes drifted to the desk where there was paperwork spread out and the computer that now had a black screen. She still hadn’t turned to me, so I walked in and put my hand on her shoulder until she did.
My eyes took in the sight before me. She was wearing one of her signature aprons, lions stalking prey, but today it wasn’t covered in flower petals and stems like usual. It was dry, but her face wasn’t. Her face was red, her eyes watery, and the right side of her face was pulled back in an unnatural position.
“Do you need help?” I asked quickly, worried she might collapse again like Christmas Eve.
She shook her head and took a shaky breath, “No,” her hand went to the side of her face to cover it, “everything is fine. I didn’t hear the bell. It’s nice to see you. What are you doing here?”
She ducked her head and tried to get around me, but I stayed rooted, so she couldn’t get by. “Take a minute and get yourself together, honey. There’s no one out there.” She nodded her head quickly, but kept her eyes pointed to the ground. “I brought you some coffee.” I told her, holding the cup out. She took it and whispered thank you.
Either she was lying to me about her face or something bad had just happened, because I could hear the tears in her voice. I knelt down on the floor, looking up at her under her long auburn hair. “Is it just one of those days where you could use a hug?”
“I suppose it would be, if I had someone to hug.” She said sadly.
I stood and took the cup from her hand, tugging her over into my arms. “You can hug me.” I assured her, feeling her slip her arms around my waist. At just a hair over five feet tall her head barely reached the middle of my chest, but I liked how easily it nestled there. “I’m sorry you’re having a hard day. Is there anything I can do?”
She sighed and shook her head no, so I tucked her hair behind her ear and tried to comfort her the only way I knew how. “Whatever it is, it will be okay. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but it will.” I promised.....
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Thanks for hosting me today Tobi! I really can't wait for people to read Noel's story. His and Savannah's story was so unexpected and came out of nowhere, kind of like Mary and Joseph's. Thanks for loving my hotties and sharing them with everyone :)
ReplyDeleteSounds cute. I think I will check it out! Sue M. Van is my real name. Best of luck with your book Katie.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by! I hope to release it in the next few weeks.
ReplyDelete