Can’t Wait
Hunted Series Prequel
Hunted Series Prequel
By: Jennifer Ryan
Releasing November 11th, 2014
Avon Romance
Enter to win Digital Set of The Hunted Series, Books 1 – 4
Blurb
From
the All I Want for Christmas is a Cowboy Anthology comes Jennifer Ryan’s story of Caleb and Summer.
Before the Hunted series they had a whirlwind romance not to be forgotten...
Caleb Bowden has a lot to thank his best
friend, Jack, for - saving his life in Iraq and giving him a job helping him
run his family’s ranch. He also introduced him to the most incredible woman
he’s ever met. Too bad he can’t ask her out. You do not date your best friend’s
sister. Summer and Caleb share a closeness she’s never felt for anyone, but the
stubborn man refuses to turn the flirtatious friendship into something
meaningful. Frustrated and tired of wishing to be happy, Caleb tells Jack how
he feels about Summer. With his friend’s help, he plans a surprise Christmas
proposal she’ll never forget - because he can’t wait to make her his wife.
My Review:
I have never read anything by Jennifer Ryan, but I'm glad that I found out about this cute Christmas novella. You can't help but root for Summer to get her man, the stubborn Caleb, her brother's best friend. This is a cute story, full of sexy charm and humor, but their are some more serious, heartfelt moments. Caleb and Jack have both returned home from the war overseas and Jack saved Caleb's life. Caleb's loyalty to his friend nearly costs him the love of his life, Summer. He is also haunted by things that happened overseas. Luckily, Summer is there for him and they get that HEA. I really enjoyed this short story and I can't wait to read more from Jennifer Ryan.
I have never read anything by Jennifer Ryan, but I'm glad that I found out about this cute Christmas novella. You can't help but root for Summer to get her man, the stubborn Caleb, her brother's best friend. This is a cute story, full of sexy charm and humor, but their are some more serious, heartfelt moments. Caleb and Jack have both returned home from the war overseas and Jack saved Caleb's life. Caleb's loyalty to his friend nearly costs him the love of his life, Summer. He is also haunted by things that happened overseas. Luckily, Summer is there for him and they get that HEA. I really enjoyed this short story and I can't wait to read more from Jennifer Ryan.
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Author Info
Jennifer Ryan is the New York Times &
USA Today bestselling author of The Hunted Series and The McBrides Series. She
writes romantic suspense and contemporary small-town romances featuring strong
men and equally resilient women. Her stories are filled with love, family,
friendship, and the happily-ever-after we all hope to find.
Jennifer lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and three children. When she isn’t writing a book, she’s reading one. Her obsession with both is often revealed in the state of her home and in how late dinner is to the table. When she finally leaves those fictional worlds, you’ll find her in the garden, playing in the dirt and daydreaming about people who live only in her head, until she puts them on paper.
Jennifer lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and three children. When she isn’t writing a book, she’s reading one. Her obsession with both is often revealed in the state of her home and in how late dinner is to the table. When she finally leaves those fictional worlds, you’ll find her in the garden, playing in the dirt and daydreaming about people who live only in her head, until she puts them on paper.
Excerpt #3:
Jack whistled,
signaling their attack. Caleb came out from cover firing. Jack did the same,
twenty paces away. Summer took the high ground and stood atop a large boulder
with at least a dozen snowballs at her feet. She launched one after the other
at him and Jack as they advanced on her. Her laughter rang out in the forest,
setting what few birds remained to flight. Jack laughed along with her and he
joined in. The most fun he’d had in … he couldn’t remember when.
He and Jack
pummeled her. He got her in the gut and one to the chest. Shock widened her
eyes when the snow went down her sweater between her lovely breasts. She shook
it out, but Jack didn’t relent and hit her in the top of the head with another
barrage. She stood to lob another at him and Caleb tossed another, hitting her
in the thigh. She slipped on the icy rock, stood tall to gain her balance, but her
other foot hit an icy patch and she fell backward, arms wind milling in the
air. She disappeared off the back of the rock yelling, “Ow,” when she hit the
ground with a thump that stopped his heart.
“Summer,” he
yelled, and ran for her. He beat Jack and fell to his knees beside her. Without
a thought, he wrapped his arm around her back and pulled her up to his chest
and held her close, examining the gash on her head at her hairline. “Are you
okay, sweetheart?”
She grabbed his
shoulders to steady herself and gave him a tentative smile. “I’m okay. A branch
caught me on the head when I fell.”
“You could have
been really hurt.” He crushed her to his chest and held her close, giving his
pounding heart a minute to settle.
Summer wrapped her
arms around Caleb and set her chin on his shoulder, loving the feel of him so
close. She looked up and caught Jack watching them with a strange look on his
face. Caleb’s concern for her touched her deeply, and she couldn’t hide how
that made her feel.
“You sure you’re
okay?” Jack asked, not coming any closer.
“I’m good.” Being
safe in Caleb’s arms made her feel better than good. She felt loved.
Jack gave her a
nod.
Caleb stiffened and
pulled away, holding her by the shoulders at arm’s length.
“Caleb, put some
snow on that gash. It’ll stop the bleeding and take down any swelling. I’ll go
up and check on the horses. Meet me up there when you’ve got her squared away.”
Jack turned to leave, but looked back at her and smiled. “You were right about
sticking to our traditions. The snowball fight was a lot of fun. You’ve gotten
better.”
“I know. I won.”
Jack headed up the
short hill, laughing. “Yeah, you did.”
Caleb’s head fell
to her shoulder. “I thought you were really hurt.”
Surprised he didn’t
comment about Jack seeing them in an embrace, she slid her fingers through his
hair to the back of his head and held him to her. “It’s just a small scratch.
Nothing to worry about.”
“Jack’ll kill me
for putting a mark on you.”
“Not your fault. I
slipped and fell.”
Caleb raised his
head and met her gaze. “You’re bleeding. I can’t stand to see you hurt.”
The moment
stretched and his eyes narrowed. He swore and crushed his mouth to hers.
Something primal sparked inside both of them and they dove at each other, their
lips meeting in a frenzied need denied far too long.
His hands remained
gentle, cradling her face, but his lips took possession and consumed. His
tongue slipped past her lips to taste and slide against hers. Her fingertips
dug into his shoulders, pulling him closer.
Caleb broke the
kiss first, holding her head between his two hands. He didn’t open his eyes
right away, but gathered himself. They gulped in deep breaths and let them out
on wispy gasps into the cold, crisp air.
He brushed a soft
kiss on her forehead, her temple, and the small cut at her hairline. He pressed
his forehead to hers and held her close. She covered his hands on both sides of
her head with hers.
“Caleb, honey, it’s
okay.”
“Jack’s going to
kill me.”
“I think he knows
there’s something between us.”
“He suspects, but
if he caught me kissing you …”
“What? He wouldn’t
be your friend because you like his sister?”
“What I feel for
you goes far beyond like, sweetheart.”
“Then shouldn’t he
be happy for us, that we’ve found something special together?”
I really love this series! She's so good, one of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed it. Can't wait to read more of her books!
DeleteThank you for hosting today!
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure, Lisa!
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