About WHO WANTS TO MARRY
A DOCTOR:
As a single mom and
pediatrician, Sabrina Bankhead doesn't have time for romance. All that changes
when she reluctantly agrees to take part in a dating show fundraiser for a
children's hospital. But once she sets eyes on the journalist hired to cover
the show, none of the four contestants stand a chance. If she doesn't choose
one of the eligible bachelors, the hospital doesn't raise a cent. What's a
lovestruck doc to do? Investigative journalist Quinn Donnelly is on the mend
after an assignment in Afghanistan left him both physically and emotionally
scarred. Though he's itching to return overseas and finish his story, he'll
have to be content with this fluff piece assignment to cover a local dating
show. One-night stands are Quinn's forte-but after he meets Sabrina, he's ready
to say yes for the long haul. After years of chasing the next big story, Quinn
is starting to wonder if maybe home really can be where the heart is . . .
Excerpt:
"I just
called to…” Sabrina's words jammed in her throat. No way could she admit that
she just wanted to hear his voice.
Thankfully
Quinn didn’t make her finish her sentence. “I’m glad you called.” The gruff in
his voice was still there, but it had changed to something softer, sending a
little thrill down her body.
“You are?” Was
that low, throaty sound coming from her?
“Yeah. I missed
you tonight.”
A niggling
feeling centered in her brain and sent stabs of doubt to her heart. I missed
you sounded good, but maybe he just missed his bed warmer. “Missed me?”
“I mean, you
know, talking to you.” Quinn chuckled. “Don’t get me wrong - having you naked
is a nice side benefit, but I don’t only want you for your body, Doc. I didn’t
get to speak to you today, and when I got home it seemed my day wasn’t
complete.”
She had the
same feeling, but tried to play it down. “It was a busy day.”
He yawned, and
she heard his bed sheets rustling. “Good thing there’s email and cell phones so
we can keep talking once I’m done with the show and back in Afghanistan. You’d
make the day brighter even in a desert.”
She covered her
eyes to quell the burning behind them, wanting to block out the reminder that
he wasn’t in Harbin forever, that he’d be leaving and putting himself in
danger, taking a good part of her with him. “That’s a nice thing to say,
Quinn.”
“Apparently I
talk a lot when I’m tired.” He gave a huff of laughter. “You don’t have to
humor me.”
“I woke you.
I’m sorry. You should go back to sleep.”
“Talking to you
is much nicer than sleep.”
Her heart
fluttered into her stomach, danced down to her toes and shot right back to her
chest. Forget killing her. This was drawn-out torture, one to which she
willingly submitted.
“Let me turn
off my light.” Her voice dropped and got breathy. She flipped her switch and
cuddled under her sheets with the phone tucked under her ear. She wrapped her
arms around herself, imagining Quinn’s warm, strong hands in place of the
flannel on her skin, touching her, stroking her in lazy circles while they lay
in each others arms. “I’m back.”
His voice was
no longer gruff, but still low, almost a growl. “How was your date tonight?”
Was that
jealousy? “Do we have to talk about it? Can’t you wait until Friday like
everyone else?”
“I can, but I’m
not everyone else. Haven’t I told you this before?”
Like she needed
the reminder. It had been a long, long time since a man had shattered her safe
world.
“Besides, we’re
taping tomorrow. Remember I’m heading to Atlanta on Friday to see my doctors.”
The doctors
that would clear him to return to the desert. The doctors that would send him
away from her. She focused on the present. “Brian wasn’t the egotistical
megalomaniac that he was last week.”
“Hmmmm.” He
chuckled. “Does this mean I have competition?”
“I dunno,” she
teased. “He did take me out dancing. You know that’s the way to a girl’s
heart.”
“As long as
it’s not the way to her mind.” He cleared his throat, and his voice became
cautious. “I know I don’t have any say in your personal life, but if you think
you could be happy with him, you should see where it goes.”
“Oh.” What the
hell did that mean? Disappointment tightened her chest like a blood pressure
cuff and her eyes moistened. What was she thinking? “Look, it’s getting late.
You should sleep.”
“Don’t hang
up.” His voice lowered again, almost a whisper. “We’ve never able to spend a
full night together. If this is the only way, then you have to stay on the
phone.”
“Seriously?”
“I do have to
warn you. I snore.”
She laughed
softly and turned on her side, snuggling under the covers, her emotions playing
havoc with her common sense. “I know.”
About Abigail Sharpe:
Abigail is a Boston-bred
Yankee now eating grits and saying "y'all" in North Central Florida.
She dreamed more of being a stage actress or joining the CIA than being an
author. While she still enjoys participating in community theater productions
and singing karaoke, the secret-agent career was replaced by hours at her
computer, writing stories of love and laughter and happily ever after.
Abigail lives with her husband, two kids, and one crazy princess puppy. You can
keep up with her on Goodreads, Facebook or on her website.
Abigail’s SM:
@AbigailSharpe
Buy links for WHO WANTS
TO MARRY A DOCTOR:
B&N: http://bit.ly/VrKRKg
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1lsE7FC
iTunes: http://bit.ly/1m1Mc5m
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1pEWmXy
My Review: 5 stars
I really enjoyed reading this book. Abigail gave her characters a sense of humor, made them very life-like, and I loved that. I loved that Sabrina was a hard-working single Mom, who did everything she could to further the hospital where she worked. I loved that she only went into the show so that she could help the kids, not so she could find a husband, cause she wasn't looking. Quinn turned out to be everything that Sabrina wasn't looking for, and same for Quinn. He only took the assignment because he was waiting to be cleared to go back to Afghanistan to finish a story he started and then on to the next assignment. Quinn certainly didn't expect to fall for a Doctor who put her son and patients first, and herself last. He knew that she had been keeping who her son's father was a secret. There is so much chemistry between Quinn and Sabrina, but Sabrina does her duty. She also keeps seeing Quinn after every date. Which leads to some major complications. Then things get further complicated with a new arrival on the show that just blurts out Sabrina's secret and is so unapologetic about it. What a jerk! I loved the way the rest of the story unfolded and the way that people found their way to the truth of what happened and asked for forgiveness - well, some of them anyway. This was such a good book, I'm going to have to go back and read the first book in the series, way to go Abigail!
I really enjoyed reading this book. Abigail gave her characters a sense of humor, made them very life-like, and I loved that. I loved that Sabrina was a hard-working single Mom, who did everything she could to further the hospital where she worked. I loved that she only went into the show so that she could help the kids, not so she could find a husband, cause she wasn't looking. Quinn turned out to be everything that Sabrina wasn't looking for, and same for Quinn. He only took the assignment because he was waiting to be cleared to go back to Afghanistan to finish a story he started and then on to the next assignment. Quinn certainly didn't expect to fall for a Doctor who put her son and patients first, and herself last. He knew that she had been keeping who her son's father was a secret. There is so much chemistry between Quinn and Sabrina, but Sabrina does her duty. She also keeps seeing Quinn after every date. Which leads to some major complications. Then things get further complicated with a new arrival on the show that just blurts out Sabrina's secret and is so unapologetic about it. What a jerk! I loved the way the rest of the story unfolded and the way that people found their way to the truth of what happened and asked for forgiveness - well, some of them anyway. This was such a good book, I'm going to have to go back and read the first book in the series, way to go Abigail!
About SIGNED,
SEALED, DELIVERED:
Juliana has spent
thirteen years in the same teaching job. She's ready to dive into a new career
with both feet . . . when a run-in with the hottest man she's ever seen knocks
her head over heels. But with her failed marriage to a fellow teacher fresh on
her mind, Jules can't afford to lose herself in a relationship-no matter how
perfect it may seem. Connor Wilson has hit rock bottom when he loses his
career as a top-notch Realtor because of a large gambling debt. Now, in a small
town he finds a fresh start-and a gorgeous redhead who sparks new life into
him. Together they start a successful real estate company, but when pleasure
sneaks into the business, they'll have to decide what they can let go . . . and
what they can't live without.
Excerpt:
Connor Wilson leaned back in his chair and waited for the
presentation to start. Not that the seminar was going to change his mind about
facing this new real estate market solo. He was there strictly for research,
learning everything he could about the competition.
He’d made this move to such a small market for all the right
reasons, and there was profit to be had here. He could smell it as easily as a
pig sniffing for truffles.
Max Schumm. Cloverleaf’s number one
Realtor. He held court near the front of the conference room, close to the
table his assistants had piled with swag—calendars, pens, refrigerator magnets.
Not a surprise that his office staff, his minions, were all women while his
Realtors were mostly men. He counted only two ladies in the bright blue Schumm
blazers, and every advertisement he’d checked contained listings by males.
The town and the surrounding counties were ripe for the picking.
Time for the king to get knocked
off his throne.
Glancing around the three big, round tables set with six places
each, Connor sized up the people who thought they might have the chops to sell
homes. A pitiful lot it was. He’d dismissed each and every one, noticing Max
doing the same thing as he appraised the newbies. The only person Max kept
staring at was Connor, probably because he knew a true salesman when he spotted
one.
Perhaps he even recognized him from his past. Indianapolis wasn’t
a huge market, but it was somewhat close and Connor had been well known there.
Two years away wasn’t all that long to distance himself from making sales or
getting new listings. Their paths might have crossed on a long-distance move,
although he was sure he’d have remembered a man like Max. Damn if the guy
didn’t look like an eighties game show host, from his oversprayed hair to his
fake tan to his far-too-white teeth.
What Max didn’t know was that Connor had no intention of becoming
part of Schumm Homes. While Max would undoubtedly make him an offer of
employment, there was only one firm Connor intended to work for—the newest
agency in town.
Wilson Realty.
The time for the program to begin came and went, causing him to
make a mental note, matching the information he’d already gathered. Tardiness
was one of Max’s sins. He had others, but the most mentioned was his disregard
for other people’s time.
Just as Max stepped closer to the podium, talking in low tones
with the Ramada’s technical advisor, a kid who had to be right out of college,
a couple appeared at the double-door entrance.
Connor caught and held his breath when he saw the woman.
Hair the color of a setting sun—the most gorgeous shade of natural
red he’d ever seen. It was long and down, bouncing around her shoulders in wavy
cascades. She wore a perfect black dress. Not a slutty “little black dress” but
one that would work fine for business and pleasure, with a square neck that
showed a hint of generous cleavage. She was curvy without being too curvy. Her
legs seemed to go on forever, and the black stilettos were enough to finish him
off.
He was no longer thinking about Max Schumm or real estate or the
Cloverleaf market. Connor wasn’t going to be paying an ounce of attention to
anything anyone had to say tonight. Not with the redheaded vision heading right
for his table. Too bad she was with another guy, because there was nothing he
wanted more than to take her home.
It had been a long time since he’d felt such a swift and severe
attraction. The closer she drew, the harder his heart pounded. Since the last
empty seats were at his table, it was a given she and her escort were going to
sit next to him.
“Mind if we sit here?” she asked, her husky voice hitting him
right in the groin.
“Um, no. Go ahead.” Then the blood started flowing back to
Connor’s brain long enough for him to remember his manners. He stood up and
pulled out the chair for her, drawing a lopsided smile from her escort, who
hadn’t made a move to help.
She dropped
a rather large black purse on the floor, sat down, and smiled sweetly over her
shoulder as Connor pushed her up to the table. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
Her perfume drifted his way. Something light yet sensual. Hell,
everything about her was sensual. She moved like a feline, all sleek lines and
confidence. He wanted to sweep the gorgeous creature into his arms, carry her
up to his third-floor room, and make love to her until they both collapsed in
sated exhaustion. He let a light chuckle slip as he wondered what she’d say if
he up and told her exactly what he was thinking.
She tossed him a charming smile, but he couldn’t enjoy it because
he was too busy looking to see if she or the guy who’d escorted her to the
table wore a wedding ring.
Neither did, and Connor did a mental jig. He wasn’t leaving
without this beautiful creature’s phone number.
Maybe his fresh start in this new place was truly going to be his
salvation. Maybe he could really leave his past behind and forge a new life
here after all. Maybe a leopard could finally change his spots.
For the first time in as long as he could remember, he felt the
confidence and purpose that had been missing for far too long. He would make a
life for himself here, earn a decent profit, and maybe get back to the world of
the living.
Only time would tell.
About Sandy James:
Sandy James lives in a
quiet suburb of Indianapolis with her husband. She's a high school social
studies teacher who especially loves psychology and United States history.
Since she and her husband own a small stable of harness racehorses, they often
spend time together at the two Indiana racetracks.
Sandy’s SM:
@sandyjamesbooks
Buy links for SIGNED,
SEALED, DELIVERED:
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1nILTsL
iTunes: http://bit.ly/TBZusI
Amazon: http://amzn.to/TngXF0
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