The One Real Thing
(Hart’s Boardwalk #1)
By: Samantha Young
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: Sept. 6, 2016
Genre: Romance
Welcome to Hartwell, a quiet seaside escape where uncovering old secrets could lead one woman to discover the meaning of a love that lasts…
While Doctor Jessica Huntington engages with the inmates at the women’s correctional facility where she works, she’s always careful to avoid emotional attachments in her personal life. Loss and betrayal taught her that lesson long ago. But when she comes across a set of old love letters in the prison’s library and visits the picturesque town of Hartwell to deliver them to their intended recipient, she finds herself unable to resist the town’s charm—and her attraction to the sexy owner of a local bar proves equally hard to deny.
Since his divorce from his unfaithful ex-wife, Cooper Lawson has focused on what really matters: his family and the boardwalk pub they’ve owned for generations. But the first time Jessica steps into his bar, Cooper is beyond tempted to risk his heart on her. Yet as their attraction grows hotter and Jessica remains stubbornly closed off, he begins to realize it will take more than just passion to convince her there’s only one real thing in life worth fighting for….
Excerpt…
Bailey eyed me suspiciously the next morning. “Why are you being so cagey about what you’re doing today?”
Avoiding the question, I laughed. “People are right . . . you don’t like secrets.”
“What people?” She frowned. “Did Tremaine say that? When did he say that to you? You shouldn’t listen to a man who is morally defunct. Morally defunct, I tell you!”
Covering my laughter, I just shrugged, not wanting to fuel her ire.
The bell above the front door to the inn tinkled before she could question me further, and we both turned.
I lost my breath a little at the sight of Cooper striding toward us. Did he seem even taller today?
“Coop,” Bailey said, happy to see him as always. “What brings you here?”
He cut me a look and I couldn’t tell if it was annoyed or amused. “Doc didn’t tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
“I’m taking her out for the day.”
Bailey’s eyes grew round as they swung to me. A little smirk played around her mouth. “No. The doc did not tell me.”
“I was going to,” I lied.
Bailey’s eyes grew round as they swung to me. A little smirk played around her mouth. “No. The doc did not tell me.”
“Oh, of course . . . after all the evasion.” She smiled sweetly and turned back to Cooper. “So where are you taking my Jessica?”
“The fun park.”
“Good choice!” Bailey hit his shoulder playfully. “I haven’t been there in an age. Tom says I’m too old.”
“No such thing, sweetheart,” Cooper assured her.
She flicked a glance back at me. “So this is a date?”
“No,” I hurried to say, noting that Cooper hadn’t denied it.
Hmm.
That made Bailey grin harder. “Sure.”
“Ready to go?” Cooper asked me.
I nodded, definitely ready to get away from Bailey’s teasing.
“Some advice—avoid Myrtle’s Shooting Range because that’s a fix.” She followed us to the door. “And don’t eat too much of Hilly’s candy floss because I’m pretty sure there is alcohol in it—otherwise, that was the weirdest sugar high I’ve ever had—and don’t trying making out on the Shake because you’ll pull something in your neck.”
Meet the author…
Samantha Young is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author from Stirlingshire, Scotland. She’s been nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award 2012 for Best Author and Best Romance for her international bestseller ON DUBLIN STREET, Best Romance 2014 for BEFORE JAMAICA LANE, and Best Romance 2015 for HERO. ON DUBLIN STREET is Samantha’s first adult contemporary romance series and has sold in twenty-nine countries.
Giveaway time!
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I have yet to try SYoung…
Thanks for the excerpt and the giveaways 🙂 Hope you had a good long weekend!!
Oh wow… I do like the sound of this one! And Cooper sounds sweet! I want one just like him!
Thanks for sharing. Sounds interesting.