Danielle’s got three months to make her grandmother’s rundown Craftsman house livable. Her game plan is to get in, get grubby, and get back home to L.A. She needs a carpenter, and her best friend’s younger brother is a good one. It’s hard to ignore the buffed body under Ryan’s paint-splattered sweatshirts, but her friend declares he’s off-limits so Danielle reluctantly agrees.
Ryan doesn’t have the cleanest record, anyway. His recently ex-ed girlfriend wants him back, and he has a reputation for brawling. He’s also had a crush on Danielle since he was a kid. Despite their nine-year age difference, he knows she’s worth pursuing.
Soon the paint under Danielle’s fingernails starts feeling more natural than the L.A. sunshine. She’ll have to navigate plumbing disasters, money problems, and one seriously cranky best friend to find something she hasn’t had before: a real home, and a man who loves her.
Excerpt
“Right.” He flipped the ice
pack from one hand to the other. “Why’d your grandmother leave you the house?”
pack from one hand to the other. “Why’d your grandmother leave you the house?”
“Because I’m cute.” She scraped back a stray
hank of hair, her smile as blank as she could make it. Danielle suspected her
grandmother had left her the house because it had always been her safe place,
but Ryan didn’t need a rehash of her poor-little-rich-girl saga.
hank of hair, her smile as blank as she could make it. Danielle suspected her
grandmother had left her the house because it had always been her safe place,
but Ryan didn’t need a rehash of her poor-little-rich-girl saga.
His eyes still held a
question, but after a moment he nodded and stepped farther back. “Let’s get
those boards.”
question, but after a moment he nodded and stepped farther back. “Let’s get
those boards.”
“Cool.”
They carried in the
two-by-sixes, silence buffering their actions. Over the weekend, Ryan had
widened the doorways on either end of the dining room, though the rough edges
needed to be enclosed in trim. Once they carried in all the supplies, Ryan
stroked the molding she’d sanded. “Nice work with these.” A half grin showed
off his dimples. “This place is going to be sweet when we get it done.”
two-by-sixes, silence buffering their actions. Over the weekend, Ryan had
widened the doorways on either end of the dining room, though the rough edges
needed to be enclosed in trim. Once they carried in all the supplies, Ryan
stroked the molding she’d sanded. “Nice work with these.” A half grin showed
off his dimples. “This place is going to be sweet when we get it done.”
“I’ll take your word for it.”
She went over to the kitchen sink, looking out over the old wooden porch to the
Sound. A single light moved across the blackness. “Was it hard to open up the
doorways?”
She went over to the kitchen sink, looking out over the old wooden porch to the
Sound. A single light moved across the blackness. “Was it hard to open up the
doorways?”
“Just had to work around the
king studs.”
king studs.”
I bet I could work around your king stud just fine. “The what?” Danielle broke
out a super-plastic smile, hoping Ryan couldn’t guess what was on her mind.
out a super-plastic smile, hoping Ryan couldn’t guess what was on her mind.
“The extra support beams
framing the doors and windows.” He glanced at her, doing a quick double-take.
“What?”
framing the doors and windows.” He glanced at her, doing a quick double-take.
“What?”
She dredged up willpower from
some deep internal source, in need of every shred to keep pretending he was
just a remodeling buddy. “Nothing.”
some deep internal source, in need of every shred to keep pretending he was
just a remodeling buddy. “Nothing.”
“The homeowner’s always
right.” He chuckled and headed back into the living room. “If you’re happy with
my work, next summer you can hire me to rebuild that nasty old porch out back.”
right.” He chuckled and headed back into the living room. “If you’re happy with
my work, next summer you can hire me to rebuild that nasty old porch out back.”
Danielle’s feet stuck as she
got a sudden visual of Ryan, shirtless and sweaty, working in her backyard
under the sun. By the time she could move again, he had his jacket on and was
headed for the front door.
got a sudden visual of Ryan, shirtless and sweaty, working in her backyard
under the sun. By the time she could move again, he had his jacket on and was
headed for the front door.
“Well, thanks for dropping
stuff off,” she said.
stuff off,” she said.
“Need more ice on my
shoulder.” He paused with his hand on the doorframe, assessing her with that
perfectly controlled heat, an expression way too grown up for only twenty-four.
“I’ll swing by tomorrow and work on the trim.”
shoulder.” He paused with his hand on the doorframe, assessing her with that
perfectly controlled heat, an expression way too grown up for only twenty-four.
“I’ll swing by tomorrow and work on the trim.”
Her fluttery response demonstrated
all the maturity of a teenager.
all the maturity of a teenager.
“Oh, and while I’m thinking
about it, Mom said to make sure you know you’re welcome to join us for
Thanksgiving dinner,” he said.
about it, Mom said to make sure you know you’re welcome to join us for
Thanksgiving dinner,” he said.
Since she couldn’t hug Ryan,
Danielle hugged herself. “Really? That’d be awesome.”
Danielle hugged herself. “Really? That’d be awesome.”
“Maeve didn’t mention it, did
she?”
she?”
“No, but it’s not the night
before.” She laughed, because Maeve had always sucked at planning things in
advance. Her laugh made Ryan laugh, and then things were better.
before.” She laughed, because Maeve had always sucked at planning things in
advance. Her laugh made Ryan laugh, and then things were better.
Almost.
(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique)
I understand the “no dating my brother” rule when you’re in high school, but when you reach your 30’s, shouldn’t you have put that childish behavior behind you. It’s time to act like adults. Right?
Unfortunately, I found Danielle, Ryan, Maeve, and Cherry acting more like teenagers than the mature adults.
Maybe if I ever coveted any of my friends’ siblings or had one covet mine I would understand their behavior better. For me, it all seemed ridiculous.
Now, I could see where the age gap might be a factor. It is for some, but the real issue stemmed from the rule.
As for Danielle and Ryan’s exes, I didn’t feel anything was truly resolved there. Maybe in a follow-up story, we shall see the resolution or maybe more drama will unfold.
Only time will tell.
Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest)
Score:❤❤❤
Let’s Meet The Author, Liv Rancourt!!
1. Welcome,
Liv Rancourt. For those who might not be familiar with you, would you be a
dear and tell the readers a little about yourself? How did you get your
start in the writing business?
Liv Rancourt. For those who might not be familiar with you, would you be a
dear and tell the readers a little about yourself? How did you get your
start in the writing business?
(Liv)I
always told myself I’d be a writer someday, but it wasn’t until I turned 47 or
48 that I realized, ‘hey, if I’m going to do this, I better, like, do it.” So I
started drafting short stories and taking classes on-line, and one thing led to
another…
always told myself I’d be a writer someday, but it wasn’t until I turned 47 or
48 that I realized, ‘hey, if I’m going to do this, I better, like, do it.” So I
started drafting short stories and taking classes on-line, and one thing led to
another…
2.
Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, please share how you handle it.
Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, please share how you handle it.
(Liv) My
approach toward writers’ block is pretty much informed by nine years spent as
cantor for my church’s Saturday evening Mass. Every week I showed up with the
hymns planned and the Psalm rehearsed and a solo piece for Communion. I rarely
took a Saturday off, and if I didn’t feel like singing, I just…sang. Because it
was my job. And with rare exceptions, I found my way to a reasonable place by
just doing it.
approach toward writers’ block is pretty much informed by nine years spent as
cantor for my church’s Saturday evening Mass. Every week I showed up with the
hymns planned and the Psalm rehearsed and a solo piece for Communion. I rarely
took a Saturday off, and if I didn’t feel like singing, I just…sang. Because it
was my job. And with rare exceptions, I found my way to a reasonable place by
just doing it.
Now
writing is what I do, and while there are times I’m scrambling for ideas, I’ve
never truly been blocked. I take a one-word-at-a-time approach, and it all
seems to work out.
writing is what I do, and while there are times I’m scrambling for ideas, I’ve
never truly been blocked. I take a one-word-at-a-time approach, and it all
seems to work out.
3.
Contrary to what some people envision about a
romance writer’s life, it’s not all glitz and glam. Well not for the majority
of us. With that bubble sadly busted, when you’re not writing, how do you
spend your time?
Contrary to what some people envision about a
romance writer’s life, it’s not all glitz and glam. Well not for the majority
of us. With that bubble sadly busted, when you’re not writing, how do you
spend your time?
(Liv) My
day job as a nurse practitioner and my husband and kids take up most of my free
time. We also recently started a kitchen remodel, and like all good projects
its drawing my attention to the Next One On The List.
day job as a nurse practitioner and my husband and kids take up most of my free
time. We also recently started a kitchen remodel, and like all good projects
its drawing my attention to the Next One On The List.
4.
I know many writers, such as myself, keep their
pastime/career a secret. Do those close to you know you write? If so, what are
their thoughts?
I know many writers, such as myself, keep their
pastime/career a secret. Do those close to you know you write? If so, what are
their thoughts?
(Liv) My
family and close friends do know I write, and they’re proud of what I do. Some
people at the day job know, but not all. I write under a pen name because when
people do a google search for the nurse practitioner, I don’t want them getting
hits about vampires. (lol!)
family and close friends do know I write, and they’re proud of what I do. Some
people at the day job know, but not all. I write under a pen name because when
people do a google search for the nurse practitioner, I don’t want them getting
hits about vampires. (lol!)
(Kam) OMGoodness, that made me snort!!
5.
Will you share with us your all-time favorite
authors? If you’re like me, it’s a long list so give us your top ten.
Will you share with us your all-time favorite
authors? If you’re like me, it’s a long list so give us your top ten.
(Liv) This
is a tough question – even when you make it a top ten list – because there are
so many amazing authors out there, but if I read something I love, I don’t
necessarily go out and get everything else the author has written. I’m weird
that way. I could probably come up with thirty five authors (50? 150?) whose
work I really like but wouldn’t necessarily count them as ‘favorite’.
is a tough question – even when you make it a top ten list – because there are
so many amazing authors out there, but if I read something I love, I don’t
necessarily go out and get everything else the author has written. I’m weird
that way. I could probably come up with thirty five authors (50? 150?) whose
work I really like but wouldn’t necessarily count them as ‘favorite’.
So
with that as a preamble, I can think of two authors whose work I love, and who
have taught me a whole lot, both about writing and about how to be a good human
being. They are Alexis Hall and KJ Charles. Alexis is a magician with words,
and KJ has a fantastic sense of romance (and I am in awe of her mad plotting
skills). They both are thoughtful, intelligent people who stand up for what
they believe in and use their literary profiles to support the things they care
about. Look them up. They’re worth it.
with that as a preamble, I can think of two authors whose work I love, and who
have taught me a whole lot, both about writing and about how to be a good human
being. They are Alexis Hall and KJ Charles. Alexis is a magician with words,
and KJ has a fantastic sense of romance (and I am in awe of her mad plotting
skills). They both are thoughtful, intelligent people who stand up for what
they believe in and use their literary profiles to support the things they care
about. Look them up. They’re worth it.
6.
If you could choose one book to go to the big
screen, yours or otherwise, which book would you choose and whom would you love to see cast in the parts?
If you could choose one book to go to the big
screen, yours or otherwise, which book would you choose and whom would you love to see cast in the parts?
(Liv) Oh…I
kinda suck at the ‘who would you cast’ thing, but I’ll give it a go. I would
love to see KJ Charles’ Think of England made into a movie, with a young Russell Crowe (maybe?) as Archie and a
young Adrian Brody as Daniel. The story’s a murder mystery of a sort, set in an
English country house right after WWI, and it counts King Solomon’s Mines by Henry Rider Haggard as a strong source
of influence. I love this book so hard, and there’s so many nuances a good
director could play with, that I think it would make an amazing movie.
kinda suck at the ‘who would you cast’ thing, but I’ll give it a go. I would
love to see KJ Charles’ Think of England made into a movie, with a young Russell Crowe (maybe?) as Archie and a
young Adrian Brody as Daniel. The story’s a murder mystery of a sort, set in an
English country house right after WWI, and it counts King Solomon’s Mines by Henry Rider Haggard as a strong source
of influence. I love this book so hard, and there’s so many nuances a good
director could play with, that I think it would make an amazing movie.
7.
Would you care to tell us what you’re working on
now? That is if it’s not top-secret information. If so, just whisper it in my
ear. I swear it’ll go no further.
Would you care to tell us what you’re working on
now? That is if it’s not top-secret information. If so, just whisper it in my
ear. I swear it’ll go no further.
(Liv) No
secrets. J I’m finishing up edits on a story for a
charity anthology that will be available just in time for the holidays. The
proceeds will benefit the Ali Forney Center, an agency that works to support homeless
LGBTQ youth. You can keep an eye on my
blog for info on when it will be
available.
secrets. J I’m finishing up edits on a story for a
charity anthology that will be available just in time for the holidays. The
proceeds will benefit the Ali Forney Center, an agency that works to support homeless
LGBTQ youth. You can keep an eye on my
blog for info on when it will be
available.
I’m
also working on my very first co-writing project with my friend Irene
Preston. Our working title is
“Vampire Porn”, and I’m going to let you draw your own conclusions from that.
So far – and this may be because I’m an alto so all about the harmony – working
with someone else on a writing project is the most fun I’ve had in a long, long
time.
also working on my very first co-writing project with my friend Irene
Preston. Our working title is
“Vampire Porn”, and I’m going to let you draw your own conclusions from that.
So far – and this may be because I’m an alto so all about the harmony – working
with someone else on a writing project is the most fun I’ve had in a long, long
time.
8.
Where can we find your stories, and is there a
particular reading order?
Where can we find your stories, and is there a
particular reading order?
(Liv) So
far all of my books have been stand-alone stories, although my newest,King
Stud, is the first in a series. You
can find them all on my Amazon Page.
far all of my books have been stand-alone stories, although my newest,King
Stud, is the first in a series. You
can find them all on my Amazon Page.
9.
Would you please share how your present and
future fans can contact you?
Would you please share how your present and
future fans can contact you?
(Liv) I can be found on-line at all hours
of the day and night at my website & blog (www.liv-rancourt.blogspot.com), on Facebook(www.facebook.com/liv.rancourt), or on Twitter (www.twitter.com/LivRancourt). Come find me. We’ll have fun!
of the day and night at my website & blog (www.liv-rancourt.blogspot.com), on Facebook(www.facebook.com/liv.rancourt), or on Twitter (www.twitter.com/LivRancourt). Come find me. We’ll have fun!
10. Before
we conclude this enlightening interview, do you have anything else you’d like
to share? The stage is all yours.
we conclude this enlightening interview, do you have anything else you’d like
to share? The stage is all yours.
(Liv)I
just want to say thank you, Kameron, for having me as a guest on your blog and
introducing me to your readers. Those were some great interview questions!
just want to say thank you, Kameron, for having me as a guest on your blog and
introducing me to your readers. Those were some great interview questions!
And thank you partaking in this questionnaire and for introducing me (us) to your work. I know others will be chomping at the bit to read King Stud. So come on folks, buy this book but before you do, drop us a line below. We just <3 our fans being vocal!!
Sounds like an enjoyable read!!
I hope this means you'll be adding it to you TBR list. 🙂
Thank ya for stopping by and leaving us a comment.
Mucho <3
Thanks Tianna! It was fun to write, so I hope people enjoy it.
😉
Great job, ladies.
Thank ya. I love doing these features. So much fun!!
Thanks James!
Hot cover. Nice teaser.
Julia
I agree — total hotness!!
Aw, thanks you guys! 🙂
I'll take one King Stud to go. PLZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cracking up over here 🙂
Absolutely!
(and thanks for checking in!)
It's nice to learn some new things about you. I love your wit.
Her response to Q4 was my favorite. I'm not kidding when I say I snorted.
Thank you for visiting/commenting. Please do come back again and again and again and…….. You get the idea. 🙂
Thanks Lynn! I'm glad you enjoyed the post. 🙂
Wonderful interview, Kameron and Liv. King Stud is on my TBR list. And I also loved Liv's novel, Forever and Ever, Amen. A lively read from Liv!
I appreciate the positive vibes, Deb! Thanks for stopping by!
I haven't had the privilege of reading it yet. Oh, Liv, are you thinking what I'm thinking? *winks*
Thank you for stopping by Deborah. I hope you do come again.