Congratulations, Heidi Pergolski! You are our winner! Please message us at https://www.facebook.com/southernbornbooks with your address so we can mail your prize. Happy reading!
It’s time to head back to Magnolia Bay for Mick Atwell and Lucy Waverly‘s story in Stealing Hearts by Erika Marks! Who remembers Mick from his appearance in A Very Married Christmas?
As a special treat, we have another exclusive excerpt below for you. To enter the giveaway for a chance to win the prize pictured below, (an anthology of Southern Born Books, a mug with hot cocoa for two, and lots of reader swag!) leave a comment here and tell us what you love about this moment between Mick and Lucy!
Winner will be announced here on Friday, February 13th. Good luck!
Excerpt & Giveaway
Speaking of Mick…She glanced toward the bar, hoping to touch base with him. When a few customers left the bar, allowing for a thin opening, Lucy grabbed her chance and slipped into the gap, leaning across the bar to search for Mick. She found him at the other end with Tim who’d lost his chef’s hat, not to mention loosened his collar.
She waited until Mick looked up before she waved, fast enough to catch his attention. A moment later, he came down to meet her.
“How’s business over here?” she asked.
“Busy. Loud. Crazy.” He grinned. “Otherwise known as an opening night dream.”
She took another survey of his outfit, reminded again of how especially sexy he looked in his suede vest and cowboy hat. “I’ve been taking bets on how many women have asked you to read them their rights tonight.”
“I’ve gotten a couple of “Looks like there’s a new Sheriff in town” and the obligatory requests to see my gun.”
She’d bet.
He leaned forward on his elbows, rolling closer toward her. She felt his arm brush against her hand. “Funny thing, though…I can’t stop thinking about this Cat Lady who’s been slinking around the bar. All black. Great tail.” He grinned. “I’m hoping she’ll let me take her home later.”
“Only if you have some catnip.”
“I think I have some around here somewhere.”
“I’d settle for a few candy hearts. It is Valentine’s Day, after all.”
“Which reminds me…Don’t go anywhere.”
He didn’t have to worry about that, she thought as she watched him disappear back down the bar. Barely two minutes later, he returned with a slightly fizzy garnet-colored drink, a curl of orange peel hanging off the rim, and a small pile of pomegranate seeds at the bottom of the wine glass.
“A little something I made up for the opening. It’s sangria—with a kick.”
She brought the sparkling scarlet drink to her lips and took a small sip, tasting his secret ingredient at once. “Tabasco!”
“I got inspired to heat things up.”
She leaned in. “I thought we already did that last night.”
“Exactly.”
God, did he want to kiss her as badly as she wanted to kiss him? Lucy searched his eyes, trying to decide. Maybe if the world could just dissolve around them for ten minutes. She’d even settle for five.
She wanted to ask him why he hadn’t told her the truth about Emily, to tell him she was sorry his heart carried such a heavy load. She wanted to help him lighten it. She wanted him to let her.
She wanted to tell him how much she longed for his kiss, his body, his touch.
She wanted to tell him that she was falling in love with him.
She wanted him to tell her the same thing.
But her wishes were dashed in the next moment when Tim called down the bar for rescue.
Mick grinned. “I’ll find you later, kitty.”
“Wait—before you go.” She reached over into one of the dishes of conversation hearts they’d placed along the length of the bar instead of nuts to honor the night’s theme and plucked one out.
She set the candy heart down in front of him. I’M YOURS.
“Your tip,” she said.
He scooped it up and dropped it into his vest pocket. “Best one I’ve gotten all night.”
This is an exciting scene
Sweet!!!
sounds good
I love the easy flow of their conversation
Sounds good!
I love their banter! Especially his comment, “great tail”. That made me laugh out loud.
Their conversation is easy but in her heart and mind, she is wanting him forever and he seems very interested in her. I can’t wait to read the book. Very awesome. Thanks so much for sharing.
The innuendos are fun!
I love the double entendres flying all over the place. Very playful and witty!
i love the good-natured teasing they have going on with each other. a well paced, interesting, and playful scene!
Love the word play and obvious chemistry! Can’t wait to read it :)
Love this! They are so easy with each other. Can’t wait for the rest!
Love this excerpt. Sounds like it’s going to be a good book.
What a wonderful teaser! This sounds great.
eppersonkatrina(at)yahoo(dot)com
Loved that scene! Already read the book and loved it!
Lots of fun between these two! Thanks!
The tension between the two. Loved the “I’m Yours” candy heart. :D
love it!
Love the wittyness between those two. I would love to read this book.
Makes me want to read more.
Aww…I loved how Mick scooped up the conversation heart and put it in his pocket. So sweet!
I love the suspense of how they longed for each other attention! I like how she gave nick a candy heart and he put it in his vest pocket… I’m dying to read more!!
I enjoyed the excerpt and would love to read more.
It sounds great! Thanks!
Love this & can’t wait to read the rest!!
great excerpt, need to read more!
Definitely makes me want to read the book!!!!!! Great writing and characters!
I like the teasing between the two of them.
I like the teasing part and the tension! I also love the description of the book. Mick helping his friend and than wanting to get out of town… until his friend’s sisters comes along! I love it!
they have fun
Sounds wonderful.
Nice~
Nice..thanks
Great snippet. I could feel the chemistry.
They are both enjoying the repartee.
OH! the memories this brings to mind! Can’t wait to read all. I loved the tension and teasing but mostly the feeling between them. Wonder who will give in to the game their playing and loose their heart first?
Sounds fabulous!
Cute
I love the easy banter between them, it catches me and intrigues me!! I need to read more.
That its quite fun and cute.
The easy flow to their banter is cute.
Love the feelings you can feel by the way they banter.
I love the connection between the characters. Love the cover of the book too.
love how they tease each other — want to read more!!
Love the chemistry between them. I thought it was funny about the Cat lady and she will come over if he has some catnip
Sounds good
Lucy’s reply “Only if you have some catnip!”
I loved it! It was so sweet and cute.
Besides the sexual tension, they seem to really be into each other with the promise of a very delightful night ahead. The reference to the catnip and the candy heart tells me this book is well worth reading. I would love to!!!! :-)
Love this statement:
“Funny thing, though…I can’t stop thinking about this Cat Lady who’s been slinking around the bar. All black. Great tail.”
It’s a cute and sexy statement and makes me want to read this book. Thanks for sharing and getting to know about this book.
I like her giving him the candy heart!
I put in an incorrect email address so reposting!
I love their playful banter can’t wait to read more
I’m more than ready to read it all :D
I like the tip she gave him.
yoy know what they are doing tonight. I wish I was that quick thinking on my feet to come out with them comments.
Looks Like another great book!
Love the little tip she gave him. I so can’t wait to read it. :) :)
Love the teasing cant wait to read the rest <3
A great tease
I love it can’t wait to read more.
I think the end was the best part. Totally love the candy heart!
Sounds great! Can’t wait to read it! Thank you for the chance to win! :)
Great!!!
Sounds Awesome Would love a chance win & enjoy.
i can not wait to read more!
The playful banter draws you in.
I love that it’s sexy, sweet, & innocent all at the same time! You can tell that they’ll ignite fireworks together! Can’t wait to read this book!
wow -great excerpt; can’t wait for more
Love!
Perfect for this time of year
I loved the excerpt and want to read this one in the worst way! I am a cat person and love this exchange:
“Funny thing, though…I can’t stop thinking about this Cat Lady who’s been slinking around the bar. All black. Great tail.” He grinned. “I’m hoping she’ll let me take her home later.”
“Only if you have some catnip.”
I think I melted!!! Their easy banter and cute dialogue drew me in. I must buy this – STAT! :)
Ready to read more!
Love the word play between them .Think it’s fun and sexy
Can not wait to read the rest.
I like that he puts the candy heart in his pocket.
I love the teasing and the easy conversation between them!
Well having read the excerpt, my heart is racing, let alone Lucy’s! I definitely want to read more!
I enjoyed their flirty conversation between the Sheriff & Kitty. It was short, but each one knew what the other wanted. Cute, and to the point.
Communicating your feelings using a conversation heart is sweet; “I’m Yours” and having the guy pocket it makes it even sweeter.
Love the whole scene! The conversation heart “tip” was cute!
so romantic just need to read the whole book <3
loved the part the conversation heart
Sounds great would love to read the book
The word play between the two of them.
I love this excerpt. Nothing like saying it with candy hearts :)
Sweet and Sexy all rolled into one.
Sweet and hot! Thanks for the excerpt.
Awe…true love
I liked obvious sexual heat between them with the hint of something more beneath the surface.
Yummy, I likey.
Candy hearts can say so much :) .
Like the scene, now I need the rest of the story.
I love the back and forth but, the heart was my aahhhhhh moment.
Awesome love the word play between them
What a wonderful tease. Can’t wait to read the rest.
I was drawn in just from this little excerpt, and I can’t wait to read more about them and see how their relationship develops. I can sense their chemistry just from the little bit that I read. Love it!
What an exciting scene !
I love LOVE love did I say love yet? I LOVE the I think banter is the right word between the two of them… or is it flirtation the right word? Hmmm either way the cuteness of the whole catnip part and the tip Oh my, I wish my guy was as cute as this guy seems to be!!!!
I really want to read this new book. I think one of the things I liked about their conversation is how easy it seemed for them to talk to each other, but yet they had a sassiness to their conversation, a sassy banter. But, you could tell that they share a chemistry. That they would be great together. Just in this excerpt, I know I have to read this book.
Fantastic Valentine read! :)
Like their Word Play!!! ;)
I love the innuendos. Very nice scene.
Perfect for Valentine’s Day. Sweet, loving, a little suggestive of kisses to come later. Very nice with a little touch of naughty.
The teasing!
Entertaining teaser, leaving me wanting more, and to read more of the book.
Such a fun scene
I can’t wait to read more!!!!!
Nice, sweet scene. Can’t wait to read the entire book.
I I love the word play and how sweet the moment is.
I love the sweet tip. :)
I liked the banter that was going on between Lucy (Kitty) and Mick. I have to say that I liked the tip she gave him the best. too cute.
It was a great scene can’t wait to read the whole book
This is going to be a great book.
I love the teasing, flirty banter, and the “tip” was the icing on the cake!
I like the playful talk and how they feel so comfortable with each other.
I love their banter back and forth. It’s sexy!
cant wait to read this!
Another good book to add to my to read list :)
I love Sweet Southern romances.
Definitely want to get this book. Great scene.
I love their flirting and their fun with each other. Plus, the candy heart thing at the end? Sweet move, Lucy!
They look like a great couple to read more about! Thanks!
Love the excerpt great cover
Well now I really can’t wait to read this book!!
It’s obvious there’s more than what is on the surface. Makes me want to know more.
I loved this excerpt and the cover. Anxious to read more.
This is the conversation I love with Mick and Lucy~ She wanted to tell him how much she longed for his kiss, his body, his touch.
She wanted to tell him that she was falling in love with him.
She wanted him to tell her the same thing.
i can’t wait to read the entire book! I love the flirting and teasing going on. That you for the excerpt… :)
Cute banter. Love it!
Sounds awesome :)
I love this! Love the teasing and flirting! I can’t wait to read this…I’m adding it to my list! Thank you!
I love how they flirt with each other and how she realizes that she has a dilemma in convincing him that he really wants what she wants and that the road must be traveled. I can’t wait to read . Thanks for the opportunity!
Love it!
What a deliciously fabulous Valentine read! Thank you for this wonderful giveaway ~ so many lovelies! I am looking forward to reading “Stealing Hearts”. Happy Valentine’s Day~ and happy reading and writing ~ ❤️
Ohhhhh Looove. It ‘s cute and lovely
Their rugged look and accent <3
i really enjoyed the excerpt.i loved the flirtatious banter between them.the book sounds fun i want to read it
I love their interaction and subtle chemistry.
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