Wednesday, March 9, 2022

Excerpt and ARC Giveaway - - Sand Dollar Lane

SAND DOLLAR LANE
by Sheila Roberts
Publisher: MIRA
Release Date: April 26, 2022
Mass Market Paperback, Hardcover, eBook, and Audiobook
 

Brody Green is finding it hard to recover after being dumped by his fiancée, Jenna Jones, then watching her walk down the aisle with someone else. Jenna is determined to make up for her love defection and find him the perfect woman, but Brody is done with love. First a divorce, then a broken engagement. From now on he’s keeping things light, no commitments. Luckily Brody’s business is booming. Beach Dreams Realty is the best real estate company in town. And the only one. Until…


Lucy Holmes needs a new start. In business, in love, in…everything. If ever there was a cliché, it was her life back in Seattle. She was a real estate broker working with her husband until she caught him trying out the walk-in shower in a luxury condo—with another agent. She’s always been the more successful of the two, and with him gone, she’s determined to build a business even bigger than what she had. Moonlight Harbor is a charming town, and it has only one real estate agency. Surely there’s room for a little competition.

Or not. Looks like it’s going to be a hot market in Moonlight Harbor. And maybe these two competitors will make some heat of their own.

 


Condensed Excerpt from:

SAND DOLLAR LANE

By Sheila Roberts

 

Lucy Holmes-Anderson was smiling as she made her way to the condo she was showing in downtown Bellevue. She and her husband, Evan, had seen it during a realtors’ open house the day before and been sure that it would sell in a moment. And she was going to be the one to jump on that moment. She had a couple she knew the place would be perfect for, and she’d arranged to meet them there on their lunch hour.

She’d tried to let Evan know that she had a fish on the line, but her call had gone straight to voice mail. It seemed like that happened a lot lately. Hardly surprising, though. Like her, he was busy showing houses, getting listings, writing up offers, and when he was with someone, he never took calls. He had said something about having a noon appointment, so he was probably already with his clients.

Sometimes it seemed he spent more time showing houses to other people than hanging out in his own house with her. For a couple who worked together, it sure seemed that they didn’t see much of each other.

But that was the nature of the real estate business. No set hours, and evenings and weekends were usually busy. For both of them. They were often either in their separate of­fices in Anderson-Holmes Realty or meeting with people.

Even when they were together, it felt more like they were simply sharing space. He’d spent most of the evening the night before convincing a hesitant couple to lay out a king’s ransom on a dog of a house in a Seattle neighborhood that was supposed to be the next big thing. By the time he’d gotten off the phone, he’d been ready to do nothing more than crash in front of the TV.

There wasn’t even such a thing as a cozy breakfast to­gether. Nothing new there though. Breakfast had always been a rush to get out the door.

She and Evan had both worked their way through school at the same pizza parlor and slowly fallen in love in between or­ders. With his degree in business and hers in interior de­sign, they’d partnered up in both business and life. They’d put in long hours to establish their real estate agency, and when the market in the Seattle area turned hot, they’d been more than ready to take advantage of it.

They were now the epitome of success, with three bro­kers in their office—two hunky millennials who could charm anyone into listing their house with Anderson-Holmes and a beautiful, bright young thing named Pan­dora, who reminded Lucy a lot of herself twenty-two years earlier when she and Evan first opened their doors.

As far as Lucy could see, the girl’s only flaw was that she lacked confidence. It seemed she couldn’t submit a single offer without consulting Evan. Only the other day she’d called with a silly question about a house inspection that left Lucy shaking her head.

“She just needs some hand-holding,” Evan had said.

“I could use some hand-holding,” Lucy had replied in a playful tone of voice.

There’d been a time when he would have taken the hint, taken her to bed and gotten a hold of more than her hand. This time, he’d merely chuckled and returned to surfing the internet on his laptop.

She hadn’t pushed. They were both going pretty hard, and it seemed he was tired a lot.

Still, this wasn’t what she’d envisioned their love life looking like now that they were empty nesters. She’d joked to her older sister, Darla, that with their daughter, Hannah, out of the house, she and Evan would probably have sex in every room. That was what you did when you had the place to yourselves, right? She and Evan were only forty-four. He was still in his prime, and she was at her sexual peak.

So far, she’d been lucky if she got him stirred up in the bedroom, let alone anywhere else. Where was all that empty-nester-second-honeymoon fun they were supposed to be having? Somewhere in the future—at the rate they were working, the distant future.

But all work and no play… If she closed this deal, she was going to make sure they went on a nice, long vacation. They needed to put the romance back in their relationship. She’d been eyeing resorts in both Hawaii and Fiji. She’d also been looking into cruises. One of those European river cruises would be so nice.

Yes, a river cruise. Evan had his boat and his fancy midlife sports car. She should get a cruise.

Her smile grew bigger. The Jorgensons were going to love this slick, two-bedroom condo in downtown Bellevue. In ad­dition to a bonus room, it had all the bells and whistles—a generous kitchen with quartz countertops and an eating bar; spacious living and dining rooms; windows with elec­tric blackout blinds; unobstructed views of downtown Bel­levue, Seattle, Lake Washington and the Olympic Mountains. The facility offered a spa, fitness center and theater room. What was not to like? For some, the price. But the Jorgen­sons could afford this.

Actually, so could Lucy and Evan. It might be nice to downsize from their four-bedroom three-thousand-square-foot house. It wasn’t like they’d filled the place up with kids. Or ever would.

Okay, maybe not this condo. Their house was on Lake Washington, and it was important to Evan to be on the water. She liked the water, too. There was something so calming about it. So someplace smaller. Cozier.

That appealed to her. Yes, it was worth considering.

Meanwhile, here were the Jorgensons. In their late thir­ties, dressed in trendy clothes, driving a Tesla compact, this couple was more than ready to go from being renters to becoming homeowners. Lucy had convinced them that a condo was a good way to start. Plenty of freedom and no maintenance worries.

“I know you’re going to fall in love when you see this condo,” she told them as she let them into the lobby.

“I looked at the pictures online,” said Emma Jorgenson. “It looks gorgeous.” She smiled at her husband, Aaron, who smiled back at her.

“We’re excited to see it,” he said.

“I’m excited to show it to you. If you like it, we’ll want to move quickly. This one won’t last.”

They rode the elevator up to the twenty-seventh floor. “The view is amazing. You won’t believe your eyes,” Lucy said.

She let them into the unit. It was gorgeous. Hardwood floors, windows showcasing a million-dollar view (no, make that two million).

But what did she hear? Were those voices?

“Is someone else looking at this place?” asked Aaron.

“No one should be.”

Lucy followed the sound down the hallway and into the master bedroom, her clients trailing her.

“This bedroom is fabulous,” Emma breathed. Then her eyes fell on the trail of his and hers clothes leading into the bathroom. “Umm.”

“Sounds like someone’s in the shower,” said Aaron.

“That’s not possible. The owners are in Cabo.” But Lucy had seen the clothes also, and someone was definitely in the bathroom. She could hear water running, and a high-pitched giggle. What on earth was going on?

“Maybe you should wait here,” she said to her clients, and moved toward the bathroom.

“Ooh,” said a familiar female voice as Lucy stepped through the door and onto the azure porcelain floor.

Oh, no. She had to be hallucinating. Behind frosted sea green glass, etched with marsh grass, under the luxury rainfall showerhead, two bodies were silhouetted.

“Baby,” said another voice.

It was a voice Lucy knew well, a voice that had called her baby, too. Dread urged her not to look around that glass wall, but anger won out and she did.

There stood Evan with Pandora, the bright young thing. Both naked and sudsy. And Evan wasn’t holding her hand. This didn’t happen in real life. This happened in books or movies.

Lucy blinked, hoping the image before her would dis­appear. It didn’t. Evan and Pandora Welk were still right where she’d seen them.

“Evan?” Lucy squeaked. He was too busy to hear her. She raised her voice. “Evan!”

Pandora was the first to turn. Those faux-innocent hazel eyes of hers got so big they looked like golf balls. She let out a screech, and the soap in her hands shot across the shower.

Evan turned, too, and looked over his shoulder. If eye­balls could bounce, his would have bounced right out of his head and onto the shower floor.

“Luc!” he cried, and stepped in front of Pandora in an effort to shield her.

Caption the moment What’s Wrong with This Picture?

Plenty. Evan was old enough to be this girl’s father. There she was, all slender and perky, and there he was, a forty-four-year-old fool with love handles. It was so inap­propriate and unprofessional and…wrong! And further­more, if he was going to go wild like this, he should have been doing it with Lucy.

The Jorgensons joined the party, apparently too curious to stay behind. “Eeep,” said Emma Jorgenson.

“Whoa,” said Aaron Jorgenson, half laughing.

“Ack!” said Evan, still trying to shield the home-wrecker from the audience that was gathering to gawk at them.

Red-faced, Pandora hurried out of the shower, grabbed a towel and her clothes, and beat it as if the hounds of hell were after her.

Lucy hoped they were and she hoped they took a great big bite out of that perky, bouncy bottom.

Evan almost got out, but his foot made contact with the soap, and down he went with a yelp. Good. Maybe he broke something.

Lucy managed a smile for her clients. “Would you ex­cuse us for just a moment? Feel free to check out the view. From the living room,” she added in case they weren’t sure to which one she was referring.

They nodded and left, and Lucy stepped into the shower and turned off the water. Evan was still on the floor, try­ing to get up.

“I think I broke my back,” he groaned.

“You’re lucky I don’t break your head,” she snarled and bent to help him up.

Helping him up? Really? After what he’d just done to her?

 

 ~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Are you new to Moonlight Harbor or have you already discovered this humorous and heartwarming series?

Do you enjoy an enemies-to-lovers romance?

What's your favorite romance trope?

Two randomly chosen people who post a comment before 11:00 PM, March 11 will each receive a print advance reader copy of Sand Dollar Lane.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

*Void where prohibited



The author of more than 50 books, Sheila Roberts is best known for her holiday stories, women’s fiction and romance novels in small-town settings. Her On Strike for Christmas was a Lifetime Network movie, and her The Nine Lives of Christmas is a perennial Hallmark channel movie favorite. Before she launched her author career, Sheila played in a band and owned a singing telegram company. Long-time Washington residents, she and her husband, also a novelist, recently moved to a beach cottage with a picturesque view not unlike that of Moonlight Harbor.


 

Connect with Sheila at: 

Facebook:       https://www.facebook.com/funwithsheila

Instagram:       https://www.instagram.com/sheilarobertswriter/

Twitter:           https://twitter.com/_Sheila_Roberts

BookBub:        https://www.bookbub.com/authors/sheila-roberts

Goodreads:     https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/529302.Sheila_Roberts?from_search=true&from_srp=true

Amazon:         https://www.amazon.com/Sheila-Roberts/e/B0028830FE?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1645479608&sr=1-1

 

 

35 comments:

  1. I enjoyed the excerpt PJ. I'm so excited to read this! Thank you for the chance!💜

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  2. I do like the enemies to lovers trope. My favorite trope (does there have to be just one?) would be when two exes get together, particularly if it's been a long time since they've seen each other.

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  3. I haven't read the series yet, but it sounds wonderful. I do like the enemies-to-lovers trope and also the friends-to-lovers trope. Thank you.
    Marilyn Baron

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  4. I enjoy Sheila’s stories. Yes, I have loved my visits to Moonlight Harbor and Icicle Falls.
    I do enjoy the friction found in enemies to lovers stories.
    My favorite tropes are marriage of convenience, enemies to lovers, wounded warriors and Beauty and the Beast.

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  5. Loved the excerpt and this book sounds fascinating. My favorite tropes are fake relationship/relationship of convenience and sibling's best friend/best friend's sibling.

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  6. Thanks for the excerpt.....WOW! What a way to finish a relationship and start a new story. I like Ms Roberts' books. And this is a prime example of her talent.

    Hope everyone is well and safe and happy.

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  7. Sounds so good!! On my TBR list for sure!!

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  8. I would love to read this. Thanks for all the great novels!

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  9. This sounds like it will be a fun book. I can see so much potential for some good tension and comedy. Can't wait.

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  10. Haven’t read any of the series as of yet. I enjoy the enemy to love trope as well as friends to love trope. Thanks for the chance to win! Luvs2read4fun (at) gmail (dot) com

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  11. Sounds fun!
    I love all tropes just about.
    Thank you for the chance!

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  12. I love books by Sheila Roberts. Her books are the best!

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  13. love this series and would love a ARC copy

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  14. My favorite trope is second chances. I am enjoying this series!

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  15. I would love to read this. I love Second Chance Romances.

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  16. I have read all the books in this series and loved them. Thanks for the chance.

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  17. Love Enemies to Lovers Romance and I also love Second Chance Romance. Thanks for your great generosity. Love your books. Linda May

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  18. I've already discovered this series. I do enjoy an enemies-to-lovers romances. I like second chance romance trope. Thank you so much for the chance!

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  19. Love her and her books!!!
    And I've already discovered this series. Second chance romance for me!!

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  20. Loved the excerpt! Now I must have it whether I win or not. Enemies to lovers, awesome!!

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  21. I am new to this series. Thanks for the giveaway chance. Stay safe and healthy.

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  22. I have read all of Sheila's books & have really enjoyed them. Thank you for the excerpt & for the chance to win.
    Mary Mannella

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  23. I've read other series by Sheila. I enjoy enemies to love and second chance tropes.

    denise

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  24. I am soooo excited!!!! ❤️❤️❤️

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  25. I love Sheila Roberts' books. Beachside Beginnings in the Moonlight Harbor was the first of her books I read and I was hooked. Her books are mature, have multiple story lines, are relatable, and have realistic situations. I have read several of her books since my first. This is going to be another good one. She definitely has a sense of humor and writes it well.

    My favorite tropes are Beauty and the Beast and wounded hero/heroine. I do like many others and friends to loves can be enjoyable if done well.

    Thank you for the excerpt and the giveaway.


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  26. I love Sheila Roberts books and I would love to win an ARC of her new book. I will definitely leave a review. Thank you.

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  27. I love your books. I know I have books #4 & 5. I really enjoy being able to read a series & have characters from previous books make an appearance in future books. I just plain love reading Romances, all tropes appeal to me based on different authors & my moods. Enemies to lovers, best friends, & brother/sister of characters when they feel like it needs to be a secret. Second chances are always good when there has been a few years since the romance failed & grandparents or aunts & uncles do the matchmaking. Thanks for writing such great books.

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  28. Sheila Roberts is a fantastic author. I love reading her books. Have read some of the moonlight harbor series and couldn't put them down. Would love to be able to read this one

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  29. Enemies to lovers is one of my favorite tropes. I've not read her as yet though.

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  30. I love her books. This one sounds really good. Thanks for the chance.
    Sue

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  31. I've read all of Moonlight Harbor books. So glad Jenna picked the right mam! I can't wait to read this one. Love all kinds of romance novels. Thanks for being you!

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  32. I'm reading Welcome to Moonlight Harbor now! I like enemies-to-lovers romance and second chance romance. Thanks for the chance!

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  33. I love this series! My favorite troupe is second chance love. Thanks for a chance to receive the ARC‼️

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