KAREN’S KILLER BOOK BENCH: Welcome to Karen’s Killer Book Bench, where readers can discover talented new authors and take a peek inside their wonderful books. This is not an age-filtered site, so all book peeks are PG-13 or better. Come back and visit often. Happy reading!
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THE CEO
Wholesome Billionaire Romantic Suspense
BY CYNTHIA WOOLF
BLURB
Adam Kincaid never expected to become a single father overnight. When his infant daughter, Lilly, is left in his care, Adam turns to his best friend, Bree Taylor, for help. Bree, still grieving the loss of her fiancé, agrees to a marriage of convenience to give Lilly the family she deserves.
But as Adam and Bree navigate their unexpected roles, sparks of something deeper ignite between them. Just as they begin to hope for a future together, a ruthless rival sets their sights on Adam, threatening not only his business but the fragile new bond they’re building. With love and their family at stake, Adam and Bree must confront the danger—and their own fears—before they lose everything.
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THE CEO
Wholesome Billionaire Romantic Suspense
BY CYNTHIA WOOLF
Excerpt
PROLOGUE
July, three years ago, Denver, Colorado
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Bree Taylor looked at the clock on the microwave. Her coffee was almost done. Eight o’clock in the morning. Who in the world would be at her door now? She gathered her chenille robe tighter about her and headed to the door. After looking through the peephole, she opened the door. “Yes. Can I help you?”
“Brianna Taylor?” asked the Marine captain in dress blues with his hat under his arm and wearing white gloves.
Behind him stood another marine and a chaplain, both in their regular uniforms.
“I am.” She shook her head. This couldn’t be happening. Her eyes filled with tears. Only one thing would bring these three men to her doorstep…Brad.
“Miss Taylor—”
“No. No. No.” She continued shaking her head. This wasn’t real. “No!”
The officer continued, “I’m sorry to inform you that your fiancé Bradford Anderson was killed while on active duty in Afghanistan this past Monday. You are listed as his only next of kin.”
Her heart hurt. Bree grabbed the door handle as it was the only thing to latch on to.
The captain stepped forward and took her by the arm. “Perhaps we should go inside.”
She nodded. “Yes, that would be best.” Bree straightened her back. She worried this day could come every time Brad deployed to some war-torn part of the planet, but she didn’t think it would happen so soon. He’d only been gone for two months. She sat on the sofa and looked up at the officer. “What’s your name?”
He stood with his hat under his arm. “Captain Marcus O’Reilly.”
“You must hate this part of your job.”
“Yes, ma’am. It is never easy informing loved ones at a time like this. Can I get you some water or something?”
His voice was muffled. Bree shook her head. “No. Nothing. How did it happen?” She was barely keeping the tears at bay, but she needed answers. “Please sit, so I’m not looking up at you.”
He nodded. His hair was dark above the white sidewalls of the military cut. He sat and angled his body toward her. “It was an IED. That’s how many of our soldiers die. They are insidious. If it’s any consolation, he didn’t suffer.”
She nodded and held back another sob.
“Is there someone I can call for you? You really shouldn’t be alone at a time like this.”
Swallowing hard, she nodded. “Adam. Adam Kincaid. He’s Brad’s best friend.”
“Do you have the number for Mr. Kincaid?”
“Yes, let me…” She picked up the phone on the coffee table, then unlocked the phone before handing it back to the captain. “He’s on my favorites list, the second name.”
The captain took her phone and touched the favorites list and then Adam’s name. He put it on speaker.
She heard Adam curse at being woken up. It was Saturday, the only day of the week he allowed himself to sleep in. Despite the situation, she smiled at the normalcy of his response.
“Bree? What’s wrong?”
The captain glanced at Bree. “Mr. Kincaid, this is Captain Marcus O’Reilly with the Marine Corps. I believe that you should come over to Miss Taylor’s as soon as possible.”
“What happened? It’s Brad, isn’t it? Never mind. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes. Or less.”
“Thank you, Adam,” said Bree with a sob and her arms clasped over her stomach. Holding it together was getting harder and harder with each passing minute. She would never have the perfect ranch house on acreage with horses and chickens and two dogs for the kids to play with. Never have the four kids she and Brad had planned on. Never have the wedding she’d dreamed of with the perfect dress to go along with the perfect groom. And Brad would have been the perfect groom. He was the perfect everything…to her. How could she go on without him, without their dreams, without holding each other every night and again in the morning?
Nothing would be the same, and she had no future without Brad. How could she go on?
About Author Cynthia Woolf…
Cynthia Woolf is the USA Today Bestselling and award-winning author of eighty-six romance novels. Comprising sixty-six historical western romances, eleven contemporary romance novels, two contemporary romance novellas, one historical western romance novella, and six sci-fi space opera romances, which she calls westerns in space. Along with these books, she has also published sixteen boxed sets of her books and two short stories.
Cynthia loves writing and reading romance. Her first western romance, Tame A Wild Heart, was inspired by the story her mother told her of meeting Cynthia’s father on a ranch in Creede, Colorado. Although Tame A Wild Heart takes place in Creede, that is the only similarity between the stories. Her father was a cowboy, not a bounty hunter, and her mother was a nursemaid (called a nanny now), not the ranch owner.
Cynthia credits her late husband, Jim, for loving her, saving her sanity and encouraging her to explore her creativity. She misses his loving heart, gentle teasing and winning smile more with each passing day.
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Links to Cynthia’s websites, blogs, books, #ad, etc.:
Amazon Kindle: https://amzn.to/4sqr5Om
Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/4qBxCE0
Amazon Hardcover: https://amzn.to/3YnE2e8
WEBSITE – http://cynthiawoolf.com
NEWSLETTER – https://www.subscribepage.com/k1p2m1
If you enjoyed my book you can find out about the newest ones through the Bookbub New Release Alert. All you have to do is follow me on Bookbub. You can do that here: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cynthia-woolf
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CynthiaWoolf
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Special Giveaway: Cynthia will gift a $10 Amazon gift card to one lucky winner who comments on her Karen’s Killer Book Bench blog. TO ENTER: Read the Amazon Read Sample for THE TYCOON, and answer the following question in the comments section below: What Christmas present did Cole give himself? Good luck!
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After reading the sample of The Tycoon on Amazon.com, 3 times, it doesn’t mention a Christmas present, but I’m guessing opening his heart to Regan could be the answer. 😉
Welcome back to Karen’s Killer Book Bench, Cynthia. I loved this excerpt! Anyone who’s had someone they love in military service know this is the one thing you dread happening. You captured Brianna’s emotions upheaval and tugged on my heartstrings for her. I cannot wait to read this book. Thanks for sharing it with us today.
I’ve been reading your books for a while and this one sounds like another winner. Thanks so much for sharing.
Good morning, he gave himself a Jaguar F-Pace SVR. , a Luxury SUV. Thank you for the chance. Your book sounds like a Great read, Thank you for sharing the excerpt. Have a Great day and a Great week.
Can’t see to look it up because you’ve reduced me to tears in the excerpt, Cynthia.
My kind of story…Jaguar F-Pace SVR
Thanks for coming back and bringing us a new book to look forward to reading.
Jaguar F-Pace SVR
He bought himself a really nice SUV – a Jaguar F Pace.