by: Melanie Summers and Whitney Dineen
Series: Accidentally in Love
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Romantic Comedy
Release Date: December 27, 2021
Amazon | Paperback | Goodreads
I'm Toni Capella and I'm a bad-man-o-holic. (Hi, Toni!). If a guy lives on the eastern seaboard, is covered in tattoos, muscles, and motor oil, I've probably already dated and dumped him. But it's a new year and for the first time in my twenty-nine years I'm determined to attract Mr. Right. I'm doing this by changing my type and my look.
So when super-hot contractor Cooper Flint walks into my office, I immediately put him on my 'no way' list. He embodies every bad boy trait there is. Besides, my eye is on another new co-worker, Sumner Livingston. Handsome, well-heeled, and professional, Sumner is nothing like my usual type, which I assume makes him perfect for me.
Determined to take things slowly for once, I insist Sumner and I keep our budding relationship separate from work. I even suggest we do our initial courting via text while we get to know each other better. Things are going beautifully and just when I'm starting to think he's 'the one,' I find out there's been a horrible mix-up. My boss accidentally gave me Cooper's number, not Sumner's, and I'm falling for Mr. Wrong, again.
Unfortunately, after I break it off with Cooper, I discover that Sumner isn't the good guy he portrays himself to be. When Cooper rescues me from a compromising situation, I belatedly realize I might be been missing out on the man of my dreams.
Have I lost my chance at true happiness or is there some way I can convince Cooper I'm the woman he needs?
Archie isn’t at the office when I get there, so I let myself in, flip on the lights, and get a pot of coffee started. When I exit the kitchen, I discover I’m not alone.
“What are you doing here?” I demand none too kindly.
Cooper looks like an ad for a Hallmark movie—jeans, hiking boots, parka, scruffy beard … My whole body reacts to him like I’ve stuck my finger into a live electrical outlet. Jolt, sizzle, burn.
“Archie asked me to meet him here.”
“Why?”
He shrugs. “I guess he’ll tell us when he gets here.”
I sit at my desk and open an online Scrabble game. The droid turns my opening play of “Quiz”—forty-four points, thank you very much—into quizzically, hitting the triple point box and nearly doubling my first play. This better not be an omen of the way the rest of my day will go.
The elevator opens, and Archie appears. “Hey, you guys. Thanks so much for meeting me here.” He seems harried and more than a bit disheveled.
“You okay?” I ask.
“I will be, but I have bad news.”
My blood runs ice cold, and I worry something has happened to Holly or the baby.
As though reading my mind, Archie says, “There’s a supply chain issue with getting all the lumber needed for the job.”
“Isn’t that Cooper’s problem? He is the contractor after all.” I don’t dare look at him while I say that.
Archie answers, “It’s a problem for all of us, because if we don’t get the lumber shipment on time, we won’t open on time, and there are a lot of people relying on us.” He takes off his camel hair coat. “I have a meeting with a friend who thinks he can pull some strings for us, but that means I won’t be able to go to New Hampshire with you.”
“So we’ll reschedule. No biggie.”
“We can’t,” he says. “We have several stops to make to scout locations for the next homeless village, and one of the properties is going up for auction over the weekend. I’d like to see if it’s right for us before we lose our chance at it.”
I’m confused. “How are you going to do that if you can’t go?”
“I hope to be able to get there tomorrow.”
“We’ll leave tomorrow then.” Why couldn’t he have told me this on the phone?
“You leave today,” he says. “I’ll join you tomorrow.”
“How am I leaving today? I don’t have a driver’s license.” I glance at Cooper and then it all comes together in my pea brain. Nonononononono.
Archie says, “I want Cooper there to help choose the next location. Since he was going to meet us there tomorrow anyway, he offered to take you up today so you could pick up the sign. I’ll meet you both at the lodge in the morning.”
“Why can’t we just pick up the sign tomorrow?” I demand. I do not want to go anywhere with Cooper Flint.
“The artist is going away. If we don’t pick up the sign today, we won’t be able to get it for two more weeks, which will mean another trip to New Hampshire.” Archie is stern and moderately overwhelmed.
I want to point out that the artist can ship the sign then, but I don’t get a chance because he adds, “Toni, please just go. I thought this all through, and the only way everything works is for you and Cooper to leave today.”
I can hardly stand here and tell him no. Not only would that be unprofessional, but he’s working hard, and I need to do my part.
“Fine.” Not fine, but what can I do?
“Thank you.” Archie shoots me two thumbs up and goes toward his office. “Have a safe trip. Call if you need anything.” Then he’s gone.
The air around me is suddenly a vacuum, and I struggle to catch my breath.
Copper picks up my overnight bag. “You ready?”
I force a nod, then, like I’m trudging through a four-foot snowdrift, I move in his direction.
I’m going to one of the most romantic places in America with Cooper Flint.
Holy. Crap.
“What are you doing here?” I demand none too kindly.
Cooper looks like an ad for a Hallmark movie—jeans, hiking boots, parka, scruffy beard … My whole body reacts to him like I’ve stuck my finger into a live electrical outlet. Jolt, sizzle, burn.
“Archie asked me to meet him here.”
“Why?”
He shrugs. “I guess he’ll tell us when he gets here.”
I sit at my desk and open an online Scrabble game. The droid turns my opening play of “Quiz”—forty-four points, thank you very much—into quizzically, hitting the triple point box and nearly doubling my first play. This better not be an omen of the way the rest of my day will go.
The elevator opens, and Archie appears. “Hey, you guys. Thanks so much for meeting me here.” He seems harried and more than a bit disheveled.
“You okay?” I ask.
“I will be, but I have bad news.”
My blood runs ice cold, and I worry something has happened to Holly or the baby.
As though reading my mind, Archie says, “There’s a supply chain issue with getting all the lumber needed for the job.”
“Isn’t that Cooper’s problem? He is the contractor after all.” I don’t dare look at him while I say that.
Archie answers, “It’s a problem for all of us, because if we don’t get the lumber shipment on time, we won’t open on time, and there are a lot of people relying on us.” He takes off his camel hair coat. “I have a meeting with a friend who thinks he can pull some strings for us, but that means I won’t be able to go to New Hampshire with you.”
“So we’ll reschedule. No biggie.”
“We can’t,” he says. “We have several stops to make to scout locations for the next homeless village, and one of the properties is going up for auction over the weekend. I’d like to see if it’s right for us before we lose our chance at it.”
I’m confused. “How are you going to do that if you can’t go?”
“I hope to be able to get there tomorrow.”
“We’ll leave tomorrow then.” Why couldn’t he have told me this on the phone?
“You leave today,” he says. “I’ll join you tomorrow.”
“How am I leaving today? I don’t have a driver’s license.” I glance at Cooper and then it all comes together in my pea brain. Nonononononono.
Archie says, “I want Cooper there to help choose the next location. Since he was going to meet us there tomorrow anyway, he offered to take you up today so you could pick up the sign. I’ll meet you both at the lodge in the morning.”
“Why can’t we just pick up the sign tomorrow?” I demand. I do not want to go anywhere with Cooper Flint.
“The artist is going away. If we don’t pick up the sign today, we won’t be able to get it for two more weeks, which will mean another trip to New Hampshire.” Archie is stern and moderately overwhelmed.
I want to point out that the artist can ship the sign then, but I don’t get a chance because he adds, “Toni, please just go. I thought this all through, and the only way everything works is for you and Cooper to leave today.”
I can hardly stand here and tell him no. Not only would that be unprofessional, but he’s working hard, and I need to do my part.
“Fine.” Not fine, but what can I do?
“Thank you.” Archie shoots me two thumbs up and goes toward his office. “Have a safe trip. Call if you need anything.” Then he’s gone.
The air around me is suddenly a vacuum, and I struggle to catch my breath.
Copper picks up my overnight bag. “You ready?”
I force a nod, then, like I’m trudging through a four-foot snowdrift, I move in his direction.
I’m going to one of the most romantic places in America with Cooper Flint.
Holy. Crap.
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The Accidentally in Love Series:
Whitney loves to laugh, play with her kids, bake, and eat french fries -- not always in that order.
Whitney is a multi-award-winning author of romcoms, non-fiction humor, and middle reader fiction. Basically, she writes whatever the voices in her head tell her to.
She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband, Jimmy, where they raise children, chickens, and organic vegetables.
Gold Medal winner at the International Readers' Favorite Awards, 2017.
Silver medal winner at the International Readers' Favorite Awards, 2015, 2016.
Finalist RONE Awards, 2016.
Finalist at the IRFA 2016, 2017.
Finalist at the Book Excellence Awards, 2017
Finalist Top Shelf Indie Book Awards, 2017
Places to find Whitney Dineen:
Melanie Summers also writes steamy romance as MJ Summers.
Melanie made a name for herself with her debut novel, Break in Two, a contemporary romance that cracked the Top 10 Paid on Amazon in both the UK and Canada, and the top 50 Paid in the USA. Her highly acclaimed Full Hearts Series was picked up by both Piatkus Entice (a division of Hachette UK) and HarperCollins Canada. Her first three books have been translated into Czech and Slovak by EuroMedia. Since 2013, she has written and published three novellas, and eight novels (of which seven have been published). She has sold over a quarter of a million books around the globe.
In her previous life (i.e. before having children), Melanie got her Bachelor of Science from the University of Alberta, then went on to work in the soul-sucking customer service industry for a large cellular network provider that shall remain nameless (unless you write her personally - then she'll dish). On her days off, she took courses and studied to become a Chartered Mediator. That designation landed her a job at the R.C.M.P. as the Alternative Dispute Resolution Coordinator for 'K' Division. Having had enough of mediating arguments between gun-toting police officers, she decided it was much safer to have children so she could continue her study of conflict in a weapon-free environment (and one which doesn't require makeup and/or nylons).
Melanie resides in Edmonton with her husband, three young children, and their adorable but neurotic one-eyed dog. When she's not writing novels, Melanie loves reading (obviously), snuggling up on the couch with her family for movie night (which would not be complete without lots of popcorn and milkshakes), and long walks in the woods near her house. She also spends a lot more time thinking about doing yoga than actually doing yoga, which is why most of her photos are taken 'from above'. She also loves shutting down restaurants with her girlfriends. Well, not literally shutting them down, like calling the health inspector or something--more like just staying until they turn the lights off.
She is represented by Suzanne Brandreth of The Cooke Agency International.
Places to find Melanie Summers:
Oh boy! This is going to get interesting. It sounds like a fun book.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to starting the Accidentally in Love series! Thank you
ReplyDeletesounds like a great read--that excerpt makes me want more.
ReplyDeleted
Sounds like a great read and cute dog pic above
ReplyDelete