by: Melanie Summers
Series: Brainiacs in Love
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Romantic Comedy
Release Date: February 29, 2024
Publisher: Gretz Corp
Love just might be the final frontier…
S.E.T.I. researcher, Gwen Fox, is a woman on a mission—to answer the cosmic question of the ages: Are we alone?
Along with her work family, Gwen is perfectly happy spending her days listening for extraterrestrial signals— until the worst happens. They get word that they’re about to be shut down by Ty Sterling, their billionaire backer whose heart is as cold as interstellar space.
About to lose everything, Gwen has no choice but to travel to Peru to change his mind. Armed only with scientific zeal and optimism, Gwen faces off against Ty, who just might be the most stubborn, cynical man in the galaxy.
As the tension between the pair builds, so does the undeniable chemistry that neither of them saw coming. Against the breathtaking backdrop of the Peruvian jungle, the space between enemies and lovers begins to collapse.
Will Gwen and Ty discover that together they form a supernova of passion? Or will their budding relationship crash and burn on impact?
*** The Space Between Us is a swoony, adventure-filled, delightfully funny tale of a woman who will do anything to save her job and the stubborn billionaire who dared to get in her way. It’s a standalone rom-com with a little more spice than a regular Melanie Summers book. ***
I tighten my grip on her hand and place my left one over top. I can’t die this way. Not holding the hand of a smelly woman who hates me so much she defaces my photo every week. My heart pounds out of my chest, adrenaline surges through my veins, and I sit, helplessly awaiting our fate. Instruments beep loudly. The pilot starts muttering in Spanish, and I have no idea if he’s praying or swearing.
After a few more terrifying seconds, he manages to right the helicopter, the engine kicks back in, and we continue flying as though nothing just happened. The pilot glances back at us with an easy smile. “Sorry about that, folks. We’re fine now.”
“What the f*** was that?” I demand.
“An updraft. It happens sometimes over the mountains,” he says with a shrug.
“Well, it better not happen again,” I tell him, even though if it does, really, what am I going to do about it?
“Thank you for getting us out of that,” Ms. Fox says, giving me a dirty look.
I roll my eyes, then look down at our hands, only now realizing I still have a death grip on her. She glances down too, then at the same time, we both let go, her looking like she was just holding a fresh turd.
Clearing my throat, I say, “Well, that was … something.”
“Yes, it really was. I didn’t know that could happen.”
“Neither did I or I never would’ve gotten on this stupid thing to begin with,” I say, my heart still pounding.
“If you thought you were scared of helicopters before,” she says, “I’m sure that didn’t help.”
“I’m not scared. I just don’t like them.”
“Right, yeah,” she says. “On account of them feeling like deathtraps. But you’re not scared.”
“Exactly,” I tell her, letting a tiny grin escape.
I look outside for a second, only to see the mountain we almost crashed into, then decide I’m better off looking at her. There’s something about her that’s very distracting, and if I need anything right now, it’s a good distraction. Otherwise, I’m going to wind up curled up on the floor in a ball, not being scared. I stare at her for a second, taking in how incredibly green her eyes are. They’re bright and shiny against her pale skin. Her white blouse is a bit rumpled and I can see the top of a lacy soft pink bra. Well, that’s certainly distracting. Hello, Ms. Fox.
No, not hello, Ms. Fox. She is the enemy. Not only that, she was sent here to part you from a cool hundred mil that you need.
I stare at the back of the pilot’s head for a second to avoid getting drawn in by … whatever those thoughts were. But looking at him only reminds me of the fact that we’re flying a thousand feet above a very hard mountain in a giant fishbowl that almost crashed a few minutes ago.
My eyes are begging me to look to my right and down a little for a sight of her … shirt again. No way, eyes. We’re not getting suckered in here. No way, no how. No matter how soft her skin is.
I allow them to focus on her face again. Better. Very calming for a woman who can’t stand me.
After a few more terrifying seconds, he manages to right the helicopter, the engine kicks back in, and we continue flying as though nothing just happened. The pilot glances back at us with an easy smile. “Sorry about that, folks. We’re fine now.”
“What the f*** was that?” I demand.
“An updraft. It happens sometimes over the mountains,” he says with a shrug.
“Well, it better not happen again,” I tell him, even though if it does, really, what am I going to do about it?
“Thank you for getting us out of that,” Ms. Fox says, giving me a dirty look.
I roll my eyes, then look down at our hands, only now realizing I still have a death grip on her. She glances down too, then at the same time, we both let go, her looking like she was just holding a fresh turd.
Clearing my throat, I say, “Well, that was … something.”
“Yes, it really was. I didn’t know that could happen.”
“Neither did I or I never would’ve gotten on this stupid thing to begin with,” I say, my heart still pounding.
“If you thought you were scared of helicopters before,” she says, “I’m sure that didn’t help.”
“I’m not scared. I just don’t like them.”
“Right, yeah,” she says. “On account of them feeling like deathtraps. But you’re not scared.”
“Exactly,” I tell her, letting a tiny grin escape.
I look outside for a second, only to see the mountain we almost crashed into, then decide I’m better off looking at her. There’s something about her that’s very distracting, and if I need anything right now, it’s a good distraction. Otherwise, I’m going to wind up curled up on the floor in a ball, not being scared. I stare at her for a second, taking in how incredibly green her eyes are. They’re bright and shiny against her pale skin. Her white blouse is a bit rumpled and I can see the top of a lacy soft pink bra. Well, that’s certainly distracting. Hello, Ms. Fox.
No, not hello, Ms. Fox. She is the enemy. Not only that, she was sent here to part you from a cool hundred mil that you need.
I stare at the back of the pilot’s head for a second to avoid getting drawn in by … whatever those thoughts were. But looking at him only reminds me of the fact that we’re flying a thousand feet above a very hard mountain in a giant fishbowl that almost crashed a few minutes ago.
My eyes are begging me to look to my right and down a little for a sight of her … shirt again. No way, eyes. We’re not getting suckered in here. No way, no how. No matter how soft her skin is.
I allow them to focus on her face again. Better. Very calming for a woman who can’t stand me.
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The Brainiacs in Love Series:
Love Signals (Book 2) releases June 6, 2024
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:
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