by: Emmy Grayson
Series: The Diamond Club
Genre: Contemporary Billionaire Romance
Release Date: July 23, 2024
Publisher: Harlequin Presents
In this red-hot forced-proximity romance from Emmy Grayson, if they can’t escape one another, what chance do they have of resisting one another?
He doesn’t want his inheritance…
but he does want her!
Griffith Lykaois has rejected his family’s billion-dollar legacy. It’s a fitting punishment for his guilt over his father’s death. Only, estate lawyer Rosalind Sutton won’t quit. Amid a raging storm, the infuriatingly alluring woman is on his remote château doorstep determined he claim his inheritance.
Rosalind needs Griffith’s signature; the career she put her life on hold for depends on it. But stranded alone with the brooding tycoon, there’s no way innocent Rosalind can escape her response to their intoxicating clashes… The question is, does Rosalind even want to?
From Harlequin Presents: Escape to exotic locations where passion knows no bounds.
When I was invited to be a part of the Diamond Club series with Harlequin Presents, I was thrilled. When I learned that my romance was going to be inspired by Beauty & the Beast, I nearly shrieked. This fairy tale is one of my favorites, and the first movie I ever saw in theaters (well, a third of it—my father had to take me out because I kept screaming at the wolves!).
Writing Griffith and Rosalind’s love story, set against the backdrop of the Normandy coast, was a dream come true. Recreating the Beast’s castle, and adding a major dash of spice to a tale as old as time, was so much fun. I loved researching French chateaus, especially the Château de Gudanes in southern France. This restored home was not only a physical inspiration but a personal wonder as I learned how much restoration the castle has undergone in recent years. It was a treat describing the French retreat Griffith and Rosalind find themselves trapped in as they finally succumb to the attraction simmering between them.
Love, Emmy
He’d taken so much for granted. Lost so much.
Not this. Not yet.
He should let her go. Let her walk away.
Not yet.
Cold raindrops fell on the back of his neck. Light, but the pace picked up as he entered the avenue. Up ahead, Rosalind continued moving at a brisk pace towards the bridge.
“Miss Sutton!”
She turned, a frown appearing between her brows. She stopped and faced him, the hem of her trench coat flapping about her knees. For one wild moment, he saw her as something more, something magical and mysterious. With the wind grabbing her curls and whipping them about her beautiful face, the stubborn tilt to her pointed chin, the sparkle of life in her dark brown eyes, she reminded him of an enchantress or a mischievous fairy.
“Making sure I actually leave?”
“Come back until the storm’s over.”
She stared at him, her lips slightly parting.
“Excuse me?”
He could barely hear her over the wind, the thunder that clashed far too close for comfort.
“It’s too dangerous for you to walk. The nearest petrol station is over three kilometers away.”
“You told me to go. I wouldn’t want to stay where I wasn’t welcome.”
“That was before I realized how bad the storm was.”
She shook her head even as she squinted against the shrieking wind whipping down the avenue. “I have no interest in being around you, Mr. Lykaois. I can make it to the road, call my ride, and be gone before the storm gets worse.”
“The storm is coming too fast. Don’t be foolish.”
Her eyes turned molten with anger. Before she could utter a retort, lightning flashed above their heads, spearing down through the canopy and striking the trunk of one of the trees. Thunder followed, deep and fierce. It nearly covered the sharp crack as bark splintered and the tree shifted.
He lunged, wrapped his arms around Rosalind’s waist and tackled her to the ground as the towering oak shuddered and fell. They landed on the crushed shells of the drive and rolled. He kept her body pinned to his, planted his feet and stopped so that he lay on top of her.
The ground shook beneath them. He raised his head. The oak lay just a few feet away.
Not this. Not yet.
He should let her go. Let her walk away.
Not yet.
Cold raindrops fell on the back of his neck. Light, but the pace picked up as he entered the avenue. Up ahead, Rosalind continued moving at a brisk pace towards the bridge.
“Miss Sutton!”
She turned, a frown appearing between her brows. She stopped and faced him, the hem of her trench coat flapping about her knees. For one wild moment, he saw her as something more, something magical and mysterious. With the wind grabbing her curls and whipping them about her beautiful face, the stubborn tilt to her pointed chin, the sparkle of life in her dark brown eyes, she reminded him of an enchantress or a mischievous fairy.
“Making sure I actually leave?”
“Come back until the storm’s over.”
She stared at him, her lips slightly parting.
“Excuse me?”
He could barely hear her over the wind, the thunder that clashed far too close for comfort.
“It’s too dangerous for you to walk. The nearest petrol station is over three kilometers away.”
“You told me to go. I wouldn’t want to stay where I wasn’t welcome.”
“That was before I realized how bad the storm was.”
She shook her head even as she squinted against the shrieking wind whipping down the avenue. “I have no interest in being around you, Mr. Lykaois. I can make it to the road, call my ride, and be gone before the storm gets worse.”
“The storm is coming too fast. Don’t be foolish.”
Her eyes turned molten with anger. Before she could utter a retort, lightning flashed above their heads, spearing down through the canopy and striking the trunk of one of the trees. Thunder followed, deep and fierce. It nearly covered the sharp crack as bark splintered and the tree shifted.
He lunged, wrapped his arms around Rosalind’s waist and tackled her to the ground as the towering oak shuddered and fell. They landed on the crushed shells of the drive and rolled. He kept her body pinned to his, planted his feet and stopped so that he lay on top of her.
The ground shook beneath them. He raised his head. The oak lay just a few feet away.
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When Emmy isn't writing or reading, she's chasing around her two kids, feeding her menagerie of fur babies or carving out a little time on her front porch with her firefighter hubby.
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A romance read I would love!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing it.
I love the premise of this story, thanks for the chance to read it!
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