Publication Date: September 14, 2015
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Synopsis: You can't hide from love...or revenge.
Dodge Loving wants revenge...and he's about to get it. On the cusp of closing a multi-billion-dollar luxury resort deal, Dodge can't afford for anything go wrong. But then a fiery redhead shows up, the paparazzi hot on her trail, and throws his world into chaos. He has to get rid of her. Immediately.
Harper Conner just wants to be left alone, but after slapping her cheating senator ex-husband during a televised press conference, she's a hot commodity. The ultra exclusive resort in Wyoming seems like the ideal place to hide-and work-so there's no way she's letting the Type-A jerk who runs the place fire her.
Despite the animosity sparking between them, Dodge and Harper can't keep their hands to themselves. This thing between them can't happen. It won't. But his mother has other ideas...and she's willing to do whatever it takes to make sure Harper and Dodge fall in love.
Excerpt
Twenty minutes and half a carton later Harper and Dodge were facing each other as they sat on the stainless steel prep table in the middle of the kitchen with the carton of mint chocolate chip between them, each armed with a spoon. He’d ditched the shoes, rolled up his cuffs—revealing sinewy forearms that made her heart stutter—and told stories about how he ended up with the first name Dodge City.
“So all of you are named after old cowboy towns?”
The idea of it was totally bizarre and endearing. Her being named Harper had scandalized her grandparents. Dodge City would have given them each a heart attack.
“Yep, my mother loves a theme.” He shook his head and laughed. “Stone is short for Tombstone and Griff is short for Fort Griffin.”
She scooped up a spoonful of ice cream, now melted more than when they’d started their midnight snack, and a line of green slipped over the edge. She stopped it with her finger before it could drip down to the table and licked the evidence off. “Did the other kids make fun of you growing up?”
When he didn’t answer right away she looked up. His mossy green eyes had darkened, and his gaze was locked in on her mouth. A flush burned its way up from her toes, and she scrambled to think of something to say before her panties spontaneously combusted. “For your n-n-name…” She stumbled over the words. “Did they tease you about your name?”
He winked and smirked, all cocky confidence and testosterone-fueled sex appeal. “Only once.”
If she could have gotten pregnant from a look, she’d be scheduling an appointment with her OB/GYN in the morning. Time to get out of this kitchen before the little seed of a romantic notion May Loving had planted took root and grew into the last thing Harper needed in her life right now.
She’d spent her entire life up until eight months ago living by a script she’d never had any say in, let alone took part in writing. Neither the universe nor a my-way-or-the-highway hottie like the corporate cowboy here was taking her back there. She was her own woman now.
“You look like you’re getting ready to wrestle a buffalo,” he said.
“I hope not.” Her denial came out far too soft and breathy for a woman only experiencing a sugar high.
“Then I’d suggest cleaning up a bit.” Dodge swiped his thumb across the corner of her mouth—soft and slow, coming away with a dab of mint chocolate chip on his thumb, which he sucked off. “The buffalo around here have a real hankering for ice cream.”
It took everything she had not to press her fingers to her tingling skin where he’d caressed her, as if her own touch could erase the sizzling sensation his had caused. It was only on that small space where her lips met, but it was the only thing she could feel. Her gaze held his, and her breath caught. There was no mistaking the want in his eyes. The air around them thickened, and words failed to materialize in her head.
Maybe it was the intimacy of the half-lit kitchen or the late hour, but she leaned forward over the carton between them without really meaning to. It wasn’t much, an inch or two, but it was more than enough. He mirrored her move. Her eyes fluttered shut, and her lips parted in anticipation, then she detected a hint of icy mint before his warm lips covered hers.
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Elizabeth's Review
3.5 stars - worth a reader's time
A wounded, beautiful woman working to rebuild her life.
A wealthy business owner more intent on revenge than living life.
Harper and Dodge clash with each other on their very first meeting. Their first interactions run hot and cold before Dodge starts to realize he's been a jerk and apologizes.
From that start of a relationship, Dodging Temptation, is a fun, but predictable story. The sexy times between Harper and Dodge are very hot and he does some very sweet things for her. Due to the length of the book, we don't get to see too many of the relationship details, but from the people around them it seems obvious where the relationship is headed.
There are some unique elements including how Harper handled the conflict when Dodge pulled his big jerk move and how he tried to get her back. The fun times plus excellent writing are what make this worth a reader's time. It also makes me curious about what might be coming for Dodge's brothers. I hope future books are a little longer so we could also stay caught up with Dodge and Harper.
About Avery Flynn
Avery Flynn has three slightly-wild children, loves a hockey-addicted husband and is desperately hoping someone invents the coffee IV drip. Avery was a reader before she was a writer and hopes to always be both. She loves to write about smartass alpha heroes who are as good with a quip as they are with their *ahem* other God-given talents. Her heroines are feisty, fierce and fantastic. Brainy and brave, these ladies know how to stand on their own two feet and knock the bad guys off theirs.
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