In Lost Rider, the first Western romance in New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Harper Sloan’s Coming Home series, an injured rodeo star encounters an old flame but will she be just what he needs to get back in the saddle? Maverick Austin Davis is forced to return home after a ten-year career as a rodeo star. After one too many head injuries, he’s off the circuit and in the horse farming business, something he’s never taken much of a shine to, but now that it’s his late father’s legacy, familial duty calls.
How will Maverick find his way after the only dream he ever had for himself is over? Enter Leighton Elizabeth James, an ugly duckling turned beauty from Maverick’s childhood—his younger sister’s best friend, to be exact, and someone whose heart he stomped all over when she confessed her crush to him ten years back. Now Leighton is back in Maverick’s life, no longer the insecure, love-stricken teen—and Maverick can’t help but take notice.
Sparks fly between them, but will Leighton be able to open her heart to the one man who broke it all those years ago? Written in the vein of Diana Palmer and Lindsay McKenna, this Texas-set series is filled with sizzle, heart, and plenty of cowboys!
EXCERPT
I should tell Quinn and Clay that he’s
here. But one look at him and it’s like the last ten years have never passed
and I’m back at the bonfire, the awkward high schooler uncomfortable in her own
skin. Marching away from him in the woods. It was the last time I saw him. How
is it possible that he can affect me this much after all this time?
He hasn’t noticed me, not with his head
bowed, so I quickly turn around and focus on Pastor John as he finishes up his
prayer. Him being here means nothing. I should be happy that I remember the
pain from that night so well, it will make keeping my walls up around him so
much easier.
“On behalf of the Davis family, I want to
thank everyone for coming today. At this time, the family has asked for some
time alone as they say their good-byes. They wanted me to remind everyone that
the PieHole will be opening up for a few hours tonight starting at five for
anyone that wishes to join them.”
I keep my arm around Quinn, not looking
back to where I saw Maverick. I can hear the church slowly emptying and I feel
a frown pull at my lips. I had hoped that when everyone started to leave that
he would have come up front to be with his family, but so far, the pew we’re in
is still empty save for the three of us. We sit and wait for everyone to leave,
something that Clay had asked Pastor John to make arrangements for in place of
the customary recessional, knowing that no one in this town would really mean a
word of it anyway. Plus, I know Quinn is having a hard time. Regardless of the
fact that she wasn’t the closest with her father, she was really counting on
this—Maverick home. She’s still shaking in my arms, but when I look over at
Clay I realize his silence isn’t because of the heaviness of Buford’s death,
but instead anger over his brother’s absence that has started to build to a
boil. I fear that he’s seconds away from tipping over the edge.
I stand when Clay and Quinn do, but hang
back at the edge of the row we had been sitting in as they meet Pastor John and
gather their father’s ashes. I can’t wait to get out of these heels. If it
would have been acceptable to wear my boots, I would have, but Quinn would have
killed me. As it is, I feel like I can’t take a deep breath with how tight my
dress is against my chest. I never wear tight shirts. I haven’t since my boobs
became beasts of their own right. I’m too busy fiddling with the straps of my
dress, trying desperately to get some of the pressure against my chest to ease
up so I could take a deep breath, when I heard Quinn gasp.
“Mav!” Next thing I know she’s running past
where I’m standing, her black hair streaming in the air behind her as she
speeds forward right into her brother’s arms. Clay moves to stand next to me
and I look up to meet his green eyes, the questions he isn’t vocalizing dancing
in their emerald depths. He’s not stupid and I’m doing a crappy job at hiding
the memories haunting me right now. He gives me a small smile, shifting his
hold on the urn to wrap his free arm around me and pulls me into a strong hold.
“You’re shakin’,” he says against my temple
and I just nod.
“I’m good, Clay. Go see your brother.”
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Harper is a NEW YORK TIMES, WALL STREET JOURNAL and USA TODAY bestselling author residing in Georgia with her husband and three daughters. She has a borderline unhealthy obsession with books, hibachi, tattoos and Game of Thrones. When she isn't writing you can almost always find her with a book in hand.
1 comment:
Looks oh so yummy, cannot wait to read. Adding to the TBR pile...might need to sneak this one in early! Thanks for sharing and good luck with the new release!
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