Title: Ruin
Author: C.J. Scott
Series: A Summer in Winter Novel 1
Series: A Summer in Winter Novel 1
Publication: August 2013
Genre: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
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Excerpt:
Author Bio:
She likes interesting artwork but can’t paint, sketch or make anything more complicated than a snowman from plasticine. She enjoys beautiful gardens but hates gardening. She also hates housework, cooking (see above) and writing about herself.
C.J. loves connecting with readers. The best place to interact with her and other fans is via her Facebook page. That’s where she posts teasers and other stuff from her books.
a Rafflecopter giveawaySynopsis: Kate Bell isn’t perfect. Not even close. The things she got up to in college would cause her parents to fall off their pedestals in shock. Home for the summer vacation, Kate settles in for a long, boring break in the tiny backwater of Winter with folks who still treat her like she’s twelve.
Then Ben Parker arrives and suddenly Winter gets interesting. He’s hot, mysterious and good with his hands. Kate falls for him instantly, but her cop father warns her to stay away. But how can she stay away from someone as compelling as Ben? Someone who thinks she’s perfect just the way she is?
When Ben’s secrets catch up to him, not only is Kate’s heart in danger of being broken, but Ben’s entire future could be ruined.
Excerpt:
"Give
me one good reason we can't do this," I said.
He
crossed his arms over his chest. "You and me...we're wrong together. I'm
so sorry."
"I
said a good reason." My brain
was beginning to work again, but my body still felt numb from the rejection.
"You,
this place, everybody...it's all too...perfect."
"What?"
It didn't make sense. He was pushing me away because he thought I was perfect.
"For starters, I'm so not perfect."
"You
are to me."
My
breath left me in a whoosh. I blinked
at him, tried to work out if he was joking. But he didn't laugh. His eyes
twinkled like stars, and then he looked down at his feet. In the instant our
gazes had connected, I could tell that he seemed surprised that he'd said it
too.
"You
don't know me well enough," was all I could manage.
"Yeah,"
he said. "What's with that?" It wasn't an answer, but I didn't think
I was going to get a better one out of him. "Look, Kate. I may not know
everything about you, but I can see that you're a good person. You offered me
this opportunity without judging me first. Most people would have just let me
pass on through. You're funny and kind, not just to me but to Jane and even
Mrs. Merriweather."
"So?"
"So...you
have this stupid, blind belief that I'm more than I am. I'm not, and I'm not
right for you. Not even for a night. Especially for a night. Besides, there are
people worrying about you and expecting me to treat you like a gentleman would
treat a lady."
"Are
you talking about my parents?"
"And
Jane. I'm sure the waitress in the diner is worried too, and maybe dozens more
townsfolk."
"You're
rejecting me because of Winter?"
He
pushed off from the wall. I could just make out the flash of anger in his eyes,
the grim set of his mouth as he came toward me. "I'm trying to be the good
guy here. I gave my word that I wouldn't hurt you, and I'm trying to keep it.
Don't make this any harder than it already is."
"Having
sex with me doesn't mean you're going to hurt me, Ben."
"Maybe
not, but I don't want to destroy the trust everyone has put in me."
I
threw up my hands. "It shouldn't be about anyone else! It should be about
you and me."
"I
can't, Kate. I've come too far to break that kind of promise now, even to
virtual strangers."
"What
the hell does that mean?"
He
shook his head and looked away.
"Okay,
Mystery Man, I get it. You can have secrets. Fine. I have no right to ask what
they are. We're just two adults attracted to each other, nothing more, so I
don't see why we can't act on it. We have one night, Ben. One night to have a
little fun together." I poked my finger into his chest. "And another
thing. I'm not perfect. Not by a long shot. If my parents knew what I got up to
at college, they'd be horrified. I've slept with more guys in the last three
years than I care to talk about. I've smoked God knows what, I've skipped
class, and last month I woke up in the gutter without any underwear. See? I'm
not fucking perfect!"
My
tirade was followed by complete silence. Even the birds must have gone to
sleep. Then Ben laughed. His chuckle started low in his chest and became a full
rumble bubbling out of him.
"You
woke up without your underwear?" he said. "What the hell happened to
it?"
I
tried to contain my smile. My little tirade seemed ridiculous all of a sudden.
"I don't know. I never found it. There's a good chance I wasn't wearing
any in the first place."
He
laughed so loudly I worried he'd wake up Jane and Mrs. M. "Okay, I'll
agree that you've got a few personality quirks. But I still think you're
perfect."
Tears
stung my eyes. "Well," I said, breathing deeply. "I've never
been rejected so nicely before. It sucks, by the way."
***To
read the extended version of this scene and discover what Ben has tattooed on
his shoulder, check out C.J.'s website http://www.cjscottbooks.com
Author Bio:
C.J. loves reading stories that take her away to another world. If she’s in the middle of an amazing book, she’ll keep reading while cooking or cleaning (when she can be bothered doing either).
She likes interesting artwork but can’t paint, sketch or make anything more complicated than a snowman from plasticine. She enjoys beautiful gardens but hates gardening. She also hates housework, cooking (see above) and writing about herself.
C.J. loves connecting with readers. The best place to interact with her and other fans is via her Facebook page. That’s where she posts teasers and other stuff from her books.
Giveaway: This giveaway is for an ebook copy of Ruin by C.J. Scott and is open internationally. The giveaway is sponsored by the Author and/or Xpresso Book Tours. Please use the rafflecopter form below to enter.
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