Synopsis
When Sarah Sullivan’s perfect life blows up in front of her, she finds herself crawling back to the one place she never saw herself returning: Home.
At thirty-one, Sarah had it all. Perfect job, perfect boyfriend, perfect life. When all that is taken away from her, she is left heartbroken and angry and desperate enough to let her life swallow her whole…for a while.
Fending off love and the pursuit of happiness completely, Sarah vows to pick up the pieces of her shattered life. She creates a list of goals for herself—starting with a much needed shower—and constructs a plan to dig herself out of her rut. What she doesn’t plan for is meeting the arrogant new employee her parents have hired to work on an addition to their home. Enter Jack Calloway, the handsome, charming, lickable foreman with an insatiable effect on Sarah’s girly parts.
Jack accepts the job, but gets more than he bargained for. Unable to ignore his racing hormones—and calm his temper—over the obnoxious woman who clouds his judgment, Jack pulls her in and steals her heart until she finally surrenders. But is he up for the challenge of picking up the pieces of Sarah’s broken heart? Can he carry her out of her rut?
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Excerpt
his grip, waiting for me to stop fighting his hold and make eye contact with
him. This just isn’t happening to me. “Sarah, look at me,” he says again, and
at the sound of my name leaving his lips I turn and look. I see scorching gold
eyes burning right into mine. Intense emotions drain out of his eyes and pour
into mine. “I didn’t kiss you because I felt sorry for you. I kissed you
because I haven’t stopped thinking about kissing you since I first saw you on
the street. Then the second chance I got after you walked into my office all
bent out of hell to drive me insane. I haven’t slept a good fuckin’ night since
I slammed my mouth on yours two weeks ago. What I’m sorry about is that I took
advantage of you in a vulnerable moment. It was wrong of me.
Teasers
Are you ready for a laugh out loud, finding yourself, sweet/sexy romance with characters that are either you or someone you know? Then this is the book for you. Written in 1st person (no other way that the book could be written…IMO), you will fall in love with Sarah and Jack.
I’ve been in Sarah’s position, professionally at least. I know what its like to be on top of the world in your career and still trying to adjust to not having the high powered job. Sarah’s been through a lot and while her inner dialogue is funny and thoughtful, I got the sense that she actually liked being in a rut. Of course, the first time she meets Jack…I wonder if she ever got a phone again. Best cute meet in a long time.
Of course, Jack had his demons too that he needed to conquer. Plus, it wasn’t easy for him when Sarah’s ex came back sniffing around. Those scenes at the end were powerful, gut wrenching and spot on. I could feel both of their emotions and despair. Don’t get me wrong…they had to have that black moment. That moment in time when everything they worked so hard far could come crashing down on them at any moment. Ms. Hollyfield wrote it with a firm hand and no humor. I actually had tears in my eyes afterwards.
The things that Sarah said about Jack (look at the graphic) had me stitches. And they way that she described her girly bits and his bits. Yes, there is sex in the book and yes, its hot. But again, Ms. Hollyfield has a way with words that your mom, aunt and grandmother could read it and not be embarrassed.
Since the book is written from Sarah’s POV, don’t fret. We get Jack’s POV, too. In fact, reading his perspective of Sarah is much different from hers and it makes the story just that much more real to me. He doesn’t agree with her assessment of herself. He challanges her, prods her and makes her see what she really is…a wonderful person.
Again, I can’t believe that this is a debut novel. It has the perfect balance that you need in a contemporary romance. Funny moments, serious moments, smexy times but most of all heart. You will fall in love with Jack and Sarah just like I did.
About the Author
author. When she’s not cooking, event planning, or playing around with her
husband, son and three doxies, she’s relaxing with her nose in a book. With her
love for romance, and her head full of book boyfriends, she was inspired to
test her creative abilities and bring her own story to life. Life in a Rut,
Love not Included is her first novel. Hollyfield lives in the Midwest, and is
currently at work on her second book.
