We’re celebrating the release of the THE BILLIONAIRE BRIDE by Marquita Valentine! Check out the excerpt below and don’t miss the fun on Marquita’s Facebook page!
It’s not easy being the woman most likely to be married to a fortune hunter, but Kate Von Lichtenstein has a plan to deter even the most determined gold digger. She’ll take a page right out of her favorite historical romance novel – with her own unique spin. She’ll marry a man of her choosing before the public gets wind of how much money she actually inherited from her grandparents. And who fits the bill better than the sexy and charming American businessman, Noah Sawyer?After selling his share of the successful tech company, Noah Sawyer lost everything when an unscrupulous realtor stole the money he intended to use to purchase a huge swath of land worth millions. So, when a chance meeting at a mutual friend’s wedding with a hot brunette turns into a mutually beneficial business arrangement, Noah jumps at the chance to salvage his business.
However, the sexy land developer has no intention of his marriage to Kate being in name only…
The sound of forks lightly hitting glasses caused Sebastian and Daisy to stop. So did Kate’s heart. They turned to one another, tender smiles on their faces, and kissed. It was lovely and beautiful and made Kate want to sigh a little in happiness.
But she couldn’t.
It felt as though the walls were closing in on her, squeezing her so tightly that she could scarcely breathe. Panic clawed at her insides, and she clenched her hands into tight fists. She would not cause a scene by breaking down in front of everyone, especially over a childhood crush.
Smile. Be gracious. Be kind. Be brave.
She had chanted those words over and over in her head during the entire ceremony. They had become so loud that she couldn’t hear the reciting of the vows, the promise to love and cherish.
Thank goodness.
For a wild moment, the urge to escape this beautiful nightmare nearly made her jump to her feet and run away. She took a deep breath, mentally chastising herself for such cowardly thoughts. Besides, where could she run and to whom?
Someone pulled the chair beside her out from the table and sat down. The scent of a sun-warmed spice with a hint of something she could only describe as male washed over her and her stomach tumbled to her toes.
However, she didn’t have the time to waste small talk on her closest dinner companion, no matter how attractive he smelled, unless he could possibly be the—she bit her lip—this was mortifying.
A light touch on her bare shoulder made her stiffen. “Excuse me?”
Gathering her thoughts, Kate attempted to take a breath and reign in her emotions without anyone becoming any the wiser. “Just a moment, please,” she said softly, pleased that her voice didn’t betray her.
A large hand held out a napkin to her, just in her line of vision so that she didn’t have to turn or look up. “I think you need this,” he said softly.
His voice was low, American and…familiar. It couldn’t be him, could it? She hadn’t seen Noah in ages, not since that night in Holland Springs when he’d charmed her with talk of house building after Zoe and Christian’s wedding.
Noah Sawyer was tall and lean with dark hair and even darker eyes. His face ruggedly handsome, lips full and the most stubborn looking jaw. He exuded confidence and power even while his excitement seemed to make him come alive, and wore a suit in such a way that made her knees weak.
All in all, he was a sexy, charming man who’d made her feel special for one night. Though nothing more had happened between them, it felt as though something had happened. A connection had been made.
Slowly, she turned to him and somehow a smile found its way to her mouth. “It is you.” Warmth filled her, displacing all the nasty coldness that had threatened to lay her bare. She took the napkin from him and clutched it tightly. “Seems we’re always meeting this way…at weddings.”
“Duchess, it’s always a pleasure to see you. No matter the circumstances,” Noah murmured, the nickname he’d give her so many years ago rolling off his tongue in such a way that it made her slightly dizzy. His dark-eyed gaze appraised her before he leaned close. “You look like you could use some fresh air.”
“I don’t…” She swallowed. Everyone would see. Everyone would suspect that she was upset and—
“Hell, I could use some fresh air with a beautiful woman. Unless you think I’m suggesting something too improper,” he continued on in that whisky-tinged drawl she adored. “Besides, we haven’t seen each other in three years. Too damned long, don’t you think?”
He winked and her heart fluttered. In that moment, she found the answer to her dilemma.
There’s still time to sign up for the fun!
The Temporary Bride (Book 2)-May 12, 2015
Haven Crawford needs a husband—but only temporarily—in order to keep her grandparents’ inn in the family. Her well-meaning, but old-fashioned grandparents’ will requires her to marry if she wants to keep running Chesson House. But, the last person she’d ask to help is her childhood enemy, Heath Ambrose. Unfortunately, he’s the only one she can trust to keep his promise to divorce her and not take the inn when he leaves.
Star catcher, Heath Ambrose needs relief from his meddling mother and the jet-set lifestyle that accompanies his sudden rise to fame as the face of the newest national baseball team, the Greenville Pirates. As the last single Ambrose sibling, his mother is determined to marry Heath off, but he’s not ready to settle down. Especially not after watching the woman he loved run off to Scotland with another man. So when Haven proposes, Heath jumps at the chance for some peace in his life.
Only a temporary marriage to Haven is anything but peaceful—not to mention that they can’t keep their hands off one another. But, when the will’s conditions have been fulfilled and baseball season starts up again, will Heath and Haven be able to say goodbye when hate turns to love?
Or can temporary turn into forever?
The Forgotten Bride (Book 3)-May 19, 2015
Luke Ambrose, a sexy former reality television star, has returned to make a home in Holland Springs—this time as the newest doctor for the town’s local clinic. But, he has no intentions of reopening old wounds by getting anywhere near his ex. Only, fate has other plans…
After a freak car accident, Lily Sawyer wakes up in the hospital, remembering two very important things about her life. One, she’s a dance teacher. Two, she’s married to her high school sweetheart, Luke. Only, she can’t figure out why he’s so distant.
Unable to abandon Lily in a time of crisis for the second time, Luke pretends to be the husband she needs until reality replaces fantasy and neither of them can deny the passion threatens to consume them.
But, when Lily begins to regain her memory, will she leave him once again, or give their love the second chance it deserves?
New York Times Bestselling Author, Marquita Valentine, writes sexy heroes that make you swoon and sassy heroines that make you laugh. She’s the author of the bestselling contemporary romance series, Holland Springs, and the new adult romance series, Boys of the South.Marquita met her husband aka Hot Builder at Sonic when they were in high school. She suggests this location to all of her single friends in search of a good man—and if that doesn’t work, they can console themselves with cheesy tatertots. She lives in North Carolina in a very, very small town with Hot Builder and their two children.
