Title: Wind Chime Café
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Release Date: February 7, 2014
Blurb:
When single mother, Annie Malone, purchases a quirky Main Street café on Heron Island, she thinks she’s finally turned her dream of opening her own restaurant into a reality. Hearing rumors that a developer is about to build a five-star resort on the sleepy Chesapeake Bay island, she plans to transform the café into a premier upscale bistro. But Navy SEAL, Will Dozier, has no intention of selling his grandparents’ property to a developer. Back on Heron Island for the first time in ten years and secretly struggling with PTSD, Will decides that a fling with the new girl is the perfect way to help him “get his head straight.” The last thing Will expects is to fall in love…with his hometown and with Annie. But Will’s life and career are in San Diego with the SEALs. Can Annie’s love and the healing magic of the island be enough to convince him to stay?
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Excerpt
***
Will drove into town. He felt like a live wire, ragged and
fraying around the edges, ready to snap. He hadn’t slept. Again.
He was running on adrenaline now—every sense heightened,
every thought twisted and fragmented.
It wouldn’t be the first time. He recognized the feeling.
He’d experienced it on enough overseas ops. It had fueled him through Hell Week
ten years ago when he’d first joined the SEALs. One of the reasons the
instructors pushed them so hard in BUD/S was to see if they could carry out a
mission in an exhausted haze.
He knew how to function in this state.
It was all mental.
He just had to get control of his mind.
Marshes and soybean fields gave way to the playing fields of
the Heron Island Elementary School. Faded orange soccer nets flanked the flat
stretch of grass, and he slowed when he spotted a woman with long red hair
sitting alone on the bleachers.
Wasn’t that the woman he’d met last night?
What was she doing at the elementary school?
Unless…
Shit. Did she have
a kid?
That would explain why she hadn’t wanted him to come in last
night, why she’d kept looking back toward the stairs leading up to the
apartment. He tapped his fingers over the steering wheel. Kids complicated
things. He didn’t do complicated.
But he wanted to see her.
He’d thought of little else while he’d lain awake last
night, staring at the ceiling.
Turning the wheel at the last minute, he steered the SUV
into the parking lot. He pulled into a parking spot facing the playing fields
and cut the engine. Screw it. He had six weeks to figure out how to
un-complicate things.
He climbed out of the driver’s seat and walked across the
grass to where she sat. When she lifted her gaze, he expected her to say
something sarcastic about the chicken tenders she’d given him last night. He
wasn’t prepared for the pale face and haunted eyes that stared back at him.
Whoa.
There was nothing uncomplicated about that. “Is everything
all right?”
“I’m fine.”
Her hands were wrapped around the bench on either side of
her, curled into a death grip. “You don’t look fine.”
“Thanks.”
“No,” Will said, backpedaling. “I mean, you look like you
could use someone to talk to.”
“Actually, I’d really like to be alone right now.”
Will paused a few yards away from her. He hadn’t risen to
the rank of Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy without recognizing that most
of the time, when one of his men said they wanted to be alone, what they really
needed was someone to talk to. He wouldn’t let one of his men off that easily,
and he sure as hell wasn’t leaving Annie alone in the middle of a panic attack.
Not until she told him what was wrong.
“Look,” she said
after several moments of silence when he made no move to leave. “I just dropped
my daughter off for her first day at a new school, and I’m worried about her. I
want to stay close by in case she needs me.”
“How old is your daughter?”
“She’s eight.”
Eight? Will’s gaze
combed over Annie’s face. She didn’t look old enough to have an eight-year-old
daughter. He’d pinned her as twenty-six, twenty-seven at the most. She must
have been pretty young when she’d gotten pregnant.
He took a moment to study her. She was wearing a stretchy
black top and dark jeans again. She wore her hair long and loose, spilling in
red waves over her shoulders. The wind whipped a touch of color back into her
cheeks, but her eyes still held a hint of fear.
What was she afraid of?
“You’re not wearing a ring,” Will said, “so I’m guessing the
father’s not part of the picture.”
“No.” Annie brushed her hair out of her eyes. “He’s not part
of the picture.”
Will wondered if he’d ever been part of the picture. Or if
he could have something to do with what she was afraid of. “If your daughter’s
eight, shouldn’t you be used to leaving her at school by now?”
“It’s a new school. She doesn’t know anyone here.”
Still, he thought. She seemed pretty shaken up for someone
who was just dropping her kid off at school. “What grade is your daughter in?”
“Second.”
“Who’s her teacher?”
“Becca Haddaway.”
Becca? No kidding?
“I didn’t know Becca was a teacher.”
“I thought you said you grew up here?”
“I did.” Will rocked back on his heels. “I haven’t been back
in a while.”
Annie glanced back up at him, shading her eyes from the sun.
“How long is a while?”
“Listen,” Will said, changing the subject, “you look like
you could use something to eat, and I bet your daughter doesn’t want you
hanging around when she comes out for recess. Let me take you to breakfast.”
Annie shook her head. “I need to stay here.”
“For how long?”
“Until I’m ready.”
“You can’t say no to a fried egg sandwich from The Tackle
Box. I’ll even throw in a bottle of orange juice.” He smiled down at her,
trying to put her at ease. “We can call it a date.”
“I told you last night. I’m not dating you.”
“Why not?” Will feigned a hurt expression. “Don’t I look
dateable?”
“Yes,” she said. “You look perfectly dateable. For someone
else.”
“But not you?”
“No. Not me.”
“Why not?”
Annie’s gaze drifted to the brightly colored playground and
row of swings near the school. “Because I don’t date.”
Will walked to the bleachers, lowering himself to the bench
beside her. “Ever?”
“That’s right.”
“That seems closed-minded.”
“It’s not closed-minded. It’s just easier.”
Will’s eyes widened in mock horror. “What’s easy about not
dating?”
“Well, for starters,” she answered, “not having to explain
to my daughter where I’m going and who I’m going with.”
“Your daughter’s busy with school right now, so you don’t
have to explain anything.”
“But I’d have to tell her later. We don’t keep secrets from
each other.”
Will studied her for several moments. “You tell your
daughter everything?”
“Yes.”
“Everything?”
“Yes.”
Will leaned in and brushed his lips over hers. Before she
could react, before she could do anything, he eased back and winked. “Let me
know what she has to say about that.”
***
I HEART BOOKS REVIEW ALERT!!!!!
Wind Chime Cafe by Sophie Moss
Review by: Dana Marie
5 out of 5 stars
Annie Malone finally starts to see her dream of opening a restaurant turn into a reality right before her eyes. The fact that a developer is about to purchase property in the area for a resort on the island just makes her little dream seem so much brighter. But when a stranger, who turns out to be a local by the name of Will Dozier, shows up at her door everything changes. Will just happens to own the property the resort wants and he isn't willing to sell to some developer that just going to tear his grandparents Inn down. Will needs a distraction from the things that are haunting him before he heads back out of town to active duty. Will Annie only be a distraction for him or will he find just what he needs to heal in the quaint Chesapeake Bay Island?
The story was amazing and heartfelt. The characters are believable and well written. I really enjoyed the way they brought everything together. Especially the growing connection between Will and Annie's daughter, Taylor. They slowly but surely help each other work through and move past the recent emotional scars they each have from traumatic events that have happened. Plus, the way the wind chime ties into the story is a sweet incorporation. The recipe for Della's Sweet Rolls in the back of the book makes it all the more sweeter.
This is a romantic read that will keep your attention and have you waiting for the next in the series. So grab Wind Chime Cafe for yourself and take a journey of healing, trust, and love. A big thanks to the author for writing a great book. I'm definitely looking forward to Becca and Colin's story in Wind Chime Wedding.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/847392386?book_show_action=false
Giveaway Information: $50 Amazon Gift Card and Three Signed Paperbacks (ebooks if winners live outside US & Canada)
Sophie Moss Bio:
Sophie Moss is an award-winning author of four full-length romance novels. Known for her captivating Irish fantasy romances and heartwarming contemporary romances with realistic characters and unique island settings, her books have appeared twice in USA Today. As a former journalist, Sophie has been writing professionally for over ten years. She currently lives in San Diego, California, where she’s working on her next novel. When she’s not writing, she’s walking the beach, testing out a new dessert recipe, or fiddling in her garden. Sophie loves to hear from readers. Email her at sophiemosswrites@gmail.com or visit her website at sophiemossauthor.com.
Connect with Sophie:
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Thank you so much for hosting my feature and giveaway, and writing such a beautiful review! I'm so happy you enjoyed the story. :)
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