Welcome
to Wardham
to Wardham
Blurb
Welcome to Wardham, a sleepy village ready to explode
with new-found passion. This bundle contains the first three titles in The
Wardham Series by Zoe York.
with new-found passion. This bundle contains the first three titles in The
Wardham Series by Zoe York.
Between Then and
Now (prequel novella)
Now (prequel novella)
Their story didn’t start
with a fairytale romance. Their marriage wasn’t chosen for love. But they still
chose each other, time and again.
with a fairytale romance. Their marriage wasn’t chosen for love. But they still
chose each other, time and again.
Romance is the last thing on Ian’s mind. He’s juggling
the family farm and a second job, his kids are a crazy handful and every time
he gets close to his wife, Carrie, she snaps at him. Their relationship has
always had a sizzling physical connection, and he needs to find a way to
leverage that into reconnecting on a deeper level before it’s too late.
the family farm and a second job, his kids are a crazy handful and every time
he gets close to his wife, Carrie, she snaps at him. Their relationship has
always had a sizzling physical connection, and he needs to find a way to
leverage that into reconnecting on a deeper level before it’s too late.
What Once Was Perfect (Book #1)
She shuttered her
heart and walked away. Now he has a second chance to get it right.
heart and walked away. Now he has a second chance to get it right.
Kyle and Laney shared a perfect summer 12 years ago, and
have never moved past their breakup. Now she’s back for the holidays and they
have a chance to work out things out and move on with their lives. But moving
on doesn’t make sense when you’ve finally reconnected with the only person
you’ve ever truly loved.
have never moved past their breakup. Now she’s back for the holidays and they
have a chance to work out things out and move on with their lives. But moving
on doesn’t make sense when you’ve finally reconnected with the only person
you’ve ever truly loved.
Where Their Hearts Collide (Book #2)
The girl next door meets the cop of her dreams at exactly the
wrong time.
Karen’s finally decided what she wants to do when she grows up. Too bad it’ll
mean leaving behind her new neighbour, who’s stirred up a different kind of
grown up feelings. But when he rebuffs her attempt to have a fling before she
leaves Wardham, Karen knows it’s for the best. A clean break, no messy
emotional entanglements. Too bad Paul’s right next door, and everywhere she
goes. And he makes a pretty convincing case for getting entangled.
wrong time.
Karen’s finally decided what she wants to do when she grows up. Too bad it’ll
mean leaving behind her new neighbour, who’s stirred up a different kind of
grown up feelings. But when he rebuffs her attempt to have a fling before she
leaves Wardham, Karen knows it’s for the best. A clean break, no messy
emotional entanglements. Too bad Paul’s right next door, and everywhere she
goes. And he makes a pretty convincing case for getting entangled.
The Wardham Series continues: pick up When They Weren’t Looking (Book #3),
available now, and look for Beyond Love
and Hate, a Wardham novella coming in June 2014.
available now, and look for Beyond Love
and Hate, a Wardham novella coming in June 2014.
Bio
Zoe York lives in
London, Ontario with her young family. She has an English degree and works at a
university, so it was probably a foregone conclusion that she’d write a romance
novel one day. She’s currently chugging Americanos, wiping sticky fingers, and
plotting super-secret books about heroes in and out of uniform.
London, Ontario with her young family. She has an English degree and works at a
university, so it was probably a foregone conclusion that she’d write a romance
novel one day. She’s currently chugging Americanos, wiping sticky fingers, and
plotting super-secret books about heroes in and out of uniform.
Social Media Links
Buy Links
Please contact Zoe in early March 2014, or visit her
website
website
Excerpts
Between Then and
Now
Now
“Don’t do this, not tonight.”
His features pinched together. He didn’t let go of her hand, but the easy
softness in his grip faded, replaced with a subtle tension that told her it was
an effort to keep touching her.
His features pinched together. He didn’t let go of her hand, but the easy
softness in his grip faded, replaced with a subtle tension that told her it was
an effort to keep touching her.
“I’m not doing anything,” she
whispered. Tears threatened, hot bubbles at the edge of her vision.
whispered. Tears threatened, hot bubbles at the edge of her vision.
“You’re dragging old shit into
a new argument. Shit I didn’t even know was in your head. An argument I didn’t
even know we were having.”
a new argument. Shit I didn’t even know was in your head. An argument I didn’t
even know we were having.”
“We’re not!” Were they? Was it
all one big fight that just ebbed like the tide? “I don’t know why I said
that.”
all one big fight that just ebbed like the tide? “I don’t know why I said
that.”
He didn’t answer. He didn’t
need to. She tentatively lifted her gaze to read his expression, but he didn’t
look over at her, instead keeping his eyes on the road ahead. A muscle twitched
along his jaw and she squeezed his hand, willing him to turn and see her. See
that she wasn’t mad. That she was just scared and strangely alone, and not
dealing with that well.
need to. She tentatively lifted her gaze to read his expression, but he didn’t
look over at her, instead keeping his eyes on the road ahead. A muscle twitched
along his jaw and she squeezed his hand, willing him to turn and see her. See
that she wasn’t mad. That she was just scared and strangely alone, and not
dealing with that well.
“I don’t think we were a
mistake.”
mistake.”
“Damn straight.”
“But we weren’t in love when we
got married, Ian. That’s never going to be something I forget.”
got married, Ian. That’s never going to be something I forget.”
“Never asked you to.”
“We just can’t talk about it.”
“We can talk about it, babe.
But you can’t yell at me about it.”
But you can’t yell at me about it.”
“I didn’t yell.”
“You cried. That’s worse.”
“Didn’t cry. No tears.”
“Sad voice, choked up…sounded
like crying. Carrie, that kills me, you know?” He dragged a deep breath into
his lungs. “I just wanted an evening without a fight. Come on, let’s go in.”
like crying. Carrie, that kills me, you know?” He dragged a deep breath into
his lungs. “I just wanted an evening without a fight. Come on, let’s go in.”
With a start, she realized they
were home. “Wait—” she unbuckled her seat belt and reached across the center
console. “Slide your seat back.”
were home. “Wait—” she unbuckled her seat belt and reached across the center
console. “Slide your seat back.”
“Carrie, I’m not—”
“Give me a chance to get the
mood back, please?” She was grateful she’d worn a skirt tonight. “Scoot back
and close your eyes.” He still hadn’t moved, but at least he wasn’t getting out
of the truck. “I want to show you what I’ve got on under this skirt.”
mood back, please?” She was grateful she’d worn a skirt tonight. “Scoot back
and close your eyes.” He still hadn’t moved, but at least he wasn’t getting out
of the truck. “I want to show you what I’ve got on under this skirt.”
Thank god for his healthy
libido. A lecherous grin spread across his face as he flicked his gaze to her
hemline. “Please tell me the answer is nothing.” She waited for his gaze to hit
hers again before offering a slow nod. His already smoldering interest caught a
burst of oxygen from her answer, and while he slid his seat back with his left
hand, his right arm was hauling her into his lap. “We gotta stop fighting,
babe.”
libido. A lecherous grin spread across his face as he flicked his gaze to her
hemline. “Please tell me the answer is nothing.” She waited for his gaze to hit
hers again before offering a slow nod. His already smoldering interest caught a
burst of oxygen from her answer, and while he slid his seat back with his left
hand, his right arm was hauling her into his lap. “We gotta stop fighting,
babe.”
“We weren’t fighting,” she
whispered.
whispered.
“We were doing something,” he
muttered as he arranged her thighs on either side of his, his thumbs pressing
hard into soft flesh. “And it wasn’t this.”
muttered as he arranged her thighs on either side of his, his thumbs pressing
hard into soft flesh. “And it wasn’t this.”
What Once Was
Perfect
Perfect
They sat like that for almost
an hour. At one point, Kyle was convinced that she had fallen asleep, but he
didn’t want to risk losing the moment, and he couldn’t see her face without
shifting. Her head was tucked under his chin, and he didn’t mind not being able
to see her face, because her hair smelled amazing, an intoxicating blend of
honey and some kind of fruit. Thank god her ass was perched high on his thigh
and her legs were bent over his other arm, because in the space beneath he had
developed a brutal erection. He couldn’t remember ever being this turned on by
cuddling before, except maybe in those first few weeks of dating when they were
still working on rounding all the bases.
an hour. At one point, Kyle was convinced that she had fallen asleep, but he
didn’t want to risk losing the moment, and he couldn’t see her face without
shifting. Her head was tucked under his chin, and he didn’t mind not being able
to see her face, because her hair smelled amazing, an intoxicating blend of
honey and some kind of fruit. Thank god her ass was perched high on his thigh
and her legs were bent over his other arm, because in the space beneath he had
developed a brutal erection. He couldn’t remember ever being this turned on by
cuddling before, except maybe in those first few weeks of dating when they were
still working on rounding all the bases.
He remembered every single day
of that spring, the long string of her firsts: Laney slowly peeling off her
t-shirt in the barn, then crossing her arms against her chest; her sliding
across the bench in his truck, straddling him, grinding her jean-clad pussy
against his cock; getting completely naked in a hotel room after the Science
Society Formal Ball, wanting to punch a hole in the wall after their only
condom broke. Laney had made that night worthwhile anyway, sliding his cock
between their bodies, holding herself open, rubbing against the length of his
cock until they both shattered apart. They’d spent the night wrapped around
each other, and when Laney wrapped her warm little hand around him in the
shower the next morning, he thought he’d died and gone to heaven. He returned
the pleasure before check out, and two weeks later when he moved into his first
apartment, they had an entire box of condoms at the ready.
of that spring, the long string of her firsts: Laney slowly peeling off her
t-shirt in the barn, then crossing her arms against her chest; her sliding
across the bench in his truck, straddling him, grinding her jean-clad pussy
against his cock; getting completely naked in a hotel room after the Science
Society Formal Ball, wanting to punch a hole in the wall after their only
condom broke. Laney had made that night worthwhile anyway, sliding his cock
between their bodies, holding herself open, rubbing against the length of his
cock until they both shattered apart. They’d spent the night wrapped around
each other, and when Laney wrapped her warm little hand around him in the
shower the next morning, he thought he’d died and gone to heaven. He returned
the pleasure before check out, and two weeks later when he moved into his first
apartment, they had an entire box of condoms at the ready.
She lifted her head and he was
torn between wanting her to see where he had wandered in his mind, and hoping
she’d return to her original position so he could keep smelling her hair like a
pervert. He didn’t dare think that she might be wandering around the same spots
on memory lane, even when she pressed her forehead against his chin, then
rubbed up his face until her lips connected with his jaw. Kyle stifled a groan
and eased her legs down to the ground, freeing his arm to press between their
bodies.
torn between wanting her to see where he had wandered in his mind, and hoping
she’d return to her original position so he could keep smelling her hair like a
pervert. He didn’t dare think that she might be wandering around the same spots
on memory lane, even when she pressed her forehead against his chin, then
rubbed up his face until her lips connected with his jaw. Kyle stifled a groan
and eased her legs down to the ground, freeing his arm to press between their
bodies.
“Laney, sweetheart, that’s not
a good idea.” It’s brilliant, asshole,
shut up. He could barely grind out the words. His body was not on board
with being noble.
a good idea.” It’s brilliant, asshole,
shut up. He could barely grind out the words. His body was not on board
with being noble.
“Probably not.” She pressed against his hand,
flat against her upper chest, stretching her body to reconnect with his face,
and the upper swell of her breast filled his palm. This time the groan was
louder. “Tell me to stop.”
flat against her upper chest, stretching her body to reconnect with his face,
and the upper swell of her breast filled his palm. This time the groan was
louder. “Tell me to stop.”
“We’re going to regret this.”
Freud would have a field day with the battle royale going in his head. Baser
instincts were definitely gaining traction.
Freud would have a field day with the battle royale going in his head. Baser
instincts were definitely gaining traction.
“Probably. Tell me to stop.”
Her lips found the corner of his mouth, at an angle, and then her face turned
again and they were sharing the barest of open mouth kisses, her bottom lip
resting on his, pressing it down. Her eyes were wide, pupils dark and full of
want. He didn’t see any hesitation, only heat, and his resolve slipped. One
kiss. He let her breath slip into his mouth, hot and moist, and he was lost,
disoriented in a mixed fog of memories and unfulfilled fantasies.
Her lips found the corner of his mouth, at an angle, and then her face turned
again and they were sharing the barest of open mouth kisses, her bottom lip
resting on his, pressing it down. Her eyes were wide, pupils dark and full of
want. He didn’t see any hesitation, only heat, and his resolve slipped. One
kiss. He let her breath slip into his mouth, hot and moist, and he was lost,
disoriented in a mixed fog of memories and unfulfilled fantasies.
With a slight jerk, his
extended arm relaxed, allowing Laney to crawl back on his lap, straddling his
hips this time, and she looked down at his erection with a smirk. “I knew you
didn’t want me to stop.”
extended arm relaxed, allowing Laney to crawl back on his lap, straddling his
hips this time, and she looked down at his erection with a smirk. “I knew you
didn’t want me to stop.”
“Wanting you to stop and
knowing you should are two different things. Hell no, I don’t want you to
stop.” He dragged a ragged breath into his chest and ran his hands down the
sides of her body, squeezing her hips, tracing over her thighs and then up
again, harder this time, sliding his palms under her sweater and over a thin
cotton tank top hiding underneath. “But I don’t want you to hate me either.”
knowing you should are two different things. Hell no, I don’t want you to
stop.” He dragged a ragged breath into his chest and ran his hands down the
sides of her body, squeezing her hips, tracing over her thighs and then up
again, harder this time, sliding his palms under her sweater and over a thin
cotton tank top hiding underneath. “But I don’t want you to hate me either.”
“I’m not an innocent college
kid anymore, Kyle.” She wiggled her hips, trying to slide closer to the bulge
in his jeans. “I like sex. You make me think of sex. I’m all fired up from
fighting. Let’s go.”
kid anymore, Kyle.” She wiggled her hips, trying to slide closer to the bulge
in his jeans. “I like sex. You make me think of sex. I’m all fired up from
fighting. Let’s go.”
It should have been an
ardour-dousing wakeup call, the casual offer of something that was once so
special to her, to them. The higher-thinking part of his brain was protesting
that something was wrong, that Laney couldn’t possibly want a booty call, but
all Kyle could focus on was the easy confidence that she had gained, how she
must have gained it, and his primal need to re-possess that which he had lost
took over. He could hear raspy need in his voice and he didn’t care. “Now it’s
your turn to tell me to stop, sweetheart.”
ardour-dousing wakeup call, the casual offer of something that was once so
special to her, to them. The higher-thinking part of his brain was protesting
that something was wrong, that Laney couldn’t possibly want a booty call, but
all Kyle could focus on was the easy confidence that she had gained, how she
must have gained it, and his primal need to re-possess that which he had lost
took over. He could hear raspy need in his voice and he didn’t care. “Now it’s
your turn to tell me to stop, sweetheart.”
Where Their Hearts
Collide
Collide
Karen grabbed a bag of
all-purpose flour, and strode away, swiping baking powder and a bag of
chocolate chips as well. She dumped the supplies on the conveyor belt at the
first checkout, then headed for the dairy section. “Need eggs?” She tossed the
question over her shoulder, but didn’t wait for a response. She needed a minute
to compose herself. This reaction was bizarre. She’d only had one conversation
with the man. Sure, she’d observed him in a creepy stalker fashion for weeks,
but they barely knew each other. She’d gotten carried away with some romantic
fantasy of the good-looking cop next door.
all-purpose flour, and strode away, swiping baking powder and a bag of
chocolate chips as well. She dumped the supplies on the conveyor belt at the
first checkout, then headed for the dairy section. “Need eggs?” She tossed the
question over her shoulder, but didn’t wait for a response. She needed a minute
to compose herself. This reaction was bizarre. She’d only had one conversation
with the man. Sure, she’d observed him in a creepy stalker fashion for weeks,
but they barely knew each other. She’d gotten carried away with some romantic
fantasy of the good-looking cop next door.
“Megan says we need milk.” Paul
stepped up beside her. Karen looked around. “She got sucked into your magazine
display.”
stepped up beside her. Karen looked around. “She got sucked into your magazine
display.”
“Oh.”
“For dunking.”
“I’m sorry?”
“The milk. We’ll need it once
the cookies are cool.” He grinned. “Or so I’ve been instructed.”
the cookies are cool.” He grinned. “Or so I’ve been instructed.”
Good lord, that smile could
light up a room.
light up a room.
“It’s a classic combination,”
she breathed, kicking herself as the words came out sounding funny. He must
have heard the warble too, because his gaze dropped to her mouth and lingered
for a moment. “What kind do you want?”
she breathed, kicking herself as the words came out sounding funny. He must
have heard the warble too, because his gaze dropped to her mouth and lingered
for a moment. “What kind do you want?”
He flicked his gaze back to her
eyes and blinked. “1%, I guess.”
eyes and blinked. “1%, I guess.”
“It’s behind the last door
there.”
there.”
He brushed past, close enough
for her skin to prickle, but not quite making physical contact, and she sucked
in a breath. He paused, because how could he not have heard it, but then he
opened the cooler and pulled out a bag of milk.
for her skin to prickle, but not quite making physical contact, and she sucked
in a breath. He paused, because how could he not have heard it, but then he
opened the cooler and pulled out a bag of milk.
They stood for a minute, her with
the eggs, him with the milk, and then he smiled again, but this time it seemed
wistful. “You’re an interesting neighbour to have, Karen.”
the eggs, him with the milk, and then he smiled again, but this time it seemed
wistful. “You’re an interesting neighbour to have, Karen.”
“Thanks, I guess.” Her lips
curled up of their own volition. “You’re unlike any neighbour I’ve ever had.”
curled up of their own volition. “You’re unlike any neighbour I’ve ever had.”
“I came to Wardham for peace
and quiet, you know.”
and quiet, you know.”
She couldn’t contain her
surprise. “You think I’m a troublemaker?”
surprise. “You think I’m a troublemaker?”
He grinned. “I’m quite certain
you are.”
you are.”
“And you don’t like trouble.”
It spilled out before she could filter the words into something less pleading.
“I mean—”
It spilled out before she could filter the words into something less pleading.
“I mean—”
“I have a professional interest
in avoiding it.” He interrupted her, but his tone wasn’t rude. It was warm and
low and full of…heat? He stepped closer. “On a personal level, I have a history
of liking trouble more than I should.”
in avoiding it.” He interrupted her, but his tone wasn’t rude. It was warm and
low and full of…heat? He stepped closer. “On a personal level, I have a history
of liking trouble more than I should.”
Oh, shit. “I’ve never been
trouble before,” she whispered.
trouble before,” she whispered.
His knuckles brushed hers.
Milk, eggs and a boatload of issues apparently stood between them, but at that
moment, all she could feel were the hard, hot points of contact as the back of
his hand pressed into her skin.
Milk, eggs and a boatload of issues apparently stood between them, but at that
moment, all she could feel were the hard, hot points of contact as the back of
his hand pressed into her skin.
Sarah’s Review:
Thanks to Zoe York for reaching out and asking us to review. I hadn’t heard of this series, so this was a great surprise for me! All three of these stories were easily read over a weekend. It happened to be a weekend that I was down due to medical reasons and was not allowed to type.
Between Then and Now:
I loved that this story was about a married couple reconnecting and overcoming what one thought was the reason they were married to begin with. These two characters had to overcome some obstacles during their relationship, but they found a way to reconnect.
What Once Was
Perfect:
Perfect:
What I loved about this story was that is was a second chance at getting to be with the one you love despite what happened in the past. I love when high school sweethearts are able to find their way back to each other after a few years, or a dozen in this case, and make their relationship work. Everyone does stupid things when you are young, but how you grow and change as you get older is what can determine how a person really is.
Where Their Hearts
Collide
Collide
I love when a man in uniform is the hero of the story but I really enjoy when the alpha male personality is taken down a notch or two when they find the one that they want to be with. These two characters had to overcome a few obstacles to get what they wanted. What I loved about the relationship with the ex-wife was that it wasn’t filled with drama and they worked together to make things work.
