To Have and Let Go (The Woman of Boone County) by Julieann Dove ~ #BookTour #Excerpt

 

Today I am excited to share the newest release in the Women of Boone County small-town romance series, TO HAVE AND TO LET GO, by Julieann Dove. Chelsea Hayes thought she left Boone County behind, but fate has other plans. Come check out an excerpt and enter a fun giveaway before grabbing your copy!

 

Release Day July 9, 2024
Women of Boone County #2

Chelsea Hayes is no stranger to running away from her problems. That could explain why she moved six states away from Boone County. And the reason she works a second job to go talk in circles to a therapist bi-weekly, to avoid hitting the dead end and facing her demons.

Unfortunately for Chelsea, a call back from home forces her to hang up her running shoes and return to face some ghosts that never left, even if she did.

Patrick Jergan is new in town. Someone to take away some of the tension from all the things spinning out of control in Chelsea’s life. But like Chelsea, he’s fighting his own set of problems. The two might make a good match, except for one thing…or one person. He’s the topic her therapist knows nothing about. In fact, no one in town knows of their past. If they did, there would be no end to the tongues wagging.

*kindleunlimited

“If you haven’t discovered Julieann Dove’s books, start right now with Coming Home, the first book in her latest series. It’s filled with the complex characters and smalltown charm I love.” Sherryl Woods, New York Times #1 bestsellling author of The Sweet Magnolias and Chesapeake Shores series.

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“I think I better go.”
He pulled me by the arm. “No, don’t.”
I tried to free myself. “I don’t think this is going to—”
Before I could finish, he kissed me. I put my hands against his skin but he pulled me
closer. I was stuck in the middle of wanting more and walking out, only to regret it. Finally,
history won out and I freed myself.
“Fine, walk out,” he said, winded from the ordeal. “But don’t think this was my fault.
Don’t think—”
I swung around and pushed my finger into his hard chest. “Listen, this is what happens. It
doesn’t work. Not with me. I make sure it doesn’t.”
What in the ever-loving world was I saying? What was possessing my mouth to say these
things? My eyes darted left and right.
“What?”
I took a step back and took a few deep breaths. I looked anywhere but in his eyes. I
flinched when he touched my shoulder.
“I don’t want you to leave.”
I buried my head in my hands and started to break down. Crap. I never break down. Not
even when I should. When people die. When people dump me. I wait. I even shop first. Get a
new shirt and feel good about retail therapy. Search for the perfect movie that will give me cause
to shed a tear. But this? What was happening?
He pulled me to him slowly. Like a feral cat you’ve waited weeks and given milk to,
seeing whether the charm of a warm chest and head rubs will finally win over the flight reaction.
I buried my face into his chest and cried quietly. Maybe it was a release for all the times I should have. Maybe he possessed something no one else did. A chance at something going
further than a third date and possibly ending up questioned by Interpol.
I apologized.
“Will you stop,” he said, caressing my hair. “It’s okay. I’ve got you.”
Those three words put a halt to everything“
No. You see, every guy has a flaw. You’ve got a flaw. I thought it was Josie. But
she’s…no, maybe she’s not. Maybe you’re just fooling yourself. Oh, I see. I fall in…well, I give
you a try, she shows back up, and—”
“And, I tell her it’s over. That’s what happens.”
“I think I’ll stick to breaking my heart before you can.”
He pulled me close and stared into my eyes. “I will not break your heart. Will you believe
me?”
I studied his face. His sheer look of determination. Taking a stance for all the failed
relationships I’d weathered without so much as a scratch. Except the Ryan one. Did he realize
what he was doing? Did I?
“Will you just date me, for crying out loud? Give me a try? I tell you what, if I do
something stupid, I’ll kick my own self out, deal?”
“What kind of stupid?”
He glanced toward the ceiling. “Oh, say I don’t take your feelings to heart? Don’t
remember you love chocolate cake? Or forget to pick you flowers on your birthday? Which, by
the way, when is it? I want to get a head start on things.”
I smiled. He remembered the chocolate cake. And my birthday? The last two I’d spent on
my own. In between failed relationships. His talk of “doing” things for me scared the bejezus out
of me. “It’s August 27.”
He hit his head. “Man, I just missed it.”
“Yeah.”. I backed up and looked at him. That symbol
of possibility. That understanding, even though I’d just insulted him. The unconditional of it all.
“I can’t do this.”
“What?”
“Do you see me?” I pointed to myself like it was a quiz. “I safeguard myself for
investment. Pick out guys I know can’t go the second mile. What’re you doing here?” I turned
my finger on him. “What’s this exactly?”
“I know you, Chelsea. At least, I’m figuring you out. I think. But I’m different. I won’t
hurt you. You don’t have to put up a defense shield. That felt good. You…leaning on me for
comfort. You can depend on me.”
“Well, maybe we can turn back time and do something about that.”
I was still smiling. Damn, this man. “Nah. I don’t think I want a redo. Let’s just get
through this date with Birdie.”
“Sounds like a deal.” He pecked me on the lips. “And just so it isn’t awkward or
anything, I can hold your hand, right? I mean, we’re going as a couple, right?”
My heart fluttered. “Uh, yeah. I suppose so.”
He kissed me again and we danced to a Coltrane song before I went back inside the
house. My head was spinning by the time it made it to the pillow. This was not in the plans.
None of it. I went to sleep and wondered how much more of “not in the plans” would get done
before I picked up the phone and told work and Darren I might not be returning.

 

Julieann Dove takes great pleasure in writing about love and all the mess that goes along with it. How else does happily ever after become realized, if not for some type of hardship and journey? When she’s not writing, she loves playing with fabric at her sewing machine, baking new recipes, and playing in the dirt, trying to get things to grow. Julieann loves old movies, and never tires of listening to music—it’s where she finds most of her inspiration for her books.

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Coming Home (Women of Boone County #1) is

Free July 8-10th.