Holly Cortelyou Archives - Monique McDonell Author

3/4/2018

Hello My Lovelies!
I’m Holly Cortelyou, and I write small town, contemporary romances with sassy heroines and swoon-worthy heroes. I love it sweet, and I love it steamy…but at the end of the day, I just gotta have my happy-ever-after!
My latest book, Two Reckless Hearts, just released on March 1st — it’s the first in my Barrett Ridge series with the seven Barrett siblings and their crazy, heart-melting journeys to love.
Two Reckless Hearts starts off with a family wedding at a luxurious beach resort – and it has all the quirky family dynamics that we adore in small town romances. Jami and Beck star in Two Reckless Hearts, and it was a blast writing an enemies-to-lovers story set on a lush tropical paradise, deep in the Caribbean. I dreamed of silky, blue waters and the hot, rhythmic beat of steel drums the whole time I was writing Jami and Beck’s battle to love.
On my average writing day, you will find me in my little office with the white French doors, with a silver lab puppy napping on her giant Costco bed, and my Maine Coon kitty sprawled on my keyboard. Between fighting for my chair with the cat and fluffballs floating through the air, I sip on black coffee all morning and type away (or play on Facebook).
My favorite quotation and writing inspiration is from C. Ara Campbell — “Here’s to the girl who read the compass written on the walls of her heart and follows the North Star etched upon her Spirit.” Following my writing dream has been scary and liberating, challenging and exciting…and I love it 99.99% of the time.
But…that’s enough about me! Keep scrolling down and check out the snippet from Two Reckless Hearts – Beck and Jami are neck deep in the jungle on a wacky wedding scavenger hunt…
Luv ‘n hugs,
Holly Cortelyou
…Dare to Love!

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/HollyCortelyouAuthor/
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https://twitter.com/HollyCortelyou

Two Reckless Hearts - Cover
TWO RECKLESS HEARTS (Barrett Ridge #1) by Holly Cortelyou

She’s a temptation he can’t risk…
One beach resort. Two arch rivals. Will hot island nights turn enemies to lovers? If you love heart-melting heroes, claim your new book-boyfriend today…
Clickity-Click-It:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2GTGUFQ
Nook: https://goo.gl/Qtixx2
iBooks: https://goo.gl/yVnnJN
Kobo: https://goo.gl/vTxvab
Google Play: https://goo.gl/nH3Uoq
Universal: https://www.books2read.com/u/mZ5Oj5

Teaser from TWO RECKLESS HEARTS:
Jami surveyed the list, and Beck peered over her shoulder. Her breath caught in her throat and a dart of tension shot between her thighs. He smelled of cedar and something tropical. It was divine. No, she was not going to let her knees buckle under her.
“What is a red ginger lily? And how are we supposed to know if we find one?” Beck’s bicep brushed hers as he leaned over and pointed at the second item on the list.
She was not going to break into a sweat. She steeled herself. She needed to remember she hated Beck Kavanagh. He was her competition, and she never lost her focus during a fight. Calm. She needed to find her Zen spot. Hell. Why did that make her think of a G-spot?
Jami pivoted and stepped away from Beck as she handed the hunt instructions to him, but Beck grabbed her wrist.
“Let go.”
“Hang on. Hold still.”
“No.”
“There’s something small, brown and very crawly, right in the middle of your back.”
Jami stiffened like a flag pole. “Get it off me.”
Beck rolled up the map and brushed at her back. “It’s stuck.”
Panic welled in Jami’s belly, but she dragged in a deep breath and exhaled in a low whistle. “You’ve got one job, mister. Now remove it.”
“Maybe you should drop, roll, and squish it?”
“Is that a joke?”
“Yes, but you don’t seem amused.” Beck studied a spot right between her shoulder blades. “Hmm. It seems to have quite a few sticky-looking legs. Very wriggly.”
“If you don’t get it off in the next five seconds, I’m going to rip this shirt right off my body and set it on fire.”
Beck grinned. “Do you want me to flick it off or not? I like your idea better.”
“Do it. Now.” Jami ground her teeth together as a whisper of wind tickled a wisp of hair against her neck. Her knees wobbled.
Beck wound up as if ready to smack the crap out of the bug, but at the last second, he slid the map under the crawler and flicked it away, deep into the ferny undergrowth next to the pathway. “You’re good to go.”
Jami jumped three feet to the side and shivered. “What the hell was it?”
“It was a BDB.”
“What?”
“A big damn bug.”
“Aren’t you the comedian?”
“I’m an engineer, not an entomologist.”
Jami scowled, but Beck grinned. She scrunched her eyebrows as if to convince him she was not amused, but he pointed at her and laughed. A burble of laughter escaped from between her lips.
“Fine. You win. I won’t take this so seriously.”
Beck threw back his head and laughed with ease. “I find that hard to believe.”
As one, they bent over the map and the list and plotted their next move together. Beck’s shoulder brushed hers, and Jami’s pulse jumped. She threw him a side-eye. His nose was straight, and that chin of his was square, determined, and utterly sexy. His thick black eyelashes swept low, and her heart lurched.
Jami leaned in, and her breasts brushed his arm as she delivered a fleeting kiss on the hard angle of his cheekbone. She sprang back before he could react.
“Thanks for rescuing me.”
*******************

Comment

Jessica Jones
3/15/2018 06:44:02 pm

Great interview! I’m excited to read the book.

10/16/2017

Kiss Me In Wescott Springs by Holly Cortelyou

BLURB:
Escape with two enticing tales of love. Sometimes opposites do attract and just need a second chance love… courtesy of a raspberry puff pastry and an unexpected discovery. And then again, maybe all it takes is a little wine, truffles and a remodel to turn enemies into lovers!
Welcome back to Wescott Springs where it’s always a sweet and sexy romp to love!

KISS ME AT LAST
One tempting kiss will rock his world…
What’s better than wine, chocolate and a little renovation magic? A sweet and sexy matchup between a handsome, hammer-swinging contractor, Sean McMallory, and a flirty and stubborn champagne bar owner, Melinda York, who’s in a remodel pickle! Sometimes trusting your enemy is the sweetest victory of all.

KISS ME, TROUBLE
Why gamble on a second chance at love?
Six years ago, Cole McCaffrey shattered Alix Porter’s heart into a million scattered shards. But one lucky encounter with flying artwork lands Alix right back into Cole’s lap. With seven short vacation days, can Cole spark their sizzling chemistry and convince Alix of his love, despite the lie that tore them apart?

Available on Amazon!
http://amzn.to/2xF86HT
(99 pennies from 10/16 trough 10/23)

TEASER #1 from Kiss Me at Last

With a smile lurking at the corners of his mouth, Sean had been waiting for an eruption for the last ten minutes.
It was day three of construction, and Melinda had looked far from chipper as she’d schlepped into the wine bar at eight in a slouchy gray sweater, faded jeans, and nondescript running shoes. Her eyes were bleary, and she cradled her coffee concoction like it was the crown jewel in the queen’s tiara. She’d winced every time his hammer drove home a nail.
Sean grinned. Hangover, he supposed, and he pounded a few extra nails for good measure as she scuttled into her office. That ought to fix her little red wagon, Miss High and Mighty and her sexy British accent. Not that he’d noticed.
He glanced toward her office door, and there was Melinda, staring at him with a stony gaze through half-slitted eyes.
“Good morning, Ms. York,” Sean said in his perkiest voice. “Sun’s shining, and it’s beautiful out.” He fiddled with the chuck on the drill and idly revved it a few times for some bonus noise.
“Is there anything quiet you can do for a while?” Melinda said, her tone was pained.
“Not feeling well?”
“I’m fine. I have some phone calls to make to wine distributors and a little peace and quiet would be divine.”
“Go back to your coffee shop for those calls. Unless you want me to take a break already? That will slow me down.”
Melinda glared. “I’m trying to get some work done, too.”
“Well, ma’am. This is a construction zone, so there’s going to be noise. We’re not slapping on some paint and hanging a few light fixtures. We’re adding beams, ripping out floors. What exactly were you expecting? Should I bring a bowl of potpourri or something?”
“That might help.” Her tone was drenched in syrup. “Or do you have a silencer for that drill?”

TEASER #2 from Kiss Me, Trouble

As they walked side by side out of the restaurant, a noisy group of women jostled by them. Alix scooted to one side to avoid a passerby whose nose was buried in her phone. She staggered into a towering potted palm.
The palm fronds swayed ominously, and Alix’s arms flailed.
“Easy there. Don’t take out that tree.” Cole twined an arm around her waist and pulled her close. A herd of butterflies stampeded through her belly. His touch was familiar, but it dazzled her senses as if it was the first time they’d touched.
“I’m not usually so wobbly on my feet.” Alix smiled up at Cole and didn’t move.
Cole blinked and broke into a lopsided grin. “You were pushed.”
“Like Humpty Dumpty? Did she fall or was she pushed?” Alix wrinkled her nose.
“It was a conspiracy.” Cole squeezed her waist and winked.
“Did you pay them to bump me into your arms?” She inched one hip closer to his body.
“That would have been well played.” Cole’s voice lowered, but she could have heard him whisper, for the rest of the world had grown distant. There were no glasses clinking nor bar patrons buzzing with laughter.
“And risky.” Alix let her hands creep up his chest until she could feel the solid thud of his heart. It was strong. It was beating as fast as hers. Staccato.
“I work the angles and the gray areas.”
“But, I’m the straight arrow.”
“Opposites still attract?” Cole’s mouth inched closer, and his scent filled her senses. He was exotic like sandalwood but grounded like cedar. He was heaven.

About Holly Cortelyou
Holly Cortelyou pens sweet and spicy small town, contemporary romances that just may have a kiss of magic or a twist mystery.
On any given day, she’s likely sipping coffee and procrastinating on Facebook or organizing a closet. Holly’s living her own Happily Ever After with an uber-handy, broad-shouldered and delicious husband, a sweet silver lab and a fluffball kitty in sun-kissed Southern Oregon.
She has hazel eyes, a goofy sense of humor and all the rest is subject to change without notice.

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