Series: A Gamble on Love Mom-Com #2
Publication date: September 8th, 2022
Synopsis:
Single mother Moira Bishop hates when her family interferes in her love life. If life as a young widow isn't hard enough, just add three boys, a slew of unruly pets, and ownership of Gamble Alaska's only diner. The last thing she needs is a man to look after too.
Entertainment lawyer to the stars Ethan Caplan hates his clients. There's only so much coddling and placating a man can do in a lifetime. He's finally decided he's had enough, so he escapes to the tiny no-horse town of Gamble to work on the novel he's always wanted to write.
Positive that Alaska will be distraction-free, Ethan's sure he can pen a bestselling legal novel. That is until he lays his eyes on Moira Bishop. Suddenly he finds himself having five meals a day at the diner, just so he can talk to her for a few minutes.
When Moira's son wins tickets to the Galaxy Studio Theme Park in L.A., Ethan jumps at the chance to play host to the family. He's sure he can win her over by showing her how glamorous life could be with him. With the help of his friends, he plans the date to end all dates, hoping one incredible night will change her mind about giving love a second chance.
Will Moira open her heart to Ethan? Will Ethan do what it takes to prove that he can be the man Moira and her boys need in their lives? Will little Colton be tall enough to ride the Galactic Mindbender?
Find out in the deliciously fun second installment in the Gamble on Love Momcom series.
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Excerpt
"Wyatt, why didn't you tell me about this fundraiser your baseball team is part of?"
My son spins around on his heels, flinging waffle batter through the air. "I totally forgot! Isn't it cool? The team that raises the most money gets free tickets to a Dodgers game, and we even got a tour of the dugout!"
"I can see how that's exciting," I tell him haltingly. "But according to Coach's flyer, even if your team sells the most raffle tickets, you'll still have to pay for her own airfare to Los Angeles and lodging once you get there."
He shrugs nonchalantly. "Yeah, but how much can that be? Fifty dollars? A hundred? I can totally make that by doing odd jobs around the neighborhood."
I look down at the sheet. "More like five hundred dollars. Look, I'm not trying to burst your bubble, but I don't have five hundred dollars to pay for your ticket to California, and even if I did, that wouldn't be enough because I'm not about to let you go without me."
"Coach Dalton and his wife are going. I'd be fine."
He turns around to take his waffle out, when Ash announces, "You'd need two thousand dollars, Mom, because Colton and I would be going, too."
"You'd stay with Grandpa Jack and Uncle Digger," Wyatt snarls.
"No way! If you're going to California, then so are we!" Colton joins the fray.
"No one's going to California," I tell them. "I'm sorry, Wyatt, but there's just no way. Not this summer anyway."
"That's not fair, Mom," he pouts, crossing his arms across his chest. He looks just like a tiny, furious version of Everett. Like a knife to my heart, he adds, "Just because you're poor doesn't mean we should have to be poor, too."
All kinds of feelings rush through my nervous system. Anger at Everett for leaving us with no life insurance; anger at myself for not making enough to give my boys the extras; and finally, anger at the kids for not appreciating how hard I work to give them the things I do. I mean, seriously, the baseball uniform and shoes strapped my June budget enough.
Inhaling deeply, I hold my breath for a count of five before exhaling. When I'm slightly calmer, I tell the kids, "We aren't poor. We may not be rich, but we all have clothes on our backs and shoes on our feet, and a roof over our head." Such as it is. "Just because I can't afford to take off work and fly you all to California doesn't mean you don't have a good life." Take that, you little rug rats.
Ash shrugs. "It's cool with me. I'm not even sure where California is."
"I'm good, too." Colton nods while spooning batter onto the waffle iron.
"Well, I'm not good!" Wyatt shouts. "I'm going to raise as much money as I can and I'm going! I don't care if I have to ask Uncle Digger for the money."
I point my finger in his direction with sharp jabbing motions. "You will not ask Uncle Digger. He's already giving us a water heater and is painting our kitchen, which believe me, we need a lot more than we need a vacation."
"Then I'll ask Aunt Harper," he threatens. "She's got loads of money."
I find myself longing to be a parent in the eighties who could spank freely. "You will do no such thing, young man, and if you go against my orders and ask anyway, I'll ground you until you're in high school." His glare is so menacing, I add, "Don't cross me, Wyatt. I told you how it's going to be and that's it. End of discussion."
Instead of responding, he storms out of the house, making sure to slam the front door on his way out. I turn to the twins and demand, "Do you two have anything you want to fight with me about? Because, let me warn you, if you do, things will not go your way."
I'm practically shaking with rage when Colton puts his spatula down and walks toward me. Throwing his arms around my waist, he says, "I love you, Mom. I know you're doing the best you can."
Ash joins in, holding on as tight as his brother. "I love you too, Mom."
And just like that, I burst into tears again--this is becoming an alarm habit. My seven-year-old sons are comforting me. I'm proud and ashamed all at once. If Everett were still alive, he could have taken Wyatt and I could have stayed home with the twins. We would have had two incomes, so even if we'd had to scrimp a little, we could have done it.
"What would you think about us selling this house?" I ask them, wiping my eyes.
"Just so Wyatt could go to Los Angeles?" Colton asks, pulling away from me.
"That seems a little extreme, Mom," Ash says.
"No, not so Wyatt can go to California." At this point, even if I had the money, I wouldn't let him go after the scene he just made. "I was thinking we could move into a smaller house that needs less work. It would free up time for us to do more fun things."
"I like it here," Ash says.
"Me, too," Colton hurries to add.
Slumping back into my chair, I say, "Okay." I'll leave it for now. After all, Digger and Ethan will be here in a few minutes to paint. Maybe I just need to start seeing some improvements to start liking this house again.
A knock at the front door interrupts my thoughts. I hurry over to answer it, only to see Ethan standing on the other side of the screen. He's wearing ripped jeans and a gray T-shirt, and he looks far too handsome for my own good. His boyish smile appears as I push the door open for him.
"Is this where the painting party is happening?"
All sorts of feelings bubble up inside me as I stare at his gorgeous face, not the least of which is a longing to kiss him that nearly knocks me on my butt. Where the heck did that come from? I should only be thinking about how grateful I am that Ethan is helping me out. Not only is he here to paint, but he's renting a table at the diner. As he steps inside, I get a hint of his aftershave, and I'm back to longing again. Suddenly, I'm afraid my feelings for him are going to become another complication in my life.
And the last thing I need are more complications.
WHITNEY DINEEN loves to laugh, play with her kids, bake, and eat french fries -- not always in that order.
Whitney is a multi-award-winning author of romcoms, non-fiction humor, and middle reader fiction. Basically, she writes whatever the voices in her head tell her to.
She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband, Jimmy, where they raise children, chickens, and organic vegetables.
Gold Medal winner at the International Readers' Favorite Awards, 2017.
Silver medal winner at the International Readers' Favorite Awards, 2015, 2016.
Finalist RONE Awards, 2016.
Finalist at the IRFA 2016, 2017.
Finalist at the Book Excellence Awards, 2017.
Finalist Top Shelf Indie Book Awards, 2017.
MELANIE SUMMERS also writes steamy romance as MJ Summers.
Melanie made a name for herself with her debut novel, Break in Two, a contemporary romance that cracked the Top 10 Paid on Amazon in both the UK and Canada, and the top 50 Paid in the USA. Her highly acclaimed Full Hearts Series was picked up by both Piatkus Entice (a division of Hachette UK) and HarperCollins Canada. Her first three books have been translated into Czech and Slovak by EuroMedia. Since 2013, she has written and published three novellas, and eight novels (of which seven have been published). She has sold over a quarter of a million books around the globe.
In her previous life (i.e. before having children), Melanie got her Bachelor of Science from the University of Alberta, then went on to work in the soul-sucking customer service industry for a large cellular network provider that shall remain nameless (unless you write her personally - then she'll dish). On her days off, she took courses and studied to become a Chartered Mediator. That designation landed her a job at the R.C.M.P. as the Alternative Dispute Resolution Coordinator for 'K' Division. Having had enough of mediating arguments between gun-toting police officers, she decided it was much safer to have children so she could continue her study of conflict in a weapon-free environment (and one which doesn't require makeup and/or nylons).
Melanie resides in Edmonton with her husband, three young children, and their adorable but neurotic one-eyed dog. When she's not writing novels, Melanie loves reading (obviously), snuggling up on the couch with her family for movie night (which would not be complete without lots of popcorn and milkshakes), and long walks in the woods near her house. She also spends a lot more time thinking about doing yoga than actually doing yoga, which is why most of her photos are taken 'from above'. She also loves shutting down restaurants with her girlfriends. Well, not literally shutting them down, like calling the health inspector or something--more like just staying until they turn the light off.
She is represented by Suzanne Brandreth of The Cooke Agency International.
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