No Stranger to Love
Tavonesi Series, #9
Tavonesi Series, #9
by Pamela Aares
Released May 29th 2016
SeaStar Press
SeaStar Press
From The Book Junkie Reads . . . No
Stranger to Love (Tavonesi Series, #9) . . .
Greece. The culture. The land. The people. The romance.
Aares put beautiful descriptors to work on her creation of the perfect location for love, romance, suspense. I will not say this was an in your face romantic suspense. There are moments of joy, fun, passion, illusion. The depth of the characters makes for an intense immersion into the world of Juliet and Parker. Their romance hot heavy. The attention to the surrounding world they are set in was beautiful.
This was my first read from Aares and I must say that I would very much like to experience more of the Tavonesi series and the people that are so intriguing to the series.
**This ARC was provided via Tasty Book Tours
in exchange for an honest review.**
Tavonesi series:
Love Bats Last – Tavonesi series, #1
Thrown by Love – Tavonesi series, #2
Fielder’s Choice – Tavonesi series, #3
Love on the Line – Tavonesi series, #4
Aim for Love – Tavonesi series, #5
The Heart of the Game – Tavonesi series, #6
Love in the Vineyard – Tavonesi series, #7
A Very Daring Christmas – Tavonesi series, #8
No Stranger to Love – Tavonesi series, #9
Blurb
With NO STRANGER TO LOVE, USA Today Bestselling Author Pamela Aares delivers another page-turning contemporary romance in the Tavonesi Series featuring love, suspense and adventure!
With NO STRANGER TO LOVE, USA Today Bestselling Author Pamela Aares delivers another page-turning contemporary romance in the Tavonesi Series featuring love, suspense and adventure!
Parker
owes Juliet big time for getting him out of a fix in the past. Handsome,
resourceful and fearless, she trusts him with her life but she vowed she would
never trust him with her heart. When danger enshrouds them and warm island
nights cause their bottled-up passions to flare, Juliet's every fantasy could
become reality . . . unless the dark secrets of a sultry paradise prove fatal,
not just for the struggling sea turtles but for Parker and Juliet as well.
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Excerpts
After
lunch, Juliet changed into the sleek silk evening dress and headed down into
the wine cellar with the stylist and hairdresser. It felt weird to be in such a
fancy dress at two in the afternoon. Heck, it felt odd to be in such a fancy
dress at any time. The dress and the shoes probably cost more than an entire
month’s pay.
When she
reached the wine cellar, Athena tugged at her dress and Brandy fussed with her
hair. Barb had arranged a bank of lights in front of a wine barrel. A silver
tray set holding two crystal glasses sat in its center.
But Juliet’s
mind was captured by the scent of the cellar—cinnamon and berries and a deeper
aroma she couldn’t identify. But she recognized the mélange of scents as
Parker’s. She’d caught whiffs of the heady aroma in the guest room the previous
morning and then again when he’d leaned in close for the shots in the redwood
grove. But Parker wasn’t in the cellar.
Dimmed
ceiling lights curved down the tunnel that led deeper into the wine cave. She
shook off the hairdresser and peered into the darkness. When footsteps sounded
behind her, she turned.
And
sucked in a breath.
If she
had thought Parker handsome in his riding clothes, a perfectly tailored tuxedo
made him devastating.
His eyes
landed on Juliet. He ran a hand through his hair as he looked first down and
then up. “My God, you are a vision.”
Juliet
couldn’t tear her gaze from Parker’s. She managed a smile and a nod, but didn’t
trust her voice. For a moment, no one moved. The only sound was their
collective breathing, as if the cellar had lungs of its own.
“Well,”
Athena said, breaking the spell. “That’s the whole idea, after all.”
“I’ll
need to angle this light,” Barb said.
Brandy
moved toward Parker, pulling a brush from the belt of implements at her waist.
Parker
held up a hand. “I do have limits,” he said in a gentle but firm tone, his eyes
never leaving Juliet’s. He shook his head as if he were shaking off a
troublesome thought. “And before we do this shot, I’d like for all of you to
taste the wine I’m launching.”
He strode
to a cabinet at the far side of the arched room and began to pull out glasses.
Juliet let out the breath she’d been holding and moved to help him.
“No.”
Athena put a hand to Juliet’s wrist. “You might muss your dress.”
God,
she’d forgotten about the dress.
“Though
we’ll have our wine critic taste all of these, I’d love to taste your wine here
in its home setting,” Mark said.
Parker
pulled a bottle from the cabinet. “This pinot is only three years in the
bottle, but it’s ready.”
“I feel
like we should have a drum roll or something,” Barb said from behind the light
she was adjusting.
The
thrumming of Juliet’s pulse was all the drum roll she could stand.
“As much
as I’d like to, we won’t have to come back tomorrow,” Mark said. “After this
session, Barb will have what she needs, and I have more than enough for the
article.”
Juliet
sighed, relieved.
Parker
poured wine and handed out the glasses.
Juliet
reached for hers.
Athena
took the glass from Parker’s hand. “Best to wait until after Barb gets her
shots.”
“You must
think I’m clumsy.”
“No one could
ever accuse you of that.”
Parker’s
sultry tone rolled through her. No one had ever called her graceful. And though
he hadn’t, she heard the message in his words. The compliment pleased her more
than it should have.
“Just a precaution,” Athena added. “I’ve learned from
experience.” She eyed Juliet. “We’d have a hard time coming up with another
gown that looked like this one does on you.”
Parker
leaned close to Juliet’s ear. “I’ll make it up to you after. You can have your
own private bottle.”
“I might
need it by then.” She shook off the shiver threatening to take up long-term
residence in her body. “Maybe a case.”
“Upping
the ante?” he whispered, his teasing tone warming her belly.
He’d
already paid far more than he should have. “No. But I will be glad when we’re
done here. I’m sure you will be too.”
He held
her gaze. “Maybe. I guess we’ll see, won’t we?”
Everyone
except Juliet sipped the wine, admired it in the light and murmured kudos to
Parker. There was talk between Mark and Parker about the aroma of the pinot
varietals. Juliet concentrated on the words, the facts, anything to keep from
looking Parker in the eye.
“I think
at five years this wine will be at its peak,” he said, as proud as any artist
would be over the fruits of his work.
“Black
cherry and...” Mark paused. “I was going to say ripe tomato or mushroom.
Smooth. Balanced.”
Parker
beamed.
“Delicious,”
Barb said as she set her glass down on the cabinet. “And now, time for work,
gang. The sooner we wrap, the sooner Juliet can imbibe.”
At first Parker
stood on one side of the barrel and Juliet on the other. Barb instructed them
to raise their glasses and touch the rims together as if in a toast. Her camera
whirred as she ran off a few shots. She looked at her preview screen and
frowned.
“I think they
should kiss,” Mark said in a matter-of-fact tone.
“I think
you’ve had too much wine,” Parker said.
“No, he’s
right. Romance. That’s what’s missing
from this piece,” Barb said. “You two aren’t shy, so let’s try it. I’d like to
shoot it from this angle. Mark, give me a hand with these two lights.”
Barb
tugged Juliet close to Parker and then took up her camera a few steps away.
The new light positions threw a golden glow across
Parker’s face. The soft light played over the sculpted planes of his jaw and cast
the shadows of his long lashes onto his cheeks.
Juliet
leaned close. “Now you really need my
help,” she whispered. And without further comment, and before she could chicken
out and blow their cover, she raised her hands and pulled his head down so that
her lips touched his.
Her body
quivered at the contact. She closed her eyes and brushed a light kiss along his
lips. Trembling, she pulled away. She opened her eyes and, not trusting her
ability to school her features, looked down at her hands.
Barb
moved to their right. “Can we try that again from this angle?”
Neither
Juliet nor Parker moved.
“And keep
your eyes open for this one. I want to capture you gazing into each other’s
eyes,” Barb said.
“One
more,” Juliet said, trying to keep the waver out of her voice.
Parker
moved first. His hand slid up her bare back and shot shivers along her spine.
Juliet’s gaze locked with his. He looked as stunned as she felt. Or maybe she
was projecting. But as he leaned down and kissed her, the lights, the room and
the people in it melted away, and she was locked in the throbbing energy of his
kiss.
Shocked
at her response, she broke off their kiss and stepped back from him. Leaning
her palms on the wine barrel to steady herself, she turned to the camera and
pasted a false smile on her face that would’ve had her drama coaches
applauding.
Then she
turned to Parker. His lips were pressed together in a tight line.
“Smile,” she whispered so that only he could hear.
“Mission accomplished,” she added, widening her own smile.
He flashed
a quick grin that only she knew wasn’t real. Athena, Brandy and Mark applauded.
But Barb stared at them, head nodding, her lips quirked into a smile as if
they’d pleased her. Juliet could only hope that the camera had captured what
Barb had wanted it to. The way Juliet’s legs were trembling beneath her gown,
she couldn’t pull off a repeat performance.
“That’s a wrap,” Barb said as she flashed through the
shots on the preview screen. “We definitely have our cover shot.”
Parker
handed Juliet her glass of wine. “I’m thinking you might need this. God knows I
do.” He turned from her and filled everyone’s glasses.
Barb
flashed the shot for the cover to the group. Still stunned by Parker’s kiss,
Juliet barely registered the good news. Her heart stuttered when she saw the
photo. Anyone viewing it would think she and Parker were truly in love.
“To First
Flight wines,” Mark said as he clinked his glass against Barb’s. “And to your always amazing work.”
“He says
that to all the ladies.” Barb set her glass down and began to wrap the light
cords into their cases. She looked up at Juliet. “Have you set a date?”
“April
twentieth,” Parker answered.
“I’m sure
you already have your dress,” Barb said. “But if you don’t, my friend Vera has
the most delicious wedding designs. They’d be gorgeous on you.”
Juliet
couldn’t look her in the eye.
Parker
topped off the glass that Barb had set aside. “That’s the date we’re launching
First Flight.”
Barb
smiled and picked up her glass. “Ah, yes.” Her eyes slid to Juliet. “First
things first.”
Thankfully,
the sound of raised voices coming down the passageway had everyone turning.
“You really are a rat,” Zuri said, aiming her
comment at her brother as she and Coco burst into the room. “Did we miss all
the action?”
“You
could say that,” Parker said. “But I saved you a taste.”
Coco
sidled over to Barb. Juliet heard her asking for tips about lighting and camera
angles.
Parker
poured wine into a glass and handed it to Zuri. He turned to Juliet and raised
the bottle. She shook her head. Her head was spinning well enough without
alcohol. Zuri knit her brows as she looked from her to Parker and back again to
her.
Mark took
out his notebook and began peppering Parker with questions about the launch.
Before
Zuri could corner her with questions, Juliet slipped out of the room. The
stiletto heels made it hard to navigate the brick flooring of the dim
passageway, but it wasn’t the shoes that made her feel unsteady. What had
happened back there? Flaring passion she didn’t want to admit to feeling flooded
her as she finally exited the tunnel and stepped out into the daylight.
She didn’t stop walking until she reached the barn. Just
past the entrance, she sank down onto a bale of hay, ignoring the prickle of
the straw through the silk of her dress.
Lowering
her head to her hands, she pressed her palms to her eyes. She hadn’t planned on
her heart having to pay the price of her deception.
“Yo!”
Zuri’s voice startled her. “Hope you don’t mind that I followed you.” Zuri sat
on the bale next to her. “Hey, you okay?”
“Just
tired.”
“We could
spend the night here. Unwind. Have a girls’ night. You can drive home in the
morning.”
“I should
get back. We wrapped the shoot.”
“I heard.
Parker seems pleased.”
When
Juliet didn’t respond, she added, “This was really, really good of you. Parker
said you played your part perfectly.
He even admitted I was right—pulling this off was so much easier without all
the stickiness of attraction.”
But she
hadn’t played her part perfectly. Her heart had pulled up stakes and crossed
the line and now... Now she had to corral it back to reality.
But at
hearing Parker’s words via Zuri, her anger fired and she couldn’t stuff it
down.
No stickiness of attraction.
Well,
wasn’t that a kicker?
When had
her feelings begun to run away with her? To obliterate her good sense?
She
shouldn’t feel anger toward him. He’d donated to the foundation. He’d done
everything he said he would.
Zuri
tapped Juliet on the knee. “He owes you, you know. He told me so this morning.”
“He
doesn’t owe me. He wrote the check.”
Zuri
narrowed her eyes. “Did he do something he shouldn’t have? I’ll have his—”
“Zuri, he
was a perfect gentleman.”
“Well, he
has many talents, my brother. If you ever need help, just ask.” She laughed. “I
doubt you’ll need a polo player, but he’s really good at throwing parties.”
Juliet
stood and brushed the hay from her gown. “I need to change. And I should get
going. Mom will be thrilled that I can have dinner with her tonight. Especially
since she couldn’t make it for the shoot.”
And
maybe, after a good night’s sleep in familiar surroundings, she’d wake up and
be able to remember the past two days for what they were—a caper. Wasn’t that
what Zuri had called it?
She’d fly
back to Kona early, wrap up her work there and make her reservations to fly to
Greece.
And try
to forget the chasm that Parker had unwittingly opened in her heart. Try to
forget a caper gone wrong.
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How would you describe you style of writing to
someone that has never read your work?
How would you describe you style of writing to
someone that has never read your work?
My writing takes
readers on a journey... there's always the magic of true love but always a
powerful challenge for the hero and heroine to face their challenges and
becoming a whole so love can grow.
Readers tell me that
they love the mysteries and suspense within the love stories. And they also
love that my stories provide a window into worlds they'd never before visited--
whether it's the sultry culture of Greece, the sun-kissed hillsides and
charming towns in Sonoma, the challenge of open water whale rescue, the
fascinations of running an organic olive ranch... the settings have power
within themselves and I love that readers dive in and are transported.
What mindset or routine do you feel the need
to set when preparing to write (in general whether you are working on a project
or just free writing)?
Facination and awe.
Life amazes me. I wake up astonished most mornings by the daily miracles that
we so blithely take for granted. When I sit down to write, I tune into the fire
of fascination-- what lights me up? How can I translate that fire into words that
will take a reader on a journey of the heart and soul? And humor-- I love humor
and love weaving it in to the awe and wonder of stories.
Do you take your character prep to heart? Do
you nurture the growth of each character all the way though to the page? Do you
people watch to help with developement? Or do you build upon your character
during story creation?
Confession here-- most
key characters show up and demand that their stories be told. The layers of
their lives come more gradually as I let a story simmer as I plot. I often meet
up with my BFF who is a Hollywood screenwriter and brainstorm plot
possibilities. Then I pull the plot together and give the story a spine. And
those demanding characters? Sometimes they don't want to cooperate with a plotline.
And then? Time to change the plotline, as I find that the depth of the
character is THE essential element of any story.
Have you found yourself bonding with any
particular character? If so which one(s)?
OMG: Until
Love Finds You, (book #2 in the Journey to Love Trilogy within the Tavonesi
Series). Ilove hidden identity stories and how they reveal our
prejudices and peccadillos. Readers have been asking for Coco Tavonesi's story
for a long time, so here she comes. Her hero, Billionaire in hiding Evan Forbes
is deep, sensual and guarded. Love finds the code to both of their hearts.
Here's the logline and
the cover:
A beautiful photographer
discovers her hot new computer geek is really a reclusive tech billionaire.
Do you have a character that you have been
working on that you can't wait to put to paper?
Evan Forbes, the
wounded hero of my next book, UNTIL LOVE FINDS YOU.
Thank you for having
me on your blog. I am so grateful for what you do to connect readers with great
stories and to connect authors and reader
Author Info
Pamela Aares is a USA Today Bestselling, award-winning
author of contemporary and historical romance novels. Her contemporary series,
The Tavonesi Series, explores the lives, loves, friendships and sizzling
romances of the Tavonesi family.
Her popularity as a romance writer continues to grow with each new book release, so much so, that the Bay area author has drawn comparisons by reviewers to Nora Roberts.
Pamela Aares writes romance books that she loves reading, particularly those that entertain, transport and inspire dreams while captivating and tugging at the heart. She takes her readers on a journey with complex characters in both contemporary and historical settings who are thrown in situations that tempt love, adventure and self-discovery.
Before becoming a romance author, Aares wrote and produced award-winning films including Your Water, Your Life, featuring actress Susan Sarandon and NPR series New Voices, The Powers of the Universe and The Earth’s Imagination.
If not behind her computer, you can probably find her reading a romance novel, hiking the beach or savoring life with friends. You can visit Pamela on the web at http://www.PamelaAares.com.
Her popularity as a romance writer continues to grow with each new book release, so much so, that the Bay area author has drawn comparisons by reviewers to Nora Roberts.
Pamela Aares writes romance books that she loves reading, particularly those that entertain, transport and inspire dreams while captivating and tugging at the heart. She takes her readers on a journey with complex characters in both contemporary and historical settings who are thrown in situations that tempt love, adventure and self-discovery.
Before becoming a romance author, Aares wrote and produced award-winning films including Your Water, Your Life, featuring actress Susan Sarandon and NPR series New Voices, The Powers of the Universe and The Earth’s Imagination.
If not behind her computer, you can probably find her reading a romance novel, hiking the beach or savoring life with friends. You can visit Pamela on the web at http://www.PamelaAares.com.
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