Excerpt Tour: "Designed For Love"

WELCOME BACK TO THE BLOG, KELSEY! :) 

Kelsey Browning writes sass kickin’ love stories and co-authors Southern cozy mysteries. She’s also a co-founder of Romance University blog, one of Writer’s Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers. Originally from a Texas town smaller than the ones she writes about, Kelsey has also lived in the Middle East and Los Angeles, proving she’s either adventurous or downright nuts. These days, she hangs out in northeast Georgia with Tech Guy, Smarty Boy, Bad Dog and Pharaoh, a (fingers crossed) future therapy dog.

Where to Find Kelsey:

Website / Newsletter / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Pinterest

Designed for Love by Kelsey Browning
Publisher: Carina Press (November 24, 2014)
Series: Texas Nights, 4
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Ashton Davenport: Hot blonde. Old Money. Off-limits.

That’s how Mac McLaughlin sees her, anyway. And now that he’s enduring a temporary self-imposed exile in tiny Shelbyville, Texas, he’s seeing her way too often. Mac only wants to succeed as the contractor for the Lily Lake development in order to rebuild his reputation and return to Dallas, pronto. A sexy distraction like Ashton was not in the plans.

Mac McLaughlin: Hot builder. Cash poor. Hands-on.

Ashton kissed her trust fund goodbye and left her life as a society princess to prove she could make it on her own. Developing Lily Lake is her big chance, but it’s hard to stay focused working side-by-side with bossy, rough-around-the-edges Mac. Especially when he pulls off his shirt.

When the discovery of an endangered species derails the project, Mac can’t afford to stick around for a stalled job. His and Ashton’s explosive chemistry aside, he’s outta there…unless she can convince him that they just might be able to build something together. 

Where to Buy*:

Kindle | NOOK

More Info:

Add it on GoodReads! | Find the Series

Reviews of Browning's Previous Novels:

Personal Assets (#1) -- TBQ
Running the Red Light (#2) -- TBQ
Problems in Paradise (#3) -- TBQ

Designed for Love by Kelsey Browning

Excerpt # 7

Ashton’s eyes popped open. “It’s not funny.” Still, her lips moved, and she swiped a hand across them as though to wipe away a smile.

“I think it would’ve been a helluva lot easier to hit the meat counter first. More likely the little emperor would’ve stayed in his purse that way.”

 “It’s not a purse. It’s a pet transpo—”

“Ms. Davenport,” the manager interrupted, “I ran the total for you. Please come to the customer service counter to settle your bill.”

Ashton’s spine snapped straight. “Just let me get my purse. I left it—”

Mac produced her purse with the dog’s little house thing half stuffed in the top. “I snagged it for you.”

“Thanks.” Her voice broke on the word.

“Hey,” he said softly, stepping closer. And weren’t they a fragrant trio? Ammonia, coffee, and 

Ashton’s scent—something that made him think of slick skin and slow sex. “Just pay for everything. Give the guy a few months and he’ll probably let you back into the store.”

“That’s not—” She shook herself and smiled, but as his daddy would’ve said, it was as fake as the tits in Hugh Hefner’s house. “Thanks again for the help. I’m not sure I would’ve caught him if you hadn’t been here. No telling what would’ve happened next.”

“Bakery?”

“He is fond of buttercream frosting.”

“Ms. Davenport?” the manager called from the aisle in front of them.

She shrugged an apologetic shoulder. “Time to pay the piper.”

Something about her forlorn little movement and the way her lips turned down compelled Mac to escort her to the front of the store. She had to be humiliated. The least he could do was stand beside her while she wrote out that check and walked out of here without a single steak.

He fell into step with her, and she glanced up at him, her raised eyebrows telegraphing surprise.

“Hey, I figured I was here for the beginning of the show. I might as well hang around for the last 

act.”

“Last supper, you mean.” At least he thought that was what she muttered into the dog’s fur.

When they made it to the front, people were clustered around the checkout counters. As Ashton strode through them as though she was a queen and they were her subjects, everyone shrank back. No distinct words could be heard, but the buzzing was clear. Having grown up in a small town a couple of hours from Shelbyville, he knew how quickly gossip flowed, and he preferred to stay as far away from the grapevine as possible. Another reason he rarely visited his hometown.

Or his mom.

No need for chili now because guilt filled his belly.

Ashton settled her purse strap higher on her shoulder, adjusted Napoleon in her arms and strode—chin up—toward the customer service booth. The manager sat up there behind a half wall of glass and looked down on Ashton as though he were the judge and she were a defendant about to be sent up the river to do time. Hard time.

He waved an adding machine tape that was at least two feet long. Who the hell used an adding machine anymore?

“Without taking into account any damages to store property, the total of the food products your…dog…destroyed is $9,546.”

Ashton gasped as though she’d been sucker-punched in the chest and stepped back. “You can’t be serious.”

“I’ll get an estimate on any renovations that might be required, and then, of course, we have emotional damages.”

Wait a damn minute. Emotional damages and renovation? “What renovations?” Mac, of all people, should know when a building needed rehabbing. “As far as I can see, the dog just pulled down a few packages.”

“He did compromise the meat counter.”

Fine, the dog would have to cop to that. “But emotional damages?”

“Possibly everyone in the store. And I wouldn’t be surprised if the woman he cornered doesn’t file her own suit.”

The groan that came from Mac’s left was low and anguished. The same moan he’d heard from his own throat the morning after a few benders. Most of them induced by the wreck that killed his dad.

Facebook Party

Kelsey is hosting a Thankful for Romance Facebook Party from Friday, November 21 – Monday, November 24 and will be featuring the following authors each day.

Friday, November 21 - Celebrating Romance Series
Awesome Authors include: Angi Morgan, Adrienne Giordano Author Page,Tamara Morgan, Shauna Allen, Alison Packard, Terri Osburn, & Tracey Devlyn

Saturday, November 22 - Celebrating Sexy Romance
Awesome Authors include: Avery Flynn, Robin Covington, Kimberly Kincaid, Kelsey Browning - Author, and a special Amazon gift card giveaway from Liliana Hart.

Sunday, November 23 - Celebrating Southern Sass Romance
Awesome authors include: Christine Glover Author, Jodi Linton, Sharla Lovelace, Nancy Naigle & Cynthia D'Alba.

Monday, November 24 - Celebrating Contemporary Romance & the release of Kelsey Browning's Designed for Love.
Awesome authors include: Jamie Farrell, Dianna Love, Kat Latham, Kim Law, Caro Carson, Wendy S. Marcus, & Sonali Dev

Link to Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/832158273473413

Read all the Excerpts!

November 17 – Excerpt One

Brain Candy

http://www.kelseybrowning.com/brain-candy/

November 18 – Excerpt Two

Just Contemporary Romance

http://www.justcontemporaryromance.com

November 18 – Excerpt Three

Ramblings From This Chick

http://www.ramblingsfromthischick.blogspot.com 

November 19 – Excerpt Four

 Brooke Blogs

http://brookeblogs.com

November 20 – Excerpt Five

Romance Junkies

http://www.romancejunkiesreviews.com

November 21 – Excerpt Six

Herding Cats and Burning Soup

http://herdingcats-burningsoup.blogspot.com

November 22 – Excerpt Seven

TBQ’s Book Palace

http://tbqspersonalbookpalace.blogspot.com

November 23 – Excerpt Eight

Doing Some Reading

http://doingsomereading.wordpress.com

November 24 – Excerpt Nine

Gonna Need More Books

http://gonnaneedmorebooks.wordpress.com

Have you read Kelsey Browning before? I highly recommend her books, they are so, so good! 

I did read Designed For Love, but didn't have the time to review it. 4 stars though -- loved how Ashton and Mac's story turned out! :D

Enjoy!



Until Next Time,



  *TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!