Third Time's a Charm

Third Time’s a Charm

Holland Springs Book Two
Marquita Valentine

Genre: Contemporary

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Book Description:

Not even Holland Springs' Most Notorious Resident can stop this Love Spell.
Customers come to Rose Holland’s apothecary shop for three things: to hear her uncanny matchmaking advice, to buy the “magical” hair and skin products she sells, and to accuse her of trying to steal their men. For years Rose has been entirely innocent and almost content with that status quo. But that was before sexy, smooth-talking Sasha Romanov came to town and made her want to use her love potions on him… until he broke her heart. Now corrupt town officials want to seize her land and sell it to an industrial giant, and her only hope for help looks like the one man she can’t trust—or stop herself from falling under his spell. 
Alexander “Sasha” Romanov seems like every woman’s dream: charming, handsome and fabulously rich. But while the people of Holland Springs think he’s in town to generously invest in their economy (and possibly one of their daughters), Sasha struggles to save his sick mother from his vicious uncle’s plans by doing everything the greedy businessman wants. And Vlad Romanov wants Rose Holland’s land—at any cost. 
Despite Sasha’s vow to get the job done and keep his hands (and everything else!) off Rose, the blue-eyed witch enchants him. But his mother’s life remains in the balance. Sasha must find a way to protect his mother, sabotage his uncle’s plans, and win the woman who’s captured his heart without destroying everything she loves.

Short Excerpt:

Rose closed the door and whirled to face him. “Could you be more rude?”

“Let me have a go at him and you can judge for yourself.”

Fisting her hands on her hips, she glared at Sasha. “You- you spoiled—”

Sasha pounced, backing her up against the door and placing a palm along each side of her head. “Yes, I’m spoiled. I’m ruined and it’s all your fault.”

She gaped at him. “My fault?”

“Yes, yours—the woman who drives me insane. The woman I dream about kissing. The woman I hunger to be inside.” His head dipped down, full lips and sexy beauty mark at the corner dangerously close. “And right now, I’m so damn jealous that I want to...” He turned away but she placed her hand on his jaw and forced his face back to hers.

“To what?”

The heat in his eyes made her legs tremble. “I want to lock you in my bedroom with me and not let you out until, until…”

She licked her lips. “Until when?” she prompted. A small part of her reveled in this, his torture. She wanted him to hurt. To feel something.

He laughed, but it was mirthless. “Never, I never want to let you out.”

“Why?” she demanded. “What’s changed between last week and tonight?”

“Nothing. Everything. Christ, Rose. I’m so damn sorry and...and I don’t know what to do or say.” He looked as though he truly meant it. Regret seemed to fill his green eyes and she couldn’t make herself look away. This was the real him.

“You made me cry,” she whispered.

He rested his head against her forehead, his golden hair soft and silky. “I’m a bastard.”

“I waited up for you. I put on my prettiest dress.” Tears grew thick in throat. She would not cry in front of him. She only wanted him to know how badly he hurt her. But honestly, if he’d cared, he wouldn’t have been so cruel in the first place. Lifting her shaking hands, she tried to push him away, but he wrapped his arms around her and held her close.

“Forgive me,” he said, his breath hot in her hair. He kissed the side of her neck, her jaw and her cheek. “I need your forgiveness, Rosebud.”

Turning before he could find her mouth and she lost all self-control, she said, “I’ll give you another chance.”

She wriggled out of his embrace, running upstairs to her room and shutting the door behind her. Pressing cold fingers to her heated cheeks, she closed her eyes and sank to the floor. What had she done?

 tell me about yourself, and your writing.

I live in central North Carolina with my husband, two kids and a dog. Plus, we are chicken-sitting some hens for my mother-in-law.  I love visiting the beach and travelling with my family. Ocracoke Island and Disney World are two of our favorite places to go.   

How long have you been writing? How many published books do you have, and what genres?

I’ve been writing professionally since  2009. To date I have published a novelette, 2 full-length novels and a Christmas novella that *just* came out this month. They’re all small town contemporary romance.

Do you write in multiple genres or just one? If just one, do you ever consider straying outside your genre? Just one. But I’d love to write New Adult. All that angst and college settings! 

Are you a plotter or do you write from the seat of your pants?

I’m a pantser, but since starting NaNo (where one writes a novel in one month), I’ve become a plotter. Shh! Don’t tell. 

What is a typical writing day like for you?

I tend to write from 11 to two. Before and after those times, I’m running the kids to school, grocery shopping, cleaning house, homework, soccer and ballet. You know, the usual busy mommy stuff. 

Who do you love to read? Favorite authors, favorite books?

I love to read mostly romance, because I need for my books to have a happy ending. But Philipa Gregory’s Historical Novels are a special treat for me. I know they won’t have a HEA for everyone involved but she sucks me in and I glom her books. 

What is something you'd like to accomplish in your writing career next year?

I’d like to successfully publish four more books next year in my Holland Springs Series.  I’d also like to try my hand at New Adult. I do have a series in mind for it already. 

If you could have one paranormal ability, what would it be?

Mind reading. I’m soo nosy but it could really backfire, because I would be able to hear what people really thought and that’s not always a good thing.

If you could keep a mythical/ paranormal creature as a pet, what would you have?

A house cleaning fairy. Those are real, right?

Tell us a little about your latest release.

Third Time’s a Charm is set in the fictional town of Holland Springs, North Carolina.  Here’s the blurb:

Customers come to Rose Holland’s apothecary shop for three things: to hear her uncanny matchmaking advice, to buy the “magical” hair and skin products she sells, and to accuse her of trying to steal their men.  For years Rose has been entirely innocent and almost content with that status quo. But that was before sexy, smooth-talking Sasha Romanov came to town and made her want to use her love potions on him… until he broke her heart. Now corrupt town officials want to seize her land and sell it to an industrial giant, and her only hope for help looks like the one man she can’t trust—or stop herself from falling under his spell. 

Alexander “Sasha” Romanov seems like every woman’s dream: charming, handsome and fabulously rich. But while the people of Holland Springs think he’s in town to generously invest in their economy (and possibly one of their daughters), Sasha struggles to save his sick mother from his vicious uncle’s plans by doing everything the greedy businessman wants. And Vlad Romanov wants Rose Holland’s land—at any cost. 

Despite Sasha’s vow to get the job done and keep his hands (and everything else!) off Rose, the blue-eyed witch enchants him. But his mother’s life remains in the balance. Sasha must find a way to protect his mother, sabotage his uncle’s plans, and win the woman who’s captured his heart without destroying everything she loves.

What is something that you absolutely can't live without? (Other than family members)

My laptop. I write my books on it, manage accounts, communicate with my family and fans. Just about everything. I’d feel lost without it. *caresses screen*

Could you ever co author a book with someone? If so, who would you choose, and what would you write?

Oh totally, I’d love to write a book with my idols, Carly Phillips or Rachel Gibson. Those ladies are class acts and extremely talented. On second thought I might need to just keep reading them. ;)

If you could spend a day with anyone from history, dead or alive, who would it be, and what would you do? What would you ask them?

I’d really like to meet my great-great –great grandmother Lucretia Valentine.  After finding out her husband sold her son (his step-son) to a coal mine. She went and got him, took her daughter and left her second husband. He kept everything she brought into the marriage. Then she walked, with two little ones, from Missouri to Arkansas. 

I think I’d hug her and ask her to just sit down and rest her weary bones. I’d want to know what made her so strong and brave. It’s women like her that I’d admire. Women who really overcome the odds and adversity of their situation. This was right after the Civil War, the country wasn’t safe for women and children out on their own (BTW this is totally a romance novel waiting to happen.).

What are some of your other hobbies outside of writing?

I’m a useless facts junkie, so I read books on that very subject.  I do Zumba to torture my body.  And I like to collect Madam Alexander dolls. I have the entire Little Women collection. 

If you were on the staff to have a book adapted to movie, what would you pick?

That’s a hard one, because the ones I’d pick have already been optioned.  But if I have to pick one….Good For You by Tammara Webber.  Actor hero, preacher’s daughter heroine. SIGN ME UP!

What is a talent you wish you had, but don't?  I wish I could draw and paint. I’m dreadful at it.

             Favorite color? Purple

Weather: Hot or cold? Hot

Favorite place to read? My bathtub

Favorite meal? Steak dinner

Favorite non-alcoholic drink? Sweet iced tea

If you could travel anywhere and do anything, no limits or money holding you back, where would you go? I’d travel the entire world, go to all the places I’ve read about and eat the food, try to learn the language and basically live in each place for as long as I wanted. 

About the Author:

Marquita Valentine writes small town romances that are anything but small. Lisa Kleypas, Carly Phillips and Rachel Gibson are among her favorite contemporary authors. Marquita met her husband aka Hot Builder at Sonic when they were in high school. She suggests this location to all of her single friends in search of a good man -- and if that doesn't work, they can console themselves with cheesy tatertots. She lives in North Carolina in a very, very small town with Hot Builder and their two children. 

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15779191-third-time-s-a-charm

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMarquitaValentine

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/marquitaval

Website: http://marquitavalentine.blogspot.com/

Blog: http://ladyscribes.blogspot.com/