Silent Love
by Casey
Clipper
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
Former
Navy SEAL Sean Millen has been perfectly fine with his bachelorhood until
recently, when he realizes he's unhappy with his single status. Unfortunately,
his playboy reputation doesn't offer him the type of woman that could fulfill
his days and nights as well as settle into the specific life he envisions.
Four
years ago, Beth Connors' world was entirely altered. Beth spends her days
trying to remain invisible in order to avoid unwanted attention. Each night she
sheds grief-filled tears over the former life she once led but will never be
able to regain.
When
Beth literally runs into him. Doctor Sean Millen. A force of nature. A rock. A
reputable heartbreaker, who takes an immediate interest in her, there's no
place for her to hide. But Beth's natural instinct to push Sean away to save
herself and him from the difficult task of adjusting their lives to her
shortcomings is always front and center. Yet, Beth secretly longs for love. Is
she strong enough to tear down the walls of her self-imposed prison?
Sean
finds himself falling for a woman who is determined to reject his every advance
and deny their surprisingly deep connection. Can Sean push past Beth's concrete
walls that she refuses to destroy? Or will Beth's shocking revelation of her
past prevent them from finding the love they both deserve? Or will a tragic
accident pull Sean and Beth apart permanently?
*This
is not a cliffhanger.
**Not
suitable for under 18 years old. Contains sexual scenes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT:
Sean followed Beth to her parents' front door. This meeting
could make or break their relationship. They'd been dating for close to two
months and things were terrific. Well, maybe an occasional hiccup here and
there when Beth got into her own head, but he dealt with those moments, then
they moved forward. But a few days ago, before this planned dinner, Beth went
home to talk to her parents. When she returned to his house three hours later,
she remained unusually quiet and refused to discuss what happened between her
and her parents. That had him worried for days. Now, here he was, feeling like
he was walking into the lion's den.
Beth opened the front door and stepped inside. "Mom. Dad,"
she called out.
An older version of Beth rounded the corner towards the back
of the house. Good lord, if that was how Beth would look in thirty years, with
any luck, Sean would still have her on his arm, he was a damn lucky man. Mrs.
Connor was a knockout. Though she stood a couple inches taller than Beth, they
could pass for sisters.
"Hi, honey," Mrs. Connors said. Her eyes scanned
Sean, but she approached her only child and embraced her with a secure hold.
When she pulled back, Beth's mom looked her up and down. "You look
fantastic. You glow."
Naturally Beth flushed bright red. Sean wrapped his arm
around her waist and pulled her into his body for security. She melted into
him, and Mrs. Connors perceptive eyes didn't miss their interaction.
"Mom," Beth said softly. "This is Sean
Millen. Sean, this is my mother, Jill Connors."
"Mrs. Connors, it's nice to meet you," Sean said
respectfully.
"Thank you, Sean. It's wonderful to meet you. Elizabeth
has told me loads about you." She smiled lovingly at her daughter. Those
matching ocean blue eyes of Beth's glittered with some sort of emotion he
wasn't able to decipher. "Please, come inside and meet Mr. Connors."
They followed Jill down the hallway a few steps then took a
left into a large living room. As they entered the room, Mr. Connors stood from
a recliner in the far corner of the room.
Oh, Christ.
Mr. Connors was an older version of himself. Well, except
add twenty pounds, four more inches in height, and two more inches in biceps,
thighs, and chest. Clearly the man maintained his work out religiously,
noticeable from all the bulging muscles that flexed as the man moved. A
military haircut made his distinct features all the more intimidating. The man
looked as young as his wife and was just as good looking. Sean would bet money
in the man's early days he had his fair share of women. His laser glare focused
straight in on him. Shit.
"Daddy," Beth said softly as she approached him.
Mr. Connors reluctantly tore his glare from Sean and focused
on his daughter. As soon as his dark blue, piercing eyes met his daughter's
ocean blues, the man visibly melted. His features lightened, and he actually
smiled.
"Sweetheart," he said, leaned down and kissed her
forehead.
"Daddy, I want to introduce you to Sean Millen. Sean,
this is my dad, Michael Connors," she said.
Mike wrapped a possessive left arm around his daughter,
tucked her into the crook of his body, and stuck out his right hand. "Mr.
Millen."
"Mr. Connors," Sean said respectfully.
"My daughter tells me you were in the Navy," Mr.
Connors tested.
"I was, sir," he answered. The air in the room was
stiff and tense. Mrs. Connors stood in the background watching the scene
looking as if she was ready to jump in to interject. Beth gnawed on her bottom
lip, her eyes darting between her father and her boyfriend.
"She tells me you and your brother were SEALs."
"That's right," he answered.
Mr. Connors titled his head and studied Sean, sizing him up.
"You both went in together?"
"Yes." For some reason, Sean didn't feel too
chatty about his life. He didn't like the feel of the room or the
interrogation. He was too damn old to put up with this shit. He wasn't an
eighteen year old kid about to take a daughter to the prom. For fuck's sake, he
was going to be forty in less than two years.
"Why?" Mike barked.
Sean narrowed his eyes.
Immediately Mr. Connors shoved his daughter out from under
his arm and got into Sean's face. "You think you're a badass? You think
you can come into my house and get our blessing for dating my daughter who's
more than ten years younger than you? You need to find someone your own age,
SEAL."
He spat SEAL like it was a curse.
"Daddy!" Beth cried.
"Michael!" Jill scolded.
Sean refused to back down. "What is this, some sort of
test to see if I'll walk away? Not. Going. To. Happen. I love your daughter. I
respect her and admire her. I spend my days worrying about her and my nights
holding her close." He took a step closer. "As for my tour in the
Navy, I went so I could get a medical doctorate. My parents couldn't afford the
schooling. My brother refused to allow me to go in alone. We've always been
close, and we couldn't imagine leaving each other for that many years. It was
the best decision both of us made."
"Michael," Jill said again. "Look at your
daughter."
Mr. Connors' head snapped to his baby girl, whose face was
red and tear streaked while her mother held her.
"Beth," Mike breathed. "I'm sorry,
honey."
She hiccupped.
"Beth," Sean said softly.
She left her mother's arms and went straight to...Sean's and
buried her head into his chest. He wrapped her up securely, kissed her head,
and ran a soothing hand down her soft tresses. After a minute, he lifted her
face to look him in the eyes. "It's all right, sweetheart," he assured
her. "It'll be fine. We're just feeling each other out, baby. It's what we
nasty military men do. We protect the women we love. You're father has probably
done that your entire life, right?"
A sniffle and a nod was the only response he received.
"Elizabeth," Mr. Connors said with bite. Clearly
he didn't like his daughter choosing her boyfriend over him.
Sean nodded to her father for her to focus on him. She
looked her dad's direction but remained tight against Sean.
"You're my only daughter. My baby girl. No man,
including this one standing in my living room, who just admitted you're
sleeping with, is good enough for you. No one ever will be. I need to make
certain he's in this for the right reasons," Mr. Connors insisted. He
crossed his large arms over his broad chest. "Got a problem with that,
young lady?"
"Dad," she protested.
"Do you?" he barked.
"Yes." Her head went up and her chin out.
Mike's eyes shined with adoration and respect. His mouth
quirked up.
"Okay, enough testosterone before dinner," Jill
interrupted and put an end to the palpable tension. "Dinner is ready.
Everyone to the dining room."
She bustled out of the room with the group dutifully
following her.
Beth remained in Sean's arms while they went to the dining
room. Well, wouldn't that be a story to tell their grandchildren some day.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Bestselling
Contemporary Romance Author Casey Clipper lives in Pittsburgh, PA. She's an
admitted sports fanatic and chocolate lover (though that could be classified
more as an addiction). An avid romance reader, she loves to lose herself in a
good book. Casey is a member of the Romance Writers of America, Contemporary
Romance Writers, Pennwriters, the Authors Guild, TRRW, ASMSG, and IAN.
Purchase
Links - (The special release price of $1.99 is for a limited time.)
Casey's Links
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Casey will be awarding a download of Silent Love given by the tour host to a randomly drawn winner at each stop. A PDF is attached for you to give away.
A Grand Prize of a $25 Amazon GC will be awarded to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Remember the more you comment the better your chances are to win,
Tina
9 comments:
"Not a cliffhanger" works for me.
Thank you for hosting Silent Love on tour, Tina!
This is a great read! I have read it more than once. Huge Casey Clipper fan here!
I love Love love this book.. Casey Clippers characters are so real, I fell in love with Sean. This is a 5star book for me.. I just couldn't put it down. I definitely need more.
Reading Silent Love once is just never enough. You won't be able too put it down and you will want Casey to give you more of the story. Definitely a five star read! Sean and Beth's love story is amazing and Ryan is also gorgeous and I can't wait for his story!
I like the excerpt
I like the excerpt
Very interesting except.
Can't wait to read this book!
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