Holiday Man
A Romance Told Over a Year of Holidays...
Shannon Quinn is the small-town girl who runs "Holiday Quinn" -- a holiday-themed inn/resort based in scenic Door County, Wisconsin. One winter evening, wealthy Minneapolis businessman, Bram Hartwick, blows into town along with the fast-falling snow.
The sparks Bram and Shannon create succeed in heating up the chilly Midwestern night, not to mention plenty of holiday weekends in the year that follows... But is their relationship destined to be for special occasions only, or might it be the elusive everyday love that neither thought could be found?
BONUS CONTENT:
Award-winning author Marilyn Brant includes three story excerpts in additional to the full HOLIDAY MAN novel! Enjoy sample scenes from:
ON ANY GIVEN SUNDAE (June 2011) - a Bestseller in Humor
DOUBLE DIPPING (September 2011) - an International Digital Awards finalist
PRIDE, PREJUDICE AND THE PERFECT MATCH (Coming January 2013!)
An Excerpt from HOLIDAY MAN:
Bram watched Shannon scurry after that assistant of hers--that man with the shrewd eyes and the pesky manners--and he wanted to throttle the guy.
Jake-Somebody-or-Other lusted after Shannon, that much was clear. Shannon's feelings toward the assistant were more difficult to ascertain, but Bram would figure it out. He always did.
Why? Because she'd caught his interest. Even if anything beyond tonight was an exercise in futility.
He marched around the perimeter of the dance floor, trying to imagine his ex-girlfriend at a weekend affair like this. Angie would've wanted to hit every activity. Not miss a single second of excitement, whatever the latest thrill might be. She absolutely exhausted him when they were together, but not because he couldn't handle the events she threw his way.
No. He could handle anything.
But her insatiable need for diversion drained him. It felt like a reflection on him. Made him fear his inability to keep her entertained. And he'd hated that.
Pretty-faced women dotted the dance floor. Several looked at him with those eyes filled with feverish anticipation, an expectation that a love match might be imminent. Well, Bram knew better. Relationships were fine as long as they were kept in their proper place. Something hot. Something short-term. Something with boundaries. Try to make them your top priority and everything else in your life would get shot to hell.
He shuddered, flooded by a need to get away from the hopeful expressions etched on the faces of those single women.
So he strode out into the hallway and lingered by a display cabinet featuring, among other things, a curvy stained-glass vase. It was European. Mid-Twentieth Century. Delicate yet intricate. Colorful but in a tasteful, not discordant way.
Funny. In an odd way it reminded him of Shannon.
Now there was a woman whose company he'd admit to enjoying. But, let's face it, she wasn't exactly available to him. If he were being honest with himself--and he'd made a habit out of doing just that--perhaps this was part of his fascination.
She was lovely, but she wouldn't be capable of making demands on him during his hectic workweek. She represented everything that spelled relaxation in his book: Home and hearth, an out-of-the-way locale, feminine cozy comfort nestled in a charming, rustic environment. She was smart, responsible and in full charge of her own career path.
He could almost convince himself his attraction to her was "wholesome." Almost...because he still loved the allure of her most curvaceous assets. And, after a mere twenty seconds of remembering her in his arms as they danced, he knew their potential physical chemistry played no small part in her appeal.
He stared at the vase again, mesmerized by the swirl of colors when a stained-glass chip reflected the light. He squinted at it, and the magnificent rainbow was no longer distinct. The hues bled together like silken watercolors, as if, by a mere change in perspective, all the disparate elements of life could join together as one.
"Well, hello again, Bram."
Shannon. Her voice made him open his eyes fully and drink in the vision of her standing before him.
"Crisis averted?" he asked her.
She smiled. "For the time being." She pointed to the display cabinet. "See anything that intrigues you."
He looked right at her. "Yes." He stared into her blue eyes until she blushed. After another moment he added, "And the vase is nice, too."
1113780276
Shannon Quinn is the small-town girl who runs "Holiday Quinn" -- a holiday-themed inn/resort based in scenic Door County, Wisconsin. One winter evening, wealthy Minneapolis businessman, Bram Hartwick, blows into town along with the fast-falling snow.
The sparks Bram and Shannon create succeed in heating up the chilly Midwestern night, not to mention plenty of holiday weekends in the year that follows... But is their relationship destined to be for special occasions only, or might it be the elusive everyday love that neither thought could be found?
BONUS CONTENT:
Award-winning author Marilyn Brant includes three story excerpts in additional to the full HOLIDAY MAN novel! Enjoy sample scenes from:
ON ANY GIVEN SUNDAE (June 2011) - a Bestseller in Humor
DOUBLE DIPPING (September 2011) - an International Digital Awards finalist
PRIDE, PREJUDICE AND THE PERFECT MATCH (Coming January 2013!)
An Excerpt from HOLIDAY MAN:
Bram watched Shannon scurry after that assistant of hers--that man with the shrewd eyes and the pesky manners--and he wanted to throttle the guy.
Jake-Somebody-or-Other lusted after Shannon, that much was clear. Shannon's feelings toward the assistant were more difficult to ascertain, but Bram would figure it out. He always did.
Why? Because she'd caught his interest. Even if anything beyond tonight was an exercise in futility.
He marched around the perimeter of the dance floor, trying to imagine his ex-girlfriend at a weekend affair like this. Angie would've wanted to hit every activity. Not miss a single second of excitement, whatever the latest thrill might be. She absolutely exhausted him when they were together, but not because he couldn't handle the events she threw his way.
No. He could handle anything.
But her insatiable need for diversion drained him. It felt like a reflection on him. Made him fear his inability to keep her entertained. And he'd hated that.
Pretty-faced women dotted the dance floor. Several looked at him with those eyes filled with feverish anticipation, an expectation that a love match might be imminent. Well, Bram knew better. Relationships were fine as long as they were kept in their proper place. Something hot. Something short-term. Something with boundaries. Try to make them your top priority and everything else in your life would get shot to hell.
He shuddered, flooded by a need to get away from the hopeful expressions etched on the faces of those single women.
So he strode out into the hallway and lingered by a display cabinet featuring, among other things, a curvy stained-glass vase. It was European. Mid-Twentieth Century. Delicate yet intricate. Colorful but in a tasteful, not discordant way.
Funny. In an odd way it reminded him of Shannon.
Now there was a woman whose company he'd admit to enjoying. But, let's face it, she wasn't exactly available to him. If he were being honest with himself--and he'd made a habit out of doing just that--perhaps this was part of his fascination.
She was lovely, but she wouldn't be capable of making demands on him during his hectic workweek. She represented everything that spelled relaxation in his book: Home and hearth, an out-of-the-way locale, feminine cozy comfort nestled in a charming, rustic environment. She was smart, responsible and in full charge of her own career path.
He could almost convince himself his attraction to her was "wholesome." Almost...because he still loved the allure of her most curvaceous assets. And, after a mere twenty seconds of remembering her in his arms as they danced, he knew their potential physical chemistry played no small part in her appeal.
He stared at the vase again, mesmerized by the swirl of colors when a stained-glass chip reflected the light. He squinted at it, and the magnificent rainbow was no longer distinct. The hues bled together like silken watercolors, as if, by a mere change in perspective, all the disparate elements of life could join together as one.
"Well, hello again, Bram."
Shannon. Her voice made him open his eyes fully and drink in the vision of her standing before him.
"Crisis averted?" he asked her.
She smiled. "For the time being." She pointed to the display cabinet. "See anything that intrigues you."
He looked right at her. "Yes." He stared into her blue eyes until she blushed. After another moment he added, "And the vase is nice, too."
Holiday Man
A Romance Told Over a Year of Holidays...
Shannon Quinn is the small-town girl who runs "Holiday Quinn" -- a holiday-themed inn/resort based in scenic Door County, Wisconsin. One winter evening, wealthy Minneapolis businessman, Bram Hartwick, blows into town along with the fast-falling snow.
The sparks Bram and Shannon create succeed in heating up the chilly Midwestern night, not to mention plenty of holiday weekends in the year that follows... But is their relationship destined to be for special occasions only, or might it be the elusive everyday love that neither thought could be found?
BONUS CONTENT:
Award-winning author Marilyn Brant includes three story excerpts in additional to the full HOLIDAY MAN novel! Enjoy sample scenes from:
ON ANY GIVEN SUNDAE (June 2011) - a Bestseller in Humor
DOUBLE DIPPING (September 2011) - an International Digital Awards finalist
PRIDE, PREJUDICE AND THE PERFECT MATCH (Coming January 2013!)
An Excerpt from HOLIDAY MAN:
Bram watched Shannon scurry after that assistant of hers--that man with the shrewd eyes and the pesky manners--and he wanted to throttle the guy.
Jake-Somebody-or-Other lusted after Shannon, that much was clear. Shannon's feelings toward the assistant were more difficult to ascertain, but Bram would figure it out. He always did.
Why? Because she'd caught his interest. Even if anything beyond tonight was an exercise in futility.
He marched around the perimeter of the dance floor, trying to imagine his ex-girlfriend at a weekend affair like this. Angie would've wanted to hit every activity. Not miss a single second of excitement, whatever the latest thrill might be. She absolutely exhausted him when they were together, but not because he couldn't handle the events she threw his way.
No. He could handle anything.
But her insatiable need for diversion drained him. It felt like a reflection on him. Made him fear his inability to keep her entertained. And he'd hated that.
Pretty-faced women dotted the dance floor. Several looked at him with those eyes filled with feverish anticipation, an expectation that a love match might be imminent. Well, Bram knew better. Relationships were fine as long as they were kept in their proper place. Something hot. Something short-term. Something with boundaries. Try to make them your top priority and everything else in your life would get shot to hell.
He shuddered, flooded by a need to get away from the hopeful expressions etched on the faces of those single women.
So he strode out into the hallway and lingered by a display cabinet featuring, among other things, a curvy stained-glass vase. It was European. Mid-Twentieth Century. Delicate yet intricate. Colorful but in a tasteful, not discordant way.
Funny. In an odd way it reminded him of Shannon.
Now there was a woman whose company he'd admit to enjoying. But, let's face it, she wasn't exactly available to him. If he were being honest with himself--and he'd made a habit out of doing just that--perhaps this was part of his fascination.
She was lovely, but she wouldn't be capable of making demands on him during his hectic workweek. She represented everything that spelled relaxation in his book: Home and hearth, an out-of-the-way locale, feminine cozy comfort nestled in a charming, rustic environment. She was smart, responsible and in full charge of her own career path.
He could almost convince himself his attraction to her was "wholesome." Almost...because he still loved the allure of her most curvaceous assets. And, after a mere twenty seconds of remembering her in his arms as they danced, he knew their potential physical chemistry played no small part in her appeal.
He stared at the vase again, mesmerized by the swirl of colors when a stained-glass chip reflected the light. He squinted at it, and the magnificent rainbow was no longer distinct. The hues bled together like silken watercolors, as if, by a mere change in perspective, all the disparate elements of life could join together as one.
"Well, hello again, Bram."
Shannon. Her voice made him open his eyes fully and drink in the vision of her standing before him.
"Crisis averted?" he asked her.
She smiled. "For the time being." She pointed to the display cabinet. "See anything that intrigues you."
He looked right at her. "Yes." He stared into her blue eyes until she blushed. After another moment he added, "And the vase is nice, too."
Shannon Quinn is the small-town girl who runs "Holiday Quinn" -- a holiday-themed inn/resort based in scenic Door County, Wisconsin. One winter evening, wealthy Minneapolis businessman, Bram Hartwick, blows into town along with the fast-falling snow.
The sparks Bram and Shannon create succeed in heating up the chilly Midwestern night, not to mention plenty of holiday weekends in the year that follows... But is their relationship destined to be for special occasions only, or might it be the elusive everyday love that neither thought could be found?
BONUS CONTENT:
Award-winning author Marilyn Brant includes three story excerpts in additional to the full HOLIDAY MAN novel! Enjoy sample scenes from:
ON ANY GIVEN SUNDAE (June 2011) - a Bestseller in Humor
DOUBLE DIPPING (September 2011) - an International Digital Awards finalist
PRIDE, PREJUDICE AND THE PERFECT MATCH (Coming January 2013!)
An Excerpt from HOLIDAY MAN:
Bram watched Shannon scurry after that assistant of hers--that man with the shrewd eyes and the pesky manners--and he wanted to throttle the guy.
Jake-Somebody-or-Other lusted after Shannon, that much was clear. Shannon's feelings toward the assistant were more difficult to ascertain, but Bram would figure it out. He always did.
Why? Because she'd caught his interest. Even if anything beyond tonight was an exercise in futility.
He marched around the perimeter of the dance floor, trying to imagine his ex-girlfriend at a weekend affair like this. Angie would've wanted to hit every activity. Not miss a single second of excitement, whatever the latest thrill might be. She absolutely exhausted him when they were together, but not because he couldn't handle the events she threw his way.
No. He could handle anything.
But her insatiable need for diversion drained him. It felt like a reflection on him. Made him fear his inability to keep her entertained. And he'd hated that.
Pretty-faced women dotted the dance floor. Several looked at him with those eyes filled with feverish anticipation, an expectation that a love match might be imminent. Well, Bram knew better. Relationships were fine as long as they were kept in their proper place. Something hot. Something short-term. Something with boundaries. Try to make them your top priority and everything else in your life would get shot to hell.
He shuddered, flooded by a need to get away from the hopeful expressions etched on the faces of those single women.
So he strode out into the hallway and lingered by a display cabinet featuring, among other things, a curvy stained-glass vase. It was European. Mid-Twentieth Century. Delicate yet intricate. Colorful but in a tasteful, not discordant way.
Funny. In an odd way it reminded him of Shannon.
Now there was a woman whose company he'd admit to enjoying. But, let's face it, she wasn't exactly available to him. If he were being honest with himself--and he'd made a habit out of doing just that--perhaps this was part of his fascination.
She was lovely, but she wouldn't be capable of making demands on him during his hectic workweek. She represented everything that spelled relaxation in his book: Home and hearth, an out-of-the-way locale, feminine cozy comfort nestled in a charming, rustic environment. She was smart, responsible and in full charge of her own career path.
He could almost convince himself his attraction to her was "wholesome." Almost...because he still loved the allure of her most curvaceous assets. And, after a mere twenty seconds of remembering her in his arms as they danced, he knew their potential physical chemistry played no small part in her appeal.
He stared at the vase again, mesmerized by the swirl of colors when a stained-glass chip reflected the light. He squinted at it, and the magnificent rainbow was no longer distinct. The hues bled together like silken watercolors, as if, by a mere change in perspective, all the disparate elements of life could join together as one.
"Well, hello again, Bram."
Shannon. Her voice made him open his eyes fully and drink in the vision of her standing before him.
"Crisis averted?" he asked her.
She smiled. "For the time being." She pointed to the display cabinet. "See anything that intrigues you."
He looked right at her. "Yes." He stared into her blue eyes until she blushed. After another moment he added, "And the vase is nice, too."
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Product Details
BN ID: | 2940015845464 |
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Publisher: | Twelfth Night Publishing |
Publication date: | 11/11/2012 |
Series: | Sweet , #3 |
Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
Format: | eBook |
File size: | 865 KB |
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