THE LOOK OF LOVE with Bella Andre Back to Blog
Update: The 5 winners of the Kindler version of THE LOOK OF LOVE are: Elisa, Jewel, Sherry, Brenda Hyde, and Anne. Congratulations!
It’s no secret…I love Bella Andre‘s work. If you haven’t read her yet (What?), then you should definitely try her stories. They’re fabulous. And, today, I’m going to giveaway 5 Kindle copies of her very fabulous story, THE LOOK OF LOVE. Read on to learn more about this great book.
Here’s the blurb:
With THE LOOK OF LOVE bestselling author Bella Andre introduces you to a fun and emotional contemporary romance series about the Sullivan family. Because when a Sullivan bad boy falls…he falls hard. And it’s forever.
Chloe Peterson is having a bad night. A really bad night. The large bruise on her cheek can attest to that. And when her car skids off the side of a wet country road straight into a ditch, she’s convinced even the gorgeous guy who rescues her in the middle of the rain storm must be too good to be true. Or is he?
As a successful photographer who frequently travels around the world, Chase Sullivan has his pick of beautiful women, and whenever he’s home in San Francisco, one of his seven siblings is usually up for causing a little fun trouble. Chase thinks his life is great just as it is—until the night he finds Chloe and her totaled car on the side of the road in Napa Valley. Not only has he never met anyone so lovely, both inside and out, but he quickly realizes she has much bigger problems than her damaged car. Soon, he is willing to move mountains to love—and protect—her, but will she let him?
Chloe vows never to make the mistake of trusting a man again. Only, with every loving look Chase gives her—and every sinfully sweet caress—as the attraction between them sparks and sizzles, she can’t help but wonder if she’s met the only exception. And although Chase didn’t realize his life was going to change forever in an instant, amazingly, he isn’t the least bit interested in fighting that change. Instead, he’s gearing up for a different fight altogether…for Chloe’s heart.
I hope you enjoy the following excerpt for THE LOOK OF LOVE…
Chase almost missed the flickering light off on the right side of the two-lane country road. In the past thirty minutes, he hadn’t passed a single car, because on a night like this, most sane Californians—who didn’t know the first thing about driving safely in inclement weather—stayed home.
Knowing better than to slam on the brakes—he wouldn’t be able to help whomever was stranded on the side of the road if he ended up stuck in the muddy ditch right next to them—Chase slowed down enough to see that there was definitely a vehicle stuck in the ditch.
He turned his brights on to see better in the pouring rain and realized there was a person walking along the edge of the road about a hundred yards up ahead. Obviously hearing his car approach, she turned to face him and he could see her long wet hair whipping around her shoulders in his headlights.
Wondering why she wasn’t just sitting in her car, dry and warm, calling Triple A and waiting for them to come save her, he pulled over to the edge of his lane and got out to try and help her. She was shivering as she watched him approach.
“Are you hurt?”
She covered her cheek with one hand, but shook her head. “No.”
He had to move closer to hear her over the sound of the water hitting the pavement in what were rapidly becoming hailstones. Even though he’d turned his headlights off, as his eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness, he was able to get a better look at her face.
Something inside of Chase’s chest clenched tight.
Despite the long, dark hair plastered to her head and chest, regardless of the fact that looking like a drowned rat wasn’t too far off the descriptive mark, her beauty stunned him.
In an instant, his photographer’s eye cataloged her features. Her mouth was a little too big, her eyes a little too wide-set on her face. She wasn’t even close to model thin, but given the way her T-shirt and jeans stuck to her skin, he could see that she wore her lush curves well. In the dark he couldn’t judge the exact color of her hair, but it looked like silk, perfectly smooth and straight where it lay over her breasts.
It wasn’t until Chase heard her say, “My car is definitely hurt, though,” that he realized he had completely lost the thread of what he’d come out here to do.
Knowing he’d been drinking her in like he was dying of thirst, he worked to recover his balance. He could already see he’d been right about her car. It didn’t take a mechanic like his brother, Zach, who owned an auto shop—more like forty, but Chase had stopped counting years ago—to see that her shitty hatchback was borderline totaled. Even if the front bumper wasn’t half smashed to pieces by the white farm fence she’d slid into, her bald tires weren’t going to get any traction on the mud. Not tonight, anyway.
If her car had been in a less precarious situation, he probably would have sent her to hang out in her car while he took care of getting it unstuck. But one of her back tires was hanging precariously over the edge of the ditch.
He jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “Get in my car. We can wait there for a tow truck.” He was vaguely aware of his words coming out like an order, but the hail was starting to sting, damn it. Both of them needed to get out of the rain before they froze.
But the woman didn’t move. Instead, she gave him a look that said he was a complete and utter nut-job.
“I’m not getting into your car.”
Realizing just how frightening it must be for a lone woman to end up stuck and alone in the middle of a dark road, Chase took a step back from her. He had to speak loudly enough for her to hear him over the hail.
“I’m not going to attack you. I swear I won’t do anything to hurt you.”
She all but flinched at the word attack and Chase’s radar started buzzing. He’d never been a magnet for troubled women, wasn’t the kind of guy who thrived on fixing wounded birds. But living with two sisters for so many years meant he could always tell when something was up.
And something was definitely up with this woman, beyond the fact that her car was half-stuck in a muddy ditch.
Wanting to make her feel safe, he held his hands up. “I swear on my father’s grave, I’m not going to hurt you. It’s okay to get into my car.” When she didn’t immediately say no again, he pressed his advantage with, “I just want to help you.” And he did. More than it made sense to want to help a stranger. “Please,” he said. “Let me help you.”
She stared at him for a long moment, hail hammering between them, around them, onto them. Chase found himself holding his breath, waiting for her decision. It shouldn’t matter to him what she decided.
But, for some strange reason, it did.
* * *
Chloe Peterson had never felt so wet, so miserable…or so desperate. She’d been beating the speed limit for the past couple of hours, before the storm had kicked into overdrive. She’d slowed down considerably on the super-slick pavement, but her tires were old and bald, and before she knew it, her car was skidding off the road.
Straight into a muddy ditch.
It might have been easier—smarter, too—to sit in her car and wait out the storm. But she’d been too keyed up to stay still. She’d needed to keep moving, otherwise the thoughts knocking around in her head were going to catch up with her, so she’d slung her backpack over her shoulders and stepped out into the rain, just as it turned into out-and-out hail.
The hard little pellets hurt her skin, but she’d been glad for the cold, for the sting. Because it gave her something else to focus on, something besides what had happened just hours ago.
She hadn’t been sure exactly where she was—or what she was headed for–but she’d hoped she was walking in the direction of town.
All night long the roads had been strangely empty, but she’d barely starting walking away from her car when she’d realized headlights were coming up behind her.
Fear had knocked into her again as the car pulled over to the side and she’d had to stop to brace herself to withstand it. She was all alone on a dark, wet, country road. She didn’t have her cell phone, and even if she had, she doubted there was enough reception out here in the storm for it to get a signal.
And then a man–a large man–had gotten out of his car and started walking toward her, telling her to get into his car.
No way.
He’d tried to convince her that she was safe with him. He’d said all the right things, but she’d had too much experience with people like that, who easily said one thing, then did another.
“I don’t know you,” she told him. He could be an axe murderer. She had feet. She’d walk and find a place to dry off later.
She could see the frustration on his face, knew he was about to try and reason with her again, when suddenly, the sound of skidding tires came at them. Before she knew what was happening, he was pulling her into his arms. She didn’t have time to think of fighting him, didn’t even consider it when she realized a fast-moving motorcycle was practically on top of them.
She closed her eyes, bracing for impact, when the man effortlessly lifted her and jumped into the ditch, holding her tightly against him.
She opened her eyes just in time to watch the motorcycle’s back tires skid and then finally catch hold just in the place she’d been standing. Her heart, which had all but stopped, started racing again as she watched it speed away.
“Are you okay?”
Chloe looked up at the man who had shielded her from harm with his own body, and for the first time since he’d stepped out of his car, she was hit hard with the realization of just how attractive he was.
No, she silently admitted to herself. Attractive was a paltry word for a man like this. Even in the darkness, she could see that he put other men to shame. As big as she’d first thought, even in the cold rain, he was utterly gorgeous.
And her body was reacting with surprising heat.
Or maybe, she suddenly realized, that heat was coming from the fact that he was still cradling her in his strong arms.
The way he’d moved her out of the way of the too-close motorcycle had her teetering on the edge of trusting him. And on any other night, perhaps it would have been enough. But was it?
They were both splattered with mud from where he’d landed with her in his arms and now that they were safe again, she struggled to stand up, to try and right her thoughts so that she could come to some sort of rational decision.
“Wait a minute,” he said, “let me get us out of here.”
A few moments later, he put her down on the side of the road. “It really isn’t safe to be out here. Not for either of us.”
Common sense told her he was right, and yet, she was still wary. Incredibly so.
But at this very moment what other choice did she have?
Replaying in her mind the way he’d protected her from harm, Chloe finally, said, “Okay. I’ll go with you.”
She sincerely hoped she didn’t end up regretting her choice.
…Excerpt from THE LOOK OF LOVE by Bella Andre ©2011.
***
***Book 2, FROM THIS MOMENT ON, is also now available. http://www.amazon.com/This-Moment-Sullivans-Book-ebook/dp/B005KB9WJO. Book 3, CAN’T HELP FALLING IN LOVE will be released December 15th!***
REVIEWS…
“The Look of Love is an emotionally compelling, thoroughly sexy, lovely read. I can’t wait for more Sullivan brothers!” Carly Phillips, NYT Bestselling Author
“The Look of Love is the perfect combination of sexy heat and tender heart. This character driven romance has brains, brawn and the perfect bad boy to launch a whole family’s worth of fun.” Barbara Freethy, #1 NYT Bestselling Author
“Pure sensual fun! I couldn’t read fast enough. I loved everything about Chase and Chloe’s story. I’m hooked on the Sullivans!” Marie Force, Bestselling Author
“No one does sexy like Bella Andre.” Sarah MacLean, NYT Bestselling Author
THE LOOK OF LOVE (Sullivans #1) ~ Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Smashwords, Goodreads & AllRomance
FROM THIS MOMENT ON (Sullivans #2) ~ Kindle, Nook, Apple, Smashwords, Goodreads & AllRomance
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Want to win one of those 5 THE LOOK OF LOVE copies? Then tell me, have you ever been in love? If so…how’d you know it was love?
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I am in love, have been for a long time. How do I know? Because when i’m in my Hubby’s arms it feels like the safest place in the world. There’s nowhere i’d rather be 🙂
I’ve never been in love. But I think if I ever did fall in love I’d know it the moment I looked into his eyes & of course if at the same time my heart was beating way to fast, that would be another sign. 😉
While dating, you want to spend every moment with them. Then you get married and sometimes wish they’d go away for a weekend, lol!
After years with someone, it is that private look, the shoulder squeeze, the times they make your favorite meal, when he changes my tire in the bad weather and things like that make my heart pound.
A long time ago I believe I was. But it kind of doesn’t matter when the other person didn’t feel the same.
Yup, with my hubby. I don’t think I can really explain how I knew. It’s just right, if you know what I mean.
Love the excerpt. Thanks.
I am in love and have been for a long time, and I think the way you can tell that it is love is that there aren’t any sudden fireworks; just the realisation that no matter how bad things might be, they would be so much worse without that one person in your life.
In love with my husband, just felt right, couldn’t imagine my life without him in it. Enjoyed reading the excerpt.
HI! I fell in love with my soul mate, my husband. We have been together for 17 years now. We also have our son who makes our life interesting! 🙂
I’ve been in love with my husband from just about our first meeting. Yes at first it was “OMG he’s HOT!!” But as I got to know him I realized what a great guy he was and still is. He takes great care of me and spoils me rotten. LOL!
I am in love with my husband of five years. It’s his silent strength that is getting me through some tough times that keeps me in love with him. He is often snarky and keeps me laughing with that snarkiness. He takes care of me and my daughter, but also doesn’t let me lean on him too much.
The fact that he builds book cases for my romance collections really shows his love for ME…LOL
In about 7 months I’ll have been married 20 years. I met my husband while in the Army in Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm. I got attached to his unit fresh out of job training. We did a lot of sitting around and talking in our down time and it was so easy to just talk about anything. He became my best friend and has remained so since. I just look at him and feel this pull. Been like that for the past 20 years. Even now.
Lisa B
Yes, for a long time with my husband. I guess I knew because he not only gave my butterflies in my stomach, but he was also my best friend.
Such a great book, Bella!
hmm I guess since I”m married I have to yes 🙂 Just kidding of course I love my husband.
I love my husbsnd because he makes me laugh & he is my best friend. My mother said, you know it is love when you would like to kill your husband but you don’t because you still want him around lol. She has been married for 38 so she must know.—Rachel
I’ve been in like, but never in love.
I just hope I recognize it when it happens to me.
I’m in love with my husband and have been for almost 34 yrs. I can’t imagine life without him. And I think I realized I was in love with him the first time he kissed me when I was crying over a broken relationship with a previous boyfriend. He was my best friends brother and knew about all of the heartbreak. I’d always thought of him as a brother/friend kind of person. He shocked me with that kiss. And it was love forevermore. 🙂
When I was younger I would have said I was in love a few times, but after meeting my husband and being with him for 23 years I can truly say it was only once. I think it’s the feeling that that one person is your best friend, lover, and life partner all wrapped into one. When you know you can face anything as long as they are with you.
I think so. It’s different from lust for sure… It’s about being comfortable in your own skin…
I have been and am still in love 29 years marries in November. I knew it was love when his happiness meant more to me than my own
I knew that I was in love with my now husband when no matter how I felt when I thought of him I just had to smile.
Bella Andre’s books are so very enjoyable! I knew I was in love when just a simple smile was felt all the way through my soul. Still after 22 years just a simple look can weaken my knees!
I am in love and have been with my husband for 20yrs.
Ooo what a great giveaway!! love to me is being with the one you cant live without and is with you through the ups and downs of life. No matter what you look like or if your bitchy (time of month) and its the little things a look, holding hands for no reason or just cuddling on couch..thats love and I have that with my husband of 14 yrs 🙂
I have been in love before. You can tell when you haven’t seen that person in a while, but when you see them…it just makes everything so much better.
Its everything, from the physical to the emotional. He still makes me feel so treasured and loved after 12 years of marriage.
I’ve been in love for 14 years & married now for just over 12. When my kids ask, “how do you know it’s love?” my response is always the same…”There’s no one else I’d rather be with, especially for the bad times!” We’re a team & though we’ll never always agree, we balance each other!
No, I don’t think I have been in love before. I have been happy and content but never that heart fluttering butterflies in your stomach feeling when you see him love. Hopefully someday I will find that…..
Yes, I’ve been in love. You know it because there isn’t anything you wouldn’t do for that person and they make you happy just by being themselves.
yadkny@hotmail.com
I’ve fallen in love with many characters. *Sigh* I wish they were real. It makes it hard for real men to compete.
Yes, I have, but I guess I didn’t know it was love at the time.
“How do you know it was love?”
Such a great question–which rarely has neat, short, to the point answers!
For me, it’s being willing (eager, in fact) to do things for the person you love. Little things, the things others may not notice to do for him. Grand gestures too, of course, who doesn’t like those? But the little, drudgery things one can do for the other, to take care of him, to ease his day.
And it’s also being willing to let him go when it’s the best thing for both of you.
Great excerpt. I was one, but it didnt end up forever, still looking for that myself. And really I dont know how I knew, I just did.
I thought I was once; but I guess I truly did not know. How do I know? I feel like there’s someone lurking around out there and I’ve yet to meet them.
And don’t smack me. I haven’t read any of Bella’s work. *ducks head and runs*
Yes, I’ve been in love. I just knew deep down that he was the one – that was 35 years ago and I still feel that way.
Yes… How I knew it was love… Every time I thought about him, my heart would flutter and I’d become breathless =D
I’ve been in love with my husband for five years now and how I knew I was in love was when I went away for 3 days and couldn’t wait to get back to him
I can’t describe the feeling. It’s just a feeling of absolute happiness and joy to be around that special person. 🙂
Oh yes I’m in love right now in fact! I can’t go a day with out speaking to my honey. It seems like I can’t live with out him!
Cynthia – thank you so much for having me here as part of your release day extravaganza!!! 🙂
I’m in love with my husband. He’s amazing. I knew the first time I saw him 15 years ago. Plus, he’s hot! LOL
🙂 bella
yes I have been in love in fact I am in love now with my husband. As for how I knew well he is never far from my thoughts, I want to share everything with him, and I would do anything for him. I put him before myself so I know it is love 🙂
for me i think, it’s just happen and can be everywhere and to anyone, we never know exactly why i can happen to us but there is one sure that i love this guy 😉
I haven’t yet been in love, but I know that I have love guys who are my best friends but not in love 🙂
I’ve been in love with my man for the last eight years and the reason I know is because we are a family 🙂
I fell in love with my husband and I don’t know exactly but I think you feel differently with him than anyone else and want to be with him.
No I haven’t ever been in love. and I’m not really sure how I’ll know. It’s something I’ve thought about but never been able to come up with an answer for. Maybe once I fall in love I”ll know for sure but until then I”ll just wonder.
Yes, I have been in love with my husband for 9 years. I knew because he was always on my mind and I wanted to be with him everyday.
Yep, I fell for my husband nearly 19 years ago and still fall every day when I see, hear and feel him. There is just that special something extra about him that nobody else has that keeps me falling!
I’ve never been in true for life love. If it happens great, if not, I’m ok with it. I definitely like reading about it.
Yes I have been in love and I am still there. I know that it is love because just thinking about spending one day without my husband in my life physically hurts. Ya know when people rub their chests to ease the ache? Yeah, that kind of hurt. I just can’t imaging my life without him.
Bella Andre is one of my favorites and am excited to read this book! Hope I win!!!