#MFRWHOOK – Are We Finished?

Book Hooks is a weekly meme hosted by Marketing for Romance Writers as part of the MFRW Authors Blog. Readers can jump from one author to another who share hooks from their current WIP (work in progress) or any previously published books.

For this week’s edition of Book Hooks, I give you a teaser from my recently released Thanksgiving Collection (two short stories in one), just in time for America’s Bird Day.

Their Thanksgiving includes more than turkey and stuffing.

Thanksgiving Collection: Stories 1 & 2

Blurb: It’s supposed to be another lonely holiday for a widower and an accountant. However, fate’s asking them to take the biggest risk-filled gamble of their lives. If they play their cards right, maybe they’ll walk away with the pot.

Thanks to You: She’s from the boundary waters of Northwestern Ontario, and he’s from a place his people call Waiekwakitchigami in northern Minnesota. Neither expects to meet, much less spend Thanksgiving together.
Because of You: She must make the biggest decision of her life before Thanksgiving Day.

Genre(s): Contemporary Romance, Holiday Romance, First Nations Romance, Native American Romance, Adult
Heat Rating: Level 3
Publication Date: October 29, 2023

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Tripp again pressed his lips together. His softened jawline hardened. “I really wish you’d see where I’m coming from. I opened my home to you—”

“And I haven’t?” Paulina reset her hands on her hips. She hadn’t compromised with her ex-husband when they’d gotten married. Remaining firm had paid off, otherwise if she hadn’t, her losses would’ve been ten times greater during their divorce.

“Maybe you did ’cause I did first?” Tripp lifted his hand slightly. “Look, I’m not keeping score. Okay? But I traveled way more than you have. I was the first to make my house yours. I—”

“It does sound like you’re keeping score.”

The light in Tripp’s eyes died. “I wasn’t trying to. Honestly. I…I guess I wondered if you were holding back on me.” His shoulders sagged. “There. I said what was going on in here.” He tapped the side of his head.

“Holding back?” Paulina squinted.

“Yeah.” Tripp shrugged. “I know you want everything to happen on the schedule you keep up here…” Again, he tapped the side of his head. “…but life doesn’t always work that way, honey. Think about last year when you went for it. I know how hard that was for you. And I’m glad you did it. Keep in mind I don’t expect you to do it all the time. I fell in love with you ’cause you’re you.”

Dammit, he was making this hard for her. Most men bullied or argued their point. Not Tripp. He always maintained his cool and spoke gently enough to ensure she understood how passionate he was about his desires—and he desired for them to live on his reserve just outside of Cloquet.

Yes, taking chances was important, but this was the biggest gamble of Paulina’s life. Spinning the roulette wheel on her career and future was impossible. She had to take her chips and cash them in while she was still ahead.

“I’m sorry. Very sorry. I…I can’t.” She hugged herself.

If Tripp’s eyes got any gloomier, he’d produce a week’s worth of torrential rain. He stared off at the wall. Shaman trotted over. He sat beside his dad, gazing up at Tripp. He even nuzzled his thigh.

“I…” Tripp wet his lips. “I…y’know, I got a lot of work I gotta get done at the house. Rake the leaves. Clean out the eavestroughs. I…I should really use this vacation time to get that stuff done.”

His feet dragged as he meandered to the bedroom with Shaman on his heels.

Paulina pressed her palm on her mouth. Was this it? Was it over? Her ex had said her refusing to compromise was the very reason why he’d had an affair and had demanded a divorce to be with his new accommodating lady…