Maggie Blackbird

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 The Circle is Small, a second-chance contemporary romance that is 50% off when you purchase from Extasy Books.

An ex-cop returning to face his horrendous past, the woman who won’t forgive him, and the family who’ll never let him forget that he killed their son.

Blurb:  First Nations Constable Jordan Chartrand’s guilt can’t handle the accusing stares from the family left to mourn their son after that horrible night…so he flees from his Ojibway community and the woman he loves. Two years later, his mother’s cancer diagnosis forces him to return to help her.

Devoted schoolteacher Ellie Quill wants nothing to do with Jordan after he bolted to the city and left her behind. Her life goals are set. As for her secret, she’ll keep that to herself, even if Jordan’s begging to know the truth about her child.

When the two are compelled to work on a community project to address the rampant drug problem, their forced proximity slowly melts Ellie’s icy walls. But no matter how much her heart desires to give Jordan the second chance that he’s begging for, she refuses to because providing a life for her son in the tradition of the Ojibway culture is her top priority now, not moving to the city where Jordan continues to hide.

Genre(s): Contemporary Romance, First Nations Romance, Adult
Heat Rating: Level 3
Publication Date: March 17, 2023
Publisher: eXtasy Books

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At one point Ellie had loved Jordan’s cop tone, like in the bedroom, but in her car? He could go to hell. There was one way to ensure he’d never ask again and would remain in Winnipeg. “You’re not the only one who abandoned the rez and the people who…” I never cared. I won’t ever care.

“I didn’t abandon—”

“T. Bay’s a great place to get away for the weekend and forget.” They were upon a turn. She’d give anything to take the damned thing at full speed to relieve some of the tension in her backside. But she had Raymond to think about, so she let her foot off the gas.

“Thunder Bay?” He shifted in the seat. His scrutinizing stare, the one he’d used for the troublemakers on the reserve, bore into the side of her face.

She ground her teeth back and forth. “Sure, why not? You ran away. I thought to take a nice vacay, too, and enjoy myself.”

“What’s that supposed to mean exactly?” His tone remained in cop mode.

After he’d probably fucked everything in Winnipeg, he had the nerve to speak to her like a suspect? “You tell me.”

“Tell you what?”

Her hand itched to cuff him upside the chin. He still wasn’t reacting with anger but remained in control and his voice full of authority. “I said you tell me, since you asked what I meant.”

“What did you mean then?”

“I simply said I went to T. Bay to get away for the weekend.” Adding a dollop of mystery to her tone was a spiteful thing to do, but big freaking deal.

“And…?” His question had the same impact as tapping his baton into his palm.

“And maybe you should stop asking if you’re the father.” She held her breath. Lying wasn’t something she did. But dammit, he didn’t deserve to know the truth.

“I see. Great. Just great.” Gone was the controlled pitch full of authority. His voice raised an octave.

Her peripheral vision caught the red forming on his face and the bunching of his eyes.

“While I was—” He shoved his finger at the windshield. “Let me out. Here. I can walk the rest of the way.”

“Fine.” She hit the brake too fast, and the back end of the car fishtailed ever so slightly.

The vehicle came to a stop. A blanket of dust rolled over the car.

Jordan threw open the door and slammed it shut.

“Bye-bye,” Raymond called out.

Ellie let her foot off the brake and hit the gas. The volcanic anger that had threatened to erupt moments ago was doused by a cloud full of tears gathering in the corners of her eyes thanks to the stupid lump almost strangling her throat. No, she wouldn’t cry. Not over the likes of Jordan Chartrand.

She didn’t love him. She’d stopped loving him when he’d chosen Winnipeg over her and the community they’d been a big part of.

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