Title: The Sweet Spot
Series: Appleton Vale, Book 1
Author: Anneli Lort
Publisher: Creativia
Cover Artist: Louise Mizen Ferguson
Release Date: July 4, 2017
Romance Genre(s): Contemporary, Sports
Words: 89,500
About the Book
Blurb
Buy Links
Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU
Excerpt
“Oh, so this is where you two disappeared to,” he said. “How
much have you had to drink?” he laughed.
“Juss the one bottle,” Susie slurred.
“Each,” Olivia added.
“I hope it was the good stuff or you’re going to feel crap
in the morning,” said Tom.
“Feel a bit shit now,” Susie was green.
“Right, bed, now,” Tom said firmly. “I’ll see you home
Olivia,”
“Don’t be silly, it’s fifty yards door to door, I’m fine,”
she replied and slipped her coat on.
“Ok, ‘night then, and drink some water before you go to
sleep.” Tom was insistent.
“Yes sir,” Olivia said with a mock salute and stumbled off
home.
She woke the next morning with a head full of cotton wool
and a raging thirst. “I’m never drinking again”, she muttered. Hector looked up
at her and rolled his eyes.
Gently easing herself out of bed, Olivia quickly downed the
forgotten glass of water and went for a shower.
An hour later, after several strong coffees, she ventured
out to Church Farm Food Barn.
She had just walked through the heavy glass doors when she
saw Andrea Hartley heading her way. The diminutive, bubbly redhead was a riot
of curls and curves - Olivia had liked her very much when they had met the
previous evening.
“Morning,” Andrea trilled. ”You look a little jaded, heavy
night?”
“Just a bit,” Olivia laughed. “Susie and I demolished a
couple of bottles of wine after the bonfire party, I feel terrible”.
“Oh dear,” Andrea was sympathetic.
“All self-inflicted, I’ve no one else to blame,” said
Olivia. “I’m crap at drinking, don’t know why I bother when I feel like this.”
Andrea laughed. “I’ve got a delivery coming in now, but if
there’s anything you need that you can’t find just ask one of the staff. Let’s meet up for a drink soon, maybe the pub
quiz? We need some brains on our team.”
“Sounds great, maybe just an orange juice though” Olivia
replied with a smile. I think I’m starting to like it here,
she thought.
On the short journey home, car laden with shopping, Olivia
passed the parish church of St Saviours’ and pulled the car in to take a quick
look. A giant oak tree, said to be at least four hundred years old and rumored
to have magical properties, dominated the churchyard, casting a protective
shadow over its resting souls.
“Good morning,” a gentle voice came from behind her.
Olivia turned around to find a pale, wiry man with twinkling
eyes and a dog collar.
“Hi,” she replied.
“Olivia isn’t it?” he asked. “I’m Kevin Flett, Kev the Rev.”
“Kev the Rev?” Olivia laughed.
“That’s what they call me. Welcome to the village, will we
be seeing you in church?” he enquired.
“Er, no, I don’t think so,” Olivia replied. “ I’m a
non-believer I’m afraid.”
“Ah well, we all have our crosses to bear. What brings you
to God’s humble abode today?”
“This,” Olivia touched the tree.
“Magnificent, isn’t it?” said Kev, with pride. “Some of the
carvings date back hundreds of years, all couples from the village who married
here, a tradition of sorts.”
“Yes, that’s what Dee Dee told me,” she said, slowly moving
around the vast trunk, gently touching each carving as she read the
inscriptions.
Sensing she was lost in thought, Kev said, ”I’ll leave you
to it my dear. The door’s always open if you change your mind, God doesn’t hold
grudges.”
“Nice to meet you,” she said before turning her attention
back to the tree.
Eventually she found what she had been looking for. There it was, etched deeply into the wood, “S
& E Forever Bloom”.
She felt a pang of jealousy and muttered, “For God’s sake,
pull yourself together, how can you be jealous of a dead woman?”
Momentarily, Sebastian filled her head. She missed him. Don’t fall for him, DON’T fall for him, she
said to herself, and tried to shake it off.
About Anneli Lort
Author Bio
Anneli Lort lived with a charming cast of characters in her head for a number of years before she found the time to sit down and bring them to life in the Appleton Vale series. Once she put pen to paper her imagination was free to create a character driven world of contemporary romance that is both heartwarming and engaging. In a public relations career that spanned more than two decades Anneli worked closely with elite professionals at the highest level and with some of the world’s biggest sporting companies. With this came an access-all-areas pass to the greatest sports events on the planet where she saw for herself the tension, drama and emotions that were played out behind the scenes. While TV audiences around the world watched the sporting excitement unfold, she was there to witness first-hand what really happened before and afterwards – the untold stories the rest of the world never got to see.This is the rich and enviable background she brings to her debut novel - The Sweet Spot. Anneli lives in a village much like her fictional creation - Appleton Vale - that is nestled against the foothills of the South Downs. She spends her days working in brand communications, writing, walking her dog – Hector – and riding her New Forest Pony Henry. The dog shares the house; the horse has his own rather spacious accommodation. Anneli is currently writing the second novel in the Appleton Vale series - The Country Club - which will be on sale in December 2017.Connect with Anneli
Website | Facebook | TwitterGiveaway
To celebrate the release of her bestselling debut, The Sweet Spot, Anneli is giving away a £20 Amazon gift card to one lucky winner. For your chance to win, enter via the Rafflecopter below. The contest closes at midnight EST on September 8, 2017, and is open to entrants worldwide. Good Luck! a Rafflecopter giveawayTour Stops
August 28: Bookk Review by Foxylutely BooksAugust 29: Author Interview with Drops of Ink
August 30: Exclusive Excerpt at The Bookworm Lodge
August 31: Exclusive Excerpt at All Things Bookaholic
September 1: Exclusive Excerpt at Reviews by Crystal
September 2: Guest Post at Book Huntress’ World
Exclusive Excerpt at Underneath the Covers
September 3: Guest Post at Lori's Reading Corner
September 4: Exclusive Excerpt at I Heart Reading
September 5: Guest Post at Romance Novel Giveaways
September 6: Character Interview with Archaeolibrarian – I Dig Good Books
September 7: Exclusive Excerpt at Romantic Reads and Such
Book Review by Life at 17
September 8: Exclusive Excerpt at Loves Great Reads
September 9: Author Interview with Liz's Reading Life
September 10: Exclusive Excerpt at Abibliophobia Anonymous
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