Jackie's Book World: ✯BOOK BLITZ:✯ This Piece of My Heart by Robyn M. Ryan (EXCERPT + GIVEAWAY!}

This Piece of My Heart by Robyn M. Ryan

Release Date: May 2nd 2016 by L. J. Burdett

Series: Clearing the Ice #1

Pages: 280

Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance, Sports

For twenty years, Caryn Stevens dutifully followed the educational path dictated by her parents. That path had one goal—prepare her to one day assume her father’s position as CEO of the multi-billion dollar international company he founded. That and marry a man who would enhance her career and perhaps join her in leading The Stevens Company. Not too much to expect from your daughter, right?

Caryn has other ideas. Instead of returning home to Ottawa for another summer working at The Company, she’s designed a plan to stay in Toronto, take a couple of courses, and enjoy her Summer of Fun. She knew there was more to college than rigorous classes that held little interest and study groups to ensure she excelled in all her subjects. She had two years until she finished her undergrad, and then continue on to that coveted MBA at a prestigious business school.

Just this once, Caryn will set aside The Plan and enjoy life as a regular student. To actually get her head out of the books and maybe, just maybe find someone to make the summer—dare she say it?—exciting.

You see, there’s this hunk of a guy she’s noticed on campus the first few weeks of summer. Always running—maybe in training?—but, Caryn’s seen enough to get her heart pounding. Tall, well-built, with shaggy light-brown hair. Gym shorts that emphasize taut leg muscles. Sometimes wearing a t-shirt with cut-off sleeves. Bronzed muscular biceps—truly drool-worthy. Absolutely hot—and gorgeous in a totally guy type of way. Only problem, he had no clue she existed.

Andrew Chadwick has enjoyed life in the fast lane in the five years since he’d entered the ranks of professional hockey. Preparing for his fourth season with his hometown Leafs, Andrew intends to enjoy his summer down time—hang out with friends and family, keep in shape, and erase all memories from that disastrous two-year joke of a relationship that imploded in May.

Not that he has any plans to revisit his first few years in the pros. He’d eagerly sampled the attentions of a never-ending line of women who wanted nothing more than to spend one night with a professional athlete. Believe it or not, one-night-stands with absolutely gorgeous women whose names he never bothered to remember became tedious. And that steady relationship he tried for two years? Finding your so-called girlfriend in your own bed with some other guy certainly opened his eyes.

Maybe it’s time to cut the fun and games and concentrate on things that are important—Win the Stanley Cup, give his brother any support he needs as he starts his Internship Rotations, help his Mom and Dad around their house. Act like a grown-up at twenty-four?

He’s not particularly looking, but if he were to meet someone interesting…well, he’ll just see where things go.

Neither Caryn nor Andrew expected their two very different worlds to collide on a beautiful June day…

Purchase: Amazon, iBooks

{EXCERPT}

Caryn sat at the kitchen table, sipping her tea as she read Andrew’s texts. So he knows I met Monique and needs to talk with me. That’s an understatement. Sure, he wants to try to explain how she blindsided me yesterday. Why even bother? I got the message loud and clear. I just need him to answer one question—why did you deliberately deceive me all summer? Maybe if I’d known going in that this was just going to be a summer thing…I might have agreed to that. But as soon as I started to really fall for him, at least I could have ended it before I got hurt.

Tears blurred her vision, and Caryn stood to take her empty plate to the sink and turned the stove on to heat water for another cup of tea. She just couldn’t seem to get warm. She’d stepped out front for a moment for some fresh air—the unusually warm temperature surprised her. But, back inside, Caryn felt chilled to her core.

She heard the knock on her door a few minutes later, but made no move toward it. She heard the door open and Andrew calling her name. Shit. Why didn’t I remember to lock the door when I came back inside? Still in the kitchen, she heard his steps, stiffening in apprehension. Please just leave.

“Caryn, you here?” Andrew called, walking toward the kitchen, stopping short when he saw her standing beside the stove, her back to him. “I’ve been trying to reach you since…”

Caryn took a deep breath, anger quickly resurfacing. She turning to face him, irritation tinting her words. “Don’t bother, Drew. I don’t need to hear anything you have to say.”

His blue eyes darkened in frustration mixed with annoyance. He locked eyes with hers for a long moment before speaking. “I’ve been worried about you.”

Caryn shrugged. “I’m fine, as you can see,” she said, her tone flippant. She gripped the counter behind her, determined to cling to her anger.

“I’m sorry Monique showed up like that. I had no idea…”

She interrupted, “Don’t worry about it, Drew. No big deal.”

“You avoiding me, refusing to take my calls is a big deal to me.” She could tell Andrew was controlling his temper with an effort. “You don’t want to hear what I have to say?”

“There’s no need. I told you I totally get it. Don’t worry about me. We had a nice summer while Monique was away. I understand that since she’s back now, you’ll be spending your time with her.” She shook her head as he tried to speak. “I honestly don’t mind that we just had a ‘little summer romance.’”

“Are you going to give me a chance to talk?” Andrew’s voice was taut with suppressed anger.

Caryn shrugged, crossing her arms against her chest. She nodded for him to continue.

Andrew sighed, leaning against the counter, but careful not to approach her. “I didn’t even know Monique was in the country. I haven’t seen her since we broke up last May.”

“Yeah, she told me she spent the summer in Europe.”

“Did she mention that we are no longer in a relationship?” Andrew challenged.

Caryn took a deep breath and sipped her tea, amazed that her hand did not shake. “I don’t think she got that memo, Drew.”

“Believe me, Caryn, she got the message. Loud and clear.” Andrew’s tone was harsh. “She went to Europe with a man she’d been seeing for months. I was the one who didn’t get the memo.”

“She cheated on you?”

Andrew nodded. “Yep. In my own apartment. When I got home early from a road trip and found them, that was it. It’s been over since May.”

Caryn avoided his eyes. “If she hadn’t cheated, you’d still be together.”

“You don’t know that, Caryn.”

“Do you?” She met his eyes steadily, trying to read the truth.

“Yeah, I do know,” Andrew shot back, anger spiking his words. “Our relationship was toxic. It was just a matter of time before we self-destructed. Do you honestly think I would have spent all summer with you if I was involved with someone else?”

“Before yesterday? No, I wouldn’t think you would.”

“So Monique shows up, fills your head with lies, and you believe her and not me? Enough that you’ve been dodging me for more than a day?”

“I don’t know what to think,” Caryn said softly, her eyes on her hands.

“And refusing to talk helps you, how?”

She cringed at his tone. “I’m angry, hurt and confused. I need time to think.” She looked at him, trying to read his expression. He stepped toward her, stopping just a few feet away, causing her to lean back against the counter to see his eyes.

“Do you trust me, Cary?”

She closed her eyes for a long moment. “I want to, Drew.”

AUTHOR BIO:

From early childhood, Robyn M. Ryan knew she wanted to write. This goal grew throughout elementary and high school, first composing novels featuring favorite TV and music personalities, then venturing into sports writing. Attending UGA’s journalism school launched her career in public relations, which included an internship with the Atlanta Flames NHL hockey team. At that time romance novels did not feature pro athletes, so Robyn wrote the books she and her friends wanted to read. Many years later, this manuscript received a serious critique and edit. This Piece of My Heart, a hockey romance, is the first book in Robyn’s series Clearing the Ice.