RISK FACTORS

Love, like life, is not without risk.

Veterinarian Vivian Dane has purchased her uncle’s practice in the tiny town of Wales, Missouri, where most residents still doubt her ability to treat their pets. But Viv is used to being considered less-worthy than her predecessors. After all, her parents are world-renowned wildlife vets, and most everyone is unimpressed she’s chosen to not follow directly in their footsteps. Now Connor, a patient’s owner, and is hot for Viv, but clearly doesn’t think she’s dating material because he has a daughter…who he believes no woman is good enough for.

Being a perfect dad is EMT paramedic Connor’s life focus. He can’t seem to stay away from sexy Doctor Viv, but attraction is as far as he’ll ever let it go. His mother abandoned him, leaving him to be raised in the foster system, and then his wife abandoned both him and their daughter. He absolutely will not risk bringing another woman into his little girl’s life and having her feel the hurt of being left…again.

Forfeiting is easier than attempting and failing. So why does Viv feel compelled to prove she’s a sure bet for Connor and his daughter? Can Connor trust Viv–and himself–enough to play the possibilities?

CONTENT WARNING: Happy-ever-after mixed with four-legged friends.

I hope you’ll all join me in welcoming author, Calisa Rhose, to my blog. Her latest book Risk Factors released March 4th with Lyrical Press. And wow, isn’t that a fabulous cover. Love it.

Calisa also has a giveaway, and those details are at the end of the post. She has some cool prizes up for grabs, so check them out.

Hey Calisa, so I’m going to start with a fun rapid fire question round.

– Nicknames? Lisa.

– Where do you live? Oklahoma, USA.

– Have you ever traveled abroad? Only in books. 🙁

– Tea or coffee? Coffeeeeee!

– Favorite dessert? Fruit with cottage cheese.

– Dog or cat? Dog (but I love my cat).

– Beach or skiing? Definitely beach.

– Chocolate, or vanilla, or rocky road ice-cream? Black Walnut.

– Lemons or lemonade? Lemons.

– What’s your favorite time of the day to write? Late morning.

– Do you write on holiday? Absolutely!

– Last book you read? Currently reading “The Drake House” by Kelly Moran.

– Plotter or pantser? Pantser all the way.

– What three things would you take to a desert island? My laptop, stereo, a comfy blanket.

I would so take my laptop too, and then hope for some form of power to run it. 🙂

– So, tell us what started you on your journey to being a writer? My love of music, actually. I began writing surreal stories around rock bands when I was fifteen. Also, my earliest writing was poetry.

– If you decided not to be a writer, what would your other dream job be? Why? Anything with horses. I love horses and want to open a sanctuary for the beautiful creatures.

– Where would you live if you could live anywhere in the world? Somewhere in Ireland or somewhere warm.

– If you don’t mind, state a random fact about yourself that would surprise others? I can’t sleep in a bed that isn’t made right before I get in it. Last night I woke up and had to make the bed so I could sleep. I guess it’s OCD, but bed wrinkles bug me to distraction…literally. 🙂

– Do you have any suggestions for aspiring writers? Don’t listen to everything you hear. Rules are meant to be broken and trends to be ignored.

– What are you working on now? Haha! Which one? I have a fireman story I want to finish, a series, and other paranormal WIPs are in perpetual progress. Right this moment though, I’m working on something totally new for me. A ghost story with a twist.

EXCERPT:

“I guess I’ll get home.”

Viv barely nodded an acknowledgement.

Annoyance turned to anger. Without looking back, he went to his car, and pulled the door open with more force than was necessary.

It wasn’t as though he’d given Viv a reason to want to include him in her personal life. He didn’t want anything personal from her. Hell, he’d gone out of his way to prevent any closeness between them. Except when she was in his arms, and at those times they both seemed to forget who they really were. In fact, he didn’t know who the real Vivian was. Clumsy but cute veterinarian, stiff upper-class woman, or the sexy woman out to steal his heart?

“Connor?”

He looked over his shoulder. Viv was alone, no parents in sight that he could see. “They went to my place.”

“Then, you should go.”

One shoulder flinched in a light shrug. She smiled up at him, and damned if it wasn’t the most beautiful thing he’d ever witnessed. She indicated the cemetery. “I told them this is about your family pet and that I’ll be along in a while.”

Her presence soothed away any lingering anger. Then the guilt hit. She’d already done such a selfless thing for him, and he repaid her with disregard. “What happened? Where did you go back there?”

Viv shook her head, her soft hair brushing over her coat collar, and he wanted to slide his hand under its silkiness, pull her to him, and kiss her. Then she was talking and he focused on her lips.

“It’s nothing. I didn’t have anything to say and…I was surprised by their unexpected arrival was all.”

She was lying, or at least unwilling to share that part of herself with him. Not that he blamed her. It wasn’t like he’d gone out of his comfort zone to share his family with her…and they lived ten minutes from him.

“You were saying something when they got here.” Her soft voice gently drew him back to the present.

Looking at her made him forget too many things, too easily. What had he been about to say? It was easier to recall their kisses of two nights ago; the softness of her lips on his. He searched through his mind and dragged the earlier conversation back out. Right, he’d been about to ask her to dinner. Well, she had company waiting for her, so that wouldn’t be polite now. But, in light of that, he had another idea. “Why don’t you let me take those chairs off your hands?”

Viv narrowed her eyes, then frowned. “That’s not what you were going to say.” She was smart as a judge, if not as steady as one, at times.

He grinned. “No. But it doesn’t matter. Go visit your folks. I’ll be here when they leave.”

“Will you?”

“I do live here, remember?”

She stared out into the growing dusk and nodded, then met his gaze. “It’s not like…sh–”

Her stammering told Connor more than any words could. She didn’t trust his intentions. Why should she? He hadn’t given her any reason to. He leaned against his car and pulled her between his legs, into his arms. The uncertainty in her face was new. He felt it, too. Somehow last night had changed things between them. He slid a hand under the pale veil as he’d craved, resting on her shoulders to massage her neck. Gently, slowly he dragged her close. He wanted to give her the opportunity to refuse, but he would kiss her.

BUY THE BOOK: Lyrical Press/ Amazon / Barnes&Noble

GIVEAWAY: Calisa will be picking at the end of her tour one winner to gift either a signature rose rock for a USA winner or a $10 GC of choice (Kindle or Nook) for one overseas or in Canada. Either winner will also get a PDF copy of Risk Factors. All you have to do is leave a comment at the end of this post, and you’ll be in the draw. Calisa will announce the winner on April 10th, and get in contact with that person.

BIO:

Small-town country girl Calisa Rhose has been writing since she was a teen in Oklahoma.

It wasn’t until 2005, while living in California, that she realized if “they” can do it there’s no reason why she couldn’t write and get published, too. That realization began her journey into the world of publishing. With a fun attraction to those rugged heroes in cowboy hats, she began writing contemporary cowboys first. Then Calisa discovered how romantic firemen and first responders are, and how truly dedicated they are to saving lives, helping people. She was ‘bought and paid for’ as she dug into research on Risk Factors. She’d love to hear from her readers at calisa.rhose@gmail.com and you can visit Calisa’s website at http://calisarhose.wordpress.com Find out about her books on the Bookshelf page. Twitter @Calisa_Rhose, Goodreads and Facebook