Agents of Romance

{Blog Tour & Giveaway} Caged in Winter by Brighton Walsh (@WriteAsRain_)

11/6/2014

In this emotional and sexy New Adult debut from Brighton Walsh, the only thing more frightening than commitment is hope…

Aspiring chef Cade Maxwell is immediately, viscerally attracted to Winter Jacobson. But it’s not her mouthwatering curves he’s drawn to—it’s the strange emptiness in her eyes. When Cade saves her from a drunken customer with grabby hands, he’s shocked at her response…

Winter doesn’t need Cade’s help. After a lifetime of getting by on her own, she’s happy to rely on herself. She’s exactly seventy-six days away from graduating college, and if she can hold it together that long, she’ll finally be able to rise above the crappy hand she was dealt.

But now, every time she turns around, Cade is there, ready to push her, smile at her, distract her from her plans. Winter knows she can’t afford to open up—especially to a man she’s terrified to actually want…

Cade Maxwell knows all about sacrifice. After losing both of his parents, he dedicates his life to three things – becoming a chef, his sister Tess and her young daughter, Haley.

One night, he sees a girl that changes all of that. He instantly recognizes her beauty and steely determination and he vows to do everything he can to break down the walls surrounding her heart.

“I don’t know why I haven’t told Tess any of this, why she doesn’t know about the girl from the pub. The girl with the fire in her eyes. The girl whose name I still don’t know. I’m embarrassed as the improbability of it. That, somehow, after four years of rock-solid routines, I’ve let a girl I’ve known less than a week throw a wrench in it.

But there is something about this girl. Her ballsy, fuck everything attitude. Her vulnerability clashing with the pride she has. The secrets she keeps hidden in her eyes. Even after only a week, I want to uncover them all.”

Nothing has ever been given to Winter Jacobson. She’s worked for it all. It may not be perfect, but it’s better than growing up in foster care. She has her eye on the prize – graduation. After that, her life can really begin.

She doesn’t want Prince Charming to ride in and save her when she is strong enough to save herself. But there is something about Cade that gets under her skin. He’s sweet and yet persistent, strong and yet tender. She finds herself not only opening up to him in a way that she never has but also craving his very presence.

For Winter, it’s dangerous to love someone because they will only leave you in the end and Cade is becoming the biggest risk of all.

His sleeves are rolled up, the muscles in his forearms flexing under the designs inked there. I never really gave much thought to male chefs, but there is something delicious about this giant of a man – imposing and dark and looming, complete with tattoos and a piercing – with an apron tied around his waist as he prepares me dinner.”

Caged in Winter is a refreshing new take on New Adult! At first glance, Winter appears fierce and independent but when her full story is revealed, she’s really quite frightened and lonely. Cade is the perfect hero for her. With his tough looks and sweet soul, I couldn’t help but fall a little in love with him myself - and the way that he relates to young Haley totally sealed the deal.

This is a story that will make you believe in taking a chance on love again. So just let go and enjoy the ride…

Exclusive Excerpt -

I bend my knees so we’re eye level and tug on her hand until she meets my gaze. “I don’t know what we could have. It might be nothing. But I’ll be honest . . . I haven’t felt like this in a long time, and that’s enough for me to know I want to see where it goes. Can’t we just see where it goes?”

With a deep sigh, she says, “I’m not right for you, Cade.”

“How about you worry about if I’m right for you. Let me decide the other.”

And then before she can stop me, before she can utter another word of opposition, I slide my hand up her arm, over her shoulder, until it’s wrapped around her neck. With my other hand, I swipe a piece of hair back with my fingers, and then lean in, brushing my lips against hers. After only a moment, I pull back just enough for her to be able to tell me to stop. When nothing comes, I close the distance between us once again, taking her bottom lip in between mine. I brush my tongue against it, coaxing her mouth open, and she breathes this sexy little gasp as I slip inside. She tastes like cookies and wine, and I want to fucking devour her.

She grips my shirt with both hands, clutching me to her, and I stop holding back and press every inch of my body against hers, groaning as my cock presses fully against her. The moment a whimper comes from her, I know she feels it. And I can’t muster up any embarrassment, because I want her to feel it. Even with all her brass balls and fuck-everything attitude, something tells me she needs reassurance, so I give it to her. In every stroke of my tongue against hers, every brush of my thumb along her jaw, I show her how much I want her.

When her chest is heaving, her lips parted and swollen and so fucking hot, I trail kisses down her neck, seeking out every inch of skin that’s uncovered. Her head thumps back against the wall, one of her hands gone from gripping fistfuls of my shirt. Instead, she’s holding my head to her, and I don’t want to stop. I want to kiss and lick every inch of her, slip my hands under the material of her sweater, unbutton her jeans, and not stop until I feel her soft wetness against my fingertips.

But the knowledge that she’ll regret it if I don’t stop forces me to slow down.

I pull back, loosening my grip on her and putting an inch of space between us. I kiss the corner of her mouth, her cheek, and then her ear. Against it, I whisper, “Don’t say no.”

There’s a beat of silence. Two. Three. And then she says the sweetest word I’ve ever heard.

“Okay.”

About The Author -

Brighton Walsh spent nearly a decade as a professional photographer before deciding to take her storytelling in a different direction and reconnect with writing. She lives in the Midwest with her husband and two children.