What does a s’more, a tent, and a campfire have in common? ➱ Trusting Love (Clumsy Little Hearts Trilogy) Contemporary Romance by Julie Navickas Book Tour with Rafflecopter

 

 

What does a s’more, a tent, and a campfire have in common?

Trusting Love

Clumsy Little Hearts Trilogy Book 1

by Julie Navickas

Genre: Contemporary Romance 

What does a s’more, a tent, and a campfire have in common? For Ryan Prescott, it’s a typical weekend camping trip. But for Tess Browning… it’s a recipe for the truth.

Tess Browning earned the nickname Little Vixen for a reason. And she has no incentive to play by the rules anymore. Because why bother? All it ever did was trap her in a loveless marriage. Tossing faithfulness out the window, the only thing she is committed to now is her new code: keeping it fun, flirty, and deliciously sultry.

That is, until Ryan Prescott walks in and charms his way into her heart with a leather tool belt strapped around his waist. He’s sexy, smart, and as emotionally damaged as they come. And Ryan seemingly wants nothing more than to have Tess pick up the pieces of his broken heart.
But there’s one thing he doesn’t know about her.

When the details of Ryan’s past heartache come to light, Tess digs her hot pink heels into the ground and will stop at nothing to hide her past indiscretions from the man who stole her heart. Because if there’s one thing Ryan won’t tolerate—it’s dishonesty.

Will Tess manage to keep the truth hidden? Or, will the secrets of a lifetime shatter her one true chance at love?

Best-selling and award-winning author Julie Navickas brings back fan favorite, Tess Browning for her own shot at love. Readers of the Trading Heartbeats trilogy will recognize the flawed heroine but may not recognize the woman she’s become. After all, no one is above redemption. Fans of Lynn Painter’s Mr. Wrong Number and Katie Cotugno’s Birds of California will find a swoon-worthy and engaging romance in TRUSTING LOVE.

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Excerpt #1

 

Beside him, she released a heavy breath and lifted her gaze. The deep hues of blue sparkled, each eye coated in a thin layer of tears.

“Wait, is something wrong?” Ryan frowned and propped his body up on an elbow.

She shook her head and smiled. Dragging a hand down the side of his face, she paused on his cheek. “This happened really fast, didn't it?”

You’re not wrong.

Ryan gripped her hand and pressed a kiss on her palm. “It did,” he muttered.

“One minute we’re picking out a paint color and the next we’re sleeping together beneath the stars.”

Their relationship flashed before his eyes, each smile on her lips gripping his heart as affection and desire built within his soul.

“It may have been fast, but that doesn’t make it any less real for me.”

A single tear slid down her cheek and dripped onto his arm. It rolled, falling to the blankets and dissolving into the material.

“It’s real for me, too.” She sniffled. “Maybe too real.”

A twinge gripped his gut. “What’s that mean?”

“Like, when is the other shoe going to drop?” She snorted. “When does the dream end, or the bubble burst?”

Just as cynical as me. You’ve been hurt just as bad, haven’t you?

Ryan sat up and reached for her sandals in the corner of the tent.

“What’re you doing?”

He pressed the first shoe into his chest. “I promise, I won’t drop it.” Holding the second sandal out to her, he placed it in her hands and guided it to her chest. “If you won’t.”

Her smile melted his heart. Eyeing a blonde curl falling in her face, he tucked it behind her ear as a shiver zipped along his spine—inspiration striking once more. “How about another adventure this morning, Ms. Browning?”

“Clothes on or off?”

With a wink, he pressed a kiss on her forehead. “That’ll be your choice.”

 

Excerpt #2

 

A deep breath fell from his lips before he turned. “What can I say? There’s a part of me that will always lo—”

“Just stop.” Tess rammed her palms against her eyes as a fresh wave of tears burned behind her lids. “Just stop,” she choked out.

He shrugged, but his kind words stung. His unfailingly kind nature was still persistent even after the havoc she wrecked in their marriage. “Look, I’m not going anywhere.” Josh poked buttons on his watch until the device beeped. “See. Run completed,” he muttered and shoved his wrist beneath her teary gaze.

She sniffled and peeked at his face.

“Come on. Lay it on me. What happened?”

Tess gulped. “Well, I guess it does involve you.”

“What did I do now?” Josh snorted.

The truth of his words resonated in her soul. “You didn’t do anything. It’s what I did to you.”

He squinted and rested his back against the wooden tabletop. “Call me interested.”

Tess eyed his handsome face as the sky darkened. Memories flooded her mind—high school, college, and marriage. His sweet smile set her heart on fire, the feelings that once stirred desire melting as reality settled in her soul.

“I owe you an apology.” She swallowed. “Er, many of them.” Shivering, she twisted to face him and straddled the wooden bench between her legs. Her lips opened, the impending words ready to vomit from the depths of her soul—a lifetime overdue.

 

Excerpt #3

 

Ryan pressed his nose into her hair and inhaled the remnants of campfire smoke clinging to each strand. Nowhere near as beautiful as you, Tess Browning. The moment stilled in his mind as the silence surrounding them patched the wounds in his heart. A songbird sang above, his sweet tune narrating the newfound contentment settling in his soul.

Tess sighed again and Ryan ran his hands down her damp arms. The subsequent shiver on her skin roused the recall of their single stolen moment alone in the tent.

“How adventurous are you feeling now?”

Butterflies awakened in his belly as she sought his gaze—her pools of baby blue more brilliant than the ocean waves no more than a mile away.

Ryan released a breath and dragged a finger along her neck, charting a path down her flesh until he reached her right breast. He squeezed and relished the immediate moan she purred.

Very adventurous…

“Take your clothes off,” he whispered and pressed his lips to the skin beneath her ear.

She shuddered beneath his touch.

“Take your clothes off, Ms. Browning,” he repeated and dipped his hand beneath the hem of her shirt.

His fingers slid over her stomach before catching on the silver ring puncturing her belly button.

A gasp fell from her lips as he gripped it and tugged it gently from side-to-side.

“Mmm, Mr. Prescott,” Tess moaned and lifted her arms.

He gulped and closed his eyes, ready to bask in the romantic moment of a lifetime. Ryan lifted the cotton shirt from her body, desperate to return his fingers to her breasts.

The breath stalled in his lungs as the silky fabric slid beneath his fingers, each bit of pale pink lace hugging her body with perfection. He shivered and unclasped the tiny wire. Ryan peeled the garment away and it fell to the stone at their feet.

 

Excerpt #4

 

“Come camping with me,” he blurted. “This weekend.”

Tess immediately shook her head and widened her eyes. “You have no idea how far down camping is on the list of things I enjoy.”

His burst of laughter soothed her soul, despite the confusion clouding her brain.

“I know, I know. You’re an indoor girl,” he said and tugged the rubber band free from her ponytail.

Her blonde hair tumbled wildly around her shoulders. A single curl fell, tickling her cheek and framing her face.

Looping it around his index finger, Ryan leaned in and touched the tip of his nose to hers.

“And you’re definitely not an indoor girl.” Tess rolled her eyes and giggled before pulling away. “I remember.”

“I’m not. But I’m hoping you’re willing to step outside of your comfort zone one more time.”

“Ugh, again?” She wrinkled her nose.

“Yeah!” Ryan tickled her side. “I mean, you’re ready to sell the Register and swap careers. That’s nothing compared to a tiny weekend of camping.”

Tess turned to cup his chin and dragged her fingers along his sexy and scruffy five o’clock shadow. “Tell that to my allergies.”

He sighed but smiled. “I know it’s a big ask. It’s just… it’s an important weekend for my family.”

Her stomach plummeted. Wait. “Er, family—”

“I promise, it’ll be fun though!” he interrupted. “We’ll hike, swim, fish.”

With a snort, Tess rolled her eyes. “Those are all fully outdoor activities, sir.”

“Well, would you consider a tent indoors?” he whispered before pressing a kiss on her forehead.

“That depends.”

Ryan closed his eyes and brought his lips back to hers, teasing her body with desire. “On?” he asked.

The roar in her ears amplified, blurring her vision with the passion fueled moment. Tess eyed him; the man beside her responsible for tipping her sad world upside down.

I’m ready for happiness. I’m ready for you.

“Tess?”

“Just what you plan on doing to me inside that tent,” she choked out as her chest tightened.

The growing carnal groan in his throat fueled her body, consuming her heart with the aching need for everything Ryan Prescott offered.

“Oh, I have some ideas, Ms. Browning.”

Then I’ll pitch that tent myself.

 

Julie Navickas is an award-winning, nationally recognized contemporary romance novelist, known for her keen ability to tell heart-wrenching, second-chance love stories through relatable characters with humility, humor, and heroism. She is also an award-winning university instructor and serves as the executive director of The Writing Champions Project. Julie earned master’s degrees in both organizational communication and English studies with an emphasis in book history, as well as a bachelor’s degree in public relations, graduating cum laude from Illinois State University.

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