A Southern Girls Bookshelf: Release Event: Meant for Her by Raine Thomas

Meant for Her by Raine Thomas
Publisher: Iambe Books, LLC
Released: October 17, 2013
Buy/Add: Amazon | Barnesand Noble | Goodreads I Kobo I iBooks

Evan Dorsey is a sexy, brooding male with a checkered past. After writing For Everly, which features a more stable, gentlemanly male lead, I wanted to write about an enigmatic guy with a dark edge to him. Early readers of Meant for Her have told me that there were times in the story where they wanted to hit Evan, and other times that he made them positively swoon. Fortunately, that’s just how I wanted him to come across. As a professional baseball player, Evan enjoys living a rootless existence. The one person he had tying him to a location dies tragically just two months before the beginning of Meant for Her, and he’s determined not to get so invested in a person or place again. His resistance to forming attachments sometimes makes him treat others in ways intended to drive them away, a form of self-sabotage.

Once an attachment does form, however, Evan is fiercely loyal and protective of his friends. He’s not afraid to get physical if it means defending someone he cares about or protecting someone who’s being bullied. There’s a tenderness beneath his gruff exterior that surprises even him on occasion. Physically, Evan is a sublime specimen. He works out daily and takes care of himself, wanting to remain in prime athletic condition. He bears a variety of tattoos on his chest, back, and arms, all of them having meaning to him. His short, dark hair and intense blue eyes combined with his Australian accent and shiny black Harley-Davidson all serve to make him one irresistible rascal.

Photographer Sierra Stratton views the world through a lens all her own. She has an uncanny sense about people, something that often causes her trouble. When she meets the sexy and brooding Evan Dorsey, her intuition tells her he’s suffering, and she wants to be the one to help him. Evan isn’t open to help from anyone, however. His focus is on his Major League career and making himself as marketable as possible for his upcoming free agency. He plans to ride out the season in Atlanta and then sign with another team, away from the painful memories that haunt him. Someone’s eager to send him on his way, too. Between anonymous threats and equipment sabotage, it’s clear he’s earned himself an enemy along the way. To him, it’s one more sign that he’s right to move on. But Sierra threatens his conviction. Her contagious smile proves hard to resist, as does her kiss. She tempts him in ways he never anticipated, making him question his plans for the first time. If he’s not careful, she might just convince him that he’s meant for her.

Excerpt:

“There’s something invigorating about autumn in Atlanta,” she said. She shared the same southern accent as Cole, he realized. “It represents promise.” “Promise for what?” She shrugged. “Endless possibilities.”

He frowned. What the hell did that mean? Once again, she took his hand. Her hand was dwarfed by his, but he couldn’t deny that the contact felt nice. “You looked lost in there, Evan Dorsey. I thought maybe I could do something to help guide you on your way.” Pulling his hand from hers, he said, “You don’t know anything about me.” “I don’t need to.” She tilted her head to the side and looked at him with her compelling eyes. “Have you been sick?”

The question made him glance away. He supposed she hadn’t done her research before making this approach. Still, she was closer to the truth than made him comfortable. Her voice was quiet when she continued, “I ask because your suit looks tailored, but it’s loose on you right now, as though you’ve lost weight. There are dark circles under your eyes, making me think you aren’t sleeping well and probably haven’t been eating right. And your hair is short, like it’s just growing back. Since your scalp is pale, I assume you don’t normally wear your hair that way.” Jesus, she was observant. Shaking his head, he turned to walk back into the reception. “I see,” she said. Her tone made him hesitate. “I’m so sorry for your loss, Evan.” When her slender arms went around him from behind, he didn’t know what to do. No one had ever offered him such a pure gesture of comfort. Everyone who attended the funeral had been too emotionally involved to do so, not that it would have been welcome. But this hug from a stranger was about to undo him. He stood frozen in place as she walked around him to face him again. His gaze moved down to her bare feet and noted that her nails were the same shade of purple as the streaks in her hair. Belatedly, he considered how cold she must be.

About the Author

Raine Thomas is the author of bestselling Young Adult and New Adult romantic fiction, including the award-winning Daughters of Saraqael Trilogy and Firstborn Trilogy. She is a proud member of Romance Writers of America and is a contributing blogger to The Writer's Voice. When she isn’t planning weddings, writing, or glued to social networking sites, she can usually be found on one of Florida’s beautiful beaches with her husband and daughter or crossing the border to visit with her Canadian friends and relatives.

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