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(writing as Lani Aames) A short contemporary romance. Talley Robinson has returned to her hometown in Tennessee and the childhood sweetheart she left behind, Mitch Holloway. They renew their relationship but Talley insists they take it more slowly this time. Unexpectedly, another man enters Talley's life...and heart--tall and rugged Mace. Talley must choose between the sweet and familiar love she has for Mitch and the wickedly playful and passionate love she develops for Mace. (Note: This excerpt has been edited a bit for general audiences. ;) He kissed her, his tongue flicking against hers. She allowed herself to enjoy the taste of him a few moments, then ended the kiss. Mitch breathed heavily. "I don't mean to rush you, sweetheart, but I love you!" "I love you, too, Mitch, but the answer is still no." He hugged her tight. "I'm not giving up, Tal." "Good night, Mitch." He kissed her quickly one last time then walked to his truck and drove away. Talley breathed a sigh of relief. She was still overwhelmed by all the emotions that wracked her body. She wasn't immune to his kisses and caresses. She ached deep within her body. Inside, the trailer was stifling from the heat and humidity, and she turned on the air conditioner. She ran a bath and washed away the smoke and smell of The Rusty Rose and the fine film of perspiration that still clung to her skin. The hot water felt good as she relaxed in the tub, a folded towel behind her head. Her skin tingled from what had been as well as what was to come. She drifted off and when she woke, the water was almost cold. She dried off and dressed in a knee-length white cotton nightshirt with "Come and Get It" in hot pink across the front. She pulled hot pink socks over feet that always grew cold with the air conditioner running. In the kitchenette, she measured grounds and poured water into the coffee maker. She fixed a glass of iced tea and sipped at it while she smoked and finger-combed her hair in the dark. When her hair was dry enough and the last of the ice had melted in the glass, she curled up on the couch. The day had been long and tiring and she fell asleep quickly. Sometime later, Talley woke to the sound of the door opening. She had left it unlocked on purpose. Her eyelids fluttered open and she watched her doorway fill with the silhouette of a man. He was a tall man, lean but not slender. He wore a denim shirt, sleeves rolled up, unbuttoned almost to the waist. His jeans, worn and faded from hours of work in the sun and many washings, fit snug on his hips and were held up by an old leather belt. His scuffed square-toed cowboy boots were rundown at the heels from years of use. She watched him fill the doorway then pull the door shut behind him. He came in on a wave of hot humid air, but she shivered from the anticipation. Every Saturday night for three months he had come to her like this in the middle of the night--every night except the first night. "Mace," she whispered. She was, as always, in awe of this man. She couldn't see his face clearly in the shadows, but she knew it by heart--every crease around his eyes and mouth, the sunbrowned, soft leathery texture. Her fingers ached to touch his face. "Come here, darlin..." She was up and in his arms before he finished. Her eagerness and desperation for him disgusted her, but she could control neither. She lay her head against his chest. She was tall but he was taller and that worked out so well. He tousled her hair and kissed her forehead. She reached up and lay her lips over his, slipping her arms around his neck. His mouth accepted her eagerly and his hands slid down her sides to cup her buttocks and press her up against him... Her breath came in shallow gasps as he released her. "I wasn't sure you'd come by tonight," she said as she pulled away from him and he patted her butt. She filled a mug from the coffee maker and handed it to him. He took it and sat in a kitchen chair, downing a large swallow. He leaned back and smiled with a wink. "You knew." (End of excerpt.) 
If you like this excerpt of Desperate Hearts or you've read the book and liked it, please click the link above and visit BitBooks.com, in the Romance category, to rate it. Thank you! (If the graphic/link above isn't visible, go to BitBooks.com.) Stacey Bucholz Circumstances beyond her control took her away from her first love. Talley's mother remarried, and had decided to move away from their small town. Talley, just 17, thought her life was over. To leave her one and only love Mitch, was the hardest thing she thought she would ever have to do. That was, until six years later, when she made the decision to move back to her hometown and try to pick up the pieces of her broken love affair. While trying to take it slow with Mitch and make sure that this time around it lasted forever, Talley finds herself in a austere situation. She never expected another man to come into her life and take up residence in her heart. Should she stay with Mitch, and give him the emotional support he seems to need, and encourage him with his music? Or should she relinquish her heart to her secret lover, who's very soul cries out for her love. Talley needs to make a decision once again. This time there's no doubt that it's going to be the most difficult one she's ever made. [Lani Aames] has delivered an exquisite story. Desperate Hearts has you rooting for each of the men in Talley's life. Both of the men are trying to sway Talley towards their hearts. One who tells her how much he needs her. The other who'll never say it, but can't keep his needs from consuming her with his every look and caress. You would do yourself a disservice if you didn't read Desperate Hearts. I guarantee that you will thoroughly enjoy this entirely different romance. [Ms. Aames] makes it unique by the characters she has chosen to bid for Talley's heart. © 2001 Stacey Bucholz Sally G. Laturi of Ivy Quill Reviews After moving away from Randolph at seventeen, Talley often thought of the boy she’d left behind, Mitch. Six years later, she moves back and gets a job, and she and Mitch began their relationship again. Unexpectedly, Talley’s feelings for him have changed... and she meets someone new. Mace arouses feelings and passions in Talley that Mitch can’t. Talley must choose which man she truly loves, and the difficult situation is further complicated by the relationship between Mitch and Mace. The title of this book, Desperate Hearts, isn’t an exaggeration. The strength of the novel is in the depth of emotion the characters can arouse in the reader. Desperate for love, for understanding, and so much more, Talley, Mitch and Mace are powerful characters. Their backgrounds and emotional track records provide depth and reality to the story. Not an everyday romantic storyline, Desperate Hearts includes many internal conflicts, with Talley torn between two men, a romance with a significant age difference, and events of years ago haunting all three major players. When the book begins, these characters are already deeply enmeshed in their triangle, and [Ms. Aames] uses significant characterization and plotting to resolve the story with a happy ending. While some readers may be uncomfortable with certain elements of Desperate Hearts, such as the "May-September romance", I simply must applaud [Ms. Aames'] writing style and characterization. Desperate Hearts is populated by real men and women with histories and flaws, and the story of how they come to terms with themselves and with each other is a memorable one. © 2001 Sally G. Laturi Sharon McGinty of
In The Library Reviews
(formerly Sharon's Reviews) Talley Robinson had returned to Randolph, Tennessee to rekindle her relationship with Mitch Holloway. As teenagers, they had been madly in love, but Talley had to move when her mother remarried. It's been over six years and Talley and Mitch have picked up right where they left off with one small change. Talley isn't ready for them to have a sexual relationship. This time she wants to be sure that there is more to their relationship than sex. But is Talley just fooling herself, hoping for a relationship with Mitch? She may have given her heart to Mitch, but her body to another. Talley had never meant to sleep with Mace, it had just happened. Now she's torn between two men. One she's known and loved for years and one who doesn't want a commitment. How will she ever choose between them? What will happen when Mitch learns that Talley has been with someone else? [Ms. Aames] has written a haunting tale of love, betrayal and forgiveness. The reader is swept into Talley's life, feeling her pain and agonizing with her dilemma. A beautifully written tale that brings to life the fact that one is never able to choose whom the heart loves. Not to be missed! ©2000 Sharon McGinty 
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Desperate Hearts excerpt ©2000 Lanette Curington.
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