Challenging Andie
Authors: Sally Clements
CHALLENGING ANDIE
By
Sally Clements
By Sally Clements
Kindle Edition,
Copyright © 2012 Sally Clements
Cover by Heather Howland
Edited by Cindy Davis
All rights reserved. No part of this e-book may be reproduced in any form other than that in which it was purchased and without the written permission of the author.
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Amazon.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
http://www.sallyclements.blogspot.com
Be sure to check out these other great romances also by Sally Clements.
New Beginnings – Short stories
To contact Sally Clements, or to be placed on a mailing list to receive updates about her new releases, click the ‘contact me’ link on her blog.
http://www.sallyclements.blogspot.com
or contact her on twitter, where she’s
@sallywriter
Some reviews of Sally Clements’s other books…
For
The Morning After
I thoroughly enjoyed
The Morning After
. This book has everything you want in a story: a great plot, interesting settings and characters you want to hope for and believe in. Add that these things are all written in a fun, lighthearted way and it was easy to get lost in this story. Though I knew it was a happy ending, I could not wait to see how these two friends worked it all out in the end. I was very pleased, and I think you will be too. I am looking forward to adding more of Ms. Clements' books to my collection. - Coffee Time Romance and more
For a feel good book, this is the one I really enjoyed, with tension, funny episodes and life lessons learned.
*
Catch Me A Catch
was a finalist for the Romantic Novelists Association’s Joan Hessayon Award, May 2011.
Reviews
for
C
atch Me A Catch
The be-there-in-the-moment style of this dramatic narrative will grab your attention and keep it, cover-to-cover. This one belongs in the must-read pile! -
The Long and Short of It Romance Reviews
Fans of contemporary romances should definitely give
Catch Me A Catch
a read, as with a great plot and likable main characters, it can’t be classed as anything but an excellent contemporary romance. -
The Romance Reviews
This tale moves quickly with a lot of smiles on the pages... I truly enjoyed this author’s way of building a story and hope to read more in the future. -
The Romance Studio
Without a doubt an adorable read that was very hard for me to put down. -
Seriously Reviewed
I applaud Sally for making a magical story come to life. 4 tea cups and a “buy now” recommendation from
Happily Ever After Reviews
.
*
For
Marrying Cade
If you want to read a good romance, well written then read this book.
Loves to read.
With romance, beautiful scenery and a great plot, 'Marrying Cade' is one not to miss.
Marsha Moore.
In Marrying Cade, you're off to a gorgeous island with cool breezes and sizzling heat between Melo and Cade. Melo is a strong, nurturing female character, with whom most women can relate today. Cade is that sexy, carefree bachelor women long to tame. The connection between the two will draw you in and keep you reading.
Maria Waddell, To sleep, perchance to dream.
*
For
Bound to Love
WOW!! What an awesome book. I couldn't put it down and ended up reading it all in one sitting.
Geeky Girl Reviews.
Oh la-la. What a steamy, dreamy, thrill ride.
Elsie Loves Fiction.
Bound to Love is a fast-paced mystery that keeps you up half the night to find out how it ends.
Manic Readers.
Dedication
To Heather Howland and Cindy Davis
Thank you!
Chapter One
It was a new day.
A new beginning.
A day to push aside the black cloud of death and embrace life.
Andie Harte breathed deep in the queue for the rollercoaster and battled down the feeling of unease. Her stomach rolled like the tiny carriages dipping and diving in the air above. Blood-curdling screams rent the air. Andie bit down on her lip.
I’m brave. I can do this.
There was no chickening out of this challenge.
She smoothed down the yellow sundress picked out that morning in an attempt to mimic the golden light pouring in the window. Two unremitting weeks of black were enough. Her bruised heart couldn’t take any more.
The queue shuffled forward.
Andie stumbled.
In an instant, a warm hand grabbed her arm, steadying her. A glance sideways revealed a chest.
A very impressive chest
. Her gaze travelled up to collide with the deepest green eyes
ever
.
“Thanks,” she managed as the stranger released her.
His hair was so dark it was almost black. Her scanning gaze took a quick inventory: A tanned face with killer cheekbones barely marred by a razor-thin paler scar. A straight nose above a perfect mouth, and a square jaw that hinted he was a man used to taking charge.
“No problem.” The stranger smiled, and something deep inside Andie kicked.
Hard
. “Are you okay?” His eyebrows rose in perfect arcs. He pointed ahead. “The queue…”
A gap had opened up while she’d been gawking.
“Oh, yes, I’m fine.” It had been forever since the mere sight of a man had thrown her for a loop. In fact, she didn’t think she’d ever been so affected.
She stepped forward and took a deep breath. Today was turning out to be a day of firsts. The first time she’d faced her fear and actually got onto a rollercoaster of her own volition, rather than being dragged onto one by her daredevil mother, and the first time she’d taken one look at a stranger and melted.
“We’re nearly there.” His deep voice set off a quake within.
Andie turned back and tried a smile. It probably didn’t work, if his expression was anything to go by.
“You look sort of worried. Are you sure you’re okay?”
Normally she’d hide her fear. Make some sort of affirmative response. After all, when people asked if you were okay they generally didn’t want a truthful answer—not in her experience, anyway.
Lying was impossible. Her world had irrevocably changed in the last couple of weeks. She couldn’t pretend anymore.
“Not really.” She scratched her arm. “I’m scared.”
He didn’t turn away. Didn’t look embarrassed by her honesty. Instead, his eyes filled with what looked like genuine concern.
A ripple of unease flickered.
What was she doing, being so honest with a complete stranger?
The stranger’s eyebrows pulled together in a frown. “Why?”
Andie pointed up the line that snaked ahead. “Rollercoaster.”
“Rollercoaster virgin?” Dimples winked as he smiled.
Andie’s heart thumped. “Rollercoaster phobic.” She felt her mouth stretch in a smile to echo his.
“Honey, you’re in the wrong queue.” He stuck out a hand. “I’m Ryan.”
The moment his fingers curved around hers a bolt of electricity dashed from palm to heart. Wow, he should work in the ambulance corps, there would be no need a defibrillator; he could bring people back to life with his touch. Women, anyway.