Huzzah! Christmas Rekindled, Book 1 of the Bangers Tavern romance series, is live! I hope you’ll enjoy this full-length steamy contemporary romance set in a neighborhood tavern in my hometown of Tacoma, Washington.
During this time of social distancing, I dearly miss gathering with friends over drinks, greasy bar food, and a rowdy game of darts. You too? Bangers Tavern offers a virtual hug that’ll wrap you up in all the things you miss: fun, raucous laughter, flirting over tasty cocktails, and Bangers’ specialty: tater tots with delicious toppings.
Here’s a peek at River and Charlie’s first meeting after a years-long separation. She doesn’t remember the handsome blond bartender, but he damn sure remembers her.
Dawn nudged the bartender. “Kiara, say hi to Charlie. She’s gonna step in for Carla.”
Kiara flashed a bright smile. “Howdy, Charlie. Is it Charlene?”
“Charlotte.” She popped a tot into her mouth. Just as crispy as she remembered. “I’d shake your hand, but—” She waved her greasy fingers. “You all alone back there?”
The bartender rolled her eyes. “River’s late. Again. If he weren’t so charming, Dawn woulda canned his ass long ago.”
“Oho, charming, am I?” A deep baritone voice at her elbow spun Charlie around, but the guy had already slid behind the bar. Tall. Blond. Broad shoulders beneath a crisp black shirt. Lean but muscular, more like a dancer than a football player. His hair flopped into his eyes as he bent to scrub his hands. His short golden beard framed plush lips. Mismatched earrings: a small oval onyx on the left, a silver anchor on the right. Thick brown lashes.
Blue eyes, I’ll bet. Breath held, Charlie waited.
Greenish hazel with flecks of amber. His gaze flicked up and held hers for a moment that seemed to stretch on and on. Then those bright eyes scanned her from top to bottom. One eyebrow flicked up as his lips spread in a devilish smile. “Hello, new girl.”
Happy little fireflies danced in her stomach. Words stuck in her throat.
“Not so new.” Dawn smacked a stack of papers onto the bar.
Totally focused on pretty boy’s dazzling smile, Charlie hadn’t seen her old/new boss approach. She took the pen Dawn proffered, cleared her throat, and began scribbling her contact information.
“Charlie used to work here, about—what was it, hon’?”
“I, uh—started in ‘09, I think. And I left in ‘14.”
In an instant, River’s expression shuttered—brows lowered, eyes narrowed, lips clamped in a tight, straight line. He picked up a bar towel, flung it over his shoulder, and silently turned to the beer taps.
Dawn scowled and elbowed him. “Don’t be rude, River. Say hello to Charlie. She’s taking over for Carla.”
“Hello, Charlie.” His voice dripped icicles.
Kiara hip-bumped him. “Be nice, River. Who pissed in your Cheerios?”
Without further comment, he moved to the far end of the bar where a gaggle of college-age girls awaited refreshment. When River greeted them, they erupted in giggles. His high wattage smile reappeared as he muddled mint and cucumber in tall glasses, his forearm muscles flexing beneath tight sleeves.
Kiara leaned on the bar and sighed. “Real lady killer, that one. Earns more in tips than the rest of us combined.”
“I feel sorry for his girlfriend.” Charlie tilted her head toward the too-pretty jerk.
“Oh, he doesn’t—”
“Enough gossip.” Dawn shooed Kiara away, then leaned closer. “Sorry, kiddo. River’s usually such a charmer. I’ll have a word with him.”
“No worries, boss. I don’t need to join his fan club to work here.” She tilted her chin toward the end of the bar where River whipped out drinks with impressive speed and flair. “And I’ll give him a run for his money on those tips.”
Christmas Rekindled is available on all major online booksellers–or request a copy at your library or from your local bookshop! My favorite: King’s Books in Tacoma! https://www.kingsbookstore.com/
Get your copy today–or whenever you need a shot of holiday cheer and sexytimes to get you through this avalanche of bad news we’re living through. https://books2read.com/b/3JjPxP
A question for my readers:
Whose story would you like to see next in the Bangers Tavern series? Leave me a comment to help me decide.
Option 1: Anna and Diego. He’s the best fry cook on 6th Avenue, creator of Bangers’ famous tater tot specials, the most succulent burgers, and more. She’s Charlie’s younger sister, a registered nurse who separated from her odious ex right before finding out she’s pregnant. Now she’s figuring out co-parenting, life as a single mom-to-be, and her attraction to the hunky chef who doesn’t seem phased by her pregnancy. Diego’s dream: his own food truck. But the relative who controls the family purse strings doesn’t approve of his dating a pregnant divorcee.
Option 2: Rosie and Eddie. Nights, she’s a server at Bangers. Days, she’s putting her art training to work as an intern in a tattoo studio. Big, buxom, inked all over, Rosie dismisses obstacles with a toss of her electric-blue hair. Wiry, short, and taciturn, Eddie’s the barback at Bangers. The son of Russian immigrants, he’s working on a business degree in hopes of owning his own bar & grill one day. His growing obsession with big, beautiful Rosie distracts him from his dreams. She enjoys flirting with Eddie, but he’s looking for much more than one night in her bed.
Option 3: Lana and Jojo. He’s the bouncer at Bangers. By day, the enormous wall of muscle is a phlebotomist at a local hospital, handling frightened patients with tender care. At night, he makes sure no one stirs up trouble at Bangers. Devoted to Dawn, the bar’s owner and his foster mother, he’s a big ol’ sweetie struggling with a growing attraction to Lana, one of the servers. After losing their parents to a drunk driver, it’s all Lana can do to keep an eye on her younger siblings when she’s not at work–so she definitely doesn’t have time for romance, not even with the gorgeous bouncer who follows her around the bar like a lovesick puppy.
As always, thanks for reading! I’d love to connect with you on social media, where I spend far too much time.
