Spotlight & Giveaway: Cherished Enough by Kelly Elliott

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Kelly Elliott to HJ!

Hi Kelly and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, Cherished Enough!

 
Hey y’all!
 

Please summarize the book a la Twitter style for the readers here:

It’s a brother’s best friend meets, friends to lovers to romantic suspense!
 

Please share the opening lines of this book:

“This Halloween party sucks. We should have stayed at our dorm and studied like I suggested,” Krista said as she glanced around the room.
We were at one of the frat houses for what everyone said was the most epic Halloween party on campus. So far we’d been hit on by nearly every male in the room. I watched more guys take girls up those stairs than I cared to count.

Please share a few Fun facts about this book…

• I almost didn’t use Cherished in the title because I have a book called Cherished
• My BFF came up with the podcast name.
• I did not want to write the scene with the cat, but my BFF insisted it had to be in there!

What first attracts your main characters to each other?

Ryan is Morgan’s older brother’s best friend. They start off as friends first.
 

Using just 5 words, how would you describe your main characters”love affair?

Smoldering, sweet, intense, passionate, true love (okay that’s more than five! Sorry!)
 

The First Kiss…

Is sweet and full of pent up feelings.
 

Without revealing too much, what is your favorite scene in the book?

I have a few favorites, but Morgan listening to the podcast late at night was a favorite.

Reaching for my phone, I saw Morgan’s name. My gut clenched as I quickly answered.

“Morgan? What’s wrong?”

“Hey, Ryan!” she said in a voice that was far too chipper for the middle of the night.

“Is everything okay?” I asked, scrubbing a hand over my face.

She paused for so long, I started to panic. “Morgan? Are you okay?!”

“I am! Sorry. And everyone else is fine.”

“Okay,” I slowly said. “Then why are you calling me at two in the morning?”

I heard a nervous laugh come through the phone. “It’s…well…I’ve got this problem. It’s not a big problem, just a little one.”

I threw the covers off me and swung my legs over the side of my bed. “Tell me what’s going on.”

“Well…you see…I was trying to prove you wrong.”

“Prove me wrong about what?”

“Um…the podcast…”

Closing my eyes, I attempted not to sound frustrated. “You started listening to The Dark Night, didn’t you?”

“In my defense, I thought you were being a little over the top with the whole ‘you live alone and you’ll get scared’ bullshit!”

“But?” I asked, now smiling because I simply couldn’t help myself.

“Their damn tagline is ‘danger lurks beneath the covers.’ I’m scared to death to get out of bed and I have to pee! Really badly!”

I laughed. “So you want to pee with me on the phone?”

She paused for a moment before she spoke. “I’d like to pee, but…mostly I don’t want to be here alone. I’m so creeped out!”

Frowning, I asked, “What do you want me to do?”

“I was thinking you might be able to come over and, you know…check around the apartment and make sure no one’s here? I called Hunter, but he didn’t answer.”

My mouth fell open.

“Ryan?”

I pushed a hand through my hair. “You want me to drive into town, so I can check your apartment for murderers?”

“Also so I can pee!”

If your book was optioned for a movie, what scene would be absolutely crucial to include?

The beginning for sure.

A strange feeling crept up my neck as I glanced over my shoulder and back at the party. My eyes scanned the outside and porch, but thankfully, I didn’t see the skeleton ringmaster guy.
Facing forward again, I shook off the feeling and counted down the days until I got to go home and see my family.
And Ryan.

RINGMASTER
I watched her walk away with her two friends. My mouth still tasted of her. It wasn’t enough. I wanted more. The sting of her rejection burned, but I needed to remind myself that she wasn’t like her whore of a friend, Heather. Morgan was a good girl.
And good girls were always worth the wait.

Readers should read this book …

If they like friends to lovers, small town, and like a good edge of your seat romantic suspense.

What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have planned?

I just finished book four in the Love in Montana series and am I’m about to start a special holiday project.

Thanks for blogging at HJ!

Giveaway: Signed paperback of Cherished Enough

To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Post a comment to this Q: Do you listen to true crime podcasts?

 
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Excerpt from Cherished Enough:

“Morgan! Morgan!” Avery called out.

She pushed away from the railing and headed back into her bedroom, with me following behind.

“I’m in here,” Morgan shouted.

Avery burst into the room, a bouquet of flowers in her hand. “These were delivered for you!”

I watched Morgan’s face light up. “From who?” she asked, taking the flowers and walking back into the living area. She set the bouquet on the kitchen counter, opened the card, and started reading it out loud. “Congratulations on your new adventure, Morgan. I cannot wait to see you thrive.”

She jerked her head up and looked at the now-full room. Brock, Blayze, Lincoln, and Hunter all stood there as well, smiles on their faces.

“Who’s it from?” Avery asked.

Morgan glanced back down at the card and slowly shook her head. “It’s not signed.”

“What’s not signed?” Georgiana asked as she stepped next to Blayze and set down a box.

“The card,” Morgan answered. “Did you send me flowers?”

Georgiana pointed to herself. “Me? No.”

“Did you get flowers too?” Avery asked.

With a shake of her head, Georgiana smiled at Morgan. “Secret admirer?”

When Morgan glanced my way, it actually pissed me off that I had to say the flowers weren’t from me. One, because I hadn’t thought of sending her flowers, and two, it meant someone else had—and that someone probably had a crush on Morgan.

“You didn’t send them either?” Morgan asked with what I swore was a hint of disappointment in her voice.

Sheepishly looking at the flowers and then at her, I replied, “No, I’m sorry. I wish I’d thought of it, though.”

That seemed to make her brighten up a bit.

“You have a secret admirer, Morgan!” Avery enthused. “I wonder who it is?”

Glancing back down at the card, Morgan grinned. “I guess I do.”

Annoyed, I watched Avery and Morgan start to name off potential people who could have sent them.

With a loud clap, Brock got everyone’s attention. “Let’s go, folks! The rest of those boxes won’t carry themselves up here.”

Hunter groaned while Blayze laughed. The latter fell in step next to me and bumped my shoulder. “Be careful, Ryan.”

“Of?” I asked, a note of frustration in my voice.

“From the way you were glaring at those flowers and clenching your fists, people might think you’ve got a thing for my sister.”

I stopped walking and watched Blayze continue on, a slight chuckle slipping free as he descended the steps.

Georgiana walked past me and squeezed my arm, giving me a sympathetic smile. “Maybe next time you’ll beat whoever it is to the punch.”

“Wait—what?” I asked as she skipped down the steps…whistling what I was almost positive was “So This is Love” from Cinderella.

Excerpts. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
 
 

Book Info:

Morgan Shaw is my soulmate. She has no idea how much I desire her to fill the needs I crave. I’ve dedicated the last four years to learning everything I could about her. If my desire for her ever came to light before she realized how much she loved me, I would be labeled a stalker.

Some might find it a little creepy how I watch her every move. I find it exhilarating. I’ve even uprooted my entire life for her. Now this man has come into the picture and is not part of my plan. I see the girl’s heads turn as he walks by, but Ryan Marshall has nothing on me and my love for Morgan. My obsession with her goes to my soul’s deepest, darkest depths. If I can’t have her, then no one else can.

It’s almost time, Morgan, to be together forever.

Cherished Enough is book two in the Love in Montana series
Book Links: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Goodreads |
 
 

Meet the Author:

Kelly Elliott is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling contemporary romance author. Since publishing her first book, Wanted, in 2012, Kelly continues to spread her wings while remaining true to her roots and giving readers stories rich with hot protective men, strong women, and beautiful surroundings.

Her bestselling works include, Wanted, Broken, Lost Love, Never Enough, and The Butterfly Effect, to name just a few. Kelly’s amazing readers have dubbed her “The Queen of Small Town”, since a large majority of Kelly’s books are based in small towns with swoony cowboys and strong heroines.

Kelly lives in central Texas with her husband, Darrin and their two crazy pups, Gunner and Ellie, along with four cats, and a plethora of wildlife. When she’s not writing, Kelly enjoys reading, watching the birds at her bird feeders, and spending time with her family. She is down to earth and very in touch with her readers, both on social media and at signings.

To find out more about Kelly and her books, visit her website at www.kellyelliottauthor.com
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