Spotlight & Giveaway: The Runaway Heiress by Meg Tilly

Posted July 27th, 2021 by in Blog, Spotlight / 32 comments

Today, HJ is pleased to share with you Meg Tilly’s new release: The Runaway Heiress

 

Spotlight&Giveaway

 

A brave woman on the run from her vindictive husband faces a dangerous path in the thrilling new romantic suspense novel from Oscar-nominated actress Meg Tilly.

 
Sarah Patterson has been on the run for more than three years. She’s changed identities yet again in hopes of throwing her violent estranged husband, a police lieutenant, off her trail. Since she’s still legally married to him, and he is willing to bend any laws to get his hands on her inheritance, Sarah is worth far more to him dead than alive.

With a new name and fake ID papers, she lands a job as a personal assistant to none other than Hollywood’s golden boy director Mick Talford. He’s a difficult client but she senses hidden depths to him. Once Mick and Sarah combine forces in a desperate attempt to keep Sarah out of harm’s way, they build a strong bond . . . but with danger trailing them, is it enough to keep them both alive?

 

Enjoy an exclusive excerpt from The Runaway Heiress 

He was naked. The man—who supposedly was her new employer—had answered the door unshaven, stark naked, dripping wet, and hung like a bull. Not that the size of his appendage had any bearing on the matter. Why the hell did you look down? Sarah squeezed her eyes shut, could feel the heat in her face. She had two choices. She could turn around, get in her car, and start the long drive down Mulholland Drive with the desperate hope that she could land another position before night fell. Or she could take this job, which would mean a place for her and Charlie to sleep and hot water. That would mean putting up with this jerk for a week or two while she replenished her cash stores. Whereas sleeping in her car, who knew what sort of assholes she’d run into? Lord knew, she seemed to have a talent for running into more than her fair share.
Sarah took a second to center herself, unclenched her fists, then opened her eyes. “Mick Talford, I presume?” she said, smiling blandly, keeping her gaze and her chin up. “I’m Rachel Jones from the Windham Employment Agency, your new assistant.”
He blinked, the cocky grin vanishing from his face. “My assistant?” He scowled. Music and the sound of the party were blasting past him, spilling through the doorway to envelop her like a hot desert wind.
“I was told this was a live-in position.” She could smell the fragrance wafting up from the huge vase of white trumpet lilies that was sitting on the front doorstep. As she’d approached the mansion, she had noticed flowers with the small envelope with Mick Talford scrawled in gold cursive nestled among the blooms. Before ringing the doorbell, Sarah had bent over and inhaled deeply, savoring their scent as she let memories of a happier time wash over her. Her mother had always placed a vase of fresh lilies in the entryway. At the thought of her mother, the longing and loss stiffened Sarah’s spine. “If you would please direct me to my quarters so I can settle in? Once you’ve made yourself presentable, I’d be happy to meet with you and discuss what my duties will be.”
“I’m sorry. The agency made a mistake. I requested a male.” His voice was flat. Dismissive. As if life were always that easy. As if he were choosing between a pair of shoes. He started to shut the door. She should have let him, the chauvinist pig. No one in their right mind would want to work for this dickhead. But instead of letting logic have its way, anger had her jamming her body into the doorway. Making it impossible for him to close the door, unless he was prepared to knock her off her feet. “Well, too bad.” She reached out and snagged her suitcase in case the madman decided to pitch it into the flora and fauna. “You got me.”
“It’s not up for discussion. This is a bachelor’s residence. I’m not going to pussyfoot around my own home to avoid offending your ‘womanly sensibilities.’ Furthermore”he slid his gaze down her body and then back up again, the expression on his face one of distaste, as if he’d found her lacking—“quite honestly, I don’t need the distraction.”
Sarah’s hand itched to fly out and smack that condescending look off his face.
“Hey, Mick?” A redheaded woman poked her head out of a doorway down the hall. “You enjoy your dip?”
A platinum-blonde head appeared over the redhead’s shoulder. “You’re all wet, and we’re lonely.” The blonde made a moue with her mouth.
“Look, Mr. Talford,” Sarah said, using the tone of someone speaking to a not-very-bright five-year-old. “There’s Tweedledee and Tweedledum. Female, from the looks of it.” She smiled at him brightly. “So, that makes mincemeat of your paltry objection to anyone of the female persuasion gracing these hallowed halls.”
The weary air of boredom vanished from his face. His gaze narrowed at the challenge in her voice. She thought she saw a flash of something in his eyes, maybe laughter? Too fleeting to know, because it was gone and he was leaping into the air, his head thrown back as he roared, teeth bared, causing Sarah to jump slightly. What the hell? Who does that? she thought, more than a little annoyed that he had managed to startle her. But apparently, he wasn’t finished with his little display. When Talford’s feet hit the ground, he started pounding them on the floor as if he were a Samoan readying himself for battle. His fists thumped hard against his bare chest, as if it were a drum. The man was still roaring. Of course. She rolled her eyes and kept a slightly bored expression pasted on her face. Although, with his wild mane of wet hair, he did look rather impressive in a messed-up way. Sort of like a lion daring the sun to rise.

From THE RUNAWAY HEIRESS published by arrangement with Berkley, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC. Copyright © 2021 by Meg Tilly.

 

Giveaway: A copy of THE RUNAWAY HEIRESS for one, U.S. only winner.

 

To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and post a comment to this Q: What did you think of the excerpt spotlighted here? Leave a comment with your thoughts on the book…

 
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Meet the Author:

Meg Tilly may be best known for her acclaimed Golden Globe-winning performance in the movie Agnes of God. Other screen credits include The Big Chill, Valmont, and, more recently, Bomb Girls and the Netflix movie War Machine, starring Brad Pitt. After publishing six standout young adult and literary women’s fiction novels, the award-winning author/actress decided to write the kind of books she loves to read: romance novels. Tilly has three grown children and resides with her husband in the Pacific Northwest.

Author Site: MegTillyAuthor.com
Social: Facebook: @megtillyauthor ; Twitter: @megghamonstah ; Instagram: @megtillyauthor; YouTube: Meg’s Cozy Tea Time

Buy Link: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/654151/the-runaway-heiress-by-meg-tilly/?pdivflag
 
 
 

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32 Responses to “Spotlight & Giveaway: The Runaway Heiress by Meg Tilly”

  1. EC

    That the heroine had the guts to go stand up against the hero.

    Thanks for the excerpt, HJ!

  3. holdenj

    She seems like a strong character and that little stunt of his really came to life.

  6. Karina Angeles

    Loved it! Can’t wait to read how Rachel responds to Mick’s act of silliness.

  19. Bonnie

    Sarah sounds like a very interesting character. Great excerpt. I’d love to read more.

  20. Glenda M

    It did exactly what a good excerpt is supposed to do. It made me want MORE!!

  31. Patricia B.

    The excerpt was certainly an eye opener. He comes across as an overgrown, rude, spoiled child. She is obviously desperate and not one to push around. You can tell she is going to fight for the job. It sounds like she has a child, and I am curious what will happen when he finds that out.