RUNAWAY TEMPTATION – Maureen Child
Texas Cattleman's Club: Bachelor Auction , Book 1
Harlequin Desire #2612
ISBN: 978-1-335-97172-2
September 2018
Contemporary Series Romance

Royal, Texas – Present Day

Caleb Mackenzie hates weddings, mainly because he was once dumped on the eve of his wedding when his intended bride ran off with his brother. However, he was invited to the wedding of a prominent family in Royal. As Caleb is entering the chapel, a woman dressed in wedding finery runs out of a room and asks him to whisk her away. The bride, Shelby Arthur, has decided she can't go through the marriage and needs a getaway ride. Caleb obliges like the good man he is, and even invites her to hide out at his ranch. Could Caleb's offer have something to do with the fact that he's attracted to Shelby?

Shelby gave up her life and career in Chicago because she thought she found the love of her life. But it turns out her “cowboy” isn't really one and his family is a nightmare. Realizing that if she goes through with the wedding her marriage will be a hell on earth, she decides to split. Caleb is the first one she runs into, and luckily, he obliges by helping her escape. With no money or clothes, Shelby's options are few. Caleb invites her to stay with him for a few days until she can get her life back in order. But soon a few days stretch into more, and the simmering attraction between them can no longer be denied. Will a man once ditched by his bride-to-be end up falling for the runaway bride?

Welcome to another installment of the  Texas Cattleman's Club . As the first tale in the series, RUNAWAY TEMPTATION sets the stage and introduces a few of the characters that will appear in future stories. Besides the romance building between Caleb and Shelby, there are plans being drawn up for the town's first bachelor auction. What many don't realize is that the idea for the auction came from an elderly man and woman whose families have feuded for years. They want to keep their granddaughter and grandson apart after the two show an interest in each other. Will it work? Stayed tuned!

Shelby's groom-to-be, Jared, wooed her by telling her that he was a rich cowboy who lived on a ranch. Turns out the only true thing true was that he's rich. Add in that his controlling parents don't like her, and she comes to the realization that her future isn't going to be happy if she marries Jared. So, she decides to ditch the wedding and thankfully Caleb helps. While there are sparks between them, both realize that getting involved could lead to complications, mostly due to the animosity Jared's family feels toward her. It would add fuel to the fire. But as much as they try to resist the attraction, they soon give in to the temptation. Caleb is a tender and generous lover who makes Shelby feel special. Dare she hope that they can have a future? Yet he can't get over the similarities of what Shelby did and what happened to him years ago. Is there any chance they can find happiness together?

Shelby escaped from marrying Mr. Wrong but her rescuer, Caleb, might turn out to be Mr. Right. Grab a copy of RUNAWAY TEMPTATION to find out what happens in this engaging tale.

Patti Fischer