Lake Taimana
Stephanie Ruth
(Otago Waters, #3)
Publication date: February 21st 2022
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Love a slow-burn, second chance romance, with tight-knit families and smouldering secrets?
Don’t we all!
Winner of both the Daphne Clair DeJong First Kiss and RWNZ Great Beginnings competition, LAKE TAIMANA (Lake Diamond) is a contemporary love story set in the stunning Lakes District in southern New Zealand.
The third novel by emerging Kiwi romance writer, Stephanie Ruth, LAKE TAIMANA can be read as a standalone, or in conjunction with two other linked love stories in the OTAGO WATERS series.
*****
What does it take to shift deep-seated betrayal?
Adele Fergus switched back to her maiden name with plans to never look back—never think about her naïve, short-lived marriage to James Montague. But that was before he turned up on her Wanaka doorstep with her missing diamonds, a crazy back-story, and persistent requests for visitation with his ex-stepdaughter.
Adele’s hell-bent on keeping James at arms-length, but it’s not easy with old attractions still running hot. What’s more, she’s beginning to suspect she may have left him on false information.
Divorce was never in James’ game-plan, so when his ex-wife’s jewellery comes to light, he’s drawn back to her—welcome or not—and he isn’t leaving until he has all the answers.
The more the exes re-learn to trust each other, the more they come to realise someone was intent on dragging them apart from the very beginning. Someone close.
Is it worth risking everything to start again?
*****
Authors note: Though this story ends with an HEA, it also includes references to a historical miscarriage, depression, and suicide. Please read at your own discretion.
—
EXCERPT:
Adele walloped James a few times between the shoulder blades, concerned. He was hunched forward in the armchair, still coughing as if his life depended on it.
“Steady on,” James choked the words out amidst bouts of hacking. “I might need my spine later in the week.”
“You’re alright now?” She stopped hitting and rubbed the spot with her palm instead, up and down. Turning back to the sofa, she refocused on what she’d been thinking before she’d been rudely interrupted. “I’m imagining red through to yellow. Sunshine colours, you know? Or maybe cooler tones—green and leafy. Yes! Tropical. Fiji-style would look great in here.”
“Adele?”
“Mmm?”
“Stop.”
“Stop what?” She turned to James in surprise, and realised she still had her hand on him, stroking the contours of his shoulders and back. Gently up, then massaging down in that valley between his blades that alluded to the power of his back; the strength and breadth of it. “Oh!” She withdrew immediately, red-faced and flustered. “Shit! Sorry.”
It’d felt so natural, so normal. For a moment she’d totally forgotten…
James leaned back against the cushions and slid his hands behind his head, lacing his fingers there as he closed his eyes. “Let’s get something straight.”
“Um, okay.”
“You don’t want me to touch you, right?”
Was that right? Why was she no longer sure if that was right?
She should be positive. Right?
“Right. Yes.” Adele bit down on her lower lip, staring at the tanned skin of James’ exposed neck, and marvelling at how the new beard petered out to give way to corded muscle. “I mean, I guess so.”
Author Bio:
Award winning New Zealand contemporary romance novelist and short story writer, Stephanie Ruth lives in the South Island, Te Waipounamu, with her husband, three children, and an ever expanding array of animals. If it doesn’t have a happy ending in some form or other, Stephanie’s not writing it.
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I would so enjoy reading this book and I like the cover too.
I like the cover. It looks great. Sounds like a good story.
Sounds like an interesting book.
i love that this can be read as a stand alone.
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Sounds like a good book.
I enjoyed reading the excerpt – well done!
Thank you for sharing this with us.
Handsome cover. Sounds like a great second chance read
I look forward to reading this.
this sounds like a wonderful book
This sounds like an interesting book and I also like the cover.
This sounds like a really great book!
I would so love to read this one this spring sounds super good
THis book looks so good
This book sounds really interesting.
Sounds like a good read.
Sounds like a good read.
What an interesting book! Great cover and excerpt. I’d love to read more.
I enjoyed the excerpt. Best of luck with the book.
Great post – thanks for sharing!
A second chance at love is possible. Once Adele can better understand her true feelings for James, maybe they can reconnect.
Sounds like a wonderful read!
The excerpt is interesting. Thank you for sharing it.
I do like the excerpt. Thank you for the giveaway!
I love the cover, synopsis and excerpt, this is a must read for me. Thank you for posting about this book
I really enjoyed reading the excerpt!
The book sounds interesting. 🙂
Sounds like a book I would enjoy reading.
This sounds like a good romance read.
I like the cover and excerpt.
This sounds like a great read.
I think it would be a special type of betrayal if someone you loved (family member, etc.) actively worked to wreck a marriage.
He is so handsome.I bet this is really good.
I love that this can be read as a stand-alone book. Thank you for this giveaway! Good Luck on your book!
Sounds like a good read.
Sounds like a good book.
Great cover! Really enjoyed the excerpt.
Wow! What a generous giveaway! As a single mom and teacher I love to read with my family and to my family and Taimana seems like a book we all might enjoy!! (nicole bowers, nicole 2 inspect at yahoo dot com)
Loved the excerpt. Thank you for a sneak peak
I need it to read in my hospital trip