Just The Write Stuff: **Release Day**Tackled by the Girl Next Door**Susan Scott Shelly and Veronica Forand**

Tackled by the Girl Next Door

by Susan Scott Shelley & Veronica Forand

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Release Date: October 15, 2014

When a retired NFL player returns home to sort out his life, he finds his future in the girl next door.

Jason Black is a newly retired professional football player. Forced off the playing field due to an injury, he returns to his hometown to contemplate his future and finds solace in his relationship with his best friend, Samantha O’Brien.

Sam has spent the past five years caring for her younger brother. Home from college for Thanksgiving break, he parties hard and bullies his sister. When Jason comes to her defense, protecting her from a crowd of drunken college kids, Sam begins seeing him as more than a friend. Yet, she fears acting on their attraction could ruin the friendship she’s grown to depend upon.

Just one kiss changes everything for Jason. Sam is no longer the girl next door but the woman of his dreams. Now, he just has to convince her that his feelings are real. But when the football world comes calling again and career decisions are on the line, both sacrifice all to put the other’s needs first. They must decide whether to follow their hearts and make the catch of a lifetime.

Hazel eyes burned into hers. ”Sam.”

“What?”

“You've got chocolate on your lower lip.”

“Oh.” She reached for her napkin.

His hand stopped hers. “I’ll get it.”

Instead of his fingers, his lips descended. His gaze intense, his movements controlled, he leaned in. Slowly. Sam moistened her lips and inhaled. Dream or reality? Jason’s lips closed over hers, too warm, too firm to be a figment of her subconscious. Fireworks exploded behind her eyes. She tasted the heady combination of chocolate and wine and Jason. She fisted his sweater, holding him to her. Kissing Jason was better than she’d imagined.

This novella is an enjoyable read! The story of Samantha (Sam) and Jason, two people who live next door to each other and have been friends forever. Sam, has not had it easy her husband died in Iraq and had returned home years earlier to raise her brother after the death of their Mother. Jason the guy next door, there for her in good and bad times. The book spans 1 week and everything that happens as they realize that there is an attraction and what to do about it! A great read to relax with for a quick read! Hope to see more collaborations between these two authors!

Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon CA ~ Amazon AU

Kobo ~ ARe

Susan Scott Shelley is an award-winning author of contemporary romance and romantic suspense.

She currently resides outside Philadelphia with her very own Superhero and spends her days writing about tough heroes, smart heroines, and love being the strongest magic there is.

In addition to writing romances, she is also a professional voiceover artist. Her favorite things include running, sports, hard rock and old Hollywood movies.

Susan is represented by Michelle Grajkowski of 3 Seas Literary Agency.

Veronica Forand is an attorney and an award-winning writer of romantic suspense.

She’s lived in Boston, London, Paris, Geneva, and Washington, DC and currently resides near Philadelphia. An avid traveler, she loves to roam across continents with her husband and kids in pursuit of skiing, scuba diving, and finding the perfect piece of chocolate.

Veronica is represented by Michelle Grajkowski of 3 Seas Literary Agency.