Blog Layout

FREE TO PROTECT (Amaryllis Series #9) by Tracey Jerald | Cover & Excerpt Reveal

January 26, 2022

FREE TO PROTECT

Amaryllis Series #9

by Tracey Jerald

Cover & Excerpt Reveal

Release Date: February 23, 2022


Cover Design: Amy Q / QDesigns

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Trope: Inspirational, firefighter, family saga

Synopsis


Captain Brett Stewart is a second-generation firefighter. His life is irrevocably changed when he enters a burning building only to be trapped. Now, recovered from his injuries, he’s eager to don the gear that failed him and get back to work.

He never expects his blood to ignite when he sees a swoosh of gray across a crowded fundraiser. 

He has to meet her. 

Local business owner Jillian Beale knows all too well fire can destroy everything in its wake. From a childhood of uncertainty, she was content until her safety net incinerated one afternoon. Then she has no choice but to fight to protect her future.

But after Brett leads her out onto the dance floor, her vision for the future goes up in smoke. 

After all, who better than she knows that touching fire burns?

Add to your TBR List!

GOODREADS LINK

Excerpt

I’m standing there in my full-dress uniform when Joe clasps my shoulder. He announces cheerfully, “I’ve been abandoned by my wife.”

A few months ago, I might be alarmed at the joviality in his statement, but Holly broke through. It’s good to know that for some people, there’s another side to this nightmare. Catching a glimpse of his father approaching, I lift my drink to my lips to hide my smirk before I ask, “Was it because you smell? Because really, you should have showered before you came to this kind of event.”

Joe shoves me, almost knocking me into an older couple, both of whom jump. I dip my head before apologizing. “I deeply regret Captain Bianco’s boorish manners during such an esteemed event.”

Joe’s eyes promise retribution as Chief approaches with his wife—Joe’s mother—Denise. “Do I need to separate you two?” He’s blinking rapidly as he tries to aim a beady-eyed glare at both of us. 

“Holly got you with her camera, didn’t she?” Joe guesses. 

Chief groans, making us all laugh. “I swear, your wife didn’t put that thing down during the delivery of our grandchildren, Joe. What on earth made me think she’d leave it home tonight?”

“Give her a break, she’s working tonight, Pop. I’m stag.”

Maybe it’s the highball I’ve been nursing, but I feel more like myself than I have in ages. Wrapping an arm around Joe’s shoulder, I snuggle up to my best friend like I was two and need to cuddle with my Teddy Bear.

“Get off me, you ass,” Joe laughs.

“And here I was going to offer to be your date,” I sigh dramatically.

Everyone in the small group breaks into laughter causing the ice around my heart to melt a little more. I recall what it was like when I was younger and I clowned around all the time, when laughter was a typical part of my day. Now, there’s a million miles between me and the man who felt the world crash in on him—literally. It’s no secret those days and that man are buried in the ashes of a building that’s been rebuilt.

If only there was something—someone—who gave a damn about me. Sure, there’s my family—my parents and my sister. And of course, Joe and his brood. But if I’d found that someone before the fire, maybe I could have been resurrected from the ashes instead of leaving my soul as footprints in the rubble and dust. Maybe I wouldn’t feel like I’m drifting on the wind.

Like it’s answering me, a gust swirls around us causing women to lift their hands to their meticulously arranged hairdos. Men turn their backs as the front door is opened to admit a late arrival.

Their loss because they don’t get a glimpse of the smoke-colored vision that streaks into the room, her dress twirling around her like a Hollywood movie starlet. Dark hair lifts off her neck in a wreath of braids and swaths of messy strands. I swallow hard at the vast amount of creamy skin outlined in a dress that plunges almost to her waist. When she turns to say something to the woman she’s with, her cheeks flush—nerves or excitement? I narrow my eyes and catch as her teeth drag over her plump lower lip, enticing me to do the same.

My breath becomes a bit jagged as the two women begin mingling. Are they together? Friends?  Immediately, I become as intrigued as she engages in some small talk with the very recognizable Matt and Ava Barlow.  My body jerks forward intuitively toward her, like it has a mind of its own. Acknowledging how much I ache for the sweetness of a woman’s touch for the first time since the fire.

“Who is she?” I murmur aloud, entranced as she throws her head back and laughs at something the cantankerous cook mutters. Her surprise is visible from halfway across the ballroom as he catches her hand and spins her out.  I become hard as a rock when I glimpse more of her smooth skin though the crystal chains holding up the back of her gown.

Something inside of me is clawing at me to get to her before she escapes. “That woman who just walked in the gray gown—who is she?”

“Who?” Joe lifts his own drink.

My jaw falls a bit. “Gray dress. Just came through the door like she owned the room.” And me or any male she might want in it.

Giveaway

One of Five eARC's for Free to Protect

a Rafflecopter Giveaway
ENTER HERE

Other Titles Within this Series




About the Author

Tracey Jerald knew she was meant to be a writer when she would re-write the ending of books in her head on her bike when she was a young girl growing up in southern Connecticut. It wasn’t long before she was typing alternate endings and extended epilogues “just for fun”.

After college in Florida, where she obtained a degree in Criminal Justice swearing she saw things she’ll never quite believe and never quite forget, Tracey traded the world of law and order for IT.

Her work for a world-wide internet startup transferred her to Northern Virginia where she met her husband in what many call their own happily ever after. They have one son.

When she’s not busy with her family or writing, Tracey can be found in her home in north Florida drinking coffee, reading, training for a runDisney event, or feeding her addiction to HGTV.

Connect with Tracey

 

Website: https://www.traceyjerald.com
Newsletter Sign Up: http://bit.ly/31KVDOe  
Facebook Personal Page: http://bit.ly/2L3wyFE  
Facebook Author Page: http://bit.ly/2zrcnQz
Facebook Reader Group: https://bit.ly/366C32J
Goodreads Author Page: http://bit.ly/2ucXKeE  
Twitter: http://bit.ly/2L7hBCD  
Instagram: http://bit.ly/2KLRmVX  
Pinterest: http://bit.ly/2L5EVkd  
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2ulAJ8E  
Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/2QDTr5U  
BookBub Author Page: http://bit.ly/2Ne9h9l


A logo for foreword pr and marketing shows an open book

A spicy, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, mafia romance standalone book.
April 3, 2025
SINFUL ATTRACTION by Ava Connor Release Blitz Release Date: April 3, 2025 Genre: Mafia Romance Standalone Trope: Enemies to lovers, forced proximity, badass female hacker, cocky but competent hero, bratty sibling sabotage, hate s#x / passionate tension, reluctant allies, rivalry romance, morally gray characters, found family
A spicy, friends to lovers, forced proximity, single dad, M/M, MMM, MMF romance book with a HEA.
April 2, 2025
FOREVER REBEL Rebel Kings MC Series #9 by Garrett Leigh Dual Cover Reveal Release Date: April 30, 2025 Model & Discreet Cover Design: Garrett Leigh @ Black Jazz Design Photo: Wander Aguiar Photography Model: Matia Genre: M/M, MMM, & MMF MC Romance Trope: Friends to lovers, forced proximity, bisexual romance, brotherhood, single dad, why choose, hurt/comfort, found family, mild kink, HEA
A spicy, hate to love, second chance, mafia romance book with an overprotective hero.
March 27, 2025
THE HUNTER The Bianchi Brothers - Book Two by LM Fox Release Blitz Release Date: March 27, 2025 Model Cover Design: Hang Le Photo: Wander Aguiar Photography Model: Gianni Militello Discreet Cover Design: Sarah Kil Genre: Mafia Romance Interconnected Standalone Trope: Hate to love, second chance, possessive/overprotective hero, strong and sassy heroine
A spicy, enemies to lovers, bi-awakening, secret relationship, M/M hockey sports romance book.
March 27, 2025
POSSESSIVE PUCKBOY Puckboys - Book Eight by Eden Finley & Saxon James Release Blitz Release Date: March 27, 2025 Cover Design: Story Styling Cover Designs Photo: Wander Aguiar Photography Model: Landon C. Genre: M/M Sports Romance Standalone Trope: Enemies to lovers, bi-awakening, team owner/player, secret romance
A spicy, secret relationship, single mother, grumpy alpha hero, western contemporary novella.
March 26, 2025
AFTER YOU Beyond the Limit Volume 2: A BRAE Anthology by Tracey Jerald Alternate Cover & Excerpt Reveal Release Date: April 22, 2025 Genre: Western Contemporary Romance Novella Standalone Trope: Secret relationship, single mother, grumpy alpha hero, family secrets
An age-gap, hero falls first, grumpy/sunshine, single mom, doctor, billionaire romance book.
March 26, 2025
THE ARROGANT'S SURRENDER Gods in White #1 by D.A. Lemoyne Cover Reveal Release Date: April 16, 2025 Cover Design: Angela Haddon Photo: Wander Aguiar Photography Model: Christopher L. Genre: Billionaire Romance Standalone Trope: Age-gap, hero falls first, grumpy/sunshine, single mom, doctor, destined to be together, morally gray man, found family, family drama, secrets, HEA
A spicy, stepbrothers, animosity to lovers, opposites attract, roommates M/M romance book.
March 20, 2025
OFF LIMITS Legacy Mechanics - Book Four by Willow Dixon Cover & Excerpt Reveal Release Date: April 17, 2025 Cover Design: Lori Jackson Design Photo: Michelle Lancaster Model: Genre: M/M Romance Standalone Trope: Stepbrothers, animosity to lovers, opposites attract, roommates, jock/goth nerd, online spicy times, hurt/comfort, found family, lots of heat, tons of feels
A steamy, friends to lovers, jilted bride, small town contemporary romance book.
March 20, 2025
SUNDOWN SOMEWHERE Hayes Family #3 by Claire Hastings Release Blitz Release Date: March 20, 2025 Cover Design: Y'all That Graphic Photo: Lindee Robinson Photography Model: Drew Harwood Genre: Contemporary Romance Standalone Trope: Friends to lovers, jilted bride, accidental couples massage, small-town
A spicy, age-gap, second chance, secret baby, hero falls first, billionaire romance book.
March 19, 2025
ALL FOR HER FORGIVENESS Kostanidis Family - Book Four by D.A. Lemoyne Release Blitz Release Date: March 19, 2025 Cover Design: Angela Haddon Photo: Ren Saliba Genre: Billionaire Romance Standalone Trope: Age-gap, marriage of convenience, second chance, secret baby, hero falls first, alpha hero, amnesia love story, redemption, one night stand to forever, destined to be together, HEA
SHOW MORE

Share by: