Heart
of Stone
The
Stone Series
Book
1
Dakota
Willink
Genre:
Contemporary Romance
Date
of Publication: December 27, 2015
ISBN:
0997160314
ASIN:
B019NXMK6G
Number
of pages: 458
Word
Count: 133,464
Cover
Artist: Dakota Willink
Book
Description:
Krystina
Cole was a girl on a mission. She had big dreams and aspirations,
none of which included a man by her side. She knew better than that
– at least until she met Alexander Stone, the New York billionaire
real estate tycoon. She saw the way that he looked at her, and the
dark promises in his eyes. She was curious about his world and all
that it entailed. But the shadows of her past haunted her, making her
afraid to explore possibilities that she could never before have
imagined…
Alexander
Stone was a man who knew how to get what he wanted. He understood
the value of finesse, and the importance of patience and diligence to
achieve the desired result. He was successful and wealthy, relying on
his naturally sharp instincts to guide him through life. But a
chance run in with Krystina Cole quickly turned his world upside
down. Her quick wit and firecracker attitude was the complete
opposite of what he wanted in a woman, and his instincts failed him
at every turn…
However,
both Krystina and Alexander are clinging to the secrets of their
past, and neither of them are willing to compromise. Krystina’s
hardened heart makes emotional surrender a hard limit. But for
Alexander, revealing his past could have devastating results.
Excerpt:
After
unwrapping the cellophane from the platter, I moved over to the
minibar to choose a bottle of white from the wine cooler. I perused
the selections, trying to decide what would pair best with the
cheeses.
Sauvignon
Blanc or Chardonnay? Both will go nicely, but which would she prefer?
I
glanced over at Krystina, intending to ask her if she had a
particular wine preference. However, she had a look about her that
made me pause, and I didn’t want to interrupt the picture that she
painted before me.
She
was running one delicate hand over the wooden top of my dining room
table. She wore a soft smile on her lips, appreciating the
craftsmanship of the design. She looked beautiful sitting there,
feet up on the chair, seeming completely at ease. And in that
moment, I realized that she had never before looked quite like that
in my presence. She had never appeared so completely relaxed.
So
unguarded.
I
stood there studying every beautiful line of her captivating face.
Seeing her that way, it was almost hard to believe she was capable of
so many smart remarks and witty comebacks. Perhaps her sharp tongue
and contentious behavior was a defense mechanism, one that she relied
on when she was uncomfortable. If that were truly the case, then I
would need to take corrective actions to remedy that problem. I had
to calm her, or else I’d never get through the weeks ahead.
Weeks?
Since
when do I think long term about these things?
The
idea was novel for me and I was stunned to discover that I liked the
idea of her being here more regularly. In my space. With me. It was
a distressing sort of feeling.
This
can all go to shit at a moments notice. Take it one step at a time.
A
change of tactics was needed, for Krystina’s sake as well as my
own. My normal methods of operation would have to be thrown out the
window. Attempting to take control by laying down the law would only
backfire, so I began to construct a new plan – one that would make
Krystina feel more at ease. Once she was relaxed, I would begin to
work on her trust by giving her what she’s been asking for.
Full
disclosure.
Krystina
would have no doubts about what I wanted from her after tonight. She
would know exactly who and what I was. She would either run, or she
would stay. If she stayed, then that’s when the true test would
come into play – tonight I would discover if Krystina could put
away that independent mind of hers long enough to pass her first
lesson in submission.
Finally
feeling like I had somewhat of a solution to Krystina’s
argumentative nature, I turned my attention back to the wine
selection. Smiling to myself, I settled on a bottle of Joh. Jos.
Prüm Riesling.
Sweet.
Like her.
I
grabbed two crystal wine goblets and went back to the dining room,
focused on the mission ahead. I could only hope that Krystina would
keep herself open to what I had in mind.
About
the Author:
Dakota
Willink is a self-employed writer and editor, and the author of Heart
of Stone, a contemporary romance novel.
She
has always had a passion for reading and writing. From the time she
was an adolescent, she enjoyed curling up with a good paperback,
reading genres that ranged from thriller and fantasy, to mystery and
romance. She always dreamed of one day writing her own book, but had
put her aspirations on hold to focus on her family and a career that
would pay the bills.
Although
she earned a degree in business and had built a solid reputation in
retail sales, her heart continued to be with fictional characters –
whether they belonged to a favorite author or if they were just
stories that she made up in her own head.
In
2013, Dakota gathered enough courage to turn her dreams into a
reality. In between playing chauffeur to two very busy children and
working her job during the day, Dakota began to put words on paper.
Eventually, she began to describe her life as a book. Everything she
saw or heard throughout the day, intertwined with her imagination for
the creation of future writings. By 2014, with the support of her
husband and two children, she gave up the security of a steady
paycheck and began working on her first novel full time.
Dakota
Willink is a lover of music, and appreciates the power and
stimulating effect it can have on the brain. She often uses lyrics
and melodies to help her through bouts of writers block. At the end
of her novel, you can find an authors note that recognizes and thanks
the artists that gave her inspiration.
Dakota
resides in the Western New York area, where she enjoys spending time
with family, her two Labrador Retrievers, and her spoiled rotten cat.
During the summer months, she can often be found on a boat, soaking
up the sun on the Great Lakes with her family.
Official
Website: http://www.dakotawillink.com
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/DakotaWillink/
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/DakotaWillink
Amazon
Author Central: http://www.amazon.com/Dakota-Willink/e/B019UOHLYO
Thank you for being a host for my book tour!
ReplyDelete