for Christmas, and it had snowed. We’d been outside, embroiled in an impromptu snowball fight with my brothers. None of us had been dressed for the cold—no coats, hats, or gloves. Just a bunch of dumbass kids tossing snow at each other until our bare hands hurt. Back inside, I’d realized my ring had come off. We’d looked, but never found it.
It had been prophetic, in a way.
But I was past that now. Zoe and I hadn’t worked out. She hadn’t been happy, so she’d left. Moved back to Echo Creek. Started working for my parents. She was fine, and so was I.
In fact, I was more than fine. I was at the top of my game. Whether or not my family could appreciate it, my life was pretty fucking good.
I would do what I had to do. Spend a few days at home, look at their books, probably find a few errors. Argue with my dad. Talk shit with my brothers. Let my mom fuss over me a little. Then I’d be right back here, where I belonged.
Continue reading Broken Miles…
Dear Reader
Dear reader,
Gavin, Gavin, Gavin.
Did you expect his story would be next? Not everyone did. I’ve had a few readers tell me they thought he should be last, because he’s the youngest.
But, to the surprise of no one, Gavin wouldn’t wait his turn.
One of the biggest challenges in writing this book was dealing with a hobbled Gavin. He breaks his leg and suddenly he can’t be fully himself. The injury forces him to slow down. To look. To really see things, instead of charging in full speed ahead.
He wasn’t exactly happy about that. Which made it harder on me.
Don’t these Bailey boys realize I have their best interests at heart? No, they don’t, and he was just as stubborn and difficult as his brothers. But it’s easy to forgive him with that smile.
I hesitated a little when it came to making Skylar a writer. Being a writer myself and creating a character who does what I do feels… weird. Or maybe like taking a shortcut. But it really fit her personality, both in her love of quiet and solitude, and her interest in serial killers. Maybe I wasn’t sure about making her a writer, but she WAS one, so I just had to roll with it.
Sometimes these heroines are just as stubborn as their heroes.
I loved exploring a female lead who has to cope with anxiety. I know so many people who suffer from the same problem and it impacts their lives in many different ways. I did my best to be true to her and the ways she experiences anxiety, both mentally and physically.
And pairing a shy girl with crazy Gavin? I mean, obviously.
Overall, these two were a joy to write. The way they circle around each other for a while, denying their feelings, made it so satisfying when things finally broke open between them. Easy-going, fun-loving Gavin had a lot more going on deep inside than it seemed. And Skylar was perfect for him, the calm to his storm.
I hope you enjoyed their story!
CK
Acknowledgments
This book was released in November 2020, and 2020 hit it hard. But with the help of some awesome people, disaster was averted.
Thank you to Talia for jumping in to help finalize the cover and working with the existing series design.
Thank you to Eliza for swooping in and doing a last-minute edit. We were down to the wire and you saved the day!
The beautiful cover photo was definitely not a disaster, thanks to the talent of Wander Aguiar and his team. And thanks to model Lucas Loyola for your gorgeous smile.
A big thank you to David Woody, retired firefighter, for fact-checking the technical details and helping me with accuracy. And thank you for everything you do for firefighters and their families.
Thank you to my beta readers, Nikki and Alex, for sticking with me on this one and helping me sort through the mess. And for reading it approximately 327 times. And to my proofreaders, Erma and Alison, for helping catch those last pesky typos that always try to sneak through.
And to all my readers who have come with me on this journey, thank you. Without you, the Bailey Brothers wouldn’t exist, except as some voices in my head. Thank you for loving them with me.
Also by Claire Kingsley
For a full and up-to-date listing of Claire Kingsley books visit www.clairekingsleybooks.com
The Bailey Brothers
Steamy, small-town family series. Five unruly brothers. Epic pranks. A quirky, feuding town. Big HEAs. Best read in order.
Protecting You: Series Origin Story
Fighting For Us
Unraveling Him
Rushing In
More Bailey Brothers coming soon!
The Miles Family
Sexy, sweet, funny, and heartfelt family series. Messy family. Epic bromance. Super romantic. Best read in order.
Broken Miles
Forbidden Miles
Reckless Miles
Hidden Miles
Gaining Miles: A Miles Family Novella
Dirty Martini Running Club
Sexy, fun stand-alone romantic comedies with huge… hearts.
Everly Dalton’s Dating Disasters
Free Faking Ms. Right prequel
Faking Ms. Right
A hot fake relationship romantic comedy
Love According to Science
A hot enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy
Bluewater Billionaires
Hot, stand-alone romantic comedies. Lady billionaire BFFs and the badass heroes who love them.
The Mogul and the Muscle
A billionaire and her bodyguard hot romantic comedy.
The Price of Scandal, Wild Open Hearts, and Crazy for Loving You
More Bluewater Billionaire shared-world stand-alone romantic comedies by Lucy Score, Kathryn Nolan, and Pippa Grant
Bootleg Springs
by Claire Kingsley and Lucy Score
Hot and hilarious small-town romcom series with a dash of mystery and suspense. Best read in order.
Whiskey Chaser
Sidecar Crush
Moonshine Kiss
Bourbon Bliss
Gin Fling
Highball Rush
Book Boyfriends
Hot, stand-alone romcoms that will make you laugh and make you swoon.
Book Boyfriend
Cocky Roommate
Hot Single Dad
Remembering Ivy
A unique contemporary romance with a hint of mystery.
His Heart
A poignant and emotionally intense story about grief, loss, and the transcendent power of love.
The Always Series
Smoking hot, dirty talking bad boys with some angsty intensity.
Always Have
Always Will
Always Ever After
The Jetty Beach Series
Sexy small-town romance series with swoony heroes, romantic HEAs, and lots of big feels.
Behind His Eyes
One Crazy Week
Messy Perfect Love
Operation Get Her Back
Weekend Fling
Good Girl Next Door
The Path to You
The Jetty Beach Box Set Books 1-4
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About the Author
Claire Kingsley is a Top 5 Amazon bestselling author of sexy, heartfelt contemporary romance and romantic comedies. She writes sassy, quirky heroines, swoony heroes who love their women hard, panty-melting sexytimes, romantic happily ever afters, and all the big feels.
She can’t imagine life without coffee, her Kindle, and the sexy heroes who inhabit her imagination. She’s living out her own happily ever after in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and three kids.
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