An exclusive excerpt from Carousel Nights by Amie Denman (Blog Tour Excerpt & Giveaway)


On Tour with Prism Book Tours.

I love the setting of this book because it would have so much potential for fun and romantic moments. I'm happy to be sharing an excerpt as part of its tour, so check that and the giveaway out below...

Carousel Nights (Starlight Point Stories)
Carousel Nights
(Starlight Point Stories #2)
by Amie Denman
Adult Contemporary Romance
Mass Market Paperback & ebook, 384 pages
August 1st 2016 by Harlequin Heartwarming

Summary

Every first love deserves a second chance

June Hamilton left home to pursue her dream of dancing on Broadway. Seven years later, she has one regret: Mel Preston, her teenage crush and onetime summer love. Now a single dad and the head of maintenance at Starlight Point, her family's amusement park, Mel's easy smile still makes her heart beat in triple time. But June came home with a plan. She would spend the summer revitalizing the park's aging theaters, then make a graceful exit back to the big city. Until Mel and his young son start making a powerful claim on her emotions, and June faces an impossible decision…

  
  
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Excerpt

Mel felt the air change the moment her gaze swung to him. He wasn’t foolish enough to think she brightened because of any reason except one: he was key to getting things done around Starlight Point. And she had a project in mind.

“Hey, Mel,” she said.

Mel crossed his arms and leaned against one of the many steel posts supporting the roof of the maintenance garage. “Happy opening day, June. I can’t believe you’re not dead on your feet.”

She smiled. “I’m used to long days on my feet. Staying up late. Broadway, you know.” She ended her explanation with a tiny shrug.

It was far more endearing than he wanted it to be. He pictured her for a moment, a brief flash where he saw June singing and dancing under bright lights, electrifying a crowd of thousands.

And now she wanted a parade.

“Long day,” Jack said. “Think I’ll go home and let you two work this out.”

Mel flicked a glance at his friend but didn’t say anything. Jack didn’t need his permission to leave. But Mel wished he’d stick around and help him fend off June’s ridiculous request.

Walking slowly toward the beer wagon, Mel heard Jack’s receding footsteps, and the shop door clicked closed.

June stood in the back of the piece of junk she apparently hoped to make into a parade vehicle. Mel didn’t give a darn if she was standing in Air Force One. He was tired. Exhausted from the maniacal ecstasy of opening day. There was a chicken potpie in his freezer just waiting for its five minutes in the microwave.

“You’re out of your mind,” he said, his voice low and controlled. “Doing a parade every day on top of however many shows is nuts.”

“Ten,” she said. “Six in the Midway Theater, four in the Starlight Saloon.”

“Whatever. It’s still crazy.”

June sat on the floor of the truck, her legs dangling off the back. “I’ve done crazy things before,” she said.

They were alone in the shop. Maybe this was the time to ask June if their summer romance seven years ago meant anything to her, or if it was just one of the crazy things she’d done. Suddenly, Mel remembered their awkward dance at her senior prom. He saw scattered moments as if a slow-motion movie were playing, filled with images of them together and not together. Like two magnets with the same polarity shoving themselves backward. If their charge ever reversed…

But it wouldn’t. June always had one foot out the door, the other one right behind.

“Can you help me?” June asked.

Mel didn’t answer. He concentrated on the scuffed toe of his work boot. He heard her sigh and shove off the back of the truck. Feet in green sneakers appeared right in front of him.

“Can this wait until next month or next year?”

He hazarded a glance up. She stood, arms crossed. “I won’t be here next year.”

“I know.”

“And…”

He shook his head. “None of my business if you want to keep running away from home.”

Her cheeks colored and he knew he’d struck a nerve. He’d had no intention of firing any weapons, but it had been a very long day.

Instead of looking angry, June cocked her head and studied Mel.

“You don’t ever wonder if there’s something else out there for you—something outside of Starlight Point?”

He shook his head.

“You want to stay on this merry-go-round your whole life? Working all year getting ready for a summer of twelve-hour days?”

Mel glanced at the dusty wall clock. “Fifteen hours.”

June sighed, uncrossing her arms. “Some things in life you only get one solid chance at,” she said. “Apparently you don’t get that. Nobody seems to.”

She swung around and flung the shop door open, disappearing into the night and leaving the parade issue on the table.

“Yes, I do,” Mel said in the empty shop, an echo his only answer.

Other Books in the Series

Under the BoardwalkUnder the Boardwalk
(Starlight Point Stories #2)
by Amie Denman
Adult Contemporary Romance
Mass Market Paperback & ebook, 384 pages
January 1st 2016 by Harlequin Heartwarming

Summary

Everyone's counting on him

With the sudden death of his father, Jack Hamilton finds himself running the family amusement park, Starlight Point. His first job? Balance the books, and that means raising the rent for vendors like baker Augusta Murphy.

Gus won't accept the new contract…not without a fight. She rallies the other vendors and sets out to negotiate with Jack. At least, she tries. How do you play hardball with a man who's charming and kind and still grieving? Gus needs to figure it out fast, because the closer she gets to Jack, the more she risks losing everything.

   
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About the Author


Amie Denman lives in Ohio with her husband, sons, cats, and dog. When she's not reading or writing, she enjoys walking and playing outside. Born with an overdeveloped sense of curiosity, she's been known to chase fire trucks on her bicycle just to see what's going on. Amie believes that everything is fun: especially roller coasters, wedding cake, and falling in love.

Tour Schedule

10 copies of the first book in the series, Under the Boardwalk (print if US, ebook if outside the US)
Open internationally
Ends September 2nd
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