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  • Writer's pictureCarey PW
    • Apr 10, 2023
    • 4 min read

Blog Tour: The Circle is Small by Maggie Blackbird



Maggie Blackbird will be awarding a $10.00 eXtasy Books Gift Certificate to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Enter a chance to win at the end of the post.


GENRE: Contemporary Romance


Blurb


An ex-cop returning to face his horrendous past, the woman who won’t forgive him, and the family who’ll never let him forget that he killed their son. First Nations Constable Jordan Chartrand’s guilt can’t handle the accusing stares from the family left to mourn their son after that horrible night…so he flees from his Ojibway community and the woman he loves. Two years later, his mother’s cancer diagnosis forces him to return to help her. Devoted schoolteacher Ellie Quill wants nothing to do with Jordan after he bolted to the city and left her behind. Her life goals are set. As for her secret, she’ll keep that to herself, even if Jordan’s begging to know the truth about her child. When the two are compelled to work on a community project to address the rampant drug problem, their forced proximity slowly melts Ellie’s icy walls. But no matter how much her heart desires to give Jordan the second chance he’s begging for, she refuses to because providing a life for her son in the tradition of the Ojibway culture is her top priority now, not moving to the city where Jordan continues to hide.


Excerpt



He licked his lips and reached for the umbrella. “You ready?”


Ellie nodded. She clutched her purse against her chest, which was a good idea. He’d hate to see the beadwork and gorgeous leather ruined by the rain.


Jordan eased the door open. He’d already hit the switch for it to automatically lock behind him, something the janitor had mentioned when he’d first arrived. “Okay. Here we go.”


They were under the awning, staring at rain pouring down before them. He flipped open the umbrella. “Stay close.” Maybe being protective was a part of his personality that wouldn’t ever leave him. He snaked his arm around Ellie’s shoulder. “On the count of three.”


“Start counting.” Ellie continued to stare straight ahead.


“One…two…three…”


They raced from beneath the awning and out into the parking lot. Ellie’s car was only a few feet away. Jordan did his best to make sure he had to hop the puddles so she could keep running in a straight line without getting her feet wet.


In under ten seconds they reached her vehicle. He kept the umbrella over them as she unlocked the car door, having to perform the task manually since she had a much older model that didn’t possess automatic locks on her key set.


While she opened the door, he made sure the umbrella was partially over the roof so her seat didn’t get wet, even though it was a straight downpour. After she set her purse on the passenger seat, she began to scoot into the car. But his damned hand had a mind of its own and wrapped the bend in her arm.


She whipped her head in his direction, eyes wide.


He leaned down and covered her mouth, his darned lips also having a will of their own. Although he was caressing her mouth, hers didn’t pucker or slide along his.


“What’re you doing?” Her growl was straight between his lips.


“What’s it look like I’m doing?” he murmured.


“Get it together,” she snapped. But at least she didn’t shove him or wrench his hand off her arm.


“How am I s’posed to do that after what happened last week?”


She gazed up at him. Reflecting in her pupils was a fire, telling him exactly how she felt.


What a liar. He couldn’t help releasing her arm and running his finger down her cheek. “Do you think I can forget something like that?”


“You sure got a weird way of showing it. You couldn’t wait to leave my place after—”


Oh? She was going to blame it all on him, as she always did? Not a chance. “You sure didn’t try and stop me.”


“I wasn’t going to beg you to stay, just like I didn’t beg you stay when you first bolted two years ago.”


She tossed the words so harshly at him, he wasn’t sure if it was a droplet of rain or a hint of spittle that had hit him.


“So you wanted me to stay?” Even if her words were a slap, he couldn’t help the flattery stroking his ego that she had wanted more from him than a night in bed.


“I asked you to, didn’t I?” She gaped.


“I’m talking about last week. Not two years ago.”


“What the hell does it matter if I wanted you to stay last week? You’ll be leaving for Winnipeg once your mother’s done her treatments.”


Just as Ellie moved to get into the car, Jordan tightened his hold on her arm. “Oh no, you’re not running off. We’re going to finish this.”



Author Biography & Links


An Ojibway from Northwestern Ontario, Maggie resides in the country with her husband and their fur babies, two beautiful Alaskan Malamutes. When she’s not writing, she can be found pulling weeds in the flower beds, mowing the huge lawn, walking the Mals deep in the bush, teeing up a ball at the golf course, fishing in the boat for walleye, or sitting on the deck at her sister’s house, making more wonderful memories with the people she loves most.


Social Links:


Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Maggie-Blackbird/e/B07KQP1FFG


Book Buy Links






Giveaway


Maggie Blackbird will be awarding a $10.00 eXtasy Books Gift Certificate to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Enter below.




Thanks to Goddess Fish Promotions for organizing this tour and for all the work you do to support authors.




Follow the full tour:



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