Sweet Indulgence
A Charleston Harbor Novel Book 1
by Debbie White
Genre: Sweet Romance
Real Men Eat Cupcakes
Annie McPherson has had it with all the blind dates her grandmother and auntie set her up with. She just wants to be left alone to run the Sweet Indulgence cupcake bakery – even if it means she’ll remain single forever.
Jack’s just been through a gut-wrenching break-up, and women are the last thing on his mind. Now he’s on a mission to pick up cupcakes for his niece’s birthday party—not a mission to fall in love. Pulled in by Annie’s good looks and witty charm, though, temptation proves too sweet.
But will Annie’s pesky grandmother and auntie welcome Jack as Annie’s choice or will they have him jumping through hoops to prove he’s the one?
Fans of Debbie Macomber, Sherryl Woods, and Susan Wiggs are sure to love Sweet Indulgence, the first sweet romance novel in the Charleston Harbor series.
This book is too sweet to pass up!
Add to Goodreads
Amazon * Apple * B&N * Kobo
Annie McPherson has had it with all the blind dates her grandmother and auntie set her up with. She just wants to be left alone to run the Sweet Indulgence cupcake bakery – even if it means she’ll remain single forever.
Jack’s just been through a gut-wrenching break-up, and women are the last thing on his mind. Now he’s on a mission to pick up cupcakes for his niece’s birthday party—not a mission to fall in love. Pulled in by Annie’s good looks and witty charm, though, temptation proves too sweet.
But will Annie’s pesky grandmother and auntie welcome Jack as Annie’s choice or will they have him jumping through hoops to prove he’s the one?
Fans of Debbie Macomber, Sherryl Woods, and Susan Wiggs are sure to love Sweet Indulgence, the first sweet romance novel in the Charleston Harbor series.
This book is too sweet to pass up!
Add to Goodreads
Amazon * Apple * B&N * Kobo
After a long day at Sweet Indulgence, Annie and Buffy headed home. It was a beautiful afternoon with just a hint of coolness in the air. Suddenly Annie’s stride came to a halt. She looked over her shoulder only to find Buffy rolling in something.
Annie tugged on her leash. “Buffy, what are you doing?” She leaned over and peered at the area getting a whiff of an awful foul smell. “Oh, Buffy! Now you’re going to need a bath.”
A car slowly passed them, stopping suddenly. A man dropped the window down and peered out.
“Jack!”
“Hi. Need a lift?” He smiled.
“I’m almost home, silly. Besides, you wouldn’t want Ms. Stinky in your car. She found something disgusting and rolled in it.”
Jack pulled his head back and laughed. “I can help.”
A car honked at Jack. He pulled in his head and then pulled the car over to the curb. The other car quickly raced by, spraying her with water from the recent rain. She glared at the car as it sped past.
“Now two of us will need baths,” Annie said disgustedly.
“Hop in. I don’t care if you’re stinky,” Jack said.
“Not me—Buffy.”
“I know, silly. Get in.”
Annie climbed in the passenger seat after settling Buffy into the back seat.
“Wow, she’s ripe. What the heck did she roll in?” Jack asked as he turned on the air conditioner full blast and recycled the air.
“It looked like rotten fruit, or …”
“Don’t say it. Let’s just stick with fruit as the answer,” Jack said.
***
While Annie ran the bathwater for Buffy, Jack helped by taking off her collar. Side by side, the two of them scrubbed, rinsed, and repeated as Buffy stood looking like a drowned rat.
“Oh, she’s cold. She’s shivering,” Jack said, wrapping her in a fluffy towel.
“Bring her in the bedroom. I’ll use the blow dryer on her.”
Jack held Buffy while Annie blew dry her coat. “Does she like to be brushed?” Jack asked.
“She tolerates it,” Annie said.
“This calls for a glass of wine,” Jack said, looking down at his grimy and wet clothes.
Annie poured two glasses of merlot. Motioning to her couch, she invited him to sit. “I’m sorry you got so dirty.”
“No worries. I’m glad to help. I hope she enjoys being clean,” he said.
“I’m glad we ran into each other,” Annie said, smiling.
“Well, I stopped by the bakery first and you’d already closed. I figured you were on your way home.”
“Ah, so you planned it,” Annie said as she leaned into him, hitting his shoulder.
“How about I take you out for a bite to eat?” Jack asked, taking a sip of his wine.
“Nah, let’s stay in. Do you like ramen? I lived on that stuff while I was in college and I still like it,” Annie said, getting up from the couch and crossing over to the kitchen.
Ramen made everything better, especially on a cool evening such as this. After they finished dinner, she poured their second glass of merlot, dimmed all the lights, and switched on the television. With Buffy curled up in her bed, exhausted from chewing her bone after her bath, Annie and Jack cuddled on the sofa, proud of their accomplishments.
They were laughing at the show, Funniest Home Videos, when her phone began to dance all over the glass coffee table. She quickly reached for the vibrating phone.
“We’d like to have you over for supper. Some financial papers came that we need to discuss.”
“What kind of paperwork?” Annie covered the phone and mouthed, “Grandmother” to Jack.
Jack raised his finger to his mouth, showing her he’d be closemouthed during the conversation.
“I have a very busy schedule. I’m trying to coordinate something with the Vickie and the girls and Jack.”
“Jack Powell?”
“Yes.” Annie dared her to say anything about it.
“When can we expect you?” Grandma Lilly said, not missing a beat.
Annie sighed into the receiver. “I’ll stop by tomorrow.”
“Everything okay?” Jack asked.
“Yes. I have to read over some paperwork that came in regarding my inheritance.”
“Oh.” Jack set his glass down. “Maybe I should be going, then.”
“No, you don’t need to go. Please stay.”
Jack nodded. “Alright.”
They continued to laugh at the crazy stunts on the show and soon Annie couldn’t even remember the conversation she’d had with her grandmother. After the show, Annie walked Jack to the door. “Thanks again for helping me. Giving her a bath can be such an ordeal.”
“You’re welcome. And thanks for dinner … and the wine.” He winked.
“Ramen and merlot, the dinner of champions.”
Jack reached out and gently stroked her arm. “I had a great time tonight. It was just the sort of evening I like to spend.”
“Eating ramen and drinking wine?”
“That, and …” He pulled her into his arms. “And this.” His mouth met hers in a soft kiss. She dropped her arms by her side. His sweet warm breath lingered just above her lips. He stepped back, brushing his hand through his hair.
“Hey, you can come back anytime to help me give Buffy a bath,” she said with a twinkle in her eyes.
“As long as you serve me ramen and merlot.” He gave her a quick peck and then he was gone.
Annie tugged on her leash. “Buffy, what are you doing?” She leaned over and peered at the area getting a whiff of an awful foul smell. “Oh, Buffy! Now you’re going to need a bath.”
A car slowly passed them, stopping suddenly. A man dropped the window down and peered out.
“Jack!”
“Hi. Need a lift?” He smiled.
“I’m almost home, silly. Besides, you wouldn’t want Ms. Stinky in your car. She found something disgusting and rolled in it.”
Jack pulled his head back and laughed. “I can help.”
A car honked at Jack. He pulled in his head and then pulled the car over to the curb. The other car quickly raced by, spraying her with water from the recent rain. She glared at the car as it sped past.
“Now two of us will need baths,” Annie said disgustedly.
“Hop in. I don’t care if you’re stinky,” Jack said.
“Not me—Buffy.”
“I know, silly. Get in.”
Annie climbed in the passenger seat after settling Buffy into the back seat.
“Wow, she’s ripe. What the heck did she roll in?” Jack asked as he turned on the air conditioner full blast and recycled the air.
“It looked like rotten fruit, or …”
“Don’t say it. Let’s just stick with fruit as the answer,” Jack said.
***
While Annie ran the bathwater for Buffy, Jack helped by taking off her collar. Side by side, the two of them scrubbed, rinsed, and repeated as Buffy stood looking like a drowned rat.
“Oh, she’s cold. She’s shivering,” Jack said, wrapping her in a fluffy towel.
“Bring her in the bedroom. I’ll use the blow dryer on her.”
Jack held Buffy while Annie blew dry her coat. “Does she like to be brushed?” Jack asked.
“She tolerates it,” Annie said.
“This calls for a glass of wine,” Jack said, looking down at his grimy and wet clothes.
Annie poured two glasses of merlot. Motioning to her couch, she invited him to sit. “I’m sorry you got so dirty.”
“No worries. I’m glad to help. I hope she enjoys being clean,” he said.
“I’m glad we ran into each other,” Annie said, smiling.
“Well, I stopped by the bakery first and you’d already closed. I figured you were on your way home.”
“Ah, so you planned it,” Annie said as she leaned into him, hitting his shoulder.
“How about I take you out for a bite to eat?” Jack asked, taking a sip of his wine.
“Nah, let’s stay in. Do you like ramen? I lived on that stuff while I was in college and I still like it,” Annie said, getting up from the couch and crossing over to the kitchen.
Ramen made everything better, especially on a cool evening such as this. After they finished dinner, she poured their second glass of merlot, dimmed all the lights, and switched on the television. With Buffy curled up in her bed, exhausted from chewing her bone after her bath, Annie and Jack cuddled on the sofa, proud of their accomplishments.
They were laughing at the show, Funniest Home Videos, when her phone began to dance all over the glass coffee table. She quickly reached for the vibrating phone.
“We’d like to have you over for supper. Some financial papers came that we need to discuss.”
“What kind of paperwork?” Annie covered the phone and mouthed, “Grandmother” to Jack.
Jack raised his finger to his mouth, showing her he’d be closemouthed during the conversation.
“I have a very busy schedule. I’m trying to coordinate something with the Vickie and the girls and Jack.”
“Jack Powell?”
“Yes.” Annie dared her to say anything about it.
“When can we expect you?” Grandma Lilly said, not missing a beat.
Annie sighed into the receiver. “I’ll stop by tomorrow.”
“Everything okay?” Jack asked.
“Yes. I have to read over some paperwork that came in regarding my inheritance.”
“Oh.” Jack set his glass down. “Maybe I should be going, then.”
“No, you don’t need to go. Please stay.”
Jack nodded. “Alright.”
They continued to laugh at the crazy stunts on the show and soon Annie couldn’t even remember the conversation she’d had with her grandmother. After the show, Annie walked Jack to the door. “Thanks again for helping me. Giving her a bath can be such an ordeal.”
“You’re welcome. And thanks for dinner … and the wine.” He winked.
“Ramen and merlot, the dinner of champions.”
Jack reached out and gently stroked her arm. “I had a great time tonight. It was just the sort of evening I like to spend.”
“Eating ramen and drinking wine?”
“That, and …” He pulled her into his arms. “And this.” His mouth met hers in a soft kiss. She dropped her arms by her side. His sweet warm breath lingered just above her lips. He stepped back, brushing his hand through his hair.
“Hey, you can come back anytime to help me give Buffy a bath,” she said with a twinkle in her eyes.
“As long as you serve me ramen and merlot.” He gave her a quick peck and then he was gone.
Debbie is a USA Today Bestselling Author. She currently lives in northern California where the hills are dotted with vineyards and the jagged coastline is nearby. Many of her books describe the beautiful area she calls home. She avidly supports animal rescue by donating a percentage of all book sales to rescue groups nationwide! Now here are a few more interesting tidbits of information about her!
1. Her spouse served in the U.S. Air Force for over 20 years. She uses some of her experiences as a military wife in some of her stories.
2. She has two granddaughters and a grandson.
3. She received her degree in Sociology in 2011 and graduated Magna Cum Laude.
4. She hasn't always dreamed of writing, but she's always loved reading and decided she'd give it a try. Her fans love her so much, she's still putting out books three years later.
5. Her very first book, The Salty Dog was an Amazon Best-seller.
6. You can follow all the latest news about releases, book signings and more on her website http://www.authordebbiewhite.com
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Tumblr
Pinterest * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads
1. Her spouse served in the U.S. Air Force for over 20 years. She uses some of her experiences as a military wife in some of her stories.
2. She has two granddaughters and a grandson.
3. She received her degree in Sociology in 2011 and graduated Magna Cum Laude.
4. She hasn't always dreamed of writing, but she's always loved reading and decided she'd give it a try. Her fans love her so much, she's still putting out books three years later.
5. Her very first book, The Salty Dog was an Amazon Best-seller.
6. You can follow all the latest news about releases, book signings and more on her website http://www.authordebbiewhite.com
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Tumblr
Pinterest * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads
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Jan 19
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A Writer's Life
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Laurisa White Reyes, Author
Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read
The Book Town
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Jan 20
Nicole's Book Musings - REVIEW
Laurie's Thoughts and Reviews
Yah gotta read this
A Mama's Corner of the World
Books a Plenty Book Reviews
Belle's Book Blog
Book Lover in Florida
nanasbookreviews
Queen of All She Reads
Sylv.net
The Voluptuous Book Diva
Yearwood La Novela
Jan 21
Triple A – REVIEW
Anna Del C Dye
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Book Review Virignia Lee
Brianna Remus Books
BookwormBridgette's World
Kimmie Sue's Book Reviews & More
Lisa-Queen of Random
Meghan's Mindless Mutterings: Reviews & Giveaways
Rabid Readers Book Blog
Mello & June
The Reading Spot
BooksandTea247 – REVIEW
U.S. - Brazil Book Review
Jan 16
kickoff at Silver Dagger Book Tours
Books, Authors, Blogs
What Is That Book About
Antrim Cycle
Underneath the Covers
Jessica Jesinghaus – Random Thoughts of an Author & Book Junkie
Romance Novel Giveaways
Spunky N Sassy
2 Girls & A Book
Jan 17
Authors and Readers Book Corner
Romantic Reads and Such
Susan Heim on Writing
Rainy Day Reviews
Julayn Adams Books and Reviews
3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too!
AC Squared Book Blog
Fantasticando sui libri
Girl with Pen
Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer
Stormy Nights Reviewing & Bloggin'
T's Stuff
Teatime and Books
Jan 18
Book Magic – Under a Spell with Every Page - REVIEW
Breaking Genre
Books and Spoons
Always Love Me Some Books
Book Bangers Blog
Jazzy Book Reviews
LaFifeReviews
The Books You Read
The Bookworm Chronicles
Tales of A Wanna-Be SuperHero Mom
The Authors Blog
Jan 19
Paulette's Papers
A Writer's Life
Lisa Book Blog @ LEL
The Bookworm Lodge
books are love
Cali Book Reviews
Home for Book Lovers
Loves Great Reads Blog
Laurisa White Reyes, Author
Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read
The Book Town
The Pen and Muse Book Reviews
Jan 20
Nicole's Book Musings - REVIEW
Laurie's Thoughts and Reviews
Yah gotta read this
A Mama's Corner of the World
Books a Plenty Book Reviews
Belle's Book Blog
Book Lover in Florida
nanasbookreviews
Queen of All She Reads
Sylv.net
The Voluptuous Book Diva
Yearwood La Novela
Jan 21
Triple A – REVIEW
Anna Del C Dye
Bound 2 Escape
Book Review Virignia Lee
Brianna Remus Books
BookwormBridgette's World
Kimmie Sue's Book Reviews & More
Lisa-Queen of Random
Meghan's Mindless Mutterings: Reviews & Giveaways
Rabid Readers Book Blog
Mello & June
The Reading Spot
BooksandTea247 – REVIEW
U.S. - Brazil Book Review
