Kat Henry Doran/Veronica Lynch: Through the Red Door by Sadira Stone

Two good men vie to heal a widow’s heart—but it only holds room for one. Come to Book Nirvana for chosen family, laughter and tears, sizzling passion, and a love triangle for the ages.

Today, in keeping with our Books In A Series promise, Wild Women Authors focus on: Through the Red Door by Sadira Stone.

About the Book: Unless Clara can find a lifeline, her trendy Eugene Oregon bookstore—the one she and her deceased husband bought as newlyweds—will be forced to close its doors forever. Her best shot at saving Book Nirvana is her late husband’s collection of rare, racy books, she’s not ready to open that red door and face the flood of memories. She’s also not ready to open her heart again—even if the two new men in her life tempt her to try.

Nick Papadopoulos comes to Book Nirvana in search of antique bawdy books for his latest published paper and falls hard for lovely and lonely Clara. As a widower, he understands her reluctance to start over, but the spark between them is as strong as it is undeniable. His academic connections could help rebuild her clientele, but if she discovers his past secret scandals, her fragile trust will shatter.

Dalton Garvey is over the moon for beautiful, bookish Clara, but how can a simple high school teacher compete with the suave university prof? Clara and Dalton have so much in common, and their sweet friendship could bloom into something deeper if it weren’t for his rival’s grip on the vulnerable widow. Dalton doesn’t trust Nick, and neither should Clara.

Excerpt:

A little past four, the doorbell tinkles, and Dalton strides in, waving a check. He grins at his cousin, then at me. “Our school librarian hunted up some extra funds. Got any more ancient history books?”

His wide smile eases a bit of the tension off my shoulders. He looks so cute in his red North Eugene H.S. Highlanders polo shirt, jeans, and gigantic Nikes. Though a few silver strands glisten in his short, golden beard, Dalton beams happy, youthful energy, something I desperately need right now.

“Let’s see what we can find.”

He follows me to the history aisle and reaches above my head to pull a volume from the top shelf. “African Mythology Illustrated. Perfect.”

“Glad to help.” I try to match his cheerful tone, but my reply comes out flat.

Dalton’s pale brows scrunch together. “Clara, what’s wrong?”

“Business troubles,” I grumble, avoiding his eyes. He’s so nice, so open and easy-going, and last night I kissed Nick. Hell, “kiss” isn’t a strong enough word for what we shared. Nick’s mouth on mine melted my bones and filled my mind with stars.

Dalton sets the book down and gently grasps my shoulders, turning me to face him. “Is that all?” I’ll bet his students confess to all kinds of mischief under that patient, steady stare.

“Well, no.” Reluctantly, I gaze up into his pale blue eyes. They radiate kind concern, which makes me feel even more guilty. “Dalton, I have to tell you, I’m sort of seeing someone else.”

He flinches backward. “Sort of?”

I flap my hand. “We have a date on Saturday. I don’t know if anything will come of it, but it’s only fair to let you know.”

Scowling, he drops his grip on my shoulders and strides away, pivots, and paces back toward me. Then away, then back again. He opens his mouth as if to speak, then snaps it shut.

My chest constricts at the thought of hurting this sweet man who’s been nothing but kind to me. Should I have kept my date with Nick a secret? No, telling Dalton was the honorable thing to do.

Finally, he plants himself in front of me, folds his arms, and leans his rangy body against the bookshelf. “So, you’ve decided on him?”

“Well, no, I haven’t decided anything.”

He passes his hand over his face, covering his wide mouth. His forehead rumples, and his gaze lands somewhere far away. When he drops his hand, his expression is relaxed, almost unconcerned.

“Okay. Thanks for telling me. So, we’re still on for tomorrow?”

I blink in surprise. “You still want to?”

His crooked smile reappears. He steps closer and studies me for a long moment.

“Clara, you’re lovely. And funny. And kind. I’m not surprised I have competition.” He raises his hand and lets it hover over my cheek before brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “But I think we could be really good together. Will you give us a chance?”

To purchase Through the Red Door, go to:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Through-Red-Door-Book-Nirvana-ebook/dp/B0DTFL74D5

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/through-the-red-door/id6740821310

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/through-the-red-door-sadira-stone/1129705434?ean=2940184724126

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/through-the-red-door-6

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1693647

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Sadira_Stone_Through_the_Red_Door?id=GhtAEQAAQBAJ

UBL: https://books2read.com/ThroughTheRedDoor

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/through-the-red-door-book-nirvana-by-sadira-stone

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/223775259-through-the-red-door

A bit about our focus author:

Award-winning contemporary romance author Sadira Stone spins steamy, smoochy tales set in small businesses—a quirky bookstore, a neighborhood bar, a vintage boutique. Set in the U.S. Pacific Northwest, her stories highlight found family, friendship, and the sizzling chemistry that pulls unlikely partners together. When she emerges from her writing cave in Las Vegas, Nevada (which she seldom does), she can be found shaking her hips in dance class, playing her guitar (badly, but getting better), exploring the Western U.S. with her charming husband, cooking up a storm, and gobbling all the romance books. For a guaranteed HEA (and no cliffhangers!) visit Sadira at https://sadirastone.com