Snowbound with the CEO

By Shannon Stacey

From New York Times–bestselling author Shannon Stacey, the romantic holiday comedy novel Snowbound With the CEO makes a perfect gift.

Basis for the Harlequin movie, Snowbound for Christmas

Adrian Blackstone built a million-dollar business with hard work and determination—and by remaining professional at all times. Denying his longtime attraction to his beautiful executive assistant hasn’t been easy but it’s necessary. She’s indispensable, and he can’t stand the thought of losing her if things didn’t work out.

For more than a year, Rachel Carter has been quietly dreaming of all the ways she’ll never seduce her sexy, buttoned-up boss. She’s worked too hard to get where she is to cross that line, no matter how badly she’d like to act on her fantasies. But then a wicked snowstorm leaves them stranded in a romantic winter wonderland . . .

What begins as a single kiss and a few bad Santa jokes turns into a weekend full of breathless passion and hopes for something more. But with Monday comes a return to their complicated reality—and Adrian must prove that promises made are promises kept, especially at Christmastime.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Nov 4, 2013
• ISBN: 9781426897344

Shannon Stacey

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shannon Stacey lives with her husband and two sons in New England, where her two favorite activities are writing stories of happily ever after and off-roading with her friends and family. You can contact Shannon through her website, www.shannonstacey.com, as well as sign up for her newsletter.

Book preview

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Snowbound with the CEO

By Shannon Stacey

Adrian Blackstone built a million-dollar business with hard work and determination—and by remaining professional at all times. Denying his longtime attraction to his beautiful executive assistant hasn’t been easy but it’s necessary. She’s indispensable, and he can’t stand the thought of losing her if things didn’t work out.

For more than a year, Rachel Carter has been quietly dreaming of all the ways she’ll never seduce her sexy, buttoned-up boss. She’s worked too hard to get where she is to cross that line, no matter how badly she’d like to act on her fantasies. But then a wicked snowstorm leaves them stranded in a romantic winter wonderland...

What begins as a single kiss and a few bad Santa jokes turns into a weekend full of breathless passion and hopes for something more. But with Monday comes a return to their complicated reality—and Adrian must prove that promises made are promises kept, especially at Christmastime.

20,000 words

Dear Reader,

I’m on vacation, camping in the semi-wilderness. No, not when you’re reading this (well, maybe, who knows?) but when this letter is due to our production team. So I’ve chosen to hand off my Dear Reader letter responsibilities to the team for the month of November and let them tell you all about the fantastic lineup in store for you. We’re a team who really enjoys the books we acquire, and I know they’ll be glad for a chance to convince you to give one a try. In the meantime, I’ll be back next month. Happy reading!

Angela James, Editorial Director

Dear Reader,

Editorial assistant Stephanie here. Since Angela is camping (all I’m saying is that camping seems to involve a lot of tweeting), I’ve compiled a few fun facts about this month’s new releases. What kinds of great books do we have in store for you this time? Will I get in trouble for making fun of my boss’s camping skills? These are the questions I will strive to answer for you today.

Redemption by Stephanie Tyler, new adult, post-apocalyptic

Stephanie Tyler returns with book two in her post-apocalyptic new-adult motorcycle club series.

Redemption continues the story of the Defiance MC with Mathias and Jessa’s story. If you missed book one, Defiance—Cas and Tru’s story—you’re missing out on a fantastic world and some swoon-worthy romance.

—Angela James, Editorial Director, Carina Press

Snowbound with the CEO by Shannon Stacey, contemporary romance

Shannon’s books are must-reads if you love contemporary romance.

Shannon Stacey’s holiday novellas are becoming something of a delightful tradition at Carina Press, and we’re happy to have the latest in our hands!

—Stephanie Doig, Editorial Assistant, Harlequin and Carina Press

Chance of Rain by Amber Lin, contemporary romance

We’re happy to welcome Amber to the Carina Press family!

This small-town reunion romance gripped me from the first chapter and wouldn’t let go. The tortured alpha hero, who just happens to be a Navy SEAL, also didn’t hurt!

—Tara Stevens, Assistant Product Manager, Digital Products

Take Me Home by Inez Kelley, contemporary romance

Inez writes contemporary and fantasy romance for Carina Press. Her new lumberjack series had the (admittedly largely Canadian) team intrigued from the start!

Maple-syrup maker Kayla falls for a sexy lumberjack with a bitter past and a wary heart in the first of her new Country Roads series featuring loggers in the Allegheny Mountains.

—Deborah Nemeth, Freelance Editor, Carina Press

Slow Ride Home by Leah Braemel, contemporary Western romance

Leah writes wonderfully sexy, emotional romances for Carina Press, including Texas Tangle and Tangled Past.

Leah’s lovely writing drew me right along into a sensual story of love, heat and scandal. With cowboys. Look for more of the Grady family to come. Did I mention there are cowboys?

—Brendan Flattery, Digital Production Coordinator

Love a Little Sideways by Shannon Stacey, contemporary romance

Shannon’s bestselling Kowalski family miniseries is a must-read for contemporary romance fans.

What begins as the annual Kowalski Camping Trip of Doom turns into a brand-new start for an unlikely couple—charming, funny proof that what we think we want and what the heart wants isn’t always the same thing.

—Kerri Buckley, Editor, Carina Press

Sing for the Dead by PJ Schnyder, paranormal shifter romance

PJ writes futuristic science fiction romance and paranormal romance for Carina Press.

The exciting second book in the London Undead trilogy brings readers back into a world where zombies have taken over London. Now the werewolves who’ve stepped up to fight the creatures have a new ally—a member of the Fae who jumps right into the middle of the fray!

—Mallory Braus, Freelance Editor, Carina Press

Through the Black Veil by Steve Vera, urban fantasy

You may remember us gushing about Drynn, Steve’s first book in this series.

In book 2 of the Last of the Shardyn series, our fearless heroes have returned to their magical homeland to warn everyone about the danger threatening to destroy their world.

—Rhonda Helms, Freelance Editor, Carina Press

Improper Arrangements by Juliana Ross, erotic historical romance

Juliana writes sizzling historical romances set in Victorian times for Carina Press.

The follow-up to Improper Relations features a mountain-climber hero, Eli. He is my favorite type of hero: rugged, handsome, rough around the edges, mysterious. Love him!

—Carly Chow, Assistant Manager, Digital Commerce

Finessing the Contessa by Wendy Soliman, historical romance

Wendy Soliman writes wonderful, exciting historical romances. The first two Forsters books are currently available from Carina Press.

In Wendy Soliman’s Regency romance Finessing the Contessa, Lord Robert Forster is drawn to the brilliant Sicilian he meets at a chess match, but is she a spy or an innocent pawn in a game of international espionage?

—Deborah Nemeth, Freelance Editor, Carina Press

All In with the Duke by Ava March, male/male historical romance

Ava March writes can’t-miss historical male/male stories for Carina Press.

Max Arrington, the Duke of Pelham, has vowed to never again let a handsome face blind him to a man’s true intentions. But the beautiful Tristan Walsh is too intriguing for Max to resist, and it’s not long before their wicked nights together turn into something more.

—Stephanie Doig, Editorial Assistant, Harlequin and Carina Press

For Her Eyes Only by Shannon Curtis, romantic suspense

This is the third book in Shannon’s exciting McCormack Security Agency series.

For Her Eyes Only features an admin assistant pairing up with the MSA’s undercover expert to investigate a murder. I loved the sexual tension between the hero and heroine!

—Stephanie Doig, Editorial Assistant, Harlequin and Carina Press

Getting Rich by Monique Domovitch, cozy mystery

Monique’s first novel with Carina Press, Getting Skinny, had us all eager for the follow-up.

Just when she thinks she’s on the verge of getting rich, Nicky Landry finds out somebody is out to get her—and whoever it is has murder on the menu—in Monique Domovitch’s second Chef Landry Mystery.

—Deborah Nemeth, Freelance Editor, Carina Press

No Place Like Rome by Julie Moffett, action-adventure, mystery

In addition to writing the Lexi Carmichael mysteries, Julie also writes Scottish historical romances!

Our favorite geek girl is off to Rome with the sexy and mysterious Slash to solve a case involving the Vatican, a dead body, some steamy kisses from her partner, and a top-secret encrypted file that even she can’t hack.

—Alissa Davis, Freelance Editor, Carina Press

Season of Seduction, erotic holiday anthology

Five Golden Rings by Jeffe Kennedy, erotic romance

Jeffe writes steamy erotic BDSM romance for Carina Press,

Reviews for Snowbound with the CEO

[bette_hansen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A wonderful holiday novella!! What happens when you mix business and pleasure?? It can't be good. Can it? I recommend you read this great story and find out.

[emilymcgee-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Snowbound with the CEO is a perfect, quick winter read. It's definitely everything I look for in a novella. I also have to say that I was pleasantly surprised, this was my first Shannon Stacey book and you can bet I will be reading her in the future. What was wonderful about this book was, what I call the "sweet heat." You get the sweetness between the couple but, also some heat as well. I know we all love an alpha man but, I think Adrian Blackstone is my new favorite type of hero. He's very hot, very sweet and extremely sexy. It was a nice break from the angsty, "he-man" routine. And Rachel Carter is everything you could ask for in a heroine. She's got the no-mess attitude but, the soft side when it comes to her man. This book serves up a heated weekend, stuck in the mountains. Yes, there's regular winter activities to do but, Adrian and Rachel would rather snuggle up with one another. While they haven't given in to their attraction before this fated trip, they have lusted for quite some time, making their eventual relationship much more explosive. And I as a reader thoroughly enjoyed every bit of their journey.I love a good office romance, and this one definitely delivered. It may have been a bit predictable but, still enjoyable. What made it different and/or better was the characters and their demeanor. Shannon Stacey has created very lovable and likable characters that I got invested in. And let me just add that the epilogue was so lovely that I read it twice :) I'd definitely say that Snowbound with the CEO is a should-read for the holidays!Happy Reading!*ARC provided by the author/publisher for an honest review*