Island Detour by Maria Imbalzano

Island Detour

by Maria Imbalzano

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GENRE: Contemporary Romance

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BLURB:

Falsely accused of wrongdoing at a Princeton Prep school, Sophie Kearns accepts a temporary teaching position at an environmental school in the Florida Keys to wait out her suspension. The time away is meant to be an anxiety-free escape, but her clashes with the hot but arrogant marine biology teacher, Max Heaton, are anything but tranquil.

Max is determined to start an environmental research institute at the school, but he suspects the gorgeous new Lit teacher, who lacks even the most basic outdoor skills, is there to hinder that dream. Yet, something about her tames the demons from his past, and he can no longer ignore the fire she’s lit inside him.

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EXCERPT

How’d Sophie end up working with women who could have been in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue?

She glanced down at her own one-piece halter and smoothed out an imaginary wrinkle. Not ready to venture back to the bikinis of her college days, she’d chosen a lime-green hue that looked great against her tan. And even though her midriff wasn’t bare, the high-cut detail on her legs showed plenty of skin. At least she wasn’t embarrassed standing next to Maddie. Or the other two.

She’d come a long way from the buttoned-up professor at Valen, thanks to her new friends here. After their shopping spree in Key West, they’d made sure to compliment Sophie on her new look—obviously afraid that if they didn’t, she’d go back to her old ways. And it had worked. Along with the exercise she was getting from boating and swimming, she looked and felt like a new woman.

Stealing a glance at Max, she assumed he’d be staring at Maddie. A slow burn crept across her face when his gaze fell on her.

His mocha eyes blazed a scorching trail as they travelled up her legs, and her torso then stopped at her face. She turned and looked out over the ocean, swallowing hard, to banish this erotic discomfort. But try as she might to ignore his scrutiny, she felt it deep down in the pit of her stomach as fingers of heat spread over her skin, doing much more damage than the sun.

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Five Reasons to Read “Island Detour”

Reading any type of fiction takes you to a different world—a world where the characters live and work and survive. Picking up a book and falling into someone else’s life is a means of escape; something we could all use once and a while. So, I’m asking you to escape with me to Sophie and Max’s world. Here are five good reasons.

1. You will experience the Florida Keys and more specifically the fictional Sunrise Island Key which is based on Key West. Along with the characters, you will kayak in the aqua waters surrounding the islands, experience the peacefulness and calmness of an early morning row boat excursion, or walk the sandy beaches under swaying palm trees at sunset when the colours of the sky are amazing. You will experience a camping trip in the pines, a snorkelling trip on a catamaran, and a day off in Key West.

2. This story has two of my favourite tropes (and perhaps yours). It’s a fish-out-of-water story, as well as an enemies-to-lovers story. Sophie is a buttoned-up prep school teacher from Princeton, who ends up at the Sunrise Island School for a semester. She doesn’t know how to swim, kayak, snorkel, camp or fish—all requirements of teachers who work there. The marine biology teacher, Max, has a huge problem with her being hired. The fireworks between them start at their very first meeting.

3. There are plenty of twists and turns in this novel that will keep you turning the pages well past your bedtime.

4. Sophie and Max have a flammable chemistry both in and out of the bedroom. Max says it best. “We are extremely different in so many respects, and we both have enough baggage to fill an ocean liner. I know, intellectually, we should steer clear of each other.” But they can’t.

5. This steamy romance will have you feeling the heat of Sophie’s and Max’s passion—and who doesn’t want to feel that!

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Maria Imbalzano is an award-winning contemporary author who writes about strong, independent women and the men who fall in love with them. She recently retired from the practice of law, but legal issues have a way of showing up in many of her novels. When not writing, she loves to travel both abroad and in the States. Maria lives in central New Jersey with her husband--not far from her two daughters and granddaughters. For more information about her books, please visit her website at http://mariaimbalzano.com where you can also sign up for her newsletter.

Awards

Maria is a member of New Jersey Romance Writers and has received many honours and awards for her work including the ACRA Readers’ Choice Heart of Excellence Award, the Wisconsin Romance Writers Write Touch Readers Award, The NEST (National Excellence In Story Telling) Award, the Carolyn Award, Book Buyers Best Award, The Stiletto Reader’s Choice Award, Long & Short Reviews Book of the Month Award (3rd Place for Book of the Year), and Still Moments Magazine Reader’s Choice Award.

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Books to Read

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

Maria Imbalzano will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.