Hi Everyone, Happy Thursday! Today I am excited to be part of another blog tour for Built by Jay Crownover. Now your probably thinking, haven’t I done a blog tour for BUILT already!? Well yes I have but that was for the US – InkSlinger. This one is from the UK publishers – HarperCollins. Plus I want to promote this book as much as possible. My post comes on the Release Day for Built, so please go buy it and read it. It’s got 5 stars from me so I think its an awesome book. So today I have an extract of the beginning of the book and I think you will be hooked from it! 🙂 So before I share with you the extract here is a little bit more about the book.
Built (Saints of Denver #1)
by Jay Crownover
Publisher – HarperCollins
Release Date – TODAY!
Buy – Amazon | Book DepositoryFrom the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men books comes an electrifying new spin-off series,Saints of Denver, featuring all the characters fans have been dying to read about.
Sayer Cole and Zeb Fuller couldn’t be more different. She’s country club and fine-dining, he’s cell-block and sawdust. Sayer spends her days in litigation, while Zeb spends his working with his hands. She’s French silk, he’s all denim and flannel.
Zeb’s wanted the stunning blonde since the moment he laid eyes on her. It doesn’t matter how many smooth moves he makes, the reserved lawyer seems determinedly oblivious to his interest—either that or she doesn’t return it. Sayer is certain the rough, hard, hot-as-hell Zeb could never want someone as closed off and restrained as she is, which is a shame because something tells her he might be the guy to finally melt her icy exterior.
But just as things start to heat up, Zeb is blindsided by a life altering moment from his past. He needs Sayer’s professional help to right a wrong and to save more than himself. He can’t risk what’s at stake just because his attraction to Sayer feels all consuming. But as these opposites dig in for the fight of their lives, battling together to save a family, the steam created when fire and ice collide can no longer be ignored.Sayer Cole and Zeb Fuller are as different as two people can be. She’s country club and fine-dining, he’s cell-block and kill it and grill it. Sayer spends her days in litigation, while Zeb spends his working with his hands. She’s French silk while he’s denim and flannel.
The differences between the two of them don’t stop Zeb from dropping every hint he can think of that he would like to get to know her on a more personal level, but Sayer seems oblivious to his interest or is just too nice to tell him to take a hike. To Sayer, a guy like Zeb could never be interested in someone as reserved and boring as she is. She’s never been with anyone that was hot enough to melt the icy exterior she’s had wrapped around hera since her awful childhood. But what if Zeb is the one who might finally thaw her out…?
PROLOGUE
I met her at a bar.
She had a beer bottle in her hand even though she looked
like she should be sipping champagne out of an expensive flute, and that
inexplicably turned me on. She was pretty and looked completely out of place in
the no- name bar sitting across from one of my oldest friends who also happened
to be her long- lost brother. He was the reason she was here. In that split
second that I laid my eyes on her I wanted to be the reason she stayed.
like she should be sipping champagne out of an expensive flute, and that
inexplicably turned me on. She was pretty and looked completely out of place in
the no- name bar sitting across from one of my oldest friends who also happened
to be her long- lost brother. He was the reason she was here. In that split
second that I laid my eyes on her I wanted to be the reason she stayed.
I knew it was rude and that the two of them needed some
time together, some time to figure out what they were to each other now that
she had blasted into his life unannounced. If I was a better friend I would
have left them alone. As it was, I made my way over to the tiny table and sat
down. I was covered in sawdust and had drywall mud caked in the hair on my head
and on my face, but she didn’t flinch or bat an eyelash when I purposely broke
up their party of two and placed myself as close to her as I could without
actually touching her.
time together, some time to figure out what they were to each other now that
she had blasted into his life unannounced. If I was a better friend I would
have left them alone. As it was, I made my way over to the tiny table and sat
down. I was covered in sawdust and had drywall mud caked in the hair on my head
and on my face, but she didn’t flinch or bat an eyelash when I purposely broke
up their party of two and placed myself as close to her as I could without
actually touching her.
My buddy Rowdy St. James lifted his eyebrows at me as I
stared at her while he introduced us. Sayer Cole. Even her name was elegant and
sophisticated sounding. She was an enigma, this lovely woman who seemed like
she should be in any place but this bar with the two of us. She’d showed up out
of the blue a couple of months ago claiming to be Rowdy’s half sister, claiming
that they shared a father, claiming that all she wanted was to be in his life
and have some kind of family of her own. She looked too delicate to be that
brave. Came across as way too proper to have said “fuck it all” and picked up
her life to move it someplace unknown without being sure of her welcome. She
looked like silk, but if my guess was right about her, it was silk wrapped
around steel.
stared at her while he introduced us. Sayer Cole. Even her name was elegant and
sophisticated sounding. She was an enigma, this lovely woman who seemed like
she should be in any place but this bar with the two of us. She’d showed up out
of the blue a couple of months ago claiming to be Rowdy’s half sister, claiming
that they shared a father, claiming that all she wanted was to be in his life
and have some kind of family of her own. She looked too delicate to be that
brave. Came across as way too proper to have said “fuck it all” and picked up
her life to move it someplace unknown without being sure of her welcome. She
looked like silk, but if my guess was right about her, it was silk wrapped
around steel.
Luckily Rowdy was a good guy. After the shock of
discovering he wasn’t alone in the world, and once he realized he had someone
tied to him by blood forever and ever, he had warmed up to the idea of having a
sister and appreciated that the sister was Sayer.
discovering he wasn’t alone in the world, and once he realized he had someone
tied to him by blood forever and ever, he had warmed up to the idea of having a
sister and appreciated that the sister was Sayer.
I liked Rowdy a lot. He was a stand- up guy and a good
friend, but I had a feeling I was going to like his newly found big sister even
more. In my usual tactless way I asked him without looking directly at the
knockout blonde, “So you have a sister? A hot, classy sister?” A sister that
was also a lawyer, so beautiful and smart.
friend, but I had a feeling I was going to like his newly found big sister even
more. In my usual tactless way I asked him without looking directly at the
knockout blonde, “So you have a sister? A hot, classy sister?” A sister that
was also a lawyer, so beautiful and smart.
I
expected a giggle from her or an eye roll at the outlandish compliment, but
what I got was a wide- eyed stare of disbelief as eyes bluer than anything I
had ever seen on earth danced between me and her brother like she wasn’t sure
what to do with herself or with my overt interest in her.
expected a giggle from her or an eye roll at the outlandish compliment, but
what I got was a wide- eyed stare of disbelief as eyes bluer than anything I
had ever seen on earth danced between me and her brother like she wasn’t sure
what to do with herself or with my overt interest in her.
I thought that I had gone too far, pushed the beautiful
stranger too far out of her comfort zone. I was a big guy and knew I looked far
wilder and rougher than I actually was. I figured it might be too much for a
woman already obviously out of her element and depth to take.
stranger too far out of her comfort zone. I was a big guy and knew I looked far
wilder and rougher than I actually was. I figured it might be too much for a
woman already obviously out of her element and depth to take.
Instead, Sayer surprised me and I could see by the way he
stiffened that she surprised Rowdy, too. While she wasn’t exactly overflowing
with welcome and warmth, she did ask me about the current project I was working
on after Rowdy explained I was a general contractor and had rebuilt the new
tattoo shop he worked in. She seemed genuinely interested, and when I told her
that my specialty was rehabbing old houses and giving them new life, her eyes
practically glowed at me. I wanted to feel her to see if she felt as smooth and
polished as she looked. I wanted to leave streaks of dirt on her perfect face
to mark the fact that I had touched her, that she had let me touch her. It was
a primal and visceral reaction that I couldn’t explain and I liked the way it
felt. Liked the weight and heft of it in my blood even if I knew the feeling
wasn’t likely to be returned.
stiffened that she surprised Rowdy, too. While she wasn’t exactly overflowing
with welcome and warmth, she did ask me about the current project I was working
on after Rowdy explained I was a general contractor and had rebuilt the new
tattoo shop he worked in. She seemed genuinely interested, and when I told her
that my specialty was rehabbing old houses and giving them new life, her eyes
practically glowed at me. I wanted to feel her to see if she felt as smooth and
polished as she looked. I wanted to leave streaks of dirt on her perfect face
to mark the fact that I had touched her, that she had let me touch her. It was
a primal and visceral reaction that I couldn’t explain and I liked the way it
felt. Liked the weight and heft of it in my blood even if I knew the feeling
wasn’t likely to be returned.
She told me all about a fantastic but crumbling Victorian
she had purchased that was falling down around her. She asked me for a business
card and I saw Rowdy stiffen across the table. I sighed and rubbed a hand over
my already messy hair. I watched her eyes follow the light cloud of dust that
escaped the strands. I was great at my job, loved what I did, but I couldn’t do
anything with her or for her without laying everything on the line. Especially
not with Rowdy giving me the death glare from just a few feet away.
she had purchased that was falling down around her. She asked me for a business
card and I saw Rowdy stiffen across the table. I sighed and rubbed a hand over
my already messy hair. I watched her eyes follow the light cloud of dust that
escaped the strands. I was great at my job, loved what I did, but I couldn’t do
anything with her or for her without laying everything on the line. Especially
not with Rowdy giving me the death glare from just a few feet away.
I dug the card out of my wallet, and when I handed it over
our fingers touched. I saw her eyes widen and her lips part, just barely. She
looked a little dazed when I grinned at her.
our fingers touched. I saw her eyes widen and her lips part, just barely. She
looked a little dazed when I grinned at her.
“You take that card, but understand that the man giving it
to you has a past.”
to you has a past.”
She blinked at me and cleared her throat. “What kind of
past?”
past?”
It wasn’t something I liked to tell a beautiful woman when
I
first met her. It was something I liked to work up to, liked to prove was
behind me, but with this one it seemed like I wouldn’t get that chance.
first met her. It was something I liked to work up to, liked to prove was
behind me, but with this one it seemed like I wouldn’t get that chance.
“I tell everyone that I do any kind of work for or that
considers hiring me on for a project that I have a criminal history. I spent
time locked up for a few years, and while I’m not proud of it I can’t deny it
happened. I was a hotheaded kid and it got me in trouble, but I’m the best at
what I do, so I hope that doesn’t discourage you from giving me a call.”
Hopefully for more than some construction.
considers hiring me on for a project that I have a criminal history. I spent
time locked up for a few years, and while I’m not proud of it I can’t deny it
happened. I was a hotheaded kid and it got me in trouble, but I’m the best at
what I do, so I hope that doesn’t discourage you from giving me a call.”
Hopefully for more than some construction.
Usually I got a concerned frown followed by a hundred
questions about what had led me to serving time. I got none of that from the
stunning blonde. She tilted her head to the side and considered me silently for
a long moment before reaching down and slipping my card in her purse. If
anything, I could have sworn she was wearing a look of sympathy when she told me
softly, “I see it every day from the inside. Sometimes the system simply gets
it wrong.” A slight grin turned her mouth up at the corners, and I wanted to
lean over and kiss it. “People make mistakes. Hopefully they learn from them.”
questions about what had led me to serving time. I got none of that from the
stunning blonde. She tilted her head to the side and considered me silently for
a long moment before reaching down and slipping my card in her purse. If
anything, I could have sworn she was wearing a look of sympathy when she told me
softly, “I see it every day from the inside. Sometimes the system simply gets
it wrong.” A slight grin turned her mouth up at the corners, and I wanted to
lean over and kiss it. “People make mistakes. Hopefully they learn from them.”
I don’t know that “wrong” was accurate in my case so much
as misguided, but the complete lack of judgment or censure coming from her made
me want to pull her into my arms and hold on to her even more. I had made a
mistake, a huge one, one that I was forever going to have to carry around with
me, but I had learned from it, was still learning from it. That kind of
understanding from a total stranger was so rare, especially coming from someone
in the legal field. I wasn’t accustomed to someone looking at me and seeing me,
just me, not an excon loser after I explained where I had been. It was wildly
refreshing and attractive. I couldn’t quite get a handle on what made the woman
tick, but I would welcome any opportunity she gave me to figure it out. I found
her outwardly flawless and pristine demeanor tempting to taint with my dirty
hands and ways, and there was something about the way she watched me, the way
she turned toward me like she was drawn to me, that made me think maybe I
wasn’t alone in the inexplicable pull department.
as misguided, but the complete lack of judgment or censure coming from her made
me want to pull her into my arms and hold on to her even more. I had made a
mistake, a huge one, one that I was forever going to have to carry around with
me, but I had learned from it, was still learning from it. That kind of
understanding from a total stranger was so rare, especially coming from someone
in the legal field. I wasn’t accustomed to someone looking at me and seeing me,
just me, not an excon loser after I explained where I had been. It was wildly
refreshing and attractive. I couldn’t quite get a handle on what made the woman
tick, but I would welcome any opportunity she gave me to figure it out. I found
her outwardly flawless and pristine demeanor tempting to taint with my dirty
hands and ways, and there was something about the way she watched me, the way
she turned toward me like she was drawn to me, that made me think maybe I
wasn’t alone in the inexplicable pull department.
Rowdy left and she stayed.
We had a couple more beers and talked some more about her
house and what she wanted done with it. She already hired one contractor but
felt like the guy was ripping her off. It happened a lot in the industry, so I
wouldn’t be surprised if the guy was taking her for a ride. Spending time with
her was easy. She was fun to talk to and really fun to look at. I really wanted
to get my hands on her house and of course on her, and I felt like she was
maybe, kind of, slightly leaning in the same direction when I made the mistake
of asking her about her past.
house and what she wanted done with it. She already hired one contractor but
felt like the guy was ripping her off. It happened a lot in the industry, so I
wouldn’t be surprised if the guy was taking her for a ride. Spending time with
her was easy. She was fun to talk to and really fun to look at. I really wanted
to get my hands on her house and of course on her, and I felt like she was
maybe, kind of, slightly leaning in the same direction when I made the mistake
of asking her about her past.
I asked about where she had been before she found out about
Rowdy and decided to move to Denver so that she could get to know him. I was
curious what kind of life she had where she could leave everything behind and
not be missed. Really I wanted to know if she had a boyfriend or husband
stashed somewhere, but the simple inquiry must have touched a nerve. The next
thing I knew she had paid out the tab for both of us and disappeared into the
night. She went from glowing and bright to frigid and untouchable in the span
of a heartbeat.
Rowdy and decided to move to Denver so that she could get to know him. I was
curious what kind of life she had where she could leave everything behind and
not be missed. Really I wanted to know if she had a boyfriend or husband
stashed somewhere, but the simple inquiry must have touched a nerve. The next
thing I knew she had paid out the tab for both of us and disappeared into the
night. She went from glowing and bright to frigid and untouchable in the span
of a heartbeat.
I figured I blew my shot by being too blunt, as always. I
assumed she probably did have someone else in the picture and had been friendly
and polite only because I was good friends with her brother. I thought I would
never hear from her again and was baffled why the thought of that made my chest
ache and my heart feel like it weighed two tons.
assumed she probably did have someone else in the picture and had been friendly
and polite only because I was good friends with her brother. I thought I would
never hear from her again and was baffled why the thought of that made my chest
ache and my heart feel like it weighed two tons.
Imagine my surprise when she called me and hired me to
renovate her house a week later without a bid, without a contract, without even
knowing if I was half as good as I claimed to be.
renovate her house a week later without a bid, without a contract, without even
knowing if I was half as good as I claimed to be.
Of course I accepted, but I knew once I was inside I would need
to knock down and rearrange more than just the walls of the house, in order to
get at something beautiful and lasting.
to knock down and rearrange more than just the walls of the house, in order to
get at something beautiful and lasting.
I did enjoy her other series, so, why not? 🙂
Why not indeed. It's great! 🙂
I like how blunt Zeb is though I'm a little wary of books that rehash a lot of things and don't give me more interaction? But I do love Cora's books and I'm a sucker for couples who are super duper attracted to each other even though they seemingly aren't the best match out there? Hah! Now that I know that Zeb is a contractor and rebuilts houses –> kinda punny title for this book 😛 Thank you for sharing, Emma!
Siiri @ Little Pieces of Imagination
I love Cora's books too. Must get back into them. Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Oh, wow! This is interesting. I haven't read any from this author yet and after reading this, I'm pretty sure I will in the future. Thank you for sharing this!
New GFC and Bloglovin follower 🙂
#Commenting365
– Erika @ The Nocturnal Fey
Wow, you should totally start reading her books. Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Thanks for sharing this, it looks good!
Thanks for stopping by! 🙂