Grady Castillo isn’t the biggest fan of Mayor Maggie Sullivan and when he sees she’s upfor reelection, he can’t help but throw a wrench into her plans. However, as the race heats upand unwanted feelings arise, Grady begins to realize there’s more to Maggie than meets theeye. Readers who love small-town romances will devour Rival Hearts by W. Million, a slow-burn, friends-to-enemies-to-lovers romance.“I had a ball going through this one as your writing is so free-flowing andeasy to get into. I could definitely feel the angst between Grady and Maggie, and loved it whenall of their secrets began to finally spill out! I found myself thinking of the story even when I wasdone working for the day… These two will certainly latch onto your heart!” – Proof PositiveEditing Services “Maggie is a shoo-in to be reelected as mayor of Little Falls until her ex-lover Gradycomes back to town, sparking a rivalry that’s just as personal as it is political. Scandaloussecrets and lies are revealed that bring to light the pair’s complicated past in this romantic storyof love, loyalty, and redemption.” Brittany M., Proofreader, Red Adept Editing
Coveting my brother’s girlfriend is one thing, but acting on it is astep too far. It’s too bad it’s a step I’ve already taken.The first time I met Maggie Sullivan, she was my brother’sguest at Sunday dinner. That should have been enough to keep me away. It wasn’t.The night I lost control and gave into my passion was also thenight of my brother’s arrest for selling drugs—a business I was sure Maggie must have had ahand in.Overwhelmed with guilt, I seized a chance to try out for CenterStage, a televised singing competition. Winning changed my life.
Now, years later, I’ve returned to Little Falls to reconnect withmy family, and Maggie Sullivan has somehow managed to become mayor.With only twenty-four hours until she’s reelected uncontested, Idecide to throw a wrench into her perfect life.When the race heats up, and old, unwanted feelings surface, Istart to realize that Maggie might not fit the box I’ve shoved her into all these years.Soon, I’m wondering if I want to steal the election, or if the realvictory lies in winning Maggie’s heart.
Excerpt
Copyright 2024, W. Million
My body was a traitor. I’d spent the last hour staring at thecenter of his chest instead of his stupid chiseled face, not giving him the satisfaction of makingeye contact. What would I see in Grady’s eyes when I glanced up? Twelve years ago, we’dbeen this close, closer, and those eyes stole a piece of my soul. I couldn’t afford to give anymore away.With a deep breath, I stepped back and stared at him. He wasstupidly tall and broad. I couldn’t remember exactly how tall. Six foot five, maybe? Enough tohurt my neck if I was too close, barefoot, and looked up for too long. I squared my shouldersand gave him a sugary smile. “You must be thirsty.” My tone was so sweet it dripped syrup. “Allthat singing would be hell on your voice. No need to speak.” I held up a hand in the direction ofhis face. “I wouldn’t want you to strain your precious vocal cords.”Grady’s brown eyes scanned me, and I tried to decipher theemotion behind them. Amusement and something else I couldn’t place. He chuckled and raisedhis bottle of water. “No need to worry, Maggie May. I don’t make a living off my voice anymore,so I can let it get as rough as it needs to be.”The familiar timbre sent an unexpected jolt through me. I hadn’theard his voice in person since that night. Goose bumps rose on my arms, and I yanked mysweater tighter. “My middle name isn’t May.”His lips quirked up, unrepentant, and he didn’t respond.Someone tried to get his attention. He shook his head and gave them an apologetic smile,gesturing toward me. “We’re catching up.” The crowd around him thinned back.“No, we’re not,” I muttered. His lips quirked again, but he didn’t say anything.“You’re back in town, then? Trying to make something of yourlife?” I jutted out my chin and crossed my arms. Any sense of playing nice disappeared. Thegoose bumps on my skin were from disgust, nothing else. I hated him.He scanned the crowded bar. “Seems to be a few people whothink I’ve already made something of myself.” He shrugged. “But they’re probably easilyimpressed—give them a glossy surface and they’ll root for anyone.” He directed his pointedgaze at me and sipped his bottle of water. “I heard you’d graduated from ruining one man’s lifeto taking down a whole town. Little Falls still standing, or have you demolished it aswell?”His mother lived in Little Falls on the opposite side of town tomy family. Penny Castillo had put my sign on her lawn during the previous election. Of all theconflicts I had helped to settle over the last four years as mayor, none of them caused my bloodto boil like Grady was doing right now. He knew nothing about anything.Leaning forward on my toes, I said, “I’ve spent the last fouryears looking after the people you abandoned while you chased fame and fortune.” I raised myeyebrows in a challenge. I’d been the one to help Penny Castillo fix her garage when awindstorm had taken off half the roof; I’d been the one who picked up Trent from jail when hewas finally released; I’d been the one to find his brother a job a few towns over when no oneelse wanted to hire him. What had Grady done? Won a singing contest anddisappeared.“Only four years?” His intensity drilled into me. “What wasTrent’s sentence again?”I hated the heat creeping into my face.Rage.The heat was from rage and not humiliation. “It’ll be me lookingafter them for another four years twenty-four hours from now.”“What are you talking about?” His sharp gaze turned curious,thoughtful.My jaw ached from holding back the diatribe threatening toexplode out. “I’m running uncontested for another term as mayor of Little Falls.”Grady pinched the bridge of his nose and then looked towardthe ceiling. “Uncontested?” “That’s right. Uncontested,” Lila said, appearing out of nowhereto throw her arm around my shoulders. Her words were slurred, but I was so glad for thebackup, her level of drunkenness didn’t matter. “It’s because she’s the best fucking mayor inany town anywhere.”Throwing back his head, Grady laughed. “In any townanywhere?”With a frown, Lila used one finger and pressed it into his broadchest. “Yes! God. Why do you have to be such a hot prick?”I clamped my hand over Lila’s mouth. In the morning, Lilawould regret those words. “She meant the prick part. The hot part is the Jell-O shots talking.Everyone in this bar is hot to her right now.”“What makes you so sure no one is going to run against you atthe last minute?” Grady’s eyebrows lifted, and he raised his bottle to his lips again.Lila laughed through my hand and removed it from her face.“Because they’d have to own property in town, get enough supporters or file as an independent,and they’d have to think they could beat Maggie. No one is that dumb or that desperate.”Considering how drunk Lila appeared to be, I was impressed with how smoothly her littlespeech spilled out of her. “And,” Lila added, holding up her finger, “we know everyone who fitsthe criteria, and they’re not running.” She cocked an eyebrow at Grady and flicked out a hip.“Maggie’s got it in the bag.”On instinct, I wanted to correct Lila, but the expression onGrady’s face made me hold my tongue. Technically, Lila wasn’t wrong, but I didn’t like the wayGrady’s gaze turned calculating as it dragged across us. He chuckled to himself, and a hint ofamusement lit his face.A Hispanic woman I didn’t recognize appeared at the edge ofour circle. “Sorry to bother you, Mr. Castillo. But we were hoping to get a selfie and anautograph? You’re like the biggest celebrity around here.”“Sure.” Grady half turned toward his fan. The smile on his facehad faded at the request. “Ladies.” Grady pointed his water bottle at us. “I’ll be seeing youaround. I bought some prime real estate in Little Falls. Looks like we’ll be neighbors.”
About W. Million
Million is an award-winning author whose contemporary romances about strong women andtroubled men have captivated her loyal readers. She is the author of the Bellerive Royals series and the Tucker Family Billionaires series. Writing as Wendy Million, she isthe author of the contemporary second chance romances, When Stars Fall and MissMatched.When not writing, Wendy enjoys spending time in or around thewater. She lives in Ontario, Canada with two beautiful daughters, two cute pooches, and onehandsome husband (who is grateful she doesn’t need two of those). Follow:This promotional event is brought to you byIndie Pen PR
