First Chapter Reveal: Under the Apple Blossoms

Hello everyone!

The release of my romance novel, 

UNDER THE APPLE BLOSSOMS,

 the 4th book in the Lake Harriet Series, 

is coming up quick! 

I can't wait for you to read this sweet romance featuring 

Debbie Adams from Deb's Bridal Boutique

and a new character, Marc Bennett. 

In anticipation of the release, I'd like to share the

first chapter.

Enjoy!

Under the Apple Blossoms

A Lake Harriet Novel

Deanna Lynn Setten

Book Description:

Sometimes the only one standing in the way of your happiness is you.

Debbie Adams has never thought of herself as beautiful or witty. Her short, curvy stature has always made her feel self-conscious. As the owner of Deb’s Bridal Boutique near Lake Harriet in Minneapolis, Debbie runs the business she’d inherited after her mother’s death. But owning a bridal shop has never been her dream—it had been her mother’s. And as the years go by, Debbie sees friends and neighbors pairing off and building a future while her life remains stagnant. Then, one March day, frantic to get in shape before a friend’s wedding, Debbie forces herself to go biking. As she rides along the icy lake path, she’s startled by a runner and slips and falls. Regaining her bearings, she looks up into a pair of warm, brown eyes and the most handsome face she’s ever seen. Could this tall, extremely fit, and good-looking man be her destiny?

Marc Bennett’s life is amazing. He owns a chain of fitness centers around the Twin Cities and lives in a beautiful mansion that overlooks Lake Harriet. The only thing missing from his life is a wonderful woman to share it with. Not that he’s lacking in applicants for the position. He’s a handsome man with a warm, caring personality, and women flock to him. But at thirty-six, he’s had the shallow relationships, and he’s not in a hurry to commit to anyone. Then one crisp, spring day, as he’s running the lake path with his dog, Bernie, he literally crashes into a woman on a bike. As he attempts to help her up, he finds himself looking into the most beautiful pair of blue eyes. Eyes he can’t seem to get out of his mind.

Release Date: March 17, 2020

Preorder now:

Amazon Kindle

Coming soon to:

Paperback 

Audiobook

Chapter One

Debbie Adams’s leg muscles strained as she pedaled her bicycle through her neighborhood toward the trails at Lake Harriet. It was the second week in March, and snow still edged the sidewalks and covered lawns, and the temperature was a chilly forty-one degrees. Despite the weather, she couldn’t put off exercise any longer. Rain or snow, cold or heat, she had to lose ten pounds by early summer.

Debbie glanced up at the gray sky and frowned, then looked into the blanket-lined basket attached to the handlebars. Nestled under the fleece was her sweet little dog, Chloe.

“The weatherman promised sunshine today,” Debbie complained. “Why are they always wrong?”

Chloe snuggled deeper into the blanket and only stared at Debbie.

“I know, I know. It’s cold. But I have to start sometime,” Debbie said. She probably shouldn’t have brought her little Maltese along for the ride, but Chloe went everywhere with her. The fluffy white dog was her companion at home, at her shop, Deb’s Bridal Boutique, and just about everywhere else she went. But dragging her out on this ridiculous attempt to burn calories riding a bike may have been a foolish idea. It’s definitely feeling like a stupid idea, Debbie thought as her thigh muscles burned. I should have bought an exercise bike instead and stayed inside the warmth of my house. But she knew that hadn’t been an option. She earned enough from her business to keep a roof over her head and pay for necessities, but not for extravagant items like exercise equipment. That’s why she now found herself on her twenty-year-old bike, pedaling through the wet and sometimes icy streets.

By the time she reached the path around the still-frozen lake, her face stung from the crisp air, and her muscles burned. She was bundled up in sweats, a bulky jacket, gloves, and a stocking cap that covered her thick, sandy-blond hair. But her face felt like a frozen popsicle, and her blue eyes watered.

“We’ve made it this far,” she said determinedly, glancing down at Chloe. “We can make it around the lake.” She grit her teeth. “Maybe.” 

As Debbie looked up again, she saw something coming right at her. The bike hit an icy patch and slid, and she screamed as she lost control and the bike hit the ground.

***

Marc Bennett stared in horror as he watched the bundled-up person on the rickety bicycle nearly run into him. He quickly darted out of the way, tugging Bernie’s leash hard so the dog wouldn’t get hit either. Marc had been running along the path with Bernie as he did most days throughout the year, his earbuds blaring music. When he’d glanced up, there was the bike, nearly on top of him.

The bike hit an icy spot and slid out of control, causing the rider and bicycle to skid and fall near a bush at the edge of the trail. Marc instantly ran into action, hurrying toward the person lying on the sidewalk.

“I’m so sorry! Are you okay? I didn’t see you coming at me,” he blurted out, kneeling beside the person. He heard a groan, then the bundle of clothing turned its head, and big, watery blue eyes fringed in thick lashes stared up at him. Marc was stunned for a moment. They were the most beautiful, expressive eyes he’d ever seen. He hadn’t been expecting the bundle of clothes to be a woman.

She groaned again.

Marc flew into action. “I’m so sorry. Let me help you up.” He reached for her arm.

The woman slowly unfolded and got to her knees. It was at that moment that Bernie decided to help too.

“Ack!” she yelled. “What’s that? A bear?” She fell back against the ground again.

Marc chuckled. “Bernie? No, he’s a dog. He’s a Burmese Mountain Dog, so he’s big.” Marc reached for the woman’s arms. He grabbed a handful of her coat and helped pull her up to her feet. Well, at least he thought she was on her feet. Her entire height only came up to his chest.

The woman stared at her bike in dismay. “The tire’s bent!” she cried, sounding exasperated. “How will I ever ride it home?”

“I’m sure we can fix it,” Marc said optimistically, although he didn’t really believe he could. She needs a new bicycle. This one’s shot.

The woman stared up at him, tears freezing on her cheeks. His first instinct was to wrap his arms around her padded body and comfort her, but he refrained from doing so. That might make matters worse. Suddenly, he saw her eyes grow wide with terror.

“Chloe! Oh, my God! I forgot about Chloe!” she screamed. She fell to her knees again and pulled at the blanket inside the basket on the bike.

“Chloe? Who’s that?” Marc asked, trying to understand what she was looking for.

“My dog! She was in the basket. The fall would have killed her!” She crawled around the wet sidewalk, searching for her dog. “Chloe! Chloe!” she called frantically.

Marc began searching too. He wasn’t sure what kind of dog he was looking for. He ran to the other side of the bush, followed by Bernie. As the big dog stuck his nose into the bush, a high-pitched bark came from inside it. Bernie pushed in deeper.

“Stop him! He’s hurting my dog!” the women yelled. She reached inside and pulled out a small puff of fur. Glaring at Marc, she hugged her dog close. “Your dog tried to kill Chloe!”

Marc stared at her in disbelief. “Dog? That’s a dog?”

The woman stood up taller, well, at least as tall as she could, and glowered at him. “Of course she’s a dog. What else would she be?”

The situation was so ridiculous that laughter overcame Marc. “I’m sorry, lady. But that’s a puffball.” He pointed to Bernie. “This is a dog.”

What little of the woman’s face he could see between the scarf and the stocking cap turned red with anger. “No. He’s a monster. And he was attacking poor Chloe!”

Marc sobered. “Bernie is big, but he wouldn’t hurt a fly, let alone your little powder puff. He’s a gentle giant.” To prove Marc’s point, Bernie sat there innocently watching them.

The woman looked as if she were going to argue with him, but then her face crumpled, and tears began to fall again. “I knew I shouldn’t have tried biking today. It’s all useless. I’m never going to lose weight anyway. And now my bike’s ruined and I almost killed my dog. I give up.” She sulked over to a bench beside the trail and sat as best she could in all the clothes she was wearing.

Marc watched, his heart going out to her. He followed her to the bench. “It wasn’t a bad idea; it’s just a little early to be on this trail with a bike. Wait another month, and the ice will be gone.”

“I don’t have a month!” she wailed, hugging her dog tighter. “I need to lose weight now! For once in my life, I want to look good for a friend’s wedding. I’m always the short, chubby one around all the tall, slender girls. I’m tired of being fat.” She rubbed away her tears with the sleeve of her jacket.

Marc sat down beside her. “There’s nothing you can do about being the short one,” he said, giving her a friendly smile. “And, well, I can’t tell with all the clothes you’re wearing, but I’m sure you’re not fat. You’re probably just out of shape. A little muscle-toning and you’ll feel better.”

The woman stopped crying and stared at him, looking insulted. “You don’t know anything about me.”

“I’m sorry. I’m not trying to insult you.” He reached into the pocket of his sleek workout jacket and pulled out a business card. “I’m a trainer at a gym. I work with people, helping them get into shape.” He handed her the card.

“Oh.” She stared at it. “Fit in 20. Isn’t that a big chain of gyms around the Twin Cities?”

Marc grinned. “Yes, it is. I mainly work at the one on the Nicolette Mall. It’s not too far from here.”

She stared at the card again as she hugged Chloe. Marc saw the dog’s eyes watching him, and it made him smile. He reached out his gloved hand. “I’m Marc Bennett. And I’m sorry I made you fall down.”

Debbie shook his hand. “I’m Debbie. Debbie Adams. I’m sorry I almost ran into you.”

He smiled wider, and she gave him a slight grin.

“It’s nice to meet you, Debbie.”

She nodded, then glanced toward her bike. “I’d better start pushing that home. It’s going to take a while.” She stood and walked toward the bike.

“My car is just across the street. Why don’t you let me drive you and your bike home? Do you live nearby?”

She eyed him suspiciously. “It’s a few blocks away, but I’ll be fine.”

Marc picked up the bike, and Debbie placed Chloe into the basket, fluffing the blanket around her. The dog stared at her with worried eyes.

“I won’t drop you again. I promise,” Debbie told Chloe. She took the handlebars from Marc and pushed the bike a few steps. The tire wobbled and turned with difficulty.

“Please let me help you,” Marc said. “I promise, I’m not a serial killer. I’ll drive you home, safe and sound.”

Debbie stared up at him and looked as if she’d dissolve into tears again. “Okay. Thank you.”

Marc smiled and took ahold of the bike, leading her to his car with Bernie following dutifully behind them.

You can see the entire series on Amazon