Cassidy Clarke once climbed the world’s highest mountains, but after an unexpected illness ends her career she’s back in her hometown, broke and hoping for a little luck. But the townsfolk aren’t exactly putting out a welcome mat for the woman who once snubbed them in the media, despite her apologies now.

Mitch Anders knows someone has set up camp on the grounds of his plant nursery, and he’s surprised to find his sexy high school crush ducking questions about where she’s staying. Though he’s sworn to stop cleaning up other people’s messes, Mitch offers Cassidy a job and a place to stay—his place. Bedsharing optional, but definitely welcome.

Out of options and too attracted to Mitch to keep things platonic, Cassidy says yes to his offer. She wants to get back on her feet financially and start a new career. She never expects to suffer a different kind of fall, one that has her believing Mitch just might bring her something bigger and better than luck.

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Thank you for having me here today to talk about my newest release, LEAN ON ME. This book is the second in a series set in the fictional town of Holloway, West Virginia.

I love writing connected books.  Books tied by characters and a growing sense of community.  Now, sometimes in communities some folks are friendlier than others. And sometimes those folks have a reason not to be open and friendly right from the beginning. That was the case here. Cassidy, the heroine, said some nasty things about the town after she left. She regrets them but, unfortunately, some in town remember them.

One of the people who isn’t immediately won over by Cassidy is a close friend and associate of Mitch, the hero. Having that dynamic – the “I’m not sure I like your new girlfriend” thing – allowed me to explore one of my favorite parts of a romance novel…the buddy relationship. Man, I love when romance novels highlight male friendships. There’s just something about the way they talk to each other, the loyalty and the bond that makes the hero even more compelling.

But that friend can cause trouble in the budding romance between the hero and heroine. Like here:

“She barely hit town and the grumbling started,” Spence said.

Mitch wasn’t sure how that was Cassidy’s fault, but Spence didn’t seem to be in the mood for a smack of common sense. “Your point?”

“I know you used to have a thing for her—”

“Do you blame me?” Attraction, heat. Mitch experienced a heavy dose of both in her presence back then and right now. “Look at her.”

“—but she’s always been a chilly one. The type to sleep alone, if you know what I mean.”

The air blew right out of Mitch with that comment. He looked to Travis for help but he just shook his head at Spence’s cryptic remark. “I have no clue what that means.”

Don’t worry, Cassidy wins Spence over eventually.  And Spence pays a little bit for being difficult when he gets his own story in WE’LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS, my December release.

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For more information, including an excerpt, visit www.helenkaydimon.com. And for a chance to win a digital copy of LEAN ON ME, leave a comment below. Good luck!