Ryan's Renovation, by Romance Author, Marin Thomas

Harlequin American #1175
ISBN 9780373751792
August 2007
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Ryan's Renovation

A sky-high Manhattan office tower is the perfect place for Ryan McKade to hide from wounds both physical and emotional. Until, that is, his meddlesome grandfather puts a stop to his seclusion and arranges for some old-fashioned backbreaking work at Parnell Bros. Inc., a not-exactly-posh rubbish removal company in blue-collar Queens, New York.

After just a few days on the job, the loner is nursing stiff muscles, evading his coworkers and pretending not to be attracted to Anna Nowakowski, the company's blond secretary. Her cheery personality and compassionate nature are irresistible to a hurting man like Ryan.

Anna is determined to break down the defenses Ryan has spent years building, and Ryan can't help but let the luscious Anna get under his skin. The question is, will they be so enthusiastic about each other once each discovers what the other is struggling so desperately to conceal?


*Recommended Read* The conclusion to Marin Thomas’ McKade brother series is a beautifully written story about having the courage to live again after a horrible tragedy. More serious in nature than the previous McKade books, RYAN’S RENOVATION showcases the awesome talent of Marin Thomas, proving that she can pen both humorous and serious stories with equal success.

RYAN’S RENOVATION is an inspirational story, chock full of sweet, touching moments that will literally brand themselves on readers' hearts. Through Ryan’s story readers will learn that bravery isn’t just defined by huge acts of heroism like those of 9/11. True bravery lies in the courage to live life to the fullest despite tragedy and heartbreak. RYAN’S RENOVATION is this reviewer’s recommended read for this month. Readers, you don’t want to miss this one!
--www.ck2skwipsandkritiques

4 Stars Romantic Times- - Ryan's Renovation is a wonderfully touching romance about surviving and finding a reason to go on. Anna is an amazing character. She grew up in foster homes, yet her ability to care is far-reaching.

Ryan’s Renovation scores a five rose review! Marin Thomas saved the best and most touching of her McKade brothers trilogy for last with middle brother Ryan’s story. A plucky heroine who has some meat on her bones and a brain in her head paired with a hero who carries some very real life issues makes for a great read! Put Ryan’s Renovation on that to do list.
-- www.aromancereview.com

An emotional tale of how a modern day tortured hero finds his way home that is guaranteed to wring tears from your eyes and smiles from your lips!
      --- www.romancejunkies.com

 

Ryan McKade, president of the New York City branch of McKade Import-Export, stood on the chipped cement sidewalk in north central Queens and studied the 1950s brick-and-stone building that housed Parnell Brothers Rubbish Removal. As a five-year-old he might have dreamed of becoming a garbageman, but he was thirty-six years old, for God's sake--what had his grandfather been thinking?

The building reminded him of an old fire station. An extra-wide automatic door, with windows along the top half, faced the street. Two sanitation trucks sat parked inside. Parnell Bros. Inc. 1952 painted in bold black lettering across the red brick above the doors. A smaller entrance to the right of the garage area had the word Office etched into the glass pane.

A dingy American flag sagged from a pole--a victim of air pollution. Ryan had noticed the difference in air quality the moment he'd stepped off the train. He was accustomed to cab exhaust across the East River in Manhattan . Here in the industrial Flushing area, a heavy metallic taste flavored the air. Faded plastic flowers filled a pots next to a dented garbage can chained to the downspout against the building. Ryan commiserated with the fake yellow daisies--looking as out of place as he felt.

The sky rumbled for the third time in as many minutes. Flushing was home to La Guardia Airport. During the pre- 9/11 years, Ryan had attended several Mets baseball games at Shea Stadium, which had been built in the flight path of the airport. It was a toss-up what annoyed the visiting team more--the rowdy fans or the deafening air traffic.

A quick check of his watch convinced him that if he ran the four blocks to the train station he could catch the M line and return to his Wall Street office in Lower Manhattan within the hour. Or hail a cab ride across the Queensboro Bridge and arrive there in forty-five minutes.

Grandfather's right. You are a coward.

Arguing with the ninety-one-year-old man had accomplished nothing. The family patriarch had embarked on a mission to teach each of his grandsons a life lesson before leaving the earth and he'd refused to allow Ryan to negotiate a way out of his. Not that Ryan had really tried. He owed his grandfather big-time.

Patrick McKade had raised him and his brothers, Nelson and Aaron, after their parents had perished in a private plane crash when Ryan had been two. But more important, his grandfather had never left Ryan's hospital bedside while he'd recovered from injuries sustained the day terrorists attacked the World Trade Center . Not even Ryan's wife had had the fortitude to stick by him.

In truth, Ryan hadn’t been upset with the old man's crazy scheme as much as he'd been devastated by the lesson he believed Ryan needed to learn--bravery. Evidently, rescuing a woman from the North Tower had failed to gain him hero status. Ryan believed it was no coincidence that his grandfather had arranged for him to begin the new job on September 11--six years post-9/11.

"Life goes on," his grandfather had argued.

Maybe for people who'd watched the disaster unfold on television inside their homes. But for the unlucky ones, those who'd lived through the hellish hours of the attack, the memories never faded. They were always present... in the corners of his mind. In the eyes that stared back at him in the mirror. In the scars that hid beneath his clothes.

The old man's right. You've got a yellow streak the length of the Holland Tunnel running along your spine.

A cool September-morning breeze threatened to turn the beads of sweat on Ryan's brow into flecks of frost. As much as he found the idea of hauling garbage for three months distasteful, the prospect of socializing with people made his stomach spasm. He preferred to work alone. Isolated from his staff. Isolated from the world.

"Can I help you?"

Startled, Ryan shifted his gaze from the plastic daisies to the head poking out the office door.

"You've been standing on the sidewalk for ten minutes." The woman smiled.

Only a perpetually cheerful person would beam brightly at 7:00 a.m. on a Monday morning.

Run or stay. What's it going to be?

Damn. "I believe I've found the right place."

Her head edged farther out the door, displaying a prominent nose no one would dare characterize as feminine. Ryan shifted his attention to her eyes. Deep blue pools, sparkling with humor.

"You must be the new hire." Shoving the door open wide, she waved him in.

He entered the office, then shook the hand she offered, noting her no-nonsense grip. "Ryan Jones." He perused the length of her body--a far cry from the skinny model types he'd dated in college. This lady had meat on her bones. Curves his former wife would have spent hours in the gym ridding herself of.

"Anastazia Nowakowski. Pleasure to meet you."

Anastazia Nowakowski. Quite a mouthful.

"The guys call me Anna." Pointing to a refreshment table across the room, she offered, "Coffee?"

"No, thank you." Just when he thought her smile couldn’t beam any wider…he winced, expecting her lips to crack.

The overhead florescent lights bounced off her pearly whites, and he noticed her two front teeth faced inward, reminding him of an open book. He never paid attention to smiles, but this lady's was warm and pretty. Too bad her effort was wasted on him.

A sparkly clip secured a mop of honey-blond hair to the top of her head. The style accentuated her high European cheekbones and strong jaw line. Taken separately, the woman's features weren't beautiful. But put together... Anastazia Nowakowski's face was striking. Although shorter than Ryan's six-foot height by a good four inches, she was nothing if not intriguing. Too bad he'd sworn off women years ago when his wife served him divorce papers.





   


Excerpt from: Ryan's Renovation by Marin Thomas
    Copyright (c) 2007 by Brenda Smith-Beagley
ISBN 9780373751792
By: Marin Thomas
Imprint and Series: Harlequin American
Copyright ©: 2007
By: Marin Thomas
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The edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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