Wheeler Series by Sara Butler Zalesky Book Tour and Giveaway :)
Wheeler
Wheeler
Series Book 1
by
Sara Butler Zalesky
Genre:
Sports Romance
Loren
Mackenzie is at the top of her game, leading an elite team of pro
cyclists in the Women’s World Tour in Europe. But for her, cycling
was a way to escape, using the burn of her muscles to cleanse her
mind.
After
a change in the management of her team, Loren is brought back
together with a man she once loved. His amorous attention resurrects
the feelings she once had for him, but also how he tried to force her
to sleep with him, and the sting of his hand on her cheek at her
refusal.
When mishap puts her in the sights of an A-list actor, the flirtation quickly develops into something more for Loren, but the relationship exposes her to the tabloid media, dredging up the past she wanted to bury. It also reveals a dangerous rival who puts her chances in the World Championship in jeopardy.
Love
and obsession collide in the first book of the Wheeler series, can
Loren stand at the center of the storm, or will she lose the success
she has worked so hard to achieve?
Thousands
of cycling fans had braved the cold drizzle to watch the second La
Course by Le Tour de France. The women’s race consisted of thirteen
laps, up and down Avenue des Champs-Élysées, from Place de la
Concorde to l’Arc de Triomphe and back and scheduled to finish a
few hours before the end of the 21st stage of the men’s Tour de
France. The
riders all gathered at the judges’ stand to sign in and receive any
last-minute instructions from the stewards. Each team was announced
from the main stage and photographed, then released to head back to
their ready areas to warm up for the race under canopies. Reporters
and their photographers roamed between the team vehicles to take
pictures and interview the women on their trainers. Loren
put her headphones on specifically to avoid being interviewed. She
adjusted her mirrored amber sunglasses, catching a glimpse of Graham
with Aria as they glanced in her direction. She didn’t want anyone
to see the dark circles under her eyes. After returning to her room,
she slept an hour or two before the nightmares began. It got so bad
she stared up at the ceiling until dawn. I
just have to suck it up. This is a huge platform for us, and if I can
put on a show, it’s gonna be a big fucking show. She
ate several caffeinated cherry cola chews with her water before
heading to the start line with the rest of her team.
***
La
Course by Le Tour de France
Paris, France 89km, 13 laps of 7km
Paris, France 89km, 13 laps of 7km
The
drizzle had abated in time for the roll out of 142 cyclists, but it
didn’t make for better conditions. The peloton stuck together,
keeping the speed relatively sedate for the first three laps, but
there were still several slips to the road. On
the fifth lap, there was a crash of more than fifteen riders,
splitting the field into two parts. Loren, Ashley, and Chantal were
in the middle of the pack, with Ashley and Chantal going down as two
of the fifteen. Neither they nor their bikes were damaged and were
able to get back underway quickly. While it is a courtesy for the
lead group to let up to allow those who crashed the chance to regain
their positions, Ashley and Chantal still had to push hard across the
gap to reconnect with Loren. With
forty-five kilometers to go, Holly Parker took an early lead and held
on for a lap before getting caught. At lap seven, another crash took
down Ingrid and Cece, just as Loren crossed the line to mark the lap. At
thirty-six kilometers remaining, the main group strung out as the
pace picked up on the long straights with speeds close to forty-three
kilometers an hour. Several riders broke out of the turn at the Arc,
working together to build a lead that topped out at thirty seconds.
Team GoreTech, with Samantha Sharpe at the helm, dragged the main
field up to the breakaway. By
then, the sun had started to shine however, the cobbles remained
slick, with riders approaching the corners with caution, and jump out
of the turns. Loren and Ashley kept Chantal at the fore and worked
with other riders to keep the pace high and further competitors at
bay. She glanced at the group around her. Chantal
is behind me, with Ashley ready to blow herself up for us. Two from
GoreTech, one from PZI. The blonde from FusionTurnstep, she might
have something. Loren
drew her energy around her like a tornado funnel. I
am the storm. The
peloton had just passed the Arc de Triomphe when Ashley attacked with
Loren on her wheel, catching the other riders off guard. Shouts from
behind told somebody going with her. I
hope Chantal remembered the plan and is behind me. Felix’s
voice crackled through her radio then. “Stand
by.” He paused. “Let up! Let up! There’s been a crash. Just
hang on.” She eased up on the pedals, glancing around at the five
other riders who were being told the same thing. She then saw Chantal
wasn’t with them. Dammit. She
glanced back. They’re
not that far behind but once we go again–. “Go!
Go! Go!” Felix yelled in her ear. Two
riders took advantage of the hesitation and took off, with Loren hot
on their heels, but leaving Ashley behind. The trio pushed hard to
increase the gap to twenty seconds to take the turn at Place de la
Concorde to mark the final lap. Loren
stayed just behind the other two, biding her time as the kilometers
fell under their wheels. One or the other rider would glance back.
She had little doubt they were being coached from their team cars on
how to defend against her. She
sneered. I’m
no rookie, ladies. I’ve got time, and while I wait, you two are
doing all the work.She
began to tick up her pace with the two riders responding in kind as
they swung into the turn at the Arc for the final time. Felix was
soon in her ear to confirm her strategy. “Let
them worry, mon
trèsor.
Let them think they can defend against your strength, then make them
suffer for their arrogance.” It
is the ultimate game of bluff. If Loren twitched, one or both riders
could be fooled into going early, or they could block her when she
took off. But
like the man said, if you want it, ladies, you’re gonna to have to
suffer to beat me. All
three knew the peloton was closing fast and they still had two
kilometers to go. Loren watched the riders closely, looking for signs
of fatigue: a drooping shoulder, a lowered head, ribs expanding
quicker with increased breathing. Her eyes narrowed at the rider in
the purple jersey. Yes,
there it is. The
PZI rider’s pedaling rhythm began to falter. If
I swing out around her, the other girl might not see me until it’s
too late. The
trio passed under the one-kilometer banner, and the rider looked back
at Loren. You
don’t have it, and you know you don’t. I know what that feels
like. She
had already shifted into a heavier gear when Felix was crooning in
her radio. “Wait
for it. Start your surge… GO, GO, GO!” At
300 meters, Loren jumped out of the saddle and slipped around to the
right of the rider in purple, committing every molecule of energy to
cross the finish line first. Her legs burned as her muscles consumed
all available oxygen, but she forced them to go harder. It
was close, but the white line flashed under Loren’s wheel first.
She sat up and pumped a fist in the air. “YAH!”
The rider from GoreTech crossing a tire width behind, and they glided
down the chute together to the roar of the crowd. “That was fucking
amazing! You were amazing!” Loren laughed to the other rider, and
she grinned back. “Congratulations,”
the GoreTech rider said, patting her on the back. “You fought hard
for the win, Mackenzie.” A flush heated her ears when she saw Ulrik
waiting for her. Loren rolled to a stop before him, and he held her
bike as she dismounted. They embraced, laughing and patting each
other on the back. He pulled away, his brown eyes wet with happy
tears. “You
did it! I am so proud of you!” He hugged her again. “Gabi would
be proud of you, also,” he whispered. “Thank
you,” she replied and held him tighter. Her teammates called out to
her and turned to into their hugs or to them bumping helmets with
her. Ingrid pulled on her sleeve. “I’m
sorry, but you’ve been selected,” she said, not even hiding her
glee. Loren looked up to see Aria waiting and pulled a face. “Aw,
come on! Really?” “Come,
Loren. Your wee cup is waiting.” Aria waved to her, trying not to
laugh.
***
Graham
stood off-stage as Loren was announced as the winner of La Course and
watched her make her way across the stage. She accepted the offered
assistance to don the winner’s jersey and bent stiffly for a medal
to be placed around her neck. As she turned to accept a bouquet of
flowers from a little blonde girl in a yellow dress, her eyes flicked
up to the side of the stage. “Thank
you,” she mouthed to him, and his smile widened. Loren gave the
child a kiss on each cheek then raised her arms as the crowd cheered.
Movement caught his attention on the opposite side of the stage. A
well-built, dark-haired man in a red IDC jacket stood there, his
intense gaze locked on her. Who
is that? A
young woman in a yellow dress and sash with Le Tour on it stood next
to him, and Graham leaned a bit toward her. “Pardonnez-moi,
mais qui est cet homme?” She
smiled up at him. “That is L’Assassin, Felix
Lalonde.” When Graham looked back, Felix was no longer watching
Loren. His hate-filled glare was firmly fixed on him. And
so, the gauntlet is thrown. He
leveled an icy stare at the challenger, every muscle in his body
taut, his fists clenched at his sides. I
will protect what’s mine.
In
Darkness, There Is Still Light
Wheeler
Series Book 2
"Atherton
Leaves Her! Has the Actor’s Whirlwind Romance with the Women’s
Pro Cyclist Run its Course?"
Loren
Mackenzie knew the headline in The Sun was misleading, but the Elite
Women’s World Champion cyclist still felt the sting. With her
team’s season winding down, reuniting with boyfriend, Graham
Atherton is tops on her holiday to-do list. But as rumors and
innuendo swirl around the couple, secrets they have kept from each
other shake their relationship to its foundation.
Her
fragile confidence is tested when Loren discovers details of her
relationship with Felix Lalonde were provided to the media. Still
reeling from the headlines, a bittersweet reunion with someone she
thought lost becomes the catalyst for reliving the fractured memories
of her childhood. Resentment and betrayal only add fuel to the fire
already burning in her heart.
All
the while obsession and greed churn into a storm on the horizon,
threatening Loren and those closest to her. When the tempest hits,
what is uncovered tilts the axis of her world.
In
the second novel of the Wheeler series, can Loren believe that even
in darkness, there is still light, there is still hope; there is
still love.
28
OCTOBER
NEW YORK
Adam
O’Connell exited the elevator promptly at four o’clock but
stopped before the black lacquer door of The RH Group to take a
calming breath. Trepidation mixed with a generous portion of guilt
tightened his throat. He rubbed his hand over his jaw, encountering
the unfamiliar texture of a beard. He hadn’t shaved since he gave
Nick his letter, hoping it hid the resemblance to his father. Even he
was sometimes jarred by the likeness. After
a final breath, he grasped the nickel handle of the door and opened
it, entering a high-ceiling reception area. A woman with dark hair
and deep green eyes sat at the desk and met his gaze with a polite
smile. “Good
afternoon. How may I assist you?” Her husky voice held a hint of a
British accent. “Good
afternoon. I’m Adam O’Connell. I have a four o’clock meeting.” Her
smile widened further. “If you will follow me, please.” She rose
and led him through an open office area where several employees were
seated at large quad desks. Adam noted her movements were measured
and she kept her head ever so slightly turned toward him, walking
behind her. She’s
the agent that was with Loren last night. “How
long have you worked here?” he asked. The woman stopped at a solid
oak door flanked by frosted glass panels and knocked. “Not
very long,” she replied, opening the door for him. The
office was large; a modern desk sat at one end with a seating area at
the other. Movement near the windows caught his eye when a couple
turned to face him. The woman was tall, her long legs encased in
slim, dark denim and brown knee-high boots, and she wore a deep blue
tunic that gave her pale skin some color. Her hair was darker than he
remembered and cascaded past her shoulders to soften the angles of
her face. Her silvery eyes were filled with too many emotions to
identify, but when she raised her chin, any apprehension he saw was
hidden behind a cool facade. She
was Loren Mackenzie, professional cyclist. The Ice Queen. “Nick
was right,” he said, giving a smile. “You can be a little
intimidating.” Loren
huffed. “Well, he was being a bit stalker-ish.” Her voice was
deeper than over the phone, with just a hint of British accent. “That’s
true.” Adam took a few steps toward her. “God, look at you, all
grown up.” Her eyes widened as she backed away, holding up her
hand. “Please,
don’t,” she said, her voice strained. “It’s
okay. I understand.” “Do
you?” she croaked, her fists clenching at her sides. Loren turned
to the man next to her. “Please, I can’t do this.” “It’s
alright, love,” Graham Atherton murmured, then stepped forward with
his hand extended to Adam. “It’s a pleasure to see you again.” “You,
too,” he said, accepting the greeting. “Please,
sit.” Graham motioned to the couch, where Adam chose one of the
chairs while the couple sat close together on the sofa across from
him. Silence enveloped them for several long moments when he leaned
toward her. “I
didn’t mean to frighten you.” “I’m
not afraid of you,” Loren said, glaring at him. Graham shifted
slightly to put his arm around her shoulders, and her expression
softened. “I’m sorry. This is very hard. My brain is overwhelmed
by fragments of memories.” Her eyes turned to quicksilver. “There
are so many ghosts.” “I
see them too,” he whispered. “You
do?” She hesitated, then reached out her hand to him. Her palm was
cool, but dry against his skin and as she pulled, he pulled, and they
both stood. “I’m not dreaming. You’re really here,” she cried
and stepped into his arms. “I’m
here, Shadow.”
One
Fire Burns Out Another's Burning
Wheeler
Series Book 3
It’s the start of
a new year for World Champion cyclist Loren Mackenzie and already,
her luck has taken a nosedive. Tensions rise at training camp in
Mallorca, Spain, with the arrival of team sponsor, Ryzak Sports.
There’s something familiar about Maksim Ryzak’s charm, and while
Loren can see through it, she can’t shake the attraction.
Fingers are pointed
at Loren when a reporter hints at her involvement in a doping scheme
allegedly begun by Felix Lalonde. She denies it, but her fears that
no one will believe her drag her down. When pictures of Graham with
another woman are published by the tabloids, a match ignites that
could burn their relationship to the ground.
The Spring Classics
begin with races in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Italy, where rivals
become allies and friends become adversaries. Loren is tested in both
mind and body, but she is determined to prove herself worthy of being
a World Champion.
But, as one fire is
put out, another takes its place. Loren is still haunted by Felix,
and it’s his voice in her ear in competition, whispering she’s
not good enough. Even with her friends and family rallying behind
her, can Loren free herself once and for all?
**Coming
Soon!!**
Sara has never lacked for imagination, but it wasn’t until the Fates decided to give the string of her life a tug, bringing her romantic leanings together with her passion for the sport of cycling and Poof! A story was written down and completed, much to her surprise and chagrin.
She
is a (self)published author of women's fiction/sports romance
novels, Wheeler and Wheeler: In Darkness, There is
Still Light. A third novel to complete the series is in
development.
The
author resides in the suburbs of Philadelphia, PA, with her husband
and their son. Sara is a paralegal for a law firm in Chester County,
Pa, an avid road cyclist, and indoor cycling instructor at a national
chain.
What inspired you to write this
book?
It was June of 2015 and I was watching
the Aviva Women’s Tour in England while working on an indoor
cycling profile for my Tour de France classes. The idea to write a
story about a character in the Women’s Tour caught fire and
exploded in my brain.
What can we expect from you in the
future?
I might take a break from writing, but
probably not. I have two ideas bubbling in the back of my brain at
the moment. One is a Fantasy/Thelma & Louise type story where two
Searchers are on a quest for the Eye of Osiris. The other is a
romance/suspense about a NJ State Trooper. Maybe.
Can you tell us a little bit about
the characters in Wheeler?
Loren Mackenzie is the main character
of the Wheeler series. She’s reserved with a dry sense of humor, a
good friend, and a teensy bit controlling. She’s a closet romantic
with a big heart and sees her teammates as her sisters.
Graham Atherton is her current love
interest (and minor antagonist). He’s British a
Shakespearean-trained actor. Sexy but not your average romantic lead
type. He uses the Bard’s words to make Loren go all ‘fangirl,’
and it works.
Felix Lalonde is Loren’s manipulating
first love and main antagonist of the series. He has been obsessed
with her – the one that got away but also as a kindred spirit. They
have lived through similar childhood abuse and neglect.
Unfortunately, his fixation turns violent.
What did you enjoy most about
writing this book?
There were times when I loved writing.
The words flowed from my fingers to the keyboard, but then there were
times when I didn’t want to write, I had to write. It became
a compulsion that took me over.
Who designed your book covers?
My best friend, Bob produced my covers
for me, but I came up with the design. There’s a little homage to
Athena on them. Can you find it?
If you had to do it all over again,
would you change anything in your latest book?
Truthfully, I never would have
published Wheeler in 2016 without first committing the money
and hired an editor before anyone ever saw it. That is and forever
will be my biggest regret.
Did you learn anything during the
writing of your recent book?
I learned so much about how to write
and how NOT to write. I learned I’m a total pantser. I tried to
plot the third novel and it went way left, but in a good way, I hope.
If your book was made into a film,
who would you like to play the lead?
My characters are based on real people
but I’m not going to say who. I might get in trouble.
If you could spend time with a
character from your book whom would it be?
It might surprise you, but I’d spend
the day with Charlotte, Loren’s best friend. She’s full of snark.
Do your characters seem to hijack
the story or do you feel like you have the reigns of the story?
It’s the strangest feeling to have
characters you gave mental birth to jump off the path you set for
them. There have been times I’ve gone back and read something I
don’t recall ever writing. Obviously, I wrote it … or did I?
What did you edit out of
this book?
I edited out almost 60k words from
Wheeler, some of which I used the second novel, In
Darkness, There Is Still Light.
Fun Facts/Behind the Scenes/Did You
Know?'-type tidbits about the author, the book or the writing process
of the book.
- Loren is more me than I’d like to admit. While I didn’t have the kind of childhood she had, her reactions to situations are mine.
- There are little references, jokes or pop culture sprinkled in each the novels that are about things I like or dislike.
- I had to read every word Shakespeare ever wrote and comprehend the meaning of the lines before I could use them. Believe me, I dug deep to get the right ones, but I don’t remember a word of it.
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