Book Excerpt The Sweet Spot

Book Excerpt

Almost half an hour later, Sebastian was exhausted but still holding his own. He’d confessed his sins and asked for forgiveness on prime-time national television, and it was almost over.

“I’d pretty much hit rock bottom when I had to fulfil the commitment I’d made to write my autobiography. I tried to back out of it, fought tooth and nail with Richie to get it canned, tried to give back the advance I’d taken from the publisher. You name it, I did it, but in the end, as I sit here now, I can say that I’m so very glad that it went ahead as planned.”

Piers smiled knowingly at the audience: “Olivia Carmichael, I presume?”

“Good God, does nothing escape your beady eyes, Piers?” Sebastian joked. “Once a tabloid hack always a tabloid hack, eh? And there’s me thinking you were too highbrow for the gossip magazines these days.”

The audience, sensing an upwards shift in Sebastian’s mood, were delighted that he seemed to be in control of his host.

“Well Sebastian, there’ve been some photographs of you both making the rounds, and she’s been on your arm at most of the major events in the last year, so it isn’t hard to put two and two together.” He turned to the audience: “And for the benefit of our viewers, if you don’t know, Olivia Carmichael is an award-winning sports journalist who was commissioned to help write Sebastian’s life story.”

“Yes, Olivia’s been instrumental in my recovery, she made me want to get better, and that’s what helped me find form on the golf course again. My game has always been linked to my emotions. If I’m happy I play well, if I’m not, well we all know what happens. My freefall from the world golf rankings is testament to that.”

“So how did she get through to you when your close friends and family couldn’t?” asked Piers.

“She didn’t put up with any of my crap from day one,” Sebastian explained. “She took me on and came out on top, and made me see how badly I’d been behaving. She made me want to be a better person, and I hadn’t felt like that for a very long time. Look Piers, I’m not going to go into detail and tell you the how and the why. I know you want me to, but let’s just say that this extraordinary woman saved me.”

“And where is she now? Are you together?” Piers was on the edge of his seat, almost as excited as his audience.

“Wow, that certainly was unexpected, it’s not often we have a Romeo and Juliet moment on my show,” Piers exclaimed. “That was a brave thing to do, don’t you agree ladies and gentlemen?” He almost burst with joy. He knew this would be front-page news, and he had the exclusive.

“So, Sebastian, don’t keep us in suspense, where will you be if Olivia comes calling?”

“Piers, even you know where I’ll be,” he replied. “At The Open Championship in the home of golf, St Andrews, taking on the world and hoping to bring home the Claret Jug. It’s the one I’ve always wanted to win and this is my year. I feel good about my game. Hell, I feel great about it. I can’t wait.”

“And in taking on the world you’re also taking on Troy McLoud, who is, in fact, the defending champion.”

“Yes, and I’m going to beat him,” Sebastian grinned.

The audience was on its feet, cheering and whooping, willing their new favourite golfer to succeed. It took a full minute for Piers to restore peace.

“Well, I think we can safely say you’ve won over our audience, and I’m certain the viewers at home too. You’ve gained some new fans today, Sebastian. You’ve given us an unusually open and honest insight into your life. You’ve been weighed and measured, and let me tell you, you’ve not been found wanting. I think I can speak for everyone when I say that I wish you the very best of luck, both on and off the golf course.”

Sebastian ginned. “Piers, I’d like to say it’s been a blast, but that would be my first lie of the night. Thank you for giving me the stage to set the record straight. The time to move on is now, and I’m grasping it with both hands.”

Piers had the last word. “It’s been a real pleasure having you on, and thank you for your genuinely honest answers to some tough questions. Ladies and gentlemen, Sebastian Bloom.”

The room erupted once more and Sebastian felt the weight of the world lifting from his shoulders. All he had to do now was win The Open Championship and convince Olivia to come back to him.

Title: The Sweet Spot

Series: Appleton Vale, Book 1

Author: Anneli Lort

Publisher: Creativia

Cover Artist: Louise Mizen Ferguson

Release Date: July 4, 2017

Romance Genre(s): Contemporary, Sports

Words: 89,500

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About the Book

The Sweet Spot is a classic love story with a sexy, modern edge, set in the sleepy West Country village of Appleton Vale, and in the glittering world of professional golf.

Olivia escapes London to overcome memories of heartbreak, and moves to Appleton Vale to ghostwrite the autobiography of Sebastian Bloom, former world number one golfer and global icon. But he doesn’t make things easy for her; Olivia is not ready for a new relationship and fights her feelings for Sebastian.

Their story comes to a head at the most prestigious golf tournament in the world, The Open Championship, where Sebastian’s return to form sets up an explosive clash with his lifelong rival, Troy McLoud.

As the lives of Olivia, Sebastian and the residents of Appleton Vale interweave, passions flare and the stakes rise.

Buy Links

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU

About Anneli Lort

Anneli Lort lived with a charming cast of characters in her head for a number of years before she found the time to sit down and bring them to life in the Appleton Vale series. Once she put pen to paper her imagination was free to create a character driven world of contemporary romance that is both heartwarming and engaging.

In a public relations career that spanned more than two decades Anneli worked closely with elite professionals at the highest level and with some of the world’s biggest sporting companies. With this came an access-all-areas pass to the greatest sports events on the planet where she saw for herself the tension, drama and emotions that were played out behind the scenes. While TV audiences around the world watched the sporting excitement unfold, she was there to witness first-hand what really happened before and afterwards – the untold stories the rest of the world never got to see.This is the rich and enviable background she brings to her debut novel – The Sweet Spot.

Anneli lives in a village much like her fictional creation – Appleton Vale – that is nestled against the foothills of the South Downs. She spends her days working in brand communications, writing, walking her dog – Hector – and riding her New Forest Pony Henry. The dog shares the house; the horse has his own rather spacious accommodation.

Anneli is currently writing the second novel in the Appleton Vale series – The Country Club – which will be on sale in December 2017.

Connect with Anneli

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Giveaway

To celebrate the release of her bestselling debut, The Sweet Spot, Anneli is giving away a £20 Amazon gift card to one lucky winner. For your chance to win, enter via the Rafflecopter below. The contest closes at midnight EST on September 8, 2017, and is open to entrants worldwide.

Good Luck!

Enter here.