The Winter Solstice

Professional Reviews

5 TEA CUPS: "Moira wrote a story that had you wanting more from the first sentence, a story that held you in the grips of wanting and needing Nina and Hawk to have a happily ever after. Nina was a stressed and aggravated woman who wasn’t appreciated or really loved by her brother who she did everything for. Traveling in the snow storm was a bad idea she knew so when she wrecked her car it was no surprise that she would be missed. Hawk was a wounded man who didn’t want or need anyone near him he had Baron his wolf for company, but he couldn’t leave Nina in the car in the creek embankment to die. Bringing home this gorgeous tall woman he would have never thought she was the one for him. Thinking that she was in a relationship he didn’t want to become involved in her when there wasn’t a future. Nina and Hawk was a true to life story of two people who needed love and the sexual tension ran rapid in the tiny cabin. When the sexual tension got to tight it broke lose and Hawk showed Nina what being treasured meant. He loved her in everyway a man could to show her that his desires ran deep but he wouldn’t make her stay out in the woods with him. Nina showed Hawk that his physical scars did nothing to diminish her love for him and that she found him tall, broad and sexy as hell. When trouble comes to their sanctuary Nina thought Hawk was gone forever and that she was to live her live alone and lonely again. But Moira twisted things in her story that caused your heart to stop and listen to your soul. Loved this story and recommend it for anyone who just wants to read a true love story of two strangers that need to give their love to each other." -- Wendy, Happily Ever After Reviews

4.5 NYMPHS: "The Winter Solstice will be added to my long list of keepers! After reading this fascinating story of how a lasting bond starts and an intruder bent on revenge had me hooked from the beginning. This is quite the twisted tale of suspense and a steaming romance that could have gone different ways. The flow of the writing Ms. Hanson has is smooth and the plot is quite spellbinding and it had me wondering the whole time what would happen next with the two main characters. Hawk’s emotions proved to be his downfall and Nina is what kept him going by her confidence in him. He thought no woman would ever want him with his scars and self-imposed secluded lifestyle. I am really proud of Nina for her determination to go on with life without Hawk or working for her controlling brother and I won’t give away the surprise they experienced, but I think you will enjoy reading it for yourself." -- Goddess Minx, Literary Nymphs Reviews

4 STARS: "Loner by choice, Hawk (named after Hawkeye Pierce on Mash) fearing his scars and blind eye will turn women off, has chosen an isolated life in the bush. He's none too pleased about having an Amazon living with him in the form of Nina, even if she is hot and he hasn't had sex for years. But when staying warm means getting hot, these two heat up the remote cabin. Nina is also running from her nothing job working for her spoiled brat brother. Trouble knocks on Hawk's door in the form of an old enemy, and suddenly Nina is alone. She has a feeling that Hawk is still alive, but why would everyone lie to her about it? Alive, indeed, but badly broken up, Hawk determines to go back to his lonely existence and let Nina go back to her city life. How can they overcome their different backgrounds to find their happiness? What is it about this time of year that makes for a plethora of women driving their cars off the road and being rescued by handsome men? This is the third such book I've reviewed this week on that subject. At least this author knows what the cold is really like. It's bitter and dangerous; I was chilled just reading about it. Hanson is a very descriptive writer and I could actually 'see' entire scenes especially in the cabin and the snowbound rescue. I liked Hawk and Nina, despite their dithering about what they want out of life. The Winter Solstice is a good read but try to stay warm while you read. It's cold out there!" -- Patrizia, Manic Readers

Excerpt

STORY EXCERPT

“Screw this,” she mumbled and let the bra fall to the floor. The thin shirt that she had worn wasn’t going to be enough to keep her warm if they were outside, so she pulled Hawk’s sweater back over it.

Finally, she emerged from the bathroom to find Hawk pulling on his long, black, leather coat. Nina couldn’t help but notice how good he looked in that coat. As if he wasn’t tall enough, she thought that it made him look even taller. They, including Byron, trekked out the front door of the cabin onto the vast porch.

It was free of snow.

Hawk must have been out while she dressed to clean it off. The area around them was beautiful, she thought. Everything was covered in snow, and best of all, she thought, there was a peace that surrounded them as they went down the steps to his old blue truck.

Chains were wrapped around each tire, which made it apparent to her how he was able to barrel through the snow without much trouble. The motor roared to life when he started it. Nina half expected the old thing to sputter and spew, but it didn’t.

Slowly, Hawk drove to the bridge. They stopped and got out, and Nina stood at the side of the bridge looking down at her snow-covered vehicle while Hawk pulled the rope from the winch behind him.

“How did you get me out of there?” She looked over at Hawk to see him standing there with what she definitely considered a mischievous look. With one eyebrow arched and a grin wider than she thought him capable of, he spoke. “Like this.”

* * * *

He jumped. The black leather coat blew up behind him as he flew through the air, and as he landed, it fanned out behind him against the snow. Nina gasped as he hit the ground hard.

In a crouched position, Nina could see Hawk had sunk into the snow up to his waist. She watched as he rose slowly and pushed through the dense snow to the door of the SUV. It was still open slightly from the day before. This was the first that Nina had seen of the crash site and knowing that if Hawk hadn’t found her she would have died. He had saved her and she owed him.

Fifteen feet above him, Nina anxiously watched him pry the door open wider. She couldn’t believe that Hawk would just jump like that. It definitely had her thinking that he must be very physically fit, not that the thought hadn’t crossed her mind already, considering his stature. Something about him attracted her beyond the physical. Was it his bad boy persona or the fact that he lived secluded in the woods? Her mind played havoc with her as she thought of how good he might look naked because he had to be ripped underneath all those clothes.

“Nina, you’re stupid for even thinking that he’d be interested in you,” she mumbled. Shaking her head at herself, she watched while Hawk made his way into her car. He had to use his hands to shovel the snow out of the front seat, but he had finally made his way in. Nina had told him that her bag was in the backseat, but as for her cell phone, it could be anywhere.

Nina waited as he ventured into the vehicle. Several minutes passed and she could only see glimpses of his legs extending out the door. Finally, she saw him throw out her bag and climb back in. But then the same creaking sound that she heard from the crash echoed through the creek bed.

The car lurched forward with Hawk still halfway inside.

“Hawk!” Nina yelled.

ADULT EXCERPT

The mere touch of her drew out a feral growl in response to her soft skin against his. It had been two years since he had been with a woman, and he didn’t know when the last time was that one had bothered to touch him like this.

“Aaah.” Hawk sucked in a sharp breath as her fingers roamed over his skin. She stroked him from tip to hilt and back. He let his head fall back as he took in the long forgotten sensations, and when he felt her warm, wet mouth close around his cock, he almost lost control. Quickly, he dropped his eyes down to see her there tasting him. It was the best thing that he could have asked for, if he had remotely thought to ask.

Nina’s tongue flicked over the tip of his cock again and again. “You have to stop.” He struggled to get the words out. If he let her continue, there would be more than she bargained for.

She giggled as she pulled away from him. Hawk lightly grasped her jaw in his hand before she got far, though. “You have the sweetest lips.”

Nina dropped back onto the bed, Hawk followed along so that he was again above her. She threw one leg around his waist, trying to pull him closer to her. He slowly let some of his weight press against her, but he still worried that he might harm her. After all, he was six foot five and weighed two hundred and fifty pounds, and then, it hit him.

“I don’t have a condom,” he whispered. Talk about a mood killer.

Nina arched a brow and smiled. “I don’t care. I want you to fuck me.” She dug her fingers into his back, and it took every ounce of willpower to keep from impaling her right then with his cock. Her words made her desire crystal clear, but he was afraid that the weight of his body might be too much.

“I’ll be careful.”

“You don’t have to be that careful,” she whispered.

“Yes, I do, I won’t hurt you in order to please myself.” He smirked at her. In truth, it would kill him if he hurt her, and she might be a tall woman, but she was delicate, and he saw that. Hawk dipped his face towards hers so that he could touch her lips once again.

As their mouths moved against each other, Nina placed her hands on either side of his face and began to pull away his eye patch.

Hawk grasped her hand firmly, but not enough to hurt her. “Please don’t.”

Nina smiled and pulled his face back to hers. He couldn’t let her see his eye and ruin the moment. Luckily, he sensed that she didn’t mind his refusal. As they kissed, Hawk pushed inside of her, inch by inch. She moaned as he filled her completely.

The warm wetness of her surrounding him sent him over the edge, and he forgot that he was trying to be careful with her as he thrust himself harder inside of her again and again.

Nina cried out, and it took all of Hawk’s self-control to refrain from joining her in ecstasy. She dug her fingers into his hips as she matched his strokes with her own.

Hawk growled when her fingernails pierced the surface of his skin, but it wasn’t because of the pain. It was more knowing that he satisfied her. He longed to satisfy a woman that would appreciate it. Hawk continued in a rhythm that he feared wouldn’t last long. She simply felt too good.

He slowed his movements, and dipping his head down to nuzzle her neck, he slowly moved lower to her breasts, and he suckled one of the puckered nubs, occasionally flicking his tongue across it sharply. Nina arched her back in response.

Pulling back, Hawk rubbed a single finger over her clit again and again until she was writhing beneath him.

“Oh, fuck. I can’t,” she moaned as he stroked her. Knowing that she had had more than she could handle brought him pleasure.

“Yes, you can. Come with me, Nina.”