“I haven’t set foot through that door since he died” – #LaterInLife #BookishRomance #SecondChanceRomance

Blurb

Two good men vie to heal a widow’s heart—but it only holds room for one.

Clara

Unless I find a lifeline, my bookstore will close its doors forever. My best shot at saving Book Nirvana is my late husband’s collection of rare, racy books, but I’m not ready to open that red door and face the flood of memories. And I’m not ready to open my heart again, even if the two new men in my life tempt me to try.

Nick

I came to Book Nirvana in search of antique bawdy books and fell hard for lovely, lonely Clara. As a widower, I understand her skittishness, but the spark between us is undeniable. My academic connections could rebuild her clientele, but if she discovers my secret scandal, her fragile trust will shatter.

Dalton

I’m over the moon for beautiful, bookish Clara, but how can a teacher like me compete with a suave professor like Nick? Clara and I have so much in common, and our sweet friendship could bloom into something deeper if it weren’t for my rival’s grip on the vulnerable widow. I don’t trust him, and neither should she.

Come to Book Nirvana for chosen family, laughter and tears, sizzling passion, and a love triangle for the ages.

Through the Red Door was previously published and has been revised and updated with new chapters.

Series Blurb

Welcome to Book Nirvana, an indie bookstore in Eugene, Oregon, where you’ll find every flavor of bookish delight, a quirky staff who are as close as family, Lulu the all-wise shop cat, Coffee Dreams next door, and a dazzling collection of naughty books kept behind the red door in back. If you ask shop owner Clara nicely, she just might let you peek inside!

Buy Links

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Through-Red-Door-Book-Nirvana-ebook/dp/B0DTFL74D5

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/through-the-red-door/id6740821310

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/through-the-red-door-sadira-stone/1129705434?ean=2940184724126

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/through-the-red-door-6

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1693647

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Sadira_Stone_Through_the_Red_Door?id=GhtAEQAAQBAJ

UBL: https://books2read.com/ThroughTheRedDoor

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/through-the-red-door-book-nirvana-by-sadira-stone

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/223775259-through-the-red-door

Link to The Story Behind the Red Door on Bookfunnel: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/42xck3glke

Series page on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DTGCWQS6

Excerpt

Nick and Clara are perusing a book of Shunga: Japanese erotic art from the Edo period.

Nick flips the page again and points to an image of a couple going at it fiercely. “Notice how the woman’s toes are curled?”

I giggle. “I thought that was just an expression. You know, he made my toes curl.”

Nick closes the book. Something mesmerizing and a little bit dangerous glimmers in his dark eyes. The corners of his full lips twitch upward. “Everyone deserves to have their toes curled, don’t you think?”

My ribs seize, halting my breath. Discussing sexy artwork with this gorgeous professor is a weird combination of awkward and titillating, but this is tipping into flat-out flirtation. Nick’s warmth, his husky voice, the erotic images laid out before us—it’s all too much. I’m hot and tingly, squirmy with embarrassment, and heavy with guilt. I’m not ready to feel this way again, despite my body’s undeniable reaction.

Time to be honest with this kind man, before he takes this any further.

I clear my throat and sit up straighter. “I’m a widow, Mr. Papa—Nick. My husband passed away a year ago.”

His teasing smile melts, and his dark eyes shine with emotion. “I’m sorry, Clara. I hope I haven’t made you uncomfortable.” He lays his hand over mine, his touch warm and gentle. “I lost my wife two years ago. Cancer.”

The tension drains from my body like water through a sieve. He understands.

“My husband is the one who took care of our…” I gesture to the open book. “…our special collection. I haven’t set foot through that door since he died. But we still get a lot of visitors wanting to see those books. They used to talk to Jared, but now I have to screen them.”

“How do you decide who’s allowed inside?”

“Gut instinct. People have a certain oily vibe when they just want to leer at dirty books. And they’d usually be disappointed. I mean, it’s mostly older stories and artwork, and most of the books are quite expensive, which keeps the perverts away. They’re hoping for cheap porn, not art.”

The corners of his mouth quirk up. “So, why did I pass the test?” Deep within his dark irises, flecks of gold catch the light.

“Well, you are a professor and all.”

“I am indeed. And you know what they say about us academics—‘Publish or perish.’ I heard about you from a colleague at the university here. I’ve been under pressure to publish something new, so…” He pulls out his phone and taps the screen. “I made a list of titles I’d like to buy for my department. It might take a few days to get an okay from our chairwoman. If I send you the titles, will you hold them for me?”

That means he’ll be back, giving me time to reflect on my reaction to this deliciously disturbing man.

As if reading my mind, he adds, “I’d really appreciate your help. And if I can’t get funding, I’ll buy them myself. These books are nearly as fascinating as their owner.”

I gape like a goldfish, then fold my hands in my lap and paste on a pseudo-calm smile. “I’d be glad to hold the books for you, Nick.”

I’d be glad to hold anything he wants me to hold.

For a terrifying moment, I’m sure I said those words aloud. I take a deep, trembling breath.

So does Nick. He gives my hand a final squeeze. When we stand up, I notice the top of my head only comes to his chin. I’ve always had a weakness for tall men, especially ones with deep, velvety voices, sparkling dark eyes, devilish smiles—

I squash those dangerous thoughts into an iron-clad box and slam the lid. This is a business connection we’re forging, a potentially valuable one. “Right. I look forward to seeing you soon.”

“Not as much as I look forward to seeing you, Clara.” My name slides off his tongue like a caress.

As I walk toward my shop, the heavy warmth of his gaze heats my back. Just to be sure, when I reach the sidewalk, I turn for one last glimpse. He’s still watching, a mysterious half-smile on his lips.

About the Author

Award-winning contemporary romance author Sadira Stone spins steamy, smoochy tales set in small businesses—a quirky bookstore, a neighborhood bar, a vintage boutique. Set in the U.S. Pacific Northwest, her stories highlight found family, friendship, and the sizzling chemistry that pulls unlikely partners together. When she emerges from her writing cave in Las Vegas, Nevada (which she seldom does), she can be found shaking her hips in dance class, playing her guitar (badly, but getting better), exploring the Western U.S. with her charming husband, cooking up a storm, and gobbling all the romance books. For a guaranteed HEA (and no cliffhangers!) visit Sadira at https://sadirastone.com

Visit Sadira on All the Socials!

https://linktr.ee/SadiraStone

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sadirastone/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18568049.Sadira_Stone

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/sadira-stone

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Sadira-Stone/e/B07KWK5FBX

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sadira0641/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sadirastone/

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/sadirastone.bsky.social

Author newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/q7x4c6

Tiktok: https://tiktok.com/@sadirastone

Author website: https://www.sadirastone.com

ARC link on Booksirens: https://booksirens.com/book/PPP7UP6/OHUMR4D