Devon McAteer wakes up abruptly to find an NFL councilor, Jada Green, standing over him and asking why the heck he wasn’t at practice. She also informs him to consider himself on probation with her as his “babysitter”. Devon lost his temper with a fellow teammate, Jason Morales, and jumped him during a live Monday Night Football game. Even though Devon is the star running back, the attack was way out of character for him and his bosses are worried.

Devon turns the tables on Jada by telling her that he is retiring, effective immediately…and he’s standing there naked while he tells her. He’s been thinking about it for a long while; his body is beat up, he’s slowing down, and his first love of designing and building homes is calling him. Jada, at first, refuses to accept his decision but, after spending hours with him, she comes to reluctantly understand and accept his decision. What makes it even more difficult for her is that she’s always had a bit of a crush on him, and sparks are flying between them. She’s just started a serious relationship with Jason, though, and isn’t going to jeopardize that.

Devon retires and becomes a respected and well-known architect/contractor, and Jada goes on to marry Jason. Through the years, they talk on the phone but never see each other in person. Tragedy happens when Jason is murdered, and Jada’s world collapses. She is caught in her grief, and life just stops for her until one day she finds Jason’s Super Bowl ring in her dresser. Moments later, a car shows up with a note from Devon saying that he needs to see her. When she arrives at his home, both are shocked to find out that he didn’t send the car and neither did any of their friends. Time and love heal all wounds, particularly with the help of unknown matchmaker.

The Builder is a tender love story, with a mystical twist. All the characters are full-bodied, and the descriptive writing has moments of deliciousness, “His dark brown skin glowed like hot fudge drizzled over perfectly formed muscle and bone.” This was a love story that you can believe in and sigh over.

Book Stats:

• e-book, digital format
• Publisher: Lyrical Press
  
• Book Length: Novella
  
• Language: English
• ISBN: 978-1-61650-054-2

To purchase an eBook copy of The Builder click here.