A TAINTED PROPOSAL by Maxine Henri is NOW LIVE

Blurb:

He’s younger. Richer. Hot AF. And about to learn how to beg.

When Xander Stone proposed to marry me and save my business, I wanted to refuse. I should have.

He’s younger.

Filthy rich.

Entitled.

Trouble in every single way… but desperation won and I took his deal.

It’s supposed to be a fake marriage. A business transaction.

The challenge is the raw attraction, the burning heat, the all-consuming pull.

The man is good. Too good. He makes me feel like I matter. He teaches me to respect myself—but his love language is manipulation.

And the biggest problem with our deal is that Xander Stone never intended to keep it.

Instead, right from the start, he intended to keep me… even if I’m the one who tries to walk away.

A Tainted Proposal is a standalone book in the Merged series with a guaranteed, though hard-earned HEA.

Pre-Order Link:

mybook.to/hotAFxander

Available in KU

Sunny Shelly’s Review: 4 Stars

OOH, A Tainted Proposal was good.

I love a playboy who falls head over heels, and Xander was all that when it came to Cora. The fact that she barely gave him the time of day just fueled him more to want to get to know her. Her life is kind of a mess with her family business struggling, so Xander sees being her knight in shining armor as his way in with her. But what is supposed to just be a marriage of convenience on paper turns into so much more for these two characters.

Cora has not had an easy go of things, but I really loved her resilience. And there was more to billionaire playboy Xander than meets the eye; he turned out to be quite the charmer and so devoted to Cora. This story was as swoony as it was spicy, and getting to the real romance between them was a delicious slow burn.

I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.

Meet Maxine Henri:

Maxine Henri is a contemporary romance author who infuses her stories with steamy passion and complex characters. When she’s not crafting stories that will have you swooning, she can usually be found sipping on a cup of black tea while reading a good book or traveling to new destinations.

Maxine believes that stories matter. They facilitate emotional journeys, inspire and entertain. And when it comes to books and fiction, stories are a great escape and probably the most beneficial addiction on this planet.

Her billionaire romances are the perfect escape, offering a taste of luxury and adventure. Maxine introduces heroes who may have a dark past, but are always balanced by a lighter side. And her leading ladies? They’re strong, independent women who may be a little broken, but always find their way to love.

Connect with Maxine Henri:
http://maxinehenri.com 

From New York Times bestselling author Meghan Quinn comes a sizzling sports romance full of flamingo feathers, slow-burn heat, and one grump-meets-sunshine love story that’s anything but fake.

They’re faking it for the cameras. But what if the sparks are real?

Graydon St. John doesn’t do drama―or public appearances. The brooding defensive end for the San Francisco Foghorns prefers silence, solitude, and avoiding headlines. But when a league-wide PR scandal forces him into a media stunt at the city zoo, he’s suddenly face-to-face with squawking birds, nosy fans, and the zookeeper who seems to hate his guts on sight.

Maple Baker loves her flamingos. Loud, pink, messy? Sure. But they’re hers. And the last thing she needs is a grumpy football player stomping into her sanctuary with a bad attitude and a bigger ego. Unfortunately, they’ve been paired for the zoo’s new public outreach program, and the cameras are already rolling.

The banter is sharp. The tension is electric. And the more they pretend to play nice for the press, the more their fake flirtation starts to feel like something dangerously real.

But when family secrets, viral fame, and a PR romance gone off-script threaten everything Maple’s worked for, Graydon must decide if he’s willing to fight for love―or let it slip away to protect her.

Just for the Cameras is available now in paperback, KU, and audio. Get your copy now: https://mybook.to/JustForTheCameras

Sunny Shelly’s Review: 5 Stars

Just For The Cameras was a hilarious first installment in Meghan Quinn’s new series, Bay Area Players. Set in San Francisco, the story follows zoo keeper/flamingo lover Maple (aka Hardy Hopper’s ex from Bridesmaid Undercover) and pro football player Graydon, who are paired together for a partnership between the zoo and the city’s sports teams. She is a ray of sunshine and optimism, and he is a grumpy jerk, so watching these two fall in love after getting off on the wrong foot, then entering a PR relationship, was a joy

Once Maple peeled back all those layers and got to know Graydon better, he turned out to not be such a bad guy after all. He’s got some serious baggage thanks to his estranged relationship with his father, a former football pro himself who is trying to hang on to his glory days and makes Graydon’s life miserable. I’m a sucker for a hero showing his vulnerable side, and the scenes surrounding Graydon and his mom… I teared up.

These two characters were so well-matched. From the icy beginning to the heated moments, the banter was on point. And when the conflict between them popped up, I loved how solid and sure Maple was in their relationship when Graydon thought he was too complicated and broken to be worthy of her love.

This book features a full-cast narration, with Connor Crais and Emma Wilder as Graydon and Maple. (Teddy Hamilton, JP Harding, Jason Clarke, Stella Hunter and Samantha Brentmoor voice other characters.) As always, Connor and Emma were a pleasure to listen to, perfectly capturing the distrust, then yearning, between Graydon and Maple.

As a longtime reader, I loved how MQ brought in characters from her other series! Aside from Hardy and Everly (whom Maple is now besties with), Hutton and Scarlett (from the college baseball series The Brentwood Boys make an appearance since he is one of Graydon’s teammates. OC (from the Agitators) and Bennett (Gabby’s brother from Almond Bay) are the other heroes for this series. The Gladdy Daddies text thread definitely rivals the texting shenanigans among the Agitators! And because flamingos are involved, there’s a small cameo from bird lover JP Cane.

I can’t wait to see what comes next in this series! I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.

⚾️𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄 ⚾️

𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐲 𝐓𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫 (𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐲𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝟏)

by USA Today bestselling author Ginger Scott is now LIVE! 

𝙊𝙉𝙀-𝘾𝙇𝙄𝘾𝙆 𝙏𝙊𝘿𝘼𝙔! 

𝙁𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙆𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙡𝙚 𝙐𝙣𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙙!

https://geni.us/EasyTiger

What to expect: 

⚾️Baseball Romance

🏘️Small Town 

❤️‍🔥Adversaries to Lovers 

💁🏻‍♀️Stubborn FMC 

🎲Twist on a Bet 

🛏️One Sleeping Bag 

🎯He Falls First 

Blurb:

𝙎𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧’𝙨 𝙝𝙤𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙥𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙃𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙍𝙚𝙙𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙠 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚. 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙝𝙚’𝙨 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙚𝙩 𝙢𝙚. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙬𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙖𝙢𝙚.

Sweetwater Mavericks players are good for one thing—tips. I’ve been serving the latest crop of minor league ballers to hit my town every spring and summer for the past four years, and while I dream about life away from Sweetwater, I know that I’m tied to my hometown as long as my father needs me. As fun as one-night stands and summer flings are, they never lead anywhere good. Real love doesn’t exist—my mother taught me that.

𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐’𝘮 𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘩𝘪𝘮.

Hunter Reddick is the talk of the league. He never backs down from a challenge. Bottom of the ninth, two outs, winning run on third? He’s throwing a fast ball for the win. But when Hunter and his new teammates come into my bar, he makes his move on me, not expecting to get benched. 

Just as he decides to give up, my carefully guarded walls start to break down. Maybe a summer fling isn’t such a bad idea after all. Except Hunter wants more than a summer. He wants falls, and winters, and something real. And he’s set his sights on me. The one girl who can’t give him that.

𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘭.

Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/244755222-easy-tiger

Find more books by Ginger Scott here: www.littlemisswrite.com

Sunny Shelly’s Review: 4 Stars

Easy Tiger was a fun start to a new series from Ginger Scott.

When Ren comes back home to Sweetwater Springs to take care of her father after his stroke, the last thing she’s looking for is a relationship. Especially with baseball player Hunter, since he’s essentially just passing through on his way to the major leagues. But there’s something about Ren that Hunter is extremely attracted to, and he plays the long game after she turns him down for a date. Little by little, he breaks down her walls, and he becomes someone whom Ren can count on.

These characters had a great connection, and I loved the banter between them. There’s a larger group of friends who will be the leads in subsequent books, and I’m really looking forward to what’s to come!

I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.

FALLING FOR THE FAKE LUMBERJACK by SARA NEY IS LIVE!

Available in KU A small-town yoga teacher finds something real with a linebacker posing as a lumberjack in this sharp and spicy romance from USA Today bestselling author Sara Ney. With rugged good looks and muscles for days, Harris Bennett stops traffic no matter what he’s wearing—flannel shirt or football jersey. So when management sends him to Star Lake, Washington, for a team-building retreat, it’s no wonder a local mistakes him for a lumberjack. And Harris leans right into the misunderstanding. Because that “local” looks amazing in yoga pants. Lucy LeBrandt is a yoga instructor with trust issues: She doesn’t have time for men. But she’s definitely drawn to the hot, goofy lumberjack who seems to know nothing about, well, lumberjacking. He’s only in town for a week. Maybe she can squeeze him in between classes… Harris has no idea what to do with an axe, and Lucy has no idea what to do about Harris. But they both know exactly what to do when they’re alone together. Can they split the difference between them, or is their romance just one stroke away from “TIIIIIMBER!”? FIND IT HERE: https://books2read.com/falling4tflumberjackku

Sunny Shelly’s Review: 3.5 Stars

Falling For The Fake Lumberjack was a charming opposites-attract story between football pro Harris and small-town yoga teacher Lucy, who thinks he’s a lumberjack in town for a festival when they meet while his team is on a bonding weekend. Harris goes along with the misconception, leading to mishaps amid the sweet moments. Harris just kept digging himself further and further into a hole, and it was comical to see how he tried to balance the growing lies with what he’s starting to feel for Lucy.

I enjoyed Harris and Lucy’s story, and it was a lighthearted read, but this wasn’t my favorite of the multiple Sara Ney books I’ve read. I struggled to connect with the characters a bit, and the story dragged for me at times, but it was generally a quirky, fun read.

I received an advanced copy via NetGalley and voluntarily left a review.

There are rules in life, just like there are rules in the rink.
The “don’t date your business partner” rule.
The “don’t fall for your best friend’s sister” rule.
The “stop kissing each other over the cookie batter” rule.
And we’re breaking every single one.

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Lauren Blakely, comes the first standalone hockey romance in her brand new Hockey Ever After series, JUST BREAKING THE RULES! This sexy, single dad, opposites attract hockey workplace romance is filled with spicy baking sessions, love letters, and all the feels, spice, and heat! JUST BREAKING THE RULES is now available in all formats including the special edition hardcover and free to read in Kindle Unlimited! Check out the excerpt below and one-click your copy today!

✦ Amazon ➜ https://blkly.pub/JustBreakingAMZ
✦ Audible ➜ https://blkly.pub/JustBreakingAUD
Samantha Brentmoor & Teddy Hamilton narrate in Duet!

About JUST BREAKING THE RULES:

Everyone knows the golden rule of business—don’t bang your business partner.
Especially if he’s your brother’s hot-as-sin, hockey-star best friend.

But when the sexy single dad athlete saves me from a cake contest catastrophe—and shows me how good he is with his hands—I blurt out the world’s worst business pitch: Want to invest in my bakery?

With no loan or backup plan, this is my last shot at proving I’m more than my past mistakes, and shockingly, he says yes.

We set one rule: don’t mix business with pleasure.
Except Corbin Knight’s impossible to resist.

When he’s not scoring goals, he’s staying up late with me to test tempting recipes.
Braiding my hair before we bake like it’s foreplay.
Giving me his jersey to wear to games.

I try to keep a professional distance from the bossy, possessive and dangerously flirty hockey player, but soon we’re testing the limits of the kitchen counter.

This bakery is my chance to finally get my life right, so I fight the messy feelings.
Until one night, he shows up after closing and admits he can’t stop thinking about me.

Suddenly I’m ready to break every rule—no matter the cost to our dreams.

And breaking the rules has never tasted so good.

ONE-CLICK YOUR COPY TODAY!

✦ Amazon ➜ https://blkly.pub/JustBreakingAMZ
✦ Audible ➜ https://blkly.pub/JustBreakingAUD
Samantha Brentmoor & Teddy Hamilton narrate in Duet!

READ THE EXCERPT:

Corbin

Those last two words echo like a warning—working together. 

We are definitely working very closely together, and this—kissing, touching, f*&king—is a recipe for failure.

But when she looks at me like that, lips wet, eyes dark, I can’t bring myself to care about consequences. Not when she’s right here in my arms and I need her so damn badly.

I make quick work of the apron strings, undoing them at her neck as I crush her lips with mine.

Her mouth feels so good, soft and pliant. She moves with me, our tongues skating together. Our moans mingling.

 “It feels like forever since I kissed you,” I mutter as I briefly break the kiss, frantically tugging down the apron, exposing the collar of the dress that I bought her.

“A day is a long time,” she teases.

“I didn’t kiss you yesterday.”

She seems to think about that for a few seconds. “You should keep making up for that.”

ONE-CLICK YOUR COPY TODAY!

✦ Amazon ➜ https://blkly.pub/JustBreakingAMZ
✦ Audible ➜ https://blkly.pub/JustBreakingAUD
Samantha Brentmoor & Teddy Hamilton narrate in Duet!

Sunny Shelly’s Review: 5 Stars

Samantha Brentmoor and Teddy Hamilton are two of my favorite narrators, so getting to listen to this duet audio of Just Breaking The Rules by Lauren Blakely was delightful. Mabel and Corbin’s story is a fun, flirty, sexy slow-burn.

Mabel gets saved from an epic disaster on a reality baking show by hockey star Corbin, who happens to be her brother’s best friend. Frosting in her hair and a hot kiss leads to Mabel and Corbin partnering together on their shared dream of opening a bakery in their small town. Although they agree to keep things strictly business, this hot single dad and the quirky baker can’t fight the growing attraction between them. They’ve always kind of had a thing for the other, but as they spend many hours together trying out recipes… it becomes so much more.

This slow-burn romance was delicious. I loved the connection between these characters and how supportive Corbin was of Mabel. They have to navigate the parameters of their partnership and a romantic relationship, and I thought they were great at communicating with each other as their relationship progressed. Corbin’s daughter, Charlotte, was a spitfire, and I really enjoyed her presence in the book. And I’m a sucker for a story with secret love letters; so swoony!

Just Breaking The Rules is a no-drama, feel-good romance! I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.

ABOUT LAUREN BLAKELY:

A #1 New York Times Bestselling, #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling, and #1 Audible Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that’s sexy, feel-good and witty. Her books have been featured in US Weekly and People. Lauren likes dogs, cake and show tunes and she is the vegetarian at your dinner party. 

Connect w/ Lauren:

Website: laurenblakely.com 

NL Signup: http://laurenblakely.com/newsletter  

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LaurenBlakelyBooks

Instagram: http://instagram.com/laurenblakelybooks

Sleeping with your client is bad, but what I did is even worse.

When I’m sent to Ember Falls to handle a PR nightmare, I have no idea I am creating a crisis of my own. Killian Thorn is everything I know to resist—older, rugged and handsome with mesmerizing green eyes and a wicked smile—which is why instead of running from him, I end up in his bed.

Forced to work together, our stolen kisses are the least of our worries because the scandal on Killian’s ranch continues to grow.

My job is to fix the issue, but our secret is only making it worse.

My best friend convinces me that being with my client isn’t really such a faux pas. In fact, she thinks I should go for it since I’ve always guarded my heart.

Trouble is, neither of us realize we’re talking about her dad.

Available in Kindle Unlimited!

➝ https://geni.us/CWM_Zon

Listen to the Audio!

➝ https://geni.us/CWM_Audio

Duet Narration by Austin Stone & Samantha Brentmoor

Order the paperback!

➝ https://geni.us/CWM-Deluxe

Sunny Shelly’s Review: 5 Stars

Corinne Michaels closes out the Ember Falls series with the last Disc Jockey, Killian, falling for his much-younger publicist, Tessa, when she comes to Ember Falls to help a client clean up a crisis. They meet at the local bar, have an incredible night together, only to find out the next morning what their connection is.

But wait, there’s more! As it turns out, Tessa’s best friend/college roommate just so happens to be Killian’s biological daughter, whom he only found out about a year or two ago. Way to add another complicated layer to this age-gap, forbidden romance!

I really liked this story, and how Tessa and Killian’s connection went deeper than their one night together. The romance that developed between them built along with the mystery of why Killian’s horse farm was suddenly hemorrhaging money and the mystery of his missing foreman. That plot took some twists I wasn’t expecting, and it ultimately became the catalyst that made Tessa realize that Killian was her endgame, and there was a future for her in Ember Falls beyond the few weeks she was there for business.

As the last book in this series, Come What May nicely weaved in the other couples in this series as Killian’s friend group. The book also brought in the Whitlock family, since Brynlee (Forgotten Desires) is Tessa’s boss at the PR firm. And Liam from CM’s Consolation duet again makes a cameo appearance to help Killian out of a jam.

Overall, Come What May wrapped up this series with a nice bow! I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.

ON BORROWED TIME by Harlow James is AVAILABLE NOW

Blurb:

Being a nanny for a newly single dad wasn’t the job I applied for when I decided to lick my wounds in Blossom Peak.

But showing him my bare backside wasn’t in my plans either.

When the pursuit of my dream career seemed unattainable, instead of going home and proving my parents right, I made a detour to the small mountain town I remember visiting as a kid.

I just wanted a waitressing job to make some extra money while I figured out my next steps.

But then the lumberjack of an owner begged me to help him with his three month-old daughter that he just found out existed, and I couldn’t resist his plea.

Or his massive physique—the one I saw every detail of when he appeared shirtless in front of me three times in the first week.

The problem with living together though is there’s little space, especially when my boss is so closed off that he’s like a nut I want to crack open.

And when I do, he steals the breath from my lungs—and reignites my creativity as well.

But I gave myself a deadline to figure out what’s next.

Nowhere in that plan though did I account for falling for Henley Clark.

Turns out the heart doesn’t care, even when you’re on borrowed time.

Pre-Order Link:

https://mybook.to/onborrowedtime2

Sunny Shelly’s Review: 5 Stars

I love a tortured hero, and boy is Henley an emotionally constipated mess! I adored Henley and Elodie’s story. From the moment she crashes into his life — quite literally! — Henley was enthralled by Elodie, even if it took him months to realize it.

Henley is floundering after his infant daughter is dropped in his lap, her mother a former one-night stand who wants nothing to do with the baby. Elodie interviews for a waitress position at Henley’s resort, but her immediate connection with baby Remy lands her a job as the nanny instead. Their partnership (both as his nanny and their romantic relationship) starts out with an imposing deadline as Elodie is only in Blossom Peak for three months to regroup before she sets out to reclaim her musical aspirations.

Along the way, these two fall head over heels in love, but Henley has some major hangups that threaten to destroy any chance they have of a future. The product of the foster system, Henley is used to being left behind, so he has some major walls up when it comes to letting Elodie in. I really loved finding out his backstory and how that impacted every move he makes with her. But Henley also really puts in the work to make himself more emotionally available, and I loved that character growth. These two characters were so great together.

Connor Crais and Vanessa Edwin did a great job with this narration, capturing the vulnerability in both these characters as well as the more playful moments.

I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.

Meet Harlow James:

Harlow James is a pen name I use to protect my identity as a high school teacher. Keeping those two roles in my life separate is necessary, but also fun! It’s like a live two lives, and anonymity gives me the opportunity to be bold and take risks in my stories.

I stumbled upon romance novels in 2018 when I picked up Driven by Kristy Bromberg, and I was obsessed. I had just lost my grandmother too, so reading offered me an escape from reality and a chance to grieve on my own terms.

About a year later, I got an idea for my own book and started writing. I researched self-publishing and jumped in with both feet. I had no idea what I was doing!

But now I’ve built a business and hobby that I LOVE! I have an outlet that’s just for me. When I write, I’m not a mom, a wife, or a teacher…I’m a woman who gets to tell stories that no one else can.

My books are the perfect blend of heartwarming moments, full-bellied laughs, and PLENTY of steam to melt your Kindles 😉 And there are always elements of me sprinkled in to every character and story that I write.

When I’m not writing you can find me reading or spending time in my kitchen. I love to cook and feed my family and friends. Otherwise, you can find me watching comedy specials with my husband, camping with our kids, or taking naps. I live for naps 😉

Connect with Harlow James:

https://linktr.ee/harlowjamesauthor

At First Play by Renee Harless is AVAILABLE NOW

Bailey Hart has mastered the art of staying small.
A lighthouse-bookstore, a quiet life in Coral Bell Cove, and enough romance novels to drown out the heartbreak she swore she’d never repeat. She’s sworn off big leaps, big risks, and especially the boy who once left her love note—and her heart—on full display.

Crew Wright was supposed to have it all.
The charming quarterback with a Southern smile and a future paved in stadium lights… until an injury sent everything crashing down. Now he’s back home to heal his shoulder, his pride, and the parts of himself he buried beneath fame. He’s not expecting Bailey—the girl who saw him before the world ever did.

What starts as borrowed tools, paint-splattered afternoons, and late-night confessions quickly turns into something neither of them can outrun.
Bailey wants to protect her heart.
Crew wants a second chance to prove he won’t break it.

But when old wounds reopen and the world comes calling for him again, they’ll have to decide if love is something you chase…
or something you stay for.

At First Play is a slow-burn, banter-filled, small-town romance about forgiveness, falling again, and finding the one person who feels like home—no matter how far you’ve run.

Let’s celebrate! It’s release day for AT FIRST PLAY by @renee_harless! Grab it in KU!#OneClickHerehttps://mybook.to/atfirstplay

Sunny Shelly’s Review: 3.5 Stars

At First Play is the second-chance story of bookstore owner Bailey and pro football player Crew, who is back at home to recover after a major injury. Crew is the brother of Bailey’s best friend, and he and Bailey share a history: they were high school friends, bordering on more, until the day that Crew’s inactions humiliated her.

This story had a lot of charm, and I loved Bailey’s lighthouse home/bookstore. I really enjoyed seeing Crew reconnect with his family, and how he put in the work to regain Bailey’s trust. The banter between the two was flirty and entertaining, and I thought it was so sweet how Crew kept showing up to help Bailey fix things. Yet, while I enjoyed Bailey and Crew’s journey in getting to know one another again, but this slow-burning story was a little too slow at times.

Overall, this was an enjoyable second-chance romance, even if it dragged a bit at times before it got to the heart of the story. I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.

🎧New Audiobook Alert! 🎧

📚Scars of You by Madi Danielle

🎤Narrated by Sean Masters & Helena Walters

Bailey
Three years ago I moved to Amity. This was the place I was going to set my roots and live my life without the constant reminders of the pains of my past. That first night I fell into bed with a sexy stranger, only to find out he’s none other than my neighbor. And he didn’t even remember me or the night we spent together. Or so I thought. Years have past and it seems that may not be the case after all. Even though we don’t get along, our chemistry is impossible to ignore. Turns out the fire between us may not be based on hatred at all. But rather something much more explosive.

Wes
Ten years. Ten years since the entire course of my life was reshaped, and the trauma of it still plagues me nightly. The only time I’m not affected is when I’m driving to nowhere or verbally sparring with my neighbor. The same woman I slept with years ago. I’m drawn to her like a moth to a flame, unable to deny the pull she has on me. The feelings I’ve bottled up for years, growing more and more potent. When she finally gives me the control I crave, we both benefit from it. What starts out as something casual quickly becomes something grounding for us both. But then life throws another curveball at us, and I’m left wondering if the scars of our past will be the thing to truly break us.

▶️Listen to this enemies-to-lovers, small town romance now:

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Scars-of-You/Madi-Danielle/Amity/9781668157565

Sunny Shelly’s Review: 3.5 Stars

Scars of You is the first book I’ve read, and I am definitely interested in reading more from this author!

Wes and Bailey’s story was angsty and emotional. Both of these characters are just trudging through life, damaged by their pasts and existing, but not living. Wes is a military veteran living with crippling PTSD, and Bailey grew up in an abusive home and has estranged herself from her siblings as a coping mechanism. They had a one-night stand three years ago, but then not only did it turn out that they were neighbors, but their best friends are a couple, so Wes and Bailey kept crossing paths.

There is so much push and pull between these characters, and once stubborn Bailey finally gives in to her feelings for Wes, their sexual tension combusts. I thought that Wes’s mental health was handled well by the author, but Bailey’s backstory was lacking details, and I felt like her history was just dropped without giving a proper explanation. (Apparently, her brother has a book in another series that offers some explanation to their childhood, but I felt like that needed to be present here as well.)

Overall, this book held my interest and I enjoyed listening to Sean Masters as Wes. Helena Walters is a new-to-me narrator, but I liked listening to her as well.

I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.