πππ¬π¬π² πππ«oπ€ππ¬ by Kelsie Rae is πππ ππππ and you can ππππ it today for π πππ in Kindle Unlimited!
I shouldβve told Milo. That I loved him. That I was pregnant. That I didnβt want anyone else, except him. But I didnβt. Instead, I left. I ran. Now heβs here, in the hospital after I delivered a baby girl heβs convinced belongs to him. But the truth is, I have no idea. Iβve sacrificed so much to keep my past hidden. To keep my baby safe from her other potential father. Itβs a secret Iβll take to my grave. Or at least, I planned to until Milo forced me to move in with him, causing me and my daughter to pop up on a certain someoneβs radar whom I never wanted to see again. People might say life gets messy sometimesβ¦ But they have no idea just how much chaos will ensue if the truth comes out after Iβve done so much to keep it in the past.
Oh, I am loving the Wrecked Roommates series! Milo and Maddie’s story is an emotional, gut-wrenching rollercoaster of emotions, but full of so much heat, heart, and a beautiful second chance at love.
After getting a glimpse of Maddie and Milo’s backstory with Gibson in Forbidden Lyrics, I couldn’t wait to dive into this book. And it was phenomenal. I felt so many emotions for these two as they attempted to repair their fractured relationship and co-parent little Penny. Milo has always been the protector when it comes to his sister and friends, but there was something about Em breaking his heart that made it too much to want to fight for her. But the thing is, Em/Maddie never wanted to break things off with Milo — just with Gibson — but miscommunication and words said in the heat of anger caused a lot of damage between them.
Milo is slow to forgive Maddie for breaking his heart, but once they finally hash out their issues, he sees that her heart was broken too. And things are beautiful between them… until they aren’t because there is one more secret Maddie has been keeping from him that could be the ultimate betrayal. Yes, she should have told him the secret she was keeping, and she was wrong by not doing so. But he’d also told her that what was in her past was in the past and had no bearing on their future as a family.
This book is a standalone, but it is best to have read Forbidden Lyrics first, as there are some details there that really impact Messy Strokes. And Milo and Maddie’s story is quite messy, but has such a beautiful ending.
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
USA Today & Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author, Jewel E. Ann returns with an addictive new adult romance about a young woman who discovers years of Sunday sermons didn’t prepare her for the many lessons of the crude and sexy man who is now her boss.
It’s official.
I’m eighteen and a young woman with endless possibilities on my way to reunite with my mom in Colorado after five years apart–she had a little weed incident in Nebraska.
At the airport, she springs the news on me … she’s leaving for a month of job training. And me? I’m left on my own in the basement she’s renting from the fisherman, aka her landlord who lives upstairs.
He’s ten years older than me. Never wears a shirt. And makes it hard to remember all the things I learned at Christian Academy.
Did I mention he’s also my new boss?
Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
The Naked Fisherman is a gripping coming-of-age story and the first part in a duet that ends on a bittersweet parting between Reese and Fisher.
18-year-old Reese has been so sheltered. Her mom was sent to prison, her dad died, and she’s been raised by her ultra-conservative Christian grandparents the last few years. Now, her mom is out of prison and Reese is spending the summer with her, trying to reconnect with Rory and reestablish their relationship. That’s where she meets her mom’s sexy as sin landlord, Fisher Mann. As the summer goes on, Reese struggles to come to terms with her immense guilt for her feelings for Fisher and how that directly conflicts with her Christian upbringing.
While Reese comes across as kind of immature at times, I had to remember that she is 18 and was extremely sheltered. I really understood her inner conflict but I struggled to connect with Fisher and his motives and reasons for getting involved with Reese. I think that’s because the story is told through her POV and I felt like I didn’t get that insight into his side of the relationship. The scene where he finally explains why he’s so drawn to her and how alike they are really brought it home for me, and things clicked into place.
The book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger when they realize that maybe they are meant for one another but the timing isn’t right. I can’t wait to see what happens in book 2! I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
Jewel is a Wall Street Journal & USA Today best selling author a with a quirky sense of humor. When she’s not saving the planet one tree at a time, you can find her role modeling questionable behavior to her three boys, binge-watching Netflix with her husband, and writing mind-bending romance.
The Deceit of a Devil, the passion-filled and emotional conclusion to The Taste of an Enemy Duet from Holly Renee is available now!
Sinless. Stunning. Damaged. Tempting. Allie Taylor had been the girl I hated for as long as I could remember. And now she loathed me just as much. It didnβt matter that I betrayed her to save her. Completely devastated and infuriated by my dishonesty, she had no intentions of ever trusting me again. Her trust was shattered, her hate raging on with each second. She would never look at me the same again. Our past was full of pain and lies that could never be forgotten. I knew what I did was irreparable, but I refused to let her walk away without another chance. I should have left things in the past. I didnβt. I couldnβt. I wonβt. I needed her. Even if it cost me everything.
βWhat?β I chuckled as I slipped on my socks and shoes.
βNothing.β She shrugged her shoulders. βIβm just impressed, is all.β
I chuckled and Beck shoved his sisterβs chair, almost making her fall. βThatβs my friend, asshole. You donβt get to be impressed.β
βNo. Sheβs right.β Josie was still staring at me too. βI really expected you to have the smallest dick.β
βI feel like I should be offended.β I leaned back in my chair.
βItβs your personality.β Allie shrugged. βYou know, cocky guy, small dick. Showy car, small dick.β
βOkay, Allie.β I pressed my elbows into my knees and looked across the fire at her. βTruth or dare?β
She stared at me, and I had a feeling that no matter what she picked she wouldnβt do it. βTruth.β
I let my gaze slide to Eli before it went back to her. I shouldnβt have even called her name. I should just ask her something stupid and move on, but my heart raced in my chest, and I didnβt hesitate with what I asked her next. βWhen was the last time that you were truly turned on? I mean really and truly, couldnβt-think-about-anything-else turned on?β
A few people snickered, but I didnβt look away from her. She didnβt pull her gaze away from me either as she answered, but I knew her answer was a lie the moment it left her mouth.
βWhen Eli kissed me.β
βCarson, truth or dare?β
βTruth.β
βWhen was the last time you were really and truly turned on? And I mean to the point that you actually considered kissing the girl?β
βOh shit.β That came from Olly, but no one said anything to stop us.
βJust about any time Iβm with you, but if youβre looking for a specific moment, the night the cops walked in while I was going down on you.β
Laughter rang out around us, but neither of us was deterred.
βAllie, truth or dare?β
βTruth.β There was no hesitation in her eyes. She wasnβt scared of what I had to say.
βDo you actually like Eli, or are you just pissed off at me?β
βThis is the exact reason people think you have a small dick.β She crossed her arms. βYou assume that everything anyone does it about you when it isnβt. I actually like Eli, for your information.β She tucked a blonde curl behind her ear. βCarson, truth or dare?β
βThis is about to get messy,β Josie whispered to Beck, but I heard her. She was right. It probably was.
βDare.β I cocked my head to the side and looked at her.
βI dare you to stop being such an asshole and just tell us what the hell your problem is.β
βMy problem?β I rubbed at my jaw. βCurrently my problem is you. You havenβt barely spoken to me in days, youβve been avoiding me like the plague at community service, and nowβ¦β
βNow what?β She was angry.
βNow I have to sit here and watch you with him.β I pointed at Eli, and he had the nerve to fucking smirk at me.
βI havenβt spoken to you because the last time we spoke, you made it very clear where we stood. Iβve been avoiding you because I donβt want to deal with you, and youβre going to have to continue to watch me with him because I like him. And itβs the oddest thing, but he likes me too.β
βTruth or dare?β
βIβm done playing this stupid game.β She pushed out of her seat, and I knew that Eli was about to follow her.
βTruth or dare, Allie? Itβs not that hard.β
She spun back around to face me, and I could see the anger in her eyes. βFine. Dare.β She held out her arms because she thought by ending the truths, she was going to end this argument between us.
βI dare you to kiss me.β
βThatβs not happening.β Eli had the balls to say that out loud to me, and it took everything inside me not to close the space between us and finish what we had started last weekend.
βThe last time I checked, you werenβt Allieβs boyfriend, and you donβt speak for her.β I looked back to Allie, and she was staring at me. βAllie can either kiss me or she can drink.β I lifted the bottle of liquor and shook it between us.
βYou kissing me changes nothing.β She shook her head.
βThen it wonβt hurt.β I shrugged my shoulders and tried to act like I didnβt care one way or another, even though I didnβt know what would happen if she walked away from me now. βIf youβre so into Eli and kissing me wonβt change anything, then what are you so scared of?β
The Deceit of a Devil is the conclusion to Allie and Carson’s story within The Boys of Clermont Bay series, and picks up where The Taste of an Enemy left off. This enemies-to-lovers romance is full of so much angst as Carson and Allie fight their way back to one another.
After the cliffhanger ending of the first book in the duet, Allie’s world imploded when Carson’s deceit was brought to light. She was humiliated and hated herself for trusting Carson again against her better judgment. The guy really has his work cut out for him in DoaD as he tries to prove himself to Allie, beg for her forgiveness and make her see that she can trust him. That his intentions are good and his feelings for her are real.
To do that, Carson really puts it all out on the line. He still shows that vulnerability that he showed in the first book, and I loved seeing that side of him. There is so much that both Carson and Allie have to unpack in order to get to a healthy place, and it is a long journey for both of them. But the end of this story is a lovely payoff for all of the heartache and pain that they had to muddle through first.
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
About Holly
Iβm Holly Renee, a small-town east Tennessee girl who is obsessed with all things romance. I love bringing flawed, sassy, and real characters to life in a way that makes you feel like youβve been best friends with them for years. No two Holly Renee books are the same, but if you love real, relatable, fun female characters and swoon-worthy heroes, Iβm your girl.
When Iβm not writing or reading, you can find me momming so hard, being disgustingly in love with my husband, or chilling in the middle of a lake with my sunglasses and a float. #lakelife
I have a 2-year-old adorable little man who is as wild and sweet as they come and a baby girl on the way.
Tagging Up by Carrie Aarons is live, and if you love age gap or sports romance, you MUST grab this book! The hero is a playboy pitcher with lots of mommy issues, and when he hooks up with his best friendβs baby cousin, the entire rule book goes out the window.
Being the youngest member of her immediate family, and massive network of cousins, sheβs always been sheltered. That ends now. After graduating with her masters in nursing, sheβs ready to move out of her parentsβ house, whether they support that decision or not. While wallowing in the guilt of that choice at the local bar, she bumps into the one guy she shouldnβt go near.
A player for her familyβs team and her cousinβs best friend, Clark should come with a warning label. Not only because heβs the leagueβs number one playboy, but because heβs significantly older than her.
Unfortunately, they canβt seem to keep their hands off of each other. That initial night together leads to scorching glances across public parties, secret hookups in hidden places, and way more than either of their hearts bargained for.But being with Clark means lying to those closest to them. When their secret is finally discovered, it sends the already skittish bad boy running for the hills. And although she claimed to want freedom with no strings, Anna canβt help but feel the sharp pull to be with him forever.
Clark Nyle swore a long time ago heβd never be committed to anyone.After watching his mother ruin his father through adultery and abandonment, he knows that love is for masochists and he certainly isnβt one. Baseball and living life like every dayβs a party are his only two passions.
Then his father dies, and heβs forced to question everything. It leads to a barstool, too many drinks, and into the backseat of his car with the one woman he should never have touched.
Now that heβs gotten a taste of Anna, he canβt stay away. Even if their secret affair comes with way too many consequences. Her family owns the team he plays for, not to mention his best friend would cut off his balls if he knew what they were up to. Plus, he doesnβt want anything long-term, and eventually heβs going to break her heart.
But the more time he spends with her, the more he seems to want a different future than the one he always planned on. Until theyβre found out, and heβs forced to choose between his demons and the disapproval of his closest friends β¦ or her.
Sunny Shelly’s Review: 5 Stars
After getting to know Clark a bit as a side character in Dahlia and Griffin’s book (Control Artist), I was excited to see him get his own story. Anna is a character I honestly didn’t expect to be a heroine in the Callahan Family series since she was kind of just casually mentioned in the previous books. But OH. MY. GOSH. Together, Clark and Anna are fire!
Anna is the youngest cousin amongst the extended Callahan family, the owners of the MLB team for which Clark pitches. She’s led a very sheltered life as a result but is ready to strike out on her own. She’s been around Clark for years, and a night at the local bar where they are both drinking away their pain leads to a steamy quickie in his sports car. And then another quickie at a party. And then another… Being friends with benefits suits them both well since she is focused on her career as a nurse and he is a commitaphobe with major emotional baggage stemming from a difficult childhood.
But Anna brings out a sweet, vulnerable side to this playboy, and it’s so amazing to see the two of them together. For a while, their agreement works, and they keep their fling on the DL, but when feelings get involved and their relationship is exposed, Clark goes running rather than face the music.
I am sad to see the Callahan Family series come to an end! I have loved spending time with the Callahans and the Packton players!
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
“This book has the perfect blend of small-town feels, an unputdownable mystery, and a love story that will have you cheering for the happily ever after. I loved this book!” ~Willow Aster, USA Today bestselling author
Beneath the Wreckage, an all-new moving and incredible love story from bestselling author Catherine Cowles is available now!
It was supposed to be a summer weβd never forget. Instead, everything was stolen from me. The best friend who was more like a sister. The innocent way I looked at life. Leaving me with only unanswered questions.
Returning to the island is the second chance I didnβt know I needed. And Hunter is the surprise that knocks me sideways.
Thereβs a hurt in him that calls to my own. A strength I find in sharing our scars. Igniting a spark that turns to flame.
But someone isnβt happy about the world Iβm building for myself. And nothing will stop them from tearing it all apartβ¦
Another great book in the Wrecked series! Piper and Hunter’s story left me in tears.
Both of these characters are carrying around some serious baggage. The last thing Piper wants to do when she opens the Whispering Falls B&B on Anchor Island is get involved with the charming construction owner working on her inn. As a friendship starts to form between Piper and Hunter, their attraction to one another is undeniable. But will the demons they are each battling be too much for them to overcome?
Catherine Cowles has made each one of these Wrecked books pack an emotional punch. But for some reason, I was sobbing for Piper and Hunter in ways that I don’t remember crying for any of the other couples. All of the characters in this series were brilliantly written, but I just fell so hard for Hunter and Piper. In between the sweet development of their romance is an intriguing mystery surrounding the town of Anchor Falls and the inn, and I was frantically turning page after page to see how things unfolded.
Don’t miss this one! I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
About Catherine Cowles
Writer of words. Drinker of Diet Cokes. Lover of all things cute and furry, especially her dog. Catherine has had her nose in a book since the time she could read and finally decided to write down some of her own stories. When she’s not writing she can be found exploring her home state of Oregon, listening to true crime podcasts, or searching for her next book boyfriend.
Being the heir to Jacobs Enterprises, Iβve been around fake people my entire life. I promised myself a long time ago that I wouldnβt change for anyone. Which is the only reason Iβm a professional hockey player who lives on the beach and does as he pleases without answering to anyoneβexcept my father.
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And now, my daughter.
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Being a single dad wasnβt in the plan but after a one-night stand who took off after the baby was born, this is my reality.
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My dadβs been harping on me to quit hockey and join the company for years and now that Iβm a father, heβs only intensified his efforts. Until he makes me a deal I canβt refuse.
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Insert Lena Boyd, the Jacobsβ family PR rep. Sheβs beautiful and intelligent and not at all the woman for meβask anyone.Β
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My dad needs us to act happily engaged and sell the idea that weβre in love. If weβre successful I wonβt have to join the family legacyβever. Of course, I agree.
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Thatβs when things get complicated. I thought I had her all figured out until I found out there was more underneath her judgmental sneers and eye rolls. It feels like everything is coming together for the future I really wantβwith Lenaβuntil my past ruins everything.
Another great Hockey Hotties book from Piper Rayne! I loved everything about this fake relationship story between Ford and Lena. It had so much depth and I loved the growth between these two characters!
In the previous two books, we’ve gotten to know Ford a bit as a playboy. A chaser who is always looking for the next puck bunny to take home. But his life was turned upside down when a one-night stand led to an expected pregnancy. He stepped up to take his responsibility as a single dad, but now that his fling has ditched sweet baby Annabelle, it’s all on Ford. And because he doesn’t want to take his birthplace in the family business, he has no choice but to pretend to be engaged to his dad’s PR whiz, Lena, until his dad can sell a portion of the company and retire. But there is sizzling chemistry between Lena and Ford, and even though they can’t stand one another at first, they soon find that they grossly misjudged the other.
This single sexy dad story was so swoony. Ford is such a good guy underneath the facade he puts out to the world. He grew up surrounded by fakeness and what needs to look good for his family’s business, but he wants no part of it himself. He’s so much deeper than the playboy that we’ve seen him as previously. Lena has not had an easy life, and what Ford first assumes is her being uppity is really her protecting herself financially and emotionally because she’s terrified of losing everything she’s worked so hard to achieve for herself. The way these two come together to take care of Annabelle — and then fall in love — was heartwarming.
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
Meet Piper Rayne
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Piper Rayne is a USA Today Bestselling Author duo who write βheartwarming humor with a side of sizzleβ about families, whether that be blood or found.Β
They both have e-readers full of one-clickable books, they’re married to husbands who drive them to drink, and they’re both chauffeurs to their kids.Β
Most of all, they love hot heroes and quirky heroines who make them laugh, and they hope you do, too!
The Spark Between Us, an all-new roommates to lovers, opposites attract standalone romance from author Stacy Travis is available now!
When I move to small town Carolwood, I don’t expect to run into a hot-as-sin firefighter with smoldering gray eyes and eight-pack abs. Literally. With my car. Doesn’t help matters that Braden Michaels is my brother’s best friend. And my new roommate.
Heβs too busy putting out blazes and igniting them in the hearts of women to pay much attention to me. Iβm just here for workβsix months of nerding out at a world-renowned science lab, then going home to a nice promotion and the boring men in my comfort zone.
Iβm not here for a rescue fantasy, a fire station pole dance, or a romantic walk in a vineyard. Iβm certainly not here to fall in love.
Until one earth-shattering night when we collide in a ball of white-hot sparks, and everything changes. Weβre no longer just roommates. I donβt know what we are. But edging open Bradenβs complicated heart knocks something loose in mine. All my plans and scientific facts start to pale in comparison with feelings I canβt control.
My time here has an expiration date and neither one of us wants to get hurt. Rushing into a burning building seems less risky than chasing the spark between us. Maybe itβs smarter to walk away. Or maybe I’ve found the one reason to stay.
We’ll either fall in love or we’ll go down in flames.
The Spark Between Us is Sarah and Braden’s story in the Berkeley Hills series and is an opposites attract STANDALONE novel.
βIs there something you want if I decide your brownies do live up to the hype?β He winked. The damn fireman was flirting.
I narrowed my eyes at him. βWhatβs your game, mister? Youβre the one whoβs in charge here. You get to lay down a verdict once you taste these things,β I said, pointing to the squares in front of us. βYou want me to wager something, just so you can find a tiny bit of fault with my recipe and assure I donβt get it?β
He took a step closer to me, and I could feel the heat radiating from his large, muscular body. Maybe that was his intention, to throw me off. It was working. My heart started beating so fast I could feel it in my throat.
Two could play at that game. I took a step closer to him so we were almost touching. I had to tilt my head back to look him in the eye, which emphasized how tall he was, easily over six feet.
βIβd never do something so underhanded.β His eyes met mine and moved briefly to my lips before returning to stare me down. His closeness made my body ache with desire, a warm flush spreading under his gaze.
Maybe thatβs why I blurted out the first thing that came into my head. βFine. If the brownies are as good as I say, you have to kiss me.β
I saw the surprise register in his eyes for a split second before he recovered. His shock was nothing compared to my own.
Where the hell had that come from? I swallowed hard and steadied my gaze at him, unwilling to back down.
His smirk returned, and he nodded at me, taking one step back.
βFine. Deal.β
We shook on it.
βActually . . .β I started to backpedal, but Braden held up a hand. He picked up the paper towels with the brownies and handed one to me. He even went so far as to clink brownies in a chocolate toast.
βBest of luck to you.β He paused to take a whiff of the brownie, blinking hard. Then he took a generous bite. I was so fixated on watching his straight teeth bite through the chocolate and his lips wrap around the bite heβd just taken that I forgot I held one of my favorite desserts in my hand.
The planet may have stopped spinning in real time and begun moving in slow motion, just so I could see the muscle in Bradenβs jaw pop as he chewed the bite, and his stormy gray eyes fix on mine until he finally closed them.
When he swallowed and licked his bottom lip, it was almost like heβd licked me. I went limp. βOh my God,β he moaned, eyes rolling back.
I barely heard his words amid the whole-body orgasm I was having. But something about the heated look gave me told me Iβd succeeded in wooing his tastebuds. βVerdict?β
He took another bite and threw up his hands. βI concede,β he said around a mouthful of brownie. βYou win. These are amazing.β
That thought made me happy because I felt pretty stolid in my brownie-making skills, and I liked the affirmation. But then . . . oh shit. I didnβt want him to feel obligated to kiss me. It was like something out of a high-school spin the bottle party. I felt ridiculous.
I started waving my hands. βBut forget about the whole wager thing. That was just a joke. You donβt have toββ
βYes, I do.β His eyes clouded with heat, the barest smile on his lips replaced with serious intention. βA betβs a bet.β
His hands cupped my face as he leaned in closer, and I felt the air leave my lungs in a whoosh. I inhaled roughly, taking in the scent of woodsy aftershave and fresh soap, watching the fire in his eyes until they blurred in my vision.
The heat from his hands and the way he brushed the pad of his thumb over my cheek caused my eyes to drift closed. His lips brushed softly against mine, like a whisper. My breath hitched, his fingertips licking my skin like flames from a torch.
Sunny Shelly’s Review: 4 Stars
What happens when a quirky brainiac temporarily moves in with her brother’s sexy firefighter friend? They fall in love, of course! The Spark Between Us is #3 in the Berkeley Hills series, and now we have physician Sarah needing a place to crash while she’s temporarily working as a visiting professor at a government lab. Big brother Finn’s best friend from childhood, Braden, now happens to be living in the very town Sarah will be working, and he has a spare bedroom to share…
Sarah and Braden’s story was so much fun. I love how quirky she is, and how attractive that actually was to Braden while she assumed that she would not be his type based on the skirt parade of beautiful models he is casually seeing. What Sarah doesn’t know is that Braden was so badly burned by past relationships — his ex, his father — and has closed off his heart.
But the spark between them is undeniable. She’s focused on her career, he is a commitaphobe, but they agree to enjoy the chemistry between them for as long as she’s in town. Which is all fine and well until they both catch feelings and are afraid to go back on the rules they set in place and tell the other one since their fling has an expiration date.
This story has all the feels. It’s sexy and sweet, and the characters are extremely likable. Even though it is part of a series, this book stands on its own. But if you are familiar with the Finley siblings, there is a great family dinner scene with the siblings that also serves as an “a-ha” moment for both Sarah and Braden.
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
About Stacy Travis Itβs a rough world out there, and we all sometimes need a good, romantic beach read, even if we canβt make it to the beach. Iβve spent many lazy days walking the streets of Paris and other gorgeous European cities, and if Iβm doing it right, Iβm bringing you a dash of romance and a vacay fantasy. I canβt sit still, so when Iβm not hiking, biking or running, Iβm playing a very average game of tennis. Background music for writing undoubtedly features some U2, Lizzo, Billy Joel, Pink, Taylor Swift, and Led Zeppelin. Not necessarily in that order. And if I could only eat one food group, it would be cheese. Or wine. Or bread. Are those food groups? Whatever.
Margaret Longβs world looks bright and shiny on the outside. Married to a successful attorney, she lives in a mini-mansion with her husband and their perfect daughter. No one would imagine how dim and dark her life really is. With a fractured heart and a broken body, she wonders how to break free.
The day Margaret happens to meet Mick Grantham is serendipitous. With a huge appetite for success after rescuing his mom from a violent situation, he now feeds that hunger by rebuilding broken businesses, not people. Although Margaret has a vibrant personality, her fragile exterior brings out his compassion, drawing him into her world.
Itβs a dangerous situation, especially with Margaretβs outspoken daughter involved, who is wiser than her years. Someone is likely to get hurt, but Margaret and Mickβs attraction canβt be helped until changing circumstances force them to a halt.
Not all happy endings are born easily, but those won through adversity are often the most satisfying.
Wow. Faded Sunset was a bit difficult to read at times. I knew going into it that the heroine is trapped in an abusive marriage, but it was still hard to read. But Rachel Blaufeld so beautifully handles how Margaret rises above her abusive marriage and finds a new happy with another man.
Many of the violent scenes happen off-page, so it isn’t difficult to digest them in that way, but rather the way Margaret is so broken as a result of her abusive relationship with Tommy. She feels incredibly guilty over the care and love she gets from her affair with Mick, even though the husband she’s cheating on is a grade-A jerk.
Margaret didn’t set out to find another man the night she met Mick, but they were fated to meet. I loved how wonderfully she blossomed when she was with him, and how he helped her find the strength to break the cycle before her preteen daughter got caught up in the violence. Margaret even found a family of her choosing in the parents of her daughter’s friends she always kept at an arm’s distance.
Mick and Margaret’s story is messy and emotional, but it is full of so much inspiration and bravery and hope.
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
A recent poll of her readers described Rachel as insightful, generous, articulate, and spunky. Originally a social worker, Rachel creates broken yet redeeming characters. She’s been known to turn up the angst like cranking up the heat in the dead of winter.
A devout coffee drinker and doughnut eater, Rachel spends way too many hours in local coffee shops, downing the aforementioned goodies while she plots her ideas. Her tales may all come with a side of angst and naughtiness, but end as lusciously as her treats.
Rachel lives around the corner from her childhood home in Pennsylvania with her family and two beagles. Her obsessions include running, coffee, basketball, icing-filled doughnuts, antiheroes, and mighty fine epilogues.
βHelena Hunting is quickly making her way as one of the top voices in romanceβ –RT Reviews
When Sparks Fly, an all-new emotional and hilarious friends-to-lovers standalone romance from New York Times bestselling author Helena Hunting is available now!
Charming, hilarious, and emotional…When Sparks Fly is Helena Hunting at her very best!
Avery Spark is living her best life. Between her friends, her sisters, and Spark House, the event hotel her family owns, she doesnβt have much time for anything else, especially relationships. Sheβd rather hang out with her best friend and roommate, Declan McCormick, than deal with the dating scene. But everything changes when she is in a car accident and needs someone to care for her as she heals.
Declan avoids relationships, giving him a playboy reputation that he lives up to when he puts a one-night stand ahead of a promise he made to Avery. While he may not have been the one driving the car, he feels responsible for Averyβs injuries and is determined to make it up to her by stepping into the role of caretaker.
Little did they know that the more time they spend in compromising positions, the attraction theyβve been refusing to acknowledge becomes impossible to ignore. When they finally give in to the spark between them, neither is prepared for the consequences. Their love is fragile and all it will take is a blow from the past to shatter it all.
If you love a slow-burn best friends romance where it just hits the guy like a ton of bricks that he’s a playboy because he never realized he is really in love with his best friend, then Declan and Avery’s story will knock your socks off! I always know that Helena Hunting is going to deliver a great story, and I was NOT disappointed by When Sparks Fly!
The romance between roomies/besties Avery and Declan starts off very much as a friends with benefits thing. But it’s not long before both of them realize just how much they are IN LOVE with the other, not just love them as a best friend. But Declan is so emotionally stunted as a result of his parents’ messy marriage and divorce, and it colors everything he does with Avery. He’s actually quite an attentive and generous boyfriend β until a misunderstanding causes their relationship to implode.
There was fault on both sides leading up to the fight and The Breakup, but I really, really loved how much growth there was on Declan’s part when it came to working on his issues before he wooed Avery back. Oh my goodness, The Grand Gesture was so sweet!
I loved this story so much and I hope that When Sparks Fly is a start to a new series for the Sparks sisters, because I would love to see Avery’s sisters get books of their own!
I received an advanced copy via NetGalley and voluntarily left a review.
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of PUCKED, Helena Hunting lives on the outskirts of Toronto with her incredibly tolerant family and two moderately intolerant cats. She writes contemporary romance ranging from new adult angst to romantic sports comedy.
Title: Crossing The Line
Author: Jessica Prince
Series: Whitecap
Contemporary Romance; Small Town Romance; Single Mom Romance
Some lines are meant to be crossed.
Trent Montgomery knew all about loyalty and responsibility. Tracking down his friendβs long-lost sister and making sure she was safe was just another job, a favor from someone he cared about. He wasnβt supposed to get attached. But when he started to fall for the woman who had been hiding from the world, things got a lot more complicated than he ever expected.
Cheyanne Knightly knew all about living in fear. The life sheβd made for her and her daughter was as stable as a house of cards. One stiff breeze could send her whole world crumbling. But when a new guy blew into her small town, stirring up Whitecapβs rumor mill, she found herself drawn to him in a way she never expected.
Lies were told. Secrets were uncovered. Lines were crossed. When the truth finally came out, Trent had to find a way to protect the woman who stole his heart while he tried to earn her trust back.
**The Whitecap series is a brand new series of interconnected, standalone, small town romances.**
βMonica said the dude was ogling you like you were a three-course meal and he hadnβt eaten in a month.β
βLike I said, she exaggerated.β
Right?
Nope, I silently screamed to myself. I wasnβt going to start questioning it because it didnβt matter. Not at all.
She looked at me, her expression pinched with skepticism. βWas she also exaggerating when she said she thought youβd stroked out for a minute and lost the power of speech when he came up and introduced himself to you?β
I snorted and took a gulp of my margarita, smiling as I admitted, βNo, she might have been spot-on with that one.β
Lunaβs head fell back on a laugh. βAt least youβre willing to own it.β
βItβs not my fault! There isnβt a woman on the planet who could help it,β I exclaimed. βI mean, the dude had dimples, for Christβs sake. Dimples.β
Sunny Shelly’s Review: 5 Stars
Crossing The Line kicks off a new series from Jessica Prince, and is a spinoff of the Hope Valley series. In the last HV book, Charlotte wanted to find her twin sister, Cheyanne, whom she’d been separated from since they were small girls. So now, Alpha Omega Securities agent Trent has tracked down Cheyanne at a small town in Oregon, where she’s hiding out from her abusive ex and raising her young daughter on her own, having changed her name to Sawyer.
I loved how natural the relationship was between Cheyanne and Trent! And Renee was absolutely adorable! They gelled together seamlessly as an instafamily, which scared both Cheyanne and Trent terribly. He knew he was falling from her, but he was hiding this huge secret that he knew who she was in her past life and had, in fact, tracked her down. Meanwhile, Cheyanne felt guilty that she couldn’t tell Trent who she really was since she was afraid for her life and safety.
Of course, it all comes to a head, and Cheyanne feels terribly betrayed. But with some prodding from her sister and the family she’s built in Whitecap, she realizes that Trent wasn’t totally wrong in his reasons for not telling her who he was from the get-go.
Crossing The Line is a beautiful starting over romance, with steam and sass, and lots of sweet and tender moments. I loved all the crazy characters we got to meet in Whitecap, and just like the Hope Valley and Redemption folks, I can’t wait to get to know them better!
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
Born and raised around Houston Texas, Jessica spent most of her life complaining about the heat, humidity, and all around pain in the ass weather. It was only as an adult that she quickly realized the cost of living in Houston made up for not being able to breathe when she stepped outside. Thatβs why God created central air, after all.
Jessica is the mother of a perfect little boyβshe refuses to accept that he inherited her attitude and sarcastic nature no matter what her husband says.
In addition to being a wife and mom, sheβs also a wino, a coffee addict, and an avid lover of all types of booksβromances still being her all time favs. Her husband likes to claim that reading is her obsession but she just says itβs a passionβ¦thereβs a difference. Not that sheβd expect a boy to understand.
Jessica has been writing since she was a little girl, but thankfully grew out of drawing her own pictures for her stories before ever publishing her first book. Because an artist she is not.
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Sunny Shelly Reads 