A new stand alone enemies-to-lovers romance from USA Today bestselling author K.A. Linde…
Derek Ballentine and I have always been on opposite sides of everything.
I went to a public Savannah high school. He went to a private Catholic school. I went to Duke on scholarship. He went to UNC as a legacy. When we both end up at Harvard for graduate school and we’re finally on a level playing field, I think it’s all going to change.
I was wrong.
The only thing that changed was ending up in his bed.
Now my grandma has passed away, and Derek is the attorney helping the people trying to steal her legacy. I’ll do anything to stop that from happening. Even take on my lifetime enemy.
I hate him at first sight…but I also want him at first hate.
At First Hate is a delicious enemies-to-lovers second chance romance by K.A. Linde and I binged it in a day!
Marley and Derek’s story spans 15 years, from high school through college and beyond to their professional lives, and it was an emotional journey of missed moments and bad timing. Just when they seemed to be on the same page, they were pulled apart over and over again. How many times could Marley hope for more from Derek before enough was enough?
They both changed as people over the years, and the more mature Derek manned up in ways that teenage Derek never did. But with them being on opposite sides of her family drama, would their newfound relationship be over before it really even got started?
I didn’t realize at first that this book is connected to Hold The Forevers at first, so it was quite a happy surprise when I discovered that Marley and Derek’s story takes place in the same timeline as Lila, Ash and Cole’s angsty triangle. There are some scenes from HTF that now take place from Derek or Marley’s POV, which I loved. And I am so excited that Maddox will be getting a book, too!
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
Meet K.A. Linde
K.A. Linde is the USA Today bestselling author of the Avoiding Series, Wrights, and more than thirty other novels.
She has a Masters degree in political science from the University of Georgia, was the head campaign worker for the 2012 presidential campaign at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and served as the head coach of the Duke University dance team.
She loves reading fantasy novels, binge-watching Supernatural, traveling, and dancing in her spare time.
She currently lives in Lubbock, Texas, with her husband and two super-adorable puppies.
Rich. Vicious. Vengeful. Forbidden. The Boys of Clermont Bay had always been untouchable.
The Taste of an Enemy, the first angst-filled new adult romance in The Taste of an Enemy Duet from Holly Renee is available now!
Rich. Vicious. Vengeful. Forbidden. The Boys of Clermont Bay had always been untouchable. And Carson Hale was the worst of them all. He was pretentious and a player, and he had hated me for so long I forgot that we were ever anything more than enemies. Brutally beautiful and savagely heartless, his only plan was to ruin everything I loved. But dares were made, and even though I had no business saying yes, I found myself in trouble and forced to work with my rival to get us out of it. He had always been cruel, but something changed. The lure of him was too much. The way I craved his touch was unbearable. Just as I fell for him, he proved himself to be exactly who he had been all along.
The Taste of an Enemy is the first book in a duet focusing on Allie and Carson. But it’s also part of a series that follows a group of popular boys in Clermont Bay.
I felt like it was a slow start for me, because I had not read the previous two books in the Clermont Bay series. The book opens at a party, and I felt like I was starting to read mid-scene rather than at the start of a new book because connections between the characters weren’t spelled out the way I would have expected them to be. So it took me a while to get a grip on who all the characters are, and then I finally got into Allie and Carson’s story itself.
This enemies to lovers/childhood best friends/second chance romance was quite the rollercoaster. I hated Carson so much at times, but yet loved the rare vulnerability he showed with Allie. There is a lot of history between them, which is the root of most of their drama and all the tension. So much tension!
And just as Carson is finally giving in to what he realized he’d wanted all along, things blow up spectacularly with an epic cliffhanger scene. I knew the reveal of how he’d betrayed Allie was coming, and yet my heart broke for them both when it actually happened! I can’t wait to see how this story concludes!
BTW, This cover is so hot! Whoever this model is, he nails Carson’s sexy smolder in this cover photo!!
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
Excerpt
I walked into Wings and Things and spotted Eli as soon as I made it through the door. He smiled before standing and coming to meet me. I couldn’t tell if anyone else was already at the table, and I tried to remind myself that I shouldn’t care. Tonight was about having fun and getting to know Eli. Carson didn’t matter for either of those things. I would just drown him out and pretend he wasn’t there. That was what I was used to doing. That was what the two of us had been doing for years. Even though I was already a little but irritated that Eli hadn’t offered to pick me up. My dad was irritated by that fact too. “You look beautiful.” Eli grinned before pulling me into a hug. “Thank you.” I breathed in the scent of his warm cologne, the smell familiar and calming. “You look nice as well.” I looked up at him as he let me go. He was much taller than me, although shorter than Carson, and he had a smile that made me feel comfortable. He grabbed my hand in his and led the way back to the table. I fixed my hair while I was still blocked from view, and I planted the best smile I could manage on my face as he pulled out the chair for me that was directly across from Carson. “Thank you.” I settled into my seat and tried to avoid making eye contact with Carson. “Allie, this is Kimberly. Kimberly, Allie. I think you all might know each other.” I looked across the table at Kimberly, and of course I knew her. We had gone to school together since grade school, and I had hated her almost as long. She was popular, conceited, and a perfect fit for Carson. “Of course.” I nodded and pulled out my menu. “How are you, Kim?” “I’m perfect.” She giggled and looked over at Carson. His hand disappeared under the table, and even though I couldn’t see it, I knew that his hand probably rested on her thigh. I wanted to rip it off. “Awesome,” I mumbled and tried to focus on the menu. Carson laughed under his breath, but I ignored him. “What are you getting?” I looked to my right where Eli sat. “Do you want to share some wings?” “Oh.” He looked up from his menu. “I was thinking about getting the burger.” “A burger at a wing place.” Carson scoffed and tossed his menu down on the table. “I’ll share an order with you, Allie. Kim’s getting a salad.” He didn’t give me time to answer. As soon as the waitress came to our table, Carson opened his mouth. “My girl Allie and I are going to share a large order of wings, extra ranch for both of us. No carrots. She hates those.” I looked at him like he had lost his mind because I was pretty sure that he had. “What can I get you to drink?” The waitress was now looking at me. “Um, just a Coke, please.” Everyone else ordered their food, and I fidgeted with my hands under the table. “So, Allie, how is school going for you?” I looked up at Eli. I had almost forgotten he was there. “It’s all right. I’m so ready for fall break, though.” “Me too.” He nodded. “Are you going anywhere? My family is taking a trip to Europe.” “No.” I almost choked on the word. Sometimes I forgot just how far apart my family was from those who went to Prep. They were made of money, old money to be exact, and guys like Eli had never had to think about working or how he’d pay for college. “We typically stay home and do a Thanksgiving meal at our house. It’s real low-key.” And my dad would still be working every day except for Thanksgiving, and my small house would be busting with people. My grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins. We were always together on holidays, and I loved it. It may not have been Europe, but it was ours. “That’s cool.” He nodded and turned his chair to where he faced me better. “We’ve been going to Europe for years now. My parents love it, and they take us about every other year. Have you ever been?” “To Europe?” I shook my head, and suddenly I felt ridiculous. “No. The farthest I’ve been is Disney World.” I didn’t mention that had been almost ten years ago. I could hear Carson and Kimberly talking across from us, and I hoped he was too enthralled with her and her perfect face to even consider listening to our conversation. Eli laughed like I had just told a joke, but I hadn’t. “That’s too bad. I bet you would really like Europe.” “What makes you think that, Eli?” Carson was leaned back in his chair with his arm resting on the back of Kimberly’s. Eli laughed nervously and looked between me and Carson. “It’s Europe.” He shrugged his shoulders. “But you don’t know anything about Allie specifically that would make her love Europe, correct?” Eli opened his mouth, but Carson continued. “Like you have no clue that she’s been dreaming of going to Paris forever, and she has this little Eiffel Tower key chain that she’s had on her set of keys since she’s had them. Or that she thinks she’s part Irish because she has a little bit of green in her eyes.” “I didn’t realize you knew so much about her.” Eli was no longer aloof. He was sizing Carson up, and I wasn’t here for a pissing contest. “Well, now you do.” Carson stared back at him with the same unrelenting gaze, and I felt like I was going insane. Carson hadn’t given a shit about me since that night he needed me and I wasn’t there. If he wasn’t ignoring me altogether, he was making me wish he was, and now all of the sudden, he wanted to share wings and spew facts about me like he was my best friend. “Stop,” I hissed. “You’re being an ass. Aren’t you supposed to be on your own date?” I looked over at Kimberly, and she looked uncomfortable. I couldn’t blame her. I felt uncomfortable too. The waitress arrived back at our table with food in hand, and we were spared from whatever Carson was going to say next. He looked down at the food, and his bright eyes looked so hollow. He scrunched his brow, something he always did when he was upset, and his jaw stiffened. I didn’t know if he was angry with me or with himself. But I didn’t want to find out. I quickly grabbed a wing from our plate and took a huge bite. Sauce dripped down my chin, but I didn’t stop. The food was a distraction. If we were eating, then we weren’t talking, and I couldn’t stand to hear anything more from Carson right now. Not after everything he just said. Not with the way he had brought up memories of me like it wouldn’t mess with my head. “This is good.” I wiped at my mouth with the back of my hand. “Do you want a bite?” I looked over to Eli, and he shook his head as he looked at my half-bitten wing. “Nah. I’m good.” “Suit yourself.” I shrugged as I looked down at his measly-looking burger. “I’ll take one.” Carson reached forward, his fingers wrapping around my wrist, and he stood in his seat enough to bring my hand to his lips. I stared at him, shocked by what he was doing, but there wasn’t an ounce of shame in his gaze. He didn’t look away from me for a second as he bit down into the wing I was still holding, and I couldn’t stop myself from holding my breath as his lips met my fingers. Carson Hale wasn’t just taking a bite of my chicken. He was causing a scene, and part of me wondered how he had gotten so damn good at it. He ran his tongue over the edge of my thumb, licking up the sauce that had dripped there, and I felt like he had just used his tongue on parts of my body that no one else ever had. I pressed my thighs together as I watched his mouth, and I couldn’t bring myself to care that Eli was watching me as Carson finally let go of my hand and settled back into his seat. “You’re right, Allie. That’s absolutely delicious.” He licked his lip before picking up a wing of his own, then began eating like that display hadn’t just happened. I picked up my napkin, quickly dropping my gaze to my lap as I wiped my hands, but I couldn’t get the feel of him off. And I didn’t know if I wanted to.
About Holly
I’m 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 you’ve 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, I’m your girl. When I’m 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.
We’ve all heard about the public image consultant brought in to fix the bad boy’s image. That’s not me.
Nope, quite the opposite. I’ve been hired—well, blackmailed is more like it—to be a bad influence on grumpy, gorgeous, humor-deprived billionaire Elliott Bradford. He’s just become the public face of his family’s company, Bradford Amusement Parks. Problem: The board is about to kick him to the curb because they think Elliott wouldn’t recognize fun if it bit him in the as… spiration.
And they’re not wrong. I can’t believe I have to spend the next three months trying to coax a smile out of Jerk-in-a-Box. But if I fail, my secret shenanigans will be brought to light and my parents will pay the price. Again.
So here I am, getting stuck on top of a midnight roller coaster ride with him… and letting him kiss my panic attack away. Signing us up for a mud run… and letting him wash the mud out of my hair in the shower… Yes, I’m that dedicated to my job.
But the more I get to know broody Elliott, the more I think there might actually be a beating heart hiding underneath that navy double-breasted jacket. And the closer I get to the end of my assignment, the more I want to be the girl who can make him smile for real.
Bad Influencer is the first book I’ve read by Kenzie Reed — and I fell in love with Elliott and Jillian! I loved this twist on the trope where a bad boy needs a good girl to clean up his image. Here we have straight-laced suit Elliott needing to learn how to let loose and have a good time with some help from social media influencer Jillian, the queen of questionable decisions.
The banter between these two characters was phenomenal. I loved how Elliott had noticed Jillian tending bar all those months before they officially began working together, yet tried to stay away from her because she wasn’t his typical type. He was so focused on business he left himself zero room for having fun. But as Jillian unlocks another side to Elliott, he seems to ground and settle her. They complement each other perfectly!
I loved this story so much and can’t recommend Bad Influencer enough if you are looking for a fun, steamy, workplace romcom! I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
Meet Kenzie Reed
Kenzie Reed lives in beautiful New England and is addicted to happily ever afters.
She has a black belt in sarcasm and makes the worst puns ever—just ask her kids. She spends her days clearing dog fur from her keyboard and dreaming up snarky dialogue for sexy heroes.
Her taste in books ranges from science fiction to thrillers to romantic comedy, and her bookcases have multiple personality disorder.
A brand new firefighter series from USA Today Bestselling Author J.H. Croix!
All bets are off when a hotshot firefighter and a homecoming queen whose crown slipped off meet in the wilds of Alaska.
I don’t have time for romance, much less for prissy Madison Glen. The first time I meet her, I kiss her. The second time I meet her, she’s breaking into my neighbor’s house. She swears up and down she’s not a criminal. Maybe not, but she is definitely a distraction I don’t need.
I’ve got my hands full with my mouthy daughter and an insanely busy life as a hotshot firefighter. It doesn’t surprise me at all to learn Madison was homecoming queen in high school.
She’s stubborn, impractical, and she’d win the contest for least-likely to survive in small town Alaska. She’s also sultry and sassy. She’s everything I don’t need. It doesn’t matter what I tell myself though. I can’t keep my hands to myself when she’s around, and she kisses like a dream.
Graham & Madison’s story is perfect for readers who love small town romance, hotshot firefighters, alpha heroes, sassy heroines, frenemies to lovers, hate to love, opposites attract, slow burn, emotional romance with a dash of angst, plenty of steam and swoon, and a deeply protective grumpy hero.
Slow-burn, small town, single dad goodness! Wild With You is a great series starter about a bunch of hotshot firefighters in a small Alaskan town. The series begins with Graham and Maddie, who have a heated kiss when they cross paths in a rest stop and then a hotel. They both figure they will never see each other again, so of course, Graham ends up being Maddie’s next-door neighbor when she settles in at the cabin she inherited from her late grandfather.
I adored these two. Graham has his hands full as a firefighter and parenting his teenage daughter, Allie, and Maddie is licking her wounds after her world imploded thanks to her dad’s financial scandal. (BTW, her mom is just wicked.) It’s a super slow burn as Graham and Maddie grow from friends to more, and it’s a wonderful journey. I also really loved Maddie’s friendship with Allie. It was so heartwarming to see this lonely teenager find the mother figure she was longing for in Maddie.
Wild For You is a super sweet, absolutely heartwarming small-town romance, and I can’t wait to see what comes next in this series! I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
Meet J.H. Croix
USA Today Bestselling Author J. H. Croix lives in a small town in the historical farmlands of Maine with her husband and two spoiled dogs.
Croix writes steamy contemporary romance with sassy women and rugged alpha men who aren’t afraid to show some emotion. Her love for quirky small-towns and the characters that inhabit them shines through in her writing.
Take a walk on the wild side of romance with her bestselling novels!
A Single-Dad, Enemies-to-Lovers Romance from A.L. Jackson
Available Now on Amazon and Free with Kindle Unlimited
“Sexy and heart wrenching, with twists and turns that will have you gasping and begging for more. Give Me a Reason is an unputdownable rollercoaster ride of epic feels.”
-Catherine Cowles, author of the Wrecked series
“What a ride! Dark, gritty and undeniably sexy, this romance stole my heart and didn’t let go until the very end.”
From NYT and USA Today bestselling author A.L. Jackson comes a single-dad, enemies-to-lovers stand-alone romance about a jaded club owner and his son’s teacher…
Eden Murphy came into my club looking to make some extra cash.
A girl like her didn’t belong in a place like this.
She’d get ripped to shreds.
Most likely by me.
There’s nothing but sweetness dripping from her sexy little body, and I’m the monster who’s salivating to get a taste.
Trent Lawson is the last man I should want.
Dark.
Dangerous.
So wickedly gorgeous he makes my knees weak.
He’s also an arrogant jerk who happens to be my new boss.
When I discover his adorable son is also in my kindergarten class, I know I have to keep my distance.
But neither of us can ignore the attraction that flames.
One glance, and our hearts race.
One touch, and we’re aching for what we can’t have.
A.L. Jackson is the New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance. She writes emotional, sexy, heart-filled stories about boys who usually like to be a little bit bad.
Her bestselling series include THE REGRET SERIES, CLOSER TO YOU, BLEEDING STARS, FIGHT FOR ME, CONFESSIONS OF THE HEART, and FALLING STARS novels. Grab her latest stand-alone, GIVE ME A REASON, now!
If she’s not writing, you can find her hanging out by the pool with her family, sipping cocktails with her friends, or of course with her nose buried in a book.
Be sure not to miss new releases and sales from A.L. Jackson – Sign up to receive her newsletter http://smarturl.it/NewsFromALJackson or text “aljackson” to 33222 to receive short but sweet updates on all the important news.
When We Were Reckless is another fantastic addition to the Lost Stars series — Jesse and Quinn’s book is unrequited perfection!
Jesse was riding on top of the world, but thanks to his ex-girlfriend’s betrayal, his life has gone into a downward spiral. His life is a total mess, which is why he keeps pushing Quinn away. There’s always been a connection between Quinn and Jesse, but she is 9 years younger than him and his best friend’s little sister. While they’ve always been friends, Jesse plans to spend as much time as he can with Quinn the summer before she leaves for college — partly as a favor to her brother to convince her to stay in Texas, and partly because he’s a SOB and is drawn to her bright light. Even though he thinks he doesn’t deserve someone as good and pure as Quinn.
I loved the push and pull between these two. I loved how strong Quinn is. She knew when it was time to cut her losses, and she refused to be a doormat when it came to Jesse’s hot and cold interactions with her. She took what she wanted — a summer fling — and walked away when she knew she wasn’t going to get anything more. Except that by that time, Jesse *did* want more. And he just didn’t know how to admit that he wanted more from Quinn, especially after their relationship blows up in an epic way.
There is so much to love about Quinn and Jesse. There is something so fabulous about a love story when it’s written in the stars like it was for these characters. From the time she was 5, Quinn was so sure that Jessee was her soulmate. Their journey isn’t an easy one, but this book concludes with a wonderful HEA. I also loved getting to catch up with Jude/Lila, Brody/Shiloh, and getting to know Ridge better! I can’t wait for more MacAllisters!
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Emery Rose has been known to indulge in good red wine, strong coffee, and a healthy dose of sarcasm. When she’s not working on her latest project, you can find her binge-watching Netflix, trotting the globe in search of sunshine, or immersed in a good book. A former New Yorker, she currently resides in London with her two beautiful daughters.
When I stumbled across my dream job in the classified section of my newspaper, I knew it had to be too good to be true.
Turns out it was.
Becoming the nanny for the grumpiest hockey coach in the NHL was more like a nightmare.
Liam Cartright was infuriating, stubborn, and impossible. Oh, and he happened to be my new boss.
I should have signed my resignation with a giant kiss my ass the moment he opened his mouth, but I couldn’t.
I fell for his little girls before I realized it was happening, and my resolve began to weaken.
Our roles were clearly drawn out.
He was the boss, and I was the nanny.
But then we crossed a line.
I wouldn’t lose my job over a chiseled jawline and a few stolen kisses.
I couldn’t. Not when so much was at stake.
But Liam was the one who made the rule book, and I had no choice but to play by his rules.
Sunny Shelly’s Review: 4 Stars
I adored The Newspaper Nanny! Single dad Liam is a former hockey pro, now coaching a pro team himself. His two little girls are his world, but with all the traveling in his schedule, he needs a nanny to stay home with Ari and Kennedy. Enter Juliet: She’s had a string of bad luck, and needs a better job than working in a crappy diner to keep her Nana in the seniors home where she’s been living.
Liam and Juliet have the funniest meet-cute when she almost breaks his nose at the diner. Then when she arrives for the nanny interview — they are both shocked to see one another! It was meant to be! There’s an undeniable attraction between them, and though they try to fight it, they ultimately give in. But when their secret relationship becomes the hockey team’s newest scandal, Liam has to choose between his personal life and his professional career.
Although the storyline was predictable, I so enjoyed Liam and Juliet’s journey. Ari and Kennedy were scene-stealers, and they really complemented the adults in this story rather than being child props for the sake of just having a child involved in the story. And oh, how I loved Nana and her crew of Golden Girls! I could so vividly imagine those little old ladies drooling over the hot hockey hunks during the calendar shoot!
The Newspaper Nanny was an absolute delight! I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
That’s what I wanted when I signed up for all of those dating apps.
There were so many people out there looking for the same thing I was.
One of them was bound to be the one, right?
My one?
True love.
What a crock.
More like true despair.
All I received for my efforts was a stalker that turned my every fantasy into a nightmare.
A man that built up my hopes just to destroy them.
And a game that had deadly consequences.
So, you know what?
F*ck waiting for true love.
I’ll take it from the one I choose.
*One More Click is a contemporary romance with dark themes, violence, and sexual content that some readers may find triggering. Recommended for readers 18+ due to mature content. This book can be read as a standalone.
Sunny Shelly’s Review: 3.5 Stars
One More Click is not what I was expecting — I figured it would be a dating-app romance, but I somehow missed how dark this book was going to be. Still, it was an intriguing novella, more of a mystery with steamy romance scenes than a romantic suspense story.
We have Shelly, our beautiful heroine who meets Griffin, the perfect boyfriend on a dating app. Griff will do anything to protect Shelly. Then there’s The Stalker, who wants Shelly for himself.
Every time I thought I knew where things were going, something else came out that had me second-guessing my thoughts. There are lots of twists and turns, tons of creepy happenings, and an obsessive psychopath that makes you wonder if you ever really know people.
There are clues dropped about The Stalker’s identity here and there, and I thought it was brilliant that the alternate POV to Shelly’s throughout this book was actually The Stalker. Not what I was expecting at all! But I had some questions by the end of the story that left me feeling somewhat unsatisfied…I plan to do a re-read and see if I can string together those breadcrumbs that I missed the first time around.
I received a complimentary copy and voluntarily left a review.
In this steamy tale by USA Today bestselling author Meghan Quinn, an American searching for her purpose escapes to a Scottish town but finds more questions than answers when she meets a brooding yet handsome handyman.
Freshly fired from her third job in a row, Bonnie St. James has lost her way. So when she and her best friend stumble upon a “help wanted” post to run a coffee shop in the Scottish Highlands, they apply on a whim. Who knows? Maybe traveling to a new place is just what she needs to figure out her next move.
When the friends arrive in the tiny idyllic town of Corsekelly, they instantly fall for the gorgeous Highland landscape and friendly townspeople. But Bonnie finds a less-than-warm welcome in Rowan MacGregor, the rugged local handyman. Busy wrestling his own demons, Rowan’s in no mood to deal with the quirky American—even if she is a bonny lass.
As Bonnie and Rowan’s paths inevitably cross, insults—and sparks—fly. Can the pair build on their similarities to help each other find purpose and direction…and maybe romance too? Or will their passionate tempers fling them apart?
Excerpt:
“I know you would have done the same for me.” I move my hands slowly across his chest. “Rowan?”
“Hmm?”
“Does this mean . . . we’re starting something?”
“Are you fishing for a date, lass?”
“Wouldn’t hurt you to ask, you know.”
“Okay.”
And I wait . . . and wait . . . and wait.
“Uh, are you going to ask?”
“On my terms, Bonnie. Now just go to sleep.”
“On your terms—what does that even mean?”
“Means I’ll ask when I ask.”
“Well, I can’t wait around forever, you know. I’m fresh meat in a Scottish meat market. I might be asked out tomorrow, and because you never asked me out, I would take that date.”
“Then take it,” he says casually.
I pinch his side, and he barely flinches. “You’re not supposed to say that.”
“I know you wouldn’t take it. You’re too infatuated with me.”
“Oh, now you did it,” I exclaim. “Now I’m going to go ask Lieth out just to spite you.”
He chuckles. “Good luck. I heard he likes to lick necks on first dates.”
“Well, then he’s the perfect man for me.”
Sunny Shelly’s Review: 5 Stars
Meghan Quinn does it again! Escape to Scotland with this adorable enemies-to-lovers romcom and fall in love with Bonnie and Rowan!
Grumpy Rowan is as surly as they come. He feels stuck in his life, wants more than what his tiny Scottish village has to offer, but can’t bring himself to abandon his parents and chase after his own dreams after a tragic accident that tore his family apart. American Bonnie is going through life aimlessly, searching for her purpose, her reason, the thing that she is *great* at. Never in a million years did Bonnie imagine that she’d find her purpose in a small, struggling coffee shop in Scotland. Never in a million years did Rowan think that the person who infused life back into his existence would be a feisty, stubborn American. These two met their match in one another, and it was a joy to watch Rowan and Bonnie fall in love!
I received an advanced copy via Montlake from NetGalley and voluntarily left a review.
About the Author:
USA Today Bestselling Author, wife, adoptive mother, and peanut butter lover. Author of romantic comedies and contemporary romance, Meghan Quinn brings readers the perfect combination of heart, humor, and heat in every book.
A Photo Finish, an all-new emotional and angst-filled standalone romance from Elsie Silver, is available now!
I’ve seen every square inch of Violet Eaton’s delectable body and she has no idea who I am.
Until now.
What happened between us online, in our chats, was meant to stay anonymous and in the past.
Until it didn’t.
It’s a small world, but Ruby Creek is even smaller. When I move to the tiny town, the grumpy facade I’ve created slips when we’re forced to live under the same roof.
Every flush of her cheeks, every time her eyes flare with heat, every time she begs me not to stop, the ice I’ve encased myself in melts. She has me wanting things I can’t want. Things I’ve been dreaming about since I first laid eyes on her two years ago—things I don’t deserve.
But my invisible wounds have the power to ruin us both. As a former soldier, I should have the discipline to walk away, but the more I open up to Violet, the more I want to keep her.
I came back from the war a different man, but my scars are older and deeper than anyone knows—and I planned to keep it that way. I planned to keep my secrets hidden.
Shaking my head as I march back into the barn, I head down the long hall of offices toward the laundry room at the end. I live in a small apartment above the barn so I just do my laundry down here. I grew up on a proper ranch, in the dirt and snow, usually with hay in my hair, so the thought of washing all my clothes in the same machines used for the hairy horse laundry doesn’t bother me at all. I’m almost to the door when I hear it. “Violet.” That voice. The low rumble of it. The threat woven into it. The man behind it. I swear my feet grow roots that shoot out and bind me to the ground. My heart knocks violently in my chest like it’s trying to get out and run away. And quite frankly, I don’t blame it. I want to get out of here too. He wasn’t supposed to be here yet. I was supposed to be gone down the highway by the time he showed up. He was supposed to be out of my life. I was supposed to have left him behind. Forgotten him. But I haven’t. I’ve warred with myself, wrestled and fought. Been with other men to prove to myself that I’m fine. But one word out of his mouth, and I seriously wonder if I am. I could run and hide, but that’s not how the new me handles this. The new Violet isn’t a shrinking Violet. That’s what I keep telling myself anyway. Maybe one day it will feel true. So I suck in as much oxygen as I can and hold my head up high. I refuse to let this man make me feel small or embarrassed. We have a shared past, but we’re both adults. This will be fine. Spinning on one heel, I turn and march back to the office I just passed. The one that has sat empty for years. I stop just inside the doorway, partly because I don’t want to go any further and partly because I’m reeling. All it takes is one look at Cole Harding, sitting behind a desk in a dark suit, spinning the cufflinks on his shirt, for me to lose all the bravado I just puffed myself up with. I literally feel it roll right off me like someone has doused me with a bucket of cold water. My body’s reaction to him has never been normal, and today is no exception. The inky hair, the gray eyes, the square shoulders, the sad tilt to his mouth. He crosses his arms under my gaze, and I roll my lips together at the sight. Just the way he moves, so sure and so calculated, drives me to distraction. There’s so much power coiled in every inch of his body. A soldier’s body. His biceps are where my eyes land, and where they stay. They’re incredible. I wonder how they’d look completely bare, how they’d feel wrapped around me. I hate myself for even going there. But I keep my eyes trained on them, because it’s less unnerving than looking him in those soulful eyes. Silvery pools, deep and haunted and swirling with so much. The ones full of anger, and pain, and sorrow. Those are a much bigger problem for me. And for my heart. “Violet.” He says my name like it’s a sentence, a full thought. Like I should know exactly what he means when he says it. But I don’t know anything where Cole Harding is concerned. I think I actually know less than anything. Other than the hair on my arms is standing up like there’s an electrical current running over me, and my stomach is flipping like I just shot down off the high point of a roller coaster. Which is apt, because my history with Cole is nothing if not a roller coaster. “Everyone calls me Vi.” I hate how quiet my voice comes out. I hate the way my name sounds on his lips, too formal and too familiar all at once. His eyes rove my body, but he doesn’t smile. It’s not appreciative. It’s more like he’s assessing me, like I’m a mess that needs cleaning up and he’s trying to figure out how. Shame lurches in my gut, flashes of the way he talked to me once and how it warmed me to my bones pop up in my head, but I do my best to will it away. I’ve worked too hard at moving on to go down that rabbit hole again. “I’m not everyone,” he says plainly. I hiss as I suck air in, trying not to sound like I’m gasping for it. Trying not to give away the fact that he’s just winded me with his words. Blood rushes in my ears and pools in my cheeks—like it always does. You look so pretty in pink. He’d told me that once, and now it takes every ounce of my strength not to let my mind and body wander back to that day. “What do you want, Cole?” His eyes flash, and his body goes rigid right as his jaw ticks. Like somehow I’m the one who’s annoying him when he’s the one who called me in here. He could have kept his mouth shut, and I’d have been none the wiser. We could have avoided this entire encounter. “I just want to make sure that we’re on the same page. That we can continue to stay out of each other’s way while I work out here. That you can keep things . . .” his eyes slide down my body and then back up, “professional.” Professional. Nothing between us has ever been professional. He’s seen me naked, trampled my heart, and then showed back up out of nowhere with nothing but cool looks and mocking words and now expects me to keep things professional? Indignation flares up in me over the fact that he feels entitled to dictate how I should conduct myself. Like I don’t come up against enough of that in this industry as it is. It’s a sore spot, and he should know. I spent long nights telling him about my childhood. About how I struck out on my own. And now he’s going to waltz in here and talk to me like that? No way. “Let me be clear, Cole.” This time I don’t let my voice waver, and I don’t stare at his biceps. I stare right into his steely eyes. “This is my place of work, and I am nothing if not professional. The way you’re talking to me right now? It isn’t professional. So, I’m going to continue doing exactly what I have been for the past year and you can stay out of my way. Think you can manage?” His body snaps back slightly, and his eyes go wide. Like he didn’t see that coming. Didn’t see me coming. And he lashes out at me for it. I see the flash of insecurity on his face right before he spews his words back at me. And it’s that hint of sorrow that takes the bite out of them. “Pretty in Purple was so sweet. What happened?” I shake my head at him sadly. Because when it comes down to it, that’s what I feel when I see him, when I think of him. Sad. “Seems like you mistook Pretty in Purple for a doormat.” I look at him just long enough to see the forlorn look on his face, the crack in his cold exterior, before I turn and walk away. The spear to my damn heart. Golddigger85 is just as lost as he was before, just as complicated. Just as broken. And I’ve already decided I won’t tolerate the way he lashes out. We all make choices. That’s what he told me once, and he wasn’t wrong. It’s why I moved on. It’s why I disappeared without a word. It’s why this awkwardness between us now is on him, not me. My head knows exactly what choices to make where Cole Harding is concerned. But my heart? It’s not so sure.
Sunny Shelly’s Review: 4 Stars
A Photo Finish is the first book I’ve read by Elsie Silver, and I quite enjoyed it! The story goes back and forth between the past and the present, as Violet and Cole’s relationship unfolds. Years earlier, they met online, and while Cole knew what Pretty in Purple looked like, Violet had no idea what her virtual beau looked like. When they eventually unexpectedly meet, it kinda freaks Cole out that Violet has a connection to his family’s ranch, where she rides as a jockey.
A few years later, Cole is reluctantly back at the ranch, and Violet needs to recuperate after a riding accident, leading to a good old forced proximity romance as they try to deny their feelings for each other despite the crackling sexual tension between them. A Photo Finish is a wonderful slow-burn romance as these two slowly start to fall for each other.
A Photo Finish is the second book in the Gold Rush Ranch series, but I did not feel like I was missing backstory having not read Billie and Vaughan’s book first. Cole and Violet’s romance hits all the sweet spots for a grumpy/sunshine romance and has all the feels!
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
About Elsie Elsie Silver is a Canadian author of sassy, sexy, small town romance who loves a good book boyfriend and the strong heroines who bring them to their knees. She lives just outside of Vancouver, British Columbia with her husband, son, and three dogs and has been voraciously reading romance books since before she was probably supposed to.
She loves cooking and trying new foods, traveling, and spending time with her boys–especially outdoors. Elsie has also become a big fan of her quiet five am mornings, which is when most of her writing happens. It’s during this time that she can sip a cup of hot coffee and dream up a fictional world full of romantic stories to share with her readers.
Sunny Shelly Reads 