What’s one way to make a lasting impression on a man? Shoot him.
When I accidentally send a bullet flying through a handsome stranger I’m mortified. When I find out he’s a doctor who treats children with life-threatening heart problems? I’m determined to make it up to him.
Playing nursemaid to Dr. Oliver Kinkaid is easier said than done. At least while having to pretend I’m not attracted to him. He’s a decade older than me, supremely sexy and has his life together. What’s not to swoon over?
Especially since I’m scraping by as a teacher, sharing an apartment with two friends and an exciting Friday night means binge-watching Dateline episodes with a bag of potato chips. Not much to swoon over here.
Until I find a hidden letter in our century old apartment that predicts I’ll meet my soul mate and live happily ever after.
Things start to develop between Oliver and me. Our mutual attraction grows to combustible levels and I can’t help but wonder if the letter was right—is he my perfect match?
Then I find out Oliver’s secret and I want to put another bullet through him.
Hit or Miss is a lighthearted, heartwarming and steamy romantic comedy with a happy ending and a cast of hilarious characters that will have you laughing out loud until the last page. No cheating. Buy or borrow this book for free with Kindle Unlimited!
This book is absolutely adorable! Jemma and Ollie’s meet-cute is one for the books (ha ha ha), the story that unfolds between them after she accidentally shoots him (yep!) is absolutely adorable.
Oliver and Jemma’s connection is instant, and the chemistry between them is sizzling. And they are funny! When Jemma put out into the universe that she wanted to meet her soulmate, I doubt she expected it would be a pediatric cardiologist that she accidentally shoots at a gun range! As she takes care of him during his recovery, there is a slow burn romance that develops. They are clearly drawn to each other, but are both hesitant to act on it. And the payoff is so well worth the wait!
As a debut author, Everly Ashton knocked this one out of the park. The pacing was just right, the characters are likable and well-rounded, and the plot was captivating. Jemma’s group of girlfriends and Ollie’s best friend, Nick, are quite entertaining, and I can’t wait to see what EA does next in this series!
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
Meet Everly Ashton
Everly Ashton is a USA Today Bestselling Author who wanted to try something a little different under a new name. She loves brooding heroes, spunky heroines, and happily ever afters. You can usually find her with a Kindle in one hand and a cup of caffeine in the other. And because she’s using a pseudonym she can’t tell you much more than that. 😉
Masquerade ball rule #1: what happens at the ball doesn’t always stay at the ball.
Oops.
A chance encounter with a masked stranger at a charity ball led to an incredible kiss and a night of hot sex. The kiss was my goal for that night, a baby step forward after my husband’s death a year ago. The hot sex? Not so much.
You know what else hadn’t been my goal?
To be knocked up by a man whose identity is a mystery to me.
So now I’m preparing for my impending motherhood and planning a fundraiser to provide books for foster kids.
The latter is where hot hockey player Logan Mathews comes in…
****
The last time I saw Kiera Ashdown was the night of the Jingle Balls masquerade ball. She’d wanted her first time with a man after her husband’s death to be with a stranger.
After my NHL team trades me to San Francisco, where my daughter and ex-wife live, I’m determined to be a better father and not repeat past mistakes. My hockey career and my daughter come first.
The last thing I expect to discover is that Kiera is my seven-year-old daughter’s teacher. The last thing I expect to learn is that she’s pregnant with my dead best friend’s child.
And the last thing I want to admit is that I was the one who made love to Kiera—several times—the night of the ball.
Because if she ever found out that I’d lied to her, I could lose her friendship. I could lose so much more…
Decidedly with Luck is a standalone romance. All the books in the series can be read in any order.
Okay, so widow Keira decides at a masquerade ball to have a one-night stand as the first step in getting over her late husband. And she has no clue that her masked stranger is actually said dead husband’s best friend from college, ‘cuz they were both wearing masks, she hadn’t seen him in years, and his grandmother calls him by his middle name. When she finds out she’s pregnant three months later, Keira also finds out that her dead husband’s best friend’s daughter is one of her students. And Keira and Landon start a friends with benefits fling, even though they have liked each other since college, but neither ‘fesses up.
Okay… I was skeptical about how this would play out, but it worked. I really enjoyed this story. I loved how Logan and Keira reconnected and rebuilt their friendship, how he was there for her as a support system during her pregnancy, and how they dealt with both her late husbands and his friendly relationship with his ex-wife. I hated that Keira lied to her in-laws about the paternity, but it all worked out in the end. I thought these characters had great chemistry, and the details of the story were different than other accidental baby books I’ve read in the past.
This is the first book I’ve read by Stina Lindenblatt, and I definitely will be keeping an eye out for more books from her! Decidedly With Luck is part of her Decidedly With series, but is a true standalone. There are appearances by other couples who are friends with Logan and Keira, and those storylines are referenced enough for context without taking away from the H/h here.
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
Meet Stina Lindenblatt
Born in Brighton England, USA Today bestselling author Stina Lindenblatt has lived in a number of countries, including England, the US, Finland, and Canada.
This would explain her mixed up accent.
She has a kinesiology degree and a MSc in sports biological sciences.
In addition to writing fiction, she loves photography, and currently lives in Calgary, Canada, with her husband and three kids.
Something was missing. Deep down, I wasn’t satisfied.
It all started with dinner and a blindfold. We led each other down a path we didn’t know if we’d be able to return from. We saw a side of each other we’d never seen before.
What’s more . . . we liked it.
Indulging in our sexuality was the best thing we’d done for our marriage, for ourselves.
Until it wasn’t.
Some lines couldn’t be uncrossed. Some things couldn’t be undone.
Indulgence was a great look inside a marriage in peril, and how the choices made in the spur of the moment have long-lasting ripple effects. Even though this book was a sexfest (which I honestly expected based on the description), I thought it was really well-written. When the crap hits the fan, I was able to sympathize with both Matteo and Natalie as they grapple with what went down in their sexual exploration and how they can — could they even? — come back from that.
In a nutshell, Natalie and Matteo are college sweethearts, married for 14 years with 12 year old twins. Natalie is bored with their vanilla sex life, and they embark on a journey of kinky exploration. A bit of BDSM, a lot of mixing things up in the bedroom, a M/F/M threesome, and even joining a sex club. But lines are crossed when they venture into a F/M/F threesome, Matt has sex with the other girl, but doesn’t use a condom. The ramifications of that forgotten protection has huge ramifications for Matteo and Natalie when she freaks out and temporarily moves out of their home, leaving Matteo floundering and angry and without his partner to work through things with.
I found their search for intimacy really interesting, and I liked how KA Berg wrote the story. I actually liked both characters quite a bit, and I enjoyed the push and pull in the last third of the book following the threesome. Every time Matt tried to talk things out with Natalie, she shut him out. I loved that sit-down with her friends where they told her that she was basically being a bitch with a capital B. And then when Natalie finally came around, he was angry that she had shut him out for so long and then he shut her out. Emotions are high, tensions are high, and I was anxiously waiting for Natalie and Matteo to put their relationship back to rights.
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
Meet K.A. Berg
By day, Kimberly is a teacher who also happens to have four beautiful, insane children who keep her in running a million different direction on a daily basis.
At night, she tries to get all the steamy stories in her head down on paper or computer screen so she can eventually share them with her wonderful readers, but more often than not, falls asleep in the process because sleep is life.
She’s a Jersey girl at heart and that is where she currently calls home with her husband and children.
When not writing or being a taxi driver for her kids or napping, she can be found curled up with a good book or watching her beloved New York Jets or drinking coffee.
Lover all things romance, including a little M/M action as well as the dark and twisted, she enjoys video chats with her best friends and always loves to hear from her fans on social media.
Blurb: I’m the whispers in the dark you can’t ignore. The bully you can’t run away from.
I’m the tormentor who makes your life a living hell.
The villain you love to hate.
I’m the vicious stepbrother sleeping in the next room.
The one who knows all your secrets.
And I’ll stop at nothing to make you pay.
WARNING: This book is recommended for mature readers due to graphic language, sexual content, and dark elements. It is NOT a safe read.
Sunny Shelly’s Review: 5 Stars
I absolutely devoured this book and loved every minute of it. It’s dark. It’s not hearts and rainbows. It’s messy. Knox is a grade-A bastard. There are rumors that he killed his mom and spent a year in a mental institution. He’s mean to everyone. The kids at Black Mountain Academy fear him. And he makes stepsister Aspen’s life absolutely miserable.
And then we get to the good stuff.
There are SO many twists and turns in this story. Part of it, I figured out pretty quickly, but there were other twists that I didn’t see coming. And I kept waiting and waiting to find out WHY Knox hated Aspen so much. Like, even once they crossed from enemies to lovers, it still wasn’t clear WHY he had such hatred for her.
And then it came. Holy crap on a cracker. I was not expecting that explanation.
There is a lot of sizzle between Knox and Aspen. And once he finally lets his guard down, there is a fierce protector underneath all of those grunts and a-hole behavior. And I loved finally getting to see that, and the journey that Knox and Aspen go on to get there.
Hate Me is dark to read, but it really packs a powerful punch. It’s set in the Black Mountain Academy series, which are stories by different authors that are set at the same prestigious private high school. Aspen is kinda friends with Brie from Not My Hero, so it was nice to see how happy Brie and Colton are now.
Don’t read too many reviews. Go in blind. It will make Hate Me so much better in the end. I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
About the Author: Ashley Jade loves to tackle different genres and tropes within romance. Her first loves are New Adult Romance and Romantic Suspense, but she also writes everything in between including: contemporary romance, erotica, and dark romance.
Her characters are flawed and complex, and chances are you will hate them before you fall head over heels in love with them.
She’s a die-hard lover of oxford commas, em dashes, music, coffee, and anything thought provoking…except for math.
Books make her heart beat faster and writing makes her soul come alive. She’s always read books growing up and scribbled stories in her journal, and after having a strange dream one night; she decided to just go for it and publish her first series.
It was the best decision she ever made.
If she’s not paying off student loan debt, working, or writing a novel—you can usually find her listening to music, hanging out with her readers online, and pondering the meaning of life.
Check out her amazon page and Facebook page for future novels. She recently became hip and joined Twitter, so you can find her there, too. She loves connecting with her readers—they make her world go round’.
Since my parents died, I refuse to be another statistic. I’ve had to make sacrifices – especially when it comes to my social life. I’m convinced it’s worth it and I’ll have plenty of time to focus on me… later.
Then Sydney walks into my life and knocks my world off kilter.
She’s strong, sexy, independent and possibly more than I can handle. She’s everything I’ve ever wanted, but my reality and the secret I’m harboring, might have her running in the other direction.
Will my perfectly laid out plans go up in flames if I take a chance on her?
Vince is a fantastic good-guy-gets-the-girl story!
Poor Vince is carrying so much on his shoulders. He is determined to be the support for his sister Vanessa and niece, and is so focused on getting through college. But his focus is shifted when he meets a sassy spitfire bartender named Sydney.
Their rapport is easy from the get-go, and they easily fall into a comfortable relationship that kind of catches them both off-guard. Vince is super sweet and such a romantic… the dates he plans are spectacular! There are a few times when a lack of communication causes some tension between Sydney and Vince, like when she assumes Julia is his kid not knowing she’s his niece, but these two talk it out and their relationship is stronger for it in the end. And finally, Vince has someone he can depend on instead of being the one to carry the load for another person all the time.
Sydney is Abby’s roommate from Drew, so it was nice to see those two again and see how his proposal goes down! I loved that HEA with Vince and Sydney, and the tease we got for Vanessa’s story. I am really looking forward to that book, and seeing how little Julia steals her future father’s heart!
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
Meet Amanda Shelley
Amanda Shelley loves falling into a book to experience new worlds. As an avid reader and writer, sharing worlds of her own creations is a passion that inspired her to become an author.
She writes contemporary romance with characters who are strong and sexy with a touch of sass.
When not writing, Amanda enjoys time with her family, playing chauffeur, chef and being an enthusiastic fan for her children. Keeping up with them keeps her alert and grounded in reality. She enjoys long car rides, chai lattes, and popping her SUV into four-wheel drive for adventures anywhere.
Amanda loves hearing from readers. Be sure to sign up for her newsletter and follow her on social media. Join her reader group: Amanda’s Army of Readers to stay up to date on her latest information!
Avoiding bad boy hockey player Marshall Winters has been one of my goals since he did me wrong four years ago.
However, with both of us attending Boston University and his younger sister being my best friend, it’s damn near impossible.
Then he saves me from a dangerous situation, whisking me away to his family’s cabin, changing everything.
It’s just the two of us, no distractions, and nothing to keep us apart except my own rapidly fading reservations.
Now, I’m getting hooked on the one person I shouldn’t be.
Sunny Shelly’s Review: 4 Stars
Hooked is a sweet best friend’s brother romance set in Jacob Chance’s Boston Terriers hockey world. The book starts over the summer when Marshall and Clover then goes into the school year where they are both at Boston U, trying to juggle their romance, studies, and his hockey schedule. It’s sweet and romantic with a bit of alpha male mixed in!
Clover has always had a crush on her best friend’s brother Marshall — but he is a bit of a playboy. There was one night where she thought he might see her the same way, but her hopes were crushed when she saw him with his hookup of the week the next day. For his part, Marshall *has* always felt something for Clover (and I love that he calls her Lucky!), but he’s kind of scarred from his mom leaving his dad, and doesn’t want to open up his heart in the same way. But when he rescues Clover from a sticky situation at the beach house one day and then whisks her away to his family’s cabin shortly afterwards, everything changes between them. Marshall has the chance to prove to Clover that he’s not the cad she thinks he is, and he starts to fall head over heels.
Things get complicated when they return to school not having defined their relationship status, and their classes and his hockey schedule pull them in different directions. There isn’t any big drama that leads to them breaking up, but more of lack of communication. But once Marshall realizes that he’s in love with Clover, he is all in.
Hooked is a lighthearted, slow-burn romance full of feels. There’s sizzling chemistry between Clover and Marshall, and I was rooting for them early on. Especially after he played knight in shining armor and rescued her from a disastrous date. Their banter is witty and fun, and I really thought they were likable, well-defined characters. There are plenty of appearances by Marshall’s sister/Clover’s best friend Maddie and her boyfriend, Marshall’s best bud Shaw, who were the focus of the previous book. But Hooked is a standalone story.
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
Jacob Chance is a New Englander. Born and raised in Massachusetts, he still lives there today. He is a bestselling author of twenty-seven novels, writing romantic suspense, romantic comedies, and sports romance. He is also half of the male-female writing duo, Remy Blake, who write short, steamy stories with insta love/lust and a side of taboo.
Jacob is a huge football fan, especially of the New England Patriots. He is also a martial artist and self-proclaimed practical joker.
When not writing or working his day job, Jacob enjoys reading, hanging out at the beach, and eating as much bacon as he can.
Wearing her heart on her sleeve, she’s certain she’ll know her fairytale prince when she meets him. And when a ruggedly handsome cowboy with brooding Texan charm moves to town, Eve finds herself completely besotted.
Little does she know that while Miles might be charming, he’s no one’s prince.
Miles Madison learned the hard way that serious relationships will ruin you, and Eve has serious written all over her. So, when she pursues him, Miles douses her hopes and walks away, because forever doesn’t exist in his story.
After months of ignoring her unrequited crush, a misplaced yoga class puts Eve right in Miles’ backyard, disrupting his series of one-night stands and solitary life plans. And when the man who can only give one thing can no longer resist the woman who wants everything, the idea of forever is no longer out of reach.
As their undeniable attraction cracks through Miles’ hardened heart, something unexpected happens—something that will either bond them forever or tear them apart for good.
Besotted is an enemies-to-lovers story featuring a perky heroine, a grumpy hero, a grand gesture and a happily ever after that he never saw coming.
Eve is a hopeless romantic who believes in fairy tales and happily ever afters. Miles is a grumpy loner who only does one-night-stands and doesn’t believe in love. There is an intense attraction between them, but Eve wants more than Miles is able to give.
I really liked these characters and the journey that they go on. Miles is such a broken guy, who can’t seem to move past the scars of his past no matter how much he wants to. The feelings he has for Eve kind of catch him off guard until all of a sudden he finds himself as enamored with her as she is with him. It isn’t an easy journey for these two — there are so many things working against them.
This book is part of a series, so there is a continuing storyline about a cartel. I haven’t read the other books, so there were details I wasn’t fully aware of, but I pieced it together fairly well. Overall, Besotted is a page-turning angsty story of unrequited love.
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
GIVEAWAY
To celebrate Besotted’s release, Rebecca Sharp is giving away a $15 Amazon gift card! Head to her Facebook page to enter: https://www.facebook.com/drrebeccasharp/
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Rebecca Sharp, while using a pen name, is actually a doctor living in Pennsylvania with her husband – the love of her life.
She enjoys working in her practice with her father as well as letting her creativity run free as an author. Growing up she’s always loved a good love story and finally decided to give writing one of her own a go.
After graduating with her doctoral degree, she now enjoys spending that thing called free time traveling with her husband, cooking, and knitting.
Carrie Aarons’ second Callahan Family series book is here, and Stealing Home is a total ugly cry! Walker and Hannah’s story is an intense, emotional romance that will leave your heart warmed and your soul happy! Read it now! bit.ly/ReadStealingHome
This heartbreaking, unrequited love story brings us back to the world of a small Pennsylvania town that houses a professional baseball team, which has been run by the same family for generations. After being struck by scandal, they’re closing ranks. Drama, romance, familial bonds, sports – the Callahan Family series has it ALL.
BLURB____________________________ Walker Callahan has loved from afar for as long as he can remember.
The golden boy of the Callahan baseball dynasty, he’s the only player to ever secure a top spot on a roster controlled by his own flesh and blood. The pressure, duty and plans laid out for him since birth loom large, causing things like love and a family to fall by the wayside.
Or maybe that’s because the woman he loves is already married with children.
When they met, she was already promised to someone else. For over six years, he resigned himself to being her friend. Until one night, when her marriage and the ugly secrets it keeps unravels for the world to see. She’s burned, scared and needs someone who will put her needs above everything else.
Can Walker risk his own future and show her how to trust again? Or will the feelings he’s kept hidden for years throw him out of the game before he can even attempt to play?
Hannah Giraldi never wants to fall in love again.
All it brings is pain, misery and her life falling to shambles. After a very public scandal, her abusive husband takes everything, leaving her to raise two daughters on nothing but charity from others, a hope, and a prayer.
New to the job market, single motherhood, and with two court cases on her plate, the last thing she needs are the butterflies that Walker ignites in her stomach every time he comes around. But with his soothing words, supportive shoulder to lean on, and undeniable gorgeousness, he’s pretty hard to ignore.
Just when it feels like she might be standing on her own two feet, the world comes crumbling down around her. And the man she’s finally allowed into her heart abandons her, once again leaving her to pick up the pieces.
Is there a way to heal all of the broken parts, or will Hannah go down swinging while attempting one more shot at a happily ever after?
Stealing Home is the second book in the Callahan Family series from Carrie Aarons. It is a standalone, but events leading up to Hannah’s story — namely the violent attack by her husband — take place int eh previous book, Warning Track. I knew when I read that particular chapter and Walker came to Hannah’s rescue that their story was going to be a doozy. And Carrie Aarons did not disappoint!
Walker is not only a player for the Packton Pistons, but he is the face of the organization because his family has owned the baseball team for generations and it is expected that he will one day take over. Except that Walker doesn’t want to run the organization. He still feels an incredible responsibility to the family business though, because his brother Sinclair is such a screwup. So the responsibility of doing the right thing has fallen on Walker’s shoulders for years, and he never puts his own happiness as a priority. Until Hannah’s world falls apart.
From the outside, Hannah had it all. A handsome, charming husband, a huge house, two beautiful daughters. But looks are deceiving because it was all a facade. Her husband, Shane, had been abusing her for years, up until he beat her so badly in the stadium parking lot that the police became involved and their secret life was exposed. Now, Hannah is desperately trying to piece her life back together while fighting Shane in court for custody of their daughters.
Walker has been harboring unrequited feelings for Hannah since before she married Shane. He always stood on the outside, friendly but kept his distance. And after being the one to literally pick Hannah up after Shane beat her, Walker became her knight in shining armor. He was a shoulder to lean on, a friendly face, a confidant. Their relationship is so simple and easy, and even thought Hannah is petrified to give her heart to Walker and lose herself in a relationship again, it’s not long before she finds herself falling for Walker in return.
But when a tragic accident hits Walker’s own family, he begins to second-guess his place in Hannah’s life. After a great few months of putting himself first and doing what made him happy when it came to being with Hannah, Walker backs away from their relationship to toe the family line… and is absolutely miserable. Will he make his move, round the bases and steal home to get the love of his life back?
Despite the underlying story of domestic abuse and all that Hannah goes through with Shane’s manipulations, this is a wonderful story of strength, resilience, respect and hope. Walker is a swoony hero, who shows Hannah an incredible amount of respect from the very start. And even though Hannah sees herself as weak, she is incredibly strong and comes out of a horrible situation on top, with grit and determination. These two are magic together, and Walker is such a great father figure in the lives of her daughters. I found this story incredibly moving, and I was so thrilled to see Hannah and Walker get the HEA that they both deserved!
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
“Heartwarming, swoony moments, sizzling chemistry, and just enough intrigue to keep me completely invested–this book had me hooked from page one!”– Willow Aster, USA Today bestselling author
Wrecked Palace, an all-new emotional slow-burn standalone romance in the Wrecked Series by author Catherine Cowles is available now!
One night was all it took for everything to change. From college student to guardian in a single breath. My siblings became my world.
No time for date nights or romantic dreams. I traded quiet weekends for sleepless nights. Giving my all to make sure they were cared for.
But Griffin had a brokenness that called to me—one that mirrored my own. Gruff and just a little bit reckless. He was the last thing I needed. But everything I wanted.
Only someone isn’t happy about this new life I’m building. Deciding to set fire to everything I hold close. And when the smoke clears, there might be only ashes left behind…
I climbed out of my truck in the parking lot of The General Store. Why was it that I always ended up here? There was just something about the brown-haired beauty who worked at the kitchen inside. Normally, people who shined with that life-is-beautiful kind of positivity made me want to punch something. But with Caelyn, I was fascinated.
I started towards the store when a man called my name. I stiffened and turned, expecting to see a stranger, maybe one of the reporters still holding out hope that I’d share my story with the world. The set of my shoulders eased a bit when I saw that it was Ford Hardy, owner of The Catch Bar & Grill. I said nothing but waited for the man to make his approach. He wasn’t a stranger exactly, but I had no desire for idle chitchat.
“I’ve been hoping to run into you,” he greeted.
I stayed silent.
Ford chuckled. “Not too talkative, are you?”
“Not much to say, I guess.”
Ford’s expression grew serious. “I just wanted to thank you for your help a few months back.”
“I didn’t do anything anyone else wouldn’t do.” Ford had been attacked by someone sick in the head. He’d been jumped from behind and knocked unconscious. I’d just come along at the right time.
“Either way, thank you.” He held out a hand, and I took it for a shake. “Come into the bar sometime. I’ll treat you to a beer and a meal. It’s the least I can do.”
I fought the wince that wanted to surface. The last thing I wanted was to sit around at the island watering hole. People whispered, thinking they were being discreet when they were anything but. Even worse, they sometimes thought it was completely acceptable to approach and ask me a million intrusive questions. “I’ll try and come by.”
Ford grinned. “I’m taking that as a fat chance in hell.”
My lips twitched. “You’re not a stupid man.”
“Thank God for that. Well, if I can ever do anything to repay you, just let me know. My brother’s a contractor. We could give you a couple of days on that house of yours if you’d like.”
My jaw tightened. “I’m good. But thanks for the offer.”
Ford nodded and gave me a wave before heading back towards The Catch. “There’s no expiration date on that.”
I wouldn’t take Ford up on his offer of help unless I got desperate. I needed to do this on my own. I started towards the store. Pulling the creaking screen door open, I walked inside. It was still a bit early, but when 4:00 a.m. was your usual wakeup call, 4:30 p.m. was just about perfect for dinner. Plus, I could avoid the after-work crowd.
I made my way towards the kitchen at the far end of the grocery but stopped in my tracks when I heard Caelyn’s voice.
“Is there any way you could give me more hours? Or more of the bookkeeping to do?”
Mr. Walters, the owner of the store, chuckled. “You’re doing it all already, deary. I barely show up here anymore.”
“Well, do you know of anyone else who might be looking for some help for things I could do from home?” she pressed.
“Are the two jobs you have not enough? You’re gonna work yourself to the bone. And you need to be home for those kids.”
“I know.” Caelyn’s voice seemed to deflate on the words. “But Mia got accepted into this gymnastics program, and it costs an arm and a leg.”
Walters’ voice gentled. “I’d be happy to loan you the fees—”
“No,” Caelyn cut Mr. Walters off. “You’ve done more than enough for us.”
A foreign feeling invaded my chest. A twisting sensation that burned. I’d heard the talk around the island that Caelyn had taken in her three younger siblings after their parents had been involved in some sort of drug bust. I couldn’t imagine taking all that on when she must’ve been barely more than a child herself.
I cleared my throat, stepping around the end of the aisle. Caelyn looked up, the frown marring her gorgeous face quickly turning into a bright smile. “Griffin. It’s good to see you. Have you finally given in to trying one of my salads?”
I gave my head a shake. “I think I’ll stick with the sandwich.”
Walters grinned. “I don’t know, Caelyn can make kale pretty tasty.”
I didn’t try to fight the twisting of my face. “No, thank you.”
Walters chuckled. “Maybe another day. All right, I’m off.” He turned to Caelyn. “You let me know if you change your mind.”
Caelyn reached up on her tiptoes, pressing her lips to the old man’s cheek. “Thank you.”
Walters headed out of the store, and just Caelyn and I were left. I slid onto a stool at the counter. It was rare that I waited here for my food, but I couldn’t seem to resist the temptation today. I had this undeniable urge to make sure she was okay.
“So, what’ll it be? Some version of meat and cheese?”
I almost chuckled. Almost. “Sounds good to me. But I know you’ll sneak some vegetables on there somehow.”
“Gotta keep you from getting scurvy.”
I almost choked. “I thought that was from not enough vitamin C. I drink my orange juice.”
Caelyn shook her head and started pulling things out of a fridge below the counter. “There’s vitamin C in vegetables, too. And lots of other nutritious things you need.”
“Good thing I come in here a few times a week then.”
“Good thing.”
An idea was forming in the back of my mind. One that just might be the answer to helping Caelyn out of her predicament and giving me some nice benefits, as well.
The screen door banged open. “Cae Cae!” a young girl’s voice called out. Soon, there was a flash of movement past me.
Caelyn stepped around the counter and lifted the little girl into her arms as she hurled herself at Caelyn. “How was your day?”
“So good. I taught cartwheels at recess, and you left me my favorite cookie in my lunch.”
Caelyn laughed. “Sounds like a good day to me. Where are the rest of the tiny terrors?”
The little girl beamed up at Caelyn. “They’re coming, but they were being too slow, so I ran when I got to the parking lot.” Her gaze caught on me. “Whoa. Are you a giant?”
I wanted to laugh but seeing the easy affection between the girl and Caelyn stole my ability to speak.
“Mia, this is Mr. Griffin. Griffin, this is my little sister, Mia.”
The girl looked so much like Beth had at that age, I struggled to find words. “It’s nice to meet you, Mia.” My voice came out rougher than before, and I tried to force my lips into a smile, but the action felt foreign.
“Hey, sis,” a male voice called.
I turned to see a boy who looked to be about sixteen or seventeen. As soon as he caught sight of me, wariness filled his features. He quickly crossed to his sisters, tugging another girl behind him. “Who’s this?”
Caelyn pressed her lips together as if holding back a laugh. “This is Mr. Griffin. Griffin, this is Will and Ava, my other two siblings. I hope you don’t mind, but they usually hang with me for thirty minutes before Molly takes over. Kids, you can go hang out in the office while I get Mr. Griffin’s sandwich ready.”
“I wanna stay with you and help,” Mia whined.
“I’ll go into the office,” Ava offered. She had taken a step behind her brother as if hiding from me.
“They can stay.” The words were out before I could stop them. Awkward and a little gruff, but Mia beamed.
“See, Mr. Griffin wants me to help make his sandwich.”
Caelyn shook her head. “Well, if that’s the case, we better wash our hands.”
Ava headed for the back office while Will took a seat next to me at the counter, eyeing me carefully. Caelyn helped Mia up onto a little stool by the sink, and they washed their hands, Mia singing some sort of song that counted off the seconds.
“All clean,” she called. “No germies can last to thirty.”
I couldn’t hold in my chuckle this time. “I guess they can’t.”
“I never thought I’d see the day,” Caelyn started, putting a hand over her heart. “I do believe you laughed, Griffin Lockwood. Who knew all it took was a seven-year-old singing about germs?”
Sunny Shelly’s Review: 5 Stars
Wow, wow, wow. I have seen bits and pieces of Caelyn and Griffin’s story teased in the other Wrecked books, and their full story was so much more than I ever could have asked for!! From the first book in this series, we knew that Caelyn was a single parent/guardian to her younger siblings. And from previous appearances by Griffin, he was a grumpy loner who spoke in grunts. But when these two get together — and help one another heal the scars of their pasts — it their slow-burn romance is BEAUTIFUL!
My heart broke for Griffin. To go through that kind of family tragedy and be the only one left standing must have been torture. He is so closed off to the world, but little by little, Caelyn and the kids worm their way into his heart and make his lonely estate a home once again. I loved seeing how Will opened up and bonded with Griffin, despite his initial feelings of not liking the island loner. And Mia was just adorable with her “giant”!! But it was Ava who I really shed tears for, especially when she opened up and told Griffin that she loved him. This guy was like the best big brother for the kids, and he was perfect for Caelyn!
Having always had to be the strong one, the one who protected her little siblings, my heart was full of joy for Caelyn when she finally let herself depend on Griffin. This slow-burn romance is SLOOOOWWW but these two both have some baggage to work through to get on the same page. He keeps to himself because he’d been betrayed by so many people after his family’s accident, and it’s hard for him to let Caelyn in. And she only knows what it’s like to be let down by those who are supposed to love you, so believing in what Griffin is offering her is hard for Caelyn to really accept. But in the end, it makes them so much stronger together.
Wrecked Palace is a standalone in the Wrecked series, but there are plenty of appearances by the other couples. The friendship between Kenna, Bell and Caelyn is so awesome, and these besties are more like sisters than anything else. They are just there for each other, always! I even loved the way Griffin got taken in by Ford and Crosby. And I can’t wait to see how Shay will fit into this group when her book comes out next!
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
About Catherine 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.
Once upon a time, a boy and a girl met and fell in love…
That’s the way my love story began, but unlike the fairy tale, it ended with me standing in the cemetery, watching my prince get lowered into the ground, along with all our dreams.
Now he’s gone and I’m lost.
Until an impromptu trip to my family’s beach house has me spending time with Ryan.
With his help, I’m learning to live again and make plans for the future.
The only problem is, we both know they can’t include him.
So, when our time is up, we do the only thing we can do—go our separate ways.
Ryan
My entire life, I’ve felt like the waves in a raging sea—crashing and breaking, never settling.
Until Micaela stormed in like a hurricane, colliding into my life and my heart.
I thought she’d be my destruction, but instead she turned out to be my calm.
The more time we spend together, the more life she breathes into both of us.
But all too quickly, our time is up and she’s ready to face her future—one I can’t be a part of.
So, I do the impossible and walk away.
But life is crazy, and love knows no bounds. You might’ve thought this is where our story ends, but the truth is… it’s only the beginning.
Read an Excerpt:
“I can’t believe you’re graduating tomorrow.” Lexi, my best friend and pseudo cousin, takes a hit off the joint she brought with her as a graduation gift and passes it to me.
I take a small hit, since I’m not usually one to get high, and nod. “This will be you next year.”
I pass the joint to Georgia, my other pseudo cousin and best friend. “Both of you, right?”
“Yep,” Lexi says, speaking for her younger sister like she often does. “Georgia took extra classes and we’ll be walking across the stage together. We’ll both be free from educational hell in twelve months.”
Without taking a hit, Georgia passes the joint to Lexi. “I’d hardly call it hell. We go to a private school that costs more a year than most pay for their house.” She rolls her eyes playfully. “Our lunch is catered and includes items like sushi and Thai, and we have a Starbucks… an actual Starbucks in the quad.”
I laugh at that, but don’t argue. She’s not wrong. Lexi and Georgia live in Los Angeles and attend one of the most prestigious private schools on the West Coast. Similar to the one I attend here in Las Vegas… well, did attend.
As of tomorrow at ten o’clock I will officially be a high school graduate. And come August I’ll be a freshman at the University of Las Vegas.
“Semantics.” Lexi takes another hit. “I can’t wait to be done with high school. It’s such a waste. I don’t need a diploma to do what I want to do.”
“You need one to go to college,” Georgia points out.
Lexi rolls her eyes. “Maybe I won’t go.” She shrugs, making Georgia and me laugh.
We all know Lexi is all talk. She’s a daddy’s girl through and through, and Tristan Scott has made it clear a college education is important, which means Lexi Scott will be getting one, whether she likes it or not.
About Nikki Ash:
Nikki Ash resides in South Florida where she is an English teacher and mom by day and a writer by night. When she’s not writing, you can find her with a book in her hand. From the Boxcar Children to Wuthering Heights to the latest Single Parent Romance, she has lived and breathed every type of book.
Reading is like breathing in, writing is like breathing out. – Pam Ally
While reading and writing are her passions, her two children are her entire world. You can probably find them at a Disney park before you would find them at home on the
Sunny Shelly Reads 
