My worst mistake has returned. And he’s all I can think about.
My name is Scarlett Albright and my life is a mess.
Who runs off to Vegas for a girl’s weekend away and wakes up married to a football superstar? I did.
Fast forward four years later and I’m on my second divorce and don’t have any intention of going for a third. I’m done with men. Until the night I run into him…
Lachlan Rogers.
Husband number one.
Big time football superstar, one night stand turned husband, then ex-husband within twenty-four hours. Last time we saw each other it was drinks, sheets, shower and go our separate ways. Oh and a wedding.
How can I keep him at bay and protect my heart from breaking again?
Something Old is a saccharine-sweet second-chance romance. On the same day that her second divorce is finalized, Scarlett sees her first husband, the hunky Thor-like god she married after a one-night-stand in Vegas and promptly divorced.
When fate keeps putting Lachlan and Scarlett in each other’s orbits, she can’t help but give in and give Lachlan a second chance. Their chemistry is electric, and even though she doesn’t want to date again after her current divorce, being with Lachlan is so easy and natural, she wonders why she didn’t give him more of a chance the first time around. Lachlan, meanwhile, wonders why he didn’t fight harder for Scarlett after their one night together, and isn’t going to let another chance slip through his fingers.
There is some drama between Lachlan and Scarlett due to her stalker ex-husband, and the teenager he mentors through the Big Brother program. Some of it, I felt, was forced and didn’t seem organic in keeping them apart. But it does force them to talk things through.
Overall, this was a sweet second-chance story. I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
AUTHOR BIO
Liz Lovelock is from bright sunny Queensland in Australia. She is the mother of three little monsters, a wife to an amazing husband and very much a lover of everything books and reading. Liz has always loved books and, from a very young age she began reading comic books and then in high school her passion grew. She was given Tomorrow When The War Began by John Marsden for an assignment but, when that was done she continued to discover new books to fall in love with.
Liz always has a book she is currently enjoying and, a notebook beside her bed for in her hand bag for when inspiration hits at those crazy times. She is a stationary addict and will buy more notebooks and pens then what she needs. Her one click finger likes to go crazy as well.
About the Book Title: The Marriage CodeAuthor: Brook BurroughsRelease Date: January 1, 2021Publisher: Montlake Summary Emma has always lived her life according to a plan. But after turning down her boyfriend’s proposal, everything starts to crumble. In an effort to save the one thing she cares about—her job—she must recruit her colleague, Rishi, to be on her development team…only she may or may not have received the position he was promised. (She did.) Rishi cannot believe that he got passed over for promotion. To make matters worse, not only does his job require him to return home to Bangalore with his nemesis, Emma, but his parents now expect him to choose a bride and get married. So, when Emma makes him an offer—join her team, and she’ll write an algorithm to find him the perfect bride—he reluctantly accepts. Neither of them expect her marriage code to work so well—or to fall for one another—which leads Emma and Rishi to wonder if leaving fate up to formulas is really an equation for lasting love.
*** Q&A with Author Brooke Burroughs
The Marriage Code is your debut novel. Can you tell us about your publishing journey?
In a word, long! I’m always envious reading about writers who wrote their first book, got an agent, and published in like, the span of six months. Mine was definitely longer as this book was first written as a memoir, then I fictionalized the story which took a few years. The big moment was when Melissa Marino selected my manuscript for Pitchwars, and that led me to find my agent.
As tech experts both your hero and heroine tend to be data driven which leads to the creation of ‘the marriage code’. What is the code and how did it come about?
The marriage code is a customized search for the perfect woman that Emma develops for her coworker Rishi. It only finds women who match his exact specifications (well, his and his family’s). I like to think of it as Match.com (or shaadi.com in India) on steroids.
This is definitely not a love at first sight story! In fact, Rishi and Emma have quite a difficult time getting along at first. Can you describe their first meeting and how this sets the scene for their relationship?
Emma is in a super rough spot. Her carefully constructed world is collapsing because her boyfriend has publicly proposed to her, she wasn’t ready, and he in turn blames her for turning him down. So the next day she goes into work, clinging to the fact that at least she has her job, and this project she’s put all her blood, sweat, and tears into. But then Rishi, a stranger, tells her that this project is no longer hers. For a woman who likes patterns and predictability, well…she loses it. Now Emma is faced with the threat of no job, no boyfriend, no homey apartment—until she convinces her manager to give the project to her, not knowing Rishi is slated to manage it, and that it’s his salvation from the pressures of his family. They still need to work together…closely. And that sets the two of them off on a journey they never expected.
Rivals to friends to confidants … to something much, much more. What do you consider the turning point in their story?
I think the big pivot for Emma and Rishi is when she finally lets her guard down and tells him about her past when they’re in Kerala. Emma is really private and feels like she’s always had to protect her vulnerability to be successful, and I think for a lot of women in tech that can be true (well, probably true for a lot of women in many jobs). That opening up leads to the much, much more!
Emma is from the Northwest and Rishi from the south–southern India that is. There are some serious cultural differences between these two. What are some of the biggest roadblocks they face in their relationship?
Emma’s biggest roadblock is trying to protect herself. She’s carefully constructed this world she lives in to be compartmentalized, practical, and to suit the life she thinks she needs to rely on. Even though Rishi’s not out to get her professionally, she’s been taken advantage of before by male coworkers and she doesn’t want to let it happen again. For Rishi, the pressure to get married to a woman who will fit into the culture of his family is the biggest roadblock. His family depends on him, and their reference point for someone marrying outside their culture has caused so much heartache, it’s hard to get past that.
As much as they are different, Rishi and Emma have a lot in common — including their careers and their drive to succeed. What are some other similarities that you found when writing your hero and heroine?
Food is something that very much brings these two together. For Emma, growing up poor and with her grandmother, who had to work multiple jobs to support her, throughout her childhood she basically survived on canned food and hotdogs. So now that she’s out on her own, she relishes in amazing cuisine wherever she can get it. For Rishi, he is super passionate about the different varieties of Indian food, but his favorite is still what his mom cooks. He often serves as her culinary guide around Bangalore, and Emma helps him open his eyes to the food he’s been eating his entire life. That balance brings them together often, and how they are able to become friends—and more!
This is a very personal story to you—like Emma, you moved to India and had to adapt to your new environment. What are some customs that you liked the best? Which ones were more challenging for you?
When I first moved to India, and especially when interacting with my (now) husband’s family I was constantly trying to make sure I wasn’t offending anyone. In the US, we have one main gesture that is super offensive and it’s easy NOT to use it. In India, what you do with your hands and feet can be offensive, and so it’s more nuanced; there is a lot of using your right hand vs your left hand, not putting your feet towards someone, knowing when to take off your shoes, and that takes some constant reminding and getting used to. Oh, and eating with your hands. In the book, Emma feels like she looks like a toddler eating, and yeah, so do I!
My favorite customs are mostly around how in general, I think Indians cherish their traditions. Despite all the Western influence, it feels like people still care a lot about continuing to practice traditions of their family, religion, and heritage. Whether it’s the clothes people wear, the multitude of holidays, or the weddings chock full of ritual and customs, I think it’s amazing to take the time and intention to continue practicing those. I also really appreciate their reverence for elders. There is a lot of respect given to the wisdom and experience of older people in the culture that feels very different then how we often treat our elders in the US, for example.
Both you and your characters are very adventurous. What advice would you give to someone who is trying to make big decisions for their future?
If you want to try something that feels like it will challenge you (even if it’s scary!) do it! If you make a mistake you can always come back from it. Most of my regrets in life are because I didn’t do something, and it’s hard to recapture and relive those moments. I don’t have regrets on trying to do something new, like moving to another country or going on a safari in an open jeep with a lion five feet away (both scary and amazing). But I have regretted that trip I didn’t take, or words I didn’t say to someone. I think that’s one of my biggest life lessons.
Why is The Marriage Code the perfect book to introduce you to readers? The Marriage Code is very personal to me because I wanted to write a book that echoed some of the experiences I had moving to India and meeting my husband. So if there is any kind of introduction to my writing and me, this is definitely a good one! *** The Marriage Code Excerpt
Two cups of coffee. His laptop bag hung on one shoulder, threatening to slip off. His sunglasses fell from his head and teetered on the end of his nose as he approached the room. He tried to use his hip to push the handle down and splashed coffee on his jeans. He looked through the glass door. Emma was sitting there, laughing at him.
“Help, please,” he said, a thread of irritation in his voice, through the practically soundproof glass.
She made a big production of sighing and taking off her headphones and rolling her chair back inch by inch, the wheels moving as slowly as bad bandwidth. Yet the whole time, she was still smiling with complete amusement.
She pulled open the door, her arm sliding up the edge and blocking his entrance to the room with her body. “Can I help you? I mean, you look like you need help.”
“Uh, yeah. I got you a coffee. Apparently the last time I’ll do that. Take it.” He thrust it toward her. Now he could slide his sunglasses back on top of his head and save his suffering forearm from his laptop bag, which he was carrying like an old woman with an oversize purse.
“Oh, why, thank you.” Her eyes lit up in surprise as she tasted the coffee, just a sip, and looked up at him through her eyelashes. He tried not to notice how cute she looked, her nose hidden inside the cup, inhaling the coffee. But puppy cute. Like a tiny stray he’d found outside his house who needed help.
Rishi shook his head and glanced up at the projected screen. Now it was his turn to laugh. It reminded him of when his professor had once said, “Done code is better than perfect code.” This was definitely just done.
“Wait, are these the bugs you’re trying to address? What is this code?”
“Look, I’m not an app developer, but I’ve been reading up.” She unplugged her monitor, like she could hide the evidence. “I told you I needed help.”
“I’ll fix the bugs in the log. I think you should leave that to us app devs, honestly. You might break something.”
“Oh? Well, hopefully I didn’t break your marriage code.”
Sometimes she really exasperated him. “Emma, you can’t be perfect in every aspect.”
She tilted her head and pursed her lips, doing that puppy thing again. Or maybe like her part-android brain couldn’t process what he’d said.
He didn’t mean perfect in every aspect, of course. He shook his head. What was wrong with him? “I just meant you’re not an app developer. You’re good at web crawls, right? Desktop development? That’s more than most people can say.”
She straightened up and typed on her laptop. “Well, I guess you’ll be the judge of that. Should I put the candidates for the future Mrs. Iyengar on the big screen?” She looked at him before plugging in the HDMI cable.
He looked at the hall, still empty. Still way too early for anyone to be in here. “Sure. I’m ready for the big unveiling.” He took a deep breath and crossed his arms, leaning back in his seat. Was he ready? What if it hadn’t worked? Or what if he felt insta-love just by looking at the screen? Should he pray or something before she showed him what the results had come up with? He’d practically promised his mom he would take care of it. That he could find “the one.” And after his conversation with Sudhar, one of these women had to work.
Rishi’s feet tapped on the floor. Why was a sudden cocktail of impatience, dread, and curiosity swirling in his stomach? A perfect match could be presented to him in a few short seconds. Because if he knew anything about Emma Delaney, it was that she strove for perfection.
And control.
And with passion.
If they really went on an Indian tour together, outside the confines of Bangalore’s best eateries, what would it be like? He’d have to show her the best things about the country he called home. Let her taste the coconut-seeped curries of Kerala. Visit a roadside dhaba in Punjab where the paneer melted on your tongue. Show her the famous Madurai temples in his hometown, but also his favorite Ganesh temple, the tiny one near his apartment.
She’d have to see the flower vendors at Gandhi Bazaar, with their overflowing baskets of marigolds and roses, and eat chaat from his favorite cart in Vijayanagar. She’d take his India, place it in her mouth, and suck the joy of his country like a mango seed.
And end the tour by seeing what other flavors they could search out in the curves of each other’s skin.
What the hell was wrong with him? That couldn’t happen. Obviously, it couldn’t. And yet the thought snaked through him, a depraved viper swallowing his brain whole. He slumped over on the table, his elbow on the cold metal, his palm catching his forehead.
“Are you okay?” Emma had pulled her laptop up and slid it over toward him.
“Yeah, yeah. I’m fine. Just forgot something.” Like my mind.
“Here you go.”
Rishi took a deep breath. ***
Author Biography Brooke Burroughs has worked in the IT industry for over ten years and lived in India—where she met her husband—for three. Burroughs has experience navigating the feeling of being an outsider in a traditional, orthodox family. Luckily, she and her in-laws get along well now, but maybe it’s because she agreed to a small South Indian wedding (with almost a thousand people in attendance) and already happened to be a vegetarian with an Indian food–takeout obsession.
Saylor is LIVE! If you love… ✔️second chance romance
✔️a sexy, single dad
✔️a nerdy school teacher then you’ll love Saylor by Kelsie Rae.
When Owen Daniels, my high school sweetheart, skipped town to become a college football star, he shattered my heart––and my dreams. Eventually, despite being used to the numbness, I worked hard to grow into the best elementary school teacher I could be. And I was fine. Until a familiar last name popped up on my classroom roster. Owen’s back. But he’s not alone. And my adorable new student who calls him Daddy? He should’ve been mine. No matter how easily that sweet little boy has managed to slip past my defenses, I’m committed to keeping my brittle heart safe from his father. But Owen has made his intentions clear. He’s hell-bent on winning me back. So, when my little sister hatches a plan for revenge, I’m officially on board. After all, we’re playing by my rules now. Right?
Ah! It’s been a year since Skye, the last book in Kelsie Rae’s Signature Sweethearts book came out, and I forgot all about Saylor and her ex-boyfriend, the hot former football player/single dad! There were bits and pieces of Saylor and Owen’s history that we got in the Skye and Sway books (the other two sisters), and now we finally, finally get their story!
This is second-chance romance at its finest. It is angsty and sweet, swoony and romantic. Owen is going for the Hail Mary of reunions, and he pulls out all the stops when it comes to gaining Saylor’s trust again. She doesn’t let her guard down easily, which I liked, and makes him work for it. They are both coming from a mature place — him wanting to correct the biggest mistake of his life and her not wanting to get crushed again by him the way she had ten years ago. But they communicate, they don’t play games — aside from one incident where Saylor’s insecurities get the best of her and she runs rather than talk things out with Owen. But overall, this was a wonderful, delightful, sweet reunion!
I was kinda disappointed when the reason behind Owen and Saylor’s breakup was finally revealed. I get it, and understand why Owen did what he did. But had Saylor known the truth, she maybe would have gone after him, and I think it would have saved both of them a lot of heartache and misery over the last few years. Then again, like Owen says, their journey was rocky and twisted, but he wouldn’t have Grady in his life had he not broken both of their hearts. And that is one adorable kid!
The proposal scene was absolutely perfect, and brought a tear to my eye. I loved this book, and how it takes place during the time that Skye and Liam are split up, so it then dovetails with their reunion.
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
Romantically Perfect (Perfectly Imperfect Love Series Book 3) is LIVE!
#1-Click today!
Romantically Perfect (Perfectly Imperfect Love Series Book 3)
Mr. Perfect isn’t always found in the pages of a romance novel. Sometimes, he’s standing right in front of you.
Diana Moore is a fan of love, but love isn’t a fan of hers. After a string of failed relationships, she’s decided to focus her time on finding new passions.
According to Garrett Henley, love is for suckers, and Diana’s heart-on-the-sleeve attitude has put her firmly in the friend zone.
When Garrett volunteers to help her find a new hobby, will the relationship denier and the romance fanatic find true love may be looking them right in the eye?
Romantically Perfect is a sweet friends-to-lovers story. Diana is a hopeless romantic who has given up on love after a string of bad relationships, while Garrett is a casual dater who believes that true love doesn’t exist. So when he agrees to help Diana find a new hobby, all the time they start spending together begins to feel a lot like a relationship. And before Garrett knows what hit him, he’s head over heels for his pretty colleague.
This is a sweet and charming romance about two people who discover that what they have been looking for has been right in front of them. This is the third book in a series, but it reads like a standalone. There is a great group of secondary characters in this story, and I loved Diana’s kinda quirky family.
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
Excerpt:
I lean my head back against a pool pillow and let the powerful jets do their job.
“So, who’s the latest victim?” Lanie asks.
I’d roll my eyes, but they are already closed. “I think I’m going to take a break from dating.”
“What?!” Lanie says way too loudly and the whole party quiets down.
“What’s wrong?” Kent yells from the pool.
“There’s something very wrong with Di. She just said she’s taking a dating break. I think we need a family intervention right now.”
Before I can even open my eyes, the oversized hot tub is filled with splashing and I groan and sink lower into the water, only my leg touches another leg and I jump back, opening my eyes to find the entire party has moved here.
“What?” I ask them, looking around at all the faces of my siblings and their significant others.
“You can’t be serious,” Kent states. “You are our crew love guru. Should we sign you up for like a dating app or something?”
“Yeah, here, hand me your phone and I’ll find you a good one,” C-Dog volunteers.
“First off, I don’t have my phone on me because we are in the water. Second, I’m allowed to not date. It’s not like I always have a boyfriend.”
Everyone stares at me deadpan. “OK, but I don’t rush out for the next one once a relationship ends.”
The blinking eyes staring back at me make me groan again.
“Di. We depend on you to be…well, you,” Kylie explains.
“Yeah, like our constant Juliet,” C-Dog points out while making an air heart with his fingers.
“We could all set you up on dates!” Kylie says excitedly.
“No way,” I retort. I’ve had several blind dates and they have all been epic disasters.
“Spoilsport,” she mutters.
“We could send in an application for a reality TV series,” Brix says with a wink.
I sigh. “Can’t I just not date?”
Lanie clears her throat. “Just promise us you aren’t giving up on love, and we’ll back off.”
“Fine,” I say way too loudly and throw my hands up in the air, “I’m not giving up on love. Happy?”
They all look at each other and back at me, nodding and murmuring “OK.”
“I love you all, but you drive me crazy,” I mutter as I pull myself out of the hot tub.
“Hey, don’t leave,” Kent pleads as I pick up my sundress.
“I’m not going to stay here and get the tenth degree over the fact that I don’t currently have a boyfriend,” I huff.
“Di-pie, don’t be pissed. We wuv you!” Clark says in his best little-boy voice because he knows I’m a sucker for him even though he’s one giant-ass baby now.
“I’m not pissed, I’m just annoyed.” I pull the sundress over my head. I sigh. “I promise only to be annoyed tonight.”
“Fair enough,” Kent says. “You good to drive home?”
I nod. Normally, I’d stay later, but tonight, I’m just not feeling it.
S.E.Rose is USA Today & International Bestselling romance author, S.E. Rose lives near Washington D.C. with her family. When she’s not wrangling her cats or keeping up with her kids, she’s plotting her next story. She loves all things wine, coffee, and cats. In her non-existent free time, she enjoys traveling, going to concerts, binging on her favorite shows, and reading, especially if it’s a good mystery or comedy.
Campus Player is the first book I’ve read by Jennifer Sucevic, and I really liked this slow-burn college athlete romance. At times, I really didn’t like Demi, but I loved Rowan right from the start. I found Demi to be extremely judgmental, and at times it was really hard to root for her to get the guy because Rowan was just SO sweet.
Demi has lived her life as the daughter of a popular college football coach, and since she now attends the same college where her dad coaches, she’s often been the subject of rumors that she’s fooling around with team members. While she has dated fellow athletes, she has a rule against dating one of her dad’s players… despite the fact that she clearly feels sparks whenever she’s around Rowan. And since he’s kind of unofficially part of her family with her dad being his mentor, she’s around him A LOT. But Demi judges EVERYONE. She wants nothing to do with Rowan because of the rumors that he’s a player.
And Rowan is just so damn sweet. I almost felt at times that he didn’t deserve her. He’s been in love with Demi for years, and has been keeping notes on all the little things that she likes. They have family dinner together once a week at her dad’s house, and while Rowan knows everything she’s shared over the last few years, I don’t think there’s a single personal fact about Rowan that Demi knows!
So when these two finally get together, I loved how open and honest he is with Demi. Again, she was quick to judge his situation and almost didn’t believe him when he confessed that he’d been waiting for her, making me wonder if she deserved him at all. Things are all fine and dandy between them for a while until Rowan’s bad-news dad pops up. I get why he makes the decision that he does in order to protect Demi and her father, but I hated that he made that choice at the same time. And Demi didn’t think to question what she walked in on? Did she not know him and how he feels about her by then?
Overall, Campus Player is an enjoyable college sports romance. Despite my feelings for the heroine, I did like Rowan a ton as a hero, and that’s what kept me reading!
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
Meet Jennifer Sucevic
Jennifer is a USA Today bestselling author who has published seventeen New Adult and Mature Young Adult novels. Her novels have been translated into both German and Dutch. Audiobooks are also in the works. She has a bachelor’s degree in History and a master’s degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She spent five years working as a high school counselor before relocating with her family. Jennifer lives in the Midwest with her husband and four children.
It was just a kiss. A kiss from the preacher’s daughter. And I loved every second of it. I would take 8 seconds of my lips on hers over any bull ride, anytime, anywhere. Each time I kissed my younger sister’s best friend she still managed to slip through my fingers and I couldn’t seem to keep her. I thought I had time. When the news of her broken engagement runs rampant through town, I’m ready this time. This time I won’t lose her. But when the truth about her break up surfaces, will she still look at me the same way?
Emily Bowie is a new-to-me author, and I found Southern Hearts to be a delightful friends-to-lovers romance. There’s a hint of second chances in there, as Danger and Haven shared a few kisses and more as teens. They never dated, but they had feelings that run deep, and were constantly around one another as she is his little sister Frankie’s best friend.
Now, Danger and Haven are both in their 20s, she’s coming off a broken engagement and finds herself as Danger’s housemate. It’s the perfect scenario for Danger to finally make his move. And while things go great between Danger and Haven at first, he’s holding on to a secret that could ruin everything he’s built with the girl of his dreams.
Southern Hearts is sweet and funny, a little angsty, and has all the small-town romance feels. This book is a second in a series, but reads as a standalone.
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
ABOUT EMILY
Emily Bowie is from a small town in Western Canada. She has been making characters come to life through her writing since she was old enough to put her thoughts on paper. She loves her white wine cold, her heels red, and her books spicy.
She married her high school sweetheart and they have two amazing children.
When she is not writing she can be found reading a good book, making digital scrapbooks and being physically active–whether it is at the gym, going for a walk, or playing /keep up with her children.
Look for her next book: Crashing Hearts: An Oakport Beach standalone
Other books by Emily Bowie: Bennett Brothers Series: Recklessly Mine, Recklessly Forbidden, & Recklessly Devoted
Nothing puts the final bullet in a girl’s rep like a leaked sex tape. Especially one starring her and the cocky quarterback who’s had it out for her since day one. Yep, you guessed it. That girl is me.
At Cypress Prep, West is king, but all I see when I look at him is the wicked prick who gets off on trying to break me.
His plaything.
Go ahead. Give him a round of applause for winning that last round, but know this—hell hath no fury like a girl from the south side with a baseball bat.
Hurt me once, shame on you. Hurt me twice… over my dead body.
***
NEVER HIS GIRL is the highly anticipated continuation of the KINGS OF CYPRESS PREP series. This is book two in a trilogy and should only be read after completing book one, THE GOLDEN BOYS.
This saga contains strong bully themes. So, if you’re not into romances where hate turns into love (… eventually), and if you don’t like your heroes of the unapologetically alpha variety, this might not be the series for you. There is no rape or dubious consent whatsoever. However, due to adult themes and sexual situations, this one’s only for the 18+ crowd.
This series is sure to give you GOSSIP GIRL and ONE TREE HILL vibes, and the angst will have you burning through the pages to find out what happens next. One-click and get lost in this series today!
To celebrate the release of Never His Girl, Rachel Jonas and Nikki Thorne are giving away a set of paperbacks and a $20 Amazon Gift Card! Head to Facebook to enter:
To celebrate the release of Never His Girl, Rachel Jonas and Nikki Thorne are giving away a set of paperbacks and a $20 Amazon Gift Card! Head to Facebook to enter:
Never His Girl is the second Kings Of Cypress Prep book, and picks up where The Golden Boys left off. It is not a standalone, and is the second in a trilogy featuring Blue and Wes as the main characters, so it does end on a cliffhanger.
I really liked the love/hate relationship with Wes and Blue, and the push and pull between them as they both clearly struggled with their feelings for each other. He was AWFUL to her, and then just flipped a switch, and she struggled with whether or not to trust him. That clearly backfired on her when their sex tape was revealed at the end of book #1.
Now we have Wes realizing that he’s been a real dick, and wanting to make it up to Blue. He’s no longer bullying her, but is becoming borderline stalker as he tries to make things right. Not stalker in a bad way, but he’s actually really sweet as he waits to walk her to class every day, sends her flowers, upgrades her hotel room while they are at an away game. He really puts in the effort, and I loved seeing it happen, rather than being told that it was happening off the page.
But there was still the issue of WHY he hated Blue so much… Finally, we get the scene where he tells her why he hated her on sight. I was so glad that Blue called him out for not questioning her about the photo his dad has of her, why he jumped to conclusions… And that also opened the door to theories about why Vin Golden has that photo to begin with.
And we also get the explanation behind the mysterious situation with Wes and his ex, Casey. The secret that could ruin his future. It’s kind of a doozy, and it’s not resolved before the end of this book.
Like the first book, this ends on a cliffhanger. And once again, just as Blue thinks things might finally be going her way, the rug is pulled out from underneath her. When it comes to Blue and Wes, she very well may never be his girl… If this is going where I think it’s going, I can’t wait to see what unfolds in book #3.
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
That was the question rolling around Larissa Mason’s mind just before she asked Hollis Hudson to be her fake boyfriend. It was only supposed to be for five minutes, after all. Granted, that was also before she felt his hand on the small of her back as he charmed the heck out of her family.
She hadn’t heard his laugh yet either.
And it was definitely before she saw the football god shirtless. Otherwise, she would’ve had an idea of just how hard some things could be. It turns out that pretending to be in love with a crazily handsome, somewhat enigmatic, and absolutely unforgettable tight end (that has an amazing tight end) is easy. Reminding herself that just because opposites attract doesn’t mean they’re forever is much harder.
What they have isn’t love—it’s a relationship pact. Right?
Sunny Shelly’s Review: 5 Stars
The Relationship Pact is the third Kings of Football book in a collaboration with Adriana Locke, Ilsa Madden-Mills and Meghan Quinn. This third installment focuses on Hollis, and brilliantly ties the new character in to the worlds of Locke’s Mason family series and Landry family series.
The book takes place in the days between Christmas and New Year’s, in the same time frame as Crew and River’s books. Hollis has gone to Savannah to receive an award for the volunteer work he does with foster kids, and is spending a few extra days there since he has no family to spend the holiday with. He meets sassy, funny Larissa at a bar when she asks him to pose as her date to get her ex-boyfriend off her back. They hit it off immediately, and since Hollis needs a date for a dinner with Lincoln Landry and Larissa a date for her stepdad’s gala event, their relationship pact is born.
Besides the agreed-upon dates, Larissa and Hollis begin spending more and more time together, and fall into an easy routine. It’s not hard for him to imagine seeing more of Larissa in his life, and that kind of freaks him out. Having been raised in the foster system, Hollis is used to being alone and not trusting people. He’s funny and sweet, but lacks self-confidence and doesn’t think he has anything to offer a girlfriend. He’s afraid to get close to people because he’s always left behind. Larissa, meanwhile, has dated alot of jocks and had sworn off all athletes before knowing that Hollis was a college football player. Her insecurities about being second-best to the game come into play when Hollis walks away from her after a freak-out. But despite the fact that they only spent a few days together, Larissa knows that there is a wonderful, sweet, loyal man behind that fortress he’s put up and vows to fight for him.
The breakup scene left me a teary mess. And the make-up scene was magnificent. Hollis really finds a family in loving Larissa, and I loved how this couple’s HEA worked out! My only complaint is that I wish that Hollis would have explained the significance of When You Wish Upon A Star to Larissa; I was really hoping to see that scene. Oh well. Besides that, The Relationship Pact is a perfect fake-romance story!
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
About the Author: USA Today and Washington Post bestselling author Adriana Locke lives and breathes books. After years of slightly obsessive relationships with the flawed bad boys created by other authors, Adriana has created her own.
She resides in the Midwest with her husband, sons, and two dogs. She spends a large amount of time playing with her kids, drinking coffee, and cooking. You can find her outside if the weather’s nice and there’s always a piece of candy in her pocket.
GOOD WITH HIS HANDS by Lauren Blakely & Lili Valente Release Date: December 18th
GOOD WITH HIS HANDS, a sexy emotionally-charged romance novel from bestselling authors Lauren Blakely and Lili Valente, is NOW AVAILABLE!! You’ll love this hot and heartfelt best friend’s brother romance with all sorts of twists!
Blurb:
A sexy best friend’s brother romance from bestselling authors Lauren Blakely and Lili Valente!
I’m the wrong guy for her.
She’s sunshine and cherry pie. I’m whiskey and fast cars. I’m also keeping one hell of a secret from the woman I’ve wanted for years.
But when I find a list my sister left behind for Ruby, I’ve got no choice but to offer the sexy, big-hearted girl next door both a road trip and a chance.
A chance to discover how big she can dream.
And if some of those dreams play out in the bedroom? Well, there’s nothing wrong with a few — okay, several — hot nights together as we hit the beach, visit old stomping grounds, and test all sorts of limits, in and out of the sheets.
Seven days, then I’m off, moving across the country, far away from her.
No way can things get complicated in a week. Ruby and I aren’t the kind of dream that has a shot of coming true.
Especially once she learns what I’ve done.
GOOD WITH HIS HANDS is a sexy standalone romance in the Good in Bed series!
Sunny Shelly’s Review: 3 Stars
I am a big fan of Lauren Blakely’s books, but every now and then there is a clunker. And Good With His Hands was a clunker for me.
I liked the setup of the story: Ruby has just finished physical therapy following a car accident that killed her best friend Claire two years ago. She’s always had a crush on Claire’s brother, Jesse, and it turns out that he has feelings for her too. But he thinks it would be creepy to ask Ruby out now that Claire is dead, especially since he’s about to move to the West Coast and open a second branch of his successful garage. But when Ruby and Jesse embark on a road trip, that all changes…
I can’t put my finger on it, but there was something about this story that just fell short for me. In parts, I felt like things were being forced. I just had a hard time connecting to Jesse and Ruby as characters and rooting for them to get together.
The story flows nicely, and Lili Valente and Lauren Blakely did a nice job with this collab. It just wasn’t one of those books that I can’t wait to get back to…
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
About Lauren Blakely: A #1 New York Times Bestselling, #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling, and #1 Audible Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that’s sweet, sexy and witty. She also writes red-hot, ultra-steamy romance for her Lauren Blakely After Dark line. She’d love to give you a free book today!
About Lili Valente: Author of over forty novels, USA Today Bestseller Lili Valente writes everything from steamy suspense to laugh-out-loud romantic comedies. A die-hard romantic, she can’t resist a story where love wins big. Because love should always win. Learn more at www.lilivalente.com.
For Calliope James it didn’t only leave a mark, it tore out her heart and left it bleeding on the ground.
He was her best friend. Her first kiss. Her everything.
Until one day, he wasn’t.
Zachary Messiah will never forget the girl with eyes the color of whiskey. But he’s not that boy anymore.
Cold. Cruel. He’s devoid of emotion.
Their paths were never supposed to cross again. But love doesn’t always play by the rules.
Now he’s the King of Steinbeck University and she’s the new girl on campus … and the pasts they have fought so hard to bury are about to collide.
Only this time, they might not survive the fallout.
Sunny Shelly’s Review: 4 Stars
On The Rebound is a darker college romance about a boy who hates that he still loves his ex-girlfriend, and the girl who doesn’t understand why. Running into one another on the campus of Steinbeck University kind of ruins both Calli and Zach’s plans for the upcoming year. He doesn’t want to be trapped in the life he’s being forced to lead, and she’s lonely and grieving her mother’s death, even though her dad and estranged brother are right there. Seeing Zach stirs up all kinds of feelings for Calli again, and it’s all she can do to not crumble completely.
This is not a swoony second-chance romance. It has a darker overtone. I wouldn’t say that Zach is a bully, but he definitely goes out of his way to make Calli’s life miserable. While Calli is grieving for her own family loss, Zach’s life has been turned upside-down thanks to an accident that left his brother comatose, and he has been plopped into the basketball team as Declan’s replacement. But instead of seeking solace in Calli, his once best friend, once his everything, Zach does all he can to make Calli regret coming to Steinbeck.
Then finally, FINALLY, we get to why Zach hates Calli… and it was all a misunderstanding back when they were high schoolers. He never gave her a chance to explain what he (thought) he heard her say, but his insecurities twisted the situation into something that ripped them apart. There are some really nice moments after they hash out the past, and they make a mature decision to move forward. But their reunion also means having to face Zach’s dad and Calli’s brother and tell them the truth… Will Zach’s loyalty lie with Calli at the end of the day, or with his teammates?
In the end, this story is one that really pulls on your heartstrings. There really is a fine line between the love and hate that Zach and Calli feel for one another — because it’s really that they hate that they still love the one who broke their heart. Zach and Calli were soulmates from the time they were teenagers, and when his world has gone to $hit, Calli is still the only one who truly sees the real him. Even after the years they were apart and all the hurt they’d caused one another.
This story started out as a novella in a Halloween anthology, and the party that takes place in that prequel is referenced several times in On The Rebound. I later checked it out on iBooks, and it was definitely a bonus to have that backstory, so if you haven’t already read it, I highly recommend doing so.
I am definitely interested in the follow-up books to this series! I’m dying to get Callum’s story, especially. His turnabout from grade-A jerk to protective big brother was like the flip of a switch, and I really want to know what was going on with him as he dealt with their mom’s death and Declan’s accident.
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
About the Author: Author of over thirty mature young adult and new adult novels, LA COTTON is happiest writing the kind of books she loves to read: addictive stories full of teenage angst, tension, twists and turns.
Home is a small town in the middle of England where she currently juggles being a full-time writer with being a mother/referee to two little people. In her spare time (and when she’s not camped out in front of the laptop) you’ll most likely find LA immersed in a book, escaping the chaos that is life.
Sunny Shelly Reads 