From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bybee comes the story of two wine enthusiasts who ride the ups and downs of love in the vineyards of Tuscany.
Beginnings of Forever
The D’Angelo’s Book 3
by Catherine Bybee
Blurb:
Tasting wine is not enough: sommelier Giovanni D’Angelo wants to create it. To put his family first, he’s always deferred his dreamsโa vineyard to run, a woman to marry. But a three-week vineyard tour in Italy could set him back on track.
For Emma Rutledge, wine is in her blood. Intent to run the family wine business one day, she finds that the men in her family are only intent to push her out of it. But that’s fineโshe’s got a plan.
When Gio and Emma meet on a wine tour in Tuscany, their shared aspirations fuel an undeniable chemistry. Returning home to California, they work toward setting up Emma’s vineyard and a label of their own. But when Emma receives a life-altering diagnosis, she worries it’s all been for nothing.
As Emma works to cement her family legacy while dealing with this unexpected challenge, Gio tries to convince her that their future isn’t just wine.
It’s each other.
Praise for Beginning of Forever
“BEGINNING OF FOREVER was such an adorable + funny + sweet + sparky + just beautiful Italian/Californian wine love storyโI loved it!” โBJ’s Book Blog
“Oh, be still my heart!! I love how Catherine Bybee tells a love story. The D’Angelo’s are pure love and support โฆ They lead from the heart and it’s beautiful.” โSusanne Scott, GoodReads Reviewer
He handed her back her license. โNo. Itโs much greater than that. Two people from the same part of the world, meet in a different part of the world, who both had birthday gifts that put them in the same place at the same time. Some might call that a sign.โ He knew she was listening.
โWhat kind of sign?โ
โThat we were meant to meet.โ He leaned forward, stared into her eyes.
She paused. โYouโre suggesting romantically.โ
โI didnโt say that . . . but now that you mention it.โ He liked that her mind went there right along with his.
โDid you forget about the part where youโre looking for โthe oneโ and Iโm not looking at all?โ
Gio couldnโt help it. He looked at her lips and wondered briefly how she would taste. โMinor crossroads, bella,โ he said.
She shook her head. โYouโre one hell of a flirt.โ
โSays the woman who asked me if her butt looked good in her pants.โ
She giggled. โTouchรฉ.โ
โItโs okay. Iโm a patient man.โ He wasnโt, actually . . . but the white lie sounded good to his ears.
โIs that your way of saying youโre going to wear down my defenses?โ Emma asked.
โIโm sure as hell going to try.โ
Her cheeks lit up, her smile didnโt falter. โMen never talk to me like you do.โ
โIโm not like other men.โ
โAnd if I tell you that youโre wasting your time?โ she asked.
โItโs my time to waste.โ
She blinked several times. โIt was the bathing suit, wasnโt it?โ
It was his turn to laugh. โA vision that will come up every time I close my eyes.โ
โI wasnโt looking for a compliment.โ
โYes, you were. But no, cara, the swimsuit, while a bonus, is not what is prompting me to try.โ She intrigued him on every level.
โDonโt say I didnโt warn you.โ
โDuly noted.โ
*****
Author Info:
Catherine is a #1 Wall Street Journal, Amazon, and Indie Reader bestselling author. In addition, her books have also graced The New York Times and USA Today bestsellers lists. In total she has written thirty-nine beloved books that have collectively sold more than 10 million copies and have been translated into more than twenty languages.
Raised in Washington State, Bybee moved to Southern California in the hope of becoming a movie star. After growing bored with waiting tables, she returned to school and became a registered nurse, spending most of her career in urban emergency rooms. She now writes full time and has penned the Not Quite series, The Weekday Brides series, the Most Likely To series, and the First Wives series. Learn more about Catherine and her books at www.catherinebybee.com.
My husband died one year after our wedding, casting me as the charity case in my small Alaskan town.
Since then, everyoneโincluding my big familyโtry to keep me busy as if that will stop the haunting memories from resurfacing.
Do I know itโs time to move on? Of course, but thatโs easier said than done.
Then Van Adler rides into town. His bad boy vibe complete with his motorcycle and tattoos causes my body to fill with need for the first time since my husbandโs death.
To make matters worse, heโs the one who answered my ad for a roommate. Sharing the close quarters of our two-bedroom apartment means I have to set some ground rules like keeping his rippled abs covered. Soon we become friends, heโs making me dinners, and weโre binge-watching television shows all night.
The more our lives intertwine, the more I start to fall for him. Leaving me wondering, can you find the love of your life twice in one lifetime?
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I feel like this one needs a little bit of a warning. As I moved through it, I felt like I’d missed out a little by not reading a lot of Piper Rayne books. Not so much from missing the first in the Lake Starlight series but The Baileys series. This is a HUGE family and there is a lot that has happened to get to the point where this generation is finding their own HEA. It’s not required reading but I will say I felt a little confused by some of the references to how the misc parents got together. If that’s going to bother you, I’d suggest adding a few books to your TBR pile ๐
Having said that, I did enjoy getting to know Van and Brinley. Brin has been a little stuck since her husband died four years ago. It doesn’t help that she lives in a small town so it’s hard to escape the label of “widow”. She’s not really put herself out there, but she’s definitely not been pushed. Until Van.
Van isn’t the bad boy that the title implies – he’s caring, brave, and dedicated to his job. He’s patient when Brin needs it but he’s there to help her to be more daring, to be more herself and not who she thinks she should be. His support and encouragement of her is pretty awesome.
But while I liked the two of them, there was something just a bit missing for me from what I expect in a Piper Rayne story. The characters are interesting, their romance works, and I love all the assorted side characters … I don’t know. It’s a darn good story, it’s just not spectacular and that’s the norm when I pick up one of their stories. Others seemed to have loved it so maybe it was just me … regardless, it’s definitely worth a read no matter what.
*****
Author Info:
Piper Rayne is a USA Today Bestselling Author duo who write “heartwarming humor with a side of sizzle” about families, whether that be blood or found. They both have e-readers full of one-clickable books, they’re married to husbands who drive them to drink, and they’re both chauffeurs to their kids. Most of all, they love hot heroes and quirky heroines who make them laugh, and they hope you do, too!
He leads the league in scoring. My heart won’t give him another shot.ย
He leads the league in scoring. My heart won’t give him another shot. I swore I’d never come back to Denver. I’d never trust the wrong man again. But here I am, back in the same place as the bad boy athlete who broke my heart. Clay rules the basketball court, and now he’s gunning for redemption. But I’m not the same girl who fell for the man behind the all-star image and reputation. He made me want him like I’ve never wanted anyone. He made me feel like I was the only thing that mattered. A single look can make me ache. A whispered promise in his gruff voice makes my chest tight. Clay’ll do anything to prove we’re worth another shot.
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I am NOT a fan of books that end on cliffhangers. Well, at least not if I have to wait for more books to be released before I can get to the end ๐ I picked up Game Changer without knowing that it was a part of a trilogy, and I almost didn’t give it a shot but by the time I put it down I was so glad I did. Shot Taker picks up basically where the last book left off and we get to see what happens when Nova comes back to Denver & into Clay’s orbit.
While this is definitely the middle part of the story, without the excitement of the introduction or the satisfaction of a HEA, I enjoyed getting to know both Clay and Nova better. Nova is still that mix of sunshine & vulnerability, but she’s also developed a bit more grit. The implosion of her relationship with Clay really hurt her and she’s using that to her advantage. She’s going after what she wants with her art and she’s also going to make Clay work for another chance if he wants one.
Clay’s connection to Nova has changed him as well. It has him looking at more than just his goal to get to LA and has him evaluating the man, friend, & teammate he has been up to this point and whether that’s who he wants to be going forward. I’m really enjoying seeing him grow into a bit more than the grumpy (as$) baller that Nova first met.
Being the middle of the story there is a cliffhanger leading us to the last book, but I was really pleased with the lack of serious angst in this one. While there is some work that has to be done to get Clay & Nova back together, it wasn’t drama for drama’s sake and instead moved us forward to what will hopefully be a HEA. I’ll be interested to see where Lawson goes from here because I feel like, to get a full third book, there is going to have to be more drama to come. I have faith though that she can make it work.
*****
Author Info:
Piper Lawson is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of smart and steamy romance.
She writes women who follow their dreams, best friends who know your dirty secrets and love you anyway, and complex heroes you’ll fall hard for.
Piper lives in Canada with her tall and brilliant husband. She’s a sucker for dark eyes, dark coffee, and dark chocolate.ย
New York Times bestselling author Candace Camp invites you back to Stonecliffe for a second adventure! Action and romance ensue on this adventurous trip through the beautiful English countryside.
A Rogue at Stonecliffe
A Stonecliffe Novel
by Candace Camp
ISBN: 9781335513106
Publication Date: June 27, 2023
Publisher: Canary Street Press
Blurb:
When the love of her life left without any explanation, Annabeth Winfield moved on despairingly, knowing she’d never have a love as thrilling as her first ever again. Sloane Rutherford was roguish and daring, but as Annabeth grew up, she realized that their reckless romance was just a passing adventure, never meant for stability. Twelve years later, Annabeth is engaged to someone new, ready to start her life with a dependable man.
That’s when Sloane returns. And he brings with him a serious warning: Annabeth is in trouble.
After spending the last dozen years working as a spy, Sloane thought he’d left espionage behind him. But now a dangerous blackmailer is after Annabeth. Sloane offers to hide his former lover at Stonecliffe, the Rutherford estate, but stubborn Annabeth demands to be part of the investigation. As the two embark on a dangerous and exciting journey, memories of their past romance resurface. Sloane and Annabeth aren’t the wide-eyed children they used to be, but knowing they’re wrong for each other makes a nostalgic affair seem very right…
Sloane Rutherford wasnot a man who hesitated. He made his decisions, for good or ill, and he lived with them. But today he sat slouched at the breakfast table, food untouched, turning a note round and round in his hand, unable to make up his mind. Should he go to the wedding or not?
Actually there was no question whether he should do it; clearly he should not. The question was whether he would. The event itself didnโt figure into his thoughts. While he was surprised and faintly pleased by the fact that Noelle had invited him, he held most of his own family in disregardโฆand they looked on him with even less liking. Estranged wasnโt the word for his relationship with the Rutherfords. Shunned would be more like it.
So, no, he had no interest in the wedding itself, no reason to go, and normally he would have tossed the invitation in the ash can. But what drew him almost painfully to attend was precisely the thing that set up an equal ache of reluctance inside his chest: she would be there.
โAnnabeth?โ Marcus said from the doorway.
Sloane glanced up, startled, and scowled at his father.
โSo youโre reading minds now? One would think you would have done better at the card tables.โ
โYes, wouldnโt one?โ Marcus replied amicably, and strolled across the room. โSadly, it didnโt seem to work that way. And your problem didnโt take much intuition. Itโs written all over your face.โ
Marcus settled into a chair across from Sloane. Clad in his dressing gown and soft slippers, Marcus looked every inch the indolent aristocrat that he wasโhis luxurious white mane of hair combed back stylishly, his jaw smooth from his valetโs shaving, and his dressing gown made of the richest brocade and cut to fit perfectly. Even if he looked somewhat more worn than his age from years of reckless living, he was still a handsome man.
Sloane wondered if his father might catch the eye of some wealthy widow who would take the man off his handsโฆbut no, Marcus was equally banned from the tonโmore because of Sloaneโs history than his own numerous vices.
โWhat are you doing up so early?โ Sloane asked, ignoring Marcusโs comments. โYou usually donโt stir from your room until ten or eleven.โ
โUnfortunately the only appointment Harriman had available was at the ungodly time of nine. Itโs quite difficult to get in to see him on such short notice.โ
โAh, your tailor. That would be enough to pull you out of bed.โ Sloaneโs mouth quirked up. Marcus was still a peacock at his age. No doubt the bill the tailor sent Sloane would be enormous, but Sloane didnโt mind. Heโd far rather spend his money on his fatherโs fashion than on some of Marcusโs other habits.
โBut I wonโt complain. I was lucky he was able to make room to see me.โ
โI expect heโs grateful that I pay your bills on time, unlike most of his aristocratic clients,โ Sloane said dryly.
โAnd Iโll have the entire afternoon to enjoy the prospect of the wedding,โ Marcus went on.
โA wedding?โ Sloane asked skeptically. โYou look forward to weddings?โ
โNot everyone is as much of a hermit as you are. Some of us find social occasions agreeable.โ
โIโm not a hermit.โ
โMmm, yes. No doubt thatโs why you spend so much time alone, brooding. Cornwall suits you perfectly.โ Marcus picked up the cup of tea the footman had just set before him and took a sip, his blue eyes twinkling with amusement. โBut this wedding, I must admit, offers rather more entertainment than the usual one.โ
Sloane made no response. The last topic he wanted to discuss was this wedding.
But his father needed no reply. He went on, โFor one thing, there is Noelle, the lovely bride herself, and the potential of gossip over her scandalous past.โ
โI canโt see how running from Thorne is any scandal,โ Sloane interjected. โAnyone with sense would do so. I find it far stranger that she stopped.โ
Marcus chuckled. โYes, he is a dull one, isnโt he? But I suspect Noelle livens him up. Still, the wedding offers more excitement than that. Lady Lockwood can always be counted on to cause some sort of contretempsโฆthough hopefully she will not bring her dog. Of course Lord Edgerton will be there. I believe he annoys her ladyship even more than her first son-in-lawโwho knows what barbs she will cast his way?โ He paused, then added, โAnd just imagine the stir if you show up.โ
Sloane grunted and slid back from the table, standing. โWhich is precisely why I am not going to the wedding.โ
โOf course not. Thatโs why you havenโt tossed out that invitation. Why you were sitting there mooning over it when I came in.โ
โI wasnโt mooning over anything. I was justโฆโ He trailed off his sentence with a grimace.
โYou were just contemplating whether facing down your relatives outweighed the prospect of seeing Annabeth Winfield.โ
โI donโt give a tinkerโs damn about facing my relatives.โ
โAhโฆthen itโs whether seeing Annabeth is worth the pain.โ
โDonโt be absurd.โ Sloaneโs voice held little conviction, and he turned away, walking over to the window. He crossed his arms and gazed out at the street below. A moment passed, and he said in a quiet voice, โIt would be foolish to see her.โ
โNo doubt.โ Marcus let out a sigh. โThe foolish things are always the ones you most desire.โ
โIโve done well enough not seeing her for eleven years.โ Being out of the country most of that time had helped. But even since he returned to England, Sloane had avoided Annabethโwell, maybe there was that one time when he first returned and heโd stood outside Lady Lockwoodโs house in the dark to get a glimpse of Annabeth coming down the front steps and getting into a carriage. With Nathan. Sloaneโs lips tightened at the thought.
It had come as something of a shock to see her at Stonecliffe two months ago. He had not realized that she and Lady Lockwood were visiting or he wouldnโt have gone there.
But as he had stood in the entryway with Noelle and the others, a door had opened down the hall, and there she had been: her soft brown hair in a little disarray, her face faintly flushed from activity, carrying a basket full of flowers. And in the moment, he couldnโt speak, couldnโt move, could only stare. She was as lovely as ever. And he was as dumbstruck as ever.
Heโd turned and left like someone had shot at him. He wasnโt sure whether he even tossed a goodbye to Noelle and Carlisle. And bloody Nathanโof course heโd been there. That moment had disrupted Sloaneโs carefully nurtured indifference, and even after his heart stopped beating like a madmanโs and heโd reminded himself that heโd gotten over her years ago, he had not been able to keep his mind from going back to Annabeth time after time. Like a tongue returning to a bad tooth.
Behind him his father said, โWhy do you continue like this? Why donโt you go to see her, tell her how you feel?โ
Sloane snorted. โIโd have to fight my way through the butler and probably Lady Lockwood, too, to talk to her.โ
โIโve never known you to avoid a fight.โ
โMaybe not. But I canโt fight Annabeth. And sheโs the one who hates me.โ
โHow do you know that?โ Marcus persisted. โSheโs never married in all this time. She has no money, of course, but a sweet, pretty girl like that? Sheโs bound to have had plenty of offers.โ
โNo doubt.โ Sloaneโs jaw tightened. โBut that doesnโt mean sheโs been pining after me. I broke her heart. I knew I was breaking her heart. And the fact that I broke mine as well wouldnโt have made her feel any better or despise me any less.โ
โWhy donโt you tell her the truth?โ His fatherโs voice turned sharp, his usual affability gone. โExplain what you did. Why you did it. Tell her that bastard Asquith blackmailed you into it.โ
Sloane whirled, his eyes flashing. โI canโt tell her that. The truth would cause her just as much pain now as it would have then. I knew when I did it that I was sacrificing her love for a lifetime. I just thought my lifetime wouldnโt last very long.โ
Letting out a disgusted noise, Sloane started out of the room. Before heโd taken two steps, there was a furious pounding at the front door. Frowning, he turned toward it. The pounding continued, along with someone shouting his name. Sloane reached the entry hall just as the footman opened the door and began an indignant dressing-down of the boy before him.
But the boy on the doorstep paid no attention and shoved his way past the footman, calling again. โMr. Rutherford!โ
โTimmy.โ Sloane strode toward the door, alarm rising in him. โWhat is it? What the devil areโโ
โItโs the docks, sir. Mr. Haskell sent me. Youโve got to come quick. The new warehouse is on fire.โ
Excerpted from A Rogue at Stonecliffe by Candance Camp. Copyright ยฉ 2023 by Candace Camp and Anastasia Camp Hopcus. Published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
*****
Author Info:
Candace Camp is a New York Times bestselling author of over sixty novels of contemporary and historical romance. She grew up in Texas in a newspaper family, which explains her love of writing, but she earned a law degree and practiced law before making the decision to write full-time. She has received several writing awards, including the RT Book Reviews Lifetime Achievement Award for Western Romances. Visit her at http://www.candace-camp.com.
Tropes: Age Gap, Older Sisterโs Ex, Protective Hero, Forced Proximity
Blurb:
When Kaiden Hart, the captain of the Charleston Coyotes hockey team, comes to my aid in an emergency, itโs the first time Iโve seen him since I was a young girl.
And boy, have the years been kind to him.
When he invites me out to dinner, accepting seems like the polite thing to do.
At least thatโs what I tell myself.
How else can I justify wanting to be near my older sisterโs ex-boyfriend?
It couldnโt have anything to do with his piercing blue eyes and kissable lips.
Who cares if heโs got chiseled abs and a rear end I could bounce a quarter off of?
Itโs definitely not how protective he is toward me. Or how thoughtful he is offering me his spare room when I need a temporary place to stay.
I know I should refuse. Really, I should run in the opposite direction.
But itโs too late. Iโm already falling for him.
Now, all I can think about is catching the captain.
โOh,โ I breathe out in surprise. My arms slip around his waist without missing another beat and I settle my cheek against the solid warmth of his muscular chest. My eyes fall closed as I breathe in the scent of his laundry detergent combined with sunshine. His hold on me tightens and I feel his hands wrap farther around me, like he canโt get close enough.
Without an inch of space between our upper bodies, Iโm trying not to think about how my breasts are crushed to his torso. Or how the deep, rumbling sounds coming from his chest are sexy enough to give me an eargasm. Or how my insides feel like theyโre being tossed to and fro like a dinghy on turbulent seas.
Calm down. Itโs just a friendly hug between two friends.
A hug thatโs lasting a littleโmake that a lotโlonger than it should.
*****
Author Info:
Jacob Chance grew up in New England and still lives there today. Heโs a martial artist, a football fan, a practical joker, and junk food lover.
A USA Today bestselling author of sports romance and romantic suspense, Jacob plans on writing many more stories.
It takes a certain skill set to do my job, and distractions get in the way of doing it well. Thia Ames has become the biggest distraction of all, but I canโt afford to get involved. Not only am I almost twenty years older than her, but acting on my emotions could very well get us both killed. Fans of Brittney Sahinโs The Stealth Ops Series and Brynne Asherโs The Killers will love Resurgence by Shelby Gunter, a steamy, age gap, military romantic suspense.
Resurgence
The Shadow Series
by Shelby Gunter
Blurb:
Soldiers of fortune. Hired guns. Mercenaries.
Weโre the ones who go into enemy territory when no one else will. Itโs dangerous, itโs secretive, and weโre good at it.
It takes a certain skill set to do my job, and distractions get in the way of doing it well. And meeting Thia Ames has become the biggest distraction of all.
But when Thia is put up for auction on the black market, my team is tasked with her protection. She is my mission, and protecting her should be my sole focus. But the shadows that lurk behind her bright smile hint at a dark past that calls to the hero in me.
I canโt afford to get involved. Not only am I almost twenty years older than her, but acting on my emotions could very well get us both killed.
Her life hangs in the balance. I couldnโt save her before, but this time, Iโll do whatever it takesโฆ or die trying.
โIโm not telling you shit. Youโd be merciless.โ
โFine, Iโll get Declan to tell me.โ Her confidence makes me want to smile.
โHow? He wouldnโt betray me for anything.โ
โLook at this face.โ She points towards her nose as if I havenโt been staring at her this whole time. โYou donโt think my adorable little face couldnโt get him to squeal?โ
I narrow my eyes at her. โYou wouldnโt.โ
โWatch me.โ She takes off running toward the warehouse. Surprise causes me to falter, then Iโm running after her, my legs eating up the distance in no time. She looks over her shoulder, her eyes lighting up when she finds me chasing her.
I get two steps away from her when I reach out to grab her around the middle. She squeals, her laughter ringing out as she wiggles to get out of my hold.
โOh, no you donโt,โ I huff out with a laugh. I go to lift her over my shoulder, but sheโs too squirrelly. She relaxes her body, her weight dropping straight to the ground. I lose my footing with the sudden change, heading toward the ground like a fallen oak tree.
Twisting at the last second, I land on my shoulder, then roll over to my back, pulling Thia with me to keep her from hitting the ground.
Her eyes are wide, sparkling with humor and surprise. โI thought you were supposed to be some badass Marine, and you just got taken down by a girl with no training.โ
My mouth pops open in surprise. โYou little shit.โ Before I can think, I flip us over, one hand on the back of her head, the other digging into her sides as she squeals.
โOkay, okay, okay! I give!โ She squirms under me, trying to get away from my tickling fingers, all while giggling like a little girl.
I stop, holding my fingers at her side. โTake it back.โ The mischievous light in her eyes makes me want to kiss her.
โFine,โ she pants. โYouโre the most badass Marine who ever lived, even though you fell while chasing me.โ She grins.
I throw my head back, laughing. โI hate that I canโt even be mad at you for that last quip because itโs true.โ
Thiaโs hand moves from my shoulder and down my arm. Itโs then Iโm fully aware of our position, of every part of me thatโs touching her. I catch her gaze, her own realization happening at the same time as mine. The heat in her eyes sends my body careening off the edge.
I tighten the fingers speared through her hair as her hands move across my chest. Itโs like fire racing through me. Itโs as if sheโs branding me with her touch so Iโll never be able to feel anything like it again.
A throat clearing behind me has my head whipping up. Connor looks at us with his eyebrows raised. โIf you want to finish up whatever this is, I think Iโve figured out how to make the tracker work.โ
Copyright 2023 Shelby Gunter
*****
Author Info:
Shelby is a Romantic Suspense author who loves writing plot twists you’ll never see coming.
Shelby and her husband call Kansas City their home base but enjoy traveling as far and as often as possible. She loves all things related to coffee, wine, and books, and it’s rare you will see her without one of those items in hand.
This grumpy man of the month wants to be a daddy and he thinks heโs found the one. But Candy Cane Keyโs newest resident and self-proclaimed cat lady is on a mission and doesnโt have time for love, marriage, and babies. Can the town grump steal enough sunshine to woo her stubborn heart? Readers who love a little grumpy with their sunshine will enjoy Come to Papa by Matilda Martel, a steamy, small town, friends to lovers, age gap romance.
Come to Papa
Man of the Month: June
Candy Cane Key
by Matilda Martel
Blurb:
This grumpy man of the month wants to be a daddy.
Reclusive writer Felix Mercer came to Candy Cane Key to find silence but quickly discovered peace and quiet are overrated. Disgruntled and unhappy, he canโt figure out what ails him until he meets the townโs newest resident and self-proclaimed cat lady, Harlow Jane.
Harlow loves two things— Christmas and cats. When she reads an article about an island in the Florida Keys that celebrates Christmas all year round and with a long-suffering stray cat population, she knows sheโs found her own personal paradise.
Felix is instantly enamored, and a casual acquaintance quickly becomes an obsession. Harlowโs hot little curves drive him to distraction. Her kind, nurturing heart confirms heโs found the one.
But Harlowโs on a mission to save the world— one cat at a time. She doesnโt have time for love, marriage, and babies.
Can the town grump steal enough sunshine to woo her stubborn heart?
Stray cats need to be on their guard night and day— thatโs the only way they survive. I hold my breath, watching her take two steps back and three steps forward, with one more to go. Her pupils suddenly dilate to saucers. Her back arches then a low guttural growl catches me by surprise. I scramble back like a crab, but my momentum stalls against a brick wall, and the kitty runs away.
โDo you need some help?โ The brick wall speaks. My head snaps up, and I glimpse the source, a fair-haired man with dark eyes, a wicked smile, and a body sculpted by the gods. I blink rapidly, blinded by the sun and his unspeakable beauty. Iโve never seen anyone who looks like him, not here or in Sycamore Mountain— not even on television. But this creeper ruined my plans and threw away five days of hard work.
โNo, youโve done enough.โ I groan, then bite my tongue, too frustrated to hide my intense displeasure for a man who was only trying to help. Itโs not his fault, but my failure could result in tragedy if I donโt catch that cat soon. Stray dogs roam this beach at night in search of food, and they might mistake this fat little Calico for their next meal.
I scramble to my feet, shifting aimlessly in the soft sand to regain my balance. The handsome stranger clears his throat and offers his hand. I hesitate but ultimately place my palm in his hand, letting him pull me to my feet. Attractive does not mean harmless. Weโre alone on a beach, and my mother didnโt raise me to be a trusting fool.ย
โThank you, and I apologize for my snarky comment. Iโve been trying to catch that cat for the past few days, and this is the closest Iโve come.โ I stammer, embarrassed by my rudeness and hoping my contrite behavior will make amends or prevent him from carrying me into the ocean and drowning me.
โYou mean Buster?โ His deep voice jumps an octave, and he points to the chunky Calico reclining against a nearby palm tree, frantically cleaning his behind.
โBuster? Thatโs a silly name for a girl.โ I tiptoe towards the cat and consider my next course of action. He may be huge, hot, and handsome, but I have a one-track mind. There are far more important things on my to-do list than flirting with strange men who smell like cocoa butter, and what is that? Sandalwood? A storm is scheduled to pass through later this evening, and I hate to think of this little girl spending another night cold, wet, and alone. ย
โBuster isnโt a girl. Heโs a boy.โ The strange man follows close, oddly fixated on lending a helping hand. I glance over my shoulder and lift my hand to my brow, shielding my eyes from the sun to get a better look at his face. Thereโs no denying heโs yummy, but he doesnโt know the first thing about cats.ย
โCalicos are almost always girls,โ I huff, confident with my assessment.ย
He chuckles and points to the cat. โHeโs got balls. Iโm pretty sure heโs a boy.โย
I squint and squat to get a better look. My jaw drops. My tongue ties. โOh… my… God. Oh, my God. Weโve just found a polydactyl male Calico. Do you have any idea how rare he is?โ I flail my arms, squealing with glee, then accidentally strike his calves. He hardly flinches. Heโs a golden slab of sculpted marble, and I couldnโt hurt him If I tried. โWe need to get him. He must be guarded like the Mona Lisa.โ I creep forward, and he drops to his knees, crawling next to me.
โIโm Felix, by the way.โ He stops to extend his arm, and I give him a quick shake, one eye on his sinewy forearm and the other on my fat Calico boy. He mustnโt escape.
โIโm Harlow. Iโm new to the island— on a mission to save the world, one cat at a time.โ I laugh, crouching low, careful not to lose the element of surprise. โCan you crawl that away and block his exit?โ I gesture with my head and slink forward like a snake.
โThatโs a lovely name.โ His brown eyes twinkle as his mouth tips into a slight smile. My heart skips a beat, and for the first time, it has nothing to do with cats. โIf I help you catch Buster, what do you plan on doing with him?โ
Copyright 2023 Matilda Martel
*****
Author Info:
Matilda is a Texas girl in love with a Philly boy who loves to write dirty books about two people who trip into love and fumble their way into a Filthy, Funny, Happily Ever After.
I live in Austin, with my husband, two crazy Chihuahuas and an even crazier cat. And I spend most of my day writing dirty romance books about older men who fall in love with younger women and make fools of themselves trying to win their hearts.
When Harper Shawโs life falls apart, she knows itโs time for a change. She removes everything that doesnโt spark joyโfrom her soul-sucking job to eating kale to making listsโand sets off for the last place she was happy, Lake Tahoe (who wouldnโt feel good there, right?) to fulfill her dream of opening her own bakery. With her Sugar Pine Bakery in between a tavern, owned by sexy, grumpy Bodie Campbell, and a bookstore, run by her new BFF, she feels a peace sheโs never experienced sinceโฆwell, forever. Then she meets Ivy, a teenage runaway, who barrels into her heart. She sees a lot of herself in Ivy and takes her under her wing, but the teenager has secretsโฆ
When those secrets explode, it changes Harperโs new world, and sheโll learn, itโs never too late to start over, itโs never too late to figure out your life, and best of all, itโs never too late to let yourself believe in love.
*****
Review:
Harper has been hurt in the past, let down by those who were supposed to love her, so she decides to go back to the last place she was truly happy. To open a bakery and live a life that her mother could be proud of her for. She’s a little prickly, a lot wounded, but she craves the love that the people of Sunrise Cove can give her.
Ivy has been let down by her own mother more times than she can count so she runs away. A pitstop in Sunrise Cove has her reevaluating her plan … and, with the help of Harper, Bodie, and all their friends & family, maybe making choices that she didn’t plan on.
I really enjoyed getting to know the big, boisterous, oh-so-loving Campbell clan. They can be loud and pushy but also have big hearts and only want the best for those they care about, family or not. I kinda wish there’d been a series about all the brothers because I’d love to see more of this group.
With her newest, I think Shalvis straddles a line between women’s fiction and romance. While I really enjoyed Harper and Bodie getting to know each other and learning to open up, to take a chance on giving away their hearts, The Sweetheart List is really a family story at its heart. There’s a lot here about finding the place you belong and the people who will support you.
(Part of a series but … not really? I think these are more like unconnected books set in the same place.)
Fresh off of a messy divorce, Jeannie Dubois isnโt looking for anything more than friendship, and Aiden Walsh is more than happy to fill that role. But when these two friends become lovers, things quickly turn complicated. Can Aiden prove to Jeannie that theyโre meant to be more than friends or will she send him back to the friend zone? Readers who enjoy spicy romances will devour Friend Zoned by Evelyn Sola, a steamy friends-to-lovers romance.
Friend Zoned
by Evelyn Sola
Blurb:
They say the best things come when you least expect it.ย
Burned by her ex-husband and a messy divorce, Jeannie Dubois isnโt looking for anything more than a good friend.ย Besides, sheโs still dealing with the ex-husband who canโt seem to let her go.
Insert NBA coach, Aiden Walsh. Sure, he wants so much more than friendship with the beautiful woman he met at a wedding, but heโs sure he can play the part and heโs good at biding his time.ย So, for now, heโll fill any role she wants.
But when these two friends become lovers, things quickly turn complicated when Jeannie finds out Aiden is so much more than just Manhattanโs favorite coach.
Can Aiden prove to Jeannie that theyโre meant to be so much more, or will she send him back to the friend zone?ย
โJeannie,โ Vickie, the bride, says. Sheโs so beautiful with the happy newly married glow. โHave you met Coltโs coach, Aiden?โ
Shocked by the question, I look around the room and hope my mother will come save me, but sheโs too busy talking and laughing to bother noticing me. I clear my throat and offer him my hand. His large palm practically envelops it. When he lifts my knuckles to his lips and kisses them, I almost combust into flames. Itโs been almost two years since I felt a manโs lips on any part of me. That must be why my body is short circuiting right now. But if I have a few more drinks, Iโm going to drag him into a dark corner and have my way with him. I clear my throat and yank my hand away.
โSo, you ah, coach football?โ I ask, unsure of what else I could possibly ask. I try to think of any information my mother has given me. She says Mr. Colt is a football player. Vickie giggles and Colt groans.
โBasketball,โ Aiden corrects.
โAre you sure?โ I ask. โMy mom said youโre a football player,โ I say to Colt.
Vickie tries to hide her laugh but fails.
โIโm going to have a talk with Myra,โ Colt says, but heโs being playful, so Iโm not completely mortified by my faux pas.
โYeah, and Iโm pretty sure I coach basketball, not football,โ Aidan says.
โOh.โ I wave my hand. โI donโt watch either.โ I turn back to my chair, certain that they think Iโm an idiot and will leave me alone now.
โMore of a reader, I see,โ Aiden responds. โWhat book has you so engrossed?โ
My eyes dart to the table in search of my book. I thank a higher power that itโs safely inside my purse. No need to let these newlyweds and the sexy one know that my life is a train wreck. โNothing you would find particularly interesting.โ I clear my throat, but when I turn to look at Aiden, heโs looking directly at me.
โTry me,โ he says. I take a step toward the table, grab my purse and shove it under my chair. No way in hell heโll see this book.
*****
Author Info:
A Boston native, wife, mother, and wine enthusiast. If sheโs not writing, thinking about writing, you will find Evelyn with a book in her hands. While a new publisher, sheโs been writing for years, and she will continue to write for many years to come.ย
Evelyn is obsessed with assertive and confident men who will stop at nothing to get their woman. Her stories are filled with love, passion, and humor.
She currently lives in Chicago, IL with her husband and two daughters.
Itโs hard to keep a big secret in a small town . . .
When Paige Hollister discovers her โMr. Rightโ already has a โMrs. Right,โ she swears off men forever. Even moreย humiliating, she suddenly finds herself labeled the other woman and out of the teaching job she loves. So Paige does whatย every unemployed single woman staring thirty in the face does: ย She hightails it to the beach. Bad luck like hers is hard toย outrun, however. Her getaway is stalled when her car breaks down in a small-town chock full of meddling, nosy residents.ย The worst of them being the local sheriffโnone other than her estranged father.
Finally on top of the golf world, Tanner Gillette is poised to show everyone heโs not just an entitled playboy coastingย through tournaments on his pedigree. That is until his life is turned upside down by a little girl who shows up on hisย doorstep with a birth certificate inexplicably bearing his name. Complicating matters more, the kid isnโt talking. When theย stress of caring for a child whose mother is AWOL gives Tanner a bad case of the yips, heโs forced to enlist help from the oneย person in town who canโt wait to leave.
Sticking around Chances Inlet and her fatherโs shiny new, รผber-successful family isnโt on Paigeโs to-do list. Especially whenย sheโd prefer to keep her embarrassing incident under wraps. Yet she canโt walk away from the troubled little girl. Or theย sexy Australian golfer who just might make her want to take a chance on trusting her heart again.
Tanner was already halfway to her when his brain kicked in, reminding him that this was unwise. He was supposed to be avoiding Paige. He couldnโt be trusted around her. But he couldnโt retreat now. Not when he could feel the eyes of every woman at the pool tracking him.
Make that every woman except Paige Hollister. She was too engrossed in her book to notice.
โWhereโs Whitney?โ he practically barked when he tossed down his towel onto the chaise next to her.
Paige jolted at the sound of his voice before pulling her sunglasses down and eyeballing him. โShe and Emily went joyriding in your golf cart.โ
โNot funny.โ Her snark had him relaxing. He neednโt be worried about Whitney. Paige took her role very seriously. Likely, she was off with Kate and Emily somewhere. He stepped out of his slides before lowering himself down to the chair.
โWhat are you doing?โ she asked.
โThat should be obvious.โ He let out a satisfying sigh, crossed his bare feet at the ankles and closed his eyes.
Paige huffed beside him. โFine. Kate is taking the kids for lunch after visiting the sea turtle rescue hospital.โ She shoved her book into a canvas bag. โIโll just finish my book on the porch at home.โ
Let her go, his brain screamed. The rest of him wasnโt listening, however. Without opening his eyes, his fingers reached between them, finding her wrist, gently encircling it.
โStay,โ he heard himself saying. Opening his eyes, he turned toward her. โPlease,โ he whispered, not liking the pleading tone of his voice one bit.
Paigeโs eyes leapt from his hand on her wrist, up to his face, only to drop back down to where her skin was scorching his. Judging by the wary expression on her face, she thought it was a bad idea, also. Still, she sank her teeth into her bottom lip before nodding.
Relief raced through him. He brushed the pad of his thumb against the pulse throbbing at her wrist. Time seemed to stand still.
โIโve got your lunch, Mr. Gillette,โ a voice from above announced.
Paige yanked her hand away. The server was holding a folding table, but he seemed unsure where to put it until Paige gestured wildly to place it between them. She grabbed a fry from the plate and popped it into her mouth before heโd even set it down.
โMmm. Do you have any ketchup?โ
The server produced several packets from his pocket. โAnything else, sir?โ
Paige picked up half the club sandwich and unabashedly took a bite.
Tanner sighed. โApparently Iโm going to need another one of those.โ
โAnd an Arnold Palmer,โ Paige mumbled around the food in her mouth.
Tanner held up two fingers. The befuddled server nodded and disappeared.
โEnjoying yourself?โ
โMmm,โ she replied. โYou might have mentioned lunch was part of the deal. I wouldnโt have been in such a rush to leave.โ
He shook his head to avoid laughing at her cheekiness. โThank you.โ
She paused mid-bite. โDoes that mean lunch is on me?โ
This time he did laugh. โNo. Thank you for staying.โ
Her eyes darted away. Despite her outward bravado, she was skittish around him today. Not that he blamed her. He turned into a fool whenever he was near her.
The server brought their drinks. Paige swallowed half of hers in one gulp.
โI doubt you would have been lonely too long,โ she said.
โPrecisely what Iโm trying to avoid.โ
She lowered her sunglasses again. โAre you telling me Iโm the . . . what? Some sort of decoy?โ
โItโs been my experience that women wonโt approach me if Iโve got a beautiful woman by my side.โ
Paige choked on a fry. Tanner leaned over to slap her on the back. She glared at him when he let his hand linger too long.
โPuh-lease. Iโm no competition for those women.โ She waved a hand in the direction of the co-eds shimmying to an R&B song blasting from one of their mobile phones.
Was she kidding?
How could this woman not know she was a stunner? He let his eyes wander down her torso, lush and full in all the right places. Her legs were sturdy and toned right down to the purple nail polish on her toes. But it was the challenge in those pale blue eyes of hers that always seemed to draw him in. That and her saucy, sinful mouth.
โWhy do women always do that?โ
โDo what?โ
โPut themselves down. Find fault with their appearance no matter how gorgeous they are.โ
Her mouth opened and closed twice. โWellโโ
โNo,โ he argued. โDonโt you dare shame your body, Paige Hollister. Itโs magnificent just the way it is. You are beautiful just the way you are. Any man who doesnโt see that is a damn fool.โ
*****
Review:
(warning: maybe some slight spoilers)
This is the first in this series that I’ve read so that may have something to do with it, but I really didn’t quite understand Paige’s bad feelings toward her dad. I get that he wasn’t there for her growing up, but I felt like I was missing something that would explain why she was so against getting to know him. Maybe it was explored more in his story. I also was a little lost on why she was so adamant about keeping quiet what was going on in her life. I get why she’d be a little embarrassed, but she seemed to take it a little far.
I did like her with Tanner though. I found them to be amusing & entertaining as they flirted and danced around their attraction. They were fun together and their obvious affection for Whitney endeared them even more.
Speaking of Tanner, he’s dealing with a lot. I felt so bad for him, with his childhood and then losing his brother. That’s a lot for anyone to handle but throw a surprise kid in the mix and it’s a good excuse to be a less than stand-up guy. Not our Tanner though. He’s there to support Whitney (and Paige) in any way he can and as all the details come out, he’s does the best he can for everyone involved, every step of the way.
Family drama mixes wonderfully with a little bit of a mystery, a small-town HEA romance, & meddling busy body family creating a delightful beach read. If the rest of Solheim’s books are like this one, I’ve got quite a few titles to add to my TBR pile!
*****
Author Info:
USA Today bestselling author Tracy Solheim writes books with shirtless men on the cover. Some of them are actually best-sellers. The books, not the men. When she’s not writing, she’s practicing her curling. . . bottles of wine, that is. She’s been known to cook dinner but no more than two nights in a row. Most days, she’d rather be reading, which to her is just necessary research. She lives in the suburbs of Atlanta with her husband and a neurotic Labrador retriever. Her two adult children visit but not often enough. (See the note above about cooking.) Check out her romantic suspense series featuring the Men of the Secret Service–shirtless, of course! See what sheโs up to at http://www.tracysolheim.com
Romantic Reads and Such 