My name is Ace Watson, and Iโm having an existential crisis.
I finished last season as one of the league’s best pitchers. Baseballโs smooth-talking boy wonder. The future of The New York Lions.
I’m starting this season as the worst.
And I don’t want to sound dramatic, but the fault lies entirely with Payton Lopez.
She walked into my life with her mile long legs and dark brown waves, and threw me the curviest of all curve balls. Overnight my ability to pitch disappeared with my ability to charm, and I found myself riding a one way ticket to being the most expensive bench warmer in the M.L.B.
The only solution: to get Payton to fix what she broke, something she agrees to on one very easy condition.
Before long, what started as a way to get my pitch back, soon turns into any excuse I can find for us to spend time together.
Before long, I have everything I didn’t even realize I wanted.
Now I just need to prove to her that while I exist without baseball, I canโt live without her.
Payton Lopez might have thrown me a curve ball, but Iโm pitching it right back.
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Lulu started writing by accident, and somehow found herself stuck in a fictional world of ice hockey, baseball and billionaires. A world she has no plans to leave. She’s the creator of The New York Players Series, The Tuesday Club Series, and The New York Lions – the worst team in the M.L.B.
More recently she’s ventured across the Atlantic to where her latest novel is set – the beautiful cities of Oxford and Cambridge, and the annual rowing showdown on the River Thames.
She’s a big fan of strong heroines, because those fierce alphas need someone to keep them in check. You’ll find her navigating her way through Romance Land one HEA at a time, and trying to figure out the latest social media platform she needs to post to.
In this small town romance, a woman must find a way to keep her home, resist the charms of her best friend’s father while dodging a nosey neighbor and avoid being caught under mistletoes. Readers who love rags to riches romance will enjoy Fitting the Financier by Robecca Austin, a steamy, small town, billionaire, age gap, IR romance.
Fitting the Financier
Candy Cane Key
Man of the Month: December
by Robecca Austin
Blurb:
Sheโs made for me.
The perfect combination of sassy, sweet, and sexy, with generous thighs to cushion my heartache. Sheโs also my daughterโs best friend, forbidden.
Despite my daughterโs wishes, I have no plans to visit the small town or partake in the festivities of mistletoes and pumpkin spice lattes this Christmas. For good reason. One look into her best friendโs stormy gray eyes and Iโll want no one except her to fill the void in my life.
But when Naomi needs my protection, how can I say no?
She thinks Iโm helping her out of charity, but sheโs wrong. I can crush bullies, and using that power is the distraction I need to break my desires for her.
โAm I?โ The peanuts are warm in my hand. The scent of caramelized sugar tickles my nose.
โNow youโre flushing. If I didnโt know better I’d say youโre having naughty thoughts about the side of my digits.โ
I choke on a nut. My eyes water. โI think the reference is to shoe sizes.โ I make a point to glance at his snickers.
โTwelves, baby.โ He wiggles a brow.
This time I chomp on the nut before it goes anywhere near my throat. โI was thinking your hands belong to a mechanic not a person working in city hall.โ
โGive me half a chance and I can show you what these hands are good for.โ
โTravisโฆโ I flush, not because Iโm a prude, but because despite the lovely evening, Charityโs dad is at the edge of my thoughts. I blame Charity for mentioning him, for convincing him to visit Candy Cane. Most of all, I blame myself for falling for a man who didnโt know I existed beyond being his daughterโs best friend.
โGet your head out of the gutter,โ Travis says with a smile that I wished set my heart on fire. โI noticed you didnโt have any Christmas decorations up yet. Any later and the entire town will write to the big man himself.โ He glances around him, then whispers. โOr worse, put a complaint in with the city.โ
I groan. Heโs only half joking. Candy Cane had a Chrsitmas committee of four grandmothers that took their positions as seriously as the mayor. There hasnโt been a change in membership since Carter was president and unless one died, their word is law when it comes to Christmas.
โIโve just beenโโ
โHey, no need to explain.โ
But I want to. Want to share my good news with someone other than Charity. โI recently received good news that will help my business.โ
โThat’s amazing.โ
โAnd nerve racking but itโs an opportunity to grow.โ
โYouโre not trying to let me down easily, are you?โ He searched my face.
I shook my head. โNo.โ This is my chance to have a fresh beginning all around. It is definitely time I put a stop to this madness I feel for Nathan and get a hold of my love life. I realize that I went about my dating life the wrong way. Pushing Travis away or engrossing myself in work isnโt the answer to forgetting Nathan Dawan. Dating is. Nights like tonight are. We are at the end of the path. The end of a beautiful evening. โSorry it took so long to make tonight happen.โ
He paused, taking my hand. I stared at our hands. This was nice in a gentle, reassuring sort of way. My middle didnโt flutter from the mere thought of him and his name didnโt have my pulse racing. โYouโre worth the wait Naomi Waters.โ
Weโre caught in a loop of staring into each otherโs eyes. I will myself to relax, drown in the blue sea staring back at me but all I see are Nathanโs dark intense eyes that mimic the howling winds of a category four hurricane.
Travis leans in and my stomach flutters. The feeling is so unexpected that my eyes widen instead of closing in anticipation of our first kiss and I gasp. He tosses his peanuts aside to cup my cheek. My lips part to tell him to waitโฆthat Iโm not ready, but no words escape.
Not a single one.
The distance closes between us and I slam my eyes such, too afraid heโll see my thoughts for another man in my eyes. The first kiss Iโd shamelessly envisioned having with him.
โYou really shouldnโt litter,โ came an icy tone.
Shit. Shit. Iโm even hearing his voice. Squeezing my eyes tighter, I pucker my lips like a tenth grader and concentrate on what is about to happen.
โNaomi!โ Nathan growls, the sound bouncing behind my eyelids. I try harder to block him out. Heโs only in your imagination.
I count to five and wait.
Copyright 2023 Robecca Austin
*****
Author Info:
Robecca Austin is the author of happy ever after romance stories. She enjoys crafting tales of sassy heroines and alpha heroes that have a soft center.
She writes historical romance and billionaire romance stories.
You can find her outside enjoying nature and lots of sunshine when there are no bugs. When she’s not writing her next novel, she’s busy battling Cystic Fibrosis and hugging family. She lives and works in Canada.
My boss, Elliot Levy is intolerable, and I tell him so everydayโฆin the little notes I write and then hide in the back of my desk.
I canโt exactly say to his face that Iโm convinced heโs a cyborg, considering I’m about to become a single mother and I really need to keep my job as his assistant.
Elliot never looks at me, so he doesnโt even notice Iโm pregnant until Iโm seven months along. The first thing he asks is if Iโm planning to come back to work once I have the baby.
Not unexpected.
What is unexpected is Elliot coming to my rescue when I need a place to stay after my daughter is born. While living with him, I get to see a whole other side of himโฆespecially when he walks around his house without a shirt on.
Which he does, ALL. THE. TIME.
I shouldnโt look, but I canโt help it. Heโs gorgeous in a suit, but out of one? Devastating.
Elliot shows me he isnโt the heartless robot I once thought. Itโs still terrifying to take a chance on him, even when he holds my baby like sheโs precious to him, and he touches me like heโs been longing to for ages.
Now that he has me, he isnโt letting me go without a fight.
And Elliot Levy didnโt get where he is in business without learning a few underhanded tricks. What will he do to keep me? To keep us?
P.S. I think Iโm falling for you.
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Julia Wolf writes sexy rockers, broken bad boys, snarky heroines, and bad ass women. She’s a firm believer in happily ever afters, no matter how rocky the road is to get there.
Julia lives in Maryland with her husband and three crazy, beautiful children. When she’s not writing romance, she’s reading it. Some of her favorite things are, in no particular order: goats, books, coffee, and Target.
The hockey has-been, the barista, and some holiday magicโฆ
Court Cut from the team, fired my agentโฆnow what?
This canโt be it for me. Unfortunately, the phone isnโt ringing. My best bet is to head home for the holidays and regroup.
Problem: I donโt know what to do with myself. Helping out at the rink might be my ticket out of here, but nothing is happening fast enough. And then thereโs Ivan. No, no, itโs not what you think. We went to school together. Weโre acquaintance-friendsโฆnothing more.
But you know, I like him. A lot. Heโs funny and relentlessly upbeat. Iโm a better person when Iโm with himโthe kind who volunteers to deck the halls and wrap garland on lampposts andโ
Whoa. Whatโs happening here?
Ivan I love the holidays! But running the coffee shop on my own during the busiest season of the year is going to be a challenge. And the sudden appearance of my former crush is all kinds of distracting.
See, I spent my formative years mooning over Court Henderson, our high schoolโs hockey phenom, even though he was out of my league. Thankfully, I grew up and left the silly remnants of my youth behind. Or did I?
Grown-up Court is full of surprises, and under his gruff yet extremely fine exterior, heโs a good soul with a huge heart. Heโs charming, sweet, handsome, andโ Uh-oh.
My crush is back. Just in time for the holidaysโฆ
Holiday Crush is an MM bisexual, small town romance featuring a renewed ancient crush, some mistletoe latte art, and a little seasonal magic.
Court shook his head at my amazing, incredible Christmas tree on his way to the door. โI canโt get over that thing. Itโs wild.โ
I beamed. โI know. I love it. I buy a regular tree too, even though itโs holiday overkill. But who cares? This is my favorite time of year, and I celebrate to the nth degree!โ
He shoved his arms into his jacket, a playful grin on his handsome mug. โAnd do you celebrate by watching scary movies and stringing candy corn and plastic spiders into garland?โ
โNo, smartass, but damn, thatโs a great idea for Halloween next year.โ
He chuckled. โSoโฆwhat do you do for Christmas?โ
I braced my left hand on the doorjamb and cast a quick glance at the fireplace to keep from staring at my guest. Standing a foot apart in the cramped doorway between my foyer and living room felt oddly intimate. Court took up space in my tiny abode, with his broad shoulders, towering height, and big muscles. I was more aware of him than ever. It took me a second to gather my thoughts and remember what we were talking about.
Christmas. Right.
โThe usualโdecorate my house, string lights outside, drape fresh garland everywhere. And yes, thereโs always mistletoe. I also watch holiday movies and listen to Christmas music from mid-November till the end of the year. I bake cookies too, which always turn out to be a hot mess, but baking is festive and fun, and my family and friends are kind enough to compliment me anyway. AndโฆI sign up for every holiday event in town, including the Skate with Santa party at the rink, caroling at Wood Hollowโs Home for the elderly, Toys for Tots Sled Fest next to the Christmas Tree Farm in Fallbrook, and of course, Holiday Bingo. By the way, all of those, including Bingo, have volunteer positionsโฆif youโre interested.โ
โIโd rather shovel snow in Siberia,โ he deadpanned.
I grinned. โYour holiday spirit needs a tune-up.โ
โYeah, yeah. I donโt do holiday spirit.โ
โThatโs an awful thing to say!โ
โWhy? Thereโs no point. Iโm usually on the road, so Iโve never bought a tree and I donโt always remember to buy gifts, either. My brother shamelessly shows me up every holiday. Oren bought our folks an oil painting of their ten-year-old golden retriever a couple of years ago. And it was really nice. I bought Mom the same gloves I bought her the previous year and the wrong-sized slippers for Dad.โ
โOh, dear. Well, Iโm happy to help you this year. Iโm an expert at gift-giving andโwhatโs so funny?โ
โHa. Ha.โ I moved by him to unlock the door. โGood-bye, Grinch.โ
He snickered. โLater. And thanks for tonight. It was fun.โ
โYeah. It was,โ I agreed, smiling as he stepped closer.
This was where I was supposed to shuffle out of the way to give him room to slip outside without letting the cold inside, but my feet were seemingly glued to the floor. And now, we were inches apart. So close I could see flecks of gold in his blue eyes and a scar half-hidden in his left brow. I should have jumped away and laughed off this little dance before I accidentally made it awkward.
Too late.
Ugh. Now I was staring at him and he was staring at me andโฆhis mouth was right there, hovering over mine. I could feel his breath on my lips and smell gin and something woodsy and masculine on his skin. And nope, I couldnโt resist.
I leaned in, set my palm on his chest and pressed my lips to Courtโs.
And that was the match that started the fire.
*****
Review:
I loved this story and read it in less than a day. It’s perfect as a holiday read, full of winter cheer & fun with minimal drama.
Ivan is a delight, with his mix of brashness, charm, and awkwardness. He’s a proud romantic and embraces everything about the holidays. Court on the other hand doesn’t really want anything to do with the season, especially now that he’s at loose ends. But a few run-ins with Ivan soon has him embracing what Elmwood has to offer. Especially the sexy barista.
Court already accepts his bisexuality, which helps keep the angst to a minimum. I don’t mind a bi-awakening, they can be interesting and full of emotion (like Next Season). But here our main characters get to move straight into getting to know each other again … and getting to KNOW each other. It’s steamy but also playful and sweet. The first book, You Again, might not have been quite my thing, but everything else by Hayes has been a delight and Holiday Crush is no different. I’m so ready for what she delivers next.
(Although this is book three in the series, I feel like it can be read as a stand alone. There are returning characters, and Ivan & JC’s amusingly unusual friendship was a highlight in book two, there’s not anything that would have directly impacted this story.)
*****
Author Info:
Lane Hayes loves a good romance! An avid reader from an early age, she has always been drawn to well-told love story with beautifully written characters.ย She loves wine, chocolate and travel (in no particular order). Lane lives in Southern California with her amazing husband and her fabulous pup, George.
Never in my life did I think Iโd wager in my head whether to sleep with Chicago Grizzlies wide receiver, Damon Siska.
Heโs the perfect packageโhot body, killer smile, and flirts like he earned a doctorate in it. But anyone who reads gossip blogs knows he is looking for one amazing night and nothing more.
Iโm not the usual type of woman he beds. Iโm a middle school teacher who cherishes her quiet nights in, drinking wine, and watching romantic comedies, dreaming Iโm the heroine. Iโm not embarrassed to admitโI want the fairy tale.
But Damon caught me at a weak moment. Fresh off a break-up and feeling lousy about myself, I gave into temptation and left the next morning like every other woman heโd slept with.
Except I walked away with more than just the memories when three weeks later the little white stick glowed with two pink lines.
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I think that if you haven’t read Something Like Hate you’re probably going to be a little confused about Damon. Everyone is referencing how he is this playboy who sleeps around but since this book starts when he finds out about Adeline’s pregnancy we don’t see it. Instead he shows himself to be an amazingly caring, responsible, and giving guy. Going by just what you see here, he’s so very easy to fall in love with. Which of course Adeline does, complicating their co-parenting situation.
I’m not a fan of hiding and teasing a main character’s reason for doing things. We know there is something in Damon’s past that causes him to be afraid to commit but it isn’t until basically the end that we find out what it was. And for me it wasn’t developed quite enough to be a satisfying issue/resolution. But since the rest of their relationship was so dang adorable and I really like them together, I’m not letting it affect my satisfaction with the rest of their story.
Maybe not my favorite of Rayne’s stories, but definitely a good read and maybe one of my favorite male leads on their’s. I love Damon as the reforming rake fighting his feelings and he’s beyond adorable as the doting dad. Adeline is a good match for him. She’s down-to-earth but feisty and won’t let anyone walk all over her when it comes to her child and what she feels is best. But she also understands Damon’s position and is willing to work with him. It creates minimal drama but a whole lot of sweetness and fun.
*****
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!
From ex-con to self-made millionaire, thereโs no challenge too tough for Cash Sweeney to conquer. So why has he spent twelve years pining for his best friend instead of doing something about it? Because losing Nick would be like existing with half of his heart. Is it better to settle for what he can have or battle for what he wants?
Banged up and burned out, FBI Agent Nick Scott arrives at Redemption Ridge with a trunkful of luggage and a yearning heart. Cash is easy to love but hard to read, and Nick fears his epiphany has come too late. Does he tuck his tail and run or fight for the man whoโs become his home?
Tender gestures and heartfelt conversations lead to thrilling revelations neither man can ignore. No more what-ifs or maybes. Cash and Nick are all in. And theyโll need each other more than ever when a devious enemy emerges from the shadows to put their promising future at risk. With the stakes so high, will the guys double down or fold to pressure?
Saints Like Him is book three in the Redemption Ridge series. Though each story features a different couple, reading the series in order is essential. Saints Like Him contains mature themes and is intended for adults.
Content Warning: homophobia, abuse, and conversion therapy are briefly discussed in this book, though no graphic descriptions are used.
Cash pursed his lips while studying the chip selection at the grocery store in Last Chance Creek. What snack was most suitable for a forty-nine-year-old man while bingeing the newest season of Heartstopper? Cash wasnโt one to use his age as a reason to avoid many things, but he wasnโt proud of his obsession with the series about queer teenagers and their first loves. Their vitality and innocence sometimes made him feel older than dirt, but mostly it made him grateful that a new generation could see themselves in the characters.
It was unlikely Cashโs life wouldโve turned out differently if heโd had positive representation as a teen. Heโd lost his mom to poverty and drugs and had gone to live with strangers at a time when he was figuring things out about himself. Cash hadnโt felt comfortable coming out, or letting others in, until he was thirty. Heโd rebuilt his life from the ashes of his past and had been tired of living a lie. The penniless dirt track racer had to pretend, but the successful technology inventor did not. Cash had thought his newly gained wealth would insulate him from scrutiny and scorn, but it only perpetuated the narrative that he was an outsider who didnโt belong. But those closed doors and snubs didnโt deter him; they fueled the perpetual fire in his soul and made him richer.
He couldnโt think of a single hard knock heโd change because theyโd all led him to this point. Well, maybe not to standing in a grocery store staring at the same bag of Fritos for a solid ten minutes. He meant his ranch, his people, and the journey heโd taken to have them in his life. Contentment didnโt negate his few regrets or warm his bed, but the one man who could fix both problems was across the country. Who the hell was he kidding? It wouldnโt have mattered if Nick was at Quantico, on Mars, or standing beside Cash. He was off-limits. Cash just needed to convince his foolish heart of that factโa feat he hadnโt accomplished in twelve years. But had he really tried that hard?
A warm, masculine chuckle invaded his thoughts, and Cash jerked his head to find Seth Burke approaching him. He bit back a snort. Burke didnโt approach; he swaggered with big dick energy. The sheriff was a good five inches taller, a few years younger, and had the persistence of a bloodhound when it came to Cash. Burkeโs uniform consisted of a pressed khaki shirt, dark denim jeans, boots, and a white Stetson hat. Cash wasnโt sure what shone brighter in the storeโs overhead lightsโthe shiny sheriff star pinned to Burkeโs shirt or his white, toothy grin. Damn, but the man was fine as hell with jet-black hair, gray eyes, and sun-kissed skin. No matter the time of day, that superhero square jaw was clean-shaven to show off his magnificent bone structure. Why the hell couldnโt Cash return the manโs interest? He could trade heartache for the kind of twinges and stings that left a man smiling instead of moping.
โWhatโd that bag of chips do to you?โ Burke asked when he reached Cash. His voice was jovial, pure good ole boy, but the tension around Burkeโs mouth betrayed him.
Cash snorted and faced his friend. โI was just lost in thought.โ He glanced down and saw Burke had already placed several items in his basket. โI didnโt see your truck in the parking lot.โ
A dark brow arched. โOr you wouldโve kept driving?โ
Cash sighed. โOf course not. I was just making conversation.โ
โThe inane kind you make when youโve been avoiding your friend?โ Burke pressed.
Were they friends? They met for lunch regularly at the diner and texted often, so definitely more friendly than acquaintances.
*****
Review:
This series has not been stand alone stories and the latest is no different. Someone else mentioned it felt like an extended epilogue and I think I can agree with that. We find out why Salvation Anew has been causing trouble for Redemption Ridge and get to see Cash & Nick finally decide to stop dancing around each other. It’s satisfying from an overall story perspective but may leave some readers wanting for something more robust.
I love Cash – how level headed, caring, and strong he is. He obviously cares about his guys and his community, willing to do just about anything to help them and to right any wrongs he can. We’ve known since the beginning that there was something going on between him and Nick but we didn’t know exactly what. And we finally find out. I can’t decide how I feel about Cash with Nick though. For someone who has come across as so put together for so long, it’s a bit of a disconnect to see him so unsure and vulnerable. On one hand it’s reassuring to know that he has a weakness for someone so important to him but it’s also a little discomforting. Kinda like life.
We also find out a lot more about Nick & his feelings about Cash and we get small glimpses of their time together. The connection they have is strong enough to survive 12 years of separation and the hardships that life gave them. But those long years of only being friends also means that when they finally decide to chance their friendship for what their hearts have been craving they slide right into being a couple. There’s very little drama but a whole lot of sweetness as they show each other how much they care with special gestures, small and large.
I don’t know if this is another of those times when the fact that I’m a straight female means that I ask “is that sexy” or “do people really say that” more than once. I don’t think I did that in the first two stories (and I didn’t mention it in eitherreview) but I did notice it in an unrelated book I read by this author. It may be the way Walker writes or it may just be me ๐
Steamy and emotional, Walker brings her readers the resolution to this couple that they have been waiting for. And sets up future stories wonderfully – I can’t wait to see what trouble Rue can cause or what makes Owen & Tyler finally get their act together. Looking forward to more of the men from Redemption Ridge.
*****
Author Info:
Ever since she was a little girl, Aimee Nicole Walker entertained herself with stories that popped into her head. Now she gets paid to tell those stories to other people. She wears many titlesโwife, mom, and animal lover are just a few of them. Her absolute favorite title is champion of the happily ever after. Love inspires everything she does, music keeps her sane, and coffee is the magic elixir that fuels her day.
Want to be the first to know about my book releases and have access to extra content? You can sign up for my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/dlhPYj
My favorite place to hang out and chat with my readers is my Facebook group. Would you like to be a member of Aimeeโs Dye Hards? Weโd love to have you! Click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AimeesDyeHards/
Easton Hayes has been my knight in shining hockey skates since he saved my life.
This devastatingly handsome grump may be everyoneโs favorite goalie, but to me, heโs my strength when demons haunt my dreams. And okayโso maybe heโs also the only man Iโve ever loved. But he doesnโt need to know that.
Weโre friends.
It works for us.
At least, it did. Until I wake up with his ring on my finger and the hangover from hell. But what happens in Vegas doesnโt stay in Vegas when he refuses to give me an annulment and follows me across the country instead.
Now our families are furious.
Our friends are playing matchmaker.
Iโm getting goosebumps each time I hear the words โmy wife.โ
And I think my husband might be in love with me.
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Bella Matthews is a USA Today & Amazon Top 50 Bestselling author. She is married to her very own Alpha Male and raising three little ones. You can typically find her running from one sporting event to another. When she is home, she is usually hiding in her home office with the only other female in her house, her rescue dog Tinker Bell by her side. She likes to write swoon-worthy heroes and sassy, smart heroines. Sarcasm is her love language and big family dynamics are her favorite thing to add to each story.
Heโs the cocky, pro hockey player that tried to get my number during a game. Now heโs sidelined with an injury and Iโm his new nurse.
The first time I met Ash Kelly, he stripped off his jersey and gave it to a little girl in the crowd, charming an arena full of fans in the process. Then he tossed me a puck and asked for my number. I was with my jerk ex-boyfriend, who was less than impressed with the whole thing.
The second time he crashes into my life itโs as my patient. Thereโs no way he should remember me, but he does. Being Ashโs nurse is torture. Heโs stubborn and frustrating, and he wonโt stop flirting with me now that he knows Iโm single. Heโs even recruited the entire hospital to help him win me over. And itโs working.
The more time I spend taking care of him, the more he breaks down my defenses. Heโs kind and considerate, and he makes my heart race.
But Iโve sworn off dating and getting involved with a charming, handsome hockey player like Ash feels like a terrible idea. We go our separate ways again, despite our undeniable connection.
I should have known it wouldnโt be the last time. For some reason, the universe keeps throwing us together.
Iโm finally ready to give him a chance, but thereโs one little problem. My ex-boyfriend just got a new job as the assistant GM of the Wildcats. And the only thing he wants more than me is to screw over the man Iโm falling for.
In Your Wildest Dreams is a hockey romance with a cocky, cinnamon roll hero, spice, banter, and a happily ever after. It’s the fourth book in the Wildcat Hockey series and can be enjoyed as a standalone.
Rebecca Jenshak is a USA Today bestselling author of new adult and sports romance. She writes sexy, feel-good stories with lots of swoon-worthy moments.
Rebecca lives in Arizona. When she isn’t writing, you can find her cheering on local sports teams, hanging out with friends and family, or curled up with a good book.
What could possibly go wrong fake dating the gorgeous single dad in a small town?
The answer, you fall for him.
It started out perfect. Grady Whitlock needed a plus one for his business meetings, and I needed a date for a wedding.
We had a plan. It was a good one.
Until it wasnโt.
I was not supposed to have feelings for him. I was not going to let my heart race when his soulful blue eyes stared into mine. No way should I have noticed his smile or the dimple on his right cheek or his strong arms when he held me close. I especially wasnโt going to melt when I saw him play with my daughter.
Most of all I was not going to sleep with him.
Nope. None of that was supposed to happen, but it does.
Now I find myself dreaming of him every night. Wishing we were really a couple because the way he kisses me doesnโt feel as if itโs pretend.
But weโve both watched our dreams shatter, and I canโt handle another broken heart.
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Corinne Michaels is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of romance novels. Her stories are chock full of emotion, humor, and unrelenting love, and she enjoys putting her characters through intense heartbreak before finding a way to heal them through their struggles.
Corinne is a former Navy wife and happily married to the man of her dreams. She began her writing career after spending months away from her husband while he was deployed–reading and writing were her escapes from the loneliness. Corinne now lives in Virginia with her husband and is the emotional, witty, sarcastic, and fun-loving mom of two beautiful children.
Kareem spent his teen years fighting his growing desires for his sisterโs best friend, Amy. Now, heโs taking part in a charity bachelor auction and his sister wins the bidโฆ for her bestie. Readers who love holiday romances with bachelor auctions will enjoy Coming Down Her Chimney by Imani Jay, a steamy, small town, sisterโs best friend, second chance romance.
Coming Down Her Chimney
Candy Cane Key
Man of the Month: December
by Imani Jay
Blurb:
Amy My bestie dragged me to the lovely beach town where her parents retired. What she failed to mention is her brother, superstar basketball player (and my lifelong crush…), Kareem, is also here…
Kareem I spent my teens fighting my growing desires for my sister’s best friend. And seeing Amy again after all this time? She looks even better. And she’s still the sweet, funny, smart girl I could never forget…
What happens when Kareem takes part in the local Charity Bachelor Auction and his sister wins the bid… for her bestie.
Tag along for a safe, steamy, second chance romance with no cheating, no cliffhanger and a guaranteed HEA!
I push open the heavy glass door of our office building, the cold, San Francisco December air hitting my cheeks. I hurry inside, my heels clicking on the polished marble floors. As I make my way past the rows of cubicles, I catch a glimpse of myself in the dark computer screens – my curly hair bouncing around my shoulders, my brown eyes peering out from under thick lashes.
I plop down at my desk, setting my coffee, purse and laptop bag down. I boot up my computer, the screen lighting up. Numbers, always numbers. Sometimes I dream in debits and credits.
As I open up the latest expense reports, my mind drifts to the coming holidays. While my coworkers chat about their ski trips and what parties they’ll attend, I’ll be spending Christmas in the real cold with my sister and her family in Virginia. The thought of the frigid winter depresses me. I crave sunshine on my skin, sand between my toes. But my traitor parents left the city for a Caribbean cruise, so it’s whether a solo holiday in my apartment or family time on the East Coast.
I’m interrupted from my daydream by the ringing of my phone. I smile when I see the name flash on the screen.
“Hey Lisa!” I answer.
My best friend’s bubbly voice comes through the receiver. “Ami! How’s my favorite girl?”
We chat about life, work. As always, her law firm is keeping her busy. Then Lisa asks me about my holiday plans, and I sigh.
“Pfff, my parents went on their cruise. So it’s Virginia with my sister or just me, takeout, and Netflix. I’ll live vicariously through your tropical vacation pictures.”
Lisa gasps. “Oh my god! I can’t believe I didn’t think to invite you sooner. Come down to my parents’ beach house with us!”
My eyes go wide. THE beach house? In Florida? That sounds like a dream. But imposing on their family holiday…
“Are you sure that’s okay?” I ask hesitantly.
Lisa scoffs. “Of course! You know Mom and Dad love you. And I could really use my bestie to help with all the holiday activities’ organization.”
I chew on my bottom lip, considering. A warm beach vacation with Lisa and her awesome family does sound amazing. Way better than sitting alone in my apartment or going to freeze my butt at Marie’s.
“Alright, I’m in!” I finally say. Lisa squeals in excitement. And as we discuss travel plans, I can’t keep the grin off my face. No snow for me this Christmas – I’m heading for sunshine and sand!
Lisa fills me in on the details – I’ll fly into Tampa next week and drive down to the Keys to meet them.
“And we can talk about you and my brother,” she teases.
I feel my cheeks heat. Lisa laughs.
I suck my teeth. “Girl, leave me alone.”
Truth is, I’ve had the biggest crush on Kareem Mason forever. The first time Lisa invited me to her house back when we were in high school and became inseparable. But he’s always been older, cooler, waaayyy out of my league. And now, he’s a successful, rich and famous basketball player. I’m just me – no way he’d ever look at me as more than his little sister’s best friend.
The thought of him makes my pulse quicken. I push that to the far corners my mind.
“I’m just looking forward to sunshine and piรฑa coladas,” I say breezily.
“Uh huh, sure,” Lisa teases. “Well, I better get back to it. I have no intention of taking any work with me, and
I hope you do the same. Get ready for the best holiday ever, bestie!”
We say our goodbyes and I set the phone down, shaking my head with amusement. A week lounging on the beach sounds like heaven.
I start mentally packing my bikinis and sunscreen, daydreaming about crystal blue waves.
Copyright 2023 Imani Jay
*****
Author Info:
Imani loves reading romances with curvy queens who find their HEA with alpha hunks, so that’s what she writes! If you enjoy sweet and spicy stories filled with fun, heat and all the feels, you’re in the right place!
Romantic Reads and Such 