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Spotlight – The City Boy and the Rancher

01 Wednesday Jul 2026

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The City Boy and the Rancher

Snow Creek Ranch series

by RJ Scott

Blurb:

Sell the ranch or save itβ€”either way, someone’s going to lose everything.

Jesse Knox has given his heart and soul to Snow Creek Ranch. It’s not just dirt and cattleβ€”it’s family, legacy, and the only place he’s ever belonged. So when Lucas Barrett arrives with city clothes, sharp eyes, and a plan to sell everything Jesse loves, there’s no compromise to be had. Just a line drawn in the dirtβ€”and a promise that Jesse won’t back down, no matter what it costs. He only owns a quarter of the ranch, but it’s enough to stop anyone tearing it out from under him, and he’ll fight to the last breath to keep it.

When Lucas needed him most, his grandfather turned him away without a second thought. Now that same man has left him a majority share in a remote ranch he’s never seen. If Lucas lasts six months, he can sell and walk away with millions that will fund beds, safety, and second chances for kids with nowhere else to turn, just like he’d once been. Only, nothing about Snow Creek fits neatly into a spreadsheet, and the more time he spends battling Jesse, the more cracks appear in Lucas’s control. Because this ranch isn’t empty land. Secrets are revealed that change everything. And Jesse Knox is anything but a problem he can solve.

Six months. One ranch. Two men with everything to loseβ€”and no way to walk away unchanged.

The City Boy and the Rancher is a 69,000 word MM Romance. With hate-to-love, opposites-attract, forced proximity romance, found family, secrets, lies, passion, high-stakes legacy, and a battle between saving Snow Creek ranch and selling it. It is book 1 in the shared world of Snow Creek Ranch. Each book can be read as a standalone, so be sure to check out the entire series!

Buy Link

https://getbook.at/SnowCreekRanch1

*****

Author Info:

RJ Scott writes heartwarming, passionate stories about men who fight for love, even when it’s not easy. With themes of found family, trust, and second chances, every story leads to one promiseβ€”every man gets his happily ever after.

Review – Home Ice

30 Tuesday Jun 2026

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Home Ice

by Saxon James

Cover Design: Story Styling Cover Designs

Photography: Wander Aguiar Photography

Model: Jerrin

Discreet Cover Design: Emily Wittig

Blurb:

TAI

Ten years ago, I made the biggest mistake of my life.

When Hawke left for the NHL and my hockey dreams went up in smoke, I ghosted my best and longest friend. It made sense at the time, but there hasn’t been a day where I haven’t missed him.

So when we run into each other again, and his only response is β€œDo I know you?”, I know I deserve it. But I refuse to let one mistake keep us apart forever. Especially when he has bigger problems, and I’m in a position to help him.

JENSEN

All I wanted this offseason was to spend my time relaxing–not getting an emergency phone call from Mom to come home. My hometown is full of too many memories of me and Tai so I avoid returning there as much as I can.

But now I have one more memory to add to the list: my high school girlfriend.

And the kid we apparently had together.

Kasen hates me and thinks I abandoned them, and my only way to get to him is through his coach. My ex-best friend. The friend that has been impossible to forget. No matter how much I’ve tried.

Add to Goodreads Want to Read Shelf

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Read with Kindle & Kindle Unlimited

*****

Review:

I think, based on the blurb, that there is some expectation that this is ALL the angst buuuut it really isn’t there. It’s totally understandable that Hawke would be upset with Tai for ghosting him. And about having a son that apparently no one knew about. However if you are reading that and hoping for more, my apologies πŸ™‚

I really enjoyed it tho as Tai and Hawke find their way back to each other, sliding into their close friendship like no time had passed and coming to the realization that maybe it was always something a little more. And poor Tai, who has carried so much on his shoulders for so long, needing to let someone in again to be there for him again. It’s so obvious how much he loves his dad, who makes a great supporting character in the story, but there’s so much guilt and pain wrapped up in the situation for him. Good thing Hawke is stubborn because Tai’s not going to make it easy.

I’ll agree that there could have been a bit more development of Hawke’s relationship with Kason. The book concentrates more on the two MMCs but I did love seeing them grow closer and Hawke realizing what’s important to him. And Kason is such a cute kid with a smart mouth, hiding his hurt, which is totally understandable, and he’s definitely keeping Hawke on his toes.

I’ve only read a couple of James’s books but she is recommended so often and I see why. I love that she brings the feels, doesn’t scrimp on the heat, and delivers it all in a way that has me hooked to the end. It’s not dramatic but it also isn’t easy and full of issues that feel real and give us an oh-so-satisfying HEA when they finally figure things out.

*****

Giveaway:

Enter the KingSumo Giveaway

*****

Author Info:

Saxon James unapologetically writes happy endings for LGBT+ characters.

While not writing, SM is a readaholic and Netflix addict who regularly lives on a sustainable diet of chocolate and coffee.

Member of SCBWI.

Website: https://saxonjamesauthor.com/

Newsletter: https://bit.ly/3BNVADV

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2QSVCmS

Reader Group: http://bit.ly/36slT1W

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Instagram: https://bit.ly/33m1XPb

TikTok: https://bit.ly/3AvMmha

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2ZXjp9C

BookBub: https://bit.ly/3fKt5MC

Review – Found in the Falls

28 Sunday Jun 2026

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Found in the Falls

Devon Falls #4

by J.E. Birk

Blurb:

He rescued me in New York. I followed him to Vermont.

After Dr. Milo Warner saves me from humiliation in a hotel hallway, I can’t stop thinking about him. When I get the chance to hide from my problems and open a community center with Milo in a small town called Devon Falls, I take that opportunity and run. But now things between the two of us are heating up fast. Milo protects me from runaway gondolas, takes care of me when I’m injured, shields me from my trauma, and sees power and strength in me that no one else ever has. We keep making jokes about the two of us being the perfect alpha/omega pair, but honestly? I’m not joking.

The problem is that it’s becoming more and more likely our parents will soon run against each other in a high-profile political primary race. Milo and I have both been burned by the public spotlight before, and we understand the dangerous territory we’re wading into. When we uncover a secret that’s been kept from our parents, one thing becomes clear: Milo and I will both need to take some big risks if we plan to fight for each other.

Found in the Falls comes with an older doctor who struggles to suppress his protective side, a younger social worker who just wants to make the world better, a sweet rescue dog they accidentally adopt together, and the Devon Falls found family they both desperately need. This is the fourth book in the Devon Falls series, but it can be read as a standalone.

*****

Review:

There is a little Alpha/Omega play (Omegaverse?) here and since it’s not my normal type of read I can’t answer how well the author delivers it. But I felt it works for them as a couple and the dynamic they are developing. I love that Noah gains confidence thru Milo’s protection and their deepening relationship.

There’s plenty of humor and steam and, my favorite, a large dose of found family as Noah settles into his job in Devon Falls. I love how Birk finds a way to mix a light-hearted read, with the depth of trauma & hurt that her main characters bring. It’s an easy read but with growth & feels.

I read Fanboy in the Falls, book 3 in this series, and really enjoyed it. It really wasn’t necessary in order to read this one but I like the fact that Birk and this series are pushing me a little outside my normal reads. I’ll definitely be keeping my eye out for what comes next.

Review – Surprise Me Always

28 Sunday Jun 2026

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Surprise Me Always

Claimed On Sight #2

by Dani Elias

Blurb:

A single weekend. A quiet connection. And a choice that refuses to be forgotten.

PHILIP

I wasn’t supposed to meet anyone. My life is already mapped out. Safe. Sensible. Predictable. Then I meet Mark.
One impulsive decision turns into a weekend I already know has an end date. It’s meant to be simple. Temporary. But it isn’t. Somewhere between the slow touches and the way he looks atΒ meΒ like I matter, it starts to feel dangerously real. And real is exactly what I can’t afford. So I leave. Because IΒ alwaysΒ choose the life that makes sense, even when it feels like I’m walking away from something that could have been everything.

MARK

I didn’t expect Philip. I didn’t expect the way he gets under my skin, or how easily he lets himself feel when he forgets to hold back. He tellsΒ meΒ it’s just a weekend. I can see the walls he hides behind, the careful distance he keeps. I let him go anyway. Because some people need to make their own mistakes before they’re ready to choose something real. But when he leaves, he takes more with him than he realises.

Distance should have been the end of it. Instead, it turns everything sharper, clearer, harder to ignore. Because it’s one thing to make the sensible choice. It’s another to live with it. Some risks aren’t worth taking. And some feel impossible to walk away from twice.

Surprise Me Always is a standalone MM romance set in an interconnected world. It is written in British English and can be read independently.

*****

Review:

I really enjoyed this as an instalove story. The two of them have an amazing weekend together, one where they fall so very quickly. But that’s not how things work, right? It’s not sensible to change your entire life for someone you’ve only known for a few hours, right?

I appreciate that Elias had them separate instead of just spend two days together and live HEA. It works, especially with Philip’s personality, and gives them an opportunity to really reflect on their time together. To decide what’s real.

Surprise Me Always mixes humor and emotion and steam in a fun little package. It’s such an easy read and well paced, with enjoyable characters and an adorable little neurotic hamster that steals the show.

Review – The Troublemaker

25 Thursday Jun 2026

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The Troublemaker

The Dugout #4

by Piper Rayne

Blurb:

A fake marriage deal was never in my life’s plan.

Especially not to Easton Bailey.

Chicago Colts flashy shortstop.

The kind of man built for a good time and allergic to forever.

And the one who just slid a ring on my finger… on paper.

It’s supposed to be simple.

A mutually beneficial arrangement.

I play nanny to his son. He plays husband to my family.

No emotions. No complications. And absolutely no falling for each other.

Turns out pretending to be a family is the fastest way to break every rule we set.

Because he watches me like it was never just a deal.

Because he trusts me with the person who matters most.

Because the more we pretend, the less fake it feels.

And now the man who was never supposed to stay is the one I can’t lose.

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/48RvRgf

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

https://books2read.com/ttm

Duet Narration by: Connor Crais & Christine Lakin
Also featuring: JF Harding, Sean Masters, Teddy Hamilton, CJ Bloom, Erin Mallon, Willa Jaymes, Meg Sylvan & Austin Stone

*****

Review:

Oh my goodness, daddy Easton is a dream – love me a single dad and reformed playboy mixed together! Even freaking out he’s swoony πŸ™‚ Also love how supportive the Baileys are (no surprise) and my heart goes out to Hadley for not having that growing up. I would have liked to see more of her with the other girls because she needs more positivity and support in her life. But Easton definitely shows up for her. Ooof, then there’s Tanner’s mom resolution … Glad they all have created a little family unit together, to be there for each other because there were definitely times they needed it. (Found family like this is one of my favorite things in books.)

My only real complaint with this one is I would have loved a little more of Easton and Hadley from before. They seemed like they had a bit of a connection, not friends-with-benefits but maybe more benefits-with-a-friend. They develop a lovely little unit, pretty quickly, and I would like to have seen some hints of that before, ya know?

Piper Rayne delivers some delicious single dad, fake marriage, close proximity, single bed tropes with this one. I’m sad to see this group of friends go but I really enjoyed how they all got their HEA. And that epilogue not only ties things up wonderfully but definitely gives us a taste of what’s to come & I can’t wait!

Review – Thunderstruck

22 Monday Jun 2026

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Thunderstruck

Toronto Thunder #4

by Beth Bolden

Tropes:Β bisexual awakening, stepbrother romance, forbidden romance, forced proximity, opposites attract, teammate x teammate

Blurb:

When Lane realizes he’s attracted to his straight stepbro, he’s absolutely thunderstruck . . .

It’s not the worst day of Lane’s life when his team, the Toronto Thunder, drafts his baby stepbro, Trevor, but it’s close.

No. The worst day was when his mom married Trevor’s dad. Trevor’s just too good, too naΓ―ve, too sheltered. Too hot.

Lane might claim he wants nothing to do with him, but that’s the worst delusion of all. He’s always wanted everything to do with Trevor. Even when they have zero in common. Even when Trevor’s always been on the straight and narrow. Literally.

Lane’s the total opposite. He’s walkedβ€”and danced and sashayedβ€”to the beat of his own drum, forever. Mentoring Trevor now that they’re on the same team? Sounds like his idea of hellβ€”and heaven, too. There’s a reason their teammates call them the demon twins.

But with the final few games of the season and the Thunders’ playoff run looming, Lane’s self-control is weaker than ever. Especially when Trevor confesses that he’s been thinking about it, too.

Suggesting Trevor experiment with their mutual attraction would be a terrible idea, but Lane’s had worse, and that’s never stopped him before.

And when it becomes way more than just sex? When Trevor becomes the first guy he wants to see in the mornings and the last thing before he goes to bed at night? When they’re so completely entangled together that he couldn’t get free, even if he wanted to?

That’s a special kind of thunder.

Available on:Β Amazon, Kindle Unlimited, paperback (model & discreet), and audio narrated by Darcy Stark (est early July)

https://readerlinks.com/l/5430374

*****

Review:

I could not put this one down and read it in about a day. That prologue just made me hurt for Lane and it explains so much of the dynamic between the two. But once things become different, once they have the chance to explore an attraction between them … at one point Cam calls men “the most thickheaded morons” when in love and I couldn’t agree more πŸ™‚

Both of them are so hesitant and so unsure about the other. But as their experiment turns into feelings and those feelings deepen, things get even more complicated and neither is really sure what to do about it. Especially Lane who has spent so many years having to repress his feelings, and now no longer able to with Trevor in his home. In all his caring, sweet, earnestness while telling him that he may be into guys. Poor Lane didn’t have a chance.

Bolden’s characters are always so appealing and so delicious in their downfall that I don’t even need to read the blurb to know that it’s a must read. And once again she delivers a steamy slow burn, low angst, idiots-to-lovers romance but at least Lane & Trevor are fun in their idiocy.

*****

Author Info:

A lifelong Oregonian, Beth Bolden has just recently moved to North Carolina with her supportive husband and their sweet kitten, Earl Grey. Beth still believes in Keeping Portland Weird, and intends to be just as weird in Raleigh.

Beth has been writing practically since she learned the alphabet. Unfortunately, her first foray into novel writing, titled Big Bear with Sparkly Earrings, wasn’t a bestseller, but hope springs eternal. She’s published fourteen novels and five short stories.

Review – Through the Storm

22 Monday Jun 2026

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Through the Storm

Owens Wildlife Wardens – Ironvale Ridge #1

by Natalie Parker

Blurb:

I never thought I’d get married…let alone to a man I’ve had to pull a gun on.

Twice.

But I also couldn’t have anticipated some sleazy land developer would threaten to take my home.

If I don’t get married to fulfill some stupid clause in my grandparents’ will…

I’ll lose everything.

Until game warden Wolf Owens steps in and claims to be my fiancΓ©.

Beyond staring down the barrel of my weapon, we barely know each other.

The handsome, stoic man has no reason to help me beyond protecting the land we both love so much…

Yet from the moment we share our first kiss as husband and wife, this fake marriage starts to feel very real.

With each heated look…

Every lingering touch…

We grow closer.

Until the only thing I’m afraid of losing is him.

Grab this small town romance featuring a feisty veterinarian heroine who doesn’t want to need anyone else and a reclusive man who has never let himself want who find love in the wilderness and hope in each other.

Buy Link:
https://a.co/d/0dnwlyHu
Available in KU

*****

Review:

Wolf is on the spectrum but Molly appreciates him for who he is and I love that for them both. They struggle a little trying to figure out how a relationship between them works, neither having any real experience being in a couple. Add in some childhood trauma & insecurities on both their parts and it isn’t a smooth road.

But I’m so proud of Molly for her patience and willingness to understand Wolf but to also push when it’s needed. And Wolf for asking for help and stepping up when required. They are just so sweet together, fully embracing each other and slowly creating a home that fits them both.

There’s a bit of a suspense element towards the end, but really the story is about these two falling in love and I could not have asked for anything more. This is the first book of Parker’s that I’ve read but it is a delightful introduction and I can’t wait to see where she goes with Wolf’s brothers.

*****

Author Info:

Natalie Parker resides in the Seattle area with her husband and two rugrats, but is originally a Michigan girl.

She always enjoyed writing and noticed she had a knack for it while earning her Psychology degree and has always been an avid reader, but never thought of becoming an author until one day there seemed to be a story to tell.

In her spare time, she enjoys reading, reading, reading to her kids, drinking coffee, reading, occasional yardwork, reading, listening to music, reading and writing.

Connect with Natalie Parker:

https://www.instagram.com/natalie.parker.author

Review – Double Dared

21 Sunday Jun 2026

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Double Dared

The Boys of Elmwood U #2

by Hayden Hall

Blurb:

I’m not the kind of guy who turns down a dare. This is a lifestyle choice. I have committed to it fully, proudly, and without a single second thought.

So when Greg pointed across the bar at a man reading poetry alone in a black turtleneck and said “get him to agree to a date,” I was halfway out of the booth before the sentence finished.

Enter film student, built like an athlete, reads like a scholar, and has clearly never once left the house without putting on a fashion show for strangers. He saw through my opening line before I finished delivering it. He said yes to the date before I could ask. He also had his own agenda entirely.

His ex had moved on faster than he was prepared for. I needed a dare to brag about. So we struck a three weeks of convincing, mutually beneficial fake dating. His ex would reconsider. My fraternity brothers would think the dare had backfired so spectacularly that I was, apparently, in love with a man.

Easy.

Except when his hand settled on the small of my back in a crowded market and my brain went somewhere it had no business going. Except when he leaned in close to say something and I forgot what language was. Except when I caught myself watching his mouth and had to physically relocate my eyes.

I never met a dare I couldn’t handle. I just never expected one to handle me right back.

Double Dared is the second novel in The Boys of Elmwood U series, but it can be read as a standalone. It features one film student with a broken heart and an ill-advised theory about grand romance, one fraternity jock who has just discovered, somewhat inconveniently, that he has a type, and a fake-dating scenario that will bewilder, boggle, and befuddle its way to an accidentally happy ending.

*****

Review:

Aww, idiots in love. My favorite!

Taylor has so much golden retriever energy – charming, loved by everyone, and always up for something fun. It’s so easy to see why he knocks Harrison off kilter, there’s absolutely no way to prepare yourself for the vibrancy of Taylor. And Harrison’s more subdued, old-soul vibe is a good match for it. As they find themselves spending time together as part of their pact, it takes about half a second to develop into something more. They just need a bit to catch on πŸ™‚

Taylor’s go-with-the-flow attitude is apparent as he starts to realize exactly what his growing feelings for Harrison really means. And Harrison is more than willing to help him discover himself, his desires, and his feelings. It’s spicy, a smidge kinky, but very compelling as they explore their connection. Taylor so trusting & open to exploring everything under Harrison’s guidance & care. It’s a bit insta-lust / insta-love but I don’t know that I even noticed how quickly things happen for them. The progression seemed very natural and Hall paces it well.

Low angst, slow burn, and spicy, I’m loving this series by Hall. They’ve been fun to read with a good mix of humor and heat and characters that just grabbed me from page 1. After this and Extra Credit, I’m definitely putting him on my must read list and I can’t wait to see what comes next!

Review – The Comeback King

19 Friday Jun 2026

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The Comeback King

Necessary Roughness #1

by Riley Hart

Blurb:

Lucas

To my dad, Hunter King is a football prodigy destined for greatness.

The son he always wanted.

To me, Hunter King is the guy I’ve loved most of my life.

The guy who happens to be my dead brother’s boyfriend.

We were kids when Hunter came into our livesβ€”the boy with the skill my brother didn’t have and the drive I lacked. The one who was always kind to me, who cared about my photography when to my dad, it was a hobby, not worth anyone’s time.

Looking at the world through the lens of my camera is the only thing I’ve ever wanted.

Other than Hunter King.

Hunter

I would be nothing without the Blakes. Coach Blake nurtured my football talent from high school through college and now professionally. For all intents and purposes, he was my father. And when I started dating his son Ellis, it felt like I truly became part of the family.

But since Ellis died, nothing feels right anymoreβ€”not even the game I’ve always loved.

Until Lucas walks back into my life.

With each lingering touch, I feel sensation returning. Every kiss breathes air into my lungs. And for the first time in three years, it feels like my heart starts beating again.

But with every embrace, I’m betraying Ellis’s memory. The media, my team, Coach Blake will all condemn me. I’ll no longer be their Comeback King. I’ll be the man who is sleeping with his dead boyfriend’s brother.

Yet none of it is enough to make me stop.  

Buy Link:

https://geni.us/TheComebackKing

Available in KUΒ 

*****

Review:

Oh, the angst! These two … my heart just ached.

Lucas with his scars and hurts left over from growing up in a house where he didn’t fit in, where his father never understood or loved him. So heartbreaking, I just can’t! But he’s strong, even with his baggage he’s finding his own way.

Hunter is struggling with moving on from the death of his boyfriend, holding on to so much guilt it’s impacting his life. Being with Lucas again has him feeling things that he isn’t sure how to handle. And I’m here for every complex, nuanced moment.

They struggle, not with how they feel but with the impact it will have if anyone finds out. Especially Lucas’s dad and that’s just so hard because they fit together so well. The Comeback King is messy and emotional and scorching and so satisfying – delving into grief, family dynamics, and how much & what we owe to the people we love.

*****

Author Info:

Riley Hart’s love of all things romance shines brightly in everything she writes. Her primary focus is Male/Male romance but under various pen names, her prose has touched practically every part of the spectrum of love and relationships. The common theme that ties them all together is stories told from the heart.

A hopeless romantic herself, Riley is a lover of character-driven plots, many with flawed and relatable characters. She strives to create stories that readers can not only fall in love with, but also see themselves in. Real characters and real love blended together equal the ultimate Riley Hart experience.

When Riley isn’t creating her next story, you can find her reading, traveling, or dreaming about reading or traveling, and spending time with her two perfectly snarky kids, and one swoon-inducing husband.

Connect with Riley Hart:

https://www.instagram.com/rileyhartwrites

Review – Knight

18 Thursday Jun 2026

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Knight

Redemption Road #1

by DJ Jamison

Blurb:

They call me Knight because I’m always trying to save someone…

Unfortunately, I can’t even save myself most of the time. I didn’t save myself from getting involved with the wrong people, from taking the fall for a guy I thought I loved, or from being betrayed by him.

Redemption Road gives me a fresh start. a new family of men who know what it’s like to make mistakes, and a chance to meet a guy who actually deserves my heart. Only problem? He’s a doctor going places far from Riverton–and he’s way too smart to fall for a con like me.

Especially when my past shows up and tries to drag me back into the biker gang I thought I’d escaped.

There’s no running from them. I’ll have to fight if I want my freedom. And there’s a good chance I won’t come out of it alive.

This time, I’ll have to save myself. But as the other ex-cons at Redemption Road step up, I realize I’m not alone. I finally have people who care about me.

And my best friend’s brother, Aiden, tops that list. He’s not only my roommate and casual hookup. He’s becoming the center of my world.

But unless I end this, I can’t stay with him. I’d only put him in danger. So there’s really no choice.

I’m going to get my happy ending–or die trying.

https://geni.us/Redemption1

*****

Review:

I loved Aiden & Knight together, both of them bringing more than their fair share of baggage into their relationship. Aiden because he carries a lot of guilt and responsibility for his brother’s time in prison and Knight with his feelings of being unworthy because of his past. But they worked so well together, fit just right. Both of them found a way to take care of the other. Lifting each other up and reminding them of their worth.

This is my first book from Jamison but it definitely will not be my last. Knight caught my attention from the first page and held it til the last. It was funny and steamy but also a little heartbreaking as it touched on the difficulties of life after prison and the problems of rural communities getting reliable health care. I’m sure returning readers loved the opportunity to catch up with previous couples but even as a new reader it was fine. I liked this big, boisterous group of friends and how loud & openly they love one another and look forward to seeing them again.