Trope: Double bi-awakening, best friends to lovers, roommates, found family, hurt/comfort, big Golden Retriever energy, exhibitionism
Blurb:
Isaac
For three years Jamie has been my best friend, my roommate, and my wingman. We do everything together, and we live by one simple rule: work hard and play harder. Everything was perfect until what was supposed to be a meaningless threesome between friends changes everything.
Now I canโt stop thinking about that night, and how I couldnโt take my eyes off him. I want Jamie, even if I donโt understand why. We might both be straight, but I canโt ignore the pull between us.
I donโt want to risk losing him, but I canโt keep pretending like nothing happened. And the more time that passes, the more I wonder if he feels the shift between us too.
Jamie
Isaac isnโt just my best friend and roommate, heโs the person I trust most in the world. Weโve been inseparable for three years, and weโre rock solid. Then a mutual ex of ours suggests we have a threesome, and what should have been a fun experiment between friends sends my life into a tailspin.
Now Iโm seeing Isaac in a new light. I want him, and I donโt understand why. I try to ignore it so I donโt risk ruining the best friendship Iโve ever had, but that night awakened something in me, and the more time that passes, the more I think it also awakened something in him.
We might both be straight, but that doesnโt stop me from picturing my best friend on his knees for me. Or remembering how he looks when he comes.
Isaac and Jamie have been best friends for 3 years, but one night changes everything as they start to see each other in a different way. I feel like it might need a warning that this is VERY low angst. Just a super sweet (and funny and steamy) story of two best friends realizing, and working thru, their attraction for each other. It’s a lot of bi-awakening and exploration of their sexuality, and thanks to their deep friendship and support from a close friend group its not a difficult transition.
It’s Complicated isnot going to be for everyone, and that’s ok, I really enjoyed these two together. They have typical bro moments while also being super supportive, pushing where needed or just being there for each other when things are tough. This is my first book by Dixon so I’m not sure how normal this is for her. But if this is any indication I’m going to have to add some books to my TBR.
*****
Author Info:
What can I say about myself? Itโs kind of like being the new kid in school and being asked to tell everyone a bit about yourself. Anyone else forget everything theyโve ever liked, thought of, and even their name in those moments?
A few facts about me; Iโm a veteran, Iโm Canadian, and I love books! Iโve been writing my own stories since I was eight and wrote my first novel at sixteen. Iโm the first to admit those attempts werenโt my best work, but they started me on a journey of creating stories that has led me to fulfilling my dream of becoming an author. Iโve written and published in several genres under different names, but MM is by far my favorite, and Iโm so happy to be able to share my stories with people today.
I currently live on Canadaโs east coast with my kiddo and my cats. I have a shoe collecting addiction, and I enjoy taking long walks, discussions with friends, and reading anything and everything I can get my hands on.
A free-spirited proposal planner and a grumpy professor form a hilarious and unexpected situationship that just might lead to more in this steamy romantic comedy by New York Times bestselling author Melissa Foster.
Dog groomer and budding marriage-proposal planner Destiny Amor believes in true love and happily ever afters. Though itโs not in the stars for her yetโhonestly, who can live up to the criteria on her Mr. Right Checklist?โshe wants it for others. When Destinyโs first misguided attempt at romance concierge ends in disaster, sheโs ready to call it quits, until the supposed groom-to-be steps in with a proposal of his own.
Ryan โFletchโ Fletcher, a divorced-and-never-going-there-again professor, needs to get his matchmaking family off his back, and the disorganized, too-in-love-with-love proposal planner is the perfect solution. He offers to help Destiny get her business on track, if sheโll play the part of his adoring girlfriend at his brotherโs wedding.
A professional situationship with her grumpy dog-grooming client? Destiny adores his pup, and she could put up with him to get her business off the ground. With any luck, she might even get that chip about love off his shoulder.
The Mr. Right Checklist is published by Montlake Romance and will be available in paperback and audio formats at all book retailers, and exclusively in digital format for Kindle and Kindle apps. Download a free Kindle reading app here: http://bit.ly/FreeKindle_App1
I ah-dored Destiny and Fletch together. She’s over-the-top sunshiny happiness and he’s a reserved grump who just needs to be reminded to loosen up and enjoy life a little more. Together they are sassy, funny, sweet, and sexy.
Destiny is so upbeat, go-with-the-flow, sweet, and fun. She embraces life in such a big way that it’s enviable. And she doesn’t let much get her down, even Fletch at his grumpiest.
Fletch may be set in his ways but he’s a good man, which is obvious by how much he loves his dog … and they way he steps in to help Destiny when she needs it. His life just needs a little shaking up and Destiny is the woman to do it.
We know where this is going, THEY know where this is going if they are honest with themselves, and they do get there. And surprisingly with a minimal amount of drama along the way. Instead it’s a story full of so much sweetness, humor, and spice, with a supportive, loving, fun group of people who open their arms, welcoming Destiny into their lives, and are there when she needs them. Including, and most especially, Fletch as he shows her all those things that she should be putting on her perfect man list.
*****
Author Info:
Melissa Foster is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance and new adult romance with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Melissaโs emotional journeys are lovingly erotic and always family orientedโperfect beach reads for contemporary romance lovers who enjoy reading about wealthy heroes and smart, sassy heroines.
Tropes: Holiday romance, enemies-to-lovers, grumpy x sunshine, workplace, fake dating, all the misunderstandings
Blurb:
Everyone in the building loved the bake shop a lot.
Except for the guy on the top floor, who most certainly did not.
If it were up to him, there wouldnโt be a hint of Christmas in the building.
For two months out of the year, Daphne Noelle got to live her dream of owning a bakery. Her little pop-up bake shopโone that looked just like a gingerbread houseโbrought joy to every customer who stopped by to enjoy her sweet treats. She loved meeting people and making them smile, and being in such a festive setting every day was just the icing on the cake! For the last three years, everything had gone smoothly, but this year, there was one guy who was determined to ruin it all.
One of the things Tristan appreciated most about the office complex where his architecture firm was located is how upscale and elegant it was. Unfortunately, every year for eight long weeks, a holiday shop set up in the lobby, turning it into the equivalent of a traveling circus, and the bake shop booth was the worst offender. The giant gingerbread house was an eyesore and the woman running it was too cheery for his liking. This year, he was determined to do everything he could to have her and her booth removed.
When Tristan finds himself in the middle of a delicate family situation, only Daphne can help him. Now, heโll have to beg and plead and promise to be on his best behavior while dealing with her exuberant holiday joy. But the more time he spends with herโand the more awkward situations she saves him fromโhe begins to realize thereโs more to her than over-the-top holiday cheer. And maybe, when youโre with the right person, Christmas can mean a little bit more.
Samantha Chase is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller of contemporary romance thatโs hotter than sweet, sweeter than hot. She released her debut novel in 2011 and currently has more than eighty titles under her belt โ including THE CHRISTMAS COTTAGE which was a Hallmark Christmas movie in 2017 and THE WEDDING SEASON which was a Hallmark wedding movie in 2023! Sheโs a Disney enthusiast who still happily listens to 80โs rock. When sheโs not working on a new story, she spends her time reading romances, playing way too many games of Solitaire when she should be writing, wearing a tiara while playing with her sassy pug Mayleneโฆoh, and spending time with her husband of 32 years and their two sons in Wake Forest, North Carolina.
Six years ago, he was her one-night stand, and now theyโre sharing a villa for the holidays.
I thought I was over him. That his good looks and British accent couldnโt affect me anymore. But the minute our eyes lock across the elevator, all those feelings come roaring back to life.
Then I find out weโre competing for the same job.
Next comes the realization that we have to spend a week together on a ski vacation because of some six-degree-of-separation nonsense.
The real kicker is when I find out the two of us have to share a villa. A very small, very cozy villa.
Needless to say, this Christmas getaway is starting off rockier than the mountains weโll be skiing down.
Iโve stayed away for years, whatโs one week? But I forgot how much easier it is to ignore him with an ocean separating usโespecially when heโs determined to win me back.
Merry Kissmass is mostly light-hearted, with a few moments of seriousness as we get to know Pierce a little more, and definitely contains more than a hint of insta-love. Readers need to be OK with that, because the holidays really do work their magic as Brynn & Pierce reconnect and fall in love all over again. Piper Rayne gave me exactly what I was looking for in an end of year romance – holiday fun, stickily sweet with family hijinks, all tied up with a HEA bow.
*****
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!
Since I was six years old, my world has revolved around two things: Carter Lockwood and hockey.
We made a pact in college before we turned pro to always put each other first. To make each other our priority, but being in love with your straight best friend can make that hard, especially when you have to watch them fall in love with someone else.
I donโt want to break my best friend’s heart to save my own, but I need to put some space between us to save our friendship.
Only this time, itโs not just the defensive zone Iโm protecting, but also my heart.
Carter
From the moment I met Zach Reid, we were inseparable.
Nobody really understands why I always wanted to be with him. Our relationship is what some people call codependent, but heโs been my favorite person for over two decades, and life is always calmer when heโs around.
But something changed between us over the summer, and I started to see him in a different way.
Then the pact we made in college started to fall apart, along with my football career.
I donโt know what happened or how to make it right, but thereโs one thing I know for certain.
Iโm lost without him.
Defensive Zoneis a childhood best friends to lovers sports romance featuring a hockey player and football player. It includes unrequited love, a bi-awakening, mutual pining and all the Thunder found family vibes.
It is book three in the Chicago Thunder series and can be read as a standalone.
My heart just broke for Zach as he goes through years of a secret love for his best friend. All the girlfriends, the months spent together without being able to show his true feelings … I can’t imagine. We know it works out for them but that’s decades of heartache.
Carter may be late to the party but once he figures things out he throws his whole self into their new relationship. He’s sweet, caring, and adventurous. He never lets Zach think he’s not all in.
Pretty much all the angst, the little bit that there is, is centered around their friendship and the issues that lead up to Carter understanding exactly what’s going on between them. After they get together we are treated to Nick and Carter settling into their new relationship, discovering the “benefits’ that come with those changes, and figuring out what their futures are going to look like. It’s sweet, steamy, and fun.
The believability rating for this one is low but the enjoyability is pretty darn high. The author does state before the book starts that to keep the book low angst that she made it easier for them. We could only hope that Zach and Carter’s relationship could develop the same way in the real world but we have a long way to go.
*****
Author Info:
Jodi Oliver is a British author who writes MM romance, happily ever after guaranteed. She loves donuts, dogs and ice hockey, and when she hasnโt got her head in a book or hiding in the writing cave, you can find her at an ice hockey game.
She lives in England but dreams of living in the Canadian countryside, with some highland cows and otters.
A heroic, sworn bachelor risks his neck to save lives, but his heart needs a daring rescue.
Kerry likes his beer cold, his coffee hot, and sex without strings. Running an emergency response crew takes up most of his time, and he reserves the rest for his family. Besides, heโs experienced enough heartache for two lifetimes and isnโt looking for more misery. Kerryโs carefully crafted peace shatters when he meets Keegan, a hazel-eyed hottie and his brotherโs new friend.
Falling for Kerry is a collision waiting to happen, but Keegan canโt resist the heroic hunkโs charm. Smoldering eyes and wicked grins tempt Keegan to go flat-out, even when heโs barreling toward a dead end. Rejection is the last thing his newfound confidence needs, but the crash might be worth the risk if Kerryโs there to give him mouth-to-mouth.
A crowded bar. A slow song. Months of mutual pining reach a fever pitch, and the invitation is out of Kerryโs mouth before he can stop it. Three minutes. Two battered hearts. One dance that changes everything.
Brick by brick, Kerry and Keegan dismantle the walls around their hearts to build something beautiful together. But old habits die hard, and traumas are slow to heal. Their love will either be the most beautiful gift or the messiest mistake.
The Beautiful Mess is book six in the Redemption Ridge series. Though each story features a different couple, reading the series in order is essential. The Beautiful Mess contains mature themes and is intended for adults.
โOh! What about him?โ Sven gestured to a tall, dark-haired guy approaching the bar. A pale blue Henley stretched across an impressive chest, and dark-wash jeans hugged a nice ass. โHe has a gorgeous smile, and look at those dimples. Bet he has a matching set just above that fine ass.โ Sven mimicked an alarm going off. โAnd Iโm picking up big dick energy, even from this distance.โ Keegan wasnโt sure what range Sven got with his big-dick detector, but he wasnโt about to question the masterโs verdict. Sven waggled his brows at him and said, โI know you have a thing for dark-haired, brawny men.โ
It was the closest his friend had come to calling out Keeganโs crush on Kerry, who also happened to be Svenโs stepbrother. Lately, Keegan detected a little push in Kerryโs direction from Sven and the rest of the Hart clan. The idea was ridiculous, especially since Sven had once cautioned him against falling for Kerry. Keegan would neither confirm nor deny his friendโs suspicions. He tilted his head and considered the hot guy who leaned against the bar while waiting for the bartender. The man was fit and fine, for sure. He wore his dark hair short and neat, but the gelled strands didnโt invite someone to touch them. Kerry was a few months past due for a haircut, but the longer curls framing his face were sexy and tempted Keegan to test their softness. Keegan usually loathed beards or facial hair, which shouldโve been a point in the strangerโs favor since he rocked a clean-shaven look. But Kerryโs thick bristles made him look more like a plush-mouthed pirate and didnโt remind Keegan of the bearded Salvation Anew members whoโd wielded crushing slurs as painful as physical blows.
โAhh. Have we found a winner?โ Sven asked.
He hummed as if considering the question. The guy turned and scanned the room, and Keegan saw that his eyes were light, not black as pitch. Miriamโheโd stopped thinking of her as his motherโhad warned him about black-eyed demons and the chaos they could cause during her fanatical religious teachings. Heโd grown up looking for soul-snatching beasts around every corner, but it had taken Keegan twenty-three years of abuse and nearly two years of intense therapy to recognize the real monster had given birth to him. Keegan had since witnessed the visual representation of the black-eyed demons Miriam mentioned while watching reruns of Supernatural. Kerryโs eyes werenโt anything like those portrayed on the show, but Keegan was sure the man was on a first-name basis with chaos.
โWell?โ Sven prompted.
โHeโs cute.โ
Sven growled and briefly hung his head before meeting Keeganโs gaze. โCute? Baby, no. We donโt throw that word around unless we want to insult someone. Cute is for kittens and puppies. Cute is the kiss of death for a romantic endeavor.โ
โOh.โ Keegan mentally added that to the list of things he didnโt know or understand. Who the hell made up these dating rules, anyway? โSorry.โ
*****
Author Info:
Ever since she was a little girl, Aimee Nicole Walker entertained herself with stories that popped into her head. Now she makes a living by telling stories to others. She wears many titlesโwife, mom, and grandma are just a few. Love inspires everything she does, podcasts 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/dlhPYjMy 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/
Tropes: Enemies to friends to lovers, close proximity, agent + player, secret situationship
Blurb:
Thad
Failing to make it in pro ball left me absolutely devastated. Baseball has been my life, my dream, but itโs time to move on.
Becoming a sports agent was always my back-up plan, and now that Iโm interning at the biggest queer-focused firm in the country, Iโm doing my best not to let my bitterness toward baseball affect my future.
Thatโs really difficult when Iโm assigned to babysit Kelley Afton, hotshot rookie pitcher for Philly. He has everything I ever wanted, and he doesnโt even appreciate it. I didnโt become an agent so I could soothe the ego of diva athletes.
His constant need for validation from others frustrates me to no end, but thatโs probably a good thing. Because if he didnโt have that, Iโd find him irresistibly my type.
Attraction could lead to crossing lines which would put my position at King Sports in jeopardy, and I canโt have that.
I have enjoyed the heck out of all of Finley’s books I’ve read and The Backup Plan is no exception. She does a fantastic job of giving her readers interesting characters and believable plots. Some of the characters may be big-shot athletes, musicians, etc but at the end of the day they are just men looking for a connection.
Thad is struggling a little after realizing that a MLB career isn’t in the cards for him. And he’s taking it out on a certain extremely sexy, extremely talented, extremely egotistical pitcher. Once he realizes what is truly at the root of Kelley’s need to be liked, it sends him on a path of little self-reflection. And maybe a little more.
Kelley’s mental health issues may have caused him to take a self-imposed break in the woods, but it also gives him the one person that he feels completely comfortable being his self with. Someone who also helps him quiet the destructive voices in his head.
There is a lot standing between Thad and Kelley, mostly revolving around their jobs, but it isn’t full of drama. Instead we get a steamy, funny, and satisfying read as they find themselves having to decide what they are willing to do, to give up, to embrace a future together.
*****
Author Info:
Eden Finley is an Amazon bestselling author who writes steamy contemporary romances that are full of snark and light-hearted fluff.
She doesn’t take anything too seriously and lives to create an escape from real life for her readers. The ideas always begin with a wackadoodle premise, and she does her best to turn them into romances with heart.
With a short attention span that rivals her son’s, she writes multiple different pairings: MM, MMF, and MF.
She’s also an Australian girl and apologises for her Australianisms that sometimes don’t make sense to anyone else.
Hey, I donโt regret taking an oddball assignment to assist a British professor abroad. I could use a break from my life as an aspiring hair and style guru in LA. The only worrisome snag is that the professor is determined to do everything on his own.
Not acceptable. Iโm here to help the impossibly smart geek with mismatched socks who just happens to be my best friendโs boss.
Alistair
Paris calls. And somehow, I have a new temporary assistant.
Winnie is a technicolor, whirlwind American with a wicked laugh and the subtlety of a steamroller. Heโs brash and ridiculous andโฆfunny, warm, lovely, andโ
Oh no.
Winnie can take Paris, but he canโt take my heart.
Winnie Takes Paris is an MM romantic comedy featuring a fabulous diva, a nerdy professor, and the Parisian adventure of a lifetime!
I tapped my cup to his flute awkwardly. โTo Paris.โ
Winnie watched me cautiously. โDid I get your tea right? Raine said you like a smidge of milk and sugar.โ
โUh, yesโฆbrilliant. Thank you.โ
He grinned. โYouโre welcome. What should we do now?โ
โWait for the train,โ I replied evenly.
Winnie threw his head back and laughed, drawing a few curious glances our way. The lounge wasnโt exactly a library, but there was an unspoken acknowledgment that this was a quiet zone.
โGot that. I meant, what about work? Iโm your assistant. If you need me to do anything, just say the word and Iโm there.โ
โThank you. I appreciate your diligence, but thereโs no need. Enjoy your champagne,โ I said in a tone that clearly marked the end of the conversation.
Winnie didnโt take the hint. โDo you like champagne?โ
โNo, I donโt.โ
He flattened his hand over his heart. โWhy not? Champagne is the elixir of the gods, sunshine in a flute, bubbles for the soul.โ
I shrugged. โIโm afraid I donโt care for bubbles at all. I donโt want to drink them, anyway.โ
โMm, youโre missing out. I would bathe in champagne bubbles if I could.โ He hummed indulgently.
โThat soundsโฆsticky.โ
Winnieโs lips twitched. โYouโre right. It also sounds like a waste of a good thing, and I wouldnโt sacrifice a single sip of this stuff.โ
I wasnโt sure how to respond or if I was supposed to, but this was probably a good time to remind Winnie that I didnโt need him to entertain me or vice versa. Or perhaps this was an opportunity to ask him a few questions and be done with prerequisite niceties.
What sort of questions, though? I had no clue. This was the sort of thing Raine usually handled for me.
I set my cup on the side table, pulled my cell from my pocket, and typed, Questions for a new acquaintance.
Google suggested the following: Number one, ask personal informationโlikes, dislikes, favorite color, hobbies. Not a chance. In my admittedly limited experience, that line of inquiry invited reciprocity, and there was no point in pretending we shared any common interests.
Number two, comment on something pleasant, such as the weather. I glanced out the rain-streaked window and quickly abandoned that suggestion. Too dire.
Number three, pay a compliment. That seemed like a safe option. Winnie was veryโฆwinsome. He had beautiful olive skin, perfectly coiffed hair, a flair for fashion, andโ
โYou have lovely eyes,โ I blurted.
Winnie froze midsip, quirking his head as he slowly lowered his glass. โAre you flirting with me, Professor?โ
โIโno! No, Iโฆno,โ I sputtered, wrinkling my nose, licking my lips, and blinking in rapid succession. โThat was a statement, not a flirtation. I donโt do flirtations, so youโre quite safe there.โ
โAm I?โ
He was teasing. The spark in his eyes held pure mischief, but I didnโt know the rules of engagement at all. Was I supposed to say something clever in return? Possibly, probably. Witty banter wasnโt my strong suit, so I went with the truth instead.
โI couldnโt help noticing that youโre wearing makeup andโฆyou look quite smart.โ
His megawatt grin hit me like a bolt of lightning. โI do? How so? Iโve never been told my application of Chanel Stylo Yeux in espresso gave collegiate vibes.โ
โUh, no. I didnโt mean smart in that sense. That is to say, Iโm sure youโre very intelligent, but I meant that you lookโฆnice.โ
His smile didnโt waver. โThank you.โ
โYouโre welcome.โ Well done, old chap. Now, leave it alone. Unfortunately, I couldnโt shut my gob. This was badโฆvery bad. โAncient Egyptian men wore cosmetics, and depending on their rank and social class, they wore a lot of it. The kohl liner they used had practical purposes, too. It shielded one from the sunโs rays and repelled insects. They used animal fats and oils to create moisturizers, shampoos, and even to prevent baldness. Interesting, isnโt it? Theyโd rub fat from a snake or aโโ
โOkay.โ Winnie held his hand up. โThatโs a lot of information.โ
โThatโs hardly the tip of the iceberg,โ I assured him.
โI bet.โ He gestured to the corner of his eye. โI made a last-minute trip to Sephora for this stuff. Much easier than wrangling a snake.โ
โSephora, derived from the Greek sephos, or beauty.โ
Oh, bloody blooming bollocks. What is wrong with me?
*****
Author Info:
Lane Hayesย lives in sunny Southern California with her amazing husband, who thankfully doesnโt mind cooking, and their fabulous fox red Labrador, George, whoโs pure mischief. Both provide oodles of inspiration for the low-angst, humorous books Lane loves to write.
Sheโs been telling stories about sexy, funny, sometimes geeky and quirky men who find love for a dozen years now and loving every minute. In her previous life, she sat at a desk and dealt with numbers, so yesโฆromance is much more satisfying!
Lane loves tea, travel, and chocolateโฆin any order. Add a book and sheโs set!
While tracking down an escaped felon, FBI Special Agent Evan McGarry and his K-9, Blue, uncover a smoking hot lead on the location of dozens of missing childrenโincluding Evan’s own sister. The shocking discovery reopens cold cases throughout Colorado, along with painful wounds and the heartbreaking guilt Evan’s kept buried for decades.
Three years ago, hospital custodian Marlie Foxe’s world imploded, causing her to cut herself off from the world. But when one of the missing boys turns up at her hospital, he only allows Marlie to get close. Now, Evan needs her help with the boyโand he won’t take no for an answer. When she finally agrees to work with him, Evan suspects there’s more to the woman than she’s letting on. She’s hiding something. The question isย what.
As Evan and Marlie unearth a cult targeting runaways, they’re forced to confront not only dangerous criminals but the truths they’ve both been avoidingโincluding the blistering passion they can no longer deny. But when more children disappear, they’ll have to risk more than just their hearts.
Each book in the K-9 Special Ops series is STANDALONE: * Tough Justice * Burning Justice * Ultimate Justice
โUltimate Justice is romantic suspense done right! It has great characters, a riveting plot, and sizzling romance. Tee OโFallonโs law enforcement background shines through in the realistic and suspenseful plotโฆ The story moves at a brisk pace that will keep the pages flyingโฆ This is one of my favorite books of the year and Tee OโFallon is an author to seek out.โ โ Just Another Damn Book Blog
Donโt miss the other books in the series! Find them on Amazon!
*****
Excerpt:
Evan arched a brow. Liar. The woman looked anything but happy.
Her knuckles were white where she had her long blond braid in a death grip, and the smooth skin over her carotid pulsed rapidly. She shot what he could swear was a panicked look at the door. Bottom lineโฆMarlie Foxe looked ready to bolt faster than a deer on opening day of hunting season.
Her deep blue gaze met his, and he was struck by the sad, haunted look in hers. Heโd seen that look. It was the same one heโd seen in the mirror on his own face and those of his parents in the days and months after Gracie disappeared. He wondered if it would ever stop.
Now, for the first time in twenty-four years, he was, potentially, on the verge of discovering the answer to his familyโs burning question: what happened to their daughter, his sister?
If only he wasnโt exhausted. Make that totally beat to shit. Heโd barely slept, and then only because heโd had to.
In the two days heโd been waiting to interview Noah, heโd fully briefed his SAICโSpecial Agent in Chargeโthe FBI director via Zoom, the U.S. Attorneyโs Office in Denver, gotten an arrest warrant for Francis Manello and served another search warrant at the manโs house. He and a team of agents had tossed the house from top to bottom. Forensics was dumping every scrap of information on Manelloโs computer, but all Evan could think about was that Polaroid. He still couldnโt believe it, but it was herโGracieโwearing the same pink shirt sheโd had on the last time heโd seen her. Guilt squeezed his heart tighter than a bank vault door.
Focus, dammit! Focus!
โBlue, come.โ He hitched his head to the dog whoโd been his partner for more than four years.
As Blue trotted to the bed, Evan pointed, and his dog situated himself between Marlie and the bed and rested his head on the edge of the mattress.
Despite Blueโs size, Marlie didnโt cringe or back away.
โCan I pet him?โ Noah looked at Evan expectantly.
โYou bet. Thatโs what I brought him for.โ Pretty much every kid Noahโs age wanted a dog. A dogโs attention and comfort were great for improving emotional health, especially after a traumatic experience. The only thing necessary was for the dog to be gentle and friendly, which Blue was. Except when hunting down a homicidal felon.
It wasnโt quite a smile, but the corners of Marlieโs pink, full lips lifted a fraction as she watched Noah pet Blue. She had the most interesting face heโd ever seen. Heart-shaped. Yet it was her eyes that drew him in. Eyes were the windows to the soul, and he wondered about hers.
โHe likes having his ears stroked,โ Evan said, casting a glance over his shoulder. The good doctor, who looked eerily like an undertaker, would be back soon with those extra chairs. Noah didnโt like the man. Getting him out the door, even for a few minutes, seemed like a stellar idea.
Blue leaned into the boyโs hand and groaned like heโd just scarfed down a meaty T-bone. The deep rumble in the back of Blueโs throat made Noah giggle.
He hadnโt quite reached adolescence and still had the high-pitched voice of youth.
โDo you like dogs?โ he asked, taking the first step in his forensic interview of the boy: establishing rapport.
He nodded.
In the interest of not towering over the bed, Evan sat in the vacant chair, leaving Kinnemara, the FBIโs Office for Victim Assistance advocate, standing quietly by the door.
Normally, heโd approach any interview with methodical calm, but that Polaroid of his sister made him feel like a powder keg with a little fuse. He wanted to trash protocol and dive right in. With children, rushing in too quickly could be disastrous. โDid you ever have a dog before?โ
Noah shook his head, his attention still focused on Blue. โI wanted one, but Sheila and Mikeโmy foster parentsโwouldnโt let me.โ
No surprise there. Noah Lundโs background check had included his former foster parents. Sheila and Mike Hamilton had been too busy peddling drugs out their back door to care about anyone else. Heโd bet theyโd only taken Noah in to get state money for fostering a child. The stateโs screening process was seriously flawed.
More like, seriously sucked.
Evan caught Marlie scrutinizing him. The haunted look in her eyes had been replaced by something else. Suspicion. Still drilling him with those piercing blue eyes, she rested a hand on Noahโs shoulder, telling him something elseโNorth Metroโs custodian was protective of the boy. Somehow, in the span of only two days, theyโd formed a bond, one he needed to be cautious of. Perhaps, take advantage of.
โDo you like baseball?โ The kidโs pjs were baseball-themed.
โYeah.โ Noah kept petting Blue.
โMe too. I played in school.โ
Finally, the boy looked up. โWhat position?โ
โCenterfield. You?โ
Noah shrugged. โDonโt know. Never played on a team. Just with Caleb.โ
โWhoโs Caleb?โ He already knew the kid had no siblings and no other blood relatives the state was aware of.
โMy friend. I think he got caught. Heโโ
Caught?
Squealing came from the hallway as Dr. Strobie wheeled in two more chairs, positioning one beside Evanโs and leaving the other at the foot of the bed for Kinnemara.
Strobie sat and scooted his chair closer. Noah stopped petting Blue and tugged the sheet on his lap higher, gripping it tightly in his fists, as if forming a protective shield. The kid really didnโt like the hospital shrink. If he could eject the doc from the room, he gladly would. The manโs presence had the same effect as slapping a strip of duct tape over the boyโs mouth. Strobie had also procured a legal-size notepad and sat poised with a ballpoint pen in his hand.
This guy was a pain in the ass. The best way to establish rapport and trust with a child was to show them you were listening and that you cared.
Not by writing down every word.
*****
Review:
I’ve only read a couple of O’Fallon’s books (Goodreads shows only one review but I would swear I’ve read more) a while back and I remember liking them. I love the relationship between the men & their K-9 partners and the suspense element was well done. The men are strong, smart, and brave and find women that are a good match.
With her latest, there are a few moments that I want to yell at both Evan and Marlie. He’s got decades of trauma though that help explain why he does some self-destructive things. I’m a bit surprised that he hadn’t had more therapy, especially for a FBI agent doing the job he does, but I do appreciate the emphasis on how much it is emphasized otherwise throughout the book. And he does eventually figure his stuff out.
I think that Marlie does a few things that are just plain stupid and she gets the consequences you would expect. I understand that it works for the way the plot goes but as an observer it is a bit frustrating. But her journey to the shell of a person at the beginning to the woman she is in the epilogue is a pleasure. I feel like maybe Noah’s attachment happened a bit too quickly but I liked her path to a HEA.
Fast paced, with twists & turns and a satisfying ending, I found myself reminded why I enjoyed O’Fallon’s book. Her characters are intriguing, with a plot that’s a good mixture of danger, feels, and steam. I’m definitely adding more of her books to my TBR and will be keeping my eye out for what comes next.
(Part of a series but easily read as a stand alone.)
*****
Giveaway:
$10 Amazon
Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
*****
Author Info:
Tee O’Fallon is the author of the Federal K-9 Series and the NYPD Blue & Gold Series. Tee has been a federal agent for twenty-three years and is now a police investigator, giving her hands-on experience in the field of law enforcement that she combines with her love of romantic suspense. When not writing, Tee enjoys cooking, gardening, chocolate, lychee martinis, and spending time with her Belgian Sheepdogs Loki and Kyrie. Tee loves hearing from readers and can be contacted via her website https://teeofallon.com where you can also sign up for Teeโs newsletters.
Wildflower and Wide Receivers is a second-chance, contemporary sports romance about our hero who unexpectedly becomes a single guardian over his five-year-old niece and the one who got away.
Wildflowers and Wide Receivers
Tampa Tarpons series
by Kathryn Andrews
Blurb:
When fate throws a second chance . . . catch it.
Jonah Dallmann
Over two years ago, I met a woman on New Yearโs Eve, and it was the best night of my life. That is until the next morning when it became the worst.
One voice message. One swerve over a double yellow line. One little girl, my niece, thatโs now mine.
It hasnโt been easy, these things never are, but weโre trying. Now, Iโm twenty-six, and determined to be the best wide receiver on our team, while sheโs seven and spends her days reading books and dancing ballet.
Only, I havenโt just grieved the loss of my brother, but her too. My heart has ached for what could have been, and what I had to let go. I know what I did to her was wrong, unfortunately, I never had an opportunity to explain that at the time I thought I was right. But as the door opens and she steps in wearing green scrubs and a long white coat, shock ripples through me and hope that I might finally get the chance.
Sophie Black
I always wondered if this day would come, but I never expected to see him here, with her, in one of my patient rooms. Heโs even better looking than I remember and giving off single dad vibes, too, as he cares for his adorable niece. A niece I didnโt know he had.
I was surprised when he asked if he could see me again, but I instantly declined. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Only now we keep running into each other, and Iโm confused. Is fate throwing us a second chance, and if so, should I catch it?
Honestly, I don’t know how to give Wildflowers and Wide Receivers all the praise that it deserves. I could have sat down and read this in one day, so good! It’s sweet, heartfelt, and sometimes heartbreaking. You can’t help but feel for Jonah and Vivi as they deal with the loss of her parents and figuring out how to move forward. And the implications it has on their lives. But he’s such an amazing uncle, a great girl dad, and with his friend group they shower Vivi with the love and support she needs.
I absolutely adored Jonah and Sophie’s entire romance, as they find a way back to each other and face what their connection might mean for the future. And while their late story issue was pretty obvious, and could have been better handled by them, I do feel like it’s a true-life thing and handled in a realistic way. I easily see how they found themselves in the situations they did and why they acted the way they did.
This is my first time reading Kathryn Andrews and I loved every minute of it. It had so many feels and had me all over the place with how much I loved ALL the characters. Jonah’s friends are an awesome group of guys, there for each other in so many ways, and I am definitely looking forward to seeing what happens next!
*****
Author Info:
Kathryn Andrews is a #1 Inspirational Romance Bestselling Author who loves stories that end with a happily ever after. She started writing at age seven and never stopped. Kathryn is known for Chasing Clouds, the Starving for Southern series, and her much loved Hale Brothers series. Her stories are sweet, southern, and fall into the genres of chi-lit, contemporary romance, sports romance, and southern fiction.
Kathryn graduated from the University of South Florida with degrees in Biology and Chemistry, and currently lives in Tampa, Florida. She spends her days as a sales director for a medical device company and her nights lost in her love of fictional characters.
When Kathryn is not crafting beautiful worlds that incorporate some of her most favorite real life places, she can be found hanging out with her husband and two young sons, while drinking iced coffee and enjoying the sun.
Romantic Reads and Such 