There are bad days, and there are unbelievably bad days.
When Olivia woke up, she thought it would be one of those perfect days that put a smile on her face. She had a stable boyfriend, a job that paid the bills, a terrific colleague and best friend, and no clouds looming over her perfect morning.
But that same morning, Olivia got fired. It was a bad day.
And she was dumped by her boyfriend. It was an unbelievably bad day.
She needed to think, regroup, and come up with a plan to fix the mess. What better place to get a grip on her life than the Olympic Peninsula, where she spent her childhood summers?
There, that was the plan. She would be on her feet in no time. At least, she thought she would be until she realized she was stuck in a cabin, under six feet of snow, with a grumpy, sexy mountain man.
A cabin that didnโt have a TV, Internet, or a functioning phone. Well, looking at the bright side, she had zero distractions to come up with her master plan.
She only had to avoid staring at Noahโs biceps, threatening to rip the t-shirt, or how his sweatpants hugged his toned backside.
The Grump and the Chef is an easy, short, spicy rom-com featuring a bubbly, cheerful chef, a grumpy, sexy handyman, and a rooster with a soft spot for blond curvy guests.
There were a few things that weren’t quite believable (like the idea that Olivia would have to spend months in a cabin with a stranger with no way out) but overall I enjoyed this book a lot. Olivia is fun and funny, Noah is sexy and a bit of a curmudgeon. But it doesn’t take long for Olivia’s sunshiny personality to start working on Noah. Turns out he is more grumpy by circumstance than by nature and time together has him looking at the world a little bit differently. Once they give in to their attraction he is amazing at helping Olivia realize and embrace her sexiness, her confidence eroded by past partners. While a little more conversation might have avoided a few of their troubles, their circumstances aren’t exactly normal and it makes for an entertaining HEA ending. It’s pretty much exactly what you’d expect given the rest of their relationship ๐ From what I can find, Ashford is a new author so I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for what she comes up with next.
*****
Author Info:
Wendy Ashford loves to write spicy small-town romance novels that end with a Happily Ever After. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, dog, and cat. She loves the beach during winter and walking in the snow.
She likes to read, play with Legos, and watch romantic comedies on Netflix when not writing.
What happens in the woods, doesn’t always stay in the woods …
Whatโs the worst thing you could do when youโre stranded in the woods with your rival? Sleep with him. Thatโs what.
Not only is Rowan Whitlock my sisterโs ex, but weโre both vying for the contract that would save my family farm.
So why did it have to be Rowan who came to the rescue after I fell on a remote hiking trail? When the weather turned unexpectedly, we were forced to find shelter and ride out the storm. Only that wasnโt the only thing I ended up riding.
We promise ourselves what happens at the cabin stays at the cabin, but when we get back to Sugarloaf, itโs impossible to stay away from him. Those blue eyes captivate me, his strong body comforts me, and he makes me feel beautiful.
Which is crazy, right?
If only my stupid head would listen and stop this before my heart gets involved, but I keep going back because Iโm already in too deep.
I shouldโve known that the temptation wasnโt worth the risk because when it all falls apart, our promises are broken, and Iโm afraid my heart will never recover.
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.
Scorching heat, laugh-out-loud humor, and loads of heart make this sexy enemies-to-lovers, close proximity, forbidden, workplace, small town standalone romance unputdownable.ย
In FALLING FOR MR. BADโฆ
Sable Montgomery loves her single, do-as-she-pleases small-town life. She sees family often, spends her days working in her auto shop and many evenings playing at a local pub with her band, Surge. She has no desire to settle down or let any man tell her what to do. When Surge is offered what most people would consider the chance of a lifetime to tour with and open for Bad Intentions, the hottest rock band of the decade, her bandmates are all in, but sheโs determined to walk away. Sable has no patience for glitz, glamour, or overinflated egos, and that includes the infuriatingly hot billionaire sent to wrangle her into submission.
Taking over as manager for his brotherโs band wasnโt on business mogul Kane Badโs agenda last year, much less negotiating with the stubborn and beautiful lead singer for Surge, but thereโs nothing he wonโt do for family. Including trying to stifle his desire for Sable. He needs to convince her to accept the contract, but heโd rather wrangle the sexy, headstrong, boot-wearing, tough-talking musician into his bed.
Loyalties are tested, lies are told, and greedy pleasures are satisfied. Are they just a chorus between chaotic verses, or will falling for Mr. Bad be Sableโs greatest love song?
No cheating, no cliffhangers, and happily ever afters guaranteed to leave you breathlessly in love with the fiercely loyal and wickedly naughty characters in the Love in Bloom series. All Love in Bloom books are written to stand alone or be enjoyed as part of the larger series, so dive right in and enjoy the ride!
There’s a fine line between a strong heroine with an attitude & one that is just a bitch and I think that Foster does a good job here with Sable. She’s sassy, stubborn, mouthy, and confident but has a big heart under her prickly exterior, willing to do just about anything for those she loves. She owns her sexuality and gives as good as she gets, especially when she meets just as stubborn and confident Kane Bad.
Kane is a take charge, filthy mouthed, seriously hawt hero and a great foil for Sable. He doesn’t let her get away with anything and enjoys pushing her buttons, but also understands her fears & vulnerabilities. Together they create a lot of sparks – both the good and the bad kind – and it’s a delight watching them slowly opening their hearts to each other, learning to work together to face any problems that come up.
(Can be read as a stand alone but there are A LOT of characters from other books that either make an appearance or are mentioned. Doesn’t bother me but could be confusing for some.)
*****
Author Info:
Melissa Foster is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, & USA Today bestselling 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.
What can mend a marriage in trouble? Two meddling kids, one grandfather, and a mischievous puppy.
Nothing But It All
by Adriana Locke
Blurb:
From USA Today bestselling author Adriana Locke comes a warm and romantic novel about a marriage in trouble, two conspiring kids, and the meaning of long-lasting love.
After twenty years, the cracks in Lauren Reedโs marriage are showing. She and her husband, Jack, feel more like roommates than a loving couple. What they have in common are two wonderful teenagers, Michael and Maddie, and the same wistful question: When did it all go wrong? Now that Laurenโs decided to get on with her lifeโaloneโdivorce is inevitable.
Not to the kids. They arenโt giving up so easily.
Michael and Maddie have conspired with their grandfather to bring everyone together for a vacation in the familyโs favorite summer getaway, a rustic lakeside cabin in Story Brook, Ohio. Awkward? Yep. A little deceptive? Sure. But as far as traps go, Lauren and Jack agreeโthe meddlers couldnโt have set one that was more scenic or filled with so many bittersweet memories.
This trip is going to be life-changing for the whole family. Fourteen days of hope, heartbreak, and unexpected possibilitiesโlike maybe falling in love all over again.
USA Today and Amazon Charts Bestselling author, Adriana Locke, writes contemporary romances about the two things she knows bestโbig families and small towns. Her stories are about ordinary people finding extraordinary love with the perfect combination of heart, heat, and humor.
She loves connecting with readers, fall weather, football, reading alpha heroes, everything pumpkin, and pretending to garden.
Hailing from a tiny town in the Midwest, Adriana spends her free time with her high school sweetheart (who she married over twenty years ago) and their four sons (who truly are her best work). Her kitchen may be a perpetual disaster, and if all else fails, there is always pizza.
Quarterback Trey Van Horn didnโt become the leagueโs MVP by accident. Years of self-discipline and iron-clad control have made him the envy of everyone in and around the game of football. But when he comes face-to-face with the one who got away, his tightly managed life is turned upside down. Now heโll do whatever it takes to score the greatest comeback of his life.
Sheโs tired of being every guyโs doormat.
London Headley is on the verge of having the career sheโs always dreamed of. Too bad the path to her promotion runs through the guy who broke her heart a decade earlier. So what if everything about the Milwaukee Growlers QB sets her panties on fire? Sheโs determined to keep things professional. Life has taught her that men will always choose somethingโor someoneโover her. Itโs going to take more than a Hail Mary to get her to buy into the fairy tale.
The only problem? Her lips donโt seem to want to follow the game plan. Not when Trey is executing an all-out blitz to prove heโs worth a second chance.
This one is definitely a slow burn second-chance romance. You have to be prepared that it takes pretty much half of the book before London stops actively pushing Trey away. Granted, she has a lot of reasons not to trust him. Or any man for that matter. But there is a lot of thinking about the past and her resisting any attraction that she feels for him, which not everyone enjoys.
Speaking of London, I do wonder a little bit about what changes her mind. She has good reason not to get involved with Trey again, and does a pretty good job of it, but things change and I’m not sure it was enough. I think that there needed to be some resolution on their past earlier, at least I would have wanted it in her situation. But then again he’s awfully, persuasively, seriously sexy on lots of levels.
Because while Trey does pursue London, he does it in a very respectful manner. He pushes her but he never crosses that boundary, respecting her wishes and letting her know it’s her choice. He’s not above a little seduction but he’s not icky about it.
You could see the ending coming a mile away but that doesn’t stop it from being any less satisfying. I appreciate that Solheim saw it through and didn’t take an easier way out. I also liked the whos, whats, and wheres of the big moment at the end. A little bit different and a good way to get to that HEA I wanted for them.
I’ve only read a couple of Solheim books (one being Double Dog Dare, another Milwaukee Growlers story), both of which I really enjoyed. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what else she has to bring us.
Genre: Contemporary MM Romance, Work Place Romance, First Love, Forbidden Love, Slow Burn
Release Date: February 15, 2204
Blurb:
When you know, you know . . .
And Drew knows. He knows he likes menโHolden in particular. He knows heโll have to make the first move. And when he and Holden are together, Drew knows nothing has ever been more right. The problem is that Holden doesnโt know it too.
Holden knows he isnโt good enough for Drewโan ex-con is never a good bet–but that doesnโt stop him from wanting him. He craves Drew more than he wants to breathe, and thatโs the problem. Between his dubious past and all the complicated family issues, Holden is afraid of hurting Drew. And thatโs the one thing he never wants to do.
When two strong souls collide, the stars align and something right is born. But can love survive the storms, or will something right turn into what could have been?
Shaniel Watson is the author of the Imperfections Series. Her first book was published in 2015. She writes stories she likes to read, sultry emotional stories with imperfect characters who eventually get their happy ending.
Shaniel lives in New York and is the proud mother of two daughters.
Love is the last thing on Justinโs mind. Sure, heโs noticed the big, shy guy who comes in for his coffee every morning, but Justin doesnโt have time to indulge in a crush. After his last disastrous breakup, he needs to get his head out of the clouds and focus on climbing out of debt with his pile of part-time jobs. The singing telegram gig is the most embarrassing by far, but at least no one will ever recognize him in his ridiculous costumes. Itโs temporary, just through the Valentine season.
Adam is in love. He just needs to drum up the nerve to do something about it. A daily smile from the cute guy behind the coffee counter is the bright spot in his day, keeping him going through the work week in an office filled with jerks. Especially when one of the jerks starts sending him romantic telegrams as a joke. Thereโs nothing he hates more than public humiliation. If he ever finds out whoโs behind it, heads will roll.
Love songs, lies, and an absurd amount of glitter pave the way to a romance neither of them expected. Adam is everything Justinโs ever dreamed of, but he can never discover Justinโs terrible, fuzzy, off-key secret.
This Valentineโs Day, Cupid doesnโt miss, even if he has terrible timing.
The stares started in the parking garage and only got worse as he entered the lobby.
This latest assignment brought him to one of the four high-rise buildings that defined downtown Belleview, the biggest one, some financial firm. It stood out against the mountain landscape like alien architecture that had dropped from the sky, dark and shining and bleak beside the trees and mountains jagged with life.
Ignoring the gobsmacked expressions on the receptionistsโ faces, he approached the front desk. โHi, how you doing? Iโm here to make a special delivery on the sixteenth floor.โ
The older of the two receptionists shushed the otherโs giggling as she dutifully tapped away at her computer. โName?โ
Out of habit, Justin almost glanced at a name badge he was no longer wearing. Instead, he passed along the crumpled order form in his sweaty gloved fist. โI represent Seasonโs Greetings, with a telegram delivery for Adam Hubert.โ
She perked up immediately, taking in his work uniform with a slowly spreading grin. โAdam Hubert, up in IT? Oh, honey, wish I was coming with you. Thatโs gonna be a sight to see.โ
Nothing in her words or her delivery inspired confidence. Oh well, some gigs were more difficult than others. Not everyone appreciated a personalized singing telegram. Justin had already run the gamut of reactions from delight to disgust, and now, he just wanted to get each assignment done so he could move on to the next. โCan you direct me to his office?โ
โSays right there on your paper. Floor 16, room 319. I promise youโll know him when you see him; he stands out around here. Not as much as you in that getup, but heโs never exactly blended in either. Big hulking guy, always wears a frown, nobody can get a smile out of him. Folks up on his floor call him โLurch.โโ She added that final aside in a stage whisper with a conspiratorial air that rubbed Justin the wrong way.
He retrieved his order form and stuffed it in his pocket. โThat doesnโt seem like a very nice name to call somebody.โ
โHeโs not very popular. Alright, hereโs your badge.โ She slapped a little barcode sticker on his furry chest with uncalled-for glee. โThat should let you in the right doors. Tell Charlene up in reception to call me when you get there. I wanna listen in.โ
He left with a half-hearted wave, his bossโs ancient boom box weighing heavily in his hand. โThanks.โ
Cross My Candy Heart A.C. Thomas ยฉ 2024 All Rights Reserved
*****
Review:
This book has all the corn syrupy feels you would expect from a Valentine’s Day novella. Justin and Adam together have that OTT cute & funny thing going on and the meet-cute between the two & the sweet interactions once they start actually talking to each other is just the bestest. There was plenty of awww moments and a quite a few chuckles before the end.
Being a novella, it does’t take long to get to the conflict and their happily ever after but I liked them so much I really wish we’d gotten more. I wanted to know more about why Adam feels the way he does about himself, how he is with his coworkers and others besides Justin. And I wanted more of Justin finally getting a good relationship and getting himself back on his feet. And I really wished I’d gotten a bit of a better conclusion to the “secret admirer”. I guess there’s always some of that with a novella but can we make this into a longer book, please?
But I think the fact that even with all those wants I still finished it with a smile shows that Thomas does a really good job of creating those characters and moving them through well to that HEA ending.
*****
Author Info:
A.C. Thomas left the glamorous world of teaching preschool for the even more glamorous world of staying home with her toddler. Between the diaper changes and tea parties, she escapes into fantastical worlds, reading every romance available and even writing a few herself.
She devours books of every flavorโscience fiction, historical, fantasyโbut always with a touch of romance because she believes there is nothing more fantastical than the transformative power of love.
Iโve been friends with Cooper Rice from the moment we met. He was just as famous a decade ago on our college campus as he is now being the star quarterback for the Chicago Grizzlies.
But heโs not only talented on the field, heโs also the gorgeous football star women fawn over, posing in underwear and razor ads.
Hereโs a secret those women donโt knowโCooper Rice isnโt a playboy. Heโs the kind of man who wants to settle down with a family. Heโs content ordering pizza and massaging my feet after my long shift as an emergency room doctor. He listens to me as if heโs as invested as I am in my patients. He has never let me down.
This is exactly why I refuse to live without Cooper in my life. Eight years ago, I made him promise me that weโd never cross that line. And just like I knew Cooper would, heโs held to that promise.
Despite our best efforts, our relationship is evolving, shifting into new territory and I find myself unsure if I want Cooper to keep that promise. Ignoring the obvious could tear us apart, but so could giving in, meaning thereโs a chance Iโll lose Cooper forever no matter what decision I make.
There’s a comment at the end that the authors find it hard to write a friends-to-lovers story and I agree that it can be hard to pull off. I think they did well with what they had. I appreciated that they didn’t do a ton of flashbacks to their college years (I struggle with that as a reader) and that they concentrated the first half on the “will they” and the second half on the transition.
Cooper is just about perfect, as he has been throughout the series. He does pretty much everything for Ellery and lets her set the rules when it comes to their relationship, even when it isn’t what he wants. It’s worked so far … until it doesn’t any more.
Elle struggles a lot with what she wants. She’s allowed her dad to dictate her career (and a good portion of her life) so any changes to her relationship with Cooper scares her. But losing him would be even worse.
I can definitely see both sides of this relationship and what brings them to the brink of throwing everything away. While I appreciate that their struggles get them to their HEA, I do wish Elle had maybe handled things a little differently. I still really enjoyed the story but once I saw where it was heading I kinda didn’t want to go there ๐
Piper Rayne knows how to deliver somewhat spicy romances with a satisfying HEA. I always plow through their stories, enjoying the characters and their struggles and finishing them in just a couple of days. They have definitely become a must read for me!
*****
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 New York Times bestselling author Kristen Proby comes an all-new small-town series set in Montana, starting with WILD FOR YOU, an Age-Gap, Single Dad, Nanny, Grumpy/Sunshine romance!
Wild for You
The Wilds of Montana series
by Kristen Proby
Blurb:
Remington Wild is a single dad of two adorable kids, and as the oldest son of the Wild family, has recently taken over the Wild River Ranch from his father. Life is crazy, and heโs finally willing to admit that he needs help, and the sooner the better. He has no idea that the beautiful woman he sees every day at Bitterroot Valley Coffee Co. is the woman who would show up for the job.
Erin Montgomery couldnโt get out of Seattle fast enough. Itโs not that she doesnโt love her big, loud family, but living in the big city just wasnโt for her. The minute she stepped foot in Bitterroot Valley, she knew she was home. She loves the slower pace, the friendly people, and her job at the coffee shop. Even the smoking hot grumpy guy who stops in every afternoon canโt put a damper on how much she loves small town life!
Thanks to car trouble, and her stubbornness when it comes to using her trust fund, Erin needs a second job and applies for the position of a part-time nanny. Sheโs surprised to find that itโs Grumpy himself who answers the door at the ranch, but Erin quickly learns that she loves his kids and the ranch, and itโs a no-brainer to take the job. She just has to remind herself to resist the sexy rancher and keep it strictly professional.
Remington is attracted to his younger nanny, and finds himself falling headfirst in love with her. He and his kids have never been happier, and he knows she is the perfect addition to their family for as long as sheโs willing to stay. Hopefully forever.
But when secrets are exposed, one of which endangers his children, will their love survive? Or will it tear them apart?
If you read The Stand-In, then you were there when Erin decided to stay in Bitterroot Valley. It’s been a few months and she’s settling in, fully embracing her new small town lifestyle. She loves the people, the town, and Montana. She even loves trying to get a response from the grumpy (and gorgeous) guy who comes into the coffee shop every afternoon.
Remington Wild has a lot on his plate being a single dad and taking over being in charge of the family ranch. The last thing he needs is to be attracted to the new girl in town. Even more so when she becomes his nanny.
There’s not a lot going on here, except for a bit of a suspense element in the last half, but that works for me. I enjoy a slow burn romance so it was nice getting to know Rem and Erin, Rem’s family and the others in town, and seeing Erin fit in so well with Rem’s kids (who are just adorable). Things aren’t always smooth but they figure it out with a little patience and some work on their communication skills.
While there is nothing all that new, I liked Proby’s latest. I thought Erin and Rem are cute together – she helps brighten his day then later lighten his load and he shows her the beauty (and danger) that can be found in her new home. It’s a good start to a new series, introducing some possible future plot lines, and even though Erin is from a prior series Proby does a good job of making sure that anyone can join her on her new adventure. All needed information is provided so new readers can easily keep up.
*****
Author Info:
Kristen Proby is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of over seventy published titles. She debuted in 2012, captivating fans with spicy contemporary romance about families and friends with plenty of swoony love. She also writes paranormal romance and suggests you keep the lights on while reading them.
When not under deadline, Kristen enjoys spending time with her husband and their fur babies, riding her bike, relaxing with embroidery, trying her hand at painting, and, of course, enjoying her beautiful home in the mountains of Montana.
A Sexy, Close Proximity, Secret, Office standalone Romance by New York Times bestselling author, Samantha Chase.
Irresistible Love
The Wylder Love series
by Samantha Chase
Blurb:
Sheโs the darling ballerina of the renowned Montgomeryโs.
Heโs the sexy numbers nerd who works for her family.
Three years ago at a New Yearโs Eve party they had a moment and kissed at the stroke of midnight.
Now sheโs back and everything isโฆirresistibly complicated.
Lily Montgomery has danced her way through life, getting opportunities that few get, but that doesnโt mean she hasnโt earned every single one. But with a career-ending injury, she returns home to nurse her wounds and figure out what comes next. What she didnโt expect was seeing the ruggedly handsome man she impulsively kissed three years ago and the simmering attraction that still burns between them.
Noah Wylder is committed to his five-year-plan โ climbing the corporate ladder at Montgomerys. Three years ago, that plan almost got derailed thanks to an unexpected kiss with Lily. Heโs since put in the work to redeem himself and stay under the radar. When she suddenly reappears, he canโt seem to escape her or the memory of their kiss. He knows in order to keep his job, he has to make sure he stays away from the alluring woman thatโs never left his mind.
When Lily comes to him needing his help in figuring out what is happening within the Montgomery family, sneaking around leads to heated glances and harmless kisses. Will they realize that the connection they share is real, lasting, and irresistible for either of them to resist?
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.
Romantic Reads and Such 