A trapped viscount. A disgraced debutante. A scandal that could ruin them both.
Lady Kate Drakeโs reputation is in tatters after sheโs discovered alone on a balcony with a gentleman by one of societyโs biggest gossips. Even worse, the gentleman in question flees, leaving her to face the scorn of the ton alone.
The last thing she expects is for her erstwhile suitor to seek her out the next day to propose marriageโor to learn that heโs none other than the elusive Viscount Blackwell, who rumors claim is responsible for his late wife’s death.
Lady Kate is backed into a corner. She must either risk a lifetime of being shunned or put her safetyโand her heartโon the line by taking a chance on a notorious stranger.
Regardless of what her family says, Kate has put pressure on herself to find a husband so she’s no longer a financial burden to her brother. And I like her for it – for her level-headedness, responsibility, and the care she has for her family. Unfortunately her first outing leads to a sticky situation.
Theo is carrying a lot on his shoulders and struggling with his grief & guilt & feelings of responsibility after his wife’s death. It’s lead him to lead a quiet life, out of the public eye, alone mostly except for his twin. Which I think is my favorite thing about Theo, how deeply he loves. His family, his brother, his wife … and he’d do just about anything for them.
While there’s some angst as Theo works to let go of the past and the fear that he’s been left with, it isn’t as angsty as it could have been. No outside interference from other parties, just them dealing with his loss & regret, and embracing a second chance at love.
The Viscount’s Unwanted Bride is a fast read about enjoyable characters with believable hangups & issues. While it may have been predictable, especially their third act issues, I enjoyed the simplicity of the story and the slow burn as they got to know each other better and fell in love.
(Part of a series but can be read as a stand alone.)
The hockey star, the influencer, and the deal of a lifetime.
TY
Iโm going to the pros, baby! Deal made, contract signed. Now all I have to do is finish out my final season at Smithton and stay out of trouble. I like to have a good time, but donโt worry, Iโll behave.
What I wonโt do is talk to that double-crossing influencer whoโs been badgering me for an interview. No thanks.
I know Walkerโs typeโsweet as pie on the outside, a shark on the inside.
Get thisโฆhe wants to make a deal that sounds a lot like a bribe.
Not interested. No way.
But I am curious.
WALKER
Iโve never worked so hard for an interview in my life. Ugh!
Look, I get that Ty doesnโt like me. As inโฆhe wonโt return my calls and avoids me like the plague on campus.
Too bad. Iโm not giving up.
I donโt want to beg, but Iโm willing to barter. Every man has his priceโand something to prove.
Even Ty.
Something to Prove is a low-angst, geek-jock MM bisexual college hockey romance featuring a hockey star and the adorkable influencer whoโs determined to win him overโฆ
There is just so much cuteness with these two. From the light enemies-to-lovers moments to their adorable segments on Walker’s show to their falling in love with a big HEA & epilogue. I just couldn’t get enough.
Walker and Ty may be a bit of opposites attract but they play off each other so well, full of wit and sass and a whole lot of sexiness. There’s light enemies-to-lovers at the beginning (which quickly turns into something else) and not a whole lot of angst, so I wouldn’t pick it up for that. And while their attraction may have been quick to flare, their relationship is more of a slow burn and deepening feelings as they get to know each other better.
This is definitely one of those that you just settle in and enjoy the ride.
Tampa Sentinels Captain Hayes Montgomery has hero-worshipped Morgan Reynolds his entire career, watching as the larger-than-life hockey star has racked up stats that always seemed unreal. Unattainable. Unreachable.
Until Hayes himself is labeled โthe next oneโ and to his surprise, he and Morgan end up on the same team together, playing for Team USA in a nation versus nation tournament.
Now Hayesโ hero isnโt just his teammate, but his linemate. Theyโre hot on the ice, and despite Morganโs straight reputation, off it too.
Itโs only ten days, but itโs the best ten days of his life. That shouldnโt be long enough for a hockey crush to morph into a real crush, but Hayes falls head over heels, launch-himself-off-a-cliff, wildly in love with Morgan, anyway.
They donโt play on the same team or even on the same coast. Normally, theyโre never in the same zip code, but that doesnโt change Hayesโ feelingsโor his regret when the fling ends.
Fast forward six years. Morganโs retired, Hayes is writing his own name in the record books, and heโs sure heโs over it. Over him.
But then Morgan arrives in Tampa to watch his rookie son play for the Sentinels.
He doesnโt want to be hung up on his teammateโs dad, but it doesnโt matter how long itโs been or what heโs tried. Morgan still makes Hayesโ knees weak.
And when it turns out Morgan has his own Hayesโ shaped regret?
Maybe they can finally find their way back to each other again.
Tropes:ย second chance, age gap, he fell first/he fell harder, sonโs captain, player x ex-player, pining, groveling
Available on:ย Amazon, Kindle Unlimited, paperback, and audio narrated by Darcy Stark (est September)
I haven’t read the other stories in the Evergreens universe, and I get the idea that we were teased a bit about Hayes and Morgan, but oh goodness this one stood up well on its own. Maybe it would have given me even more of the feels, IDK, but it definitely was a heart-wrencher.
Pretty much the first half is Hayes and Morgan falling in love. I liked how Bolden handled Morgan’s bi-awakening – with his acceptance of his son’s sexuality, I felt like it was a little easier for him to accept his own. It’s hot and sweet and fabulously perfect … until it isn’t.
The next quarter or so was definitely all the angst, with neither of them handling things well but it’s not really surprising. I mean, they are both carrying so much and there are so many things standing in their way. Would a clearing the air conversation have helped? Sure, but I feel like this was much more realistic for the kind of people they are. And I feel like they definitely came back into each other’s lives at the right time to get the HEA they deserve.
Are you looking for a rollercoaster of a read? Hope so because Bolden brings it ALL, both good and bad, and doesn’t let up until the end.
The hockey star, the influencer, and the deal of a lifetime.
TY
Iโm going to the pros, baby! Deal made, contract signed. Now all I have to do is finish out my final season at Smithton and stay out of trouble. I like to have a good time, but donโt worry, Iโll behave.
What I wonโt do is talk to that double-crossing influencer whoโs been badgering me for an interview. No thanks.
I know Walkerโs typeโsweet as pie on the outside, a shark on the inside.
Get thisโฆhe wants to make a deal that sounds a lot like a bribe.
Not interested. No way.
But I am curious.
WALKER
Iโve never worked so hard for an interview in my life. Ugh!
Look, I get that Ty doesnโt like me. As inโฆhe wonโt return my calls and avoids me like the plague on campus.
Too bad. Iโm not giving up.
I donโt want to beg, but Iโm willing to barter. Every man has his priceโand something to prove.
Even Ty.
Something to Prove is a low-angst, geek-jock MM bisexual college hockey romance featuring a hockey star and the adorkable influencer whoโs determined to win him overโฆ
Sue me. Iโd liked the peppy redheadโs vibe and though Iโd deny it with my last breath, Iโd thought Walker was cute with his wayward curls, tawny-brown eyes, and tight compact body.
But that was before heโd sold out my best friend.
I knew Langley and some of our other teammates thought I was being unreasonable and that Walker had atoned for his mistake, but he was done-zo in my book.
I gave a curt nod and spun away.
Langley followed, flinging a quick, โLater, dudeโ over his shoulder.
โHang on! Ty, may I have a word, please?โ Walker called.
I wasnโt going to reply. I didnโt owe him an explanation, and I was pretty damn sure he knew the score anyway.
But Langley grabbed my elbow and leaned into my space. โBe nice, Ty. New school year, blank slate, and all that.โ
โBullshit,โ I coughed under my breath.
โCโmon, Jett forgave him. You can afford to be magnimonious too.โ
โMagnanimous,โ I corrected.
Langley rolled his eyes. โWhatever the fuck. The point isโฆyouโre going to the AH-fuckinโ-L. No reason to be bitter, right? At least hear him out.โ
With that, Langley strode away, leaving me to deal with the annoyingly cheery Walker Woodrow.
I was a good six inches taller and outweighed him by at least thirty pounds of muscle. My height, brawny size, and less-than-sunny demeanor should have been intimidating, but Walker was apparently immune.
โCongratulations are in order,โ he gushed. โAHLโฆwow! And to Jacksonville, no less.โ
โYouโre a hockey fan?โ I heard myself ask out of the blue.
โHonestly, I think everyone at Smithton isโor they will be, knowing theyโll be able to root for one of our own in the pros.โ
That wasnโt really an answer, but his smile was more brilliant than the last. It made him incandescent, as if he had some kind of inner glow.
I had to admit, Walker had a good TV face. He wasnโt classically handsome, but that spark in him transmitted nicely on-screen. It made him interesting, and it made it seem as if he were interested in you. An excellent quality for a talk show host. Or a con artist.
โThanks,โ I replied tersely. โI have to get going.โ
โIโll walk with you.โ He fell into step beside me, uninvited. โI know youโre probably busy getting ready for classes. I just finalized my schedule and bought a few online textbooks. OMG, highway robbery. Am I right? I canโt believe how much collegiate e-books cost.โ
His melodic laughter rang between the buildings like birdsong.
Do not cave. He might look pretty, but the man is rotten to the core.
I stopped in my tracks. โIs there something you wanted?โ
โActuallyโฆyes.โ Walker bit into his bottom lip and gave a sheepish look. โIโd love to interview you for Whatโs New, Smithton? Our audience will go nuts for a chance to hear all about the draft, how itโs changed your life so far, what you imagine life will be like in Florida next year, andโฆwhat itโs like being an out bisexual athlete on the rise. The interview itself is generally thirty minutes long. Super low-key. We could meet at the rink or at myโโ
โNo.โ
He recoiled as if Iโd punched him in the gut. โIโฆuh, I can work around your schedule, of course, andโโ
โNo,โ I repeated.
โUmโฆis there a problem?โ Walker asked carefully.
โNo problem with me. I just donโt want anything to do with you. And Iโm not going to change my mind.โ I stepped away from him, relishing his pointedly shocked expression. โTell your followers thatโs whatโs new in Smithton.โ
Okay, not my best line, but it did the trick. Walker blinked like an owl, stunned into silence. Good.
I quelled the strong desire to flip him off, settling for the nasty sneer I usually reserved for riling opponents on the ice. Curled lips, ugly stare with dead eyesโฆnot pretty at all. He flinched, which kinda made me feel bad. But fuck that. My anger was totally justified, and it pissed me off that he dared to pull the innocent act.
Did he really think Iโd forget what heโd done? Not fucking likely.
Maybe he didnโt owe me an apology, but I certainly didnโt owe him my time.
I hoped heโd gotten the message loud and clear โcause thisโright here, right nowโwas the last interaction Iโd ever have with Walker fucking Woodrow.
*****
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!
One I never imagined could have such horrible consequences.
But I thoughtโI hopedโthat time would bring forgiveness. That people would realize I was just a foolish girl back then and not the responsible woman Iโve become.
I was wrong. Instead, I canโt go a day without someone in town reminding me of what a bad person I am. I canโt avoid the judging looks and whispered insults and insinuations that Iโd be better off if Iโd just leave Sleepy Hollow for good.
Except I canโt. And I donโt want to. Not when Sleepy Hollow is the only place thatโs ever felt like home. But when the threats turn dangerous, I know itโs time to ask for help. The only problem? No one believes me.
It all started when I found Jess crying in her car outside the police station.
I couldnโt believe it when she told me sheโd been turned away by the very department I work for. And worse yet, she wasnโt even surprised by it.
At first, it seems like someoneโs trying to scare Jess out of town. Then it becomes clear their intentions are much more sinister, and the threats against her keep escalating.
I donโt care what other people in town say about her. All I care about is that Jess needs me.
As a police officer, itโs my job to protect. But when it comes to Jess, itโs so much more than a job. Itโs protecting the woman Iโm falling in love with.
Jessicaโs Hero is a small-town romantic suspense with a protective police officer hero, a wounded heroine in search of redemption, action and danger, forced proximity, thrilling twists, and plenty of sweet and steamy moments. Can be read as a standalone novel.
Kane is pretty much perfect (which may be annoying to some) as a boyfriend – sweet and supportive. He is a bit of a love bomber and can be a bit pushy as well as fretful about how he’s received but he means well. He works hard to lift Jessica up and help her find confidence in herself again.
Even tho we get Kane’s perspective, it really felt like Jessica’s story and I felt so bad for her. People can be small minded and hold on to things for a long time (although I am surprised that no one stepped up for her before Kane). I can also understand why she would feel self-conscious and anxious. Between her school mates & an absolutely awful man, it’s really hard to let some of that go but with Kane’s help she starts to see herself as strong and beautiful.
I enjoyed the suspense element of the story. The culprit was a surprise to me but it wasn’t totally out of left field, which can easily happen when an author tries to surprise readers. I was satisfied with how things are wrapped up, both with the romance and the mystery.
*****
Author Info:
Gia Cobie is an award winning author living in upstate New York with her husband and small zoo of animals. She loves writing about protective heroes and the strong women they fall in love with.
In her spare time (when she has any!), Gia enjoys reading and spending time in the Adirondacks, and also has a weakness for reality romance shows, wine, and buying way too many books!
ย Island men know what they wantโฆbut not always what they need.
(All the books in the series can be read as standalone stories and do not end on a cliffhanger.)
Bed-Hopping
Island Confidential Novella
by TA Moore
Length: 38 000 words
Release Date: July 31, 2025
Tense/POV: Third person, alternating POV
Tropes: Fake dating, small town romance, lies, love at first sight.
Themes: Forgiving your own mistakes, moving on, sometimes itโs worth the risk.
Blurb:
It shouldn’t have been this difficult.
All Ryan wanted was to leave his ex-boyfriend at home and go to his childhood best friend’s wedding as a single man. The only problem was that apparently he was the only sane person he knew. His actor ex didn’t want their break-up on social media until it would be good PR for him. Meanwhile the bride, and childhood best friend, was so rigorously superstitious about bad omens that the wedding would have been cancelled already if someone hadn’t ‘seen’ an extra magpie at the engagement party.
So Ryan had agreed to keep the break up quiet until after the honeymoon. It did mean he had bring his ex as his plus one to the ceremony, but it would only be a few more weeks. That couldn’t hurt.
Only problem is that now Ryan has to try and stop his ex turning their break-up into a soap opera, convince the hottest man he’s ever seen that they can kiss without it being cheatingโฆand make sure the bride didn’t find out about any of it.
Maybe he needed some of that good luck she was hoarding?
โOh, you canโt tell her,โ Jenny said from the other side of the counter. She shook a plastic bottle of mayo vigorously in one hand. โShe will lose her goddamn mind.โ
It wasnโt the reaction that Ryan had hoped for. He pulled a dubious face and rubbed the back of his neck.
โIt canโt be that bad,โ he protested.
Jenny mugged incredulity at him as she flipped the cap of the mayo bottle and turned it upside down. She squeezed a wriggly line of mayo over the curry-yellow chunks of chicken sheโd already thrown onto the roll.
โAre you kidding me?โ she asked. โYou think that your best friendโyour astrology symbol tattooed, magpie saluting, psychic consulting BFFโis going to take it in her stride that love is dead?โ
She smacked the bottle down to punctuate that and raised her eyebrows expectantly at him for his input.
โOK, no, not when you put it like that,โ Ryan said. โBut itโs not like that. I just broke up with my boyfriendโโ
Jenny wagged a greasy blue-gloved finger at him to stop him there.
โYou mean, your soulmate,โ she corrected him, with jazz hands for emphasis.
โI do not,โ Ryan said. โIf he was, Iโd not have broken up with him.โ
That objection was dismissed with a rude noise. โItโs not about you.โ
โIโฆwow, sorry,โ Ryan said. โThereโs me thinking it was.โ
Jenny shrugged as she grabbed some red onion and tossed it onto the sandwich. Then she took a beat to consider her creation and added some sweetcorn. Ryan started to object but gave it up as the yellow kernels sank into the mayo. He was hungry, and he would rather have unwanted sweetcorn he knew about than one stray left behind to surprise him.
โOK, obviously you think itโs about you,โ she said. โFrom Clemโs point of view, though, itโs about her and her relationship. That psychic saying her and Greg are soulmates is the basis of their relationship.โ
โThatโsโฆthey love each other,โ Ryan objected. โThey have weathered so much in their relationship andโโ
โYeah, but only because theyโre soulmates,โ Jenny said. She picked up the top of the roll and smacked it down on the toppings. โRemember when Greg went to Newcastle to work? Clem told me that the only reason she made it work was because that psychic told her they were endgame.โ
โOK, so the psychic was right about her and Greg, but wrong about me and Devon,โ Ryan said. โWeโre broken up. Sheโs going to have to come to terms with that eventually.โ
โSure,โ Jenny said. Paper crinkled as she pinched, folded, and tucked it around the sandwich. โIf youโd broken up, like, six months ago! You canโt drop it on her a week before her wedding, one of the biggest decisions of her life, that the psychic was full of shit. Itโs going to look like the worst omen in the world. She will definitely panic and call it all off.โ
Shit.
*****
Stag Weekendย ย ย
Island Confidential Novella
by TA Mooreย ย ย
Length: 45 000 words
Tropes: Forbidden romance, Giveaway the Bride, Lost Wedding Ring, Stag Party
Blurb:
Simon had a plan.
He’d go to his sister’s wedding, he’d keep his head down, and the whole family would finally have something other than his disastrously brief engagement to talk about. It was going to be the fact that none of them liked his new brother-in-law, but that wasn’t Simon’s fault.
It was a simple plan that really couldn’t go wrong. Not unless Simon did something really stupid, like wake up the morning after a stag weekend with a stranger in his hotel bed and no idea who it was.
That was the sort of gossip that was hard to beat.
Tropes: Rule of funny, best friendโs ex, ex complications
Themes: Accepting youโre worth more than you think, letting go of an ex, small town romance
Blurb:
When Danny Shaw’s ex dumped the job of returning some…personal items…to a short list of his previous conquests on him that seemed like imposition enough. Until he opened the bag and found that the items in question could best be described as extremely intimate and disturbingly detailed.
But when life gives you a bag of hyper-realistic sex toys, modeled after penises your ex knew and admired, what else is there to do but find the biggest dick you know and ask if one of them is his?
Meanwhile, all Will wanted was a quiet night out. Not that he was going to turn down a chance to spend time with Danny, even if it did lead to some weird conversations.
Tropes: Fake dating, opposites attract, secrets and lies, small town romance.
Blurb:
His mother. His best friend. The barmaid at the local pub. Everyone is determined to find Nathan Moffatt a boyfriend. Itโs the last thing Nathan wants. After spending every day making sure his clients experience nothing but romantic magic, the Granshire Hotelโs wedding organizer just wants to go home, binge-watch crime dramas, and eat pizza in his underwear.
Unfortunately, no one believes him, and heโs stuck with lectures about dying alone. Then inspiration strikes. He needs the people in his life to want him to stay single as much as he does. He needs a bad boyfriend.
Thereโs only one man for the job.
Flynn Delaney is used to people on the island of Ceremony thinking the worst of him. But he isnโt sure he wants the dubious honor of worst boyfriend on the entire island. On the other hand, if he plays along, he gets to hang out with the gorgeous Nathan and piss off the owners of the Granshire Hotel. Itโs a win-win.
Thereโs only one problemโFlynnโs actually quite a good boyfriend, and now Nathanโs wondering if getting off the sofa occasionally is really the worst thing in the world.
TA Moore is a Northern Irish writer of romantic suspense, urban fantasy, and contemporary romance novels. A childhood in a rural, seaside town fostered in her a suspicious nature, a love of mystery, and a streak of black humour a mile wide.
Coffee, Doc Marten boots, and good friends are the essential things in life. Spiders, mayo, and heels are to be avoided.
Single-minded focus can get you far in business. In love? Not so muchโฆ
PRESLEY
Giving up my soul-sucking career and moving to a small town was supposed to simplify my life.
It didnโt.
Because relaxing isnโt as easy as Iโd hoped it would be. Plus, the hot contractor in charge of my home reno is all kinds of distracting.
Especially when heโs so determined to keep our relationship strictly professionalโฆ
WEST
As a single dad with a military background, Iโd seen it all. So, I was prepared for anything life could throw at me .
Until her.
Presley Holiday is so perfect she almost makes me forget that sleeping with a client is forbidden.
But I canโt afford to make another mistake when it comes to love. Keeping our relationship platonic is the right thing to do.
Too bad doing the right thing has zero appeal when it comes to Presleyโฆ
Single-Minded, book 4 in the Single Dads of Dragonfly Lake series, is a spicy, small town, opposites attract contemporary romance that can be read as a standalone. Download today and get ready for perfect romantic escapism in Dragonfly Lake.
Presley is new to Dragonfly Lake, moving after leaving the life she’d spent years creating, one that included very little more than her job. But the people of her new town welcome her with open arms, helping her make new friends and figure out what her new life is going to look like. Which includes work being done by one very sexy contractor.
With an abusive dad and an all encompassing job, Presley hasn’t had any good examples of healthy relationship. And now, with her life upended and her future unclear, isn’t the best time to find herself drawn to a man. But it’s not a surprise that Presley falls for West. He’s rough on the outside but a big ole softy on the inside, especially when it comes to his adorable daughters. He’s hardworking, dedicated, and caring. And good with his hands ๐
Knupp’s latest from Dragonfly Lake is all about the slow burn, small town feels. West & Presley have an instant attraction but it’s the time spent together during her renovations that creates something deeper between them. Neither is looking for a relationship … but that doesn’t stop love from finding them.
(This is my first book set in Dragonfly Lake and while there are a lot of characters, and I occasionally I felt lost about how they were related to each other or their histories, it can pretty much stand on its own.)
*****
Author Info:
Amy Knupp is a USA Today Best-Selling Author of five contemporary romance series (Single Dads of Dragonfly Lake, Henry Brothers, North Brothers, Hale Street, Island Fire). She loves words and grammar and meaty, engrossing stories with complex characters.
Amy lives in Wisconsin with her husband and has two children, three cats, and a box turtle. She graduated from the University of Kansas with degrees in French and journalism. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, breaking up cat fights, watching college hoops, and annoying her family by correcting their grammar.
Forgetting playboy Wells Silver was supposed to be easy. If only he didnโt make it impossible. Secrets are made on the sandy shores and in the sweet small towns of Silver Island, where friendships run deep, passions run hot, and the sexy Silvers are considered island royalty. Love in Bloom novels are written to stand alone and may also be enjoyed as part of the larger series, so dive right in and devour this fun, steamy romance.
Being born into the Silver empire comes with certain expectations, but charming restaurant owner Wells Silver has always taken pleasure in breaking the rulesโin his personal and his professional life.
Victoria Braden never expected to become a widow at thirty-two, much less still be trying to figure out how to move on five years later. Sheโd planned to drown her sorrows in alcohol on what would have been her anniversary, not flirt with trouble and lose herself in a night of passion with Silver Island royalty, playboy Wells Silver. Forgetting Wells was supposed to be easy. But apparently the pushy player didnโt get the memo.
Victory and Wells are fantastic together. He does so much to bring out a side to her that she has long ignored while she has him reevaluating what has been missing from his life. When they are together, they are playful and fun, something she seems to have been lacking since her husband’s death.
Unfortunately she’s still holding on to her old life and struggles with guilt at the idea of moving on. Wells is determined tho and works hard to break her out of the box she’s put herself in. It’s not all smooth going, and there is a lot of back & forth between them, but it is pretty low angst with no big third act blow up which I liked. We get growth, letting go, and moving to a new stage of life.
A mixture of lightheartedness and emotion and steam, Foster gives readers a delightful story for the first in her new series. Returning readers have been waiting to see Wells fall and will be happy to see some of their favorite couples again, along with a peek at who might be meeting their match soon.
(While it is technically a stand alone, I feel like their story actually started earlier and while we were given the low down on what happened during this book I think it really helped to have been there. It does give the feeling of kinda joining a story already in progress and while fun for returning readers I think that could be frustrating for some.)
*****
Author Info:
NEW YORK TIMES, WALL STREET JOURNAL, and USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR
Never miss a release and get a FREE Braden/Remington short story! Sign up for Melissa’s newsletter: www.MelissaFoster.com/Newsletter
Melissa writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance, new adult romance and women’s fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Readers adore Melissa’s fun, flirty, and sinfully sexy, award-winning big-family romance collection, LOVE IN BLOOM featuring the Snow Sisters, Bradens, Remingtons, Ryders, Seaside Summers, Bayside Summers, Harborside Nights, Wild Boys and Bad Boys After Dark, Tru Blue and the Whiskeys, the Wickeds, and the Montgomerys. Melissa’s emotional journeys are always family oriented. Perfect beach reads for contemporary romance lovers who enjoy reading about loyal, wealthy and blue-collar heroes and smart, sassy, and empowered heroines with complex and relatable issues.
Melissa also writes sweet romance with no harsh language or explicit scenes under the pen name Addison Cole.
Melissa’s interests include her family, reading, writing, painting, friends, helping others see the positive side of life, and enjoying beach life on Cape Cod.
Melissa is available to chat with book clubs and welcomes comments and emails from her readers. Visit Melissa on social media or her personal website.
“Melissa Foster is synonymous with sexy, swoony, heartfelt romance!” -NYT Bestseller Lauren Blakely
“With her wonderful characters and resonating emotions, Melissa Foster is a must-read author!” -NYT Bestseller Julie Kenner
“What sets Melissa Foster apart are her compelling characters who you care about… desperately. I dare you to read the first chapter and not be hooked.” NYT bestseller, M.J. Rose
“You can always rely on Melissa Foster to deliver a story that’s fresh, emotional and entertaining. Make sure you have all night, because once you start you won’t want to stop reading. Every book’s a winner!” New York Times Bestselling Author Brenda Novak
“Melissa Foster is quickly becoming one of my favorites. Fated For Love was amazing. It kind of reminds me of Jill Shalvis’ books and they are my benchmark for contemporary romance awesomeness.” –Books Like Breathing
Comments from Melissa:
I grew up in Maryland with my mother, a slew of wonderful brothers, and never a shortage of friends or pets. I am passionate about writing, reading, living healthy, and helping others do the same, and I enjoy just about anything outdoors (and anything chocolate!). I love to chat with readers and book clubs, and welcome your comments and suggestions. Feel free to email me. You can also catch me on Facebook.com/MelissaFosterAuthor.
No one is going to convince her to fall in love again…
Ryder Colburn has his hands full running the family business and caring for the ailing father whoโs a virtual stranger from the cold, heavy-handed man he used to be. Heโs got zero free time for hobbies or women. Or so he thinks until one walks into his lifeโฆ and the path of an oncoming car.
Ryder doesnโt mind playing the hero for the skittish, scarred chef Penny. Maybe itโs the secrets in her eyes or the scar on her chin. Whatever the reason, heโs compelled to get closer.
Pennyโs learned her lesson and now sheโs paying the price. Thatโs why sheโs sharing a dilapidated house in a tiny California town with her feisty grandmother and tween brother living off the leftovers from her catering job. Itโs a far cry from her dream life. But who needs dreamsโฆ or loveโฆ or sex when thereโs amateur plumbing projects to tackle and breakfast casseroles to bake?
One thingโs for sure, sheโs never falling in love again. Not even with the sexy, snarky contractor who keeps testing the walls sheโs built.
*****
Review:
These two are absolutely adorable together. I loved Penny’s sass and Ryder’s calm competence and the way they play off each other so well as he romances her within her comfort zone. It’s just the sweetest and made my heart go all squishy. Both of them have issues to deal with stemming from someone abusive and it’s his experiences that help him woo her.
Maybe there could have been more to address Ryder’s relationship with his father and the scars that an abusive childhood can leave, buuuut there are 3 more Colburn siblings so I’m going to hope that we get more as the series continues. And I definitely am looking forward to what comes next with this family of loud, big personalities with hearts just as big.
He Falls First has moments of humor and fun but also vulnerability, hurt, and loss. There is so much charm in these families/friends as they provide support, love, and the occasional push when it’s needed. I gotta say, Shalvis always knows how to reel me in – by giving me entertaining, lovable, real characters. And in this case a cursing parrot … ๐
*****
Author Info:
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Shalvis writes contemporary romance and romantic comedies filled with madcap adventures and shenanigans and sexy times. (just donโt tell her mom). Sheโs sold 20 million plus copies worldwide to date and lives with her family in a small mountain town near Lake Tahoe full of quirky characters (Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is mostly coincidental).
Look for Jill’s bestselling, award-winning novels wherever books are sold. Visit http://www.jillshalvis.com for a complete book list and fun blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.
Charmed by the small town, and weary the big city dating scene, Leo moved to Christmas Falls in hopes of finding love like his college friend, Hayden.
Nick Morgan had the love of his life and lost her, but is determined to help others find their happily ever after with his matchmaking service.
His website needs work though, and Leo is just the man for the job.
The web developer signs up for Nickโs matchmaking service to get a feel for what the process is like, all while secretly hoping itโll bring him the love of his dreams.
But as Nick and Leo work together, the sparks between them are impossible to ignore.
Too bad thereโs a few little problems.
For one, Nickโs never fallen for a man before. And, oh yeahโthose dates heโs planning for Leo? Theyโre supposed to be with other guys โฆ
Christmas Season 2 revisits a small town that thrives on enough holiday charm to rival any Hallmark movie. It’s a multi-author M/M romance series.
Content Warning: This book contains scenes discussing the unexpected death of a spouse, grief, and moving on.
*****
Review:
I was super excited to see that Hayden’s friend, Leo, got his own book and I really liked him as a character. He’s a romantic and so upbeat & happy – well, most of the time. He’s really struggling to find his person, which is one of the reasons he moved to Christmas Falls. Nick also really loves how Leo finds the good in just about everything, even facing his bad dates with humor.
Nick on the other hand is a bit more sedate and while he loves love, after the death of his wife he is settling for finding everyone else The One. And then Leo bursts into his life. I liked that while Leo may have had a crush on Nick pretty much right away that it took Nick a little longer. He might be clueless and need a little help (and screws up a bit) he does get there but that made it more realistic for me. I also appreciated that Vaughn made him bisexual as opposed to a bi-awakening. Not that I don’t love those too, but here the growth is Nick letting go of his past relationship and moving into a new one.
12 Dates is sweet, with a few moments of spice. A slow burn burn with warmth, humor (I actually laughed out loud listening to it), and lots of holiday cheer. And just like with Scrooge You, James Edward Jones has a great voice to be reading such a feel good holiday treat.
Romantic Reads and Such 