From USA Today and Amazon Bestselling Author Bella Matthews, comes a hot new hockey coach, single dad, marriage of convenience, small town romance.
A fake marriage with a single dad wasn’t on my dance card but there are worse ways to start the summer.
Our story didnβt begin the night I agreed to marry Deacon Kane to help him keep his daughter. It started ten years ago, with a hotshot hockey player I couldnβt wait to see each summer. He was big, broad, and filled out his board shorts so damn nicely. But holy hellβ¦ The memories of teenage Deacon donβt hold a candle to the man he is now, the one who makes me melt each time he says, “my wife.”
What was supposed to be a marriage of convenience quickly spirals into something else. Something I canβt control. Because this man makes me feel alive in a way I havenβt felt in months, and I want more.
More sparks. More life. More time.
Can a relationship based on lies lastβ¦ Especially when Iβm the one keeping all the secrets?
Bella Matthews is a USA Today & Amazon Top 50 Bestselling author. She is married to her very own Alpha Male and raising three little ones. You can typically find her running from one sporting event to another. When she is home, she is usually hiding in her home office with the only other female in her house, her rescue dog Tinker Bell by her side. She likes to write swoon-worthy heroes and sassy, smart heroines. Sarcasm is her love language and big family dynamics are her favorite thing to add to each story.
Hometown hockey hero, Blake has life completely figured out. Heβs footloose and fancy free with the worldβs coolest job and an endless parade of puck bunnies ready to help him celebrate his victories. The status quo is working for him, so why does he agree to co-parent a stray puppy with his too-serious, workaholic neighbor, Erika? And why is he so annoyed when she suddenly starts dating some tool named Doug? And why canβt he stop finding excuses to see her and touch her and kiss her andβ¦ Sheβs not his girlfriend, right?
Erika has enough on her plate as an ER doctor without adding any more stress to her life. So adopting a dog with Blake, the fun-loving, never-take-anything-serious, commitment-phobe across the hall is a stupid idea, right? Of course, she also probably shouldnβt be his plus-one for charity galas either. Or seeking comfort from him during a thunderstorm. Or kissing his five-for-fighting boo-boos better. Or letting him teach her how to βreduce stressβ with her personal toy collection. After all, heβs not her boyfriend. Is he?
So what happens when two people reluctant to commit find love where they least expect it⦠Right across the hall.
Oh man, this was such an easy read for me! I’m pretty sure this is the first book by Carr that I’ve read and I really enjoyed it. The relationship between Erika and Blake is so sweet and fun. They support each other, make sure that they are taking care of themselves, but aren’t afraid to give each other heck when they need it.
I kinda wish we’d gotten to see them together during the off-season when it seems like they spend the majority of their free time with each other. Or even in casual social situations with the rest of the team. I’d love to see more of those relaxed interactions because they are just the cutest together.
I think the best things are the moments when each of them realize their feelings for the other and the truth of their relationship. It’s funny and sweet and the meet cute equivalent for a friends-to-lovers trope. And while Carr had the opportunity to do some third act super-drama, I appreciate the restraint (pun not intended). The two of them just really deserved more than that so I’m glad she didn’t go there.
Restraint is low on drama, humorous, steamy, and entertaining … just all around enjoyable. And after getting glimpses of the rest of the team, I’m adding their stories to my TBR list. I’m also definitely going to be checking out Carr’s backlist!
*****
Author Info:
Virginia native Mari Carr is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestseller of contemporary sexy romance and romantic suspense novels. With over two million copies of her books sold, Mari was the winner of the Romance Writers of Americaβs Passionate Plume award for her novella, Erotic Research. She has over a hundred published works, including her popular Wild Irish and Compass books, along with the Trinity Masters series she writes with Lila Dubois.
Itβs not every day you ask your older brother’s teammate to be your fake boyfriend. But desperate times call for gorgeous, impulsive measures.
Miles Garrett is a pro basketball player with a heartstopping smile and infamous cocky charm.
But to me, he’s always been more than a celebrity. Miles is the guy who puts friends and family firstβ¦and my college crush.
When my sorority sister decides to bring my ex to our reunion, I need a plus-one who can have my back and save my pride. Asking Miles is the perfect solution.
Until he raises the stakes for both of us.
He says heβs only playing to win. He’ll be the best fake boyfriend I’ve ever had.
But his gaze hunts mine across a crowded room. He protects me with a fierceness that steals my breath. Our just-for-show kisses ignite a wildfire inside me.
Iβm fighting feelings that have been simmering for years. Soon our pretend relationship starts feeling dangerously legitβ¦
Because itβs hard to fake whatβs always been real.
Like her King of the Court series, Lawson splits this story into thirds. Cliffhangers aren’t usually my thing, and I had no idea that’s how KotC was going to be, but I enjoyed the heck out of it. She showed me that New Adult romances can have a delightful mix of drama, growth, and emotion. And with that one trilogy, Piper Lawson won her spot on my must read author list.
Hard to Fake is just as good as I expected it to be. Brooke is dealing with some issues with her family, her mother and her brother, as well as facing an upcoming sorority reunion where she’s facing a must impress situation. As well as an old boyfriend. It’s putting some stress on her and has her finding help in an unlikely place.
Miles is the good time guy – always up for a joke or a good time. But he also knows the value of hard work and dedication to his team, his family. That includes stepping in when Brooke needs someone at her back, someone to show the haters and support her as she tries to win an important contract. Of course, time spent together, and moments when acting turns to something more, has them quickly finding themselves over their heads.
I love Brooke’s sassiness and her drive to make it on her own. She’s had a lot of years having to watch everything she does, how she looks, how it’s perceived. It’s impressive she’s as solid as she is but as she’s building a life of her own sometimes those expectations don’t match up with her wants. I’m looking forward to seeing what it looks like as she embraces being her own person.
Miles obviously has some issues from his childhood, which we see here & there. He’s emotionally available to his grandmother and his teammates & friends, but he’s adamantly against getting involved romantically. There is definitely something deeper going on with him and I’m so looking forward to getting those answers.
Being only a third of the story leaves us with a lot of questions and hints at what might come next. If you aren’t prepared for that I can see why it would be upsetting, but I like the way Lawson builds us up and leaves us wanting for more. We are given an opportunity to get to know our characters a little bit and to have them interact with each other but not rush to a HEA. Bring on book 2, Piper!
*****
Author Info:
Piper Lawson is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of smart and steamy romance.
She writes women who follow their dreams, best friends who know your dirty secrets and love you anyway, and complex heroes you’ll fall hard for.
Piper lives in Canada with her tall and brilliant husband. She’s a sucker for dark eyes, dark coffee, and dark chocolate.
Iβm gonna be fighting for flora when Iβm older and it all starts with auditing stats so I can level up for my masters, and lucky for me, the intriguing guy in my class is a math whizz.
Heβs standoffish at first, but after a class where I bet my sitcoms can make him laugh, one bet leads to another and weβre hanging out all the time. Even though I know heβs interested in me, weβre easy friends, until I start to think I might be a little interested in him, too.
The only problem? He seems like a totally different guy in class to when we hang out. I brush it off as him trying to concentrate, but then I spot something I canβt explain away.
A scar. On his palm.
One Iβm positive Benny has never had before.
Benny
Since we were little, my twin brother and I have always switched things upβliterally. It started as funsies, and now weβre college juniors and still taking each otherβs classes. I suck at Math, he sucks at English, and we both have a rule not to make friends in class as the other person. Our system is perfect.
Only Emmett has the audacity to get sick right before stats and I have to actually show up for my own classβwhere I meet my future husband.
Harrison is smart, weirdly into plants, and we instantly hit it off like old friends.
Only of course the gorgeous mountain of a nerd is straight.
Just when Iβm telling myself to let my dreams of matching rings go, our text messages become constant, flirtier, deeper than Iβve had with any other guy before. My butterflies have butterflies every time we catch up.
And then I get a text from Emmett: Iβm so sorry. I think I messed up.
Saxon James writes MM romance about two dumb fools finding their dumber half.
Her books include banter, snark, and schmoopy love, along with queer identities that span the rainbow. From New Adult to later in life, her guys have got you covered.
Harrisonβs love life is a parade of fun, flirty encounters thanks to every dating app you can imagine, but nothing sticks. Finally, sick of the endless cycle of Friday night hookups, he hits uninstall on the apps and challenges the universe to show him that he deserves someone better.
What he didnβt expect was the universe throwing him a curveball in the form of his best friendβs younger brother. Despite being best friends with Gordon for years, heβs never actually met his siblings and even half-joked they didnβt exist.
But there they are, at a party at Gordonβs place, and one brother, Arlo, is seriously hard to ignore. Heβs nothing like Gordon. Quiet, adorable, and totally off-limitsβ¦ which sucks. But when Harrison spots an opportunity to help him steady his nerves on his childrenβs book tour, he jumps at the chance to get to know him better, because spending time with him feels like the most right thing heβs done in forever.
The more time they spend together, the less Harrison can imagine being with anyone else. But going after what he wants means betraying his best friend. Can he find the courage to catch lifeβs most unexpected pitches?
While Noah was a ball of energy at the outset, Arlo clutches a book against his front with his casted hand like it could somehow create a barrier between him and everything else in the world.
βIβm Harrison, but my friends call me Harry,β I say, and he turns toward me. His big gorgeous blue eyes lock on mine and my stomach does a weird spinny thing. I really should have eaten before I came.
βHi,β he almost whispers, pulling his hand free of his brother and using it to tuck his red hair behind his ears. He really doesnβt look much like Gordon at all, not like Noah. They both have the same flame red hair, sure. But Arloβs is long, and hangs loosely around his face like a curtain he can hide behind, it contrasts beautifully with his porcelain skin and bright blue eyes and I find myself unable to look away.
*****
Review:
Harry has been struggling to find the one, although he’ll admit that using an app is probably not the way to go π Then he meets adorable, artsy Arlo. Unfortunately, Arlo is off-limits as the brother of Harry’s best friend. (I think Gordon might be over-reacting a bit – he admits that Harry is a good person – but he’s had lots of years being the one to watch over his brothers so …) But time spent together has them deciding that their attraction is one that can’t be ignored. Which of course goes the way you think it will and, while I do understand why Gordon might be upset with the way things play out, I can also see why the guys think this is the best way.
There’s not a lot of depth or character growth with Harry and Arlo. It’s a quick read but all sorts of fun. Full of sweetness and deepening feelings as readers are given a peek into their growing emotions and their oh-so-spicy alone time.
I’ve only read one other book by Jackson and, based on these two, I think she’s going on my must read author list. Her characters are interesting and her stories are entertaining & steamy. What’s next, Becca?!?
*****
Author Info:
Becca Jackson writes MM romance that delivers heart, heat, and happily ever afters for some totally adorkable and fabulous guys.
Beccaβs books have all your favorites, small-town romances, bi-awakenings, sports, friends to lovers, and enemies to lovers too, but no matter the trope that takes your fancy, youβll always find a happily ever after.
Perry I moved to San Luco to get to know my brother, and so far, itβs been great. Working as a bartender at Shenanigans, a bar close to Franklin University, there are beautiful men and women everywhere. When a hot guy falls into my arms at a party, Iβm down for some naughty fun. Until I realize heβs way too drunk for anything to happen. Thankfully, we agree to meet up the next day.
One near kiss later, I discover Theo has no idea Iβve been hitting on him. He thinks weβre hanging out as buddies, and to my great regret, says heβs straight. How did I misread this situation when I thought he was giving me all the right signals?
Theo Perry thinks Iβm a nineβ¦a nine! Sure, Iβm not into dudes, but itβs flattering that someone as attractive as him thinks Iβm hot. Despite the confusion, Perry and I click and agree to keep hanging out. The more time I spend with him, the more I realize thereβs a part of myself Iβve been ignoring. One thatβs super bi and wants Perry as more than a friend.
Trying to study with him makes things hard for meβ¦below the belt. Unfortunately, his abandonment issues have him open to a fling and nothing more, while Iβm catching feelings in a big way. Can I be satisfied with a hookup? Or should I find a way to convince him to take a chance on making this something real?
Riley Hart has always been known as the girl who wears her heart on her sleeve. She won her first writing contest in elementary school, and although she primarily focuses on male/male romance, under her various pen names, sheβs written a little bit of everything. Regardless of the sub-genre, thereβs always one common theme and thatβsβ¦romance! No surprise seeing as sheβs a hopeless romantic herself. Rileyβs a lover of character-driven plots, flawed characters, and always tries to write stories and characters people can relate to. She believes everyone deserves to see themselves in the books they read. When sheβs not writing, youβll find her reading or enjoying time with her awesome family in their home in North Carolina.
Riley Hart is represented by Jane Dystel at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret Literary Management. Sheβs a 2019 Lambda Literary Award Finalist for Of Sunlight and Stardust. Under her pen name, her young adult novel, The History of Us is an ALA Rainbow Booklist Recommended Read and Turn the World Upside Down is a Florida Authors and Publishers President’s Book Award Winner. Join Rileyβs reader group here!
Love was a losing battle for this country music darling and a single dad, baseball star until one night brings them together and one small town sets the playing field for a possible winning streak.
They call me Lady Boss. Maneater. Queen. But beneath the makeup, blond wig, and glitzy costumes, Iβm just a country girl who likes to sing. I donβt hate men, Iβm just struggling to find a good one. Iβve learned my lesson. Fool me once, and it will never, ever happen again. So Iβm baffled when I meet Ford Sylver.
A superstar in his own right as the centerfielder for the Chicago Anchors baseball team, plus a single dad to three adorable little girls, we share a moment when I save his firm backside and pretend heβs mine. Something that he can never be.
Only, when he suffers a season-changing injury and I need a place to disappear, we both end up back in Sterling Falls, where Iβm suddenly and unwittingly his nanny.
Thereβs danger in having a wild side. Iβll try anything once. However, forced into close quarters with Ford, acting as his personal nurse, and caring for his three little ones might backfire. Because Iβm staring at all I ever wanted and never thought would happen for me.
After losing at love in the past, could I finally be on a winning streak?
Cadence was the best. She’s strong but also vulnerable, struggling with what the career that she loves means for the rest of her life, her privacy, her relationships. It’s not easy but she definitely handles it like a boss, without letting it make her lose her big, caring heart. I do wish we’d gotten a little more of her side of things outside of her time with Ford because I’d love to see her more in her element. As it is, she’s pretty darn awesome – loving Ford’s kids, supporting him when he needs it, and fitting in seamlessly into their lives.
Ford has had a difficult few months but as a single dad he’s got to keep it together. Even if it means having to deal with unresolved issues from his childhood. I assume that there is more to those family dynamics in some of the other stories, but since this is my first (and it is resolved well) I would have liked a bit more because it is so important to why Ford is the man he is. Probably a good reason to read some more books!
***slight spoilers ahead***
I will say that I expected more from Ford towards the end. I understand that he’s been hurt, fresh out of a relationship (maybe too fresh) that ended badly, but he has some bad reactions and I felt like Cadence let him get away with it a little too much. I understand that he felt bad for it but c’mon man. I mean she does a good job of standing up for herself and removing herself from it, but I think he could have begged a little more π
My first from Dunbar was enjoyable, sweet, and satisfying. Looking forward to seeing what else she comes up with!
*****
Author Info:
L.B. Dunbar loves sexy silver foxes, second chances, and small towns. If you enjoy older characters in your romance reads, including a hero with a little silver in his scruff and a heroine rediscovering her worth, then welcome to romance for those over 40. L.B. Dunbarβs signature works include women and men in their prime taking another turn at love and happily ever after. Sheβs a USA TODAY Bestseller as well as #1 Bestseller on Amazon in Later in Life Romance with her Lakeside Cottage and Road Trips & Romance series. L.B. lives in Chicago with her own sexy silver fox.
To get all the scoop about the self-proclaimed queen of silver fox romance, join her on Facebook at Loving L.B. or receive her monthly newsletter, Love Notes.
Ten years ago Carson Knight was my one great love, but he abandoned me without a trace.
Now heβs a billionaire single-dad in need of a temporary wife.
And heβs at my house on one knee with a proposalβ¦
Marry him, so heβs more likely to win full custody of his daughter, keeping her safe from her unstable mother. In return, heβll take care of the medical expenses for a surgery my father needs to survive.
Reluctantly, I agree to tie the knot, on one condition. Once those custody papers are signed, we go our separate ways. Because heβs even more gorgeous, charming, and sweeter than he was back then, and I donβt trust myself not to fall for my fake husband.
Especially when I hear him say βmy wife.β
Or feel his hands on my skin. Taste his kiss or see the way he looks at me with those blue eyes and know that our carefully crafted rules will shatter.
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.
Elmwood isnβt good for my love life. Hey, Iβm a positive person and I have nothing but wonderful things to say about small-town living, but I havenβt had a date in years. Thatβs fineβmy son is and always has been my number one focus.
Except now heβs grown and gone. And itβs lonely.
Okay, yes, the new hockey coach is hot and single, but heβs off-limits. Smittyβs trouble with a capital T, and his baggage might outweigh mine. Besides, we said nothing would happen after βthatβ night. It was a one-time, never to be repeated deal.
At leastβ¦thatβs what I thought.
Smitty
Am I sad about retiring from pro hockey? Honestly, no. I canβt remember the last time I wasnβt in pain. I need a rest and I could use a distraction from unwelcome memories at home. Stat.
Soβ¦Elmwood.
Look, we all know I wonβt last a whole season of coaching high school kids, but stepping in till they find a better candidate is a good temporary plan. And Brysonβs here.
Thereβs something about the hot dad with the sunny smile and bad dad jokes that makes me feel alive again. Iβm not in the market for foreverβbeen there, done that. Look, Iβve taken risks for my sport, but Iβm not giving my heart away again. I know thin ice when I see it.
Smitty gamely followed me to the next vignette at Pinecrestβs premiere home and furniture boutique. βItβs a coffee table, Bry. It serves two functionsβa footrest and a place to leave dishesβ¦and the remote control. Anything is fine.β
βYeah, right,β I huffed. βSomehow I doubt the guy who couldnβt live with yellow walls and had lots of opinions about the sectional he special ordered doesnβt care about the coffee table that will go in the same room.β
Smitty darted his gaze around the store and leaned in close. βPlaces like this intimidate the fuck out of me. It smells like a perfume factory and everyone is smilingβ¦but their eyes are dead. Like theyβre zombies. Is this a Pinecrest thing or a bougie thing? I donβt do well with hot cotchure.β
I burst into laughter. βHaute couture?β
βSure, whatever.β
I brushed my hand against his in a show of solidarity, then linked our pinkies for a brief moment and pointed at a handsome dark-wood coffee table with a wide base. βWhat about that one?β
Smitty shrugged. βLooks nice.β
βI think so too.β I clandestinely checked the tag. βYikes. Itβs pricey. Letβs keep looking.β
βDo they have a coffee table with cupholders?β
βAbsolutely not, and why would anyone want a cupholder in a coffee table?β
Smitty widened his eyes comically. βAre you kidding me? Why would anyone not want a safe place to plop a cup? You never have to worry about spilling a drink or knocking it over, and you wouldnβt have to fumble for it when youβre watching a game, βcause your cup is right where you left it.β
βOkay, thatβs a whole lot of nonsense. And thankfully, a moot point.β I glanced at our surroundings as if to be sure that was true and noticed the salesperson watching us from the register. I couldnβt remember her name off the top of my head, but I was pretty sure Iβd sold her and her partner a house two years ago. I lowered my voice and added, βThey donβt have such a thing, but even if they did, Iβd stop you from buying it.β
βHow? Iβm bigger than you. And Iβm fast. I could whip out my credit card in a flash and shove this fucker into my truck before you could say βNo, bad table!β β
*****
Review:
I, like pretty much everyone else apparently, loved Smitty. He’s like a big, likable puppy who just throws his whole self into things. He’s struggling a bit with his past and where he’s going next so he’s taking a bit of time in Elmwood to figure things out. It definitely doesn’t hurt that Bryson is nearby.
We’ve met Bryson before and most of us were curious about his story. He’s such a great dad and an upstanding member of the community but there has to be more there, right? Of course because he’s just a bit too … perfect π There are issues in his past, things that have left him a little scared to stray too far from the straight and narrow. It leads to some complications with Smitty in town. Putting him on some people’s **** list because of how he treats Smitty at first. But it definitely doesn’t take him long to get past that π
Thin Ice, like the rest of The Elmwood Stories, is a low angst, slow burn, feel good love story. There’s moments of humor (between Bryson’s dad jokes and Smitty’s ingenuity in getting Bryson’s attention), steam (oh, the steam), and all the emotions (as both come to terms with their pasts and what a relationship together might look like). I loved seeing everyone again and wallowing in all the warm & fuzzies & snark & fun. Looking forward to whatever Hayes has for us next.
*****
Author Info:
Lane HayesΒ lives in sunny Southern California with her amazing husband, who thankfully doesnβt mind cooking, and their fabulous fox red Labrador, George, whoβs pure mischief. Both provide oodles of inspiration for the low-angst, humorous books Lane loves to write.
Sheβs 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 yesβ¦romance is much more satisfying!
Lane loves tea, travel, and chocolateβ¦in any order. Add a book and sheβs set!
Are you ready to head back to Wilder Valley? Maeveβs story is next in this small town, single mom, best friends to lovers romance! Wild Crush can be read as a standalone, or start with Ryan and Valβs story in Wild Hearts.Β
Iβve loved Maeve Wilder my whole life.
Sheβs never seen me as more than a friend but thatβs my fault. By the time I was brave enough to confess my feelings, I was too late.
She met the man she would marry and it wasnβt me. I missed my chance.
Now weβre in our thirties, still the best of friends, and Iβve made peace with the fact my unrequited love will never amount to more than a wild crush. Mostly.
But when her husband walks outβleaving her to raise their three children alone, Iβm the one who is there to pick up the pieces.
Each night I fall asleep on her sofa, longing for her to see me as more than a friend. When she does, it changes everything.
My heart belongs to hers, it always has. But when reality comes crashing down, will the life weβve built over the last few months be enough for her to choose a forever with me?
Kacey Shea is a USA Today bestselling author of steamy contemporary romance. She enjoys writing strong and smart heroines, heroes with hearts of gold, and stories that deliver a satisfying, well-earned happily ever after.Β
When she’s not writing you will find her spending time with her children, drinking iced tea by the gallon, or planning her next escape from the Arizona heat.Β
Kacey has a free book for all newsletter subscribers along with bonus epilogues for her most beloved novels.
Kacey enjoys interacting with her fans so please feel free to stalk her on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.Β
Romantic Reads and Such 