Chelle Bliss is the Wall Street Journal & USA Today bestselling author of Men of Inked Series and Misadventures of a City Girl.
She’s a full-time writer, time-waster extraordinaire, social media addict, coffee fiend, ex-high school history teacher, and currently lives near the beach even though she hates sand. Chelle loves spending time with her two cats, alpha boyfriend, and chatting with readers.
But when real feelings spark, will my real wounds destroy us?
EVAN:
Iβve been managing Calypso Key Resort, our family beachside retreat in the Florida Keys, for so long I can do it in my sleepβwhich isnβt what keeps me up at night. That honor goes to Liv Jacobson, the gorgeous, curvy bakery owner Iβm too shy to approach. Past wounds cut deep and Iβm a shadow of the man I once was.
But when fate engulfs her bakery, I offer her a refuge. And an opportunity to get to know her better. When I spin a panicked tale of needing a fake relationship, Liv shocks me further by playing along.
Every shared secret, every pretend kiss kindles a blaze that becomes dangerously real. But when my unresolved past explodes, I push everyone away, including Liv. How could a fake relationship have turned so real?
Because now, it’s no longer a gameβit’s our shot at forever.
I really like Evan and Liv. They work well together – caring, giving, and kind. Evan helps Liv step a little out of her comfort zone and try new things. He is also good at helping her feel good in her body, finding herself as sexy as he does. While Liv helps Evan remember that he’s a worthy man as he is now. One who is an integral part of his family, their business, and the community.
Of course, his issues cause trouble between the two but after a big push from his family & Liv and a bit of self-discovery (I wish it had included professional counseling), he starts to recognize how his attitude is impacting his world. While it isn’t completely resolved by the end of the book, there is still an opportunity in a future book so maybe Brockus is holding on to that. Oh, and the epilogue is perfect for these two.
**some minor spoilers ahead**
I did struggle a bit, though, with Evan’s issues. It’s been 13 years! And they were kids! I get that he lost a lot of what he expected to be. And that it was painful and took a while. But I don’t understand why his family let him continue like that for so long. I could understand if it had only been a few years but over a decade? and the man is in his 30s … it should have been addressed well before this point. This is my first by this author so maybe this came up before, I don’t know. But it bothered me. I kept reading because I loved these two together AND because I hoped that there would be an explanation. There wasn’t. And there wasn’t a good resolution? I seem the only one that seems to mind it though so take from that what you will.
(Part of a series, can be read on its own, but I felt like I missed a couple of references by not having read previous stories. Minor but they exist and may bother some.)
*****
Author Info:
Dive Into a Tropical Romantic Escape!
Erin Brockus writes steamy small town romances that transport readers to exotic, tropical destinations, and provide a perfect beachy getaway from everyday life. Her mature, relatable characters are impossible not to root for, and she weaves breezy romantic adventure into her stories, emphasizing scuba diving and the ocean.
Drawing on her twin passions for diving and travel, Erin infuses her characters and narratives with a sense of excitement and passion. Her idea of the perfect day involves sipping a cocktail on the beach after exploring the ocean depths.
Erin lives in Washington wine country with her husband, who is also a scuba instructor. She is currently hard at work on her next island adventure. When she’s not writing, you might find her out for a run or cycling through the countryside on the next quest for adventure.
Her betrothed cheated on her. The duke offers to save her. Can a marriage of convenience turn into true love?
In this steamy historical romance, a sheltered baronβs daughter and a celebrated duke agree on a marriage of convenience, but he has a secret that may ruin it all.
She is desperate to escape β¦
When Miss Annabel Ridley learns her betrothed has been unfaithful, she knows she must cancel the wedding. The problem is no one else seems to agree with her, least of all her father. With her wedding day approaching, she must find a way to escape her doomed marriage. She seeks out the Duke of Halmesbury to request he intercede with her rakish betrothed to break it off before the wedding day.
He is ready to try again β¦
Widower Philip Markham has decided it is time to search for a new wife. He hopes to find a bold bride to avoid the mistakes of his past. Fate seems to be favoring him when he finds a captivating young woman in his study begging for his help to disengage from a despised figure from his past. He astonishes her with a proposal of his ownβa marriage of convenience to suit them both. If she accepts, he resolves to never reveal the truth of his past lest it ruin their chances of possibly finding love.
The Duke Wins a Bride is the delightful first book in the Inconvenient Brides series of steamy Regency romance books. If you like worthy heroes, strong heroines, fast-paced plots, and enduring connections, then youβll adore Nina Jarrettβs charming novel. Can be read as a standalone book.
Overall I liked The Duke Wins a Bride. The characters are interesting, with Philip’s issue with his dead wife and Annabel’s family dynamic. (I’m assuming that there will be more of Annabel’s brother – or at least I hope so. He’s got the potential for a story of his own and I’d love to see more of what he’s been through.) They struggle with their baggage complicating their relationship as they work to get to know each other better. Just when it feels like they are taking steps forward, miscommunication or a past hurt rears its head and they lose a little ground.
Which means, of course, there is a lot of angst in this book. I, and Philip, love how spunky Annabel is. She’s willing to take chances and fight for what she wants. But she’s also very young and struggles with moments of self doubt thanks to her father and brother. It leads to a lot of ups and downs – literally one chapter will end with her feelings of optimism and the next will start with doubts. (There are also a few times when she seems a bit … forward for a new, young bride in a historical romance. It leads to some quite steamy scenes but seems a little off for the time period.)
Philip also struggles, especially with how he views his relationship with women. His last wife’s actions have him second guessing a lot of his interactions with Annabel, creating more ups and downs for them individually and as a couple.
The Duke Wins a Bride won’t be for everyone but I enjoyed it. It’s got a good blend of spiciness and drama, with a satisfying HEA (and hopefully at least two follow up stories).
Heads up – the writing is a little flowery, which I think is a little more acceptable in historical romances than contemporary ones, but it is a bit heavy handed here and there. I don’t mind it but I know that it does bother some. Also, apparently but I don’t know enough to confirm, there are anachronisms but … again, don’t know enough so it didn’t bother me.
*****
Author Info:
Regency writer, retired Inc. 500 sales coach, former director of a drug rehabilitation center, and Amazon bestselling author of the Inconvenient Brides series.
Nina started writing her own stories in elementary school but quickly grew distracted when she finished school and moved on to non-profit work with recovering drug addicts. There she worked with people from every walk of life, from privileged neighborhoods to the shantytowns of urban and rural South Africa.
One day, she met a real-life romantic hero. She instantly married her fellow bibliophile and moved to the USA, where she enjoyed a career as a sales coaching executive at an Inc 500 company. She currently lives with her husband on the Florida Gulf Coast.
Nina believes in kindness and the indomitable power of the human spirit. She is fascinated by the amazing, funny people she has met across the world who dared to change their lives. She likes to tell mischievous tales of life-changing decisions and character transformations while drinking excellent coffee and avoiding cookies.
Owen Doyleβs rough beginnings taught him not to form attachments, yet heβs drawn to Tyler Booth like a magnet. Their relationship has blossomed from strangers to best friends, with each twist in the journey weaving their connection tighter. But Owen has a six-year secret thatβs become unbearably painful to keep. As the seams of his resistance fray, Owen will lean into a new mentoring opportunity to keep from ruining the best thing in his life.
Tyler will never regret going to jail and getting sober because meeting Owen saved his life and taught him how to trust again. Their inseparable bond has earned much teasing over the years, but Tyler doesnβt recognize himself without Owen. When he senses a yawning chasm between them, heβll turn to mutual friends for help. Their well-meaning advice opens Tylerβs eyes to unexplored possibilities and will snap missing puzzle pieces into place.
Some hopes are too big to stifle, and some truths are too big to ignore. A photo booth, smoking-hot kisses, and honest revelations will take Owen and Tylerβs intimacy to a whole new level. But before they can achieve their happily ever after, they must unload the baggage from their pasts. Will the road to discovery guide them to the necessary healing, or are the guys destined for the highway to heartache?
Friends Like Them is book four in the Redemption Ridge series. Though each story features a different couple, reading the series in order is essential. Friends Like Them contains mature themes and is intended for adults.
βTy, I want to get pictures with you in the booth.β Owenβs voice was soft, but his suggestion landed like a bomb. That tiny, cramped space wasnβt big enough. One would have to practically sit on the otherβs lap. Tylerβs mind didnβt need additional encouragement to replay the earlier fantasy.
βTy.β Owenβs voice was more urgent as he stepped beside him. βAre you okay?β
No, he wasnβt, but an honest answer would only invite additional questions he wanted to avoid. Tyler forced a smile and said, βYeah. Iβm great. Letβs go take pictures.β
Owen responded with an excited whoop before he bounded out of the kitchen. Tyler dried his hands and trailed behind him at a more sedate space so he could coach his body and brain into remaining calm. It felt like every pair of eyes was on them as they made their way toward the booth, which looked even smaller up close. Owen reached for the door just as it swung open. Finley and Kieran stumbled out with mussed hair, swollen lips, and strips of photos in their hands. Clearly, the couples used the cramped space to suck face instead of smiling for the camera. Tylerβs heart skipped a beat before galloping like a racehorse.
βItβs all yours, fellas,β Fin said with a sweeping gesture.
Kieran winked at them as they passed by, and Tyler reexperienced the sensation he was the last to figure things out.
*****
Review:
Owen and Tyler have been inseparable since they met in prison. They’ve pretty much been two halves of a whole and we’ve just been waiting for them to finally realize that they were meant to be something more. They’ve always been supportive of each other so it’s a pretty easy transition to a loving, romantic relationship. While there wasn’t a lot of drama in the change, I loved this opportunity to understand their histories and how they got to this point.
I don’t know how Walker keeps giving us such great couples. I saw a few reviews that complained that not much happened or that there wasn’t a lot of angst. Maybe it’s because there was a lot of expectation about what would happen because it’s been hinted at in the previous stories. What we get is a smooth shift from friends to lovers and I’m all for it – I absolutely loved these two together.
*****
Author Info:
Ever since she was a little girl, Aimee Nicole Walker entertained herself with stories that popped into her head. Now she gets paid to tell those stories to other people. She wears many titlesβwife, mom, and animal lover are just a few of them. Her absolute favorite title is champion of the happily ever after. Love inspires everything she does, music 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/dlhPYj
My favorite place to hang out and chat with my readers is my Facebook group. Would you like to be a member of Aimeeβs Dye Hards? Weβd love to have you! Click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AimeesDyeHards/
Kieran Sullivan is broken when he arrives at Redemption Ridge. A wrongful conviction and twenty months in lockup will do that to a man. The ranch is a place for second chances and fresh starts, but for him, itβs an opportunity to discover who set him up. Get in, get answers, and get out. The plan sounds easy enough until Kieran meets an equine specialist whose sunny smile could warm the coldest heart.
Finley Ashe is a sucker for bruised spirits and sad eyes. The horse whisperer and broken-boy magnet is six months into a hiatus from love when Kieran, the king of emotionally unavailable men, gets assigned to work under his supervision. Mutual attraction is gasoline on proximityβs flame, testing Finleyβs resistance in new ways.
Priorities shift, shields come down, and truths get exposed. Will the inevitable combustion redeem Kieran and Finley or consume them?
Guys Like Him is book one in the Redemption Ridge series. Though each story features a different couple, reading the series in order is essential. Guys Like Him contains mature themes and is intended for adults.
From USA Today and Amazon Bestselling Author Bella Matthews comes a hot new hockey romance between a broken ballerina and the forbidden bad boy who saves her.
The Knockout
by Bella Matthews
Blurb:
We all have dirty secrets. Some are just more fun to hide than others.
Ares Wilder is a so-called bad boy. A ladies man. The teammate most likely to fight both on and off the ice. And now this devastatingly dark and handsome hockey player with a sinful smile and a filthy mouth is my twin sisterβs new brother-in-law, landing him firmly in the forbidden category.
Only he doesnβt see it that way.
Resisting him should be no big deal, right?
At least thatβs what I thoughtβ¦
Until one night, he manages to look past the illusion Iβd spent a lifetime perfecting and see the broken girl behind the pink satin pointe shoes.
We were the perfect storm I never wanted to escape.
But with secrets piling up and my world crashing down, will Ares be one more thing I destroy?
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.
From Author Kimberly Readnour comes a fake dating sports romance in the anticipated new Cessna U Hockey series! This new, star player, ordinary girl, college hockey romance leaves you laughing while sizzling the pages. Because we all know that when it comes to the charade of hearts, love scores the winning goal.
Deke Me
Cessna U Hockey, Book One
by Kimberly Readnour
Blurb:
My life is a mess. The last thing I have time for is to fake date Blake Morton, the arrogantly charming captain of the hockey team. But with my grandmotherβs looming rent and a paycheck thatβs playing hide and seek, I have little choice but to accept Blakeβs bizarre proposition: pretend to be his girlfriend.
The deal is simpleβno strings attached, just play the part and collect the payment. Easy, right?
Wrong. Emotions donβt play by the rules, especially when youβre teamed up with someone whoβs supposed to be nothing more than an arrangement.
I come from a world where every penny counts, while Blake has everythingβa sizable trust fund and effortless talent. Yet, as our charade deepens, so do the glimpses of vulnerability behind his perfect facade, and the more I fall for the real Blake.
My job was to fend off distractors, not become one. As lines between reality and make-believe blur, Iβm left questioning: Can my feelings withstand the ultimate test, or will they prove to be the most compelling distraction of all?
Readnour could easily have leaned too heavily on the rich boy/poor girl dynamic here but she does a good job of balancing it. Blake may be privileged but he isn’t snobby and has several moments of recognizing his good fortune, as well as understanding Amanda’s perspective and her pride. Finding himself drawn to her strength and spirit, he soon wants more than a few fake dates.
Amanda has worked hard to get where she is and doesn’t really have a lot of time for Blake or his troubles. But her big heart doesn’t let her just leave him struggling. One good deed quickly leads to another and before she knows it she’s more involved than she expected.
It’s not all smooth sailing. There are mean girl moments and family drama, as well as doubts about what the other is feeling – it did start with a fake date, after all. But they actually, and somewhat surprisingly, talk to each other pretty darn well. It’s refreshing that Readnour didn’t go that route (of course, they have enough troubles without miscommunication being one of them).
This is the first book by this author that I’ve read and I enjoyed the heck out of it. Her writing is easy, her characters are enjoyable, and the story has the right amount of angst & heat. The pacing was perfect too – the beginning is a quick introduction to the characters with a lead up to their agreement, it doesn’t take all that long for them to start to realize that things may not be as fake as they thought, and then we move into their issues on their way to a HEA. I did feel like I’d have liked a little more about where they go next but I’m hoping since it is the beginning of a series we get a bit more of their relationship as we move through the rest of the stories. Which I’m definitely looking forward to reading π
*****
Author Info:
Kimberly Readnour lives in the Midwest with her husband and a very snuggly cat.
Having a true passion for romance and HEA’s, she took the leap from the young adult genre to romance and never looked back.
Kimberly worked as a Registered Nurse for fifteen years before hanging up her stethoscope. When she isn’t running her own business, you can find her tucked away writing.
From New York Times bestselling author Melissa Foster comes The Whiskeys: Dark Knights at Redemption Ranch, a small-town, big-family series of standalone romance novels featuring fiercely loyal, insanely sexy bikers who give horsesβand peopleβa second chance. Buckle up for a wild ride in Hope Ridge, Colorado, as these big-hearted badasses and their sassy sisters wrangle in their forever loves. No cliffhangers, no cheating, and always a happily ever after.
A Taste of Whiskey
The Whiskeys: Dark Knights at Redemption Ranch
by Melissa Foster
Releasing April 10, 2024
World Literary Press
Blurb:
Sasha Whiskey is done with always doing the right thing. Sheβs ready to wrangle in the one man not looking to be caught, and give him a taste of Whiskey. With any luck, one taste wonβt be nearly enough. Come along for the steamy, emotional ride in this friends-to-lovers, forbidden romance.
Equine rehabilitation therapist Sasha Whiskey has everything she needs right there on Redemption Ranchβa job sheβs passionate about, a loving family, and Ezra Moore, the sexy single father who went from trying to nail her as a belligerent teen to keeping his distance as a successful therapist and the person to whom she compares every other man. Sheβs done with comparisons. She wants the real thing. But going after what she wants means risking everything theyβve both worked so hard to achieve. If only dating co-workers werenβt forbidden.
If you’ve read any of the Dark Knight’s stories you know exactly what you are going to get – fiesty, strong women and the big-hearted men who love them. I like that Ezra isn’t quite as much of a borderline alphahole as some of them can be. He cares deeply for Gus, Sasha, and everyone else in his found family. Thanks to some scars left over from his own childhood, he does everything to show them love, care, and attention. But he’s got a little bit of the devil in him too when it matters π
Sasha, like all Whiskeys, is all huge heart and spirit. She’s in deep with Ezra and his adorable son but, believing it can never be more, she’s tried hard to move on … which is going about as well as can be expected. Full on respect to her for being willing to give it one more shot to get what she really wants. There’s a lot at stake for both of them but it could be worth everything!
I loved this chance to see Sasha & Ezra figure things out. We’ve known since day one that they belong together, they just had to finally take that plunge. Foster could easily have gone heavy-handed on a few different aspects of their story but she balances it perfectly. There’s a delightful mix of the will-they-won’t-they push & pull as they decide how much longer they can resist the feelings between them, followed delightfully by their exploration of this new aspect to their relationship. With a very Whiskey HEA ending, of course. Can’t wait to see what comes next!
(Part of a series, but I felt like this is one of the ones that more easily can stand alone. Of course, there’s so many characters that it’s nicer when you start from the beginning – and there are only a couple to catch up here – but some are more self-contained than others.)
*****
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. Melissaβs emotional journeys are lovingly erotic and always family orientedβperfect beach reads for contemporary romance lovers who enjoy reading about wealthy heroes and smart, sassy heroines.
Is it wrong for me to want the world to know Iβm in love with Patrick Griffin and have been since we were eight-years-old?
Patrick Griffin
I hurt him. I didnβt mean to.
Now heβs gone, and I deserve it.
As a linebacker in the NFL, I’ve never found the right time to come out of the closet. Not even when I promised Cole I would.
But now, with Cole’s band, Fallen Angel, in the spotlight along with my team, the pressure is mounting. Everyone thinks we’re just best friends, but the weight of my secret is tearing us apart.
And it just might be too late to save us when I can.
Cole Bradley
Is it wrong for me to want the world to know Iβm in love with Patrick Griffin and have been since we were eight-years-old?
He is the love of my life, but itβs been years of waiting and excuses.
All our friends, even his teammates, have a public life. So why canβt we?
He promised it would be different in Portland.
But then he tells yet another reporter heβs single. I need a break. Itβs perfect timing since our band is heading out on tour.
I donβt know if I can live without him. But I donβt think I can do forever in the closet.
Itβs always been Patrick for me, but is it too much to ask for the world to know heβs mine too?
The Linebacker is a secret romance and childhood best friends-to-lovers MM Romance. It is book two in the Portland Protectors-EHM Security Series and the eleventh book in the Package Deal World.
To maximize reader enjoyment, it is highly recommended to read the other books in the Package Deal Series, as well as book one, The Rockstar. Series reading order can be found at the beginning of each book.
Content Warning: Referenced off the page homophobic violence toward an off the page character, and an automobile accident.
The luxury suite in our high-rise hotel was dark as I stood looking out the window. The only light that crept in was from the lights shining over San Francisco. It had a magnificent view of the water during the day that was dark and moody now. It was really kind of prophetic.
I heard the door lock disengage in the silence as Patrick entered the room. The air stirred around him and brought the smell of his cologne and body wash to my nose. My heart throbbed at the thought of leaving him tomorrow, but I knew in my gut that it was what we needed if we had a hope of surviving.
Strong, warm arms wrapped around me and pulled me back into his chest. βBabe, why are you standing here in the dark?β
There were so many things I wanted to say but chose not to. βJust looking at the city. Itβs really beautiful from up here.β
I tilted my head to the side as Patrick placed kisses down the side of my neck and onto my shoulder. His familiar hardness pressed against my ass and made me long for him, even though I was standing right here, wrapped in his arms.
βI need you,β he murmured against my skin. There was an unmistakable edge to his voice. His big hand went to my middle and held me in place against him.
βPatrick, we need to talk.β I was fighting to keep my emotions down, but I knew I was going to lose.
He loosened his hold just enough to turn me around to face him. Warm caramel eyes met my blue ones as the smile slipped from his face.
βWhatβs wrong? You feeling okay?β
I slipped from his arms and went to sit on the sofa. Patrick followed me, his handsome face now missing the smile I loved.
βWe need to talk about the tour.β
Patrick unfolded his six-foot-five body from the sofa and got on his knees in front of me. He wedged himself between my thighs and took my face in his hands. Looking into them, he pulled my face to his.
βI know things are strained between us, but can we please have tonight to celebrate and just be you and me? Forget the world and everyone in it. Just me and you, like weβve always been.β
βPatrick,β I whispered, the emotion thick in my throat before he sealed his mouth over mine. His tongue slipped past my lips, and I sank into his warmth, wrapping my arms around him. I wanted to stay like this forever.
*****
Review:
When we were given a teaser of what happened between these two at the end of The RockstarI knew I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. As soon as it hit my Kindle, I dropped everything to read it. And it did not disappoint.
My heart broke when Cole had to make the decision to walk away. I understood why, what drove him to do something that would hurt them both so much, but it wasn’t easy. It was important, though, because it finally made Patrick address his choices and what he wanted going forward.
OK, so I did have to suspend belief just a little bit that Cole didn’t know why Patrick was so hesitant to come out. That being as close as they were for as long as they were, he didn’t know what happened. But once I let that go, I could appreciate the way that they addressed it and worked to move past it. There were serious considerations given to handling it in a healthy manner.
There are a lot of feels here, think big angst, which was to be expected. These two obviously love each other but sometimes that’s just not enough. And working their way back to a place where they can be together wasn’t going to be a quick fix. My hearts ached along with theirs as they face an uncertain future. And lifted when they finally found their way to a HEA.
While you can read this as a stand alone, it is probably better to have read the other books. There are a lot of couples amongst these friends and none of them had an easy path to their HEA π
*****
Author Info:
Emerson Beckett is an avid sports fan and lover of M/M romance books, Emerson loves her new career as an author. It gets even better when she can combine the two. Emerson is the co-author of The Package Deal Series and The Portland Protectors: EHM Security Series with Rheland Richmond. The We Could Do This Duet is her first solo project.
Emerson lives in North Carolina and has been married to the same man for 34 years. She is the mother of three beautiful adults, one of whom is completely responsible for her addiction to MM Romance.
For as long as she can remember, Rheland’s had her nose stuck in a book, getting lost in the world of someone else’s creation (She still does). Her love for writing came from her love for reading. She could never have one without the other.
Writing has always been a hobby and a cathartic experience for her. There are many stories lost to the never to be completed or published pile but needed to be written at the time.
She’s just a girl that loved stories so much she decided to write hers.
Check out Book 1 in the Portland Protectors- EHM Security Series – The Rockstar – the first book in the sexy new bodyguard series set in the Package Deal World.
Adam Spencer β βThe Rockstarβ
Hereβs what I know — some people arenβt meant to find love.
And as much as I want to be someoneβs everything, thatβs not meant for me.
After a painful breakup, I channeled all my hurt into a song that has skyrocketed my band, Fallen Angel, to the top of the charts.
Now I need protection from the one person who was supposed to love me no matter whatβmy mother.
Whether I want him or not, I now have a sexy, silver-tongued southern charmer as my 24/7 bodyguard.
Iβve tried not to fall for him, because I donβt do relationships. They hurt too much.
But Michael has me thinking I could take one more chance to find love.
Or was I meant to be alone like I thought all along?
Michael Coleman β βPhantomβ
Iβve always been a protector. During my career as a Navy SEAL, my duty was to protect my four best friends.
Now I need to protect the sexy rock star I love flirting with every time he walks in the door to our EHM office.
Adam Spencer lights me up like no one ever has. And thatβs saying something.
Iβll do whatever it takes to protect him, even from himself.
Have I finally found the love Iβve been hoping for with the Rockstar?
The Rockstar is a flirty, friends-to-lovers, bodyguard and rockstar MM Romance that takes place in the Package Deal Series World. It can be read as a stand-alone book.
Trigger Warning: There is off the page reference to physical abuse to a minor. Off the page domestic violence and death of a mentioned character.
Colt Wild.Cocky-as-hell, hot-as-sin professional stuntman and my older brotherβs lifelong best friend.
And, unfortunately for me, my unexpected new roommate.
Coming home to Peach Springs, Georgia, to open a vintage resale shop, Iβm thrilled to rent a retail space plus the apartment above. No one mentions the apartment comes with a tenant.
Now the two of us are forced to share the tiny space. And did I mention thereβs only one bed?
The upside is Coltβs my live-in handyman. The downside is weβre spending day and night together while he recovers from an injuryβand I never expected our chemistry to be off the charts.
Heβs out of my league and totally off-limits. Plus, he doesnβt do relationships and is heading back to Hollywood as soon as his knee heals. But how can I say no to the mind-blowing moves of Peach Springs biggest playboy?
Iβm tempting fate and I know it. Itβs a terrible idea to fall for Colt, the wildest of the Wilds.
Kara Kendrick writes fun and flirty small-town romance destined to give you all the feels. A reformed English major, she also has a master’s in counseling and was an elementary school counselor in her pre-mom life.
She loves the beach, wine, and rock hard abs, not necessarily in that order. When she’s not dreaming up Happily Ever After’s, you can find her chasing after her boy-girl twins, working out semi-hardish, or walking her adorable Shiba pups with her husband, who’s not too bad himself.
The gentleman, the hot mess, and a little British adventureβ¦
Raine
Moving to London is scary and daunting, but I desperately need this jobβand a redo. Okay, so I may have oversold my qualifications. That shouldnβt be a big deal, though. I mean, being an assistantβs assistant seems easy enough, and Iβm a fast learner.
Hold up!
Iβm already in over my head with spreadsheets, new pronunciations, and temperamental appliances. And just as Iβm mentally preparing to face going home early, the big boss offers me an opportunity I canβt refuse. And I definitely should because Graham Horsham is an infuriating, complicated grumpy bear with a razor-sharp tongue, a wickedly dry sense of humor, andβ¦I like him far too much.
Graham
Iβve been bamboozled. Iβm not quite sure how I ended up with an assistant who spills coffee daily, wears wrinkled shirts, and chatters nonstop. He canβt stay, but I donβt want him to go and thatβs madness. The Horsham Group is closing one of our biggest deals ever and I wonβt jeopardize it. This one is personal.
Yet so is Raine.
Heβs a breath of fresh airβsilly, impetuous, lighthearted, good-natured, andβ¦quite lovely. I like him more than I want to admit. For some reason, I can let my guard down with him. Itβs unnerving and probably unprofessional.
But not to worryβ¦I will not, under any circumstances, fall for Raine.
Falling for Raine is an MM, age-gap romance featuring a British gentleman, a desperate but adorable American, and a UK adventure!
What in the hell was going on? It was as though Iβd entered an alternative universe. Everything looked the same, but it was different.
Of course it was Raine.
I studied him shaking hands with everyone in the shop as I shrugged on my jacket. He wasβ¦hypnotic, addictingβa cross between an inappropriate dinner party guest and a fistful of forbidden sweets when you were on a diet. He didnβt fit in this world Iβd carefully constructed, yet I kept inviting him in and forgetting whatever reason Iβd concocted for this to make sense.
Like now.
βPerhaps youβd like to try something on.β I stuffed my hands into my pockets so I wouldnβt be tempted to touch him.
He widened his eyes and sidled close, whispering under his breath, βAre you nuts? One shirt here costs half my rent. Unlessβ¦oh, no. Oh, no, no, no!β
βWhat?β I demanded, pulling him with me outside.
βAre you going daddy on me?β
βExcuse me?β I furrowed my brow, stopping under the eaves where rain sluiced off the roof and fell like a curtain around us on two sides.
βSlow your roll, G, Iβm not looking for a meal ticket, and Iβm not taking hand-outs. I can be talked into bedroom daddy kink, but if you want me to call you Daddyββ
βOh, for fuckβs sake, you daft man. I do not want you to call me Daddy,β I growled just as a well-dressed man stepped onto the mat next to me, pausing for a moment to close his umbrella and dart a quick look between us.
Raine pursed his lips, then burst into laughter when the man entered the shop. βHa! You should see your face. I was kidding.β
βYouβre ridiculous,β I huffed, my lips twitching.
βIβll be good, Daddy. Donβt spank me.β
βDonβt test me.β I pretended not to notice him fanning himself with a slack-jawed expression as I gestured toward the pub on the next block. βIf we stay under the eaves, weβll stay dry, but weβll have to hurry.β
βNo need. I bet they sell umbrellas in there.β
I squinted at the tourist shop at the corner on the opposite side of the street, its windows papered with Union Jack memorabilia. βThatβs crap, Ray-n.β
βSo what? Itβs fun crap. My treat.β
He sprinted into the deluge, dashing into the tourist shop while I stared after him. What was he doing? Now heβd be wet and stuck with a tatty tourist umbrella that would undoubtedly flip inside out at the first gust of wind.
A crack of thunder spurred me into action. I borrowed a sturdy umbrella from Ives and Harris with the promise to return it as soon as possible, then walked down the street to find Raine.
I shouldnβt have been surprised that heβd managed to make a friend in under five minutes. He stood in front of a wall stuffed with tartan throws, holding two compact umbrellas and chatting up a salesman. It took a bit of persuading to convince him he didnβt need the blanketβhowever, I couldnβt talk him out of purchasing two Union Jack umbrellas. I warned him that they were poorly made, but he didnβt care.
We squabbled all the way to the pub, argued over what to order, who was paying, and where to sit before finally settling into a table for two at the window. I frowned when he beamed a sunshine smile my way.
βStop being so happy,β I teased, cradling my glass. βItβs miserable out there.β
βBut itβs warm and yummy in here,β he countered, sliding his calf along mine under the table. βAnd youβre cute when youβre cranky.β
βI am neither cute nor cranky. Iβmβokay, never mind, I am cranky. If weβd come straight here, we could have avoided the queue and had that corner booth.β I pointed at the booth currently inhabited by a gaggle of noisy businessmen. βDo you ever listen to reason?β
βHave you met me?β
*****
Author Info:
Lane Hayes loves a good romance! An avid reader from an early age, she has always been drawn to well-told love story with beautifully written characters.Β She loves wine, chocolate and travel (in no particular order). Lane lives in Southern California with her amazing husband and her fabulous pup, George.
To celebrate the release of Falling For Raine, Lane is giving away the Winner’s choice of an audiobook or ebook of your choice from her published works!
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Romantic Reads and Such 