I never thought Iโd get marriedโฆlet alone to a man Iโve had to pull a gun on.
Twice.
But I also couldnโt have anticipated some sleazy land developer would threaten to take my home.
If I donโt get married to fulfill some stupid clause in my grandparentsโ willโฆ
Iโll lose everything.
Until game warden Wolf Owens steps in and claims to be my fiancรฉ.
Beyond staring down the barrel of my weapon, we barely know each other.
The handsome, stoic man has no reason to help me beyond protecting the land we both love so muchโฆ
Yet from the moment we share our first kiss as husband and wife, this fake marriage starts to feel very real.
With each heated lookโฆ
Every lingering touchโฆ
We grow closer.
Until the only thing Iโm afraid of losing is him.
Grab this small town romance featuring a feisty veterinarian heroine who doesnโt want to need anyone else and a reclusive man who has never let himself want who find love in the wilderness and hope in each other.
Wolf is on the spectrum but Molly appreciates him for who he is and I love that for them both. They struggle a little trying to figure out how a relationship between them works, neither having any real experience being in a couple. Add in some childhood trauma & insecurities on both their parts and it isn’t a smooth road.
But I’m so proud of Molly for her patience and willingness to understand Wolf but to also push when it’s needed. And Wolf for asking for help and stepping up when required. They are just so sweet together, fully embracing each other and slowly creating a home that fits them both.
There’s a bit of a suspense element towards the end, but really the story is about these two falling in love and I could not have asked for anything more. This is the first book of Parker’s that I’ve read but it is a delightful introduction and I can’t wait to see where she goes with Wolf’s brothers.
*****
Author Info:
Natalie Parker resides in the Seattle area with her husband and two rugrats, but is originally a Michigan girl.
She always enjoyed writing and noticed she had a knack for it while earning her Psychology degree and has always been an avid reader, but never thought of becoming an author until one day there seemed to be a story to tell.
In her spare time, she enjoys reading, reading, reading to her kids, drinking coffee, reading, occasional yardwork, reading, listening to music, reading and writing.
Iโve never met anyone who bothers me more than Chad Sinclair.
Heโs always smiling, always happy โ excited about life in a way I truly cannot comprehend. A spoiled city guy who acts like heโs never heard the word no before.
I canโt believe I drunkenly married him in Vegas.
Or that he showed up at my farmhouse, ready to give up his whole life to play happy husbands with me in the middle of nowhere.
Chad might have convinced himself weโre meant to be, but I gave up on that kind of future a long time ago.
CHAD
Iโve always believed things work out for me โ and getting my husband to admit he wants me is no exception.
John Sullivan might be grumpy, closed-off, and determined to pretend this means nothing, but he still chose me. He married me. He said I do, and Iโm not ready to let that go just because heโs pretending he is.
He can say thereโs no way we can work, but Iโm stubborn enough to stay and keep proving him wrong.
A grumpy/sunshine MM romance about a woke-up-married couple navigating life after loss, small-town living, and the kind of heat that burns slowest when youโre trying your hardest to resist it.
Please note that this is a standalone spinoff of their Love Without Labels series and that it does not take place on the reality show. It can be read solely on its own.
Tropes: Grumpy x sunshine, opposites attract, woke up married, trust fund x blue collar, city x small town, pierced/tattooed MMC, secret relationship, โno emotions just s*xโ, kink/bdsm exploration (shibari, sensory deprivation, temperature play, dom/sub, restraints/bondage, marking, c*ck-warming, edging, praise, toys), processing grief, only one bed, first times, caretaking, pining
*****
Review:
Chad is the brightest of sunshine-y, golden retriever, sweetheart characters. He’s so kind and positive and happy, the complete opposite of John, but he’s also confident in their relationship. He sometimes comes off as naive so I wish we’d gotten some more of their interactions in Vegas because I would love to see why he is so very convinced about John’s feelings. We get glimpses and I definitely admire Chad for how sure he is of their connection but I wanted even more. (Plus they are adorable together when John lets go and embraces everything Chad.)
That enthusiasm for pretty much everything brings humor & lightness and is a good foil for John’s reserve. He’s a very private person, keeping his feelings close, separating himself from friends & family and dealing with his grief alone. But even he isn’t able to resist Chad. I’m glad we get John’s POV because I think it would be hard to be understanding of how he treats Chad without it. He’s not cruel but he can be pretty curt. (This is another place where I think more of their Las Vegas interactions would have helped.)
Wanting My Husband is spicy & funny & emotional as Chad helps John address his past & look towards a possible future together. John may be in charge in the bedroom but Chad is a rock for him as they lean into their growing feelings. The way that Chad understands and takes care of John as he shows him that it is OK to love again, to be happy again, is just … *sigh* so sweet.
*****
Author Info:
Lexi is an American author who is obsessed with queer happily ever afters. Most of her time is spent with her two kids, but if theyโre asleep, then she is either reading, writing, or watching hockey.
Professionally trained as a nurse, Lexi decided to start writing when she became a stay at home mom and the characters in her head havenโt stopped talking since.
Lexi also loves Diet Coke, traveling, and Halloween. Her house is probably obnoxiously decorated for whatever holiday is next because she thinks that little things that make people smile are important.
Bec Benson is based in the Northeast, lives for the first sip of hot coffee in the morning, and genuinely believes emo music can make you happy. Sheโs obsessed with mgk, a good uninterrupted writing session, and queer romance novels.
A risk prevention specialist with a tight grip on his heart meets the prince of pandemonium who wants to set it free.
For Rayden James, love means devastating loss, so he focuses his energy on growing his private security business and avoiding romantic entanglements at all costs. His dedication pays off when his company lands its largest account yet. But the ink is barely dry on the contract when a chaotic charmer crashes through his defenses and makes Ray crave things he shouldnโt want.
Atticus Livengood is not living up to his name after a teeny-tiny mistake costs him his career, his home, and his dignity. With his self-esteem circling the drain, Atticus makes overhauling his life the top priority. A new job offers the perfect fresh start until a hopeless attraction to the head of security threatens to trip him up.
Sparks fly from the jump, and each new encounter fuels a physical and emotional connection that refuses to be ignored. But surrendering to their desire means making themselves vulnerable to one another and a fickle universe that takes just as quickly as it gives. Will Ray and Atticus stand and deliver for a chance at love or play it safe and walk away?
Tropes: Tortured hero, grumpy/sunshine, hurt/comfort, opposites attract, and a little forced proximity
*****
Excerpt:
Rounding the side of the building, I saw a hooded figure wailing away on a grayish hatchback car with a crowbar. Heโd already knocked out one of the windows on the side I could see and had likely knocked out one on the opposite side too. I ripped my walkie-talkie off the belt and radioed for help as I willed the stupid golf cart to go faster.ย
โAre you fucking kidding me?โ came Archerโs tinny reply.
โNo, damn it. I need backup at the community recreational building. Call the police.โย
โPolice? Whatโs going on?โ
โJust get here.โ Thinking of the sabotaged batteries, I added, โBetter drive our SUV.โ As if to prove my point, the electric motor sputtered and whined. โShit.โย
Clang, clang, clang. Crash!
The assailant was too busy bashing the rear quarter panel and window on the poor car to notice my approach. I wanted to keep it that way.ย
โWhatโs that noise?โ Archer demanded.
โAn assault on a vehicle. Get here.โ
โIโm already on my way. Almost to the SUV. Should you approach this perp alone?โ
โSo far, the assailant has only brandished a crowbar. I can survive that.โย
The electric golf cart battery died, and I bit back another curse. The hooded assailant jerked his head up, noticing me for the first time.ย
Launching myself out of the cart, I commanded, โDonโt move.โย
The assailant froze like a deer in headlights for all of two seconds before he turned and ran. I pumped my arms and legs fast in pursuit, smiling to myself because I had done my homework, and his chosen path only led to trouble. Sure enough, I rounded the building and saw that the perp had trapped himself between the building on the right, an eight-foot stone wall on the left, and a six-foot privacy fence in front of him that surrounded the outdoor pool, where the occupants jammed to seventiesโ disco music. The only real escape was for this asshole to get past me, and that would not happen.ย
โTogether. Spread โem. Together. Spread โem,โ called out a man on the other side of the fence.ย
The assailant raised his crowbar as if he might charge me, then launched it over the poolโs privacy fence instead. He took two steps back to get a run, then leaped toward the top of the fence, landing in the middle with an awkward splat. The guy somehow held on to the top of the fence and dug his toes into the wood to climb the rest of the way. His slow progress allowed me to hit the fence directly behind him. My lead foot landed in the middle of the board, and I used the momentum to propel me up high enough to see over the top. Gripping the fence, I flung my body over the boards, eyes scanning the surroundings to see where the man with the crowbar had gone. My gaze landed on a bare-chested, hot guy balanced on the edge of a chair with his toned legs extending in front of him. He was stuck in the spread โem position as he gaped at me, which sent my mind to places it had no business going under the circumstances.ย
Awareness sparked and sizzled in my brain as familiar eyes locked on me and widened in surprise. I still couldnโt tell if they were green or brown. The world around us faded away, and my descent seemed to slow. Keeping my attention on Atticus was stupid and dangerous. I needed to survey the rest of the area, but I couldnโt tear my gaze away from him, not even when I landed on the concrete with a jarring thud.ย
That momentary distraction allowed the assailant to take a swing at me with the crowbar. I felt the air move and ducked just in the nick of time, so the blow glanced off my shoulder instead of hitting me in the head. I lowered my shoulders and rammed them into his gut, lunging forward with more strength than was necessary to make the tackle. One minute, my feet were on solid ground, and the next, I was falling through air and splashing into the water. My attacker squirmed in my grip, but I wasnโt about to let go. I wanted to take the fucker down to the bottom of the pool and alligator roll him until he stopped moving. But a cooler head prevailed, and I dragged the assailant to the surface of the pool.ย
*****
Review:
There were lots of times that I smiled at this book and even giggled a few times. Kit is so eager and earnest and he fits in so well with the residents of Silver Maple. I love him for all his clumsy, enthusiastic glory and I love Ray for his steadiness & his appreciation of what makes Kit Kit. They are great together, with Ray helping Kit get his self esteem back and Kit helping Ray to let go of some of his guilt. Both of them have a lot of trauma to address, and a therapist is mentioned but no one actually sees one. I’m hoping that maybe that comes up more as we move through the other books because both of them deserve to be, and love as, their unabashed selves.
And I’m looking forward to the next books because I love the idea of the RAVEN guys. Found family / Band of Brothers type series are some of my favorites and there is so much potential here. These guys have traumas that they need to face in order to be able to truly live again, which means there is a lot of potential here. Unfortunately we didn’t really get to know them all that well. We’re introduced to them and given little hints but maybe we’ll have to wait for their individual books to really get to know them. Which is fine, but it just loses a little of that something special.
As a first book in a new series, taking on the work of introducing a new world, Walker does a good job with Stand and Deliver. It’s spicy and funny but also pulls at the heartstrings as both Kit and Ray, and later his friends, have to address past hurts. It’s a slow burn with a pretty obvious relationship issue that they have to get past, but I like the way Walker handles things and I have faith that she’ll take us somewhere good.
*****
Author Info:
Aimee Nicole Walker is an international bestselling author of Male/Male contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels. Her stories guarantee hunks with bigโฆhearts, lots of humor and heat, and the occasional homicide. Aimee is a lifelong dreamer, an avid reader, and an off-key singer. Only two of those traits help her craft captivating characters and charming communities where everyone is welcome. She uses the other quirk to entertain her pets during writing breaks.ย
Aimee has loved the same guy for over thirty years. Her husband is the reason she can write romance novels, and heโs possibly inspired a fictional murder plot a time or ten. They share three adult children, two adorable grandsons, and a menagerie of pets that donโt include goats or donkeysโฆyet. Love inspires everything she does, books keep her sane, and coffee is the magic elixir that fuels her day.
Can you believe this? Havertonโs football hero is opening a bagel shop next to my pizzeria and heโs sellingโwait for itโpizza bagels. The nerve!ย
And Rob Vilmer isnโt above using his fame to attract clients. Itโs annoying and yes, Iโm feeling a little crusty about the situation. My temper has gotten me into a few binds, but a pizza-bagel war? This is a first.ย
Iโm gonna crush him.ย
ROB
After years of playing in the pros, Iโm beat. All I want is to open a bagel shop in the town that gave me a shot at the big time. Iโd love some peace and quiet too, however, I wonโt be getting that with Mateo Cavaretti next door.ย
Geez, I canโt believe I had a crush on that guy in college. Sure, heโs still incredibly good-looking, but heโs a grouch. And while I like my business partnerโs idea of settling our dispute with a classic bake-off, Mateo and I canโt be in the same room without fireworks exploding.ย
Okay, some of those fireworks are extra sexy and that might be a problem.ย
Or is all truly fair in love and pizzaโฆand bagels?
Allโs Fair in Love and Pizza is an MM grumpy/sunshine, small-town romance featuring former teammates, a culinary challenge, and a HEA worth fighting for.ย
*A portion of All’s Fair in Love and Pizza was originally included in the Delicious Anthology. This new version has doubled in length to over 40k words and a whole lot of bake-off shenanigans!ย
โWhoa. Wait up.โ I held my hand like a stop sign and stepped into his space. Bad move. I had to tilt my head to meet his eyes now, and that was weird. I was six oneโnot exactly a small dude, but that asshole had sprouted at least another two inches since college. Iโd bet he was six foot six. And yes, he was an asshole. I hadnโt thought so until a minute ago, but nowโฆ โYou canโt sell pizza bagels next to a pizza parlor.โ
โI canโt?โย
โNo, you canโt. Itโs brand assimilation or something. Itโs illegal.โย
โIllegal?โ he scoffed. โI donโt think so, Mateo. Bagels are bagels, pizza is pizza. But I was only kidโโ
โYeah, but a pizza bagel is a piece of dough thatโs dressed up to look like something it isnโt. Itโs shady advertising, not to mention blatant customer poaching. Sell all the bagels you want, but donโt sell pizza bagels. Thatโs a great way to get off to a rotten start. You know what Iโm saying?โย
Rob regarded me for a long moment. โAre you threatening me?โ
โThreaten is a strong word. Iโm suggesting you do the right thing.โ
โOr what?โย
I snort-laughed in my most derisive, supremely irritating fashion. It was the kind of insincere and dismissive gesture that had pissed off opponents on the field years ago and still probably got under my cousinsโ skin. Nothing to brag about, but heyโฆIโd learned how to play with the big kids early. Rule number one: Never show fear. Rule number two: Never back down or give someone else the upper hand.ย
โI โspose youโll find out.โ I turned on my heels, tray clenched to my chest as I sauntered next door.
Yeah, yeah. Look, maybe Rob wasnโt the enemy. Maybe it was a quirky act of fate that heโd happened to lease the property next to mine. The one I wanted.
Fortune had shined upon him and that was nice and all, but Boardwalk Pizza was an institution in this town. We were the experts, we were the ones with decades of experience, and we werenโt going anywhere.ย
So Rob could shove his goddamn pizza bagel up his ass.
*****
Review:
I love Lane Hayes’s books. Her name on the cover makes it an automatic read for me but honestly I struggled a little at the beginning of this one. It’s set up as an enemies-to-lovers or rivals-to-lovers story but I just didn’t get why Mateo was so antagonistic to Rob from the beginning. I had faith tho and kept going and I’m glad I did. Once I got a little further, I loved the two of them together, and individually, and it made for lighthearted fun.
Teo is all sorts of prickly and sarcastic but he loves big and loud. And he’s surrounded by a family that loves just as big and loud and I love that for him. I need more from them because they are a hoot. While Rob may be a little quieter, he loves big too and he adores every bit of Teo’s grouchiness.
I do feel like there was an opportunity to go a little deeper into their issues – Rob’s anxiety and Teo’s reasons for putting up walls. It was originally a novella in an anthology so I’m wondering if maybe the additions just didn’t mesh quite as well as they could have.
Mixing a bit of fun with a dose of family love and some heat, Hayes gives us a nice, comfortable read. It’s not angsty, more a quiet slide into a HEA.
*****
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!
Gracie Reynolds and I have been best friends since we were kids. Sheโs smart, kind, funny, beautifulโand one of the best parts of my life. When Gracie walks into a room, people notice. I always notice.
But when she moved across the world with a guy I despised, it felt like Iโd lost a piece of myself. I missed her in ways I still canโt explain.
Now sheโs backโ and sheโs crashing at my place for a couple of months while she figures things out. Sheโs single and ready for a fresh start. Iโve always had her back, and that hasnโt changed.
What has changed? The way that she looks at me. The way I canโt stop looking at her. So, when Gracie makes me a once in a lifetime proposition–obviously, I’m all in. But this isn’t your average gray area–it’s a full-on, sweat-inducing, five chili pepper detour we never meant to take.
Gracie has big dreams though, and Iโd never be the guy to hold her back. Even if all I wantโฆis to be the reason that she stays.
Order now and receive the stunning DELUXE FIRST PRINT RUN while supplies lastโfeaturing gorgeous detailed sprayed edges, custom designed endpapers and an exclusive bonus scene, only available in print.
I think that this one had a few things going on from the start. Returning readers were waiting to see what Beefcake all grown up would be like and he’s just as emotionally confident as we could hope he would be. He’s got swagger but with the big heart to back it up. Love Cutler as an adult, his parents and uncles and godfathers really did a great job of helping him grow into a stand up human being.
There’s also a lot of pressure put on their story because of the long friendship between Gracie and Cutler. I mean, it’s been obvious to everyone around them that their connection had the potential to be so much more. There was no way their little arrangement wasn’t going to lead to a HEA for them. They just needed to get out of their own way to see it.
But it did lead to some issues caused by lack of communication. For two people who know each other SO well, there were times that they had no idea that they were on pretty much the same page. And I get how scared you might be to ruin a friendship with someone that means that much to you … it wasn’t going to be an easy change to make. It involves minimal drama or angst but a lot at stake for them both to go down that path.
This obviously sets up a new series of books with Cutler and Gracie’s friends but it didn’t feel like too much to be introduced to a new set of characters and a new town. Pavlov gives us just enough to be intrigued by each of them, and of the little family group they’ve made together, but not be overwhelming. Definitely looking forward to what comes next with each of them.
My Forever Girl has the slow burn feels and steam and connection that I’ve come to expect from Pavlov’s books. There’s all sorts of small town charm, found family closeness, and plenty of heat. Cutler has grown into a fantastic book boyfriend – supportive and caring and confident – and it was so enjoyable to see him and Gracie finally realize they were meant to be together.
My world turns upside down when Iโm thrust into single parenthood to my day-old son. Coming from a home where hatred and resentment thrived, Iโm terrified of messing up my kid. Just when Iโm at my lowest point, on the brink of drowning, a stranger shows up at my door and somehow, he makes it a little easier to breathe even as he makes the guilt in my chest a little louder.
TYLER
My world turns inside out with the loss of my sister – my best friend. Iโm hours too late to say goodbye and by the time I get to the hospital, her newborn has already left with her fiance. Tracking them down isnโt as difficult asย notย falling for him. Everyday this man makes me fall a little harder as I search for the answers my sister took with her to an early grave.
This is a LGBTQIA+ story with content not intended for those under 18 years of age due to graphic scenes and situations.
This is my first book by Reitan and I’m not sure where to start. There are some trigger warnings so I would make sure that you read those to make sure the book is a good fit. It also discusses kinks pretty bluntly so make sure you’re OK there too. I’m kinda like Tyler, more on the slightly salted vanilla side of things, so while it’s not my thing personally I do appreciate where they are coming from and I feel like Reitan explains things well.
She also knows how to deliver the heat because Denny and Tyler are hot together. HAWT hot! While they bring the spice tho they also bring tons of emotions. I mean, Denny hits us right from page one with his guilt and his anxiety and his fear of the future. Then when Sally dies … ooof, it’s a gut punch. But Tyler comes at a time when he’s needed and they slowly get to know one another, drawn together by the miracle of a little boy and the impact from the loss of his mother.
And I love them together. I understand their hesitation considering who Sally was but they work together seamlessly. It’s pretty low angst while also being complicated, steeped in the problems that come from childhood trauma. It’s not easy, and probably could have used the advice of a professional, but I do like that all of them are willing to recognize that they may need to explore further to understand who they are.
Being my first book there is a lot of history in this world and within this friend group that I don’t know or understand. I enjoyed Denny’s story without it but I think I might have a better understanding of their dynamics and their needs with that background. Because these guys truly love each other, making a little family together that does everything they can to support one another.
They are there for Danny even before Ty’s birth and especially after, when he is barely keeping his head above water. Respecting his wishes while also recognizing that he’s not going to always ask for the help he needs. And that respect is extended to each one of their little group, doing everything they can to support and provide the care that each one of them needs. I would love to see more of this play out and am very much looking forward to seeing it in other stories.
*****
Author Info:
Crea lives in upstate New York with her dog and husband. She has been writing since grade school, when her second grade teacher had her class keep writing journals. She has a habit of creating secondary, and often time tertiary, characters that take over her stories. All of her RH relationships end up being heavily polyamorous – meaning itโs not just all the men for one woman. Thereโs also some M/M action going on. When she canโt fall asleep at night, she thinks up new scenes for her characters to act out. This, of course, is how most of her meant-to-be-thrown-away characters tend to end up front and center – and utterly swoon-worthy! Donโt ask her how many book boyfriends she hasโฆ
When not writing, Crea is an avid reader. Her TBR pile is several hundred books high (donโt even look at her kindle wish list or the unread books on her tablet). Sometimes, she enjoys crafting; sometimes, exploring nature; sometimes, traveling. Mostly, she enjoys putting her characters on paper and breathing life into them. Oh, and sleeping. Crea loves to sleep!
Accidentally Pregnant… Accidentally Charmed by the Grumpy Cowboy… Accidentally in Love
When I inherit the dilapidated Loveland Ranch on my birthday, I do what any self-respecting L.A. career woman would do โhave one unforgettable night with a hot, broody cowboy and skedaddle before sunrise.
But when I hear that a crabby neighbor is suing my beloved grandmotherโs estate, I decide her legacy is worth the dirt under my manicure and start renovating.
Cue the hot, broody cowboy, who rides up on a horse and informs me heโs the crab. And just when I think things canโt get worse, the universe hands me another surprise.
A little pink plus sign.
Fitz and I have nothing in common except being fiercely independent. We come from different worlds. We have different visions for the future. We donโt share the same dreams, backgrounds, or even the same zip code.
But it doesnโt take long before I find myself wishing for all the things Iโd given up onโa real partnership with a protective, kind, hot-as-sin man who reassures me Iโm not fighting my battles alone. Except heโs fighting his own battles, and they may be too big for us to overcome.
Will this accidental family we created lead to heartbreak? Or could it be the life Iโve always wanted?
I really enjoyed getting to know Tessa and Fitz. I love the way they get together and then get to know each other better as time goes on. Neither Tessa nor Fitz are really in a situation, physically or emotionally, to get involved but life has its own plan. While accidental pregnancies aren’t always my favorites, I feel like Travis handles it well. She approaches their situation and their changing feelings in a way that works, in a way that may begin a bit heavy on the heat but moves forward with heart. And always with a side of humor and charm.
I do feel like there were some pretty heavy issues that could have been addressed further (and maybe they still will be later) and characters that we could have gotten to know better. And a little bit more of that small town charm ๐ The dynamic between Tessa & her sisters and Fitz & his brother are sure to come up again as they get their own stories so I’m going to see how that plays out.
Lark Carrington came to Coral Bell Cove for a fresh start. A fading inn, a quiet life, and a chance to rebuild something steady after everything sheโs lost. She didnโt expect her first real connection to come in the middle of chaos.
Holt Wright is used to being underestimatedโlong before he ever put on a uniform. The easygoing one. The goofball. The brother no one expected much from. Until he became a firefighter. Now, when the alarm sounds, heโs the one people trust when it matters most.
The one who shows up.
The one who stays.
Even for her.
What begins as a single momentโsmoke, heat, and the steady presence of the man who pulled her back from the edgeโturns into something neither of them can ignore. Long days restoring the Carrington Inn. Late nights that feel a little too honest. A connection that builds slowlyโฆ and burns deeper than either of them expected.
Because Lark doesnโt trust easily. And Holt is still learning what it means to be the man people finally believe in.
And when the past Lark tried to outrun starts to catch up with herโฆ theyโll have to decide if this is just a sparkโor something worth risking everything for.
At First Spark is a tender, slow-burn small-town romance about healing, showing up, and discovering that sometimes the person who saves youโฆ is the one you choose to stay for.
Renee Harless is a USA TODAY bestselling author with an affinity for wine and a passion for telling a good story.ย
Renee Harless, her husband, and children live in Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. She studied Communication, specifically Public Relations, at Radford University.
Growing up, Renee always found a way to pursue her creativity. It began by watching endless runs of White Christmas – yes even in the summer โ and learning every word and dance from the movie. She could still sing “Sister Sister” if requested. In high school she joined the show choir and a community theatre group, The Troubadours. After marrying the man of her dreams and moving from her hometown, she sought out a different artistic outlet โ writing.
To say that Renee is a romance addict would be an understatement. When she isnโt chasing her kids around the house, working her day job, or writing, she jumps head first into a romance novel.
Represented by Stephanie atย SBR Mediaย for Foreign and Audio Rights.
Rule #2 ofย Revengeย Club: Donโt fall for your targetโs brother.
LEO
I’m Leo Brennan. Tech consultant. Negotiator of billion-dollar deals. Master of the corporate death stare.
And Iโm currently wearing a sparkly pink unicorn onesie with a light-up horn while screaming โI believe in magic!โ at a roomful of sugar-crazed six-year-olds.
How did I get here? I tried to get revenge on my nemesis with a syrup-related โaccidentโ at a restaurant. Except, I hit his lookalike brother instead. On his birthday. And broke his ankle.
Now I’m making amends by playing nursemaid to him and helping him out with his jobs, which includes dog walking and becoming Sparkle McHornface, the sidekick to a children’s entertainer called Captain Giggles.
The worst part? I’m starting to actually like the guy. And he has no idea the real reason why heโs on crutches.
ARCHIE
Oh, I definitely know.
The handsome stranger who โaccidentallyโ baptized me in maple syrup thinks he’s so subtle. But I’ve figured out his connection to my estranged brother, and I also know something else.
Guilt is a powerful motivator.
And watching this grumpy tech millionaire wrestle with drooling dogs and declare himself a โpretty, pretty unicornโ to a room full of six-year-olds? That’s entertainment I can’t pass up.
But somewhere between his disastrous balloon animals and surprisingly tender moments, something else is going on. I’m falling for the real Leo behind the corporate armor.
Which is dangerous because Iโm currently hiding my own secrets.
And the last thing I need is someone unraveling them.
Theย Revengeย Mishapย is what happens whenย revengeย goes sideways, grumpy meets sunshine, and two men discover that sometimes the messiest mistakes lead to the sweetest love.
Oh goodness how much did I love this one. The humor and silliness and the way that Leo & Archie connect, how Leo learns to embrace the whimsy of working with Archie. To understand Archie’s brilliance and his connection with the kids at the parties. And both slowly begin to see and appreciate who each really are. It made me laugh but it also got me in the feels.
I’ve read a lot of 4.5+ star stories but the last one that came close to 5 stars was also a Jax Calder story. I love the way she blends banter and heat and emotion. She just gives me everything I could want delivered by characters that I adore. Are the stories kinda outrageous and a little unbelievable? Maybe … but they are also so delightfully fun and sweet.
He thinks he dislikes her. He has no idea sheโs the woman heโs falling for.
Iโm Violet Morales โ hopeless romantic and firm believer in the universeโs timing.
So when I stumble across FYS, aka Find Your Soulmate, a matchmaking website that promises to find your perfect match, it feels like destiny calling.
What I didnโt count on was being matched with Rowan Teager. Reclusive, selectively mute, billionaire โ and the one man in our small town who seems entirely immune to my sunshine. To my face, anyway.
But behind the anonymity of a screen name, we are two opposite strangers falling fast and completely for each other.
The night weโre finally supposed to meet, I end up in a car accident instead. I wake up with a cast on my arm and every memory of my past wiped clean. Including him.
Working through my amnesia, I fall for Rowan all over again โ this time not just the man behind a screen name, but the real, quiet one.
In the safety of his home, we start building something real.
But Rowan is convinced that his selective mutism and his silence make him wrong for me. And no matter how loudly I fight for us, he keeps choosing his fear over our love.
Imperfect Soulmate is a lot like Rowan, steady and quiet but with more going on under the surface. Rowan’s past gives him an affinity with Violet that allows him to connect with her, to give her a safe place to rest while she recuperates. A place where she doesn’t feel like there are any expectations around her getting her memories back. But that same history has left him with doubts about himself and what a future together would mean.
I felt for Violet, having no idea what kind of person she is. Left without any memories of her family and friends, her past or her present. Having to discover herself again, trusting people she doesn’t remember. But she feels a draw to Rowan, one that gives her somewhere to figure things out.
Since I haven’t read anything else by Jay, I’m not sure how it compares to her other stories. It’s a sloooow burn and somewhat predictable, but it is sweet. Once you get to the main part of the story, you pretty much know where it is going to go but I like the way that Jay plays it out. (Love Violet for her bravery!) It’s not overly dramatic and their issues are addressed well, both Violet’s amnesia and Rowan’s concerns, leaving us with a satisfactory HEA. Y’all, check out her bio below and that’s pretty much what you are going to get ๐
*****
Author Info:
What can you expect in a Vikki Jay book?
Cute small town vibes. Swoony rich dudes who can be over-the-top alphas except when it comes to their girls. Shy or sassy sweet heroines trying to find their way in the world. Adorable pets. Families you want to a part of.
All my books take place in the fictional town of Cherrywood and St. Peppers. I write about beautiful coincidences, finding love in unexpected places and times, and fighting hard to get that happily ever after.
Grab any of my books, if youโre up for for some cute, steamy read with a touch of angst, and some… unrealistic meet cutes which can only happen in fiction. โค
