The Professor’s Date The Script Club #5 by Lane Hayes Narrator: Alexander Cendese Publisher: Lane Hayes Release Date: July 21, 2022 Heat Level: 4 – Lots of Sex Pairing: Male/Male Length: 05 Hours 58 Minutes Genre: Romance, Nerd/Jock, MM Romance, Humor, Hurt and Comfort
Blurb:
The professor, the hair stylist, and a wedding dateโฆ
Tommy
Help! My sister is getting married and according to her, I need a date. And a makeover. Iโm a busy man, though. I donโt have time to meet eligible bachelors, and the tape holding my glasses together works just fine. Until my hair stylist steps on them.
Yes, Noah, my dazzling dreamboat of a hair guru created a mini disaster, but I donโt mind at all. Heโs a sweet, funny, kind jock whoโ
Screech! No jocks. I have nothing in common with sporty people.
ExceptโฆNoah is different.
Noah
I donโt date. However, Iโm not opposed to offering fashion advice to a sexy professor in need. A haircut, a quick shopping expedition…
Boom! Mission accomplished.
Not so fast. Iโve misjudged the situation and my attraction to the geek with the tragic sense of style. Sure, Thomas is too smart for me by a long shot, but thereโs something about him that makes it easy to forget my past. It might be his quietly commanding nature or his movie-star good looks. Or maybe itโs just him.
All I know is that Iโm very tempted to be the professorโs date.
The Professorโs Date is an MM geek/jock romance featuring a nerdy professor, a soccer-playing hair stylist, and a quest for the perfect date!
โOh, I think I have some in my SUV. If not, thereโs a drug store on the next corner. Just give me a minute to clean up.โ
Thomas held up a finger, squinting through his good lens like a drunk owl. โThank you, but I donโt require assistance.โ
โIโm responsible for this mini disaster. I wonโt be able to sleep tonight if I donโt do something to help out.โ I shook my head mournfully. โAnd Iโm a mess without my eight hours, so pleaseโฆโ
He gave in with a sigh. โAll right.โ
I did a mini happy dance, hoping heโd crack a smile. No such luck. However, there was a decent chance he couldnโt see me and yes, I was vain and ridiculous, but it was better than thinking Iโd irritated him beyond redemption. Heโd liked me five minutes ago, damn it. Maybe even lusted after me. I wasnโt crazy. I noticed those shy, sideways admiring glances, and I preferred them to his current stoically distant expression.
I tidied my area at warp speed, sweeping up the largest clumps of hair before dousing my hands with sanitizer and pulling my man bag from the mini locker in the corner. I slung it over my shoulder, peeked my head around the partition to say a quick au revoir to Easton, then motioned for Thomas to follow me.
โI parked in the lot behind the coffee shop. This way.โ
I kept up a steady barrage of inane conversation on the short walk to my ride, ranging from spring weather and the flowers in bloom at the park near my condo to my yearly allergy woes. You knowโฆnonsensical filler designed to entertain the sexy stranger whoโd gone ghostly quiet.
His silence made me nervous. I liked it better when we were discussing merman dick. I didnโt know how to restore that mood, but fixing his lenses was probably a good start.
I popped open the hatch of my white Explorer and yanked a giant duffel from under a portable net to reach a small plastic toolbox. In my haste to rearrange the bags, a soccer ball rolled toward me and bounced onto the pavement.
Thomas scooped up the ball before it got away, then held it from his body, his brow furrowed hard enough to leave premature lines on his forehead. โWhatโs this?โ
โMy equipment. Justโฆshove it anywhere,โ I instructed, bending to sift through drill bits, wrenches, and tape measures.
โMy vision is laughably bad, but this appears to be sports paraphernalia. American soccer, perchance?โ
Now, that was kind of cute.
โYou are correct, sir.โ I plucked the ball from his fingers and wedged it into the open duffel, and returned to my task.
โIs it yours?โ
โThe ball? Yes, Iโoh, I think I found it.โ I tossed him a quick smile as I groped around the bottom of the box and pulled outโฆa dried-up tube of superglue. โCrap. Weโll have to go to the drug store for your cyanide.โ
โCyanoacrylate.โ
โThatโs it. I promise it wonโt take long. In fact, Iโll buy you coffee afterward. We can sip lattes while we wait for the glue to dry.โ
โThank you, but thatโs really not necessary.โ
โI insist.โ I shut the hatch, turning toward him as I locked my SUV with my key fob. He met my gaze, though his pronounced squint indicated he couldnโt see me well.
Thomas pushed his mangled glasses to the bridge of his nose and somehow managed to look fierce as hell. Call me crazy, but the steely professorial armor under his rumpled faรงade was hot. Very hot. I wouldnโt mind climbing him like a tree, mussing his newly shorn locks, licking his lips, andโ
โIt was nice to meet you, Noah.โ
Screech!
He offered a vague smile and turned away.
Shit.
I watched his retreating form, admiring his broad shoulders while berating myself for being such an idiot. But I let him go. I had to. It was a free world, and he was a big boy. He certainly didnโt have to listen to me. It was just a little worrisome that heโd risk life and limb and walking into wallsโ
Bam! He collided with the side of the bank building.
*****
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. Her debut novel was a 2013 Rainbow Award finalist and subsequent books have received Honorable Mentions, and were winners in the 2016, 2017, 2018-2019, and 2020-2021 Rainbow Awards. She loves red wine, chocolate and travel (in no particular order). Lane lives in Southern California with her amazing husband in a not quite empty nest.
I let her go before I enlisted. I left my heart with her.
Now Iโm home for good โ my world has changed, my sight gone.
Not only do I have to be with her every day as I learn to navigate the world around me, but I have to come face to face with my regrets.
She deserves more than me.
I need her.
I want her.
Will she want me again — the damaged version of the man who broke her heart?
This is a steamy military romance and the first book in my Oakside Military Heroes series. Each book can be read as a standalone but as always better together. Follow these strong possessive heroes as they find their forever girls.
Kaci runs on coffee, chocolate, and Oreos. She loves her book boyfriends with tattoos, muscles, beards, and a little dirty.
Kaci loves romance books and has been jotting down ideas since she was in high school and is now putting the ideas down on paper. She believes in satisfying, happily ever afters with a lot of steam on the way.
She was born and raised in Southwest Florida but is wholeheartedly a mountain girl. She has been reading as many books as she could get her hands on since grade school and loves to travel when she gets the chance.ย
I’m so excited to share a Q&A with Catherine Bybee today!
For anyone wondering the plot of your newest release, you give a great sneak peek with the titleโWhen it Falls Apart. What is โfalling apartโ in this novel?
All the threads that hold my heroine, Brooke, together are crumbling down around her. When it Falls Apart begins with Brookeโs romantic relationship crashing and burning. At the same time, in a different state, her father is circling the drain in the ICU. And for the cherry on the top of her โfalling apart lifeโ, Brooke has found herself demoted at work. In short, everything in Brookeโs life is dissolving around her.
Like all of your books, When it Falls Apart has a beautiful romance, however, there is a rawness about Brookeโs story. How was writing this novel different from your others?
If you read my notes both in the front and the back of this novel, youโll soon realize that the story was very personal to me. Rawness comes from experience. The relationship Brooke has with her father is hauntingly familiar to me and my dad. The emotions that the heroine experienced when taking care of him were easy for me to grasp onto and write about. Sadly, the love story with Luca was completely made up and I didnโt have the support of a strong Italian family to help deal with the struggles, but I digress.
Relationships with a parent who wasnโt there for you growing up are messy. When that parent ages and needs their child, sometimes that help comes with a bucketload of resentment, even if the child wishes they could stop those ugly feelings from creeping up on them. And THAT is the rawness you speak of.
Books, TV shows, and movies oftentimes glamorize what it means to care for a loved one. However, in When it Falls Apart you donโt sugar-coat anything about caregiving and the toll it takes on a person. How do you think readers who have been in similar situations will be affected by this story?
Justified. Validated. Accepted.
Itโs a hard job taking care of an elderly family member. And if there arenโt other siblings to help, or wonโt help, itโs made even more difficult. Itโs difficult, gritty, dirty work that only has a bad endingโฆeventually. What I do hope my readers take away is that theyโre not alone. That the struggle is very real and that if they donโt find balance (which is almost impossible at times) they will burn out completely and not be fit to help at all. I hope my readers are empowered to set boundaries and balance, so they come out on the other side of caring for an elderly loved one whole themselves.
Brooke gets virtually no support from her significant other, which has her reevaluating their relationship. She realizes she has settled and has to make some hard decisions. Do you think this happens too many times to women in real life?
100% Yes! There is a song by Taylor Swift with a line that says, and Iโm paraphrasing here, I can be what you want for the weekend. But often that weekend ends up being a relationship that women hold on to or are convinced they canโt live without. Often it takes a huge shake-up to remove yourself from that situation. But once youโre away from the day to day dysfunctional relationship, the easier it is to see the dysfunction.
After her breakup and move, Brooke is not looking for a relationship. In fact, she tells her best friend: โI havenโt wiped off my smeared mascara from Marshall yet, the last thing I want is to jump into anything else.โ Her crying over a man lasts all about two minutes when she meets Luca. Tell us about him.
Hmmm, Lucaโฆ he is the kind of man who doesnโt want a place on Brookeโs dance cardโฆhe wants to rip it up.
Luca is wired to help the people in his life. Brooke becomes a part of his inner circle simply by moving into the family building where he sees her every day.
Now, if Luca had flat out asked Brooke on a date, she would have run the other wayโฆso no, he doesnโt go about it that way. He simply shows up and does not leave. Not when things get tough, or messyโฆor when his own past peeks its head in. Luca is a man who is right there at Brookeโs side without question or censor on why she does the things she does. His support and validation of her feelings is the part she was missing. Add in the hunky Italian single father and โMamma Mia!โ
At first, Luca is not thrilled that Brooke is renting a room in his familyโs building. What changes his mind about her?
Her strength and vulnerability. I know that sounds contradicting, but some of the strongest women I know have a big vulnerable spot in their life that if you know them well enough, you see. The biggest smiles often hide the deepest pain. Luca sees her struggle and dedication to helping her elderly father and since family is first on Lucaโs list, she passes his unconscious test.
Lucaโs family, the DโAngeloโs, are incredibly close and share everything from ownership of the family restaurant to helping care for Lucaโs daughter Franny. How is this different from Brookeโs relationship with her family?
Brooke doesnโt have that family. She has a father who abandoned her as a little girl that she carved out a relationship as an adult, and now sheโs charged with caring for. Even her previous romantic relationship didnโt support her unconditionally the way the DโAngeloโs do for each other. Sheโs rather dumbfounded when they start treating her like family. Itโs a wonderful thing to watch happen.
San Diegoโs Little Italy plays a huge part in the story. The community, language, and food are in full display. Tell us about your own experiences in your adopted city.
I love Little Italy, the food, the pace… the people. There are many places in San Diego that are overrun with the college scene, San Diego is a college town. But Little Italy is more family friendly. Very touristy, but there isnโt a day you donโt see locals hanging out. I go to the farmerโs market often. Pick up authentic Italian ingredients for my own home cooking. I try new restaurants and take all my friends there when they are visiting from out of town. Not to mention it was the closest thing to the โreal Italyโ that I could go during the travel restrictions. So why not write about it and tell the world of this small island within San Diego that shouldnโt be missed?
There are two more siblings in the DโAngelo family. Where will you be taking readers next with the series?
Chloe is a yogi. Think Bali!
And Giovanni loves wineโฆ think Tuscany, Italy.
I cannot wait to show you what I have in store for these two!
When It Falls Apart
by Catherine Bybee
Release Date: June 21, 2022
Publisher: Montlake
Blurb:
Brooke Turner has always had a complicated relationship with her father. But when his health takes a turn for the worse, she drops everything to care for him. Heโs her dad, after all, and he needs her. What Brooke doesnโt anticipate is the unraveling of her long-term relationship and a cross-country move to San Diegoโs Little Italy.
Luca DโAngelo is the oldest of three children and a single father to a young daughter. When his mother rents the top floor of their house to Brooke, heโs angry. Who is this beautiful stranger with no ties to the neighborhood? Can she be trusted in such close proximity to his family?
As Luca learns of Brookeโs difficult journey with her ailing father, his heart softens. And Brooke, who witnesses Lucaโs struggle as a single parent, develops feelings for him, too. But when it all falls apart, will love heal their wounded hearts?
*****
Excerpt:
โOh my God, Carmen. He was standing at his car first thing this morning. Like โhop in, bella, letโs get stuff done today.โ Who does that?โ
Brooke had picked up the phone as soon as Luca was off in search of a dump guy.
โWeโre talking about the single, hot, Italian dad, right?โ
Brooke rolled her eyes. โYes. Luca.โ
โOy, oy, oy.โ
โStop it. I need advice. And I need it before he gets back.โ
Carmen stopped teasing. โYou donโt need advice. You need to relax. He sounds like one of the good ones. Let it happen.โ
โLet it happen,โ she mocked. โI donโt โletโ things happen. It happens to me and itโs never good.โ
โYou didnโt used to be such a pessimist.โ
โOnce upon a time the glass was half full. Not these days.โ
โOkay, Debbie Downer. You want my advice . . . here it is. Keep doing whatever it is youโre doing.โ
โIโm not doing anything. Zero effort.โ
โReally?โ Carmen didnโt sound convinced. โMakeup . . . a nice dress?โ
Brooke hesitated. โMaybe . . . a little last night, but that was it.โ
Carmen chuckled.
โCarmen!โ
โSorry. Okay . . . any red flags?โ
Brooke thought about that. โHe loved his ex-wife.โ
โThatโs a red flag?โ
โI guess not.โ
โIs he good to his mom?โ
Brooke looked back on the dinner the night before. โTo the whole family. He takes being the oldest brother quite seriously.โ
โAnd his daughter?โ
All Brooke could do was smile. โGreat dad. We should all be so lucky.โ
โHeโs Italian, does he smoke?โ
โNo.โ
โA lot of Italians smoke,โ Carmen pointed out.
โIn Italy. The San Diego variety are less in that wheelhouse.โ
โThatโs good.โ Carmen sighed. โI donโt know what to tell you, Brooke. How does he kiss?โ
โThere hasnโt been . . . I donโt even know ifโโ
โStop right there. He did not drive your sorry ass all the way to Upland to do grunt work all day if he wasnโt interested in kissing you, bellllaaa. More than that, you want him to.โ
Brooke closed her eyes, and even in her own head she couldnโt convince herself that Carmen was wrong.
โLet it happen. You deserve some happiness, Brooke.โ
The van with the air conditioning repair guy pulled into the driveway.
โI gotta go.โ
โI want a kissing update the next time we talk,โ Carmen teased.
โLove you,โ Brooke said with a laugh.
โBack at ya, boo.โ
She hung up.
Her best friend was such a dork.
*****
Author Info:
New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bybee has written twenty-eight books that have collectively sold more than five million copies and have been translated into more than eighteen languages. Raised in Washington State, Bybee moved to Southern California in the hope of becoming a movie star. After growing bored with waiting tables, she returned to school and became a registered nurse, spending most of her career in urban emergency rooms. She now writes full-time and has penned the Not Quite Series, the Weekday Brides Series, the Most Likely To Series, and the First Wives Series.
Jase Brooks had been a 26-year-old Marine, stationed in Afghanistan when his parents were killed in a head-on collision. His anguish was compounded when, at the reading of the will, he learned they’d made him sole guardian of his 11-year-old brother. Jase gladly walked away from a promising military career to step into their shoes, a tough job made tougher by the boy’s risky behavior: Petty theft to fund the addictions that led to the birth of his son, Luke… who also became Jase’s responsibility.
Through it all, best friend Samantha (Sam) Finnigan set aside her own heartaches to stand beside him–even when he made the dangerous decision to become a professional recovery agent. It isn’t until one of the criminals he’d rounded-up escapes prison–and kidnaps Sam and Luke as part of a twisted scheme to even the score–that Jase realizes Sam is more, so much more than a friend.
Now, he faces the greatest challenge of his life: Staying alive long enough to save them, so that he can finally admit just how much she has always meant to him…
Loree Lough, a USA Today bestselling author, has published over 140 novels. This is the second novel in The Shadow Series.
Elbows on knees, he held his head in his hands. What awful thing would life throw at him next!
By now, ten month old Lukeโs cries bordered on screams.
โJesse,โ he growled, โare ya deaf? Luke is bawlinโ his lungs out!โ
Most days, that was enough to get his brother up, stumbling and grumbling and chanting, โShh, Lukey, shh,โ on his way to the crib.
Not this morning.
Jase crossed the hall, opened the door to the room where Jesse had slept for nearly ten years. Luke greeted him with a big, four-toothed smile and said, โDuke up, Case?โ
His nephew hadnโt yet mastered his Lโs and Jโs, and Jase had grown fond of the boyโs nickname for him, so fond that he wasnโt looking forward to the day when Luke could finally say โLukeโ and โJase.โ
โDah-dee sโeep?โ He pointed at his fatherโs bed.
Jesse had always been a restless sleeper, moreso since Connie left him to raise their boy, alone. The neatly-made bed proved he hadnโt slept here last night.
He thumb-dried fat tears from the babyโs cheeks. โWhere is that daddy of yours?โ he wondered aloud, and lifted him from the crib.
Damp blue eyes met his, held the gaze for a moment. On the heels of a shaky sigh, Luke snuggled against Jaseโs chest and whimpered, โDah-dee.โ
โSomeday heโll realize what a gift you are, liโl man.โ He hoped it was true, for both their sakes โฆ before itโs too late.
According to the Ford Thunderbird wall clock, it was nearly six in the morning. The kid was probably wet. And hungry. Jase went back to the crib, released the side rail, and gently deposited him on the matching T-bird sheets. โLetโs get you changed, and then Uncle Jase will fix you some oatmeal, okay?โ
The baby grabbed his favorite toyโthe stuffed monkey Jase purchased in the hospital gift shop the night Luke was bornโand began gnawing on the long, once-fuzzy tail. โGot another tooth cominโ in, huh, kiddo?โ
Any worries that Connieโs drug use might have caused birth defects disappeared that first night, looking into those alert, innocent eyes. Heโd vowed, right then and there, to do everything in his power to make sure the kid stayed innocent. He hadnโt done a very good job, protecting Jesse from the worldโs evils, but maybe with Luke, heโd get a second chance to do things right.
It hadnโt been easy, straddling the line between big brother and disciplinarian, partly because he had no idea what he was doing, and partly because Jesse fought him every step of the way. But for a while there, while working together to fix their dadโs classic Thunderbird, their brotherly bond strengthened enough to distract Jesse from bad company, drugs, and booze. Heโd been clean a year when the car was finally roadworthy, and heโd driven it to daily AA meetings. Ironic, Jase thought, that the following year, Jesse met Connie at one of those meetings. Her influence had been stronger than AAโs. Stronger than Jaseโs. When she announced her pregnancy, Jase had hoped that fatherhood would end Jesseโs slow, downward spiral, but the empty bed across the room said otherwise.
Downstairs, he strapped Luke into his high chair. โThat oughta keep you busy,โ he said, sprinkling a handful of Cheerios across the tray, โwhile I heat up your oatmeal.โ And when I put you down for a nap, Iโm gonna hunt up that father of yours โฆ
*****
Review:
Jase has taken a lot on his shoulders throughout his life – serving his country, raising his brother, and now helping to care for his nephew. He can carry it all but it definitely helps to have help. Sam has had feelings for Jase forever, so helping him when he needs it isn’t a hardship. She just wished that sometimes he could see her as more than friends. Trouble at home, followed by danger from Jase’s job, has him realizing how much Sam really means to him … if it isn’t too late.
I enjoyed the characters and the plot definitely kept my interest. The story isn’t very long so it moved pretty quickly and unfortunately I felt like some stuff was left out or glossed over. It didn’t stop me from enjoying the book but it did keep it from being as smooth as maybe it could have been. Overall, though, a fast, satisfying, and occasionally exciting read.
******
Author Info:
With more than 14M copies of her books in circulation, USA Today bestselling/award-winning author Loree Lough has 125 books in print (contracts for 6 more), 7 book-to-movie options, 68 short stories and 2,500+ published articles. She and her real-life hero split their time between a home in Baltimore’s suburbs and a cabin in the Alleghenies. She loves interacting with readers and answers every letter personally.
London 1776: Lord Worth is busying himself restoring his family fortunes and burying any feelings he still harbours for the woman who rejected his proposal.
The fact that the lady in questionโLady Rebecca Fairingโhappens to be his sisterโs best friend, his nieceโs godmother, and present at every Societal gathering of consequence isโฆ unfortunate.
Meanwhile Rebecca fears she made the wrong decision in rejecting James Worth, but when he assures her he wonโt be renewing his proposal, she is forced to accept her choice. It doesnโt take long for the eligible Lord Worth to attract other suitors, among them Lady Sophia, daughter to Societyโs most notorious gossip, Lady Goring.
Rebecca knows she must step aside and allow James to find happiness, but when she senses all is not as it seems in the Goring family, she canโt help but intervene.
As James and Rebecca work together to unearth Societal secrets, deal with scheming matriarchs, and face villainous highwaymen, they find themselves more in each otherโs company than ever before.
Will they continue to bury their feelings for one another, or will they finally realise what it means to love?
Rebecca reminds me a lot of how I remember Jane Austen’s Emma – a big heart but a little flighty and easily swayed by a pretty face & even prettier words. She learns a few things about what’s truly important but of course manages to get herself into a scrape or two along the way. I’m not sure if I’d feel differently about her if I’d read the previous books though.
James is solid, dependable, and a little taciturn. He may not be as flashy as the rest of the Ton but he’s a good man and a good catch. Unfortunately the one woman he wants turned him down and he’s not really interested in getting married to just anyone. Regardless of what their mom’s think. So finding himself constantly thrown into Rebecca’s company isn’t helping. But he can’t help himself from getting involved when it’s obvious that one of their friends needs help, even when it means more time with Rebecca.
Lord of Worth is a slow burn, second chance love story with a good dose of societal shenanigans, misunderstandings, heartbreak, and trouble on the way to a satisfying happy ending.
(Can be read as a stand alone but probably enjoyed more if read in order.)
*****
Author Info:
Philippa Jane Keyworth, also known as P. J. Keyworth, writes historical romance and fantasy novels you’ll want to escape into.
She loves strong heroines, challenging heroes and backdrops that read like youโre watching a movie. She creates complex, believable characters you want to get to know and worlds that are as dramatic as they are beautiful.
Keyworth’s historical romance novels include Regency and Georgian romances that trace the steps of indomitable heroes and heroines through historic British streets. From London’s glittering ballrooms to its dark gaming hells, characters experience the hopes and joys of love while avoiding a coil or too! Travel with them through London, Bath, Cornwall and beyond and you’ll find yourself falling in love.
Keyworth’s fantasy seriesย The She Trilogy unveils a world of nomadic warrior tribes and peaceful forest-dwelling folk. Explore the hills, deserts and cities of Emrilion and the history that is woven through them. With so many different races in the same kingdom it’s become a melting pot of drama and intrigue where the ultimate struggle between good and evil will bring it all to the brink of destruction.
Win a signed copy of Lord of Worth (Open to UK Only)
*Terms and Conditionsย โUK entries welcome.ย Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.ย The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachelโs Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.ย Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winnersโ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachelโs Random Resources will delete the data.ย ย I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.
Hi readers! Iโm Hana Sheik, and itโs release day for my second Harlequin Romance/Mills & Boon True Love, Temptation in Istanbul. Yippee!!! Iโm here to share an excerpt from the book with you today. Itโs a first kiss scene, and Iโll never tire of writing any firsts between lovers.
If you love first kisses too, I hope this one hits your sweet spot.๐
Temptation in Istanbul
by Hana Sheik
Blurb:
A single dadโs greatest temptation? The nanny on his doorstep!
Billionaire Faisal is anxiously awaiting custody of his little girl, whoโs been living miles away with her mother. First he must win the approval of her nanny, Maryan, who has traveled with her to Istanbul. While he shows Maryan the delights of his city, the instant attraction between them is hard to ignore. But Maryan leaves in two weeks, so Faisal must decide how much of his bruised heart he is prepared to riskโฆ
Maryan hesitated a second, and then she grasped his hand, his long, strong fingers holding hers in an even-pressured grip.
Their hands remained clasped longer than necessary.
Longer than sheโd have normally liked.
But Faisal had made her feel like she wasnโt alone. Like her troubles were his in a way, and sheโd come out of this baking and talking feeling lighter, calmer.
Happier.
โMaryan.โ He spoke her name in a breathy whisper; a reverence pulsed from those two syllables. So much so that it sounded less like her name and more like a prayer. She shivered visibly, unable to help the reaction. Her body temperature rose when he closed the short gap between them and his hand brushed up her arm before moving to cup her too-warm cheek. It was a simple touch that set off a firework of desire in her.
โThank you for listening. For asking. For pushing to know.โ
He spoke her mind. Those were the exact words she wished to utter to him. And she would have, had she had a voice to do it with.
His next breath was drawn out, the heat of it brushing her cheek when he planted a quick kiss there.
She stood frightfully still, the pressure of his soft mouth, the emotion behind the gesture, forcing open an oceanโs worth of yearning for him. When he slowly drew his head up, almost reluctantly, Maryan made her choice.
Or maybe heโd made it first, and she went along for the ride.
Because when his eyes regarded her, and his face pushed in closer again, their noses brushing, she pulled up onto her toes and connected their lips in an intimate play of his chaste kiss on her cheek. A hunger accentuated their lip-lock. It colored the moan rumbling through his chest and the heated press of their bodies as he backed her into the opposite counter.
Resurfacing for air was expected but unwanted.
Maryan wouldโve gladly allowed Faisal to steal another kiss and rob her of breath again. A clanging alertness took hold of her when he growled, โMaryan,โ and splayed his heavy, warm hands on her hips.
This time she knew who made the decision for them.
She pushed him away first. Gently, pleadingly. She didnโt have the strength to do it twice.
โWe canโt.โ And they really couldnโt. They had to think of Zara. What would she wonder if she caught them kissing?
And Iโm leaving in a week.
A week wasnโt a good enough reason to jump into bed with the first good-looking billionaire who swept her off her feet. Chemistry or no chemistry, sleeping with Faisal would be a stupid and dangerous move. Stupid because there was no chance it would become a meaningful relationship, and dangerous for the very same reason.
She backed away, her shaking hands giving up on untying her apron.
Abandoning the kitchen, she hightailed it to her room and didnโt look back until she closed her door.
She counted the seconds that lapsed from the time she left him.
When no knock came from the other side and no footsteps down the hall, she pressed a hand to her thumping heart and analyzed what happened downstairs with Faisal.
Heโd kissed her.
Correction: they had kissed.
Sheโd been an active participant in it. That, and she couldnโt kid herself that she hadnโt thought of kissing him before then.
As Maryan stood there, her body more alive in that second than it ever was, two things were clearer now about her and Faisal. Their hearts were both closed off to love, and their attraction was a potent force of nature that went against everything she thought she could feel with another human being before.
*****
Author Info:
Hana Sheikfalls in love every day reading her favourite romances and writing her ownhappy-ever-afters. She’s worked as a data entry operator, customer service rep, telemarketer, andghostwriterโbut being a romance author is without a doubt the best job ever! Born in Somalia, shemoved to the beautiful capital of Canada as a toddler, and still lives there happily with her family.
Giveaway to Win 3 x paperback copies of Temptation in Istanbul (Open to UK / Ireland / US &Canada)
*Terms and ConditionsโUK / Ireland / US and Canada entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachelโs Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winnersโ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfillment of the prize, after which time Rachelโs Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for dispatch or delivery of the prize.
Melissa Foster is celebrating the release of her new contemporary romance, Maybe We Won’t. Check it out and be sure to grab your copy today!ย
Maybe We Won’t
Silver Harbor #3
by Melissa Foster
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Blurb:
A sexy and soul-stirring novel about love, family, and rediscovering what matters most by Melissa Foster, the New York Times bestselling author of Maybe We Will.
When workaholic Boston attorney Deirdra de Messiรฉres is passed over for a well-deserved promotion, she takes a two-month hiatus to show her boss just how much he needs her and heads home to Silver Island. But beyond seeing her sisters happy, home is not where Deirdraโs heart is. She has no interest in their family restaurant, the Bistro, or reliving hurtful childhood memories, and absolutely no interest in spending a single second with Josiah โJaggerโ Jones, the Bistroโs too-laid-back musician and chef. Sure, the hippie is hot, but he drives her nuts. The guy lives in a van with his dog, and he canโt even commit to a solid work schedule. To make matters worse, heโs always around. She needs to get off the island, stat.
Jagger has overcome his own personal trials to place stock in lifeโs pleasures: family, friends, peaceโฆand if he has his way, one positively beautiful, absolutely uptight attorney. Jagger knows heโs the perfect person to help Deirdra deal with her hurtful past and find her way back to being happy.
A chance encounter leads to deep conversation, and night after liberating night, Deirdra lets down her guard. But neither has plans to stay on Silver Island. Free-spirited Jagger has wanderlust, and Deirdra has a career to return to. Theyโre on different paths, and plans for a future together donโt stand a chance. But when has anything gone according to plan?
The Silver Harbor series is published by Montlake Romance and will be available in paperback and audio formats at all book retailers, and exclusively in digital format for Kindle and Kindle apps. Download a free Kindle reading app here: http://bit.ly/FreeKindle_App1
Deirdra de Messiรฉres lay in her childhood bedroom on Silver Island thinking about her upended life. Sheโd worked her ass off for the last several years as a corporate attorney for a tech firm in Boston, and after her promotion to assistant general counsel last year, sheโd thought she was on the fast track to becoming general counsel when the slot opened upโuntil the GC had a heart attack and her slave-driver boss, Malcolm, had hired a referral from outside the company through his good-old-boy network.
The bastard.
Heโd sprung that little nugget on her three days ago, after which Deirdra had announced her two-month hiatus, effective immediately. Everyone had been shocked, including Deirdra. Sheโd never taken time off and had made herself available in the evenings and on weekends since sheโd first started with the company. Sheโd had to. It was a dog-eat-dog industry, and with six other attorneys on boardโfour of whom were menโsheโd wanted to stand out. Yes, she was well aware that she was putting the company sheโd given her all to in a pickle, especially since the new general counsel couldnโt start for another two months. But that was the point. Let them suffer without her impeccable mind handling everything under the sun. She was confident in her game plan and certain Malcolm would quickly see the error of his ways.
The truth was, sheโd thought he wouldnโt let her walk out the door after her announcement. But her stern sixty-year-old boss had simply wished her a relaxing time and said she needed it. Sheโd already received dozens of calls and emails from colleagues who were shocked that sheโd taken so much time off, but she struggled with disappointment over the ones that hadnโt come from her boss.
She still couldnโt believe Malcolm had said she freaking needed the break. As if sheโd ever produced subpar work? That was a laugh. Heโd had nothing but accolades for her jobs well done, and last yearโs promotion had been proof of that.
Her frustration simmered to the boiling point. Ugh. She needed to stop overthinking the situation. Fat chance of that happening for a self-professed control freak. Deirdra not overthinking would be as weird as her younger sister, Abby, not seeing the bright side of things or their older half sister, Cait, trusting everyone at face value. Deirdra had a better chance of trying to transform into a bird and fly away.
If only . . .
She and her sisters were quite the trio, and theyโd had a whirlwind few months. She and Abby had only discovered Cait existed in the spring, when theyโd come back to the island to go over their motherโs will with one of their motherโs best friends, Shelley Steele. While Abby had embraced and trusted Cait unconditionally from the moment sheโd met her, Deirdra had been cautious, given that their family house, restaurant, and meager inheritances were on the line. It had taken Cait some time to open up and trust them as well. But theyโd gotten through those trials and tribulations and had become close. Cait was a wonderful addition to their family, and like Abby, sheโd found solace and love on Silver Island.
Deirdra would not be following suit.
Beyond seeing her sisters happy, Deirdra had no interest in their family restaurant, the Bistro, or in the island on which sheโd spent too many years trying to hold together the pieces of her alcoholic motherโs disheveled life, helping to run the Bistro and keep a roof over their heads. Deirdra had fled immediately after high school to attend Boyer University in Upstate New York with her bestie, Sutton Steele, and had finally started living her own life. But self-preservation had consequences, and Abby had been stuck caring for their mother in Deirdraโs absence. That sucked, but what choice had Deirdra had at the time? Stay on the rinky-dink island running a restaurant she resented and putting her drunk mother to bed while her dreams went to pot? Besides, Abby had encouraged her to go, and Deirdra had clung to that support like a lifeboat in her sea of guilt as sheโd set out to prove herself to Abby and maybe even to stick it to her mother and show that she couldnโt hold her back.
Deirdra stared at the ceiling, discomfort simmering inside her. Sheโd thought her resentment toward the island and all that it represented might ease now that her mother was gone, but painful reminders lingered like ghosts in the wind, and the house and her bedroom were filled with them. Abby and Aiden had done a great job of sprucing it up. It was absolutely gorgeous. To anyone else it would seem warm and inviting, but there wasnโt enough paint on the planet to obliterate Deirdraโs painful memories. How many nights had she snuck out the window just to sit on the hill and look out at the water to keep from drowning in her motherโs wake?
Maybe she shouldnโt have come back, but she couldnโt do that to Cait. The start of her impromptu hiatus had lined up with the day Cait and all their friends were fixing up her new tattoo shop. Deirdra wasnโt big on manual labor, but she loved her sisters, and sheโd needed to get out of Boston. She was glad sheโd come, even if being on the island was uncomfortable. Sheโd gotten to witness Caitโs boyfriend, Deirdraโs childhood friend Brant Remington, get down on one knee in front of all their friends and propose. Deirdra couldnโt be happier for them, but come hell or high water, she was getting off this island tomorrow and going on a well-deserved vacation, the destination of which was yet to be determined.
The sound of the front door jarred her from her thoughts, and Abbyโs giggles floated upstairs. She and her fiancรฉ, Aiden Aldridge, couldnโt keep their hands off each other. Deirdra glanced at her phone. It was almost one oโclock in the morning. In the spring, Abby had moved back home from New York, where sheโd worked sixty-plus hours a week as a chef. Sheโd met and fallen head over heels for Aiden in a whirlwind love affair. Together theyโd revived the Bistro, and they were getting married in November.
Deirdra tried to focus on the distant sounds of Silver Harbor sneaking in through the open window instead of the cacophony of laughter, low conversations, and prolonged silences, followed by loud lustful sounds coming from downstairs. If only she were back in Boston. She preferred her noisy neighborโs stereo blasting classic rock and oldies at all hours over this. At least that she could dance to.
Needless to say, she was a little jealous of her sistersโ love lives. Not that sheโd had time for a man, or anything else besides work, these last few years. More noises floated upstairs. She closed her eyes, willing them not to have sex in the living room or, worse, in the kitchen. She had to eat at that table. Oh God, thatโs probably what Aiden is doing. She squeezed her eyes shut. Deletedeletedelete!
What was she thinking, staying in her old bedroom? She should have stayed in the apartment over the garage. Why hadnโt she thought of that from the get-go?
A loud thud rattled the walls, followed by more laughter.
Deirdra flew out of bed. She was not going to listen to a play-by-play of Abby and Aiden having sex. She put on her silk kimono and headed downstairs, praying she wouldnโt catch them in a compromising position. She stopped on the bottom step, eyeing the trail of clothing that led past the steps and down the hall to their bedroom. Thank God. Hurrying into the kitchen, she snagged the key to the apartment off the hook by the side door and quietly slipped outside. She crossed her arms against the brisk September air as she climbed the steps to the apartment above the garage.
A streak of moonlight lit a path down the hallway to the bedroom. She took off her kimono and slipped under the warm covers, closing her eyes as she sank into the mattress. Something moved beside her, and her eyes flew open just as that something licked her face. She screamed and jumped out of the bed, flailing for the light switch. A bark rang out, and a cold nose hit her crotch. She swatted at it as she flicked on the lights, illuminating an amused Josiah โJaggerโ Jones pushing languidly from the bed as his dalmatian, Dolly, nosed Deirdraโs privates. The twentysomething hippie worked at the Bistro as a part-time musician and part-time chef.
โWhat are you doing here?โ She twisted away from Dolly, her eyes catching on Jaggerโs naked body. Holy mother of hotness. Broad shoulders and a few wordy tattoos on his ribs vied for her attention, but her eyes locked on the dusting of dark chest hair trailing down lickable abs, and her thoughts skidded to a halt at the impressive cock dangling between his legs. She couldnโt look away. Her loneliest parts clenched with desire, while her boggled mind tried to make sense of the perfect manscaping, which didnโt fit the image she held of the hemp-clothing- and sandal-wearing, too-damn-laid-back guy for whom she had no patience. Not that sheโd ever imagined him naked. Well, not too often anyway. He may not be her typeโgive her a man in a suit any dayโbut she couldnโt deny that Jagger was hot, and he had a great voice, the kind that fantasies were made of. His hair wasnโt bad, either: dark, thick, and wavy. The kind of hair sheโd love to hold on to while his face was between her legs.
Dolly licked her, snapping her back to the moment.
Holy crap. She was losing it. She was thirty years old, and he couldnโt be more than twenty-four or -five. She needed to get off the island and scratch that particular itch with a man who was more her speed . . . age . . . Holy cow, his body . . .
Dolly licked her again, jerking her mind back into submission.
โDolly!โ She turned away, glowering at Jagger, who was watching her with a big-ass grin.
โLike what you see?โ he said far too casually. He lazily raked a hand through his hair, his leather and beaded bracelets slipping down his wrist.
*****
Review:
Jagger is easy-going, happy-go-lucky, and a friend to many. Quite the contrast to the stand-offish lawyer of the de Messiรฉres family. Deirdra might be a tad bit uptight, maybe even a touch snobbish, but it doesn’t take too long being around Jagger to start her taking a long, hard look at the person she’d become. She’s let her resentment and the bad memories of her childhood on the island color her view of it, the people who live their, and even her own sisters. Once she’s gotten a good look at her life, she’s not really sure she likes it all that much after all.
As Jagger helps Deirdra face her past and the two become closer, she starts to uncover a part of herself she’s buried deep. But can she let go of her trauma enough to really embrace the person she could be? Even though the story pretty much goes exactly as you’d expect it to, Maybe We Won’t is still a thoroughly enjoyable read. Foster can always be counted on to bring readers stories of heat mixed with humor and a more than generous amount of emotion and her latest shows exactly how well she does it.
*****
Author Info:
Melissa Foster is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance, new adult romance and women’s fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Readers adore Melissa’s fun, flirty, and sinfully sexy, award-winning big family romance collection, LOVE IN BLOOM featuring the Snow Sisters, Bradens, Remingtons, Ryders, Seaside Summer, Harborside Nights, and the Wild Boys After Dark. Melissa’s emotional journeys are lovingly erotic and always family oriented.
Melissa also writes sweet and clean romance under the pen name Addison Cole.
Melissa has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. Her interests include her family, reading, writing, painting, friends, helping others see the positive side of life, and visiting Cape Cod.
Melissa is available to chat with book clubs and welcomes comments and emails from her readers. Visit Melissa on social media or her personal website.
Never miss a brand new release, special promotions or inside gossip again by simply signing up to receive your newsletter from Melissa.
Jesse Ainsleyโs life running his busy veterinary practice in the sleepy Cornwall bay he grew up in leaves no time for a serious relationshipโฆ at least, thatโs what he tells himself, but the simple truth is much more clichรฉ. Heโs been in love with his best friend forever, but when he starts pulling away and goes radio silent on him for six months, Jesse begins to wonder if their friendship is finally over.
Deacon James lives his life at two speeds, a hundred miles an hour and stop. Heโs spent the last decade travelling the world, winning races, partying with the most beautiful men and women, and living life on his terms, a life which was pretty close to perfectโฆ with just one caveatโฆ heโs never quite been able to get over the boy he left behind. His best friend Jesse has always made him yearn for something heโs too afraid to face and cutting him out of his life seemed like the only answer.
But things are never that simple. When Deacon wakes from an accident in Italy with Jesse asleep in the hospital chair beside him, he discovers Jesseโs been keeping secrets of his own.
At a crossroads in their life, theyโre faced with a choice, build something deeper and stronger from the ashes, or let words unsaid and secrets tear them apart forever.
From author Wendy Saunders writing as Vawn Cassidy comes this second chance, friends to lovers, hurt/comfort with a HEA.
I surface through the syrupy depths of consciousness, and this time itโs a little easier. My body still screams in agony, and I feel like Iโve been hit by a truck. My head is pounding, and my throat feels like itโs filled with razor blades, but as I open my eyes, they donโt feel so heavy and itโs easier to focus.
I tilt my head slowly and glance at the chair wondering if I really had seen Jesse or if it had been some kind of feverish dream.
It wasnโt, unless Iโm still hallucinating because heโs curled up in a comfortable looking leather chair next to me, idly leafing through a magazine. Iโm sure heโs wearing a different colour shirt than before, and I take a moment to study him.
His short blonde hair is in need of a trim, sticking up slightly as if heโs run his fingers through it in agitation. Thereโs a light scruff along his jaw, which means he probably hasnโt shaved in a few days, and there are smudges under his eyes, like heโs barely slept.
โJesseโฆโ My voice is barely more than a croak, causing Jesseโs head to snap up in my direction.
โDeak.โ He leans forward with a gasp of relief. โYouโre awake. You opened your eyes for a few moments yesterday, but then you were out cold again.โ
Yesterday? I stare at him in confusion. โWhereโฆโ I try to speak, but my voice sounds like a rusty nail, and my mouth is so dry I donโt even have any spit when I attempt to swallow.
โHere.โ Jesse carefully lifts a small plastic cup and guides a straw to my lips. โSip slowly. They had to put a tube down your throat to help you breath for a while, so you probably have a sore throat.โ
Understatement.
I sip gratefully. The water is lukewarm and has a faintly clinical taste to it, but against my painful throat it feels like the best thing Iโve ever tasted. I release the straw, feeling a bead of water drip from my lower lip. I watch as Jesse reaches out unconsciously and runs his thumb along my lip. My heart kicks up a notch, and once again the stupid machine next to me starts beeping faster.
Realising what heโs done, he drops his hand and swallows, staring at the machine. โIโll go get someone.โ He frowns.
โJesse,โ I whisper hoarsely, lifting my hand clumsily to grasp his. โWhere am I?โ
โYouโre in a hospital in Rome,โ he replies quietly, his warm hazel eyes searching my face for any flicker of recognition, but so far, Iโm drawing a blank.
โRome?โ I frown, and I have a vague recollection of a party. โWhat happened?โ
โYou were in a car accident.โ
I close my eyes against the sudden flash of lights, the sound of grinding metal, glass shattering.
*****
Review:
Jesse feels like he’s taking care of everyone and everything. He doesn’t mind, he loves them all, but he’s starting to struggle under the pressure he’s putting on himself. While he misses his best friend desperately, having him back may be more than he can take. Deacon is having a bit of a life crisis. He’s struggling with finding enjoyment and purpose in his current life, to the point that he’s cut off the most important person to him. An accident brings them back together, providing the opportunity to connect and maybe develop their relationship into something deeper.
Cassidy delivers a very emotional romance with moments of humor and a bit of heat but also filled with a lot of angst, brooding, and misunderstanding. Not everyone is into that kind but I think those that do will really enjoy themselves. The characters, both main and secondary, are enjoyable and the HEA ending is an enjoyable conclusion to a heartwarming (and occasionally heartbreaking) story. I’m super excited to see what is in store for the rest of them ๐
*****
Author Info:
Vawn Cassidy is the mild mannered MM obsessed alter ego/ pen name of contemporary fantasy & romantic suspense author Wendy Saunders. She’s a Brit and lives in the UK with her husband and kids.
To celebrate the release of Definitely Deacon, Vawn is giving away 2 e-sets of the Belong to Me Series so far (2 eBooks: Suddenly Beck & Definately Deacon)!
Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!
Scorching heat, laugh-out-loud humor, and swoon-worthy moments abound in this sexy new standalone romance by New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Melissa Foster.
What happens when the player gets played?
Sidney Carver has a big problem, and he goes by the name of Dwayne “Gunner” Wicked: six-plus feet of muscular, motorcycle-riding, animal-loving deliciousness. Gunner is her boss, roommate, and best friend. They’ve seen each other through life-altering injuries and unimaginable losses, and they work side by side at Wicked Animal Rescue, fulfilling their passion to save animals. Unfortunately, Gunner is also the man Sidney is in love with, and he’s the ultimate player. As her former military comrade, Gunner sees her as his buddyโjust one of the guys. Sidney is at her wit’s end, ready to risk the friendship and job she adores for a chance at forever love with the man she can’t live without. Like any good marine, she comes up with a mission. Enter Operation Get My Guy.
Gunner loves his life. He has a family he adores, a brotherhood that always has his back, and a host of willing women to warm his bed. As the owner of Wicked Animal Rescue, he saves lives and works with his best friend, Sid, the coolest woman on the planet. When Sid concocts a crazy plan to win his cousin’s heart, Gunner reluctantly agrees to be her wingman.
Practices heat up as roommates become teammates. Let the wicked fun begin…
No cheating. No cliffhangers. Guaranteed to melt panties and leave readers hopelessly in love with the sinfully delicious Wickeds.
About The Wickeds:
Dark Knights at Bayside
Set on the sandy shores of Cape Cod, the Wickeds feature fiercely protective heroes, strong heroines, and unbreakable family bonds. If you think bikers are all the same, you havenโt met the Dark Knights. The Dark Knights are a motorcycle club, not a gang. Their members stick together like family and will stop at nothing to keep their communities safe. These men are wickedly alpha and intensely loyal, but they are NOT alphaholes.
Audible narrated by Jacob Morgan and Ava Erikson coming soon!
“Melissa Foster is synonymous with sexy, swoony, heartfelt romance!” – NYT Bestseller Lauren Blakely
“You can always rely on Melissa Foster to deliver a story that’s fresh, emotional and entertaining. Make sure you have all night, because once you start you won’t want to stop reading. Every book’s a winner!” – NYT Bestseller Brenda Novak
“Melissa Foster writes worlds that draw you in, with strong heroes and brave heroines surrounded by a community that makes you want to crawl right on through the page and live there.” – NYT bestseller Julia Kent
Also available in The Wickeds: Dark Knights at Bayside series
A Little Bit Wicked
A captivatingly funny and deeply emotional new standalone romance by New York Times bestselling author Melissa Foster. When the Dark Knights at Bayside and the cast of Bayside Summers collide, sparks fly, and troubleโor maybe loveโis not far behind. What do a cocky biker and a businesswoman who has sworn off dating bad boys have in common? According to Chloe Mallery, not much.
Justin came into the Wicked family after a harsh upbringing by a thieving father. Heโs gone through a lot to become a true Wicked, and heโs made them proud. Now heโs ready to show the woman he loves exactly what type of man he is. But Chloe Mallery has worked hard to move past her difficult upbringing, and sheโs wary of getting involved with a man who looks like heโs walked right out of it. When tragedy strikes, will their trying pasts draw them together, or will Justinโs protective nature be too much for Chloeโs independent heart to accept?
The Wicked Aftermath An emotionally gripping story of love, loss, and hope, with a rich and entrancing happily ever after. Set on the sandy shores of Cape Cod, the Wickeds feature fiercely protective heroes, strong heroines, and unbreakable family bonds. If you think bikers are all the same, you haven’t met the Dark Knights. The Dark Knights are a motorcycle club, not a gang. Their members stick together like family and will stop at nothing to keep their communities safe. Some of the Wickedsโ love stories will be hilariously fun and deeply emotional, others will tear at your heartstrings and include injections of humor, but they will all leave you wishing you could climb between the pages and join them. All Wicked novels may be enjoyed as standalone romances.
When the person you blame for your grief is the only one who can save you from the pain…
Tank Wicked lost his sister and has since vowed to save everyone else in his path. He lives by the creed of the Dark Knights motorcycle club, sworn to protect and respect his community. He selflessly saves lives as a volunteer firefighter and treats the men and women who work for him at his tattoo shop like family. But life isnโt a balance scale where good deeds negate bad things to come, and one foggy night life guts Tank once again. When a car careens over the side of a bridge and into a river, Tank springs into action, plunging into the water to rescue the passengers. Four people go into the river, but only three come out alive.
Leah Yates is just trying to make it through each day. When the man she blames for her grief becomes the only one who can pull her from the depths of despair, she discovers that even hope comes at a price. Maybe this time she won’t have to face it alone.
The Wicked Truth Scorching heat, laugh-out-loud humor, and swoon-worthy moments abound in this sexy new standalone romance by New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Melissa Foster.
What happens when youโre not looking for love, but it walks in the door?
When a mysterious stranger crosses paths with Madigan Wicked, their connection is undeniable, yet neither is open to love. Heโs on a road to redemption, and sheโs been hurt before. But love has been known to bully its way into even the most resisting hearts. When the wicked truth of his dark past is revealed, will it be too much for them to overcome?
And don’t miss RIVER OF LOVE, the first story in which the Whiskeys were introduced!
About the author
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 womenโs fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Melissaโs emotional journeys are lovingly erotic and always family oriented, the perfect beach reads for contemporary romance and womenโs fiction lovers who enjoy reading about loyal, wealthy heroes and smart, sassy heroines with complex relatable issues.
Melissa also writes sweet romance under the pen name Addison Cole.
Melissa enjoys chatting with readers and book clubs. Send her an email invitation to your next event!
Never miss a brand new release, special promotions or inside gossip again by simply signing up to receive your newsletter from Melissa.
I have volunteered to share my review and all the opinions are 100% my own.
Sidney is caring and strong, but a little awkward in her femininity and not much into flirting. Raised by her dad and then becoming a marine, it makes sense that she hasnโt had a lot of practice. It really hasnโt been a problem until she starts comparing herself to Gunnerโs conquests. As her heart gets ever closer to breaking with every new woman than joins him in bed, she realizes she has to do something โ either convince him to see her as more than a friend or find a way to move on. Itโs not going to be easy, and definitely has plenty of potential for going horribly wrong, but sheโs gotta take that chance.
Gunner knows that Sidney is the best thing that ever happened to him and the thought of losing her friendship is unbearable. Faced with the possibility of losing her to someone else, especially his cousin, has him in knots. Before long, he realizes that maybe sheโs more to him than his best friend who is like one of the guys. But is he willing to risk everything to find out?
Man, I felt for Sidney. Firmly put in the friend zone and living with Gunner while he brings women home with a great deal of frequency โฆ itโs no wonder she gets a little desperate. Watching him wake up and realize exactly what they could be together โ very satisfying!
Can you find yourself in the midst of losing everything?
Levi
I could never be what my father expected of me. Content to run the family business wasnโt the life I saw for myself. I longed to serve my country, and it cost me more than my relationship with my dad. Now, as I recover from losing a limb, I smile through the pain. I pretend being alone doesnโt bother me. Make jokes to mask the anguish. But Mandy sees the truth and calls me out for self-sabotaging. That is one of the many reasons I find myself falling for her, despite her being my ex’s best friend…
Mandy
I beat the odds and built a life I love. I know it can be done. Therefore, I refuse to allow my patients to think otherwise. When I see Levi masking his pain, I know it will prevent him from accepting his new truth and overcoming it. By working with him, I guide him on the road to recovery… until his estranged father shows up. Will everything we have worked for so far be shattered in a single moment or will Levi finally stand up for what he wants. And what if what he wants, isn’t me?ย
Kaci runs on coffee, chocolate, and Oreos. She loves her book boyfriends with tattoos, muscles, beards, and a little dirty.
Kaci loves romance books and has been jotting down ideas since she was in high school and is now putting the ideas down on paper. She believes in satisfying, happily ever afters with a lot of steam on the way.
She was born and raised in Southwest Florida but is wholeheartedly a mountain girl. She has been reading as many books as she could get her hands on since grade school and loves to travel when she gets the chance.ย
![Wicked Whiskey Love: Sexy Standalone Romance by [Foster, Melissa]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51XacsfeipL.jpg)
Romantic Reads and Such 