Coen Highsmith was a league star, but he lost more than his team the day the Pittsburgh Titansโ plane crashed. Can he be saved from his downward spiral of guilt and regret to become the man he once was?
I had it allโa successful hockey career, the respect and adoration of the fans, a rotation of beautiful women warming my bed, and a feeling of self-worth and contentment with the direction of my life. But that all changed the day the team plane went down, taking my only chance of redemption with it. Now Iโm left with the daily reminder of all my failures and my inability to correct them.
My new teammates are tired of my attitude and following my suspension, I hole up in a mountain cabin to get away from all of it. The isolation is exactly what I need to get out of my own head, and Iโm beginning to think I could be content in this quiet forever.
Tillie Marshall isnโt the type of woman who would usually catch my attention, yet she manages to do so for all the wrong reasons. Iโm here for the peace and seclusion but the quirky artist is hell-bent on destroying that by cutting down the trees that separate our properties so she can open a pottery studio. If itโs a fight she wants, itโs a fight sheโll get. I have the money and the time and no issues bringing her down through the court system. While I see flashes of steely determination within her, Iโve found that being a jerk comes naturally these days and she wonโt be hard to intimidate.
Unfortunately, that gorgeous and somewhat odd neighbor who has been causing me grief is creating another type of feeling within me. And once that spark is lit, Tillie displays a faith in me that for the first time since the crash I desperately want to believe. Now itโs time for me to step up and become the manโno, a better man than I once was.
Buy the digital and signed paperback direct from Sawyer Bennett:ย https://bit.ly/STORE_Coen **ย Digital files must be read within the BookFunnel appย **
As a returning reader I was looking forward to Coen’s story, to finding out what was behind his behavior. There’s a lot of survivor’s guilt, but more is going on than that and it’s affecting every aspect of his life. He needs some time on his own to figure out where he’s going from here, but it’s not long before he’s butting heads with his cheeky neighbor.
Tillie isn’t going to let Coen walk all over her or let his a$$hole tendencies get her down. Willing to go toe to toe with him and call him on his crap, it doesn’t take her long to get under his skin. And it leads to all sorts of fun.
I really enjoyed these two together. Coen is behaving like an a$$hole but he recognizes that it’s a reflection of his guilt and feeling of unworthiness. While he doesn’t see a way out of the place he’s found himself in, his innate good and caring (and cocky) nature finds moments to come out, especially around his new neighbor. And over time, with the help of friends, he’s reevaluating whether this is his new normal after all. It’s satisfying to see him find his way back and a way forward with Tillie by his side.
*****
Author Info:
New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author Sawyer Bennett uses real life experience to create relatable stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From contemporary romance, fantasy romance, and both womenโs and general fiction, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.
A former trial lawyer from North Carolina, when she is not bringing fiction to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to her very adorable daughter, as well as full-time servant to her wonderfully naughty dogs.
If youโd like to receive a notification when Sawyer releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter (sawyerbennett.com/signup).
In THE BOOK BOYFRIEND by Kate Stacy, Mila Cross never expected to find love, but when bad boy Crossland Parker comes into her life and sweeps her off her feet, suddenly sheโs falling hard for the man from the wrong side of the tracks. But when a secret from his past is exposed, will its revelation destroy everything? Fans of small-town, opposites attract romances will enjoy this must-read wrong-side-of-the-tracks romance from the Meet Cute Book Club Series.
The Book Boyfriend
Meet Cute Book Club series
by Kate Stacy
Blurb:
Escape with the Meet Cute Book Club, where meet cutes don’t happen only between the pages of romance novels, and one by one, all the members find their own happily ever afters.
Mila
I never thought Iโd have a real-life meet cute, but the minute Crossland Parker walks into my life, it starts feeling like Iโm living in the pages of a romance novel.
He sweeps me off my feet, and I find myself falling fast and hard for the rough around the edges mechanic. Heโs a troubled bad boy with a heart of gold.
Cross fits into my life effortlessly, even sharing my love of books. Heโs everything I didnโt know I wanted in a man. Attentive, sweet, a little bit possessive. Heโs also my biggest source of support when I decide I want to buy the building next door so I can expand my business. So what if he has a criminal record? No one is perfect.
Unless you ask my stepfather. He expects nothing less than perfection, but not even I could ever come close.
Cross
After spending too many years wandering when I was released from prison, I came back to Abbott Ridge to start over.
I wasnโt expecting Mila Santos to fall into my arms, but Iโm irrevocably drawn to the curvy little beauty who owns the bookstore. Sheโs a good girl, too good for a guy like me?
Our relationship develops faster than most, but I spent too many years of my life locked up. Now that Iโm out, I refuse to waste a single second. Iโm still not sure I deserve someone as sweet as Mila, but if she accepts me and all my faults, thereโs no way Iโm letting her go. Only a fucking fool would do that.
My past is no secret, and I knew the day would come when someone would try to use it against me. I just didnโt expect it to happen so soon.
Is happily ever after possible when a good girl falls for the guy from the wrong side of the tracks?
The Book Boyfriend is a standalone, wrong side of the tracks romance that is part of the Meet Cute Book Club multi-author series.
Mila is still standing in the spot where I left her when I pass by the bookstoreโs front window.
Grinning, I toss her a wink and keep walking, picturing the beautiful blush that stains her skin when sheโs flustered.
I love how affected she is by me.
I knew Mila was gorgeous when I saw her from across the street yesterday, but up closeโฆ damn.
Sheโs a stunner.
Easily the most beautiful woman Iโve ever seen.
And I get to see her again on Friday.
I came to the bookstore today hoping to see her even though I knew there was a good chance that she wasnโt available, but I had to shoot my shot. Iโm fucking relieved she isnโt with somebody. It would have sucked if I put myself out there only to find out I didnโt stand a chance. Iโll admit, part of me canโt believe she agreed to go out with me, but Iโm happy she did.
Halfway back to the garage, reality sets in.
What was I even thinking going in there?
Mila is sweet as hell, far too good for a roughneck like me.
Iโm a felon for fuckโs sake.
No. Fuck that.
My criminal record doesnโt define me.
I have to stop letting my past rule my life. Iโm more than some guy who got locked up for trying to defend someone who didnโt deserve it. I paid the price for my mistakes. I did my time and now I need to move on.
I deserve happiness as much as anyone else.
As long as Iโm honest and donโt try to hide it, Mila doesnโt seem like the type that would hold my past against me. Iโll be up front with her about it and let the chips fall where they may.
Iโve got a good feeling about her.
โWhoโs the girl?โ Bishop asks as I walk into the garage.
My brows dip low in confusion and I look around the bay, not seeing anyone. โWhat girl?โ
โThe girl that put that goofy ass smile on your face,โ he says with a knowing look. โOnly a woman can make a man smile like that.โ
I hadnโt realized I was smiling when I came in, but I feel one stretch across my face now.
โHer name is Mila.โ
โFrom the bookstore?โ
โYou know her?โ I ask, closing the distance between us.
โI know of her.โ
At my look of surprise, Bishop rolls his eyes. โYou said it yourself yesterday, Cross. Abbott Ridge is a small town.โ He turns his attention back to the engine heโs working on. โPass me that wrench.โ
Knowing which one he wants without asking, I grab it and hand it over.
โThe real question isโฆโ He pauses to look at me. โHow do you know her?โ
Reaching behind me, I pull the book out of my back pocket.
Chuckling, Bishop shakes his head. โShould have known. Canโt believe you read that girly shit.โ
โDonโt hate,โ I tell him. โThis girly shit just got me a date with perfection on Friday night.โ
He eyes the book. โWell, hell. Maybe I need to pick up a new hobby. Milaโs a pretty girl.โ
โFind your own pretty girl, Bish,โ I say, popping him on the back of the head with the book. โMila is mine.โ
Fucker laughs. โItโs like that?โ
โDamn right itโs like that.โ I drop the book on top of the tool cabinet and grab a beer from the fridge. โI saw her yesterday when I was leaving the tattoo shop.โ
โNo doubt a gorgeous girl like that grabbed your attention.โ
โHell yeah. Would have talked to her yesterday, but she was on her way out. Almost got discouraged when I watched her drop into the passenger seat of a sweet ass ride, but decided to take a chance anyway.โ
โBlack Chevelle?โ he asks, glancing up.
โYeah.โ
He nods. โHer younger brother, Mateo.โ
โDamn, Bish,โ I say, dropping my ass onto a stool. โYou really do know everyone in this town. Bet you got all the good gossip.โ
Bishop snorts. โI ainโt got shit. Mateo spent a lot of time here. Rented one of the bays so he could restore that beauty of his. He had the know-how, but needed somewhere to do the work.โ
โIโd love to get my hands on that car.โ
โGood luck with that. He wonโt let anyone else work on it. Not even me.โ
That makes me chuckle. โI respect that. Nothing more important to a man than his car.โ
โAnd his girl,โ he says, no so subtly turning the conversation back to Mila. โWhere are you taking her?โ
Copyright 2022 @ Kate Stacy
*****
Author Info:
Author of emotionally-gripping, contemporary romance, Kate Stacyโs novels feature sassy heroines, swoony heroes, life, love, friendship, and all the angst. When sheโs not writing or spending time with her family and friends in small-town North Carolina, Kate can most likely be found nose deep in her Kindle. She stays up too late, swears too much, and loves too hard.
Escape with the Meet Cute Book Club where meet-cutes don’t only happen between the pages of romance novels and members find their own happily ever afters.
Eight single women bound by their love of books take a monthly break from real life to lose themselves in the chapters of romantic fiction. From friends to lovers to fake relationships and more, each story features a brand new couple and their journey to find love from an amazing lineup of authors including Louise Lennox, Tracy Broemmer, A.M. Williams, Mel Walker, RJ Gray, Rebecca Wilder, Julie Archer, and Kate Stacy.
These eight standalone romances are packed with meet-cutes, heat, and of course a happily ever after!
This promotional event is brought to you by TheIndie Pen PR
Return to Hopeโs Crossing this Christmas in New York Times bestselling author RaeAnne Thayneโs latest heartwarming story of matchmaking at the holidays!
All Is Bright
Hope’s Crossing series
by RaeAnne Thayne
ISBN: 9781335933997
Publication Date: September 20, 2022
Publisher: HQN
Blurb:
Sage McKnight is an ambitious young architect working at her fatherโs firm who takes on her most challenging client in Mason Tucker. The former pro baseball player is still healing from the physical and emotional scars after a plane crash left him a wheelchair-using single dad, and heโs determined not to let anyone breach his emotional defenses. Sage knows her work on Masonโs new home in Hopeโs Crossing is her best work yet, and she wonโt let her grumpy client prevent her from showcasing her work personally.
With Sageโs gift for taking broken things and making them better, the matchmaking talent of the quirky locals and a generous sprinkling of Christmas cheer, Mason doesnโt stand a chance against the power of this magical holiday season.
โWeโre now walking into the home theater,โ she spoke to her outstretched camera, โone of the more challenging rooms of the renovation. Prior to this update, the room had a series of steps leading to the different levels of recliners. Obviously, that would no longer work for the homeowner, so we chose to remove the steps completely, instead building a gradual slope with room to maneuver around each level of seating. Beyond featuring state-of-the-art electronics that will be easily upgradeable, everything in hereโfrom the blackout window shades to the sound system to the recliners themselvesโcan be controlled through a single smart home phone app.โ
She turned the camera to face her. โDoesnโt this look like a wonderfully cozy place to watch a movie or catch your favorite sporting event?โ
She smiled into the phone camera, then moved back into the wide hallway leading to the library/office, her own favorite spot in the house.
โYou can see here we have sliding pocket doors that open and close with the push of a button. We chose to replace the traditional doors in many of the spaces with these pocket doors, which gives more room for the homeowner to navigate, and we alsoโฆโ
Her words trailed off as she heard a sound behind her and turned to see a large, dark-haired man using a wheelchair, framed in the doorway.
He frowned, an expression she had become all too used to seeing there, during their few in-person interactions and their more frequent video conferences.
โWhat are you doing?โ he demanded. โYouโre not filming this, are you?โ
Sage dropped her phone with an inward wince and stopped recording. Technically, this was still her job site, which meant she had full permission to check on the progress of the work until they handed the finished home over to the owner, who happened to be this man, former professional baseball player Mason Tucker.
With effort, she forced herself not to show any of her dismay. Out of all the clients she had worked with during her career thus far, Mason Tucker was the only one who made her palms sweat and her stomach feel knotted with stress.
โMr. Tucker. Um, hi.โ She forced a smile, feeling awkward as hell and wishing she had waited until the contractor would be here to take a tour.
โI havenโt been here in weeks and wanted to document the progress that has been made since I visited last. I didnโt see any vehicles outside and assumed everybody was gone for the day.โ
โIโm parked in the garage of the guesthouse.โ
โI didnโt even know you were in town. Have you been here long?โ
The last she knew, Mason had been living in Portland, where he had once played for the same baseball team as another town resident, Spencer Gregory, who was married to Sageโs friend Charlotte. Sage knew Spence and Mason had remained friends, despite life circumstances that had led to both of them retiring.
For a moment, she wasnโt sure Mason would reply, then he finally shrugged. โI wanted to be close as we started to wrap things up so I can keep an eye on things and be on hand if there are any questions or problems. My daughter and I moved into the guesthouse a month ago.โ
Why hadnโt her dad or Sam Delgado told her Mason was already living in Hopeโs Crossing?
Beyond that, she suddenly thought, how in the world was he making the guesthouse work? That place wasnโt at all wheelchair accessible, with three steps leading into the place, narrow hallways and no accessible bathroom like those she had designed for this main house.
Renovating the guesthouse was part of the master plan but not until all the work was finished on Wolf Ridge itself.
โThat place is a mess. How are you getting around?โ
โIโm managing,โ he said, his voice curt. โI can still get around on crutches, as long as I donโt have to go far.โ
โYou shouldnโt have to go far, from one end of the guesthouse to the other. Itโs tiny.โ She imagined a man Masonโs size would make the space shrink to almost nothing.
โIt works fine for me and Grace. Itโs only a few more weeks anyway, right?โ
โI suppose.โ
Sam Delgado had assured her when they spoke earlier that the renovations to Wolf Ridge would be finished shortly before Christmas.
Sage had to admit, she wouldnโt be sorry to put the job behind her.
While she was thrilled with the way her designs had transformed the mountain estate, working with Mason Tucker himself was another story.
She tried to be compassionate. Whenever she grew frustrated with him, she would remind herself that Mason had endured the sort of tragedy that would have completely destroyed someone without his resilience. While she was only charged with renovating this house, Mason had to completely rebuild his life.
He had every right to be surly and uncooperative.
While she might know that intellectually, it was difficult to remember when she was dealing with yet another last-minute change order.
Still, he had superb taste and basically unlimited financial resources. In a few more weeks, when the job was finished, Wolf Ridge would meet his needs now and long into the future.
The home now featured a new indoor pool, spa and high-tech exercise room on the bottom level, two new elevators at either end of the house and heated floors throughout. Wolf Ridge also featured a kitchen that worked for people of any mobility level and wheelchair accessible bathrooms on each level, including the extensive ownerโs suite on the second floor.
Sage loved everything about this house, from the skylights to the beams her dad had mentioned to the wider doorways and hallways. It was warm, luxurious, comfortable.
She wanted to show off her work to the world. The only trick would be convincing the intensely private Mason Tucker.
Faced with his glower now, Sage felt as if she faced a Herculean task.
She had to try, though, didnโt she?
Her fledgling internet show had exploded in popularity over the past year, allowing her foundation and personal pet project to help far more deserving people than she had ever envisioned.
Sage could only imagine the vast number of viewsโand thus ad revenueโa video featuring Wolf Ridge would bring in. People would love a glimpse inside the house redesigned for the reclusive and private Mason Tucker.
The public still clamored to know everything it could about the former professional athlete who had endured so much physical and emotional pain.
If she could showcase Wolf Ridge on the Homes for All internet channel, she would also bring awareness to some of the issues and obstacles noninclusive design presented to those with mobility challenges.
She drew in a breath, not sure where to start. Yes, he would likely slap her down but she wouldnโt know unless she asked, right?
โThe progress while Iโve been overseas is amazing. I canโt believe how different everything looks, with the finish work and the new flooring.โ
โSam and his subs have put in some long hours.โ
โIt shows. And Jean-Paul tells me heโs going to have nearly all the furnishings ready to go in a few more weeks, except for a few custom pieces.โ
โThatโs what he tells me.โ
โI canโt see any reason you and Grace canโt move in before Christmas. How exciting!โ
A shrug was his only response, which she supposed was about as eloquent as Mason Tucker could be.
She stuck her hands into the pockets of her wool coat.
He was going to say no. She knew it and braced herself for it.
โThereโs no easy way for me to ask you this so Iโm going to come straight out with it.โ She drew in a breath. โFor the past year, Iโve hosted a YouTube channel, Homes for All, which features projects with the kind of innovative universal design elements we have tried to incorporate here at Wolf Ridge.โ
He raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
โWhile itโs called Homes for All, we feature commercial as well as residential projects. I hope to continue raising awareness of how limiting and even discriminatory some design practices can be for those who are, er, differently abled.โ
He again said nothing, only continued to look at her out of those hard blue eyes that concealed his emotions completely.
โI have poured so much energy into Wolf Ridge, and Iโm absolutely thrilled with the way the house has turned out. Itโs everything I dreamed and more. I feel like more people should see it. Donโt you? I would absolutely love to feature your home on my channel.โ
She held her breath, hands curled inside her pockets.
As she might have predicted, he didnโt leave her waiting long for his answer.
โHell no,โ he said with blunt finality, then turned away and started to roll back down the hall so abruptly she could only stare at him.
After a moment, she pursued him. This was too important to give up at the first obstacle. โJust like that? You donโt even want to hear the details?โ
He paused and maneuvered to face her. โWhy waste both our time? I donโt need to hear the details. Whatever you have to say doesnโt matter. My answer will remain a hard no.โ
The man was impossible. Her grandfather Harry might have called him pigheaded, but Sage preferred the more diplomatic obstinate.
And yes, how could she blame him for that? Mason was trying to rebuild a life for himself and his daughter in Hopeโs Crossing, away from the prying eyes of the tabloid press. She already knew he was an intensely private man. He had made her sign a nondisclosure agreement before even talking to her about what he wanted done at the house.
She might have been more surprised if he had agreed to let her feature his house on her channel.
Still, she had never been good at taking no for an answer. She could be every bit as pigheaded as Mason Tucker. She figured she had inherited that from Harry Lange himself.
โWhat I love most about your home is how seamlessly we have managed to integrate the new design into the existing structure without altering the basic style and grace of the home,โ she said. โIโm sure you can agree that the changes will benefit everyone who lives here, not only you.โ
โSure,โ he said after a moment. โYou definitely know what youโre doing. The house is exactly what I wanted. That still doesnโt mean I want the whole world peering in at the transfer bars in the shower or the damn lift I need to use so I can get in and out of my spa.โ
Sage was so caught up in the first part of what he said, the unexpected praise coming from her difficult client, that she almost missed the second part.
โThatโs exactly what I try to showcase on my channel. When done right, universal design can blend with the overall style of a home or commercial property, small and sometimes barely noticeable changes but enough to make a huge difference to those who need them.โ
โNo,โ he said again. โJudging by how seldom youโre here, you must have other projects. You can focus on those.โ
โI have. You can watch the videos online. We have about thirty of them up now. But Wolf Ridge is the most ambitious residential renovation Iโve ever undertaken. Most people would never have poured the kind of resources you have into making such extensive changes to an existing structure. They would have sold the house as is and built a custom home somewhere else. Because of the location and the basic sound structure of the house, you chose to renovate instead. The results are beautiful, and I want the whole world to see it.โ
โAnd I donโt,โ he said bluntly. โI donโt need to give the whole damn world any more reasons to pity me.โ
A muscle clenched along his jaw, and Sage felt immediately ashamed of herself for her selfishness at wanting to showcase her best work here.
Her motives werenโt completely selfish, she amended. Yes, she was proud of her work on Wolf Ridge. This project, more than any other she had been part of, might help her begin to emerge from her fatherโs huge and well-earned shadow.
It wasnโt easy being Jackson Langeโs daughter and trying to find her own way in the same field as one of the worldโs most brilliant architectural minds.
That was the very reason she hadnโt taken Jackโs surname, even after they reconnected. She still went by Sage McKnight, the name sheโd always had. She didnโt want to be known first as Jackson Langeโs daughter, with the weight of all those expectations on her. She wanted to succeed on her own.
Beyond that, she was doing good work with Homes for All. She knew she was making a difference in peopleโs lives, not only by changing minds about universal design but by changing lives.
Should she tell Jackson Lange that Homes for All was also the name of her foundation, funded by the ad revenue her videos generated online? The purpose was to help people who couldnโt otherwise afford to make necessary changes to their living spaces when age or health issues impacted mobility.
No. She didnโt want to guilt him into letting her invade his privacy by showcasing Wolf Ridge.
โWill you at least think about it?โ she finally said. โYou donโt have to decide anything right this moment.โ
He shrugged. โI can think about it from now until Christmas. I wonโt change my mind. My house, my decision. You can take all the pictures and video you want for your own personal use but if you post them online, Iโll sue your ass for breaking our nondisclosure agreement.โ
He wheeled away without another word, leaving Sage to gaze after him with helpless frustration.
She hadnโt really expected any other answer, but she had hoped.
Her watch alarm dinged, and she glanced down at the reminder she had set. She was supposed to be at her motherโs bookstore and coffeehouse, Books & Brew, in ten minutes.
She quickly shot a few more images then walked back out into the December twilight.
Excerpted from All is Bright by RaeAnne Thayne. Copyright ยฉ 2022 by RaeAnne Thayne. Published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
*****
Review:
Thayne’s newest is all you could want in a holiday read. Chock-full of small town charm, with likable characters and a heartwarming story, it’s tender, heartwarming, and brimming with emotion.
Mason is struggling with his new physical limitations, the loss of his wife and his career, being a single dad, and having his estranged mother come back into his life. It’s a lot and throwing in an attraction to his architect is making it even more complicated. But the more time they spend together the harder he finds it to resist her.
There’s also a secondary story of childhood friends who are struggling with letting the past control their present. Together with the main plotline, it helps to highlight Thayne’s feel-good story full of fortitude, grief, and forgiveness.
(Part of a series and can be read as a stand alone but returning readers will enjoy meeting old friends again.)
*****
Author Info:
RaeAnne Thayne is the #1 Publisher’s Weekly, New York Times, and USA TODAY bestselling author of nearly seventy books. Her books have been described as “poirgnant and sweet,” with “beautiful, honest storytelling that goes straight to the heart.” She finds inspiration from the beautiful northern Utah mountains, where she lives with her family. She loves to hear from readers and can be reach through her webiste at raeannethayne.com.
If you love single-parent romances, you wonโt want to miss Always Her Love, an emotionally gripping, funny, and sinfully-hot story of forbidden love, with a much deserved and epic happily ever after. Fall in love on the sandy shores of Silver Island, home to coffee shops, boat races, midnight rendezvous, and the sexy, sharp-witted Steeles. They have a penchant for pranks, a passion for loyalty, and a trunk full of secrets. All Steele novels may be enjoyed as standalone romances.
Always Her Love
The Steeles at Silver Island
Melissa Foster
Releasing Sept 21, 2022
World Literary Press
Blurb:
Some fates are too tempting to denyโฆ
โI’m pregnant. Itโs yours. Iโm having it, and unless you want it, Iโm putting it up for adoption.โ Those were the words that changed Levi Steeleโs life before he was even legally allowed to drink. There was never any question about whether he would keep his daughter, and eight years later, he doesnโt have a single regret. He owns a successful contracting company, heโs part of the Dark Knights motorcycle club, and Joeyโs happiness is his top priority. None of that would be possible without the help of Joeyโs beautiful and selfless aunt Tara, whoโs going to be staying with them over spring break and who heโs been thinking about in ways he shouldnโt. But Taraโs older sister is Joeyโs birth mother, and sheโs the last woman the dirty-talking biker should want to get his hands on.
Tara Osten has been crushing on Levi for as long as she can remember. Heโs a loving father, a loyal friend, someone with whom she can always be herself, and six-plus feet of deliciously hard, tattooed muscle. At twenty-four, sheโs finally realized he will never see her as more than his baby mamaโs younger sister. Itโs time to let go of her lustful fantasies starring Levi Steele and move on with her life. Step one: Buy her own place and start dating. Step two: Survive spring break without falling harder for the one man she can never have.
I felt for Tara every step of the way. She’s struggled all her life with the way her own mother and sister treat her, but the care Levi has always shown her captured her little girl heart and her feelings for him have only gotten deeper over the years. Then he breaks that heart by having a baby with her sister. But his total devotion to his daughter just adds to his appeal, which means getting over him is going to be harder than she ever imagined.
Levi may be an amazing dad but he really needs to work on his communication skills. Early on there were so many times I wanted to yell at him – I kinda get where he was going but he definitely made a muddle of things. If I were Tara I definitely would have been so confused and hurt. Once he steps up and takes a chance, though, things definitely get moving. He throws himself totally into the relationship with Tara, being what she needs him to be and respecting her, while also giving her the occasional push she needs.
Tara may have needed a little extra love and support to reach her full potential but once she does she owns it. And Levi’s heart. He may take a bit to realize it but once he does he gives her his all and it’s sexy as can be. Steamy, emotional, and entertaining, Always Her Love shows once again that Foster knows how to bring her readers characters to root for and a HEA that is worth waiting for.
(Can be read as a stand alone but there are a lot of characters from other books.)
*****
Author Info:
Melissa Foster is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, & USA Today bestselling author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance and new adult romance with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Melissaโs emotional journeys are lovingly erotic and always family orientedโperfect beach reads for contemporary romance lovers who enjoy reading about wealthy heroes and smart, sassy heroines.
What happens if the only Christmas celebration you want to attend is one you haven’t been invited to? USA Today bestselling author Sarah Morgan delights with this hilarious and heartwarming Christmas cracker of a novel!
Snowed In for Christmas
by Sarah Morgan
ISBN: 9781335630940
Publication Date: September 20, 2022
Publisher: HQN
Blurb:
The Miller family Christmas is legendary โ itโs the kind of perfect festive gathering that advertising exec Lucy has only ever read about. Until now. Because this year, she needs to get Ross Miller on board with a new contract, and heโs not taking her calls. So she has no choice โ sheโll gatecrash the Miller Christmas, get Rossโs signature, then disappear before her envy at their epic family celebrations gets too much.
The Miller sisters couldnโt be more different โ tough cookie doctor Alice despairs of soft-hearted nanny Clemmie โ but they are united by two things. A wish to see their disreputable older brother Ross settle down, and horror at their parentsโ well-meaning interrogations every Christmas! Especially this year, with both women hiding life-changing secrets they do not want dissected over the Christmas turkey. So when a woman shows up on their snowy Highland doorstep, asking for Ross, and their grandma mistakes her for Rossโs new girlfriend, an opportunity presents itself
Before she knows it, Lucy has been invited to stay for the holidays, as the newest Miller plus-one. Her โboyfriendโ is furious, but the chemistry between them is as tempting as it is surprising. Itโs shaping up to be either Lucyโs worst Christmas of all, or the best mistake of her lifeโฆ.
โAre you sure this is a good idea?โ Maya helped Lucy pack boxes of the Fingersnug into a bag. โIsnโt there a risk that turning up at his house in Scotland makes you look like a stalker?โ
โI can see why you might be concerned about that and Iโm not going to say it didnโt cross my mind, but no. Firstly because Iโm in Scotland anyway, doing a photoshoot for the Fingersnug along with reindeer and several influencers, and secondly because this is what Zoe told me to do. Iโm simply following her advice. And itโs not as if I havenโt tried every other route first.โ Maybe she was overstepping a little, but sometimes you had to take a risk to get ahead.
Ever since Arnieโs health scare sheโd been working flat out to put together ideas for Miller Active. She was excited about her plan and desperate to get her proposal in front of Ross Miller before the competition snagged his attention. She was willing to take the chance that the whole thing could explode in her face. What was the worst that could happen? Heโd slam the door on her, which wouldnโt be pleasant but at least sheโd be able to limp home knowing that sheโd done everything she could to help Arnie and protect peopleโs jobs.
โWho is Zoe?โ
โRoss Millerโs personal assistant. Sheโs great. Sheโs organized, and she knows everything. We went to that new wine bar near the river last night, andโโ
โYou went to a wine bar with Ross Millerโs assistant?โ
โYes.โ Lucy tucked some of the festive โpropsโ sheโd bought into the bag. โWeโve been talking every day for the past week, and weโve become friendly.โ
Maya shook her head in disbelief. โHow do you do it? If someone stands still for long enough, you befriend them.โ
โIt wasnโt hard. I like her. I took my proposal over to the office and we got chatting. Turns out sheโs from Scotland, too, and she knows Ross from school.โ
โAnd he gave her a job?โ
โWhy not? Sheโs brilliant. And who knows, maybe she threatened to reveal all his secrets if he didnโt employ her.โ Lucy added two boxes of fairy lights to the bag. โTheyโre obviously good friends. Sounds as if they have one of those fun relationships full of banter where she scolds him, and he pretends to do as heโs told. Can you pass me the snow globe?โ
Maya handed it to her. โGood friends? Or very good friends.โ
โNot romantic. According to Zoe, Ross isnโt involved with anyone. He occasionally dates, but women tend to get frustrated by his focus on work. He actually forgot about his last date, left her sitting in a restaurant.โ She forced the snow globe into the bulging bag. Maybe it had been optimistic of her to think she could manage with the one bag.
โNot the king of romance, then,โ Maya said. โDoes Ross know that his assistant is revealing his entire personal life to strangers?โ
โIโm not a stranger. Iโve seen her four times this week.โ
May rolled her eyes. โAnd no doubt by Friday youโll be godmother to her children.โ
โShe doesnโt have children, although she would like to. Sheโs dating William, but heโs currently living in Edinburgh and she misses him horribly. William, it seems, is very slow to make a commitment so Zoe is thinking of proposing herself. We talked through a few strategies.โ Lucy tried to close the bag and failed. โA little help, please?โ
Maya pushed the sides of the bag together. โNo offense, but since when did you become the expert on marriage proposals?โ
โI know a lot about the theory.โ Finally, Lucy managed to close the bag. โYou donโt have to travel the world to teach geography. Iโm creative, thatโs my job. I know how to make an impact. Also, I pay attention to what people want and need. Thatโs the basis of successful selling and, in the end, thatโs what weโre doing. All the time. Every day. Iโm going to be selling the idea of me to Ross.โ
โSo where does William fit into this?โ
โWilliam works in risk assurance so itโs understandable that he wonโt be given to impulse. He needs a little something to nudge him past that caution barrier. Fortunately Ross Miller closes the office for a week over Christmas, which means Zoe can go home, too.โ Lucy lifted the bag. โThis weighs a ton. Nothing else is fitting in there.โ
โHe closes the office?โ
โYes. He goes home to Scotland to spend time with his family.โ
โThatโs nice.โ
โIt is. I like it when people appreciate family.โ Lucy lowered the bag back to the floor. โI feel as if Iโve forgotten something. What else do I need?โ
โA whole lot of good luck and the bound copies of your proposal. You wanted two, is that right?โ Maya handed them to her. โYou havenโt discussed this with Arnie, have you?โ
โNo. He is supposed to be resting. No stress. You know what heโs like. If I even mention this, heโll want to be involved.โ She knew sheโd never forget the sight of Arnie being taken away in an ambulance. For a horrible moment sheโd thought she might lose another person she loved, but fortunately it hadnโt turned out to be as serious as theyโd feared.
Arnie had been discharged with medication and a lecture on lifestyle.
He was keeping in touch with the office, but Lucy had given everyone strict instructions not to contact him.
The office felt strange without him there. Even the Christmas tree and the decorations couldnโt make up for his absence. But if he rested now, hopefully heโd be well enough to come back to work in January.
In the meantime she was holding the fort.
Maya gestured to the proposals in Lucyโs hand. โGood work, by the way. Clever. I think Ross Miller will be impressed.โ
โLetโs hope so.โ She grabbed some Christmas wrapping. โDid you see the photo Ted sent round? The baby is gorgeous.โ
โTheyโre not getting any sleep.โ
โI know. Ted says he watches the baby half the night to check sheโs still breathing.โ Lucy knelt on the floor, cut the wrapping paper and measured a length of ribbon.
โRibbon?โ Maya frowned. โYouโre not seriously gift wrapping the proposal?โ
โWhy not? Itโs Christmas.โ She wrapped the document carefully. โEven the most hard-hearted businessman canโt help but respond to wrapping paper covered in cheerful robins, surely?โ
โThatโs why youโre wrapping it? To fill his hardened heart with festive joy?โ
โNo.โ Lucy tied the ribbon and secured the label sheโd handwritten in careful script. โIโm wrapping it in case something happens and Iโm not able to deliver it to him personally. Itโs Christmas, and they have a big family gathering every year.โ
โZoe again?โ
โNo. I read about it in that magazine feature I mentioned.โ Sheโd pored over every page, envious of the oversize Christmas trees, the lush garlands adorning fireplaces and the curved bannister. โIf I hand them a boring-looking proposal the chances are theyโre going to forget about it. Who wants to read a boring document at Christmas? If I wrap it, then there is a good chance that at some point over the festive season itโs going to be opened.โ
โPossibly by one very disappointed kid who is immediately going to throw a tantrum before tossing it out of the window.โ
โNo young children in the family, according to my research.โ She tucked the wrapped parcel carefully into her laptop bag, along with the spare unwrapped proposal.
โPlease tell me youโre not dressing as Santa when you drop it off.โ
โI wasnโt planning toโโ Lucy rocked back on her heels โโbut now youโre making me think.โ
โWell donโt think. Youโve done enough thinking.โ Maya rested her hip on the desk and folded her arms. โSo why didnโt he go into the family business?โ
โRoss? I have no idea, and itโs not relevant. I am not there to interfere with family politics. I am simply going to ring the doorbell and hand over my gift. Merry Christmas. Thatโs it.โ
โYou should have put a copy of that marketing magazine in with the proposal. Cover girl Lucy.โ
Lucy stood up and put the unused wrapping paper back on her desk. โThatโs one of those awards that we are all super proud of, but no one else in the world has ever heard of.โ
โBut youโre the face of modern marketing. He might be impressed.โ
โOr not.โ Lucy glanced at her phone. โI have an hour before my train leaves.โ
โThe sleeper. Iโve always thought that sounds romantic. Traveling on a train through the darkness, clickety-clack, clickety-clack.โ
โThere is nothing romantic about having a carriage to myself.โ
โMaybe it will be like one of those spy movies,โ Maya said, โwhere the bad guy is lurking, waiting to throw you out of the window.โ
โAnd for that comforting thought, I thank you.โ
โYou should have taken some days for yourself while youโre up there. Have a mini break.โ
Lucy couldnโt think of anything worse. โIโve already booked my return journey the following night. All organized. Itโs a flying visit.โ
Even if she had the money for it, she didnโt want to spend time in a hotel on her own at Christmas. How miserable would that be?
No, sheโd spend the day taking creative photos of the Fingersnug with the reindeer herd as her backdrop, and then sheโd deliver her proposal to Ross Miller on her way back to catch the train.
As far as she could see, there was nothing that could go wrong.
Excerpted from Snowed in for Christmas by Sarah Morgan. Copyright ยฉ 2022 by Sarah Morgan. Published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
*****
Author Info:
Sarah Morgan is a USA Today and Sunday Times bestselling author of contemporary romance and women’s fiction. She has sold more than 21 million copies of her books and her trademark humour and warmth have gained her fans across the globe. Sarah lives with her family near London, England, where the rain frequently keeps her trapped in her office. Visit her at www.sarahmorgan.com
Gotta Be Bayou, an all-new grumpy-sunshine, small town romance from New York Times bestselling author Erin Nicholas is now available!
Gotta Be Bayou
Badges of the Bayou series
by Erin Nicholas
Blurb:
How do you get over a woman you never should have been, ahem, under in the first place?
Just when FBI special agent Spencer Landry had decided to forget about investigative journalist Maxine-Max-Keller and their one hot night together, there’s a threat made against her and Spencer’s protective instincts get all riled up. Again.
So now they’re shacking up on the Louisiana bayou and pretending to be in love so he can keep Max safe until the guy is apprehended.
Considering their chemistry and that he can not stop thinking about the gorgeous-and-doesn’t-know-it, smart-mouthed, bold-and-yet-vulnerable redhead, this could be a fun few days, right?
Nope. She’s all wrong for him.
And she hasn’t forgotten he can be kind of a jerk.
Sure, the naked-times are great, but he told her exactly what he wantsโ a bubbly, sweet school teacher who bakes him brownies and loves to cuddleโand Max ain’t it.
Max not only doesn’t bake, no one has ever called her sweet. And cuddling? Shudder.
Plus his bossiness is super annoying for someone who’s been taking care of herself all her life. But now they’re stuck together and dammit, besides being hot and very good with his mouth, Spencer is pretty irresistible with baby goats, little kids, and attempts at baking. And don’t forget alpha-protective. All of which makes her stomach feel very swoop-y. No wonder her clothes keep falling off.
But this is a temporary situation and they’re only faking it. So falling for the guy is a terrible idea.
Well, her feet were on him anyway. Actually, her legs from the knees down.
Sheโd started just propped against the opposite end of the couch, with her crossword puzzle book open on the arm. Sheโd mostly focused on the puzzle, but heโd noticed her smiling and even laughing a couple of times at the TV.
Eventually, sheโd propped her head on her hand and just watched. Then her eyes started drifting shut. Then her head was on the arm of the couch.
But when she wanted to get comfortable, she got comfortable.
Sheโd scooted down to rest her head on the couch cushion and stretched out. Including putting her feet in Spencerโs lap.
Heโd had to catch her heels in his hands to keep her from kicking him in the balls.
And then heโd just held her feet, rubbing his thumbs along the arches of her feet, and absorbing the sound of her contented sigh and loving the way she cuddled deeper into the couch.
Heโd wanted her to feel safe and be comfortable and relaxed.
Mission accomplished.
The woman was sound asleep.
At 8:30 p.m.
The episode ended and Spencer realized he didnโt remember a thing from what heโd watched. Heโd been paying attention to Max.
Of course heโd started with the way her soft cotton shorts molded to the curve of her hips and ass. The way the matching tank hugged her waist and breasts. There was no way he could have ignored that. He was drawn to this woman and the part that didnโt confuse him was his attraction to her body.
Now, having those sweet curves within touching distance again and barely covered, absolutely drew his attention. But with her asleep, and him unable to really do anything, he also had the chance to simply study her up close.
Her eyelashes were pale and had a reddish hue. Of course they did. She was a redhead. But heโd never thought about the color of a womanโs eyelashes before. Now he was fascinated. Did she wear mascara? He was going to have to pay attention to see the next time she was awake.
She stirred, shifting, moving her feet against his hands and he stroked a hand up one calf. It wasnโt perfectly smooth. There was just a slight prickle, but he didnโt mind at all. In fact, he wanted to feel that against his thighs and hips as she wrapped her legs around him. It was real and he wanted to feel her legs in every stage from freshly shaved to havenโt-had-a-chance-for-days.
Wow, she was truly asleep. He should make her go to bed.
โMax?โ he asked softly.
She didnโt even wiggle.
โMax?โ he asked a little louder, squeezing her foot gently.
She just breathed in deeply, then out.
He should just carry her into bed. He could just scoop her up and take her into the bedroom.
Spencer shifted her legs so he could stand. Then he leaned over. She was on her side, so he pushed gently against her shoulder, rolling her to her back. She went with a sigh, one hand moving to rest on her chest. Perfect. Spencer slid an arm under her knees and one behind her back.
And everything was great until he started to lift.
She came awake suddenly. She kicked her legs, flailed her arms, and her head lifted instinctively to look around. Her forehead hit Spencer in the chin. Hard.
His head snapped back and his teeth clamped down on his tongue.
โFuck!โ he swore in surprised pain.
โAhhh!โ she yelled.
She was still kicking and waving her arms and he unceremoniously dropped her one foot back onto the couch cushions.
โMax! Itโs me!โ
She kicked out, her shin connecting with his thigh.
That fucking hurt too.
โMax!โ He pinned her arms down against the couch. โMax! Itโs Spencer!โ
Her eyes were wide and not fully focused.
She just yelled again. โAhhhhh!โ
Dammit. The cottage next door was going to think they needed to call the cops.
Which was Zander.
Spencer did not want Zander showing up here, grinning and smirking and writing up a report about how Spencer had tried to sweetly carry Max to bed and sheโd thought he was attacking her.
โMaxine!โ he said sharply, putting a leg across hers to keep her from kicking and, against his better judgement, placing a hand over her mouth. โStop it. Itโs me.โ
Her eyes flew to his as he put his face directly in front of hers.
โItโs Spencer.โ
She suddenly went still. Her gaze focused and she stopped moving and he felt her pull in a long breath.
He waited another few seconds, making sure that she realized who was holding her down.
Slowly he removed his hand. โOkay?โ he asked.
She drew in another long breath and blew it out. She nodded. โYeah.โ
โHoly shit, Max.โ
โWhat happened?โ
โYou were sleeping like the dead, so I decided to carry you into the bedroom. And you turned into the Tasmanian devil.โ
โWell, I’m not used to people picking me up in the middle of the night.โ
That made him chuckle. โIt’s not even 9 p.m.โ
โWellโฆ still.โ
He liked that she was at a loss for words. That was unusual.
Slowly, he became aware of the fact that he was pinning her to the couch. With almost his entire body.
In spite of the fact that sheโd been fighting off an intruder in her imagination and heโd been fearing for his manhood, his eyes, nose, and jaw, it didn’t take long for his body to register that this felt really nice.
The couch was big enough for the two of them to lie together. He wasn’t entirely on top of her, but almost half of him was pinning more than half of her to the cushions.
โI, umโฆ didnโt mean to squash you. Self-preservation instinct.โ
She smiled. โYou’re not squashing me.โ Her voice was soft and a little breathless.
Their gazes locked. โI did this, honestly, to keep you from hurting me or yourself. But mostly me.โ
She wet her lips and nodded. โI believe you.โ
โSo, I could probably get up now. You seem a lot more calm.โ
โFunny, I don’t exactly feel calm.โ
His heart kicked against his rib cage. A moment ago sheโd been ready to claw his eyes out. The moment before that sheโd been so deeply asleep that she hadn’t realized he was even there. But now, her gaze was hot and she was breathing fast, and she was definitely not wearing a bra with this pajama set.
Spencerโs entire body responded. โYou fell asleep really fast. And very deep,โ he said, his voice husky.
โI often fall asleep on the couch. Never that deeply, though. I guess I felt really safe with you.โ
Damn, he liked that. He felt the corner of his mouth curl. โUntil I tried to pick you up.โ
โSorry. Instinct.โ
โHonestly the cop part of me is very glad that your instinct is to fight hard when someone does something unexpected.โ
โGood.โ She gave a little nod. โI guess that means you just need to be sure I’m expecting anything you do.โ
He nodded slowly and his gaze dropped to her mouth. โGood idea. For instance, if I was going to kiss you, I should make sure that you knew that.โ
She nodded. โRight.โ
โMax.โ
โYeah?โ
โI’m going to kiss you.โ
โGood.โ
*****
Review:
Nicholas is the best at bringing zaniness, steam, and emotion to her stories. There were laugh-out-loud moments, more than a few of sweetness, and quite a bit heat, but also a few things that made my heart hurt.
Max pretty much has been on her own all her life. Left alone a lot as a kid, she had to learn to fend for herself. It’s turn her into a very capable adult, but it also means that she has trouble letting people in. Then she meets Spencer. Spencer who has a very definite idea of what his ideal partner will be like and she’s nothing like Max. Only he can’t stop thinking about her. Wanting her. And she’s feeling the same.
Both Spencer and Max have a few things to work through and I have to say one of my favorite things is how they resolve their issues. I love when an author avoids the idea that love can fix anything. Instead, Max and Spencer handle things in a mature & healthy fashion which made this reader very happy. I can’t wait to see what is in store for the rest of the badges.
(First book in a spinoff series, can be read as a stand alone but there are a lot of people to meet for the first time and figure out how they are all related. Even after reading most of the books, it was difficult for me a time or two ๐ )
*****
Author Info:
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Erin Nicholas has been writing romances almost as long as sheโs been reading them. To date, sheโs written over thirty sexy, contemporary novels that have been described as โtoe-curling,โ โenchanting,โ โsteamy,โ and โfun.โ She adores reluctant heroes, imperfect heroines, and happily ever afters.
Erin lives in the Midwest, where she enjoys spending time with her husband (who only wants to read the sex scenes in her books), her kids (who will never read the sex scenes in her books), and her family and friends (who claim to be โshockedโ by the sex scenes in her books).
Filled with humor, family hijinks, and actual reading recommendations,The Book Hatersโ Book Clubfeatures a messy group of people trying to save their local Indie bookstore —ย and who might just save each other along the way.This heartwarming, wildly entertaining novel is both a celebration of found family, and a love letter to booksellers and librarians everywhere.ย
Elliot, co-owner of Over the Rainbow Bookshop in Minneapolis, started The Book Hatersโ Book Clubโa newsletter of reading recommendations for the self-proclaimed โnonreaderโ โ because he believed that it only takes the right book to turn a Book Hater into a Book Lover. Now, after theyโre all reeling after Elliotโs sudden death, his business partner, Irma, has agreed to sell Over the Rainbow to a developer. When Irma breaks the news to her daughters, and Elliottโs romantic partner, Thom, they are aghast. Especially since Irma wonโt explain why sheโs so intent on selling.
Irmaโs daughters and Thom conspire to save the bookshop. Even if it takes some snooping, gossip and (minor) sabotage, they wonโt give up without a fight.
E! News, 14 Books to Read in September SheReads, Favorite Books About Book Clubs
โan exuberant love song to the power of books, bookstores, and the durable community that they create. Laugh-out-loud funny, this book will restore hope to all those fearful for the survival of bookstores and libraries.โย -LIBRARY JOURNAL
Thom Winslow swept through the glass doors of Vandaveer Investments a titan. โGood afternoon,โ he announced to the receptionist, his voice bold, his tenor unwavering. โIโm here for the Over the Rai-iin-bowโโ He faltered as the word โrainbowโ indiscriminately, and most unpleasantly, stuck to his throat like jelly, leaving him no choice but to clear it with a sickening โHUUCCHH!โ
โIโm here for the meeting about the bookstore.โ This he said with the voice of a defeated man, aware that his too-narrow shoulders and pigeon neck were rapidly deflating in shame. Damn his rehearsed confidence.
The receptionist barely paid attention, his focus on the tablet attached to his hand. (Was it glued there?) โYouโre meeting in the Lake Minnetonka conference room. Iโll escort you.โ
Irma Bedford, co-owner of the Over the Rainbow Bookshop with Thomโs recently deceased partner, Elliot, was already inside, waiting. Seeing her, Thom felt a second blow, his vision for todayโs meeting all but stomped dead. Heโd arrived early to be the first one in the roomโheโd read it was a power moveโand yet here she was, extending her hand.
โThom.โ She stood when he entered. โTheyโre running a few minutes behind.โ
She was rumpled. He hadnโt expected that. Of the few things Thom appreciated in Irma, it was her easy chic, a style that never failed to impressโwell-ironed jeans, crisp white shirt, flawless foundation and knockout lips. Today they were an unfortunate shade of coral.
โHere.โ He plucked a tissue from a box on the side table. โLipstick. On your tooth.โ
She accepted it and turned discreetly to fix herself. There was a stain on her back pocket, the flowering blue swell of ink that would never come out, and before realizing, he said, โIโll walk behind you when we leave so no one can see that spot on your slacks.โ It was a kindness she perhaps did not deserve, and yet he couldnโt help himself.
Irma smiled, gratefully. โBefore they come,โ she began to say but hadnโt finished before James and Trevor Vandaveer, father and son, walked through the door and started the handshaking and back-patting portion of the afternoon. Trevor, the younger, pulled out chairs for Thom and Irma, as if they were elderly, joints too swollen with arthritis to do it themselves. Or in Thomโs case, enfeebled by a set of useless-looking shoulders.
โWill your daughters be joining you, Irma?โ Trevor asked.
โLaneyโs flight was delayed.โ She nodded toward the glass wall behind him. โBut hereโs Bree now.โ
Bree Bedford exited the elevator, armpits sweating through her shirt, the voice in her head hyperventilating about what a stupid mistake sheโd made by not having worn a blazer, as usual failing to avoid even one of the mini disasters that, together, comprised her average day.
โIโm sorry to keep you waiting.โ The clock on the wall above the crystal water pitcher that looked too fancy to touch read 2:58 p.m., two minutes early. But the energy in the room said she was embarrassingly late. She slipped silently into a chair next to her mother and pulled her planner from her purse for notes. The clasp snapped loudly, echoing against the roomโs hard surfaces. โSorry. Again.โ
She and Trevor Vandaveer had graduated high school together, and twenty years on, he looked just as much the tailored son of privilege as he always had, wearing a suit that probably cost more than she was comfortable thinking about. His father, whose first name she kicked herself for not being able to remember, remained the only one standing. She sensed he spent too much time in the sunโthough his cheeks and forehead were shiny and taut as if fresh from the dermatologist, the wrinkles on his hands betrayed his age, all but undoing the medical illusion up top.
โWe waiting for more?โ he barked.
โJust Laney,โ Irma, Bree, and Thom said in unison. Irma added, โShe texted me a few minutes ago. Sheโs on her way from the airport.โ
It had been upon learning that Laney was flying in from California that Bree began to feel anxious about what she might learn at this meeting. Their mother had only said, โWith Elliot gone, Iโve enlisted an outside firm to help me make some decisions about the Rainbow.โ Bree was more or less the bookshopโs assistant managerโit made sense for her to attend. Her sister, Laney, though, never flew in for store matters. In fact, she almost never flew in for personal matters, either. Their momโs best friend and business partner, Elliot, had died several months ago and Laney hadnโt flown in for his funeral. She hadnโt flown in when their momโs late-in-life boyfriend, Nestor, passed away unexpectedly last year, and she hadnโt spent a Christmas or Thanksgiving in Minneapolis for as long as Bree could remember. Laney didnโt come home for things, and yet she was coming home for this.
The receptionist opened the door a third time. โLaney Hartwell,โ he announced.
Before stepping through, Laney pulled her baseball cap low and made a wish to whatever god, genie, or fairy watching over her that Old Man Vandaveer would keep on talking. The sooner this was over, the better. She was tired. She didnโt need to be here. It was too big of an ask.
โWhat are you doing over there?โ Mr. Vandaveer saw her choose a seat in the corner and, grossly offended, slapped his notes on the table with a violent, outsize thwak!
She rubbed at the back of her neck, her hair at full attention. โIโm trying not to interrupt.โ
โLaney.โ Her mother tapped the chair beside Bree. โThereโs plenty of room right here.โ
โItโs a big table,โ Old Man Vandaveer barked, a man showing off his territoryโbig office, big voice, big dude-jewel ring rapping on his big tableโs glass top. โAlright, brass tacks.โ He returned to his agenda. โMs. Bedford, on behalf of Over the Rainbow Bookshop, LLC, has entered into a contract for sale of said business with Vandaveer Investments. Per her request, weโve agreed to brief you all, her stakeholders, on the terms.โ
Trevor handed each of them a slick folder adorned with the firmโs green-and-gold logo. Laney accepted hers, placed it unopened on the table, and set her brain free to wander. It was strange, flying in from her grown-up life in Oakland, only to come face-to-face with a kid sheโd graduated with, now an adult with a tailored suit and a haircut too slick for his conservative, monochromatic tie.
โLetโs begin with the Terms of Sale,โ Trevor said. The words entered the air, floated around the room. Laney didnโt try to catch them.
โโโฆwill be paid by the Seller in full upon closing in the form of certified check, agreed to by both Buyer and Sellerโฆโโ
Bounce. Bounce.
He had a tiny blue dot above his lip. Sheโd thought it was an ink spot, a rogue pen leaving its mark. But the more she watched, the more she became convinced. Trevor had a perfect dot of a mole above his lip.
โโโsix weeks,โโ the mole said.
โIโm sorry?โ Breeโs voice cut through Laneyโs foggy thoughts.
โYes, July 1,โ Trevor said. โWhen Irma signed the Statement of Intent, we agreed to an expedited, six-week timeframe. Weโll sign the final closing documents at the end of the month.โ
โBut thatโs only three weeks from today.โ Bree double-checked the date. She was correct. โYou sold the shop three weeks ago and youโre just telling us now?โ A panicked chill seized her; she didnโt think she could lift her arms. โWhat about all our customers? What about the neighborhood? Weโre the only independent bookstore left in Lyn-Lake.โ
โI admit the timeframe is less than ideal.โ Her mother did not sound remotely apologetic. โI needed time to get Laney here.โ
Bree dug her fingers into the edge of the glass tabletop to keep from crying. Three weeks until her life came to a crashing halt, until the bookshop that had first been her refuge, then family, and then career, ceased to exist. โI donโt understand.โ Tears slipped from her chin to the table. โHow can you close the Rainbow?โ
Irma didnโt respond.
โIf youโll turn to page seventy-nine,โ Trevor said, apparently anxious to move the meeting along, โyou may understand more after hearing the details.โ
โTake a look at the offer price,โ his father said. โThat oughta dry your boo-hoos.โ
Thom pushed the tissue box down the table toward Bree. That Irma was only now telling her daughters of the sale did not surprise him. She was a beauty with fangs, and heโd known from the very beginning it was dangerous to get too close. She and the bookshop had consumed Elliot, and just as a new chapter of their lives was to begin, just as Elliot had agreed to cut back on his work there, to consider retirement, to refocus on his life with Thom, heโd died. In a flash. Gone without warning or goodbyes.
Thom turned to the correct page and looked for the price Irma had received for the beloved Over the Rainbow, aware that no amount of money would ever dull the resentment heโd sharpened for the woman and her bookstore over so many years. Trevor was now spewing gibberish, a tactic meant to blunt the impact of what he could see with his very own eyes: Irma had sold Elliotโs lifeโs work for practically nothing.
โOh, Mom,โ Bree cried. โIs that all the Rainbow means to you?โ
Laney flipped her page, assuming there had to be more on the other side. โSo, is this just the first installment or what?โ
Thom felt his jaw, followed by stoic resolve, go slack. โIrma,โ he hissed.
The woman didnโt flinch. โThese are the terms the Vandaveers offered, and Iโve accepted them,โ she said, her back an iron rod. โIf you have questions, please direct them to our hosts.โ
Thom looked at the sale price again, convinced theyโd misplaced a comma.
Bree shifted from being quietly tearful to a sobbing soap opera star.
Laney checked her watch.
*****
Author Info:
GRETCHEN ANTHONY is the author of Evergreen Tidings from the Baumgartners, which was a Midwestern Connections Pick and a best books pick by Amazon, BookBub, PopSugar, and the New York Post. Her work has been featured in The Washington Post, Medium, and The Write Life, among others. She lives in Minneapolis with her family.
In THE HOMETOWN DILEMMA by Julie Archer, when Jaime Harlow returns home in hopes of starting over, she is forced to rethink her plans, and an old friend from college, Wade Dempsy offers to help, leaving her second-guessing everything. Old times, new feelings – and one stormy night – are all they need to ignite the desires they never realized existed. Fans of The Lawton Ridge Series by Kennedy Fox will devour this must-read swoon-worthy, return to hometown romance from the Meet Cute Book Club Series.
The Hometown Dilemma
Meet Cute Book Club series
by Julie Archer
Blurb:
Jaime
Who says you canโt go home?
Coming back to Abbott Ridge and starting over was my plan. But, just like everything in life, plans change. Especially when the interior design reality tv show I dreamed of being a part of gets canceled before filming even begins. Now Iโm stuck without a job and forced to rethink how Iโll start my own company.
Insert, Wade Dempsey.
Owner of Dempseyโs bar, and one of my closest friends from college. He immediately offers me a temporary job working with him, like old times.
It’s an offer I can’t refuse. Oh, and did I mention that my new boss is even sexier than I remember?
Things between us are going great…until a call from New York presents me with a new offer that has me second guessing my stay in Abbott Ridge.
Wade
Home is where the heart is.
Iโve spent my whole life in Abbott Ridge, running in and out of my family’s bar until I was finally old enough to take over. Now Iโm in charge, but itโs a struggle to keep the place from going under. I need fresh ideas to compete with all the fancy bars and clubs popping up downtown.
Insert, Jaime Harlow.
Having Jaime back behind my bar seems like a good place to start. Sheโs an inspiration and a breath of fresh air, in more ways than one.
Old times, new feelings – and one stormy night – are all we need to ignite the desires I never realized existed.
When New York calls for Jaime and the only future Iโve known goes up in flames, we find ourselves faced with a huge dilemma that threatens our new found relationship. Can we really make this work when right now it feels like we can’t even see eye to eye? Thereโs only one way to find out.
The Hometown Dilemma is a standalone, return to hometown romance that is part of the multi-author series, Meet Cute Book Club. Escape with this swoon-worthy collection of romances where meet-cutes don’t only happen between the pages of romance novels and members find their own happily ever afters.
A wave of calm familiarity swept over me. Being back home for good, after being away for many years, had given me doubts and butterflies. Iโm sure there were some people who would think coming home meant failure, when I very much saw it as the opportunity to start something new.
โI think itโs a really brave thing youโve done,โ Cami admitted, saying what Iโd been thinking. โTo walk away from a secure job and take a chance on something you have no control over.โ
She may have been four years younger than me, but she was wise beyond her years. However scared I was about the decision Iโd made, in my heart it was the right one. Sure, I could have stayed in a job with a nice company in New York, bumbling along with no real career plans, but I needed something to excite me, something to stretch and challenge me.
And trying to get a place on the next series of Interior Nirvana was the catalyst.
Walking away from a steady job to try and start my own freelance interior design business had been something Iโd agonized over for months. But the more I turned up to work for other people, the more I knew I wanted to do it for myself. While Abbott Ridge might not have had the same level of clientele as the big city, there were enough businesses and families who would want professional help when it came to design.
โThanks, sweetie, I appreciate your support. Not everyone is of the same mindset. Mom, for one.โ
When Iโd told her about my plans, she had gone ballistic. Even though she hadnโt exactly been in our lives over the past five years, the same amount of time Iโd been in New York, I still kept her posted on what was going on.
โUgh, you donโt have to tell me. Youโd have thought you were going to jail for a serious crime, not trying to make something of your life.โ Cami screwed up her nose. โOf course, itโs great for me too because Iโm not on my own now. Wade and I split up.โ
โOh, Cami! When did that happen?โ I reached out to grab her hand. โYou should have told me.โ
Cami had been dating Wade Dempsey on and off for about three months, since Iโd last been home for a fleeting visit. He was six years older than her, so secretly I wasnโt surprised it hadnโt worked out. They were at totally different stages in their lives. Cami was still all about having fun and not thinking about the consequences. Wade had more responsibilities; he ran Dempseyโs bar in town and from what Iโd heard, his father wasnโt in the best of health, which put a lot of strain on the family business. Iโd worked with Wade at the bar while we were in college and weโd grown to be close buddies, although once Iโd left for New York we hadnโt been in contact much.
She shrugged. โWe werenโt that serious really. Heโs not as much fun as I thought he was going to be. I barely saw him because he was at the bar all the time.โ
โWell, Iโm still sorry to hear youโve split up.โ I smiled. โBut was he really the right guy for you? He always was a terrible flirt.โ
โYeah, he was.โ Cami wrinkled her nose. โThink about it though, Jaime. The Harlow sisters out on the town together. Abbott Ridge watch out!โ
Given the plans I had for starting my own business, there was little time for going out on the town. Not to mention saving every spare dollar I had, I had big plans to buy an apartment or house to use as my portfolio for the show.
โI donโt know about that, Cami.โ Stalling, I sipped my own drink. โI might not have time.โ
โCome on, all work and no play makes Jaime a very dull sister.โ
Ha, I may be the older sister, but there was no way on earth I would let Cami say I was dull. Maybe it was time to step out of the comfort zone and have some fun before getting down to business.
Copyright 2022 @ Julie Archer
*****
Author Info:
Author of contemporary romance featuring rock stars, small towns, a healthy dose of angst, some steamy times and always a happy ever after!
When not writing, I can usually be found binge watching teen drama series on Netflix, or supporting Spurs from my armchair, and running around after my two feline children, Corey and Elsa.
Follow me on Facebook or Instagram, see my latest releases on Amazon or drop me an email, juliearcherwrites@gmail.com.
Escape with the Meet Cute Book Club where meet-cutes don’t only happen between the pages of romance novels and members find their own happily ever afters.ย
Eight single women bound by their love of books take a monthly break from real life to lose themselves in the chapters of romantic fiction. From friends to lovers to fake relationships and more, each story features a brand new couple and their journey to find love from an amazing lineup of authors including Louise Lennox, Tracy Broemmer, A.M. Williams, Mel Walker, RJ Gray, Rebecca Wilder, Julie Archer, and Kate Stacy.ย
These eight standalone romances are packed with meet-cutes, heat, and of course a happily ever after!
This promotional event is brought to you by TheIndie Pen PR
Ferris is straight, so why canโt he stop wishing his fake flirtations with his best friend would become real?
Tiago รlvarez
Flirting with Ferris is one of my favorite hobbies. He always playfully rejects me because heโs straight, but I donโt let that get my hopes down. Thatโs why Iโm so shocked when he agrees to my silly idea to drive our fangirls wild by pretending there might be something more to our friendship.
But I secretly have an ulterior motive in convincing my best friend that we should share our hilarious banter with the fans. I want to make him see that we could have something real if he gave us a chance.
Itโs obvious how much fun he has teasing me, so I wonder if maybe Ferris isnโt as straight as he used to be?
Ferris Valdemar
Iโve been telling Tiago no for so long that I donโt know how to tell him yes. But I really want to give in to my feelings for him that Iโve been running away from for far too long.
When he comes up with his scheme to fake flirting with each other for our fans, it gives me the opportunity I need to come clean about my not-so-straight feelings for my gay best friend.
But how do I tell Tiago that I want to be more than just friends?
Change His Tune is the third book in the Harmony of Hearts series and part of the Sunnyside universe. This novel features a friends to lovers, bi awakening, fake dating, rock star, gay romance. If you love cute sweetness, sexy fun, and no angst stories that will make you laugh and swoon, youโll enjoy this satisfying HEA without cliffhangers. Each book can be read as a standalone or as part of the series in order.
I grinned at Ferris and swung for the fences by bringing out my cheesiest pickup lines. โThey say kissing is the โlanguage of love.โ Would you care to have a conversation with me about it sometime?โ
He was clearly trying to hold in another chuckle. โLet me guess. Youโre also fluent in French?โ
โYes, and Iโd be very happy to give you lessons.โ
โThanks, but Iโll pass.โ
I waggled my eyebrows at him, making him crack up. โAre you sure about that?โ
โAbsolutely. What other gems do you have?โ
I rubbed my thumb against my lower lip as I tried to exude sexiness. โYouโre so hot, my zipper is falling for you.โ
He chuckled at that one. โIs that so?โ
โOh, yeah. Roses are red. Violets are fine. You be the six. Iโll be the nine.โ I made a kissy face at him as he howled with laughter.
โIn your dreams!โ
โItโs a dream Iโd love to make come true with your help.โ
He had to wipe away the tears that gathered at the corners of his eyes. โYouโre unbelievable.โ
โWell, letโs see what youโve got, then.โ
โUnlike you, I donโt have an arsenal of terrible one-liners. And honestly, Iโm a little bewildered that you have so many of those memorized.โ
I cajoled him. โSurely, you must know at least one super-cheesy pickup line. Lay it on me.โ
โOkay, fine.โ He took a deep breath to calm himself from his earlier laughing fit. โFeel my shirt.โ
It was a surprising command that I was all too happy to obey. I reached out and ran my hand up his tank to rest over his heart.
โDo you know what itโs made of?โ Ferris asked. I shook my head. He then stunned me when he placed his hand over mine and interlaced our fingers as he pressed it against him while holding eye contact. โBoyfriend material.โ
The moment of sexual tension was tense, waiting for one of us to give in to the magnetic attraction we had. I held his gaze as his words made me ache with a longing for that impossible dream. There was nothing I wanted more than to date my best friend, but it would never happen because he was straight.
Despite that, I could feel how fast his heart was racing as his cheeks turned pink. It was a mistake to imagine anything would ever develop between us, but it gave me hope that maybe someday, heโd give in to the intense chemistry we had.
Would my dreams of being with Ferris ever come true?
*****
Review:
The first two stories in this series were all about the insta-love (and the copious amounts of hot sex) but with Tiago and Ferris having been friends for years this one is different. Because of the build-up in previous stories, we pretty much dive right into the change from friends to lovers (so kinda keeping with that whole insta thing) and Ferris coming to grips with what that means. He’s spent a lot of time thinking he’s straight, laughing off Tiago’s comments and avoiding those niggling feelings that arise, so when he finally realizes that he could be bi there’s a bit of adjusting to do.
Tiago has been in love with his best friend for so very long, waiting and hoping that he’d feel the same. So it’s quite a surprise when Ferris finally admits that there is something there, but he’s patient and considerate, letting Ferris take his time to learn what he’s comfortable with. There’s plenty of sexy time but also a lot of humor and touching moments as the two of them figure out their new relationship.
Change His Tune is a slow-burn, low angst read but it’s very satisfying to be there as these two finally get a chance to find a HEA.
*****
Author Info:
Ariella Zoelle adores steamy, funny, swoony romances where couples are allowed to just be happy. She writes low angst stories full of heat, humor, and heart. But sometimes she’s in the mood for something with a bit more angst and drama. If you are too, check out her A.F. Zoelle books.
For real-time updates on her writing progress, please join her Facebook group for exclusive teasers or follow her on Twitter or Instagram. You can also sign up for her newsletter to gain access to bonus chapters, previews of upcoming books, exclusive visual guides, and more.
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.
Romantic Reads and Such 