Category Archives: Sneak Peek

Review – Sweet, Sexy Heart

04 Wednesday Aug 2021

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For this sweet bookstore owner, avoiding the charms of a famed-football-player-turned-author was supposed to be easy… Funny, sinfully sexy, opposite-attracts romance.

*****

Sweet, Sexy Heart

The Bradens & Montgomerys

by Melissa Foster

Releasing Aug 4, 2021

World Literary Press

Blurb:

Amber Montgomery is perfectly happy with her quiet life. She loves running her bookstore, taking long walks with Reno, her Labrador retriever seizure-response dog, and spending time with her close-knit family. She’s never needed thrills the way some of her sisters have. In an effort to control her epilepsy, she tries to avoid anything that creates too much excitement or stress—including relationships. When Amber hosts a book signing for famed-athlete-turned-author Dash Pennington, he’s everything she’s spent her life avoiding: loud, aggressive, and far too handsome, as proven by the hordes of women who surround him everywhere he goes. Amber can’t ignore the sparks flying between her and Dash, but this is a no-brainer for her: Ignore their chemistry and hold her breath until he leaves town.

Dash Pennington has spent his life running. Running the ball in for a touchdown, running from town to town to appease his public relations reps, and for years, running into the arms of too many women to count. He’s also an expert at protecting—his reputation, his family, and lately, his sanity. But he’s ready to make a change. When he comes to the sleepy little town of Oak Falls, Virginia, and witnesses the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen living the life he craves, she refuses to have anything to do with him. But now that Dash has found the one thing he doesn’t want to run from, he’ll stop at nothing to win her over.

Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39329375-sweet-sexy-heart  

Goodreads series link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/151180-the-bradens-montgomerys-pleasant-hill—oak-falls

Buy Links:
➜KINDLE: http://smarturl.it/SSH_Kindle
➜APPLE: http://smarturl.it/SSH_Apple
➜NOOK: http://smarturl.it/SSH_Nook
➜KOBO: http://smarturl.it/SSH_Kobo
➜GPLAY: http://smarturl.it/SSH_GPlay
➜PAPERBACK: http://smarturl.it/SSH_Pb
Available in audio (Narrated by Tim Paige and Meg Sylvan)
➜AMAZON: https://smarturl.it/SSHa_Amazon
➜APPLE: https://smarturl.it/SSHa_Apple
➜AUDIBLE:  https://smarturl.it/SSHa_Audible

*****

Excerpt:

Read Sneak Peek here, https://melissafoster.com/sweet-sexy-heart-sneak-peek/ 

*****

Review:

Ya know, the biggest complaint I’ve seen so far for Foster’s newest is that her hero is just a little too awesome. And … well, I kinda get it. Dash is charming, attractive, smart, and caring. He comes to town, is charmed by Amber’s awkwardness with him, and starts an assault to get her attention that is so adorable. He also starts wooing the people of the town just because he’s that darn awesome. There’s very little fault to find with him so, while that makes a great romance hero, it does make him just a tad too perfect to be real. That doesn’t stop him from being a great book boyfriend though!

Amber is also pretty great on her own. She’s a central figure in her town and takes the time to show people that someone cares. She’s a little nervous about Dash because he’s so big and she needs (or so she thinks) someone a little more quiet. But it doesn’t take long for him to show her she’s wrong and they make a great (and giving) couple.

There’s very little drama to be found here but a lot of heart and heat. Dash and Amber together are sweet but they also set the bed on fire. If you like big characters, small town charm, and a lot of spice on your way to finding HEA, Foster always delivers.

Sweet, Sexy Heart is a stand-alone in an interconnected series but can be read by itself. You’ll likely find hints to a few stories that you’ll want to add to your TBR pile though so this is your warning 🙂

 *****

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. Melissa’s emotional journeys are lovingly erotic and always family oriented–perfect beach reads for contemporary romance lovers who enjoy reading about wealthy heroes and smart, sassy heroines.

Website:  http://www.melissafoster.com/

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/MelissaFosterAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Melissa_Foster

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3023973.Melissa_Foster

Newsletter: http://melissafoster.com/newsletter/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/melissa-foster

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissafoster_author/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@melissafoster_author

 *****

Series Links:

💕EMBRACING HER HEART (Book 1)
➜KINDLE: http://smarturl.it/EHH_Kindle
➜APPLE: http://apple.co/2vDGJbO
➜KOBO: http://smarturl.it/EHH_Kobo
➜NOOK: http://smarturl.it/EHH_Nook
➜GPLAY: http://bit.ly/2gLs8IZ
➜PAPERBACK: http://smarturl.it/EHH_Pb
Also in Audio book (narrated by Andi Arndt and Sebastian York)
➜Amazon: http://smarturl.it/EHH_Amazon
➜Apple: http://smarturl.it/EHH_iBooks
➜Audible: http://smarturl.it/EHH_Audible

💕ANYTHING FOR LOVE (Book 2)
➜KINDLE: http://smarturl.it/AFL_Kindle
➜APPLE: http://apple.co/2wkOgQ2
➜KOBO: http://smarturl.it/AFL_Kobo
➜NOOK: http://smarturl.it/AFL_Nook
➜GPLAY: http://bit.ly/2gr852M
➜PAPERBACK: http://smarturl.it/AFL_Pb
Also in Audio book (narrated by Ava Erickson and Zachary Webber)
➜Amazon: http://smarturl.it/AFL_aa
➜Apple: http://smarturl.it/AFL_aib
➜Audible: http://smarturl.it/AFL_aud

💕TRAILS OF LOVE (Book 3)
➜KINDLE: http://smarturl.it/TOL_Ki
➜APPLE: https://apple.co/2FU6RoA
➜KOBO: http://smarturl.it/TOL_Ko
➜NOOK: http://smarturl.it/tol_n 
➜GPLAY: http://bit.ly/2HPyRKF
➜PAPERBACK: http://smarturl.it/TOL__Pb
Also in Audio book (narrated by Virginia Rose and Aaron Shedlock)
➜Amazon: http://smarturl.it/TOLa_Amazon
➜Apple: http://smarturl.it/TOLa_Apple
➜Audible: http://smarturl.it/TOL_Audible

💕WILD, CRAZY HEARTS (Book 4)
➜KINDLE: http://smarturl.it/WCH_Kindle 
➜APPLE: http://smarturl.it/WCH_iBooks 
➜KOBO: http://smarturl.it/WCH_Kobo 
➜NOOK: http://smarturl.it/WCH_Nook 
➜GPLAY: http://smarturl.it/WCH_GPlay 
➜PAPERBACK: http://smarturl.it/WCH_Pb 
Also in Audio Book (narrated by Savannah Peachwood and Brian Pallino)
➜Amazon: https://smarturl.it/WCHa_Amazon 
➜Apple: https://smarturl.it/WCHa_Apple 
➜Audible: https://smarturl.it/WCHa_Audible

💕MAKING YOU MINE (Book 5)
➜KINDLE: http://smarturl.it/MYM_Kindle
➜APPLE: http://smarturl.it/MYM_Apple
➜KOBO: http://smarturl.it/MYM_Kobo
➜NOOK: http://smarturl.it/MYM_Nook
➜GPLAY: http://smarturl.it/MYM_GPlay
➜PAPERBACK: http://smarturl.it/MYM_Pb
Also in Audio book (narrated by Andi Arndt and Jason Clarke)
➜Amazon – https://smarturl.it/MYMa_Amazon
➜Apple – https://smarturl.it/MYMa_Apple
➜Audible – https://smarturl.it/MYMa_Audible

💕SEARCHING FOR LOVE (Book 6)
➜KINDLE: http://smarturl.it/SFL_Kindle
➜APPLE: http://smarturl.it/SFL_Apple 
➜NOOK: http://smarturl.it/SFL_Nook
➜KOBO: http://smarturl.it/SFL_Kobo 
➜GPLAY: http://smarturl.it/SFL_GPlay
➜PAPERBACK: http://smarturl.it/SFL_Pb
Also in audio book (narrated by Brian Pallino and Savannah Peachwood)
➜AMAZON: https://smarturl.it/SFLa_Amazon
➜APPLE: https://smarturl.it/SFLa_Apple
➜AUDIBLE:  https://smarturl.it/SFLa_Audible

❤️ HOT FOR LOVE (Book 7)
➜KINDLE: http://smarturl.it/HFL_Kindle
➜APPLE: http://smarturl.it/HFL_Apple
➜NOOK: http://smarturl.it/HFL_Nook
➜KOBO: http://smarturl.it/HFL_Kobo
➜GPLAY: http://smarturl.it/HFL_GPlay
➜PAPERBACK: http://smarturl.it/HFL_Pb
Also in audio book (narrated by Savannah Peachwood and Aiden Snow)
➜AMAZON: https://smarturl.it/HFLa_Amazon
➜APPLE: https://smarturl.it/HFLa_Apple
➜AUDIBLE: https://smarturl.it/HFLa_Audible

❤️Pre-order today!
❤️ THEN CAME LOVE (Book 9)
➜KINDLE: http://smarturl.it/TCL_Kindle
➜APPLE: http://smarturl.it/TCL_Apple
➜NOOK: http://smarturl.it/TCL_Nook
➜KOBO: http://smarturl.it/TCL_Kobo
➜GPLAY: http://smarturl.it/TCL_GP
➜PAPERBACK: http://smarturl.it/TCL_Pb

Review – Claimed

02 Monday Aug 2021

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Ward’s fans are sure to be super excited to see her come out with a new series!

*****

Claimed

The Lair of the Wolven, #1

by J.R. Ward

Blurb:

Lydia Susi is passionate about protecting wolves in their natural habitat. When a hotel chain develops a tract of land next to the preserve, Lydia is one of the most vocal opponents of the project—and becomes a target.

One night, a shadowy figure threatens Lydia’s life in the forest, and a new hire at the Wolf Study Project comes from out of nowhere to save her. Daniel Joseph is both mysterious, and someone she intrinsically wants to trust. But is he hiding something?

As the stakes get higher, and one of Lydia’s colleagues is murdered, she must decide how far she will go to protect the wolves. Then a shocking revelation about Daniel challenges Lydia’s reality in ways she could never have predicted. Some fates demand courage, while others require even more, with no guarantees. Is she destined to have true love…or will a soul-shattering loss ruin her forever? 

*****

Excerpt:

Chapter 1

Town of Walters, est. 1834 

Upstate New York

Lydia Susi’s Destiny came for her in the veil, on a random Thursday in the early spring.

As she ran along the wooded trail, two miles into a loop that would take her through the preserve’s northeastern acreage, she was measuring the glowing line that topped the contours of the mountains. Soon, the stripe would expand to an aura, and after that, the sun would accept the handoff from the moon, and day would arrive.

Her grandfather had always told her there were two twilights, two gloamings, and if you wanted to find your past, you went into the pines in the evening as the sun went down. If you wanted your future to come to you, you went alone into the forest in the veil, during that sacred transition of night into morning. There, he’d told her, when the distinction between that which ruled the light and that which held domain over the dark was at its narrowest, when the moon and the sun reached for each other before the rotations of their orbits tore them asunder, there was when the mortal could brush up against the infinite and seek answers, direction, guidance.

Of course, that did not mean you got good news. Or what you wanted.

But life was not an à la carte buffet where you could choose everything that went on your plate—another words-of-wisdom from a man who had lived to be 101 years old still smoking a pipe and drinking a glass of sima after his dinner year round.

Why limit spring to just Vappu? he’d said.

Lydia had never believed in his superstitions. She was a researcher, a scientist, and the kinds of things that her isoisa had gone on about did not fit in with that Ph.D. in biology she’d bought on layaway from the federal government and was still paying off.

So no, she was not out looking for any prognosti-cation from the universe this morning. She was get-ting her workout done before she headed into her office at the Wolf Study Project. With the way things had been going lately, she was going to blink and it would be seven at night. Short-staffed and under-funded, everything was a fight for resources at WSP, and by the time she locked things up every evening, she was exhausted. So Carpe Cardio was her motto and why she was out in this misty darkness—

Lydia let her stride peter to a halt.

Her breath pumped in clouds that captured and held the moonlight, and as a breeze came across the trail, her body did the same with the chill, grabbing it out of the air and bringing it in under her wind-breaker.

As she shivered, she looked behind herself. The trail she was on was the widest one in the preserve, a highway rather than a street, but she couldn’t see much into the trees. Pines crowded up close to the shoulders of the packed path, and the fog wafting through the craggy trunks and fluffy boughs obscured the forest even more.

In a quick calculation, she figured she was a good three miles from any other human, two miles from her car at the trailhead’s parking area, and a hundred yards from what had caught her attention.

There, up ahead, something was close to the ground, moving.

Fight or flight, Lydia, she thought. What’s it going to be.

She reached around to the small of her back. There were two cylinders mounted on the strap of her fanny pack, and she left the Mace where it was. Clicking on her flashlight and bringing it forward, she swung the beam in a wide arc—

The eyes flashed over on the left, a set of retinas flaring the light back at her as pinpoints. The stare was about three feet from the ground and the pupils were set close together, as predators’ were.

Lydia looked around again.

“I’m not going to bother you,” she said. But like the gray wolf spoke English?

The growl was soft. And then came the rustling. The animal was prowling toward her.

“Oh, shit.”

Except . . .

Lydia kept the beam down on the fallen pine needles as she, too, walked forward. Something was wrong with the wolf, its gait wobbly and uneven. Yet the spirit of the hunter remained undeterred—and she was identified as its target.

She was about twenty feet away when she got a sense of the fully mature male. He was filled out, at a healthy weight of about a hundred and thirty pounds, and his mottled white, gray, and brown fur was thick and lush, especially at the tail. But his head was hanging at a bad angle, and he was dragging his back paws as he continued to close the distance between them.

It was obvious when the wolf was going to collapse. Though his head remained forward, his body listed to the side, his will staying strong even as his rear legs, and then his forelegs, gave out.

He landed on the soft bed of pine needles on his side, and the struggle was immediate, useless paws batting at thin air and ground cover. As Lydia drew a little closer to him, he snarled, flashing long white fangs, his golden eyes narrowing.

“Shh . . .” she said as she kneeled down.

Her hand shook as she got out her cell phone. As she called a number from her favorites, she tried to keep her breathing steady.

In the flashlight’s beam, she could see the grayness of those gums. The wolf was dying—and she knew why.

“God damn it, pick up, pick up—” Her words ma-chine gun’d from her mouth. “Rick? Wake up, I’ve got another one. On the main trail—what? Yes, it’s the same—enough with the talking, get your ass out of bed. I’m on the loop, about two miles into the—huh? Yes, bring everything, and hurry.”

She cut the connection as her voice gave out.

Letting herself fall back to a sit, she stared into those beautiful eyes and tried to project love, acceptance, gentleness . . . compassion. And something got through, the majestic male’s muzzle relaxing, its paws falling still, his flank rising and falling in a shuddering breath.

Or maybe it was dying right now.

“Help is coming,” she said hoarsely to the animal.

*****

Review:

^^^^Warning! This review is going to include spoilers!^^^^

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Last warning – spoilers!

If you have not read at least a part of Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series, I think that you might find yourself a little lost with this one. While it is technically the first of a new series, it is a connected series and characters from the BDB world do appear. And apparently will be a pretty big part of it going forward. I have read quite a few BDB books but stopped a few years back because, for me, there was just too much going on in each one. I felt overwhelmed but I loved Ward’s writing & characters, and I do here as well, so I was excited at the idea of something “new”. Unfortunately that isn’t quite what we get.

Buuuut, for those that are BDB fans, I think that this could be promising. Claimed delivers a world that is intriguing in all that is going on unseen. And, since it ends on a cliffhanger (upsetting quite a few reviewers, btw), there is quite a bit to look forward to uncovering. I think that we get spoiled with most romance series because we expect for the main characters to have a HEA type ending and then we move on to other characters in the world. But because it is open ended, Claimed feels more like an introduction than the first book in a series.

Going into it knowing that, I think, would help a lot of people feel better about the pacing. It’s a slow unfolding but I found myself caught up in finding out exactly what is going on. Understanding that everything doesn’t get wrapped up by the end of the book would probably have helped me settle down and enjoy how things develop.

So, reading this you might think that it isn’t worth picking up but I think that’s wrong. I enjoyed Lydia and her dedication to the area’s wolves. And while Daniel is kind of a typical man-of-mystery drifter, he makes a good match for Lydia and I was curious exactly how he fit into things. I loved Candy, the receptionist, and her quirky, mouthy, in your face self. And I’m super intrigued to she how the mysterious local sheriff fits into things.

Overall, I think that this one has a very specific audience that needs to go into being aware of what to expect to truly be appreciated. But if you can get past a few of the more common complaints, and just let things come when they are ready, I think that you’ll find yourself involved and looking forward to what’s next.

Spotlight – Jett

23 Friday Jul 2021

Posted by in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

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If you haven’t had the pleasure of one of her books yet, just know that Sawyer Bennett knows how to deliver a fantastic read … especially when her hero is a hockey player!

*****

Jett

Arizona Vengeance series

by Sawyer Bennett

Blurb:

Jett Olsson isn’t looking for anything serious and she’s not looking for anything at all, so why does it seem so hard to keep it professional?

I love my life—the thrill of being on the ice as part of the Arizona Vengeance, the rush of winning, the adoration of the fans. And if that adoration means I don’t have to spend the night alone, well even better. I’m content being single and always ready to mingle.

But the day Emory Holland walks into a Vengeance team meeting my attention is caught like never before. I can tell right away she’s full of smarts and sass, and the fact that she’s hot as hell sure doesn’t hurt either. She immediately shuts down my advances, so I opt for the road less traveled—straight to the friend zone.

My approach works like a charm, and when she invites me into her bed for a no-strings, friends-with-benefits arrangement, I vow to give her everything I have. She’s been hurt before, and if I’m able to help her heal while giving her a spectacularly satisfying time *pats self on back*, then I’ll be happy.

Or at least that’s the lie I keep telling myself as the time ticks down on the final buzzer of our “relationship”. Now the real question is, can I score the winning goal in a game neither of us realized we were playing?

Purchase your copy of JETT now:

*****

Excerpt:

Shaking my head, I clear my throat and lift my chin to show my authority over him. “Mr. Olsson—”

“Jett—”

“Mr. Olsson,” I repeat. “Your IG account should reflect who you are as a person. It has to be genuine and it has to be true to yourself.”

“I am being true to myself,” he says, and I understand his message. He’s being relentless in his pursuit and that is who he is. He doesn’t take “no” for an answer very easily.

“I am never going to go on a date with you,” I say firmly, deciding to just cut to the chase. “So if you will just accept that and start tailoring your account to reflect—”

“I’ll make a deal with you,” he interrupts me with a roguish grin, and I’m so caught off guard by the dimple I can see poking out through the scruff on his face, I don’t shut him down.

He takes my momentary silence as permission to proceed. “Let me take you out to dinner. You spend some more time helping me understand how to be genuine in my posts, where I promise to follow your instructions, and I will never ask you out on a date again.”

My eyes narrow. “You’re saying if we go out for a meal—really a business dinner—you’ll legitimately let me teach you how to use your social media and you’ll follow my instructions, then you won’t ever ask me out again?”

Jett nods with a resounding expression of determination. “That’s what I’m saying.”

“You promise you’ll leave me alone,” I press.

“On a personal basis, yes. On a professional basis, I imagine we still have to work together.”

I settle back in my chair a minute, letting my brain search for some sort of loophole.

Some means by which he’s tricking me.

I also remind myself I won’t let myself get charmed by him at this dinner, and that I am going to stick to my absolute policy of not only not dating co-workers, but not dating anyone for that matter.

I’m not interested at this point in my life.

It’s still a little too personal, so I make a counteroffer. “I’ll agree to dinner with you, solely in a business capacity to help you learn more about how to do your social media in an authentic way. But I’m paying for dinner.”

“Deal,” he says quickly.

Too quickly.

Did I miss a loophole?

“Tonight?” he queries hopefully. The Vengeance doesn’t have a game.

I shake my head. “I’m sorry, but I already have plans.”

Jett isn’t dissuaded. “Saturday night.”

I don’t have any reason to say no. My Saturday nights are relatively boring, and I’d just as soon get this over with. 

“Fine,” I clip out. “But business only.”

“Business only,” he agrees.

*****

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 women’s 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 you’d like to receive a notification when Sawyer releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter (sawyerbennett.com/signup).

Website: https://sawyerbennett.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bennettbooks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bennettbooks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sawyerbennett123/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6950682.Sawyer_Bennett

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/sawyer-bennett

*****

Giveaway:

Enter the Release Giveaway for a signed copy of JETT
and a $100 Amazon Gift Card:

*****

Review – Dirty Ginger

22 Thursday Jul 2021

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Dirty Ginger, an all new emotional small town standalone romance from USA Today bestselling author Stacey Kennedy is available now!

*****

Dirty Ginger

Three Chicks Brewery #3

by Stacey Kennedy

Blurb:

Everyone at Three Chicks Brewery knows that Amelia Carter has the magic touch when it comes to creating the perfect beer. Her ales have customers singing her praises and begging for more. Unfortunately, when it comes to love, the only magic she seems to have is the cursed kind. After being left at the altar by her ex-fiancé, Amelia gives up on the idea of happily-ever-after to focus on making the Carter family brewery a national success. 

Beckett Stone finally started to believe in happily-ever-after the day Amelia’s worthless ex bailed on their wedding, finally giving Beckett another chance with his high school sweetheart— the only woman he’s ever loved. Unfortunately, Amelia’s broken heart is just one of the obstacles Beckett needs to overcome if he wants to win her for good. He knows he’s not the man Amelia deserves, particularly with his money-pit of a house, a 1975 truck that barely runs, an alcoholic father, and a universe that seems to have a twisted sense of humor when it comes to giving Beckett a break.

But when pressure mounts to make the Three Chicks Brewery’s top beer, Foxy Diva, into a huge success, Amelia starts to fall apart, and Beckett swoops in with his gentle reassurances and hard work ethic. While the last thing Amelia wants is fall in love again, she can’t deny that her heart beats a little faster whenever she sees Beckett walk through the door. Soon, every warm caress and soft whisper of understanding becomes a balm to both of them. As Beckett makes his intentions clear, Amelia must decide if she can overcome her shattered heart and believe in the magic of true love again.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ocBU4z
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/DirtyGinger
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3myU4gI
Nook: https://bit.ly/2KTpwrP
Apple Books: https://apple.co/3lvR9DU
Google Play: https://bit.ly/2Tl7NhG

Add Dirty Ginger to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3eLTudU

Start The Three Chicks Brewery Series today!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2BSznKo
Apple Books: https://apple.co/2ZYIlOq
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/sassyblonde 
Nook: https://bit.ly/3fewodK 
Kobo: https://bit.ly/2ZYICkq
Google Play: https://bit.ly/2ZV5KQr

*****

Excerpt:

After Amelia arrived back home, the lingering tension of meeting Luka followed her. She skipped the house and went straight for the brewery, needing to figure out a plan on getting it back into shape. With every step she took, she kept waiting for her heart to squeeze tight, missing Luka, to feel more broken, raw, anything, but she only felt glad to keep Beckett from facing jail time. And something about that kept rubbing her wrong. She’d spent nearly three years with Luka, why wasn’t she trying to understand why he ended things so cruelly? Why didn’t she want an explanation from him? Why wasn’t she ready to let him have it and to feel the pain he’d put her through? She amounted this to getting over the worst of her heartbreak in the tropics. But there was this little part of her heart that told her there was a good chance that Luka should have been in her rearview mirror for a long time, and maybe the reason she couldn’t hate him for what he’d done was because, beyond the embarrassment and the sadness that the life she dreamed up was over, maybe the life she thought she had with Luka wasn’t real to begin with. 

When she reached for the first tank, she noted the pungent smell in the brewery had improved greatly with the barn doors left open for most of the morning. The dust begrudgingly hadn’t improved. First thing first, the tanks needed cleaning. 

She only got one step into the barn, when from behind her, Beckett snapped, “What did you do?” 

Whirling around, she found Beckett’s face tight and muscles straining. The one bad thing about small towns was word got around fast, and obviously, he’d learned about her meeting Luka today. Trying to play dumb to avoid the conversation she didn’t want to have, she turned back to her work. “I’m about to clean my tanks,” she said. 

His voice tightened. “That is not the answer to my question, and you know it.” 

She refused to look back, hearing the anger in his low voice, and not wanting to see it on his face. “I did what had to be done,” she told him. To keep her hands busy, she reached for a cloth and began dusting along the stairs that led up to the top of the tank. 

“That payment was mine to make, Amelia, not yours,” he said, his voice barely controlled. “If you had asked me, I would have told you that I rejected his offer to pay him because I don’t want the prick to fix his nose. He should wear that shame for the rest of his life.” 

She’d never missed pina coladas on the beach more than she did right now. With a heavy sigh, she turned to face Beckett, spotting the vein in the middle of his head bulging like it would burst any second. Of course, she had expected him to show up, but she wasn’t expecting his anger. But it didn’t matter, she wanted this behind her. For good. “What is bothering you the most here, Beckett: that I paid to fix your problem or that Luka will get his nose fixed?” 

Beckett arched an eyebrow. “Do I need to pick one? Can’t both piss me off equally?” 

A laugh nearly escaped her, but nothing about any of this was funny. She knew all too well that fate was not in her hands. The death of her parents taught her that. But she didn’t need to sit by and let fate decide everything without fighting back either. “What did you expect me to do?” she countered, glaring at him. “Let you go to jail for me?” 

To anyone else, he’d look intimidating with his legs planted wide and his nostrils flaring, but she heard the warmth in his voice behind the tightness as he said, “I expect for you to come and talk to me about it, instead of giving that bastard your money.” 

Yeah, well, she could play the intimidating part too. She flatted her lips, placing her hands on her hips. “You never would have agreed to pay him if I’d asked you.” 

“You’re damn right I wouldn’t have,” he growled, his face reddening.

Heat flushed through her body as she ground her teeth, turning away from him. God, he’d always been a hard wall that she’d beat her head against. But she realized in this moment that her arguments were so different with Beckett than they were with Luka. Luka got upset when she wouldn’t change something about herself for him. Beckett only ever got upset when he felt she was treated wrongly. Her stomach roiled in awareness that she’d forgotten what it was like to have someone support her. “Well, it’s done and over and now we can all put this behind us and move on.” 

“Don’t kid yourself, Amelia. Nothing is behind us,” he said slowly and coldly, flicking her gaze to him. His look was all knowing. “You can’t simply brush this under a rug and hope it all goes away.” 

“Why not?” she asked, throwing up in hands in frustration. “Why can’t I pay Luka off and end this entire shitshow? What is the harm in that?”

Beckett’s expression softened. A smidgen. “The harm is that you caved when you shouldn’t have.” 

Her chest heaved, breathing become rough and rapid. “I caved to protect you.” 

A gust of wind swept up dirt up around him as he crossed his arms, his brows knotting. “I didn’t ask you to do that. If I had wanted to pay the asshole off, I would have fucking paid him.” 

“Yeah, right.” She snorted. “You have too much pride for that.” 

“This has nothing to do with pride,” he snapped, reaching into his back pocket. “This was my problem. Not yours.” He offered her a check. “I won’t pay him, but I will pay you. Take it.” 

“No,” she said, firmly. “My problem, not yours.” 

His eyes slowly narrowed into slits. “Amelia.” 

Her gut began to boil. She’d had about enough of men today. She tossed the cloth down on the stairs and closed the distance between them, getting into his space. “I get you’re pissed, really I do, but can’t you just say thank you and be done with it?” 

A laughter with an edge escaped him. “Do tell me what I should be thanking you for.” 

She was pushing him. She knew it. She also wasn’t about to back down. “For making this all go away. For ensuring that you wouldn’t get jail time. For protecting you like you protected me when your fist hit Luka’s face.” 

A pause. His gaze flared. “I will never thank you for that.”  

She stared him down, and he glared right back for many, many seconds. Years they’d been together, and from those years, she knew that he wouldn’t give, not when it came to protecting someone he cared about. The silence drudged on until she threw her hands up. “Honestly, Beckett, you’ll have to explain this to me. Why are you so mad?” 

Intensity simmered on his face as he closed the distance between them, bringing the hard wall of his chest nearly against hers. She felt the heat emanating off him and was shocked when her nipples puckered in response to him being this close. Tingles raced through her all the way to the tips of her toes as he said, tightly, “I’m mad about all of it. I’m mad that you left for college, and I was too much of a fucking mess to go with you. I’m mad that you met that fucker, and he got his damn claws into you. I’m mad that instead of you being blissfully happy, I watched your heart shatter before my eyes.” His chin dipped, bringing his mouth near inches from hers, his warm breath brushing across her face. “I’m mad that instead of that prick suffering, he has your fucking money to fix his stupid face. And I’m mad that I have no way to stop any of it.” 

The world narrowed on him with each and every meaningful word that passed his mouth. The affection, the protection, the sheer helplessness, all affected her in a way she never anticipated feeling again. She became tangled in the safe energy he projected. The familiarly of having him close. She took in his simmering eyes with so much emotion in them she could barely breathe. The heat of his body, the strength of him, so close to her. His sculpted lips drew her in, closer and closer, until her hands fisted his T-shirt and her mouth met his. 

Beckett stiffened. He did not return the kiss. 

At the coldness against her mouth, she gasped and broke away, horror making her blood run cold. “Oh my God, Beckett, I’m so sorry.” 

Only silence greeted her. Was he shaking? 

His eyebrow slowly arched. “Did you do that to shut me up or because you wanted to kiss me?” 

Heat crept over her face. “I don’t know why I did that.” She swallowed deeply, and then began rambling, “No that’s not true. I was just thinking how nice it felt to have someone protecting me and caring about me… and it seemed familiar and safe… and your mouth looked good…” 

More silence descended. Until all the shock on Beckett’s face was swept away to reveal raw, unadulterated lust, an expression she hadn’t seen from him for a very long time. It occurred to her then she missed being looked at like that – with fierce hunger. Like no other woman compared to her. Like he didn’t care what hell he had to walk through to reach her, he’d do it time and time again. Like he was just the reckless kid that wanted something and didn’t care what the consequences cost him. 

She wanted to be that person she was back then with him. The one who didn’t know what heartbreak felt like. The one who laughed often and believed anything was possible. She swallowed again, swearing her heart was beating loud enough for both of them to hear. 

A beat. 

Then a gasp ripped from her throat as he grabbed the front of her shirt and yanked her against the hard planes of his body. He did what she didn’t do. He finished the kiss. 

A moment later, her back hit the beer tank, and Beckett wasted no time devouring her neck with his hot kisses. She pushed off his cowboy hat to run her hands through his hair, feeling her sane mind unravel at his passion. Her mind shut off and only her body was thinking now. Beckett’s touch was imprinted on her skin, reminding her of teenage freedom and wild affection. 

“Ew, my eyes,” Maisie screamed. 

Amelia broke away from Beckett with a loud gasp, snapping her eyes open, finding her sisters standing in the barn’s open double doors. Maisie was blinking rapidly, and Clara’s back was ramrod straight. Amelia stared at them for a second before they both turned and walked away. 

Beckett chuckled proudly. But Amelia wasn’t laughing at what her sisters had caught her doing two weeks after she was dumped at the altar. “There is something wrong with me,” Amelia muttered. “Seriously, something wrong with me.  I can’t believe I just kissed you like that. I’m sorry, Beckett. Please forgive me.” 

Right as she raised her shaky hands to cover her face, Beckett grabbed her wrists. “There’s nothing wrong with you,” he stated. The kiss he dropped on her mouth was indecent and the best kiss of her entire life. He gave her a panty-melting smirk. “Just to clarify, I’m not one bit sorry about that kiss.” 

When he released her, she wobbled. Sure, back when they dated, Beckett had always known how to make her blush and kiss her just right, but this was a man’s kiss, not the kiss of a kid looking for some fun. This kiss had intent, power, and made her hunger to taste it again. 

Before she could even think straight, he was striding past her sisters, giving them a simple hello like what they’d walked in on was everyday business. 

Clara whirled around to Amelia, her eyes huge and mouth gaping open. She appeared to try to talk, but nothing was coming out. 

Maisie gave a shit-eating grin. “If that’s not a spectacular welcome home, I don’t know what is.”

*****

Review:

Amelia and Beckett were high school sweethearts, but tragedy separated them and the years have kept them apart. Given another chance, they take the opportunity to see if their feelings are still there.

For a story that begins with the bride being left at the alter and her ex-boyfriend punching the groom, Dirty Ginger is surprisingly drama free. I enjoy a story that takes its time, letting us get to know the characters and enjoy their changing relationship. And I really appreciate a hero who can own up to his issues and who is willing to seek out help … even if occasionally he falls into old habits.

Kennedy delivers a satisfying, slow burn second-chance love story. Not having read the rest of the series, I can’t make a comparison but I can say that it kept me happily turning pages to the very end.

(While I’m sure I would have loved getting to know Amelia’s sisters, Dirty Ginger can easily stand on its own.)

*****

Author Info:

Stacey Kennedy is a USA Today bestselling author who writes contemporary romances full of heat, heart, and happily ever afters. With over 50 titles published, her books have hit Amazon, B&N, and Apple Books bestseller lists.

Stacey lives with her husband and two children in southwestern Ontario—in a city that’s just as charming as any of the small towns she creates. Most days, you’ll find her enjoying the outdoors with her family or venturing into the forest with her horse, Priya. Stacey’s just as happy curled up indoors, where she writes surrounded by her lazy dogs. She believes that sexy books about hot cowboys or alpha heroes can fix any bad day. But wine and chocolate help too.

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*****

Spotlight – Minor Trouble

15 Thursday Jul 2021

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Seth Hudson’s relationship with the teenage son is hanging on by a thread. Guidance counselor Ainsley Coren is ready to help the father and son reconnect. Will Seth and his son be able to move forward and with Ainsley by their side, or will this minor trouble become too much? Readers will swoon for this redeemed hero romance featuring a sexy but lovable bad boy dad. Fall in love with your next book boyfriend with Minor Trouble by Julie Archer, the last book in the Single Dad’s Romance series.

*****

Minor Trouble

a redeemed hero romance

Single Dad’s Romance series

by Julie Archer

Blurb:

Seth Hudson has a reputation for being the “bad boy”. Trouble in his teen years led him down the wrong path but now, at almost thirty, he’s gotten his life together and things are going well. Until the fateful phone call that changes everything. 

Thirteen years ago, Seth fathered a child and was all but forced out of the boy’s life. With Noah’s mother passing away, it’s up to Seth to step up to the plate and raise the son he barely knows. But what does he know about parenting a teenager? 

Ainsley Coren has just moved to Cali Cross and is starting over as the high school guidance counselor. It doesn’t take long for her to encounter the troubled teen and his single father who are holding on by a thread. 

Making it her mission to help save this broken family, Ainsley steps in and goes above and beyond with the father and son duo. The more time she spends helping them, the more she slowly finds herself falling for the reformed bad boy/single dad. 

Can they make things work or will Ainsley bolt at the first sign of minor trouble?

Minor Trouble is an angsty contemporary romance featuring a redeemed hero and the guidance counselor who steals his heart. Download today and get ready to fall in love with your next favorite book boyfriend.

Add to Goodreads!  Goodreads → https://bit.ly/39xyftt

Read Now! Amazon → https://amzn.to/3n8dp9y

*****

Excerpt:

“I know it’s a lot to take in, Seth. You can contact me any time if you’ve got any questions.”

Numb, I swallowed hard and nodded. Then, realizing that Carol from Child Protective Services couldn’t see me, I found my voice. “Sure, of course I will. Thank you.”

“I’ll be in touch again so we can finalize everything.”

I almost nodded again. “Thank you. Talk soon.”

The line went dead.

It had been a Thursday just like any other.

Fixing cars, making plans for the weekend, chatting shit with Maddox.

Until the call that spun everything off its axis, turned the world upside down, and any other cliché you’d care to toss in for good measure.

My vision swam, legs trembling as I walked out of the office and back into the main part of the garage and over to the car I’d been working on. I grabbed the wrench to pick up where I’d left off, but it tumbled out of my grip clattering on the concrete floor with an almighty crash.

“Seth? You okay, buddy?” Maddox Riley called from the other side of the garage.

I tried to dislodge the huge lump in my throat, anything but okay. “Yeah, all good,” I managed.

“Shit, you look as if you’ve seen a ghost. You’ve gone really pale.”

Ha, she was haunting me already. I raked a hand through my hair. If I didn’t tell Maddox what was going on, he’d find out soon enough. I had to hope he was as flexible a landlord as he was a boss.

“You got a minute? There’s something you should know.”

He glanced up from the engine he’d been looking over. “Sure, gimme a sec.”

I headed towards the open door, inhaling a lungful of fresh air.

After a couple of minutes, Maddox joined me. “What’s up? Who was on the phone?”

“Child Protective Services needed to talk to me about Noah.”

Noah was my thirteen-year-old son: the result of an illicit relationship when I was sixteen with a cheerleader two years older than me.

“Is he okay?”

Slowly, I nodded.

He was fine.

He hadn’t been in the truck with his mother, her boyfriend, and her parents. He’d been hanging out with one of his buddies playing video games. For once, I thanked God for Noah’s Fortnite obsession.

“Then why did CPS need to talk to you?” Maddox rubbed at an oil mark on his wrist, eyes focused on trying to remove it.

“There was a car accident.” The lump grew even larger, making it increasingly difficult for me to get the words out. “Hannah, her mom and dad, her boyfriend—” My voice cracked. “Didn’t make it out. They’re gone.” Saying it out loud took some of the burden off of me, and I could at least share it with Maddox.

His eyes grew wide, staring silently at me.

Disbelief, confusion, anger, grief.

Without another word, he pushed me out of the way and pulled on the chains to shut the doors to the garage.

“We’re closing,” he stated. “I can’t let you go through this on your own.”

Once Maddox had made a few calls to let customers know about the unexpected early finish, we headed upstairs to the tiny apartment above the garage. After I’d come out of jail—a six-month stint for petty theft—Maddox had been my lifeline. He’d offered me a job through an offenders’ rehabilitation program, which had come with the apartment. Its one caveat was I could never be late for work.

Taking charge, Maddox got two bottles of beer out of the refrigerator, popped the caps, and handed one to me. We went over to the sofa and sat down at each end.

“Have you spoken to Noah?”

I shook my head, gulping down the beer. “Not yet.”

“What’s going to happen to him?”

I chewed on my lips, fingernails scratching at the label on the beer bottle. “I’m his biological father and the only living relative he has. I have to step up. There isn’t anyone else.”

Copyright 2021 Julie Archer

*****

Author Info:

Julie Archer is the 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, she can usually be found binge watching teen drama series on Netflix, or supporting Spurs (the English Premier League football team, not the American basketball team!) from my armchair, and running around after her two feline children, Corey and Elsa.

Real angst. Real romance.

Follow: Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | BookBub | Website| Newsletter | Amazon

*****

About the Single Dad’s Romance Series

Seven single dads, all from different walks of life and doing the best they can to raise their children – are ready to make you fall in love. 

From the celebrity dad just trying to protect the ones he loves from the spotlight…to the silver fox who’s out to prove it’s never too late to have a family of your own – this single dads collection guarantees to bring you a whole lot of love and of course, a happily ever after. 

Look no further, your next book boyfriend is here!

Follow the @IndiePenPR FB Page for all the Single Dad’s news: https://www.facebook.com/IndiePenPR

This promotional event is brought to you by Indie Pen PR

Spotlight – Whiskey and Sunset Nights

08 Thursday Jul 2021

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Grayson Pierce is struggling as a single dad but he’s doing the best he can in his new normal, until feelings for his late wife’s best friend, Lily Dean start to grow more than expected. Can they work through their loss together while falling in love with each other? Readers will swoon for this second chance romance featuring a sexy widower. Fall in love with your next book boyfriend with Whiskey and Sunset Nights by T. L. Anderson, the next book in the Single Dad’s Romance series.

*****

Whiskey and Sunset Nights

a widower romance

Single Dad’s Romance series

by T.L. Anderson

Blurb:

Grayson

After losing the love of his life to cancer, Grayson Pierce finds himself struggling with his new normal as a single dad. Moving back home to southern Minnesota with his five-year-old daughter Ella, feels like the only option to keep his sanity.

Living on his family farm, he spends his days taking care of Ella and running his construction company – working small jobs to keep his mind off things. Until Lily Dean shows up in his kitchen.

Lily

Losing her best friend to cancer was the worst thing that could have happened to her. Having Ella and Grayson back in her hometown, keeps the memories of her friend burning in her mind.

Spending her days running her own bookstore, Lily takes Ella under her wing, allowing her to explore the world of books and helping her cope with the loss of her mother. But then, there’s Grayson.

He’s her best friend’s husband, or was.

With each passing day, Lily and Grayson find their once casual friendship slowly flourishing into something more. 

Can they work through their respective loss and let love in or are they destined for nothing more than a few shots of whiskey and sunset nights?

Add to Goodreads!  Goodreads → https://bit.ly/3tVZ4PK

Read Now! Amazon → https://amzn.to/3dDhj75

*****

Excerpt:

My dad takes a sip of his coffee, listening intently as Ella tells him about all the stops her and Uncle Ash took. Apparently, they stopped at a rest stop that had a gigantic rubber band ball in a case, and it had over 3,000 rubber bands wrapped around it. “That’s pretty neat there, kid. I bet it was fun taking all those stops with Uncle Ash. Did you see any animals while you were driving here?” Dad asks her.

“We did!” She looks at her hands, her eyebrows drawn down as she counts off her fingers. “We saw cows and pigs. Oh, and horses!”

“Don’t forget the llama,” Asher chimes in as he enters the kitchen. I glance up at him while taking a sip of my coffee and freeze mid-sip as I see who’s standing next to him. My heart races as my stomach drops out.

“Hey there, Gray.” Lily Dean stands before me.

My heart stops as I see the only other woman who can shatter me to pieces again. Something inside of me wants to let her. Seeing her makes me feel something besides numbness. Something raw and visceral.

Her brown hair hangs down her back in thick curls, and her blue eyes are hesitant as she stands off to the side of Asher with her hands clasped in front of her. She’s wearing a pair of cutoff jean shorts and a plain white T-shirt, which makes her tanned skin pop.

Asher walks over to Ella, picking her up and placing her on his shoulders. “Come on, kid, let’s go see your new room.” Without another word, they head out of the kitchen.

My dad pushes up from his seat, coffee mug still in hand. “I’m going to go help them before they cause too much chaos.” He stops next to Lily and kisses her on the cheek in a fatherly way. “It’s good to see you, Lils.”

She breaks eye contact with me to look at my dad, her gaze filled with gratitude. “Good to see you too, Mr. Pierce.”

“I told you call me Jack. You’re not the scraggly little ten year old anymore. We’re all friends here,” Dad calls out as he disappears from the room.

“Lily,” I breathe out. The last time I saw her was at Missy’s funeral. Lily and Missy were inseparable. She’d come and visit us out east every year and stay for a few weeks, and she and Missy would stay up late to catch up on gossip from back home. When she showed up to the funeral, it felt like my heart was being ripped out yet again. It was always Missy and Lily. So how am I supposed to look at her now without seeing the absence of my dead wife?

She clears her throat while shifting from one foot to the other. “I didn’t mean to intrude. I was just stopping by to drop your dad off some old truck manuals I found for him. He’s been fixing up that old 1972 Chevy parked in the garage. It needs a lot of work, but I think he’ll get it running again soon.” She’s rambling on about the truck, and all I can do is stare at her. “Anyways, so I didn’t realize you’d be here today. I mean I knew you were coming back home, but I didn’t know it was today. I better get going so you all can get settled in.” She fiddles with the hem of her shirt, a nervous habit she’s had since she was a kid.

“It’s fine. Stay for dinner with us.” My mouth blurts out the invitation before my brain can think through if this is a good idea or bad.

Her eyes widen. “Oh no, I can’t intrude. Ella needs time to get comfortable, and I’m sure she’ll want to spend time with Jack.”

Just at that moment Ella comes running into the room. “Lily, if you stay for dinner, we can have a tea party after!” She squeals with excitement as she puts her hand in Lily’s catching her off guard.

Lily looks between Ella and me. I can see the conflict written in her features as she tries to keep her distance from me, but also not let Ella down. “Oh Ells, I’d love to…”

Before she can say anything else I cut her off, “Perfect. Ell, go wash up and you can help me and Lily cook some dinner. How about hotdogs and burgers on the grill?”

She starts jumping up and down. “Yay! I’ll be right back. Don’t start without me!” she yells while running down the hall to the bathroom.

Lily doesn’t move. She bites her lip between her bottom teeth before speaking. “I don’t want to be a burden, Gray. I don’t want to replace…”

Copyright 2021 TL Anderson

*****

Author Info:

T. L. Anderson currently lives in Wisconsin where it’s freezing cold in the winter and has five months of enjoyable weather year round. Her house is filled with constant chaos between her teenage daughter and infant son, two rambunctious dogs, a stubborn cat, and guinea pigs that keep her and her husband on their toes.   Since the age of three, she has loved reading and creating her own stories in her mind. Now her passion has developed into a career. After earning a certificate from the Children’s Institute of Literature she decided it was time to put the multiple characters in her head onto paper so she can share their stories with the world.  She’s the author of multiple novels which include new adult, romantic suspense, and paranormal reverse harem.   She has a slight obsession with doughnuts, coffee, and dinosaurs. When she’s not writing you can find her lurking on social media looking for new books to read, taking care of her mini-zoo at home, or having her nose stuck in a book.

Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Goodreads | BookBub | Website | Amazon

*****

About the Single Dad’s Romance Series

Seven single dads, all from different walks of life and doing the best they can to raise their children – are ready to make you fall in love. 

From the celebrity dad just trying to protect the ones he loves from the spotlight…to the silver fox who’s out to prove it’s never too late to have a family of your own – this single dads collection guarantees to bring you a whole lot of love and of course, a happily ever after. 

Look no further, your next book boyfriend is here!

Follow the @IndiePenPR FB Page for all the Single Dad’s news: https://www.facebook.com/IndiePenPR

This promotional event is brought to you by Indie Pen PR

Review – Flag on the Play

02 Friday Jul 2021

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Carson Ward goes from star Quarterback to single dad the second his ex drops a newborn off on his doorstep, he needs help, and luckily for him, his best friend’s sister, Abby Lauder is ready to rise to the challenge. But can the two go from secret crushes to dirty diapers and late-night feedings without ruining the walls that have been built or will they realize that love is worth the risk? Readers will swoon for this Best Friend’s Sibling romance featuring a sexy doorstep dad. Fall in love with your next book boyfriend with Flag on the Play by Kay Gordon, the next book in the Single Dad’s Romance series.

*****

Flag on the Play

a best friend’s sibling romance

Single Dad’s Romance Series

by Kay Gordon

Blurb:

Carson Ward’s life might seem glamorous but he’s a simple guy. He loves football, his family, and spending time with his friends. His biggest flaw might just be the fact that he has a secret crush on his best friend’s little sister and has for years.

Abby Lauder is a free spirit and loves seeing life through the lens of her camera. As the photographer for a professional football team, she’s used to being just one of the guys. Whether she’s taking pictures of nature or pictures of football players, she never fails to catch the perfect image. So what if her camera lingers on her brother’s best friend a bit longer than others?

When Carson’s ex-girlfriend drops a newborn baby off on his doorstep, he’s caught completely unaware. He never dreamed that he would go from star quarterback to a single dad in an instant. Luckily, he has help from those around him- including Abby. But, taking care of a newborn baby isn’t easy and it’ll require the quarterback and the photographer to spend even more time together. 

Amidst the diaper changes and late night feedings, hiding their feelings from each other will be harder than they think. Besides, their relationship is taboo in far too many ways for things to really go anywhere between them…right? 

Or maybe Carson and Abby will realize that sometimes love is worth the risk.

Add to Goodreads!→ https://bit.ly/3sqcwKm

Read Now! Amazon → https://amzn.to/3v81KKr

*****

Excerpt:

Silence fell over us as we headed out of the locker room and to the tunnel. I was running through a list of things I needed to get from the grocery store when I heard the unmistakable click of a camera.

Normally that sound gave me a bit of a fight or flight reaction. After years of being in the media spotlight, I still wasn’t as used to it as some might assume. It was a necessary evil with my occupation, though, and I did my best to ignore them completely.

Inside the stadium, though, the sound gave me a different type of reaction. When I glanced over, my eyes landed on where a big professional camera was pointed right in our direction. The person behind the camera, however, was what grabbed my attention.

Abby was easily the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. Her shiny, light-brown hair fell halfway down her back and looked so damn soft. She had eyes that were such a light brown color that they almost appeared gold. She didn’t usually wear makeup and didn’t need to. Her natural beauty was enough.

She was also tiny. She couldn’t have been an inch over five-four with a curvy body that matched her small stature well. She caught eyes of people wherever we were and it irritated me more than it should’ve. Despite her small appearance, Abby had a big personality. She laughed all the time and made friends with everyone she met.

You’d think after working with her for more than two years and knowing her for almost six, I’d be over my infatuation with her, but it never seemed to go away. Not really. I was good at ignoring and pretending, though.

Because I had to. Trevor made it clear to everyone when she started working as the Wildcats official team photographer that his little sister was off-limits.

It sucked.

“Hey, Abs.” I offered her a bright smile, pushing back my attraction to her. “Make sure you pick the best ones of me and the worst ones of this troll to use, okay?”

Trevor let out a bark of laughter and used one hand to shove me back as he approached his little sister. “She would never do me dirty like that, would you, short stuff?”

“You know better than to ask that question,” she replied with a snort as she lowered her camera and ducked away from her brother, who was probably about to give her a noogie of some kind. “I pick only the ugliest of your ugly face.”

“Don’t make me call Mom,” he warned, laughter in his voice. “She won’t take well to you hurting her baby boy’s feelings.”

Abby rolled her eyes. “The sad thing is that you’re right.”

It was weird to see the two of them together and to think that they were related in anyway. Other than the color of their hair, Abby and Trevor looked nothing alike and the contrast between their overall appearance was almost laughable.

Watching them together always made me miss my own little sister. Parker and I were close but while I was in Denver playing football, she was in Sacramento and working for a pro-hockey team. We were close and always had been, so it sucked that we didn’t get to see each other more. The little brat was happy, though, and that was all that mattered.

“Exactly.” Trevor flashed his sister a smug smile before jerking his chin towards her. “What are these pictures for?”

She shrugged and glanced down at the camera she was holding. “Everyone wants to see what the Wildcats are doing to prepare for the season, so I’m snapping a little bit of everything.”

“Are you ready for another season?” I asked as I adjusted the duffel bag on my shoulder.

Abby nodded and a bright smile crossed her face, making her even more beautiful.

“I enjoy the traveling, but I get more time to explore than you guys do.” She glanced behind her when we heard others coming down the tunnel. “Let me go snap some photos of these guys. See you both later?”

“See you at home,” Trevor confirmed with a nod and I just smiled at her.

“See you later, Abby.”

Copyright 2021 Kay Gordon

*****

Review:

There’s so much to like about Gordon’s newest release (besides the fact that Carson going ga-ga over his newborn daughter is one of the sweetest things ever!) Both Carson and Abby are nice people trying their best to push down their feelings for the other. There’s the whole big brother thing going on but it is also against their employment contracts. And while yes, those are both big concerns, the biggest is the fear that their feelings may be one sided. But a little time spent alone together might just show them how good things could be.

This is definitely a slow burn, so don’t go into it expecting anything else. Over the first part of the book, we get to know Carson & Abby and join Carson while he learns what it means to be a new dad (so cute!) When circumstances throw them alone together, things definitely heat up. So do the complications. But it makes it all the better as they work their way to their own HEA.

Flag on the Play is a sweet, low angst, fast read – perfect for a day at the beach, by the pool, or just lounging on the sofa.

*****

Author Info:

Kay Gordon is a married, mother of two living near the west coast. She spends her days teaching young, impressionable minds in public school and evenings typing away furiously once her children are in bed. She loves to take her characters on a journey, making that happy ending even better!

Her favorite genre to read is Contemporary Romance but won’t hesitate to try anything with promise. One of her favorite past times is to read the book and then go see the movie while forcing her husband to listen to her point out all of the differences in real time. She’s still not over what Harry did to the Elder Wand in DH2.

When she’s not teaching or writing, Kay loves to spend time with her family and friends, although she doesn’t ever say no to a good nap. She’s an avid lover of hockey and can be seen cheering for her beloved Nashville Predators- no matter how much they frustrate her.

Kay always welcomes feedback and comments (or even just a healthy argument about why Backstreet Boys are better than *Nsync) so please don’t hesitate to reach out!

Follow: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | BookBub | Amazon

*****

About the Single Dad’s Romance Series

Seven single dads, all from different walks of life and doing the best they can to raise their children – are ready to make you fall in love. 

From the celebrity dad just trying to protect the ones he loves from the spotlight…to the silver fox who’s out to prove it’s never too late to have a family of your own – this single dads collection guarantees to bring you a whole lot of love and of course, a happily ever after. 

Look no further, your next book boyfriend is here!

Follow the @IndiePenPR FB Page for all the Single Dad’s news: https://www.facebook.com/IndiePenPR

This promotional event is brought to you by Indie Pen PR

Review – Flipping Love You

30 Wednesday Jun 2021

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Flipping Love You, an all-new STEAMY and laugh-out-loud, surprise baby standalone romance by New York Times bestselling author Erin Nicholas, is available now!

*****

Flipping Love You

Boys of the Bayou Gone Wild series

by Erin Nicholas

Blurb:

He’s the tattooed bad boy her mama warned her about.

She’s his hot mess–but mostly hot–next door neighbor. 

Until a two-night-stand gives them the surprise of a lifetime…

Jillian Morris is a workaholic who forgets to watch the time. And to eat. And to change her shoes. And to keep even a house-plant alive. And to have any kind of a personal life.

Now an eccentric millionaire has left her eight million dollars. And eight penguins. Yes, real live penguins. She’s a wildlife vet who specializes in penguins, so that makes sense. Kind of. She can, and does, keep penguins alive and well. She now just has to move them cross-country to her friend’s new animal park.

So if anyone deserves a one-night (or two) stand with a hot, younger, tattooed bad boy on a motorcycle, it’s her. Or so Jill tells herself when Zeke Landry flips his bike in front of her motel.

If only she’d known who he really was.

And that he was the fall-hard-and-fast type.

And the protective type.

And that one night would turn into more like nine-months of being …sigh…very personal.

Fall in love today! 

Amazon: https://amzn.to/34weUFK

Apple Books: https://apple.co/3yLhyW6

Nook: https://bit.ly/3uxusE3

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3g9PCD0

Google Play: https://bit.ly/3yZSU4i

Add Flipping Love You to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3c3dmaB

*****

Excerpt:

He  lifted a hand to run it through his wet hair.

Her eyes followed the motion, seemingly riveted on his arm. He wasn’t sure if it was the tattoo or what exactly. But he did know that Jillian was fascinated with his ink. She had traced all of it with her fingers and tongue last night more than once. And he had a lot of ink.

“I’m the guy who’s remodeling your house.”

Her eyes widened. “We’re going to be neighbors.”

He let his grin grow slowly. “Yup.”

She tipped her head back and groaned.

But it wasn’t one of the hot oh-my-God-yes groans she’d been giving him last night. This was more of oh-crap groan.

“You’re clearly not as excited about that as I am,” he said dryly.

Her head came up and she met his eyes. Now there was no roaming over his half naked body. She shook her head. “It just feels complicated to live next door to the guy I’m hooking up with once a month.” 

He was confused. “We’re hooking up once a month?”

“Well, that was what I was going to propose anyway. Friends with benefits, you know? After last night I thought that could be kind of fun.”

“That would be fun. Very, very fun,” he said. “But why only once a month? I’m up for that kind of fun way more often.”

“Sure. But then it turns into more like dating or a relationship or something rather than just getting together for hot sex.”

“And I take it the relationship and dating thing is something you’re trying to avoid?”

“Very much so. And living next door to you means that we’ll see each other occasionally and since you’ll be saving me from alligators on a regular basis, we could potentially turn into actual friends. And that makes the hooking up even more complicated.”

Having the sun up hadn’t made him feel any less attracted to, slightly confused by, surprised by, and definitely amused by this woman. “But friends with benefits has friends right in the title.”

This all sounded good to him. Having a neighbor he could get naked with whenever the urge struck, who didn’t want anything else from him, sounded pretty great.

“I’m just really not interested in a relationship,” Jill went on. “I’m not good at them. And I don’t really have time for them. And I don’t put the effort into them, which ends up bothering the other person after a while. Which is understandable. I’m not blaming anyone. I just really like to have everything laid out and everyone on the same page. And I like sex. It would be really perfect to be able to have amazing sex, but only when it’s convenient.”

Zeke gave a soft snort. Convenient hot sex. It really did sound pretty amazing.

“If you just want to walk through my door, only wearing a robe and nothing underneath to save time, I’m not gonna kick you out, cher,” he told her. He was half-teasing. But only half.  

She finally gave him a hint of a smile. “I can just show up on your front porch anytime I want?”

He reached up and cupped the side of her head. He brought her in close and put his mouth against hers. “Any freaking time.”

*****

Review:

I’ve featured a lot of Erin Nicholas’s books, but have only managed to read a couple. Don’t ask my why, I’ve really enjoyed the ones that I have read. And Flipping Love You is no different. Her characters are quirky, charming, and fun. The plot is interesting, the sex is steamy, and the ending is satisfying.

Jill is adorable in her efforts to keep her life outside of her penguins as uncomplicated as possible. Her solitary, independent life has worked for her until now but moving to Autre puts her in the path of the Landrys and their loud, boisterous, loving hearts. Especially, one particular Landry – sexy, funny, irresistible Zeke. It doesn’t take her long to learn that things are done a little bit differently on the bayou … and realize that maybe that’s not so bad.

Nicholas’s newest is a humor laden, relatively drama free, sizzling romance that is a perfect summer read. Returning readers are sure to love the chance to catch up with old friends and see Zeke meet his match. (But if this is your first visit to Autre, like me, you can easily keep up. Although you may be tempted to get ALL the books, like me 🙂 )

*****

Author Info:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Erin Nicholas has been writing romances almost as long as she’s been reading them. To date, she’s written over thirty sexy, contemporary novels that have been described as “toe-curling,” “enchanting,” “steamy,” and “fun.” 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 “shocked” by the sex scenes in her books).

Website: http://bit.ly/2NkB2uF 

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2tdTM8e 

Twitter: http://bit.ly/2QLd1Pr 

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/3a3rnm4 

Instagram: http://bit.ly/36NqV9y

Website: http://bit.ly/2FM3Doo

Stay up to date with Erin Nicholas by joining her mailing list: http://bit.ly/38a5Fv5

*****

Spotlight – There’s More To It

24 Thursday Jun 2021

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Workaholic Sebastian Keller wasn’t expecting to adopt the kid he befriended in his building, but now he’s invested and he will do whatever it takes, even if that means faking a relationship with Stevie Summers. She’s down on her luck, he’s trying to become a father, together, they can help each other, but can they stop themselves from falling in love? Readers will love this fake romance featuring a swoony adoptive dad. Fall in love with your next book boyfriend with There’s More To It by Allie York, the next book in the Single Dad’s Romance series.

*****

There’s More To It

a fake relationship romance

Single Dad’s Romance series

by Allie York

Blurb:

I’m Sebastian Keller and I’m a workaholic.

Multi-million-dollar companies don’t run themselves and I work hard to keep mine at the top. Befriending a kid was never on my agenda, but the second I set foot into my new apartment, he’s there to show me the ropes. When his foster family can’t keep him anymore, my choice is clear. The only thing I need to make him part of my life is something money can’t buy. A girlfriend.

I’m Stevie Summers and I’m barely scraping by.

I was on the right track. I had a fiancé, a job, and a degree. Until my fiancé cheated, and my mom died. Now I’m back at home scrambling for work and trying to pay my dad’s bills. I can forget about my love life entirely. Until a blast from my past comes into my life with an offer, I’d be stupid to refuse. Play his girlfriend. In return, he pays the bills. I’d be stupid to say no, and even stupider to fall in love. 

Add to Goodreads! https://bit.ly/3ffC7Ty

Read Now! Amazon → https://amzn.to/3gwCCsM

*****

Excerpt:

I have to look like a freaking fish, opening and closing my mouth over and over. Brown hair, hazel eyes, that face that not even time can make me forget. “Holy shit! Sebbie?” Talk about a blast from the past. I look the man in front of me up and down. The last time I saw Sebastian Keller, he was eighteen, gangly, and had acne, and I was madly in love with him. The Seb in front of me is definitely not a kid anymore. He’s at least six-foot with a chiseled jaw for days and is rocking the gray sweatpants like a porn star. There’s definitely dick print there. And I’m not unimpressed. Oh, my god, stop looking at his junk.

“Stevie. Wow.” He breaks our mutual silence, and my eyes snap up from perusing his body. Face. Yes. Focus on his face. Hazel eyes, a little stubble, a swoop of dark hair on his forehead. Yup. Still Seb standing there. I take stock of the features one more time just to be sure and come to the same conclusion. Sebastian is my delivery, and time was good to this man. He grew up real nice. He’s checking me out too, but like a gentleman: he’s staring at my face, those eyes I know so well searching my face for something. I think back to right before I got out of my car and try to figure out what he sees right now. My eye makeup was on point at the beginning of the night, but I’ve worked a whole shift at the coffee shop and delivered ten meals since then. My hair is… I probably shouldn’t think about it. The ponytail it started in is probably lopsided and messy, but nothing I can do about it now.

“I take it this is your dinner since you’re in front of the only penthouse I see?” I offer the food and hold it between us. After way too long, he takes it very slowly like he may spook me if he moves too fast. The way my heart is hammering tells me this might be true.

“Yeah. Thanks.” His hand wraps around the bag, and I scope it for a ring. Nothing. Interesting. We keep staring at each other, and my hand falls uselessly to my side. “Do you want to come in?” As soon as he says it, Seb’s brows furrow like he’s surprised himself.

“I, uh, no. I don’t want to bother you.” I shake my head and take a step back. I am not emotionally stable enough for this, and I’m not wearing lipstick.

“Right. You’re working. Sorry.” Seb winces, or tries to smile, I can’t tell.

“No, you’re it. For now.” Good job, Stevie, now you don’t have an excuse to leave.

“Then come in for a second. I’m starving and need to sit down after that run. I can’t believe you’re here.” Then I get a real smile and know for sure that this sexy man in front of me is the same Seb from my childhood. That smile does the same thing now that it did fifteen years ago. My face gets hot, and I chew my bottom lip.

“Yeah. Okay. Just for a second.” I nod, trying to figure out why I just agreed to this. I smell like fried food, dogs, and coffee. Not a good combo, and I’m sure I look as tired as I am, but my stupid feet don’t get the memo, and they do the opposite of what my rational brain is saying. Seb tips his head for me to follow him in.

Copyright 2021 Allie York

*****

Author Info:

Allie is a mom and domestic canine appearance technician by day and an author by night. She loves all things nerdy, strong coffee, and cozy mysteries. If there’s a fandom to be in, she’s probably in it and has a soft spot for happily ever afters. 

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | BookBub | Website| Amazon

*****

About the Single Dad’s Romance Series

Seven single dads, all from different walks of life and doing the best they can to raise their children – are ready to make you fall in love. 

From the celebrity dad just trying to protect the ones he loves from the spotlight…to the silver fox who’s out to prove it’s never too late to have a family of your own – this single dads collection guarantees to bring you a whole lot of love and of course, a happily ever after. 

Look no further, your next book boyfriend is here!

Follow the @IndiePenPR FB Page for all the Single Dad’s news: https://www.facebook.com/IndiePenPR

This promotional event is brought to you by Indie Pen PR

Spotlight – The Summer of No Attachments

21 Monday Jun 2021

Posted by in Blog Tour, Sneak Peek

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From New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Lori Foster comes the heartwarming story of two best friends who cross paths with a pair of new-in-town brothers with one angry little boy in tow. A standalone story of second chances at life and love, with found family and rescued animals, perfect for fans of Jill Shalvis, Sarah Morgan, and Lori Wilde.

*****

The Summer of No Attachments : A Novel 

by Lori Foster

On Sale Date: June 22, 2021

9781335459893

Trade Paperback

$16.99 USD

336 pages

Blurb:

Summer flings with no strings mean nobody gets hurt.

At least, that was the plan…

After putting the brakes on her dead-end relationship, local veterinarian Ivey Anders is ready to soak up this summer on her own terms. The way she sees it, no dating means no disappointment. Why complicate life with anything long-term? But when she meets Corbin Meyer—and his troubled young son, Justin—Ivey’s no-strings strategy threatens to unravel before she can put it into practice.

Trust doesn’t come easy for Ivey’s best friend, Hope Mage, a veterinary-clinic assistant who’s affected by an incident that’s colored every relationship she’s had. Though Hope’s happy for Ivey, she can’t quite open her own heart to the possibility of love. Not just yet… Maybe not ever. Soon, however, she’s faced with a dilemma—Corbin’s older brother, Lang. He’s charming, he’s kind…and he may just be the reason Hope needs to finally tear down her walls.

And as the sweet summer months unspool, the two friends discover love won’t give up on them so easily.

Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/books/the-summer-of-no-attachments/9781335459893

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ioRrfn

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-summer-of-no-attachments-lori-foster/1137483437?ean=9781335459893

Books-A-Million: https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Summer-No-Attachments/Lori-Foster/9781335459893?id=7036960299115

Indie Bound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781335459893

*****

Excerpt:

Chapter One

Ivey Anders shoved back a wayward curl and gently secured the dog against her body so it couldn’t move while her tech, Hope Mage, carefully clipped away the twisted wire. The poor thing, a stray by the looks of it, had gotten itself tangled pretty tightly and one hind leg was in bad shape. Ivey wanted to get it to the clinic where she could properly assess the damage.

Mud caked the fur, making it difficult to find any other injuries just yet, but there was one astounding fact Ivey couldn’t ignore.

Behind her, the homeowner groused that the dog had likely been stealing eggs from his chicken coop.

Voice calm, temper mostly in check, Ivey said, “You didn’t hesitate to call me, did you, Marty?” It was well-known that Marty was not a fan of dogs, or cats for that matter, and mostly considered them a nuisance. However, they’d come to an agreement some time ago. Marty, who owned a fair amount of wooded acreage, was supposed to call her if a stray showed up, and she, as the local vet, would take care of the “problem” for him.

Laura, his wife, was quick to say, “I called.” Defiant to Marty, she added, “Soon as I heard the poor thing, in fact.”

Which didn’t mean much. The animal might have been there for hours. Possibly more than a day, though Ivey couldn’t bear the thought of that.

“She’s pregnant, you know.” Refusing to take her eyes off the dog and unwilling to raise her voice since it might frighten the animal more, Ivey said, “If she took an egg, it would have been from starvation—and you already know I would have compensated you for it.”

Affronted, Marty grumbled, “I wasn’t worried about one egg, just don’t want to lose my chickens.” He cleared his throat. “If it helps any, I was out here this morning and she wasn’t caught then. Afternoon I watered my garden, and that’s why there’s so much mud. So I doubt she was hung up there more than a few hours.”

The fist around Ivey’s heart loosened just a little. “That helps tremendously, Marty. Thank you.”

More times than she could count, Ivey had taken on problems with stray animals who needed special love and care. It didn’t matter that she’d been working as a veterinarian for years now, seeing all manner of hurt, neglected or just plain ill animals. She still loved them all, and when one hurt, she hurt with it.

“No thanks necessary,” Marty complained, his tone gruff with insult. “Not like I’d let an animal suffer.”

Ivey had a feeling their definitions of suffer varied a bit, but she realized this mattered to him, and she was too grateful to quibble so she just nodded.

Almost got it,” Hope murmured, and with one last clip, the wire loosened. “There.” Fingers gentle, she disentangled the dog’s leg, exposing a painful wound.

Ivey murmured to the small animal all the while, cooing softly, petting and holding her secure. The second she was able to sit back on the muddy ground, she pulled the dog into her lap. With her face close to the top of the dog’s head, she whispered, “There now, that’s better, isn’t it? We’ll get you all fixed up, I promise.”

“Here.” Slipping off her zip-up hoodie, Hope offered it to Ivey to wrap around the dog. “Do you want me to get the carrier?”

Busy swaddling the dog, careful not to jar her, Ivey shook her head. “She doesn’t weigh more than ten or eleven pounds. I’ll carry her to the truck and we’ll see how it goes.” Feeling mud seep into the seat of her pants, she realized she couldn’t get up without letting go of the dog. Lifting a brow at Hope, she said, “A little help?”

“Oh sure.” Hope caught her under one elbow, and Laura hurried forward to take the other, giving her the leverage she needed.

Marty stepped back to avoid getting muddy.

Carefully, the two women got Ivey on her feet. The thick mud was heavy on the seat of her pants, dragging on her stretch jeans that had loosened throughout the day. At least her rubber boots wouldn’t be ruined. Since they treated all sorts of animals, including those on farms, she and Hope each kept a pair at the clinic.

“Let’s go.” Plodding forward, Ivey led the way to the truck. Halfway there, the dog started panting. Concerned, she hastened her step, not at all worried about getting mud on the truck seats. “No need for the crate. Just get us back to the clinic.”

Picking up on her angst, Hope ran around to the driver’s side and got the truck on the road in record time. “Everything okay?”

“Not really, no. Something’s wrong.”

“What should I do?”

Poor Hope. A sick cat had kept them an hour past closing, and then Marty had called… “I’m sorry.” Ivey barely took her gaze off the stressed dog. “Do you think you could assist me at the clinic?”

“Of course I will! You don’t even have to ask.” Frowning, Hope muttered, “Did you think I’d drop you off with a dog in distress? Tell you good luck?” She snorted. “Have I ever done that?”

She and Hope were close enough that Ivey knew she’d inadvertently insulted her. “No, you haven’t. But it’s Friday night after a very long day.”

“It’s Friday night for you, too, you know.”

“What a sad situation for us both.” Despite her worries, Ivey chuckled. “Most women would have plans, and yet we never do.”

“You have Geoff.”

Ivey made a face. “Lot of good that does me.” Likely Geoff was settled on the couch already, watching sports or playing a video game. The excitement had left their relationship a long time ago, so she doubted he’d even notice her absence.

For her part, Hope never dated. That bothered Ivey a lot, but she loved Hope enough that she would never pry.

Smiling at her friend, Ivey said, “I’m glad I won’t have to do this alone.”

“Not ever,” Hope vowed. “Even if by some miracle I ever do have something worthwhile lined up for the weekend, I’d still be here for you, okay?”

Her friendship with Hope meant so much more than any other relationship Ivey had, including her lackluster romance with Geoff. “Smartest thing I ever did was hire you.”

“I’m so glad you did,” Hope whispered. “Otherwise we might not have become friends, then where would I be?”

“Let’s just agree that we’re better off together.” Though Ivey was ten years older than Hope, they’d still hit it off from the start, meshing together as if they’d been lifelong friends. Where Ivey was take-charge and sometimes a little too outspoken, Hope was an intent listener with an enormous heart.

Ivey often wanted to challenge the world, and Hope, sadly, wanted to hide from it.

Or more accurate, she wanted to hide from any interested men.

Hope had an affinity with animals, plus a gentle but sure touch. She was never squeamish, but she exuded sympathy. Ivey valued her. The clients loved her. And the animals trusted her.

Unfortunately, they were still five minutes away from the clinic when the dog went into labor. “This is definitely happening,” Ivey said, doing what she could to make the animal comfortable.

Leaning closer to the steering wheel, Hope drove a little faster. “Be there soon.”

They’d barely gotten in the door when her water broke. Hope ran ahead to prepare an area, moving with practiced ease as she opened an already cleaned kennel and set up a whelping box, then filled it with bedding material. The box had three tall sides to contain the coming puppies, and one low side for the mother to step out for food and water.

Knowing Hope had it in hand, Ivey began cleaning the dog as quickly and efficiently as possible. She managed a cursory job, removing the worst of the mud, when Hope rejoined her. “We’re all set.”

“With luck we’ll have enough time to clean and wrap her leg before she gives birth.” Usually that happened within two hours after the animal’s water breaking, so they didn’t have a minute to spare.

A day that had already been long just turned entirely endless.

Excerpted from The Summer of No Attachments by Lori Foster,
Copyright © 2021 by Lori Foster. Published by HQN Books. 

*****

Author Info:

Since first publishing in January 1996, Lori Foster has become a New York Times, USA Today, and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author. She lives in Central Ohio where coffee helps her keep up with her cats and grandkids between writing books. For more about Lori, visit her website at http://www.lorifoster.com, like her on Facebook or find her on Twitter, @lorilfoster.

Author website: https://lorifoster.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lorifoster

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lorilfoster

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorilfoster/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgeOARHmjBYWcmReym_N39A 

*****