Eli worked his butt off to earn a spot with the Vermont Trailblazers, and he has absolutely no intention of losing it. Unfortunately, his second NHL season has brought a sophomore slump, an endless parade of team obligations, and the possibility that enthusiasm might not be enough to keep his plates spinningβor keep him from being sent to the minors. So naturally, this is the perfect time for Nolan Madoloraβhis coachβs son, his sisterβs ex, and the man Eli had an impossible crush on a decade agoβto walk back into his life.
Nolan knows a thing or two about not fitting in, which makes getting paid to figure out why the Trailblazers work so well together almost funnyβheβs in Vermont to conduct a team culture audit and deliver an objective assessment. What he shouldnβt do is get involved with one of the players, especially when that man is Eli Parker: his exβs little brother, ten years his junior, and all grown up in ways Nolan is trying very hard not to notice.
When Nolan and Eli stumble across an old set of unsent letters at the arena, amateur sleuthing gives them an excuse to spend more time togetherβand makes ignoring their growing attraction increasingly impossible to resist. Eliβs old crush has a chance of becoming something very real, while Nolanβs carefully maintained objectivity doesnβt stand a chance against the one person he never thought to look at twice. The closer they getβto the truth and to each otherβthe harder it becomes to remember all the reasons getting involved is a terrible idea.
Tropes: friends to lovers, coach’s son, sister’s ex, age gap (10 years), forced proximity
I love Eli in all his golden retriever glory. He’s enthusiastic and funny, rambling and loving. He’s so very smart but also doubting himself at the moment, feeling overwhelmed. The bright spot for him is the reappearance of an old crush.
Nolan is more reserved, thanks to years of moving around and not quite finding his place, always feeling like he’s on the outside looking in. A mystery around the author of some found letters has them working together, and gives them an opportunity to act on their attraction.
These two make a great pair and I was so happy that Nolan finally found a place where he feels like he belongs, someone who actually sees him. And that Eli is able to find a balance in his life and someone to share it with. From A to Us is a sweet and easy read, so smooth and satisfying. I’ve been happy with the couple of things I’ve read from Aislin so far and I’m looking forward to where we go from here.
Spending Halloween with his football teammates at the haunted estate where he had an encounter with the paranormal, Jasper Rome hopes he’ll find answers to the questions he’s carried for a decade. As the scares mount, the kicker turns to his best friend Poe, but leaning on him risks revealing feelings Jasper is desperate to keep hidden.
Poe Macleod believes in the paranormal, but is suspicious and skeptical of a haunted house that guarantees ghostly encounters. What starts as an evening of offering support for his best friend also gives the long snapper a taste of what things would be like if he breaks his rule about not getting involved with a teammate.
But the estate isn’t the only place where the unknown lurks. Taking a step into deepening their relationship beyond friendship might be the scariest thing of all.
*****
Review:
I found the paranormal part of this to be a ton of fun. Shelley does a good job of helping readers to feel the exploration and discovery of each room right along with the guys. And if it had been just a semi-spooky tale I would have been golden. But I needed more romance! I loved Poe and Jasper together – two friends that have developed feelings for each other but are afraid that the other doesn’t feel the same and that any change could ruin their friendship. And it’s because I like them together so much that I wanted to see more of their friendship before this little trip. The way their feelings evolved, the way they fell in love. Just more of the feels! I think if you go into it with the right expectations tho it definitely delivers.
From USA Today bestselling author Willow Aster comes a heartfelt second-chance romance about a cowboy and a single mom wrangling their tragic past into hope for the future on a proud Wyoming ranch.
A car accident on prom night changes everything for eighteen-year-old Maverick Harrington. In a flash, he loses two best friends: one who dies in the crash, the other who carries the blame. Finding hate easier than grief, Maverickβs heart slowly hardens. Now twelve years later, he runs Harrington Ranch, bearing the family name on his shoulders and wearing the past like a brand on his heart.
Iris Sullivan didnβt have the sense to leave Ironwood, where loyalty is law. Sheβs raised her son in the same town that turned its back on her, surviving on stubborn resilience as a single mother. When a golden opportunity takes her back to Harrington Ranch, she comes face-to-face with the man who once said she was dead to him. But forced proximity has a way of weakening defenses.
As old secrets and new sparks ignite, Maverick starts to see the woman behind the whispersβand the twelve-year-old boy whose legacy he canβt ignore.
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*could be minor spoilers ahead but it’s a romance so some of this is kind of a gimmee*
If romances where one little conversation would fix a lot of things isn’t your thing, then this is not for you. I can understand where a lot of these people are coming from, and their reactions to different moments from the past. But I really wish that at least the parents had more sense in how they reacted to a deadly car crash. Especially one involving an 18 year old girl they know and love. Maybe not at first, it had to have been devastating, but in the years that followed …. ALL of those people needed to see a therapist! But it also makes them real because I’m sure none of us would have handled such a thing very well. And Aster delivers it in a way that has my heart going out to all of them.
Because I knew when I saw this blurb months ago that this one would be a heartbreaker. And whew was it. But I gotta say, for everything these people put Iris through, she forgave pretty easily. I mean, I can understand her wanting to move on but … ugh! Her life was absolutely AWFUL and yet she powered thru. Maturing into a good person and a good mother, putting up with a lot to raise her kid. Maverick especially needed to do some serious groveling π
I don’t usually like flashbacks (it’s a personal thing, nothing inherently wrong with them) but Aster does a good job of sprinkling them throughout the story. We’re only given the pivotal moments and at a point where it makes sense. And I enjoyed those little glimpses of who these friends were growing up, before tragedy tore them apart. I kinda wish we’d gotten more because there is just so much to unpack there and I would have loved to have more of their friendship.
I can always count on Aster to deliver the feels and she does it again. I’m excited to see where she takes us with the Harringtons (not really many hints which is unusual for a series) and to get to see more of this Wyoming ranch family.
Rhys – Itβs been a decade since I left the tiny backwoods town I grew up in, on track to be a pro football player. Now Iβm back in the most pathetic way possible: jobless, in the middle of a divorce, and staying with my parents. Iβm completely miserable until I reconnect with Kendall, my younger brotherβs childhood best friend and my parentsβ honorary third son. The massive crush heβs always had on me is still in full effect, and he has absolutely no qualms about expressing it. Iβm straight, but the attention he gives me is starting to feel kind ofβ¦ addictive. I find myself making excuses to be around him all the time, but thatβs just because heβs so nice to me, right? Or am I actually developing feelings for a guy?
Kendall – Rhys Kensington has been my dream boyfriend since I was a little kid. When he comes back to Cherryvale after a string of terrible life events, I realize the ten year separation didnβt change my feelings at all. If anything, seeing him so beaten down and unhappy only makes me want him more. Heβs never been into a guy before, but when I make it my personal mission to soothe his bitter, broken spirit by building his ego back up, I can tell heβs questioning everything he thought he knew about himself. Itβs unbelievable, but the closer we get the more I realize Iβm exactly what he needs in his life. Now I just have to convince him.
Catching Sparkles is a guaranteed HEA dual 1st POV bi-awakening romance featuring a grumpy jock with a secret praise kink and the sunshine power bottom twink who loves indulging him. Opposites attract, size difference, lingerie, and lots of spice and fluff.
*****
Review:
IS. SO. FLUFFY!
I adored Kendall. Even with all of the abuse from his childhood, he’s comfortable in who he is and I couldn’t love him any more. He’s created a life that works for him, he just needs someone to share it with. Enter his long-time crush. Rhys is home and feeling all sorts of bad about himself. Man, what a sadsack he’s become π It’s a far change from the homecoming king/starting QB he left town as, so it’s no wonder he’s drawn to Kendall with his obvious feelings and positive attitude. Then his feelings start changing …
I worried a little that Rhys’s feelings for Kendall were only because he needed that pick-me-up of someone who adores him so openly after years of the opposite. I mean, Kendall is so kind, smart, and giving – just a glittery ball of sunshine and happiness – willing to do anything to make Rhys happy. It takes Rhys a little bit but eventually he figures things out and tries to be someone worth all those sappy feels.
Catching Sparkles is a slow burn as Rhys explores his bisexuality and works to figure out the new him, digging himself out of the hole he’s found himself in. But its all sorts of gooey goodness and so much sweetness that I couldn’t get enough of. With a large amount of heat thrown in, of course. Lambert is a new author for me but I’m loving their style and I’ll be looking for more from them.
I didnβt sign up for a cooking class as a way to meet men. But my handsome partner made it really hard to remember why I wanted to stay single.
It wasnβt the right time. I had too much else going on. Iβd been burned before, and had no desire for it to happen again. They were all reasons that should have been enough to convince me. Still, I couldnβt stop thinking about him.
Then Iβm violently attacked, and Micah shows up just in time to save me. Hurt, scared, and still in danger, when he asks me to stay with him for my protection, I agree.
If Iβd arrived minutes later, I wouldnβt have saved her.
Iβd seen a lot of bad things during my years in the Army, but bursting into Rubyβs apartment to find a man trying to kill her was one of the worst.
Seeing the fear in her eyes and the darkening bruises her attacker left behind filled me with a rage Iβve never felt before. And, in that moment, I knew Iβd do anything to protect her.
As a former Delta Force operator, I have the skills to keep Ruby safe. So it only makes sense to take her home with me. Except the more time I spend with Ruby, the more I fall for her. And the more determined I am to never let her get hurt again.
Keeping Knight is a friends-to-lovers story featuring a wounded but strong heroine, a former Delta Force operator turned K-9 handler, a security team comprised of veterans, found family, forced proximity, hurt/comfort, and plenty of unexpected twists. Can be read as a standalone. HEA guaranteed.
I always enjoy these romantic suspense stories from Cobie. The mystery element keeps me turning pages to see who is behind everything and I like the characters. The men are strong but caring, with a delightful found family element with the men they’ve served with. The women are strong and smart, even when they don’t feel like it.
Micah and Ruby have an adorable beginning to their relationship – being paired up in a beginner’s cooking class. They’ve slowly become friend(ly) during the weekly classes, both attracted to the other but neither feeling like the time is right to do anything about it. Then Ruby is attacked and Micah saves her. She moves in with him and over the next couple of weeks, as Micah and his friends try to figure out who is behind it, they grow closer together.
Keeping Knight is definitely not going to be right for everyone. While the first half of the book has more excitement, the second part does have a slower pace. Up until the climactic resolution, of course. Before that, tho, the two of them spend some time dancing around each other, neither sure of where to take their changing relationship. So it isn’t going to be for everyone, especially if you are looking for more mystery or action than a kinda slow burn. But I enjoyed watching them slowly embrace their feelings and get to know each other better.
*****
Author Info:
Gia Cobie is an award winning author living in upstate New York with her husband and small zoo of animals. She loves writing about protective heroes and the strong women they fall in love with.
In her spare time (when she has any!), Gia enjoys reading and spending time in the Adirondacks, and also has a weakness for reality romance shows, wine, and buying way too many books!
For almost ten years, the world of hockey has had their eyes on me, watching my every move.
Iβm projected to be the first overall pick in the NHL draft this summer, and have been nicknamed a franchise altering talent.
But with high praise comes a lot of pressure I canβt escape, and has resulted in me being a rookie in more ways than one.
The only problem is thereβs only one person I feel safe with, and I’m pretty sure there are rules about not crushing on your teammate.
Tyler
Ever since I met Colby, Iβve kept an eye on him. No one should have to put up with the pressure the world has laid on his gorgeous shoulders and the defeated look in his beautiful eyes.
But you shouldnβt notice these things about your teammates.
So when Colby asks me to teach him everything I know in the bedroom because Iβm the only one he feels safe with?
I should say no, but thereβs nothing I wouldnβt do for Colby McKay.
I shouldβve known it wouldnβt be as simple as a friends with benefits arrangement.
I’m pretty sure I would go to battle for Colby McKay. He has such a big heart but there’s so much pressure on him. He’s so sweet but also so so guarded from years of having people want something from him, judging him, watching him. I admire him for wanting to experience a year of college before going into the draft, a chance to experience something normal before everything gets too big. He lucked out rooming with Stassie and I would love to have seen more of him with her, to see someone that cares about him for him. Someone he feels safe with. Like he does with Tyler.
Giant green flag Tyler. Who is so careful with Colby, making sure that he feels seen and has a soft place to land when things get difficult. Who is all about consent and making sure that Colby is comfortable, only doing things he wants to do, as they explore their desire for each other. Such a gentle soul and so supportive. But also one that needs some supporting of his own. He’s lived his life with certain expectations too, which may be why he understands Colby so well, and those expectations are about to come calling. But just as much as he sees Colby, Colby sees him too and understands how overwhelming the future can be.
Of course, as much as they talk up being friends-with-benefits there was no way they weren’t falling in love. There was already such a connection between them, which is why they were so comfortable with each other. Why Colby felt he could ask such a thing from Tyler. But of course it isn’t that easy. At the end of the school year their lives will be at a cross roads, facing paths that will likely take them in different directions.
I could not have loved this story more. It was so easy to read, with characters that just grabbed me and kept me going. It’s an emotional, spicy book without a lot of drama – a couple of places where things went sideways for them, especially towards the end. But overall it was so very sweet (with a good amount of heat of course) watching them fall in love, as much as they know that they shouldn’t π It ends with a satisfying HFN, but I’m definitely looking forward to what comes next for them.
And there’s a hint at a new series coming with the Vancouver Steelheads, starting with Colby’s favorite player Beau Rousseau. Oliver has a lot of good things coming for us in 2027.
*****
Author Info:
Jodi Oliver is a British author who writes MM romance, happily ever after guaranteed. She loves donuts, dogs and ice hockey, and when she hasnβt got her head in a book or hiding in the writing cave, you can find her at an ice hockey game.
She lives in England but dreams of living in the Canadian countryside, with some highland cows and otters.
If you can’t beat him, keep him. And his boyfriend.
WALL There are many things a Chicago Wolves goaltender should be doing, and despising Milwaukee’s goalie tops the list. Not to brag, but I’ve been nailing it for eight years straight. It’s public record. There’s merchandise to prove it. What a goaltender should never do is walk in on said goalie, hand deep in his winger’s pants, andβ¦stay. So anyway, guess what just happened. In my defense, observation is my craft and this was film study. Kind of. The incognito-mode googling afterward was also film study. And then that time on a video call wasβ¦film study with live narration? I’ve been straight for twenty-eight years. I’d like to speak to a manager.
PATRICK They say you never know what you’ve got until it’s gone. Turns out I had a blissfully uncomplicated life. Right up until Wall walked in and shattered it. I’m not out, and it has never been a problem before. But now a man who hates me is knocking on my closet, and the possibility of the entire world finding out what Iβm wearing is getting too real. Even my code-red protocolβdenyβwonβt fly this time. Denial is hard to pull off when he catches you pressed against another man and, instead of stopping, you stare back and keep going. So I do the next best thingβget Theo on board, lure Wall into my closet, and close the door behind. Itβs a chaotic process. An unmuted mic here, an βaccidentalβ invitation there. One very strategically positioned chair. Some men bury the hatchet. I’d rather keep mine. Both of them.
THEO Okay, recap for the rafters: my no-labels goalie arrangement has somehow acquired a no-labels plus-one, who’s in a no-labels feud wit my original arrangement. Nobody is labeling anything, which some might call an unhealthy environment. Not me, though. Turns out, itβs my natural habitat. See, I’ve spent my whole life being too much, too loud. Too Theo. But one of these idiots likes running the show, the other one can’t stop watching it, and I am, and I cannot stress this enough, the show. They can hate each other all they want. None of my business, really. Now, if you’ll excuse me. There’s a hockey sandwich about to happen and I’m the meat.
Puck You Both is a low angst, high-heat MMM Hockey Romance. Itβs a part of Melting Ice series and can be read as a stand-alone.
I love romances because everything turns out with a HEA even in situations where they wouldn’t necessarily in real life. And if any one deserves a HEA its Theo. Being told he’s too much, too loud and not quite good enough to keep long term for a good part of his life … but he’s absolutely, unashamedly, and gloriously himself with Wall and Patrick. Sure, he’s waiting for it to all fall apart, not trusting that any of it is going to last, but you have to admire that he’s willing to just be him.
And they do love him. It takes Wall a bit to come to terms with what his feelings mean but he’s in it once he gets his head around what it means. I like how Phoenix has us there every step with Wall as he figures things out. I also love how, as much as Patrick goes into it feeling like he’s in charge, everyone finds a rhythm that has them fully participating and in a balanced relationship.
Like Love Pucktually, we get a delightful mix of humor and hijinks, with a heavy amount of steam, but also a touching story of people figuring out their place in the world and who they want by their side. Each of them has their own journey, their own way to get to a point that works for them all, but they are supported and celebrated by each other and those around them. None of them have to do any of this alone and I love that for them.
He left her once. This time, leaving isnβt so simple.
Philanthropist Dante Crane built his life three thousand miles from the woman he left behind. Then a charity event in Chicago drops Honesty Benitez squarely back into his path, and eight years of distance vanish in a single blink of her amber eyes.
Helping Honesty with her charity was supposed to be simple. Falling into her bed was supposed to be temporaryβa fling with a clean end date, right up until his flight back to California.
Somewhere along the way Honesty becomes tangled with his family, slips past the guarded corners of his heart, and starts imagining a future sheβs already grieved. Falling for him again was never the plan.
Now the choice is theirs to make: streamline their lives and put each other first, or part ways and let their story slip back into the past where they left it.
Perfect for readers who love: β Second-chance billionaire romance β A guarded hero and the one who got away β Sexy, swoony, reunion-fueled heat β Family entanglements and a future reclaimed
*****
Excerpt:
Honesty peered over the balcony as well, the wind lifting her dark brown hair. She wore it loose in waves, unlike the ponytail she’d favored in college. And that dressβdamn. If she’d wanted to show him what he’d been missing, she had his full attention.
But she was more to him than enduring beauty. He’d admired her poise and confidence while she’d stood at the podium. How she’d managed to keep it together while speaking of a brother she’d loved more than anyone was beyond him.
And he’d died just six months ago. An absolute tragedy.
A pang of regret hollowed out his chest. He wished he would have known. He would haveβ¦ Well, he didn’t know what he would have done. But something. Something, rather than nothing.
Honesty turned away from the balcony to face him. Her eyes were like he remembered. Amber, with gold in the centers. Her mouth was exactly as he rememberedβframed by soft, shallow dimples.
“Thanks for the save.” Her tone had changed, though. Gone was the girl who animatedly told stories while he scarfed down the last slice of pizza. The tone she’d been using with him tonight had been polite. Distant.
“People ramble when they’re uncomfortable,” he said. “And when the event is centered around a loss or a tragedy, they get worse.”
“It’s funny how we’re all the same.” She sipped her wine, but her brow wrinkled as if she was reconsidering that observation.
“So. You’re still in LA?” she asked.
A clumsy segue, but he’d take it. “Do I detect a note of hope in your voice?”
Her laugh was more contained than the one in his memory. “Genuine curiosity.”
“I’m still in LA. So is my mom, though she’s heading to New York with a box of couture gowns as we speak.”
“Big film?”
“Always.”
She flipped her hair, revealing one smooth shoulder. He pictured kissing that shoulder like he’d done a thousand times before, a thousand years ago.
“And how is the foundation? Assuming you’re still in charge?”
“I belong on top.”
“Hmm.”
“That’sβ” He shook his head. “Not what I meant.”
She offered a restrained smile as her cheeks blushed pink.
“We’ve seen a lot of growth over the years. I’ve been on a hiring spree to keep up. I have to stay flexible to travel.”
“Brody? Wow. Is this the first baby in the family?” Her smile was more genuine now.
“Yeah, he beat me to it.”
“Well, Uncle Dante. You’d better keep your schedule flexible. How are your other siblings? Or should I ask where are they?”
“Here, actually.”
“Your entire family is in Illinois?”
“Not Dad. And Brody and Reagan are in New York part-time. But yeah, Jaylyn’s in the city and so is Zander, with his first girlfriend since Emily passed.” After he said it, he realized that Honesty hadn’t known that news.
“I’m sorry to hear about Zander’s wife.” Her face fell. “So much has happened since⦔
Since we broke up, he silently finished for her.
“And your business?” he asked. “Do you have a lot of clients?”
“I did. I used to. I don’t do many one-on-ones any longer. Somehow I went from passionate solopreneur to employing a team. And now⦔ She shook her head. “I don’t know. It’s a half-baked idea.”
His ears perked. “Half-baked ideas are my specialty.”
“It’s nothing.”
“Now you have to tell me.”
“It’ll sound silly to someone who runs an entire foundation.”
“You have my undivided attention.” He stepped closer to her. So close, her confection-like perfume tickled his nostrils. His mouth watered as he picked up notes of caramel and almond. A hint of cinnamonβ¦
Was it normal to want to kiss an ex-girlfriend fifteen minutes upon reuniting with her?
“I have an idea for a charity. For veterans.” She wrinkled her nose. “A bit more than an idea. I want to provide meals and teach nutrition and cooking so that they can lead long and healthy lives.”
“That’s admirable.”
“Thanks.” She cupped her wineglass with both hands. “I’m a little shy about the asking-for-money part. I’m no socialite.”
“Philanthropy is more than ass-kissing.”
“I didn’t mean to implyβ” Her eyebrows jumped.
“No, you didn’t.” They were back to being polite. Careful. There was a time when they would have gone to the mat over less and had make-up sex shortly after. “I was agreeing with you in a really weird way.”
A group of women filed out the balcony doors, intercepting their conversation. He had a choice to make. Either wish Honesty well or continue the evening at her side. He knew what he wanted.
Now to convince her.
“Have you talked about your non-profit with any of the guests tonight?” he asked.
“Oh, no. It’s in the beginning stages. Probably too soon to ask for money.”
“First rule of charity.” He offered his arm. “It’s never too soon to ask for money.”
*****
Review:
I so enjoy Lemmon’s writing. It’s so smooth and easy to read, which means I just sail through her stories.
I liked Honesty and Dante and thought they were good together. I was a little confused on Dante’s issues other than … he’s just a clueless guy? He doesn’t see what’s right in front of him? I get that he’s spent a long time putting his own wants and needs last but I’m not really sure why exactly. I guess because he was put in charge of his foundation at a pretty early age and had to completely reorient his life around it … I gotta admire that light bulb moment tho, even if it took him a bit to get there π
And I admire Honesty for putting herself first and not settling for less than she deserves. I mean, of course we knew she was going to get in over her head from the moment she agreed to a “fling” … girl, the man is sexy, rich, and throws himself fully into helping you (in and out of bed), your heart was never not a part of the situation! I also love the whole women supporting women vibe with Dante’s family as well as Honesty’s friend Gabby. You know they are going to be there for each other going forward.
You always have to do some suspension of disbelief with romances, especially billionaire romances, but the timeline with this one was a little skewed. The whole book covers like 2 weeks? And the amount of stuff they got done, including a huge benefit dinner … yeah, that’s a little bit much π But hey, if it gets us to that HEA I’ll go with it!
*****
Author Info:
Jessica Lemmon is a former job-hopper who resides in Ohio with her husband and rescue dogs. She holds a degree in graphic design currently gathering dust in an impressive frame. When sheβs not writing emotionally-charged stories, she spends her time drawing, drinking coffee, and laughing with friends. Her motto is Read for Fun, and she believes we should all do more of what makes us happy.
Iβve been a single dad for five years. Then the wrong woman rented the guest cabin behind my house, and I knew right then she was going to ruin everything.
When Baylor’s mother walked out, I made a promiseβI’d be enough. Just the two of us. No one to disappoint her. No one else to leave.
Then Emelia Greene rolled into Echo Lake in a Mercedes and a power suit to convince the townspeople to change what makes our small town great. Sheβs everything this place isn’t.
Emelia’s not supposed to be kind. She’s not supposed to be good with my daughter. She’s definitely not supposed to be the one I find myself confiding in at the end of my dock every night.
She’s leaving in three months. I know that.
The problem is, I can’t stop wondering what it would be like if a woman like her belonged in a place like this.
Duet Narration by: Jason Clarke & Callie Dalton Also Featuring: Connor Crais, JF Harding, Aaron Shedlock & Jill Smith
*****
Review:
I always get so excited when I see a new series with Piper Rayne on the cover π There’s just a certain charm about their stories, with characters that I enjoy getting to know. Holding Ground is well paced, with an adorable little girl and her sexy, serious, sweet dad. And we’re introduced to a new community with all the small town charm and quirky characters that a reader could ask for.
I don’t blame Elliot for not only his concern about what Emelia’s visit means for his town but also for himself. The man has had blow after blow in his life, and struggles with the idea that people will always leave. It makes him extra prickly … but he’s a smart man, surrounded by other smart men who won’t let him lose out on something good.
After reading quite a few of their books I really should know better by now, that just when I think it’s obvious where things will go these two always surprise me. I mean parts of it play out as you’d expect but they don’t take the obvious, easy way for the end of this one. And I really appreciate that about them. I like how things wrap up for everyone, delivering a satisfying conclusion for everyone involved. And a bit of a peek at what is coming next!
Iβm just meβplain, boring Theo. Everyoneβs friend but no oneβs boyfriend. Dating apps donβt work for me, and the one time I try to change my image is a total disaster.
All I want is someone to come home to and hold hands with. A boyfriend whoβll love me. It doesnβt help that I have this silly crush on Jaxon Polaris, our sexy, gorgeous, district attorney. Heβs a flirt whoβs never without a date. No matter how nice he is to me, I know the truth. A man like Jaxon would never be interested in someone like me.
JAXON
I love being the district attorney of Appleton Falls, but I definitely have dreams of sitting on the bench. When the leader of the party approaches me, suggesting I run for a judgeship, Iβm thrilledβ¦until he tells me my image as a party boy might hurt me with small-town voters. I canβt deny itβIβve had more than my share of lovers, and Iβve never hidden my desire to remain single. His suggestion? Find a nice guy and make him my boyfriend.
Problem is, I donβt know any nice guysβ¦except shy, quiet Theo Sweeny.
Reluctantly, Theo agrees to my boyfriend proposal, and the man proceeds to challenge me at every turn. Shy? Heβs stubborn and feisty. But his kisses are so sweet, and I canβt stop thinking about him. Being with Theo means Iβll have to tell him my truthβa secret that could prevent me from achieving my dreams. But the more I get to know Theo, the more I come to realize: Win or lose the election, what Iβm searching for might be right here by my side.
I could not adore Theo any more than I do. He is so sweet, a bit shy, but not a pushover when it matters to him. My heart breaks thinking about the abuse he experienced at his father’s hands and how it helped make him so unsure of himself. Then years of being overlooked by men … add a crush on sexy, confident, relationship adverse Jaxon and *sigh*
While Jaxon may have all the swagger and feel like he doesn’t need anyone, that’s before he lets Theo get close. No one is immune to Theo’s charms π But as much as I felt for Theo I felt just as much for Jaxon. He was done dirty at pivotal times in his life and it’s impressive that he’s as good of a man as he is.
These two are fantastic together. Jaxon helps Theo gain confidence in himself & his place with those around him and Theo shows Jaxon what life can be like when he truly shares it with someone else. It’s a bumpy road to get them there but not one that’s overly angsty and it is so satisfying for them to get to that HEA.
