From the New York Times bestselling author Melissa Foster comes a funny, sexy romantic comedy featuring a twice-divorced, stressed-out romance writer who finds out that sometimes true love can be a hot mess.
Who buys a cottage in a New England fishing village on a whim? A stressed-out, twice-divorced romance writer and single mother looking for a fresh start, that’s who. Despite what my besties say about my three-year dry spell, I’m not looking for a man. Or drama. Or sex. I’ve got enough on my plate with writer’s block and a daughter who refuses to grow up. Community. That’s what I need. Unfortunately, it seems the universe has other ideas. Either Chatemup, Massachusetts, has a serious shortage of single women, or I’ve become a hot mess magnet for the male species.
At least I’ve found one funny, good-hearted friend: fish peddler Declan Miller, my brainstorming adventure buddy who stirs my creative juices. I’m his Writer Girl. He’s my Dimple Dude. Just scruffy, granite-chested, deep-voiced, ex-military brawn who happens to be—oh, Nicole, what are you doing to yourself?—stoking a long-neglected fire without even trying.
A self-confessed hot mess, divorced single dad Declan is too old for relationship games. Not interested. Same here. So why do I keep thinking about him? Preferably naked. Because I’m a hot mess, too? At least he’s inspiring me to write. If only real life were like one of my novels. At least then I’d have a better idea of how this was going to end.
Hot Mess Summer is published by Montlake Romance and will be available in paperback and audio formats at all book retailers, and exclusively in digital format for Kindle and Kindle apps. Download a free Kindle reading app here: http://bit.ly/FreeKindle_App1
I am always so happy to get my hands on a new book by Melissa Foster. Her characters are invariably engaging and her writing can turn something simple into a story that draws you in & won’t let go. The fact that this one focuses on an older hero and heroine, a couple that are grown but not done growing, is refreshing. And I was delighted by their journey from being new friends into more.
Both Declan and Nicole are moving into a new phase of their lives – figuring out where they fit with their friends and family, and learning what they want for themselves going forward. The way they do this together, going on delightful adventures, getting closer, and growing as people is just a fun read.
There’s very little drama and angst here, instead it’s a story about self discovery filled with delightful characters, humor, and small town charm. Oh, and a good amount of heat, of course.
*****
Author Info:
Melissa Foster is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance and 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.
Romance between them is strictly off-limits, but forbidden attraction has never felt so irresistible…I’m playing a risky game…
I’m the brand new coach of the current Super Bowl Champions. If that isn’t hard enough, I’m also one of the youngest coaches in the league.
Coupled with a recently finalized divorce and the goal to take the team and the city of Nashville’s fans by storm, my ex throws me for a loop when she says she’s sending our daughter to me so she can take an extended three-month vacation.
Don’t get me wrong, I love my little girl more than anything but suddenly becoming a full-time single dad and the Steele’s new coach rocks the turf beneath my feet. I need some help and I need it fast.
Enter Ruby Moore.
The answer to my prayers. She’s looking for a new start, is great with kids and is the perfect set of eyes to watch my daughter when I’m not around.
The problem? I think she is perfect for me too.
The other problem? She’s not only my nanny, but she’s also the younger sister of a guy I’m tasked with leading. She’s way too young and sweet for me and the way she loves Amelia makes my heart melt. I don’t expect her perfume to remind me of lazy beach days and for her smiles to become a craving I can’t live without. But I can’t stop thinking about her. Fleeting glances turn into deeper conversations and even more carnal nights.
Soon, she’s a forbidden addiction I can’t quit.
I know I’m playing a Risky Game, but can I keep the woman I’ve fallen in love with, while still maintaining the respect of the team I’m trying to lead to another Championship?
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I’m back & forth on age gap romances and I’m not always sure what makes them work. I feel like Logan is right to be a little concerned about their relationship – mostly because of his connection to her brother and the bad optics. But Ruby is smart, with a good head on her shoulders. Her life up to this point hasn’t been all that easy and I feel like that helps her be more mature for her age.
I’m also a little conflicted on their steamy times. I mean, I’m not one to kink shame (and I’ll be honest for all the wide variety of spice I read, I’m personally pretty vanilla) but I think because there is such an emphasis on their age difference that it could also parlay into a power balance issue. Don’t get me wrong, it is definitely HAWT and I love that they both have a chance to explore that side of themselves together. I just wonder a little about adding that to a story when there was already an imbalance in their relationship.
OK, so that’s the less than positive, but I will say overall I enjoyed the crap out of this book. Lynn does a fantastic job of giving us characters to pull for – Logan is struggling with his new, high-pressure job and trying to figure out how to take care of his daughter in his limited free time. It’s obvious that he loves Amelia but it’s a complication that he didn’t need right now. Throw in his growing desire for his new (young) nanny and it doesn’t take him long to crack. And crack beautifully he does 🙂 While I can worry about their dynamic in a real world situation, I can also find it hot as all get out in a fictional one . . . bossy, growly, and sexy, OH MY.
Ruby is running from a heartbreak back home and taking a little time to get her feet back under her. I can appreciate her need to do it on her own, especially with the wonderful relationship she has with her brother & his family. It would be super easy to let him fix it all. But that self-reliance has her in Logan’s sphere, which leads to new trouble as she struggles to connect with his daughter while also having to resist the oh-so-sexy single dad. (I’m impressed she lasts as long as she does, honestly.)
With her sassy mouth, independent personality, and the care she puts into winning over his daughter, it’s harder and harder for Logan to resist Ruby the more time they spend together. There’s the typical third act troubles, but I appreciate how both of them recognize the roll they play in it. And definitely take advantage of the opportunity to make up after a fight … *whew*
Steamy, humorous, and full of feels, Risky Game was a fast read and a great addition to the Nashville Steel series.
(Part of a series but can be read as a stand alone.)
*****
Author Info:
Stacey Lynn likes her coffee with a dash of sugar, her heroes with a side of bossy, and her wine a deep shade of red.
The author of over thirty romance novels, many of which have been best-selling titles on Amazon, AppleBooks, and Barnes & Noble, she loves being able to turn her vivid imagination into a career that brings entertainment and joy to her readers. Focused on sports romance and emotional, small-town romance, she also loves stretching herself in different genres.
Born in Texas and raised in the Midwest, she now makes her home in North Carolina and loves all things Southern. Together with her ultimate tall, dark, and handsome hero, she has four children. Her life is a chaotic mess that fights with her Type-A, list-making, neurotically organized preferences and she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Merrick has the perfect life: a husband, a baby, and a great future ahead of him. Until all that is ripped away, and he’s left alone with his daughter. After two years, he knows it’s time to move on. To find a new life for him and Willow. It comes in the shape of a derelict mill house nestled in the hills above a Devon seaside town.
Drew
When Drew loses the chance to buy and restore the house he’s loved all his life, the last thing he wants to do is renovate it for the mysterious new resident. But something about Merrick Green intrigues him, and he feels compelled to lift the heaviness surrounding him. The fact that Merrick’s daughter seems to have taken an instant infatuation with Drew makes it easier.
As the two men become friends, Merrick battles with his attraction to Drew. How can he be interested in the ruggedly handsome when he’s still in love with Josh?
Letting go of the past is hard, but with Drew by his side, he finds a way forward.
Life After Loveis a sweet small-town, opposites-attract, hurt/comfort romance with low angst and a sweet little girl that everyone falls in love with.
Warning: The book deals with the loss of a loved one.
As I approach my truck, a man is looking at it. No, he’s taking a photograph. “Can I help you?” I put my toolbox into the open flat bed.
The man blushes and takes a step back. “Oh, is this your truck? I’m sorry. I wanted to get a photo of your contact details. I’m looking for a building contractor.”
He must be the latest resident in our small beachside town. The new owner of the Mill House. He’s incredibly good looking. I’d say around my age, thirty-five. About the same height as me at five eleven and has eyes the colour of soft, faded denim. His hair is short at the sides, but with honey-blond curls on top, which I envy. My hair is straight and long enough to tie up. I should get it cut. The amount of dust, plaster and sawdust is a bloody nightmare to wash out every night.
I pull a notebook out of the side pocket on my shorts and the pencil from behind my ear. “I’m sure I can do that for you. What sort of work?”
“Um, it’s pretty much everything. The house is a bit of a wreck. I’d hoped to do some of it myself, but I know that’s out of my abilities. I don’t know if it’s something you’re interested in doing?”
I get the feeling the guy is overloaded with things that need immediate action and has got himself lost in the process. “Why don’t you show me? I’ve got nothing else planned for the day.”
He lets out a sigh. “That would be so good. It’s Mill House. Do you know it?”
I smile. My suspicions this is the new guy were right. “I do. I was born and bred in this town. I can follow you there if you’d like?”
“Okay, thank you so much. See you in a few.”
I wait until he’s in his car, then start the engine on mine. His smart, new, not-cheap-at-all BMW is something else for the gossips to talk about. Handsome, single, and seemingly rich. Melanie will be waving her knickers on a pole in front of him in the blink of her false eyelashes.
The drive takes ten minutes, winding through the town and up parallel to the river that runs down to the sea. The Mill House still has the original water wheel. Although the river has been diverted away from the property, it’s still an impressive feature of the house.
I park next to him and climb out. He opens the back door of the coupé and lifts a small sleeping child from her seat. He wipes her hair, which is the same colour as his, from her forehead and kisses her gently. A sweet, loving moment that makes my heart swell. The obvious love for the child is in his every gesture and expression.
He turns to me. “This is my daughter, Willow. I’m Merrick Green.”
“I’m Drew Roberts, but you probably guessed that from the signage.”
“Oh, yes, well, it’s nice to meet you.” He’s flustered as he juggles the sleeping toddler to shake my hand.
He gestures with his head. “Welcome to my home. Or what will be my home. Come on in.”
I follow him up the stone steps to the solid oak door.
He pushes the door open. “It’s a bit of a mess. Please be careful where you walk.”
“Thanks for the heads-up.” I step in, holding back my smile. I used to come here a lot when I was a kid. It’s not as bad as I remembered.
I wait in the hallway as he places the sleeping child on a sheet partly covering an old mulberry velvet sofa that has been here forever.
“I haven’t been in here for years,” I say when Merrick walks back out.
Surprise flashes in his eyes. “You know the house?”
I chuckle. “Everyone who’s grown up here has played around in this house. Not that we were supposed to, but kids will be kids. School-leaving parties took place here, and teenagers just wanting to hang out would come here. It’s about time someone came and loved it again. It’s a good place to live and raise a family, Merrick.”
A flash of pain rocks over his face, and he closes his eyes as he takes a deep breath.
“Hey, are you okay? I’m sorry if I said the wrong thing.”
“No, it’s fine. Can I get you a drink? I’ve got some bottled water or some juice. Then we can walk around, and I’ll show you what needs your attention as soon as you can.”
“I’m good, and is it just the urgent work you want me to do, or are you looking for a quote for all the renovations? Who else have you spoken to?”
“No one else. I’ve only been here a couple of days.”
“You’re not staying in the house now, are you? I don’t think it’s safe.”
He looks at the cracked walls and sagging ceilings and chuckles. “No, I’m staying in a hotel for now. But if you could give me a quote for the initial work, we can discuss the rest of the work when I have the plans back.”
I scratch my chin. “You’re putting a lot of faith into a man you’ve just met.”
“I asked around. You were the first name mentioned. Plus, you look like a decent guy.” Finally, he gives me a small smile.
“When does your wife arrive?”
*****
Review:
I’m amused that the things I liked the most about this story are the things that have it getting some lower * reviews. I mean I get that everyone has their own preferences (there’re lots of romances that are loved that I didn’t even finish) but it’s just funny that those are specifically what is called out 🙂
Life After Love is definitely slow burn and low angst, with very little conflict between the two main characters. Instead it’s about Merrick finally starting to get over the death of his husband and choosing to move on with his life. Meeting, and falling in love, with Drew is definitely not something he expected but maybe something he needed. (The little encouragements from Josh are touching and the push that he needs at the right time.)
I enjoyed both Drew and Merrick as characters. They are good-hearted and sweet together, making me pull for them from the first page. Merrick has a lot he needs to face, just getting up was hard for a long time after Josh died, but a change of scenery and new friends are definitely helping. Drew shows a lot of patience and understanding as he gets to know Merrick and his daughter (who is just the sweetest). It’s easy to see why Merrick opens up to him and gives him his trust & eventually his heart.
The supporting characters are good for Merrick as well. From Drew’s meddling sister and her friend, to Luke and Benny at the cafe, everyone is welcoming to the little family and there for both Drew & Merrick when they need it. Definitely need to see more of Merrick’s sister and best friend. Both are good eggs, full of heart and support. And I’m hoping that Harper gives us more of Josh’s brother. We didn’t get to know him well but he seemed like a stand up guy who’s hurting as well. Drew’s friend definitely needs a resolution … ok, so there’s a lot of opportunity here. I hope you have big plans Harper!
This is a new author for me and obviously I’m looking forward to finding out what’s in store for us next.
*****
Author Info:
Just in case you don’t know me. I’m a simple soul that puts all my hopelessly romantic thoughts down on my computer. I’m usually in the living room—typing away—with my wayward Great Dane, Siddiqi, next to me on the sofa.
I’m a hopeless romantic, always falling in love with my men, determined to make sure they get the happy-ever-after they deserve, even if they do have to work hard for it.
I live in a tiny village in Lincolnshire, UK, with my husband and dog, who are forever patient with me when I forget the time, and the dinner!
Preston James did things to me. Things that had me wanting more of him and his dirty mouth, even though I knew better. Things that made my heart race. Things that made me come to realize there was more to my boss’s best friend than met the eye.
Nick Reed
As one of the bartenders at Alejandro’s Bar, I’ve seen it all. I’ve even watched my friends, Christian and Cooper, both find the loves of their life. Six years after breaking up with my college boyfriend, I’m convinced that’s not the life I’m supposed to have until forty-five-year-old Preston James makes me the target of his relentless sexy stares and his straight-forward, dirty propositions.
Maybe being the object of his desire wouldn’t be so bad.
Preston James
The first time I laid eyes on Nicholas Reed, I knew I had to have him. There was something about my best friend’s bartender that captivated me. And I always got my way. But this twenty-eight-year-old grad student has me jumping through all kinds of hoops to get his attention. There’s nothing I won’t do to prove to him I’m exactly what he needs. I’m relentless like that and I won’t stop until he’s mine.
We Could Do This Forever is the first book in the We Could Do This Duet and is an MM Bisexual Romance. Additional tropes: Age Gap; Mutual Pining; Boss’s Best Friend; Secretly Wealthy; Humor.
The dance these two go thru getting together provided quite a few entertaining moments. Drunk Preston laying out everything he thinks and feels for everyone is downright hilarious and I can’t blame Nick for finding him irresistible. Once they finally give in, Preston is an attentive and giving boyfriend, taking care of Nick and showing him as much as telling him how much he cares.
But while I liked Nick and Preston’s story overall, there were a few issues. Mainly that these two REALLY need to work on their communication skills. A good portion of the beginning of the book is spent with them giving each other googly eyes, but not going anywhere because they won’t have an actual conversation. Throw in that once they do get together there’s a lot of suggestion about things but no talking and when something that Nick knows needs to be talked about comes up he … avoids it. Does he think it’s just going to go away? And then there’s the whole third act breakup and Preston, because of his additional years of maturity, works thru it like a grownup, right? Uh, no. He handles it about as well as he did the actual conflict, which was not well. At all. I liked the two of them together, but sheesh there were moments.
I’ve enjoyed pretty much everything that I’ve read from Beckett and I’m definitely looking forward to Alejandro’s story to complete this duet. I’m also really hoping that introducing Nick’s friend Evan means that we’re going to get some new football players in San Diego. Please!
*****
Author Info:
Emerson Beckett is an avid sports fan and lover of M/M romance books. She loves her new career as an author of gay romance. It’s even more fulfilling for her when she can combine the two.
Emerson is the co-author of The Package Deal Series, which includes The Quarterback Keeper, Pass Interference, Unnecessary Roughness, Two-Point Conversion, Illegal Motion, Ineligible Receiver, and Roughing the Kicker.
Besides being a retired teacher and author, Emerson lives in North Carolina and has been married to the same man for 33 years. She is a mother of three, one of whom is proudly part of the LGBTQ Community and completely responsible for her addiction to MM Romance. Even though the kids no longer live at home, they filled the empty nest with an Australian Shepherd, three cats, and a cute bunny rabbit.
When my best friend’s little sister walks in on me moaning her name, it’s all over. All restraints are shattered, and every boundary demolished. Nothing will be the same…
For years, I’ve tried to keep my distance from Dakota Cooper. She’s everything I’ve ever wanted and the one thing I can’t have.
But when she calls me in the middle of the night after someone tries to break into her house, I can no longer handle that distance, and I convince her to stay with me, along with her young son.
I should have known having her living under my roof would push me to the edge. Ignite the need that has simmered for so long.
The problem is, she’s forbidden. Off-limits. And I know better than crossing that line.
I can’t drag her into the dark secrets of my life.
But I can’t stay away from her either, so I do the one thing I shouldn’t—I take.
And now that I’ve had her, I’m not sure I can save her from who I am. . .
What to expect in Don’t Forget Me Tomorrow… *Brother’s best friend *Small town romance *Secret past *Pierced MC *Touch her and die vibes *Romantic suspense *No cheating *HEA Check CW’s at author’s website
So I almost didn’t give this one a chance. I’m not a fan of the darker romance trend (mafia, biker gangs, etc.) and this one seemed like it would fall into that category when I first started it but I decided to give it a few more chapters. While there is a touch of that, and it is the reason that Ryder doesn’t feel like he’s good enough for Dakota, it isn’t the focus.
Instead we spend time with the will they/won’t they as Ryder struggles against his feelings, for Dakota and about himself, and Dakota believes that he doesn’t want her as more than a friend. While I enjoyed the back and forth, getting to know the two of them and seeing them struggle with their feelings, it did drag a little in the middle. But once the truth comes out, and Ryder and Dakota have to face the consequences of his past, it definitely picks up. (I think that it needed more of the danger element actually – the part that I didn’t think I’d want, yeah I get the irony.)
The story is told with moments of flashback that explain how Dakota and Ryder have gotten to this point. As we get Ryder’s story, my heart just went out to him. He goes through a difficult period where he loses himself, gets caught up in things that he shouldn’t, and sets himself on a path that he can’t get off. It costs him so much and it takes a long time for him to start the process of saving himself. There’s a lot of gray area there that makes his actions with Dakota understandable, although it doesn’t make him breaking her heart any less devastating.
The characters definitely make this story for me. The heartache and struggle they go through, but also the amount of care and love they have for each other. Dakota’s son, Kayden, is just the cutest and the way Ryder loves him will melt even the hardest heart. This is the first of Jackson’s stories that I’ve read and I’ll definitely give the next one a shot (hello, Ezra!)
*****
Author Info:
A.L. Jackson is the New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance. She writes emotional, sexy, heart-filled stories about boys who usually like to be a little bit bad.
If she’s not writing, you can find her hanging out by the pool with her family, sipping cocktails with her friends, or of course with her nose buried in a book.
From Amazon Charts bestselling author Jennifer Millikin comes a brother’s best friend, second chance romance filled with heart, heat, and humor.
Better Than Most
by Jennifer Millikin
Blurb:
Back then? They were great together. Now? They could be even better.
Rhodes Porter.
A name Georgia Whittier would prefer never cross her lips again. Not only was her older brother’s best friend her first love, her first everything, but he broke her heart for a reason she still hasn’t fully accepted. To make it worse, Georgia couldn’t properly nurse her broken heart, because nobody knew about the love affair.
A decade has passed, and Georgia is all grown up. She’s twenty-seven, a college graduate who had a real world job. Had. Her small hometown of Green Haven isn’t flush with teaching jobs, but she knew that when she moved back home. She’s making ends meet with odd jobs, and has rediscovered her old love of West Coast swing dancing. Life isn’t great, but it’s good enough.
Until Rhodes returns to Green Haven. For good.
As much as Georgia would prefer to banish him from her life, she can’t. See: Brother’s best friend. Now Rhodes is everywhere. Her brother’s wedding. At a family barbecue. On the sidewalk across the street while Georgia waits in line at the post office.
And that broken heart Georgia thought had healed? It hasn’t. Because Rhodes is just like before. Better, even.
Georgia is determined to keep Rhodes at arm’s length, even when he’s buying her blackberry orange jam at the Sierra Grande farmer’s market. Even when he’s holding eye contact a beat too long. Especially when she finds out the old note she wrote him is still sewn into the brim of his baseball hat.
The hat he still wears.
Every day it gets more difficult for Georgia to refuse her heart. But if what Georgia wants is a reason not to fall in love with Rhodes again, she need look no further.
Rhodes is holding onto it. All these years he’s kept the truth of why he left her a secret, but secrets have a way of revealing themselves.
There’s just something about charming small town romances that makes them a delight to read. They inevitably have an entertaining supporting cast and quirky moments, and Millikin’s latest firmly lands in that category. She balances heartbreaking moments with lightheartedness as Georgia and Rhodes dance around each other, facing their past and figuring out a future.
Rhodes leads with his heart and it makes him a delightful book boyfriend, and while Georgia starts out being controlled by her hurt, it doesn’t take long for their feelings to overcome their pain. I do feel like Georgia was suddenly “OK, I’m over it. Let’s be friends” which just didn’t mesh with the attitude that she’d been expressing up to that point. I think maybe if there had been a little more discussion, even within her inner monologue, it would have been just a little better.
Overall, though, Millikin’s newest is a low angst and sweet second chance romance that leaves readers with a satisfying HEA.
(Some characters from other stories make an appearance but this story can stand on its own.)
*****
Author Info:
Jennifer Millikin is a bestselling author of fifteen contemporary romance and women’s fiction novels. She is the two-time recipient of the Readers Favorite Gold Star Award, and readers have called her work “emotionally riveting” and “unputdownable”.
Following a viral TikTok video with over fourteen million views, Jennifer’s third novel, Our Finest Hour, has been optioned for TV/Film. She lives in the Arizona desert with her husband, children, and Liberty, her Labrador retriever.
From USA Today bestselling Author Chelle Bliss comes a sexy, opposites attract, friends to lover romance.
Olive Thornbury only had one crush in high school, and his name was Asher Gallo. She was smitten with him from the first time she had laid eyes on him. But instead of acting on how she felt, she kept her nose stuck in a book, finding safety in the words rather than emotions.
Asher had never thought of Olive as anything more than a friend. She was aloof, preferring to read books. instead of spending time with her friends. And when she moved away almost a decade ago, their friendship quickly disintegrated.
But when Olive returns to visit a local university, she never expected to run into a very grown up and even more handsome Asher. And what starts off as a rekindling of an old friendship turns into a fiery relationship.
Do the opposites have enough in common to go the distance? Or will their combustible chemistry cause the flames to turn everything into cinders?
I’ve only read one other book by Bliss (earlier this summer actually) and it had a bit of a different feel than this one. With Never Too Soon, the characters had an initial connection but they spend some time deciding whether they want to act on it. Cinder on the other hand is very much an insta-love story and then we see how that plays out.
Asher runs into Olive in a parking lot after not seeing each other for about a decade. While they were in the same circle as kids, Olive moved away at 16 but is now back to go to graduate school. His grandma, in all of her meddling glory apparently, pushes him to invite her to a get together they are having that day and … well, the rest is history. Before the party breaks up they’ve pretty much have decided to live happily ever after together. Not having read the rest of the series, I’m not sure if this is normal for this group but from the reviews I think that it might have been surprising to some readers. So just a warning in case that isn’t your kinda of thing 🙂
I liked the characters, individually and together, so I didn’t mind so much. I just went “oh-kay” and then accepted it. It’s not overly realistic but that doesn’t mean it isn’t fun. There are a few bumps in the road but for the most part their relationship is drama free, sweet, and enjoyable.
While the book can stand on its own, I kinda wish I’d read more in the series because I would have liked to have known Asher a bit better going in and his whole clan is fantastic together so I would have loved to have more of that. Their interactions are full of love and humor, teasing and support, and the occasional butt-kicking when it’s needed. Olive didn’t have that growing up and I’m happy that she finally gets that with Asher’s family.
I get the idea (granted it’s based on a whopping two book of her’s that I’ve read) that Bliss might be for a particular audience. Not everyone is going to enjoy a slow burn romance, whether it starts with insta-love or a little more caution, but I think that if that’s your thing her characters will be enough to keep you coming back.
*****
Author Info:
Chelle Bliss is the Wall Street Journal & USA Today bestselling author of Men of Inked Series and Misadventures of a City Girl.
She’s a full-time writer, time-waster extraordinaire, social media addict, coffee fiend, ex-high school history teacher, and currently lives near the beach even though she hates sand. Chelle loves spending time with her two cats, alpha boyfriend, and chatting with readers.
It’s like plucking daisy petals in my head, but he’ll never know.
When Miles Cavanaugh, the best safety in the league, was traded to the Chicago Grizzlies football team last year, I could finally breathe. Temptation was miles away.
How naïve to think it would end there because when the opportunity to write for a national magazine based in Chicago lands in my lap months later, I can’t turn it down. Sure, it’s a big city, but the sexual energy feels like a beacon between us the minute my plane lands.
To make matters worse, I end up having to take over the job of reporting exclusively on the Chicago Grizzlies. Which means traveling with the team, interviewing players, and pretty much having an all-access pass to their lives during the season.
Miles and I put up a great front, quickly hating on one another, but we both know it’s a lie. We also know the rules are simple. For me, don’t sleep with the subject of your articles. For him, don’t sleep with the journalist who can make or break your career.
I thought straight-laced Miles Cavanaugh followed all the rules… oh how wrong I was.
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I have to say I really wished they’d found some way to get Miles and Bryce a story without moving him to Chicago. I felt so bad for him, having to leave his friends (yeah, I understand the reality of the sport but this is a work of fiction), and I don’t quite feel like they gave him a connection with the new team to replace that just yet. It helps to amplify his issues, especially with Bryce’s articles, but I like him so much I just wish he’d been treated a little better 🙂
Having said that, I enjoyed this story a lot more than I thought I would. I don’t know why the way these two fight never appealed to me in the Kingsmen stories but I should have remembered that Piper Rayne writes a dang good story and I just needed to have faith. Their characters are a delight to read and the stories flow so smoothly to endings that always make me so happy.
Returning readers know that there had to be more to Miles & Bryce’s bickering so it’s satisfying to finally get our answers. And Bryce proves to be just as feisty as we knew she’d be, as well as troubled by her past. It will take a patient man to break through her barriers and luckily Miles is just the guy to do it.
With fun & spicy banter, plenty of sexy times, and moments that deliver the feels, Something Like Hate is a satisfying conclusion to an old series and a good start to a new series. I’m so looking forward to getting to know the rest of the Grizzlies!
(Can be read as a stand alone but will probably be better enjoyed having read the Kingsmen series to really get a feel for Miles & Bryce’s history.)
*****
Author Info:
Piper Rayne is a USA Today Bestselling Author duo who write “heartwarming humor with a side of sizzle” about families, whether that be blood or found. They both have e-readers full of one-clickable books, they’re married to husbands who drive them to drink, and they’re both chauffeurs to their kids. Most of all, they love hot heroes and quirky heroines who make them laugh, and they hope you do, too!
Art evaluator Miles Tate is finally about to start living his dream… that is if he can get the funding in place to open his own art gallery in New York. But when an unexpected turn of events finds every one of Miles’ perfectly-planned dreams turned upside-down, it’s time to escape Manhattan and reluctantly take up a well-paid job in the tiny seaside town of Hope’s Bluff, Georgia. For Miles, it’s his only chance to make some money, claw back what little dignity he has left, and figure out what the hell to do with his life.
But evaluating the art collection of a deceased estate isn’t made easy by the grandson of the dearly departed in question. Indeed, the young man who calls himself Rainbow is a hot-tempered, hotter-than-hell artist whose secrets run deep and passions run raw. He is talented, troubled, tempestuous and deaf… and possibly the one person who can save Miles from his own heartache.
Can Miles finish the job he’s been paid to do… or will two opposites find that they have more in common than they first imagined? Can the pair of them find the strength in each other to rebuild their lives… or will the traumas of their pasts drive them both away? Will Miles turn his back on the handsome, hurt, artistic genius he’s stumbled upon… or will he finally find true love in the arms of a Boy Called Rainbow?
Instead, I tried to compose myself, watching as he squeezed paint onto the palette and began mixing colors together.
An intense focus overcame his handsome features, his brow creasing, eyebrows dancing in deep concentration as he conjured up tones and textures until he was happy with the colors he’d created. Then he began to paint. He lathered the brush and took to the canvas like a man at the whim of a spirited muse. He made strokes both large and small. His eyes looked from my reclining body to the canvas and back again. Occasionally he switched tools, biting the brush between his teeth as he grabbed a spatula and slathered thick gobs of paint onto the canvas, before switching back to his brush. At times he abandoned the tools altogether, using his strong hands, his dextrous fingers, to smear and dab the paint before wiping his hands on his chest and abs, unwittingly turning his torso into an artwork of its own.
The vision of this beautiful, naked artist at work— the sight of his talent unfurling from his hands, his creative genius spilling onto the canvas— made me want him more desperately than ever before. My cock ached. My lungs burned as I tried to calm my heaving chest. I clenched my fists and he noticed, gesturing for me to loosen my hands and relax my fingers. I did as I was told, counting down the seconds until the painting was done.
As soon as he was finished, he stepped back— his cock still hard, his brow beaded with sweat, his belly panting with the physical efforts of his creativity— and looked from the canvas to me and back again once more.
He added several feathery brushstrokes to complete his work.
Then, after putting down the brush and palette, he took the canvas and spun it around for me to see.
I hadn’t really looked at myself— I mean, really looked at myself— in years. Practically the only reason I looked in the mirror at all in the mornings was to tie my bowtie and make sure my hair didn’t look like a bird’s nest. I suppose after being run out of home all those years ago, I didn’t really see much reason to look too long into the eyes of a man who could be so easily rejected by those who were supposed to love him the most.
But as I looked at the portrait of myself that Rainbow had so masterfully conceived— his eyes capturing a vision of myself I had never dreamed of, his hands so skilfully sowing the seeds of his creativity— I saw something in myself that I hadn’t seen in a long, long time… if ever.
The dazzling colors made me bold.
The rough strokes and fearless use of textures made me defiant.
The rawness of my naked body made me brave.
I saw a confidence in myself I almost didn’t recognize.
I saw uniqueness.
I saw beauty.
And all I could wonder was— had Rainbow used his paints to create my portrait… or unravel my mask of insecurity?
I stood from the chaise lounge and walked slowly up to Rainbow’s work of art, my eyes fixed, my heart spellbound.
“This is me?” At first the words came out as a question, but as he gave me the painting and I took it in my hands, the question mark vanished. “This is me.”
*****
Review:
The villains in the story were a bit … over the top. Rainbow’s brother might as well be twirling his mustache and cackling (he does stroke his goatee, does that count?). The family has an almost fanatical hatred of Rainbow and Franklin is set on taking everything away from him now that their grandmother has died. It’s a little much and might come across as cartoonish for some but it is a vehicle to bring the mains together and team up with some of the more quirky townsfolk.
I do wish we’d gotten Rainbow’s perspective, get an idea of his feelings about his family as well as his feelings towards Miles. I think that he’d have a unique voice and also it would help readers feel like he’s participating fully in what happens. But being a single POV we have to infer a lot and it’s a bit of a missed opportunity.
I do like Miles. He’s a little frumpy in his personality but he’s got a good heart. The effort he puts into his relationship with Rainbow, to helping him and understanding him, is sweet. It may be a little fast, especially with how his last relationship imploded, but if you go into it knowing there’s a bit of insta-love I think it’ll be more enjoyable.
With quirky characters, outrageously vile villains, and a touch of magic thanks to Rainbow’s grandmother, A Boy Called Rainbow isn’t going to be for everyone. But I think that it’ll definitely be a hit with the right audience.
*****
Author Info:
Robin Knight is the author of gay fiction novels, novellas, and short stories, ranging in genre from gay adventure, gay romance, gay suspense, and gay comedies.
The heroes of Robin’s books love to spend their time jumping off the page, stumbling through misadventures, and falling in love.
Robin has worked in advertising, politics, journalism, and event management, but nothing is as fun as telling stories.
This is the second of this series that I’ve read and I enjoyed it just as much – Jenshak has definitely converted me to a reader of new adult romances. I will say there were a few moments that stretched reality just a little, mostly around Hendrick’s career, but the writing is so smooth and the characters are so charming that I just didn’t care.
Hendrick and Jane are adorable together. They are flirty and fun – Jane with her upbeat take on life and Hendrick’s with his broody sexiness. Her safety issues have them spending a lot of time together quickly which has them falling fast, not insta but close, however it works here. Jane works well with both Hendrick and his life that it feels right.
I do wish we’d gotten more of the girls together, because I remember that was one of my favorite parts of the other book. But I feel like Jenshak makes up for it with the brother dynamic. I’m really hoping this is her way of introducing us to the next series because these guys are all the feels with how they support each other and do what they can to handle all the things that life has handed them. With Jane there as a badly needed feminine touch and outside voice, it’s just a heart squeeze to see them come together.
The mystery of who is threatening Jane is a lesser concern over the romance and family dynamic but I feel like it was well done and I believed the person could have done it. I think if that was something important to you as a plot point then you might be disappointed in how it wasn’t more of a focus but if you are coming at it as a romance with a little bit of a suspense for drama then I think you’re good 🙂
Looking forward to what Jenshak has in store next (and hoping it has one of Hendrick’s brothers getting his HEA).
*****
Author Info:
Rebecca Jenshak is a USA Today bestselling author of new adult and sports romance. She writes sexy, feel-good stories with lots of swoon-worthy moments.
Rebecca lives in Arizona. When she isn’t writing, you can find her cheering on local sports teams, hanging out with friends and family, or curled up with a good book.
Romantic Reads and Such 