Book Review – The Wingman

15 Wednesday Mar 2017

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

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Book Review, Natasha Anders, The Wingman

The Wingman

by Natasha Anders

She was supposed to be his one-night distraction. But their attraction is undeniable.

Introverted Daisy McGregor is used to being a wallflower, but what she lacks in style, she makes up for with an acerbic wit, a passion for life, and a deep devotion to her family. So she’ll suffer through her sister Dahlia’s bachelorette party and accept the cloud of pity for going stag to the wedding.

Out at the pub, sexy bad boy Mason Carlisle is a reluctant wingman tasked with entertaining Daisy while his brother flirts with her oldest sister, Daffodil. When the plan fails and Mason’s true intent is revealed, he feels intense guilt—and a sensual spark of desire for the unlikeliest of women.

Daisy decides to use this unfortunate encounter to her advantage: to make it up to her, Mason will be another kind of wingman, playing the role of her boyfriend and wedding date. Will their ruse unravel completely—or will Mason and Daisy’s undeniable attraction ignite a scorching love affair that knows no rules?

I enjoyed this story so, so much. Daisy and Mason are a ton of fun together. She touches a part of him that he’s left out of his … um, romantic (ha!) entanglements. She’s smart and funny, a good match for him, but she’s also a victim of low self-esteem. Which he doesn’t appreciate 🙂 He starting to uncover the sexy woman she’s got in hiding and wants to make sure that she sees her too. But she’s had a lot of years of feeling poorly about herself so it isn’t an easy journey and they both suffer a little for it (although it does make for such a delicious epilogue).

I don’t think I’ve ever read anything by Anders before but she has a delightfully entertaining writing style. Her characters are bright and real, playing off each other in hilarious and touching ways. It isn’t just the romance between Mason and Daisy, but the familial interactions as well. There is so much complexity in Daisy’s family that gets uncovered a little as Mason helps her find her mojo. There’s a lot going on there that we didn’t see in detail but with two more sisters (and Mason’s brother) I’ll definitely be keeping my eye out for what comes next!

Book Review – Home at Last

14 Tuesday Mar 2017

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review, Sneak Peek

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Book Review, Home at Last, Lily Everett, Sanctuary Island series

If you read Close to Home, you’ve been waiting for this story … If you haven’t, head on out to pick up a few Sanctuary Island books, we’ll wait for you 🙂

*****

Home at Last

A Sanctuary Island Novel

by Lily Everett

Price: $7.99

Publication Date: 3/7/2017

ISBN: 978-1-250-07406-5

Blurb:

Home is where the heart is…

Marcus Beckett left Sanctuary Island after his mother’s funeral, and he hasn’t been back since. Until now. Needing a change from the high-risk, high-stakes life of a bodyguard, Marcus makes a solitary life for himself running the neighborhood bar in his hometown. His only mistake? Seducing and then dumping the town’s sweetheart, Quinn Harper. Marcus knows he did the right thing—a good girl like Quinn has no business with a broken man like him. But now no one will come to his bar, and he’s watching his last chance at a peaceful life go up in smoke. So when Quinn proposes a fake four-week courtship, he can’t refuse…even though he knows it’s a bad idea.

It’s a romantic charade that will buy Quinn time to distract her mother and father from their own marital problems—and will help Marcus welcome back some paying customers. But what begins as an engagement of convenience slowly transforms into a deeper connection, one that heals both of their hearts. . .and ignites the simmering passion between them. Could it be that pretending to be together is just what Quinn and Marcus needed to give their real love a second chance?

Amazon | B&N | Indiebound | iBooks | Kobo

*****

Excerpt:

Quinn had taken the floor for exactly the reasons she’d said, in addition to the knowledge that however little she liked to think it mattered, Marcus was ten years older than she was. And he was a secret stress case who carried all his tension in his back and shoul- ders. She should know, since she’d nearly sprained her thumbs trying to dig the knots out during a massage that had started out sexy and turned into a to-the-death battle between Quinn and the long muscles lining Marcus’s spine.

Marcus didn’t need to screw up his back by lying on the floor for eight hours, was her point. Not that she would ever say that to him. She didn’t have a death wish.

But as it turned out, the floor was more uncomfort- able than Quinn had anticipated. And as the hours wore down, so did her resistance to the temptation of the warm, soft bed mere inches from her stiff, aching body.

She stared at Marcus’s sleeping form and wondered if she dared.

Then she wondered what the hell was the matter with her. It was a bed. They were adults. Sleeping next to each other didn’t mean they were automatically going to cross some invisible, arbitrary line. She wasn’t going to roll over in her sleep and accidentally impale herself on his penis. They’d be fine.

This is fine, she told herself, getting up off her shaky knees and creeping around to the other side of the bed. The way her knees popped when she stood up was a deciding factor. Quinn carefully peeled back the cov- ers and slid into the bed beside Marcus.

Quinn held her breath, but he didn’t move. His broad chest rose and fell with his deep, even breaths. He threw off heat like a roaring bonfire; Quinn went from chilled to toasty in seconds.

Letting her body relax into the softness of the mat- tress, she drifted peacefully into sleep.

Quinn’s dreams were chaotic, flashes of memories mixed with totally random people from her past and present. She was aware they were dreams, in that vague way that happens sometimes, even when the dreamer is deeply asleep.

In the dream, she and Marcus were walking through the woods behind her parents’ house, holding hands. Even Dream Quinn couldn’t suspend disbelief quite enough for that. Marcus wasn’t a hand-holding kind of guy. So she knew it was a dream, even as he led her deeper into the pine copse, their footfalls muffled by layers and layers of dried pine needles that released their evergreen scent as they were crushed.

Come here, said Dream Marcus, giving Quinn the smile she’d only glimpsed once or twice—the small, private, completely unguarded smile that made

Marcus look like the carefree boy Quinn had first fallen for.

She could never resist that particular smile. Not that she wanted to resist. This was only a dream. She could have whatever she wanted, with no consequences.

Emboldened by her freedom, Quinn followed Marcus down to lie on a bed of springy green moss. He lay back, arms crossed behind his head and more re- laxed than she’d ever seen him in real life. Sunlight dappled his handsome face, patterns of light and shadow that shivered over his cheekbones when wind fluttered through the branches overhead.

Her heart swelled with all the feelings she’d been stuffing down and denying since the day Marcus un- ceremoniously ended their relationship. It wasn’t smart to care about him. She knew that, and Quinn wanted to be smart, she really did.

The trouble was that she’d never learned how to stop caring about someone. Her poor, bruised heart was as optimistic and stubborn as her hungry body was when it came to Marcus Beckett.

Despair teased at Quinn’s mind, but she pushed it away. This is a dream, she said aloud to remind them both. Only a dream.

Beneath her, Marcus smiled again, the smile that promised things like love and forever and the kind of pleasure she could live on. Thighs tensing with need where she was suddenly straddling his hips, Quinn felt the low-down clench of her body around the emptiness only Marcus could fill.

A shudder racked her, sweeping up her frame in a rush that tightened the peaks of her breasts and forced her mouth open on a gasp.

Yes, like that, Marcus murmured, his eyes going hot and feral the way she remembered from their first nights of passion. The grip of his hands at her hips ex- cited Quinn. She squirmed a little, wanting to feel it, hoping it bruised so she could look in the mirror later and see the evidence of Marcus’s desire for her.

With a smooth twist of his massive torso, he flipped them so that Quinn’s back was arching off the cool moss and Marcus was covering her with his body. Her legs fell open, wanton and wanting, and she relished the stretch of her thighs as he fit himself into the cra- dle of her hips.

His hardness slotted against her softness with a series of rhythmic nudges that stoked the fire inside Quinn higher and higher. In the dream, her panties melted away like fog, and he was naked too, and they were pressed together so intimately and perfectly and yet, somehow, there was still something in the way, a barrier to Quinn getting what she really wanted. Frus- tration mounting, she reached down between their hot, straining bodies and felt . . . cotton?

Quinn blinked and suddenly, instead of staring up at the waving pine needles of the Lantern Point woods, she was looking at the familiar starburst pattern of the plaster ceiling in her girlhood bedroom.

Her immediate thought was a dismayed No, let me go back to the dream! But in the next instant, she realized Marcus was still on top of her, his hard chest and strong arms caging her in. Their legs were tangled hopelessly in the sheets and they were both still wear- ing what they’d gone to bed in, but other than that?

The dream was real.

Eyes still closed, Marcus twisted his hips, grinding wickedly against Quinn’s most sensitive spot and scat- tering her thoughts like dried pine needles before she could figure out what to do. She reacted mindlessly, her body taking over and bowing up hard, her arms going around Marcus’s neck.

Through her haze of heated lust, Quinn saw the exact moment Marcus woke up.

*****

Review:

I was so ready for this story after reading Close to Home because I really wanted to find out Marcus’s secrets 🙂 And while we do find out a lot, he’s definitely a complicated guy. He’s carrying around a lot of weight from his time in the military and as a secret service agent … and even more so from his youth. Lucky for him, Quinn isn’t going to keep to herself. Instead she pokes and prods and makes sure that he looks into some of those areas that he doesn’t want to face. And pushes him to go home again, make things right to give himself a little peace.

Quinn may be young and come across as flighty but she’s got a good heart and good instincts. Both of which she’ll need not only with Marcus but with her parents. It’s a silly idea – pretending to be a couple – that only shows up in romances but that doesn’t stop it from working here. Time spent together forces them to look at themselves and each other a little more closely. And gives Quinn that chance to influence Marcus a little more.

We also get Quinn’s parents rocky marriage here. It’s a nice juxtaposition of an long-standing couple who have hit a rough patch and a potential new love story that’s dealing with a rocky start. Both are full of heart and troubles but with a good amount of hard work and communication they have a good chance of figuring things out.

With her Sanctuary Island series Everett has brought readers well-crafted and wonderfully emotional love stories. Full of small town charm, quirky characters and all the heart you could want, they are the perfect stories for kicking back and just letting it all unfold.

*****

Author Info:

LILY EVERETT is the author of the Sanctuary Island series for St. Martin’s Press. She grew up in a small town in the foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains and now resides in Austin, Texas, where she writes full-time.

SMP ROMANCE SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

Twitter: @SMPRomance

Facebook: @SMPRomance

http://smpromance.com/

Book Review – The Bastard Billionaire

10 Friday Mar 2017

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review, Contest, Sneak Peek

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Billionaire Bad Boys series, Book Review, Jessica Lemmon, The Bastard Billionaire

The Cranes are all sorts of HAWT and readers have been impatiently waiting to finally get their hands on this soldier brother’s story!

*****

TOP 5 FAVORITE LINES FROM TBB

#5~ Isabella Sawyer’s smart-aleck remark when Eli fires her for the umpteenth time:

“Apologies, Eli, but I’m not changing my shoes.” She came into his office, her hips swaying with each sure step she took toward him.

“Fine. Then you’re fired.”

“Oh, no, not again.”

#4~ Merina, the heroine from The Bastard Billionaire shows up as yet another feisty woman who refuses to bow to Eli’s gruffness.

“I can go out into public, you know,” he grumbled, setting the beer bottle next to his plate—on the table, no coaster, thank you very much. “You guys don’t have to come in here and serve me.”

He was skilled at his new role of miserable bastard, and since everyone expected it now, he was determined to excel.

“Oh but we do, Lord Crane.” Merina smiled demurely as she leaned over and handed him a glass.

#3~ I loved this line after Eli and Isa had sex—his honesty cracked me up!

“I like this.” She touched the corner of his mouth. “I’ve been trying to get you to smile since I started working here.”

“Well now you know how to do it.”

#2~ Bold Isabella knows how to ask for what she wants!

“Is kissing you in my marching orders for tomorrow night?” he asked, his eyes picking up a trace of heat.

She wasn’t going to pass up this opportunity. No way. No how.

“Yes,” she answered. “Need to practice?”

#1~ Eli’s worry that he didn’t have what it took is my favorite line in the book.

He’d done what he needed to be a good soldier.

Now that he wasn’t a soldier, he wasn’t sure what it took to be a good man.

*****

The Bastard Billionaire

Billionaire Bad Boys, #3

by Jessica Lemmon

On Sale: February 28, 2017

Publisher: Forever

Mass Market: $7.99 USD

eBook: $6.99 USD

Blurb:

Beauty and the Beastly Billionaire . . .

Eli Crane is one tough bastard. After an explosion left him injured and honorably discharged from the Marines, all he wants is to be left alone. Yet his brothers insist he take a greater role in the family business. They’ve hired him ten personal assistants—and Eli sent each one packing as fast as possible. But when beautiful number eleven walks through the door, Eli will do anything to make her stay.

Isabella Sawyer’s employment agency can’t afford to lose Eli Crane’s business. Her plan: to personally take on the role of his PA, and secure her reputation with the wealthy elite in Chicago. But this beauty and her hot billionaire bad boy soon find themselves mixing business with pleasure in the most delicious ways. And passionate, stubborn Isabella won’t rest until she tames this wicked beast . . .

*****

Excerpt:

Standing, she smoothed her hands down her pants and flipped her hair. She had planned to quietly finish her work and leave without seeing him again. No such luck. And no hiding that she was heading his way when her heels clicked along the concrete floor.

Well.

The kiss had happened. The button incident had happened. There was no taking it back. Regardless of how either of them felt about it, she was going to continue working here. So. She would deal with the here and now.

Since the sun was shining, Eli’s lair was welcome instead of foreboding. No fire cracked in the hearth today. Also unlike his usual, he wasn’t at his desk. He was at the printer.

“This yours?” He offered a sheet of paper.

“Yes.” She couldn’t keep from explaining. “Pressed the Print button by accident.”

“Mi printer es su printer.”

Isa accepted the document and Eli sank his hands into his jeans pockets, his forearms flexing with the movement.

“I wasn’t—”

“I shouldn’t—” they said at the same time.

He pursed his lips and she looked at her shoes. “Go ahead.” She was going to say, I wasn’t offended when you kissed me, but now that she’d had a millisecond to think it through, maybe she should pretend the kiss hadn’t happened. Which was . . . impossible. Standing this close to him, it’s all she could think about.

“I shouldn’t have ruined your shirt,” he said.

“I dared you to.”

“Why?” His eyebrows compressed along with his lips.

“Because you have accepted the role of beast, but I don’t believe that’s who you are.” She let her gaze linger on his face before tracking down his body. “And because I like a challenge.”

“Do you?” He took a wide step toward her.

She matched his move and took one step closer to him. “Yes. I don’t wilt easily.”

He threaded her hair between his fingers, a look of longing and hurt mingling in his eyes. “I was about to lie and say I shouldn’t have kissed you.”

Shivers climbed her spine as she remembered how firm his lips felt against hers. “Maybe . . . you shouldn’t have stopped.”

*****

Review:

(I will be sharing a BIT of a spoiler about the ending later but I will be giving you fair warning so you can read some of the review if you want and then stop at the *s)

I’m thinking that Isabella needs to hire some people with a little more backbone. What we see of Eli isn’t all that pleasant but he’s carrying a lot. He’s struggling to find his way again and unfortunately his family keeps pushing him to be what they want him to be. Granted he’s a TERRIBLE communicator and is keeping a lot to himself so they don’t know what is going on with him. I get why he’s not sharing but it might make his life a little easier if he’d just be a little more forthcoming with those that love him 🙂

Buuuut, that would mean that he’d never have met Isabella. And she’s exactly what he needs. She’s not going to take his crap. Instead she’s working hard to make things work with the Crane company and, as she gets to know him better, for Eli himself. He’s sexy and troubled and all sorts of growly but what he really needs is someone to push him, stand up to him, and support him. It’s a fine line she has to dance on but she’s got the guts and smarts to do it.

**I’m kinda giving away a little bit of a spoiler next so if you don’t want to know any more STOP HERE**

Kinda like with The Billionaire Next Door I was a little confused toward the end. I think that if we’d be given a better look at Isabella’s relationship with her ex and why she would feel like she HAD to have a commitment right then (when I’m pretty sure they were only a few weeks into knowing each other) it might have been different. But really I just wanted to give Eli a hug and tell him that I’d give him the time that he needed. But once she gets her head out of a place it isn’t supposed to be then she definitely makes up for it well.

**End Spoiler**

As an ending to Lemmon’s series about the Crane brothers The Bastard Billionaire is a winner. Eli is deliciously gruff but redeemable and Isabella is a strong match for him. She helps him figure his new life out and learn to embrace the future. Bringing the fun, heat and tons of emotions, Lemmon proves once again that she’s a fabulously talented author!

*****

THE BILLIONAIRE BAD BOYS SERIES

The Billionaire Bachelor, #1

The Billionaire Next Door, #2

The Bastard Billionaire, #3

Series Page on Goodreads

*****

Author Info:

A former job-hopper, Jessica Lemmon resides in Ohio with her husband and rescue dog. She holds a degree in graphic design currently gathering dust in an impressive frame. When she’s not writing super-sexy heroes, she can be found cooking, drawing, drinking coffee (okay, wine), and eating potato chips. She firmly believes God gifts us with talents for a purpose, and with His help, you can create the life you want.

FOLLOW FOREVER ONLINE

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

*****

Giveaway:

Five (5) sets of The Billionaire Bad Boys series

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/26635ce2422/

*****

Book Review – Hero in Disguise

09 Thursday Mar 2017

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

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Book Review, Hero in Disguise, Sharla Lovelace

Hero in Disguise

by Sharla Lovelace

“Sharla Lovelace’s prose is smart, witty, funny, with a hot sexy edge.” —Kathryn Magendie, author of Tender Graces

Billionaire Jake Jericho has it all, except for the one thing he wants—something real. Twice in his life he’s found that. Once as a delinquent teenager when he was sent to work on a ranch, then later in the arms of Harper Haley, the only girl he ever loved. One helped shape him. The other he had to leave behind.

Harper learned the hard way that trusting Jake only leads to heartbreak, and twelve years later she’s structured her life with a singular focus—to keep running the coffee shop started by her late mother. But now a giant development firm run by Jake’s father wants to level the waterfront neighborhood she calls home, and her shop is on the chopping block.

Forced to turn to Jake for help after all these years, Harper will have to risk everything to save the one dream she has left, and Jake will have to prove he can be the man he never was to save the only woman he’s ever loved.

This novella first appeared as part of the Heartbreakers and Heroes boxed set.

This was such a sweet little story about finding your strength and second chances. Jake is one of those entitled rich kids who thinks he can get away with anything. Until he’s sent to work a ranch after getting caught breaking the law. The man who ran it managed to teach him how to be worthy, but old habits are hard to break and it doesn’t take long for him to slip back into his old life again. It’s been over a decade but he’s about to have a reason to find his way again.

At 18 Harper fell in love with Jake (without knowing who he was) but then he left her just when she gave him her heart. It’s been years and he’s just stepped back into her life. Even worse, he won’t go away. After everything, she still finds him hard to resist.

Even though Jake lost himself in his shallow lifestyle again, when his eyes get opened he does a great job of stepping up. I enjoyed his journey as he discovered how to be a good man again, stand tall and be strong for something important even if it means going against his own father. But he’s hiding who he is from Harper and although he thinks he has his reasons you know it isn’t going to end well.

Lovelace does a great job of showing Jake’s progress and making the business thing with his company (which could easily have been boring) work with the love story. The story is short but she packs in a great deal of heart, growth, and forgiveness.

Book Review – One and Only

06 Monday Mar 2017

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review, Contest, Sneak Peek

≈ 1 Comment

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Amy Knupp, Book Review, Hale Street series, One and Only

We’re kicking off our week with another sexy and troubled musician. This is a series I picked up in the middle but Amy Knupp was nice enough to give us a little primer about the Hale Street community!

*****

Welcome to Hale Street by Amy Knupp

ONE AND ONLY is set on fictional Hale Street in Nashville, TN. I say fictional because most people would claim it isn’t real, but in the minds of me and my two series co-writers, Natasha Lake and Emily Leigh, it’s one hundred percent an actual place. It’s become a spot we’d all love to shop, live, and hang out in. For readers who are new to Hale Street, here are the top five things you should know:

Hale Street is one block long, located near downtown Nashville. Originally developed in the 1940s, the street is being redeveloped, with the goal of turning it into a shopping destination. Nick Morello, the lead contractor (who, by the way, is a treat in a tool belt) makes every effort to maintain historic details while making the buildings modern and functional. Brick sidewalks are lined with quaint, old-fashioned streetlamps, one-of-a-kind shops, and delectable food joints. Most of the buildings have apartments on the upper floors.
One of the cornerstone businesses on Hale Street is Clayborne’s on the Corner. With a Cheers-like familiarity for residents and a warm, welcoming atmosphere for visitors, it’s the perfect place to catch a ballgame on TV, an up-and-coming band on stage, or a tasty meal of a hot ham and Swiss sandwich, fried mushrooms, and an adult beverage. Hunter Clayborne, the current owner, is a feast for the eyes as well.
At the opposite end of the street is the majestic historical Wentworth Hotel, owned by Burke Wentworth, a man who does daily justice to a three-piece suit. The elegant ballroom hosts countless formal affairs, from wedding receptions to New Year’s Eve balls. The top floor houses long-term luxury suites in addition to the hotel’s impeccable regular rooms. The general manager of the hotel is Daisy Calloway, who, incidentally, used to be engaged to Burke.
No one can wander down Hale Street without stopping into Sugar Babies Sweet Shop. With a beautiful handcrafted front counter and a gorgeous bay window, it’s the ideal spot to savor a sinful sweet—peppermint-cocoa cupcakes, bourbon pecan pie bites, or anything with Ivy Gibson’s fluffy brown sugar icing on it, for example. An arched doorway connects the bakery to Angry Cat Books, where you can grab coffee and an absorbing book to go with your sweet treat.
As you meander along Hale Street, you might want to keep an eye out for the neighborhood kook, Lurlene Williams, and her leash-trained pet albino ferret. Lurlene is harmless enough, but making eye contact can subject a person to a lengthy anti-technology rant or an in-depth diatribe on pigeons. If she gets in front of you in line at Sugar Babies, prepare for her to ask the bakery girls about every single menu option before finally settling on her usual chocolate cupcake with chocolate frosting.

For more Hale Street details, I hope you’ll try ONE AND ONLY or any of the other six books set there (with more on the way). For more information on the books in the series, please visit my website (www.amyknupp.com).

*****

One and Only

Hale Street #7

by Amy Knupp

Releasing March 7, 2017

Self-Published

Blurb:

Drummer Micah Sullivan lost his music and his dreams when his wife died unexpectedly. In the emotional aftermath, he quit his successful country band and pushed away his family and friends. Three years later, he’s opened a music shop on Hale Street in Nashville and tells himself he’s content trying to make it a hit. What he failed to consider is that success requires connections—including the very ones he turned his back on.

Sloan McGuire is up for a new challenge…never realizing it might lead to heartbreak. When she takes a job as entertainment manager at a bar not known for its music, she doesn’t bargain for running into Micah, whose late wife was her best friend. She can tell within minutes that he’s still grieving. Out of love for her friend, she attempts to reconnect with the reclusive drummer. Falling for him isn’t in the plans, though—not only because he was married to her friend but because she’s been second-best before, and she never wants to play that role again.

As Micah starts finding his rhythm, life throws him a different beat. But with a little improvisation and a lot of courage, he just might tap into the one and only connection he needs.

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33845684-one-and-only

Goodreads Series Link https://www.goodreads.com/series/188174-hale-street

Buy Links: AMAZON | ITUNES | KOBO

*****

Excerpt:

“It’s not every night a girl gets an offer to spend time with the world-famous Micah Sullivan and his family.”

“I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that.” His heart hammered in his chest and lust pounded through his veins as he breathed in her scent, a light, floral something that made him feel more alive than he’d felt in forever.

“Oh, sorry,” she said, her lids lowering halfway and her voice going quieter, more private as he slid his hands to each side of her tiny waist. “I forgot you prefer Just Micah.”

He couldn’t answer, wasn’t even sure what she’d said, because his gaze had homed in on her plump bottom lip, where there was still the hint of a sheen from her lip gloss, and he suddenly wanted more than anything to taste her.

He dipped his head down and touched his lips to hers, only intending a quick taste, but when he felt her arms go around his neck and sampled the sweetness — chocolate and a faint hint of strawberries — he couldn’t have backed off if someone held him at gunpoint. He swept his tongue over her lower lip, teased the seam, and when she pressed the tip of her tongue to his and they swirled together, he couldn’t hold back the rumble that came up from his throat.

“You’re too tall,” Sloan said, pulling away only enough to get that out before she pressed her lips to his again.

“You’re too short,” he managed, not recognizing his own voice. He braced his hands on the backs of her upper thighs and lifted her so that their mouths lined up perfectly, then took a couple steps so her back was to the wall as he sealed his mouth to hers again, angling his head for better access. Sloan’s legs wrapped around him, and he was suddenly so hot it felt like the house was on fire.

*****

Review:

This is a wonderfully emotional journey for Micah. He’s been in a holding pattern since his wife died and whether he realizes it or not it could be time to move on. It’s not easy and he fights it every step of the way, which causes some tense moments for readers and for Sloan. But it’s worthwhile and makes for a pretty great HEA ending.

Sloan is a fantastic friend. She pushes when she thinks Micah needs it (and a lot of times when he doesn’t like it) but she’s got great understanding for him as a person, musician, and a widower. Things may get complicated when their hearts start to get involved, but nothing worthy comes too easily.

Knupp keeps things real and has them working through those bumps, both little and big, until they can find a balance that works for both of them. They both have their hang-ups but by talking through things, and sometimes having a little more trouble listening, they are able to work through them all.

(This is my first Hale Street book but I don’t think it really made any kind of difference. There are characters that I’m sure returning readers will be thrilled to see again and it might have helped me understand who everyone was (because it seemed like a lot of names were thrown around that didn’t seem needed). But the story really revolved around Micah and Sloan and Knupp gave you everything you needed to be able to enjoy their romance.)

*****

Author Info:

Amy Knupp is the author of contemporary romance, a freelance copy editor for Blue Otter Editing, and a freelance technical writer. While the collection of professional hats she wears sounds a bit scattered and broad, the common thread among all of them (perhaps the little ball on top of each hat) is the written word. She loves words and grammar and meaty, engrossing stories with complex characters.

Amy lives in Wisconsin with her husband, two teenage sons, four cats, and two box turtles. She graduated from the University of Kansas with degrees in French and journalism. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, breaking up cat fights, watching college hoops, and annoying her family by correcting their grammar.

Author Links: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS

*****

Giveaway:

a $10 Gift Card to eBookseller of choice, Digital copies of SOFT SPOT, and SWEET SPOT (Two Winners)

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/521ac4c81244/

*****

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Book Review – Too Wilde to Tame

03 Friday Mar 2017

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review, Contest, Sneak Peek

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Book Review, Tonya Burrows, Too Wilde to Tame, Wilde Security series

We’ve seen Tonya Burrows quite a few times before and I’m super excited to bring everyone the final installment in her Wilde Security series. We’re gonna celebrate Friday with a sexy, but haunted soldier … and he’s gonna finally meet his match!

*****

Too Wilde to Tame

Wilde Security, #5

by Tonya Burrows

Publication Date: February 27, 2017

Genres: Adult, Entangled: Ignite, Contemporary, Romance

Blurb:

For three years, ballet teacher Natalie Taggart has lived across the hall from grumpy, reclusive, sexy Greer Wilde. Save for a handful of hellos and the occasional heated glance, they never spoke to each other.

Until the morning Greer lands on her doorstep, bleeding, beaten, and bullet-riddled.

Greer doesn’t need or want her help. He has only one goal: revenge. And nobody—not his brothers, and certainly not his too-hot-for-his-sanity next-door neighbor—is going to get in his way.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2muoBNe

Paperback: http://amzn.to/2mgsiK2

B&N: http://bit.ly/2lOk9eW

iBooks: http://apple.co/2l94ZgB

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2mmiBXD

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2lOJeq3

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2muiecx

Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2kVnhGH

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2lEJ7vd

*****

Excerpt:

“Who said anything about a relationship?” She grinned as Greer’s scowl darkened. “Besides, if he’s divorced, that means he’s unattached. Sounds like a perfect partner for some horizontal dancing.”

He grumbled and tossed back the pills, then snatched the glass of water out of her hand. “Find a different partner.”

A little thrill danced through her heart, and she drew a deep breath to calm it. Even though he was trying to brush it off, he didn’t like the thought of her with Jesse. Was he jealous? She should take pity on him and tell him he had no reason to be—yes, Jesse was hot, but he wasn’t the neighbor she’d been crushing on for the last couple of years.

Except…

She kind of liked that he was jealous. Nice to know she wasn’t the only one to notice the tug of attraction between them.

Feeling bold, she asked, “A different partner? Like you?”

Well, he didn’t spit out his water. That was a good sign.

He swallowed the gulp he’d taken, then slowly lowered the glass to the coffee table. For a handful of seconds, he watched her, considering. Lust burned in his gaze as he swept it down her body. He was clearly playing out that horizontal dance in his mind’s eye.

But then he shook his head. “You’re too complicated.”

She planted her hands on her hips and glowered down at him. “Oh?” She laced the word with as much sarcasm as she could fit into one syllable. “I’m complicated?” She wasn’t the one with Syrian money in her wallet, a bullet hole in her side, and a connection with a top-secret military base.

“How’s that?”

If he was at all fazed by her snark, he didn’t show it. “You’re too close.”

“To what?” she demanded.

“To me.”

*****

Review:

I’ve only read a couple of Burrows’s books (the first couple of the HORNET series and the first in the Wilde series) but I remember loving what I read. I went through a period where I wasn’t all that interested in military/suspense romances so I missed quite a few in both series … and now I am SO regretting that decision! I loved these men and the spunky women who brought them to heel. I’m definitely adding her backlist to my TBR pile 🙂

Only having read one of the Wilde books I’m not sure how much the death of their parents played a part in their books, other than the obvious emotional issues. It definitely takes front and center here where Greer is on a mission to revenge their deaths by taking out the man that killed them. But you know it isn’t going to be as easy as that, right? Injured, he lands on his neighbor’s doorstep and things only get more complicated from there.

Tally has an awesome mix of strength and heart. She understands what Greer needs at any given moment, even if he resists her more often than not 🙂 She’s definitely what he needs whether he will admit it – single-mindedly focused on his mission, he might not want a pretty voice of reason to get in his way but that doesn’t stop her from getting involved. I loved the back and forth between them. They make a great couple and meeting her starts him on the path to being the man that he can be.

Without any other story to guide me, the who-dun-it around the Wilde family is intricate and feels nicely complete. It kept me interested from start to finish and I was really satisfied with how it all tied together. The story is just as much about Greer’s redemption and the relationship that he develops with Tally (and redevelops with his brothers) but Burrows doesn’t scrimp on the suspense element.

For someone who isn’t all that familiar with the Wilde’s I didn’t ever feel left out. You can definitely start here but I have a feeling you’ll be adding some books to your TBR pile too! And I think that returning readers will love to see some of the favorites again, but also feel a little sad that it is coming to an end. But it won’t last long because Burrows is bound to give them something else great soon.

*****

And here’s your chance to catch up on the rest of the series!

Buy Link for Running Wilde (Wilde Security, #4):

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2lEOBpW

Paperback: http://amzn.to/2mmk1RA

B&N: http://bit.ly/2lEHTAl

iBooks: http://apple.co/2mmfyP6

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2kVga17

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2lDJKHb

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2mgmMHt

Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2l8Vtdi

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2lDxh6g

Buy Link for Wilde at Heart (Wilde Security, #3):

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2lDyDh7

Paperback: http://amzn.to/2mm6x8u

B&N: http://bit.ly/1KNjZpZ

iBooks: http://apple.co/2lDFKpT

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2lDFuHt

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2l8UzgI

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2lT3mb9

Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2lj7huf

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2mu7yLh

Buy Link for Wilde for Her (Wilde Security, #2):

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2kVnREn

Paperback: http://amzn.to/2kVl4Lk

B&N: http://bit.ly/2kVgjBu

iBooks: http://apple.co/1IQRUfI

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2muaTda

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2lT25Rn

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2lEL5LY

Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2l8Wl1y

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2mur8H3

Buy Link for Wilde Nights in Paradise (Wilde Security, #1):

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2lEGqd2

Paperback: http://amzn.to/2lOz4FT

B&N: http://bit.ly/1mPJe2p

iBooks: http://apple.co/1M2uETJ

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2mgr3Le

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2lT85JJ

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2liXWTo

Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2mmjUWb

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2lSSnP1

*****

Author Info:

Tonya Burrows wrote her first romance in 8th grade and hasn’t put down her pen since. Originally from a small town in Western New York, she suffers from a bad case of wanderlust and usually ends up moving someplace new every few years. Luckily, her two dogs and ginormous cat are excellent travel buddies.

When she’s not writing about hunky military heroes, Tonya can usually be found at a bookstore or the dog park. She also enjoys painting, watching movies, and her daily barre workouts. A geek at heart, she pledges her TV fandom to Supernatural and Dr. Who.

Goodreads | Newsletter | Amazon Author Profile

*****

Giveaway:

Enter to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/5440a3541071/

*****

Click on the banner below to check out the rest of the tour

Book Review – Hometown Cowboy

02 Thursday Mar 2017

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review

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Book Review, Hometown Cowboy, Rocky Mountain Riders series, Sara Richardson

So far this week we’ve seen a sexy baseball player, a brooding rock star, a hottie dad (and I’ll give you a hint that Friday will bring us a hard-bodied military man), so what else do we need? A cowboy, of course!

*****

Hometown Cowboy

A Rocky Mountain Riders Novel

by Sara Richardson

Blurb:

NEVER FALL IN LOVE WITH A COWBOY

Jessa Mae Love is done with relationships. No matter how tempting he might be, she cannot–will not–fall for a man like Lance Cortez. The outrageously handsome cowboy is practically a living legend in Colorado, as famous for riding bulls as he is for breaking hearts. What would a big-time rodeo star like him see in a small-town veterinarian who wears glasses, rescues animals, and cries when watching rom-coms? Turns out, plenty.

Raising bulls, riding the circuit, and looking after his ailing father–Lance never stands still for long. Yet Jessa catches his attention, and the more she tries to resist him, the more he wants her. When she agrees to move to the ranch to keep an eye on Lance’s dad, Jessa tells him they have to keep it professional: no flirting, no sweet talk, and definitely no kissing. But with Jessa now living under his roof, that’s easier said than done . . .

Add HOMETOWN COWBOY to Goodreads

Purchase Links:

Amazon: http://bit.ly/HometownCowboyAMZ

B&N: http://bit.ly/HometownCowboyBN

Kobo: http://bit.ly/HometownCowboyKOBO

iBooks: http://bit.ly/HometownCowboyIBOOKS

GooglePlay: http://bit.ly/HometownCowboyGOOGLEPLAY

BAM: http://bit.ly/HometownCowboyBAM

What reviewers are saying about Sara Richardson’s novels…

“Charming, witty, and fun. There’s no better read. I enjoyed every word!”―Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author on No Better Man

“Richardson’s debut packs a powerful emotional punch. [Her] deft characterization creates a hero and heroine who will elicit laughs in some places and tears in others.”―Publishers Weekly on No Better Man

“4 stars! Hot! Richardson brings us a modern read set in beautiful Aspen. Her brisk storytelling and the charming, endearing characters set within a solid, engaging plot make this sweet romance shine. A strong and vulnerable Bryce, coupled with a determined, lighthearted Avery, will appeal to readers, especially with their sizzling chemistry. This is a truly delightful read.”―RT Book Reviews on No Better Man

“Fresh, fun, well-written, a dazzling debut.”―Lori Wilde, New York Times bestselling author on No Better Man

“The perfect balance of humor, heart and heat. I couldn’t put it down! Sara Richardson will sweep you away.”―Christie Craig, New York Times bestselling author on No Better Man

“An enjoyable read. Richardson’s spunky, baseball-lovin’ heroine is delightful!”―Katie Lane, USA Today bestselling author on No Better Man

*****

Review:

This is a fantastic introduction to Richardson’s new series. We get to meet some great characters and have little glimpses at what is probably going to be future story-lines, but without cheating these two out of a well-deserved HEA.

Jessa is a kind-hearted, giving person … and Lance is her opposite – closed-off, gruff, and private, he’s got a big heart but he’s also got some demons. When Jessa’s friendship with Lance’s dad puts them in each other’s orbit, Lance is thrown for a loop. He should definitely be staying far away from the good girl looking for Prince Charming, but there’s something about her that just draws him in.

The back and forth between these two is a ton of fun. He’s all prickly and she’s got a ton of spirit, so you know that sparks will fly. They both know that they shouldn’t be together but the attraction is just too hard to resist. After the required blow-ups and misunderstandings, hurt feelings and apologies, everything comes together well.

Between his brothers & her friends you know that there are more of these to come and I’m looking forward to it. These people all need things to go their way as soon as possible.

*****

PRE-ORDER THE NEXT BOOK IN THIS SERIES
Comeback Cowboy – Coming June 27th, 2017!

Amazon | B&N | iBooks

*****

Author Info:

Sara Richardson grew up chasing adventure in Colorado’s rugged mountains. She’s climbed to the top of a 14,000-foot peak at midnight, swam through Class IV rapids, completed her wilderness first-aid certification, and spent seven days at a time tromping through the wilderness with a thirty-pound backpack strapped to her shoulders.

Eventually, Sara did the responsible thing and got an education in writing and journalism. After five years in the corporate writing world, she stopped ignoring the voices in her head and started writing fiction. Now, she uses her experience as a mountain adventure guide to write stories that incorporate adventure with romance. Still indulging her adventurous spirit, Sara lives and plays in Colorado with her saint of a husband and two young sons. Her first contemporary romance, No Better Man, was released by Grand Central forever 2015.

Website: www.sararichardson.com

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SaraR_Books

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

*****

Book Review – Montana Mornings

01 Wednesday Mar 2017

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

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Book Review, Kim Law, Montana Mornings, The WIldes of Birch Bay series

Montana Mornings

The Wildes of Birch Bay, Book 3

by Kim Law

Gabe Wilde has never been more ready for a change. Thirty-three and in the midst of a divorce, he’s packed up his second-grade daughter and come home to Birch Bay, Montana. New house, new career, new life. Only, with changes come stress. His daughter is struggling with the transition to their new norm—and Gabe is out of ideas as to how to help.

Erica Bird is mired in her own worries. After impulsively leaving the teaching job she loved, she may finally be free from her cheating ex, but separated from her family and everything she’s ever known, second guesses linger. Substitute teaching in Birch Bay is fine for the time being, but what will her future hold?

When Gabe’s daughter winds up in Erica’s class, the two meet—or rather, reunite. Neither has forgotten their college romance or the tender feelings they once shared, but will their complicated pasts destroy their second chance? Or will old desire lead to a new love when each needs it most?

I enjoyed the first book in this series, Montana Cherries, but somehow I missed out on the second one. And while this one can easily stand on its own, I think that having read the first story helped me understand where the Wilde kids are coming from. I’m not sure if Montana Rescue plays into Gabe’s story but I know that Dani’s definitely sets up the family history. I’ll say it again – this one can stand alone, Law does a great job of giving you the details you need. Although I think having that framework would make it easier to understand where Gabe is coming from.

And you’ll need it because Gabe is a very complex man. He has been badly hurt by women in his past, first by his mother and then his wife, and now he’s got a daughter who needs him desperately. She’s overwhelmed with everything she’s feeling and at her age she has no idea how to deal. It’s heartbreaking to see what these two are having to deal with but Gabe is dedicated to doing what is best for his little girl.

Erica and Gabe meet again, but the years haven’t been all that kind to either of them. While he’s dealing with the fallout from his narcissistic ex, she’s got her own relationship problems to deal with. A cheating husband and a small town don’t go together so she’s moved to get away from the pressures of gossip & proximity. Unfortunately as badly as she wants to, it’s hard to just turn off her feelings so she’s trying to figure out how to let go. The sexy man and wounded little girl next door help to take her mind off of it but she quickly finds herself getting involved.

There are so many emotions that run through this book and Law has you twisted up in knots before you know it. I desperately wanted them to find the peace and love they deserve, but it takes a lot of effort to overcome their histories. Little progresses though make things worthwhile and before you know things are looking up all around. It’s not going to be easy but nothing good ever is!

Book Review – Jordan Reclaimed

28 Tuesday Feb 2017

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review

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Book Review, Jordan Reclaimed, Preload series, Scarlett Cole

We’ve seen these guys before (and even this book) and I was so VERY VERY happy to get my hands on it. I have to admit … it exceeded all of my expectations!!!

*****

Jordan Reclaimed

A Preload Novel

by Scarlett Cole

E-Original published by Swerve

Publication Date: February 28, 2017

ISBN: 9781250132406

Price: $4.99

Blurb:

Jordan Steele’s life began when he was ten. When he was taken from his parents and a house that was never a home. When he met his brothers, the other lost and abandoned boys in his group home. When he learned what friendship and family and love looked like.

Now he’s made good, touring the world with the band he and his brothers formed in that crowded group home. No one but his found family really knows the man under the fame and fortune, the scars he hides behind the rockstar lifestyle. Until he sees her through the windows of the National Ballet, dancing, and suddenly the world doesn’t seem so dark.

Aleksandra Artemov ticks all the ballet boxes. Father a legendary Kirov dancer. Check. Prepping since birth for classical ballet. Check. Compulsive control over the food she eats. Check. Principal dancer at The National Ballet of Canada. Check. But what she craves is freedom.

She craves Jordan.

Everything about him should terrify her. His size, his tattoos, his edge. But he doesn’t. He stirs her very soul. Jordan has nothing but himself to offer her, and he’s never been good enough for anyone. Can he figure out how to face his own demons before he loses his light for good?

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M3X4F7O

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/jordan-reclaimed-scarlett-cole/1125495393

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/jordan-reclaimed/id1171075980?mt=11

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/jordan-reclaimed

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Scarlett_Cole_Jordan_Reclaimed?id=xARpDQAAQBAJ

*****

Review:

This is the first in a spin-off series for Cole and while it can very much stand on its own I would recommend reading The Purest Hook, Dred’s story, because you get a better understanding of the dynamic of this group of men. (Plus, the Second Circle Tattoos series is so amazing – why wouldn’t you want to read great books?!?!) They’ve been together for years after they were placed in the same foster home and have been carrying around the scars of their childhoods for so very long. Here we concentrate on Jordan, who I was most curious about when I first got to know Preload, and on the one hand I’m thrilled that we get his secrets but on the other I’m a little sad that the other guys took such a back seat here. They are there to support him, which so fantastically shows their bond with each other and their places in the family, but we only got a few small glimpses into their issues. The upside, of course, is that they are all getting their own books and I’m so excited to get my hands on those stories!

Jordan’s past is SO messed up and I can’t imagine how he even managed to make it to this point in as good shape as he has. Every day is a struggle to overcome his fears and anxieties, but luckily he has an amazing support system within the band. Then one night he sees Lexi dancing thru the window of her studio. The connection he feels with her and the balm she provides him is instantaneous, but he’s so screwed up that he feels like he’s no good for him. He’s finding himself drawn to her with a power, though, that it’s hard to resist.

And Lexi is just as strong in spirit as she is in body so she’s not letting him run without a fight. She has her own battles, although they aren’t as apparent as his – she’s got a less than positive relationship with her father and, like most dancers, there’s a lot of pressure for her to keep her body in top form (low weight, no injuries, etc). Her life is hectic but she knows that they can’t ignore the feelings they have for each other and with patience and understanding they could have something amazing.

I can’t even imagine what a jackpot a therapist would find between these two! But Cole doesn’t pull any punches, always delivering characters of depth and complexity, however by being honest and laying everything out there these two figure out a way to work through every trouble point. They do it together, which is so important for the future of their relationship. Jordan Reclaimed is a deeply troubling look at abuse, in many forms, and the long term effects that it has on people but it’s also heartwarming as they work hard to overcome it to be together. While not an easy book, it was a fast read for me because I just could not put it down. I think it took less than 24 hours from beginning to end and I wanted to keep going, to get to the next story now 🙂

*****

Author Info:

SCARLETT COLE is a writer of contemporary romance and a two-time RITA finalist. Her debut, The Strongest Steel, was a Best Debut Goodreads Author Finalist 2015. Born in England, Scarlett traveled the world, living in Japan and the United States before settling in Canada where she met her own personal hero – all six and a half feet of him. She now lives with her husband and children in Manchester, England.

Website: http://www.scarlettcole.com/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ItsScarlettCole

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31688253-jordan-reclaimed

*****

Book Review – Saving Drew

27 Monday Feb 2017

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Book Review, Lara Van Hulzen, Saving Drew, Silver Bay series

Saving Drew

Silver Bay, Book 3

by Lara Van Hulzen

Recovering from a shoulder injury that could end his career as starting pitcher of the New York Empires, Drew MacIntire comes to Silver Bay for solitude and privacy from the media frenzy his surgery has created. After he dances with the beautiful baker, Baylee, at his sister’s wedding, his heart not only wants baseball back, but a future with her as well.

Baylee Nelson is settled into her simple, small town life in Silver Bay with her young son, Casey. When Drew saunters into her bakery intent on asking her out, she can’t help but be thrilled. He’s handsome, sexy, kind, and also takes interest in Casey. Baylee knows she needs to keep things casual. She and Drew live in separate worlds, and she needs to keep her focus on her business and son, but Drew didn’t get to the top by giving up easily.

Drew and Baylee are falling hard, but with spring training approaching, it seems like the third strike for their future… Can their love withstand the media glare and challenges of a long distance romance?

This book totally surprised me. Not having read anything else in the series I didn’t know what to expect but it definitely wasn’t this smooth, mostly angst-free, love story. It does have just a touch of insta-love, which may not appeal to some, but Van Hulzen does a good job of making sure that they have time to get to know each other and commit to their relationship.

Drew is at a crossroads in his life. Unfortunately, it isn’t one of his choosing so it’s been really hard on him. In Silver Bay for his sister’s wedding, he decides to stay just a little longer in the pretty little town. Especially after meeting (and feeling so comfortable) with Baylee. She’s been the only thing so far to snap him out of his funk and, while he knows that it isn’t a good time, he really wants to get to know her better.

Baylee has made a good life for herself, her son and her mom. Unfortunately she’s given up on having a man in her life … until she meets Drew. He’s understanding, sexy, good with her family, and makes her feel wonderful things again. But his life isn’t in her small town and she’s not sure she’s up for anything else.

I really enjoyed being with Drew & Baylee as they try to navigate their developing feelings. Both are hesitant, for good reasons, but their pull is undeniable. There isn’t a lot of conflict, just the two of them working their way through the obstacles that come up. It’s refreshing & touching and Van Hulzen makes it so easy to get caught up in their quest for a HEA ending.

(This is the first in this series that I’ve read but it can easily stand on its own.)