Spotlight – More Than Neighbors

22 Friday May 2020

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Sneak Peek

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More Than Neighbors, Shannon Stacey

Shannon Stacey has created some of my favorite romantic pairings … and she hasn’t lost her touch!

*****

More Than Neighbors

by Shannon Stacey

on-sale June 16, 2020

Blurb:

The only thing they have in common is a property line! Cam Maguire is in Blackberry Bay to unravel a family secret. Meredith Price has moved next door with her daughter. He’s unattached. She’s a widowed single mom. He’s owned by a cat. She’s definitely team canine. All these neighbors have in common is a property line. One they cross…over and over. And Cam thought he knew what he wanted—until his family’s secret changes everything.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/More-than-Neighbors-Blackberry-Book-ebook/dp/B08337V9GG/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=more+than+neighbors%2C+stacey&qid=1587390776&s=books&sr=1-1

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/more-than-neighbors-shannon-stacey/1135744197?ean=9781335894694

Google: https://books.google.ca/books/about/More_Than_Neighbors.html?id=7DQGzQEACAAJ&redir_esc=y

IndieBound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781335894694

Harlequin.com: https://www.harlequin.com/shop/books/9781488069901_more-than-neighbors.html

*****

Excerpt:

“So you’re staying for the summer, you said? Where do you usually live?”

“New York City, actually.”

Her hazel eyes widened. “Wow. That’s quite a change in pace.”

“It is, but I was ready to get away for a while.” “What do you do in the city?”

“I work for my dad,” he said, which wasn’t technically a lie, but wasn’t entirely accurate, either. “A lot of accounting and paperwork and boring stuff like that.”

She was cute when she wrinkled her nose. “I’m not a fan of boring math-related paperwork.”

A yelp from across the yard caught her attention and she turned to see Elinor swipe at the white puff-ball. Sophie was frowning and picked the dog up, turning her body so the cat couldn’t see him any-more.

“Your cat appears to be bullying my dog.”

“She’s not my cat. And you’re embarrassing your dog by even making that claim right now.”

She arched an eyebrow at him. “If you don’t think cats can bully dogs, you don’t spend a lot of time on the internet.”

“She just wants the dog to know who’s boss, I guess.”

“It’s his yard,” she pointed out.

“She’s a cat.”

“Point taken.” A genuine smile lit up her face and made her eyes crinkle. “They’ll get used to each other. And speaking of that, now that I know you’re going to be my neighbor for a while, I should prob-ably introduce myself properly. I’m Meredith Price, and that’s Sophie and Oscar.”

“Calvin Maguire,” he said, extending his hand. “But everybody calls me Cam.”

As she shook his hand, he noted how soft the skin was and had to resist rubbing his thumb over it.

She tilted her head as she smoothly pulled her hand away from his. “How do you get Cam from Calvin?”

“My initials. Calvin Anthony Maguire.” His mouth twisted in a wry smile. “The fourth.”

“Interesting.”

“It was a better alternative than being Little Cal for my entire life.” He didn’t really want to open him-self up to more questions about his family, since they were the last thing he wanted to talk about. “Since Oscar’s from California, let me guess. Oscar de la Renta?”

She laughed. “Oscar the Grouch.”

“You’re kidding.” He looked at the dog again, who looked like the kind they put on the packaging of fancy dog food. “I don’t really see the resemblance, but maybe it’s a personality thing.”

“He’s actually named after Sophie’s favorite book at the time, and trust me, we spent days explaining to her why we couldn’t make his hair green.”

“He doesn’t bark a lot, does he?”

“I wouldn’t say he barks a lot.” She glanced at the dog before giving him a sheepish look. “It’s more like a really high-pitched yip.”

“That’ll be fun while I’m reading over spread-sheets,” he said, picturing spending his summer being harassed by a stubborn cat and a high-strung dog. “Maybe I should have packed my noise- canceling headphones.”

She looked startled for a second and then her eyes narrowed. “I have a child and a dog, so I guess you’ll just have to figure out how to make it work.”

“Maybe a muzzle?” he asked, but he wasn’t really serious. Yipping dogs weren’t his favorite, but he wasn’t a total jerk.

She stared at him for a long moment before giving him an arch look. “I don’t know if I can find one in your size, but I can try.”

Cam chuckled, appreciating her comeback, but she didn’t even crack a smile. Maybe she hadn’t been joking. And maybe she’d thought he wasn’t, either.

“If you’ll excuse me, we just arrived and I have a lot to do.”

“Nice to meet you,” he said as she walked, and she held up her hand in what looked more like a dismissive gesture than a wave.

That was fine. If she wanted to play that game, she’d find out he didn’t really care that much. She and her yipping dog could stay in her yard and he’d stay in his.

He had better things to do, anyway. Like learning more about Carolina Archambault, and figuring out how to convince her cat he was the boss.

*****

Author Info:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shannon Stacey lives with her husband and two sons in New England, where her two favorite activities are writing stories of happily ever after and off-roading with her friends and family. You can contact Shannon through her website, http://www.shannonstacey.com, as well as sign up for her newsletter.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49875473-more-than-neighbors?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=BPmoRsG1Za&rank=1

Author website: https://shannonstacey.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/shannonstacey

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shannonstacey.authorpage

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

*****

Spotlight – Flare Up

31 Thursday Jan 2019

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

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Boston Fire series, Flare Up, Shannon Stacey

Stacey has been setting things on fire with this series and you’ll definitely want to get a copy of her newest!

*****

Flare Up

Boston Fire #6

by Shannon Stacey

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: January 29, 2019

Publisher: Carina Press

Format: Print / Digital eBook

Print ISBN: 9781335924599

Digital ISBN: B07GBC1TP2

Blurb:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shannon Stacey kicks off the new year with this steamy must read addition to her Boston Fire series! Fireman Grant Cutter is debating on packing up his Jeep and leaving Boston Fire’s Engine 59 to start a new life and nurse his shattered heart. But when a 911 call concerning her possessive ex-boyfriend brings Wren Everett back into his life, Grant knows he won’t be able to leave her in his rearview mirror.

Nursing a broken heart while everybody around him seems to be drowning in happiness has Grant Cutter wondering whether staying with Engine 59—or even Boston Fire—is in his future. It’s tempting as hell to pack up what fits in his Jeep and hit the road. But then a 911 call brings the woman who shattered his heart back into his life, and he knows he won’t ever be able to fully leave her in his rearview mirror.

For a few months, Wren Everett had thought the nightmare of her past was behind her and she might live happily ever after with Grant. Until she got the phone call letting her know the time her ex had spent in jail for assault hadn’t cooled his temper or determination that she belonged with him. Cutting ties with Grant was the hardest thing she’d ever had to do, but it was also the only way to keep him safe.

Now that Grant is back, he’s not letting Wren push him away again. And even with the trust issues between them, Wren dares to hope she and Grant might have a future together after all…if they’re willing to fight for it.

Add to your TBR list: Goodreads

Available: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | iTunes

*****

Excerpt:

The apartment was small—one room and probably barely legal—so it only took a few seconds to follow the coughing to the person on the floor near the window. While Aidan did a quick check of the bathroom and under the bed to make sure there was nobody else, Grant crouched down next to the person he was pretty sure was a woman, despite having a throw blanket over her head.

“Fire department,” he said. “Let’s get you out of here.”

Her cough was so weak and ineffectual, he didn’t bother asking if she could get up and walk. Instead he rolled her, intending to lift her and carry her out.

Then the throw blanket slipped away from a sleep-tangled mess of blonde curls, revealing dark blue eyes he saw in his dreams, and Grant’s world stopped.

“Wren.”

He hadn’t seen her in five months, since she’d told him on the phone she didn’t want to see him anymore and then ghosted. No explanation. No compromise. Nothing but five months of a broken heart that hadn’t even begun to heal yet.

What the hell was she doing in this place?

Grant. Her mouth formed his name, though no sound got through her constricted throat. The grayish cast of her skin and lips terrified him, and he started to hoist her up.

Aidan was at his side. “I’ll carry her out.”

“I’ve got her.” Despite the shock and pain from seeing her again, Grant wanted to hold her. He wanted to cradle her in his arms and feel that sense of contentment holding her had always brought him in the past.

There was no time for that. After draping her over his shoulder, he stood and headed for the door. It wouldn’t be a comfortable ride for her, but the only thing that mattered right now was getting her out of the building and to an ambulance, where they could give her oxygen. Her body had gone totally limp by the time he reached the stairs, but he refused to consider the possibility she’d need medical care beyond that.

They’d gotten there in time, and that’s all there was to it.

He heard voices in his radio and was aware Aidan stayed right behind him, but Grant didn’t stop moving until he hit the clear, frigid air.

He paused to get his bearings and then headed for the ambulances on standby. Some of those voices in his radio must have warned them he was coming, because Cait opened the back of her truck and waved at him.

Cait Tasker was not only an EMT, but she was engaged to Gavin Boudreau, who was Grant’s best friend and with the Ladder 37 crew. E-59 and L-37 were parked side-by-side in the firehouse and always rolled out together, so Gavin was on scene, too. And Cait knew Wren. The four of them had spent a lot of time together before Wren walked away from him and didn’t look back.

By the time he reached the ambulance doors, he could feel her stirring. Not a lot, but she had to be breathing in order to regain consciousness and that was enough for now.

Because it was so damn cold and she was small, they didn’t bother with the stretcher. He handed Wren up to Cait’s partner, Tony, who turned away with her.

“Oh my God, Grant.” Cait looked at him, her expression mirroring his thoughts. “What the hell was Wren doing living here?”

“I don’t know. She’ll be okay, right?”

“We’ll take care of her. Are you okay?”

He didn’t answer. As he watched Tony fit a mask over Wren’s face, her eyes met his and, no, he wasn’t okay.

Questions tumbled through his mind. Why was Wren living in this place? Why had she disappeared from his life so abruptly? How could she still be in the city and not miss him enough to at least send a text message?

Had she known he’d been days away from buying her a ring and asking her to spend the rest of her life with him?

*****

Author Info:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shannon Stacey lives with her husband and two sons in New England, where her two favorite activities are writing stories of happily ever after and off-roading with her friends and family. You can contact Shannon through her website, www.shannonstacey.com, as well as sign up for her newsletter.

*****

Giveaway:

In celebration of the release of Shannon Stacey’s FLARE UP, Carina Press is offering ten (10) lucky winners their choice of a paperback copy of a backlist Boston Fire title! Applicable titles: include Heat Exchange, Controlled Burn, Fully Ignited, Hot Response, and Under Control.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b050ef29606/

*****

Spotlight – Under Control

11 Tuesday Sep 2018

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

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Boston Fire series, Shannon Stacey, Under Control

If I’m stuck in an elevator, I really hope this firefighter is there with me!

*****

Under Control

Boston Fire series

by Shannon Stacey

Genre Adult, Contemporary Romance

Publisher Carina Press

Publication Date August 28, 2018

Blurb:

From New York Times bestselling author SHANNON STACEY…

Meet the tough, dedicated men of BOSTON FIRE—and the women who turn their lives upside down.

When faced with the opportunity to change shifts while staying in the same house, veteran firefighter Derek Gilman jumps at the chance. His new schedule means not working Saturdays, which means more time to spend with his two kids. His divorce may have been amicable, but being a firefighter and a single dad is a lot to juggle. And when fate brings a gorgeous, wealthy woman into his life, he’s pretty sure he can’t handle more than he already is.

Olivia McGovern loves plans. She planned to start her own business and planned its growth. It’s earning her seven figures now, but her personal life simply doesn’t exist. Getting trapped in a broken elevator figures in exactly nowhere, and freaking out in front of a sexy firefighter definitely isn’t on the agenda. Especially not one with two kids and an ex.

What would have been a random incident with an attractive stranger becomes something more when a charity event brings them back together. They’re from different sides of the tracks, literally—with friends, family and careers to consider. But as Derek and Olivia are discovering, chemistry doesn’t allow for plans, and love doesn’t bother with logistics.

Don’t miss the entire Boston Fire series by Shannon Stacey! Heat Exchange, Controlled Burn, Fully Ignited and Hot Response are available now!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Google Play | iBooks

*****

Excerpt:

A woman stepped out of an office ahead and turned, walking ahead of him in the same direction. She was notable for two reasons. One, she wasn’t looking at a cell phone. That in itself was enough to make her stand out in this crowd.

But it was her looks that captured Derek’s attention. He only got a glimpse of her profile before she turned, but she had delicate features and dark blond hair drawn up off her neck in a loose bun. Her navy suit looked as if it had been tailored specifically for her body, and the coat flared slightly, accenting the curve of her hips. Her legs were long, and his gaze lingered on her calves before sliding up to the soft spots behind her knees that were playing peekaboo with the hem of her skirt.

And he’d never realized how sexy the click of high heels on a marble tile floor could be. When he was a kid, he’d hated the sound because the high heels usually belonged to an angry teacher he was following down the hallway to the principal’s office. But following this woman as she walked down the hallway with long, confident strides was a hell of a lot more enjoyable.

Of course, she reached the elevator just as the door opened and a man stepped out. Because he’d slowed to leave enough space to appreciate the view, Derek knew there was a good chance the door would close before he reached it and there was no way in hell he was taking the stairs if he didn’t have to.

“Hold the door, please,” he called as the woman stepped in and pushed a button on the panel.

She looked up at him and he saw the hesitation in her body language. She didn’t want to, but he watched the fact he was a firefighter register, plus it would be rude to pretend she hadn’t heard him after making eye contact. He smiled as she hit the button to hold the doors.

“Thank you.” The button for the lobby was already lit, so he stepped back as the doors slid closed.

She only nodded and pulled her phone out of the back pocket of the leather journal she was holding, which was stuffed with notebooks and paper from the looks of it. But Derek could see her reflection in the highly polished metal door and she was looking at him. And not a quick glance to make sure the stranger was staying on his own side, but a lingering look.

He should say something, but he wasn’t sure what to say, since women wearing power suits in the Back Bay were way out of his league. The floors were ticking past like seconds on the clock, though, and he was running out of time.

She was taking a step forward, probably in anticipation of reaching the lobby level soon, when there was a grinding sound and the elevator lurched to a stop. Off-balance, she stumbled and—thanks to good reflexes and maybe some good luck—he ended up with an armful of beautiful woman.

Apparently he was getting an extension.

She tilted her face up to him, and he saw the distress in her pretty greenish-blue eyes. “What’s happening?”

“We stopped,” he said, hoping she’d find the obvious answer funny. In his experience, humor relaxed people. She didn’t even crack a smile, and he cleared his throat before continuing. “There are a few reasons it could happen, but the system probably has a problem or a malfunction somewhere and it shut the elevator down to be safe.”

“This is not safe.” She wasn’t in a full-blown panic, but her anxiety practically crackled around her, and she was clutching his arm so tightly he could feel her grip through the heavy bunker coat. “And what do you mean by a malfunction? So something could be more wrong than the fact we’re not moving anymore?”

“Everything’s fine.” He had to let his arms fall away from her as she backed away, wincing a little. “Are you hurt?”

“No.” He wasn’t reassured by the quick way she said it, as if it was a reflex and maybe not the truth.

He pulled out his phone to send a quick group text to Danny Walsh—Engine 59’s LT—and Rick Gullotti. Elevator’s stuck. Why? Then he peeled off the heavy coat and tossed it on the floor, dropping the helmet on top of it while she sent a text message of her own to somebody. “We’re okay in here. Just try to stay calm and we’ll be out in no time.”

“Stay calm,” she muttered as her phone vibrated and she sent another text. “That’s easy for you to say. Being brave in the face of death is part of your job.”

That was a little dramatic, but she wasn’t totally wrong. About his job, anyway. “You’re not facing death. I promise.”

His phone vibrated with a response from Walsh. Working on it. Stand by.

The woman’s face was slightly flushed. “Shouldn’t you… I don’t know. Go up through the ceiling hatch and climb up the cable or something?”

Derek managed—barely—not to laugh outright at her, but he couldn’t hold back a short chuckle. “I’m a firefighter, not John McClane.”

“Who’s John McClane?”

Oh, she did not just ask that. “The greatest action hero of all time? The guy from Die Hard?”

“I’ve heard of those movies, but I’ve never seen any of them.”

If he’d needed any more of a definitive sign this woman wasn’t his type, that was it. There were six movies, so she had to work at not seeing any of them. “You’re missing out. So, what’s your name?”

“Olivia.”

“Pretty name.” Classic and elegant, and it suited her. “I’m Derek.”

“Can you pry open the doors?” she asked, clearly not in a place to be distracted by small talk.

“With my bare hands?” He held them up, showing off his lack of tools. “I work out a little, but not that much.”

Her gaze flicked over his body, and he stood up straighter and sucked in his gut. Not that there was much to suck in, but he wasn’t in his twenties anymore. Hell, he was barely still in his thirties. “You work out more than a little.”

Her tone of voice made it sound like just an observation, but he didn’t miss her gaze lingering for a second on his chest or the way her eyebrow lifted as her mouth curved into a hint of a smile. She wasn’t flirting, but she liked what she saw and he’d take the win. He’d need all the ego boosting he could get once the other guys started giving him shit for having to rescue him from an elevator.

Then she shifted her weight and, when she winced again, Derek gave her a stern look. “You’re hurt.”

“No, I’m not. I twisted my ankle a little when the elevator stopped.”

“You need to get those shoes off and let me look at it.”

She laughed and shook her head. “I don’t care how nice this elevator is, I am not touching the floor with my bare feet.”

Derek picked up his coat, letting the helmet roll free, and—with a flourish—spread it over the floor in front of her. “Your carpet, milady.”

*****

Author Info:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author SHANNON STACEY lives with her husband and two sons in New England, where her two favorite activities are writing stories of happily ever after and off-roading with her friends and family. You can contact Shannon through her website, www.shannonstacey.com, as well as sign up for her newsletter.

Website http://www.shannonstacey.com/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/shannonstacey.authorpage

Twitter https://twitter.com/shannonstacey

Goodreads https://goo.gl/h4Z1wW

Amazon http://amzn.to/2Fu9RbN

*****

Giveaway:

To celebrate the release of UNDER CONTROL by Shannon Stacey, we’re giving away a $25 Amazon gift card to one lucky winner!

http://bit.ly/2LyyGp5

GIVEAWAY TERMS & CONDITIONS: Open to internationally. One winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card. This giveaway is administered by Pure Textuality PR on behalf of Carina Press. Giveaway ends 9/11/2018 @ 11:59pm EST. Limit one entry per reader. Duplicates will be deleted.

*****

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Book Review – Hold Her Again

04 Thursday Jan 2018

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Book Review, Hold Her Again, Shannon Stacey

Hold Her Again

by Shannon Stacey

A country-music star returns home to win back the woman he loves in this charming holiday novella from New York Times bestselling author Shannon Stacey

Ava Wright isn’t happy to see her high school sweetheart rolling into their hometown a few weeks before Christmas. He’s only come back to bury his estranged father, but there’s no way she’ll be able to avoid him. No one can: he’s become a country-music superstar since going solo and leaving Ava behind.

Jace Morrow grew up believing “money can’t buy happiness” was something people said to make themselves feel better. But now he knows it’s the truth: no matter how many number-one hits he has, he’ll never recapture the magic of singing with Ava. Missing her—loving her—and living with making the wrong choice in life were what made him who he is.

When Jace is roped into being part of the town’s annual Christmas party, he only cares about earning Ava’s forgiveness. And though Ava’s heart has never healed, she loved Jace too much and for too long to shut him out when he’s hurting. As they fall in love all over again, they’re both faced with choices for their future…and this time Jace intends to make the right one.

I felt bad for both Jace and Ava, although I wanted to give Jace a little kick in the pants for waiting so long to come back. Having his POV helped a lot because I don’t know that I would have been as quick to forgive him otherwise 🙂 Leaving Ava like he did, and staying away for so long, was a really crappy thing to do. I know that he was young and I understand how his childhood turned him into that person, but 6 years is a long time and if he really felt the way he claimed he’d have manned up a bit earlier. I get that he didn’t think that she’d have anything to do with him but he should have at least tried harder. Good for him Ava’s a bit more tender hearted (or tender headed) than I am. She does struggle a bit (as she should) but those old feelings that never really went away make it hard to fight him. He will have to prove himself, and she’ll have to figure out how to let the past go, but they may just be able to work it out with a little luck and a whole lot of love.

With Hold Her Again Stacey delivers a wonderful second-chance romance, perfectly bringing the feeling of the holiday season.

Book Review – Holiday with a Twist

29 Tuesday Nov 2016

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

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Book Review, Holiday with a Twist, Shannon Stacey

Holiday with a Twist

by Shannon Stacey

New York Times bestselling author Shannon Stacey celebrates the season in this brand-new holiday novella

After a messy breakup, Leigh Holloway is ready to start her life over. Until her parents put the family home on the market and call her back for one final, memory-making Christmas. The last thing she wants to do is deprive her mom of the perfect holiday, so she’ll lie her way through the visit and worry about her future in the New Year. Too bad the only bar in town is owned by a guy she seriously wronged in high school.

Leigh’s best friend broke Croy Dawson’s heart, and Croy knows it was Leigh’s fault. They’ve never liked each other, but Croy isn’t cruel: he’d never turn away a pretty woman in need of some family-Christmas fortification. He doesn’t expect her to drink just enough candy-cane martinis to tell him her secrets—and he definitely doesn’t expect to get caught up in her holiday madness.

Despite the surprising love and laughter, Croy and Leigh can’t escape the truth: he can’t walk away from his family obligations and she has a life and career to reboot. But anything is possible if your holiday comes with a twist…

This book is approximately 30,000 words

One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise! Find out more at CarinaPress.com/RomancePromise.

As part of my review process I usually just take a quick look to see what other people say about a book. And I was a little surprised on this one. I saw some complaints about a couple of things that just didn’t bother me – first is the length and second is Leigh’s lie.

There is a note in my copy that states that the book will end about the 80% mark. I guess some people judge how the story is going by how far into it they are? Kinda makes sense. If you look down and see you are at 75% but it seems to be wrapping up you might wonder what is going to happen to keep it going. For me, though, I just want a story that is complete and doesn’t seem rushed, especially in a novella, which this one does very well. I understand both Croy & Leigh, where they are coming from and where they are going and the way they get there. I really fell for both of them and how they get to know each other again, falling in love but being too scared to speak up about what they want. It is handled very realistically and flows well, even with the shorter length of a novella.

The second issue seemed to be why Leigh keeps her single & unemployed state from her family. But, for me, she explains it very well and it works in the story. While we may not make the same choice, it is understandable why she does it. As they start to fall for each other her silence may not be something Croy likes but he also understands. And it isn’t the big make or break thing that it could be – there is no big drama over cheating or him trying to make a play for a taken woman. Instead, since it is just between them, it adds a certain bit intimacy to their growing feelings and a kind of compression on the time it takes them to fall in love. In some short stories the length of pages can cause you to feel like the romance itself is rushed and not believable but here – with the confidentiality and the way they spend time together, added to the fact that they used to be close friends – it doesn’t feel hurried at all.

All around, Holiday with a Twist is a sweet addition to your holiday season reading.

Book Review – Falling For Max

30 Sunday Nov 2014

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

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Book Review, Falling for Max, Shannon Stacey, The Kowalskis series

Max Crawford has reached the point in life where he’s starting to think about settling down. Unfortunately, he’s always been a little awkward when it comes to social interactions, and working from home doesn’t help. He spends so much time alone, painting beautiful, historically accurate model trains that half of Whitford has begun to joke that he may be a serial killer. Not exactly prime husband material.

Tori Burns has found happiness in Maine, thanks in large part to her shifts at the Trailside Diner. She likes the work, and she loves the local gossip. When shy, geeky Max Crawford becomes a regular, she’s intrigued. When she finds out he’s in the market for a wife, she’s fascinated…and determined to help.

Molding Max into every woman’s dream turns out to be much easier than expected. But has Tori’s plan worked a little too well? As she turns his comfortable life all sorts of upside down, she’ll have to find a way to show just how she’s fallen for him…the real him.

I’ll be honest – I am all over the place when it comes to this series. I have not read all of them (but most, I think) and I even reviewed a couple – All He Ever Dreamed and All He Ever Desired. The ones I have read definitely weren’t in order, but so far that hasn’t bothered me at all. If this is your first, third, or ninth, I don’t think it matters. What does matter is that they are wonderfully well written, with detailed characters and a great plot.

I remember Max from earlier stories. I remember that he kept to himself and there was a HUGE mystery over what he did in the basement, but I don’t remember him being that much of an “odd duck”. Maybe that is one of those things I missed in my skipping around in my reading. I must say, though, that I do love him. He’s always been a little different and he’s learned to adapt, but now he’s reached a stage where he is thinking of settling down and getting married. It definitely will take the right woman to understand him and his intricacies, but I think that is true for any relationship. Or at least for one to work.

Tori, on the other hand, isn’t interested in long-term. And with her parents history it is understandable. I think my favorite part of the story is that someone tries to get her help for her issues. That it isn’t a case of her finding the right guy, falling in love, and forgetting ALL about her hang-ups.

Falling for Max is a super cute story about two people who meet, become friends, and find themselves falling in love. Like real life, there are problems and stress and hurt feelings but also fun and love and sex and love and a bunch of other good things too. That’s one of my favorite parts of this series – it’s real and true.

Book Review – Snowbound with the CEO

02 Thursday Jan 2014

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Book Review, Shannon Stacey, Snowbound with the CEO

Review time!

*****

Adrian Blackstone built a million-dollar business with hard work and determination—and by remaining professional at all times. Denying his longtime attraction to his beautiful executive assistant hasn’t been easy but it’s necessary. She’s indispensable, and he can’t stand the thought of losing her if things didn’t work out.

For more than a year, Rachel Carter has been quietly dreaming of all the ways she’ll never seduce her sexy, buttoned-up boss. She’s worked too hard to get where she is to cross that line, no matter how badly she’d like to act on her fantasies. But then a wicked snowstorm leaves them stranded in a romantic winter wonderland…

What begins as a single kiss and a few bad Santa jokes turns into a weekend full of breathless passion and hopes for something more. But with Monday comes a return to their complicated reality—and Adrian must prove that promises made are promises kept, especially at Christmastime.

Snowbound with the CEO is a delightful look at what happens when you mix business and pleasure. Even though it is a novella it manages to fit in a heartwarming story in a small holiday package. Adrian and Rachel are fantastic together – they have great chemistry and make a witty, charming couple. I loved seeing them finally give in to their desires and act on their attraction, and Stacey does a fantastic job of making it believable and realistic.

Then the weekend is over. Misunderstandings and miscommunications abound (of course), but Stacey brings it all back together beautifully. Part of me thinks that with their working relationship being so important to each of them, plus how organized and intelligent they both are, there would have been some kind of conversation about what happens next. But then I realize that when the heart’s involved the brain often goes on vacation. They both are more involved than they imagined they would be at the beginning of the weekend and neither wants to take the chance on ruining everything.

For a sweet look at two people who have to decide if they are willing to risk it all for a weekend of passion (with a twist on the sexy secretary fantasy thrown in to make it fun), Snowbound with the CEO is a must read for a snowy winter night. You’ll be wishing you were snowbound with Adrian too.

All He Ever Desired

05 Tuesday Mar 2013

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All He Ever Desired, Book Review, Shannon Stacey

Years ago, Ryan Kowalski asked Lauren Carpenter to leave her husband and move away with him. She refused but almost two decades later she’s a divorced mother of a teenager and occasionally still thinks about what if she’d said yes. Now Ryan’s back to help his siblings repair the family’s lodge but if they thought they could avoid each other they were wrong. Lauren’s son, Nick, is caught vandalizing the Kowalski property and his punishment is to work around the lodge to pay off the damages… throwing Lauren and Ryan together again. Will this mean they get their second chance?

Shannon Stacey’s All He Ever Desired actually falls before last month’s All He Ever Dreamed and since I’d read the other one I already knew the basics of this story. Although, since it is a romance and anyone can figure out what will happen, it wasn’t that big a deal. I liked Ryan and Lauren – they are fun, charming and real. Their relationship and the way it develops is genuine, so much so that you can see this happening to people you know. They have normal, everyday problems and have to come up with normal, everyday solutions. It makes for a very quick read that is believable and realistic. There are also some updates on previous Kowalski stories and Stacey puts out threads for future ones.

As always, Shannon Stacey does a great job of giving her readers engaging characters that they can relate to, a passion that sizzles, and a smart story that touches the heart. All He Ever Desired is another delightful story in the Kowalski world, one guaranteed to keep readers returning for more. It isn’t necessary to have read the others in the series, but if you enjoy this one keep in mind that this is Book 5 in a 6 book series, so there’s plenty of Kowalski love to go around.

All He Ever Dreamed

01 Friday Feb 2013

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All He Ever Dreamed, Book Review, Shannon Stacey

Shannon Stacey’s newest Kowalski novel, All He Ever Dreamed, features the youngest brother, Josh. While his siblings have been out living their lives, Josh has been home taking care of the Northern Star Lodge. Now he wants someone else to take over at the Lodge so he can have his chance to do something he wants. Katie Davis has been best friends with Josh almost their entire lives and she’s gotten very good over the years at hiding that she wants more. When Josh suddenly starts seeing her as a more than one of the guys, do they dare become more than friends? Now that he’s finally getting the chance to pursue life away from the Lodge, will he discover that his dreams might be closer than he thought?

Although this is part of a series, it can definitely be enjoyed as a stand alone. I’ve not read any of the other Kowalski books and I didn’t have any problem keeping up. For those who have read Stacey’s previous stories will enjoy a chance to catch up with favorite characters. And everyone will get the chance to see who might be making appearances in future books.

I love both Katie and Josh. They are fun, charming and have great chemistry. Watching Josh realize that Katie is an attractive woman, and that his feelings for her are changing, is vastly entertaining. Stacey does a great job keeping it realistic by not changing the core part of their relationship, just adding the romantic element. Josh has a lot of conflicting emotions over getting involved with Katie, not only because it could ruin the best friendship that he has, but there is also the fact that he wants to leave town. Katie is also aware of his dreams and she has to take that into consideration when she decides whether it is worth the possible hurt to get her heart further involved with him. They handle this with a lot of humor and heart, quickly drawing readers in on their dilema.

All He Ever Dreamed is a delightful look at the chance best friends take when they develop their relationship further. And what it’s like to get what you’ve been wanting, only to realize it might not be what you want after all. If you haven’t met the Kowalskis, take this opportunity to fall in love with this fantastic family.