St. Fleur series | Romantic Reads and Such

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AJ Renee, Book Review, No Going Back, St. Fleur series

This book was so enjoyable. Not having any experience with Renee’s style, I was pleasantly surprised by how natural and easy a read it was.

*****

No Going Back

St. Fleur #4 / Standalone

by AJ Renee

Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

Rocco St. Martin stuns the people of St. Fleur when he shows up at Whiskey’s Pub with a black eye. The whispers only become worse when he’s spotted in handcuffs, exiting Deputy Sheriff JJ’s cruiser.

JJ is left with more questions than answers after Rocco refuses to say what happened. Since the stubborn man won’t take her help, she has to resort to keeping a closer eye on him.

When the details of his injuries come to light, will Rocco finally accept her help? Or will he be yet another man who doesn’t understand what it takes to be with a cop?

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— ST. FLEUR SERIES —

For the first time, you can get the first three installments in one BOXSET!

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*****

Excerpt:

“You’re staring,” she told him.

Rocco shrugged. “How are you?”

“I’m good.” She tilted her head. “What’s going on?”

“Why does anything have to be going on?” he asked, curious to see if she’d admonish him. When a smile tipped the corner of her mouth, Rocco smirked.

JJ lifted her glass and drank. Rocco watched the column of her neck as she swallowed and imagined kissing his way down all that fair skin. He shifted in his seat, placing his ankle on his knee to see if that would ease the pressure forming in his pants.

“Well, for one, you’ve never sat with me for a meal,” JJ said as she put the glass on the table.

Rocco nodded. “True, and you’ve never felt the need to drive by the garage ten times a day.”

A blush covered her cheeks and swept down her neck. The color only highlighted her beauty and made his mind consider other ways he could make her turn that red. He was a rat bastard. He shouldn’t have embarrassed her like that. “I’m sorry.”

She shrugged. “Don’t be. It’s true. I’ve been worried about you.” The words came out whisper soft and he almost missed them.

The waitress returned with his food, and he sat forward. “Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why are you worried about me?” Her concern touched him, and he had to stop himself from rubbing his chest. Rocco was the oldest child. He wasn’t accustomed to others worrying about him—ever.

JJ placed her fork down. “Rocco, there’s obviously something going on with you. If you need—”

“Ah,” he said, pushing down his disappointment. “That’s all this is about.”

They stared at each other a moment before she said, “Ye—no… no, it’s not.”

Rocco raised an eyebrow. “No?”

Before JJ could say anything, her phone on the table rang. She looked from the caller to Rocco and sighed. “Sorry,” she said before answering the call. “Jolie. —Hey, what’s going on? —Oh, okay. Sure, I can be there.” Her eyes darted toward Rocco and away.

Rocco took another bite of his burger and listened as the conversation went on for another minute.

“Sorry about that,” she told him after ending the call.

“Everything okay?”

JJ raised an eyebrow. “Why, Rocco, I might think you’re worried about me.”

“Would that be so bad?”

The teasing expression on her face softened. “No. That could be nice.”

“Oh yeah?” he asked, unable to stop his chest from puffing out some.

JJ laughed, and the sound was feminine and sexy. “Yeah.” She pushed her plate away and dropped some money on the table. “Well, I need to go.” JJ slid out from the booth. “That was my sister, and she needs me to come over.”

“Have dinner with me?” Rocco blurted.

“Yes,” she said at the same time he said, “I mean…”

“Yes?” Rocco asked.

“I’d love to have dinner with you.” JJ winked.

His cheeks pulled back tightly. “Great, how does Friday sound?”

JJ laughed. “Today is Friday.”

*****

Review:

This is my first book by Renee and I was pleasantly surprised. The story is one of those that is wonderfully realistic and pretty much drama free. I’m not sure how much Rocco or JJ were featured in earlier books but in No Going Back we are there when they realize that their interest is mutual and flirtation turns to something more. It’s a slow easing – a natural progression of a healthy relationship, with respect and deepening emotions. It was a pretty relaxing read, actually, because it was mostly free of conflict. At least between the two main characters. There are some issues with secondary characters that have an impact because of their relationship to the mains, but it’s handled well and with care.

With beautifully crafted characters and a lifelike storyline (with limited turmoil – bonus!), Renee gives her readers a story they can sink into. The leads quickly become like friends and you happily go along for the ride as they fall in love.

*****

Author Info:

AJ Renee is the author behind the St. Fleur series, Beauty Unmasked, Winter’s Surprise, Surviving Paris, and Finding Love at the Falls…. She’s a military wife and mother to three young girls. She graduated from the University of Central Florida with her Masters of Science in Criminal Justice and a Bachelors of Science in Psychology while working at the library.

She loves to write steamy romance with suspense and a happily ever after. When she isn’t writing or interacting with her readers, you can find her spending time with her family or reading. AJ enjoys traveling, researching family history, and all things New Orleans.

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*****