Release Blitz + Review: "Every Sweet Regret" by Lexi Ryan

I am very pleased to participate in today's release blitz promoting "Every Sweet Regret" by Lexi Ryan, book #2 of the Orchid Valley series. I really wanted to read the first book of the series, "Every Little Piece of Me," when it was released and was disappointed that I couldn't fit it into my schedule, but fortunately, this one reads as a total standalone.

"Every Sweet Regret" featured likeable characters and a well-paced friends-to-lovers romance between female lead Stella and her brother's best friend Kace. Their chemistry was apparent from the start, but things between them were complicated because of Kace's lingering feelings for his ex-wife, Amy, and the fact that he considered Stella to be off limits because of his friendship with her brother. Kace also had concerns about Stella's reputation as a party girl and how it might impact his young daughter, Hope. Stella had been working diligently to get her life on track, however, and desperately wanted Kace and everyone else in her life to recognize how far she had come. 

 

I really enjoyed the way Kace and Stella connected in their chats through the app, even though Kace didn't realize he was talking to Stella at the time. He was painfully awkward in his approach to dating, however, especially in the way that he discussed both his ex-wife and the other woman he was "dating" with Stella! My heart broke for her every time Kace brought up the "other woman" from the app, especially when he would say things that were unintentionally disparaging of Stella.

Overall, "Every Sweet Regret" was an intensely emotional but ultimately satisfying read, and I would recommend it for all fans of emotional contemporary romance. I look forward to reading more of Lexi Ryan's work in the future.

 

*Review copy provided by the author via Grey's Promotions. All opinions expressed are my own.

 

 

About "Every Sweet Regret"

Her brother's best friend. Her lifelong crush. Her sweetest regret.

For as long as I can remember, Kace Matthews has been my brother's best friend and my not-so-secret crush. But I knew nothing would ever happen between us. The successful single dad doesn't fall for the hot mess party girl. Kace + Stella exists in the doodles in my high school notebooks and in my dreams. Never in real life.

Until he finds me on a hookup app and starts flirting shamelessly.

It turns out high school Stella was not prepared for Kace Matthews. Adult Stella isn't much better, but I manage to break down the walls to show Kace the real me--not just the life-of-the-party exterior, but the vulnerable pieces I hide from the world. Combine that with the combustible chemistry we have in real life, and I'm a goner.

Too bad it takes me so long to realize Kace doesn't know I'm the girl he's been falling for online. Telling him the truth now that he knows my secrets could mean losing everything, and that's one regret that could break me.