Release Blitz + Review: "Puffin Bay" by Annie Dyer

I'm excited to take part in the release blitz celebrating "Puffin Bay" by Annie Dyer, book #1 of the Puffin Bay series. It's part of Dyer's Callaghan Green world and features cameo appearances from a number of familiar characters, but works well as a standalone.

Four years ago, Amelie decided to leave London and invest in a pub in the small coastal town of Puffin Bay, on the Welsh island of Anglesey. Since then, she's become an integral part of the community, with plans on how to revitalize the town and create more year-round jobs that don't depend on tourism. Unfortunately, those plans may be in jeopardy after out-of-town investor Roman Tominey purchases several properties that Amelie's had her eye on. She's concerned that his ideas to develop them will only benefit his company's bottom line, not the community. When a storm rolls in one evening and Roman and Amelie are stuck together in her bar, the sparks that have been flying between them finally ignite, and they're forced to admit the attraction that underlies their animosity. But Roman never stays in one place long enough to have a relationship, and besides, he's already got too much on his plate with a cantankerous grandfather recovering from hip replacement surgery and a newly discovered teenage son who's coming to visit for the summer. Are he and Amelie destined for a summer fling, or has he finally found the place - and person - who can make him want to stay?

I really enjoyed the fun, quirky vibe of Puffin Bay and its characters, and there is plenty of potential for future stories set in this world. Since it was the first book of the series, a fair amount of time was devoted to establishing the setting and introducing secondary characters, and if I'm being honest, I was more interested in some of them than I was in Amelie and Roman. That's not to say that I didn't like them, because I did. I was amused by their witty banter and empathized with the struggles they faced in working through the baggage leftover from their childhoods. Overall, they really seemed to bring out the best in each other, and I love where they ended up.

I'd recommend "Puffin Bay" for all contemporary romance fans and look forward to the next book of the series.

 

*Review copy provided by the author via Wildfire Marketing Solutions. All opinions expressed are my own.

 

 

About "Puffin Bay"

Heartbreak led me to Puffin Bay, searching for peace in a small, coastal town. Four years later, my bar is thriving and my next business is just what the town needs.

It doesn’t need Roman Tominey. Arrogant, city-boy, suit-wearing grump - he knows how to push every one of my buttons, and after an evening of bad decisions, he knows how to push that one too.

When Roman’s newly found teenage son joins him, Roman’s summer stay is extended. We spend the days arguing over a building project the local council insist we do together, and the evenings with him sneaking into my room.

Then Roman’s ideas for Puffin Bay’s development cause all out war between us.

Those sparks between us? They become weapons.

Only Roman doesn’t fire his. It seems he wants something more than another zero on the end of his bank balance and he might just discard his suit - and its buttons - to keep on pressing mine. 

 

Review: "Falling for the Jerk" by Amy Alves

Falling for the Jerk by Amy Alves
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It doesn't happen often, but there are times when I read and love a book so much that I just can't find the words to express my feelings. "Falling for the Jerk" by Amy Alves is one of those rare books. Firefighter Jensen Vaughn and physical therapist Gracie Parker captured my whole heart. All they wanted was to be loved and chosen for who they were, not be thought of as "too much" or required to change to make someone else happy. I couldn't help but sympathize with that and root for them to find their way to each other.

I highly recommend this funny, sweet, and perfectly steamy story for all fans of contemporary/small town romance and romantic comedy. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book of the series, which will feature Jensen's brother Brody.

*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Review: "Rose With My Fake Fiance" by Liz Alden

Rosé with My Fake Fiancé by Liz Alden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Travel writer Tessa O'Keefe recently decided to move to Portugal for a year, but before she settles into her new apartment, she's meeting up with several friends for a weekend in Paris. A series of unfortunate events leads to her being on her own for the first day of the trip, so Tessa, having visited Paris several times in the past, decides to cancel the guided city tour they'd previously booked. Her plans change again after she meets handsome tour guide Luc, who convinces her to spend the day with him anyway. Later that afternoon, Tessa and Luc are returning to her hotel after a wonderful day together when they unexpectedly run into her odious ex-boyfriend, who happens to be staying at the same hotel with his new fiancee. Sensing Tessa's discomfort, Luc impulsively comes to her rescue by claiming to be her fiance. They agree to keep up the ruse after Tessa's suspicious ex invites them to his engagement party the following evening, but can Luc persuade Tessa to give him a chance at a real relationship too?

I really enjoyed this charming story, which was the perfect length for a quick afternoon read. I particularly appreciated that Tessa was a slightly "older" heroine (42) - very relatable considering that's just a few years older than me! I understood her concerns about dating Luc, not just because of their age difference (she was 11 years older than him), but also because of the fact that they lived in different countries. Besides, her last breakup had really damaged her confidence, and after that she'd given up on the idea of ever getting married. Luc was determined to change her mind, however, and he was the perfect man to do it. He really was a sweetheart, and I loved how devoted he was to caring for his grandmother, who was a fun secondary character. I also liked Tessa's friend group and look forward to seeing more of them in future stories.

I'd recommend "Rose with My Fake Fiance" for all contemporary romance fans and look forward to the next book in the series.

*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Review: "Insta Connection" by Jen Atkinson

Insta Connection by Jen Atkinson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have to admit that the instant connection/insta-love trope isn't my favorite, but IMO it was well done in Jen Atkinson's "Insta Connection." The chemistry and banter between main characters Ebony McCoy and Jet Jacobson were pitch perfect from the outset, and the fact that they lived so far apart forced them to spend a ton of time talking and really getting to know each other - probably even more quickly than if they had lived nearby and were going out in person.

Ebony had realistic concerns about how they'd make the relationship work given the distance between them, and I couldn't help but sympathize with her. In the end, as with any relationship, I guess it's just about making the leap and hoping you have a soft place to land with your partner. Thankfully, Jet and Ebony were brave enough to make the leap together and it all worked out for the best.

Overall, I enjoyed this charming story and would recommend it for all sweet contemporary romance and romantic comedy fans. I look forward to the next book of the series.

*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Review: "Cast and Caught" by Katharine Sadler

Cast and Caught by Katharine Sadler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The last thing Goldenrod "Goldy" Weston wants to do is learn to fly fish, but her cousin and best friend Brittany, who also happens to be her boss, has decided that it's a necessary skill for them as they launch their new preschool in the small town of Catalpa Creek. Brittany believes competing in the town's annual fly fishing competition will attract more parents and students to the school. Henry Cooper, the contractor in charge of renovating the old Victorian-style house where the school will be located, volunteers to teach them, but when Brittany backs out at the last minute, Goldy ends up spending the day alone with Henry and his 5-year-old son, Max. For Henry, it's the perfect opportunity to spend time with the woman to whom he's secretly attracted, though he's convinced that Goldy hates him. The truth is that she likes him too much and is trying to keep him at a distance. She's been burned by men in the past, and besides, she's keeping a secret that she believes would make him (and everyone else in town) think less of her. But as they get to know each other better, will Goldy be able to resist the pull of the attraction between them?

Like the first book of this series, Henry and Goldy's story gave me all the feels and I loved it. I particularly appreciated that there was such a sense of growth for each of them over the course of the story. In a lot of ways, Goldy reminded me of Amy from The Big Bang Theory in that she wanted desperately to be liked and accepted but always seemed to be a step apart from everyone else. It wasn't until she came to Catalpa Creek, met Henry, and began repairing her relationship with her sisters that she finally found a place to belong. I'm sure there's more baggage for the Weston sisters to work through in future stories, but I was happy to see them start to grow closer in this book.

Overall, "Cast and Caught" was a funny, sweet story with the perfect amount of spice, and I'd highly recommend it for all contemporary/small town romance and romantic comedy fans. I look forward to the next book in the series.

*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Review: "Out in the Country" by Alexandra Hale

Out in the Country by Alexandra Hale
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Mechanic Everett Teal and ER nurse Hayden Scott have been best friends for years. Everett recently realized that he's gay and that his feelings for Hayden go beyond friendship, but the problem is that, as far as Hayden knows, Everett is straight. He's finally worked up the courage to make his move while they're away for the weekend attending a friend's wedding. When he realizes the truth, Hayden is understandably surprised and worried that he'll lose his best friend if their romantic relationship doesn't work out. Can Everett convince Hayden that their love is worth the risk?

Hayden and Everett were so cute together! After meeting them in earlier books of the series, I think it's safe to say that the only one who didn't know Everett was in love with Hayden was Hayden. They knew each other well after decades of friendship, but obviously they could still surprise each other. I loved how light and fun their story was, particularly the text message exchanges and Hayden's unlikely friendship with Sorren. (I can't believe they bonded over romance novels, of all things!)

I highly recommend this story for all contemporary romance and romantic comedy fans and can't wait for the next book in the series.

*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Release Blitz + Review: "Unforgettable" by Willow Aster

I'm pleased to take part in the release blitz celebrating "Unforgettable" by Willow Aster, book #1 of the Landmark Mountain series.

 

Scarlett Landmark's lifelong dream has been to run the family ski resort, but with her grandfather's death comes the unexpected sale of the property. She's begrudgingly agreed to stay on for 90 days to help with the transition while she figures out a new plan for her life. On the night the sale is completed, Scarlett stops at a hotel bar for a drink and meets a handsome man named Jamison; they spend the night together, only exchanging first names, but he leaves to catch a flight before she wakes up. Two weeks later, Scarlett is stunned to learn that her one-night stand was actually Jamison Ledger, the new owner of her family's resort. He and his brother Zac fell in love with the resort when they visited as kids, so when they learned that it was for sale, they decided to buy it and restore it to its former glory. Scarlett can't help but resent Jamison for taking over her family's legacy and vows to steer clear of him until her contract is up, but that proves to be easier said than done.

The chemistry between Jamison and Scarlett was absolute fire from the moment they met, and I enjoyed their witty banter. I understood why Scarlett was suspicious of Jamison's motives for getting to know her early in the story, but he quickly proved to be a good guy. What I most loved about this story, however, was that there was no third act breakup. There were a number of obstacles standing in the way of their relationship, but they acted like mature adults and figured everything out. I wish that happened more often in romance novels!

 

I highly recommend "Unforgettable" for all contemporary romance fans and look forward to the next book in the series. 

 

*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.

 

 

About "Unforgettable"

A one-night stand with no promises and no inhibitions…

Our night together changed everything.

As a list maker and a rule follower, the last thing I planned, on one of the worst days of my life, was to fall into bed with a guy who literally charmed the clothes right off of me.

With him, I felt safe to lay my sadness down for the night and embrace a stranger.

Little did I know, that hot, gorgeous man would be Jamison Ledger, the one who has taken everything I’ve ever wanted—my legacy, my happiness, and what I’ve worked my whole life to attain.

While I am trying to sabotage his success, everyone in our small town is falling in love with the sexy, new lodge owner. And I am trying my hardest not to.

There’s a fine line between love and hate, and Jamison Ledger is blurring that line.

He might have given me a night I’ll never forget, but I can’t forgive the man who stole my entire future.

Unforgettable is book one in the Landmark Mountain Series. Each book can be read as a standalone. 

 

Review: "Third Time's The Charm" by Samantha Baca

Third Time's The Charm by Samantha Baca
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

With his stepfather unable to work due to a recent surgery, firefighter Jack Capshaw decides to take indefinite leave from his job to help out at their family restaurant, the Surf 'N Shack. Even with Capshaw there, the restaurant remains short-staffed, so his younger sister Lia suggests hiring her best friend, Kensy, who's recently returned to Beaumont Creek following her father's death. She's looking for something to pay the bills while she tries to get her photography business off the ground. For several reasons, Capshaw is initially reluctant to hire Kensy, but he soon realizes that she's a hard worker and great with the customers. Besides, as far as his parents and sister are concerned, Kensy is family, and that means doing whatever they can to help her get back on her feet. It also means that he must resist the temptation to act on his secret attraction to her - especially when she needs a place to stay and ends up crashing in his guest room.

I was excited to read Capshaw's story after meeting him in the earlier books of this series, but it turned out to be even better than I'd hoped. He was such a sweet guy and I loved that even though he felt protective of Kensy, he was willing to stand back and let her make her own decisions. He respected the fact that she wanted to make it on her own and waited to offer help until she was ready for it. Their chemistry was fantastic and the mutual pining early in the story was very well done. When they finally got together, there was plenty of steam, though I will say that the many food references in those scenes weren't my cup of tea. I did enjoy the humor, however (the power outage scene had me laughing out loud), and the twist in the final third of the book was a real shocker. It kept me on the edge of my seat right up until the end, and I adored the way everything was resolved.

Overall, I very much enjoyed this funny, sweet, and steamy story, which I highly recommend for all fans of contemporary/small town romance. I look forward to the author's next release.

*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Review: "Wood You Marry Me?" by Daphne Elliot

Wood You Marry Me? by Daphne Elliot
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

PhD candidate Hazel Markey recently returned to her hometown of Lovewell, Maine and is working part-time as a bartender while she researches and writes her dissertation. She's studying the effects of the opioid epidemic on small communities like the one where she grew up, a topic close to her heart because her late mother was an addict. Until she graduates and finds a full-time job, Hazel won't have health insurance - a major problem because she needs surgery to remove her inflamed gall bladder, and she's been putting it off because she can't afford to pay out of pocket. Her older brother Dylan, a teacher, has offered to help her pay for it, but he's been taking care of her since she was a kid, and Hazel refuses to let him sacrifice anything else for her.

When Dylan jokingly suggests that Hazel marry his best friend, Remy Gagnon, for his insurance, none of them take it seriously at first, but Remy can't get the idea out of his head. Hazel isn't just his best friend's little sister, she's his friend too, and he wants to help her. Besides that, it's a way for him to begin to atone for the mistakes he made after learning that his fiancee, Crystal, had cheated on him a few months earlier. Persuading Hazel to go along with the plan isn't so easy until Remy admits that he needs her help too; he's trying to become a professional timber sports athlete, and having a wife would help him look good in front of potential sponsors. It would also be easier to focus on the upcoming competition season if Hazel is there to distract Remy from his ex-fiancee, who will be attending with her new boyfriend. Finally, Hazel agrees, as long as Remy promises that no one besides her brother and best friend Lydia will know that the marriage is fake.

The first book of this series was one of my favorites of the year so far, so to say that I had high expectations for this one is probably something of an understatement. Happily, it exceeded every single one of them. The chemistry between Remy and Hazel was phenomenal! It was obvious that they'd known and cared about each other forever, and maybe even had secret crushes at certain points in the past, but had never let their minds go beyond that. As soon as they were married, they began to see each other differently. I loved how sweetly protective Remy was of Hazel, as well as the way he took care of her after her surgery. Also, the fact that he surprised her with a gift of bookcases had me swooning! That alone was enough for him to earn a place on my list of favorite book boyfriends of all time.

In addition to the central romantic relationship between Hazel and Remy, I loved the elements of mystery and suspense related to the investigation into Remy's father's death and the possible connections to drug trafficking. Even though it remained a rom-com, the mystery gave this story a unique twist I really enjoyed.

Overall, I adored this funny, sweet, and perfectly steamy story and highly recommend it for all fans of contemporary/small town romance and romantic comedy. I hope we'll see Hazel's brother Dylan again in a future story! (I sensed some tension between him and her friend Lydia...)

*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Review: "The Not Love List" by Ellie Hall

The Not Love List: a sweet romantic comedy by Ellie Hall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After giving up a promising career as a ballerina in her native France, Cateline Berghier reinvented herself as the headmistress of Blancbourg Academy d'Etiquette in Concordia, a small island nation north of England. The school is struggling financially and Cateline's been hard at work trying to figure out ways to save it while avoiding the other problems in her life, including an expired work visa. Her latest challenge comes in the form of professional football player Connor "Wolf" Wolfe, who's sent to Blancbourg along with several of his Boston Bruiser teammates to clean up their acts following a prank gone horribly wrong. Sparks fly between Wolf and Cateline from the moment they meet as they battle for the upper hand, but when the lessons move off campus and into Wolf's hometown, they can't help seeing each other in a different light. Could the prankster playboy finally be ready to settle down with the strait-laced schoolteacher?

It's always fun to see a stubborn hero who's sworn off love finally fall, and Wolf was no exception. He and Cateline had a ton of chemistry, and their prank war made me laugh so many times. He was like a little boy tugging on a little girl's ponytails for attention because he couldn't admit that he liked her. I loved when she responded to his pranks because it provided a peek behind her uptight headmistress persona to the warm, sweet woman within.

I highly recommend this funny, sweet, and heartwarming story for all fans of sweet/closed-door contemporary romance and romantic comedy. I look forward to the next book in the series.

*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Review: "One Night in Foxbrooke" by Evie Alexander

One Night in Foxbrooke by Evie Alexander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"One Night in Foxbrooke" was a super cute, funny, and sweet introduction to Evie Alexander's upcoming Foxbrooke series. From the start, it was clear that the chemistry between chefs Leia Perry and Ben "Kenobi" Walker was as strong as ever, though she had good reason not to trust him at first. It didn't take long for him to prove that he'd returned from his time in Australia ready to make things right and win over his girl. I thought he did an excellent job of explaining and apologizing for the way he behaved as a teenager, and the Star Wars references woven throughout the story gave it a unique twist that I adored.

I highly recommend this novella for all contemporary romance and romantic comedy fans. Hopefully we'll see Leia and Ben again in future books of the series!

*Review copy provided by the author via BookSirens. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Review: "Playboy Playmaker" by Maren Moore

Playboy Playmaker by Maren Moore
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"Playboy Playmaker" by Maren Moore was a satisfying conclusion to the Totally Pucked series, featuring likeable, three-dimensional characters and LOTS of steam. Generally speaking, I'm not a big fan of stories featuring the age gap trope, but this one mostly worked for me. Even though female protagonist Caroline Evans was 13 years younger than her love interest, professional hockey player Hudson Rome, her confidence often made her seem older. That's not to say that their age difference wasn't a problem for them, but the real challenge was overcoming the disapproval of Caroline's father, Hudson's head coach. He'd never been able to see past the playboy reputation Hudson earned as a rookie, and it made Hudson the last man he'd ever choose to date his daughter.

One thing that was never an issue for Hudson and Caroline was chemistry; in fact, they almost couldn't keep their hands off each other from the moment they met. Fans of steamy scenes will have no trouble finding them in this book! For me, however, there was a little too much focus on the steam throughout the middle part of the story. I found myself starting to skim through those parts because the plot felt to me like it was dragging, and I really wanted to know what was going to happen when Caroline's father finally learned the truth. The story picked back up around 80%, and from there I couldn't put it down until I'd turned the last page.

Overall, I enjoyed and would recommend "Playboy Playmaker" for all fans of steamy contemporary/sports romance. I look forward to whatever the author writes next. (If that happens to be a story for Hudson's teammate Chaney, I wouldn't complain!)

*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Release Blitz + Review: "Made for Us" by Natasha Madison

Congratulations to Natasha Madison on the release of "Made for Us," book #3 of the Made For series. It's a spinoff of the Only One series and also includes appearances by characters from Madison's Something So and This Is series, but each book reads as a standalone.

 

Now that she's finished with grad school, Abigail Stone is excited to move to Dallas and begin her career as a pediatric nurse at the hospital where she used to volunteer. It's the same hospital where she met professional hockey player Tristan Weise and his daughter Penelope six years ago. She's had a soft spot for the little girl ever since, not to mention a secret crush on her father. The truth is that Tristan returns Abigail's feelings, but he believes that he's not good enough for her. Besides, as the sister of one of his teammates, she's off limits. The sparks between them finally ignite one moonlit evening while they're on vacation with Abigail's extended family, and six weeks later, she realizes that their time together has had unexpected consequences. Believing that Tristan regrets what happened between them, Abigail decides not to tell him about the baby, but how long will she be able to keep her secret?

 

I've really enjoyed most of the books I've read by this author, but unfortunately, this one was a bad match for me. After everything Tristan went through with his daughter Penelope and only finding out about her when she was two years old, I couldn't believe that Abigail would even consider keeping the news about their baby from him. She knew how much it hurt him to have missed all of Penelope's firsts, as well as what a wonderful father he'd become. When Tristan did find out about the baby, I thought he let Abigail off the hook way too easily. Bottom line, Tristan was a great guy who deserved so much better than the way Abigail treated him, and it was really tough for me to believe that she ever loved him based on her behavior over the course of the story.

 

Because of my frustrations with Abigail, it's tough for me to recommend this book. However, I know there are many readers who will love the story, and Tristan is certainly a worthy hero. Hopefully I will have better luck with the next book in the series.

*Review copy provided by the author via Wildfire Marketing Solutions. All opinions expressed are my own.

 

 

About "Made for Us"

From Wall Street Journal and USA TODAY bestselling author Natasha Madison comes a brand new stand-alone surprise pregnancy single dad sports romance.

A spin-off from the Only One series & This Is series.

Abigail
It was time to celebrate.
After all my hard work, I was graduating at the top of my class.
Our family vacation was the perfect chance to relax.
Until I saw him get on the plane and my plans went out the window.
Tristan's everything I've always wanted but can never have.
One night was all we had together.
Now, I’m staring at the two pink lines wondering if I should even tell him.

Tristan 

Six years ago, I was living for myself until I found out I had a two-year-old daughter.
Now, I love my life exactly how it is: me, my daughter and hockey.
Except—I've been in love with Abigail from afar for years.
She was the only one I trusted my daughter with.
One night with her is more than I deserve.
Now that I've had her, I know she was made for us.

Blog Tour + Excerpt + Review: "Hate to Want You" by Julia Jarrett

I'm delighted to join the release blitz celebrating "Hate to Want You" by Julia Jarrett, book #2 of The Donnellys of Dogwood Cove series. Characters from the previous book make cameo appearances in this one, but it reads as a standalone.

I've never been a fan of "big misunderstanding" plots, and in a way, that's what we have here. However, it's a misunderstanding with a twist, as well as a symptom of a larger problem that main character Max Donnelly needed to work through. He'd been bottling up a lot of feelings for a long time, and it wasn't until nurse-turned-pediatrician Heidi Morgan returned to Vancouver Island to complete her residency that he was finally forced to face them. I really felt for everything he and his family had been through, though I wish he hadn't taken so many of his frustrations out on Heidi, who had no idea why normally kind-hearted Max was so cold to her. Fortunately, his attitude changed when he learned the truth, and I really liked them together. They still had to overcome the challenges of working together, but I was rooting for them the whole way.

Heidi had some baggage too, mostly related to her ex, but she'd already worked through a lot of it by the time the story began. I loved that she recognized her own worth and didn't allow the negative beliefs created by her ex to creep back in. I also liked that she stood up to Max, even in the beginning when he was his grumpiest towards her, and that she was never afraid to tell him what she thought. He may have been her supervisor, but Heidi made Max see her as an equal.

In addition to Max and Heidi's relationship, I enjoyed Max's interactions with his brothers in this story. I'm really looking forward to more of that dynamic in future books.

I highly recommend "Hate to Want You" for all contemporary/small town romance fans and can't wait to get my hands on the next book of the series.

 

*Review copy provided by the author via Literally Yours PR. All opinions expressed are my own.

 

CW: Death of child

 

About "Hate to Want You"

Doctor Heidi Morgan is off limits. She’s an unwelcome reminder of the worst day of my life, and my new resident.

She’s the definition of forbidden, and I hate that I want her anyway.

Every chance Heidi gets, she’s testing the limits of my patience and my control. It should be easy to push her away; to convince myself not to trust her, or worse, give in to the intense pull I feel whenever she’s around.

But restraint is never easy.

Her seductively sweet smile and perfect curves keep me up at night with dirty thoughts I really shouldn’t be having. With every word we exchange, every touch we share, the fire she’s ignited in me is shifting from frustration into something else. Something far more risky.

It’s starting to feel like only a matter of time before I lose control and let her into my heart. I just have to find a way not to lose myself at the same time.

 

 

Read an Excerpt from "Hate to Want You"

“Heidi?”

 

There she is, looking just as beautiful as she was six years ago. And just as repulsive, given what her presence here means. Her hand lifts to push a piece of hair behind her ear, and that’s when I see the flash of a gold band on her finger. 

 

She fucking married him? That means if she’s back, he’s back. 

 

“Dr. Donnelly, there you are.” The booming voice of the director for the pediatric program at WGH, Clarence Ross, echoes down the hall. “Ah, wonderful, I see you found him, Heidi. I mean, Dr. Morgan.” He winks at Heidi as my jaw drops open. 

 

“Doctor?” I say, as if I didn’t hear him clearly, but hearing is different from comprehending, and seeing her again has apparently rattled my brain. 

 

A slight pink tint covers her cheeks. If she were anyone else, it would be cute. But all it does is turn my stomach. “Yeah, I, um, went to medical school. I’m in my final residency, and I wanted to come back to Westport General.”

 

“That’s…Wow. That’s unbelievable.” I can hear the icy tone to my voice, at odds with how my blood is boiling at the thought of Heidi moving back to the area. Or more specifically, the man who almost destroyed my family. 

 

Thad fucking Marshall. The man I was shocked to discover was apparently the love of Heidi’s life all those years ago. I knew she had a boyfriend, but never in a million years did I think a sweet woman like her would be with a selfish, slimy asshole like him. 

 

It might be strange to have such a strong reaction to the very thought of a man who, for all intents and purposes, hasn’t played a role —directly or indirectly —in your life for years. But no one in our family will forget the night Mom was paid a visit by a police officer who told her Dad had been hit by a drunk driver and was in the hospital. It took months of rehab for him to recover, and to this day, he still walks with a limp. The long days, visiting Dad in the ICU of this very hospital, wondering when the swelling on his brain would go down, and if he’d ever be the same, left a scar on all our souls. 

 

For me, that day is burned into my memory for more than just the accident. I’ve carried an extra burden by myself for nine years. Because the day Thad Marshall decided to drive home drunk from a liquid lunch with some coworkers was also the day I found out my girlfriend at the time betrayed me. 

 

But right now, even that betrayal is overshadowed by the onslaught of memories that seeing Heidi is bringing up. She was with Thad when he weaseled his way out of taking accountability for what he did to my dad. His lawyer got him off on a technicality, never mind the fact that our family was never the same after. 

 

It’s a special kind of asshole that can show absolutely no remorse and take no responsibility for something that was completely his fault. And she was with him through it all. Which makes her just as bad as him in my eyes. 

 

Clarence is still talking, singing her praises, I’m guessing. I don’t give a fuck if she’s top of her class, I don’t want her anywhere near me. But I try to focus on what he’s saying, given the man is in charge of my paycheck. 

 

“We’re thrilled to have her back with us, hopefully to stay, if I have anything to say about it. Now, Dr. Donnelly, you’ll have to excuse us. We’ve got some paperwork to attend to. Doctor Morgan has her first shift with you tomorrow.” Clarence claps me on the back. Normally, that wouldn’t make me budge, but I’m so off kilter, I actually stumble forward, catching myself on the counter just in time. But the action brings me close to her. Close enough to hear her intake of breath. 

 

I back up instantly. It’s only as the two of them walk away that my brain catches up to something important. 

 

Did he say her first shift with me? 

 

Oh, fuck no. 

 

***

Review: "The First Taste" by Annah Conwell

The First Taste by Annah Conwell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Chef Sophie Cunningham and orthopedic surgeon Bennett St. James have been best friends since they were in kindergarten. There's never been anything romantic between them, though secretly, Bennett has wanted to be more than friends ever since returning to Georgia after years away at school and seeing Sophie in a different light. The problem is that she's always had a boyfriend - until now.

After getting dumped on Christmas Eve, Sophie makes a pact with her roommate MJ to stay single for an entire year. The plan starts to fall apart when Sophie's wealthy mother demands that she attend several charity events with her, offering to set up meetings with investors if she does. It's a great opportunity for Sophie to get the funds she needs to expand her food truck business, but her mother insists that Sophie must have a "suitable" date for each event. In fact, she's threatened to find a man for her if Sophie can't do it herself. Knowing that his family has exactly the kind of connections her mother wants, Bennett volunteers to be Sophie's fake date. It's the only way around the one-year dating ban, and he's not willing to wait to prove that they can be more than friends.

I loved how cute and playful Sophie and Bennett were with each other, as expressed through their witty banter and the pranks Sophie often played on Bennett. My favorite was when she surprised him with a Nerf battle because they'd both been stressed and needed to blow off some steam. That said, as much as I liked them as a couple, I felt like their story was a bit lacking in conflict. They had a few individual/internal conflicts to resolve, but once they got together, there weren't really any obstacles or challenges for them to overcome as a couple. (That's not a bad thing, and I'm sure it's a me problem more than anything else.)

My other (small) issue with the story was that the timeline didn't make sense in terms of how old they were. For Bennett to be a fully qualified orthopedic surgeon, they'd have to be older. At 26, he'd barely be starting his residency, and there's no possible way he'd be qualified to work as the head of orthopedics for a major university. I don't think he'd even have the board certifications required to practice without supervision.

Overall, despite those few issues, I enjoyed this story and would recommend it for fans of the friends to lovers trope. It was the first book I've read from this author, but it won't be the last.

*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Release Blitz + Review: "Over My Brother's Dead Body, Chase Andrews" by Piper Rayne

I'm thrilled to take part in the release blitz celebrating "Over My Brother's Dead Body, Chase Andrews" by Piper Rayne, book #3 of the Kingsmen Football Stars series. Characters from the previous books make cameo appearances in this one, but it reads as a standalone.

 

In need of time to clear her head after the end of her engagement, Twyla Cavanaugh decides to accept a temporary house-sitting job in San Francisco, where her brother Miles is a professional football player for the San Francisco Kingsmen. She's surprised but pleased to learn that her brother's teammate, Chase Andrews, will be her new neighbor. Twyla's had an innocent crush on Chase for some time, but it was never a big deal because she was in a relationship. However, things have changed now that she's single, and not just for Twyla; Chase secretly has feelings for her too, but he never wanted to break bro code to pursue his friend's little sister. Living across the hall presents a whole new set of challenges and temptations for them both, especially after Miles asks Chase for help in keeping an eye on Twyla. When they break the rules, will Miles be able to forgive them?

I loved the chemistry and witty banter between Chase and Twyla, as well as the way he came out of his shell when he was with her. I couldn't help but find it endearing that he seemed so shy at times, such as when he came over to ask her to watch TV with him. His bond with the stray kitten was adorable, too. There was such a big heart hidden under Chase's grumpy exterior, and it was so much fun to see it slowly revealed as his relationship with Twyla blossomed.

 

I highly recommend this book for all contemporary/sports romance and romantic comedy fans and look forward to Twyla's brother's book, which will launch a new series later this year.

 

*Review copy provided by the author via Valentine PR. All opinions expressed are my own.   

 

About "Over My Brother's Dead Body, Chase Andrews"

Chase Andrews.

The Kingsmen's top tight end.
My brother's friend and teammate.
My new neighbor.
The grumpy to my sunshine.

But underneath that grumpy exterior, there's so much more.

Chase likes to pretend nothing affects him, but I've seen glimpses of his other side in the time we've spent together.

And the more we get to know each other, the more I'm falling for him.

Under normal circumstances, this would be great. Except my hyper-protective big brother thinks no man is good enough for me, and my ex-fiancé is trying to win me back.

One charming, seemingly good man already broke my heart. Am I stupid to give a self-confessed relationship-adverse football player a chance to break it a second time?

 

Review: "Wedding Games" by Evie Alexander

Wedding Games by Evie Alexander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"Wedding Games" by Evie Alexander was everything I've loved about the Kinloch series and more: laugh-out-loud funny, sweet, and ever-so-slightly ridiculous, but heartwarming at the same time. It's best to read this story after all of the other books to avoid spoilers, but for readers who've already been introduced to the delightful couples of Kinloch, Rory and Zoe's wedding serves as a perfect epilogue to the series. The event has turned into more of a production than either of them wanted, but there's no escaping their well-meaning friends and family. I think my favorite part of the whole thing was the unexpected bromance between Zoe's dad and Rory's stepfather, wacky actor Brad Bauer. Talk about opposites attract - those two couldn't have been more different if they tried.

I was also intrigued by the introduction of the Foxbrooke family, who will star in Alexander's next series. Given their connection to Rory, hopefully this isn't the last we've seen of the Kinloch couples!

I highly recommend "Wedding Games" for all romantic comedy fans, though as noted above, I'd recommend reading the earlier books of the series first. I'm excited to find out what Alexander has in store for us next!

*Review copy provided by the author via BookSirens. All opinions expressed are my own.

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