USA Today Bestselling Author, Terri E. Laine, brings a new standalone, funny but sexy novel, Thirty-five and Single.
What can go wrong when you’re getting divorced from your high school sweetheart, it’s your thirty-fifth birthday and you have too much to drink?
Throw in the gorgeous neighbor who comes to the rescue when you can’t seem to open your apartment door after all the alcohol and end up taking a drunken slip and slid across the floor.
Then you look up into his gorgeous face and forget all the reasons why it’s a bad idea to hook-up with said twenty-something neighbor. In fact, it’s a fan-freaking-tastic idea.
Now let the games begin because this is Olivia’s life: – interfering sisters, the ex, co-workers… and Joel, her way too sexy, too young, but oh so hot neighbor.
Wanting to explore single life, Olivia fights her growing connection with Joel. Only he’s is determined to prove to her that age is just a number and she’s is his number one.
When I meet Joel Matthews, I’m in an unexpected place in life.
Divorceville.
I mean who expects that after fourteen years of marriage to your high school sweetheart.
Not me.
It hits me while celebrating my birthday with my sisters that I’m thirty-five and single. Shouldn’t I finally date someone other than my ex?
I totally deserve that, right?
After way too many lemon drop shots, I’m tricked into trying on my younger sister considerate gift as she put it. Did I mention it’s a gag gift? A “my milkshakes bring all the boys to my yard” t-shirt and velour sweatpants with “Sin-a-Buns” written across my bottom which she finds all too hilarious.
That’s how Joel finds me, too smashed to open my apartment door and when I do, I take a drunken slip and slid across the floor with my Sin-A -Buns on full display.
Joel doesn’t seem to notice. Then again, I swear I heard a chuckle. But no matter, he’s right there to make sure I’m okay as any knight in shiny armor should do.
Okay, where did that come from? Clearly, I’m not in my right frame of mine.
When I look up into his gorgeous face, I forget all the reasons why it’s a bad idea to hook-up with my twenty-something neighbor. In fact, it’s a fan-freaking-tastic idea.
(Ride that pony, girl? Did I really just think that?)
Until I wake in the morning with a delicious ache between my legs and a pounding headache. I’m mature enough not to regret it, but adult enough to realize it can’t happen again.
First—I’m too old for him. He’s in his twenties for goodness sakes.
Second— I’m single for the first time in years. Like I’ve only ever dated one guy.
Third—Shouldn’t I date multiple men before I find the one? Wasn’t that my first mistake?
Only Joel isn’t giving up.
He’s determined to prove age is just a number—
And I’m his number one.
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Ashley’s Review
***ARC generously provided by Author/Publisher for an honest review.***
I’ve read multiple books by Terri E Laine and enjoy the characters she creates and the stories she builds. I like that she gives her characters quirks and imperfections, making them more real and providing more depth to their character development.
Her latest novel, Thirty-Five and Single centers around Olivia and her coming to terms with being divorced and single at thirty-five. Feeling out of place in this crazy dating world and older, she struggles to navigate what her future may hold. With pressure from her sisters to finally “let her hair down” and explore her new-found freedom, Olivia finds herself drunk and face to face with the hot guy next door. Joel is 27. He’s hot. He’s fit. He’s tatted!!! I mean he’s the complete package…but too young for Olivia… or so she thinks. Since the day she moved next door, Joel has fought the pull of desire he has for Olivia.
When her girl’s night out turns to a romp in the sheets with Joel, Olivia finds herself wanting Joel more than ever but feeling like it can’t work because of their age gap. What she doesn’t know is that Joel isn’t going to give up easy and that he’ll prove that age is just a number!
A cute and fun read. Can easily be read in a matter of hours. The story is entertaining, and the characters are memorable. The chemistry between Joel and Olivia is scorching!
If you are looking for a good read, then you must give this book a try.
4 stars!
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Author Bio:
Terri E. Laine, USA Today bestselling author, left a lucrative career as a CPA to pursue her love for writing. Outside of her roles as a wife and mother of three, she’s always been a dreamer and as such became an avid reader at a young age.
Many years later, she got a crazy idea to write a novel and set out to try to publish it. With over a dozen titles published under various pen names, the rest is history. Her journey has been a blessing, and a dream realized. She looks forward to many more memories to come.
Time doesn’t heal all wounds. Sometimes they just scab over.
Haunted by memories of a failed marriage, trauma surgeon Barbie Anderson escapes to her hometown for a fresh start. But the quaint community of Pumpkin Rest has memories and failures of its own that should stay buried.
When Barbie runs into ex-con biker Jake Chambers, he stirs up anger and resentment in her that she doesn’t want to face. He reminds her of the one man she’s never gotten over and dredges up decades-old heartache. With his rugged criminal exterior and gentlemanly demeanor, the silver fox may have the other women in Pumpkin Rest falling at his feet, but not Barbie.
She refuses to let her guard down and have her heart broken again. When a series of revelations come tumbling forth, Barbie is forced to confront her past and trust Pumpkin Rest’s most sought-after bachelor where she’ll soon learn that love wears many faces.
Will secrets from the past destroy their future or will old wounds finally heal, allowing her to love again?
Michel’s Review
2019 Favorite
Wow… Beth Flynn has once again delivered an outstanding novel which leaves her readers with soaring hearts and breathless. She delivers something more extraordinary than a passionate love story. She captures the complete human spirit in all of it’s beautiful imperfection. Her characters capture the imagination and remind the readers that’s it’s okay to be human.
Beth takes her readers back to Pumpkin Rest, South Carolina. The sleepy little town with only one intersection containing a gas station / grocery store and diner. Pumpkin Rest is a close knit community who have known each other all their lives. Dr. Barbie Anderson has returned to her childhood home to heal her from broken heart and rebuild her shattered life. She’s wise enough to return to the place where old friends are true friends and life is peaceful. She’s ready for a simple life. She’s ready to heal and move on to the next chapter in her life.
As it turns out, her return to Pumpkin Rest is anything but simple. It seems someone from her past has returned as well. A person who has been dead for years. The boy who shattered her heart when she was a young girl. Kenny Pritchard left thirty-nine years ago and never returned. He died in prison so how can he be riding past her house on his motorcycle? How can he be working at the Hampton House helping care for patients? Her mind and heart were playing tricks on her. How can Kenny be alive when she read his autopsy?
The truth is that this man is not Kenny, he is Jake Chambers. She refuses to let this man who looks like a criminal and the love of her life get close to her wounded soul. She is determined to understand why this man is trying to insert himself in Kenny’s old life. Why is he trying to befriend her when she clearly wants nothing to do with him? Her mind is telling her to stay far away and her heart is pushing her closer.
Life has a different destiny for both Jake and Barbie. It doesn’t matter if you are young and experiencing love for the first time or if you are past your prime and finding a love to spend the rest of your life with. Love is forgiving. Love is healing. Love is a miracle.
Pumpkin Rest is not the ordinary sleepy small town. It holds a multitude of secrets. Secrets that have destroyed lives for generations. Secrets that can still damage lives long after those who kept them are in their graves. Barbie and Jake have to choose how they deal with those secrets. Do they let the secrets tear them apart or do they let them bring them closer together?
WOW… Beth Flynn once again delivered the perfect story. There was the right amount of suspense, intrigue, and romance blended into this story which made it a page turner. I loved how she chose to feature seasoned, mature characters who have made their mistakes, made good and bad choices, and know what they want in life. I loved how she tied the Bear Family (past and present) into this story as well as the Nine Minute Trilogy. The connections were obscure but very familiar at the same time. It made me want to re-read all five books again. Not many authors do that to me. Every time I finish a Beth Flynn book I walk away feeling like I experienced every aspect of humanity. I feel like I witnessed a lifetime of friends and enemies finding the true meaning of love through forgiveness and acceptance. It’s very hard to put this concept into 375 pages when it takes a lifetime to achieve it.
Beth Flynn is a fiction writer who lives and works in Sapphire, North Carolina, deep within the southern Blue Ridge Mountains. Raised in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Beth and her husband, Jim, have spent the last 17 years in Sapphire, where they own a construction company. They have been married 31 years and have two daughters and two dogs. In her spare time, Beth enjoys writing, reading, gardening, church and motorcycles, especially taking rides on the back of her husband’s Harley. She is a five-year breast cancer survivor.
Watch Natalie
get revenge in her new dark and glamorous life on the Upper East Side in the
conclusion to USA Today bestselling author K.A. Linde’s billionaire romance
Cruel Trilogy.
Darkness swept in.Smothering everything in its inky black.
Well, they say, if you can’t beat them, join them. And that’s exactly what Natalie Bishop’s done. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes of the fire ignited by the Upper East Siders, Natalie is not about to go down without a fight. And she knows just how to give them a fight that they will never forget. But in her quest for revenge, will Natalie lose herself?
The Cruel series by author K.A. Linde is a study in the art of the game. Reading these books is like having a reality show on loop, with drama galore, and shenanigans that you just can’t look away from. As Natalie evolved into the newest version of herself in this last book, I found myself wondering whether there would be the redemption that I was looking for, anything that made the Crew less monstrous than they appeared to be. The intrigue, the backstabbing, the non-stop drama had me waiting and wondering.
Kyla keeps the reader guessing right up until the very end, with twist after turn after jaw-dropping revelation, and the build-up is both nerve wracking and delicious. In the end, she delivers with her usual flair, making both the climb up the rollercoaster and the sheer drop worth every single minute, giving the perfect wrap-up to this series.
Lose yourself to the dark and glamorous underbelly of the Upper East Side in USA Today bestselling author K.A. Linde’s new billionaire romance Cruel Trilogy.
She was supposed to be a one night stand.
A way to sate my sexual appetite.
I let her glimpse the man I am. The face that I hide behind my carefully cultivated life.
But she ripped open that divide–and there’s no going back.
Now, she’s here. In my city.
I don’t care that I’m Manhattan royalty and she’s the help.
Only that she’s living in my summer home. With me.
Lose yourself to the dark and glamorous underbelly of the Upper East Side in the second book in USA Today bestselling author K.A. Linde’s new billionaire romance Cruel Trilogy.
I finally have everything I ever wanted–fame and fortune and literary success.
Only one problem: I lost my muse.
He was tall, dark, and handsome. Broody, enigmatic, alluring, and right for me in every way.
Until he wasn’t. Until I lost everything.
And I can’t lose it all again. I’ll do anything to keep it.
K.A. Linde is the USA Today bestselling author of
more than fifteen novels including the Avoiding series and the Record series.
She has a Masters degree in political science from the University of Georgia, was the head campaign worker for the 2012 presidential campaign at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and served as the head coach of the Duke University dance team. She loves reading fantasy novels, geeking out over Star Wars, binge-watching Supernatural, and dancing in her spare time.
She currently lives in Lubbock, Texas, with her
husband and two super adorable puppies.
Today we are celebrating the release of VICTOR by Brenda Rothert. This is a contemporary romance, standalone, and it is the third title in the Chicago Blaze hockey romance series. Purchase your copy now!
He’s a hockey star with a headboard full of notches. She’s a shy NHL concession worker at who’s never been kissed.
Lindy
They don’t call me Belinda Boring for nothing. It’s my name, after all. And for a 23-year-old with plain brown hair who still lives at home and gets tongue tied over nothing, it’s a fitting one. I’m not even one of those quiet girls with a hidden talent, unless making a mean order of nachos at the NHL arena I work at counts. My life consists of working, reading and harboring a secret crush on a hockey player who doesn’t know I exist. At least, until we accidentally meet and become unlikely friends.
Victor
I’m living the dream. A poor kid who worked his way into the NHL, I’ll never forget where I came from, though I try to. My past follows me, a nagging reminder that I’ll never be what everyone thinks I am. As the threat of my secret being exposed looms closer, my game slips, leaving me in danger of being cut from my team–the only family I have. I’m losing my hold on everything when a new friend helps me find hope. She’s nothing like the women I’m used to, but by the time I figure out that’s exactly why she’s right for me, I’ve lost my chance with her. Somehow, I have to convince a woman who thinks she’s invisible that she’s the only one I see.
Brenda Rothert is an Illinois native who was a print journalist for nine years. She made the jump from fact to fiction in 2013 and never looked back. From new adult to steamy contemporary romance, Brenda creates fresh characters in every story she tells. She’s a lover of Diet Coke, chocolate, lazy weekends and happily ever afters.
“I LOVED both Cosy and Griffin! This story was ABSOLUTE PERFECTION!”- Kendall Ryan, New York Times bestselling author
Making Up an all-new laugh-out-loud romantic comedy from New YorkTimes bestselling author Helena Hunting is available now!
Cosy Felton is great at her job—she knows just how to handle the awkwardness that comes with working at an adult toy store. So when the hottest guy she’s ever seen walks into the shop looking completely overwhelmed, she’s more than happy to turn on the charm and help him purchase all of the items on his list.
Griffin Mills is using his business trip in Las Vegas as a chance to escape the broken pieces of his life in New York City. The last thing he wants is to be put in charge of buying gag gifts for his friend’s bachelor party. Despite being totally out of his element, and mortified by the whole experience, Griffin is pleasantly surprised when he finds himself attracted to the sales girl that helped him.
As skeptical as Cosy may be of Griffin’s motivations, there’s something about him that intrigues her. But sometimes what happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas and when real life gets in the way, all bets are off. Filled with hilariously awkward situations and enough sexual chemistry to power Sin City, Making Up is the next standalone in the Shacking Up world.
Helena Hunting and The Mills Brothers are back spreading their irresistible, sexy, alpha charm Vegas style. Griffin Mills is giving his younger brothers a run for their money claiming the sexiest brother title. Rather than an exotic destination wedding/honeymoon or a grand New Yorker romance on Broadway, Griffin is making his mark in Vegas at the Sex Toy Warehouse.
Griffin’s on the rebound from his broken engagement to a New York socialite. Rather than sticking around New York City, he chose to bury himself in a new project in Las Vegas. He is hoping to acquire a new hotel for the Mills Hotel line. While in Vegas, he’s burning the candle at both ends. Work by day and a social life after hours which includes drunken hook-ups, and wild bachelor parties.When he pulled the shortest straw for providing the goodie bags for the party, he finds himself at the Sex Toy Warehouse. When meets Cosy Felton, the sexy sales consultant, he’s thoroughly charmed by her vibrant personality and carefree attitude. It doesn’t matter that he is much older than her nor does it matter what her social status is. She makes him feel alive. She makes him want to stop and smell the roses. She makes him want to be a better man. He knows there’s an expiration date on their affair and he is going to make the most of it. Who knew he would really fall in love and face the biggest heartbreak of his life? The Mills men don’t stay down for long. They go after what they want and seal the deal. It may take bribing a crazy older sister, shaming a pregnant ex-fiance, and beating his least favorite cousin to a pulp, he’s the man for the job.
He’s ready for some serious Making Up with Cosy Felton.
I loved this rom-com by Helena Hunting. I fell hopelessly in love with Griffin Mills just like I did with his two other brothers. Helena Hunting is the queen of romantic comedy and making readers smile. I can’t wait to see what’s next in the Shacking Up series. Rumor has it the favorite cousin, Lincoln Moorehead, is up next in Handle With Care.
Tracey’s Review
Okay, romance lovers, can you keep a secret? Although I have happily promoted Helena Hunting and her books for a very long time, MAKING UP is actually the first book of hers that I have read. Yes, it’s true… *ducks and runs* Why, I don’t know, because now I am now kicking myself and wondering what in the actual heck I was thinking.
As this was my first time in Helena World (see above), I wondered whether the book would work for me. Let me offer a resounding ‘YES!’ This book can totally be read as a standalone, and, while characters from other books do make an appearance, there’s plenty of back story offered here for it to make sense. And, you know, whet our appetites to get the heck caught up with the rest of the Shacking Up world.
MAKING UP is just the kind of book that I want to find on my book pile again and again and again. What a delightful read this book was! I fell in insta-love with both Cosy and Griffin, and absolutely inhaled their story. Awkward, sexy, funny, these two are a match made in heaven, and seeing them get from start to finish could not have been more fun. Any book that can leave me with a smile on my face and a love for characters that will have me reading the author’s other books is a win for me. 4.5 stars and a must-read recommendation for MAKING UP. Get it. Read it. Love it.
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About Helena
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of PUCKED, Helena Hunting lives on the outskirts of Toronto with her incredibly tolerant family and two moderately intolerant cats. She’s writes contemporary romance ranging from new adult angst to romantic sports comedy.
Just Love, an all-new standalone contemporary romance by Prescott Lane.
There’s two sides to every love story. The how you fell in love, and the how you fell apart.
This is ours.
The cardinal rule of friendship is you don’t mess with your friend’s sister.
That goes double when she’s his little sister.
It was just supposed to be fun.
She wasn’t supposed to end up being the love of my life.
And I definitely wasn’t supposed to break her heart.
Ainsley is a wedding dress designer. That should’ve been a warning that she’s a hopeless romantic. That should’ve clued me in that she believes love conquers all.
But there are some things that love can’t fix. I’m one of them.
I knew the kind of guy Rhett was. I knew serious wasn’t his thing. I knew using the word love usually sent him running for the hills. I knew it, and I did it anyway.
But he wasn’t that guy with me. He and I were different. I know he loved me.
I’ve loved that man since I was fifteen years old. How could I not? Forget the abs, the tan skin, those pale, sexy blue eyes. Forget the fact that his voice sends shivers down my spine. The first time we kissed, I felt my whole world shatter and fall into place at the same time.
I tried to pretend to be “that” girl. The kind that can kiss a guy just for fun, screw a man and not imagine a life with him. I tried. I failed. The hopeless romantic in me wasn’t having it.
My heart should’ve known better — but my heart was no match for Rhett Bennett.
When Rhett and I fell apart, I broke up with social media. I have to say, that breakup was a lot easier. No hashtags, no emojis, no memes to post. Some people use social media as their therapist. I’ve seen people post play-by-plays of their divorce, or explain every detail of their latest illness or drama. I probably could’ve attracted a lot more followers if I chronicled the demise of our relationship. It’s the stuff of soap operas.
But instead, I broke it off with Facebook, banned Instagram, and boycotted Twitter.
Today, Facebook and I are having one last romp. Relationship status update: Single.
That’s it. That one little change. I have to start somewhere. Skye’s right about that.
The one part of being single I have embraced is the diet. The single woman diet consists of basically any breakfast food for dinner, coffee, and alcohol. I’ve gotten so good at it, I no longer need a grocery cart when I shop. Quick tip, don’t get a cart at the grocery store, only buy what you can hold. It’s good for the budget and the waistline. Unfortunately, that rule doesn’t work so well at clothing stores.
About Prescott: Prescott Lane is the Amazon best-selling author of Stripped Raw. She’s got seven other books under her belt including: First Position, Perfectly Broken, Quiet Angel, Wrapped in Lace, Layers of Her, The Reason for Me, and The Sex Bucket List. She is originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, and holds a degree in sociology and a MSW from Tulane University. She married her college sweetheart, and they currently live in New Orleans with their two children and two crazy dogs. Prescott started writing at the age of five, and sold her first story about a talking turtle to her father for a quarter. She later turned to writing romance novels because there aren’t enough happily ever afters in real life.
Wow… Wow… Wow… The Heartache Duet is my 2019 Favorite!
The Heartache Duet by Jay McLean is one of those stories which stands out among other the releases in the romance and YA genres. It is more than an angsty mature YA romance, it’s a story of family, friendship, and the beauty of the human spirit. It’s a story about dealing with heartache and circumstances beyond our control without losing hope. A story where basic human compassion goes much further than grand gestures. A story that shows the magic in the little moments is just as important as the monumental steps that change our lives. After all … the magic appears when the world seems the darkest but it also appears when it’s least expected.
First and Forever by Jay McLean is the highly emotional, explosive conclusion in the Heartache and Hope Duet.
Heartache and Hope ended on a huge cliffhanger. Ava and Connor had broken up. Connor was conquering the basketball court and chasing his dream. He has became an All American Allstar athlete, gotten a full ride scholarship to Duke, and has scouts knocking on his doors. He’s pushed himself beyond his limits, not for himself but for Ava. He wants to be able to give her the help her family desperately needs. He wants to be able to provide a future for both of them. But first he needs to win Ava back and show her she isn’t alone.
Ava was trying to hold onto what was left of her family life. The responsibility of caring for her mother has become more difficult. Her mother’s mental health is affecting her physical health. The health care options have became more limited in an already sparse situation. Her step- brother Trevor has sacrificed his future to help hang onto their family. Things are spiraling downhill fast. They have exhausted every avenue available. Their situation is dire and her mother is disappearing into oblivion.
Ava and Connor have a love that’s worth fighting for. They have both suffered. They have both learned a little bit of magic in the darkest moments goes a long way. But is it enough to keep them together? Just when they think they have it figured out, Ava’s mom takes a turn for the worst and her world begins to fall apart. She’s afraid she will take Connor down with her. At the same time, Connor’s nightmares and past have resurfaced. rather than leaning on Ava or his family for support, he tries to handle the situation by himself.
They are both getting torn apart emotionally and don’t know how to cope with it. Their lives have spiraled out of control once again. This time they can’t fix it. Graduation is around the corner and Ava’s life has hit the dead end.
Can they find their way back to each other? Their family lives and secrets will never go away. They just need to learn how to manage their lives with what they have. They have to learn that love is what keeps hope alive.
Wow… the Heartache Duet by Jay McLean is one of the best stories I have read in quite awhile. Not only does Jay deliver an emotional, heart wrenching romance but she also focuses on important issues and how they affect people’s lives. She brought attention to ongoing problems in healthcare for seriously wounded VETs, the lack of support from the community, the limited long term medical benefits, and the inadequate care for mental health issues. She also showed how child abuse can scar a person for life even though they have had a stable home, supportive family love, and the right kind of counseling. She also showed how people make sacrifices for their families. Trevor and Connor’s father both put their families first over their own personal happiness. They were true heroes in my opinion. Not only did Jay show the emotional effects it had on the family but also their friends. The Heartache and Hope Duet displayed every kind of love a human being can experience and that is where the true MAGIC is.
I highly recommend The Heartache and Hope Duet.
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About the Author:
Jay McLean is an international best-selling author and full-time reader, writer of New
Adult and Young Adult romance, and skilled procrastinator. When she’s not doing
any of those things, she can be found running after her three little boys, investing
way too much time on True Crime Documentaries and binge-watching reality TV.
She writes what she loves to read, which are books that can make her laugh, make
her hurt and make her feel.
Jay lives in the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia, in her dream home where music is
loud and laughter is louder.
For publishing rights (Foreign & Domestic) Film or television, please contact her
agent Erica Spellman-Silverman, at Trident Media Group.
From New York Times bestselling author CD Reiss comes a story of friendship, romance, and growing into a love that was always there.
Rachel knew exactly what turning thirty would be like. She had a plan, after all. First college, then a climb up the professional ladder. Love, marriage, children. All of it was on the schedule.
The cheap Hollywood apartment wasn’t on the list. Neither was the string of heartbreaks. Or the effect her mother’s cancer had on her career.
It’s hard to stay practical and on point when everything takes a left turn.
Enter Sebastian, the nerd across the street. The boy she defended when he couldn’t defend himself. The best friend she promised she’d marry if life didn’t go according to plan.
Not only is he successful, confident, and gorgeous, but he also still has their handwritten marriage contract.
No one goes through with childhood wedding pacts.
That’s crazy.
But their families might just be crazy enough to rent a hall and set a date. All Rachel and Sebastian have to do is fall in love.
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Excerpt
After I left her and CJ with Lucinda, I spent the weekly staff meeting wondering if Rachel was the same warrior I’d loved or if she was more the woman who’d held her laptop to her chest as if she needed protection.
I was obsessed.
I had to know.
Her text came in as I was leaving the meeting.
I need to check that we’re kidding
Before I could finish typing a response, I caught her coming out of the bathroom with her laptop under her arm.
Alone. Me and her. Nothing between us but the question of who we were and how we fit.
“Seb, I—”
She didn’t have a chance to finish. I crowded her back into the bathroom and locked the door behind us.
“Kidding about what?” I said.
“About getting married.”
“Why would that even be a question?”
“Our parents have been in negotiations about it.”
My mother couldn’t keep herself from talking if she tried, and I was her favorite subject.
“It might be a little soon for marriage, but—”
“Soon? I don’t like you seeing what I do for a living while you’re in a glass-walled office overlooking the ocean. I mean, I’m not marriage material, and the odds are that’s never going to change.”
“I don’t see why a date’s off the table.”
“Do you know what’s going to happen if we date?”
The list of possibilities was as long as my arm. I could have counted them off, from “We decide we hate each other” to “We end up in bed.” But I didn’t, because I was still trying to figure her out.
What did she want to hear?
With her wide eyes and parted lips, what did she want? Did she have a fondest wish where I was concerned? Was she leaning forward? Was her expression soft and yielding?
My mind spent too long deciding what to say, so my body spoke for me.
I kissed her hard and was met with teeth and stiff resistance. It was a kiss I’d wanted since I’d had hairless armpits and a voice somewhere in the low soprano range. I’d dreamed about it. Fantasized about it. Thought about it so hard in the middle of the night I could practically feel it.
But never, ever in my fantasies did she push me away so hard I fell back against a towel dispenser, watching her face twist into surprised rage as the machine spit out a ragged rectangle of brown paper.
“That was—”
“Messed up. I know.”
“Then why? What is wrong with you?”
She was livid, just like she would have been. Just like she should have been.
The tiger within Rachel was in there, and my attempt to tease her out had probably alienated her. She’d be right to never speak to me again.
“I’m sorry,” I said with my hand on the door lock. “I misread you. It won’t happen again.”
I started to open the door, but she held it closed.
“If we date, my mother’s going to get her hopes up that I’m going to settle down. And I’m sorry, Seb, but if we break up while she’s in chemo, it’s going to crush her.”
“You don’t even know if she’s sick again.”
“You’re right.” She pointed a rigid finger at me as if I were her mother. “I’m going to make her tell me.”
“You’re really beautiful when you’re telling it like it is.”
She slid her hand off the door. Having been called out, the warrior was sent into hiding.
No. I wouldn’t accept that. I wouldn’t allow it.
“Let’s just go out and catch up,” I said. “Saturday.”
“Can’t. Saturday’s the soonest I can talk to Mom.”
I unlocked the door. “I’m sorry about . . . the thing.”
“Kissing me?”
“No, wasting paper towels. Of course kissing you.”
“Next time, give a girl a little warning.”
Next time? Her eyes darted to the door. Was she calculating the distance to her getaway? Or making sure it was closed?
“How about now?” I asked.
“Now what?”
“Fair warning. Now.”
I stepped a little closer and put my hands on her arms. Not right away. I let them hover an inch away before touching her to give her the chance to move away. A chance I was sure she’d take.
“Seb, really?”
But she didn’t move away.
Not this time. When I laid my hands on her biceps, she leaned in to me just a little. I smelled the floral lotion on her skin and a hint of cool water on her breath.
“Really.” I slid the laptop from her arms and placed it on the counter. “This is your warning.”
You’re doing this. I cannot believe you’re doing this.
“It doesn’t feel like a warning,” she said, and again—I noted—she didn’t move away.
“Flashing red lights.” My lips brushed her cheek, heading for her mouth. She felt better than I ever imagined. “A buzzer, maybe.”
“Just a kiss?” she asked, her lips moving against mine.
Before I could consummate what she was agreeing to, I was smacked by a swinging door.
“Oh!” CJ said. “I’m sorry! I was looking for you.”
Rachel snatched up her laptop and walked out. CJ raised an eyebrow with good reason, since I was in the ladies’ room. I left, and we all gathered in the hall.
Awkward.
“Well,” Rachel said. “Thanks for showing us your tedious financial-sector company.”
“Thank you for coming,” I said and let them walk away. I could have done or said much more, but not without getting her into trouble. She glanced back at me when they turned the corner, as if she wanted to make sure I was still there.
________________________________________
Michel’s Review
Only Ever You by CD Reiss is a delightful romance. Rather than having a complex plot or dark subject matter, this book was pure romance. Friends to lovers, popular girl falls for nerd, triumph over bullies, and crazy family meddling is the theme for Only Ever You.
Two kids make a contract to marry each other if they are still single when they turn thirty. What seemed like a joke actually turned into a real contract once the “families” got involved and the thirtieth birthdays have arrived. Rachel thought she would have taken the Hollywood scene by storm. She thought she would be a successful screen writer with Oscars/Emmy’s under her belt. Instead she is a writer’s assistant for a cheesy romantic network. She lives in a crappy apartment and still does her laundry at home to save money.
When she goes home for Christmas, she’s in for quite a surprise. Her family and their neighbors always celebrate Christmas Eve together. Sebastian has come home for Christmas after missing many years of the celebration. He’s no longer the skinny, nerdy boy she used to protect from the bullies in school. He’s a gorgeous, successful man who wears grandpa’s cardigan like a movie star. She’s thrilled to see her old friend.
Connecting with Sebastian is great but when the families bring out the old marriage contract it’s a different story. The odds seem higher now because it isn’t about them but making their families happy because Rachel’s mom’s cancer may be back.
As they plan their wedding it becomes more than simple childish contract. They both want the real deal but don’t really know one another anymore. Getting married is complicated enough. Falling in love is wonderful except it should happen before the wedding.
I am sending all readers an invitation to Rachel and Sebastian’s love story. It is imperfectly the best wedding romance this summer. CD Reiss made me smile and gave me all the goosies I always want when I read a romance novel.
CD Reiss is a New York Times bestseller. She still has to chop wood and carry water, which was buried in the fine print. Her lawyer is working it out with God but in the meantime, if you call and she doesn’t pick up she’s at the well hauling buckets.
Born in New York City, she moved to Hollywood, California to get her master’s degree in screenwriting from USC. In case you want to know, that went nowhere but it did give her a big enough ego to write novels.
She’s frequently referred to as the Shakespeare of Smut which is flattering but hasn’t ever gotten her out of chopping that cord of wood.
If you meet her in person, you should call her Christine.
When I first encountered Ford Donovan, I had no idea who he was…well, other than the obvious. Young, gorgeous, successful, smart. Did I mention young? If I did, it bears repeating. Ford Donovan was too young for me.
Let’s back up to how it all started. My best friend decided I needed to start dating again. So, without my knowledge, she set up a profile for me on a popular dating site—one that invited men ages twenty-one to twenty-seven to apply for a date. Those nicknamed Cunnilingus King were told they’d go straight to the top for consideration. The profile wasn’t supposed to go live. Another point that bears repeating—it wasn’t supposed to.
Nevertheless, that’s how I met Ford, and we started messaging. He made me laugh; yet I was adamant that because of his age, we could only be friends. But after weeks of wearing me down, I finally agreed to one date only—my first after twenty years of being with my high school sweetheart. I knew it couldn’t last, but I was curious about him.
Though, you know what they say…curiosity kills the cat.
My legs wobbled walking into the restaurant.
Ford was seated at the bar. When he turned around, he took my breath away.
His sexy smile nearly melted my panties.
But…he looked so familiar.
As I got closer I realized why.
He was the son of the neighbor at our family’s summer home.
The boy next door.
Only now…he was all man.
I hadn’t seen him in years.
I left the restaurant and planned to put the entire crazy thing behind me.
Which I did. Until summer came.
And guess who decided to use his family’s summer home this year?
Excerpt
Eve’s face flashed on the screen, and I swiped to answer.
“Give me all the details.”
I shook my head repeatedly, even though she couldn’t see me. “It was horrible.”
“What happened? What did the bastard do to you? I’ll cut his balls off.”
Eve’s response made me smile for the first time since I’d laid eyes on my date. “No. It wasn’t that kind of horrible. He was a perfect gentleman.”
“Okay…”
“Very sweet and funny, too.”
“Sounds awful,” she said sarcastically.
“And gorgeous.”
“The balls on him.”
“That’s not the worst part.”
“Let’s see…he’s young, gorgeous, sweet, and funny. What could be worse than that? He’s hung like a horse?”
“I wouldn’t know. And you know why I don’t know that?”
“Because you’re an uptight prude who hasn’t been laid in years?”
“That might be true. But the larger problem is that he is one of Ryan’s friends.”
Eve cackled. “That’s not a problem, that’s fantastic! Bang his brains out and send him to play golf with your ex. Let him eat his heart out when he realizes what he lost.”
“Ummm…Eve, I wasn’t talking about my ex, Ryan. I was talking about my son.”
“I’ll be over in twenty minutes.”
Michel’s Review
All Grown Up by Vi Keeland is the perfect summer read! All Grown Up is sizzling hot and loaded with fireworks while also being hopelessly romantic. This book will have the reader fanning themselves and ready to dive into a tub of ice. It is more than a sexy, sizzling hot romance, it is the story of a woman finding herself after years of marriage and motherhood. She is not only learning who she is but is also learning that the definition of love doesn’t always fit in the perfect box. Love comes in all sizes, shapes, and ages. In this case it’s the age which is the defining factor holding her back from a love that comes once in a lifetime.
Valentina Davis at thirty-seven finds herself single and sort of ready to enter the dating world once again. She has always been the perfect wife, mother, and household organizer. She depends on order and her post it notes. She has taken huge steps since her divorce. She has gone back to school to change her career. Now she’s ready to start up her new social life as a single woman.
Her carefree, best friend Eve has been encouraging her to take the plunge and just have fun. When Eve opens a Match.com account for her little does she know her life is about to take an unexpected path. A path where post it notes take on sexier reminders.
She meets Donovon620 on Match.com. She’s reluctant to go on a date with him because he is only twenty-five. He convinces her to take the plunge by charming her with his wit and assuring her of his maturity.
Ford Donovan is intrigued with Val44 from Match.com. She’s not like the typical women he usually dates. She seems very real and down to earth. The kind of woman he wants to spend time with. She’s very weary of his age but he has lived a lifetime since he was in college. He has raised his younger sister after their parents deaths. He put aside his own social life and needs to ensure he did the right thing. He took over his parents business and became a responsible adult. Now his sister is somewhat grown and in college. He finally has some free time and breathing room. He wants to spend it with someone he can enjoy rather than coddle.
When Ford and Valentina finally meet it’s a pure disaster. It turns out they used to be neighbors at their summer beach homes. He used to babysit her son. None of that matters to Ford but he has to convince Val that her age doesn’t matter. They have a chemistry that can’t be denied. They light each other up like the fireworks on the Fourth of July. Aside from their sexual chemistry, the two of them are beyond compatible. They were meant for one another.
Vi Keeland once again had me laughing out loud, swooning over the romance while fanning myself from their sizzling hot chemistry. She creates strong women who find the courage to step out of their fears and embrace the flaws as well as strengths. She creates male characters I instantly fall head over heels in love with. I love their wisecracks, sarcastic male humor, and dirty pillow talk. The dialogue and humorous banter between the characters is entertaining, engaging, and keeps my full attention. I always read Vi’s books in one sitting because I can’t tear myself away from her wonderful books. All Grown Up is another perfect addition to her catalogue.
I highly recommend All Grown Up by Vi Keeland! It’s guaranteed to make you smile!
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About the Author:
Vi Keeland is a #1 New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author. With millions of books sold, her titles have appeared in over a hundred Bestseller lists and are currently translated in twenty-five languages. She resides in New York with her husband and their three children where she is living out her own happily ever after with the boy she met at age six.
Genre: British Romantic Comedy Release Date: July 5, 2019
Blurb
The beautiful new
story from the bestselling author of The Summer of Chasing Dreams. Escape to a
little seaside village, where the sea sparkles, the sunshine is guaranteed, and
change is in the air. The perfect place to fall in love this summer…
Willow McKay needs a fresh start. Her recent break-up may
not have left her heartbroken, but it’s certainly wounded her pride. Desperate
for a change, an advert offering free homes in a picturesque village on the
Cornish coast sounds like just what she needs. Without thinking twice Willow
packs up her life and heads to the village of Happiness.
But when Willow arrives, she finds ramshackle cottages,
shops lying empty and villagers that seem in need of cheer themselves. It’s
nothing like the pretty picture the advert had boasted. It seems Happiness was
too good to be true. That is until she meets the handsome estate manager Andrew
Harrington.
His passion for restoring the village to its former glory is
contagious and soon they are working together, forming a secret society to
bring happiness back to Happiness. And as sparks fly between them Willow can feel
herself falling. But Andrew is holding something back.
Will they succeed in transforming the old village to its
original beauty before it’s too late? Can the gift of happiness really save a
village, and can it save Willow herself?
Get swept away to the
sun-kissed Cornish coast with this gorgeous love story, perfect for fans of
Jill Mansell, Sophie Kinsella and Katie Fforde.
Holly lives in a little white cottage by the sea. She
studied media at university which led to a very glitzy career as a hotel
receptionist followed by an even more glamorous two years working in a bank.
The moment that one of her colleagues received the much coveted carriage clock
for fifteen years’ service was the moment when she knew she had to escape. She
quit her job and returned to university to train to be a teacher. Three years
later, she emerged wide eyed and terrified that she now had responsibility for
the development of thirty young minds. She taught for four years and then
escaped the classroom to teach history workshops, dressing up as a Viking one
day and an Egyptian High Priestess the next. But the long journeys around the
UK and many hours sat on the M25 gave her a lot of time to plan out her stories
and she now writes full time, doing what she loves.
Holly has been writing for 8 years. She was shortlisted for the New Talent
Award at the Festival of Romance. Her short story won the Sunlounger
competition and was published in the Sunlounger anthology. She won the Carina
Valentine’s competition at the Festival of Romance 2013 with her novel The
Guestbook. She was shortlisted for Best Romantic Read, Best eBook and
Innovation in Romantic Fiction at the Festival of Romance 2014. She is the
bestselling author of 22 books.
New York Times
CD Reiss is a 
Saucy Southern Readers 