As heir to Ardinmuir, Connor MacKean had one job: fulfill the marriage pact that’s held his family captive for three-hundred years. Except his sister’s the one who took the plunge, and now there’s nothing standing in the way of him finding a real and lasting love. Nothing except the fact that the object of his affections has never seen him as anything more than her best friend’s little brother.
A hard-working Cinderella who doesn’t need a prince
The last thing Sophie Cameron has time for is a man. Her days are full keeping her flower shop afloat, expanding the event planning business she opened with her best friend, and keeping the promise she made to her late father to take care of her stepmother–even though Lorraine is more like a stepmonster.
A fake engagement that’s more real than either of them bargained for
The little white lie Connor told a former fling to escape his playboy reputation becomes a necessary reality when she shows up as maid of honor to plan a wedding at the estate. As a huge social media influencer, she could make or break Ardinmuir as a wedding destination, so Sophie agrees to pretend to be Connor’s fiancée. But as the lines between fiction and reality blur, Sophie begins to wonder if he’s the answer to the fairy tale she doesn’t think she deserves.
“I thank ye so much for staying open late for me today.”
Sophie Cameron beamed a smile at the elderly gentleman on the other side of the counter. “Of course, Mr. Fraser. I’m just relieved everything turned out all right at your doctor’s appointment.”
William narrowed faded blue eyes and grimaced. “Bunch o’ bother and nonsense. I’m healthy as a horse. But the missus insists they do the tests to prove it.”
“As well she should. You’re a catch. She’d never find the like of you again.”
Her elderly customer blushed up to the tips of his ears.
At eighty-two-years young, William Fraser had been married to his wife, Hettie, for sixty-one years. The two of them still had regular date nights in the village and could frequently be seen walking the high street hand-in-hand. Every week, like clockwork, William stopped at Sophie’s flower shop and bought a bouquet of Hettie’s favorite blooms. As far as Sophie was concerned, the pair of them were #relationshipgoals, and she adored having the privilege of helping him bring a little brightness and love to his wife. It was the least she could do for the man who’d been her most regular customer since she’d bought Village Blume from her boss, Agnes McNeary, years before.
She handed over this week’s clutch of hothouse tulips in a vibrant shade of pink. “These are sure to help combat the dreary skies.”
“Aye, that they will. See you next week, lass.”
“I look forward to it, as always. Tell Mrs. Fraser I said hello.”
“I’ll do that.”
After seeing Mr. Fraser off, Sophie finally turned the sign in the front window to Closed and went through the usual routine to lock up for the night. It didn’t take long. She’d already cleared her workstations in the back while she’d been waiting for William to arrive, so she only needed to shut down the POS system and review tomorrow’s list of arrangements. After checking one last time to make certain the cooler where she kept her stock was closed, she locked the door. For a fleeting moment, she considered walking up to The Stag’s Head pub for supper. She was exhausted. But she still had a few hours’ work to do for her second job, so she opted to head home and put together a sandwich and cuppa soup to eat at her computer.
Darkness fell so early in the Highlands this time of year. Not that it stopped the residents of Glenlaig from getting out and about. Sophie nodded in greeting to the many familiar faces she passed on the walk home. She loved that. Loved living in a village small enough to know most everyone. Or feel like she did, at least. It meant that she was witness to all the joys of her friends and neighbors. The births, the weddings, the anniversaries, the celebrations. And she was there to pay respects at the tragedies. The deaths. The illnesses. Flowers had the power to mark all of it. It was a big part of why she loved them. Why she’d chosen them as a career. There was too much ugliness in the world, and she wanted to combat that with joy.
Of course, having a flower shop in a small Highland village didn’t exactly make her flush with cash. Which was why she still lived at home with her stepmother. And also why she and her best friend, Kyla MacKean, had started an event planning business around Kyla’s home estate of Ardinmuir. A centuries-old castle made for a hell of a backdrop for weddings. They’d even hosted a couple of retirement parties and a bat mitzvah so far. The business had gotten off to a bumpy start, but they were finally in the black. Not enough to make a huge difference to her personal bottom line. Not yet. But they’d been able to expand enough to hire some part-time staff, which was necessary to keep them both sane.
Chilled through by the end of the half-mile walk to the house, Sophie was looking forward to that soup. And maybe even a long, hot bath, if there was time before settling in for work and a cuddle with Cori, her ancient Grand Dame of a cat. She carefully stomped the snow off her shoes before letting herself inside. Out of long habit, she slipped the shoes off and put them in the drip tray.
“Sophie? Is that you?”
Lorraine’s voice called out from the lounge, and Sophie knew by the wheedling, faux-frail tone that her plans for the evening had just gone up in smoke.
Tension lodged itself between her shoulders. Of course it’s me. Who the bloody hell else has a key?
Breathing through the frustration, she modulated her tone. “Yes, Mum.”
“Come here.”
Never a “please.” Just a demand.
Sophie flexed her hands into fists, then released them again as she went to see what her stepmother wanted.
Lorraine was sprawled out on the sofa in what Sophie privately thought of as her Fainting Couch pose. She looked like the heroine in some old silver screen movie, stretched out with a forearm draped across her brow. A blanket was draped over her lap, and a plate with the remains of whatever her dinner had been sat on the coffee table, next to an assortment of glasses and evidence of multiple snacks. Evidently, she’d been camped out here for a while.
“Be a dear and clear all this away, and make me a cuppa tea. I just canna make it to the kitchen again.”
Sophie wondered what today’s ailment was. So many of them felt performative. She’d never called Lorraine on any of it. She didn’t live in the other woman’s body or head. Perhaps she was wrong. Perhaps her stepmother did actually suffer from a myriad of chronic illnesses and deserved the disability check she got from the government every month, though Sophie had never seen any medical documentation to that effect. Still, she’d made a deathbed promise to her father to take care of Lorraine, and that’s what she’d done all these years.
Thinking of him and his big, booming laugh, and the hugs that had made her feel safe, no matter what was going on in her world, Sophie gathered up the dishes and headed for the kitchen. She stopped dead at the sight of it. No wonder Lorraine couldn’t make it to the kitchen again. It appeared that whatever she’d made had required the dirtying of every pot, pan, and dish in the house. The stove, the table, and every counter were covered. And there was Coriander, crouched over a dish, tan tabby-striped tail twitching as she licked.
Sophie leapt forward, scooping her baby up and out of prospective harm’s way. Please let her not have eaten something that will make her sick.
Cori yowled in protest at being kept from her feast.
“You know you’re not supposed to be on the counters or table.”
Her yellow-green eyes narrowed in displeasure as if to say, “It’s hardly my fault Lorraine left all this temptation in my path.”
As if hearing the thought, Lorraine called, “Oh, and do the washing up while you’re in there.”
Sophie fought not to grind her teeth. Her stepmother always had the energy to make the messes but never to clean them. But she bit back the bitterness, knowing it would do no good to express her frustrations. Opening a tin of Cori’s proper food, she set her beloved girl on the floor and went to put on the kettle. This mess would have to be sorted before she could even fix her own supper. But perhaps there’d be some sort of leftovers in the fridge from this grand kitchen disaster. Tugging open the door, she found none. How on earth had Lorraine dirtied up so many dishes for something with only enough for her to eat? Disgusted and even more exhausted, Sophie doused a tea bag in boiling water and rolled up her sleeves to load the dishwasher. After a brief pause to deliver the tea, she dove into the rest.
It took nearly an hour to get through the pile, washing and drying and putting away, during which Cori finished only a few bites of her own food before disappearing in a feline huff. Frustration and resentments simmered with every piece of cookery equipment Sophie returned to its rightful place. By the time she’d finished, she didn’t even have the energy to assemble a sandwich. Grabbing an apple from a bowl on the counter and a granola bar from the cupboard, she quietly made her way upstairs to dive into work. Pulling up the email for Ardinmuir Event Planning, she responded to a few brides with updated floral design suggestions; revised a seating chart in accordance with the news that an upcoming groom’s mother had remarried, and he was afraid she’d make a scene with her new, younger, trophy husband; and updated some spreadsheets based on vendor quotes. Cori wandered over and circled in her lap twice before settling in, half on the edge of the laptop. Wiggling the computer a little, Sophie managed to toggle over to the website and answer a new query from an American bride about booking a consultation for a destination wedding. By the time she’d gotten through all of that, her brain was fuzzy with fatigue. Everything else would have to wait until tomorrow. Maybe she could carve out a little time to work at the shop once she’d finished prepping the arrangements for the day.
Before logging out, she opened up her personal spreadsheet, entering the daily income totals and expenses for Village Blume and checking the column that auto-calculated exactly how long it would be until she could afford rent and living expenses on top of the rent for the shop itself. The goal was closer than it had ever been. Another six months. Nine, maybe, depending on how the event planning business went. Then she’d finally have the chance to be out on her own.
She’d been working her ass off toward this for years now, and seeing the progress she’d made left her with a deep sense of satisfaction beneath the exhaustion. She wondered if she could sneak downstairs for a glass of wine before bed. That seemed a fitting, small celebration.
But before she could even shut the laptop for the night, she heard Lorraine calling her name again.
Fighting down the frustration, she took a half-dozen slow, deep breaths.
Just six more months. I’ve done this for fourteen years now. I can do it for six more months.
Fixing a neutral smile in place, she set Cori aside and got up to see what her stepmonster wanted now.
I’m LOVING this series, Kati Nolan is doin’ a truly braw job! 😁🏴
I must admit, when I read ‘Jilting the Kilt’ I wasn’t entirely sure I was gonna like Connor. My opinion of him changed pretty quickly when I read Cowboy in a Kilt and saw what his responsibilities and possible future had looked like, then in Playboy in a Kilt seeing things from his POV and getting a real insight into him made me like him a lot!!!
I liked that he didn’t stay close to home when he did meet up with women and got his thought process about his ONS and how he thought his life was gonna be after he married Afton. When all of that changed Connor was able to actually consider what and who he wanted and was free to pursue something more and for it to be real and meaningful.
Sophie… Lordy, I felt so much for her. Her stubbornness and independence were a double edged sword (something Connor would know about – there’s an in-joke there!!). Getting to see how her life was, how hard she worked then all she had to contend with in her private life was sad. Yeah, she had great friends but the gods, she dealt with so much alone without any complaining, she deserved all the good things Connor wanted to give her.
Connor’s mouth running was both actually kind of a blessing. Things progressed in a manner that Sophie got what she needed but just now how she envisioned things. This pair had a chemistry that they both tried to ignore. I loved Connor’s honesty about how he felt (until he **cked up).
I enjoy how this group has come together to make a family of blood & choice. Seeing everyone interact and catching up on the relationships that have formed so far makes for good reading. There were a couple of times that I was pretty peeved with Kyla and her attitude towards her brother and her opinion on what Sophie was thinking but not to the extent that it took away from the story.
We got a little more on a character from one of the future books in the series and I’m now really looking forward to Ewan’s book…. Think that’s gonna be an interesting one!!!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
About the Author
Kait Nolan is a USA Today best-selling and RITA® Award-winning Mississippi author who calls everyone sugar, honey, or darlin’, and can wield a ‘Bless your heart’ like a Snuggie or a saber, depending on requirements. She believes in love, laughter, and that tacos are the world’s most perfect food. When she’s not writing, reading, or wrangling family (both the two-legged and the four-), you can find her obsessively watching The Great British Bake Off.
Sign up for her newsletter! rebrand.ly/kaitsnewsletter
This grumpy man of the month wants to be a daddy and he thinks he’s found the one. But Candy Cane Key’s newest resident and self-proclaimed cat lady is on a mission and doesn’t have time for love, marriage, and babies. Can the town grump steal enough sunshine to woo her stubborn heart? Readers who love a little grumpy with their sunshine will enjoy Come to Papa by Matilda Martel, a steamy, small town, friends to lovers, age gap romance.
This grumpy man of the month wants to be a daddy.
Reclusive writer Felix Mercer came to Candy Cane Key to find silence but quickly discovered peace and quiet are overrated. Disgruntled and unhappy, he can’t figure out what ails him until he meets the town’s newest resident and self-proclaimed cat lady, Harlow Jane. Harlow loves two things— Christmas and cats. When she reads an article about an island in the Florida Keys that celebrates Christmas all year round and with a long-suffering stray cat population, she knows she’s found her own personal paradise. Felix is instantly enamored, and a casual acquaintance quickly becomes an obsession. Harlow’s hot little curves drive him to distraction. Her kind, nurturing heart confirms he’s found the one. But Harlow’s on a mission to save the world— one cat at a time. She doesn’t have time for love, marriage, and babies. Can the town grump steal enough sunshine to woo her stubborn heart?
Stray cats need to be on their guard night and day— that’s the only way they survive. I hold my breath, watching her take two steps back and three steps forward, with one more to go. Her pupils suddenly dilate to saucers. Her back arches then a low guttural growl catches me by surprise. I scramble back like a crab, but my momentum stalls against a brick wall, and the kitty runs away. “Do you need some help?” The brick wall speaks. My head snaps up, and I glimpse the source, a fair-haired man with dark eyes, a wicked smile, and a body sculpted by the gods. I blink rapidly, blinded by the sun and his unspeakable beauty. I’ve never seen anyone who looks like him, not here or in Sycamore Mountain— not even on television. But this creeper ruined my plans and threw away five days of hard work. “No, you’ve done enough.” I groan, then bite my tongue, too frustrated to hide my intense displeasure for a man who was only trying to help. It’s not his fault, but my failure could result in tragedy if I don’t catch that cat soon. Stray dogs roam this beach at night in search of food, and they might mistake this fat little Calico for their next meal. I scramble to my feet, shifting aimlessly in the soft sand to regain my balance. The handsome stranger clears his throat and offers his hand. I hesitate but ultimately place my palm in his hand, letting him pull me to my feet. Attractive does not mean harmless. We’re alone on a beach, and my mother didn’t raise me to be a trusting fool. “Thank you, and I apologize for my snarky comment. I’ve been trying to catch that cat for the past few days, and this is the closest I’ve come.” I stammer, embarrassed by my rudeness and hoping my contrite behavior will make amends or prevent him from carrying me into the ocean and drowning me. “You mean Buster?” His deep voice jumps an octave, and he points to the chunky Calico reclining against a nearby palm tree, frantically cleaning his behind. “Buster? That’s a silly name for a girl.” I tiptoe towards the cat and consider my next course of action. He may be huge, hot, and handsome, but I have a one-track mind. There are far more important things on my to-do list than flirting with strange men who smell like cocoa butter, and what is that? Sandalwood? A storm is scheduled to pass through later this evening, and I hate to think of this little girl spending another night cold, wet, and alone. “Buster isn’t a girl. He’s a boy.” The strange man follows close, oddly fixated on lending a helping hand. I glance over my shoulder and lift my hand to my brow, shielding my eyes from the sun to get a better look at his face. There’s no denying he’s yummy, but he doesn’t know the first thing about cats. “Calicos are almost always girls,” I huff, confident with my assessment. He chuckles and points to the cat. “He’s got balls. I’m pretty sure he’s a boy.” I squint and squat to get a better look. My jaw drops. My tongue ties. “Oh… my… God. Oh, my God. We’ve just found a polydactyl male Calico. Do you have any idea how rare he is?” I flail my arms, squealing with glee, then accidentally strike his calves. He hardly flinches. He’s a golden slab of sculpted marble, and I couldn’t hurt him If I tried. “We need to get him. He must be guarded like the Mona Lisa.” I creep forward, and he drops to his knees, crawling next to me. “I’m Felix, by the way.” He stops to extend his arm, and I give him a quick shake, one eye on his sinewy forearm and the other on my fat Calico boy. He mustn’t escape. “I’m Harlow. I’m new to the island— on a mission to save the world, one cat at a time.” I laugh, crouching low, careful not to lose the element of surprise. “Can you crawl that away and block his exit?” I gesture with my head and slink forward like a snake. “That’s a lovely name.” His brown eyes twinkle as his mouth tips into a slight smile. My heart skips a beat, and for the first time, it has nothing to do with cats. “If I help you catch Buster, what do you plan on doing with him?”
About Matilda Martel
Matilda is a Texas girl in love with a Philly boy who loves to write dirty books about two people who trip into love and fumble their way into a Filthy, Funny, Happily Ever After.
I live in Austin, with my husband, two crazy Chihuahuas and an even crazier cat. And I spend most of my day writing dirty romance books about older men who fall in love with younger women and make fools of themselves trying to win their hearts.
She’s all work. He’s all play. Can they meet in the middle for love?
Vivian Armstrong has taken control of Vortex, her family’s security business, and she’s determined to prove her worth. She may be the youngest of seven and the only woman bodyguard on the team, but she’s every bit as tough as her older brothers. On a trip to Aspen Cove, she finds herself working for famous bass player Red Blakely, the personification of everything she detests in a man: arrogant, entitled, and too handsome for his own good. How can she protect him when all she wants to do is kill him?
Red is used to getting what he wants when he wants it. He likes his women here tonight and gone by morning. But when a fan becomes a fanatic, he finds himself in need of Vivian’s assistance. Forced to stay together, they discover an attraction they never expected, but can love really blossom between a workaholic and a playboy?
Welcome to Aspen Cove, the tiny Colorado town where fire and gasoline combine to create red-hot love…
International bestselling author of more than thirty novels, Kelly Collins writes with the intention of keeping love alive. Always a romantic, she blends real-life events with her vivid imagination to create characters and stories that lovers of contemporary romance, new adult, and romantic suspense will return to again and again.
Kelly has sold more than a quarter of a million books worldwide, and in 2021 she was awarded a Readers’ Favorite Award Gold Medal in the Contemporary Romance category for A Tablespoon of Temptation.
I’ve worked up from being the single dad on the original Moonshine Task Force to the leader of the Laurel Springs Police Department. Getting the title of Chief of Police is one of the most important things I’ve ever done.
On the second official day of my command – a teenage girl is taken.
I’ve never been the type of person to back down from a challenge. With my guys, my kids, and my wife by my side I know I can do anything I set my mind to. I just wasn’t counting on it possibly tearing the town of Laurel Springs apart.
Like always, when they need a knight in shining armor, I’ll be there. And I won’t let the girl go without a fight.
If there’s one thing I promise. It’s to keep my family and my town safe. Lord help anyone who stands in my way.
Excerpt:
“Have you heard?” Mason asks as he comes through the sliding glass door.
In our lives, either he has the gossip, or I do. Being the most senior teacher at Laurel Springs High means a lot of people – whether they be student or adult – confide in me. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, so I assume not.”
He chucks his jacket and duty belt on the dining room table, before coming over and leaning against the counter. His hands are at his slim hips, taking my focus off his face for a split second. “Let me start out by saying it’s no one in our family, and for that I’m thankful. However, it is someone who goes to Laurel Springs High.”
“Oh no, Mase. What happened?” My heart drops into my stomach.
He runs a hand over his beard, his wedding ring glinting in the light of the kitchen. “Taylor Kingston was taken last night, and her parents were killed,” his voice is low, and full of pain.
“Taken? What do you mean? Like kidnapped?”
He nods, those dark eyes of his haunted and hollow. “Yeah, looked pretty brutal too. Archer got the call off the 911 feed, and when we went out she was gone, they were DOA. I’m just home for a few hours of sleep, and then I’ll be going back out. Crime Scene is out there right now. Hopefully they’ll be able to pick up some evidence for us. Right now we have nothing.”
“Kids are going to hear,” I pull my bottom lip between my teeth, worrying the skin. Immediately my mind goes to the students I care so much about. “She’s well-liked, popular, and doesn’t have an enemy. I can’t imagine anyone would do this.”
He sighs heavily. “Reminds me of when Caleb was in school and they lost a classmate. Cursory questions we’ve asked haven’t revealed anything about anyone who might have wanted to hurt the family. Finding her isn’t going to be easy.”
“None of this is easy.” I remind him.
“Nope, and it’s even heavier than normal. They don’t have neighbors for miles, babe. There were no cameras on the house, and we got a late start compared to whoever did this. We’re at zero. People are gonna have questions, and we’re not gonna have answers,” he blows out a deep breath, his shoulders drooping.
Reaching over, I grab his hand. “If there’s anything I know about you, it’s you’re gonna find her.”
“Second day on the fucking job, Rina,” he shakes his head. “We’ve never had anything like this in Laurel County.”
The only thing I can do is put my arms around him and hold on tight. “There’s a reason you were given this job, Mase. It’s because you and your team, are the best. You’ll find her, and you’ll figure out why the Kingston’s were targeted.”
“I wish I had as much faith in myself as you do in me, babe.”
Reaching up, I place a kiss on his cheek. “I have enough for both of us.”
BLP REVIEW – Tracy
Knight just reminded me how much I love Mason & Karina together!!
This book jumps forward a few years from we last saw the Moonshine Task Force guys and their respective others.
In Knight, Menace has taken on the new role of Chief and in his 2nd day on the job the unthinkable happens when one of the high school girls is abducted.
The story showed us his dedicated Mason still was to his family, friends, community and job. The story ran over a period of weeks and we saw how things were wearing in Mason and how, as she always says she would be, Rina was there for him.
We caught up with the other guys in the Taskforce and their families and got a little insight into Caleb’s life….. the gods, I’m hoping to find out more about what’s going on with him in the next book in the series.
The only reason I didn’t give this latest book 5 stars is because I felt while things were wrapped up by the end of the book, a couple of wee points were kinda under-explained and we didn’t quite find out what the outcome was for everyone involved.
Saying that I’m looking forward to finding our more about the new guy on the team.
About Laramie:
Laramie Briscoe is the USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author of over 30 books, with sales of over half a million copies.
Since self-publishing her first book in May of 2013, Laramie has appeared on the Top 100 Bestselling E-books Lists on Apple Books, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble. Her books have been known to make readers laugh and cry. They are guaranteed to be emotional, steamy reads.
When she’s not writing alpha males who seriously love their women, she loves spending time with friends, reading, and marathoning shows on Netflix. Married to her high school sweetheart, Laramie lives in Bowling Green, KY with her husband.
Genre/Tropes: Fake ex-husband / Small Town Romance / Friends to Lovers / One Bed / He Falls First
Fluke, an all-new small-town romance, by USA Today bestselling author Adriana Locke.
Blurb:
SEEKING AN EX-HUSBAND
I need a fake ex-husband.
Let me explain …
I may have let it slip to my new co-workers that I have an ex-husband. Now they’re fascinated with the details, specifically with him.
Why wouldn’t they be? He’s gorgeous, has exceptional skills in the bedroom, and is determined to win me back.
But there’s a problem. He doesn’t exist.
The bigger problem? I have to produce him to save my job.
This is where you come in.
I’m seeking someone to play a smitten ex-husband for two weeks. You’ll need to remember our love story—details matter when it comes to romance! Please be prepared to travel in-state at a moment’s notice. We may be in close proximity and sharing a bed may be required.
One more thing—kisses are required for optics as necessary.
If this sounds interesting or, at the very least, entertaining, let me know.
Signed,
Your Future Ex-Wife
Buckle up for a steamy adventure between friends-turned-lovers in this new “fresh twist on a favorite trope!” take on fake dating, close proximity, and romance in the workplace from USA Today Bestselling author Adriana Locke.
Grab this fake ex-husband, small-town romance NOW!
I did my usual and started a series midway – even though I’ve got the previous books on my kindle…. I’ll get to them soon.
So, where do we find ourselves a Jess??? Honestly, this guy was just swoon worthy. I loved how he flirted with Pippa – all the while she thought he was messing around he actually was really interested in her and when he saw his chance to hopefully be someone important to her he definitely took it.
Pippa, the gods, my heart hurt for her. She really needed Jess but just didn’t know it. When the need for an ex-husband presented itself he was the perfect person and it was a total fluke of being in the right place at the right time that got their relationship started.
This book had so many laughs, I loved the feel good moments, this pair were hit and steamy together and Jess was just so sweet, patient and understanding when it came to Pippa and how she thought given her past.
The pranks between the brothers had me laughing hard and while it took me a little to soften towards Banks, his role in the book added a lot of fun.
I really enjoy Adriana’s writing style, her characters and the world she bring to life in her stories.
USA Today Bestselling author, Adriana Locke, writes contemporary romances about the two things she knows best—big families and small towns. Her stories are about ordinary people finding extraordinary love with the perfect combination of heart, heat, and humor.
She loves connecting with readers, fall weather, football, reading alpha heroes, everything pumpkin, and pretending to garden.
Hailing from a tiny town in the Midwest, Adriana spends her free time with her high school sweetheart (who she married over twenty-five years ago) and their four sons (who truly are her best work). Her kitchen may be a perpetual disaster, and if all else fails, there is always pizza.
Have you ever wanted to prove someone wrong so badly that you could taste it?
It doesn’t matter if they’re right. The fact that they had the audacity to say it is what counts.
Hi. It’s me. I’m that person.
The man I’ve been casually seeing told me I’m not “wife material” and should “lower my expectations”. Didn’t he realize I lowered them the moment I met him for dinner?
Obviously not.
Am I petty? Maybe. Annoyed? Of course. Determined? Definitely.
I need someone to help me flaunt my new engagement—my fiancé couldn’t wait to pop the question because I’m that amazing—in his face.
The problem? I don’t have a boyfriend, let alone a husband-to-be.
Which brings us to you.
Are you handsome? Successful? A smooth talker extraordinaire?
Are you willing to do all the things that someone madly in love would do?
Putting your hand on the small of my back. Forehead kissing. Acting like I’m a treasure you can’t live without. I need you to be prepared to do all those things … and maybe more.
What do you get out of this? I’m willing to negotiate terms—especially if they include a job and a place to stay. It’s a long story.
One night. One event. Let’s put on one heck of a show.
From USA Today and Amazon Charts Bestselling author comes a “hot and hilarious!” fake-dating tale between two frenemies that turn into roommates, coworkers, and, ultimately, lovers. Fans of close proximity, one-bed trope, and blue-collar, small-town heroes will fall madly in love with this story.
BLP REVIEW – Tracy
🥰🥰 Loved Banks & Sara together. 🥰🥰
I started this series midway with Fluke and I hate to admit that Banks antics grated on me initially…. until I realised that he was really quite lonely – missing the connections he had had with his brothers prior to them finding their partners – and then my opinion of him softened. I think I’d have been a bigger fan of Banks going into his book if I had read the series in order!! 🤷🏼♀️
In Flaunt Adriana had me feeling so many emotions about Banks. I knew he was loyal and cared about his family but he was a lot sweeter, much more considerate and really protective that I expected, especially when he had a purpose and focus, but he didn’t lose that mischievous side.
Sara I pretty much liked from the get go… It was no surprise she was on her own having been disappointed and let down in the past. I loved watching her see Banks and seeing how their relationship developed.
I adore the family dynamic, humour and sense of belonging the Carmichael gang being to the story. Seeing how the brothers are going about their changing lives is interesting.
This pair were perfect for each other. Banks needed to feel wanted and Sara needed someone in her corner who saw her.
Can’t wait for Foxx’s book!!!!
About the Author:
USA Today Bestselling author, Adriana Locke, writes contemporary romances about the two things she knows best—big families and small towns. Her stories are about ordinary people finding extraordinary love with the perfect combination of heart, heat, and humor.
She loves connecting with readers, fall weather, football, reading alpha heroes, everything pumpkin, and pretending to garden.
Hailing from a tiny town in the Midwest, Adriana spends her free time with her high school sweetheart (who she married over twenty-five years ago) and their four sons (who truly are her best work). Her kitchen may be a perpetual disaster, and if all else fails, there is always pizza.
Title: Meant for You Series: Valentine Bay #2 Author: Samantha Leigh
Genre: Contemporary Romance Tropes: Small Town/Enemies to Lovers Release Date: June 1, 2023
BLURB
He’s my ex’s best friend. The man I love to hate. A total temptation who is totally off-limits.
And he’s everywhere I turn.
My life’s a disaster. My ex-boyfriend is getting married, my house is falling apart, and I haven’t slept with anyone in… Well, long enough that I’m not sure I remember where everything is supposed to go.
The last person I’d ever ask for help is my childhood enemy, Logan Reeve. He’s smug. He’s infuriating. He’s gorgeous. And lately, he’s caught me in one too many weak moments. A cocky carpenter who knows how to work a sledgehammer, Logan promises he can renovate my house before my parents sell it out from under me.
I can’t deny it. Logan’s got the skills I need to turn things around—in life and in the bedroom.
I’m craving some old-fashioned action, and Logan is always—irritatingly—there. As the tension takes us dangerously close to a line we shouldn’t cross, we find ourselves flirting with forbidden territory. Flirting, flirting… until finally, we fall.
Why does it feel so good when it’s so, so bad?
It won’t last. Nobody can ever know. There’s nothing real between us, right? Logan Reeve was never meant for me.
But one thing I know for sure. The man I can’t have loves nothing more than proving me wrong.
Meant For You is a first-person, dual POV contemporary romance with lots of steam and a satisfying happily ever after.
Samantha Leigh is the author of steamy small town romance. Her first series is set in a fictional beach-side town called Valentine Bay, and because she’s the writer and it’s within her power to do so, she filled the Bay with a disproportionate number of divine, dirty-talking surfers. It’s a hard job, but someone’s got to do it.
In the tiny slices of time she has between all the word wrangling, Sam likes to hit her yoga mat, go for walks in the bush or on the beach, continue her search for the perfect poke bowl, drown herself in coffee and hot cacao, and binge-watch bad television.
Forever Yours is the emotional second installment of the Forever M/M Series and continues the story after the shocking cliffhanger in book 1, Forever His. Forever Yours is told in Elijah’s POV.
Don’t give up. I love you. I’m here. Come back to me.
How much would you sacrifice for love?
Are you ready for Julien and Elijah’s story to continue?
Full blurb to come closer to release date.
Reader’s Note: Forever Yours is a steamy, emotional, friends to lovers, small town, M/M romance. It is intended for mature audiences due to sexual and mature content. All sexual intimacy is consensual. Forever Yours ends on a cliffhanger and is book 2 in the Forever M/M Romance Series.
Forever M/M Romance Series Book 1: Forever His (Julien’s POV) Book 2: Forever Yours (Elijah’s POV) Book 3: Forever Mine (dual POV)
Jennilynn Wyer is a Rudy Award-winning author of Romantic Suspense, a three-time Contemporary Romance Writers Stiletto Finalist, and a NTRWA Carolyn Readers Choice Award Finalist. She writes steamy, New Adult romances as well as dark reverse harem romances. She also pens YA romance under the pen name JL Wyer. Jennilynn is a sassy Southern belle who lives a real-life friends-to-lovers trope with her blue-eyed British husband. When not writing, she is nestled in her favorite reading spot, e-reader in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other, enjoying the latest romance novel.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. What’re you doing?“ “Getting ready for bed,” she answers matter-of-factly, still wriggling in her shirt. “What? You sleep in the buff? Never mind. Don’t answer that.” I don’t want to know. I’ll never get that vision out of my head. “I don’t sleep naked. But I don’t want to sleep in my bra.” Fuck. And now I’m thinking about her tits. “And my shirt smells like old beer.” “Were you mixing beer and fruity drinks?” No wonder she’s a mess. “No. Xane spilled it on me.” Fucker. “He offered to lick it off.” She laughs. “I suggest you stop talking, or you’ll have to put yourself to sleep with one arm stuck in your shirt because I’m going to be busy ripping that asshole’s tongue from his face.” A mixture of a giggle and hiccup escapes, and I quickly reach for the trashcan. “Are you going to be sick?” “Nope,” she says, still squirming inside her top. I place the trashcan down and head for the closet, where some of my T-shirts remain. Returning to Tuesday’s side, I sit her up so her back is to my chest and help to free her remaining arm. “Sunny, slide your bra straps down. I’m going to slide this shirt over your head, and we can get your bra off after you’re covered.” Hell. The mere notion of taking her bra off, covered or not, has gotten me to full mast. “Okay.” Her minty breath dances over my face. Once Tuesday is settled, I pull back the sheets and scoot her into bed. “You sure you don’t feel sick?” “Nope.” Hiccup. As her breaths get heavier, I grow wary about leaving her. What if she throws up during the night? She’s barely taking up any space in this queen-sized bed, so I slide in before I can contemplate what I’m doing.
AUTHOR BIO
Born and raised in Virginia, LM Fox currently lives in a suburb of Richmond with her husband, three kids, and a chocolate lab.
Her pastimes are traveling to new and favorite places, trying new foods, a swoony book with either a good cup of tea or coffee, margaritas on special occasions, and watching her kids participate in a variety of sports.
She has spent the majority of her adult life working in emergency medicine and her books are written in this setting. Her main characters are typically in the medical field, EMS, fire, and/or law enforcement. She enjoys writing angsty, contemporary romance starring headstrong, independent heroines you can’t help but love and the hot alpha men who fall hard for them.
It’s hard to keep a big secret in a small town . . .
When Paige Hollister discovers her “Mr. Right” already has a “Mrs. Right,” she swears off men forever. Even more humiliating, she suddenly finds herself labeled the other woman and out of the teaching job she loves. So Paige does what every unemployed single woman staring thirty in the face does: She hightails it to the beach. Bad luck like hers is hard to outrun, however. Her getaway is stalled when her car breaks down in a small-town chock full of meddling, nosy residents. The worst of them being the local sheriff—none other than her estranged father.
Finally on top of the golf world, Tanner Gillette is poised to show everyone he’s not just an entitled playboy coasting through tournaments on his pedigree. That is until his life is turned upside down by a little girl who shows up on his doorstep with a birth certificate inexplicably bearing his name. Complicating matters more, the kid isn’t talking. When the stress of caring for a child whose mother is AWOL gives Tanner a bad case of the yips, he’s forced to enlist help from the one person in town who can’t wait to leave.
Sticking around Chances Inlet and her father’s shiny new, über-successful family isn’t on Paige’s to-do list. Especially when she’d prefer to keep her embarrassing incident under wraps. Yet she can’t walk away from the troubled little girl. Or the sexy Australian golfer who just might make her want to take a chance on trusting her heart again.
USA Today bestselling author Tracy Solheim writes books with shirtless men on the cover. Some of them are actually best-sellers. The books, not the men. When she’s not writing, she’s practicing her curling. . . bottles of wine, that is. She’s been known to cook dinner but no more than two nights in a row. Most days, she’d rather be reading, which to her is just necessary research. She lives in the suburbs of Atlanta with her husband and a neurotic Labrador retriever. Her two adult children visit but not often enough. (See the note above about cooking.) Check out her romantic suspense series featuring the Men of the Secret Service–shirtless, of course! See what she’s up to at www.tracysolheim.com
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