If you ask my family, I’m wasting my life. If you ask me, I’m living it to the fullest. Am I capable of doing more? Absolutely. However, slinging drinks at the resort makes me happy. At least for now. Not that my family would understand.
It’s just another night behind the bar, until it isn’t. She’s everything I never knew I wanted wrapped up in one breathtaking package.
I’m drawn from the start, willing to do what it takes for a little more time. The problem is the sand in the hourglass is running out. Her extended stay is coming to an end, and when it does, I’ll have to let her go.
Even if I don’t want to.
Adeline
I’ve been looking forward to this weekend since my best friend announced her destination wedding. Sure, I wanted to see my oldest friend marry the love of her life, but I also needed a break from life…from my father.
However, even states away, he still manages to control my fate. I wanted one weekend. Three days without the stresses and obligations that come along with having my last name.
For the first time in my life, I ignore my father’s demands and open my eyes to what I truly want. I’m seeing everything around me in a new light, and that includes the hot bartender at the resort.
Lacey Black is a ‘go to’ author for me, I got hooked with the Burgers & Brew Crüe and I’ve been addicted ever since!
I’ve really enjoyed the Kissing Games reads so far and Kissing A Stranger was no exception.
We knew from previous books that Adeline was interested in the bartender, Decker. While Audrey’s ‘wedding that wasn’t’ featured lightly in the story, for the most part Addi and Decker were on their own and their interactions took place mainly in Florida.
Both main characters had expectations placed heavily in their shoulders… the difference being one found the strength to walk away while the other was drowning in the forced responsibilities and pressure from family.
It was good seeing Addi relax, learn how to think about herself and what she wanted. Being away from home and work and taking time for herself was so foreign to her that it was as if she was living a different life. Decker was good for her in more than just making her feel seen and wanted. Even when knowing that their time was coming to an end he continued to encourage Addi to follow her gut and heart and do what she thought rather than what was expected.
Lacey writes horrible people well. Addi’s dad was truly dislikable and I just wanted her to tell him where to go… but it seemed she was always gonna think about others before herself!!
Was delighted with how this story ended. While you don’t have to read the series to enjoy the individual books it is seriously more fun knowing what’s going in with the others in the wedding party.
USA Today Bestselling Author Lacey Black is a Midwestern girl with a passion for reading, writing, and shopping. She carries her e-reader with her everywhere she goes so she never misses an opportunity to read a few pages. Always looking for a happily ever after, Lacey is passionate about contemporary romance novels and enjoys it further when you mix in a little suspense. She resides in a small town in Illinois with her husband, two children, and three rowdy chickens.
They’ve got chemistry. But he’s her brother’s worst enemy—and arresting officer.
For Officer Dare Barron, there’s only one good thing about bad-boy Brian McKnight getting thrown in the drunk tank again. Being there when Brian’s sister, Liza, strides into the precinct on those long, delectable legs to bail her brother out.
It’s not just the old building’s failing air conditioning making Dare sweat. Liza is a contradiction of proper lady and sexy siren who’s riveted Dare’s attention since high school.
She’s always been oblivious, which is a good thing because she’s way out of his league. Plus, she’s got a huge blind spot where her brother’s concerned, and Dare knows what’s hiding in that void she refuses to see.
When one of those secrets threatens Liza’s safety, Dare doesn’t hesitate to appoint himself her protector. Close proximity awakens Liza’s desire for the sexy cop and fuels the sizzling heat between them, but the bad blood between their families could ruin any chance for love.
Note: Karma is book five of Serendipity series by NYT bestselling author Carly Phillips. Contains a by-the-book cop with some hot off-shift fantasies about the girl of his dreams, and a woman who doesn’t quite mind being looked at like she’s a hot fudge sundae.
Carly Phillips is the NY Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of over eighty sexy contemporary romances featuring hot men, strong women, and emotionally compelling stories her readers have come to expect and love. She is happily married to her college sweetheart and lives in Westchester County, NY. She is the mother of two adult daughters and three crazy dogs who star on her Facebook and Instagram pages. She loves social media and is always around to interact with her readers. Way back in 2002, Carly’s book, The Bachelor, was chosen by Kelly Ripa and was the first romance on a nationally televised book club. Carly loves social media and interacting with her readers. For more information on upcoming releases, sign up for her newsletter (below) and receive two free books!
Title: Kissing My Crush A Kissing Games Series Standalone Author: C.A. Harms
Genre: Contemporary Romance Tropes: Friends to Lovers/Accidental Pregnancy Release Date: June 29, 2023
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Amara
Tyler Collins has always been the object of my affection. He just doesn’t know it. I’ve spent years admiring him, fantasizing about him, but never once making a move. That is until I see him across the room, already a few beers in and drunkenly decide to press my lips to his. One minute I’m sharing a drink with a friend, and the next, I’m Kissing My Crush.
Now I’m trapped at a beautiful resort with the man I so desperately want to avoid, to celebrate the nuptials of our dear friends.
I can feel his eyes on me. He’s watching. Waiting for what I’m not sure. The fear of rejection is too strong for me to mention the kiss. That night is on constant replay in my mind. I often wonder how he would react if I could confess that to me, our kiss was not a drunken mistake.
Tyler
Quiet, sweet Amara, the one woman I never expected to crave and the one I can’t seem to shake. One unexpected kiss, and now all I can think about is her lips pressed to mine.
I’ve managed to avoid attachments, keeping things casual and enjoying one day at a time. Yet, a timid blonde marches across a hazy bar and grabs hold of my hair, giving me the kiss that changes it all. Changes me.
She wants to pretend it never happened, but I never was much for playing games. She might want me to believe the kiss was forgettable, but we both know better. Hands down the hottest kiss of my life.
That moment with her wasn’t nothing. It was everything. It was the turning point and the start of something I know without a doubt will be more than we both ever could have expected.
C.A. Harms is a new to me author, that said, I really enjoyed reading Kissing My Crush.
Tyler & Amara are part of the same group of friends and had known each other for years. Amara has had a crush for a quite a while on Tyler while he’s been oblivious; add in that he has been avoiding serious relationships for his adult life so far, it’s no wonder Amara can’t see a future with her crush.
How Tyler found out Amaya liked him was funny, ok, Amara found it embarrassing and that steered her reactions to Tyler for some of the story. Her revelation definitely gave him some good for thought and he took a look at how others saw him.
This pair worked so well together because they had that history, knew and genuinely liked each other. It wasn’t a difficult step from friends to more – or wouldn’t be if Tyler could get Amara to open up and see him as more than his reputation painted.
Looking forward to more in this series… Given that each book is by a different author the story arc flows well and the books have all been entertaining.
C.A. Harms is an avid romance and mystery reader. She’s always had a love for books, getting lost in writing and storytelling even as a young girl. She enjoys happy endings and HEA love stories.
She lives in Illinois and enjoys spending time with her husband and two children. She holds an addiction for Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha’s and KitKat when she should really be focusing on water and maybe a fruit or two to make herself feel less guilty, but that feeling quickly passes…thankfully.
She is easy going, fun, and although she may seem like one of the quiet ones at first, you just wait until she gets to know you better…that quietness changes, fast.
Title: Home Sweet Home Series: Burgers and Brew Crüe #6 Author: Lacey Black
Genre: Contemporary Romance Release Date: January 10, 2023
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Leo
Everyone has a past they’re trying to outrun, myself included. My time in the military left me with scars, both physically and emotionally, which is why I keep to myself. Since returning home to Stewart Grove, I work a lot so I have little time to think. To remember. I’m just content to make it through the day.
Then I meet Kallie Carpenter.
I am drawn to the sexy bartender in a way I’ve never experienced, and despite knowing I should stay away, I can’t. Kallie calls to the very depths of my soul, every broken piece of it.
I hope I don’t destroy us both.
Kallie
Taking care of my injured dad and his horse ranch, as well as working at the local bar doesn’t leave me much time for a social life. Between home and Burgers and Brew, I keep myself plenty busy, despite my dad’s insistence I give dating another try. It’s not that I wouldn’t mind it, I just barely have any time to myself, let alone making room for another.
Then I find Leo Martinez sitting at the end of the bar.
He’s guarded and a little rough around the edges, but I can’t stay away. There’s a darkness in his eyes that speaks of pain, yet I only see the amazing man he tries to hide from the world.
We’re back in Stewart Grove at Burgers & Brew and this time it’s Leo and Kallie’s story. Leo is Garreth’s friend and Kallie works behind the bar at B&B.
Both have baggage and issues. Kallie’s from a past relationship and the toll that come from being the carer of her dad and looking after their ranch when not at work at the bar.
Leo was in the military. He suffers badly with PTSD and has physical and mental scars from his last deployment.
Neither is looking for a relationship, Kallie certainly doesn’t have the time to think about someone else on top of all she’s dealing with… Leo doesn’t think he has anything to offer someone else and worries about hurting another person.
Kallie’s vehicle breaks down and Leo is the one to come to her aide. Ultimately this leads to them spending some time together and getting to know each other better – I loved Leo’s interactions with Kallie’s dad and how things worked out with him at the ranch.
They build a friendship but have an undeniable attraction to each other and it was awesome that Kallie gave Leo a sense of calm and peace when he was with her and he gave her a feeling of belonging and made her feel she wasn’t so alone.
Leo then gets some bad news and a surprise visit from the wife of one of his friends from the military that knock him for six…. This happens at a time when Kallie really needs his help, but the news and visit has him heading down some dark alleys and he’s not there emotionally or physically to help her.
This was an emotional read. My heart hurt for both of them and I desperately wanted things to work out for them. Lacey Black really knows how to wrote a story that gives you ALL the feels… believe me, Home Sweet Home had it all; emotion, pain, longing, a great sense of family when it came to the gang and a shed load of heat and chemistry between Leo and Kallie.
The plot and tone of the story were quite different from the previous books in the series but in a good way and I truly loved this couple and was rooting for them the whole time.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
AUTHOR BIO
USA Today Bestselling Author Lacey Black is a Midwestern girl with a passion for reading, writing, and shopping. She carries her e-reader with her everywhere she goes so she never misses an opportunity to read a few pages. Always looking for a happily ever after, Lacey is passionate about contemporary romance novels and enjoys it further when you mix in a little suspense. She resides in a small town in Illinois with her husband, two children, and three rowdy chickens.
He’s from the wrong side of the tracks. She lived in the house on the hill.
Now their fortunes have reversed…but their long-ago attraction still burns.
From high school golden girl to wife of a high-powered New York attorney, Faith Harrington lived the dream. Until divorce and her father’s imprisonment for fraud left her with almost nothing. Now she’s back in her hometown to redesign her life, and not every face is friendly. Least of all the town rebel, whose memory lingered long after they shared one searing teenage kiss.
Ethan Barron is a bad boy. Was. Was a bad boy. Now a man—a very rich man—he quietly buys the old Harrington mansion to thumb his nose at Serendipity and the people who looked down on him. But until he reconciles with his brothers and builds a life, the victory rings hollow.
Faith had been a rich girl ripe for rebellion, and his shamelessly stolen kiss still burns in his dreams. Only a fool would risk feeding town gossip by asking her to redecorate the house she grew up in. But Ethan never did choose easy. Not when the hard way promises a much sweeter—and hotter—reward.
Note: Serendipity is book one of a previously published series by NYT Bestselling Author Carly Phillips. Contains a tarnished golden girl, a bad boy in search of redemption, a brother whose first order of business is to ticket his big bro’s Jag, and a town that runs on nosiness.
Faith Harrington and Ethan Barron we’re from very different backgrounds but still aware of each other when they were in high school. The princess and the bad boy shared a kiss but it went no further….
Shortly afterwards, 18yo Ethan was driven from Serendipity by guilt and loss, leaving behind his two younger brothers when he couldn’t deal with how his life was going.
The story starts in present day. Ethan and Faith are both back in Serendipity for different reasons and with huge reversals of fortune. Faith is home after a scandal involving her father and following a divorce from a man she probably should never have married in the first place. Ethan has come back to try to build bridges with his younger brothers and settle back in his home town.
Faith was hoping to start over, get back on her feet and make something of her own. Her mother was around but unwilling to accept what had happened with her father and Faith was worried that the townsfolk wouldn’t be able to separate her from her father and the devastation he had caused.
Ethan has a fight on his hands when it comes to his brothers. There’s understandably a huge amount of anger, resentment and betrayal on their part as he left them behind. He’ll have to work hard if he’s going to have any chance of building a decent relationship with them going forward.
There’s a spark between the pair from their first interaction in the present day but they’re both carting around a lot of baggage and both, in their own way, need to work out who they are now. Would they be able to see if there could be more between them or was there too much standing in their way?
I enjoyed seeing Ethan and Faith progress to a sort of friendship, while both working to start again and mend fences where needed.
There were a few surprises dropped on the pair and I loved how they handled things.
A great cast of supporting characters who I’m looking forward to finding out more about!!!
Always love a small town read and Carly has started this series with a bang.
4.5*
Meet Carly Phillips:
NY Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestseller, Carly Phillips gives her readers Alphalicious heroes to swoon for and romance to set your heart on fire. She married her college sweetheart and lives in Purchase, NY along with her three crazy dogs: two wheaten terriers and a mutant Havanese, who are featured on her Facebook and Instagram. The author of 50 romance novels, she has raised two incredible daughters who put up with having a mom as a full time writer. Carly’s book, The Bachelor, was chosen by Kelly Ripa as a romance club pick and was the first romance on a nationally televised bookclub. Carly loves social media and interacting with her readers. Want to keep up with Carly? Sign up for her newsletter (below) and receive TWO FREE books at www.carlyphillips.com.
Manager for Hart’s Horse Rescue, Lucy Lenoir, finally feels she has a handle on life after having worked hard to leave her old one behind. So hard, there are times she almost forgets what she escaped. Memories which suddenly come flooding back when she catches a glimpse of a familiar horseman in town.
What’s worse, he’s in the company of the unlikely cowboy she’s only just beginning to trust.
High Mountain Tracker, Bo Rivera, tries hard never to repeat his mistakes. A huge one changed the course of his life and made him particularly cautious, especially around women. So much so, he almost passed up on the best thing to ever walk into his life; the compact, blonde ballbuster in need of a gentle hand.
However, the more he learns about her, the more he realizes a soft touch alone won’t keep her demons at bay. Those will need a firmer hand…to keep the gun steady.
The fourth book in the series introduces us fully to Bo and Lucy.
We’ve seen the pair separately through the series and there seemed to be an interest from Bo’s side though he did his best to ignore it…. Lucy felt like she was hiding – what it from whom we had no idea.
This book gives us both their back stories and I honestly wasn’t expecting them!!!!
Together this pair are great. Initially I wasn’t sure they really would be but they are well suited, both bringing out elements of the other that round out their characters and let us see the best of them individually and as a couple.
There’s a lot of intrigue, mystery, smoke and mirrors going on in this latest installment and st points I was worried things were gonna go wrong..
I’m hoping this isn’t the last from the HMT guys & gals… I’m itching to know more about Sully’s niece.. 😈
USA Today bestselling author Freya Barker loves writing about ordinary people with extraordinary stories.
With forty-plus books already published, she continues to create characters who are perhaps less than perfect, each struggling to find their own slice of happy.
Recipient of the ReadFREE.ly 2019 Best Book We’ve Read All Year Award for “Covering Ollie, the 2015 RomCon “Reader’s Choice” Award for Best First Book, “Slim To None”, Finalist for the 2017 Kindle Book Award with “From Dust”, and Finalist for the 2020 Kindle Book Award with “When Hope Ends”, Freya spins story after story with an endless supply of bruised and dented characters, vying for attention!
Genre: Romantic Comedy Tropes: Best Friend’s Brother/Enemies to Lovers Release Date: April 13, 2023
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I didn’t know bridesmaid was code for babysitter for the bride’s brother, but if that’s what my best friend needs of me for her dream wedding to go off without a hitch, that’s what I’ll do. Even if Theo Monroe has been a pain in my rear since third grade. Even if he should be responsible enough to not wreak havoc at his sister’s destination wedding. Even if it means we have to share a hotel room in Hawaii, which might be the final duty that breaks me. Not only does Theo know exactly how to push my buttons, but he never wears clothes, he’s hiding a litter of kittens in his room, and he keeps showing up with fresh-baked cookies that seemingly come from nowhere. Also? I have no idea why he’s being such an utter ass to the groom. Or why he’s so proud of the world’s most awkward wedding gift. Or why I suddenly want to know what makes him tick. The story behind his tattoos. How he can afford to rent a convertible in Hawaii. And if maybe all of that utter frustration and irritation I’ve felt for him for years is suppressed attraction that a good girl like me isn’t supposed to feel for the biggest bad boy of Snaggletooth Creek. But I do know one thing. When I find out his biggest secret and the answer to all of my questions, it will change everything.
The Worst Wedding Date is a frolicking good time of a destination wedding enemies-to-lovers romcom, complete with a good girl bridesmaid, her best friend’s troublemaking but secretly big-hearted brother, and more than one hitch on the way to happily ever after. It stands alone, has no cheating, and comes complete with ooey gooey goodness.
I thought Theo was gonna be a huge pain but he actually surprised me…. when he eventually stopped thinking about how he was gonna get rid of Laney.
The cats, the baking, how Thie tried to get Laney to ‘live in the moment’ and all the goings on at the venue made for a fun read that I got through fairly quickly (would have been quicker if I could have blocked out RL!!)
Loved this story – can always trust Pippa to give you a hot read with all the feels and a ton of humour.
AUTHOR BIO
Pippa Grant is a USA Today Bestselling author who writes romantic comedies that will make tears run down your leg. When she’s not reading, writing or sleeping, she’s being crowned employee of the month as a stay-at-home mom and housewife trying to prepare her adorable demon spawn to be productive members of society, all the while fantasizing about long walks on the beach with hot chocolate chip cookies.
Title: Kissing the Rival A Kissing Games Series Standalone Author: Kaylee Ryan
Genre: Contemporary Romance Tropes: Enemies to Lovers/Workplace Romance Release Date: June 15, 2023
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Charlotte
I’m not just kissing the rival… I’m falling for him.
Spencer Pennington has always been a shameless flirt, but when it came to being the best in our MBA program, all bets were off, and the competition was on.
Fast-forward a few years, and all it takes is a bar at a failed wedding and my silly kiss-rating system to lock lips with the enemy. Cocky as ever, Spencer claims he’s a ten and kisses me to prove it. I kiss him back to scratch an old itch, not expecting to like it.
Which is a huge problem, because Mr. Tall, Dark, and Tattooed from grad school is my new boss. And I want to kiss him again and again. Even if I only gave him a four.
Spencer
Charlotte Krause could be the perfect girl, if she didn’t hate me so much. I’m unsure if it was just me or guys in general, but she had this stuck-up, all-work-no-play vibe about her in college.
Imagine my surprise when I find her at the resort bar rating kisses like it’s her job. This carefree woman is nothing like the focused girl who turned me down at freshman orientation. And every time after that.
When I promise her I’m a ten, I see that competitive spark light in her ocean-blue eyes. There she is. She might have kissed me to prove me wrong, but I know I’m right about one thing.
She feels the spark too. There’s just one problem. It turns out her actual job is working for me.
After reading Kissing My Brother’s Bride I kinda expected Spencer to be a bit of a douche…. Charlotte had such a beef with the guy but was sooo vague about what had happened in their past.. even then we got the impression there was a spark between them though she claimed to hate him…. 😈
Fast forward to Kissing the Rival where I found I really liked them both.
This story was fun. A lot of well written banter, a look into how Spencer & Charlotte met, the rivalry (and what was probably flirting on Spence’s part) that had built between them and how they reconnected in the present.
This couple were perfect for each other. After their ‘kiss rating’ while at the wedding that wasn’t, Spencer was determined he was gonna prove a point to Charlotte. She was determined to stay mad at him…. until she couldn’t. There was a lot of heat and steam with these guys. Spencer was invested more than Charlotte could have imagined and watching her catch up was a great read.
There was some things going on in the background that obviously related to upcoming books and potential pairings… I cannot wait for more in this series!!!
A solid 4* story from Kaylee Ryan and a definite recommended read.
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Kaylee Ryan has been crowned the Queen of Swoon by her readers. With nearly fifty romance books under her belt, she’s known for penning happily ever afters with heart. When she’s not writing, you can find her with a book in her hand or hanging out with her family where she resides in her home state of Ohio.
I love Nikki Ash’s books. I really like her characters and storylines. There’s a lot of heart, heat and feeling of family in her stories.
I really liked Aubree and her twins. The kids were really cute and I understood her concerns about bringing someone new into her life, never mind 2 someone’s….
The gods, I adored Brody…. He was just so good with Bree and his interactions with the kids were fab.
Hayden, now I wasn’t a fan at first, then I felt for him then I was just bloody mad at him…. but he sorted himself out and I could deal with that.
I thought the fact that Bree continued to have a great relationship with her in-laws was fab and that she could talk to her MIL about things around moving on and a new relationship was interesting.
We got to catch up with Savannahs & Ben – Brody’s folks – and they were as great a couple as I remembered from their own book.
The only reasons I didn’t give the read 5* …. I didn’t like the ‘lie by omission and the way it was dealt with by one of the guys and there was an incident where things appeared to be all sorted later but a little more clarity from another characters – even just a POV thought – would have made me happier with how things were resolved and would have clarified how things were going forward… That’s pretty vague I know but don’t want to give spoilers but you might get what I’m talking about when you read the book.
4 heart-filled stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
About the Author:
Nikki Ash resides in South Florida where she is an English teacher and mom by day and a writer by night. When she’s not writing, you can find her with a book in her hand. From the Boxcar Children to Wuthering Heights to the latest Single Parent Romance, she has lived and breathed every type of book.
While reading and writing are her passions, her two children are her entire world. You can probably find them at a Disney park before you would find them at home on the weekends!
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.
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