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!
Being a bachelor has its perks. It also has its downside. Just ask Derek Bettencourt.
Standing on stage and being auctioned off in the name of charity is awkward AF… until Derek’s business partner’s younger sister wins him for the weekend. He’s all hers to do with as she pleases and he can’t say he’s unhappy with the prospect. Especially since she saved him from an ex-fiancée determined to get her claws into him again.
Jessica Cavanaugh never intended to bid on her lifetime crush. But her spur-of-the-moment decision gives her a chance to exact a bit of playful payback, for old time’s sake. And Derek is all too happy to indulge Jessica’s whims.
What starts as a fun, flirty, game, with Derek acting as her personal handyman, quickly turns into a steamy, forbidden weekend. Lines are crossed that they never intended and emotions unravel their playful facades. Afterward, he can’t get the gorgeous, full-figured woman out of his head and he’s determined to make her his.
But how can they concentrate on a future when someone is threatened by their relationship and will do anything to come between them?
* A Dare Crossover novel featuring Derek Bettencourt from Carly Phillips’ novel, Just One Taste.
What a great first book in a new series from Carly & Erika.
I loved the reason behind Jess bidding on – and winning – Derek at the bachelor auction and that her intention to have him work for her started out way different from either of them intended!!!
This pair had chemistry in spades. They got on well, bantered a lot and you could see that they would work together. The more time they spent together, the more they began to see the possibilities between them.
When things started to go wrong for Jess’s business Derek was there to support her.
We had a protective older brother, a vindictive kinda psycho ex-girlfriend, that familiar family of blood and choice, a leading man who knew what he wanted and a curvy heroine who knew her own worth.
Looking forward to more in the Dare Crossover series!!!!
Meet Carly Phillips:
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!
Erika Wilde is a Bestselling author and is best known for her super sexy Marriage Diaries series and The Players Club series, and has also co-written multiple series with Carly Phillips, her best friend and writing buddy for the past twenty years. She lives in Oregon with her husband, and when she’s not writing you can find her exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest. For more information on her upcoming releases, please sign up for her newsletter (below).
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.
A wounded billionaire in hiding. A surprise baby. One woman trapped on the mountain with them…
I fled to the mountains to escape the pain of my past.
Anguish ruled my days and haunted my nights.
It became my constant companion.
An ax in my hands became the outlet for my agony.
It was the way I liked it.
The way it needed to be.
No amount of money would ever bring back what I lost.
Nothing could ever heal the scars.
Until a knock at my cabin door brings a feisty new lawyer from my company…
Carrying a tiny, crying surprise she says is mine.
It was one night of solace in the arms of a stranger.
A stranger who claims I’m the father of this child.
I can’t handle a baby.
Or the feelings brought up by the woman assigned to deliver him to me.
I tried to escape my life, but now it’s forcing me to face it—whether I like it or not.
Grab this steamy stand-alone about a damaged billionaire, a surprise baby, the young attorney stuck in the middle of it all, and discover what happens when they’re forced together in his cabin with building tension, old wounds…and a tiny human!
* Please check author’s website for any potential triggers*
“All you need to know is that this place is dangerous. Pretty much everything on this property could kill you in an instant, could tear you limb from limb, and destroy you.”
Wells shifts closer, his massive chest and frame towering over me until we stand only inches apart, staring each other down—neither willing to admit defeat.
Heat floods my body, starting at my core and spreading out through my limbs under his fiery gaze. “Are you dangerous?”
He narrows his eyes on me. “Very.”
I shake my head. “I don’t think you are.”
“Then you haven’t been paying much attention.”
“I think you’re lonely and confused, and your whole world has been thrown off its axis too many times for you to regain balance. But you aren’t dangerous.”
His jaw tightens, along with his fists at his sides. “You have no idea what you’re talking about, Laurel.”
I take a step toward him until my chest brushes his, my nipples pebbling instantly against the fabric of the shirt. “I do, Wells.”
He stiffens at my use of his first name.
Staring up at him, the confusion in his eyes makes me equal parts annoyed and relieved. This tension between us, the electric sizzle that seems only to intensify when we touch, hasn’t dissipated. It’s only grown the longer I’m here.
Wells feels it, too, but he’s too stubborn or too damaged to acknowledge it.
I raise a brow at him, resting my hands against his rock-hard abdomen. “You don’t remember last night, do you?”
He stiffens, his muscles under my hands solidifying even more. “What happened last night?”
Too much. Not enough.
I thought this attraction to Wells Lockwood would go away. That sanity would prevail and the fact that he’s my boss and beyond emotionally unavailable would convince my body that this is a terrible idea.
Yet the almost kiss last night keeps replaying in my brain on an endless loop, and I can’t stop wondering if it would have been as good as I dreamed it was after he fell asleep.
I push up on my tiptoes and hover my mouth over his. “You did this…”
He sucks in a sharp breath, so close that I can feel the air shifting.
“But then, you stopped.”
I murmur the words just short of his lips, and we stand frozen for what feels like hours, staring at each other, willing the other to back away, to end the madness the same way Wells did last night.
Wells finally breaks, but this time, he crushes his lips to mine so hard it knocks me back a step and only his strong arm wrapping around me keeps me upright.
He kisses me with an intensity I’ve never experienced before. A primal need, as if stealing my breath and my will can somehow keep him alive, and a growl rumbles deep in his chest. The vibration rolls through my ribcage to my heart and down between my legs to make my clit throb.
I moan into his mouth, clinging to his shirt, trying to get him even closer, but he jerks away from me, leaving me panting and breathless.
His eyes wild, he releases his hold on me and takes a step back. “Don’t ever underestimate how dangerous I can be, Laurel. It could be a deadly mistake.”
Praise for the novel:
“This story had me ugly crying. I felt his grief his unending pain. The angst was killing me. I love when I get this wrapped up in a story.” ★★★★★ Kristy Odom
“This story was brilliantly written and I loved it. This is a definite read for 2023.” ★★★★★ Stephanie Ditmore
“I was not prepared for what I was about to read…This book will make you forget the outside world and have you turning page after page until you get to the end…” ★★★★★ Karen Aguilera
Gwyn McNamee is an attorney, writer, wife, and mother (to one human baby and two fur babies). Originally from the Midwest, Gwyn relocated to her husband’s home town of Las Vegas in 2015 and is enjoying her respite from the cold and snow. Gwyn has been writing down her crazy stories and ideas for years and finally decided to share them with the world. She loves to write stories with a bit of suspense and action mingled with romance and heat.
When she isn’t either writing or voraciously devouring any books she can get her hands on, Gwyn is busy adding to her tattoo collection, golfing, and stirring up trouble with her perfect mix of sweetness and sarcasm (usually while wearing heels).
Gwyn is the author of The Hawke Family series, The Slip Series, The Deadliest Sin Series, The Inland Seas Series, The Supernatural Love Stories in the Absurd (written as her alter-ego, DP Payne), and several stand-alone novels.
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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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.
Book Loving Pixies 