Check out the gorgeous new contemporary romance, and grab your copy today!
Title: Sweet Sexy Heart
Author: Melissa Foster
Genre: Contemporary Romance
About Sweet Sexy Heart:
Discover the magic of New York Times bestseller Melissa Foster’s writing and see why millions of readers have fallen in love with the fiercely loyal and sassily sexy characters in the Love in Bloom big-family romance collection. All Love in Bloom books can be enjoyed as stand-alone novels or as part of the larger series.
Amber Montgomery is perfectly happy with her quiet life, running her bookstore, taking long walks with Reno, her Labrador retriever seizure-response dog, and spending time with her close-knit family. Sheโs never needed thrills the way some of her sisters have. In an effort to control her epilepsy, she tries to avoid anything that creates too much excitement or stressโincluding relationships. When Amber hosts a book signing for famed-athlete-turned-author Dash Pennington, heโs everything sheโs spent her life avoiding: loud, aggressive, and far too handsome, as proven by the hordes of women who surround him everywhere he goes. Amber canโt ignore the sparks flying between her and Dash, but this is a no-brainer for her: Ignore their chemistry and hold her breath until he leaves town.
Dash Pennington has spent his life running. Running the ball in for a touchdown, running from town to town to appease his public relations reps, and running into the arms of too many women to count. Heโs also an expert at protectingโhis reputation, his sisters, and lately, his sanity. But heโs ready to make a change. When he comes to the sleepy little town of Oak Falls, Virginia, and witnesses the most beautiful woman heโs ever seen living the life he craves, she refuses to have anything to do with him. But now that Dash has found the one thing he doesnโt want to run from, heโll stop at nothing to win her over.
Find out more about these and many other steamy romance series in Melissa Fosterโs big-family contemporary romance collection, Love in Bloom, featuring characters from all walks of life, from billionaires to blue-collar workers. Youโll love her fun, sexy, and relatable characters, and their real-life issues. Youโre always guaranteed a happily ever after.
LIGHTS TWINKLED FROM the rafters and country music blared from a stage at the far end of the old barn as retired football star Dash Pennington and his old college teammate Sinclair โSinโ Vernon weaved around people dancing and mingling and children darting through the crowd with fistfuls of cookies. Women decked out in jeans and cowgirl boots eyed Dash suggestively. Enjoy the visual buffet, ladies, because thatโs all youโre going to get.
Dash had been thrilled when his motivational speaking gig had been canceled. Heโd jumped on the first flight out to see his buddy and had arrived in Oak Falls, Virginia, about an hour ago. This was just what he neededโa break from his crazy life and the skintight dresses and money-hungry claws of the plastic women in the circles in which heโd run for the last decade. Heโd thought things would slow down after he retired from football, but heโd gone from one media circus to another with motivational speaking gigs, sponsorships, and the upcoming tour for his new bestselling book, Capturing the Fire Within, a guide for young men to find their paths and realize their dreams. The funny thing was, he was still trying to figure out his own path.
โThis jam session is frigging awesome!โ he shouted as they walked past the stage where a group of twentysomething girls were singing with a band that looked more like a family reunion. A kid who couldnโt have been older than ten or eleven was playing the violin beside a man who looked to be about sixty playing a guitar. A teenage girl was on drums, and a handful of other people were playing a variety of instruments. โHow often do they do this?โ
โEvery few weeks.โ Sin raked a hand through his jet-black hair. At six foot three, two hundred and thirty pounds, he stood eye to eye with Dash. โThe Jerichos invite everyone in the area to play music and dance. People bring food and catch up with neighbors. Itโs pretty cool.โ
โKind of reminds me of home.โ Dash had grown up in Port Hudson, New York, which was a college town, not a rural area, but it had the same close-knit feel, and while they didnโt have jam sessions, they had other community activities.
โGood old Port Hudson.โ Sin cocked a grin. โI need to take a trip out there soon to see how Dawn and Andi are doing, remind them what a real man looks like.โ
Dash narrowed his eyes in warning at the mention of his younger sisters, but it was all in good fun. They gave each other a hard time about their sisters often, but they also stepped in like protective brothers when necessary. โSpeaking of sisters, did Kiki tell you she finally kicked that guy she was dating to the curb?โ
โYeah, last week. Thank God she listens to you.โ Kiki was Sinโs younger sister. โI owe you one. Come on, letโs find Amber.โ
โRight. Amber. The only woman on the planet not clamoring to get near me.โ Amber Montgomery owned Story Time bookstore and was hosting Dashโs debut signing in a couple of weeks. She was the only bookstore owner who hadnโt immediately agreed to host, which he found odd, considering how much attention his presence would bring to her store. It seemed like everyone wanted a piece of him. By the time sheโd accepted, all the tour spots had been full. Dash had been curious about the holdout, and since Sin lived in the area, Dash had Amberโs bookstore added as the first stop on the tour.
Sin looked at him wryly. โSheโs out of your league, man. But it looks like youโve got plenty of fans. People around here donโt usually gawk like this.โ
Dash glanced around as they moved through the crowd, noticing that, in addition to the women checking him out who probably had no clue who he was, guys were looking over like they recognized him, and a few cowboys were sizing him up. Donโt worry, Iโm not here to take your women for a ride. Heโd learned his lesson about meaningless hookups when he was young and stupid, and he sure as hell wasnโt going to screw over some random guy just to get his rocks off.
โReally? With you around, Iโd think theyโd be like this all the time.โ Dash wasnโt kidding. Sin was impressive as hell on and off the football field. Theyโd met while attending Virginia State on football scholarships. After graduation, Dash had turned pro, and Sin had followed a coaching path, eventually becoming the athletic program director for their alma mater. A couple of years ago, Sin had taken over as the athletic director at No Limitz, the Oak Falls youth center. Dash had always admired his friendโs determination to follow his heart instead of the money.
Sin gave him a donโt-give-me-that-bullshit glance.
โI shouldโve worn a cowboy hat to blend in. How about we donโt mention football to your friends? Tonight Iโd just like to be your friend, and when necessary, some guy who wrote a book.โ
โYeah, I got that impression when you called. No problem.โ
As he followed Sin through the crowd, his attention caught on a beautiful brunette talking with a group of people. Her fingertips grazed the head of a golden retriever wearing a service vest. He had a fleeting curiosity about the dog, but he got caught up in watching the woman as she talked with the dark-haired guy beside her. A smile as natural and enticing as summer rain brightened her face, giving her an even sweeter girl-next-door vibe. As they neared, he realized her hair wasnโt brown but more of a chestnut color, the long layers a little messy. The kind of hair that beckoned to be touched, the kind of easy smile he hadnโt seen in a very long time. There was nothing overtly sexual about her simple peach sweater or dark skinny jeans tucked into scuffed brown cowgirl boots with pink designs that looked like old favorites, but he found her utterly captivating. He wanted to know who she was and what her voice sounded like. Was it as sweet as she looked? Was she? It had been a long damn time since heโd actually been drawn to a woman enough to want to know more about her.
The beauty shook her head, and her hair tumbled in front of one eye, giving her an alluring edge. She tucked that wayward strand behind her ear, her eyes sweeping over the crowd, colliding with Dashโs, and holy hell, the air between them sizzled with a wild, frenetic energy. He couldnโt look away, didnโt want to, the need to meet her as real as the heat burning beneath his skin, and Sin was leading him directly toward her.
When they joined the group, Sin said, โThe best thing about these jam sessions is seeing all the hottest ladies in Oak Falls in one place,โ startling the chestnut-haired beauty. She tore her gaze away from Dash, crimson spreading over her cheeks.
A familiar-looking dark-haired guy rolled his shoulders back and cleared his throat.
Sin laughed. โAnd the hottest guys. Sorry, Axsel.โ
โNo worries. With a body like that, youโre always forgiven.โ Axsel dragged his eyes down Dashโs body. โAnd hello, gorgeous friend of Sinโs.โ
Dash offered his hand. โHi. Iโm Dash. Where do I know you from?โ In the next second, he recognized the man as Axsel Montgomery, the lead guitarist in the infamous band Inferno. โWait, youโre a rock star, right?โ He started connecting the dots and wondered if Axsel was related to Amber.
โIn and out of the bedroom,โ Axsel said flirtatiously, giving Dashโs hand a squeeze. โAnd you have a great name. Short for Dashing, I assume?โ
Dash laughed and shook his head, his eyes finding the brunetteโs again, causing a rush of heat to redden her neck and cheeks. She was adorably refreshing, in the sexiest of waysโa rarity in his world.
โKeep your trousers on, Axsel,โ Sin said. โDash is straight, and I brought him along tonight to meet Amber, not to hook up with her brother. Dash wrote a book, and heโs doing a signing with her in a couple of weeks.โ He motioned to the brunette, who was staring at Dash again. โDash, this is Amber Montgomery. Amber, this is Dash Pennington.โ
Itโs my lucky day. โItโs a pleasure to finally meet you in person, Amber.โ Dash held out his hand. โShea had wonderful things to say about you.โ Shea Steele was his publicist. Sheโd told him that Amber ran the busiest bookstore in the area, and she was sweet, cautious, and definitely not his type. Shea couldnโt have been more wrong.
The blond woman standing next to Amber, wearing about a dozen necklaces and a blouse with flowing sleeves, nudged Amber with her elbow, startling Amber out of her trance. Amber blinked repeatedly and shook Dashโs hand. โHi. Itโs nice to meet you.โ
Her hand was soft and warm, her voice as sweet as honey, and her gorgeous hazel eyes were as lost in him as his were in her. โI hear you own a great bookstore. Iโm looking forward to getting to know you.โ
She continued shaking his hand. โIโฆyeah. Booksโฆin the shop.โ
She was too damn cute.
A tall woman with thick and wild dark hair trailing over her shoulders from beneath a cowgirl hat stifled a laugh, and the blonde nudged Amber again.
โBookstore, sorry,โ Amber said quickly, dropping his hand. Her fingers landed on the dogโs head. โI own a bookstore. But you already know that. Oh my gosh. I betterโฆโ Her eyes darted around them. โNice to meet you. I have toโฆdo that thing. Over there.โ She pointed into the crowd. โSorry. See you in the bookstore. Come, Reno.โ
As Amber hurried away, a thin blonde lowered her voice and said, โSo much for flirting lessons.โ
Flirting lessons? That piqued his interest.
โYouโll have to excuse my sister,โ the hippieish blonde said. โSheโs had a long day.โ
Dash watched Amber moving through the crowd. โNo excuse necessary. She made a remarkable first impression.โ And he couldnโt wait to see what her second impression was like.
BLP REVIEW – Tracy
Sweet, Sexy Heart definitely lived up to itโs title. The book was oh so sweet and OMG sexyโฆ
Amber was a small town sweetheart dealing with health issues that until recently had been under control but dealing with an upcoming event thatโs happening in her bookstore things start to slip from the reins sheโs tightly held on them. Hosting an event featuring a well-known, retired professional footballer that everyone wants to meet is a coup for a small store owner like Amber but it, and the man in question, are quite overwhelming and have a real impact on our leading lady.
Dash, he was a sweetie, but I kept wondering if he was too good to be trueโฆ. I was glad to discover that what we saw was what we got with him. He was all in when it came to Amber, taking care of her and not in the least bit put off or intimidated by her health issues. I loved that he was as thoughtful and caring as he was, even when she herself wasnโt convinced that things between them could work.
Low on angst, heavy on the sweet and heat, I really enjoyed this read from Melissa Foster.
4* and a story I would reread in the future
REVIEW TO COME – Still Reading!!!
About Melissa Foster:
Melissa Foster is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance, new adult romance and women’s fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Readers adore Melissa’s fun, flirty, and sinfully sexy, award-winning big family romance collection, LOVE IN BLOOM featuring the Snow Sisters, Bradens, Remingtons, Ryders, Seaside Summer, Harborside Nights, and the Wild Boys After Dark. Melissa’s emotional journeys are lovingly erotic and always family oriented.
Melissa also writes sweet and clean romance under the pen name Addison Cole.
Melissa has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. Her interests include her family, reading, writing, painting, friends, helping others see the positive side of life, and visiting Cape Cod.
Melissa is available to chat with book clubs and welcomes comments and emails from her readers. Visit Melissa on social media or her personal website.
Never miss a brand new release, special promotions or inside gossip again by simply signing up to receive your newsletter from Melissa.
Title: One More Sip Series: Hideaway Bar #1 Author: Gia Kim
Genre: Contemporary Romance Release Date: August 4, 2021
BLURB
Can a shattered heart learn to love again?
Kailey For one glorious year, Kailey Wright had the life she always dreamed of. Newly married to the love of her life, the two were working to build a beautiful future… when tragedy struck.
Widowed. Alone.
Kailey is convinced sheโll never love again. Especially not since she learned the true anguish of loss.
Jax After a one-night stand goes horribly wrong, bartender Jax Rowe swears off women. Heโs had enough of the drama and games.
Then… he meets Kailey.
Overcome by heartache, sheโs as emotionally unavailable as they come. At first, Jax wants only to bring a bit of happiness back into her life. Now, he finds himself falling for her hard and fast.
Wrought with guilt over spending time with Jax, Kailey uncovers truths her husband kept hidden that prove there was much about him she didnโt know. Will these revelations be enough to open her heart to love once more? Or will ghosts of the past prevent her from moving on?
The same unknown number popped up again, and I rejected the call for the third time. Who keeps calling me? I washed down the rest of my sandwich with a swig of water and headed out of the breakroom when my phone vibrated again. That time, I answered it. โListen, I donโt know why you keep calling me, but Iโm not interested in whatever youโre selling. Plus, Iโm at work, so I have to go,โ I snarled at the caller. There was a cough on the other end, followed by, โMrs. Wright?โ The voice was surprisingly calm, so I paused to listen before hanging up. โYes, this is she.โ โMrs. Wright, this is Officer Brown.โ He paused. Why is a cop calling me?My stomach sank. Something was wrong. โYour husbandโs been in a car accident, and heโs being taken to Texas General Hospital.โ I gasped, and my heart stopped. โIs heโฆ okay? Is heโฆ alive?โ โI advise going to Texas General as soon as possible.โ The officer hung up, and everything began moving in slow motion. I half ran to the front and saw Patricia, our office manager, at her desk. โPatricia,โ I huffed. โDerrickโs been in an accident. Heโs being taken to Texas General. Can you reschedule my patients? I have to go.โ Patricia frowned, and her sapphire-blue eyes etched with concern. โOh, my God, Kailey. Yes, of course. Go be with your husband. Iโll reschedule your patients.โ Taking no time to even issue a thank you, I turned and headed back to my desk to grab my purse, then jogged out while fishing inside my giant purse to find my car keys. Pissed that I couldnโt find them, I threw my purse to the ground as I approached my car door and pulled all my this-and-that crap out until I saw shiny silver waiting for me at the bottom. My heart beat out of my chest. I was anything but calm. Where had he been going at this hour? He should have been at work. I had so many questions. My mind went to a million worst-case scenarios about Derrick, but I refused to go down that black hole. I needed to make it to the hospital in one piece.
AUTHOR BIO
Gia Kim runs on coffee and chaos. The perfect day includes a cup of joe and a running to-do list. With two littles and no personal space, she escapes into her romance novels to stay sane. Each chapter draws her more into a realm filled with star-crossed lovers and happy endings. These novels and sweet escapes have inspired Gia to start the journey of being an author herself, with a debut novel releasing soon! She wants to write stories of her own about everyday couples that have whimsical meet-cutes, where they fall in love and get their HEA.
Series: Rescue Me; Book 1 – The Everyday Heroes World (KB Worlds)
Trish Williford
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Until a year ago, my life in Denver was nearly picture perfect; I had my dream job as a nurse in a level one trauma center, my handsome trauma surgeon fiancรฉ and I were blissfully happy, and we had built our forever home we planned to fill with children. Just weeks before our wedding, the ideal life I knew took an unexpected turn when my fiancรฉโs mistress came forward with her pregnancy.
Being newly single at thirty-one, the last thing I had envisioned for myself was to return to my hometown of Sunnyville. Until now, I have successfully avoided this town for the last eight years, thanks to Tank Easton. Broody, sexy, lying, beautiful, selfish jerk.
Who just happens to be my brotherโs best friend.
Knowing there is no way to avoid Tank, I plan to put our one-night stand behind us and start anew. Be cordial. Possibly become friends eventually, for my brotherโs sake. Life is too short to hold grudges. Forgive and forget, right?
I know I am safe now. I wanted a fresh start, beware of what you wish for. I have regrets but things became complicated. What did Kelly do, I ran? No one can run forever. In Comfort, Texas I met the man who makes me forget my past but how long can I keep up with the lies. How long before my past catches up to me and destroys us all?
Trask
How much do you really need to know about someone before you fall in love with them? Can there really be love at first sight? I didnโt believe in it and I didnโt believe in love at all.
Until Kelly is part of Aurora Rose Reynolds’s Happily Ever Alpha World. If you loved Until Sage, then you will want to read Until Kelly.
I have been an avid reader since I was taught to read. I was the oldest of six children and reading was a getaway for me. When my sister became sick she encouraged me to write my first book. That was in 2015 and I released my first book in March 2016. I love to read, write and share books. I am a wife, a mom, and a grandma, so the only problem I have is finding the time to get it done. I have been married to my husband for 23 years and he is my person and strongest supporter.
Aurora Rose Reynolds and her husband, Sedaka Reynolds, created Boom Factory Publishing to use their experiences to expand and promote upcoming and existing indie authors.
With over five years in the industry, and millions of books sold worldwide, we know what it takes to become a successful author and we will use this knowledge to take our authors to the next level.
โAs a successful hybrid author in this ever evolving industry, I know that youโre only as successful as the team that is promoting you!โโ Aurora Rose Reynolds
Laramie Briscoe is the best-selling author of the Heaven Hill Series & the Rockin’ Country Series.
Since self-publishing her first book in May of 2013, Laramie Briscoe has published over 10 books. She’s appeared on the Top 100 Bestselling E-books Lists on iBooks, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble. She’s been called “a very young Maya Banks” (Amazon reviewer) and her books have been accused of being “sexy, family-oriented, romances with heart”.
When she’s not writing alpha males who seriously love their women, she loves spending time with friends, reading, and marathoning shows on her DVR. Married to her high school sweetheart, Laramie lives in Bowling Green, KY with her husband (the Travel Coordinator) and a sometimes crazy cat named Beau.
Amber Montgomery is perfectly happy with her quiet life, running her bookstore, taking long walks with Reno, her Labrador retriever seizure response dog, and spending time with her close-knit family. She’s never needed thrills the way some of her sisters have. In an effort to control her epilepsy, she tries to avoid anything that creates too much excitement or stress–including relationships. When Amber hosts a book signing for famed-athlete-turned-author Dash Pennington, he’s everything she’s spent her life avoiding: loud, aggressive, and far too handsome, as proven by the hordes of women who surround him everywhere he goes. Amber can’t ignore the sparks flying between her and Dash, but this is a no-brainer for her: Ignore their chemistry and hold her breath until he leaves town.
Dash Pennington has spent his life running. Running the ball in for a touchdown, running from town to town to appease his public relations reps, and for years, running into the arms of too many women to count. He’s also an expert at protecting–his reputation, his family, and lately, his sanity. But he’s ready to make a change. When he comes to the sleepy little town of Oak Falls, Virginia, and witnesses the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen living the life he craves, she refuses to have anything to do with him. But now that Dash has found the one thing he doesn’t want to run from, he’ll stop at nothing to win her over.
Melissa Foster is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of more than 100 novels. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance and women’s fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Melissa’s emotional journeys are lovingly erotic, always family oriented, and feature fiercely loyal heroes, smart, sassy heroines, and complex relatable issues. Melissa enjoys chatting with readers and book clubs. Send her an email invitation to your next event!
Title: Her Noble Protector Series: Night Storm #7 Author: Caitlyn OโLeary
Genre: Romantic Military Suspense Release Date: July 31, 2021
BLURB
Her worst nightmare had come trueโsomehow she had been kidnapped and forced to kill her captor to get away.
Finally home in Arizona, Lisa Garcia was scared all the time. She jumped at every sound and shadow, too scared to even leave her home. How could someone who used to ride the rapids and trek the wilds of Alaska be reduced to this?
Navy SEAL Raiden Sato had forgotten more missions than he could remember. But this last one would stick in his mind forever. Lisa Garcia. How could he ever forget her? Tough, strong, compassionate, beautiful, the woman was a force of nature. But Raiden couldnโt help remembering how sheโd been when theyโd parted. Sheโd seemed broken. He needed to know how she was now.
When Raiden took leave to check on Lisa in Arizona, he was shocked at the woman he found. The kick-ass wilderness guide was gone, replaced by a woman still mired in trauma. She was positive that someone was out to get her. Determined to help her, Raiden was positive that he could heal her with time, patience, and perhaps even love. But what happens when Lisa is right, and somebody really is out to get her?
This is an action, adventure, romantic, stand-alone novel.
Lisa shot up, her eyes wide, as she struggled to breathe, struggled to get away, but something was holding her down. She tried to fight, tried to get away, then she heard glass shatter and it stopped her short. โGoddammit!โ She focused and saw the light on in her bathroom. She always kept her light on, so she wouldnโt be scared if she woke up from a nightmare. โYeah, like that helped me.โ This one was bad, she went to turn on the lamp on her nightstand, and realized it wasnโt there. She blinked back tears when she realized that was what the breaking glass had been, sheโd knocked it half way across the room with as sheโd thrashed about. She yanked at the sweat soaked sheet. The damn thing was tangled around her like some kind of jungle vine. She kicked herself free then swung her legs over the side of the bed almost stepping in the glass. Lisa crawled to the end of the bed, stumbled to the wall and slammed on the switch so that the overhead light turned on. She whipped her head around and sighed in relief. The two locks on her bedroom door were secure. God, what kind of loser has locks on their bedroom door? โShut up!โ The nightmare was probably nothing, but maybe she had heard something. Sheโd already called the police three times over the last six weeks for no reason whatsoever, she wasnโt calling again. She picked up the aluminum softball bat that was beside the door, and slowly unlocked the door, and waited. Her arms started to tremble. Lisa had no idea how long sheโd been in this position, with the bat at the ready. Ten minutes? A half hour? An hour? She was afraid to move even a millimeter to check her smartwatch. It wouldnโt matter if she did, since she had no idea when she first stood watch. Youโre such an idiot, Garcia! She felt a tear slip through her defenses. The bat, which wasnโt all that heavy, felt like it was made of lead. Lisa felt her right hand begin to cramp, when she tried to loosen her grip so that she could relieve the pressure, she couldnโt get it to move. She tried again. Ahh God. Now her tense shoulders were starting tremble. She pushed herself against the wall, willing her body to move. She had to be able to swing the bat if someone came in. She had to. She listened intently. She didnโt hear anything, but that didnโt matter. She remembered how quietly the SEALs could move. She hadnโt heard a thing when theyโd come up behind the man whoโฆwhoโฆ Lisa shook her head, willing away the memory. Willing all memories away, even the older ones that got confused with the newer ones. She pushed away from the wall and gritted her teeth. I can do this. I can. The bat started to lower as her shoulders lost strength. She rested the bat on her right shoulder, it wasnโt good because she would lose some of her speed when she swung, but she had no choice. Lisa heard her harsh breathing. She needed it to stop, it would tip off whoever was out there. Breathe through your nose. You can do it. She kept listening intently. Nothing. Or was there something. What is it? Am I going crazy? How long have I been in this position? Her back hit the wall as she slumped, but so did the bat, the metallic bing rang through her bedroom. Somebody was sure to have heard it. She pushed herself off the wall and tried to get back to a batterโs stance, but she couldnโt, she just couldnโt. She should get up, right? She needed to keep her eyes open, if she didnโt sheโd dream then there wouldnโt be a jungle, or in the back of Damonโs pick-up. Two times when she had been helpless. Utterly helpless. Donโt close your eyes. Please God, donโt let me close my eyes.
Caitlyn OโLeary is a USA Bestselling Author, #1 Amazon Bestselling Author and a Golden Quill Recipient from Book Viral in 2015. Hampered with a mild form of dyslexia she began memorizing books at an early age until her grandmother, the English teacher, took the time to teach her to read — then she never stopped. She began re-writing alternate endings for her Trixie Belden books into happily-ever-afters with Trixie’s platonic friend Jim. When she was home with pneumonia at twelve, she read the entire set of World Book Encyclopedias — a little more challenging to end those happily.
Caitlyn loves writing about Alpha males with strong heroines who keep the men on their toes. There is plenty of action, suspense and humor in her books. She is never shy about tackling some of todayโs tough and relevant issues.
In addition to being an award-winning author of romantic suspense novels, she is a devoted aunt, an avid reader, a former corporate executive for a Fortune 100 company, and totally in love with her husband of soon-to-be twenty years.
She recently moved back home to the Pacific Northwest from Southern California. She is so happy to see the seasons again; rain, rain and more rain. She has a large fan group on Facebook and through her e-mail list. Caitlyn is known for telling her โCaitlyn Factorsโ, where she relates her little and big lifeโs screw-ups. The list is long. She loves hearing and connecting with her fans on a daily basis.
BELOVED is available now on Amazon and FREE with KindleUnlimited! Gwen and Chevy are the fifth and final couple in the Carmel Cove series
If you loveโฆ ๐ฉบ A nurse who’s determined to help her surly neighbor ๐ A grumpy recluse on a mission ๐ถ A senile dog named Oscar ๐ฅ Scorching hot romance with a dash of suspense โฆthen grab your copy of BELOVED today!
BOOK BLURB
A year ago, Gwen Reynolds loaned her car to the beautiful, bloodied man in her emergency room. No name. No questions. No expectation sheโd see him again.
Until he shows up in the hallway of her buildingโฆ moving into the apartment next door.
Chevy McIntyre is in town for one reason only: to find the men responsible for his fiancรฉeโs death. Heโs not looking for friends, and he doesnโt need help. Especially from the neighboring angel whose bright smile has haunted his dreams for months. But his solitude doesnโt sit well with Gwenโs larger-than-life personality.
As Carmelโs most beloved nurse, Gwen will do anything to help anyoneโincluding the handsome recluse. So, she refuses to back down until sheโs helped solve the case and healed his damaged heart.
Though thereโs an undeniable spark between them, Chevy tries to fight its pull because desire has always had the power to destroy. And when the investigation takes an unexpected turn, heโll have to choose between risking his only shot at justice or losing his only chance at love.
I knew going into the final book in the Carmel Cove series that I was gonna love Gwen.
Weโve met her throughout the series to date and weโve discovered how good a person she is but we hadnโt really found out just how much of herself she gave up for her work and friends.
Her initial meeting with Chevy was understandably tense and intense given the circumstances of his appearance in the hospital she works in. These fleeting interactions had more of an impact on both of them than either would have expected, especially when they didnโt think theyโd run into each other again.
Gwen has the biggest heart and is really selfless but I was glad she eventually decided to think more about herself and her own futureโฆ.. until she didnโtโฆ. and while I got the reason behind her decision it vexed me that she felt herself so dispensable! Her determination to get Chevy to talk to her made for some entertaining moments.
Chevy, the gods, this guy carried so much baggage and guilt around it was a surprise he could think straightโฆ at first I was peeved that he was being such an ass to Gwen but when we got where his head was at it was kinda understandableโฆ but then he got caught up again in his fight for justice and couple of things he did made me want to slap him – thankfully Gwen was more patient with him that me!!!
Itโโs sad that Rebecca has wrapped up things in Carmel Cove – Iโve loved this series and all the character weโve been introduce to but Iโm betting that weโll come across them in future spinoff/crossover books.
MORE IN THE SERIES
The Carmel Cove series is COMPLETE! So, if you’re looking for a series to get lost in, you’ll want to check this out!
If you love: โ swoony alphas & strong heroines โ a small town setting you won’t want to leave โ smokin’ sexytimes โ a dash of suspense โ five standalone happy endings
Start the series todayโmybook.to/ReadBeholden
OTHER BOOKS BY THE AUTHOR
๐ Check out the COUNTRY LOVE collection hereโhttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08PPTN3L1
UPCOMING SERIES
Four brothers. Four bodyguards. Four smokin’ hot romances brimming with danger๐ฅ
The REYNOLDS PROTECTIVE series arrives early 2022โฆ.. and Archer is the very first brother whose heart is put in the crosshairs!
๐Reserve your copy of ARCHER hereโmybook.to/ReadArcher
Add the REYNOLDS PROTECTIVE series to your Goodreads TBR: ๐ARCHERโhttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58501794-archer ๐HUNTERโhttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58501875-hunter ๐งกGUNNERโhttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58501888-gunner ๐RANGERโhttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58501921-ranger
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Rebecca Sharp, while using a pen name, is actually a doctor living in Pennsylvania with her husband – the love of her life.
She enjoys working in her practice with her father as well as letting her creativity run free as an author. Growing up she’s always loved a good love story and finally decided to give writing one of her own a go.
After graduating with her doctoral degree, she now enjoys spending that thing called free time traveling with her husband, cooking, and knitting.
Dirty Ginger, an all new emotional small town standalone romance from USA Today bestselling author Stacey Kennedy is available now!
Everyone at Three Chicks Brewery knows that Amelia Carter has the magic touch when it comes to creating the perfect beer. Her ales have customers singing her praises and begging for more. Unfortunately, when it comes to love, the only magic she seems to have is the cursed kind. After being left at the altar by her ex-fiancรฉ, Amelia gives up on the idea of happily-ever-after to focus on making the Carter family brewery a national success.
Beckett Stone finally started to believe in happily-ever-after the day Ameliaโs worthless ex bailed on their wedding, finally giving Beckett another chance with his high school sweetheartโ the only woman heโs ever loved. Unfortunately, Ameliaโs broken heart is just one of the obstacles Beckett needs to overcome if he wants to win her for good. He knows heโs not the man Amelia deserves, particularly with his money-pit of a house, a 1975 truck that barely runs, an alcoholic father, and a universe that seems to have a twisted sense of humor when it comes to giving Beckett a break.
But when pressure mounts to make the Three Chicks Breweryโs top beer, Foxy Diva, into a huge success, Amelia starts to fall apart, and Beckett swoops in with his gentle reassurances and hard work ethic. While the last thing Amelia wants is fall in love again, she canโt deny that her heart beats a little faster whenever she sees Beckett walk through the door. Soon, every warm caress and soft whisper of understanding becomes a balm to both of them. As Beckett makes his intentions clear, Amelia must decide if she can overcome her shattered heart and believe in the magic of true love again.
After Amelia arrived back home, the lingering tension of meeting Luka followed her. She skipped the house and went straight for the brewery, needing to figure out a plan on getting it back into shape. With every step she took, she kept waiting for her heart to squeeze tight, missing Luka, to feel more broken, raw, anything, but she only felt glad to keep Beckett from facing jail time. And something about that kept rubbing her wrong. Sheโd spent nearly three years with Luka, why wasnโt she trying to understand why he ended things so cruelly? Why didnโt she want an explanation from him? Why wasnโt she ready to let him have it and to feel the pain heโd put her through? She amounted this to getting over the worst of her heartbreak in the tropics. But there was this little part of her heart that told her there was a good chance that Luka should have been in her rearview mirror for a long time, and maybe the reason she couldnโt hate him for what heโd done was because, beyond the embarrassment and the sadness that the life she dreamed up was over, maybe the life she thought she had with Luka wasnโt real to begin with.
When she reached for the first tank, she noted the pungent smell in the brewery had improved greatly with the barn doors left open for most of the morning. The dust begrudgingly hadnโt improved. First thing first, the tanks needed cleaning.
She only got one step into the barn, when from behind her, Beckett snapped, โWhat did you do?โ
Whirling around, she found Beckettโs face tight and muscles straining. The one bad thing about small towns was word got around fast, and obviously, heโd learned about her meeting Luka today. Trying to play dumb to avoid the conversation she didnโt want to have, she turned back to her work. โIโm about to clean my tanks,โ she said.
His voice tightened. โThat is not the answer to my question, and you know it.โ
She refused to look back, hearing the anger in his low voice, and not wanting to see it on his face. โI did what had to be done,โ she told him. To keep her hands busy, she reached for a cloth and began dusting along the stairs that led up to the top of the tank.
โThat payment was mine to make, Amelia, not yours,โ he said, his voice barely controlled. โIf you had asked me, I would have told you that I rejected his offer to pay him because I donโt want the prick to fix his nose. He should wear that shame for the rest of his life.โ
Sheโd never missed pina coladas on the beach more than she did right now. With a heavy sigh, she turned to face Beckett, spotting the vein in the middle of his head bulging like it would burst any second. Of course, she had expected him to show up, but she wasnโt expecting his anger. But it didnโt matter, she wanted this behind her. For good. โWhat is bothering you the most here, Beckett: that I paid to fix your problem or that Luka will get his nose fixed?โ
Beckett arched an eyebrow. โDo I need to pick one? Canโt both piss me off equally?โ
A laugh nearly escaped her, but nothing about any of this was funny. She knew all too well that fate was not in her hands. The death of her parents taught her that. But she didnโt need to sit by and let fate decide everything without fighting back either. โWhat did you expect me to do?โ she countered, glaring at him. โLet you go to jail for me?โ
To anyone else, heโd look intimidating with his legs planted wide and his nostrils flaring, but she heard the warmth in his voice behind the tightness as he said, โI expect for you to come and talk to me about it, instead of giving that bastard your money.โ
Yeah, well, she could play the intimidating part too. She flatted her lips, placing her hands on her hips. โYou never would have agreed to pay him if Iโd asked you.โ
โYouโre damn right I wouldnโt have,โ he growled, his face reddening.
Heat flushed through her body as she ground her teeth, turning away from him. God, heโd always been a hard wall that sheโd beat her head against. But she realized in this moment that her arguments were so different with Beckett than they were with Luka. Luka got upset when she wouldnโt change something about herself for him. Beckett only ever got upset when he felt she was treated wrongly. Her stomach roiled in awareness that sheโd forgotten what it was like to have someone support her. โWell, itโs done and over and now we can all put this behind us and move on.โ
โDonโt kid yourself, Amelia. Nothing is behind us,โ he said slowly and coldly, flicking her gaze to him. His look was all knowing. โYou canโt simply brush this under a rug and hope it all goes away.โ
โWhy not?โ she asked, throwing up in hands in frustration. โWhy canโt I pay Luka off and end this entire shitshow? What is the harm in that?โ
Beckettโs expression softened. A smidgen. โThe harm is that you caved when you shouldnโt have.โ
Her chest heaved, breathing become rough and rapid. โI caved to protect you.โ
A gust of wind swept up dirt up around him as he crossed his arms, his brows knotting. โI didnโt ask you to do that. If I had wanted to pay the asshole off, I would have fucking paid him.โ
โYeah, right.โ She snorted. โYou have too much pride for that.โ
โThis has nothing to do with pride,โ he snapped, reaching into his back pocket. โThis was my problem. Not yours.โ He offered her a check. โI wonโt pay him, but I will pay you. Take it.โ
โNo,โ she said, firmly. โMy problem, not yours.โ
His eyes slowly narrowed into slits. โAmelia.โ
Her gut began to boil. Sheโd had about enough of men today. She tossed the cloth down on the stairs and closed the distance between them, getting into his space. โI get youโre pissed, really I do, but canโt you just say thank you and be done with it?โ
A laughter with an edge escaped him. โDo tell me what I should be thanking you for.โ
She was pushing him. She knew it. She also wasnโt about to back down. โFor making this all go away. For ensuring that you wouldnโt get jail time. For protecting you like you protected me when your fist hit Lukaโs face.โ
A pause. His gaze flared. โI will never thank you for that.โ
She stared him down, and he glared right back for many, many seconds. Years theyโd been together, and from those years, she knew that he wouldnโt give, not when it came to protecting someone he cared about. The silence drudged on until she threw her hands up. โHonestly, Beckett, youโll have to explain this to me. Why are you so mad?โ
Intensity simmered on his face as he closed the distance between them, bringing the hard wall of his chest nearly against hers. She felt the heat emanating off him and was shocked when her nipples puckered in response to him being this close. Tingles raced through her all the way to the tips of her toes as he said, tightly, โIโm mad about all of it. Iโm mad that you left for college, and I was too much of a fucking mess to go with you. Iโm mad that you met that fucker, and he got his damn claws into you. Iโm mad that instead of you being blissfully happy, I watched your heart shatter before my eyes.โ His chin dipped, bringing his mouth near inches from hers, his warm breath brushing across her face. โIโm mad that instead of that prick suffering, he has your fucking money to fix his stupid face. And Iโm mad that I have no way to stop any of it.โ
The world narrowed on him with each and every meaningful word that passed his mouth. The affection, the protection, the sheer helplessness, all affected her in a way she never anticipated feeling again. She became tangled in the safe energy he projected. The familiarly of having him close. She took in his simmering eyes with so much emotion in them she could barely breathe. The heat of his body, the strength of him, so close to her. His sculpted lips drew her in, closer and closer, until her hands fisted his T-shirt and her mouth met his.
Beckett stiffened. He did not return the kiss.
At the coldness against her mouth, she gasped and broke away, horror making her blood run cold. โOh my God, Beckett, Iโm so sorry.โ
Only silence greeted her. Was he shaking?
His eyebrow slowly arched. โDid you do that to shut me up or because you wanted to kiss me?โ
Heat crept over her face. โI donโt know why I did that.โ She swallowed deeply, and then began rambling, โNo thatโs not true. I was just thinking how nice it felt to have someone protecting me and caring about meโฆ and it seemed familiar and safeโฆ and your mouth looked goodโฆโ
More silence descended. Until all the shock on Beckettโs face was swept away to reveal raw, unadulterated lust, an expression she hadnโt seen from him for a very long time. It occurred to her then she missed being looked at like that โ with fierce hunger. Like no other woman compared to her. Like he didnโt care what hell he had to walk through to reach her, heโd do it time and time again. Like he was just the reckless kid that wanted something and didnโt care what the consequences cost him.
She wanted to be that person she was back then with him. The one who didnโt know what heartbreak felt like. The one who laughed often and believed anything was possible. She swallowed again, swearing her heart was beating loud enough for both of them to hear.
A beat.
Then a gasp ripped from her throat as he grabbed the front of her shirt and yanked her against the hard planes of his body. He did what she didnโt do. He finished the kiss.
A moment later, her back hit the beer tank, and Beckett wasted no time devouring her neck with his hot kisses. She pushed off his cowboy hat to run her hands through his hair, feeling her sane mind unravel at his passion. Her mind shut off and only her body was thinking now. Beckettโs touch was imprinted on her skin, reminding her of teenage freedom and wild affection.
โEw, my eyes,โ Maisie screamed.
Amelia broke away from Beckett with a loud gasp, snapping her eyes open, finding her sisters standing in the barnโs open double doors. Maisie was blinking rapidly, and Claraโs back was ramrod straight. Amelia stared at them for a second before they both turned and walked away.
Beckett chuckled proudly. But Amelia wasnโt laughing at what her sisters had caught her doing two weeks after she was dumped at the altar. โThere is something wrong with me,โ Amelia muttered. โSeriously, something wrong with me. I canโt believe I just kissed you like that. Iโm sorry, Beckett. Please forgive me.โ
Right as she raised her shaky hands to cover her face, Beckett grabbed her wrists. โThereโs nothing wrong with you,โ he stated. The kiss he dropped on her mouth was indecent and the best kiss of her entire life. He gave her a panty-melting smirk. โJust to clarify, Iโm not one bit sorry about that kiss.โ
When he released her, she wobbled. Sure, back when they dated, Beckett had always known how to make her blush and kiss her just right, but this was a manโs kiss, not the kiss of a kid looking for some fun. This kiss had intent, power, and made her hunger to taste it again.
Before she could even think straight, he was striding past her sisters, giving them a simple hello like what theyโd walked in on was everyday business.
Clara whirled around to Amelia, her eyes huge and mouth gaping open. She appeared to try to talk, but nothing was coming out.
Maisie gave a shit-eating grin. โIf thatโs not a spectacular welcome home, I donโt know what is.โ
About the Author
Stacey Kennedy is a USA Today bestselling author who writes contemporary romances full of heat, heart, and happily ever afters. With over 50 titles published, her books have hit Amazon, B&N, and Apple Books bestseller lists.
Stacey lives with her husband and two children in southwestern Ontarioโin a city thatโs just as charming as any of the small towns she creates. Most days, youโll find her enjoying the outdoors with her family or venturing into the forest with her horse, Priya. Staceyโs just as happy curled up indoors, where she writes surrounded by her lazy dogs. She believes that sexy books about hot cowboys or alpha heroes can fix any bad day. But wine and chocolate help too.
As far as Lilah’s concerned, her note writing stalker just gets more stupid every day. One, two, three, the cat is in the tree? What is that? And what does it have to do with a wedding turned bloody?
Lilah continues to hunt for the monster who killed a bride-to-be while she awaits news on Kane’s chopper that emergency landed in the ocean. She’s angry. She’s worried. She’s ready to kill the man she knows is responsible for Kane’s crash: Pocher.
It’s a race against the clock to save Kane and catch a killer.
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones writes dark, edgy fiction including the highly acclaimed INSIDE OUT series and the upcoming, crime thriller The Poet. Suzanne Todd (producer of Alice in Wonderland and Bad Mom’s) on the INSIDE OUT series: Lisa has created a beautiful, complicated, and sensual world that is filled with intrigue and suspense.
Prior to publishing Lisa owned a multi-state staffing agency that was recognized many times by The Austin Business Journal and also praised by the Dallas Womenโs Magazine. In 1998 Lisa was listed as the #7 growing women owned business in Entrepreneur Magazine. She lives in Colorado with her husband, a cat that talks too much, and a Golden Retriever who is afraid of trash bags.
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