Calling It 
By: Jennifer Doyle 
Releasing April 11, 2016
Carina Press

Baseball player Nathan Hawkins needs to get away from Chicago. After a near career-ending car accident and with paparazzi surrounding his penthouse, Nate can only think of one place to go: home. But when he finds his old apartment occupied by a half-naked woman wielding a baseball bat, he's not sure what to think...except that maybe his luck has finally changed for the better. 


Librarian Dorie Donelli never thought she'd get to meet her fantasy man in person—much less while she’s wearing her bathrobe. To her surprise, her nearly naked run-in with Nate leads to more unclothed encounters. But Dorie is sure their fling is only temporary. As long as she remembers he’ll be gone once his life gets back on track, she won’t get hurt. In the meantime, she throws herself into enjoying their three weeks together before he has to report for spring training and go back to his old life. 


For Nate, being with Dorie is the only time in months that he finds himself smiling. Laughing. And he has no intention of letting that go. He might even be falling in love…if only Dorie will let him say the words. What they have isn’t just a dream, but the start of a dream come true.

It wasn’t until Nate looked down to turn off the phone that he remembered where he was—that the woman who lived here was down the hall. Hell, she’d probably barricaded herself in the bathroom in order to keep a locked door between her and the stranger who’d barged in on her in the middle of the night. 
And ate her dinner, he thought with a quiet laugh. 
He’d give her back her phone and let her know he was leaving. Nowhere to stay, but he had a very expensive tiny car he could sleep in. 
He found her in the bedroom, changing the sheets, which he would have told her she didn’t have to do if his heart hadn’t just lodged itself directly into his throat, cutting off any possibility of speech. Her pajama pants and T-shirt weren’t nearly as revealing as the robe had been, but her bending over the bed and straightening out the corner stirred up something deep inside of him. And now the only thing running through his mind was how soft her hair would be when he wrapped it around his hand; how warm and wet she’d be when he buried himself inside her. 
“Christ, woman,” he groaned. He grabbed the doorjamb above his head and he clutched it so hard he practically splintered the wood. 
She gasped as she straightened up and spun around, her hand flying to her chest. “I was… I was just…” 
She bit her lip and sank down until she was sitting on the edge of the bed. Her eyes met his, and he had to tell himself he couldn’t take her right here. He needed to focus on climbing out of this hole—he didn’t have the time to fall further in, no matter how enjoyable that might be. 
But he couldn’t look away. 
Her eyes were a deep dark brown, the same color as the hair piled on top of her head. He wanted to trace the golden skin along her collarbone to the hollow of her throat, wanted his tongue on every part of her. And the glasses she now wore almost undid him. 
If she’d been wearing those with the robe? When she’d hiked that bat up over her shoulder? 
Holy. Shit. Turned out he liked a woman who would take him on without even blinking an eye. Who knew? 
He especially liked it when her interested gaze traveled down his chest, past his waist… He liked it too much, actually. Only the quickly summoned thought of David Ortiz slamming into him at home plate stopped him from embarrassing himself in a way he hadn’t since he was practically a kid. 
Even that almost wasn’t enough when she said, “I, um, changed the sheets. So you can take the bed.” 
All control vanished as the words just came pouring out of his mouth. “The only way I take the bed is if I take you in it with me.” 
His heart nearly raced its way out of his chest in the seconds before she replied, “I bet you say that to all the girls.” Laughter danced in her eyes and a wicked grin came over her face 
when her eyes again dropped to his cock and then quickly came back up. She bit her bottom lip before whispering, “Hungry?” 
Miguel Cabrera. Adrian Beltre. Derek fucking Jeter. 
He gripped the doorjamb tighter. 
“I could eat,” he answered as evenly as he could manage. 
For a moment they just stayed where they were, staring. 
When she stood and walked toward him, he almost blinked. This was a dream. It had to be. Or some elaborate setup that Pete had come up with in order to get Nate’s mind off everything else. Put this fantasy of a woman in front of him—feisty and looking so innocent and cute while she offered up anything he wanted to take—until he was so goddamn spent he could finally get over himself and start living his life again. 
Except then she brushed past him as she walked out of the room, pausing only to whisper into his ear, “I think you need another minute.”

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A big believer in happily ever afters, Jen Doyle decided it was high time she started creating some. Jen is a member of the Romance Writers of America, as well as a member of the New England, New Jersey Romance Writers and Music City Romance Writer chapters of RWA. She is represented by Sarah E. Younger of the Nancy Yost Literary Agency. She has an M.S. in Library and Information Science and, in addition to her work as a librarian, has worked as a conference and events planner as well as a Communications and Enrollment administrator in both preschool and higher education environments (although some might say that there is very little difference between the two; Jen has no comment regarding whether she is one of the “some”). 
CALLING IT is her first book, the first of two which will be published by Carina Press in 2016. It was the winner of The Beacon, the Finish the Damn Book, and the Melody of Love 2014 contests in the Contemporary Romance category, and was also the Contemporary Romance winner as well as the Grand Prize Winner of the 2014 Gateway to the Best contest. 
 
Author Links:  Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

The Perfect Fit
A Riley O'Brien & Co. novella 
By: Jenna Sutton 
Released April 5, 2016
Self-Published

Zeke May has spent the past two years recovering from an IED attack and trying to adjust to life as a civilian. The veteran hiring program at denim empire Riley O’Brien & Co. offers a new beginning. The only problem is the high cost of housing in San Francisco, and Margo Lange could be the perfect solution. 

Now that Margo has completed veterinary school, she’s ready to fulfill her dream of living in the Bay Area. Unfortunately, she’s drowning in student loan debt and the only places she can afford are dumps. Luckily, one of her uncle’s Army buddies needs a roommate. 
​
Although Zeke’s place is a perfect fit for Margo’s budget, he is not what she expects. He’s much younger than her uncle, and he’s melt-your-panties hot. She doesn’t want to fall for him, but it doesn’t take her long to realize that Zeke is the perfect fit for her, regardless of their age gap. Too bad he’s so obviously still in love with his ex-wife…

Zeke and Margo's story are delightful, with a sort of innocence, joy, and lightness in it, that made me smile, a true feel good story with great characters.
It is a novella, but it has enough of a storyline, enough depth to it, to take the hold of your mind, and keep it fascinated through the tale.
The chemistry, connection, and then attraction between Zeke and Margo is adorable. From the first moment, they work together, and work well as a team. They care for each other, look out for each other, and comfort each other, when life gets to be too much.
Zeke's veteran character is well built, with respect and honor, with realities and hardship, yet without excess angst or drama. He is very gentle and lovable soul.
Margo is refreshing, her cheerful disposition is catchy. She cares for all creatures, has a heart of gold, and is desperately attracted to her roommate.
I enjoyed the story, I think there could have been enough material for a full length novel, but the author had gotten surprisingly much depth and storyline into a novella length tale. I didn't feel like anything was missing, and I felt I got to know the characters well, even the timeline was long enough to establish the relationship Zeke and Margo had between them. 
Alluring, captivating, humorous, and luscious story, with likable characters living interesting times of change in their lives
~ Four Spoons

As Zeke stood in the elevator in the Four Seasons, he ran his hand over his hair, searching for any unruly strands. Satisfied that everything was in order, he adjusted the French cuffs of his bright white tuxedo shirt and furtively checked his fly to make sure it was zipped. 
Never in his life had he showered, shaved, and dressed as quickly as he had tonight. He was surprised he’d only nicked himself once. 
Even though he’d driven like a maniac to get to the hotel as fast as humanly possible, he was still forty-five minutes late. He hated being late, regardless of the circumstances. But his tardiness tonight was even more unacceptable because Margo had been counting on him. 
Because of stupid softball game, she’d had to take a taxi in an evening gown. She was probably livid, and he couldn’t blame her. 
Why hadn’t he just left the game early? Better yet, why hadn’t he declined Margo’s invitation to attend Pictures & Paws? 
He should have. But he’d hated the thought of her going to this type of event alone. And, if he were honest with himself, he would admit that he’d wanted to go with her, even if it was a monumentally bad idea. 
Being around her was torture. A couple of days ago, he’d accidently bumped into her in the kitchen, his front grazing her back. That small touch had created a big problem … behind his zipper. 
Ever since that day when he had retrieved Margo’s panties from Roby’s paws, Zeke had tried—and failed—to push her back into the roommate-only zone. But those tiny panties had already done their damage. 
Whenever they were together, he constantly thought about what she wore underneath her clothes. He even thought about it when they weren’t together. 
His dormant libido had awakened, and now the damn thing was boiling like an active volcano. It could erupt at any time. 
Zeke should be happy that his penis had returned to its normal operations. But he wasn’t. Instead, he was frustrated and edgy and hard all the fucking time. 
He didn’t understand why this was happening now. And he sure as hell didn’t understand why it was happening with Margo. 
It didn’t happen with anyone else. 
Today, during the softball game, a pretty woman on the opposing team had run into him. The force of the impact had knocked them to the ground, with her sprawled on top. 
She’d been a sweet-smelling, curvy armful. And his penis had been uninterested. 
If it could talk, it would have said, I’m bored. But around Margo, it said, Mmm, I want some of that. 
Of course, his dick didn’t care about the eleven-year age gap between them. And it didn’t care that she had her whole life ahead of her, while he had already lived a big portion of his. 
Finally, the elevator reached the fifth floor. When he stepped out, he immediately began to look for Margo. No matter where they were, her bright hair made it easy to spot her. 
After searching the area where the pictures were displayed and the ballroom where dinner would be served, he wandered onto the terrace. The huge space overlooked Yerba Buena Gardens, and the surrounding buildings provided plenty of light. 
He surveyed the small group of people on the terrace. His gaze landed on a woman with vibrant reddish-gold hair. She was a little taller than Margo, and her hair was wavy instead of straight. Her back was to him, the flawless skin exposed by her form-fitting dress. 
Damn, that dress is something else. 
The dress’s lace overlay gave the impression that she was naked underneath. And the way it hugged her curvy hips and cupped her round ass … that should be prohibited in public venues to prevent riots. 
Wait … he recognized that ass. He saw it—stared at it—every day. 
The woman in the sexy dress was Margo. And the moment his dick realized that fact, it woke up from its nap and did a couple of stretches in preparation for vigorous exercise. 
Zeke took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. For a brief moment, he thought about turning around, going back home, and locking himself in his bedroom until this insanity passed. 
But then Margo glanced in his direction. And he knew, without a doubt, that he wasn’t going anywhere.

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Jenna Sutton spent most of her career as an award-winning journalist covering business-related topics including healthcare, commercial real estate, retail, and technology. Nowadays she writes about hot, lovable guys and the smart, sexy women who make them crazy. It’s the culmination of a lifelong dream, and she feels so lucky to be able to do it. 
 Jenna has a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Texas Christian University and a Master’s degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from Northwestern University. 
 Jenna and her husband live in a 103-year-old house in Texas. 
 
Author Links:  Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

One Summer Can Change Everything . . .

Elizabeth Lively dresses conservatively, straightens her curly hair into submission, and works hard to uphold her political family’s reputation. Her therapist might call it “OCD,” but she’s just trying her best to live by the rules—until her carefully crafted world comes crashing down when she’s fired, painfully jilted, and arrested for a crime she didn’t commit. All she can think to do is flee to her grandmother’s lakeside house in tiny Truhart, Michigan, a town that’s as quirky as it is quaint . . .

No stranger to second chances, Acting Sheriff JD Hardy isn’t pleased to have Elizabeth in Truhart for the summer.  A former city cop with a painful past, JD now runs a tight ship, and isn’t keen on a newcomer with a criminal past, even one as tempting as Elizabeth.

Between  lazy summer days and lakeside evenings, reconnecting with old friends and making new ones, Elizabeth must decide what the future holds for her, and where her heart belongs. She will learn that sometimes you have to dip a toe in cautiously, and other times you just have to dive in . . .

This story surprises me, in a positive way. It is a story of the summer Elizabeth had to face herself, learn to accept herself, just the way she is, faults and all. The journey she takes is not easy, the publicity of the journey makes it even more difficult to deal with. And it seems it follows her where ever she goes, and who she meets.
The story is told in first person point of view, and only from Elizabeth's side. In general, I'm not a fan of that POV, but it works here.
Elizabeth has so much going on with herself, the family drama seems to endless, and her reactions to its harmful. But this summer she learns to deal with it all in a different way. She takes chances, she dares to do things she never thought she would survive. She digs deep, and finds a woman in her, who is beautiful, passionate, capable, loved and needed. 
The community around them is like any small town unit in anywhere in the western world, filled with characters, unique, yet familiar, with strong characteristics, opinions, and convictions. 
J.D and Elizabeth are fun together. The understanding and support between them is adorable, deep, and loving. They get each other, even the oddest things about each other, and cherish them. 
A young woman takes a leap from her life, escape from the reality that gets to be too much, and ends up jumping into a different kind of real world, into a small town dynamics. During the summer she gets to know herself on a different level than before, learns to love and accept herself, and falls in love, finding passion in herself, she never expected. It is a sweet coming of age story, sort of. It is fun, in a way I didn't know if I should laugh or cry, and it is enlightening, seeing her and J.D is dealing with her dysfunctional family, and adorable when J.D and Elizabeth learns to know, accept, and love each other.
~ Four Spoons

Secret Baby Scandal
Bayou Billionaires #4 
By: Joanne Rock 
Releasing May 1 (eBook)
May 10 (Paperback)
Harlequin Desire

His proposition: pretend they’re a couple to end a scandal. But she has secrets of her own… 

Tatiana Doucet has dealt with sexy, arrogant athletes most of her life. But Jean-Pierre Reynaud is a whole different animal—in bed and on the field. Unbeknownst to him, their one amazing night produced a son. Now her family’s biggest football rival is back, offering a seductive wager she can’t refuse. 

Jean-Pierre despises the media. When rumors fly, he knows a fake relationship is the perfect diversion for the tabloids—and Tatiana’s unbridled passion is the perfect diversion for Jean-Pierre. But when she drops a baby bombshell, the scandal will rock them both!

Son? 
Jean-Pierre had taken hits from the toughest, strongest, meanest players in the NFL. Afterward, as he lay in the grass with his ears ringing and his vision blurred, he would struggle to snap out of the slow-motion fog that felt kind of like being underwater. 
That was exactly how he felt walking into Tatiana’s apartment, her words slowly permeating his consciousness along with the cry of an infant. Dazed, confused and trying to stand up straight despite the floor shifting under his feet, Jean-Pierre stood in her foyer and waited for her to return from wherever she’d disappeared. 
“Mr. Reynaud?” An older woman in a simple gray dress stepped into the living area to his right. “Miss Doucet asked if you wouldn’t mind joining her in the family room. It’s just past the staircase on the left.” She pointed the way and then went about her business, picking up a few things in the living room. 
A bright blue blanket. A baby bottle. 
Seeing that bottle was like the second hit when you were already down. 
At the same time, it was enough to make the mental fog evaporate and get his feet moving. 
Fast. 
He needed answers now. Hell, he needed answers months ago. Tatiana had done a whole lot more than throw his career into a tailspin tonight with her unguarded remark to a member of the press. She’d been hiding the biggest possible secret that was going to bind their lives together forever. 
“Tatiana?” Her name was a sharp bark on his lips as he entered the spacious suite overlooking Central Park. 
Framed playbills lined the walls along with photos of Tatiana and her family. Tatiana with her father at her graduation from Columbia. The Doucets outside of a downtown skyscraper with the brass name plaque of her prestigious law firm. Every picture was a reminder of the life he might have had with her if her family hadn’t turned her against him. 
A blaze crackled in a fireplace on the far side of the living area. And beside it, in that warm glow of flickering light, he spotted her on the dark leather love seat, cradling a tiny bundle of blankets to her breast. Tatiana’s dark brown curls shielded her body as much as the blanket, the firelight making the skin of one shoulder glow where she’d unfastened her dress to feed the baby. 
Her baby. 
His…son. 
Something shifted inside Jean-Pierre, his whole world tipping on its axis as everything changed irreversibly.

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Three-time RITA nominee Joanne Rock has never met a romance sub-genre she didn't like. The author of over seventy novels enjoys writing contemporary romance and medieval historicals alike, recently exploring Young Adult romance under a pseudonym. An optimist by nature and perpetual seeker of silver linings, Joanne finds romance–in all its forms-- fits her life outlook perfectly. When she's not writing, Joanne enjoys travel, especially to see her favorite sports teams play with her former sports editor husband and three athletic-minded sons. 
 


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In order to protect her, they’ll both have to let their guards down…
Country music’s It Girl Jessi Tucker is fed up with her family’s stifling security measures. The threat of a dangerous stalker has gotten the men in her life—including her football star cousin, Tuck Tucker—monitoring her every move. To get the freedom she yearns for, Jessi hatches a plan to recruit Max Grayson, Tuck’s sexy brawler best friend, to play the role of her new boyfriend. But if her scheme works, will she be forced to hide her true romantic feelings for the sake of her independence? Or will she finally steal the heart of her dream man?...

Max has been pining for Jessi for years and would do anything to protect her, but a professional cage fighter with too many skeletons in his closet has no business being with one of America’s sweethearts. Yet while Max does his best to keep Jessi at arm’s length, the Tucker family persuades him to accept her offer.

Max believes he can keep Jessi safe from danger, but can he shelter her from his own dark secrets, the media’s unforgiving spotlight—and a mutual desire that’s harder to resist each day…

I started to read this book while in transit, and it surely kept me entertained and held my interest through the whole story.
The book is number three in a series, my bad, I hadn't read the previous books, this is perfectly fine as a stand alone, but there's a reference made to the previous stories, and I think a reader would benefit from reading them first. And not only that, but I liked the author's voice, the way the story is told, the characters, and the plot, so I would think the previous stories might be something to check out.
The characters are complex, broken, and in turmoil. They were easy to like, and understand. I liked that they thought about things, worked on the issues, and did the work to fix things, that were fixable.
The romance was evident, and even though the passion was high, and the attraction powerful on both sides, there's just enough amount of sweetness, and cute moments, to make it fun and enjoyable.
The moments of danger, the factor of the stalker, the media circus, Max's relatives, Jessi's admires, all bring new levels, elements of spice and pepper into the tale. The solutions are not obvious, the puzzle not solved until the end. 
Complex characters, sweet, adorable romance, with added family drama and trace of danger, all ingredients of great entertainment
~ Four Spoons

Off the Hook
Fishing for Trouble #1 
By: Laura Drewry 
Releasing April 12, 2016
Loveswept

Welcome to The Buoys, a West Coast haven where love comes in with the tide. Perfect for readers of Jill Shalvis and Susan Mallery, the Fishing for Trouble series features three unforgettable brothers—each of whom is a great catch.

Major league pitcher Liam O’Donnell knows his best days are probably behind him, but that doesn’t mean he’s ready to retire and become a fishing guide. Still, after all the time he’s spent chasing his dreams, he owes it to his brothers to pull his weight around the lodge. The Buoys is their father’s legacy, and they can’t let some developer take it from them.
The one snag Liam isn’t counting on is a blast from the past: his ex-wife.

The moment Kate Hadley steps out of the seaplane, she knows this assignment is going to be trickier than she thought. She has to persuade the owners to sell—and one of them is Liam O’Donnell.
Ten years ago, she made the biggest mistake of her life when she married Liam during a fling in Vegas. Now he’s her only lifeline in the middle of nowhere.
​Kate’s trying to keep things cool, but Liam just reminds her of the scorching few nights they spent together—and tempts her to make new memories that are just as steamy as the old.

I enjoyed every moment I spent with this book, the story is fun, with subtle humor and banter between the brothers, it has high emotions, without being filled with angst and despair, it has sweet, adorable, yet very passionate romance, that made me sigh. And in a great balance and lovely flow, no less.
I loved the determination, focus, and dedication the group had, to fix the resort back to what it can be. The hard work, the sweat, and the blood, it was all towards the greater goal, to restore their family's legacy.
I was prepared to all fun and romance, then it hits with the brother's childhood drama, and tragedy. Liam has to go deep, to find acceptance to the past, forgiveness, and move on. It was raw, yet beautiful.
Liam and Kate, There was something very much 'easy' between them. No high drama, no screaming, fighting, accusations. Even though their past could warranty all that, they took the high road, and I loved it! They talk, they share, they become friends while working together. And they work well together, they have a rhythm that compliments each other, a connection that makes them understand each other, and attraction that makes them want to consume each other at ones. 
I savored the story, I didn't want to depart from the characters, they are so easy to relate to and fun to be around. There's baseball, the good and the bad side of it. Fishing,  brothers who fight, but stand up for each other, whales, hard work, and pain, and lust filled adoration and ardor between Liam and Kate... I'm eagerly waiting for the next story in the series, cause this one is a home run!
~ Five Spoons

They were almost to her cabin when she shocked the hell out of him by slipping her hand under his arm and nudging his shoulder with hers. 
“You’re still a hotshot pitcher, you know. Don’t talk about that in the past tense.” 
Liam blinked hard, then leaned in and pressed a slow kiss against her cheek. Half an inch, that’s how close he was to those soft, warm lips he remembered all too well, but no matter how much he ached to taste them again, he forced himself to pull back and smile down at her. 
Besides his agent—who didn’t count, because Liam paid him to say it—Kate was the first and only one to even suggest he might have something left, and if she’d said it any other time or any other way, he might not have believed she was sincere. 
But looking at her now, with her foot up on the porch, ready to go inside, there wasn’t the slightest trace of doubt in her eyes, just those damn bits of amber flickering like little beacons. 
“I, uh . . .” Blowing out a hard breath, Liam shoved both hands through his hair, locked his fingers together, and took a step back. “I better go. It’d really screw things up here if we woke up married tomorrow.” 
“Right. Good thinking,” she said, her mouth curling into a slow, knowing smile. “’Cause I promise you this, I won’t be nearly as nice the next time you divorce me.”

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USA Today Bestselling author, Laura Drewry had been scribbling things for years before she decided to seriously sit down and write. After spending eight years in the Canadian north, Laura now lives back home in southwestern British Columbia with her husband, three sons, a turtle named Sheldon, and an extremely energetic German shepherd. She loves old tattered books, good movies, country music, and the New York Yankees. 
 

​Author Links:  Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Love, Alabama
Alabama #2 
By: Susan Sands 
Releasing April 13, 2016
Tule Publishing Group

Emma Laroux's a fallen Southern beauty queen whose past is barely whispered about in her small town.
But the secrets and lies surrounding the scandal from long ago still haunt her, and something about Matthew Pope holds the answers.
If only she could put her finger on it… 

Matthew Pope wonders what awful karmic thing he’d done to land him in Podunk, Alabama.
​But when he sees Emma again after all this time, he knows he's still the only one that holds the key to unlock the truth of her past... 
​
Will a shared moment in time ten years ago threaten what might be the best thing that’s ever happen to either of them—each other?

Her Florence Nightingale instincts warred with minding her own business. Matthew hadn’t asked for help. Maybe he was just fine. But he didn’t have any friends in town that she knew of. Nor was he the type of guy who was likely to reach out even if he was sick and needed assistance—at least that was the impression she’d gotten so far. 
Emma sighed. She couldn’t very well leave him in the same condition as her sister without any saltines or electrolytes, now could she? She certainly couldn’t and feel good about it. Emma just then realized she’d already been driving her car toward his house. She hadn’t needed directions. Everyone in town knew where the new hot, single stranger in town had moved in. Emma was surprised he hadn’t already been the recipient of drive-bys of home-baked goods and casseroles tagged with names and phone numbers of female singles in the area. 
Southern women understood the path to a lonely man’s heart might well begin with his taste buds. A good casserole and pecan pie couldn’t hurt as an introduction. Big hair and a 
sweet smile when they came to pick up momma’s favorite platter worked as a fine follow-up. 
Emma had seen the success of this maneuver many times. Men came around on business of one type or the other—buying an selling mineral rights for oilfield companies or what have you–and found themselves completely leg-shackled before they knew what hit them. Mommas around here taught their girls how to spot and hook a promising catch from the time they were in training bras and learned that more eyeliner and mascara was better than less. 
Emma pulled up behind Matthew’s car and frowned, noticing that his taillight was busted. She got out and pulled the bag of items from the back seat, not giving his car much more thought. 
Knocking gently on the door, she figured she would leave the bag on the front step if he didn’t answer. He might be sleeping. But what if he’d gotten light-headed, fallen, and hit his head on the bathtub and was knocked-out cold, lying in a pool of his own blood? The thought, while mildly ridiculous, gave her just enough pause to knock again, this time more loudly. 
No answer. 
She rang the bell. 
No answer. 
Now she was concerned. His car was in the drive. He was definitely home. Her heart began to beat in her ears. 
She tried the door. 
Locked. She looked through the leaded glass front door. No movement. Nice house. 
She knocked again. 
Emma still had the bag in her arm. So, she carried it with her around the back of the house to the screened in porch. The screen door was open, so she stepped up onto the pretty porch with the comfy furniture. It appeared that Matthew spent time out here. There were pillows, a rug, a throw, a couple books, and a lamp. Nice. 
She knocked on the back door. No answer. She didn’t see anyone inside. 
She bit her lip and tried the door. It opened. “Hello? Matthew?” 
No answer. She moved inside and let her gaze wander around the room. It was cozy and well decorated for a guy’s place. She noticed the kitchen to the right and headed in that direction. She put her bag on the kitchen counter then headed toward what she knew must be the master bedroom. This house was similar in style to hers. 
She called out to him again. Emma was getting worried now. Why didn’t he answer? 
As she entered the bedroom, she noticed it the blinds were closed and it was rather dark, but she could see no one was in the bed. Then, she realized the shower was running. Against any kind of decent judgment, she moved toward the bathroom door. She couldn’t help herself; she peeked inside. He wasn’t standing in the shower; he was sitting on the floor. She panicked and rushed towards him before her brain informed her to actually speak his name. 
She pulled open the door, certain he was dead before she shrieked, “Matthew, open your damned eyes!” 
He did. Open his damned eyes. Opened them really wide. “Emma? Why are you in my shower stall?” 
She really didn’t have a great answer to that. “Oh, Lord. I thought you were dead.” It was the best she could do. 
He did look nearly dead. He smiled weakly. “I’ve been really sick, so I thought I’d sit here for a little while. But I’m not dead. So, um, could you hand me a towel? Unless, of course, you prefer a shower?” 
Emma then became acutely aware of her position. And his. He was naked. Oh, Lord, was he naked. The most delicious naked she’d ever seen. And now she couldn’t stop staring at his naked. And apparently his naked knew it now. Because it was staring straight up at her, too. 
“Emma—a towel? Because I’m a little more inclined to invite you into my shower now.” 
She raised her eyes beyond his naked to his eyes, horrified. “Uh, a towel. Sure.” Looking around, she grabbed the closest towel she could find, the one hanging on a hook beside the shower. “I thought you were dead,” she said again, as an explanation. 
She was a complete idiot. And now she wanted to jump his sick bones.

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Susan Sands grew up in a small Northwest Louisiana town, where the seeds for future stories were inspired. Her lifelong love of reading motivated her to finally begin writing as her midlife crisis at age forty—better than a boyfriend or red sports car, according to her husband. 
Susan lives with her dentist husband and three nearly-grown children in Johns Creek, GA. 
 


​Author Links:  Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

Truly, Madly, Sweetly
Sweet Love #1 
By: Kira Archer 
Releasing April 4, 2016
Entangled Lovestruck

An inherited parking spot. That’s all it took to make Natalie Moran’s food truck dreams come true.
But her dream space is attached to a bakery inherited by someone else—drop dead gorgeous Eric Schneider, a financial consultant who wouldn’t know a cupcake from a cannoli. And he wants to buy Nat out, no matter what she has to say about it.
Eric’s determined to build his own business, but he needs the super cute klutz with the cupcake truck to help. If Nat will teach him the basics of running a bakery, he’ll give her free kitchen time.
Except…neither expects the heat burning between them or the possibility that their arrangement might become permanent.
When it all blows up, Nat is convinced his actions mean betrayal. It’s up to Eric to regain her trust and show her he’s a man who is truly, madly in love with her, before she disappears from his life forever.

Oh, what a delight this story is! It had me from the even number addicted, organised, accident prone baker - and if you know me, you know why...
Natalie, Nat, is so much fun, easy to relate to, she works hard, she has goals, dreams, and ambitions, she just doesn't feel that attractive about herself, since her past relationships have left lots to be desired. But she is the cupcake queen of the food truck scene, and she loves it.
Gelato loving Eric, the trust found boy, who has never said no to his parents, is mesmerised by the cupcake selling beauty. And even though the first, or the second, time they meet, doesn't go so well, he is kind, understanding, and cute. Just sweet natured man.
I loved how they didn't agree on anything, after they start to work together. It is an uphill, every step of the way. But they are definitely attracted to each other, the chemistry between them is amazing, joyful, and fun, yet passionate and ardent. 
I think, if left to their own devise, these two would and could have been happy together from the first moment they met, the connection is that strong. But the toxicity coming from the people around them muddies up the waters, and causes so many conflicts in between them. And Eric's inability to say no to his parents, because that's what he has always done, to make his life easier to deal with, worried me, since it went to such lengths, that in my opinion, nearly a miracle were needed to bring redemption. I was happy and satisfied with the solution, but I did wish, that there would have been more light to what happen after the fact, regarding his parents. 
I enjoyed the humor, the characters, the environment, the romance and passion they had for each other, even the emotional anguish, tears and hurt they had to go through. Truly, Madly, Sweetly is a perfect name for the story, describing it  perfectly!
~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side

Nat leaned back against the counter, her arms folded, a smile already on her face. “Five…four…three…two…one…” 

“Natalie!” 

She broke into a full-toothed grin and poked her head out of the kitchen. Eric was standing, holding the pint of gelato away from him like it was a snake about to strike. A large blob of the stuff lay on the floor at his feet with more of it dribbling down his chin. 

“Yes, Eric?” 

He looked at her, his mouth hanging open. “What the hell did you do?” 

She blinked innocently. “Oh nothing. I just thought you should have something extra special to celebrate with so I went to that garlic bistro and picked up a pint. I paid a bit more to have a little extra flavor mixed in. It was a little more expensive, of course, but nothing is too good for you,” she said, batting her eyelashes at him. 

He wiped a hand across his mouth. “And exactly what flavor is this?” 

“Garlic and anchovy.” 

“What?” he shrieked. 

Nat grinned wider. “Payback’s a bitch, baby.” 

“Oh, you are so going to pay!” Eric dropped the ice cream and lunged for her. 

Nat shrieked and ran laughing into the kitchen but Eric was hot on her heels. There really wasn’t anywhere to run. He had her pinned against the sink in under ten seconds. He scooped a bit of the ice cream off his shirt. 

“If I had to eat it, you do, too,” he said, trying to get the stuff in her mouth. 

She shrieked again and tried to dodge his hands, though it was hard to keep her mouth closed when she was laughing so hard she could barely breathe. He managed to get a little in and she immediately spit it back out. 

“Oh my God,” she laughed, “that is truly foul.” 

“Ha! Serves you right, defiling my gelato like that.” 

“It’s better than putting vegetable oil in my glass cleaning solution! That was just mean. I still can’t get the streaks off that mirror in the bathroom.” 

Eric chuckled and held on tighter when she squirmed to get away. “Okay, okay. I call a truce.” 

Nat stopped squirming. “You mean it?” 

“I mean it. I’ll stop messing with everything around the kitchen, if you promise you will never, ever touch my gelato.” 
She laughed and nodded. “Okay, fine, I agree.” 

“Good,” Eric said. But he still didn’t let her go. 

They were breathing hard from their mock battle and both of them suddenly realized they were molded together, from hip to chest, their arms locked around each other, their chests heaving in unison with every ragged breath they took. 
​
Eric’s gaze met hers and he leaned in, slow enough that she could pull away if she wanted. She should. The smart thing to do would be to push him away. But since when did her body ever listen to what was smart when it came to Eric?

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Kira Archer resides in Pennsylvania with her husband, two kiddos, and far too many animals in the house. She tends to laugh at inappropriate moments, break all the rules she gives her kids (but only when they aren't looking), and would rather be reading a book than doing almost anything else. She has odd, eclectic tastes in just about everything and often lets her imagination run away with her. She loves her romances a little playful, a lot sexy, and always with a happily ever after. 
 
Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads ​

Off the Hook
Fishing for Trouble #1 
By: Laura Drewry 
Releasing April 12, 2016
Loveswept

Welcome to The Buoys, a West Coast haven where love comes in with the tide. Perfect for readers of Jill Shalvis and Susan Mallery, the Fishing for Trouble series features three unforgettable brothers—each of whom is a great catch.

Major league pitcher Liam O’Donnell knows his best days are probably behind him, but that doesn’t mean he’s ready to retire and become a fishing guide. Still, after all the time he’s spent chasing his dreams, he owes it to his brothers to pull his weight around the lodge. The Buoys is their father’s legacy, and they can’t let some developer take it from them. The one snag Liam isn’t counting on is a blast from the past: his ex-wife.

​The moment Kate Hadley steps out of the seaplane, she knows this assignment is going to be trickier than she thought. She has to persuade the owners to sell—and one of them is Liam O’Donnell. Ten years ago, she made the biggest mistake of her life when she married Liam during a fling in Vegas. Now he’s her only lifeline in the middle of nowhere. Kate’s trying to keep things cool, but Liam just reminds her of the scorching few nights they spent together—and tempts her to make new memories that are just as steamy as the old.

They were almost to her cabin when she shocked the hell out of him by slipping her hand under his arm and nudging his shoulder with hers. 

“You’re still a hotshot pitcher, you know. Don’t talk about that in the past tense.” 

Liam blinked hard, then leaned in and pressed a slow kiss against her cheek. Half an inch, that’s how close he was to those soft, warm lips he remembered all too well, but no matter how much he ached to taste them again, he forced himself to pull back and smile down at her. 

Besides his agent—who didn’t count, because Liam paid him to say it—Kate was the first and only one to even suggest he might have something left, and if she’d said it any other time or any other way, he might not have believed she was sincere. 

But looking at her now, with her foot up on the porch, ready to go inside, there wasn’t the slightest trace of doubt in her eyes, just those damn bits of amber flickering like little beacons. 

“I, uh . . .” Blowing out a hard breath, Liam shoved both hands through his hair, locked his fingers together, and took a step back. “I better go. It’d really screw things up here if we woke up married tomorrow.” 
​
“Right. Good thinking,” she said, her mouth curling into a slow, knowing smile. “’Cause I promise you this, I won’t be nearly as nice the next time you divorce me.”

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USA Today Bestselling author, Laura Drewry had been scribbling things for years before she decided to seriously sit down and write. After spending eight years in the Canadian north, Laura now lives back home in southwestern British Columbia with her husband, three sons, a turtle named Sheldon, and an extremely energetic German shepherd. She loves old tattered books, good movies, country music, and the New York Yankees. 
 
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Rocky Mountain Wedding
A Heart of the Rockies Novella 
By: Sara Richardson 
Releasing April 12, 2016
Forever Yours

Sara Richardson brings us the conclusion to her Heart of the Rockies series in this stunning, heartwarming novella. 

SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW-AND SOMETHING SHE NEVER EXPECTED . . . 
​
If anyone had told Ruby James she'd be marrying the man of her dreams after starting over at the Walker Mountain Ranch, she'd have keeled over laughing, if not crying. Yet here she is: ready to walk down the aisle with her soul mate, Sawyer Hawkins-and make the adoption of their sweet foster daughter, Brooklyn, official. But just days before the event that will make their family complete, a miraculous little wrinkle appears in her plans . . . 
​
Ruby's already the most beautiful woman in the world to Sawyer, but she seems to be glowing even more than usual . . . and now he knows why. Sawyer couldn't have wished for more. Soon enough he'll have a new wife, a new daughter, and a new bundle of joy. But not everyone sees a happy future for him and Ruby. With a blizzard rolling in, Sawyer must help his family-to-be weather a different kind of storm-and clear the skies for an unforgettable Rocky Mountain wedding.

As a little girl, Ruby had dreamed about her wedding day. 
In the midst of the ugliness and fear that had filled her world, she would imagine that someday everything would change. She’d pictured it happening the same way it had for Cinderella—the white horse and carriage, the prince, the castle so lovely and enchanted and the entire town celebrating. 
What she saw in front of her was even more beautiful than a fairy tale like that. Because it was real. From her place on the top tier of the ranch’s back patio, she gazed out on the powdered mountain peaks glowing in the soft pink light of the setting sun. She saw the evergreens—their branches laden with last night’s snowfall—sheltering the perimeter of the beautiful stone patio below, where all of her favorite people in the world had gathered near the wooden arch Sawyer had built himself. 
Tiki torches lined the edges, adding to the glow of warmth and happiness, despite forty-degree temperatures. They’d known it would be cold, so they’d decided to keep the ceremony short, but she could stand up here for hours, watching their few bundled guests mingle in hushed excitement—Sawyer’s parents; Elsie and Thomas, who had agreed to marry them; a couple of the ranch hands and guides; a whole crew of Sawyer’s colleagues, dressed in their starched uniforms. 
The harpist they’d hired started to play, delicate notes floating on the calm mountain breeze. As if on cue, the door to the pool house north of the patio opened and Sawyer emerged, looking so tall and strong, so handsome in a crisp white shirt and pressed khakis. The groomsmen followed him—Bryce and Ben and Isaac—all of them tugging on their bow ties as though they were being strangled. 
Ruby couldn’t help but laugh. At least she hadn’t made them wear tuxes. They probably would’ve staged a revolt. 
“Ready?” Paige asked, bouncing up and down like she couldn’t wait anymore. 
Ruby reached over and grabbed Brookie’s hand. They were going to walk down the aisle together, but they had to go last. 
“After you.” Ruby stepped aside so Paige and Avery and Julia could start the parade. They moved down the center of the crowd in a slow processional, even Paige, which was a miracle given how fast that woman usually liked to go. 
“Mom?” Brookie tugged on the skirt of her dress. 
She leaned down. “What is it, sweet girl?” 
“I’m so nervous,” her daughter whispered. “There’s a lot of people down there.” 
She knelt. “Don’t focus on the people, honey.” She smoothed Brookie’s lovely hair. “This is about you and Dad and me. That’s all. Focus on the three of us. On our family.”

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 Sara Richardson grew up chasing adventure in Colorado's rugged mountains. She's climbed to the top of a 14,000 foot peak at midnight, swum through Class IV rapids, completed her wilderness first-aid certification, and spent seven days at a time tromping through the wilderness with a thirty-pound backpack strapped to her shoulders.  
Eventually Sara did the responsible thing and got an education in writing and journalism. After a brief stint in the corporate writing world, she stopped ignoring the voices in her head and started writing fiction. Now she uses her experience as a mountain adventure guide to write stories that incorporate adventure with romance. Still indulging her adventurous spirit, Sara lives and plays in Colorado with her saint of a husband and two young sons. 
 
 
Author Links:  Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads 

Getting Wound Up
A Sapphire Falls/Love Between the Bases Crossover Novel 
By: Jennifer Bernard and Erin Nicholas 
Releasing April 12, 2016
​EN Fiction, Inc.

Caitlyn Murray has never let on that she's had fantasies about her brother's friend Eli Anderson for years. She'd do anything for the sexy baseball player who walked away from stardom to stay in Sapphire Falls and take care of his family. But she and Eli are friends. Just friends. 

So when her brother hatches a plan to get Eli to the pro baseball try-out for the Kilby Catfish and another chance at his dream, Caitlyn is all in. After all, what's a little kidnapping among friends? 
A spot on the pitcher's mound for the Catfish isn't the only tempting thing about the spontaneous road trip. Eli already knows that Caitlyn is as sweet as the candies she makes for the Sapphire Falls bakery, but alone with her overnight in the tiny motel room in Kansas, it's impossible to resist the urge to take a little taste. 

But when that taste leads to falling for the girl next door just as his front door is moving hundreds of miles away, can Eli really have it all? Or do they have too many strikes against them?

Caitlyn took her third shot. The look on her face as she swallowed the liqueur was adorable. 
“How many more shots do you need?” she asked. 
He frowned. “What?” 
“Well, it took two to get you to kiss me. You just had your third. I’m wondering how many you need to take me to bed.” 
He just stared at her. He blinked. He was pretty much raring to go right now, actually. “How many do you need?” 
She gave him a smile that wasn’t a bit tipsy. And was fully seductive. “I didn’t need even one, Eli.” 
It was like his cock was voice-activated. All she’d done was talk and he was rock hard. “Damn, Cait.” 
“You can’t be completely surprised.” 
Was he surprised? That she was attracted to him? That she wanted to sleep with him? 
Yeah, he fucking was. Because if his mind had ever even started to go in that direction, he would have shut it down. 
“I don’t need anything to want you,” he said honestly. “I’m going to need a few more to get me past that.” 
She took a long draw on her beer. After she swallowed, she nodded. “Okay, well, I’m going to need two more to get to drunk-enough-to-fall-asleep-even-knowing-you’re-half-naked-in-the-next-bed and drunk-enough-to-not-even-get-up-in-the-night-for-the-bathroom.” 
Ah yes, the bathroom last night. As if that had been far from his mind all day. 
“Two more it is,” he agreed, even as his body screamed at him to shut the hell up. 
If he kissed her again, if he kept going … well, from the look on Caitlyn’s face, they both knew where that was going to lead them. 
She ate a fry and took a drink of beer, then licked her lips clean of the salt. 
An image of her on her knees, those lips and that tongue wetting some other things, flashed through his mind. He coughed and shook his head. 
Then she raised her hand to the waitress again. She held up two fingers and waved them between her and Eli. 
The girl brought four more shots over and set them in the middle of the table. 
Caitlyn picked one up. “Okay, moment of truth. We drink these shots and we go to the hotel, to two separate beds, and home to Sapphire Falls tomorrow as friends. Or we don’t take these shots and we go back to the hotel to one bed. And then go home to Sapphire Falls tomorrow as friends.”

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Jennifer Bernard is a graduate of Harvard and a former news promo producer. The child of academics, she confounded her family by preferring romance novels to … well, any other books. She left big city life for true love in Alaska, where she now lives with her husband and stepdaughters. She’s no stranger to book success, as she also writes erotic novellas under a naughty secret name not to be mentioned at family gatherings. 


​Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads ​

Erin Nicholas is the author of sexy contemporary romances. Her stories have been described as toe-curling, enchanting, steamy and fun. She loves to write about reluctant heroes, imperfect heroines and happily ever afters. She lives in the Midwest with her husband who only wants to read the sex scenes in her books, her kids who will never read the sex scenes in her books, and family and friends who say they’re shocked by the sex scenes in her books (yeah, right!). 

​
Author Links:  Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads ​

Getting it Back
Red Hot Russians #3 
By: Elizabeth Harmon 
Released April 4, 2016
Carina Press

In this second-chance romance, a former top men's figure skating champion is willing to risk everything for a comeback--except a new start with his long lost love. 

An unexpected phone call from the man who broke her heart offers Amy Shepherd an opportunity to return to the work she loves, training elite figure skaters. Except it’s just one figure skater: Him. Can she finally forgive and forget? 

Figure skater Mikhail “Misha” Zaikov once had it all: medals, money and the adoration of millions. But a devastating injury put an end to his career and his romance, leaving him with nothing but regret over what could have been. His last chance to re-join the world’s top skaters is now. And there’s only one person who can help him: Her. 

On Russia’s unyielding ice, Misha must reclaim what he's lost while facing off against a talented young rival and risking further injury. But Amy soon discovers Misha's much bigger challenges lurk off the ice. And she's determined to keep Misha whole and healthy, even if doing so ends his shot at the gold.

The next morning, Amy awoke first. Misha lay beside her in bed, still sleeping. He’d brought over clothes last night.

His toothbrush was in the bathroom cabinet. This was just like back in Ohio, only better. Misha was no longer searching for direction. He knew what he wanted, and they were working together to help him achieve it. But she couldn’t deny that she was nervous about what would happen today, when he returned to training on the ice. 

She got out of bed, and changed into her running clothes, put coffee on, then returned to wake Misha. “Hey,” she sat on the edge of the bed and gently shook his shoulder. “Time for our run.” 

“Nyet,” he said in a sleepy voice, and reached for her. 

“You agreed to it last night. Nothing too strenuous, just enough to get your heart pumping and muscles working.” 

“Don’t need running to make my heart pump,” he pulled her down onto the bed, cupping her butt through her black running tights. “As for muscles…maybe we can stay in and work this big stiff one?” 

She laughed and squirmed away. “Nice try, but that muscle’s getting plenty of exercise. Rise and shine, big guy.” 

She threw back the blankets, leaving him no choice but to fumble around for his pants. She waited outside and he joined her a few minutes later. They took off at an easy pace, following the path behind the center’s main buildings, then out around the pond and back. Nothing too strenuous, just as she’d promised. Their lungs filled with clean fresh air, the morning mist was cool on their skin. They returned to the guesthouse and she bent over her knees, breathing out cold air. Misha did the same. He straightened easily. “How is your back,” she said. 

“Perfect. No pain at all.” 

“And the rest of you? Knees? Head?” 

“Knees are fine, and my head is in good place, too. Thanks to you, Amy the tiger.” 

She grinned, and stood on tiptoe to kiss him. “Ready to get back on the ice?” 

“Can’t wait,” he said decisively. 

“You’re going to be great.” 
​
He brushed a kiss across her lips. “For you, I will be.”

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Elizabeth Harmon loves to read and write romances with a dash of different. 
A graduate of the University of Illinois, she has worked in advertising, community journalism and as a freelance magazine writer. She feels incredibly blessed to have a career that allows her to spend her days imagining “what if?” and a loving family that keeps her grounded in the real world.  Her debut novel, Pairing Off is a 2016 RITA Award Finalist. 
An adventurous cook, vintage home enthusiast, occasional actress, and entry-level figure skater, Elizabeth makes her home in the Midwest, where life is good, but the sports teams aren’t. She loves to hang out on her front porch, or at her favorite local establishments, enjoy good food and wine, and talk writing with anyone who will listen. 
 
Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads 

Laid Out
Worth the Fight # 4 
By: Sidney Halston 
Released August 18, 2015 
Loveswept

Perfect for fans of Monica Murphy and Cecy Robson, Sidney Halston’s scorching new MMA romance proves there are no holds barred when it comes to seduction. 

Growing up an Army brat, Violet Channing could never meet her dad’s high expectations. But in the eyes of her best friend, she could do no wrong. He even insisted that he should be her first kiss. Now Cain Sorensen is all grown up, hardened by years in special ops and always looking for a good fight. Tall, with striking blue eyes and impossibly blond hair, he’s a modern-day Viking warrior. Of course, Violet’s all grown up, too, and she’s ready to surrender to his every command. 

Cain knows he’s bad for Violet. His work is dangerous, and his hobbies are downright deadly. As a private mercenary and a mixed martial arts fighter, he could never let such an innocent soul into his world. And yet his most grueling combat training is no match for Violet’s killer curves, hot touch, and suggestive glances. Now all of Cain’s most explosive fantasies are coming true—but once they cross the line between friends and lovers, there’s no turning back.

Violet put her hands up in surrender. “Tom really did chew strange!” She stopped and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Or was it Tim? Whatever. The point is that the way a guy chews is a legitimate flaw. I can’t marry a man who talks and chews at the same time, spitting little chunks of steak in my face. Ew! What if one of those little pieces lands in my eye? I could go blind.” 
“The thought you’ve put into that exaggeration is really impressive, if not disturbing.” Her friend threw the scarf back at Violet. “Come on. Finish getting dressed already.” 
Minutes later, Violet was sitting cross-legged in the middle of her bed applying makeup when JL walked in again, fully dressed to bartend at the Pier. “I was thinking . . .” 
“Oh, no. Are you okay?” 
JL playfully smacked Violet’s shoulder before sitting down on her bed and fussing with Violet’s hair. “Maybe the issue is Cain. Have you heard from him?” That was not something Violet wanted to talk about, and her friend knew it, which was why she’d brought it up. “What the hell is going on with you and Cain? And before you say nothing, remember we’ve been friends for a long time. I know you. We live together. That man has you in knots, and since he left four months ago, you’ve been a Debbie Downer. It’s depressing. You’re depressing.” 
“One hundred and ten days. Not that I’m counting. I have absolutely no idea where he’s at. He just vanished. But even when he was here, there was never anything going on with us. You saw how he treated me when he bothered to speak to me. I don’t know what I did to make him hate me. We were best friends, and then we weren’t. Plain and simple. My issues have got nothin’ to do with him.” 
“He doesn’t say a word to anyone. I’ve been living in Tarpon Springs for years now, and since he moved here I think I’ve heard him say ten words. So the talking thing, it’s a nonissue. It’s got nothin’ to do with you. The jerk thing—yeah, all you, babe. Not sure what’s up with that. He’s not exactly Mr. Friendly, but he’s not flat-out rude to anyone except you.” 
“Except me,” she agreed. 
“Why’s that?” 
“No clue.” Violet lay back, sucked in her gut, and closed the top button of her jeans. “He’s so surly nowadays,” she said breathlessly. “When we were growing up he was always the quiet and introspective one, but he wasn’t the Cain I’ve met here in town. This Cain’s a—” 
“A dick,” JL interrupted. 
“Dick! Dick!” Bird cawed. 
JL barked out a loud laugh. “I love that bird.” 
Violet rolled her eyes and ignored the parrot. “Yep. He’s not very friendly. Cain, not Bird. Actually, both. Or neither.” Violet shook her head. “Ugh! What I mean to say is both Cain and Bird are not friendly.” Violet let out her breath and put her arms out to JL, who grabbed them and pulled her up. “But I’m so freakin’ worried about him. Mad or not, I hope he’s okay.” Violet stretched her legs and walked over to the mirror behind her door to look at herself. Normal to large boobs, average waist, biggish butt, and short legs. She was on the voluptuous side of the spectrum. But she liked the way she looked, and so long as she was healthy, she never dieted and never looked at the scale. It had taken her a lot of years of self-loathing, but 
now, at twenty-eight, she loved her curvy body and wore it proudly—her father’s opinion, God rest his soul, be damned. 
She turned halfway, looked at her backside, and smiled to herself. She had long ago come to terms with the fact that she would never be the same size as JL—but neither were most women. The mean girls in high school who had tormented her and mooed at her when she walked down the hall were now cordially invited to kiss her big behind, because she was happy with her tush just as it was and she seriously enjoyed her cookie dough ice cream addiction. 
“Looking good, sister,” JL said. “I swear I’m going to burn your scrubs.” 
“You think John will like it?” 
JL walked up to Violet and playfully eyed her cleavage. “Only if he’s a guy.” Violet swatted her away and adjusted her top so that she wasn’t spilling out of it. “Come on. You’re going to be late for your date, and I’m going to be late for work.” 
Violet took a deep breath, grabbed her purse, and followed JL out of the house. A glass of wine would loosen her up. That’s what she needed in order to get rid of the butterflies in her stomach. She wasn’t so good with dates, and blind dates were the worst.

I have a love/hate relationship with this story. Might sound a bit strong, but hear me out.
I loved the characters, they are well thought out, the author showed how they grew as people, how they worked on their numerous issues, and how they felt deeply, intensely, and thoroughly.
I loved Cain and Violet, both as individuals and together. They have so much history, like only people growing up together can have. He had always been her hero, fighting for her since a kid to protect her. Everything he had done in his life, has somehow been connected to her. He was her first kiss, a kiss that changed them both. They have so much fire in between them, the chemistry is burning hot, the feelings they have for each other are like lava. When Cain starts to give her dating lessons, things get complicated.
Because originally, it wasn't just Cain and Violet growing up together, there was also Jeremy. The man Violet was engaged to, before he died in the war, Cain's best friend. And that brought lots of complications, issues, and hurt between Violet and Cain.
The pain, sorrow, and damage that was done to their relationship, by mixed messages, leaving when things got difficult, and by being a jerk, I hated it. Cause it went on and on. It seemed like they were stuck in this behavioral model, and couldn't get out of it. It is obvious that they love each other, the feelings are palpable on every page. But the communication between them, and not just from Cain, is lacking, to say it mildly, and the pain that cost is agonising  And to top it off, Cain is using illegal fighting as an excuse to get rid of the frustration, guilt, and anger he has, creating dangerous situations.
I got emotionally invested in these characters, I felt for them, their joy, love, and the deep pain they cause for each other.  I was a blubbering mess towards the end, when it seems everything is lost, and that is why I have such a strong investment in the story, that I actually have a love/hate relationship with it. But the author brilliantly gives the characters the keys to their believable HEA, with an epilogue that leaves the reader thirsting for the next story in the series
~ Five Spoons!

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Sidney Halston lives her life by one simple rule: “Just do it.” And that’s exactly what she did. At the age of thirty, having never written anything other than a legal brief, she picked up a pen for the first time to pursue her dream of becoming an author. That first stroke sealed the deal, and she fell in love with writing. Halston lives in South Florida with her husband and children. 
 

​Author Links:  Facebook | Twitter | Website | GoodReads

She needed him to guard her body, in more ways than one…

Ex-Army sergeant and security expert, Cody Matthews recently walked away from his company to work The Lucky B Ranch just outside of Marietta, Montana. The ranch is his refuge, but his hiding out is short-lived when he’s recruited into the Marietta Bachelor Auction and his high school ex-crush bids a small fortune to spend one weekend with him.

Hollywood starlet, Hayley Dawn O’Malley has had decent, honest, sexy Code Matthews on the brain ever since she left Marietta after high school to pursue her dreams. But now she’s back in town and someone is threatening her. Code, a natural-born protector, is the only man she trusts to keep her safe.

Spending their weekend date in a remote cabin, Code plays the role of reluctant bodyguard, yet Hayley isn’t going to let the tormented man deny his feelings for her, no matter the threat to her body or her heart.

I absolutely loved the previous Bachelor Auction Series from Tule Publishing, and nearly melted from joy, when I saw there's a new series coming! And the book one lived up to my expectations.
It is emotional, heartbreaking, raw, fearful, joyful, passionate, and sweet...
Cody carries so much pain inside him. This beautiful, capable, caring, protecting man, has seen and  experienced too much, and had his heart broken one too many times, and is determined now to only protect himself, from any kind of emotional connection and feelings, even people, as much as possible.
Hayley is home in Marietta to close the only home she ever had, her grandmother's house in Marietta. There are bittersweet memories she has to face, of hurt, abandonment from her parents, love from her granny, and the first moments of passion with Cody.
The danger and fear from Hayley's stalker gave the story another dimension, and added some pepper to it, as I like to say. It also brought Hayley and Cody together, as reluctantly Cody agrees to protect her. The riding lessons, as well as the shooting practice, the beautiful scenery of Marietta, Montana, that the author so well paints with her words, all play into the story well, bringing Cody and Hayley closer together. 
I liked that it was Cody that was the one, who was doubting, when it came to the relationship. He had to reflect in his life, and the long serious talks with Hayley, about past and  present helped them map the future they wanted to go towards. 
The hurting and vulnerability is so close to the surface, it was like waiting for the fireworks to burst, as they were opening up to each other about their past. 
And they had to get rather deep, before they could see the light again, and figure out, if future together could be possible for them. 
Emotional, raw, fearful, joyful, passionate, and sweet, indeed. 
~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side

Second Chance Bride   

When Daniel Gardner convinced the residents of his Kansas boomtown to advertise for mail-order brides, he never expected the woman he once loved to respond. But Leah Swann steps off the bride train…pregnant and widowed and in need of a husband. Drawn to protect his fragile childhood friend, Daniel proposes a marriage of convenience. 

Seeing her onetime best friend waiting to meet the bride train is a wonderful shock for Leah. After her first rocky marriage, a practical partnership with Daniel sounds perfect—as long as her heart doesn't get involved. But when she starts to fall for her husband, will her plans of a fresh start be ruined…or is a real marriage to Daniel exactly what she needs? 

Cowboy Creek: Bringing mail-order brides, and new beginnings, to a Kansas boomtown.

Heartwarming and inspiring story, with an intriguing history of how the Kansas town got started, mixed with life as it was after the war, at 1868, dangers of small town during that time, about love that can win over many obstacles, and about faith, that seems to be able to move the mountains.
Usually a romance book has a 'theme' friends to lovers, second chance, etc. This story had adopted most of them, it has childhood friends, cowboy and baby mom (who is best friend's ex), gets a second chance by forming a marriage of convenience, that turns to love, living with the dangers of the wild west. But it was all well built into the story, that had a nice flow to it, and was able to capture my mind and thoughts completely, so that I finished the book in one sitting.
The development of the town was fascinating, and was touched on several occasions. The people of the town, and the town itself, was very well thought out and developed, and I believe this will be an interesting, and noteworthy series, for sure. 
I enjoyed Leah and Daniel together. They had great chemistry, and Daniel is the most tender, loving, kind man towards her. It was lovely to see their relationship develop, as they grew closer together. The war had left scars on both of them, but the honesty, Daniel had, about everything, made Leah trust him, and open up about the past, and start healing. 
As always in the Love Inspired stories, the faith in God is at the center of the story. Leah's faith of God guiding her to home, is refreshing. As the danger comes too close to home in that small Kansas development, the whole town comes together, and pray for protection and guidance in the turbulent situation. 
Some of the issues and events that took place in town, didn't come to completion, and hopefully will be revealed in the future books of the series. 
Sometimes we a granted a second chance, of what should have been in the first place, as it is shown in Leah and Daniel's tender and gentle story
~ Four Spoons