The Secret by Max Monroe

 

Mr. Hot Professor, the man I’m determined to resist, is challenging me to a competition—a playful, secret game, so to speak—where the winner takes all.

The Secret, an all-new hot as sin romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Max Monroe, is available now!

Dear Fellow Bookworms,

I need your help.

I, Rachel Rose, am in quite the pickle with a hot-as-sin English Lit professor by the name of Ty Winslow, and I don’t know how to get out of it.

Let me break it down for you:

Girl meets Guy.

Girl gives Guy her underwear on a dare but nothing else identifying (like her name or number) because she plans to never see Guy again.

But Girl does see Guy again, in a very professional setting, where she is to be the Teaching Assistant to his Professor for an entire semester.

Girl would like to ignore all events of the past, but Guy is a whole list of tempting things that are hard to resist. (See below:)

#1: Insanely attractive.
#2: The most fun a girl could ever have.
#3: Successful and intelligent.
#4: He can quote Walt Whitman at the drop of a hat—which I’m sure you know is a dangerous thing for a literature-lover.
#5: Smooth with a capital S. He could charm the panties off a woman WITHOUT the help of a dare.

And now, Mr. Hot Professor, the man I’m determined to resist, is challenging me to a competition—a playful, secret game, so to speak—where the winner takes all.

My plan? Play the game long enough to win—long enough to walk away with the upper hand—without doing something stupid like falling in love.

It’s possible . . . right?

If you have any advice, please reach out to me soon—before it’s too late.

XOXO,
Rachel

I loved this book. I need you to know that first and that I'm not just saying that because I got an advance copy. I have also loved the other books in this series, The Bet and The Pact. Those Winslow brothers are just... wonderful. This book was fun and despite the fact that I do not like forbidden type romance books, this didn't feel forbidden. It helped that Rachel wasn't his student so there wasn't a weird age gap. Ty was super loveable and I was rooting for things to work out (as all good romance novels do). The humor in this one made it even better. I can't wait for Remy's book, The Redo to come out in July! I've been waiting to read more about him since Winnie Winslow & Wes's book (Scoring the Billionaire) and Charlotte & Nick's (Dr. NEURO). They're not required to read but give a little more insight into the Winslow family.

Read your copy today, exclusively on Amazon and FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3G8qTtB
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/TheSecretMM

Add The Secret to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3g46Mm0

About Max Monroe
A duo of romance authors team up under the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling pseudonym Max Monroe to bring you sexy, laugh-out-loud reads.

Max Monroe is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of more than ten contemporary romance titles. Favorite writing partners and long time friends, Max and Monroe strive to live and write all the fun, sexy swoon so often missing from their Facebook newsfeed. Sarcastic by nature, their two writing souls feel like they’ve found their other half. This is their most favorite adventure thus far. ​

Connect with Max Monroe
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Website: https://www.authormaxmonroe.com/

The Pilot and the Puck-Up by Pippa Grant

We need to talk about this book. Mostly because it is part of the BBA Book Club this month, but also because I'm co-hosting the discussion about it.

Join us at 8pm EST on August 1st for

a chat about the book!

Description

He’s the biggest, baddest, most spider-fearing motherpucker on the ice…

When you’re named after the king of the gods, the world expects certain things of you.

Tough? Damn right.

Smart? Don’t let the hockey uniform fool you.

Large and in charge? Honey, I’m the biggest, baddest, mother pucking-est machine to ever own the ice. I shoot. I score. In and out of the rink. I don’t come early, but I come often, if you know what I mean. And I always leave the ladies wanting more.

Until that chick last night.

I’m no one-thrust wonder, and you’re damn right I’m going to prove to her I can do better. But every time I think I’m finally on my way back into her pants, she one-ups and out-balls me.

I should cut my losses, lick my wounds, and walk away.

But Zeus Berger doesn’t walk away from anything.

Especially when she's the only woman in the world who might be able to handle me.

The Pilot and the Puck-Up is the first in the Thrusters Series by Pippa Grant. It follows members of the Thrusters professional hockey team out of Copper Valley (fictional town in VA). There is also a series about the baseball team (Fireballs) which is excellent as well (I recently reviewed The Grumpy Player Next Door). It is part of a series but they are standalone books, which I appreciate.

Here is why I love this book so much (and all of the Thrusters books, really): humor, romance, sports stuff, feels, and pranks. Zeus is a big dude with a big personality. The first time you see him he's fitting himself into a tight dress as part of a bet. It's like he HAS to do something if somebody challenges him to.

Joey is a badass. There is no other way to describe her. She's also just so cool that you can't help but love her. And it is that attitude and ability to beat Zeus in everything that gets his attention. He likes the challenge and how tough she is.

Zeus has an.. issue in his pants the night they meet and after that things continue to go wrong for the poor guy. But luckily for him Joey likes that he keeps trying. She wants him to win her over because she wants to know that he's worthy of her time. I can appreciate that, especially since Joey has walls up since her mom ran out on their family when she was a kid.

Not to mention the audio book is great. Erin Mallon and Jason Clarke do a great job, and I love that Erin reads the female voices and Jason reads the male. The back and forth with the 2 voices makes it that much better.

This book is free to read on KU.

Heavy Petting by Erin Nicholas

He's her best friend.
A reformed bad boy turned hot teacher.
And after one spur-of-the-moment Vegas wedding... her husband.

Heavy Petting, an all-new heartwarming and laugh-out-loud romantic comedy in the Boys of the Bayou Gone Wild Series by New York Times bestselling author Erin Nicholas is available now!

He's her best friend.
A reformed bad boy turned hot teacher.
And after one spur-of-the-moment Vegas wedding... her husband.

Jordan Benoit and Fletcher Landry have been best friends since they were six. He's always been The Guy. When she needed picked up, cheered up, or lifted up--like literally, to see the stage at a concert--Fletcher was the guy.

So when her boyfriend dumps her--on national TV--Fletcher immediately gets on a plane and comes to her rescue.

And when she ends up in a Vegas wedding chapel and needs someone to say, "I do"...yep, Fletcher's the guy. Of course.

But being The Guy 24/7 is a lot. He just wants everyone to give him a freaking minute to get this marriage thing right. Including his sexy, sweet new wife who he's wanted for three years. Who is exasperatingly, temptingly all-in from minute one.

Jordan knows what she wants. A life in her hometown. A job with alpacas. And Fletcher. Not necessarily in that order.

They've said the vows. They'd told the world. They've told their grandmas. Forget taking things slow. Forget just heavy petting. Forget any chance of backing out when things get tough. They're going to have to go all the way, in every way.

After all, friends becoming lovers should be the easiest thing in the world. Right?

Review

Fletcher has been in love with his best friend Jordan for a while. Jordan, however, has been in a relationship for years. When she is finally single again, I loved that his first response is to go to her; not necessarily to make his claim right away, but to make sure that she is OK.

That kind of gets thrown out the window when they get married before leaving Vegas to head back home. Fletcher ends up getting freaked out by how quickly things changed so they have some work to do. That said, I loved their relationship and getting freaked out by things suddenly changing isn't unexpected or unreasonable.

Experience all the feels today!
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Excerpt

“I also think that I need to—”
“Marry me.”
“Date you.”
They spoke at the same time.
Then stared at each other.
“What?”
“What?”
They spoke simultaneously again.
“I was trying to give you some freaking space before I said anything.” He seemed very annoyed suddenly.
She leaned in, bracing her hand on the seat between them. “The last person I need space from is you, Fletcher. I mean, we’ve basically been dating for twenty years. If dating is about getting to know someone and figuring out how well you fit with them and figuring out if you want to spend the rest of your life with them…we’ve done that.”
He shook his head. “You have got to be one of the most exasperating people in my life.”
Her eyebrows rose. “Considering your twin brothers are Zeke and Zander, being one of the most exasperating people in your life is pretty huge.”
He shook his head. “Absolutely exasperating. To think I could’ve kissed you when we were standing next to a king-sized bed and you were only in your bra and panties and you would have been all in.”
Jordan felt her cheeks flush, but she grinned widely. “I really am a pain.”
“You really are.” His gaze dropped to her mouth.
Jordan felt a zing of excitement go through her. She really wanted him to kiss her.
“I think you dating me is a great idea,” he said after a moment.
Thank God.
“You’re sure you’re done dating other people? Having fun with all those girls? All the casual relationships?” she asked.
“If it means I get to be with you? Absolutely.”
Her stomach swooped, harder and faster than before. “This isn’t crazy?”
“It makes a hell of a lot more sense than anything else. Like you dating other men. Or either of us being with anyone else.”
“We’ve never talked about this before.”
“You’ve been taken,” he said simply.
Right. That was true. And Fletcher was too good of a guy to go after another man’s girl.
She still felt compelled to say, “It’s been three years since anything happened.”
“Again, because you’ve been taken.” His voice dropped. “Only because you’ve been taken, Jordan.”
Her heart skittered at that and she wet her lips. She thought about her next words carefully. Several seconds ticked by. Then she said simply, “Prove it.”
Fletcher reached out, wrapped his big hand around her wrist, and tugged her close. He cupped the back of her head and brought her in until they were nose to nose. “This changes everything,” he said. Almost as if it was a warning.
“I know.”
“I’m the last frog you’re ever going to kiss. So be sure you want it now.”
That was exactly what she’d wanted to hear without even realizing it.

About Erin Nicholas

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Erin Nicholas has been writing romances almost as long as she’s been reading them. To date, she’s written over thirty sexy, contemporary novels that have been described as “toe-curling,” “enchanting,” “steamy,” and “fun.” She adores reluctant heroes, imperfect heroines, and happily ever afters.
Erin lives in the Midwest, where she enjoys spending time 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 her family and friends (who claim to be “shocked” by the sex scenes in her books).

Connect with Erin
Website: http://bit.ly/2NkB2uF
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Tie Me Down by Melanie Harlow

 

Like any cowboy, he’s good with a rope and knows exactly how to tie me up.
But what if I want him to tie me down?

Tie Me Down, an all new smoldering second-chance romance from USA Today bestselling author Melanie Harlow is now live!

Just friends.

That’s all Beckett Weaver and I have ever been.

Sure, he’s a hot cowboy who left Wall Street behind to take over his family’s ranch. Yes, I’ve had a secret crush on him since we were seventeen. And who wouldn’t appreciate those strong hands, that massive chest, and the way he fills out a pair of Levis?

He makes a girl sweat just looking at him . . . and I look. A lot.

But I’m a single mom trying to move on with my life, and he’s running that ranch single-handedly while taking care of his elderly father. We don’t even live in the same state. I only returned to my hometown of Bellamy Creek to sell my late mother’s house, and he just invited me and my son to stay with him because he’s got a big heart.

That’s not the only big thing he’s got--which I discover the night I finally sneak across the hall to his bedroom and shed my inhibitions right alongside my pajamas. And once we give into each other, we can’t stop.

The hayloft. The bed of his truck. The dock by the pond.

Nothing has ever felt so right, but his past has taught him not to believe in happily ever after, and every perfect night I spend in his arms brings us closer to goodbye.

Like any cowboy, he’s good with a rope and knows exactly how to tie me up.

But what if I want him to tie me down?

Review

Recently I showed the cover for this book, now let's talk about how it was. It. Was. Wonderful. Beautiful. Heartfelt. At times, painful (for the right reasons). Can I just say how much I loved Beckett? Despite his taking care of his father, he allows his childhood neighbor Maddie (who he crushed on for years) to stay at his house for a short time with her son while she fixes her mom's house to sell. We all know how this goes. Sparks fly despite the fact that she is supposed to go home.

Beckett does the thing where he tries to separate himself from his feelings, but he wants her so much. And the feels, guys! The feels! The relationship with Maddie's son is also cute. Elliott is a special addition to the story and reading about their relationships was touching. Elliott likes things like unicorns and the color pink. I appreciated that Maddie let him express himself despite her ex's disapproval. Also the element of friendship between the guys shows that just because some people choose to leave, it doesn't mean that you can't still love and appreciate those around you. It was a truly beautiful reminder.

Tie Me Down is the fourth (and final) book in the Bellamy Creek Series. They are all stand-alone books, but you get so much more by reading everyone's story!

Grab your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3hc2Yke
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Add Tie Me Down to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3suOrlu

About Melanie Harlow

USA Today bestselling author Melanie Harlow likes her martinis dry, her heels high, and her history with the naughty bits left in. When she's not writing or reading, she gets her kicks from TV series like Schitt’s Creek, Homeland, and Fleabag. She occasionally runs three miles, but only so she can have more gin and steak.

Melanie is the author of the CLOVERLEIGH FARMS series, the ONE & ONLY series, AFTER WE FALL series, the HAPPY CRAZY LOVE series, the FRENCHED series, and the sexy historical SPEAK EASY duet, set in the 1920s. She lifts her glass to romance readers and writers from her home near Detroit, MI, where she lives with her husband, two daughters, and pet rabbit.

Connect with Melanie

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Website: www.melanieharlow.com

Real Fake Love by Pippa Grant

 NEW RELEASE!

Make sure you stick around for the end of the post where you'll see an excerpt from the book and a giveaway for Pippa swag!

Blurb

If people have polar opposites, Luca Rossi is mine.
His butt is in the baseball hall of fame. Mine’s comfortably seated in the hall of lame.
When he’s not snagging fly balls out in center field, he’s modeling in shampoo commercials. I once jammed my own finger while stirring cookie dough, and sometimes I forget shampoo is a thing.
He’s a total cynic when it comes to love.
I make a living writing love stories.
But after my latest broken engagement (no, I don’t want to talk about how many times that’s happened), it’s clear he’s exactly the man I need.
If anyone can teach me to be the opposite of me, it’s him.
The first thing I want him to teach me?
How to not fall in love.
And as luck would have it, he’s in desperate need of a fake girlfriend to get a meddling grandmother off his back.
We couldn’t be more perfect together, because the last thing Luca Rossi will ever be is the next man to leave me at the altar.
Or will he?
 
Real Fake Love is a line drive straight to the heart featuring a grumpy athlete, a jilted bride, a fake relationship, and the world’s laziest cat. It stands alone and comes complete with sibling rivalry, the world’s most awkward shower scene, and a sweetly satisfying happily ever after.

I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this book and I can't even tell you how much I loved Henri. I should probably just quit doubting Pippa's books when I read the blurbs but COME ON! Her name is Henrietta BACON and she's trying to not fall in love after being left at the altar AGAIN, her cat is dressed in costumes, and she's in a fake relationship with a baseball player to help teach her not to fall in love while he tries to keep his mom and grandmother out of his love life. It sounds crazy... and it is. In the best way.

This is a standalone within the Copper Valley Fireballs series, the first was Jock Blocked (link below). I can't wait for Cooper Rock's book (please write it, Pippa) and the there were multiple parts where I laughed out loud. I didn't know that I would, but I really like Henri. She's so happy despite what she's gone through. Anyone could have been bitter about love after that many fails, but she just keeps trying. Meanwhile grumpy hot baseball player has himself closed off. Luca is a bit of a jerk, but once you learn his backstory you understand why. Also, poor Henri is allergic to alcohol which seems extra painful that she can't even have a drink after another wedding fail.

This is definitely a book I will read more than once. Also, if you were a fan of Jamie Farrell (Pippa's other pen name) and the Misfit Brides books, you get a nice tip of the hat to Bliss with it's giant wedding cake monument. Not gonna lie, I was probably overly excited to see the reference but it happened... what can ya do? Also, I thought that the stuff Henri wrote about was like a Kimmie dream, so I enjoyed that was well.  Overall, a must read if you love a rom com and sports romance!

GOODREADS LINK: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52714963-real-fake-love
 
 
PURCHASE LINKS
 
US: https://amzn.to/34IbeSI
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AU: https://amzn.to/3gC9FZ4
 
Free in Kindle Unlimited
 

Below is an excerpt from the book. Enjoy (and then check it out)!

EXCERPT
 
Henri, in the middle of Chapter Four...
 
It's probably weird to be sitting on the doorstep of the man I cyberstalked after his whole love sucks speech after my failed wedding. But I won’t apologize for waiting for Luca here at what I think is his house, because you don’t get what you need in life if you don’t go for it.
 
Still, maybe Dogzilla and I should be waiting in my car instead? At least that way, I could turn on the radio while we wait. And the air conditioning.
 
I’m about to move to the car when a clunker chugs around the corner, one headlight out, and turns into the driveway.
 
This is definitely the wrong house.
 
I’m sitting on the porch of a stranger’s house, hoping that’s a woman driving, because if it’s a woman, at least I know I won’t be in danger.
Of falling in love with her at first sight, I mean.
 
The engine shuts off, and while I don’t often trespass at midnight, I have this feeling that jumping up with Dogzilla and making a run for it right now is exactly the wrong move. A well-timed, "Oh, sorry, I thought you were someone else," will give us all a laugh, I’ll take my cat and leave, and then two complete strangers will have a weird story to tell their friends over margaritas—or an iced tea, in my case—and huh.
 
This would make an excellent meet-cute for my friend Dorothea’s next steamy romance novel. I’ll have to drop her a note too.
 
The occupant of the car is still sitting in it, and the figure illuminated by the street light looks too big to be a woman.
 
Dang it.
 
He also seems to be—
 
Is he hitting his head against the steering wheel?
 
Uh-oh.
 
If I picked the house of a nutjob, all bets are off.
 
"Be ready to run, Dogzilla," I whisper.
 
My lazy cat doesn’t move, and instead snores in my lap.
 
Easier this way anyway, since it’s not like I can count on her to follow alone when I take off running at full-steam.
 
Which doesn’t happen all that often, if we’re being honest here. I’m a writer, not a runner.
 
But—wait.
 
The way his hair is moving—
 
That is Luca Rossi.
 
I rise, cradling Dogzilla, and when Luca looks my way, I give him a finger wave and a smile.
 
The light isn’t bright enough for me to see what he’s saying, but his lips are definitely moving, and if I’m not mistaken, he’s wearing the same long-suffering expression my father usually has when I tell him I’m engaged.
 
Again.
 
It might also be remarkably similar to the expression Luca was wearing when he recognized me at Duggan Field earlier today too.
 
Not my intention to ambush him at work, I swear. I was curious about the ballpark—I’m curious about a lot of things—so when I caught wind on social media of a writer organization that was touring the park, it was easy enough to get here in time today to join the group.
 
And it was fascinating to see where the players work out, to smell the chairs the announcers sit in, what it feels like to stand in the dugout, and hear how many light bulbs have to be replaced every day.
 
There’s a pop and a creak as the car door swings open, and I suddenly desperately need to know why Luca Rossi, millionaire sports star, lives on a grocery store clerk’s salary.
 
For research.
 
I swear.
 
I like to do research.
 
It’s one of the things my ex-fiancé Kyle liked about me.
 
"Henri," Luca says.
 
My brain hears what the hell are you doing here, and why are you between me and my bed, and I’m not asking out loud because I don’t honestly want to know.
 
I either have a lot of experience understanding people because I write good characters, or I have a lot of experience with frustrating men after five failed engagements.
 
Plus my lifelong relationship with my father.
 
"Hi, Luca! Great game tonight. That catch you made in center field was like—"
 
"The one where I didn’t move, the one where I stepped three feet to my left, or the one where I had to take two steps back?"
 
Okay, yeah, he had an easy game. "How did you know where the ball was going to be? That’s like—it’s like you’re psychic."
 
"It’s called being a professional." He squeezes his eyes shut briefly, opens them, eyeballs Dogzilla in my arms, and then sighs again. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your company tonight?"
 
Wow. He’s cranky.
 
Not gonna lie.
 
I know it’s probably me.
 
But that’s no excuse for not forging ahead. I didn’t come all this way to chicken out. "You remember the last time we saw each other?"
 
"This afternoon in the clubhouse?"
 
"I liked your hat, but I meant the time…before that."
 
He closes the distance between us with three casual steps. "Nope."
 
And I go momentarily speechless as a waft of something delicious teases my nose.
 
But only momentarily. A quick recovery is a gift. Or possibly a defense mechanism. "The time we were together…in that town…with that big monument…and the event thing…"
 
No answer.
 
"The event thing that didn’t—"
 
"I’m trying to block it from my memory."
 
"Oh. Oh! Thank you. That’s very kind of you. Sorry. I didn’t realize—"
 
"That I wouldn’t want to remember your ruined wedding, that you like to redecorate people with dessert, and that your ex-fiancé is the first man that my mother’s dated in three years and I might have to start calling him Stepdad?"
 
I wince.
 
My heart also weeps because yeah, still not over seeing Jerry lock lips with a woman who could’ve been my mother, and hearing that it might actually be going somewhere is salt in the wound.
 
"So, no, Henri, I don’t remember the last time we were together. At least, I won’t, once I get inside and pour myself a large enough vodka tonic. Care for one?"
 
Once again, I’m momentarily speechless. "Um, I’m kinda allergic—"
 
I cut myself off when one of his brows rises infinitesimally, and then I gasp. Of course he knows I’m allergic. We had an entire conversation about it. "Are you trying to send me to the hospital?"
 
"No, but I am trying to get into my house. Alone. Preferably without the sad panda thoughts I’d finally managed to shake before you showed up today."
 
"Oh. That was a hint."
 
"It was."
 
"I’m bad with the subtle."
 
He swipes a hand over his mouth and looks up at the sky, and I’m certain he’s not stifling a smile.
 
Probably the exact opposite.
 
Time to forge ahead. "I’m here because I need your help."
 
"And now I pay the price for my sins," he mutters.
 
I’d ask what his sins are, but my google searches were very thorough.
Normally, he really would be the last person on earth I’d turn to for help.
 
"I don’t want money or anything like that. And I’d rather no one know I’m here, so I’m not after your fame either, though I wouldn’t mind some tips on how to get my hair as good as yours always is. I’ve tried Kangapoo before, and—wait. Sorry. Off-topic. I need you to teach me how to not fall in love."
 
 
ALSO AVAILABLE
 
#1 Jock Blocked
 
US: https://amzn.to/2Z14j4b
UK: https://amzn.to/2T1R2o7
CA: https://amzn.to/2LsahmP
AU: https://amzn.to/2yYsu8N
 
Free in Kindle Unlimited

AUTHOR LINKS
 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pippagrantromance
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ThePipsquad
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ReadPippa
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/pippagrant
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/pippa-grant
Website: http://www.pippagrant.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/pippa.grant  
 

 

GIVEAWAY

 
There is a giveaway for a custom backpack filled with Pippaverse gear (1 winner, open internationally). Click here to enter!

Jock Blocked by Pippa Grant

Description

She can’t let him score...

Call it superstition, but when a guy bats as hot as Brooks Elliott, you don’t mess with what’s working. And what’s working is him keeping his pants zipped and doing all of his scoring on the field.

So when I hear he’s planning to ditch his V-card now that he’s been traded to baseball’s lovable losers—aka my home team and my reason for living every March through October—I do what any rational, dedicated, obsessed fan would do.

I make a plan to stop him.

But the thing about stopping him is that it requires spending time with him.

Lots. And lots. And lots of time.

And the more time I spend with him, the more I like him. Not as the guy who’s going to help save my favorite team and finally bring home a championship ring, but as the guy who’s helping me in my quest to bring back the team’s old mascot. Who also loves making pancake and bacon sandwiches. And who would do almost anything for his love of the game.

But after all this time of jock-blocking him…do I even have a chance?

And if I do, are we both destined to a life of celibacy in the name of winning?

I'm going to be very honest here and say I was unsure about this book when I first heard about it. I mean... come on. A virgin baseball player and a superstitious girl determined to keep him that way so he doesn't ruin his game? I was certain this was going to be a miss for me. Well... I WAS WRONG.

Here's the thing. No matter how superstitious and crazy Mackenzie seems, she means well and it comes from a place of love and wanting to belong to something. And Brooks? He's just tired of following his superstitions because he was traded from his home team to the worst team in baseball.

They kind of meet (or meat.. hehe) for the first time as Mackenzie is stealing a meatball mascot costume and she ends up cockblocking Brooks. He doesn't know who she is under that costume, but she knows his secret and he wants to know how. Very funny even though you feel for him. When they meet again later the connection they have is something they can't deny, no matter how much they might want to.

What I really appreciated about these characters was when they could see each other for who they truly were; beneath the superstitions and the slightly crazy behavior, down to what was actually important. That seems deep for a rom com but I could see it.

Some of the other characters we meet before in other books, like America's Geekheart where we meet Beck and Sarah, and Liar, Liar, Hearts on Fire where we meet Tripp and Lila.

I got an advance copy of the book for my review. This book is free on KU, or currently $2.99 for its release.

Also, I want Cooper Rock's book to happen soon. I love him so much.

#FieryForever

Let's Get Textual by Teagan Hunter

Let's Get Textual

Description

A L-O-L standalone romantic comedy readers are calling their favorite romcom of all-time!

A wrong number is supposed to be just that--a wrong number.

Delete. Done.

Do not continue to text. Do not flirt.

A wrong number shouldn't be the first person on your mind in the morning, or the last at night...and you're definitely not supposed to talk them into buying a baby goat.

Because that would be weird.

When Zach Hastings and I get into a wrong-number mix-up, we don't follow the rules. We keep texting and flirting, because he's wicked funny and perfectly nerdy and a wonderful distraction.

I'm not looking for love, and Zach definitely had the wrong number.

But maybe...

Maybe he's the right guy.

I'm taking a break from doing a paper for my class like I should be to tell you in this time of quarantine, you should probably read this book.

Delia gets a text she thinks is from her brother. Turns out... whoops! Zach gets a number wrong but they continue to talk to each other and develop a friendship over text. The text exchanges between Delia and Zach are so funny and I found myself giggling or straight up laughing out loud at multiple points. Eventually they meet and the sparks are instantaneous.

I usually prefer a two-perspective style of narration for romance novels but they were so damn cute that I didn't mind it was all from Delia's perspective. Also there is an adorable baby goat which just makes it better (I ❤ you, Marshy!). There are a lot of text exchanges in this book, which makes sense because that is their main form of communication. Totally works for them too because they are so frigging adorable.

Seriously though, if you need a cute, funny escape during this crazy time this is a good one. I also think I love ranch dressing as much as Zach does. We would be buddies.

This book is free on KU and is the first book of the Texting Series.

Caught in the Flames by Kacey Shea

Caught in the Flames by Kacey Shea

Description

I love firemen.

Heroic. Selfless. Brave.

Not to mention the uniform with those damn sexy pants…I can’t get enough.

Imagine my surprise when local fire captain, Chase Matthews, wanders into my yard on moving day. I’ve hit real estate gold. Hot as sin with that all-knowing smirk creates an instant spark. Welcome to the neighborhood never looked so good.

But dating a firefighter isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Chase keeps me at distance even when I attempt to break down his walls. A friendship with the nosy eccentric woman down the street reveals there’s more to Chase than he’s willing to share. I’m playing with fire and bound to get burned.

Secrets unfold.

Truths are brought to light.

Can I handle the heat? Or will my love for this man prove that sometimes even good girls have to burn down the house?

This standalone contemporary romance by Kacey Shea took a turn I wasn't expecting. It's not the typical romance where you have one hero. There is a bit of a... love triangle? I guess that's the closest thing to call it. But trust me, I was happy with how this story ended. I was annoyed with Callie at times for some of her poor decisions, but I also understood where she was coming from.

I loved the characters even when I didn't particularly like them. That's hard to do in a book. The older lady Callie befriends is amazing and I loved her so much. There were plenty of moments that made me laugh and more that had me sighing or swooning. There is some mystery- what is Chase hiding? Who is that bitchy pancake girl? And how in the hell did Callie's house catch fire?!

Worth the time and the read.

Click here for your copy-- Free on KU
The second book in the series, Caught in the Lies, is released on October 3rd. It's prequel/short story One Hot Night is also available (for FREE)!

Series Saturday- Happy Cat

Each book in the Happy Cat/O'Dell brothers series is standalone and you don't need to read the previous books to understand what is going on, but it is worth it if you read them in order. Mostly so you get some more humorous backstory. All have HEA's.

Hosed is the first book in the series. Ryan O'Dell is a firefighter and Cassie Sunderwell returns to her small town to run her sister's sex toy factory while her sister Savannah takes a vacation after she finds her husband doing something... awkwardly sexual and illegal with a sheep. It's weird and funny and Ryan's pet raccoon George Cooney offers plenty of comic relief. I love that raccoon. Things keep going wrong with the factory and some people in town don't want the factory there at all, so there is some sabotage and mystery mixed in.

Hammered, the 2nd book in the series, is about Jace O'Dell and Olivia Moonbeam. Jace feels like he isn't good enough and Olivia is innocence and light. More animal humor is added with the found hedgehog Princess Von Spooksalot, an alpaca named Chewpaca, and of course George Cooney. This one is a bit different because just as Jace and Olivia get together things get sidetracked by Jace's ex telling him she is pregnant- part of this is seen in Hosed so there is a bit of overlap. This story has some mystery, kidnapping, and plenty of funny moments.

Hitched, the 3rd book in the series, comes out September 3rd and I already have it preordered. When Hitched is released the books will temporarily be taken off Kindle Unlimited until the 7th, so if you're a KU subscriber and can deal with waiting a few days you have that option. I have no patience for a series I love so I bought Hosed and Hammered at the same time when Hammered was released. When Hammered was released Hosed went on sale for 99 cents so you may be able to get a deal again on the latest release.

In Hitched we get the story of Blake and Hope, who we see more of in Hammered. I love these brothers so much and I'm interested in learning why Blake and Hope don't get along. Hope works with animals and Blake is the fixer in town (while also trying to start his winery) so whenever anything breaks down around Hope, which is a lot because if she touches anything electronic it basically combusts. Hope needs Blake's help to keep her animals... by marrying her. Her grandmother died, and in order to keep her grandmother's animals, per a stipulation in her grandmothers will the grandchild who gets married first gets the animals. Hope is at risk of losing everything to her cousin Kyle so her solution is to ask Blake for his help. After all, they had been married once for 24 hours?! I'm looking forward to this one. Join me in binge reading on September 3rd!

Hosed
Hammered
Hitched
Humbugged- Coming December 2019 (I'm super excited for this one!)