REVIEW: The Tropical Romance Test by Lila Monroe

4.5 SMOOCHES!

    

* * * * * * * * * *

SYNOPSIS:

Sleeping with the enemy is looking awfully tempting… Fall for the sizzling new rivals-to-lovers rom-com read from USA Today bestselling author, Lila Monroe! Perfect for fans of Tessa Bailey, Ali Hazelwood, and Emily Henry.

Josh Carlyle is charming, sexy as hell, and the perfect destination wedding hookup… At least, that’s what I think when I touch down in paradise with four days to pull off a lavish ceremony fit for Hollywood royalty. The groomsman in the next cabana with baby blues and a chiseled jawline that could crack a coconut? He’s the cherry on top of my tropical cocktail, and exactly what I need to shake off my single status and get my head (and, um, other parts) back in the dating game.

Then Josh reveals the truth: he’s vowed to sabotage the big day and send the gold-digging bride running before his uncle even gets to ‘I do’. Suddenly, we’re on opposite sides of the great wedding war, and I refuse to let this happily-ever-after – or my career – go down without a fight.

But Josh plays dirty… and he talks it, too. Even as I scramble to keep his sabotage shenanigans from derailing the happy(ish) couple, I can’t deny the chemistry between us. Sleeping with the enemy is looking awfully tempting…

They say all’s fair in love, war, and wedding planning… But who’s happy ending am I chasing here? And can Josh and I turn our rivalry into real romance before it’s too late?

Find out in the sizzling new romance from “the reigning queen of rom-com,” Lila Monroe!

* * * * * * * * * *

REVIEW:

Lila Monroe had me laughing, swooning, and eagerly tapping my Kindle as I devoured her latest romantic comedy, The Tropical Romance Test. Set against the backdrop of a tropical island paradise, this romcom kicks off with an unforgettable meet-cute and delivers all the push-and-pull of the rivals-to-lovers trope. Monroe’s sharp wit and sparkling prose bring the characters to life, from the feisty heroine to the charming yet infuriating hero, creating a dynamic and irresistibly entertaining story.

The banter between Josh and Hazel positively crackles with chemistry, and their journey from adversaries to something more is both hilarious and heartwarming. An entertaining blend of humor, romance, and tropical escapades, The Tropical Romance Test kept me smiling from cover-to-cover. The Tropical Romance Test by Lila Monroe gets 4.5 smooches from me!

~Danielle Palumbo

 


BUY IT NOW!

Amazon US  |  Amazon UK  |  Amazon CA  |  Amazon AU  |  Nook  |  Kobo  |  Apple Books  |  Google Play

 

COVER REVEAL: If You Hate Me by Helena Hunting

IF YOU HATE ME, a standalone new brother’s best friend hockey romance from New York Times Bestselling Author, Helena Hunting, is coming March 7th! Check out this cover!

 

 

Title:  IF YOU HATE ME
Author:  HELENA HUNTING
Genre:  CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Cover Design:  HANG LE
Art Work:  ROSIE’S FABLES
Release Date:  MARCH 4, 2024

 

 

A brand new standalone hate-to-love, brother’s best friend hockey romance.

My new roommates are two pro hockey players.

First, my manwhore older brother, and second, his seriously hot best friend (who I seriously hate).

This was a last resort.

No one should be sleeping on a futon that smells like Cheetos and ball sweat.

But here I am, trying to get my life together.

 

Tristan Stiles is the bane of my existence.

He never wears a shirt.

We can’t seem to stop fighting.

He’s an arrogant playboy with a filthy reputation.

Sure, I had a crush on him when I was fourteen, but that was a long time ago.

I know better than to trust him.

 

I just need to survive long enough to find a new job and get a new place.

And not accidentally let Tristan rail me into next week.

 

 

PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!

Kindle  |  Paperback

 

Add to Goodreads

 

 

 


About Helena Hunting: 

HelenaHunting

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of PUCKED, Helena Hunting lives on the outskirts of Toronto with her incredibly tolerant family and two moderately intolerant cats. She writes contemporary romance ranging from new adult angst to romantic sports comedy.

Connect with Helena:

Website  |  Facebook  |  Reader Group  |  Instagram  |  TikTok  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads  |  BookBub  |  Amazon

Never miss an update! Subscribe to Helena’s mailing list!

 

 

BLOG REVIEW TOUR WITH EXCERPT: The Reason I Married Him by Meghan Quinn

THE REASON I MARRIED HIM, a steamy and hilarious new marriage-of-convenience, enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy from USA Today Bestselling Author, Meghan Quinn, is available now!

Scroll down for an excerpt!

 

 

Who really gets married out of convenience?
Apparently, I do.

 

 

He proposed . . . and I said yes.
Normally a jovial occasion for a couple in love, but this proposal has a very different feel.
Because the man that I’ll be calling my husband blew into town with one thing on his mind . . . to make my life a living nightmare.

So why did I say yes?

Well, because we both need something from each other.

Namely, I want the farm land he currently owns, and he needs a wife in order to inherit his family cabin in his grandfather’s will.

So as he so eloquently put it, my hand, for his land.

At first, I thought the idea was nuts.
Who really gets married out of convenience?
Apparently, I do.

And now we have to sell our relationship to the town. Meaning, we’re holding hands, he’s pinching my cheeks . . . upper and lower. We’re even forced to share the one-bedroom guest house on the farm where his monstrous body is taking up a large percentage of the bed.

But we’re so persuasive about our farse, that now I’m starting to think he actually might like me. Especially when he grabs me by the wrist and teases the shell of my ear as he whispers, “Mine.”

 

 

ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY OR READ FOR FREE IN KINDLE UNLIMITED!

Kindle  |  Paperback  |  Special Edition Hardcover  |  Audiobook

 

Add to Goodreads

 

 

“Lovable characters, clever dialogue and a steamy, swoon-worthy romance…” ~Danielle, Red Cheeks Reads

 

Check out Danielle’s 5 SMOOCHES review!

 

 

EXCERPT:

 

We cross the street again, right into town. From what I can tell, the town centers around a large lake with the main street flowing around it, and businesses dotted all along the road. The town is a combination of western and mountain with log-like cabin buildings and saloon façades. It’s cute and whimsical. Everything I’d want in a mountain town.

“My grandpa would have loved you.”

“You think so?” I ask as we head toward the diner. Wyatt warned me that it’s chock-full of trolls.

Yes, you read that correctly, trolls. The owner apparently collects them and has used her diner to display them on every surface she can. As a bipartisan of troll collecting, I’m fascinated to see what this troll haven might look like.

“I know so,” Wyatt says. “He always wanted me to be with someone who was—as he put it—a bit spicy. Or in your case, a lot spicy. He wanted someone to challenge me, not fall in line with my day-to-day. He wanted someone who would push my buttons, make me think, and make me work to find peace. He never ever wanted anything handed to me, and baby, you were one hell of a hard catch to land.”

“Hence the bribery at the beginning. Your grandpa would have been proud,” I joke.

“He would have.”

When we arrive at the diner, Wyatt reaches for the door just as it pops open. He steps back, and I catch a smile cross his face right before he says, “Fallon, how are you?”

“Wyatt?” a stunning woman says, pulling him into a hug. “Oh my gosh, it’s been so long. How are you doing?”

 

 


About Meghan Quinn:

USA Today Bestselling Author, wife, adoptive mother, and peanut butter lover. Author of romantic comedies and contemporary romance, Meghan Quinn brings readers the perfect combination of heart, humor, and heat in every book.

Connect with Meghan:

Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  TikTok  |  Twitter  |  Amazon  |  BookBub  |  Goodreads

Sign up for her mailing list to stay up-to-date with Meghan!

Text READ to 474747 and never miss a new release from Meghan!

 

REVIEW: The Reason I Married Him by Meghan Quinn

5 SMOOCHES!

* * * * * * * * * *

SYNOPSIS:

He proposed . . . and I said yes.
Normally a jovial occasion for a couple in love, but this proposal has a very different feel.
Because the man that I’ll be calling my husband blew into town with one thing on his mind . . . to make my life a living nightmare.

So why did I say yes?

Well, because we both need something from each other.

Namely, I want the farm land he currently owns, and he needs a wife in order to inherit his family cabin in his grandfather’s will.

So as he so eloquently put it, my hand, for his land.

At first, I thought the idea was nuts.
Who really gets married out of convenience?
Apparently, I do.

And now we have to sell our relationship to the town. Meaning, we’re holding hands, he’s pinching my cheeks . . . upper and lower. We’re even forced to share the one-bedroom guest house on the farm where his monstrous body is taking up a large percentage of the bed.

But we’re so persuasive about our farse, that now I’m starting to think he actually might like me. Especially when he grabs me by the wrist and teases the shell of my ear as he whispers, “Mine.”

* * * * * * * * * *

REVIEW:

Set in the charming small town of Almond Bay, The Reason I Married Him by Meghan Quinn was an absolute pleasure to read. Meghan masterfully wove together the classic marriage of convenience trope with a grumpy heroine and a sunny hero embroiled in a gradually building, slowly burning enemies-to-lovers romance. Quinn’s signature blend of humor, heart and heat are infused with a fresh, vibrant energy that made for a truly engaging and entertaining romantic comedy.

From Wyatt and Aubree’s witty banter to the endearing quirks of the small-town community, every aspect of this story was authentic and full of charm. The evolution of this fake relationship into something genuine and heartfelt was perfectly paced and portrayed with warmth and depth. It was impossible not to root for these characters as they navigated their way through all the complexities and challenges of this budding relationship. Lovable characters, clever dialogue and a steamy, swoon-worthy romance come together wonderfully, making this an absolutely addictive, not-to-be-missed, feel-good romcom. Five smooches from me for The Reason I Married Him by Meghan Quinn!

~Danielle Palumbo

 


BUY IT NOW!

Kindle  |  Paperback  |  Special Edition Hardcover  |  Audiobook

 

RELEASE BLITZ: The Reason I Married Him by Meghan Quinn

THE REASON I MARRIED HIM, a steamy and hilarious new marriage-of-convenience, enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy from USA Today Bestselling Author, Meghan Quinn, is available now!

 

 

Who really gets married out of convenience?
Apparently, I do.

 

 

He proposed . . . and I said yes.
Normally a jovial occasion for a couple in love, but this proposal has a very different feel.
Because the man that I’ll be calling my husband blew into town with one thing on his mind . . . to make my life a living nightmare.

So why did I say yes?

Well, because we both need something from each other.

Namely, I want the farm land he currently owns, and he needs a wife in order to inherit his family cabin in his grandfather’s will.

So as he so eloquently put it, my hand, for his land.

At first, I thought the idea was nuts.
Who really gets married out of convenience?
Apparently, I do.

And now we have to sell our relationship to the town. Meaning, we’re holding hands, he’s pinching my cheeks . . . upper and lower. We’re even forced to share the one-bedroom guest house on the farm where his monstrous body is taking up a large percentage of the bed.

But we’re so persuasive about our farse, that now I’m starting to think he actually might like me. Especially when he grabs me by the wrist and teases the shell of my ear as he whispers, “Mine.”

 

 

ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY OR READ FOR FREE IN KINDLE UNLIMITED!

Kindle  |  Paperback  |  Special Edition Hardcover  |  Audiobook

 

Add to Goodreads

 

 

 


About Meghan Quinn:

USA Today Bestselling Author, wife, adoptive mother, and peanut butter lover. Author of romantic comedies and contemporary romance, Meghan Quinn brings readers the perfect combination of heart, humor, and heat in every book.

Connect with Meghan:

Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  TikTok  |  Twitter  |  Amazon  |  BookBub  |  Goodreads

Sign up for her mailing list to stay up-to-date with Meghan!

Text READ to 474747 and never miss a new release from Meghan!

 

COVER REVEAL: Small Town Swoon by Melanie Harlow

SMALL TOWN SWOON,  a steamy new best friend’s brother, small-town romance from USA Today Bestselling Author, Melanie Harlow, is coming March 4th! Check out these covers!

 

 

Title:  SMALL TOWN SWOON
Series:  CHERRY TREE HARBOR (#4)
Author:  MELANIE HARLOW
Genre:  CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Cover Design:  HANG LE
Photographer:  RENIE SALIBA
Release Date:  MARCH 4, 2024

 

 

Only in the movies does the Hollywood heartthrob fall for the small town diner waitress.

So when Dashiel Buckley returns to Cherry Tree Harbor for a wedding, I’m determined not to let my massive crush on my best friend’s older brother hijack my good sense.

(It happened once before. Do not recommend.)

But when my hand is injured, it’s Dash who steps in at the diner. The moment he realizes I can’t afford to fix my car, he takes care of it. And when he hears about the way my toxic ex treated me, he refuses to let it go.

Now it’s not just his blue eyes and sexy smile that have me swooning, it’s the way he wants to help me. Encourage me. Protect me.

I can’t resist.

Our text messages heat up. Our phone calls melt all my defenses. “Just friends” turns into “just once,” and “just once” becomes a distant memory. Night after night, he warms my bed, my body, and my heart.

But it can’t last.

Our dreams have us on two different paths–Dash wants the lights, camera, action of Hollywood, and I’ll always be a small town girl.

If only I could be his.

 

 

PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!

 

Add to Goodreads

 

 

 


About Melanie Harlow:

USA Today and #1 Amazon bestselling author Melanie Harlow writes sweet, sexy, feel-good romance. She likes her martinis dry, her heels high, and her history with the naughty bits left in. If she’s not writing or reading, she’s probably at Orangetheory or watching Schitt’s Creek again. She lifts her glass to readers from her home near Detroit, MI, where she lives with her husband, two daughters, and pet rabbit.

Connect with Melanie:

Website  |  Facebook  |  Reader Group  |  Instagram  |  TikTok  |  Amazon  |  BookBub  |  Goodreads 

Stay up to date with Melanie, sign up for her mailing list

 

EXCERPT REVEAL: The Reason I Married Him by Meghan Quinn

THE REASON I MARRIED HIM, a steamy and hilarious new marriage-of-convenience romantic comedy from USA Today Bestselling Author, Meghan Quinn, is coming February 6th!

Scroll down for a sneak peek!

 

 

Who really gets married out of convenience?
Apparently, I do.

 

 

He proposed . . . and I said yes.
Normally a jovial occasion for a couple in love, but this proposal has a very different feel.
Because the man that I’ll be calling my husband blew into town with one thing on his mind . . . to make my life a living nightmare.

So why did I say yes?

Well, because we both need something from each other.

Namely, I want the farm land he currently owns, and he needs a wife in order to inherit his family cabin in his grandfather’s will.

So as he so eloquently put it, my hand, for his land.

At first, I thought the idea was nuts.
Who really gets married out of convenience?
Apparently, I do.

And now we have to sell our relationship to the town. Meaning, we’re holding hands, he’s pinching my cheeks . . . upper and lower. We’re even forced to share the one-bedroom guest house on the farm where his monstrous body is taking up a large percentage of the bed.

But we’re so persuasive about our farse, that now I’m starting to think he actually might like me. Especially when he grabs me by the wrist and teases the shell of my ear as he whispers, “Mine.”

 

PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!

 

 

EXCERPT:

 

I peek a look over at Wyatt, and he does the same. When our eyes meet, he keeps them locked for a few seconds before they drop to my mouth and back up again.

I do the same.

And when our eyes lock, I can feel it, this electric energy bouncing between us. It’s worrisome but also exciting. It shouldn’t be happening, but oh my God, I can’t stop myself from leaning into him, letting him touch me, stare at me, and make me feel unlike anything I’ve felt before.

He was right. I avoided him for a reason today, and that was because I felt something. Something toward him. Something I shouldn’t be feeling, but I can’t help.

I’ve grown accustomed to having him around.

I look forward to him holding me at night.

And I crave his witty comebacks that provoke an eye roll from me.

But tonight, tonight it feels different, and I don’t know why.

Tonight, it feels like something’s going to happen. Someone will break, and I just hope it’s not me.

 

Add to Goodreads

 

 


About Meghan Quinn:

USA Today Bestselling Author, wife, adoptive mother, and peanut butter lover. Author of romantic comedies and contemporary romance, Meghan Quinn brings readers the perfect combination of heart, humor, and heat in every book.

Connect with Meghan:

Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  TikTok  |  Twitter  |  Amazon  |  BookBub  |  Goodreads

Sign up for her mailing list to stay up-to-date with Meghan!

Text READ to 474747 and never miss a new release from Meghan!

 

COVER REVEAL: The Surrogate by Penelope Ward

THE SURROGATE, a brand new forbidden, age gap romance from New York Times Bestselling Author, Penelope Ward, releases February 26th! Check out this cover!

 

 

Title:  THE SURROGATE
Author:  PENELOPE WARD
Genre:  STANDALONE CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Cover Design:  LETITIA HASSER, RBA DESIGNS
Photo: CONSTANTIN PAPAKONSTANTINOU
Model:  VALENTIN LEONARD
Release Date:  FEBRUARY 26, 2024

 

 

From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward comes a new, STANDALONE novel…

ABBY:

I’m falling for the father of the baby I’m carrying.

The problem is: it’s not my baby.

And the broody widower is not looking for a long-term partner.

As a surrogate, the deal was that I’d only be in England long enough to give birth.

At first, the man seemed as pretentious as his name: Sigmund Benedictus.

He and I butted heads.

Sig challenged my intentions, accused me of just wanting to do this for the money.

Gradually, he learned to trust me.

He even became protective.

Over time, our heated animosity turned into fiery chemistry.

I was falling in love with him.

But my time here had a limit.

I needed to protect my heart from the devastatingly gorgeous older man who’d end up breaking it.

SIG:

When my in-laws told me they wanted to use my dead wife’s eggs to conceive a grandchild, I wasn’t immediately on board.

They swore that on her deathbed Britney told them it was what she wanted—but only if I fathered the baby. Her parents insisted they would be the ones to raise it.

Against my better judgment, I agreed.

I vowed to keep my heart out of it, though.

I’d continue to pretend it wasn’t happening and live the empty, single life I’d become accustomed to the past five years since Britney died.

And despite the fact that a certain younger American named Abby Knickerbocker had awakened things inside me that I thought were long dead…

I most certainly wouldn’t fall in love with the surrogate.

 

 

PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!

Apple Books  |  Paperback  |  Sign up for an email live release alert

 

Add to Goodreads

 

 


About Penelope Ward:

Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance.

She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor. Penelope resides in Rhode Island with her husband, son, and beautiful daughter with autism.

With over two million books sold, she is a 21-time New York Times bestseller and the author of over thirty novels. Her books have been translated into over a dozen languages and can be found in bookstores around the world.

Find Penelope here:

Website  |  Facebook  |  Reader Group  | Twitter  |  Instagram  |  TikTok  |  Goodreads  |  BookBub  |  Amazon

Stay up-to-date with Penelope by signing up for her mailing list!

 

COVER REVEAL WITH EXCERPT: The Reason I Married Him by Meghan Quinn

THE REASON I MARRIED HIM, a steamy and hilarious new marriage-of-convenience romantic comedy from USA Today Bestselling Author, Meghan Quinn, is coming February 6th! Check out this cover, and scroll down for a sneak peek!

 

 

Who really gets married out of convenience?
Apparently, I do.

 

 

He proposed . . . and I said yes.
Normally a jovial occasion for a couple in love, but this proposal has a very different feel.
Because the man that I’ll be calling my husband blew into town with one thing on his mind . . . to make my life a living nightmare.

So why did I say yes?

Well, because we both need something from each other.

Namely, I want the farm land he currently owns, and he needs a wife in order to inherit his family cabin in his grandfather’s will.

So as he so eloquently put it, my hand, for his land.

At first, I thought the idea was nuts.
Who really gets married out of convenience?
Apparently, I do.

And now we have to sell our relationship to the town. Meaning, we’re holding hands, he’s pinching my cheeks . . . upper and lower. We’re even forced to share the one-bedroom guest house on the farm where his monstrous body is taking up a large percentage of the bed.

But we’re so persuasive about our farse, that now I’m starting to think he actually might like me. Especially when he grabs me by the wrist and teases the shell of my ear as he whispers, “Mine.”

 

PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!

 

 

EXCERPT:

 

“See,” he says as he turns toward me. “I am helpful on the farm.”

“Never said you weren’t helpful,” I reply as I cast the room into darkness by turning off my light. “Just that you don’t have to be on the farm every day.”

“What if I like being on the farm every day?” he asks as his fingers dance down my arm, creating a wave of goosebumps.

“Well, I mean . . . that’s, uh . . . that’s up to you,” I say as a blast of nerves hit me all at once . . . because I know what’s coming.

I know what we’ve been developing over the past few nights.

The intensity has grown.

The countdown in my head until I can slip into bed with him has kicked up.

And today, when I was washing my face and getting ready for bed, I realized that this light, airy feeling in my chest was the anticipation of how he might kiss me tonight.

“Well, I like being on the farm.” He dances his fingers down to my wrist where he encircles it and then slowly lifts my hand over my head and pins my wrist to the pillow. “I saw you looking at me through the office window.”

“What?” I say breathlessly as he lowers his head. “No . . . no, I wasn’t.”

“Darn,” he says with a devilish grin. “I was hoping to catch you. You didn’t watch me at all?”

“I, uh . . .” He brings his face so close our noses are nearly touching. “I was, um . . .” I wet my lips. “Working.”

“Maybe next time,” he says and then whispers. “Well, good night, Aubree.”

“G-good night,” I say just before his mouth descends on mine.

At first, he’s soft, exploratory, just like last night, but when I think he’s going to pull away, he applies more pressure as his mouth opens.

His body leans into mine.

And his mouth opens and closes along with mine, causing my mind to reel and my body to sing.

It’s so good.

His kisses are so delicious.

So addictive.

I cup his face softly and mold my lips against his, parting my lips as his tongue connects with mine.

Oh yes.

My grip intensifies as I take a chance and slip my tongue against his.

He mutters something as he pulls away and stares down at me, his chest heavy, his eyes searching.

I run my tongue over my lips as I keep my gaze on his. “That . . . uh, was that okay?”

“Yeah, more than okay,” he says right before he brings his mouth back to mine. This time, his body sinks into my side, the heaviness of it now falling into me like a weighted blanket. He parts my lips again, and his tongue dances across my tongue, tangling and twisting, our mouths opening wider.

He’s so good at this.

His command, his pressure, the feel of him holding me in place but also treating me as if I’m fragile. It’s unlike any kiss I’ve ever experienced. And I don’t want it to end.

It’s why I move my hand to the back of his neck.

It’s why I shift, making more room for him.

It’s why I continue to run my tongue over his, causing him to groan softly as he returns the stroke.

This is unexpected, but it’s also what I thought might happen tonight. Because the tension every night has been building. The kisses have grown. And now that he has me pinned against this bed, making out with me, using his tongue, making me feel things I don’t think I’ve ever felt, I’m slowly starting to melt.

To accept this.

To be okay with it.

To want it.

 

Add to Goodreads

 

 


About Meghan Quinn:

USA Today Bestselling Author, wife, adoptive mother, and peanut butter lover. Author of romantic comedies and contemporary romance, Meghan Quinn brings readers the perfect combination of heart, humor, and heat in every book.

Connect with Meghan:

Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  TikTok  |  Twitter  |  Amazon  |  BookBub  |  Goodreads

Sign up for her mailing list to stay up-to-date with Meghan!

Text READ to 474747 and never miss a new release from Meghan!

 

RELEASE BLITZ WITH EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT: Rock Chick Rematch by Kristen Ashley

ROCK CHICK REMATCH, an all-new 1001 Dark Nights novella in the Rock Chick world from New York Times Bestselling Author, Kristen Ashley, is out now!

Scroll down for an exclusive excerpt!

 

 

In high school, Malia Clark found the man of her dreams.

Darius Tucker…

 

 

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kristen Ashley brings a new story in her Rock Chick series…

In high school, Malia Clark found the man of her dreams.

Darius Tucker.

But life hits them full in the face way before it ever should. Darius makes a drastic decision to keep his family safe and Malia leaves town with a secret.

When Malia returns, she seeks Darius to share all, but Darius finds out before she can tell him. At the same time, she finds out just how much Darius has changed in the years she’s been away.

She just refuses to give up on him.

Until he forces her hand.

Secrets come between Malia and Darius, at the same time Malia has to worry about weird things going on at the law firm where she works, her kid wants a car and she’s stuck in slow-cooker hell. Luckily, her ride or dies have her back.

And in the meantime, she might just learn she never should have lost hope in Darius Tucker.

 

 

ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!

Amazon  |  Amazon Worldwide  |  Paperback

 

Add to Goodreads

 

 

“I was swept off my feet in a wave of nostalgia and emotion as KA masterfully wove the tale of love and redemption that brought these soulmates to life.” ~Danielle, Red Cheeks Reads

 

Check out Danielle’s 5 SMOOCHES review!

 

 

EXCERPT:

 

PROLOGUE

His Father

 

Don’t make me check that backpack,” I shouted to my son. “Mom!”

I’d had sixteen years to navigate the wide spectrum of my son’s different varieties of Mom! and get a lock on each version.

This one said, I don’t need my mother to check my backpack. I haven’t since I was twelve. I’m all grown up. Stop already.

And yet, the boy was always forgetting something.

I was in the kitchen, dealing with the pork in the slow cooker.

I was doing this against my will.

Not against my will when it came to cooking. I was a damn good cook, and I did say so myself. Also, I liked doing it.

No, it was because it was summer. Summer wasn’t about slow-cooker meals. That was winter.

Winter was stews and chili and enchiladas. Summer was meat on the grill and some kind of salad (preferably one with potatoes or macaroni in it, let the good Lord bless the woman—and it had to be a woman—who deemed those “salads”).

It almost hurt to put that pork shoulder in the crockpot that morning.

But I was a single mom. I worked. My kid was busy with end-of-school-year stuff (though, Liam loved to cook, just right now, with finals and friends and parties and making plans for the summer, he had less time than me).

And, I told myself, I was making barbeque pulled pork (the vinegary North Carolina style, and don’t give me any guff about that goodness, I was a barbeque aficionado, and I could appreciate all the different styles, but if you were pulling pork, you went NC).

Pulled pork sandwiches were a summer thing.

Though, I wished I had a smoker. That said summer to me.

Also winter. A smoker didn’t discriminate.

These were the thoughts on my mind so I didn’t think of other things.

Like the weird stuff going on at work that was giving me a very bad vibe.

Or more importantly, like the chat I’d had with Lee and Eddie yesterday. About the decision

I’d made. About the conversation I’d had with my son that morning. About the decision he’d made.

And about how his father was going to handle it.

(My take: he wasn’t going to handle it very well.)

(My next take: my first take was an understatement.)

Liam walked into the kitchen, all tall, gangly teen.

As I watched him, I took the hit I always took once the boy started to fade out of him and he began to look like the man he’d become.

In other words, he began to look just like his father.

 

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About Kristen Ashley:

Kristen Ashley is the New York Times bestselling author of over eighty romance novels. She’s a hybrid author, publishing titles both independently and traditionally, her books have been translated in fourteen languages and she’s sold millions of books.

Kristen, born in Gary and raised in Brownsburg, Indiana and was a fourth-generation graduate of Purdue University. Since, she has lived in Denver, the West Country of England, and she now resides in Phoenix. She worked as a charity executive for eighteen years prior to beginning her independent publishing career. She now writes full-time.

Although romance is her genre, the prevailing themes running through all of Kristen’s novels are friendship, family and a strong sisterhood. To this end, and as a way to thank her readers for their support, Kristen has created the Rock Chick Nation, a series of programs that are designed to give back to her readers and promote a strong female community. You can learn more about Kristen and the Rock Chick Nation on her website.

Connect with Kristen:

Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  Pinterest  |  Twitter  |  Amazon  |  Bookbub  |  Goodreads

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