Category: After Hours

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Book Review: Hot Shot (Roseville Ramblers #2) by Staci Hart  @imaquirkybird

Hot Shot
(Roseville Ramblers #2)
 by Staci Hart

Amazon  / B&N / BB

 

Never thought I’d agree to a marriage of convenience to my hot, firefighter ex boyfriend.
Especially after he casually informs me we’ve been married for ten years.

Ten years ago, Wilder and I were so in love that we got married in Vegas for one night only before leaving for college on different sides of the world. He was supposed to mail the annulment papers.

Problem is, he didn’t.
Worse? He didn’t tell me.
Not even when I came back to town to marry another man.

But now he needs my help, and I can’t say no. All I have to do is have to pretend in front of the whole town like we’re married. Hold hands. Kiss. Not throw myself at him when he looks at me like I’m the only woman in the world.

My body might remember him, but the rest of me isn’t ready. Because I’m just learning how to find myself, and if I get wrapped up in Wilder’s world, I’ll lose more than my heart—I’ll lose everything.

Again.

 

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Her laughter is like hearing an old song my heart forgot.

My major organs are playing checkers.

I wonder absently if a human jaw can unhinge like a snake. Molly’s tonsils are on full display.

All I need are more hours in the day and more days in the week. The thought doesn’t burst my bubble, but it definitely springs a leak.

My Review:

 

This one sizzled with atomic sensual heat and had my Kindle steaming up – or was that from my panting breath? I had to turn up all fans to high and keep libation on hand to stave off dehydration. I adore Staci Hart, she has a wicked sense of humor and was either blessed with a crafty storytelling gene or has a pen blessed by pixies. I covet her main character Wilder, he is the perfect book boyfriend. And BTW, I tried out her ingenious ten-second hugs, and they do work.

About the Author

 

 

Staci has been a lot of things up to this point in her life — a graphic designer, an entrepreneur, a seamstress, a clothing and handbag designer, a waitress. Can’t forget that. She’s also been a mom, with three little girls who are sure to grow up to break a number of hearts. She’s been a wife, though she’s certainly not the cleanest, or the best cook. She’s also super, duper fun at a party, especially if she’s been drinking whiskey. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, sleeping, gaming, or designing graphics.

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Book Review: A Billionaire’s Proposal (Falling For A London Billionaire Book 3)  by Mandy Michaels   @authormandymichaels

A Billionaire’s Proposal
(Falling For A London Billionaire Book 3) 
by Mandy Michaels 

He’s a notorious bachelor and the heir to a billion-dollar conglomerate. But he won’t get the keys to the castle until he finds a wife. That’s when he proposes the deal of a lifetime with a sparkling rare diamond . . .

I just arrived in London to close a business deal with my friend’s brother-in-law’s family firm. All I want to do is take my company to the next level. But Kent Bonnaire, the bold, cocky financier, has other ideas. If he’s not engaged by Christmas, the board will vote to give the big-boss position to his arch-nemesis. And he won’t let that happen.

Kent promises to sweeten my business deal if I agree to stay in London for Christmas and sport his grandmother’s rare royal engagement ring. It definitely doesn’t hurt when a billionaire owes you a favor. Especially when he has a brilliant mind, a billion-dollar smile, and the sexiest dimpled chin I’ve ever seen. So I said, . . .

Yes! A billion times yes!

We not only have to keep our arrangement a secret but now we’re forced to work one-on-one on my million-dollar deal by day and sip wine by the Christmas tree in his penthouse by night. How can we get any work done when we’re stealing steamy glances across the conference room table? Not to mention, his staff’s continual interruptions about finding me a wedding dress fit for a princess.

But there won’t be a fairytale wedding.

And if Kent’s father finds out I’m also the firm’s client, there won’t be a deal for my company either.

Surrounded by his family at the height of the holidays, this whole thing could go bust. Everything’s on the line. Including my heart. Now my fake fiancé may have to risk it all to keep his word . . . and me.

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

How do I get out of this? Take a fake call? Pretend I just got my period? Menstruation should spook a man his age. I honestly wouldn’t mind talking with the old fellow if he had any sense of boundaries.

Liz is motivated by the same thing I am— naysayers. The moment someone suggests I can’t do or have something, that’s the moment I make it mine.

You know, I was once like you until I got my head out of my ass. I suggest you do the same.

My Review:

 

This was a fun read that was laced together with sizzle and sass, which are two of my favorite things, so I was elated to find them in this snappy, smartly-paced, amusing, and entertaining tale. I have enjoyed this well-healed family of clever and wealthy brothers finding their soulmates. And while I typically avoid anything with billionaire in the title as they aren’t typically of interest to me or a trope I seek out, I would follow this glib wordsmith about anywhere… except zombies, I draw the line at those loathsome creatures.

 

Mandy Michaels is the contemporary romance author of the Falling For A London Billionaire series who writes heart-racing love stories that blend humor, heat, and happily-ever-afters. Mandy’s novels feature savvy heroines, heart-of-gold hotties, and chemistry so sizzling it will melt your Kindle. With engaging characters and witty dialogue, love always wins in her books.

When she’s not writing, Mandy indulges in classic romcoms with a homemade blueberry-vanilla latte in hand or skips off to Manhattan for the perfect foodcation.

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Book Review: First-Time Caller (Heartstrings #1) by B.K. Borison  @authorbkborison @penguinrandomhouse 

First-Time Caller
(Heartstrings #1)
by B.K. Borison

Amazon  / B&N / Apple / GP / BB

A hopeless romantic meets a jaded radio host in this cozy, Sleepless in Seattle-inspired love story from beloved author B.K. Borison.

Aiden Valentine has a secret: he’s fallen out of love with love. And as the host of Baltimore’s romance hotline, that’s a bit of a problem. But when a young girl calls in to the station asking for dating advice for her mom, the interview goes viral, thrusting Aiden and Heartstrings into the limelight.

Lucie Stone thought she was doing just fine. She has a good job; an incredible family; and a smart, slightly devious kid. But when all of Baltimore is suddenly scrutinizing her love life-or lack thereof—she begins to question if she’s as happy as she thought. Maybe a little more romance wouldn’t be such a bad thing.

Everyone wants Lucie to find her happy ending… even the handsome, temperamental man calling the shots. But when sparks start to fly behind the scenes, Lucie must make the final call between the radio-sponsored happily ever after or the man in the headphones next to her.

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

She was crowned homecoming queen but gave the crown to someone else because it made her ears hurt.

It’s fine. It’s over. I dumped a glass of fancy white wine on his lap so it looked like he peed himself. I would like to move on and never speak of this again.

I guess that’s my love life in a nutshell. Underwhelmed and dissatisfied. Print it on my tombstone.

I’m sure I look like a raccoon that’s been in some sort of street fight over a pizza crust after sleeping on the couch in full makeup,

It’s not American Gladiators, Aiden. Finding me a date shouldn’t be that difficult.

I’m not used to letting myself feel things. I’m not sure I like it.

My Review:

 

I don’t know how I have been so remiss in not reading this crafty wordsmith before but I am kicking myself for being late to the party. I reveled in this cleverly penned tale from start to finish.

I adored the flawed yet lovable and authentic characters and wanted only good things for them. Each was well fleshed out, keenly witty, knowable, and endearing, even when I wasn’t happy with them.

The writing was superb, well-polished, easy to fall into, humorous, deliciously steamy, and unfailingly entertaining. The dialogues, narratives, and inner musings vacillated from cunningly insightful and perceptive to snarky and highly amusing. You can only imagine my glee when I noticed this lovely tome was the beginning of a series.

About the Author

Amazon
Goodreads
Website
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Instagram

 

USA Today Bestselling author B.K. Borison is the author of cozy, contemporary romances featuring emotionally vulnerable characters and swoon-worthy settings. When she’s not daydreaming about fictional characters doing fictional things, she’s at home with her family, more than likely buying books she doesn’t have room for.

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Book Review: A River Connects Us (Crescent Pass #3) by Allie Winters     @alliewintersauthor

A River Connects Us
(Crescent Pass #3)
by Allie Winters

 

Amazon  / BB

 

– Grayson –

Going dateless to my brother’s wedding? Not an option—at least, not according to my mom, who’s made it her life’s mission to remind me I’m still single. Enter Abby, my sister’s best friend and the only girl in my hometown who understands my mom’s brand of chaos. All we have to do is act like we’re into each other during the week I’m in Crescent Pass, and then I can escape back to my life in Seattle.
Except, Abby’s not who I remember. She’s funny, easy to be around, and beautiful in a way I can’t ignore. And when things take a turn toward heated territory… I might not be pretending anymore.

– Abby –

Here’s the thing about unrequited love: it’s quiet, it’s painful, and it definitely doesn’t include your longtime crush asking you to be his fake wedding date. But that’s exactly what happens when Grayson—the guy I’ve secretly loved for years—needs a stand-in to survive his mom’s matchmaking schemes.
I have only a week with him before he returns home, so I shouldn’t get my hopes up. But stupid me puts my heart on the line, wanting everything but too afraid to ask for it. The closer we get, the more he looks at me in that way that makes my heart pound, I can’t help but wonder… What if this could be something real?

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

We’ve never needed a local paper because Ruth spreads news faster than any newspaper ever could. This’ll be all over town tomorrow.

When she goes boneless, I reposition her so she’s snuggled into my side, her arm lazily draped across my chest. “That was unreal,” she mumbles. “So good.” It was good. Incredibly good. Unbelievably good. If I’m being honest with myself, it might have been the best sex I’ve ever had. And we hadn’t even technically had sex.

“… it’s supposed to be bad luck for the groom to see the bride beforehand.” “Yeah, but that originated when arranged marriages were common and the bride’s family didn’t want the groom to back out of the deal in case he thought the bride was ugly.”

My Review:

 

This has been an entertaining and fun-to-read series and I have reveled in each sibling’s headlong fall into a surprising and unexpected relationship. I have adored each couple and wanted good things for them.

Allie Winters writes scorching hot and cleverly amusing rom/coms that are giggle-snort worthy, witty, low angst, and cause massive cases of full-body dehydration. I revere her smooth style and keenly perceptive use of humorous observations and insights.

Allie is the author of the Suncoast University series, the Bishop Brothers series, and the Lessons Learned series. She lives in sunny Florida with her husband, daughter, and two cats. A librarian by day, she spends her nights writing happily ever afters. She enjoys reading, playing video games, and all things Disney.
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Book Review: PS: I Hate You by Lauren Connolly  @berkleypub   

PS: I Hate You
Lauren Connolly

 

Amazon  / B&N / Apple / GP / BB

Maddie Sanderson would be proud to honor her older brother’s dying wish, that she scatters his ashes over eight destinations that the adventurous 29-year-old never got to visit before he died from cancer. But in his will, Josh assigned her an impossible partner to help complete the mission—Dominic Perry. Seriously, if Maddie weren’t already at his funeral, she would have killed him for this.

Sure, Dom was Josh’s lifelong best friend. He’s also the infuriating man who broke Maddie’s heart back when she was naïve enough to give it to him. But since Dom insists on following the rules and Josh didn’t leave much room for Maddie to argue the matter, they embark together on a farewell trip that spans thousands of miles, exploring new places and revisiting their complicated history along the way.After a snowstorm leads to a shared bed, Maddie starts to wonder if her brother might be matchmaking from the grave. But when grief also reopens old wounds between them, Maddie will need more than Josh’s ghostly guidance to trust Dom again.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

When I’m next to her, I might as well be two inches tall and built of childish insecurities.

“She get tired of you refusing to let her peg you because you already have a stick up your ass?” Dom chokes on his swallow of beer and pounds a fist on the bar top as he struggles to get the liquid down his throat rather than his lungs. “Maddie!” He gasps finally. “What?” I hide an evil grin behind the rim of my gin and tonic. “I was just asking a question.”

Jeremy is so hot, I used to apply sunscreen before hanging out with him. If I could get sunburn from a person, it would be him. And worse than that? He has a great personality. Funny, smart, and kind.

A childhood that consisted of zero control over my life makes it almost impossible for me to allow someone else to dictate my choices now.

If I have one day left, or thousands, I want you to be in every one of them.

My Review:

 

This one had me feeling all the feels and produced a thousand pounds of heart-squeezing insights. The writing was cleverly parsed, highly perceptive, and so poignant it grabbed me by the throat and didn’t let go. I was turned inside out and upside down and I couldn’t have loved it more. I was totally enamored with Dominic, but Maddie broke my heart, several times. I may have experienced some ocular leakage and hot rocks in my throat in between giggle-snorts and outright laughing aloud. Maddie was concerned that she couldn’t cry, which is also something I rarely do, but oddly enough, I found I had no problem weeping for her.

 

 

Lauren Connolly is an award-winning author of contemporary and paranormal romance stories. She’s lived among mountains, next to lakes, and in imaginary worlds. Lauren can never seem to stay in one place for too long, but trust that wherever she’s residing there is a dog who thinks he’s a troll, twin cats hiding in the couch, and bookshelves bursting with stories written by the authors she loves.
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Book Review: Ask Me (Cherry Blossom Lake #4) byTawna Fenske @tawnafenskebooks

Ask Me
(Cherry Blossom Lake #4)
byTawna Fenske by Tawna Fenske

 

Amazon / B&N / GP/ BB

Ask anyone in town for the best guy to rev your engine and they’ll point to me.
Ask anyone who’s read a book or watched TV, or hell…
Any human with a pulse knows Brooke Braham is America’s top advice guru.
I don’t need a PhD to see I shouldn’t fall for the famous shrink.
It’s not like an auto shop owner can’t run with the rich and beautiful, but guess what?
Turns out the good doc and I share more than scorching chemistry.
She lost her sister in the worst way, and I—
Well, let’s just say it messes with a guy to learn his dead addict mom isn’t.
Dead, I mean. Who knew?
Not my big pack of rowdy brothers.
My sister might’ve sensed it, but I had a different take.
One I’ve never told anyone.
There’s stuff I should take to the grave, but Brooke’s got me all up in my feelings.
Turns out they aren’t just below the belt.
She’s funny and smart and loves my big, doofy dog.
But we can’t get involved.
It says so right there in her book.
Love’s not for folks facing major life messes, which is us in a nutshell.
So much for sexy sand sledding lessons that can’t lead to more.
Ditto for using my childhood tire swing in ways that would make a mechanic blush.
I can’t fall for Brooke, no matter what my busted-up heart believes.
I’m a guy with a rep for fixing anything.
Almost anything. Let’s not dwell.
The last thing Brooke needs is me rescuing her like she’s some damsel in distress.
But what if we’re meant to save each other?
One click this opposites-attract romantic comedy with a small-town mechanic who might just be the soulmate for a famous advice guru.

.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

You say ‘assistant’ like you’re embarrassed to have one…Like you’ve farted in public or rubbed one out at the dining room table.

Brooke smiles, and my heart flops like a dying fish.

Sometimes you have to say things out loud so they don’t eat you up inside.

This must be what Grace loved so much about travel. Not the places, but the connections. These bright, fragile threads tying people together.

You make me the very best version of myself.

My Review:

 

This was an absolute joy to read, I giggle-snorted and hummed my way through this delightfully scintillating and cleverly amusing tale. The writing was whip-smart, flawlessly witty, titillating, perceptive, and keenly parsed with sensitivity for real-life issues, while also being easy to follow, well-paced, perfectly pitched, and well-honed. Who could ask for more?

I have savored each book in this series and while I thought her last book was her best ever, I do believe my favorite wordsmith has topped herself. This agile storyteller’s craft keeps getting better at an exponential level.

About the Author 

Website 
Amazon
Goodreads
Facebook
Twitter 
Instagram

 

When Tawna Fenske finished her English lit degree at 22, she celebrated by filling a giant trash bag full of romance novels and dragging it everywhere until she’d read them all. Now she’s a RITA-nominated, USA Today bestselling author who writes humorous fiction, risqué romance, and heartwarming love stories with a quirky twist. Publishers Weekly has praised Tawna’s offbeat romances with multiple starred reviews and noted, “There’s something wonderfully relaxing about being immersed in a story filled with over-the-top characters in undeniably relatable situations. Heartache and humor go hand in hand.”

Tawna lives in Bend, Oregon, with her husband, stepkids, and a menagerie of ill-behaved pets. She loves hiking, snowshoeing, standup paddleboarding, and inventing excuses to sip wine on her back porch. She can peel a banana with her toes and loses an average of twenty pairs of eyeglasses per year. To find out more about Tawna and her books, visit www.tawnafenske.com.

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Book Review: Dr. Billionaire’s Baby (Falling For A London Billionaire Book 2) by Mandy Michaels    @authormandymichaels

Dr. Billionaire’s Baby
(Falling For A London Billionaire Book 2)
by Mandy Michaels

It was only one night with my best friend’s new brother-in-law at her wedding. I swore never to sleep with another gorgeous man from the other side of the world. Not even a gentleman with a charming accent.

I have a habit of getting tangled up with unavailable foreign men. Yes, Dr. Mick Bonnaire is the literal man of my dreams, with stunning blue eyes and a touch that makes me weak. Not to mention he’s a renowned heart surgeon and heir to billions.

I’m desperately trying to convince myself that Dr. Mick-dreamy is NOT the exception to my heart-saving rule, especially since he’s still wounded after catching his fiancée cheating on the day of their wedding. Now neither of us can trust in love and happily-ever-afters.

It’s been two months since our night of passion, and now I’m staring at two pink lines on a pregnancy test.

Oops!

Suddenly, Mick’s out of my dreams and in my life again when my movie-mogul father winds up on his operating table in London after a heart attack. The good, handsome doctor saved my dad’s life, but what will happen to our lives when he finds out I’m carrying his unplanned baby?

While my father recovers, Mick invites us both to stay at his gorgeous manor with a staff who treats us like gold. With his bedroom down the hall and the memory of our night together fresh in our minds, he can’t keep his steady-surgeon hands off me.

All I’ve ever dreamed of was a family with an incredible man that I’m crazy about. Carrying his baby while he holds me in his arms makes me feel so complete. But I’m afraid this isn’t what he wants.

Can he open his heart enough to see that this baby may be our only chance at a true happily-ever-after?

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

On the outside, I put on a smile but on the inside, I grew cold and emotionless. It wouldn’t have surprised me if someone had opened up my chest and found cobwebs hanging from my ventricles.

Are you Pretty Woman’ing me right now?

My Review:

 

I loved the story, despite the wretched title. I’m enjoying everything else about this series; the storylines, the wealthy yet endearing and hard-working characters, and the amusing and easy-to-follow writing style. Just ignore the cheesy title, trust me.

 

 

About the Author

Mandy Michaels is the contemporary romance author of the Falling For A London Billionaire series who writes heart-racing love stories that blend humor, heat, and happily-ever-afters. Mandy’s novels feature savvy heroines, heart-of-gold hotties, and chemistry so sizzling it will melt your Kindle. With engaging characters and witty dialogue, love always wins in her books.

When she’s not writing, Mandy indulges in classic romcoms with a homemade blueberry-vanilla latte in hand or skips off to Manhattan for the perfect foodcation.

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Book Review: All Folked Up (Good Folk: Modern Folktales #3) by Penny Reid @ReidRomance  @SmartyPantsRom

All Folked Up
(Good Folk: Modern Folktales #3)
Penny Reid

Amazon / BB

Isaac has never been what he seems.

Rumor has it that gruff, brooding, and solitary man-of-mystery Isaac Sylvester is back in town, and the only thing folks in Green Valley know for certain is that this prodigal son’s motives are as elusive as he is. He’s been spotted loitering near the old Townsen farm, hanging around the Hill’s homestead, and glaring menacingly from the edges of The Donner Lodge’s parking lot. What this hometown-hero-turned-criminal wants, no one knows. Nor can they stop talking about it.

Hannah’s last night as an exotic dancer might just be her most memorable.

Hannah Townsen has often been a subject of local gossip. Folks shook their heads when Hannah’s daddy ran out on her momma; folks blessed her heart after Hannah’s momma had that tragic accident; and folks really talked up a tizzy when Hannah became an exotic dancer in order to pay off her parents’ debt and put food on the table. But now, ten years after being dubbed as a hometown-stripper-with-a-heart-of-gold, Hannah has seemingly—and finally—fallen off the gossip mill’s radar.

That is, until the enigmatic Isaac Sylvester shows up at Hannah’s retirement party wanting so much more than a private dance. . .

‘All Folked Up’ is the third book in the Good Folk series and is a full-length, small-town, contemporary romantic comedy novel.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

“Talking about you that day made her melancholy,” he went on, his eyes seeming to lose focus. “She cried. Made me want to release a roll of armadillos into your underwear drawer at the time.”

I tried to meet his gaze, but every time I did it felt like a firecracker was going off in my chest.

It’s his murder eyes. That’s what won me over. A girl can’t resist a guy with murder in his eyes.

My Review:

 

I adore Penny Reid and her latest offering was a tasty treat of mammoth proportions. Pairing an earnest, hard-working, and intelligent stripper with a prudish undercover officer of the law, who’d have thunk it? The inner musings and descriptive narratives were highly amusing and beyond smirk-worthy. And I’m always thrilled with more encounters with the oddly clever Cletus.

 

Penny Reid is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of the Winston Brothers and Knitting in the City series. She used to spend her days writing federal grant proposals as a biomedical researcher, but now she writes kissing books. Penny is an obsessive knitter and manages the #OwnVoices-focused mentorship incubator/publishing imprint, Smartypants Romance. She lives in Seattle Washington with her husband, three kids, and dog named Hazel.

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Book Review: That One Heartbreak (The Heartbreak Brothers Next Generation Book 3) by Carrie Elks   @CarrieElks

That One Heartbreak
The Heartbreak Brothers Next Generation Book 3
by Carrie Elks

 

 

Amazon / BB

 

She used to be his best friend’s wife. But now she’s the one woman he can’t resist…

Single mom Kate Connelly is doing her best to hold it all together after losing her firefighter husband two years ago. With a teenage son who loves to push boundaries, a middle child who’s a pyromaniac in the making, and a curious daughter who never stops asking questions, Kate barely has time to breathe—let alone think about romance.

But when her late husband’s best friend, Marley Hartson, shows up with his steady presence and protective instincts, Kate can’t ignore the flutter in her chest.

Marley made a promise to his best friend that he’d always look after his family. What he didn’t expect was to fall for the one woman he’s forbidden to love.

As their attraction deepens and the summer sizzles, Kate and Marley must decide: Will they honor the past, or risk it all for a chance at a new future?

Because some promises are meant to be broken…

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

Grief was a strange thing. It ebbed and flowed like the ocean. Sometimes the tide would be so low you barely thought about the loss at all, and then it would come rushing back, a tsunami of remembering.

“I hear he’s single,” Gloria, one of the older stitchers, said. “Think he’d like a cougar?” “The car or the cat?” one of the other ladies asked. “Me, you dumbass.”

He’d come along at the right time, this man they hadn’t realized they needed. He was the final piece of the jigsaw puzzle of their lives. He completed them.

My Review:

I always enjoy picking up a new Carrie Elks book as I always seem to fall into her storytelling as if I’ve been teleported into the quirky little communities she seamlessly creates. Her writing finds that magical balance of humor, romantic chemistry, sizzling sensuality, endearing characters, and descriptive narratives that have me alternating between giggle-snorting, sighing, and gasping while frantically fanning myself.

Carrie Elks writes contemporary romance with a sizzling edge. Her first book, Fix You, has been translated into eight languages and made a surprise appearance on Big Brother in Brazil. Luckily for her, it wasn’t voted out. Carrie lives with her husband, two lovely children, and a larger-than-life black pug called Plato. When she isn’t writing or reading, she can be found baking, drinking an occasional (!) glass of wine, or chatting on social media.

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Book Review: That One Touch (The Heartbreak Brothers Next Generation Book 2)  by Carrie Elks   @CarrieElks

That One Touch
The Heartbreak Brothers Next Generation Book 2
 by Carrie Elks 

 

Amazon / B&N  / BB

 

He’s a single dad. The father of her student. And the chemistry is off the charts…

After an accident ends her big city ballet career, Cassie Simons is ready for a brand new start, moving to a small town to help run her best friend’s dancing school.

From the moment she meets her new students she knows she’s made the right choice. The kids love her, she gets to spend lots of time with her bestie, and the flashbacks to her car crash are slowly starting to dissipate.

The only fly in the ointment is moody single dad, Pres Hartson.

From the moment they meet – when Pres is running late picking up his daughter from class – sparks fly between them.

It doesn’t matter that the man is all muscle and grit. Or that her heart skips a beat every time they bump into each other. He’s trouble with a capital ‘T’ and she’s had more than her fair share of that.

Since he lost his wife three years ago, Pres isn’t interested in women. And definitely not in his kid’s dance teacher, no matter how good she looks in a leotard.

All he wants is to raise his daughter in peace, to build up his construction business and to keep his matchmaking family off his back.

But then Cassie joins the band that Pres and his brother play in for kicks. And before long the two of them are making sweet music together.

He shouldn’t touch her, he knows that. She’s too young and innocent, and he’s way too broken to start a relationship.

The only problem is, he can’t stop himself…

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

The man must have the bluest balls this side of a pool table…

I’m making a salad and garlic bread. But you can’t eat too much of it because then your breath gets smelly. Or at least my dad’s does. He pretends he’s a dragon and breathes on me and I have to run away.

My Review:

 

I adored this amusing tale and the main characters from start to finish. Alas, why do men like this only exist on my Kindle?

 

Carrie Elks writes contemporary romance with a sizzling edge. Her first book, Fix You, has been translated into eight languages and made a surprise appearance on Big Brother in Brazil. Luckily for her, it wasn’t voted out. Carrie lives with her husband, two lovely children, and a larger-than-life black pug called Plato. When she isn’t writing or reading, she can be found baking, drinking an occasional (!) glass of wine, or chatting on social media.