They say you can always go home again, but for August Percy, that didn’t apply even when she had to live there until her eighteenth birthday.
After saying goodbye to a toxic childhood, she never planned to look in the rearview. Until the death of the woman who caused all her trauma forces her back to Hope Crest.
With a mountain of debt and an uncertain future, August at least has a soft place to land when her former employer and surrogate big brother offers her a house that isn’t chock full of nightmares from the past. What she never bargained for, though? The boy-turned-man she’s always crushed hard on from afar accidentally becoming her roommate.
Evan Ashton is the prodigal son who finally came home … even if he didn’t necessarily want to. As the new head chef of his family’s fourth-generation restaurant, he’s trying to build his own legacy in a line full of stubborn men. So when he ends up under the same roof as the closed-off woman the rest of his siblings seem to know so well, Evan attempts to shut down any curiosity since he can’t afford more complications in his life.
Except conversations over late night snacks, having her unexpectedly working in his kitchen, and inevitably bumping into her at every family celebration they’re both invited to only seems to bring him closer to August … until all of that tension bubbles over.
Then danger begins to close in, and it’s not even a thought of putting himself between her and the threat. But secrets beyond either of their control, and opportunities far from Hope Crest, begin to cause cracks.
And when both of them question whether their intense connection can last for longer than right now, it may just be their final undoing.
Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited!
I was so looking forward Evan’s book and knowing he was paired with August was icing on the cake for me.
Evan and August had completely different upbringings but both left their hometown to find themselves outside of their family.
Now they both find themselves back in their hometown. August has always crushed on Evan but he never noticed her. But now that they are older and find themselves in a unique situation, you never what happens behind closed doors.
I could not get enough of these two. I loved the tension, the slow burn chemistry and their late night talks. This was a perfect slow-burn romance with a bit of mystery and I loved every single bit of it.
Best book in the series for me!!!
Meet Carrie Aarons
Author of romance novels such as Fleeting and Love at First Fight, Carrie Aarons writes books that are just as swoon-worthy as they are sarcastic. Her stories are fueled by vanilla lattes, meloncholy music, and copious amounts of candles.
When she isn’t writing, Carrie is busy binging reality TV, having a love/hate relationship with cardio, and trying not to burn dinner. She lives in farm country with her husband, two children and ninety-pound rescue pup.
Frankie Burns, brash and bold on the outside, divorced and scarred on the inside, is determined to figure out what really happened with her Paps and his long-lost love, Rosie. Understanding why the duo didn’t find their happily-ever-after is her biggest mission. With every inch of her five-foot-two frame, she’s determined to discover why they were separated and forced to live a life without one another, convinced it will fix her own unhappiness.
Mackenzie Miller, handsome, rich, and one of New York’s most eligible bachelors, keeps everyone at an arm’s length and believes the only barometer to happiness is how wealthy and powerful he becomes. Shoving back his grandmother Milly’s wishes for him to find an everlasting love, he is successful in every other area of life. Abandoned by his mother, fairy tales are not part of Mack’s world, but running his makeup and perfume empire is paramount.
That is…until a feisty blond woman blasts into his life and won’t accept no for an answer when it comes to looking for a connection between his beloved Milly and her beloved Paps.
He doesn’t understand the severity of her search.
She needs to know the story to fill a gap in her own life.
The twist neither of them expects is falling for one another in the process…
ROMANCE THAT WILL BREAK YOUR HEART AND MEND IT WITH THE PROMISE OF EVERLASTING LOVE.
Rachel Blaufeld writes Second Chance at Love Stories. Some of her favorite categories are Middle-Aged, Romantic Suspense, New Adult, Coming-of-Age, and Sports Romance.
A recent poll of her readers described her as insightful, generous, articulate, and spunky. Originally a social worker, Rachel creates broken yet redeeming characters. She’s been known to turn up the angst like cranking up the heat in the dead of winter.
As a side note, Blaufeld, also a long-time blogger and an advocate of woman-run anything, is fearless about sharing her opinion. To her, work/life/family balance is an urban legend, but she does her best.
Rachel has also blogged for The Huffington Post, Modern Mom, and USA TODAY, where she shared conversations at “In Bed with a Romance Author” and reading recommendations at “Happily Ever After.”
Rachel lives around the corner from her childhood home in Pennsylvania with her family and two beagles. Her obsessions include running, coffee, basketball, icing-filled doughnuts, antiheroes, and mighty fine epilogues.
Genre: Childhood Friends to Lovers, Small Town Romance
Release Date: April 25, 2024
Cover Design: Sarah Paige
I never imagined I’d be back in my hometown, unemployed, and feeling like a failure. Getting involved with someone at work is a huge mistake, especially when he’s a famous football player, and I’m just a therapist they can easily replace.
The silver lining is reconnecting with my best friend…even if he is hot now. I can ignore that detail, right? I hope so because Dean’s helping me fix my grandma’s old cabin so I have a place to stay, and between seeing him shirtless and working with his hands, I might just give in to temptation.
Crossing that line should be awkward, but when he kisses me on a dare, I feel like he’s sparked life into me.
My time in Magnolia Grove is temporary while I figure out my next steps, and falling for Dean is not a part of my plans.
But sometimes challenges lead us back to where we’re meant to be.
In the heart of Alabama, lies a charming little town on the river, where everyone knows your name… and your business.
Follow the intertwined lives of its beloved residents as they navigate first love, second chances, and all the unexpected surprises that their small-town holds.
Welcome to Magnolia Grove, where every neighbor has a story worth unraveling, the roots run deep, and love blossoms around every corner.
Join the Magnolia Grove Reader Group to find out more!
Fabiola Francisco writes contemporary romance, mostly small town romances with swoony book boyfriends and strong and sassy heroines. Coffee fuels her writing—actually, her entire life—and her characters dictate where their story is going. They’re in charge.
Her goal is to write stories that will capture your heart and make feel a range of emotions.
She is continuously creating stories as she daydreams. She also enjoys country music, exploring the outdoors, and reading.
Laura Pavlov writes sweet and sexy contemporary romance that will make you both laugh and cry. She is happily married to her college sweetheart, mom to two awesome almost-grown kids, and dog-whisperer to one temperamental yorkie and one wild bernedoodle. Laura resides in Las Vegas where she is living her own happily ever after. Be sure to sign up for updates on new releases. Laura loves to hear from readers!
K. Bromberg has revealed the gorgeous covers for Over The Limit!
Releasing: June 13, 2024
Cover Design: Ink and Laurel
A forbidden, Formula 1 romance from New York Times bestselling author K. Bromberg.
You don’t mess around with a teammate’s ex. Ever. But that’s easier said than done when it comes to Blair Carmichael. She’s sexy, intelligent, gorgeous, and one hundred percent off-limits.
And I’ve never fallen harder.
But I can’t touch (when I most definitely want to).
My team’s success and my chance at a new contract for next season depend on me keeping my hands on the wheel. And off her curves.
As the season progresses, we secretly steal as much time as we can together—in hotel rooms, after races, anywhere we can’t be found out. A real romance out in the open would risk her job in the industry, her reputation, and my image–not to mention my strained relationship with my teammate.
I’ve lived my whole life with one mantra. Team first. What I want outside of my racing career hasn’t factored in.
Until now.
Until Blair.
She deserves the world and I plan on giving it to her. Even if I have to walk away from the biggest contract of my career.
New York Times Bestselling author K. Bromberg writes contemporary romance novels that contain a mixture of sweet, emotional, a whole lot of sexy, and a little bit of real. She likes to write strong heroines and damaged heroes who we love to hate but can’t help to love.
A mom of three, she plots her novels in between school runs and soccer practices, more often than not with her laptop in tow and her mind scattered in too many different directions.
Since publishing her first book on a whim in 2013, Kristy has sold over one and a half million copies of her books across eighteen different countries and has landed on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestsellers lists over thirty times. Her Driven trilogy (Driven, Fueled, and Crashed) is currently being adapted for film by the streaming platform, Passionflix, with the first movie (Driven) out now.
With her imagination always in overdrive, she is currently scheming, plotting, and swooning over her latest hero. You can find out more about him or chat with Kristy on any of her social media accounts. The easiest way to stay up to date on new releases and upcoming novels is to sign up for her newsletter (http://bit.ly/254MWtI) or follow her on Bookbub (http://smarturl.it/KBrombergBB)
An alpha billionaire dedicated to no-strings pleasure. A woman committed to changing his wicked mind. Together they ignite a steaming-hot romance by the USA Today bestselling author of Mr. Hook-up.
Grayson Tanner has had better days. Coming off the successful international launch of Hooked, the hook-up app he cofounded with his two best friends, and a night with one of the sexiest women he’s ever met, he’s now in a PR nightmare. A video of him has gone viral—a toast to the indulgence of bachelorhood. It’s a bad look for the creator of the app’s marriage arm. As memberships plummet amid a media firestorm, his PR firm has a new narrative to quell the flames: Grayson has to get married. Fast.
Hello, Jovana Winters—social media influencer and Grayson’s former one-night stand. The one-night stand he has yet to move on from mentally. Their immediate connection is undeniable. In front of the camera, they’re charismatic and passionate, and social media is calling them the It couple. But off camera, Grayson doesn’t trust women or believe in commitment.
Jovana is the opposite, a believer in love who knows what she wants. Now she’s on a mission to turn this fake marriage into the real deal, even though she’s hiding the biggest secret of them all.
But with a man like Mr. Wicked, it won’t come easy.
Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
USA Today best-selling author Marni Mann knew she was going to be a writer since middle school. While other girls her age were daydreaming about teenage pop stars, Marni was fantasizing about penning her first novel. She crafts sexy, titillating stories that weave together her love of darkness, mystery, passion, and human emotions. A New Englander at heart, she now lives with her husband in Sarasota, Florida. When she’s not nose deep in her laptop, working on her next novel, she’s scouring for chocolate, sipping wine, traveling, boating, or devouring fabulous books. Want to get in touch?
My mother only wanted me to learn one lesson growing up…
Men are trash.
Her father left her, and then my father left us. Being raised by her and my grandmother, I was surrounded by the reminder to be independent and guard my heart.
After my one and only experience with a boy in college fell flatter than a pancake, I realized they were right — and I was content to live the life of a twenty-six-year-old cat lady.
Until Will Perry blew my quiet world to smithereens.
Starting goalie for the Tampa Bay Ospreys and the kind of hot that scrambles your brain, all I was ever supposed to be to him was his daughter’s kindergarten teacher. Then, in a twist of events, his temporary nanny.
But temporary turns to permanent, and when I move into his pool house, everything changes.
He’s impossibly grumpy and focused on only two things: hockey, and taking care of his daughter. I’m only focused on using this new income to pay back my student loans.
But in that house, I feel his heated gaze beneath that permanent scowl, the way it lingers and warms my skin. And though I know my mother would lose her mind if she knew, my dreams have become midnight fantasies about my long-haired, muscle-lined mystery of a boss.
When the tension becomes too much, we break, and we make a deal.
He still needs a nanny. I still need a paycheck and for my matriarchy to not disown me. But Will agrees to teach me everything I’ve always wanted to learn, and I’m all too eager to be his student.
I can do this. I’m a grown woman. I can explore my sexuality with the hottest goalie on earth and still remain one-hundred percent professional. And I can definitely do it all without catching feelings.
I have to.
Otherwise, I’ll end up heartbroken in my mother’s arms while she shakes her head and asks me if I’ll ever learn my lesson.
Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
Learn Your Lesson was everything I expected, and more!!
Will Perry (Daddy P) and Chloe’s story is an emotional one in so many ways. This was the best combination of sweet and sugary with some yummy spice to keep things flowing perfectly.
Kandi wrote a great story that her characters carried very well. The pacing was perfect and each moment flowed wonderfully into the next.
I devoured this book and could not wait to see how things transpire between them. I loved seeing the growth in both Will and Chloe as things progressed. They challenged one another in ways they did not expect and that just added to their chemistry.
LYL is another perfection addition to this series and one that readers will thoroughly enjoy.
Meet Kandi
Kandi Steiner is a #1 Amazon Bestselling Author and whiskey connoisseur living in Tennessee. Best known for writing “emotional rollercoaster” stories, she loves bringing flawed characters to life and writing about real, raw romance — in all its forms. No two Kandi Steiner books are the same, and if you’re a lover of angsty, emotional, and inspirational reads, she’s your gal.
An alumna of the University of Central Florida, Kandi graduated with a double major in Creative Writing and Advertising/PR with a minor in Women’s Studies. Her love for writing started at the ripe age of 10, and in 6th grade, she wrote and edited her own newspaper and distributed to her classmates. Eventually, the principal caught on and the newspaper was quickly halted, though Kandi tried fighting for her “freedom of press.”
She took particular interest in writing romance after college, as she has always been a die hard hopeless romantic, and likes to highlight all the challenges of love as well as the triumphs.
When Kandi isn’t writing, you can find her reading books of all kinds, planning her next adventure, or pole dancing (yes, you read that right). She enjoys live music, traveling, hiking, yoga, playing with her fur babies and soaking up the sweetness of life.
Kandi Steiner may be coming to a city near you! Check out her “events” tab to see all the signings she’s attending in the near future: www.kandisteiner.com/events
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Rachel Van Dyken comes a standalone office RomCom about what happens when the one you walked away from was now not only your boss but also your new partner in a high-stakes office game…
I liked to think things happened in threes: 1. My girlfriend ghosted me and changed her number. 2. I got promoted, but I worked for Satan. 3. Months later, said girlfriend was back in my life, working underneath me as an intern.
Ah, the universe had jokes, ha, ha, hilarious.
All I had to do was survive the fourth annual Emory Games, a ridiculous office bonding game that Max Emory, our CEO, put on every year to help boost company morale and encourage the new interns. Yeah, just ask me if they felt encouraged after diving into shark-infested waters. Don’t worry… only one person got hurt, and the accidental death paperwork was sound. I had to work with her as my partner for a full week, and then I could bounce back to my department, pretend that she hadn’t broken my heart, and run me over with my own truck for good measure.
I should have been focused on the games, except again, things happened in threes… 1. She’s my partner. 2. She’s hiding something. 3. I may have fallen on her and kissed her. It’s a thing, it actually happens in real life—people just fall, and mouths meet, and what are you going to do?
Hi, my name is Ace Harley, and I am two point five seconds away from marching down to HR and begging for therapy.
Rachel Van Dyken is the #1 New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of over 100 books ranging from new adult romance to mafia romance to paranormal & fantasy romance. With over four million copies sold, she’s been featured in Forbes, US Weekly, and USA Today. Her books have been translated in more than 15 countries. She was one of the first romance authors to have a Kindle in Motion book through Amazon publishing and continues to strive to be on the cutting edge of the reader experience. She keeps her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, adorable sons, naked cat, and two dogs.
They say you can always go home again, but for August Percy, that didn’t apply even when she had to live there until her eighteenth birthday.
After saying goodbye to a toxic childhood, she never planned to look in the rearview. Until the death of the woman who caused all her trauma forces her back to Hope Crest.
With a mountain of debt and an uncertain future, August at least has a soft place to land when her former employer and surrogate big brother offers her a house that isn’t chock full of nightmares from the past. What she never bargained for, though? The boy-turned-man she’s always crushed hard on from afar accidentally becoming her roommate.
Evan Ashton is the prodigal son who finally came home … even if he didn’t necessarily want to. As the new head chef of his family’s fourth-generation restaurant, he’s trying to build his own legacy in a line full of stubborn men. So when he ends up under the same roof as the closed-off woman the rest of his siblings seem to know so well, Evan attempts to shut down any curiosity since he can’t afford more complications in his life.
Except conversations over late night snacks, having her unexpectedly working in his kitchen, and inevitably bumping into her at every family celebration they’re both invited to only seems to bring him closer to August … until all of that tension bubbles over.
Then danger begins to close in, and it’s not even a thought of putting himself between her and the threat. But secrets beyond either of their control, and opportunities far from Hope Crest, begin to cause cracks.
And when both of them question whether their intense connection can last for longer than right now, it may just be their final undoing.
Author of romance novels such as Fleeting and Love at First Fight, Carrie Aarons writes books that are just as swoon-worthy as they are sarcastic. Her stories are fueled by vanilla lattes, meloncholy music, and copious amounts of candles.
When she isn’t writing, Carrie is busy binging reality TV, having a love/hate relationship with cardio, and trying not to burn dinner. She lives in farm country with her husband, two children and ninety-pound rescue pup.
This fake marriage is starting to feel a little too real.
Cold Hearted Casanova, an all-new forced proximity, opposites attract, billionaire romance from USA Today bestselling author L.J. Shen is now available!
Riggs Bates may be a billionaire, but he knows money can’t buy happiness. He keeps his financial status a secret and takes his women the same way he takes his meals—a different one three times a day. That’s until he’s caught sleeping with a married newswoman by none other than her ambitious assistant.
Daphne “Duffy” Markham wants two things in life: marry well and stay in the States. So when her almost-fiancé takes off to “find himself” and her work visa approaches expiration, Duffy resorts to the only thing she has left—blackmail. Luckily, Riggs needs an excuse to stay in New York as badly as she does, so their first meeting quickly leads to a begrudging engagement.
Armed with strict house rules and their mutual distaste for one another, Riggs and Duffy soon find there’s no denying the spark between them…or the fact that this fake marriage is starting to feel a little too real.
Keep reading for a look inside Cold Hearted Casanova!
“Does Mary Poppins have a name?”
“Daphne Markham.” Gretchen twisted her mouth in repulsion, as though the very thought of me depressed her. “She’s my assistant.”
Now I was standing there in my flowery Ellie Nap jigsaw dress—I couldn’t leave my flat in the same jammies I’d collected biscuit crumbs on—being roasted by these two cheaters. The amount of rock bottoms I’d hit today had me sinking to a whole different galaxy.
“Assuming your temper out of bed is as ferocious as it is inside it, I’m guessing there’s not a whole lot of motivation on her part to keep her mouth shut,” Demigod said to Gretchen.
“Please. As though if she liked me, it’d have made a difference.” My boss began buttoning her torn blouse. “Money is money, and she’s very fond of it.”
What gave it away? My weakness for designer clothes or the fact I dated BJ Abbott, the heir to a real estate mogul?
Formerly dated, I reminded myself.
“Then how ’bout we grease her palm a little?” Demigod suggested. “Make it worth her while to keep her pretty little mouth shut.”
My eyes ping-ponged between them. For once, I held back my snarky remarks. I wanted to see where this was going.
Gretchen huffed. “Take it seriously, Riggs!”
Riggs. What a peculiar name for a peculiar person.
And a single one too.
“I am serious.” Riggs flashed a perfect set of teeth. “As you said, money is money, and you’ve got a fuck ton of it, babe.”
Riggs had a tattoo of a mountain on his inner bicep, and beneath it, a list of famous mountains: Mount Everest, K2, Kangchenjunga, Lhotse, and so on. The entire list had been crossed off, other than Denali.
He was a mountain climber. How odd that the only major mountain he hadn’t climbed was in Alaska.
How odd that you’d be thinking about his mountain-climbing career while contemplating blackmailing him. Which, by the way, was the direction I was currently leaning toward.
“Fine!” Gretchen swiveled, training her venom-filled gaze on my face. “What’s your price?”
“Take me with you to DC,” I blurted out.
It was the only way I could stay here and wait for BJ, which, for a reason beyond my grasp, was something I was still entertaining, even after he’d screwed me over tonight.
She stared at me for a long moment before tossing her arms in the air and bursting into a tearless sob.
“They won’t let me bring my own staff. Let alone consider a foreigner for a White House job.”
“I need someone to sponsor my visa.” I laced my arms over my chest.
“I can do that!” Gretchen’s eyes lit up. “I can get you interviews with all the networks in Manhattan.”
I shook my head. “I’m not talking interviews. I’m talking about a visa. One I could use to gain employment anywhere. No strings attached.” I was done being metaphorically squeezed by the bollocks by a network that knew I depended on it to stay in the country. Plus, I wanted to make my own hours and negotiate a better salary. And though my inclination was to remain in the news industry—it was fast paced, glamorous, and full of opportunities—I couldn’t help but internally admit to myself that I found the news . . . well, quite boring.
I turned to look Riggs in the eye. “Mary Poppins here isn’t thick.”
“But I am.” Riggs winked mischievously. He was in the process of rolling himself another joint, licking the edge of the paper with expertise. “And no offense, but smart people don’t usually work for tyrants.”
“At least I’m not sleeping with one,” I said pointedly.
He offered me the spliff. I shook my head. He shrugged. “Assholes make great lovers and shitty employers. Source: science.”
“I don’t think you know what science means.” I glared at him.
“Of course I do. It’s that thing with the test tubes and smoke bubbling out of them. Oh, don’t forget the funny goggles.”
He treated the entire thing like it was a joke.
“So you’re okay with this behavior?” I motioned to Gretchen, who was busy crying into her palms theatrically, producing zero tears and loads of drama. “She’s my fuck buddy, not my mother.”
“Back to the topic!” Gretchen interjected, not seeming to be bothered by how she’d been openly labeled as an abuser by both of us. “How am I supposed to secure you a visa? The last thing I need is to meddle with the immigration office while I work for POTUS.”
“There are other ways to secure a visa.” I examined my fingernails, which were squarely trimmed and cream colored. I idly wondered if I’d lost my mind, with what I was about to propose. It was possible. Probable, even. But desperate times called for desperate measures.
“There are?” Gretchen eyed me warily.
“I could marry him.” I pointed at Riggs.
The man was so surprised he actually whipped his head around to see if there was another person behind him. He turned back to me, stubbing his bare chest. “You weren’t talking about me, were you?”
“Indeed I was. You’re American, aren’t you?”
He lit up his spliff, taking a long drag. “I’d like to think of myself as a citizen of the world.”
“Do you travel said world with a blue passport issued in the United States of America?” I arched an eyebrow.
His flat-lined expression said it all. “If you want to get all technical.”
“Good enough for me. So. When’s a good time for us to get married?” I asked, businesslike. I produced my phone from my purse and checked my calendar. “I have a mani-pedi tomorrow after work, and a facial on Saturday, but otherwise I’m free.”
Though I could probably cancel the facial if he needed me to be flexible. Teamwork was one of my fortes.
“Sorry, it might be the accent.” He fished his black tee from between the pillows of the couch, then slid it on. “But it sounded like you just dropped the m-bomb.”
“Marriage is not profanity.”
“No. It’s not.” Riggs slam-dunked his empty bottle into a bin across the room as he sucked on his rollie. “Marriage is worse than profanity. Profanity is fun, creative, humorous; take cum dumpster, for example. Great word, right?”
“You mean two words.” I wrinkled my nose. “Let’s hope you don’t pass your dazzling math skills to our children.” Now I was just being cheeky. Since sperm was mentioned, and all.
Riggs shuddered. “The c-word. You really are a sadistic creature, Poppins.”
Gretchen looked between us, growing desperate. “Riggs, please.”
He sneered. “You’re nuts if you think I’d ever entertain this, sweet cheeks.” “It’s just a piece of paper. She could destroy my career!” Gretchen threw herself at him suddenly, like a damsel in distress. I stood there, having the distinct feeling tonight was stretching over approximately five months. Was Mercury in retrograde?
But Riggs gave no indication he was about to cave in, instead shaking her off his arm. “Find another career then. I’m sure there’s a small repressed country in need of a new authoritarian. I’m not marrying anyone, for any reason, at any time.”
“You owe me!” Her palms collided with his chest, and she seemed more mental than ever. “Please. This can’t be the end of my career. You know there’s no going back from a sex scandal for a woman in politics.”
She slid down his body, begging him on her knees now.
He stared her down, his jaw square, his eyes dead. What was it that revolted him more, I wondered—the fact that she’d begged him to sacrifice his freedom for her, or the prospect of marrying me?
I knew I wasn’t the sort of woman men like Riggs went for. While I was perfectly decent looking, I wasn’t as in-your-face sexy as Gretchen, who, at forty, looked like a Hollywood bombshell, with curves for miles, luscious blonde hair, and a pout that had seen more syringes than a drug addict. I’d taken the Kate Middleton route. With fresh brunette locks, conservative dresses, and a willowy frame without much to grab. Le sigh. If only anxiety and insecurities were grab-able.
Riggs clasped her chin, tilting her face up.
“This is not the kind of begging I’m into, and my mind won’t change.” His voice was soft but final. “Now get up and dust off.”
“Bloody hell!” It was my turn to lose my temper. “I was just joking about the children part. I’d rather remove my own teeth with a pair of tweezers than have you contaminating my DNA pool. Give it up, mate.”
“Sorry, Poppins, I don’t do monogamy.” He finished the last of his spliff.
“I don’t do delusional,” I responded with an eye roll. “It’s going to be completely fake. On paper only.”
“It is not going to happen.”
“I’ll pay you,” I blurted out in a fit of desperation.
His jaw dropped mockingly. “You mean I’ll have access to the unfathomable wealth and splendor accumulated by a lowly cable news assistant?”
“National,” I corrected. “And judging by your clothes, you could use all the help you can get.”
His shirt was faded, his belt halfway torn off. My comment left a sour taste in my mouth—commenting on people’s clothes was bad form, but the adrenaline coursing through me made me say and do unlikely things.
Riggs’s eyes widened, and I had a feeling that his funds, or lack thereof, were a very serious business for him. “You’re the shallowest, bitchiest, meanest woman I’ve ever met—and I’ve met plenty.”
My belly slithered with venomous snakes. I was usually thick skinned, but Riggs’s impression of me hit home, because . . . well, because I rather agreed with him.
“Just go, Riggs.” Gretchen’s voice cracked. Her head lolled between her shoulders, like she was boneless. “You’re not going to help me, and you’re not making things better.”
“Don’t have to ask me twice.” He shoved his feet into dirty army boots and slung an old backpack over his shoulder. “Good luck.”
He stormed away, leaving both of us to stand there, like we were in a duel.
Maybe it was a duel. Maybe it had always been a duel between Gretchen Beatty and me.
Only now, one thing was for certain.
She knew my gun was cocked, loaded, and ready to fire.
Cold Hearted Casanova is the third and final book in the Cruel Castaways series and can easily be read as a standalone.
I enjoyed this story and it helped that it was written in dual POVs so readers are able to get a better understanding of the characters and their mannerisms.
While the blurb gives you an idea of what happens, things don’t exactly play out that way. However, I did enjoy what did happen and how things played out.
Cold Hearted Casanova plays out at a great pace and while there are parts that seemed too out there (even for a fictional story), and the lack of communication in parts, it did not take away from the overall story.
All in all, I enjoyed this one and found it entertaining.
For more information about L.J. Shen and her books, visit her website:
For years, tales of the Firefly Man were nothing more than elaborate rumors spread by residents in the Great Smoky Mountains.
Until the night Evelyn Vaughn stumbled upon a dead body in the woods.
Fear gripped her, and silence stole her voice.
All while she watched the boy she was with that night take the fall.
Fourteen years later, Evelyn is nothing more than a shell of her former self.
Her life moves like a clock, from one moment to the next, never a surprise.
Gone are the days of chasing fireflies through the woods.
Until her therapist goes missing and he’s replaced with someone new.
Dr. Lincoln Reed.
A devastatingly handsome single dad with an intensity behind his evergreen eyes that jolts her back to life.
Or does it?
Evelyn is quickly losing grip of the suppressed reality she’s worked so hard to live.
With every new session on Dr. Reed’s couch, comes a startling new revelation that has her past awakening like the sparkles of light she used to chase through the Appalachian woods.
The Firefly Man was supposed to be a rumor, a fable, a spooky tale.
K.K. Allen is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning author who writes heartfelt and inspirational contemporary romance stories. K.K. graduated from the University of Washington with an Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences degree and currently resides in central Florida with her ridiculously handsome little dude who owns her heart.
K.K. published her first contemporary romance, Up in the Treehouse, 2016, which went on to win the Romantic Times 2016 Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best New Adult Book of the Year.
With K.K.’s love for inspirational and coming of age stories involving heartfelt narratives and honest emotions, you can be assured to always be surprised by what K.K. releases next.
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