* Review * DEFENDING CHRISTMAS by Carol Ross

October 11, 2018 Leave a Comment

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* Review * DEFENDING CHRISTMAS by Carol Ross

Defending Christmas: A Christmas Wedding Story by Carol Ross
Series: 12 Days of Heartwarming Christmas
on October 9, 2018
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Christmas Town’s city attorney Lincoln Vasser suspects the multi-million-dollar lawsuit threatening the town is a fraud, but he needs help proving it. Private Investigator Jax Marshall comes highly recommended, but when Lincoln hires her he can’t quite figure out why. Her laid-back attitude, questionable work ethic, and apparent unconcern for the urgency of the case rub him the wrong way. It doesn't make sense for him to be attracted to her.

Jax Marshall knows that taking a case for the arrogant Lincoln Vasser is a mistake. But when he makes her an offer much more tempting than money, she agrees. She soon wishes she hadn’t. The guy is demanding and uptight, and, worst of all, he keeps trying to tell her how to do her job! He's almost completely unlikable. Almost.

One thing they can agree on is that happy ever afters are strictly for fairytales and Christmas Town myths. Finding a way to work together is difficult enough, admitting that they’re falling in love is going to take an extra little nudge from that very Christmas Town magic they don’t believe in.

Delightfully filled with fireworks, romance and sweet nothings! The couple least likely to … but yet somehow they do! He’s uptight and demanding, she’s laid back and works at her own pace, but as they slowly come together to work on this case together, each one starts to have a greater appreciation for the other. Jax & Lincoln were quick to draw me in, and I continued to enjoy their connection throughout. This particular book in the anthology had less to do with the carousel and more to do with the town as a whole, but the entire series is turning into a really fun compilation of small town happily ever afters!

City attorney Lincoln Vasser is trying to keep the potential multi-million dollar lawsuit that could ruin Christmas Town, Maine under wraps while he figures out how to blow it to pieces, but the disregard and obstinance of the PI he’s been recommended to hire is really getting under his skin. Does she actually work for a living or what??

Private Investigator Jacqueline Marshall can’t believe the gall of this big wig attorney thinking he can dictate her schedule and snap his fingers to get her to come running. She runs a very successful business, and all of her clients are equally important. He can just put on his big boy pants and wait his turn!

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* Review * SLEIGH BELLS IN THE SNOW by Claire McEwen

October 10, 2018 Leave a Comment

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* Review * SLEIGH BELLS IN THE SNOW by Claire McEwen

Sleigh Bells in the Snow: A Christmas Wedding Story by Claire McEwen
Series: 12 Days of Heartwarming Christmas
on October 9, 2018
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Scarlett Ray owns a home décor shop full of Christmas cheer, but she isn’t feeling much holiday spirit. Her to-do list is overwhelming and it’s tough to navigate the first Christmas since her parents’ divorce. Then she learns that her landlord is planning to tear down the beautiful, historic building where she lives and works!

Chase Bailey hates to remove such a great looking building, but it’s falling apart and beyond repair. Plus, he needs to turn a profit so he can start a trust fund for his autistic brother. His decision seems simple until Chase meets his quirky, fiery tenant. Scarlett swears she’ll challenge him every step of the way to save the old building she loves.

Chase and Scarlett gear up for a fight, but the battle lines get blurry when they find themselves working on the same volunteer project. It’s hard to stay enemies when anger becomes friendship, and friendship feels a lot like love.

Touching, humorous and attention grabbing! They might have come together as enemies but this attraction that is flaring up between them is undeniable! A sweet holiday story that brings in a family atmosphere while taking us on the ups and downs of trying to fight the attraction you have for the person you consider the enemy. The cast is a lot of fun and I enjoyed the story line!

Scarlett Ray is having a tough holiday season this year. It’s the first one to roll around since her parents divorce, and old traditions are just not going to be the same anymore. It only gets worse when she gets a letter informing her she is going to have to move and finds out her Scrooge of a landlord is planning on tearing down the gorgeous historical she lives and works in … she can’t let this happen!

Chase Bailey loved the charming building he recently bought, but an inspection from his contractor puts it in the “there’s no hope” pile and he has no option but to tear it down and build something new. He can appreciate Scarlett’s passion for the building, but this feisty lady has no right to tell him what to do with his money. He needs to make sure his mom and autistic brother will never want for anything again!

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* Review * PRIDE AND PRESENTS by Cheryl Harper

October 10, 2018 Leave a Comment

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* Review * PRIDE AND PRESENTS by Cheryl Harper

Pride and Presents: A Christmas Wedding Story by Cheryl Harper
Series: 12 Days of Heartwarming Christmas
on October 9, 2018
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Beth Long is navigating the week before her best friend’s Christmas wedding with a strained smile and an unexpected houseguest. Instead of dreading the arrival of her ex-husband and his gold medal-winning fiancée, she’s defending Christmas Town’s over-the-top everything to disapproving Steven Dorsey. She should be busy planning the bridal party’s hair and makeup or collecting loose change from every couch in town to cover the final loan payment on her shop. Smoothing ruffled feathers, advising a clueless man, and reluctantly falling for him are distractions she doesn’t want.

Steven Dorsey has never been more aware of his social deficiencies than when he stumbles into Beth Long’s beauty salon. She’s too warm. Witty. Vibrant. Their elderly audience is too nosy. Accepting the Christmas Eve wedding invitation issued by an old friend, the groom-to-be, means spending the holiday inside a snow globe’s village. The carousel restoration project provides additional, interesting incentive. Staying with Beth for the week is his only option, but when his sister is added to the mix, he understands that Beth and Christmas Town, odd as it is, might be home.

Opposites attract! With her contribution to this years holiday anthology, Cheryl Harper brings us the story of an over-worked hairdresser who left the big city to return to her comfortable small town roots who then starts to fall for the city guy who is only passing through. The characters and their stories are easy to become addicted to, and their love story is a sweet ride.

Beauty salon owner Beth Long should be happily helping her best friend Lisa plan her spur of the moment Christmas Eve wedding, but instead she finds herself stressing over the fact that her ex-husband and his new bride will be flitting into town soon to attend and she doesn’t have the final loan payment she had promised him. To top it all off, she’s guilted into taking in a house guest when John’s old friend arrives early to help with the carousel restoration and there’s no place other place available for him to stay.

Steven Dorsey lives a totally different life than what he walks into in Christmas Town, Maine, so it’s a bit of a culture shock walking into Beth’s beauty salon that first day. He doesn’t make a very good first impression on anyone in town, but as he slowly starts to let his guard down and get to know the people around him, he starts to see why they find the town so attractive to live in. When his sister arrives in town and he gets to see the joy in her eyes, he starts to change his attitude.

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* Review * HIS CHRISTMAS CAROUSEL BABY by Anna J. Stewart

October 9, 2018 Leave a Comment

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* Review * HIS CHRISTMAS CAROUSEL BABY by Anna J. Stewart

His Christmas Carousel Baby: A Christmas Carousel Story by Anna J. Stewart
Series: 12 Days of Heartwarming Christmas
on October 9, 2018
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The woman who destroyed his dreams is having his baby!

After spending the last year trying to get his song-writing career off the ground, Wally MacIver is back in Christmas Town for good. His dreams and ambition didn't bring him anything other than betrayal and pain, mainly at the hand of his boss, record executive Grayling Stanhope. So much for thinking their "connection" was anything other than business. But the last thing Wally expects is to run into Grayling again...in Christmas Town!

Grayling fell in love with Wally's songs long before she ever met him. Their attraction and connection was immediate, but divided loyalties and her own insecurities cost her the only man she's ever truly loved. She knows he might never trust her again, but there are some secrets she just can't keep. Somehow, some way, they've got to find a way to move beyond the past: especially now that they're going to have a baby!

Betrayals, reconnections and a baby! With her contribution to the 12 Days of Heartwarming Christmas anthology, Anna J Stewart brings us a kindhearted man that we are drawn to from the beginning. His story is attention grabbing and once Grayling arrives in town, we start pulling for them to somehow be able to make their relationship work out. Really enjoyed this wonderfully written story!

Wally MacIver chased his songwriting dream in Nashville for a year, but after feeling the blade a little too closely of that cut throat business, he’s back home where he belongs in Christmas Town, Maine. He thought it was a life that he wanted, but after being betrayed by his boss, who he was also having a relationship with, he quickly cut ties and headed home. If that’s the world that music will get him, he’d rather throw himself back into the carpentry work that he loves and help restore the carousel.

Record executive Grayling Stanhope fell in love with Wally before she even met him simply through the power of the songs that he wrote. When they started working together, their connection was immediate and they quickly gave in to temptation. She let her job and the pressure she felt to do well overpower her reasoning of right from wrong where Wally was concerned and she’s never regretted anything more. She knows he may never trust her again, but she has to try. She arrives in Christmas Town with the goal of mending fences on her mind … and the daunting task of telling Wally he’s going to be a daddy!

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* Review * SANTA SCHOOL by Melinda Curtis

October 9, 2018 Leave a Comment

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* Review * SANTA SCHOOL by Melinda Curtis

Santa School: A Christmas Carousel Story by Melinda Curtis
Series: 12 Days of Heartwarming Christmas
on October 9, 2018
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This second chance romance is a part of the 12 Days of Heartwarming Christmas - a 2018 clean romance anthology from some of your favorite Harlequin Heartwarming romance authors.

Can this Scrooge learn to put on a good Christmas?

Dominick Decker’s wife's last wish was that he and their daughter Jessie move to her hometown - Christmas Town, Maine. As a second generation repairman he doesn't understand why Christmas is so important to everyone in Christmas Town. You put up a tree, buy some gift cards and order a pre-made turkey dinner from the grocery store, which leaves plenty of time for service calls in between. What more does he need to do? A lot if he's to give his daughter the Christmas she deserves.

Enter Ruby Caldwell, owner of Santa School and trainer of "professional" Santas. Now that she's been laid off from her day job, she needs to take Santa School from a part-time seasonal hobby to a full-time year-round operation. That requires a positive mindset, along with a healthy dose of creativity. Step one: Santa School for Busy Elves to train single dads like Dominick to put on a great Christmas by themselves. All she needs are a few willing dads and a don't-quit smile. With a challenge like Dominick, let's hope Ruby's smile holds out this holiday season.

Heartwarming, humorous and oh so sweet! With a second-chance-at-love story, Melinda Curtis brings us the story of Dom, the guy who’s working to get the heat back up and running in the Carousel House while he stumbles through giving his daughter their first Christmas without his wife. I enjoyed their story, and Ruby brought a new depth out in him that made him very connectable.

The last promise Dominick Decker made to his late wife was that he would move to her hometown of Christmas Town, Maine with their daughter. He’s settling in well with the heating and air company that he bought, but he’s not doing the best job of winning over his in-laws. They’re a bit over-the-top in their holiday cheer .. but then again, so is the rest of this town! He knows Jessie deserves the best, but is working hard to provide for her really such a bad thing?

Ruby Caldwell just got laid off from her job at the hospital, so she needs to seriously get busy figuring out a way to turn her seasonal Santa School business into something that will provide a livable income the entire year! When she has a run in with Dom that has them placing a bet on whether she can bring the Christmas spirit into his heart by having him attend the class she has going on to train single dad’s like himself how to bring their child a magical Christmas!

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* Review * A CHRISTMAS CAROUSEL PROPOSAL by Melinda Curtis and Cari Lynn Webb

October 9, 2018 Leave a Comment

A Christmas Carousel Proposal by Melinda Curtis and Cari Lynn Webb
Series: 12 Days of Heartwarming Christmas
on June 10, 2018
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This clean romance kicks off the 2018 anthology written by Harlequin Heartwarming romance authors.

Lisa Garland has big plans for her grandparents' wedding anniversary on December 24th - the grand opening of Carousel House, featuring a fully-restored carousel in downtown Christmas Town. She doesn't expect the company restoring the carousel to go bankrupt or the only man available to help her make the deadline for her grandparents' anniversary to be her ex-fiance.

A decade ago, John Richardson walked away from Lisa for her own good. He's tried hard not to look back. But now Lisa needs a miracle and John might just be the only man who can deliver it. If only he can keep his undying love for her a secret. He's scheduled to return to duty on December 25, so all he needs to do is organize volunteers to finish the carousel and keep his heart under lock and key. But love has a way of opening doors and hearts, and John's holiday season may not go as planned.

A Christmas Carousel Proposal introduces many of the characters in the 12 Days of Heartwarming Christmas series, which begin the week after John proposes to Lisa. Six romances feature Lisa’s bridesmaids and six feature heroes working on the carousel. All full-length novels end on Christmas Eve.

A delightful holiday reunion! Kicking off this years holiday anthology from the Harlequin Heartwarming authors, this story introduces the story line that a treasured carousel in the town of Christmas Town, Maine is being brought back to life in a new location to be enjoyed by all. Lisa Garland is in charge of getting it all arranged, and it’s super special to her because it’s special to her grandparents and will reopen centered around an anniversary party for them on Christmas Eve. The book introduces many of the characters that will derive the heroes and heroines of the 12 full length books to follow. It piqued my interest and brought the excitement of the carousel to life in my imagination!

Lisa Garland thinks all is on track for the carousel project she’s spearheading for the town council until an unexpected visitor announces that the company in charge of getting the overhaul done has declared bankruptcy and closed down! Panic ensues and the only person capable of possibly still pulling off the deadline just so happens to be the man she hasn’t seen since he walked away from her and their engagement a decade ago!

John Richardson never got over his love for Lisa, but when she voiced doubts about their union, he used it in order to walk away. He was shipping off soon thereafter anyway and considered it for her own good that he was leaving her open to live her own life again. Facing their past and realizing a new future just might be the answer they’ve both been looking for!

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* Review * THE PREGNANT COLTON WITNESS by Geri Krotow

October 5, 2018 Leave a Comment

The Pregnant Colton Witness by Geri Krotow
Series: The Coltons of Red Ridge
Published by Harlequin Romantic Suspense on October 1, 2018
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A murder witness must protect her unborn child—and her heart

A Coltons of Red Ridge thriller

One night of passion with Officer Nash Maddox left Dr. Patience Colton breathless—and pregnant! The two are unexpectedly reunited when Patience becomes a witness to a murder and K-9 cop Nash rushes to her rescue, along with his canine companion. The two will stop at nothing to protect their growing family, but a killer has other ideas…

Breathtaking excitement and danger from page one! With the next book in the sensational The Coltons of Red Ridge series, Geri Krotow brings us another Colton mixing it up with a K-9 officer. This series has been quite a mystery as we try to figure out who the Groom Killer could be, and each book adds to the intrigue. I really enjoyed connecting with Patience and Nash. They were very relatable and their story was a joy to read.

Just as veterinarian Patience Colton is realizing that her one night of passion with K-9 officer Nash Maddox has left them expecting, she witnesses a murder and the assailant comes after her! She’s within a hair of confrontation when Nash arrives to rescue her. Life on the down low won’t be easy right now when she has such monumental news to share with Nash, but getting her to safety is his first priority.

Nash might already have his hands full with family overflowing his house, but he never once thinks of voicing resistance to the thought of having a baby with Patience. Once they get this killer caught, in addition to trying to once and for all nab the Groom Killer, he’ll be able to carve out a future with her.

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* Review * IF THE SHOE FITS by Rachel Lacey

October 5, 2018 Leave a Comment

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* Review * IF THE SHOE FITS by Rachel Lacey

If the Shoe Fits by Rachel Lacey
Series: Almost Royal #1
Published by NYLA on October 2, 2018
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NOT ALL FAIRYTALES END AT MIDNIGHT

Elle Davenport is no princess—she just dresses up as one for her job at a local theme park. But when she gets the call that she’s won a contest to live and work at a real-life castle in Virginia, she finally feels like she’s found her calling. If she’s successful, her venture could become permanent, and that sounds like Elle’s idea of the perfect modern-day fairytale. There’s only one problem: the castle’s grumpy—and sexy—new owner wants her gone as soon as possible.

Theo Langdon never imagined he’d inherit the title of Earl of Highcastle so young. With his grandfather’s recent death, he needs to sell Rosemont Castle so he can return to London. If only he wasn’t butting heads with the vivacious new property manager at every corner. Although he’s got a life waiting for him in London, Rosemont Castle suddenly feels a lot like home, thanks to Elle. As the clock winds down on her time at the castle, he’ll have to reconcile his obligations in London with the American woman who’s stolen his heart.

A modern day fairy tale twist! We’re quickly whisked into the heart of the story when three average women enter a contest that changes their lives when they win it. The ensemble is quirky, fun and sexy. We get a heartfelt romance with tidbits of love, friendship and philanthropy as we take the journey towards happily ever after with Elle and Theo. There were a few underdeveloped parts of the plot, and the attempt to make Theo a bit of a dirty talker felt out of sync and forced, but overall, I enjoyed this jaunt into a fairy tale.

Florida theme park princess Elle Davenport is definitely feeling like she’s in a rut in her life, but when she gets the news that she and a couple of friends have won a magazine contest that will allow them to move into a castle in Virginia she’s thrilled! If the business ideas they submitted and will initiate while there become a success, the positions could become permanent!

Theo Langdon was recently named the Earl of Highcastle much younger than he expected when his grandfather died. He knows his grandfather had agreed to this magazine contest deal, but now that he’s in charge of the estate, he needs to sell Rosemont Castle as soon as possible in order to return to his new duties in London. He hopes to offer the ladies who won the contest a deal to walk away, but once he sets eyes on Elle and learns how steadfast she and her friends are to make a go of this venture, he just might find himself wanting to stick around Virginia himself for a bit!

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* Review * SECRETS OF A (SOMEWHAT) SUNNY GIRL by Karen Booth

October 5, 2018 Leave a Comment

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* Review * SECRETS OF A (SOMEWHAT) SUNNY GIRL by Karen Booth

Secrets of a (Somewhat) Sunny Girl by Karen Booth
Published by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform on October 16, 2018
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As sisters, they tell each other all their secrets...except one. With divorce and infidelity hanging from nearly every branch of her family tree, Katherine Fuller sees no point in marriage. Boyfriends? Sure. Sex? Of course. Wedding vows? No, thanks. Still, when her younger sister Amy gets engaged, Katherine gathers all the enthusiasm she can. She won’t let Amy down. She’s done enough of that for a lifetime. As the sisters embark on wedding plans, Katherine’s college love resurfaces. It nearly killed Katherine to part from sexy Irish musician Eamon more than a decade ago, but falling under his spell a second time forces her to confront everything she hid from him. The secrets surrounding her mother’s death are still fresh and raw in her mind, but one has haunted her more than the others. She can’t bear to tell anyone, especially not Amy. It could ruin far more than a wedding. It could destroy a sister’s love forever.

An emotionally raw depiction of life, love and happily ever afters! He saw her in a way no one else ever did … but circumstances split them apart. Now reunited at a time that her life is in turmoil, Katherine has to dig deep and confront her past in order to have the brighter future she never even let herself dream about. The relationship between Kat and Amy is heartfelt and once Eamon comes onto the scene, the platform is laid for a very strong book. I really enjoyed their story and watching the past get laid to rest once and for all. Highly recommend!

Katherine Fuller has spent her life avoiding what she considers to be the kiss of death … commitment, marriage, family. She adores her little sister Amy who she’s extremely close to, but a traumatic childhood has her keeping everyone else at a distance. She’s thrown for a loop when Amy announces she’s getting married. She thought they both knew what destruction the sanctity of marriage could reap, but evidently Amy has blinders on. She’ll do anything to keep her sister happy, so she guesses she’ll be faking some enthusiasm!

Irish rockstar Eamon MacWard can’t believe his eyes when he sees Katherine at his New York concert. For a few short months more than a decade ago, she was his, and he’s never forgotten her. He can’t let this moment of fate pass them by and insists she meet up with him to catch up. It doesn’t take long for the passion of the past to reignite and lead them towards the reunion they’d given up hoping for, but getting closer to Eamon leads Katherine to have to confront the past she so adamantly wants to keep hidden. Will the secrets she reveals ruin the sunny girl that’s just beginning to shine again?

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* Release Blitz/Review * TALKIN’ TRASH by Lani Lynn Vale

October 2, 2018 Leave a Comment

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* Release Blitz/Review * TALKIN’ TRASH by Lani Lynn Vale

Talkin' Trash by Lani Lynn Vale
Series: The Bear Bottom Guardians MC #2
on October 2, 2018
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Linc has two very important things on his mind—professional football and his motorcycle club.

What he does not have on his mind is the woman that drives him crazy and makes him want to do stupid things, like throw caution to the wind.

Nope, not Linc.

At least, that’s the lie he tells everyone.

In reality, every time Conleigh’s name is mentioned, he squirms.

She’s everything that he wants, wrapped up in a cute little package that is stamped ‘hands freakin’ off.’

She’s four years younger than him, in school to be a doctor, and thinks football is stupid.

Even more, Linc and Conleigh get along like oil and water.

There’s not a single second that they’re in each other’s presence that they’re not at each other’s throats.

But all it takes is hearing that she’s in trouble for Linc to drop every single thing—football and MC duties alike—and head to her side.

A side that he’ll remain at until they either kill each other, or finally give into the heat between them.

Either way you look at it, he’s well and truly screwed.

Forbidden love just found a way! With the next book in the Bear Bottom MC series, we get Linc and Conleigh’s story. As a new reader to this author with this series, I feel a struggle in trying to keep up with what’s happened in the past series sometimes. In some places explanations are weaved into the context, and in others they aren’t and the reader is left fending for themselves trying to keep up. This book showed tidbits of the biker lifestyle more than the first in the series, but the intrigue of the bad guy seems forced and lacking in substance. Overall, a solid read with a believable connection between the main couple.

Professional football and a motorcycle club don’t seem like a likely pairing, but Lincoln James wears it well! He’s just coming into the off-season when he hears that Conleigh might have gotten herself into a little trouble that she needs him for. He’s been in love with her for years, but he was warned away from her by multiple sources in the MC because she was too young when they met. Since then, she’s been a constant thorn in his side as she tries to pretend that she doesn’t feel the same things that he does.

Nursing is a job that she enjoys, but going to school and trying to move up in that field is not. She feels like she’s got too much on her plate right now and something’s eventually going to have to give. Now that Linc is hanging around her on a regular basis, she needs even more free time than ever … after all, she has to pretend she’s so busy enjoying life that she’s too busy to have anything to do with him, right?

Linc has two very important things on his mind—professional football and his motorcycle club.

What he does not have on his mind is the woman that drives him crazy and makes him want to do stupid things, like throw caution to the wind.

Nope, not Linc.

At least, that’s the lie he tells everyone.

In reality, every time Conleigh’s name is mentioned, he squirms.

She’s everything that he wants, wrapped up in a cute little package that is stamped ‘hands freakin’ off.’

She’s four years younger than him, in school to be a doctor, and thinks football is stupid.

Even more, Linc and Conleigh get along like oil and water.

There’s not a single second that they’re in each other’s presence that they’re not at each other’s throats.

But all it takes is hearing that she’s in trouble for Linc to drop every single thing—football and MC duties alike—and head to her side.

A side that he’ll remain at until they either kill each other, or finally give into the heat between them.

Either way you look at it, he’s well and truly screwed.

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Lani Lynn Vale is a USA Today Bestselling Author of over thirty titles. She is married with three children, two dogs, two cats, a donkey, and a couple (a couple also meaning over twenty) chickens.

When she’s not writing, you can find her curled up in her favorite chair reading.

Lani is married with three children and lives in the Great State of Texas.