P. Colton, quarterback for the Portland Phantoms, had one goal. Make it to the Super Bowl and win a ring. Love, marriage, and a family could come later—after he retired. Relationships were a distraction he couldn’t afford. Not if he wanted to win.
But Colt wasn’t expecting Ivy Clark to crash into his life.
His first mistake had been calling her.
His second, hiring her.
Quirky, a little nerdy, 𝙜𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙤𝙪𝙨... She turned his world upside down.
And then she offered him a proposition he couldn’t resist.
This was a safe, easy read with some really cute moments. Sack is Colt and Ivy's story. Ivy is a quirky, nerdy who runs a marketing company. Colt, or P. Colton, is an NFL player. When Ivy is taking pictures for a client to market a new restaurant, Colt thinks she is part of the papparazzi and snaps at her. But, once he finds out the truth, there is an attraction between them that Colt can't ignore, so he hires her to help market the charity he founded. As they spend time together, their attraction grows. Can Colt focus on more than just football to give a real relationship with Ivy a chance?
I enjoyed this story. Colt and Ivy were cute together once they decided to go all-in on their relationship. I did wish they had gotten their acts together a little sooner. Colt was a good guy. Ivy was a little too socially awkward for me to complete fall in love with her character. But I felt they were a good match and I enjoyed their relationship journey. I also liked the side characters and hope they get their own book too. Overall, this was an entertaining read and I look forward to more from Ms. Curtis in the future!
-- Jill Shalvis, New York Times bestselling author
Dream Spinner, an all new action packed standalone with heat and heart from New York Times bestselling author Kristen Ashley, is now live!
In this steamy and emotional contemporary romance from a New York Times bestselling author, two damaged souls must overcome the pain of their pasts to have the love they've always dreamed of.
After years with no one but herself to rely on, Hattie Yates has finally met the man of her dreams. But she was taught from a young age that it was hopeless to dream. There was only success, failure was not an option and it had terrible consequences. Now, the thought of another disappointment petrifies her. But when a suspicious phone call leads to more trouble than she can handle, there’s only one man Hattie trusts to help . . .
Axl Pantera knows Hattie is the only woman for him—and so does Hattie. Yet despite the attraction burning between them, Hattie refuses to let Axl in. The former soldier is determined to woo Hattie into letting down her walls, yet when danger comes calling, he finds himself battling for more than her heart. Axl will do anything to prove to Hattie that they’re meant to be, but first, he’ll need to keep her safe.
This was a pretty good book. Dream Spinner is book three in the Dream Team series and is Hattie and Axl's book. We were introduced to these guys in previous books in the series. Axl is one of Hawk's commandos and Hattie is a dancer at Smithie's and an artist. Their two friend groups have started dating each other. These two have been attracted to each other and Axl has asked Hattie out many times. But she has told him no every time. She has some self esteem issues and a bit of baggage. But when she begins receiving creepy messages, Axl steps in and shows her that she needs him and how good they are together.
I enjoyed this book in general. I liked Hattie and Axl together. I do think the book suffered from pacing issues. The first 25% was the best part and the rest was like an extended epilogue as they handled family problems. But the relationship development was really good. I was happy to see the couple finally work out their issues and come together for their HEA. Just a note that gay porn is talked about a lot and that is not my cup of tea. I wish KA understood that and didn't try to insert it into every book.
Overall, though, Dream Spinner is a cute and fun, easy read with a dash of suspense and some personal angst. Axl and Hattie were a sweet couple and I was happy for the way their relationship developed. I am a fan of this series and am really looking forward to the last couple's book.
Excerpt
“Yo, Axe,” Hawk greeted.
“You got a minute?”
In answer, Hawk tipped his head to the chair opposite his desk and tossed his phone on the top of it.
Since Hawk rarely sat, the men who visited him didn’t either.
But for this, Axl closed the door behind him after he entered, moved to a chair, and put his ass in it.
Hawk watched this, and he hesitated, but then he joined him, sitting behind his desk.
“Is everything cool?” Hawk asked.
“I got a sitch. Personal. And I was hoping you might talk it through with me. Maybe have some insight.”
“Hit me,” Hawk invited.
And there was one of the bennies of working for Cabe “Hawk” Delgado.
He was a good boss, generous with his knowledge, gave credit where it was due, didn’t get in your face if you fucked up and held up your hand that you did…
And he had time for you even when he didn’t.
“I met Hattie’s dad last night.”
Hawk’s lips thinned.
Right.
His boss might not be in on their chats, but not much happened with his crew that Hawk didn’t know about.
So he knew about Don Yates.
“I got blindsided,” Axl told him.
“How?” Hawk asked.
“He loves her, Hawk.”
Hawk held his gaze a beat before he sat back in his chair.
Yeah.
This was going to be a conversation.
Hawk’s voice was lower when he inquired, “He loves her, and he hits her?”
Axl shook his head. “I got no excuse for that. Or the verbal abuse he keeps doling out. What I know is, recently, he called her a whore.”
“Jesus,” Hawk clipped.
“She didn’t tell me that. She told Ryn, Ryn told Boone. And I got it from Boone. But before…” He paused, then got to it, “I can’t step in with her dad. She knows their relationship is
dysfunctional. She feels beholden. I could only have her back. Until I heard that. Then I shared I was going to have to have words with her father.”
“Good,” Hawk murmured.
“Then I got there, and the man was practically beaming, he was so fuckin’ happy Hattie brought her boyfriend over to meet him.”
“Fuck,” Hawk grunted.
“So we sat down. He gave me the ‘What do you do for a living’ and ‘How’d you meet my daughter’ gig. I answered. All was good. Then I told him I couldn’t have him upsetting Hattie like he did by calling her a whore. He tried to explain it by saying he was in a bad mood. I told him, in future, if he was in a bad mood, he needed not to take that out on Hattie.”
“On your first meeting,” Hawk noted.
“On our first meeting,” Axl confirmed.
“Which happened…what? How long have you been seeing her? A few days?”
“Yep.”
“You laid down the law with your woman’s father the first time you met him after you’ve been with her a few days,” Hawk laid it out.
“Yep.”
“Christ, Axe, you don’t fuck around,” Hawk muttered.
Add Dream Spinner to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2OVpxOq
About Kristen Ashley
Kristen Ashley is the New York Times bestselling author of over sixty romance novels including the Rock Chick, Colorado Mountain, Dream Man, Chaos, Unfinished Hero, The ’Burg, Magdalene, Fantasyland, The Three, Ghost and Reincarnation, Moonlight and Motor Oil and Honey series along with several standalone novels. She’s a hybrid author, publishing titles both independently and traditionally, her books have been translated in fourteen languages and she’s sold over three million books. Kristen’s novel, Law Man, won the RT Book Reviews Reviewers’ Choice Award for best Romantic Suspense. Her independently published title Hold On was nominated for RT Book Reviews best Independent Contemporary Romance and her traditionally published title Breathe was nominated for best Contemporary Romance. Kristen’s titles Motorcycle Man, The Will, Ride Steady (which won the Reader’s Choice award from Romance Reviews) and The Hookup all made the final rounds for Goodreads Choice Awards in the Romance category.
Laura Kaye is joining us today to share the cover reveal for her 10th Anniversary edition of HEARTS IN DARKNESS COLLECTION!
Title: Hearts In Darkness Collection
Author: Laura Kaye
Cover Artist: Tricia "Pickyme" Schmitt
Dear Readers,It’s my 10th publication anniversary & HEARTS IN DARKNESS is 10!! I can hardly believe it! This book has been such a wild, special ride and I'm so grateful that so many people fell in love with it. It's how so many readers found me and that is just incredible to think about! Thank you so so much for all the love, fun, and support over the past 10 years! To celebrate, I’ve put together a special 4-story collector’s edition volume that includes two new and/or never-before-published stories that continue Caden and Makenna’s story! Preorder the collection for a discount now before the price goes up on release day! xx Laura
PREORDER NOW at a special price! COMING AUGUST 24!
"Laura Kaye has a gift for writing beautifully damaged men." ~ NYT Bestseller Tessa BaileyTwo strangers. Four hours. One pitch-black elevator. And their struggle to find love in the light…This beloved, bestselling series has it all! Scorching hot chemistry. Achingly heartfelt emotion. Strangers-to-lovers, forced proximity, and opposites attract goodness. And, with “one of the most beloved couples in romance,” Caden Grayson and Makenna James will stay with you long after the last page! Plus, a brand-new story and a never-before-published epilogue. All in one gorgeous edition!This Special Collector’s 10th Anniversary Edition Includes:Hearts in Darkness – the bestselling story that started it all!When two strangers get trapped in a pitch-black elevator, they find connection, attraction, and red-hot heat in the darkness.Lovers at Dawn – a brand-new follow-up story!In the light of the morning after, these new lovers wake up in each other’s arms. But will this buttoned-up accountant and tattooed paramedic still want what they found in the darkness?Love in the Light – the bestselling sequel to Hearts in DarknessCan a man who’s lost everyone he’s ever loved trust that he won’t crash again if he lets himself fall? Or will the pressures of commitment be more than Caden and Makenna’s love story can handle?Forever in the Light – a never-before published epilogue to the seriesThe happily-ever-after story Caden and Makenna deserve, including their heartfelt wedding and sexy wedding night!
"Passionate and poignant! This will have readers falling in love with Caden and Makenna all over again!" ~ NYT Bestseller Jay Crownover
Laura Kaye is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of over 40 books in contemporary romance and romantic suspense and has sold more than one million books in the U.S. alone. Laura grew up amid family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses, cementing her life-long fascination with storytelling and the supernatural. A former college history professor, Laura also writes bestselling historical women's fiction as Laura Kamoie. Laura lives in Maryland with her husband and two daughters and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.
A Kiss for A Kiss, an all-new second chance-at-love mature adult romance from New York Times bestselling author Helena Hunting is available now!
I’m Jake Masterson, single dad, and the General Manager of Seattle’s NHL team. I walked away from a career as a player so I could raise my daughter. For the last twenty-plus years, Queenie has been my main priority, but now she’s getting married. And there’s a small complication. A beautiful, sexy complication named Hanna. She’s my son-in-law’s older sister. Or at least that’s how they were raised. The truth is a little more scandalous than that. I’ve been drawn to her from the moment I laid eyes on her. And I spent months trying to keep a lid on that attraction. Until we finally give in. It starts with one searing kiss, but quickly ends with us between the sheets—and in the shower, and the hot tub, you get the picture—and turns into months of sneaking around. Here’s the problem: we live on opposite ends of the country. It can’t be anything but casual. And as I’ve already said…it’s complicated. But when Hanna finds out she’s pregnant…suddenly things get real serious.
Fall in love today!
FREE in Kindle Unlimited Amazon: https://amzn.to/3broHRD Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/AKFAK
Add A KISS FOR A KISS to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3w4SirW
Review:
3.5-3.75 stars
***
This was a pretty good book. A Kiss for a Kiss is book four in the All In series and is Jake (Queenie's single dad) and Hanna (Ryan Kingston's single birth mom)'s story. Hanna and Ryan have weathered the storm of him finding out that his sister, Hanna, is really his birth mom and have remained close. Now, with Ryan and Queenie engaged, Hanna and Jake have been spending lots of time together planning and participating in wedding festivities. They have had an attraction since they met and finally decided to act on it, becoming friends with benefits when they are in the same location. But they don't want to tell their kids about their relationship because they live across the country from each other and nothing can come of it. When the wedding comes and goes, they part ways reluctantly. But fate has other plans when Hanna finds out she is pregnant. The two have a lot to work out between them. Family drama, a history of loss and their own relationship baggage all create problems that they must weather before they can come out together and happy on the other side.
I liked this book, but not quite as much as the other books in the series. I liked the story and I liked both Hanna and Jake. The story and the surprise pregnancy were the best part. I just didn't really fall in love with the characters or feel much love between them. The falling in love part and getting to know each other part were more told instead of shown. I felt like there were some pacing issues and the book had low tension, heat and chemistry. The family angst had more focus and tension than the relationship. I think this story more lent itself to being a novella. Still, I enjoyed it in general, even if not as much as the other books in the series.
Overall, this was a pretty good read. I really like this series and I hope there is more to come from it. I look forward to whatever Ms. Hunting comes up with next!
About Helena Hunting
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of PUCKED, Helena Hunting lives on the outskirts of Toronto with her incredibly tolerant family and two moderately intolerant cats. She writes contemporary romance ranging from new adult angst to romantic sports comedy.
Heart and Seoul by Jen Frederick is now available!
Blurb:
From USA Today bestselling author Jen Frederick comes a heart-wrenching yet hopeful romance that shows that the price of belonging is often steeper than expected.
As a Korean adoptee, Hara Wilson doesn’t need anyone telling her she looks different from her white parents. She knows. Every time Hara looks in the mirror, she’s reminded that she doesn’t look like anyone else in her family—not her loving mother, Ellen; not her jerk of a father, Pat; and certainly not like Pat’s new wife and new “real” son.
At the age of twenty-five, she thought she had come to terms with it all, but when her father suddenly dies, an offhand comment at his funeral triggers an identity crisis that has her running off to Seoul in search of her roots.
What Hara finds there has all the makings of a classic K-drama: a tall, mysterious stranger who greets her at the airport, spontaneous adventures across the city, and a mess of familial ties, along with a red string of destiny that winds its way around her heart and soul. Hara goes to Korea looking for answers, but what she gets instead is love—a forbidden love that will either welcome Hara home…or destroy her chance of finding one.
I'm kind of conflicted about this book. I found Heart and Seoul to be a very good, unique story. But there was a lot about it that I did not like. I would have rated it even higher without those things. Heart and Seoul is Hara's story. She is an adult, American woman who was adopted from Korea as a baby. She decides to go to Korea to find her birth parents and drama ensues.
When I finished the book, I thought this was a very good book. Hara's journey is interesting and mysterious. I liked the story and I liked Hara. I felt for her and what she was going through. But I think this book was not sure what genre it wanted to be. I do not think this book was a romance. There is a romantic storyline, but neither that storyline nor her romantic prospect is very fleshed out. Most of the book is focused on Hara and her journey, feeling more like young women's fiction. I liked the descriptions of Korea, the food, etc., and of Hara falling in love with her birthplace. The beginning of the book is slow but picked up speed in the second half. There are a lot of dramatic, unexpected twists that I felt were to add unnecessary drama. Still, I was left thinking this was an engrossing read that I enjoyed for the most part. But the end left a lot to be desired. I think, from searching online, that this is going to be a series. But I do think there should have been a note at the end if that is the case. It very much ends on a non-HEA, depressing note.
Overall, I did enjoy Hara's story. I enjoyed learning about her conflicted feelings about her adoption, adoptive parents and birth parents. And I enjoyed learning about Korean culture along with Hara. But I wish she had found more peace and a sense of closure about her situation, as well as some hope for the future. Still, I will probably continue this series (if it turns out to be one), just for curiosity's sake.
Coming from a legacy of hockey greatness, he has games to win and things to prove. With his focus during his first season as a Chicago Rebel on his drive to succeed, every vice is off the table. No booze, no sugar, and definitely no women.
Kennedy Clark is the master of the side hustle.
She'll walk your dog, brew your espresso, and pick up your dry-cleaning, all while rocking it in Warrior pose. Standing still is impossible for her, because the moment she starts to slow down, it'll come rushing back in a torrent. The memories. The pain. The heartbreak.
Their meet-cute is more of a freeze-cute. Besides, they already know each other. He's the rude, entitled customer at her coffee shop, or what used to be her coffee shop since she just got fired—because of Mr. Extra Shot Americano himself.
Reid didn't intend to get Kennedy fired. He didn't intend to rescue a dog after the poor thing ended up in the lake. And he definitely didn't intend to acquire a new roommate.
A curvy, chatty, tempting roommate.
Now this perfect storm of events are about to wreak havoc on his neatly-ordered life.
Reid Durand isn't here to make friends, and he's certainly not here to lose his heart to a puppy, a team, or a chaos agent like Kennedy. But then we don't always get what we want ...
This was a pretty good book! Dear Roomie is book five in the Rookie Rebels series. Reid is on the Chicago Rebels NHL team. He is kind of a grumpy recluse and only focused on all hockey all the time. Kennedy is a free spirit who travels the world working in different countries. When her step-grandmother who helped raise her moves into a retirement home, she heads back to Chicago to help her get settled and to stay for several months before she is off to her next adventure. Kennedy finds herself several jobs, including working in a coffee shop and dog walking for several families of the Rebels players. The couple first meets because Kennedy often serves Reid coffee at the shop she works at. She inadventantly gets fired and she thinks it happened because Reid complained about her to management. One day Reid happens upon a stray dog drowning in the river and Kennedy happens to be in the same place to help him out. Reid knows he's not in a great place to get a dog because he travels a lot for his job, but he can't help adopting the poor mutt. He hires Kennedy to watch the dog when he's out of town for work and eventually she moves in, becoming a live-in dog nanny. Reid and Kennedy spend time together and eventually fall in love.
This was a good story and a fun read. I did think the book started off a little slow and the couple's chemistry took a while to ramp up. But the book got better as it went on. Reid and Kennedy were really cute together. I loved seeing their relationship develop and seeing Reid fall for the dog, along with the girl. I definitely felt their love and connection.
Overall, Dear Roomie was a good read. I enjoyed Reid and Kennedy's story a lot. I look forward to more from this fun series and Ms. Meader in the future.
Dream Spinner, an all new fast paced and sexy standalone from New York Times bestselling author Kristen Ashley is now live!
In this steamy and emotional contemporary romance from a New York Times bestselling author, two damaged souls must overcome the pain of their pasts to have the love they've always dreamed of.
After years with no one but herself to rely on, Hattie Yates has finally met the man of her dreams. But she was taught from a young age that it was hopeless to dream. There was only success, failure was not an option and it had terrible consequences. Now, the thought of another disappointment petrifies her. But when a suspicious phone call leads to more trouble than she can handle, there’s only one man Hattie trusts to help . . .
Axl Pantera knows Hattie is the only woman for him—and so does Hattie. Yet despite the attraction burning between them, Hattie refuses to let Axl in. The former soldier is determined to woo Hattie into letting down her walls, yet when danger comes calling, he finds himself battling for more than her heart. Axl will do anything to prove to Hattie that they’re meant to be, but first, he’ll need to keep her safe.
Add Dream Spinner to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2OVpxOq
Review:
3.5-3.75 stars
***+
This was a pretty good book. Dream Spinner is book three in the Dream Team series and is Hattie and Axl's book. We were introduced to these guys in previous books in the series. Axl is one of Hawk's commandos and Hattie is a dancer at Smithie's and an artist. Their two friend groups have started dating each other. These two have been attracted to each other and Axl has asked Hattie out many times. But she has told him no every time. She has some self esteem issues and a bit of baggage. But when she begins receiving creepy messages, Axl steps in and shows her that she needs him and how good they are together.
I enjoyed this book in general. I liked Hattie and Axl together. I do think the book suffered from pacing issues. The first 25% was the best part and the rest was like an extended epilogue as they handled family problems. But the relationship development was really good. I was happy to see the couple finally work out their issues and come together for their HEA. Just a note that gay porn is talked about a lot and that is not my cup of tea. I wish KA understood that and didn't try to insert it into every book.
Overall, though, Dream Spinner is a cute and fun, easy read with a dash of suspense and some personal angst. Axl and Hattie were a sweet couple and I was happy for the way their relationship developed. I am a fan of this series and am really looking forward to the last couple's book.
About Kristen Ashley
Kristen Ashley is the New York Times bestselling author of over sixty romance novels including the Rock Chick, Colorado Mountain, Dream Man, Chaos, Unfinished Hero, The ’Burg, Magdalene, Fantasyland, The Three, Ghost and Reincarnation, Moonlight and Motor Oil and Honey series along with several standalone novels. She’s a hybrid author, publishing titles both independently and traditionally, her books have been translated in fourteen languages and she’s sold over three million books. Kristen’s novel, Law Man, won the RT Book Reviews Reviewer’s Choice Award for best Romantic Suspense. Her independently published title Hold On was nominated for RT Book Reviews best Independent Contemporary Romance and her traditionally published title Breathe was nominated for best Contemporary Romance. Kristen’s titles Motorcycle Man, The Will, Ride Steady (which won the
Reader’s Choice award from Romance Reviews) and The Hookup all made the final rounds for Goodreads Choice Awards in the Romance category.
Connect with Kristen
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2FyJg18 Facebook: https://bit.ly/3hl0A7e Instagram: https://bit.ly/33o8nfv Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2ZtoKGz BookBub: https://bit.ly/3bYcTFl Twitter: https://bit.ly/35Kg6rh Pinterest: https://bit.ly/3mftcCt Website: https://www.kristenashley.net Stay up to date by subscribing to her mailing list: https://bit.ly/3mjJiLd
Gigi Hawthorne is starting from scratch. She just didn’t realize until her crappy car broke down that she was going to be doing it in a small town in Vermont. With an eye for design and some serious decorating skills, she’s managed to land a job making delectable treats for the patrons of the Busy Bean. Now she’s up to her elbows in sugar and flour, but her thoughts are never far from her gorgeous, brooding landlord.
Holden St. James swears he isn’t a recluse. He goes to the local coffee shop three times a week, doesn’t he? Yeah, maybe he never actually talks to anyone, but with a backstory of loss, pain, and regret like his, he’s pretty sure he wouldn’t be very good company anyway. Yet something about his new tenant makes him wonder if maybe it’s time to let someone open the oven door and release a little heat into his closed-off world.
But both are hiding secrets as dark as an espresso mocha cupcake and they’re not sure if they can trust each other. Will the truth break their delicate relationship into sad, sweet crumbs--or will it turn out to be the key ingredient in the recipe for a new life?
Sneaking another glance at him, she smiled to herself noticing a scone on his plate. He hadn’t taken a bite yet, and her chest filled with nerves as she thought about him trying it for the first time. She wanted everyone to like the goodies she was making for the café, but she really, really wanted Holden to like them. Maybe even like them so much that he’d ask her to make some just for him, at home. An image of the two of them in the kitchen together, covered in ingredients as he pressed her up against the blue cabinets, flitted across her mind, making the nerves in her chest morph into something else entirely. Was that…lust?
Stop it, Gigi…just because the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach doesn’t mean you need to make an attempt. Especially with that man.
The sound of coughing pulled her attention back to the counter, where Officer Nelligan was still standing. When he finally swallowed, he took a long swig of his coffee, blinking harshly, like he was trying to forget a taste.
“I’m not much of a baker, but I think you might have mixed up your baking powder and your baking soda. A girl did that in my junior high home ec class, and it tasted much like this—kinda metallic,” Officer Nelligan said.
“What?” Gigi said. All feelings of butterflies and lust were long gone now, replaced by sheer panic. She looked at Officer Nelligan in horror, taking in the scone he’d just bitten into. The apologetic look in his eye told her everything she needed to know—she'd screwed up. Big time.
“Georgia. I don’t know what possesses you to even try these things. It’s a well-established fact that you just are not capable of cooking. Please stop trying—you’re just making yourself look ridiculous,” Bradley’s voice said. She shook her head, trying to clear his words from her mind, as she turned and ran into the kitchen.
Sure enough, the canisters labeled “baking powder” and “baking soda” were right next to each other. However, it was the baking soda whose lid was off and sitting in front of it. That was the one she’d used when measuring out her ingredients.
“Sugar Honey Iced Tea!” she exclaimed, stomping her foot in frustration. She could feel Roderick looking at her, but she didn’t have the heart to turn around and see the expression on his face.
“Uh oh,” she heard Roderick’s voice say over her shoulder. “That’s a bad day.”
Was she ever not going to screw this up? When would she learn that she couldn't do this? No, what she couldn’t do was let Bradley’s words get to her.
At least it was just Officer Nelligan. He was used to seeing her at her worst at this point. He and Holden.
Holden.
Holden had also ordered a scone. But he hadn’t eaten it yet. Right?
Racing back up front, she skidded to a stop in front of his table to find him mid-bite into the inedible treat.
“Nooo!” she cried. “Don’t eat that—it’s…”
“A bit salty…” he responded, choking it down.
Gigi could feel the tears starting to prick at her eyes, but she wasn’t going to let anyone here see her cry. It was no big deal. So she got the canisters mixed up. Happens to everyone at some point, right?
“I’ll get you a muffin,” she told him, turning back to the counter. Looking between Holden and Officer Nelligan, she sighed. “At least it was just you two, right?”
“And Mr. Hughes,” Kirk said, not looking up from the espresso machine.
“Who?”
“That older guy who bought six. Owns Hughes Hardware store up the street.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake!” she exclaimed before turning and running out the front door. She had to get to him before he let his employees have any of them.
Deserting the café like this was probably not her best move, but she figured after this disaster, she was going to be lucky to even have a job.
Review:
4 stars
****
This was a cute book! Cakewalk is book three in the Busy Bean series, which is a series in Sarina Bowen's World of True North. This book is Gigi and Holden's story. Gigi is passing through Vermont after leaving behind a terrible situation with her abusive, cheating ex-husband. She wants a new life and is hoping to move to Canada to leave it all behind. But she stops in Vermont for a coffee on her drive and ends up at the Busy Bean. She overhears the shop owners discussing the need for a baker and cake decorator and she joins the discussion, unwittingly finding herself offered a job. Gigi sees an opportunity for a new life in small town Vermont, so she takes the job, but she actually does not know how to bake at all. So begins a crash course in baking, and Gigi finds herself renting a room from Holden, a grumpy, widowed writer with a tragic past and a chip on his shoulder. Gigi's fun personality brings some lightness to Holden's life and the two fall for each other. When her past comes back to affect her present, their new love is put to the test but they come out on top even stronger.
I was pleasantly surprised to really enjoy this book. Claire Hastings is a new-to-me author and this book has a trope that I'm not a big fan of (Holden's a widower). But the trope is done right here and did not bother me. I really liked both Gigi and Holden. They both had past baggage to get over, but meeting each other changed their paths and helped them both grow and find peace. They were really sweet together and I was happy to see Gigi bring some sunshine to Holden's world. This book had a good story and characters. Overall, I really enjoyed Cakewalk. I look forward to reading more from Ms. Hastings and the World of True North.
