Category: Book Reviews

Book Reviews, New Releases

Book Review / Blog Tour: Choose Me

Jennifer Mitchell, Bibliolater

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Choose Me by RC Boldt

Release Date: May 21, 2019

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Choose Me, an all-new standalone coming-of-age romance

by RC Boldt.

Wearing the nicest suit I own, I stand in the very back with a flask full of whiskey in my inner pocket. I put on a brave face as I watch her walk down the aisle.

Because it’s too late.

I refuse to be the bastard who makes her cry on her wedding day, but I’m dying to tell her what I’ve always known. She’s my best friend, but she doesn’t realize she owns my f*cking heart and soul, too.

Each step down that aisle takes her farther away from me and brings her closer to him, forcing me to face the truth: I’ve fallen in love with someone who can’t be mine. If she’d just turn around, maybe she’d realize I love her more than he ever could.

I won’t ruin her perfect day, but my broken heart begs me to try and convince her.

Choose me.

Review by Jennifer Mitchell, Bibliolater

Rating:   🌟🌟🌟🌟

Review: I have read quite a few friends to lovers lately. It seems to be the theme for my Spring. Surprisingly, I’ve have enjoyed each Friend to Lovers story because each has had it’s own little story with a different setting, each has different obstacles / prejudices holding the MCs back from being more and each has a different ending. I never once felt like I was reading the same story over again.

Choose Me by RC Boldt is no different. At first as I was reading it, I had an inkling that I knew this story from somewhere. That it was similar to something…but I just couldn’t place it.  Then it hit me. Choose Me is basically the backstory to Thomas Rhett’s Marry Me music video and you know what? I loved it.

Choose Me is about an undying bond between two unlikely friends built in a tree house thru love and devotion and acceptance. Hollis and Magnolia both had mothers trying to keep them apart. Magnolia spent her life around people who did not accept her. But Hollis did.  He accepted her.  He became her support system.  He became her everything.  As she did for him.    

Choose Me is a sweet, angsty, emotional friends to lover story that will hit your heart strings at the right time.  

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Download your copy today!

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2D0gId4

Amazon Worldwide: https://geni.us/Hk4LBm

Apple Books: https://goo.gl/XtUPsx

Nook: https://goo.gl/pi59Fw

Kobo: https://goo.gl/h6jQ9r

Google Play: https://goo.gl/DH3z82

Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2DRjwJL

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Excerpt:

“Hollis?”

I startle at the male voice calling my name. When I turn, I find a guy about my height wearing a button-down shirt beneath a sport coat and a pair of pressed slacks. He regards me with a mixture of surprise and recognition while I have no idea who the hell he is. He steps closer with a smile.

“Sorry to catch you off guard,” he apologizes and holds out his hand to me. “Grant Stevenson.”

I shake his hand warily. “Hollis Barnes.” I pause before adding, “But somehow, you already knew that.”

He grins, and if I’m being completely honest, I don’t detect any douchebag vibes. “I recognized you from one of the photos Magnolia has in her room of the two of you.”

It takes all my control to suppress the jolt that zigzags through me at his words. She still keeps a photo of us?

His eyes crinkle at the corners, and he lifts his chin to gesture to me. “Although I have to be honest, the ink and beard initially threw me off.”

A surprised laugh escapes me, and I slide my hands into my pockets.

Grant steps closer and glances around before lowering his voice. “I’m actually glad you’re here. I know you and Magnolia haven’t seen one another in a while, but you’re her oldest friend…”

Oldest friend. Not best friend. I don’t miss the phrasing. Although I don’t feel it’s intentional, it cuts deep just the same.

“I’m nervous as hell, and I’m hopin’ you can tell me if she’d like this.”

It takes me a moment to realize what he’s pulled out of his pocket.

A velvet ring box and a packet of Pop Rocks.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

I resist the urge to rub at the center of my chest, where searing pain radiates.

He flicks open the box to reveal a ring with a large diamond that’s fancy as hell. Something Mrs. Barton would love and deem appropriate. But Magnolia? Hell no.

“Her mom helped me pick it out.”

Exactly.

“And I know she loves Pop Rocks since she always has a pack.”

Not the strawberry flavor.

But he’s trying. I can see the nervousness in his expression. The hope. The excitement.

I can’t crush this guy. He’s exactly what her parents have always wanted for her. The kind of guy who doesn’t get his hands dirty. The one with money and connections.

The one who can give her the future her parents expect her to have. The one who won’t come home with rough hands, callused to hell and back from working on a project that’s for a high-end client or due to be auctioned off to a car collector with more money than they know what to do with.

The man who wears button-downs like they’re second skin. Designer clothes.

So caught up in my thoughts, I don’t immediately realize that he’s pocketed the items and is gazing in another direction. When I turn and follow his focus, catching sight of her weaving through the crowd, I take advantage of the moment and let my eyes drink her in. She’s…so goddamn beautiful.

Her long blond hair spills down her back, and even beneath the shapeless graduation gown, her sleek, tanned legs peek out from the bottom hem, her heels accentuating her toned calf muscles.

When she catches sight of Grant, her entire face lights up, and…goddammit.

I can’t do this. This was a fucking mistake. It’s like someone’s performing open heart surgery and just cracked my chest open without anesthesia.

About RC Boldt:

RC Boldt enjoys long walks on the beach, running, reading, people watching, and singing karaoke. If you’re in the mood for some killer homemade mojitos, can’t recall the lyrics to a particular 80’s song, or just need to hang around a nonconformist who will do almost anything for a laugh, she’s your girl. 


Connect with RC Boldt:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rcboldtauthor

Website: http://www.rcboldtbooks.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RC_Boldt

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rcboldt

 

 

Book Reviews

Book Review: Undeniable

Jennifer Mitchell, Bibliolater

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“Whoa. Undeniable is one of my top reads! Sizzling chemistry, off the charts sexual tension and all the feels I’ve come to expect with a Melanie Harlow romance!”- Ilsa Madden-Mills, Wall Street Journal bestselling author

Undeniable, an all-new sexy standalone second chance romance from USA Today bestselling author Melanie Harlow, is available now!

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When we were eleven, Oliver Ford Pemberton dared me to jump off a barn roof. He said you couldn’t break a leg from a 12-foot-jump.

He lied.

(You can also break a collarbone, which served him right as far as I was concerned.)

I wish I could say it was the last dare I ever took from him, the last bet I ever made with him, the last time I ever trusted Oliver Ford Pemberton.

But it wasn’t.

Because he had the nerve to grow up gorgeous, charming, and sexy. And as we got older, the dares only got dirtier—and the betting stakes higher—until finally, he left me in pieces. I swore I’d never talk to him again.

But twenty years after I took that flying leap, he’s back in my life, daring me to risk everything for him: my job, my self-worth, and my heart.

How many chances does true love deserve?

Review by Jennifer Mitchell, Bibliolater

Rating:  🌟🌟🌟

Review:  Special thanks to Social Butterfly PR and Melanie Harlow for a copy of an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Undeniable by Melanie Harlow is a second chance romance between two life long friends.  The story is told through both characters’ perspectives in THEN and NOW scenarios. Melanie’s ability to write four different scenarios kinda blows me away.  You’ve got Chloe Then, Chloe Now, Oliver Then, Oliver Now.  Do you know how challenging that is?  I totally commend Melanie for this.  Not only does it assist the reader in establishing the plot but it also gives the reader a sense for what each person is thinking at a particular moment in time.  It really builds the story to be what it needs to be.

However,  Undeniable overall sort of fell flat for me.  Chloe caves to Oliver’s whims and schemes a little too easily in the Now situations.  And Oliver is just a tad bit spoiled throughout.

I read this book in one day but it was not because I was fully captivated by it.  I’m a moody reader.  If I’m captivated by a book, I normally have to take a break because of all the feels.  This book just didn’t do it for me.

Let me end on a good note….there are A LOT of  good reviews for Undeniable on Goodreads.  If you are debating on whether to read it or not, take a look at them, preferably ones without spoilers, to help make your decision.

Do you know what else may help you?  Scrolling down…There’s an excerpt waiting for you!

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Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2EjE51C

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/UndeniableMH

Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2VKluH2

Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2DEajVf

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Excerpt:

Fueled by pent-up lust and scotch, we stumbled into Oliver’s room and tore at each other’s clothes. It was hot and rough and a little bit violent, as if we were furious we hadn’t been able to keep our hands to ourselves and wanted to take it out on one another’s bodies. We pushed and pulled and growled and grasped. We called each other names and cursed viciously. We knocked over a lamp and ripped Oliver’s shirt.

When we finally exploded together, Oliver had me up against the door, and if our yelling didn’t wake the entire floor, then the pounding must have. I’d have bruises for days.

Afterward, we collapsed on the bed, naked and sweaty and exhausted.

“Oh my God,” I said. “I can’t believe we did that.”

“I know. Me either.”

“I think I pulled a muscle.”

“I think you bit me. Am I bleeding?”

I laughed. “No, but I hope you’re not seeing anyone. If you are, she’s going to wonder about all those scratches on your back.”

“I’m not seeing anyone.” He paused. “Are you?”

“No.”

Neither of us moved for several minutes. When I caught myself falling asleep, I sat up. “I should go.”

“Why? Just stay here.”

I looked down at him. “You want me to stay?”

“Yeah.” He opened his eyes. In the low light, they almost looked black instead of blue. “Spend the night with me.”

I waited for it—the dirty joke, the excuse, the subtle dig—the reason he’d toss out for asking me to stay. It couldn’t just be that he wanted me here.

But he didn’t say anything more. He just reached out and covered my hand with his.

I looked at our hands for a moment, and a thousand memories came rushing back. Some good, some bad, but all us. I felt close to him, and I didn’t want to leave. “Okay. I’ll stay.”

“Good.” He took off his watch and put it on the nightstand.

About Melanie

Melanie Harlow likes her martinis dry, her heels high, and her history with the naughty bits left in. When she’s not writing or reading, she gets her kicks from TV series like VEEP, Game of Thrones, Succession, and Homeland. She occasionally runs three miles, but only so she can have more gin and steak.

Melanie is the author of the ONE & ONLY series, the AFTER WE FALL series, the HAPPY CRAZY LOVE series, the FRENCHED series, and the sexy historical SPEAK EASY duet, set in the 1920s. She lifts her glass to romance readers and writers from her home near Detroit, MI, where she lives with her husband, two daughters, and pet rabbit.

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Connect with Melanie

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMelanieHarlow/?fref=ts

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1NPkYKs

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/melanie-harlow

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/melanieharlow2/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melanie_harlow/

Website: http://www.melanieharlow.com

Stay up to date! Sign up for Melanie’s mailing list: http://www.melanieharlow.com/subscribe/

All The Stars, Book Reviews

Book Review: Zero Regret

Jennifer Mitchell, Bibliolater

Genre: Romance

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

“But, her expression turns soft and dreamy, “I think that the real magic comes from all the beautiful, ordinary moments you share together. That’s where loves grows….”

Synopsis Per Goodreads: Love happens when you least expect it. So does heartbreak. I thought we were finally done with the lies.
Secrets? Sure, Lilly’s still holding on to plenty of those.
My perfect woman is secrets buried under beautiful layers of deception. 
She’s the seductive siren bent on destroying my heart. 
It doesn’t make me want her any less. 
Just like before, she’s an addiction I can’t break. 
I’ll never learn my lesson when it comes to her.
But I refuse to ever let her go.
One by one I’ll unlock all her secrets.
I love a challenge. And I’ve never followed the rules.
Now that she’s back in my life, she’s mine forever.
And anyone who hurts or threatens her better prepare to die.

Review: Zero Regret is the 13th installment of Autumn Jones Lake’s Lost Kings MC Series.  It is NOT a standalone.

It is, however, one wild ride.  Z, who just so happens to be one of my favorite MC members, is the ultimate alpha hero.  He protects what is his no matter the cost.  His loyalty makes me swoon like no other (well..except for Rock but that’s another story for another day). 

Autumn Jones Lake’s Lost Kings Series is a wildly entertaining roller coaster that will play with your emotions starting with page one.  Her creative mind constantly keeps her readers guessing.  Although, a lot of open questions from Zero Tolerance are answered, the sneaky author added a few more questions that have yet to be resolved.  This book (the entire series actually) is so exciting, so addicting and so entertaining it will capture your attention for days. 

For more on Autumn Jones Lake and the Lost Kings MC Series, check out the Author Spotlight post where I totally go all fan-girl. The LOKI series is my escape from reality. It is 100% my literary addiction. I have no shame.

FREEBIE ALERT: You can start the entire series for free with Slow Burn…..OR start Z’s story for free with Zero Hour.

Book Reviews, New Releases

Book Review and Blog Tour: Dangerous Magic

Jennifer Mitchell, Bibliolater

AVAILABLE NOW

Dangerous Magic, an all-new cozy mystery from New York Times bestselling author Emma Hart writing as Evie Hart, is available now!

DANGEROUS MAGIC - NEW

It’s not every day you have to return to your hometown to bind your borderline-poltergeist grandmother to the family property.

Unfortunately, today is that day for Avery Thorn.

All Avery wants is to report the binding to the Witch Council so she can fulfill her obligation, but finding a dead body and the Head of the Council on the brink of death isn’t in her plan.

Especially when she’s pegged as the number one suspect.

Now, it’s down to Avery and her cousins—and her sassy feline familiar—to figure out who tried to murder the Head of the Council. Magically bound to find the culprit, the last thing she needs is the new detective getting under her toes.

Unfortunately for her, she finds herself colliding with the hot cop more than she wants. And since her familiar hates him, it’s not always pleasant.

New magic and a devastating tragedy threaten to derail their investigations—but not quite as much as the person who isn’t happy they’re involved…

Review by Jennifer Mitchell, Bibliolater

Rating:  🌟🌟🌟🌟

Review:  Full disclosure:  I am not an expert when it comes to cozy mysteries.  It is a rare read for me; however, when this series was announced, I just knew it was for me.  Emma Hart as a romance writer makes my heart smile.  Emma Hart writing as cozy mystery writer, Evie Hart, does just the same.

Dangerous Magic is a mixed between Sabrina, Bewitched and Nancy Drew.  It is a light, innocent, funny and quirky read.  Evie’s writing has the perfect mixture of mystery, magic and laugh out loud moments that will keep in tune the entire time.

All the characters (there are A LOT) are peculiar yet lovable.  Avery Thorn, our MC is my sarcastic soul sister, yet it is Grandma Thorn who my heart loves the most.  I want to be her best friend.  And although the mystery is solved at the end and although this is not a romance (my heart can find romance anywhere), we are left with some sort of….love square (?)….between Avery, a broody detective, a hot werewolf and a handsome fairy.

Did I like this book?  Very much.  Would I read the next installment?  ABSOLUTELY.

PS – For the record, I’m #TeamDetective….

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Download today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2YAkbYb

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/DangerousMagicEH

Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/DangerousMagicGR

Excerpt:

Grandma opened her mouth, but a red and gold flash darted through the window. It circled the kitchen before it came to settle on top of the fridge and showed the room its true form.

Aunt Rose’s familiar, Honey, a red and gold macaw with more attitude in one sharp toe than most Haven Lake residents had in their entire family.

She surveyed the room with her beady eyes before they came to rest on me. “Look what the cat dragged in.”

I’d always hated that bird. “My cat will eat you, you little—”

TJ coughed.

Silence fell over the room.

“The dirty creature would have to catch me first.” Honey followed that up with a bird noise and a flap of her wings.

Is that vile bird here? Snow sounded way too excited in my head, and I was feeling way too petty to lie to her.

On top of the fridge, I replied, digging into my pasta.

Mee-row!

The next thing I knew, the sound of paws on the steps reverberated through the kitchen. I smirked as a flash of white launched itself at the fridge. Honey cawed and took flight, but I shrugged a shoulder in the direction of the open window, and it slammed shut seconds before she could make her escape.

Rose side-eyed me, while TJ grinned into his pasta.

Honey circled the room, flapping frantically, while Snow jumped onto any available surface in her pursuit of the bird.

Grandma surveyed the scene with barely disguised annoyance. “This place has gone downhill since my death,” she announced, straightening.

“You’ve gone downhill since your death,” Rose snapped.

“I heard that.”

“Good,” I added. “You were supposed to. She said it loud enough.”

About Evie

Evie Hart is the cozy mystery writing alter-ego of New York Times bestselling author, Emma Hart.

Evie was born when her love of paranormal cozy mysteries jumped from her Kindle to the page. The Haven Lake Mystery series is her first foray into the paranormal cozy world and begins with DANGEROUS MAGIC.

EvieHart

Connect with Evie

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2GBeDWV

Stay up to date with Evie by joining her mailing list here: http://bit.ly/2Gw3Jkg

Join Eve’s Reader Group: http://bit.ly/2vigSbl

Website: https://www.authoreviehart.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authoreviehart

Book Reviews

ARC Review: How Not To Die Alone

Jennifer Mitchell, Bibliolater

Release date: May 28, 2019

Genre: Fiction, Contemporary

Rating: 🌟🌟

“Up to that point I’d never realized that life, just sometimes, can be wonderfully, beautifully simple.”

Plot: This is a story about a man who is given a second chance at life and love as long as he exposes a little white lie that he told many years before….a little white lie that has grown into so much more.

Review: Special thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC. The ARC was given in exchange for an honest review.

This has got to be one of the strangest, uniquely set books that I have read in a long time. I do not recall ever reading a book where the majority of the it is set around an agency like this one.. It is both ludicrously morbid and spectacularly brilliant in one. Why? Because Andrew, the main character, has a job working for a government agency that requires him to sift through a dead person’s belongings to find any sort of next of kin. Since most of the dead are of the lonely sort, there is normally none and Andrew will then arrange the funeral. Although it is not part of his job description, Andrew often attends the funeral so the person is not entirely alone which is actually kinda sweet.

Andrew is also a lonely sort due to his past until he meets Peggy. Peggy makes his realize his loneliness and Andrew begins to see he needs to live his life instead of going through it with implicit numbness. I really enjoy being able to watch characters personally grow like Andrew does.

With all this said, I don’t know what to make of this novel. Although, the story itself is unique and humorous at times, it is extremely sad. Depressingly sad. And to top it all off, there were one too many times where I became extremely bored reading and ended up skimming most. I am a reader that needs / wants more entertainment and this severely lacked it.

Recommendation: You can pass on this one.

Book Reviews

Book Review: Eleanor and Gray

Jennifer Mitchell, Bibliolater

Genre: A Sweet Romance

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Quote: “The best kind of love is the kind that fills one up completely, leaving reassurances, not doubts. You deserve that.”

Plot: He was him, I was me, and we were us. This was us. This was our story.
(Click here for full synopsis)…

Review: Eleanor & Grey is such a beautiful, emotional, breathtaking story.

Although it is written as a romance, it is so much more. Eleanor and Grey is a testament to family, friendship and the ties that bind them together. It is a homage to mothers. It is a tribute to first loves. It is a story for those with broken hearts.

Eleanor and Grey’s love story is all sorts of magical. They are fated mates. They whimsically enter each other’s lives whenever an emotional support system is in need. Their relationship focuses on friendship and it focuses on healing each’s soul. And through all the emotions, through all of the grief, a beautiful love story shines through.

Brittainy C. Cherry, you are a marvelous writer….More of that, Brittainy….More of that 😉

Recommendation: A Must Read – however, may I suggest placing a box of tissues near as you dive it? You’re going to need them.

Book Reviews, New Releases

Book Review / Release Blitz: That Second Chance

Jennifer Mitchell, Bibliolater

That Second Chance (Getting Lucky #1) by Meghan Quinn
Release Date: May 7, 2019
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Add to Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42600605-that-second-chance

AVAILABLE NOW!!!
FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2JlBhon
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2V0PBVg
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2J08Mgv
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2UVYI9D
Also available in paperback: https://amzn.to/2ZUnlY3

Blurb:
USA Today bestselling author Meghan Quinn delivers a smart and cheeky romance about love’s power to lift hearts . . . and curses.

It was supposed to be an innocent night, celebrating my brother’s birthday. Nothing was supposed to go wrong. We’d vowed to be on our best behavior after all . . .

But it only took one rowdy night with my brothers to flip my world upside down. One unlucky encounter saddled us with a family curse and the promise of doomed relationships. I laughed it off immediately. “Yeah, right,” I thought. “A love curse. Ha!”

Boy, was I wrong.

Word spreads quickly in a town like mine; rumors about that night soon made us the most eligible yet untouchable bachelors in Port Snow, Maine. As a subject of endless gossip and speculation, I could kiss my dating life goodbye.

It would have stayed that way if Ren Winters, the new girl in town, hadn’t crashed into my life. Brave, beautiful, and smart—her vivacious thirst for a fresh start has given me hope that maybe, just maybe, I can have one too.

Everyone wishes for that second chance . . . but could this really be mine?

Review by Jennifer Mitchell, Bibliolater

Rating:  🌟🌟🌟

Special thanks for Meghan Quinn, Candi Kane PR, Montlake Romance and Netgalley for an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: That Second Chance is an adorable, small town romance with comedy, heart-melting moments and hot, steamy scenes.  Both Griffin and Ren for totally different reasons are searching for a second chance at life.  They first meet thanks to a suicidal moose and slowly burn into something so much more.

Griffin, ever the stubborn male, has a really big romantic heart in him.  He wears his heart on his sleeve which is totally refreshing for a reader who devours novels with broody men (I love broody men).  One of his romantic gestures includes dancing with Ren in the middle of the street (my heart just melted a little).  However….Griffin is an idiot and I write that with a sincere heart.  Since no one else in his life seems to have an issue saying that to him, why can’t I?  I can and I will.  The curse that holds Griffin back…the curse that makes Griffin an idiot is just a tad bit eccentric for my taste.  But then again?  Isn’t that the point?

There are several laugh out loud moments in this story.  Griffin’s meddling family is quite enjoyable.  They truly have the best of intentions and their behavior is out of pure love.  I laughed out loud at their antics.  The cock-blocking scene was the absolute best.  BUT it is the town gossips with their embellishing stories and gossip headlines that take the cake. They are my favorite.  I would hate to be a member of that town.  😂

Meghan Quinn, you are a romantic comedy rock-star.

Recommendation:  I liked it – That Second Chance is for romance readers looking for a light, funny romantic comedy.  It would be a perfect beach read.  And honestly, I’m looking forward to Rogan’s story.

Excerpt:
I’m counting out our register drawer, trying to stay focused on the numbers whipping through my head, but it’s difficult with Reid’s constant small talk. I jot down another tally mark on the paper in front of me and set aside a stack of bills.

“Hello, are you listening?” Reid asks, sounding annoyed.

“No. I’m counting.”

“Well, I’m talking about you, so you might want to lend me your ear for a second.”

Huffing, I set the cash on the counter, knowing my very persistent brother won’t be quiet until I give him my full attention. “What’s up, Reid?”

Satisfied, he smiles. “You should ask her out.”

“Ask who out?”

“Ren.”

Yeah, that’s not going to happen. “No.”

I go back to counting, but Reid starts snapping his fingers at me. “Hey, I wasn’t finished.” I look back up at him, not even slightly interested in this conversation. “I saw the way she was looking at you today. I think she likes you.”

“You’re confused. She was probably just being nice, since I’m the guy who pulled her out of the window of her car after her accident. And even if she does like me, which I highly doubt, there’s no interest on my end. So that’s the end of that.”

“Bull,” Reid and Jen both say at the same time.

Christ. My two most nagging siblings are ganging up on me. Just what I need when I’m trying to get home and relax.

“Can we not make this into a dissection of my personal life, please? I’m not in the mood, and I want to get this done so I can go home.”

“Griff, she’s pretty, she’s sweet, and she’s smart. She’s new to town and, I’m sure, could use a friend,” Jen says just as the door opens, its bell chiming through the space. Brig pops in, grease all over his shirt and a smirk on his face.

Uh-oh. There’s only one reason why he’d be smirking at me that way.

“What are we talking about?” He rubs his hands together and takes a seat on a barstool near the window. “If it’s about the hot new teacher in town, I want in on this conversation.”

“We’re trying to convince Griff to ask her out.”

Brig slow claps his appreciation. “Novel idea. I think they’re a perfect match.”

“I’m not asking her out,” I huff, giving up on the register and leaning against the wall behind me, arms crossed. There’s no way I’ll be able to concentrate on counting while these three are yapping in my ear.

“Why the hell not? She’s perfect for you,” Brig says, a little insulted at my rejection. “Before you even say no, you should at least get to know her a little. I told her today she could borrow your truck while her car is in the shop.”

I count to five before answering, tamping down my temper. “Why the hell would you do that?” Okay, maybe I didn’t tamp it down enough.

“Uh, because she lives three houses down from you?” Brig rolls his eyes as if I’m the stupid one in this conversation. “She needs some help, so be a knight in shining armor, dude. Help out the damsel in distress and then make out with her on the beach. Maybe cop a feel; get some for once.”

“I’m not doing that,” I answer, going back to the money, letting them know this conversation is over.

“And why not?” Jen asks.

“Because I’m not interested in starting or being in a relationship. I’m happy with how my life is right now, and I don’t need anything complicating it.”

“But she has heart eyes for you,” Brig says like a jackass.

“Don’t worry; there are plenty of Knightly brothers to choose from,” I reply.

“Come on, Griff, how fun can going home to an empty, lonely house really be?” Jen chimes in, concern evident in her voice.

I shift on my feet, my voice terse. “I like my house. It’s fine. I’m fine.”

Silence falls between us, an awkward air moving in like a fast-moving cold front.

“Is this because of New Orleans?” Reid finally asks, taking a seat next to Brig. Both of my brothers fix their gazes on me, waiting for an answer.

Why is this a thing whenever we talk about my love life? Can’t they just let it go? What happened was … hell, I don’t even know how to describe it. All I know is I don’t foresee love in my future.

Claire was the love of my life, and I lost her; in a blink of an eye she was gone. I’m not going through that again. Not ever.

Shaking my head, I turn away from my family. This conversation is over.

And with that, I take the cash to the back office, where I can get some peace and quiet.

Ask Ren Winters out on a date? Not going to happen.

And she’s not going to drive my truck either. I think that’s evident in the fact that she drove her car in between two trees.

Can’t blame a guy there.

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

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