ARC REVIEW Passion on Park Avenue by Lauren Lane

Central Park Pact #1, The series is a new one from a favorite author of mine it's about an unlikely friendship between three women, socialite Audrey Tate, the classy Claire Hayes, and the self made billionaire Naomi Powell.What brought these three women together was they had slept with the same man, Claire's husband. They met when they were all supposed to be at his funeral all wearing the same shoes and all with identical watches. They all understood what a lousy excuse for a man he was and made a pact that they would protect each other from making the same mistake again. Over the next couple of months the bonds of friendship formed and they became close friends. 

Naomi Powell hit it big with a subscription based accessories box. Growing up poor in the Bronx toughened her up and lets her appreciate all her accomplishments.She's about to move into a perfect new office and apartment when she gets a call letting her know that her application for to move in to an apartment at 517 Park Ave has been accepted. She lived their for a short time as a child in the servants quarters with her mother, it was horrible and it ended just as bad and she knew the family that ruined her childhood still lived there. She planned to move in long enough to rub it in how successful she now was but what happened when she got there changed everything.

Oliver Cunningham was the ban of Naomi's existence when she lived at 517 Park, and unfortunately for her plans as an adult he's completely changed. Oliver was a disappointment to his father by not going into the family business, instead he became an architect. First his mother died of cancer and then shortly after that his father was diagnosed with alzheimer's; his life has revolved around his father's illness the only person to catch his interest is the redhead who moved in next door who seemed to have an instint hate-on for him. The more time Naomi and Oliver spend together however the more they like each other and one thing leads to another and they are in love but with Naomi's past a secret it's only another matter of time before the other shoe drops and Oliver finds out who she really is and why she moved in to 517 Park in the first place.

Overall, it's another great LL romance. Enemies to Lovers with plenty of snark and humor, and what LL does best bring a bit of New York to those of us who can only dream about it her descriptive narrative is wonderful. I love the connection Naomi made with Audrey and Claire the sisterly bond they formed to look out for each other, I look forward to their stories as well.     

ARC REVIEW Smooth Moves by Marie Harte

 Movin' On #2, (aka Vets on the Go or Veteran Movers) At least we didn't have to wait long for Cash and Jordan to finally hook up. I knew there was more to Cash than meets the eye and my esteem for Jordan just skyrocketed. Even though these two met in the first book I think you could easily read this by itself. Their snarky banter just feeds off each other, and personality wise these are a perfect match. Cash has quite a bit of past history with emotional abuse from his mother and also physical abuse from his father and then a past girlfriend was not just cheating on him but stealing from him and now with his brother in a committed relationship he's afraid he's going to lose him too. Cash thinks he's not good enough for Jordan but that doesn't stop him from wanting to help and protect her if need be, so when she asks him to help out her little brother who is getting ready to make some majorly bad life decisions Cash is more than willing to help, especially after meeting the teenager. Jordan has guardianship over her teenage brother Rafael, "Rafi" for short their parents don't know how to handle a teenage boy who acts out so they are threatening him with military type school in order to straighten him out. Jordan thinks that's a horrible idea for her brother, just because the Army helped straighten her out doesn't mean the same will happen with Rafi, she asks Cash to talk to him and help get the point across that school matters.

I loved the story with Rafi, stupid teenager stuff of trusting the wrong people and mean teachers. Cash and Jordan faced some hard truths in this book but together they were able to handle it. Cash was able to confide in Jordan and show her his vulnerable side and be all sweet and protective with her and vise versa Jordan is more than capable of taking care of herself and she stands up for Cash when need be, even dropping one of their coworkers to the floor for taking the jokes about Cash too far.

Overall, I loved this story. I loved their romance and just how everything fell together and how everything worked out. Miriam, bwahahahaha, and I love Heidi I would not mind a F/F book for her in this series or M/M with Lafayette.

ARC REVIEW Getting Hot with the Scot by Melonie Johnson

Sometimes in love #1, A quick and delightful read. Getting Hot with the Scot introduces us to a group of friends who made a pact to visit five European countries together five years after college. They are on the last leg of their journey and Cassie Crow hasn't managed to obtain one of the major souvenir she wanted, a hot fling. Cassie has been so career oriented she's never had the time for a real relationship let alone a fling. But this trip is the perfect opportunity for her first no strings affair. When in Scotland Cassie got separated from her friends and accidentally stumbled onto a honest to goodness kilt wearing, red headed highlander unfortunately he's "Logan fucking Reid". Logan Reid is the host for his internet based show Shenanigans, where he pulls off pranks and anything else he finds funny that will make people laugh. Out of the days work of pulling off the time traveling Highlander prank the best one has to be Cassie's but she refuses to sign the waiver. His show needs this skit, he needs it because and American production company wants his show but for the time slot he needs the women demographic and this skit is going to do it for him. Everytime Logan is near Cassie nothing else matters, he even follows her to London to get her to sign the waiver only to completely forget about it.

Their relationship has quite a few ups and downs but along the way they do fall in love. Typically I hate pranks but Logan is charming and good hearted you know he never sets out to hurt people just make them laugh. Cassie was the social media queen of Chicago's talk show ChiChat but on her return to Chicago after her trip she got the chance to do some series journalist work and depending on how well it works out for her she's got a new job. But when one of Logan's pranks interferes with Cassie's big interview it may be the end of them and her career. 

Overall, I thought this was such a good read. I loved all the characters and it was a great introduction to all the ladies for the upcoming books. A debut novel that gets you excited for the next books in the series.Well written with romance and just enough angst to make it worth it, I can't can't wait for the next book. 

ARC REVIEW No Other Duke But You by Valerie Bowman

Playful Brides #11, Third of the series that I've read so far but each of the book can be read as a stand alone. I enjoyed the book but at times I didn't. I didn't like Delilah for being in her sixth season and playing the matchmaker for years she was really kind of oblivious, and while I normally enjoy a good oblivious character she was kind of annoying. I liked Thomas, he was in love and did just about everything to show Delilah that he loved her, short of flat out telling her. In a very Kiss Me Kate type fashion Delilah and her friends are putting on a performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream for charity when real life starts to emulate art.

Delilah must be engaged by her birthday or else her hateful mother will force her marry a horrible weasel of a man. She has he sights set on the Duke of Branville but so does one of the other girls. To distract the other girl Delilah's matchmaking partner Lucy intend to use Thomas as a distraction, but for some reason Delilah's hesitant to do that, and then another of her good friends Rebecca sets her sight on Thomas. Delilah easily distracts her with Lord Berwick but suddenly Thomas's sister Lavinia wants to be paired with Berwick and not Lord Stanley and to top it all off Branville outright asks Delilah if she could match him to Rebecca. To muddle things up more Thomas kisses her and she has no idea how to process that bit of information; he's her best friend and it was all just for the play, right?  Delilah is at her wits end and she's running out of time and no closer to securing Branville that's when her cousin Danielle tells her about a Roma gypsy woman who sells love potions. Only she manages to mess that up as well by dropping the potion in Thomas's eyes instead of Branville.

Overall, parts of it were really fun but I kind of wish it went a different way after the love potion debacle because as it is it's just Delilah whining. And Thomas in his infinite wisdom thinking it's better to tell he loves her under the influence of a love potion than to just tell her he's always loved her. (que me banging my head on the desk). It was a fun read, frustrating at times, but fun nonetheless.       

ARC REVIEW Shouldn't Have You by Carrie Ann Ryan

Fractured Connections #2, Harmony and Brendon friends since forever, when Harmony's husband who was also Brendon's best friend and business partner died they kind of drifted apart. When Harmony's best friend commited suicide about two years later Brendon came back into her life and their friendship started anew. But this time they were grown up, they were two different people from who they use to be and this time their friendship has grown into something much more.

The emotions in this book are strong, the first half of the book is just basically Harmony and Brendon dealing with their emotions. Normally I don't read books that are this heavy emotion-wise but this is Carrie Ann Ryan I read everything she writes.  It's a slow burn romance Brendon doesn't even admit he loves her until past the halfway point until then the feelings are there they are just not admitting them yet or even recognizing them for what they are. Once you get to that part the book starts moving more quickly.

Overall, I liked it, it's not one of my favorites. Unlike her other books in general this series is very emotion based there is no outside force screwing with them it's just them dealing with their emotions and healing. All of her books can be very emotional (hello that one book of the Redwood Pack series) but these are so much more heavy and personally I'm not in the right place to be reading something this heavy and fully embrace all of the feels. I can see where writing this one in particular would be very cathartic for Ms. Ryan and I wondered while reading it how much of herself is in Harmony. If you like deeply emotional books with a HEA then this a good book.

RELEASE BLITZ Burned by A.K. Evans

Title: Burned
Series: Cunningham Security #5

Author: A.K. Evans

Genre: Contemporary Romance with a touch of suspense

Release Date: May 14, 2019

Blurb

Zara Brooks needs a fresh start.

Consumed with insecurity and damaged by betrayal, Zara leaves her old life and all the heartache it holds behind her.

Or so she thinks…

Zara is deeply wounded and every choice she makes in her new hometown is evidence of that pain.

Pierce Reynolds has lived in Windsor all his life and loves the community. When multiple businesses in town are set ablaze faster than the police department can investigate, Pierce volunteers to be the lead investigator on the case.

Pierce’s investigation lands him at Zara’s front door and he’s immediately taken with her. While Zara can’t deny that he’s an attractive and well-respected man, she refuses to get involved.

Once tragedy strikes, leaving Zara vulnerable, Pierce learns there’s a lot of hurt hiding beneath her tough exterior and handles her with care. Shocked by the depth of Pierce’s kindness, Zara finds her heart yearns for more.

But Zara treads cautiously.

Because she knows how easy it is to get burned.

ADD TO GOODREADS

Purchase Links

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Free in Kindle Unlimited

This book, my gosh, where do I begin? I loved it. Zara and Pierce make a perfect couple, exactly what the other needs. Zara's insecurity got a little annoying but right at the point she started to get annoying she realized her self worth and started working on it. Pierce is perfect. The main part of the book is the romance and the building of their relationship and Zara's self esteem issue and the root of that with little dashes of the mystery, but the last twenty percent of the book is mainly solving the ongoing crime as well as introducing the next couple.
Overall, I love A.K.'s writing. First person isn't something I particularly go out and look for in a book, but  alternating first person gives me the insight I need to enjoy the story, I get both sides of the story. It starts off mainly as Zara's POV but as the book goes on you get more and more of Pierce. I really did enjoy the narration, and the setting, Love Winsor. It's a very emotional book that deals with emotional abuse and what it does to a person and how hard it is to repair the damage done. 

Also Available

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

All free in Kindle Unlimited

Author Bio

A.K. Evans is a married mother of two boys residing in a small town in northeastern Pennsylvania, where she graduated from Lafayette College in 2004 with two degrees (one in English and one in Economics & Business). Following a brief stint in the insurance and financial services industry, Evans realized the career was not for her and went on to manage her husband’s performance automotive business. She even drove the shop’s race cars! Looking for more personal fulfillment after eleven years in the automotive industry, Andrea decided to pursue her dream of becoming a writer.

While Andrea continues to help administratively with her husband’s businesses, she spends most of her time writing and homeschooling her two boys. When she finds scraps of spare time, Evans enjoys reading, doing yoga, watching NY Rangers hockey, dancing, and vacationing with her family. Andrea, her husband, and her children are currently working on taking road trips to visit all 50 states (though, Alaska and Hawaii might require flights).

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ARC REVIEW The Trouble with Vampires by Lynsay Sands

Argeneau #29,  Yay Santo!! Book 29 in the Argeneau series brings us to a suburban Albany, New York neighborhood. The Enforcers got a lead that may end up being the mad scientist they have been trying to track down since he escaped from his private island off the coast of Venezuela where he had been experimenting on immortals and humans in a Dr. Moreau kind of way. After being held captive by the mad scientist Santo is ready for a swift justice. Petronella Stone is babysitting her nephew but soon after she gets there strange things start to happen someone tries to break in to the house luckily the neighbors intervene before anything can happen. The visiting neighbors, Marguerite, Julius, Zanipolo, Jason, and Santo are there to track down the mad scientist who maybe hiding out in his cousins house right next door and the attempted break in at Pet’s house is just too coincidental. They find out early on Pet knows about immortals due to a traumatic past experience which makes things easier for the Enforcers to protect her and her nephew, Parker. Once Santo realizes that Pet is his life mate and she already knows about immortals he thinks the rest should be easy, but it’s never easy!

Overall, this was another very entertaining read. Santo and Pet are hot, it gets very steamy and Santo is very deserving of a life mate. Parker is adorable. I foresee something happening with the Brass Circle in the future (finger’s crossed). This one wasn’t as predictable as some of the past books I didn’t guess what exactly happened and it was good, it had a very nice ending. I think this could be read as a standalone but if you need to read the previous one to catch up on the whole mad scientist plot you don’t have to go back to the very beginning just maybe back maybe six or seven to Runaway Vampire or Immortal Nights. I am also anticipating Zanipolo’s book to be next, I’m hoping. I always enjoy Lynsay Sands writing, her characters are always quirky and Pet and Santo’s have very dark emotional past they have to deal with which lead to them connecting on an emotional level as well as physical.

ARC REVIEW When to Call a Cowboy by June Faver

Dark Horse Cowboys #3, Beau Garrett's story the last of the Garrett boys gets reunited with his first and only love Dixie Moore. I think those of us who have read this can all agree Dixie was a fucking idiot as a teenager. Instead of going to her Father herself and getting his side she automatically believes her mother and thinks the worst of her father, Beau, and his family. Now almost five years later she's back to take care of thing after her father's murder, his will stipulates she remain in Langston and run the feed store and ranch for a year then she can do with it what she will. But when her best friend gets shot at the feed store just like her father she knows her father's murder wasn't just because of a robbery.

Beau can't fathom why Dixie is so cold to him and his family when she was the one who left without a word breaking his heart and she acts like he did something wrong. When he discovers what happened five years ago he knows he'll never let her go again. They never stopped loving each other and once Dixie realizes the truth she is remorseful. But the business with one murder and one attempted murder at the feed store and then finding out that someone has been using it as a weigh station for human trafficking has the whole Garrett clan on their toes.

Overall, while this is technically Romantic suspense, it's more heavy on the romance then the suspense and I wish it was the opposite. I guess it's just what I was in the mood for at the time. But this was a good read, I did enjoy the story for the most part but Dixie was an idiot but it didn't take her long to realize something was wrong with her mother's version of events from five years ago. I enjoyed the whole series, Loved the second one. Dixie's secret wasn't hard to figure out, neither was the whodunnit but the story to get to that point was a good one and the romance was nice. I look forward to more June Faver books. 

Hometown Cowboy by Sara Richardson

 Rocky Mountain Riders #1, A great introduction to the series it's characters and town. A nice and easy read with fun characters and very little angst.

Jessa May Love just got dumped again, via text message, and worse he was her animal rescue's main sponsor so that means she needs to go out and find new donors. Which also means she needs to dress to impress luckily she has her mom and best friend help her find clothes that aren't khaki and covered in pet hair.

Lance Cortez has once more rodeo left in him, he needs to win the World Finals so he can retire on a positive note. Leaving the ranching stuff to the ranch hands he trains but he's starting to worry about his father he's getting on in age and is getting forgetful. His housekeeper already has enough on her platter so he can think of only one person to help out, Jessa.

Lance and Jessa strike up a deal she watch over Luis and move into the house and Lance will give her animal rescue half his earnings from the World Final. Lance and Jessa never previously had an excuse to to be around each other but the more time Lance spends with Jessa the more he likes her. Jessa likes being around Lance but she swore off men after her last fiasco of a break up too bad Lance isn't the kind of cowboy you can easily forget.

Overall, a really nice read. I liked the characters and the plot and how it all played out. I loved the setting and the descriptive narrative made it very easy to imagine the picturesque landscape. I look forward to reading the rest of the series. 

Anything but a Duke by Christy Carlyle

 The Duke's Den #2, I enjoyed this one just as much as the first book of the series, with it's atypical female character and a man who loves because of it. Diana Ashby, like her father is an inventor, unlike her father she's good at it. Diana is determined to invent useful items that people need she needs an investor with connections who she can sell her pneumatic cleaning devise. Aidan Iverson worked his way up in the world, abandoned at a workhouse at a young age and later ran away. Even with his two titled best friends and business partners of an exclusive gaming house certain doors are still closed to Aidan. His only course of action is to marry into society but with no idea who his people are not even a professional matchmaker won't take up the challenge. Diana is the first woman to ever submit her invention to the Lion's Den but gets turned down for the investment. The instant attraction between Aidan and Diana leads to them working together Aidan will invest in her cleaning devise and she helps him find a titled wife. But Aidan has no wish to find a titled wife anymore now that he's found Diana.

Overall, it was a quick and fun read. Diana seems really distant but to her her inventions come first she has no interest in marrying especially if it means she has to stop working in her workshop. And even though she does feel strongly for Aidan she's scared that she's not what he need and tries to keep her feelings under control. Aidan on the other hand doesn't hide his feeling for Diana he is full on in love mode almost right from the start. It was a good read, I enjoy this series I hope we do see Diana's brother make his match in a future book he was quite the character.   

ARC REVIEW Unbroken by Jay Crownover

 Loveless Texas #0.5, Prequel novella to the new series by Jay Crownover. A great opposites attract romance and a start to a new series; rodeo cowboy Crew Lawton and high maintenance city girl Della Devereaux find love. Crew has a gambling problem and he is deep in debt to a very bad man and even after throwing his entire season the loan shark says Crew still owes him money. Crew's manager screwed him over and after signing Crew's name to a new sponsor promoting a new line of men's beauty care and then stealing the advance. But it's fortuitous for Crew because when Della shows up out of the blue demanding if he want the money he must do everything she says, with the rest of the payment more than enough to settle his debt Crew is all in. But the loan shark has his claws in deep and won't let go of Crew that easily.

Crew and Della are a good match, they balance each other out; I liked the connection they shared. This is my first Crownover and I liked it I look forward to the rest of the series. The brief introduction to the rest of the Lawton family was a memorable one and intriguing enough to make me want more. The writing style and narration kept me pulled in to the story. As a novella this satisfied me, it was like eating a snack that hit the spot. 

ARC REVIEW Nothing But Trouble by Amy Andrews

 Credence Colorado #1, I would gladly move to Credence Colorado!!! When done well this trope can be amazing, and Amy Andrews did. I loved the whole book, the attitude and the chemistry between Wade and CC kind of reminded me of Tony Stark and Pepper Potts, she's there every step of the way and he doesn't realize the truth of his feelings until it's almost too late. This is my first Amy Andrew and I'm glad I found it I look forward to the other books in this series, the men of Credence warrant good books for the rest of the series; I'm particularly looking forward to the sheriff and the erotic romance author.

Wade finally came home to Credence after his father had to get a pacemaker retired from his epic football career all he was doing was trying to write his memoirs, the operative word is trying. CC has only two real goals in life to live near the beach and be completely self reliant and after working for Wade for almost six years being at his beck and call 24/7/365 she has enough money saved up she can do that. But Wade has one more job for her to move to Credence with him for the summer and help him write his book, do that and he'll let her out of her contract early with no repercussions.

But what happens neither one was expecting. For CC two words, "Farmer Porn" from the first moment she saw Wade on the farm getting back to his roots she started to look at him in a different light throw in a cute piglet and a puppy and her ovaries just about exploded. Wade started to learn more about CC and with the knowledge that she will be leaving him he starts to realize all sorts of things. CC also began helping Wade's mother organize an event that would bring more women to the small town. There is also a delightful side story about Wade's brother Wyatt finding a girl.

Overall, I loved this story. I loved Wade and CC and their dynamic. This was a fun read and I enjoyed Amy Andrew's writing style. 

ARC REVIEW Taken by Rebecca Zanetti

Deep Ops #1.5, Taken is a novella that feels like a full length book, there is so much that happens in it even after finishing it in just over an hour I felt fulfilled. In this book we meet Raider Tanaka's foster family. Raider, whom we met in the first book, is just a side character in this and they use his connections with  Deep Ops to help track down Hunter Holt's (the main character) newly discovered younger brother, Jackson, when he runs off with his teacher and she goes on a robbery and killing spree. Faye Smith is a trained psychiatrist but not a practicing one anymore. Faye, Hunter, and Raider all ended up in the same foster home they all came from abusive parents and after finally ending up with Ms. Annabelle they all ended up good people. Ms. A's newest foster is Hunter's younger brother but before she could tell him about his brother Jackson ran off and Faye, Hunter, and Raider rush off to save his butt.

Faye and Hunter were each others first loves but after Hunter left the Marines and began suffering from PTSD and the death of their other foster brother and the incident that caused Faye to leave her practice everything just fell apart with them. Here they are now working closely together and realizing they could love no other.

Overall, it was a fast paced quick read that really hits the romantic suspense spot. I love the character, I liked seeing Wolfe and his cat, Kat, and Force and that dumb Roscoe, man I love that dog. Force also hints at what Raider is going to be up to in the next book.

BOOK BLITZ Then Came You by Kate Meader

Then Came You 

Kate Meader 

(Laws of Attraction #3)

Published by: Loveswept

Publication date: May 7th 2019 

Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

In the courtroom, they’re rivals. In the bedroom, they’re . . . divorced. But could the road trip from hell lead to a second chance at love? 

                               “I love Kate Meader’s books!”—Kelly Jamieson

Aubrey Gates is the hottest divorce lawyer in Chicago, a barb-tongued stiletto with legs that go on for miles. When her cool gray eyes meet mine across the battlefield, I want her like I’ve never wanted anyone or anything. Then I remember who she is: the woman who brought me to my knees. The woman who destroyed my faith in relationships. 

The woman I used to call . . . wife. 

And she needs a favor from me, Grant Lincoln. 

It seems my ex forgot to mention the demise of our marriage to her dear old grammy, and now we’re both expected to attend her ninetieth birthday party. In Boston. And because it isn’t already awkward enough, Aubrey and I are driving there together from Chicago. That’s more than a thousand miles of tension, heartbreak, and barely concealed lust.
A little piece of paper might say we’re over, but this road trip is the true test. I intend to get my wife back . . . and I won’t stop until “I do.” 

Kate Meader’s super-sexy Laws of Attraction novels can be read together or separately: 

DOWN WITH LOVE • ILLEGALLY YOURS • THEN CAME YOU

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

The third and the last book of the Laws of Attraction series. There were things about this book that I loved and other parts that I just didn't. Normally I'm a sucker for second chance romance and reconciliation, I guess I wasn't in the mood for it I didn't enjoy it as much as I might have. The first half of the book felt a little tedious but once Meader got onto the root of the problem and all the emotion attached to it I enjoyed it more. The switching between the reminiscing flashbacks and present day was a little confusing at times there was no real clear transition. It's told from alternating first person POVs so you get Grant and Aubrey's side of the story. What I did love about the book is that road trip didn't "fix" their relationship, for one, it made them realize how much they still love each other (which is a given in), and two, it forced them to finally open up and talk about the main issue, the reason for their divorce.

I love Grant, he was great, a southern gentleman with a great charm and he loves his mother and little sister. Aubrey was okay at times, it took most of the book for me to warm up to her. Overall, it was a good read. I definitely needed tissue reading this one.      

“Ms. Gates.” 

Damn, the man himself has to appear and ruin a perfectly fine fantasy. He looks like the Terminator in Tom Ford. I can assure you that he didn’t dress so well before I met him. He didn’t even use chopsticks. 

“Mr. Lincoln.” 

“Oh, hold up, please!” Just before the elevator doors close, Serena Gleason, one of my colleagues at Kendall, joins us inside. She flashes a grin. “Aubrey, heard you got your ass handed to you by—Grant! Didn’t see you there.” Unlikely, given that the man is about as impossible to miss as a redwood. 

“Serena, how you doin’?” Grant’s syrup drenches the entire car and he leans in to buss her cheek. “A little birdie told me some lucky guy’s scooped you right up. Congratulations.” 

Serena flashes her hand, showing off a rock the size of a planet. She’s marrying her hunky personal trainer. “Thanks, he is lucky.” Sighing for a couple of seconds at the sight of her ring, she raises her gaze and frowns at me. “What happened to your arm?” 

“Nothing.” 

“Doesn’t look like nothing.” 

“She won’t say,” Grant offers. “I’m thinking maybe a tryout for the Hawks.” 

My eye roll is epic. 

“Oh, there’s a story here.” Serena narrows her eyes in suspicion. I’ll be a source of gossip, visits from senior partners, and hopefully a tray of cupcakes by five. 

The elevator reaches the lobby—finally—and we all step out and stand around awkwardly like we need to discuss our next moves. Sushi or Italian, friends? 

Serena divides a look between the two of us. “Should I play referee? Or maybe something else?” 

I shut that nonsense down immediately. “I’ll walk back to the office with you, Rena.” 

“Got a minute, Bean?” 

Again, with that Bean business. I can’t. Not now. 

Serena mouths “Bean” at me. I want to thump her and stuff that rock on her finger in an uncomfortable place. 

Instead, I say sweetly, “No—I need to get back. I’ve got a client’s financials to investigate, remember?” 

“Been thinkin’ on your dilemma,” Grant says, his voice ridiculously lazy and sexy. 

“My dilemma?” 

“Thanksgiving, traveling with the beast, heading into the Lion’s Den.” 

I shoot a look of not here at him, but Serena has already sniffed blood. “The Lion’s Den? Color me intrigued!” 

He looks amused. “Think you’d prefer we discuss this in private.” 

“Discuss what? How you tried to bypass discovery in Judge Jamieson’s court like a first year associate?” 

“Nah. Me driving you to Boston for Thanksgiving so you can pretend to your grandmother that we’re still married.” 

I gasp, which sets off a chain of unfortunate events. Slightly panicked, I move closer to Grant instead of farther away, inhale how good he smells, become light-headed with the pleasure of it, then step back. I look like a dancing fool and Serena definitely notices, her eyes going wide with wonder at my smoothness. 

“Rena, I’ll catch you later.” 

“Yeah, you will, girl.” Serena toddles off to get the rumor mill grinding at the office. 

I shoot stabby eyes at Grant. “Nice going, idiot.” 

“No problem. Let’s get coffee in the food court. Won’t take long to sort out the details.” 

What details? This isn’t happening. Yet I turn, trancelike, toward the escalator. 

I know he’s watching my ass with those dark blue eyes of his. I’m not much taller than five four and I need heels to strike fear and envy. But I’ve always had a very well-proportioned behind that looks good in pencil skirts and Grant has always been an ass-man. 

Like the recent reawakening of my long-dormant sexuality, the sway of my hips as I walk ahead of my ex-husband fills me with power. I know it’s ridiculous to feel this way because of a male gaze, but I can’t help it. It’s his gaze that fuels me.

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Author Bio:
USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR
Originally from Ireland, Kate cut her romance reader teeth on Maeve Binchy and Jilly Cooper novels, with some Harlequins thrown in for variety. Give her tales about brooding mill owners, oversexed equestrians, and men who can rock an apron or a fire hose, and she's there. Now based in Chicago, she writes sexy contemporary romance with alpha heroes and strong heroines who can match their men quip for quip.

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