Review: Kit McBride Gets a Wife by Amy Barry

 

Kit McBride Gets a Wife by Amy Barry

Publication Date: August 23rd 2022 by Berkley Books

Pages: 352

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Junebug McBride is the lone girl in Buck’s Creek, Montana where her brothers man a trading post. There are endless chores to look after her brothers, and not much gratitude. So Junebug decides that she’ll find a wife for Kit, another woman on the mountain to help cook and clean. She writes up the most hilarious matrimonial request to post in the paper, mostly because it’s brutally honest in her description of her brother, and wait and see what happens. Junebug was so freaking funny, I just loved this girl! If I had to do all that cooking and cleaning, without modern conveniences, I’d post an advert too! The way she described her brother had me laughing up a storm!

Maddy came to America from Ireland seeking a better life and a chance to be more than just a parlor maid. Unfortunately, things don’t go as planned. Maddy didn’t figure on being mistaken for a mail order bride. Junebug convinces her to go along with it and before you know it Maddy feels at home with the big burly mountain McBride men. She also comes to love Junebug with her brash and honest way of speaking.  Maddy was a hard worker and a straight talker but had a grace about her. She was good for Junebug and the McBride men! She had some hard knocks, so it was special to her to be looked after like she was by the McBride’s. Maddy also was overcome by the beauty of Buck’s Creek with its majestic scenery and open spaces, vividly described by Ms. Barry’s writing, and I just knew this was the place for her!

I adored this romance so much! It was a slow burn and sweetly passionate! The secondary characters were also interesting and fun. Just an all-around pleasurable read!  I’m now eagerly awaiting Morgan McBride’s romance next!

4.5 Stars

Book Description:

The four McBride brothers have their worlds turned upside down when their precocious younger sister secretly places an advertisement for a mail-order bride.

Kit McBride knows that Buck's Creek, Montana, is no place to find a wife. Between him and his three brothers--plus little Junebug--they manage all right on their own, thank you very much. But unbeknownst to Kit, his sister is sick to death of cleaning, cooking, and mending for her big brothers, so she places an ad in The Matrimonial News to get them hitched.

After Maddy Mooney emigrated from Ireland, she found employment with an eccentric but poor widow. When her mistress decides to answer an ad for a mail-order bride, Madd​y is dragged along for the ride to Montana. But en route to the West, Maddy is suddenly abandoned and left to assume the widow's name, position, and matrimonial prospects....

With no other recourse in the wilderness, Maddy must convince Kit not only is she who she says she is, but she's the wife he never knew he needed.

Audio Review: Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan

 

Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan

Publication Date: August 2nd 2022 by Harper Audio

Pages: 432

Audio Book Length: 11 hrs 16 min

Narrator: Julia Whelan

Source: Publisher & Libro.fm

Rating: ★★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Goodreads | Audible

My Thoughts:

Swan’s acting career was derailed by a tragic accident that happened right as she was about to hit it big. A friend suggested she try audio narrating and she’s been a sought-after talent since. Swan first went for romances but soured on the who HEA when she doesn’t believe in it herself, but she’s got an offer of a lifetime as a duo with the legendary male narrator, Brock McKnight.

Thank You for Listening was such a moving, emotional story with elements of humor and a steamy romance and I loved every minute! Strong female friendship and loved her relationship with her grandmother, Blah. This had a little bit of a You’ve Got Mail vibe with the emails/text messages, and a reveal of identities I knew was coming. This story is so much more than you’d think, profound, touching and passionate in more than one way! I’ve been a fan of Julia Whelan’s audio narration, but had no idea the depth of her writing talent as well. Definite recommend!

5 Stars

Book Description:

For Sewanee Chester, being an audiobook narrator is a long way from her old dreams, but the days of being a star on film sets are long behind her. She’s found success and satisfaction from the inside of a sound booth and it allows her to care for her beloved, ailing grandmother. When she arrives in Las Vegas last-minute for a book convention, Sewanee unexpectedly spends a whirlwind night with a charming stranger.

On her return home, Sewanee discovers one of the world’s most beloved romance novelists wanted her to perform her last book—with Brock McNight, the industry’s hottest, most secretive voice. Sewanee doesn’t buy what romance novels are selling—not after her own dreams were tragically cut short—and she stopped narrating them years ago. But her admiration of the late author, and the opportunity to get her grandmother more help, makes her decision for her.

As Sewanee begins work on the book, resurrecting her old romance pseudonym, she and Brock forge a real connection, hidden behind the comfort of anonymity. Soon, she is dreaming again, but secrets are revealed, and the realities of life come crashing down around her once more.

If she can learn to risk everything for desires she has long buried, she will discover a world of intimacy and acceptance she never believed would be hers.

From the author of My Oxford Year, Julia Whelan’s uplifting novel tells the story of a former actress turned successful audiobook narrator—who has lost sight of her dreams after a tragic accident—and her journey of self-discovery, love, and acceptance when she agrees to narrate one last romance novel.

Sunday Post #174

 

The Sunday Post is hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated reviewer book blog, and is a post to recap my bookish and non-bookish things from the last week.

It's been another hot week with temps in the 90s. I'm looking forward to Fall. I've been busy with picking out tile and whatnot for my bathroom since our contractor is finally free September 14th. I want everything ready to go. 

Watering and gardening continue to take up a lot of time and work has been wearing me out. I have to work tomorrow (Sunday) as they had no coverage. That was a last minute call in. At least it's only until 2pm. Tried a Chinese food place with my sister and her husband tonight and really enjoyed the food! We had a great time visiting too.

Read:

Click on cover for Goodreads link:

Rainwater was a very different from Sandra Brown's norm. Not so much romantic suspense, more women's fiction. Love on the Brain was fun and then pretty darn hot once the romance got going. Loved getting more Mercy Kilpatrick in In the Pines!

Received/Purchased/Library Lend:

All three are library audios. I have ARCs I need to download but I'd like to chip away at my Netgalley account before adding them.

Instagram:

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One of my most anticipated reads of 2022!

How was your week?

Review: Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood

 

Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood

Publication Date: August 23rd 2022 by Berkley

Pages: 350

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Bee is a neuroscientist called in to work on a neuroengineering job for NASA, a dream job, the only drawback is working with her nemesis, Levi Ward. Levi made it clear that he didn’t like her, avoiding her at all costs back in grad school, but Bee isn’t going to let that stop her from taking the job.

 I absolutely loved The Love Hypothesis last year, so I was eagerly looking forward to Love on the Brain. It was fun being in Bee’s quirky brain, her internal monologue had me laughing at loud a bunch. Levi was a sweety, too. They bonded over Star Wars, cats, (I’m a big fan of both, too!) and more! I was totally on board for them to get their misunderstandings from the past sorted out since they clearly were meant to be together, which took a little longer than necessary, IMO. They were a cute couple, and it was a fun read. If you were a fan of The Love Hypothesis you’ll enjoy Love on the Brain, too!

4 Stars

Book Description:

A STEMinist rom-com in which a scientist is forced to work on a project with her nemesis--with explosive results.

Like an avenging, purple-haired Jedi bringing balance to the mansplained universe, Bee Königswasser lives by a simple code: What would Marie Curie do? If NASA offered her the lead on a neuroengineering project--a literal dream come true after years scraping by on the crumbs of academia--Marie would accept without hesitation. Duh. But the mother of modern physics never had to co-lead with Levi Ward.

Sure, Levi is attractive in a tall, dark, and piercing-eyes kind of way. And sure, he caught her in his powerfully corded arms like a romance novel hero when she accidentally damseled in distress on her first day in the lab. But Levi made his feelings toward Bee very clear in grad school--archenemies work best employed in their own galaxies far, far away.

Now, her equipment is missing, the staff is ignoring her, and Bee finds her floundering career in somewhat of a pickle. Perhaps it's her occipital cortex playing tricks on her, but Bee could swear she can see Levi softening into an ally, backing her plays, seconding her ideas...devouring her with those eyes. And the possibilities have all her neurons firing. But when it comes time to actually make a move and put her heart on the line, there's only one question that matters: What will Bee Königswasser do?

About the author:

Ali Hazelwood is the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis, as well as a writer of peer-reviewed articles about brain science, in which no one makes out and the ever after is not always happy. Originally from Italy, she lived in Germany and Japan before moving to the U.S. to pursue a Ph.D. in neuroscience. She recently became a professor, which absolutely terrifies her. When Ali is not at work, she can be found running, eating cake pops, or watching sci-fi movies with her two feline overlords (and her slightly-less-feline husband). Learn more at alihazelwood.com or follow Hazelwood on social media:

Facebook: alihazelwood                Tik Tok: @alihazelwood

Instagram: @alihazelwood           Twitter: @EverSoAli

Review: Soul Taken by Patricia Briggs

 

Soul Taken (Mercy Thompson #13) by Patricia Briggs

Publication Date: August 23rd 2022 by Ace

Pages: 352

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

You’d think after thirteen books the Mercy Thompson series might have lost some of its shine, but not so! I was riveted from page one! Wulfe, the vampire obsessed with Mercy, has gone missing and Marsilia, head of the seethe, insists Adam and Mercy find him, or else. However, it seems he isn’t the only one gone. Lots going on here and there’s some information revealed about Sherwood that had me shocked! I don’t want to spill anything more about the plot, just to say it was sooo good!! I love the way Mercy thinks ahead, always strategizing. Still, she doesn’t pick up on everything and who could blame her with so much happening? Of course one of my favorite things about the series is Mercy and Adam’s relationship. They’ve had a few bumps over the course of the series, but they form a united front for anything that comes up against them and their passion for each other comes through loud and clear!

The Mercy Thompson series is my all-time favorite UF series! I’ve read and re-read it multiple times, so Soul Taken was one of my most anticipated reads for 2022. When I got the ARC of Soul Taken, I set aside all my other books and read it and I’ve already ordered the audio version to re-read, and a physical copy for my shelf, so as you can guess I highly recommend it! This is very much a series you need to read in order to appreciate all that is going on, but boy are you in for a treat if you haven’t started it! The audios are fantastic with Lorelei King narrating, her voice has become Mercy to me! Her comedic timing is excellent, and she performs all voices: accents, male, female, etc., superbly! Perfection!

5 Stars

Book Description:

The vampire Wulfe is missing. Since he’s deadly, possibly insane, and his current idea of “fun” is stalking me, some may see it as no great loss. But, warned that his disappearance might bring down the carefully constructed alliances that keep our pack safe, my mate and I must find Wulfe—and hope he’s still alive. As alive as a vampire can be, anyway.

But Wulfe isn’t the only one who has disappeared. And now there are bodies, too. Has the Harvester returned to the Tri-Cities, reaping souls with his cursed sickle? Or is he just a character from a B horror movie and our enemy is someone else?

The farther I follow Wulfe’s trail, the more twisted—and darker—the path becomes. I need to figure out what’s going on before the next body on the ground is mine.

Sunday Post #173

 

The Sunday Post is hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated reviewer book blog, and is a post to recap my bookish and non-bookish things from the last week.

I skipped last weeks Sunday Post, just busy with life. We drove down to my daughter's house on Thursday afternoon. We're on our way back from our daughter's house now. We're still working on/or having work done at our new house. We had a brick walkway (see pics below) with a step put in and I can't wait to see it finished when we get home!  My husband installed a tankless water heater, replacing a 30 yr + electric water heater that ran out after about 10 gallons of hot water. Not fun. He ran the gas and water lines himself, which was no small undertaking! Originally, we wanted to have a plumber do it, but the guy after saying "I won't rip you off" quoted us $8,300 to install a $1500 tankless. Yeah, no thanks! My husband even used better/wider lines for the gas than the guy would've done. I'm thankful my husband is handy!

I'm trying to catch up with my review books for some reason I had a ton for August and while I'm excited for each and every book, I overextended myself. I'm trying to be more careful because there are several non-review books I want to get to.

Read:

Click on cover for Goodreads link

All are review books that I really enjoyed. The Couple at Number 9 was a non-review book and was excellent! Had a surprising twist that had me saying "wow"! I also had a DNF I didn't list here.

Received/Purchased/Library Lend:

In the Pines and The Lies I told are Kindle Unlimited, read and listen for free, Rainwater is a library audio I wanted to get to because I bought a physical copy from a thrift store. I love Sandra Brown!

Instagram:

My August Book of the Month choices. Two books I'm excited to read! I'll probably read by audio. 

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Review: Addicted by Krista & Becca Ritchie

 

Addicted to You by Krista & Becca Ritchie

Publication Date: August 16th 2022 by Berkley Books

Pages: 384

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

I didn’t read Addicted to You when it came out years ago, I’ve always been a little hesitant because I thought it’d be an angsty read. A romance between a sex addict and an alcoholic sounded like a train wreck to me, but the story was compelling and addictive! I never really knew or understood a sex addiction, but Lily’s story sheds light into the pain and need. Lo’s alcoholism was worrisome, too, and I was glued to the pages as they go from faking their relationship to cover for each other to the real deal and what they're going to do about their addictions. I really like the side characters, like Lily’s sister Rose, Connor, and Ryke.

Years ago, I loved those romances that spanned over several books, but now I’m much more of a one-book-and-done kind of romance reader. I don’t like conflict spanning several books, but I’m eager to continue Lily and Lo’s story! There’s a lot going on, more than just a romance with things left open at the end, which is why I’ve already started on the next one!

Addicted to You was just re-released with additional material at the end, a chapter from Lo’s POV and some of their text messaging. If you haven’t read the series yet, I recommend giving it a go!

4.5 Stars

Book Description:

Lily Calloway has a secret. While everyone is dancing at college bars, Lily stays in the bathroom. To have sex with strangers. Her compulsion leads to one-night stands, steamy hookups, events she shamefully regrets, and dangerous situations. Yet no one suspects shy Lily to have such an addition, except one person who also has a dangerous secret of his own.

Loren Hale's best friend is his bottle of bourbon, but Lily is a close second. He is an alcoholic, whose goal is to black out on a regular basis. Everyone thinks Lo gave up drinking years ago, but Lily knows the truth. She is the one who makes sure he falls asleep on his side and wakes up in time for their dreaded family gatherings.

 

For three years, Lily and Lo have pretended to be in a real relationship, hiding their addictions from their families. They have no friends apart from one another – but they prefer it that way. The less people to witness their addictions, the better. They've mastered the art of concealing flasks and random guys that filter in and out of their apartment.

 

But as they sink beneath the weight of their addictions, they cling harder to their destructive relationship and wonder if a life together, for real, is better than a lie. Strangers and family begin to infiltrate their guarded lives, and with new challenges, they realize they may not just be addicted to alcohol and sex. Their real vice may be each other.

About the authors:

Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie are New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors and identical twins—one a science nerd, the other a comic book geek—but with their shared

passion for writing, they combined their mental powers as kids and have never stopped

telling stories. They love superheroes, flawed characters, and soul mate love.

Review: Overkill by Sandra Brown

 

Overkill by Sandra Brown

Publication Date: August 16th 2022 by Grand Central Publishing

Pages: 416

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

To the outside world Zach is a washed-up star NFL player, but he’s happy to live out of the spotlight. He was a star quarterback and MVP until he married Rebecca, a glitzy party girl. The marriage was a train wreck and short-lived, but unfortunately her partying ways ended tragically, and Zach was left as medical conservator when she was declared unresponsive and in a vegetative state. Zach felt he was in no position to take her off life support after her parent bitterly contested his rights since he wasn’t her husband at the time.

Four years later Prosecutor Kate Lennon shows up at his door when Rebecca’s convicted attacker, Eban Clarke, has been released early and she needs a way to put him away for good. The only way to do that is with new charges, like murder if Rebecca is taken off life support. Zach wants nothing to do with the whole situation.

Eban Clarke is a rich, spoiled, no-good, sociopath without a speck of remorse for all he’s done. When he hears Kate and Zach may be cooking up a way to send him to prison again, he sets his own plans in motion. This guy was a piece of work and his POV filled me with dread!

Of course, there’s a romance, ill-advised because of the circumstances, but the heat between Zach and Kate was hard to ignore. Stolen moments of passion are interspersed in between looking for a way to put Eban away for good, and trying to stay alive. Never a dull moment! 

I’m always sucked right in from the first page, as I was with Overkill, clamoring for more with her cliffhanger-like chapter endings. Overkill was fast-paced, full of action and rounded out with a steamy romance. Zach was Ms. Brown’s kind of standard hero, a man’s man, and a little bit of an asshole at the beginning, and I loved him! Kate was a likable heroine, smart with a passion for justice, which I understood once getting to know her background.

Sandra Brown is one of my all-time favorite mystery/romantic suspense writers! I eagerly look forward to her new releases, but I’ve gone back and read and enjoyed a lot of her back list, too. Highly recommended!

4 Stars

Book Description:

Former Super Bowl MVP quarterback Zach Bridger hasn’t seen his ex-wife, Rebecca Pratt, for some time—not since their volatile marriage imploded—so he’s shocked to receive a life-altering call about her. Rebecca has been placed on life support after a violent assault, and he—despite their divorce—has medical power-of-attorney. Zach is asked to make an impossible choice: keep her on life support or take her off of it. Buckling under the weight of the responsibility and the glare of public scrutiny, Zach ultimately walks away, letting Rebecca's parents have the final say.
 
Four years later, Rebecca's attacker, Eban—the scion of a wealthy family in Atlanta—gets an early release from prison. The ludicrous miscarriage of justice reeks of favoritism, and Kate Lennon, a brilliant state prosecutor, is determined to put him back behind bars. Rebecca’s parents have kept her alive all these years, but if her condition were to change—if she were to die—Eban could be retried on a new charge: murder.
 
It isn’t lost on Zach that in order for Eban to be charged with Rebecca’s murder, Zach must actually be the one to kill her. He rejects Kate’s legal standpoint but can’t resist their ill-timed attraction to each other. Eban, having realized the jeopardy he’s in, plots to make certain that neither Zach nor Kate lives to see the death of Rebecca—and the end of his freedom.

Blog Tour Review & Excerpt: Waiting on Forever by Claudia Connor

 

Waiting on Forever (McKinney/Walker Bros #4)  by Claudia Connor

Publication Date: August 9th 2022 

Pages: 309

Source: Publicist

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads | Apple Books

My Thoughts:

Dallas Walker has moved to Virginia to be closer to his siblings after retiring from the police force and taking a job as a high school teacher. He still has nightmares from his days as a cop. He’s been staying at his sister’s farm but wants his own space and in his hunt for a house he stumbles upon a beautiful, albeit prickly woman. A woman that becomes his neighbor, and they end up running into each other as Dallas fixes up the house and property. He’s intrigued and attracted. Maggie gives off that “stay-away” vibe that only draws him in more.

Maggie had a tragic loss seven years ago, picked up her life and moved from Arizona to Virginia. She’s not looking for friends or romance, her chickens, dog, garden, and pottery keep her more than busy, but now that Dallas has moved next door her ordered world is suddenly thrown off. Maggie feels things she never thought she could feel again, and she slowly, reluctantly starts to let Dallas close.

Waiting on Forever is the fourth installment in the Walker/McKinney Brothers series, but it would work as a standalone. However, you’d miss Dallas’ history and backstory which is important. Dallas and his siblings lost their parents at a young age. Dallas being just fifteen and they were left with their little sister Hannah, only two at the time, to take care of.  The oldest brother, Nick, was just old enough to take on custody so they wouldn’t be separated. The loss and circumstances affected each differently. I adored Dallas, who despite some pretty grim events in his life was positive and oh-so-sweet! He was also persistent, playful, and sexy! Just what Maggie needed to crack open her hard shell.

I’ve been a fan of the McKinney Brothers series and then the McKinney/Walker branch-out since the first book and was happy to get the last brother’s romance! Love Claudia Connor’s writing! She captures raw emotions of grief realistically but manages to keep it from getting too heavy with sprinkles of humor and heavy doses of romance. She can set a love scene that’ll give you tingles and have you rooting for a HEA! I loved catching up with the big, boisterous McKinney/Walker clan, the previous couples with funny kid shenanigans and plenty of cute animals! Maggie has chickens, their antics made me laugh, and boy did it make me want to get a few! If you haven’t read Claudia Connor, I recommend going to the beginning with Worth the Fall.

4 Stars

Her motion activated lights cast faint shadows near the house, but the light didn’t nearly reach the back of the yard. She searched the dense brush along the back, saw movement and fired a warning shot into the air, then another. 

She heard the rustling of an animal scurrying away then the sound of leaves crunching and twigs breaking behind her and to her left. She swung around, gun raised.

“Jesus!”

“Nope, just me.” 

Dallas stood just a few yards away, stock still, chest bare, in a dark shade of boxer briefs and his hands up in surrender. 

“That’s a good way to get shot.” She lowered the weapon. “Sorry.” 

He took a step forward toward the faint light she stood in. “I thought you were getting shot. What the hell are you doing?”

“Scaring away whatever was snooping around the chicken coop. Raccoon maybe, or a fox.” 

“I guess you know how to use that?”

“I do.” Her lips twitched. “I have a permit and everything, officer.” She lifted the butt a few inches off the ground. 

Still looking distressed, he rubbed the heel of his hand up his forehead and into his hair. 

“I’m sorry if I scared you. And woke you up.” Obviously, because again, he was standing there in his boxers and…yeah. Just boxers. 

“You didn’t wake me. I was outside. With my popcorn.”

“Do you always come outside in your underwear to eat popcorn?” 

“I burned it.”

“Ahh.” She grimaced. “That’s a bad smell. Guess you weren’t kidding when you said you couldn’t cook.” 

“Mmm. Is this a usual thing?” he asked with a nod to the gun, closing the distance between them even more. “Scaring away predators?” 

“Oh. Every now and then. I lost one last year.” She kept talking, kept looking at the man. Her gaze skimmed over a muscled chest, sculpted arms, over a tattoo on his upper right bicep that she couldn’t make out. 

“Holly’s not much of a guard dog,” she went on. “But her hearing’s still good, so when her ears perk up I know something’s amiss. Were you coming to save me?”

“I didn’t know what I was coming to do, but I heard gunshots and—”

“And you came bounding over. I hope you didn’t um…scratch anything.” 

Dallas glanced down, winced, then looked back up. “Nah. I’m good.”

Uh, huh. Well. She forced her attention up to his face and not on the dark boxers that hugged his thighs…annnnd… she was staring. How could she not? 

But when her eyes finally met his she saw he was staring too. And it dawned on her that she was also barefooted and in her underwear. She tugged the tank top she slept in, stretching it until it covered the juncture between her thighs.

“Well, I…uh…” 

A cool breeze rippled over her and she shivered. Or maybe that was the man now just a couple of feet away giving her chills. What had she been about to say? 

And when had he gotten so close? Or had she? Just an arm’s length apart now and she found herself imagining all kinds of things. Like what would she do if he moved closer? If he touched her?

The feeling changed like a coin flipping from heads to tails and even with the cool wind she felt hot. It was uncomfortable and also layered with a ripple of nervous excitement. Standing in her backyard at night with a man—this man. And both of them barely dressed. 

When Holly barked from inside the back door, she glanced toward the house. When she looked back, the moment was gone. “Guess I should go back in. Holly’s probably worried.”  She shifted the gun hanging at her side. 

“Probably so,” he said. “I’ll get myself back. Finish airing out the house.”

“Yeah. Maybe try another bag. Listen for the popping. More than a second between pops and it’s done.”

“Yeah. Okay.” 

He still wasn’t moving and she swallowed hard. Had a ludicrous thought of asking him in. To make popcorn. To watch Downton Abbey?

He nodded toward her house. “I’ll wait until you’re inside.” 

“Oh. Right. Thank you.” She turned, went inside, locking the door behind her. It’d been a long time since she’d been in the position for someone to care about her getting safely inside. She had to admit it didn’t totally suck.

Book Description:

Dallas Walker is haunted. He won’t ever forget the horrors he witnessed while working undercover to bust a human trafficking ring, but he has a plan to start a new life. Coming home to his family is step one. Getting to know his alluring new neighbor could be step two. If only she’d give him a chance…

Maggie Ellis just wants to be left alone. She’d rather spend her days spinning clay into art and feel nothing than open herself up to another devastating loss. But her sexy new neighbor with a lonely look in his eyes isn’t giving up. And he makes her question everything…

Together, Dallas and Maggie might have a shot at happily ever after. But only if they can let go of the past and hold on to each other when it matters most.

About the author:

Claudia Connor is an award winning New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Contemporary Romance, including the beloved McKinney Brothers series. Claudia writes, warm, heartfelt romances with a bit of steam, a lot of family and always a happily ever after.

Claudia attended Auburn University, where she received her undergraduate and masters degrees in early childhood education, and completed her studies in Sawbridgeworth, England. When she's not writing, she enjoys movies, reading, and travel, with a heavy dose of daydreaming during all three. Claudia lives near Memphis, Tennessee, with her husband and three daughters.

Connect with Claudia Connor:

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