Grace Harper is a pro at handling the unexpected—which comes in handy when she inherits the ranch she ran away from years ago...along with a young, autistic stepbrother she’s never met. And because nothing ever goes easy for her, Grace finds her frustrating, sexy ex-flame, Noah, taking care of JJ. But if she’s getting out of this nowhere town, she’ll have to find a way to keep from throttling Noah—without kissing him first.
Noah Taylor may be enemy number one to Grace, but she needs his help. He knows the girl he used to love is still there, beneath the heels and fancy clothes, so he’ll help her—and keep his distance like she says she wants. Only the more time they spend together, the closer he wants to get. Grace has no intention of staying, but she belongs in his arms—he just has to prove it to her.
Review:
No Cowboy Required was such a heartwarming story filled with small town charm. I adored the characters, I had a lot of fun watching how the story progressed and the happy ending left a huge smile on my face. This was JoAnn Sky’s debut novel and I’ll definitely be checking out her future books!
This trip was supposed to be in and out, nice and easy. Sell the ranch, scoop up JJ, and skedaddle.
Noah’s gaze rolled down her body, lingered on her too-high heels, then climbed back up. “The city’s treated you well,” he said.
Bronzed abs peeked through the rip in his dirty T-shirt. Reno had treated him well. Very well. Not that she’d ever admit it, especially to him. “How did you know I’d be here?”
Grace Harper made a life for herself in NY, in photography, and it was everything she had ever wished for. While she was in a hurry to get back there, she had to spend two weeks back home in a little town south of Reno, Nevada. Not only was she meeting JJ, her 10 year old step brother, for the first time. But he was left in her custody, since her father and his mother had just passed away. Grace planned to quickly sell her dad’s ranch and take JJ back to a boarding school in NY, but everything started to combust. There were so many more variables than she could have ever fathomed, including her ex-boyfriend Noah.
Maybe he’d made a mistake pushing her away. But he wasn’t mistaken about what they could accomplish if they worked together. They could do what was best for JJ. Together, he and that girl were unstoppable. And he had less than two weeks to prove it to her.
I don’t want to say much more, because it was so much fun watching everything unravel. From Grace’s life back in NY, to finding a connection to JJ, to seeing people she knew from her past to even how her and Noah interacted, I found myself completely lost in their story! And there was a lot of emotion packed into every single one of those moments. So while it easy to connect to Grace, Noah was definitely my favorite. He could be quiet at times but there was a lot simmering underneath his surface. He was thoughtful, caring and had the hugest heart ever.
“But that something that used to be between us, Gracie, it’s still there. You’re pretending you don’t feel it.” He reached her, trailed a finger up her left arm. She shivered. “Don’t fight it.”
On top of all of the emotions, I loved how everything was so easy to visualize. While I’m extremely familiar with where this book took place and have even seen the wild horses myself, the images came alive within the pages. I loved how the words crafted such a quaint, little town to fall in love with. The only thing I was left wanting more of was Grace’s falling out with her father. It felt like we only scratched the surface and I wanted to fully grasp her past with him. So if you adore stories about second chance romance and finding yourself then definitely check this one out.
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by Entangled:Bliss. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
About JoAnn Sky:
JoAnn Sky writes adult contemporary romance and young adult romance with a magical twist. As J.A. Sky, she writes children’s books. For more information about her children’s stories, go to: www.dogsandbooks.com.
JoAnn is a member of Romance Writers of America and its YARWA and Golden Network chapters. Her manuscripts have seen success in various RWA-sponsored contests, including as a Golden Heart® finalist in 2014 (YA category) and 2017 (Contemporary Short category). Originally from the Midwest, JoAnn currently lives in northern Nevada with her husband a.k.a. love of her life, three teenage children, and three crazy rescue dogs.
JoAnn is represented by the fabulous Nicole Resciniti of The Seymour Agency.
Ashley Moore's life in San Francisco has hit a few snags, not the least of which involves sightings of a mystery man around every corner. Is she losing her mind or does he really exist? Her search for this grey-eyed stranger leads her to Scotland. There she meets a witch with a secret, a vindictive English knight who is bent on revenge, and she crosses a fog shrouded bridge into the arms of a 16th century Highlander.
Cailin MacBayne is no stranger to beautiful women, but has always managed to stay one step ahead of commitment. That all comes to an end when he meets Ashley. He doesn't care where this beautiful, yet unusual lass came from, he's just happy to have found her. Ashley cannot resist the handsome Scot and finds herself falling hopelessly in love. In the process, a secret is revealed, a battle is waged and Ashley must ultimately decide whether to return to her own time or give up her 21st century life to stay with the love she has found in the past.
Review:
A Bridge Through Time was completely enchanting! While I don’t have a lot of experience in time travel books and I’ve never read a Highlander book, I easily found myself addicted to the story. Especially since there was a sprinkling of magic here and there. This book was so much fun and I’m excited to try more books by Jennae Vale!
Ashley realized she was staring at him again, as if he were an apparition, and shook her head impatiently. “It’s nothing really. My name is Ashley, by the way.”
She held out her hand, but instead of shaking it, he merely held it gently in his much larger one. He looked as confused as Ashley felt.
“I’m pleased to meet ye, Ashley Bytheway. I am Cailin MacBayne of the Clan MacKenzie, at yer service.” He lifted her hand to his lips and softly kissed it.
Ashley Moore kept seeing a man appear, that no one else could see. He was Scottish, oh so hot and she felt this strange pull to him. With nothing keeping her in San Francisco, besides a best friend, she travelled to Scotland in hopes of finding her mystery man. She thought that she could be crazy, but her gut led her to Glendaloch, which was the most charming town ever. And so were its townspeople, especially Edna. I loved how there always seemed to be more going on in that little town than her or I could ever grasp. It felt as if there was a magical element in the air, which was a lot of fun. But one day, Ashley found herself face to face with her mystery man, Cailin MacBayne. Plus a whole lot more than she ever could have bargained for.
She smiled up at him and her beauty nearly made his knees buckle. He pulled her close and his lips met hers, in a kiss that said everything he believed they were both thinking and feeling. He was the first one to pull away, albeit unwillingly.
“Good night, Ashley, love,” he murmured. He pressed another brief kiss against her forehead and slipped out the door, before he could talk himself into staying.
Ashley and Cailin met each other in a bang of action. After a life and death situation, and just being together for a few days, they easily formed a strong bond. Underneath that bond they had the most amazing sexual chemistry and it left me breathless. But it wasn’t all lust and chemistry because a friendship started between them that warmed my heart. They fit together so seamlessly, it was almost as though they had always been meant for each other. With Ashley being brave, resourceful, selfless and having the hugest heart ever, she complimented Cailin perfectly. Cailin was also brave but his ability to make Ashley laugh and captivate everyone’s attention made it hard for Ashley to remember that she should go back home.
He hadn’t wanted to stop kissing her and would likely have taken it much further if they hadn’t been interrupted by the impending storm. Much further than he should. She was a lady, and it was his sworn duty to protect her, even from himself. No matter what his body was telling him, Cailin was determined to treat her with the respect she deserved.
But Ashley was uncertain of her surroundings. Cailin had never heard of America and the way he lived seemed so archaic. Castles, knights, and ladies filled the pages and unbeknownst to her, Ashley had somehow stumbled back into the 16th Century. I loved taking in the sights and their ways of life. But most of all I loved that anytime Ashley and Cailin were together I found myself with butterflies. They had everything from adorable to sexy moments together. It was the perfect mix and oh so addicting!
Desperately, she reached for the belt holding his plaid in place, unbuckled it and sent the plaid sailing to the floor.
“Mmm… that’s convenient,” Ashley murmured breathlessly, as her eyes travelled the length of his completely naked body.
“Aye, ‘tis convenient, indeed,” he said with a wry grin.
There were so many of the side characters that added charm to this book. I found myself loving Cailin’s siblings, Cormac and Irene. And Irene’s husband, Robert. I even adored Helene, who was a servant in the castle, and I found myself just as invested in her love story. I loved how welcoming they all were to Ashley. And that over time they felt like an extended family to her. But not everything was all fun and happiness. A war was brewing from old grudges and it seemed as though it could not be avoided. While I was nervous for everyone’s fate, Ashley had the biggest decision in front of her. To stay here with Cailin, and her newly created family, or to go back to the 21st century.
“I’ll give ye all the time ye need, but be warned, I’m going tae do my best tae convince ye tae stay.” Cailin leaned in and kissed her gently on the lips, caressing her cheek. His eyes never left hers, as he twirled a stray curl of her hair around his finger. “I’ll not make it easy for ye, lass.”
“I wouldn’t expect you to,” she smiled.
A Bridge Through Time was so much fun. The writing was easy to devour, the characters all captivated my attention and I’m excited to see a lot of them in future books. So if you adore romance stories that encompass multiple time periods, and has characters that easily find their way into your heart, then definitely take a look at A Bridge Through Time!
Rockford James was raised as a tried and true cowboy in a town crazy about ice hockey. Rock is as hot on the ice as he is on a horse, and the NHL snapped him up. Now, injuries have temporarily benched him. Body and pride wounded, he returns to his hometown ranch to find that a lot has changed. The one thing that hasn't? His feelings for high school sweetheart and girl-next-door Quinn Rivers.
Quinn had no choice but to get over Rock after he left. Teenaged and heartbroken, she had a rebound one night stand that ended in single motherhood. Now that Rock's back―and clamoring for a second chance―Quinn will do anything to avoid getting caught up in this oh-so-tempting cowboy...
Review:
Caught Up in a Cowboy was such a fun, heartwarming story! I loved how quickly we jumped in and I found myself completely captivated by Quinn and Rock. Their back story, their family, and their run ins all had my full attention. And with moments of sexiness, heartache, and laughter all tied together, it made for such a charming book!
It didn’t matter how many sparkles of heat shot through her or how ridiculously muscled his arms were or how his offer of peace between them filled her heart with a secret longing of hope, the cold, hard truth was that he wasn’t back. Not really. He was back only for now.
Right from the start, Quinn and Rock met back up. It was hilarious, yet at the same time there was a lot of other emotions mixed in too. You see, Rock broke Quinn’s heart 9 years ago. They were High School sweethearts who planned to spend their future together. But when Rock pursued his hockey career, he left Quinn in the dust. And with Quinn feeling bitter and upset, she had a one night stand which left her pregnant and alone. As years passed, Quinn and Rock ran into each other but it was always a tense and brief hello. But not anymore. Rock suffered an injury while playing for the NHL and he’s back home on an extended break.
A thick chunk of regret settled in his gut, and he knew letting her go had been the biggest mistake of his life.
Through a fun turn of events, Rock found himself back in Quinn’s life. And the chemistry between the two of them was definitely still there. You could feel it every time they were near each other. Even if Quinn still held her anger in a death grip, ha! And while I loved watching the tension between them build, I also loved how easily their friendship restarted. It was filled with honesty, teasing and it all felt so simple and heartfelt. Ohhh and I loved, loved, loved how quickly Rock and Max bonded. Max is Quinn’s eight year old son and he was seriously the most adorable child ever. He made me laugh and smile so much. I loved how much heart he brought to the story! And while I watched them all interact, I started to imagine what they would be like. As a real family.
He picked up a loose strand of her hair and twisted it between his fingers. “You were the best part of my life, and for the past eight years, I feel like a piece of me has been missing. And that piece is you. I want you back in my life, Q.”
So while Quinn and Rock grew closer, I got Quinn’s uncertainty. She’d been left and heartbroken by him in the past. And everyone knew that once Rock was healed, he was heading back to the NHL. Quinn tried her hardest to protect her heart, but Rock was persistent…. I loved that about him! Just you wait and see all that he does, sigh. But Rock definitely had some growing up to do and I loved how much he progressed as the story unfolded. He gained so much wisdom and insight being back home and I was so proud of him. It left me with a lot of faith, and I could easily see Quinn and Rock getting their happily ever after. Well that was until a different variable stepped in……the suspense was a lot of fun! I can’t say anything more, other than I was impressed with how it all played out!
He gingerly set the necklace down and raised his hand to cup her cheek. “You still have it, you know. No matter where I’ve been, or what stupid decisions I’ve made, my heart has always belonged to you.”
Caught Up in a Cowboy was such an adorable story! There were a few cheesy moments in the beginning, but it was definitely warranted. All I can say is birthday party and pirates…..it made me laugh and smile. And if you’re a fan of families playing an integral part in stories, you’re in for a treat. I absolutely loved both of their families and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that their brothers will get their own stories down the road. So if you love second chance romance, with family thrown in the mix, definitely check out Caught Up in a Cowboy! It was such a cute story and I’m looking forward to the future books in this series!
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
Reading Order & Links:
Amazon(click on covers),iBooks(click on titles) & Book Depository (click on book #) ***Each book can be read as a standalone, but best enjoyed in order.***
Sunny’s not sure she’s even looking for Mr. Maybe, when her friends decide to find her Mr. Right. Sunny Vale considers herself a dog-loving, romance-reading homebody. But her life goes from dull to deadly when her book club fires her from her own love life and sets her up on six blind dates--one of whom might be with a murderer.
More trouble arrives in the dead of night, in the form of Jake Landon, a mysterious stranger, who breaks into her neighbor’s house and possibly her heart. But Jake is packing more than a loaded gun in his well-fitting Levi’s. He brings an arsenal of secrets and plenty of heat to Sunny’s ho-hum summer.
Jake Landon finds himself caught up in the capers of the sexy blonde in the house next door. But he has his own agenda which doesn’t involve playing hero to a curvy second-grade teacher and babysitting her panty-puking puppy. He's got other problems like fiery explosions, a missing person...and a parade of jerks Sunny insists on dating. Could Sunny’s Mr. Right be right under her nose? Even though Jake is gorgeous, likes her dog, and has abs she can crack an egg on, can she really go out with him if he’s just murdered her next door neighbor?
Review:
Have you ever picked up a book because of someone else’s recommendation, even though that genre wasn’t really your thing? Because that was me. I’m not really into chick lit or mysteries anymore. I’ve liked plenty in the past, but they haven’t worked for me in the last few years. Yet I trusted an author whose books I love, and picked up a sample on Amazon. I was happily surprised that when I got to the end of the sample, I had to have more! So I went and bought this book. It was just that adorable. Another Saturday Night made me laugh and the characters quickly became my friends. And I’m happy to say that when I finished that last page, I was left smiling and grabbed the next book in The Page Turners Series!
Her life was safe and quiet. Had it only been a couple of days since she had wished for more excitement? She feared she was about to get her wish.
Stepping into the first scene of this book, I knew I was going to love it. Sunny was talking to her eighty year old neighbor, Edna, on the phone. You see, one of Sunny and Edna’s neighbor, Walter, was MIA. But Edna swears she saw a hot, gun toting stranger going into Walter’s house last night. What transpired from there was oh so funny. Especially how Sunny ended up meeting said hot, gun toting stranger. His name was Jake Landon and he definitely had a ton of secrets. Yet Sunny couldn’t deny that there was an attraction between them, right from the start.
Finding Mr. Right? I didn’t even know if I was looking for Mr. Maybe.
Not only were Sunny and Edna neighbors and friends, but they both belonged to a weekly book club. Rounding out the club was Maggie, a mom of two boys, whose husband left her a year and a half ago. Cassie, who was happily married with two kiddos. And Piper, who was Cassie’s high school niece who had come to live with her. I quickly warmed up to each of these women and found myself invested in their lives too. They not only discussed the books they were reading, but also their lives. And in their latest book meeting, they all decided to help Sunny out with her lack of love life. They were going to set her up on a date a week, for the next six weeks.
The last few weeks, she had been throwing caution to the wind and dating strange men, hoping to add excitement and find that right guy. But what if the right guy was next door and had just invited her to dinner?
Sunny’s dates were hilarious! I was laughing so hard, but at the same time I was dying for her awkward situations. And I found humor in so many other places in this book too. Even with Sunny’s dog, Beau. Oh my gosh, I adored Beau!! He was hilarious, loyal and added so much joy to this story. I also loved how Beau interacted with Jake, sigh. I truly think that Beau is my favorite dog in a story. Ever. So while Sunny found herself going out on these blind dates, and coming back to just her dog, Jake was still there. Just next door. They couldn’t help but run into each other. And slowly a friendship started to form, yet there was also that attraction between the two of them. But there were still so many questions surrounding Jake. Who was Jake? And where was Walter? Did Jake kill him? And as if that wasn’t enough, another mystery appeared on the pages.
“Hey, Sunny,” he called from the doorway.
She stopped and looked back. His lean body was silhouetted against the light coming from the house, and it took all she had to not run back and throw herself into his arms. “Yeah?”
“You can trust me,” he said softly, looking into her eyes. Then he stepped back into the house and closed the door behind him.
Maybe, but right now, she didn’t think she could trust herself.
I’m proud to say that I guessed the majority of the mysteries correctly, yay! And I’m also proud to say I liked how this story was told. Usually I prefer to stick with one or two characters, so I found myself shocked that I liked floating around between everyone. Yeah Sunny was the main character, and we spent the majority of the time with her. But we also got to see life through Jake, Maggie, Piper and a few of the other characters too. I was more than invested in all of their lives. This book was super adorable, light even though it touched on some heavier topics (trigger warning for attempted rape), had a sweet romance, intriguing mysteries and was such a quick read. I’m definitely looking forward to the next book and catching up with this crazy gang again!
I signed up for the Cross Creek Series Tour because not only did Kimberly Kincaid's books sound amazing, but she’ll be attending RT this year. After reading the first book in this series, I’m not only super excited to meet her in person, but I can’t wait to read the next two standalone books in this series! So check out my review below, see what the other books are about and enter a fabulous giveaway! Enjoy!!
Hunter Cross has no regrets. Having left his football prospects behind the day he graduated high school, he’s happy to carry out his legacy on his family’s farm in the foothills of the Shenandoah. But when a shoulder injury puts him face-to-face with the high school sweetheart who abandoned town—and him—twelve years ago, Hunter’s simple life gets a lot more complicated.
Emerson Montgomery has secrets. Refusing to divulge why she left her job as a hotshot physical therapist for a pro football team, she struggles to readjust to life in the hometown she left behind. The more time she spends with Hunter, the more Emerson finds herself wanting to trust him with the diagnosis of MS that has turned her world upside down.
But revealing secrets comes with a price. Can Hunter and Emerson rekindle their past love? Or will the realities of the present—and the trust that goes with them—burn that bridge for good?
Review:
Crossing Hearts was sweet, sensual and such a fabulous second chance romance. The way the story evolved reminded me of honey slowly pouring out of a jar. It was beautifully slow and mesmerizing. While Emerson and Hunter met again, right from the start, we got little pieces of their past here and there. And we didn’t fully learn all there was about Emerson and Hunter until further into the story. As someone who is more of a fast paced kinda girl, I found myself loving every single second of it! So if you adore small town stories, sexy cowboys and strong females then definitely give this one a try!
He’d forgotten her once. He could damn well stick to forgetting her again.
Emerson and Hunter dated in high school, and they were so serious that Hunter even proposed to her. She not only turned him down, but left the state for college, leaving him with his heart completely shattered. Twelve years later, Emerson left her high profile career, her NFL boyfriend and was back in their tiny town as a physical therapist. And Hunter was about to be her very first client!
“I’m even wondering what if right now. Like what if”— he paused, but just long enough to fully face her on the bench, letting his opposite hand trail up the outside of her arm—“ you let me get closer to you.”
While they tried their hardest to have a professional relationship, over time chemistry started to appear. Not only was their friendship still there, but their past was definitely not buried. Their old emotions were just begging to be released. It slowly started to come out in their physical therapy sessions, their little town’s festival and it got to the point that there was no way they could ignore it any longer. The sexual tension between the two of them was so hot. And when they finally caved, ohhh the sex scenes were even hotter!
“Hunter,”she whispered, her breath hot on his hand, and just like that, he was done waiting. He’d wanted his mouth on hers for twelve goddamn years. He might be light-years away from playing it safe right now, but he didn’t even want to wait another twelve seconds. He just wanted her.
I found myself easily obsessed with Hunter. He was strong, caring, determined, a hard worker and such a good guy. As someone who usually prefers the bad boys, I was shocked how hard I fell for him. His feelings were so real, and I loved watching him struggle between caring for Emerson yet being guarded because of their past. And while I liked Emerson, it took me a little bit longer to warm up to her. You see, she could be so stubborn at times. She didn’t want anyone to know her medical condition, let alone help her in any way. But over time, Hunter started to wiggle his way into her heart, and I found myself caring for Emerson too. I so wanted them to make it this time around, and I found myself rooting for their HEA!
“Don’t worry. I’ve got you, Em. I won’t let go.” As he settled against the bedsheets with her nestled in close, Emerson realized that when she was in Hunter’s arms, she didn’t just feel normal. For the first time she could remember, she felt whole.
In Crossing Hearts, you definitely feel all of the small town charm. And on top of that, I loved Hunter’s family! His dad and two brothers worked with him on their farm, and I adored how true their family dynamics felt. Yeah they had some problems, and I can’t wait to see how it plays out in the future books, but I loved learning about all of them. And I loved even more how Emerson fit so effortlessly in with Hunter’s family. Scenes that just involved them eating dinner together, always felt like so much more.
“I don’t think I realized it until now, but what I’ve been waiting for is you. It’s always been you. And this time, I’m not letting you slip away.” – Hunter
Crossing Hearts had a ton of character and soul. I absolutely adored this book, and I’m so excited to read the rest of Kimberly Kincaid’s books. The next two books in this series are Hunter’s brothers stories, and I can’t wait to dive into them!
*ARC kindly provided by Inkslinger in exchange for an honest review*
Additional Standalone Books In The Series:
Cocky farmer Eli Cross plays twice as hard as he works. When his latest stunt drums up a heap of negative PR for the family farm, he grudgingly agrees to play host to an ambitious New York City photographer. Her feature on Cross Creek could be just the ticket to show the country what the Cross brothers do best…which is more problem than solution for Eli.
Scarlett Edwards-Stewart has photographed everything from end zones to war zones. She’s confident she can ace this one little story to help her best friend’s failing magazine. At least, she would be if her super-sexy host wasn’t so tight lipped. But the more Scarlett works with Eli, the more she discovers that he’s not who he seems. Can his secret bring them closer together? Or will it be the very thing that tears them apart?
For Owen Cross, the only thing that matters more than family is farming. As the oldest Cross brother, the land is his legacy, and he’ll do whatever it takes to make Cross Creek a success—including hiring local widow Cate McAllister to manage the bookkeeping tasks that are growing in his office like weeds. Cate’s as pragmatic as she is pretty, and she rattles his hard-fought composure at every turn.
Cate had known a lot of things about her husband before he died three years ago in a car accident, but how much debt he’d gotten them into wasn’t one of them. She needs her job at Cross Creek, even if her boss is both gruff and gorgeous. But Owen’s a family man, through and through, and the last thing Cate is interested in is anything—or anyone—with strings attached.
As Owen and Cate join forces to right the farm, they discover there’s more to the other than the surfaces shows, and that passion can be found in unexpected places. Can Cate heal from the loss of one family to gain the love of her life? Or will the past prove too much for the promise of the future?
[scroll-box]Cate dragged a hand through her hair, her gaze moving over the boxes in disbelief. “Let me see if I’ve got this right. You don’t do any of your bookkeeping online. At all?”
“We do. Just not a lot of it,” he amended. The Cross men lived to work the land, not the ledgers. Sure, their current system was a little time consuming, but it wasn’t totally ineffective. Cross Creek had been running on it for decades. “We have software right here on the computer.” He paused to pull up the program they used for much of their bookkeeping before adding, “It’s just that none of us are great at using it.”
“So I see,” Cate said after a quick perusal over his shoulder.
Irritation splashed through Owen’s chest. “Our books aren’t that bad.”
The parting of her lips said she was primed and ready to take him to the mat on that count, and damn it, he really didn’t have time to argue with her. “Look, I know it’s going to take some work to get things running smoothly in here.”
“It’s going to take a lot more than that,” she murmured with a shake of her head, and just like that, Owen’s patience redlined.
“Can you do it, or should I find someone else?”
Once again, his words came out gruffer than planned. But before he could even think of cooking up an apology, Cate’s arms had snapped across the front of her sweater dress to form a don’t-mess-with-me knot that was far, far more of a turn-on than it had a right to be.
“That’s what you hired me for, isn’t it? To manage your books effectively?”
“Yes,” Owen answered carefully, still caught between the desire to be annoyed, the desire to apologize, and, well, just plain desire.
“Well, then. Since I have my work cut out for me with a chainsaw, I suppose I should get to it,” Cate said.
After a quick internal debate, Owen nodded. Brash or not, he needed her. More than he cared to admit. “Okay, then.”
She answered by way of pushing up her sleeves and sliding an elastic from her wrist to secure her hair in a knot at the crown of her head. Even with the more casual edge, the powder-blue dress still hugged her curves, her calves flexing and releasing as she moved from one stack of boxes to the next in her heels, and he cleared his throat.
“Just so you know, we’re pretty casual around here. You don’t have to look nice.”
Cate’s cheeks flushed a shade of pink that, while highly pretty, didn’t bode well for him in the mending-fences department. “Good to know,” she said, and holy hell, why did his mouth refuse to cooperate with his brain around this woman?
“Not that you don’t look, uh. Fine like that. All I meant was, you don’t have to get dressed up. Jeans are okay.”
She stared down at the toes of her shiny black shoes, but only for a split second before meeting his stare with her own. “Got it, Casanova. Is that all?”
For just a heartbeat, Owen was tempted to say no, to dig deep into his Neanderthal brain for the right words to tell her she actually looked fucking beautiful. To surrender to the hot demands coming from both his chest and his cock, and cross the room to impulsively kiss her sexy, sassy mouth.
But this was Cate McAllister. His buddy Brian’s widow. He shouldn’t think she was pretty. He shouldn’t wonder if the skin on her shoulders bore the same provocative dusting of freckles as the neck she’d just put on display. And he damn sure shouldn’t be turned on like floodlights at the fire in her eyes that he’d never quite seen before, but seemed to somehow fit her perfectly.
So, he simply said, “Yes. That’s all,” and walked out of the room.[/scroll-box]
Kimberly Kincaid writes contemporary romance that splits the difference between sexy and sweet. When she’s not sitting cross-legged in an ancient desk chair known as “The Pleather Bomber”, she can be found practicing obscene amounts of yoga, whipping up anything from enchiladas to éclairs in her kitchen, or curled up with her nose in a book. Kimberly is a USA Today best-selling author and a 2015 RWA RITA® finalist who lives (and writes!) by the mantra that food is love. Kimberly resides in Virginia with her wildly patient husband and their three daughters.
No Cowboy Required by JoAnn Sky 
A Bridge Through Time (
Caught Up in a Cowboy (
Another Saturday Night and I Ain't Got No Body (
Crossing Hearts (
