THE CHALLENGE, a new single dad, forced proximity, second chance romance from New York Times Bestselling Author, Penelope Ward, is coming August 30!

Scroll down for an excerpt!

The biggest challenge wasn’t surviving living with Evan Ricci.

It was not falling in love with him all over again.

Nothing says welcome home like accidentally moving in with your first heartbreak…and his little girl.

Coming back to my small Wyoming hometown was supposed to be temporary. I only planned to stay long enough to help my ailing mother and sort through the mess of my family’s old belongings.

Instead, I somehow ended up living in Evan Ricci’s house. The single dad now owned a bunch of properties and one of them was the place I’d rented. He’d taken it off the market and moved in before I got there. I just never got the memo. Unfortunately, there was no other place in town available, so Evan let me stay.

\Evan—the guy my parents took in years ago after his mother died.
The same Evan who used to dare me into ridiculous challenges that somehow always made me stronger—a game we’d dubbed The Challenge.

The same guy who ultimately rejected me before I left for college after I’d finally garnered the courage to shoot my shot.

Now Evan was a rugged single dad with an eight-year-old daughter, a cocky attitude, and a dangerous ability to make me forget every reason I should still hate him.

Sharing a house with him should’ve been unbearable. Instead, it felt dangerously familiar, nearly making me forget that I had a life and a job to get back to in Chicago. I realized the biggest challenge wasn’t surviving living with Evan Ricci.

It was not falling in love with him all over again.

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EXCERPT:

First Edition
Copyright © 2026
By Penelope Ward

There was so much I wanted to know about his life. More than anything, I wanted to ask what he’d dreamed about when he called my name. I was also tempted to ask about Effie’s mother. He’d said they were divorced, but was she still in the picture? Why was Effie living with him full time?

But instead of unloading all my questions, I scratched my pounding head and asked, “Do you have coffee here, by any chance?”

Rather than answer, he stalked over to a cabinet above the fridge—the one place I hadn’t checked.

With my arms wrapped around my chest, I watched as he pulled out a filter and placed it in the machine before scooping some grounds. I admired how the muscles in his back moved with the motion of his arms, the way his jeans hugged his ass.

After he started the pot, the room filled with the bubbling sound of coffee brewing. Evan turned toward me, and we stared at each other in tense silence.

“How did you sleep?” he finally asked.

“Not bad, all things considered.”

“All things being me?” He arched a brow.

“I have nothing against you, Evan.”

“Oh really? Because that unhinged letter you wrote me says otherwise. It’s not like time could change all that. Especially when we haven’t been in touch since then. I never reached out. And you never called, either.”

“I was very emotional when I wrote that letter.” I gulped. “And drunk. I wasn’t supposed to send it. It was just meant to be a way to let out my feelings.”

“So, why did you send it?”

“I wish I understood…”

“You mean to tell me you don’t still feel that way, even a little?”

My gaze fell to the floor. “It’s been a decade. Like I told you, I’d been drinking, so I don’t entirely remember what I wrote.”

Evan scratched his chin. “I don’t know if I believe that.”

I looked up. “Regardless of what unkind words I expressed in a drunken, regrettable moment…I’ve moved on.”

“Doesn’t seem like you’ve moved on given the way you raced out of here yesterday to find another place, just so you didn’t have to look at me.”

“Well, you weren’t exactly welcoming.” He was right that I’d raced out of here. But his assumption that I didn’t want to look at him? No. After all these years, it was still hard not to look at him.

The coffee gurgled to signal the end of its cycle. Saved by the gurgle.

Evan opened the cabinet. To my surprise, he set down two mugs and began preparing my coffee just the way I liked it: two sugars and heavy cream. He stirred and then handed it to me.

“Thank you.”

I didn’t have to ask how he knew the way I took it. Back when he’d been living with us, Evan and I had often caught up over coffee in my family’s kitchen before the crack of dawn while everyone else was asleep. So this was far from the first time he’d prepared a cup for me. Little did he know, I’d actually had my very first cup of coffee with him. When I’d started getting up early to join him, I hadn’t tried coffee yet. But I’d pretended to need the caffeine just as much as he did, though the only morning jolt I’d wanted back then was Evan. The smell of coffee right now, the smell of him… I was drowning in nostalgia, tinged with a bittersweet knowing that so much had changed.

We stood across from each other, silently sipping our coffees as if this was some sort of duel—who could drink it the fastest without saying anything?

Eventually, Evan set his mug down. “There are fresh towels in the linen closet off the hallway. Effie has some girly bodywash in the shower, if you need it. Pomegranate scent or some crap.” He lifted his mug again and added, “You look like you could use a shower.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Thank you. I guess I’ll take a shower before I head out to look for a place. I’ll let you know if I find one, so I can get out of your hair.”

He took a sip and saluted me with his mug. “Good luck with that.”

It was embarrassing to think I hadn’t taken a shower since I left Chicago. I grabbed a couple of towels from the closet and headed into the small bathroom.

After sliding the shower curtain open, I smiled at the sight of both masculine and “girly” bodywash side by side. As the warm water rained down on me, I squeezed pomegranate shower gel into my hand and thought about how cute and honest Effie had been last night when she’d come into my room. Closing my eyes and trying to relax, I took my sweet time lathering my body and massaging my neck.

After I finished what turned out to be a twenty-minute shower, I stepped out and wrapped myself in a towel. But a loud crash just outside the door caused me to jump. “Is everything okay?” I called.

About Penelope Ward:

Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance.

She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor. Penelope resides in Rhode Island with her husband, son, and beautiful daughter with autism.

With millions of books sold, she is a 21-time New York Times bestseller and the author of over forty novels. Her books have been translated into over a dozen languages and can be found in bookstores around the world.

Find Penelope here:

Website  |  Facebook  |  Reader Group  | Twitter  |  Instagram  |  TikTok  |  Goodreads  |  BookBub  |  Amazon

Stay up-to-date with Penelope by signing up for her mailing list!

THE FALL AFFAIR, an all-new forced proximity, opposites attract romance set in Tuscany from #1 New York Times Bestselling Author, Vi Keeland, is out now!

Scroll down for an excerpt!

She’s counting down the days until she leaves Tuscany. He’s counting on making her stay…

She’s counting down the days until she leaves Tuscany. He’s counting on making her stay.

Some people go to Tuscany to find themselves.

I went to escape—New York, my ex’s new relationship, and a career that derailed the moment I was passed over for partner.

My plan was simple: settle my eccentric Italian grandmother’s estate, sell whatever wasn’t nailed down, and return to the life I’d worked too hard to lose.

Instead, I walked into a mess—a crumbling antique shop, two hundred acres of leased vineyard land, and one infuriating clause in the will: Live and work in the shop for three months, or inherit nothing.

Then there’s the neighbor I clash with instantly. Matteo Lucchese is the infuriatingly handsome winemaker who leases my family’s land and refuses to be impressed by my credentials—or my attitude. He’s rugged and stubborn, stuck living in a time that has long passed us by, and the word rush isn’t part of his vocabulary. Basically, we’re exact opposites.

But as the days stretch into weeks, Tuscany chips away at the armor I didn’t realize I was wearing, and Matteo shows me the appeal of slowing down, of staying rooted, of wanting something other than climbing the corporate ladder.

I came to Tuscany to escape.

But now that the countdown to going home was on, I wasn’t sure if I was ready to leave.

And the life I was falling for came with a looming expiration date.

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“A captivating romance set in Tuscany…full heart-wrenching emotion, steamy romance, found family and Italian countryside vibes.” ~Danielle, Red Cheeks Reads

Check out Danielle’s 5 SMOOCHES review!

EXCERPT:

Allegra: I think you’re pretty amazing. I’m going to bed smiling on the eve of what might turn out to be one of the worst days of my life. Thank you for coming here with me.

The reply came almost instantly.

Matteo: I think you’re pretty amazing, too. And I love your smile.

That made my already-big grin grow wider. Rather than text back, I decided to take a selfie of me beaming to show him I wasn’t kidding. I held my phone out, tilted it down for a good angle, and snapped a photo of me lying in bed. Only when I checked the picture, I realized the camera had caught a lot more than I’d intended. Yes, I was smiling, but I was also wearing a black slip nightgown, the top of which was lace and showed a lot of cleavage. I hadn’t been going for sexy, but damn, it was.

I bit my lip, debating whether I should take another. Then the wine, or maybe the adrenaline, pushed me. Screw it. Send.

My heart raced as I watched the status go from Delivered to Read. The dots on the screen started to bounce around, then stopped and started twice before an incoming text arrived.

Matteo: You’re gorgeous. And that photo just made its way into my private folder.

A shiver ran down my spine.

Allegra: And what exactly are the photos in your private folder used for?

Matteo: I think you know the answer to that.

My thighs pressed together thinking of Matteo pleasuring himself to my picture. I hadn’t intended this conversation to go this way, but now that it had…

Allegra: I think it’s only fair that I have a picture for my private folder, then.

This time a response didn’t come right away. After a minute or two, I thought maybe I’d taken things too far. But then my phone chimed, a photo lit up my screen, and my breath caught.

Oh. My. God.

Matteo was sprawled across his bed, sheet slung low on his hips. His muscular chest was bare, and his beautiful Italian skin was golden and smooth except for the sexy happy trail that led down to where it was covered. One arm was bent behind his head, showing off the cut of his biceps, and his gaze was on me, even through the photo. And God, the sinful smirk on his lips made it impossible to look away.

After a few minutes of staring, I swallowed.

Allegra: I’m speechless, and that’s saying something. LOL. Wow. Just wow. I’m not sure I’ll be able to sleep after seeing that. I’m a little riled up.

His near-instant response left no doubt that he’d been waiting for my text.

Matteo: For the record, my door is open if you ever want to come see it in person…

THE FALL AFFAIR, an all-new forced proximity, opposites attract romance set in Tuscany from #1 New York Times Bestselling Author, Vi Keeland, is out now!

She’s counting down the days until she leaves Tuscany. He’s counting on making her stay…

She’s counting down the days until she leaves Tuscany. He’s counting on making her stay.

Some people go to Tuscany to find themselves.

I went to escape—New York, my ex’s new relationship, and a career that derailed the moment I was passed over for partner.

My plan was simple: settle my eccentric Italian grandmother’s estate, sell whatever wasn’t nailed down, and return to the life I’d worked too hard to lose.

Instead, I walked into a mess—a crumbling antique shop, two hundred acres of leased vineyard land, and one infuriating clause in the will: Live and work in the shop for three months, or inherit nothing.

Then there’s the neighbor I clash with instantly. Matteo Lucchese is the infuriatingly handsome winemaker who leases my family’s land and refuses to be impressed by my credentials—or my attitude. He’s rugged and stubborn, stuck living in a time that has long passed us by, and the word rush isn’t part of his vocabulary. Basically, we’re exact opposites.

But as the days stretch into weeks, Tuscany chips away at the armor I didn’t realize I was wearing, and Matteo shows me the appeal of slowing down, of staying rooted, of wanting something other than climbing the corporate ladder.

I came to Tuscany to escape.

But now that the countdown to going home was on, I wasn’t sure if I was ready to leave.

And the life I was falling for came with a looming expiration date.

ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!

Kindle  |  Special Edition Paperback  |  Audio

Add to Goodreads  |  Find on BookBub

About Vi Keeland:

SKY’S EDGE, a steamy and enchanting arranged marriage futuristic romantasy and the second interconnected romance in the Four Realms series from New York Times Bestselling Author, Kristen Ashley, is available now!

Scroll down for an excerpt!

Peace has been shattered in the Four Realms…

Peace has been shattered in the Four Realms…

But Catla Truelock has bigger concerns.

Her father’s done what he’d been threatening to do. He’s arranged her marriage to a man not of Catla’s choice.

It’s the demon way, but Catla knows her new betrothed, and she doesn’t like him. He’s aloof. He’s arrogant. And he’s both in spades.

Tanyn, the new king of Sky’s Edge, feels differently about the half-demon beauty from Night’s Fall. He’s made his decision on who he wants to be his queen.

She’s perfect.

He simply has to convince her.

Tanyn sets about doing that, but he’s interrupted when his fiancée receives a death threat.

It’s then all the royals of the Four Realms understand that the danger is not over. For reasons unknown, there’s a sinister faction in their lands who’s targeting them, and the women who will rule at their sides.

Now, Tanyn has to keep his Catla safe, at the same time convincing her to wear his crown.

And Catla has to decide if she can leave everything she knows to be the bride of the handsome king in a land that is not her own.

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“…an addictive blend of arranged marriage, royal duty and found family.” ~Danielle, Red Cheeks Reads

Check out Danielle’s 5 SMOOCHES review!

EXCERPT:

Prologue

Curse

Tanyn

Three Days after the Midnight Masque in Night’s Fall…

King Tanyn alighted from the craft.

He heard the hiss of the door closing behind him, but he paid no mind to it.

His mind was on the ice steps in front of him.

He allowed those steps to lead his gaze and his attention up to the castle that rose high above him, a riot of snowy turrets with golden warmth flooding from lit windows.

The whole thing was a fancy, a folly, a magician’s trick.

And a not-so-inside joke.

But underneath, it was a witch’s curse.

Berg Castle, the royal residence of the monarchs of Sky’s Edge for the last six hundred years, was coated in snow.

This, while the inhabitants of that realm, if lore could be believed (and Tanyn knew it could), were delivered direct from the pits of the fiery levels of the hells.

It had not been built to resemble the fairytale castle it appeared to be now.

It had been built to convey power. To intimidate.

Pain, betrayal and loss were what caused it to be packed with snow.

Tanyn ascended steps he had not ever taken in his life, for he’d been born to sit on the throne but was banished from that castle when he was barely able to walk.

He stood at the top landing in front of golden doors that shone so brightly, not only from their color, but also from the eternal gilded fire blazing from the large lantern that hung above him.

He turned and stared at the lights spread before him, demarcating the capital city of Sky’s Edge, Abyssinia.

His city.

His realm.

His.

He turned back to the doors.

For this, his first visit since he was a year old, he had dismissed all the staff who worked there.

It was his first visit as king.

Therefore, he had to push through the doors himself.

He did not wander the chambers.

He did not marvel at the centuries-old magic that had created the snow walls and ice marble floors, ice crystal chandeliers and frost-edged windows.

He did what he promised his mother he would do when this day arrived.

He descended three levels under the castle.

He went to the dungeons.

Once there, he took the skeleton key he’d demanded, and received, and used it on the antique lock to an area of the castle he’d been told hadn’t been used in four hundred years.

He threw open the old wooden door fortified by iron and instantly recoiled.

Centuries of torment, misery, torture and lost hope had a feel that endured time.

It also, he just discovered, had a smell.

He allowed himself to adjust to it, and after he entered, instead of voicing his command, he turned to the bank of switches at his side which had been installed when electricity had been harnessed for a variety of uses.

Tanyn hit the switches.

The space illuminated.

He’d been told, due to the fact it had not been in use for a very long time, this area had not been updated at all since the early 1900s, and the meagre light fixtures proved it.

He moved through the shadowy first room, which could be considered a form of reception area, though not a welcoming one, if the chains affixed to walls, walls not made of glinting snow but of glittering black stone, told the tale.

Next up was a sort of lounge, with rickety tables and chairs left to disintegrate, plus an old iron stove that had provided warmth back in the day for the guards.

It wasn’t providing warmth now, and this area was certainly not included in the temperate seventy-three degrees that the rest of the castle rested at, regardless of its wintry walls.

More magic.

But no magic down there. It was as cold as the Borea Sea.

He moved through the guards’ lounge, down the long hall made of stone punctuated by wood doors, also fortified by iron, that had small, barred windows to look through to see the prisoners and slit doors at the bottom to shove food inside the cells.

At the end of the hall, there was nothing but a stone wall.

Or, to anyone else, it was nothing.

To him, only to him, it was something.

No.

Not something.

Everything.

He could see immediately his half-brother, Arnaud, had been told this tale.

He could also see further proof Arnaud had never been the rightful king of Sky’s Edge.

There were vicious scrapes and black blast marks marring that wall. A great number of them.

He’d tried to get in.

And he’d failed.

Tanyn simply stood there for perhaps two seconds before all the lights in the room illuminated red.

When they did, he wasn’t practiced at it and the muscles of his mouth found it odd, but even so, they moved to form a smile.

It was then the stones started ticking.

The one at eye level moved out, then up. Then another. Another. A fourth. A fifth. Then the sixth, seventh, eighth.

More.

Until those stones formed an arch around a doorway that led into a crimson-lit stairwell that went in one direction.

Down.

He thought of his mother.

He did not think of his father.

He moved through the arch.

And descended.

WANT MORE? Click here to read Chapter 1!

About Kristen Ashley:

Kristen Ashley is the New York Times bestselling author of over eighty romance novels. She’s a hybrid author, publishing titles both independently and traditionally, her books have been translated in fourteen languages and she’s sold millions of books.

Kristen, born in Gary and raised in Brownsburg, Indiana and was a fourth-generation graduate of Purdue University. Since, she has lived in Denver, the West Country of England, and she now resides in Phoenix. She worked as a charity executive for eighteen years prior to beginning her independent publishing career. She now writes full-time.

Although romance is her genre, the prevailing themes running through all of Kristen’s novels are friendship, family and a strong sisterhood. To this end, and as a way to thank her readers for their support, Kristen has created the Rock Chick Nation, a series of programs that are designed to give back to her readers and promote a strong female community. You can learn more about Kristen and the Rock Chick Nation on her website.

Connect with Kristen:

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Sign up for Kristen’s newsletter!

THE FALL AFFAIR, an all-new opposites attract, summer romance set in Tuscany from #1 New York Times Bestselling Author, Vi Keeland, is coming August 18th!

Scroll down for an excerpt!

She’s counting down the days until she leaves Tuscany. He’s counting on making her stay…

She’s counting down the days until she leaves Tuscany. He’s counting on making her stay.

Some people go to Tuscany to find themselves.

I went to escape—New York, my ex’s new relationship, and a career that derailed the moment I was passed over for partner.

My plan was simple: settle my eccentric Italian grandmother’s estate, sell whatever wasn’t nailed down, and return to the life I’d worked too hard to lose.

Instead, I walked into a mess—a crumbling antique shop, two hundred acres of leased vineyard land, and one infuriating clause in the will: Live and work in the shop for three months, or inherit nothing.

Then there’s the neighbor I clash with instantly. Matteo Lucchese is the infuriatingly handsome winemaker who leases my family’s land and refuses to be impressed by my credentials—or my attitude. He’s rugged and stubborn, stuck living in a time that has long passed us by, and the word rush isn’t part of his vocabulary. Basically, we’re exact opposites.

But as the days stretch into weeks, Tuscany chips away at the armor I didn’t realize I was wearing, and Matteo shows me the appeal of slowing down, of staying rooted, of wanting something other than climbing the corporate ladder.

I came to Tuscany to escape.

But now that the countdown to going home was on, I wasn’t sure if I was ready to leave.

And the life I was falling for came with a looming expiration date.

PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!

Kindle  |  Special Edition Paperback  |  Audio

Add to Goodreads  |  Find on BookBub

EXCERPT:

Allegra: I think you’re pretty amazing. I’m going to bed smiling on the eve of what might turn out to be one of the worst days of my life. Thank you for coming here with me.

The reply came almost instantly.

Matteo: I think you’re pretty amazing, too. And I love your smile.

That made my already-big grin grow wider. Rather than text back, I decided to take a selfie of me beaming to show him I wasn’t kidding. I held my phone out, tilted it down for a good angle, and snapped a photo of me lying in bed. Only when I checked the picture, I realized the camera had caught a lot more than I’d intended. Yes, I was smiling, but I was also wearing a black slip nightgown, the top of which was lace and showed a lot of cleavage. I hadn’t been going for sexy, but damn, it was.

I bit my lip, debating whether I should take another. Then the wine, or maybe the adrenaline, pushed me. Screw it. Send.

My heart raced as I watched the status go from Delivered to Read. The dots on the screen started to bounce around, then stopped and started twice before an incoming text arrived.

Matteo: You’re gorgeous. And that photo just made its way into my private folder.

A shiver ran down my spine.

Allegra: And what exactly are the photos in your private folder used for?

Matteo: I think you know the answer to that.

My thighs pressed together thinking of Matteo pleasuring himself to my picture. I hadn’t intended this conversation to go this way, but now that it had…

Allegra: I think it’s only fair that I have a picture for my private folder, then.

This time a response didn’t come right away. After a minute or two, I thought maybe I’d taken things too far. But then my phone chimed, a photo lit up my screen, and my breath caught.

Oh. My. God.

Matteo was sprawled across his bed, sheet slung low on his hips. His muscular chest was bare, and his beautiful Italian skin was golden and smooth except for the sexy happy trail that led down to where it was covered. One arm was bent behind his head, showing off the cut of his biceps, and his gaze was on me, even through the photo. And God, the sinful smirk on his lips made it impossible to look away.

After a few minutes of staring, I swallowed.

Allegra: I’m speechless, and that’s saying something. LOL. Wow. Just wow. I’m not sure I’ll be able to sleep after seeing that. I’m a little riled up.

His near-instant response left no doubt that he’d been waiting for my text.

Matteo: For the record, my door is open if you ever want to come see it in person…

About Vi Keeland:

WITH SPITE, a new suspenseful romance from USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author, Lani Lynn Vale, is out now!

She’s stuck, and she’ll never know it until it’s too late for her to run…

Huxley Hosea was at the lowest of the lows.

Exhausted—both mentally and physically—he could barely put one foot in front of the other. Tired to the bone due to a never-ending war. He was desperate to find a new every day that didn’t revolve around getting shot at by kids that could barely hold a rifle steady. War had broken his soul, and the last thing he wanted to do was go home and pretend that he was just a normal citizen.

But then he sees her, also at her lowest of lows, for the first time, and his soul latches on. Bernice, his salvation.

He’s convinced that she’s the answer to his woes, and he develops an unhealthy attachment to her that carries over to his civilian life. For five years, he watches her. Protects her. Keeps her safe when she won’t protect herself. Hux follows her every move and hides in the shadows so she’ll never see.

Then she shows up in his town, and all bets are off.

She’s in his town now. That means his rules. His way. And no more highway.

She’s stuck, and she’ll never know it until it’s too late for her to run.

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About Lani Lynn Vale:

Lani Lynn Vale is an American author of humorous romantic suspense novels. Born in the Great State of Texas, she has lived the majority of her adult life in East Texas where most of her novels are based. She’s married to her high school sweetheart whom her readers refer to as “LLV’s Bearded Half.” She published her first novel, Boomtown, in the summer of 2013 after the birth of her third child. She’s gone on to publish over 100 novels, with most of them going on to become USA Today Bestsellers.

Connect with Lani:

Website  |  Facebook  |  Reader Group  |  Instagram  |  TikTok  |  Twitter  |  Amazon  |  BookBub  |  Goodreads

Sign up for Lani’s newsletter!

JUST FOR THE PLOT, an all-new reverse age gap, forced proximity, forbidden baseball romance from New York Times Bestselling Author, Meghan Quinn, is out now!

Scroll down for an excerpt!

They’re just friends.
At least, that’s what she thinks. Him? He has other plans…

They’re just friends.
At least, that’s what she thinks. Him? He has other plans.

Bennett Brinkman is San Francisco baseball’s golden boy-focused, disciplined, and very bad at ignoring the one woman he shouldn’t want. Falling for his sister’s best friend was inevitable, even though she’s known him since he was all gangly elbows, bad haircuts, and teenage awkwardness…and still insists on seeing him that way.

Bower knows exactly why wanting Bennett is a terrible idea. She’s fiercely loyal to her best friend and well aware that crossing this particular line could blow everything up. But when she moves into Bennett’s apartment building, that “just friends” boundary begins to blur in the most tempting ways.

The banter comes fast.
The sparks come faster.
And pretending it’s “no big deal” is getting ridiculous.

As feelings get messier and attraction turns undeniable, Bennett and Bower must decide if risking their family ties is worth chasing the love that’s been in front of them all along.

ORDER YOUR COPY NOW OR READ FOR FREE IN KINDLE UNLIMITED!

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“I loved everything about this feel-good, steamy and forbidden sports romcom!” ~Danielle, Red Cheeks Reads

Check out Danielle’s 5 SMOOCHES review!

EXCERPT:

“What are you reading?”

“What?” I snap my book shut and slide it by my side.

“Nothing. What are you reading?” Nolan stares from the seat in front of me on the plane, not buying my lie one bit. With his arms on the top of his chair, he leans his weight on it. “There’s a fabric cover on your book, one of those old lady ones that my grandma used to use to be discreet when reading her Fabio books.”

“What are Fabio books?” I ask.

“Romance books with bare-chested men on the front. And given that you’re covering up your book and hiding it from me, you must be reading such a book. So, let me ask you again…what are you reading?”

Sighing, because I know he won’t let this go, I pull my book out. “It’s a baseball romance book that Bower gave me to read, and she gave me this fabric cover so that no one on the team made fun of me for reading it.”

“Why would we make fun of you?” he asks, hurtling himself over the seat and landing, not so gracefully, in the seat next to me, knocking his foot against the plane window at the same time. Once settled, he says, “This is gold. I’ve learned some good moves from reading romance.”

Uhh…what?

“You read romance?”

“Listen, my man.” He points to his ear. “I listen to the books. Nothing gets me pumped up more than a male narrator telling the girl he’s spanking to come on demand.”

My brow creases. “That’s what you listen to before a game?”