Keeping You, a steamy Until Him/Her standalone novella from New York Times bestselling author Aurora Rose Reynolds is available now!
ABOUT THE BOOK
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Aurora Rose Reynolds returns with a new story in her Until Him/Her series…
Having been put through the ringer by her ex who was a perpetual cheater and master manipulator, Bridgett doesn’t have much faith in men. Then Noah comes into her life, a guy unlike any man she’s ever known. Not only is he dependable, kind, and honest, he’s too hot for his own good.
Not that any of that matters since Bridgett is still technically married, and Noah has made it clear without words that he’s not interested.
So what’s the worst that could happen when there’s a fire and he offers her a place to crash until she can get back on her feet?
Protecting those in need comes with his job as a police officer, so Noah’s not surprised by his need to protect Bridgett. The feelings of possessiveness when it comes to her are not something he knows how to deal with.
Noah knows he should keep her at arm’s length, but instead of putting distance between them he keeps finding ways to bring them closer together and he’s not sure if she will ever be close enough.
**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**
Unlocking the back door, I let myself into the house with my duffle bag over my shoulder. I carefully nudge Lola back with the side of my sneaker so I can close the door in time to shut off the alarm. It’s much later than I expected to be home, but there was a shooting involving two officers in town, so it was all hands on deck to find the person responsible. It took us hours, but before I left, we had a suspect in custody and word that both officers would be okay.
Once I punch in the code to reset the alarm, I kick off my sneakers, then bend to rub the top of Lola’s head, giving her whining pups the same attention. After a couple of minutes, I head down the hall, noticing a light flickering in the living room. My gut twists when I hit the kitchen and spot Bridgett on the couch, asleep under her blanket, the TV on a local channel playing on low as a news anchor covers the shooting.
Fuck.
I should have thought to call her or send a message, but I didn’t want to worry her. Dropping my duffle on one of the stools at the island, I walk into the living room and grab the remote off the table.
“You’re home.” Her sleepy voice sounds through the dim room before I can shut off the TV, and I watch as she sits, pushing her hair back away from her pretty face.
“You should be in bed.”
“I was worried.” Her gaze wanders over me, taking me in from my hoodie to my sweats. “You changed?”
“Showered at the station.” I take off my sweatshirt, toss it onto the back of the couch, and sit next to her. She eyes me for a moment, then lunges and wraps her arms around me, burrowing her face against my neck. “I should have called.”
“You were working,” she whispers, and I close my eyes while dragging her onto my lap so I can hold her easier, not sure if it’s her or me who needs the closeness more. “Did you catch the guys?”
“We did.” I rest my lips against the side of her head. “They were hiding at a friend’s house. It took some time to track them down, but when you’ve got every officer from here to Knoxville looking for you, there aren’t many places you can lay low.”
“And the officers?”
“Both of them should be released in a couple of days.”
“Good.” She pulls her head back, then rests her hand against my cheek and smooths her thumb over my bottom lip. “You scare me.” Her gaze moves from my mouth to my eyes. “I’ve never worried about anyone but myself until you.” She lets her forehead drop to my chin.
“Baby.”
“I know that sounds horrible, but it’s true. The idea of something—” She cuts herself off and shakes her head. “I can’t handle that.”
“Nothing is going to happen to me.”
“You don’t know that. You have one of the most dangerous jobs in the world.”
“I now have a reason to make sure I make it home,” I tell her softly. Her head flies up so her gaze can search mine.
“You—”
“You’ve turned my life upside down in just a few short weeks,” I insert, then capture her face in my palms. “I wasn’t expecting this. Or you.” I shake my head. “I’ve tried telling myself that I need to keep my distance.”
“You should.”
“It’s too late.” I laugh. “Look at where you are right now, babe, and tell me that this shit doesn’t feel right.” I give her a minute to lie to me, to tell me that she doesn’t feel like she fits in my arms, in my home, in my life. But she doesn’t. She can’t deny it, just like I can’t.
Sliding my hand back into her hair, I drag her forward and brush my lips against hers. The cute little sound she makes in the back of her throat when I start to pull away and her fingers digging into my shoulders let me know she’s not ready to end the kiss.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
For More Information about Aurora
Rose Reynolds, visit her website:
I received a complimentary early release e-book prior to release and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was an awesome story about Bridgett and Noah, characters from the Until May story told by the author. In that book May and Aidan fell in love, in this book we get Aidan's sister, Bridgett and his bestie, Noah who is a cop.
As the story begins Bridgett is in the process of divorcing her husband, Connor who was a cheater but also who is refusing to sign the divorce papers. In this story some bad things happen to Bridgett that force her to become Noah's roomie.
This was a novella and is 16 chapters, but we get a really hot and sweet romance. Noah is a total great guy, and I loved his mom in the story.
Bridgett was a mean girl in Until May but in this story, she has turned over a new leaf and is working hard for her dad, is broke and very lonely as she lost all her friends when she left her ex. But she is smart and strong, and I really enjoyed watching her get a career and become this strong and independent woman.
I’ve been told I’m the grumpiest goalie in the league, and that may be the case, but who cares when I’m also killing it this season? The Carolina Comets are currently on a record-breaking run, and I intend to keep it that way.
This means the last thing I need is distractions, but my mother didn’t get that memo. She’s getting married, and after the fiasco I caused at her last wedding, I’m required to bring a date.
That would be easy, except for one little thing: I don’t date.
So why is the only person I want to take a single mom who can’t stand me?
We’re a horrible match, and it makes no sense that I’d be into her. But the more time we spend together, the more it’s starting to look like this might be one game I can’t win.
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TEAGAN HUNTER writes steamy romantic comedies with lots of sarcasm and a side of heart. She loves pizza, hockey, and romance novels, though not in that order. When not writing, you can find her watching entirely too many hours of Supernatural, One Tree Hill, or New Girl. She's mildly obsessed with Halloween and prefers cooler weather. She married her high school sweetheart, and they currently live in the PNW.
I received a complimentary early release e-book prior to release and am voluntarily leaving a review.
In this book we get to know Greer who is the goalie on the team and who is known to be very grumpy and not a fan of kids. He also does not believe in love at all.
Stevie is not a fan of Greer but has a daughter who LOVES hockey but has no idea how to play. She is a single mom and does not have the money to pay for lessons so when Greer needs a wedding date, they make a bargain.
These two start off as acquaintances that do NOT like each other at all and then they form a friendship and eventually feelings shall we say grow. But Greer is very anti love and well Stevie has been burned by love before. So, let's say it gets complicated.
This was a very fun story. I loved little Macie. She was adorable and I loved how she tried to coach the players. I also adored Greer's mother and how she ends up helping Stevie deal with her fears for her daughter. And the heat and attraction and funny, cute and quirky text messages between Greer and Stevie were so much fun.
Hooking up with an annoyingly handsome stranger on vacation isn't the best idea, but I could use a little bit of careless fun before my fresh start.
We said no last names, no strings. With law school on the line, it's all I can offer. I just don't expect everything to feel so easy— or so right. Too bad I'll never see him again.
Little did I know that hockey star Logan Russo is also attending Westfall U. Now I can't escape him... or his sexy silver eyes.
He may not be a player... but he's still off-limits.
Logan
My entire life has been focused on my hockey career. All work— no play. Zero distractions, with no exceptions. Until I sit next to Liliana on a flight to paradise.
Her walls are up, and I can respect that, relate even. But I'll tear them down, one by one, if that's what it takes for her to let me in.
Our tropical fling only left me wanting more. I can't stop myself from fantasizing about the guarded beauty falling apart in my arms. Now I'm breaking the rules to play by hers.
Because Liliana Ramirez isn't just my team's PR person, she's my coach's daughter.
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I received a complimentary early release e-book prior to release and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is my first time reading this author ever so this series and all the characters are totally new to me. I found it easily to follow along and never felt lost when reading this story.
I did feel that the scenes in Hawaii went on a bit too long for my liking. I did enjoy them, but I couldn't wait to see what would happen when they met again and that part of the story.
One of the central themes of this story is about families. Lili and her sister come from your typical family, mom and dad still married and they love each other and no cheating. Where Logan and his brother come from a very broken family. They barely have a mother, but they do have each other. And then there is the family that becomes your family through close friendships and in this case Logan and his brother have their very close-knit Hockey team family.
What I liked a lot about this story was that the author explored all the different forms of family and then made Lili really look and see what was really happening in her family which looks great from the outside but has lots of holes in it and how that was affecting her. By exploring this part of her life, it made her a very strong person and really changed her relationships with the people she loved.
This story is a second chance romance as Lili has this awesome fling in Hawaii and then when the vacation is over, and she starts at her new school she gets lots of surprises which then turn her and Logan's relationship into a VERY secret and forbidden type of romance.
Italy was supposed to be an uncomplicated trip with the girls.
But that was before Gian DeLuca. Before the rainstorm that forced us into the same small villa.
My already broken heart does not need an American marketing executive playing pool boy at Locanda del Mare for the summer. An arrogant commitment phobe who wants to drink his way through Sicily. He was never the right man for the Eat Pray Love quest his sister sent him on, and I'm not right for him.
Besides, I'm here to sort out my future, not help Gian add me to his litany of Italian conquests.
Did I mention a rainstorm, a washed-out road, and a forced overnight stay at a Sicilian vineyard?
So much for uncomplicated.
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Bella Michaels is the pen name of a contemporary romance author who wants desperately to write a slow burn love triangle romance but is afraid of a reader riot!
When not writing steamy small town romance like the Grado Valley Vineyards series—or historical romance as Cecelia Mecca and paranormal (vampire) romance as C.L. Mecca—Bella loves dreaming up new sassy heroines and alpha heroes for readers to enjoy armed with a PhD she no longer uses and copious amounts of chai.
I received a complimentary early release e-book prior to release and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was a romantic and fun story as both Gian and Mazzie meet while she is on vacation in Italy. It was a really fun story as we get to go along and see the sights along with Gian and Mazzie.
This is very much opposites attract type of story. Gian is very hot and super attractive, and he knows it. He is in Italy to help out his family and he plans to only be interested in casual flings, He has a solid job when he gets back home in New Jersey, but he has always felt competition with his older brother Enzo.
Mazzie has lost her family, her father has died, and she has sold his business and now has to decide what is next for her when she goes home to Arizona. She is in Italy with a bunch of friends trying to enjoy the sights when she meets Gian the attraction is very strong, and she has to decide if she is willing to take a chance on him.
I enjoyed getting to know both characters. They were awesome characters and I loved how honest they were with each other about their life, feelings and plans for the future. The biggest question that Mazzie has to decide is what she would do for love and you will have to read this book to find out.
Two pink lines won’t change the bad blood between us.
I haven’t always hated my brother’s best friend, but Michael Oliver gets under my skin and brings out the worst in me. He knows how to push my buttons, and I relish pushing all of his. He betrayed my trust years ago, so I’ve made it my mission in life to aggravate him until he admits he was wrong.
When his sister’s wedding brings us together, Michael suggests a truce for one night. If only he weren’t so handsome and smart, maybe I could resist the allure, but I’ve always been a little impulsive, and this man is my ultimate temptation. After years of pent-up frustration and unrequited lust, I finally let down my guard, and that’s all it takes for us to combust.
But like all bad decisions, the morning after brings a reckoning, and I leave his hotel room swearing to never waste another moment of my time pining after him. Who needs that grumpy jerk warming her bed? Not me.
I don’t let myself think about that steamy night together, or how it pained me to hear about his football injury, or how much I know he wants to get drafted so he can help his family. Because I’m cutting Michael out of my life for good.
Only the two little pink lines mean I can’t forget him. Even if I desperately want to.
* * *
The Baby Blitz is a companion standalone to USA Today-bestselling author Lex Martin’s sensational college football romance novels, The Varsity Dad Dilemmaand Tight Ends & Tiaras. Readers will love this sensual multicultural romance featuring a scorching-hot college football player and the feisty, but slightly nerdy girl next door—the one he swore he’d never make a move on.
Will Michael make the right decision if he has to choose between Maggie or fulfilling his dream of playing professional football?
Lex Martin is the USA Today bestselling author of The Varsity Dad Dilemma, the Texas Nights series, and the Dearest series, books she hopes readers love but her parents avoid. A former high school English teacher and freelance journalist, she resides in Texas with her husband, twin daughters, and a bunny named Dandelion.
I received a complimentary early release e-book prior to release and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is book 3 in the series and is a second chance, surprise baby, enemies to lovers, brothers' best friend, college students, sports romance.
It stars two characters who were seen previous books, Michael Olliver and Magnolia/Maggie, but you can read this as a standalone.
This is also a really long book. It has 72 chapters. I broke it up by reading it over 3 days. It's a really long story and begins in the summer and runs about a year. It stars Olly who we saw in a previous book was dating Amelia. In this book they are broken up but we also see a lot of Amelia as she is back in town trying to graduate and rents a place from Maggie in the second half of the story.
Maggie meanwhile has a huge house but it's very fixer upper and she rents rooms out to make some money to support herself. What's nice about this story is that both Maggie and Olly are not wealthy, they both struggle over money, scholarships and helping out their families moneywise.
Growing up Maggie and Olliver were friends until high school when he did something she never forgave him for. Through the years the families have stayed close as Maggie's brother and Olly are best friends and Olly's sister babysits Maggie's younger sister. When Olly's sister gets married everyone attends the wedding and that's when Maggie and Olly decide to call a truce and they share one very magical night.
It's not smooth sailing from that point at all. There is jealousy, exes, brothers who butt in and missed messages, but we also get to see how much Olly cares about Maggie and how deep he is in her heart.
This was a fun rollercoaster of a story. You can feel the passion Olly has for Mags and her feelings for him jump off the page. I thought this was a wonderful and romantic story and it's my favorite within the series.
Up-and-coming hockey star
Decker Reese plays hard but works even harder. He wants to keep his head in the
game, so he avoids personal entanglements like the plague. He’s done everything
in his power to put his past behind him, and keep his private life just that.
The last thing he needs is to fall for the gorgeous friend of his teammate's
girlfriend, even if she is only in town for the holidays.
Eden Walsh has sworn off men.
Her last two relationships blew up in her face and she’s not interested in
testing the “third times a charm” theory. Her only focus now that she’s
graduated college is moving on. But a short trip to visit her friends goes from
relaxing vacation to recovery staycation after a skating accident.
Now she’s stuck in Vegas and
the sexy commitment-phobic hockey player keeping her company has her tempted to
break all her rules. But when his past gets in the way, is it game over for
them both?
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
USA Today Bestselling and award-winning author Kat Mizera is a South
Florida native. Born in Miami Beach with a healthy dose of wanderlust, she's
called Los Angeles, Long Island, upstate New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire
and Atlanta home. She's never been able to pick which locale is her favorite,
but if pressed, she'd probably choose the west coast.
A typical PTA mom with a wonderful and supportive husband (Kevin) and two
amazing boys (Nick and Max), Kat can usually be found scrapbooking or indulging
in her second love (after writing) - traveling. Greece is one of her favorite
places in the world. She loves that Athens is a big city with a small-town
feel. The food, beaches and culture keep her going back as often as possible.
Kat's been a working freelance writer for nearly 30 years. She sold her
first article--a review of a rock concert--for $10 in 1985. Since then she's
been an entertainment journalist, waitress, bartender, legal assistant, food
critic, magazine editor, substitute teacher, and sports writer. She also spent
some time working at A & M Records in Los Angeles.
As you can guess from her Las Vegas Sidewinders series, Kat loves hockey and
occasionally writes articles about her favorite team, the Florida Panthers. The
rest of the time, she writes novels: sexy, romantic fiction that she hopes
makes you as happy as it makes her. There's something enticing about hockey
players and romance...
I received a complimentary early release e-book prior to release and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is part of the Sidewinders Generations series bit it also is loosely connected to the Florida Knights as well. In this book Daisy who is involved with Van invites her best friends Zoe and Eden to visit in Vegas. When Eden meets Decker, they both feel the attraction but it's more like a fling since she will be returning to England in a few weeks.
This story is very centered on Decker, and we learn a lot about him and his history. His history and past is something that ends up being a big deal for Eden and her painful past as well.
It's really hard to review this book and not put out too many spoilers. I enjoyed this book, and I liked getting to know these characters. I adored Eden and I loved how she ends up working with Renee and also with Daisy.
Decker has a lot of secrets, and I did not always agree or even like how he dealt with those secrets. But I did like seeing Eden and watching her discover what she wanted her future to be. This is very much a growing up and moving on at a crossroads for a majority of the characters in this story.
Keeping You, a steamy Until Him/Her standalone novella from New York Times bestselling author Aurora Rose Reynolds is available now!
