EXCEPTION TO THE RULE by Charlotte Symonds is a contemporary
romance by a new to me author. This is a well written romance with fun and
witty dialogue, a hero that every girl dreams of and a wounded heroine who
avoids dealing with her emotional past by avoiding relationships.
Delilah Bennet can write a sex scene so well, she has been
hired to be a ghost writer by a well-known romance author. She loves her job
because she gets to freely manipulate all of the heroes. She is in total
control. In her personal dating life she has rules and keeps the control,
always. She must be the one to approach and she uses the men for sex. No
relationships.
Delilah lives with her best-friend, Rhen and has always been
the shield that Rhen uses to hide his true sexuality from his
ultra-conservative family. Rhen is the only person who knows the real Delilah
and why she is the way she is with men. When she tells Rhen about the fantastic
mystery man she spies on while he exercises through the window of their
apartment, he believes this may be the one to get Delilah to give real dating a
shot, but she never sees his face.
Jake Hastings is the plus-one to Rhen’s cousin at a family
wedding. When he sees Delilah dancing, something seems familiar about her, but
he does not know from where. With his blue eyes, hard-body and sultry voice,
Delilah cannot resist, even though he came up to her. Jake has trouble keeping
Delilah from running away each time they get close, but he also cannot stop
thinking about her and wanting more.
Is Jake truly sincere and an honorable man? Will Delilah
make an exception to her rules and end up possibly having her heart broken for
the first time or believe in Jake?
I am in love with Jake! Here is a romance hero who did not
do anything, but be a nice guy. (OK. He is gorgeous and rich, too, which never
hurts.) Delilah is the wounded heroine, instead of the wounded hero as in most
romances. She proves she is capable of love and friendship with Rhen, but Rhen
is safe. Her reasons for her rules are believable and give her a reason for
always doing a runner when things get personal with Jake. Ms. Symonds has
written realistic, funny and witty dialogue throughout the story. The sex
scenes are fun, hot and explicit. The characters in this romance are
interesting, entertaining and I feel could walk right off the page.
I am sharing CATCHING HIM (How to Catch an Alpha Book 1) by Aurora Rose Reynolds in this Feature Post and Book Review. I love this romance because it has fun dialogue, made me laugh and has hot sex scenes all without relationship angst and drama.
Below you will find a guest post from the author, an excerpt from the book, my book review, a book summary, the author’s bio and social media links and a Rafflecopter giveaway.
I hope you love Tyler and Leah as much as I did and as always, good luck on the Rafflecopter giveaway!
***
Guest
Post: Aurora Rose Reynolds’ Guide to Catching Him
In my
newest book, Catching Him, Leah Emmerson is over men who can’t
commit and she is determined to find a man who is willing to chase her for
once. When she meets Tyler Duncan she’s not sure she likes him, however, once
she gets his attention he makes it clear that he wants her. Tyler goes out
of his way to make Leah his and prove that he’s the kind of guy she should be
with. The task isn’t easy; Leah has built up walls because of her past relationships,
but after getting to know Tyler as a friend she realizes that he’s the perfect
catch.
I’m
here to give you some advice on how to catch an alpha male, this method is
tried and true.
Step
one.
Ignore
the hot guy. I know this might seem a little crazy when you’re trying to
actually catch a hot guy, but I’m telling you now that for whatever reason the
more you ignore him the more he will come around.
Step
two.
Avoid
danger, however, if you do get into trouble be open and honest with the
hot guy. If he’s worth your time then he will step up to protect you.
Step
three.
Don’t
be afraid if things go fast.
Step
four.
This step is the simplest of them all: Believe him when he says he loves you and go on to live happily ever after.
***
Excerpt
“Is
that any good?”
I look
at him with my mouth full and raise a brow as I chew and swallow. “Did you just
ask if Fruity Pebbles is any good? Have you ever had it?”
“I
haven’t eaten cereal since I was a kid. The only kind my ma ever bought for us
was Cheerios, and not the real kind—the kind that comes in the family-size bag.”
“Here.”
I lift a full spoon up toward him, and he looks down at it. “Don’t be a
chicken; just try it.”
He
leans forward, and his lips wrap around the spoon I’m holding, the sight way
more erotic than it should be. He chews and swallows, shaking his head. “It’s .
. .”
“Delicious,”
I finish for him. “Do you want some more?”
“I’m
good.” He laughs. “I am worried that you’re eating that for dinner.”
“Why?
It’s fruit and dairy,” I deadpan, and he laughs again.
“Whatever
you say, gorgeous. Tomorrow I’ll make you breakfast so your body has the fuel
it needs before we get to work.”
I
haven’t forgotten I’m spending the day with him tomorrow, pretending to help
him paint his kitchen. I’ve been thinking about it all day today. I’ve been
thinking about him all day today, actually. I really am
starting to like him, even if he has the ability to annoy me like no one else I
have ever met in my life.
“Will
there be bacon?” I set my bowl on the coffee table, then lean back against the
couch, looking at him.
“Is
that your roundabout way of saying you want bacon?”
“Yep.”
“Then I
guess there will be bacon.”
“Now I
can’t wait for breakfast.” I smile at him when he grins. “I do have to leave around
four, or maybe a little earlier, so I can shower and change to get to my
parents’ place for Sunday dinner.”
“Sunday
dinner?”
“Yeah,
do you want to come?” Crap, why the heck did I just ask him that? I
didn’t mean to. It just came out before I could stop it. “I mean . . .”
“Sure,”
he agrees.
“Oh . .
. okay. Awesome.” I bite the inside of my cheek. My mom is going to flip her
lid—not in a bad way. She’s going to be so happy I’m bringing a man with me
that she will probably start knitting baby booties. Not that she knits. She’ll
probably just order some off Amazon for free two-day delivery.
“You
don’t want me to go?” He tugs that piece of hair he hasn’t stopped playing
with, and I turn my head.
“It’s
not that. I just . . . well, I’ve never invited someone to Sunday dinner. I
mean, I have, but not a guy. My parents and brothers might assume . . .” I look
away at his smirk, and my face gets warm. “It’s just . . .” I blow out a
breath. “You know how parents and siblings are.”
“We’re
friends. I’m new in town, and we’re neighbors.”
“Right,”
I agree, even though it’s a little disappointing to think he’s not interested
in me and that the comments he’s made haven’t been a lead-up to something
more—that something more being him fricking kissing me. But maybe that’s just
him . . . maybe he flirts with everyone.
“I
don’t have to come if you’re going to be uncomfortable.”
I turn
to look at him once more. “You’re right. We’re just friends and neighbors; it
won’t be a big deal.”
“Hmm.”
Okay,
what does that mean? Never mind. I don’t want to know. I focus on the TV and
not so much on him playing with my hair or sitting so close that the weight of
him on my couch forces us even closer together.
“You
should go to bed. You’ve yawned three times in as many minutes,” he tells me.
“I need
to know if Bethenny is going to tell Luann about her husband being with another
woman,” I say, keeping my eyes glued to the TV.
“I’m
sure you can google it if you really need to know.”
“True.”
I yawn again, and my eyes water.
“Come
on.” He stands, then pulls me up with him off the couch. “Walk me to the door,
then go on to bed.” He walks to the door and stops with his hand on the handle,
then looks at Bruce, who hasn’t gotten up. “Bud, come on. Time to go home.”
“Come
on, big guy.” I pat my thighs, and he comes instantly, and I laugh as Tyler
grumbles under his breath. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” I tell Bruce, hugging him
around his furry neck, and then I stand and look at his dad. “When do you want
me?”
His
eyes change ever so slightly, and I swear he’s going to say something dirty,
but he doesn’t. “Nine thirty or ten.”
“Okay,”
I agree.
He
touches his fingers to my cheek, then opens the door and steps out onto the
porch. “Bruce, come,” he calls when Bruce doesn’t follow him. I giggle, and he
shakes his head as I push Bruce outside with my hands on his rump. “See you in
the morning, babe.”
“Mmm-hmm.” I watch him walk down the stairs and roll my eyes when he orders me into my house and to lock the door. I do what he asks, only because I want to, but I still watch him through the window as he and Bruce walk across the grass between his yard and mine and up to his front door. When he’s inside, I go back to the TV and turn it off, then get in bed, where eventually I fall asleep thinking about the guy next door.
***
My Book Review
RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars
CATCHING HIM (How to Catch an Alpha Book 1) by Aurora
Rose Reynolds is a new contemporary romance by a new to me author and I will be
looking for more books in her series. This book left me with a smile and the
happy feeling that there are still romances being written with no over-the-top relationship
angst or drama; just a feel-good relationship with a likable alpha hero and smart
heroine and just a touch of suspense.
Leah Emerson is sweet, upbeat and beautiful inside and out. She
works with her grandma and mother every day as a stylist in their hair salon. Her
two brothers are married with kids and her mother wants the same for her, but she
has decided that she is done with relationships where she is the person chasing
and settling. She is willing to wait for the “right” man.
Tyler Duncan recently moved into town for a new job as a
construction foreman for his friend’s company. He is focused on his new job and
not looking for a relationship, but when his beautiful next-door neighbor falls
through his window chasing her wayward kitten, he knows he wants her.
Tyler is sexy, confident and protective and Leah is very
attracted, but is he the right man for Leah?
I love this hero and heroine! Tyler is the type of alpha male
every girl should have. Leah is smart, upbeat and compassionate, but protective
of her heart after being disappointed by men in the past. The relationship
comes together in a realistic way with fun dialogue, funny situations and hot
sex scenes that are explicit, but not gratuitous. All the secondary characters
add depth to the story, including the pets. The story focuses on the romance,
but there is a small bit of suspense added for the drama you do not get from
the relationship.
This romance put a smile on my face, had laugh-out-loud situations
and dialogue and left a warm and fuzzy feeling in my heart. I am anxiously awaiting
the next book by this author.
***
About
the Book
Title: Catching
Him
Author:
Aurora Rose Reynolds
Release
Date: August 27, 2019
Series:
How To Catch an Alpha, #1
Publisher:
Montlake Romance
Summary
Leah Emerson isn’t looking
for a man—she’s looking for the right man. But her mother’s idea of a great
catch leaves her cold, and she’s pretty sure her cocky, arrogant, and way too
good-looking new neighbor isn’t the one either. If only her wayward cat would
stop jumping through his window, she could get on with her life.
Tyler Duncan moved into town
for a new job, not to fall in love. But he always goes after the things he
wants in life with steadfast determination . . . and he wants Leah
Emerson. He wants her smiles, he wants her touch, and he definitely wants her
in bed.
Unfortunately, someone else wants Leah—in the worst way. Now Tyler’s on a mission to protect the woman he’s falling in love with while proving he’s worth falling for, and Leah must decide whether Tyler is a catch worth catching . . .
***
Author Biography
Aurora Rose Reynolds is
a New York Times and USA Today bestselling
author whose wildly popular series include Fluke My Life, Until, Until Him,
Until Her, and Underground Kings. Her writing career started as an attempt to
get the outrageous alpha men in her head to leave her alone and has blossomed
into an opportunity to share her stories with readers all over the world.
To stay up to date on what’s
happening, join the Alpha Mailing List: https://bit.ly/2GXYsVS.
To order signed books, go to https://AuroraRoseReynolds.com.
You can reach Reynolds via email at Auroraroser@gmail.com and
follow her on Instagram (@Auroraroser), Facebook (AuthorAuroraRoseReynolds),
and Twitter (@Auroraroser).
I am extremely excited to be sharing this Feature Post and Mini Book Review for the new novella BUTTERFLY IN FROST by Sylvia Day. This story is emotionally charged, explicitly hot and sexy and has a twist that threw me for a loop!
Below you will find an excerpt, a book summary, my book review, author bio and social media links and a Rafflecopter giveaway. As always, good luck on the Rafflecopter giveaway!
***
Excerpt: Butterfly in Frost by Sylvia Day
Roxy bounces on her feet with
excitement. “Les and Marge sold their house.”
I blink. “I didn’t know they were
selling.”
She laughs and heads toward the front
door. “That’s the thing. They weren’t.”
“Wait, what?” I hurry after her as she
steps outside.
I look to the right at my home, a
lovingly restored butterfly-roofed midcentury, then on to the traditional house
just beyond it that belongs—belonged—to Les and Marge. Including Roxy’s,
all three of our homes have unique lots set between the homes that line the
street and the Sound, affording us unhindered views of the water as well as
exceptional privacy—all within a twenty-minute drive of the airport.
Roxy shortens the length of her stride
to allow me to catch up, then glances over at me. “The day after you flew to
New York, a Range Rover pulled into their driveway, and the guy inside offered
them cash to close—and move out—in fourteen days.”
My step falters, and Minnie gets
momentarily tangled in her leash. The dog shoots me what I would describe as an
irritated look, then keeps trotting forward. “That’s crazy.”
“Isn’t it? Les wouldn’t say how much
the offer was, but I’m thinking it was huge.”
We march up the inclined driveway, my head
tilted back to take in the houses scaling the hillside. Designed with big
windows to maximize the view, the homes have a look of wide-eyed wonder. Our
little stretch of the Sound used to be a secret, but with the housing boom
taking over Seattle and Tacoma, we’ve been discovered. Many residences are
undergoing major renovation to suit the tastes of new owners.
Reaching the road, we turn left. To
the right is a dead end.
“Well, if they’re happy,” I say, “I’m
happy for them.”
“They’re overwhelmed. It was a lot to
happen all at once, but I think they’re happy with their decision.” Roxanne
stops when Bella does, and we wait as the two dogs mark one of their usual
spots on the gravel edging the asphalt. There are no curbs on the streets in
our neighborhood and no sidewalks. Just beautiful lawns and a profusion of
flowering shrubs.
“We all tried prying information out
of them,” she goes on, “but they weren’t sharing anything about the sale.” She
gives me a sidelong glance. “But they did share a bit about the buyer.”
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Because Mike and I both think the
buyer is someone famous. A film director maybe. Or an artist. Can you imagine?
First Emily, a bestselling author. Then you, a reality-TV surgeon. Now this
guy! Maybe we’re sitting on the new Malibu—beachside living without wildfires
or state income tax!”
The mention of Roxy’s husband, Mike,
coaxes an inner smile. A New York transplant like me, he adds a welcome touch
of the life I left behind to the reality I’ve since created for myself—a
reality that’s just been rocked by the loss of neighbors I like.
“What are the clues you’re working
with?” I ask, deciding to play along. If I’ve learned anything the past year,
it’s to accept the things I cannot change. A tough task for a control freak
like me.
“Les pointed out to this guy that he
hadn’t even seen the inside of the house. The guy said he didn’t need to. He
knew already that ‘the light is perfect.’ I mean, who would say that? Gotta be
someone who’s in visual arts, right?”
“Maybe,” I agree tentatively,
disquieted by the unexpected conversation. The road rises sharply before us,
the incline steep enough to put a little burn in my thighs. “Doesn’t mean he’s
famous, though.”
“That’s the thing.” Her words carry a
note of breathlessness. “Les wouldn’t give numbers, but he did say it was crazy
the guy didn’t just buy that huge compound at the end of the street. That house
is listed for three and a half million!”
My mind staggers at the thought. Les
and Marge have—had—a beautiful home, but it’s not worth anywhere near
that much.
“I think I saw the buyer once through
that big arched window in the living room,” Roxy goes on. “The blonde with him
was a looker. Supermodel skinny with legs for days.”
I’m panting when we reach the top;
Roxy, who hits a gym most days of the week, is not.
A quarter mile farther, there’s a
street to the right leading to Dash Point. Beyond that and straight ahead, the
road slopes back down and around until it’s at water level. Redondo Beach is
there, as is Salty’s, a restaurant on stilts in the water with expansive views
of Poverty Bay and beyond. I’m about to wax poetic about Salty’s seafood
chowder when a runner dashes around the corner at a full sprint. His sudden
appearance rattles me. A closer look makes me freeze midstride. My breath locks
in my lungs.
There are too many things to register
at once, so my mind attempts to absorb the whole man. Dressed only in black
shorts and shoes, he is a visual feast of deeply tanned skin, intricate sleeves
of tattooed art, and sweat-slicked, flexing musculature.
And his face. Sculpted.
Square-jawed. Brutally, breathlessly handsome.
Roxy, now a few feet in front of me,
gives a low whistle. “Hot damn.”
***
About the Book
Title: Butterfly in Frost
Author: Sylvia Day
Release Date: August 27, 2019
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Summary
Once, I would never have
imagined myself here. But I’m settled now. In a place I love, in a home I
renovated, spending time with new friends I adore, and working a job that
fulfills me. I am reconciling the past and laying the groundwork for the future.
Then Garrett Frost moves
in next door.
He’s obstinate and too
bold, a raging force of nature that disrupts the careful order of my life. I
recognize the ghosts that haunt him, the torment driving him. Garrett would be
risky in any form, but wounded, he’s far more dangerous. I fear I’m too fragile
for the storm raging inside him, too delicate to withstand the pain that
buffets him. But he’s too determined…and too tempting.
And sometimes hope soars above even the iciest desolation.
***
My Book Review
RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars
Butterfly in Frost by Sylvia Day is a new
contemporary romance novella that is emotionally charged, explicitly hot and sexy
and has a twist that threw me for a loop!
I am writing a mini review because the book summary sets the
novella up well and if I give too much more information, I risk revealing
something that may give away the surprise twist. When I am looking for an
erotic romance, Sylvia Day is one of my “go to” writers and I am so glad I read
this book.
Garrett Frost is a famous artist who is gorgeous, sexy and
wounded. When he moves in next door to Teagan, he could be just what she needs to
move forward with her life or he could destroy her fragile new life and peace.
These two come together in an emotionally charged dance; one
step forward, two steps back, take each day one at a time, do not discuss the
past. Usually I want a longer book to get more in-depth emotions from the
characters, but this novella gave an emotional punch in a short number of
pages. The sex scenes are explicit and smokin’ hot. Crank the air-conditioner!
At first, I felt you needed to read previous books to know what was going on,
but I was wrong. When you hit the twist, it brings a whole new light to the
story and it stands on its own.
I loved this story!
***
Author Biography
Sylvia
Day is the #1 New York Times, #1 USA Today, #1 Sunday
Times, #1 Der Spiegel, and #1 international bestselling author
of over twenty award-winning novels sold in more than forty countries. She is a
#1 bestselling author in twenty-eight countries, with tens of millions of
copies of her books in print. Visit the author at www.sylviaday.com.
WANTED BY THE MARSHAL (American Armor Book One) by
Ryshia Kennie is a new Harlequin Intrigue romantic suspense by a new to me
author. This is the first book in the American Armor series featuring a US
Marshal sent to watch over the sole survivor of a serial killer.
Kiera Connell is a nurse practitioner who loves her job at
the Prairie Seniors’ Care Home in Cheyenne Wyoming. She is on her own, but she
views the seniors as her family. One night as she is walking home after work
she is abducted.
Kiera escapes and is able to direct police to where she was
kept. The police arrest Eric Solomon and discover he is the serial killer the
FBI has been looking for. The only problem is, Kiera heard two voices, but
without evidence, the authorities just believe it is PTSD and they have their
man. The FBI is afraid Kiera may take off before the trial, so she is to be
watched by US Marshals.
US Marshal Travis Johnson is assigned to lead Kiera’s case.
Travis’ job is to keep watch over her until she appears in court. As Travis
gets to know Kiera and strange phone calls occur, he begins to believe her
about there being two abductors against all the physical evidence. When Travis
is attacked, they move to a safe house, but will it be enough? As the threat to
Kiera escalates, Travis and Kiera find their attraction does the same.
I loved the suspense plot with the idea of a second abductor
that there is no physical evidence of and the authorities are skeptical of the
witness’ memory. It was a good twist that kept the suspense growing. Kiera is a
strong heroine who is determined to stand up for herself, while also having a
very kind and loving heart towards her patients and Travis. I did not feel a
strong enough attraction for the romance to jump to sex scenes. I felt the trope of the bodyguard falling for
his charge was written well for the shortness of the story, but I did not like when
Travis left Kiera alone for the plot points of bad things happening to her. For
me, it was not believable since his main job was to protect her and it felt
forced. Overall, it was just an O.K. romantic suspense read for me.
Written for and posted first on The Romance Reviews.
I am happy to share this Feature Post and Book Review for my turn on the blog tour for COWBOY UP (Tangled Up in Texas Book One) by Michelle Beattie.
Below you will find a book description, my book review, buy links, author bio, author social media links and a Rafflecopter giveaway.
This is a good start to a new contemporary cowboy series. And as always, good luck on the Rafflecopter giveaway!
***
Book Description:
When Dallas Granger left his family’s Last Stand, Texas, ranch, he hadn’t planned on returning. But when a medical emergency calls him home and a legal matter affects his business, suddenly his family isn’t the only thing in need of a re-build. Unfortunately his new project involves building a house for a woman who not only awakens his desires, but also his fears. But if he wants to claim her as his own, he’ll have to tear down the walls he’s built around his heart.
Single mom Ashley Anderson knows all about juggling. Between an assortment of part-time jobs and raising her sixteen-year old daughter, she doesn’t need a hunky construction worker with an attitude as a distraction. Even one who steps in to help her when she needs it most. Life has taught Ashley that when the going gets tough, she’s on her own. It’s going to take a man with a Texas-sized heart to show her that this cowboy isn’t going anywhere.
COWBOY UP (Tangles Up in Texas Book One) by Michelle
Beattie is a contemporary cowboy romance that is the start of a new series by a
new-to-me author. This first book focuses on the oldest of five brothers and
the single mom he meets working on a Houses of Hope (similar to Habitat for
Humanity) project.
Dallas Granger loves building beautiful things. From
cabinets to houses, he started his own construction company when he left the family
ranch. As he is trying to take care of a problem one of his employees caused,
he gets tangled up with the law. Then his brother calls to tell him his father
is in the hospital and he is going to need help with the ranch. He does not
know how he will find the time to deal with everything.
When Dallas is assigned to volunteer for Houses of Hope, he
is not happy. He believes the people who receive the homes get them for free (not
true), but he feels he worked to build his company from scratch and everyone
else should work for what they have, too. When he gets to the work-site he is
instantly attracted to the blonde helping with construction. When he finds out the
home is for her, he is surprised and not very gracious.
Ashley Anderson juggles a number of part-time jobs to
support herself and her sixteen-year-old daughter. She pinches every penny and
the last thing she needs to deal with is a cowboy with an attitude problem. She
has worked her whole life to stand on her own since she was a teen mom and does
not need the judgement.
But as Dallas and Ashley get to know each other, they find
they cannot stop their attraction. Dallas has a lot of family baggage to deal
with and a broken engagement has left his heart closed off. Will he break
Ashley’s heart or will he prove he can open his own?
This is a good start to the series, but there is a lot going on which somewhat detracts from adding more depth to the hero and heroine. I could relate to Ashley and her life, but Dallas really had trust issues that I thought were over blown. That said, they were a good couple and I loved when they talked out their issues and Dallas was a romantic. The sex scenes were realistic and romantic. I also, enjoyed Ashley and her daughter, Brittany’s relationship. It was nice to not have to read about a stereotypical problem teen.
I will be looking forward to reading the other brothers’
stories and having the family secret revealed.
International Bestselling Author Michelle Beattie first found her love of romance in romantic comedies such as Romancing the Stone and Valley Girl (yes, she realizes that dates her). It wasn’t until after high school when she worked for a car rental company and had too much time on her hands that she started reading romances. Historicals were her go-to and she raided many bookstores looking for historical western romances.
Eventually she started thinking “what if” and “I’d have done that differently” and quietly started writing her own. More than a dozen books later, Michelle has published in both digital and print platforms and her works have been translated in more than 4 languages.
Michelle is a mother of two very strong, independent daughters. She is a certified member of the Master Bowler’s of Alberta and loves coaching and passing on her love for 5 pin bowling. Besides bowling herself in a weekly league, she also likes to golf in the summer, play games, and read.
Michelle lives in a solar-powered house in Central Alberta with her husband of almost 25 years, youngest daughter, and the cutest dog ever.
I am very excited to share this Feature Post and Book Review for Carolyn’s Brown new book THE EMPTY NESTERS. I always enjoy a Carolyn Brown story, but this one is my favorite to date!
Below you will find a message from the author, my book review, a book summary, author bio and social media links and a Rafflecopter giveaway.
I loved all of these characters and can highly recommend this book for a great read. As always, good luck on the Rafflecopter giveaway!
***
Jump Into Author
Carolyn Brown’s Empty Nest
Good morning, and thank you for inviting me to
stop by to talk about my new book, The Empty Nesters. I’ll be
giving all y’all a few of my favorite scenes and a little commentary during the
time we get to spend together.
As Ma used to say on Golden Girls,
imagine this—Carmen, Joanie and Diana have just dropped their daughters off at
the recruiter’s office. They’ve managed to keep the tears at bay and put up a
brave front, but now it’s time to let the tears loose.
“For the first time ever, Natalie and I won’t
decorate the house for Halloween together. Nine months of carrying them, then
we basically raised them on our own while our husbands were deployed or got
sent someplace to train other officers. And now they’re gone, and we won’t see
them for Halloween or Thanksgiving. And who even knows about Christmas? It’s
not fair.”
It’s always amazing what comes to mind during a
sad time, isn’t it? Things pop into our heads that seem trivial in the face of
the event, and yet, at the time, the good memories are what keep us sane.
Tootsie, their elderly neighbor, has just lost
her husband, after they’d bought the huge RV and planned a trip to northeast
Texas. She’s trying to convince the women that they need to get away from their
empty nest for a while.
“You need to get away for a little while and
get some perspective,” Tootsie said.
“Let’s pool our money and blow it all on a trip
to Paris. We can shop and have lattes in little bistros,” Diana suggested.
Joanie sighed. “That’s a pipe dream. We
probably don’t have enough money to even get to Paris, Texas, between the three
of us.”
The three of them have known the support of
each other through the past thirteen years, and just because they’re now alone
in their homes, they have no doubt that the love is still there between
them—and that it’s even stronger than blood sisters.
“We’re only half a block and a phone call away.
If any of us feel the world dropping out from under our feet, we can get back
together in less than five minutes.”
I was amazed at how supportive all of them,
including Tootsie, were of each other. They might disagree, but Lord help the
person that tried to come between them, or who had the nerve to say an ugly
word about one of them.
Everything happens for a reason and in the time
that it should happen. I believe that with my whole heart. Diana had gotten her
divorce years before the book opens, but she remembers the pain and anger of it
all. Then she focused all her energy and time on raising her daughter. But now
it’s her time to find a new love, and a new life—maybe with a younger man.
“That many trips into town on those roads would
shake the hell out of their Caddy. And believe me, Aunt Tootsie treats that car
like family.” Luke chuckled. “Age, on a truck or on a person, makes no
difference. It’s how well they’re maintained that matters.”
Why, oh, why, couldn’t he have smooth pickup
lines like other men? Luke asked himself. What he’d just said could be taken as
an insult. She might think that he thought she looked like an old pickup truck
at her age, when in reality she was downright gorgeous. He wouldn’t be a bit
surprised if she still got carded at bars when she ordered a drink.
Thank you again, for inviting me into your
world, and letting me talk about the amazing ladies (and Luke of course),
from The Empty Nesters. Happy reading to each and every one of you!
***
My Book Review:
RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars
Sometimes if you are lucky, you pick up a book at just the
right time in your life that every emotion written by the author resonates and
you cannot put it down. THE EMPTY NESTERS by Carolyn Brown is that book
for me.
The story starts by introducing us to Tootsie and Smokey
Colbert. Smokey is retired Army and Tootsie is his beloved wife of over 50
years. They never had children of their own, so they are very excited when
three new military couples move into the neighboring homes each with their own
young daughter. The men are in the same unit and the wives are close friends.
Jump ahead thirteen years. Diana, Carmen and Joanie are all
still best friends and about to face an empty nest at home as all three of
their daughters leave for bootcamp after having enlisted in the Army together. Diana
has been divorced and moved on, working and focusing on her daughter Rebecca.
Joanie is still an army wife, waiting for her husband to come home as her
daughter Zoe leaves also. Carmen just said goodbye to her daughter, Natalie and
she receives the emotional punch of receiving unexpected divorce papers in the
mail after 20 years of marriage.
After losing the love of her life, Smokey, one month ago,
Tootsie decides to go on their planned trip to his family’s reunion and take
the girls with her. They have nothing to lose and no one at home, so they begin
their two month long life changing journey as “The Empty Nesters” in a large RV
driven by Smokey’s nephew, Luke. Tootsie faces the memories of her late husband
and hopes to ease her loneliness and broken heart, Joanie receives life
changing news from her husband which will alter the group, Carmen must deal
with the hurt, betrayal and end of her marriage and Diana just may learn to
open her heart to a new relationship and love.
This is my favorite Carolyn Brown book to date. Keep the
tissues handy for not only sad, but happy tears. I read this in one sitting
because I just had to know the resolution of all of “The Empty Nesters”. This
book deals with so many stages of life and love. It also shows each character
dealing with what life dishes out to them and how they cope with the help of
their friendship. I felt the dialogue, the emotions and the trials and triumphs
were realistically written and handled by Ms. Brown. Each of the women as a
character is unique and yet they mesh so well together.
I highly recommend The Empty Nesters!
***
Title: The Empty Nesters
Author: Carolyn Brown
Release Date: August 20, 2019
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Summary
Dear friends and army
wives Diana, Carmen, and Joanie have been through war, rumors of war, marital
problems, motherhood, fears, joy, and heartache. But none of the women are
prepared when their daughters decide to enlist in the army together. Facing an empty
nest won’t be easy. Especially for Carmen. With emotions already high, she
suffers an even greater blow: divorce papers. Diana understands the fury and
tears. She’s been there.
With nothing to lose and
no one at home, the girlfriends impulsively accept an unexpected offer from
their elderly neighbor. The recently widowed Tootsie has an RV, a handsome
nephew at the wheel, and an aim for tiny Scrap, Texas, to embrace memories of her
late husband. Still grieving, she can use the company as a balm for her broken
heart. So can the empty nesters.
Embarking on a journey of hope, romance, and healing, Diana, Carmen, and Joanie are at a turning point in their lives. And with the open road ahead of them, it’s just the beginning.
***
Author Biography
Carolyn
Brown is a New York Times, USA Today, Publisher’s
Weekly, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author and a
RITA finalist with more than ninety published books. Her genres include
romance, history, cowboys and country music, and contemporary mass-market
paperbacks. She and her husband live in the small town of Davis, Oklahoma,
where everyone knows everyone else, knows what they are doing and when . . .
and reads the local newspaper every Wednesday to see who got caught. They have
three grown children and enough grandchildren to keep them young. Visit Carolyn
at www.carolynbrownbooks.com.
