Tropes: second chance romance; single dad; single mom; widow; divorced dad
Two days out, and I am still reveling in Kristen Ashley’s Making the Match. Here’s the thing: I am loving the River Rain series. It’s a combination of older MMC/FMCs and younger ones. It feels multi-generational, and the cast of characters is as compelling as Ashley’s Rock Chicks/MMC/Dream Man/Dream Team series. Writing a world of characters so interesting that they feel real to you is Kristen Ashley’s superpower.
It was intriguing to enter Tom’s story. He cheated on Genny, and we should hate him. Right? Except Ashley is astute about marital issues. Decided in her characterization of him, Ashley makes it clear that his cheating is an exception, not the rule. And it’s complicated by the reality of his marriage to Genny. Tom doesn’t blame Genny for his indiscretion, but he expounds upon the complications of their marriage. For me, this was my favorite part of the book beyond Tom and Mika’s coupling. Marriage is hard, and it is easy to be derailed because both people are human. Ashley articulates this beautifully and deftly throughout Tom’s journey.
Make no mistake. You will leave this story having fallen hard for Tom and Mika even while grieving the loss of Genny and Tom together. I felt that indelibly as I was reading Making the Match. I adore Tom and Mika together. He’s a wonderful human, worthy of Mika’s love. Mike is a compassionate empath who truly sees Tom in a way that he’s never seen before. Except for some missteps early in their pairing, Tom and Mika are fated, and they steal a piece of your soul.
There are ideas about grief and acceptance, marriage and divorce, along with the humanity of people in relationships. There are characters upon characters in Making the Match that will make you smile, cry, and grow angry. I could live in Kristen Ashley’s River Rain series for a long, long time because each new chapter excites me for the future of this series.
You should really start at the beginning of this series with After the Climb to understand the impact of this story on this world. To me, Kristen Ashley is a gifted storyteller with the capacity to weave magic into her characters and her stories. Please don’t miss out on Tom and Mika, but read the others first.
You don’t get to make decisions for me, Mr. Pierce.” “You’re wrong, baby. I do.”
Making the Match, an all-new spicy, heartfelt and emotional second chance standalone romance in the River Rain Series from New York Times bestselling author Kristen Ashley, is available now!
If you love second chance, single parent romance, pining, a couple over 40, redemption and forgiveness, this is the book for you.
Decades ago, tennis superstar Tom Pierce and “It Girl” Mika Stowe met at a party.
Mika fell in love. Tom was already in love with his wife. As badly as Tom wanted Mika as a friend, Mika knew it would hurt too much to be attracted to this amazing man and never be able to have him.
They parted ways for what they thought would be forever, only to reconnect just once, when unspeakable tragedy darkens Mika’s life.
Years later, the impossible happens.
A time comes when they’re both unattached.
But now Tom has made a terrible mistake. A mistake so damaging to the ones he loves, he feels he’ll never be redeemed.
Mika has never forgotten how far and how fast she fell when she met him, but Tom’s transgression is holding her distant from reaching out.
There are matchmakers in their midst, however.
And when the plot has been unleashed to make that match, Tom and Mika are thrown into an international intrigue that pits them against a Goliath of the sports industry.
Now they face a massive battle at the same time they’re navigating friendship, attraction, love, family, grief, redemption, two very different lives lived on two opposite sides of a continent and a box full of kittens.
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 recently released GOSSAMER IN THE DARKNESs, a novella with 1,001 Dark Nights based in Kristen’s Fantasyland universe. In September 2022, she’ll publish the fourth in the River Rain Series, the story of Tom and Mika, MAKING THE MATCH. She also has upcoming books in her Wild West MC romance series, and her romantic thriller series, Misted Pines. 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: http://www.KristenAshley.net
Gavin Leonard is the worst. He lives in the best party house off campus at Valley U, overrun by jocks galore. I live next door, watching Jane Austen adaptations with my sketchbook in hand. He stays on his side of the fence. I stay on mine. Now we’re accidentally on a camping trip together, but there’s only one tent left.
Gavin Leonard is the worst. And he’s the last guy who broke my heart.
Download today on Apple Books, Amazon, Audible, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, Kobo!
Rebecca Jenshak is a USA Today bestselling author of new adult and sports romance. She writes sexy, feel-good stories with lots of swoon-worthy moments.
Rebecca lives in Arizona. When she isn’t writing, you can find her cheering on local sports teams, hanging out with friends and family, or curled up with a good book.
Tropes: insta-attraction; opposites attract; intelligent strong FMC; cinnamon roll MMC; single dad; found family
There is a predictability to Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland’s romances. It isn’t what you think, though. There is a guarantee that you will love their stories as they craft engaging characters, stories that take turns into the unexpected, and happy endings that make you either swoon or tear up in happiness. Over and over again, their stories are successful based solely on reader reviews and interest.
What is most predictable about their stories, about a book such as their newest one, The Rules of Dating, is to expect the unexpected. Time and time again, you will read the blurb and think you have the story figured out before you enter it. What you find out quickly is the blurb is their hook, their means to grab your attention and entice you to buy their story. And it works every time. It isn’t until you enter their romance that you realize nothing is as it truly seems. You start down a guaranteed path and quickly find yourself reading a different journey than you expected. It’s my favorite part of their storytelling. There’s a feeling of surprise in every book.
There are two key truths about The Rules of Dating that make it appealing for romance readers:
Billie, the FMC, is worthy of worship.
Colby is a simp for Billie and rightfully so
I love an independent, intelligent, emotionally insightful FMC. The moment noted in the blurb for Ward and Keeland’s story comes to fruition, and it makes you chuckle as Billie stands against cheating men. However, there is depth and gravity to Billie’s characterization, and you simply can’t help but adore her.
As such, from the moment they meet, Colby is sold on her. What transpires is a game of cat-and-mouse in which Colby does everything to be near or with Billie. His ingenuity in wooing her creates some of the best moments of the story. He’s everything a romance reader adores about an MMC: driven, compassionate, and a caring, loving father. And he absolutely beyond any doubt adores Billie. This eventually turns Billie’s heart toward him.
And then, Ward and Keeland hit their readers with a one-two punch from the game of life, leveling up the angst of the story. Honestly, the inciting moment of The Rules of Dating is a bit of a surprise which is part of the predictability of Ward and Keeland’s storytelling.
Add to all of this a found family group on both Billie’s and Colby’s sides that adds humor, advice, and support to Billie and Colby’s story.
Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland’s The Rules of Dating is an emotional, enticing book. There were times when I stepped away from it because I was set on Billie and Colby’s happy ending. When that finally comes in this book, it will make you tear up. Quite frankly, this is a book you don’t want to miss.
Jewel is a Wall Street Journal & USA Today bestselling author with a quirky sense of humor. When she’s not saving the planet one tree at a time, you can find her role modeling questionable behavior to her three boys, binge-watching Netflix with her husband, and writing mind-bending romance.
It all started when I hosted a little party for a bunch of new friends.
Though “friends” might not be the right word since the invitees were all the women I’d found out my boyfriend was talking to behind my back. When the guest of honor walked in—aka my now ex—things took a turn…
Unfortunately, a stranger witnessed the whole blowout. I was in a mood that night and ended up giving this gorgeous guy an attitude, too. As if my night could get any worse, before he stormed off, he informed me he was actually my landlord.
Colby Lennon, along with three of his friends, owned the building where my tattoo shop was located. He and I were total opposites. He wore a tie, oozed confidence that came with years of women falling at his feet, and wasn’t afraid to say what he wanted, which lately—was me.
I hated that I found myself attracted to him. Especially since I was supposed to be on a self-imposed dating hiatus. Yet the two of us couldn’t seem to stay away from each other. We started hanging out, as friends. I even went as far as making rules for what he’d dubbed our “undates.”
But eventually, our explosive attraction became too much to bear, and we broke our resolve. I let my guard down and started to really fall for Colby.
Nothing could have prepared me for the ride he took me on. And I certainly wasn’t prepared for where I’d wind up when the ride was over.
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 over two million books sold, she is a 21-time New York Times bestseller and the author of over thirty novels. Her books have been translated into over a dozen languages and can be found in bookstores around the world.
Vi Keeland is a #1 New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author. With millions of books sold, her titles are currently translated in twenty-seven languages and have appeared on bestseller lists in the US, Germany, Brazil, Bulgaria and Hungary. Three of her short stories have been turned into films by Passionflix, and two of her books are currently optioned for movies. She resides in New York with her husband and their three children where she is living out her own happily ever after with the boy she met at age six.
Those biceps that look like they were cut from marble.
Okay, maybe I’m not over him being shirtless.
Chase Marshall is a single dad with a daughter to love, so fighting with me shouldn’t be a priority. But he can’t seem to stay away.
The lingering looks when he thinks I’m not watching.
The seemingly innocent touches while making breakfast.
The smirks gracing his lips after I’m irritated by his antics.
He’s ridiculously sweet to his daughter. I even catch glimpses of how charming he could be to me—if he wanted to.
But that’s the problem. He acts like he doesn’t want to. That he doesn’t want me.
He does. It’s in the innuendos, the way he places his hand in the small of my back—the almost kisses while we’re putting away groceries. The way he comes running when I see a spider and checks on me before he goes to bed. Even if he does grumble about it.
I might not be totally over my boss, but I’m going to make him think I am.
Let’s see how frustrated Mr. Marshall gets now.
From USA Today Bestselling author Adriana Locke comes a grumpy/sunshine, blue-collar single dad, nanny romance. This small-town romance is a standalone novel with tons heat and even more heart.
More Than I Could is a standalone in the Coming Home series where one author a month will be delivering a brand-new story about coming home.
About the Author:
USA Today and Washington Post bestselling author Adriana Locke lives and breathes books. After years of slightly obsessive relationships with the flawed bad boys created by other authors, Adriana has created her own.
She resides in the Midwest with her husband, sons, and two dogs. She spends a large amount of time playing with her kids, drinking coffee, and cooking. You can find her outside if the weather’s nice and there’s always a piece of candy in her pocket.
Saffron A. Kent is a USA Today Bestselling Author of Contemporary and New Adult romance.
She has an MFA in Creative Writing and she lives in New York City with her nerdy and supportive husband, along with a million and one books.
She also blogs. Her musings related to life, writing, books and everything in between can be found in her JOURNAL on her website (www.thesaffronkent.com)
To learn more about Saffron and her books, visit here!
No Time to Lie, an exciting second chance romance in the Masters and Mercenaries: Reloaded Series from New York Times bestselling author Lexi Blake is out now!
Drake Radcliffe has spent half his life in the shadows. Recruited by the CIA when he was barely out of high school, Drake doesn’t know how to have a normal life. While most people his age were playing sports or video games, he was playing spy games with the world’s most dangerous adversaries. It has been a life filled with thrills and adrenaline, but it’s also been lonely. All that might change when a mistake from Drake’s past rears its ugly head and he’s forced to face the only woman he ever loved—the one he’d vowed to stay away from.
A beacon of love and compassion
Taylor Cline committed the cardinal sin in her world—she fell for another operative. Drake was everything she wanted in a man, until he broke her heart. She had one unforgettable night with him and then he never looked back. Her future threatened and family in ruins, she shut down and moved on, hoping to never see him again. Just as she is beginning to put it all behind her, a critical assignment puts her under his authority and right back in his arms.
A deadly mission that brings them together
From the wilds of Wyoming to the glittering cities of Europe, Drake and Taylor must race against time to uncover the truth and expose an evil organization. The stakes couldn’t be higher. If they fail, the world could crumble. If they succeed, they could finally have everything their hearts desire.
Drake’s attention was completely focused on her. “I think I want to be honest and upfront with you. I’m attracted to you, Taylor, and I think you feel the same.”
She felt a jolt of heat power through her. “Even if I was, I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“Can I ask why?”
She didn’t sense any threat from him. With any man who hit on her, she had to assess the potential of him taking rejection poorly. She didn’t think Drake was one of those guys. The last couple of days had made her comfortable with him. “I don’t think it’s smart to get involved with someone I work with.”
“You don’t work with me. From what you’ve said, you won’t be with the Agency for much longer.”
“Yes, and you will be,” she pointed out.
A thoughtful expression came over his face. “That’s kind of what makes it workable in my mind. I can’t tell anyone what I do. That makes for difficult relationships. You already know, and it won’t surprise you that I don’t talk about my work. You won’t get upset if I have to be gone for a couple of weeks without notice. I have a hard time making connections to people, but it was easy with you. Even if you’re not interested in me in a physical way, I hope we can be…friends.” He said the word like it didn’t quite make sense to him. Like it was a foreign word on his tongue.
There was no way for her to deny the electricity between them. She wasn’t sure she even wanted to. That inner voice kept getting stronger.
What would be the harm in seeing if it could work? You might get an orgasm or two out of it. He’s not saying he’s going to walk at the end. He’s actually saying he wants to see you outside this cabin. Why not try?
She was a careful woman. She’d learned that lesson from watching her father throw himself into deadly situations again and again.
But what was she risking? He was right. It was hard for her to connect. She’d had a couple of boyfriends over the years, and she had to hold back so much of herself to even have a chance at making the relationship work. She couldn’t talk about what her father did, couldn’t mention her own work. Wouldn’t it be refreshing to have no secrets between them?
“Did I make you uncomfortable?” Drake asked. “Because we can pretend like I didn’t say anything. This snow is going to stop soon, and I should be out of here in a couple of days.”
She reached for his hand. “You didn’t make me uncomfortable. I’m glad you were honest with me. The last couple of days have been…nice.”
A slow smile spread across his face, and he threaded his fingers through hers. “Nice? Awful sexual tension is nice to you?”
“I wouldn’t say awful. Anticipation can be fun.” It was good to know she hadn’t been the only one who felt the heat between them.
“Are you saying yes?” Drake asked.
Did she want to let him walk out of here and never know what it felt like to be in his arms? They’d been thrown together for a reason. It couldn’t be some random thing that they’d met again. She would hate herself if she didn’t give it a shot.
In a couple of months she would be out of this life and might be able to find some kind of normalcy. Maybe it was time to take a chance.
“Yes,” she said.
“Then come here and let me kiss you and tell you how the night’s going to go,” he said in a commanding tone.
Her whole body responded. She moved, standing and twisting so she sat on his lap. “How is my night going to go, Drake?”
One big hand cupped the nape of her neck while his other arm wound around her waist. “Let’s find out.”
About Lexi Blake
New York Times bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband and three kids. Since starting her publishing journey in 2010, she’s sold over three million copies of her books. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance novels that she found success. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings.
The Revenge is the taut, edgy, sexy, explosive conclusion to The Insiders trilogy by New York Times and USA Today bestseller Tijan!
Bailey and Kash were used to living in the shadows. Now they are thrust into the public eye. Together, they can do anything, but undeniable danger and seemingly insurmountable challenges threaten the love and passion that binds them.
1. Bailey is reeling from the greatest loss she has ever suffered.
2. Enemies are closing in.
3. Even bigger secrets and twists are coming to light.
Win or lose, for Bailey and Kash, everything is on the line.
I didn’t recognize the night guard, but he straightened from the wall where he was positioned when I stepped into the hallway.
“Where is he?” I asked, before he could say anything.
His hands came together in front of him and he stood even taller. He nodded forward. “In the basement gym, ma’am.”
Ma’am.
I grinned at that, literally hearing Chrissy chuckling next to me. “You’re just like me now, girly. Ma’am. What a hoot.”
Yeah. A hoot.
I padded past him and headed for the elevator that went past the main section of the house. Going inside, I hit the basement floor, and there were two guards waiting for me.
I paused, seeing Josh as he was eyeing me. “Don’t you ever sleep?”
He grinned. “I sleep when your man sleeps.”
I narrowed my eyes.
His grin deepened. “So that’s rarely, ma’am.”
I bared my teeth. “Don’t you start with that ‘ma’am’ shit.”
He just laughed. “Would never entertain the thought, ma—”
I growled.
He amended, still chuckling, “Bailey.”
I scoffed, “Better.”
If anyone had asked me where the gym was on the Chesapeake estates, I wouldn’t have had a clue. I would’ve rolled my eyes and said something sarcastic like, “Of course there’s a gym; it’s alongside the Olympic-sized pool,” but now I knew exactly where it was, and it was right next to an Olympic-sized pool, though the pool was only two lanes wide. It wasn’t built for playing and horsing around, not like the pool outside, which had a complete slide with it.
Heading farther toward the gym, I was shocked to not hear sounds of grunting and punching from inside. Instead, the door to the pool was open.
“He had some extra energy to work off.”
I glanced sideways, not having heard Josh walking beside me.
“I honestly don’t think he’s human.”
Josh’s mouth twitched. “You might be on to something, Bailey.”
We came to the door and he stepped forward, checking the room before nodding for me to go ahead. I stepped inside, feeling the humidity and breathing in the chlorine before I noticed Josh shutting the door. A second later, I met his gaze through the door’s window, and he gave me another polite smile before pressing a button. The window frosted over.
Looking to the corner, I saw the camera’s light switch from green to red. Josh was giving us complete privacy, and only when that was all done did I seek out where Kash was. He was at the far end, turning, flipping, and coming up a few paces away, heading my way. I went to the edge and sat down, putting my feet in the water.
I didn’t have long to wait, enjoying the view as Kash’s arms were cutting through the water, his shoulders and biceps bulging from the motion.
I forgot how he was a fish in water.
His head was perfectly in alignment with his shoulders, and every fourth arm swing he raised his mouth up for air and went back down. He went past me. I thought he was going to keep going, but at the last second, his hand snaked out. He latched on to my ankle and tugged me into the water.
I shrieked before I was eating chlorine. “Agh!”
He grinned, the water pulsating between us, and he maneuvered me back until I was against the pool wall. “What are you doing down here?” His eyes were alert, taking me in as he placed both hands on either side of me, trapping me.
The buoyancy kept me floating, but then Kash was moving his legs under me and I was completely resting over him. My legs straddled his, and he hooked one ankle around the other, tugging me to open even wider for him.
Heat flared in me, boiling my blood, but when I thought Kash would bend his head, finding my throat, he didn’t. He moved his head back, sinking so he was on the same eye level as me, and he tugged at his sweatshirt. “Nice shirt.”
I grinned, feeling a laziness intertwining with the warmth in me. “It was this or a robe. This was closer.”
“Really?”
I nodded, enjoying the teasing look in his eyes. It was dark, but it was there. “Really.” My voice hitched on a soft sigh with that one. He grew sober, his head moving back so he could take me in more fully. “You look good.” His eyebrows dipped down. “You look like you again.” His hand moved, and he touched a wet finger beside my eye. “I see you again.”
My throat swelled up, my chest filled with an ache that was bittersweet.
“Woke up.”
“I can see that.” His head cocked to the side, but he didn’t say anything further. He was still holding me in place, and as he settled back, I knew he was waiting for me. He was waiting for whatever I was going to say or do, for whatever path I was going to put us on because that’s what I felt in that moment.
I was awake.
I said, “I know you’ve been waiting for me.”
That somber expression settled back on him and his hand went back to the pool wall, trapping me in again.
“I’ll never forget what they did to her, what he did to her, but I wasn’t myself. You gave me that time. You knew I would come back to me and I did. I’m here. Me. And I’m ready for the next chapter.”
Hunger licked my insides, lighting that fire again.
It grew, jumping up, and it was engulfing me.
I sunk down on Kash’s legs, and the higher that blaze built in me, the more I wanted him. But I wanted more.
I wanted blood.
About Tijan
Tijan is a New York Times Bestselling author that writes suspenseful and unpredictable novels. Her characters are strong, intense, and gut-wrenchingly real with a little bit of sass on the side. Tijan began writing later in life and once she started, she was hooked. She’s written multi-bestsellers including the Carter Reed Series, the Fallen Crest Series, and the Broken and Screwed Series among others. She is currently writing a new series from north Minnesota where she lives with an English Cocker she adores.
Professor Romance 