Blog Tour: The Sweetheart Sham by Danielle Ellison

The Sweetheart Sham

Author: Danielle Ellison
Publisher: Entangled: Crush
Series: Southern Charmed #1
Pages: Kindle Edition, 1st edition, 211 pages
Genre: YA
Release Date: December 4th, 2017

Summary:

In a small town like Culler, South Carolina, you guard your secrets like you guard your cobbler recipe: with your life. Georgia Ann Monroe knows a thing or two about secrets: she’s been guarding the truth that her best friend Will is gay for years now. But what happens when a little white lie to protect him gets her into a fake relationship...and then the boy of her dreams shows up?

Enter Beau Montgomery: Georgie’s first love, hotter than ever, and much too much of a southern gentleman to ever pursue someone else’s girl. There’s no way to come clean to Beau while still protecting Will. But bless their hearts, they live in Culler—where secrets always have a way of revealing themselves.

Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush book contains a hilarious “fakeship,”a scorching-hot impossible relationship, and a heartwarming best-friendship that will make you want to call your best friend right here, right now.

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Review:

I loved this so much!
The Sweetheart Sham is a beautiful coming of age story about love, faith, and courage.
It's a story about moving on from past mistakes and accepting the people we love most. A story about a small southern town with all its charm and quirkiness.
Simply beautiful and heartwarming.

I am in love with the book. But actually, no that's not right. I am in love with the characters.
If we look at the storyline, it's nice. It was wonderful to read. But not something super exciting. It's paced just right, there were no big surprises. It doesn't need that, however. It was a love story alright. But the story isn't just about the love between Georgie and Beau. But it's about all kinds of different love. So the relationship dramas, while I liked the swoony parts a lot, it was secondary.

The writing style is simply on point. It's a bit soppy at times- (hello I am still me cold-hearted as ever! lol) - but just the right amount of it. It is an ode to having faith in love.
As Beau puts it:
"Something I'm learning is that love requires faith"
In a nutshell, that is what the book is about. A group of friends learning to have faith in each other and their family. Plus the super hot basketball player to swoon over

This thrives on the character-building. I want more of Culler and it's residents. soon, please? I have no idea where Ellison is going next with the series. I have some ideas.. but well, I don't even care. I just would like more of Culler.
The whole book is written from Beau and Georgie's POV, there are also back flashes thrown in. And it took the last interlude of the past to actually get why Georgie acted the way she did through half of the book. I kept thinking, she is so self-involved. And she was that and drama queen at times as well. But then who isn't at that age? In the beginning, I wasn't a huge fan of her. But she grew quickly on me. She is very loyal and honest. A strong female lead, learning to find balance and to see others situation. I love her relationship with Layla. By the way can we please get a book with Layla? She is such an interesting character (I would love to see her with Jack for some reason lol)
Beau is swoony. Like seriously. All broody, yet super sweet. He is so honest, so set to do the right thing. I could totally relate to his fears, his hurt and his insecurities. But he isn't just hot and all that. The best part is how he changes in this book, how he accepts that sometimes people make mistakes. It was heartbreaking and moving to see the change in his relationship with his dad.
The relationship between Will and Georgie is priceless. I love the trio and their bond. In fact, I liked the whole gang. I like the easy camaraderie, but more than that, their teasing and yet their support for each other.
Then there are the families... well I could go on. Let me just say, the character building is brilliant. Ellison brought interesting and intricate characters to life with her writing. I feel like I got to know Culler, it's quirky history and surroundings, but most of all its residents. And I want more!

So definitely a must read.
And when is the next book coming out?
4.5 I want so much more of this stars

Rating: 

Excerpt:

“Beau Montgomery, what on earth!” someone, I think it’s Will’s mom, says with a squeal. I can’t single it out because my heart seems to stop beating.

Everyone scoots toward the patio entrance and gathers around. Will drops my hand to move closer.

And then I see him.

He’s standing behind Mrs. M next to his dad, a big smile on his face, and he’s tall. Real tall. His dark hair is longer and nearly falling into his hazel eyes, definitely a length that Orry won’t like much. His jaw is strong, some muscles pressing under his polo. He looks nothing like the boy I remember.

And suddenly I’m a little self-conscious. What am I wearing today? I can’t even remember. I could look down but that would mean looking away from him, and thenmaybe when I look back he won’t be there. I don’t know if he even sees me, but I see him. Clearly. After more than twoyears of nothing.

“Beau, is that you, boy?” Orry calls. Beau steps around the rest of the family toward his grandpa. He’s closer now, and I can get a better look at his face. My eyes explore his features and rest on his lips, which break out into a small smile and—Dang, is it hot out here?

“Hello, Granddad.” Orry pulls him into a hug and Beau has to lean over to reach him properly. Orry looks like a kid in his arms.

Cheese and rice, even his voice is sexy. Deeper but still with a familiar feeling that it stirs up in me, and an accent with a hint of Georgia twang instead of South Carolina

cadence.

I like it. Lord help me, I like it.

Orry holds him out at arm’s length and examines him before giving him a pat on the shoulder. “You look more like your daddy than I expected. How tall are you?”

“Six one, sir,” Beau says.

“You look good, grandson, real good. Atlanta treating you well?”

“Yes, sir, it is.”

I want to move, but I can’t. My feet are stuck to the ground, not that I should move anyway. I don’t reckon I trust myself around him. Especially not right now when I’m not sure if I want to hug him or kick him somewhere that would hurt. I’d do a good job of it too and make darn sure my kick was as painful as him not showing up that night.

“When’s your momma coming?” Mrs. M asks him.

“Not until closer to the wedding,” he says.

I watch as Will hugs him. They’re both smiling, and it reminds me of before when he was here. They were inseparable—we were—and now I’m just standing here like an idiot. Which I am. Will looks in my direction, and then Beau’s eyes are on me, too. It’s even worse when he’s looking at me, especially now with a hidden glimmer in them. It’s not how he said hello to the others; it’s almost like his eyes hadn’t seen me before, and now he’s hyperaware. Just like I’ve been since his dad yelled his name.

He takes a step toward me.

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Blog Tour: Heartbreak Cure by Amanda Ashby

The Heartbreak Cure

Author:  Amanda Ashby
Publisher: Entangled: Crush
Pages: Kindle Edition, 144 pages
Genre: YA
Release Date: December 4th 2017

Summary:

How to get over a heartbreak:

Step one: Eat your body weight in brownies.

Step two: Throw yourself into your dreams of becoming a famous writer.

Step three: Beg your (hottie) ex-neighbor to act as your fake boyfriend.

Step four: Skip step three unless you’re ready for some serious fallout.

After being dumped and humiliated over the summer, Cat Turner does what any sane girl would do. She asks bad boy Alex Locke to be her fake boyfriend and show the world (and her editor at the school newspaper) that she's fine. Problem is, the more time she spends with Alex, the more she risks getting her heart broken. For real this time.

Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush book contains a swoony bad boy who will melt your heart, brownies, and witty banter. One, two, or all three might prove addictive...

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About the Author:

Amanda Ashby was born in Australia but now lives in New Zealand where she writes romance, young adult and middle grade books. She also works in a library, owns far too many vintage tablecloths and likes to delight her family by constantly rearranging the furniture. She has a degree in English and Journalism from the University of Queensland and is married with two children. Her debut book was nominated for a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice award, and her first young adult book was listed by the New York Public Libraryʼs Stuff for the Teen Age.  Because she’s mysterious she also writes middle grade books under the name, Catherine Holt and hopes that all this writing won’t interfere with her Netflix schedule.

Website • Facebook • Pinterest • Instagram • Goodreads

Review:

The Heartbreak Cure started off with what looked your classic bestie to pretend lovers to the real thing storyline. Your classic cute and fluffy it seemed.
I was quite content with that. If you would have asked me around halfway in, what I thought, I would have told you very swoony cute & fluffy, very predictable and really enjoyable.
And then it took a turn. So suddenly this is more than a cute & fluffy. And I still love it.
But while The Heartbreak Cure did somehow manage to breach the cliff from cute & fluffy and thoughtful & heartbreaking, it seems like it can't decide what it is. Funny that I should fault that, but somehow, it felt unfulfilled.
Well, not the storyline mind you, it's cute, at times predictable and yet very enjoyable.
But the actual novel, the feel of it. I mean I liked the fluff for the first 70something percent and I liked the fluff ending as well. I really enjoyed the more serious parts. I loved how Alex and Cat, both come to the conclusion that not all is what it seems. I like that they are both somewhat mopey teens with a strong backbone. But somehow the fluff ending didn't make me feel all swoony because my heart was just dragged through the trenches and the issues Ashby highlighted weren't so simple to let go of. It was too sweet in the end, too fluffy. Somehow I feel there could have been more here. I was given a hint of more and then it was just brushed away.

The writing style is my least favorite part of the novel. It's okay, but at times it felt a bit wooden. Some phrases are just a bit too much of the usual usual. I am being very critical here, as always when it comes to writing style. While the style might not have been my favorite, it didn't detract from how much I liked the book.. clearly.

The character building, on the other hand, was my favorite. I adore Alex. Cat in all her sometimes drama queen teen glory is super sweet. I could relate to her and identify with her. The two MC's feel real, their fears and worries realistic. I could relate and I feel like I know them, more importantly, I felt with them. Their chemistry is tangible. Very cute couple indeed.
The support cast was interesting as well. Some of the characters were are first glance a bit of the usual typecast, but as we get to know them they do get more unique. I like that Ashby took a set of given ideas and characters and made them her own.

Very enjoyable, at times surprising and very sweet cute & fluffy with a pinch of depth thrown in for good measure. A must-read for lovers of the genre.


Rating: 

Excerpt:

“Please don’t tell my mom that one. She doesn’t need any more bad puns to put on her cards,” Cat said as Alex’s cell phone buzzed. He read the text message before looking up.

“You could tell her yourself—or not tell her, as the case might be. She wants you to call her.”

“What?” Cat said in surprise before dragging out her own phone and staring at the dead screen. She’d obviously played one too many games on it during math. “How did she even get your number?”

He shrugged. “I guess Joe gave it to her.”

“Oh.” It seemed Cat wasn’t the only forgetting Alex wasn’t her real boyfriend.

The darkening afternoon sky was a spectrum of blues as he held up his cell. “You can use mine.”

“Thanks.” She took the handset. The screen was cracked, and there was a fine coat of grease on the keys. She grinned at his screen saver, which was of Snoopy dressed up as the Red Baron. “Frozen and now Snoopy? I always knew you had a marshmallow heart.”

“Yeah. I’m a total softie,” his voice was light, but his knuckles whitened. Cat winced. Franklin had tarred and feathered him with the same brush they’d used for his parents. The worst thing was he seemed to believe it, too. Frustration gnawed at her chest.

How I am the only one who can see how amazing he really is?

Her mom answered on the second ring and explained she’d been held up in a sales meeting and it was going to run for another two hours, which meant she couldn’t pick Cat from school.

“It’s fine. I’ll hitch a ride with Nikki,” Cat said, promising to charge up her cell phone, eat some vegetables with her dinner, and on no account throw a house party.

“You’ll never guess what just happened.” Nikki came running outside, her eyes glowing and her cheeks bright.

“Mackenzie fell into a vat of glitter?” Cat suggested. “Or glue?” Alex added.

“Wrong. Parker just asked me if I wanted to grab a burger with him. Well, he said you guys could come, but I told him you were busy. Right. Right?” Nikki narrowed her gaze so there could be no misunderstandings.

“Right,” she agreed with a smile before recalling her transport predicament. “Go, have fun, and don’t tell him about the time you beat your brothers up. It will only scare him.”

“Duh.” Nikki grinned and went racing over to Parker, who was nervously chewing his lip.

“I can give you a lift,” Alex said once they were alone.

“Are you sure? I feel like every day I impose on you more,” she said, achingly aware of how close they were standing.

“What kind of fake boyfriend would leave his girl stranded?” He shrugged.

His girl.

His. Girl.

She tested out the words like a new flavor. Her body trembled in response and she nodded. “Okay, great.”

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Review: Saving It by Monica Murphy

Saving It

Author: Monica Murphy
Publisher: Entangled: Crush
Pages: ebook, 241 pages)
Genre: YA
Release Date: November 6th 2017

Summary:

Eden: Josh Evans and I have been best friends forever. He knows all my secrets, and I know all of his. So when he randomly asks me to help him lose his virginity, I sort of flip out. That’s a question that sends your mind to places you’ve seriously never considered before. Like, you know. Having sex. With your best friend. Except Josh doesn’t want to have sex with me—he wants me to help him find a girl. A nice girl who’s funny and smart and cute. Except he already knows a girl just like that…

Josh: Eden Sumner is my best friend. So of course she’d be the person to help me find my perfect match, so I can drop my V card before I head off to college. Except the more we search, the more I realize that maybe the right girl has been by my side all along. I don’t need Eden’s help in finding me a girl to love. I’m pretty sure I’m already in love with Eden. But now she thinks I’m only after one thing…with anyone but her.

Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush book is what happens when American Pie meets Friends with Benefits. It contains two best friends, plenty of angst, and lots and lots of sex talk. Reading this might have you looking at your best friend in a different light!

Review:


A super cute story about best friends discovering they might feel more for each other.

The story line is classic cute & fluffy. It has all the ups & downs required for a YA romance, the usual usual dramas but also the usual cutness.
The reason I liked this however: the character building. Especially Josh and his POV! He is super cute, funny and yummy BBF if you ask me. I enjoyed also getting to see his vulnerable side, his insecurities and also his internal battles. I really enjoyed the banter between Eden and Josh. Also their history and strong connection.
Eden is a strong female lead, who is really likable. I got her insecurities but also loved her quirkiness.
Also a factor I like about Eden, she is clear as what she wants but doesn't judge other about their actions. It's actually refreshing, because while most people don't slut shame openly, they somehow do. And on the flipside, if someone wants to "save it" it is considered rather old fashioned. Murphy takes a do what is right for stand and I love the way she did it. No judgement. Just stating different opinions.
The support cast is fun and does a good job at giving insight to Josh and Eden. I liked the way the friends supported each other, how they all want the best for each other. The love and care they have for each other, even beyond arguments and disagreements felt real and solid.

My only negative thing is the plot was too much the usual. I mean did we really need a big disagreement at 75%? The big swoony moment, though I did find the idea cute, made me cringe because it was done in public. Why? Couldn't he just do it in private? Same thing but just the two of them?
Also the issues that were built up during the whole book, felt a bit to conviniently solved. Again, I didn't mind the solution, but after all this stuff happens, everything just fell into place in a few pages. It made it feel rushed. Especially the issues between Josh and his dad.
I wish Murphy would have explored all the issues a bit more, given this a wee bit more depth..
The end super cute. I loved it. Honestly super cute & fluffy HEA, but I was swoony happy.

Cute & very enjoyable read.

Rating: 

Blog Tour: THE FIRST KISS HYPOTHESIS BY CHRISTINA MANDELSKI

The First Kiss Hypothesis

Author: Christina Mandelski
Publisher: Entangled: Crush
Genre: YA
Release Date: November 6th 2017

Summary:

Nora Reid believes scientific laws control everything, even love. With her grandparents’epic first kiss story cemented in her brain, Nora develops a hypothesis she’s determined to prove:for each person in the world, there is exactly one other person, and at first kiss, they’ll experience an immediate and intense reaction.

But after four years of zero-reaction kisses, she comes up with a new theory: maybe that pesky crush on her stunningly hot best friend Eli Costas is skewing her results.

She needs to get rid of him, and fast.

Eli Costas is an injury-prone lacrosse star with a problem—the one chance he had at winning over the girl next door resulted in the most epically sucktastic first kiss ever. And now she’s...trying to get rid of him? Hell no. It’s time to disprove her theory and show her exactly what she’s missing.

Game. On.

Disclaimer: This book contains a stunningly hot lacrosse player who isn’t above playing dirty to win over the stubborn girl-next-door of his dreams.

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Review:

The First Kiss Hypothesis is a perfect cute & fluffy. It has a interesting, sporty & sweet hero and a fun, intelligent, likable heroine.
This is the first novel I read by Madelski, I really enjoyed her writing style and her wit. While she doesn't dwell too much on issues, she does dig deep enough to give it some weight. It's not just fluff, there is a wee bit more to this.
The story line is swoony, sweet and fun. I mean the outcome is kinda clear. But the ride there is thoroughly enjoyable.
The past part however for me was the character building. I loved the dual POV. I like Nora. Though until about halfway or so, I couldn't relate to her stupid outlandish theory. But with time, I could see her fears, and not only got where she was coming from I related to her. My heart broke for her...
Eli? Well I simply adore him. He is just what I would want in a book boy friend (if we talking 17yr olds lol) Hot, a sporty, sweet, insightful (most of the time, when he isn't clueless like every male out there) passionate and funny. I loved his POV. Totally fangirling here. He had me from the get-go. And while there were moments, where I thought, why doesn't he bloody do something, I am a fan. I am swooning.
Now having done my fangirling act, let's take a quick look why this isn't a 5Star book for me:
I like that it is in some ways unique- but let's face it it's your classic cute & fluffy mostly. Very very enjoyable, but no-one is re-inventing the wheel here.
Though I did like the storyline, the last couple of chapters were just too convenient. We had this huge build up and then...Boom! Everything falls into place. Done. Well actually there is the epilogue which is why this is wasn't 3.5Stars. Because let's face it, it is awesome and a great finish.

A perfect read for an autumn afternoon, when you feel like something cute & fluffy. It will make you laugh, disappeared and yearn. I don't think I was ever so desperately waiting for a kiss, like ever.

Rating: 

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Review: Taming the Rebel by Dawn Klehr

Taming the Rebel

Author: Dawn Klehr
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC (Crush)
Pages: Kindle Edition, 198 pages
Genre: YA
Release Date: August 14th 2017

Summary:

Rebel Hart should be at home taking care of her father after his breakup with his boyfriend, not tromping through the woods at summer camp. He’s had his heart broken beyond repair, and the way she sees it, there’s only one person to blame—the boyfriend’s son. So when that infuriatingly gorgeous quarterback turns up at the same camp, she plans to make him pay.
Justice Brody isn't happy about trading training camp for actual summer camp. But if he wants to stay on the football team, he has to show that he can be drama-free. He welcomes the anonymity that comes with summer camp…until he realizes the one girl who knows him better than anyone is there, too. Rebel is off-limits, impossibly beautiful…and trouble with a capital T. Still, he can’t stay away. And even as Rebel exacts her revenge, in several very embarrassing and painful ways, neither can she.

Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush book contains pranks, adult language, and kisses that will make you wish for a summer romance of your own.

Review:

This took me forever to read, simply because I found barely time to read. I was traveling on my own in Europe and Taming the Rebel was my traveling companion.
In those moments when I found time to read, I savored my time with this cute & fluffy.
And let me tell you, it's a great travel companion and a fab summer read. It was my companion in the city of love- aka Paris, I felt it was super appropriate to read about their budding romances their little adventures..I wouldn't have wanted to read anything else but something super cute.
Taming the Rebel is just that. Cute. Lighthearted. Swoony.

It's well written with a good dose of humor and alot of insight. To be honest, at first I felt a bit like Klehr is doing the let be open-minded kind of thing, when I found out about Rebel's family. I didn't mind but I didn't care for it either. But as the story went on, I actually liked how she handled the situation and how she showed Justice's struggles with it. She managed to show the difficulties he faced without being judgmental or opinionated. It was just stated. And in fact this is what endeared me to the book even more at the end. Because while, this theme is often picked up these days, I think it is seldom dealt with so elegantly and without putting the authors opinion into it. Really well done.

I adored Justice from the get go. His POV is awesome, I could connect with him instantly. Rebel, not so much. I found her extremely opinionated, though she is a stickler for being open minded, which is exactly what annoyed me. I found her hypocritical in many ways and though she claims to be open, she did only see her point of view, in my opinion.
But as the story went on, she grew on me, alot. I ended up loving them both and was invested in their story.

The story line is probably the usual usual- well except for the family situation- enemies to lovers being one themes, there are a few more popular YA themes in here. But the romance was cute and there were some super cute moments, so I didn't care that it wasn't the most inventive story out there. I might have even sighed a few times....

Tested and proved to be a great travel companion and perfect summer romance. A must read for lovers of the genre.

Rating: 

Blog Tour: The Perfectly Imperfect Match by Kendra C. Highley

The Perfectly Imperfect Match

Author: Kendra C. Highley
Publisher: Entangled Teen (Crush)
Series: Suttonville Sentinels #3
Pages: Kindle Edition, 218 pages
Genre: YA
Release Date: July 10th 2017

Summary:

Pitcher Dylan Dennings has his future all mapped out: make the minors straight out of high school, work his way up the farm system, and get called up to the majors by the time he’s twenty-three. The Plan has been his sole focus for years, and if making his dreams come true means instituting a strict “no girls” policy, so be it.

Lucy Foster, needlepoint ninja, big sister to an aspiring pitcher, and chicken advocate, likes a little mayhem. So what if she gets lost taking her brother to baseball camp…at her own high school? The pitching coach, some hotshot high school player, obviously thinks she’s a hot mess. Too bad he’s cute, because he’s so not her type.

Problem is, they keep running into each other, and every interaction sparks hotter than the last. But with Dylan’s future on the line, he has to decide whether some rules are made to be broken…

Disclaimer: This book contains a crazy night of moonlit skinny-dipping, a combustible crush, and kisses swoony enough to unwind even the most Type A athlete.

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About the Author:

Kendra C. Highley lives in north Texas with her husband and two children. She also serves as staff to four self-important and high-powered cats. This, according to the cats, is her most important job. She believes in everyday magic, extraordinary love stories, and the restorative powers of dark chocolate.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads | Amazon

Review:

sigh

So honestly, I've been thinking what I should write in this review for days and days.
Because frankly my response to the book, is a big sigh. A good one mind you, the kind of sigh that is full of contentment and swoony cute & fluffy feels.
Yeah, so basically Highley killed any logical response I am trying to come up with. It is that cute.
The Perfectly Imperfect Match is the third book in the Suttonville Sentinels series and I am pretty sure it's my favorite. I love that we get to revisit the previous books characters. It was an added bonus. But I should mention that this works as a stand-alone as well.. The support cast in this made me love the book even more, I love the different family dynamics. I adore the siblings relationships the most, though not really smooth sailing, it feels authentic and real. Having 3 sisters, being a middle child, meant I could relate to each situation. How ever while we at this, I found the brother's claims a bit annoying. I mean who owns anyone? Why even accept it? Because let's face it each person has his own place with everyone else and I think it's best one gets taught that really early in life, it saves a lot of dramas. I was very glad when that issue was settled.
Lucy and Dylan are both likeable, relatable and I adore them. I am not into baseball at all. But I understand them both a little. I was more of a rebel but I also was always driven. I think most people will be able to relate, because we all a bit of Lucy and Dylan, but more we all search for our way and try to hold to ideas of ourselves when we grow up.

The storyline is sweet and it has most of your typical cute & fluffy elements. But Highley has thrown in some cute twists and made it quite unique with some wonderful details. While I adore the story and I really enjoyed the book, my biggest issue lies in the romance. It is the reason why this is not 5stars for me as well. It was a bit, actually let's just say it as it is: It was a lot too insta for me. I completly got over it by the end but the first half, felt way too insta.

The writing style is just as expected insightful and contemporary. There is some great humor in here. But there are also some amazing, beautiful and moving descriptions. Those are my favorite part of the book and the main reason for my sighing.
I am hoping there is another book in the series, simply because they are the perfect cute and fluffy kind of read. Alas I have no clue what Highley plans to publish next, but I know I will read it.

A great book to take to the lake (or beach) with during a warm day!

Rating: 

Excerpt

Lucy watched Dylan cut through the water with a precise breaststroke. Even his swimming was neat and tidy. She slumped against the bench as he pulled himself onboard and untied the boys’ boat. He stood there, dripping, while their friends cruised away.
“Um…” He swallowed hard and wiped water out of his eyes. “Look—”
“Don’t bother.” She slumped as far as she could without falling off the bench. “I know what you meant. Just because our friends set us up doesn’t mean we have to do anything about it.”
“Hey.” He sounded irritated now. “You don’t understand, and that’s why I’m here. I’m not dating because I’m focused entirely on baseball right now. I have a shot at the minors next spring after we graduate, and I’m putting all my energy into that. It’s not you.” He rubbed his face, shifting his balance like he was going to jump out of the boat any second. “You’re…you’re…well, you’re someone I would definitely chat up under different circumstances.”
Lucy slowly sat up straighter, noticing how his ears had turned red. The little devil on her shoulder, the one that made her impulsive, talked her into pulling her shoulders back and pushing her chest out ever so slightly. Just to see what he’d do. When his eyes drifted, then snapped back to her face, she smirked a little. “Chat me up, huh? Even though you think I’m a hot mess?”
“Did I ever say that?” He crossed his arms over his life vest. “Maybe I questioned your ability to drive places, but I never said you were a mess.” “Uh huh.” She relaxed against the seat, unable to believe it. “You seemed really annoyed that I stayed for camp today. I could almost see the thought bubble over your head, ‘this one’s brought his crazy sister.’”
“I didn’t…” He squeezed his eyes shut and ground his jaw. After a deep breath, he tried again. “I just thought you were a little overprotective. Otis is nine, not two.”
“And who are you to decide that?” Lucy sat up straighter, daring him to look her over. “But, if you want, I’ll stay away from your precious camp. You better take good care of my brother, though, or we’ll have more than words, Coach Dylan.”
She sighed, furious that she’d taken the bait and engaged with this jackass. “You don’t have to stand there like you’re about to jump in the lake if I twitch in your direction. I wouldn’t touch you if you paid me.”
Dylan’s eyes narrowed. As if he was calling her bluff, he unbuckled his life vest and dropped it to the floor. Oh, shirtless boy alert.
Yep, she was right…he was cute. And cut. His blond hair was tinged gold by the setting sun, but her gaze kept straying somewhere else…somewhere tan and muscular. As she watched, his forearms tensed, showing off a pair of arms that demanded her attention.
She met his eyes and found him smirking back at her. Right. “I appreciate the effort, but you’re not my type.”
He rolled his eyes. “You’re not exactly mine, either, Princess.”
She rose, standing with her feet wide apart to compensate for the rocking boat. “And what type is that? Bubble headed? Simpering? Compliant?”
He glared at her. “Disciplined. Smart. Driven.”
She laughed coldly. “I think that’s the wrong kind of girl for you. Too much like-knows-like. You need someone to shake you up, make you live for now instead of a year from now.”
“Oh, and you think you’re the person to do that?”
For some reason, both their voices had risen, but she couldn’t back down. Mom would tell her the passion was getting the better of her, and if only she took a second to breathe, she’d see it. Too late for that now. “I might be, if you removed the stick from your ass.”
He took a step toward her. “Yeah, and you need someone to untangle your hot-mess self.”
She took a big step toward him, pointing a finger at his chest. “I knew you thought I was a hot mess!”
He took another step, but she wasn’t afraid of him. No, she didn’t think she’d ever felt so alive, honestly. Her heart pounded in her chest, and her fingertips tingled. Like she’d been in a dim room, and someone had turned on a floodlight.
“Fine! I did think it, and I’ll say it, too,” Dylan snapped. “You’re a hot mess, Lucy Foster. What are you going to do about it?”
Her mouth dropped open, and her whole body flushed with heat. The next step she took brought her an inch away from him. Close enough to see he was shaking. Rage? Fear? All she knew was that she was shaking, too, but it was from neither of those things. “You know what I think? I think you’re a jackass!”
Then, before she could decide whether this was the worst idea she’d ever had, she swayed closer, so that her chest brushed his just barely, and went up on tiptoe, stopping short of kissing him…waiting to see what would happen.
They stared each other down, each of them breathing hard. Lucy’s gaze dropped to his lips then back to his eyes, daring him to make a move.
He growled, this frustrated, almost anguished sound, before closing the distance. He pulled her close, his wet torso sliding slick against hers. Then his mouth was on hers, and she forgot everything—about being angry, about being stuck in the middle of the lake with a guy who pushed her buttons, about Dad being gone. Nothing mattered but his warm breath against her cheek and his strong arms holding her tight despite the rocking boat beneath them. Good thing, because she was lightheaded, but didn’t want to come up for air.
They clung together, the kiss frantic and disorganized. Somewhere in the back of her brain, she recognized this guy hadn’t let himself go for a long, long time…and that he’d been hurt recently. All of it was there in the depth of this kiss. His chest was warm, heaving against hers, and his fingers traced the line of her bare spine, sending shivers across her back.
She didn’t even hear the other boat approach. No, she didn’t notice a thing until Serena called, “Sweet baby Jesus! I said apologize, not act out a movie star kiss in the middle of my boat!”


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