Tessa Ever After by Brighton Walsh

****

From Penguin:

In this grippingly emotional New Adult novel from the author of Caged in Winter, what you want isn’t always what you need…

Jason’s been living (and loving) the rich playboy lifestyle for five years, but now his parents are pressuring him to get involved in the family business. The last thing he wants is another obligation, but when his best friend moves out of state and asks Jason to look after his sister, he can’t just say no.

Tessa had to grow up way too soon. After dealing with the aftermath of her parents’ deaths, then becoming a teenage mom, she knows the meaning of responsibility. Which is why, at twenty-two, she’s looking for so much more than a party boy. She’s looking for someone who can stand by her and her daughter…forever.

A relationship between them is doomed from the start, but who says they can’t have a little fun? But as Jason gets closer to Tessa—and her daughter—fun starts to turn into something else… Something Jason’s not sure he’s ready for.

Being a young single mother, without parents of her own, makes having a life difficult.  In fact, she's barley hanging on now that her brother, Cade, has moved away.  Enter Jason, Cade's best friend.  Jason's known Tessa all his life, but his best friend's sister is strictly off-limits.  Cade's departure brings Tessa and Jason closer together, as Tessa needs help keeping it together for her daughter.  

I love Tessa and Jason.  They are flirty, fun, and sometimes awkward as hell!  Single parents seems to be a trending theme in romances and Walsh does a fantastic job bringing Tessa and Jason together in an organic and entertaining relationship.  If you haven't read Brighton Walsh, you really need to.  Caged in Winter, Cade and Winter's story, is great.  Check out my review here.  I can't wait to see what Walsh has in store for us next!

~ Shel

Waiting on Wednesday (154)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that highlights future releases that we are excitedly anticipating.

By Jill Shalvis
Publication Date: June 30, 2015

RESCUE MECedar Ridge, Colorado, is famous for crisp mountain air, clear blue skies, and pine-scented breezes. And it's the last place Lily Danville wants to be. But she needs a job, and there's an opening at the hottest resort in her hometown. What has her concerned is the other hot property in Cedar Ridge: Aidan Kincaid-firefighter, rescue worker, and heartbreaker. She never could resist that devastating smile . . .

The Kincaid brothers are as rough and rugged as the Rocky Mountains they call home. Aidan has always done things his own way, by his own rules. And never has he regretted anything more than letting Lily walk out of his life ten years ago. If anyone has ever been in need of rescuing, she has. What she needs more than anything are long hikes, slow dances, and sizzling kisses. But that can only happen if he can get her to give Cedar Ridge-and this bad boy-a second chance . . .

By Miranda Kenneally
Publication Date: July 7, 2015

Practice Makes Perfect.

Everyone at Hundred Oaks High knows that career mentoring day is a joke. So when Maya Henry said she wanted to be a rock star, she never imagined she’d get to shadow *the* Jesse Scott, Nashville’s teen idol.

But spending the day with Jesse is far from a dream come true. He’s as gorgeous as his music, but seeing all that he’s accomplished is just a reminder of everything Maya’s lost: her trust, her boyfriend, their band, and any chance to play the music she craves. Not to mention that Jesse’s pushy and opinionated. He made it on his own, and he thinks Maya’s playing back up to other people’s dreams. Does she have what it takes to follow her heart—and go solo?





By Brighton Walsh
Publication Date: July 21, 2015

In this sexy, suspenseful New Adult novel, a young woman hiding from her criminal past is taken captive by her ex-boyfriend, the ultimate bad boy.

Evie is about to embark on the perfect life. Beautiful, poised, and engaged to a rising business star, she fits the part of trophy wife perfectly, except for one thing: her entire identity is a lie. 

Five years ago she created a new identity for herself, but it all crashes back when something she witnessed years ago comes back to haunt her. Now she's in danger of losing more than her social status. 

Determined to protect the careful life she's built for herself, Evie doesn't want anything to do with Riley, the criminal for hire who broke her heart years ago. But Riley has other ideas. He's never forgotten Evie, and to protect her, he steals her away. Hidden from the world, sparks begin to fly as old memories resurface and their passion reignites.

Caged in Winter by Brighton Walsh

***1/2

From Penguin:

In this emotional and sexy New Adult debut from Brighton Walsh, the only thing more frightening than commitment is hope…

Aspiring chef Cade Maxwell is immediately, viscerally attracted to Winter Jacobson. But it’s not her mouthwatering curves he’s drawn to—it’s the strange emptiness in her eyes. When Cade saves her from a drunken customer with grabby hands, he’s shocked at her response…

Winter doesn’t need Cade’s help. After a lifetime of getting by on her own, she’s happy to rely on herself. She’s exactly seventy-six days away from graduating college, and if she can hold it together that long, she’ll finally be able to rise above the crappy hand she was dealt.

But now, every time she turns around, Cade is there, ready to push her, smile at her, distract her from her plans. Winter knows she can’t afford to open up—especially to a man she’s terrified to actually want…

Big, bad Cade Maxwell with his mountainous size and tats, is a forever boy.  Who woulda thought?  What I love most about Cade is that he is completely open - openly thoughtful, openly caring, and openly protective of those he loves.  There's no posturing with Cade.  

Winter has an obsession with doing everything for herself, accepting no assistance, born from a childhood in rotten foster homes.  Trust is difficult when everyone you've ever known has broken any measure of trust placed in them.  For someone so hell-bent on relying solely on herself, Cade's giving and protective nature is problematic.  Conflict abounds, and Winter has to face her past if she wants a future with Cade.  

This was my first Brighton Walsh book and it was fantastic!  I can't thank Jessica (Walsh's publicist) enough for recommending Caged and Tessa Ever After!  This is new adult romance at it's finest!

~ Shel

A Peek In The BiblioBin #146

Welcome to our Stacking the Shelves post! Stacking the Shelves (or as we like to call it, A Peek in the BiblioBin) has been created by the lovely ladies at Tynga's Reviews.

Stacking the Shelves is a way for bloggers to share what books they have won, received for review, bought from the bookstore, borrowed from the library or friend, etc.

For Review:

The Devil You Know by Trish Doller (Bloomsbury/NetGalley)

Emmy & Oliver by Robin Benway (HarperTeen/Edelweiss)

Just Business (Takeover #2) by Anna Zabo (Intermix/NetGalley)

Rescuing the Bad Boy (Second Chance #2) by Jessica Lemmon

The Rise and Fall Of A Theater Geek by Seth Rudetsky

Tessa Ever After (Caged In Winter #2) by Brighton Walsh

Second Chance Summer (Cedar Ridge #1) by Jill Shalvis