RELEASE WEEK CELEBRATION: Beginning of Forever by Catherine Bybee - EXCERPT!

 

Whew!

I don't know about you, but it's been a CR-A-ZY couple of days/weeks, in my neck of the woods.  Between the HIGH temps, the wicked work schedule, and running family to doctor appointments and whatnot, I'm pooped!  So, squeezing in book time is definitely a premium...hence the off and on silence on my site.  No worries, I've not given it up or anything...it'll just be a bit spotty here and there so I can actually BREATHE.  'Kay?  'Kay.  Anywho...

Today, we're throwing an early BOOK BIRTHDAY spotlight on the latest release from author Catherine Bybee.  I've featured her work before, and this series specifically, so the name should be familiar, but it never gets old celebrating a new release.  So, are you ready to add to your must read list?  Then let's get down to business!  Ladies and gents, get ready for a feast your eyes and bookish heart as we take a closer look at....

Beginning of Forever

The D'Angelo's, Book 3

by

Catherine Bybee

About the book...

Tasting wine is not enough: sommelier Giovanni D'Angelo wants to create it. To put his family first, he's always deferred his dreams—a vineyard to run, a woman to marry. But a three-week vineyard tour in Italy could set him back on track. 

For Emma Rutledge, wine is in her blood. Intent to run the family wine business one day, she finds that the men in her family are only intent to push her out of it. But that's fine—she's got a plan. 

When Gio and Emma meet on a wine tour in Tuscany, their shared aspirations fuel an undeniable chemistry. Returning home to California, they work toward setting up Emma's vineyard and a label of their own. But when Emma receives a life-altering diagnosis, she worries it's all been for nothing. 

As Emma works to cement her family legacy while dealing with this unexpected challenge, Gio tries to convince her that their future isn't just wine. 

It's each other.

AMAZON  |  B&N |  BAM

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~~~   EXCERPT   ~~~

“Saturday . . . ,” Gio started. “What time can you be ready?”

Emma glanced at Nicole, then Gio. “Saturday? Did I miss something?”

“Unless you need me to help with the move before then. In which case I’ll be there.”

Emma paused.

“He wants to take you out on a date, Em. I know it’s been a while, but this is how it’s done. Guys don’t ask if you want to go out, they assume the answer is yes and ask what time,” Nicole told her.

Emma blamed the lack of sleep from the night before. The one where Gio made good on his slow and very thorough lovemaking and kept her up half the night. Not that she was complaining, even in her own head.

She offered a sideways glance. “Are we assuming things?”

He leaned over; his lips hovered above hers. “Can I do that, cara? Can I assume when it comes to Saturday nights with you?”

The man put warmth in her belly like no one had before. “We can give it a trial run,” she teased.

“Trial . . . do I get a six-month lease? A year?”

That sounded long term to her ears. “How about month to month.” Even that sounded like commitment.

Gio kissed her briefly and pulled away. “We’ll renegotiate in thirty days.”

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About the author...

Catherine is a #1 Wall Street Journal, Amazon, and Indie Reader bestselling author. In addition, her books have also graced The New York Times and USA Today bestsellers lists. In total she has written thirty-nine beloved books that have collectively sold more than 10 million copies and have been translated into more than twenty languages. Raised in Washington State, Bybee moved to Southern California in the hope of becoming a movie star. After growing bored with waiting tables, she returned to school and became a registered nurse, spending most of her career in urban emergency rooms. She now writes full time and has penned the Not Quite series, The Weekday Brides series, the Most Likely To series, and the First Wives series. Learn more about Catherine and her books at www.catherinebybee.com.

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Special thanks to Crystal, author Catherine Bybee's amazing assistant for the chance to bring this feature to you as well as the special features included in this post. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title celebrates its BOOK BIRTHDAY tomorrow, so click on over to your favorite online retailer to snag your copy today!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

RELEASE WEEK CELEBRATION: Be Your Everything by Catherine Bybee

Shining the BOOK BIRTHDAY spotlight on the latest release from author Catherine Bybee.  I've featured her work before, so the name should be familiar from either your own reading or visits, but it never gets old celebrating a new release.  So, are you ready to add to your must read list?  Then let's get down to business!  Ladies and gents, feast your eyes on this...

Be Your Everything

by

Catherine Bybee

About the book...

With two protective older brothers and a traditional Catholic Italian mother, it’s surprising that Chloe D’Angelo can manage a date without someone in the family naysaying her romantic choice. And Dante Mancuso…oh, no. Her brother’s best friend is not a dating-app right swipe. 

But when they are left unsupervised on a late night in Vegas, all of that changes. Add in a Vegas wedding chapel and a couple of “I dos” and Chloe wakes up with a ring on her finger and a hangover. Dating Dante was always a secret desire, but marriage? The rift that this news would cause in her family has both of them keeping their nuptials to themselves as they scramble to undo their Vegas mistake. 

Dante knew the rules: Chloe was off-limits. Only, he can’t stop once his mind starts to believe she might be his forever. Just as their attraction deepens, Chloe flees to Bali, desperate to clear her head. 

All Dante has to do is keep her brothers from killing him and convince Chloe that they are meant for each other. But first, Dante has to find her.

Amazon |  B&N |  BAM  |  Book Depository

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~~~   EXCERPT   ~~~

“Go! I don’t want to see any of you back here until Monday.”

Chloe stood outside the back door of their home in Little Italy, surrounded by both her brothers and her soon-to-be sister-in-law. They all had small suitcases at their feet as the Uber van pulled up to take them to the airport.

Mari, their mother, had a hand on Francesca’s shoulder as they saw the bachelor/bachelorette party off.

“Mama, are you absolutely certain?” Luca, the husband-to-be, her over-worried oldest brother, couldn’t stop the concern that crossed his face anymore than he could the love he had in his eyes for the woman at his side.

He and Brooke were the real deal. Head over heels, all in . . . completely lost in each other.

Chloe couldn’t be happier for them.

They needed Vega. Boy, did they need two nights in Vegas.

“I ran this restaurant before you were born and after with all three of you jumping around. I have it, Luca. Go. Just don’t get married. Wait until you come back for that.”

“What about babies?” Gio, the middle child and smart-ass in the family, asked.

“That you can do,” Mari said with a wink.

Brooke knelt to Franny’s level and gave the eight-year-old a kiss. “Listen to your nonna.”

There were hugs and waves as Giovanni, or Gio, as he was more often called, shoved all the suitcases into the back of the van.

Gio took the front seat as the rest of them climbed into the back.

“I can’t believe you talked me into this,” Luca said to his brother. “Busiest time of the year.”

“It is not. That’s in the summer,” Chloe argued. It was the last week of November. The family restaurant was fully staffed and ran like a well-oiled machine, even with three of their employees out at the same time. “It’s going to be nothing but family and friends, celebrations and ceremonies from here on out. This is the last chance for you two to let loose until it’s all over.” Chloe reminded them.

“You mean until after Christmas,” Gio said.

“Right.” They weren’t taking their honeymoon until after Christmas. After they returned a week into the new year, then it would be Chloe’s turn to get out of town. Her long-awaited tickets to Bali were burning a hole in her pocket.

This was her last opportunity to cut loose until it was all over as well.

Chloe watched their family home disappear from sight. It was a four-story building with the family restaurant on the bottom floor. The second story was the family home where they’d all grown up, and the third floor was where LUca, Brooke, and Franny now lived. On the very top was what used to be guest quarters but now was the bachelor pad that Gio took over. Secretly, Chloe was hoping Gio would find Mrs. Right and move on himself so she could occupy the upstairs apartment as her own space. She loved her mother, but living with her was getting old. As an Italian, Chloe wasn’t going anywhere until she married, that’s just the way things were done in her culture.

“Franny is going to be okay, right?” Brooke asked Luca as they settled in for the short ride to the airport.

Chloe rolled her eyes.

Francesca, Luca’s daughter from his first unfortunate marriage, was probably already elbow-deep in gelato and milking Mari for all the attention and goodies a nonna could give her.

“She’ll be fine,” Luca said, kissing Brooke’s forehead.

The ride to the airport took less than ten minutes, a perk when you lived in San Diego and everything was close.

Getting through security and waiting in the airport would take longer than the actual flight to Vegas, but it beats a long drive across the California desert any day of the week.

“Thanks again for inviting Mayson to join you guys,” Brooke said to Gio and Luca.

“He’s a friend of yours. He’s a friend of ours.”

“Besides, we need even numbers,” Chloe added. As she said that, she saw Salena waving them over to her side before they entered the TSA line.

“Vegas, baby!” Salena all but yelled for everyone to heard.

Chloe tossed her arms around one of her dearest friends for a hug. They’d known each other before braces and periods. As ride-and-die friends went, Salena was someone Chloe could count on to be there.

“We could have picked you up,” Gio said.

Salena, who lived in Little Italy as well, shrugged. “It’s okay. I had JOey take me.”

“Joey? Do I know Joey?”

She waved a hand. “Flavor of the month.”

Gio narrowed his eyes. “You’re worse than me.”

“No one is worse than you,” Chloe and Salena said in unison.

The three of them fell in line behind Luca and Brooke, who were arm in arm and whispering in each other’s ears.

“They do know that we have separate rooms, right?” Chloe asked her brother.

“Yes.”

“I don’t think that’s going to matter,” Salena added.

“Divide and conquer. Once everyone arrives, we have dinner, pull straws on who is in charge for the night, and go to our separate clubs.” Gio lowered his voice. “We’ll give them tomorrow afternoon to knock it out.”

Chloe laughed. “We may never see them again.”

Salena nudged Chloe’s shoulder as they inched their way up the line. “Is Dante flying directly from Italy?’

Just hearing Dante’s name had Chloe standing taller. Gio’s best friend, and the one boy that had always been “off-limits” for oh so many reasons, was the cause of many sleepless nights.

The man only grew more beautiful with every year that passed.

And he knew it.

And the women knew it.

All the women!

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About the author...

Catherine is a #1 Wall Street Journal, Amazon, and Indie Reader bestselling author. In addition, her books have also graced The New York Times and USA Today bestsellers lists. In total she has written thirty-six beloved books that have collectively sold more than 10 million copies and have been translated into more than twenty languages. Raised in Washington State, Bybee moved to Southern California in the hope of becoming a movie star. After growing bored with waiting tables, she returned to school and became a registered nurse, spending most of her career in urban emergency rooms. She now writes full time and has penned the Not Quite series, The Weekday Brides series, the Most Likely To series, and the First Wives series. Learn more about Catherine and her books at www.catherinebybee.com 

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Special thanks to Crystal, author Catherine Bybee's amazing assistant for the chance to bring this feature to you as well as the special features included in this post. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title celebrated its BOOK BIRTHDAY TODAY, so click on over to your favorite online retailer to snag your copy today! Be sure to check out the rest of the tour for more bookish fun!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

RELEASE WEEK Celebration: When It Falls Apart by Catherine Bybee - INTERVIEW + EXCERPT + GIVEAWAY!

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

So, as promised, post number two of the day coming at you and we're coming in hot!  It's RELEASE WEEK for author Catherine Bybee's latest work via Montlake and we're shining the BOOK SPOTLIGHT all over it.  I've read her work previously, and thoroughly enjoyed it, so I've got high expectations for this one, that's suppose to kick off a new series.  (woot woot!)  Seeing as my schedule is a bit booked (pun TOTALLY intended), I couldn't partake in a review, but I can share ALL THE LOVE with YOU so you can check out the good first, and report back.  Sound good?  FABULOUS!  Let's get started!

When It Falls Apart

by

Catherine Bybee

Montlake

About the book...

Brooke Turner has always had a complicated relationship with her father. But when his health takes a turn for the worse, she drops everything to care for him. He’s her dad, after all, and he needs her. What Brooke doesn’t anticipate is the unraveling of her long-term relationship and a cross-country move to San Diego’s Little Italy.

Luca D’Angelo is the oldest of three children and a single father to a young daughter. When his mother rents the top floor of their house to Brooke, he’s angry. Who is this beautiful stranger with no ties to the neighborhood? Can she be trusted in such close proximity to his family?

As Luca learns of Brooke’s difficult journey with her ailing father, his heart softens. And Brooke, who witnesses Luca’s struggle as a single parent, develops feelings for him, too. But when it all falls apart, will love heal their wounded hearts?

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~~~   EXCERPT   ~~~

“Oh my God, Carmen. He was standing at his car first thing this morning. Like ‘hop in, bella, let’s get stuff done today.’ Who does that?” 

Brooke had picked up the phone as soon as Luca was off in search of a dump guy. 

“We’re talking about the single, hot, Italian dad, right?” 

Brooke rolled her eyes. “Yes. Luca.” 

“Oy, oy, oy.” 

“Stop it. I need advice. And I need it before he gets back.” 

Carmen stopped teasing. “You don’t need advice. You need to relax. He sounds like one of the good ones. Let it happen.” 

“Let it happen,” she mocked. “I don’t ‘let’ things happen. It happens to me and it’s never good.” 

“You didn’t used to be such a pessimist.” 

“Once upon a time the glass was half full. Not these days.” 

“Okay, Debbie Downer. You want my advice . . . here it is. Keep doing whatever it is you’re doing.” 

“I’m not doing anything. Zero effort.” 

“Really?” Carmen didn’t sound convinced. “Makeup . . . a nice dress?” 

Brooke hesitated. “Maybe . . . a little last night, but that was it.” 

Carmen chuckled. 

“Carmen!”

“Sorry. Okay . . . any red flags?” 

Brooke thought about that. “He loved his ex-wife.” 

“That’s a red flag?” 

“I guess not.” 

“Is he good to his mom?” 

Brooke looked back on the dinner the night before. “To the whole family. He takes being the oldest brother quite seriously.” 

“And his daughter?” 

All Brooke could do was smile. “Great dad. We should all be so lucky.” 

“He’s Italian, does he smoke?” 

“No.” 

“A lot of Italians smoke,” Carmen pointed out. 

“In Italy. The San Diego variety are less in that wheelhouse.” 

“That’s good.” Carmen sighed. “I don’t know what to tell you, Brooke. How does he kiss?” 

“He hasn’t kissed me,” Brooke nearly yelled. 

“Now then . . . we have a problem.” 

“There hasn’t been . . . I don’t even know if—” 

“Stop right there. He did not drive your sorry ass all the way to Upland to do grunt work all day if he wasn’t interested in kissing you, bellllaaa. More than that, you want him to.” 

Brooke closed her eyes, and even in her own head she couldn’t convince herself that Carmen was wrong. 

“Let it happen. You deserve some happiness, Brooke.” 

The van with the air conditioning repair guy pulled into the driveway. 

“I gotta go.” 

“I want a kissing update the next time we talk,” Carmen teased. 

“Love you,” Brooke said with a laugh.

“Back at ya, boo.” 

She hung up. 

Her best friend was such a dork.

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~~~   AUTHOR INTERVIEW with Catherine Bybee   ~~~

For anyone wondering the plot of your newest release, you give a great sneak peek with the title—When it Falls Apart. What is “falling apart” in this novel?

 

All the threads that hold my heroine, Brooke, together are crumbling down around her. When it Falls Apart begins with Brooke’s romantic relationship crashing and burning. At the same time, in a different state, her father is circling the drain in the ICU. And for the cherry on the top of her “falling apart life”, Brooke has found herself demoted at work. In short, everything in Brooke’s life is dissolving around her.

 

Like all of your books, When it Falls Apart has a beautiful romance, however, there is a rawness about Brooke’s story. How was writing this novel different from your others?

 

If you read my notes both in the front and the back of this novel, you’ll soon realize that the story was very personal to me. Rawness comes from experience. The relationship Brooke has with her father is hauntingly familiar to me and my dad. The emotions that the heroine experienced when taking care of him were easy for me to grasp onto and write about. Sadly, the love story with Luca was completely made up and I didn’t have the support of a strong Italian family to help deal with the struggles, but I digress. 

Relationships with a parent who wasn’t there for you growing up are messy. When that parent ages and needs their child, sometimes that help comes with a bucketload of resentment, even if the child wishes they could stop those ugly feelings from creeping up on them. And THAT is the rawness you speak of.

 

Books, TV shows, and movies oftentimes glamorize what it means to care for a loved one. However, in When it Falls Apart you don’t sugar-coat anything about caregiving and the toll it takes on a person. How do you think readers who have been in similar situations will be affected by this story?

 

Justified. Validated. Accepted.

It’s a hard job taking care of an elderly family member. And if there aren’t other siblings to help, or won’t help, it’s made even more difficult. It’s difficult, gritty, dirty work that only has a bad ending…eventually. What I do hope my readers take away is that they’re not alone. That the struggle is very real and that if they don’t find balance (which is almost impossible at times) they will burn out completely and not be fit to help at all. I hope my readers are empowered to set boundaries and balance, so they come out on the other side of caring for an elderly loved one whole themselves.

 

Brooke gets virtually no support from her significant other, which has her reevaluating their relationship. She realizes she has settled and has to make some hard decisions. Do you think this happens too many times to women in real life?

 

100% Yes! There is a song by Taylor Swift with a line that says, and I’m paraphrasing here, I can be what you want for the weekend. But often that weekend ends up being a relationship that women hold on to or are convinced they can’t live without. Often it takes a huge shake-up to remove yourself from that situation. But once you’re away from the day to day dysfunctional relationship, the easier it is to see the dysfunction.

 

After her breakup and move, Brooke is not looking for a relationship. In fact, she tells her best friend: “I haven’t wiped off my smeared mascara from Marshall yet, the last thing I want is to jump into anything else.” Her crying over a man lasts all about two minutes when she meets Luca. Tell us about him.

 

Hmmm, Luca… he is the kind of man who doesn’t want a place on Brooke’s dance card…he wants to rip it up.

Luca is wired to help the people in his life. Brooke becomes a part of his inner circle simply by moving into the family building where he sees her every day.

Now, if Luca had flat out asked Brooke on a date, she would have run the other way…so no, he doesn’t go about it that way. He simply shows up and does not leave. Not when things get tough, or messy…or when his own past peeks its head in. Luca is a man who is right there at Brooke’s side without question or censor on why she does the things she does. His support and validation of her feelings is the part she was missing. Add in the hunky Italian single father and “Mamma Mia!”

 

At first, Luca is not thrilled that Brooke is renting a room in his family’s building. What changes his mind about her?

 

Her strength and vulnerability. I know that sounds contradicting, but some of the strongest women I know have a big vulnerable spot in their life that if you know them well enough, you see. The biggest smiles often hide the deepest pain. Luca sees her struggle and dedication to helping her elderly father and since family is first on Luca’s list, she passes his unconscious test.

 

Luca’s family, the D’Angelo’s, are incredibly close and share everything from ownership of the family restaurant to helping care for Luca’s daughter Franny. How is this different from Brooke’s relationship with her family?

 

Brooke doesn’t have that family. She has a father who abandoned her as a little girl that she carved out a relationship as an adult, and now she’s charged with caring for. Even her previous romantic relationship didn’t support her unconditionally the way the D’Angelo’s do for each other. She’s rather dumbfounded when they start treating her like family. It’s a wonderful thing to watch happen.

 

San Diego’s Little Italy plays a huge part in the story. The community, language, and food are in full display. Tell us about your own experiences in your adopted city.

 

I love Little Italy, the food, the pace... the people. There are many places in San Diego that are overrun with the college scene, San Diego is a college town. But Little Italy is more family friendly. Very touristy, but there isn’t a day you don’t see locals hanging out. I go to the farmer’s market often. Pick up authentic Italian ingredients for my own home cooking. I try new restaurants and take all my friends there when they are visiting from out of town. Not to mention it was the closest thing to the “real Italy” that I could go during the travel restrictions. So why not write about it and tell the world of this small island within San Diego that shouldn’t be missed?

 

There are two more siblings in the D’Angelo family. Where will you be taking readers next with
the series?

 

Chloe is a yogi. Think Bali!

And Giovanni loves wine… think Tuscany, Italy.

 

I cannot wait to show you what I have in store for these two!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bybee has written twenty-eight books that have collectively sold more than five million copies and have been translated into more than eighteen languages. Raised in Washington State, Bybee moved to Southern California in the hope of becoming a movie star. After growing bored with waiting tables, she returned to school and became a registered nurse, spending most of her career in urban emergency rooms. She now writes full-time and has penned the Not Quite Series, the Weekday Brides Series, the Most Likely To Series, and the First Wives Series.

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Special thanks to Morgan at Pitch Lit for the chance to bring this title to you as well as the special features included in this post. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title celebrated its BOOK BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK, so click on over to your favorite online retailer to snag your copy today! Be sure to check out the rest of the tour for more bookish fun!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

BLOG TOUR: Doing It Over by Catherine Bybee - REVIEW + CONTEST!

Hi guys!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're playing host to a blog tour starring a Contemporary Romance title that just celebrated it's BOOK BIRTHDAY about a week ago.  It's from an author that has an impressive body of works, and though this is the first time I've heard of/read one of her titles, it DEFINITELY won't be the last.  So, if you're ready to add another book to your must read shelf, come with me as we visit a little town with A LOT of heart.  Today's book of choice is...

Doing It Over

Most Likely To series, Book 1

by

Catherine Bybee

9781503950726

Montlake Romance

About the book...

Voted Most Likely to Succeed, Melanie Bartlett ended up anything but. The down-on-her-luck single mom wants a complete do-over—is that too much to ask? With her family long gone from River Bend, strong, independent Mel is as surprised as anyone to end up in the quaint small town she once called home. But with her friends, Jo and Zoe, by her side, and a comfortable room at Miss Gina’s quirky bed-and-breakfast, she just might have turned the corner on a new life.

Wyatt Gibson never liked the big city. River Bend suits the ruggedly handsome builder just fine. Wyatt knows he’s home, even if that means being charmed by the appearance of Melanie and her spunky, adorable daughter. Is Wyatt’s calm devotion—even amid a coming storm—enough to convince Mel she may have found a home to call her own, a family that never leaves, and a true love to last a lifetime?

AMAZON  |  B&N  |  BAM  |  BOOK DEPO

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First off, let's talk about that cover.  Isn't it gorgeous?!  The colors, the image, the feel of it all lead you to believe you're walking into a Contemporary Romance through and through.  The title itself lends credibility to that perceived fact and while you wouldn't be wrong, you also wouldn't be exactly right in your assumptions.



So, there I was cruising along through my "to read" list, checking off titles agreed to and tour stops signed up for, when I came upon this date on my schedule.  I noted the "review", that it was a digital (*groan*) ARC, and that while I had heard the author's name in passing, this would be my first time actually reading her work.  With the retrieval of a file and the flick of a screen, I was off and reading. We started out all school reunions, promises to be fulfilled, lives taking different forks than expected in the road, and begin the navigate through what the "doing it over" might be referring to...in this case, Melanie's second chance at getting her "first love" right.

Melanie is an awesome character.  Despite the curves that life has thrown her, she's carried on with little to no assistance from those that SHOULD be showering her with care.  The daughter that stole her heart was the end result of a union that just wasn't meant to be (for SO many reasons) but she wouldn't trade her for the world...as it should be.  Melanie's arrival back in her hometown helps to explain why her surviving it all is possible.  Aside from her inner well of strength, she has an AMAZING group of friends that would do anything for her as fast as she would do anything for them.  Jo, the unexpected law officer of the bunch (didn't see that one coming).  Zoe, the bestie skilled with cooking talent that is taking her career far...though her love life is pretty stunted.  Speaking of stunted, that brings us to Luke, a kind soul that never did make it out of their little town nor manage to get a particular cook out of his heart. (*ahem*  The next book perhaps?)  A town fixture and HUGE hearted woman to say the least, we certainly can't forget Miss Gina who definitely brings her own flair to the bunch (can't help loving she shares my name, though I'm not nearly as feisty...and be warned, avoid the red pitcher punch!).  Then there's the town newcomer, Wyatt....*le sigh*.  Let's just say the dude is seriously a catch in more than the looks department.  The moments he shares with Melanie are fully charged but sweet, the connection he has with her daughter Hope are so tender, they leave a bruise.  The potential for romance is there, as for whether or not they pan out, I can't say (that'd be cheating!)....but that part of the story is just the TIP of the iceberg brewing beneath.



You see, once upon a time a young girl became a woman and traveled back to her hometown in hopes of a new start for her and her daughter....BUT a dark cloud followed their progress and aimed to change their happy ending.  The dark cloud in this case is named Nathan.  OMG.  I seriously was thinking some bad words towards this "man" from the moment he came on the scene.  To think he just shows up after all this time with THAT sorry butt excuse that's OBVIOUSLY so full of something, it's just mind-boggling and offensive to me, let alone our leading lady.  Lucky for her, she has backup a plenty and trust me, they are more than ready to rumble on her behalf, requested or not.  Some punches are thrown, literally and figuratively, and things begin to heat up with veiled threats and promises of worse to come.  Then, the worst DOES happen...and I'm telling you, my heart was in my mouth the entire time.  You can't begin to imagine the twist the story takes after a moment of much deserved passion...and where that road leads is darker than the blackest night.  Good thing she has great friends, a good head on her shoulders, and a heart full of love because she's gonna need all her wits about her to go up against this evil that man has brought upon them.  Enough of the darkness though, allow me to step back into the light...

Hope may seem like a minor character as she is the child of our leading lady but she seriously steals the show several times over.  She's smart, brave, adventurous, and puts her own spin on things that you never imagined, yet make perfect sense.  Her grasp of the things happening around her, including the introduction of Nathan, are spot on.  The honesty she portrays in her description of a father, the reasoning she uses to explain her version of "Snow White", even her understanding of her mother's "seek the knight not the prince" advice, will touch your heart and bring a smile to your face.  Melanie really does have something special there...and I'm so glad she realized it long before the harrowing events transpired.



In conclusion, it's a Contemporary Romance with a healthy dose of mystery, danger, and possible happy-ever-afters, that will have you turning pages (or swiping your screen) at a rapid pace.  Just remember to slow down and enjoy the journey because once things really start to heat up, there will be no turning back.  Though an ARC version with several needed edits, the author brings her characters to life with identifiable voices that stand on their own.  You feel like one of the "family" once things draw to a close and that's definitely a wonderful way to be.  It was a pleasure spending time in this small town and I can't wait to go back for another visit very soon (seeing as this is the first book in a new series....woo hoo!).  Recommended for adult readers due to character age, situations, and some sexy times...enjoy!

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About the author...

New York Times & USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bybee was raised in Washington State, but after graduating high school, she moved to Southern California in hopes of becoming a movie star. After growing bored with waiting tables, she returned to school and became a registered nurse, spending most of her career in urban emergency rooms. She now writes full-time and has penned the Weekday Brides Series and the Not Quite Series. Bybee lives with her two teenage sons in Southern California.  

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Special thanks to Crystal (Ms. Bybee's assistant) for the ecopy for review and introducing me to this author's work.  (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title is available now via Montlake Romance, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.


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