Feb 14, 2025

Recent Reads: In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren


In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren
Publisher: Gallery Books
Publication Date:  October 6, 2020



https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27405327-pop-manga-coloring-book?from_search=true  https://www.amazon.com/Pop-Manga-Coloring-Book-Beautiful/dp/0399578471?ie=UTF8&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0399578471&linkCode=as2&redirect=true&ref_=x_gr_w_bb&tag=x_gr_w_bb-20

Format: Kindle Ebook
Source: Bought/ Own


Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

One Christmas wish, two brothers, and a lifetime of hope are on the line for hapless Maelyn Jones in In a Holidaze, the quintessential holiday romantic novel by Christina Lauren, the New York Times bestselling author of The Unhoneymooners..

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…but not for Maelyn Jones. She’s living with her parents, hates her going-nowhere job, and has just made a romantic error of epic proportions.

But perhaps worst of all, this is the last Christmas Mae will be at her favorite place in the world—the snowy Utah cabin where she and her family have spent every holiday since she was born, along with two other beloved families. Mentally melting down as she drives away from the cabin for the final time, Mae throws out what she thinks is a simple plea to the universe: Please. Show me what will make me happy.

The next thing she knows, tires screech and metal collides, everything goes black. But when Mae gasps awake…she’s on an airplane bound for Utah, where she begins the same holiday all over again. With one hilarious disaster after another sending her back to the plane, Mae must figure out how to break free of the strange time loop—and finally get her true love under the mistletoe.

Jam-packed with yuletide cheer, an unforgettable cast of characters, and Christina Lauren’s trademark hijinks, this swoon-worthy romantic read will make you believe in the power of wishes and the magic of the holidays.
Review: 
I know it is a bit late to be posting about a holiday romance... and also an older one at that but I felt the need to share...

This holiday romance had such a fun premise—a woman time-lopping through her Christmas holidays—but unfortunately, it didn’t quite deliver on all fronts. While the festive atmosphere was charming, and the setup promised a heartwarming journey, the execution left me wanting more.

Mae is headed to the cabin, the place her family and their long-time family friends all go to celebrate the holidays. This year Mae is especially down on herself and asked the universe to help her see what will make her happy, and seeming it does giving her a Groundhog day-esq time looping opportunity to make it for herself. Sadly, it is this sci-fi element and some others that fell so short for me. 

One of my biggest issues was the character development. Mae, the main character, never really grows, she just adapts to the time loops and then starts to get bossy when she becomes frustrated with the outcomes. There are also so many characters but none of them really get the attention that they deserve to really highlight their differences.  Then, the romance itself felt rushed, making it hard to truly invest in Mae and Andrew's connection. It seemed like the author was explaining things away with 'they have known each other forever' that's great, but the readers haven't known them and we were all left wanted more. The time loop/sci-fi element could have added more depth but instead felt repetitive or underutilized to build on these relationships or as part of the plot overall.

There were some moments of warmth and humor that made it enjoyable in parts. The holiday setting was cozy, and I did appreciated the charming traditions that the families have together. However, I wish the story had spent more time fleshing out the relationships and making the emotional pieces hit harder.

Overall, while this book had potential and some enjoyable moments, it ultimately fell flat in execution. If you’re looking for a light, holiday read and don’t mind a romance that feels a bit surface-level, this might still be worth picking up.

Feb 13, 2025

Recent Reads: From Megabat with Love by Anna Humphrey

Source: From Librarything Early Reviewers Program in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review. 

From Megabat with Love by Anna Humphrey, Illustrated by Kris Easler 
Series: Megabat #6
Publisher: Tundra Books
Publication Date:  December 10, 2024 


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27405327-pop-manga-coloring-book?from_search=true  https://www.amazon.com/Pop-Manga-Coloring-Book-Beautiful/dp/0399578471?ie=UTF8&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0399578471&linkCode=as2&redirect=true&ref_=x_gr_w_bb&tag=x_gr_w_bb-20

Format: Paperback


Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 
It's Valentine's Day, and Megabat wants to show Bird Girl that he loves her. But how? Easy! Or is it? The next laugh-out-loud book in this sweet and funny illustrated chapter book series featuring a talking bat.

Megabat loves Bird Girl, but he's having trouble coming up with a Valentine's surprise that she actually likes.

Daniel is trying to earn his Caring and Sharing Bird Scout badge by bringing valentines to residents at a retirement home.

Megabat keeps trying to impress Bird Girl with his marvelous gifts that are things HE loves, but it's not working. And she seems to be obsessed with a majestic eagle.

Daniel and his fellow Bird Scouts create chaos at the retirement home and learn a lesson in how NOT to get a Caring and Sharing badge.

Megabat finally learns about smushy love stuff from his new friends at the retirement home, but is it too late? Has he lost Bird Girl forever? And will Daniel ever earn his Caring and Sharing badge? Kris Easler's adorable illustrations paired with Anna Humphrey's hilarious text make for another unforgettable Megabat adventure, one that will appeal to Megabat fans and newcomers!
Review:

The Megabat series continues its adorable and chaotic adventures in this Valentine’s Day-themed installment. While each book can be read as a standalone, longtime fans will recognize Megabat’s well-meaning but often misguided attempts to navigate the human (and animal) world.

This time, Megabat is determined to win the heart of his beloved Pigeongirl, a pigeon who lives in the family shed. Unfortunately, in his eagerness to impress her—especially since he believes she only has eyes for the mighty Eagle statue she saw at the Winter Carnival—he tries too hard and ends up scaring her instead. His antics lead to plenty of messy, funny, and sweet moments that young readers will enjoy.

The book features large, easy-to-read font and charming illustrations that highlight Megabat’s lovable chaos. However, one aspect that may be polarizing is Megabat’s baby-talk style of speech. While it is meant to be endearing and humorous, it can feel a bit off-putting, especially for children who are still learning to read. That said, the story itself is fun and engaging, making it a great choice for kids who enjoy silly, heartwarming adventures.

Perfect for early chapter book readers, this is another delightful entry in the Megabat series that captures the joys and challenges of friendship, misunderstandings, and trying a little too hard.

Feb 11, 2025

Recent Reads: Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey


Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey 
Publisher: Crown
Publication Date:  October 20, 2020


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27405327-pop-manga-coloring-book?from_search=true  https://www.amazon.com/Pop-Manga-Coloring-Book-Beautiful/dp/0399578471?ie=UTF8&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0399578471&linkCode=as2&redirect=true&ref_=x_gr_w_bb&tag=x_gr_w_bb-20

Format: Audioboon
Source: Bought/Own from Audible


Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 
From the Academy Award®–winning actor, an unconventional memoir filled with raucous stories, outlaw wisdom, and lessons learned the hard way about living with greater satisfaction.

I’ve been in this life for fifty years, been trying to work out its riddle for forty-two, and been keeping diaries of clues to that riddle for the last thirty-five. Notes about successes and failures, joys and sorrows, things that made me marvel, and things that made me laugh out loud. How to be fair. How to have less stress. How to have fun. How to hurt people less. How to get hurt less. How to be a good man. How to have meaning in life. How to be more me.

Recently, I worked up the courage to sit down with those diaries. I found stories I experienced, lessons I learned and forgot, poems, prayers, prescriptions, beliefs about what matters, some great photographs, and a whole bunch of bumper stickers. I found a reliable theme, an approach to living that gave me more satisfaction, at the time, and still: If you know how, and when, to deal with life’s challenges - how to get relative with the inevitable - you can enjoy a state of success I call “catching greenlights.”

So I took a one-way ticket to the desert and wrote this book: an album, a record, a story of my life so far. This is fifty years of my sights and seens, felts and figured-outs, cools and shamefuls. Graces, truths, and beauties of brutality. Getting away withs, getting caughts, and getting wets while trying to dance between the raindrops.

Hopefully, it’s medicine that tastes good, a couple of aspirin instead of the infirmary, a spaceship to Mars without needing your pilot’s license, going to church without having to be born again, and laughing through the tears.

It’s a love letter. To life.

It’s also a guide to catching more greenlights - and to realizing that the yellows and reds eventually turn green too.

Good luck.
Review: 
This was Matthew McConaughey's book about his life so far. I listened to it with my partner on the way to work. It is read by the author, which made it more enjoyable. 

He seems so human from this book, it was refreshing but he is also well-off now so some of his 'bumper-sticker' moments and 'proclamations' were a bit meh for those of us in the non-well off categories. 

Overall, this was a fun listen though. Matthew talks about his life, growing up, what he learned along the way and his adventure to becoming who he is as an actor. I found him funny and relatable at times, and you can really sense that he loves life and lives it to the fullest at every opportunity. He is an interesting man, a pro bull-shitter, and so passionate.  "Greenlights" were his move forward moments in life, leading him and guiding him along. I loved that this was the view point he had. 

I loved that he told his story. I appreciate that some of his best lines were improved and that he tried to be the characters wholeheartedly, even to his detriment at times. He found his dream in more ways that one and that was a fun journey to go on him with.

All that said, I would have liked less proclamation and bumper sticker moments. 1. because he often yelled them in the audio and it was a lot and 2. because sometimes they were just not obtainable things for 'normal' non-famous people. If you already like Matthew in movies and his weird vibe, I think you will enjoy this one and I do recommend the audio version.

Feb 9, 2025

Building the Book Pile #474

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

...still sickly. Starting to feel better but the amount of gunk is just nasty. 
I have been trying to rest and worked from home all week, I did take a sick day and work wasn't super busy so that was a win. 

I did a fair amount of reading while I was up at night trying to breath, so I have a fair amount of reviews written and planned now. I am really hoping to keep up this momentum this year.
 


xo steph


Coming up on the Blog


This Week 

Review: Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey (Adult)
Review: From Megabat with Love by Anna Humphrey (MG)
Review: In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren (Adult)


Books Received Recently...  
  

 Heir of the Beast by FR Black - For a Blog Tour/ Review.
Feather and Famine by Mariah Rosewood - For Blog Tour/ Review.
All- Nighter by Cecilia Vinesse - From the publisher for review.
Dead Woman Walking by Diana Corbitt - From the Author for review.


Have you missed anything lately?
What have you been reading?  Leave a comment for me.

Happy Reading! Happy Holidays!

Feb 7, 2025

Recent Reads: Bound to a Siren by Athena Rose


Bound to a Siren by Athena Rose
Series: Romancing the Seas #2
Publisher: Burton & Burchell Ltd
Publication Date:  May 14, 2023 



https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27405327-pop-manga-coloring-book?from_search=true  https://www.amazon.com/Pop-Manga-Coloring-Book-Beautiful/dp/0399578471?ie=UTF8&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0399578471&linkCode=as2&redirect=true&ref_=x_gr_w_bb&tag=x_gr_w_bb-20

Format: Ebook
Source: Kindle Unlimited


Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 
Love is their only lifeline in a sea of danger - dive into the heart-pumping adventure of Bound to a Siren by Athena Rose!

As the threat of war hangs heavy in the air, Princess Serena of Atlantis knows she must take drastic action to protect her sisters from being hunted and killed. With a plan to marry the human prince, Edward, she takes him to the mystical underwater city of Atlantis and to the court of her stern father, Poseidon. But her plan goes awry and Edward is sentenced to death. With no other choice, Serena is forced to use a forbidden ritual to bind the prince to herself, surrendering her immortality in the process. But with the King of England ordering his men to slaughter all sirens on sight, how will the two be able to convince the royal court to give their blessing?

Meanwhile, Georgette and Captain Stone must face their own demons of the past as they navigate treacherous waters in an attempt to form new alliances and put an end to all of the brutality. In the thrilling second book of the Romancing the Seas series, Bound to a Siren, readers will be taken on an epic journey of adventure, danger, romance, and ultimately, a heartwarming and satisfyingly happy ending. Dive in and start reading now!

TW: Death, pregnancy loss, infertility, sexual violence, and childhood trauma.

Romancing the Seas reading list:

Book 1: Married to a Pirate
Book 2: Bound to a Siren
Book 3: Sworn to a Demigod 
This series is written for mature audiences only.
Review: 
There are Trigger warnings with this book. They are listed in the synopsis so please keep that in mind before picking it up. 

It took me a long time to complete reading this one. I picked it up right after Married to a Pirate, which I really enjoyed, but this book fell a little short for me. I was expecting more of the Georgette and Captain Stone story, but since the POV changes in this book to Serena and Edward, you follow them more heavily. Book one was a whirlwind of adventure and felt very Pirates of the Caribbean. This one was slow to start and then kind of crept along. 

We follow Serena and Edward, so I guess you could say this was kind of like a Little Mermaid retelling in some ways. Their story involves a lot more politics from both families, revenge plots all around, and they are just trying to do their best. Edward, ever the gentleman, wants to help save the sirens, but is still hung up on Georgette. Serena is pretty much just jealous the whole time, trying to win Edwards affections for real. I think I had such a hard time with this one because I didn't really like Edward or Serena at all.

Some positives, this story was a great plot progression and there were a lot of fun twists - that involved the whole group, not just these MCs. There was still some spice, it wasn't as heavy hitting with it as book one, but still good. I also enjoyed the incorporation of all sorts of myths and legends into the story. 

I kept hoping this would turn into Pirates meet Greek myth since that is where it seemed to be heading, and it looks like that is where we will eventually get because next up is a Hercules plot and book 4 is Hades (swoon).  In all honesty, I thought about giving up on this series but now there is a Hades/ Persephone retelling for book 4... so I might have to keep it up. 

Overall, I felt like this story was more filler than anything. The characters were meh, the spice was ok, I finished it, so that is a win, but it was just middle of the road for me. 

Feb 6, 2025

Reading Recap: January 2025



Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

I am changing things up for 2025, instead of a plan then recap, we are just going to focus on the accomplishments of the month.

While I do have a plan of things that I need to read, but I am trying to give myself some freedom to shift and change things as my mood shifts and changes.

So lets get this kicked off, trying out StoryGraph for some Stats help. 
In January I read...

~~Books I Read in January~~   



How was your January Reading? Do you have plans for February or books you are looking forward to reading?

Feel free to share it in the comments below! I would love to know what you are reading! 

Feb 4, 2025

Early Reader Review: The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith

Source: From the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith 
 
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date:  February 4, 2025



https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27405327-pop-manga-coloring-book?from_search=true  https://www.amazon.com/Pop-Manga-Coloring-Book-Beautiful/dp/0399578471?ie=UTF8&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0399578471&linkCode=as2&redirect=true&ref_=x_gr_w_bb&tag=x_gr_w_bb-20

Format: Ebook


Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 
The Cruel Prince meets The Selection in this captivating duology opener brimming with heart-pounding romance, vicious competition, and beautiful, cruel fae, from the New York Times bestselling author of The Witch Haven, Sasha Peyton Smith.

Every citizen of England is granted one bargain from their immortal fae queen.

High society girls are expected to bargain for qualities that will win them suitors: a rare talent for piano in exchange for one’s happiest childhood memory. A perfect smile for one’s ability to taste.

But Ivy Benton’s debut season arrives with a shocking twist: a competition to secure the heart of the Queen’s fae son, Prince Bram. A prize that could save Ivy’s family from ruin… and free her sister from the bargain that destroyed her.

Yet every glittering fae deal has a rotting heart—and at the center of this contest is a dark plot that could destroy everything Ivy knows.

Sweepingly romantic and deceptively enchanting, this alternate history romantasy will enthrall readers of Holly Black, Stephanie Garber, and Adalyn Grace.

Review: 
I absolutely loved this book and cannot wait for the release of book two! This dark fantasy romance was everything I wanted—magic, mystery, and political intrigue woven into a high-stakes competition that pits England’s elite society girls against each other for a chance to win the Prince’s heart.

Ivy Benton is a resourceful, determined protagonist, fighting not just for her family’s status but for something far more personal—her sister’s stolen memories. The fae in this story are exactly as they should be: eerie, mischievous, and dangerously alluring. Every bargain comes with a cost, and the author does an incredible job of building suspense around these twisted deals.

And then there’s the love triangle—deliciously angsty and full of tension. Ivy is caught between Prince Bram, the fae heir at the center of the competition, and his human brother, Emmett, whose sharp wit and reputation for dalliances make their dynamic even more complicated. The banter between Ivy and the brother crackled with chemistry, and there was a constant push-and-pull, a lingering should they, shouldn’t they energy that had me completely hooked. This dynamic read more 'older teen' in the Young Adult audience, so I think a lot of adult readers will also enjoy it. 

The worldbuilding was rich, the stakes were high, and the competition itself was filled with tension and deception. If you love Young Adult dark fantasy with a touch of romance and a ruthless fae court, this book is a must-read. I’m already counting down the days until the sequel!

Feb 3, 2025

Blog Tour: Frog Fish and Worm by Christina Bianco




Frog Fish & Worm by Christina Bianco
Publisher: Pegasus Publishers
Publication Date:  January 30, 2025



https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27405327-pop-manga-coloring-book?from_search=true  https://www.amazon.com/Pop-Manga-Coloring-Book-Beautiful/dp/0399578471?ie=UTF8&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0399578471&linkCode=as2&redirect=true&ref_=x_gr_w_bb&tag=x_gr_w_bb-20


About the Book: 
Get ready to giggle with 'Frog, Fish, and Worm'! 

This toe-tapping, fish-flapping, and worm-squirming adventure will have kids aged 2-8 in stitches. 

Watch as these three tiny titans team up against the fisherman, Stan. 

But guess who joins the underwater shenanigans? 

A toothless Crocodile! With their hilarious hijinks and a pinch of teamwork, they give Stan the fright of his fishing life. 

It's a rip-roaring rhyme-time, proving that even the littlest critters can outsmart the biggest bullies. So dive into this gigglesome, fin-tastic tale, and let the underwater fun begin!


Rating:

Format: Ebook
Source: From Zooloo Book Tours and the Author in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

Frog, Fish, and Worm is a lively, rhyming adventure that’s sure to get kids giggling. With bright, engaging illustrations and a playful rhythm, it delivers plenty of humor—especially with the worm on the hook, whose antics will have little readers laughing out loud. The story’s teamwork and silly twists keep the energy high, and the addition of a toothless crocodile adds even more fun to the mix.

That said, as an adult reader, I found some elements a bit off-putting. The fisherman comes across as somewhat creepy, and certain aspects of the worm’s depiction felt oddly suggestive, even if unintentionally so. While kids will likely be too busy laughing to notice, it may give some parents pause.

Overall, Frog, Fish, and Worm is a fast-paced, entertaining read for young children, with plenty of silliness to enjoy—just be prepared for a few moments that might raise an eyebrow.


About the Author:
Christina has had a successful career in the Art, Design and TV Industry before
owning her very own Art Gallery.

Inspired by her love of reading and doodling, Christina decided to put pen to paper and create 'Dorothy Dustbucket.'

Splitting time between Europe and the UK, she lives in the beautiful county of Cheshire, along with her husband and two children, who provided much of the inspiration for the children's books.


Find the Author 

Feb 2, 2025

Building the Book Pile #473

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

uuugh... I am sick, I think it is the flu or just a really bad cold. Either way, I feel disgusting. it is also in the negatives today, so I am just staying in and am going to cozy up with some Dayquil and a book. I hope you are better off than I am.

That all said, I did have time to prep some February reviews. Excited for the books coming out this month.
 


xo steph


Coming up on the Blog


This Week 

Blog Tour: Frog Fish & Worm by Christina Bianco (Youth)
Early Reader Review: The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith (YA)
Reading Re-Cap: January 2025
Review: Bound to a Siren by Athena Rose (Adult)


Books Received Recently...  
  


 From Megabat with Love by Anna Humphrey - From Librarything Early Reviewers program


Have you missed anything lately?

Review:  Witching you Weren't Snowed in by Jenna Collett -4 stars

Donating Caffeine is greatly appreciated ... Donate on Ko-fi

What have you been reading?  Leave a comment for me.

Happy Reading! Happy Holidays!

Jan 28, 2025

Blog Blast w/ Giveaway: Chasing Headlines by J. Rose Black


Chasing Headlines by J. Rose Black
Series: Chasing Victory, #1
Publication date: January 2nd 2025
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

They’re chasing the same dream…
Too bad they’re not on the same team.

When Breslin Cooper’s major league dreams go up in flames, he’s left with his backup plan: college baseball at Texas State Tech in Vanquer, Texas. But his public altercation with a reporter saddles him with mandated community service, therapy–and a toxic “Storm Cooper” reputation that no professional baseball scout will touch.

Liv Milline’s family name is practically synonymous with IML baseball. Yet despite her love for the game (the tight pants aren’t bad, either) and her dreams of becoming a baseball scout–her father holds one, ironclad rule: No baseball for Olivia (the corollary: no baseball players for Olivia is just downright mean).

Her one loophole? Playing baseball beat reporter for Texas State Tech.

Chasing similar dreams, Liv attempts to befriend Breslin. But the amazingly talented, pain in her aperture has only two words to say whenever she’s around: “No comment”.

Still, she can’t help but notice the troubled ballplayer’s running on overload. Emotionally wounded and reeling from his mother’s death, the only time Breslin seems close to “ok” is on the ballfield. Liv and his new teammates can’t seem to get through.

When a lapse in judgment catches Breslin in a real-world rundown, jeopardizing his probation and his baseball scholarship, his only choice may be to rely on Liv–the aggravating, attractive, and utterly relentless reporter, chasing her latest headline.

[Book one of a series, Chasing Headlines ends with a HFN, no cliffhanger, but lingering / unresolved issues waiting to bite them in the butt in Book 2.]

https://www.amazon.com/Pop-Manga-Coloring-Book-Beautiful/dp/0399578471?ie=UTF8&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0399578471&linkCode=as2&redirect=true&ref_=x_gr_w_bb&tag=x_gr_w_bb-20

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27405327-pop-manga-coloring-book?from_search=true

   


Breslin POV

I threw my glove in my locker and grabbed my backpack from the hook. I imagined myself bounding out of the room, but my legs barely managed more than a shuffle.

Still, I must have gotten going a bit too fast because, the next thing I knew, Rally Girl was on the ground, phone skittering across the tile.

And I was the asshole. Shit.

She sat on her rear in the center of the hallway, rubbed her hip and winced. Fuck, is she going to claim I injured her—to get back at me for earlier? I glanced behind me at the locker room door. She can follow me. I looked at the exit door. I’d have to step over her. That would be ridiculous. I had more integrity than that.

Still . . .

She hissed through clenched teeth.

“You . . .” Dammit, what was her name? I had not been paying attention to anything other than, well, my shirt. On her body. Idiot.

“Well, what’s left of me. Geez, do you eat bricks for breakfast or what?”

Her legs, long and tan and open—they bent at the knee as she rested her elbows on them. And apparently, my body was not too tired to enjoy the view.

“I’m not hurt and I’m not upset. But maybe you could help me up?” She spoke in a soft voice. Dark eyelashes framed bright blue-green eyes.

I extended a hand and tugged her to her feet. She stood for a breath, two. So close. Connected. Something about the feel of her skin against mine . . . A small, but soothing warmth tingled through the nerves in my hand, sparking a heated rush from my palm to my neck.

A sharp breath, and then her fingers slid from my grasp. I missed the warmth of her.

“. . . maybe offer an apology?” She moved her hand up and down in a phantom handshake. “Sure, Coop. No hard feelings.”

“Sorry,” I mumbled. Can this be over? I panted for air and shifted back a step. Her being the hot chick in the water fountain had been one thing. I could have tried to find her, always wondered, haunted the student center in the hopes I’d run into her again.

Her being a reporter meant all of those things went on the “no fucking way, ever” list.

“I don’t know what you’re over there thinking, but, I wouldn’t hurt you. You mean too much to the team.” She frowned. “This was an accident. Not that it didn’t jar me to the bone. You missed your calling as a linebacker.”

I blinked. Opened my mouth. Re-ran the words through my brain. She just said a shit ton of stuff, and what the fuck was any of it about?

“I’m fine, really. You need to stop gushing over me. All the upset is really beneath you.” One eyebrow rose and she crossed her arms. How did she breathe while saying all those words?

“Um, are you OK?” She leaned closer.

I stared at her mouth. “You talk a lot.”

Her arms dropped to her sides. “That’s what you have to say? Not a ‘You OK?’ or ‘So sorry, I didn’t see you there. Can I help you with your things?’”

I didn’t catch all of it, but, maybe, if I did the last thing, she’d move out of my way? And I could get food, drink a gallon of water, take a shower? I stunk to hell and back.

Help her with her stuff. I set my backpack down and knelt at her feet. I tried not to think about those short running shorts or how good it’d feel to slide my fingers over the curve of her calf, up to her hip. I shoved her shit into her bag and tossed it to her. I retrieved her phone from the tile floor.

“That’s, um. Yeah. Thanks.” She pulled the device from my grip.

I pushed my sweat-soaked hair from my forehead. “You’re OK?”

“Yeah.” She pulled the bag over her shoulder. “Got bowled over by a human freight train, but lived to tell the tale. I pity any catcher that tries to get in your way.” She gave me a tight-lipped smile.

So many words. No wonder she had to write them all down. “But you’re fine?”

“What, do you need me to sign a waiver?”

Red hazed into my vision. “I’d say yes, but reporters are lying snakes in the grass. Wouldn’t matter.”

“I . . .” Her jaw worked, but no sound came out.

An errant thought about her mouth working flit through my brain.

“But, I–We’re on the same team, Coop.” She pointed at her jersey as if that was “proof”. It sure as hell wasn’t.

“We’re not.” I hefted my backpack onto my shoulder. “But you were right about one thing.”

“What do you mean?”

I leaned down and stared at her head on. She turned a deep dark pink.

“To pity the person who tries to get in my way.”


About the Author


J. Rose Black weaves stories about obsession, redemption, and the transcendental power of love. From her early days writing fanfiction for a passionate following of international readers, to crafting novels with her own characters, Rose has always been drawn to broody protectors and plucky, no-nonsense women ready to fight for what they believe in.

When Rose isn’t deeply immersed in her latest manuscript, she’s working in cyber security and thwarting the next generation of internet bad guys. Out of the office, she’s #Shipping with friends over her favorite, swoon-worthy couples, heading to the gym to battle the great evil that is Unmovable Baby Weight, or complaining about her husband’s addiction to 3D printing. Also: nagging her children to eat something other than cheese.

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