Cadaver Lab: A Romantic Comedy... With Corpses (Graveyard Secrets #1) Cat Johnson

 

Cadaver Lab: A Romantic Comedy... With Corpses (Graveyard Secrets #1) Cat Johnson

 

Blurb:

Quirky Small Town Feel-Good Fast-Paced Steamy Rom Com Mystery Romance
He's a former Army medic. She owns a book and wine shop. It's all the makings of one steamy small-town romance… except he runs a cadaver lab and she sees dead people.

Strange things are happening at the Once Upon a Vine Book & Wine Shop in Mudville, New York.

Is it the sky clad Wiccans meeting on the roof? The book club drinking "magic mushroom" tea in the meeting room? The black cat who moved uninvited into the shop? The sudden run on Tarot card sales?

Maybe it can be traced to the downed power line that rendered the bookshop owner technically dead making her the new conduit to the local ghost community. Or to the cadaver lab next door and the hot but mysteriously secretive doctor who runs it.

All Natalie knows is she can’t ignore him or them anymore now that one of the hot doctor’s cadavers insists his death was the result of foul play and she's the only one who can bring him justice.

Cadaver Lab features a grumpy hero, amateur sleuth heroine, small town shenanigans, spicy lovin', mystery, murder & mayhem... and some ghosts.

 

My review:

Adorable cozy! This was hilarious. Natalie had me rolling on the floor and the hot doc slayed me. A fantastic first.

 

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Gold Digger (Daydreamer #2) by Susie Tate

 

 

Blurb:

He’s a billionaire Duke, he owns a good ten per cent of the UK, and he’s been voted Britain's Sexiest Aristocrat, but Oliver Harding still doesn’t know what to do about the massive crush he has on his cleaner. Lottie’s clumsy and really crap at her job, but her laugh is infectious, her smile lights up the room, she’s insanely good at chess, and he can’t stop thinking about her.

Aware of the power imbalance, he sets out to make her his, and he thinks he’s getting somewhere until she seriously betrays his trust. So now he tells himself he hates her, and he makes sure everyone knows it. But once Ollie realizes that his privilege and self-absorption have made him entitled and completely blind, he’s determined to win Lottie back. A fake engagement might be a bit extreme, but his family had been getting its way for five hundred years, and the Duke of Buckingham was no different from his ancestors.

Lottie’s life is a struggle. She’s had to fight for everything since going into foster care at the age of twelve. The Duke of Buckingham, wouldn’t understand struggle if it smacked him in the face. He’s got money and family coming out of his ears; she has twenty quid in her current account and no family other than her traumatized, selectively mute eight-year-old little sister, whom Lottie is determined to keep safe.

She doesn’t have time for handsome Dukes with silver tongues. So she tells herself she’s not heartbroken when he turns on her like she knew he would, putting everything she worked so hard for in jeopardy. She needs to concentrate on survival. But Lottie underestimates just how charming Ollie can be. Or what a formidable opponent his centuries-old, innate arrogance makes him.

My review:

Gold Digger is a sweet romantic romp. Lottie is a strong, sassy klutz. Ollie is charming, hot and a total cinnamon roll. I enjoyed watching these two find each other.

 

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A Mistletoe Christmas by R.C. Wynne

 

Blurb:

In the cozy coastal town of Rochester Shores, Freja is determined to safeguard her family's seaside holiday tradition. Enter Cooper, an ambitious outsider with dreams of turning a profit in the holiday hustle. Sparks fly as their rivalry heats up, setting the shores ablaze with unexpected romance. A Mistletoe Christmas is a heartwarming tale of love, legacy, and the magic that happens when opposites attract during the most wonderful time of the year.

 

My review:

A smexy Hallmark Christmas movie type tale that will leave you with a warm heart and a smile.

 

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Authors site

Killer in the Kennel (South Beach Security: K-9 Division #3) by Caridad Piñeiro

 

Killer in the Kennel (South Beach Security: K-9 Division #3) by Caridad Piñeiro

 

Blurb:

Her K-9 found the victims

Can they find the killer?

Determined to make his own way, Jose Gonzalez wants no part of the family business. Helping South Beach Security find land for its growing K-9 division should be easy, though—and working alongside search-and-rescue specialist Sara Hernandez is an unexpected perk. When her bloodhound detects two bodies on the property he purchased, everything changes. Jose will be a part of SBS until he’s certain that Sara is safe. He knows that their attraction is mutual, but will the serial killer they’re tracking rob them of a future together? 

 

My review:

Killer in the Kennel is a fantastic addition to the series. Each book can be standalone but characters from each book appear in others. This book features two individuals from high-powered, intense families and don’t feel like they fit in. They’re determined to go their own way despite family expectations. This story features a creepy murder mystery and two people perfect for each other. A thrilling read.

 

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Djinn Bottle Blues (Destiny of a Middle-aged Witch #2) by Renee George

 

 

Blurb:

In my family, danger happens faster than a pixie in heat. I'm Marigold Everlee, a middle-aged eclectic witch with a knack for trouble and a soul that houses a piece of my fiery boyfriend Zev's ifrit spirit.

Talk about a girl on fire. Literally.

Sharing a piece of Zev’s soul also gives me access to his fire magic. Oh, yeah, we keep things hot.

After a harrowing rescue mission where I pissed off half the folks in a secret supernatural realm—not to mention a snake goddess who wants Zev all to herself—I knew trouble would find us again.

I just didn't expect it to show up on the same freaking day I brought Zev home. Someone who clearly missed the memo on "leave the people I love alone or get fired from life" has kidnapped my brother Rowan.

What do they want? Zev, of course. My popular fire djinn can't catch a break.

With few options, we enlist the help of Carver, an eclectic witch friend and mentor. Then, we're off to unravel the mystery of Rowan's disappearance. With their help, I'll face this challenge like I do all challenges—head-on.

The kidnappers obviously don't know who they're messing with. And if they harm a hair on my brother’s head, I will burn their world to the ground. And stomp on the ashes.

 

My review:

No sooner than half-ogre/witch Marigold Everlee gets her sweetie the djinn Zev back from captivity she finds that her brother Rowan has been captured. They want to exchange him for Zev. They just can’t win. But they have messed with the wrong woman. Marigold with some help from some powerful friends are going to get her brother back, alive and in one piece or there will be heck to pay. This is a mind spinningly fast paced adventure. Highly recommend you read the first installment Burning Djinn Of Fire but this can be read standalone.

 

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Graveyard Dog (Charley Davidson #13.9) by Darynda Jones

 

 

Blurb:

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Darynda Jones comes a new story in her Charley Davidson series…

Michael Cavalcante has one thing on his mind when he knocks on Izzabel Walsh’s door at two in the morning, half-dressed and a bit toasted: fix the woman’s heater and get back to bed. He vows never to cover for his maintenance tech again, especially after he gets tased and knocked out with a frying pan for his efforts.

Izzy thought she was safe. She’d dyed her hair, changed her name, and moved 1,500 miles away, and still they found her. When a member of her ex’s motorcycle club knocks on her door in the middle of the night, supposedly to fix a perfectly good heater, Izzy panics. Not only have they found her, but they would soon discover she has a daughter. Aka, a weakness. Aka, leverage. She needs time to think. To plan. To figure out how to keep the sexy neanderthal quiet. But she has no idea how to, short of murder. Can she win him over to her side? Or will he be just like all the others once he finds out what she is capable of?

Michael has one chance to convince Izzy he doesn’t want to harm her or her daughter, but more than that, he wants to know who does. And why. And where he can find them. After all, how else is he going to make sure the two sprites, who have wound their way into his heart, are safe?

**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

 

My review:

A short and sweet entry in the Charley Davidson world. Magic. Izzy is a fantastic match for Michael. Pickle was a hoot. This one will make you feel everything.

 

Buy link:

Amazon

Vignette Compilation 2024 by Candace Blevins

 

 

Blurb:

Four stories previously available only through a subscription, now available as a compilation.

Lion, Demon, and Human
Kirsten negotiated for two hours with the Lord of Lust — her body for a specific favor from him — and he specified the King of the Lions must be the one to act as chaperone and witness. Unbeknownst to Kirsten, Xaephan has other ideas about how their little interlude will go. And now we get this scene from Nathan’s POV.

Lion, Vampire, and Human
Nathan and Kirsten awaken in Abbott's bed after Kirsten is overcome by bloodlust and must be kept under guard until she learns control — or until the effects of Bran's blood fade. We've seen the events through Kirsten's point of view, but what was Nathan thinking?

The Biker and the New Wolf
The sex scenes in Careful What You Ask For between Britches and Dozer were all told from Brianna’s POV. If you wondered what Dozer was thinking and feeling when you read the original, here you go!

Dozer’s Punishment
Dozer created an issue during Razor that threatened the RTMC’s standing in Chattanooga’s supernatural hierarchy, and Brain helped him negotiate to fix the problem. One night, twelve hours, at the mercy of Abbott, Gavin, and two other men, told from Dozer’s POV. We couldn’t see this scene in Razor because neither Razor nor Matty attended.

 

My review:

This one is for the fans. These are four short, dark and steamy tales told from an alternate view from the stories they took part in. If you haven’t read the stories you might not get the context but if you have you’ll thoroughly enjoy.

 

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Winged Wolf Vet (Shifter Vets #3) by Zoe Chant

Blurb:

Who do you call when a winged wolf crashes through the roof of your chicken coop? Shifter Vets!

Leslie’s house was already falling apart before mythical animals started plummeting out of the sky. Now she’s got a hole in her chicken coop, an adorable (and impossible) cub hiding in her kitchen, and her nosy neighbor barging in to search for cryptids.

Not to mention the naked man locked up in her chicken run. Who up until five minutes ago was an enormous, unconscious, injured wolf… with wings.

Shifter vet Bryan is not having a good day. First the magical cub he’s trying to help runs away from him. Then someone put a bullet through his wing. And now he’s woken up in a chicken coop…looking straight into the eyes of his one true mate.

Who just saw the one secret he can never let anyone discover.

Finding love in these circumstances seems impossible. But Vets for All Pets - and the magical creatures its shifter veterinarians care for - has a lot of experience with things that don’t seem possible…

 

My review:

I binged Unicorn Vet, Bear Vet and then Winged Wolf Vet. You don’t have to read the first two but I would recommend them as they put Bryan’s actions into context. Bryan is used to hiding his true shifter side from everyone even his friends don’t know his wolf can fly. When he is mistaken for a mothman and shot at he lands in the chicken coop of the new girl in town and his true mate. This story tells how the grumpy vet and the perky entrepreneur work through his issues and let love win.

 

Buy links:

Amazon

 

 

Spending Christmas in Hell (Diamonds of London, #8) by Sandra Sookoo

 

 

Blurb:

When two disenchanted people come unexpectedly together, Christmas is suddenly brighter.

Ever since Sir Timothy Dashfield—a baronet with a few holdings—became partners in a successful counting house with his best friend who’d recently married, his life has taken on a sense of restlessness and boredom. When he’s tasked with collecting the overdue rent on a townhouse owned by a clockmaker, that last thing he expects is a pretty Irish young lady with mix of annoyance and sorrow in her eyes.

Miss Ashlynn Athercrombe lost her father six months before. Since the clock repair shop closed, there is no money coming to pay bills. To make matters worse, Christmastide is upon London, and she doesn’t feel like celebrating. When a man from the counting house comes to collect the unpaid rents, something inside her snaps and she rounds on the unfortunate, handsome man in a spectacular display of hysterics.

Perhaps it was the maudlin mood or perhaps it was the unwillingness to spend the holiday alone, but when Timothy temporarily loses his mind and asks Miss Athercrombe to marry him and she accepts, they embark on a very different future than they both had planned. Immediately, the differences between them create misunderstandings and obstacles, but by working together and remembering a bit of mistletoe magic, they might just find everything they have been too fearful to seek out themselves...

...and if they can’t find common ground, they’ll surely spend Christmas in hell.

 

My review:

A smashing good time!

Sir Timothy is feeling a bit put out. His best friend has recently married and has been spending time with his new bride leaving to fend for himself more often than not.

Miss Ashlynn is a recent orphan who is about to be put out on the streets by Timothy as her rent is in arrears and he holds the deed.

This is their tale. It is funny, steamy and heartwarming. Though this is part of a series each book can be read standalone.

 

Buy links:

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A Mage Made in Heaven (Casino Witch Mysteries 10) by Nikki Haverstock

 

 

Blurb:

There are three rules at the Golden Pyramid Casino Poker Tournament:

1.      Don't blow your winnings in one night

2.     Hide your tells

3.     No magic

Ella's life is finally exactly how she wants it. Well, almost. She's running a security firm with Vin and business is booming. But Vin is sure something is wrong after they are hired to provide extra security at the Golden Pyramid's annual poker tournament, and that instinct proves explosively correct. Now they have to solve the case and protect the tournament participants, plus Ella's mentor shows up, triggering a big life decision, all while trying to avoid getting squished by a building.

 

My review:

This is the book I’ve been waiting for! Ella is finally getting a grip on her magic and becoming the strong witch she was meant to be. She and the gang are doing well and their skill will be challenged by this mystery. Another fun magical mystery.

 

Buy links:

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One Night with You (Montgomery Ink Legacy #7) by Carrie Ann Ryan

 

Blurb:

Never fall for your best friend.
That’s the rule. The code.
Claire Harlow always follows rules—except this one.
However, when an attack leaves both of their worlds shaken, she decides to walk away from what could have been and hide within her own shadows.

Kingston Montgomery is the man who saves the day.
At least that’s what he’s always told himself—until one day he was too late.
Now he’s trying to find his purpose while also ignoring the heat between him and Claire.
When a chance blizzard changes their plans, one night turns to two…and then there’s no going back.

Only the two must overcome what they thought their relationship should be and realize what it could become. Because if they don’t figure it out quickly, the spark that ignites them could burn them both.

**One Night With You is a next generation, protector, snowed in, friends to lovers romance in the Montgomery Ink Legacy series featuring Kingston & Claire. Each book can be read as a complete standalone. An HEA is guaranteed!**

Kingston Montgomery is Ethan, Holland, and Lincoln's son from Sated in Ink.

 

My review:

Break out the tissues. This one made me bawl like a baby and laugh out loud. Kingston and Clair will keep you flipping pages and wishing they were your friends in RL. A fantastic addition to the series.

 

Buy links:

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Caesar (Danger Bluff Book 6) by Becca Jameson & Pepper North

 

 

Blurb:

Caesar
A mysterious billionaire saved my life.
Now, I owe him.
My team’s job: Save Isla from certain danger.
My goal: Convince her she’s mine.

Isla
They can laugh at me all they want.
But treasure hunting is my passion.
Could I find the last piece of the puzzle at Danger Bluff?
If only my gorgeous scuba guide didn’t ooze Daddy vibes.

 

My review:

Action, adventure, treasure and hunky men what more could you want. This is a sweet and smexy adventure.

 

Buy links:

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Lost and Lassoed (Rebel Blue Ranch #3) by Lyla Sage

 

 

Blurb:

She thrives in chaos. He prefers routine. The only thing they have in common? How much they hate each other.

Teddy Andersen doesn’t have a plan. She’s never needed one before. She’s always been more of a go-with-the-flow type of girl, but for some reason, the flow doesn’t seem to be going her way this time.

Her favorite vintage suede jacket has a hole in it, her sewing machine is broken, and her best friend just got engaged. Suddenly, everything feels like it’s starting to change. Teddy is used to being a leader, but now she feels like she’s getting left behind, wondering if life in the small town she loves is enough for her anymore.

Gus Ryder has a lot on his plate. He doesn’t know what’s harder: taking care of his family’s 8,000 acre ranch, or parenting his spunky six-year-old daughter, who is staying with him for the summer. Gus has always been the dependable one, but when his workload starts to overwhelm him, he has to admit that he can’t manage everything on his own. He needs help.

His little sister’s best friend, the woman he can’t stand, is not who he had in mind. But when no one else can step in, Teddy’s the only option he’s got. Teddy decides to use the summer to try and figure out what she wants out of life. Gus, on the other hand, starts to worry that he’ll never find what he needs.

Tempers flare, tension builds, and for the first time ever, Gus and Teddy start to see each other in a different light. As new feelings start to simmer below the surface, they must decide whether they should act on them. Can they keep things cool? Or will both of them get burned?

 

My review:

This one has all the tropes. Grumpy/sunshine. Best friends brother. Enemies to lovers. Opposites attract. Well, you get the idea. This was a delightful romp where Gus and Teddy finally figure it out and we get taken along for the ride. This is one wild ride.

 

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Legal Entanglement: An Instalove Office Romance by Hayleigh Davis

 

 

Blurb:

Tessa Barnes has given up on finding Mr. Right. Married to her career as a powerful business attorney, she has no time for fun, let alone romantic commitments. But when a tall, tan, and rugged man walks into her life and jumpstarts her heart, she has no choice but to make room in her life for the irresistible Hunter Reeves. As Tessa begins to find the balance between the demands of her job and need for so much more, billionaire Jake Braxton pays her a surprise visit and drops a bomb on her newly-rekindled personal life.

Caught between two nearly perfect options, Tessa faces an impossible choice: the man who brought her back from the brink of loneliness, or the long-time friend and high school crush she never got over. But as the pressure to pick one man or the other intensifies, so does the heat as Hunter and Jake make a tempting request. Is it possible that one night of shared passion could turn into a lifetime of pleasure, or will Tessa eventually regret getting entangled with two men at once?


Legal Entanglement was previously published years ago under the title Red Hot Pleasures. It has been rebranded and re-edited to fit in Hayleigh Davis's Magnolia Cove world.

 

My review:

HOT! Tessa is a no nonsense attorney but when tempted by the hunky contractor and the boy she loved returned together well who could say no?

This is a fast-paced insta-love ménage that will leave you sweaty and satisfied.

 

Buy links:

Amazon

 

Wild Bliss (Nights in Bliss, Colorado Book 14) by Lexi Blake, Sophie Oak

 

 

Blurb:

Sabrina Leal moved to Bliss looking for a new start. She’s in charge of building a school system from scratch and is excited about the challenge. What she didn’t count on was the surliest bar owner she’s ever met. Sawyer Hathaway gets under her skin in the most annoying way. He’s arrogant and sometimes rude, and she can’t stop thinking about him. It’s easier to ignore him when it’s only Sawyer. But when she meets his best friend, Wyatt, he’s light to Sawyer’s darkness, and the combination calls to Sabrina in a way she might not be able to deny.

Sawyer likes things the way they are. Alone. No serious connections. Just him simmering in his own unresolved trauma. Like a real man should. But the new schoolteacher is making it hard. And the reappearance of Wyatt in his life isn’t helping. Years before, Sawyer had joined an outlaw MC when his brother had gotten in trouble. Wyatt had been a true friend, and when he needs a short-term place to stay, Sawyer can’t turn him out. Short term turns way longer, and the baddest man in Bliss has to admit it’s not terrible to have a friend. But there’s no way he’s getting involved with the sweetest thing he’s ever met.

Wyatt wants Sabrina the minute he sees her. He’s spent his whole life in the equivalent of a criminal, violent cult, and he wants some softness. He wants the white picket fence dream of Bliss. His best friend. Their wife. Throw in a super-cute rescue dog and a couple of kids and Wyatt would be in heaven. When his scheming gets all of them snowed in together, he knows he’s got his shot at making this work.

But the MC isn’t done with Wyatt or Sawyer, and Sabrina is exactly the bargaining chip they need…

 

My review:

Bliss, Colorado is a town where people go to start over and be their better selves. The new school teacher looks like she’s a meek and mild mouse but she has the strength of a lioness and the spine to back it up. Snarky, sassy, smart and adorable Sabrina is everything that Wyatt and Sawyer think they don’t deserve. Can Sabrina convince them otherwise? I laughed, I groaned and I sweated as these three find their happy with help from the quirky denizens of Bliss.

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Raised by Wolves by James Patterson & Emily Raymond

 

 

Blurb:

Two strangers. One small town. And a choice that could change everything.
 
The police respond to the arrival of two teens at the grocery store.  They don’t speak English.  They don’t speak at all.  They’re brother and sister and, for all anybody can tell, they’ve been raised in the forest.

Two teens appear out of nowhere, ransacking a small-town grocery and attacking the police officers who come to investigate. Their clothes are torn and filthy, their hands and bare feet callused, they have fangs. They’re sister and brother, alone against the world. Where did they come from? Raised by wolves, they say.

Kai and Holo are taken in by the police chief and his wife, and begin adjusting to life in a small town, attending school and going on dates. But humans, they find, are the most vicious animals. And the mystery of their upbringing brings dark and powerful forces to Kokanee Creek, tearing the town apart and threatening the lives of everyone they love. How will the wolves survive? How will Kai and Holo?

 

My review:

An arresting tale filled with twists, turns and unanswered questions. Just when I thought I knew where Kai and Holo came from and who they were a new twist was added. This book kept me enthralled from the first page till long after the last.

 

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Giving the Dragon Ice (Elemental Dragons Book 2) by Victoria Jayne

 

 

Blurb:

It could be fate or a bitter witch. Either way, someone is against them.

Alisa Roberts went to Manhattan expecting to meet the father she never knew. Finding her mate, though, that was one hell of an inconvenience. Especially when their bond cemented her curse. Destroying the witches responsible is the only way to end their spell.

When Declan Quinn answered the call of a golden dragon shifter, he rutted his way into a disaster. His new mate had a vendetta against witches. Unfortunately, his best friend happened to be quite magical.

When her fire and his ice clashed, they realized fate had a cynical sense of humor. Can the sins of the mother ever wash away? Or will Alisa and Declan pay the ultimate price?

 

My review:

I LOVED this exciting tale. Declan is a teal dragon shifter who is having the time of his life playing the field. Alisa is a golden dragon shifter who is I town to meet her sperm donor. What she never expected to happen was to meet her fated mate. Poor Alisa has so much on her plate, but destiny will not be denied. I was rooting for them from the start. A rollercoaster of emotions.

 

 Buy link:

Amazon

Marked For Vengeance (Crashed and Claimed #6) by Susan Hayes

 

 

Blurb:

She thought she was too old for adventure… until it blew up her ship.

Protecting her client while they cruised around the galaxy was easy work—at least until all hell broke loose. Now Loris is stuck on a hostile planet with poisonous flora, dangerous fauna, and a cocky-as-hell alien with big horns, broad shoulders, and an ego the size of a planet.

She needs to do her job. He’s decided she needs him. The longer they’re together, the more she wonders if he might be right…or if she’s losing her mind as well as her heart.

**Buckle up. This sci-fi romance contains an alien with fur, fangs, horns, and a very possessive attitude when it comes to the woman he’s claimed for his own.

 

My review:

Insta-lust, hot alien loving, older mfc this fast-paced romp hits all the right buttons.

 

Buy links:

Amazon

About That Winery by Erin Lynne

 

 

Blurb:

Gabriella Bianchi finally has a shot at her dream coming true – owning her own winery. Her boss was selling Abella Vineyard, but there was a catch. She had to win a reality game show.

Not just any reality show, but one to fall in love.

That was a hard no for Gabriella. The only thing she loved was her job. But she wasn’t letting a game show stand in her way, she was willing to do anything to win Abella. Even if it meant giving love a chance, or pretending to.

To make matters worse, she found her fiercest opponent was none other than Oliver Bolton, the man who ignored her growing up because he was eight years older than her. Chemistry sparked when they were near each other, but it didn’t matter because they were rivals to win a winery.

Competition was heating up, but so are things between Gabriella and Oliver, despite them both trying to push each other way.

What happens when they have to make a choice, the winery or love?

About That Winery is a spicy contemporary romance with a dirty-talking hero, a sassy heroine, and a battle to win a winery. This book is part of an interconnected About That series but can be read as a standalone.

 

My review:

About That Winery is a fun enemies to lovers romantic comedy that will have you giggle-snorting into your Muscato. Check your brain at the door and laugh and sweat your way through this fun and smexy tale as Brie and Oliver find out what is really important in life.

 

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