Blog Tour: Review of Guarded by Eden Sloane

 

Title: Guarded
Series: Boston Renegades
Author: Eden Sloane
Release: October 20, 2026
Goodreads: https://t.ly/6RZRJ
Bookbub: https://t.ly/JeiyQ
Cover Design: Talina with Bookin’ It Designs
Promo Graphics Designer: @hercozybookshelf! 
 
Genre/Tropes:
●       Hockey Romance
●       Fake Marriage
●       Morally Grey Heroine
●       Single Dad
●       Bookish Hero
●       Found Family
 

NHL goalie Sebastian Voss can stop a hundred-mile-an-hour slapshot. Convincing a judge he deserves custody of his daughter? That’s proving considerably harder.
 
His solution? A fake marriage to the woman he’s already falling for.
 
For three years, Sebastian has fought to keep the little girl who means everything to him. But a steady stream of headlines portraying him as hockey’s favorite womanizing disaster has left his reputation in tatters and his custody case hanging by a thread.
 
If Sebastian wants to prove he can offer his daughter the stable home she deserves, Kat Morrison is his best shot.
 
She’s smart, beautiful, inexplicably unimpressed by his charm, and the first woman in years who makes Sebastian want something for himself. Asking a woman he barely knows to become his wife is probably insane. Falling for her before she ever says yes is definitely worse.
 
But if putting a ring on Kat’s finger gives Sebastian a better chance at keeping his daughter, he’ll risk his heart without hesitation.
 
Kat knows saying yes is a mistake.
 
Not because she doesn’t love him.
 
Because she does.
 
For three years, Kat has been forced to write the lies destroying Sebastian’s reputation, blackmailed into obedience by the one man who holds her brother’s future in his hands.
 
But now Kat is living in his house, wearing his ring, loving his daughter, and falling deeper for the family she was supposed to help destroy. Somewhere between stolen kisses, tangled sheets, and building a life together, their fake marriage starts feeling dangerously like forever.
 
Except forever has an expiration date when it’s built on a secret.
 
And Kat knows that when Sebastian discovers the truth, she may lose the only man she’s ever loved.
 
Buys Links (Kindle Unlimited):
Universal: http://books2read.com/u/4NKgpG
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0HD9RGTKN
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0HD9RGTKN
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0HD9RGTKN
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B0HD9RGTKN
 
My thoughts:

 

Guarded is the first book in the Boston Renegades series.  This one is Kat and Sebastian's story.  The book was definitely one that I read straight through into the night.  I really enjoyed the relationship between the couple and how it evolved.  I really felt for Kat and her predicament.  I was really rooting for her to figure out how to get herself out of it.  I also loved the friendships that Sebastian had with his teammates and sister.  The third act of this book put me through an major emotional wringer, but it was worth it for the HEA.  I highly recommend it and look forward to the next book in the series.

About the Author:
Eden Sloane believes the best love stories aren't about perfect people. They're about imperfect people who keep choosing each other, even after the truth changes everything.
She writes emotionally charged contemporary romance featuring devoted heroes, resilient heroines, impossible choices, and love worth risking everything for. Her stories celebrate the courage it takes to love completely.
When she's not plotting emotional damage (followed by well-earned happily ever afters), Eden can usually be found gardening, trying to win an ongoing battle with the weeds in her yard, drinking far too much caffeine, enjoying a nightcap while watching BBC crime dramas with her husband, and keeping tabs on her four children.
And if you're reading this during the winter, please send warm thoughts. Eden is somewhere in the Midwest, questioning every life choice that led her to a place where the air hurts her face.
 
Author Social Media Links:
TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@edensloaneauthor
Facebook: http://facebook.com/edensloaneauthor
Instagram: http://instagram.com/edensloaneauthor
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Eden-Sloane/author/B0HFT97Q4D
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/71675058.Eden_Sloane
Website: https://www.edensloaneauthor.com/
Newsletter Sign Up: https://www.edensloaneauthor.com/Projects
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/eden-sloane
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@edensloaneauthor
Twitter/X: https://x.com/ESloaneauthor
 

Review: Savage Heart by Willow Aster

 

Savage Heart by Willow Aster is now live!   From USA Today bestselling author Willow Aster comes a heartfelt second-chance romance about a cowboy and a single mom wrangling their tragic past into hope for the future on a proud Wyoming ranch. A car accident on prom night changes everything for eighteen-year-old Maverick Harrington. In a flash, he loses two best friends: one who dies in the crash, the other who carries the blame. Finding hate easier than grief, Maverick’s heart slowly hardens. Now twelve years later, he runs Harrington Ranch, bearing the family name on his shoulders and wearing the past like a brand on his heart. Iris Sullivan didn’t have the sense to leave Ironwood, where loyalty is law. She’s raised her son in the same town that turned its back on her, surviving on stubborn resilience as a single mother. When a golden opportunity takes her back to Harrington Ranch, she comes face-to-face with the man who once said she was dead to him. But forced proximity has a way of weakening defenses. As old secrets and new sparks ignite, Maverick starts to see the woman behind the whispers—and the twelve-year-old boy whose legacy he can’t ignore.  Download today or read and listen for FREE with Kindle Unlimited Narrated by: Sean Masters & Chloe Ryan My thoughts: Savage Heart is the first book in the Harrington Ranch series.  This one involves Maverick and Iris and them finally getting a second chance. I have mixed feelings about this book.  I loved watching Maverick and Iris find their friendship again and have that turn into love.  I also did like that the forgiveness from Iris wasn't immediate.  The relationship that Maverick develops with her son was very sweet.   What I didn't love was the years of disdain and abuse that Iris endured all because people couldn't ask simple questions.  I had a hard time liking anyone in the book for making her go through that all with no proof.  That includes all of Maverick's family, except his mom.  She was amazing.  Despite this issue, I still enjoyed the romance and loved the ending.  I can't wait for the next book.

Review: When I First Met You by Lori Foster

Author: Lori Foster
Publisher: MIRA
Publication Date: July 2026

When he stepped in to help out a city girl, no one expected a “pretend” rescue would lead to something real.

When Glory McCallahan’s cousin moved to Hoker, Kentucky, she felt like she’d lost her best friend. Then, Callie fell in love. To help with wedding arrangements, Glory joins her, but after, the plan is to get back to her perfectly ordered life. Glory has always played it safe, keeping her polished smile in place and her heart on lockdown. No way is she going to let the rugged, too-handsome younger brother of her cousin’s new husband mess with her plans. No matter how infuriating, irreverent, and impossible to ignore Kam may be.

Kam Norwood sees past Glory’s flawless surface, and when he notices she’s being accosted by a wedding guest, he gallantly steps in. What starts as a pretend rescue turns into a night of unexpected sparks. Kam’s not afraid of Glory’s sharp edges—or her secrets. So when the rejected guest turns out to be Glory’s angry ex and things escalate, Kam’s protective instincts kick in big-time.

Turns out, the sizzling attraction may be the one thing that can keep them both safe.

When I First Met You is the sequel to Let Me Be the One.  This is Kam and Glory's story.  I was really looking forward to reading their romance and I was not disappointed.  I really loved this story. It's adorable how Glory and Kam navigate falling for each other. We get to know Glory a lot more and find out that she is a lot different than she seemed in the first book.  She just wants to be accepted and part of a family.  That is what resonated so much with me in both of the books in this series...the theme of found family.  It is often the best kind of family.  

Kam, too, starts to realize that despite his origins, people in the town really respect him. That is another great theme in this book.  How we often have misconceptions about people, until we really get to know them.   I do have to say that my favorite character reversals is that of Liz later on in the book.  I won't spoil it, but it's a great scene!  If you haven't picked this one up yet or even the first book, what are you waiting for?

Review: Needing Him Now by C.A. Harms

Author: C.A. Harms
Publication Date: June 2026

I spent a good part of my life blaming every man for one event.
Granted, it was a life-altering event, one that redirected my course and destroyed the girl I was once.

From that point on, I ran from anything good. I hid behind my sarcasm and attitude, deciding to never allow myself to feel vulnerable to any man again.

I was never wrong; they were.
I knew best, I set my pace, I routed my path.
I had control.

Then one night, I let my guard down, and the path I had set in stone was no longer clear.
Everything that I thought made sense no longer did.

Aaron O’Shay was strong, confident, and very easy on the eyes. I’d noticed many times.

So when I decided to dabble, it didn’t work out as planned. He managed to take everything I thought I knew and scramble it all up.

I hated the uncertainty.
I hated the fact that I couldn’t walk away.
I hated that he invaded my thoughts, created memories I couldn’t forget, and left me longing for more.

I hated that this man was making me love him, no matter how hard I fought against it.

And more than anything else, I hated that he wanted me just the way I was. He took away the only solid reason that he and I could never work.

He wanted me, flaws and all!

I have been in a serious reading slump this year.  Needing Him Now was just the book I needed to hopefully get me out of that slump.  I have really been enjoying the Hudson Boys series and 5 books in, still love it.  Kendall and Aaron's story sucked me right in.  Kendall has been fighting a demon from high school and it has made her someone who walks away rather than sticking.  Her heart has a cage around it.  Until she has one night with Aaron.  

I really loved this story.  I loved watching Aaron break down Kendall's walls and help her realize she could be happy without changing who she was.  I thought Rory and Adley were explosive, but these two could give them a run for their money.  I also just loved Kendall and her sassy mouth. The way she could handle herself in any situation was admirable. I won't spoil it any more, I'll just urge you to read the book.  

  

Review: Until I Found You by Erika Kelly

Author: Erika Kelly

Date of publication: June 2026 

Pie-Baking Quarterback. Single Dad. Summer Road Trip.
 
Decker McKenna lives for football--but a three-year-old with big blue eyes is about to rewrite his playbook.
 
Willa Holland came home to restore her family's inn, not to get tangled up with a grumpy quarterback. But watching him try so hard--and stumble so sweetly--at being a father makes it impossible for her to resist.
 
Late-night baking. Small-town charm. And a little girl who shows them what really matters.
 
Steamy small-town romance with a grumpy quarterback, a charming innkeeper, and a daughter who changes the game.

 Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited!
Amazon US: https://geni.us/uifyEK   
Amazon Worldwide: https://geni.us/uifyEK       
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3NCsO3j 

My thoughts:

Until I Found You is the second book in the McKenna Brothers series.  I really loved the first book, but I almost liked Willa and Decker's story even more, if that is possible. This was such a sweet and adorable romance. The chemistry was off the charts for this couple from the beginning.  Both Decker and Willa were chasing something they were never going to catch and ended up finding something infinitely better. Little Birdie was an adorable addition to the story.  Along with the romance, we are treated to time with the McKenna family again.  I really love the relationship among the brothers and father and I feel like they get closer with each story.  I can't wait for the next book.

About the author:

Award-winning author Erika Kelly writes sexy, passionate, and emotional contemporary romance. Married to the love of her life and raising four children, she lives in the southwest, drinks a lot of tea, and is always waiting for her cats to get off her keyboard.
 
Connect with Erika
Website | https://www.erikakellybooks.com/   
Goodreads | https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7568925.Erika_Kelly   
Amazon | https://bit.ly/3OYEkDf    
Facebook | https://bit.ly/49I3PSM     
Facebook Group |  https://www.facebook.com/groups/ErikaKellysEntourage     
Instagram |  https://www.instagram.com/erikakellyauthor/    
Bookbub |  https://www.bookbub.com/profile/erika-kelly     
Pinterest |  https://www.pinterest.com/erikakellybooks/_saved/       
Newsletter |  https://erikakellybooks.com/pages/newsletter   
 

Review: The Lake House by Lori Foster

Author: Lori Foster
Publisher: Kensington
Publication Date: May 2026

 When Pixie Nolan first came to Bramble, Kentucky, the abandoned and desperate young single mother found hope, healing, and a fresh start. With the loving support of her best friends—Marlow Heddings and her handsome Marine husband, Cort—Pixie is now happily raising her toddler son in a cozy cottage, managing Marlow’s thriving boutique, and designing firefly logo t-shirts that are selling like hotcakes. The past is behind her, and life is good.

She never expected to make an electrifying connection with a summer renter, a retired Navy SEAL with his own complicated past . . .

A rugged warrior with scars both seen and unseen, Brogan Rafferty arrives with an adorable baby girl in tow and settles into the lake house next door. And while he’s a stunning addition to the gorgeous scenery, it’s his caring devotion that captures Pixie’s heart—the way he gently snuggles away the precious infant’s cries, or swoops Pixie’s delighted little boy high in the air with his tattooed, muscular arms.

But it’s no coincidence that Brogan has found Pixie, and his startling revelations make it clear she’s the key to healing old regrets and building new dreams. And when a hostile stranger turns up with shocking accusations against Bramble’s new hometown hero, Pixie must put her own fears and heartbreak away for good—and learn what it truly means to trust.

The Lake House is the second book in the Firefly Summer series.  This one is Pixie's story.  I really loved her in the first book and I was looking forward to her story. If anyone deserved a second chance, it was Pixie and her son.  Brogan is in town with his baby niece looking for a fresh start and to get closer to Pixie and her son.  He holds a secret that will shock Pixie. what he didn't count on was finding love and community

I thought this one was very adorable.  I was so fun to watch Brogan and Pixie fall for each other.  I loved how they formed a little family that seemed so natural.  I was really rooting for them  As in the first book, the community played a big part of the story.  It was kind of funny how Brogan, who just wanted to stay anonymous, kept finding himself in situations where he ended up being the hero.  As I said, this was a really sweet romance and one I highly recommend.

2 in 1: Keeping Him Close and Wanting Him Always by C.A. Harms

We shouldn’t let our past define us. Especially when the events are out of our control. 
We should learn from those mistakes and choose to do things differently.
We should strive for better.
Build a foundation that makes us proud.

Those are all things that are easier said than done.

I’m a fine example of one that allows the hardships and struggles of my past direct me in my future.

Hating Rory has always been easy. Well, easy to fake, because what I truly feel for him, it terrifies me.
He is a man I could fall for.
He is a man that could give me everything I didn’t even know I wanted.
He is the man that each and every time I am near, I feel my walls slowly start to crumble.

But giving in to those feelings could destroy everything I’ve struggled to control.
Loving him means that I have to go against every single rule I have ever set for myself.

But hating him, that is the hardest challenge of all.

This one was a great addition to the series.  It's an enemies to lovers story.  Well more like frenemies since Rory and Adley are in the same friend group.  I loved that Rory finally called Adley out on her behavior toward him and forced her to look at her true feelings.  The interactions between Adley and  Rory's son Jayden were very adorable.  I loved this couple together and highly recommend this one.

Being the girl who always manages to choose the wrong guy is exhausting.

If there is a loser in the crowd, I find him.
I fall, and I keep falling head over heels all the way down the mountain I just leaped off of.

It’s a vicious, ugly cycle.
And I’m done.
I’m done with relationships and two-timing men.
No matter how cute their smile is, no matter how sweet they pretend to be.
I. AM. DONE!

So when Finn decides he’s going to be a good friend and show me how a man should treat a woman, I know from the start it’s a bad idea…a really bad idea!

I can’t do this! I won’t!
This can’t end well.

Fake dating! I mean, what is that anyway?

But true to his word, he shows me the meaning of an honest gentleman. He introduces me to the playful, fun side of being with a man, and the more time I spend with him, the worse I begin to feel. Because, at the end of each day, I have to remind myself that this is all a game.

It’s fake… and fake dating a great guy is awful!

Wanting Him Always is the 4th book in this series and I think it's my favorite couple so far.  Finn wants Sophie to finally realize that she needs to be treated like a queen from anyone she is dating.  A fake dating scheme quickly turns into real feelings.  I just loved seeing Sophie finally feel valued in a relationship.  I also really loved Sophie and her relationship with Finn's mother.  It was adorable. This entire series is so fun and filled with wonderful characters.  I won't spoil the story, but I do highly recommend it.  

Review: The Harbor by Terrijo

 

The Harbor by TerriJo  is now live!

Izzy Summers' life changes instantly overnight, leaving her homeless and sleeping in her car at a Door County campground. With nothing left to lose, she hides out in the quiet town of Fish Creek with a job and a roof over her head, searching for a way to survive.

That plan unravels when a persistent--and dangerously attractive--sheriff keeps crossing her path. Izzy trusts no one, least of all someone wearing a badge.

Sheriff Tony Fontaine knows Izzy is running from something, and he's determined to uncover the truth. What he doesn't expect is how quickly his curiosity turns personal.

Izzy doesn't want a man.

Too bad the sheriff has other plans.

 Download today!

Amazon US: https://bit.ly/4bgqbNE   

Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/4u5UPRu     

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/4beLcbA

My thoughts:

The Harbor is the second book in the Fish Creek series.  It involves Izzy, a mysterious newcomer to Door County and Tony, the town sheriff.   Izzy's life unexpectedly takes a turn when her husband is killed in a car accident and his family decides to take everything away from her out of spite.  Arriving in Fish Creek, she sets out to build a new life and heal.   I really enjoyed this installment.  The friendship that formed between Izzy and Tony was adorable.  Even though he was suspicious or her and he annoyed her, I loved how he slowly helped heal Izzy's heart.  Izzy also was able to find a place to call home with a new found family.  It was fun to catch up with the characters from the first book.  I highly recommend this one.

About the author:

Terrijo passion for all things books began back in junior high. A dedicated reader from the very beginning, she started writing in her early twenties. She has published six novels under a pen name and co-wrote two anthologies about Deadwood, South Dakota.

Born and raised in Minnesota, Terrijo lives in the Twin Cities her pint size Morkie, Zoey, who loves to make an appearance in her small-town women's fiction.

She writes about genuine issues that many women face today, stories that not only entertain, but give hope, laughter and all the feelings in-between. When Terrijo is not hiding out in her writing cave, you can find her behind the chair of her hair salon in Stillwater, or out on the lakes sailing and dreaming up new plots to help her readers escape reality for an hour or two.

 

Connect with Terri Jo

Website | https://bit.ly/4bCGgwq 

Goodreads | https://bit.ly/40vpR7P  

Amazon | https://bit.ly/4rmM0AR   

Facebook | bit.ly/44WQ1nf      

Instagram |  https://www.instagram.com/terrijo_author/ 

Review: That Special Someone by Lori Foster

Authors: Lori Foster & Maisie Yates
Publisher: Kensington
Date of publication: March 2026

 A heartwarming duo of tales about unexpected love and family, from the bonds of sisterhood to the magic of friends to lovers, and the joys of infants and fur babies, plus all the surprises romance has to offer, even amid life’s missteps . . .

THAT SPECIAL SOMEONE * LORI FOSTER

Compared to her smart, responsible twin, Laylee has always been labeled the party girl sister. Now she’s really screwed up by finding herself possibly accidentally pregnant, and definitely not in love. With her sister away on her honeymoon, Laylee’s only confidant is her guy friend, Knox. There’s mutual attraction there, yet they’ve been tiptoeing around it. But telling Knox everything may change . . . well, everything. Especially amid a comedy of pregnancy test errors, a robbery, a cat rescue mission—and the realization that Knox sees her as so much more than a pretty face . . . .

I'll admit that I read this only for "That Special Someone" by Lori Foster.  I won't be reviewing the other story because I only skimmed it and I don't feel like I can give it a full review.   That special Someone is kind of a continuation of a last year's story "The Odd Couple" from The Two of Us.  Laylee is Skye's sister and is watching Skye and Ford's dogs while they are on their honeymoon.  Knox gets a frantic call that Laylee might be pregnant.  Clearly in the friend zone, he vows to help her through no matter what.  

I thought this was a great follow up the The Odd Couple.  Watching Knox and Laylee finally give into their attraction was so fun to watch. Laylee had a lot to work through and Knox was the best person to help her. There are a lot of  hilarious scenes and shenanigans packed into this short story.  We also get a visit from characters from other "Best Friends" series stories.  They added a lot of fun to the story as well.  I highly recommend this one.  

Review: The Last One You Loved by LJ Evans

Author: LJ Evans
Publisher: That's What She Said Publishing
Publication date:September 2022

 Maddox Between my badge, my daughter, and my hometown, I’ve got a busy life. It’s a mostly happy one. But late at night, when the house is quiet, I still see her face. McKenna may have left me and this town behind a decade ago, but a century wouldn’t be long enough to get over her. There’s only one thing worse than never seeing her again. If she came back, the secret I’ve been keeping would destroy lives. Mine included. As long as she stays gone, everyone is safe.

McKenna When my world catches fire, destroying the dreams I’ve sacrificed so much for, there’s only one place I can think to go. One man I can run to. But going back is no homecoming. Sheriff Maddox Hatley hasn’t forgotten me. And he sure hasn’t forgiven me either. He’s hiding something beneath all that anger. I’m going to stick around until I find out what it is.

I picked this up as a random Kindle unlimited pick.  I'm so glad I did.  In The Last One You Loved, McKenna is back in town after her career path is temporarily derailed.  She's looking for a place to lay low.  What she didn't bargain for is that the love that she walked away from is now occupying that place.  Maddox is surprised to see McKenna. He holds a secret that could jeopardize his relationship with his daughter.

I thought this was a really sweet second chance romance with a bit of suspense thrown in.  I loved watching McKenna and Maddox getting to know each other again and realizing that they belong together.  Both of them have changed and grown. Both of them are still wrestling with their past as well.  Maddox's daughter was adorable and I loved their relationship.  Maddox's extended family and their relationships rounded out the story nicely.  I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

Review Tour: Cowboys of Devil's Ditch by Vanessa Vale

 
Cowboys of Devil's Ditch by Vanessa Vale is live!
 
The West just got Wilder! Meet the cowboys of Devil’s Ditch, Montana, one steamy, instalove story at a time.

This paperback volume includes Trig, Colt and Bray.

TRIG:
I’m a rodeo champ. I live for the eight second rush astride an angry bull. But now I live for her. The One I save from a Montana blizzard.
Stranded together, I make her mine.
When danger arrives on my front porch, I protect what’s mine.
But how do I protect the woman I love if I don’t know who she really is?

COLT:
She’s The One. The one who got away.
After a steamy encounter at the rodeo, I thought I’d never see her again. I’ve been given a second chance when I discover she’s the new doctor in town. I do everything I can to make her mine, but she resists. It makes no sense, until I learn the truth of her past. I won’t let her escape again, even if I have to handcuff her to my bed.

BRAY:
I’ve known her for years… but it’s time to make her mine. My little sister’s best friend needs my help, to be her fake boyfriend.
Fake? Nothing’s fake with her. She feels it, too, but can’t understand why I finally want her after all this time. I’d take the time to prove it, but someone’s out to hurt her. That means she’s mine now whether she likes it or not.

These short reads are MF with a guaranteed spicy HEA. While they are standalone, it’s best to read them in order.

 Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited!
Amazon: https://bit.ly/4nOactc  
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/47RNomH

My thoughts: 

This volume of  Cowboys of Devil's Ditch contains the first three novellas in the series. Each one features a member of the large Wilder family who meet their loves and fall instantly.  They are all insta-love, very quick romances with happy endings.  They all also contain very spicy content.  

While I enjoyed each couple, my favorite out of the three was Bray's story.  Bray and Katie have known each other for a long time so I felt like their story was less insta-lovey.  It was more like Bray finally saw what was right in front of him all along.  If you are a fan of insta love stories with alpha males who take care of their women, I highly recommend this series.

About the author:

I'm Vanessa Vale and I'm a USA Today bestseller of over 95 small town and cowboy romances. I live in the American West where I'm always finding inspiration for my next story.
 
Connect with Vanessa
Website | https://vanessavaleauthor.com/   
Goodreads | https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9835889.Vanessa_Vale   
Amazon | https://www.amazon.com/stores/Vanessa-Vale/author/B00PGB3AXC    
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/vanessavaleauthor     
Facebook Group |  https://www.facebook.com/groups/vanessavalewagontrain     
Instagram |  https://www.instagram.com/vanessa_vale_author/    
Bookbub |  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/vanessa-vale        
Newsletter |  https://vanessa-vale-books.myshopify.com/pages/mailing-list   

 

Blog Tour: Review and Excerpt from A Quarterback for Christmas by Linda West

 

Author: Linda West
Publisher: Independent
Publication Date: October 1, 2025
Pages: 177
Genre: Holiday Romance
Formats: Kindle, FREE with Kindle Unlimited
 
He's Buffalo's hometown hero. She's the one who got away. When fate and a little Christmas magic bring them back together, love might just score the biggest comeback of all.

When Buffalo’s hometown quarterback Nash Jordan gets traded back just before Christmas, his career—and his heart—are both on thin ice. A lingering injury threatens his future, until help arrives in the most unexpected form: Eden Landers, the woman he never stopped loving.

Eden’s a talented chef with a hint of magic in her kitchen, and healing others is what she does best. But moving into Nash’s guest house to help him recover stirs up more than old memories. Between snowstorms, laughter, and late-night meals, love begins to simmer again.
Can they trust each other enough for a second chance? Or will fear and fame keep them apart once more?
Heartwarming, wholesome, and full of Christmas cheer, A Quarterback for Christmas is a cozy holiday romance about love, forgiveness, and finding your way home.

My thoughts:

A Quarterback for Christmas is a cute and sweet second chance romance.  When Nash is traded back to the Bills, he ends up in his hometown.  He needs all the luck and help he can get to make a comeback.  Eden is an old flame from high school who he hires to cook for him to bring him back to full health.   I enjoyed watching Nash and Eden realize they still had feeling for each other.  There is a little angst when an ex shows up.  I just wish that it didn't take Nash so long to realize the mistake he made causing Eden heartbreak.  Throughout the story, we are treated to cute perspectives from the cat who thinks he is royalty.  If you are looking for a sweet romance to get you in the Christmas spirit, I recommend this one. 

A Quarterback for Christmas is available at Amazon.
 
BOOK EXCERPT
The rain had just started when Nash Jordan stepped off the practice field, helmet in hand and sweat soaking through his gray workout shirt. His leg ached every time he shifted his weight, a dull reminder of the ACL tear that still hadn’t fully healed. He told himself it was nothing—it had to be nothing—but the tightness in his jaw said otherwise.
“Jordan,” one of the junior trainers called. “Coach wants to see you.”
Nash nodded and headed down the long hallway toward the coach’s office. The walls were lined with framed photos of better days—division titles, playoff wins, smiling faces. For a split second, he imagined one of those photos showing him, wearing the Rams jersey with a championship ring on his finger.
The coach was waiting behind his desk, arms folded and expression unreadable. “How’s the leg?”
“I’ve been better,” Nash admitted with a half shrug. “Probably just a minor flare-up. I’ll be back to full speed real soon.”
The coach took a breath. “You know we believe in you, Nash. You’re one of the best quarterbacks we’ve had come through here.”
Nash gave a small smile. “Thank you, Coach. I appreciate that.”
“That’s why this is hard.” The coach paused. “We just traded you to Buffalo.”
Nash blinked. “Buffalo?”
“They need a backup for Allen. It’s a solid deal—next year’s first and second round picks. You’ll get a fresh start.”
Nash stared at the floor as the words sank in. Buffalo. Snow, cold, his old high school stadium. And him—once a top draft pick—now a backup. “Right,” he said quietly. “Buffalo.”
The coach stood and offered his hand. “You’re going to have a great career, son. I know it.”
– Excerpted from A Quarterback for Christmas by Linda West, Linda West, 2025. Reprinted with permission.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Linda West is a best-selling Amazon author in fiction and non-fiction. She lives in the snowy wonderland of upstate New York with her husband and magical cat. 
Her latest book is the holiday romance, A Quarterback for Christmas. You can visit her website at http://www.morningmayan.com.