Could Hutton French and I actually be right for each other, or is it all just one big tease?

TEASE, an all new sizzling friends to lovers, fake engagement small town romantic comedy from USA Today and #1 Amazon bestselling author Melanie Harlow, is now available!

I didn’t mean to say I was engaged to a hot billionaire–it just slipped out.

In my defense, I’d had a really bad haircut, a really strong drink, and I was trying to save face in front of the Mean Girl at my high school reunion.

Lucky for me, I happen to know a hot billionaire. Hutton French and I have been friends forever, and even though big social gatherings are not his thing, I called him from the coat closet and begged him for a favor–show up and play my fake fiancé for the night.

Except that word of our engagement spreads like wildfire. Our families are ecstatic. We’re front page news. My little food blog is launched into the stratosphere.

Of course, I offer to set the record straight right away, but Hutton wants to give it a little time–the phony engagement will keep his matrimony-mad mother and every matchmaking granny in town off his back.

He even suggests I move in with him to make the ruse more real.

And we don’t stop there.

We practice kissing. Undressing each other. Saying things–and doing things–we’d never dare if we weren’t pretending. Because it’s all for show, right? We’re just role-playing. Hutton doesn’t want a real relationship, and I don’t want to get hurt. But the more time we spend faking it, the more I start to wonder.

Could Hutton French and I actually be right for each other, or is it all just one big tease?

Keep reading for a look inside TEASE!

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Melanie is the author of the BELLAMY CREEK series, the CLOVERLEIGH FARMS series, the ONE & ONLY series, AFTER WE FALL series, the HAPPY CRAZY LOVE series, and the FRENCHED series. She lifts her glass to romance readers and writers from her home near Detroit, MI, where she lives with her husband, two daughters, and pet rabbit.

"Everything amazing about a small town romance...family, secrets, old wounds, unforgettable connections, plus the sweetest love story that had my heart soaring. An absolute must read! Addie and Beckett were magic together!"–A.L. Jackson New York Times Bestselling Author

Hidden Waters, an all-new touching and heartfelt friends to lovers, small-town romance from bestselling author Catherine Cowles, is now available!

My family tried to break me. But, somehow, I made it out alive, even though the wounds from that survival are forever carved into my bones. Now, my only wish is for…normal. To know what it’s like to have friends, a job, a home.

The last thing I want is for my new roommate to see the scars I’m so desperate to keep hidden, especially not the ruggedly handsome man who steals my breath and sends my heart into overdrive.

But something tells me that Beckett has demons, too. I see it in the shadows haunting his gorgeous eyes and the way he looks at me with gentle understanding.

As our unlikely friendship becomes so much more, forces from my life slink out of the shadows. And we could both lose everything we’ve fought so hard for—down to our very last breaths…

Keep reading for a look inside Hidden Waters!

“You deserved so much better.”

“I’m getting it. I’m making that beautiful life now. And I’ll appreciate it so much more because of what I’ve been through.”

It wasn’t enough for me. It never would be. But I admired how Addie could view her past. I struggled not to hold her too tightly. The urge to burn the world down around me was too strong. I wasn’t good the way Addie was. I still wanted to start with Allen.

“Beckett,” she whispered against my ear. “I’m okay. It doesn’t hurt. The skin is ugly but—”

I reared back. “Nothing about you is ugly.”

Her cheeks flamed. “It is. It’s just facts. I don’t care. There are so many more important things.”

“Show me.” I was already climbing to my feet.

“W-what?”

“Show me.”

Addie stood shakily. “I don’t want you to see it.”

My gaze locked with hers. I poured everything I was feeling into that one look. “Please.”

She didn’t say anything for a moment, searching my face for something. Then she nodded and turned around. Slowly, so painfully slowly, she unbuttoned her blouse. When she was done, she simply stood there, not lowering the shirt. Her ribs expanded and contracted in ragged breaths. Then she let the fabric fall to the floor.

Angry slashes crisscrossed her back. They were varying tones, shapes, and depths. In that moment, I knew Allen had done this to her over and over. My hands fisted so tightly I was in danger of breaking a knuckle.

I moved closer and then sank to my knees again. “It’s just me.” My hands went to Addie’s hips. She gave a slight jolt. I stilled. “You okay?” She nodded, the movement jerky, her breaths ragged. I slowly swept my thumb across a patch of raised skin. Then I bent forward, my lips going to the worst of the scars. I ghosted them over the flesh that had been torn apart but had come back together stronger than it had been before.

“Beauty in the strength that carried you through. Beauty in how you refused to be broken. Beauty that you never let yourself become cruel like him. Addie, there isn’t a thing about you that isn’t beautiful.”

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Review

5 STARS

Did I stay up till 1:30am to finish reading this? Yes. Do I regret it? Not a bit! I could not put this book down! This is one of my favourite books from Catherine Cowles, potentially my number one favourite. I already loved the world Cowles has created with Wolf Gap but after reading this book, I love it more. I adore the worlds that she crafts. 

Addie is such a great heroine. After suffering a life of abuse, she is finally free and living on her own terms and she is DONE putting up with any crap that people give her! She is so strong and brave and fierce even after suffering her whole life and despite living around people who treat her horribly, she is so kind and compassionate. She’s really something special. 

After escaping with the help of her cousin, Everly and her fiancé, Hayes, she’s now living in Hayes old house now that he has moved in with Everly and although she’s still a little on edge about living alone, she finally has room to breathe. Until, Hayes’ brother Beckett returns to Wolf Gap after leaving his job overseas and needs a place to stay while his house is being built. Addie agrees to let Beckett stay with her even though she’s unsure of being so close to another man. What she doesn’t know is that Beckett is battling his own demons too. 

Beckett is the new doctor in town after leaving his job working for an organisation overseas that provide medical help to those without access. He hasn’t been back in Wolf Gap for years and regrets leaving his family when they needed him the most. He’s battling demons of his own and constantly has nightmares of things that have happened in the past that he blames himself for. 

Beckett and Addie seem so different but they have more in common than they think. Both of them have gone through so much and have some trauma that they need to work through, however they both find peace and solace in the other which causes them to form a fast friendship and spend all of their free time together. Addie is still being harassed by those from her former life and Beckett steps in to protect her. 

One thing I love about Catherine Cowles books is how she manages to merge such an emotional story into a thrilling and suspenseful story. You don’t get one or the other with Cowles’ writing, she has mastered perfectly blending the suspense that keeps you on your toes and the emotional aspect that punches you right in the gut. This is the case for Hidden Waters. 

Addie and Beckett go through a lot in this book together and I loved being along for the ride. This is a heartbreakingly beautiful story of two broken souls who find the one they fit perfectly with and who will help heal and cheer on them throughout their lives. This is a story filled with love and hope. This is such a great addition to the Tattered and Torn series and I can’t wait to read the next instalment. 

I highly highly recommend reading this story! 

*ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review*

TOUCHSTONE BY KAREN STIVALI

Cover Design: Elle Maxwell Designs

BLURB

Sam doesn't think love is in the cards. The cards disagree.

When Phoebe Stevens' life implodes in a spectacularly public fashion, she's desperate to escape Manhattan. So the offer of a job setting up a new Vermont gastropub couldn’t come at a better time. Driving a U-Haul on winding mountain roads is Phoebe's personal version of hell. But when the caretaker of her guesthouse answers the door tousled, shirtless, and baking cinnamon rolls, her first impression of Vermont dramatically improves.

Sam Trembley believes everyone gets one true love, but he’s already blown his chance. He's spent five years avoiding relationships. Now he’s back in Colebury where sunrise tarot draws and moonlit hikes soothe his soul. But why do the tarot cards keep showing him this nonsense about soulmates? Could it have anything to do with the jaded city girl on his doorstep?

Playing tour guide is fun, but taste-testing her culinary creations as she shimmies her luscious hips around his kitchen is downright irresistible. Soon their chemistry burns hotter than the pub's wood-fired oven.

Has fate brought them together for a summer of love...or a lifetime of happiness?

Touchstone contains craving-inducing menu planning, a sassy white witch grandma, seismic sexy times, and tarot cards on a mission to prove soulmates are real.

4 stars! 

I’m so excited to finally be reading the Speakeasy portion of the World of True North. I’ve been dying to hear more about this location. Karen Stivali is a new to me author and I wasn’t disappointed Touchstone is such a nice opener to this side of the world. 

I really liked Phoebe and Sam, they were both so sweet and their connection with each other was strong instantly. Even though this isn’t an instalove story, you can see how Phoebe and Sam fall for each other so quickly. They were destined for each other. 

They fit together perfectly, their banter flows easily and their chemistry is scorching. But the way they trust and heal each other is what I really loved about them together and this story. They have both been hurt in the past but once they meet, they begin the process of healing thanks to the other.  They were just so natural together which I really loved. 

This was such a sweet and easy read and I would recommend picking it up if that’s what you’re looking for. 

*ARC KINDLY PROVIDED IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW*