Everybody's Favorite Guy: a forced proximity romantic short story

Everybody’s Favorite Guy by Katherine Center is a short story of two people forced to confront the past. Lily had fallen in love with her childhood friend, Walker, back in high school. When his stinging rejection crushed her, she vowed never to see him again. A vow she had kept until their families plot to get them together again. It is now seven years later, their families are gathering at a cabin in the Rockies. Lily and Walker arrive first and a sudden snowstorm traps them overnight with no power. Thanks to a cozy fire, a prowling bear and time, they confront their past and Lily learns that the past is a little more complicated than she thought. Could this be a new beginning for them both? Or will it tear them apart for good? 

Katherine Center is always great for an emotional story with humor and unusual circumstances. I usually don’t read short stories but I could not resist one written by Ms. Center. I wanted more. I didn’t want to say goodbye so quickly to Lily and Walker. I enjoyed their reunion and their night at the cabin. The tension was great and it was evident that her feelings for Walker were still there and even that Walker had feelings for her. But why did he reject her so hurtfully? His reason was noble but his method was questionable. There are bittersweet moments, plenty of laughs and the end will leave you with a smile. Overall, I enjoyed this story. If you enjoy a quick story of second chance romance, I highly recommend Everybody’s Favorite Guy. 

Everybody’s Favorite Guy is available in eBook and audiobook

Me and Mr Just Right: a messy public break up, an escape and a forced proximity rom com

Me and Mr Just Right is the first book in the Enchanted Forresters series by Kaylee Baldwin. Singer/songwriter Aurelia “Lia” Halifax needs to flee from the spotlight. After a messy public break up and a betrayal, she seeks an escape at an Alaskan island. It was perfect. Deserted with minimal communication. The island isn’t as deserted as she wanted and she is surprised when three hot brothers arrive. To say they weren’t happy would be an understatement. When a sudden storm hits, they are stranded on the island together. Haydn, the oldest brother, is a photographer, and the kind of person she was hoping to avoid. Soon, she is inspired to write again by Hayden and feelings she never thought she would feel again. However, trust isn’t going to come easy for Lia especially when Hayden has a secret, a secret that could be behind the biggest betrayal of all. 

Me and Mr Just Right is a cute sweet rom-com with great banter and humorous moments. They were great characters but with not a lot of depth. The story wasn’t filled with a lot of romance but Lia and Haydn together were sweet. The interactions between the brothers were fun and filled with sibling squabbles. There wasn’t much to the plot and the story behind the betrayal and breakup was obvious and I thought, even in the beginning, that there was more to the situation that Lia knew. The ending was a bit cheesy for me even for a rom com. Overall, the story was fine. However, I was not pulled into the story enough to care about the other characters and I will not be continuing the series. If you like sweet, cute rom com that would be a cozy weekend read, I recommend Me and Mr Just Right. 

Me and Mr Just Right is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Fix Up: a fun banter and heartfelt grumpy-sunshine, forced proximity, enemies to lovers romance

The Fix Up is the third book in the Two Harts series by Sharon M. Peterson. Ellie Sterns is a twenty eight year old single mother who has a broken man picker. She recently inherited the cafe in which she works, the house where she lives with her six year old son, Oliver and the land it sits on. However, she quickly learns that she only inherits half of everything. The other half belongs to the previous owner’s grandson, Gilbert Dalton, a grandson no one knew existed. They discover they must live together on the property for six months in order to complete the inheritance. Gilbert is handsome; however, he’d be irresistible if he smiled which he rarely does. Both have different motivations as the cafe and house means a future for Ellie and for Gilbert, it means a past he wants to forget. She wants to stay and he wants to sell. Can they find a common ground?  As the months pass, they learn the heartbreaking secret and their mutual iciness starts to melt, could it turn into a sizzling chemistry? 

The Fix Up is Sharon M Peterson’s fourth book and she has established herself as one of my go-to authors. Full of heart and laughs along with real life drama and hurts, she handles a story that gives all the feels. Even though The Fix Up is the third book in the series, readers do not need to read them in order to understand each book; however, I highly recommend that readers do as each story is wonderful. That being said, I loved this story. This story is the ultimate grumpy-sunshine, enemies to lovers, forced proximity romance as when readers first see Ellie and Gilbert together, you can’t help to think that their relationship would never work. I loved the characters, especially Ellie’s son, Oliver. Usually featuring children in fiction can be hit and miss; Ms. Peterson captures the six year old beautifully and believably. There wasn’t a plot point or character that I didn’t care for, everything came together wonderfully. I laughed. I cried and I closed the book with a smile. The Fix Up is sweet with fun banter and dramatic with real emotions. I highly, highly recommend The Fix Up. 

The Fix Up will be available in June 17, 2025 in eBook and audiobook

Not Today, Cupid: fun, witty romantic love story

Not Today, Cupid by Jennifer Bonds is the second book in The Harts series. Scarlett Evans works as the executive assistant to Miles Hart while in grad school for a Master’s degree in industrial organizational psychology. She also admires Nick Hart, the sexy CEO, from afar. While Nick is sexy, the man doesn’t smile and has gained the nickname of Hartless. He runs a tight ship and doesn’t seem to care that the employees are miserable. After his brothers bet him to implement a suggestion from the company’s suggestion box. Scarlett is recruited to help Nick plan a Valentine’s Day Social to celebrate the release of the company’s newest venture and to hopefully boost morale. As they work together, Nick’s icy exterior begins to melt and Scarlett feels emboldened to speak up in areas she tends to keep quiet. Soon a spark ignites a fire that they cannot ignore. 

While I had not read the first book in the series, Not Today, Cupid was enjoyable. So enjoyable that I want to go back and read the first book before the third book is released. It was not quite the laugh-out-loud story as described; however, I definitely grinned and chuckled as Nick and Scarlett’s relationship went from cool indifference to passionate fervor. I could not put it down and read well into the night which I haven’t done in a long time. There are some spicy love scenes and tender moments between them. I enjoyed Scarlett’s witty comebacks especially when dealing with Nick. I loved that there was a heart and caring spirit hidden deep behind Nick’s grumpy exterior. I thoroughly enjoyed Not Today, Cupid. I will definitely read the rest of the series. If you enjoy grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity romance, I highly recommend Not Today, Cupid. 

Not Today, Cupid is available in eBook and audiobook