Sunday Spotlight is a feature we began in 2016. This year we’re spotlighting our favorite books, old and new. We’ll be raving about the books we love and being total fangirls. You’ve been warned. 🙂

Grumpy Jake by Melissa Blue came on my radar last month when I saw that gorgeous cover. Then Rowena read it and said she really liked it, so I bumped it up on my list. I can’t wait to read it.

Bailey Thorne doesn't hate Jake the Rake, just despises him. She blames the rumor mill at her school...and, okay, him. His adorable son has only been in preschool, but Jake has already made an impressive dent in dating the unmarried faculty. She's had to hear of his every exploit from the broken hearts he's left behind. She was fine to loathe him from afar, but now his son has entered kindergarten--and she's the teacher. It's going to be a very long school year.

Jake Polaski was more than fine to avoid Ms. Thorne after it became clear she was not amused by his very existence. But then they get stuck in an elevator for an evening. He finds out that underneath that baleful glare she always gives him, lies a warm, funny and sexy as hell woman. He does his best to not be smitten after every exchange afterward. His son needs him rational, steadfast...and love is the most uncertain thing.

It was the elevator's fault. Had it worked like it should, Bailey would have gone on with her life without seeing why so many of her co-workers had fallen for the grumpy single dad. (It's his dry wit, his playful teasing and the drool-worthy cut of his jawline.) And now she's caught in the way he doles out smiles and the dark depths of his secrets. If nothing else, she knows from rumor there's a clock ticking on their affair before it implodes because things always do with Jake the Rake, but she can't seem to walk away first.

Excerpt

He tossed the suit jacket on the arm of the couch. She hesitated then walked over to the photo album to pull out the braces picture. He just smirked at her as he settled into the cushions.

When she came back in with two cups, he did indeed have the album open on the table.

“That was the only picture in there where I cringe.”

He sat back. “I noticed. There’s just a void of you and your family until high school.”

“Sophomore year to be exact.” She handed him the cup then put hers on the table to cool off. “By then I grew boobs, got a bit of style and no longer wore braces.” She bit her lip for a moment.

“What is it?”

“I think it’s only fair you show me an embarrassing photo.”

He put his cup down on the table. “For the record, I don’t cringe at any of my old photos.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“I was born handsome.”

She cackled. “Lies.”

He didn’t smile but there was a light in his eyes. “You’ve caught me. I was ugly as shit until fifteen, and then there were some questionable style choices for me.” He scrolled through his phone, stopped to look at her then shook his head. “I can’t believe I’m about to show you this.” He hesitated. “No. I absolutely cannot show you this.”

Red blossomed on his cheeks. Grumpy Jake was blushing. “I have to see this picture now.”

He glanced at his phone then shook his head. She put her hand out. He pulled the phone just out of her reach. “I can’t do it.”

“Okay,” she said, placing her hand in her lap.

Their gazes met, held, then she lunged for the phone. She ended up sprawled across his lap on her stomach as they both laughed. They playfully wrestled for another moment until her hand brushed something hard, something thick. She snatched her hand back and tried to untangle their limbs from his. He wrapped his hand around her waist and pulled her into him until her butt settled on that hard and thick part of him between his legs. The laughter had died away. Bailey brought her gaze up to his. Heat and lust had darkened his blue eyes, seeping into her and leaving every part of her buzzing with—everything.

Jake cupped her cheek. “I want to kiss you, Bailey.”

Giveaway Alert

We’re giving one lucky winner their choice of one of our Sunday Spotlight books. Use the widget below to enter for one of this month’s features.

Are you as excited for this release as we are? Let us know how excited you are and what other books you’re looking forward to this year!