Author: Reese Ryan

Sunday Spotlight: A Reunion of Rivals by Reese Ryan

Posted November 8, 2020 by Holly in Features, Giveaways | 1 Comment

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. 🙂

Sunday Spotlight: A Reunion of Rivals by Reese RyanA Reunion of Rivals by Reese Ryan
Series: The Bourbon Brothers #4
Publisher: Harlequin Desire
Publication Date: June 11, 2020
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 173
Add It: Goodreads
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Sparks in the boardroom

and the bedroom…

She can’t let anything derail her passion project,

Not even a second chance with the sexiest man alive…

The deal that could bring Quinn Bazemore’s career back from the brink has one catch: she must partner up with her ex-lover Max Abbott. Quinn can’t forget the pleasure-filled summer they shared. But now she’s butting heads over business strategy with the mouthwatering marketing VP, even as their reawakened desire threatens to expose her deepest secrets…

Excerpt

Excerpt, A REUNION OF RIVALS by Reese Ryan

“Morning, Max.” A wide smile spread across Dixon Bazemore’s face as they both rose to their feet and shook hands. The old man had been the owner of Bazemore Orchards longer than Max had been alive. “Good to see you, young man.”

“You, too, Mr. B.” Molly’s instincts about the reason for the meeting had been right. Why else would Dixon Bazemore be here? Still, he asked, “What brings you to see us today?”

“We’ll go over everything during the meeting,” Max’s father interjected. “We’re waiting for one more person.”

Max glanced around the table. All of the members of the executive committee were present. His grand-father and father. His brothers Blake and Parker, the operations VP and CFO, respectively. Blake’s wife, Savannah—the company’s events manager. Zora, him and his father’s admin, Lianna, who was there to take notes.

“Who are we—”

“I’m sorry. I got a little turned around finding my way back here from the parking lot. But I’ve got your portfolio, Grandad.”

Max snapped his attention in the direction of the familiar voice. He hadn’t heard it in more than a dcade, but he would never, ever forget it. His mouth went dry, and his heart thudded so loudly he was sure his sister could hear it.

“Peaches?” He scanned the brown eyes that stared back at him through narrowed slits.

“Quinn.” She was gorgeous, despite the slightly irritated flare of her nostrils and the stiff smile that barely revealed her dimples.

“Hello, Max.”

The good to see you was notably absent. But what should he expect? It was his fault they hadn’t parted on the best of terms.
Quinn settled into the empty seat beside her grandfather. She handed the old man a worn leather portfolio, then squeezed his arm. The genuine smile that lit her brown eyes and activated those killer dimples was firmly in place again.

Max had been the cause of that magnificent smile nearly every day that summer between his junior and senior years of college when he’d interned at Bazemore Orchards.

The Bourbon Brothers

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.

Sunday Spotlight: November 2020

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!

About Reese Ryan

Reese Ryan Author Photo

Reese Ryan is the author of eight published works of romantic fiction, with five more hitting shelves in 2018. Her stories feature complex, deliciously-flawed characters. She presents her characters with family and career drama, challenging love interests, and life-changing secrets while treating readers to an emotional love story with unexpected twists.

Past president of her local Romance Writers of America chapter and a panelist at the 2017 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, Reese is an advocate for the romance genre and diversity in fiction.


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Review: Making the First Move by Reese Ryan

Posted July 16, 2014 by Holly in Reviews | 0 Comments

Review: Making the First Move by Reese RyanReviewer: Holly
Making the First Move by Reese Ryan
Series: Bad Boys Gone Good #1
Publisher: Harlequin
Publication Date: July 22nd 2013
Genres: Fiction
Pages: 384
Add It: Goodreads
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Ripped Bodice | Google Play Books
two-half-stars
Series Rating: three-stars

Big promotion, complete with $300 pen? Check.A hot man who cuddles, spends the night and makes breakfast? Check.Waiting for the other shoe to fall? Check.
"If it feels too good to be true, it probably is."
Five years of obsessing over her career pays off when Melanie Gordon gets a promotion that could make or break her. But the new job takes her back to her hometown to face the family she's distanced herself from, and forces her to leave behind sexy, mysterious philanthropist Raine Mason, who just might be the man of her dreams.
By the time Raine makes his move with Melanie, her one-way ticket to Cleveland is booked. He convinces her to take a chance on him long-distance, but can't yet trust her with the whole truth about himself.
Raine and Melanie slowly peel back each other's layers (starting with his bicep-hugging sweater). She is finally ready to give her heart to him…until she learns the dark secret of his past. He'll have to prove to her that love is worth the risk.
94,000 words

Melanie has worked hard her whole career and it finally pays off when she’s offered her dream job. The’s thrilled to finally be recognized, but the catch is she has to move back to Cleveland, her hometown. She has a complicated relationship with her family and she knows she’s going to pay for not keeping in touch with them like she should. Plus, Cleveland is where she got her heart broken, and her ex still lives there.

Raine and Melanie have been ignoring the attraction between them for years. Once he finds out about her promotion, he knows he has to act now or lose his chance completely.  Melanie is wary of entering into a relationship period, much less a long-term thing. Raine convinces her to give it a try, but he really has his work cut out for him if he wants it to go anywhere. Especially when Melanie’s ex re-enters the picture.

The premise of this book was great. I really wanted to love it. Melanie is a focused, mature woman who isn’t afraid to go after what she wants. It isn’t often we see woman like her in romance and I was excited about her maturity. Raine was a solid, stand-up kind of guy and one I really enjoyed. While I really loved Raine and his commitment to making things work, Melanie was frustrating and too cutoff from her emotions. The reason she was so closed off made sense, but it was hard to read about at times.

Unfortunately the writing kept getting in the way of my enjoyment. It’s written in the first person, which should have made the connection to Melanie easy. Unfortunately it was dry and bogged down with an overabundance of minor, inconsequential details, and not enough emotion.

While I wanted to love this book, the sometimes bland and often inconsistent writing made it hard. I plan to give another book by Ryan a try before giving up on her.

2.75 out of 5

This book is available from Carina Press. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

two-half-stars


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