Maren Tucker is done with men who check in for the good times and check out for the bad. As a member of one of the oldest families in Bellerive, she doesn’t have to play nice with the Summerset Royals. Especially not the youngest who represents everything she detests.

Brice Summerset is the life of every party, and as the third in line to the throne, he’s never had to take anything in life particularly seriously. Show up. Charm a few people. Make a generous donation. Move on.

But Brice’s life is on the cusp of big changes. His father is sick. His two older brothers are settling down, and he’s starting to wonder what else life has to offer.

When Maren tries to block Brice from joining her charity adventure race team, Brice balks at the notion he’s not up to the challenge. As the two butt heads over everything from training philosophies to life goals, they begin to see something in themselves and each other that they never expected.

Prince Brice is third in line for the throne. After his niece Grace and his brother Nick. Even before his father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s he was a big supporter of the Alzheimer’s Society. As this book opens, he’s trying to get a place on the adventure team, that will be competing in an international Charity Adventure Race Event for Alzheimer’s.

Maren Tucker is totally against his participation; she will be coaching the team this go around having been injured in the last race. It’s her opinion that Prince Brice takes nothing seriously and would put the team in jeopardy, regardless how much publicity and fundraising his participation would attract. She is coaching and training the team for this event having been injured on the last race she participated in.

Brice pulls out all the stops in his effort to join the team, including offering a place for training on the palace grounds. He’s done the things required for the race, just not to that extreme. He’s determined to train hard and be the best teammate he can be.

The first day of training Maren has him there early, a surprise 10K run before paddleboarding with the team. That was quite the experience for him. The next day is rock climbing, using the wall. Maren isn’t going to let up on him, but Brice is ready for her.

This is a favorite scene.

“Where’s everyone else? Or did you give me a starting time thirty minutes before the team again?”

“Today was trainee’s choice.” Though Wren tried to pick rock climbing, saying she thought I needed to be supervised with Brice. Something about me committing murder, which I won’t do, at least not literally. Metaphorically murdering him doesn’t bother me in the slightest. Which isn’t what I told her, obviously. Coaches don’t pick favorites or the opposite of favorites, which is what he is. “Each team members has a different training goal for today.”

“I could have picked my own goal too,” he says.

“Oh?” I pass him a harness that needs to be put together. “What do you know about what it takes to race?”

“I’ve seen all the seasons.” He holds up the harness and stares at the buckles and straps.

“Bit like watching your team play in the NFL and feeling like you could step into the quarterback’s shoes during the Super Bowl.” I slip into my harness and begin buckling myself in. “You’re no Tom Brady.”

“Don’t you mean Nathan Fa’avae?” He weaves one of the straps through the wrong buckle, and I glance up at the high wall.

Naming one of the best adventure racers in the world isn’t exactly an incredible accomplishment. Two minutes with a search engine would have given him that, and if he’s truly watched all the seasons, the winners are always featured heavily. He drags the strap out and tries another loop.

“Need some help?” I ask.

“Depends.” He glances at me before drawing the strap taut in the wrong place. “Are you going to be helpful?”

“Since I’d prefer you didn’t die today, yes.” I tighten my own harness.

“Limiting it to today isn’t a resounding endorsement, but since I don’t want to fall”—he glances at the top of the wall—“a hundred meters to my death, I’ll take the help.”

“Seems you’re terrible with size and distance.” I close the space between us, and this time, the faint odor of eucalyptus reaches my nose. He’s used some kind of rub for his sore muscles, and a zip of triumph shoots through me. The run and paddle weren’t as well tolerated as he wants me to believe. “Perhaps a basic measurement class is needed.” I tug on the straps around his waist, and I’m keenly aware of how close to his groin I’ll have to work to get the harness together correctly. Perhaps taking it all apart to showcase his ignorance was a bad idea.

“I’m much better at judging size when I’m looking down at it.”

“I’m sure everything seems much bigger from above.” If we’re talking about his dick, I can easily counter that one.

“Once I’ve grasped it, I’m pretty confident about the size.”

Gross. He’s definitely referencing his dick. Or who knows what other body parts on other people. Keeping my head down, I make short work of the harness, and I wedge the final strap into the right loop, yanking it tight. When I glance up, he’s staring down at me with amusement. His reaction takes me by surprise since he seems to dislike me almost as much as I detest him.

“By the end of this, you’re either going to love me or hate me even more.”

“Shall we make a bet? I know which side I’m on.” To change my mind, he’d have to become a totally different man.

“I am a gambling man,” he says. “What would we wager?”

“Not a clue. There’s nothing I’d ever want from you.” The idea of owing him something if he somehow managed the impossible causes my heart to kick. I don’t want a scrap from him, but more importantly, I don’t want him to lord his victory over my head either. Gloating would ensue, there’s no doubt. Prince Brice would not be a gracious winner. The good news is that he’d have to get me to admit my opinion had changed, and I’m very good at hiding my truth.

“We’ll see,” he says with a cocky smile. “I tend to grow on people.”

“Like a fungus.”

“Ah, yes. The fungal infection—which reminds me. Didn’t the Tucker family try to latch on to the Summersets recently? Your older sister, Sawyer, went on a date with Alex, didn’t she?”

“While he was not-so-subtly wife-hunting?” I cock an eyebrow. As if he thinks he can infer my family is the problem. “She declined. A happy miss for her,” I say.

“Yes, I’m sure Celia and Jonathan Tucker were delighted.”

Ugh. This is what he does. Gloats. My parents’ desire for a title is fuel to use against me. How he believes anyone could think the mess his older brother made of his multiple engagements is anything but a lucky escape is beyond me. In the right circles, what Alex did is an open secret. None of us would ever confirm it to the press, but we all know. Two engagements, a royal baby out of wedlock. The story Alex fed to the press is utter nonsense. If Brice was smart, he wouldn’t be rubbing my parents social clawing in my face. Unlike most Bellerivian families, the Tuckers have enough money and clout to go nuclear.

We’re at an impasse. Both of us in our climbing gear, glaring at each other, and neither of us seem to be willing to break the standoff.

“Oh, you’re here,” Wren says from the doorway. “What a coincidence! I opted to train climbing today too.”

“We were just about to start,” Brice says.

“Excellent,” Wren says. “I’ll join you.” She strolls past Brice and blatantly examines his harness. “Maren give that to you in pieces?”

“Yes,” Brice says, and he slides a glance my way.

His expression is hard to read, but if he’s surprised my teammates know me well, he’ll soon understand the bond we share. Once you’ve been through an adventure race together, anticipating a teammates’ actions or reactions becomes second nature. Beyond the racing, we enjoy each other’s company. Though I’ve been enjoying Wren’s attitude a lot less since Brice joined the team. He doesn’t need to be babied; he needs to be toughened up.

“Good for you getting it together properly.” Wren already has her harness on, and she strides to the far station, the easiest starting place.

“Yes,” Brice agrees, his amusement returning. “I sure showed her.”

“Why don’t you climb this route first?” Wren says. “Maren can guide you and check your form, and I’ll be your belay.”

“I’m sure Tucker will enjoy my form,” he says.

I press my lips together to avoid snapping back, which is what Brice wants. If I can’t keep my retorts focused on training, I’ll undermine my authority as the coach, and I’ve worked too damn hard and earned every scrap of my knowledge to look like a fool.

Wren hooks Brice up to the ropes, and he approaches the wall, examining the placement of the holds. When he goes to reach for the first one, Wren cringes but doesn’t say anything.

“You want to maximize your static reach.” I release a deep sigh and go to the wall to demonstrate how to straighten his posture and rise on his toes to get a good grip. “Otherwise, your arms will get tired quickly.”

He gazes at me wordlessly for a beat, and I can’t tell if he’s taking me seriously or not. Then he says, “Any more tips, Coach?”

“Don’t over grip the handholds. Keep your hands relaxed and light.” I demonstrate, and when Brice grasps the rock just above our heads, I slide my hand under his to check the tension in his wrist. His skin is warm and smooth against mine. “Yeah,” I say, “gentle like you’re cupping an egg or a light bulb and trying not to break it.”

“I tend to prefer my grip firm,” he says with a smirk.

“Not a surprise that your primary concern is your own satisfaction.” I give him a mild look and keep my voice pitched low.

“My own satisfaction is always a concern,” he says, leaning close enough that his breath stirs the tendrils of dark hair that have escaped my ponytail, “but it’s never my only one.”

I can feel my jaw tighten at his obvious innuendo, and my heart kicks at his proximity. An unexpected awareness electrifies the space between us, and when our gazes connect, his expression shifts from brimming with amusement to one laced with curiosity.

“You’re not as immune to me as you’d like to believe,” he whispers. “Everything okay over there?” Wren calls to us.

“Peachy,” Brice says. “Tucker was just explaining how to achieve satisfaction”—he glances at Wren—“when climbing new heights.”

Wren’s concerned gaze seeks mine, and I shake my head in response before stepping away from the wall and Brice. His comment about me not being as immune as I’d like is far too close to the truth. Whatever zipped between us isn’t something I’ll be allowing to happen again. For one, I’m married. And two, Brice Summerset is the last man who would ever tempt me. Talk about jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire.
Million, W. Fallen Crown (Bellerive Royals Book 4)Kindle Locations (605-674). 978-1-7775723-8-9. Kindle Edition.

As his training progresses, so does the attraction between him and Maren. Then the unthinkable happens and a teammate injures himself and can’t race.

Brice encourages Maren to take his place. She’s healed enough to do so but has reservations since she already told her husband she was only coaching the event.

Maren’s cousin finally gets through to her about her marriage and she files for formal separation before the race. A good thing too.

I love the way this book plays out, the romance with Maren and Brice, the tension with her soon to be ex, the obstacles and stress of the race, her secret and so much more!

5 Contented Purrs for Wendy!

W. Million

W. Million is a Watty Award winner whose contemporary romances about strong women and troubled men have captivated her loyal readers.

Writing as Wendy Million, she is the author of the romantic suspense series The Donaghey Brothers, the NA sports romance Saving Us, and the contemporary second chance romance, When Stars Fall.

When not writing, Wendy enjoys spending time in or around the water. She lives in Ontario, Canada with two beautiful daughters, two cute pooches, and one handsome husband (who is grateful she doesn’t need two of those).

PRINCE NICHOLAS

Years ago, she owned my heart.
As my childhood friend, she knew all my secrets,
And my true feelings about everything,
Except her.

When she hurt me,
It was too much,
Picking the one person I loathed,
Over me.

Being the son of a king isn’t easy,
Being the second son is even harder,
Which is why I left,
To work harder,
For myself,
For my family,
But away from the pain.

Now, we’re connected again,
And she wants me to return home,
To my father,
And that is not on my radar,
But she is,
Every single inch of her.
This time, she won’t slip through my fingers,
Or shall I say my crown?

JULIA

He bailed on our friendship,
Disconnecting from me,
And all that we built together,
Shattering my heart in the process.

Now, his father wants him back,
Needs him back,
And has ordered me to retrieve him.
Who am I to tell the king “No?”

One look at him,
And I remember why I loved him,
But I refuse to fall for royalty again,
Even if we’re this close,
Sharing one bed,
And our secrets again.
After all, when he discovers the truth,
There’s no battling the SCARRED CROWN that’s come between us.

NOTE:
This is a childhood best friends turned enemies to lovers second chance royal romance that brims with angst and witty banter.

Julia Jensen is King George’s secretary. She’s replaced her mother who’s retired recently from this position. Today the King is making an unusual request of her, find and bring his son Prince Nicolas home. At first, she thinks she’s misunderstood, and she merely has to find someone to go get him. This is not what King George has in mind though, he’s certain she’s the only one who can get his son to cut his trip short and return.

Julia and Nick have a past, a friendship that went horribly wrong fourteen years ago. There’s no going back again after what Nick did.

Nick is not happy when she shows up at his camp in the Serengeti. He has three more weeks here and then time in Las Vegas and he has no intention of cutting it short. Not for any reason. He certainly doesn’t buy her reason of the King abdication and his brother’s coronation as the reason. A coronation takes months to plan and execute.

He pulls a bit of a fast one on her as he arranges for her to stay in his tent, but he doesn’t explain any of the plumbing to her. He also starts remembering much of their past and the reason he spends so much time away from home. He can’t seem to get her out of his mind. There’s quite the banter between them with a little tit for tat thrown in for good measure.

The King throws a curve ball when he requests her to hold off for a week or maybe more since he’s working on a government project with Prince Alex. He’ll call her when it’s time to bring Nick home.

Their time is filled with safaris and Julia sightseeing with Nick protesting a bit because of manipulation rather than just need. However, their guide Kafil has a family problem that Julia wants to help with. A child with club feet, and that child wins Nick over as well.

There is a reporter staying in the same tent village with them and he starts insinuating that there is something more than palace business between Nick and Julia. Nick won’t fall for the bait and he’s going to have to warn Julia. Her day had been full of disconcerting things and when she changes the subject by going after a dessert, Nick quickly follows.

This is a favorite scene.

“Don’t move, Jules. Not until I’m in front of you,” Nick says.

At my back, I can sense him getting closer. “Don’t come near me. Just tell me if I’m supposed to make myself bigger, shout and scream, back away—I just don’t know what to do.”

“I told you,” Nick grits out and then he’s beside me. “Stay still.”

“This does not seem like a solid plan.” Sweat pools in my armpits.

“Inch behind me and then slowly walk backward into the tent. Do not turn your back. Get the radio. Call for help. Get the airhorn and another flashlight. Only then come back out, slowly.”

“I can’t leave you out here alone. What if she attacks? Or one of the cubs attack? What if she’s teaching them to hunt people?” Since I stumbled out here and caught sight of them, my brain has been on overdrive.

“Jensen,” Nick growls making himself big enough to obscure me behind him. He flicks on his flashlight, pointing it at the animals. “Follow my fucking instructions.”

The lioness’s tail swishes as I back up slowly. I almost fall into the tent, and when I tip in, I grab the walkie-talkie off the side table. We’ve hardly used it.

“Tent Twelve. Lions. Tent twelve. Lions.” Whatever else I’m supposed to say dies on my lips at the sound of Nick’s shouted curses and the erratic flashes of light streaming in the open entrance.

I snatch the airhorn off the wall, and I grab another flashlight. Taking a deep breath, I duck out of the tent and see the mother has moved closer. Nick’s made himself big. He’s waving his arms, the flashlight going haywire, and he’s shouting at the top of his lungs.

Footsteps pound down the path, and between Nick’s shouting, and the approaching gang from the camp, the cubs who have been crouched low, scamper away into the darkness beyond the edge of the tall grass.

It’s only once the crowd becomes apparent to the lioness that she, too, bounds away.

“Holy shit,” I breathe out.

Kafil is leading the charge with a hunting rifle. Others follow with spears, flashing lights, and various weapons.

“Where did they go?” Kafil asks, skidding to a stop in front of our tent. “How many?”

“That way.” Nick points at the field beyond us. “A lioness and two cubs.”

The men stand around conferring before forming a group and trudging into the long grasses, weapons drawn. Nick’s hands rise to cover his face, and then he drags them back down to dangle at his sides.

My flashlight and the airhorn tumble out of my hands to the ground with a thud. Nick turns to look at me, and the tent door flaps in the breeze behind us. There are probably mosquitos storming the place. I catch myself on the thought. Could have been much worse things storming the tent, storming us.

Nick’s stricken expression changes to one of determination, and he closes the distance between us in two quick strides. His hands slide into my damp hair, framing my face. The intensity of his stare is oddly soothing.

I’m washed out. Worn out. The fight or flight surge has vanished, and all I can think about is how pretty his hazel eyes still are, how much I’ve missed this feeling between us, this connection that goes beyond friendship, beyond sexual attraction. I’m loath to name it, but it’s still there for me. An underground current, buried over, capped, waiting to be tapped again. An endless well of emotion and history.

“If anything happened to you—” His voice catches.

The same feeling is mirrored in me. How could he put himself in so much danger for me? How devastated would I be to lose him again—permanently this time? I’d never survive his absence. We may not be close anymore, but the notion of him not being in this world is devastating.

Our gazes are locked, and I wonder whether he can see my fear too.

“Nick, I—” The words die on my lips as his descend on mine.

His kiss is hungry, touching on frantic, but I meet it with my own freshly dissolved panic. Just like the last time, his kiss completely knocks all sense of time and place out of me. I’m so consumed by him, by the way he’s kissing me that I don’t realize we’re back in the tent, making our way to the bed until my knees hit the edge of the mattress.

Even then, I don’t care enough to stop this, to pause what’s happening, to dissect why we’re both insatiable.

But we are.

Our kisses barely break long enough to breathe before we dive back in. My hands tremble, and I slide them up under his shirt, reveling in his smooth skin, his firm muscles. After that brush with loss, I need to be as close to him as possible. Nothing else matters.

His shirt disappears over his head, and then his lips are back on mine, as though we’re both afraid if we speak, the spell will be broken. We don’t need to talk. I just want to feel.

We’re on the bed, and when he rocks against me, a moan of pleasure escapes. I drag my nails along his back, and he shudders.

“Jules,” he murmurs, and there’s so much need in the way he says my name that my desire for him cranks into overdrive. I’m never going to want to hear my name said any other way.

My body is so switched on, and my brain so turned off that I don’t understand why Nick stops kissing me and breaks away to half turn toward the door.

A throat clears again when I try to drag Nick back to me.

Oh shit. Someone else is here. I drop my hands from Nick and scramble back on the bed. My damp panties mock me. What was I about to do?

Kafil is at the entrance to the tent, just inside the door we didn’t close, but his back is turned to us. “Sorry,” Kafil says. “Very sorry to interrupt.”

“It’s fine. We should have zipped the door,” Nick says, but his voice isn’t quite back to normal.

We all know why we didn’t zip the door.

Nick glances at me, and he tosses me his bunched-up shirt from beside him before turning his back to me, shielding my body from Kafil.
Million, W. Scarred Crown (Bellerive Royals Book 2).Kindle Locations (2246-2289). Stomill Books. Kindle Edition.

Now in between each current chapter is a flash back to the past. We learn exactly what drove these two apart. Now the question is can they get back together.

This book is fun, exciting, sizzling and there are plenty of surprises as well.

5 Contented Purrs for Wendy!

W. Million

W. Million is a Watty Award winner whose contemporary romances about strong women and troubled men have captivated her loyal readers.

Writing as Wendy Million, she is the author of the romantic suspense series The Donaghey Brothers, the NA sports romance Saving Us, and the contemporary second chance romance, When Stars Fall.

When not writing, Wendy enjoys spending time in or around the water. She lives in Ontario, Canada with two beautiful daughters, two cute pooches, and one handsome husband (who is grateful she doesn’t need two of those).

Posey Jensen is a friend collector, boyfriend avoider, and thrill seeker. When someone posts in a group chat looking for a wedding date to Bermuda, Posey jumps on the chance to prove to a new friend that she’s the reigning queen of adventure. But even she’s not prepared for Brent Faulkner: Olympic swimmer, Northern University star, and the only guy she’s ever thirsted after.

Brent Faulkner has a +1 for his friend’s wedding he can’t fill—and zero desire for another relationship. He’s married to his sport, and girlfriends are never happy mistresses. When he posts in Northern University’s group chat seeking a seat filler, someone named Jensen replies, and Brent figures a bros weekend will be just what he needs.

Little does he know, Jensen is Posey Jensen, and she’s diving into his life to change his priorities forever.

This book opens just before Thanksgiving weekend. Posey isn’t going home since all her relatives are away from their island home, Bellerive. Staying on campus isn’t a big deal Posey will find something to do. Her new friend Monica sends her a link to a campus chat that folks use to announce parties and the like.

We get a glimpse of Posey’s sister Julia and the Royal Brothers Alex, Nick and Brice as she tells Monica about her home. Then we learn of her crush, Brent Faulkner. His mother was born in Bellerive but the family moved to the US when she was young. Brent is on the university swim team and an Olympic swimmer with his eyes on beating Michael Phelps’ medal count. He trains constantly and his girlfriend posts something every day. However, today her site has been quiet.

True to her word Monica sends her a link to the group chat with a nod toward a sweet weekend getaway. The poster needs a plus one for a wedding in Bermuda, pay your own flight but everything else is inclusive. Also doesn’t want any drama on this trip. He’s hashing out details with someone when she replies simply “I’ll come”.

Brent has broken up with his girlfriend and has no intention of going back. All she wants is pictures, the sponsors she can gather using them for her platform and him in her bed.

Posey’s no-nonsense response to his plus one for wedding chat he assumes she’s a guy and she does nothing to dissuade him from that opinion. He’s in for a shock when she shows up.

At the airport after a really fun bout of banter and Brent clarifying what he expects should Val show up they board the plane. They don’t sit together so the banter and innuendos reignite in the cab on the way to the hotel.

Lots of fun and eyerolling there and they actually start to enjoy each other’s company. I think the absolute best is that he hasn’t looked her up online. When he explains about the wedding and the attending celebrities, she’s more than a little amused.

This is a favorite scene.

When we get to the terrace for drinks, there’s a buzz circulating through the crowd. After Posey and I grab rum swizzles, swizzles, we step down into the crowd near the waist-high white wall meant to ward off the harbor beyond. Lights from across the inlet are barely visible as dusk approaches.

Beside Trevor and his fiancée, Imani, are Wyatt Burgess and Ellie Cooper. The two of them ooze Hollywood glamor despite the fact they have a house on the island. Wyatt’s in what must be a custom-made suit, which emphasizes his tall, broad frame. His black hair is a stark contrast to his bright blue-green eyes. Where he’s sharp edges, Ellie is rounded corners in a flowing floral dress that screams money. Her hair is in loose waves that fit the beachy island vibe.

While I don’t have all the details on the movie they’re in together—a thriller of some sort—it’s hard to believe being so close to so much star power won’t seep into Trevor too. They’re both Oscar nominated, and Wyatt actually won a few years ago. Trevor classes working with them as his big break, and I can appreciate those stakes.

As we approach, I lean toward Posey. “Be cool.”

“As cool as ice,” Posey says, and when she glances up at me, she winks.

This girl, man. I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun with a member of the opposite sex. We spent the entire day laughing and one-upping each other with sexual innuendoes. The tightness in my pants only eased long enough for another sexually tense conversation. She hasn’t even touched me, and I’ve got blue balls.

Her lack of filter makes me slightly terrified for her to meet any of my friends, and especially the two celebrities beside Trevor. Bringing an unknown woman to his wedding who embarrassed him would haunt me for the rest of my life.

Surely, she’ll understand what’s appropriate?

When we get to them, Wyatt glances in our direction and does a double take.

“Posey Jensen?” he says before Trevor has a chance to introduce either of us. “Aren’t you on the wrong island paradise?”

Beside me, Posey beams. “Did Haven and Cooper come? Or did you leave them at the house?” She pretends to search for them.

Wyatt chuckles, and he nudges Ellie, who is speaking to someone on her other side. When she spots Posey, her face lights up with recognition.

“So good to see you,” Ellie says, and she leans forward to envelop Posey in a half-hug.

“Uh,” I say, completely caught on the back foot.

“You all know each other?” Trevor asks. “I haven’t even met Brent’s date.”

My chuckle is unsteady. How the hell does Posey know Wyatt Burgess and Ellie Cooper?

“We go way back.” Ellie’s broad grin is infectious. “Wyatt shot a movie in Tucker’s Town a long, long time ago, and he’s been invited to King George’s birthday party every year since. Last year, Posey graciously amused Haven and Cooper. Which is no mean feat—a teenager and a toddler.”

“You know the king of Bellerive?” The words come out slow, and I probably sound like an idiot. She’s my date, and I don’t have a fucking clue.

Wyatt’s gaze zips between me and Posey. “Her mother has been the king’s secretary for years, and did I hear your sister just assumed the position?”

“Yeah,” Posey says, and there’s a hint of pink in her cheeks. “She’s training right now to fill the gap until they’ve selected someone else. Mother was ready to retire.”

“Tell Julia and your mother I said congratulations.” Then he turns to me, sizing me up. “And you must be Brent Faulkner.” Wyatt is sweeping Trevor’s job aside one introduction at a time. He extends his hand. “Ellie and I watched a few of your Olympic races at home earlier. Amazing stuff.”

Always a bit surreal to realize people who are a thousand times more famous than me have taken the time to watch me race. I accept his handshake. “Thanks,” I say, and I sneak a peek at Posey, who is glowing as though my accomplishment is her own. She’s a whole new level of adorable.

Posey drags her hand across my waist while she steps around me to get closer to Ellie. Her dress swirls around her thighs, and my mind drifts to what it’ll be like later to draw the dress up her legs, run my hands along her bare skin. I shift on my feet, trying to subtly adjust myself. I’ve been attracted to women before, but never quite like this.

Ellie and Posey have fallen into an animated conversation. Stunning to realize how little Posey told me about herself.

Trevor appears beside me, and he taps his glass to mine. “Seems like you’ve dug up a winner.”

“And I didn’t even know it,” I say.

Except I did, didn’t I? All day, she’s amazed me. She hasn’t name-checked any of the royals, and she’s had many opportunities. My “be cool” and “can you handle famous people” comments must have had her in internal stitches. Now that I think about it, was the Nick she mentioned earlier Prince Nicholas?

I’m such an idiot. Why haven’t I asked her any questions? She’s pried out my life story.

“She’s slotted herself in,” Trevor says. “She’s even got Imani talking, and my fiancée is shyer than most.”

Sure enough, when I glance at Posey, she’s facilitating some sort of conversation between Ellie, Imani, and four other women. A marvel.

“She’s an extreme extrovert,” I say.

“Not so extreme,” Trevor says with the hint of a smile. “She’s fully dressed.”

“I didn’t say exhibitionist.” Truthfully, she could be that too. She appears to have no barriers, but now I’m wondering if that’s a distraction to keep people from really knowing her.

Other people appear to shake Trevor’s hand and congratulate him on his wedding while passing by. The interactions feel a little like they’re trying to drink in Ellie and Wyatt’s aura. I’m familiar with that sort of stargazing, but it must be surreal to experience it everywhere. Most of the time, I’m only recognized in swimming circles.

“What happened to Val?” Trevor asks once we’re alone again.

“We broke up.”

“Again?”

“This time, it’s going to stick.”
Million, W . Fake Crown (Bellerive Royals Book 1). Kindle Locations (706-751). Stomill Books. Kindle Edition.

There’s a lot of fun and increasing sizzle as these two get to know each other even better.

Predictably, Val does show up at the wedding as the plus one of a distant cousin. It’s then that Brent decides he needs Posey’s help even after they return to school.

Once back at school, things heat up even more. Val doesn’t like taking no for an answer either.

There’s a lot of character growth here and plenty of humor around it all.

I am already starting the next book in this series.

5 Contented Purrs for Wendy!

W. Million

W. Million is a Watty Award winner whose contemporary romances about strong women and troubled men have captivated her loyal readers.

Writing as Wendy Million, she is the author of the romantic suspense series The Donaghey Brothers, the NA sports romance Saving Us, and the contemporary second chance romance, When Stars Fall.

When not writing, Wendy enjoys spending time in or around the water. She lives in Ontario, Canada with two beautiful daughters, two cute pooches, and one handsome husband (who is grateful she doesn’t need two of those).