Review - - A Highlander is Coming to Town

 

A Highlander is Coming to Town

by Laura Trentham

Highand, Georgia - Book 3

Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks

Release Date: September 29, 2020

Reviewed by PJ

 

Holt Pierson is dreading Christmas. His parents absconded to Florida for the season and left him to handle the family farm which will be his one day—whether he wants it or not. Driven by duty, Holt has always followed the path expected of him. But lately, he’s been questioning what he wants and where he belongs. Will assuming the responsibility of the Pierson farm make him happy or is there something—or someone—else out in the wider world calling to him?

To Claire Smythe, the Scottish lead singer of a touring band, Highland, Georgia, is the perfect place to hide . . .until a very handsome and deeply curious Holt begins to ask all the questions Claire doesn’t want to answer. As Holt draws Claire out from under and into the fabric of small-town life, can Claire put the past behind her and embrace the unexpected gifts of the season—including the new and lasting love?

PJ's Thoughts:

A Highlander is Coming to Town is another enjoyable story in Laura Trentham's Highland, Georgia romantic comedy series. I've been looking forward to learning more about Holt and am delighted that he turned out to be as endearing, kind, steadfast, and genuinely nice as I had hoped he would be. Claire, on the other hand, is new to Highland. She's prickly, secretive, and a fish out of water. Highland may pride itself on its Scottish roots but northern Georgia is a far cry from Claire's home in Scotland.  

Claire has never known unconditional love, never fully trusted another person, never known anyone to perform a kindness without expecting something in return (thanks to her dysfunctional family). Small wonder she regards Southern hospitality with skepticism. I enjoyed watching her slowly lower those protective walls she has built around herself as she gets to know Ms. Meadows (the elderly woman she works for), Holt, and others in the small community. I also enjoyed watching her shake up Holt and his rather complacent life. Holt grounds her, giving her a safe place to land while Claire opens his eyes to possibilities he hadn't considered. 

The pace of this book is slow and easy, with minimal angst, a bit of steam, a lively group of townspeople, and a happily ever after I can believe in. Fans of the series will enjoy new events in Anna's and Iain's relationship (book 2 - A Highlander in a Pickup) while readers new to Highland, Georgia should be able to jump in with A Highlander is Coming to Town. 

Tour Review & Giveaway - - An Everyday Hero

An Everyday Hero
by Laura Trentham
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Release Date: February 4, 2020
Reviewed by PJ
 

At thirty, Greer Hadley never expected to be forced home to Madison, Tennessee with her life and dreams up in flames. A series of bad decisions and even worse luck lands her community service hours at a nonprofit organization that aids veterans and their families. Greer cannot fathom how she’s supposed to help anyone deal with their trauma and loss when everything that brought her joy has failed her.

Then Greer meets fifteen-year-old Ally Martinez, a gifted girl who lost her father in action and now hides her pain behind a mask of sarcasm. But Greer sees something undeniable that she can’t walk away from. To make matters more complicated, Greer finds herself spending more and more time with Emmett Lawson―a man with both physical and emotional scars of his own. When a situation with Ally becomes dire, the two of them must become a team to save her―and along the way they might just save themselves too.

PJ's Thoughts:

In An Everyday Hero, Laura Trentham brings readers into the lives of three people who are all in pain but, when brought together, just might be able to save each other...and themselves. Greer invested her whole life in her single-minded pursuit of a music career only to have it all spectacularly crash and burn in the midst of a panic attack. Returning home to her small town looking for solace from her boyfriend, she instead finds him pants-down with another woman. Is it any wonder she goes a little batsh*t crazy at the local bar when someone plays Carrie Underwood's "Before He Cheats," and finds herself before the local judge (who also happens to be her favorite uncle)? She expects a light fine, maybe highway trash pick-up, but instead he sentences her to volunteer hours at a local musical therapy center. Music. Her greatest love, greatest failure, and greatest fear. She is not a happy camper which, of course, makes her the perfect person to be assigned to two others resistant to the center's efforts: Ally and Emmett. 

Athletic and handsome, Emmett was the golden boy of his hometown who went off to war to uphold his family's tradition of service but came home severely wounded, both physically and emotionally, and is well on his way to closing himself off completely from his friends, his family, and life. I ached for him and for his parents who have no idea how to reach him. Fourteen-year-old Ally is a heart-breaker. Her father is dead, killed in service, her mother has lost the ability to cope following his death, and Ally is so consumed with anger and grief she fairly vibrates with it, the walls she's erected around herself, practically impenetrable. I wanted to wrap my arms around her and take her pain into myself but what Ally needs is something else.  

I found Greer, Ally, and Emmett all so very realistic and relatable, quickly becoming invested in each of their stories. Processing pain, and grief, are very personal endeavors and Trentham excels at creating those individual journeys on the page while, at the same time, intricately weaving them together as a whole. Greer is the catalyst that puts both Ally and Emmett on their individual paths to recovery, eventually bringing them together in a surprising way but Greer is on her own path as well and as much as she helps them, they help her in return. I liked Greer and I loved the (totally different) relationships that form between her and Emmett and her and Ally. You can feel their pain - Trentham doesn't sugarcoat it - but there's also hope, humor (especially between Emmett and Greer), heart-tugging romance, and deep friendships that form as they all sort through the fears and feelings that are keeping them from moving forward. 

An Everyday Hero is a story of second chances, redemption, forgiveness, reconciliation, and love. Its a story of overcoming the challenges faced by wounded veterans and by military families left behind. And it's a story of healing, friendship, acceptance, and finally finding the path we're meant to travel. I laughed, I cried, and I turned the final page so grateful to have met these wonderful characters through Laura Trentham's deeply emotional storytelling. It's a book I highly recommend. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Have you read any of Laura Trentham's books?

Do you enjoy books with military themes or characters?

Tell me about the last women's fiction novel you enjoyed.

One person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, February 7, 2020 will receive a print copy of An Everyday Hero. 

*Must be 18 or older.

*Open to U.S. addresses only.

Tour Review, Excerpt, & Giveaway - - A Highlander Walks Into a Bar

A Highlander Walks Into a Bar
by Laura Trentham
Highland, Georgia - Book 1
Publisher: St. Martin's
Release Date: July 30, 2019
Reviewed by PJ
  

The timeless romance, soaring passion—and gorgeous men—of Scotland come to modern-day America. And the rules of love will never be the same…

Isabel Buchanan is fiery, funny, and never at a loss for words. But she is struck speechless when her mother returns from a trip to Scotland with a six-foot-tall, very handsome souvenir. Izzy’s mother is so infatuated by the fellow that Izzy has to plan their annual Highland Games all by herself. Well, not completely by herself. The Highlander’s strapping young nephew has come looking for his uncle…

Alasdair Blackmoor has never seen a place as friendly as this small Georgia town—or a girl as brilliant and beguiling as Izzy. Instead of saving his uncle, who seems to be having a lovely time, Alasdair decides he’d rather help Izzy with the Highland Games. Show her how to dance like a Highlander. Drink like a Highlander. And maybe, just maybe, fall in love with a Highlander. But when the games are over, where do they go from here?

My thoughts:

If you're looking for a fun, flirty, feel-good romance set in the Georgia mountains, with a bit of Scottish flair, you'll want to add A Highlander Walks Into a Bar to your summer reading list. Laura Trentham is one of my favorite contemporary authors when it comes to quirky characters, small-town charm, family dynamics, and southern flavor, with all on display in this first book of her new Highland, Georgia series. 

Izzy's family has always been in charge of planning the Highland Games that keep their small town afloat and since her father's death, it's been just Izzy and her mother at the helm. But when her mother comes home from a trip to Scotland with a kilt-wearing souvenir, Izzy's world is flipped off kilter and the festival planning that she and her mom have always shared falls squarely on shoulders. And when Alasdair arrives hot on their heels, she doesn't know what to think. Sure, he's cute and all, but why is he in Georgia? And when is he leaving? Are he and her mom's constant companion in cahoots? Just what are they after? Alasdair is there to fetch his (wealthy, Scottish Earl) uncle home before he's taken advantage of by an American fortune hunter (Izzy's mother) but once he arrives, he discovers maybe things aren't quite as he expected. Especially, as he begins to get to know the supposed fortune hunter and her daughter. And then the fun really begins.

Humor, heart, sexy times, small-town charm, happy endings, and men in kilts. Trentham pours all of the above into this story that's sure to bring laughter and light to your summer reading and have you searching out the Highland Games nearest to you. I'm already looking forward to book two!


Have you ever attended a Highland Games or Scottish Festival, either in Scotland or elsewhere?

Have you read Laura Trentham's books yet?

If you could bring home a six-foot souvenir from a trip, who would you choose? A sexy Scot? Irresistible Irishman? How about a romantic Italian? ::Sigh:: So many lovely choices. 

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, August 7, will receive a print copy of A Highlander Walks into a Bar. (U.S. only)

Excerpt

From A Highlander Walks into a Bar. 

Copyright © 2019 by Laura Trentham and reprinted with permission from St. Martin’s Paperbacks.

Chapter One

“I brought home a surprise!” Rose Buchanan threw her
arms out wide as if embracing the world. From the sto-
ries she told to the way she entered the room, Rose was
exuberant and entertaining and enjoyed being the center
of attention.
Isabel Buchanan, who was perfectly content on the
fringes, pushed her wavy hair off her sticky forehead with
hands that trembled from the nightmare drive through At-
lanta to the airport to pick up her mom. Her mom’s trip to
Scotland had doubled as both research and vacation. The
jammed stop-and-go traffic had left Izzy flustered and al-
ready dreading their exit from the airport.
Rolling her stiff shoulders, Izzy stepped around the
bumper of the car, popping the trunk open on the way. Her
mom had a beautiful plaid scarf of greens and browns and
blues tossed over her shoulder and what appeared to be
new earrings. Either purchase might inspire her mother to
gush, and she would expect reciprocal gushing from Izzy.
Making an educated guess, Izzy asked, “Are those ear-
rings your surprise?”
Without waiting for an answer, she hauled one of her
mom’s giant wheeled suitcases closer and prepared to heave it into the back. The sooner they got out of Atlanta,
the sooner she could get back to work planning the High-
land festival. Or she might pour an extra-large glass of
wine and escape into a book. A guilty pleasure, consider-
ing how much she still had to get in order in three scant
weeks.
“Allow me, please.” A bearded man who had been roll-
ing cases to the curb stepped forward with a grin and an
accent Izzy couldn’t place.
She checked her pockets and winced. No cash to tip the
man, and no hope her mom had thought of something so
inconsequential.
“Do you like them? They’re hammered silver.” Her
mom flipped her bobbed matching silver hair to the side
and displayed one earring with her fingers. “And as a
matter of fact, I did buy them from a lovely shop in Edin-
burgh, but I brought something bigger home. Something
more exciting.”
“Your scarf? It’s lovely.” Izzy gave her mom limited
attention while she watched the man load suitcase after
suitcase into her trunk, fitting them together like a puzzle.
More luggage than her mom had left with. She waved to
catch the man’s attention. “Hang on. That’s not all my
mom’s stuff.”
For the first time, Izzy really looked at the man. He
was close to her mom in age, and good-looking in a bear-
like way with a gleaming white smile highlighted by a
salt-and-pepper beard. His full head of hair was a shade
darker, but graying heavily at the temples. The expres-
sion on the man’s face when he looked in her mom’s
direction—a mix of adoration and amusement—cleared
the fog of confusion.
Lord have mercy, her mother had brought back a six-
foot, two-hundred-pound-plus souvenir from Scotland.

Review - - The Military Wife

The Military Wife: Heart of a Hero
by Laura Trentham
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Release Date: February 5, 2019
Reviewed by PJ

Harper Lee Wilcox has been marking time in her hometown of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina since her husband, Noah Wilcox’s death, nearly five years earlier. With her son Ben turning five and living at home with her mother, Harper fights a growing restlessness, worried that moving on means leaving the memory of her husband behind.

Her best friend, Allison Teague, is dealing with struggles of her own. Her husband, a former SEAL that served with Noah, was injured while deployed and has come home physically healed but fighting PTSD. With three children underfoot and unable to help her husband, Allison is at her wit’s end.

In an effort to reenergize her own life, Harper sees an opportunity to help not only Allison but a network of other military wives eager to support her idea of starting a string of coffee houses close to military bases around the country.

In her pursuit of her dream, Harper crosses paths with Bennett Caldwell, Noah’s best friend and SEAL brother. A man who has a promise to keep, entangling their lives in ways neither of them can foresee. As her business grows so does an unexpected relationship with Bennett. Can Harper let go of her grief and build a future with Bennett even as the man they both loved haunts their pasts?

My thoughts:

Laura Trentham will break your heart and then stitch it back together, stronger than ever, in this poignant, heart-wrenching, and, ultimately, life-affirming story about the men and women who protect our country on the front lines and those on the home front - the spouses, children, and families - whose contributions, and trials, are no less significant.

One of the strengths of Trentham's contemporary romances is her ability to create richly complex and realistic characters into whose lives I become completely invested. The same is true of The Military Wife, her first foray into women's fiction. She brings these characters to vivid life in a convincing portrayal of honor, duty, sacrifice, fear, survivor's guilt, grief, and love. They all notched places for themselves in my heart, taking me along on each of their journeys and wringing my emotions with the challenges they face. 

The writing is flawless with seamless transitions from present to past that enable the reader to fully understand the events, and people, that have brought the primary characters, Harper, Bennett, Allison, and Darren to this point in their lives. I especially appreciated the insight gained through the flashback chapters that tell the story of Harper and Noah's courtship and marriage as well as those telling the story of Noah and Bennett's close friendship. Experiencing those journeys with them makes the present journey Bennett and Harper are traveling, both individually and as a couple, all the more satisfying. The secondary characters, as well, are all vividly crafted and realistic. 

Those of you who have read Trentham's other books should be aware that while The Military Wife is women's fiction and there are some serious issues dealt with, there's also plenty of sexual tension, humor, deep emotion, and, for the romance lovers among us, a happy ending. I highly recommend it. (Keep the tissues handy.) 

Review - - Set the Night on Fire

Set the Night on Fire
By Laura Trentham
Cottonbloom Series - Book 6
Publisher: St. Martin's
Release Date: July 31, 2018
Reviewed by PJ 

Ella Boudreaux has a lot to prove to her family, friends, and foes - and to herself. So when her marriage ends she decides to invest her energy and money into a place that brings back some of Ella's happiest memories: the Abbott brothers' garage. Maybe, if she puts her mind to it, she can teach skeptical, stubborn Mack Abbott how to make the business a true success. Which would be a lot easier if the hunky mechanic didn't make her motor run quite so fast...and hot.

Mack was furious when his brother, Ford, sold his share of the business. He's in no rush to team up with a wealthy divorcée who shows up to the garage in stilettos - and the longest, sexiest legs he's seen in forever. But Ella's grit and determination won't quit...and soon Mack can see that she's been down a few rough roads herself. Neither Mack nor Ella can deny the fierce attraction that's revving up between them. Could it be that true love has been in the backseat all along...and they've finally found the key? 

For me, each book in Laura Trentham's Cottonbloom series is like a trip home to visit family and friends. Cottonbloom isn't idyllic, with its divided loyalties between the wealthy Mississippi side of the river and the blue-collar Louisiana side, yet it calls to me. Each side brings something unique to the table and the quirky characters plus the crossover couples whose stories have been told in this series continue to bridge the gap and steer their shared-but-separate communities to a brighter future, making Cottonbloom one of my favorite fictional destinations.

One of the things I most enjoy about Trentham's books is her ability to create multi-layered characters who are intriguing and relatable then place them into situations that challenge them. They have to dig deep, evolve, and overcome the obstacles life places in their path, before claiming their happy ending. With each story, I find myself more immersed in their world. I care about these people and I'm totally invested in what happens to them. 

Based on page time in the previous two Cottonbloom books (Mack's twin brothers' stories), I wasn't sure what to expect from grouchy, set-in-his-ways, Mack and the rich, apparently snooty Ella who shocks the Abbotts by buying one-quarter of their family garage and restoration business from their estranged brother. I discovered that there is so much more to both Mack and Ella than first appearances would suggest and watching those layers peel away to reveal the truth of their hearts was pure delight. 

Trentham doesn't shy away from tough topics - betrayal, abuse, abandonment - but neither does she allow her stories to become too heavy. There's plenty of spark, humor, and hope...not to mention sensual sexy times...in this story. Love triumphs, as does forgiveness, reconciliation, and breaking free from past emotional chains to claim one's own power and happiness. 

If you enjoy quirky small towns, witty banter, rich, emotional stories, plenty of sexy times, and characters who will linger in your mind long after you turn the final page, a trip to Laura Trentham's Cottonbloom should be in your future. While there are six books in the series, they are actually two sets of trilogies. Each trilogy stands on its own but I recommend reading the three books within each trilogy in order. 


Have you read any of the books in this series?

Do you have a favorite Cottonbloom couple?

Which secondary character(s) would you most like to see get their own story? (I'm hoping for Clayton and Maggie!)

Blog Tour Review/Q&A/Giveaway - - When the Stars Come Out

When the Stars Come Out
By Laura Trentham
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Release Date: January 30, 2018
Reviewed by PJ

  

Laura Trentham takes readers back to her small southern town of Cottonbloom for more humor, emotion, and heartwarming romance in When the Stars Come Out. I've been reading this series from the beginning and with each book released, I become more invested in these characters who inhabit the two sides of Cottonbloom: the upscale Mississippi side of the river that bisects the town, and the working-class Louisiana side. In this fifth book of the series, Trentham continues to tug at readers' heartstrings with Jackson and Willa's emotional journey.

People joke that Jackson Abbott's most meaningful relationship has always been with his car and it's probably not far from the truth. He grew up working on cars in his late father's garage and racing them on dirt tracks has always been his escape when life gets rough. He's a good guy - kind and generous - but, except for his brothers and his late father, he's never allowed himself to get close to anyone, certainly not to a woman. A lot of that can be attributed to events early in his life.

Willa Brown is keeping secrets. Hired by their late father, she's worked as a mechanic at the Abbott Brothers Garage for the past couple years and is invaluable to the business. She's also had a crush on Jackson for that entire time but wouldn't dream of acting on it. She's been on the run for five years and has learned the hard way that she can only depend on herself. Jackson always knew how important Willa was to the business but it isn't until he fears she might leave that he realizes how important she is to him. Can he convince Willa to take a chance on him? The two of them are an unbeatable team under the hood of a car but will starting a relationship outside the garage deepen their bond or send a skittish Willa running for the hills?

I loved these two. They're so obviously perfect for one another but both have issues to confront and overcome before they can have their happy ending. Trentham guides them with a deft hand, allowing their journey to unfold slowly and realistically, infusing it with the awkwardness, humor, sweetness, fear, forgiveness, and romance it deserves. 

The richness of the Cottonbloom communities and their citizens add to the appeal of this series and this story. The relationship between Sutton Mize and Jackson's twin, Wyatt (Leave the Night On) continues to evolve and we're given more insight into the other two Abbott brothers, Mack and Ford. Mack is the next Abbott brother destined for love in Set the Night on Fire, due for release July 31, 2018. Clayton Preston, a secondary character with a tumultuous past (Light Up the Night) makes a pivotal appearance in When the Stars Come Out, giving me hope that Trentham may have more in store for this ex-con brother of Cottonbloom, Mississippi's Chief of Police. 

If you enjoy small-town romance rich with humor, deep emotion, and plenty of heart, I highly recommend Laura Trentham's Cottonbloom books. While all the books stand on their own, for a deeper understanding of the Abbott brothers I would recommend reading Leave the Night On first, followed by When the Stars Come Out. 

Q&A with Laura Trentham

PJ: As the book blurb states, "Jackson's most meaningful relationship has always been with his car." With what make and model car would you like to have a meaningful relationship?

Ha! I’m going to be honest and admit that I don’t have an affinity for cars. As long as it starts reliably and gets me from point A to B, I’m all good. But, I married a man with a love of cars. He’s a mechanical engineer who restores cars as a hobby. We have a 1956 Volkswagen Bug, a 1967 Volkswagen Transporter, a 1973 Datsun Z, and a supercharged 2014 Mustang in our garage/driveway at the moment. That’s not counting my (very reliable) sedan and his pickup truck. We look like Sanford and Sons around here! The idea of writing about three mechanic brothers was inspired by my husband and the hours and hours (and hours) of car shows I’ve been forced to watch with him. I guess it paid off!

PJ: How many more books do you have planned for Cottonbloom?

That’s an excellent question and one I can’t answer yet! Writers with traditional houses work from one contract to the next (usually, but not always, in three-book series.) Set the Night On Fire (out July 31^st) wraps up my second 3-book contract. What happens next will honestly depend on sales. It’s the stark reality of publishing as a business. As an aside, this is why downloading pirated copies of books hurts writers so badly! Not only is it a financial hit, but if people are pirating rather than buying then publishers won’t ask for more books from that author. That being said, I do have an idea for another trilogy set in Cottonbloom, so we’ll see! *fingers crossed*

PJ: Willa is a top-notch mechanic. What skill do you have that readers might be surprised to discover?

It’s sad how long I’ve been sitting here thinking about this question! Lol. I’m a chemical engineer by degree and know my way around a chemical plant which I suppose is an unusual path for a romance writer. I’m also a better than average cook. For some reason this always surprises my extended family, I suppose because I subsisted on Hot Pockets and salads until I got married. But my job as a chemical engineer was basically “cooking” in huge 600 gallon reactors. Not a huge stretch.

Readers, what skill do you have that might surprise us? 

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Cover Reveal and Giveaway - - A Reckless Redemption

I'm a huge fan of Laura Trentham's Cottonbloom and Falcon Football contemporary romance series but I haven't yet read her historical romances. This seems like the perfect time to dive in with the upcoming December 5th release of A Reckless Redemption, the third book in Trentham's Spies and Lovers series. 

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A Reckless Redemption

by Laura Trentham

Series: Spies and Lovers, #3

Genre: Historical Romance

Release Date: December 5, 2017

Can a single night’s deception lead to a lifelong love?

On the eve of her wedding to a man she detests, Brynmore McCann can think of only one way to escape—by ruining herself—but the local lads leave her wholly uninspired. Just as she’s ready to accept her fate, she spots Maxwell Drake, home after nearly a decade. Even though he had loved her sister when they were young, Bryn has always considered him hers and she can’t think of anyone she’d rather have bed her for the first time. Only she never intends for him to find out who she is.

Upon returning home, Maxwell is stunned by the news that his father may have left him an inheritance. As the unacknowledged by-blow of a local nobleman, Maxwell struggles with resentment over the way he and his mother were treated by his father and the village. To add to his troubles, he discovers the lass he spent an incredibly satisfying night with was not the village whore, but the high-born sister of his first love. He insists Brynmore travel with him to Edinburgh until they determine if she is with child. Because if she is, she’ll marry him whether she wants to or not.

Along the road to Edinburgh, they are attacked by persons unknown. As the list of suspects who want them dead grows longer and his worries deepen, Maxwell prepares for an even more personal battle—how to keep from surrendering his heart to Brynmore.

Warning: Contains a broody Scotsman, a fiery-haired lass, and a night of passion that changes everything. Readers are encouraged to bring a fan.

A man’s murmur rose through the occasional nicker and whinny. For a long moment, Bryn stood still, letting the cadence soothe her like a wild pony. The deep, rich voice mesmerized her, and she found herself under its spell, moving inexorably closer to the open stall. She peered around the door to see a man rubbing down his horse with sweeping, graceful strokes of a blanket.

He exchanged blanket with brush and methodically groomed the horse’s flanks, all the while talking nonsense to his besotted mount. The low timbre of his voice lilted with a Scot’s brogue. The horse nuzzled the man during his ministrations. A greatcoat and brimmed hat kept his identity a secret.

The edge of his coat and boots were muddy and road-worn but of excellent quality. How had such a fine gentleman ended up in such an out of the way village as Cragian? For her wedding? Why then wasn’t he at the house with all the other kowtowers?

He circled to the horse’s opposite flank, and she caught sight of the lower half of his face. Weakness crawled into her knees, and her stomach took a fearless leap. She knew him.

Dark stubble covered a strong, square jaw. In juxtaposition, his mouth was sensuous, the bottom lip full and curled up in a smile as if caring for his horse was a pleasure and not a chore. Something deep inside of her, something she hadn’t even known was lying dormant, stirred to life after almost ten years.

It would be this man or no one. The man who’d once loved her sister. The man she’d loved from afar for too many years. Maxwell Drake. The Fates had made her decision.

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Book 1: An Indecent Invitation

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Book 2: A Brazen Bargain

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An award-winning author, Laura Trentham was born and raised in a small town in Tennessee. Although, she loved English and reading in high school, she was convinced an English degree equated to starvation. She chose the next most logical major—Chemical Engineering—and worked in a hard hat and steel toed boots for several years.

She writes sexy, small town contemporaries and smoking hot Regency historicals. KISS ME THAT WAY, Cottonbloom Book 1, won the Stiletto Contest for Best Long Contemporary and finaled in the National Readers Choice Award. THEN HE KISSED ME, Cottonbloom Book 2, was named an Amazon Best Romance of 2016 and was a finalist for the National Excellence for Romance Fiction. TILL I KISSED YOU, Cottonbloom Book 3, is a finalist in the Maggie contest. LEAVE THE NIGHT ON, the latest Cottonbloom book, was named an iBooks Best Book of the Month and a Recommended Read from NPR.

When not lost in a cozy Southern town or Regency England, she's shuttling kids to soccer, helping with homework, and avoiding the Mt. Everest-sized pile of laundry that is almost as big as the to-be-read pile of books on her nightstand.

Visit her at www.LauraTrentham.com or connect on Twitter at @LauraTrentham or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/LauraTrenthamAuthor) or Pinterest (https://www.pinterest.com/lauratrentham/)

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