Come A Little Closer

by Weston Parker

I own Halloween in this town, but the new girl is giving me a run for my money.

I hire her to organize and run the haunted tours through the old mansions I own in New Orleans.

Not of my own free will, I might add.

I have no other options.

She thinks I’m a stiff rich jerk with an attitude problem.

At least I’m not the psycho who’s obsessed with all things horror.

Or keeping secrets.

Because that’s the kicker.

As soon as I start to see past the jump scares and her obsession with spooky and weird, I see her.

She’s running from something.

Someone.

With her by my side we’ll make this Hallow’s Eve Festival the greatest event this town has ever seen.

The trick will be doing it without falling in love with her.

And the treat?

Well, she’ll just have to come a little closer and find out.

Every good girl deserves a bad boy. ~Weston

Genres: Halloween, Romance, Contemporary

313 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 11, 2024

About the author

Hey there. I'm Weston.

Have we met? No? Well it's time to end that tragedy.

I'm a former firefighter/EMS guy who's picked up the proverbial pen and started writing bad boy romance stories. I co-write with my sister, Ali Parker, but live in Texas with my wife, my two little boys, my daughter, two dogs, three cats, and a turtle.

Yep. A turtle. You read that right. Don't be jealous.

You're going to find Billionaires, Bad Boys, Military Guys and loads of sexiness.

Something for everyone, hopefully. I'd love to connect with you. Check out the links below and come find me.

Reviews

[Brenda Moser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well written book with strong characters in Niall and Tallulah. The author does a great job developing the story and paints his scenes perfectly. He brings an entertaining Halloween backdrop and takes you into their lives with an instant chemistry with a boss/employee turned into a romantic relationship. He brings some drama as they come together and moves the story fluidly delivering a terrific read. Loved and recommend this book.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and are freely given.

[Kristen Lewendon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh! Niall and Tallulah were just so stinking adorable together. Her strength and courage have left me completely in awe. I loved watching these two as they got to know one another and learned to feel safe enough to share their secrets. They also had an incredible supporting cast who worked hard to see them get their Happy Ever After. There are a few of those costars that I would love to see turn into leading characters in books of their own in the future.
I received a complimentary advance copy of this book from the author

[Chelsea Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cute spooky read! This was my first smut by a man author. It didn’t disappoint! I loved that the fmc loved all things spooky and the mmc owned old haunted homes. The chemistry between the two was great! It was such a good read to go into spooky season

[⛓️🥀 gee 🥀⛓️]

DNF’d at 26% sadly i couldn’t connect to the characters and some parts were very repetitive. it just didn’t hold my attention and couldn’t seem to push on further.

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Come a Little Closer

This is an adorable story. I love that it takes place in the Big Easy. The plot is solid and interesting and the romance and passion swoon worthy.

[Shelby • the_kindle_girlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

| Come a Little Closer |⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I loved this. It was so cute and perfect for Halloween. I loved the MMC Niall. He is a billionaire who runs Halloween. Tallulah is a spunky Halloween enthusiast w a wild personality, no fear and wickedly smart. She challenges Niall- which draws him to her because no one challenges him. I love the changes we see in both of them.

Niall rules Halloween in NOLA. He lives in a haunted mansion and owns/restores multiple. other haunted properties. He reluctantly hires Tallulah, whom he has butted heads with in the past. She starts to see another side to the cold hearted billionaire the more they work with each other and the closer they seem to get. When Tallulah’s past comes knocking Niall is there to answer the door, whether she wants him to or not.

[Mimi Dyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tallulah Pruette and her roommate Cathy are taking a guided tour through the haunted Rampart Mansion in New Orleans’ Garden District. Unfortunately, they get left behind and are ambling about the house when they encounter the owner, who is less than pleased at their incursion into his private quarters.

Niall Morrison is a real estate mogul who specializes in buying neglected homes that he restores and either sells or keeps for community events. He is searching for a new
project manager for his houses’ activities, and whom should he meet for that position but the girl whom he encountered at his own mansion. Turns out that Tallulah is a lover of both history and horror, with a personality perfect for luring people into her paranormal stories, and Niall desperately needs a manager with Halloween just around the corner.

As Tallulah grows into her job, Niall’s interest in her as a woman, not an employee, grows as well, with a kiss in his home theater putting a pin on it. They try to deny the chemistry but fail as they work more closely together; however, Tallulah has deep, dark secrets and must find a way to move on from them if she is to find wholeness again.

Holy cow, what a great, fun story Weston Parker has conjured up, complete with Halloween festivities, great character building, and beautiful, steamy scenes, all wrapped up by a tightly woven plot line that grabbed me at the first page and didn’t let go until the last. Come a Little Closer is the perfect fall read for lovers of pure, unadulterated, all-consuming romance, with a few ghostly experiences thrown in for good measure. So yummy!

I received this book as an ARC reviewer and voluntarily leave my honest opinion.

[Julianne Macneil · Rating 5 out of 5]

i read this book as part of an arc program. This is the story of Niall and Tallulah. Tallulah moved to New Orleans and is barely making a living, but she is determined not to return home and her past. While on a tour of a haunted mansion, she meets Niall, the owner of the mansion who lives there. They are both shocked to see each other again when she applies for a job as an event planner with his company. Niall is intrigued by Tallulah and hires her and offers her the guesthouse of another property he owns. Niall buys properties and restores them to their former glory and wants to preserve the history of New Orleans. Niall also hosts a Halloween festival every year and Tallulah is perfect for planning it. While working together, they grow close and try to keep things professional, but they can
t help how they feel. I loved this book. I loved how Tallulah made Niall more relaxed and enjoy the scary side of things. Niall was very protective of Tallulah and knew she was great at her job and was perfect for him. I really enjoyed this book. Another great one.

[BP34 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tallulah was excited when she got the job with Niall to plan the Halloween events at his haunted mansion. He gave her a free place to live in, a haunted house on one of his properties. He was a real estate mogul in New Orleans with a reputation as an arrogant jerk. She was obsessed with ghosts and all things spooky while he was not. He only purchased rumored haunted properties for their history, architecture and bargain prices. Their chemistry is explosive as much as they try to ignore. What about the secrets from her past? What about the debt from her ex? This was another amazing romance from Weston. A page turner that’s hard to put down with plenty of drama and twists. The characters were well developed and likable. I read a complimentary copy via the author and voluntarily chose to review it.

[Linda Warmath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Weston, you've done it again!!!!! This was such a great read. And it isn't a seasonal read at all. Niall is a billionaire who owns several properties in New Orleans and is putting on the annual Haunted House event and needs a project manager. Tallulah happens to be in New Orleans having escaped a very bad marriage, needs money and a job and apply s for the project manager position.
There is an instant attraction between the two of them but they don't acknowledge it. Tallulah is beyond happy to get the job of her dreams and to live on the property. The sexual pull between these two will make you blush. And wow is it a strong pull!!! After some ups and downs and secrets revealed they finally do get their HEA. You will NOT regret getting this book. I highly recommend it and it is perfect for this time of the year after all!

[Vicki Wayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the slow burn romance between Niall and Talulah. I really enjoyed that she kept some of her secrets close to the chest in the early stages of their romance, rather than just dumping everything on him at once. This was a fun Halloween themed romance, although I wouldn't consider Niall all that grumpy - maybe just really focused! I loved how they pulled in the history and social aspects of New Orleans, which is really different than other cities like New York. I also enjoyed how these characters BOTH had some shady past in their families, which they fully admit that it plays into how they approach relationships! This relationship was really refreshing, with solid and consistent highs and lows throughout the book. Well done Weston - really enjoyed another of your books!

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weston delivers another great story that will capture you at page 1 and keep you flipping the pages. Niall is a recluse billionaire who meets Tallulah while she is touring one of his haunted houses. Tallulah loves anything to do with Halloween and when she offered a job to be a tour guide for Niall’s haunted houses she jumps on it. Her and Niall work closely together and become close but try to keep in professional but seem to have a hard time doing so. Tallulah has a past that keeps her from wanting to fall for Niall, will she be able to get past that to find love?
Weston brings us a great story with wonderful characters who have great chemistry you won’t want miss this one. I received an arc copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Kari Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tallulah has moved to New Orleans looking for a fresh start and the job opportunity as an event planner is exactly what she needs. The one thing she hadn’t considered was that her potential new boss is the same man that was irritated with her and her friend when their tour of a mansion took an unexpected turn.

Niall has made a career of purchasing aged mansions and renovating them while ensuring they maintain their historic appeal. He believes that Tallulah will be a good fit for his business, but he is about to find out she is a perfect fit in his life as well.

A little turmoil, witty banter, a few surprises and two characters that will have you invested in their journey to their happy ever after.

[Bree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun Halloween Read

Niall just didn't know what he was getting into when he hired Tallulah against his better judgment. Turns out it was a pretty good decision, and one that would change both their lives in many big ways.

Tallulah has a past she's desperate to escape. Niall is set in his ways and is kind but also has a cold exterior. He's a bit of a playboy, and Tallulah just wants to keep her head down and do her job so she can pay off her debts. Fate has other plans, and it turns out, Halloween in NOLA makes for a super easy, quirky, romance. This was a fun read and definitely quickie. The characters' growth on all fronts was encouraging, and the issues within were relatable in many ways.

[Haley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was going into this book thinking spooky, dark and mysterious things. In a way I still got it, in a romantic way. The book was actually cute and funny. We have a grumpy billionaire bachelor who hires the sunshine project manager, and they of course fall in love. It was a cute read based in New Orleans around Halloween time.

Tallulah keeps her past close and everyone at bay. Niall comes across as serious and having a bit of a mean side. Niall hires Tallulah for a job and has moments where he doubts her capabilities. As time moves forward Tallulah proves herself to be useful and has Niall falling to his knees for her.

The couple has their trials to over come and their own battles to work through on their own. But the book ends with a HEA.

[Danielle Reid · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story

I haven't read much by this author before, but it was an enjoyable read. I really enjoyed the FMC, Tallulah. The MMC Niall was good too, just not quite as interesting to me. Honestly, I was more interested in some of the side characters than in him. I also struggled to get past Niall's mom's attitude after realizing that he and Tallulah were dating. In addition, Tallulah's ex and mom almost felt like caricatures of villains. I originally picked it up months ago and couldn't get into it, but just recently decided to go through my TBR. It was worth the read but I don't know if this author will become one of the authors that I download their newest book before even knowing what it's about.

[Judy25 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book. I am NOT AT ALL into haunted houses or scary stuff, but I didn't need to be to enjoy this book thoroughly. Tallulah Pruette is the quite quirky heroine who accepts a job as project manager of all the "haunted" properties in New Orleans owned by billionaire Niall Morrison. Tallulah and Niall both feel an instant attraction to each other, but attempt to ignore it because of the boss/employee relationship and the possibility of harassment issues. That does not work for long. By the end of the book, they have reached their HEA, but it takes some bumpy paths to get there. I highly recommend this book for everyone.

[Jenn Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed everything about this story. There's fun, mixed with bits that twist the heart, and it all works together well for a great flow. I loved Tallulah, she's a bit quirky, she loves all things spooky, she has a huge heart, and she's been working to stand on her own. Her back story will fire you up! Niall seems a bit grumpy at first, but he's pulled to her. They have a great back and forth, a good build of their relationship, and a some heat. Their friends are fun as well and I'm hoping we get to visit with them in the future!

I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Janet Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tallulah Pruette and her friend get lost on a tour of a haunted mansion in New Orleans and just happen to run into the billionaire owner Niall Morrison, maybe because they wandered into his living quarters. Needless to say he wasn't happy to meet them and escorted them back to the tour.
Tallulah decided then and there she was quiting her job and finding a new one as a tour guide at haunted mansions.
From there you need to go and buy this book it is so good and no Niall doesn't hire her as a tour guide.
So much happens you can't even imagine.
Fantastic characters and storyline. One of Westons best.

[PW · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weston Parker has done another fantastic job of weaving the storylines into such an outstanding story. Tallulah and Niall are very interesting characters who learned to support each other. Tallulah is my shero for her fortitude, strength, courage, determination, and resilience. I was amazed that she was able to not only survive abut thrive in spite of her dysfunctional family. Niall is man who values history by putting his money where his heart is. I enjoyed how New Orleans is the backdrop for this book. Tallilah and Niall have a an unexpected love over an unusual element.

This Bookfunnel ARC is an exceptional read.

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure this story was going to be a hit for me but I was pleasantly surprised. I’m not a haunted, Halloween story kinda reader. This story stars Talulah and Niall (say that 5x real fast lol) not a fan of the names but Niall is a billionaire who renovates old properties and Talulah loves anything to do with scary Halloween. They meet when she and her friend get lost in his house on tour and wander into the part of the house they are not supposed to be in. Niall is taken with Talulah and he presents her with an offer. All in all, I didn’t expect to like this story as much as I did, so I absolutely recommend.

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was Niall and Tallulla’s story. It was perfect for this time of the year. Niall Morrison is a real estate mogul who specializes in buying neglected homes that he restores and either sells or keeps for community events. He’s looking for a new project manager for his houses’ activities, and who should he meet but the girl whom he encountered at his own mansion. Turns out Talulla’s a lover of horror and history with the perfect personality for luring people into her paranormal stories, and Niall desperately needs a manager with Halloween just around the corner. A fun read. And voluntarily leaving this review.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Getting rid of your fears and learning to live again.

Another winner for Weston Parker. Tallulah was treated horribly as a child, manipulated, abused, and felt like she didn’t deserve to live. Niall came from a wealthy family, but that didn’t change his personality. He is kind, considerate, a true gentleman, waiting to find his true love. When they finally meet, it’s like it is written in the stars for them to be together forever. What a great, great book. Niall and Tallulah bring out the best of each other, conquer each other’s fears and give them each a reason to go on living and loving each other forever. Awesome book.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved reading this book.
Niall is a billionaire and his passion is buying and restoring old properties in New Orleans and also having them done up for Halloween.
Tallulah has run from her past and loves all things spooky and Halloween so when she gets offered a job as the project manager for all events for Niall she does not turn it down.
The chemistry between the two is off the charts but they both try to stay away from each other at first.
I loved how they were together and it isn't long before the are inseparable but what happens when her past won't leave her alone.
A must read.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely seasonal tale showcasing the resilience and strength of Talulah and how she brings out a different side to her new boss Niall. Based in New Orleans around Halloween starting in a haunted house owned by Niall which Talulah and her friend are touring round when they get split up from the tour and run into the owner Niall. This tour makes Talaulah try for a career change which is how she comes to notice of Jake, Nialls assistant who recommends her for a position in Nialls company.
Niall is sceptical to start with, but reluctantly agrees to employ er and the story progresses from there. A thoroughly enjoyable read which I received as an ARC

[Jean M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Niall and Tallulah meet up when she is interviewed by Niall for a job as his Project Manager for events. They have an instant attraction to each other but Tallulah comes with a shed load of emotional baggage which she slowly divulged to Niall. From a financial point they are like chalk and cheese but that does not worry Niall at all.
On a background set of Halloween and all things scary this was a fun read, until Niall interfered just a little much at which stage their relationship went a little pear shaped.
They eventually got their HEA but not without a hiccup or two.

[Merry Jelks-Emmanuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This wonderful story is filled with good feelings and have you all caught up in Tallulah and Niall. He is looking for a Project Manager and the woman who comes for the interview is none other than the one he had an encounter within his home. There is an attraction between them, but Tallulah has past baggage. As they work together Niall gets to see the caliber of woman that she is. Will their blossoming relationship turn into one that leads them to happiness.
I am volunteering to leave a review for an ARC of this book.

[Amanda Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a 10 out of 5!! Weston has outdone himself!! By far, my favorite of his books! It’s an original love story and different than any other. Tallulah meets Niall by accident the middle of a haunted house. Destiny brings them back together, when Tallulah is offered a job with the wealthy, reclusive man. Niall fights the desire for her, but their chemistry is off the charts. Through their relationship, Niall learns of Tallulah’s sheltered upbringing and past. He proves to her that she’s more than her past and she becomes even more independent and sure of herself with his love.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great tale of Tallulah and Niall finding out what real love is! These two have plenty in common, especially loving Halloween and scary things that give that 'adrenaline rush' caused by fear! A few heartbreaking moments for Tallulah, but she has Niall to hold her. Her parents and ex husband are bold and disgusting. As always tender, fun loving and incredible supporting characters. Thank you Weston, you're a superstar!

I received this book as an ARC reviewer and voluntarily leave my honest opinion.

[Jaime · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tallulah, with her love of all things haunted and spooky, is the perfect choice to step into the role of running Niall's Halloween events. She also proves to be the perfect match to his grumpy exterior.
This was a fun holiday romance, with great chemistry between the characters. Her mysterious past, which was revealed slowly, wasn't exactly what I suspected and caused inevitable problems. I loved Niall's protective nature and how he came to Tallulah's rescue, even though it was the last thing she wanted.