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Blossom Beach #1

Beautiful Crazy: A Small Town Single Mom Romance

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As a single mom with my hands and heart full, finding love is the last thing on my mind.

Then Everett Windward comes along. My new neighbor is charming, handsome, and sexy—and before I know it, I have a new friend…with benefits.

Fun and filthy benefits. There’s just one problem—He’s also my son’s teacher. That alone should have me pumping the brakes… except it doesn’t. I’m drawn to him and to the way he makes me feel. Everett has a filthy side that has reignited something inside of me that I haven’t felt in years.

Something I thought I lost. But there are rules…My son can’t know.

No sleeping over.

And absolutely no feelings involved. But as time goes on, it becomes impossible to ignore the butterflies in my stomach when I catch him looking at me, or when I watch him play ball with my son day after day. Before I know it, he’s so intertwined in our lives, and I can no longer deny the desire to break the very rules that I put into place to begin with. But it’s not just my feelings I have to consider.

I can see how quickly my son is becoming attached to him. See the way he yearns for that father figure in his life. We have experienced enough hurt and loss to last a lifetime. Can I really open up our hearts, knowing the risk I’m taking?

Audible Audio

Published January 6, 2025

350 people are currently reading
1850 people want to read

About the author

A. James

4 books45 followers
A. James is a pseudonym for the romance author Ashley James.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 340 reviews
Profile Image for Noa.
554 reviews810 followers
January 19, 2025
"Life has a funny way of working itself out and giving you things you never knew you needed."

Everett Windward did not expect anything when he moved to Blossom Beach.
He wanted to teach. Nothing more.
But he definitely did not expect Gemma Rylan.
His new next door neighbor and his new obsession.
From the moment they met, he was captured by her.
And Gemma can't help but feel the same.
Everett is her son's new teacher.
But he is also her new secret.

"Every single time I'm in her presence, I want more."

I received an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review 💗💗

"Do you have any idea how fucking beautiful you are, Gemma?"

This book was so "blossom". Now you may be asking yourself what that means. Well… let me explain. I felt like I was in blossom beach with this book. Ashley James literally plucked me and my kindle and placed me on the sand to witness the captivating story of Everett and Gemma. That is what "Blossom" means. This proves that Ashley James can write ANYTHING and I will eat it up and it will be absolutely amazing. I cannot wait to see where the rest of the series goes but I am so excited 💗💗

"I've been dying to have the taste of you again."

Ashley James as always makes the most exquisite playlists but me being me here are the songs that I added that I think fit the vibes 💫💫

(Link - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4c2...)

🎶 "I Want Crazy - Encore" - Hunter Hayes
🎶 "All I Want" - Tori Kelly
🎶 "Wonder" - Shawn Mendes
🎶 "Cruise" - Florida Georgia Line
🎶 "When You're Gone" - Avril Lavigne
🎶 "Would That I" - Hozier
🎶 "Like Real People Do" - Hozier
🎶 "Oops!... I Did It Again - Acoustic" - John Adams
🎶 "willow" - Taylor Swift
🎶 "dancing in the kitchen" - LANY
🎶 "Slow Hands" - Niall Horan
🎶 "Juno" - Sabrina Carpenter
🎶 "Fictional (Stripped)" - Khloe Rose
🎶 "Nonsense" - Sabrina Carpenter
🎶 "BUTTERFLIES" - MAX, Ali Gatie
🎶 "Thinking Out Loud" - Ed Sheeran
🎶 "Music" - Kelsea Ballerini
🎶 "Last Man Standing" - Livingston
🎶 "Electric Love" - BORNS
🎶 "Enchanted (Taylor's Version)" - Taylor Swift
🎶 "Wild" - Carter Faith
🎶 "This City Remix" - Sam Fischer, Anne-Marie
🎶 "Slow It Down" - Benson Boone
🎶 "Hot In Herre" - Nelly
🎶 "Sparks Fly (Taylor's Version)" - Taylor Swift
🎶 "Sucker" - Jonas Brothers
🎶 "Cake By The Ocean" - DNCE
🎶 "Toothbrush" - DNCE
🎶 "Wildest Dreams (Taylor's Version)" - Taylor Swift
🎶 "Drinking With Cupid" - VOILA
🎶 "Lovesick" - Jenna Raine
🎶 "Love Me Harder" - Steven Rodriguez
🎶 "Everywhere, Everything" - Noah Kahan, Gracie Abrams
🎶 "Into You" - Ariana Grande
🎶 "Sway" - Michael Buble
🎶 "Lipstick" - Charlie Puth
🎶 "The Bones" - Maren Morris, Hozier
🎶 "Freckles" - Lawrence
🎶 "Unwritten" - Natasha Bedingfield
🎶 "Teenage Dream" - Katy Perry
🎶 "Addicted" - Saving Abel
🎶 "There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back" - Shawn Mendes
🎶 "Hooked" - Why Don't We
🎶 "Touch" - Little Mix
🎶 "Kiss It Better" - Rihanna
🎶 "Lay All Your Love On Me" - Zara Larsson
🎶 "Like You Mean It" - Steven Rodriguez
🎶 "So High School" - Taylor Swift
🎶 "Too Sweet" - Hozier
🎶 "Bed Chem" - Sabrina Carpenter
🎶 "Whatever" - Alex Coles
🎶 "Teeth" - 5 Seconds of Summer
🎶 "Confetti Falling" - Big Time Rush
🎶 "Sugar" - Maroon 5
🎶 "FOR YOUR LOVE" - Maneskin
🎶 "Knee Socks" - Arctic Monkeys
🎶 "Slow Dance" - AJ Mitchell, Ava Max
🎶 "Movement" - Hozier
🎶 "I Think He Knows" - Taylor Swift
🎶 "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)" - Edison Lighthouse
🎶 "Late Night Talking" - Harry Styles
🎶 "Shivers" - Ed Sheeran
🎶 "Eat Your Young" - Hozier
🎶 "Call Out My Name" - The Weeknd
🎶 "Talking Body" - Tove Lo
🎶 "That's My Girl" - Russ
🎶 "Dazed & Confused" - Ruel
🎶 "I Think I'm In Love" - Kat Dahlia
🎶 "Friday Night Big Screen" - girli
🎶 "greedy" - Tate McRae
🎶 "butterflies" - GAYLE
🎶 "Strings" - Shawn Mendes
🎶 "Hands To Myself" - Selena Gomez
🎶 "Better Man" - 5 Seconds of Summer
🎶 "Perfect - Stripped" - One Direction
🎶 "Starving" - Hailee Steinfeld, Grey, Zedd
🎶 "Imagine - Acoustic" - Ben Platt

And you know I am about to serve you excerpts of Ashley James' amazing spice 🌶️🌶️

"Up here all alone, with a view like this, what I wouldn't give to bend you over."

"Fuck. Look at you. You’re so wet, your panties are soaked. Is this all for me?"

"Uh-uh, eyes on me, mama. I want you to drench my face, you hear me?"

🎡 Tropes 🎡

🌊 Small Town
🌊 Single Mom x Teacher
🌊 He Falls First
🌊 Neighbors to Lovers
🌊 Friends with Benefits
🌊 Public Play
🌊 Breeding Kink

Book Edit - https://www.instagram.com/p/DEP_H2PIF...
Profile Image for Katie Beasley.
694 reviews87 followers
January 6, 2025
I have really enjoyed Ashley's Cooper Lake series so was excited to hear that she was doing a MF small town series. This was the intro to that series, and I really liked it. It was nicely paced with the timing feeling realistic between our two MCs. I liked the general setting and getting to meet the characters including the side ones. It left me intrigued for what is to come and who all is going to be pairing off! I really liked Everett (our MC) and how patient he was with our FMC (Gemma). They had this like instant kismet connection that was out of the blue. I liked how they both kept thinking about each other and couldn't stop and then what do you know- they ended up being neighbors! Gemma was such a great mom. I related to her in how she thought when making decisions. I liked the natural evolution of this relationship. There was this great chemistry between these two and watching it come together was golden! And let me tell you yall- Everett has a DIRTY mouth!! I liked how much he brought Gemma out of her shell. She had been closed off to dating in general with the death of her hubby. I also LOVED the surprise at the end- just a nice bow on this relationship and story.

Gemma is living her life going about her day to day when she is pulled to sit next to a stranger on a beach on the pier. A handsome stranger at that. There was something about him that just drew her there. And then she is leaving but somehow keeps running into him around town. She learns his name is Everett- did she mention he is handsome- and he has moved here from Seattle. Then she realizes he is her new neighbor AND her son's teacher this year. He makes her feel comfortable. She hasn't felt this way about a man since before her husband died. The way he smile. The way he shows up for her and her son. The way he knows what to say and what to do. She can't fight it anymore. She wants to explore this thing between them and hopes she is right that it is a mutual feeling. And of course it is but to protect herself she sets up boundaries and labels them as friends with benefits. But do friends really take care of each other this much? And take your son to baseball? And continue to show up when you say you don't need help? Do they make you feel this giddy inside and excited to see what comes next? When Everette lays it out for her that he wants more she is scared but ready. She realizes she has been lying to herself but then a plot twist happens and while she is excited she is still unsure about him. Will he be as committed and happy as she is?

Everett is making the leap. He is moving across the country to live in his grandma's house in a small town. Away from his family's money and influence. Away from his father's scowl. And he is pleasantly surprised when on night one he meets a stunning woman. Who he continues to see. He finds out her name is Gemma. And there is just something about her that makes him feels thing. Then he realizes she is his neighbor, she is a single mom AND he is her son's teacher. That is a lot to unpack and other people might be overwhelmed but Everett is just intrigued. This is one of the strongest women he has ever met. She has endured so much and is very clearly used to doing things alone. Well he is going to get her to understand even though she can doesn't mean she has. So when she proposes they explore things but as friends- he takes the bait. He wants more but he will take what he can have with the hopes of getting her to see that he is here. Slowly but surely she lowers her walls. He continues to show up and help but not take away her independence. He builds up her confidence when he can. He tells her how he relly feels and she is in. They are doing this thing. They are exploring it together but then she throws another curveball and it's like the universe was making a decision for him to move here because his life feels like it is on the RIGHT path for once. And he is here for it.

I would definitely recommend this one. Fair warning there is a LOT of open door spice which I don't mind at all. I liked reading about Gemma opening up in front of and behind closed doors. I liked watching Everett get her to unravel and become more comfortable in her post mama body. I liked reading about this budding romance. I am looking forward to Grace and Conway (called it!!). Can't wait to read that one next.

Thank you to The Author Agency and Ashley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Profile Image for Katie.
352 reviews127 followers
January 3, 2025
Great start to a new series. Very cute small town romance. This was really sweet and super spicy. I’m a sucker for the single parent trope, throw in a dirty taking MMC and I’m here for it!! This was super low angst, and a lot of fun to read. I loved all the side characters and can’t wait for their stories!
Profile Image for Nadja.
440 reviews125 followers
January 11, 2025
2⭐️
2🌶️

This was my first book by A. James, and honestly… it’ll probably be my last. The story just dragged so much. There were whole sections that felt unnecessary, going on and on about random stuff that didn’t really add to the plot. It was hard to stay interested.

Everett, the hero, was super swoon-worthy, but also a little too perfect for my taste. He didn’t feel real after a while, like he was this ideal guy without any flaws. And don’t get me started on the unplanned pregnancy. I mean… if you have a breeding kink, don’t talk about protection, and then act shocked that you’re pregnant—it’s giving what did you think would happen? Her sister calling her out was the highlight of that whole situation. 👏🏼

Now, the part that had me completely done was when the FMC said she had appendix surgery through her shoulder. Like… excuse me, what? I almost threw my Kindle. For context: laparoscopic surgery can cause shoulder pain because of the air they use in your abdomen, but nobody is performing surgery on your appendix via your shoulder. That’s not how bodies work!

There were a few decent moments, but they just couldn’t save the story for me. The dragging pace, the pregnancy storyline, and the wild medical inaccuracies were too much. Not for me, but if you’re into super-dramatic romances, maybe you’ll like it more than I did.
Profile Image for Anna.
891 reviews634 followers
January 6, 2025
4.5⭐️

oh my gosh this book was fantastic and a great start to a new series by A. James. It was a great blend of small town romance, single mom with throws of growth of love and SPICE!! much more spice than I was expecting and boy was it a nice surprise ;)

Gemma stumbles upon a stranger, Everett, on a pier of her small town and they have an instant connection. the two keep stumbling into each other throughout the town it's practically kismet. she soon founds out this new hottie is her neighbor AS WELL AS HER SON's NEW TEACHER!! And this man is kinkkkyyyyyy. whew what a good one. I am SO READY FOR THE NEXT STORY!

also the audiobook was AMAZING!! HELLO SAMANTHA BRENTMOOR AND CONNOR CRAIS!!!! a truly magical experience in my ears

type: audio
spice: 3.5

Tropes:
•small town
•single mom
•teacher x student’s mom
•neighbors to lovers
•he falls first
•public play
•brèèding kínk
Profile Image for Jessi | whats.jes.reading.
218 reviews
December 26, 2024
5 ⭐️

Beautiful Crazy by A. James swept me off my feet in the best way possible! This book is everything I love—spicy, emotional, and packed with all the feels.

Everett Windward? HELLO, dream man! He’s the perfect mix of swoon-worthy charm and a bit of a dirty side that had me turning pages at lightning speed. Not to mention the narration by Conner Crais was absolute perfection. 😮‍💨 The chemistry between him and the heroine was off-the-charts electric, but what really melted my heart was how he connected with her son. My mom heart was sobbing, y’all. 😭💕

For Gemma, a single mom, the stakes were high, and you could feel the weight of her worries—especially when her rules started crumbling one by one. (Seriously, I dare you not to swoon when Everett’s playing ball with her son!) This story had the perfect balance of heat, humor, and heart, making me root for this little family every step of the way.

If you love forbidden romance, teacher tropes, or characters who feel achingly real, you need this book in your life. A. James, you’ve got a new fan for life!
195 reviews5 followers
January 6, 2025
Ashley James has entered her MF era, and I’m here for it. New small town, same well written spice. The narrator’s DELIVERED — hearing Connor Crais say “Mama” awakened something dormant in me since Rio from Good Girls. I really forgot how much I enjoyed it. I was also reminded how much I enjoy a “love after loss” story — the getting to know someone else on an intimate and personal level, being able to rely on someone new after losing who you thought was your forever person. You can’t help getting attached to the characters journey. I enjoyed the beginning of this new series and the crumbs for the remaining sister’s books, specifically Georgia. Can’t wait to see what’s in store for Blossom Beach!
Profile Image for Heather Duty.
185 reviews20 followers
May 30, 2025
This was sooo good!!! A great love story with just enough drama… it is soo spicy… and the way he calls her “Momma”…. Whew!!! Widowed Single Mom… He’s the neighbor…
Profile Image for Jess (GetbookedwithJessica).
682 reviews42 followers
January 4, 2025
I’m a sucker for a single parent flick and this was such a fun and spicy read! My first read by A. James and I so enjoyed it!!

These two, Everett and Gemma definitely had undeniably charismatic draw towards each other and their early morning meetings of finding out they were neighbors proved that and more.

A very cute small town romance that wasn’t just sweet but bought the spice too! Listening to the audio, Everett’s character came to life and I was drooling over how desirable I found him!

If you love a forbidden romance, teacher and very authentic feeling love then add this to your TBR!

Can’t wait to keep exploring the world of Blossom Beach!!
Profile Image for Shanna Ferris.
609 reviews55 followers
January 7, 2025


🎧ALC REVIEW🎧

• Single Mom
• Public play
• He calls her mama
• Son's Teacher
• New to town
• SPICY!!!
• He falls first
• Breeding Kink

What a way to start 2025!! I'm so glad I've started my year with this gem!

Hot. Hot. Hot. If there's one thing I know for sure, it's that Ashley James KNOWS how to write some spice scenes. At certain points, I couldn't keep a straight face and go about my day. I had to set this one down because I felt like my internal squeals were becoming not so internal! 🤭

As much as I was a fan of the spice scenes, this book also had one heck of a storyline. These two were adorable together. Sure they were brought together by their undeniably explosive chemistry, which led to an equally enjoyable friends with benefits arrangement. 😉 but with chemistry as explosive and sweet as these two had you just knew that the "only friends" agreement these two had wouldn't last for long. I did, however, have an incredible time listening to these two deny their growing feelings for one another! Everett had it so bad for Jemma from the start and I just loved how much he noticed even the smallest things about her that made her the FMC that I grew to love so much! And when he drops everything to take care of her and her son while she was sick, I knew, this book was going to hit 5 stars for me. Ashley knows how to properly nail every trope she writes. And this particular one was done so flawlessly I couldn't help my audible squeals.

About the book:
Jemma was a selfless single mom with an adorable little boy who hadn't even thought about another man since her husband's passing. But the more she gets to know Everett the more she realizes that maybe you can have two soulmates in one lifetime. And the more she sees him with her son the more she realizes that she's not the only one missing out on being loved by their new neighbor.

I can't express this enough. You need this adorably sweet, but oh-so-spicy audiobook in your ears!

Mark your calendars for January 6th and start your year off right!

🎧Audiobook review🎧
Duet Narration
Narrated by Samantha Brentmoor and Connor Crais

Gosh, this audiobook was perfectly cast. I thought this so many times while listening to these two!

The mouth on this MMC was unreal and having it voiced by Connor Crais only made it that much better! This is one spicy Connor performance you guys are not going to want to miss out on! Full of sooooo many of our favorite Connor growls. And my personal favorite "Fuuuuuuucccccckkkkk". I loved this performance so much. And without a doubt, it makes the top of the list as one of my favorite Connor performances. He truly did such a great job with Everett's character. From his growing and mildly obsessive feelings for Jemma. To his adorable conversation with her son! To every sweet thing he noticed about Jemma, even her outfits, hot or not. This man will have you swooning and sweating. And Connor is definitely partly to blame! Although, Ashley is the mastermind. I truly couldn't imagine reading this book any other way!

Okay. Enough about Connor. Let's talk about Samantha. Southern accent talking Sam!!! This woman killed it during this performance. She brought out the best parts of Jemma with her playfully gentle voice. And she even threw in a southern twang. Yes. Please. This NC girl approves! I haven't heard a performance by Samantha I haven't loved. But like Connor, I think this one makes it almost all the way up to the top! Samantha did such an incredible job expressing the hardship that Jemma has had to go through while raising her son alone! And man can this woman bring a spice scene to life. Flawless. Loved it. I need more. I definitely was ready for this audiobook to end.

The bottom line is... YOU NEED IT!
Profile Image for Amber (Amber Reads Romance).
1,264 reviews192 followers
January 6, 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️

Beautiful Crazy was a very sweet and low angst romance. I have really been loving single mom romances lately, and this one was endearing. Even though this was a sweet romance, it was also very spicy.

Everett has moved to the small town of Blossom Beach and has a few run-ins with Gemma, and they have immediate chemistry. He is also her son’s new teacher, and he had such an amazing connection to her son. Gemma was afraid to date again after her husband died in an accident, but she can’t stay away from Everett. They decide to be friends with benefits. However, Everett quickly realizes he wants more.

Everett was very swoon-worthy, but also very alpha. He definitely brought the dirty talk, and there were some hot scenes. I was honestly shocked that I actually loved it when he called her “Mama.”

🎧 Audiobook Review 🎧
This audiobook was narrated by Connor Crais and Samantha Brentmoor. They are two of my favorite narrators, and they did a great job with the banter and spice. I love duet narration and would definitely recommend the audiobook.

Tropes You Will Love:

💗 Small Town
💗 Single Mom x Teacher
💗 He Falls First
💗 Neighbors to Lovers
💗 Friends with Benefits
💗 Public Play
💗 Breeding Kink

Thank you to The Author Agency for providing the ALC.
Profile Image for Jen.
323 reviews
January 9, 2025
4 ⭐️
Why you’ll love this book!!

🔥Small Town
💕Single Mom x Teacher
🔥He Falls First
💕Neighbors to Lovers
🔥Friends with Benefits
💕Public Play
🔥Breeding Kink

I loved how Everett and Gemma kept meeting it wasn’t force it was more of a natural connection could happen in real life .. I fell in love with Everett he was so swoon worthy and how he connected so well with Sutton was so hot to watch how natural he was with him..
Profile Image for rachel.
451 reviews
January 2, 2025
ALC Review
5/5⭐️
3.5/5🌶️

Duet Narration: Samantha Brentmoor & Connor Crais

This was such an amazing single mom romance 🤍 Everett & Gemma were immediately drawn to eachother with so many run-ins it was like fate was bringing them together! From run-ins at the coffee shop to him being her son’s teacher to them being neighbours! Everett showed time and time again how much he cared for Gemma and her son Sutton 🫶🏼

But also… the spice 🥵
He calls her MAMA ! There’s a breeding k!nk, public play, and other desire exploration 👀
There frennies with bennies quickly turned into something more, or was it always more?

I will definitely read more by Ashley James 👏🏼 the duet narration was also really well done and the narrators did a great job expressing the emotion ❤️‍🔥
Profile Image for Debbie.
137 reviews7 followers
January 7, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶

Thank you Ashley James and The Author Agency for the ARC for review. I absolutely loved Everett and Gemma’s story from the start. Everett is such a golden retriever MMC in the best way but also knows how to dial up the spice 🥵 Gemma is kind of a badass single mom doing what she needs to in order to take care of her son and I loved seeing her realize she needed to take her own needs into account sometimes, especially when Everett is the one to step in and help her with those needs ❤️ The chemistry between Everett and Gemma was 🔥 and watching them fall for each other had me swooning. Everett was truly one of the best MMCs I’ve read in a while because he knew exactly how to show up for Gemma and care for her in the ways she needed. This was the perfect small town romance to start off the year with! I also adored all the side characters in this, from Gemma’s son Sutton to her sisters and the other members of the Blossom Beach community. I cannot wait to see more of these characters in future books because I already love them all!

Read this if you like:
- Small Town Romance
- Single Mom x Teacher
- He Falls First
- Friends with Benefits to Lovers
- Spice 🌶️
Profile Image for Amberly Hays.
201 reviews19 followers
December 27, 2024
Loved this book so very much! It was a feel good and low drama story. Everett was an amazing, drool worthy, and sexy MMC! Everett and Gemma’s chemistry was off the charts and melted my kindle! I can’t wait for the next in the series!
Profile Image for Nicole McGivern.
59 reviews
January 28, 2025
It’s a no from me Cringey w a capital “C!” I scrunched my nose 75% of this book and the other 25% I rolled my eyes. I wish I could DNF books bc I woulda.
Profile Image for Mandy (Bestie Book Reviews).
435 reviews167 followers
April 10, 2025
Spicy & Swoony perfection!
Gemma is a widow raising her son with a strong support system but has been reluctant to date again even though it has been years. Everett moves in next door and quickly befriends Gemma and her son. He becomes her son's teacher and Gemma's neighbor with benefits. This is a sweet, spicy, and swoony love story that I could not stop listening to! Samantha Brentmoor and Conor Crais capture their characters banter and spice for a riveting performance. Loved the story and the audiobook!
Profile Image for Vallsykes.
1,130 reviews13 followers
August 30, 2025
3.5 stars
Everett Windward is a MMC who is like a typical contemporary romance heroine in male form; here is what he and a lot of CR heroines have in common:
✅they both start their story by fleeing the city to a small town;
✅they both actively prefer the less pretentious life, as opposed to their upbringing or status, which is elite, the rich, with parents who expect them to be ..."more."
✅this "getaway" is prompted by a death of a relative, an inheritance of a removed or long lost relative, and/or a need for found family (because the family she/he has is for shit). In Everett's case, ALL OF THE ABOVE.

As Everett ensconces himself in Blossom Beach, as a small town teacher, in a house left to him by his grandmother, he encounters his new neighbor: a widow, a pretty native of Blossom Beach, who has a great family, a preteen son, and a pretty great life, after her husband's death; she's a writer and a great sister, and also a woman who is not afraid to start up a conversation with a man, newcomer to town, while he is looking out from the pier, enjoying the possibility of life.

Everett charms Gemma by being a great person with her son, admiring Gemma's beauty as well as her resilience, and just plain being a handsome, red-blooded, breathing man! A man that (#1) gets her juices going more so than any other man, years after losing her husband.

Meanwhile, Gemma charms Everett, equally. He thinks she is sexy and interesting. She invites him into her life, with her family, and interests him with her small town traditions.

Oh, and one more thing, something that may not have much to do with Gemma, and more to do with Everett unlocking a "thing," urge, or fetish (even), he did not know he had, in Connor Crais' voice: would be the utterance of his "mama" endearment, in the shower, in the kitchen —pre, post, and during coitus!
GIF smitten desire swoon - animated GIF on GIFER - by Kiganos
Oh lawd, Everett getting smexy time, kinda kinky, exercising his lust/growing interest for Gemma, and calling her "Mama," at different heating degrees, while doing it?
!!!!!
Oh lawd.
First, I was like..."huh?"
What Huh GIF - What Huh Shrug - Discover & Share GIFs
Then, I was like "hmm."
Thinking GIFs - Get the Best GIFs on GIFSEC
Eventually I wavered from thinking, "Alright, Everett, you may be overdoing the "M'ma" bit!", to getting singed by heat bursts, as Connor Crais, narrating Everett, says something like "Get there, Mama," and I ...
Swoon GIF - Find on GIFER
And I think I ended up feeling like Erica---who said in her review
Erica wrote: "hearing Connor Crais say “Mama” awakened something dormant in me since Rio from Good Girls"

Suffice to say, this was a decent small town romance, featuring a FMC and MMC who didn't get on my nerves, no third act, pretty blatant words and scenes that mean this couple is not afraid of falling or...possibly breeding 👀 ...
Secondary characters, namely the heroine's sister, were interesting and supportive, and the heroine's kid was cute...kind of. All of your tropes and archetypes packaged neatly with a dollop of spice, some humor.
i don't like this anymore than you do.
Happy Reading
Profile Image for Rachael.
233 reviews32 followers
January 6, 2025
4.3⭐️
2.5🌶️

🏡Small Town
❤️Single Mom x Teacher
🏡He Falls First
❤️Neighbors to Lovers
🏡Friends with Benefits
❤️Public Play
🏡Breeding Kink

I love that Ashley's writing in the MF romance world, and with single moms, too! I love her MM books, but I know she's going to do some great things with MF, too. 🥰
Gemma and Everett were so much fun right from the start. Their meet-cute was adorable and had a hint of "fated mates" vibes that I kind of loved, and the way the universe just kept putting them together was so satisfying. It's like they couldn't escape their destiny.

Gemma's a successful author and she's got her sweet 10-year-old son Sutton. She's been recovering from heartbreak for the last 6 years and has a fantastic large family that supports and loves her and Sutton hard, but is also meddling and hilarious.
Everett has just walked away from an emotionally draining life with a family whose only interest is money and power, in exchange for inheriting his grandmother's house and a simpler way of life. He runs into Gemma on his first night in Blossom Beach, they have a surprisingly deep conversation but don't exchange any information, and then they proceed to get thrown together over and over until they just can't ignore their undeniable chemistry. 🔥

Everett was so down bad for Gemma from the start, and that is one of my absolute favorite MMC traits, so I was an Everett stan pretty fast. 😘

"Every single time I’m in her presence, I want more.
I want to know more about her—know everything. I want to hear her talk more—for hours.
I wonder what it would be like to sit under the stars with her and just listen. Take in everything she has to say. Hear her thoughts and opinions on every topic."

"I want to know it all, and considering I only met the woman a couple weeks ago, that’s a little alarming, but I can’t help it. She’s a beautiful, captivating force that I want to be utterly consumed by. And if she has me this enthralled now, how the hell will I be once I know even more about her?"


I mean, come on! 🫠🫠

And the sweetness he reserved for Sutton? I swooned every time he stepped up and showed Sutton how much he loved him and wanted to take care of him too, not just his mom.
"My heart breaks as the first tear falls. I’m sure it’s so scary being his age, and seeing his mom not feeling well.
'How can I help you feel better?' I ask. 'Do you need a hug? A fist bump? A high five? What can I do?'
Sutton’s voice cracks as he says, 'A hug, please.'"
🥹




Gemma and Everett were also very fiery and spicy together.
And Everett's mouth, phew... 😮‍💨

"'Oh, f--k, Everett!' I moan, hands fisting the bedsheets.
Glancing up, a sexy smirk tugged on his slick lips, Everett asks in a low, raspy tone, 'You like this, mama?'
I nod feverishly, whimpering, feeling like I’m about to burst when he hooks his fingers inside of me, stroking in a come-hither motion right over the sweet spot that has a desperate, raspy moan clawing from my throat."...

...'You’re so tight, and so f---ing sweet. So wet for me,' he mutters before swiping his tongue over my cl-t again, causing my body to vibrate with need. 'I could c--e right now just thinking about how this tight little c--t will feel wrapped around my c--k.'"


🥵☠️🥵☠️ Mama?!
Are you kidding me???!!! 🫠🥵☠️🙌🏻👏🏻



All in all, this was a lighter, swoony, sexy read about a single mom and her hot neighbor/son's teacher who fall hard and fast for each other. I absolutely recommend it, and I'm excited for book 2!
Gemma's sister Grace and Conway have an interesting back story and their story is bound to be full of scandal and fireworks... 🎆😏
I received an advanced copy of this book and am leaving an honest review.
Profile Image for Shushi.
299 reviews24 followers
March 23, 2025
Rating - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice - 🌶🌶🌶🌶

Trope - neighbours, strangers to lovers, friends to lovers, with benefits, teacher × author, sunshine × sunshine, forced proximity, widow FMC, grief, single mom, he falls first, green-flag MMC, small town, steamy, breeding kink, public play, HEA

OMFG I ATE THIS BOOK!! From the beginning to the end, it was just perfect. The characters were mature and sweet, the plot was good and the spice was wonderful.

Everett has just moved to Blossom Beach after his grandmother passed away, and he inherited her house. He meets Gemma on his very first day and falls hard and fast, but he takes a small, cautious step towards her, never imposing himself on her. He is so sweet, respectful, and caring. His actions had me swooning over him. The way he slowly made his way into her life was just beautiful. Oh, and he called her "mama". He was just perfect. Book boyfriend gained.

Gemma is an Indie writer, who has closed her walls after her husband died and left her alone with her toddler. But she is smart, independent and so damn caring - I loved and adored the way she handles herself and her life.

Their chemistry was undeniable. Their relationship was simple yet adorable. I loved how they understood, cared, and respected each other throughout the book. Their initial relationship began with a friends-with-benefit deal, but their moments never felt shallow, every one of them had a meaning behind it.

The spice just hit right at the spot, like omfg HOT!! Both of them had such a dirty mouth that I was gasping every two minutes. The public sex/ voyeurism scenes were unexpected but damn they were so freakin hot.

The way their relationship progressed was another thing I really liked. Them going from strangers to friends to with benefit to more was pure bliss. Everett was once again so understanding with everything and the way he handled the whole dad question, just melted my heart. If he didn't already own my heart, he would have at this very instance.

Sutton was such an amazing, mature kid. Watching him call Everett 'dad', almost had me in tears. That baby deserved a dad figure and no one would have been even better than Everett for this role.

I knew what was coming in the last chapter, and it just made me so happy.

By the time the end rolled up, I was so attached to these characters that I was rereading the same line for 10 minutes straight. I'm gonna miss these characters.

The girl/sister group was so healthy and loving. I wish every girl had a group like that. I loved how they loved and cared for Gemma but also told her to explore new things when she was scared to even step out. Their bond with Everett was the cherry on top, especially Georgia's and Everett's.

The ending was sweet and spicy - so Everett and Gemma coded. The epilogue filled my heart full of love. I could feel the emotions and adoration these characters carried within them.

The sneak peek for the next book was so fun and alluring. I can't wait to read Grace and Conway's book, the tropes are just the icing on the cake.

I loved it. It's now one of my favourite books.
Overall 5/5
Profile Image for shanelle maree.
883 reviews58 followers
January 7, 2025
4.5🌟 3🌶️

Beautiful crazy is the perfect title for this book, because that’s exactly what it was! So beautifully crazy. 😍

Everett is the boyfriend/husband blueprint. Like all men should be fashioned from him, cause he’s literally perfect.
He’s the type of guy who will play with your son, take care of you & your son when you’re sick, he’ll BRUSH YOUR HAIR, he’ll worship your body from head to freaking toe. He’s amazed about everything that you do and continuously looks at you in awe, he’ll buy you your favorite wine, and he wants you to have his babies. He’s an elementary school teacher and loves kids, he loves calling you mama, especially in the bedroom, he’s incredibly considerate of you and your son. HIS DIRTY TALK, and omg his aftercare. 😍 He’ll not only fall for you, but he’ll fall for your son too. He’ll treat your son the way that he always wished he was treated when he was a kid (he has a terrible dad). All of that to say… Everett is THE man. 🥰

Gemma, this woman has been through one of the worst things you can go through, but she pulled it together for her son and continued to raise him. I absolutely adore her son, Sutton and I love the bond he formed with Everett. It was beautiful to see their relationship bloom. Everett came into their lives at the perfect time, and filled a void that had been there, but still also respected her late husband. Truly beautiful!

Let’s talk about the audio, because it had me ferrrraallll. CONNOR YOUR ACTUAL GROWLING 🥵🥵🥵 that alone made this book 5 stars, but then you add in SAMMY. OMG YOUR NARRATION WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. You are so perfect and talented, and I could listen to you for forever.

Holy smokes, the spice is so freakin hot omg. The way my body would go through full body shivers, goosebumps and tingles at the spice 👀 Ashley writes some of THE best spice. It’s always so dirty, yet super intimate at the same time. I love it.

I’m so excited for what’s to come with this series!

I hope I convinced you to read this, cause you seriously don’t want to miss it. GET THE AUDIO, and thank me later. 😘

Tropes:
🩷 Small Town
🧡 Single Mom x Teacher
🩷 He Falls First
🧡 Neighbors to Lovers
🩷 Friends with Benefits
🧡 Public Play
🩷 Breeding
Profile Image for Maureen.
772 reviews3 followers
January 10, 2025
I have been a fan of Ashley's writing for a while now, and when I heard we were getting a MF small town romance from her pseudonym, I was ecstatic! First book in the Blossom Beach series follows Gemma and her son Sutton and the new guy in town and conveniently enough new neighbor, Everett. Seattle born and bred Everett has decided to make a major life change and move clear across the country after inheriting his late grandmother Rosie's home in South Carolina. He finds himself in Blossom Beach and immediately stumbles upon a beautiful stranger, Gemma, on the pier as he is attempting to soak in one of his first beachside sunsets.

"My own version of serendipity, if you will."

It all snowballs from there. It turns out not only is Gemma Everett's neighbor, but he is also set to be the teacher to Gemma's son, Sutton. Immediate forced proximity at its finest. Everett has an instant connection to both Gemma and Sutton and I must say, his relationship with Sutton was probably one of my favorite things about this book, other than his absolutely swelteringly hot mouth. Gemma's hasn't dated anyone since she lost her husband 6 years ago and while she is still not sure she is ready for dating, she is convinced that she is ready for a physical relationship, AKA "frennies with bennies" situation with the hot neighbor next door. Cue the SPICE! Gemma and Everett are so dynamic in every sense. Once that tension breaks, there's definitely no going back. Ashley DELIVERS on the steamy scenes as she always does and I love how organically this couples relationship develops. They start to weave themselves deeper into each other's lives and into each other's hearts. I enjoyed this story very much and can we not only get a round of applause for the classroom scene but the lighthouse one as well? Please and thank you. 4.5/5 stars!

🔥Small Town
💕Single Mom x Teacher
🔥He Falls First
💕Neighbors to Lovers
🔥Friends with Benefits
💕Public Play
🔥Breeding Kink
Profile Image for drea.
881 reviews40 followers
January 14, 2025
Connor Crais and Samantha Brentmoor's rent was due because my god, they were absolutely incredible in this audiobook?? Their narration was truly a performance and it's one of the best audiobooks I've heard from each of them. They had me straight up blushing and squealing while listening to this lmaooo. I just about died every. single. time. Connor Crais said "mama" - and I really never thought I'd be into that.

The story was also so cute!! This is only my second book by this author, but she does such a great job at writing strong relationships. I loved getting to witness the progression of Everett and Gemma's relationship. Everett was the definition of "if he wanted to, he would" - that man was so gone for Gemma and would have moved mountains for her. It was really sweet how dedicated he was to her from the start.

Gemma was so relatable in the sense that I also have a hard time accepting help, but I was really glad to see her grow throughout the book and eventually be more open to accepting help. I admired everything that she did on her own, but it made me happy to see her get to share that load.

This book had no business being as hot as it was. When I tell you I had to physically fan myself - it was no joke. Ashley James knows how to write some incredible smut. I was taken aback in all of the best ways lol.

Anyway, highly, highly recommend this audiobook! It's duet style and it is perfect.
Profile Image for ⭒  Kyra ⭒.
286 reviews15 followers
January 15, 2025
was really hoping I’d love this because it’s her first MF romance and I loved her copper lake series

but I was honestly really bored for like the last 50% of this

there wasn’t any connection between them for me, romantic or otherwise, besides the sex. like, they don’t even go on dates. all they do is fuck like all the time and honestly it got really boring and I know it was a FWB situation but like … all they did was fuck. I didn’t see them actually fall for each other and the instant attraction in the beginning didn’t help either

for a romance book, it felt like there was barely any romance. i didn’t love Everett, and his overuse of the word “c*nt” got so irritating. like dude, there are other words you can use besides that one, and other ways to describe her than “sexy” (also another overused word)

for a girl who loves smut/spice in her books, this one honestly had too much for me. i skipped the last one because i was just so over it

and don’t get me started on the ***spoilers*** pregnancy at the end, i saw that coming from a mile away (i like pregnancy tropes, but not the way this one was handled)

debating if I’ll read book two later on, i need more info before making a decision
Profile Image for Danni Drummond.
270 reviews37 followers
December 26, 2024
Beautiful Crazy
A blossom beach novel
By A. James

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶

🍾 Small Town Romance
❤️ Love After Loss
🍾 MMC is a school teacher
❤️ FMC is a Single Mum / Romance Author / Hot girl next door
🍾 Spicy 🔥

🎶 Has a Playlist 🎶

When frennies with bennies blossoms into something more 😍🥰


This gorgeously heart-warming novel took me by surprise!
This is the first (but definitely will not be the last 😉) of A. James' books i have read and let me just say ma'am you know exactly what you are doing! Repping for us single mummas 😍🥰

You have the gorgeous FMC Gemma, a Romance Author and single mumma to the adorable Sutton, who has been grieving and heeling from the loss of her husband who tragically passed when Sutton was a toddler.
Well she stumbles upon Everett the new guy in town 🫠 (the MMC also known as the new Teacher/daddy 🤤 I mean COME ON! HE CALLS HER MAMA 🫠🥵) sitting on the pier watching the sunset 🌇 😍.
It was in this moment everything changes and neither of them had any idea, them meeting would change their lives forever 😍😍😍😍

I read this book in a day, ate it up! Absolutely delicious 😋 😍

Beautiful Crazy releases January 6th 😘🖤
Profile Image for Melissa .
706 reviews10 followers
January 4, 2025
4.5 stars

This was such a cute, fun and spicy romance between two neighbors. Gemma is a single mother that wasn't looking for love just yet. Enter Everett, who moves to Blossom Beach after inheriting his grandmother's house. He's Gemma's new neighbor, her son's new teacher and eventually becomes her new friend with benefits.

This was my first book by this author and I really enjoyed her writing style. The pacing of the story was good. The story jumps right into the main plot. There was never a dull moment and the story didn't drag. When Everett and Gemma meet for the first time there is an instant attraction. I felt their undeniable chemistry. I loved Everett. He was a straight laced guy and took a leap of faith in this new chapter in his life. I loved Gemma. She had a great relationship with her son. After all the hurt and loss Gemma and her son endured, Gemma was resilient, stronger and brave. I also loved Everett's relationship with Sutton.

Most recently I listened to the audiobook and it's amazing! Performed in duet by Connor Crais and Samantha Brentmoor. You seriously can't go wrong with this pairing. Connor and Samantha embodied Everett and Gemma. Connor conveyed Everett with a hopeful tone. Connor captured Everett's pining for Gemma. I loved Samantha's Southern accent! It was exactly how I imagined Gemma to sound like. As their relationship started to grow and they started to act on their romantic feelings. I loved the effort they made to get to know eachother. I felt even more connected to them because of Connor and Samantha's narration. Their expressive tones elevated the story for me. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!

Release date: January 6, 2025

Thank you to @theauthoragency for my ALC and for the opportunity to review and listen.
Profile Image for Randi (randi_reads).
1,530 reviews347 followers
January 7, 2025
My first book by this author and I really enjoyed it.

Everett is new to Blossom Beach when he meets single mom, Gemma. He has no idea she is a mother when he meets her, though. All he knows that he likes meeting a friendly face. He continues to see her around town until they learn that they are next-door neighbors and that he is her son's new fifth grade teacher. Their attraction is undeniable, but Gemma hasn't dated since her husband died.

I really enjoyed how this story unfolded and how mature both Everett and Gemma are. They are both in their thirties and have lived life. The way that Everett took to Gemma's son, Sutton, and started to care for him is something special, too. This is a sweet contemporary romance, but it is spicy spicy in the bedroom.

The secondary characters--Gemma's sisters-- are fun and had me laughing with their comments.

I listened to the audio narrated in duet by Connor Crais and Samantha Brentmoor and it was wonderful. Definitely the way to go.

Thank you to The Author Agency for an advanced listeners copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Catherine M..
257 reviews23 followers
December 30, 2024
ARC Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

This was a sweet story with a chance encounter, love after grief and finding your family.

I loved that Emmett went with his heart and not with what was expected of him. It made his connection to Gemma even sweeter. And how he built his relationship with her son was precious. He’s definitely swoon worthy. But don’t be mistaken, this sweet man has a dirty mouth and isn’t afraid to use it.

I loved the family connections that came with Gemma. You could feel the love and support these siblings have for each other. These strong family values were reflected in how Gemma handled her growing relationship with Emmett. How she had her son come first was a true testament of her love for Sutton.

It was a good read! I am looking foward to Grace’s story.

I would like to thank Ashley James as A. James and the Author Agenvy for the opportunity to read and review Crazy Beautiful.
Profile Image for Kaelea Babner.
662 reviews14 followers
December 26, 2024
I’m a sucker for a single mom romance, this one was so sweet. Guy next door who ends up being her son’s teacher? Yesssss! I thought the way he called her mama would give me the ick, but he said it so sweetly that I actually kinda melted!!

This has small town, found family vibes that just warms your heart, but it also has so more vulnerable moments about loss and different family dynamics. I truly enjoyed learning about these characters!

The narrators did a wonderful job bringing the story to life. It made me laugh, it gave me the warm and fuzziness and it also gave me the spice I was needing! It had a little bit of everything!

If you’re looking for a cozy romance with some spice, I’d add this one to your TBR! I’m excited to read more of this authors books!
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