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40 and Flirting (with Disaster): A Small-Town Over 40 Romance
He’s the town’s most eligible bachelor, which makes him completely off limits to the town’s most recent—and reluctant—bachelorette.
Iris Daniels thought her life was set—twenty-plus years of marriage, two adult children, and a job she loves as Black Wolf’s Bluff’s librarian. Until her husband drops a bomb that destroys her complacency. Six months post-divorce isn’t long enough to fully heal, so why is the pull of Gatlinburg’s most eligible bachelor—and the man who knows her darkest secret—so strong?
Jamie Worthington accidentally overheard Kirk Daniels’s outrageous proposal for his now ex-wife. That moment changed Iris’s life forever—and gave Jamie the opening he never thought he would have. He’s determined to show Iris that she’s still a “sexy librarian,” no matter her age, and that he wants her for his own, even if she thinks being with him is a recipe for disaster.
And don't miss the other titles in the Silver Foxes of Black Wolf's Bluff
40 and (Tired of) Faking It
40 and (No Longer) Fighting It
40 and (So Over) Fixing It
40 and Flashing (the Scotsman)
40 and Flirting (with Disaster)
Iris Daniels thought her life was set—twenty-plus years of marriage, two adult children, and a job she loves as Black Wolf’s Bluff’s librarian. Until her husband drops a bomb that destroys her complacency. Six months post-divorce isn’t long enough to fully heal, so why is the pull of Gatlinburg’s most eligible bachelor—and the man who knows her darkest secret—so strong?
Jamie Worthington accidentally overheard Kirk Daniels’s outrageous proposal for his now ex-wife. That moment changed Iris’s life forever—and gave Jamie the opening he never thought he would have. He’s determined to show Iris that she’s still a “sexy librarian,” no matter her age, and that he wants her for his own, even if she thinks being with him is a recipe for disaster.
And don't miss the other titles in the Silver Foxes of Black Wolf's Bluff
40 and (Tired of) Faking It
40 and (No Longer) Fighting It
40 and (So Over) Fixing It
40 and Flashing (the Scotsman)
40 and Flirting (with Disaster)
196 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 26, 2025
About the author
Ella Sheridan
37 books412 followersElla Sheridan never fails to take her readers to the dark edges of love and back again. Strong heroines are her signature, and her heroes span the gamut from hot rock stars to alpha bodyguards and everywhere in between. Ella never pulls her punches, and her unique combination of raw emotion, hot sex, and action leave her readers panting for the next release.
Born and raised in the Deep South, Ella writes romantic suspense, erotic romance, and hot BDSM contemporaries. Start anywhere—every book may be read as a standalone, or begin with book one in any series and watch the ties between the characters grow.
★ Anything can happen in the shadows of a sultry Southern night. Explore the heat with the SOUTHERN NIGHTS romantic suspense series.
★ Secrets and sex abound in the SECRETS TO HIDE contemporary romance series.
★ Dark desires come to the fore in IF ONLY, a BDSM contemporary series.
“The perfect blend of suspense and romance.” – Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
“Ms. Sheridan writes suspense that grabs you and won't let go.” – Tea and Book
“The perfect kind of naughty…with [characters] that have great chemistry.” – Alpha Book Club
“A great plot, likable characters, witty banter, and seductively wicked love scenes—the perfect recipe!” – Blogging by Liza
Born and raised in the Deep South, Ella writes romantic suspense, erotic romance, and hot BDSM contemporaries. Start anywhere—every book may be read as a standalone, or begin with book one in any series and watch the ties between the characters grow.
★ Anything can happen in the shadows of a sultry Southern night. Explore the heat with the SOUTHERN NIGHTS romantic suspense series.
★ Secrets and sex abound in the SECRETS TO HIDE contemporary romance series.
★ Dark desires come to the fore in IF ONLY, a BDSM contemporary series.
“The perfect blend of suspense and romance.” – Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
“Ms. Sheridan writes suspense that grabs you and won't let go.” – Tea and Book
“The perfect kind of naughty…with [characters] that have great chemistry.” – Alpha Book Club
“A great plot, likable characters, witty banter, and seductively wicked love scenes—the perfect recipe!” – Blogging by Liza
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 18, 2025
As I'm always looking for mature romance, it's a relief to find some. It's also great that although the characters are older, there's not much ageism or talk of health issues. Which is awesome. Typically mature romance falls into one of two categories: "clean" romance (blech), or the characters are talked about out as if they're on their last earthly leg. This one falls somewhere in between.
But I'm just going to say it. This book is boring.
Yes, the characters are older and more settled in life. And yes, apparently no one in this town has any money issues. People are far kinder than any small town I ever lived in. I also didn't expect the leads to swing from balconies, get kidnapped, reveal secret criminal backgrounds, or turn into super heroes. I did expect some character development, more serious spiciness, and a little more drama than a snotty grown daughter.
The FMC started out as a strong, $exy librarian who is in a bland, unhappy marriage. But once the divorce ship has sailed, she collapses and turns into vanilla pudding. There's the obligatory "makeover' scene and some supportive friends. There's also way too much focus on what her kids think. They're grown, gone, and have successful independent lives. Despite her former personality, she essentially sits quietly until the MMC picks her and reminds her she's a viable woman. She has no character arc at all. She cuts her hair in a daring new style, buys a few new dresses, and has some fairly hot $ex a couple of times. That's not character development. She lost all her formerly held characteristics from previous books. She becomes a bland stereotyped older woman who only gains some color when she's chosen by the hunky rich guy. There's no inner search or acknowledgement of future paths. Just that sitting and waiting for a man to give her life some meaning. That's disappointing.
The MMC is pretty standard for these mature romances. He's wealthy as all get-out, of course, has stature in the town, runs a 4 star restaurant, and raises quarter horses as a hobby. He has a well adjusted adult son and no clingy exes hanging around. He's all up for some smexy times and makes that clear. All good there. He's pretty much just an archetype of that older guy who gets better looking and more confident. He spends the whole book convincing her she's gorgeous and that he wants her. Job done.
Still, it's kinda boring.
The supposed drama with the snotty daughter defies logic. For reasons no one should get, the daughter judgmentally trolls her mother for how she dresses, and that she has a boyfriend. I kept trying to figure out what year this book was written when I got to that part. A woman in her mid 20s telling another woman how she dresses is inappropriate? That's not realistic in today's world even if it's directed at her mom. And supposedly the daughter is being influenced by her misogynistic father. The father that paid zero attention to the daughter. The father who told his wife he wanted an open marriage, but just for him. That father? The big influence? Impossible to swallow.
And I'm going to say this out loud. What's with the lack of oral $ex? Why does the FMC not get hers? Oh, the MMC gets his for sure. And it's hot. Definitely a hot scene, but WTH? Where's the reciprocity here? I sometimes feel that authors don't like to write about oral for woman. (I'm looking at you, Kristen Ashley.) Some authors write tons of books and never broach it once. That, ladies, is some pure BS. Out here in the real world, it's definitely a thing. And pro tip of importance: if some guy lays me across his big ol' fantastic power desk at his 4 star restaurant, getting me off with the oral is Job #1.
Overall, this is a fine story if you want an easy, kind read with virtually no drama or character development.
But I'm just going to say it. This book is boring.
Yes, the characters are older and more settled in life. And yes, apparently no one in this town has any money issues. People are far kinder than any small town I ever lived in. I also didn't expect the leads to swing from balconies, get kidnapped, reveal secret criminal backgrounds, or turn into super heroes. I did expect some character development, more serious spiciness, and a little more drama than a snotty grown daughter.
The FMC started out as a strong, $exy librarian who is in a bland, unhappy marriage. But once the divorce ship has sailed, she collapses and turns into vanilla pudding. There's the obligatory "makeover' scene and some supportive friends. There's also way too much focus on what her kids think. They're grown, gone, and have successful independent lives. Despite her former personality, she essentially sits quietly until the MMC picks her and reminds her she's a viable woman. She has no character arc at all. She cuts her hair in a daring new style, buys a few new dresses, and has some fairly hot $ex a couple of times. That's not character development. She lost all her formerly held characteristics from previous books. She becomes a bland stereotyped older woman who only gains some color when she's chosen by the hunky rich guy. There's no inner search or acknowledgement of future paths. Just that sitting and waiting for a man to give her life some meaning. That's disappointing.
The MMC is pretty standard for these mature romances. He's wealthy as all get-out, of course, has stature in the town, runs a 4 star restaurant, and raises quarter horses as a hobby. He has a well adjusted adult son and no clingy exes hanging around. He's all up for some smexy times and makes that clear. All good there. He's pretty much just an archetype of that older guy who gets better looking and more confident. He spends the whole book convincing her she's gorgeous and that he wants her. Job done.
Still, it's kinda boring.
The supposed drama with the snotty daughter defies logic. For reasons no one should get, the daughter judgmentally trolls her mother for how she dresses, and that she has a boyfriend. I kept trying to figure out what year this book was written when I got to that part. A woman in her mid 20s telling another woman how she dresses is inappropriate? That's not realistic in today's world even if it's directed at her mom. And supposedly the daughter is being influenced by her misogynistic father. The father that paid zero attention to the daughter. The father who told his wife he wanted an open marriage, but just for him. That father? The big influence? Impossible to swallow.
And I'm going to say this out loud. What's with the lack of oral $ex? Why does the FMC not get hers? Oh, the MMC gets his for sure. And it's hot. Definitely a hot scene, but WTH? Where's the reciprocity here? I sometimes feel that authors don't like to write about oral for woman. (I'm looking at you, Kristen Ashley.) Some authors write tons of books and never broach it once. That, ladies, is some pure BS. Out here in the real world, it's definitely a thing. And pro tip of importance: if some guy lays me across his big ol' fantastic power desk at his 4 star restaurant, getting me off with the oral is Job #1.
Overall, this is a fine story if you want an easy, kind read with virtually no drama or character development.
September 26, 2025
This is book five in The Silver Foxes of Black Wolf’s Bluff series and it is Iris and Jamie’s story and omg it is definitely a must read. Iris had been married for over twenty years, have two adult children and a job she loves in The Black Wolfe’s Bluff Library so imagine her surprise when her husband decided that he now wanted a open marriage which not only shocked and devastated her but also it made her make the decision of a divorce even though it would completely destroy everything that she thought that she knew about them. Jaime is one of The Black Wolf’s Bluff Silver Foxes and he had liked Iris for a long time so now she is divorced he sees it as his time to make a move but he knows that he will have to be very patient and careful especially after everything that her ex husband had put her through so now he hoped that Iris would give him a chance to show and prove that he is one f the good guys. Iris and Jamie have a strong attraction, chemistry and connection between them and the first time that they came together it was totally intense and explosive and it threw Iris because she felt so much that it scared her and she didn’t know if she was really ready for a relationship at the moment especially after everything that had happened and what she had been through but Jamie was so patient, caring and kind and would wait until Iris was ready because he definitely wasn’t giving up on something that he really wanted. Iris and Jamie were so perfect together and for each other and the more time that they spent together the stronger there feelings for each other grew but will they eventually get the happiness and future together that they both want and deserve in the end. Wow I really love this story so much and with it being about a older couple getting their second chance at love is just the icing on the cake. I read this book in one sitting because I just couldn’t put it down as the story pulled you in and kept your attention throughout as it was a real page turner and so addictive. I can’t wait to read more books in the future.
September 9, 2025
Stop being afraid about what could go wrong and start being excited about what could go right...
I was excited to learn that another Silver Fox was to grace the pages of the Black Wolf's Bluff Series. Iris Daniels the librarian in Black Wolf's Bluff got the shock of her life when her husband shares news that changes her life forever.
Jamie Worthington has had his eye on Iris for a long time, and he has one shot to try and show her she deserves to be treated and cared for and he is the man to do just that. He is a patient man and leaves her to set the pace. Iris is very attracted to Jamie, but she is not ready to move on just yet. Jamie is pure sexy perfection, and he is slowly wearing her down.
This story is my favorite in the series. Reading about mature romance always grabs my heart. This couple had me rooting for them from the very beginning. Emotional, romantic, spicy, my favorite trifecta in a book.
I was excited to learn that another Silver Fox was to grace the pages of the Black Wolf's Bluff Series. Iris Daniels the librarian in Black Wolf's Bluff got the shock of her life when her husband shares news that changes her life forever.
Jamie Worthington has had his eye on Iris for a long time, and he has one shot to try and show her she deserves to be treated and cared for and he is the man to do just that. He is a patient man and leaves her to set the pace. Iris is very attracted to Jamie, but she is not ready to move on just yet. Jamie is pure sexy perfection, and he is slowly wearing her down.
This story is my favorite in the series. Reading about mature romance always grabs my heart. This couple had me rooting for them from the very beginning. Emotional, romantic, spicy, my favorite trifecta in a book.
October 13, 2025
On the night of their anniversary, Iris’s husband makes an outlandish and insulting request which leaves her reeling and to make matters worse, Jamie overhears the whole thing. He assists Iris that night and now months later is divorced which opens the door for him to make his move. Iris doesn’t know if she will ever be ready to date again but Jamie makes it known that he wants her and is willing to wait, being patient and treating her like she is a queen. Both are older and have grown children but now may the time for Iris to put herself first…she just needs to believe she is worth it.
A great read with amazing characters who may be mature but it is never too late for a second chance at love and living life to the fullest with someone beside you.
A great read with amazing characters who may be mature but it is never too late for a second chance at love and living life to the fullest with someone beside you.
October 19, 2025
It was great to go back to Black Wolf's Bluff and get Iris and Jamie's story along with all of the same characters from the Silver Foxes series! I enjoy that these are mature characters and they are still falling in love and having the time of their lives!
Jamie was there when Iris's marriage fell apart and he knew then that he was going to have his chance to make Iris feel beautiful and alive again! He just had to give her time. Iris was definitely interested but shied away from a relationship because once bitten, twice shy. Jamie breaks through her barriers and Iris knows she has found a good man!
I can't wait for the next book in this series!
Jamie was there when Iris's marriage fell apart and he knew then that he was going to have his chance to make Iris feel beautiful and alive again! He just had to give her time. Iris was definitely interested but shied away from a relationship because once bitten, twice shy. Jamie breaks through her barriers and Iris knows she has found a good man!
I can't wait for the next book in this series!
September 27, 2025
If ever there was an FMC that I could relate to, it would be Iris! this story truly spoke to me, as I went through a divorce several years ago after a long term marriage as well. The feelings and thoughts expressed are spot on. Jamie just gives you the hope that you'll eventually find YOUR person, that love can be obtained after a loss of "what could have been". The sexual tension and steam between Jamie and Iris makes you fan yourself and go "oh lawdy!" In all the best ways! I absolutely recommend this read!
September 27, 2025
Heartfelt
This book includes all my favorite things from Ella Sheridan. I enjoy the way she depicts small town friendships, family love, romantic love and interesting characters. I also love that this is a series of books about the same characters and how their friendships grow and evolve. Once a love story ends, you can be sure you’ll see them again in the next book so you can catch up with their stories, too. Mostly I enjoy how my heart feels as I enjoy these characters. I read to feel hope and Ella delivers!
This book includes all my favorite things from Ella Sheridan. I enjoy the way she depicts small town friendships, family love, romantic love and interesting characters. I also love that this is a series of books about the same characters and how their friendships grow and evolve. Once a love story ends, you can be sure you’ll see them again in the next book so you can catch up with their stories, too. Mostly I enjoy how my heart feels as I enjoy these characters. I read to feel hope and Ella delivers!
October 21, 2025
I have so enjoyed the over 40 small town romance series. This book did not disappoint. As a mature reader, I so delight in mature romance. Ella writes easy to read words with heart, love, emotion, and spicy heat. Iris and Jamie are incredible together. He is all invested in having Iris and making her feel whole again. We see the previous couples from the series, and that is always fun for me. I love seeing how everyone is and how they help the couple in this story. If you have not read Ella, you should.
September 28, 2025
I love Iris and Jamie; they complete each other. After a roller coaster ride, Iris gives Jamie a chance, and it is perfect for them both. Once they get together, their relationship is something Iris didn't have in her marriage. They are fun-loving, happy, and romantic. I love this series because it shows that people over 40 can find love again.
I love this author and have enjoyed many of her stories. I highly recommend any of her books; you will not be disappointed.
I love this author and have enjoyed many of her stories. I highly recommend any of her books; you will not be disappointed.
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September 21, 2025loved this story of a woman rediscovering herself after divorce and finding love again. The heroine’s strength and vulnerability made her so relatable, and it was inspiring to see her step into a new chapter of life with hope. The romance felt tender and genuine, proving that second chances can be just as exciting—and even sweeter—than first loves.
September 29, 2025
I absolutely loved this book. This was such a fun and refreshing read! It's a delight to read about people in their 40s finding true love. The mix of flirty banter, real-life challenges, and a touch of vulnerability made the story feel both lighthearted and authentic. What a wonderful surprise this was to get to their happy ending! A must-read 5+ star read from me.
September 22, 2025
Loved this second chance romance!!!! The chemistry is so intense - the spice between Jamie and iris - just wow!!! On top of that I so loved seeing the previous characters in the series! I can’t wait for more!
January 1, 2026
I finally read all 5 books in this series and I can say I am glad. They are great and I can relate to them more since I'm in my 60s. If you want to read a series that have older couples this is it. I laughed at this series. This is a must read. Looking forward to any other books in this series
September 20, 2025
Loved this second chance at romance. The characters of Black Wolf's Bluff are older and wiser. Jamie and Iris's story gives hope to all us older gals that HEA can happen at any age!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews