Borrowing Trouble

Nugget #6

by Stacy Finz

In the beautiful mountain town of Nugget, California, staying out of the limelight is easy, but staying out of love is a bit more challenging…Back in Los Angeles, Sloane McBride was a great police detective, but after she uncovered corruption on her own squad, the job became nearly impossible. In the bucolic hills of Nugget, she can start to imagine a life after all that, where she keeps her head down, does her work, and doesn’t bother anyone. But her delicious next door neighbor isn’t going to make it easy to keep to herself…Brady Benson’s wildest dreams came true in LA—but they were paired with a living nightmare. As executive chef of a searing-hot restaurant, he was lauded, adored… and then found himself caught in the sights of a lovelorn stalker. Now, laying low in Nugget, he finds his own heart ensnared by the beautiful new cop with her own reasons to start over. Neither Sloane nor Brady came to town looking for love, but it seems to have found them. Trouble is, so have their pasts. And they’ll have to stop hiding from both if they hope to come out the other side together…Praise For Stacy Finz“Finz is a unique new voice. Nugget, California is a charming small town filled with inventive characters and sweet romance."--Jill Shalvis, New York Times bestselling author of the Lucky Harbor Series"Tender and touching, Stacy Finz writes romance with heart."--Marina Adair, #1 National bestselling author of Summer in Napa

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Cooking, Fiction, Chick Lit, Friends To Lovers

293 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 2, 2016

About the author

Stacy Finz is an award-winning former newspaper reporter. After more than twenty years covering notorious serial killers, naked-tractor-driving farmers, fanatical foodies, aging rock stars and weird Western towns, she figured she finally had enough material to launch a career writing fiction. She is the author of the Nugget Romance series (Kensington/Lyrical Press) about a small mountain town that has a strange way of giving people unexpected reasons to start over--and find the most irresistible chances to fall in love. Look for her Garner Brothers series (Zebra) in 2017.

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Reviews

[Alyse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Borrowing Trouble is the sixth book in Stacy Finz's Nugget series. You do not have to read this in order to enjoy Sloane and Brady's story. As readers, you get glimpses of previous couples and get to catch up with their happily-ever-afters. I enjoyed Borrowing Trouble SOOO much more than Getting Lucky (I DID NOT like Lucky at all!!) and was excited to read more about Brady Benson and what he was hiding from.

Brady Benson was a hot chef back in LA, but that all changed when he developed a stalker. At the advise of the cops, Brady decided that it would be best to lay low for a while. He ends up in Nugget and gets a job at the local B&B, Lumber Baron. But even with distance between him and his stalker, he keeps looking over his shoulder waiting for the other show to drop. And then the beautiful Sloane McBride moves in next door.

Sloane McBride loves being a cop in LA and being in a position to help people. But after discovering and speaking out against a group of corrupt cops, her days as a member of the LAPD are numbered. Deciding to leave LA behind, Sloane makes her way to Nugget with the hope that she can make a difference on their police force and escape the threats back in LA.

Sloane and Brady become fast friends and begin fighting an attraction to each other. Each have their reasons, but soon they can no longer fight the pull they feel for each other.

But all to soon, each of their pasts come back to haunt them. Will their new relationship able to survive them?

Rating: 4 out of 5

**I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.**

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[Ann Lorz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Romancing the Readers Blog: http://www.romancingthereaders.com/20...

I'm finally getting around to reviewing the rest of this series. It got away from me, I guess that's what happens when you binge read series. You get a little overwhelmed. But I'm back to reviewing them now.

I really liked Borrowing Trouble. I think it had to do with the fact that I really enjoyed both Brady and Slone. Both of them have past issues. Maybe a little too similar, but that's okay this is a book a fiction so I let it go.

What I loved about Slone other then the fact that she's an upstanding cop was that at the job she's no-nonsense but at home, the cop is all female. The decor of her house speaks to that fact. Something I really love about her.

I also loved how much Brandy liked taking care of her. Not in the "I am the man" type of way, more the let me feed you and make you feel good type of way. He always had her back even when times got hard for both of them.

Even when times are at their worst these two work it out and stand for each other. It might have been a bit bumpy at times but that didn't matter to them. You'll totally enjoy this story and all the delicious-sounding food in it. I know I did.

In the end, these two came together and fought together. I'm sure wonderful things are in their futures. Have any of you read this series or any other book by Finz? For fans of small-town romance, you'd really enjoy it.

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[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

review also found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...

** I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication date is February 2nd 2016**

This is book six in the Nugget series. It is not required to read them in order to be able to enjoy this. I did however red book five Getting Lucky (see review here ) and was quite excited when I realized I was reading the next in the series.

I enjoyed this one more than Getting Lucky however to be honest after reading two stories I really want to go back to the beginning to read them all. The reason for this is that the stories are interesting. Also, there are a lot of characters in this book and it can sometimes be difficult to keep them all straight and they all seemed to have really interesting history. This is where it would be beneficial to read them in order however you can still enjoy the content of this story on its own.

I loved how Sloane was a police officer yet she was still a "girly girl". While tough when it came to her job she has a soft side outside of work which included frilly home décor. Brady was also interesting. We were introduced to him in the previous story with his rugged good looks and plethora of tattoo's. While not normally my thing, I could totally visualize. Think Adam Levigne or David Beckham....yummy! And he could cook to boot. I was always told that my perfect man would be a chef so I am not sure what Brady was doing in the pages of this book instead of in my life...don't tell my husband ;-)

The real highlight of this story is the community of Nugget. Everyone has a genuine concern for each others welfare (and gossip) and would do anything to assist each other. This was really heartwarming. The town was as much part of the story as Sloane and Brady.

Lastly, I loved how Finz poked a little fun at her series in this story. I was reading and thinking to myself that the hunky man ratio for such a small town was off of the charts. In the story Sloane makes a comment about if word got out all single woman would be moving to the town of Nugget.

I recommend this story and this series.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.50


I haven't read every book in this series but I was really excited to finally get Brady's book and to find out what exactly he was running from. I was also curious to find out what had Sloane picking up and leaving her old life.

Right away you can see these two are going to get together. Not only do they have a lot in common but being next door neighbors has them spending a lot of time together.

Brady isn't really ready for a relationship until his stalker is found but he doesn't mind spending time in Sloanes bed. But can there new relationship survive both there past coming back?!

Finz did a great job in not only telling there story but bringing back previous characters from other books. I liked how the town of Nugget welcomed both Sloane and Brady. I also liked how they stuck together and had each other's backs.

Besides the main love story we get a side story of Lina and Griffin. I liked them as a couple but I think there story would have been better told in there own book.

I also thought this book had a little too much drama. Between Brady and his crazy stalker and Sloane with her own stalker it just felt a little overwhelming.

The ending was done nicely and I really liked that they just moved in with one another and didn't get engaged, married or had a baby. I like this couple is taking it one step at time.

I wonder who the next book will be about because in this book we meet Sloanes brother who is recently single and looks like he likes Nugget. Fingers crossed!

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

Nugget, California book 6, already can you believe it! This little town is really securing it's way into my heart with every book. This one was a treat, and constantly was making me hungry with all that talk about food. I have been patiently waiting for Brady's story/backstory since he first appeared, I mean he's a hot tattooed southern boy who knows how to cook, rwar! I love Sloane she is such a girlie girl but a tough as nails when she's in uniform. When it first introduced Sloane in the last book I figured, I assumed, she was leaving LAPD because of a sexual harassment charge with a superior and being ostracized by fellow cops. Well I wasn't quite right. She was being ostracized but not for what I thought it was something much more. Brady's backstory finally comes out and honestly I had no idea what to expect from him and was kinda wishing it hinted more to it in other books, foreshadowing.

Sloane McBride had to leave LA, she was being threatened and feared for her life. The tiny town of Nugget was just what she needed but she wasn't sure if she could transition to small town life without dragging her problems with her. She doesn't want to get to comfortable afraid she's just going to have to pick up and move again. She doesn't realize how welcoming, understanding and protective Nugget is of it's citizens especially those who need it. Sloane is fitting right in when she unintentionally starts a youth program for some of the outcast kids at the high school. Brady Benson ran from his troubles too, he is in hiding from a potentially dangerous situation. He happened upon Nugget and stayed, keeping his past and who he was back in LA a secret finding it amusing every time one of old timers came up with another hypothetical backstory for him.

Trouble finds Sloane and Brady easily enough between the skeletal remains found in town and both Sloane and Brady's respective troubles finally showing up. Even though Sloane is a cop and very much able to take care of herself Brady has an urge to protect her, thankfully Sloane is smart enough not to argue with him; with a bunch of brother and her dad, all Chicago PD,she knows what battles to pick. Brady's crazy ended up kind of anti-climatic but Sloane's more than makes up for it.

Overall, I love these two. I enjoyed the gradual falling in love and acceptance of it. New character, Sloane's brother!! *excited*

[LJT · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is lots of love, mouthwatering food, and some delightful characters in Borrowing Trouble by Stacy Finz. There is also a deranged stalker and a bunch of really bad cops. Luckily, the residents of Nugget treat each other like family, and they come together whenever the situation arises.

Smart and sexy Sloane McBride loves being a police detective, and she is extremely good at her job. When she discovers and subsequently speaks out about the corruption in her own squad, her days of law enforcement on the Los Angles force are numbered. Sloane makes Nugget her new home, and she is hopeful that she will fit in, make a difference on the law enforcement team, and escape the target that is now on her back. Living next door to gorgeous chef Brady Benson only makes her transition easier. Over a very short time, she and Brady are sharing meals, their respective days, and a bed.

Brady Benson is an amazingly talented chef, and his breakfasts at the local bed and breakfast are legendary. His successful career at a Los Angeles five star restaurant was progressing very well, until he slept with the craziest of crazies. Now his life is no longer his own, and he is constantly looking over his shoulder for the next shoe to drop. Brady is being stalked, and the Los Angeles police advised him to get out of the area, so he ended up in Nugget. Brady is popular with the locals and his food is adored by all. Being involved with Sloane is the best thing that ever happened to him, however, he is not a commitment kind of guy.

This is quite an intriguing book and it kept me entertained from beginning to end. Sloane and Brady have a lot in common, and I liked the way Ms. Finz evolved their relationship. Lots of things are happening in Nugget, which keeps the plot lively and interesting. Sloane and Brady have great chemistry, and their sexy times are sensual and hot. The secondary characters are replete personality and uniqueness, which ensures the ever-changing landscape of Nugget.

Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

[Claire Mc Partlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

** I was kindly supplied a free copy of this book from NetGalley for my honest review **Great book, full of interesting small town dramas, which I really enjoy. It reminded me a lot of the sort of books Jill Shalvis and Robyn Carr write, which are two of my favourite authors, so was absolutely perfect for me. Plenty of background characters, obviously some of them from the previous books but it didn't detract at all from this one, with a bit of drama going on in the background with Sloane's cop dramas and Brady's stalker problems. This was the first book I had read in the series, and the first Stacy Finz book, but I will definitely be reading the rest of them now as with all good small town series like this you get really involved in all the characters, and this is a great series that I would thoroughly recommend.

[Sultana Dusang · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Sloane and Brady's story ! A man who can cook and is sexy is every woman's dream. The conflicts with Sloane and the LAPD and Brad and his stalker kept the story suspenseful without overwhelming the developing love story between the two. Finz has strong female characters and I like that she develops a relationship between her love interests before she has them leap into bed. Griffin and Lina's love was a nice backdrop story-- I have been waiting for those two to get their act together. Rhys finally gives his blessing, which forces Griffin to pursue Lina. I am hoping that the next story is between Aiden (Sloane's brother) and Dana! Read this now--you will not be disappointed! I am ready to move to Nugget!

[Jill Eshenbaugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you start a Nugget romance, it's sort of like coming home. The characters are real and you find yourself wishing that they lived next door. Brady and Sloan seem to be mismatched from the beginning, she's a cop and he's a chef. Both have issues threatening them which they have to work through and getting through those problems makes for a wonderful story.

It's difficult to make these books last after waiting months in between each one. The reader wants to take time and savor each page but the need to keep going to the end as quickly as possible is testament to the wonderful story telling of Stacy Finz. I can only hope that this is not the last of the Nugget Series.

[Nate Brightman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Borrowing Trouble is a worthy addition to Stacy Finz Nugget series. Brady is an executive chef hiding in Nugget from a psycho female stalker he had a one night stand with in L.A. and Sloane is a former L.A.P.D. robbery/homicide detective looking for a fresh start after she blows the whistle on some fellow officers illegal activities and is harassed and persecuted by their fellow officers to the point where she is forced to leave the L.A. police force. Brady now works at Nugget Police Chief Rhys Shepard’s wife Maddy’s B&B The Lumber Baron, preparing gourmet breakfasts and afternoon snacks and doing some catering, and Sloane takes a job as an officer on the Nugget police force working for Rhys. Both rent a side of a duplex owned by Rhys and are immediately attracted to one another. Eventually they give in to their attraction, learn each other’s back story, and take on responsibility for protecting one another from the threats in their past they’d hoped to leave behind by coming to Nugget. Hence, they borrow each other’s trouble.
As with all the books in this series Ms. Finz isn’t satisfied with just the main character’s romance. In this story we also pick up the relationship between Griffin, the uber rich owner of Nuggets only service station/car wash and luxury home development and Lina, Rhy’s Sheppard’s younger half-sister which started in the first book. Also. there’s the added drama of Brady’s stalker and those crooked cops who keep sending Sloane threatening text messages that scare her enough to always keep her Glock within easy reach. And if that’s not enough, human remains wash up on the banks of the Feather River near the high school and Sloane is charged with trying to identify the body and the cause of death all while running a pilot program for troubled youths. And of course Nugget being the small town tight knit community it is, all of the characters we’ve come to know and love in the previous books make an appearance to varying degrees.
This is just another really fine addition to a series I’ve come to love. If you haven’t visited Nugget Ca. yet and you like small town romance novels packed with interesting and quirky characters, romance and action, I urge you to take a visit.

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nugget's hottest chef is finally finding love.

Sloane (love the name) is a former LAPD officer who was harassed in the department and decided to make the move to Nugget after being recommended for the new position at the Nugget police department by Jake. Though reluctant on the town she soon warms up, especially after having the hot, tattooed chef living in the duplex next door (the same place where Rhys and Maddy fell in love). Brady is the chef at the Lumber Baron with a secretive past. He cooks like a dream and quickly becomes friends with Sloane.

This book was everything I hoped for it to be and so much more. I have been patiently waiting for Brady's time and I'm so glad that it was now and with Sloane. They are Nugget transplants and both running away from pasts that they're afraid will catch up to them. Their friendship is so great and the fact that they both care for each other is really shown throughout the book with some simple gestures.

The Lena and Griffin story line was actually much better. I think I didn't enjoy it previously because of Lena's immaturity and naivete, but this time around, she is far more mature and they seem like a great couple. I hope that we continue to see their relationship grow.

One thing that I've noticed in all the Nugget books that I think keeps me coming back is how all the women are independent and the men they fall in love with both love and respect that about them. It's something that's really subtle in the series but I find the stories a lot more relatable.

[Bette Stanek · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun story! Borrowing Trouble is the sixth book in the Nugget series. It is the first book in the series that I have read. You do not have to have read the previous books for this one to make sense. The only thing that I would say is that it took me a little while to figure out exactly who was who and who married who and the connections. I’m sure those things would have been clearer if I had read the previous books. However, it didn’t detract that much from the story.

Sloane and Brady are both running from their past and present trouble. In some ways, their situations are similar while being totally different. On paper, both of them are totally out of place in the small town of Nugget. In reality, they are in the perfect place.

This story has a little bit of everything. There’s drama, a little steam, wonderful characters, a fast-paced storyline, a little mystery, and a whole lot going on. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

[Slick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not going to lie, I was really excited about Brady getting a book. The chef has been an interesting addition to this town and it was obvious he had a secret. Adding a woman to the small town police force was unique and while I hated what she was dealing with from her old job, the town of Nugget embraced her quickly. Living next door to one another gave Brady and Sloane a foundation of friendship and while they were both not looking for more, they found it in each other. Both their pasts come calling in this story, but in the end it is their trust in each other and the town that embraced them that keeps them where they both feel they belong. I enjoyed this one a lot.

[Jacqueline Goodwill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal writer, compelling characters

Stacy Finz has a gift for both plot & character development, creating stories that keep you up at night reading just-one-more chapter. Borrowing Trouble is one more example of this gift in action. Officer Sloane McBride is a very real & compelling character, as is the unfolding relationship between she & Brady, the new chef at Nugget's Lumber Baron. You don't need to have read the prior books in this series but I dare you not to! Enjoy every line of this book. I sure did!!

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Engaging Story

Recently discovered this series and am enjoying it immensely. Each book is filled with a different intriguing story while maintaining a thread that weaves through Nugget. The thread ties the series together as you get to learn more about the other characters you became invested in the other books. So good!

[Tricia Linden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I usually give the Nugget books a 5 star review. For this one, though I really liked it, it wasn't amazing. Okay, that may just be me not loving the LA cop subplot, but I really liked Brady, the talented chef. I was rooting for him the whole time. Still in love with the series. Will read the rest.

[MaryAnn Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet

Great characters. Finz does a great job of making you fall in love with her whole town without once bogging the story down with extraneous details or unnecessary backstory. I’ll be back for more.

[Nathalie Fannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*
This one was my least favourit so far. I enjoyed the characters and the storylines and yet it felt like something was missing. The last 25% was definitely the best part of the book and I'm looking forward to the characters continuing in the next books of the series.

[Cindy Gartland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is so AWESOME!

So I've read seven of the nine books and I'm so excited to continue! If your looking for a fantastic writer then look no further than Stacy Finz......

[Suze · Rating 5 out of 5]

BORROWING TROUBLE

Each book in this series just gets better and better. Both Sloane and Brady end up in Nugget due to some odd circumstances, must be fate! Awesome read.

[Eileen Gernet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series

This series has been a myriad of happy and sad. Twists and turns coupled with action and romance makes for a "can't put it down" experience.

[Sherrie Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delish

[Lili · Rating 5 out of 5]

perfect kind of book

Adorable, sexy and a bit of trouble. Loved the story lines and the town too. My new favorite author, thank goodness she has a lot of them left for me to read!

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another slice of life and love in idyllic small-town US. Unrealistic and yet very believable!

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great story! I am a huge Stacy Finz fan and always look forward to reading her books. Love the drama, the romance and the suspense as well! Can't wait to read the next installment!

[ysar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our Rating:

Brady Benson has been more or less hiding out in the small town of Nugget ever since his life was turned upside down by a crazed stalker. Now, Sloane McBride has found herself there as well, having run from the harassment and corruption that ruined her career as a police office in Los Angeles. Neither of them want to make waves or attract attention, but their attraction to each other soon takes center stage.

Judging Covers: While the choice to feature a couple instead of a building facade (as the first few books had) is definitely a much better choice, it feels like this one missed the mark. The models shows simply don’t embody the characters at all, and the white room is the background does nothing to reflect the feel of Nugget, the old hotel, or the characters’ journeys to overcome their pasts. Yeah, it tells potential readers that this is a romance novel, but it simply blends in with others in the genre instead of standing out the way every book in this series should.

The Verdict: If you’ve been reading this series, you’ve been drooling over Brady just as long as the rest of us. And if you haven’t… Well, it’s time to get off the computer and start, because just like the rest of the books set in Nugget, Borrowing Trouble is everything you’re looking for in a road to happily ever after.

From the moment they meet, Sloan and Brady are attracted to each other, but their fears about their pasts get in the way. Sloane is trying to revive what’s left of her nearly destroyed career, and to do that, she needs to be taken seriously by the people of Nugget. Having been harassed and targeted by her fellow officers at her previous job, she’s trying to regain some of her professional confidence, and she’s not too quick to trust what she expects will be a good old boy mentality in the tiny sheriff’s department.

Brady has established himself in Nugget, though no one can really figure out why a man with his culinary skills in working in a tourist hotel far from the big restaurants of the city. But after a very messy stalker situation in his previous life, he’s content to simply whip up dishes for the unrefined palates of Nugget’s citizens and the occasional vacationer.

Since both are reluctant to let their personal lives interfere with their professional ones, Brady and Sloane take things slower than slow for a good long while. Whereas normally this would bore me to tears, it made for a believable foundation to a fated romance. As they dance around their attraction to each other, each alternating between keen interest and denial, a solid friendship is formed, and we get to see just how right these two are for each other before they’re willing to admit it to themselves. And of course, the town of Nugget provides a rich background, filled with the characters we’ve come to love in the previous books, entertaining quirks and all.

As with the entire Nugget series, Stacy Finz is an incredible storyteller, weaving fiery romance and unique couples into a town that almost stands as a character itself. The character I had a little trouble with in the first book has continued to grow on me through the subsequent stories, and the more townspeople I meet, the more I fall in love with them all. This is one series no romance fan can afford to pass by.



***FicCentral received a free copy of this book from Kensington Books (via NetGalley).***

[CatherineAA · Rating 4 out of 5]

With every new installment in this series, I find myself getting more invested in the town and people of Nugget, especially because the town has become synonymous with new beginnings and is always welcoming to people looking for a fresh start.

Sloane McBride was a detective with a promising career in Los Angeles until she exposed a group of corrupt colleagues, became persona non grata in her own squad and was forced to quit her job. Her new job with the Nugget police department is her chance to get away from all the ugliness in LA but after being hung out to dry by her squad, she's understandably wary of her new boss and just wants to keep a low profile. But she's overwhelmed by the friendly overtures of the townspeople, especially her neighbor who keeps feeding her.

Brady Benson was a successful executive chef in LA until he acquired an obsessed stalker and was forced to go into hiding. After moving around, he made Nugget his temporary home and is content with his job as the chef for the local B&B, but he's stayed away from any involvement with women. Until Sloane McBride comes to town. They start out as friends and soon the chemistry between they heats up but can two people with their kind of baggage make a go of it, especially with the unresolved issues hanging over their heads?

I was really looking forward to Sloane and Brady's story and I enjoyed all of it. I like that they started out as friends and grew to become lovers and I love the lack of drama in their relationship. Sloane is a girl after my heart. I love how confident and tough she was, in spite of what she'd been through and I like that she wasn't shy about what she wanted from Brady. Brady on the other hand lost a few points with me for his waffling (pun intended), but I love how he took care of Sloane, even though she was the one with the gun.

Brady and Sloane's pasts lent the story the necessary drama to keep it from being just okay and the mystery of the John Doe added to all the action.

The highlight of this series is the community, the warm welcome they give newcomers and the genuine concern they show for the well-being of everyone. The town is the foundation of every story and these stories would be a lot less than they are without what it represents. At this point in the series, I would recommend staring from the beginning to help keep the many characters and their stories straight.


Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.



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[A Klue · Rating 2 out of 5]

This NetGalley reviewer struggled to stay engaged with this ARC e-book of Borrowing Trouble by Stacy Finz. You can definitely tell it is part of a series due to the overly large cast of characters and references to past events that seem to keep popping up out of nowhere. I found this particularly frustrating because it stole time away from the main couple. At 30% into it, I noticed it continued to move at a slow pace with repetitive conversations. Yes, it is a small town and everyone knows everyone’s business. Hence, the same discussions regarding the same topics seemed to be rehashed over and over. I.e., “Any news on who the body is yet?”… “Have you met the hot new town cop?”, “Are you going to the wedding?” etc. There is also too much borrowed time from the main story devoted to Lina and Griffin, who obviously have unfinished romantic business. This spells major trouble for this reviewer because I’m already lamenting I needed more focus on Sloan and Brady, the main couple who started to feel more like sub-characters in a subplot.

At 50%, I realized I was skipping more pages than reading. I honestly don’t need every characters opinion on what is or isn’t going on in town. It became an endless barrage of inconsequential conversations, jumping from one character to the next, to the point @ 85% I had endured enough. Yes, I put my weary Kindle screen tapping forefinger out of its misery and stopped reading. This should tell you something, my romance book-loving friends. Because there were not one but two stalkers out there likely to do harm to both the hero and heroine any moment, but I simply was too glassy eyed from boredom to care anymore.

Here’s to hoping others like it. This one had a clever plot, but the delivery of it missed the mark with me. It should have stayed focused on the relationship of the main couple.

Title: Borrowing Trouble, Series: Nugget - Book 6, Author: Stacy Finz, Pages: 292, heroine is a cop/hero is a chef.

(This review is based on ARC generously provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion. No monetary compensation was paid to the reviewer nor is there any relationship between the reviewer and author/publisher.)

[Jennifer Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sixth entry into the Nugget series brings us to the story of Sloane and Brady and provides ongoing updates on the people we have met in earlier books (and getting closer to resolution on Griffin and Lina) After being persecuted by fellow officers inside the LAPD robbery-homicide division and feeling no choice other than to leave, Sloane McBride has come to Nugget at the recommendation of her former mentor and current Nugget officer, Jake, to become the newest officer for the Nugget police department. Moving into half of a duplex owned by the chief, she encounters her sexy neighbor, chef Brady Benson, who was introduced earlier.

Added to the fact that they both see Nugget as a temporary stop, Sloane has someone texting her threatening messages and Brady is hiding out from a crazy stalker. So, neither one is in the market for a relationship. They forge a friendship and tiptoe around their growing attraction until it combusts. Sloane lets her heart open to Brady, but he still treats the relationship as casual, denying to himself what he is really feeling.

While working with each other as well as police chief Rhys to resolve their problems, will they both be able to see that their future is brighter together than apart. I love how the people of Nugget look out for each other and accept newcomers for who there are and not who they were. That, and we are introduced to Aiden, the hero of book 7. Yummy.

*I received a copy from the author for an honest review.

[Lynn Lim · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do you love in a romance novel? Of course a Happily Ever After, but do you like them with some emotional side trips, times two. If you do, this book is definitely for you.
This story is about Sloane and Brady, two people that thought Nugget was just an in between stop for them. Little did they know. This is also the second chance story for Lina and Griffin in this book, which is why I wrote “times two” above. You have already read the blurb for the book, or you would not be reading the reviews, so I am not going to rehash the book. I will say I was wondering if Brady was ever going to get his head out of his butt and see what he really had with Sloane. I really wanted to take his head and slam it into a wall sometimes. Griffin’s head should be a little bruised as well. Why some men cannot see what is right in front of them???
I loved the way Ms. Finz wrote these stories. She writes her stories in a way that gets her readers to the point that they feel what her characters are feeling, both good and bad. She writes an excellent emotional story. My favorite kind of book.
Thank you NetGalley for listing this book in your library. Thank you Kensington Books for approving my request to read this wonderful book and gifting me with an ARC for an honest review.
Thank you for reading my review. Go ahead and One-Click this one, you will love it!