Tipsy

Rivers End Romance #2

by C.J. Hunt

When old secrets and new passions come home to Rivers End...

LUCAS HEYES is a man with a plan. Move back to Rivers End. Fix his broken relationship with his ex-brother-in-law Isaac MacAllister, and be a good uncle to his niece Sara. Oh, and open Higher Ground—the coffee shop he’s been dreaming about for years. There’s only one hitch: Shannon MacAllister—Isaac’s younger sister—is back in town too, and living across the hall from him. Apparently, his time away did nothing to temper his feelings for her. After what happened five years ago, he’s sworn never to keep secrets from the MacAllisters again. Will Shannon convince him to break that promise and keep what they have between them a secret?

SHANNON MACALLISTER has one wish: to get kissed on New Year’s by a man nothing like her fiancé—make that ex-fiancé—before she tackles a new chapter in her life back in her hometown. She gets her wish. But along with it comes a whole whack of complicated. Her body wants Lucas, but her mind can’t help pointing out that while he's sexy as hell, he’s a liar, and she’s not about to go back to that place. It’s bad enough that they share a family as well as an apartment building. The MacAllisters went through hell once before because of the Heyes family. Will Shannon trust enough to open her heart and risk trying again?

Chronological Order
Silver Bells
The List
Reindeer Games (coming soon)
Tipsy
Maybe
A Touch of Magic: OONA

If you want to read the stories by family/character connections:

The MacAllisters
Silver Bells
Tipsy
Reindeer Games (coming soon)

The O'Donnells
The List

The Martinez Family
Maybe

Rivers End Romances with A Touch of Magic
A Touch of Magic: OONA
Trick or Treat (a subscriber exclusive)
Merry

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Novella

108 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 15, 2017

About the author

Join the Rivers End Bookclub and get free, exclusive Rivers End romances, gossip and VIP bonus goodies: visit www.RiversEndBookclub.com for instant access.

Hey neighbour! I’m a lifelong fan of stories where everyone gets their happily-ever-after and have been a voracious reader of everything romance since I was tall enough to reach my mom’s bookshelf. I write small town romance with plenty of heart, humour and a dash of heat. Sometimes with a dash of magic, mystery or suspense.

Reviews

[K.J. Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am now a huge C.J. Hunt fan. Book One, Silver Bells, was not just a fluke of narrative. I utterly enjoyed Tipsy and plan to catch up on the rest of Hunt’s books as a result. It’s great to find a romance author I totally dig. The writing is believable, and the character arcs handled well. Insta love doesn’t feel like insta love, and happy ever afters are hinted at. I love a good happy ever after.

The backstory between Shannon and Lucas was touched upon in book one, so their blossoming romance is far from out of the blue. The awkward beginnings are true to book one and make the whole ‘getting together’ all the more worthwhile.

If you haven’t read any C.J. Hunt books yet, and are a romance fan, then what are you waiting for?

[Coco.V]

💝FREE on Amazon today (8/28/2018)!💝

[Texas · Rating 4 out of 5]

C. J. Hunt has written a series of books set in Rivers End. Although there are different names for each series, the characters are shared throughout the stories. Most of the characters do not share today's typical stupid formula of not communicating when there's trouble or imagined trouble; instead are likable and realistic. All the books are well written, fast paced, interesting and have humor. Some of the books are clean; some have cursing or vulgar language; and/ have sex. Personally, I don't think the sex and vulgar language actually fit in with the sweetness and love that these romances share. I think the sexual tension is more important than what technique so-and-so used; plus written sex is boring. These are quickly read books and are perfect for a couple hours of relaxation.

The MacAllisters Series:
Silver Bells #1 - Heartwarming and fun, and a magical Christmas time frame. A well written, funny, interesting small town romance. There's plenty of sexual tension, but the story is clean and fast paced. The characters are interesting, realistic and didn't do stupid dialog or actions. This should be an entertaining small town series. 4*

Tipsy #2 - Picks up the same week as Silver Bells ends, on New Year's eve. Well written and interesting with humor and set at a fast pace, along with likable characters. I didn't care that there was a lack of communication instead of a different form of creating a problem between the main characters. I didn't care for the sex and bad language and think clean works better for this story. That aside I like the story and with the addition of Oona, how The MacAllisters is connected to A Touch of Magic. 4*

Reindeer Games #3 - This cover is too cute.This book starts on Christmas day, where Silver Bells ended. Well written and interesting with the truth about a bad brother from another book. The pace is fast and the characters are believable and there's a dark side to some of them. I didn't care for the vulgar language, but the storylines are good. 4*

Wedding Bells #4 - This book picks up in May and adds to the story of the main characters from Silver Bells. Well written, likable characters and a fast pace make this a quick read. There's a little bit of suspense concerning one character, but it adds to the other storylines. I didn't care for the vulgar language; find it out of place. 4*

The Witches of River Bend Series:
Merry #1 - We're still in Rivers End, but now there's a touch of magic in this story. This is a well written, funny and heartwarming romance set in a small town. The characters were interesting and had realistic dialog. The cousins are a lot of fun and give good gifts. I didn't care for the infrequent vulgar language, that started with mild cussing; it felt out of place in this type of story. Same with the explicit sex; it was awkward and boring, as is all written sex to me, boorrring. Sexual tension is so much more interesting. I did enjoy the magical potion and think it was a good mix of romance with witches. Since this is my third book by this author and first of the "touch of magic", I hope there's more. 4*

Oona #2 - Another well written romance concerning a witch, with a bakery, and an architect. Interesting and fast pace with likable characters, and lots of happenings. 4*

[Gabbi Grey · Rating 5 out of 5]

An overindulgence and a rescue (an audio review)

Shannon Macallister is in need of a drink. Or several. She’s finished with her now ex-fiancé and all she wants is to kiss a man on New Year’s Eve. Sounds simple enough. Being drunk is a bit of an impediment, but not entirely. She gets her kiss. Then things get interesting. Shannon is sister to Isaac who featured in the last book. I learned about his history – and that his ex-wife left him with their baby and ran off with Isaac’s best friend. Nice, eh? Now, her brother Lucas knew about the decision to leave and although he tried to stop her, he wasn’t able to get her to change her mind. Shannon, protective sister, has never forgiven either Lucas or his sister for the pain they inflicted on her beloved brother or innocent niece.

So you can guess who Shannon wound up kissing on New Year’s Eve. And the mess it creates in the wake. Because she still hates Lucas, right? Except he’s been nothing but kind. Her overindulgence was extreme and yet instead of taking advantage, he was a gentleman. He stands up for her. He takes care of her. He once lied to her and she hasn’t forgiven him, right?

This is a sweet romance about second chances. About redeeming oneself and being willing to offer contrition. About being forgiven and getting another opportunity to do the right thing. And perhaps fall in love in the meantime?

I’m enjoying the River’s End books. Suzanne T. Fortin narrates them and I think she has the perfect voice, differentiating well between characters. I know there are more books in the series and I can’t wait.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book Issac’s sister Shannon is recovering from a bad breakup. So she moves back to Rivers End. Jenna is her new landlord and her new neighbor is enemy #1 Lucas.

Lucas is done running from the mistakes he made when his sister Lauren hurt Issac.  So he decides to move back to his hometown to be closer to Issac and his niece Sara.  He has a dream to open his own coffee shop.  Jenna buying a building then renting him a space and apartment helps Lucas to make his dream come true.  

Lucas quickly discovers that the girl he has loved forever is his new neighbor.  Problem is she hates him.  How can he convince Shannon he is trustworthy?  Can she forgive him for past transgressions?

Ok so this is book 2 in the Rivers End Romance series. I have to admit that it had some of what I thought was missing from the first book.  The story is developing more.  It seems as if each book is giving you a tiny bit of the story at a time.  Like pieces of the puzzle falling into place one piece at a time.  Each book tells more about the characters and their bond.  The story is flowing nicely.  Smooth as silk.  Capturing your attention and making you fall in love. You can’t help but become invested and wanting to continue on the journey that is Rivers End.   Let’s see what is in store for the folks at Rivers End in the next book Maybe.

*ARC provided by Booksprout & CJ Hunt.

[MJM · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. This is the second book of a series by C.J. Hunt. I actually read this after I read the third book in the series but apart from geography they don't seem to have the same characters and so it is fine to be read as a standalone novella. This is a fast paced, short story of enemies turning to lovers as Lucas and Shannon were not the best of friends mainly due to him lying about his sister, Lauren, who sounds like a real piece of work and I'm pleased that she didn't feature in this book. Shannon is just getting over a horrid breakup with a man unworthy of her and she ends up as next door neighbours to Lucas whom she hasn't seen for years. What secret have this pair not let anyone else know? A fun page turning story with interesting characters with no cliff hanger at the end. I do wish that there had been a bit more information at the end, maybe even in the form of an epilogue to let the reader know how HEA's were progressing etc.
Recommended

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tipsy: Rivers End Romance: The McAllisters Book 2 is by CJ Hunt. This series is really cute. The action doesn’t quit.
Shannon has come home and now has to find herself again. She has taken a room at the new building owned by her brother’s girlfriend, Jenna. Now she just has to turn her subbing into a teaching position and begin anew. She is determined to do with without a man.
One problems, however, is her brother’s ex-wife’s brother who has also come to town. He knew his sister was having an affair and only turned her in when she was getting ready to simply leave. This broke the trust he had with Shannon and her brother Isaac. Now, Lucas was back to open a coffee shop and to stick around and be there for his niece. He too, has rented a room in Jenna’s new building and finds he has a very attractive next-door-neighbor. Can he and Shannon start over?

[Jackie's Bookbytes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quote:

When they finally came up for air, she whispered, “I love you, too. Now let’s get this party started.” Lucas felt a bit tipsy—drunk on adrenaline, nerves, and Shannon. Those magic words on this magic day had his head, and his heart, reeling. So this was what happiness felt like.

Tipsy is what Shannon is on New Years when she goes home with Lucas and wakes up in his bed with the memory of his kiss on her lips. They had a lot of baggage to sort out and straighten up between them but the simple fact is Lucas was in love with Shannon and she could not deny her attraction to him. She was good with kids and his niece Sara.
Rivers End is like Cheers: Where everybody knows your name.
Lucas has dreamt of owning a coffee shop and is determined to make 'Higher Ground' work for Sara's sake.

[Hilary Eastmure · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a super fun, slightly steamier follow-up to CJ Hunt's book "Silver Bells", the first in her new "River's End Romances" series. For a short book, the characters are very well-rounded and relatable, and I love how this story expands on the town of River's End and gives a better sense of the community as a whole. Plus, there's a nice teaser leading into Hunt's new "A Touch of Magic" romance series, which sounds very intriguing. This series of books is also the perfect size to take with you in your purse, if you happen to be able to put it down long enough to go anywhere! Highly recommend, even if romance isn't usually "your thing".

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

I enjoyed this sequel. It is another cute short steamy Christmas read. However I found that I had more unanswered questions from this book and the last that I didn't really enjoy. I wish I had been given some answers in this book. I don't mind gaining more, but without having some answered in return there are a lot of questions going on. You will most definitely want to read this as we get more into the craziness of this family and answers will hopefully pop up in the third!

[Janet Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly Sex With Little Story
I really enjoyed Book 1 of this series. The difference between book 1 and 2 is like night and day. This book is far from sweet and clean. While the sexual content is not graphic, it is on every page! For a short novella, having to skip half of the book due to content is too much. I’m glad this book was free. While this author is very good, I don’t want to read anymore of her books if they are like this. ! I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to share my honest review.

[Kristen Lewendon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dear heavens! This is the cutest thing I’ve read since the last one in this series. And like Jenna and Isaac, Shannon and Lucas had me giggling for the whole book. In fact, Shannon has several priceless lines that I plan to cherish for a long time to come. Sugar-fueled demons in child form? I realize I’m paraphrasing a little, but that one’s a keeper. Lucas is just as sweet and charming as his former brother-in-law and I loved watching him get the happy ever after he’s been dreaming about with the family he wants rather than the one he got stuck with.

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series, you do not need to read the first book, though it does help. Lucas has had feelings for Shannon for years but he left town 5 years ago when it was discovered that he knew his sister was cheating on her husband Issac and was going to leave him. Shannon has feelings for Lucas but does not think he can be trusted due to his leaving town and his sister. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who's really got the Higher Ground? 😒Shannon, a bit of a hypocrite maybe?

👍 🎉🍸Good, short romance set in the New Year's season is complicated by a past history of secrets and a lie heroine Shannon finds hard to forgive, especially since it concerned her beloved brother Isaac's marriage. I connected with wannabe Higher Ground coffee shop owner Lucas; seems to me he's a good guy caught up in other people's questionable choices. The heat is muted and mostly closed door. A bit of jealousy, hypocritical secrecy, drunken confessions, surprise reappearances, six year olds run amok and shop opening complications helped make this small town romance an interesting, slightly unpredictable and fun, quick read😊

[Suzanne Withers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.Lucas and Shannon have a second chance at love but they have many trust issues.There is great chemistry between the well written characters. The plot is developing more from the first book in this series. A great quick read that has romance and humor. I will read more in this series.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved It

Shannon was tired of her cheating, stupid fiancee. She home for Christmas with her family in Rivers End. Lucas comes to spend Christmas with his niece and ex brother in law. Now he has a chance to open his coffee shop. New Year's eve and everyone is out celebrating. The scary thing is then getting close.

[Callie Kakascik · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is book 2 of the series, although they can all be read as a standalone.

Shannon McAllister hates Lucas. And they happen to end up together on New Year's Eve. He walks her home, the apartment right across the hall from his.

They bicker and then hook up.

Super short, 3 star read for me.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second book in the series and again I found myself laughing with the story, enjoyed it from page one it was a quick read.I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nicoletta Tsalafaos · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Well written second chance contemporary romance. This is the second book in the series and while you could read it as a standalone its best to read them in order. The first book is free on Amazon right now, so grab both books.

[Mommaleena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honesty

Got a couple hours for a sweet, loving story about family and honesty? Then this is just the novella to curl up with!! ARC received from BookSprout for an honest voluntary review
Due to sexual situations, this book is recommended for readers 16 and older!

[Kathleen Bradbury (Bulfon) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great story and was very entertaining. Once I started I couldn't put it down. The chemistry between the hero and heroine is sizzling hot. I would recommend this to anyone that loves a great love story.

[Donna Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Other enjoyable story!

This author has the touch. To pull you in and let you enjoy this little town and the people in it. These are standalone but involved in each story. Hot and sexy.

[Lyssett Darby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Light cozy read, finish in one sitting .

[Scherrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This series is fantastic. Great storyline and characters. It’s entertaining and enjoyable.

[Ren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw this on instafreebie, I voluntarily and received the copy to leave a honest review.

[Brian Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another nice sweet romance involving the MacAllisters in Rivers End. more interesting characters and a fun story, although there is more heat here than in "Silver Bells".

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was cute. I would have liked it to be a little longer, maybe with a bit more drama, but it was a fun, quick read.

[Susan Fryer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another delightful tale from Rivers End. Very easy reading. Very enjoyable story characters. Keep 'em coming.

[stephanie huntington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-written and enjoyable

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet, fun romance that kept me turning pages. Read it in one sitting! I’m looking forward to reading more of C J Hunt’s work.