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He's the hot single dad next door. My brother's best friend... And I want him to be my lover.

From the first time I meet Leo Montgomery, I know that I'm in trouble. His dark, heated gaze skittering down my body sets my skin on fire. A rare sighting of his elusive, heart-stopping smile and—dear lord—I think I just ovulated. But then, he hires me to babysit his adorable little troublemaker after school and now my maternal instincts are working overtime.

It was never supposed to be more than a harmless crush on my older brother's best friend.

But (accidentally) showing him my enormous, red granny panties was probably my first mistake. (Apparently, he's into that sort of thing.)

That slow, sensual kiss on the back porch didn't help matters, either.

We need an outlet for the combustible sexual tension between us. There's no denying it. But he says he can't be my boyfriend. He won't let me into his closely guarded heart.

I tell him that's okay. After all, we don't need a title. We don't need to be together. We can just be lovers. Can't we?

Well, as it turns out, the road to hell is paved with good intentions... and enormous, red granny panties.

258 pages, Paperback

First published January 6, 2018

1332 people are currently reading
947 people want to read

About the author

Cassie-Ann L. Miller

70 books876 followers

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews
Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews128 followers
Want to read
January 8, 2018
💝💝 FREE on Amazon today (1/8/2018)! 💝💝

He's the hot single dad next door. My brother's best friend...And I want him to be my lover.

From the first time I meet Leo Montgomery, I know that I'm in trouble. His dark, heated gaze skittering down my body sets my skin on fire. A rare sighting of his elusive, heart-stopping smile and—dear lord—I think I just ovulated. But then, he hires me to babysit his adorable little troublemaker after school and now my maternal instincts are working overtime.

It was never supposed to be more than a harmless crush on my older brother's best friend.

But (accidentally) showing him my enormous, red granny panties was probably my first mistake. (Apparently, he's into that sort of thing.)

That slow, sensual kiss on the back porch didn't help matters, either.

We need an outlet for the combustible sexual tension between us. There's no denying it. But he says he can't be my boyfriend. He won't let me into his closely guarded heart.

I tell him that's okay. After all, we don't need a title. We don't need to be together. We can just be lovers. Can't we?

Well, as it turns out, the road to hell is paved with good intentions...and enormous, red granny panties.

Lover Boy is a steamy, laugh-out-loud, single-dad-next-door romance set in small town Illinois. It is book 1 in the Blue Collar Bachelors series.

Lover Boy is a full-length (60 000-word) romantic comedy. No cheating. HEA guaranteed. One bonus book is included.
Profile Image for Raine.
2,463 reviews53 followers
November 27, 2018
New for me author! Yay!

I want expecting much from this book since this is a new author for me and lately those reads haven't been that great. However, this book surprised me in a good, unexpected way.

At the start of the story we have Leo and his son Breton, who are moving from Seattle to a small town in Illinois. His wife has left him for another man and signed over rights to their son directly over to Leo when he came back from his military deployment. His good friend, Charlie, from his military days had a job waiting for Leo at his construction company and he also found a rental for them. The house is right next door to Charlie's little sister, Reece.

The story starts off a little sad because both Leo and Brenton are abandoned by someone who is supposed to love them, but then it lightens up. I thought the book was going to be a sad throughout the book, but it really wasnt. The writing was witty and the story was straightforward. I hate those books that you have to read between the lines to find out what motivates each of the characters, or the other end of the spectrum where we are so inundated with the fact they're being forced down or throats. This book was the perfect medium. I can't wait to read more by this author!

I did want to point out, being from Illinois and all, that Copper Heights is not an actual town in Illinois. It is fictional. The author mentions the I-90 interstate, which, FYI is the longest interstate highway in the United States. It is in the Northeastern part of Illinois, where I am from, but I wasn't familiar with that town so I Googled it and couldn't find it anywhere.
Profile Image for Stacey.
1,051 reviews41 followers
March 13, 2024
Leo & Reece


Leo is ex-military and when he came home he found his wife leaving him for some other guy. She left behind everything. Even their son. Moving from Seattle to Illinois, Leo’s old friend offered him a job on his construction crew.

Reece is a part bakery owner with her sister. She loves the baking and creativity side and hates the business side of it. Meeting her new hot neighbor and his son in a funny way was the perfect way to start this book.

Leo ends up in a pickle and needs someone to watch his son after school. Reece offers to watch him till he comes home. The way she takes him under her wing and loves him with her motherly ways made it even harder for Leo to avoid her. Both are so attracted to each other but Reece’s brother is a big cock block & also Leo is mentally just not available.

This is where the book upset me. Leo was down to kiss and have sex with Reece but the second they were done he would check out. He would leave or state he will walk her to her door. There was no emotions. Which they did decide to have just a hook up relationship secretively but he treated her as just a body to have his way with and then would leave. I felt like Reece needed to stand up for herself and express how she wasn’t just a hook up but someone who was willing to love him and his son the way they deserved!

🌶️🌶️🌶️

Tropes:
Single Dad
Small Town Romance
Forced Proximity
Part time Nanny
Secret Relationship
Profile Image for Crystal LoCicero.
1,018 reviews2 followers
January 30, 2022
Cute quick read

I love the grumpy, sunshine trope and this fit the bill. There was a lot happening in a short amount of time, but it flowed ok. The kid was adorbs. I want to know more about some side characters so I will be reading more in this series.
Profile Image for J.L. Leslie.
Author 60 books689 followers
April 2, 2018
First off, I have to say that I love this cover! Now onto the review. Leo has been thrown for a loop. He's suddenly a single dad, moving to a new town and starting over. The life he knew in the military has now become one of him working construction for a friend, renting a home, and caring for a young son. He's closed off, hell-bent on being the best dad he can be- with no distractions. Enter Reese- an unwanted distraction. The way they meet is simply hilarious, although I was a little thrown off by the use of the word super-sized, large and enormous when referencing the red granny panties- only because I don't believe Reese is really detailed to be a large, oversized woman- just soft and curvy. I am definitely not saying there is anything wrong with plus-sized women, just that for me it didn't seem that the panty size description matched the woman. I also thought she may have been described as wearing tights/leggings a little too often. Anyway, Reese is one of my favorite characters ever! She is super funny and compassionate. Some of her lines in this book made me laugh out loud, and I love how she gets nervous and rambles on about the stupidest things. It makes her very human and very likable. Leo is also very funny with the dirty thoughts that go on inside his head when it comes to Reese, his "Cupcake Girl." These two have chemistry before they even realize it! I also love the secondary characters, especially Reese's brother, Charlie. I can admit, I was a little disappointed when I realized the book was ending at only around 55% on my Kindle, BUT, there's a preview for book two, AND, a complete bonus book that was super good! Short review for it- 4.5 stars- Keeland and Sammie get a second chance at love when he moves in next door. She's not sure she's ready to forgive him for breaking her heart in high school and he's still keeping secrets. Besides, he promised her brother he would stay away. Loved this short novella bonus book and wished it was it's own separate book from Lover Boy. It deserves it's own place! As for the Blue Collar Bachelors Series, I think I'll be reading more!!!
Profile Image for Karina.
1,237 reviews20 followers
dnf-2023
June 21, 2023
DNF too much inner dialogue and also some of the dialogue was weird/ immature
Profile Image for Jen.
1,544 reviews7 followers
June 21, 2021
This was my first read by this new-to-me author. I enjoyed the book mostly because of the cute kid factor, but it wasn't quite what I was expecting. With the best friend's little sister trope, I expected more angst and disappointment from the brother, but we get absolutely nothing. In fact, the brother doesn't even find out about Leo and Reese until the very end. Then there's the fact that he's a vet and apparently suffers from PTSD, but we also only hear about those episodes very briefly towards the end as well. We don't really hear much about his military career, we only know he was in the military, his wife left him and he had to leave the military suddenly to take care of his son. There were so many tropes in this book, yet the author didn't explore any of them in depth. They were just mentioned in the blurb and briefly spoken on.

They have a lot of sex (almost too much and it honestly became repetitive after a while). They don't go on dates or do anything in public together. They have a secret relationship (except her girlfriends are aware of them hooking up). But because of the whole young, impressionable kid, they have to sneak around and keep things from him as well. It was all too secretive and a bit boring for me at times. Again, I did enjoy them functioning as a pseudo-family. It was really cute and probably the best part to see how Reese interacted with Brent and how great of a father Leo was.

I just needed more depth! I did enjoy the little bit of danger there at the end. That made it a bit more exciting. The ending was at least cute, I just missed not getting a 2-year update on Brent.
Profile Image for Dita.
1,141 reviews13 followers
January 7, 2018
4.5 hot single dad stars.

Oooh I love this book. A hot ex-military single dad met shy baker, a broken damaged man and a kind heart girl. Yes this one got my name all over it.
This one is a mix between single dad romance and forbidden romance, this one totally has interesting plot.
It might be a bit slow, but I love every moment, the build up of the relationship, the denial, the struggles, the frustrations, the sweet and cute moments and of course all the hotness and love.
I really enjoying it from the first chapter.

As for characters, I love Leo and Reese. These two so sweet together and don't forget all the hotness they're bring. Even though I want to slap them for all the frustrations they're bring, I still love this couple.

If love sweet romance with a hot ex-military single dad, you'll love this one.

*I voluntarily received a review copy of this book
Profile Image for Elizabeth Edwards.
5,550 reviews9 followers
April 3, 2019
6 books in this series, I am not following her on Amazon, Canadian author, i keep adding them to my list, love that! available on KU, if you are on that service. Do you ever look at a book cover, and feel the person is seeing into your soul, and u r like stop staring at me, u stop!! yep, i know i am so not the only one, he keep staring, will u check this read out? you should. totally. please do. I won this in a giveaway, along with a purse, mirror, really pretty butterfly box, even got a signature dedicated to me. so awesome!! love it! love that cover, totally pulls ya in. what a cutie!! military romance, humor. i'll never understand why or how a parent can leave their life when they have a significant other and child? i am not saying i don't plenty of folks doing this, but i am thinking how can you? why doesn't it bug u. i know several stories i could tell u, if you wanna listen, how, i don't know?? i'll ask GOD one day. it is nuts!! so not cool at all. NOT COOL! ever. grow up and deal with it, life. if you are old enough and ugly enough to have a kid, have the guts to deal with the situation and be a man, or woman ... please!!! military reads always get me .. i have told them story, i'll tell ya again. i mean i am an emotional person any way ... so it is hard to not get all tissues please ... humor always makes it a bit easier. heart strings will be pulled, promise!! r u cool with that? i love it. chemistry is there, oh yeah! "Cupcake Girl" i love a good nickname. I will be reading more from this series, and i look forward to more from this author, can't wait!! so excited!! love it!!
Profile Image for Krissreads.
906 reviews34 followers
November 10, 2023
Oh my god why ruin a good NORMAL down to earth non rich ordinary people romance… sighhh😒

I was enjoying this right up until it started to annoy me the moment he ditched her at the hospital after his kid broke his arm THEN the god forsaken moment he rescued her from the fire.. ughhh everything was thrown together so tacky and had me cringing the last 30% of the book😩😩

Also, I do NOT recommend the audio book as the narrator Tor Thom (yes that’s his name) sounds like he has something shoved up his asshole to the point that he is gasping for breath between words... highly fucking irritating.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️.5
Heat: 🌶️🌶️
Profile Image for Adele.
542 reviews115 followers
June 25, 2018
Lover Boy is the first book in the Blue Collar Bachelors trilogy. The other two books are companion novels.

I actually expected quite a bit from Lover Boy. While the book didn’t meet my expectations there were still some pretty good times to be had.

What I didn’t like about Lover Boy was that the sex scenes could have worded differently. They could have been better in that regard. The way that they’re worded in Lover Boy…the sex scenes were dull, almost. — I wanted the sex scenes to be over as soon as possible. I’m usually pretty ok with sex scenes.

What I liked about Lover Boy was that both Reese and Leo work really great together. They’re good characters individually, but together they’re exactly like two pieces of a puzzle fitting finally fitting together. Both Reese and Leo bring something to the proverbial table in this book and they have great chemistry.

I also really loved the fact that these two love-birds get a happy ending.

Overall, Lover Boy was not what I had imagined it would be, and the sex scenes could’ve used better vocabulary. I liked all of the characters in this novel. Even the ones I’m not mentioning (pretty much all of them).

I give Lover Boy, 2.5 stars.
2,161 reviews14 followers
January 12, 2018
Leo Montgomery is an ex-soldier with a kid and a pending divorce who moves to a new town to work for his best friend Charlie. Charlie would kill Leo if he knew the thoughts he was having of his new neighbor, Charlie's curvy and very pretty sister Reese. Baker Theresa Hartley is mortified when she sees a little boy on her porch staring up at her through the stretched-out leg holes of her super-sized red granny panties. Even worse is the little boy's strikingly handsome father snatching the underwear off his head. Leo and Reese start hooking up and there's only one rule ... don't fall in love. Reese and Leo start falling for each other, but when Leo's son Brenton gets hurt while Reese and Leo are fooling around, Leo decides to focus on Brenton and Reese is heartbroken when Leo breaks things up with her. When Leo finally comes to his senses and goes to Reese's bakery to talk to her, her bakery is on fire and Reese is trapped inside. Leo runs into the burning building to save Reese but is he too late?

Cassie-Ann L. Miller delivers a funny, angsty and steamy story you won't be able to put down.
Profile Image for Ren || Reading What I Want.
1,939 reviews154 followers
June 5, 2020




I thoroughly enjoyed Leo and Reese's story. Leo was troubled by his divorce and stressed over becoming a single dad to a rambunctious son.

Reese immediately stepped up and helped them out. In doing so, she quickly weasled her way into Leo's life. It really was wonderful writing from dual POVs that showed the budding lust, then love that grew between them. The angst broke my heart, but damn that ending was perfect!

Hot, sweet, adorably endearing, and with just the right amount of angst, Lover Boy was such a surprisingly good read!
Profile Image for Stef.
97 reviews
March 24, 2021
Single dad with his own baggage and damage- neighbour girl next door - bonding - more than friends, more than said no strings attached arrangement between Leo and Reese, the kid Brente too bonds really well with Reese - this arrangement by the day blurring and seeming more like a real family - babysitting, dinner, evenings, shopping for the kid at the mall, baking, sleepover, steamy romance, lust and pleasure, eyes for only wach other, sharing intimate moments that only a real couple/ family in love would do, both havong these intense feelings for each other, but afraid to confide and risk, when everything was seemingly ok, but one day when Brent met with a minor fall, Leo blames himself for the accident, he doesn't want to let down his kid, although nobody blames, not even the kid, Leo but considers this whole lover arrangement was a distraction to him being a good parent, although he knows that he loves her, but can't bring himself into being into relationship because of his own fears or insecurities from his past broken relationship, he knows he's hurting the most important person, Reese, he loves her, she loves him, but he pushes her away, she respects his decision and keeps distance although deep down bothh being miserable and hopelessly in love and hurting each other.
When after some clarity he decides and runs to Reese to confess and ask for forgiveness, but little did he know he will find her on the verge of death from the fire, she's lying unconscious for a long time admist the fire, without caring he jumps into the fire to rescue, but he fears he might never be able to express his true feelings for her and he could never forgive himself for this, he too succumbed to burns, Reese wakes after recovering from the unconscious stage, she could have died in there, if it was not Leo rescuing in time.
Later he confesses and proposes her to marry him after things comes to normal. The story climaxes with Leo being happy and content with his wife Reese, their 3 kids, Brent, and their twin babies. Also his divorced wife who left him for some rich guy, both were under custody as that guy was found doing some black market illegal activities or organ trade something like that, that guy cheated Mara, Leo's ex wife, also she succumbed to having lost one kidney of hers too, served her right, how could she just leave her own kid and a good man like Leo.
I like how Reese stands up for herself gradually, also how she flipped off that Martin guy, not everyone who needs saving is her responsibility, she finally realised how her strength was also weakening her, she fixes it. She's generous, sweet, lovely, full of love and care, her resilience to hold on and protect her close ones rather than to leave, she's the best thing happened to Leo and Brente.
But Leo has the best now, everything he wished for, a home, a happy family with his cupcake girl.
Takeaway:
*When something seems like ending and crushing all the things you wished of, but it might be just a start of new beginnings and closing of a chapter of the past, universes has better plans for you.
*Stand up for yourself, protect your heart.
*Love with your eyes open.(don't be blindfolded and be in denial like Sophia)
*Don't let anyone walk over you like trash, because you're precious and deserve the best, there will people who will love and respect you for who you are, and even if there's none, you don't want to be the one doing the damage to yourself, self love/care/respect/worth is important.
*There's someone for everyone (idk about takeaway, but I like to think it like this 😛)
*As you sow, so shall you reap.
*Don't judge a book by it's cover.(Sophia seemed fake but she's good people although high maintenance but she's good overall, she helped Leo coming to clear sense)
*Loving Reese doesn't mean any less love for Brente (- clarity that Leo had finally), infact having Reese, will help Brente too have that mother figure, the friendship they share,and more love to give. Protect the important people in your life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
107 reviews9 followers
June 10, 2023
Es la primera vez que escuché algo de la autora y fue una muy grata sorpresa. Me gusto mucho el libro, lleva muy buen ritmo. Es una historia que tiene un poco de todo, una chica medio ingenua que se enamora de un ex-militar a punto de divorciarse con un niño que me pareció encantador, en los pocos diálogos que tiene.

El hermano de la h tienen una constructora e invita al H a trabajar con él. Ambos son ex-militares. El H está en el proceso de divorcio porque su esposa lo abandonó a él y a su hijo pequeño. La h es vecina del H. El H no tiene quien cuide al niño y la h se ofrece a ser la nana del niño, y es así que empieza la historia.

Me gusto que la autora escribió un libro romántico sin excederse de drama y conflictos. El H se conflictúa en un momento y la deja porque quiere poner a su hijo como prioridad, sin necesidad de insultarla o echarla la culpa de nada, es él no lidiando bien con sus emociones. Y se redime salvando la vida de la h justo que coincide en el momento que él se da cuenta que ella es para él. La h tampoco se tarda años para perdonarlo, porque el conflicto no lo requiere. Eso me encantó!

------------------------------------------------------------------
English

It is the first time I heard anything from the author and it was a very pleasant surprise. I really liked the book, it has a very good rhythm. It is a story that has a little bit of everything, a naive girl who falls in love with an ex-military man about to divorce with a boy that I found charming, in the few dialogues he has.

h's brother owns a construction company and invites H to work with him. They are both ex-military. The H is in the process of divorce because his wife left him and their young son. The h is neighbor of the H. The H has no one to take care of the child and the h offers to be the child's nanny, and that is how the story begins.

I liked that the author wrote a romantic book without overdoing it with drama and conflict. The H gets conflicted at one point and leaves her because he wants to put his son as a priority, no need to insult her or blame her for anything, it's him not dealing well with his emotions. And he redeems himself by saving h's life just at the moment he realizes that she is the one for him. The h also doesn't take years to forgive him, because the conflict doesn't require it. I loved that!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
1,576 reviews10 followers
January 3, 2018
 Red Hot Next Door Neighbour!

Leo Montgomery is a newly single dad and ex-military. His best friend offers him a new job and a place to live to have a new start in life with his cute, four year old son.  Next door is the hottest young woman that he's ever seen and she's completely off limits to him as she is his best friend's little sister.  But Reese isn't that little in fact she has curves in all the right places for him to enjoy given half a chance. Reese is a feisty young woman who can make even her ex high school sweetheart who confessed to being gay, love her.  When she sets her eyes on Leo she has what she calls a major crush. However, she isn't a young teenager  and it's a way more intense feeling.  This latest story by Cassie-Ann Miller is a real treat.  It is the first in a new series and this is a fantastic start to any series.  I loved how Cassie-Ann created characters that were so easy to love such as Reese and Leo.  Also the secondary characters are also great and maybe we will see them in future books in the series?  There were also plenty of laugh out loud moments such as granny panties flashing!  I do so love a rom-com and this book is the perfect example of that genre.  This is a fun and fast paced book that I couldn't put down as it was so good.  It caught my imagination at page one and maintained it till the very end.  Leo and Reese are just so good together and the chemistry between them is off the charts so fans at the ready please readers!  I also loved that the hero wasn't a billionaire or silly wealthy but was an honest ex military and blue collar worker and not not a 'not in your wildest dreams' hero in the story.  I love Cassie-Ann's style of writing and am so looking forward to the next in the series! If this is an example of what to expect that I predict that I will be purchasing the series as I will be wanting to read the stories again.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

DEFINITELY RECOMMENDED
Profile Image for Brenda Motza.
448 reviews5 followers
January 4, 2018
I absolutely loved this book...so hard!!

The "Dirty" series was so freaking fantastic and I was wondering how Cassie-Ann was going to top it and guess what, she so did! I don't know how and I don't care.

This book has all the feels. I even got a little teary-eyed at one point...dang it! And I hate getting teary-eyed or ugly crying. But, it was well worth it!

Leo Montgomery, single dad, working on moving cross country with his four year old son. He is former military, newly single and looking to start his life over and heal from the wounds that his, soon-to-be ex-wife has caused.

Reese Hartley, single, cupcake baker and part owner of a bakery shop with her older sister. She has never had any luck in the "man" dept and her two besties are always trying to push her along to bigger and better things.

Reese ends up meeting Leo by accident. As her besties are trying to better her underwear collection because her "red granny panties" aren't going to cut it if she ever wants to impress a man, they get thrown out into the recycling bin. Leo's son, Mr. Rambunctious, ends up finding Reese's panties and they end on his head like a super hero mask. Reese sees the little boy on her porch wearing the panties and screams. Leo hears those screams and comes running.

You will just love this book. I, literally, did not want to put it down. I love Cassie-Ann's writing and I cannot wait for the next book in this great new series.

**** I voluntarily read an Advance Reader Copy of this book. ****
Profile Image for Donna Feibusch.
1,768 reviews24 followers
November 12, 2019
Awesome Read!!!

I absolutely loved reading Lover Boy(Blue Collar Bachelors Book 1). All about Leo Montgomery who is ex-military single dad & Reese Hartley a twenty-two year old Cup-Cake Baker, next door neighbor & BFF’s little sister. Leo has just moved to Cooper Heights, Illinois with his four year old son(Brent) from Seattle, Washington. After his wife(Mora) presented him with divorce papers on his return from deployment from Afghanistan. She gave up her parental rights and walked out of his life with a billionaire to jet-set around the world. He moved his son across the country because his BFF Charlie Hartley a soldier he saved four years ago has a job & house for him to rent to help him find his footing once again as a civilian. The author wrote a story about a man who is broken and trying to figure out how to be a dad and be the soul money maker & everything else to his four year old son Brent. Read about Leo & Reese and see how being neighborly turns into a complicated mess!! I started reading this book yesterday morning and finished it in the wee hours of today, because I was unable to put the book down!! I really enjoyed reading it! If you like broody hot men & BFF’s that will do anything for you, then check this book out. I’m sure you will not be disappointed!! It’s laugh out loud funny, and will leave you craving the hot guy next door!! Enjoy reading it, because I certainly enjoyed it, and can’t wait to read book 2!!!
Profile Image for Christie.
1,136 reviews26 followers
September 28, 2019
I've never read anything from this author before but I came across the boxset of this series and was intrigued by the 'Blue Collar Bachelors' premise, so decided to give the first book in the series a shot.

This book is exactly the kind of thing I like to read. It was a pretty light-hearted story set in a small town about a single dad falling for his best friend's little sister. At first I was a little unsure when Reece and Leo hooked up pretty early in the book as I usually prefer a slow burn, but I actually ended up really liking how their relationship became a friends with benefits arrangement, because it's always fun to see how the couple will eventually fall in love.

I also really liked the large cast of side characters. Leo's son Brenton wasn't just used as a plot device (which is one of my pet hates with single parent books), and the scenes with him and Reece bonding were so sweet! There were a lot of other characters (who all eventually get their own book), but they all had distinct personalities and I had no issues with remembering who was who. The author struck the perfect balance between featuring these other characters enough for us to be intrigued by their story line, while also not overdoing it and still centering most of the attention on the main couple, which I loved.

I can't wait to get started on the next book. I think this series may be a winner!!
Profile Image for Tammy Moldovan.
1,987 reviews26 followers
October 18, 2021
A swoony single dad girl next door tale

The way Leo and Reese’s feelings for each other were slowly amped up interaction by interaction while they were doing the c’mere, c’mere, get away, get away dance was delicious perfection. Their skittishness and fear was palpable. Leo is a new single dad after his wife left him and their son to marry up. He left the military and moved to a new town to work for his best friend, Charlie. He also begins living next door to Charlie’s sister, Reese. Reese owns a bakery with her sister and has been unlucky in love. There is instant attraction between Leo and Reese but when they give in to it, they agree to only a friends with benefits arrangement at Leo’s insistence. Thus begins the journey to their HEA. There is growth for both of them as they deal with their pasts, their insecurities, and their beliefs in order to take their relationship from physical only to all in. This book has a little bit of everything - sweet moments, strong friendships, laughs, messy families, fan your face sexy times, real life issues, imperfect characters, and so much love. I especially loved the interactions with Brenton, Leo’s son, he felt like an integral part of the story instead of simply an accessory. This was a fun, sweet, steamy read. I will definitely continue reading this series.
Profile Image for Scrap.
882 reviews6 followers
January 17, 2018
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book
OMG I LOVED this book from the first page to the last, Leo was so damaged
not only with PTSD but with the fact that his wife decided that she didnt want him
or their 4 year old son Brenton anymore, If it wasnt for the fact that his best friend
Charlie offered him a job and found him a house to rent in the small town he is from
he didnt know what he would do, Then he remembers that Charlie's little sister lives
next door, But when he meets Reese he cannot help but fall hard for her, Although he does not
want to, He wants to keep his heart safe, He just cant go through that again, But Reese is
amazing she is one of those Happy people, that gives and wants to help everyone.
When Leo gives in he and Reese make a pact, they are just sex friends, NO emotions
But will that work or will they both realize that it is way more than sex between them, Of course
Reese fall HARD for the damaged Leo and his adorable little boy. How does her brother Charlie
handle things when he finds out, And OMG I LOVED her 2 best friends, even though Sophie was a bit
stuck up, This book will make you laugh and cry but it is amazingly written I LOVED it
Profile Image for Viper Spaulding.
3,147 reviews25 followers
January 6, 2018
Such a heart-rending love story! When Leo rents a house from his best friend Charlie, he knows the girl next door is Charlie's little sister, Reese. What he doesn't know is just how hard she's going to be to resist. Reese feels their instant connection, and she sees how much pain he's in as he's starting over with his young son. Reese has a heart bigger than the whole outdoors, and she just can't resist the pull to help Leo and Brent.

Their love story moves slowly even as their physical relationship accelerates, until the tension snaps and harsh reality makes Leo reconsider his priorities. This is the part of the book where I wanted to slap some sense into him, but the writer wisely chose other characters to point out the other sides of the issue that he wasn't considering. A near-tragedy finally leads to a beautiful HEA.

The writing in this book elevates a familiar romance to an emotionally cathartic experience. Each character is fully developed, each scene carefully crafted to make the reader feel like a part of the environment. It's an intensely captivating story right from the start. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
Profile Image for Rebecca Barber.
Author 17 books311 followers
January 6, 2018
It's my greatest fear that some hot guy will find my granny panties, case let's face it... we all have that one pair of undies no one should ever see. The pair that you wear on laundry day or while you're stuffing your face with cupcakes and crying your heart out with a broken heart...

The ONLY thing that could make it worse is the guy who stumbles on said panties is the hot guy next door. Your brothers best friend. The one who's a little lost and broken. The one you want to save, even if it's only from himself.

Miller does it again - Leo is everything a brooding, broken book boyfriend should be - smart, protective of his son, gorgeous and with a chip on his shoulder you can see from space.

Combine that with Reese - with her superhero complex of saving the day, her player brother who is oblivious to what's going on around him her crazy girlfriends who've chose to be both the devil and angel on her shoulders and were in for a sexy and fun roller coaster!

Loved this book!

Can't wait to see what Miller sends my way next, cause you know I'm one clicking that!
Profile Image for Cathy.
677 reviews4 followers
February 5, 2018
Leo and Reece have to really work for it in this start to a new series and it is a beautiful and sometimes heartbreaking journey. Sometimes it takes awhile to accept and love what is right in front of you. And it was even harder since there was a child involved. Reece seems to just love everyone and you can't help but love her, and Leo has some baggage and yet he was instantly drawn to Reece, but of course, why would he not be....but he pushed her away. Doing so hurt more then just the two of them.

But of course we can learn that sometimes what the heart wants and what your head think you should have are very different and at the end you always choose your heart. This is a great job for a new series and you love the town and all the people. I love when a book makes you feel like you are a part of the community and you are living there among all of these different characters. This book is told in dual POV and the entire thing flows and makes you want to live there with them!
Profile Image for Reggie.
2,888 reviews
March 23, 2019
Copper Heights has a new resident, former military & single dad, Leo Montgomery! The sexy, albeit broody, Leo, and his adorable preschooler, Brent, will melt your heart...pretty much as they have melted the heart of their neighbor, Reese. Leo is still reeling from the fact that his wife walked out on their son and has moved on with another man. The move to Copper Heights to work with his former military friend is just what he needs to rebuild his life and focus on his son. He has no intention of letting his new neighbor, and sister of his friend, get under his skin. When he needs after school help with his son, Reese volunteers, after all, her bakery doesn’t need her after 3p. That’s when things get tricky...Brent bonds with Reese and then, Reese and Leo begin a friends w benefits deal. Can all hearts remain safe and unharmed?
Great single dad story with captivating sub characters and stories. Looking forward to Charlie’s story!
Profile Image for Ariel Oliver.
268 reviews12 followers
September 15, 2024
So it was an easy listen, warm and fuzzy. I just didn't like how Leo treated Reese. He treats her like a body to do what he wants, and either he leaves or walks her to the door.

I get that it was a casual relationship, and they were just supposed to be f*ck buddies, but he didn't treat her well, in my opinion.

Reese's character is the sweet motherly type. She helps him out by looking after his son after he is kicked out of the after-school program. The kid seems so sweet, so I'm not sure how that happened over a paint issue? Looks like a bit of a plot hole to me.... I mean, if he threw a tantrum or was mean intentionally, then I could understand, but the kid seems too sweet to get kicked out.

Regardless, Reese is a sweet woman and does what she can to help friends and family.

Spice 🌶🌶🌶🌶
Storyline ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Profile Image for Emma Johnston.
935 reviews30 followers
January 6, 2018
I was first introduced to this author last year at a recommendation from a friend. Beat recommendation I've ever had!

This author totally has me hooked from page one and this book is no different.

Leo is by far my favourite book boyfriend by this author. Brooding and focussed on his son, what more can you ask for? Oh and sexy as all get out! Reese is the nicest girl you could ever meet and she is dead set on helping everyone. When she offers to watch Leo's son after school, you can suspect what happens. And then you are blown out the water!

Brent was an awesome secondary character along with Charlie, Nova & Sophia. I'm so excited for the next book in this series. I really hope it works out the way I want ;)
Profile Image for Heather.
247 reviews2 followers
February 23, 2019
I absolutely loved, loved, loved, this book! This is the first book in this series, and I can't wait to read the rest! I am a huge fan of Cassie-Ann L Miller and she did an incredible job on yet another one of her books. Leo and Reese are perfect in this steamy, laugh out loud romance. I really liked that it was a mixture of a bunch of different tropes; single-dad, next-door neighbor, and brother's best friend- what more could you ask for?! I really enjoyed getting to know Leo and Reese and getting to see what happened between those two. Brent was absolutely adorable! And there were some twists that I didn't see coming. The ending to this book was fantastic! You need to read this ASAP! 5 perfect stars!
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