Unexpected Gift

Finding My Forever #3

by Syd Ryan

A short, steamy holiday romance...

Amy

One by one, I’m dealing with the consequences of my addiction:

1. Work the only crap job that will hire me.
2. Finish this probation with the Board of Nursing.
3. Attend this mandatory Christmas party to get my bonus.

And above all, avoid unnecessary distractions.

Wes

I can’t believe I got sent to this hicksville town for thirteen weeks. My job is to get this facility back up to excellence. Public and employee morale are at an all-time low. I’ve got a plan to bring it all together—host an epic holiday party.

But, a stubborn nurse is derailing my plans and causing a distraction...

Watch tinsel fly when the headstrong nurse gets caught under the mistletoe with the driven administrator. Can they be each other’s unexpected gift?

This novella was originally part of the Spiced Holiday Kisses charity anthology. Now with a bonus epilogue.

Unexpected Gift will be released on 12-06-2019

71 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 6, 2019

About the author

Syd Ryan works as a qualified mental health specialist with troubled youth in a teen residential facility. Concussions, aches, pains don’t stop her. Syd works sixteen- hour shifts and her best writing happens after the hours of midnight. Syd is married, and a mother to three boys. Syd holds two college degrees in Nursing and Exercise Science. Stronger is Syd’s debut contemporary romance novel.
She read over 300 romance books in her Goodreads challenge last year and a desire to write a novel couldn’t leave her head. Syd developed her love of romance novels watching her mom drinking Coke and reading romance. She rekindled her love of books after reading Fifty Shades of Grey. She enjoys her free time surfing social media, reading books, and being a crazy baseball mom.

Reviews

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 3rd book in thus series and is filled with witty banter and sizzling chemistry. I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Char (1RadReader59) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun and yet enlightening way to show the life, of an ex-addict. She is someone who works on her recovery program , and who is having a full, and productive life. Amy’s beginning was rough and painful. She needs to take steps toward recovery.

She can have all that, not only that, but Amy can get the love, and support of friends, support from her workplace if she chooses to take it. Which she did. Being willing now, to risk her heart again, after years of recovery is the hard part. Can she love herself enough, to trust that a real man, Wes could love her, even with her past mistakes, and all?

Amy had her friend, Chloe tell her all the time, but it wasn't until Wes the, new hospital administrator, started showing interest in her. That is when her old true self started to resurface. With a little help from, Chloe and Chloe’s husband Cole, guiding the two in the right direction, things start to happen. This is a must-read, a fast, and fun book.

[Gina Burkart · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fast good read that will have you reading in on setting.

[Auzelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3rd book but I didn’t feel that I missed out on not having read the other two books.

A nice quick read. Nice if you have a wee hour spare and want to relax

[Rhiannon Matthias · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant little read with very likeable characters I will definitely be looking forward to reading more from this author

[Rebmay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book features two strong main characters who give in to their attraction knowing that any relationship that develops will have a time limit. She is a survivor, with the courage and strength to seek help for an addiction, care for others as a nurse, while somehow still believing she needs to suffer for her slip into addiction. He is the sexy, thoughtful man who will show her that she deserves more in life.

Amy a recovering addict is a nurse at a senior’s care home, with a foul mouth and a bossy attitude. Her addiction to prescription pain pills nearly cost her her nursing license and has severely limited her choices in nursing jobs. She has just ended her three year probation period, and has just begun thinking of her future. The work at the senior’s care home is gruelling, and exhausting which is only made worse by serious staff shortage and changeover problem. The interim director at the home, Wes, is a handsome, muscular hunk of a man who has her on edge and in denial. She tries to deny her attraction to her temporary boss, but when Wes calls upon her to help organize a Christmas party, he lets his own attraction be known. He knows her work and probation history, and her sassy, bossy attitude does nothing to deter his attraction. Soon they are exchanging heated kisses on their off time, and then they succumb to the afterglow of kissing under the mistletoe at the Christmas party. Passionate nights, planning sessions at work and heated glances lead to Amy and Wes wanting more, but he is leaving soon. What will happen next?

This is a quick, steamy romance to enjoy. The characters are funny, flawed and utterly fascinating. This book is definitely worth the read. I received an ARC of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Spunky N Sassy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spunky N Sassy Rating: 5.0

~~~~~~~~~~Tracy's ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review~~~~~~~~~~

Amy is looking to set her past wrongs right and found the only job she could. Wes is a temporary administrator and Amy's boss. Their chemistry is enough to melt all the snow. Can they teach each other the true meaning of Christmas? I loved this sweet story and the characters are so intriguing and engaging. My heart melted and I ate up this story.

[Leah Blanks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg I absolutely loved this book it was so good can't wait for more to come

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wes & Amy's book gave me all the feels. Loved it. Great characters. I received a free copy of the book. And am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good...quick...easy read

[Esme Greiner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amy is a recovering addict to pain medication and Wes is a traveling director sent on list latest temporary job. Amy now works for Wes as she is trying to get her life back on track after kicking her addition and ending her probation for stealing pills from the hospital she worked at. Wes knows what he wants when he sees Amy but will she give in to their chemistry?

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

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I was reading, I kept thinking that I have read this before & I have! It was part of Spiced Holiday Kisses Anthology back in 2018. Since my opinion hasn’t changed - kept the same review :)

I like Amy’s spunkiness! Amy didn’t back down when she was dealing with Wes. I enjoyed their banter back and forth. Wes was completely swoon worthy. The way that Wes won over Amy was so adorable! I loved them together!

I adore Syd Ryan’s writing and I can’t to see what stories she comes up with next.

I voluntarily reviewed this book.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was an amazing story. I love the characters and the storyline. Syd does an awesome job pulling you in and never letting go!!!

[Anna M_82 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story about a recovering addict and the connection she feels with her boss Wes. He is super hot in his interactions with Amy. Also I loved Amy’s feisty side as well as her honesty about her struggles with addiction. This was a great book and I really loved it.

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

[Joyce M. H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book that I’ve read by this author Syn Ryan and I must say she did an awesome job; I will most definitely be reading more of her work.

Wes and Amy are the perfect couple. Wes is a travelling director and his assignment is to get the Manor in shape and back on track. He’s is from Florida and has just landed a temporary job at the Manor a nursing home. Amy is a registered nurse with a bad/good attitude and a no non sense type of woman, she takes no prisoners and tells it just like it is. Amy is recovering from being addicted to pain pills from an injury and has just ended her probation from stealing pain pills from the hospital. She landed a job at the Manor where she is overworked, underpaid and always short staffed.

Wes, is the perfect alpha male and goes after Amy and makes it know that he wants her. I love how Wes and Amy go back and forth with each with a camaraderie that makes Unexpected Gift that much more enjoyable and with a nice mixture of funny.
If you’re looking for a short funny, exciting sexually charged book for Christmas, Unexpected Gift is just the book to read.

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

[Terra Oenning · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book from this author and won't be the last. Amy is a registered nurse also a recovering drug addict and works on a nursing home and tries to fight her feelings for wes but will he feel the same?

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

[Cathylynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amy is trying to leave her past behind and do what she has to do to get her life back. Wes is her new boss and attending the Christmas party is mandatory. Wes is there to turn the hospital around and he is smitten with Amy. This is a warm and wonderful story. There is humor and romance and a wonderfully written story. The characters were wonderful and story flowed well. This is a shorter story but totally worth reading. This is the third book in the series and the other books are great also.

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

[Maja · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short story, was my first read from this author. It's the story about Amy and Wes. It's told in the first person point of view, which is a deal breaker for me. I really liked the story, because Amy and Wes had chemistry. 5 stars

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

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading Amy and Wes's story where they work together where she is a nurse he is the administrator. Amy was addicted to prescription drugs got help and is now off her three year probation. They are attracted and soon turns into a hot relationship but Wes maybe leaving so where does that leave their relationship.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book three in the Finding My Forever series a well written short story that held my interest until the end. I enjoyed reading Amy and Wes' story. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Melissa B · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short and steamy holiday read that's well-written, talks about addiction, recovery, and that has strong characters.
Amy and Wes were interesting and pack a punch.

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

[Angela Choi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any is great! I love how Amy and Wes bicker and she stands her ground. She actually deals with Wes and everything he does without backing down. Wes is just so..... sweet! The way he got through Amy made me smile. Such an adorable couple.
This is an honest ARC review.

[Kara Liane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wes and Amy’s story is an adorable holiday read. It has the elements of spice, romance, and action.

Syd delivers this great little treat to readers, and she sure has a way with words. Just because this story is a novella, doesn’t mean it doesn’t pack a punch! Prepare to grab some hot chocolate (or wine), tissues, and a blanket, and curl up for a good story.

I love the fact that Amy is a nurse and the storyline delves into topics in the field; Syd speaks from the heart and from experience. It’s heartwarming and enchanting. So, what’re you waiting for?

[KAREN MCCRAW · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life can be full of surprises

Amy was working to bring her life back in balance with sobriety. A new administrator brought just what she didn't know she was looking for. Great story