Sweet Romance

by Erika Everest (Curator), Lasairiona E. McMaster (Curator), Elana Johnson

FROM SMALL TOWN ROMANCE TO BIG CITY DREAMS.
FROM BILLIONAIRE BOSSES TO BROTHER’S BEST FRIEND.
CARING COWBOYS AND FLIRTY FIREMEN.

Love happens when you least expect it.

This anthology brings together 26 all-original short stories from established favorites and exciting new talent for a smorgasbord of sweet romance. Love, laughter, and occasional tears - no need to turn on the Hallmark Channel this winter. Snuggle up with this feel-good anthology instead!

Warning: reading this anthology may cause cravings for cider sugar donuts, French toast, pimento cheese, cherry cola, and maple syrup ice-cream, as well as happy ever afters

Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Anthologies, Fiction, Chick Lit

824 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 16, 2020

About the author

Erika Everest believes that a good book is one that has dragons, vampires, or a map at the front – though she makes a special exception for Jane Austen. All of her stories – both published and in progress – have at least one of these elements, and many have two. She has yet to write a story with all three, but she hasn’t ruled it out!

Erika’s fairy tale inspired series, Tales from the Kingdoms of Fable, is available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited. The prequel novelette, The Orphan Queen, is exclusively available when you sign up for her newsletter.

Erika is the former Managing Editor of Indie Author Magazine, and has co-curated eight anthologies in the past three years for 20Booksto50k® and LMBPN® Publishing. She likes to procrastinate writing fairytales by writing nonfiction books to help authors instead.

She lives with her husband and two children in Dublin, Ireland.

Reviews

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVE anthologies! I am able to read numerous short stories from authors I love and be introduced to new authors. This sweet, clean romance anthology is full of great stories that will move you. Head on over to Amazon & one click this book now. You won’t be disappointed.

Review for Elana Johnson’s “Risky Cowboy”

This is a beautiful short story about second chances, finding who you are and what your place in the world is. I love that Spencer finally got his own story. The Hope Eternal Ranch series is one of my favorites from 2020. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

Review for Danielle Keil’s “Love at Aspen Lodge”.

Fantastic short story. This is a sweet, loveable romance that takes place at a ski resort and the hot hero is originally from Australia. Just thinking about James’ accent will make a girl swoon! If you are looking for a book that will put a smile on your face, you NEED to read this book.

Review for Carina Taylor’s “Stuck in Love”

OMG I loved this sweet rom-com. It had me laughing out loud over Rhian finding herself stuck (literally) in various situations and Sawyer rescuing her time after time. This is my first book by this author and I plan to read her backlist soon!!

[Rhonda Cattani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but oh so sweet

Who says a good love story has to have 200 pages?! Not me!! I am a huge fan of these sweet HEA stories and found some new authors in definitely going to check out more of.

[The Swoony Awards]

Nominated for a 2021 Swoony Award, to vote click here: https://tinyurl.com/y593ce67

[Margie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun stories that are so much fun they leave you not wanting them to end.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, VICTOR SANDBERG - Merri Maywether
Oh, the angst of best friend love. Very cute story.
ONLY PRETENDING – Kari Shuey
You never know who you’ll meet at a wedding. Fun story
SECRET DATE WITH A BILLIONAIRE
I just love picking up a new Kristen Ethridge book. I know I’m going to have an interesting story line, characters you want to know, humor, romance and probably a twist or two. This book is no exception and you get to add in a cute child. Treat yourself to this book.
I’M NOT SUPPOSED TO BE HERE – Penelope Freed
Only someone with a ballet background could have written this heart wrenching story of a career ending injury. Acceptance is hard won.
WOUNDED HEART RANCH – Jenna Hendricks
A story that tugs at my heart, wounded warriors will always get to me. Good story
CIDER SUGAR – Lily Alexander
If I was younger I might have to look for donut cart or maybe I could check out Mr. P. A fun story.
AFTER TONIGHT – Lauren Elizabeth
When things go wrong, they really go wrong, or do they. In fact did Lauren Elizabeth’s characters dodge a bullet? Maybe we should consult Hester.
A SECOND SHOT AT LOVE – Kerry Alexander
Kerry Alexander understands that grief has a hold that is almost impossible to break, it takes time and the right circumstances and person. Good story of letting go and moving forward.
HER LAST FIRST KISS – E. J. Dean
Loss and fear are hard to overcome but E. J. Dean’s story is a sweet one of overcoming both. Have some tissues ready for this sweet story.
BLESS YOUR HEART – K. A. Gandy
You never know what will make a lasting impression. K. A. Gandy took my pet peeve and turned Marlie’s reaction into a positive. Enjoyed
THE MATCHMAKER’S CATCH – Frieda J. Downing
Good story. Frieda J. Downing turns technology matchmaking into a possibility

FIREFLIES AND WHISKEY – Randileigh Kennedy
Why would her rescuer have a second name and ID? Should she trust him? Randileigh Kennedy breaks all the rules of safety but it works out for Brooke.
LOVE AT ASPEN LODGE – Danielle Keil
Colorado to Australia would strain the definition of a long distance romance. Fun story especially with a helpful twin brother.
STUCK IN LOVE – Carina Taylor
Rhian must not believe in putting your best foot forward, unfortunately it is more If she didn’t have bad luck she wouldn’t have any luck at all. Carina Taylor puts a fun twist on awkward first meetings and subsequent ones also.
FRENCH TOAST WITH A SIDE OF LOVE - D. E. Malone
Sweet story, pun intended.
SECOND CHANCE RUN – Meredith Deichler
Meredith Deichler gives us a story of a second chance romance and a marathon run. Sometimes you just have to get your mind in the right place.
LITTLE SHOP OF GEEKDOM - Rachel Radner
Rachel Radner captures the freedom that being online, not in person gives. It is also a reminder that all is not what it appears.
SARAH’S BUCKET LIST – Ronnie Roberts
Ronnie Roberts explores the question, if you leave your phone in plain view, is it wrong for someone to read what it says?
ACCIDENTALLY INTO YOU – Jo Noelle
I love this story. What happens when best friends, Meg and Scott, agree to be each other’s plus one at a destination wedding in Edinburg? Additional info, they have each realized they want to move the relationship forward but don’t want to lose their best friend. Throw in a well meaning mom who invites Meg’s ex and you get a really fun story.
LOVE REKINDLE – Lynz Kelley
A senior romance, a second chance romance and a manual for handling adult children, Lynz Kelley gives us all this in one story. Love this one as I’ve seen these problems arise with second chances.
THE WRITE TIME FOR LOVE – Callie Timmins
Can a media wary former football star and a journalist find happiness? Callie Timmins answers this question in a cute meet and fall way.

CALLING HIS SHOT – Chelle Honiker
Trust misplaced equals 10 years wasted or were there lessons that needed to be learned. I really liked this story by Chelle Honiker. She even gave us a villainess we can blame, but she did have help.
SAFE LANDINGS – Elle Botz
One never knows what a travel delay and stay in the airport can bring. Elle Botz really brought the answers in this second chance story. It was fun to read
LOST AND FOUND IN BILLIONAIRE BAY – Maggie Dallen
Can the newly arrived sheriff and the town librarian find common ground. Maggie Dallen not only gives us Jake Tucker and Eleanor Perkins but she also throws in eccentric grandma and delightful daughter, Daisy Tucker. Oh, and a cannon. A very fun story.
THE CAY TO MY HEART – Lynette Paul
Can an ocean kayaking guide who hates treasure hunters and a fly-fishing guide who comes to Florida to hunt a treasure find common ground? A very touching story by Lynette Paul.
RISKY COWBOY – Elana Johnson
Clarissa fears her chances for what she wants most is passing her by as long as she stay making cheese and ice cream at her family dairy. Spencer Rust returns to try to right a wrong or wrong phrase he had made years before. Elana Johnson again gives us a second chance story that will warm the heart.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read them all and while they each of the theme of romance, they are each uniquely different. Here are a few I enjoyed the most.

Happy Birthday Victor Sandberg by Merri Maywether - I have read other books by this author with this couple as side characters - Mayra and Victor. Here you get the story of how they became a couple. Loved her and he grew on me. She has been crazy about him for a long time. He purposefully pushes all her buttons. Funny and romantic - loved the ending.

Second Chance Run by Meredith Deichler - A second chance for a divorced couple - Ellie and Logan. I love second chance books. This one revolves around a marathon.

Cider Sugar - One of the sweetest books. Shawna and Neil are one adorable couple. His uncle Mr. P was a hoot.

[Jan Niblock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happy Birthday Victor Sandberg by Merri Maywether
Mayra was in love with Victor since they were children. But Victor never thought of her that way. At his 30th Birthday party, she brewed a special cherry soda just for him. She put together a huge celebration and a lot of their friends and family were there. Victor spills cherry soda on her white blouse and he makes a joke of it. She decided at that point she was over him and when asked out on a date by John, she accepted. I really liked how things you were not expecting happen.

Only Pretending by Kari Shuey
Peyton has to be at her best friend’s destination wedding. But unfortunately, her ex is also there and with another woman. Kurt says that he knows how to fix the problem with her ex. They end up spending the day together and there is something mysterious about Kurt and how he is acting with Peyton. The ending was not what I expected and it was a fun story.

Secret Date with a Billionaire by Kristen Ethridge
Luke, a billionaire cybersecurity pro, decides to help his friend. When Emma, Killian’s niece who she has custody of since her sister was killed, is taken for visitation by her father. Killian is worried that she will never see Emma again. Also, that Emma is in danger because her father is not a good person. In the meantime, Luke finally gets up the nerve to try and tell Killian how he feels. What could go wrong with all of this?

I'm Not supposed to be here by Penelope Freed
Lesley only ever wanted to be a ballerina since she was 3 years old. She made it to NY and was a very accomplished one until one day outside of the theater a motorcycle hit her. Her injuries were very bad, hips, legs, knees etc. and the fact that she will ever walk again was doubtful. Mike was her PT, fell in love with her grit and determination to recover. She went from a wheelchair to just a cane. Can she ever come to terms with not being a ballerina?

Wounded Hearts Ranch by Jenna Hendricks
This story certainly shows you exactly what those soldiers returning from war go through. It is so sad. But Jerod had decided that he was going to have a ranch where they could come and learn to adjust and get a handle on their PTSD. He finds that he is attracted to Dana, who is not a soldier but has suffered from being broken. When Jerod finally takes a leap and asks her out, they are coming home when a blown out tire puts him back into the war. He decides that he is not ready for a relationship but Dana has other plans. I love how these two broken people can come together.

Cider Sugar by Lily Alexander
This story was very sweet. Shawna visited this donut truck since she was young and was very friendly with the owner of the truck, Mr. P, who is now quite old. But one day, he was not there and in his place is a young man named Neil. It turns out that Neil is Mr. P’s grandson. It was Mr. P who gets these two together and it remains to be seen if they actually fall in love.

After Tonight by Lauren Elizabeth
Both Holly and Adam arrive at the same restaurant but did not know each other. And they arrived for very different reasons. Holly has returned from Nashville to see her once boyfriend who she is hoping will actually propose this time. Adam is there to propose to his girlfriend with all the fancy, set staged romance for this special occasion.
Both of these things go badly wrong for both of them. To make matters worse after Adam’s girlfriend dumps him the horse drawn carriage that he ordered arrives. The horse pulling the carriage is Hester and Willy the driver gets Adam to get in and save Holly from being frostbitten without a coat or boots. Hester makes unforeseen stops that bring the two of them closer together in a very entertaining way.

A Second Shot at Love by Kerry Evelyn
Sarah is working as a physical therapist for a hockey team in New England. She lost the love of her life to an accident while he would overseas in the service. Zach is a police man living Maine who is fully in grief himself since he lost his brother, who was his best friend.
Zach has found Sarah’s finance’s dog tags and wanted to make sure she got them back. So, he seeks her out to make sure she gets them. What is so sweet about this story is that both Zach and Sarah has so much grief to come to terms with and how they finally want to start to work their way out.

Her Last First Kiss by EJ Dean
Love this sweet story about how Bonnie kissed Chuck on a dare. They both had secrets that they kept hidden but they were perfect for each other. It is interesting to watch and see if Bonnie, a widow with 3 kids, and Chuck, a firefighter bachelor, finally find common ground.

Bless your heart by KS Gandy
In this small town, if you are not married by 30, you are considered to have something wrong with you. As Marlie is in the grocery line, the old lady in front of her is taking way too much time. Marlie turns around and see the most gorgeous man ever, Tucker. But he has flowers and candy in his hands, so he is off limits. He does ask her out and she has a wedding rehearsal to go to so she declines. It turns out that Tucker is the best friend of the groom and becomes her partner in the wedding party. It is a fun story to read.

The Matchmaker's Catch by Freida J Downing
A funny story about lies and relying too much on data. Noah, a football star, uses a matchmaking service to find his love. Zoe is the owner of this service and finds Noah to be the hardest client she ever worked with. Why is it so hard to find him a match? What part does Zoe play?

Fireflies and Whiskey by Randileigh Kennedy
Brooke moved to Michigan to start a new life but it all went up in flames when the place she was living actually burned down. She rescued a box of her Grandmother’s books and the neighborhood stray cat. As she was sitting on her car watching it burn, a good looking guy came up and started a conversation. Johnny Knight was his name and he took a liking to her, gave her his coat because it was cold. There was a mystery about Johnny and Brooke was not sure if she wanted to unravel it. This was a fun story to read about how Brooke and Johnny interact.

Love at Aspen Lodge by Danielle Keil
Tasha worked hard on reviving Aspen Lodge. Her twin brother, Tommy, was living in Australia for work and she missed him. When the first guest arrived, James, Tasha could not take her eyes off of him, he was gorgeous. Tommy arrived right behind him and they were work friends. The story was one of brotherly love and Tasha trying to guard her heart. It was a fun story to read with all of the twists.

Stuck in Love by Carina Taylor
What a funny story. Poor Rhian kept getting herself stuck in the weirdest places and who ends up coming to her rescue, Sawyer. He was new and took the job she wanted very badly. She wanted to hate him for it but he was just too handsome and too nice. Rhian worked with all men and they all thought of her as one of the boys. She wanted to be seen as a woman but could never pull it off. Can Sawyer make her realize that he actually saw her? Again, it is a very laugh out loud story.

French Toast with a side of love by DE Malone
What a fun story. Janie was a waitress who loved her customers and tried to make them all feel like family. Mark was a regular who asked her out last year but she turned him down. Now a year later, Janie is hoping that he will ask her again so she can say yes. Mark is having a very bad day and she knows that he changes his order every few months and so she uses that to get him to cheer up. She says that the only thing on the menu he has not had was French toast. He completely shuts down instead. Will this cause the end of whatever is going on with them or just the beginning?

Second Chance Run by Meredith Deicheler
Ellie came to DC to stay with her sister and run a marathon. The problem is that her ex-husband lives in the same building as her sister. When Logan, her ex, is the one who comes to get her from the airport, things get a little heated. They had become friends after the divorce and in the last year seem to be closer than before. They were high school sweethearts and grew apart as they aged. Now, Logan seems to feel that they are finally in the same place at the same time. Could this be them getting back together as a couple?

Little Shop of Geekdom by Rachel Radner
This was a fun story even though I know nothing about gaming or games. Kora runs a gaming shop and is trying very hard to keep it in business. She plays a game that actually earns real money. Through that game she has developed a friendship with Wyatt who she often pays against. One day, a man breaks something and runs out of the shop. She runs after him and tackles him. It turns out that he was not stealing anything but broke a very valuable item. The story takes a few twists and turns and the ending is very interesting.

Sarah's Bucket List by Ronnie Roberts
Sarah had a bucket list that she kept as the screen saver on her phone. As she was in a restaurant and stood up by her blind date, her friend told her to add “kiss a hot stranger” to her bucket list. So, on her way out, she did just that and kissed Taylor who was standing there and teasing her. What she didn’t know was Taylor was the best man at her best friend’s wedding where she is a bridesmaid. The interaction between the two of them is fun to read. Can Taylor actually take that kiss to the next level?

Accidentally into you by Jo Noelle
Love how Scott, who is Megan’s best friend, takes her on the adventure on her birthday. They are both in Edinburg for a wedding where they are both in the bridal party but Scott has other plans. He wants to steal her away to make her fall in love with him. But Vic, Meg’s ex, showed up to ruin all of Scott’s plans. When Vic figures out that they will not be rekindling their relationship, he leaves. At the end, Scott told Meg that he accidently fell in love with her. How does someone accidentally fall in love?

Love Rekindled by Lyz Kelley
Gloria and Walter grew up together and were inseparable until a football scholarship. After he left for college they lost touch. Both married others and had families. Now in their later years, both having lost their spouses, they end up in the same place and time. Gloria’s friend has to bow out of a cruise that they were taking due to family obligations and she asks Walter to go on it. He says yes but will his children put a stop to him living his new dream?

The Write Time for Love by Callie Timmins
So Gabby had to make banoffee pie so she was late for the meeting where all the journalists for the paper get their assignments. Unfortunately, she gets to go to a beautiful town to watch a reunion football game and interview that star player, Cash the Crusher. She knows nothing about football and really is not interested in it. But was the assignment she was given.
All the while Gabby is trying to find this Cash so she can interview him for her job. But she has no luck until she goes to the team practice and finds out that Alex (a guy she met and liked) is really Cash and he never told her. She is upset over this and before she leaves town, she has a long conversation with Alex’s aunt. Can what was starting to foster between them recover or not?

Calling his shot by Chelle Honiker
Interesting title for this story. Jeremy has loved Shelby since he was 9 years old. He even asked her in high school to marry him. Shelby thought of Jeremy as her best friend. She dated Todd for a while and that did not sit well with Jeremy. Then they finished high school, Jeremy enrolled in the Marines so he could get law school paid for on the GI bill. Shelby worked on her degree. Just before he is discharged, Shelby and him break up. But the reasons for this breakup is not what you think. Lucia, who is Jeremy’s assistant in the service is in love with him. Both are devastated over the breakup by text and email.
But at their 10 year high school reunion, everything comes to a head. Todd, Shelby, Jeremy and Lucia are all there and that is when everything comes crashing down.

Safe Landings by Elle Botz
Alison was to fly to the client meeting which if she missed will cost her job. As the snow causes delays, the last person she wants to see is Davis. They had a date and she liked him but it ended in embarrassment. The entire episode in the airport is fun to watch unfold. I really liked Tess and Marcus who are instrumental in bringing them to the same place.

Lost and Found in Billionaire Bay by Maggie Dallen
There is a legend about Billingham Bay that if someone comes there to find what they lost. Jake left the police department in NYC with his teenage daughter, Daisy, to find a quieter life. He is the new Sheriff in town. Ellie is the town’s librarian, divorced not that long ago and lives with her grandmother. They meet in the most unusual way. But you want to see if the legend is actually real or just a legend.

The Cay to my heart by Lynette Paul
Wow, this story was not what I was expecting. Camila’s job of being a guide in Florida where she had followed her father, a treasure hunting for many years. One day, Max Walker hired her to take him to Treasure Cay to hunt for buried treasure. She is attracted to him but he lived in Colorado and she had a firm policy to not get involved with treasure hunters or clients. What is surprising is why he was there and want he found. Great story.

Risky Cowboy: A Mulbury Boys Novel by Elana Johson
It is funny how life shows you what you need even when you are not looking in that direction. Spencer finally grows up and realizes what he wants out of life. Then there is Clarissa who is struggling to move on to glory and get out of her hum-drum life. Will both of them find what they are looking for? You will need to read to find out.

[Mary Jane McLeod · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Group of Books

This is a great group of short stories by a great group of authors. I had read books by several of these authors but most are new to me. I have to say I really enjoyed the books and will definitely be reading more books by some of these authors.

[Trae · Rating 5 out of 5]

A ton of talented authors with some marvelously sweet stories. Each story was just long enough to satisfy, but short enough that, like potato chips, you couldn't "eat" (read) just one. Discovered some new favorites and revisited some old ones. If you like romance with a HEA, this book is for you.

[Happy Reading Watching]

SUPER CUTE STORIES!
Wish some were fully length novels ❤

[Tricia Cox garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet Romance

I pick up this book because I saw that one of my favorite authors had a story in it. There are tons of short stories in thus book. I read a lot by authors I've not heard of before and a few I have. Some were continuations of a series. Good clean romance.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the privilege to win this wonderful selection of fun loving short stories ebook! I’ve only had a chance to read a handful of cute stories and they were so enjoyable! Can’t wait to read some more! A smorgasbord of sweet clean romance! Very talented Authors!

[Melanie Waterbury · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a great read!

Excellent variety of stories. Rewarding endings. Well crafted. So enjoyable to read, and I love getting anthologies because I can find new authors to follow.

[Linda Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is for Love Rekindled by Lyz Kelley

Sometimes all you need is a second chance because time wasn't ready for the first one.

This rings true with Gloria and Walter. They knew each other in high school in California and had made plans to attend College together. Walter broke her heart when he took a full football scholarship in Texas. What are the odds that 49 years later she should see him again at the Silver Fox Resort? Seeing Walker again stirred up all her hurt feelings. After all these years could she possibly forgive him? This was a lovely portrayal of a mature 60+ story of second chances. It just proves that you are never too old to have romance in your life. I wish we had more stories like this.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wide variety of stories

So many stories in this anthology. Not all were “clean”. It had short stories that were a perfect length for a short read before bed or to read during a 30 min tea break. Most of the stories I really liked. I just read one a day in between reading other books as a short break. Look forward to reading more like this.
Rating: Stories range from G to PG-13 with some having mild language and implied closed door bedroom moments. Most I would rate as clean = G to PG.

[Jacquelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful selection of short stories! The narratives were interesting, entertaining, and engaging.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Risky Cowboy is the story of Spencer and Clarissa. He left Hope Eternal Ranch to find a chance of a new life and that he did. The job at Cooper & Co. Ranch brought Spencer face to face with Clarissa, his ex-girlfriend from 10 years ago. Spencer has been hired to take her place and he has fallen for her after just two days like they were last time. But, the same thing is happening this time as it did the last, Clarissa is leaving.

[Kirsty Pearce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only familiar with the names of 6 of the authors who contributed to this collection before I started in, I was very pleasantly surprised with how many of the stories I ended up loving.

The below are the ones that stuck with me the most, & whose authors I now can't wait to explore the back-catalogues of:

A Second Shot at Love (Kerry Evelyn): The emotions the two leads experience as they work through how to let go of the past, and the way their growing connection to each other was so poignantly described gave me goosebumps!
Stuck in Love (Carina Taylor): The vibe of this story is so light-hearted and breezy, it kept me smiling the whole time!
Accidentally Into You (Jo Noelle): Not only is this friends to more story set in Scotland, but the chemistry between the leads is fantastic!
The Write Time for Love (Callie Timmins): I just really enjoyed the feel of this story and the way the chemistry between the leads was expressed.
Lost and Found in Billionaire Bay (Maggie Dallen): The dialogue was fantastic, the interactions between the Sheriff & his daughter as well as the heroine and her friends hysterical, and the insecurities the leads both go through extremely relatable and realistically written.
The Cay to My Heart (Lynette Paul): I knew there was something more behind the 'treasure hunt', and was very satisfied with what it turned out to be in the end; this was yet another sweet love story!

[Vandy Dodge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mix of sweet and heartfelt stories

This book is a mix of several sweet but realistic stories of , love, hope, second chances and friendship. A good clean read that can be broken up over time since they individually titled.

[Leann Arave · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is for, Accidentally into You, by Jo Noelle. Also a review for Risky Cowboy by Elana Johnson (below). This is a super cute short story of Scott & Meg. Childhood friends, they meet up as each other’s plus one for Scott’s brothers wedding. Wish I could be Scott’s plus one! An adventure awaits as Meg gets off the plane in Scotland. Scott is holding a sign, “Welcome home from prison”. From that moment on, I knew I was sold on this story. So cute and fun. Quick, easy, ‘waiting at the doctor’ read. People will wonder why you have a smile on your face! ( Unless you have a Mask 😷 on! )
Risky cowboy:
Another sweet short story about childhood friends, meeting again, after years apart. This one includes a hunky cowboy, Spencer and Clarissa a culinary chief, running her families dairy farm store. (Yummy cheeses, ice cream and such). But she wants more. Little does she know what she wants and needs are two different things. Easy read, cute characters and finding your true love! What more could you want.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

'You're the macaroni to my cheese'

Risky Cowboy - Sweetwater Fall Novelette, part of the Sweet Romance Anthology
Spencer may be a cowboy, but he is also a good man. He has plenty of confidence in himself and his abilities when doing his job, but his personal life is lacking and he doubts himself and his worth constantly. He knew 10 years ago that Clarissa was the one for him, but he wasn't ready for her then. Now he is and he hopes for a second chance but can he compete with her career? Can he put his heart out there a second or even a third time?
A sweet romance full of flirty ice cream and cheesy texts.
I received an ARC of this book through Bookfunnel, all views expressed here are my own.

[Carol Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just had an opportunity to read Secret Date with a Billionaire, one of the short stories in this anthology. It was nothing short of AMAZING! It is set in Port Provident (if you follow Kristen this you will know all about this wonderful little island off the coast of Texas). It is about a guy who runs a cyber security company and his receptionist whom he has been in love with it for years but is afraid to mess up their relationship by telling her how he feels. I literally gobble up this story in no time at all. If the other stories in the anthology are as good as this one, it will be well worth the time invested to read the other 25 stories. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good clean romance.

[Kristen Lewendon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Risky Cowboy by Elana Johnson
This was a second chance with a culinary twist. Ever since the first book in the Hope Eternal Ranch series, I’ve been intrigued by Spencer and wanted to know his story. And yay! I finally get my wish. What Clarissa and Spencer had, was cut short by some poorly chosen words long ago. Have they grown beyond what used to hurt, or will the same old patterns pull them apart again? The story is very fast and I wish that we’d had more time to spend with this pair because I really liked them and wanted to get to know them even better.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this story from the author.

[Michaela | Reading in the Heartland · Rating 5 out of 5]


Only Pretending - Kari Shuey
A sweet, fake relationship romance. I loved it. The ex factor, the fun adventures, the "surprise twist." It's really impressive when an author can do romantic suspense, romantic comedy, plus coauthor a CSI/Dexter vampire series. I love everything she writes, whether it's a short story like this, or a full length novel. I gobble it all up!

Risky Cowboy - Elana Johnson
I enjoyed getting a HEA for Spencer who we met in the amazing Hope Eternal series. Seriously, an excon romance series with touches of suspense- love them! This was a sweet and quick second chance.

I recieved ARCs of these stories and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Carolyn Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy of one story in this anthology Secret Date with a Billionaire by Kristen Ethridge and am leaving a voluntary review. Killian Cordan needs all the support she can get to retain custody of her niece Emma. Luke Freiling is there for her as always. Can they finally admit their true feelings for each other and move on from friendship to more? This compelling short story caught my attention from the beginning and didn’t let go. This story features a well-constructed plot, endearing characters, and a satisfying ending. I thoroughly enjoyed it. If all the stories in the book are this good, it is an awesome read!

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of Risky Cowboy--Clarissa and Spencer went their separate ways years ago when Clarissa left home for culinary school. Just when Clarissa is ready to move from her family’s business to be a chef in another city Spencer reappears. They have both matured but the same spark is still there! She begins to question her priorities. Can she have it all and stay with the family business? You will recognize Spencer from the Hope Eternal Ranch series. Don’t miss this clean, short read from Elana Johnson!

[Jan Tomalis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my review of Accidentally Into You by Jo Noelle. A sweet story of Meg and Scott who have been friends since childhood. They have decided to attend his brother’s wedding as each other’s plus one. You can see how well they know each other throughout the story. A delightful read!
I received an advance copy of Accidentally Into You from the author, however, I voluntarily wrote an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading one of the stories in this anthology--Secret Date with a Billionaire by Kristen Ethridge. It was so good and just perfect for this busy time of year when you don't have a lot of extra time to relax. I enjoyed a sweet romance between two longtime friends and their HEA and I was able to finish the story in an afternoon. Can't wait to read the rest of the stories in this anthology!

[MaryEllen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my voluntary review of a copy of "Risky Cowboy" by Elana Johnson that I received from the author.

Super short second-chance story.
Because the story is so short there's a lot you don't get, but it's still satisfying.
The dialogue is great, the situations are believable... and there's a HEA.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really good, super short story. Killian and Luke have been really good friends for years. They have both been secretly in love with each other the whole time. The author did a really good job of not wasting any words and at the same time really conveying these characters, who they are, and what their emotions are. Soo hard to do and it was done soo well with this story.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twenty stories in one book. How fun. This review is for Risky Cowboy. It's a fun novella with a second chance romance. Spencer took some time growing up and maturing. Than he had a chance to mend some fences with Clarissa, who had some dreams of her own. I loved reading how they were able to overcome the obstacles and come together. It was great learning Spencer's story.