Bombshell

Whiskey Dolls #1

by Jessica Prince

𝑯𝒆’𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕, 𝒔𝒐 𝑰 𝒇𝒊𝒈𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒇𝒂𝒊𝒓 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒖𝒑𝒊𝒅, 𝒔𝒆𝒙𝒚 𝒋𝒆𝒓𝒌 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌.

After ending the world’s worst relationship, Marin Grey had sworn off men. So it was rather inconvenient that she couldn’t seem to keep her eyes and thoughts off the Ice King himself, Pierce Walton—also known as her ex-boyfriend’s older, much hotter brother.

He was cold, callous, and rude. He was also the most gorgeous man she’d ever laid eyes on, which made the fact that he’d hated her from first sight all the more unfair.

When circumstances dictate they put their swords away so Marin can help Pierce take care of his son, that ice-cold hate suddenly takes a turn into something much hotter. And if they aren’t careful, they could both be burned alive.

Genres: Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Small Town Romance, Slow Burn, Rom Com

320 pages, Unknown Binding

First published May 10, 2021

About the author

Born and raised around Houston, Jessica is a self proclaimed caffeine addict, connoisseur of inexpensive wine, and the worst driver in the state of Texas. In addition to being all of these things, she’s first and foremost a wife and mom.
Growing up, she shared her mom and grandmother’s love of reading. But where they leaned toward murder mysteries, Jessica was obsessed with all things romance.
When she’s not nose deep in her next manuscript, you can usually find her with her kindle in hand.

To be in-the-know before anyone else, follow along on my website, or join my newsletter.

www.authorjessicaprince.com

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Reviews

[Rachael*Caribbean*girl*bibliophile · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spoilers ahead




Finally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ladies and gentlemen I'm on book 2 of this series and no manwhores in sight! I had to double check the correct author was listed because whew this author loved her some manwhores🤦🏾‍♀️


Anywho's the H hadn't been with anyone since his wife died, he focused on being a good dad to his kid
The h dated his abusive brother for years, now normally ion do sibling swapping but the brother was a POS so it didn't bother me here
The H wasn't as Alpha as I'd like but he was pretty ok
Push/pull because of his guilt over his wife
Some family drama
Pretty decent read actually

[sil ♡ the book voyagers · Rating 4 out of 5]

The way I finished this in less than 8 hours I----

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ Bombshell centers around a burlesque dancer who ends up becoming the nanny of her ex's brother's son °❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

I'm not going to do a huge review. JUST! It was entertaining, fun, easy to read. I wish there was more grovelling and she gave him more time to grovel but I like that the third-act breakup was angsty and it was so clear he suffered so much and went through hell while she wasn't there. But he messed up and I needed him to work for it MORE, okay.

But overall, I really liked this book and I loved that it was a single dad romance and she perfectly fit in their little family and he was so head over heels for her since day one. They call each other "baby" so early on >>>> MY HEART. Also is it a slow-burn tho? It took like 50% of the book to get to a kiss, so I'm going to count it as a slow burn. AND IT WAS GREAT.

[Jessica Prince]

1-CLICK this brand new small-town romance NOW

[Jos · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

FLOVED this...Pierce and Marin were so damn sexy, cute and HAWT together!!!!! Why not 5 full stars...well I wanted more story or something a bit more "solid" with what happened with Frank and the evil mom oh AND the ending, I wanted MORE than I got lol!!!!!!

All in all GREAT read:)

[Camila Matuella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Livro leve e agradável pra ler numa tarde tomando um café/chá, sentada no sol.
:))

[Lu Bielefeld · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐⭐⭐ - OK decent reads
======================

[Jenifer Briggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I get so excited whenever Jessica announces a new book, and I just couldn't wait to get my hands on this spin-off from the Hope Valley series, and it was just SO amazing! I loved everything about it! This book follows up some characters that were featured in "Playing For Keeps", though this can definitely be read as a standalone. :)

Our heroine is Marin, whom has dealt with some devastating blows in her last relationship, is still piecing her heart and her life back together. She's come to grips with how single she is, so she does what any other rational lonely woman would do: sign up for a cooking class, which she fails at both epically and adorably. That's when she sets sights on the man who has always set her world on fire, the one she can never have, and the one who has always seemed to hate her no matter what she does. But when fate keeps throwing them back together, will Marin finally get her chance at a happily ever after? Or will she always be *this close* to happiness?

I'll admit, it took me a bit to warm up to Pierce at first, but there is no denying what an amazing father he is to his little boy, and the circumstances that led him to be a single father is absolutely soul crushing. His attraction to Marin was something he couldn't understand, which led him to be kind of an asshole, especially since she was previously with his brother (can you say forbidden?! lol) and knowing what kind of person his brother is, he figured it was best to put all the distance between him and Marin possible.. until she's back in his life in an unexpected way: as a nanny for his son. I'll tell you, the connection that Marin had to that little boy right away just melted my heart. Those two were just meant to be in each other's life and it showed! And I loved how much of a slow burn this was: there's so much these characters have gone through, and they have the scars of life to prove it, but after a while they just couldn't fight it anymore. Until the end comes crashing towards them faster than they ever expected. *cue all the tears!*

Jessica always seems to make me cry with her books, and this was just no exception! I loved Marin something fierce, and I loved just how much she took control of her life again after going through such a horrible experience. Plus the fact that she's a Burlesque dancer made me love her all the more!! I'm so envious of women who are able to do that, lol.

This was definitely an amazing opener to the start of a new series, and I can't wait for more! I definitely recommend this book!

**I received an ARC of this book and these are my honest opinions!**

[Raine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mediocre

I usually love Jessica Prince books, but this one was just ok. I felt, in the end, she forgave him way to easily considering he behaved like a real jerk.

[Izzie d · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's okay.
Start to a new series but previous characters from Hope Valley are mentioned.
My hopes were not high with this one, the Hero is the brother of the heroine's ex.
And the Hero is a single dad, his wife, who he loved very much has died, he hasn't been in a relationship since.

If the above troupes don't bother you then it's a good read.
We have fun girl time, girl posse.
Cute kid.
The heroine hasn't been with anyone since her previous ex who was abusive, I think it's 3 years.
The Hero hasn't been with anyone since his wife, I'm not certain how long but it's years, the kid struck me as about 5/6.

I did feel the dating a sibling of an ex was resolved a bit cliché as her future mother in law and the Hero don't get along at all so it's unlikely she will be in their lives.
She met the heroine when she was with the brother.

No intimate scenes other than the Hero and heroine.
Insta attraction, tingling when they touch but due to both their situation they don't act.

HEA.
Epilogue.

[Margo · Rating 3 out of 5]

ETA -- I have found out that i have actually put a lot of her books on my Do Not Read list because they aren't safe at all (based on reviews). I think they are mostly safe in this book SERIES only. The rest of them are trainwrecks and highly unsafe. I wouldn't risk reading one without checking the reviews carefully.

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Get it here:
Amazon US * Amazon UK

[Em (semi-hiatus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite enemies to lovers, more like two people irritated by how attracted they are to each other, with the added drama of the heroine being the hero’s brother’s ex (which was fun). It had its entertaining moments, but the third-act breakup, a one-word apology, and a hero unsure about love left me feeling a bit shortchanged. A decent read overall, though the HFN epilogue could have been stronger.

[Elle Golden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need more Whiskey Dolls already.

I've only finished the first book, but I'm already in love with this series.
Jessica Prince is a go-to author for me, whatever she writes, I read, and this book is the perfect example why.

I'm crazy for small town romance, I love enemies to lovers and I'm a sucker for single dads. And this book managed to bring me all that flawlessly.

Marin is so strong, so resilient. She is fierce yet sweet, a fighter yet vulnerable. She carries herself with confidence and grace despite her past and her pain.
Pierce is the epitome of the book boyfriend. He has the perfect amount of moodiness, he's a hard worker, he is so so wonderful to his little boy. Whenever he and Eli were together, my heart would melt and I felt a silly smile forming on my face. He was so loyal and protective, so devoted and caring, and when all that wonderfulness started to reach and embrace Marin, I was a goner.
And I might add, for someone so strict and uptight, he sure was a sexy surprise. That neck play? Dayum
The cherry on top? Cool Guy Eli. He was so adorably sweet, so pure and naive, but also so sharp and wise beyond his few years.

Another thing that I loved, and that's something I always enjoy reading in this author's books, was the friendship. Either between men or women, she's always on point to create it.
My skin crawls so many times when I read about friendships, because more often than not the friends are inconvenient, disrespectful, sometimes even jealous and envy.
But the way she builds it is so beautiful, because they are partners. Yes, they are nosy sometimes, but always in a funny way. In the big scheme of things, the friends she creates are loyal, helpful, respectful, willing to help and support. The way it should be.
Their secondary characters always make great appearances without stealing the main characters' thunder, and then they leave me wanting for more.

Bombshell was the perfect way to start a series.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessica Prince DOES IT AGAIN!!! Addicting. Easy to fall into. Romance goodness. Loved it! Must read romance from a must read author. Obsessed.

[Kahea · Rating 5 out of 5]

***5 Stars***

After meeting the Whiskey Dolls in Playing for Keeps, I was crossing my toes that we’d get to know them better and lo and behold...they are getting their own spinoff series from Hope Valley and I have to say this book did not disappoint. Not only did I end up loving Marin, Pierce and Eli, but also getting to know the Dolls better, which only has me wanting more.

I loved Marin and Pierce. Marin is feisty, sweet, funny and just an all around good person. She went through hell in her previous relationship, but she has come out stronger for it and has come to realize what she wants and doesn’t. Pierce is simply a good man. Hard working, great dad and despite appearing cold and standoff-ish at times, has a warm heart.

Their journey to their HEA was a fun one. It could have been full on angsty, considering that Marin truly believes that Pierce hates her, but instead it really felt like two people who had only been acquaintances becoming friends and then some. They definitely had their awkward moments, but they also had this flow and chemistry that had me rooting for them from the start. And then you add in adorable little Eli and it was all over. There were a few bumps in the road and the one “Seriously” moment that wasn’t a total surprise, but I loved how everything worked out for them in the end.

This was a fun read and a great addition to the Hope Valley world. There are some sensitive topics that come up in the story that may be triggering, but they are handled well and are necessary to understanding who both Marin and Pierce are. There isn’t much interaction with the other couples from the HV series, but we do get to catch up with Charlotte and Ms. Weatherby (whom I adore) And as for the Dolls themselves. I don’t have a favorite amongst them, but I’m all in to seeing Alma, Sloane and Layla getting their own HEA’s and getting to know them all better!

~ Copy provided by LAw/F & voluntarily reviewed ~

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marin Grey has gone out of her way to avoid Pierce Walton, her ex's brother. From the minute they met his cold glares and curt demeanor with her never left room for any other choice. Finding him in the cooking for singles class though she remembers how good looking he was but now that she is no longer with her ex she feels there is no reason to be on his radar.

Pierce has wanted Marin since the moment he saw her, but she was with his brother. Even though Pierce has no relationship with his brother, he still would never go there. As a widow he is busy focusing his time on work and raising his son but when he continues to have problems with babysitting he finds Marin offering to help. As much as he wants to stay away from her she is like a magnet and he needs to decide if they can be strictly friends or something more, the only problem he has though is can't give her everything she deserves.

There is a lot to this story that deals with Pierce, Marin's ex and the Pierces mother. Don't want to divulge too much but this is more of a slow burn romance and it takes time to understand Pierce and how complex his character is. Marin is a hoot, she is a delight. Terrific beginning to new series.

[Raffaella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really lovely story, where the heroine is a dancer in a burlesque show and the hero a serious lawyer. She is also his lil brother’s ex gf, who seems to hate her. Of course we understand very soon that he doesn’t hate her at all, and that he fell in love with her as soon as he saw her, only to have his dreams crushed by the fact that she was with his brother, so he became cold and dismissive.
The heroine was with his brother for 4 years, and eventually she decided to leave him because he was abusive. The hero is a widower with a child. The child is lovely and when his nanny leaves the hero asks her to be his temporary nanny. You can well guess the rest.
There’s a chemistry that they can’t ignore, so in the end they become f buddies, without commitment because he has decided that after losing his wife, he won’t risk that pain again. Typical. So after he realizes he has feelings for her he ends their affair. This lasts a couple of weeks during which they are both miserable and in the end he understands that he made a mistake. There’s miser apology and they’re together again, after he beat his brother because of what he did to her.
The book was cute, for once the hero stayed celibate after meeting her while she wasn’t because she was with his brother. Of course it’s not for those who find it cringy to share brothers 😂 but the characters are good with it.

[Jenn the Readaholic · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very first chapter, I loved Marin. And even iceman Pierce. And I especially love that, while we’re still in Hope Valley, this author knows how to let new faces and loves shine, rather than inserting other characters so often that the entire point of the story is lost.

Marin and Pierce had a lot to work through. Wait. Scratch that. HE had a lot to work through. She was doing a darn good job of finding herself and some happiness all her own without his help. But Pierce was a stubborn man, as they usually are, so he needed some more work. And maybe a metaphorical kick to the head by Tali. But these two still found their way, and what a way it turned out to be!

I especially enjoyed Marin’s sister and her dilemma. It managed to not be what I feared (and my stomach lurched a few times over that), and yet it still felt so very real. I mean, who doesn’t feel like Tali did with kids and marriage in the mix at some point? But we have another strong woman and a man who finally catches a clue! So I was as invested in the “side story” as I was in Marin and Pierce’s journey. And thanks to how this series began, I’m really looking forward to more of this new side of Hope Valley.

[BookSmackedMel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Facckkk yes, that's my reaction every time I get to dive into a Jessica Prince book. Because I know without fail that I will get to escape the day and dive into a story with characters that will capture my attention. It's exactly why I read.

Bombshell is a book one in a new spin off series from Prince and follows the lives of the girls from Whiskey Dolls, a burlesque club that we first got introduced to in her Hope Valley series. You absolutely do not need to read that to read Bombshell although I do recommend that series as it's amazing.

Pierce comes off as a bit cold and I gotta say I have this thing for characters like that, I always love seeing when the heroine can melt the ice of those broody types. It makes for an exciting read. The exchanges between these two are entertaining AF and you can feel the sexual tension between these two. You get invested with these two and you find yourself desperately needing that HEA.

Jessica keeps you engaged with the ups and downs between these two, the hot exchanges and the moments that threaten to potentially tear these two apart. A fantastic start to a new series that I will without a doubt be reading the rest of without hesitation.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars
This is the first book in the new Whiskey Dolls series. A spinoff from the Hope Valley series. I was so excited that this series was created especially after reading the last Hope Valley book. I was even more giddy after I found out that it was a single dad romance. I just loved little Eli. He was such a cutie! I loved Marin. She's such a great character and after what she went through she deserves a HEA. Though it's a little complicated when her ex's brother gives her the tingles. Pierce is definitely a little gruff and rough around the edges, but you see his softer side when it comes to his son Eli. Then you slowly see Marin bring out his playful side. It's a great book that I didn't want to put down. I found myself up at 4 am reading this. I can't wait for more from this series.

[Love & Lavender Book Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why oh why did I ever stop reading Jessica Prince?!? Her books are like a seasoned whiskey, smooth and relish in the burn as it goes down. Her books dish some serious heat 🔥
Marin and Pierce lit my kindle on fire with their smoldering chemistry. Seriously though, that’s some hot shit 🔥

Pierce is a hot single dad, not looking for love ever again, but can’t help falling for his brother’s ex-girlfriend. Marin, a local burlesque dance, is pure fire. She’s witty, charming, spitfire and confident. A perfect match for Pierce. Add Pierce’s cutie son, Eli, to the mix and this book makes for an awesome read!! I was swooning so hard, Pierce could melt any woman’s heart with a single look.

I’m so excited to get back on the Jessica Prince band wagon again. I definitely jazzed to read more!!

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review *

[Megs · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the blurb for Bombshell I thought we were going into a full on angsty, enemies to lovers tale. In reality, we are (pleasantly) surprised with this sweet tale of “enemies” to lovers. I truly enjoyed watching Pierce and Marin’s story unfold. Like all Jessica Prince’s stories, it was enjoyably written. Like I was the friend on the outside looking in and laughing at their antics play out. (Their cooking woes might be my favorite scenes.)

[SCBookAddict · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an addictive read! Once I started reading this, I could not put it down! The chemistry between Pierce and Marin was off the charts!

I love Marin and the bond she has with her sister, Tali and I loved that the author gave us a mini story on top of Pierce and Marin's story.

I always love a little sidekick or a clever older character thrown into the mix and Jessica Prince gave us BOTH in this story with Eli and Ms. Weatherby!

I'm so glad the author gave us this spin off series. These ladies already seem to be fun and loyal. I can't wait to see what stories she gives us with the other Whiskey Dolls!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5

[Made Me Blush Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Swoon Alert!

New to me author Jessica Prince definitely got me with this one! The banter, the heat, some tragedy and a super cute little boy and I was done like dinner. Pierce and Marin’s attraction was there from the moment they met. Unfortunately at that moment Marin was also dating his brother. Watching these two fall in love when they finally get their chance had me constantly smiling. Their chemistry was off the charts when they finally give in to their feelings but it was how they get to their HEA that completely warms the heart! I can’t wait to read more of Jennifer’s books. So happy I found a new author to love!

Don’t miss out on the love, the laughs and just amazing swoon. Pick up Bombshell today!

[Fel (whatfelreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

i really really, really really enjoyed this one. the perfect amount of lighthearted but still emotional, learning & growing & the cutest little boy. basically my favorite from jessica yet!! whatttttta masterpiece.


i read an arc of this one :)

[Rosiliane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dei risada como não ria a muito tempo lendo esse livro, que história gostosa, romance sem impedimento, descomplicado e ponto....Tem dias que é isso que um leitor quer para sua vida!

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awwwwww!
So Bombshell is the first book of the new series by Jessica Prince. It's called the Whiskey Dolls Series and is a spin-off of the Hope Valley Series.
The good thing is: we're still in Hope Valley! Yay! And another good thing is: some of the characters from the HV series also appear in the new one! Double YAY!

So Marin is a professional dancer at Whiskey Dolls and is single now. When she joins a single cooking class she meets her ex-boyfriend's older and much hotter brother, Pierce. He's so damn handsome! But he doesn't really like her... So that's why she doesn't like him too.
Buuuut does they really hate each other like it seems? Hmmm I won't tell you!
READ THIS BOOK!

I ABSOLUTELY LOVED AND DEVOURED BOMBSHELL! ❤ When I heard about a new spin-off I got SO EXCITED and DAMN Jessica Prince! You never disappoint me!
THANK YOU!
I fell in love with Marin when I met her in Playing For Keeps (Book 10 of the HV series) for the first time. So when I read the blurb and knew it's her story I just got even more excited!!
I LOOOOVED HER STORY!
Marin is a strong and sassy woman, who knows exactly what she wants. And Pierce us really such an Ice King! Brrrr! Sometimes it was really frosty in here!
Buuut thank God it was different than expected! Pierce has a heart too! Whoop whoop! And what kind of heart he has! He's a single dad and his past was so heart-breaking! Awwww! I really had to cry!
I totally enjoyed the story of Marin and Pierce and Eli! (Eli is Pierce's son. OMG he's the cutest!!!)
I loved that there was a great storyline with romance, emotions, drama, chemistry and so much more!!! I can't wait to read more!!!

[Brandy Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow another amazing book by one of my all time favorite authors and this is the start of a new series that I'm so excited to read . This can be read as a standalone but this is in the Hope Vally series but can be read as a standalone I do recommend that you read that series because it is something you don't want to miss out on . Loved the characters and the plot I was hooked from the very first page I couldn't put my kindle down . The chemistry between the couple was of the charts hot and just everything about them even when the couple fought the attrition . The hero son is super adorable loved how the heroine treated him and just everything about the heroine was likable the hero did piss me off a couple of times but he is a good dad and once he get his head out he lets himself fall for the heroine . I can't wait to read what's to come in this series and more from the author .
stars 5
hero 4
heroine 4.5
steam 3
secondary characters 4