Never Say I Love You

Never Say #1

by Amy Pennza

When Ashley Ann Scobel left home at seventeen, she swore she’d seen the last of her dusty Texas town. But with her acting career sputtering to a stop and bills piling up, she needs a breather—and a place to make a fresh start. The last thing she expected was to butt heads with the town’s new law man—who also happens to be her landlord…and a tall, dark Texan who takes her breath away.

Small town police chief Smith Salvatierra has everything he needs—a good job, a beautiful home, and a canine partner who never pressures him to talk about the past. Prattsville might be boring, but he’ll take solitude and big skies over city lights any day of the week. He likes things orderly and predictable, which is why his new tenant is forever getting under his skin. Messy, nosy, and prone to breaking speed limits, the Hollywood starlet next door seems destined to disrupt his life…and maybe change it forever.

Falling in love wasn’t part of the plan for either of them...but never say never.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance

Kindle Edition

First published November 30, 2018

About the author

Amy Pennza is a USA Today Bestselling Author of steamy fantasy romance. After becoming a lawyer because everyone insisted writing wasn’t a “real job,” she stubbornly wrote anyway—and is delighted to have proved them wrong. She’s grateful to spend her days crafting dirty, swoony books about magic, swords, and unforgettable characters. She lives in the Great Lakes region with her husband and five children.

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Reviews

["Avonna · Rating 4 out of 5]

NEVER SAY I LOVE YOU (Never Say #1) by Amy Pennza is the first contemporary romance in a new series by a new to me author.

Ashley Ann Scobel is an out of work actress. For two years, she has made ends meet by refurbishing antiques, but she decides she needs to return to her small Texas hometown of Prattsville and try to pull herself and her finances together. But Prattsville has no fond memories for Ashley. She hopes to use her grandmother’s old furniture in her family home attic to finance a return to California. When she gets home, she finds her mother gone and the house sold to the next door neighbor named Smith. Hopefully he won’t mind if she stays for just a few weeks.

Chief of Police Smith Salvatierra likes everything orderly and predictable. He and his canine partner, Deuce appreciate the boring and quiet small town over the crowds and frantic pace of the larger San Antonio. He likes his privacy and his partner never asks about his past. When Smith finds Ashley in the house he bought next door, they come to an arrangement. Ashley can stay for eight weeks.

Smith’s new tenant is messy, unpredictable and beautiful. Ashley finds Smith to be by-the-book tall, dark and handsome and is not sure what to make of her landlord’s hot and cold attitude. Can the two of them find what they need in each other?

I was very happy I tried this new to me author. This contemporary romance had an interesting twist with Smith dealing with a tragedy in his past that colors all of his decisions in the present. His rigid adherence to predictability is challenged by Ashley and he begins to see an opportunity for change. I love dogs in books and I loved Deuce. He is a great example of an emotional support dog. The sex scenes in this book are explicit but not gratuitous. My only problem with this story was I felt the ending was too abrupt. I would have preferred that some of the secondary issues had been locked down instead of still up in the air. Hopefully this H/h will be revisited in future books in the series and I will find some of the answers I am looking for in a complete HEA. Overall, a good start to this new series.

Written for and posted first on The Romance Reviews.

[Coco.V]

💝 FREE on Amazon today (12/30/2018)! 💝

Blurb:
They say there’s no place like home. For Ashley Ann Scobel, there’s no place as terrible as home. When she left Prattsville at seventeen, she swore she’d seen the last of the dusty Texas town. Home sweet home is the last place she wants to be, but with her acting career sputtering to a stop and bills piling up, she needs a breather—and a place to make a fresh start. The last thing she expected was to butt heads with the town’s new law man—who also happens to be her landlord…and a tall, dark Texan who takes her breath away.

Small town police chief Smith Salvatierra has everything he needs—a good job, a beautiful home, and a canine partner who never pressures him to talk about the past. Prattsville might be boring, but he’ll take solitude and big skies over city lights any day of the week. He likes things orderly and predictable, which is why his new tenant is forever getting under his skin. Messy, nosy, and prone to breaking speed limits, the Hollywood starlet next door seems destined to disrupt his life…and maybe change it forever.

Falling in love wasn’t part of the plan for either of them...but never say never.

[Elizabeth Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

i am new to Amy Pennza's writing ... great cover ... loved this read ... such emotion ... likeable characters ... u know there is always such excitement in little small close knit towns ... sheriff included!! so funny at times ... bit of steamy hot moments too. are you a fan of Texas? check this read out. can't wait to read more from Amy soon enough!!

[Marissa Chavez · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤❤❤

Oh my goodness! Ashley and Smith were hot! I really enjoyed getting to know them! The ending was super sweet! ❤☺🐕

[Sharon Grow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ashley Scobel, out of work actress, has been dropped by her talent agent and decides to visit her mother until she can figure out her next step. She has been doing wood restoration projects, in the off times, and knows that her mother’s home is full of old pieces that she could restore…and sell. When she arrives home, her mother is gone and the house is vacant. When she contacts her mother, she finds out that the house and contents have been sold and she has no place to live. She hopes to convince the new owner to let her remain until she can make other plans. The owner turns out to be the next-door neighbor and town police chief, Smith Salvatierra. Smith has past issues he is dealing with and does not want to get involved with Ashley, but he is attracted to her. Even though she doesn’t want him to, he steps in to protect her when she is assaulted. Will he be able to control his PTSD? Smith’s behavior that was uncomfortable for me was the actions he took to protect Ashley (way unprofessional and unacceptable for a law enforcement officer) and his “over the top” anger at times. If those areas could have been omitted, I would have found this to be a more enjoyable story. I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to give an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

[💋Meme Chanell Book Corner💋 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not know what to expect with this one I read the blurb and just knew I had to read it. Ashley being dropped by her manager runs back home for a break and clean start, but things at first do not turn out well. Her mom is gone and married another husband and she really has no where to go.

While doing a little illegal driving she is stopped by the most gorgeous man a cop named Smith. Smith we find out later in the story has his own problems and he keeps people far away from him except for his dog Deuce. He helps Ashley by letting her rent his extra place they both no they do not need a relationship but they both can’t seem to stop thinking about the other. I could not put this one down. This is one of the best books I have read so far this year.

This story will leave you wanting more and I can see myself reading this one again and I would recommend it.

[Annette Chambers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is truly a hidden gem. It's about a former actress that is down on her luck and an absolutely gorgeous former Green Beret. Ashley has decided she needs to go home until she can get her acting career back on track. However, when she gets there, her house is empty and her mother is nowhere in sight. Smith Salvatierra has chosen a small town in Texas to get acclimated back into society. Smith and Ashley meet coincidentally when she speeds by him and he is forced to give her a ticket. Then he thinks she is a looter in the house next door and holds her at gunpoint. They both feel the attraction they have but fight it tooth and nail. Then Ashley is attacked and Smith wants to protect her, from her attacker and from himself. This book has suspense, some steamy scenes and a very rambunctious German Shepherd. You will not be disappointed in this book.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new author for me and the start of a new series. I really enjoyed this story, it was sad, funny, heartwarming, packed full of chemistry and showed how just because you are opposites doesn't mean you don't work together. I loved Smith, he was a complex man, but then again once you get to know his story you understand why. His character needs Ashley to heal, develop, grow, deal and accept his past and his future. Ashley is at a crossroad, she needs to regroup, rethink and make some hard decisions....me personally I'm team Smith all the way, I loved the cover model of Smith and the character Deuce too!😍
I wish this had been a bit longer though as I wanted to see what happened next, how did things work out a little bit further down the line? I am voluntarily leaving this honest review after receiving an ARC.

[Sassy Beta Reading & Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a small town romance staring Ashley an actress that finds herself without an agent and down on her luck and Smith, an ex Green Beret turned police chief. Ashley decides to surprise her mom by showing up unannounced, only to find her mother gone, grandmas house sold and not much money left to her name.

Grandmas house is not being lived in and Ashley finds out the next door neighbor owns it. Smith is surprised to find Ashley in the house next door. After much begging, he decides to let her stay there for a few months. As you can expect, sparks fly with these two. Thanks to Smiths PTSD, he is not the easiest person to get along with. It is an adventure watching these two struggle with their emotions.

Written as a 3rd person, multi pov with a HEA.

Would I recommend this book? Yes

Would I read more from this author? Yes

Sassy Beta Reading and Review

[Paige Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never Say I Love You has a unique storyline. Child actress Ashley Ann Scobel leaves the L.A. scene and returns home to Prattsville, Texas where she is pulled over by the local police chief Smith Salvatierra on her way to pick up some groceries at the local market. Unknown to her, Smith is the man who bought her grandmother's house from her mother. After a turn of events, Smith allows Ashley to live in the house rent free until she gets on her feet. What happens next starts a relationship between the two that goes beyond landlord and tenant.

If you are a fan of small-town romances with likable characters and a good storyline, then Never Say I Love You is definitely a read for you. This author is a new-to-me writer, and I will read other books by her.

[Shayay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sheriff Smith Salvatierra and not so successful actress Ashley; she goes home to visit her mother and figure her life out, but things aren’t quite how she expected when she arrived. She has many things go wrong, but luckily, the next door neighbor happens to be lawman Smith! Smith tries to help Ashley with some of her problems, but he’s dealing with some of his own; PTSD being among them. Luckily for him, Ashley is good at bringing Smith out of his shell Good steamy chemistry between them! Fun opposites attract scenario; Smith being a bit gruff and Ashley being a bit erratic. A sweet read! Looking forward to the next book!

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first book in a new series called Never Say a well written story. Ashley Ann Scobel comes back to the last place she wants to be Prattsville. She meets small town police chief Smith Salvatierra and both their worlds get turned upside down. But they will have a lot to go through to be together. There is suspense, drama, dog poisoning, an evil man, a sheriff who has a past to get over, and the woman who has an even worse one to let go of. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lea Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I'm always drawn to a small town romance with a sheriff involved. Ashley was a former child actress, so that aspect was interesting. This was a page turner and the characters, especially, Smith, were really well developed. It was super steamy too. I hope the author is writing more in this series.

[Karen Galloway · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Really Enjoyable Book

I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book. This is a really enjoyable, entertaining Book from Amy Pennza and I didn’t want to put it down. It has a Great, entertaining storyline and really engaging, well written characters. It’s a very good, entertaining must read book that I really enjoyed reading

[Sarah Oliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a lovely story about Smith and Ashley. I loved the way their paths crossed initially, and then again soon after. Ashley challenges Smith’s measured solitary existence, and Smith showed Ashley kindness and compassion when she really needed it. I loved the way their feelings grew, and the chemistry between them was sizzling. An enjoyable read with a sweet ending.

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story!!

This is a beautifully written story which had me totally captivated throughout this additive page turner and I cannot wait to read more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend for all readers.

[Shelly Celli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very enjoyable read. I loved the characters and storyline. Theres nothing I didn’t like about the story and look forward to seeing more from the author. I’m voluntarily reviewing an advanced reader copy of this book.

[Rachel Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Likable characters you can relate to. The dog is also a sweet touch and nicely woven into the story. Set up as a series, but this is a standalone with a satisfying ending.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an awesome book you've got to read it it really it just is just a really good book I can't say it any better than that I mean you got to read it to understand that.

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't get enough of Ashley & Smith. Loved these characters. I could feel the emotions of the book. This was a new author for me. I'm voluntarily leaving an honest review for a copy of the book.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story and the writing style very much.

Amy has not disappointed us this time around!

[Ashleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book.
I will not give the synopsis since you can read the blurb and others give more detail but I definitely recommend!
All-in-all, you would not be reading reviews if you were not intrigued by the blurb, so I will stick with what you need to know:
You will find plenty of toe curling steaminess with a laugh or two along the way, and smile on your face from their happily ever after.
No cliffy, no cheating.

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

[Izzie d · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story.
Brooding Hero with ptsd issues.
No intimate scenes with anyone other than the Hero and heroine.
Both been delicate for some time.
Bdsm tones.
HEA.

[zen_s]

[did not finish] boring