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Can secrets of the past keep this older man away, or will the future shine bright?


Julie
I've never been the kind to need a rescue.
I've always been strong, determined, and independent.
But a recent heartbreak has my life spinning out of control,
A dark, inked, older man offers me a little more than just a hand.

Maverick
Julie is everything I've ever wanted.
She's smart, stubborn, smart-assed, and curvy as hell.
And I can't help but run to her aid, even if she isn't asking for it.
And once she tells me what happened, I'll do anything in my power to make it right.

Dear Readers,
This is a sweet and steamy, age gap romance. As always, this title comes with Khloe’s ‘Easy Escape Seal’, a no cheating, no cliffhanger, HEA guarantee.

67 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 10, 2022

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About the author

Khloe Summers

198 books353 followers

Best-Selling Author Khloe Summers writes short, steamy romance about small town love and mountain men.

Married to her own heart of gold alpha for over twenty years, Khloe is a firm believer in the magic of Happily Ever After.

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5 stars
236 (49%)
4 stars
139 (29%)
3 stars
77 (16%)
2 stars
18 (3%)
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7 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
73 reviews1 follower
June 24, 2022
I really liked this story. At first I wasn’t sure if I needed to read the others, but it was a great stand alone. Although because of this one, I’m going to read the others. It was cute, fast paced (not a slow burn) and fun to read. Good job.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Nikki_Kate.
1,849 reviews
July 23, 2023
WOW!! I absolutely love it!! I couldn't put this one down. This was a nice quick, short read.

Maverick meets Julie when she calls him to do a survey of her land for mining, everyone in Rugged Mountain is finding gold. Maverick doesn't come he had a better offer, then a while later show up. Maverick and Julie don't get along at first, she took a stick of dymanite out of his hands and through it at her mountain. Julie is running for Mayor of Rugged Mountain. When something happens to Julie, she's in Colorado Springs, she heads to a motel that's known for criminal activities. Julie's friend Angie calls her and finds out where she is and is worried. Angie calls Maverick to ask him if he'll go and get Julie, because she can't get a hold of Henry Restless or Maddox Broken: Rugged Mountain Ink, who are Julie's older brothers. Maverick takes the hour long drive to go and get Julie but when he arrives at the motel he realizes he doesn't have her room number, so he calls her. She tells him she is fine and can head back to Rugged Mountain, he tells her he'll knock on every door until he finds her. When she finally tells him her room number, he can't believe the odor in her room. Maverick steps in and picks her up and carries her out screaming to his truck. Maverick tells her he'll take her someplace quiet and safe, she mumbles to him that they were suppose to be hers. They arrive at the second cabin that he bought off of her brother, Henry. It's in the middle of nowhere. Julie tells him she'll call someone to pick her up in the morning, but he tells her there's no cell service. Maverick forgot about Angie and he tells Julie he'll radio someone to let her know she's alright. Maverick tells her he'll take the bed but she tells him they can both sleep on the big bed its big enough for both of them. As they lay in bed Julie tells him about the girls she was suppose to adopt today. When she breaks down he turns over, and hugs her. She tells him about the others as well, he tells her no wonder she needed some time. Maverick tells her she's young, but she tells him according to doctors she's not. After he turns back she lets it out and breaks down, she can't help how she is feeling, she tries to drown out her sobs. Soon he's behind her his warm body curved around hers, holding her. He tells her he'll move if she wants him to but he couldn't listen to her cry and offer her comfort. She tells him not to go, and he grabs her tighter. The next morning Maverick gets in the shower, Julie comes to ask him if he'd like some breakfast. When he gets out he hears voices, he comes out to find Cody talking to Julie. Cody tells Maverick he didn't realize he had landed such a beautiful lady. Julie told Cody she's not dating Maverick so Cody asks if he can take Julie out to dinner. Maverick tells Cody to get out, and thanks him for stoping by. Julie tells him she'd like to head back into town, but he tells her she's suppose to be relaxing. She tells him this isn't relaxing. Julie tells Maverick he owes her a secret and he tells her if he tells her it'll scare her off. He tells her he like having her in his place she tells him he a loner everyone in town has seen it. He asks her than why does he want to kiss her so much. They begin kissing and she asks him what he's doing, he wants to tells her that he's falling in love with her but he doesn't. When she tells him she should leave he tells her not to, he's not good at feeling. Julie asks him what kind of feeling, and he tells her the kind that he wants to keep her and give her the babies she wants. Julie tells him she likes him too, and it scares her how much. Maverick tells her his parents put him up for adoption when he was four, then he went from foster home to foster home until he turn eighteen. Julie tells him she promises him that if they fall in love she's never letting him go. Maverick tells her he'd love her right back, nothing would stop him. As they sit in the living room staring ahead, she asks him if everything is okay, he tells her it is he's just trying to figure a way to kiss her again. Julie straddles him, and they kiss. She tells him it's been years since she's been with someone. He tells her she's not alone it's been years for him too. Soon there's a knock on the door, when she looks up she sees her brother, Henry. Julie tells Maverick she'll talk to him. Julie asks Henry what he's doing there, he asks her if they are dating. Henry tells her he's been trying to get a hold of her, the hospital called him as he's her emergency contact. Henry asks Julie what's going on, she tells him he's her bother not her father and it doesn't concern him. Henry tells Julie he's concerned about her, she could at least tell him why she's with Maverick. Julie tells him they are trying to figure thing out. Henry tells Maverick he better take care of Julie otherwise he know where he lives than leaves. Maverick tells him he will, Julie asks him why the hospital would be calling her. Maverick suggest she give them a call, but she tells him she can't let her heart go there. They head into town, and when she gets service she reads her messages, she finds out it was just a wellness call. Julie tells Maverick to take her home so she can work on her speech for mayor. As they drive into town she asks Maverick about his life. When they arrive at Julie's home he asks her not to let her go, she doesn't want to be alone. He tells her he not letting her go he decided that when he kissed her. They spend the weekend together writing her speech, they don't open the bedroom door where she had everything set up for the adoption. When the time comes to head to town for her speech Maverick tells her he has something he needs to do but he'll met her there. Julie's brother Henry is warming up the crowd when she pulls up. As she is giving her speech Maverick comes holding a baby girl, he walks up to her and tells her he didn't want to interrupt her speech but she told him she wanted to introduce her family. Julie tells him he can't just take a baby, then her social worker walks up with another baby girl. She tells Julie the couple changed their minds again. The social worker contacted Henry, but then Maverick contacted her and told her the whole story. When she looks out to the crowd she tells everyone that she's adopting the two babies. They ride back to Julie's cabin in Maverick truck since he has the car seats. After Sage and Juniper their twin girls are in their cribs Julie tells Maverick she wants him but now she needs him he tells her he needs her too. He tells her once they do this she is his and no one else can touch her, she tells him she's his. Julie tells Maverick she wants a family with him. Maverick asks Julie to marry him, she nods to him as tears stream down her face. Six months later, Julie has a baby bump, she's about six months along. They are working on the library, since she won the election. When Julie lets it slip in front of Maverick they she's carrying boys he asks her if she snooped at the gender reveal. She tells him the paper fell out of the envelope, she asks him if he's mad he tells her no he's happy he gets a son. He tells her they need a name for their son, she tells him they need two names, she's having twins. Julie tells Maverick they're going to have their hands full for a while. Maverick wants to name his sons after Hollywood cowboys, Clint and Will. There's nothing Maverick wouldn't do for Julie, and nothing he wouldn't do to make sure his family is safe. Every night he has the shining silver moon to thank for giving them the courage to life they were meant to live.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Oriana Reads.
4,335 reviews38 followers
August 2, 2022
Julie needs space after receiving a devastating message. But her friend Angie has other plans and tasks Maverick to look after Julie. Maverick has had a crush on Julie as soon as he met her for the first time. Now he gets his chance to finally get his woman. Sweet, steamy, romantic ,fun to read and safe with an absolutely adorable HEA for all of them😍😍😍😍
Profile Image for Emily Pennington.
20.9k reviews369 followers
June 26, 2022
Her Fake Husband . . .

Brianna is a single mom who is trying to create a successful business to support her and her son, Owen. But her parents have high expectations and keep her firmly under their influence. Next door, the pizza shop owner, Nash, is going to completely turn her world around.

Brianna still hasn’t introduced herself to the shop owner next door. But today, he has come into her tea shop to browse. He is tall and handsome and she has to hold back a sigh as she watches him. As she finally starts to talk to him, her sister bursts in to tell her their parents are coming to town. Brianna had arranged for a neighbor to be her fake husband on her parents’ planned visit, but this one Reese just announced was unexpected and last-minute. As Brianna starts to panic, Reese points to Nash and says he would make a good fake husband. Brianna says she will tell them the truth that Owen’s father never married her and dumped her rather than be there for her. But they would move next door to her and take over her life again. And then she feels a warm hand on her back and Nash offers to be her fake husband.

Nash remembered how difficult the first year of starting a business was. He finally made it a success, but he had given up having a family and personal life. He admired Brianna for starting her tea shop and caring for her baby. She is stronger than she realizes. And he can’t wait to hold her and be her “husband”. He knows already that he wants to make this more than a fake marriage. But before she has a chance to talk to him and warn him about what to expect, her parents arrive much earlier than they had told her. He’s apparently going to have to think fast and create their “history” on the fly to avoid all the landmines her parents will create! Can they make this work? Can she realize that for him, it is not fake at all? And does she feel the same about him?

I thought Brianna was way too shy and lost in her head. She has a business to run and doesn’t greet customers? But Nash saves the day with his kindness and compassion. Will they find a HEA? He is the perfect balance to her life if she lets him in.
11.9k reviews49 followers
August 29, 2022
Just when you think it is your last chance....something great happens

Striking is the seventh book in the Rugged Mountain Ink series. This story is about Julie Baxter and Maverick Clay, with a little help from Angie Miller these two are pushed together. It seems Julie has gotten herself into a situation that is placing her in danger. Angie finds out about it and with one call to Maverick he is on his way to Colorado Springs to bring Julie back and give her a place to stay and a helping hand and some time when she needs it most. This story is a beautiful and heartfelt romance with some tears being shed and more than a few swooning and fluttery parts. If there was a Maverick living by me I would more than be happy as the man is a wonderful mix of hard, soft, manly and sexy and more. I really enjoyed this story.
879 reviews14 followers
July 18, 2022
I have read all of the books in this Mountain Ink world so far. They are short little spicy numbers. I like using them as a palette cleanser between PNR reads or Dark reads.

We meet our FMC as she is running for mayor and she just got some devastating news about her personal life. So she is trying to take a break from it all but her assistant is worried about her so she calls someone to check on her. What follows is a whirlwind age-gap romance.

When her assistant starts telling her bad things about her new boo she starts to believe them until she finds out that the man is so in love with her that he'd do anything for her including changing her bad news to over the fucking top good news.
Profile Image for Raecharmed.
9,318 reviews70 followers
July 27, 2022
Julie just got some bad news, and it sends her spinning. She takes off from her campaign running for Mayor and takes some time for herself. However, her friend is worried and calls Maverick to go after Julie because she heard a gunshot when they were hanging up. Once Maverick has her, he takes her to his secret cabin. Its there that she explains what happened and his heart hurts for her. Just as things are heating up between them her brother shows up. Will they find a way to be together? Will she continue on for Mayor?

This is a great story that will captivate you from beginning to end. This is a wall written and very entertaining story. This is a book any book lover would enjoy.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
1,897 reviews6 followers
June 25, 2022
Loved this story and love Rugged Mountain Ink!! Brianna’s parents were coming to visit and she’d told them she was married when she was really a single mother. In steps her hero, Nash, the crazy hot pizza shop owner. He had fallen for Brianna when she’d first arrived in Rugged Mountain months ago but was too nervous to talk to her, he wasn’t letting this opportunity pass him by. Sweet, steamy story with amazing chemistry between Nash and Brianna. He is everything she needs and will do anything to keep her forever. Really fun read with a beautiful HEA.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Trish.
1,619 reviews7 followers
June 28, 2022
This is the sixth book in the Rugged Mountain Ink series. You can read as a standalone but it is connected to the other books so you will see previous characters. Nash and Brianna's story is a short, steamy, over the top, age gap, fake relationship instalove. Brianna's life is a hot mess, she's a single mom, her store is failing and to top it all off her parents, who think she's married, are showing up for a visit. What’s a girl to do but get herself a fake husband. Nash offers to help but he's hoping for something permanent with Brianna if he can convince her he's serious.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
3,265 reviews10 followers
July 9, 2022
After visiting her sister Reese in Rugged Mountain Brianna decodes to move away from her mom and dad and venture on her own. That and she us hiding a secret from her parents, she got pregnant out of wedlock and theu do not know. Her parents are making an unexpected visit and she is scared as they still does not know about her not being married. Enter Nash the owner of the Pizza store next door. He offers to be her fake husband. What happens with the two? Will they pull it off or will her patents figure out the ruse? Will they be able to keepnit fake or does it turn real, real fast? Intriguing story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Aliama.
2,375 reviews9 followers
July 28, 2022
Julie escapes town after a devastating heartbreak only to have Maverick hunting her down making sure she’s ok. Maverick has had an eye on Julie since he came to town and now he’s out to protect her. From what, he’s not sure. Julie is hardworking and determined to make Rugged Mountain the best place it can be. Unfortunately her personal life has suffered. Maverick is quiet and and caring and ready to help Julie make all her dreams come true. An emotional heartfelt read. I received an arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Stacy J..
1,346 reviews12 followers
September 2, 2022
This was a quick and very interesting read.

When we first meet Julie, she is spiraling and we don't really know why. All we know is she isn't in the best situation and being very stubborn about not removing herself from the situation.

Maverick is called in to just check on Julie but unbeknownst to her friend, he already has a thing for Mr. Julie and is willing to help.

Reading about them arguing with an undercurrent of heat was really fun!
Profile Image for T Nelson.
1,880 reviews30 followers
April 14, 2023
HEA
Standalone, interconnected characters
*over 18 readers only *
Insta-love on his side

Trigger warnings
Adoption woes

She was all set to adopt children to get the chance at motherhood, but it fell through. When she runs off for a bit of piece, her friend sends Maverick to "rescue" her. He listens to her and helps her, falling in love with her even more. He has a past that might not go over well with voters, but she deserves all the love.

*swoon* that's all, be prepared
9,194 reviews67 followers
June 24, 2022
Brianna is a single mother working hard even with her interfering parents. Nash runs the pizza shop next door and when Brianna needs a fake husband for the weekend he steps up, but can he make her really his? Well written steamy fake marriage mountain romance. A great addition to the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
12.6k reviews76 followers
June 25, 2022
The author has given us a wonderful story that pulls us into the lives of Nash, Brianna and her son, Owen. When Nash offers to be her fake husband when her parents come to town, he is determined to make it permanent.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Jenifer.
2,895 reviews6 followers
June 25, 2022
This is a quick story - it's got fake marriage and insta-love in it and those are two tropes that I love best. It's also got some steamy bedroom scenes mixed in along with the most tender loving cinnamon-roll guy. Just put a big ole smile on my face reading this story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
1,613 reviews5 followers
June 26, 2022
This short story was funny and sweet, and I absolutely loved every page.
I am so happy Brianna found that special man who will love and take care of both her and her son Owen.
Nash knew there was something special about Brianna . That she was the one for him.. he wanted to take care and of her and Owen, to be the man they can always depend on.
Profile Image for Michelle.
10.9k reviews29 followers
July 15, 2022
Striking is book seven in the Rugged Mountain Ink series and is Maverick and Julie's journey of love. I loved the way the author brought Julie and Maverick together and how great they were for each other. This is an age gap, insta love story with likable characters, steam, and a great happily ever after. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.
Profile Image for Insomniash85.
21 reviews1 follower
July 16, 2022
I loved this story. Julie was strong, accomplished, and sassy. Maverick was protective and possessive with heart. Together, they were wonderful. Their chemistry and banter were undeniable and refreshing. The story was sweet but there was a depth to it too. Great read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Maranda Prigmore.
1,125 reviews1 follower
April 2, 2024
Very good

Julie and Maverick story is so sweet. Julie went on a little vacation. She needed some space. Her best friend Angie thinks she's in trouble and sends Maverick looking for her. He is a big bulky alpha male and she is a fiesty and snarky woman. Can they set aside differences and just fall in love?
Profile Image for Syd Springer.
4,113 reviews6 followers
June 27, 2022
I thought that this was great book. I really enjoyed the connection and chemistry between Brianna and Nash. What was only supposed to for a weekend to help Brianna out, turned out to be so much more for Brianna and Nash. This was a short yet faced paced book that I really enjoyed and would recommend.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
328 reviews3 followers
July 23, 2022
This was a really great story!!!

This is a brilliant quick story that I really couldn’t put down. It has a really interesting storyline that draws you in from the beginning. The characters are really likeable and have great chemistry between them. This is definitely a must read!!!
Profile Image for Gina Marie.
1,783 reviews9 followers
October 5, 2022
Maverick & Julie

I really enjoyed this addition to the Rugged Mountain Ink Series. I’ll say it again I wish these were longer, I’m going to have to check the authors backlog to see if she has longer novels.
Profile Image for Noemi.
2,197 reviews8 followers
April 24, 2024
Julie is campaigning to be the next mayor

Julie is campaigning to be the next mayor. She escape town to regroup after receiving some difficult news.

Maverick is called in to find Julie and make sure she's safe.

I LOVED how Maverick saved the day!

I enjoyed this read 📚!
11 reviews
February 12, 2023
Love this series!

These books are absolutely amazing! I loved the awkwardness these two started out with! I am really looking forward to reading the rest of this series!
Profile Image for Mattie.
186 reviews
March 6, 2024
Speechless

This book literally rendered me speechless. TWICE! if you know, you know. I cried real tears with this one! (Of happiness.) Oh Maverick you have my heart for that!
Profile Image for Cherie Clark.
4,412 reviews18 followers
April 21, 2024
Cute quick read. 🌟📚💞🔥🔥💞💞🌟📚📚🌟📚
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews