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Nights in Bliss, Colorado #13
Unexpected Bliss
Elisa Leal is looking for some joy in her life. Years of tragedy and struggle took their toll, and now she is searching for new connections to raise her spirits. When she discovers proof that her biological father is alive, she decides to find him and make contact. Her quest leads her to the small town of Bliss, Colorado, and the strangest man she’s ever met—Mel Hughes. He believes in aliens and sasquatch conspiracies, but he’s also kind of awesome. And there might be even more in Bliss to make her smile.
Sylvan Dean and Hale Galloway have enjoyed wandering their way through life, always in motion. Always searching for the woman who could make their life complete. Living in Bliss made them realize it’s time to settle down. Van’s finally going to college and has a job lined up with his brother when he finishes. That job is in Dallas, and while Hale is happy for Van, he can’t imagine leaving Bliss behind. It feels like everything is coming apart until they meet Elisa. She’s the one they have been searching for, and she is worth the wait.
The future looks bright until the guys’ past comes back to haunt them. Danger lurks in every corner, but it may not be the biggest threat to their happily ever after. The citizens of Bliss know how to handle a killer, but handling Elisa, Van, and Hale might require some cosmic intervention.
Sylvan Dean and Hale Galloway have enjoyed wandering their way through life, always in motion. Always searching for the woman who could make their life complete. Living in Bliss made them realize it’s time to settle down. Van’s finally going to college and has a job lined up with his brother when he finishes. That job is in Dallas, and while Hale is happy for Van, he can’t imagine leaving Bliss behind. It feels like everything is coming apart until they meet Elisa. She’s the one they have been searching for, and she is worth the wait.
The future looks bright until the guys’ past comes back to haunt them. Danger lurks in every corner, but it may not be the biggest threat to their happily ever after. The citizens of Bliss know how to handle a killer, but handling Elisa, Van, and Hale might require some cosmic intervention.
323 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 9, 2023
150 people are currently reading
288 people want to read
About the author
Sophie Oak
46 books1,682 followersA lifetime devotee to the written word, Sophie published her first novel this year. Prior to becoming a novelist, she worked in theater and comic books. She lives in Fort Worth, Texas with her husband and three precocious children, who wonder when mom is going to write a book they will be allowed to read. Her answer: probably never. Sophie believes in happy endings for everyone, no matter how extreme the story. Her stories may feature some of the fringe elements of sexuality, but at heart they are always about love.
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did-not-finish
May 2, 2023⤅ I am a ginormous Lexi Blake fan, but I'm afraid this one just isn't doing it for me.
Even though there's an older, closed-off heroine, which is one of my favourite archetypes, the romance overall doesn't feel compelling. It's too sickly sweet - and while Blake does write sweet romances, they usually pack enough of an angsty punch that I don't get cavities.
Not so here. Even though there's a token attempt at angst, I don't feel invested in the relationship. Can't wait for Blake to return to characters I care about - Brooke and those two artists is one I've been anticipating for like eight years.
Even though there's an older, closed-off heroine, which is one of my favourite archetypes, the romance overall doesn't feel compelling. It's too sickly sweet - and while Blake does write sweet romances, they usually pack enough of an angsty punch that I don't get cavities.
Not so here. Even though there's a token attempt at angst, I don't feel invested in the relationship. Can't wait for Blake to return to characters I care about - Brooke and those two artists is one I've been anticipating for like eight years.
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July 15, 2023DNF
I adore all things Lexi Blake and I love this series. But after trying to finish this book for two weeks and not able to connect to it after 50%, sadly I'm putting it down. No rating since I didn't finish
I adore all things Lexi Blake and I love this series. But after trying to finish this book for two weeks and not able to connect to it after 50%, sadly I'm putting it down. No rating since I didn't finish
May 1, 2023
I loved awkward Hale! He was my favourite & he fit in so well with Elisa’s new found family. Van was a little harder to get on board with just because I thought he was really self involved but I could see why these three worked so well together. Plus I loved getting to see so much of Mel in this one, he’s always been a favourite side character of mine. Elisa has been through so much in her life, especially in the last few years so I was so happy to see her finally find the family & love she deserved. She fit so well between these two! I loved the intrigue of trying to figure out who was after Hale & Van, it made for an exciting read!
May 9, 2023
3.5 stars. This was another cute addition to the Bliss series. Unexpected Bliss is Van, Hale and Elisa's book. Van is Jake Dean (from McKay-Taggart)'s younger brother. He and his best friend Hale had been floating along through life without much direction. But they have started to settle down in Bliss. Van is going to college and has plans to go work for Jake when he graduates. Hale is working as a contractor doing renovations and flipping houses. When Elisa's mother died, she finds out that her father, who she has never met and who never knew of her existence, lives in Bliss. Not just losing her mother, Elisa's life has gone through some big changes from leaving the military to recovering from breast cancer. She is looking for more out of life and is at a crossroads so she decides to come meet her father, Mel, in Bliss. When Elisa meets Van and Hale there too, sparks fly and romance blooms. They finally feel at home with each other and get the love they deserve.
Unexpected Bliss is cute and quirky fun. I liked Elisa, Van and Hale. I did think the guys were a little too over the top quirky (too character-like?) for me to take very seriously as heroes and feel the love or chemistry. Still, the story was fun and entertaining. This is an easy read, low angst and features a cooky town with lots of crazy characters. I enjoyed Elisa's blossoming relationship with her father. Overall, I was happy to see Elisa, Van and Hale happy together. I love this series and look forward to more from it and from Ms. Blake in the future!
*arc provided in exchange for an honest review*
Unexpected Bliss is cute and quirky fun. I liked Elisa, Van and Hale. I did think the guys were a little too over the top quirky (too character-like?) for me to take very seriously as heroes and feel the love or chemistry. Still, the story was fun and entertaining. This is an easy read, low angst and features a cooky town with lots of crazy characters. I enjoyed Elisa's blossoming relationship with her father. Overall, I was happy to see Elisa, Van and Hale happy together. I love this series and look forward to more from it and from Ms. Blake in the future!
*arc provided in exchange for an honest review*
May 9, 2023
I know I say this every time we get a new book, but I want Bliss to be a real place. I love Hale, Elise, and Van. Elise is looking to start over, and finds family in Bliss. Hale wants to settle down, and Van thinks he owes his brother so Dallas looks to be his future. Well, then other family finds them, and well of course there needs to be a new member of the “I shot a Son of a Bitch” Club. I love that these characters show up for each other. This series makes my life! I also loved the way this particular character was written. You will understand after read it. It was written beautifully.
September 13, 2025
Another fabulous book in this series! Elisa is recovering from breast cancer and when going through her deceased mother's things and discovering things with her sister, it comes out that her dad was not who she thought. She then goes to Bliss and meets Mel! Of all people that could be her dad, I would have never imagined Mel! I love it!
She also meets Van and Hale who both have their own drama going on. Van is Jake Dean's brother which is a great crossover from the Masters & Mercenaries series. And at the end of this book, we find out that Elisa's sister's story is next! Definitely reading that one!
She also meets Van and Hale who both have their own drama going on. Van is Jake Dean's brother which is a great crossover from the Masters & Mercenaries series. And at the end of this book, we find out that Elisa's sister's story is next! Definitely reading that one!
April 17, 2023
Unexpected Bliss is a book about love, friendship, and finding your home within the people you love.
Elisa Leal heads to Bliss looking for her father, Mel Hughes, the beloved beet lover, all knowing alien aficionado. She is also debating the possibility of starting her life over. A recent survivor of breast cancer and with her career in the military now behind her she’s hoping that once she meets her father, she'll get some direction. She never expected to get that direction when she meet Hale and Van.
Van is the little brother of Jake Dean. Yes, THE Jake who is married to the romance writer, Serena and the intelligence software developer, Adam. One of the few guys who drives Ian Taggart crazy and I love it! So, Van and his best friend, Hale, have been around a menage relationship for years, making Bliss a very normal place for them to experience.
Elise came to meet her father, Mel for the first time on her life and she's hoping to stay. While she didn't plan on meeting more than just her father, she can hardly ignore the two men she's highly attracted to. The entire town of Bliss is a new experience and it's cute to enjoy the eye opening moments along with her as she understands whats happening around her.
The same goes for Hale and Van. They've been best friends for over a decade and basically finish each others sentences. As they change and blossom in Bliss it's adorable. They both want Elise, but Van has his own reservations since he's not sure about his future, which causes tension between everyone, and Hale has his own reservations only because he's never made a move without his best friend. Hale is so sweetly adorable, especially since he takes a ton of advice from Max, yes, Max!! Can this book get any sweeter? I loved it!!
Van is such an interesting character, actually Hale is too. They definitely complete one another in the very best ways that best friends can. I loved them both equally and together with Elisa they make a really great throuple. The give and take, push and pull between all three of them was perfect.
The entire town of Bliss rallies around these three; Max, Gemma, Nate, Zane, Stef, Mel and so many other beloved characters all step in to give advice and they genuinely want want what's best for Van, Hale, and Elise and to stay in town.
Unexpected Bliss couldn’t have been a better title for returning to Bliss, Colorado. While neither Hale, Van, nor Elisa grew up there, they felt right at home among the people who lived there. Just as Van has a thought at one point, it's "Bliss normal", which really means, it's the perfect place for the un-normal. Slightly weird or misfits, certainly polyamorous, slightly different...then Bliss is the perfect place for you. I loved it!!
Lastly, the dedication Lexi writes makes me cry every single time. I look forward to that just as much as I do the story. This new book was beautiful, it was therapy, it was also coming home to family. I began reading Bliss stories a long time ago and not only did Sophie Oak restart my reading desire again, especially when I was a tired mother of young children, but she opened up new worlds and passions. Sophie Oak who I later learned was Lexi Blake, all of her characters soon became family members. I crave diving back in and revisting no matter which world I'm reading. She never fails to make me laugh, bring me to tears, and she always squeezes my heart with so much joy. I look forward to each and every release.
Elisa Leal heads to Bliss looking for her father, Mel Hughes, the beloved beet lover, all knowing alien aficionado. She is also debating the possibility of starting her life over. A recent survivor of breast cancer and with her career in the military now behind her she’s hoping that once she meets her father, she'll get some direction. She never expected to get that direction when she meet Hale and Van.
Van is the little brother of Jake Dean. Yes, THE Jake who is married to the romance writer, Serena and the intelligence software developer, Adam. One of the few guys who drives Ian Taggart crazy and I love it! So, Van and his best friend, Hale, have been around a menage relationship for years, making Bliss a very normal place for them to experience.
Elise came to meet her father, Mel for the first time on her life and she's hoping to stay. While she didn't plan on meeting more than just her father, she can hardly ignore the two men she's highly attracted to. The entire town of Bliss is a new experience and it's cute to enjoy the eye opening moments along with her as she understands whats happening around her.
The same goes for Hale and Van. They've been best friends for over a decade and basically finish each others sentences. As they change and blossom in Bliss it's adorable. They both want Elise, but Van has his own reservations since he's not sure about his future, which causes tension between everyone, and Hale has his own reservations only because he's never made a move without his best friend. Hale is so sweetly adorable, especially since he takes a ton of advice from Max, yes, Max!! Can this book get any sweeter? I loved it!!
Van is such an interesting character, actually Hale is too. They definitely complete one another in the very best ways that best friends can. I loved them both equally and together with Elisa they make a really great throuple. The give and take, push and pull between all three of them was perfect.
The entire town of Bliss rallies around these three; Max, Gemma, Nate, Zane, Stef, Mel and so many other beloved characters all step in to give advice and they genuinely want want what's best for Van, Hale, and Elise and to stay in town.
Unexpected Bliss couldn’t have been a better title for returning to Bliss, Colorado. While neither Hale, Van, nor Elisa grew up there, they felt right at home among the people who lived there. Just as Van has a thought at one point, it's "Bliss normal", which really means, it's the perfect place for the un-normal. Slightly weird or misfits, certainly polyamorous, slightly different...then Bliss is the perfect place for you. I loved it!!
Lastly, the dedication Lexi writes makes me cry every single time. I look forward to that just as much as I do the story. This new book was beautiful, it was therapy, it was also coming home to family. I began reading Bliss stories a long time ago and not only did Sophie Oak restart my reading desire again, especially when I was a tired mother of young children, but she opened up new worlds and passions. Sophie Oak who I later learned was Lexi Blake, all of her characters soon became family members. I crave diving back in and revisting no matter which world I'm reading. She never fails to make me laugh, bring me to tears, and she always squeezes my heart with so much joy. I look forward to each and every release.
April 9, 2023
I love the town of Bliss! It truly is my happy place, but it also holds so many emotion, because you can’t help but love the people who live there. It’s a town where you feel so much about Mel, that three simple words “that’s your dad” had me bawling like a baby. It’s a town where, when the bad guy is being bad, you cheer and pump your fist in the air when Maurice the Moose strolls into the action. It’s a town where families are made, bonds are forged, and love is love. Elise, Hale, and Van found that out, and their story was simply wonderful and Bliss normal <3
May 9, 2023
I love when we get to visit Bliss, CO. It's such a cool place and you will fall in love with it. I loved the storyline and all of the characters. Van, Hale and Elisa all meet, and they all end up in a relationship together. They learn to navigate that and it's definitely a hot and spicy read. Hale is quirky and a little on the shy and quite side. Van is usually the take charge kind of guy, but this time he sits back more and lets Hale take the lead. And Elisa, she is a total bad ass and I loved her character the most. Definitely make sure you check this one out.
May 8, 2023
Small town okumayı sevdiğim kadar farklı yazarlar denemeyi de çok seviyorum ve gerçek anlamda bu kitabı okumaktan keyif aldım. Aile bağları arkadaşlık ve elbette ağlak sahneler. Hepsi çok güzeldi.
Biraz alışılmışın dışında da olsa güzeldi sevdim 😂💖
Biraz alışılmışın dışında da olsa güzeldi sevdim 😂💖
June 11, 2023
Bliss is always one of my favorite places to come back to, especially to visit all of the characters that we’ve seen find their happily ever after. So I was already excited by this and more than ready to go back. Also we’re getting a story that involves Mel, do I need to say more. For all of you long time readers of this series you know exactly what I’m talking about.
So all of these characters are fairly new to Bliss. Van and Hale and been there for some time now and are finally getting their lives on track. They’ve moved around a lot and really haven't settled into careers or homes, but coming to Bliss changes something in them.
Hale is excited about Bliss and really wants to stay and settle down. He's finally found a place where he feels comfortable and can be himself. He's also found people with who he connects to, even if that's Max. He's done with moving around and ready to put down roots in Bliss.
Van really likes Bliss too but is bound by the promises he's made to his brother. And that’s saying something because Van is so use to moving around that finding a place where he actually wants to stay is something.
Elisa hasn’t always had it easy especially not with her mom. And honestly not with her own health. She's finally at a place where she feels better and discovers that she has a biological dad that she never knew about. She sets out to find him and see if she can make a connection with the only family she has left.
I loved watching Elisa find her father and connect with him. Also after the initial judgement from her, she changed her way of thinking and accepted Mel and Cassidy. And she also let them in and let them care about her. Something that was extremely hard for her to do.
I loved seeing Elisa find her way with her family and connect with them, I also enjoyed seeing her find something in Hale and Van that she hadn't even realized was missing from her life. She was finally connecting to people and letting them in.
Van, Hale and Elisa were perfect for each other because they were exactly what they all needed and together they were even better.
Max being a mentor is the funniest thing ever, but somehow it seemed to actually work and help Hale feel more comfortable. But I was really shocked when I read that he wanted to mentor Hale.
So all of these characters are fairly new to Bliss. Van and Hale and been there for some time now and are finally getting their lives on track. They’ve moved around a lot and really haven't settled into careers or homes, but coming to Bliss changes something in them.
Hale is excited about Bliss and really wants to stay and settle down. He's finally found a place where he feels comfortable and can be himself. He's also found people with who he connects to, even if that's Max. He's done with moving around and ready to put down roots in Bliss.
Van really likes Bliss too but is bound by the promises he's made to his brother. And that’s saying something because Van is so use to moving around that finding a place where he actually wants to stay is something.
Elisa hasn’t always had it easy especially not with her mom. And honestly not with her own health. She's finally at a place where she feels better and discovers that she has a biological dad that she never knew about. She sets out to find him and see if she can make a connection with the only family she has left.
I loved watching Elisa find her father and connect with him. Also after the initial judgement from her, she changed her way of thinking and accepted Mel and Cassidy. And she also let them in and let them care about her. Something that was extremely hard for her to do.
I loved seeing Elisa find her way with her family and connect with them, I also enjoyed seeing her find something in Hale and Van that she hadn't even realized was missing from her life. She was finally connecting to people and letting them in.
Van, Hale and Elisa were perfect for each other because they were exactly what they all needed and together they were even better.
Max being a mentor is the funniest thing ever, but somehow it seemed to actually work and help Hale feel more comfortable. But I was really shocked when I read that he wanted to mentor Hale.
August 3, 2024
I absolutely love books by Lexi Blake!! The Bodyguard and the Bombshell is the perfect example of why. The characters are unique, quirky, fun, original, and so easy to love! They are characters that you want to read about and want to cheer for and want the best for. Readers will laugh, cry, and go through and whole host of emotions right along side of the characters. There is always lots of drama both the fun, laugh out loud kind and the angsty, tears in your kind!! I love it all. To me, the best authors are the ones who can make you feel it all!! Lexi can definitely do that and so much more with her books. My husband never fails to think I am losing my mind when I read her books, and he always gives me strange looks when I start cracking up laughing in the middle of the night reading because I could not stop reading her book and I just could not contain myself. The bed started shaking when I tried to hold in my laughter, and he asked me what’s going on is something wrong. I just couldn’t hold it in any longer at that point. He just shook his head and went back to sleep. If you have not read any of Lexi Blake’s book before I highly recommend The Bodyguard and the Bombshell, The Masters and the Mercenaries series (any of the spin offs after that, of course), and Lexi Blake as an author!! Any of Lexi’s series are really good but I really recommend starting with her Master and Mercenaries series as most of her series are interconnected and that is one of the first series that starts off with most of the characters mentioned in The Bodyguard and The Bombshell (both Daisy’s and Nate’s parents can be found in the series too). Happy Reading!!
May 16, 2023
Back in Bliss (again) :-D
Everytime I read e (new) Bliss book I really tell myself to read them more often. I love the wholesomeness this whole town incorporates, even though it's murder capital of the world. I love the friendships, the helpful way everybody interacts with each other. I love love love the comedy and misunderstandings. I just love Bliss!
This book was no difference. I really liked the sad melancholic way it started where we got to know Elisa and her sister and learned more about their background. When it was hinted that Elisa might be the daughter of one of the notorious Bliss people I. Was. Hooked.
Then when Elisa came to Bliss and got to know Hale and Sylvan (who is the BROTHER of an old favorite character!) I couldn't read fast enough to learn how that mess would turn out. And what a mess it was! The characters were very well portraied (as expected) and the internal growth they went through was just perfect. I guessed the twist right, but that wasn'T a problem, because it was still a very enjoyable read and I really liked being back in Bliss.
What I also liked was the way this book handled the more serious topic of breast cancer and amputation. I really liked how the men handled Elisa's insecurities and fears.
Again, a total recommendation for anybody who wants to read something wholesome.
Everytime I read e (new) Bliss book I really tell myself to read them more often. I love the wholesomeness this whole town incorporates, even though it's murder capital of the world. I love the friendships, the helpful way everybody interacts with each other. I love love love the comedy and misunderstandings. I just love Bliss!
This book was no difference. I really liked the sad melancholic way it started where we got to know Elisa and her sister and learned more about their background. When it was hinted that Elisa might be the daughter of one of the notorious Bliss people I. Was. Hooked.
Then when Elisa came to Bliss and got to know Hale and Sylvan (who is the BROTHER of an old favorite character!) I couldn't read fast enough to learn how that mess would turn out. And what a mess it was! The characters were very well portraied (as expected) and the internal growth they went through was just perfect. I guessed the twist right, but that wasn'T a problem, because it was still a very enjoyable read and I really liked being back in Bliss.
What I also liked was the way this book handled the more serious topic of breast cancer and amputation. I really liked how the men handled Elisa's insecurities and fears.
Again, a total recommendation for anybody who wants to read something wholesome.
May 12, 2023
I honestly don't know what to write about this story. I will say if you haven't visited any of the Bliss Colorado people, do so. Alien hunters. Threesomes. A moose. M\F\M. Some old friends visit Bliss. Great story and I can't wait to see what happens next. You do not want to miss this story.
Elisa is former military and is trying to figure out how to spend the rest of her life. She finds out her biological father is alive and heads to Bliss Colorado to meet him. Nobody wants to help her at first because her father is Mel and he is slightly eccentric.
Van and Hale have been best friends for years and have just recently moved to Bliss. Van is going to school and works as a bartender and Hale is a handyman and is renovating a cabin for Ian Taggart. Van is the outgoing one and Hale mostly stays to himself. When they meet Elisa, Hale knows she's the one for them. Van thinks he needs to go back to Dallas after school and work for his brother. Hale has no plans on leaving and he's hoping Van will change his mind. But when someone from their past shows up and tries to kill them, Hale starts having second thoughts about bringing trouble to Elisa. Can both Van and Hale pull their heads out of their butts and find their happily ever after?
Elisa is former military and is trying to figure out how to spend the rest of her life. She finds out her biological father is alive and heads to Bliss Colorado to meet him. Nobody wants to help her at first because her father is Mel and he is slightly eccentric.
Van and Hale have been best friends for years and have just recently moved to Bliss. Van is going to school and works as a bartender and Hale is a handyman and is renovating a cabin for Ian Taggart. Van is the outgoing one and Hale mostly stays to himself. When they meet Elisa, Hale knows she's the one for them. Van thinks he needs to go back to Dallas after school and work for his brother. Hale has no plans on leaving and he's hoping Van will change his mind. But when someone from their past shows up and tries to kill them, Hale starts having second thoughts about bringing trouble to Elisa. Can both Van and Hale pull their heads out of their butts and find their happily ever after?
May 10, 2023
Bliss is one of my favorite fictional towns! The people that live there are a special brand of crazy that I would love to be amid. This time around our favorite alien enthusiast finds he has a daughter. It's fun to see what Elisa thinks of Bliss and it's citizens. She quickly fits in and gets steam rolled into a job and a place to live. It doesn't hurt that there are 2 men that are enamored by her. I also love how Mel embraces Elisa and her boys.
Now the guys...they are a bit of a hot mess, both of them in different ways. Van because he thinks he can't measure up to his brother, Jake (who is great fun from the Masters and Mercenaries series). The thing Van doesn't realize is that he doesn't have to measure up, he just needs to be happy. Hale's issues stem from how he was raised and in foster care. He's happy to find a "brother" in Van, also happy to find his place in Bliss, but fears Van's plans to leave.
Once these 2 get their heads straight and realize how great they have it in Bliss and with Elisa, things are good! They had a little drama they needed to get past, but that was cleared up quickly, leaving them all to live their lives happy.
Now the guys...they are a bit of a hot mess, both of them in different ways. Van because he thinks he can't measure up to his brother, Jake (who is great fun from the Masters and Mercenaries series). The thing Van doesn't realize is that he doesn't have to measure up, he just needs to be happy. Hale's issues stem from how he was raised and in foster care. He's happy to find a "brother" in Van, also happy to find his place in Bliss, but fears Van's plans to leave.
Once these 2 get their heads straight and realize how great they have it in Bliss and with Elisa, things are good! They had a little drama they needed to get past, but that was cleared up quickly, leaving them all to live their lives happy.
May 28, 2023
Excellent
Excellent storyline highly recommended reading loved the series books and the characters and all the fun to be had at Bliss Colorado.
Meet Elisa Leal a military career and a hard few years with health and her mother passing leaving just her sister Sabrina Leal and Elisa behind. Sabrina shows Elisa a yellow manila envelope and with a bit of faith she goes and starts her adventure after looking for something more in life.
Meet the Van Halen 😂 Sylvan Dean and Hale Galloway been best friends since they were teens, since they had no problems leaving places behind the Sylvan ends up in Jail in Oklahoma city and his brother Jacob Dean Miles and Adam Dean Miles comes to the rescue to help the two start over in Bliss and the Van Halen adventures begin. God love them waiting for the the lumberjack show 😂
So loved this series meet last and future characters Max Harper future Guru of wisdom and master of amends 😂 and Alexei Markov future therapist words of old wise one and don't forget the women's "I shot a son of bitch club"😂 what isn't to love Aliens, sasquatch a and beets love Mel . Brilliant Thrilling and romantic
Excellent storyline highly recommended reading loved the series books and the characters and all the fun to be had at Bliss Colorado.
Meet Elisa Leal a military career and a hard few years with health and her mother passing leaving just her sister Sabrina Leal and Elisa behind. Sabrina shows Elisa a yellow manila envelope and with a bit of faith she goes and starts her adventure after looking for something more in life.
Meet the Van Halen 😂 Sylvan Dean and Hale Galloway been best friends since they were teens, since they had no problems leaving places behind the Sylvan ends up in Jail in Oklahoma city and his brother Jacob Dean Miles and Adam Dean Miles comes to the rescue to help the two start over in Bliss and the Van Halen adventures begin. God love them waiting for the the lumberjack show 😂
So loved this series meet last and future characters Max Harper future Guru of wisdom and master of amends 😂 and Alexei Markov future therapist words of old wise one and don't forget the women's "I shot a son of bitch club"😂 what isn't to love Aliens, sasquatch a and beets love Mel . Brilliant Thrilling and romantic
May 14, 2023
Loved this!!
OMG!! I loved this story of Elisa, Hale and Van! Van and Hale were best friends, moving through life and barely surviving. Hale was a quiet soul, pretty much keeping to himself and Van. Van was the outgoing one, but trouble often followed him. Then they came to Bliss!! Van was going to school to finish his degree and Hale was starting his own construction business doing remodeling. Bliss was helping Hale come out of his shell. Then Elisa came to Bliss. Elisa came to find her dad, Mel!! She met Hale and Van separately, and was attracted to them both. They both were equally attracted to her. Van and Hale actually fought before they realized the girl each met was Elisa!! These three fit perfectly together, completing each other!! Love this book and the whole series!! And we get to see the McKay Taggart group too, because Van is Jake Dean's younger brother!! This series is a MUST read. I highly recommend! You will want to move to Bliss. Its a crazy, quirky but super loveable town!
OMG!! I loved this story of Elisa, Hale and Van! Van and Hale were best friends, moving through life and barely surviving. Hale was a quiet soul, pretty much keeping to himself and Van. Van was the outgoing one, but trouble often followed him. Then they came to Bliss!! Van was going to school to finish his degree and Hale was starting his own construction business doing remodeling. Bliss was helping Hale come out of his shell. Then Elisa came to Bliss. Elisa came to find her dad, Mel!! She met Hale and Van separately, and was attracted to them both. They both were equally attracted to her. Van and Hale actually fought before they realized the girl each met was Elisa!! These three fit perfectly together, completing each other!! Love this book and the whole series!! And we get to see the McKay Taggart group too, because Van is Jake Dean's younger brother!! This series is a MUST read. I highly recommend! You will want to move to Bliss. Its a crazy, quirky but super loveable town!
February 25, 2024
A wonderful edition to the Nights in Bliss, CO series, my all-time favorite small-town romance series. If Bliss existed, I'd move there.
The usual humor and warmth that makes Bliss novels so much fun is in Unexpected Bliss. What fun to learn more about Mel and watch Max Harper give Hale relationship advice. I enjoyed the female lead, Elisa very much. In trademark Lexi Blake style, Elisa has taken some hard knocks in life but instead of giving up, she decides to find her birth father and create a better future.
This is a Lexi Blake novel and that means there are several on-page sex scenes. As is usual for this series, the action is between three people with feather-lite (compared to the Masters and Mercenaries novels) BDSM. On a scale of 0 to 5 eggplants, with 0 no on-page intimacy at all, and 5 being a Lora Leigh Breeds novel or Lola and the Millionaires, Unexpected Bliss is a solid 3.5.
If you like well-paced romances with engaging lead characters, light mystery sub-plots, a truly unique small-town setting, humor and heat, Unexpected Bliss has it all.
The usual humor and warmth that makes Bliss novels so much fun is in Unexpected Bliss. What fun to learn more about Mel and watch Max Harper give Hale relationship advice. I enjoyed the female lead, Elisa very much. In trademark Lexi Blake style, Elisa has taken some hard knocks in life but instead of giving up, she decides to find her birth father and create a better future.
This is a Lexi Blake novel and that means there are several on-page sex scenes. As is usual for this series, the action is between three people with feather-lite (compared to the Masters and Mercenaries novels) BDSM. On a scale of 0 to 5 eggplants, with 0 no on-page intimacy at all, and 5 being a Lora Leigh Breeds novel or Lola and the Millionaires, Unexpected Bliss is a solid 3.5.
If you like well-paced romances with engaging lead characters, light mystery sub-plots, a truly unique small-town setting, humor and heat, Unexpected Bliss has it all.
October 7, 2025
I love all these stories. They show a group of people that accept others in all their various idiosyncrasies and have formed a community. Each story brings in someone new to add to the glorious community that we all would like to be a part of. There are no no judgements about what is acceptable for a partnership make up.
This story involves a daughter that Mel doesn't know he has. Elisa has had a very difficult few years and she is looking for family and a way to start over. She has survived breast cancer and she wants to find her father. Slyvan is Jake Dean's brother. Jake has looked for him for years because Jake wants to make sure his brother has a stable and loving family. Hale is product of an affair between his and Jake's mother and a man that neither knows. There is a mystery of why someone is trying to kill Hale.
This is also a Christmas story and we get a look into the Christmas season in the two of Bliss. It is a wonderful story full of mystery and laughs and intrigue.
This story involves a daughter that Mel doesn't know he has. Elisa has had a very difficult few years and she is looking for family and a way to start over. She has survived breast cancer and she wants to find her father. Slyvan is Jake Dean's brother. Jake has looked for him for years because Jake wants to make sure his brother has a stable and loving family. Hale is product of an affair between his and Jake's mother and a man that neither knows. There is a mystery of why someone is trying to kill Hale.
This is also a Christmas story and we get a look into the Christmas season in the two of Bliss. It is a wonderful story full of mystery and laughs and intrigue.
May 9, 2023
Oh How I love being back in Bliss, Colorado and can you believe MEL HAS A DAUGHTER!
I knew going into this story it would be a hard one for me due to Elisa having just finished her treatments and reconstruction for Breast Cancer. I am coming up on the 10th anniversary of hearing those dreaded words. What I didn't expect was for me not to get past the Acknowledgments page without crying and that's because 2022 happened; with that Lexi Blake changed the trajectory of this story and was able to work through her own cancer journey though Elisa and I believe it gave the story a more powerful and hopeful feel to it.
Continue reading my review here ➡ https://bit.ly/NBReviewUB
**I have voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book for my Blog, Nadine's Obsessed with Books
You can find me here: https://linktr.ee/NadineBookaholic
I knew going into this story it would be a hard one for me due to Elisa having just finished her treatments and reconstruction for Breast Cancer. I am coming up on the 10th anniversary of hearing those dreaded words. What I didn't expect was for me not to get past the Acknowledgments page without crying and that's because 2022 happened; with that Lexi Blake changed the trajectory of this story and was able to work through her own cancer journey though Elisa and I believe it gave the story a more powerful and hopeful feel to it.
Continue reading my review here ➡ https://bit.ly/NBReviewUB
**I have voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book for my Blog, Nadine's Obsessed with BooksYou can find me here: https://linktr.ee/NadineBookaholic
May 7, 2023
Elisa, Van and Hale's evolving relationship begins in the quaint, accepting but gossipy town of Bliss, Colorado. I adore Elisa's character. She is ex-military, a cancer survivor, and a strong and courageous woman. Hale and Van have been friends for a long time and they are both looking for a special woman with whom they can develop a strong connection and share their life. I love the engaging banter and the unique characters of Bliss, Colorado. This story has all the feels, love, acceptance, mystery, danger, strong and unique characters and hot and steamy scenes. I love that Elisa finally finds a loving parent in her father and that she can accept all of his uniqueness and idiosyncrasies. I really enjoyed this wonderful romance and it is a great addition to the Nights in Bliss, Colorado series. I received an ARC for an honest review.
May 12, 2023
I’ll return to Bliss a million times over. Bliss, Colorado, where threesome are more common than any other relationship form, where they have a club for woman who kill people, and where they fight aliens and eat beets to protect themselves from said aliens.
This story gives us Van and his partner Hale. Two men, not born and bred in Bliss, but a place that becomes home. Elisa arrives in Bliss looking for her biological father. She finds so much more there. She’s been through so much, more than anything she deserves happiness and love. Watching any group of people find love in Bliss is never a simple experience. It’s a wild ride as usual.
I loved this book, as I’ve loved all her others. Hale, Van and Elisa are the perfect balance for each other. Thank you to Valentine PR for giving me the privilege of reading this ARC.
This story gives us Van and his partner Hale. Two men, not born and bred in Bliss, but a place that becomes home. Elisa arrives in Bliss looking for her biological father. She finds so much more there. She’s been through so much, more than anything she deserves happiness and love. Watching any group of people find love in Bliss is never a simple experience. It’s a wild ride as usual.
I loved this book, as I’ve loved all her others. Hale, Van and Elisa are the perfect balance for each other. Thank you to Valentine PR for giving me the privilege of reading this ARC.
May 9, 2023
The utter joy of Bliss
No plot spoilers
No potential triggers
There is some swearing and a couple of sex scenes
The characterisation is perfect, with old friends as a supporting cast to new characters rapidly growing on the reader.
I totally adored Elisa and her sister, Van and Hale caught my attention and kept it.
The plotline is engaging, keeping you turning the pages.
Mostly, I loved learning more about Mel. If there was just one character from Lexi's books that I could sit and have a conversation with, it would be Mel.
I have no problem recommending the book, it's a menage romance with a twisty plot and a HEA.
I do recommend reading the series to obtain the best reading experience.
No plot spoilers
No potential triggers
There is some swearing and a couple of sex scenes
The characterisation is perfect, with old friends as a supporting cast to new characters rapidly growing on the reader.
I totally adored Elisa and her sister, Van and Hale caught my attention and kept it.
The plotline is engaging, keeping you turning the pages.
Mostly, I loved learning more about Mel. If there was just one character from Lexi's books that I could sit and have a conversation with, it would be Mel.
I have no problem recommending the book, it's a menage romance with a twisty plot and a HEA.
I do recommend reading the series to obtain the best reading experience.
May 10, 2023
I love Bliss
When I read the forward, and then the prologue, I was concerned this book would be hard to read, maybe hitting some triggers. I should have remembered who the author was and which series she was writing. By the middle of chapter one I was laughing out loud and exclaiming loudly, "I love Bliss!" It boggles my mind to imagine Max as a mentor. What is even more mind boggling is he wasn't bad at it. Then there was Mel dispensing fatherly advice - logically without mentioning aliens. That made me cry it was so beautiful! For those of you who are new to this series and this is the first book you have read, welcome to Bliss! It's awesome! To the author, I want to say thank you. Some of this I needed to hear. I love Bliss!
When I read the forward, and then the prologue, I was concerned this book would be hard to read, maybe hitting some triggers. I should have remembered who the author was and which series she was writing. By the middle of chapter one I was laughing out loud and exclaiming loudly, "I love Bliss!" It boggles my mind to imagine Max as a mentor. What is even more mind boggling is he wasn't bad at it. Then there was Mel dispensing fatherly advice - logically without mentioning aliens. That made me cry it was so beautiful! For those of you who are new to this series and this is the first book you have read, welcome to Bliss! It's awesome! To the author, I want to say thank you. Some of this I needed to hear. I love Bliss!
May 11, 2023
oh it was good to be back in Bliss
Hale, Van and Elisa… what a surprising trio.
All 3 characters were extra quirky, they all fit Bliss perfectly, Elisa especially and considering who her bio dad is she just had to right!! Lol
This town is definitely coming into its own and with Taggerts holidaying sometimes that just makes it even more specially to revisit Bliss.
The tri couples make the town what it is to a degree but it’s all the quirky ‘no f**ks given’ stance all the residents have that I love and also how they all have each others backs it’s not just a town is a family, a family made of its residents… I love that.
Hale, Van and Elisa… what a surprising trio.
All 3 characters were extra quirky, they all fit Bliss perfectly, Elisa especially and considering who her bio dad is she just had to right!! Lol
This town is definitely coming into its own and with Taggerts holidaying sometimes that just makes it even more specially to revisit Bliss.
The tri couples make the town what it is to a degree but it’s all the quirky ‘no f**ks given’ stance all the residents have that I love and also how they all have each others backs it’s not just a town is a family, a family made of its residents… I love that.
May 12, 2023
Unexpected Bliss
Another Blissful book about the town of Bliss . Elise never expected to find her biological father and the town never expected to find out who that her father was a well known man in Bliss.
This is a story about understanding and tolerance of playing outside of societal norms. It try is a shame we all can't have a Bliss in our home town. Although I am too lazy to take care of two males, I would love to see an acceptance of people living and loving without the so called Christian right marching in to espouse the way things should be according to their point of view.
Another Blissful book about the town of Bliss . Elise never expected to find her biological father and the town never expected to find out who that her father was a well known man in Bliss.
This is a story about understanding and tolerance of playing outside of societal norms. It try is a shame we all can't have a Bliss in our home town. Although I am too lazy to take care of two males, I would love to see an acceptance of people living and loving without the so called Christian right marching in to espouse the way things should be according to their point of view.
May 19, 2023
5 stars for Unexpected Bliss by Lexi Blake
Another great read for an amazing series. Love Bliss, Colorado. The people in this town are truly one of a kind. You fall in love with these characters. So happy that Mel and Cassidy got more of a storyline. Love how they both stepped up and became parental figures to Elisa but especially to Van and Hale. A great storyline where you see more of Jake's family and his past. Love the dynamic between Hale and Van and their friendship. A great storyline of one taking their foot out of their asses. Can't wait for the next installment of Nights in Bliss. We all need Bliss in our lives.
Another great read for an amazing series. Love Bliss, Colorado. The people in this town are truly one of a kind. You fall in love with these characters. So happy that Mel and Cassidy got more of a storyline. Love how they both stepped up and became parental figures to Elisa but especially to Van and Hale. A great storyline where you see more of Jake's family and his past. Love the dynamic between Hale and Van and their friendship. A great storyline of one taking their foot out of their asses. Can't wait for the next installment of Nights in Bliss. We all need Bliss in our lives.
May 24, 2023
Another great story from Lexi. While this one wasn’t as intriguing as the previous books in the series, the premise of this story was great. Elisa is recovering from Cancer and hasn’t had any strong relationships other than her sister in her life. Van and Hale have both grown up in less than stellar family situations. When they meet Elisa they are both interested, but don’t realize its the same woman. Watching things unfold as Elisa meets her biological dad is heartwarming. Mel isn’t what anyone would ask for in a father, but they connect. Thrown in a little intrigue (of course) and we see the relationships develop. Wouldn’t we all like to have a little Bliss in our life.
July 16, 2023
If I could move to Bliss, I would!
I was first introduce to the Bliss and Siren series under the author's pseudonym, Sophie Oaks. From there I read everything I could find. I absolutely love these incredibly hot stories and connected characters that you can't help but fall in love and lust with. Bliss, CO should exist for all of us!
Unexpected Bliss lets us meet Elisa, Van, and Hale and follow their story where self doubt and waiting for the other shoe to drop are engrained into them. Together they learn to trust and except the good and wonderful things that can happen when you love the right way.
I was first introduce to the Bliss and Siren series under the author's pseudonym, Sophie Oaks. From there I read everything I could find. I absolutely love these incredibly hot stories and connected characters that you can't help but fall in love and lust with. Bliss, CO should exist for all of us!
Unexpected Bliss lets us meet Elisa, Van, and Hale and follow their story where self doubt and waiting for the other shoe to drop are engrained into them. Together they learn to trust and except the good and wonderful things that can happen when you love the right way.
Read
December 9, 2024Strange turn of events
Coming to Bliss to find a possible dad she never knew Elisa find Van and Hale two friends she assumes are a couple, quicky discovers the quirkey town is something she needs, the acceptance, friendship, in your face nosey people, LOL, everyone knows your business, aliens and the murder capital of the country has one of them coming true, her now boyfriends are being hunted and not by the aliens, her dad has prevented the invasion, I absolutely love this entire series, getting to see old friends is a plus, , Lexi Blake is a genius with words a the spin of a story, absolutely thrilling Threesome story, thank you, Dana Zamora
Coming to Bliss to find a possible dad she never knew Elisa find Van and Hale two friends she assumes are a couple, quicky discovers the quirkey town is something she needs, the acceptance, friendship, in your face nosey people, LOL, everyone knows your business, aliens and the murder capital of the country has one of them coming true, her now boyfriends are being hunted and not by the aliens, her dad has prevented the invasion, I absolutely love this entire series, getting to see old friends is a plus, , Lexi Blake is a genius with words a the spin of a story, absolutely thrilling Threesome story, thank you, Dana Zamora
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