Today, I'm happy to be hosting a stop for Best Worst Mistake by Lia Riley. This is the third book in her Brightwater series, published by Avon Impulse. I enjoyed this contemporary romance novel, in no small part because it starts off in the perfect spot!
Check out the other stops on the tour at Tasty Book Tours.
Smoke jumper Wilder Kane
once reveled in the rush from putting out dangerous wildfires. But after a
tragic accident, he’s cut himself off from the world, refusing to leave his
isolated cabin. When a headstrong beauty bursts in, Wilder finds himself
craving the fire she ignites in him, but letting anyone near his darkness would
be a mistake.
But
when an arsonist targets the community and Wilder is accused, he must confront
the ghosts of his past. Will his desire for Quinn flameout or will he be able
to tame the wildness inside and rekindle a hope for their future?
Best Worst Mistake is a really enjoyable contemporary romance. First, it hits my sweet spot by being an update on the Beauty and Beast fairy tale. Wilder has become a recluse following a workplace accident. He's angry, he's hurting, and he's pretty darn gruff. Quinn is the adorable, determined, book-loving woman who ends up thrust into contact with Wilder and his family, and sees something inside of him that makes all his bluster worth putting up with.
I really enjoyed these two together. I loved the book connection between them--anything book-related in books is one of my own sweet spots for books. I'm instantly drawn in when a bookstore or an avid reader (or author or library or... you get the idea) is featured.
This romance is wonderfully believable, with no unnecessary, crazy drama from either Wilder or Quinn. Though Wilder's carrying more than the average amount of baggage, I thought it was all handled really well. I love this kind of hero--believing himself to be so damaged, he doesn't deserve the heroine. I loved that Quinn was not fooled by his big, bad wolf routine at all. There's a real sense of an inevitable draw between the two of them, and that made the book feel particularly romantic to me.
There's a bit of action in this one, around the problem of some local fires. This issue is near and dear to Wilder's heart (he's a former smoke jumper), and I enjoyed how it all played out. Everything came together so nicely in the end, I was left with a huge doze of the warm fuzzies that really drive my reading habit. Love love love.
Bottom Line
Best Worst Mistake is charming, small-town romance meets Beauty and the Beast. I loved it, and will happily return to Brightwater for more romance in the future!
5 stars
For fans of smoke jumpers, gruff heroes, contemporary romance
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The Book
The
third sexy and emotional novel in debut Avon author Lia Riley’s Brightwater
series set in the mountains of Northern California
Sometimes
the worst mistakes turn out to be the best…
Smoke jumper Wilder Kane
once reveled in the rush from putting out dangerous wildfires. But after a
tragic accident, he’s cut himself off from the world, refusing to leave his
isolated cabin. When a headstrong beauty bursts in, Wilder finds himself
craving the fire she ignites in him, but letting anyone near his darkness would
be a mistake.
After her Hollywood life
went up in smoke, Quinn Higsby decided to leave Tinseltown behind and returned
to Brightwater to care for her ailing father. Spending her days in a small
bookstore, her peaceful existence is up-ended by a fascinating but damaged man.
Quinn is determined to not to be scared off by Wilder, not once she’s
experienced the heat of his passions.
Best Worst Mistake is available now!
Amazon | B & N | iTunes | Kobo | Goodreads | Goodreads Series
Excerpt
It had been a
while since he’d been in the company of any woman who wasn’t a medical
professional or intimately involved with his brothers. Also, as much as he
didn’t want to admit it, he had a type and this forward, strong-looking woman
fit it right down to that thick wavy brown hair pulled back at the nape of her
long sexy neck.
Necks were
underrated female geography. He loved how they tasted when he kissed them
there, how they smelled as he nuzzled.
Equally
fascinating was her lush mouth, how the corner remained quirked on one side
despite the natural pout, as if in perpetual secret amusement.
This woman was
bright, spunky, and happy, despite her father’s miserable situation. His heart
sank. He had nothing to offer someone like her, not when his whole world had
burned to a cinder.
He shook himself
inwardly, not moving a muscle. No point succumbing to the ugly truth, however
true. Maybe he could pretend to be a normal guy for the night. Normal except
for the scars, the missing leg, and the fact he hadn’t spoken to a living soul
since Sawyer dropped off his groceries six days ago, and was tongue-tied around
strangers at the best of times.
Shit.
What would
Archer do? His younger brother was good with people, especially the ladies. He’d
navigate this situation like a pro.
She gave him a
tentative smile, probably because he was staring at her like a loon.
Compliments. Women like compliments.
“Your teeth are
real white,” Wilder blurted. Goddamn it, the words hung over them like a comic
strip balloon. He wished for a string to grab on to, so he could stuff the
idiocy back into his mouth, swallow it down.
“Excuse me?” Her
shoulders jerked as her lips clamped, clearly not anticipating the awkward flattery.
At least he hadn’t
said how much he liked her neck. Yet.
Damn, this was a
mistake. He wasn’t good with people. Didn’t like people. Didn’t need people.
My Review
I really enjoyed these two together. I loved the book connection between them--anything book-related in books is one of my own sweet spots for books. I'm instantly drawn in when a bookstore or an avid reader (or author or library or... you get the idea) is featured.
This romance is wonderfully believable, with no unnecessary, crazy drama from either Wilder or Quinn. Though Wilder's carrying more than the average amount of baggage, I thought it was all handled really well. I love this kind of hero--believing himself to be so damaged, he doesn't deserve the heroine. I loved that Quinn was not fooled by his big, bad wolf routine at all. There's a real sense of an inevitable draw between the two of them, and that made the book feel particularly romantic to me.
There's a bit of action in this one, around the problem of some local fires. This issue is near and dear to Wilder's heart (he's a former smoke jumper), and I enjoyed how it all played out. Everything came together so nicely in the end, I was left with a huge doze of the warm fuzzies that really drive my reading habit. Love love love.
Bottom Line
Best Worst Mistake is charming, small-town romance meets Beauty and the Beast. I loved it, and will happily return to Brightwater for more romance in the future!
5 stars
For fans of smoke jumpers, gruff heroes, contemporary romance
About the Author
Lia Riley writes offbeat
New Adult and Contemporary Adult romance. After studying at the University of
Montana-Missoula, she scoured the world armed only with a backpack,
overconfidence and a terrible sense of direction. She counts shooting vodka
with a Ukranian mechanic in Antarctica, sipping yerba mate with gauchos in
Chile and swilling XXXX with stationhands in Outback Australia among her
accomplishments.
A British literature fanatic at heart, Lia considers Mr. Darcy and Edward Rochester as her fictional boyfriends. Her very patient husband doesn't mind. Much. When not torturing heroes (because c'mon, who doesn't love a good tortured hero?), Lia herds unruly chickens, camps, beach combs, daydreams about future books, wades through a mile-high TBR pile and schemes yet another trip. Right now, Icelandic hot springs and Scottish castles sound mighty fine.
A British literature fanatic at heart, Lia considers Mr. Darcy and Edward Rochester as her fictional boyfriends. Her very patient husband doesn't mind. Much. When not torturing heroes (because c'mon, who doesn't love a good tortured hero?), Lia herds unruly chickens, camps, beach combs, daydreams about future books, wades through a mile-high TBR pile and schemes yet another trip. Right now, Icelandic hot springs and Scottish castles sound mighty fine.
Thanks!
ReplyDeleteCrystal, Tasty Book Tours