Trevor Booth’s life was just thrown a curveball. When his ex dies, he suddenly goes from an every-other-weekend, fun-time dad to a full-time dad. The dad part he’s cool with, but life with two teens is like a roller coaster in hell. Thank God his ex-wife’s best friend, Callie, seems to have secret powers that allow her to deal with the chaos.
Callie is devastated when Lisa dies, and she’s determined to help the kids get through it. She’s concerned about how Trevor will adjust to being a full-time parent, but she’s having a tough time keeping her eyes off his ripped physique. Callie loves being a part of this makeshift family, but no way she’s falling for her best friend’s ex.
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Excerpt:
Callie needed a drink but knew Trevor wouldn’t have any alcohol in his house. She felt like a crazed woman, pounding on his door, but after overhearing Diane, she couldn’t let it go. She needed to talk to Trevor. She hadn’t expected to catch him dripping wet and mostly naked.
She felt ashamed for checking out her dead best friend’s ex-husband, but she was only human. Trevor had always been a good-looking guy, but he’d really aged well. The construction business kept his body built, and sobriety suited him. He had the bulky, toned muscle of a man who used his body every day. Unlike the gray she kept colored on her head, his sprinkling made him looked more distinguished, sexy.
Callie laughed at her ridiculous thoughts. God, how she wished Lisa were here. She’d laugh with Callie and tell her that it was always okay to look as long as she didn’t touch. Trevor was hers. Until he wasn’t. Because he’d screwed up. Callie’s laugh turned slightly maniacal.
Trevor came back into the room wearing low-slung sweatpants and a T-shirt. “Are you okay?”
She shook her head and took a deep breath. “Fuck no, I’m not okay. My best friend is dead, and you’re thinking about letting her crazy-ass parents take her kids.”
“And something about that was funny?”
“No.” She rubbed a hand over her face. Jet lag was kicking her ass, so her filter was on the fritz. “I was laughing because you opened the door in a towel and I was thinking how good you look, which made me feel guilty because you’re Lisa’s husband—ex-husband. And then I thought about what she would say about all of it, and the whole conversation in my head was a little sick and twisted.” After the words poured out, she inhaled deeply again.
“So it was basically laugh hysterically or cry.”
“Pretty much.”
Review:
I am really enjoying this series! Older heroes and heroines, fumbling their way into starting over…the series is connected by the friendships that grew out of a divorce support group, but each book should work just fine as a standalone if needed.
Trevor’s I’ve-got-this-under-control life is thrown for the curviest of curves when his ex-wife is killed in an accident and he’s suddenly the sole parent to his two teenagers. His marriage originally fell apart in large part due to his alcoholism; he’s been sober for 7+ years now but until he was the only parent they had left he never really realized how much his ex-wife handled when it came to his kids. He wasn’t even aware that his ex’s best friend was living in the coach house in her backyard, or how much his kids and her life were intertwined.
Callie and Trevor had been friends for years, but she and Trevor’s ex were childhood friends so Lisa “got” Callie in the divorce. As Callie helps Trevor and his kids pick up the pieces after Lisa’s death, she and Trevor become close once again…and then become closer.
I liked that Trevor and Callie’s relationship is very slow burn-y, and loved the chemistry between the two of them. They both have all kinds of baggage that they’re bringing into the relationship–honestly, the fact that she’s his ex’s best friend and he’s her best friend’s ex is just the beginning. Ms. Schroeder does a fantastic job of letting them work through things like the adults they are without too much extra drama. Even though the ending is a little abrupt, it’s a sweet HEA that has me looking forward to seeing the two of them play side roles in future series books.
Rating: 4 stars / A
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
About the author:
Shannyn is an occasional English teacher, who also works as a part-time editor while raising her three kids.
Even though she wrote from high school through college (mostly poetry), she’d never considered a career as an author. Writing fell by the wayside as she focused her energy on creating lesson plans and new and fabulous ways to torment her teen students. One group in particular dubbed her “The Torture Master,” a title she carried into motherhood.
After the birth of baby number two, Shannyn resigned from teaching and fell in love with reading romance novels. She read so many books so quickly that her husband teased, “If you’re going to read so many damn books, why don’t you just write one?”
So she did.
That first book is safely buried on her hard drive, but the process set Shannyn on the path to where she is today. The 6-book O’Leary series has wrapped up, as well as 2 Hot & Nerdy new adult trilogies. She’s currently working on her next series.
She is recovering from her Diet Coke addiction, fears putting her foot in her mouth on social media, and has a renewed appreciation for the bad girls of the world.
Connect:
Author’s Website: https://www.shannynschroeder.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shannyn.schroeder
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sschroeder_
Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/ShannynSchroeder