GRIT, an all-new standalone, friends-to-lovers romance in the 7th and Main series by Elizabeth Hunter is NOW LIVE!
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Blurb
He’s been patient; she’s been busy.
Patience is running out.
Melissa Oxford is a widow with a ranch, an orange grove, a goat-obsessed ten-year-old, and not enough time. She doesn’t have time to make friends. She doesn’t have time to stop and chat, and she definitely does not have time for a boyfriend.
Which is fine, because Cary Nakamura is far from being a boy. Cary’s the man who helped Melissa plant her trees. The friend who keeps offering advice, even when she’s is too stubborn to take it.
He’s also the man who kissed Melissa in broad daylight on a sidewalk in Metlin, California, smack in the face of God and everyone.
But while Melissa may spend a little too long dreaming about Cary from a distance, she knows the kind of passion he promises is more than she can handle.
She just doesn’t have the time.
But sometimes, no matter how busy you are, life makes you stop. It pulls you up short and makes you see things a little more clearly. Things like…
The people you can count on.
The dreams you keep pushing away.
And the passion that can’t be denied.
GRIT is a stand-alone, friends-to-lovers romance in the Love Stories on 7th and Main series by Elizabeth Hunter, author of INK.
Review
Absolutely gorgeous! 5 stars!
Oh wow, I love this book! This is how a friends-to-lovers romance should be written! Sweet, swoony, sexy and emotional, super functional and beautifully romantic, I fell in mad love with these characters and their story, and I adored this book!
Cary and Melissa have appeared in earlier books in this series, with a bit of a flirtation hinted at, and I’ve been so excited to get their story and find out exactly what’s going on. Melissa is the older sister of Ox, from book #1, INK, and the character crossover is there, but it’s minimal, so this book can also easily standalone.
Melissa is a 34 year old widow with an adorably precocious 10-year-old daughter, and a farm to run. Her life is insanely busy, and she has very little time for anything that isn’t related to her daughter, Abby, or her farm, but she loves her life and is determined to go it alone and build a happy and successful life for her little family.
Cary is a 46 year old citrus grower who owns the farm next to Melissa. They’ve known each other since Melissa was a child, and he watched her grow up, watched her get married, became friends with her husband, and then he was there when her husband was killed six years previous. He has offered her help and advice throughout the years – though she’s usually been too stubborn to take it – and has been there for her whenever she’s needed him, as a good friend to her and her daughter. Cary has also been nursing a growing attraction to his friend, patiently waiting for the right time to push things further, and he’s getting tired of keeping it to himself.
His breath tickled the hair at her temple. “Talk to me.”
She shook her head.
“Then tell me to leave you alone.”
I can’t.
It’s an attraction that has had years to develop, and when Cary decides to make his move, he does it without holding back. He wants Melissa, he comes right out and tells her that, and then he balances the line of giving her time to come to terms with it, and gently pushing her forward. Melissa wants him too, but is not only too busy to even contemplate a relationship, but she’s understandably worried about their friendship and the impact on her daughter. It’s all very reasonable, and I could completely feel where she was coming from. But I also love the way Cary continued to push, and the slow burn as they go back and forth is absolutely delicious.
“We can’t do this.”
“Fuck that,” he growled. “We already are.”One way or another, their self-control wasn’t going to hold out forever. Something was going to snap. He just hoped they were in a relatively secluded place when it happened.
It’s fun and exciting, and the anticipation builds beautifully! You can feel their want for each other, the teasing, the banter and the kisses had me reading with a massive grin on my face, and the flirting is just awesome!
“Why did you…?” She glanced at his chest. “Can you put a shirt on please?”
The night was warm and he was wearing a pair of basketball shorts and nothing else. Cary glanced down at his bare chest. “No.”
“You’re not going to put on a shirt?”
“It’s hot. Is my chest offending you?”
“It’s…distracting.”
“Then I’m definitely not going to put on a shirt.”
Cary has this quiet confidence about him that is absolutely irresistible! He’s the perfect mix of strong, protective alpha, sweet, patient and understanding friend, and hot, sexy lover. And as a sort-of-surrogate father to little Abby, he absolutely melted my heart! I love that he’s a bit of an older man (46 to Melissa’s 34), and that they have so much history between them. Their relationship is so well developed, and though they have their ups and downs as they figure everything out between them, it doesn’t feel angsty or overly dramatic, it’s realistic and real, and every moment between them is meaningful and sizzling with chemistry. I love the way everything changed for them, and the way Cary loves Melissa, had me a swooning madly!
She kissed him and threw her leg over his hips. “This is giving me all kinds of ideas.”
“Keep your ideas to yourself tonight,” he muttered. “I’m being good, but I’m not that good.”
“No.” She pulled back and looked into his eyes. “You’re not good. You’re great. I’m sorry it took me so long to see that.”
I am yours.
I am yours.
I am so yours.
Cary cupped her cheek in his hand and stared at her. He rubbed his thumb over her lips. I love you like crazy, Melissa Rhodes.
There’s a side storyline featuring the small town where Cary and Melissa live, and a bit of family drama, but it all ties in beautifully to the love story. And the addition of Abby to the story is just gold! That little girl is absolutely adorable – funny, smart, and an absolutely scene stealer, and I love that she was such a huge part of Melissa and Cary’s lives.
This is such a great read! It’s all the reasons why I love Elizabeth Hunter’s writing, and her smart, fun, realistic, passionate and emotional romance. I loved every moment and finished this book hugging my kindle to my chest in a blissed-out romance high.
5 stars!
An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Love Stories on 7th and Main
Ink (#1)
Review
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Hooked (#2)
Review
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Grit (#3)
Review
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Sweet (#4) – Prequel novella published as book #4
Review
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Giveaway
In celebration of the release of HOOKED Elizabeth is giving away signed paperback copies of GRIT, HOOKED and INK and a $25 Amazon gift card!
ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE
The Escapist Book Blog is not responsible for this giveaway
About Elizabeth Hunter
ELIZABETH HUNTER is a USA Today bestselling contemporary fantasy, romance, and paranormal mystery author. She is a graduate of the University of Houston Honors College and a former English teacher. She once substitute taught a kindergarten class, but decided that middle school was far less frightening.
She’s the author of the Elemental Mysteries, the Irin Chronicles, and the Cambio Springs Mysteries.
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