I never expected to run into Maverick Houston—especially not in the aftermath of grief.
My childhood bully. The boy who made school a nightmare. Now he’s standing in front of me, looking just as lost as I feel—and unfairly, heartbreakingly handsome.
I should walk away.
But Ma’s voice echoes in my head, reminding me to lead with grace, not grudges. That doesn’t explain the electric current between us, the pull I can’t seem to fight.
One look at Rose Marie Benedict, and the weight of who I used to be nearly brings me to my knees.
I hurt her—deeply. And yet, here I am, planting roots in the same small town I once tried to escape. I didn’t come to Norina looking for redemption. But maybe it found me anyway.
Now I have to prove I’ve changed. That the man I am today is someone she can trust… maybe even love.
But forgiveness is a fragile thing.
And even if she gives it, do I deserve her heart?
Twinsie Kelly’s Review
Sweet and spicy with all the humor that I have come to love with You’ve Been Gnomed!
Growing up is hard to do but sometimes the adulting thing is even rougher. Rose Marie and Maverick cross paths and who they were in their past lives crosses paths with that darned adulting thing. Each one is dealing with a personal death but end up feeling the electricity between each other. The only problem is that each time they get close, one of them puts their foot in their mouth. Do people change? Can they change? Oh, the news that Maverick gets is kind of gut wrenching. It really gave me some feels. Like, I needed a friend and I am happy that he was in Norina when he finally got this information.
Some of the things that I love most about the group of characters in Norina are how loyal everyone is and all their quirks! The ROMEOs are so wrong sometimes but absolutely hilarious! The women they are after are so freaking cute! Rose Marie’s friend, Kennedy, and Jack (Kennedy’s BF), and Gran are the most loyal but will also call BS if needed. They are the best! Maverick is bringing along a couple of his friends as well and I can’t wait to see what they bring to the table.
The Gnomes in Loving Death are a little more on a personal level. They are so perfect for the story. This book has a little bit of everything. It is swoon worthy but it still had me laughing and shaking my head at some of the shenanigans that were going on. I am patiently waiting for the next in the series.
AJ Renee is a military wife and mother of three. She graduated from the University of Central Florida with her Master of Science in Criminal Justice and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology.
She loves to read and write steamy romance with a happily ever after. When not working, you can find her playing World of Warcraft, board games, or outdoors for a run or hike.
Escaping reality one book at a time has been Miranda’s motto since she learned to read. As an only child raised on a dairy farm her creative imagination brought words to life. She devoured more books growing up than her little town bookmobile could handle. It was inevitable that she would turn from reading them to writing them. This is her way to help not only herself but others escape the day to day drudge. Her books may take you on a journey through time, give you a look inside a fantasy realm, or delve into the magic of almost anything paranormal. Threading in heart stopping romance and dropping an occasional super sexy scene just to keep you on your toes.
Miranda’s stories are focused around strong female leads and sexy males who appreciate them. She strives to encourage her readers that they can have it all in real life too.