Review- It Could Happen by Mia Kerick

It Could Happen on Goodreads

 BOOK SUMMARY:

Three misfits, mismatched in every way—Henry Perkins, Brody Decker, and Danny Denisco—have been friends throughout high school. Now in their senior year, the boys realize their relationship is changing, that they’re falling in love. But they face opposition at every turn—from outside and from within themselves. Moving to the next level will take all the courage, understanding, and commitment they can muster. But it could happen.

Henry is a star athlete and the son of religious parents who have little concern for the future he wants. Brody is a quirky dreamer and adrenaline junkie, and Danny is an emo artist and the target of bullies. Despite their differences they’ve always had each other’s backs, and with each of them facing a new and unique set of challenges, that support is more important than ever. Is it worth risking the friendship they all depend on for the physical and romantic relationship they all desire?

In this unconventional new adult romance, three gay teens brave societal backlash—as well as the chance that they might lose their treasured friendship—to embark on a committed polyamorous relationship.

Release date: June 5th, 2017

Published by: Dreamspinner Press

Page numbers: 200

REVIEW: 

It was the cover of It Could Happen that pulled me towards it, and when I read the summary, I knew I had to read it because LGBT contemporaries are one of my most favourite books to read. I have read many such books in the past, but none of them sounded even close to It Could Happen, which had me so fascinated that I went out of my current comfort zone of reading only paperbacks and decided to pick up the ebook, as part of a blog tour for the book.

It Could Happen is a very difficult book to summarise because one thing will eventually lead to another and I'm sure I'll end up spoiling it which I don't want happening because everybody deserves to discover stuff on their own. What I will say is that the story of friends Danny, Brody and Henry is very unique. Each character is so different and yet so similar that this friendship is really the definition of "goals". Now I can already see that some people will really dislike this book, but then there'll also be others like me, who will love it so much that it'll stay somewhere in the head and heart forever.

Just the way in which author Mia Kerick has written and paced the story, portrayed and developed the characters and just taken up and nailed such a difficult, intimate yet normal topic in such a beautiful manner has bowled me over. I haven't read any other books by the author, but I'm already a fan of the writing and storytelling. The way the transition from friends to more than friends is shown in this book is simply wonderful. The sudden changes in voices had me confused, but by the time I was halfway through the book, I began to distinguish the characters and they grew on me in spite of everything.

I am so glad I read this book because it really is something totally different, fresh and absolutely interesting. I enjoyed reading It Could Happen so much that I did not want it to end because I became so close to the characters that I wanted to know everything and more. I would definitely recommend this one to fans of contemporaries who have an open mind don't mind going for something hot and new every once in a while. Give this book a go; you won't be disappointed. And when you understand the cover, you'll appreciate it even more.

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by author Mia Kerick and YA Bound in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.

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Review + Excerpt Tour- Too Close to Call by Tessa Bailey

   

From New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey comes TOO CLOSE TO CALL, a novella in her Romancing the Clarksons Series published by 1001 Dark Nights! Grab your copy today!

   

About TOO CLOSE TO CALL:

All-American wide receiver Kyler Tate’s life is about to change. A fairytale college career skyrocketed him to the NFL draft. Adoration and opportunity are thrown in his direction wherever he goes, thanks to being chosen in the first round by the Los Angeles Rage.

None of the accolades mean anything, though, without his high school sweetheart, Bree Justice, by his side. Four years ago, she walked away from Kyler, choosing a quiet life over the flash and notoriety his career would someday bring.

Now he’s back in their Indiana hometown, refusing to leave for Los Angeles without her. Demanding she give their life together a shot. Her heart never stopped bleeding for the love of her life, but Bree’s decision was final. Too bad their wild attraction has only been amplified by their separation, and Kyler won’t quit until Bree is wearing his ring.

     

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Review-

The Romancing the Clarksons series started off okay for me with book no. 1 and 2 being just okay reads. But I was totally and completely hooked from Too Hard to Forget. That book had so much depth and emotion and I loved it. So I was super excited that Kyler, whom we'd met in Too Hard to Forget was getting a novella, Too Close to Call. I enjoyed Too Close to Call by Tessa Bailey.

Too Close to Call actually takes place a year after the events of Too Hard to Forget. I so badly wanted to know any updates we could get on the Clarkson siblings but that is kept a suspense. We'll have to wait for Too Beautiful to Break for that. Anyway, let's start with this novella. Kyler is a wide receiver and he has been drafted by one of his dream teams. But none of it means anything to Kyler without his high school sweetheart, Bree.

I loved Ky. He was such a sweet and patient guy. He was head over heels in love with Bree and the four years apart in college have done nothing to diminish that. Ky is determined to get Bree back. He knows they are meant to be together. I loved Ky's confidence in their love and how he was willing to be the one to sacrifice anything to be together.

I also genuinely liked Bree. She was a sweet and shy girl but she loved Kyler. They may seem like opposites but they do bring out the best in each other. It was hard for Bree to be without Kyler but she only wants whats best for him. I loved the chemistry between Ky and Bree. Their story was endearing and they totally deserved their happy ending. Too Close to Call was a cute second chance romance novella.

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.

EXCERPT-

“Whoa there,” Bree whispered shakily. “This is a church dance.”

Her words seemed to bring him back from whatever land he’d been teleported to. “Right,” he rasped. “We’re supposed to be setting an example.”

“Yes.”


“So I should definitely stop thinking about sucking on your lower lip.”


Bree’s thighs pressed together, her gasping inhale shivering all the way down into her tummy. Lower. “Stop that right now.”


His gaze remained zeroed in on her mouth. “Stop thinking about it or saying it out loud?”


“Both.” Trying desperately to remain indignant in the face of that face—and that drawl, those muscles, his familiar scent—Bree warned him with a look. “You said we were going to be friends. There’s nothing the least bit friendly about lip sucking.”

“I don’t know.” He hummed in his throat and tightened his hold around her waist. “Seems like letting me do it would be mighty friendly of you.”

Bree tamped down a laugh. “Friendly or stupid?”


“Stupid?” Kyler frowned. “Why?”


“Because we both know where it leads.”
Shit almighty. How had it come to this? She was plastered against her ex-boyfriend—whom she’d yet to shake completely. He looked delicious enough to eat, and now they were having a conversation about sex. And—and—she was wearing her feel- good dress. The one she wore when her hair was down and everything was shaved and waxed. Had she primped because Kyler was back in town? It was too infuriating to speculate on.

“You’re getting pretty worked up down there, supergirl.”


About Tessa Bailey:

   

 Tessa Bailey is originally from Carlsbad, California. The day after high school graduation, she packed her yearbook, ripped jeans and laptop, driving cross-country to New York City in under four days.   Her most valuable life experiences were learned thereafter while waitressing at K-Dees, a Manhattan pub owned by her uncle. Inside those four walls, she met her husband, best friend and discovered the magic of classic rock, managing to put herself through Kingsborough Community College and the English program at Pace University at the same time. Several stunted attempts to enter the work force as a journalist followed, but romance writing continued to demand her attention. She now lives in Long Island, New York with her husband of eight years and four-year-old daughter. Although she is severely sleep-deprived, she is incredibly happy to be living her dream of writing about people falling in love.    

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Review- Too Close to Call by Tessa Bailey

Summary-

All-American wide receiver Kyler Tate’s life is about to change. A fairytale college career skyrocketed him to the NFL draft. Adoration and opportunity are thrown in his direction wherever he goes, thanks to being chosen in the first round by the Los Angeles Rage. 

None of the accolades mean anything, though, without his high school sweetheart, Bree Sutton, by his side. Four years ago, she walked away from Kyler, choosing a quiet life over the flash and notoriety his career would someday bring. 

Now he’s back in their Indiana hometown, refusing to leave for Los Angeles without her. Demanding she give their life together a shot. Her heart never stopped bleeding for the love of her life, but Bree’s decision was final. Too bad their wild attraction has only been amplified by their separation, and Kyler won’t quit until Bree is wearing his ring.

Release date: June 13th 2017

Review-

The Romancing the Clarksons series started off okay for me with book no. 1 and 2 being just okay reads. But I was totally and completely hooked from Too Hard to Forget. That book had so much depth and emotion and I loved it. So I was super excited that Kyler, whom we'd met in Too Hard to Forget was getting a novella Too Close to Call. I enjoyed Too Close to Call by Tessa Bailey.

Too Close to Call actually takes place a year after the events of Too Hard to Forget. I so badly wanted to know any updates we could get on the Clarkson siblings but that is kept a suspense. We'll have to wait for Too Beautiful to Break for that. Anyway, let's start with this novella. Kyler is a wide receiver and he has been drafted by one of his dream teams. But none of it means anything to Kyler without his high school sweetheart, Bree.

I loved Ky. He was such a sweet and patient guy. He was head over heels in love with Bree and the four years apart in college have done nothing to diminish that. Ky is determined to get Bree back. He knows they are meant to be together. I loved Ky's confidence in their love and how he was willing to be the one to sacrifice anything to be together.

I also genuinely liked Bree. She was a sweet and shy girl but she loved Kyler. They may seem like opposites but they do bring out the best in each other. It was hard for Bree to be without Kyler but she only wants whats best for him. I loved the chemistry between Ky and Bree. Their story was endearing and they totally deserved their happy ending. Too Close to Call was a cute second chance romance novella.

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.

Review + Excerpt Tour- Lost and Found Sisters by Jill Shalvis

   

From New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis comes her first women's fiction novel—an unforgettable story of friendship, love, family, and sisterhood—perfect for fans of Colleen Hoover, Susan Mallery, and Kristan Higgins. Order your copy today!

   

They say life can change in an instant…

After losing her sister in a devastating car accident, chef Quinn Weller is finally getting her life back on track. She appears to have it all: a loving family, a dream job in one of L.A.'s hottest eateries, and a gorgeous boyfriend dying to slip an engagement ring on her finger. So why does she feel so empty, like she's looking for a missing piece she can't find?

The answer comes when a lawyer tracks down Quinn and reveals a bombshell secret and a mysterious inheritance that only she can claim. This shocking revelation washes over Quinn like a tidal wave. Her whole life has been a lie.

On impulse, Quinn gives up her job, home, and boyfriend. She heads up the coast to the small hometown of Wildstone, California, which is just a few hours north, but feels worlds apart from Los Angeles. Though she doesn't quite fit in right away, she can't help but be drawn to the town’s simple pleasures…and the handsome, dark-haired stranger who offers friendship with no questions asked.

As Quinn settles into Wildstone, she discovers there's another surprise in store for her. The inheritance isn't a house or money, but rather something earth shattering, something that will make her question everything she thought she knew about herself, about her family. Now with a world of possibilities opening up to Quinn, she must decide if this new life is the one she was always meant to have—and the one that could finally give her the fulfillment she's searched so long for.

   

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Review-

I love Jill Shalvis' books. Her Lucky Harbor series is one of my all time favourite series which I have reread more times than I can count. I love how she combines romance with humour and sensuality. Lost and Found Sisters is a little something different from her. Firstly, it falls under the women's fiction category. Secondly, the length of it is definitely longer. But I didn't mind that. I'm more than happy to read more by Jill Shalvis.

So this is the story of Quinn, our heroine. Quinn works as a chef in Los Angeles. It has been two years since her sister passed away in a car accident and Quinn continues to feel numb of her surroundings. When a surprise bomb gets dropped on her she moves to the small town of Wildstone to figure things out for herself. 

I loved Quinn as a person. She was sweet and sad but she didn't hesitate to do the right thing. Quinn was quick to help anyone in need and she just wanted to take care of her loved ones. Quinn thought something was wrong with her because she couldn't feel emotions but actually she felt too much. Quinn was scared to show her vulnerability but the town of Wildstone gave her the courage to do just that.

I also really liked Tilly. She is a teenager with a chip on her shoulders. Life hasn't been fair to Tilly and she's just trying to figure out her relationship with Quinn. Mick is our hero. The chemistry between Quinn and Mick was great and their conversations were really cute and funny. Know that the romance isn't at the heart of this book but it is still an integral part of it. I also liked meeting the myriad of new characters who made up the residents of Wildstone.

I have a little bit of mixed feelings around this book. I mean, I do like it, Jill Shalvis' writing is fantastic and all the warm and mushy feelings are there. But I know I enjoy her proper contemporary romances more. But that's just my preference. I think anyone who enjoys Women's Fiction or contemporaries in general would enjoy Lost and Found Sisters.

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by the author/publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.

   

   

They say life can change in an instant ...

From New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis comes her first women's fiction novel—an unforgettable story of friendship, love, family, and sisterhood.

Pre-order your copy in any format and receive an exclusive crossover Heartbreaker Bay meets Wildstone bonus scene, featuring Archer and Elle going to Wildstone, CA, the town in which Lost and Found Sisters takes place - read about their night in a haunted B&B!

Simply enter your order number OR upload a screenshot of your proof of purchase. Entries must be received by June 25th and you will receive content via email on June 27th!

Preorder and fill out the form here!

EXCERPT-

“Hi,” she said, possibly never so happy to see someone in her life. “Remember me?”

His lips quirked.

Yep. He remembered her all right. “I’ve got a problem,” she said.

His smile faded. “You okay?”

She exhaled, feeling like an idiot. “There’s a big bug in my tub and the sink is dripping. Do you have time to help or are you off the clock?”

He studied her for a beat. “I’ll grab some tools and be right up,” he finally said.

She watched him stride off. Maybe she couldn’t find her feels, but apparently she could still appreciate a nice ass.

Good to know.

Five minutes later there was a simple, firm knock at her door. She opened it and stood back to let him in, but he remained on his side of the doorway, toolbox in hand.

“I’m Mick Hennessey,” he said.

Great, but she had no time for introduction. Bug in her tub! “Nice to formally meet you, Mick, but…” She pointed to the bathroom.

With a mock salute, he ambled in there.

Quinn remained right where she was, counting off the seconds while she heard nothing. “Did you get him?” she finally called out.

“The bug?” he asked.

“No, the president of the United States! Yes, the bug!”

The only response was the sound of the toilet flushing and she panicked. “You squished him first, right?”

Mick stuck his head out of the bathroom and flashed her a smile. “Worried he’s going to swim his way back up and bite you on the—“

“No!” Yes…

He vanished back into the bathroom. Quinn heard some other sounds that were hopefully related to him working on the stink. Unable to stop herself, she made her way over there and peered in. “Where’s your dog?”

“Coop? With my mom. She lives here in town and made stew. Apparently, I don’t rate on the same scale as beef stew.” He was on his back, head and shoulders wedged beneath the sink, legs bent at the knees because he was longer than the bathroom. He wore a T-shirt advertising some pub in San Francisco named O’Riley’s, that had risen up, revealing his low-slung jeans and some impressive abs, including those V muscles that made women so stupid.

“Can you fix it?” she asked.

His hands looked confident working the wrench before he pulled his head from beneath the sink and sent her a slow smile.

At the barely recognizable flutter low in Quinn’s belly, and also decidedly south of her belly, she froze in shock. She’d felt next to nothing for a very long time, but it hadn’t been so long that she couldn’t place this for what it was.

Lust.

     

Jill Shalvis’s LOST AND FOUND SISTERS – Review & Excerpt Schedule:

June 12^th

East Coast Book Chicks – Review & Excerpt

Fictional Rendezvous Book Blog – Excerpt

I Love Romance – Review & Excerpt

Lucky 13 book reviews and news – Excerpt

June 13^th

Adventures in Writing – Excerpt

Book Angel Booktopia – Review & Excerpt

Cocktails and Books – Review & Excerpt

Melena's Reviews – Review & Excerpt

The Book Hammock – Review & Excerpt

June 14^th

Aly's Miscellany – Excerpt

Books,Dreams,Life – Excerpt

Coffee Books Life – Excerpt

She Reads too Much Romance – Review

The Readdicts – Review & Excerpt

June 15^th

Crystal's Chaotic Confessions – Excerpt

Debbie's World of Books – Review & Excerpt

Ramblings From This Chick – Excerpt

Red Hot + Blue Reads – Review & Excerpt

Shannon's Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

June 16^th

A Literary Perusal – Review & Excerpt

Brittany's Book Blog – Excerpt

I Smell Sheep – Review & Excerpt

Reads & Reviews – Excerpt

June 17^th

Bookishly Yours – Review & Excerpt

Lover of Big Books Cannot Lie – Review & Excerpt

Romantic Reads and Such – Excerpt

Two Girls with Books – Review

June 18^th

A geordielass honest blog on reviews – Review

Nicole's Book Musings – Excerpt

Robinson Reviews – Review

Those Crazy Book Chicks – Review & Excerpt

With Love for Books – Review

June 19^th

Becky on Books – Review & Excerpt

BooksPieAndCoffee – Review

IrishdaisylovesRomance – Review & Excerpt

JOJO THE BOOKAHOLIC – Review & Excerpt

Writing My Own Fairy Tale – Review & Excerpt

June 20^th

Marieke's Books – Review & Excerpt

Reviews from the Heart – Review & Excerpt

Sascha Darlington's Microcosm Explored – Review & Excerpt

Thoughts of a Blonde – Review & Excerpt

Two Book Pushers – Review & Excerpt

June 21^st

AC Squared Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

Babbling about books and more – Excerpt

Literary Gossip – Excerpt

Love's A State Of Mind – Review

June 22^nd

Books 2 Blog – Review & Excerpt

Cara's Book Boudoir – Review & Excerpt

I'm A Book Shark – Review & Excerpt

Love Affair With Fiction – Review & Excerpt

What Is That Book About – Excerpt

June 23^rd

Book and Tequila – Review & Excerpt

Once Upon A Page – Review & Excerpt

Reading To Unwind – Review & Excerpt

Sweet Red Reads – Review & Excerpt

Talking Books Blog – Excerpt

June 24^th

G & T's Indie Café – Excerpt

Reading Between the Wines Book Club – Excerpt

Red's Romance Review's – Review & Excerpt

Renee Entress's Blog – Review & Excerpt

TjLovesToRead – Review

About Jill Shalvis:

   

 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s sexy contemporary and award-winning books wherever romances are sold and click on the blog button above for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.      

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Release Blast- I Knew You Were Trouble by Lauren Layne

A feisty beauty must choose between winning back Mr. Right 

or giving in to Mr. Wrong.

I KNEW YOU WERE TROUBLE

Oxford Series #4

Lauren Layne

Releasing June 13, 2017

Loveswept

New York City’s hottest bachelors are stirring up trouble in this fun, flirty Oxford Novel, as a love triangle forces a feisty beauty to choose between winning back Mr. Right or giving in to Mr. Wrong.

Taylor Carr has it all—a sleek job in advertising, a stunning Manhattan apartment, and the perfect man to share it with: Bradley Calloway. Even after Bradley dumps her for a co-worker on move-in day, Taylor isn’t worried. She’ll get her man eventually. In the meantime, she needs a new roommate. Enter Nick Ballantine, career bartender, freelance writer—and longtime pain in Taylor’s ass. Sexy in a permanent five-o’clock-shadow kind of way, Nick knows how to push Taylor’s buttons, as if he could see right through to the real her.

Nick’s always trying to fix people, and nobody could use a good fixing more than Taylor. Sure, she’s gorgeous, with mesmerizing silver eyes, but it’s her vulnerability that kills him. Now that they’re shacking up together, the chemistry is out of control. Soon they’re putting every part of their two-bedroom apartment to good use. Then Taylor’s ex comes crawling back to her, and Nick figures she’ll jump at the chance to go back to her old life—unless he fights for the best thing that ever happened to him.

AVAILABLE NOW!

Lauren Layne is the New York Times bestselling author of over a dozen romantic comedies.

A former e-commerce and web marketing manager from Seattle, Lauren relocated to New York City in 2011 to pursue a full-time writing career.

She lives in midtown Manhattan with her high-school sweetheart, where she writes smart romantic comedies with just enough sexy-times to make your mother blush. In LL's ideal world, every stiletto-wearing, Kate Spade wielding woman would carry a Kindle stocked with Lauren Layne books. 

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Review + Excerpt- Silver Silence by Nalini Singh

Summary-

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh introduces a bold new chapter in her extraordinary paranormal romance saga with the Psy-Changeling Trinity series. Wild passion will encounter the darkest of betrayal...

Control. Precision. Family. These are the principles that drive Silver Mercant. At a time when the fledgling Trinity Accord seeks to unite a divided world, with Silver playing a crucial role as director of a worldwide emergency response network, wildness and chaos are the last things she needs in her life. But that’s exactly what Valentin Nikolaev, alpha of the StoneWater Bears, brings with him.

Valentin has never met a more fascinating woman. Though Silver is ruled by Silence—her mind clear of all emotion—Valentin senses a whisper of fire around her. That’s what keeps him climbing apartment buildings to be near her. But when a shadow assassin almost succeeds in poisoning Silver, the stakes become deadly serious…and Silver finds herself in the heart of a powerful bear clan.

Her would-be assassin has no idea what their poison has unleashed...

Release date: June 13th, 2017

Published by: Berkley

Page numbers: 496

Review-

I cannot even begin to express how excited and grateful I was when my request for Silver Silence got approved on Netgalley. I am a HUGE Nalini Singh fan. She is one of my favourite authors and I have been following the Psy-Changeling series religiously. Silver Silence is the start of a new season in this brillaint world. With it begins the Psy-Changeling Trinity series. I LOVED this book.

Okay to begin with I'd like to say that you could start with Silver Silence even if you've never read the Psy-Changeling books before. But you'd miss out on the fine nuances so I'd highly recommend starting from book 1. As the title suggests this book is Silver Mercant's. Silver has been such a mysterious character from the moment we've met her. Her silence seems unbreakable and the bonds she shares with her family go deeper than anyone can understand. Silver's emotions and her thought processes were so fascinating. I loved the person she was once she opened up.

Then we have Valentin Nikolaev, our hero and the alpha of the StoneWater Bears. Oh my god. What can I say about Valentin? He's one of the best heroes Nalini Singh has written. Valentin was a great alpha, protective of his pack. He was adorable with the cubs. He cared so much about Silver and never gave up on her despite knowing that the odds were against him. He had a great sense of humour and you could see all that in his pursuit of Silver.

I loved Silver and Valentin together. They slowly but surely overcame the obstacles thrown their way. They made for a great pair and no two people deserved love in their life more than Silver and Valentin. I also loved the entire bear clan. Some of their antics were so hilarious and their reason for every single thing was so simple. Because bears. They portrayed to the world that they were simple minded but underneath the bears were actually highly intelligent creatures. 

The world Nalini Singh has created is vast and complex and I simply can't get enough of it. There are political conspiracies and some people don't want a peaceful world. The psy, changelings and human races are at a critical point and need to work together. I am also extremely curious to see how Nalini Singh takes Bowen Knight and the Human Alliance's plot forward. There is just so much to look forward to in this endless world of possibilities. I loved Silver Silence and I would highly recommend you pick it up!

*Note: A copy of this book was provided via Netgalley by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.

SILVER SILENCE by Nalini Singh

Excerpt

Laughing at the cubs’ antics, Valentin jogged down the slight incline and waded into what had to be ice-cold water after kicking off his boots and socks. He splashed the cubs, laughed when they splashed him back. Running so they could chase him, he turned abruptly and chased them back, to their unhidden joy.

Silver took a seat on the grass. When the female bear looked her way, she inclined her head in a silent greeting. The bear did the same, then they both watched an alpha bear play with two energetic cubs, his hands holding rough care for their small bodies.

By the time Valentin made his way back to her, he was drenched and his eyes weren’t human in any way. When he spoke, his already deep voice was so low it felt like thunder against her skin. “Couldn’t resist,” he said, pushing back his wet hair with one big hand. “If you weren’t in recovery and if I wasn’t in terror of Nova’s wrath, I’d have invited you. The small monsters wanted to play with you.”

Silver didn’t get to her feet. “Can we stay here a little longer?” It was patent that Valentin had an extremely high tolerance for the cold, but he might want to dry off.

“Sure,” he said, and, moving away several feet, shook off the wet.

Fine droplets settled on the skin of her cheek, but she didn’t flinch at the unintentional tactile contact. She also controlled her urge to reach up and touch the water where it lay against her skin. There was no reason to do that, and Silver was alive because she only did things that were rational.

Settling beside her, Valentin waved at the cubs as their guardian led their tired forms toward a path in the trees that was at the same level as the stream. “Gentler climb,” Valentin told her.

“They seem too exhausted to make it to Denhome.”

“It’s all an act—they’re hoping for a ride on their aunt’s back.” His tone held the same fond affection she’d heard when he spoke of Dima. “It’d take more than a few minutes’ play in the water to wipe out those two.”

The cubs had played with Valentin for almost a half hour. “They’re hyperactive?”

“They’re baby bears.”

Silver watched as those baby bears turned toward her and rose up on their back paws, as if in challenge. A stern sound from their caretaker, and they dropped down and scrambled to catch up with her. Their bodies disappeared into the trees as dusk began to turn from orange to shadowy gray.

Beside her, Valentin sprawled out, bracing himself on his elbows. His drenched T-shirt clung to the ridged muscles of his abdomen, pulled tight across his pectoral muscles, shaped itself over his shoulders. His jeans weren’t much better, outlining the raw muscle of his thighs.

Valentin Nikolaev was a man of violent physical strength even in human form. Yet he clearly had iron control over it; when he’d played with the children, they’d displayed zero fear of their alpha.

“You thought about where you’re going to live when you escape the bears who’ve kidnapped you?”

When she raised an eyebrow at him, he grinned. “Fringe netter with his own Internet channel sent out a breaking report last night. Pasha—who obviously needs more work duties—made up a fake account and posted a comment swearing to have seen you being pulled into a black van by six burly bears in bear form.”

“You don’t seem too concerned.” Amber eyes and deep voice, he remained very much a bear in human form.

“Well, according to this ‘eyewitness,’ the getaway driver was in bear form, too. Must’ve been tough for him to steer with one paw since he was drinking a beer at the same time.”

“Bears,” Silver said, making Valentin throw his head back and laugh that huge laugh that wrapped around her.

Posted by arrangement with Berkley, a member of Penguin Group (USA) LLC, A Penguin Random House Company. Copyright © Nalini Singh, 2017.