All Roads Lead to You by Jackie Ashenden-a review

All Roads Lead to You (Small Town Dreams 2) by Jackie Ashenden-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 29, 2022

A grumpy wilderness guide who just wants to be left alone.
A cheerful jewelry designer determined to get him to open up.
A breathtaking New Zealand town that inspires second chances.
An unlikely love that won’t be denied.

Brightwater Valley, New Zealand, is beautiful, rugged, and home to those who seek adventure. Finn Kelly loves everything about guiding wilderness hikes, except the part where he has to interact with people every day. But when sunny jewelry designer Bethany Grant moves into town and involves herself in every aspect of his life, he wonders what it might be like if he let in some of her light…

•••••

REVIEW: ALL ROADS LEAD TO YOU is the second instalment in Jackie Ashenden’s contemporary, adult SMALL TOWN DREAMS erotic, romance series-a spin off from the author’s ALASKA HOMECOMING SERIES. This is Kiwi wilderness guide Finn Kelly, and American jewelry designer Bethany ‘Beth’ Grant’s story line. ALL ROADS LEAD TO YOU can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

SOME BACKGROUND: In the wake of failures and disappointments back home, best friends and Americans Izzy, Indigo and Bethany head to New Zealand to start a new business venture in Brightwater Valley, a small town that is slowly dying without some much needed help from start up entrepreneurs.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Finn and Beth) ALL ROADS LEAD TO YOU follows the building but acrimonious relationship between Finn Kelly and Beth Grant. Finn Kelly works as a wilderness tour guide in Brightwater Valley, New Zealand but Finn struggles with demons from the past, demons of which he is unable to let go. Beth Grant’ s attraction to Finn Kelly is immediate but Finn wants nothing to do with our story line heroine, and refuses to accept her bubbly personality is honest or real. A one-night stand with Finn forces Beth to reconsider the future, a future that is about to change for them both but as Finn continues to struggle with the past, Beth quickly realizes she may be heading into the future alone. What ensues is the building but heart breaking relationship between Beth and Finn, and the potential fall-out as Finn refuses to fall in love, or let Bethany Grant into his heart.

The relationship between Beth and Finn begins acrimoniously as Beth doesn’t understand what she has done wrong. Finn is grumpy, stand offish, and rude, forcing Beth to confront our story line hero. Both Finn and Beth battle with heartbreaking losses from the past but Finn refuses to move on, destroying Beth in the process. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top sexually graphic language and text.

We are reintroduced to Izzy and Chase (Find Your Way Home), Levi; baker Bill Preston, and rancher /horse farm owner Clint. Levi and Indigo’s story is next.

ALL ROADS LEAD TO YOU is a story of grief and loss, acceptance and understanding, love and letting go. The premise is emotional and heart breaking; the romance is affectionate and considerate; the characters are interesting but Finn Kelly is broken and lost.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one FIND YOUR WAY HOME

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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All Roads Lead to You by Jennifer Probst-Review & Excerpt Tour

All Roads Lead to You by Jennifer Probst-Review and Excerpt Tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 23, 2019

Happily single, Harper Bishop trusts in only one passion—her rescue farm and healing her thoroughbred, Phoenix. Her dream is to lead him to the Triple Crown. But how unreachable is it without experience or help? A handsome new guest at her family’s B&B has what it takes to make it come true. And with his irresistible brogue, warm smile, and soothing touch, he’s a major distraction.

After a bitter betrayal, horse trainer Aidan O’Connor has fled Ireland for a vacation in New York’s Hudson Valley. When he sees the horse with the fighting spirit, he’s inspired with a new goal: to train Phoenix to win. He’s also facing an unexpected new challenge: his feelings for Harper.

How can she dare to open her heart to a man who’ll be there only long enough to break it?

So Harper and Aidan agree: try to keep it professional, and focus only on Phoenix and the finish line. But along the way, they could also learn a few lessons in love, trust, and taking chances. And, as painful as it promises to be, saying goodbye.

•••••••••

REVIEW: ALL ROADS LEAD TO YOU is the third instalment in Jennifer Probst’s contemporary adult STAY erotic, romance series. This is rescue farm owner Harper Bishop, and Irish horse trainer Aidan O’ Connor’s story line. ALL ROADS LEAD TO YOU can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information form the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Harper and Aidan) ALL ROADS LEAD TO YOU follows horse trainer, Irishman Aidan O’Connor as he looks for his next challenge. Having left Ireland under mysterious circumstance, Aidan finds himself in New York’s Hudson Valley, at the Bishop family B&B, where his future is about to change. Enter animal rescuer and rehabber Harper Bishop, and the woman with whom Aidan will fall in love. What ensues is the professional and romantic relationship between Aidan and Harper, and the potential fall –out as neither one is looking for a permanent relationship beyond the present.

Harper Bishop struggles with Phoenix, a difficult horse whose abusive past has left him skittish and broken. Meeting Aidan O’Connor finds Harper reconsidering Phoenix’s future, as well as her own future with the man with whom she will fall in love. As Aidan begins training Phoenix for a run at the Derby, Harper begins to let down the walls surrounding her heart.

The relationship between Aidan and Harper is one of immediate attraction but neither one is in a place for romance or love. Aidan has been burned by his former partner, and lover; and Harper’s past doesn’t allow her to trust the ministrations of a man who is only in America for a limited time. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are reintroduced to Harper’s sister and B&B owner Ophelia Bishop and Kyle Kimpton (A Brand New Ending#2), Ethan Bishop and his wife Mia: f summer ranch hands Chloe, and newcomer Owen; Aidan’s former business partner Colin Flynn, as well as a assortment of townsfolk and busybodies.

ALL ROADS LEAD TO YOU is a story of family, friendship, struggle and promise. The premise is engaging and entertaining: the romance is seductive and captivating: the characters are energetic, cautious and hopeful.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
The Start of Something Good
A Brand New Ending
All Roads Lead to You

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Ignoring her tingling nipples and flip-flopping belly, she threw back her shoulders and rose to full height. “I clearly remember having this same conversation a few weeks ago,” she said, trying not to let her voice wobble. “We agreed to keep it strictly business.”
“We did. But it’s getting harder for me not to touch you.”
Her heart galloped in her chest. Sweat pricked her skin. She remained silent, tangled between her head and her heart.
A rough laugh escaped his lips. “This would be easier on my ego if you’d admit you’re having the same problem.”
She shook her head and pressed her fisted hands against her eyes. “You sure don’t know the art of subtlety, do you?”
He shrugged. “No time for that shit. Well?”
She let out a half laugh, half groan. “I think this is the strangest conversation I’ve had with a man.”
“Are you hot for me, Harper?” His voice was all grit and gravel and sexy as hell.
Lust speared through her, raw and hungry and demanding. “Yeah.”
“Good. I’m obsessed with kissing you. So I have a proposal.”
“Of course you do.”
“One kiss. Let’s try it out. Maybe it’ll bomb once we give ourselves permission,” he said.
“I’m swooning from your romantic intentions.”
His lips kicked up in a grin. She wanted to trace her finger over his mouth to see if it was as soft as it looked. “Sorry. What do you think?”
“I think I’ve stepped into a new dimension. Tell me this, Irish. Do we want the kiss to bomb?”
He nodded. Eased closer. “I think it would be for the best. Neither of us wants a complication in our solid business partnership. We have a long road ahead of us. Sex makes things messy.”
Her brow shot up. Oh, he was good. Pretending to be all rational and cool while he stalked her like a graceful panther. Her blood grew thick and heavy, and the throbbing between her thighs raged. The real problem revolved around one simple, plain fact.
She was dying to kiss Aidan O’Connor.
Just once.
The tiny voice inside her flared to life and whispered a warning.: One kiss will never be enough. Not from this man. Not with the way you already feel about him.
God, she didn’t want to listen to reason right now.
Harper tilted her head. “True. If the kiss fails, we can get back to work without all this bullshit. Move on and focus on the real relationship here.”
“Phoenix,” he said.
“Exactly. Can you promise one thing?”
He took a few more steps. His scent wrapped around her like a silken cloud, spicy and clean and addicting. The leashed heat from his body practically ripped a purr from her throat. She curled her fingers, digging her nails into her palms to try and hold back from jumping into his arms.
“What do you need me to promise, love?”
A shiver worked down her spine. She imagined that lilting brogue whispering dirty commands in her ear while he thrust deep inside her. “If the kiss sucks, no hurt feelings. We move on and don’t talk about it. I can’t take any weirdness between us.”
“Agreed. I hate weird.”
He was right there, face close, inches from her body. The last time he was this close, he was angry. This time, his eyes crackled with hunger. His powerful thighs braced hers, and when he leaned in, his hard erection pressed against the seam of his jeans so she felt every glorious inch of promise. She licked her lips in anticipation, and slowly raised her arms to hook around his shoulders.
“Just once,” she whispered in warning.
He cupped her cheeks with rough, calloused palms. His amber gaze locked on hers. “Yes.”
“We’ll get it out of our system and move on.”
“Harper?”
“Yeah?”
“Shush.”
His mouth closed over hers.

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Jennifer ProbstJennifer Probst is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of both sexy and erotic contemporary romance. She was thrilled her novel, The Marriage Bargain, was the #6 Bestselling Book on Amazon for 2012. Her first children’s book, Buffy and the Carrot, was co-written with her 12 year old niece, and her short story, “A Life Worth Living” chronicles the life of a shelter dog. She makes her home in New York with her sons, husband, two rescue dogs, and a house that never seems to be clean. She loves hearing from all readers! Stop by her website at http://www.jenniferprobst.com for all her upcoming releases, news and street team information.

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