Release Reviews: First and Tension: Tara Sivec
Tara Sivec
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June 10, 2021
June 10, 2021
It all started with a dare.
Emily Flanagan has been living her dreams the last four years as a professional cheerleader for the Los Angeles Vipers, thousands of miles away from her tiny hometown of Summersweet Island, Virginia. She’s got the world at the tips of her pom-poms... until she tells her boss to shove those pom-poms where the sun doesn’t shine.
After spending her last night in California with her biggest crush, Emily flies back home to Summersweet, resigned to her boring fate of running her parents’ business, never to be heard from again. Besides, there’s no use crying over a man who lives on the other side of the country, who she’ll never see again.
“Secret love affair for the new quarterback of the Virginia Beach Sharks, or a shocking tale of infidelity, leading all the way back to a birthday party Quinn Bagley threw at his previous home in Calabasas five months ago? New photos of the mystery redhead from the party surface, leaving fans to speculate all over social media, “Who is this woman who convinced Quinn Bagley to quit the Vipers and go to one of the worst teams in the league?”
Quinn Bagley is finally playing for a team that feels like a family, after years of playing with nothing but egos. Following an announcement that shocked the world—one he’d been wrestling with for months, if not years—it felt good to have that weight lifted off his shoulders. What he’s not happy about is that the woman who rocked his world the night she literally fell into his life turned out to be like every other crazy redhead he’s ever encountered, spreading lies all over social media and wanting to use him for something. He just wants to look her in the eyes and hear her admit it was all a game.
Except Emily Flanagan isn’t the hotheaded, rude woman he thought she was, out to screw him over. She’s sweet, sexy, and fun. Even if she does try to banish him from her island. She makes him feel normal, she makes him laugh, and she makes him want more.
He’s going to win her heart, even if he has to do it in overtime.
Let the real games begin, Miss Flanagan. I dare you.
Emily Flanagan is the friend that got away from Summersweet Island and was living her dream as a professional football cheerleader for the LA Vipers until she was forced to return home to her humdrum life. Her girlfriends are thrilled she is home, but she is not so happy.
Quinn Bagley was the quarterback of the LA Vipers. One meeting on the night before she moves made an impression. His life was also in flux and he moved to a new team in Virginia. He needs to focus, gel with this new team, and avoid bad press.
But months later they find themselves in a social media storm and will meet face to face again. Emily is distressed, mad, and tired of being shamed in the media. Quinn is angry, hurt, and cannot believe he was wrong about her and is shocked to find she is a psycho that would sell him out. But the spark is still there and the more she pushes him away, the more he realizes it is not true.
But then starts a series of events where they need each other to complete the ruse that they are happily dating and try to put out some of the fires that the crazy rumors caused. But the problem with faking it for others is that it is hard to tell what is fake and real and lines get blurred. Both have some trust issues. He is determined to make a sneak attack on her heart. But she is one stubborn and self-sacrificing woman who does not want to be a distraction.
This brings the fun and also the feels. I loved their snarky, sarcastic, flirty banter. His dares could be delightful, dirty, or dangerous. They are entertaining, sweet, hot, and just perfect together. They push each other and just spark. But they could use a bit of help on communication.
So it might be good that she has the nosiest and loudest friends ever with the quirky, crazy, Summersweet crew. These people make me laugh, especially the guys, Palmer, Bodhi, and Shepherd. But the girls, Birdie, Tess, and Wren are tough sisters too. They are just the most devoted, dysfunctional, and over-the-top group. I am looking forward to more and am excited about what is to come.
Quinn Bagley was the quarterback of the LA Vipers. One meeting on the night before she moves made an impression. His life was also in flux and he moved to a new team in Virginia. He needs to focus, gel with this new team, and avoid bad press.
But months later they find themselves in a social media storm and will meet face to face again. Emily is distressed, mad, and tired of being shamed in the media. Quinn is angry, hurt, and cannot believe he was wrong about her and is shocked to find she is a psycho that would sell him out. But the spark is still there and the more she pushes him away, the more he realizes it is not true.
But then starts a series of events where they need each other to complete the ruse that they are happily dating and try to put out some of the fires that the crazy rumors caused. But the problem with faking it for others is that it is hard to tell what is fake and real and lines get blurred. Both have some trust issues. He is determined to make a sneak attack on her heart. But she is one stubborn and self-sacrificing woman who does not want to be a distraction.
This brings the fun and also the feels. I loved their snarky, sarcastic, flirty banter. His dares could be delightful, dirty, or dangerous. They are entertaining, sweet, hot, and just perfect together. They push each other and just spark. But they could use a bit of help on communication.
So it might be good that she has the nosiest and loudest friends ever with the quirky, crazy, Summersweet crew. These people make me laugh, especially the guys, Palmer, Bodhi, and Shepherd. But the girls, Birdie, Tess, and Wren are tough sisters too. They are just the most devoted, dysfunctional, and over-the-top group. I am looking forward to more and am excited about what is to come.
Emily Flanagan is returning to Summersweet Island to a life that doesn’t measure up to the dreams she had for herself. Running her family’s cottages was not in her plans, rather she would have loved to continue her cheerleading dreams. One last night of fun in California before she returns to Summersweet and boredom has her spending the evening with
Quinn Bagley is moving to a new team, closer to home in the hopes of rekindling his love of the game with like minded teammates. But he hasn’t been able to get the woman who got away out of his mind, not that he knows how to find her, that is until her name pops up connected to his on social media and he thinks she is like every other woman he’s dated or tried to date before.
These two hit it off immediately. Emily didn’t let Quinn get away with anything, leading to quick banter and witty remarks through their whole first night. Emily’s tendency to take dares is what got her into that conversation to begin with, but she also knew she was leaving town and as good as it felt to spend time with Quinn, she would be just another woman in his life. By the time he was able to find out who she was, they had more than good memories to deal with - they had a social media firestorm.
This was completely entertaining and had me laughing out loud throughout. From the party meeting to their reunion on Summersweet and beyond, these two were a load of fun! They have plenty of miscommunication, and adding a fake relationship to the mix doesn’t help make their feelings any clearer to the other.
This entire group of friends are a hoot, especially the guys. Every time Emily warned Quinn away from hanging out with Shepherd, Parker, and Bodhi it made me wonder what they could have gotten up to if they were a four-some rather than a trio. I have enjoyed every moment of this series, and it feels like each new story makes me fall in love with this crew even further.
Kiss My Putt
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Our 4.5 star reviews
“Palmer ‘Pal’ Campbell has epic breakdown on the 18th hole of the Bermuda Open! Video at 11.”
After spending my entire pro golfing career being known as the quiet, controlled, no-nonsense golfer on the tour, there’s nothing more humiliating than throwing all of that down the drain—or into a water hazard—on national television. Needing some place to hide, to lick my wounds and figure out what I even want to do with my life once this blows over, I can only think of one place I need to be. Summersweet Island, where everyone treats me like one of their own, and they’ll all be happy to have me home again.
Well, except maybe one person. It’s been two years since I last set foot on Summersweet Island or spoke to anyone there. But I’m sure Birdie Bennett, my best friend since I was 15 and the clubhouse manager of my favorite golf course, has had plenty of time to forgive me for that tiny little misunderstanding where I blocked her on social media and blocked her in my phone. Oh, and I guess I kind of, sort of accused her of being a stalker. It’s fine!
Once my sexy, spunky, former best friend gets over the shock of seeing me again and stops trying to drive a 9-iron into my skull, I can finally let her know I’ve also kind of, sort of always been in love with her...
Even though my soul leaves my body every time she says she hates baseball and has never watched me play, a year’s-worth of messages filled with laughter and sarcasm only remind me how amazing my “pen pal” is. Unfortunately, it doesn’t matter how fine I look in a pair of baseball pants; I’m still 3,000 miles away, and she’s taken... or so I thought. Maybe I should have thought a little harder before I dropped her like a seeing-eye single into the outfield.
When an injury has me questioning everything about my life, I can only think of one place I need to go and one person I need to see. Home, to Summersweet Island, to get back my “pen pal.”
Now I just need to make sure single mom Wren knows I didn’t come back for a change, and I didn’t come back for a job. I’m swinging for the fences, and I’m finally coming home to make her mine. If only she’d stop insulting me and stay in one place long enough for me to tell her. She wouldn’t try to drown me with a tub of ice cream, right?
I’m sure it’ll be fine.
Swing and Mishap
(Summersweet Island #2)
(Summersweet Island #2)
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Kim's 4.5 star review
“Hawks fans still in shock after centerfielder, Shepherd Oliver, sustained season-ending injury last night in the 5th inning of the playoffs against Chicago.”
Two years ago, I was a pretty big deal. I thought I had it all, until a blast from my past popped up on my social media feed, keeping my ego in check and reminding me how basic I am. Except sassy Wren Bennett isn’t just a blast from my past. She’s the only woman I ever saw a future with.
Two years ago, I was a pretty big deal. I thought I had it all, until a blast from my past popped up on my social media feed, keeping my ego in check and reminding me how basic I am. Except sassy Wren Bennett isn’t just a blast from my past. She’s the only woman I ever saw a future with.
Even though my soul leaves my body every time she says she hates baseball and has never watched me play, a year’s-worth of messages filled with laughter and sarcasm only remind me how amazing my “pen pal” is. Unfortunately, it doesn’t matter how fine I look in a pair of baseball pants; I’m still 3,000 miles away, and she’s taken... or so I thought. Maybe I should have thought a little harder before I dropped her like a seeing-eye single into the outfield.
When an injury has me questioning everything about my life, I can only think of one place I need to go and one person I need to see. Home, to Summersweet Island, to get back my “pen pal.”
Now I just need to make sure single mom Wren knows I didn’t come back for a change, and I didn’t come back for a job. I’m swinging for the fences, and I’m finally coming home to make her mine. If only she’d stop insulting me and stay in one place long enough for me to tell her. She wouldn’t try to drown me with a tub of ice cream, right?
I’m sure it’ll be fine.
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Our 4 star reviews
‘Twas the week before Christmas and all through Summersweet,
Tess Powell was annoyed and wanted to retreat.
With a BIC in her hand and a frown on her face,
everyone knew she needed a break from this place.
Wanting the holiday to be nothing but the best,
Bodhi took his girlfriend to the mountains to rest.
While visions of fire happily danced in Tess’s head,
soon she would see she had everything to dread.
Crying kids, singing hippos, and a stalker with a van,
definitely wasn’t part of Bodhi’s evacuation plan.
But all he wanted for Christmas was for her to say yes,
to the question he kept asking with zero finesse.
With some help from new friends and their holiday cheer,
Tess and Bodhi get much more.
Tara Sivec
Tara Sivec is a USA Today best-selling author, wife, mother, chauffeur, maid, short-order cook, baby-sitter, and sarcasm expert. She lives in Ohio with her husband and two children and looks forward to the day when they all three of them become adults and move out.
After working in the brokerage business for fourteen years, Tara decided to pick up a pen and write instead of shoving it in her eye out of boredom. Her novel Seduction and Snacks won first place in the Indie Romance Convention Reader's Choice Awards 2013 for Best Indie First Book and she was voted as Best Author in the Indie Romance Convention Reader's Choice Awards for 2014.
In her spare time, Tara loves to dream about all of the baking she'll do and naps she'll take when she ever gets spare time.
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