Back In the Game
Champion Valley, 2
Erin Kern
Forever
October 31, 2017
Stella Davenport wasn't made for small-town life. Sure, teaching ballet in Blanco Valley, Colorado, is great, but she longs for the chance to perform in a big city. Stella swore she'd never let anything get in the way of her dream-until sexy, broad-shouldered Brandon West walks back into her life. Stella is determined to resist him, even if arguing with Brandon is sexier than any foreplay.
For Brandon, it's always been just him and his son, Matt. Knowing that love only leads to heartbreak, he isn't looking to expand his family any time soon. Stella, with her long, gorgeous legs and infectious laugh, is a breath of fresh air he didn't even know he'd been missing. But when she's offered her dream job in Chicago, will he be willing to put his heart on the line?
My Thoughts:
When I started Back In The Game I wasn't sure what to expect. From the blurb it sounded super cute and the cover was cute too, so I figure I would take a shot at reading this story. The story was an all right read. Stella and Brandon have an interesting relationship. Brandon doesn't want to get close to Stella, because he's fearful that she would break his heart. Stella has some personal issues. She would fall into a category a fictional character who would benefit from going to a counselor. Her personal issues cause issues with a possible budding relationship. So, Stella puts up a front of sass. Which is totally fine in most cases, but I didn't feel that it worked well for her. Anyway, I liked Brandon. He's a pretty cool dad, and he truly loves his son. He's always put his son first.
Like I said Back In The Game was an okay read. The pacing of the story was a little slow. I didn't feel a connection between Brandon and Stella. However, there were a few glimpses of a future for them. However, Stella and Brandon's personal issues kind of put up road blocks to the budding relationship. Like I said I really like Brandon, because he was a good guy and he help Stella get a little better. I still think that she would benefit from counseling. What helped this story, was towards the end Brandon sent Stella a letter. Overall, a so-so story, that had it's sweet moments.
Copy provided by Forever via NetGalley
Excerpt:
Was it just her, or had their almost-kiss a few months ago
not been this hot? This intense? She didn’t remember her panties almost going
up in flames or her desire threatening to choke her.
“A kiss doesn’t equal a relationship,” Brandon told her.
Stella nuzzled her nose against his. “But we’re not
kissing.”
“Keep telling yourself that, Stella.” Before she could
respond, before she could even exhale the breath she’d been holding, his mouth
was there. Fitting over hers, exerting a gentle pressure that had her fingers
digging into the flesh on the back of his shoulder.
When her eyes dropped closed, her other senses took over and
magnified the virile man who was so much bigger and harder than she was. His
arm enclosed her waist, tugging her closer, inch by slow inch until she was
flush against him. Chest to chest. Feet to feet. Leg inserting between hers so
that his muscled thigh was nestled perfectly in between her softer flesh.
Best. Kiss. Ever.
Brandon West could use his mouth as a lethal weapon to bring
women to their knees. Because if he hadn’t been holding her to him with such
firmness, she would have sank the second his mouth touched hers. And then she
didn’t have time to think about all the other things she wanted him to do to
her, because his tongue smoothed over her lips in gentle, yet not-so-subtle
invitation to open the hell up.
He didn’t have to ask her twice. Without thinking about
where they were, or the cars and people hovering around outside, even her looming
anxiety, Stella obliged and parted her lips. With a hesitation that was sweet,
yet longing, his tongue slowly pursued hers, touching just the tip before
retreating again.
Since it wasn’t enough, since the minimal contact had opened
an emptiness she’d been living with for a long time, Stella did her own
pursuing. Her tongue chased his, testing the warmth of his mouth. When he
groaned against her and tightened his hand on the back of her head, the heat
was kicked up a notch. The passion she’d once possessed but that had gone
dormant from lack of use awakened with an explosive burst of fireworks. She
returned his groan with one of her own when he tilted her head to change the
angle of the kiss, allowing him to dive deeper.
And she let him, because Brandon West was an overpowering
man who held her passion and trust in the palms of his hands. The question was,
what would he do with it?
Their tongues continued to dance and weave around each other
until someone opened the front door of her studio, and the outside sounds of
cars and people intruded on their moment of intimacy.
“Oh!” the startled voice announced, ripping her and Brandon
away from each other like two teenagers who’d been caught necking by the
principal.
Her mother stood by the door, her eyes wide to match the
smile on her face, as though to say, Score
one for the team, honey.
Only Gloria Davenport.
She held her hands up and backed toward the door.
“Don’t mind me,” she told them. Then offered Stella two
thumbs up. For Pete’s sake. “But good job, honey. Way to take my advice.”
And then she was gone, blowing back out the door as quickly
as she had interrupted them, taking Stella’s dignity with her.
One of Brandon’s dark brows lifted, showing nothing of the
passion he’d exhibited just a second ago. “Advice?” he repeated.
“Ah . . . ,” she began, not sure how to explain Gloria
Davenport to someone who didn’t know her. “Just ignore her. She obviously
hasn’t taken her medication today.”
The slight curl of his mouth widened. “You look like her.”
Please God, don’t say
that. “Okay.”
His brown eyes narrowed, scrutinizing way too much. “Is this
another thing you don’t want to talk about?”
Right on. She lifted a shoulder and pretended her heart
wasn’t still pounding from their kiss. “I have no issues with my mom.” At least
none that she was willing to share.
Brandon nodded. “You know, one of these days all those walls
you’ve thrown up are going to come crashing down.”
As Stella watched Brandon saunter out of her studio as
though he hadn’t just knocked her socks off with his mouth, all she could think
of was how right he was.
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