He
needs to get her out of his system. Just once…
Hank Weller doesn’t help people. He leaves that do-gooder nonsense to his best
friend, Beau Winston. Hank does what he wants, when he wants, with whomever he
wants—and Hank does not want to hire Charlotte Mitchell to be an exotic dancer
at his club, The Pink Pony. Sure, he can’t help noticing the dips and curves of
her, how shrewd, smart, and funny she is, the fire in her hazel eyes. He’s always
noticed. She’d probably draw a crowd and entice the regulars. But after
Charlotte’s messy, public divorce made Hank’s club out to be the culprit—and
made her the single mother of four kids—he doesn’t need or want any additional
bad press courtesy of Charlotte Mitchell. Or the distraction. Unfortunately for
him, the town’s prettiest charity case doesn’t seem to understand the meaning
of the words nope, no, and never.
Charlotte Mitchell doesn’t much like Hank Weller. Once upon a time, she used
to. Years ago, she liked him a whole heckofalot despite other folks in town
labeling him as “eccentric” and “nonconformist,” which were polite southern
alternatives to “filthy rich” and “self-centered douchebag.” Her opinion of him
changed dramatically after he volunteered to be her date to junior prom and
then promptly stood her up. They haven’t so much as acknowledged each other in
over a decade. But a sudden family emergency means Charlotte needs access to
Hank’s club ASAP. Unfortunately for her, the narcissistic fancy-pants doesn’t
seem to understand the meaning of the words help, generosity, and
compassion.
But he’s about to find himself schooled. Charlotte is going to teach Hank a
lesson once and for all about basic human decency, whether he likes it or not.
Spoiler alert... he likes it. 😉
Don’t miss our reviews of the rest of the Good Folk: Modern Folktales series!
For book one, Totally Folked, click HERE.
Book
2
Buy Links
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Paperback (US)
The next time I awoke, it was to morning sunlight streaming in through the windows and to me on top of a real-life Hank-Weller-body pillow.
My sluggish brain only required a few seconds to recall why he was in my bed and how I’d bawled all over him before summarily passing out. I didn’t feel embarrassed by the memory. I felt curious, slightly numb, and an erect penis through a layer of his jeans and my pajamas, pressing against the inside of my thigh.
“Are you awake?” he whispered hoarsely. “Please say you’re awake.”
I swallowed and closed my eyes, not willing to yield my position on top of and next to him. This was a surprise. I’d never enjoyed sleeping in the same bed with anyone. I’d never co-slept with my kids. In my youth, I couldn’t sleep at camp or other situations where sharing a bed had been required. With my ex, I’d tiptoe out of the room once he was snoring and spent most of our marriage slumbering on the couch.
But this? Waking up with my leg curled over Hank’s groin, my arm flung over his chest, and my ear resting over his heart? I could get used to this.
“I’m awake,” I said haltingly. “But unless the kids are up, I’m not ready to move, if that’s okay with you.”
His hand moved on my bare back. I realized belatedly that he’d slipped it under my shirt at some point, tugging me closer until my entire torso pressed more fully against him.
“You’re still sick,” came his rumbly voice, giving me the sense the words were more for his benefit than for mine. “You will be sick for a while. I should keep my hands to myself until you are well... unless you ask me not to.”
My head was still a bit cottony, my throat a little dry, but I didn’t think I had a fever and my ears no longer ached. I felt almost normal. It’s amazing what hydration, rest, and the presence of a sexy boyfriend can do for a person.
“I don’t feel very sick,” I said, my mouth curving with giddy pleasure before I could prevent it. He must’ve felt the movement against his chest because he chuckled.
“Oh no. Don’t smile,” he groaned, sounding pained. “I can’t resist your smiles.”
“You find my smiles irresistible?”
“You know I do. Smile at me and I’m yours to command.”
Oh my goodness. I liked the sound of that. Warmth unfurled in my chest and I ducked my head.
He shifted at my silence, his hand sliding from the center of my back to my bottom, resting above the fabric of my pajamas. “Charlotte Mitchell, are you feeling shy?”
“A little,” I admitted. I did feel shy. I also felt many other things, all of which were too large and unwieldy to contemplate or share at present.
Hank kissed the top of my head. “Then, you be shy. I’ll stay right here, ready to be of service, just in case you start feeling bold.”
Ruthie
– ☆☆☆☆☆
I really enjoyed this fun read. It is one of those lovely books with
delightfully unexpected characters, who really don't let you down at all and
who find they have more depth than they even expected!
Hank is a man who grew up in a family who constantly criticised him – so,
disinterested in trying to please his rich parents, he develops a devil may
care persona. Never one to consider settling down, and most definitely lacking
interest in children, he is very frustrated when single mum Charlotte presses
all his buttons.
He cannot resist her, and so offers her a job at his strip joint as a
bookkeeper, so averting her plans to be a stripper. Whilst Charlotte's reasons
for taking the job are unknown to him, she does an amazing job of sorting out
his books – I have to admit as a trained accountant, I found her zeal at
sorting out all the payroll issues really fun, and even if that is not your
thing, it is a clear indicator of both her and his nature when it comes to
doing what is right. Wait till you find out about the fact he discusses
interest rates and the Federal reserves with her son!
Utterly enchanting and completely satisfying from start to finish, I have just
changed my 4.5 stars to 5 stars because really, there wasn't anything which
could have made it better. There are fun, but caring and wonderful children
(even if they need to learn to blow their noses), who take on Hank, just as
much as he takes them on. Charlotte is surrounded by good friends who support
her as she navigates her single life and has to rethink her plan to concentrate
only on her children.
My advice, get a copy and enjoy a lovely read from cover to cover.
PENNY REID is the New York Times, Wall Street
Journal and USA Today bestselling
author of the Winston Brothers and Knitting in the City series. She used to
spend her days writing federal grant proposals as a biomedical researcher, but
now she writes kissing books. Penny is an obsessive knitter and manages the
#OwnVoices-focused mentorship incubator/publishing imprint, Smartypants
Romance. She lives in Seattle Washington with her husband, three kids, and dog
named Hazel.
Connect with
Penny Reid
Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Instagram ~ Website ~ Goodreads
Facebook
Group: Sharks of Awesome ~ Patreon
Hosted by
Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided
a free copy of Folk Around and Find Out (Good Folk: Modern Folktales #2) by
Penny Reid to read and review.
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