Title: Loving Finley

Heat Level: 4/5

Genre/subgenre: Contemporary Romance

Target audience (age group, reader type): Adult

Word count or page count: 36325/154

Release date: Dec-21

Publisher: Sevannah Storm

 

Series info: The Plump Playwright Act III

​

Short blurb:  A flash flood strands Finley with the s3xiest baseball player on the planet. Now she has to get his s3xy-as-sin backside to Old Margot's cabin and hope the radio's working. 

 

One-line hook or taglines:

She can survive the mountain. Surviving him is another story.
Stranded. Soaked. Sizzling. This isn’t your average nature walk.
One cabin. One fire. One sleeping bag. What could go wrong?
She’s wilderness-tough with curves that kill. He’s about to fall—hard.

 

Buy link: https://books2read.com/u/mZEwVD

 

Excerpts:

His cologne tantalized her nose.
Her faint would lead to a canceled hike when eight males panicked.
Giggling, she was tempted to fake it, just to see their reactions.
The man who prevailed would be the alpha, in control, booming orders, claiming damsels.

In the firelight, her skin glowed, and her brown eyes darkened. Her hair turned molten gold. He stared, unable to drag his gaze away. Since she was talking, he had an excuse. Still, he had stronger control than this.

Cursed, that’s what he was!
No contract, and now a woman whose bright smile was adorable?
No, he wouldn’t stand for either.
He was a man, hear him roar.
Smiling, he scoffed at his Tarzan thoughts.
One thing at a time, Tiger.

Who named their son Duke? Was Prince or King taken? Regardless of his name, that man was as delicious as roasted marshmallows. She wanted to gobble him up, then spend a few minutes licking her lips.

“How have you been, Fin?” The Bronco was no place for the conversation he wanted to have. He needed access to her, her body, those sweet, enticing lips of hers, the curve of her neck, and Lord willing, a bed nearby.

He ached to taste her lips with his tongue, to delve into her sweet depths.
“Quit staring.” She peeked at him. “You’re making me nervous.”
“Just nervous?” His voice was like gravel, but he didn’t care.
He wanted her to know how she affected him.
“Um, Fin, I need help.”
She squeaked, froze, then spun on her heel to face him. “With?”
“Buttons, zips, that sort of thing.”

The moment he saw Fin, he knew he was in trouble. Faced with her in an evening gown, his starved eyes feasted on the baby-blue creation. There were diaphanous frilly bits that spiraled down her body, enhancing parts he had fondled, kissed, or sucked.

The suit he wore clung to his broad shoulders, and his crisp white shirt parted, exposing the caramel skin of his throat. Her lips tingled in memory of the kisses she'd pressed there. Like an addict, withdrawal pangs twisted her insides.

He blinked, disbelieving his eyes. Sitting up, he kept his gaze fixed on her frantic movements, hoping for another glimpse that would center his world. A soft, curved belly and silky skin were what he expected. Not an Amazon beneath her garments.

He ran his thumb up her throat, caught and tilted her chin to angle her mouth to meet his. As he pressed his lips to hers, he held his trembling limbs still, let their breaths mingle. The hot velvet of her tongue stroking his bottom lip forced him away from her.

“Why so quiet? Cold got your tongue?” Forcing herself to meet his gaze, she smiled, hoping he hadn’t caught her ogling him again. “You just stripped in front of me," he growled.
Her breath hitched. "You did the same.” She shrugged. “It’s that or freeze.”

“Why did you do that?” She pinned four fingers to her tingling lips and barely suppressed a shiver. “I wasn’t chatting or saying anything irritating.” A slow smile curled across his face, which summoned an accursed dimple in his cheek. “You think I kiss you to silence you?” He chuckled.

There is archival footage of girls having 0rg@smic faints when an idol smiled at them. She could relate. She was a tight bundle of nerves, the kind that if her phone, set to vibrate, was in her front pocket, and someone texted her, she would 0rg@sm on the spot.

Halfway to him, she uncapped and sniffed his cologne, her eyes shuttering closed on a blissful sigh. “I’ve always liked the way you smell.”
Surprised at her revelation, she squeezed her eyes shut on a small moan, then thrust the bottle at him.

She tilted her head to glance at him. Not realizing how close he was, she brushed her lips across his.
Smothering her gasp, she closed her eyes as mortification burned fire along her veins.
“Do that again," he rasped and gripped her knee, keeping her close.
This was insane. She was playing with fire.
“I love your mouth," he mumbled.

She tilted her head to glance at him. Not realizing how close he was, she brushed her lips across his. “Do that again," he rasped and gripped her knee, keeping her close. “I love your mouth," he mumbled.

Reader reviews: 

​

5.0 out of 5 stars yay for a man's perseverance
Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2024
Heroine was broken but healing. She was strong, passionate, and pretty. Hero was at a loss about his job. Also Couldn't figure out why he was attracted. They finally figured it out and had a happy ever after
Great story, smooth read, very much enjoyed the part when the Doctor that had hurt fin showed up. Extraordinary!

​

5.0 out of 5 stars

Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2022
Compared to the other books, I have to say. Finley's thoughts during their hike were the most entertaining. Another great book filled with Laughter, Sexiness, Love, and of course, my favorite. A heap load of angst. And god, the chemistry between Finley and Dante brought chills into my bones. If you are someone who likes their ziti-al-forno aka Romance books with 9 cups of salt aka angst and 18 cups of oregano aka steaminess, this is a must-read.

​

Discussion or book club questions: Finley thrives in the wilderness but struggles with intimacy. What do you think it is about Duke that unsettles her more than a flash flood?

Duke misjudges Finley at first. How did your impression of him shift as the story unfolded? Did he earn your trust (and Finley’s)?

The forced proximity trope gets turned on its head—Finley is the protector, not Duke. How did that flip your expectations?

Finley resists Duke’s charm, even after he proves he respects her. Do you think her hesitation was wise, or did it hold her back?

Nature is practically a third character in the story. How did the setting enhance the romance—or create tension?

Duke's fall from stardom plays a quiet but powerful role. How does losing his career shape the way he approaches love and vulnerability?

Finley writes romance but doesn’t believe she’s heroine material. Why do you think so many strong women struggle to see themselves as worthy of love?

There’s only one cabin. One bed. One radio. What would you have done in Finley’s hiking boots?

This story balances survival and seduction. Which scene was the steamiest or most emotionally charged for you—and why?

If Finley were to write a romance novel based on Duke, what would the title be? (Bonus: What would the back cover blurb say?)

 

Hashtags: #bodypositive #romancebooks #romancebookaddict #hefallsfirst #romancereader #romancebookstagram #romancereadersofbookstagram #amreadingromance #amreading #readmoreromance #romancelandia #romancenovel #romancenoveladdict #romancenovels #romancenoveljunkie #contemporaryromance #booktok

 

Relevant tropes or keywords:

Curvy park ranger
Arrogant baseball player
Natural disaster
He falls first