MORE THAN NEIGHBORS

MORE THAN NEIGHBORS by Shannon Stacey (on-sale June 16, 2020): The only thing they have in common is a property line! Cam Maguire is in Blackberry Bay to unravel a family secret. Meredith Price has moved next door with her daughter. He’s unattached. She’s a widowed single mom. He’s owned by a cat. She’s definitely team canine. All these neighbors have in common is a property line. One they cross…over and over. And Cam thought he knew what he wanted—until his family’s secret changes everything.

Purchase links:

• Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/More-than-Neighbors-Blackberry-Book-ebook/dp/B08337V9GG/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=more+than+neighbors%2C+stacey&qid=1587390776&s=books&sr=1-1 
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• Google: https://books.google.ca/books/about/More_Than_Neighbors.html?id=7DQGzQEACAAJ&redir_esc=y 
• IndieBound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781335894694 
• Harlequin.com: https://www.harlequin.com/shop/books/9781488069901_more-than-neighbors.html 

Excerpt, MORE THAN NEIGHBORS by Shannon Stacey (Harlequin Special Edition)

“So you’re staying for the summer, you said? Where do you usually live?”

“New York City, actually.”

Her hazel eyes widened. “Wow. That’s quite a change in pace.”

“It is, but I was ready to get away for a while.” “What do you do in the city?”

“I work for my dad,” he said, which wasn’t technically a lie, but wasn’t entirely accurate, either. “A lot of accounting and paperwork and boring stuff like that.”

She was cute when she wrinkled her nose. “I’m not a fan of boring math-related paperwork.”

A yelp from across the yard caught her attention and she turned to see Elinor swipe at the white puff-ball. Sophie was frowning and picked the dog up, turning her body so the cat couldn’t see him any-more.

“Your cat appears to be bullying my dog.”

“She’s not my cat. And you’re embarrassing your dog by even making that claim right now.”

She arched an eyebrow at him. “If you don’t think cats can bully dogs, you don’t spend a lot of time on the internet.”

“She just wants the dog to know who’s boss, I guess.”

“It’s his yard,” she pointed out.

“She’s a cat.”

“Point taken.” A genuine smile lit up her face and made her eyes crinkle. “They’ll get used to each other. And speaking of that, now that I know you’re going to be my neighbor for a while, I should prob-ably introduce myself properly. I’m Meredith Price, and that’s Sophie and Oscar.”

“Calvin Maguire,” he said, extending his hand. “But everybody calls me Cam.”

As she shook his hand, he noted how soft the skin was and had to resist rubbing his thumb over it.

She tilted her head as she smoothly pulled her hand away from his. “How do you get Cam from Calvin?”

“My initials. Calvin Anthony Maguire.” His mouth twisted in a wry smile. “The fourth.”

“Interesting.”

“It was a better alternative than being Little Cal for my entire life.” He didn’t really want to open him-self up to more questions about his family, since they were the last thing he wanted to talk about. “Since Oscar’s from California, let me guess. Oscar de la Renta?”

She laughed. “Oscar the Grouch.”

“You’re kidding.” He looked at the dog again, who looked like the kind they put on the packaging of fancy dog food. “I don’t really see the resemblance, but maybe it’s a personality thing.”

“He’s actually named after Sophie’s favorite book at the time, and trust me, we spent days explaining to her why we couldn’t make his hair green.”

“He doesn’t bark a lot, does he?”

“I wouldn’t say he barks a lot.” She glanced at the dog before giving him a sheepish look. “It’s more like a really high-pitched yip.”

“That’ll be fun while I’m reading over spread-sheets,” he said, picturing spending his summer being harassed by a stubborn cat and a high-strung dog. “Maybe I should have packed my noise- canceling headphones.”

She looked startled for a second and then her eyes narrowed. “I have a child and a dog, so I guess you’ll just have to figure out how to make it work.”

“Maybe a muzzle?” he asked, but he wasn’t re-ally serious. Yipping dogs weren’t his favorite, but he wasn’t a total jerk.

She stared at him for a long moment before giving him an arch look. “I don’t know if I can find one in your size, but I can try.”

Cam chuckled, appreciating her comeback, but she didn’t even crack a smile. Maybe she hadn’t been joking. And maybe she’d thought he wasn’t, either.

“If you’ll excuse me, we just arrived and I have a lot to do.”

“Nice to meet you,” he said as she walked, and she held up her hand in what looked more like a dis-missive gesture than a wave.

That was fine. If she wanted to play that game, she’d find out he didn’t really care that much. She and her yipping dog could stay in her yard and he’d stay in his.

He had better things to do, anyway. Like learning more about Carolina Archambault, and figuring out how to convince her cat he was the boss.

About Shannon Stacey: New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shannon Stacey lives with her husband and two sons in New England, where her two favorite activities are writing stories of happily ever after and off-roading with her friends and family. You can contact Shannon through her website, www.shannonstacey.com, as well as sign up for her newsletter. 

Author social links:

• Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49875473-more-than-neighbors?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=BPmoRsG1Za&rank=1 
• Author website: https://shannonstacey.com/ 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/shannonstacey 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shannonstacey.authorpage
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shannonstacey/ 

Liza’s Review:

I’m a huge fan of Shannon Stacey and she has been an auto-buy author for me since I read Exclusively Yours. I was super excited to read Ms. Stacey’s first Special Edition, and really enjoyed More Than Neighbors.

Meredith Price has moved back to Blackberry Bay with her daughter Sophie to be closer to her parents following her husband’s death. Cam Maguire has come to Blackberry Bay for the summer to learn about the biological grandmother he never met following her death and Meredith and Sophie are his new neighbors. I cracked up that Meredith and Cam didn’t hit it off initially, even though they seemed to be attracted to one another from the first. I loved Meredith’s mom kept pushing them together and even Sophie seemed to want Cam to be with them as much as possible from the moment they met.

More Than Neighbors had a bit of a slow-burn that absolutely worked for me, especially as Meredith hadn’t really dated since her husband passed away, and Cam is only in town for the summer. Neither Cam nor Meredith rushed into a relationship or even a fling, yet they seemed to end up together quite a bit. I loved that while they got off to a bit of a rough start, Meredith and Cam really stepped up to help each other out when needed. Their chemistry grew the more they were around one another and I fell for them as a couple after their very first kiss.

More Than Neighbors is the perfect read for fans of heart-felt contemporary romances. Shannon Stacey writes the best small-town romances, and I can’t wait to visit Blackberry Bay again soon.

Rating: 4 Stars (B)

ONE CHRISTMAS EVE (CEDAR STREET #2)

They couldn’t be more different. Or more perfect for each other.

New York Times bestselling author Shannon Stacey returns with a warm and cozy opposites-attract Christmas story.

Zoe Randall is busy living her life as she damn well pleases. She’s back in her favorite town, her divorce in her rearview mirror, and living out her childhood dream of running a bookstore with her cousin. She has no interest in the uptight nerd who opened his boring-ass business next to her shop…until he complains about one of her sexy window displays.

Then it’s game on.

Preston Wheeler knows he takes life a little too seriously. But when the saucy bookseller next door starts pushing his buttons, he can feel that changing. Beautiful, vivacious Zoe challenges him in all the best ways, and soon he’s pushing her buttons right back: teasing and flirting all the way through the holiday season.

As Preston loosens up and Zoe is treated to the man behind the suit (particularly his forearms), she realizes she’s more interested than she cares to admit. And Preston comes to see the beauty—the absolute delight—in adding Zoe’s bright splashes of color to his once very black-and-white existence. 

Release Date: November 11, 2019

Carina Press

Cedar Street #2

Contemporary Romance

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza's Review:

One Christmas Eve is the second book in the Cedar Street series from Shannon Stacey. Ms. Stacey became an auto-read author for me with her very first Kowalski story, and I love her new series every bit as much.

Zoe Randall and her cousin Carly run the local bookstore and it is Zoe's job to do the window displays. When Preston Wheeler opens up his business next door, he and Zoe start off on the wrong foot when he complains about her sexy Halloween display. Let me just say I loved this fast-paced opposites-attract Christmas novella. Added bonus for me was it taking place in a small town. For some reason, I love the small town setting in stories centered around a family. 

Preston and Zoe both have stuff in their pasts that could have been a deal breaker for them becoming anything more than business neighbors. I loved they each strived to move past what had occurred in their respective past to have full and happy lives. I loved that Zoe found a way to initially communicate through the super sexy books she would recommend to readers at their store, and shared those books with Preston to open up communication lines. As a lover of books, this spoke to me as such an ingenious idea for two people who seemed to be such polar opposites. I loved seeing them fall in love so quickly, and the pacing of the story totally worked for me. This is the perfect story for anyone who loves a novella-length contemporary romance. 

Rating: 4 Stars (B+)

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ONE SUMMER WEEKEND (CEDAR STREET #1)

Noah Stafford loves his life—his happy, single life. So what if he made up a fake girlfriend to stop his boss’s matchmaking? He kept things close to the truth—Carly really does have long, sexy legs and a killer sense of humor. She just happens to be his best friend. His wicked awesome and completely platonic best friend.

But now his boss is having a destination wedding, and Noah is expected to attend…with Carly, his girlfriend.

Carly Randall has no interest in living out a rom-com plot. But Noah is her best friend, so she agrees to help. Still, once they arrive on Cape Cod, she can’t explain the sudden butterflies she feels when he looks at her that way. Or why she doesn’t mind when Noah’s hands stray a little south of her back.

What happens on the Cape stays on the Cape.

Except not really, not at all, and once their sexy faux-cation is over, Noah and Carly return to a reality where everything’s changed. Going for it would mean risking their friendship…but forgetting how good they were together just isn’t an option.

Release Date: August 5, 2019

Carina Press

Cedar Street #1

Contemporary romance

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza's Review:

One Summer Weekend is the first story in the new Cedar Street series from Shannon Stacey.  I love a friends-to-lovers troupe like crazy so One Summer Weekend is like book crack to me.

Noah and Carly have been best friends pretty much since they each can remember. In the words of so many characters from Grey's Anatomy, they are each other's person. However, Noah now needs Carly to pose as his pretend girlfriend for his boss's destination wedding, as Noah has told him they have been dating for 6 months. 

I loved both Noah and Carly and found them each to be smart and funny. I loved they had been best friends forever, but could totally tell they would both fall fast and hard once they moved beyond friendship. As this was a novella length story, the pacing was pretty fast for them to move from friends only to lovers, yet it worked for me. I could feel the love they felt for one another from the beginning, even when they each felt it was only friendship. They had great chemistry and it really burned hotter the more time they were at Cape Cod...their idea of what happens at the Cape stays at the Cape had me cracking up laughing and feeling all the happy sighs the more they were together.

One Summer Weekend was a fast, fun, and easy read. It is a novella length story, so everything moves pretty fast, and it works well. I loved the characters and seeing them move from friends to lovers. I can't wait to hopefully see more of these characters in future books in this series. Shannon Stacey has been an auto-buy author for me since I read her very first book and One Summer Weekend only made me want more stories from her.

Rating: 4 Stars (B+)

FLARE UP (BOSTON FIRE #6)

Nursing a broken heart while everybody around him seems to be drowning in happiness has Grant Cutter wondering whether staying with Engine 59—or even Boston Fire—is in his future. It’s tempting as hell to pack up what fits in his Jeep and hit the road. But then a 911 call brings the woman who shattered his heart back into his life, and he knows he won’t ever be able to fully leave her in his rearview mirror.

For a few months, Wren Everett had thought the nightmare of her past was behind her and she might live happily ever after with Grant. Until she got the phone call letting her know the time her ex had spent in jail for assault hadn’t cooled his temper or determination that she belonged with him. Cutting ties with Grant was the hardest thing she’d ever had to do, but it was also the only way to keep him safe.

Now that Grant is back, he’s not letting Wren push him away again. And even with the trust issues between them, Wren dares to hope she and Grant might have a future together after all…if they’re willing to fight for it. 

Release Date: January 29, 2019

Carina Press

Boston Fire #6

Contemporary Romance

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza's Review:

Flare Up is the newest book in the Boston Fire series from Shannon Stacey. We finally get Grant and Wren's second chance story with this book, and it was worth the wait. While the series is set in Boston, the family-feel is strong in these books as the fire fighters have become a family.

Wren completely disappeared from Grant's life with no explanation just as Grant was looking at rings to propose. Grant went off the rails a bit after Wren disappeared and only his fire fighter family got him back on track. So when they get the call for a fire in a building in a really bad section of town, Grant is completely shocked to have to save Wren's life. 

Wren left Grant and all her new friends because of an ex-boyfriend, who has spent time in jail for assault. I have to admit, that was one of my only issues with the story. I felt like if she really loved Grant she would have been open about her past to him. I also didn't really love that a convicted felon somehow crossed state lines with no notice, even knowing it happens daily. I just expected Grant to figure out what was going on a bit sooner.

I adored Grant and Wren as a couple. There was something about them that just gave me all the happy sighs and feels. Add in their smoking hot chemistry and they were the perfect couple, even with all they had to work through together. 

I've enjoyed Flare Up and can't praise the entire series enough. There is romance, action, and a bit of suspense in each book and I love getting to visit with couples from other books in the series with each new installment. I highly recommend this series of books to any contemporary romance fans that love reading about sexy fire fighters.

Rating: 4 Stars (B+)

HOT RESPONSE (BOSTON FIRE #4)

The men of Boston Fire are back and hotter than ever! Don’t miss this brand-new novel from New York Times bestselling author Shannon Stacey.

Gavin Boudreau lives for the job, but he also believes in “work hard, play harder.” As the youngest guy in Ladder 37, he figures he’s got plenty of time before settling down becomes a priority. Soft, pretty women who aren’t looking for promises are exactly his type, and he’s comfortable with that. Working with a gorgeous EMT isn’t going to change who he is.

The last thing Cait Tasker needs in her personal life is a firefighter whose challenges on-scene have been a thorn in her side from minute one. Her plate’s too full for a man anyway. Back in her childhood home to help her family cope with an unexpected tragedy, she’s got enough to handle without throwing a hot, testosterone-laden fireman into the mix.

As long days on the job lead to long nights together, Gavin and Cait will discover how far temptation can take them—and what happens when the one you thought was all wrong for you turns out to be the person you can’t live without. 

Release Date: April 24, 2018

Carina Press

Boston Fire #4

Contemporary Romance

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza's Review:

I really enjoyed Hot Response. Shannon Stacey writes such strong heroes and heroines and I found myself wanting to know Gavin and Cait better from the moment I started reading. I have to say I loved Gavin from the moment he appeared on the page. It was funny, smart, and caring. He seemed like the type of guy you could always count on when needed. I honestly felt like he was way more mature than his age and thought he was just a really good guy. The fact his was a smoking hot fire fighter, was really just icing on a very yummy cake.

I will be honest and say I liked Cait from the moment we met her, but worried her putting herself second to her family would be an issue in the long run. I think the fact that both Gavin and Cait were first responders made it so much easier for them to date with few issues. I loved that Gavin offered up his apartment to Cait if she needed time away from her family even before they had their very first date. I also loved that once they went on their first date, they seemed to want to be together as much as possible. Again, Cait putting her family above herself seemed to come up again and again. I understood her wanting to be there for them after her mom lost her husband and her brother lost his dad, but I really felt like they had started to take advantage of her giving nature without really realizing it. I have to say I loved that Cait and her family came to the same conclusion about their lives at the same time. 

I really did like Gavin and Cait as a couple. They got each other from the very beginning. They had a pretty instant attraction to one another from the very first moment they met. I loved once they made love for the first time, they pretty much couldn't keep their hands off each other. I felt a real connection with them, even when they didn't see eye to eye on something. I love reading a story when I fall in love with he couple, and Hot Responsewas one of those books.

Hot Response is another winner in the Boston Fire series from Shannon Stacey. I enjoyed each of the books in the series so far and look forward to more books in this series in the future.

Rating: 4 stars (B)

WHAT IT TAKES (KOWALSKI #10)

Revisit all of your Kowalski favorites while falling in love with a brand-new romance in this reunion novel from New York Times bestselling author Shannon Stacey

Laney Caswell is looking for a change. A decade's worth of less-than-happy matrimony behind her, she wants peace—movies, books and, best of all, a new job at the Northern Star Lodge in Whitford, Maine. Spending the summer living in a camper is her chance to rediscover what makes her happy, and a perfect transition to her new life.

Being a paramedic in Whitford is nothing like Ben Rivers's city life, but when Josh Kowalski offers him the job, the lure of his hometown is too much to resist. Also too much to resist: Laney Caswell. Ben always thought he'd have a wife and kids, a happy family like the Kowalskis have all built, but he never made time in his life. Now he's found a woman who draws him like no other and helps him dream again—and the last thing she wants is a husband.

When the annual Kowalski family camping trip is moved to the Northern Star, both Ben and Laney are surrounded by the kind of happiness they've always wanted but never had. It just might be theirs—if they can put aside the past and reach for it together.

Release Date: February 28, 2017

Contemporary Romance

Carina Press

Kowalski Family #10

Review copy provided by publisher

I was super excited to get a Kowalski vacation of doom. The Kowalski family series is one of my favorite ever. I loved getting to spend time with the entire family, and seeing how the family has grown since the last book.  I will say if you haven't read the rest of the series, you will be lost with all the family dynamics if you try and start with this story. I highly suggest starting with the first book in the series, Exclusively Yours.

With all the members of the Kowalski clan in one book, there was lots going on and I'll admit it was hard to keep up with the growing family at times, but I loved every minute with them. What It Takes also had a budding romance between Laney and Ben. While I liked both Laney and Ben as individuals, I had trouble with them as a couple for most of the book. Ben and Laney didn't seem to be on the same page to start a relationship. Laney had just ended her marriage and not ready for anything serious, while Ben was at the point in his life that he was ready for a serious relationship. I thought Laney and Ben had great chemistry, but had trouble buying into them as a couple for the majority of the book. I did love that Laney received immediate acceptance into the Kowalski family, which was so nice as her own parents didn't support her decision to divorce her ex-husband. I also loved that Ben's family also accepted Laney so quickly. 

I did end up liking Ben and Laney as a couple by the end of the book. I think since there was so much focus on the Kowalski family, their story took a bit of a backseat at times and it took me until about the last 20% of the story to really become invested in their relationship. 

Rating: 3.5 Stars (B-)

HOLIDAY WITH A TWIST

After a messy breakup, Leigh Holloway is ready to start her life over. Until her parents put the family home on the market and call her back for one final, memory-making Christmas. The last thing she wants to do is deprive her mom of the perfect holiday, so she'll lie her way through the visit and worry about her future in the New Year. Too bad the only bar in town is owned by a guy she seriously wronged in high school. 



Leigh's best friend broke Croy Dawson's heart, and Croy knows it was Leigh's fault. They've never liked each other, but Croy isn't cruel: he'd never turn away a pretty woman in need of some family-Christmas fortification. He doesn't expect her to drink just enough candy-cane martinis to tell him her secrets—and he definitely doesn't expect to get caught up in her holiday madness. 



Despite the surprising love and laughter, Croy and Leigh can't escape the truth: he can't walk away from his family obligations and she has a life and career to reboot. But anything is possible if your holiday comes with a twist… 

Release Date: November 21, 2016

Carina Press

Contemporary Romance

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza’s Review:

Holiday with a Twist was a fun, fast-paced novella-length story from Shannon Stacey. Leigh Holloway is going home for Christmas to spend one last Christmas in the family home before her parents move to a smaller home. She has broken up with her fiancé and is looking for a new job, but decides to hide those facts from her family not to put anything else on them. 

Croy Dawson and Leigh Holloway were friends growing up until Croy's girlfriend, who was Leigh's best friend broke his heart. Leigh always felt a little responsible, so they haven't spoken in years. I really liked they had a history, though they had never been more than friends. I loved they seemed to pick up their friendship right where it had ended and it felt completely natural to me. I loved that Leigh had told Croy about what was going on in her life before sharing with her family and he was just fine with keeping her secret.

I really liked the pace at which Croy and Leigh moved from friends to more. While they had never seen themselves as more than friends when they were younger, there was a natural progression to their relationship. I did fear that Leigh keeping her secret too long would end up being a big issue for me, especially once I felt like she and Croy were heading to a real relationship. Happily her family discovered the truth before it was too big an issue for me.

I'm a big fan of the friend to lover trope and felt like Ms. Stacey did a wonderful job with in in Holiday with a Twist. I highly recommend this story to help get you into the holiday spirit this year.

Rating: 4 Stars (B)

A FIGHTING CHANCE

All work and no play makes Adeline Kendrick a dull girl, so when she heads to a casino resort for a friend's bachelorette weekend, she's ready to have a good time. Until she runs into Brendan Quinn, professional fighter and the one who got away—the one her family drove away—and things take a turn for the interesting.

Running into his ex won't shake Brendan. Even if it brings up the old pain of loving her when she was only slumming. Even if she looks really good. In fact, what better way to get over the past than to take advantage of the still-sizzling chemistry running hot between them? He's there to win an MMA fight, but he won't say no to a little physical relief of a different kind.

But when the weekend is over, Adeline isn't ready to give up her second chance that easily. Brendan is still the one for her, no matter what her family thinks. Now, if only she can convince him of that…

Release Date: February 1, 2016

Carina Press

Review copy provided by publisher through NetGalley

A Fighting Chance is a novella length story from author Shannon Stacey, so it was a really fast-paced story. I love the second chance/reunion troupe, so A Fighting Chance was right up my alley.

Adeline (Del) and Brendan had broken up 6 years ago and hadn’t seen each other since their break up. As Brendan broke up with Del, I have to say I found myself laughing out loud when Del sees Brendan’s MMA fight picture for the first time and she flip the picture off.  It was the perfect reaction to seeing your ex’s picture.

As both Del and Brendan were both still wildly attracted to one another, and not in another relationship, I knew it wouldn’t be long before they acted on their attraction. I felt like Del wanting one more night with Brendan totally fit her personality and her need for closure to their relationship. I actually wanted them to find a way to make a relationship work. They had great chemistry and once they started talking about what had happened in the past, I felt like pretty much started over.

I loved that Del made time for Brendan, even though she was there for a girl’s weekend. She didn’t let him interrupt her time with her friends, but he still stayed the whole time just in case she had a free minute. I absolutely adored their sexy text messages and he would find her just for a kiss.  I even loved that Del confronted her dad for his talk with Brendan all those years ago and had no problems telling him about her real feelings for Brendan back then and the fact she still had real feelings for him now.

A Fighting Chance was a fun and sexy reunion story. It was a really fast read for me and even being a novella length book, it was a very satisfying story.