Joy Lane came to Rosewood three years ago to get away from it all. Working at Woody’s Bar has helped her build a new life with the kind of people who don’t hold her status as a waitress against her. She was doing well enough until one night when her past came back with a vengeance – in the form of her ex, Charlie.
Charlie Montgomery was born and raised in Atlanta, but his family’s roots lie in Rosewood with the Chamberlain family. When Emmett and Maddie throw a holiday engagement party, his whole family comes into Rosewood to celebrate with their cousins. He never expected to run into his ex serving appetizers.
Christmas is a time for forgiveness, and Charlie is ready to put the past behind them in favor of a fun few days together before he leaves town. A short fling with her ex isn’t the worst idea Joy’s ever had, but when faced with the reason she ran the first time, it will be hard for them to celebrate the season
The greatest college rivalry to happen off the field.
Ivy Hudson and Blake Chamberlain are Rosewood High School’s IT couple, trying to make the best of their new long-distance relationship. She went to the University of Alabama, where the music composition program she needs is offered. He went to their state rival, Auburn University, where he’s the first string quarterback for the Tigers. As the stress levels grow in their individual career paths, it starts to overflow into their relationship. Blake is under an incredible amount of pressure, but can Ivy support the guy she loves while still managing to make the grade?
Note: This novella is a prequel to Facing the Music. Every second chance romance has a first chance that ends badly, and this is that story, so be prepared for the novella to end without a happy resolution.
A Rosewood Short Story (book 3.5)
This fun bonus short story bridges the gap between Rosewood books FEEDING THE FIRE and STIRRING UP TROUBLE. When Rosewood’s number one busy body Vera Reynolds lost out at the bachelor auction last Valentine’s Day, she thought her chance had passed. But handsome widower Bert Swenson has other ideas. Love is in the air this Fourth of July and this pair of sassy seniors might be ready to take the next step if they can just find the spark!
Maddie’s life is pretty close to perfect. Her new bakery is changing expectations in the sleepy southern town and her newly-purchased Victorian bungalow is a short walk away. There’s just one thing keeping her up at night—her unbearably noisy neighbor, Woody’s Bar. The frustratingly sexy owner, Emmett, seems to enjoy making Maddie crazy. But he mostly thinks the fancy pants baker needs to dislodge the stick up her ass. Why did she buy a house across the street from a bar if she needed peace and quiet?
When their fight lands them in front of the judge, they’re ordered to do several weeks of community service and learn to work together. As they scrub away the latest piece by the town’s scandalous “Penis Picasso,” the baker and the bartender slowly begin to see there’s more to each other than they’d like to admit. So what happens if they stop stirring up trouble and start falling for each other instead?
Pepper Anthony has always lived by one simple rule—never date a Chamberlain. The family practically owns the tiny southern town of Rosewood, but she’s not impressed or intimidate by them. At least outwardly. But Grant Chamberlain, town fireman and bad boy, isn’t used to rejection. Pepper has turned him down since high school, turning her into the woman he’s determined to have. It’s taken some time, but Grant is determined to finally win over the feisty red-headed hairdresser.
When Grant volunteers at the charity bachelor auction, he never expects Pepper to buy him. She hadn’t meant to, but a stray drink in her lap left her with a huge bill to the town and Grant at her disposal. Since she has to rob her home renovation budget to pay for Grand, she decides to use him for manual labor instead of a Valentine’s Day date. Grant is all too happy to fix up her new house, knowing that he’s even harder to resist when he’s sweaty and shirtless. Pepper can try to keep the hunky fireman at a distance, but the renovations, a town peeper, and a misunderstanding with pepper spray are all working against her to feed the fire.
Reviews:
“This is a fun-filled and steamy story featuring a hero who’s been crushing on the heroine for years – and who just happens to be a deliciously hot firefighter. If that’s not enough, there are also some laugh-out-loud moments, a dash of witty banter, a long-held family secret finally revealed and a peeping tom mystery. With a diverse cast of three-dimensional characters, Laurence’s latest has all the elements of a great small-town romance.” ~ 4 stars, RT Book Reviews
“Funny and sweet, sexy and charming, Feeding the Fire is a small town romance that is sure to grab your attention and not let go… overall this was a feel-good story that had me smiling and chuckling the whole way through. I tend to gravitate toward small town stories anyway, but this was a very realistically written storyline that had some intriguing subplots and secondary characters. I think the townsfolk drew my attention as much as our protagonists did… Do you like sexy & sassy bantering, hunky firefighters, and HEA’s that are so sweet they bring a tear to your eye? If so, Feeding the Fire is a perfect match for you!” ~ 4 stars, HJ Recommended review, Harlequin Junkie
High school sweethearts Ivy and Blake were the unofficial royalty of Rosewood. At least until their relationship imploded in college and both their lives were changed forever. Ivy turned to her music and channeled her emotions into becoming a rock star. Her angry song about their relationship was a hit, turning Blake into a laughingstock, costing him his future in the NFL, and his reputation around town.
When a tornado whips through the small, southern town, Rosewood rallies to rebuild and reaches out to their most famous residents for help. Forced back together for the good of their community and their careers, Ivy and Blake have no choice but to put aside their differences and finally face the music.
Reviews:
“So funny! This story is like getting a backstage pass to the secret lives of pop stars. Ivy and Blake are surprisingly realistic considering they are a famous singer and a former NFL football player, and the tension between them is electric. A quirky small town is the perfect backdrop for this romantic comedy and the author balances the mix of small town and celebrity life with skill.” – 4 Stars, RT Magazine
“Facing the Music is my first book by Andrea Laurence, but it definitely won’t be my last! Her writing style is witty and keeps you in your toes, while weaving a tale with the perfect amount of sweet romance…Fans of Reese Witherspoon (a la Sweet Home Alabama) will adore this story!”- Two Moms Reading Blog
“I fell in love from the first line of the book, and my joy continued throughout the entire story. From the kooky characters in the beauty shop, to the descriptive scenery of the town, to the struggle between Ivy and Blake, not to mention Ivy’s struggle with herself, this book fit the bill on all accounts!!!” – Barbara Vey, Heidi’s Picks of the Week
“The plot itself was masterfully composed. Each twist and turn kept me on the edge of my seat and made it difficult to stop reading, even for a moment. The storyline wasn’t too foreseeable, yet also not so erratic that it seemed unlikely. The tension and romance between Ivy and Blake in particular will have you reading until early hours of the morning with its intensity and complexity. I truly can’t fault the novel, and would recommend it to any fans of romance, an easy read, and a good laugh.” – From the Purple Matter
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