Tuesday, November 1, 2022

Architecture and Artistry by Nora Everly [Review]


Architecture and Artistry (Green Valley Library #11) by Nora Everly
Format: ebook
Source: provided for review
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: October 2, 2022

Green Valley Library
1. Love in Due Time
2. Crime and Periodicals
3. Prose Before Bros
4. Shelf Awareness
5. Carpentry and Cocktails
6. Love In Deed
7. Dewey Belong Together
8. Hotshot and Hospitality
9. Love in a Pickle
10. Checking You Out
11. Architecture and Artistry - Paperback | Kindle

Nora Everly
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):
Sadie Hill has a lot going on.

New job, twin boys, deadbeat ex, and a mother from hell.
Her life is chaos and no matter how hard she holds on, every plan she makes flies straight out of her grasp.

The last thing she needs is for her devastatingly hot co-worker to become her new neighbor. A distraction like Barrett does not fit into her precarious plans for the future.

Barrett Monroe has got it going on.

His wicked ex-wife is nothing but a memory, his daughter is back home where she belongs, and he loves his job.
His control-freak ways have paid off and he can finally relax into his perfectly scheduled life—alone, just how he wants it.

The last thing he needs is an irresistible single mom and her adorable kids to move in next door. Sadie was hard enough to stay away from when she was just his co-worker.

But one night spent stranded in a snowstorm together finds these two sneaking around, sharing stolen kisses, and losing their hearts.

Will they give into the flying sparks between them?
Or drive each other crazy fighting their feelings instead?
Thoughts on Architecture and Artistry: Sadie and Barrett are up! The oldest of the Hill sisters who is trying to put her life back together after her husband up and left without (much) warning and the sexy (and unbearably sweet) Monroe brother with a meddling mama and a whole lot of family.

Sadie has her hands full with her twin boys and dealing with all the drama her cheating almost-ex caused her. She doesn't have time to crush on her next door neighbor who also happens to be her co-worker. Sure, sure, she might like what she sees when she glances in his direction, but she absolutely doesn't have time to engage in anything more than that.

Well, you know, until she does.

On Barrett's end, he likes pretty much everything there is to like about Sadie. He likes her smart mouth and her competence and how she looks both around the office and at home. He might not be looking for a relationship, but he can't seem to resist the sexy Sadie.

A whole lot of family, a mama who has *plans* for her sons, another mama who can admit she didn't act as well as she could have toward her daughters, a cursed house, a lot of steamy looks, and two people who have to figure things out before they can end up together. *thumbs up*


Excerpt
“Hey, Barrett!” Clara shouted, wrenching me out of the storm cloud of bad memories and useless speculation I was about to get lost in.

“Barrett!” the boys shouted. “Play with us!”

I spun on my heel then checked my watch. He was early; he’d only been gone about fifteen minutes. “What’s wrong? Did something happen to you?” I asked without thinking, then froze. Damn it.

His dark eyes met mine and he grinned knowingly. “I got a cramp in my side.” He inhaled a deep sigh, his broad chest expanded on the intake, and it was all I could do not to gawk at him—muscles . . . so many muscles. He addressed the boys. “I’ll join you next time. I kinda hurt myself tonight.”

I could see his abs through his shirt, for the love of heck—but I managed to force my eyes into submission and snapped them back to his. “Oh, that’s too bad,” I breathed, at a loss for words.

“Yeah, I like to get at least thirty minutes in.” He raised his hands over his head in a stretch. I almost died at the sight of the strong corded muscles of his neck as he tipped his head back. And that jawline? It was absolute perfection, sharply defined and covered with the perfect amount of dark stubble, exactly how I liked it.

My eyes, of their own accord, drifted lower as his shirt lifted ever so slightly baring a sliver of his defined stomach. Then it became a battle between my eyeballs and my brain. I needed to avert the traitorous orbs but before I could, I caught a glimpse of the happy trail leading down to the bulgy good stuff.

I inhaled my own deep breath as I gave up and allowed my gaze to go on a journey over his hot-as-hell form. Six-foot-four inches of Barrett Monroe were taking my eyes on a trip, and I was in danger of embarrassing myself at the sight.

“Boys, bath time. Come on inside.” Clara took the ball from Flynn, tossed it to me, then led the boys inside the house.

“What—?” She couldn’t have planned Barrett’s side cramp. But she sure as heck planned the rest, leaving me out here alone with him like this. I scowled and clutched the ball to my chest instead of hurling it at her retreating back. I glanced sheepishly back at Barrett.

His grin had softened to a small smile. “I’m going to say this again, and hopefully it will come out better than that first Monday morning here in the driveway. You look different.”

“Yeah? Well, I don’t wear heels and makeup at home, Barrett. I’m a freelance hot mom and I make my own hours.” I couldn’t help but crack a defensive joke as I grumbled and adjusted my ponytail with one hand. “I don’t have time to get dolled up every time I go outside—”

“It wasn’t an insult, Sadie. You’re adorable right now, stunning in an entirely different way.” His eyes softened on mine, just like his smile had.

I found myself fighting a big dopey grin that was threatening to pop out and give my crush away. “Oh. Okay then. Well, thank you.” Unfortunately, I couldn’t control the red flush that rose over my cheeks or his knowing reaction to it.

He backed up a few steps, gesturing to the ball. “I’m feeling better. Show me what you got, stunner.”

“Stunner?” I allowed a small smile to cross my face. It was a non-flirty, totally neutral smile. Yeah, you keep telling yourself that, dummy.

His lips quirked sideways in a grin as he nodded. “Every time I get to see a different side of you, it stuns me.” He gestured to his heart and made the cutest mock-surprised face I’d ever seen in my life.

Instead of keeling over dead from being stunned myself and the resulting sudden heart palpitations, I spun the ball on my finger, let it go, then kicked it to him. He passed it back with a knee and my small smile turned huge. Barrett had skills too.


Grab your copy TODAY!



About Nora Everly
Nora Everly is a lifelong bookworm. She started reading the good stuff once she grew tall enough to sneak the romance novels off the top of her mother’s bookshelf and it has been non-stop ever since.

Once upon a time she was a substitute teacher and an educational assistant. Now she’s a writer and stay at home mom to two small humans and one fat cat.

Nora lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family and her overactive imagination.

Find Nora Everly online

Connect with Smartypants Romance

Posted by at
Labels: ,

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)