Ask Me Why

Jodi Thomas · Marie Force · Shirley Jump · Virginia Kantra

Jul 2015 · Sold by Penguin

About this ebook

New novellas in the Green Mountain, Harmony, Southern Belle Book Club, and Dare Island series!

From four contemporary romance stars, stories filled with first kisses, first dances, and happily-ever-afters…

You’ll Be Mine by Marie Force: Will Abbott and Cameron Murphy are finally ready to tie the knot—as long as family, friends and a love-struck moose don’t get in the way.

Midnight Bet by Jodi Thomas: When cousins Rick and Lizzy Matheson of Harmony, Texas, wind up on the wrong side of an attempted shooting, they know they’re in deep. Still, the biggest danger is losing their hearts—Rick to an old flame and Lizzy to an old friend she’d never noticed before…

Wrapped Around Your Finger by Shirley Jump: Maggie McBride is just one of the guys in the hard-knocks world of construction. Until she’s dared to ask Nick Patterson to a wedding, enticing her to knock down some walls—and risk falling in love.

Carolina Heart by Virginia Kantra: Determined to leave her wild past behind, Cynthie Lodge is forging a new life for herself and her daughters—one that’s man-free and drama-free. But when her high school crush shows up on Dare Island, he’s determined to make her break her rules…

Ratings and reviews

Love ALL of Jodi Thomas, books. She never disappoint me ,can't put them down once I start reading. Great characters in this book. Wish the story was longer.

Midnight Bet – 4 Stars This was my first read by the author and I had no clue that there are several books in front of this novella. It took me a while to get into the story because I have no time vested in the series. I didn’t feel a connection to the characters and I didn’t really get into the book until about halfway through. When things did finally “click” for me, I was fascinated by the uniqueness that is Lizzie and her love interest. I loved the fragility of her character and her feelings towards the man who’s caught her attention. I also loved that he was equally fragile and didn’t fit the standard alpha male hero expectations, he exceeded them. What I didn’t like was Rick. I felt he was a little “holier than thou” and really wanted to punch him in the face. Granted, I haven’t read any of the previous books so his demeanor could have been business as usual, but I didn’t like him. I also didn’t understand the history he had with his lady love and couldn’t connect with them or feel any chemistry between the two. MIDNIGHT BET is a pretty good read. I think it will be a welcome addition for those who follow the series. I’ll definitely be putting the Harmony series on my TBR (to be read) list. You'll Be Mine – 5 Stars Marie Force delivers in this not-long-enough novella of Cam and Will’s wedding! The Green Mountain series is one of my favorites and I love visiting with the big, boisterous and crazy Abbott Family! There is lots of family time and LOTS of pre- and post-wedding sexy time scenes between Cam and Will. Cam’s father also plays an important role in the story and may have been bitten by the love bug himself. There’s also comic relief in the form of the youngest Abbott twins Lucas and Landon as well as a pushy, uninvited guest at the wedding reception. As always, I love the little sprinkles of The Beatles’ mentions and music. YOU’LL BE MINE is the perfect story to help tide us over until the next couple take the stage November 3rd. Wrapped Around Your Finger – 3 Stars This is another author that’s new to me. I really enjoyed the story. I loved the friends to lovers’ trope but I was so frustrated with Maggie. I thought I was bad at keeping my feelings locked up and not letting anyone in. Maggie had one heartbreak and completely sworn off love and men in any form. After a while I was begging Maggie to open her heart. It was a pretty good read and could actually be read as a standalone. Carolina Heart – 5 Stars Now this story is the gem of the anthology. I am a huge Marie Force fan and while I loved YOU’LL BE MINE, CAROLINA HEART takes the crown. I first met Cynthie Lodge in CAROLINA HOME, the first book in the Dare Island series. She is a waitress at a local restaurant who dresses a bit provocatively and has a reputation with men. Cynthie is also a single mom and has been trying to find a man to take care of her and her kids. She totally had her sights set on the oldest Fletcher son, Matt but his heart was meant for someone else. Throughout the series Cynthie has grown tremendously, taking the advice of her friend Meg Fletcher and gone back to college. Cynthie wants to be able to take care of her daughters and put them first instead of finding a man to care for them. On Dare Island, Cynthie is known for her beauty, not her brains. As fate would have it, Cynthie is on a field trip with her youngest daughter’s class when she crosses paths with Max Lewis, a kind and handsome man who went to high school with Cynthie. She was Max’s crush and still has the ability to knock him out. He knows Cynthie is beautiful, but he sees so much more in her. Cynthie didn’t think she’d have anything in common with a smart, nerdy college professor who seemed way out of her league. She even brushed him off several times but he remained tried and true. It just goes to show you that your happily ever after may not be exactly what you thought you wanted, but it could be more incredible than you ever dreamed.

Good

About the author

Marie Force is the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling, award-winning author of more than forty contemporary romances, including the Green Mountain series. She lives in Rhode Island with her husband, two teenagers and two feisty dogs, Brandy and Louie.

New York Times bestselling author Jodi Thomas is a fifth-generation Texan who sets many of her stories in her home state, where her grandmother was born in a covered wagon. She is a certified marriage and family counselor, a Texas Tech graduate and writer-in-residence at West Texas A&M University. She lives with her husband in Amarillo, Texas.

Shirley Jump is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Sweetheart Sisters novels and the new Southern Belle Book Club series.

A four-time Romance Writers of America RITA Award finalist, Virginia Kantra is the winner of numerous writing awards, including the Golden Heart, Holt Medallion, Maggie Award of Excellence and two National Readers' Choice Awards. She's the author of the North Carolina-based Dare Island romances.