The Wanted One

Tawdra Kandle

Mar 2024 · Love in a Small Town Book 25 · Tawdra Kandle Romance

About this ebook

He’s the gruff single daddy who desperately needs help. She’s the poor little rich girl who’s determined to start over on her own. A marriage of convenience just might be crazy enough to work for both of them.

After leaving a relationship that left my soul numb, I’m back in my hometown looking for a fresh start. But it turns out that my past could get in the way of building a new dream.

When friends introduce me to Wyatt, a rugged farmer who wears his grumpiness like a badge of honor, I’m not impressed. But maybe he's grouchy for a good reason: his wealthy in-laws are trying to take away his daughter. To protect Ruby, Wyatt needs a plan—an unconventional one.

That's where I come in. A temporary marriage in name only is a solution to both of our problems.

But that was before I discovered Wyatt’s kindness, his humor, and his sexy grin. It was before he displayed some unexpected jealousy over me. It was before I realized I was falling hard for him.

Now temporary isn’t going to be long enough–and our marriage isn’t in name only anymore.

Ratings and reviews

Putting family first Lucie is back in her hometown, looking for a fresh start, wanting to open her own coffee bar and proving to herself that she doesn't need the family that never wanted her. Wyatt is on his own with his three-year-old daughter after her mother decided she didn't want to be tied down, but with his full-time nanny retiring and his ex-in-laws suing for custody, he needs to find someone immediately to step in to help. When their plethora of mutual friends (this is book #25, remember) decide that the answer to Wyatt's need for help with his daughter is the same as the answer to Lucie's need for stability to secure funding for her business venture, they decide to accept the obvious solution and get married, as long as everyone agrees it's just a marriage of convenience. I adored Wyatt's poetic heart and Lucie's can-do attitude despite the hurdles she faced. These two really worked well together and I enjoyed watching their love story grow into something solid. I loved getting to know all the various residents of this small town, and loved how they all rallied around Wyatt and Lucie to provide them each with all the support they could ask for. I thought the first conflict - Wyatt's explosive misunderstanding - was eventually resolved well, though it didn't show him in the best light. The third-act break-up, however, had timing that even a blind man could see coming and involved a completely unnecessary overreaction that was so out of character it made me hate that character just a little bit, making their HEA all the more shaky for this show of immaturity. Still, they do appear to be well settled in by the time we're introduced to the teaser for the author's next book. If you've read any of the earlier books in this series, you don't want to miss this one. Quite a few of the previous couples are highlighted, giving further insights into their own HEAs. I enjoy this author's writing style and memorable characters, and recommend this book for anyone who loves contemporary romances. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

This is one of the best "romance" stories that I've read so far this year. Full of the good feels, heartfelt emotion and some steam. All very well blended with reassuring and insightful supportive characters and without a flood of deviance from the relationship building, bonding and the crescendo HEA. Definitely worth reading and re-reading to bash in the glow of the blossom of love portrayed by this couple. Great scenario for such a great couple, with great chemistry, couldn't put it down.

Tawdra Kandle delivers believability, captivating plots & emotional connection. Wyatt & Lucie were realistic & well developed, I felt drawn to each of them. The support cast are wonderful, especially Ruby (what a cutie). A rocky start but they do find their way. Heartfelt, a little humour, some spice & a roller coaster journey of emotion. These opposites & their marriage of convenience give us a brilliant way to spend our time reading while they find their HEA.

About the author

Tawdra Kandle is the author of over 140 romances that span genres from contemporary through paranormal. Her engaging and realistic characters bring readers back time and again to devour the steamy love stories she spins. Fan favorites include The Anti-Cinderella Chronicles, Love in a Small Town, and The Sexy Soldiers military romances. Though by turns an Army brat, an Army wife and a Jersey girl by birth, Tawdra now lives in central Florida with her Anglican priest husband, a sweet pup, and a snarky cat. Assorted grown children and two perfect granddaughters live nearby. When she’s not writing, Tawdra is often found in the kitchen preparing farm-to-table food while she cooks up her next love story!