Melissa Foster

Could the Bradens and Montgomerys get any hotter?! Do you have an iced tea? A fan? Maybe an ice pack? Or maybe just read this when you've got some me time because it is on fire! I absolutely loved the chemistry and banter between Trixie and Nick. What happens when you take two headstrong people and add a little romance? Fireworks. This is an amazing addition to the series, and in true Melissa Foster fashion, includes memorable characters in a captivating story that will have you turning show more pages until the end. Definitely my favorite out of all her books so far! show less

Harborside Nights introduced us to sexy, sensitive Tristan. Tristan has had horrible luck with the men in his life. They manage to hurt & devastate him. After being literally & figuratively screwed by Ian, Tristan declares he's taking a break from men. He's tired of being taken advantage of.

Enter sexy, tormented Alex. While he was laying wounded in a hospital bed, his beloved Grandmother died. She'd been trying to get him to visit for months, even years. Now he's in town to stay & isn't show more sure how he's going to survive the guilt.

"His white T-shirt is stretched so tight across his chest I can see every ripple of his shredded abs, and his deliciously defined biceps are seriously struggling to be set free from his short sleeves. "

OMG, what imagery! Ms. Foster manages to paint a wonderful picture with her descriptive prose. I never thought I could read a M/M story but I took a chance on this one because I've loved any book I've read from this author. I was curious to see what she'd do with this different genre. Obviously she's a master! I was pulled into the book from the beginning. She did a masterful job of detailing Alex's journey to accepting & forgiving himself for being injured & unable to be there for his grandmother when she died. Tristan's journey of self discovery is just as captivating & well written. Both main characters are strong alpha males who can only relax & show their sensitive sides with close friends & each other. Totally loved it!! show less

Opening up a Harborside Nights book is just like meeting up with your old friends, the excitement, the welcoming, the fun, the issues and more importantly the love they all give to one another, There is a warm softness to Melissa's writing that is addictive, after reading Catching Cassidy and feeling the whole friendly vibe of Harborside, I couldn't wait to dive straight back in with Delilah, although each can be totally read on their own as it briefly refreshes you on the main topics.

There show more is more to this story than romance, it carries depth with realistic scenarios that can effect everybody regardless of what your sexuality is, to be hesitant on reading this book simply because of the female/female romance would be such a shame.

Ashley and Delilah have the hots for each other, yet neither of them know. Delilah hesitates as she has never been with a girl and has the enormous pressure on her shoulders of the hostility people will treat her with. She carries the guilt of letting her parents down just before they died suddenly in a car crash, as she announced to them her sexuality and what she thought was the huge disappointment in their eyes. On the other side, Ashley has been hurt from a previous relationship and has sworn to herself never to fall into a similar trap. What they both don't realize is that love has it's own way of mending things.

The whole story takes the reader through many emotions, the joys life can bring, the amazing gift of true friendships and love, the constant worry of acceptance from others, the pains and sadness of self doubt and peer pressure, with all the stages of grief wrapped tightly around it all. One thing I hadn't expected was to shed a tear while reading, if only people were more open toward one another.

I also found myself thinking throughout the story of my own beliefs and as the author brings to light how as parents we might easily imprint our belief's in our child's mind without giving it another thought, not knowing what damage this really might cause them years down the line. It certainly made me think.

Discovering Delilah is a wonderful, and at times thought provoking, read that leaves you with a warm longing to read more from the Harborside friends. show less

Hearts at Play is part of a series, but I haven’t read all the previous volumes, so I started in with no preconceptions about the characters. That said, I was swiftly caught up the story of Hugh and Brianna; one a risk-taking driver known for his many women friends, the other risk-averse, eager to protect her fatherless child. Backgrounds are quickly and convincingly sketched, making this a great standalone romance, though it will probably encourage readers to find out more about the show more wonderful side characters.

With friends and fates conspiring equally, it’s hard to imagine how Hugh or Brianna might honestly fall in love, but romance has its own conspiracy, and this story proceeds with a pleasing sense of hope and mystery. Plans might be thwarted, but frustrations never rise too high, and gratification is sensibly delayed as true love brings real questions and doubts. “She’s different from anyone I’ve ever met. She’s more real. She’s responsible, sweet, careful. She’s very careful,” says Hugh. And this is a tale where love doesn’t have to leap into risk, though the bedroom scenes are complete and detailed with plenty of sensuality—and fun.

Life’s carousel spins full circle by the end of this novel, healing the past and offering a whole new outlook with even the chance to “believe in fairy tales.” It's a book that plays well, loves well, and reads like an enjoyable race into the happy ever after.

Disclosure: I can’t remember how I got it, but I’m offering my honest review. show less