enemies to lovers

Rilzy Adams + Beach Reads + Adventures in Wilmington

June 9, 2023 by ReeseRyan

In Case You Missed It: Check out my chat with Rilzy Adams

I thoroughly enjoyed my recent chat with readers and Rilzy Adams—author of GO DEEP. It was such an honest, authentic conversation. She talked about how she got started writing, the challenges she’s faced, what she wishes she’d known at the outset of her career, and the issues she still struggles with as a creative.

I felt seen as an author dealing with many of the same struggles. Rilzy shared some invaluable insight, and we learned a lot from our conversation with her. Two of her comments stuck with me. The first was: “My worst day as an author is better than my best day as a lawyer.” That was a truly powerful statement, and it reminded me of how fortunate I am to do what I love. But my favorite quote of the evening was: “Discipline breeds motivation, not the other way around.” As an adult with ADHD who often struggles with productivity, I felt that DEEP.

Catch the replay of my chat with Rilzy Adams by clicking the graphic above or by clicking here.

Here’s What I’ve Been Doing

I spent a few days exploring Wilmington—the town Rett & Sin take a road trip to in RETURN TO HUMMINGBIRD WAY. We passed the Farmer’s Market where Sin encounters her ex, and we planned to go to The Copper Penny—where Rett and Sin had dinner followed by an unexpected kiss. But we didn’t make it there. I look forward to returning to Wilmington, NC soon. So I’ll be sure to visit both sites next time.

And while I didn’t make it to the Farmer’s Market or The Copper Penny, our hotel was on the boardwalk (pictured above), and we got to visit both Wrightsville and Kure Beach. We had a fantastic time, and it was a much-needed trip. I look forward to venturing there again soon.

What’s on your agenda for this summer? I’d love to hear about them in the comments below.

Get Return to Hummingbird Way now!

Here’s What I’ve Been Reading

While I was at the beach, I snuck in some reading. I’m reading Against the Currant a cozy mystery by Olivia Matthews. The protagonist’s family opens a bakery that specializes in making Caribbean treats like currant rolls, despite a rival baker threatening to shut them down because he considers this new bakery to be a threat to his business. The heroine is typically pretty low-key and doesn’t like confrontation. But she and her family have invested so much into this bakery, they can’t stand to see it fail. She stands up to the bully baker and they get into a very public argument. So when the cantankerous bakery owner—who had no shortage of enemies—ends up dead, guess who becomes the number one suspect in the awful man’s murder? Yep, you guessed it. Our mild-mannered protagonist must clear her name if she hopes to stay out of jail and protect her family’s investment in the new bakery.

If you enjoy cozy mysteries, fun family dynamics, and Caribbean culture, you’ll enjoy this story.

What are you reading right now? Tell me in the comments below.

Here’s What I’ve Been Watching

I’ve been watching lots of fun shows lately. If you’ve ever heard me talk about what I love, you probably already know I love a good mystery show. But lately, I’ve been on kind of a spy kick, too. I just got finished watching two great shows: THE NIGHT AGENT on Netflix and THE CITADEL on Amazon Prime. If you’re into Mission Impossible or The Bourne Identity, you’ll love both of these shows. What shows are you watching? Tell me in the comments below.

New Releases & Book Deals from Author Friends

His enemy’s little sister is the only person with the power to undo him.

Nothing rattles stone-cold FBI Agent Kai Roman. Not chasing down ruthless criminals. Not the grief of losing his wife years ago. Not even inadvertently being caught in the middle of a bank robbery.

Except Camila Garza is right beside him when danger strikes, and suddenly he’s the only person who can protect the off-limits beauty. No matter how much her older brother hates him.

And no matter how much he secretly wants her.

Camila knows she should hate Roman. He’s made it clear he doesn’t like her—or possibly anyone—one bit. But when they have to go on the run to save their lives, she begins to see past his icy exterior to the man who would do anything to keep her safe.

Including risk it all.

****

The Agent is the sixth and last standalone in the Intelligence Unit series, set in the shared world of Remington. Full of edge-of-your-seat action and scorching romance, this adversary’s little sister, grumpy hero, lovers on the run from danger romance will have you swooning and sweating. No cheating, no cliffhangers, all hard-fought HEA.

Flirting With Danger is a FREE short, sexy prequel to the full-length standalone, The Agent. It contains loads of banter, scorching heat, and ends in a cliffhanger that leads to the novel. Detective Kai Roman first appears in The Guardian. This prequel contains spoilers to that title.

For maximum enjoyment, recommended reading order is

1. The Guardian 2. Flirting With Danger 3. The Agent

Flirting With Danger

She’s the only woman who can bring him to his knees.

FBI Agent Kai Roman’s nickname is The Iceman.
He doesn’t do emotions, and after losing his wife in a tragic accident five years ago, he definitely doesn’t do anything as dangerous as love.

Impulsively flirting with his enemy’s little sister? That he does.
He just didn’t expect Camila to flirt back—or to want her so much.

But when the radio silence after their one night of wanting
ends in the two of them being caught in a bank robbery,
Roman finds himself having to protect the one woman he can’t have…

🌊 🏖 Craving a beachy escape? Joanne Rock has a great deal on her 3-book box set of sexy romantic suspense titles– all in memorable beach settings from Puerto Rico to Coronado ☀. Pick up the To the Rescue collection for just 99¢ while the deal lasts ~ https://books2read.com/rescuebox

Have You Read RETURN TO HUMMINGBIRD WAY

Have you read Sin & Rett’s enemies-to-lovers, high-school hate-crushes turned co-wedding planners and renovation collaborators story, RETURN TO HUMMINGBIRD WAY? If not, click the graphic above or click here to grab your copy and take your next adventure to Holly Grove Island. If you have, I’d love it if you would leave your honest review at your favorite review site(s) like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Google Play, or Goodreads. Your honest review helps more readers find the book. 😘

Until next time!

Reese Ryan. Colorful characters. Sinfully sweet romance.

Blending My Passions: Books, Food, and Music

October 14, 2022 by ReeseRyan

A small piece of me surfaces in every story that I write. And since books, food, and music are a few of the things I am passionate about, music and food often show up in the stories I write.

One of my favorite scenes in Engaging the Enemy is where Kayleigh teaches Parker—her former friend and fake fiancé—how to dance with Marvin Gaye crooning “I Want You” in the background. In The Billionaire’s Legacy, Benji and Sloane dance to L.T.D.’s “Love Ballad” at Blake and Savannah’s wedding. And in A Valentine for Christmas Julian and Chandra can’t resist going down the Soul Train line when McFadden & Whitehead’s “Ain’t No Stopping Us Now” begins to play.

And as for food…well my characters are always eating and drinking. From the fluffy, crispy, delicious waffles Parker and Kayleigh shared over breakfast at their mountain cabin to the meals Blake cooks for Savannah in Savannah’s Secrets or the gooey, decadent brownies Dallas and Zora shared in Waking Up Married the night before they awoke to discover that they’d gotten hitched at a Vegas chapel.

My latest release, Twice Faked—an HEA Collective Exclusive—gave me another opportunity to mash up my love of books, music, and food. The story is about a fading pop star and a celebrity DJ who find themselves faking a relationship again, just like in high school. Only this time the stakes are much higher than vying to be Homecoming King and Queen.

Karris Baker is trying to stave off the bad press after her breakup with her former boy band beau so it doesn’t detract from the publicity she’s trying to drum up to save her old high school in Atlanta, Georgia, which is dilapidated and on the verge of closing. Ward Hughes is tired of traveling the world and living in hotels. He wants to settle down in Atlanta and start the next phase of his career as a songwriter and record producer. So helping Karris write and produce her comeback album would be just the thing to help him switch tracks in his career. But as they fake a relationship to save their old school and revive their careers, they discover that maybe nothing about their relationship has ever really been fake.

I had so much fun writing Twice Faked—available exclusively through the Happily Ever After Collective patreon here. The story is a blend of fake relationship, enemies to lovers, and second-chance romance with lots of fun banter and a host of memorable secondary characters (something I also love.)

To get your copy, join the Happily Ever After Collective for as little as five dollars a month. You’ll get access to exclusive behind-the-scenes info, exclusive author chats, HEA Collective merchandise and so much more.

Read the second excerpt of Twice Faked below. Read the first excerpt here.

Twice Faked Excerpt #2

“So… about this proposal of yours that we date. For publicity reasons,” he added quickly.

“You’re considering my request?” Karris turned toward Ward. “What happened to ‘request made and denied’?” She mimicked his deep voice.

“You know you’re not helping your cause, right?” Ward furrowed one of his thick brows and frowned.

“Sorry.” Karris tucked her hair behind one ear. “Maybe I’m looking a gift horse in the mouth here, but you were so adamant about not doing it. What changed?”

Ward shifted his gaze from hers to his photos on the wall, then back to her again. “I’ve had a change in perspective.” He folded his leg, propping an ankle over his knee and resting his chin on his fist. “Tell me how you see this playing out?”

Between her own objections to this plan and Ward’s rejection, she hadn’t thought through the details.

“I just need to change the story out there about me. I was thinking we could go on a few dates. Be seen having brunch at Café Intermezzo and a few other spots around town. Be photographed at a nightclub or high-profile event in New York or LA—whichever you’d prefer.”

Ward stared at her with an unreadable expression, so she kept prattling on.

“You’re a very busy person, so I want to be respectful of your time and work around your schedule. It’ll take a little planning so we can leak our location to the right media outlets. Take a few photos with fans to ensure the sighting hits social media and the right blogs.”

“Will we be required to wear matching outfits?” Ward groused.

“I’m a solo act, sweetie. I don’t do matching outfits.”

One of Ward’s thick eyebrows shot up.

“Correction: I haven’t done matching outfits since we wore them in high school,” she clarified.

“Humph.”

Karris was beginning to think conversing with a tiger would be easier. At least the tiger would eat her and put her out of her misery.

Eat her?

Okay, now she was having indescribably naughty thoughts about those sensual lips of Ward’s.

And if you’re on TikTok or Instagram, don’t forget to follow me there.

Until next week!

Engaging the Enemy by Reese Ryan Available Everywhere

April 2, 2019 by ReeseRyan

It feels like I’ve been waiting forever to finally introduce Engaging the Enemy, Parker & Kayleigh’s love story, to you, but the day is finally here.

Engaging the Enemy by Reese Ryan — **Available now at all retailers.**

If you’ve read Savannah’s Secrets or The Billionaire’s Legacy–-the first two books in my Bourbon Brothers series, you’ll remember the brilliant but socially-challenged second-eldest brother, Parker Abbott. Parker understands facts, data, patterns, and forecasts. His fellow human beings? Not so much.

We also met his childhood friend turned enemy, Kayleigh Jemison, in Savannah’s Secrets. Kayleigh uses her quick wit and sharp tongue as a defense mechanism. A skill she honed as a kid who grew up feeling like an outsider for most of her life.

When Parker approaches Kayleigh with an offer too good to refuse, he unwittingly sets them both on a course that will change their lives forever.
Here’s the story:

“That’s the deal, Abbott. Take it…or leave it.”

How far will an ambitious heir go to secure his future?

Parker Abbott will do whatever it takes to be the next CEO of King’s Finest Distillery, even play fake fiancé to his childhood nemesis, Kayleigh Jemison. Yet as he and the fiery redhead get reacquainted, sparks fly and real passion emerges. But when her ex wants a second chance, who will Kayleigh choose?

AVAILABLE ON:

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An Engaging the Enemy Excerpt

“Talk to me, Kayleigh.” He needed to see the depths of those brown eyes to make sure he hadn’t sabotaged the progress they’d made. He gently lifted Kayleigh’s chin, and her gaze met his. “Why are you suddenly so agitated?”

“It’s nothing. I…” She sighed heavily as she slipped her hand from his. But rather than pulling away, she clutched his shirt with both hands and lifted onto her toes. Her eyes drifted shut as she pressed her lips to his.

***

Kayleigh Jemison was sure she’d lost her freaking mind. She was kissing Parker Abbott. Intentionally.

Parker seemed stunned at first. He’d gone still, allowing her to take control. But then his strong hands drifted to the back of her neck. His thumbs rested against her cheekbones as he kissed her.

The kiss started off tame and sweet as they felt each other out. But their tentativeness slowly gave way to the heat growing between them. He sucked on her lower lip before tilting her head, sliding his warm tongue inside her mouth and gliding it against hers.

She welcomed it with an involuntary sigh.

Parker was an excellent kisser. She could add that to the long list of things about him that surprised her.

He’d been utterly adorable as he’d struggled to learn to dance. But as they danced to a slow song together, in full contact, hips in motion, his lean, fit body pressed to hers, she couldn’t help wanting him to kiss her again. Something she’d fantasized about since he’d kissed her at his parents’ house.

The memory of that first kiss often flooded her brain, the sensations washing over her with the same intensity they had that day. Each time, she dismissed the prospect of repeating their mistake.

It was a colossally bad idea that would only complicate their arrangement. Yet she couldn’t help wanting him.

Download your copy now.

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Engaging the Enemy #Giveaway & #Excerpt

March 26, 2019 by ReeseRyan

Engaging the Enemy by Reese Ryan

The Bourbon Brothers are back!

🥃Enemies-to-Lovers

🥃Fake Fiance

🥃On Sale April 1

𝘼𝙣 𝙖𝙢𝙗𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙙𝙤 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝘾𝙀𝙊, 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙮 𝙛𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙖𝙣𝙘é 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙣𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙨.

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🥃#GIVEAWAY: http://bit.ly/EngagingGiveaway

🥃#REESERYAN Updates: http://bit.ly/2xITS6k

***

Kayleigh Jemison was sure she’d lost her freaking mind. She was kissing Parker Abbott. 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺.

Parker seemed stunned at first. He’d gone still, allowing her to take control. But then his strong hands drifted to the back of her neck. His thumbs rested against her cheekbones as he kissed her.

She welcomed it with an involuntary sigh.

Parker was an excellent kisser. She could add that to the long list of things about him that surprised her.

The memory of that first kiss often flooded her brain, the sensations washing over her with the same intensity they had that day. Each time, she dismissed the prospect of repeating their mistake.

It was a colossally bad idea that would only complicate their arrangement. Yet she couldn’t help wanting him.

#EngagingtheEnemy #ReeseRyan

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🥃GOODREADS: http://bit.ly/2CfcwFH

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🥃#REESERYAN Updates: http://bit.ly/2xITS6k

Engaging the Enemy Teaser

March 21, 2019 by ReeseRyan

𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐲 𝐛𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐑𝐲𝐚𝐧

The Bourbon Brothers are back!

🥃Enemies-to-Lovers

🥃Fake Fiance

🥃On Sale April 1

🥃PREORDER: https://amzn.to/2Twl99J

🥃GOODREADS: http://bit.ly/2CfcwFH

🥃#GIVEAWAY: http://bit.ly/EngagingGiveaway

🥃#REESERYAN Updates: http://bit.ly/2xITS6k

“So, where were we?” Kayleigh seemed distracted and her hair looked even wilder than it had when she’d disappeared behind the curtain. As if she’d just tumbled out of bed and she hadn’t been alone.

He swallowed hard, fighting off the image of Kayleigh in bed that immediately filled his brain.

𝘍𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘴, 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘳. 𝘍𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘴.

“I’d offered you fifty percent more than the assessed value.”

She froze for a moment, cocking her head before a smirk curled one corner of her mouth. “I remember now. You asked what figure would make me happy, and I said—”

“I know what you said, Kayleigh, and it’s unacceptable.”

“Then buy someone else’s building instead.” She stared at him defiantly.

The number-one rule of negotiating was be prepared to walk away. Every salesperson understood that. But his family hadn’t given him that option. This building had once belonged to his mother’s family. They’d run a tiny café here, and now his father wanted to help his mother reclaim a portion of her family’s history by creating a flagship restaurant here, branded with the King’s Finest name.

It was going to be a surprise. His mother didn’t know, but his father had already purchased the two other buildings on the block and made the sellers sign confidentiality agreements. But without Kayleigh’s building—the cornerstone of the entire project—it simply wouldn’t work.

Closing this deal was the leverage he needed to make his father realize that naming his older brother, Blake, as his successor at King’s Finest, simply because he’d had the good fortune to be born first, would be a grave mistake.

Blake was a good person, a great brother and an excellent operations manager. But neither Blake nor their brother Max possessed the killer instinct the CEO position called for. His sister, Zora, did have that killer instinct. More so than he, perhaps. But what she lacked was the ability to control her emotions. With Zora, everything was personal. She was much like Kayleigh in that way.

He had to have this building, but Kayleigh didn’t know that. So maybe if he showed her that he was willing to walk away, she’d come to her senses.

Parker stooped to pick up his attaché. “Sorry we couldn’t come to an agreement. Maybe it would be better if we went with new construction in that shopping center. I’m sure my brother will give us a good deal.”

Parker crossed the room under Kayleigh’s cold stare, waiting for her to stop him.

She didn’t.

He turned the doorknob and stepped one foot onto the sidewalk, the bell jingling above him.

Still nothing.

“You really don’t have anything else to say?” Parker turned back to her.

“Don’t let the doorknob hit you where the good Lord split you.” She grinned, her eyes shimmering with amusement.

#EngagingtheEnemy #ReeseRyan

Pre-order your copy here.