Stephanie  Archer

In Your Dreams, Holden Rhodes

nanafark

She was so pretty, and I was so, so fucked.

Hannah looked up at Wyatt with a private, hesitant smile, and he winked at her. It was that silent communication thing Emmett and Avery did all the time. I looked away.

I missed my friend and my old neighborhood with the coffee shop where the barista always gave me a free cookie. I missed the energy of the city, buzzing and bustling.

“If she doesn’t want to get married, we wouldn’t be a good fit.”

She snorted. “That’s narrow-minded.”

Narrow-minded? I thought back to last weekend at Katherine’s celebration of life, surrounded by all the happy, married couples.

“Why would anyone go for Holden when they could have one of his brothers?”

My throat worked and I stared at the condensation on my water glass. “I want someone to choose me.” My shoulders lifted in a shrug and I glanced back at her. “I like the idea of a commitment.”

The reality of this dating thing became clear. I’d have to talk to people. Socialize. Smile. Be friendly. I couldn’t work as much. I hated that she was right about that. I’d have to talk to person after person, making awkward conversation, until one person could stand me.

“Those magazines you read were garbage. I saw the covers. They were designed to make you feel bad, like you weren’t enough.” He glanced at me before his gaze returned to the coast. “I didn’t want you to think you weren’t beautiful.”

“Where do you see yourself in ten years?”

In my home, with a partner who I loved and who loved me. A couple kids, and a dog or a cat, whatever my person wanted. I didn’t care, as long as she was happy.

Why spend time with anyone else when you can hang out with the love of your life?

She tasted like the fucking antidote to everything bad in the world.

My arms wrapped around her back and my soul evaporated into the atmosphere.

Her chest shook with laughter, her eyes shone bright, and I wanted to marry her. Tomorrow. Tomorrow evening at the very latest. The morning after if we were too busy in bed. I could wait a day. 

I was falling for her. Or maybe I’d fallen for her years ago and never gotten over her. I’d never liked a woman the way I liked her. While she was in town, there was no way for me to tear myself away from her. She was too addictive, too sweet, silly, fun, and interesting, and spending time with her made me the version of myself I wanted to be. 

Across the room, Holden’s gaze met mine. He was talking with Emmett and his dad but watching me. He shot me a wink and my stomach flopped. A dozen butterflies fluttered inside my stomach.

“How does it feel to have been married forty years?”

“Like the most natural thing in the world. I married the person I like more than anyone. We’ve changed throughout the years and I always worried we’d change in different directions, but we’ve grown around each other.”

I thought back to myself last year when I had said yes to Grant. How could I have been so impulsive? I didn’t even picture a life with him. I just got swept away. I was so excited someone wanted me to marry them, I didn’t even stop to think if I wanted him.

“You never told me why you avoided me all summer,” I said softly.

“You’re perfect.” His lips moved against my finger. His gaze pinned me, simmering and filling with liquid heat. His throat worked. “You were perfect and you were leaving, and I had the most intense crush on you. Still do.”

I studied him, threading my fingers through the hair at the back of his neck, wondering what the hell his big flaw was.

I loved her like this. My dream girl. Smiling for real at me, laughing and naked and open with me. Letting me please her and work for her.

I’d work for her. I’d work for her so fucking hard.

I always liked it when she said my name but this one drifted out of her mouth, floated onto my chest, and sunk into my heart, where it would stay for the rest of my fucking life.

 bloomed in my chest, warm and tight. I was head over fucking heels, stars in my eyes, head in the goddamned clouds 

catalina

Stephanie Archer

The deal is simple: he’ll pay off my debt if I find him a wife.

Holden Rhodes is grouchy, unfairly hot, and has hated me for years. He's the last person I'd chose to inherit an inn with. As we renovate the inn and practice his dating skills, I see a different side of him.

Was I all wrong about Holden?

When we add ‘friends with benefits’ to the deal, our chemistry is so hot the sparks could burn down the inn. Holden’s a secret romantic, and I’m secretly falling for him.

I’m terrible at bartending, a video of a bear stealing my toy went viral, and everyone in this small town knows my business, but Holden Rhodes is so much more than I expected.

I don't want him to find love with anyone but me.

A grumpy-sunshine friends-with-benefits spicy small town romantic comedy with an HEA. This is book 3 in the Queen's Cove series, but can be read as a standalone.

A Spicy Small Town Grumpy Sunshine Romance (The Queen's Cove Series Book #3)

It was an adorable, lovely and spicy read.

I enjoyed myself throughout the whole book and i was so happy to get to know Holden better. He was the most misunderstood of them all and i was excited to get to know him in depth. Also, it was so touching seeing him being such a romantic 🥹.

The FMC, Sadie, was a great addition to the already familiar characters of Queen’s Cove and i liked her vibe. 

Seeing the characters of the previous books is always one of my favourite parts in a series like that and it always makes a book a whole lot better.

I don't have much to say, Stephanie’s writing is one of my favourites, but… HOW ANNOYING IS MIRI, anyway? How can people even like her? Being so noisy and gossipy? I wanted to slap her so much!

Also, i’d like to see them visiting more what happened in the past between them that summer. We see them circle around it but not talking about it so the one can understand the thoughts and feelings of the other. I felt as if i needed more detail in it. It was something that clearly formed Holden’s needs and behaviour in the future so i believe it should be explained in more depth. 

Finally, i liked the easter eggs for the next book. This story had the least easter eggs in the previous books i'd say, but this book made me can't wait for the next one.

I recommend it, it was another beautiful book of hers!

It was an adorable, lovely and spicy read.

I enjoyed myself throughout the whole book and i was so happy to get to know Holden better. He was the most misunderstood of them all and i was excited to get to know him in depth. Also, it was so touching seeing him being such a romantic 🥹.

The FMC, Sadie, was a great addition to the already familiar characters of Queen’s Cove and i liked her vibe. 

Seeing the characters of the previous books is always one of my favourite parts in a series like that and it always makes a book a whole lot better.

I don't have much to say, Stephanie’s writing is one of my favourites, but… HOW ANNOYING IS MIRI, anyway? How can people even like her? Being so noisy and gossipy? I wanted to slap her so much!

Also, i’d like to see them visiting more what happened in the past between them that summer. We see them circle around it but not talking about it so the one can understand the thoughts and feelings of the other. I felt as if i needed more detail in it. It was something that clearly formed Holden’s needs and behaviour in the future so i believe it should be explained in more depth. 

Finally, i liked the easter eggs for the next book. This story had the least easter eggs in the previous books i'd say, but this book made me can't wait for the next one.

I recommend it, it was another beautiful book of hers!

Me gustó bastante pero odié la pelea estúpida. Me pareció innecesaria. 

Valeria 

The deal is simple: he'll wipe out my debt if I find him a wife. Holden Rhodes is grouchy, unfairly hot, and has hated me for years. Now we own an inn together. As we renovate the inn and practice his dating skills, I see a different side of him, though, and wonder if I was all wrong. When we add 'friends with benefits' to the deal, our chemistry is so hot the sparks could burn down the inn. Holden's a secret romantic, and I'm secretly falling for him. I'm terrible at bartending, a video of a bear stealing my toy went viral, and everyone in this small town knows my business, but Holden Rhodes is so much more than I expected, and now I'm not sure I want to leave. A grumpy-sunshine friends-with-benefits spicy small town romantic comedy with an HEA. This is book 3 in the Queen's Cove series, but can be read as a standalone.

Stephanie did it again, sweet romantic and funny. Usually i find reading romcoms a little cringey but this book made me laugh and fall in love at the same time. The deal between sadie and holden was ridiculous and unrealistic, it added to the charm. But, they way their love story evolved was as realistic as it gets. Looking forward to reading more of her books

Ale Treviño

Literally the best one yet! I was a bit iffy because I like when there are hints of who will end up with who, but Sadie was a great addition

This one feels 10x spicier than the previous two, so 👀👀

The one thing I didn't like was the continuous mentioning of the alien toy. I felt so bad for Sophie bc she was just trying to say it wasn't hers and no one listened to her

Holly

Literally the best one yet! I was a bit iffy because I like when there are hints of who will end up with who, but Sadie was a great addition

This one feels 10x spicier than the previous two, so 👀👀

The one thing I didn't like was the continuous mentioning of the alien toy. I felt so bad for Sophie bc she was just trying to say it wasn't hers and no one listened to her