I’ve been thinking about writing this post since October 2016. Rebekah Weatherspoon sent me an ARC of So For Real on October 16, 2016. I read it shortly thereafter. I’d think everyone in the US remembers we were gearing up for a major election … and … welp. So there was a lot going on, and I remember reading So For Real – I had loved So Sweet. I believe I wrote a “First Look” (a review) of that book and for So Right at Heroes & Heartbreakers. (Remember that site?) I’m even blurbed in So Right because I loved it so much! But I remember reading So For Real and – it’s definitely real. Kayla Bradbury née Davis goes through a lot. From what I recall, she’s struggling with newly married life, with friends, with her new business, with life. I meant to review it, but was putting it off because I wanted to love it more than I did … and I just so strongly associate it with the election cycle. I haven’t gone back to re-read it for that very reason. (Unfortunately low key the whole series…) I’m definitely a “mood reader,” which is also why I comfort re-read recent favorites, and sometimes avoid “old favorites” because I’m scared they won’t stand the test of time. Or my bad mood.

I have a highly developed sense of guilt. Not only do I feel bad for not reviewing So For Real (and others) since 2016 … I still feel guilty for agreeing to review a book in like 2005 or 2006 and not getting around to it. (I think I started reviewing books online in ~02-03?) There was a lot of school … and life kicking my ass. Not just the election but a massive cycle of doctors (when I talk about “surgeon #12” sometimes it’s because I literally had to consult with more than 12 orthopedic surgeons across the country. I’m up to at least 14 now…) Then there were the major surgeries… I was thinking the other day that I was pretty much drugged and out of it for a good chunk of the dumpster administration. (Silver linings?) Anesthesia brain is very real too. Unfortunately, that’s also just part of it. Let’s not get into the rest though.

There are a number of books I plan to – or at least hope to review, regardless of how long ago. (Hey – I personally think reviewing backlist books has real merit – a lot of the time people missed them and would be interested in reading them.)

So … this is my apology to Rebekah Weatherspoon specifically, but also to the other authors where I’ve dropped the ball. I’m very sorry.
If you’re the ~revenge type (and let’s be honest, all of us have a little “Petty Patty” in us …) know that you probably live rent free in a good sized pocket of my brain.)

For my January TBR challenge I chose to review Crave by Evelyn Sola … but I had been planning to review Rafe by Rebekah Weatherspoon. I loved it. I know I was “late to the party” – but too often the “big blockbuster book” in Romanceland … :X just doesn’t work for me. Or all the hype lifts my expectations so high I end up feeling “meh” about a book I might’ve loved otherwise, so generally unless I get an early early ARC … I wait. (Which also – with life … I need the lead time of a few months to get a book read and reviewed. Sometimes I’ll ~forget about it … but sometimes I also read it, then don’t write the review immediately, and feel that I should re-read it again before publication/review date, so I’ll read it at least once more.)  Anyway. Back to Rafe. A lot of people already knew about it. It got a lot of buzz, so I wanted to mention another book.

But! Now I want to talk about Rafe. (Image and info below, not to the left.) I loved him! And the book! I listened to the audiobook. I’ve done very little text reading the past few months – so bless my newly acquired love of audiobooks. I definitely want to listen to it again – possibly read it in text as well. I loved that Dr. Sloan Copeland is a boss lady. Literally and figuratively. She’s Rafe’s boss (awkward – but not!), and she’s a surgeon who is simply kickass. She’s an amazing mother, has a great group of friends, a supportive albeit slightly smothering mother … She’s realistic enough to be relatable, but also has a next level good life – enough that it’s a low stress utterly and entirely feel good romance. As for Rafe Whitcomb … he’s who I’d call a toasted marshmallow hero. Slightly crusty and almost burnt exterior, but totally gooey interior. Appearances wise … he’s this giant tattooed guy. Not your first mental image when you think of “nanny.” But his heart is soft fluff. He’s so good with Sloan’s twins. And Sloan. Respectful but raunchy. Helpful, caring, and nurturing. Getting your own Rafe is “hashtag: life goals.”

I mean, the “content warning” is

**This stand-alone romance is fluffy. So fluffy. It’s fluff. Low. Angst. Fluff. featuring a large tatted, motorcycle riding ginger man, who bakes a mean bacon quiche and knows exactly how to wrangle clever six year olds while making their mom feel loved, loved, loved.**

– and truly, it’s the romance we want and need. (Low key the my “biggest issue” with the book is the quice cuz I’m very meh on quice – I loathe ~mixed eggs – but it kinda made me want quiche. I mean, I know, right?! Hell- this book makes me want to hug someone, and I’m not much of a hugger.

So if you haven’t read it yet, you should really pick up a copy of Rafe and settle in for a really enjoyable few hours. (The audiobook is 6 hours and 16 minutes.) And if you read it but haven’t in a while – treat yourself to a re-read.

I know I’ll be re-reading it. 😅 No promises on reviewing it, but never say never, right? And … you’ll definitely be seeing reviews of some of Rebekah’s other books here at ALBTALBS. Not just from the review crew, but from yours truly. Anyway, here’s the blurb/back cover copy of Rafe.

All Dr. Sloan Copeland needed was someone to watch her kids. What she found was the man of her dreams…

After a nasty divorce and a thousand mile move, Dr. Sloan Copeland and her twin daughters are finally getting the hang of their new life in Los Angeles. When their live-in nanny bails with no warning, Sloan is left scrambling to find a competent caretaker to wrangle her smart, sensitive girls. Nothing less will do.

Enter Rafe Whitcomb. He’s all of those things, not to mention good-natured and one heck of a whiz in the kitchen. He’s also tall, and handsome, and bearded, and ripped, and tatted, wrist to neck.

It doesn’t take long for the Copelands to invite Rafe into their home. Just as quickly, both Sloan and Rafe find themselves succumbing to a heady mutual attraction, neither of them wants to deny. With every minute they spend under the same roof, this working mom can’t help but wonder if Rafe can handle all her needs…

 

(And again. :X I’m sorry Rebekah!)

Incidentally at the time of this posting, A Cowboy to Remember by Rebekah Weatherspoon is on sale for $0.99! (Kindle – not sure about other formats.)

With a headline spot on a hit morning show and truly mouth-watering culinary skills, chef Evie Buchanan is perched on the edge of stardom. But at an industry party, a fall lands Evie in the hospital—with no memory of who she is. Scrambling to help, Evie’s assistant contacts the only “family” Evie has left, close friends who run the luxury dude ranch in California where Evie grew up. Evie has no recollection of them—until former rodeo champion Zach Pleasant walks into her hospital room, and she realizes his handsome face has been haunting her dreams . . .

Zach hasn’t seen Evie in years—not since their families conducted a campaign to make sure their childhood friendship never turned into anything more. When the young cowboy refused to admit the feelings between them were real, Evie left California, making it clear she never wanted to see Zach again. Now he refuses to make the same mistake twice. Starting fresh is a risk when they have a history she can’t recall, but Zach can’t bear to let go of her now. Can he awaken the sleeping beauty inside her who might still love him?