Review: Checking You Out by Ann Whynot

Checking You Out by Ann Whynot
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via the author, all opinions are my own.

While this is part of the Green Valley Library series, you can read it as a standalone.  I do recommend reading [book:Dewey Belong Together|56037396] to get Max and Jonathan's backstory, but it isn't necessary.

This follow's Norman and Lois, who knew each other as teenagers from afar.  Norman is Jonathan's best friend and business partner, while Lois is Max's best friend and through circumstances has come to live in Green Valley with her.  Lots of things have happened to Norman and Lois in the 10 years they have been apart when they knew each other as Peily and Deathdrop in the video games they played online.  Life has taught them both many lessons the hard way, but circumstances have brought them together again and given them a second chance at love.

This is a fairly clean romance.  The intimate scenes are behind closed doors with mentions of sex between the characters, but nothing occurs in much detail on the page.  Sometimes you need that in a romance.  I appreciate that Smartypants Romance puts a varied level of romances from not so steamy to super steamy, so there is something for everyone.

I really enjoyed Norman and Lois.  I also really enjoyed that Norman was a disabled veteran.  As a veteran myself, you don't see many vets represented in books, especially ones with chronic conditions.  Sometimes disabilities are manageable while other days they are not.  You don't have to be a veteran to suffer from chronic pain or a disability, and I appreciated that the author has tackled some tougher topics in her books when it comes to disabilities and mental health.  I also really enjoyed Lois's storyline as a single mom, who guards herself and her daughter above all else but will also help anyone who needs her.  I really enjoyed the development of their relationship as they got to know one another again as adults.

This was a great second chance, slow burn romance.   

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BLOG TOUR: CHECKING YOUR OUT by Ann Whynot & Smartypants Romance

 

Checking You Out, an all new second-chance small town romance from Ann Whynot, is now available in Kindle Unlimited! 

Lois Washington is at the end of her rope. Struggling as a single mother in an apartment the size of a closet is not the New York City adventure she dreamed of in her starry-eyed youth. When her job goes on the chopping block, she is ready for a major life change. Joining her best friend in Tennessee to become the newest employee at the Green Valley Public Library isn't exactly where she thought life would take her, but she feels up for the challenge. Only this relocation comes with more than she bargained for.

Norman Grant has had a string of online dating disasters back in Florida. Dealing with chronic pain, he's concluded that finding a woman who is understanding about his war wounds just isn't in the cards. That is, until he becomes quite taken with the single mother who's also a new arrival in Green Valley. The catch? Things are not quite what they seem. 

When the past and present collide, Norman and Lois must face painful reminders from their youth. Now, at twenty-seven, Norman's about to find out just how deeply the wounds he left behind cut.

'Checking You Out’ is a full-length contemporary romance and can be read as a standalone. Book #10 in the Green Valley Library series, Green Valley Chronicles, Penny Reid Book Universe.

Grab your copy TODAY!

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3s5NnaR

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3JHkCY0

Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/3BtU6P4

Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/3uXA9yI

Binge the Green Valley Library series in Kindle Unlimited!

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Excerpt

The truck door opened and the first thing I saw come out was a leg, then a cane.

“Norman! Get your ass over here for your hug,” Maxine practically yelled, and with a wide grin, the tall blond man exited the vehicle and limped over, looking as though he was leaning heavily on the cane in his left hand. Was he in pain?

Within moments, he was wrapped up in her arms. I kept my face as neutral as possible, open and friendly even, one might say. They might say it, but they’d be wrong. I felt fierce. What had happened to Norman? He hadn’t needed a cane back when we were seventeen. Of course, that was before the military. The military! He’d been wounded. I damn well knew it, he went to God knows where and was wounded. Was it a gunshot? An IED? Was he held captive?

I had to stop the train my thoughts were on right the hell now or I would be going places I couldn’t handle, especially at this moment. I had this tendency to do what, according to Dr. Google—the only doctor I could afford for myself, most of the time—was called indulging in apocalyptic thinking. Once I got started, I could be thinking about a glass half empty and end up picturing the glass exploding, sending shards flying everywhere and blinding a pack of nuns.

No more disastrous thinking about Norman and whatever happened to his leg. He was free of Max’s octopus-like hug and was managing to get around well on her arm, as though he were accustomed to the cane and it didn’t slow him down. He was, at present, examining the back of the truck, making sure, I guess, that the tarps held and everything was okay. That was when he looked up and made eye contact with me, flashing me a wide grin.

Max nodded in our direction and the pair walked over, saying, “I want you to meet my best friend in the world, Lois Washington, and her daughter, Elsa. Lois and Elsa, this is Norman Grant—Jonathan’s best friend and business partner. Now that y’all are acquainted, I’m going to spend some quality time with my man while you get to know each other better. Sound good? Great!” She clapped Norman on the back and took off. Great? No, not great! Rewind, Max!

“Lois, hello,” he said, smiling politely. “I’ve heard a lot about you and your daughter. Max talked about you when she visited us in Florida. She thought you’d make a solid addition to our League of Magecraft arena team.”

“Well, I don’t game anymore,” I said back, sounding, even to my surprise, quite a bit salty. He didn’t recognize me. I didn’t realize until that exact moment how much I wanted him to, and how much it hurt that he didn’t.

He nodded slowly, and stretched out his hand, saying, “It's nice to meet you, anyway.” I waited for any glimmer of recognition in his eyes; seeing none, I decided to take his hand in mine. It was warm and his skin a bit rough, him obviously working with his hands. I was touching Norman Grant. How many times had I dreamt of this moment? I suddenly felt dizzy, dropping out of the handshake then shaking my head to clear it. Focus, Lois.

About Ann Whynot

Ann Whynot has been writing stories since she was five, and always dreamed of one day being a published author. She is a voracious reader and book collector, and used book stores are her kryptonite. She also is passionate about video games, crafting, baking, laughing, and travel.

She lives with her family, dog, and two cats on the Canadian east coast, and is inspired by both the forest and sea.

Find Ann Whynot online

Facebook: http://bit.ly/3rNm2Z5

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnnWhynotWrites

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/38W1IMa

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ann.whynot/

Website: http://www.annwhynot.com/

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RELEASE BLITZ: CHECKING YOU OUT by Ann Whynot & Smartypants Romance

 

Checking You Out, an all new second-chance small town romance from Ann Whynot, is LIVE in Kindle Unlimited! 

Lois Washington is at the end of her rope. Struggling as a single mother in an apartment the size of a closet is not the New York City adventure she dreamed of in her starry-eyed youth. When her job goes on the chopping block, she is ready for a major life change. Joining her best friend in Tennessee to become the newest employee at the Green Valley Public Library isn't exactly where she thought life would take her, but she feels up for the challenge. Only this relocation comes with more than she bargained for.

Norman Grant has had a string of online dating disasters back in Florida. Dealing with chronic pain, he's concluded that finding a woman who is understanding about his war wounds just isn't in the cards. That is, until he becomes quite taken with the single mother who's also a new arrival in Green Valley. The catch? Things are not quite what they seem. 

When the past and present collide, Norman and Lois must face painful reminders from their youth. Now, at twenty-seven, Norman's about to find out just how deeply the wounds he left behind cut.

'Checking You Out’ is a full-length contemporary romance and can be read as a standalone. Book #10 in the Green Valley Library series, Green Valley Chronicles, Penny Reid Book Universe.

Grab your copy TODAY!

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3s5NnaR

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3JHkCY0

Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/3BtU6P4

Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/3uXA9yI

About Ann Whynot

Ann Whynot has been writing stories since she was five, and always dreamed of one day being a published author. She is a voracious reader and book collector, and used book stores are her kryptonite. She also is passionate about video games, crafting, baking, laughing, and travel.

She lives with her family, dog, and two cats on the Canadian east coast, and is inspired by both the forest and sea.

Find Ann Whynot online

Facebook: http://bit.ly/3rNm2Z5

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnnWhynotWrites

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/38W1IMa

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ann.whynot/

Website: http://www.annwhynot.com/

Connect with Smartypants Romance

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2kvDnb4

Twitter: http://bit.ly/2lzyduO

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2lGdIMQ

Instagram: http://bit.ly/2kwKsYK

Website: https://smartypantsromance.com/

Newsletter: https://smartypantsromance.com/newsletter/

Blog Tour: Dewey Belong Together by Ann Whynot

Dewey Belong Together, an all-new enemies to lovers small-town romance from Ann Whynot, is available now in Kindle Unlimited! 

My full review is posted here

Librarian Maxine Peters lives her life behind the scenes. By day, she’s a buttoned-up cataloguing whiz in the basement of the Green Valley Public Library. By night, she’s secretly dominating in an online role playing game as the legendary Maximus_Damage. Her in-game persona has the skills to back up the hype. But every hero has an enemy; every saga, a villain. And by her own invitation, Maximus’ arch nemesis, Wrath, has just landed in Green Valley.

Jonathan Owen is not at all who Maxine expects when she meets Wrath face to face. Eager to leave the past in the game, Jonathan takes this golden opportunity to win Maxine’s heart. There’s just one wrench in that plan: he may have, on a few occasions, acted like a bit of a jerk online. And to his puzzlement, she has taken their fun rivalry to the level of epic dislike.

When Jonathan and Maxine are unexpectedly alone for a weekend, secrets are revealed that make love hard and hatred even harder. Jonathan quickly learns fighting his own demons will take more than one elite gamer. And Maxine, who is busy rebooting her life in Green Valley, might not be up to the task.

When real life starts to override the game, can Maxine and Jonathan find a way to make it work? Or will it be game over for this player versus player adventure?

Dewey Belong Together’ is a full-length contemporary romance and can be read as a standalone. Book #7 in the Green Valley Library series, Green Valley Chronicles, Penny Reid Book Universe.

Read for FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2UWgaxb

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Check out the Green Valley Library series of standalones!

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Excerpt

After the group sang and twanged through a ton of damn fine bluegrass, the crowd began to thin a bit, and the banjo player declared the quartet was retiring for the evening. Max grabbed my arm and gracelessly hauled me through the audience toward the banjo player.

Our arms still linked, and with a megawatt smile on her face, she shouted, "Cletus! That was incredible tonight."

“It was, man. You’ve got a great sound,” I offered.

Cletus looked from Max, to our joined arms, again at me, and then back at Max. I didn’t want to engage in stereotypical jealous guy behavior, but I did want to sniff out who this Cletus was to her. What had he done to earn her smiles and respect?

“Thank you,” he replied, then looked pointedly behind us. “Maxine, you seem to have misplaced the rest of your guests from your game. I suspect you noticed this, which is why you’re hanging onto this one so tightly.”

“Oh!” Max said in surprise and dropped my arm like it was a hot potato. I instantly disliked Cletus. “All the others couldn’t make it. Just him. Cletus, meet Wrath—er, Jonathan Owen from Florida. Jonathan, this is my friend Cletus Winston.”

         Not one to let my manners fail me when needed, I stuck out my hand and Cletus gave it a firm shake. “Jonathan Owen, would you happen to be the same gentleman who enjoys harrying Maxine at every available turn?”

         I spun to face Maxine. “You told people that about me? What else did you say, that I like to hunt people for sport?” I felt my face redden in embarrassment as I recalled the time I had also besmirched her good name to the other guild officers. I wasn’t sure what to do with the information that she was talking unfavorably about me to her friends. I felt like every time we made some progress and I got to show her more of who I really was, something popped up to remind me of her animosity.

“Wrath, calm down. Of course not. I was telling Cletus about the game, that’s all.”

“Oh, I see. That’s all,” I said sarcastically.

“It would seem to me,” Cletus said, inserting himself into our fight, "that you two need to have a tête-à-tête, but allow me to suggest not tonight. We're fixing to take things back to my brother's place up on Bandit Lake. Scarlet and Billy will be there singing, and I'll have my banjo and a dulcimer. If you can sit in your own stew for the rest of the evening, you can imbibe and listen to more fine music."

And with that, he packed up his banjo and gave Max a little salute as he left the room.

"So, feel like hitting up a party?" Max asked, almost cautiously.

I thought about it. I was mad as hell that not only did Max hate me, she had told her offline friends I was some kind of dastardly character. That being said, I didn't want to piss her off by saying no when she probably wanted to go. Plan Seduction would suggest that I be pliable to her wishes, even if I thought she was a jerk at the moment. I hoped that this wasn't some big rager we were headed to because being the only sober person at a party is about as much fun as watching paint dry, only the wall sometimes vomits and tries to get into your pants.

"Fine," I answered. "Party it is, princess." I couldn't help poking the bear, just a little. Her eyes flashed fire, and I smiled, gesturing with my arm that she should lead the way.

About Ann Whynot

Ann Whynot has been writing stories since she was five, and always dreamed of one day being a published author. She is a voracious reader and book collector, and used book stores are her kryptonite. She also is passionate about video games, crafting, baking, laughing, and travel.

She lives with her family, dog, and two cats on the Canadian east coast, and is inspired by both the forest and sea.

Find Ann Whynot online

Facebook: http://bit.ly/3rNm2Z5

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnnWhynotWrites

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/38W1IMa

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ann.whynot/

Website: http://www.annwhynot.com/

Connect with Smartypants Romance

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2kvDnb4

Twitter: http://bit.ly/2lzyduO

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2lGdIMQ

Instagram: http://bit.ly/2kwKsYK

Website: https://smartypantsromance.com/ 

Newsletter: https://smartypantsromance.com/newsletter/

Release Blitz: Dewey Belong Together by Ann Whynot

Dewey Belong Together, an all-new enemies to lovers small-town romance from Ann Whynot, is LIVE EARLY on AppleBooks, Nook, Kobo, and GooglePlay! 

Librarian Maxine Peters lives her life behind the scenes. By day, she’s a buttoned-up cataloguing whiz in the basement of the Green Valley Public Library. By night, she’s secretly dominating in an online role playing game as the legendary Maximus_Damage. Her in-game persona has the skills to back up the hype. But every hero has an enemy; every saga, a villain. And by her own invitation, Maximus’ arch nemesis, Wrath, has just landed in Green Valley.

Jonathan Owen is not at all who Maxine expects when she meets Wrath face to face. Eager to leave the past in the game, Jonathan takes this golden opportunity to win Maxine’s heart. There’s just one wrench in that plan: he may have, on a few occasions, acted like a bit of a jerk online. And to his puzzlement, she has taken their fun rivalry to the level of epic dislike.

When Jonathan and Maxine are unexpectedly alone for a weekend, secrets are revealed that make love hard and hatred even harder. Jonathan quickly learns fighting his own demons will take more than one elite gamer. And Maxine, who is busy rebooting her life in Green Valley, might not be up to the task.

When real life starts to override the game, can Maxine and Jonathan find a way to make it work? Or will it be game over for this player versus player adventure?

Dewey Belong Together’ is a full-length contemporary romance and can be read as a standalone. Book #7 in the Green Valley Library series, Green Valley Chronicles, Penny Reid Book Universe.

Download your copy TODAY!

AppleBooks: https://apple.co/338AVKQ 

Nook: https://bit.ly/3pUBUYJ

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3nI6dzY

Google Play: https://bit.ly/2ISxVLJ

Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2X42dyg

Coming to Kindle Unlimited February 18th!

Pre-order your copy TODAY!

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Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/3pTw3D1

Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/3nRrDuA

Amazon Print: https://amzn.to/39ykwmU

About Ann Whynot

Ann Whynot has been writing stories since she was five, and always dreamed of one day being a published author. She is a voracious reader and book collector, and used book stores are her kryptonite. She also is passionate about video games, crafting, baking, laughing, and travel.

She lives with her family, dog, and two cats on the Canadian east coast, and is inspired by both the forest and sea.

Find Ann Whynot online

Facebook: http://bit.ly/3rNm2Z5

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnnWhynotWrites

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/38W1IMa

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ann.whynot/

Website: http://www.annwhynot.com/

Connect with Smartypants Romance

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2kvDnb4

Twitter: http://bit.ly/2lzyduO

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2lGdIMQ

Instagram: http://bit.ly/2kwKsYK

Website: https://smartypantsromance.com/

Newsletter: https://smartypantsromance.com/newsletter/

Review: Dewey Belong Together by Ann Whynot

Dewey Belong Together by Ann Whynot
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC in exchange for an honest review.  This book releases on February 16th, and is part of the Smartypants Romance Universe.  This particular book is part of the Green Valley Library series.

This is book 7 of the Green Valley Library series, however they area all standalones.  You do not need to read the previous books in the series to read this one.  It will introduce you to some of the characters mentioned in the book, but their stories aren't relevant to the plot.  I highly recommend them because they are great reads!  I'm a huge fan of them all!

This was really fun and I really liked the premise.  The author did a great job with both of the characters by giving them both complex backstories.  They each have struggles and baggage to deal with and they've both found solace in the gaming community.  Maxine, aka Max,  is the quiet librarian who works in the basement and wears frumpy clothing and doesn't really talk to anyone during the day.  At night she is a a well known and well respected gamer, but no one knows her true identity.  She goes by the gamer tag Maximus_Damage and her arch nemesis is a character named Wrath.  She and Wrath have known each other through the gaming community for 10 years, and she hates him.  Wrath's real name is Jonathan, who had kind of been a jerk to Max over the years, but he feels very different about Maximus.  Max invites a bunch of players from their game to Green Valley for a team building weekend, but Wrath is the only one who shows.  Neither of them are who the other expected and they have to work through their preconceived notions, past actions, and feelings to make the best of the weekend.  As they let down their guard, they realize that they could actually be friends and might even like each other if they are able to get past some of the things that have happened in their past.

After a fun weekend together, real life takes back over and Max and Jonathan have to go their separate ways.  Max has decided that she isn't going to hide from her past and from life anymore.  As she begins to come out of her shell and start living again, she isn't spending as much time in the game, and therefore isn't spending as much time with Jonathan.  Not having put labels on their relationship and living several states apart, Jonathan is having a hard time managing his own life as a gamer, business owner, and dealing with his own family and mental health issues.  

If you aren't a gamer or interested in gaming, the book does not heavily focus on gaming.  In fact much of the gaming that happens is off page.  I would have liked to see a little of the gaming on the page, as much of the interaction between Max and Wrath is discussed prior to them meeting in person and I would have like to see that dynamic in action both before and after they meet in person.  

I believe you could classify this as an #ownvoices novel.  Based on the author's note at the end, the author talks about her own mental health journey and how she wrote it into the pages of this book.  I think we need to see more books with characters, especially written by authors with genuine experience, that struggle with mental health issues like anxiety and bipolar disorder.  Everyone's experience with these types of mental health issues is different but when it is written by someone who lives with it, it helps demystify and normalize it for readers.  

Overall I thought this was really fun and I enjoyed watching these two characters figure out how to navigate each other and the world around them.  

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