BLOG TOUR:OVE IN A PICKLE by L.B. Dunbar

Love in a Pickle, an all-new standalone contemporary romance from L.B. Dunbar, is LIVE in Kindle Unlimited! 

When a mysterious silver fox becomes intrigued with this small town’s most disliked society woman, he finds she’s more than a little trouble and possibly a whole lot of heart.

Scotia Simmons. The name says it all—ornery, judgmental, mean—but underneath a woman like that is typically a shattered heart. Locked within her secrets, this fried pickle princess has used her unkindness as a shield of protection against the loneliness. However, menopause and a one-night stand can change a woman’s perspective on things. Who knew it would take a man the likes of him to push her strong will to its limits?

Chester Chesterfield. The name has more than one meaning—generous, quiet, private—but within one man is a multitude of personas. The gruff oil mogul has a wounded heart (and a big secret) that holds him hostage from the man he’s meant to be. His past defined him, or so he thought. He never imagined it’d take a woman like her to push him over his carefully constructed edges and show him love has no boundaries.

When you’re in a pickle, it’s time to relish what—or rather who—stands before you and accept that even over forty, a second chance at love can be a big dill (every pun intended).

'Love in a Pickle' is a full-length contemporary romance, can be read as a standalone, and is book #9 in the Green Valley Library series, Green Valley Chronicles, Penny Reid Book Universe.

Grab your copy TODAY!

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

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

Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/3j2eVcA

Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/3D07VF8

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2UI2LMY

Read the Green Valley Library Series of Standalones for F-R-E-E in Kindle Unlimited!

https://bit.ly/3r75tq0

Excerpt

I give Chester a five-second head start before I follow him. My heart bleeds for him after hearing the story he’s told me. This big, beautiful man—his heartbreak is so huge.

We move away from the crackle and snap of the fire and into silent darkness. The loud crunch of my wellies on gravel echoes in the night. My sister’s farm has been restored now that she owns it outright and shares the land with Jedd. He’s built a horse barn on the property, and Chester stalks in the direction of the structure.

I want him to talk to me, but he continues to walk faster without looking back. With his long legs, he’s put quite a distance between us. He detours into the barn as I’d suspected. Once I enter, he seems to have disappeared inside the dark building. Despite a dim light illuminating the passageway, I’ve lost him.

“I know you’re in here,” I call out as if we’re children playing a game of hide-and-seek. Perhaps we are, as it seems we share bits and pieces of ourselves with one another, hiding truths, and then seeking full disclosure. We’re . . . curious . . . about each other, or at least, I am about him. I want to know more about him. And I’m not letting him walk away after the bomb he just dropped.

I pause before a horse stall. The heavy breath of Lucky One steams into the cold passageway. Jedd breeds and trains horses for the rodeo. It’s a process I don’t pretend to understand, not being much of an animal lover myself, but it makes him happy. Jedd’s happiness makes Beverly ecstatic, which is something she rightfully deserves after all she’s been through.

I think about Chester. His best friend, Davis, and his wife, Harper, lost their lives in a house fire, leaving behind three beautiful boys. Chester is now their guardian and an excellent provider for them. For a moment, I wonder why he doesn’t live with them. Why does he live in a bus just over the border instead of the valley? I suppose the locale might have something to do with his ownership of The Fugitive, but then again, his Chesterfield Oil offices are said to be in Knoxville. There’s a hefty distance between the locations with Green Valley in the middle.

I’d reach up to pet the horse, but I’m afraid he’ll bite me. Jedd likes to call him a mean sonofabitch, yet surprisingly, the animal has a soft spot for Beverly. While Beverly loves animals, Naomi loves the woods, which reminds me of her Samhain ritual later tonight. I’m doing my part to keep up the sisterhood rejuvenation plan, and after what I’ve learned about Chester’s friends, I take a moment to recognize I’m blessed that my sisters are still with me. I’ve missed them. We’re very different people as adults, and in many ways, it should make us more incompatible than ever, but there’s something about blood I can’t deny. My sisters are the truest people I have in my life next to my daughter, who I haven’t spoken to in a week.

After a few minutes, I decide I’m not going to find Chester in the dimly lit barn and give up on the hope of him speaking further to me. I turn toward the entrance and pause when I see him blocking my exit.

“Why did you follow me?” His low, gruff tone startles me, and we stare at one another for a minute.

“Because I don’t want you hurting. That was a lot you shared, and I just want to be sure you’re—”

I’m cut off from more words as he closes the distance between us in three broad steps and crushes his mouth to mine. His hands firmly cup my face. He kisses me as though he can’t get close enough. Our mouths nip and suck, devouring one another, reminding me how I’ve never been thoroughly kissed. Never like this. 

About L.B. Dunbar

L.B. Dunbar has an overactive imagination. To her benefit, such creativity has led to over thirty romance novels, including those offering a second chance at love over 40. Her signature works include the #sexysilverfoxes collection of mature males and feisty vixens ready for romance in their prime years. She’s also written stories of small-town romance (Heart Collection), rockstar mayhem (The Legendary Rock Stars Series), and a twist on intrigue and redemption (Redemption Island Duet). She’s had several alter egos including elda lore, a writer of romantic magical realism through mythological retellings (Modern Descendants). In another life, she wanted to be an anthropologist and journalist. Instead, she was a middle school language arts teacher. The greatest story in her life is with the one and only, and their four grown children. Learn more about L.B. Dunbar by joining her reader group on Facebook (Loving L.B.) or subscribing to her newsletter (Love Notes).

Find L.B. Dunbar online

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Review: Love in a Pickle by L.B. Dunbar

Love in a Pickle by L.B. Dunbar
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Scotia Simmons is a woman you love to hate.  She is the epitome of "mean girl", quick to spout her opinion and judge those around her.  On the other hand, she's built a successful small business all on her own, and she is not without her secrets.  There are reasons she is barb tongued, and in this installment we come to understand that there is more to Scotia than her judgemental comments and unlikable personality.  We also have Chester Chesterfield aka Chet aka Big Poppy, who depending on where he is and what he's doing he wears a different personality and moniker.  Chet is an enigma of a man, but he has a big heart and wants to see the good in people even when he knows he shouldn't.  He meets Scotia at a business event and doesn't know her reputation as Green Valley's resident mean girl.  He sees her as an available, beautiful woman, yet he also sees her in a vulnerable moment and can tell she might be a bit lonely.  He can relate to that and they get lost in each other for a few hours.  Fast forward a few months and Scotia finds herself face to face with his Big Poppy persona and he realizes that he doesn't like Scotia very much, or atleast the person she pretends to be.  As their paths continue to cross, Chet realizes that Scotia wears a mask much of the time to protect herself.  He sees some inherently good qualities about her, and is willing to coax out her secrets and get her to drop her walls and the mask she wears.

This was my favorite of the Winters Sister books!  It is also the spiciest of the three of them.  I really enjoyed getting to know more about Scotia.  You always knew there was more to her story and a reason she was so surly to everyone.  Both she and Chet come with baggage of their own that they have to work through.  It is their baggage that makes them so different yet so similar at the same time.  They take us on quite the emotional rollercoaster.  The character development in this was excellent as we get to know both characters and see the different personas they put on in different situations.  I also loved Gideon, Scotia's assistant.  He like Chet wasn't afraid to challenge her or tell her when she wasn't being nice.  I also really enjoyed the bit of suspense this story had.  It really added to the storyline and gave a nice edge to the plot.  It worked really well with the storyline and paired nicely with both of their character arcs.   While this is not a romantic suspense, there is a small plot thread that is a tiny bit suspenseful.  The guardianship/foster parent aspect was really interesting to learn about.  I admit I don't know much about that topic, but kudos to all the foster parents and guardians like Chet and Maura who are doing it right and for the right reasons.

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

View all my reviews

Release Blitz: LOVE IN A PICKLE by L.B. Dunbar

Love in a Pickle, an all-new standalone contemporary romance from L.B. Dunbar, is LIVE in Kindle Unlimited! 

When a mysterious silver fox becomes intrigued with this small town’s most disliked society woman, he finds she’s more than a little trouble and possibly a whole lot of heart.

Scotia Simmons. The name says it all—ornery, judgmental, mean—but underneath a woman like that is typically a shattered heart. Locked within her secrets, this fried pickle princess has used her unkindness as a shield of protection against the loneliness. However, menopause and a one-night stand can change a woman’s perspective on things. Who knew it would take a man the likes of him to push her strong will to its limits?

Chester Chesterfield. The name has more than one meaning—generous, quiet, private—but within one man is a multitude of personas. The gruff oil mogul has a wounded heart (and a big secret) that holds him hostage from the man he’s meant to be. His past defined him, or so he thought. He never imagined it’d take a woman like her to push him over his carefully constructed edges and show him love has no boundaries.

When you’re in a pickle, it’s time to relish what—or rather who—stands before you and accept that even over forty, a second chance at love can be a big dill (every pun intended).

'Love in a Pickle' is a full-length contemporary romance, can be read as a standalone, and is book #9 in the Green Valley Library series, Green Valley Chronicles, Penny Reid Book Universe.

Grab your copy TODAY!

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

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

Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/3j2eVcA

Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/3D07VF8

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2UI2LMY

About L.B. Dunbar

L.B. Dunbar has an overactive imagination. To her benefit, such creativity has led to over thirty romance novels, including those offering a second chance at love over 40. Her signature works include the #sexysilverfoxes collection of mature males and feisty vixens ready for romance in their prime years. She’s also written stories of small-town romance (Heart Collection), rockstar mayhem (The Legendary Rock Stars Series), and a twist on intrigue and redemption (Redemption Island Duet). She’s had several alter egos including elda lore, a writer of romantic magical realism through mythological retellings (Modern Descendants). In another life, she wanted to be an anthropologist and journalist. Instead, she was a middle school language arts teacher. The greatest story in her life is with the one and only, and their four grown children. Learn more about L.B. Dunbar by joining her reader group on Facebook (Loving L.B.) or subscribing to her newsletter (Love Notes).

Find L.B. Dunbar online

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

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

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

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Website: https://www.lbdunbar.com/

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Blog Tour: Love in Deed by L.B. Dunbar

Love in Deed, an all-new standalone contemporary romance from L.B. Dunbar, is now available in Kindle Unlimited!

Sometimes it takes an outsider to force us to see who we are. The real struggle is accepting what we learn. For Beverly Townsen, nothing could be closer to the truth. Virtually a shut-in, Beverly has pulled back from Green Valley’s community, preferring the isolation of her farmhouse and her daily routine of viewing home improvement television shows. When the opportunity arises for her own home improvement and a personal re-assessment, she’s not so excited about the reality of real life versus DIY programs.

Jedd Flemming understands physical pain and personal loss, but it’s never stopped him from bucking forward in life. A former military man and rodeo star, his life as a nomad comes to an end with false accusations and a family matter back in the Valley. It’s been a long journey to find his way home and once there, there’s nothing he wants more than to reclaim what he’s lost…and maybe the elusive female reclusive who holds a sliver of his past.

With an unprecedented proposition, Beverly finds a stranger living in her barn, raising horses on borrowed pastures, and plowing his way into her vacant heart. Old hurts linger, but sometimes love in deed is louder than words.

‘Love in Deed’ is a full-length contemporary romance, can be read as a standalone, and is book #6 in the Green Valley Library series, Green Valley World, Penny Reid Book Universe.

Download your copy TODAY! Read for FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2Tz3gWz

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Excerpt

“Momma,” she whispers, and I turn at the soft question in her voice. Her eyes scan my face. Does she fear she’ll look like me one day? Those bright eyes will dim, and lines will form in the corners. Will they be rivers formed from tears, or will she eventually find laughter? Does she wonder if her lips will match mine, permanently curled downward? Can my girl still smile? Will her hair go gray too young as mine did? Will the stress of her life turn her into someone lonely and lost? I blink back the tears fighting for release. I won’t cry. Nothing left to cry over. It’s all gone. “Do you fancy him?” my daughter asks, and I choke on the question. “What…? I…of course not. Don’t be silly. I’m sure he’d be more interested in the likes of you.” “What’s that supposed to mean?” Hannah asks, brows rising in surprise. “I’m sure I don’t need to explain the birds and the bees to you. Men like him only want young things and only want one thing from those young things. I don’t think he should stay here,” I sneer, recognizing the pulse at my neck and the thump of my heart. My daughter is a pretty girl, and this older man could be attracted to her for all the wrong reasons. Young girls go for older men to solve their daddy issues. “He’s sleeping in the barn,” Hannah counters, her voice deepening in displeasure. Ticking off points on her fingers, she continues, “We don’t need to feed him. He’ll rebuild at his expense or hire what he can’t do himself. The back field will be plowed and prepped for spring planting.” I snort in response, but my eyes return to Jedd’s movement. Into the barn. Out in the yard. My observation traces down his perspiring spine to the waist of his pants where his shirt has untucked. My fingers curl on the armrest of the rocker as my eyes outline the fine globes accentuated by those smooth pants. My mouth goes dry. What is it about this man? Why am I suddenly lusting after him? I can’t. That’s the bottom line. I can’t anything him. Under fifteen percent and tight pants and a perfect backside is still a man with empty words. My eyes fall blindly on the reality television program. The only man a girl can count on is the fictional kind. I force my attention away from the barn, but my eyes seem to have a will of their own. “We can’t have a stranger living in our barn,” I huff. Jedd stops, turning in his tracks with a pile of lumber on his shoulder as if he heard me, which is impossible on two counts: the panes of glass and his lack of hearing. Still, he stills, and his eyes narrow on the house as if he knows I’m watching him, I’m talking about him, and I don’t agree with this arrangement. “Too late. He’s moving in.” Hannah definitively nods, dismissing my opinion as Jedd swings back around. She leans down to kiss my cheek and then exits my room, but I remain transfixed. Suddenly, reality is more fascinating than television. My eyes continue the cat and mouse game of watching Jedd disappear and then reappear. I don’t know how much time transpires, but eventually, the bed of his truck is empty. Still, I hold my breath as if the barn is a giant octopus, swallowing him whole. I fear he might disappear forever like Howard did, which is the silliest thought I’ve had in a decade. I don’t need Jedd. We don’t need Jedd. There will be no attachment to him. But then, Jedd appears at the open barn door and gives a single wave toward the house, and I smile in spite of myself.

About L.B. Dunbar

L.B. Dunbar has an overactive imagination. To her benefit, such creativity has led to over thirty romance novels, including those offering a second chance at love over 40. Her signature works include the #sexysilverfoxes collection of mature males and feisty vixens ready for romance in their prime years. She’s also written stories of small-town romance (Heart Collection), rockstar mayhem (The Legendary Rock Stars Series), and a twist on intrigue and redemption (Redemption Island Duet). She’s had several alter egos including elda lore, a writer of romantic magical realism through mythological retellings (Modern Descendants). In another life, she wanted to be an anthropologist and journalist. Instead, she was a middle school language arts teacher. The greatest story in her life is with the one and only, and their four grown children. Learn more about L.B. Dunbar by joining her reader group on Facebook (Loving L.B.) or subscribing to her newsletter (Love Notes).

Find L.B. Dunbar online

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

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

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

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Review: Love in Deed by L.B. Dunbar

Love in Deed by L.B. Dunbar
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is another romance featuring older characters, which I don't often read. Jedd and Beverly are both in their 40s and they've both had their struggles in life. Their experiences have hardened them both in different ways over the years. Their flaws compliment each other, and together they make a great team. Jedd is able to draw Beverly out of her protective shell, and she in turn calls him out on his BS. Beverly has been hardened by verbally abusive religious parents, a verbally abusive husband who cheated on her and abandoned her, and a car accident that left her physically disabled. Beverly is hard to like, but as you learn about her life and what she has endured you learn that she has been shaped by the expectations put on her and the events of her life. Some of those events were her fault, while others she had no control over. Enter Jedd, also formed by the events of his life but instead of turning in on himself, he left Green Valley to roam the world and see what he could find. Now he's back to do what he loves and hopefully reclaim his former homestead and only Beverly stands in his way.

Their relationship was a little insta-lusty at first. They were both immediately attracted to each other with a lot of dirty talk and thoughts to go with it, but they are pretty mean to each other in the beginning. I say lust because their love is actually very slow to develop. Jedd takes his time with Beverly, knowing that she has been wronged in the past and that she needs time to learn to trust again and like the horses he works with, she will turn on him at any second if he makes the wrong move. The resolution with Beverly's ex Howard felt a little rushed, but he was such a jerk I don't mind that he didn't get a lot of time on the page. There were also a few plot lines that I felt were either rushed or glossed over. I have a suspicion that we may get more info on the missing pieces in future books so I'm not overly concerned,

In the end this was a sweet romance giving each of the characters a chance at love and the lives they've always wanted. I really loved watching Beverly develop, I think her character while unlikable much of the time was presented as very realistic. What her character suffered is a very real problem with lasting effects. I think it was handled very well. You weren't supposed to like her, you were supposed to suffer with her, and I did. I hurt when she hurt, and I'm happy for her that she found her way back to the world and that she found Jedd. By the end, she was a totally different person, and I really liked her and like the person she transformed into.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

View all my reviews

Release Blitz: Love in Deed by L.B. Dunbar

Love in Deed, an all-new standalone contemporary romance from L.B. Dunbar, is LIVE!

Sometimes it takes an outsider to force us to see who we are. The real struggle is accepting what we learn. For Beverly Townsen, nothing could be closer to the truth. Virtually a shut-in, Beverly has pulled back from Green Valley’s community, preferring the isolation of her farmhouse and her daily routine of viewing home improvement television shows. When the opportunity arises for her own home improvement and a personal re-assessment, she’s not so excited about the reality of real life versus DIY programs.

Jedd Flemming understands physical pain and personal loss, but it’s never stopped him from bucking forward in life. A former military man and rodeo star, his life as a nomad comes to an end with false accusations and a family matter back in the Valley. It’s been a long journey to find his way home and once there, there’s nothing he wants more than to reclaim what he’s lost…and maybe the elusive female reclusive who holds a sliver of his past.

With an unprecedented proposition, Beverly finds a stranger living in her barn, raising horses on borrowed pastures, and plowing his way into her vacant heart. Old hurts linger, but sometimes love in deed is louder than words.

‘Love in Deed’ is a full-length contemporary romance, can be read as a standalone, and is book #6 in the Green Valley Library series, Green Valley World, Penny Reid Book Universe.

Download your copy TODAY!

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2Tz3gWz

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2G1lc45

Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2TLz6PV

Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2tsEtZP

AppleBooks: https://apple.co/2Ty0xMX

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Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2G7sxiu

Coming to Kindle Unlimited on May 18th!

About L.B. Dunbar

L.B. Dunbar has an overactive imagination. To her benefit, such creativity has led to over thirty romance novels, including those offering a second chance at love over 40. Her signature works include the #sexysilverfoxes collection of mature males and feisty vixens ready for romance in their prime years. She’s also written stories of small-town romance (Heart Collection), rockstar mayhem (The Legendary Rock Stars Series), and a twist on intrigue and redemption (Redemption Island Duet). She’s had several alter egos including elda lore, a writer of romantic magical realism through mythological retellings (Modern Descendants). In another life, she wanted to be an anthropologist and journalist. Instead, she was a middle school language arts teacher. The greatest story in her life is with the one and only, and their four grown children. Learn more about L.B. Dunbar by joining her reader group on Facebook (Loving L.B.) or subscribing to her newsletter (Love Notes).

Find L.B. Dunbar online

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

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

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

Instagram: http://bit.ly/2k1Rk0d

Website: https://www.lbdunbar.com/

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Blog Tour: Love in Due Time by L.B. Dunbar

Love in Due Time, an all-new second chance romantic comedy from L.B. Dunbar is available now!

Naomi Winters will be forty—soon-ish—and she’s only been with one man. One night. One time. Long ago. She believes everything happens for a reason, and the universe spoke about Nathan Ryder.

Nathan Ryder isn’t the same man who hightailed his bike out of Green Valley eighteen years ago. As a rule breaker, women are one area he acts a fool. Case in point…the local librarian. He can’t get a read on her, but she’s one risk he’s willing to take. Again.

What do an eccentric librarian and a sexy silver biker have in common? More than you think.

The due date on their love might not be expired after all.

'Love in Due Time' is a full-length, contemporary romantic comedy, can be read as a standalone, and is book#1 in the Green Valley Library series.

Download your copy today!

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Check out my review here.

Excerpt

“Naomi?” My hands cover her shoulders, holding her steady.

“This is all my fault.” Her eyes widen, the widest I’ve ever seen. Panic fills them.

“What do you mean?”

“I … I can’t believe this happened again.” Her hands come to my chest, and she gently pushes at me. “You have to get out of here.”

“What?” My brows pinch at the harsh tone.

“You need to go. I can’t be near you.” Her voice struggles to stay level.

Ouch. That stings a little.

“Why?” I take one step back under the force of her hands.

“I can’t be around you. This can’t happen.”

“Lady, what are you talking about?” My voice roughens.

“Bad things always happen after I’m with you.”

I stiffen, straightening to my full height. My arms cross and I glare down at her. Saying such a thing is just downright mean. Her head shakes as her fingers curl along the open edges of my work jacket. Suddenly, I feel like she’s tugging me to her instead of pressing me away.

What the …

“When I’m with you, something happens. Something bad.” Her breath catches. “Because we kissed, the library is closing.”

I stare at her. She can’t be serious, but I see the hysteria in her eyes, like a rabid, trapped animal. She actually believes what she says.

“Well, we didn’t kiss,” I remind her, my tone stern and condescending. “I kissed you, remember? And you didn’t kiss me back, so I don’t think it counts.”

She glares up at me, her fingers still gripping my open jacket. Her shoulders fall, her head lowers, and it’s as if I can visibly see her relax, like water cascading down a building, washing over her.

Exhale. Settle.

Exhale. Calm.

“I didn’t kiss you back?” she questions and then her head pops up again. She nearly shrieks with the hesitant realization. Commence inhaling, like she’s winding up again. Full steam ahead.

“I didn’t kiss you back,” she repeats, her excitement growing. Another exaggerated inhale.

“I didn’t kiss you back!” Now, she’s just downright gloating, and the engine’s ready to blow.

“You don’t have to sound so pleased,” I murmur. I glance up and notice Mrs. MacIntyre watching us through the window of the librarian’s office behind the check-out counter. Her eyes narrow and I’m certain we’re making too much noise for her liking.

“I … I’m so relieved,” Naomi admits, her head falling forward, her fingers loosening on my jacket. Then her face turns up again. Her lids lift, slow and lazy. Her mouth curls in sweet relief, and she pulls herself up on her toes by the open edge of my jacket and does the damnedest thing. She kisses me.

About L.B. Dunbar

L.B. Dunbar loves the sweeter things in life: cookies, Coca-Cola, and romance. Her reading journey began with a deep love of fairy tales, medieval knights, Regency debauchery, and alpha males. She loves a deep belly laugh and a strong hug. Occasionally, she has the energy of a Jack Russell terrier. Accused—yes, that’s the correct word—of having an overactive imagination, to her benefit, such an imagination works well. Author of over two dozen novels, she’s created sweet, small town worlds; rock star mayhem; MMA chaos; sexy rom-coms for the over 40; and intrigue on an island of redemption. In addition, she is earning a title as the “myth and legend lady” for her modernizations of mythology as elda lore. Her other duties in life include mother to four children and wife to the one and only.

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Release Blitz: Love in Due Time by L.B. Dunbar

Love in Due Time, an all-new second chance romantic comedy from L.B. Dunbar is available now!

Naomi Winters will be forty—soon-ish—and she’s only been with one man. One night. One time. Long ago. She believes everything happens for a reason, and the universe spoke about Nathan Ryder.

Nathan Ryder isn’t the same man who hightailed his bike out of Green Valley eighteen years ago. As a rule breaker, women are one area he acts a fool. Case in point…the local librarian. He can’t get a read on her, but she’s one risk he’s willing to take. Again.

What do an eccentric librarian and a sexy silver biker have in common? More than you think.

The due date on their love might not be expired after all.

'Love in Due Time' is a full-length, contemporary romantic comedy, can be read as a standalone, and is book#1 in the Green Valley Library series.

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About L.B. Dunbar

L.B. Dunbar loves the sweeter things in life: cookies, Coca-Cola, and romance. Her reading journey began with a deep love of fairy tales, medieval knights, Regency debauchery, and alpha males. She loves a deep belly laugh and a strong hug. Occasionally, she has the energy of a Jack Russell terrier. Accused—yes, that’s the correct word—of having an overactive imagination, to her benefit, such an imagination works well. Author of over two dozen novels, she’s created sweet, small town worlds; rock star mayhem; MMA chaos; sexy rom-coms for the over 40; and intrigue on an island of redemption. In addition, she is earning a title as the “myth and legend lady” for her modernizations of mythology as elda lore. Her other duties in life include mother to four children and wife to the one and only.

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Review: Love in Due Time by L.B. Dunbar

Love in Due Time by L.B. Dunbar
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book has some unique characters. They are both older, and by that I mean late 30’s so they are more mature in their decision making, have jobs, and are generally more responsible. We have Nathan who in his youth toyed with joining the Wraiths but now he’s a single dad who has moved back to Green Valley to be closer to family and raise his two daughters. Our female lead, Naomi is a librarian who also happens to be Wiccan. She is shunned from the locals because they don’t understand her and think she’s a “witch”. She has a lot of guilt and pent up trauma from her very strict religious childhood.

Nathan and Naomi met years ago and had a one night stand. They had an instant connection but life happened and they went their separate ways. When they run into each other at the library, that old connection flares once again.

Throughout the book Naomi says something to the effect of “I’m going to be bad at this” or “I’m so bad at this”. She’s supposed to be this independent woman who doesn’t care what other people think, tied to nature and a goddess who empowers women. The constant self-deprecation got old and really detracted from the romance element. I wanted her to heal from her past trauma and become empowered by her relationship and get over the guilt and shame she felt, but it was always present in almost every scene. I just found it distracting.

Once you get past that, it really was a good story. If you like slow burn, second chance romances with a bit of an edge give this a read. Nathan does a really great job being patient with Naomi as she comes to terms with who she is and what she wants. She eventually realizes that it truly is OK to want things and that she needs to let go of the past. He accepts her quirks and never asks her to change. He is sweet and makes every attempt to get to know her. Naomi has a lot to figure out, but so does Nathan. At almost 40 Naomi is finally able to figure out that is OK to want a companion in her life and that doesn’t take away from the person she has become. Nathan comes to the conclusion that he wants Naomi in his life a little quicker, but he is up for the challenge of convincing her. They make a good couple. The element with the Wraiths adds a darker element to the story that keeps things interesting because they are so unpredictable.

I'm looking forward to more from this series and getting to know some of the side characters, like Naomi's sister and the other librarians.

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