Contemporary Romance published by Devney Perry LLC 3 Mar 22
I’ve really loved this Calamity, Montana series by Willa Nash. Each story is as unique as its characters, and I don’t get bored with the same old tropes I’ve been reading in romance for the past four decades. Even if it’s a friends-to-lovers story like The Bully, it’s written with a new edge to make it interesting as well as heart breaking.
Cal and Nellie have a history, and not a good one at all. It all started in high school when Cal seemed to be bullying Nellie. It’s been a blessing for them both not to have seen each other over the ensuing years, but the few times they did get together? Hitting the sheets goes to a whole other explosive level. Now they’re both in Calamity, Montana to start anew. Nellie has settled in, making friends and loving her job. Life couldn’t be sweeter.
Then the sour note of Cal Stark shows up and her life is seriously out of tune. But at least she’s not the pushover she was back in school. Nellie is intent on exacting revenge for all the hurt Cal inflicted on her back then. Let me tell you, she gets in some good licks. When the agenda is to run the gorgeous football player out of town, she’s on the offensive first thing. Unfortunately, Cal is just as determined to do the same thing. His celebrity makes it difficult to be normal, but he’ll make a go of it, despite Nellie’s best efforts.
What she doesn’t know is Cal carted off one of her old diaries and is seeing the impact, then and now, of all the hurt she endured before. What she also doesn’t know are the reasons behind his seemingly cruel words from so long ago. Little by little, Cal does his best to atone for that pain he caused, and it’s not until the dam truly bursts and they get everything out in the open that those old scars can begin to heal a bit more. And that part of the story is well done. Your heart will break before it soars as these two navigate their way to romance and love.
Some people might not take to the honest nature of the bullying described here. That’s okay. Just know, bullying is not pretty, and Ms. Nash does a stellar job of getting that across, along with the age-old remembrances that surface when least expected. A terrific read with wonderfully charming characters, which is indicative of Calamity, Montana. Be sure to visit today.
Grade: A
Summary:
Nellie Rivera is trading traffic for tranquility. When the quiet streets of small-town Montana beckon, she leaves Denver behind and moves to Calamity. It would be the perfect adventure if not for Cal Stark.
When her archnemesis dares to show his face one Saturday morning, declaring he is moving there too, she vows to make his life a misery. The town isn’t big enough for the both of them and besides . . .
She was here first.
Cal has been a thorn in her side since high school. He might have bullied her back then, but she’s not a modest teenager anymore and has learned a few plays of her own. If all goes to plan, she’ll run the former pro quarterback out of town within a month.
There’s only one problem. Cal has the same plan. He wants Calamity bad enough to pull out all the stops. And after one kiss, she realizes that he doesn’t play fair.
No excerpt available.
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