#contemporary #secondchanceromance

Blurb

Six years ago, I’d made the stupidest mistake of my life.
I’d told Lacey Kendrick, I wanted to break up.
So she’d kicked me out her car, told me to move my stuff out her flat and blocked me on her phone.

And the stupid thing is. I hadn’t realised what a monumental idiot I’d been until I saw her, after all this time, in a pub in Glasgow.
The chemistry was still there. I could still make her laugh, blush, want me.
But boy, did she still hold a grudge. I was going to have to work to win her round. Lacey was worth it though. That smile. That body. The way she responded to my touch.
I was soon to find out, however, that winning her over again would be the easy part. I had a secret weapon when it came to her … in my boxers.
It was becoming patently obvious, however, that six years ago it was not just Lacey’s heart I had broken when I’d walked away from our relationship.

This is a second chance romance set in Glasgow, Scotland. It has adult themes and content.

My Review

Sexy and heartfelt romance ~ 5 stars

I loved this latest release by Em Taylor. This second chance romance is a heartfelt read with oodles of heat. It Is a story about finding yourself and your soulmate but also a tale of the importance of friends and family. Lacey and Rory have a lot of baggage to sort out and I enjoyed how they resolved their personal challenges and those they had as a couple, before they could contemplate their HEA.

The read, which is set in Scotland, contains some extremely sexy adult themes plus  emotional and sometimes humorous scenes and dialogue. The couple’s physical chemistry is assured but Rory soon realises just how hard he broke Lacey’s heart with his abrupt departure from her life six year’s previously. He knows he will have an uphill struggle to win over the girl he so carelessly discarded but what he doesn’t initially realise is that his actions had ramifications which went far beyond Lacey… Can he put things right and can he win the girl?

Lacey and Rory are meant to be together and I was rooting for them throughout. Yes, Rory had been a jerk in the past and I loved that he admitted it and tried to make things right – I adored the scenes where he tried his utmost to do this! Lacey is no pushover though and I loved her sass and potty mouth. This fun and emotional read has some great secondary characters too, who all partake in the general mayhem of Lacey and Rory’s getting back together – Lacey’s brother was a particular favourite.

Recommended for lovers of contemporary romance who like sexy and emotional reads with a sprinkling of humour.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Please note, a copy of the book was given to me by the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

Purchase Links

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Author Interview 

1. If you had to describe yourself in five words, what would they be?

Honest, strong, bullsh*tter, sarcastic, funny (hopefully).

2. Please tell us about Not Just My Heart, your new release and what inspired you to write it?

I love country music and at the turn of the year there was a song playing constantly on Country Hits Radio called More Hearts than mine, It’s by a singer called Ingrid Andress. The song is about a girl taking home her boyfriend to meet her parents for the first time and how her mum will love him immediately, her dad will be horrid but secretly like him and her sister will be a pain. But the chorus keeps saying “if we break up I’ll be fine, but you’ll be breaking more hearts than mine.” A stark reminder that more than just the two people are involved in any relationship. It made me think what if they did break up. Would there be fall out if they got back together. And the story started to percolate and became a novel.

3. I know that you have written books in other genres, notably historical romance and paranormal/sci-fi romance. Do you have a favourite genre to write in and why?

I like them all. I’m pretty flighty so I go through phases of what I’m into at any given time. At the moment, it’s contemporary. At some point I’ll have a fabulous idea for another subgenre.

4. What is your writing process like? To what extent do you plan and how much do you just let the words flow?

It depends on the book. I had this one all planned out but I kind of strayed at times from the plan. My current one I have a synopsis as I’m not writing it solely for myself but usually I’m a pantser. I’m trying hard to do more plotting in the hope of getting more books out.

5. What about the personalities of your characters – are they always fixed in your head before you start writing or do they develop a will of their own? Both characters in Not Just My Heart are very strong individuals. Did you feel in control of them or did they throw some unexpected surprises at you?

These two had a will of their own but they are normal Glaswegians. Not many Glaswegians put up and shut up. Most will tell you what they think. But the characters do tend to develop a will of their own. I try to start out with uber dominant males but they never really turn out that way probably because I’d kick him to the kerb if someone told me what to do, lol

6. What is the best thing about being an author? What do you find the most challenging?

The best bit is being able to create something. I love to turn an idea into something tangible and in the end I know I’ve created something lasting even if only a few people are going to read it, The most challenging thing is finding the time and forcing myself through when the book gets hard to write, There’s usually a slump in the middle and one near the end for me and I start getting ready for the next one.

7. What type of books do you like to read? Have you any favourite authors?

Almost any romance. Haven’t tried any really dark stuff or BDSM as it’s not my jam. But I love most other types of romance. Currently loving Vi Keeland, Penelope Ward, Lauren Blakely, Corinne Michaels. Because I mostly listen to audiobooks, I do tend to listen more to the bigger named authors. I was ill a few years ago and wasn’t able to read so audiobooks became my thing and I never got fully back into reading,

8. Can you tell us about what books you working on at the moment?

My current book is one of the books in Vi Keeland’s and Penelope Ward’s Cocky Hero series. My book will be called Uptight Flyboy and it’s a spin-off from Playboy Pilot. One of the main characters is Trent who is the ex-husband of Alexa, who you meet in Playboy Pilot a few times.

9. Have you any advice to give to aspiring authors?

Don’t try to write to the market. Write what you want to write, It will come out more authentic. And don’t get caught up in social media drama. Just stay out of it.

10, And finally, have you a message for readers?

Please keep loving and reading books, It’s a wonderful hobby and the best way to escape the world at the moment. And talking of the world at the moment… stay safe.

About the Author

Hi. My name is Em Taylor. I  live in Glasgow in Scotland. I got into writing in 2011 when I started writing Star Trek Voyager Fan Fiction under the pen name Libby Kim. I then turned to writing my own stories, originally under the pen name Krystal Brookes. When I started writing Regency romances, I decided to do it under my own name. Since then I have written different sub-genres of romance- mainly contemporary, Regency, and vampire. Some of my own favourite authors are Vi Keeland, Penelope Ward, Lauren Blakely,  Lynsay Sands, Tessa Dare, Samantha Holt, Em Petrova, Molly Harper, JF Holland, Mary Balogh.

When I’m not writing, I work as a care assistant with people who have acquired brain injuries. The main passion in my free time is attending country music concerts, although that’s not possible at present. So I sing along loudly in my car.   I hope you enjoy Not Just my Heart which was inspired by a country music song called More Hearts than Mine by the uber-talented Ingrid Andress. 

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Soundtrack for Not Just My Heart

1. More Hearts than Mine by Ingrid Andress  – This song was the inspiration for the book. It describes taking your other half home to meet your parents for the first time and mum loving them immediately while dad pretends to hate him while actually liking him. Meanwhile the younger sibling  annoys them with lots of questions. But if they break up, more hearts will be broken than just the singer’s. So I wondered what would happen if that couple got back together and the ramifications for the family.

2. Beyonce – All the Single Ladies (Put a Ring on it).

3. Ride – Chase Rice

4. No one – Alicia Keys

5. Body Like a Back Road – Sam Hunt

6. Lady Marmalade – All Saints

7. I will always love you – Dolly Parton

8. Never Gonna Give You Up – Rick Astley

9. I can take it from there – Chris Young.

10. Six Feet Apart – Luke Combs  (Just because the book was written during lockdown and this song gave me hope throughout that life would get better).