Wishful Series by Kait Nolan, The Forge Book Finishers

Wishful, Mississippi. From the post Civil War fountain on the town green, to the gossip served along with grits and coffee at Dinner Belles Diner, it will always be Campbell Crawford’s hometown–preferably just as it is. The way he sees it, the corporate big-box store that wants to unpack on the outskirts threatens everything he holds dear, but the town’s economy demands some kind of change... moreWishful, Mississippi. From the post Civil War fountain on the town green, to the gossip served along with grits and coffee at Dinner Belles Diner, it will always be Campbell Crawford’s hometown–preferably just as it is. The way he sees it, the corporate big-box store that wants to unpack on the outskirts threatens everything he holds dear, but the town’s economy demands some kind of change. He’s not sure city girl Norah Burke can possibly understand Wishful enough help him turn things around–no matter how much his dog loves her. Norah falls for the charms of the town as hard as she falls for the charms of the man, and she’s determined to help. But even if they can get the votes to send the suits packing and get the town on its feet again, can she really give up her corner office and power lunches for the corner booth at the local diner? What’s a nice executive like her going to do in a place like this? Excerpt To Get Me To You “Let’s step outside for some air,” he said. There were things he wanted—needed—to give voice to, and the middle of a crowded dance floor wasn’t the place. She nodded once and let him guide her with a hand at the small of her back toward the back door. By grace of the frigid temperatures, the porch designated for outdoor dining and smoking was empty. Norah went straight to the railing and leaned against it, lifting her face to the sky. Cam resisted the urge to move in behind her, boxing her in, and instead leaned beside her, his arm brushing hers. “I miss simple.” She sighed and tipped her head against his arm. “I miss you.” He hadn’t expected the admission and credited lowered inhibitions due to the Three Furies. “You don’t have to. I’ve been right here the whole time. And for all your talk, you haven’t gone anywhere, not yet.” “But I will. Not tomorrow. Probably not next week. I don’t know when I’m leaving. But I have to start taking control of my life again. If that conversation with my father did anything, it lit a fire under me to finally start facing the long job search. I can’t keep putting it off.” Nothing had changed. After all these weeks, all her involvement in the community, she still didn’t think she belonged here. He was losing her, back to the life she’d come here to escape. Because he was perilously close to begging, Cam kept his mouth shut, fisting both hands around the railing until the wrought iron began to creak. She mistook the reason for his silence. “I promise you, I won’t go until Wishful is safe. And I don’t make promises I can’t keep.” He believed her. And cursed himself for wishing more danger on his town, just so she’d stay. If he said nothing now, if he let her walk away, he’d regret it for the rest of his life. Cam turned her to face him. “Isn’t it worth grabbing whatever happiness we can, while we can?” He could feel the pull between them, always the pull. She leaned toward him, yearning written clearly on her face. But mixed with it was equal parts sadness and resignation. “It isn’t about happiness.” “Why the hell not?” “Because there are bigger things at stake.” “I get that you’ve got this mission, this purpose. I support that. Hell, I asked you to take it on. But that doesn’t mean you can’t take something for yourself. Even Wonder Woman had Steve Trevor.” “You’re no Steve Trevor.” Before Cam could process the insult of that, she was reaching up, cupping his jaw. “Steve Trevor didn’t recognize what was right in front of him. You actually see me.” What he saw was a brilliant, beautiful woman with an inexplicably fast hold on his heart and a mule-headed resistance to taking it. He turned his face into her touch, needing the connection. Her thumb traced the arch of his cheek. “Do you know how rare that is?” Cam covered her hand with his. “Do you know how rare this is? Don’t you think it’s worth hanging on to?” “Campbell.” She swayed toward him. “I…” He might’ve said any number of things to try to persuade her, or he might’ve just given in and kissed her, as he’d wanted to do pretty much since the moment he’d stopped. But Fate, cruel bitch that she was, had other plans in the form of his meddling cousin, who came barreling out the door like an overgrown golden retriever. Mitch drew up short, his mouth dropping open as he took in their embrace in a glance. “I…uh…just came to say the food’s ready. And Miranda’s here.” “Great. I’m starved.” Norah tapped Cam’s cheek gently. “Thanks for the dance, Leonidas.” She stepped away from him with the grace that completely eluded her on the dance floor and made her way to the door with the careful deliberation of the inebriated. less

Welcome back to Wishful, Mississppi, full of eccentric characters and southern charm, where author Kait Nolan delivers another heart-warming story of a strong, successful woman and the equally strong man who learns how to be her partner. Liam Montgomery is the last person who'd call himself a hero, but he does have a tendency to try to save the world. Now that he's left the Marine Corps and returned to Wishful, he feels out of place and unsure of what comes next... moreWelcome back to Wishful, Mississppi, full of eccentric characters and southern charm, where author Kait Nolan delivers another heart-warming story of a strong, successful woman and the equally strong man who learns how to be her partner. Liam Montgomery is the last person who'd call himself a hero, but he does have a tendency to try to save the world. Now that he's left the Marine Corps and returned to Wishful, he feels out of place and unsure of what comes next. He does know one thing: The girl who used to look up to him like a brother is all grown up. No way he can see her as a little sister now. And she won't give him the time of day. Riley Gower isn't holding out for a hero. In fact, a knight in shining armor is the last thing she wants. She's been watching her mother chase that fairy tale for most of her life, with Riley the one left to pick up the pieces of unhappily ever after. Running Wishful's downtown pharmacy is a dream Riley's worked toward for years. Now that the business is finally hers, the realities of the current economy have made it seem like the dream is falling apart. So when her mother calls, expecting yet another rescue, Riley feels like she's spread thinner than the last pat of butter at Sunday dinner. It's hard enough for a woman like Riley to admit she could use a hand, but mixed up with the embarrassment of a childhood crush and the devastating attraction sizzling between them? No way. Liam is determined to help, but taking down insurgents is less complicated than infiltrating Riley's defenses. This will require reinforcements. And a plan. Books in the Wishful Series (May be read out of order):  Once Upon A Coffee (short story): Dillon and Avery To Get Me To You (novel): Cam and Norah Be Careful, It's My Heart (novella): Brody and Tyler Know Me Well (novel): Liam and Riley Excerpt: "I can't afford a new car, Liam.  Isn't there anything you can do?  Something you can cobble together?  Duct tape?  Prayers?"  It killed her to ask, but desperate times. "I could probably manage something.  But whatever I do is going to be borrowed time and it's really throwing good money after bad.  You're gonna have to start making some kind of arrangements for a new one in the not distant future." "Any time you can buy me is appreciated."  And maybe she'd have pulled off some kind of miracle to bring in extra income to pay for it. Knowing she needed to keep her hands busy, Riley picked up the carton of Band-aids and went to put it away again. Never mind that she hadn't actually put any on the shelf.  She added it back to the pile and turned.  Liam had followed her into the storeroom, and the already over-crowded space suddenly shrank. Riley took an instinctive step back and stumbled. Her feet snagged, sending her flailing.  Before she could crash into the piled up junk, Liam's hands closed around her hips, yanking her flush against him.  All her soft parts were pressed up close and personal against all his hard parts and, oh dear God, she couldn't breathe. "Careful. less

An accidental pregnancy romance for Wishful's most eligible bachelor "Just a fling," she said… Tess Peyton wanted to do something fun and reckless and wholly out of character. A steamy weekend with a Scotsman seems like a plan. When her Scotsman turns out to be a good Southern boy, that's a minor deviation. Then one night turns to two, two turns to more, and suddenly she knows she's in way over her head. This is why one should always stick to the plan. "Bachelor for life," he said.. moreAn accidental pregnancy romance for Wishful's most eligible bachelor "Just a fling," she said… Tess Peyton wanted to do something fun and reckless and wholly out of character. A steamy weekend with a Scotsman seems like a plan. When her Scotsman turns out to be a good Southern boy, that's a minor deviation. Then one night turns to two, two turns to more, and suddenly she knows she's in way over her head. This is why one should always stick to the plan. "Bachelor for life," he said... But that was before all of Mitch Campbell's friends, cousins, and even his little sister started pairing off like someone was building an ark. No wonder he fell, and fell hard, for his "no attachments, no last names" European fling. And just when he's ready to tell the woman of his dreams that he wants to change that arrangement, she disappears, leaving him with no means of tracking her down, and a big ol' hole in his heart. And then Fate stepped in... Because, guess what? The guy Tess ran out on in Edinburgh shows up at family dinner. He's her dad's new wife's brother's son. What does that make them? It makes them "on again," according to Mitch and the explosive chemistry between them. Tess feels it too, along with a side of awkward, continued uncertainty, and some kind of stomach virus that seems to bother her most in the mornings… less

Reunion Prom? Is this really a thing? In Wishful it is. Lexi Morales never imagined her life would turn into the premise for an 1980s teen movie. But when her big high school trauma hit like a ton of bricks, she spent the next decade trying to hide the truth. After years of careful avoidance, she's back in town to care for her injured mother, just in time for the high school reunion she never planned to attend—a reunion that evokes memories she's tried to forget... moreReunion Prom? Is this really a thing? In Wishful it is. Lexi Morales never imagined her life would turn into the premise for an 1980s teen movie. But when her big high school trauma hit like a ton of bricks, she spent the next decade trying to hide the truth. After years of careful avoidance, she's back in town to care for her injured mother, just in time for the high school reunion she never planned to attend—a reunion that evokes memories she's tried to forget. Wishful's friendly neighborhood photographer, Zach Warren, has no idea why he and his best friend drifted apart. But from the first, flashbulb moment he sees Lexi all grown up, she's all he can think about—and his thoughts keep straying right out of the friendzone. Zach’s offer of temporary employment while she’s in town should be a perfect fit, but acting like she's never thought of him as more than a friend turns out to be harder than Lexi ever expected. All she wants to do is get through this with her secret—and her heart—intact. One thing's for sure: Lexi is NOT going to this prom. But what if ten years is just the right amount of time for Zach to finally get a clue? less