Raise A Glass Series by Mary E. Thompson

Alyssa Wright has one goal for her last summer before she leaves for college. Eighteen is too old and she refuses to go off to college carrying her v-card. So she’s set on finding a guy to give it to in the next six weeks. Jake Monroe owes his best friend. The man was like a brother to Jake, and he knows he needs to be there for his friend’s widow and infant. But first, he needs to find a job. When Alyssa runs into Jake, almost literally, she knows he’s different... moreAlyssa Wright has one goal for her last summer before she leaves for college. Eighteen is too old and she refuses to go off to college carrying her v-card. So she’s set on finding a guy to give it to in the next six weeks. Jake Monroe owes his best friend. The man was like a brother to Jake, and he knows he needs to be there for his friend’s widow and infant. But first, he needs to find a job. When Alyssa runs into Jake, almost literally, she knows he’s different. She thinks about him constantly, and not in the way she’s thought about any other guy. Jake knows getting involved with his new boss’s niece is not a good idea, but there’s something about Alyssa that he can’t resist. She’s the light he’s never had in his life, and it baffles him that she wants him as much as he wants her. Jake doesn’t want to take advantage of Alyssa, but she knows he’s the right one to give herself to. Even if it’s only for the summer. less

Alyssa Morgan thought she’d never set foot on her family’s vineyard again. Fifteen years was a long time to be away, but not nearly long enough when she has nothing to show for her time. Unless you’d count three failed marriages, two parents she barely spoke to, one disastrous attempt at a college degree, and zero friends to count on. Jake Monroe thought about leaving Amavita Estates many times after Alyssa left him. Over the years, her family became his family. They accepted him. Loved him... moreAlyssa Morgan thought she’d never set foot on her family’s vineyard again. Fifteen years was a long time to be away, but not nearly long enough when she has nothing to show for her time. Unless you’d count three failed marriages, two parents she barely spoke to, one disastrous attempt at a college degree, and zero friends to count on. Jake Monroe thought about leaving Amavita Estates many times after Alyssa left him. Over the years, her family became his family. They accepted him. Loved him. Healed him. Her family was the family he never had, and without her around to remind him otherwise, he could pretend he was one of them. Until she walked back into his world looking nothing like the girl he used to know. Alyssa knows she needs to stay away from Jake. Jake wants nothing to do with her. But the chemistry that drew them together fifteen years ago is stronger than they are. Especially when Jake glimpses the vulnerability she’s trying to hide. His old protective instincts kick in. He wants to soothe her old hurts, and maybe her new ones, too. But Jake doesn’t know if he can move beyond their past to be friends, let alone what he thought they would become. And Alyssa doesn’t know if she can lean on him again when there’s still another woman in his life. less

She has a secret… Andie Young has always been good at hiding who she really is. Her emotions and truths have stayed buried beneath the sexy clothes, makeup, and endless amber waves that are her signature look. She had to do something to get attention. Between her three brothers and five cousins, she grew up feeling like the invisible one. So she changed that. He’s loved her forever… Cody Powell has been attracted to Andie since the summer she turned seventeen... moreShe has a secret… Andie Young has always been good at hiding who she really is. Her emotions and truths have stayed buried beneath the sexy clothes, makeup, and endless amber waves that are her signature look. She had to do something to get attention. Between her three brothers and five cousins, she grew up feeling like the invisible one. So she changed that. He’s loved her forever… Cody Powell has been attracted to Andie since the summer she turned seventeen. Off limits back then, and involved with one guy or another since, Cody has kept his adoration secret from her. He spent fifteen years avoiding Andie, and stammering like a fool when he was face to face with her. Cody spends weeks fixing up her house and falling harder for her with each passing day. He knows she’d never be interested in a country boy like him, but seeing her dating other guys has finally taken its toll. Cody doesn’t think he can handle it any longer. They both want someone to share their lives with… Is she strong enough to take a chance with Cody? Or will he finish her house and leave before she gets the chance to tell him how she feels? less

When tragedy strikes… Henry Wilson has been a strong and steady force for his family for years. When death steals one of them, Henry’s ability to keep himself together is tested. Even surrounded by people, he’s never had anyone to lean on. Not since he made the biggest mistake of his life and told his best friend he was in love with her. Right before she disappeared from his life for good... moreWhen tragedy strikes… Henry Wilson has been a strong and steady force for his family for years. When death steals one of them, Henry’s ability to keep himself together is tested. Even surrounded by people, he’s never had anyone to lean on. Not since he made the biggest mistake of his life and told his best friend he was in love with her. Right before she disappeared from his life for good. And the chips are down… Cynthia Hill is inching closer and closer to the life she always feared. Still single, and now jobless, she’s living back at home with her mom. It isn’t as bad as she thought it would be, which scares her more than the way she thinks about her former best friend. All they have is each other… Henry knows getting involved with Cynthia won’t lead to anything but pain. She’ll go back to her life, and he’ll be left to deal with one more heartbreak. One he isn’t sure he’ll survive. less

His life was good... Zach Bennett was content to go to work, hang out with his family and friends, and entertain a woman once in a while. As his family found love all around him, he was content to stay single. Unattached. Happy. Besides, he had enough to worry about with a new chef breathing down his neck for his job. She faced the truth every day... Gianna Brooks always wanted to work with people. She saw enough growing up to know kids need all the help they can get... moreHis life was good... Zach Bennett was content to go to work, hang out with his family and friends, and entertain a woman once in a while. As his family found love all around him, he was content to stay single. Unattached. Happy. Besides, he had enough to worry about with a new chef breathing down his neck for his job. She faced the truth every day... Gianna Brooks always wanted to work with people. She saw enough growing up to know kids need all the help they can get. They deserved to be safe. Loved. Happy. Which is why she's determined to get her new client into a forever home. But the truth isn't always good... The last thing Zach needs is a little girl showing up on his doorstep claiming she's his. Her social worker hot on her heels, and demanding a place to stay, definitely doesn't make it any better. Especially with Gianna's curvy body and bedroom eyes, and his daughter's sad sweetness, making him consider keeping both of them. Gianna knows she should run. Zach knows he should send them away. But neither of them can resist the pull toward the other. less

One night with a stranger... Kicking herself for letting her guard down and actually connecting with the sexy man whose name she doesn't even know, Katherine misses the news that her toxic ex is back, and looking for her. She can't let him find her, so she doesn't think, she just runs.  He never thought he'd see her again... Dillon doesn't know what to think when his one night stand shows up on his doorstep... moreOne night with a stranger... Kicking herself for letting her guard down and actually connecting with the sexy man whose name she doesn't even know, Katherine misses the news that her toxic ex is back, and looking for her. She can't let him find her, so she doesn't think, she just runs.  He never thought he'd see her again... Dillon doesn't know what to think when his one night stand shows up on his doorstep. He starts to turn her away, but the terrified look in her eyes triggers all his protective instincts, and he knows he can't let her leave.  Time is against them... Dillon and Katherine grow closer every day. As her real life calls, they both know what's happening won't last, but that doesn't stop them from wanting it to. less

No more men… Kristen Bennett had her heart shattered. Broken was too small of a word for getting dumped by the guy she thought she’d spend her life with. What really pissed her off was she couldn’t get past the hurt and lose herself in other men like she usually did. Too much trouble… Zane Hughes didn’t let anyone close. Close meant he could get hurt, and he’d had enough of that to last a few lifetimes... moreNo more men… Kristen Bennett had her heart shattered. Broken was too small of a word for getting dumped by the guy she thought she’d spend her life with. What really pissed her off was she couldn’t get past the hurt and lose herself in other men like she usually did. Too much trouble… Zane Hughes didn’t let anyone close. Close meant he could get hurt, and he’d had enough of that to last a few lifetimes. The only woman allowed in his life for longer than one night was his business partner and best friend, and she knew when to back off. It’s all for fun… When Kristen and Zane meet, it’s all business. Until too many hours together and too much wine give them both the courage to get as close as two people can get. Neither of them wants more than a casual relationship, so what’s the harm in having one together. With Kristen’s re-shattered heart, and Zane’s complete lack of one, they’re the perfect couple. As long as no one wants more than some fun between the sheets, or against the wall, or on the table. less