Stronghold combined two of my favorite romance tropes into one fantastic story. Friends-to-lovers and second chance stories are probably my most favorite tropes and this one was so freaking good!

Sky and Jud were best friends almost from birth; their mothers bonded while in the maternity ward and became best friends. Next Sky and Jud began doing everything together and were best friends until something cause Jud to run away.

Jud’s life as a chef in France imploded so he returned home to Burlington to regroup. He has to get untangled from his ex before he can move on. Sky was devastated when Jud left town 10 years ago without even saying goodbye but he’s doing OK now. He has a promising business as a Sugar Maker but obligations to his family’s dairy farm are keeping him from expanding the way he wants to.

When Sky sees Jud working as a bartender at Vino & Veritas, he is shocked but happy to see his old friend; Jud isn’t quite as happy. We eventually find out why Jud left town and after he comes clean to Sky, they finally get their friendship back on track.

I loved everything about this story. I’m a sucker for a good second chance story. While Jud and Sky weren’t romantically involved when Jud left town, they had been best friends for years. I was so happy when they got together and smoothed over what happened ten years ago.

I really enjoyed the reality competition part of this book; it wasn’t over-the-top like some books with this theme are. The competition was actually pretty low angst but it added several interesting elements to the overall story and set the stage for other important events.

The writing flowed really well for me and I was able to immerse myself in the story and ignore things going on around me. This whole series has been full of great reads; I’m sorry that it’s coming to an end.

Reviews for Ana Ashley

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“If you’ve got your flirting game on, the new bartender is H.O.T.,” Wyatt says.I look at Carter, who nods. “He has this sexy kind of European vibe going on.”

And now I know how their earlier conversation got started.

I scan the bar but don’t see anyone I don’t already know. Then again, it’s pretty busy out there.

Someone steps away from the bar area with a tray of drinks, and I immediately take their place. All the bartenders are busy, so I look around to inspect this evening’s crowd.

A glass breaks somewhere behind the bar, taking my attention from the crowd waiting to be served to the clumsy bartender on the far end from where I’m standing.

He must be the new guy because I know I’d recognize that ass if I’d seen it before. Scrap that. I’d have tapped it. My eyes scan the rest of him, taking the time to appreciate his slim body from behind.

His dark jeans hug his ass perfectly, and his thighs…damn, those thighs look strong and…fuck. My dick responds to the way he moves as he’s crouching to pick up the glass from the floor.

The dark button-down shirt is loose on him, and I wonder if it’s a standard V&V-issued shirt because a guy that wears those jeans wouldn’t possibly choose to wear anything but a fitted shirt.

He washes his hands after disposing of the glass and then runs them through his dark-blond hair. I wonder if, in the light of day, his hair is actually a lighter shade.

Turn around, baby. Let me see your face.

And as if the god of horny gay single men is listening to my prayers, the guy turns around. He looks flustered and annoyed.

There’s something about him I can’t put my finger on, but it doesn’t take me long to figure out what it is. Why he looks so familiar.

When he looks up, and his eyes meet mine, my body locks up in shock. I close my eyes and open them again because this isn’t happening. I must be dreaming while awake.

I smile, wanting to jump over the counter to touch him. It’s the only way to be sure, but he looks as though he’s seen a ghost.

One of the other bartenders bumps against him, making him jolt and take a side step.

I smile at him, and that’s when I see the very slight shake of his head as I call to him before he runs to the staff area behind the bar.

“Jud!”

Vino and Veritas Series

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