“CJ Hunt writes morsels of delight, filled with vivid relationships. They are my comfort food-reading.” ~Mary Robinette Kowal, Romantic Times Award-winning authorAll bets are off when the lights go out one dark and stormy night in Rivers End… The Maker’s Market New Year’s party is the most important night of the year for event planner Maddy Jones and her best friend caterer Kelsey Armstrong. But … friend caterer Kelsey Armstrong. But they’ve got things well in hand… until a power outage plunges everyone into darkness.
Never mind professional catastrophe—Maddy’s suffering a worse fate. She’s stuck in the elevator with the building owner, Dawson Sellers. He’s a reminder of the loving relationship she might have had.
But for Dawson, Maddy is strictly and heartbreakingly off-limits.
Down in the kitchen, Kelsey sees the blackout as a curse, but sexy artist Jason Thorne sees it as a chance to get into the sassy chef’s good graces. She’s convinced he’s out of her league, but he’s ready to show her just how beautiful she really is.
Total darkness might be exactly what these four friends need to step out of their comfort zones and take a chance on love.
Because for a building without power, there sure are a lot of sparks flying on this dark and stormy night in Rivers End.
Dark & Stormy is a short and sweet romance novella which braids together the stories of two different couples—both couples get their own HEA. It’s a standalone story woven into the world of Rivers End.
Come home to Rivers End…
While all the Rivers End stories can be read as standalones, you may want to read each mini-series in order to preserve any plot surprises and get the full picture of how the characters lives weave together! Dark & Stormy can be read anytime, with no spoilers. The following is the suggested reading order for the rest of the series:
The MacAllisters of Rivers End (available as a boxed set)
#1 – Silver Bells (Isaac + Jenna, Beginnings) available for FREE!
#2 – Tipsy (Shannon + Lucas)
#3 – Reindeer Games (Ginger + Eli)
#4 – Wedding Bells (Isaac + Jenna, Happily Ever After)
The O’Donnells of Rivers End
#1 – The List(Selina + Connor)
The Martinez Family of Rivers End
#1 – Maybe (Lucie + Daniel)
The Witches of Rivers End (romance with a touch of magic)
#0 – Trick or Treat (Mona + Garrett) Newsletter Subscriber Exclusive freebie!
#1 – Merry (Merry + Dillon) available for FREE!
#2 – Oona (Oona + Sam)
more
Dark and Stormy starts out leaving the reader a little perplexed, but the secrets unfold like a flower blooming and all is good, and so romantic. The big New Years party is so important to the artists on display, like Jason, and for caterer Kelsey and event planner Maddy who are trying to launch new businesses with the exposure they get from the party. But a wild storm seems to turn the party into a disaster, or does it? What is bad for the party is a new beginning for romance. This is a story about people who are really attracted to each other but are in total denial. In this case, 2 romances are ignited by the dark and stormy night. Since New years is a time for new beginnings, it is so appropriate. And the story is hilarious as things start to fall apart for Maddy and Kelsey. This short novel is sweet and romantic and full of heart.
Dark & Stormy: a Rivers End Romance novella (Maddy+Dawson / Kelsey+Jason) by C.J. Hunt is a wonderful story that I have read. I fell in love with this story cause it is a short and sweet romance story and I highly recommend this to everyone.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was a lot of fun and was a super read you get to see all four of these characters finally act and get who they want and all because of one storm. This was a really good fun book and a great addition to the series.
Lovely short story encompassing two couples finding their courage to pursue love over the festive season. The weather plays it’s part to allow fate to intervene.
This book is like getting a great two for one deal. Two girlfriend two stories in one book.
Party planner Maddy Jones and her best friend, caterer Kelsey Armstrong are throwing the first new years eve party.
Happy but unfortunately not goes according to their plans . Blackout.
Dawson Sellers and Jason Thorne ,both are there and planning use blackout to their advantage.
Even without power it was hot night! Want to know what happens before it comes back on?
Enjoy reading!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I loved this book the two couples in this book are all hard headed and wont see past the fact that they are friends who actually care about each other. I loved how they get stuck in the elevator together and it seems like it was a great start to their relationship the other two are working the party and as it winds down it is apparent that they will be together also. It was a short quick read which was hard to put down. I love this series
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I really enjoyed this story. Both women in the story were sweet and I loved how the men worked so hard to get the ladies. A cute story and I will look for more of the author’s work
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Dark and Story covers two couples during a power outage and what takes place. Dawson and Maddy, Jason and Kelsey. Dawson has always had a thing for Maddy but she was with someone else and he left it alone. But now that the ex was no longer in the picture, being trapped with Maddy was the perfect time to put his plan into play. Jason is an artist and has designs on Kelsey. She has it bad for Jason but doesn’t think that someone like her has a chance with him. Looks like the power outage will change the lives of two couples!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a cute and funny novella that includes two couples that finally find a way into each other’s arms, and stayed there.
Kelsey and Jason know each other because he frequents her coffee. Those visits are not a coincidence, he is really into her and she is really into him but both never tried anything. During a blackout, these two will find that they are perfect for each other.
Maddy rents space in Dawson’s building. Both of them are attracted to each other but when Dawson made the first attempt to ask Maddy on a date, something happened that put distance between them. Trapped in an elevator during a blackout the would find that not everything is what it seems and that second chances are fantastic.
Let’s be totally honest here, the plot is predictable but if you read the blurb before diving into the story, you shouldn’t be disappointed because you know what’s coming. That being said, I think it was cute and some details in the story were revealed in the middle of the blackout so I still got some surprises during my reading time.
The book is part of the Rivers End series, as a novella, so the world is one that’s contemporary but known to the reader, more so if you have read the rest of the series. Which I totally recommend you do.
It’s a short novella that you could pick at any time and enjoy. There is no need to read the whole series to understand this story, it totally stands on its own.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A sweet read, featuring two couples, Maddy and Dawson and Jason and Kelsey. Each pair is reticent, while harboring self doubts. The story is sweet, without any drama. A feel good quickie.
I want to move to Rivers End and be a part of the fun and wacky characters.
I like this series as the characters are likeable and the plots are fun and charming.
C J Hunt has written another winne
Maddy, a party planner, and Kelsey, a caterer are working the most important event of the year when something goes wrong. Maddy and her friend Kelsey fall for Jason and Dawson when the power goes out on New Year’s Eve. Love the witty banter and how they were all afraid to tell the other how they felt because they feared rejection. This is a sweet, small town romance full of humor, drama, secret loves, angst and twists that pulled each couple together. Great novella and a fantastic addition to the Rivers End Series.
The good storyline and the well rounded characters made this book a very enjoyable read! I look forward to reading more from this author!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A short quick story that deals with two couples getting together during a power outage. This is Maddy Jones a event planner and Maker’s Market building owner Dawson Sellers / caterer Kelsey Armstrong I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.and artist Jason Thorne’s stories. A book I enjoyed reading.
2 couples finally find the courage in a blackout during a storm to talk things out and get ready for the next step.
Not exactly a new storyline, but still enough new to be intriguing and absolutely fun to read. A well-written short story that is fun for a day off.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a lovely short read, and it opens as it continues – with great writing and good characters. It would have been better longer (I know; then it wouldn’t have been a novella!); issues just seemed to be overcome a little too fast. However, the lift scenes were a clear highlight (dark light?), and, if you want a quick feel-good read, this is the one to open.
Two sets of friends have a New Year Launch party to remember!
Dawson and Maddy have not gotten off to the best start. She agreed to give ex Tent one more chance. After he disappeared, when Dawson asked her out again, morning sickness – all over his shoes. He does not know the sperm donor has opted not to be a daddy.
Kelsey and Jason. He has a well to do circle of family and friends, who have been helping the sales at the launch party of their Markets Makers culinary and art co-op. An old family friend has decided to be a barnacle on his arm to try and convince Jason to hang onto her – and to run for office. She also went out of her way to insult Kelsey and her catering.
Quite a party, with the power going off, the elevator getting stuck with one of our possible couples inside, and a barnacle getting a telling off.
The next year looks to be promising, with possible engagements on the horizon.
Sweet and goofy small town romantic mayhem and hilarity!
I received an advance copy of the book.
I read it on Kindle Unlimited.
I have read most stories I can find from CJ Hunt, and enjoy and recommend the sometimes simply sweet romances, and other books, sweet and hot romances.
If you are a fan of simply sweet romance with small town trimmings, this may be your next fun novella !
This story has four main characters. I love the way it was written and changes view points of the four people with the chapters. This is a fun and charming story. The feeling of the “twenty somethings” that have the rest of their lives to live and are finding their true love to last the rest of those lives.
This is a sweet small-town romance with strong characters and a delightful story line.
The story has humour and love and a happy ever after for both couples involved
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a great read. Two couples get caught in a power outage where there was an event planned. The Author does a great job at bringing this story to fruition. This read pulls you in and you feel as if your in the story with the Characters, and before you no it the book is finished. This is that great of a read. I highly recommend
Shauna Joesten