New York Times bestselling author Lexi Ryan brings you Every Sweet Regret, a sexy standalone romance about a single dad and the reformed party girl who’s loved him all her life. For as long as I can remember, Kace Matthews has been my brother’s best friend and my not-so-secret crush. But I knew nothing would ever happen between us. The successful single dad doesn’t fall for the hot mess party … fall for the hot mess party girl. Kace + Stella exists in the doodles in my high school notebooks and in my dreams. Never in real life.
Until he finds me on a hookup app and starts flirting shamelessly.
It turns out high school Stella was not prepared for Kace Matthews. Adult Stella isn’t much better, but I manage to break down the walls to show Kace the real me—not just the life-of-the-party exterior, but the vulnerable pieces I hide from the world. Combine that with the combustible chemistry we have in real life, and I’m a goner.
Too bad it takes me so long to realize Kace doesn’t know I’m the girl he’s been falling for online. Telling him the truth now that he knows my secrets could mean losing everything, and that’s one regret that could break me.
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This book literally took my breath away! My heart hurt so much for Stella throughout the book. Thinking that she was the “Good Time Girl” and that no one would see the real her. I couldn’t stop turning the pages, but at the same time I wanted to slow down because I knew when the heartbreak came, it was gonna hurt really bad. Lexi has a way of bringing the tears for sure. Kace & Stella’s story was filled with secrets, heartache, longing and hope. It was absolutely beautiful and I can’t wait for Abbi’s story!!!
***I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review***
A best friends sister romance with a twist. This book touches on some serious issues that women have suffers. S thought provoking book, that gives us heat, romance and some really funny moments. Stella and Kace are clearly fighting their attraction, but preconceived notions make Kace think that she isn’t the type of woman he should or could have a relationship with. So what start off as two friends sharing an attraction, turns onto so much more.
Now I know I alluded to some serious topics touched on in this story, and there are. I loved the way the author shows us how men and women are never seen as the same and what one does the other gets criticized or ridiculed for. This book is not only a fun romance, it also a sneak peek into society. I loved every minute and page of this book. Stella and Kace are an inspiration of trust and love and forgiveness. Perfection!
I was given this book by the author in return for an honest review.
This is book 2 in the Orchid Valley book series, this could be read as a standalonebut I recommend reading book 1 first as all of the characters appear in book 2. It was so good to catch up all the characters we have learned to love from book 1. This book had a lot of stuff going on, seriously you will not be bored by it and will not want to put it down.
Friends to lovers
Best friends sister
Slow burn
Secrets
Single dad
Friend group
Twists
In this book we have Kace and Stella, both have known each other their whole lives. However not only is Kace , Stella’s brothers little sister, but also Stella has been in love with Kace since she first crushed on him as a teenage girl. I see DRAMA ahead haha!!
Kace was left by his ex wife a year ago, leaving him with his daughter and very heartbroken, wondering what the heck he did to make his wife leave him. Stella is a single lady who has had serious bad luck with every single guy she has ever dated! Seriously she has picked some real idiots along the way. Unfortunately one of those exes did a really awful thing to her that stops any other man wanting to get involved with her.
These two are definitely attracted to each other and have chemistry but struggle to make a relationship a reality. Kace is stuck in the past and too scared to move on while Stella’s past may just come back to bite her.
That is until Kace discovers “Random” and gets swiping, this pair are in for a surprise and some bumps in the road for sure, let’s just hope it works out well for them in the end.
This book is a lovely read, filled with awesome characters (apart from Amy that I want to punch haha) they all have great friendships filled with love and respect. These guys would really do anything for each other and really step up to help out when life not going well.
I always love a small town romance and this one doesn’t disappoint in any way. Bring on number 3of this series so we can catch up again.
Thanks for the chance to read this book.
Single dad Kace hasn’t had any interest in a relationship since his marriage ended. At first I kind of assumed that it was because he was still into his ex but I started to think that wasn’t the case. He knows it’s over and he’s accepted that but he still doesn’t know what he did wrong and it’s messing with his head more than he knows. I had a bit of a love/ dislike relationship with Kace. There were times he showed his caring, protective side and I loved that but his indecisiveness frustrated me. There were times I really disliked him, thought he was selfish and that Stella could do better but at the same time there was something about him that appealed to me. He wasn’t the perfect man, he’s got flaws etc but I think that’s what I liked the most.
Stella…bless her heart I adored Stella. She’s not the party girl that everyone seems to think she is. She hates how others see her and even when she’s trying her best to not rely on others, she always finds herself with no choice but to accept help. She’s a proud woman and it’s a hard pill to swallow knowing how everyone sees her. She’s been crushing on Kace forever so when he starts returning her interest she can’t help but get her hopes up. So when Kace starts messaging her through a hook up app, she assumes he knows who he’s talking to….spoiler alert, he doesn’t. Bless his little clueless heart he has no idea the person he’s connecting so well with his his best friends younger sister and things are about to get complicated.
This is another great book in the Orchard Valley series and I can’t wait for more (hopefully Abbi’s book).
Overall Grade: 1/2
My first foray into Lexi Ryan’s stories began with Brinley and Martson’s story in Every Little Promise and Every Little Piece of Me. That second chance romance intrigued me but fell a little short for me in its evolution. I was interested, though, in the next book of Ryan’s Orchid Valley series, a friends-to-lovers romance between Kace and Stella, one of Brinley’s friends and co-workers. What I found is a story that captured me from the beginning as it evolves into an angsty story of two friends, one of whom has pined for the other for over a decade. The most impactful aspect of Ryan’s Every Sweet Regret is its exposition on women’s agency over their $exuality and the double-standard that exists for women when they embrace a $exually active lifestyle.
Yes, the chemistry between Ryan’s hero, Kace, and her heroine, Stella, is off the charts. There is a clear connection between these two. However, Kace’s struggle to move past his divorce and his mischaracterization of Stella keeps his feelings and actions at bay. Using the reality of modern-day dating, Ryan’s story finds Kace’s ex-wife creating a profile for him on a “hook-up” app, Random, where, guess what, he matches with Stella without him knowing she is Stella. It is here where the story becomes complicated because Kace doesn’t realize the woman he has begun speaking to on the app is actually Stella. Additionally, he decides to finally explore his chemistry with Stella creating all kinds of complications. While Ryan writes Kace as a do-gooder friend to all, a man who simply wanted his family to “work out,” he tends to be dense and disconnected from the truth of his feelings. It makes him more complex, adding an edge to this trope that can sometimes be mild. Obviously, the drama comes in the revelation of Stella’s identity.
The highlight of the story is Ryan’s development of Stella’s character. It is in her progression on the page that two truths come to light: (1) that people discriminate and perceive one’s identity based on their outward appearance and (2) that a woman’s $exuality cannot be overt because she is judged for her freedom to enjoy it. Stella knows what she wants, and she wants Kace. However, Kace’s shortsightedness about Stella creates their issues. Stella knows herself, and she believes in a potential future with Kace. She is insightful and strong, and she’s the type of heroine that you want to find a happy ending. For me, Ryan writes Stella in such a way that she is more interesting than her heroine in the first books of this series. Stella is complicated and interesting in a way that Brinley can’t be. This made Every Sweet Regret so much more compelling than the initial books.
Yes, Every Sweet Regret is a friends-to-lovers’ story, but it’s also more. It’s a suggestion that women should have the same freedom to explore their $exuality as men, instead of enduring the recriminations of society. Over and over again, Ryan is careful in reminding us that there should be no difference. This message underscored and created a gravity that seemed missing from the earlier books in the series. In the end, though, Kace and Stella find their happily-ever-after, and Ryan shows her capability at drawing you into a story, one that feels a bit necessary to read for its message.
Stella has had a crush for years on her brother’s best friend, Kace. I loved their story and how they came to be. Their story grabbed me from the beginning and had me turning pages never wanting it to end. Every Sweet Regret has great characters, a few surprises, secrets, great banter, chemistry and sexy times.
Every Sweet Regret by Lexi Ryan was a beautiful read, and a wonderful story to escape into! It’s the second book in the Orchid Valley series and really captivated me throughout.
Stella is a hoot! She is unapologetically herself, and sassy to boot, really making it fun to engage with her on the page. She tries so hard to be herself, but sometimes everyone else doesn’t see her for who she truly is.
And Kace? Give me more of this cinnamon roll of a man! I’m so very in love! He’s charming, caring, maybe a tad overprotective but in the best possible way, and is just trying to do his best for himself and his kid.
The secondary characters put such a smile on my face and really help bolster our main characters. The interactions make me chuckle, especially the conversations between Stella and Abbi! And Dean, doing his best to be a good big brother though sometimes not letting things happen the way they need to. And I adored Marston and Brinley!
The chemistry between Stella and Kace SIZZLES and I honestly couldn’t get enough of it! From imagination to reality it only got better and better.
And bless all miscommunications and misconstrued information that we get from dating apps! I adored how Lexi used this and it not only added to the story in general but also took me on one heck of an emotional rollercoaster ride of a journey as Stella and Kace found ways to be truly vulnerable and honest.
If you’re looking for a sweet story about falling for your best friend’s sister with some shenanigans, shmekshay times sprinkled throughout, and some real and honest emotional exchanges, look no further than Every Sweet Regret! It’s thoroughly worth it!
For as long as she can remember, Stella has crushed on her brother’s friend, Kace, who also happens to be her own friend’s brother. But Kace has never seen her as anything but a hot mess of a party girl who has bad decisions written all over her. She has no idea he’s lusted after her for years. But he’s not in the right mindset to do anything about those feelings – dealing with a divorce from a woman he might possibly be still in love with, and raising his child. But when Stella offers him casual fun, will he take her up on her offer?
I loved Stella, hot mess though she was. She wore her heart on her sleeve, if only Kace had seen that heart years ago. But once he got with the program, admittedly, way, way too late in the game, he was one swoony guy. These two practically set their world on fire every time they were in the same room, and I loved their story even if I felt so badly for Stella as she got her heart crushed one too many times by an oblivious, but very sweet guy.
Bien que ce roman soit le tome 2 de la saga Orchid Valley, je n’ai eu aucun souci de compréhension donc ce tome peut être lu de manière indépendante. Lexi Ryan nous offre une comédie romantique comme on les aime. On va rire et on saura aussi trouver de l’émotion dans les rebondissements de l’intrigue.
Stella Jacob est une jeune femme de 27 ans qui pâtit de l’image que les gens ont d’elle. Elle assume pleinement aimer le sexe et elle flirte donc sans vergogne avec les hommes. Elle est célibataire et elle fait donc ce qu’elle veut mais il faut dire que ces derniers temps , elle va tomber sur des hommes vraiment idiots ou irrespectueux. Sur l’application de rencontres qu’elle a , elle va donc se lier d’amitié avec un jeune homme dont elle va vite découvrir l’identité. Il est celui dont elle rêve depuis des années et il est plus facile d’être ouverte à lui dissimulée derrière son écran . Malgré une apparence plus que flatteuse , la jeune femme manque de confiance en elle et cela se répercute sur deux points sensibles. Elle se cherche encore professionnellement parlant et la reprise de ses études à cet âge n’est pas une mince affaire. Elle croit naïvement ne pas être en mesure de suivre la voie choisie mais elle a besoin de quelqu’un qui lui montre qu’elle en est capable. Sentimentalement parlant c’est un vrai désastre car elle est persuadée que seule sa plastique compte et que les hommes ne s’intéressent à elle que pour son corps. Aussi quand elle va se lancer dans le jeu dangereux du flirt avec son crush de toujours, elle risque de tomber de haut dans la vraie vie tout comme dans leur relation virtuelle. Le temps des secrets dévoilés est venu et on espère qu’elle saura trouver une oreille réellement attentive.
Kace Matthews est notre héros . Il est charmant, fraîchement divorcé et père d’une adorable petite fille. Il a su conserver des liens cordiaux avec son ex femme Amy qu’on aura du mal à ne pas détester. Nous allons découvrir certains aspects que notre héros ignore mais en plus , elle est vraiment odieuse vis à vis de Stella. On ne comprendra pas immédiatement les raisons de cette haine mais cela ne nous permettra pas de redorer son image. Kace est donc un héros perdu qui croyait en une histoire d’amour éternelle et qui est tombé de haut. Il se pourrait aussi qu’il ne parvienne pas à tourner la page mais nous ne savons pas si c’est parce qu’il est toujours amoureux de son ex femme ou s’il est déçue de ne plus vivre cet amour si important à ses yeux. Son meilleur ami , Dean , n’est autre que le frère de Stella et dans le Bro Code, on ne peut pas toucher à la soeur d’un ami. Pourtant , il est évident que Kace n’est pas indifférent au charme de notre héroïne. Il ne cherche pas quelque chose de sérieux et elle semble donc la candidate idéale. Il sera aussi troublée par sa relation virtuelle avec une jeune femme qui se livre face à lui. Il sait qu’il peut s’épancher sans jugement et cela est réciproque. Il devra tout de même ouvrir les yeux avant qu’il ne soit trop tard.
Bref , j’ai passé un moment de lecture très sympathique avec ce second tome d’une saga que j’ai envie de continuer de découvrir. Le prochain tome sur Dean et Abbi risque bien de nous offrir de beaux moments et nous permettra sans aucun doute de retrouver nos chers héros.
This was a very enjoyable storyline. It’s a brothers best friends romance that’s full of angst. The Chemistry between Kace and Stella is off the charts hot. You go through all the feels. There are so many twists you can’t help but to get hooked from beginning to end. This is definitely a book you want to get your hands on.
This was a sweet, brother’s best friend romance but it was also so much more. Stella has been in love with her brother’s best friend Kace forever. He has always told her no, not wanting to hurt his best friend or ruin their friendship. Stella has made a lot of bad decisions as she searched for love. All she wants is a home with a loving husband and family. Kace is divorced from a doozy of a woman with a beautiful little girl and still pining for his ex-wife. Maybe now is the time this couple can try for their happily ever after. This book is sweet and funny. I laughed out loud several times. I really enjoyed this book and this couple. You need to read this book and this series.
Every Sweet Regret by Lexi Ryan is the second book in her Orchid Valley series. It was an emotional and touching story about second chances, letting go and taking risks. Stella has crushed on her brother’s best friend, Kace, since high school. She was always the girl ready to party and have fun. And yes, that led to some questionable choices, but she is determined to finally move forward. Kace is a single father trying to settle into his new normal.
Full of angst, their journey was not easy. She was always forbidden to him and all she ever wanted was him. When they find themselves flirting, teasing and connecting online, will that finally bring them together or push them further apart? Definitely worth the read and excited to see what comes next in the series.
Read and reviewed for Sultry Sirens Book Blog.
Happy reading!
A year after his wife left him, Kace is still reeling from their divorce but he can’t help but notice that his best friend’s little sister, Stella, more than ever. She has always caught his eye but he would never go there because, you know, bro code. Lately though, he can’t turn a blind eye anymore. His ex-wife tells him he needs to get back in the saddle – so like all good ex-wives she sets up a profile up for him on Random, the hookup app, so that he can relieve some stress/tension. Stella has had a crush on Kace for as long as she realized boys didn’t have cooties anymore but he was the forbidden fruit, her brother’s best friend and one of her good friend’s brother. So what happens when they connect on Random?
I loved these two, whether it was them communicating via Random or in person, I loved them. They were fun, sweet, caring, considerate, honest, open and holy on fire. Kace’s awkwardness at being in the dating scene was so endearing, I couldn’t get enough of it and I loved how he owned up to it. So dang cute. Made me love him even more. Stella has a heart of gold and that poor girl as been through the ringer. I feel for her but I love that she put herself out there and owned up to all her truths. I just truly adored these two together. Then BAM it all blows up and holy heck didn’t see a few of those things coming. But I loved the way it all played out. However, I felt like I got whiplash about his feelings for his ex-wife; seemed like one moment he was still in love with her and missed her and then the next it wasn’t her he wanted but a relationship/family. It was confusing at times. I also felt like Stella’s “skeleton” came out of left field. Overall though, I truly enjoyed this book and would recommend it. This is the second couple in the series, I did not read the first two books about the first couple but I did not feel like I was missing anything by not reading them. I will for sure read them though.
Lexi Ryan has slowly but surely been establishing herself as the kind of author that I don’t hesitate when I see she has a new book coming out. I like how she plots out the books in a way that it’s steadily moving forward and at the same time you’re getting to know the characters and getting wrapped up in their emotions. I get that in general good plotting and relatable characters is always what you hope to find, but I just particularly like the way Lexi Ryan does it. I think that’s one of the things that I’ve come to know and love about her writing is my connection to the characters. And while I know that every story or every character isn’t necessarily going to end up being a five-star read, this one definitely was. From the very beginning I loved Kace and Stella. I think I had a different idea in mind when I originally read the blurb, but I was pleasantly surprised by how different it was from what I was thinking. In all honesty I started reading this book because it’s an author I like, and it’s the second book in a series that I already started. And I tend to like to continue a series once I’ve already started it just to see how it’ll all end. But I wasn’t necessarily sure how I felt about certain preconceived notions I had. But again this story was so much more and so much better than what I was expecting. There was such depth to Stella that I wasn’t expecting. And Kace also was different then I expected in a good way. I honestly don’t know how else to explain it but to say everything was different but better than I expected. There were certainly several surprises that I didn’t see coming outside of the characters and kind of what I thought this story would be about. And I can honestly say after reading this story that I’m even more invested in this series than I was before. I’m really looking forward to the next book and just more in general from this author.
Second chances, starting over, regret, secrets, friendship, trust, loyalty, heartache, betrayal, honesty, passion, hope, forgiveness….this book has it all!
“Have you ever even been with a good man? One who knows that treating a woman like a queen doesn’t stop at the bedroom door? One who worships you the way you were built to be worshipped?”
Sometimes people aren’t always as they appear. People get really good at hiding their heart, showing people what they want to believe, building walls to protect themselves.
“Don’t you dare lower your expectations. You deserve everything you want and more.”
This book has you wondering what you’d do if you were in the same situation. It’s easy to judge another’s actions. When your heart is involved or you’re trying to protect someone else’s you may find yourself in uncharted territory.
“When there are already strings, pretending there aren’t just makes a tangled mess.”
Looking forward to the release of Every Time I Fall. I can’t wait to see what’s ahead for my favorite Orchard Valley friends.
A second book that reads by itself. Stella is a young woman as I like them, bubbly and independent who accepts her choices even if they are not always the right ones. Kace is a model dad and lover and their duo is full of obviousness … A very classic romance in the end which lacked a little spice and surprises for a crush.
This book is funny and steamy. Stella and Kace have been attracted to each other for years, but the timing has never been right. Kace is trying to care for his young daughter and move on from his divorce. Stella is trying to live down the party girl image and show that she is a woman of substance. This story has a bit of everything:
secret affair
best friend’s sister
online dating (that causes much confusion)
off the charts chemistry
dirty talking hunk (hubba hubba!)
annoying ex
great cast of secondary characters
If you enjoy any or all of the above, check out this book. Truly a read worth your time. Advanced copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Wild and ready meets slow and steady!
Party girl Stella has a bit of a reputation. The life of the party vibe overshadows her heart of gold, except for those closest to her.
Single dad Kace is fresh off his divorce, and almost unwilling to move on, ESPECIALLY with Stella.
Their banter is perfection, their chemistry is blinding, and the secrets spilled made me drop my jaw. I’d recommend this for anyone.
Every Sweet Regret is the second book in the Orchid Valley series by Lexi Ryan. This brother’s best friend/friends-to-lovers romance story grabs you from the very first page and has you turning the pages to see how the story develops. It’s beautifully written with great characters, surprise plot twists, explosive chemistry, sizzlin’ banter, a bit of angst, steamy scenes, a touch of drama, and secrets, that lead up to a happily ever after.
I volunteered to review an advance reader copy of this book.
Every Sweet Regret is the second book in the Orchid Valley series by Lexi Ryan. I love the chemistry between Kace and Stella and literally could not put this book down . It was an awesome book and I can’t wait till the book 3 comes out