It’s Cliffside Bay and beyond in this heartwarming enemies-to-lovers romantic adventure from USA Today bestselling author Tess Thompson.Stone Hickman is the last of a dying breed. The former Marine believes in integrity, service to his country, a hard day’s work, and taking care of his loved ones. When he meets the clever Pepper Griffin, their obvious attraction has him ready to count the … the stunning beauty among the people that he cares for. But Pepper doesn’t share the instant connection. In fact, she wants nothing to do with him. And for honest, straightforward Stone, not knowing why only makes the rejection worse.
Pepper Griffin is the epitome of scrappy. For years she’s struggled to make acting her career without any help at all from her famous father. While she’s still accepting meager roles with little screen time, her best friend has steadily risen to the height of fame. To make matters worse, that very same friend is happily in love, newly engaged, and wants poor Pepper, whose love life is as sad and pathetic as her last film role, to serve as her maid-of-honor while Pepper’s enemy, Stone Hickman, is sure to be the groom’s best man.
Though Pepper despises the best man, she loves the bride-to-be more. To keep the peace, Pepper willingly includes Stone in the wedding planning process. When the unlikely pair find themselves stranded in a snowstorm while searching for the perfect venue, they’ll have to work together to survive the chill even if that means thawing Pepper’s heart.
more
A wonderful story of healing, hope and finding one’s true happiness. While this is part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone. I loved the instant chemistry between Pepper and Stone. It made for an epic slow burn and anticipation of will they or won’t they. They needed one another to overcome pasts and insecurities. From an emotional aspect, this had a lot of feelings that grabbed you from the get go. There were parts that I did not particularly enjoy, but overall it was a great story and one I would ultimately recommend.
Pepper and Stone are attracted to each other at first sight yet bc of past trauma they are scared to take the leap. Will their friends be able to help? Will they find healing in love? Tess brings each character alive as if you were an actual resident in Cliffside Bay. Although Healed can be a stand alone, its a beautiful addition to the Cliffside Bay series.
****I received an ARC in exchange for my review****
Stone and Pepper truly stole the show of the world of Cliffside Bay.
I knew that their story was going to hit me in a way that others haven’t. Pepper’s reaction to finding out that Stone was ex-military led me to believe that this story would indicate a major life changing event in her past.
I’m so happy with the way this whole story line played out and how Tess Thompson wrote it for us to enjoy.
Another great book about the Cliffside Bay gang.
Pepper and Stone have an attraction until Pepper finds out he was a Marine. Will Stone be able to break down the walls and show Pepper the real Stone?
Pepper has a past she doesn’t talk about. It makes relationships hard. Stone is determined to show her that he will go at her pace because they have a connection that can’t be denied. Can Stone be what Pepper has always needed?
This was a great book. I always enjoy reading about Cliffside Bay!
Beautiful story and the Wolves/Dogs were awesome as always. Stone was such a nice guy that had been thru so much as a child but that didn’t stop him from living. His crush for Pepper was beautiful but she was oblivious. Pepper was bitter and came across as a spoiled brat but she had her reasoning and lots of daddy issues. Stone and Pepper came from different worlds but they were perfect for each other. They had lots of events that happened especially a surprising one for Stone but still very beautiful story.
Tess Thompson takes us back to Cliffside Bay with her latest novel, Healed: Stone & Pepper. Stone is retired from military and Pepper is waiting for her big break as an actress. Both of these characters have some things from their past they need to work through to heal and become the people they want to be. Stone & Pepper have a love/hate relationship – Stone loves and Pepper hates (although hate is a strong word). As the two of them get to know each other better they hear stories about what made them who they are today. This is a wonderful story about hope, healing and a love that is worth waiting for. Thank you Tess for the ARC of another great book
I received a review copy of this book before release for an honest review.
This is part of the series, it is an offshoot of the original series but this is book 2 in this off shoot series featuring The Wolves.
If you are new to this series I highly recommend you start with the original series the book featuring Kyle and Violet (Kyle is Stones brother and their story really starts there.)
Then I would read the first book in The Wolves series about Rafael and Lisa. Lisa is Peppers best friend and in her book we really meet Pepper. Stone is also featured in there and we get to meet all the wolves and hear their back stories.
This series tries to stand alone but its more of a serial and all the characters are very close. Each book features a different couple but we still see and find out about the other couples from previous books. Kyle, Autumn and Stine are all siblings and they grew up in a very complicated environment and this book continues their storyline. The story does try to explain what previously happened but you might be a little lost as its very complicated.
Stone and Pepper met in the previous book but she found out he was a ex military guy and it made her hate him as she was attached by military guys when she was very young. He on the other hand fell into lust with her and he just wants one chance with her.
So this story starts with her hating him but also saving him and him just wanting her. Their two best friends are Rafael and Lisa who are getting married and they are tasked with planning the dream wedding and so that gets them to spend time together getting along.
As in these stories there are tons of surprises along the way and I loved every second of it. This story features Stone who I loved and Pepper who has to decide what she really wants in life It was wonderfully written and I love this series so much.
I love the Cliffside Bay series! It keeps getting better with each addition! Stone and Pepper were great characters! He has been in love with Pepper since he first saw her. She doesn’t feel the same. Things from her past come to light that explains her reaction to Stone. Stone’s patience and devotion shows Pepper that he’s just what she needs. This is a very romantic story! I loved it! It captivated me from the start! Stone and Pepper were perfect for each other! Of course our favorite characters are in there too! I look forward to the next book in the Cliffside Bay series!
I’m a sucker for contemporary romances and Tess Thomson delivers with Healed. Healed is book 7 in the Cliffside Bay series but, I think, you can read this as a stand-alone. This is a beautiful love story between the characters that we’ve previously met in the series, Pepper and Stone. Of course all of the other favorites are there too. I love the attraction that Stone and Pepper have for one another and how it develops into a wonderful love story. Tess sets these two up perfectly. All of the characters in the series feel like friends that you are catching up with and want all good things for. From the opening scene to the very end, you will be mesmerized and immersed in Cliffside Bay.
Healed has this magical feel when it comes to bringing Stone and Pepper together. You’ve met Pepper and Stone in previous books. Now you get there story. Stone and Pepper are both so strong in their own ways. Both have gone through a lot when it comes to the past. Watching them both overcome and push past everything holding them back is amazing to see. You feel the lightness come over Pepper as she works through everything. You feel the love of family coming through Stone as his family pulls together. I want to tell you all about it more in detail but if I did then you wouldn’t experience Healed fully for yourself. I’m just going to say the sexual tension is high between Stone and Pepper throughout and they will burn up the pages. This is such a beautiful read and should be one clicked today.
Healed, Book 7 in the Cliffside Bay Series, was very enjoyable to read. It can be read as a stand alone book or as part of the series. The town of Cliffside Bay has so many loving families, friends you can rely on, and wonderful romances. Stone (a contractor and ex-marine) liked Pepper (an actress) the first night he set eyes on her. Pepper, however, did not feel the same. Pepper had a horrible experience with a group of Navy men and disliked all military men. Stone won Pepper over. They have such a sweet budding romance. Such a wonderful love story!
An inspirational love story with two wonderful people. Pepper and Stone may have grown up in totally different worlds but both were broken and needed each other to put the pieces back together again. Tess Thompson does it again and again with the residents of Cliffside Bay! If I can’t live there at least I can visit each time Tess shares her talent for telling a love story. Loved the book and I am already awaiting the next Cliffside Bay love story!
Healed by Tess Thompson brings us again to the beautiful town in of Cliffside Bay and into the lives of the amazing people who live there through Stone and Peppers story. It is a perfectly written, heartwarming story about finding love, embracing family, and healing your heart and mind.
This whole series will warm your heart and these characters will make you smile and bring tears to your eyes as they show us what it means to have family and friends by your side through the good times and the bad.
From page one to the last you will not want to put this book down. I know I didn’t!
I have read all of the Cliffside Bay books in this series by Tess Thompson and am always looking forward to the next, and this one didn’t let me down! I absolutely love the cute nicknames for the characters Pepper and Stone, “Pepper Shaker” and “Stone Soup”. There’s always lots of things going on in everyones lives in this small coastal town, with many of the characters intertwined in each other’s lives, friends and family alike. You’ll be doing yourself a favor by reading any of these books, which can be read as a stand alone, but I recommend reading them in order to get to know everyone involved. I can’t get enough of everyone in Cliffside Bay and feel like I’d fit right in!
Congratulations to the author for another big 5 star book! Also many thanks to the author for allowing me to read an advanced readers copy! The above review is strictly my own opinion.
I thought this was interesting romance with a unique feel. Stone and Pepper are very much on different pages and that causes much pain, angst and emotional turmoil. I really liked how different these two were and yet as their story unfold you discover many things they have in common. I felt that they shared amazing chemistry and that their banter was very clever.
He’s the fly in her ointment. She’s the queen of his heart. If only they would get on the same page. Stone and Pepper are like oil and water. They don’t mix. Until one kiss changes all the rules. Cliffside Bay never fails to turn my emotions into a sappy mess. Thompson explores the best and worst that love has to offer. With whimsy, heart and wisdom, she gets it right every time.
Stone Hickman grew up in a troubled home. His mother left when he, Kyle, and Autumn were just kids to raise themselves as their father drank himself to an early grave. In spite of the struggles, Stone and his siblings rose above and grew into good people.
Stone left the trailer by the pig farm and became a marine. Despite his size, he’s a gentle giant, but he will protect those that he loves at whatever the cost.
Pepper grew up in a loving home with her Mom and her stepdad Dack. She longed for her biological father, but he just never was. One night, when she was coming home from the local tavern, four soldiers assaulted her….leaving her broken for years to come. While some women are attracted to a man in uniform, Pepper is terrified.
And, this is how it begins with Stone and Pepper. Can Pepper overcome her fears and let Stone be the man that heals her broken heart? Or will she continue to brush him away, despite the way he makes her heart beat a bit too fast whenever she sees him?
Pepper finds herself in turmoil as she steps off the sidewalk to save Stone’s life as a car almost hits him…despite her determination to hate this man, she suddenly finds herself wondering if GOD put her there because he is meant to be in her life….and swoon…
Every time I think Tess Thompson just can’t write a couple that I will like better than the previous ones in this series, she surprises me again! Healed is book 7 in the Cliffside Bay series & is Stone & Pepper’s Story….and I just love these two! Enemies to lovers, the story of these opposites makes for a great read. While this is a standalone, there’s lots of fun references to previous characters. So start here, or start at the beginning….either way, you can’t go wrong with a Tess Thompson book. She’s a must read for me!
Healed: Stone and Pepper’s Story by Author Tess Thompson is another perfect read. I love visiting Cliffside Bay and getting glimpses into everyone’s lives there. You can’t go wrong with anything Author Tess Thompson has written.
Pepper has trouble trusting herself much less men after an incident in her past. Stone has risen beyond how he grew up. Can his love for Pepper show her that she’s wonderful and worthy no matter what?
I am a huge fan of the Cliffside Bay series and I think this may just be my favorite! This series just keeps getting better and better. The way that Stone is so sure of his love from Pepper will warm your heart. Everyone wants someone in their life who is that confident in not only themselves but of you as well. Right from the start Stone knew he would win over Pepper one day and it was so fun to see how right he was. Their journey to each other was exactly what we need in our lives.