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.
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Another swoon-worthy romance from an amazing author!
Stone is, like his name implies, a rock-solid man who is the embodiment of strength and security. He is everything Pepper doesn’t yet realize she needs. His unrelenting patience and unwavering devotion to her act like a safety net for all her fears and insecurities. Even though he’s been dealt a horrible hand in life, he knows the value of love and he knows that what he and Pepper have is worth fighting for.
This is a truly romantic story, one that also focuses on the entire Hickman family as well as the friendship triad of Maggie, Lisa, and Pepper. As with all the Cliffside Bay books, the story stretches out beyond the central couple to encompass all their extended family and friends in ways that demonstrate just how interconnected our lives really are. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
What a great addition to this series! I have been waiting to here how Pepper and Stone would work out from their interactions in the rest of the series and Tess Thompson did not disappoint! Love their story and how it really feels like they are meant to be. I highly recommend this series and this book!
Sigh, what a hero in the character of Stone! I love this series by Tess, I don’t want it to ever end! 5 stars for this one!
Stone has been crushing on Pepper since he first met her, but she wants nothing to do with him, and he or most of their friends have no idea why, except of course Lisa & Maggie, they know what it is about him. Pepper needs to move on, she’s in therapy with a knitting nut who’s trying to get her to open up but it’s like pulling teeth, she’s so stubborn!
Read along as the friendship grows between these two, you will fall in love right along with them. Grab this one asap, this is an amazing series, all stand alone but it’s best if you read them all and fall in love with Cliffside Bay!
I think that Tess Thompson could write a grocery list and it would be amazing. Healed definitely is! I am a huge fan of this series, and Healed is just as good as all of the other books. Stone has been one of my favorite characters since he was first introduced, and his story is so good. Pepper’s background story is just as great. I can’t wait until the next book in the series!
The seventh book in the Cliffside Bay series is another exciting page turner. Stone Hickman has had strong feelings for Pepper Griffin but she continues to be standoffish and rude, although Stone does not know the reason why. Serving several tours in the military as a Marine, Stone feels like his life is going as planned, but a wrench is getting ready to be thrown into his plans. A visit from someone in his past is sure to stir up a lot of hurt feelings and numerous questions. Pepper who hates anyone in the military has refused to go to therapy so that she can deal with trauma that happened in her past. With the help of her therapist and her friends, will she finally let all of the hurt go and begin to heal? Will the love that Stone feels for Pepper be enough to show her that he will treat her with the love and respect that she deserves? Will Stone finally learn how to forgive others, as well? Author Tess Thompson writes with such heartfelt passion and emotions! I did not think this series could get any better but I was definitely wrong! I cannot wait to see what the wonderful Characters from Cliffside Bay are going to get into next! I received an ARC but all thoughts in this review are my own. Thank you, Author Tess Thompson, for giving me the ARC at my request!
Reading a Cliffside Bay book feels like entering a cocoon of friendship, love and support. This small town takes a part of your heart, and makes you wish you could catch the next plane there and never leave! The cast of characters are extremely well developed and grows with each book in the series. This one is about Stone and Pepper, who appeared a little bit in previous books. Now we find out that these seemingly strong and happy people carry crippling baggage from their early lives and experiences, which has made it seemingly impossible for either to easily form trusting and intimate relationships as adults. As their story slowly unfolds, you find yourself practically living it with them, and hope they will find happiness with each other. Each relies on their good friends to help them figure out what they want and need. Healed can be read as a standalone novel, but it’s so much more enjoyable to get to know the characters and the town by entering it through the first book, called Traded. This is a wonderful series, each book makes me feel so happy and content for the characters. I am grateful to the author for allowing me to read an ARC of Healed in exchange for my honest review.
I have a new favorite book of this series! The main point of this book is forgiveness and I love that. It’s not an easy thing to do sometimes. The story of Pepper and Stone shows you that money doesn’t always change people and love conquers all. Pepper meets Stone and has to battle her own demons to follow what her heart wants. At first she tries to push him away but an unexpected storm leaves them stuck together for a few days. Could this house that is known to make people fall in love work it’s magic? Stone also has issues of his own he has to overcome so they can see if they were really meant for one another. The story also intertwines the other couples and some of the issues they are currently facing which also deal with forgiveness. Once again I was in this quaint little town and I didn’t want to leave.
I received an ARC of Healed in exchange for my honest opinion.
Healed By Tess Thompson is book seven in the Cliffside Bay series and I can’t wait to read number eight! As with the other books, opening it was like being welcomed back by lots of old friends. This can be read as a stand alone book but I recommend reading the series from the beginning.
I loved reading about Pepper and Stone in this book. It was wonderful to read their story and learn more about them.
Thank you, Ms Thompson for another great read!
Thank to the author for an ARC. I INSTANTLY fell in love with the characters of Pepper and Stone. They were both drawn to Cliffside Bay through their friends and family who are minor characters in the book. Pepper views herself as the crazy aunt to Lisa and Maggie’s family as she drifts with no firm plans. A tragic event in her past has driven her to counseling and leaves her unwilling to commit. Stone was raised in a neglectful childhood which influenced his decision to join the military. When his tour is over he joins with the Wolves to creat a construction firm. Pepper and Stone schedule a trip to Colorado to look for and plan the perfect wedding destination for friends Lisa and Rafael. The characters have depth and development as they seek to overcome their past and the baggage they carry with them. Just when things might be changing contacts from their past once again threatens their beliefs and happiness.
HEALED is another true winner you won’t want to put down
Stone is such a sweet man. I love that he’s so in love with Pepper. The fact that she was traumatized makes so much more sense as to why she immediately changes her reaction to him back when they first met. I’m glad they got to know each other, it made me so happy. Such a good series and I always look forward to every new release.
This was a visit to Cliffside Bay with all of our friends we’ve met in the previous books in the series. I enjoyed reading Stone and Pepper’s story of overcoming adversity to find each other.
Stone and Pepper’s story is an incredible journey of 2 lives who have overcome tremendous tragedies to find true love! They navigate their own trauma to make loving, and living, so beautiful. They help each other heal of past hurts and find joy in the process. I loved this story. I love all of the books in the Cliffside Bay series, and Tess has such a special gift of telling a new story, while not forgetting to mention and tie together the characters in past stories. Each one could be read alone, but they all weave together so perfectly, why would you!
Tess Thompson knocked another one out of the park! I just finished Healed. I was positive Missed was my favorite book. Well I was wrong every book in the series is my favorite. If you love great characters and heartfelt stories then Healed is a must read.
Destination: Cliffside Bay! It’s a perfect place to travel to in a Tess Thompson book. There you meet up with family and friends you’ve connected with in this amazing series. The Dogs, Wags, and Wolves are people you love having in your life. I for sure do! I am so excited when the next book comes out in this series. Each one focuses on a couple that will grab your heart and take you on their journey of finding happiness. This novel is about Stone and Pepper.
Each of these characters have come from a traumatic and painful past or events they’ve had happen in their lives. They have scars that they try to keep from being exposed and revealed but they keep tearing open. What will it take to have those scars heal and help them move forward from the past?
Stone is Gentle Giant and has served the country in the Marines. He’s seen a lot and experienced many difficult things in his life. Even still, he’s loyal, full of integrity, has the patience of Job and he’s full of compassion, determination, optimism and humility. He’s got it bad for Pepper.
Pepper is a spitfire! She has gumption, a loyalty to her best friends and a feistiness that I loved. She is a person I would want to be my friend for the steadfastness she shows those she loves. She has had a bad tragedy in her past and she closes herself up to letting her feelings be exposed. She protects herself from being hurt.
I love the way how Ms. Thompson brings personality into her books. There are so many passages and phrases that make this book fun to read. There were also parts of this book that tore my heart out. Since these people are my friends and family, I wanted to help them and be there for them. That’s how much this book became a part of me.
The characters in this book are so well written. It was great how the characters from previous books are also included in this one. The are all one and a part of each other.
Ms. Thompson can create metaphors that paint a picture in my mind so very well. Here’s one from the beginning of the book that I will always think about:
This is Stone speaking: “Today was all rainbows and unicorns. Given the number of canned-pea type days he’d had during his thirty years of life, he soaked up the unicorns and rainbows, grateful for each one.”
There are adorable and cute names Stone and Pepper have for each other throughout the book. I found them endearing and they added so much to the connection between Stone and Pepper.
This book is a true Tess Thompson work. I know I am always in for a great read! I love this series and know each one is going to have me feeling all the emotions with all her wonderful characters.
I do want to thank her for the dedication in the front of the book to those who have served in the military. I appreciate that so very much.
I do believe this book will take the reader on a rewarding and fascinating adventure with Stone and Pepper. I loved every word of it!
I want to thank Ms. Thompson for the honor and privilege of reading an ARC of another amazing book that she’s written. I love returning to Cliffside Bay and look forward to the next visit!
Healed: Stone and Pepper (Cliffside Bay Book 7)
By Tess Thompson
Tess Thompson takes the reader on an interesting journey in her new novel “Healed” . In this story you will fall in love with the characters Stone & Pepper. She really knows how to bring her characters to life & draw her readers completely into the story. They are such wonderful characters that I cheered for and connected with.I simply could not stop reading this book once I started it. You just keep turning page after page to see what is going to happen next. She does a wonderful job of writing a great unique storyline for each addition to this series. This story is written with so much feeling and depth and brought about so many emotions in me. I cried & laughed through out the book. While it could be read as a stand alone, I would suggest starting with book 1 and meet all of the lovely people in the town of Cliffside Bay . I am so grateful for the opportunity of reading this book. Once again Tess Thompson has pulled off another 5-star book.
Warning…… you will want to have your tissues ready when you start this book. I am really looking forward to reading more by this author.
** I reviewed this book freely and voluntarily, having made no commitment to provide a review and receiving no compensation of any kind from any source for this review.**
I’m still floating down from reading Tess’ newest addition to the Cliffside Bay series. These two, Pepper and Stone, house beautiful personalities but hide so much of themselves fighting the attraction they feel for each other. Tess works her magic creating their story with bits of denial, drama, past experiences and finally healing the broken parts that keep them bottled up inside. Tess has mastered the art of creating characters, scenes and dialogue. Each new episode in her series is a step above the previous and the previous was already wonderful.
Beautifully done. A sweet romantic read that ends too soon. Each new episode gives the reader hope that more episodes will be added as new characters enter waiting for their story, their healing. All for the reader who is swept into the pages.
Tess has outdone herself with another wonderful story! I hated having to put this book down but always tried to get back as fast as possible!! Cliffside Bay is the happiest little towns and always heals the people that are in it!
When you crave more from a storyline and your favorite author delivers… you get this awesome book! I absolutely love the sassy and wittiness of these two main characters! Tragedy turns into happy ever after, fear turns into trust and loneliness turns into love. I couldn’t stop reading with the excitement of what would happen next! You won’t be disappointed! I received this book in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.
Healed is the seventh book in the Cliffside Bay series and I enjoyed it so much! Once again I am home with all my friends and family in this quaint seaside town north of San Francisco created by Tess Thompson. This book is the story of Pepper and Stone and it just shows what is important in life. Family. And family can include friends as you will experience when you immerse yourself in Cliffside Bay. I am enjoying getting to know the Wolves and can’t wait for the next book! I highly recommend Healed and all the rest of the Cliffside Bay books. Keep a tissue handy, you’ll probably need it! Five stars!
I have just finished reading Healed, Stone and Pepper’s story in the Cliffside Bay Series.
I am blown away at the fact that this series just keeps getting better and better.
Both Stone and Heather are dealing with issues from their pasts, but you’ll love them both. I loved stone for his patience and steadfastness, and I loved Pepper for her sassiness. You will love the dialogue and growing relationship of these two characters.
Another reason I love this book is that we get glimpses of all the other characters from Cliffside Bay. I’ve said it before, and it bears repeating. This town and the people that live there set an example we should all be trying to emulate.