A boss-employee romance…kind of.Only three things stand between Ava Carmichael and her twelve billion dollar inheritance:1. A year of living in Bliss, Kansas.2. A relationship that lasts six consecutive months.3. A pie.Ava has run a multi-billion-dollar company, negotiated with shark investors, and hobnobbed with business royalty, but she’s about to be defeated by her … royalty, but she’s about to be defeated by her inability to turn sugar, flour, and apple pie filling into something edible.
Conveniently, the owner of the diner next door, Parker Blake, is magic in the kitchen. And he technically works for her. So she can make him teach her to bake. And, hey, if everyone assumes they’re heating up more than the oven during their time in the kitchen…well, that’s called multitasking.
Parker Blake likes his women the way he likes his coffee: not in his diner. But gorgeous, strong-willed, type-A Ava clearly isn’t going to stop messing up his kitchen—or his simple, stress-free small town life—until the conditions of her daddy’s will are met. So, sure, he’ll teach his “boss” to bake.
But once the kitchen door closes, it’s pretty clear who’s really in charge.
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A gruff hero who falls hard. A kick-ass heroine who softens up perfectly. Chemistry that’s off the charts. A town full of warm-hearted, quirky people, apple pie filling, a rooster, and a very satisfying happily ever after… what else could you need? Highly recommend this very fun, very sexy small town romance!
I really didn’t think I would like this one as much as I loved Cori and Evan. I was wrong. Seeing the total power-house, kick ass Ava Carmichael get humanized and mussed up and…just trust me on this when I say that you’re going to find spices ridiculously sexy after reading this. Sexy, grumpy, hot man cooking for her. Yes, please, and Please sir, may I have some more? Two thumbs up. May be my favorite Nicholas book yet!
I liked this book more than Diamonds and Dirt Roads. I thought Parker and Ava’s characters had more depth, were more complex. I loved that Parker was a chef. The food aspect was a real plus for me. I liked that Ava started out so stiff, tense, and seemingly unyielding. Then she started to relax. Reluctantly at first.
I thought it was interesting how he ran his diner, how he taught Parker about food, how willing Parker was to learn about food. Their dialogue was wittier. The sexual tension built up slowly, and seemed more intense. I thought this was more steamy and sensual than book one.
I enjoyed all of the characters in Bliss. I felt like this book was more interesting than the first book. Still had a bit too much inner dialogue for me. I’m not really sure if there was less of it, or I had gotten used to it because I listened to the books back to back.
Once again, the narration was ok. I wish someone with a bit deeper voice had read Parker’s character. I think it would have lent something more to his Alpha aspect.
Delightfully fun, sweetly sexy, engagingly charming and emotionally thrilling romantic journey for this total opposites but perfect for each other couple.
Ava Carmichael is head strong, driven, wicked smart and can not bake a pie to save her inheritance. (could be because she doesn’t like sweets or food in general) Parker Blake is sexy, quite, keeps to him self, grumpy all the time cafe owner next door and a dream in the kitchen. (and bedroom) Parker has to teach Ava about pie and struggles to fight the growing attraction between them knowing she will high tail it out of Bilss just as soon as until the conditions of her daddy’s will are met. Will he be strong enough to keep his simple, stress-free small town life? Loved every heart pounding twist and turn …. awesomely entertaining read!
I really enjoyed “High Heels and Haystacks: Billionaires in Blue Jeans” By Erin Nicholas!!! Can’t wait for Cashmere & Camo 🙂
The review is up at http://desireforlit.com/2018/04/22/high-heels-and-haystacks-billionaires-in-blue-jeans-erin-nicholas/
Myn
I love this series! I’ve been looking forward to Ava and Parker’s book and it totally lived up to my expectations.
If you want to read a fun, witty, sexy, steamy book with a wonderfully original story line unlike any other I’ve read before, look no further. Amazing writing and lovable characters transport you to Bliss, Kansas to witness everything first hand. Ava is strong and kicka$$ and Parker is grumpy and sexy as heck. Together they will make you see apples and cinnamon and some other things a whole new way.
Loved book #2 in the Billionaires in Blue Jeans series by Erin Nicholas!
Triplet daughters of a recently deceased billionaire have to follow his will to the letter to get their inheritance. So…they move to Bliss, Kansas and take on his ‘rules’. They’ve completed Rule# 1, which was move to Bliss. Rule #2 is to run Rudy’s pie shop (WHAT??). Rule #3 is different for each daughter.
This is Ava and Parker’s story. Ava the high powered CEO of her dad’s corporation and Parker a very young curmudgeon.
After reading Book #1, and seeing Parker and Ava at each others throats more often than not, I wondered…how will this work. THIS is the power that Ms. Nicholas has with spinning a tale!
Parker likes things the same. Same is good. Same is comfortable. He values the people in his town, although he also has strict rules about his diner! Ava must change with the times, and with her corporate adversaries. Change can be a good financial opportunity. Changing beaus for corporate benefits is just what she does.
Ava can’t cook, has never even tried, but her father has give her the task of making pies and dating a man from Bliss for six months. She kept wondering what she did for her father to give her this millstone around her neck! Parker’s diner shares a wall with the pie shop. Ava enjoys throwing things at their adjoining wall because she is so frustrated with her task. Enter Parker and a deal to help her learn to bake and heat up the kitchen…and they do…and not always pies!
Even when Ava oversteps and Parker is hurt, they learn something about each other and their relationship. Maybe Rudy knew what he was doing!
Excellent book.
Ava is used to being in control but her life is not what she expects as she tries to meet the terms of her father’s will. Rudy wanted Parker to help her but did he expect them to fall in love? I live this series the city girls trying to make it in the country. There are lots of laughs and they get hot and heavy in some unexpected locations. This is a great series.
If I could give this more than five stars, I would.
I’d gotten High Heels and Haystacks loaded up on the e-reader and was going to “take a quick peek”… More fool me–that NEVER works with Erin Nicholas’s books! I just want to sit and read straight through and then start over again a few more times. When reading, I’m so torn between wanting to just savor every moment and not read too fast because then I’ll be done. And wanting to just roll myself in this and romp and luxuriate in this as if I was a cat in catnip… LOL!
It’s like opening that bag of whatever you love eating the most, and telling yourself you’ll have just one bite and put the rest away. You might be able to. But it’ll kill you to walk away 😉
High Heels and Haystacks is Ava Carmichael and Parker Blake’s story. She’s one of three triplets called to Bliss, Kansas, to fulfill the unusual stipulations in her late father’s will. She’s CEO of a multi-billion-dollar company and is used to running the show. Unfortunately, she’s now tasked with baking pie for the pie shop she and her sisters have inherited. Parker Blake is the owner of the diner next door, and he works magic in the kitchen daily. So when she approaches him for baking lessons, well, sparks fly.
High Heels and Haystacks is SO GOOD. I LOVE Ava and Parker… I loved getting inside Parker’s head, and I love how Ava and Parker get to each other. I’m not much like Ava OR Parker. These two are organized, driven people, who love deeply but aren’t obviously all about the warm fuzzies. But, somehow these two are able to be vulnerable with each other. It’s so sweet and tender and hot.
I love how Ms Nicholas lets us see them getting to know each other and truly focus on the other, and in the writing, reminds us that being seen and known is so powerful and so appealing and beautiful.
Something else Ms Nicolas tends to do incredibly well is create strong characters that I like and want to be like. Her characters don’t instantly fall into an HEA, riding off on their white steeds into the sunset, but they tend to be willing to communicate and to be vulnerable. When both people are all-in this way, it makes for a better, stronger relationship that’s likely to go the distance, sunset after sunset after sunset.
High Heels and Haystacks is also about the power of love and home and community. The ties that hold us don’t tie us down but can give us strength and wings. High Heels and Haystacks makes Bliss, Kansas, a home for out-of-towner Ava and long-term resident Parker, and makes this another small town I’m ready to move to in a heartbeat.
Can’t wait for Cashmere and Camo, the last in this amazing trilogy. For the record, High Heels and Haystacks, the second in the series, should stand alone just fine. But I do think that these three flow together beautifully when read in order, and I’d encourage you to do so and enjoy the complete Bliss experience!
I loved the back and forth between Ava and Parker. The banter between them made this book so much better. It was a great read from beginning to end.
Ava is CEO to the Charmichael Corporation. That’s her world. Not running a pie shop with her sisters in Bliss, Kansas. But in order to get her inheritance that’s what she must do. Run the shop, make the pies, live there, and date a guy for six months.
Parker Blake is the owner to the diner next door to Blissfully Baked. He likes things just so. He has things organized and doesn’t welcome change. Not even when Ava walks through his door, and starts taking charge. Well things change pretty quickly.
A must read. Things get hot and heavy in the kitchen. A little messy too. You don’t want to miss this book. I absolutely love this book.
Parker will show Ava who really is boss. Hold onto your seats.
This is a wonderful book. The second in the story of 3 sisters. Parker and Ava both try to live their life following the path set up by their fathers. But they find so much more with each other. I love the banter, chemistry and interaction between these two. This is a great plot that will keep your interest. it has humor and plenty of quirky characters from this small community. I highly recommend.
Parker sure knows how to make a girl feel small, “…his gaze tracked over her from head to heels, she felt tingles all along that path. “I’m not worried. There’s nowhere in those little skirts you wear to hide anything.” Ava sometimes takes adavnge of situations, “Parker rummaged in his fridge for a few seconds, and Ava unapologetically leaned to the right to get a better look at his butt in the blue jeans he wore.” Ava isn’t one to play hard to get, with her what you see is what you get and man does she drive her man bonkers because of it, “I’d happily suck that off of your cock if you put your hand in my panties right now.” He coughed, then groaned…” I freaking loved this book, Ava and Parker challenged each other at each turn and even in bed and they just fit perfect for each other.
I love how this book starts off – Ava and Parker like to classify their “relationship” as a boss-employee one. Kind of. Sort of. Riiiiiiiiiiiight.
Ava Carmichael is twin #2 in this series and Parker Blake owns the diner in Bliss. Ava is in charge of baking in the pie shop and to call her a fish outta water would probably be insulting water. But she tries; man, does she try! She enlists Parker to “teach” her how to bake but Parker actually gives her what amounts to life lessons about food. It is a sexy, hawt, touching relationship that burns. Both these type-A personalities learn a lot about each other, how to interact with other people, how to deal with their own hurts from their backgrounds, and most of all…how to be.
Ava and Parker show the world their tough, business faces but they are the most vulnerable couple I have ever read. Love these two and their story, just as I did book 1. Recommend!
Finished this book in s couple of hours.loved Ava and Parker’s story.After reading I really felt like I needed a hot guy like Parker.
I give High Heels and Haystacks by Erin Nicholas Five Stars. This is book two of the Billionaires in Blue Jeans series. This book can be read as a stand alone novel but I would recommend reading the books in order of how they are written. Like all of Erin’s books this was very well written, was a quick read, and had lots of Humor. You will find yourself going through a bunch of emotions but laughter and love will be the biggest ones. This book has a HEA and you will fall in love with Parker and Ava. If you love boss/employee romances you will love this book because it also has a twist to it.
Ava Carmichael is set to inherit twelve billion dollars but in order to do so she must follow through with the demands her father put in his will. If not she stands to lose not just the money but her job also. In order to keep her way of life and inherit the money she must live in Bliss, Kansas for a year, she must have a serious relationship with one person for 6 months and she must bake pies… Ava is use to being in board rooms, negotiating million dollar deals, and working side by side with other business owners but do you think she can make a simple pie? The answer is no! Ava is about to be defeated by a simple pie and she does not like that at all.
Parker Blake is the owner of the diner that is located next door to the pie shop. Unlike Ava, Parker is a wiz in the kitchen. When Ava figures out that Parker technically works for her she decided that she is going to make Parker teach her how to bake a pie. Ava also figured that people will see them together and assume they are dating so this idea will take care of two items on her checklist.
Parker Blake has an ideal of the type of women he likes and Ava Carmichael is not that type. Ava loves to come into his kitchen to borrow stuff so when she walks in and hits him with her new idea he is ready to help her out immediately because the only way he is going to get her out of his kitchen is to check off the boxes on her checklist and get her out of town. Parker will help his “Boss” learn how to make pies but the gloves are off as soon as the kitchen door is closes and it becomes pretty clear who is really in charge.
I highly recommend this book! It is a must read!
This is book two in the Billionaires in Blue Jeans series and it features Parker and Ava. I absolutely love Parker! I love how no matter what, he speaks his mind. If it’s going to insult someone, he doesn’t care. In his diner it’s his way or get out. He’s a well known grump! He likes his routine and here comes big city rich girl, Ava and she bowls right through all his nice and neat order. They are fabulous together! She’s taken off guard by most things he does and I think he even surprises himself!
Are you wondering about the food and cooking? If you’re already a fan of this author you already know she’s a master at sexy situations and food. If your new to her, you’re in for a real treat! This is a fantastic read! The first book in the series was great. This book is even better and I can’t wait to read book 3!
Another delightful read from Erin Nicholas!
How can tough and driven Ava match with laid back and relaxed (as long as you don’t try to put ketchup on that steak) Parker? Turns out they aren’t that different – they both like to be in control.
The bantering and the back and forth between them are a hoot. The throwing things at the walls – fun! Going fruit picking…or not? The rooster – too many fun scenes to list!
It was great to see what made Ava tick after meeting her in Book 1 – she seemed a bit uptight & way too serious.
Just the escape I needed! High Heels & Haystacks started as a battle of wills between two strong Alpha personalities. Ava is used to being in control & in charge of everything. Everyone wants to impress her. She goes totally by the rules. Parker wants everything his way. If you eat in his diner, you follow his rules or you leave. ” You don’t put ketchup on steak. And you snuck that ketchup in here. ” “You don’t like how I make steak, eat somewhere else. ”
Prepare for a battle of wills! This is another witty, wonderful story of the Carmichael triplets & their year in Bliss, Kansas. Ms. Nicholas has taken the superficial picture of a rich, fancy dressing CEO & made us look behind it to the warm, family loving person Ava really is. As the readers learn more about each character, we begin to see more of the similarities between Ava & Parker than we do differences. The attraction between them fairly jumps off the page!
Favorite Quotes:
I think it’s cute that you think you’re telling me to jump… It’s me who’s telling you to tell me to jump.
“What are you doing with my rooster?” Ava glanced down at the bird under her arm. “Showing him who’s boss.”
My Review:
Eric Nicholas has penned a delightfully sweet, steamy, and multi-layered tale, peppered with amusing wit, delicious steam, and expletives and bawdy talk. It was an entertaining and well-crafted story that was thoughtfully written with an insightfully observant narrative for two fascinating and rather unusual yet likable characters. I adored this book. Ava and Parker were both headstrong personalities and prone to bossiness, but they had common goals and surprisingly, many more commonalities than differences once they got past their wariness and bothered to spend time together. Their relationship was a slow process of merger and acquisition rather than an outright take-over, although that occurred as well with enough sensual chemistry to power a nuclear reactor. I enjoyed how they successfully maneuvered, accommodated, and managed each while forgetting the selfish intent they each had started off with. And I totally agree with Parker, ketchup should never defile a steak.