Discover the magic of New York Times bestseller Melissa Foster’s writing and see why millions of readers have fallen in love with the fiercely loyal and sassily sexy characters in the Love in Bloom big-family romance families. All Love in Bloom books can be enjoyed as stand-alone novels or as part of the larger series.In USA Today Bestseller HOT FOR LOVE…Trixie Jericho is on a mission to start … Jericho is on a mission to start her own miniature horse business. She’s sick of being told her idea is cute and wants nothing more than to be taken seriously. When rancher and sought-after freestyle horse trainer Nick Braden offers an opportunity she can’t refuse, Trixie jumps on it. The problem is, she also wants to jump on him, but the bullheaded, big-muscled, motorcycle-riding cowboy doesn’t mix business with pleasure. Little does he know, Trixie has never backed down from a challenge, especially one she wants more than her next breath. Saddle up, big boy, because this boot-stompin’, risk-taking, Daisy Duke-wearing cowgirl isn’t afraid to play dirty.
LOVE IN BLOOM novels feature alpha male heroes and smart, empowered women. They’re flawed, funny, passionate, and relatable to readers who enjoy contemporary romance and women’s fiction.
THE BRADENS & MONTGOMERYS (Pleasant Hill – Oak Falls). Order of future books is subject to change.
Embracing Her Heart
Anything For Love
Trails of Love
Wild Crazy Hearts
Making You Mine
Searching for Love
Hot for Love
Sweet Sexy Heart
Our Wicked Hearts
Summer of Love
Claiming Her Heart
Winter of Love
READY TO BINGE READ? The LOVE IN BLOOM big-family contemporary romance collection features billionaires as well as everyday heroes. Characters from each sub-series appear in future books so you never lose track of engagements, weddings, or births.
BIG FAMILIES / SMALL TOWNS
Snow Sisters
The Bradens at Weston
The Bradens at Trusty
The Bradens at Peaceful Harbor
The Bradens & The Montgomerys
The Remingtons
The Ryders
Sugar Lake
Harmony Pointe
CAPE COD and BEACH READS
Seaside Summers
Bayside Summers
Silver Island
Harborside Nights
BILLIONAIRES
Wild Billionaires After Dark
Bad Billionaires After Dark
BIKERS & BAD BOYS
The Whiskeys: Dark Knights at Bayside
The Wickeds: Dark Knights at Bayside
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“When it comes to contemporary romances with realistic characters, an emotional love story and smokin’ hot sex, author Melissa Foster always delivers!” The Romance Reviews
“You can always rely on Melissa Foster to deliver a story that’s fresh, emotional and entertaining. Make sure you have all night, because once you start you won’t want to stop reading. Every book’s a winner!” NYT Bestselling Author Brenda Novak
“With her wonderful characters and resonating emotions, Melissa Foster is a must-read author!” NYT Bestseller J. Kenner
“Melissa Foster is synonymous with sexy, swoony, heartfelt romance!” New York TimesBestseller Lauren Blakely
“Melissa Foster writes her romance novels similarly to my favorite adult romance author, Danielle Steel: the perfect blend of drama, romance, friendship, love and passion.”- Andrea Buginsky, author
“I highly recommend this book to fans of Nora Roberts (one of my personal faves) and fans of a sweet story filled with heat and heart.” – Tia Bach, author
“Melissa Foster is quickly becoming one of my favorites. Fated For Love was amazing. It kind of reminds me of Jill Shalvis’ books and they are my benchmark for contemporary romance awesomeness.” –Books Like Breathing (on Fated for Love)
“I highly recommend the Snow Sisters all the Braden and Remington books….I am sure there are going to be other family’s that intertwine and that is what I love most about these books. They remind me of the McCarthy of Gansett series and The Green Mountain series. I am a huge fan of Marie Force. And now Melissa Foster has joined her ranks….” – I Love NY, Reviewer
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I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads, so here is my review.
Author Melissa Foster has done it again. She brought the Braden and Jericho families together again with Nick and Trixie. Nick Braden is the protector, an alpha male that has wanted Trixie since the first time she stayed at his ranch. But he doesn’t think she feels the same way, so he will be her friend. Besides, he doesn’t believe in love or relationships.
Trixie Jericho is the free spirit, take charge, independent woman who has found her calling. She wants to start her own business raising miniature horses to help others. When her brothers tease her about it, Nick offers her his ranch and a neighbor who raises mini horses and others for her to talk to to get the ball rolling. She takes a month to get started but this time things seem different with Nick.
Can Trixie push Nick to show him they belong together? Will Nick give in to his feelings for the time he is with her? Will Trixie leave when the month is up?
I loved the friendship between Trixie and Braden, their family ties are strong and supportive. This story is built on friendship, family, a love of horses, and a love that could last forever. Author Melissa Foster is an automatic go-to author for me. I do not have to read the blurb, I know I want to read it. If you haven’t read this author before, you need to read this one. I think you can read it without reading the others but you will want to read them all after, they are that good.
**Wicked Reads Review Team**
Let me start by saying I am #TEAMNIXIE all the way!
Is there anything better than friends to lovers? Not for me, I absolutely LOVE this trope and Melissa Foster does it so well I consider her the Queen of F2L, and here’s why…although we have encountered several friends to lovers stories throughout the Love In Bloom Series they are NEVER THE SAME!
This is Nick Braden and Trixie Jericho’s story, they have been friend’s for years but over the last year things have changed. Trixie wants to start her own business using miniature horse’s as therapy animals, her brothers think it’s a joke but Nick is the one that believes in her so she is determined to give it a go and he is there to help her.
What neither expected was the sparks to fly, well that’s not exactly true….they just didn’t think anything would come of them…oh silly silly people.
I love Trixie, I have been a fan of hers throughout several books, watching her brothers and the way they treat their only sister, so overprotective but she always gave them a run for their money and it was great watching her come into her own and finally go after what she wanted.
I did receive an advanced copy but due to circumstances I was unable to read this early so when it was released I bought the audiobook and I am so glad I did. This book really came to life with the narration by Savannah Peachwood and Aiden Snow. I have listened to both of these narrators before and they have always pulled me into the story where I feel as if I am a part of it, and this time was no different.
If you enjoy Friends to Lovers or Spicy Contemporary Romances I would highly recommend this book to you.
Happy Reading!!!
“He’d been wrong when he’d thought he’d felt nothing before her. He felt so damn much with Trixie, he realized he had felt something before. He’d felt empty.”
Oh my… I love when it feels like I’m not just reading a book, but I’m actually part of it. This has been my second Melissa Foster book, and it’s nothing short of amazing.
Everyone who’s read my reviews knows I’m a fan of friends to lovers. But there are different types of friends to lovers, and this one pushed ALL my buttons.
“‘Darlin’, it’s been so long since I’ve seen anything but you, it’s a wonder I’m still sane.'”
Nick is a dream. I think I’m in love. I mean, he’s broody, he’s sexy, he’s protective, he’s supportive, he loves animals, he’s fire in the bedroom (and in the shower, and in the kitchen, and probably anywhere else). And he gives all of himself to the people he loves. I mean… perfect. Nick Braden is perfection.
Trixie… I want to be Trixie. I love that she’s not a pushover. I love that she knows what (and who) she wants and she goes for it. I love how strong she is, and how sure she is. She is badass. If you’re looking for a weak heroine who needs protection, Trixie Jericho is not for you, believe me.
And the two of them together… Jeez, sparks fly, panties melt, hearts swell… but that’s not all. They bring out the best in each other. They are both strong-willed and stubborn, but they have this incredible connection and nothing is going to break it up. They complement each other in every way, and they are together while still being themselves.
“‘For the record, darlin’, you’re the only woman who’s ever been on the back of my bike. That should tell you everything you want to know.'”
This is a different kind of friends to lovers because you’re in their world. You’re part of their lives, their families, their friends, their get-togethers. You’re so engrossed in the story you can see and you sense what’s going to happen like they’re your real life friends.
“You’ve seeped into every part of me. You could be on the other side of the world, and you’d still be with me.”
More than anything, this book made me happy. Like, seriously happy. There was a huge smile on my face at the end of it, because it just felt right. All of it. Their journey through life as friends, the moment something changed for them the first time, and the moment everything changed for sure.
Because they belong together. Yes, it’s that kind of all-encompassing, boundless love.
Hot For Love was one hell of a journey, and I’m so glad I was there for all of it. #TeamNixie all the way!
‘Hot For Love’ is the seventh book in the Braden and a Montgomery series by Melissa Foster, and my freaking god this book!
Wow…just wow! I was not ready for Nick Braden. I thought I was, but I was dead wrong. For this book boyfriend made me fall head over heels in love with him from the minute I heard he was a cowboy biker. (I mean, what a combination!)
The chemistry between Trixie and Nick is off the charts- literally they’ve broken the scale! I’ve always believed strong relationships are built upon friendship before they develop into love, and this is exactly what these two characters have. They just ‘get’ one another, and their witty banter, confusion and fiery passion was everything.
Nick Braden is a brooding big hunk of a man who doesn’t do relationships, and doesn’t remotely welcome anyone into his heart or his home. But like any rule, there’s always an exception, and Trixie Jericho has always been the girl who blazed into his life and made him feel comfortable, until one day she didn’t, and he started to get all kinds of feelings for her.
Trixie is strong-willed, confident and she has always had love hearts in her eyes for Nick, and he has always kept her close but with an armour around himself. But Trixie is determined, and when she embarks upon a new adventure requiring to stay with Nick in his house for a month, she very much is determined to push his buttons and test his patience. She is like a hurricane who blazes into his life with a force and power to destroy that armour.
Nick is very calming despite his broodiness and he takes Trixie under his wing, determined to support her new business idea when even some of her own family fail to see it as a serious reality. He guides her, but equally allows her to be herself and for her creativity to roam, and he is the best supportive book boyfriend ever.
But with Nick being sexy and sultry, and in a profession where buckle bunnies (love this term), admire and lust after him, will it be enough to threaten Trixie? Will Nick also be able to admit he actually feels more for her than he’s cared to admit?
The part I loved the most about this book is that both of the characters are very strong-willed, confident in their own minds, yet have the ability to absolutely bring each other to their knees. It’s the type of love I die to read, and a one which constantly makes me return to Foster’s books time and time again, as she knows connection and how to write deep and passionate love that crawls under your skin and makes you wish you could be a character in one of her books.
They both have their own vulnerabilities and I love how at ease they become with one another. They naturally seemed to set each other on fire, and it was an amazing read.
As per most of Foster’s books, you are introduced to interesting careers and a bunch of hilarious friends and relatives, all bursting with their own stories waiting to be told. I know I got one am dying to delve into the world of Jax Braden!
This book is the perfect read for those who love passionate romances, ones in which you can fawn of the hero and heroine, and for those who love a series. This can be read as a stand alone or as part of the Braden and Montgomery series as a whole. It is also perfect for those who love cowboys, and generally enjoy an addictive romance. Superb!
No one writes friends to more stories better than Melissa Foster. Fight me. She delivers the relationship in a way where you feel you’ve known them as long as they’ve known each other. You’re in their circle. You’re their friend as well. It’s magical. Her storytelling skills are untouchable. I haven’t always felt a kinship to her characters, but I have always felt and enjoyed the path she writes for her characters.
I honestly cannot think of a single thing I did not love about both Trixie and Nick. They’ve been friends for a while and have always had a spark, they just never did anything about it; until they did 🙂 and it glorious! Their friendship was fun and flirty and even sexy and when it turned down a romantic path, it just exploded. GAH, I just want to be them! See, this is how I feel almost every time I read a book this woman writes. She gives me all the feels and I can never stop once I start reading! I especially like Melissa’s signature adding of secondary characters we’ve already read and love. I say signature because she does it with all (most?) of her books and it is always a pleasure to look forward to. This was no exception!
I cannot say this loud enough or often enough … Melissa Foster makes my heart happy with her stories. She writes relatable characters that you will always connect to on some level, whether it be by your own personal experience or just knowledge of a situation via someone else’s experience close to you. She is respectful of the subject matter she chooses to write about, and her stories are always entertaining! Do with that info what you will!
This is the 7th book in the Braden’s and Montgomery: Pleasant Hill-Oak Falls series (smaller series within the larger Love In Bloom series) and it might be my favorite so far. It’s the story of Nick Braden and Trixie Jericho…and though this can be read as a standalone book, it’s much more enhanced if read as part of the series.
Nick & Trixie have been friends for years but Trixie has silently and quietly had feelings for Nick that have not been returned. She seems safely in the “friend/sister-zone” in Nick’s eyes as he shows zero interest in a real relationship with anyone. Experiences from his past have convinced him that nothing good comes from love so he keeps everyone at arm’s length.
Trixie has dreams of starting a miniature horse therapy program and is disappointed, frustrated and disheartened by the lack of support from her brothers. Nick learns of this and volunteers to help her – his help, his contacts, his connections, his horse knowledge as well as a place to stay away from her brothers/change of scenery to get her business started. She packs up and heads to Nick’s ranch for a month.
The sparks fly immediately once Trixie arrives and we begin to learn that Nick’s very guarded feelings for Trixie have also changed. Trixie sees a slight change in Nick and decides her efforts at Nick’s will be two-fold: get her business started and break down the fortress Nick has built around his heart and make him see and realize that love is not “destructive” and completely worth the risk, when you find the “one”.
This wonderful story is full of love, emotion, passion, laughter, cute animals, fun, friendships and lots and lots of steam!!
Trixie Jericho and Nick Braden have been friends for years. Trixie often visits Nick who lives a couple hours away when she has business in the area. This time Trixie is staying with Nick as she learns more about miniature therapy horses as it has been her dream to provide this service. Nick has also been Trixie’s crush for years. I love a good friends to lovers story and Melissa Foster has provided a riveting one. There is a slow build throughout as Trixie and Nick explore their feelings. This author is a master at building anticipation till the very end. Melissa Foster has written another 10 star read.
You’ll be hooked from the first page! Feisty and sweet takes on hunky and broody when Trixie Jericho hooks up with Nick Braden in HOT FOR LOVE! Melissa Foster continues to delight her reader with one steamy love story after another in her Bradens and Montgomerys series. Always relatable, always emotional and guaranteed to steam up your windows!
Trixie is a sweetheart. As the only female in her pack of brothers, she’s overprotected and overlooked. She’s determined to get her new business started off on the right foot, and she knows she needs to get away from home to do it!
Nick’s love of animals is endearing, and watching him fall head over heals for Trixie is super satisfying.
I highly recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone who loves a tight knit group of friends and siblings who are finding their happily ever afters one by one as love, drama and family swirl around.
What a great story! This couple has always been friends with their usual flirting banter, but could it possibly be more? You could feel the chemistry between Trixie and Nick coming off the pages, but it wasn’t just their chemistry, he is supportive of her and her business she wants to start with miniature horses. I liked the push and pull between these two and seeing Nick ‘break down some walls’ just made him that much more desirable. Of course, you couldn’t have a Melissa Foster story without our wonderful families and friends making appearances and there were some that showed up that I wasn’t expecting. One of my favorite things about reading one of Melissa Foster’s stories, is I am wondering who we might get to meet that has a connection to a past character or story. I’ve liked Nick Braden, but he has definitely become one of my favorite cowboys from his and Trixie’s story and the ending with these two, amazing. I am really looking forward to Amber’s upcoming story.
Nick and Trixie have been great friends for a long time. After Trixie told Nick her business plan about miniature horses, Nick suggested Trixie come spend a month with him. This way she start up her new business. With Trixie’s brothers teasing her about the mini horses, she decided to take Nick up in his offer. Nick introduced Trixie to a few business associates to help get her business started. Although, nick was attracted to Trixie he does not believe in love, where Trixie totally does. Best thing, Trixie and Nick have been friends, however neither one knew they were attracted to the other. I love this story plot. The use of miniature horses to use to help the sick is such a fantastic idea. I love that so much. As always, there are appearances from characters in other stories. This book is a nurse read with a HEA.
Steamy, Emotional and absolutely addicting. The moment I started reading I fell in love with Nick and Trixie! They have been friends for years and there has always been chemistry between them, but neither one of them really acted upon that chemistry and the connection they had.
I couldn’t get enough of these two. Nick’s love for his animals showed throughout this entire story. You can feel how much he truly cares for them. Plus, the peacefulness of his farm. Trixie is a little fireball and I loved her. She is sassy, feisty, can hold her own and also extremely caring. Trixie wants the fairy tale, she wants someone to love her and support her. Nick on the other hand believes that love is destructive, especially given everything that happened in his past.
These two brought out so much in the other. I loved their friendship, their chemistry, their banter, and their relationship. Nick and Trixie quickly became one of my favorite Melissa Foster couples to date! I’m #TeamNixie for life!
If you’re looking for a cowboy romance that has steam, friends to lover, emotions and sweetness mixed in this is one to read!
It’s a pattern with Melissa Foster books for me and that is that I read it in one sitting and with this one I just couldn’t get enough of Trixie and Nick.
The way their relationship went from being friends to lovers felt so real and perfect. The tension and chemistry was of the charts and I loved the way she was patient with him and was willing to wait for him to lower his walls. I could relate to Nick on so many levels and that’s why I loved him and his gran gestures because that was swoony with a capital S!
Another great read and I’m looking forward to the next installment in the series.
***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads Blog * * *
Wowza!!! I think I’m happy with the heroes Melissa writes about and then I read the next book. I’m for team Nixie… these two best friends have it all passion, steam, feelings and boy are they stubborn. Holy moly what a ride to read this book. I’m stuck, if it has Melissa’s name on it I’m reading it !!!
Trixie and Nick has been friends for a long time. She have a crush on him, since past few months he can’t stop thinking about her. Now, he invited her to leave with him for a month, so she can start her business.
Loved reading about them, both stubborn, love to help others.
Amazing book.
I am slapping myself upside the head so hard right now. Seriously questioning my book loving existence and wondering how on God’s green and book filled earth, this was my first ever read by Melissa Foster?! That rock I’ve been living under is gone and I am here to say that Melissa has wowed me.
I read Hot For Love as a standalone novel and LOVED IT. As much as I enjoyed reading Nick and Trixie’s story, it wasn’t enough. I need to immerse myself in the Bradens & Montgomerys: Pleasant Hill-Oak Falls series and read all.the.words. And let me tell you, Melissa Foster knows how to write the words. These books are full of heart and will speak to your book loving soul.
Hot For Love is a country/small town/friends to lovers romance and follows sexy cowboy, Nick and gorgeous country girl, Trixie. Nick and Trixie are so incredibly beautiful together. Like pieces of a puzzle, they fit, despite his protests to the contrary. But the bigger and sexier they are, the harder they fall. Nick and Trixie’s emotional and heartfelt journey will leave you all kinds of hot and bothered AND with a satisfied smirk on your face.
Hot For Love gets the judy.ann.loves.books stamp of approval and has guaranteed Melissa Foster a spot on my one-click authors list. TBR and Enjoy.
Trixie and Nick are my favorite couple in this series. Their friends-to-lovers story was great from the very first page, and the ending was perfect! Their amazing chemistry and nonstop banter kept me turning pages, and I absolutely loved the miniature therapy horses and all of Nick’s animals!
I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary Advance Reader Copy.
When you read a Melissa Foster’s book you will certain have a well written, sensitive, emotional book with a couple that has so much love, caring and sexiness that it is hard to find in other books.
This is the seventh book in this series, and I must tell you that it is like reading the first one… Nick Braden and Trixie Jericho are one of the best couples I have read from Melissa Foster’s books in a while. They remind me Treat Braden and Max when I first read the Braden’s books years ago…
The story is engaging, sexy, delicate and there are some beautiful scenes with Nick and Trixie that will become classic in romance literature. I really enjoyed this book and the love story between Nick and Trixie, their families, their love which grows slowly, and Trixie has the patience to wait for Nick to be ready for her.
A wonderful and beautiful book! I just loved it!
Adored this romance with a hot cowboy and a heroine who knows what she wants! Sweet and steamy!
I listened to the audio version of this book. This story was highly emotional (especially at the beginning) and pretty steamy. It is a friends to lovers trope that starts out with Nick offering Trixie a place to stay while she tries to work out starting her own business–one involving miniature therapy horses.
Nick has definitely put Trixie in the friend zone…until he doesn’t. He’s had a rough start in life and only views loving someone as the path to destruction. Trixie is determined to show him that’s not the case. She turns him every which way but loose and soon he’s having to rethink some things.
I really enjoyed this audiobook narrated by Savannah Peachwood and Aiden Snow. I was totally into both characters and their relationship.
I was gifted a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
ne 24, 2021
Highly recommended this series. Each is a stand alone but entwine throughout. Trixie and Nick book didn’t disappoint. Enjoyed their journey to HEA. Trixie is outgoing and persistent while Nick is quiet and reserved. Great read.