I have my reasons for walking into Chelsea Singer’s cupcake shop with an axe. Too bad I’ve forgotten what they are. Hell, I forgot my own name the second she flashed those blue eyes and offered up a double-fudge cupcake with Irish cream frosting. I may look like a grumpy lumberjack, but I’m a softie for sweets, single moms, and my massive, messy family.The family stuff gets messier now that we’re … gets messier now that we’re running a resort together on our late-father’s ranch, which brings my siblings that much closer to discovering I’m not who they think I am.
As things heat up with Chelsea, I’m falling faster than an old-growth redwood filled with buttercream and lit on fire and then maybe chopped into kindling. It’s a figure of speech, okay?
And it’s damned inconvenient, since it turns out someone wants to hurt Chelsea and her daughter. But they’ll have to get through me first.
And no way in hell will that happen.
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This book is another story in the Ponderosa Resort series. I love this series!
We were introduced to Mark Bracelyn in the last book. This is his story.
We also get to know Chelsea Singer the owner of the Dew Drop Cupcakes who is also a single Mom to a little girl, Libby.
The chapter begins with some humor when a retired schoolteacher picking up some cupcakes and loudly reminding Chelsea that the cupcakes were for a bachelorette party and wanted to sure she didn’t forget the “penises”, while Mark enters the store.
Marks sister Bree sent him there to pickup some cupcakes and most likely some match making too. The two seem to have some easy conversations and an attraction to each other. During one conversation she shares that her and her daughter volunteer at the humane society, which makes Mark think about getting dog.
But instead of a dog he gets a litter box trained rabbit that Libby found. Mark decides to purchase him and Libby names him Long Long Peter. This is just some of names this sweet little girl comes up with. “Weird Owl Yakovic “ and “Llamade” you’ll see in later chapters.
During the time Mark & Chelsea’s relationship is growing, he feels that he is not a true Bracelyn because he doesn’t have the green eyes as all of his siblings or has any resemblance to their “father” This keeps him from moving forward and he feels he’s keeping a big a secret from his siblings.
Also there is some suspense in this story as Chelsea is being threatened by someone with minor vandalism till it becomes major by her car being destroyed.
Mark takes her and Libby to the Resort to keep them safe. But even though Mark is falling in love with Chelsea & her daughter, he continues to tell himself he doesn’t deserve this because he questions his paternity.
This story has humor, passion, hurt, suspense and love. Tawna always has a surprise reveal in her stories and always like the continuation of the past characters of Ponderosa Resort series. Can’t wait for the next book!
I have enjoyed this series of books. They are quick reads. Tawna Fenske writes great romantic comedies, but these all have some serious issues going on too. I could not wait to read about Mark, the brooding lumberjack and his romance with the cupcake lady, Chelsea. It sounded really cute. I did feel with Chelsea being a single mom that she would not have gotten so close with Mark in such a short time but sometimes with romances you have to look past the insta-love. Chelsea starts having bad things happen to her at home and at her bakery so Mark becomes her protector and of course becomes more. I did like the message that family does not always mean you share DNA. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.
Love, love! This was such a fun and sexy read.
This time we have Mark and Chelsea, he’s another of the Bracelyn siblings and she’s got a lovely bakery in town.
I loved these two, he was such a gruff guy but such a sweetheart on the inside. And Chelsea was such kickass, raising her daughter alone and then dealing with a creepy stalker kind of thing. There was such chemistry between these two and they were so much more than what the world saw in them.
There were a little bit of everything here: some sexy times, some fun, cute situations and the hints for the stories of the rest of the siblings. I can’t wait for this!
All in all, a very entertaining read, just like the rest of Ms. Fenske’s stories.
*Thank you to the author for providing a copy for which I’m giving my honest opinion*
Hottie Lumberjack by Tawna Fenske (Ponderosa Resort Romantic Comedies Book 4)
I loved this book! I loved reading about Mark’s history and his struggle to remain unattached and uninvolved into his family and Chelsea. Despite this serious undertone of him struggling to cope about the meaning of family, this book is witty and funny and extremely hot. Who doesn’t love a big friendly and hot-as-sin giant who loves cupcakes and a woman who loves to bake them in all sorts and in spades.
When Mark Bracelyn lumbers into Chelsea Singer’s cupcake shop with an axe, she’s poised to hit the panic button. But he fixes her door, praises her buttercream, and sends her skittish heart pounding like a hammer on a hollow log, so he can’t be all that scary. Chelsea’s sure there’s a gooey marshmallow center under Mark’s tough outer shell, though admittedly she’s been wrong before.
Mark may look like a grungy lumberjack, but he’s also the wealthy part-owner of Ponderosa Luxury Ranch Resort. The lone Bracelyn heir to avoid a childhood of fancy boarding schools, he stays hidden behind the scruffy beard and battered truck. But something else separates Mark from his siblings, and keeping his guard up means keeping his secret—and his family.
When someone threatens Chelsea and her daughter, Mark becomes their personal protector. When he’s not watching her back, he’s watching the rest of Chelsea’s body and warning himself not to touch. With danger mounting, they bond over phallic cupcakes and bizarre bunny behavior, while Mark battles his surging attraction. Can a sweet-toothed mountain man and a cautious single mom escape their histories, or will their hearts land on the chopping block?
“I need cupcakes.” Yes, those may be the first words Mark utters to Chelsea. (My personal dream man- burly & cupcake lover!) Mark has been the quiet Bracelyn in this series. Good with his hands, not raised in high dollar boarding schools and uninterested in the status of being a Bracelyn. But he does love being a part of this disjointed family.
Chelsea has had some challenges in her life. Being a single mom is tough, but has its own rewards. She wouldn’t trade a thing. But meeting Mark has definitely shown her what she has been missing. He is protective, caring and…extremely closed off? That was one is NOT her favorite trait!
As time goes on, they grow closer and they both begin to open up to each other. Sometimes you just have to let someone in, even if they see the not so great things.
Mark is definitely my favorite Bracelyn thus far!!
I really enjoy reading this series and the Hottie Lumberjack was awesome. When a books starts out with the hero going into the heroine’s cupcake shop with an ax, you know it’s going to be a good read. I really liked watching these two get together and Mark’s protectiveness toward Chelsea and Libby. And we got to check in with the Bracelyn family as well. Loved Long Long Peter, Weird Owl Yankovic and Llamanade. Perfect line – Hottie Lumberjack doesn’t look terribly menacing. There’s an odd sort of teddy bear quality to the guy, if teddy bears had massive biceps and broad shoulders and sharp pieces of weaponry in their paws. Excited to read the next book in the series.
As a fan of Tawna Fenske’s writing, I’m always amazed she can outdo her last book. “Hottie Lumberjack” did not disappoint. From page one I felt I just jumped into Mark and Chelsea’s story and there was no looking back. Each character is likable with a past. This book does not fail in the twist, turns, and fear of moving into a new relationship. It’s about learning to live for today and tomorrow and setting your past free.
No spoiler alerts here…If you are looking for a quick read and enjoy romantic comedies, this series and book are for you.
I love these stories!! Mark is a gruff, marshmellowy, protector kind of guy. Seems solitary but is fully invested in his family and friends. Chelsea is an amazing single mother, business owner, and friend. I love the family and friendship of these books! There is plenty of steaminess, sweetness, a touch of drama, and a lot of love! This book has left me full of the happys! I received a review copy. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I have been waiting for Mark’s story and he was SO worth it!!
Mark is a quiet, grumpy guy. He is carrying around a lot of secrets. Chelsea is a spunky, cupcake-making single mom. I loved their instant connection. I laughed-alot-while reading this. Mark and Chelsea’s daughter are adorable together, I loved watching their relationship evolve as well.
I absolutely adore this series! You don’t need to read the other books to enjoy Hottie Lumberjack but the whole series is fantastic and very funny! I’m definitely looking forward to James and Jonathan’s stories.
The opening scene (meet cute) in this book is enough to make a gal laugh out loud and swoon a bit all at the same time. The immediate chemistry between Chelsea & Mark was so much fun to read, I almost didn’t want it to end.
I have had the benefit of reading the other books in the Ponderosa Resort Romantic Comedy Series, so I had been building some anticipation as to how Mark’s story would play out. He’s an eternal stoic, limited talking kind of guy who manages to find the perfect gal to bring him out of his shell. Chelsea was a great match up for him. One of the things I really enjoyed about this story was reading about how the interactions of what was said, and what wasn’t said playing out between the characters. I found it to be very realistic and heartfelt. I know many times we all have the best intentions of opening up to others, but don’t always deliver the same way in the actual execution of what we say & talk about.
Honestly, there are so many great things in this book it is hard to pin down a favorite. However, if you are a fan of realistic & funny romance, adorable characters, laughing while you read, and dreaming upon the cupcakes you WANT to eat vs. those you do eat, then this book is definitely for you. I wish our local cupcake place (as fabulous as it truly is) would consider experimenting with some of the flavors in here. And by that I mean the cupcakes….yeah the cupcakes. Because they aren’t the only thing worth devouring in this story.
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
And honestly, this one is my favorite yet in the Ponderosa Resort Series! This book is absolutely adorable and Chelsea and Mark are totally my new favorite couple. I love coming back to the Ponderosa Resort world. I loved getting to see all of our old friends from the previous three books, and meeting some new ones who I hope will show up with their own stories soon.
Mark is the most adorable character ever. I love his sugary sweet nature to go with his hilariously extreme sweet tooth. The gruff exterior, soft interior is such a winning combination, and he felt like one of the most honest and kind characters I have ever read. Chelsea was sweet and stubborn and exactly the type of woman I would want to be friends with. Their personal hang ups, and struggles to solidify their relationship felt very real, and honestly, I was pretty surprised by the truth of their situations, which isn’t common in romances.
Fenske has hit it out of the park yet again with a book that is the perfect blend of funny and sexy. Even if you haven’t read the previous three (which why not?!) Hottie Lumberjack is a great novel that is so hard to put down.
It’s kind of a given at this point that I will love any new book Tawna Fanske writes. After all, I’ve loved every one she’s written so far. And “Hottie Lumberjack” is no exception. The story, set in and around her fictional Ponderosa Luxury Spa Resort in Oregon, centers on Mark Bracelyn, part owner of the resort with his step-siblings, and Chelsea Singer, a single mother who owns and runs a local bakery.
Mark and Chelsea meet when Mark walks into Chelsea’s bakery to order cupcakes, a chore his sister gave him to try to fix the two of them up. It works, and quickly. Mark is taken not only by the delicious confections that satisfy his sweet tooth, but by the warm, funny and beautiful woman behind the counter. Chelsea is drawn to the gentle giant, who “makes [her] mini cupcake look like a chocolate chip” when he samples her desserts. He’s attractive and sweet and she can’t help but wonder what it would be like to kiss a guy with a beard.
It isn’t long until she finds out, but their impromptu make-out session is interrupted by an emergency back at Chelsea’s house, and it turns out the odd happenings Chelsea has been experiencing are a lot more sinister than she chalked them up to be. Mark finds himself offering to help out and do what he can to protect the woman who is quickly becoming much more to him than he could have imagined.
But Mark has issues, and secrets, of his own, and the two need to learn how to navigate their growing relationship and the problems they are facing. Along the way, they get help from Mark’s extended family, Chelsea’s young daughter, and a bunny named Long Long Peter. And if you’re a fan of Fenske’s, like I am, there was absolutely nothing unusual in that last sentence. 🙂
Mark is a teddy bear, sweet and caring and respectful, too. Chelsea is strong and determined, a woman who has been knocked down a time or two but is willing to take a risk. Together they are absolutely wonderful. Add Fenske’s trademark wit and humor and it’s no surprise I enjoyed every word of this sweet and sexy romantic comedy. I highly recommend it!
Note: This book was given to me in return for an honest review.
HOTTIE LUMBERJACK is the fourth instalment in Tawna Fenske’s contemporary, adult PONDEROSA RESORT ROMANCE COMEDIES Series. This is thirty-year old, resort co-owner and handyman Mark Bracelyn, and single mother / pastry chef Chelsea Singer’s story line. HOTTIE LUMBERJACK can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.
Told from dual first person perspectives (Mark and Chelsea) HOTTIE LUMBERJACK follows the building relationship between thirty-year old, resort co-owner and handyman Mark Bracelyn, and single mother / pastry chef Chelsea Singer. Chelsea Singer, owner of Dew Drop Cupcakes, has no idea her life is about to change. Meeting Mark Bracelyn gave Chelsea thoughts for a future but threats from an unknown source finds Mark guardian and protector when the threats become personal and more alarming. What ensues is the building romance between Mark and Chelsea, and the potential fall-out as Mark refuses to open up about his past.
Mark Bracelyn is the awkward, odd man out; bearded and large like a lumberjack, Mark doesn’t look like the rest of his siblings, and struggles to find a place to belong. Chelsea Singer has always known her past may come back to haunt her but she never expected to face a threat from the other direction.
The relationship between Mark and Chelsea is one of immediate attraction but Mark bides his time as the threats against the woman with whom he will fall in love increase in intensity and danger. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and energetic secondary and supporting characters including all of Mark’s siblings and their significant others. We are introduced to Chelsea’s seven-year old daughter Libby, and Mark’s mother Betty. Libby is a breath of fresh air.
HOTTIE LUMBERJACK has a little it of everything: family, fun, love, acceptance, danger and revenge. The premise is entertaining and inviting; the romance is spicy and flirty; the characters are spirited and playful.
OH MY GOSH!!! You can ALWAYS count on the hilarious Author Tawna Fenske if you want a good Rom-Com!
Hottie Lumberjack, AKA Paul Bunyan, AKA…Mark Bracelyn, meets Chelsea Singer, single mom to Libby, and owner of Dew Drop Cupcakes in this 4th book of the Ponderosa Resort series.
Mark is a grumpy, bitter, wants-to-keep-to-himself kinda guy. Everyone else seems to think he just needs to try a real relationship. 😉 Chelsea is getting threats about her “secret”. Will they be compatible? Or should they ignore any feelings they have?
I always love the humor in Tawna’s books and this one definitely didn’t disappoint! I laughed so hard so many times in Hottie Lumberjack! I loved the storyline, the humor, Long Long Peter, and (of course) the characters (Bree, Betty, Jade, Amber, Sean…Mr. Assgrab…oops…I mean Mr. and Mrs. Grassnab)! All the characters in the Ponderosa Resort series are great and I love how the author has weaved them throughout! This one can be read as a
The Bakery scene, the poker scene, the car ride, Long Long Peter, the birthday party…ALL OF IT WAS HILARIOUS!
I freaking LOOOOVED the way the author described how they each felt after having met the other! Each of their responses after their first meeting in the bakery…sigh.
There was heat, love, frustration, mystery, heart break, more love…Definite MUST read IMO! 5 Happy Stars from me!!!
Such a fabulous book! Mark was definitely a Hottie Lumberjack! I loved Chelsea with Mark, she was perfect for him. Chelsea was a single mom to Libby who was the cutest thing and both Chelsea and Libby were taken with Mark. There was an instant attraction between Mark and Chelsea and it all happened over sweets- her making them and him with his sweet tooth. Mark was a quiet guy and when he spoke he got right to the point and Chelsea was able to get him to slowly open up. Chelsea was having issues with a possible stalker and she turned to Mark for help. Mark was definitely hero material. Mark and Chelsea both had similar family related issues and yet they didn’t realize it because they both had secrets they kept to themselves until Chelsea couldn’t keep hers anymore. Mark took longer to reveal his because he hadn’t come to terms with what would happen to him when/if he revealed his. I loved all the interaction with the whole Bracelyn clan and can’t wait for more stories about them.
We return to the Ponderosa Resort and get to find out why Mark Bracelyn is such a grumpy bear of a man.
Meet Mark Bracelyn, brother to all the multitudes of Bracelyn children that are running the Ponderosa Resort. Mark is a large man, very large man and tends to carry around his axe and have a permanent scowl on his bearded face, that is until he walks into Chelsea’s cupcake shop to get some sweet treats for his sister Bree. Mark has a sweet tooth as large as his oversized body and one taste and he is hooked.
Chelsea is a single mom doing the best she can raising her daughter, Libby. When Mark Bracelyn walks into her shop with a very large axe she is startled to say the least and attracted for sure. When she realizes this is her friend Bree’s brother she is even more intrigued.
Both Mark and Chelsea are keeping deep dark secrets. Can they learn to trust each other and move forward or will their secrets destroy them?
This book is laugh out loud funny, the kind you will just bust out laughing and make your spouse give you that look like you have lost your mind, happened several times LOL. It also has such heart that it will pull you in to their story and both melt you as well as make you shed a slight tear. Lots of love and emotion. Oh and lets not forget the trip to the pet store and the pet that finds a home, no spoilers here but you will love it. Throw in a mystery and danger that is lurking and it is just a fantastic book.
I received an early copy to read and review and give my honest opinion. I LOVED IT!!!!! I love all the characters in this series and cannot wait for the next book. I highly recommend this book and the entire series.
I have loved getting to know the Bracelyn siblings in the Ponderosa Resort series. Hottie Lumberjack focuses on Mark Bracelyn as he gets to know and get his HEA with single mom ans cupcake shop owner, Chelsea Singer. Her daughter Libby is full of energy and spunk and helps Mark discover that family is not just blood relations, but those you choose as well. I hate spoilers so I don’t want to become one, needless to say I was surprised by the twist at the end. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series! There’s still a few more siblings without their own stories.
It has been awhile since I have laughed this hard while reading. This book was amazing!! I loved everything about it. I loved both Mark and Chelsea together and apart.
Chelsea was such an amazing mom and friend. She had a lot going on in her life but she didn’t let that stop her. She was a single mom who put her daughter before herself but welcomed the protection that Mark offered. She was caring and funny.
Mark was such a fun character to read about. He was this quiet, gruff man who didn’t deal in feelings and from the first moment he sees Chelsea he is interested. He has skeletons in his closet that he is afraid that if they get out, it will change everything. He holds those secrets close. It almost costs him the two greatest things in his life.
While I loved Chelsea and Mark as a couple. The parts of the book that I enjoyed the most was anything having to do with Mark and Libby. Reading about this giant man with a heart of gold try and figure out how to deal with a very inquisitive little girl is some of the funniest things I have read in awhile. My favorite has to be when Libby crashes guys night or the conversation comparing Mark to neutered rabbit.
This is a must read!