Small towns were made for second chances…even if it’s your best friend’s sister.
Skylar Rae
I’m getting by just fine on my own when the boy who stole my heart and ran away twelve years ago shows up in town again. He’s a big shot baseball player now, needing my help to rehab his knee. If he’d just lay off the flirting and the dimples he throws with each grin, I might be able to do my job. Good … do my job. Good thing I’m not dumb enough to fall for him a second time.
Max
I promised my best friend I would never make a move on his little sister. I kept that promise—if you don’t count that one kiss senior year—but now that we’re adults and I’m moving back home, all bets are off. Skylar Rae isn’t the same person I knew twelve years ago and neither am I. It’ll take a lot more healing than I expected to see if she and I can cross that line again.
Lines We Cross is a sweet small-town romantic comedy that can be read as a standalone in the Nickel Bay Brothers series.
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Max and Rae…oh the sweetness!!! This was such a sweet and wonderful story with loss and hope and love and lots of laughs along the way.
I don’t know why but this book hit me deeply. I mean really deeply. Yes, it’s a sports romance but not really. It’s a second chance, but not really. To have a second chance you have to have had a first chance. As I’m writing this tears are filling up in my eyes thinking about it. All kinds of old songs popped into my mind as I was reading. I created a whole playlist!
Anyway, Max, omg, I want to wrap him up and cuddle him forever. He is a keeper. He’s so fine!
Skylark, has been through a lot and sometimes I wanted to throttle her. However, when you hear her side of of things, you get it.
This is a story of heartbreak, never ending sadness, misunderstandings, miscommunication, loyalty, promises, old friends that are forever friends, unrequited love, forgiveness, smiles, hope and love. All kinds of love; love of family, friends, places and the ONE!
Miscommunication or lack thereof is so common. With that comes preconceived ideas that we are all guilty of because of lack of communication and miscommunication. Sometimes we really think we’re mind readers and we’re not! Keeping promises that maybe you shouldn’t. Doing what you think is right even when it costs you. This story will hit you because it could happen. It’s real, it hits nerves and it sticks long after you’re done reading.
I’ve read this author before but this one really struck me as you can see. I read this book in one sitting well into the early morning hours. I can’t get it out of my head.
Aside from all this (as if that’s not enough) there are lots of other very interesting characters that I’m hoping we get to meet in future.
This is a book with all the feels. At times it made me so very happy and at others it made my brown eyes blue. This is a book that I love more today than even yesterday but I feel not as much as tomorrow. I’m sure this is book going to my reread list!
ONE EMOTIONAL ADVENTURE!!!
Brilliant! Marika sweeps through loaded for bare, bringing all the determination and passion, laying it out with immense talent, ingenuity, style, fervor, vivid imagination and unique insight for detail, melds this baby together sleek, shiny and tight. Sparks fly as drama, intrigue, turmoil, secrets, surprising suspense and precarious situations along with a boatload of flaming intension while dodging chaos, you have one chart topping masterpiece. Anarchy, escapades and havoc run amuck, kicking this bad boy into a raging tempest, blasting it into a tailspin with a life-altering finale. Intense attraction and undeniable chemistry sizzles through the pages, alluring and mesmerizing, drawing you closer until you feel the heat and electricity thrumming through your veins. Exhilaration rocks this jewel, bringing it home with such intensity and precision, riding roughshod and imparting one block busting piece of perfection, thrusting this gem to life brilliantly. The characters are complex and authentic with depth and traits that blend and flow, transforming into genuine approachable personalities. The scenes are strikingly sharp with abundant details and depictions creating a colorful backdrop that makes the storyline pop. Remarkable job Marika, thanks for sharing this little treasure with us.
This is the first book in the Nickel Brothers Series, and it was a fantastic start to say the least. A beautiful and sweet second chance storyline, that draws you in from the beginning. As always Marika Ray tugs at the heartstrings, and I look forward to many more trips to Nickel Bay. I would definitely recommend this book to those that enjoy second chance romances. I received an Advanced Readers Copy of the book from the author, and this is my fair and honest review.
This was a really delightful read. This book just checked so many boxes for me. Charming small town romance Likable characters that are easy to root for Second chance at love Heaps & heaps of emotion A dash of the forbidden Lots of sweetness & humor Great writing A fun story that pulls you in and keeps you engaged Some drama, tension and pain An awesome cast of characters that provide tons of potential for future entries in this series This was just a simply wonderful romance that brighten your day with smiles and laughter while making your heart melt at the same time. I loved it and am already eager to return to Nickel Bay as soon as I can.
The “Nickel Heads” are home. Nickel Bay, the type of small town where everyone knows everyone. Max and Skylar’s (Rae) story lays the foundation for the series.
Max is home to rehab his leg. Rae just happens to be his PT therapist but she is also his best friends sister that he always had a torch for. Rae has built her business in Nickel Bay and held her heart firmly in her hand after one kiss from Max 12 years ago.
This was a layered story with all the feels. For all of Max’s success he is a sweet, romantic small town boy who will do anything for Rae. I loved this beginning of a new series by Marika Ray.
A fantastic start to what is sure to be a must read series. A sweet romance with characters you instantly fall in love with. Max and Skylar are perfect for each other but of course there are obstacles that have the potential to get in the way. Love this story and cannot wait for the next book to come out.
Oh my gosh! This was just so cute. I adore small town stories. There’s just something that does it for me with the quirky busy-body characters, the cozy charm, and the sense of family that pervades everything. Add a twist of the forbidden with Skylar being Max’s best friend’s little sister, and this book was a lot like catnip to me. This pair have so much emotion and chemistry between them, it fairly crackles off the page. I loved getting to know Max, Skylar Rae, and their friends and family. I can’t wait to read more about Nickel Bay.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book from the author.
” Maybe it’s time you took a leap of faith and believed good things are coming to you. You deserve it, you know.”
Oh my goodness the Lines We Cross was like a breath of fresh air. All the small town goodness, friendship, grief, a little bit of angst, second chances & light hearted love I couldn’t get enough of Skylar Rae & Max! And I cannot wait for the rest of this new series from Marika Ray
What a wonderful sweet, small town romance from Marika Ray. I loved everything about this read, the small town aspect, the brother’s best friend and a group of friends being there for one and other. Marika Ray has delivered on all fronts with Max and Skylar’s story. The love story and getting to know one another again just made this book so fun and will bring a smile to your face. Can’t wait to read the other books in this series.
I don’t know how Marika Ray keeps coming up with such endearing and romantic couples, but I love Max and Skylar Rae and their sweet, friends to lovers tale of chasing your dreams and coming back home to the people you love.
Max’s life had always been about baseball. From the minor leagues, where they traveled on a cramped bus to the games, to the major leagues where he became a star, surrounded by fame and fortune. He was baseball and baseball was all that he knew. He hadn’t planned for the future, because why should he? He was young, talented and invincible, so what could possibly go wrong?
A stolen kiss at graduation had stayed with Max and Skylar Rae forever, and it meant so much more than they could have ever imagined. It was as if their feelings had been on hold for twelve years and the spark reignited when he returned to Nickel Bay. Max knew the minute he saw Rae again that this time she would be his forever. He would have to pull out all the stops and hit a home run, so he could find his way back into her heart.
I loved this sweet romance by Marika Ray. I was intrigued by the story and it did not disappoint. All of the characters in this book are relatable and leave you wondering if they too will get a book (I sure hope so). Max and Skyler Rae have a past and lots of chemistry and although there are no “bedroom scenes” there is plenty of passion and heat. I’m already looking forward to the next book in this series.
Marika Ray has (once again) reminded me why I love romance– and why I love her books. With amazingly real, relatable characters, a perfect balance of laughter and tears, and so many moments that just took my breath away, this was easily one of my favorite reads of the year (so far.)
I adore second chance romances, as well as any story with a small-town vibe, so I knew without ever turning a page that I was going to love this book. What I didn’t know was exactly how quickly I was going to fall for these characters, and this town, or how much I’d want to run in a Bigfoot forest race after reading it (Seriously, y’all, the whole race scene was EVERYTHING)
Lines We Cross is — simply put — phenomenal. Sweet, funny, emotional, romantic, and absolutely swoon-worthy. I can’t wait to read about the other Nickel brothers and spend more time with these guys (but maybe I’ll just pass the time by tracking down Sasquatch)
I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this book as much I did, but here I am, wishing that the rest of this series was already available. I’ll definitely be coming back for more from this author.
Max and Skylar used to be friends, but that all fell apart when he bailed without even saying goodbye. Now, he’s back, and he’s not going to let a second chance slip through his fingers. He just has to convince Skylar that he’s here for good this time. And that won’t be easy. Skylar has had more than her fair share of heartache and pain and she’s not sure that giving Max the time of day, much less anything else, is a good idea. But these two manage to find their way past old hurts and misunderstandings to friendship and more. But can Skylar let her walls fall completely, or is she just setting herself up for the ultimate heartbreak?
As much as I enjoyed Max and Skylar, I think I loved their friend even more. I laughed at how Max’s friends (and Skylar’s) didn’t pull any punches in ripping their heads out of some dark places after it all appears to fall apart. So much so that I can’t wait to see who falls for whom next!
This is a stand alone story, but it’s an interesting start to a series that I’m interested in reading more of. It is everything I’d expect from a contemporary romance book, plus is has a unique and very touching romantic gesture.
I listened to the audiobook which I would highly recommend. The author read Skylar’s part herself which adds a great perspective. It has dual narration for the male/female points of view which I always appreciate.
I so enjoyed this friends to lovers romance, my very favorite of all romance tropes! Set in a small town, another of my favorite things, Max and Skylar have not only a history with each other but chemistry that’s off the charts. I loved the secondary characters as much as the leads, so I’m pretty sure this new series is going to be a new favorite!
Wow! Where do I even begin with my review?! Let’s start of with…
*dreamy sigh*
From the moment I picked up this book I knew I was going to love it. There’s just something about small town, second chance romance that draws me in. Add in a strong, independent heroine and mischievous, easy going hero and you have this girl hooked. I had the hardest time putting this book down.
I absolutely adored Skylar Rae and Max! They were such great characters and perfect for each other. I think one of the things I loved the most is how real they were. They were flawed and had past/present issues that they needed to overcome both as individuals as well as a couple. Watching their relationship develop, watching them heal and seeing their fears melt away was beautiful.
One of my favorite things about reading is going on that emotional roller coaster with the characters. For me, feeling all the feels makes for a perfect read. I love the emotion and depth of this book. It dealt with some tough topics but, in my opinion, it was beautifully written.
I don’t feel like I’m doing this book justice with my review. I’m having a hard time putting all my thoughts and feelings into words. What it boils down to is this… I loved this book! I wanted to devour it because I just had to know how everything worked out, but then I wanted to savor every minute I had with Skylar Rae and Max. It was just SO good! I highly recommend it to readers who love small town, second chance romance.
Lines We Cross is a great start to what I’m sure is going to be an amazing series! I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the Nickle Bay Brothers books.
I love finding new to me authors. This is the first book I have ever read by Ms. Ray and I can already tell you it won’t be my last! I’m looking forward to reading her other sweet romance books. I have a feeling she’s going to quickly become one of my autobuy authors.
I love small town romances and best friend’s sister romances and Marika Ray combined these two tropes to create one heck of a book. This book is full of heart and soul and will bring out so many emotions in you. Skylar Rae and Max have a past but have been out of each other’s lives for quite some time but due to circumstances they are brought back together and have no choice but to address their past and lingering feelings for one another. I was invested in this book from page one and I didn’t put it down until I was finished reading it. Skylar Rae and Max’s story is heartfelt and proves that sometimes you need to cross the line between friendship and something more. This novel is full of sweet and tender moments, memorable and loving characters that I hope to see more of in future books and a storyline that is engaging and will hold your interest from start to finish!
Lines We Cross (Nickel Bay Brothers Book 1)
Marika Ray
Lines We Cross is the first book in the new Nickel Bay Brothers Series by Marika Ray, and based on this one, she has another hit series on her hands. I absolutely loved this book and all of the characters in it, so much that I so wish the next book was ready for me to devour now. Book 1 is about Max and Skylar Rae or Gingersnap, as Max likes to call her. Max is back in town and goes to PT, and sees Skylar for the first time in years. He has already asked the rest of the Nickel Heads to come back to Nickel Bay. Max left town to pursue his dream of playing baseball, and left a heartbroken Skylar behind. Will Max be able to win Skylar over? Is the spark still there between them? You need to read this to find out for yourself. I can pretty much guarantee that you won’t be sorry you picked this book up. I know I was not. I actually read it twice before reviewing it because I enjoyed it that much and wanted to make sure I didn’t miss anything. If I could, I’d meet Max and keep him to myself, as he was hot, kind, loving and so much more. If anything you learn that communication really is key to everything. I so can’t wait to read about the rest of the Nickel Bay brothers! I’m not sure how Marika keeps coming up with these amazingly awesome stories, but I am so glad she does. She is an author that I love to read, and don’t want to miss out on any of her books.
Loved this small town, second chance romance between Skylar and Max. It was a very heartwarming story and I wish I lived in Nickle Bay with this group of people.