Another wingman meets his match and this time it’s scandalous.
Carter Kelso is a man with a plan. And goats.
Ashley Kingston is a woman with a reputation.
Can he earn back her love before their past catches up with them and destroys everything?
On the island, my last name is synonymous with scandal. With a notorious father and a famous brother, I’ve been on the sidelines of our small town’s … sidelines of our small town’s gossip circle for years. Nothing to see here. Just a man and his goats, happily going through life. Not a care in the world. Too bad it’s all lies.
I’m tired of trying not to be in love with Ashley Kingston, our very own island jezebel. Some people think she’s a slut. They think they know her. They’re wrong. Screw them.
Reputations can be deceiving. I should know.
Small Town Scandal is a second chance romance standalone novel and the fifth book in the Wingmen series. You do not have to read the other novels first.
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Small Town Scandal is my goat-to summer book. Carter and Ashley have a backstory and chemistry that is so good it’s baaaaaahd. I kid you not!
(Goat not included with eBook).
Seriously — the entire Wingman series is addicting!
I really enjoyed this book and this series. All of Daisy’s books have such a wonderful hometown feel to them and it’s like you are there in that place and part of those friends and family. I definitely recommend this book and this series and I look forward to reading the other books in this series. I also recommend this author.
So, I was little wary of this book because I was not a huge fan of Erik, Carter Kelso’s brother. I had some issues with his lack of maturity and how he treated his now girlfriend, Cari.
Fast forward to Carter and Ashley’s story. Finally. We’ve known Ashley for a while and she is quite a controversial character. In Confessions of a Reformed Tom Cat, Ashley and Tom’s off and on, friends with benefits relationship hits the bricks because Tom meets Hailey, ground beef is thrown in a grocery store and the rest is Wingmen history.
Carter is Erik’s older brother and former high school boyfriend of Ashley. To say that she is jaded and cynical is a giant understatement but Carter has decided that he is going to get through the hard outer shell. Carter is single-minded in his goal and he is so very patient with Ashley. It’s refreshing to read a book where the relationship is taken very slowly. Ashley has to be handled with care and Carter is constantly mindful of that, no matter how much he wants her on a physical level. he has loved her for…well forever. Even through his own dalliance and relationships, he has always carried a torch for her. Carter really is a sweet guy and I LOVED him…and his goats.
Let’s talk about Ashley. To be honest, this was Ashley’s book more than Carter’s (for me, at least.) I enjoy a redemption story and normally we get the anti-hero or the bad boy gone good or whatever. Rarely, do we get a story with a hard to like/understand woman who owns her actions unapologetically. Ashley has been labeled the town slut, a label that in a way, she gave into. She grew up with a strict mother and grandmother and was preached to about remaining a virgin and finally rebelled against all of it. Ashley does not apologize for any of her relationships like I said, she owns all of her decisions and does not really care what anyone thinks of her.
What she doesn’t seem to realize is that she is hardly the only person in their small town that scandal revolves around and Carter helps her to see that. It’s lovely to see how she softens with him, lets him in…lets him care for her like only he can.
I guess that redemption isn’t quite the word for what happens with Ashley, it’s not like she did anything terrible…she lived her life on her terms with no apologies. Carter doesn’t want to change her, he loves her for exactly who she is, the woman she has become.
Small Town Scandal is a sweet and funny story of reunited lovers with a bit of redemption thrown in for good measure. Don’t miss it!
http://bit.ly/Prescott_Scandal
Favorite Quotes:
My coworkers have horns and horizontal pupils. At least they don’t take long smoke breaks or spend their paychecks on beer. Unlike my business partner.
As I kid I compared her to Ariel the Little Mermaid with her long red hair and asked if she ever wore a shell bra. The kick to my shins proved she had legs like a girl and not a mermaid’s tail.
My grandma saw me wearing shorts and called me a Lolita. Whatever that means. Said she’d pray for the wickedness to leave my body to make room for Jesus.
Do you ever look at old people and try to see their younger versions? Like reversing a film? … No, someday you’re going to be an old man in thick-soled sneakers and a cardigan. Probably a jaunty cap on your head and a cane you like to twirl. You’ll always be you. I bet the little widows will chase you around and get into catfights over who will bring you your favorite pudding. Good thing you’ll have the cane to beat them back. Except for the ladies on the motorized scooters. Watch out. You won’t be able to outrun those frisky girls.
My Review:
I adored this refreshing and smartly written tale from beginning to end. The writing sparkled with cleverly dealt levity and crisp visuals; I wore a near-constant smirk while reading. This was my first experience reading Daisy Prescott and although the book was touted as a stand-alone volume in a series, I have a strong desire to go backward and read each installment as well as all other books penned by this talented scribe. I savored her snarky humor, colorful insights, and clever observations. The witty banter and quips tossed off by these quirky and adorable characters were record book worthy. And who could not love a story with baby goats, in pajamas? I mean really? Daisy Prescott is a comedic genius with mad skills. I want to be her when I grow up.
Small Town Scandal is yet another heartwarming read from Daisy Prescott. Knowing the Kelso reputation, I was completely floored at how much my heart skip a beat or two for Carter and how smitten I was right from the start. I felt his frustration at being the responsible one, the older brother who held his family together when things got rough. And I understood his heartache at losing his girl, his Ashley, and the fight he had on his hands in order to win her back.
There is that smart humor that I simply adore sprinkled throughout this book. I was swooning at a heartfelt sentiment Carter conveyed one minute and then chuckling out loud at the one-liner he’d undoubtedly come up with next. His thoughts were the perfect counterbalance to Ashley’s POV, which was often filled with self doubt and fierce comebacks to those on Whidbey Island who didn’t always have the best opinion of her. But I really liked her spirit. Her determination to live her life the way she wanted, no matter what others may think of her. She is one tough cookie and is as fiery as her red hair. Getting inside her head a bit softened my opinion of her and how she handled things with Tom a few years back.
This is such a charming story and I loved how effortlessly the words flowed. However, there are also some difficult moments from Carter’s and Ashley’s past that rear its ugly head and threaten a possible present and future. But when they are together, nothing can seemingly stop the love that has clearly been fated for both of them since they were young. Carter and Ashley have a chemistry that is undeniable and there was plenty of steam between them to prove it. Nothing and no one will get in the way this time around, or so they hope. But with the help from so many beloved characters we’ve all come to cherish from previous books in the series, these two get the much needed push in the right direction.
There is something very special about this Wingmen story. I felt as if the author upped her game a bit and beautifully combined her signature wit with a sincerely tender second-chance romance that brought tears to my eyes more than once. Add to that a herd of adorable goats who steal the show more than once and you have one heck of a wonderful read.
A clear winner and exceptional addition to this series, Small Town Scandal is a 5 star must read perfect for a summer day.