OUT NOW: Brock and Bloom from USA Today bestselling author Esther E. Schmidt. Life is hard enough for a single mom without adding a man to it. Yet, when a stubborn biker appoints himself as her personal protector there’s no running him off. Get it here: https://books2read.com/Brockandbloom Author & Cover Design: Esther E. Schmidt Release Day: October 6, 2026 Brock – Relocating our motorcycle club to a small town entails switching from outlaws to upstanding citizens. My president and I hit a roadblock when a threat from his past unexpectedly becomes relevant again. An innocent chance meeting lays a foundation, one I find myself fully committed to the more time I spend protecting the woman and her daughter. Bloom – I consider my mother’s funeral the final step in the closure I need for our lacking and distant relationship. Except, where I assume I’m the only one paying my respects, a group of bikers show up and change my life as well as my daughter’s. Enjoy the light suspen...
Synopsis
Preservationist Lila Gentry returns to her small Texas hometown to restore the famous Chisholm Trail whorehouse where her great-great-grandmother was a madam in the 1880s. On her agenda is winning back Jake, the one that got away. But how do you rope a man who doesn't want to be wrangled?
Jake lives by one creed: Keep it simple. His ex showing up in town complicates his life and makes him think about things he'd rather forget.
When Lila's restoration project is threatened before it even begins, she turns to Jake for help. Working together stirs up old feelings, but while Lila and Jake always sizzle between the sheets—or wherever the moment takes them—it will involve some sweet-talking and finesse to bring these two together.
4-Stars Review
I was expecting an amazing entangled contemporary romance but I got a mystery as well. This book was full of surprises, a lot more fun than I hoped for. I loved Lila's character and how she coped with hardships in life and get over her disappointment- with her therapist's help of course. She was willing to get her life back and strong enough for fight for the things she believed in.
Jake is her ex-husband, although they weren't really divorced but it had been a long time since Lila was back in town. Now she was and Jake was confused. The attraction between them was still there but was it wise to give it another try?
Prudence's character and diary put an interesting spin to the whole plot and the mystery behind its sender was a nice touch too. I enjoyed reading. I loved Lila's grandmother's character as well. Overall it is a great book which I'd recommend to all.
P.S. I love small town stories and this one was one of the best :)