Ask Me Why: Fantastic New Release from Harloe Rae

 
ASK ME WHY by Harloe Rae 
Release Date: June 20, 2019 
Genre: Contemporary romance (Enemies to lovers, single father)
 

                                 
Blurb

One deep breath. Two slow blinks. Three hollow beats. I’m still here.
After three years, that reminder isn’t as necessary. But everyone has their bad days. This is definitely one of them.

Until an adorable little boy dashes into my store. His zest for life makes me smile in a way that’s been long lost.

Then I meet his father. Well, confront is more like it.

Brance Stone is volatile. Offensive. Harsh. And can’t be bothered to care.

Not that I want him to. I get frostbite just looking into Brance’s glacial stare. But there’s something undeniable about him.

My misery suddenly craves company. The suffocating numbness lifts whenever Brance is near. That alone should have me running in the opposite direction. Try as I might, there’s no avoiding him. If only I could understand why. As if he’d let me.
I don’t ask. He doesn’t tell. A silent, bitter truce settles between us. That was our first mistake. It’s certainly not the last.


                                                     

My Review

This book broke me, ripped out my heart, tore it to shreds and burned the leftover pieces to ash because some of it hit way too close to home. It’s almost like Rae cracked open the door of my heart and wrote what she saw there, so I was immediately all in. I felt my soul connecting with Braelyn and held her close in the deepest part of my numb, ruined heart. I lived every moment of her story with Brance and his son, Oliver, as if it were my own. 

Three years earlier, Braelyn suffered the most devastating tragedy that left her broken, empty and paralyzed, with frequent flashbacks and nightmares to keep her company. But she's surviving, day by day, with the help of a beautiful thicket out by the cliffs, her friend Sadie, and her store, the Thicket, which she opened not long after the tragedy. The thicket is a special place. It’s “a place to get lost for a while. Find purpose. Center yourself. Find true happiness,” and it’s the Thicket that a precious five-year-old stumbles across on his quest for candy. 

Adorable, energetic Ollie finds so much more than candy when he meets Braelyn at her store. It quickly becomes his favorite place to be, and little does he know, but Ollie brings the first ray of sunshine Braelyn's life has seen in three years. Thus begins the sweetest romance I’ve ever read between a heroine and child, but our hero, Brance, has a way of souring anything. 

With everything in me, I wanted to hate Brance. He's rude, arrogant, mean and hard, with a heart of ice. He's the storm clouds that hide the sun and chase away any chance of a rainbow, but it’s possible there is a little justification for his attitude. His son is his top priority, and I found myself warming to him as I saw his love for Ollie throughout the book. 

Even wounded, Braelyn is far too kind, giving and loving to take on Brance, and I was certain it was only a matter of time before he would destroy her all over again. My mistake was underestimating the power of love and determination from a five-year-old matchmaker. But Brance and Braelyn also made the same mistake. 

Ah, this book! As heart breaking and devastating as it is, it filled my heart with hope and joy after flinging it around in an emotional hurricane. I adore all of these characters, but it's precious little Ollie who had me falling head over heals for him. He was the constant ray of light through the angsty ups and downs and he even managed to carve out a space in my heart for his broody father. 

Rae is definitely at the top of her game with this phenomenal read, and you need this book in your life. It will batter your heart but leave you ecstatic and singe your soul but leave you smiling, and these characters will remain a part of you long after the last page. Don’t miss this exquisite, spellbinding, evocative read! 

Get your copy of this amazing read using the links below, then scroll down for author information and a fantastic giveaway! Until next time, dear reader

Much love between the covers,

BookAddict

*See my other reviews here.
AMAZON TOP 500 REVIEWER 


AVAILABLE NOW!! 
FREE in Kindle Unlimited! 

                                 
Excerpt

Ollie glances between us. “You remember my dad? He was here with me once.”

While his attention is diverted, she glares at me. “Oh, yes. I sure do.”

“He took me all sorts of places this week. That’s why we were so busy,” Ollie explains.

Her mossy eyes search mine, a storm brewing in those green pools. “Is that so?”

“Uh-huh. Daddy took me swimming and out for ice cream. We even went to the movies.”

“Lucky duck. I haven’t been to the theater in ages.”

He makes a squeaking sound. “What? No way. Wanna come with us next time?”

Braelyn’s slender throat bobs. I’m fascinated by the movement. I get a rise thinking about the conflicting emotions raging inside of her. How will she answer? There’s no way in hell she’d agree. The air grows dense, enough to choke on, as her silence stretches.

Finally, she opens her mouth. “I’ll have to check my calendar, buddy. It’s hard to get away from the store.”

He bounces on his toes. “Okay, great. Talk to my dad about it. Can I go play now?”

Braelyn beams at him. “Of course, kiddo. You know where the toys are.”

That’s all he needs to hear before darting down the designated aisle. I watch him disappear in a flash of red and denim. When I look at Braelyn, the thundering in my pulse roars. She’d been all smiles for him, but now all evidence of happiness melts away. When she turns to me, a scowl mars her features. My gut twists painfully, and that stops me short. Am I seriously jealous of my son? That’d be a hell no. I roll my shoulders and strengthen my resolve.

“Fancy seeing you here.” Braelyn crosses her arms, shoving a pair of luscious tits up for my viewing pleasure. I almost applaud the shirt’s low neckline, but thank the summer heat instead. No point giving her ass any credit for wearing less clothing.

I try to keep my focus on her face. “Is it?”
         
     
About the Author 

Harloe Rae is a USA Today & Amazon Top 100 bestselling author. Her passion for writing and reading has taken on a whole new meaning. Each day is an unforgettable adventure.

Harloe is a Minnesota gal with a serious addiction to romance. She’s always chasing an epic happily ever after. When she’s not buried in the writing cave, Harloe can be found hanging with her hubby and son. If the weather permits, she loves being lakeside or out in the country with her horses.

Harloe is the author of Redefining Us, Forget You Not, Watch Me Follow, GENT, MISS, LASS, and Ask Me Why. These titles are available on Amazon.
 
Connect with Harloe

Find all the latest on her site: www.harloe-rae.blog 
Subscribe to her newsletter: http://bit.ly/HarloesList 
Join her reader group, Harloe’s Hotties: http://www.facebook.com/harloehotties

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ENTER HARLOE’S MEGA GIVEAWAY HERE!!
For chance to win a signed paperback of Ask Me Why + a massive swag pack + $15 Amazon gift card, ENTER HERE: http://bit.ly/AMWGiveaway
       

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