Length: 64,000 words
Cover Design: Cate Ashwood
Accidental Roots Series
No Pressure (Book #2) Amazon US | Amazon UK
Spring Break (Book #3) Amazon US | Amazon UK
Blurb
Seth Culver avoids entanglements, romantic or otherwise. Who needs them? He’s learned the hard way that people betray you or leave. Still, Seth finds people compelling. He kind of collects them, learning their secrets before letting them go their own way. His commitment to no commitments may have met his match in Sacha. Handsome and hot, Sacha seems to offer a permanence that scares Seth more than anything ever has. Seth will have to decide if he’s going to grab it by the balls or keep watching from the sidelines.
The old building harbors a secret from the past. A box of inconsequential belongings hidden for decades hints at lives imagined but not lived, reminding them both there are no guarantees in love, or this thing called life.
A standalone in the Accidental Roots series.
Excerpt
“Danish?” Sacha reached to snatch the bag out of Seth’s hand, but the asshole jerked it out of range.
“Ah, ah, ah. You must want these pretty bad. What are you willing to do for one?” Seth teased, a wicked gleam in his eyes.
Seth looked good enough to eat, and Sacha was a starving man in more ways than one. Without thinking, Sacha moved toward Seth. Their chests were touching while Seth still held the bag of pastries out of reach. Seth’s breath was hot against Sacha’s cheek; his pupils dilated, reducing his irises to a strip of chocolate brown.
“Oh yeah?” Seth cocked his head to the side, exposing more of his neck. Seth smirked and the pink tip of his tongue swept out, moistening his lips. “I dare you.”
Fucking hell, he’d never backed down from a dare in his life. Sacha growled under his breath before inhaling deeply, worshipping the lingering scent of sweat and maleness that was Seth-specific. The striation of browns that made his eyes appear caramel when the light hit them right was easy to see and impossible to look away from. A week of this man in his dreams and he had no self-control.
Seth was playing a dangerous game. Sacha’s hands dropped of their own volition to rest on Seth’s hips. Seth’s lips parted. Sacha didn’t miss the invitation. Ignoring the cacophony of voices in his head telling him this was a bad idea, he pressed his mouth against Seth’s.
Fucking hell, it was perfection. Like a confection, sugary, hot, and sweet. It was impossible to resist sweeping his tongue across Seth’s lips.
4.5 Stars!
The first thing I’ll say is although this book can be read as a standalone, it does feature some of the couples from the Accidental Roots series, which I have added to my TBR list, and I think there was a familiarity about their backstories that was lost to me, because I hadn’t read Adam and Micah’s story, and perhaps Joey and Buck’s, too.
Sasha has been retired from the US Marshals for three months and has relocated to the small town of Skagit, WA, where he meets Seth, who is also a recent transplant to the small town. It’s instant attraction for both men, but neither has had an easy life. Both Seth and Sasha had horrible starts to their childhoods and while Sasha, who has been in the closet most of his life due to his military and later law enforcement career, is trying to live life out in the open and meeting Seth makes him question whether he’s finally ready for something real and solid in his life, Seth isn’t in the closet, but is he ready for a relationship?
This was a wonderful story. I loved both Sasha and Seth, although Sasha is not the most likable character, I found his grumpiness to be endearing and he definitely seemed all bark and no bite. Seth was a sweetheart who I thought I had pegged from the beginning, what you see is what you get, but as the story progresses and I learned more about him, I discovered just how wrong I was about Seth.
Hearing their childhood stories made my heart break. I wanted to cuddle them both, but together they discover how great it can be to truly let someone in. They had amazing chemistry and were definitely hot in bed.
I loved the secondary characters, some of which I’ll definitely be checking their stories out and I’m looking I’m forward to Miguel and little Owen’s story(ies).
What I loved most about this story and what touched me the most was the side story of Owen and Theodore. As Seth investigates and discovers their history and what came to be of Owen, well, I sobbed like a baby. I had really hoped his story would turn out differently and although not a main character, Owen’s story will stay with me for some time to come.
This was a really enjoyable story. My only constructive criticism is perhaps the scene changes/jumps could have been less abrupt and a bit smoother, but this was a well-written story that had a bit of everything: History, laughter, heartbreak, friendship, family, romance and love. Very recommendable!!
*copy provided by author/publisher in exchange for an honest review*
As Sure as the Sun is Book 4 in Elle Keaton's Accidental Roots series. This book can be read as a standalone, though there are characters, couples and a storyline from previous books mentioned in this one. Sacha was in a previous book undercover so very little was known about him. We also met Seth previously, and a little of his story was shared as he was reunited with a brother he'd never met.
It was time for Sacha to make some changes in his life. He retired from his job at the US Marshalls, bought a building in Skagit, and decided to remodel it himself. In what became normal for Sacha, he fell off a ladder, which led him to meeting Seth. Both men are solitary but felt a connection upon their first meeting. Seth is interested in the building, Sacha is renovating and invites himself in to learn more about it. He's also intrigued by the big, silent, standoffish Sacha. Though Seth is solitary, he likes people and wants to be around them. Sacha on the other hand just wants everyone to leave him alone. But Sacha can't help but be drawn to Seth and to be intrigued by the history of his building. But, as has become normal for the men of Skagit, things are never that easy.
Sacha may have only been 39, but at heart, he was 1039! He really was the epitome of a grumpy old man, even if he was only 39. He didn't like to interact with others, was gruff, and always ready for life to bring him down. But, I liked him for some odd reason, even before I got his childhood story which was heartbreaking! I was excited to read Seth's story since his introduction in Book 1 and am so happy he's finally found love. Seth is a happy go lucky guy on the surface, but he had a rough childhood until his aunt saved him.
This book is different in the first three because there were no crimes, murders, or any of the such taking up the pages. And, though I enjoyed the first three books, it was nice to know that there was more to Skagit than criminals! But the author did bring some mystery into the story with the storyline of Owen and Theodore. Seth and Sacha searched until they found the answers that were hidden in the walls of their building and we got a delightful meeting with Owen's sister and nephew, characters I absolutely adored!
This is a series I definitely recommend you read! And, even though this book is a standalone, do yourself a favor and start from the beginning that way you can get the full enjoyment of getting to know the characters of Skagit, Washington. It may seem like a small, sleepy town but you'll never believe everything that's going on behind the scenes!
Rating: 4 stars
Author, photographer, rare Pacific Northwest Native, Elle grew up in Seattle, WA., with the Cascade Mountain range to the east and Olympics to the west. Less than two hours northwest lie the majestic San Juan Islands. To the northeast is the Methow Valley and the scrub deserts of Eastern Washington. Geography ripe with material.
A graduate of Western Washington University, Elle has a BS in biology which taught her to be tenacious. The closest she has come to biology since then is having two kids. Like an experiment or something. She’s lived in four states (none of which were gaseous), London England, and Hong Kong; always knows what time it is, and has no problem finding parking even in the most difficult places. Cannot balance a checking account.
Elle's series Accidental Roots, mostly set in the Skagit Valley of Western Washington, will make its debut spring of 2017. Storm Season is tender, sometimes irreverent, full of nosy neighbors and help when the hero didn’t think he needed it. Writing has always been a passion but not something she was able to take seriously until recently. Now her head is full of ideas and not enough time in each day.
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