Spring Me Ahead (Love by the Seasons #3)

Given his history with addiction and the pain it brought to the people he loves most, Wyatt Clayton has convinced himself he is thoroughly undeserving of anything resembling a normal life. He works endlessly in his wood shop, he checks in with his grandparents to spare them from needless worrying, and he keeps his head down, avoiding any real connection to his tight-knit Midwestern hometown of Bloomsburo as he continues the daily work of recovery. That’s it.

When Esme Garcia arrives in Bloomsburo for a brief stint as a traveling medical professional, her goals are simple: to strengthen her therapy skills and to prove that she can, in fact, survive outside the deep ties of her extended family in New Mexico. Though she feels well-prepared for any professional hurdle that may come along, she has little by way of defense against the likes of surly and sexy Wyatt Clayton. His raw, untapped sexual energy, mixed with his seeming ability to read her mind, leaves Esme more vulnerable — and more hungry — than she’d known herself capable of being.

When her mother shows up unexpectedly in Bloomsburo, ready to meet the boyfriend Esme made up (who may or may not bear an uncanny resemblance to a certain aloof woodworker) Esme realizes she’s in deeper than she could ever admit. Though she tries her hardest to resist, there’s something about Bloomsburo’s moody recluse that reaches right in to fan her lady flames and grab her reluctant heart.

Jess Vonn’s books are perfect for audiences who enjoy quirky small towns, smart and occasionally sassy heroines, sexy and sarcastic heroes, serious heat between the sheets, and happily ever afters all around. Rated '3/5 - Open door' for steam/spice/heat level.