Lenny's Bartenders Series by Katy Michele

Drew Thomas has worked hard to get to where she is. A new teacher trying to balance work and life, resisitng the urge to fall back into patterns of the past. She focuses most of her time on her students as she continues to find her groove during her second year of teaching. And, she finally feels like she's finding her way when someone uninvited turns her "happy place" into a reminder of the worst day of her life.Drew lives above Emmett Ryan, an older, newly-single bartender... moreDrew Thomas has worked hard to get to where she is. A new teacher trying to balance work and life, resisitng the urge to fall back into patterns of the past. She focuses most of her time on her students as she continues to find her groove during her second year of teaching. And, she finally feels like she's finding her way when someone uninvited turns her "happy place" into a reminder of the worst day of her life.Drew lives above Emmett Ryan, an older, newly-single bartender. After his bad breakup, Emmett's patience is low, and he's quick to anger, making him a hard neighbor to please. Emmett finds every possible excuse to let Drew know when she's bothering him, secretly liking the way their interactions fluster her.After a few months of trying to break through Emmett, Drew finally decides to give up, coming to the conclusion that he doesn't like her and never will. That is until Emmett comes across Drew in a time of need and shows her a side to him she never thought was there. Their relationship goes from neighbors to something more, their intense and passionate love blooming from an unspeakable tragedy and the shared understanding of what it means to recover in the aftermath of everything you thought you knew being ripped away. less

Mia Lane had a passion for photography and was obsessed with music—always finding the joy in the small moments. Now, she's just trying to keep her head above water.Mia has been living life by going through the motions for the past couple of years. After losing someone close to her, her world was turned upside down and the things she loved the most no longer bring her the joy they once did... moreMia Lane had a passion for photography and was obsessed with music—always finding the joy in the small moments. Now, she's just trying to keep her head above water.Mia has been living life by going through the motions for the past couple of years. After losing someone close to her, her world was turned upside down and the things she loved the most no longer bring her the joy they once did. Her older brother, Mateo, has been trying to help her heal, but he can't stand watching her give up parts of herself any longer. After a night out where he once again is called to Mia’s rescue, Mateo decides he's had enough and hires Mia as his band’s photographer.Eddie Ramirez, part-time bartender and drummer for a local rock band, knows how to put on a happy face—always making sure no one worries about him or the past that haunts him. He and the other band members of Cross My Heart were given strict instructions by their lead singer, Mateo Lane, to leave their new band photographer—his little sister—alone. But, when Eddie sees Mia, he's a goner.Knowing he would never betray his best friend, Eddie opts to be a friend to Mia, but it doesn’t take long for him to realize that she sees through his fake smiles and understands him in ways that no one else does.Finding solace in one another, a forbidden love blooms when neither one is looking, but it just so happens it could be exactly what each of them needs. less