Series: Southern Series

?Southern Sunshine by Natasha Madison/At First Hate by K.A Linde

Posted on September 7, 2021 by Nadene @ Totally Addicted to Reading in Reviews / 14 Comments

?Southern Sunshine by Natasha Madison/At First Hate by K.A Linde

?Southern Sunshine by Natasha Madison is the eighth book in the Southern series. Each of the books in the series works well as a stand-alone. Having enjoyed the series in the past, I looked forward to slipping back into this world and visiting with the characters both old and new. 

?Southern Sunshine by Natasha Madison/At First Hate by K.A LindeTitle: Southern Sunshine
Author(s): Natasha Madison
Series: Southern Series #8
Also in this series: Southern Chance , Southern Comfort , Southern Storm , Southern Sunrise , Southern Heart , Southern Heat , Southern Secrets
Published by Self-published on September 7, 2021
Pages: 190
Genre(s): Contemporary Romance
Source: Wildfire Marketing Solutions
Format: eBook
Goodreads
Purchase: Amazon|B&N|Kobo|Audible|ITunes
Rating: One StarOne StarOne StarOne Star
Series Rating: One StarOne StarOne StarOne Star
Heat Level: One FlameOne FlameOne FlameOne Flame

Reed
I never wanted to be a cowboy, living in a small town was suffocating.
The military was my out.
I saw every place I ever wanted and everything that nightmares are made of.
Until I almost lost my life and then I ended up back home.

Hazel
Finding out that I was pregnant the night before I left for college changed everything.
I left that small town and vowed to never return.
When my grandfather died, I had no choice but to go back home.
The plan was just for two weeks.
I thought it would be quick and easy, until he was standing at the back door asking questions.

Secrets never stay secrets for long in this town.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.

This book may be unsuitable for people under 17 years of age due to its use of sexual content, drug and alcohol use, and/or violence.

Release Date: September 7

?Southern Sunshine gave us Reed and Hazel’s story. Tired of living in his father and big brother’s shadow, Reed left home to join the military. However, before he left, he spent a night of passion with Hazel, his best friend and crush. Reed had no intention of returning home. However, a terrible accident six years later forced him to return to the place he tried escaping. Itching to get back out in the field, he silently counted down the days when his medical leave would expire. Fate, however, had other plans. 

Hazel’s life changed forever after the night she spent with Reed. Her plans for college may have been derailed, but with the help of her beloved grandfather, she  completed her studies, became a CPA while single-handedly raising her daughter. Like Reed, Hazel had no plans to return home. However, with news of her grandfather’s death  she had no choice but to go back to the very town where her heart had been broken.

Madison did a great job with the surprise baby trope. Initially, it seemed Hazel deliberately kept Reed in the dark about their daughter, but as the  story developed, the reason for his lack of knowledge in this regard came to light. His insecurities played a major role in him not knowing about his child.

Hazel and Reed’s emotionally charged reunion will tug on your heart. Their chemistry and connection could not be denied. However, the  scene where Reed discovered he had a child packed the greatest emotional punch. He harbored no reservations and fully embraced his role as a father. This recent discovery brought new meaning to his life, and for once, he didn’t feel the need to run from his past.

The slow burn romance fit well into the story. Their feelings for each other may not have diminished despite the loss of contact. However, they didn’t immediately pick up where they left off. It took them sometime to trust their feelings, knowing they had major decisions to make. 

Conclusions/Recommendations

Returning to the Southern series  proved to be a delightful experience. If you love second chance romance, then ?Southern Sunshine would make a great addition to your reading list. I recommend the Southern Series without reservation.  

Story Evaluation
Characters
4
World Building
4
Writing Style
4
Pacing
3.5
Cover
4
Enjoyment
4
Ending
4
Overall: One StarOne StarOne StarOne Star

 
 
 
 
?Southern sunshine
 
[bctt tweet=”Southern Sunshine by Natasha Madison delivered an emotional, small town second chance slow burn romance, that will keep readers entertained from start to finish. #newrelease #southernseries #romance #secondchance” username=”TtlyAdd2Reading”]
 
 
?Southern Sunshine by Natasha Madison/At First Hate by K.A LindeTitle: At First Hate
Author(s): K.A. Linde
Series: Coastal Chronicles #2
Also in this series: Hold the Forevers, Second to None , Wait for Always
Published by K.A. Linde Inc. on September 7, 2021
Pages: 296
Genre(s): Contemporary Romance
Source: Wildfire Marketing Solutions
Format: eArc
Goodreads
Purchase: Amazon|B&N|Kobo|Audible|ITunes
Rating: One StarOne StarOne StarOne Star
Series Rating: One StarOne StarOne StarOne Star
Heat Level: One FlameOne FlameOne FlameOne Flame

A new stand alone enemies-to-lovers romance from USA Today bestselling author K.A. Linde…
Derek Ballentine and I have always been on opposite sides of everything.
I went to a public Savannah high school. He went to a private Catholic school. I went to Duke on scholarship. He went to UNC as a legacy. When we both end up at Harvard for graduate school and we’re finally on a level playing field, I think it’s all going to change.
I was wrong.
The only thing that changed was ending up in his bed.
Now my grandma has passed away, and Derek is the attorney helping the people trying to steal her legacy. I’ll do anything to stop that from happening. Even take on my lifetime enemy.
I hate him at first sight…but I also want him at first hate.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.

Release Date: September 7
 

At First Hate by K. A Linde is the second book in the Coastal Chronicles series. I had a good time with  book one Hold The Forevers, and so I was pleased to learn the author was giving her fans another book in the series.

 

I am always on the lookout for an enemies to lovers romance and Linde delivered with At First Hate. This installment gives us Derek and Marley’s’ story. They both come from different worlds. He came from money, while she lived a simple life. Their love hate relationship started from high school and spilled over into their adult years.

The story, told mainly from Marley’s POV, moved between the past and the present, giving readers a look into how their relationship began and its development over the next fifteen years. Their chemistry leapt from the pages, but they never could get it right. Derek’s immaturity and Marley’s fears  played a huge part in their many attempts of getting it right. At the point when all seems it may go well, they mess it up. Derek with his hurtful actions and Marley with her lack of trust. Talk a bout a rollercoaster of emotions. Despite the push and pull, the makeup and the break-ups, they clearly loved each other and one could not help but root for them.

The story featured an array of secondary characters, some of whom appeared in the previous book in the series. However, no need to read the previous book to enjoy this one, as it works well as a standalone. Cameo appearances were made by characters from the Seasons series. Readers will adore Marley’s relationship with her grandmother and the bond she shared with her twin brother. Her mother, on the other hand, was a disaster waiting to happen, and that’s the diplomatic description.

Conclusion /Recommendation

At First Hate delivered a passionate and angsty romance, which fans of enemies to lovers trope will enjoy.

 
Story Evaluation
Plot
4
Characters
4
World Building
3.5
Writing Style
4
Pacing
4
Cover
4
Enjoyment
4
Ending
4.5
Overall: One StarOne StarOne StarOne Star
 
 
[bctt tweet=”Fans of passionate and angsty romance will love K A Linde’s At First Hate, the second book in the Coastal Chronicles series. #newrelease #enemiestolovers #romance” username=”TtlyAdd2Reading”]
 
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About K.A. Linde

K.A. Linde is the USA Today bestselling author of the Avoiding Series, Wrights, and more than thirty other novels. She has a Masters degree in political science from the University of Georgia, was the head campaign worker for the 2012 presidential campaign at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and served as the head coach of the Duke University dance team. She loves reading fantasy novels, binge-watching Supernatural, traveling, and dancing in her spare time. She currently lives in Lubbock, Texas, with her husband and two super-adorable puppies.

Visit her online at

About Natasha Madison

When her nose isn’t buried in a book, or her fingers flying across a keyboard writing, she’s in the kitchen creating gourmet meals. You can find her, in four inch heels no less, in the car chauffeuring kids, or possibly with her husband scheduling his business trips. It’s a good thing her characters do what she says, because even her Labrador doesn’t listen to her…

Nadene @ Totally Addicted to Reading

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