Salty Pickle

The Pickle Cousins

by J.J. Knight

I’m headed to New York to confront the man I met on New Year's Eve eight months ago.
I had to bring my goat.
And...I’m eight months pregnant.

The man I’m meeting in his fancy New York office is the saltiest hunk of male beauty you never want to cross. He wouldn’t know a smile if you drew one on his face.

I slept with him on a dare. Yes, we used protection.

Faulty protection, apparently.

I was going to raise the baby in my Colorado yurt with my pet goat Matilda. My two best girlfriends were going to be the other moms, but their lives moved on.

I’m a yoga teacher with forty dollars to my name. I had to hitchhike to get here.

I didn't have a goat-sitter, so I’m loading Matilda onto the subway and headed to Wall Street.

It’s time to confront a salty baby daddy in a place called Pickle Media.
--
Salty Pickle is a salty-sunshine story between a city boy and a country girl who are thrown together with a newborn, a goat, and a goat baby, and more poop cleanup than should ever grace the pages of a romance novel, but here we are. It's part of the Top 100 Pickleverse of rom coms, but you do not need to read any of the other books before this one. You can start your wild adventure with the Pickle family right here.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Forced Proximity, Ebooks, Chick Lit, Amazon, Billionaire Romance

310 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 9, 2024

About the author

JJ Knight is the Kindle All-Star and USA Today bestselling author of romantic comedies and sports romance. She’s a fierce mama bear for all the humans under her care: biological, adopted, and those in need of mom hugs. Her books portray characters who learn to push through hardship to find love and belly laughs. For more information visit www.jjknight.com.

THE PICKLEVERSE OF BESTSELLING ROMANTIC COMEDIES:

- Big Pickle: Secret Boss
- Hot Pickle: Brother's Best Friend
- Spicy Pickle: Fake Engagement
- Second Chance Santa: Pickled Holiday Rom Com

- Royal Pickle: Marry a Prince in 7 Days
- Royal Rebel: Princess and Guard Secret Love
- Royal Escape: Secret Identity Princess

- Tasty Mango: Billionaire and Single Mom
- Tasty Pickle: Billionaire Opposites Attract
- Tasty Cherry: Boss and Intern

- Juicy Pickle: Stranded on an Island
- Salty Pickle: Surprise Baby
- Hold the Pickle: Unexpected Roommates

- Wicked Pickle: Bad Boy Biker Bar
- Tricky Pickle: MC Club

ROM COM DUETS:
- The Wedding Confession
- The Wedding Shake-up

- Single Dad on Top: Billionaire Surprise Dad
- Single Dad Plus One: Billionaire Secret Baby

ROM COM STANDALONE:

Not Exactly a Small-Town Romance: Sunshine-Sunshine Work Besties to Lovers

- The Accidental Harem: Yup, what it says. It's...a lot. I went nuts.

SPORTS ROMANCE SERIALS:
Grab individually or in boxed sets.

COLT AND JO
- Uncaged Love 1
- Uncaged Love 2
- Uncaged Love 3
- Uncaged Love 4
- Uncaged Love 5
- Uncaged Love 6

COLT'S FRIEND PARKER AND MADDIE
USA Today bestselling series
- Fight for Her 1
- Fight for Her 2
- Fight for Her 3
- Fight for Her 4

JO'S BROTHER HUDSON
- Reckless Attraction 1
- Reckless Attraction 2
- Reckless Attraction 3

Reviews

[Ꮗ€♫◗☿ ❤️ ilikebooksbest.com ❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

City boy, country girl!



The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 🖤💙💜❤️
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙📘📔
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌎
Character development: ☹️😋😘🥰

The heroine: Lucy - she was a yoga instructor who lived in Colorado when her two friends dared her to flirt with a handsome but grumpy man at a hotel bar one night. Eight months later, her two friends have left for greener pastures, and on doctors orders she can’t teach her yoga classes anymore because of problems with her pregnancy, so she packs up and heads to New York city to find the baby daddy with $40 in her pocket and her tiny goat named Matilda.

The Hero: Court - he has a master's degree and runs Pickle Media for his uncle Sherman. Though he recently found out that employee morale is at an all-time low. Nobody who works there likes it and if it wasn’t for how much they were paid, they would quit. As it is they are all looking for other jobs. He needs to turn things around and quickly. When a woman he once hooked up with shows up at his office, he agrees to see her but is dumbfounded when she comes in with a large pregnant belly. He immediately calculates how long ago they met, and it was eight months ago.

The story: Lucy is a naturalist, a vegetarian and lived off the grid in a yurt, she is a modern hippie who thinks that industrialized society is bad. She doesn’t have a phone and stayed with friends, who have since moved away, when it got too cold in Colorado. Court is a broody, gruff CEO in the financial district of New York city, who won’t believe the baby is his until a DNA test is performed. Though he decides that he can’t leave her alone in a strange city until the baby arrives, and the DNA test can be performed, so he rents her a place on a goat farm outside the city.

I really enjoyed this book, these two complete opposites getting to know each other was fun. I really liked Court, he was grouchy at the beginning, but he softened up pretty quickly and he really took care of Lucy and treated her like a fairy tale princess. He didn’t get along well with Matilda though, and that led to some pretty funny scenarios. I always like books where an animal is one of the main characters and provides some comic relief. J.J. Knight did well with that in this story and she wrote it like it was, not a blue-sky version of having a cute goat around. A goat is basically livestock, even if you put them in diapers sometimes, they had to get hay for the goat, deal with it pooping in places it shouldn’t and head-butting people it didn’t like. It made for an interesting story.

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[Regan · Rating 5 out of 5]

too cute

I’m usually not into stories with unusual animals because a lot of times they’re over the top. But even though the thought of a goat on a Manhattan subway train is a little bit unbelievable, it was cute. And Court became more likable once he got his head out of his rear and realized that he wanted to be with Lucy and Mathilda.
I enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to everyone.

[Kim (Chipperbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Salty Pickle- Court, Lucy and Matilda

Another pickle…
We read about Court’s brothers and cousins in other Pickle books and although interconnected, each is a standalone.

Court runs one of the Pickle businesses, Pickle Media. He wouldn’t say that he loves it, but he is doing what he thinks his family wants. It’s fine. He is accustomed to the CEO lifestyle of NY. So he is completely blindsided when Lucy shows up, at his office, 8 months pregnant, barefoot, with a goat. 🐐

Lucy is the definition of living off the grid. She has been living in a yurt, all natural products, all clean eating, no bathroom, etc. Her plans of raising her soon to be child have changed now that her friends up and left. Now she is alone and the last option is for her to find the baby’s father. So, Lucy heads to NY with Matilda, her goat.

Much like all the pickle books, this is totally for you if you need a fun, light read. Everyone needs this at some point. They are wacky fun, entertaining and funny and every single person is in fact, in a pickle 🥒. Lots of fun, lots of laughs.

[Whitney Weaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary:
Lucy is a crunchy granola earth mother heading into Manhattan to reconnect with a one night stand from 8 months ago—and she’s 8 months pregnant. Court is an uptight CEO who couldn’t be more opposite of Lucy, but he can’t just turn her—or her goat—away. How will these opposites navigate getting to know each other beyond just one night, and prepare for this baby together?


Title: Salty Pickle
Author: J.J. Knight
@deannaroyauthor
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
Spice: 🌶️ 1/5


Tropes:
Dual POV
Grumpy/Sunshine
One Night Stand
Pregnant FMC

Triggers:
Random goats
Pregnancy



Whitney’s Thoughts:
Listen. I laughed at this title, and then I thought, why not give it a try? And it’s a really sweet romance. Suspend your disbelief with the goat and go along for the ride. It was a sweet story with some good tension that helped me ignore the world for a little while.

[AroundtheBookBend · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun, hilarious read

Matilda made me get this, and I have no regrets. She had me laughing so many times. And Lucy too. I loved her energy and how kind she was. Court had a wonderful character arc.

It was a short read, but perfect for something light hearted. If you need something low angst after a heavy angst read, this is perfect.

[Aimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Court is the brother of Rhett who we met in Juicy Pickle. Court lives in NYC and had a one-night stand with Lucy, who is forced to come to NYC with Matilda the goat after 8 months of incubating the result of their one night. Mayhem and insanity ensue with a HEA.

[Claudia, Cmarie927 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Court, Lucy, and a goat!

As with every other book in the Pickle universe, this is a very entertaining and engaging story.

I always enjoy reading this author's creativity with all the extended Pickle family.

Court is a grumpy guy (for no good reason), until his off-the-grid living, vegetarian, goat cheese maker, of the one night stand variety, shows up at his office in New York.
Oh, and she's 8 months pregnant, with his kid.

Exactly what he does not want. But being a good Pickle is important (even though he is an Armstrong) and disapointing Uncle Sherman isn't an option.

This is very entertaining from beginning to end, and I recommend this author and this series. Ideally, you would have already consumed the first Pickle universe series, so that this makes sense.

I cannot wait for my next read from this talented author!!

[Katie · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 14%. I can’t take a super grumpy, high-powered media tycoon seriously when his last name is Pickle and we keep making pickle jokes. Plus, she’s a vegan in a yurt who teaches yoga and hasn’t seen an OB yet? Thanks, I hate it. It’s every stereotype in a trench coat. I quit.

[Sue Galuska · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucille Marie Brown is a woman who lives a very simple life. Eight months ago Lucy met a guy on New Year's Eve and rang in the New Year with a night she'd never forget. Soon after Lucy's fun night she realizes that she is pregnant, even though they used protection. Her best friends April and Summer both said they'd help her raise the baby in Colorado where they all live but when life changes, Lucy finds herself alone, pregnant and also taking care of her 2 year old goat Matilda. With very little money to her name, Lucy decides to head to New York City to look up the baby's daddy.....Court Julian Armstrong, CEO of Pickle Media.

The first meeting Lucy has with Court is hysterical. After everything settles down, Court agrees to help Lucy get settled until the baby is born and they can do a paternity test to see if the baby is really his. Of course the more time Lucy, Court and Matilda spend together, the more feelings start to get involved along with such fun times and before you know they are forming their own new family. Just when it looks like everything is going to end up with a happy ending, outside forces come crashing in and blow everything up. It will take some looking deep inside to decide on the type of life Lucy and Court both want but in the end they get their perfect happy ever after.

I freaking love the Pickle world that this author has created. These stories are fun, flirty and have the best banter going. Never thought I'd read a book that had the line..."What the hell? It's raining sh*t?" Lucy and Court are two wonderful characters and the story they go on is perfection. Get this book, you will not be sorry!



Grandma BeeBee

[Tammy Moldovan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, hilarity and forever

I loved, loved this grumpy sunshine, opposites attract, accidental pregnancy, romance with the side of insanity. This romcom had the perfect balance of hilarity, heart, spice, real life issues, and painful pasts. Lucy and Court are portrayed as real, relatable people who have flaws, but are really just trying to do their best as messy humans. They are both such wounded souls that need love and healing. It is the vulnerable humanness of the main characters that take this book from a simple romcom to a complex story filled with deep emotions and make it so easy to connect to the story and Lucy and Court on a visceral level. Lucy is 8 months pregnant. She lives in Colorado in a yurt and supports herself with yoga and sales of goat cheese and soap. When her pregnancy requires she stop teaching yoga, she travels to NYC with her goat in tow to see the father of her baby. Court is a Pickle cousin who is the current CEO at Pickle Media. He leads a carefully ordered and structured unhappy life and the poor moral at his company reflects that. What follows Lucy showing up in Court’s office barefoot and pregnant toting a goat, is a wonderful journey of baggage unpacking, inner voice finding, fear facing, leaks of faith, and life course correction. This swoony, heartwarming and well written story included engaging dialogue, three dimensional characters who grow, and a captivating storyline. I am happy to read more stories in the Pickle universe. 4.5 stars.

[Sunny Shelly Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Salty Pickle is a hilarious standalone romcom set in JJ Knight's Pickleverse. Court Armstrong is a cousin of the OG Pickle brothers, and the boss at Uncle Sherman's media outpost, Pickle Media. Eight months ago, on New Years Eve, Court spent a rather entertaining 90 minutes with Lucy Brown — and now, with $40 to her name and out of options, she has come to New York City to track down her babydaddy. With her goat Matilda in tow.

These two characters are as different as can be, but they work so well together. Their first meeting is hysterical. Court is completely blindsided by the arrival of Lucy and Matilda, and isn't sure that he is actually her baby's father. Still, Court agrees to find Lucy a place to stay until she has the baby and they can do a paternity test. As the two (well, three!) of them spend time together during the last few weeks of Lucy's pregnancy, Court and Lucy really get to know each other. I really enjoyed the progression of their friendship-turned-romance. But just when everything seems to be on the right track, Court and Lucy have a bl0w-out fight. Will they be able to patch it up before it's too late?

Like the rest of the books in the Pickleverse, this book is so fun. JJ Knight delivers another hysterical story.

I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.

[BookAddict · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the JJ Knight I’ve come to know and love, and I devoured this one quickly, laughing my way through it. No one does oopsie parents quite like this talented storyteller, an Lucy and Court quickly won my heart.

It all starts at a New Year’s Eve party at the Castle Hotel in Colorado. Court is there with the rest of the Pickle clan, but he takes time out of his uptight corporate existence to share a blissful dalliance with a woman who is his complete opposite.

Fast forward eight months, and Lucy has braved her way across the country to show up at Court's office – with her miniature goat, Matilda – to inform Court he’s going to be a father. In a month. To say Mr. Grumpy CEO is blindsided is a gross understatement.

But the more time he spends with the free-loving nature girl, the more he finds himself smiling. And even laughing. The more he warms to the idea of parenthood. And the more he becomes somewhat friendly with a goat.

While this is full of laughs and some comical vegetarian talking points, it also has a good dose of heat and tons of heart. I love how two opposites find a way to work together while bringing out the best in each other. Charming, funny, and heartfelt, this low-angst read is just the thing to put you in a feel-good mood, so don’t miss it!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucy lives and extremely simple life in Colorado. A chance meeting and one night stand on New Years Eve with Court, it leaves her pregnant. Planning to continue her simple life and raise the baby with her two best friends, Lucy doesn't feel the need to find and let the father know. Fast forward and at eight months pregnant, Lucy finds herself alone after her two friends leave to follow their dreams. Lucy decides that she needs to find the baby's father after all. Packing up her goat Matilda, she travels across country to New York with very limited information, she finds Court through his company and shows up with her goat in tow. Everything that follows during this initial meeting is one funny and embarrassing moment after another, especially with a goat involved.
Unsure if he believes that the baby is his, Court decides to help Lucy until the baby is born and they can do a paternity test. However, the timing is correct and he suspects that he already knows the truth. Through the next couple weeks waiting for the baby's arrival the two grow closer and through ups and downs a relationship starts to form, but they are two very different people so there are definitely challenges along the way.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

JJ Knight has done it again! salty Pickle had my attention from the very first sentence. This book is about a New Year’s Eve fling between Court Armstrong and Lucy Brown. Little did they both know something came from that one night stand. Lucy finds her self in a subway 8 months pregnant and her goat Matilda. Yes you read that right she brought a goat on the subway in New York. The way these relationship grows is so heart warming. If you wanna find out what happens with a goat in New York then you must read Saltg Pickle!! You won’t be disappointed after reading this book. I think my two favorite parts of this book was when Matilda head butted Court in the family jewels. And when Court went through the drive through to get Lucy food and a milkshake he asks for a handful of loose lettuce for the goat in the car. And when he got to the window the women goes you really do have a goat in the car. I would have loved to see the face on that women. lol 😂

[N.D. Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best way to describe Salty Pickle is a dang good time! It’s funny, especially the first half of the story. A goat on a subway. A barefoot pregnant lady showing up at a corporate office. And napping. Lots and lots of napping.
Lucy and Court aren’t just a funny grumpy sunshine twosome but they couldn’t be more different if they tried. He’s all bottled up emotions and order and tidiness. She’s a big ol’ hot mess who wears her emotions like a pair of vegan leather sneakers, she’s messy and complicated and bursting with emotions.
They shouldn’t work but watching exactly why they work is so much fun. Try being mad at a pregnant chick who charms everyone she meets just by being herself. You can’t. Court tried and he couldn’t do it. Watching this hard as steel man melt at her feet was a hilarious swoonworthy adventure that took us all over New York with a goat who eats pretty much everything in sight.
I always love a JJ Knight romance and this one was another fun romance read.

[Mary Mooney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucy is sweet and Court is salty. Matlida is a goat. Three things that make this story fun, are a little sad, happy, sweet, and salty.
Lucy and Court met on New Year's Eve and had a great time together. Eight months later Lucy shows up at Cout's office eight months pregnant and with a goat. She claims the baby is Court's.
This story takes Lucy and Court in the last month of Lucy's pregnancy. They shop for baby supplies and try to figure out how to hide Matilda in Court's apartment.
This story is so great, it falls in line with the Pickle series, they are all fun-loving. So you take a pregnant woman, a salty man, and Matilda the goat: you get Salty Pickle. I have enjoyed all of the laughter and fun that Lucy and Court went through and I enjoyed their story. I highly recommend this story and the whole Pickle series.

[Tracie Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens when a grumpy, salty man meets a stunning down to earth vegetarian on New Years Eve? A recipe for an amazing story. Eight months ago Lucy meets a guy and has a one night stand. Now eight months later after her friends up and start lives of their own shes off to New York to find her baby daddy and shes bringing her adorable goat Matilda with her.
When she arrives at Pickle Media is just how she remembered only was he really this salty. She has no where else to go so Court helps her by finding her a place to stay and taking care of things till the baby is born and they can do a paternity test. Only as the month goes by so does the growing feelings they both start to have for eachother. Can their totally different lifestyles mesh to build a family of 3 with Matilda? OMG read and find out. This book was so cute. You will love it.

[Laura Caswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Salty Pickle is Court Armstrong's story in JJ Knight's Pickleverse, and you are going to love it! Court and Lucy met in Colorado on New Year's Eve and had a great time after the party. All it took was about 90 minutes to change their lives forever! But Court didn't know about his life-changing status for about 8 more months, when Lucy showed up in Manhattan with her goat to tell him he was going to be a father.

This story is hilarious and heart-wrenching at the same time. Can you imagine a goat in Manhattan? One that has to poop off the balcony? Can you imagine leaving the father behind, even though you have developed strong feelings for him?

This story will warm your heart and give you hope for true love. JJ Knight does it again! 10/10 - highly recommend!

[Bella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun reading.. why not 5 stars bcz there was too much Matilda Matilda (goat) which in the beginning was funny then it irritated me. Lack of FMC and MMC chemistry. To me it seems FMC just wanted the MMC bcz her friends left her and she couldn't work in last trimester of pregnancy and she wanted support for the baby. She has been portrayed as independent and she could earn money with goat milk by making cheese and soap.I found FMC bit selfish bcz for her MMC changed his life routine and space for his new family.A/c to me it was only fair if both lead characters could have compromised to adjust. Ending was bit fast pace and suddenly with lead characters' family.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was adorable. Matilda the goat was hilarious, and I loved how respectful Court and Lucy were of each other's beliefs/likes/dislikes. The only thing that struck me as really odd is how Lucy went straight for the hospital and the epidural when she went into labor. Given her beliefs, I would have expected a homebirth or at minimum a midwife at a birthing center.

Heat index: Surprisingly tame given the title. One or two somewhat vague sex scenes and some sexy thoughts/talk.

Profanity meter: intermittent harsh profanity.

[Loeta F Cardwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still addicted to pickles

Salty pickle popped up in my must read list so I purchased it and read it in one day. I couldn't put it down.

J J Knight 'Pickle series' have captured my heart and tickled my funny bone. I've enjoyed every one I've read and Salty Pickle didn't disappoint me. In a world turned upside down by idiots its a refreshing pause to read one of her books. Grab one today. They will make you laugh out loud and give you an escape path. Filled with characters you will come to love ill be surprised if you don't enjoy the characters she brings to life.

[Rhianon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall this was a fun, cute read. I was shocked that Lucy at 8 months pregnant hitchhiked from Colorado to NYC, but she was desperate. Court made an immediate impression as a jerk, but he warms up. The chaos Matilda the goat caused was great comedic relief.

Lucy's behavior at the end of the book was frustrating. She forgives too easily in my opinion and doesn't handle her argument with Court well. Then again, she's ready to pop any day so she probably isn't thinking as rationally as she might when she's not pregnant.

The story seemed to sprint to the end after about 77%.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh how I love this Picklish World!!! JJ Knight, you are so talented giving us these fantastic, silly, heartwarming stories!

From the very start, I was addicted to this salty CEO Bossman and very pregnant sunshine girl, and let’s not forget Matilda, the goat too!
This very, very slow burn captured my attention and held it until the very last page. I absolutely loved watching this one spontaneous decision on New Year’s night turn into something everlasting. Oh my heart ❤️🥰

I really hope to see more of these characters in upcoming picklish stories!

[Terri Zumbrook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Romantic

SALTY PICKLE is a classic grumpy sunshine romance. The real treat is the secret baby part as the story begins with 8 months pregnant Lucy hitchhiking from Colorado to Manhattan where the father lives.

I really enjoyed the development of the relationship and the look at Lucy’s interesting view of the world. Even better is how Court steps up from the start, surprising all around him and himself.

[Sammi Dyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Salty Pickle written by JJ knight is the newest pickle book in the ever growing pickleverse. This is a salty yet sweet romance with pure craziness that turns into a sweet romance from the most unlikely couple possible. Which just proves opposite do attract.
The pickle books are all stand alone yet once you start you will want to read them all. They are seriously the best romcom. Pickle-licious romance at its best!!

[Dana zamora]

Naturalist Lucy and concrete jungle Court met at a New Years Eve party and their sparks were better than fourth of July's, but just a one time thing or so they thought when she showed up at his office with Matilda in tow, who promptly put him on his butt with a head butt, ohhhhh and she's a goat, simply beautiful watching them trying to figure each other out, what will work, is the baby his, well duh, another phenomenal addition to the Pickle family, thank you, Dana Zamora

[Misty Whitaker · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too ridiculous to finish.

The artistic license was great with this story. There is no way these two people would ever get together, even for one night. If she is so devoted to her lifestyle, she would not be attracted to or spend time with a man as urbane as Court. And in no real world would Court completely give up everything he has and his source of income for a glorified hick without proof the child was his. I got 80% and DNF. Just too ridiculous and juvenile.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like how Court was so unaccustomed to anything but his own views that having Lucy (and her goat) unexpectedly show up at his business threw him into a tailspin. And her views of life, living, and happiness were so completely at odds that he needed to stop and think about what was really important.

[Shirley Monas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny and heartwarming

This book was an easy read and it was funny and heartwarming. One night stand ends up with the FMC pregnant and the two couldn’t be more different. Opposites attract in this one. I enjoyed the banter and I liked the FMC more than the MMC in this one, which is usually not the case in romance books.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute!

This book was on the edge of not entirely convincing for me (a goat in Manhattan?) but as the story progressed it grew on me. Watching Court come to grips with the surprise arrival of Lucy - his New Years Eve one night stand (who is pregnant and a vegetarian and brings her goat) was certainly entertaining.