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James "Iceman" Bracelyn is wound tighter than a vintage Rolex. Besides his CEO role at Ponderosa Resort, he's guardian of the family's biggest secrets, including a doozy that keeps him up at night. Alone. In that big bed he'd rather not share, thank you very much.

That's fine with Lily Archer, who likes her flings flaming hot and fleeting. Her man-eater rep might be slightly exaggerated, but she'll gladly dial it up to rescue James from himself—and a bottle of Glenlivit—at his brother's wedding.

Intimacy's the last thing either one wants, but it's tough to dodge when they're drawn together by the world's drooliest dog, a TPing escapade gone wrong, and a good old-fashioned desktop hookup. That's problematic for James, whose ability to hide the family's riskiest secret is complicated by the secret's refusal to get the hell out of his guest room.

Can Iceman keep his frigid shell intact while falling for the hottest science geek sex goddess he's ever met, or will the ticking time bomb blow it all to smithereens?

248 pages, ebook

First published June 14, 2019

1418 people are currently reading
1227 people want to read

About the author

Tawna Fenske

74 books1,617 followers
When Tawna Fenske finished her English lit degree at 22, she celebrated by filling a giant trash bag full of romance novels and dragging it everywhere until she’d read them all. Now she’s a RITA Award finalist, USA Today bestselling author who writes humorous fiction, risqué romance, and heartwarming love stories with a quirky twist. Publishers Weekly has praised Tawna’s offbeat romances with multiple starred reviews and noted, “There’s something wonderfully relaxing about being immersed in a story filled with over-the-top characters in undeniably relatable situations. Heartache and humor go hand in hand.”

Tawna lives in Bend, Oregon, with her husband, step-kids, and a menagerie of ill-behaved pets. She loves hiking, snowshoeing, standup paddleboarding, and inventing excuses to sip wine on her back porch. She can peel a banana with her toes and loses an average of twenty pairs of eyeglasses per year. To find out more about Tawna and her books, visit www.tawnafenske.com.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 180 reviews
Profile Image for Carol [Goodreads Addict].
3,070 reviews25.3k followers
March 2, 2024
Stiff Suit is book five in the Ponderosa Resort Romantic Comedies series by Tawna Fenske. This series is in the rom-com genre. But in truth, this book is so different than the rest. There are SO MANY big reveals in this one! Things I can’t say anything about or it would spoil the book. So I felt this one had a completely different feel to it but I loved it just as much as the others. This is Lily and James’s book!



James (the Iceman) Bracelyn is the oldest of the Bracelyn siblings. He is the lawyer of the family. In the previous books, we saw that James has held so many secrets about this siblings until things were revealed on their own. But we truthfully have no idea of the vault of secrets living in James’s head and heart. In his own way, James is trying to protect everyone. To protect them from having to deal with the truths he holds. But believe me when I say, those secrets aren’t going to stay hidden forever. And when they find their way into the light of day, no one could have prepared for the upheaval it all causes.



Lily Archer is a scientist, and also Bree’s close friend. Both Lily and James are against finding love. While they appreciate watching their friends/siblings fall in love, both accept that it’s never going to happen for them. That it’s not what they want. But, when Lily saves James from a very potentially embarrassing night, they both sense something in the other, something they can’t ignore, something they want more of.



I have loved this series from the start. But wow, this one was packed full. I just have no idea where Tawna will take us from here. The next book in the series is a novella, book six, Mancandy Crush. The characters are some I haven’t met yet so I’m excited to get going.

For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...

Profile Image for DJ Sakata.
3,312 reviews1,779 followers
June 15, 2019
Favorite Quotes:

When footsteps click closer, I freeze like a pervert shoplifting in a porn shop.

Come to think of it, there’s not much warmth in the whole Bracelyn family tree. Just endless rows of icicle-covered branches.

Things are so far from what I expected that I can’t even remember my expectations anymore.

James Bracelyn is sealed up tighter than a clam with lockjaw.


My Review:

I have enjoyed every book in this cleverly amusing series that I’ve had the chance to pick up. I adored these characters, they were smart and endearing and given to smirk-worthy banter and wordplay that snapped with irreverent levity and sizzle while their storylines were engaging and quickly paced with a few extra spicy bits and unexpected twists. All of which were expertly combined to result in an entertaining, effortless, and pleasurable reading experience that left me smiling with satisfaction and looking forward to the next installment.
Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews130 followers
Want to read
May 4, 2022
🎁 FREE on Amazon & on iBooks today (3/11/2020)! 🎁
Profile Image for Simply Love Book Reviews.
7,046 reviews870 followers
June 14, 2019



4.5 stars

Two things I love in books are strong heroines and character growth and Stiff Suit by Tawna Fenske has both in spades. I also love when characters have “rules” about relationships and they meet the person that makes them break all of them. Filled with so much humor, emotion, and spectacular sexy times, Stiff Suit was a joy to read.

All his life James Bracelyn has taken care of his family and kept more secrets for his father than he ever wanted to. Buttoned up and cold as ice according to his siblings and friend, James never cuts loose until his brother’s wedding where he meets Lily Archer who intrigues him like no woman ever has in his life. Bold, brash, but more importantly smart and funny James is hooked and soon agrees to Lily’s terms of being friends with benefits.

I loved these two together because not only did they get one another on a sexual level, but on a cerebral and emotional level as well. Watching James open up and share things with Lily he hadn’t shared with anyone else, seeing him actually need her, and feel better when she was around proved that he was capable of having a relationship and desired intimacy. Lily made James want things he never thought he did, and she helped him to loosen up and enjoy life. Lily was determined she didn’t need a man in her life and owned her sexuality, but James showed her it was okay to want more in life and just because she could do everything on her own didn’t mean she had to. The changes in them were subtle but it said so much about the relationship they were building.

There were a couple of big surprises for the Bracelyn family and I’m curious to see how these changes will play out and as always it was entertaining seeing all of the Bracelyn siblings figuring out how to be a family.

Fun and flirty, but also sexy and emotional, Stiff Suit is another winner from author Tawna Fenske.
Profile Image for Nicole ReadingBetweenTheSheets.
934 reviews41 followers
May 15, 2019
Author Tawna Fenske takes romantic comedy to a whole new level with Stiff Suit, the 5th book in the Ponderosa Resort Romantic Comedies series!!! I haven’t laughed this hard while reading a book in forever…I mean literal Laugh Out Loud…tears flowing…people looking at me strangely…snort-laughing! This 2 person POV romance wraps up the series with a couple of incredible, mind-slapping twists! The characters in this whole series have been fantastic and they carry into this book as well…

James “iceman” Bracelyn…Mr. serious, quiet-yet-could-talk-you-into-things, lawyer, I-am-not-ever-falling-in-love, Stick-up-his-a$$, major secret holder, oldest of the Bracelyn children.

Some secrets you don’t put in writing.
Some secrets you share with no one.
Some secrets you swear on all that’s holy you will take to you goddamned grave.


Lily Archer…Ms. I will have sex with whomever I want and you better not say anything about it, I don’t do relationships, I will never fall in love, super-smart volcanologist, Man-eater, beauty.

If you find yourself reflecting on the value of not judging someone based on how they look or what secrets they’re guarding or how they behave in stressful moments…


Author Tawna Fenske has an amazing ability to keep your book in your hand and make you block out the rest of the world! There are so many memorable scenes in this book! Once I started Stiff Suit I was on a one-way train! With the combination of the humor, flow, love, heartbreak, heat, shock-factor…there was no way I was putting this one down! I wish I could give it more than 5 stars! Abso-freaking-lutely LOVE and recommend this book!!!! This series has been one of my favorite overall series…and even though you “could” read any of them as kind of a standalone…DON’T!! There is a continuing storyline throughout this series and you will enjoy them more if you read from the start.
Profile Image for Beth C..
648 reviews62 followers
May 28, 2019
I love this series so much, and I have to admit, I’ve been champing at the bit to get my hands on Stiff Suit. I certainly expected a lot from the oldest Bracelyn sibling, James . . . and he didn’t disappoint.

Stiff Suit is another charming, flirty and (mostly) angst-free installment in the Ponderosa Resort series. It’s so, so easy to read—I dove in head first and pretty much didn’t surface until all was said and done—and was exactly the kind of feel good rom-com I love to read. After all, I read to escape and where better to escape to than the arms of a starched-but-caring suit and a brazen-but-kind beauty?

Like me, readers of Ms. Fenske won’t be disappointed by the sometimes hilarious, sometimes scorching hot, sometimes heartache-y story of James and Lily. New readers will find this a good place to jump in (though I personally think starting at the beginning of this series would be wise, Stiff Suit is definitely readable as a standalone), and will likely ended up completely smitten with the dysfunctional, lovable Bracelyn gang.

As we head into the long, hot summer, I highly recommend adding Stiff Suit to your TBR—it has all the hallmarks of a summery read that’s sure to make your heart smile. (It also has a small set-up for Jonathan’s book and yep, now I’m champing at the bit for that one, LOL.)
Profile Image for Aly.
2,939 reviews86 followers
May 3, 2020
3.75

I like the premise of the series. Half-siblings, all from different mothers, turning their late father's ranch into a luxury resort. There's a little something soap-opera about it but it's not a bad thing in this case. There's a good mix of humor, romance and serious stuff.

Lily and James have friends and relatives in common and one of her friend is getting married to one of his brother. She have a man-eater reputation because she doesn't want to commit to a relationship. James used to be a lawyer and that's where he got the nickname of Iceman (for showing no emotions). When they agree on a fling, Lily and James will both prove that they are more than their reputation and that love can be anywhere, even where you're not searching for.

It's my second time reading a Tawna Fenske's book but my first one in this series. I had no trouble following the story but I wonder if I could have more understanding on why the hero kept all those secrets if I had read the previous ones. Because it's some pretty big secrets to keep from siblings. And I think that things happens just a little too fast, but I can't say I didn't fun reading this story and I especially like the antiquity things.
Profile Image for Joan.
2,209 reviews
April 3, 2020
I was wrong. I admit it. I expected this to end up being more about the sex than a relationship. I nearly stopped reading at 30% but i carried on. and I am so glad I did!

This was a lovely story with engaging characters and more than enough conflict and tension to keep the story going. I loved both main characters - Lily was fun and believable and James was a decent guy through and through. And SO good to have a woman whose idea of a good career isn't baking cupcakes or running a cafe!

Five stars. A fun read with the right sort of humour and a great bunch of characters.
Profile Image for Kait Nolan.
Author 165 books1,370 followers
July 17, 2019
I never imagined that James "Iceman" would be my favorite Bracelyn, but he totally is. Lily is absolutely his perfect match and this is such a fantastic portrait of the whole family. Another absolute winner! Two thumbs up and a double squee cannon salute!
Profile Image for Jenn (YeahOrNeighReviews).
1,857 reviews46 followers
June 15, 2019
The best romantic comedy I've read this year! If you want a book that will make you laugh so hard, your sides ache the next day, this is the one for you! With just enough drama, secrets and mystery, I guarantee you won't be able to put this one down. Wanting to discover what secrets are being kept, will keep you turning the page as fast as you can read. There are twists and turns that I didn't see coming, and that's always a pleasant surprise for me. I have three words for you: READ IT NOW.
Profile Image for Kate V.
1,857 reviews373 followers
July 14, 2019
3 - 3.5 stars

I've been waiting to get my hands on James' book for a while. It wasn't my favorite out of the series so far but it was still super cute, funny, and sexy. Fenske has a way of making the build up between characters so satisfying and I love her humour. Looking forward to more.
Profile Image for Linda Grimes.
Author 7 books158 followers
June 14, 2019
Book your next mental vacay at the Ponderosa Resort! I promise you'll have a great time with James and Lily. And I guarantee you'll never look at carousel zebras the same way again. ;)
Profile Image for Jenni.
6,596 reviews81 followers
April 7, 2025
Stiff Suit is the fifth delightful book in the Ponderosa Resort Romantic Comedies series.

I fell in love with Tawna's Rom Com's after reading her wonderful Assassin in Love series, Killer Instincts. It has the right mix of humour, angst, trouble, heartache, insecurities, haunted pasts, and longing. I laughed and sighed my way through the book as our couples come together with hope in their hearts.

This delightful book has big tough men brought to their knees by sassy women. But there are moments of tension and suspense to give the story another layer.

I can't wait to read more.
Profile Image for WyoGal.
489 reviews
May 20, 2020
Feels like watching a random episode of a soap opera

While the characters in this novel are very distinct, reading this book feels like stepping into the middle of a larger story. I have not read other books by this author, and I didn’t need to in order to know what was going on. However, there are several scenes that are skipped over or summarized that would have been nice to experience as they happened.

There are loads of siblings and spouses who are mentioned, which I am sure are featured in the other books in the series, but they have only brief appearances here, which is why the story feels like an episode of a large-cast soap opera. In addition, there is a story arc that isn’t sufficiently developed in this book to be satisfying as a stand-alone plot line. I feel that the huge issue in this book is skimmed over so the reader has the gist, but the time spent developing it was bare bones. This is more like a filler book in the series with not much suspense or a climax.

Another problem I have with the story is the romance. The actual build up between the characters is also skimped and skimmed. Great scenes are mentioned in past tense summaries or completely left out. The female protagonist is nicknamed “man-eater” and is quite progressive sexually, so there’s no need for foreplay or anticipation. Bummer for the reader who actually enjoys the romance that should be in a romance novel. The whole book reads more like a synopsis than an immersive journey. There is a LOT of profanity. There are only a few grammatical errors, which is a plus.
Profile Image for J Lundsten.
970 reviews41 followers
June 8, 2019
I adore this series and I have looked forward to James and Lily's story!!

James is known as the Iceman among his siblings. He is a lawyer who has become the CEO of the Ponderosa Resort. He is also the keeper of all the family secrets. Lily swoops in to save him from an embarrassing situation and BAM! James is taken with the sassy scientist.

This is a fun, sexy story with tons of twists and eye popping secrets! James and Lily have amazing chemistry and I loved seeing all the Bracelyn siblings together. And it's funny! Watching wild-child Lily mess with the Iceman definitely had me laughing out loud! Another fantastic Ponderosa Resort story!!
Profile Image for Maheswari.
526 reviews16 followers
May 23, 2022
RE Read


⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ Zebra love

It’s not always black and white in love like the zebra pattern
But I sure wanna be a Lily to every James
This book it’s a turn over - with an amazing Heroine character- Lily
So many adorable and hilarious moment

I love both James & Lily
As of now I forgive James lack of grovelling because I found his loyal and protective personality of big brother weigh more than anything

This book so drama free just a tiny whiny family things but it’s all cover perfectly

Its absolutely a great book to re read again when I need a good laugh and remember that love it or not your family stay yours
Profile Image for Cherie.
279 reviews5 followers
June 15, 2019
This next installment in the Ponderosa Resort series has Lily Archer helping Iceman James Bracelyn shake off his icy demeanor with some hilarious pranks. Lily's frank and direct approach to life shows James the meaning of "joie de vive" (the joy of life for you non-cajuns). There's plenty of laughs and hot sexy times in this stand alone contemporary romance (although I prefer to read in order, it helps put backgrounds to the secondary characters) and fans of this series will love the surprise characters in Stiff Suit.
Profile Image for Karen.
179 reviews6 followers
June 23, 2019
James Braceyln "Iceman" is the family leader and keeper of secrets...all of this changes when he meets Lily. This is the fifth book in this series and with most series, this was was better than the last.
The characters are complex and they both bring their own bag of emotions.

As the reader, I did not want this book to end.
Profile Image for Sandy S.
8,319 reviews207 followers
June 15, 2019
3.75 stars--

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 14, 2019

James "Iceman" Bracelyn is wound tighter than a vintage Rolex. Besides his CEO role at Ponderosa Resort, he's guardian of the family's biggest secrets, including a doozy that keeps him up at night. Alone. In that big bed he'd rather not share, thank you very much.

That's fine with Lily Archer, who likes her flings flaming hot and fleeting. Her man-eater rep might be slightly exaggerated, but she'll gladly dial it up to rescue James from himself—and a bottle of Glenlivit—at his brother's wedding.

Intimacy's the last thing either one wants, but it's tough to dodge when they're drawn together by the world's drooliest dog, a TPing escapade gone wrong, and a good old-fashioned desktop hookup. That's problematic for James, whose ability to hide the family's riskiest secret is complicated by the secret's refusal to get the hell out of his guest room.

Can Iceman keep his frigid shell intact while falling for the hottest science geek sex goddess he's ever met, or will the ticking time bomb blow it all to smithereens?


•••••••••

REVIEW: 3.75 stars--STIFF SUIT is the fifth instalment in Tawna Fenske’s contemporary, adult PONDEROSA RESORT ROMANTIC COMEDIES romance series. This is thirty-four year old, attorney and eldest sibling James ‘Iceman’ Bracelyn, and geologist Dr. Lily Archer’s story line. STIFF SUIT can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalments is revealed where necessary.


SOME BACKGROUND: A few years earlier the Bracelyn patriarch, Cort Bracelyn, died leaving his eldest son James to pick up the pieces of his billion dollar estate, an estate to be divided between his five children (Bree, Sean, James, Mark, Jonathan )all born of different mothers. The Ponderosa Resort is the family lodge where each of the now adult children lives and works.

Told from dual first person perspectives (James and Lily) STIFF SUIT follows in the aftermath of Sean Bracelyn’s marriage to Amber King. Having had too much to drink at his brother’s wedding James Bracelyn wakes up next to one of the bridesmaids, having no memory of what happened the night before. Enter geologist Dr. Lily Archer, the woman with whom James will fall in love. What ensues is the building relationship between James and Lily, and the potential fall-out as the Bracelyn siblings are once again stunned and angered by their father’s past.

Lily Archer doesn’t do relationships, in fact, our heroine has a reputation as a man-eater. Meeting James Bracelyn stirs something deep within our heroine’s heart something that will shatter when James is unable to let go of the past. James Bracelyn has no time for romance or love but waking next to Lily Archer gave our hero something to think about, something that looks a lot like a possible happily ever after. Our hero is a bit of a stuffed shirt, always working with no time to enjoy the lighter side of life.

The relationship between Lily and James is a ‘friends with benefits’ of a sorts, that turns into something more. Neither one is prepared to fall in love but the heart wants forever even though the mind says something else. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

Most of the previous story line couples play secondary and supporting characters. There is a struggling family dynamic between siblings who were aware of one another but never had the chance to bond until adulthood.

STIFF SUIT is a story of family, friendship, secrets and lies. The premise is emotional and engaging; the romance is captivating and seductive; the characters are energetic and colorful but I struggled to find the humor throughout the story line.

There are moments of fun and adventure but the overall premise is a little heart breaking and sad. James Bracelyn is the keeper of the family secrets, so much so, that is eats away at his emotions and pride. The family patriarch has done a real number on his numerous progeny, such that family counselling is the only way to understand and survive. When even more secrets are revealed James becomes the punching bag for their father’s sins and lies.

Copy supplied for review

www.thereadingcafe.com
Profile Image for Limecello.
2,548 reviews46 followers
August 7, 2019
So I took a break from reading which is why it took "so long" for me to finish.
Although "so long" was ... 2 days. And the "break" was ... a day.
But whatever.
[I mean when your days are 22 hours long everything blurs. F you, insomnia - so it's not as if I'm all bright eyed and bushy tailed.]
Like James. And Lily.
I was going to say I wasn't like blown away by this book, but then like ... I remembered the hero and heroine's names, and ... that's kinda a bit deal - by which I mean when I go through a slew of enh/meh books, and read like 4 in a day... they're hard to keep straight.

I really liked how Lily was so "liberated" - like - she knows what society thinks and she does not. give. a. damn. I liked that she had a fuck buddy conversation [a few - I don't exactly want to spoilerize...]

I was NOT expecting THAT to be one of the secrets poor James is keeping. I do think his siblings were kinda assholes to him - but they do apologize.

That's the thing I've found that I really like with Tawna Fenske books I've finished.
The characters screw up, they get mad, they act irrationally, they get in their feelings - they're *human* and nuanced - AND/BUT/HOWEVER!!! They own their shit. They take care of it.
They might take some time to lick their wounds (although iirc not much/it doesn't get too far) - once the book has started, they don't allow things to fester - and I love that. The characters TALK to each other!
They apologize! They forgive each other! They understand difficulties.

So ... James is an asshole to Lily, but she forgives him. >.> IMO a bit too quickly, but ... I'm mean.
[And also why I don't have a James, I guess.]

it's funny - I read this book only because I liked James and how he was portrayed in all the previous books - but based on the premise I had no interest in it basically whatsoever. This book wasn't quite what I was expecting in the best way. It starts with uncertainty and uncharacteristic behavior and family [well for the Bracelyn's] ... drama.

The zebra. Hm.

I loved Lily teasing James.

So while the premise wasn't something I normally go for - (I think because with romances we KNOW they'll end up together? So the dragged out "this is just a hookup" really annoys me. That wasn't how it was handled here, so, bless.

I'd wondered if more siblings might pop up and how that works with the inheritance ... it's a lot - and like that probably should be addressed because it's a big point? But it's also ... >.> semantics? I dunno - suspension of disbelief is needed I guess.

I want to know Jonathan's story DEFINITELY. ... >.> although I already forgot the premise.

I also loved that Lily has a PhD and is a volcanologist. Love these smart amazing women.

Considering all the positives ... I'd been wavering b/t 2 and 3 stars but went with 3 and let's go with a solid C
Profile Image for Shawn.
70 reviews1 follower
June 14, 2019
The prologue starts with our favorite Bracelyn siblings sitting in on a group therapy session with Dr Hooter. Yes that’s her name. The good Dr is trying to get the siblings to share their “secrets” and James “Iceman” Bracelyn knows all the secrets since he’s the CEO of the Ponderosa Luxury Ranch Resort.
We begin the chapter with Amber & Sean’s wedding. Ambers best friend is Lily Archer ;the firerey red -head volcanologist is also known as a “man-eater”. On the way to the reception Lily takes James by the arm and heads to the bar, where they have a very usual conversation.
James finds himself on edge during the reception and continues to drink heavily and finds himself waking up at Lily’s home the next morning.
Lily has some fun by telling him the “things” he did last night, but then reassures him nothing happened.
He seems relieved but she goes as far telling him she caught the bouquet and that they were planning a June wedding. But then again comes clean and tells him she avoids relationships, marriage etc.. I loved this response she gave him because he continues to freak out.
“No offense, Iceman, but you could get down on one knee juggling watermelons with a six-carat diamond between your teeth and a twelve-inch salami in your pants, and I’d politely decline your heartfelt—albeit, very weird -proposal “
This all happens in chapters 1-2 and then chapter 2 ending with a huge reveal! SECRETS!
We are also introduced to a couple new characters; Jonathan Bracelyn ( another brother) and Dr. Bradley Parker.
James and Lily find they are very attracted to each other and decide on a “no-strings attached” relationship.
There’s carousel zebras, learning how to TP inside a home, a very large dog named Magma and a sweet but tough grandmother. Many other things in this story along with many more reveals and secrets. Trust me you be shocked.
Tawna continues this wonderful series with humor, passion and a tiny bit of angst.
I love that she continues to bring in most of the characters from previous books and introducing new ones.
James and Lily are two complicated people, but you’ll enjoy their love story ❤️

Profile Image for The Rogue Book Reviews.
207 reviews
June 11, 2019
Disclaimer: I have received an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion. My opinions and reviews are solely my own.

Heat Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 🔥out of 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Heart Level: 💘💘💘💘 💘out of 💘💘💘💘💘
LOL's: 😂😂😂 out of 😂😂😂😂😂

Favorite Quote: " I shiver, impressed he's maintaining his master and commander presence while being sexually coerced into riding an antique carnival zebra"


Review: You guyssss. I have read every single book of this series. And every time I go: Damn, that's the best book of the series yet! But, nope! The bar gets getting raised and every book is better than the last. I think James has got to be one of my favorite male character in a romantic comedy I've read in a while. I don't know, I guess because he's so self-contained and yet so vulnerable. I think we can all identify with that a little bit. And who doesn't love a feisty, smart-mouthed redhead? I mean, you know sparks were going to fly. And fly they did. I suspect that I identify more with James in this story than with Lily. I think Lily is the friend we all have that's not afraid of much. We secretly want to be more like Lily.

When you read a romantic comedy, you're expecting a literary candy bar. Gooey, yummy, chocolatey goodness. And if you're like me, absolutely zero guilt comes with it. And Stiff Suit is all that. But wait, there's more! There's heart and there are some twists too, which is not something you're used to when you're reading this genre. I think it fits. I think it's perfect.
Ms. Fenske keeps batting it out of the park with this series and the more I know of the Bracelyns, the more I want of them! Definitely another winner!
490 reviews9 followers
March 20, 2020
Great story. Very comedic at times. Have to say, I enjoyed it. Have not read any of the prior books in this series, but think I might like to. Having said that I have to state the following:
James is an absolute love. They say he has a stick up his rear, BUT, he is now the head of the family, the CEO of the family's resort and the one stuck with all the family heirlooms the others didn't want. Yeah, he is a stick in the mud, but if he wasn't, his siblings would not be able to wallow, frolic and roll around in that mud. He is overwhelmed with responsibility, a responsibility which should be better shared. He was put in a position wherein he had to make a decision as to his loyalty to his father and his loyalty to his siblings. The father's money is what provided them all with a lovely childhood and education, and the money for the Resort, a continuing source of money and, aside from the fact that he was not the best of fathers, neither was he the worst. I think, being put in his position I would have chosen the father too. In any case I think he is a doll and deserved better than who he wound up with.
Lily is proud of her sexuality, and she is entitled to that, as everyone is entitled to live their life as they see fit. But, your personal life should be private and that is where Lily and I disagree. She tells everyone and anyone about it, including the guy she happens to be with. To me, that is a no-no. She has been called a slut and readily agrees that that is what she is. Then there is her potty mouth. the "F" word seems to be an integral part of her vocabulary. So, a woman she may be, but a lady, she is not. So, I would say "If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it is a duck" - and nowhere good enough for James.
Profile Image for Riet De Bruin-Strijker.
212 reviews2 followers
June 16, 2019
I loved this book! I loved the characters and I felt this book was more serious than the other books of the Ponderosa series by Ms Fenske. While the others were sometimes hilarious, this time, with the has-to-be serious character of James, she did a wonderful job, trying to get the playful boy out of the strict and severe character by using the playfulness and smartness of the heroine. I loved it- great characterbuilding, secrets coming to light and the necessity of playing pranks to your siblings.

James "Iceman" Bracelyn is wound tighter than a vintage Rolex. Besides his CEO role at Ponderosa Resort, he's guardian of the family's biggest secrets, including a doozy that keeps him up at night. Alone. In that big bed he'd rather not share, thank you very much.
That's fine with Lily Archer, who likes her flings flaming hot and fleeting. Her man-eater rep might be slightly exaggerated, but she'll gladly dial it up to rescue James from himself—and a bottle of Glenlivit—at his brother's wedding.
Intimacy's the last thing either one wants, but it's tough to dodge when they're drawn together by the world's drooliest dog, a TPing escapade gone wrong, and a good old-fashioned desktop hookup. That's problematic for James, whose ability to hide the family's riskiest secret is complicated by the secret's refusal to get the hell out of his guest room.
Can Iceman keep his frigid shell intact while falling for the hottest science geek sex goddess he's ever met, or will the ticking time bomb blow it all to smithereens?

Profile Image for Susan Swiderski.
Author 3 books40 followers
June 24, 2019
You might think it'd be difficult... maybe even impossible... for an author to maintain the same high level of spicy romance, great characters, laugh-out-loud humor and all-around good story-telling in the fifth book of a series as she started out with in book one. Probably would be for many writers, but obviously, not for this one. Once again, Ms. Fenske knocked another one waaaaay out of the park. Her books NEVER fail to entertain. I've read 'em all, and I've loved them all.

This book focuses on the oldest brother, "iceman" James, a skilled lawyer who practically keeps his feelings under lock and key, but it isn't necessarily his choice. The keep-it-to-yourself role was thrust on him when he was just a kid. Now he's keeping some shocking family secrets from his siblings, and he has to be extra careful not to let anything slip. After all, he's keeping the secrets for THEIR sake. If they think he's going to open up and tell all, just because his sister Bree pushed them all into group family therapy, they've got another think coming. Not gonna happen.

Enter Bree's friend Lily, an outspoken free spirit who's blithely in favor of "friends with benefits" arrangements with absolutely no strings attached, and James' icy demeanor is doomed. He finds himself doing, saying... and feeling... things he never thought possible. This is a FUN story, with a great cast of characters, a cool zebra, a big slobbery dog, lots of humor and plenty of heat. In other words, classic Fenske.

If you like romantic comedies, you're gonna love this one. Ditto the rest of her books.
Profile Image for Terri.
908 reviews
June 3, 2019
Get ready for a trip back to the Ponderosa Resort and this time we get to watch James "Iceman" Bracelyn lose his cool. Poor James, being the oldest sibling of all the Bracelyn children he was always put in the position of keeping the family secrets and being the stone cold face in a crisis. He took that role to heart and unfortunately for him, it has ruled his entire life. When he is faced with Lily "Man-Eater" Archer at his brothers wedding his cool starts to heat up quickly. Too quickly in fact, to the point he can't even remember what happened and how on earth did he wind up in her bed without his clothes on.

This book, oh lord where to begin with everything that is going on in this 5 star book. I won't give any spoilers away, trust me you don't want to know what is happening until you read the book for yourself, but I will say I love this series and this is by far my favorite of the 5 books. There are so many surprises, so much humor I laughed out loud on numerous occasions causing my hubby to give me funny looks, and there is heartbreaking emotions throughout. Tawna Fenske ran the gambit with this one and covered all the emotions. It's so good. I received an early copy to read and review and give my honest opinion. I loved it! I highly recommend it! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Profile Image for Vicki.
545 reviews13 followers
June 15, 2019
In the fifth installment of the Ponderosa Resort Romantic Comedies, we finally get to delve into the psyche of the eldest Bracelyn sibling James. There's a reason he's known as Iceman. He's the suit wearing, tightly controlled CEO of the siblings Oregon resort, as well as the keeper of family secrets, and he always, ALWAYS, keeps his emotions in check. At least, he does until he runs up against Lily Archer.

Lily was raised by independent women, and she's happy to follow in her mother and grandmother's footsteps. Happily single, Lily isn't looking for anything more than a good time. So she's happy to jump head first into a flirtation with James, knowing that neither of them want anything more than a casual fling.

But soon, the off the charts chemistry between the pair starts to turn into something more, and feelings are entering into the equation, on both sides. The problem is, those secrets James has always held close to the vest on his father's behalf are about to come flying out of the closet, and he's not sure either of them can withstand the aftermath.

Stiff Suit is another winner from Tawna Fenske. She's one of my go to authors for funny, flirty, romantic comedy, and this latest release does not disappoint. These two keep you up all night enjoying each delectable tidbit of their story.
2,029 reviews8 followers
June 2, 2019
Hot, fun and emotional – the romantic trifecta!

I couldn’t wait to start the Iceman’s story! All the siblings have been interesting and fun in their own way yet James has always kept himself aloof from most of the shenanigans. I never doubted his love for his family, not at all, but his story dove into the whys and wherefores of his standoffishness – and it was awesome!

Secrets. Stomach-churning secrets and loyalty were behind James’s stoic façade. When Lily helped him in his moment of need, she saw beneath the surface and started the cracks that would blow those secrets sky high. I LOVED the chemistry between these two. Lily was sexy, hilarious and flirty, in direct contrast to her very serious career. She was a bit defensive about her reputation. She would never say sorry for her love of love (including good sex) and she didn’t need to. That they could both agree on. Now if they could only work out the details…

Funny, sexy and full of sibling heart and soul, James and Lily’s romance was everything I wanted it to be! Awkward and earnest, and hot as he**, the emotional honesty in their courtship was… EVERYTHING! If you haven’t read the Ponderosa stories you need to start at the beginning and hang on for the ride!

*I happily reviewed this story
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