Making You Mine

The Bradens & Montgomerys, Pleasant Hill – Oak Falls #5

by Melissa Foster

Discover the magic of New York Times bestseller Melissa Foster's writing and see why millions of readers have fallen in love with the fiercely loyal and sassily sexy characters in the Love in Bloom big-family romance collection. Love in Bloom novels are written to stand alone or may be enjoyed as part of the larger series, so dive right into this fun, sexy romance featuring Graham Braden's business partner, Knox Bentley!

In USA Today Bestseller MAKING YOU MINE...
Knox Bentley never liked the pomp and circumstance that came with being wealthy. He'd distanced himself from his pretentious family and their fortune as a young adult and found his own path to success. But even with the world at his fingertips, he realizes something is missing, and after a long stay overseas, he finally knows exactly what it is. His no-strings-attached hookups with Aubrey Stewart, an exquisite and stubbornly independent blonde, are no longer enough for him. They connect on every level, but Aubrey is a fierce businesswoman with a new movie channel on the horizon and no time for much else. She is the deal he can't close, the precious jewel even his billions can't buy. Now that he's back in the States, he's determined to show her that what they have goes beyond the bedroom and finally make her his.

**
Love in Bloom novels feature alpha male heroes and sexy, empowered women. They're flawed, funny, passionate, and relatable to readers who enjoy contemporary romance and women's fiction. For avid readers of the Love in Bloom series, you may have met sexy and hilarious Knox Bentley, Graham Braden's business partner, in Trails of Love, and Aubrey Stewart, one of the badass billionaire founders of the Ladies Who Write (LWW), in Anything for Love.

THE BRADENS & MONTGOMERYS (Pleasant Hill - Oak Falls). Order of future books is subject to change.
Embracing Her Heart
Anything For Love
Trails of Love
Wild Crazy Hearts
Making You Mine
Searching for Love
Hot for Love
Sweet Sexy Heart
Our Wicked Hearts
Claiming Her Heart
Rocked by Love

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Family, Audiobook, Friends To Lovers

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 22, 2020

About the author

NEW YORK TIMES, WALL STREET JOURNAL, and USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR

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FREE Series Reading Order Checklist: https://MelissaFoster.com/SeriesCheck...

FREE Series Order Checklist by Publication Date (recommended): https://melissafoster.com/SeriesCheck...

Melissa Foster is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of more than 100 novels. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance and women’s fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Melissa’s emotional journeys are lovingly erotic, always family oriented, and feature fiercely loyal heroes, smart, sassy heroines, and complex relatable issues.

Melissa also writes sweet romance under the pen name, Addison Cole here: https://addisoncole.com

Melissa loves to hear from readers! Feel free to send her an email or chat with her on social media.

Melissa welcomes the opportunity to chat with book clubs and other reading groups.

"What sets Melissa Foster apart are her compelling characters who you care about... desperately...I dare you to read the first chapter and not be hooked." International bestseller, M.J. Rose

"Melissa Foster is a wonderful connector of readers and books, a friend of authors, and a tireless advocate for women. She is the real deal"--Author Jennie Shortridge

Reviews

[Syndi · Rating 2 out of 5]

DnF

I usually do like small town romance. I picked up Making You Mine becasue it promises all of that small town vibe. What I found is disappointment.

I do not know what is going on but nothing works for me. Maybe because I have not read the entire series, or the writing is too much on describing everything. I felt lost. I can not connect with the story, characters and miss the chemistry.

2 stars

[Nadene (Totally Addicted to Reading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Making you Mine by Melissa Foster is not your typical romance story. It is not the kind of story where boy meets girl, and before you know it, they are head over heels with no effort involved. Instead, Melissa Foster created a story where it took the couple involved two years to recognize their feelings for each other.

Knox Bentley and Aubrey Stewart have been involved in a no strings attached, friends with benefits affair for two years. Aubrey, a self-made billionaire, has no interest in dating. She recognized men were intimidated by her success and those who were not, were either dimwitted, boring or had a hard time keeping up with her. Only one man has ever rocked her world, but she did not want the drama and complications that came with being involved in a relationship.

Knox recognized that Aubrey was it for him, but convincing her they belonged together would prove a challenge and one he did not want to resist.

Knox was such an awesome character. When it came to treating a woman like a queen, I believed he wrote the manual. There was no way Aubrey could resist falling under his spell.

As individuals, Knox and Aubrey were strong, independent and capable people. Together they were like dynamite. The time they spent together learning about each other was endearing, funny and sizzling. They brought out sides in each other they hid from others. For instance, no one knew that Aubrey was a goddess in the kitchen.

I enjoyed getting to meet both their families. I loved watching the start of the healing process occurring between Knox and his family. The interaction with his family differed from what I have come to expect from the author’s portrayal of families. Quite an interesting shift.

With this story, readers got a glimpse of a secondary romance involving Knox’s brother. It was enough to whet appetites and increase one’s desire for more.

Conclusion/Recommendation

I enjoyed Making You Mine. It does well as a standalone, although characters from previous books are featured. Once again, Melissa Foster has created a beautiful story, featuring likable and flawed characters. Die-hard romance readers will love her latest offering. I cannot wait to see what next the author has in store for her fans.

[Carole (Carole's Random Life) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.

This really was the perfect book to pick up during a rather stressful week. I found this to be a really enjoyable and uncomplicated romance. I have read a few titles published under Melissa Foster's pen name that she uses for her sweeter titles, Addison Cole, but this is the first I have read with Melissa Foster listed as the author. This book is part of a series but I read it as a stand-alone and thought it worked perfectly fine on its own. I definitely had a good time with this delightful romance.

Knox and Aubrey aren't strangers to each other. They have been hooking up with each other after different events for quite a while. They both want to keep it no-strings-attached until Knox decides that he wants more. I loved watching Knox convince Aubrey to give him a chance. They really make a fantastic couple and had a lot of wonderful chemistry. There weren't a lot of obstacles to their relationship and I thought it was fun to watch them fall for each other.

Andi Arndt and Jason Clarke both did a fantastic job with the narration. I thought that they both handled all of the character voices very well and brought a lot of emotion to the story. Andi Arndt has been a favorite narrator of mine for a long time and I could see myself adding Jason Clarke's name to that list. They both read at a very nice pace and I feel like their performance added to my enjoyment of the story.

I would recommend this book to others. I found this to be a very enjoyable romance filled with wonderful characters. I wouldn't hesitate to read more of Melissa Foster's work in the future.

I received a copy of this audiobook from the author/publicist via Audiobook Boom.

Initial Thoughts
An uncomplicated romance was the perfect thing to pick up during a week like this one. I liked Knox and Aubrey and thought that they had a lot of great chemistry. They really didn't have too many obstacles to their relationship to deal with in my opinion. Their big "fight" almost made me laugh because after 20 years of marriage it didn't seem like a big deal to me at all. I found it to be an easy and enjoyable listen with both of the narrators doing a fantastic job with the story.

[Carvanz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audible: Narrators - Andi Arndt & Jason Clarke

Excellent job of narration! I especially loved Mr. Clarke’s performance. He pulled me into the story in a deep and rich way that I truly enjoyed.





Knox and Aubrey have been hooking up for the last two years when Knox decides it time to take things to the next level. However, Aubrey is not quite at the same place and she fears for her independence in allowing him into her life. But with a little finagling, Knox has her right where he wants her.

I liked both of these characters. Aubrey, while fierce in her determination to be self sustained, she was far from hard and cold. Quite the opposite. As soon as Knox starts to push she felt herself crumbling and I appreciated that she didn’t fight it out of pure stubbornness. She was very likable and I connected with her pretty quickly.





Knox was amazing! Once he figured out what he wanted to make his life complete, he didn’t stop until he got it. He was all in and he was determined to win Aubrey over, no matter what, although he never over stepped the line that identified her as an individual. They way he claimed her in front of their families made me love him all the more.

Together, this couple were so dang cute and fun. Their banter was quick and witty and oh my gawd, so very sexy. They were made for each other and it shows throughout the book.





This has just a tad of drama that was overcome without much effort making this story all the better for the lower angst. With some awesome secondary characters that showcased Aubrey’s and Knox’s own personalities, I fell in even deeper love with this book. This is filled with humor, emotion and all together pure perfection.

Dual POV
Safe no ow/om drama; 2 yrs hooking up, H confesses that there hasn’t been anyone in the last year - no further explanation to indicate if he had been with anyone else
Triggers secondary character recovering from eating disorderr

[Sofia Lazaridou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Making You Mine is the fifth book in The Bradens & Montgomerys: Pleasant Hill - Oak Falls series by Melissa Foster. The series name is a mouthful and I just realized it! I guess I was more focused on what was inside the book than what was out, namely on the cover of the book.

I decided to go with 3.5 stars for this book because I didn't love the book which is unusual. I am a big fan of Melissa Foster and anyone who has read my previous reviews for her books will know that. Two things that never bothered me before did now. The first one is the secondary characters. I never thought I would say this, but they were too many and they stole the spotlight from the main story. Knox's siblings appear quite a lot and honestly, I was more invested in Landon's story than Knox's. And I hate that because Knox was a great hero and I would love to have more focus on him.

The second thing I didn't like was the connection to the real world. Ladies who write, some authors and Emma Chase were mentioned and it felt a little too "real world" to me. When I read I do it to escape the real world. The mention of Getting Schooled is 99% the reason I was not a fan of these mentions. It's the only Emma Chase book that I hate/despise. The rest of them are 4-5 stars, but this GS was not my thing at all.

I would have loved a little more focus on Knox and Aubrey doing romantic things instead of either been surrounded by friends and family or sleeping together. I miss the sweetness. The sweetest thing done in this book is the gift's Knox sent to Aubrey.

Unfortunately, I didn't like the book as much as I hoped, but it's not a bad book. I still read it in one sitting and I liked the main characters. I will, however, remain neutral on the recommendation.

[Tpagirl Loves Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Making You Mine was the fifth book in the Braden’s and Montgomery’s Pleasant Hill - Oak Fall series by Melissa Foster. It was also one in a long line of the Love In Bloom series.

Knox Bentley was a Billionaire. He was the business partner to Graham Braden (Trails of Love, book three). He was a known work-a-holic and sought after bachelor with no intent of changing his status anytime soon.

Aubrey Stewart was an author co-founder of LWW Enterprises (Ladies Who Write). She was the long time best friend to Charlotte (Anything for Love, book two). Like Knox, she was also a work-a-holic with an aversion to relationships. Her sole focus was her company, her best friends and her independence.

Met both previously interspersed throughout the series. Knox and Aubrey were a long time regular hook up but adamantly denied anything beyond friends. Until Knox realized what they had. Foster then unraveled the push and pull of Audrey’s denial and Knox’s determined pursuit. She built the plot around both families and their drama, introducing us to a slew of siblings for more great books in the future.

True to Foster’s style, Making You Mine was well written and well developed mixed in with humor, real life situations, loyalty, and awesome secondary characters adding depth and dimension to the storyline. And although we got a glimpse into Landon’s true love, I hope we’ll get his full story as well. In the meantime, Zee and Carly are next with a second chance in Searching For Love. Bring it on!

[Sandy S · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars—

About the book: Release Date January 22, 2020


Discover the magic of New York Times bestseller Melissa Foster's writing and see why millions of readers have fallen in love with the fiercely loyal and sassily sexy characters in the Love in Bloom big-family romance collection. Love in Bloom novels are written to stand alone or may be enjoyed as part of the larger series, so dive right into this fun, sexy romance featuring Graham Braden's business partner, Knox Bentley!

In MAKING YOU MINE...
Knox Bentley never liked the pomp and circumstance that came with being wealthy. He'd distanced himself from his pretentious family and their fortune as a young adult and found his own path to success. But even with the world at his fingertips, he realizes something is missing, and after a long stay overseas, he finally knows exactly what it is. His no-strings-attached hookups with Aubrey Stewart, an exquisite and stubbornly independent blonde, are no longer enough for him. They connect on every level, but Aubrey is a fierce businesswoman with a new movie channel on the horizon and no time for much else. She is the deal he can't close, the precious jewel even his billions can't buy. Now that he's back in the States, he's determined to show her that what they have goes beyond the bedroom and finally make her his.

••••••••••••

REVIEW: 4.25 stars--MAKING YOU MINE is the fifth instalment in Melissa Foster’s contemporary, adult The Bradens and Montgomerys: Pleasant Hill-Oak Falls erotic, romance series. This is wealthy business owner Knox Bentley, and business woman Aubrey Stewart’s story line MAKING YOU MINE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines and series is revealed where necessary. THE BRADENS AND MONTGOMERY: Pleasnt Hill-Oak Falls series is a spin off from several of the author’s other ongoing series.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Knox and Aubrey) MAKING YOU MINE follows the building romance and relationship between ‘friends with benefits’ wealthy business owner Knox Bentley, and business woman Aubrey Stewart. Aubrey Stewart is all about the success of the Ladies Who Write, an enterprise she co-owns with best friends Presley Cabot and Libby Warren, but sacrificing love is the least of her worries. Business owner Knox Bentley is hoping for something more from his two year, no strings attached / friends with benefits relationship with Aubrey Stewart, a relationship in which Aubrey refuses to see beyond the convenience of $ex. A trip to scout out a location for an upcoming movie, finds Aubrey and Knox stranded in a snow storm, battling their attraction, of which Aubrey struggles to accept or deny. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Aubrey and Knox, and the potential fall-out as Knox’s need to fix everything and everyone backfires for the two of the people he loves the most.

Aubrey Stewart doesn’t do relationship but her two year ‘affair’ with Knox Bentley is just that-a monogamous relationship with a man who is the personification of the perfect man. A week together ‘scouting’ the location at the Monroe House, finds our couple taking their no strings attached relationship to the next level, a level that turns into something more. Knox Bentley wants it all: the happy family, wife, children and more but the woman that calls to his heart refuses to accept their relationship beyond the present. Know has an ‘in’ with the owners of Monroe House, an ‘in’ that pushes the boundaries for our leading couple.

The relationship between Aubrey and Knox is a friends with benefits relationship wherein our couple find themselves together at numerous events. Aubrey is determined to remain single in an effort to focus on the business and her friends, but heart wins the battle when Knox offers Audrey something more. The $ex scenes are intimate, passionate and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful secondary and supporting characters including many of the author’s characters from previous instalments and cross-over series. We are introduced to Knox’s family: brother Landon, and sister Paige, as well as their parents Griffin and Elizabeth Bentley ; chef Leon and his wife Joyce; Aubrey’s brothers Troy and Joe, and their parents Hammond and Debra; and Aubrey’s best friends Presley Cabot ,Libby Warren, and Charlotte Sterling.

MAKING YOU MINE is a story of determination and acceptance; family and friendships; romance and love. The premise is stirring ; the romance is sensual and spicy; the characters are energetic and strong but I read several chapters before I was able to warm up to Aubrey Stewart –her attitude about relationships was distracting and detracted from my overall enjoyment.

Copy supplied for review

www.thereadingcafe.com

[Isha Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A twist of fate. A love that endures and a heart determined to speak. If ever I was to write a love ballad this would be how I would want it to be. Making You Mine puts it's best heart forward. Aubrey and Knox give emotions a chance to breathe, while making the senses swoon. Foster doesn't believe in perfect. She dreams in reality. Aubrey is an independent woman searching for a safe place to fall. Knox is as stubborn as he is sweet and he's waiting to catch her with open arms. Making You Mine is a beautiful heartache. Humor goes a long way when it comes to healing a broken heart.


Audio Review: Making You Mine: Aubrey & Knox (The Braedens & Montgomerys: Pleasant Hill - Oak Falls) by Melissa Foster (Author), Andi Arndt (Narrator), Jason Clarke (Narrator)

Arndt and Clarke make beautiful music together. With tender loving care they turn Melissa's battle of hearts into a duet of love. Knox and Aubrey were already a beautiful heartache. Foster grabs readers by the heartstrings with an enduring love that at moments reads like a foolish heart, but as always leaves a lasting impression. Making You Mine hits all the right notes for love.

[Nadine Bookaholic · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was a little twist on the typical who falls first, whereas it was the man that fell first this time and he had to win her over which I loved. Knox and Aubrey have been hooking up after different events for the last two years but something has changed in Knox and he knows that the person he wants to spend the rest of his nights, and days, with is Aubrey...now he just has to convince her that she feels the same way.

Read my full review HERE




**I have voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book for my Blog, Nadine's Obsessed with Books** 

You can see this and other Reviews I have written along with various cover reveals, excerpts, and giveaways here Nadine's Obsessed with Books

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whenever I read a new to me romance author I’m never quite sure what to expect, will their style be super sexy with lots of steam? Or are they more of a behind closed doors/fade to black kind of author? I prefer some steam myself and was excited that not only was this super sexy, it was also sweet and endearing with a great group of characters that won me over.

Aubrey is a badass, strong independent woman and Knox was also pretty badass, but he was also swoon worthy. I liked that they had already been hooking up and were just super casual, there was no build up, they already were a thing, this was more about them taking things to a more serious level. They had great back and forth, the banter was funny and there were even some serious and heartwarming moments.

This is part of series and apparently it’s also a part of the Love in Bloom big family romance collection. After I finished this I looked on the authors website and it looks like there’s a huge collection of books set in the same world, I love that and think it’s a really cool concept. Since this was my first book by the author, let alone the series, I was slightly hesitant wondering if I would have a hard time keeping the characters straight. While there were a lot of what I’m assuming were reoccurring characters this mainly focused on Aubrey and Knox and I really had no problem following along. So definitely easy to read as a standalone but I will be checking out some of the other books in the series because this one was just too much fun!

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5⭐

[I received a digital arc for an honest review]

Making You Mine is part of Melissa Fosters The Bradens & Montgomerys: Pleasant Hill- Oak Falls series. Like all of her stories this can completely be read as a stand alone and if you've read any of the others you'll see some friendly faces grace the pages.

Making You Mine brings us the story of Knox Bentley and Aubrey Stewart. The two have been hopping between the sheets for the past two years. Knox has realized there is no getting Aubrey out of his mind and is determined to show her that they are compatible in all aspects of their lives not just in bed. Aubrey's goal in life is to have a successful business and stand on her own, she doesn't do relationships because they are always equal drama and could get in the way of her business plans. Yet, she can't get Knox out of her mind either, and she finally opens up to the possibility of more, but she struggles to take that final leap by using the L word.

"Do you know what kind of torture it is feelings this way about you?"

This was a really sweet story, filled with dates and getting to know each other scenes. It had a lot of heart felt moments, not just between Knox and Aubrey but many having to do with Knox and his siblings. The intimate scenes between Knox and Aubrey were also plentiful in the book. Which isn't surprising since its what their relationship started as. Many of them were in the heat of the moment because the sexual chemistry between them was off the charts, they seriously couldn't get enough of each other. However, the story itself had a lack luster climax to it that was resolves very quickly and then the story was over.

"Keep loving me like this, and I just might let you stay forever."
He nuzzled against her neck and whispered, "As you Wish, ' princess"

Overall, Making You Mine was a pleasurable contemporary romance. With that epilogue though I'm dying for the next book , Searching for Love.





3.5 stars

 

[Erin Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Star review of Making You Mine (The Bradens & Montgomerys: Pleasant Hill - Oak Falls #5) by Melissa Foster
  
This is Knox Bentley and Aubrey Stewart’s story and what an entertaining story it was. I have read several books by Melissa Foster and I thoroughly enjoy her writing style.
 
Knox is fed up with the hook-ups he and Aubrey have engaged in over the last couple of years, having finally realized that he wants more from the strong and independent business woman, the only problem is convincing her as she seems to be happy to leave things the way they are.
 
Their attraction and chemistry is sizzling and intense. However there is certainly miss communication between them, which led to some fun interactions.

Making You Mine certainly ticked the boxes for me. Knox is swoon worthy, protective and altogether a great guy. Can he convince Aubrey to take a chance on a relationship?

I love Knox and Aubrey and found them easy to relate to as I did the secondary characters. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series.

[Carly Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Making You Mine’ is the fifth book in the ‘Braden and Montgomery Pleasant Hill and Oak Falls’ series by Melissa Foster, and I was given a copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book is about Aubrey Stewart and Knox Bentley, two business driven singletons, that can’t help continuing to hook up with one another. After some helpful meddling, they always appear to attend the same business events, and always end up catching one another’s attention.

Aubrey is very cautious, she has worked hard to forge her career, and does not want to be the stereotypical woman who ‘falls for a man and gives up everything’. This thought has held her back in love, and she doesn’t dedicate a lot of time to relationships.

Knox is equally as driven and does not give much away in the beginning of just how successful he is. He has always strived to be independent from his family, forging his own way, and making his own goals. He is very much a lone wolf, like Aubrey, but he can’t help but be attracted to how inspirational and motivated she is.

But when after two years, Knox attempts to prove to Aubrey that they can be just as successful as a couple, as they are at hooking up, will it all backfire?

This book is full of chemistry and sweet moments, that you can’t help but wish for Knox to be in your life! He is very attentive, and when he’s set his sights on something, he’s very much ‘all in’. Him and Aubrey together are like their very own little pack and I loved it.

As always, Foster enables you to fully become a part of her fictional world, by enabling you to get to know the Bentley’s and the Stewart’s, and I absolutely love the relationship Aubrey has with her two football playing brothers.

Knox has had a very different kind of upbringing, but The way he looks out for both of his siblings is incredibly admirable.

This book was the perfect romantic read for a cosy night in, and had me swooning over yet another amazing book boyfriend. Foster just simply knows what women want!

Making You Mine is the perfect read for all romance lovers, and can be read as a stand-alone, or as part of this expanding series. Once you start reading a Melissa Foster book, I can guarantee that you will not be able to stop! They are utterly romantic and totally swoon worthy!

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yay! A new book by Melissa Foster is out and if you know me then you know it was on my must read list. So I was so excited to get a chance to read it. Melissa’s books never fail me. I love every single one of them. They always have a great storyline and have me hooked by the first couple pages. Her newest book is called Making You Mine and it follows Knox and Aubrey which we have met in some of the other books. Best part is these books can be read alone or in a series. So don’t worry about starting with this book first.

Knox and Aubrey are friends with benefits and have known each other forever. They are so much alike but so different too. I love their charisma and attitudes. These two are both explosive and perfect together but so much so that it makes it hard for either one to get what they want.

Aubrey is strong willed and a control freak. She is not gonna let a man take any credit for her success or slow her down and turn her into a housewife. She definitely has to wear the pants in the relationship. She has sworn off dating, relationships, and family so she can be successful in her career. Can Knox break her and get her to let him in?

Knox is a caring and stubborn guy. He knows what he wants and he goes for it. He has a jump first figure it out as you go attitude and it has worked out fine for him so far until Aubrey. Can he smooth talk Aubrey into more than friends with benefits or will he be pushed to the curb? Will Aubrey give up a little control and let Knox lead?

You definitely have to read the book! It was so good! I never take more than a day or two to read these books because they are that good. Aubrey and Knox’s story is sweet, funny, frustrating, sexy, and hot! I love a girl who isn’t afraid to take what she wants so this was awesome. Go get your copy today because you don’t want to miss this one!

[The Book Junkie Reads . . . · Rating 5 out of 5]

Knox, Aubrey, billionaires, lavish life style

Overall 5 out of 5 stars
Performance 5 out of 5 stars
Story 4 out of 5 stars

Knox and Aubrey had an understanding for the past few years. Hot, sweaty, intense, exhilarating sex with no strings. That was until things changed. Knox had time to exam his life and realized that he found that one person that makes his life the more. Aubrey was still in denial and she was not going to allow for a connection that went outside the scope of sex with not attachments.

Watching Aubrey struggle with the reality of what she was experiencing with Knox was a little sad. She was so focused on making things on her own in her own way. She was losing site of the connection that could lift her up to that next level. Her winter getaway weekend that was a work weekend turned in to so much more. She got a chance to see another side of Knox and a little more of herself.

Aubrey falling in love with Knox was delightful to watch. Seeing them grow together and figure things out was enchanting with the winter snow.

Andi Arndt makes it better every time. Adding JAson Clarke and you got a strong sexy male voice that give you the pitch and tone and helps set things up just right.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love is like magnet

It sticks whatever you do. It is like a glue that you cannot get rid of no matter what you are doing . This story glued me from the first chapter and right to the end. It is not only funny but burning flames like the fireplace.

Friendship, family struggles and success is not only you will love, to laugh and cry on as well. Ms. Foster keeps me going and going like Mr. Bunny, the Energizer with her stories and you will beg for more.

[Mishie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Cheetos Stars!!

I just love reading Melissa’s books because they always leave me feeling warm and happy. Her characters are such badasses taking over the world in their own ways! They are strong, humanitarian, funny, sweet, sexy, and genuine! Also, her books are so vast in terms of family series, like, she’s built an entire country with all her characters!😉 They can be read as standalone but reading them in sequence would be fun because they are all somewhat interconnected or crossing over books worlds! It’s so cool!

They clicked as friends, lovers, and in business. They were a perfect match, and she’d not only gotten under his skin, she’d also burrowed into his heart, something no woman had ever accomplished.

Knox and Aubrey.
Knox is a few years younger than Aubrey and that immediately was a plus for me. The age gap wasn’t much but I still liked the idea of a younger guy for the h.
Knox was just perfect! Ugh, you are going to fall in love with the way he woos Aubrey!! Aubrey is one strong minded babe. She owns Ladies Who Writes (LWW) with her friends, Libby and Preston, and they make book to movies adaptations!
Despite Knox’s family wealth, he paved his way to the top on his own. He’s a self-made billionaire just like Aubrey and I love how they use their wealth and connections for the betterment of others.

”I like your sharp edges as much as I like your sweet, soft curves. You keep me on my toes, Wattsy, and I keep you on yours. We’re a perfect match.”

There was a lot of characters reintroduced here who were already existing in their own separate book series’. It got a bit too much for me because I didn’t know any of them (yet) but I’d bet it was lovely for those who knows them from their previous reads because it was like a life update for all of them. There was a lot of babies!😅
We are introduced to Knox’s brother, Landon, and I already want his book in my hand like RIGHT NOW. I want his story because it’s an MM one!!😍
Knox and Aubrey’s story was really sweet and of course hot, and I love how their story progressed.
The book ends with Charlotte and Beau Braden’s wedding which are the MC’s from Anything For Love which I know want to read as well, but also it preps us a bit for Zev Braden’sstory that’s going to be the next one in thie series, Searching For Love. And I can already sense it’s going to be a juicy one!😉


*I received a free e-arc in exchange for my honest review and opinions. Thank you Wildfire Marketing Solutions and Melissa Foster.*

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I honestly struggled with this book. It's my 2nd time reading a book by this author and I'm obviously in the minority in not really connecting with her books/characters. I usually listen to an audio book in a day or two, but this book took me a week to get through and it was a short book...

I'll start with the good. I loved Knox. He was one of my favorite book boyfriends, that's for sure. Knox has been in love with Aubrey for a couple years, but Aubrey is a career woman who doesn't have time for men, especially not the tempting Knox. They hook up when they're at the same charity events, but that's all they ever are. Until Knox finally makes the decision (again) to change that and so the book starts off with Aubrey having spent the night with him. They're inseparable for a while after that thanks to Knox being smart and keeping her close.

Aubrey does something with making films, I was never quite sure what her occupation was since most of this book was spent explaining how she was looking for a place to film a book written by her best friend. She wants to film at what we'll learn is Knox's family's inn. So he says he 'knows the owners' and can see if he can pull some strings to get her the yes she wants to film there. It was certainly clever, albeit sneaky. He technically didn't lie lol. Once Aubrey is around Knox all the time and gets to see the real Knox, it was inevitable that she'd fall for him. Knox was one of the sweetest and caring heroes I've read about, nothing about him was fake. He did so much for his sister when she needed someone to lean on. He was apparently a sweetheart as a kid as well (the swing story was cute). But he was sort of the black sheep of the family, so things weren't always easy with his family.

Aubrey wasn't my favorite person initially. She was headstrong, yes, but she was incredibly stubborn. Once Knox gets her to his family's inn though, she loosens up and starts to soften a bit. Her caring side comes out and she seems like a real person instead of someone with that fake tough exterior who thinks she doesn't need anyone. By the end I truly liked her.

So why only 3 stars (if I'm being generous)? Honestly, the book just didn't hold my interest. It took me a long time to get into it (at least halfway through). It was okay, but there was nothing remarkable or unique about the book that I'd remember a few months down the road. There were also a couple other things that the author does that I don't like and they seem to be consistent across all her books.

This author writes in 3rd person, which is fine if you're reading the actual book. When listening to a dual-narrator audio book though, it always flows better in 1st person. It just seems weird when a narrator who is portraying a character is speaking about something they're doing and saying their name instead of 'I' - but that's probably just me. I struggled with getting into the book initially because of this.

This is part of a series and I hadn't read any of the books in the series thus far, but since the author says you can read them as a standalone, I went ahead and did that. I wish I hadn't. There are SOOOOOO many secondary characters in this book that it's almost impossible to know all of them or how they connect with the H/h. I had this same complaint with the other book I read by the author before. I feel like I just miss out on so much by not understanding their friendships and connections (the epilogue in this one had an abundance of characters I would have known had I read the rest of the series).

I'm familiar with the "Ladies Who Write" (the real-life group) and didn't realize Ms. Foster was part of that group, but I guess that's why she kept mentioning LWW throughout this book and Aubrey being one of the founders of the sisterhood. I don't remember the other authors including LWW in any of their books though, so it was a bit weird hearing it as a fictional group of women (not necessarily authors) in this book.

[Ruthie Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads ~~

All of Melissa Foster's books all have links to others, so a regular reader will enjoy finding the connections and tying together families and places. I loved that the fictitious online book club that al faithful fans wish they could join not only gets a mention, but even gets some new members!

Knox and Aubrey have been hooking up for the last couple of years, mainly after high profile charity events that they support. She is so not into being in a relationship that brief one off liaisons are all she is prepared to indulge herself in ... but she is starting to realise that Knox has become more than just chance - and that is a worry. Her work is key, she has made a huge success of her working life, and has no intention of being taken off track.

Knox is well aware that he is very invested in Aubrey, and yet plays by her rules, as that is better than no Aubrey at all ... but that is now starting to get old, and somehow he needs to have a break through. He has the strong support of both his and her assistants, which has ensured that they attended the same events, but he needs more from them to succeed.

I loved how the story developed and how Knox was prepared to make the effort to wait for Aubrey to come to terms with her feelings and then change her world view to be able to enjoy not being at work, not denying her own desires.

Another very romantic and engaging story, with plenty of old and new friends who will no doubt deserve their own HEA in future installments - I cannot wait!

[Cathy Geha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Making You Mine by Melissa Foster
The Bradens & Montgomerys: Pleasant Hills – Oak Falls

Aubrey Stewart is one focused woman who has built a profitable business with her friends. Her focus in the group is media and movie making. For a couple of years wealthy Knox Bentley has been her friend with benefits and the two manage to have some steamy tear up the sheets encounters when they meet at evening benefits. Knox is ready to move on to dating but Aubrey is leery as she fears drama and the time drain dating might create. Fairly straightforward love story without major disasters to overcome this book deals with big issues related to family, career, eating disorders and relationships. How the two find their eventual HEA was well worth the read today!

What I liked:
* Aubrey – feisty, knows what she wants, smart and great with Knox – a great person
* Knox – alpha male, knows what he wants, has a plan, smart and just what Aubrey needs
* Aubrey’s family: close, caring and absolutely perfect
* The writing – it drew me in, made me feel and want to get to know the characters better
* The way Knox was there for his siblings
* The meal with Knox’s family and the Big Game Day part
* The all day date in the city
* Actually….all of it except…

What I didn’t like:
* The type of childhood Knox and his siblings experienced
* Landon – though he had his reasons for being the way he was
* Having to say goodbye to the characters at the end of the book

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I like to read more by this author? Definitely

Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

[Nina Sollorz-Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

In " Schenk mir dein Herz (Die Bradens & Montgomerys, Pleasant Hill ... 5) " sind Aubrey und Knox von ihrem ersten Aufeinandertreffen fasziniert voneinander, doch beide können es sich zu diesem Zeitpunkt noch nicht eingestehen.
Für Aubrey, die mit ihrem Medienunternehmen LWW sich voll und ganz ausgefüllt fühlt und nicht nur sich, sondern auch ihrer Footballbessesener Familie etwas beweisen möchte, hat keine Zeit und Lust einen Mann in ihr Leben zu lassen.
Knox hat schon in jungen Jahren begonnen sich von seiner aus alten Geldadel kommender Familie zu lösen und sich in sein eigenes Unternehmen gestürzt, nur um mit der Zeit festzustellen, dass ihm etwas entscheidendes fehlt.
Knox ahnt auch was, bzw wer dies ist und von da an setzt er alles daran Aubrey von sich und einer gemeinsamen Zukunft zu überzeugen.
Ist Aubrey bereit Knox eine Chance zu geben und ihn in ihr Leben und Alltag zu lassen, auch auf die Gefahr hin, dass dies zu einem durch Knox verursachten Dramas werden könnte?
Die Story hat mich sofort wieder in den Bann der Bradens & Montgomerys gezogen, dabei bleibt sie spannungsgeladen sowie abwechslungsreich. Es gibt einiges zum schmunzeln bis herzhaft zu lachen, so manche mitfühlende Momente und das ein oder andere zu vergießen.
Ich konnte das Buch kaum noch aus der Hand legen, da ich wissen wollte, ob es für beide ein Happy End gab.
Das Buch bekommt von mir eine Lese / Kaufempfehlung und 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Sterne.

[BookAddict · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I’m kind of over the billionaire trope, this is one author who can make me forget all that because her characters are so relatable and enticing. And when the hero is the one to fall first and coaxes the reluctant heroine into facing what's been in her heart all along? Yes, please! Sure, they may have business and social issues a lot of us may not relate to, but when all that is removed, they're still two people made vulnerable by fear of the unknown and all those foreign emotions they have no control over.

Aubrey Stewart is a self-made woman, heading up the media department of LWW Enterprises, the company she started with her two best friends. Knox Bentley, successful in his own right, is Aubrey's go-to hookup after social events, until Knox wants more, and Aubrey has no idea what to do with that. She may be cool and confident in the boardroom, but when it comes to dating and relationships, she's a fish out of water.

These two characters are so much fun, with all that push and pull between them. Knox is just the kind of hero we would all love to have pursuing us -- a charming go-getter with a heart of gold. If you’re looking for a book with plenty of steam and lots of laughter, but one that also hits you in the feels (and steam, did I mention steam?), you’ll love Knox and Aubrey's story.

[Shelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

MAKING YOU MINE brings me another one of my favorite couples - the kind who is friends beforehand. To me, it always creates a deeper level of love between characters. Aubrey and Knox have the "friends with benefits" thing going on but when it's a Foster couple, you know they have some red-hot flames flickering just beneath the surface. 

Let me be clear, Aubrey and Knox have far surpassed the flickering flames and are fully-engulfed! Even if Aubrey doesn't want to admit it -- the truth is laid right out there for her. She doesn't want to let go of the here and now because it's safe, comfortable, and is fulfilling all of her needs. Knox is willing to give her all of that (and so much more!) but Aubrey keeps her perspective on their casual sex arrangement. 

Knox is incredibly sweet and caring. If I'd been in Aubrey's shoes, my compartmentalizing of the relationship would have long fell to the wayside. His determination and dedication to her is swoon-worthy as I think we all want someone who has that much faith in a future. I think Knox's attention to the "little" things finally pulled the blinders off for Aubrey and allowed her to open her heart. 

The support characters are always an extra special treat and I know Foster will soon give us their stories, too! She never disappoints with such beautiful love stories and couples. Another top favorite for me (BTW -- I'm going to need a bigger "top" list for all my favorite couples!).

I have volunteered to share my review and all the opinions are 100% my own.

[Leila · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a cute, sweet, romantic story!

Aubrey and Knox were clearly made for each other and the snow at the inn… could their relationship really start in a better fairy tale location!?

The family and friend dynamics were different in this book. Usually, family and friends are a huge focus in the books and are such loving, loud, boisterous families and friends that Aubrey and Knox’s family and friends seemed almost… non-existent.

I can completely understand Knox’s family. Their status; their “horse and pony show”. The strain in the relationships. Knox’s family wasn’t like most of the Melissa Foster families we usually read. It was an interesting shift and I really cannot wait to read Paige and Landon’s stories. I really hope that not only do they get a happy ever after, but that we get to learn more about them as people. I am incredibly intrigued by Paige’s back story and hope she falls in love with a swoon-worthy photographer!

We didn’t get to spend a lot of time with Aubrey’s family, but I found that Aubrey as a person is very similar to myself – tough exterior, girly inside. Doesn’t like drama, but loves being in love. Has walls to protect herself. She and Knox were the perfect challenge for each other and really made a heart stopping couple.

I hope we get to catch up with Aubrey and Knox again in future books and cannot wait to read what Melissa gives us next!!

[Jessica Alcazar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m gonna skip right over the part where I tell you how much I enjoy a Melissa Foster feelgood romance because I think I’ve stated it about a thousand times. I’m just going to jump right to Knox and Aubrey and their greatness. They are magic people! Their compatibility was electric from the start. And it wasn’t a given. They worked for it. Better yet, Knox did LOL Aubrey was super independent. SO much so that it bordered into stubbornness for me, but it fit. It made sense. For them. It all happened exactly as you would expect/want it to happen. Their progression from friends with benefits to real/true friends to lovers to HEA unfolded for us so beautifully I was just happy thru the entire read.

I am just having the greatest time being a romance fiction reader these days. And yes, I didn’t expect to not be satisfied with this story, but I wasn’t just satisfied, I was happy when I read it. It’s stories like these and authors like Melissa Foster that truly make lack of sleep worthwhile :) lol

[Kari Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Knox came from a privileged background, but he has forged his own path and is successful in his own right. From the moment that he met Aubrey he was drawn to her in a way that he had never felt before and they have been involved in a casual relationship for the last couple of years. The only catch is that lately he has been wanting more but convincing her may be the biggest challenge of all.

Aubrey is focused on ensuring that the business she created with her best friends is a success and can’t afford to be distracted by any man and that includes Knox. She enjoys the time she spends with him, but she is challenging him every step of the way when he wants to make it something more.

Knox was patient yet determined when it came to showing Aubrey that he wouldn’t stand in the way of her dreams but only wanted to be by her side to share them. Humorous banter, hot chemistry with not only great characters but a great group of secondary characters and all the feels as Aubrey realizes that she really can have it all.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must say at first I didn't like Aubrey AT ALL~ I was yelling for Knox to RUN!!! I mean the two of them are scorching hot together (let me tell you - you may need some way of fanning yourself because these two together are SIZZLING!) but when Knox decides he wants more than their usual hookups... Aubrey was ready to run and run fast.

Knox is charming, sexy, cocky and patient as hell. Aubrey can fell that things are changing but she's always been so focused on her career, she just never expected that she would be able to open up to more.

As the story progresses and Aubrey's walls start to fall, these two together are so much fun and I really loved tagging along on their love story.

Another great read from Melissa. The Bradens and Montgomerys are my addiction and I can't wait for the next love story to hit my kindle.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not sure how Melissa Foster does it, but yet again she’s come up with a story that just pulls you in. This was a book that I couldn’t put down. I read the whole thing in one setting because I just had to know what would happen next. A great thing about all of these books is that you can read them as stand alone and you don’t feel like you’re missing anything. Knox and Aubrey are two of the toughest, sharpest, hardest working people in the business world, but that left them with a big hole in their personal lives. Knox is a man after my own heart. He refused to give up even when Aubrey did her best to push him away. The sub stories in this book really got to me. To see both of their family dynamics and realize how much of an affect they had on Knox and Aubrey’s feelings about relationship. It’s STEAMY is parts. Definitely one you’ll want to read!

[Nicki Conroy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot imagine a better pairing than the Bradens and Montgomerys and the Ladies Who Write. Pulling those wonderful women into this series will only make the characters more involved.


Take Aubrey, for a great example. She is a strong, working, brilliant woman. She has always put her career ahead of her personal life and has never thought a thing about it until Knox.


Knox, on the other hand, may be a billionaire but he is trying hard to carve his own niche. He purposely did not join the family business. Yet, when he wants to help Aubrey, he calls in family favors.


Knox and Aubrey will make a great power couple in future books. They both work hard and both live hard now. To find out how they managed to meet and what happens when Knox tries to help Aubrey, pick up a copy of Melissa Foster's Making You Mine.


I have volunteered to share my review and all the opinions are 100% my own.

[Kaitlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Making You Mine is great addition to the Love in Bloom novels. The book is full of chemistry, romance, and easy to enjoy.

The main characters have a strong connection. They're both very stubborn when it comes to something they want.

Aubrey is an independent and successful businesswoman. She wants to make it on her own and not receive hand outs. She's loyal to her friends.

Knox is a typical alpha male who knows what he wants. He's patient with pursuing Aubrey because he knows how stubborn she can be.

Aubrey's constant pushing Knox away towards to the beginning of the book made me want to shake her. If she didn't want him, I'd take him. I enjoyed reading about Knox slowly breaking down Aubrey's walls.

I received this book through an advance reader's copy. I volunteered to leave my review. All opinions are my own.