Sweet Talker

by Fern Fraser

Part of the Love on the Sunshine Coast collection.

Sara is looking for a vacation fling. Brax wants to be left alone. When a grumpy single dad and a ray of sunshine get together, sparks fly, but hey, what happens on vacation stays on vacation, right?

Sara

Every time he looks at me, my heart races. His relentless pursuit makes me feel irresistible. I've been playing it safe for too long. His touch sets me on fire, and the walls around my heart begin to crumble.

It's too bad I'm only visiting before I start my new job. While we're together, we're bright, but we can't be anything more than a vacation fling.

BRAX

I knew the moment I laid eyes on this curvy guest that my days as a recluse were over.

I lost my sister in a car accident, as well as my NHL career. My only focus now is raising her son. Sara is passing through, and though I know I should resist temptation, loving her is not a choice. It’s our destiny.

A steamy, short, instalove romance between a protective older man and a young woman. Low drama, high heat, and a steamy sweet happily ever after.

Get ready to warm up this summer in beautiful B.C., Canada where the days are hot, and the nights are hotter. Join some of your favorite romance authors as they bring love to the Sunshine Coast.

Genres: Contemporary

94 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 28, 2022

About the author

Fern Fraser is a steamy short contemporary romance author who knows love at first sight is real. Fern's books feature possessive Alpha Heroes and the Strong Sassy Women who bring them to their knees. The path to true love isn’t always a straight line, but with laughter and steam, happy endings are real. Every Single Time.

Fern Fraser: Short Romance with Heart and Hot Happy Endings.

Reviews

[Terra Oenning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well thus book was good and will have you hooked from the beginning until the end and the storyline flowed throughout the book. Sara was in a bad car accident and had a lot to get through so she could walk again and not working for her brother inlaw has a meeting with Brax and misses it but now at her hotel can she and Brax work everything out or will it be hard for either one to walk from each?.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Oriana Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brax and Sara were meeting for a new job interview. But they kind of missed each other😉 They meet again at the B&B where Sara is staying. They meet and fall hard and fast for each other. Instalove, sweet, romantic, short with steam and safe with a sweet HEA and no drama😍😍😍😍

[Mulan Book Princess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a sweet OTT novella. Sara and Brax are such wonderful characters. Brax is a bit grumpy, but falls instantly for Sara when he sees, her. And what a meet cute to remember as I thought it was sweet. They both have such emotional pasts to overcome, but they are so much stronger together. I found their chemistry steamy, and loved supportive they are of each other. This book was emotional and enjoyable.

I received a free advanced reader copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my fair and honest review.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous, I absolutely love this one. It was a nice, quick, short read.

Brax meets Sara when she has a panic attack and he calms her down. She is suppose to have a meeting with him, and is running late, when it happens she doesn't know it's Brax who is calming her. She tries to message him but doesn't have service. She decides to head to the resort she book and email him when she gets there. Brax is dealing with his nephew's grandparents taking him to spend time with him. Brax's sister, brother in law and his parents where in a car accident and now Brax has custody of his nephew. He tells her about leaving hockey to raise his nephew. Brax's aunt checks Sara in and tells her she'll have her nephew take her things to her room, so Sara asks if she can have access to the internet to send an email, Annie Brax's aunt tells her they only have it on their computer. Sara hears some shouting and tells her to never mind she'll wait. Brax appears, Sara can't believe the handsome stranger that helped her is standing in front of her, Brax can't believe she chose his aunt resort. He introduces himself, then she introduces herself and she tells him she didn't have reception. He then walks her to her room, he tells her he can book her tour or whatever else she needs help with. He finds out she is there on her own, then he asks her if she has plans tonight, offering to catch up on their work stuff over dinner. Sara head out to go for a run after Brax leaves. When Brax knocks on her door she is just getting out of the shower and opens the door in a towel. He brings a picnic basket filled with goodies for them to eat, she goes to get dressed, while he pulls all the food out. He asks her why she's here alone, so she tells him what happened to her and how Reid her brother in law helped her out. She is now working for the company Reid owns and is why she came to meet Brax. After she tells him what happened to her he pulls her into his lap, and kisses her. The noise of the hot tub pulls them apart, he asks her if she wants to get in, nervous to undress in front of him he turns off the lights and the candles are the only light around them. They begin kissing in the hot tub and he pulls her into his lap, she straddles him. He asks her if she wants to stay in the hot tub or move to the bed. She tells him she wants to move to the bed, they towel dry off. She lays on the bed and he climbs over top of her. She grips him and hold him at her entrance, he moves into her slowly. They fit together just right, like they are made for each other. Then spend the next few days together, he shows her how the tourist live. Driving back to the resort, she know she has to tell him the one secret she's been keeping from him. When he sees something is bothering her he pulls over and she tells him what's on her mind, he tells her he loves her, she tells him she loves him too. That it might be a problem for them, but he tells her they will work it out together, he wants to be in her life. They get married a year after they met, they moved to Chicago to be closer to Sara's family and work, his nephew's grandparents live close by also. Braxton will follow his wife wherever she goes. She is everything to him, he can't imagine his life without her.

[Thisbe · Rating 5 out of 5]

*spoilers* Brax is Sara's first client. She is assigned as the projects account manager and Brax approached Reis, Sara's brother in law, with the idea of setting up a charity to help single dads who need financial and emotional support. Sara is running late for the meething and due to bad cell reception her message is not delivered. When she is about to faint there is a guy helping her out and they have an immediate conneciton, but let each other go. When she arrives at the ressort, where she is staying for a week, she meets her mystery guy again and then even learns he is Brax, who she was supposed to meet. They share the special connection and he asks her for dinner. They are both able to open up. Brax ended his professional sports career to take care of his 4 year old nephew Chase, that was six years ago. His sister and her husband and their parents all died in a car accident. Now he is away for more than a day for the first time, staying with his grandparents, the parents of his father. While having dinner Sara tells her story about the car accident and being paralyzed for a year, how she dreamed of being a mermaid and her brother in law paid for her special treatment. Originlly Sara wanted a summer fling, also never having done something like this, but hearts are deeply involved. Brax feels like he has been hiding with his aunt Annie the last years and Sara makes him feel so many things. Can they make a future work and fit in each others live, him living in Canada and her living in the USA. Also Sara is not able to have children and is afraid of him missing out with her.
It was bittersweet talk between Sara and Brax. It was heart melting when they opened up about their past with each other. Brax really is a sweet talker, how he lifts Sara up and when he talks about their future and her fear of becoming a mom to Chase his words made my eyes teary. Sara is an mazing woman and fighter. I remembered a scene from her sisters story and that also brought tears to my eyes, she really is a mermaid and fighter having come a long way. The little descrptions above the chapters made me smile. I love how the stories are connected, like trhough the mermaid and with her sister, but you can still enjoy it very much, if you read it as a stand alone.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nova · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am voluntarily reviewing an advanced reader copy of this book.

Sara had spent the best part of two years rebuilding not only her life but her body after a near fatal car crash. Being told she would be paralysed was not an option, so here she is her first outing as a Project Manager for her brother in law Reid only she’s running late, devastated when she arrives and finds the meeting room empty. On the verge of a panic attack a handsome stranger talks her down from. There is a connection between them that Sara has never had before but she is in town for a business meeting not to fall in love. But when her handsome stranger turns out to be the man who helped her will she continue to deny her feelings for him or let love into her heart?

Brax became the father to his sisters son after a fatal car accident, he walked away from a lucrative sports career with no regrets, his nephew means more to him than anything, learning how difficult being a single father is his new dream is to create a charity with financial and emotional support and was meant to be meeting with Reid Griffiths Project Manager only it’s a no show. Leaving annoyed and disappointed he makes his way home, only on his way he finds the most beautiful woman he has ever seen about to faint, reacting quickly she is in his arms and in that moment everything clicks and he knows there is something between them but after he has calmed her down they part ways never learning each other’s names. Regrets cloud his day but he has work to do and makes his trip to the family resort he runs with his aunt, only to discover the woman he let walk away is a new guest and also the project manager he was meant to be meeting. Is this fate making sure they don’t miss out on love?

Easy read with two fantastic characters, they felt so real when expressing emotions you can’t help but read to the end. To me this was a must read. 4.2*

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sara and Brax's Story . . .

Sara Douglas and Brax Phillips seem to have their lives inter-connected to each other. Sara had been in a severe car accident that paralyzed her for a year. Her brother-in-law Reid Griffin hires her as account manager for Action Institute’s charitable works division. Brax had talked to Reid about his idea for a charity to help single dads who need financial and emotional support, and Reid liked the idea, agreeing to fund it and manage it. He assigns Sara who heads for Canada to meet with Brax Phillips.

Brax was a former Chicago Flames hockey player who suddenly retired from the sport. He had quit to become a father to his young nephew when the child’s parents were killed in a car accident. The meeting between Sara and Brax didn’t happen (sort of) at first since she was late when she stopped to help a marathon runner get to a first aid station. She tried to send a text but the phone message never got sent and the meeting room was empty when she arrived. Fortunately, a stranger helped her get through her panic attack, holding her in his arms and talking gently to her to guide her through it. She later finds that the stranger was Brax. Both of them felt an attraction to each other. But he lives in Canada and she would have to return home. There is also the fact that she cannot have children. Would they settle for a fling and then part company? Or is Fate trying to point them to a future together?

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet Talker by Fern Fraser is a steamy insta-love novella that is a quick read with plenty of sweet moments, steam, and a happily-ever-after. Sara Douglas is an anxious young woman entering the work force at the Action Institute after a major car accident. Her first work project? Meet with the famous Chicago Flames former hockey player; Brax Phillips. The meeting didn’t quite go as planned but there is an immediate attraction once the two finally come together to chat. We learn that Brax left behind his professional career after he gained custody of his nephew. He now helps his Aunt manage her resort and spending time with his son. Brax is an older man that is nicknamed “Sweet Talker” because he does just that… talks sweetly.

This was a fun entertaining read. It was sweet and spicy. No drama or cliffhanger ending. Definitely read this novella if you need something easy and sweet to read in between longer novels!

Tropes: Insta-love, age-gap, happily ever after
Heat: 2/5
TW: Death, grief, loss, fertility issues

[Hanna Barker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a part of the Love on the Sunshine Coast collection and focuses on Brax and Sara. We met Sara in her sister's story (Sweet Surrender) while she was going through an unimaginably difficult time after a car accident left her paralyzed. Brax is a former hockey player who gave his career up to raise his nephew after the death of his sister and brother-in-law. Sara got hired by her brother-in-law Reid to work as an accounts manager at Action Institute charity and when Brax pitched his idea to Reid, he set up a meeting with Sara. When they meet, there is an instant connection between the two but they have some important areas in life to navigate to get their HEA. I absolutely loved this story and am so happy that Sara and Brax found each other. They were exactly what the other needed. Great story and great addition to the collection!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Suzanne Houser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fern Fraser joins the delightful Love on the Sunshine Coast multi-author series with Sweet Talker, a steamy, entertaining instalove romance. Brax is an ex-hockey player who retired when he took custody of his nephew following the deaths of his sister and brother-in-law. Living with his aunt and helping her around her resort on the Sunshine Coast, Brax is on the grumpy side until he meets the younger, beautiful Sara. In town to meet with Brax regarding a non-profit idea for single dads, Sara crushes on him from their very first meeting - though she has no idea it's him at their meet-cute. Once they discover who the other is, neither can deny the palpable chemistry between them. But will that be enough to give them a fighting chance when she is based in Chicago and is carrying her own baggage?

A sweet, sexy, instalove romance that is an absolutely perfect fit for this wonderful series!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[casvec · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love story that have the unique twist of fate line that where it seems like chance that you are left with a weird feeling of coincidence.

Sara is to be meeting with Brax, but is running late, cell service is spotty. When she gets to the location she ends up on the wrong side and even with the running still is late. Brax is at the location and is frustrated that the person he is to meet is late, cell service is still spotty, and when he reaches the elevator finds a beautiful woman that catches more than his eye.

This is a heartwarming story that you just want to get lost in and not stop till the end. It dives into Brax reasons for ending his hockey career and allows to expand on the family that seemed closed off before.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Krissy C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received as an ARC and leaving my honest review voluntarily. Although the story is short, it doesn't lack the sweetness, steam and depth to draw me in and keep me hooked until the end. Both characters were endearing and had depth and connection that made them interesting and a chemistry that was hot! Loved the flow and straight forward plot and wished it was a little longer so you can actually read and experience the connection between Sara and Chase rather than have it told to you in the epilogue. But the epilogue did a good job with the wrap up of loose ends and their HEA. Easy to read story worth grabbing for an enjoyable read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Adorable & Steamy Short Romance By Fern

I always love Fern's romance shorts, but some of her MMC's are special and Brax is one of those. A former hockey player (aka hot alpha athlete) with a gooey soft center, he is an amazing character. Brax and Sara are obviously meant to meet and when they do there's an instant connection despite their age difference and respective pasts. They manage to navigate all of that to a sweet and steamy HEA. Great story, likeable characters and a sexy cover - I definitely recommend this book and agree with a previous reviewer that it's the perfect short read in between angsty or dark romances.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Karina · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read about Sara and Drax. Sara is on vacation before she starts her new job with her cousin and her husband as a marketing /PR person. Drax is a man who has been raising his nephew since the accident that took his parents as well as Drax's parents. He seems a little stuck right now. Drax use to be a pro hockey player but gave it up to raise his nephew. He wants to start a foundation for single dad's. Turns out Sara and Drax have mutual friends. Sara can help him with the foundation. Sara was suppose to meet Drax before her vacation but wires got crossed. Turns out Drax is the nephew of the owner of the resort Sara has gone to. Can they find love beyond the week they spend together? This ws a very entertaining read with a great HEA.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

[Natasha Tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a sweet but very emotional story. Sara was working for her brother in law and had been given the job of meeting Brax about setting up a charity to support single dads. When she was late and couldn’t reach him she panicked. A grumpy stranger helped her through her panic attack. She couldn’t believe it when she saw him again when she checked into her hotel and that he was the man she was supposed to be meeting. Both Brax and Sara felt the instant connection but both had some pretty heavy emotional baggage to work through. Sweet, steamy romance with a beautiful HEA.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ms. Shawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sara was in a horrible car accident and was temporarily paralyzed for a year. Her brother in law, Reid Griffin owns Action Institute. He has hired Sara to be the account manager for charitable works. She goes to Canada to meet with Brax Phillips. Brax is the former defenseman for the Chicago Flames hockey team. She is curious because no one seems to know why Brax suddenly retired from hockey.

Why did Brax retire? Will Sara and Brax pursue a personal relationship or be strictly business? If they do get personal, can they make it work since she’s from Chicago and he’s now in Canada?.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cherie Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet, cute, and definitely steamy!

Sara wants to make a good impression for her first business meeting as a new executive. Running late, missing the meeting, and then having an anxiety attack is not the impression she wanted to make. But, meeting the gorgeous man that helped might just turn everything around. Brax was a professional NHL player until his sister and brother-in-law were killed in a car accident leaving him the guardian of his nephew. His life is not how he planned it to be. But, meeting the gorgeous woman might just change everything. These two were absolutely made for each other. This book is sweet, cute, tragic, and definitely steamy! Loved it!!

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great read! It was a quick, short but incredible read. I loved Sara and Brax together. They both have some serious issues but they are able to move past that.
Brax is a father to his nephew due to a horrible car crash. He quit his job as a hockey player to raise his son. Sara survive being paralyzed for about a year. When they originally meet, they both feel the instant attraction.
This author is a favorite of mine. I’ve enjoyed a few of her books and find her work to be incredible.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lisa Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sara is running late for her appointment, this is her new job and with lousy cell service, she hopes she does not make a bad impression. All she knows about the guy is that he left the NHL in the blink of an eye and no one knows why.

Brax looking to set up a charity that will help single fathers, he knows hard it can be when he lost his sister and her husband, their parents, leaving him to raise his nephew.

The two hit it off from the beginning, does he really mean what he says? This is a sweet story, with likable characters.

I received an Advance Readers Copy of this book with no obligation to write a review.

[Lisa D · Rating 4 out of 5]

I usually love books by this author and this one was good but there wasn't any spark for me with the characters. They were both dealing with outside issues and seemed so hesitant with each other and what they wanted. It started out that this was something for her job but then that kind of went by the way side. I liked the characters but it just didn't have the chemistry and connection that I was looking for.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[BP34]

You'll love Sara and Brax's sweet insta love romance. It's an age-gap story with an older man/younger man story. This is part of the Love on the Sunshine Coast collection and can be read as a standalone but there are some inter connecting characters. They both have some baggage from their past that still hangs over them. He gave up his star studded hockey career to raise his nephew after his parents and grandparents were killed in a car accident. The story is short but packs a lot in. I read a free advance copy via Booksprout and voluntarily chose to review it.

[Syd Springer · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars
This was a very moving book. I loved the connection between Brax and Sara. These two have more in common than what meets the eye but when they sit down and talk about their pasts, they realize that they are basically perfect for each other. These two have some issues to work out and but they do get a really sweet and much deserved HEA. I really enjoyed this book and I would recommend it and Ms. Fern as a great author.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Noreen Hussain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brax and Sara are such a sweet couple.Brax meets Sara for the first time when she is having a panic attack and calms her down.When they meet again they realise the meeting they were supposed to have was with each other.They have an instant attraction to each other and start to spend time together.They feelings grow for each other,but they both are from completely different places.Read their story now to find out how they overcome the challenges and get to their HEA.Such a short sweet love story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the author and am voluntarily leaving my review. Brax and Sara have both gone thru major changes in their lives. Accidents created new paths for them. When their paths cross it brings instant attraction, doubts, understanding, acceptance, passion and love. I liked that they were both so deserving of love and family. It will take you thru highs and lows even thought it is a short romance.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

While on vacation Sara meets Brax in an accidental way. These two are complete opposites but they are instantly attracted to each other. She's a single woman passing through town and he's an ex-NHL player who is starting a charity to help out single fathers. This is an age gap, insta love story with believable characters, steam, and a great storyline that had me reading nonstop until the last page. Sweet Talker is part of the multi-author Love on the Sunshine Coast series and I look forward to reading the rest of the series. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

The connection between Brax and Sara was instant, as was their attraction - one moment in time changed their lives for the better. I liked the honesty between them and the respect, love and support, I thought they made a good couple and I enjoyed reading about their lives, especially as I had previously read Sara's sister's story and was happy to see her get her HEA.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Priscilla Oliveira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet Talker is a super sweet and steamy short book. Sara and Brax immediately connect when he helps her through an anxiety attack. What they didn't know at the time was that he was the client she was supposed to meet, but she was late and missed the meeting. But fate found a way to bring the two together when she stayed at his aunt's hotel. From then on nothing could separate the two.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming not only with his words but actions as well when Sara meets Brax for the first and second time. Loved the characters and this carryover in the storyline from Sara previously being introduced in another of Ms. Fraser’s novellas. I liked how this one expanded on grief and anxiety, but with time and patience life can be fulfilling.

I am voluntarily leaving a review for this book that I received free.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, sweet, Insta love
A short, easy to read, insta love story. Both Sara and Brax have bad car accidents in their past that shape their current lives but in each other they find healing long with the instant attraction (and some steamy, hot sex!).
Can this single Dad win the heart of this much younger woman and find peace and happiness together? Invest the hour it will take you to find out how they get their HEA.

[Aliama · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fast paced engaging story. Sara and Brax are great together and have amazing chemistry. Their connection is strong and fate has put them together after the devastation that they’ve both endured. Brax is wonderful for Sara in building her confidence in herself and Sara has Brax focusing on what he needs in life and not just what he feels he needs to do. A wonderful addition to the Sunshine Coast series. I received an arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.