Resisting the Grump by Ashley Munoz

 

Once upon a time he broke me, and for that, I refuse to fall for him again.

Resisting the Grump, an all-new small-town romantic comedy full of heat and humor from bestselling author Ashley Munoz is available now!

Stalking the town recluse wasn’t exactly wise.

Davis was five years older than me…antisocial and temperamental. And there was the little fact that he didn’t know I existed.
Still, I gave him my heart, and he crushed it.

So I picked up the pieces and ran away to New York City. I had a plan that kept my heart intact for four years.
But one phone call changed everything.

Returning home meant facing the past…and the man who ruined me.
I had hoped that the mountain had swallowed him whole. Alas, as I set out to help my parents, I discover he’s not only alive and well, but that they apparently love the jerk.

He has no idea that we have a past, which is both a relief and salt in the wound.
I promise myself I’ll ignore how his eyes linger on me, or the way his touch feels like a live wire, and I’ll remember that once upon a time he broke me and for that I refuse to fall for him again.
But I can’t control that he seems to be falling for me this time.

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

My review:

Resisting the Grump is the first book in the Mount Macon series which is written by Ashley Munoz, a new-to-me author.  I loved the small-town, grumpy, and recluse theme of the book.  

Raelyn had a crush on Davis, who was five years older when she was a teenager.  He never acknowledged her or even realized who she was so after her heart got broken, she moved to New York City.  She returns home to help her parents save their family restaurant only to discover Davis has become close friends with her parents.  

Davis is intrigued by Raelyn and the stories her parents have told him.  When he meets her, he doesn’t understand why she is so angry toward him.  He doesn't realize she is the girl that stalked him as a teenager.  Can their love survive the secrets when they are exposed?

This was an entertaining book and I enjoyed it.  Although I was so glad to see Raelyn finally understand how her stalking Davis was wrong.  She was so immature, and she took it to the extreme.  So, I can understand his anger when he discovers she is the teenager who stalked him.  I am interested in the next book and hope it is Nora’s.

I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Download your copy today!
Read FREE in Kindle Unlimited
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3OYL7uu
Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/resistingthegrump

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3PRw86q

Excerpt

“Can I kiss you, Rae?” he whispered, moving along my skin.
Shaking my head, my throat bobbed. “No.”
“You don’t seem like the kind of girl who likes to be asked, so I’m just going to do it.”
“Try it and see what happens,” I smiled wickedly.
He stared at me, a tiny smile lifting in the corner of his mouth. “You can’t resist me forever.”
“Watch me.” I glared defiantly, hating that he’d called out something that simmered so close to my core.
His body pressed against mine for a second longer then it vanished. “I think I’ll kiss you when you’re least expecting it. Maybe in church or something.”
“Why bother with this ruse? I overheard you talking that night in the garage. I know my dad asked you to place the order, and I know you think I’m too much work to befriend.” My palms went flat against the brick, so I could somehow find balance.
His stormy glare cut through me, as if I were a cold stick of butter and he was the searing knife, just pulled from the fire.
“You misheard…or at least misunderstood.”
Tilting my head, I asked, “Did he tell you to place the order and lie to me?”
Without a single hitch in his voice, or flicker in his gaze, he answered. “Yes.”
“Then I don’t know what’s left to—”
His grip returned to my waist as his body pressed into mine, pushing me tighter against the brick at my back.
“You misunderstood…I don’t want to be your friend, Rae, and you are a lot of work, but if you haven’t noticed, work doesn’t scare me off. I like work. I like trouble. You’re a fucking delicious mixture of both, and please understand me when I say this”—he lowered his head, his lips just barely a breath away from mine—“I like kissing you.”

About Ashley
Ashley resides in the Pacific Northwest, where she lives with her four children and her husband. She loves coffee, reading fantasy, and writing about people who kiss and cuss.

Connect with Ashley
Website: https://www.ashleymunozbooks.com/
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3MOeXAW
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2JatpXh
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3MMhvzz
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3F9k1gS
TikTok: https://bit.ly/3ON2lfg