Review for Pining For You (Blueball Band of Brothers Book 5) by Marika Ray

Title: Pining For You

Series: Blueball Band of Brothers, Book 5

Author: Marika Ray

Genre: Small Town Romantic Comedy

Release Date: May 9, 2024

I’ve been in love with my best friend since the day I met her freshman year of high school. She was a halo of sunshine on a rainy day, pulling me out of the shadows and making me feel like life was one big roller-coaster ride of excitement. Until the day we graduated and she left on the back of a Harley with some guy who didn’t deserve her, middle fingers in the air.

Twelve years later, she’s back in Blueball, as if she hadn’t broken my heart and never looked back. This time, she’s headed straight for the courthouse to marry some guy who looks like he’s afraid of the world just so she can inherit some money. He’s clearly all wrong for her too.

I decide fate has given me a second chance to tell her how much she hurt me. I bribe the guy to leave and stand in as her groom at the altar.

If I thought a marriage of convenience would be the way to pin down Rainey Shaw and teach her a lesson, I’m as dumb as the teenager who let her stomp all over his heart.

Because Rainey is back, and I’m half in love with her already.

This was another fabulous story from Marika Ray. I love the town setting of the story in Blueball and all of its people, and Pining for You was a perfect ending to this series. This was another fabulous story from Marika Ray. This series was amazing and the ending to it was just perfect. We are glad to have read Rainy and Zeke's story as it was quite enjoyable full of fun and laughter, emotion, romance, unbreakable bonds and so much more. Rainy and Zeke's story was fun and had swoon-worthy characters that made you laugh out loud. Rainy and Zeke's friendship dates back to high school they used to be tight. Things happened and years later they met once again but, they needed to unpack and work through some issues However, it was clear the connection between them was still there. This was a read that engages the reader's emotions one minute you are laughing next you feel like crying. Talk about a story giving you all those feelings. Zeke was my favorite he was easy to love his patience with Rainy was precious to see. We loved the town the setting the characters they were all fabulous and Zeke and Rainy's chemistry and connection were a beautiful thing to see. We love it when best friends finally see what is before their eyes and take that chance to explore and love and love when a couple's connection/bond is still there after so many years. This story was well written which we thoroughly enjoyed and could not put down. We are glad we discovered this author and her books recently as this book and the series itself have been amazing, especially after a long and grueling day this story and the others keep you grinning and smiling throughout the characters were loveable and fantastic and we could not help but, fall in love with them.

“He’s gone.”

Rainey simply blinked up at me, her thick lashes fluttering. “Excuse me?”

“Danny,” I said helpfully. “He’s gone.”

Her hands came to her hips. “What do you mean, he’s gone?”

Time to come clean and face the firing squad. “I know you said he was perfect for you, but the man didn’t even pretend to protest when I offered him money to leave Blueball.”

Rainey’s mouth opened but no words came out. Her eyes had gone stormy and that red splotch on her neck didn’t bode well for my longevity.

“You. Did. What?” she snapped.

I leaned in, wanting her to understand what a terrible choice he was. “I offered him money, Rain. And he took it. What kind of douchebag—”

Her hand came out of nowhere and struck my cheek. My molars shook with the force of the slap. Shit. I shook my head a bit to see if that would clear the fire ants marching across half my face. Rainey didn’t wait for me to explain further, she just turned on her heels and made a run for it. She was surprisingly fast for the tall footwear she sported.

“Rainey!” I called after her.

This time, she didn’t look back or even bother to flip me off. The bride was just gone.

Marika Ray is a USA Today bestselling author of steamy and sweet RomComs, spending her time behind a computer crafting stories, walking any beach she can find, and making healthy food for her kids and husband whether they like it or not. Prior to writing novels, Marika held various jobs in the finance industry, with private start-up companies, and then in health & fitness. Cats may have nine lives, but Marika believes everyone should have nine careers to keep things spicy. All her books come with a money-back guarantee that you’ll smile at least once with every book.

More information can be found at www.marikaray.com

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