Dear Letter Girl, I need to see you. When can we meet?
Her response never came. My secret pen pal with a dirty mind has ghosted me. I've roped Jules, my sweet as pie next door neighbor, to help me track her down.

There's only one problem--I'm falling for her. The tortoise shell glasses, out of this world curves and delicious treats are making the search for The Letter Girl even harder.

My notes were supposed to be a one time thing. A little too much wine and naughty thoughts on a winter's night. I never thought Berk would write back. I wanted to tell him it was me, but the fear of rejection kept my lips sealed.

Now he’s enlisted my help to track down The Letter Girl and our search has him hot on my, ahem, her trail.

She's the girl next door.

He's my secret pen pal.

Truth is on a collision course with their hearts and it’s only a matter of time before one of them gets wrecked...

Title: The Third Best Thing
Author: Maya Hughes
Series: Fulton U Book 3
Pages: 369
Genre(s): Contemporary, US, New Adult
Hot Buttons: death of parent(s), parent emotional abuse <-- highlight to reveal (may contain spoilers)

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Maya Hughes has become one of my go-to writers when I’m looking for some steamy romance filled with heat and heart. It’s a new-adult romance, but if you feel that’s not your thing then I still urge you to give this book a go. I didn’t consider myself a fan before Ms Hughes showed me the light!

This is the third book in the Fulton U series, after The Perfect First (Reece and Seph) and The Second We Met (Nix and Elle). While the characters from these earlier novels do appear in this one - and despite Jules and Berk first being introduced in the earlier books - this book does stand completely alone and you don’t need to have read any of the others to understand and enjoy this one.

And you’ll more than enjoy this book. It’s got a sweetness to it that hasn’t really been in Maya’s other books. Along with the deep emotions and sexy sex, of course!

Both Berk and Jules have a vulnerability based on their past life experiences, the way they’ve been treated, and how they feel about themselves. Because of this, you almost immediately develop deep connections with our couple - both individually and as part of a couple. Despite this, the book still manages to keep it light. I’ll admit that there were times that I had a wee blue to myself but there really is minimal angst or drama and all the situations feel real.

But god-damn - I wish all those cupcakes, cookies and treats were real. Major drooling going on over here.

Jules is a character I really think all women can relate to. She’s self-conscious about herself - mainly how she looks or how she thinks other people think she looks. It’s never self-pitying but you can feel her pain and sadness. The fact that Berk is so smitten with her certainly helps her to feel better about herself - but she also builds herself up over the course of the book. A great message for anyone and everyone. I admit to feeling a wee bit of fire in my belly after reading this book. Why do I actually care what random people think of me? What if I didn’t?

Anyway… this is the kind of book I can and did get lost in. The story is absorbing, interesting and, as I said before, the characters are people that I can relate to, cheer for and admire. Those pages practically turn themselves and that’s testament to the engaging writing of Ms Hughes. She’s fast becoming one of my favourite authors and I can’t bear that in this book alone she teased two, if not three couples that (fingers crossed) will get their own books in the future.

Another exceptional book from Maya Hughes and very worthy of 5 stars. She really needs to write more and write faster!!

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Maya Hughes can often be found sneaking in another chapter while hiding in the bathroom from her kids! :-) I’m a romance writer who loves taking inspiration from everyday life, namely my husband and biggest fan. Inspiration also strikes when I hear a song, meet someone new or daydream while at soccer practice.

I’m the mom of three little ones, the wife to an amazing husband and also work full time. Some of my favorite things are cinnamon rolls, white wine, laughing until I can’t breathe and traveling with my family.

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AUTHOR LINKS!

                             

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FULTON U SERIES!

 

         

Click to see other books by Maya Hughes

 

Dear Jerk Across the Street, sorry for accidentally walking in on you and catching an eyeful of your—equipment. And hard pass on the open invitation to join you in the shower “anytime”, A-hole.

That’s the note I should’ve written. Instead I sent a pleasant and apologetic version.

Had I known Phoenix “Nix” Russo would’ve been the neighbor from hell, I’d have told him right where he could shove my words.

Nix is the big man on campus with everyone lined up at his games to make sure he knows it. Sure, he’s got piercing green eyes, abs that don’t quit and a smile that could set fire to a set of panties from a hundred yards away, but he’s also the biggest pain in my ass.

Dear Pink-Haired Menace, learn how to take a joke and stop being such a kill-joy...

Elle Masterson called the cops on one of my parties—again. My sweet talking usually gets me out of trouble, but this time it got me into a nice pair of silver handcuffs. Now I’m on a reputation rehab tour with a stop at a spring break community service project.

Guess who’s my new boss?

Now we’re shoulder to shoulder, sweaty, tired and…she’s not anything like I expected. There might just be a heart under that hardass exterior. She’s invading my dreams and I can’t shake the feeling she’s the key to unlocking a piece of me that I’ve hidden away.

It’s only a matter of time until she finds out why I’m really here.

Maybe I can break through her walls and into her heart before that happens...one screw at a time.

Title: The Second We Met
Author: Maya Hughes
Series: Fulton U Book 2
Pages: 328
Genre(s): Contemporary, US, New Adult
Hot Buttons: death of parent (when character was a child) <-- highlight to reveal (may contain spoilers)

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New adult romance never really appealed to me until I discovered Maya Hughes. Now, I’m not sure what I would do without my fix of this genre - and more specifically, from Ms Hughes herself.

This is the second book in the Fulton U series. Nix first appeared in Reece and Seph’s book, The Perfect First, just as those two (and other faces from the Trojan’s football team) appear in this one. But fear not, both books stand completely alone. Although we are teased about those that came before - as well as those that will come after. But more on those later…

Nix and Elle are our couple in this book and I suppose it’s a case of enemies to lovers - and also sort-of opposites attract. Whichever way you look at it - our couple are perfect for each other. Once they stop fighting and bickering long enough to realise it.

Nix is an absolute sweetheart. He’s got such a big heart and is such a nice guy - you just want to wrap him up in a big ol’ hug. And only some of that hug is because he’s also a very good looking guy. Just ask all the girls on campus! He’s just too sweet to be mean to all the people that admire and look up to him. He’s also got a bit of a problem about his future. His worries about his health and what he really wants to do after graduation gives him a decent depth and makes you understand him all the more.

Elle is a slightly more intriguing character only because she’s not quite as inherently nice as Nix. She’s a bit snarky, a bit defensive and can be quite combative. And yet somehow Ms Hughes makes me like her from her first appearance on the page. Not only that, but she grows and learns throughout the book, realising her mistakes and understanding more about herself as we go through the book. I was totally cheering for her both individually and with Nix.

And as a couple the pair are so cute and relatable (and I’m saying that as someone who is sadly no longer a new adult!). There’s also enough hot and steamy sex to singe my kindle. Well, all that antagonism from the start of the book had to be channeled into another activity, obviously!

As I mentioned before, there are a lot of extra characters fleshing out this book. LJ and Marissa - best friends and nothing more - will likely get their own book soon (The Fourth Time Charm). And what exactly is Johannsen doing hanging around in the street? But of course there’s Berk and Jules coming next. Those dirty notes and the feels I was getting from those two from a few short descriptions nearly killed me. I cannot wait for their story.

Maya Hughes never fails to deliver a great story. Her writing is so fresh and I just want to devour every word she writes. Her characters speak to me and live in a world that I want to be in - just to wallow in the love and friendship that Ms Hughes writes so well. First time reader or long time fan, I highly recommend Maya Hughes and this book in particular, to you. 5 stars from me.

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BUY NOW!

 

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Maya Hughes can often be found sneaking in another chapter while hiding in the bathroom from her kids! :-) I’m a romance writer who loves taking inspiration from everyday life, namely my husband and biggest fan. Inspiration also strikes when I hear a song, meet someone new or daydream while at soccer practice.

I’m the mom of three little ones, the wife to an amazing husband and also work full time. Some of my favorite things are cinnamon rolls, white wine, laughing until I can’t breathe and traveling with my family.

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AUTHOR LINKS!

                             

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EXCERPT!

“Are you always so charming, B + E?”

“There’s a lot to get done this week and I don’t have time to hold anyone’s hand or break out the hose when you two are going at it behind the work shed.”

“Way to jump nine hundred steps ahead. If there’s anyone who’d be banging someone it would probably be the woman who has enough condoms to last most people half a century. Or are you all out of those? Been busy lately.”

All I was looking for was a chill spring break, but she had to push buttons like she was manning a submarine.

“You’re such a cocky asshole. And you know what? Yeah, I’ve been really busy. You haven’t heard? Everyone on the block has had at least three rounds, but still nowhere near your manwhore levels I’m sure.”

“This manwhore doesn’t kiss and tell.” I puckered my lips, which were met with the cold, hard metal of a hammer shoved up to my mouth.

Could’ve been worse. She could’ve used the claw end.

“Don’t trip and fall over your ego and end up with a hole in your head.” She dragged her hands over her face like the world was perched on her shoulders. “Listen, be careful and pay attention. We don’t need anyone getting hurt and it screwing up the work permits and stuff for the site. Wouldn’t want to injure the campus golden boy.”

Her barely contained eye roll was all I got before she shoved a pair of work gloves at me. Her about face from claws out to a hint of actual concern threatened me with whiplash.

Was there ever someone more confusing and infuriating than Elle?



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FULTON U SERIES!

 

    

Click to see other books by Maya Hughes

 

Dear Jerk Across the Street, sorry for accidentally walking in on you and catching an eyeful of your—equipment. And hard pass on the open invitation to join you in the shower “anytime”, A-hole.

That’s the note I should’ve written. Instead I sent a pleasant and apologetic version.

Had I known Phoenix “Nix” Russo would’ve been the neighbor from hell, I’d have told him right where he could shove my words.

Nix is the big man on campus with everyone lined up at his games to make sure he knows it. Sure, he’s got piercing green eyes, abs that don’t quit and a smile that could set fire to a set of panties from a hundred yards away, but he’s also the biggest pain in my ass.

Dear Pink-Haired Menace, learn how to take a joke and stop being such a kill-joy...

Elle Masterson called the cops on one of my parties—again. My sweet talking usually gets me out of trouble, but this time it got me into a nice pair of silver handcuffs. Now I’m on a reputation rehab tour with a stop at a spring break community service project.

Guess who’s my new boss?

Now we’re shoulder to shoulder, sweaty, tired and…she’s not anything like I expected. There might just be a heart under that hardass exterior. She’s invading my dreams and I can’t shake the feeling she’s the key to unlocking a piece of me that I’ve hidden away.

It’s only a matter of time until she finds out why I’m really here.

Maybe I can break through her walls and into her heart before that happens...one screw at a time.

Title: The Second We Met
Author: Maya Hughes
Series: Fulton U Book 2
Pages: tbc
Genre(s): Contemporary, US, New Adult
Hot Buttons: tbc

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Maya Hughes can often be found sneaking in another chapter while hiding in the bathroom from her kids! :-) I’m a romance writer who loves taking inspiration from everyday life, namely my husband and biggest fan. Inspiration also strikes when I hear a song, meet someone new or daydream while at soccer practice.

I’m the mom of three little ones, the wife to an amazing husband and also work full time. Some of my favorite things are cinnamon rolls, white wine, laughing until I can’t breathe and traveling with my family.

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AUTHOR LINKS!

                             

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FULTON U SERIES!