Spill the Sweet Tea

Valentine Texas, Book 2

By: Lyra Parish

Narrated by: Vanessa Edwin, Aaron Shedlock

Some describe me as a quirky, free-spirited journalist who charges her crystals by moonlight. They’re not wrong.

My instincts ensure I know everything that goes on in my small town. And not much surprises me. But when the man who destroyed my heart returns to care for his family’s business, I’m shaken to the core.

After our messy breakup, Hayden Shaw swore he’d never come back to Valentine, Texas. Years later, I’m still trying to forget we ever existed. Damn near impossible when he’s now everywhere. A constant reminder of what could have been.

Rumors swirl about his true intentions, but a little gossip has never bothered me. However, if winning over my heart is his endgame, he can hang up his spurs, because I won’t make the same mistake twice—or will I?

Spill the Sweet Tea is a second-chance, hate-to-love-you, grumpy/sunshine contemporary small-town Southern romance with rom-com vibes and a happily ever after.

Each book in the Valentine Texas series is a stand-alone.

Warning: This romance book contains tons of Southern sass, lots of woo-woo, and small-town gossip! Fade to black and cheating are not included.

©2023 Lyra Parish (P)2023 Lyra Parish

What’s not to love?

What’s not to love about a beautiful second chance romance? Kinsley and Hayden were high school sweethearts. He left Kinsley and Valentine, TX behind for Houston, leaving her heartbroken. Ten years later, following his Dad’s unexpected health issue, Hayden is back in Valentine to run their family owned book store. His first day back in town, he runs into Kinsley…and it does NOT go well. It seems everyone in Valentine expects Hayden and Kinsley to get back together…well, except Hayden and Kinsley.

Vanessa and Aaron are fantastic narrators who truly brought Kinsley and Hayden to life.

I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Harrison and Grace!

Excellent Tea

4.25⭐️ Spill the Sweet Tea was such a fun second Chance romance that is well written and not a given that the two characters will end up back together. Valentine, Texas and the folks who live there in this series are my kind of people!

Sweet

This book was just as good as the first. It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time.

I so cant wait for your next book.

Great story and narration

Lyra Parish is a relatively new author to me. Spill The Sweet Tea is everything I look for in a romance book. The story was well written, entertaining and I quickly became invested in Hayden and Kinsley’s story.

Set in small town, Valentine, Texas this second chance at love story took me on a wonderful journey. Years after breaking Kinsley’s heart, Hayden has done the one thing he said he’d never do, returned to Valentine.

Both need to come to terms with the past if they are to have any chance at a future. Hayden has his work cut out for him and I loved how sassy, fierce, and determined Kinsley is.

Vanessa Edwin and Aaron Shedlock’s narration was spot on. Their voices are easy to listen to and they brought the characters and story to life with their performances. They certainly did justice to the characters and the story that Ms. Parish wove.

As you would expect from a story based in a small town, everyone is up in everyone’s business and that just added an additional layer to the story. The characters are quirky, and I cannot wait to read more in the series.

Swoony and steamy second chance romance

Oh how I love a swoony, second chance romance. “Spill the Sweet Tea” is a fun, steamy and heartfelt second chance romance that checks all the boxes.

Kinsley is a crystal loving, let fate decide journalist who is working her way up the chain in the local newspaper. Ten years ago, her high school sweetheart and her first love, Hayden Shaw, broke her heart and moved to Houston. But due to a family emergency, Hayden is back in Valentine and despite her best efforts, Kinsley is still not over Hayden. And he’s determined to be back in her life.

I loved the banter between Kinsley and Hayden. She threw him some zingers and he met her on equal grounds. There were a lot of hurt feelings between them but they were able to work it out like adults. None of it was childish which I loved. I loved how much a free spirit Kinsley was and how much she loved being a journalist. Hayden is a swoon worthy man who dropped everything to help his family and worked his way, the right way, back into Kinsley’s life and heart. The steamy scenes were so steamy with a capital S. The last few chapters were so sweet and wrapped up their story perfectly. The little tease we get for the next book has me counting down the days until we get it.

Vanessa Edwin and Aaron Shedlock were amazing as Kensley and Hayden. Vanessa’s accent was great, she brought the fun and passionate Kensley perfectly. Aaron is always great as a swoony Southerner and I loved listening to him as caring and genuine Hayden.

2nd chance after 10 years

another great story from Lyra Parish. Thus story is about Kenz and Hayden. High School Sweethearts until the day he left and broke her heart. 10 years pass before she sets eyes on him again. as they both navigate and work through what drove them apart they find love again. we get all the up and downs. Sprinkle in The Valentine Clan.

Vanessa Edwin and Aaron Shedlock were perfect as Hayden and Kenz. They kept me wanting more.

Lots of Tea spilled here!

4.5 out of 5 stars!

Second chance small town romance...say less! I love small towns and Valentine, TX is no exception. There are meddling family members and townspeople and lots of camaraderie. While I'm not into woo woo stuff (crystals, tarot cards), I loved how much of Kinsley's personality centered on using these tools to bring her positivity. When Hayden comes back to town, reason unknown to everyone but his family, Kinsley's life balance seems to be teetering. They tried to avoid each other, but fate kept bringing them together. They went from zero to 100 when it came to falling into bed with each other... ummm, okaayy. My ick with that was the no protection part; they had both been with other people shortly before they got together. Otherwise, this story brought great banter, humor, communication, and second chances for more than just Kinsley and Hayden's relationship. I loved the interactions with their families and revisiting Summer and Bennett. Can't wait to see what antics the author will bring to the next book in this series. Some of that tea has already been spilled!

Vanessa Edwin and Aaron Shedlock brought the southern charm to this story. They personified Kinsley and Hayden! Truly talented narrators!

I received an advance copy of this book at my request and voluntarily left this review.

Great quick read!

This book was so cute and such a breeze to get through! I loved the set up for this book and how Lyra incorporated a few flashbacks to Kinsley and Hayden’s first chance at love. I feel like it gave just the right amount of insight as to who they were vs who they are now. I wish there was a little more of everything (plot, conflict, gossip, etc) to this book just because I felt like there were some great opportunities to expand the story, but I also get that it wasn’t ultimately needed. The narrators did such a great job and only added to the story with their performances!

second chance with a lot of sass and all the feels

Kinsley and Hayden were perfection. Hayden is back in town due to his dad being in the hospital and him having to run the family's bookstore. Kinsley just wants her column in the paper. Her boss wants a story on Hayden's family's bookstore. Their history as high school sweethearts makes things a bit awkward given their breakup years ago. After some forced proximity things get spicy and mistakes are forgiven.
Their story truly portrays what second chances are. Add in plenty of snark and some small town gossip and you have the perfect glass of sweet tea.

Vanessa Edwin and Aaron Shedlock added the perfect amount of Texas twang to their performances to really make it feel like we were right there in Valentine with them :)

Great read!! Loved the characters and story!

I really enjoyed this story! It pulled me in from beginning to end and held my attention the entire time. This one is a great second chance romance with two people that were just meant to be together. I loved how well they knew each other and still cared for each other that once they were around each other again, it all started coming back. Kinsley is a little woo woo with her crystals and manifesting but it totally fits her and the story. It worked even if that's not your thing and I loved watching Hayden and Kinsley bring the best back out of themselves once they made it past that first hurdle. Both were really hurt by their breakup and there are definite issues that they have to work through but I loved the sass and teasing that comes through in this book. It was easy to read and stay engaged with and I truly enjoyed it and am really excited for what is coming next in this series.
The narrators did a great with the story and characters. They had great Texas twangs going on and you could hear the action and emotion in their voices throughout the story and it really just brought the story to life.