Book Review – Forget You

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Book Review, Forget You, Kingman Brothers series, Nina Crespo

Falling for your rich, gorgeous, commitment-phobic boss … yeah, that usually goes well 🙂

*****

Forget You

Kingman Brothers #1

by Nina Crespo

Blurb:

In the first novel in the new Kingman Brothers series from Nina Crespo a disgruntled assistant is wrangled into staying on to help her boss when he suffers from amnesia after a plane crash…Playing this out with him was so wrong, but she didn’t want to stop.

Sophie Jordan dreams about hooking up with Nicolas “King” Kingman—the gorgeous CEO of her company—but as her boss, he’ll always remain out of reach. King knows he isn’t built for happily-ever-afters and only indulges in brief romantic encounters. But when Sophie agrees to fill in as his last-minute date to a charity gala, an unexpected discovery quickly escalates their platonic relationship to one of passion.

King is determined to ignore their attraction and, feeling betrayed, Sophie severs ties with him and the company. Everything changes, however, when he’s injured in an accident, and Sophie agrees to help until he closes a major deal. Unfortunately, he’s developed amnesia, and although he doesn’t remember their night together, desire binds them in ways they can’t resist.

Time is running out on closing the deal, as well as Sophie moving on to her new career. Will King deny love in favor of winning and lose Sophie forever?

Available Now!

Order this title at these online retailers

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2xG4aDh

B&N: https://bit.ly/2HtofC9

iBooks: https://apple.co/2JEk2MD

Kobo: https://bit.ly/2EFbfpQ

BAM https://bit.ly/2GQQzkM

Google Books: https://bit.ly/2HtMosa

Add FORGET YOU to your TBR pile on Goodreads!

*****

Excerpt:

What he was about to do seemed crazy. He just needed to hear Sophie say nothing sexual had ever happened between them. Then he could chalk up those images as pure fantasy.

He pulled into a space, threw the gear in park, and got out. Sophie’s shocked expression alone would whip him down to size. Guilt over dreaming of her naked would replace his attraction to her. That’s exactly what he needed. A heaping pile of remorse.

Signs with numbers and arrows led him through the maze of duplexes in the courtyard. In the past, he’d followed her from work after a long night to make sure she’d made it safely home, but he’d never actually gone to her apartment before. King located the right door and rapped on it. Not that he had a good reason now.

A porch light flickered on above him. He heard movement inside. What if Sophie’s roommate answered? He’d forgotten about her. Shit. What was his excuse? A lost phone number. Problems accessing the presentation from his computer.

Sophie opened the door. Devoid of makeup, hair swept back into a ponytail, and dressed in a faded green tee and jean shorts, she radiated uncomplicated beauty. “King? What are you doing here?”

He barely squashed the need to take her in his arms and went inside. “We have to talk. Is your roommate here?”

“No. Robin’s at work.” She closed the door. “Why? What’s going on?”

“When were we together?”

“Yesterday. Don’t you remember?” The genuine concern in her expression made him feel like a cross between a jerk for thinking of her sexually and a man struggling to prove his sanity.

“No. I mean yes.” He raked his hair and pulled so hard his scalp stung. “When did we sleep together?” Shock. Laughter. An emphatic denial. He braced for them.

Sophie paled. She shrugged and brushed her bangs from her forehead. Her tell. She planned to deny what happened.

No way in hell was she getting away with that. “How long ago was it? Weeks? Days? Why didn’t you tell me?”

What’s next for Sophie and King? Pick up your copy of FORGET YOU, The Kingman Brothers and find out. Available April 16, 2018

*****

Review:

I liked Sophie (although I do think she didn’t make King work hard enough to win her back).  She’s tried really hard to resist King, knowing exactly what kind of womanizer he is.  She likes her job and crushing on him from the other side of the office door is at least something … until one night things get out of hand.  I have to admire her for standing up for herself and getting out of the situation when she needed to.  With King’s injury, though, everything changes.  She still has feelings for him and the hurt is still there but she tries her best to keep things going smoothly for now.  I couldn’t help cheering for her to go after the things that would make her really happy.

The amnesia thing isn’t as bad as might sound.  King only looses a little bit of time, just enough to make the deal they’d been working on difficult.  (It isn’t some soap opera-y thing 🙂 )  It helps to keep them together for just a little bit longer while King gets back on his feet.  It also had me feeling even more for her.  To be the only one to know what really happened but to face him every day and pretend like everything is fine … just awful.

I do wish we’d gotten a bit more about King’s relationship with his father.  Crespo gives us just enough to understand why he doesn’t get involved but I think a little more detail would have made him even more relatable.  As it is, for some, he might come off as a big of an a$$ instead of someone with issues.  He really doesn’t treat women well at all before he finally lets Sophie in.

Full of angst and drama, uncomfortable moments and difficult situations, Forget You isn’t a light and easy read.  But it does bring heat, heartache, growth, and a HEA ending.

*****

Author Info:

Nina Crespo lives in Florida where she indulges in her favorite passions—the beach, kickboxing, a good glass of wine, and dancing. Her lifelong addiction to romance began in her teens while on a “borrowing spree” in her older sister’s bedroom where she discovered her first romance novel. Curiosity about people and places, including what’s beyond the stars, fuels her writer’s imagination. Indulge in her sensual contemporary stories and steamy paranormal tales to feed your own addiction for love, romance, and happily ever after.

Need Nina? You can also visit her online at the following places:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Amazon | Goodreads | FreshFiction |BookBub | Authorsdb | Newsletter | Pinterest

**EXCLUSIVE GIVEAWAY**

In Nina Crespo’s newsletter during release week there will be an exclusive giveaway for newsletter subscribers only – Subscribe today for a chance to enter!

*****

Giveaway:

Grand Prize: $15 Amazon Gift Card and (1) Digital Copy or Print Copy (if available) of any backlist Nina Crespo title

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b050ef29498/

*****

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Book review – On the Line

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Book Review, Liz Lincoln, Milwaukee Dragons series, On the Line

Sexy football player, smoking hot body, AND a loving father … sign me up!

*****

On the Line

A Milwaukee Dragons Novel

by Liz Lincoln

Blurb:

Is this man: A) a super-hot NFL player, B) the guy you’re sexting, or C) your new boss?
 
If you’re Carrie Herron, the answer is: D) all of the above. First, Carrie starts exchanging steamy text messages with the sexy single dad she meets in line at the grocery store. Then she lands a job as the live-in nanny for the daughter of the Milwaukee Dragons’ newest star. With any luck, she’ll be back on her financial feet before the next cosplay convention rolls around. But when Carrie shows up for work and realizes that her new boss is the guilty pleasure in her phone, she has no choice but to try to keep things professional. Oh, how would Poison Ivy handle a temptation like Seth Chamberlain?

After getting traded from Houston to Milwaukee, Seth’s having a tough time keeping his head in the game, let alone making sure that his daughter is fitting in. So if the only nanny that Madison will tolerate is a grown woman who likes comic books even more than she does . . . well, so be it. Too bad the nanny is also the gorgeous redhead Seth’s been flirting with all this time. But with Carrie’s knowing glances and kissable lips driving him wild, Seth must decide whether he’s ready to put everything on the line.

*****

Excerpt:

She took several long, slow breaths with her eyes closed, trying to ground herself and remember all the reasons she couldn’t throw herself at Seth and kiss him right that instant. When she finally got her pulse back in the vicinity of normal, she opened her eyes, scanning the lot for a trash can. She didn’t want her mostly empty cup to drip in Seth’s car.

She spotted one near the building and pushed off the hood to walk away. “I’m going to—”

The rest of the words died on her tongue when Seth’s hand wrapped around her upper arm and turned her back toward him. She looked up, taking in the six feet four inches—yeah, she’d looked up his stats—of broad, delicious man filling her vision.

She didn’t breathe as she watched him rake his gaze over her. The hunger she felt in it made her nipples harden to the point of visibility, but she was too turned on to care. As if he didn’t already know what he did to her.

Huffing out a breath, he took the step into her space. Another step forward and her back pressed against the SUV’s hood, his hand slid into her hair, and his lips descended on hers.

It all happened so fast, she didn’t have a chance to process everything. Her body simply reacted, her mouth moving under his as her arms slid around his large body. She clutched his back, pulling him closer; they both moaned.

With her lips parted, Seth’s tongue slid into her mouth and began a wild exploration. She stroked her own tongue against his and elicited another moan. All the while, the coarse hairs of his beard scraped at her skin, adding to the myriad of sensations vying for her attention.

But overshadowing them all was the feel of his body pressed to hers. He slid one arm around her, the other tangled in her hair as his thumb caressed her cheek. His arm held her tightly against him, his hand splayed low on her back.

Such a bad idea. But so, so good.

Restless and reckless, she needed to touch more of him. She wanted to feel all those muscles, feel the power coiled up in his athlete’s body. She slid her hands up his arms and he shuddered against her.

“Carrie,” he groaned, then gave her lower lip a little nip before sinking in deep once again. Lights burst behind her eyelids and she dug her nails into his biceps, drawing a moan that vibrated from him into her.

A domino effect of sensation and reaction, sensation and reaction.

What would be his reaction to the sensation of her running her hands over his shoulders until they met at the nape of his neck?

He deepened the angle of their kiss and traced his tongue along the edges of her teeth. She nipped playfully at his tongue, and he chuckled and pressed tighter to her.

Pressed his solid erection against her, a little higher than where she wanted it most. But she didn’t chase after it. Not in a public parking lot, no matter how much she wanted to.

“You are too fucking sexy,” he bit out, his voice a rough rasp over her ear.

And his kiss was too good. Too much from just a little kiss. Her muscles twitched as heat coursed through her. She couldn’t take it. They needed to stop.

Before she could say something, he drew his face back enough to look into her eyes. His own were dark blue and stormy, the lines of his face tense.

“Seth.” She mouthed it more than spoke, barely a whisper escaping. She didn’t have enough breath for more.

“Jesus, Carrie. I don’t . . .” He searched her face for another hot moment. “You are so sexy.”

He made her sexy. She’d never felt this wild with a man before, this uninhibited. No other man could have inspired her to make out against the hood of a car. But Seth connected with something hidden deep inside her, a woman unafraid to grab what she wanted and take it.

Except she couldn’t take it. Not now. Maybe not ever.

He huffed out a frustrated sound, his breath hot over her lips.

A new wave of desire rolled through her and it took all her restraint not to pull him back down to her and again get lost in his kiss.

“I think I finally understand what singers mean when they say they’re drunk on a woman.” His voice was raw and thick.

She trembled inside at his words, unsure what to think of them, unsure how to respond.

So she said, “We can’t do this.” Her voice came out breathy, but with his chest still pressed to hers, her nipples hard, her breasts heavy and aching, she couldn’t pull in enough air. “But I still . . .” She lifted her lashes and made herself look directly into his eyes.

This close, they were impossibly, intensely blue. Something softened in her chest, leaving a hot, melted ache she didn’t understand.

He felt drunk from kissing her. Holy swoon. No man had ever said something so bluntly honest to her. And she felt it too, a dizzying high buzzing through her simply from having his mouth pressed to hers.

Sex with him would probably be better than the highest-quality narcotic. All the fun, none of the illegality or addicting side effects.

Too bad she needed a job and a house more than she needed great sex.

*****

Review:

Seth is trying his hardest to be a good dad.  Unfortunately that means uprooting his daughter from their home in Houston and moving to Milwaukee.  At 12, she’s at a difficult age already so it is even rougher to have to start all over.  But he’s a good man and he’s doing the best he can.  Running into a sexy redhead at the grocery story, and one who is willing to give him feminine hygiene help, has things looking up.

Carrie is having a rough time after losing her job as a teach and not getting any bites on a new one.  She’s starting to really stress when she’s rescued by a hottie in the checkout lane.  Being able to help him return leads to some sexy flirting.  When a possible job lands in her lap, things are definitely looking up … until she discovers her potential new boss is the guy she’s been sexting.  Yikes!  You have to admire how well she handles it 🙂

I think these two were hotter NOT having sex than most couples are when they do!  I loved their first meeting and then the inevitable struggle as Carrie becomes the nanny for Seth’s preteen daughter.  It’s not easy for them to ignore their attraction but they do try … and although they don’t necessarily succeed, I have to like that it is pretty drama free between them.  They understand why that it is best to keep things professional and they try their hardest to keep it that way.

I am pretty surprised at how many 3 star or less reviews there are for this one.  I’m actually mostly amused by how many of them are based solely on the fact that this is in third person.  That never bothers me and I didn’t have any difficulty following along here so I guess it’s just a personal preference thing.  There were also some complaints that the ending was too rushed but I thought it worked.  It may not have been as emotion-driven as some but I think that it worked well with the flow of the rest of the story.

Overall, I found On the Line to be amusing, flirty, sexy, and full of heart.  It was entertaining watching the two of them fight their feelings for Madison’s sake … and, of course, fail!  Is it predictable?  Probably, but it is enjoyable regardless.  Bringing light-hearted fun with enough feels to keep you turning pages, Lincoln delivers a winner in my opinion.

*****

Author Info:

Liz has been concocting stories as long as she can remember, and from the beginning they involved two people falling in love.

When she’s not writing, she spends her time rooting for the UW Badgers and the Green Bay Packers (or yearning for the return of football season), cross-stitching and embroidering sassy sayings or nerdy characters (Wonder Woman is her favorite), and drinking too much Diet Coke.

She lives in Milwaukee, WI, with her husband, two kids, two cats, and a turtle.

Website:  https://lizlincoln.com/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/TheLizLincoln

*****

Book Review – Mornings on Main

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Book Review, Jodi Thomas, Mornings on Main

This is one of those reads that you need to be prepared to invest some time in.  Wait until you can give it your full attention – you will be glad you did!

*****

Mornings on Main

by Jodie Thomas

Blurb:

“Compelling and beautifully written.” —Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author on Ransom Canyon

From the beloved and bestselling author of the Ransom Canyon and Harmony, Texas series comes a powerful, heartwarming story about generations of family and the ironclad bonds they forge.

When Jillian James lands in the small town Texas community of Laurel Springs, she’s definitely not planning to stay—except to find a few clues about the father who abandoned her and destroyed her faith in family.

Connor Larady is a single dad, and the only one caring for his grandmother, Eugenia, who has Alzheimer’s. And now he has to close Eugenia’s quilt shop. When Connor meets down-on-her-luck Jillian, he’s out of options. Can he trust the newcomer to do right by his grandmother’s legacy?

Jillian is done with relationships. But as she grows closer to Connor and Eugenia, she must consider giving up her nomadic life for a future with those who need her.

An inspiring family saga that asks us to consider what love and chosen family really mean.

Add it to your Goodreads Now!

Get your copy at:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2ouUokx

Kindle: http://amzn.to/2EX7H7B

B&N: http://bit.ly/2HPRb73

B-A-M: http://bit.ly/2HPRe2J

IndieBound: http://bit.ly/2EVGvWH

Google Play: http://bit.ly/2F0hp4Y

iBooks: https://apple.co/2GNnlyD

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2GKhRVt

Book Depository: http://bit.ly/2CoRNRC

*****

Excerpt:

A long slice of light shone into the dark shadows of the quilt shop. For a moment, Jillian thought she was in the wrong place. No soft ribbons of florescent bulbs twenty feet above. No laughter from the quilter’s corner. No smell of coffee drifting from the tiny kitchen.

Only a long-legged girl dressed in black, staring at her as if Jillian had just interrupted a demonic ritual.

The backward lettering of A Stitch in Time circled across the front window. Right place. Jillian was in the quilt shop. Squaring her shoulders, she moved forward.

“Hi,” Jillian managed as she widened the opening of the door. She wasn’t sure if she was trying to see the invader bet­ter or simply wanted to enlarge her escape route.

The strange girl swung one leg so it bumped against the side of the counter in a heartbeat rhythm. Her hair was so light it appeared white, and hung straight past her shoulders.

A dozen bracelets, all appearing to be made out of rusty bolts, clanked on her arms as she turned toward the back of the store.

“Dad!” the intruder yelled. “Someone’s drifted in.”

Rows of lights began to click on, starting from the back and finally reaching the front. All the beautiful colors of the store returned, but the escapee from the Addams Family re­mained. Her black peacoat, with batwing shoulder pads, was ripped in several places. Black eyeliner extended almost to her ears and charcoal, lace gloves covered her hands.

Jillian studied the girl carefully. On the bright side, the coat and leggings matched. Both black and ragged. She appeared to be wearing three blouses, the last one a lace nightgown. Silk, holey as if moth-eaten, and spotted with what looked like bloodstains. Her skirt, with several chains hanging off it, reminded Jillian of a midnight plaid kilt.

They both turned as footsteps stormed from the back. “Sorry,” Connor Larady shouted. “I usually have the place all opened up by this time.”

He didn’t seem to notice the girl still perched on the coun­ter. “I’ll have a key made for you so you won’t have to wait for me if I’m running late.”

When Jillian turned her gaze to the girl, Connor finally acknowledged the goth in the room. “Oh, I’m sorry, Jillian, this is my daughter. Sunnie, this is the lady who is helping Gram organize the shop.”

Jillian offered her hand, hoping the strange girl wouldn’t try to suck her blood. She was so thin and pale she probably hadn’t eaten in days.

The girl reluctantly took Jillian’s offered hand, but her handshake was limp.

If there was a prize for someone born with the wrong name, Sunnie Larady would win. Stormy might be better. Or Scary.

She slid off the counter. Six feet of pure adolescent rebel­lion. “I need to get to school, Connor.” She said her father’s name louder than the rest of the sentence.

“Right.” Connor turned to Jillian. “Will you be all right here? Gram should be dropped off any minute.”

“I’m fine. I’ll watch for her.” Jillian smiled at Sunnie. “Nice to meet you.”

The girl shrugged and walked out.

*****

Review:

One of those sweet, small town romances that is just as much women’s fiction as it is romance, Mornings on Main is the kind of story that you have to cherish.  It isn’t fast paced and you definitely can’t speed through it.  Instead you need to settle back and get ready to enjoy every page, every encounter, every brush of the hand, every secret that slips out, every glimpse into what makes people tick, every chance to get to know them just that tiny bit better.  It’s a slow, gentle process and all the better for it.

Neither Jillian nor Connor are looking for someone.  They live their lives a certain way and figure that’s what they are built for … until they meet each other.  While the connection is immediate, they go through a lot of fits and starts because both of them are wary.  Jillian’s upbringing (and continued nomadic lifestyle) and Connor’s romantic history mean that getting close to others isn’t easy for them.  But what the heart wants can be hard to resist.

As much as I loved seeing Jillian and Connor slowly fall in love, I think the women in his life are just as awesome.  The friendship between Connor’s grandmother, Eugenia, and her lifelong friend, Joe, is oh-so-touching.  And her battle with her wandering memories is enough to bring you to tears.  But it’s Connor’s daughter, Sunnie, and her romantic woes that grabbed hold of my heart.  She’s at a difficult age but she’s got a good amount of spunk to help see her thru it 🙂

Yes, there is a beautiful love story here with two people finding something they didn’t know they were missing, but there is so much more.  The search for home and family.  The need for a connection to the past and future, as well as to someone else.  There are bonds that tie us together, some we are born with and some we make, but they are all important in making us who we are.

*****

Author Info:

New York Times and USA Today’s bestselling author Jodi Thomas has published over 30 books in both the historical romance and contemporary genres, the majority of which are set in her home state of Texas. Publishers Weekly calls her novels “Distinctive…Memorable,” and that in her stories “[tension] rides high, mixed with humor and kisses more passionate than most full-on love scenes.” In 2006, Romance Writers of America (RITA) inducted Thomas into the RWA Hall of Fame for winning her third RITA for THE TEXAN’S REWARD. She also received the National Readers’ Choice Award in 2009 for TWISTED CREEK (2008) and TALL, DARK, AND TEXAN (2008). While continuing to work as a novelist, Thomas also functions as Writer in Residence at the West Texas A&M University campus, where she inspires students and alumni in their own writing pursuits.

Website: http://www.jodithomas.com/

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/jodithomas/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JodiThomasAuthor

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/JodiThomasAuthor

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/jodi0007/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20273.Jodi_Thomas

*****

Tour Schedule:

April 2^nd

Reading Between the Wines Book Club – Excerpt

What Is That Book About – Excerpt

April 3^rd

Always a happy ever after – Review

Sofia Loves Books – Review

April 4^th

Hearts & Scribbles – Excerpt

Melena’s Reviews – Review & Excerpt

April 5^th

Evermore Books – Excerpt

April 6^th

Belle’s Book Belfry – Review & Excerpt

April 7^th

Red Hot + Blue Reads – Review & Excerpt

April 8^th

The Butterfly Reads – Review & Excerpt

April 9^th

Geronimo Reads – Review & Excerpt

The bookworms obsession – Review

April 10^th

The Book Hammock – Review & Excerpt

Two Girls with Books – Review

April 11^th

Nerdy Dirty and Flirty – Excerpt

The Book Maven – Review & Excerpt

April 12^th

Read more sleep less – Review & Excerpt

Totally Bex – Review & Excerpt

April 13^th

KDRBCK – Review & Excerpt

Romantic Reads and Such – Review & Excerpt

April 14^th

More Books Than Livros – Review & Excerpt

Ripe For Reader – Review & Excerpt

April 15^th

Adventures in Writing – Excerpt

Bookishly Yours – Review & Excerpt

April 16^th

Renee Entress’s Blog – Review & Excerpt

Shannon’s Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

April 17^th

Aaly and The Books – Review & Excerpt

Mama She’s Crazy About Books – Review

April 18^th

Jax’s Book Magic – Review & Excerpt

Maybe SS Riki – Review & Excerpt

April 19^th

MI Bookshelf – Review

Tangents and Tissues – Excerpt

April 20^th

Shelly’s Book Corner – Excerpt

Teatime and Books – Excerpt

Book Review – Dangerous Witness

Tags

Book Review, Dangerous Witness, Katie Reus, Redemption Harbor series

Dangerous Witness

Redemption Harbor Series

by Katie Reus

He foolishly let her go…

When the woman he loved walked out of his life, Brooks Alexander was certain she did so willingly—with the cool two-million his father had offered as incentive to walk away. So when the former Marine scout sniper learns that Darcy didn’t take a dime of his father’s payoff, Brooks realizes he made an epic mistake. He’s determined to make things right and reclaim his woman. Except neither task is as easily accomplished as he first thought.

Now her life is in his hands…

Wedding planner Darcy is no stranger to disappointment when it comes to the men in her life. When Brooks accused her of taking his father’s bribe, she was devastated that he thought so little of her—and realized he never knew her at all. So she walked away with her pride intact and her heart broken. Now, months later, an overheard conversation puts Darcy in the crosshairs of a dangerous criminal with powerful connections. With nowhere else to turn, she has no choice but to put all her trust in Redemption Harbor Consulting—and its cofounder, the man who broke her heart.

This is the first in the series that I’ve read and while technically it’s a stand-alone novel, I probably would have benefited from having read the other stories.  Reus does a pretty good job of giving new readers the info they need but I think that there are certain nuances and details that I missed out on.

While I enjoyed Brooks as a hero, he was definitely everything you could want as a part of this elite unit of mercenaries – strong, tough, smart, and ruthless.  He also loves Darcy with his whole heart … even if he did go and screw it up at the very beginning 🙂

If I was Darcy I’d definitely have made him work for it a bit more but I also have to appreciate the lack of games and dramatics between the two.  There’s hesitation on her part and a bit of groveling on his, but they do eventually figure it out.  I also like that Darcy is smart enough to realize that this is something much bigger than she can’t handle on her own.  She listens to the professionals and lets them help guide her.

And speaking of danger, Reus sure knows how to crank things up.  The action and suspense element of this story was balanced really well with the romance portion.  Overall, an enjoyable read and some more stories to add to my TBR pile because I’m dying to get my hands on the other stories in this series 🙂

Book Review – The Devilish Duke

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Book Review, Maddison Michaels, The Devilish Duke

The Devilish Duke

by Maddison Michaels

Devlin Markham, the notorious “Devil Duke” of Huntington, needs a woman. And not just any woman. If he can’t woo one of the most eccentric bluestockings of the Ton within the month, he can kiss his hard-earned fortune goodbye. But he’s always thought love a wasted emotion and marriage an inconvenience at best. And oddly enough, Lady Sophie Wolcott seems unmoved by his charm…

When Sophie learns her beloved orphanage is in imminent danger, she will do anything to save it. Even marry a ruthless rake who takes what he wants in business and pleasure. A man who’s everything she’s always feared most—but whom she reluctantly begins yearning for.

Then Sophie becomes the target of a killer lurking from the dark shadows of Devlin’s past. And they find not only their lives in jeopardy but their very hearts.

These two are a ton of fun together.  Sophie is spirited, sassy, and not only willing to stand up for herself but for Devlin too.  Which makes her all the more attractive to him.  Devlin embraces his “devil” moniker but he isn’t truly as bad as they make him out to be.  Instead he’s got some pretty big walls thanks to an awful childhood and it will take a strong woman to get past them.  Lucky for him, Sophie is up to the challenge.

I do kinda wish there had been more (or maybe better) clues about who the killer was so the reader had a better chance of figuring it out.  It was tied up nicely, with a logical motive, a clever villain, and an exciting ending.  But I felt like I was given details only as I needed them so there was little chance of guessing what would happen ahead of time.  That isn’t necessarily bad but it could be frustrating for those who like to be more involved in solving the whodunit.

I read somewhere that Michaels is a new author but she proves herself to be quite the writer.  Nicely paced, great characters, excitement, romance, danger … she brings it all and does it well.  I’m definitely going to keep my eye on her – I think she’s got a great future ahead of her!

Book Review – Broken Heartstrings

Tags

Book Review, Broken Heartstrings, CC Dragon

Broken Heartstrings

by CC Dragon

 

True love hurts. Jeff and Ben had it and lost it over a decade ago…

When Jeff is outed and attacked, the country music super star has to face his family and his choices under huge public scrutiny.

Jeff and Ben, his former producer, had a plan to come out and deal with the haters back in the day. Then tragedy struck Jeff’s family and changed everything—except the feelings. Jeff stayed in the closet and Ben walked away.

In the wake of the outing and press, Ben walks back. But why?

Revenge? Gloating? To make peace?

Or maybe for a second chance…

Note: This is a sweet m/m romance

While there is a love story here, it wasn’t the main focus.  Instead Jeff has to deal with the fall-out of being pretty much forced to out himself.  He’s kept it quiet for a long time so there is a lot to deal with – from his family (who handle it like a dream), his fans (which I thought was done very well), and his old boyfriend (hence the love story portion).  It’s not an easy journey for Jeff but I felt that Dragon treats it with the respect and emotion that it deserves.

So while the romance portion of it doesn’t happen until late it definitely shouldn’t stop you from picking up this book.  There are a lot of feels here and every one of them deserve to be savored as you join Jeff on his ride to finding a more true-to-himself place in this world.

Book Review – Deserving It

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Angela Quarles, Book Review, Deserving It, Stolen Moments series

Deserving It

Stolen Moments #3

by Angela Quarles

Stranded by a hurricane. Check. Hotel secured. Check. Hot guy to share it with. Check. No, wait. Not him!

A tough girl with an awkward flirt-game, Claire has long ago given up on catching the eye of Irish hottie Conor and she refuses to change. If he doesn’t like her as is, then screw him. 

A loner workaholic too busy to notice, Conor isn’t looking to nail the next chick–even one as hot as Claire–just his next bonus-earning presentation. 

But when a hurricane strands them in Atlanta and they’re forced to shack up in the same hotel room for several days, things tend to get…exposed.

DESERVING IT is a steamy, standalone romantic comedy from RITA Winning and USA Today bestselling author Angela Quarles with a happy-ever-after and no cheating or cliffhangers.

I’m not usually a fan of romances where there are prickly interactions between the characters.  Usually I feel like one or the other (or both) of them is being an a** but I think that Quarles does a pretty good job here of making it work.  Once they start to get over themselves and connect, they are a good match together.  And being stuck in the same hotel room during a hurricane definitely forces them to get friendly 🙂

I really enjoyed getting to know Conor and he’s such a good guy.  He’s got some insecurities that totally works for him – helps his image and doesn’t take away from his sexiness.  Claire also has a past that has left her with some scars and while I kinda wish she’d been a little more open with Conor I can totally see where she’s coming from.  Thanks to her childhood she’s made herself pretty tough but there’s still soft spots that she’s trying hard to protect.

Deserving It does have a shortened time frame, but with the forced cohabitation and the fact that they have known each other for a while it works for me.  They still have their issues to work through and there is, of course, the minor freak out at the end but I really like the way they find their way to a HEA.

(While part of a series, this one can easily stand on its own.)

Book Review – Until You’re Mine

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Book Review, Cindi Madsen, Fighting For Her series, Until You're Mine

Until You’re Mine

Fighting For Her series

by Cindi Madsen

You might’ve heard of me, Shane Knox, the guy who rose quickly through the MMA fighter ranks, only to crash just as fast. No one cares about personal reasons when it comes to losing fights and money. I’m determined to get back to where I was. For you to hear my name again. I’ve finally convinced the owner of Team Domination to take a chance and get me back in fighting—and winning—shape. What I didn’t bargain for is the guy’s spitfire of a daughter. Factor in her two professional-fighter brothers who are acting as my coaches and the fact that my career hangs in the balance, and Brooklyn’s the last girl I should be fantasizing about.

The closer we get, the more I want Brooklyn. The stakes are high, and I know there’s a big chance of both of us getting hurt, but I won’t stop until she’s mine.

I picked this one because of Cindi Madsen’s name on the cover and she didn’t let me down.  Shane’s brash, cocky attitude is fun and not annoying, while Brooklyn definitely can give as good as she gets.  Together they throw sparks for all sorts of reasons and it’s a treat to be there to witness it.  There’s also a good amount of family drama on Brooklyn’s side, as well as some minor setup to the next story with one of her brothers.  It all flows well together and helps to flesh out the complications of a relationship with Shane.

And speaking of complications … I should warn people that Brooklyn is in a relationship for part of the book.  There is no physical cheating but the interactions between her and Shane have caused some reviewers to lower their rating.  To me it was a little (naturally) awkward, especially the inevitable break-up, but it seemed a realistic reaction to the situation they find themselves in.  Just a heads up, though, if this is something that might bother you.

With family issues to resolve and an attraction that she’s finding difficult to resist, Brooklyn’s summer may not be going as smooth as she’d hoped.  But it definitely turned into a darn entertaining read for me 🙂

Book Review – The Darkest Promise

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Book Review, Gena Showalter, Lords of the Underworld series, The Darkest Promise

Those into paranormal romances will probably recognize this one.  If this is new to you, there’s enough reading material in the series to keep you busy for a while 🙂

*****

The Darkest Promise

Lords of the Underworld series

by Gena Showalter

Mass Market Paperback: 512 pages

Publisher: HQN (March 27, 2018)

Blurb:

New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter returns with a sizzling Lords of the Underworld story about an iron-willed sovereign and the somber beauty who melts him with a glance…

Possessed by the demon of Misery, Cameo isn’t allowed to experience joy. If she dares, her memory is wiped clean. With no other recourse, she sneaks into a land more fantastical than any fairy tale, determined to find the one man with the key to her redemption.

Lazarus the Cruel and Unusual rules his kingdom with a single unwavering focus: to build his army and annihilate his enemies. Nothing distracts him—until Cameo. He is relentless in his quest to make her smile…and seduce her into his bed.

As dark forces conspire against them, threatening to destroy the fragile bond they’ve forged, the once-calm Lazarus grows crazed. Every heart-stopping kiss and wicked touch causes Cameo to teeter on the brink of happiness. But if she falls, she risks forgetting him forever…

“One of the premier authors of paranormal romance. Gena Showalter delivers an utterly spell-binding story!”-Kresley Cole, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“Gena Showalter never fails to dazzle.”-Jeaniene Frost, New York Times bestselling author

“Showalter…rocks me every time!”-Sylvia Day, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“Showalter writes fun, sexy characters you fall in love with!”-Lori Foster, New York Times bestselling author

“Showalter makes romance sizzle on every page!”-Jill Shalvis, New York Times bestselling author

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

*****

Excerpt:

Misery had quickly peeled away the layers of her humanity, hope and happiness. Again and again he’d wiped her mind of any joyous memories.

The bastard still wiped her mind of any joyous memories. Every day he breathed his poison into her thoughts, hurt others through her voice and ruined whatever relationships she managed to forge. He’d re­duced her life to one horror after another.

If only she could control him. But Misery was a sep­arate entity with his own motivations and goals. A dark presence she’d never been able to drown out. A prison she had never been able to escape.

Right now, he’s not my biggest problem. The but­terfly…

Disaster was imminent.

Cameo searched for a way out of the forest. At one side, a breathtaking river with rainbow-colored water trickled into a rocky crag. Some type of fish broke the surface. A water unicorn? A long, ivory horn stretched from between his eyes and—

She gasped. Another water unicorn had jumped up and thrust his horn into the belly of the first. Blood spurted, creating a crimson waterfall. Countless other fish converged on the injured one, sharp teeth ripping into scales and organs until not even bones remained.

Mental note: no baths in the wild, ever.

At her other side, a field of ambrosia flourished, unaffected by the over-hot sun. Thick emerald stalks dripped with countless violet flowers, the petals drawn together to avoid the worst of the heat.

The field might be her only viable—

A thorny limb snatched the jumbo-size butterfly from the air. Her ears twitched, the soft breeze carry­ing the faint sounds of screaming.

Viable path or not, it was time to go.

Cameo lumbered to shaky legs, wincing as twigs sliced her heel. Her brow wrinkled. Her feet were bare, her combat boots gone.

Someone had stolen her shoes?

A quick scan proved her tank top and battle leath­ers were torn and stained with dried blood, but still in place. However, the daggers she’d made over two hun­dred years ago were missing.

Someone had robbed her while she’d drifted out of consciousness.

Someone would pay!

*****

Review:

This is the first in the series that I’ve read and I kinda knew going in that it would probably have an impact.  I made myself push through the awkwardness, especially at the beginning, and while there were definitely things that I missed (and nuances that would have had more significance to me as a returning reader), after a bit I found myself having a really good time.  I can definitely see why Showalter has been so popular!

You have to feel for a woman who can never be truly happy, has no relationships that last, has large gaps in her memory, and can make people break down sobbing at the sound of her voice.  That’s a lot to take but Cameo does it with strength and determination.  She has a support system with her friends but her’s is not an easy path.

Lazarus’s life has not been easy either (rotten childhood, dead mother, and enslavement – whew!) but he’s managed to find a place of his own and he’s working on building up an army to seek revenge on those that have wronged him.  (Ya know, just your average To Do list, right after 1. Turn those who cross me into stone and put them into my garden as gruesome statues.  Yikes!)  But he’s struggling with an almost overpowering need for Cameo and having her back is putting a kink in all sorts of his plans.

I know that both Cameo and Lazarus have been in previous stories, so I’m missing out on a lot of backstory and development, but as a new reader I found them quite interesting.  Both are carrying burdens, from their pasts and where they see their futures going.  But like any good paranormal story there’s always more than you know!  I think that’s one of my favorite things about stories with sci-fi elements – you can do whatever you want as long as it makes sense in the realm you’ve made.  And I feel that Showalter did that pretty well here.

I wouldn’t normally jump into a series this far along (I saw somewhere that this was book 13!) but I’m glad I did.  The world that Showalter created – a lovely mix of mythology and paranormal romance – seems complex and intriguing.  The characters were fun, sassy, and kept me turning pages.  (I’m definitely curious about some of the side stories that were hinted at so I think I’ll be looking to add a few more books to my ever-growing TBR pile 🙂 )  Overall, a pretty dang good read but one that was probably enjoyed even more by those who have some history with these characters.

*****

Author Info:

Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of the spellbinding Lords of the Underworld series, two young adult series–Everlife and the White Rabbit Chronicles–and the highly addictive Original Heartbreakers series. In addition to being a National Reader’s Choice and two time RITA nominee, her romance novels have appeared in Cosmopolitan and Seventeen magazine, she’s been mentioned in Orange is the New Black–if you ask her about it, she’ll talk for hours–and her books have been translated in multiple languages. She’s hard at work on her next novel, a tale featuring an alpha male with a dark side and the strong woman who brings him to his knees. You can learn more about Gena, her menagerie of rescue dogs, and all her upcoming books at genashowalter.com.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

*****

Gena Showalter’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS:

Sunday, March 18th: Book Binge – excerpt

Monday, March 19th: @novelgrounds

Wednesday, March 21st: Reading Reality

Monday, March 26th: @cityofdarkclockwork

Tuesday, March 27th: Tome Tender

Tuesday, March 27th: Romantic Reads and Such – excerpt

Wednesday, March 28th: Stuck in Books

Wednesday, March 28th: @booknerdnative

Thursday, March 29th: The Sassy Bookster – excerpt

Friday, March 30th: Stranded in Chaos

Monday, April 2nd: Read Love Blog

Tuesday, April 3rd: @vixenreads

Wednesday, April 4th: Saints and Sinners Books

Thursday, April 5th: @laceybooklovers

Friday, April 6th: Romancing the Book – excerpt

Monday, April 9th: The Book Disciple

Wednesday, April 11th: The Romance Dish

Wednesday, April 11th: Books Without Any Pictures 

Friday, April 13th: Moonlight Rendezvous

Book Review – Not Quite Crazy

Tags

Book Review, Catherine Bybee, Not Quite Crazy, Not Quite series

While this isn’t my first of her books (LOVE the Weekday Brides and Most Likely To series), it is my first in the Not Quite series.  And I couldn’t tell you why!  I love everything I’ve read by her and Not Quite Crazy is no different 🙂

*****

Not Quite Crazy

Not Quite series

by Catherine Bybee

Release Date: March 6, 2018

Publisher: Montlake Romance

Blurb:

No one drives in New York City. Everyone knows that, including California transplant Rachel Price. But that doesn’t stop her from driving into the city. From Connecticut. Every single morning. Rain or shine…or snow.

When she runs the charismatic and good-looking Jason Fairchild off the road, their immediate spark is met with bad timing. There is also one tiny little detail: Jason is her boss. And a woman as intelligent and dedicated to her career as Rachel knows not to date her boss.

As CEO of a private jet company, Jason Fairchild is more used to flying than driving. But if he hadn’t chosen to drive home one night, he wouldn’t have met the slowest—and most irresistible—driver in the entire metro area. Jason has never had time for love. Or dating. Or really anything that doesn’t involve work. But when he finds out that Rachel is the newest superstar in his marketing department, he can’t help wondering if fate has other plans…

*****

Message From the Author

In Not Quite Crazy, California transplant, Rachel Price, doesn’t understand the ramifications of driving into Manhattan from Connecticut every day; in every type of weather…especially snow. When she runs the charming Jason Fairchild off the road, sparks fly. Too bad Jason is her new boss and dating him is out of the question. Everyone knows it’s occupational suicide to date your boss.

Determined to keep her distance romantically, the two dive into a friendship. It isn’t long before those sparks ignite and neither one of them can deny their attraction. Throw in a teenage ward that Rachel has taken on after the death of her best friend, and biological grandparents that seek custody; and this heart warming love story is bound to whisk you away.

While I was writing Not Quite Crazy I took an impromptu trip to Manhattan last March. I purposely chose a winter month where I might be able to absorb what it felt like to be in the city when snow covered the ground. That might sound silly for those of you who live in the city, but for me, a woman who has lived in Southern California since she was eighteen years old, I had no idea just how snow impacts day to day life.

On the drive in from the airport, I was immediately struck by the bikes chained to posts and buried by snow. I observed a man digging his car out and effectively covering his neighbor’s car in the process. The plows did a great job of clearing the path for those cars actually moving, but did an equally fantastic job of making sure some vehicles couldn’t move for days. Trash piled up on the sidewalks would have to wait to be picked up until the thaw. It was astonishing to see. But the best experience for me, and one that made it into the pages of Not Quite Crazy, came when I took my first ride on the subway. You see, I was on my way uptown, from downtown to meet with my agent. Keep in mind, Manhattan is only five miles long. But it was St. Patrick’s Day and I completely forgot about the parade. I ordered an Uber, as one does, and sat bumper to bumper for nearly two hours. After arriving extremely late to my lunch, my wise and savvy agent gave me the instructions I needed to ride the subway back to my downtown hotel. I’m a grown woman, riding a subway shouldn’t intimidate me… but if I were honest, it did. So, with my purse strapped to my shoulder and zipped on the inside of my jacket, and my eyes wide open, I crowded into the underground train along with just about everyone else in the city.  Street performers jumped onto the car and started singing for change. Tourists chatted enthusiastically while locals looked bored with the whole process.

Rachel, my heroine in Not Quite Crazy is an extension of everyone I know that has lived in California. Here on the west coast we all have cars. We’re in them all the time. Public transportation is a joke when the distance between downtown LA and Orange County is so far away. The concept of always relying on public transportation to get to work every single day isn’t something most Southern Californian’s do. So when Rachel showed up on the page, I made sure she personified my own stubbornness about independently driving to and from wherever she needed to go. Even if it takes her two hours more than it should.

I hope you all enjoy this final chapter in the Not Quite Series and find room on your keeper shelf for Not Quite Crazy.

Cheers,

Catherine

*****

Excerpt:

Rachel found the stack of mail on the dining room table. She fingered through a few bills and tossed the junk to the side to add to the recycle bin. The box Owen had spoken of didn’t have a mailing label. In fact, all that was written on the plain brown box was her name, her first name.

She peeled away the tape, not knowing what to expect. Once she folded the lid back, she saw a handwritten envelope on top of a white canvas bag. It took a little effort to lift the noisy bag from the box—the sound of metal hitting metal struck her as odd.

Chains.

Chains for the tires on her car.

“Who…?”

She opened the note and a second paper fell out.

Rachel

Thank you for braving this stranger in a storm and keeping me from frostbite.
Welcome to Connecticut.

Jason

Below his name was a phone number

Something inside her stomach flipped, the buzz a teenage girl feels when she notices a popular boy watching her from the other side of the classroom. Or maybe she was reading into it. Maybe this was just a thank-you, a friendly gesture from a grateful, stranded traveler.

Her cheeks warmed.

Assuming he gave her a mobile number, Rachel decided to send a text.

Hello Jason. I received your gift. They were incredibly thoughtful. Thank you.

She read her note over, twice, then pressed “Send.” Off it went, in wherever notes went as they traveled faster than Superman in cyberspace.

The phone in her hand buzzed, reminding her she was holding it.

Is this Rachel?

She grinned.

Do you leave gifts on everyone’s doorstep in town?

Dot. Dot. Dot. It is nearly Christmas.

Was he flirting? It had been some time since she’d sent a text to anyone outside of the friend zone, so she couldn’t tell.

So you double as Connecticut’s Santa Claus?

Shhh. Don’t tell anyone. It’s a secret.

Well, he wasn’t not flirting.

I’ll keep my mouth closed on one condition.

Oh? What’s that?

I want to meet Vixen. She’s always been my favorite.

I thought Vixen was a he.

She giggled.

A boy named Vixen. That’s just cruel.

Good point. I’ll see what I can do. The team is on a strict curfew until after the
holiday.

Rachel found a rolling eye emoji.

*****

Review:

As she’s shown time and again, Bybee is a wonder at creating characters you connect with.  Rachel is kind, responsible, and strong.  She struggles when she finds out that the hottie she helped is her boss, but Jason proves pretty hard to resist.  Because, for being a billionaire CEO, Jason is down-to-earth, caring, and dependable … he’s also pretty set on getting what he wants.  (I’m pretty sure their courtship is one of the sweetest things I’ve read in a long time!)

I also fell for their assorted friends & family.  They are all friendly, kind, and willing to pitch in to do what needs to be done.  While there is drama, some that you see coming and some that is unexpected (but none of it causing strife in the actual romance which I appreciate), it’s never over the top.  Instead the struggle just helps to deepen their assorted connections and intensify an already emotional story.

As much about friends and family as it is a love story, Not Quite Crazy continues Bybee’s streak of delivering must-read stories full of love in a multitude of forms.

*****

Author Info:

When Catherine Bybee fell in love with the first romance novel she ever read, she promised herself she would one day become a published author. Now she’s written twenty-seven books that have collectively sold more than four million copies and have been translated into more than eighteen languages. Along with her popular Not Quite series, she has also penned the Weekday Brides series, the Most Likely To series, and the First Wives series.

Raised in Washington State, Bybee moved to Southern California in hopes of becoming a movie star. After growing bored with waiting tables, she returned to school and became a registered nurse, spending most of her career in urban emergency rooms. Catherine now writes full-time. Fans can learn more at www.CatherineBybee.com.

Website: http://www.catherinebybee.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCatherineBybee

Twitter: https://twitter.com/catherinebybee

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2905789.Catherine_Bybee

*****

Giveaway:

$50 Gift Card

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/07c2363f177