Category Archives: Book Review

Review – Game Changer

25 Tuesday Apr 2023

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A steamy, grumpy sunshine sports romance featuring a woman down on her luck, a star basketball player with a filthy mouth, and a connection neither of them can deny.

Game Changer

King of the Court #1

by Piper Lawson

Blurb:

After being dumped and losing my job the same week, the last thing my broken heart needs is a rebound.

I’m escaping across the country to help my perfect sister plan her dream wedding, and to prove to both of us everything is under control.

But a combination of tequila and turbulence on the flight there lead to word-vomiting all my troubles to the huge and handsome stranger in the first-class seat next to mine.

Only his whispered dirty diversions keep me sane until landing.

Despite the spark of attraction, we go our separate ways.

Or so I thought.

Turns out the tall, muscular, tattooed tower of a man from the plane is the star player on my future brother-in-law’s pro basketball team.

Clay is the last person I should gravitate toward. They’re called “players” for a reason.

Grumpy and cynical, he carries a weight on his shoulders I can’t possibly fathom.

He’s also the only one who knows my secrets and gets my heart racing.

The more we’re thrust together, the stronger the chemistry between us becomes.

Hooking up with the all-star athlete isn’t the way to get my life on track…but it could just be the game changer we’ve both been searching for.

Download today on Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, and Kobo!

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3xjIJrS

Amazon Alt. Cover Paperback: https://bit.ly/3KIJzEI

Apple Books: http://bit.ly/3K05c4J

Nook: http://bit.ly/3jMN181

B & N Alt. Cover Paperback: https://bit.ly/3AdWLg0

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3zdO9Wh

Google Play: https://bit.ly/3IkFdnf

Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/3YJWE6a

*****

Review:

I was super intrigued by the blurb, so I was willing to try a New Adult romance – which is SO not my thing. Usually, they are full of drama all mixed up with inexperience and poor decisions. I’ve been steering clear of them for years and now I’m wondering if I judged them too harshly. Granted, there is ALL sorts of angst here and I really wanted Nova to walk away from Clay’s hot & cold routine at the beginning (girl deserves better than being jerked around) but she stuck it out and I’m glad I did too.

Nova has hit a rough patch and is using the excuse of helping her sister to lay low a little, waiting for things to settle. They used to be close but over the years have grown apart. Time together is going to be good for them…if Nova can survive the plane ride there. Luckily her grumpy, and super sexy, seat mate is the perfect distraction from her fear of flying.

Clay has somethings in his past that still haunt him but he’s not going to let them distract him from his goal of a championship. That also goes for the hottie who stole his seat on the plane and proceeded to have quite the freak out. Too bad fate has other plans.

I’ll be honest, I almost gave up on this one more than once. Before I even started it, really, once I found out it ended in a cliffhanger, which I NEVER do, but I’m glad that I stuck with it. The beginning was a little rough, and there were a few times where I was like WHY? to something one of the main characters did, but I like them. Nova is the perfect mix of sunshine and vulnerability and I’m very much looking forward to finding out more about Clay’s past. I’m not sure I can take two more books of drama without a HEA but if Lawson keeps delivering such interesting characters, I’m willing to give it a shot 🙂 (and I’m really hoping Nova hands Clay his @ss in the next book!)

*****

Author Info:

Piper Lawson is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of smart and steamy romance.

She writes women who follow their dreams, best friends who know your dirty secrets and love you anyway, and complex heroes you’ll fall hard for.

Piper lives in Canada with her tall and brilliant husband. She’s a sucker for dark eyes, dark coffee, and dark chocolate. 

Connect with Piper

Website: https://www.piperlawsonbooks.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13680088.Piper_Lawson

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

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/piperlawsonromance/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/piperlawsonbooks

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/piper-lawson

~

Review – The Half Baked Plan

21 Friday Apr 2023

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The Half Baked Plan

Love in No Man’s Land series, Book 2

by Becca Jackson

Blurb:

Lucas

Fire took out my business, my apartment and almost my life a few weeks back, and now I’m living in my best friend’s house while I rebuild, and he travels the world. He found his perfect match and now It’s time I found mine.

After years on my own, I want a family, but I have zero hope in finding my match while I’m still completely crushing on the hottest builder in the world, and to make matters worse, he’s now my roommate.

I thought sharing a house with Carter would help me get over him. I’d see why he’s never had a boyfriend, or anyone worth bringing around town. I’d discover all of his faults up close and squash the perfect god-like image I’ve cemented in my mind all these years.

Problem is, no matter what annoying habits I jot down on my list, the more time I spend with him the more I’m convinced Carter is everything I will ever need. Now I just have to figure out a way to tell him.

Carter

With Michael traveling the world, it’s just Lucas and me in his house while we rebuild the café, bakery, and apartment. I’m happy for Michael. I really am, but seeing another friend get their happy beginning shines a light again on the fact that I might never get mine.

I’m sick of being everyone’s best friend, yet no one’s boyfriend. I want my happy beginning too. I want someone to pick me. To want me. To love me.

So I do what any single guy would do, I sign up for speed dating. Blind dates suck but I’m never going to find the one if I don’t start putting myself out there.

The problem is, the more time I spend living with Lucas the more I realize, I don’t want any of these random hookups. I want the sweetest guy I’ve ever met. The one who bakes me cookies to make me smile. So now I have to figure out a way to show him I can be an awesome boyfriend. I can be his happy beginning if he will just give me a chance out of the friend zone.

Universal Link

Add to Goodreads

*****

Excerpt:

“Ohh, aren’t you delicious?” The guy wearing deep purple eyeliner preens as I take my seat at table G.

“Ahh, thanks.”

Theo taps the mic, gaining everyone’s attention. “All right, your night starts now. Have fun.”

The app chimes, and the guy across from me immediately starts talking.

“I’m Stuart. Thirty-seven, Capricorn, I’m a stylist and live in the city, but have visited this town a few times. It’s super sweet, I could totally see myself settling somewhere like here. I could open a salon. You obviously work out, so what else do you do besides pumping iron?” He props his head on his hands, tilting it to the side as he waits for my reply.

“I’m Carter. I’m a contractor.”

“Oh, so you’re good with your hands. I knew a big, buff guy like you would be.”

“Thanks. I, umm, live in town, but work all over depending on the job.” Lucas’s warm laugh sounds from somewhere on my left. I turn my head towards the sound, and like being pulled by a magnet, my gaze finds him. He’s sitting across from a man in a suit with slicked-back hair, flawlessly clean-shaven face, and impeccably manicured eyebrows. My jaw tightens.

Really? That guy?

I can’t see his face, but Lucas is smiling, and I hate that this man, whoever he is, is making Lucas smile that way. That’s my smile.

Stuart is talking again, and I’d be lying if I said I had any clue what he was saying. My gaze keeps being drawn back to Lucas.

*****

Review:

I really enjoyed Carter and Lucas’s story. The first part of the story is Carter realizing that maybe he has feelings for Lucas after all, while Lucas tries to get over his crush. The second part is them dancing around telling each other how they feel, then the ending is them figuring out their way to a HEA.

Carter and Lucas are both hard-working, stand-up guys, who share a good group of supportive, and entertaining, friends. They’ve known each other for quite a while, with Lucas trying to hide his crush and Carter being oblivious to his friend’s feelings & the possibility that Lucas might be more than just a friend. But once that seed is planted, it quickly takes hold.

Readers need to be ready to hang in there for the slow burn romance between these two because they seriously take a while to get where they’re going. But it’s an easy read, with enjoyable characters, a touch of humor, and eventually a decent amount of steam. It’s pretty low angst and other than a few moments of “guys, seriously” it was a pretty enjoyable journey.

(While not necessary, it does help to have read the first book in the series. I enjoyed that one too. There were a few moments where the characters did foolish things, just like here, but they were enjoyable, and I was rooting for them to figure things out too. The novella that kicked off the series might be a good idea too but I haven’t read it yet, though it’s on my list.)

*****

Author Info:

Becca Jackson is the author of mm romance stories that deliver heart, heat, and happily ever afters for some totally adorkable and fabulous guys.

Connect with Becca:
Facebook Reader Group: https://geni.us/BeccaJacksonFBGroup
Newsletter: https://geni.us/beccamail
Website: https://geni.us/BeccaJacksonWeb
TikTok: https://geni.us/BeccaJacksonTiktok
Instagram: https://geni.us/BeccaJacksonInsta
Facebook: https://geni.us/BeccaJacksonFacebook

*****

Review – For the Love of Whiskey

19 Wednesday Apr 2023

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From New York Times bestselling author Melissa Foster comes The Whiskeys: Dark Knights at Redemption Ranch, a small-town, big-family series of standalone romance novels featuring fiercely loyal, insanely sexy bikers who give horses—and people—a second chance. Buckle up for a wild ride in Hope Valley, Colorado, as these big-hearted badasses and their sassy sisters wrangle in their forever loves. No cliffhangers, no cheating, and always a happily ever after.

For the Love of Whiskey

The Whiskeys: Dark Knights at Redemption Ranch

by Melissa Foster

Releasing April 19, 2023

World Literary Press

Blurb:

Callahan “Cowboy” Whiskey is a natural-born protector, a Dark Knights biker, and a hell of a rancher. What happens when he falls for a woman who has no idea who she really is?

When Sullivan Tate escaped from a cult, leaving behind the only life she’d ever known, she thought she’d already endured the most difficult things she’d ever have to deal with. She knew she needed to figure out who she was, but she hadn’t expected to fall for overprotective and sexy-as-hell Callahan “Cowboy” Whiskey along the way. How can she give her heart to a man who has always known exactly who he is, when she’s only just begun figuring that out about herself?

Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60889013-for-the-love-of-whiskey 
Goodreads series link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/324539 

KINDLE: https://smarturl.it/FTLOW_Kindle
APPLE BOOKS: https://smarturl.it/FTLOW_Apple
NOOK: https://smarturl.it/FTLOW_Nook
KOBO:  https://smarturl.it/FTLOW_Kobo
GPLAY: https://smarturl.it/FTLOW_GPlay
STANDARD PAPERBACK: https://smarturl.it/FTLOW_Pb
SPECIAL EDITION PAPERBACK: https://lnk.to/FTLOWsp 
HARDBACK: https://lnk.to/FTLOW_Hb
Audio, narrated by Aiden Snow and Meg Sylvan
https://melissafoster.com/RR_audio

*****

Excerpt:

Sneak Peek: https://melissafoster.com/for-the-love-of-whiskey-sneak-peek/ 

*****

Review:

Cowboy is just about perfect. I think it helps that his mother and so many others in his life are therapists. He’s the protector and would be there for anyone, but he’s drawn to Sully immediately and deeply. A whole lot caring, patient, and giving but still a little bit dirty and growly alpha, the way he treats her, helping her stand on her own feet and experience everything, is totally swoon worthy.

There is a disclaimer at the end of the book from the author about Sully’s plight. She recognizes that in reality this is not a fast process and that it would take a long time for someone to recover from her experiences. But this is a love story so there also needs to be a little bit of magic in falling in love 🙂 She makes Sully strong and unbroken by the things that she’s been through. She just needs somewhere (and someone) that makes her feel safe and supported so she can figure out who she is and how she wants to go forward.

As much as I loved Cowboy & Sully and their connection, I spent a bit of time early on asking myself if it was really that healthy but at some point I decided that it didn’t matter. There are a lot of times in a romance that you just have to let it be because it’s just a story. I think though that this says something about Foster’s characters. They, and their stories, are so moving and genuine that you can’t help comparing them to what would happen if they didn’t just exist in a book. And that’s the reason that I get excited just seeing her name on a new book – I know that I’m going to get something emotional and real, with all the heart (and a touch of heat) that I could ask for.

(All of Foster’s books technically can stand on their own but why would you want them to 🙂 )

*****

Author Info:

Melissa Foster is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance and new adult romance with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Melissa’s emotional journeys are lovingly erotic and always family oriented–perfect beach reads for contemporary romance lovers who enjoy reading about wealthy heroes and smart, sassy heroines.

Website:  http://www.melissafoster.com/
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/MelissaFosterAuthor
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Melissa_Foster
GoodReads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3023973.Melissa_Foster
Newsletter: http://melissafoster.com/newsletter/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/melissa-foster
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissafoster_author/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@melissafoster_author

*****

Series Buy Links:

THE TROUBLE WITH WHISKEY (Book One) – Now Available
KINDLE: https://smarturl.it/TWW_Kindle
APPLE: https://melissafoster.com/TTWW_Apple
NOOK: https://melissafoster.com/TTWW_BN
KOBO: https://melissafoster.com/TTWW_Kobo
GPLAY: https://melissafoster.com/TTWW_GPlay
PAPERBACK and SPECIAL EDITIONS: https://melissafoster.com/TTWW
Audio, narrated by Jacob Morgan and Savannah Peachwood
AUDIBLE: https://smarturl.it/TWWa_Audible
AMAZON: https://smarturl.it/TWWa_Amazon
APPLE: https://smarturl.it/TWWa_Apple

FREEING SULLY – Prequel to FTLOW (Book Two) – Now Available
KINDLE: https://lnk.to/FS_Kindle
APPLE: https://lnk.to/FS_Apple
NOOK: https://lnk.to/FS_Nook
KOBO: https://lnk.to/FS_Kobo
GPLAY: https://lnk.to/FS_GPlay
PAPERBACK: https://lnk.to/FS_Pb
Audio narrated by Meg Sylvan 
AUDIBLE: https://lnk.to/FSa_Audible
AMAZON: https://lnk.to/FSa_Amazon
APPLE: https://lnk.to/FSa_Apple

A TASTE OF WHISKEY (Rel 2024) – Pre-order 
KINDLE: https://lnk.to/ATOW_Kindle
APPLE BOOKS: https://lnk.to/ATOW_Apple
NOOK: https://lnk.to/ATOW_Nook
KOBO: https://lnk.to/ATOW_Kobo
GPLAY: https://lnk.to/ATOW_GPlay
STANDARD PAPERBACK: Coming Soon!
SPECIAL EDITION PAPERBACK: Coming Soon!
Audiobook: Coming Soon!

~

Review – Talk of the Town

11 Tuesday Apr 2023

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Talk of the Town

by Jennifer Bardsley

Blurb:

In this lighthearted romance filled with small-town humor and high jinks, an unsuspecting real estate agent becomes the wildest dream come true for all the single moms—except the one he wants.

They’re coworkers, friends, and confidants, but Peter Marshal has always pined for a little something more with Noelle Walters. As a widow and a single mom, Noelle prefers to play it safe, and falling for Peter was never part of the plan.

Then again, neither of their plans accounted for the well-meaning but meddling actions of Peter’s sister, who offers him up as their town’s most eligible bachelor in the local moms’ Facebook group. He’s none the wiser about the source of this sudden surge in attention, but he only has eyes for Noelle. And from where she’s standing on the sidelines of Peter’s popularity, it’s getting harder to pretend that she doesn’t see what everyone else sees in her best friend.

With all eyes on them, will Peter and Noelle finally see beyond the hurdles to the happily ever after that’s been there all along?

*****

Review:

Talk of the Town is a slow burn and super sweet. Noelle didn’t have a conventional up-bringing and it’s caused her to be a little more awkward socially. She’s got a good heart, loves her son & MIL, and works hard. But she still has some left over trauma from her parents that makes it difficult to navigate friendships & potential romantic relationships. 

Peter may be a little naive himself, especially reading women, but he does know that he’d like something more than friends with Noelle. He’s a little hesitant to do anything about it, though, for fear of losing the relationship that they do have so far. But, unbeknownst to him, his meddling sister may just give him the help he needs when her machinations to see Peter in a relationship also has Noelle looking at him in a new way. 

The mom’s Facebook group provides the occasional bit of light-heartedness and some additional context to the goings-on of the town, but a lot of the time the women just came across as mean, both in the group and in person. It may be hard for some who have experienced similar bullying (which is one of the reasons it may hit hard is that it felt so real) but I do appreciate how Noelle’s growth is shown in her handling of some of these situations and that Peter is willing to stand up for Noelle with his beloved sister.

Bardsley captures both the complexity of family and the complications of small town life, giving us a slew of characters to root for … and sometimes against. She’s not going to get you to that HEA any time soon but the story will keep your attention so you don’t care how long it takes to get there.

Review – The Quarterback Keeper

05 Wednesday Apr 2023

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The Quarterback Keeper

The Package Deal series

by Rheland Richmond & Emerson Beckett

Blurb:

Alex

I’m the starting quarterback for the Portland Pirates, and I have a thing for my son’s teacher. Except I didn’t know the cute blond on the beach with the giant dog was, in fact, my kid’s teacher until two months later at Open House.

Christian took my breath away during the second week of my two-week vacation at the beach and introduced me to things I never knew could feel so good and be so right. I think he just might be the one who inspires me to tell the world that this NFL quarterback is bisexual and in love with a man.

That is until I blew the best thing to happen to me since my kids were born. All I know is I have to get him back. I had to find a way to keep him.

Christian

I never imagined I would meet the love of my life while being bowled over on the beach by the overeager Newfoundland I was dog-sitting. But that’s exactly how I ended up on my back in the sand, wrapped in his arms and pressed into the sand by the six-foot-five dark-haired Adonis on the beach. Did I mention he had two beautiful children?

Our week together was worthy of a sexy modern-day fairytale full of promises about the future until he sent me the text that broke my heart. And how was I supposed to get over him when his adorable six-year-old son was in my class?

Find out how Alex and Christian ache to overcome some daunting complications to reunite in The Quarterback Keeper, Book One of The Package Deal Series.

*****

Review:

(Some potential minor spoilers ahead.)

The Quarterback Keeper isn’t going to be for everyone, but I adored it. It has all sorts of feels, a little bit of angst, a TON of spice, and a lovely HEA.

Alex and Christian meet on vacation and spend a wonderful week getting to know each other & falling in love. Unfortunately, Alex feels like he isn’t in a place where he can share his new relationship with the world and when things get complicated, he makes a decision that breaks both of their hearts. When they meet each other again, at Meet the Teacher Night of all places, can he convince Christian to forgive him and give them another chance?

This is a new to me series and I have to say I read everything I could get my hands on in a weekend. They are a little formulaic and kinda light reading but that didn’t make them any less enjoyable. There’s a bit of angst, but not a ton, and a good dose of insta-love with this one. Oh, and definitely a lot of heat. I have to say, as a straight female, there were a few times (more so in later books than this one) where I went “is this sexy?” because it just seemed a little over the top to be real. But that only happened here and there and the rest of the time … *whew, hawtness* I did have some issues with the portrayal of Alex’s ex as some of the things that happen around her didn’t seem to have the buildup it needed to make it make sense. I’m also not sure that Alex’s celebrity is handled realistically but it is somewhat addressed and is the cause of some of their issues. Overall, though, this series is a keeper and after binging all the others, I am so very anxiously waiting for the next book releasing at the end of April 🙂

Review – Over My Brother’s Dead Body, Chase Andrews

04 Tuesday Apr 2023

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Over My Brother’s Dead Body, Chase Andrews

Kingsmen Football Stars series

by Piper Rayne

Blurb:

Chase Andrews.

The Kingsmen’s top tight end.
My brother’s friend and teammate.
My new neighbor.
The grumpy to my sunshine.

But underneath that grumpy exterior, there’s so much more.

Chase likes to pretend nothing affects him, but I’ve seen glimpses of his other side in the time we’ve spent together.

And the more we get to know each other, the more I’m falling for him.

Under normal circumstances, this would be great. Except my hyper-protective big brother thinks no man is good enough for me, and my ex-fiancé is trying to win me back.

One charming, seemingly good man already broke my heart. Am I stupid to give a self-confessed relationship-adverse football player a chance to break it a second time?

Download today on Amazon, Apple Books, Audible, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, and Kobo!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Kxel1h

Apple Books: https://apple.co/3ODf5VI

Nook: https://bit.ly/3kuhV1E

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3vrrmoJ

Google Play: https://bit.ly/39o3fP7

Audible: https://books2read.com/ombdbca
Narrators: Jason Clarke & Savannah Peachwood

*****

Review:

There is so much about these two that I loved. The sibling’s friend trope will get me just about every time and I love a grumpy/sunshine storyline when it’s done well (and Piper Rayne definitely does here).

Twyla is working on getting over her failed engagement and I appreciate that she actually took some time to work through it, instead of just jumping into a new relationship. The time they spend getting to know each other a little better before giving in to their long-standing attraction gives more depth to their story.

He may seem grumpy but Chase has a big heart and is a good guy. He’s private and doesn’t really have a lot of energy to give to playing nice but he’s committed to the people and things he feels are important. And soon Twyla becomes very important to him.

A protective brother, feelings of self-doubt, and some serious communication issues causes trouble between the two but they find a way to a HEA. (Chase’s big gesture may not have been for me but Twyla seemed to like it and Piper Rayne made it work.) The authors really know how to bring on the sizzle, create characters that you can get behind, and deliver just enough angst to keep things interesting. Piper Rayne is turning into a must read for me and I won’t hesitate when I see a new book coming my way.

(Saying that, y’all! Somehow I missed getting my hands on the last book (You Can’t Kiss the Nanny, Brady Banks) but I didn’t feel like it affected my enjoyment of this one. I think they can mostly stand on their own but I definitely recommend reading as many as you can 🙂 )

*****

Author Info:

Piper Rayne is a USA Today Bestselling Author duo who write “heartwarming humor with a side of sizzle” about families, whether that be blood or found. They both have e-readers full of one-clickable books, they’re married to husbands who drive them to drink, and they’re both chauffeurs to their kids. Most of all, they love hot heroes and quirky heroines who make them laugh, and they hope you do, too!

Connect with Piper Rayne

Website: www.PiperRayne.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15810938.Piper_Rayne

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Piper-Rayne/e/B01ND0R15R

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

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PiperRaynesUnicorns

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorpiperrayne/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PiperRayneRocks

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorpiperrayne

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/piper-rayne

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/authorpiperrayne/_created/

Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/PiperRayne?ref=shop_sugg

Verve: https://ververomance.com/app/PiperRayne

~

Review – Grimm Prince

28 Tuesday Mar 2023

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Grimm Prince

Grimm’s Valley series

by NS Johnson

Blurb:

When a Wounded Warrior meets a small town princess, he’ll learn that happily-ever-after is definitely in his cards.

Jake Grimm came home after fifteen years to an official letter on his door. His family’s ancestral home is going to be a fairytale themed tourist attraction which isn’t going to work when the rest of his Special Forces team shows up to move in. Storming up to City Hall for some answers, a car backfires and he hits the ground, bringing down the hot, curvy woman standing next to him. 
 
She looks up at him with stars in her eyes, like he isn’t battle damaged. 
 
Her heart shaped mouth whispers dreams that she could take all his pain and sleepless nights away.
 
All of which is why Jake knows he must stay far away from Rosie Briarwood, the mayor’s daughter. He might be the last descendant of the founders of Grimm’s Valley, but he’s no prince. And he’s no longer a hero.
 
Once upon a time has never been so hot in this steamy small town where heroes fall hard for modern day damsels who know how to handle their swords.

Download today on Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, and Kobo!

Amazon: https://bit.ly/41VR56V
Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/GrimmPrince
Apple Books: Coming Soon! 
Nook: https://bit.ly/3yYuolg
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3LshDqK
Google Play: https://bit.ly/3Jd1r9O

*****

Review:

Rosie has been waiting for her prince, and kissing a few frogs along the way, knowing that fate would bring him to her. It sounds a little woo-woo but she actually sells it pretty well. The whole idea of being open to possibilities and recognizing the choices offered up to her somehow works here. Although it doesn’t help her in her initial meeting with Jake as she immediately recognizes him as her true love … and overshares this with him. I mean, any guy is going to head for the hills at that point. Especially one as guy shy about relationships as Jake (although of course Rosie doesn’t know, or really care, about that).

Jake’s parent’s relationship has soured him on romance. Seeing his mom step out on his dad repeatedly and the way it broke the man has him swearing off love. Until he meets Rosie. While she seems a little unstable he can’t deny that there is a certain … feeling when he’s with her. One of peace and comfort, of rightness. But he doesn’t believe in love, right?

There’s a bit of insta-love, and some it-can-only-happen-in-books, going on (so be ready for some suspension of disbelief) but I really enjoyed the first of the Grimm’s Valley stories. Because Rosie believes that Jake is her fated love we spend most of the book waiting for him to catch up 🙂 It’s fun but it doesn’t really lead to a lot of development in their relationship. We do get a good bit of world building and a chance for readers to get to know characters that will play a part in future stories. Which I’m totally on board with and look forward to finding out who ends up with who & how! An entertaining and fast paced read, Grimm Prince is a fun introduction to a world of reimagined fairy tales.

*****

Author Info:

NS Johnson is the steamy small town contemporary pen name of Ines Johnson. The world NS creates will feature characters from fairytale, myths and lore in the small town of Grimm’s Valley. Like Ines, NS is also a lover of fairytales, folklore, and mythology who spends her days reimagining the stories of old in a modern world. She writes books where damsels cause the distress, princesses wield swords, and moms save the world.

Connect with NS

Website: www.ineswrites.com
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Review – Between Commitment and Betrayal

23 Thursday Mar 2023

Posted by in Blog Tour, Book Review, Sneak Peek

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Between Commitment and Betrayal

Hardy Billionaire Brothers #1

by Shain Rose

Blurb:

My father’s business partner will do anything for the empire they built together…Even marry me.

Declan Hardy, All-American heartthrob and retired NFL billionaire, is my complete opposite.
He’s commanding where I’m cooperative.
Spontaneous while I am deliberate.
Loud when I stay quiet.
The only thing we have in common is that both our names are on my father’s will.

He’ll inherit the fitness and hospitality empire and I’ll keep the one thing I hold dear.
As long as I marry him—with conditions.

One year of a fake marriage.
One year of living together.
One year of pretending I belong in his luxury lifestyle.

But stipulations are never that simple.
Especially when I can’t tell if his kisses are fake or if I’m pretending when I kiss him back.

And as more conditions arise, it’s clear there’s a fine line between commitment and betrayal… and neither of us knows where that line falls.

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3xuhA5y
Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/BCandB

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*****

Excerpt:

“What’s with this gold owl necklace?” He asked quietly.

“It meant something to me once.” I bit my lip as I looked at his, how close he was now, how I could feel his breath mingling with mine. “Felt like a symbol of being saved.” 

“Hmm. Do you want to be saved now?”

“From what?”

He didn’t give me a moment to consider more. He pushed me up against the front of the Bugatti and devoured my mouth. I tasted his hate for all we were going through, his anger, his intrigue. I met it with mine. Bite for bite. Touch for touch. My hands were in his dark hair—pulling, clawing, consuming.

His fingers dug into my thighs as he lifted me onto the hood of his car and lapped at my neck while he moved between my legs. I wrapped them around him immediately, my body latching on like a starved animal who’d found a feast. 

And I couldn’t stop even knowing that this arranged marriage was a recipe for disaster. 

He ripped his lips from mine only to drag them over my neck, to taste my sensitive skin there, to suck it like he owned it. “No. You don’t want to be saved from this. From me. You want it, Everly. All of it.”

I shook my head but held him close, ground my hips into his length. “I’m here because I have to be, not because I want to be.”

“You don’t want to be?” He lifted one dark eyebrow, and then his hand was skirting under my dress and into my panties. “Tell me then, is it the rain making you wet or me?”

*****

Review:

(Before I get into my review, read that excerpt again and if you think that’s the hero for you then this is definitely your next read.)

Overall, the heat is off the charts but the heart seemed to be a little lacking for me. I enjoyed Everly, she’s strong and independent … except when it came to Declan. Every interaction with him had her folding to his will, which is fine in a dom/sub type relationship, I guess, but I would have really liked for there to be a bit more balance. It did lead some seriously off-the-charts hot sex scenes but it didn’t do much for me to feel their “love” for each other.

Declan was a little bit on the other side of Alpha, maybe even a touch toxic at times. He’s controlling, dominant, overly jealous, but can also be sweet and thoughtful so I can kinda get it – he will definitely appeal to some. And he had some moments for me as well, but there were also times when I felt like his dealings with Everly were unhealthy. I just kept thinking that a therapist would have a field day with this one (which I guess maybe isn’t what you should be thinking when you are reading a romance).

The lack of communication between these two, and the push-pull of their interactions, got a bit old and some of the things Declan did … I really don’t know how he expected it would all work out in the end. But I can see the allure and the author definitely has me intrigued about the next book. I’m more than willing to take my chances and find out how Alpha that Hardy brother can be!

Between Commitment and Betrayal will be the perfect read for the right audience – the writing is enjoyable and the characters have their appeal. It’s not going to be for everyone, but I think this author knows who she’s writing for and delivers to them exactly what they will love.

*****

Author Info:

Shain Rose is a USA Today and #1 Amazon bestselling author. She has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in English Literature. Those degrees now help her write steamy romance with an edge. From contemporary to dark romance, you will always find a dominant hero and an emotional rollercoaster ride before you get to her happily ever afters.

She lives where the weather is always changing with a family she hopes will never change. When she isn’t writing, she’s spending time with her husband, two kids, and wild golden retriever. Yes, it takes a lot of books, coffee, and candy to keep her sane.

Connect with Shain

Website: www.shainrose.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/shainrose

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Shain-Rose/e/B0847SL3L6

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Review – The Gunslinger’s Guide to Avoiding Matrimony

17 Friday Mar 2023

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The Gunslinger’s Guide to Avoiding Matrimony

Gunslinger #2

by Michelle McLean

Blurb:

At the ripe old age of twenty-eight, desperate-to-retire gunslinger Adam Brady has exactly two rules. And one of them is never, ever get married. So he’ll be danged when his dreams of permanently avoiding the bounty hunter on his tail in Desolation, the only town where notorious men like him can find respite, comes with one helluva string attached. The town has a new rule: gunslingers welcome—if they get a job…or marry.

Without realizing it, Adam stumbles into a big town wedding and accidentally marries Nora Schumacher, a sassy-mouthed mountain of a woman with legs as long as his wanted poster. So what’s a gunslinger to do but get himself unhitched and find a job. Any job. Except Adam keeps getting fired, one odd circumstance after another. And he’s running out of options.

Desolation was supposed to be his safe haven. Except, he’s not only running from his past but from the irresistible woman he married. And worse, he’s finding that he rather likes the enticing, if damnably independent, wife of his. But some men just aren’t the marrying kind. Only, if he leaves, his own life won’t be worth living. If he stays, he puts the lives of his newfound family and the woman he loves on the line. So much for Desolation being the answer to all his problems.

*****

Review:

I’ve read a few reviews talking about how unrealistic this book is but … I mean, it’s a romantic comedy. It’s not supposed to be realistic. It’s fun, humorous, and sweet. There’s a lot of bickering and mishaps as Adam tries to find a job so he doesn’t have to stay married to Nora in order to stay in Desolation. It also means that the two of them start to get to know each to get to know each other better and find out that maybe, just maybe, marriage to each other isn’t a bad thing … if Adam’s past doesn’t come calling. Which of course it does. Hijinks, fun, and heart all mix together to create a fun read in McLean’s second book in the Gunslinger series.

(Part of a series but can be read as a standalone.)

Review – Once Upon a Royal Christmas

16 Thursday Mar 2023

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Once Upon a Royal Christmas

by Teri Wilson

Blurb:

She pretends to be a princess at children’s parties.
But can she melt a real prince’s frosty heart?
Get swept away by a Christmas story from Hallmark
and bestselling author Teri Wilson—
the queen of royal romance!

“I’m Prince Nikolas of San Glacera. Oh, you’ve never heard of us? Well, you’re not the only one. Our country relies on winter tourism, but we’re attracting fewer and fewer visitors. I admit it’s a problem. I just don’t think the solution is an American who likes to play dress-up.

You see, while I was away on a trip, my younger sister convinced the palace to hold a contest. The winner gets to star in our annual Ice Village festivities and accompany our royal family to holiday events.

And who did they choose? Gracie Clark, who runs a children’s party business and performs as—I kid you not—‘Princess Snowflake.’

Of course, I do respect the fact that she volunteers at children’s hospitals. I suppose to some, she might have a certain charm… But the whole cheap spectacle is beneath our dignity.

I’m not going to shirk my duty to my kingdom. I’ll go to every event with her. At least, once Christmas is over, she’ll be gone…”

*****

Review:

A grumpy prince only doing his duty. A fake princess who is sunshine and happiness personified. A mix-up of royal proportion. All combined in a sappy package of holiday cheer.

You have to go into it knowing what you are getting – a fluffy, feel-good holiday romance – but I really enjoyed the heck out of this one. Is it predictable? Definitely. But that doesn’t stop it from being fun.