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Romantic Reads and Such

Category Archives: Book Review

Review – Double Dog Dare

12 Monday Dec 2022

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

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Book Review, Double Dog Dare, Milwaukee Growlers series, Tracy Solheim

Double Dog Dare

Milwaukee Growlers #2

by Tracy Solheim

They say he who dares wins…

Luke Kessler is known for his daring play on the field and his carefully scripted life off it. The Growlers’ wide receiver has a strict rule of dating one carefully chosen woman per season, then letting her down gently. After all, his game is football, not love. That is until his dopey mutt falls for a French bulldog owned by a hot mess of a woman whose sassy mouth and mind-blowing curves have him fumbling his best laid plans.

After a humiliating concert performance played out in front of the world on social media, cellist Summer Pearson has sworn off a career in music. Forever. She’s hiding out with her grandparents in Milwaukee, licking her wounds and preparing for a predictable, if not boring, law career. The last person she needs challenging her life choices is a sexy, dog-rescuing jock who loves his grandma as much as he loves a good dare.

Especially when that same guy is dating her perfect cousin.

This fun, flirty sports romance delivers a happily ever after that will have you laughing, crying, sighing, and cheering in the endzone. One-click it now for doggy hijinks, senior citizens bent on shenanigans, sexy ax-throwing, locker room bromance, steamy private cello performances, and all the feels as two people discover they are worthy of love.

Double Dog Dare is book 2 in the Milwaukee Growlers Football series but can be read as a standalone with no cliffhangers.

Solheim gives readers a wonderful set of secondary characters, a satisfying romance, and a couple that you can truly root for. And while Luke’s view on relationships may seem a bit misogynistic, he actually is very upfront about it, only getting involved with like-minded people. Everyone is aware of the situation and is in agreement of what it is and what it isn’t. Then he meets summer ,,, and realizes maybe he wants something else after all.

(I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about the fact that Luke was dating Summer’s cousin first, cheating in any shape or form is definitely a firm no for me, but it actually resolved itself in a satisfying way.)

Summer is struggling with her confidence after a disastrous viral performance, unsure if she can ever play again and what that means for her future. Meeting Luke quickly upends her life and has her rethinking things. And while he may feel that he’s not relationship material, he quickly proves that wrong, showing himself to be so amazingly supportive as she works through her issues with performing again.

The assorted friends and family bring additional moments of humor and emotion throughout the story, adding depth and feels to an already delightful story. I’m very much hoping to see more in this series going forward.

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Review – The Wicked Truth

07 Wednesday Dec 2022

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review, Sneak Peek

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Melissa Foster, The Wicked Truth, The Wickeds series, The Wickeds: Dark Knights at Bayside series

Scorching heat, laugh-out-loud humor, and swoon-worthy moments abound in this sexy new standalone romance by New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Melissa Foster.

The Wicked Truth

The Wickeds: Dark Knights at Bayside

by Melissa Foster

Releasing Dec 7th, 2022

World Literary Press

Blurb:

What happens when you’re not looking for love, but it walks in the door?

Madigan Wicked’s heart is not up for grabs. She’s been there, done that, and she’s not going back for seconds. She pours her heart and soul into her family, her greeting card line, puppetry, and storytelling performances. But she’s not opposed to having a night of fun, and the gruff, sinfully hot, definitely-not-looking-for-love mysterious stranger she runs into at a bar might be just the right man to enjoy it with.

Ex-con Tobias Riggs has lost enough for one lifetime. The only family member in his corner doesn’t remember him, and the people who he thought would always be in his life, walked away. He’s just trying to make it through each day, and the last thing he’s looking for is any sort of connection. When chemistry ignites with the snarky, sexy storyteller, with lips he can’t stop thinking about, he gives in to a night of passion.

Though neither is open to love, it’s been known to bully its way into even the most resisting hearts. But can it survive the wicked truth of Tobias’s dark past?

Listen to the playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6o5OgFkNtFDNZfTYTYmJZd

Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60167705-the-wicked-truth

Goodreads series link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/269450-the-wickeds-dark-knights-at-bayside

Buy Links:

KINDLE: http://smarturl.it/TWT_Kindle

APPLE: http://smarturl.it/TWT_Apple

NOOK: http://smarturl.it/TWT_Nook

KOBO: http://smarturl.it/TWT_Kobo

GPLAY: http://smarturl.it/TWT_GPlay

PAPERBACK: http://smarturl.it/TWT_Pb

Available in audio book, narrated by Jacob Morgan and Savannah Peachwood

AMAZON: http://smarturl.it/TWTa_Amazon

APPLE: https://smarturl.it/TWTa_Apple

AUDIBLE: https://smarturl.it/TWTa_Audible

For more Dark Knights, check out The Whiskeys: https://melissafoster.com/series-the-whiskeys-dark-knights-at-peaceful-harbor/ 

For more Bayside Summers fun: https://melissafoster.com/series-bayside-summers/

*****

Excerpt:

Read Sneak Peek https://melissafoster.com/the-wicked-truth-sneak-peek/

*****

Review:

Tobias has had his fair share of trouble lately and he’s not exactly feeling worthy of good things. He’s struggling with a lot of guilt over the circumstances that sent him to jail and how it impacted those important to him. Crossing paths with a spitfire with a large, but damaged, heart soon has him wanting things that he doesn’t think he can have. When she claims to only one night, who is he to argue …

Madigan recently had her heart broken and is not ready to trust it to someone else. Finding herself drawn to Tobias, it works for her that he’s not looking for anything serious either. But as one night leads to more, that damaged heart might have other ideas.

There’s a lot of push-and-pull, especially from Tobias, as these two fight their feelings. He’s got a lot to work through but the draw he feels towards Madigan proves to be a lot stronger. Be prepared for a rollercoaster of emotions as these two work their way from hot hookups to anger & heartache as Tobias’s past is revealed to a potential for a HEA if they can address the past. Foster is a pro at giving her readers big-hearted Alphas & tough-as-nails women to match them and delivers all the feels you could ask for, and more, with The Wicked Truth.

Like all the Dark Knights books, this one can easily stand on its own but would probably be more appreciated if you’ve read the rest. And coming from someone as good as Foster, it isn’t a hardship to add ALL the books to your TBR pile 🙂

*****

Author Info:

Melissa Foster is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, & USA Today bestselling 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 LINKS:

A LITTLE BIT WICKED (Book 1)

KINDLE: https://smarturl.it/ALBW_Kindle

APPLE: https://smarturl.it/ALBW_Apple

NOOK: https://smarturl.it/ALBW_Nook

KOBO: https://smarturl.it/ALBW_Kobo

GPLAY: https://smarturl.it/ALBW_GPlay

PAPERBACK: https://smarturl.it/ALBW_Pb

Also available in audiobook (narrated by Savannah Peachwood and Aiden Snow)

AMAZON: https://smarturl.it/ALBWa_Amazon

APPLE: https://smarturl.it/ALBWa_Apple

AUDIBLE: https://smarturl.it/ALBWa_Audible

THE WICKED AFTERMATH (Book 2) 

KINDLE: https://smarturl.it/WA_Kindle 

APPLE: https://smarturl.it/WA_Apple

NOOK: https://smarturl.it/WA_Nook

KOBO: https://smarturl.it/WA_Kobo

GPLAY: https://smarturl.it/WA_GPlay

PAPERBACK: https://smarturl.it/WA_Pb

Also available in audiobook (narrated by Lance Greenfield and Jennifer Mack)

Amazon: https://smarturl.it/WAa_Amazon

Apple: https://smarturl.it/WAa_Apple

Audible: https://smarturl.it/WAa_Audible

CRAZY, WICKED LOVE (Book 3) 

KINDLE: https://smarturl.it/CWL_Kindle

APPLE: https://smarturl.it/CWL_Apple

NOOK: https://smarturl.it/CWL_Nook

KOBO: https://smarturl.it/CWL_Kobo

GPLAY: https://smarturl.it/CWL_GPlay

PAPERBACK: https://smarturl.it/CWL_Pb

Also available in audiobook (narrated by Jacob Morgan and Ava Erikson)

AMAZON: https://smarturl.it/CWLa_Amazon

APPLE: https://smarturl.it/CWLa_Apple

AUDIBLE: https://smarturl.it/CWLa_Audible

HIS WICKED WAYS (Book 5) – REL NOV 2023

KINDLE: https://lnk.to/HWW_Kindle

APPLE: https://lnk.to/HWW_Apple

NOOK: https://lnk.to/HWW_Nook

KOBO: https://lnk.to/HWW_Kobo

GPLAY: https://lnk.to/HWW_GPlay

*Paperback & Audio Pre-Order Coming Soon

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Review – Be Your Everything

30 Wednesday Nov 2022

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

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Be Your Everything, Book Review, Catherine Bybee, The D'Angelos series

Be Your Everything

The D’Angelos

by Catherine Bybee

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bybee comes a romance about childhood friends who marry in Vegas and embark on a wild ride to find their happily ever after.

With two protective older brothers and a traditional Catholic Italian mother, it’s surprising that Chloe D’Angelo can manage a date without someone in the family naysaying her romantic choice. And Dante Mancuso…oh, no. Her brother’s best friend is not a dating-app right swipe.

But when they are left unsupervised on a late night in Vegas, all of that changes. Add in a Vegas wedding chapel and a couple of “I dos” and Chloe wakes up with a ring on her finger and a hangover. Dating Dante was always a secret desire, but marriage? The rift that this news would cause in her family has both of them keeping their nuptials to themselves as they scramble to undo their Vegas mistake.

Dante knew the rules: Chloe was off-limits. Only, he can’t stop once his mind starts to believe she might be his forever. Just as their attraction deepens, Chloe flees to Bali, desperate to clear her head.

All Dante has to do is keep her brothers from killing him and convince Chloe that they are meant for each other. But first, Dante has to find her.

I’m a huge fan of the best friend of a sibling plotline and Bybee’s newest is a treat. Chloe has had a crush on her brothers’ best friend, Dante, for ages. And unbeknownst to her, he’s felt the same. A wild weekend in Vegas finds them married to each other … and then the fun begins – ignore their attraction, find a way to get out of their vows, and keep it all from their friends & family. 

While they handled a lot of this in a less than, well, mature way, I definitely enjoyed the two of them together. There’s plenty of heat and sass, leading to entertaining interactions and quite a few sizzling moments. Dante is a little bit alpha and, once he decides that he doesn’t want out of his relationship with Chloe, he shows himself to be quite the charmer and a good partner. She, on the other hand, doesn’t handle things quite as well but she’s written in a way that I found myself caught up in everything and engaged in them finding a HEA.

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Review – Coming Home

29 Tuesday Nov 2022

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

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Book Review, Coming Home, Shelley Shepard Gray, Woodland Park Firefighters series

Coming Home

A Woodland Park Firefighters Romance

by Shelley Shepard Gray

When an army vet becomes a firefighter in small-town Colorado, the flames of an old love reignite in this sweet romance by bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray

In Woodland Park, a small town nestled in the foothills of Pikes Peak, Anderson Kelly and Chelsea Davis were once the high school “it” couple—the star quarterback and the valedictorian. They broke up when Anderson joined the army and one poor decision at a fraternity party changed Chelsea’s life. Now, she works long shifts in a senior center to support her nine-year-old son, Jack.

After multiple tours in Afghanistan, Anderson has changed, too—physically scarred but mentally strong—and he decides to move back to Woodland Park. Anderson and Chelsea steer clear of each other to avoid reopening old wounds, until they are forced to reconnect through the senior center. They soon discover that the love they once shared never completely vanished. But it will take a fire, a dangerous collision, and the love of one little boy to help Anderson and Chelsea see that the future they’ve always yearned for is in sight…

The first in a new series, Coming Home is a sweet story about letting go of the past and moving into the future. 

Chelsea and Anderson were high school sweethearts but their relationship ended messily. Years later they find themselves living in the same small town, which means they can only go so long without running into each other. And once they do, it’s obvious that things between them aren’t over. 

Shelley Shepard Gray delivers a slow build love story, giving readers a chance to get to know the characters as they get to know each other all over again and maybe find something amazing together. It’s a heartfelt, quick-read, and a great beginning to a new series.

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Review – Christmas at the Amish Market

28 Monday Nov 2022

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Book Review, Christmas at the Amish Market, Shelley Shepard Gray

Christmas at the Amish Market

by Shelley Shepard Gray

Hallmark and bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray present a Christmas Amish romance with lots of surprises in store…

Wesley is so busy running his family’s Amish market at the holidays, he barely has time for Liesl, the young woman he’s been courting for years. When she suggests her aunt Jenny could help Wesley out, he agrees to the plan. But Liesl neglected to mention her aunt is only twenty-six years old—and as charming as she is hard-working.

Jenny, still healing after a painful breakup, welcomes the distraction of working at the market. She soon realizes Wesley is everything she ever dreamed a man could be. But how can Jenny even think about romance with the man Liesl expects to marry?

But Liesl’s own feelings are more complicated than she’s willing to admit. With humor, faith, and a little help from their friends in the community, everyone might just find what their hearts are looking for this Christmas at the Amish market.

There’s a big dollop of Christmas magic in Shelley Shepard Gray’s newest Amish romance.

I really enjoyed getting to know Liesl, Wesley, Jenny, and Roland, seeing their feelings deepen and their connections develop. There’s an earnestness to their interactions that is so compelling, drawing the reader in as they struggle to come to terms with some difficult decisions. 

Christmas at the Amish Market has that Hallmark feel, and while it may be predictable from start to finish that doesn’t mean the journey isn’t enjoyable.  It’s got a feeling of innocence, emotion, and holiday cheer that makes it a perfect choice for a December read.

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Review – Matchmaking a Grump

04 Friday Nov 2022

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review

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Angela Casella, Book Review, Denise Grover Swank, Highland Hills series, Matchmaking a Grump

Matchmaking a Grump

Highland Hills series

by Angela Casella & Denise Grover Swank

Blurb:

He wants to destroy her show. She wants to get on Santa’s naughty list with him.

Rowan

No man wants to be nicknamed Cupid. My family’s run a matchmaking business for years, though, and my sister’s a romance novelist. You get the picture. To make matters worse, my narcissistic grandmother just sold a reality dating show to network television. Thanks to her, our small town is about to become a hotbed of tourists and opportunists.

Her show needs to be stopped, and I’m exactly the man to do it. Cupid, reporting for duty

The star of the show, Kennedy Littlefield, isn’t my type at all. She’s a wealthy heiress with an unhealthy obsession with Christmas.

There’s just one problem: I can’t stop thinking about her.

Kennedy

I’m lucky to be doing this show. Maybe I’ll start believing it if I repeat it enough…because I’m supposed to be dating eight men, and they all suck. I’m not here to fall in love—I’m trying to save a non-profit with the publicity from the show—but I’d hoped for a Christmas miracle.

I love Christmas, only it hasn’t come to the set because the show doesn’t air until spring, and no one—with the exception of me—wants to watch a Christmas show in March.

There’s only one thing I want more than Christmas cheer: the ornery grump who keeps hanging out around the set.

*****

Review:

Kennedy doesn’t particularly want to be on a dating show for rich people, especially after seeing the men that Nana has picked out, but she really needs the exposure for the non-profit she loves. She’ll just have to try her best, remember why she’s there, and rely on help from some new friends.

There’s quite a bit about the reality show that didn’t track for me (it definitely didn’t come across as big budget or well put together) but the personal & romance portions more than made up for it. I really enjoyed getting to know Kennedy and seeing more of Rowan’s softer side. He may be grumpy but he’s got such a big heart. His history makes it so that he feels the need to help kids in his community truly be able to enjoy Christmas. He also wants to help those he cares about be happy, which means keeping Nana Mayberry as far away from them as he can. If that gives him a chance to ruin her latest project, the one that can only mean bad things for the Mayberry name, then even better … then he meets Kennedy. Sweet and giving, big-hearted, everything her parents aren’t, and definitely not what Rowan expected. Before long he finds himself wanting to make sure she gets everything she needs, even if it goes again what he wants.

I gotta say, as much as I enjoyed Rowan & Kennedy together and seeing them figure out their way to a HEA, it was Harry that stole my heart. A little bit of awkward wrapped up in a whole lotta goodness, I cheered every time he was on the page. It’s those kinds of interactions, the characters with their merits and their foibles, that make these authors a go to for me time and time again.

(Part of a series but can easily stand on its own.)

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Review – Imperfect Angel

02 Wednesday Nov 2022

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review

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Book Review, Christi Barth, Imperfect Angel

Imperfect Angel

by Christi Barth

Publisher:  Entangled: Amara (October 25, 2022)

Paperback: 336 Pages

Blurb:

Three days ago, all Maisy Norgate had was a stack of bills, about a gazillion jobs, and her sunny-as-hell outlook. Now, thanks to an uncle she never knew about, she’s inherited an ornate skeleton key with absolutely no idea what it’s for–or why she has it. Which is exactly when a ridiculously handsome guy claiming to be an angel shows up at her door and all hell breaks loose…

Nephilim Rhys Boyce cannot believe that Maisy is the new Keeper of the Key. Why would anyone bequeath this warm, bubbly redhead the key to Hell? And to make matters worse, she’s given the key to the first person who asked for it. A demon. Yep, Maisy is determined to make his job–not to mention some seriously inconvenient temptation–as hard as possible.

First a half angel with a very human chip on his shoulder must find a way to convince Maisy that angels and demons do exist. Then Rhys will have to break the really bad news…that she might have accidentally ended the world.

*****

Review:

Maisy is cheerful, even when life throws her a whole lot of curve balls, and she’s going to need all of that positivity with what’s coming at her now. Rhys is the opposite of Maisy. His life as a warrior means that he needs to always be serious, ready for anything, and seeing some of the worst things on earth (and hell) has led him to be a bit … dour. Crossing paths guarantees that sparks are going to fly.

There’s a bit of insta-love but I felt like it worked in this situation. You get a lot of this kind of thing in paranormal romances – something about magic being involved usually means that there’s an unexplainable connection. Some might find it problematic but it’s pretty standard. And I think that the two work together well – they rub each other the wrong way. And all sorts of right ways 🙂

I found Barth’s newest to be fun, humorous, & entertaining and I really hope there are more books coming. She’s created an interesting new world, full of all sorts of known and unknown creatures, with a good amount of danger and excitement mixed with more lighthearted moments. Plus, Rhys’s friends definitely need to find women who will give them a run for their money

*****

Features:

Monday, October 24th: @nsiabblog

Monday, October 24th: @buildingourbookshelves

Tuesday, October 25th: @cozy.coffee.reads

Tuesday, October 25th: @nikkihrose

Wednesday, October 26th: @bookish.kels 

Wednesday, October 26th: @chelseas.bookshelf2

Thursday, October 27th: @bookmarked.by.becky 

Friday, October 28th: @everlasting.bookworm

Friday, October 28th: @bookmom22

Saturday, October 29th: @subakka.bookstuff

Sunday, October 30th: @nurse_bookie  

Reviews:

Tuesday, November 1st: @angelsmomreads

Wednesday, November 2nd: Romantic Reads and Such

Wednesday, November 2nd: @books.with.courtney

Wednesday, November 2nd: @booksandcoffeemx

Thursday, November 3rd: From the TBR Pile

Friday, November 4th: Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers 

Friday, November 4th: temmathomas

Monday, November 7th: @bookswithlexi on TikTok

Monday, November 7th: @readaholicdeb

Tuesday, November 8th: @transportedlfl

Wednesday, November 9th: @nerdy_book_lover_1987

Wednesday, November 9th: Stranded in Chaos

Thursday, November 10th: @books_wine_and_sunshine

Friday, November 11th: Kahakai Kitchen

Saturday, November 12th: @thealissadecimalsystem

Monday, November 14th: @randi_reads 

Tuesday, November 15th: @beastreader and Cheryl’s Book Nook 

Wednesday, November 16th: @shopcoffeekids

Wednesday, November 16th: @books_n_yogapants

Thursday, November 17th: @biblio.jojo

Friday, November 18th: @whatkarinareads

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Review – The Matchmaker and the Cowboy

01 Tuesday Nov 2022

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Book Review, Robin Bielman, The Matchmaker and the Cowboy, Windsong series

The Matchmaker and the Cowboy

Windsong #2

by Robin Bielman

Publisher: Entangled: Amara (October 25, 2022)

Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages

Blurb:

Callie Carmichael has a gift for making bridesmaid dresses?some even call them magical. Somehow, every person who’s worn one of her dresses has found love. Real love. And as long as that happily-ever-after is for someone else, Callie is happy. Because she’s fully over getting her heart broken…which is why her new roommate is definitely going to be a problem.

After being overseas for six months, Callie’s only choice is to stay with her best friend’s ridiculously hot brother, Hunter Owens. Cowboy, troublemaker, and right now, the town’s most coveted bachelor. Only, Hunter isn’t quite the player she thought. And if it weren’t for her whole “no more love” thing, their setup could get confusing really fast.

Now, Hunter wants Callie to make him a best man suit?a “lucky for love” kind of suit. But what happens if she makes the suit and he finds true love…and it isn’t her?

Each book in the Windsong series is STANDALONE:
* The Wedding Crasher and the Cowboy
* The Matchmaker and the Cowboy

Purchase Link: The Matchmaker and the Cowboy (Windsong, 2)

*****

Review:

I love Hunter and his struggle to stand out from his family, to be seen for the things that are uniquely him. He’s pretty much perfect – kind, caring, thoughtful, observant – and he’d make the perfect partner for any woman. Too bad the one he wants doesn’t want anything to do with marriage … or him.

Being treated poorly by past boyfriends, mixed with family issues, has led Callie to the conclusion that marriage isn’t for her. Which makes her attraction to Hunter even more complicated since he’s definitely looking for his forever. And, based on reviews, meant that quite a few readers were a little put off by her. I can see where they are coming from – she’s definitely a little hard on Hunter, when he has done nothing but prove that he’d make the very best of husbands. I think that if Bielman had maybe done a little more to showcase Callie’s past difficulties it would have helped, but I gotta say that based on the way her family treats her she deserves all the care and attention she can get. And Hunter is the perfect one for the job.

The Matchmaker and the Cowboy is a slow burn, (kinda) friends-to-lovers romance with an ending that you know is coming but a journey that makes it a satisfying HEA.

*****

FEATURES:

Monday, October 24th:  @nerdy_book_lover_1987  

Monday, October 24th: @readingforamoment 

Tuesday, October 25th:  @everlasting.bookworm

Wednesday, October 26th:  @nsiabblog 

Thursday, October 27th: @randi_reads 

Friday, October 28th: @onemused

Friday, October 28th: @bookish.heidi

Saturday, October 29th:  @lowkey.bookish 

Sunday, October 30th: @books_and_biewers

REVIEWS:

Tuesday, November  1st: SusanLovesBooks

Tuesday, November  1st: ROMANTIC READS AND SUCH

Wednesday, November 2nd: @readaholicdeb

Thursday, November 3rd: @bookmom22 

Friday, November 4th: Stranded in Chaos

Saturday, November 5th: Helen’s Book Blog

Tuesday, November 8th: JATHAN & HEATHER

Wednesday, November 9th: @daniereads87

Wednesday, November 9th: Books Cooks Looks

Thursday, November 10th:  @secretreadinglife

Friday, November 11th: @travelerswife4life

Monday, November 14th: From the TBR Pile

Wednesday, November 16th:  @purrfectpages

Thursday, November 17th:  @sarahs.bookish.reviews

Thursday, November 17th: Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

Friday, November 18th: @abduliacoffeebookaddict23 

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Review – Bayou with Benefits

19 Wednesday Oct 2022

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review, Sneak Peek

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Badges of the Bayou series, Bayou with Benefits, Book Review, Erin Nicholas

Bayou with Benefits

Badges of the Bayou series

by Erin Nicholas

Blurb:

They are friends. Without benefits. Unfortunately.

Michael LeClaire is small-town Louisiana. A firefighter. A single dad.

And Amelia Landry is New York City. A social media influencer. A model.

Sure, she’s his son’s favorite person on the planet.

And yeah, their families spend so much time together it’s hard to remember who shares DNA and who just shares secrets, inside jokes, and a sincere lack of boundaries.

And okay, he’s seen her nerdy side. Her sweet side. Her funny, self-deprecating side.

Fine, yes, resisting this woman has taken a saint’s share of willpower.

But he has to. He just cannot do long-distance. And he can’t have a casual fling with someone he’s known–and will know–forever.

Thankfully, he only has to hide his feelings a few times a year when she visits.

And then, he slips. One time. One spontaneous I-knew-it-would-be-everything kiss and he’s a goner.

Now every time they see each other it’s harder and harder to ignore the heat.

And when she shows up on his doorstep after a car accident changes her entire life, there’s no way he can resist the chance to see if this can last…or if they’ll finally flame out. 

Fall in love today!

Amazon: https://mybook.to/bayouwbenefits
Amazon Worldwide: https://amzn.to/3BRa6LG
AppleBooks: https://apple.co/3LP8GFX
Nook: https://bit.ly/3CeAz7f
Kobo : https://bit.ly/3LKCgMU
Google Play: https://bit.ly/3SsPQXo
Website: https://bit.ly/3SD97p3

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3RhDm3K

*****

Excerpt:

“If you don’t want our sisters to think they’re right about everything, you have to quit looking at me like that.”

Michael LeClaire had three choices here.

He could pretend he had no idea what Amelia Landry was talking about, turn, smile nonchalantly, and try to have a normal, casual conversation with her. 

That was going to be nearly impossible, of course. This was Ami. There was no being casual around her. He hadn’t been able to pull nonchalant off since he’d first seen her walk down the dock in a lime green bikini the summer she’d turned twenty. But then, eleven months ago, everything had changed and now…yeah, casual was completely off the table. 

He’d known she’d be here. Of course. It was her sister’s wedding. She was a bridesmaid. He’d been preparing to see her. Still, it had been three months and the last time…leaving her at that airport had been so much harder than he’d expected. He didn’t think there’d be anything casual about the things he’d end up saying to her tonight if they talked alone. 

His second option was setting something on fire so that he would have to don his fire gear and do something with his evening other than watch Ami in her off-the-shoulder peach-colored bridesmaid dress, laughing and dancing and looking fucking stunning while he struggled to remember why they were only friends. As he did every single time she stood too close to him.

The reasons were good. He knew that. The primary one being that she lived in fucking New York City and he lived in Autre, Louisiana and that would just never work out. He had a kid. He was the fire chief here. His entire family was here. He couldn’t move to New York—nor did he want to—and he couldn’t travel there on a regular basis. 

Ami was a model. She’d just landed a huge contract. The contract she’d been hoping and working for. She’d moved from Shreveport to New York only three months ago. She wasn’t coming back to Louisiana and also couldn’t be traveling back here on a regular basis. 

Fuck New York City.

Yeah, setting something on fire kind of seemed like a great idea. 

And then there was his third option: turning, throwing her over his shoulder, taking her straight back to his house, and not letting her out of his bed for a week, whether they could be together long-term or not.

Which would only make all of this—the wanting her, the thinking about her, the missing her—so much worse.

He wasn’t going to be able to do any of those three things. 

He was screwed. 

So, he sucked in a deep lungful of oxygen and turned, deciding to go with his fourth option—just praying to not fuck everything up. “Am I that obvious?”

Ami smiled up at him. “I just really think it’s unfair that they’re assuming things that I didn’t actually get to experience.”

He shook his head. “Don’t.”

“Don’t what? Talk about how Charlie and Naomi are assuming their matchmaking worked and we spent the entire weekend you were in New York in bed together?”

“Ami,” he said, his voice low with warning.

“Hey, you’re the one looking at me like you’ve seen me naked and want to again,” she said. “Don’t blame me.”

He tossed back the rest of his drink, wished it was alcohol and not just soda, reminded himself that staying completely sober while Ami was in town for the first time since New York was a really, really good idea, and said, “That’s not how I’m looking at you.”

She put a hand on her hip. “Then how would you describe the way you’ve been watching me from across the room but totally ignoring me whenever we’re close enough to talk?”

“Like I’ve been jerking off practically every night for the past three months because I didn’t get you naked, and like since you got back to town I’ve been constantly about ten seconds away from picking you up, taking you home, and tying you to my bed for the next week or two.”

Okay, so even without alcohol he was going to be dangerously inappropriate. And honest. Just as he’d feared. 

Her eyes went wide. 

Then she grinned. “Yes. You’re right. That’s a much better, more specific, description.”

*****

Review:

This was such a quick read for me – I loved Michael & Ami together. While not as quirky and humorous as some of the previous stories, Nicholas does an excellent job, like always, of blending the lighthearted moments with those that have a more emotional impact, while not forgetting to give her readers some heat as well.

Ami only knows how to be pretty but it’s something she’s really good at. Good enough for it to pay well, allowing her to support herself while helping others. And good enough to take her the NYC, far away from Louisiana and far away from those she loves.

Michael is a fixer and needs to be as involved as possible in the lives of those he loves. He has to be there to help solve ALL the things so a long distance relationship will definitely not work for him. Unfortunately Ami’s life continues to take her to places far from Michael.

I appreciate how both Michael and Ami approach themselves and each other with understanding of their needs. They are as honest as they can be and lay it out there for the other to see. Sometimes it means that they don’t get exactly what they want but it does mean that they are true to what is best for them at any given moment. As Ami’s (and Michael’s) world is rocked by an accident, and she heads to Autre to figure out what is next, the two may finally be given an opportunity for a future … if they can find a path that works for them both.

With this new series, Nicholas delivers more serious, impactful stories with the same finesse that she’s given us their more unconventional predecessors and, as always, I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what’s in store next.

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

*****

Author Info:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Erin Nicholas has been writing romances almost as long as she’s been reading them. To date, she’s written over thirty sexy, contemporary novels that have been described as “toe-curling,” “enchanting,” “steamy,” and “fun.” She adores reluctant heroes, imperfect heroines, and happily ever afters.

Erin lives in the Midwest, where she enjoys spending time with her husband (who only wants to read the sex scenes in her books), her kids (who will never read the sex scenes in her books), and her family and friends (who claim to be “shocked” by the sex scenes in her books).

Website: http://bit.ly/2NkB2uF 
Facebook: http://bit.ly/2tdTM8e 
Twitter: http://bit.ly/2QLd1Pr 
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/3a3rnm4 
Instagram: http://bit.ly/36NqV9y
Website: http://bit.ly/2FM3Doo

Stay up to date with Erin Nicholas by joining her mailing list:
http://bit.ly/38a5Fv5

*****

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Review – Anticipation

14 Friday Oct 2022

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review, Sneak Peek

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Anticipation, Book Review, Rue Harlow, The ABCs of Romance series

Is love a formula or pure fate? The residents of the small college town of Mountain View will soon find out. Love is in the air or rather in the coffee in book one of the ABCs of Romance series. 

Anticipation

The ABCs of Romance

by Rue Harlow

Blurb:

What do beavers and baked goods have to do with love? Well, everything for Liliana Travis…

Travis, the owner of the local coffee shop, Higher Grounds. Her day job is serving caffeine highs, but her love life is at an all-time low. A meticulous planner ever since high school, she has a checklist for her perfect man and even plans for how she wants this future romance to unfold. But her carefully laid plans are about to be upended by something, rather someone, completely unanticipated from her past. 

Dominic Moore has always been the hometown celebrity of Mountain View. The former captain of the high school football team turned NFL pro is the definition of the “golden boy”. But when Dom is caught in a scandal, he returns home to Mountain View to help his recently widowed grandmother open her dream bakery… and do some soul searching. 

For Lili, Dom’s return is both exciting and a total gut punch. Her high school crush is back in town, but also fresh competition for her small business. To make matters worse, the nationwide baking competition, the Upper Crust Challenge, has come to town and bets are firmly on the table. Is it rivalry or romance as buttons are pushed, banter exchanged, and sparks fly? Maybe not everything in life can be perfectly anticipated… 

For fans of The Kiss Quotient and The Soulmate Equation, Anticipation is a sweet and spicy debut from Rue Harlow that is sure to be addictive. 

Fall in love today!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3UN6TVV

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

Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/anticipationRH

Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/3QMgyJn

B&N Paperback: https://bit.ly/3Llns72

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3rCS231

*****

Excerpt:

Liliana Travis was dressed like a giant beaver, missing only its head, ready for her life to dramatically change.

Even though the locker room reeked even more like sour socks than usual, Lili was only smelling roses. It had been a long football season — no longer than any other season, but Lili wasn’t into football at all — and now that it was finally ending, it was time for the final act in her epic plan.

“So …” Alicia prompted her. “What’s the plan?”

“You mean the ‘over-plan,’” Runa corrected Alicia.

Lili’s two best friends had been with her during every step of this little scheme, as they had stayed by her side for everything else throughout every noteworthy occasion in high school.

“I don’t over plan,” Lili defended herself, despite knowing how futile doing so would be, especially considering the crazy amount of thought she had poured into her nutty little endeavor so far.

“Okay.” Runa shrugged. “And I bet that Outlander show is gonna be great.”

“Shut up!” Lili laughed, sick of defending that one too. “Outlander is gonna be awesome.”

Lili had made her two besties get through as much of the historical time travel romance adventure as they were willing to read, but neither of them were as enamored by the genre buster as she was.

Not that she was obsessed at all. Lili didn’t get obsessed with anything, including Dominic Moore, no matter what Alicia and Runa said. The Mountain View Beavers’ star quarterback was as handsome as he was charming, and Lili had been dying for an actual conversation, instead of the fleeting exchanges in Statistics, he forgot about five minutes after they happened.

*****

Review:

Overall, I really enjoyed Anticipation and I’m curious what Harlow has in store next. However there were a few things that brought this one down for me. I think that Lili was a little too hard on Dom. She’s got some leftover negative feelings from high school but we never really got to see why she’s holding on to them so tightly. We know that there was a viral video but it doesn’t seem to be THAT horrible all things considered. And it wasn’t even Dom’s fault. (There are some logistics issues with that video – he’s the quarterback but he makes a game winning play for the defense …?) I also was thrown by the end of his career (not sure that what happened was that big a deal in the NFL) and exactly when Lili starts her day considering she runs a coffee shop so it should be pretty early but it seems like not so much. Other than Lili’s attitude, these were little things that just made me go hmmmm but didn’t stop me from enjoying the story. I will say, that once Lili gets over herself and starts being friendly to Dom, the two together are a delight. They are funny and entertaining and the push/pull between them is more positive, leading to a satisfying HEA. Definitely will read more from this author.

*****

Author Info:

Rue Harlow is a semi- professional baked goods aficionado. When not eating carbs or writing smutty novels, you can find her kicking back with a vodka tonic, putzing in her garden, or taking her convertible, Molly the Miata, for a spin. A native Brooklynite, she now resides in the Hudson Valley with her husband and two cats, Artemis and Apollo.

Connect with Rue

Instagram: @rueharlow

Facebook: https://bit.ly/3BnkZ7L

TikTok: @rueharlow

~

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