Category Archives: Book Review

Book Review – Broken Heartstrings

04 Wednesday Apr 2018

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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

03 Tuesday Apr 2018

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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

28 Wednesday Mar 2018

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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

27 Tuesday Mar 2018

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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

15 Thursday Mar 2018

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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

Book Review – No Going Back

14 Wednesday Mar 2018

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This book was so enjoyable.  Not having any experience with Renee’s style, I was pleasantly surprised by how natural and easy a read it was.

*****

No Going Back

St. Fleur #4 / Standalone

by AJ Renee

Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

Rocco St. Martin stuns the people of St. Fleur when he shows up at Whiskey’s Pub with a black eye. The whispers only become worse when he’s spotted in handcuffs, exiting Deputy Sheriff JJ’s cruiser.

JJ is left with more questions than answers after Rocco refuses to say what happened. Since the stubborn man won’t take her help, she has to resort to keeping a closer eye on him.

When the details of his injuries come to light, will Rocco finally accept her help? Or will he be yet another man who doesn’t understand what it takes to be with a cop?

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/NoGoingBackTBR

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2Fz0zi5

Nook: http://smarturl.it/NGBBN

iBooks: http://smarturl.it/ngbitunes

Kobo: http://smarturl.it/NGBKobo

— ST. FLEUR SERIES —

For the first time, you can get the first three installments in one BOXSET!

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2FQoTuR

Nook: http://smarturl.it/STFBoxsetBN

iBooks: http://smarturl.it/STFBoxsetApple

Kobo: http://smarturl.it/STFboxsetKOBO

*****

Excerpt:

“You’re staring,” she told him.

Rocco shrugged. “How are you?”

“I’m good.” She tilted her head. “What’s going on?”

“Why does anything have to be going on?” he asked, curious to see if she’d admonish him. When a smile tipped the corner of her mouth, Rocco smirked.

JJ lifted her glass and drank. Rocco watched the column of her neck as she swallowed and imagined kissing his way down all that fair skin. He shifted in his seat, placing his ankle on his knee to see if that would ease the pressure forming in his pants.

“Well, for one, you’ve never sat with me for a meal,” JJ said as she put the glass on the table.

Rocco nodded. “True, and you’ve never felt the need to drive by the garage ten times a day.”

A blush covered her cheeks and swept down her neck. The color only highlighted her beauty and made his mind consider other ways he could make her turn that red. He was a rat bastard. He shouldn’t have embarrassed her like that. “I’m sorry.”

She shrugged. “Don’t be. It’s true. I’ve been worried about you.” The words came out whisper soft and he almost missed them.

The waitress returned with his food, and he sat forward. “Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why are you worried about me?” Her concern touched him, and he had to stop himself from rubbing his chest. Rocco was the oldest child. He wasn’t accustomed to others worrying about him—ever.

JJ placed her fork down. “Rocco, there’s obviously something going on with you. If you need—”

“Ah,” he said, pushing down his disappointment. “That’s all this is about.”

They stared at each other a moment before she said, “Ye—no… no, it’s not.”

Rocco raised an eyebrow. “No?”

Before JJ could say anything, her phone on the table rang. She looked from the caller to Rocco and sighed. “Sorry,” she said before answering the call. “Jolie. —Hey, what’s going on? —Oh, okay. Sure, I can be there.” Her eyes darted toward Rocco and away.

Rocco took another bite of his burger and listened as the conversation went on for another minute.

“Sorry about that,” she told him after ending the call.

“Everything okay?”

JJ raised an eyebrow. “Why, Rocco, I might think you’re worried about me.”

“Would that be so bad?”

The teasing expression on her face softened. “No. That could be nice.”

“Oh yeah?” he asked, unable to stop his chest from puffing out some.

JJ laughed, and the sound was feminine and sexy. “Yeah.” She pushed her plate away and dropped some money on the table. “Well, I need to go.” JJ slid out from the booth. “That was my sister, and she needs me to come over.”

“Have dinner with me?” Rocco blurted.

“Yes,” she said at the same time he said, “I mean…”

“Yes?” Rocco asked.

“I’d love to have dinner with you.” JJ winked.

His cheeks pulled back tightly. “Great, how does Friday sound?”

JJ laughed. “Today is Friday.”

*****

Review:

This is my first book by Renee and I was pleasantly surprised.  The story is one of those that is wonderfully realistic and pretty much drama free.  I’m not sure how much Rocco or JJ were featured in earlier books but in No Going Back we are there when they realize that their interest is mutual and flirtation turns to something more.  It’s a slow easing – a natural progression of a healthy relationship, with respect and deepening emotions.  It was a pretty relaxing read, actually, because it was mostly free of conflict.  At least between the two main characters.  There are some issues with secondary characters that have an impact because of their relationship to the mains, but it’s handled well and with care.

With beautifully crafted characters and a lifelike storyline (with limited turmoil – bonus!), Renee gives her readers a story they can sink into.  The leads quickly become like friends and you happily go along for the ride as they fall in love.

*****

Author Info:

AJ Renee is the author behind the St. Fleur series, Beauty Unmasked, Winter’s Surprise, Surviving Paris, and Finding Love at the Falls…. She’s a military wife and mother to three young girls. She graduated from the University of Central Florida with her Masters of Science in Criminal Justice and a Bachelors of Science in Psychology while working at the library.

She loves to write steamy romance with suspense and a happily ever after. When she isn’t writing or interacting with her readers, you can find her spending time with her family or reading. AJ enjoys traveling, researching family history, and all things New Orleans.

AUTHOR NEWSLETTER: http://bit.ly/2bdqx9f

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ajreneeauthor

Twitter: www.twitter.com/ajreneeauthor

Instagram: www.instagram.com/ajreneeauthor

Website: www.ajrenee.com

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2ntY5aW

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2hxp3dY

St. Fleur Belles Reader Group: http://bit.ly/2bmtFmI

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/aj-renee

Book+Main Bites: https://bookandmainbites.com/users/20529

*****

Wednesday, March 14th
Besties & Books: PROMO ONLY: https://www.facebook.com/BestiesandBooks/
Brandy Paige Roberts Facebook page: PROMO ONLY: https://www.facebook.com/brandy.roberts.315
Romantic Reads and Such: REVIEW & PROMO: http://www.facebook.com/romanticread
Book Junky Girls: PROMO ONLY: http://bookjunkygirls.blogspot.com/
Moohnshine’s Corner: PROMO ONLY: https://moohnshinescorner.blog/
HJB Reads: PROMO ONLY: https://www.facebook.com/HJBs-Reads-1463804800524252
Lets Get Social GROUP: PROMO ONLY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1899480073642731/

Thursday, March 15th
Sunny Shelly Reads: PROMO ONLY: facebook.com/sunnyshellyreads
Mello & June, It’s a Book Thang!: PROMO ONLY: https://mellojune.com
STEAMY BOOKS LOVER: PROMO ONLY: https://facebook.com/steamybookslover
HEA Bookshelf: PROMO ONLY: http://heabookshelf.blogspot.com/
Rate My Romance: PROMO ONLY: https://www.facebook.com/RateMyRomance
Writer’s Coffee Shop: PROMO ONLY: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Writers-Coffee-Shop/353468561491183
Your Next Book Boyfriend: PROMO ONLY: https://www.facebook.com/bookboyfriend

Friday, March 16th
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Book Review – Valentine Charms

13 Tuesday Mar 2018

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Valentine Charms

by Anne McAllister

Twenty-three second graders were on a mission!

Her students were convinced Jane Kitto needed a man in her life. A ‘real man’ – not the Secret Admirer who had, every Valentine’s Day for years, sent her a tiny charm. Jane appreciated their enthusiasm, but not their choice. Football star Zack Stoner was the last man on earth she’d fall for. Handsome as sin, tough as nails, and more appealing than she wanted to admit, Zack made Jane want things she never imagined wanting–with him.

Zack Stoner had never forgotten Jane. When they were younger, he’d been confused, unnerved and fascinated by the sweet and generous Jane. It wasn’t all that different now, except he was a man, and knew he wanted her. But would Jane take a chance with someone like him?

Twenty-three cupids said yes.

This is an extended version of a previous story and I’ll admit there are parts that I really liked but parts that left me with questions.  (Since I didn’t read the first version I’m not sure what is new and what isn’t.)  I’m gonna give it a 3.5 out of 5, although it leans a bit towards 4 and with a little more work could move into being a 5 star contender.

Seeing Zack grow up, develop from the tough kid with a chip on his shoulder to a hard-working adult, is very satisfying.  Unfortunately, and understandably, he still carries some of that baggage with him today.  He finds it hard to develop deep relationships with women and struggles a little at first to believe the nuns that knew him back when might feel affection towards him.  It’s heartbreaking to know he struggled so as a child but uplifting to see him overcome it.  And one of the catalysts was some chance meetings with by-the-book good girl Jane.  Some simple kindness and understanding shown to a boy who desperately needed it started him on a path where he could expect something of himself.  And now he’s got a chance to meet that girl again, all grown up.

Jane struggles a bit with thinking that Zack might see her as anything more than a distraction.  He scared her as a child but there were times when she glimpsed the struggling boy underneath.  Now an adult, Zack is all sorts of sexy, charming, and scary for different reasons.  She knows he could easily break her heart … but he’s pretty hard to resist.  Especially when she sees that unsure boy inside the man.

My only problem is with the reveal of who has been giving Jane her charms all of these years.  There are times when a character’s thoughts and actions contradict the information we get from the big reveal when it finally happens.  Plus I’m not sure how her admirer knew exactly what to give her and when.  I love the reasoning behind the gifts but other than being sweet and trying to prove that her admirer truly understood her in a way others didn’t, it kinda didn’t work for me with the rest of the story.  I think that if that part was cleaned up just a little (mostly eliminating some of the conflicting messages) Valentine Charms could be a contender for a 5 star review.  It’s super sweet and brings a wonderful HEA resolution, but it needs just a little tightening up to be awesome.

Book Review – Black and Blue

12 Monday Mar 2018

Posted by in Blog Tour, Book Review, Contest

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Danger, heat, and feels – Rayne kicks off this series with a bang!

*****

Black and Blue

Black Star Security Series

by Cynthia Rayne

Genre: Romance

Release: March 12, 2018

Blurb:

Life can leave you bruised

Former Navy SEAL, Jackson West, is trying to start over in the Bluegrass State. West had to choose between serving his country and being the parent his young daughter deserves. He’s formed Black Star Security with his military buddies, and they’re gonna kick a little @ss. For a price.

Sometimes you need a second chance

Deputy U.S. Marshal Annie Foster accidentally got her partner killed during a routine prisoner transport. Now three dangerous felons are roaming the Kentucky countryside, and it’s all her fault. Black Star Security is hunting the fugitives, and Annie’s assisting them, even though she’s devastated by the mistake she made. But she didn’t count on West, a big, bad alpha male who’s an intoxicating mixture of ruthless and tender.

Will they capture the escaped convicts? And will West and Annie take a chance on each other?

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37932686-black-and-blue

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2DezURn

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2FyuDWO

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2Gd72w0

Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2p2Ldac

*****

Review:

Annie is dealing with a lot of guilt over how her last assignment ended.  She’s put her life on hold and is doing anything she can to bring the fugitives to justice.  It’s made her hyper-focused, stubborn, and a bit angry.  When she crosses paths with West, he gives her the opportunity she needs to see things through … and maybe find something more.

West has dealt a lot of guilt of his own and recognizes a lot of himself in Annie.  He also finds himself admiring her determination and spunk.  Time spent together chasing down leads gives their attraction time to build, quickly becoming something they can’t ignore.  And as the danger ramps up so do their feelings.

As the first book in a new series, Black and Blue had to spend some time setting up all of the characters and how they relate to one another in Black Star Security.  I enjoyed all of them and they way they relate to one another.  There’s also some hints to at least a couple upcoming stories which is fun to consider.  Unfortunately, though, it also means that there is some time spent away from the main couple that lends their story to being a little short-changed in a couple of spots.  It’s common enough in first stories but I think Rayne minimizes it as much as she can.

I enjoyed how West tries to help Annie recognize her feelings and deal with them.  It’s a nice bonding moment between the two and helps both of them come to come to terms with their past.  The danger element is also very well done.  I found myself curious about how they would track down the bad guys and the last half definitely has some great edge of your seat moments.

A story with characters I want to see more of and an adventure that kept me engaged, Black and Blue is a satisfying introduction to a new author for me and I’m looking forward to seeing what Rayne brings us next.

*****

Author Info:

Cynthia Rayne is the USA TODAY bestselling author of the Black Star Security Series, the Lone Star Mobster Series and the Four Horsemen MC Series. While Cynthia was born and raised a damn Yankee in Ohio, her parents hail from Dixie, and she grew up on homemade buttermilk biscuits and southern wisdom. In her spare time, she enjoys shopping, reading way too many romance novels, and drinking a truly obscene amount of coffee.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RayneCynthia/

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

Dixie Darlings Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/122768298075763/

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cKmtIr

Website: www.cynthiarayne.com

*****

Giveaway:

Paperback copy – Black and Blue, $5.00 Starbucks Gift Card, Necklace

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/81aa78941724

*****

 

Book Review – Undone By You

07 Wednesday Mar 2018

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I am just loving this series and fall more in love with every new book.

*****

Undone By You

The Chicago Rebels Series

by Kate Meader

On sale March 5, 2018

ISBN: 9781501182907

Pocket Star

eBook

Blurb:

Dante Moretti has just landed his dream job: GM of the Chicago Rebels. And screw the haters who think there should be an asterisk next to his name because he’s the first out managing executive in pro hockey. He’s earned the right to be here and nothing will topple him off that perch—especially not an incredibly inconvenient attraction to his star defenseman, Cade “Alamo” Burnett. Cade has always been careful to keep his own desires on the down low, but his hot Italian boss proves to be a temptation he can’t resist. Sure, they both have so much to lose, but no one will ever know…

As Dante and Cade’s taboo affair heats up off the ice and their relationship gets more and more intense, they’ll have to decide: is love worth risking their careers? Or is this romance destined to be forever benched?

*****

Review:

(While this one can stand on its own, it does run parallel to So Over You, which adds a little extra fun for returning readers.  The few references to the previous book make more sense if you’ve read it, but I don’t think that they will matter much to newbies or impact their reading pleasure.)

I couldn’t be happier with the story-line Meader gave these two!  Cade is a big ball of awesome fun but it’s obvious there is more to him than what he wants people to see.  And I have been so curious about Dante since he first showed up – all suave and debonair.  They may seem like an unlikely pair but the tension between them hints at something more.

Dante has worked hard to get where he is in the NHL – the first openly gay GM of a professional hockey team.  Running into one of his star players in a gay club, and being propositioned by said player, is definitely not good for his professional goals … regardless of how unbelievably sexy he finds Cade.  Unfortunately there’s something about him that Dante just can’t ignore.

Cade is this appealing mix of brash confidence and uncertainty.  He’s young and seems to have the world at his feet, but he’s hiding a pretty big secret.  So far he’s been successful at keeping his love-life private but an instantaneous and overwhelming attraction to his new GM complicates things immensely.  He may not have thought he was ready to make some tough decisions but life seems to have other plans.

Meader does such a fantastic job of balancing Dante’s gay yogi with growth moments.  While he is older and has had more time being publicly gay, it doesn’t mean that he has the answer for everything.  Instead, there’s this fantastic give and take between the two as Cade faces life choices (and they are big ones!) which has Dante evaluating his past and his future.

Cade and Dante might think that they can play with fire and not get burned but we know better 🙂  Instead, the more time they spend together and the deeper their feelings grow, the more complications they’ll have to overcome.  Steamy and sweet, with fabulous characters and heartfelt emotions, Undone By You beautifully highlights that just because you don’t want your heart to get involved doesn’t mean that it won’t.

*****

Author Info:

Originally from Ireland, Kate Meader cut her romance reader teeth on Maeve Binchy and Jilly Cooper novels, with some Harlequins thrown in for variety. Give her tales about brooding mill owners, oversexed equestrians, and men who can rock an apron, a fire hose, or a hockey stick, and she’s there. Now based in Chicago, she writes sexy contemporary romance with alpha heroes and strong heroines (and heroes) who can match their men quip for quip. Visit her at KateMeader.com.

*****

Giveaway:

$50 Amazon gift card

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/1a0e71ad19/

*****

Tour Info:

March 4th

A Midlife Wife

CJR The Brit

Hoards Jumble

March 5th

Abigail Books Addiction

Dog-Eared Daydreams

Once Upon A Page

Oh My Growing TBR

March 6th

Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews

Read Your Writes Book Reviews

Romancing the Readers

Scandalicious Book Reviews

iScream Books Blog

March 7th

Romantic Reads and Such

KT Book Reviews

Biblio Junkies

March 8th

Four Chicks Flipping Pages

Dirty Girl Romance

Only One More Page

March 9th

Read-Love-Blog

What’s Better Than Books

Romance Junkies

March 10th

Collector of Book Boyfriends

Belle Readers Thoughts

Book Review – The Color of Love

06 Tuesday Mar 2018

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The Color of Love

A Blessings Georgia Novel

by Sharon Sala

Welcome to Blessings, Georgia, the best small town in the South.

No, there aren’t many secrets kept there.

And yes, everybody knows your business.

But when bad things happen, good people come to your rescue.

Ruby Dye loves everything about Blessings, Georgia—she loves her hair salon, she treasures the townspeople…and now she has a secret admirer! When she finds out it’s none other than the town’s esteemed lawyer, P. Butterman (“Peanut”), she is beyond thrilled. But her ex-husband has other plans…

Ruby has been a fixture in the Blessings stories (although, like all of them, this book can stand on its own) and I’m so happy to see her finally get her turn.  And you definitely couldn’t ask for a better partner for her than Peanut.  Readers should be prepared though because from the very beginning Sala will pull you in.  And then not let go!

Over the years Ruby has done everything she could to help the people of her town … but she has kept something secret.  An abusive ex, who has decided now is the time to make an appearance.  Things don’t go well and, well, Ruby finds herself tied up & kidnapped.  It’s a harrowing few pages, for us and for her and for Peanut.  Things might get resolved pretty quickly, and in typical Ruby fashion (love that gal!), but it’s going to take a lot of courage to face the aftermath.

With Ruby’s kidnapping, Peanut realizes what his inaction might have cost him and he’s not willing to let another moment go by without Ruby knowing exactly how he feels about her.  And because Peanut is just about perfect, he does it with lots of heart, understanding, and down-home charm.  And because Ruby is Ruby, she handles it with her typical sass and spunk … eventually.  It’s not easy to take on everything that life throws at her, with barely giving her a breath, but she has the courage and spine to take on whatever she has to with style.  You have to admire how she faces things head on, even when seems like it won’t end.

The Color of Love starts off with a bang and barely manages to slow down before it gets you again.  With a bit of danger and a whole lot of heart, Sala once again shows us why she’s a master writer.