Book Review – Tempting Tristan

27 Thursday Oct 2016

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

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Book Review, Harborside Nights series, Melissa Foster, Tempting Tristan

OH MY! Tempting indeed!

*****

Tempting Tristan

Harborside Nights Series #3

by Melissa Foster

Releasing October 19, 2016

EverAfter Romance

Blurb:

Fresh off the heels of yet another bad relationship, Tristan Brewer is taking a break from men to try and figure out where he keeps going wrong. He knows his biggest fault—he leads with his heart, not his head—and that’s never going to change. But after several introspective weeks, he’s beginning to get a handle on things. That is, until badass heartthrob Alex Wells walks into his bar…

Alex has spent eight years in the Army, months in a hospital bed, and far too long hiding his sexual identity. He’s guilt-ridden, damaged, pissed off, and up for a Silver Star—for the incident that nearly cost him his life, and kept him from his grandmother’s funeral. But all he wants to do is forget his stint with the institution that allows but doesn’t necessarily accept, and live the life he’s always dreamed of.

The chemistry between Tristan and Alex ignites from the moment they meet, and the more time they spend together the hotter the flames become. But the closer Tristan gets, the more Alex’s walls go up, and when the two walk onto a military base, Tristan finds out Alex’s physical scars aren’t the ones that run the deepest.

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24779486-tempting-tristan

Buy Links: Amazon | B & N | Google | iTunes | Kobo

*****

Excerpt:

“Can I ask you something? You don’t have to answer.”

Tristan shrugs. “Have at it.”

“Why were you taking a break? I get that your ex was a prick, but is there more to it?”

He looks down the street, across the street, and then his hand cruises through his hair as it has so often that I’ve already come to expect it when he’s nervous.

“Ian was a prick, but the rest is going to make me sound like a pussy,” he admits.

“I’ve only known you a day, and I already know nothing can make you sound like a pussy.”

He meets my gaze, and his jaw tightens. He lifts his chin and I recognize the struggle between feeling proud and worrying about looking weak. I fight that battle on a daily basis.

“I give away my heart too easily, and I end up getting hurt.”

His eyes never leave mine, and that trust, that confidence, is the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.

“I was right. Nothing can make you sound like a pussy.” I slide my hand to the hard ridge of his jaw and lean in closer. “I’ve never given my heart away. That makes you braver than me.”

*****

Review:

I’ve seen a lot of Melissa Foster’s books floating around but for some reason not only have I never read one I’ve not even featured one on this site before. Even better, I have another one I’m reviewing in November – so I went from none to two in about a month 🙂 She’s very popular (and very good) and has done quite a few tours so I have NO idea how I’ve missed her up to this point. But I have to say I’m glad I finally wised up!

Not having read any of Foster’s books I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the characters are very well done. Tristan may be a little more overtly emotional than Alex but both of them feel deeply and they also each have their own issues they have to overcome. Wearing his heart on his sleeve has left Tristan a little battered. While spending almost a decade in the military, hiding his sexuality, has left scars both inside and out for Alex. But together they find ways to heal and move forward, growing individually and as a couple.

Some aren’t going to like the insta-love thing, but I think that Foster handles it well and, even though it is fast, it progresses in a believable manner. They spend a lot of time together and have a connection thru Alex’s grandmother that helps bind them even more. They are good at filling in the spaces the other needs – propping each other up and providing support when it is needed. It’s an equal thing between them, as each of them have moments of weakness and strength.

I have to admit that I was a little amused by some of the interactions between Tristan and Alex. One of them mentions a “sword” and it got me snickering but then I realized that while I don’t know that many gay men (and those I do aren’t all that vocally demonstrative) I do know guy’s guys and I can see them doing something similar. You have to be OK with a little blue talk and off-kilter humor but as Foster brings you closer to the guys it just works for their relationship.

You also have to be good with some very steamy m/m bedroom sequences (and anywhere else they find themselves in the mood). You should know what you are getting by the description, plus the insta-love is usually first based on insta-attraction, but just know that Foster doesn’t pull any punches. Tempting Tristan is hot and sexy and emotional.

Wonderful characters. A story with angst and growth but not a whole lot of drama. Easy-to-read writing. All of it adds up to quite an enjoyable read. And I can’t wait to see if Foster’s next book in my TBR pile is as good 🙂

(Even though this is part of a series it can easily stand on its own.)

*****

Author Info:

Melissa Foster is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance, new adult romance, and women’s fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Melissa’s emotional journeys are lovingly erotic, perfect beach reads, and always family oriented.

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

*****

Giveaway:

Win a Print Copy of TEMPTING TRISTAN

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/521ac4c81143/

*****

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Book Review – The Shepherd’s Daughter

24 Monday Oct 2016

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

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Book Review, Dry Bayou Brides series, Lynn WInchester, The Shepherd's Daughter

If you are looking for something sweet, clean and short, this is DEFINITELY the book for you!

*****

The Shepherd’s Daughter

Dry Bayou Brides Book One

by Lynn Winchester

Genre: Sweet Western Romance

Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing

Date of Publication: September 27th, 2016

ASIN: B01LVYT90X

Number of pages: 97

Word Count: approx. 26k

Cover Artist: Dar Albert

Blurb:

“Welcome to Dry Bayou, Texas, where Southern Charm meets the Wild West…”

From author Jackson d’Lynne writing as Lynn Winchester, a sweet and romantic western sure to warm your heart!

Ray MacAdams and Billy Ducharme have been best friends since her family moved to his ranch fourteen years ago to start a new sheep ranching operation.

Through thick and thin, good and bad, fire and rain, their friendship has only gotten stronger—so strong that nothing could possibly break their bond, a bond that for Ray has suddenly changed from simply friends to something deeper… Something that makes her dream of days and nights beside the man she loves, something that makes her wish she were more than just the shepherd’s daughter.

Then Billy’s mail order bride arrives.

Rebecca DuCastille is everything Ray is not: refined, well-mannered, and pretty as a porcelain tea cup. How can Ray possibly compete for Billy’s heart when his new bride is everything he could want in a proper wife?

Can the shepherd’s daughter convince her childhood friend that their love for one another goes beyond friendship, or will Billy marry the pretty interloper and leave Ray out to pasture?

Publisher Note: This is a ‘sweet’/’clean’ romance.

Amazon

*****

Excerpt:

So this was the new head shepherd his pa had hired? Billy didn’t know much about it other than what he’d overheard between his parents at night while he was supposed to be reading The Word before bed. He couldn’t help it. He liked sneaking down the stairs to listen to his parents talk when they thought no one was listening. Something about the love between them made Billy want to stick close.

From what he’d heard and could understand of their conversations, his pa wanted to expand the ranch into sheep and wool but didn’t know how to do it. He’d sent advertisements back east to the big cities, looking for a man who knew the industry and could come live on their ranch to manage the lambing and shearing and rotating—moving the herd from one parcel of land to another without losing a single one.

Apparently, these newcomers were the ones his pa had picked for the job. Billy didn’t know, quite yet, what he thought of the whole thing.

Not that it really mattered. Billy was set on growing up to be the best horse breeder in the state. He didn’t care much for smelly old sheep. He’d stick to the stable and barn, and leave Mr. MacAdams and Mr. Pallo to their sheep.

Billy’s pa turned to him and motioned for him to come forward. Billy complied with only a little warmth rising in his cheeks.

“Mr. MacAdams, this is my son, Willem.”

Pa patted Billy on his shoulders and squeezed one just enough to make him clear his throat and say, “Good afternoon, sir. Nice to meet you.” Just as his mother had taught him.

Mr. MacAdams grinned down at him. “What a polite young man ye are. Nice to me ye.”

Billy’s mother stepped forward. “Good afternoon. Welcome to Dry Bayou Ranch. I’m Linda Ducharme and we’re very pleased to have you here.”

His mother’s voice was soft, friendly, and cultured. She was a fine lady, much too fine for all the dust now coating her skirts. Pa said he’d found her in a catalog and she’d moved west to marry him. He said he was a lucky man, especially since she hadn’t turned tail and run at the first sight of the shack he’d lived in back then.

Mr. MacAdams turned around and helped the woman from the wagon. She strutted toward the porch, put out her hand, and smiled. Pa took it and shook it, a little less vigorously than he did the man’s.

“I’m Moira MacAdams—,” she called into the back of the wagon. “Get down here, bairn, and say hello.”

Billy didn’t know what to make of the bundle of rags and wild, frizzy, red hair that appeared. He stood, staring at the little girl who seemed more hair than girl. She looked a few years younger than his seven years, but he thought maybe her size threw him off. Her small face was covered with freckles, her brown eyes were filled with curiosity and something else he couldn’t name.

She bounced from foot-to-foot, then stuck out her hand. He blinked down at it, surprised and a little uncertain what to do.

“Go ‘head, take it, it won’t bite,” she chirped. Her voice was like sugar on syrup and he found he didn’t know what to say back. So, he stepped forward and gripped her hand without saying a word.

“Name’s Raychelle, but you can call me Ray, account of the fact that I don’t like Raychelle ‘cause it sounds too uppity.”

Billy couldn’t help the smile that spread across his face.

He liked her.

He tightened his grip on her hand. “He-hello, Ray, I’m Billy.”

Her smile brightened and he felt the light of it right down into his boots. In that moment, he wondered if smelly old sheep weren’t all that bad.

She must’ve read his thoughts because a glint of excitement filled her eyes and Billy could only blink in awe.

“Billy, do you know how to catch a frog?”

*****

I don’t know why I usually stay away from historical westerns but something about this description just caught my eye and I had to give it a go. And I am SUPER glad I did. Even though it is short, it is packed full of fun.

Billy and Ray have been friends practically their whole lives but suddenly they are seeing each other a little bit differently. Both are struggling because they aren’t quite sure what it means and, not wanting to ruin their friendship, they are keeping it quiet. While things would likely have worked out eventually, they’ve got to deal with it quickly because Billy’s mail order bride just showed up 🙂

Usually I’m not a fan of a miscommunication and secrets plotline but Winchester does an absolutely fabulous job of making it believable and fluid with the characters. It’s not annoying at all because you totally can understand where they are coming from and why the do the things they do. Granted you want them to hurry up and figure it out but that’s just because you like them and want them to be happy.

With moments of levity and a whole heap of sweetness, Winchester brings her readers a fabulous friends to lovers story.

*****

Author Info:

Lynn Winchester is one of the pseudonyms of a hardworking California-born caffeine addict, now living in the wilds of Northeast Pennsylvania. Lynn has been writing fiction since the 5th grade, and enjoys creating worlds, characters, and stories for her readers.

When Lynn isn’t writing sweet historical romances, she is writing spicy paranormal romance as Jackson D’Lynne, and YA Sci-Fi/Thrillers as DJ Sorber. When is isn’t writing at all, she is running a successful editing business, reading whatever she can get her hands on, raising her four children, making sure her husband is happy, and binge watching shows on Netflix.

Website: http://lynnwinchester.com/

Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/LynnWinWesterns

Twitter: https://www.Twitter.com/LynnWinWesterns

*****

Giveaway:

$25 Amazon Gift Card

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ba112ffc1483/

*****

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Book Review – Tell Me Again

21 Friday Oct 2016

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

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Book Review, Michelle Major, Tell Me Again

Let’s end the work week with something that has some teeth from @Barclay_PR and @michelle_major1

*****

Tell Me Again

by Michelle Major

Blurb:

As a teenager, Samantha Carlton used a career in modeling to break free from her painful childhood—walking away from her reckless twin sister, an alcoholic mother, and the boy she loved. Yet she never outran the guilt of abandoning her family. When the past shows up on her doorstep in the form of her late sister’s daughter, Sam opens her home and her heart to the girl she never knew existed. But it’s not so easy to face the man she left behind…

Sam had shattered Trevor Kincaid’s heart, and he’d sought comfort in her sister’s arms. But he’d pledged to shield his daughter, Grace, from the drama that followed the Carlton women. Now Grace has tracked down Sam, and Trevor is forced to deal with the one woman he wanted to forget.

History has a way of repeating itself, and the sparks between Sam and Trevor reignite an old flame. But as much as Sam wants a new future, is walking away again easier than risking her heart for a second chance at love?

Find out more at: Amazon

*****

Excerpt:

“I need to help you. I need to make it better so we’re even.”

“Even?”

She nodded. “I can’t owe you.”

“You don’t owe me.”

“We have a working relationship I can handle,” she said, dropping the towel to her desk and pressing the ice pack between her fingers. She welcomed the burn of the cold against her fingertips. “Then you go and play the hero.”

He laughed again. “I’m not a hero.”

“That’s not how I remember it,” she murmured, focusing her gaze on his shirt collar when it became too difficult to meet his eyes.

“What sort of working relationship do we have when you pretend I don’t exist any time I’m here without Grace?”

“The kind that doesn’t make me crazy.”

“Is that how you treat a hero?”

She laughed despite herself. “It is when I’m pretending you don’t exist because I want to rip off all your clothes and plaster myself to you every time we’re together.”

He raised one brow. “That doesn’t sound quite right to me.”

Embarrassment washed through her, but Trevor stepped into her space, crowding her, when she would have turned away.

“A better idea would be if we both had our clothes off.” He traced one finger along the skin above the collar of her baggy t-shirt. “What’s fair is fair.”

She bit down on her lip and ignored the sparks of desire that skimmed along every single one of her nerve endings. “It was actually a bad idea. Forget I said anything.”

“Fat chance,” he whispered and brushed his lips across hers.

It only took a second for the kiss to ignite into something hot and hungry. Even though it was the worst idea in the world, Sam lost herself in the feel of him. He tugged her closer, lifting her into his arms, and she wrapped her legs around his lean hips. He tasted the same as he had years ago, like mint and memories. He was the innocence she’d lost and everything she once longed for.

He kissed her like she was his whole world. It had been forever since she’d felt anything so perfect. His fingers tugged on the hair tie holding her bun in place and then his hands sifted through her hair. His mouth felt like it was everywhere at once–on her lips, her jaw, the sensitive spot just behind her ear that no other man had taken the time to discover.

*****

Review:

There are those books that you just fly through … the sassy, happy, easy to read books. This just isn’t one of those. And that’s more than OK.

Sam and Trevor have a lot of history, both together and apart. They are carrying a lot of baggage that needs to be handled before they can even think about moving forward. But they also have a lot of unresolved feelings and enough chemistry that staying apart isn’t all that easy. But, unaddressed, that baggage is going to cause them some serious trouble 🙂

Poor Sam, even with all of her beauty and success, has more hangups that a half dozen women put together. Her childhood was awful and the only bright spots were her twin and her best friend. Unfortunately her sister wasn’t a very strong person and Bryce’s negative feelings & actions have some long reaching impacts on both Sam and Trevor. They are still dealing with the fallout, even all these years later. It’s heartbreaking to see just how much but it’s also so much better when they are able to figure things out.

Not an easy read but a more satisfying one for it, Tell Me Again will have you hitting highs and lows and thanking Major for them every step of the way.

*****

Author Info:

Michelle Major grew up in Ohio but dreamed of living in the mountains. Soon after graduating with a degree in Journalism, she pointed her car west and settled in Colorado. Her life and house are filled with one great husband, two beautiful kids, a few furry pets and several well-behaved reptiles. She’s grateful to have found her passion writing stories with happy endings. Michelle loves to hear from her readers at http://www.michellemajor.com.

Connect with Michelle: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon

*****

Giveaway:

1 winner will receive a $25 Amazon Giftcard!

3 runner ups will receive a book bundle including Kissing Mr Right and Recipe for Kisses by Michelle Major!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b050ef29288/

*****

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Book Review – Saving Jake

20 Thursday Oct 2016

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Blessings Georgia series, Book Review, Saving Jake, Sharon Sala

Saving Jake

A Blessings Georgia Novel

by Sharon Sala

Love heals in New York Times bestselling author Sharon Sala’s newest contemporary romance

There is always hope

After eight years in the Marines, Jacob Lorde returns to Blessings, Georgia, with no plans other than to hole up in his empty house and heal what’s left of his soul. But with a charming next door neighbor and a town full of friendly people, keeping to himself is easier said than done.

As long as you can come home

Laurel Payne understands far too well what Jake is going through, after witnessing her late husband experience similar problems. She’s in no hurry to jump into another relationship with a complicated guy, but their attraction is undeniable-and perhaps exactly what both of them need.

Jake suffers from PTSD and survivor’s guilt after leaving the Marines. He’s trying to figure out what he’s going to do with himself and what normal now looks like. He’s struggling with being known as a hero and coming back to his small hometown where everyone knows everything about everyone else just exacerbates his emotional turmoil. Then he meets a darling little girl and her beautiful mother … his life isn’t ever going to be the same 🙂

Laurel’s husband was also a veteran but he didn’t handle his troubles very well. Widowed and raising their daughter alone, she’s very hesitant to get close to a man with so many similar issues. It doesn’t take long for her to realize that Jake is strong enough that he just may be able to handle his problems. And help her handle hers.

There’s some trouble caused by old enemies that add a little extra drama and danger to the story, but it doesn’t overshadow the love story. Showing her skill, Sala does a great job of tying it all together and helping to bring closure to a few different things.

My favorite part is the slow build between Laurel and Jake. They get to know each other, find their footing, then move from acquaintances to friends and on to lovers. Both are carrying a lot of baggage but together they figure out a way to share their load. Giving readers a satisfying and realistic happy ending.

(Although this is part of a series, and we’ve seen some of these characters time and again, this can very easily stand on its own. Nothing of any importance comes from past stories and Sala does a great job keeping the characters fresh for returning readers but keeping new readers involved.)

Book Review – Melt My Heart, Cowboy

16 Sunday Oct 2016

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Book Review, CJ Carmichael, Love at the Chocolate Shop series, Melt My Heart Cowboy

Melt my Heart, Cowboy

Love at the Chocolate Shop, Book 1

by CJ Carmichael

Who is the handsome cowboy who comes into small town Marietta’s chocolate shop every week to buy a box of chocolates? More importantly…who is he buying the chocolates for? These are the questions sales clerk Rosie Linn asks herself as she waits for her sadly neglected childhood home to sell so she can pursue an exciting new career in L.A.

Rosie finds out the answers the day rugged ranch hand Brant Willingham introduces himself and asks for her help in managing the care of his younger sister. Brant’s mother has recently died, leaving him the sole guardian of eighteen-year-old Sara Maria–who has been a puzzle to Brant ever since she began exhibiting signs of autism at age two.

Rosie and Brant come up with a plan. She’ll help with his sister if he handles repairs and a new paint job for her old house. It seems the perfect solution, but a new dilemma is created when the couple start spending time together. Brant discovers he doesn’t want Rosie to sell and leave, and Rosie fears she will have to choose between love and her dreams.

I’m pretty sure the answer to these two’s issues are pretty plain for everyone to see but they’ve got to figure things out on their own 🙂 It’s still super sweet and a great read.

Brant has a lot to learn about his sister and how to make a life with her now that their mother is gone. With her as a buffer, he never really learned how to deal with Sara’s autism and tends to treat her like a not-very-bright child. It’s hard on both of them while he struggles with what to do, but with Rosie’s help he figures things out. And it is definitely awwww worthy.

Rosie is also finding herself at odds after her dad died. She’s ready to start living a life of her own and is anxious to move the LA to be with her brother. Meeting and falling in love with Brant (and his sister) isn’t quite in her plans. But that’s just the way things work out sometimes 🙂

There’s parts to make you giggle and parts to make you sigh, but best of all there are lots of parts to make you smile.

(While this can technically stand on its own, it looks like it is a spinoff from another series and there are definitely some things that overlap a bit.)

Book Review – Not A Hero

15 Saturday Oct 2016

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Book Review, Not A Hero, Sarah Robinson

Not A Hero

by Sarah Robinson

From the bestselling author of the Kavanagh Legends MMA series, Sarah Robinson’s Not A Hero is an emotional standalone military romance where love battles trauma, and there can only be one victor. Former Marine, Miles Kydd, is trying to readjust to civilian life after ending his career and returning to his small home town when he learned his father was diagnosed with a terminal illness. Once the town hero and star quarterback, Miles no longer feels like the man he was, or who he’s expected to be–possibly because his demons have followed him home from Afghanistan.

Meeting Zoe Brooke, his father’s live-in nurse, gives Miles the slightest glimmer of hope that he can still find happiness despite the dark secrets he holds inside. The chemistry between them is undeniable, and together they are explosive–in more ways than one.

A helper at her core, Zoe is more than willing to care for Miles’s heart, but not at the expense of her own, and she’s not afraid to tell him that. She knows what having a painful past is like, and she wants to help him with his, if he’ll let her.

Things get complicated fast when Miles realizes burying his secrets isn’t actually the same as healing from them and if he wants the girl, he’s going to have to tell her the truth–the one thing he can’t do.

This book is suggested for 18+ years of age, contains graphic content, sensitive subject matters, and sexually explicit material.

While there is a disclaimer on this book, I’ll be honest that I didn’t find it to be any more … well, just more, than any of the other more hard-hitting romances I’d read lately. Miles does come back with PTSD and has some issues coming to terms with it. And Zoe’s first marriage was horrible, but she seems to have come out of it a much stronger person. They are hot together, though, so you have to be OK with some steamy love scenes. Nothing unusual or especially kinky, just detailed … and delicious 🙂

I think that Robinson does a great job of showing Miles’s conflict at coming home and feeling like he doesn’t deserve the title of hero that everyone keeps throwing at him. His emotions are all over the place and you get that feeling of conflict. She also has him realize he needs help and that’s a nice moment of believability for me.

I did have a little issue with how easily Zoe forgives him for his hot and cold routine. It makes sense as we get to know him and she seems to have a special understanding of his troubles, but he does make things hard on her. She’s a strong, centered person and I would have expected her to be a little more hesitant … but maybe that strength and insight has her seeing things better than me.

My favorite part was the relationships that deepen between Miles, Zone and Miles’s dad. There’s so much love and acceptance and true liking amongst them that it just warms you from the inside.

Emotional, humorous, scorching and sweet, Not A Hero is great for those who love their heroes flawed and their women ready to take them on.

Book Review – Making the Play

06 Thursday Oct 2016

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Book Review, Hidden Falls series, Making the Play, T.J. Kline

Author T.J. Kline brings readers a new series … and it is going to have something for everyone. Cowboys, copy, firefighter, and, kicking it all off, a football player. Oh, man 🙂

*****

Making the Play

Hidden Falls #1

by T.J. Kline

Releasing September 27, 2016

Avon Impulse

Blurb:

T.J. Kline launches a brand new series with the charming story of an NFL player who finds love when he least expects it…

Grant McQuaid has dedicated his entire life to his football career. Now an injury threatens his place on the team and he’s forced to return home to rehabilitate. But when he meets his “biggest fan,” a precocious, blue-eyed, hearing impaired boy named James—and his beautiful mother, Bethany—Grant begins to question whether football is the future he still wants.

Bethany Mills has been doing just fine since her husband walked out on them… and she definitely doesn’t need another man to disappoint her—or her son. But when James runs into his hero at the park, Bethany admits there is a void in her son’s life that she just can’t fill. Her attraction to the handsome football star is undeniable, but a man in the limelight is the last thing she wants for herself, or James.

Grant doesn’t want to subject Bethany to the chaos of dating a professional athlete. But the more time he spends with her and James, the harder it is to resist making a play for her heart…

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30166230-making-the-play

Goodreads Series Link https://www.goodreads.com/series/181009-hidden-falls

Buy Links: Amazon | B & N | Google | iTunes | Kobo

*****

Excerpt:

Bethany watched from the doorway as Grant McQuaid, star running back, lay on her bathroom floor repairing the seal on her toilet. Thank goodness she’d cleaned the tile after the water had soaked it.

“That should do it,” he announced, standing up and handing James the wrench he’d purchased. “Go put that in a safe place so your mom has it when she needs it next time.”

His shirt had several wet spots on it from his less-than-stellar handyman skills, plastering it to him in several places and making it difficult for Bethany to keep from staring at the way the muscles of his upper body shifted, flexing with his every movement. Her fingers itched to run down the lines of his rib cage where the shirt clung to him like a second skin.

“Ice cream time,” James announced, running past her into the hallway.

“Put it into the drawer by the phone, baby,” she called after him.

Grant washed his hands at the sink and wiped them on the towel sitting on the counter before he turned toward her. “Ice cream time,” he repeated, his voice low and husky.

It didn’t sound like a fun outing when he said it. It sounded like a dark promise of sweet, sinfully dangerous things to come. He took a step toward her, eliminating any distance between them and looked down at her, his dampened chest only inches from her face. Her fingers twitched, desperate to reach out and touch his skin, to see if it was indeed as hot and hard as it looked.

“Are you ready?”

Bethany glanced up at him, the heat from his skin warming her without a touch, setting every nerve ending in her body on high alert. She felt his breath wash over the top of her head. “Are you sure you want to do this? You don’t have to.”

The smile that spread over his lips was warm. And slightly wicked. “Bethany, there is nothing I’d rather do right now.”

His eyes met hers and he lifted a finger under her chin. His hand was cool and still slightly damp from washing up but his gaze was hot. Bethany felt the sizzle of electricity from his touch as it stole her breath. She licked her lips, wondering what she could say, if she could even form words to speak.

His gaze fell to her lips and she felt her knees weaken, her breaths coming in shallow pants. “I take that back. I can think of a few other things I’d rather do with you.”

*****

Review:

Contemporary romance readers won’t be surprised at how this story flows, but they will appreciate the special things that make it a fun read.

Bethany is a wonderful mom (and her son is one of the highlights of the book), but she’s been hiding her heart away. Meeting super-sexy Grant, who shows real interest in her son as a person, shakes things up. She struggles a little with opening up and I have to say that once she does she shows more patience than me to put up with Grant’s shenanigans.

While he may be great with James, Grant does seem a little lacking in the relationship department. Which is to be expected since this is really his first true romance. He’s spent so much of his life focused on football that he never really got involved with a woman. His hot and cold attitude, stubbornness, minor fibs, and lack of communication definitely cause him a ton of troubles … but of course there’s gonna be problems. It’s a romance 🙂

While there there are familiar elements, Kline does a great job of giving us characters that pop and keep you drawn in to the end. Just because something has been used before doesn’t mean they can’t be enjoyable if the book is done well. And this one definitely is.

Grant has a few siblings so I’m sure we’re going to get their stories too. And if they are anything like this I can’t wait!

*****

Author Info:

T. J. Kline was raised competing in rodeos and Rodeo Queen competitions since the age of 14 and has thorough knowledge of the sport as well as the culture involved. She writes contemporary western romance for Avon Romance, including the Rodeo series and the Healing Harts series. She has published a nonfiction health book and two inspirational fiction titles under the name Tina Klinesmith. In her very limited spare time, T.J. can be found laughing hysterically with her husband, children, and their menagerie of pets in Northern California.

Author Links: Website | Facebook| Twitter | GoodReads

*****

Giveaway:

Two Digital Copies of MAKING THE PLAY

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/521ac4c81132/

*****

Click on the banner below to check out the rest of the tour

Book Review – Renegade Dragon

04 Tuesday Oct 2016

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

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Book Review, Dragon Heat series, Lolita Lopez, Renegade Dragon

I’ve actually managed to keep up with all of the books in this series … unusually for me I know 🙂 The latest one before this was Wicked Dark Dragon (if you want to check out what I thought of the series).

*****

Renegade Dragon

Dragon Heat Book #4

by Lolita Lopez

Release Date: October 4, 2016

Forever Yours eBook

Blurb:

NOTHING IS HOTTER THAN DRAGON’S FIRE

When her best friend disappears, bio-engineering student Eris Jones embarks on the quest of her life. Her search leads to a secluded estate where she experiences visions of a powerful, winged creature who’s transformed into a tall, dangerously sexy man at her touch. But the feel of his rock-hard abs and lean, sinewy arms tells Eris this is no dream . . . it’s real.

Niko Drakon is dangerous and he knows it. When the call to mate is too strong, he has no choice but to lock himself away in his basement saferoom. Otherwise, people get hurt. The moment Eris walks into his home, nothing can keep him from claiming her. However, she could also be the key to bringing down the dragons’ greatest enemy, which leaves Niko with a devastating choice: keep Eris for himself or lose her to the cause he’s served for most of his life . . .

Buy the Book:

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

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2bG1r1n

Google Play: http://bit.ly/2bpSQPu

iBooks: http://apple.co/2bMZBhf

Add Renegade Dragon to your shelf on Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2blYi5Z

*****

Excerpt:

My woman.

It was a primitive thought and one Nico should be ashamed for thinking…but he wasn’t. He didn’t even know her name, but he knew that she was his. After all the years of secretly hoping that someday his mate might cross his path, he didn’t dare believe his luck that she was so beautiful. If anything could tempt him to forsake his vows to the Brotherhood, it was this staggeringly pretty woman. The thought of having his own mate, of sharing the same happiness his friends had found, sent hope burning through him like wildfire.

Despite the rain soaking them from head to toe, he caught the sweet, earthen scent of female dragon blood mixed in with all that human.

She is my mate.

But she had stolen and eaten one of his family’s treasured apples, and that meant she had earned a swift death for her theft. Unless, of course, he argued that as his mate she was his family and therefore had every right to one of the apples that was under his—their—guard. He was the head of the Drakon tribe. It would be his decision that stood on this matter.

He carried his delicious-smelling mate down to the second cell he kept in his well-fortified basement. After destroying the first one, he might need the chains and the door of the second to keep his frightened little dragon hybrid in place. If she refused to touch him, he would quickly revert back to his beastly form and scare the hell out of her.

He barred the door behind them but remembered the way she had so easily picked the locks on his home. He placed his palm against the metal and silently whispered a warding spell before drawing the necessary symbols with his fingers. She wouldn’t be getting out of here without him.

Safely tucked away with his mate, he carried her to the back wall of the cell and grasped one of the long chains and cuffs. Carefully, he set her down and quickly wrapped the cuff around both of their wrists. She let loose a gasp and jerked hard enough that he actually lost his balance. She kicked out her leg, but he dodged at the last second. His hand shot out to protect her pretty head from slamming into the stone wall.

“Stop!” The word came out harsher than he had intended. Her eyes widened at his rough tone. He hated seeing fear on her face, but he loved that the light in the cell allowed him to see her real eye color. The greyish blue irises staring back at him were astonishingly beautiful against her rich brown skin. “Please,” she said with a little sob that tore at his heart.

Gently, he rubbed her arm. “You’ll only hurt yourself if you insist on jerking on these chains. We have to stay this way tonight.”

“I’m your prisoner?”

You’re my mate. But he didn’t say that. “Yes. Unless you want to see the winged version of me again, you had better keep your hand on me at all times, understand?”

She swallowed nervously and squirmed but didn’t try to tug away from him. “What are you?”

His eyebrow arched. “You know.”

She shook her head. “I don’t.”

“Yes, you do.” He touched her cheek and silently rejoiced when she didn’t flinch or pull away from him. The spicy scent of arousal drifting from her skin made his mouth water, but it wasn’t even close to the potency of a mating heat. If she had very diluted dragon blood, she might need him to make love to her before a full mating heat would take effect.

Wanting her to name him, he tapped her chin. “Say it. Tell me what I am.”

She lifted her anxious, disbelieving gaze to his face. A spark of determination brightened her unusual eyes. “Dragon. You’re a dragon.”

*****

Review:

I’m going to take a moment to remind everyone, just in case you can’t figure it out, that this IS a paranormal romance. There are some unnatural themes, insta-love, death-defying moments, magic, yadda yadda. And you have to be OK with that to enjoy it … I see a lot of people getting annoyed or making fun of these kinds of stories, but that just means they aren’t for you. Know what kind of book it is going in and enjoy the ride, darn it!

~Mini-rant over~

Like with Wicked Dark Dragon, you really need to have read the rest of the series to truly understand what is going on (but they run about $2 each if you are interested). Unlike WDD, though, this one scrimped a bit on the action. I think, like its hero, it is a more mental story – with Eris and Nico getting to know each other (very quickly, back to that insta-love thing, which only works because of the mystical connection they share) and then setting up some future plot lines. There is some fighting and danger at the end but it is a very quick read so it doesn’t cover a lot of pages. It’s more about the woo woo of their world, bringing Eris in, giving Nico a mate (finally) and working toward the future.

One of the things I appreciate is the free rein that fantasy authors have to create a world that works for them and their characters. Lopez does a good job of coming up with the fantastical but keeping it in check. It doesn’t get too outrageous or seem to come out of nowhere. She does a good job of explaining new things as they come up and how it all fits together.

To be truly enjoyed by a distinct audience, Renegade Dragon isn’t very long but does well at continuing what the previous books started and nicely sets up what comes next.

*****

Author Info:

While browsing bookstore shelves as a teenager, Lo discovered the erotic writings of Anaïs Nin and A.N. Roquelaure. Certain her mother would not approve, Lo smuggled the books home and squirreled them away in the most likely of places: under her bed. Late at night, she delved into the sensual worlds both writers created.

As a co-ed studying biochemistry and genetics at Texas A&M University, Lo dabbled in creating naughty tales to entertain her friends. Study for a midterm or pen a deliciously dirty story to delight her small band of fans? Not surprisingly, Lo is now on an extended sabbatical from college.

Luckily, Lo stumbled onto the world of erotic romance publishers. She realized there were other readers and writers who loved and craved breathtaking romance with the spiciest of love scenes. She took a chance and submitted her first novella. The rest is history.

Lo lives in Texas with her husband, daughter and big blubbering Great Dane with mommy issues.

Social Media Links:

www.lolitalopez.com

www.twitter.com/lowriter

www.facebook.com/writerlolitalopez

*****

Book Review – Holiday in Your Heart

29 Thursday Sep 2016

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

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Book Review, Caribou Crossing series, Holiday in Your Heart, Susan Fox

Holiday in Your Heart

A Caribou Crossing Romance

by Susan Fox

It’s Christmas in the cozy Western town of Caribou Crossing, the season for homecoming, forgiveness, and—just maybe—the gift of a fresh start…

As the holidays approach, the air is filled with the festive sounds of bells chiming and carolers singing. Maribeth Scott loves Christmas, but she’s pretty sure that after years of waiting, Santa isn’t finally going to gift her with Mr. Right. In fact, the only thing she truly wants for Christmas is a baby to love. At thirty-nine, she’s determined to become a mother and she will make it happen, even if she has to do it on her own.

When Mo Kincaid returns to the rustic town after almost twenty years away, he’s seeking redemption from his checkered past. The last thing on his mind is romance, and he’s certain he doesn’t deserve it. But now there’s irresistible Maribeth, showing him the true spirit of Christmas and winning his heart. For the first time in Mo’s life, the future looks bright. Only one thing stands between them: Maribeth’s deep desire for a child and Mo’s conviction that he’s too flawed to be a father. Is his world-weary heart ready to take the ultimate leap of faith?

So, this is my first Caribou Crossing book and I really enjoyed it. It’s got that perfect amount of drama, romance, humor and growth.

Not having read any of the other stories I didn’t have an opinion of Mo or Maribeth coming into this and I think that helped a bit. From the beginning Mo is honest about what a bad person he was in his youth. But he’s matured a lot and is now a stand-up guy, back in town to try to make amends to his ex and his son. Considering the both of them have had stories, returning readers might find it a little harder time letting him in, but I was drawn to him right away. His honesty about the man he used to be and the way he doesn’t expect anything positive drew me to him. I was rooting for him to finally find a place to call home, someone to love and accept him so that he could finish becoming that better man.

I’m not sure what role Maribeth has played before, other than that of a friend. She seems to be pretty comfortable with herself (maybe too comfortable sometimes 🙂 ) but her life hasn’t turned out quite like she expected. Alone and approaching her 40th birthday she’s at the point of taking matters into her own hands when pure luck puts her into Mo’s orbit. While she does a little growing of her own, more importantly she provides the acceptance that Mo needs and helps push him into stepping even further outside of his comfort zone and connecting to the people around him. Helps him dream of something more and find the family that he didn’t know he wanted. She doesn’t try to change him too much, accepting the person he is, but she pushes him to look into himself and want more than he ever thought he deserved.

Based on this I may have to go back and check out Fox’s backlist. She’s got a great talent for delivering delightful reads full of friends & family, a little steam and a whole lotta heart, great characters and straightforward, emotion driven stories.

Book Review – A Sister’s Wish

27 Tuesday Sep 2016

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

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A Sister's Wish, Book Review, Shelley Shepard Gray, The Charmed Amish Life series

We saw the first book in this series, A Son’s Vow, which was REALLY well liked (as is the whole series, going by the reviews). And if it is anything like this one I can definitely see why!

*****

A Sister’s Wish

The Charmed Amish Life #3

by Shelley Shepard Gray

Releasing September 27, 2016

Avon Inspire

Blurb:

In Shelley Shepard Gray’s third book in her Charmed Amish Life series, a respectable young woman finds herself falling for an Amish man from the wrong side of the tracks.

Amelia Kinsinger is the perfect Amish woman—at least according to her neighbors. And while Amelia takes pride in her role as homemaker, she’s also harboring a secret: She’s been in love with bad boy Simon Hochstetler for as long as she can remember. Too bad he’s about as far from “perfect” as an Amish man could get… but that’s exactly why she’s so drawn to him.

Life hasn’t been kind to Simon. He ran away from an abusive home at fifteen and things went downhill from there. Eventually, Simon landed in prison. But the experience changed him. Now back in Charm as a grown man, he’s determined to make a new life for himself and not think too much about his wild past…unless it pertains to Amelia.

He’s loved Amelia for years. To him, she represents everything good and kind in the world. When he realizes that she returns his affections, he starts calling on her in secret, even though her older brother Lukas—who just happens to be Simon’s best friend—has made it perfectly clear that Amelia deserves better. Simon disagrees and believes he’s the only one who can truly make her happy.

But when Amelia gets hurt, it sets off a chain of events that forces them to consider their future together—and face their past mistakes. There’s a chance for love… but only if Simon dares to trust Amelia with the secrets of his past.

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28448203-a-sister-s-wish

Goodreads Series Link https://www.goodreads.com/series/169928-the-charmed-amish-life

Buy Links: Amazon | B & N | Google | iTunes | Kobo

*****

Excerpt:

Prologue

Thirteen years ago

He had almost made it.

All he had to do was make it another two miles, then he’d be able to catch the bus to New Philly and eventually Mansfield. After that? Simon Hochstetler reckoned it didn’t really matter. He would be free and that was good enough.

But for now, all he had to do was ignore the pain in his side, make it over the next bend, then finally hike through the northern edge of the Kinsingers’ property. Once he did all that, the road would be flat. A whole lot easier to walk on.

He winced as he shifted his stuffed army-green backpack on his left shoulder, wishing that his right one wasn’t as bruised as it was. ’Course, if he was making wishes, he should probably start with wishing that he didn’t have a black eye or cut lip. From there he could wish his ribs weren’t hurting, either.

His father had been in fine form tonight.

He walked on, patting his pocket, feeling for the wad of money he’d been saving for the last year and kept hidden in an old coffee can near the woods. How long was it going to last? He had no idea how far eighty-eight dollars lasted in the city, but he was fairly sure it wouldn’t be far enough. He was going to need to figure out a way to make some cash, quick.

Feeling panicked, he stopped to readjust his backpack.

“Simon? Hey! I thought that was you,” Amelia Kinsinger called out, her voice ringing through the empty field like a bright, merry cowbell. “Whatcha doing?”

He froze. Then, attempting to gather himself, he turned to watch her trot closer. A bright smile was on her face. She looked really pleased to have spied him.

Though he knew better than to stay, he remained where he was. Even at only nine years old, little Amelia was the prettiest thing he’d ever seen. White-blond hair, crystal-blue eyes, and pale skin that never seemed to tan, she was everything delicate and perfect. She was also sheltered and his best friend’s baby sister—and the only person who seemed to think he was worth something. Both of her brothers had confided that Amelia had a terrible crush on him. They’d thought it was embarrassing. Levi had even apologized for her.

He hadn’t needed an apology, though. Simon had always thought Amelia’s infatuation made him something special. He’d never let on that he noticed the way she always looked at him. He never acted annoyed when she rushed over to tell him about her day. Instead of making fun of her, he’d been patient and often sat with her when her older siblings were too busy.

But that said, he’d always taken care for her not to see him like this. He wanted to look worthy in her eyes. Not beaten and bruised.

“Can’t talk right now, Amy,” he bit out as he started forward. He took care to keep his gaze fixated on the ground in front of him. Maybe then she wouldn’t catch sight of his eye.

But, as usual, she didn’t listen to his warning. Instead, she picked up her pace. “Did you know that the sun is almost set? Where you going? It’s going to be dark soon.”

“Ain’t none of your business.”

She stumbled, then caught herself before he reached out to steady her.

“Slow down, wouldja?” she said.

“Can’t.”

She sighed. “Why are ya being like this?” she asked, hurt in her tone. “All I asked is—”

“Simon! What happened to you?”

Unable to help himself, he drew to a stop. Then, because he probably was never going to see her again anyway, he allowed himself to lift his chin and let her look her fill. As he’d expected, she was staring at him in concern, her pale pink lips parted in wonder. And, he suspected, pity.

“Go on home, Amelia.”

“Did you . . . did your daed do that?” she whispered, letting him know that his secret had never actually been one. “Do you need something? Do ya need some help? ’Cause my daed’s home. If we went to him, I bet he’d help ya.”

That was why she meant so much to him. Here he was, bruised and battered, running away from home, and she thought he could still be saved. “Your daed can’t help.”

Tentatively, she held out a hand. Then, to his shock, she swiped at a patch of skin just to the side of his lip. When he flinched at her touch, she looked at him with sad eyes. “Sorry, but your lip is bleeding.” She held up her finger to show the stain.

Seeing his blood on her hand was one of the worst things he’d ever experienced. It symbolized everything that was his life . . . and everything he didn’t want it to be. Unable to help himself, he grabbed her hand and roughly swiped it on his shirt. “Wash your hands when you get home, hear me?”

“Oh. All right. But . . . but, Simon, won’t you come with me? You could wash up, too.”

“Nee. I’ve gotta go.”

“You’re leaving, aren’t you?” she asked softly. “Just like your brother and sister did.”

He couldn’t lie to her. “Jah. I’m leaving. Just like Jeremy and Tess did.”

“Please, don’t.”

As much as he would have liked to do anything she asked, he couldn’t do that. “Listen, do me a favor, wouldja? Don’t tell nobody you saw me.”

Her bottom lip trembled. “But—”

“They’ll find out soon enough. Just . . . just let me go, okay?” Then he did what he’d sworn he’d never do. He looked at her directly in the eyes and let her see his pain. “I have to do this, Amy.”

Around a ragged sigh, looking so very sad, she nodded.

“Okay.”

“Bye, Amelia. You take care of yourself.”

He started walking before she could reply. Before he did something stupid and followed her to her house. Before he thought about staying just a little longer so he could see her again.

He started walking because no matter how difficult and scary it was to leave, he knew for certain it was always going to be a whole lot worse at home.

*****

Review:

Looking at the reviews for the other two books in this series, everyone thinks this author is amazingly talented. I only have this book to go by but I’ve got to say I wholeheartedly agree!

A Sister’s Wish is just packed with emotions of all sorts. There is a sweetness for how much Simon cares for Amelia and how much she believes in him. The heartbreak when it looks like they can’t be together and the pain when he finds out what his friend thinks of him. And the tentative hope when things start looking up for Simon, both romantically and with his estranged family & friends.

He’s had such a horrible time of it, but he’s a strong, good man and he’s working to turn that around. Unfortunately little communities have big memories, so it isn’t always that easy. It hurts so to see him have to deal with small minds, but there’s more to his story than just his love for Amelia. Just when things look bleak for him, fate hands him a chance encounter with the sister he hasn’t seen in years and the opportunity to try to forge a new relationship together. It’s a lot of ups and downs as he deals with the disappointment from his friend’s judgement and the pain of giving up his pursuit of Amelia, but if he can figure out who to make everything work it will definitely be worth it in the end. He just has to trust in himself. And let Amelia in so she can love & support him the way he needs.

I love Amelia. She might have let herself give a lot of herself to her family, but she’s got a lot of spirit and when she gets herself worked up she’s amazing. She’s got spunk and she turns that on her siblings & Simon when they need it 🙂 While a lot of the story focuses on Simon and him coming to terms with his past, there’s a good bit about Amelia figuring out that it is time for her to start living her life on her terms.

While there is a little bit mentioned about how everyone knew about the abuse Simon and his siblings experienced but no action was taken, I kinda wish that more had been said about it. There is some set up for the next book(s) so I’m hoping that this will be addressed at a future point. And for that to be my only complaint, I think that’s pretty darn impressive!

Shelley Shepard Gray delivers an emotion-packed story, at times both heartwarming and heartbreaking. There’s a lot going on here, but she handles it with amazing skill and style, leaving readers with a lot to think about.

(This is part of a series but can definitely stand on its own.)

*****

Author Info:

Shelley Shepard Gray is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time Hold Medallion winner.

She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town’s bike trail.

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

*****

Giveaway:

Three (3) sets of the previous books in series, A SON’S VOW and A DAUGHTER’S DREAM

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/521ac4c81128/

*****

Click on the banner below to check out the rest of the tour