Book Review – Her Lucky Cowboy

03 Thursday Sep 2015

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

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Book Review, Her Lucky Cowboy, Jennifer Ryan, Montana Men series

Today I’ve got a sexy cowboy and an absolutely adorable (and heartbreaking) heroine that I can’t wait to introduce you to!

*****

Her Lucky Cowboy

Montana Men # 3

by Jennifer Ryan

Releasing August 25, 2015

Avon

Blurb:

Champion rodeo rider Dane Bowden is eight seconds from winning under the Vegas lights, one last hurrah before reluctantly returning to his family’s Montana ranch. But his bull has other plans. When Dane wakes up, he’s sure he’s died and gone to heaven . . . because the doctor who comes to his aid is the same girl who saved his life and disappeared years ago.

Bell would do anything for Dane. He’s the fantasy that always kept her going. A child genius hidden away by her family, Bell was the secret no one talked about, the girl no one wanted. Despite finding success as a young surgeon, she’s still the awkward girl who’s never had a boyfriend. So why does Dane, a notorious playboy and sizzling-hot cowboy, insist on taking her on a real date?

Bell is the only woman in Dane’s heart. When a rodeo rivalry turns deadly, it’s his turn to save Bell’s life—because he sure as hell won’t lose his guardian angel again.

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23644595-her-lucky-cowboy?ac=1

Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/129156-montana-men

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

*****

Excerpt:

Bowden Ranch, Montana

Eleven years ago

Dane was flying.

One moment he was riding his horse across the far reaches of his family’s land, the next his horse reared up and kicked his massive hooves in the air, spooked by some unseen threat. Dane let loose the reins and fell sideways, hoping the horse didn’t trample him. Dane’s left foot hit the ground first, his ankle twisting painfully as his body slammed into the packed dirt and weeds. His shoulder hit next, breaking most of his upper body’s fall, but his head smashed into a jagged rock. Pain exploded through his head.

Hombre galloped away. Alone now, Dane rolled and lay flat on his back, staring up at the canopy of tree branches overhead. The sound of the rushing river next to him added to the thrashing heartbeat in his ears. He rubbed his hands over his eyes, hoping that cleared his spotty double vision. His left hand came away wet and sticky with blood from the gash swelling on his head.

He closed his eyes tight, his hands falling limp on his stomach. When he opened them moments later, he stared into a pair of dazzling blue eyes. The young girl’s dark hair hung down, covering most of her pale face as she stared at him. The most beautiful girl he’d ever seen.

“Are you okay?”

Such a soft, sweet voice. Where had she come from? No one lived out here. He liked the peace and quiet. The solitude.

“I must be dead. You’re an angel.”

Those ethereal eyes went wide with surprise. “Trust me, I’m no angel.” She filled those soft words with as much shock and disbelief as showed on her pretty face.

Calling her a liar probably wouldn’t make her like him.

She crouched, opened her hand, and set a long blue feather on his chest before touching her fingers to his aching head. The sting made him hiss in pain. Definitely not dead. Which meant she was real. Despite his prone body and inability to think clearly, one thing came through loud and clear. He wanted to know this girl.

“I need to stop this bleeding.”

He must have torn his T-shirt when he hit the ground. She ripped a piece free, walked to the edge of the river, and dipped it in the icy water. His vision blurred. He closed his eyes and moaned when she pressed the cold cloth to his head.

“There now. You’ll be okay.”

At fifteen, the last thing he wanted to do was ask for help, but his head swam and his ankle throbbed in time to his heart and the headache pounding in his head. No way he’d get home on his own. “My ankle hurts. Please, you have to get my dad. Find one of my brothers.”

Her soft hand settled on his chest over his heart. “You’ll be okay.” She snatched it back, like touching him burned her. He missed the sweet contact.

She reached for his foot and carefully pulled off his boot. He tried to bite back the groan, but it burst from his tight lips when the pain shot up his leg. Not cool to look like a wuss in front of a pretty girl, but with his head busted open, he was in bad shape.

She ripped his shirt again and used the long strip to bind his ankle. It actually felt better.

She sat beside him, her hands clenched in her lap. “I shouldn’t be here. I shouldn’t have touched you. I’m sorry.”

He didn’t understand her distress. He tried to sit up and comfort her, but he fell back to the ground, his eyes closing as blackness swamped his dizzy mind.

*****

Review:

(This is my first Montana Men books that I’ve read (surprise!) but I really enjoyed it. I missed out a little by not reading the stories about Dane’s brothers but I don’t think it was enough to make a big difference. I’m curious now but I didn’t really feel like I was lost at any point by not having that history.)

I absolutely LOVED these two. Dane is a good modern day rake – enjoying himself as he moves fast through life (and women), until he meets that special someone. Once he sees Bell though he’s a new man. He’s already going to have to change his life and his accident just makes it even more real, but the change didn’t feel quite as right until he found a woman to settle down with. He’s going to have to show a lot of patience and understanding though to win this one over … good thing that he’s a strong, upstanding man under all that fast living.

Bell had an unusual upbringing to say the least. Her family was ashamed of her and hid her from everyone, so much so that no one knew she lived with her grandmother. Add being beyond brilliant to the mix, enough that she graduated college at an age most kids are graduating high school, and she’s got a lot of catching up to do socially. Meeting gorgeous and socially hyperactive playboy Dane, just makes her feel all the more unsure of herself and has her resisting his advances.

Bell’s awkwardness makes Dane have to fight for her but it does ensure that he has plenty of time to make sure that she’s what he wants. The ups and downs that these two experience will help make them have a solid future … as long as they make it out the other side. Because Ryan also throws a little danger into the mix, which just amps things up a bit and keeps you biting your nails (both from terror and emotional overload).

With her fantastic writing style, addictive characters and awesome pacing, I found myself speeding through the pages. I kept telling myself I’d just read a little more, which turned into a little more and then a little more, because each time I promised myself I’d quit at the next good stopping point I’d just find myself even more engrossed.

If the rest of the Montana Men stories are anything like this then I’m moving them to the top of my TBR pile because this one packed about as much punch as that big ol’ bull that Dane goes round and round with.

*****

Author Info:

Jennifer Ryan is the New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of The Hunted Series and The McBrides Series. She writes romantic suspense and contemporary small-town romances featuring strong men and equally resilient women. Her stories are filled with love, family, friendship, and the happily-ever-after we all hope to find.

Jennifer lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and three children. When she isn’t writing a book, she’s reading one. Her obsession with both is often revealed in the state of her home and in how late dinner is to the table. When she finally leaves those fictional worlds, you’ll find her in the garden, playing in the dirt and daydreaming about people who live only in her head, until she puts them on paper.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

*****

Giveaway:

a Print Bundle of AT WOLF RANCH and WHEN IT’S RIGHT (Books 1 and 2 in the Montana Men series)

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/521ac4c8762/

*****

Click on the banner below to view the rest of the tour

Book Review – Giving It All

02 Wednesday Sep 2015

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Arianna Hart, Book Review, Giving It All

Giving It All

by Arianna Hart

Home is where his heart can heal. Former Navy SEAL Grant Anderson failed to see the IED that took his lower leg and couldn’t fix the cracks that ended his marriage. Embarrassment kept him from returning home to Dale, Georgia, after his discharge. But with his father ill, his family needs him. One of the first friendly faces he encounters is Ellie Hall. The gawky little girl next door now has curves that shouldn’t make his mouth water. She deserves a hero, not a broken man. Ellie can’t remember a time when she didn’t have a crush on Grant. Now if she could only get it through Grant’s thick skull that she doesn’t need to fear him. As they work together to straighten out his family business, holiday fireworks aren’t the only thing making Greg sweat. But by the time they uncover why the figures aren’t adding up, Greg must rely on pure instinct to keep Ellie safe from danger—and pray that this time, he won’t fail. Warning: Contains a wounded warrior who’s his own worst critic, and a determined heroine who’ll take the whole package as is. While not a series, this story takes place in the same fictional world as Son of a Preacher Man.

I can’t believe how much I enjoyed this story. It seemed pretty straightforward – a mixture of tropes that I like (PTSD, returning hero son, childhood crush, popular boy/unpopular girl, a mystery) – but Hart brought great emotion and depth to the story. Some people might get a little tired of Grant’s hot and cold attitude, but it definitely makes sense and works well with the man and the relationship. I have a pretty low threshold for that kind of thing but I think it worked well here.

I really liked Ellie. She’s so caring and smart and out of her element with the oh-so-sexy Grant. When she lets herself go for it though … perfecto! The fact that she’s had a crush on him for years just adds that bit of extra umph to her issues. Grant is great too. He’s dealing with a lot – the loss of his leg and his marriage, not being a SEAL and moving home again. It’s a lot to take but when he discovers a sexy, smart, somewhat complicated woman living in his parents’ garage … things just got more interesting. The two of them together are a riot! I also loved Grant’s parents and their friends. They aren’t overly quirky like you sometimes get in small town Southern towns but there is a great mix of personalities that make you just want to move to Dale so you can call them friends.

There’s also some intrigue about what is going on at the family store, which adds a little extra drama to the story and helps Grant find a sense of purpose he needs in coming home. It also gives him a reason to hang out more with Ellie, which he takes full advantage of – he’s no dummy!

I will say that even though I don’t think it is a requirement to have read Son of a Preacher Man there are enough references to the characters and events from it that I think it might help give readers some additional depth to the story. If you are like me and joining here, you’ll be fine but you’ll probably be like me and add the other book to your TBR pile 🙂

Book Review – Under the Covers

31 Monday Aug 2015

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Book Review, Claire Boston, Texans Quartet series, Under the Covers

Under the Covers

The Texan Quartet, Book Three

by Claire Boston

What if the one time you didn’t want love was when you truly needed it?

Forced to flee her abusive ex, alone with no support, Elle is determined to rebuild her life and protect her five-year-old son. Not one to take the easy road, she opens a bookshop café, but opening day almost ends in disaster. In the midst of this chaos, the last thing she needs is a man as charming as George Jones getting in her way.

George has always been a sucker for a damsel in distress, and Elle ticks all the boxes. But Elle’s not interested in being rescued by anyone, especially not him. She knows her taste in men can’t be trusted, but fighting George’s charisma is harder than she expected. And George, who is not one to ignore an itch, has found there’s something about Elle that’s got under his skin.

When Elle’s ex turns up to cause trouble, George must overcome his boyish flirtatiousness if he’s to convince Elle to trust herself and let him into her life. But can Elle put her past behind her before it overwhelms her present?

Perfect for fans of Nora Roberts, Liane Moriarty, Jojo Moyes and Jane Green.

I somehow missed Book Two in this series (surprised?) but I did get to read the first one, What Goes On Tour, and at the time I said I hoped there would be another because I wanted to see more of George. And boy did Boston delivery.

George is great. He’s amazingly understanding and cares a lot about people. He’s a great fit as a band manager and some of the traits that work for that also work well in his personal relationships. He’s good at paying attention, about helping out when needed, and he’s a fixer … the only problem is that Elle doesn’t want any help. At all. She’s just gotten out of an abusive relationship with a controlling man and having someone step in to direct her life immediately causes issues. Good thing that George is a fast learner and patient. He makes a few mistakes along the way, a lot of that because Elle is still skittish, but he figures things out and proves to be great hero material.

There isn’t a lot of suspense or danger, although Elle’s ex does make a few appearances, causing trouble – mainly we focus on the growth of Elle & George’s relationship. They work their way thru the relationship minefield that her past (and his personality) have created and it’s done very well. In real life I think that Elle might have needed a little more time, but the interactions between the two are believable. It’s a journey of steps for them and readers will be happy to be there for every single one.

(If you haven’t read the rest of The Texan Quartet, you’ll be fine. I was a little afraid that missing Book 2 would be an issue for me but Boston does a great job of keeping you in the loop – telling you who’s who and the important parts of their stories. And now I’m so curious about Imogen’s story that I’m adding it to my TBR pile. And I’ll definitely keep my eye out for Book 4.)

Book Review – Officer on Duty

30 Sunday Aug 2015

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Book Review, Lock and Key series, Officer on Duty, Ranae Rose

Officer on Duty

(Lock and Key #4)

by Ranae Rose

Life is tough but Sergeant Jeremy Connor is tougher. Riley County, North Carolina is recovering from a year of hell when devastation strikes again, and the Sheriff’s Department is working the frontlines. On top of keeping the community safe, there’s Jeremy’s greatest responsibility: raising his daughter. Alone.

Seeing local women turn up dead is enough to shake any father, even a veteran sheriff’s deputy. After years of loneliness, the timing couldn’t be worse to let another woman into his life. But he’d have better luck resisting gravity than resisting Lucia Ramirez, the first to prove there’s still a heart beneath his bullet proof vest.

For the first time in over a decade, serving and protecting isn’t enough to satisfy him anymore. But someone to love means someone to lose…

Book 4 in the Lock and Key Series

Just like all of the other books in the Lock and Key series, I really enjoyed Officer on Duty. It had just that right amount of suspense to offset a sexy love story.

The romance portion was sweet, well developed and realistic. My only complaint is that I didn’t completely understand why Jeremy didn’t think that he was relationship material. I get that his wife left him and their newborn daughter when he was quite young but I would have thought he would have gotten over that in the dozen years since then. I don’t know if there was more to their story that we weren’t given or maybe it was a little too subtle for me (I can be a little oblivious to undercurrents – which is one of the reasons I hated dissecting stories in English class). If he’d had a few more bad experiences or there was more info on his marriage maybe it wouldn’t have bothered me. As it was, he would start in and I thought “whatever, Jeremy, you are a hottie in your uniform with a big heart and smarts to boot. Who wouldn’t want a guy like that?”

Besides being sexy, caring and intelligent, he also has a deep feeling of responsibility for his community and those in his life. It’s a great thing to have not only in a police officer but also in the man in your life. Which means that once he got over himself he turned into a great boyfriend 🙂 And Lucia was great. She’s fun, caring, and recognized a good thing when she saw it – she’s patient and willing to wait for Jeremy to get his act together … which is good because that man is HOT in his uniform, and out of it.

I really enjoyed the slow build for the mystery. We were given the first part of it pretty much right away and then got glimpses into the killer as we move thru the story. It made for a compelling, albeit quite cracked, bad guy. You don’t like her but you kinda understood where she was coming from (in a crazy pants kind of way) – why she was the way she was and how she came to this point in her life, which is important to a good story. And her actions reached into Jeremy and Lucia’s lives, leaving a big impact.

When I finished Officer in Pursuit, I was excited to see what Rose would do for Jeremy and she doesn’t disappoint. She gave our true-hearted deputy a touch of danger and a good women to help him. I’m very sorry to see the series end but I’m ready for whatever Rose has in store for us next. Looks like she’s got something in the works with the first book in her South Island PD series debuting this fall. I’m sure it too will be full of sexy guys, strong women, intrigue, heat and heart.

(Oh for those that are new to the series, you can start here. The characters from earlier stories make and appearance and there are some references to previous plots but it isn’t a big deal.)

Book Review – Trouble When You Walked In

24 Monday Aug 2015

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Book Review, Kieran Kramer, Trouble When You Walked In

Trouble When You Walked In

by Kieran Kramer

She’s a woman of her word.

Cissie Rogers likes to do everything by the book. Literally. The town librarian in Kettle Knob, North Carolina, she’s determined to preserve the future of literature–and the library’s romantic legend–for her patrons. It’s not easy when the mayor himself, Boone Braddock, wants to close the library down. There’s only one way for Cissie to put a stop to him: By running for mayor herself!

Is he a player–or does he mean business?

Boone is Kettle Knob’s favorite son, a champion athlete and stellar football coach with deep local roots. Cissie will need more than a savvy slogan and a pair of three-inch high heels to stand a chance at the polls. But what about the campaign that’s underway in her own heart? What began as professional rivalry has transformed into a simmering attraction that neither contender can ignore. Could it be that the keeper of the town’s card catalog and the legendary football hero are ready to team up…and write their own storybook romance?

“Kieran Kramer’s smart, sassy storytelling charms readers because there is always poignancy mixed with passion, tenderness, and humor.” –RT Book Reviews

Trouble When You Walked In is a fun, humorous, and sweet small-town read (which is one of my favorite kinds of books). I love the quirkiness, the closeness, and how involved everyone is with everyone else. It makes me crave a different way of life, even one full of nosy busybodies.

Boone is the can’t-do-wrong golden child – he’s nice, cares about the town and its people. He’s the guy that men want to be and women just want. But he’s also juggling a lot of expectations, especially from his parents, and hiding a pretty big secret that is keeping him from acting on his attraction to the pretty little librarian … the one who has a lot of spunk hiding behind her tweed skirts. Cissie usually fades into the background but she isn’t going to back down when her library is threatened. If it means going against Boone in the mayor’s race then she will do exactly that, regardless of how sexy she finds him.

Watching these two dance around their differences and their attraction – butting heads and sneaking kisses – is a riot. I laughed and sighed and turned pages as quickly as I could and I can’t wait to see what else Kramer brings us from Kettle Knob.

Book Review – Ryan’s Love

20 Thursday Aug 2015

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Book Review, C.A. Harms, Ryan's Love, Sawyer Brothers series

Ryan’s love

Sawyer Brothers #1

by C.A. Harms

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release: August 11, 2015

Publisher: Limitless Publishing

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25924477-ryan-s-love

Blurb:

One of the hardest things I have ever had to do was bury my wife.

The second hardest thing would be watching my 12 year old daughter fall to her knees as they lowered her mother into the ground to rest.

A heart wrenching vision that will forever be etched in my mind.

Claire was my best friend, she had been since we were barely old enough to talk. I always knew, one day, I would marry her. I think I may have even told her that a few times while we were growing up.

Never did I think I would lose her so suddenly.

I knew at that moment…

Our life would never be the same again…

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://goo.gl/GNAMuy

Amazon CA: http://goo.gl/t1g3l8

Amazon UK: http://goo.gl/VxKZEu

Amazon AU: http://goo.gl/3qjAqF

*****

Excerpt:

“Climb up,” I said from behind her as she stood staring up at the horse only a few feet from her with a look of panic on her face. I was more than positive this was the closest this city girl had ever been to one.

She peered back over her shoulder, and I almost laughed at how overwhelmed she looked.

“I’m from the city,” she said with wide eyes, emphasizing her loss at what to do. “Ryan, you do understand that we have subways and taxis, right? We do not have horses that are the size of SUVs. I’m going to need a little help if you expect me—” She pointed toward her chest, then spun around to point at the horse. “—to get up on that thing.”

Now I did chuckle. It was impossible not to. She was damn near panicking at the thought of how she would mount and then ride the horse.

I stepped up behind her, my chest fitting flush against her back. Gripping her hips, I leaned my head closer and grazed my lips over her ear. Her body relaxed against mine, and she tilted her head to the side, opening up her neck to me.

As I placed a kiss at the base of her neck, she shuddered in my arms. “You have to put your foot in the stirrups,” I whispered before kissing just below her ear. “I’ll lift as you pull yourself up.”

She nodded with her eyes closed as her chest moved up and down in small pants

“Go on,” I urged.

I lifted her as she gripped the saddle, and she yelped when I firmly placed her atop Storm, my father’s Oldenburg stallion. Jackson held him steady as I pulled myself up and took my spot behind Amber. Our bodies were so close together I could feel her ragged breaths as she shifted against me with each one.

*****

Review:

The blurb for this book must have been written by someone who loves to tease 🙂 We pick up the story three years after Claire’s death and Ryan is just existing – he’s building a good life with his daughter but he’s lost his spark. Then he meets Amber … on the side of the road as she kicks the heck out of her flat tire (it is so going on my list as a favorite first meeting).

Of course the fact that this is the first time that Ryan has dated since his wife died causes quite a few problems. His daughter understandably has issues with it and he’s got some conflicted feelings of his own to deal with. But deal with it they do and it creates for readers a wonderfully emotional story. Some may have a problem with how quickly they fall in love, but it is so very sweet that I just don’t care.

We’re also given some great secondary characters in Ryan’s brothers and Amber’s friends. I can’t wait to see what Harms does with the next couple of books!

(There are some editing issues but they could just be because I was reading an ARC. They weren’t enough to bother me but they were pretty apparent and I know some people (like my husband) just can’t handle it. Most likely though they will be fixed in the final copy.)

*****

BTW, Jackson’s story is next – check out this great cover!

*****

Author Info:

C.A. Harms is like any other addicted reader. She enjoys happy endings and HEA love stories. She hasn’t always been a lover of Romance and had once been addicted to a good Mystery. Just recently she has taken on a new liking and now is a full blown Romance novel addict.

She lives in Illinois and enjoys spending time with her husband and two children. You will always find her with her kindle or paperback in hand as it is her favorite pass time.

Social media links:

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-CA-Harms/354791947956151

Twitter https://twitter.com/Charms0814

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/C.A.-Harms/e/B00BM5QT9S/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Tsu https://www.tsu.co/AuthorCAHarms

Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/ca0628/

Instagram http://instagram.com/authorcaharms

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6895633.C_A_Harms

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/1xsgHCS

*****

Book Review – Stay With Me

19 Wednesday Aug 2015

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Book Review, Isabel Winsor, Pleasure Grove series, Stay With Me

Stay With Me

A Pleasure Grove Novel (Volume 2)

by Isabel Winsor

An Uninvited Guest

She was supposed to deliver the documents to her boss and then go home… But Regina walks in on a sinfully handsome man – naked and chained – and she finds herself sharing one brazen, deliciously forbidden encounter with him. After she walks away, she expects to go back to her normal life – job, dating and friends.

An Irresistible Stranger

Speer never thought he’d rebuild his crumbling life with a woman haunting his body, his mind and his heart. He needs more of her even though it will lead to heartbreak. Speer is damaged goods and yet, Regina sees in him something worth redeeming; something worth loving. Her love terrifies him, even as it awakens in him the possibility there’s something worth staying for…

Some of you may remember Winsor’s Pleasure Grove series from Unleashed Under the Mistletoe. If you haven’t don’t worry about it, this one can stand on its own pretty well – but you do have to be ready for some seriously steamy reading. Don’t get me wrong, in no way does Winsor scrimp on the emotions (I found myself crying at the end), but she also in no way scrimps on the steam!

Speer is dealing with a whole bunch of issues stemming from the death of his brother. He’s run away for a couple of years but now he’s out of options and he’s come home. Shortly afterward he meets Regina and she starts to help him come alive again. It’s a bumpy ride – one that Regina has to have the patience and understanding of a saint to handle. But she’s had some trouble spots of her own and learned a lot because of it so she’s able to use that wisdom with Speer.

There are a couple of things that I really appreciate about the way that Winsor handles this story. Even though Speer wants to run from his troubles again, he stands firm and faces it with Regina, but he also understands that it is going to require professional help to truly get over everything that has happened. It’s refreshing in a genre where all too often you get a “love conquers all” kind of ending.

With complicated and troubled characters, an emotional storyline, and enough sizzle to get you hot under the collar, Winsor’s newest is an erotic, and yet heartwarming, treat. I can’t wait to see what she gives us next … Speer’s friend Boyd is in desperate need of a HEA.

Book Review – Burning Submission

18 Tuesday Aug 2015

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Book Review, Burning Submission, J. Richards, The Submission Series

If I’m looking at my schedule right, it is going to be a week of reviews. And we’re going from yesterday’s sweet contemporary read to something a little more … spicy!

*****

Burning Submission

The Submission Series, Book One

by J. Richards

Blurb:

Sometimes submission can be hot…

Vicki’s never had a problem standing up for herself. So when a meathead at the gym grabs her butt, she has no problem punching him in the face. Gavin, the gorgeous gym owner, throws the guy out, and his tender, but insistent demand to
tend to her injured hand makes Vicki hot. The buff, sex-god-come-to-life is everything she’s ever wanted, and he’s only too happy to show her how good sex can be.

Gavin is entranced by the feisty woman, even though he already has more than enough on his hands with the gym and his work as a volunteer firefighter. The last thing he needs is this bundle of contained fury tossed in his lap, but something about her calls to his inner Dominant. Not only that, her body responds to him like no other. But when he discovers someone is stalking her, it’s no longer all fun and games. Submission is all about trust…and after a brutal attack, trust is the last thing Vicki is willing to give…to anyone.

Reader note: contains light BDSM, spanking, and submission elements.

Buy Links:

*****

Excerpt:

She scans her face in the mirror, heart beating wildly with the near death dash. She glares at herself. Clumsy! With another big exhale, she pushes off the treadmill. Grabbing her water bottle, she heads for the free weight section of the large gym. The long row of dumbbells sits against the large mirror. Benches and a few squat racks are spread out around her. Several larger men huff and puff as they test their personal bests.

One man to her right slams a loaded bar into the ground with an exaggerated grunt. The noise makes her jump. Vicki twists her upper body to look over her shoulder at the beast, and he grins. She wrinkles her nose at him before she turns back to face the reflective glass. She parts her feet, bending her knees slightly, stretching out the muscles she has taken the care to warm up. She presses a few buttons on her iPod to make the music fill her brain and block out the buffoons behind her. She grabs two twenty-five-pound dumbbells. Again she shifts her feet for balance. Her knees begin to bend, and a big hand smacks her left ass cheek.

The sting of the hand isn’t too bad—actually, in a different setting, she would welcome the bite of a good spanking—but the idea of someone putting their hands on her body without permission sets her blood to boil. With a scowl, she looks past herself in the mirror to see the smug man’s face, his nasty eyes still glued to her rear end. Vicki throws the weights in her hand to the padded floor. Pivoting like a professional basketball player, she tightens her abs and lets her fist fly into the man’s face.

“Fucking bitch!” he growls and steps toward her. He towers over her five-foot frame, but she doesn’t care. Squaring her shoulders, Vicki prepares to punch him again.

“Seriously?” she asks him, cocking her head to the side in a taunt. “Sexual harassment and you wanna add verbal abuse to the list?” Fluttering her eyelashes like some sweet five-year-old, she goads the beast before her.

“I’ll turn you upside down, little girl.” One more step and his chest brushes hers.

“Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!” A deep voice yells from behind the guy she is planning to pummel.

“What the hell is going on?” It’s the god who was serving smoothies. He puts his big hand on the asshole’s chest and shoves him backward. He looks at the guy and then turns those dark chocolate eyes on Vicki.

*****

Review:

Burning Submission is short and doesn’t go into explicit detail on the D/s relationship (there are pretty steamy sex scenes, but they are more of an intro to BDSM) and heavy on the suspense with Vicki’s stalker. That’s what gives Gavin a chance to insert himself into her life and for her to come into contact with a lifestyle that interests her but that she hasn’t explored before.

It’s not an overly complicated storyline, which I appreciated. Instead it focuses on the two main characters as they dance around their attraction and whether Vicki is willing to herself fully to Gavin.

While you should take the reader note to heart, keep in mind that it is a good opportunity for readers who are interested in checking out the genre. Clocking in at 105 pages, Burning Submission is a fun, fast, hot read and a great way to try out a new series or even a new type of book.

*****

Author Info:

J. Richards is a twenty six year old mother and wife. She was born in a small town in New Hampshire, which she left at the age of eighteen to marry the love of her life. Leaving everything and everyone she had ever known to live down south with her new husband. They have now been married for almost eight years and are raising a wild child of a daughter. Her husband is in the military and because of that, they have shared the joys and struggles of moving around the country.

J. Richards has always loved reading and writing, dreams of becoming a published author seemed just that, only dreams. In 2015, with encouragement from a friend, she submitted a short story to etopia press and was beyond surprised when they wished to publish it. She now has four works under contract and a very hot series in the making.

Facebook | Twitter | Blog

*****

Giveaway:

Win your own copy!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*****

Tour Info:

August 17^th

JJs Kinky Books – review

http://jjskinkybooks.blogspot.co.uk

Love, Life and Book Lust – review

http://lovelifeandbooklust.wordpress.com

August 18^th

Lola White – spotlight

www.lola-white.com

Romantic Reads and Such – review

https://romanticreadsandsuch.wordpress.com

August 19^th

Eager Reader – interview

www.eager-reader.com

Chica Loves to Read – spotlight

http://www.chicalovestoread.blogspot.com

Books and Banter – spotlight

http://locglin.blogspot.com

August 20^th

My Guilty Obsession – spotlight

https://www.myguiltyobsession.com

Boom Baby Reviews – interview

http://www.boombabyreviews.com/

August 21^st

CD Yess Writes – review

http://cdyesswrites.blogspot.com

Hines and Bigham’s Literary Tryst – review

www.hinesandbigham.wordpress.com

Kelly Smith Reviews – spotlight

www.kellysmithreviews.blogspot.com

Book Review – Back to Us

17 Monday Aug 2015

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

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Back to Us, Christi Barth, Shore Secrets series

I’m so thrilled to have Christi Barth with us today to answer a few questions and give us a look into her newest Shore Secrets book – Back to Us. I’ve read it – what did I think? Check out the review below to find out.

*****

*What do you like the most (or least) about writing romances?

Shock of shocks, my least favorite thing is writing the sex scene. Too much worrying about how many times I say caressed versus stroked versus fingered. I power through for the readers, though! My fave? Every gushingly, over-the-top romantic moment that makes a reader clutch a hand to their chest and sigh (I do that when I’m writing that, too).

*What is your favorite romantic story (movie/book, fact/fiction)?

Factual? King Edward forfeiting his throne for the love of Wallace Simpson. You can’t get more romantic than that. Any movie that ends in a proposal is guaranteed to make me bawl.

*If you could be any romantic character, who would it be and why?

That’s easy. Eve Dallas from the In Death series. She gets to be kick-ass in all the ways I am not during the day, and then goes home to the richest and sexiest man on the planet at night. That would be super-fun to actually live (without all her near-fatal wounds, of course).

*Which of your characters was the most fun to write?

Gibson Moore from Friends to Lovers in the Aisle Bound series. He was an unapologetic Casanova who was more shocked than anyone to realized he’d fallen in love. (I just started writing another womanizer I’m going to have to reform in book two of my Naked Men series, and I think he’s going to even more fun).
*If you weren’t a writer and could be anything you want, what would it be?

I was convinced for several years that I wanted to be an FBI agent. But I’m a big softee and far from subtle and probably would not be able to pull it off. I do like the idea of clandestine meetings in a trenchcoat, however.

*****

Back To Us

Shore Secrets series

by Christi Barth

Blurb:

Ward Cantrell always went for the long shot. But that recklessness cost him his college scholarship and his chance to play pro ball, and—worst of all—it ended his relationship with the girl next door. Neither the town nor the girl has ever forgiven him. Now he’s taking one last long shot by opening a boutique distillery on the family farm he inherited.

Piper Morrissey spent high school in Ward’s shadow, but she’s come into her own in the years since. Maintaining her spotless image, and that of her family’s winery, is priority number one. Nobody knows that she still yearns for her golden-boy ex. Or at least they didn’t—until Ward agrees to sell Piper the land she needs to start her precious port line. The caveat? She’ll need to date him for one month.

Ward hopes a month is all it’ll take to convince his former sweetheart that while he’s changed, his love for her hasn’t. But when the chance arises to thumb his nose at the town that turned its back on him, he can’t afford not to reject Piper’s offer. Will that make her reject him and his love—for good?

Purchase at: Carina Press | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks

*****

Excerpt:

“Don’t you ever go with your gut?” He sauntered closer.

“That’s risky.”

A devilish smile flashed across his face. “That’s the fun part.”

“We can argue over business strategies—or lack thereof—later,” she said archly, giving him a disapproving glare down her nose. “I’m going to have to insist on time to weigh the pros and cons.”

“It’s Wednesday. I’ll give you until this time on Friday.” He closed the distance between them in one long stride. “I’ll give you something to start off that pro/con list with too.”

Ward bent, putting his lips on hers before Piper could decide whether to scoot out of reach or not. Probably because a part of her couldn’t believe it was actually happening. There was a very strong possibility she’d passed out from exhaustion and this whole thing was a dream. It was the likeliest explanation for the morning’s strange turn of events.

But the warm slide of his lips pulled her straight out of her head and rooted her firmly in the moment. This moment. What she’d dreamed about and hoped for didn’t hold a candle to the reality of Ward, her Ward, finally claiming her again with a kiss that seared her down to her core.

He planted his hands at her waist and lifted, lips never breaking contact. Lips, heck—tongue never breaking contact. Even as he raised her high enough that her feet left the floor, Ward’s tongue swept around every inch of her mouth. Every nerve-laden inch. Every sensitive, tingling inch.

Piper needed to touch. Needed to greedily take him with the same heat he was lavishing upon her. Her hands fisted in his hair. Ward nipped at her bottom lip in response. So she wrapped her legs around his waist. That elicited a growl, and Ward braced her back against the wall. Then he pushed close. Pushed that muscled chest and those ripped abs against her body. Canted his hips to push something else even harder against the vee where her legs met. At that, they both moaned.

The rasping brush of his stubble burned in an oh-so-sexy way as Ward angled down her neck. At her indrawn breath, he paused to suck and lick at the spot right on top of where her pulse fluttered rapidly. Because, oh, the things he did to her. The shivers that raced through her just from the strong, wide span of his hands at her waist. The way he crowded out all thought as he crowded his body against hers.

Even the roughness, the harsh press of his jeans inseam and the scrape of the hair on his chin and the hard grind of hip against hip surged a sexy thrill from her head to her toes. Piper couldn’t squeeze her legs tight enough, couldn’t rake her nails down the back of his shirt hard enough, couldn’t recapture his mouth fast enough. Nothing was enough.

On a gasp, Ward pulled away. His eyes had darkened to midnight and a satisfied smile played at the edges of his mouth. And when had his hands shifted down to support her ass?

“That’s my pitch.”

She tried—and probably failed—to sound aggrieved. “That? A kiss was your pitch?” Best. Marketing. Ever.

“No. The pitch was my carefully laid-out reasons why a month of your time is more than reasonable to secure the land you need.” Another flash of that wicked grin that would’ve turned her knees to jelly if she’d been standing. “The kiss was my closer.”

*****

Review:

I’m really disappointed to say this is the first of the Shore Secrets series that I’ve read because these friends are fantastic together. They are so supportive and caring for each other, but they aren’t afraid to give each other a hard time when needed (and sometimes when not 🙂 ). You can definitely read Back To Us as a standalone – there are a few references to the previous stories … but they just taunted me with the goodness that I had missed.

Barth could have easily been lazy on the relationship between Piper and Ward, using their history as an excuse to not craft decent interactions between the two, but lucky for us she doesn’t. We don’t get the back and forth of them getting to know each other, but she’s able to show their connection and attraction. As they tiptoe closer, I found myself happier and happier for them, waiting for them to get to a point when they finally bury their past and look toward a future together.

I think my only complaint is how much both Ward and Piper let that past influence their choices now. I’m going to tell you what he did so if you don’t want to know then stop reading now … last chance …. He kissed another girl, when he was 18, on his own for the first time at college, feeling lonely, and Piper saw it … Yes, I’m sure that was awful – they’d been friends for ages and he broke her heart, plus the wounds at that age can definitely have far reaching effects – but it was just a kiss. Granted they never talked about it, so she didn’t know that was all it was. He did, though, and should have manned up and taken care of this before now. Except they let it fester and turn into a big deal and now they have to work thru it. Maybe this is where not having the history of the other books plays against me because I’m sure that Ward and Piper and their feelings are a pretty big part in the other stories considering how close these friends are. I will say that Barth does a fantastic job setting it up and having them work thru it. So while I think that they allowed themselves to blow it all out of proportion, the trust issue is handled very realistically and she gets them to a satisfying HEA.

If this is your first Shore Secrets (and you don’t want to go back and start at the beginning), you’ll be OK but based on what I see here I think you’ll want to get the other two as well, just so you can spend more time with this great group of people.

*****

Author Info:

Christi Barth earned a Masters degree in vocal performance and embarked upon a career on the stage. A love of romance then drew her to wedding planning. Ultimately she succumbed to her lifelong love of books and now writes contemporary romance. Christi lives in Maryland with her husband.

Book Review – And Then He Kissed Me

11 Tuesday Aug 2015

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

And Then He Kissed Me, Book Review, Kim Amos, White Pine series

And Then He Kissed Me

White Pine series

by Kim Amos

PLAYING WITH FIRE . . .

Five years ago, Audrey Tanner flung caution to the wind and herself into the arms of an emerald-eyed bad boy biker she met at the White Pine Asparagus Festival. Two blissful weeks together convinced her that Kieran Callaghan was The One-until The One blew town without a word, leaving her brokenhearted. Now, starting a new job at the new Harley Davidson showroom, Audrey is floored to meet her new boss: Kieran. He’s still hot as hell, but she won’t fall for his sexy smile again. This time, she’s calling the shots.

. . . OR PLAYING FOR KEEPS?

Kieran never thought he’d return to White Pine, Minnesota, much less see Audrey again. Gorgeous and smart as ever, she’s just as irresistible as he remembered. She still doesn’t know why he had to leave-or that he’s missed her every day since. But he can’t deny he wants more than the no-strings fling Audrey proposes. As things between them heat up, Kieran must choose between the secret he’s sworn to keep and the woman he never stopped loving . . .

In most of my reviews I talk about how fabulous (or not until the end) the hero is but in And Then He Kissed Me Audrey is definitely the star. Don’t get me wrong, I love Kieran and I applaud the changes he’s made to his life since leaving White Pine five years ago. But it is the changes that Audrey is going thru now, thanks to losing her job and becoming a Harley model, that are truly awesome and fun.

While out of her comfort zone in the new job, especially once she realizes that Kieran is her new boss, standing in front of everyone in sexy leather biker clothes gives her a certain attitude that bleeds over into her every day life. Watching her come out of her shell and shine is an absolute treat. But it isn’t always easy.

Besides dealing with Kieran (which would be enough on its own), her controlling sister is pushing against not only her changes but her being anywhere near Kieran again. Having it been the two of them for so long, it definitely isn’t easy for Audrey to deal with her sister’s attitude. But as she finds a new stride, I cheered for her every step of the way. It’s glorious and she’s definitely one of my favorite heroines of all time – her opening comment to Kieran sealed it for me … but you have to read it to find out what she said (or look at reviews on Goodreads) 🙂

I also loved how vulnerable both Audrey and Kieran are in this situation. Both of them have to come to terms with the past and decide if they are going to let it impact their future – Audrey on whether she can trust Kieran again and Kieran on whether he can be vulnerable but more importantly if he can reveal a secret that will hurt Audrey. It’s not an uncommon dance in romances but one that Amos handles exceptionally well.

It’s no surprise that I didn’t read the first story in this series, A Kiss to Build a Dream On. Luckily this is one of those times when it didn’t matter, although I’m definitely adding it to my TBR pile. With fantastic primary and secondary characters and an emotional storyline, And Then He Kissed Me is a must read and Amos is an author to watch. She has two more White Pine stories this year and I can’t wait!